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

Friend of the Wheel discounts are back! New today, look for a discount on Academy for Lifelong Learning membership. You’ll find it at the bottom of the newsletter. 👇️ 

If you own a Bellingham business and would like to include an offer in The Wheel, be sure to hit reply and send me a note. 👋 

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Academy for Lifelong Learning

ALL Kicks Off its Fall Offerings

Curious about women mariners, food language or ancient PNW forests? How about Greenland, Rigoletto or Tom Robbins? These are just a sampling of the diversity offered up by WWU's Academy for Lifelong Learning. ALL is a volunteer organization that recruits experts in their field to craft engaging courses, lectures and excursions. Their slate of fall offerings are now online at lifelonglearning.wwu.edu.

And you need not be an ALL member to partake, although there are seriously stout perks that come by joining—privileges at Western’s boathouse, outdoor center, pool, even the library. What you can't check out there you can purchase for 10% off at Village Books. Did we mention courses and excursions are discounted with a membership? Sign up at lifelonglearning.wwu.edu, and we’ll see you in class or on the bus!

Weather Forecast

Friday: 61°F 🌡️ 50°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 93% | 💨 S 3 to 7 mph

Saturday: 58°F 🌡️ 46°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 93% | 💨 SSW 7 to 12 mph

Sunday: 56°F 🌡️ 42°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 74% | 💨 SE 5 to 8 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Eat Soup, End Hunger

I didn’t hear about this one until last minute, but I’m so glad I did. Thank you Ali! Empty Bowls is an annual fundraiser hosted by Whatcom Artists of Clay and Kiln (WACK), bringing together local artists, chefs, and neighbors to support the Bellingham Food Bank and Maple Alley Inn.

“The price of a ticket gets you a bowl of delicious soup donated by local restaurants, served in a handmade bowl of your choosing. At the end of the evening, take your bowl home to keep!” You can also browse a silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind serving vessels crafted by WACK artists.

While presale tickets have sold out, you can still buy a ticket at the door while supplies last. You might head there on the early side just in case. 🤷‍♂️ At Stemma West, this Saturday from 5 to 8 pm.

In other news…

💡 Bellingham Parks and Recreation announced that October will see solar and wind-powered lights installed along the recently opened Little Squalicum Pier.

Not sure what the boxes are that have been installed on the pier deck. 👆️ They seem a little intrusive… but lights along the pier will be a huge value-add. The parks department expects the pier will remain open, with only “intermittent closures for safety during light pole installation.”

⛏️ Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend: There are two outdoor work parties this weekend.

• Whatcom Creek: Join the Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program and the Kiwanis Club to restore salmon habitat in Whatcom Creek and clean up a well-loved trail corridor behind City Hall this Sunday from 9 am to noon. Register to participate.

• Salmon Spotter Training: Attend a short NSEA training, Saturday from 10 am to noon, that covers the basics of the salmon lifecycle, how to identify different salmon species, and best practices for completing observations. Spotters visit sites for 15 minutes twice a week throughout the fall and submit data through an online form. That’s it! Support salmon monitoring in Whatcom County.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

Barleans Fishery Official Grand Opening in Squalicum Harbor

Barlean's, part of Whatcom County’s seafood supply-chain since 1972, is set to celebrate its official grand opening at its new waterfront home in Squalicum Harbor on Saturday. Originally based in Ferndale, the family-owned business quietly opened its doors at the harbor location back in July after months-long renovations on the building that previously housed CityMac.

At the grand opening party, scheduled from 6 to 8 pm, expect refreshments, fresh seafood, and an opportunity to visit with owners, staff, fishermen, and the local makers and artists whose wares fill the shop. 💙

If I’m being totally honest, I’m going to miss the old Barlean’s fish market on the corner of Slater and Lake Terrell. It was my hands-down favorite food sourcing drive to take before throwing a party… but their new location is super handy, and they are exactly the kind of business our harbor needs more of, so I’m very glad they are here! 🐟️🎉🐟

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

Crash an Open House

1306 23rd St (Open Sat 11-4 pm)
Happy Valley is an interesting neighborhood because it’s a mix of lovely historic homes (like this one) and mid-century infill. I like to think about it as the suburbs of Fairhaven a century ago. 😆 This 1895 home is adorable. Check out all the photos to see what I mean. Listing.

