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🐹 Harcourt Out? ↪️👢

🐹 Harcourt Out? ↪️👢

May 02, 2025

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

Whoa, there are so many events around town this weekend. Today's newsletter is heavy with activities, but I couldn't decide what to cut. So, no cuts were made. 🔪

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Fairhaven Heron Colony - 📷 by Seth Shain

Deer Fern Fiddlehead - 📷 by Greg Green

Train-Aided Sunset - 📷 by Charlie H.

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

Weather Forecast

Friday: 69°F 🌡️ 49°F | 🌧️ Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 70% | 💨 SSW 10 mph

Saturday: 59°F 🌡️ 44°F | 🌧️ Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 WSW 6 to 9 mph

Sunday: 62°F 🌡️ 44°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 WSW 2 to 8 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Wild Creatures on the Loose!!

This Saturday is the Procession of the Species, where Bellingham families, friends, and neighbors unite to celebrate the natural world through colorful costumes and imaginative art. It really is one of the best things in Bellingham. 😁

📸 COB

This year’s parade will begin at Lee Memorial Park (Library lawn) at 2 pm and journey 0.46 miles through downtown to finish at Maritime Heritage Park.

Luckily for us, the procession organizers, Gabriel’s Art Kids and COB Parks & Recreation, have provided us with this helpful map. 👆️

New Direction for the Downtown Waterfront?

The Port announced this week that Commissioners will “consider entering into a termination agreement with Ireland-based Harcourt Developments” at its May 6th meeting. This action would “end the company’s exclusive rights to develop commercial and residential projects on Bellingham’s downtown waterfront.”

The announcement goes on to describe how Harcourt would release all properties except the Granary Building and its three condominiums to the Port, which would, from then on, make decisions about all waterfront properties in open public meetings.

Would this be good or bad? I’m conflicted. Progress under Harcourt has been painfully slow, but I have a feeling that decisions by committee in an open forum may be the one process slower still. I’ll be watching on May 6th to hear from the commissioners about their rationale and the path forward.

In other news…

👫 This Saturday, Jenna Bean Veatch is holding another session of her very popular Not Creepy Gathering for People Who Want to Fall In Love. If you're single (and totally confused about what the heck this thing is), I recommend spending a few minutes exploring the TNCGFPWWTFIL Website. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself with the abbreviation. 🤣

“These carefully crafted, structured events, which involve things like writing exercises, opportunities to talk one-on-one, and all-group activities, are all about connection. They’re fun. And surprising. And weird! And real.” This is such an amazing alternative to apps and bars. 🙂 It looks like tickets are available.

🍺 Trackside is kicking off its fifth season today with a Grand Opening Party at its waterfront location. They’re promising live music and good vibes from 11 am to 10 pm.

🗑️ Habitat for Humanity’s 6th Annual Trashion Show is this Saturday from 6-9 pm at the Bellingham Circus Guild. The event includes a full runway show featuring local trashion designers and a silent and live auction.

All proceeds support local affordable homeownership in Whatcom County and promote sustainable, creative reuses of trash in our community. Get tickets.

💵 As of yesterday (May 1), Bellingham’s minimum wage jumped to $18.66, an astonishing number for these two children of the eighties. This number is $2 greater than the Washington State minimum wage and is legislated to stay that way, with a reset each January 1st.

⛏️ Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend: There are a couple of outdoor work parties this weekend.

📸 COB

North Fork Nooksack River: Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) is holding a work party on Saturday, from 9 am to noon, to remove invasive blackberries, ensuring there is space for native plants to grow along the waterway. Details & registration.
Big Rock Garden Park: The City and the Friends of Big Rock Garden Park are teaming up for a work party on Saturday, from 9 am to noon, for some spring cleanup on National Garden Meditation Day! There will be cleaning sculptures, removing invasive plants, mulching, and more. Details & registration.

