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

The Mount Baker Theatre has offered another pair of tickets to a lucky Hamster Wheel reader! This time they are for the Mat Kearney show on Wednesday. More on that below. 👇️ Submit your interest here and I’ll select one reader at random.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Live at the Mount Baker Theatre

Mat Kearney

Wednesday, September 3

Join multi-Platinum songwriter Mat Kearney for an unforgettable night at the MBT, as he brings his genre-defying sound to life with tracks from his 2024 self-titled album, including “Good Thing Going On” and “Headlights Home.”

With over 2.5 billion global streams, chart-topping hits, and performances on The Tonight Show and Ellen, Kearney’s dynamic blend of hip-hop, folk pop, soft rock, and EDM promises a show that breaks every musical mold.

🎶 Ticket Giveaway 🎶 

The Mount Baker Theatre thoughtfully offered a pair of tickets for the upcoming Mat Kearney show 👆️. Submit your interest here and I’ll select one reader at random. The winner will receive an email on Tuesday to look for tickets at the MBT box office.

Weather Forecast

Monday: 76°F 🌡️ 58°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 3% | 💨 SSW 2 to 6 mph

Tuesday: 79°F 🌡️ 60°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 1% | 💨 SW 1 to 6 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Lighting Causes Fires in East Whatcom County

Whatcom County’s 2025 fire season has been relatively calm so far, with minimal smoke and few local wildfires. On Wednesday, lightning strikes near Ross Lake broke this quiet period, sparking two small fires, each burning less than two acres of timber, and one larger fire that has expanded to 250 acres.

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center published a status update on Saturday that “steep, difficult, and cliffy terrain pose significant threat to firefighter safety which limits direct line on the Perry Fire. Fire managers continue a full suppression strategy with aerial delivered water from a Type-3 helicopter. Additional resources, including a Type-1 Wildland Fire Module, have been ordered to support active suppression operations.”

Extensive fire restrictions remain in effect across all areas of the North Cascades Park. Campfires are banned throughout, and drones are prohibited in the areas impacted by the fire response. Learn more at the National Park Service fire closure page.

In other news…

🏛️ The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) is hosting two fascinating lectures at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal this fall.

On October 9 from 1–3 p.m., Dr. Susie Barry and wildlife biologist David Drummond present "Why Are We Interested in Greenland? Two Perspectives," exploring Greenland’s geopolitical significance and its Arctic ecosystem through stunning photography. Learn more and register.

Then, on November 13, Greg Hope, Bellingham’s Emergency Management Education Coordinator, will discuss earthquake and tsunami preparedness in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, offering practical insights for Whatcom County residents. Learn more and register.

🏙️ The Bellingham Design Review Board meets tomorrow, September 2nd in the City Council Chambers at 3 pm, to review and provide early design guidance on two interesting projects in downtown Bellingham.

The first is a planned 65-unit affordable housing structure at 202 Unity Street. This location is the underdeveloped lot across the street and up the hill from Arlis’s Diner, where a single story cream colored building currently stands adjacent to a “paid public parking” lot. Neighborhood meeting notes indicate interest in community spaces, like a coffee shop, being integrated into the design.

The second is an enormous 135-residential-unit, six-story, mixed-use structure at 1315 D St. & 800 W. Holly, that would fill the block surrounding the historic Territorial Courthouse and the newly installed courthouse plaza where a historic trolley car is displayed.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham | Mon 9:00 pm

New Prospect Theatre
Tales of the Sea | Fri 7:00 pm; Sat 9:00

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Urban Salon Tango - The Majestic - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Beginning Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
B’ham Hop - Crystal Ballroom - Tues 8 pm
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
Int. Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 7:15 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

25th Annual Mt. Baker Vintage Trailer Rally. The NW’s Largest Vintage Trailer Rally and the 2nd longest running rally is held every year, the weekend after Labor Day, at the NW Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden, WA. The Dates are Sept 2-8. This is field camping with no assigned spots. You will register when you arrive. Showers, restrooms and a RV dump station are on site.

Masango, an award winning multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, bandleader and producer Zivanai teams up with the vibrant and multi-talented Helen to form a dynamic duo this Tuesday at the New Prospect Theatre. They’re bringing the sounds of Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, as well as the wider African Diaspora to Bellingham at 7:30 pm.

Every Tuesday, Life Drawing Bellingham hosts uninstructed life drawing sessions at the Karate Church (519 E Maple St), welcoming artists of all levels to draw from a nude model. For $20 (cash, card, or Venmo), enjoy a supportive, relaxed environment with snacks and basic art materials provided. Doors open just after 6:00 PM, with poses starting at 6:45 PM sharp, ranging from short to longer durations.

MONDAY

Fall Car Show, The Cedars RV Resort - Ferndale - If it has 2 or more wheels and an engine, it's welcome at this event! Enjoy dash plaques, trophies, raffle, 50/50 draw, free NSRA inspections, and T-shirts available for sale. Free for spectators. Snazzy rides from 9 am to 2 pm.

Monday Trivia, Zeeks Pizza - Monday Trivia every week with Justin Smith! Two rounds, five categories and five questions per category. Topics include current news, “starts with”, audience requests from previous week, music, sports, history, geography, science, music, general knowledge, and more. 1-6 person teams. $10 gift card for best team name. $2 buy in per person (all cash from buy-ins paid out to top 3 teams). 7-9 pm.

Monday Music & Trivia →

TUESDAY

Zimbabwean Dance and Drumming Workshop, Hotel Leo - Dancer Rujeko Dumbutshena and drummer Napoleon Kudzie Jambwa are teaching two workshops in Bellingham on September 2nd at the Hotel Leo. Folks can register for the dance or the drumming section -- both sections will combine at the end to dance and drum together! Register to dance. Register to drum.

Movie Trivia Night, Uisce Irish Pub - Every first Tuesday of the month. Sponsored by The Pickford Film Center. Show your movie buff skills for a chance to win cash, Pickford movie passes and Pickford free popcorn cards! Facts fly at 7 pm.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Monday!!