🐹 Humpies Arrive 🐟️🐟️

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

Whoa, it looks like all the garage sales that were canceled last weekend have been rebooked for this one. Get on it! 🙂 

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

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.

Weather Forecast

Friday: 85°F 🌡️ 63°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 N 1 to 7 mph

Saturday: 88°F 🌡️ 62°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 N 2 to 6 mph

Sunday: 85°F 🌡️ 62°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 NW 2 to 6 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

A Weekend of Film

Here’s the plan. Two nights, three amazing film experiences…. and, go!

Tonight, August 22nd, at 7:30 pm, Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and Pickford Film Center are teaming up to activate downtown’s Bay Street in a one-of-a-kind event combining outdoor cinema showcasing silent films with live classical music. On the program are Felix the Cat Revolts, One Week, Hazards of Helen Escape on the Fast Freight, Suspense, and A Trip to the Moon. There’s no cover at this family-friendly event.

Start your Saturday evening at Hotel Leo with a multimedia presentation called Cascadia Dreams, in support of Whatcom Land Trust at the Hotel Leo Ballroom, featuring the photography of John D’Onofrio and Lance Ekhart, video by Brett Baunton, and a recorded soundtrack composed by Gary Stroutsos. Reserve your tickets here. Starts at 5 pm.

Last but not least, one of humanity’s greatest artistic achievements, The Princess Bride, will play at the Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema on the Village Green tomorrow, August 23rd. Music from Guitars & Gratitude starts before 7:00 pm, and the movie plays at dusk. I think there’s time to race over from Hotel Leo. 😉 

In other news…

🐟️ Today and tomorrow are the first of eight dates (Friday and Saturday, though September 13th), that the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) will be hosting Salmon Sighting events at Thompson Creek Bridge in Glacier from 10 am to 2 pm.

On odd years (this being one), pink salmon return to Whatcom County streams and rivers in incredible numbers and these NSEA events are a great opportunity to witness humpies on their final journey home. NSEA staff will be there to answer questions and share salmon facts.

🤹‍♂️ Bellingham Parks & Rec is hosting Wren the Juggler at Lee Memorial Park (Central Library Lawn) at noontime today. “His show is always incredibly entertaining and afterwards he’ll lead an interactive teaching workshop!”

Parks & Recreation staff will be present from 11 am to 2 pm with more activities, arts and crafts, and games for children of all ages to participate. It’s a free event with no need to register but adult supervision is required.

🦪 Whatcom County Health and Community Services has extended existing recreational harvest closures to cover all Whatcom County beaches due to “unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) biotoxin.”

Biotoxins do not affect crab meat so the open crab season is not affected, “but can be found in “crab butter” and crab entrails.” Discard those crab entrails because Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning is no joke!

⛏️ Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend: There’s one outdoor work party this weekend.

• Swift Creek Trail, Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest: Join the Pacific Northwest Trail Association for a trail work-party on the Swift Creek Trail on Saturday. Escape the summer heat under forest canopy and help maintain a National Scenic Trail, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Help with brush removal and tread work. No experience in trail work required. Details & Registration.

Garage & Estate Sales

Your Source For Vintage Can Openers

5670 Deerfield Dr. (Fri, Sat)
This one looks fun. Lots of homeware, games, furniture, clothing, and a smattering of older items in the mix. map

• Blaine Community Sale, 549 Cherry St, Blaine, Sat, 10 am, map

• 5021 Guide Meridian, Fri, Sat, Sun, 10 am, map

• 5933 Everson Goshen Rd., Fri, Sat, 9 am, map

• 136 W. Wiser Lake Rd, Fri, 9 am, map

• 314 W. Main, Everson, Fri, Sat, Sun, 12 pm, map

• 2149 Shea Street, Lynden, Fri, Sat, 9 am, map 

• 712 Sunrise Drive, Lynden, Fri, 8 am, map

• 5988 Honeycutt Ct, Ferndale, Sat, 8 am, map

• 842 West Larson Road, Fri, Sat, Sun, 10 am, map

• 2812 Summer St, Sat, Sun, 9 am, map

• 3745 Crystal Ct, Sat, 9 am, map

• 1493 Willowbrook Pl, Sat, Sun, 8 am, map

• 4189 Y Road, Sat, 7 am, map

• 5975 Hoag Lane, Sat, 9 am, map

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

Crash an Open House

1584 Main Street, Lynden (Open Sat 11 am-1 pm)
So many of the homes that come up for sale in Lynden are newer and as such not overly interesting to me. But this 1922-built craftsman on almost .4 acres is absolutely darling. Beautiful fir floors in the main living area, thoughtfully refreshed surfaces throughout, and a huge sunny yard. 🌞 Listing.