265 Kelly Road (Open Sun 12-2 pm)
Here it is. No farther out from town than North Cordata, but totally surrounded by country! Multiple garages (one with a lift), on five acres. I think this one’s a dream. 😁 Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

FireHouse A&E Center
BEFORE US | Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

Mount Baker Theatre
Demetri Martin (comedy) | Fri

iDiOM Theater
DRACÜL | Thurs, Fri, Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Thurs, Sat, Sun

Bellingham Exit
Ashley Gavin - Wild Buffalo, Blue Room (comedy) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Dance Fusion - Senior Activity Center - Sat 10:30 am
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:00 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

Lucinda Williams, one of my favorite songwriters, will play at the Mount Baker Theatre on Saturday as part of the Bellingham Exit festival. I fondly remember listening to Lucinda, over 20 years ago, while hustling for work in Fairbanks Alaska one summer. Yep, on my Discman 💿️! Catch that southern twang.

One of my favorite Bellingham events! The Annual Wild Mushroom Show is this Sunday at Zuanich Point Park. Featuring hundreds of stunning species, presentations from renowned mycologists, whimsical Mushroom Gnomes, natural dye displays, vendor tables, and mushroom-inspired food trucks. Get your fungi on.

The Bellingham Country Dance Society hosts an evening of lively contra dancing at the Fairhaven Library Auditorium, this Saturday, featuring music by Wild Rosin 👆️ (a trio of Elise Snoey on fiddle, Rosie O’Neil on guitar, and Claire Furtwangler on cello)—and Seattle caller Elisabeth Monica. A beginner lesson starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by dancing from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.

This Sunday, the Meihua Chinese School hosts its annual Mid-Autumn Festival at Bloedel Donovan Park, celebrating Chinese culture with live performances, a bake sale, raffle, and auction supporting the school’s language and cultural programs. 2 to 4 pm, free admission.

Starting tonight, the Deming Log Show Grounds come alive for the 41st Annual Oktoberfest, a fundraiser for Busted Up Loggers. Expect two full days of Bavarian fun with live music from The Polkatones and Pickled Herring Band, traditional Tyrolean dancers, and Swiss alpine horns. Admission includes a free commemorative beer stein (21+), with festivities running Friday from 4 pm–midnight and Saturday from noon–midnight.

FRIDAY

After Dark Art Walk, Sunnyland Neighborhood - The Sunnyland Art Walk gets a nocturnal twist with this one-night neighborhood event celebrating art, brews, and local flavor. Wander through studios, breweries, and eateries showcasing seasonal creations and interactive installations, complete with an After Dark BINGO game. Free, 5 to 9 pm.

An Indigenous Peoples’ Day Primer with Caskey Russell and Rena Priest, Village Books - Village Books and North Cascades Institute host authors Rena Priest and Caskey Russell for readings and discussion of their latest works, Positively Uncivilized and The Door on the Sea: The Raven and Eagle #1. Reserve your seat.

Open Roller Skate, Depot Market Square - Lace up for free community skating every second Friday of the month. Bring your own roller skates or inlines and glide under the market lights. Helmets and pads are encouraged, and skaters under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 6 to 8 pm.

Friday Music & Trivia →

SATURDAY

Sandi Madison: Diving Before Dawn – A Dream Exploration, Village Books - Bellingham author Sandi Madison presents her debut book, Diving Before Dawn: A Dream Exploration, with a talk and interactive activity in the Readings Gallery. Drawing from more than fifty years of dream journaling, Madison explores how dreams reveal insights and creative guidance from the subconscious. Reserve your seat.

Creative Corner Artisan Market, Sculpture Plaza - Around 16 local artists and makers gather each Saturday outside Just Poke on Railroad for an open-air market featuring handmade jewelry, vintage fashion, paintings, wood and glass art, resin creations, and more. With a rotating lineup of vendors, each week offers a fresh mix of creativity and community. 10 am to 3 pm.

Blaine OysterFest, Downtown Blaine - A full-day seaside celebration featuring local seafood favorites including oyster bakes, seafood boils, and smoked salmon, plus live music from The Penny Stinkers from 4 to 7 pm. The festival opens at 10 am, and runs until 7 pm.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

SUNDAY

Trails to Taps Relay, Lake Padden to Kulshan Trackside - Teams of eight runners cover more than 30 miles of Bellingham’s trails, parks, and roads, with each exchange hosted at a local brewery or cidery. The untimed relay ends with an after-party and souvenir pint glass for participants. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for the best dressed. Register your team by 5 pm today, October 10.

Making Fire Cider for the Cold and Flu Season, Living Earth Herbs Apothecary - Learn the history and benefits of Fire Cider, a traditional herbal tonic, and make your own jar to take home. Holistic nutritionist and herbalist Arielle Stein leads this hands-on class, which includes all materials and recipes. Register to fire it up!

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Friday!!