Good morning, Bellingham. This is your Friday update from The Hamster Wheel.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Or, hit reply to send me photos via email. 📧

On Saturday, August 22, downtown Ferndale will turn into a walkable tasting room for the afternoon. Downtown Distilled brings local distilleries, cideries, wineries, breweries and mead makers into shops and businesses around the downtown strip, with tastings running from 3 to 7 p.m.

Rather than gathering everyone under one roof, the event spreads the stops around downtown. You can wander between businesses, sample what local producers are making, and get a look inside some Ferndale shops you might otherwise walk past. There will also be food and live music mixed into the afternoon.

Downtown Distilled is organized by the Ferndale Downtown Association, with proceeds supporting its downtown programs and events. Tickets and the full list of participating producers and locations are available at downtowndistilled.com. Take an Uber or bring a DD! 🍸

Bellingham SeaFeast is marking its tenth year with Creative Currents, a juried art exhibition opening Saturday, August 22, at Cordata Gallery. The show brings together regional artists working in painting, sculpture, fiber, and other media, with work centered on the Salish Sea, Bellingham’s working waterfront, and the waterways that shape our life here.

The opening reception runs from 2 to 5 pm, and the exhibition will remain on view into late October. There are also a few participatory pieces folded into the show, including a community net made with recycled cork buoys, a paint-by-number mural, and artist-led workshops scheduled during the exhibition. A portion of art sales will support Bellingham SeaFeast.

LOCAL READS

Fairchild Air Force Base Named for Bellingham Man
By Jennifer Crooks · WhatcomTalk
General Muir Fairchild, born in New Whatcom in 1894, built a military career that stretched from early aviation to the creation of the modern U.S. Air Force. Jennifer details how Fairchild maintained ties to Bellingham even as he became a prominent strategist, educator, and senior military leader. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

The Reintroduction of the Olympia Oyster in Mud Bay
By Dean Longwell · Whatcom Watch
Nearly 500,000 Olympia oyster larvae have been placed in North Chuckanut Bay as part of an effort to restore shellfish habitat and improve conditions for other marine species. Dean details concerns that stormwater pollution and disputed city park protections could undermine the restoration and related tribal interests. Read more →

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Friday-Saturday
Olsen Creek: Help Washington Trails Association implement a multi-use recreation opportunity just outside of Bellingham. Friday / Saturday

Saturday
Euclid Park: Join Whatcom Million Trees Project for a morning of ivy removal at Euclid Park, helping free trees and native vegetation in this mature forest and wetland along Lake Whatcom. Register
Summer Stewards - Litter Pickup: Join NSEA’s Summer Stewards for a morning litter pickup, helping keep trash out of local creeks and rivers that salmon and people rely on. Register

Soleil Chappelle, MA LMT, blends craniosacral therapy with gentle, intuitive massage to help your body release tension and rediscover ease. Sessions with Soleil are tailored to your needs, combining subtle internal listening with hands-on techniques to ease restrictions in fascia, calm the nervous system, and support your body’s natural health.

Clients describe the experience as grounding and deeply calming, a rare kind of touch that works both physically and emotionally, inviting release where stress and old tension have taken hold. Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic discomfort, burnout, or simply the pace of daily life, Soleil’s practice creates a supportive space for rest and recovery. Learn more at bodyswells.com

7120 Valley View Rd (Fri-Sun 8 am)
This one looks like my favorite kind of garage sale. The digger. 😁 Find a promising nook and start digging for treasure. You never know what you might find! Love those overflowing garages!

1200 W Holly Street (Open Sat 3-5 pm)
Huge fan of this house. It sold a few years ago and was pink if I recall correctly. Lots of old woodwork, perched over the rapidly transforming Old Town neighborhood. So much to love. Listing

1361 E Axton Road (Open Sat, Sun 11-1 pm)
This one looks like an amazing opportunity for someone. Two and a half acres to spread out and play. Plus little ramblers are rad. Just think of all the possibilities. 😁 Listing

Bellis Fair
Paranormal Cirque Voodoo (circus) | Fri-Sun

BAAY
Head Over Heels (theatre) | Fri-Sun

The Blue Room
Clayton English (comedy) | Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:30 pm
Beginner Ballet - Karate Church - Sat 10 am
Beginner Contemporary - Karate Church - Sat 11:30 am
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sun 10:30 am

The Admiralty Lounge hosts Linda Nguyen on Sunday, August 23, from 6 to 8 pm. Nguyen is a lifelong performer whose primary instrument is voice, though she also works with piano, synth, guitar, and looping. After playing in a blues and funk band in Salt Lake City, she relocated to Bellingham and has been building a place in the local music scene.

Honey Moon Mead & Cider hosts an acoustic punk night tomorrow, August 22, at 8 pm, featuring David Phantom of Evelyn’s Casket, The Dandy Heathens, and Boris Budd.

Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers bring blues, soul, and roots rock to Aslan Depot tonight, August 21, at 8 pm. Led by D’Amour’s vocals, the four-piece leans into vintage blues and R&B traditions.

Tonight, August 21, Sleepy Alligators play live at Beach Cat Southpaw on the waterfront. Bellingham’s favorite Grateful Dead cover band brings their infectious grooves to the outdoor deck for this all ages show. This will be the last summertime outdoor show for the season so grab a frosty brew and dance with your friends young and old.

Auntie Bee & Uncle Tulip, Maritime Heritage Park Amphitheatre – A free interactive performance from noon to 1 pm includes music, dancing, singing, juggling, twirling, and hooping.

Friday Music & Trivia →

Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema: A Knight’s Tale, Fairhaven Village Green – Gates open at 6 pm for an outdoor screening of the 2001 medieval adventure-comedy, with the movie beginning at dusk.

JP Falcon Band, Acme Diner – JP Falcon Grady opens the beer garden music from 5 to 7 pm bringing country and Americana rooted, followed by Saltwater Cowboys from 7 to 9 pm.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Gear and Beer: Gear Swap, Kulshan Brewing Roosevelt Taproom – A free outdoor gear swap runs from noon to 4 pm, with used outdoor equipment available to buy, sell, or trade. Preregistration required.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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