🐹 Honey Balls 🍯🍯

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

Congratulations to Nicole who won the pair of Mat Kearney tickets for tonight’s show!

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 73°F 🌡️ 61°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 2% | 💨 W 1 to 6 mph

Thursday: 76°F 🌡️ 61°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 3% | 💨 SSW 2 to 6 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

A Flavorful Summer Finale

It may not be the longest running festival in Bellingham, but the Greek Festival at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church on Sunset Drive is a central memory from my childhood. Families from around the county gather each year to enjoy community, music, dance, and delicious baklava. 😁

This year’s festival runs from Thursday, September 4th, through Sunday, September 7th, with hours from 11 am to 9 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 11 am to 7 pm on Sunday.

Savor homemade Greek delicacies like gyros, souvlaki chicken skewers, spanakopita, and loukoumades (fried honey balls), all served under a large outdoor tent—rain or shine! Enjoy live Greek music, dance performances, and a taverna offering Greek wine and beer, plus shopping for unique crafts. Free admission and ample parking make it easy fun for the family.

Docent-led church tours, including special presentations by Professor Carrie Frost, offer a glimpse into the heritage of St. Sophia. English language tours are scheduled for each day of the festival, and Ukrainian and Russian tours are planned on Saturday and Sunday at select times. Learn more.

A Celebration of Storytelling, Community, and Change

The North Sound Voices Film Festival starts tomorrow at 5:30 pm with an initial block of short films at the Pickford Film Center, followed by a second night on Saturday.

This event will showcase Resilience, the story of how Ahmad Hilal Abid founded the House of Wisdom; West Shore, about a canoe family during the 2023 Canoe Journey to Muckleshoot; Fascia, featuring poet Quaniqua Williams; and Ceremony of Awareness, an intimate portrait by director Remy Styrkowicz. Grab a ticket or four.

In other news…

Hamster Wheel reader Dawn Anderson reached out to share that she will be facilitating the formation of two theatre troupes for performers of all skill levels aged 50 and older at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center on Thursday.

Dawn invites readers to “join us as we form two Theatre Troupes: one to create and rehearse variety shows and one to produce plays that are designed with seniors in mind!” and continued “this is YOUR chance to get involved in a lively and welcoming theatrical group. Lights, laughter, and lots of fun! You are welcome to start at any of the September sessions. (Sept. 4, 11, 25)” Sign up here.

🔥 When we learned about the Perry Fire yesterday it was only impacting a couple hundred acres of timberland on the northwest end of Ross Lake. As of writing this article it’s now active across 747 acres of steep, cliffy terrain.

Firefighters are using aerial water drops from a Type-3 helicopter, and a Type-1 Whiskeytown Wildland Fire Module to bolster suppression efforts. The national park service anticipates “increased fire behavior is expected due to hot and dry conditions” this week.

🦪 The Washington State Department of Ecology is holding an informational meeting by Zoom at 10 am this morning, September 3rd, to answer questions and share information about the Drayton Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan that was recently published.

🚜 Join Whatcom County’s first annual Open House today from from 6 to 7 pm at the County Courthouse to explore the scope, work, and budget of your local government. Meet county staff, elected officials like County Executive Satpal Sidhu and Council Chair Kaylee Galloway, and learn about upcoming public works projects, the new jail and behavioral care facility, the county budget, and property GIS tools, while enjoying Whatcom County trivia for prizes.

🌊 The Lake Whatcom Policy Group meets today at 3 pm. This is a hybrid meeting with an in-person option at the Pacific Street Operations Center and a remote option on Zoom.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

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

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

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

Bellingham Music Club opens its 110th season today, September 3rd, with Bellissima Brass, a quintet that plays an all-women composers program for horn, trumpet, tuba and trombone. Michelle Rockwood, Karolyn Labes, Shelly Devlin, Amy Kavanagh, and Emma Eliason will perform works by Gwyneth Walker, Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, Barbara York, and Florence Price. At Trinity Lutheran Church, 10:30 am.

Today, at 6:30 pm, the Jazz Center of Bellingham kicks off its fall season with an Open House featuring live jazz and a raffle for season tickets, individual shows, and merch, as well as ways to support the Jazz Center's mission. Admission is free but it’s likely to reach capacity so reserve a ticket.

Mason Marcus Turner is a Country and Folk musician hailing from Langley, Washington. He grew up playing and listening to artists and writers like John Prine and Jason Isbell. His writing is reminiscent of the old folk traditions of the northwest while creating a sound that's all his own. Mason plays Stones Throw tonight at 6 pm.

WEDNESDAY

MaSango, Schooner Zodiac - Float for an evening of music, community, and fun on the Bay! Pick a boat from the CBC fleet and head out to listen to some tunes! Or if you’d like to enjoy the comforts of a slightly larger boat, tickets to be on the deck of the Schooner Zodiac can be purchased here.

Back2Skool Fundraiser, Squalicum Boathouse - Whatcom Young Professionals is hosting their annual fundraiser from 5:30-8:00 pm. This groovy event will feature a nostalgic twist full of games, food trucks, local beer, raffle items, family-friendly activities, and more, with all proceeds benefitting Blue Skies for Children! $25 admission includes one drink voucher.

Reggae Nights with DJ Yogoman, Boundary Bay - Expect a dynamite record selection, soulful vocalizations, and a whole lot of full joy as DJ Yogoman uplifts the Boundary crowd one last time before they close their doors. Come early, bring your friends, and soak up the good vibes in the beer garden! Beats drop at 8 pm.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

THURSDAY

Stand-Up Comedy Night, Beach Cat Brewing (Southpaw) - Join Beach Cat for a hilarious night of Stand-Up Comedy featuring local comics and an open mic segment for brave souls ready to take the stage. Come see the incredibly funny Kiahn Larry and Dan Mills. This show will have a heavy dose of DADisms so grab your pops and bring him down for a night of comedy! Laughs and brews at 8 pm.

Trivia: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Aslan Depot - It’s time for Trivia: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader + a pint night for Communities in Schools of Whatcom-Skagit. $1 of every Aslan beer and hop water poured will go toward Communities in Schools of Whatcom-Skagit.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Wednesday!!