4942 West Shore Road, Guemes Island (Open Sat 1:30-3:30 pm)
Here’s a little slice of heaven on Guemes Island to drool over. 😂 Two sweet homes next door to each other with a covered outdoor kitchen cabana in between. Both sitting just feet from the sandy beach. To top it all off, it’s a western exposure. The stuff dreams are made of. Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

BAAY Theatre
Chicago (Teen Edition) | Fri, Sat 7:00 pm, Sat, Sun 2:00 pm

iDiOM Theater
The Plague | Fri, Sat 7:30 pm

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

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
Family Dance Party - Boom! - Sun 10 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

Arguably one of the more well branded bands in Bham music scene currently, Energy Pyramid will play at Trackside tonight, August 22nd, alongside Cat Valley. Per themselves “Energy Pyramid blends art and science inspired by wonders of the natural world.” Beer flows all day, music starts at 6 pm. 

An evening of fun, storytelling, and creativity with Improv Playworks at the Firehouse, that embraces the unexpected as improvisers incorporate your prompts, to make up engaging scenes and stories right before your eyes. Doors open at 7:00 pm on Saturday with live music by The Jersey Maples. Scoop a ticket now.

County Rose is a seven piece band from Whatcom and Skagit counties that performs country standards from the 70’s - 90’s as well as a selection of modern Country and Americana hits, with the mission of putting on a dynamic, high-energy show that appeals to people of all ages. Pull out that pearl snap shirt and swagger up to Lynden’s District Brewing tonight, August 22nd, at 6 pm. 

This Saturday at the Rome Grange, the Bellingham Chapter of the International Footprint Association is holding a crab feed fundraiser to benefit local law enforcement. Look forward to fresh-caught crab, spaghetti, and classic rock-n-roll from Fossil Rock. Call Steve at 360-223-8744 to purchase tickets.

FRIDAY

Summer Recital, Bellinghome School of Music (North) - Enjoy music from talented student performers including two student bands. Then support low income family tuition assistance with a silent auction. It’s an all evening affair from 5 to 10 pm. 🎶 

North Sound Soul, Boulevard Park - Grab your blanket, lawn chairs and picnic dinner and head to Boulevard Park for an evening of sensational sounds and amazing sunsets, with music by North Sound Soul. Bellingham-based, the 9-piece band features a high-energy horn section, dynamic rhythm section and is fronted by a tag-team duo of powerful vocalists. Jams kick off at 8 pm.

Friday Music & Trivia →

SATURDAY

Duck Derby, Birch Bay - The Birch Bay Ducky Derby is back! For $5 per duck, you’ll be entered for a chance to win prizes for 1st through 10th place—and even last place! All proceeds benefit Friends of the Birch Bay Library. Ducks are released around 5:30 pm but there are festivities all day long. Check the full schedule, and purchase your ducks in advance.

Flowering Shrubs of Summer, Garden Spot Nursery - Hydrangea, Rose of Sharon, Potentilla, just to name a few. Join Garden Spot for a discussion about popular flowering shrubs, what they are, how they grow, and how to use them in the landscape. Class is free, but register to attend.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

SUNDAY

Dog Days Of Summer Festival, Whatcom Humane Society - Join WHS in the 9 acre field behind the Division Street Shelter for a day of pet themed vendors, canine contests and games, activities, an animal caricaturist, vegetarian food trucks, beer garden and more! Best of all, as always, entrance and admission to the Dog Days of Summer Festival is FREE!

Boulevard Beats: Sunset Sessions, Boulevard Park - This isn't some stuffy concert where you stand in assigned spots. We're talking live DJ sets with genres that'll keep everyone happy - from your dance-loving teenager to your rhythm-appreciating grandpa. It's the kind of event where families actually want to hang out together. Beats drop at 6 pm.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

Advertise in the #1 Newsletter in the Ham 
Want to include a note in the Wheel? Let’s Chat.

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

Thanks for reading today’s edition. If you found something helpful, please share it with a friend and encourage them to click here to subscribe 🙏.

You can reply to this email if you have something we should know about or want to send us a love note.

Have a great Friday!!