TOGETHER WITH

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

The Pickford Film Center

Holidays at the Pickford

This holiday season, gather friends and family to watch classic Christmas-themed films the way they were meant to be seen — on the big screen! Bellingham’s independent cinema is your spot for seasonal movie magic.

Whatcom Weather

The Raindrop Report

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Festive Fibers with Flóra

Seattle-based fiber artist Flóra Carlile-Kovács is teaming up with the Whatcom Museum to offer two fiberlishious workshops this Friday and Saturday. At least one is being offered with limited participants, so consider grabbing a spot early as they’ll likely sell out. 👍️ 

Friday’s offering (perfect for beginners) is called the Festive Felt Stocking Ornament Workshop, where you’ll learn how felting happens, from learning techniques to blending different fiber colors, all while working on a hollow shape. Flóra will have various yarns and fibers on hand to create rich surfaces and add some silk fabric pieces to explore the lamination felt technique. Info and registration.

If you’ve had some experience with felt crafting in the past, you might enjoy Saturday’s Lightweight Nunofelt Scarf Workshop, where you’ll learn how to weave wool fibers onto a sheer silk fabric to create a layered, textured design. This class will cover basics of nunofelt and troubleshoot common errors. You’ll leave this class with new fiber arts knowledge and a beautiful custom-made nunofelt scarf. Info and registration.

Reader Jen Gallant reached out last week with a note that the Greater Bellingham Running Club’s youth running group has started back up with runs each Sunday at 10 am. If you have kiddos between the ages of 10–15, this looks like a fun weekly activity. Teens over 15 are encouraged to join as running mentors.

All runners and volunteers must become GBRC members and sign a safety/liability waiver to participate, but youth membership is only $10 per year! 🙂 You can find Sunday meeting locations here, and Jen invites you to reach out to her for more information, or if you would like to volunteer as a running mentor. 360-303-4845 or [email protected] 

Whatcom County Parks and Rec announced a long-term parking lot closure this week, impacting the Welcome Bridge River Access on the Nooksack River’s North Fork. This is the access just downstream from Mosquito Lake Rd, and upstream from the confluence of the North and Middle forks.

The announcement describes how the river has “changed course, causing heavy erosion along the riverbank. This has made the parking lot unsafe to use.” Recreational activities are still allowed. “Drift boat and fishing gear drop-off are allowed, and the site is open for walking access, but there is no parking available.”

CIVIC CORNER

Wednesday
Community Open House: Civic Complex Master Plan, 6:00 pm, Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Community Conversation (with councilmembers & League of Women Voters’), 4:30 pm, Squalicum Boat House RSVP

Thursday
WTA Board Meeting, 8:00 am, WTA office
Community Conversation (with councilmembers Galloway, Scanlon), 3 pm, Fairhaven Library Fireplace Room

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday
Connelly Creek Nature Area (South): Join Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) in restoring wildlife habitat and protecting wetlands in a lovely park on the south side of Bellingham. Register.

Desert Pine Chiropractic

Live Healthy, Naturally

Neurologically Based Chiropractic Care

Hi Hamster Wheel friends, I’m Dr. Haley from Desert Pine Chiropractic. My passion is helping people of all ages live healthier, more balanced lives through gentle, neurologically based chiropractic care. Whether you’re managing stress, recovering from an injury, or simply looking to feel your best, my goal is to create a calm, caring space where you feel supported on your journey to better health and wellness.

If you’ve been curious about chiropractic care or are ready to take that first step, I’d love to invite you to use our Hamster Wheel New Patient Offer—a special opportunity for newsletter readers. For $63 (regularly $190), you’ll receive a full consultation, nerve and muscle assessment, digital X-rays, and a personalized doctor’s report. Learn more at desertpinechiro.com.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

The Claire
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Thurs-Sun

iDiOM Theater
Shark Tank: Island Time Edition | Thurs-Sat

Mount Baker Theatre
Saving ChristmasTown (dance) | Fri

BAAY
Esme’s Adventures in Another World | Fri-Sun

Blaine High School
Christmas in Oz | Fri-Sun

New Prospect Theatre
Search for the Christmas Penguin | Sat

Bellingham Theatre Guild
Sister Act | Thurs-Sun

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Sugar and Honey Holiday Extravaganza (Cabaret) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 4:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

FEATURED

Blue Room brings back its open mic–style jam night, Open Jam, tonight, December 10, from 8 to 11 pm (signups at 7). Musicians of all levels are invited to join in this free, all-instrument jam session, featuring a full backline including drums, piano, guitar, and percussion. It’s a casual, collaborative space to play, experiment, and connect.

Sugar is back with her first ever Holiday Cabaret, Sugar and Honey do the holidays. Sugar brings a bold twist to cabaret entertainment with an evening filled with live music, powerhouse vocals, dancing, and sassy celebration. Three shows this week at the Firehouse Arts & Events Center.

The Jazz Center of Bellingham hosts the Peter Bernstein Quartet tonight, December 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center. Acclaimed New York guitarist Peter Bernstein, known for his collaborations with jazz greats like Lou Donaldson, Joshua Redman, and Diana Krall, joins pianist Tony Foster, bassist Michael Glynn, and drummer Matt Jorgensen for an evening of soulful modern jazz.

WEDNESDAY

Trivia Night, The Den – Test your knowledge and sense of humor during weekly trivia night hosted by Craig Jewell and Chris Evans. Teams of up to six compete for cash and prizes while enjoying food from Brandywine Kitchen delivered right to your table. 7:00–9:00 pm

George Dyson, Donald Antenen, Simon Graves & Casey Connor: A Technology Discussion, Village Books (Fairhaven) – Join authors and innovators for a conversation on technology, AI, and the future of human community, centered on George Dyson’s book Analogia. The panel will explore how intelligent machines shape our world and what paths remain for humanity. Reserve a seat

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

THURSDAY

Film Event: Girl Climber, American Alpine Institute – A film chronicling professional climber Emily Harrington’s groundbreaking ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan. Blending survival story and personal reflection, the film explores ambition, risk, and breaking barriers. 7:00 pm. Tickets

A Night of Christmas Music, Christ the King Community Church – Celebrate the season with an evening of festive music featuring traditional carols, modern songs, and a kids’ choir. Enjoy cocoa and cookies starting at 6:00 p.m. before the program begins, designed to bring together community members of all ages in song. 6:30 pm.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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