🐹 Imaginations Run Wild 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

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

I always figure the hot days at the end of August are the last of our guaranteed warmth. This might be it friends. Soak it in while you can. 😎

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Weather Forecast

Monday: 83°F 🌡️ 62°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 SW 1 to 6 mph

Tuesday: 84°F 🌡️ 63°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 6% | 💨 SW 1 to 6 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Academy for Lifelong Learning Posts 2025–2026 Courses

Many of you may know about Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL), a volunteer-led community hosted and administered by Western Washington University, where adults of all ages and educational backgrounds can take short, college-level courses and other education events — without homework, tests or credit. Somehow, I’m just learning about it. 🤦

This last week, ALL posted over two dozen courses on offer from October of this year, through February of next. Courses like How Pathogens Cause Disease, The True Story of the 1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials, Famous Furniture Makers and Their Fabulous Creations, and Volcanoes in Our Backyard: Cascade and Other Volcanoes.

It looks like courses can be purchase with or without a membership, but you get a substantial discount with one. I’m also eager to see the upcoming lectures once they’re posted.

In other news…

🌲 Have a favorite tree in Whatcom County? Whatcom Million Trees Project is hoping you’ll snap a picture and submit your photo to their Treasured Trees of Whatcom Calendar Photo Contest, along with a story that explains why it's so special.

Community votes will help select 12 contest winners, who will be featured in their 2026 Calendar, with proceeds supporting the Whatcom Million Trees Project. The deadline for submissions is next Sunday, August 31st, so break out those cameras!!

🐟️ Local Read: Check out Luisa Loi’s recent article in the Salish Current on new research warning of a potential jellyfish-spurred upset in the Salish Sea, which dives into University of Washington student Haila Schultz’s findings about moon jellies disrupting the food chain and threatening species like Chinook salmon and Southern Resident orcas. It’s a fascinating read!

🏙️ The Bellingham City Council meets today, August 25th, at 10:15 am, with the Regular Meeting at 7 pm. The agenda is available online. This public meeting is held at Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall or can be watched online.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

Preschool In The Wild

I first heard about the Keystone Nature Preschool program, offered by Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, during some spirited discussion on the Whatcom County Council when Ben Elenbaas voted against allocating preschool funding to an organization he, at times, disagrees with. Still, as I recall, even he couldn’t help but admit it sounded pretty awesome. 😜 …and it does.

The kiddos, ages 3-5, start each morning with a Salmon Circle, where they greet one another and set a welcoming tone for the day. From there, they head for the great outdoors where little imaginations run wild and all trails start new adventures.

Honest to goodness, if they had a version of this program for middle aged dads, I’d sign myself up. 😁 Play, nature, adventures… everything we want for our kiddos. I’m unsure about availability, but as a new program, it likely has open spots or a short waitlist. It runs from 8:30 to 1:30, Monday through Friday during the school year. More info here.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham | Mon 9:00 pm

Mount Baker Theatre
Into the Khumbu by Alan Weltzien (poems) | Wed, 6 pm

Jansen Art Center
The Clockmaker’s Daughter | Thurs, Fri, 7 pm

New Prospect Theatre
Cabaret | Thurs 7:00 pm; Sun 3:00 pm & 7 pm

Stones Throw Brewery
Up Up Up Circus | Sat 6 pm

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - 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 7 pm
Int. Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 7:15 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Summer Heat - Presence Studio - Thurs 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
Family Dance Party - Boom! - Sun 10 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

Get ready for an unforgettable evening with country music legend Josh Turner as he brings his This Country Music Thing Tour to Mount Baker Theatre on Tuesday, August 26, at 7:30 PM, with opener Will Jones. Celebrating over 20 years since his iconic Grand Ole Opry debut, Turner delivers timeless hits like “Long Black Train” and his latest album’s fresh take on traditional country, blending honky-tonk rhythms with his signature deep vocals. Tickets.

This Tuesday evening is the annual combined Sunnyland and Roosevelt neighborhood picnic at Memorial Park. This years picnic will include hot dogs and chips, popsicles, and a dessert potluck, plus face-painting by Art & Happiness, bandana block printing with Whatcom Soft Goods Collective, visits from the Bellingham Police and Fire Departments, lawn games, giant bubbles, a bull whip demo, and raffle prizes. Starts at 5 pm.

Evans' musical journey delves into themes of sexuality, loss, death, spirituality, and the intricacies of relationships. With a diverse life experience, including residence in Australia and as a former island dweller of the Fiji Islands, he now resides with his wife in Western Washington, drawing newfound inspiration from the stunning Pacific Northwest. This afternoon, August 25, 3:30 pm at the Firehouse. 

MONDAY

KIDS Open Mic with Seán Dwyer, Village Books - Kids Open Mic is held the last Monday of each month at 5:00pm in the Readings Gallery on the bottom floor of Village Books in Fairhaven. Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local young writers as they share their own stories, poems and essays. Kids are encouraged to attend and enjoy a welcoming audience. Details.

Trivia Night, 'Ono Kitchen and Bar - Bellingham's longest running Trivia Night hosted by local legend (and incredible stand-up comedian) Quizmaster Randall of World's Best Trivia. Free-to-play and featuring: raffles, prizes, return patronage rewards, and more! Put on your thinking cap at 6:45 pm.

Monday Music & Trivia →

TUESDAY

Tuesday Tunes, Barkley Village Green - Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Dance up an appetite, then get food from one of the several food trucks that will be attending. This week GrooveBot will play starting at 6 pm.

Simply Horror Book and Movie Society, Lynden Library - Explore Horror from Around the World through trivia. Horror can be humorous, creepy, grotesque and terrifying. Horror can be woven into everyday life or just plain fantasy. Horror elevates emotions and ignites our imagination. Chat with connoisseurs of terror at 6 pm.

Bingo Night, Zeeks Pizza - Open to all ages, prizes after each round, and it's free to play with any food or drink purchase. Pizza and dabs at 6 pm.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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