Garage & Estate Sales

Your Source For Vintage Can Openers

4654 Aldrich Rd (Fri 11 am, Sat-Sun 10 am)
They are calling this one the Journey to Japan sale. Japanese textiles, knick-knacks, artwork, stone lanterns, and buddhas. Silk scarves, hand-painted fans, traditional Japanese clothing, and accessories. Plus, lots of other stuff. map

Lynden Citywide (Sat, Sun)
7 am - 1174 Aaron Dr map,
8 am - 2258 Littlefield Ln map — 509 E. Front St map — 302 8th St map — 309 S 14th St map — 175 W Bartlett Road map
9 am - 508 Forest Circle map — 211 S 14th St map — 1322 Edson Street map — 302 8th St map — 8661 Benson Rd map — 412 Front St map — 315 R Grover St map

Baker Street; Fri, Sat, Sun 10 am map
2254 Sunrise St; Fri, Sat, 8 am map
4213 Van Horn Lane; Fri, Sat, 9 am map
Sumac Lane; Sat, 8 am, map
1234 Address Road; 9-5 PM, map

Bellingham Dockside Market

From The Salish Sea

The Bellingham Dockside Market is open tomorrow (Saturday), from 10 am to 2 pm at the Fishermen's Pavilion in Squalicum Harbor.

FRESH AT DOCKSIDE

Drayton Harbor Oyster Co
💙(Fresh) Pacific oysters, 💙(Fresh) Taylor Shellfish clams and mussels

Lummi Seafood Market
💙(Fresh) Live Dungeness crab 💙 (Fresh) Freshly Foraged Morel Mushrooms

LUNCH AT DOCKSIDE

Seashells Coffee Co
Hot coffee and tea beverages, Iced coffee, Lotus, Italian sodas, smoothies, and specialty drinks.

It's the Sweet Things
Bellingham’s own It's the Sweet Things will serve Smoked Salmon Pastries, Dungeness Crab Pastries, Smoked Halibut Quiche, and more!

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

Crash an Open House

512 N State Street (Open Fri 4-6 pm)
I LOVE classic Foursquares, and this is such a fantastic example of how these craftsmanly (yes, I made up that word) homes were built in Bellingham around the turn of the last century. The kitchen looks modern, but much of the home showcases the heavy fir molding and details that typify the period. Listing.

4126 Caron Road, Deming (Open Sat 12-2 pm)
This home is beautiful, but what interests me is the location. I’ve always been fascinated by the valley community across the bridge from the old Everybody’s Store. I believe the Potter Rd bridge is the only entrance. It’s like finding the land of Narnia through the wardrobe. 😆 Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

THEATRE - DANCE - FILM

BAAY Theatre:
Out of the Woods | Fri, Sat 7 pm; Sat, Sun 2 pm

iDiOM Theater:
Heroes of the Fourth Turning | Fri, Sat, Sun 7:30 pm

New Prospect Theatre:
THE ACTING-EST! | Fri 7 pm

New Prospect Theatre:
The Cocoanuts -Marx Brothers feature film | Sat 9 pm

New Prospect Theatre:
You Didn’t Hear This From Me | Sat 7 pm; Sun 5:30 pm

WWU: College of Fine and Performing Arts:
Dance in Concert | Fri 7:30 pm; Sat 2 pm

COMEDY

The Upfront Theatre:
Space Trek | Fri 7:30 pm
Movie Mayhem | Fri 9:30 pm
Space Trek | Sat 7:30 pm
Punch Line | Sat 9:30 pm

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Silent Disco : Sunset Silent Disco @ Zuanich Point Park | Sat 7:30 pm
Belly Dance : Belly Dance Fusion @ Bellingham Senior Center | Sat 10:30 am
Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 pm

Help Spread The Word

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Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Friday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Saturday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Sunday Games & Trivia
Bingo @ Paws For A Beer | 3 pm
Trivia Night @ Stemma Brewing Co. | 5:30 pm

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Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great weekend!!