🐹 Murmurations 🕊️🕊️

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Or, hit reply to send me photos via email. 📧

If you’re in the mood for cultural exploration this weekend, there are several interesting exhibits opening to the public. Tonight at 6 pm, the Voxel Gallery unveils Double Exposure, 👇 a “group exhibition exploring the beauty, complexity, and vulnerability of the human body.”

Allied Arts opens it’s doors for the 2026 Annual Members Show today, with 11 am - 4 pm gallery hours, and a 6 pm reception with pianist Lou Lippman. “The Member’s Show features work from nearly 100 Allied Arts members, including professional artists, students, and new or emerging artists.”

Also today, the Whatcom Museum has a new exhibit called Murmuration 👆 that showcases the sculptures by Edison-based artist Andrew Vallee “inspired by synchronized flight and deep time.”

WSDOT has announced that the Mount Baker Highway will reopen sometime today, with single-lane, and alternating-lane traffic patterns continuing while crews compete repairs at the O'Keefe Creek streambed crossing.

The Mount Baker Ski Area remains closed through today but will reopen tomorrow, February 7, so pack up those skis and head for the Mountain this weekend. ⛷

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Friday
Craver Site: Join WLT in their annual property monitoring visit, to explore winding game trails, while tackling essential restoration work. Tasks for the day include trail clearing and removing invasive vinca and blackberry. Register to participate.

Saturday
Lake Padden/Galbraith Mountain Trailhead: Help plant native trees and shrubs near Bellingham’s favorite new trailhead and recreation hub. The city hopes to be joined by volunteers and friends from the Whatcom Mountain Biking Coalition and the Whatcom Land Trust! Register to participate.
North Fork Nooksack River: Join NSEA along the North Fork Nooksack River in Deming as they return to a property to continue cutting back Himalayan blackberry and replacing it with native trees and shrubs! Register to participate.

Valentine’s Experience Market, Bellingham Towers (Sat 10-4)
Amazing local small businesses & artists bring you a unique market full of cute experiences!

Valentine’s Craft Fair, The Christian Way Community Church in Blaine (Sat 10-4)
Looking for something unique to give this Valentine's Day? Check out this Valentine's Craft Fair and see what there is to buy.

BIPOC Valentines Art & Craft Fair, Whatcom Art Center (Sat 11-4)
A chance to find unique handcrafts artwork, crafts and treats, from unique jewelry and glass to candles, artwork and cozy textiles, there’s something for everyone!

Sapphic Speed Dating, L&L Libations (Sun 5:30 pm)
Tickets include 2 drink tickets, snacks, a coupon to use on Valentines Day, & a full evening of meeting other single, Bham Sapphics, in short 5 minute dates!

Galentine’s Day Bouquet Bar, Stemma West (Fri 6 pm)
Learn how to create a beautiful bouquet with local stems from Headwater’s Farm. Signup.

CHRUSHED: Art and Interactive Exhibit, WinkWink (Fri 6 pm)
Crushed is an interactive community exhibit relishing in the joys and agonies of having a crush. Details.

The Bellingham Dockside Market is open tomorrow (Saturday), from 10 am to 2 pm at the Fishermen's Pavilion in Squalicum Harbor. Vendors will include: DJ Fish Co, Drayton Harbor Oyster Co, Fish Fed Foods, Jean C Family Fisheries, Lummi Seafood Market, Sea to Shore Seafood Co, and Slack Tide Fisheries.

This February Dockside celebrates YOU, with these special perks:

💗Free entry into the raffle for vendor goodies. The raffle drawing will take place at the end of the market on Feb 21. Come to both February markets, get twice the chances to enter!

💗Get double "stamps" on your Seafood Superstar card (this gets you a free Dockside cooler bag twice as fast!)

💗Sweet treats, free stickers and temporary tattoos at the Info table

💗DJ Fish Co: King salmon fillets Buy one, Get one half off!

1693 Pebble Beach Trail (Open Sat 2:30-4:30 pm & Sun 10-2 )
Loving this modern cabin-style home perched on a steep hillside overlooking Toad Lake. Very cool home with its own dock! And, check out the fir faced cabinets. Not something you see everyday. Listing.

2414 Elm Street (Open Fri 3-5, Sat 1-3, Sun 12-2 )
Here’s a sweat one in the Columbia Neighborhood. Homes for sale in Columbia have been few and far between over the last year. This one looks like it’s a score for someone. 😁 Listing.

Bellingham Theatre Guild
American Son (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

The Claire Theater
The Nerd (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

iDiOM Theater
Serial Killers (theatre) | Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Cupid’s Island (comedy) | Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Punch Line (comedy) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 4:30 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Belly Dance - Karate Church - 1 pm

An Evening with the Stephanie Anne Johnson Duo brings the Pacific Northwest Americana songwriter’s soulful, gospel-inflected voice to the New Prospect Theatre tonight, February 6, at 7:30 pm. Johnson’s work blends folk, soul, and Americana.

Three for Silver presents The Golden Hour Variety Show! Tonight, February 6, from 7 to 11 pm at the Odd Fellows Temple Room. Music, burlesque, and other strange performances abound! All that you need to chase away those winter blues.

That's What She Said: True stories, told by women for women. These will be MOTH Radio Hour-style stories, 5-10 min long, told from memory. Gather to speak, listen, and support tonight, February 6, from 5:30 tp 7:30 pm at The Commons.

The Salish Seed Swap 2026: at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship on Saturday, February 7, from 12–3:00 pm, offering a chance to learn about seed saving, swap seeds, connect with fellow plant lovers, and browse local vendors. Details.

Western Symphony Orchestra presents Farah, Ellington, and Beethoven, Performing Arts Center 155 – Concert Hall – A 7:30 pm orchestral program spanning centuries, featuring the world premiere of Amara Farah’s Sea Under Stars, Duke Ellington’s Three Black Kings, and Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony.

Friday Music & Trivia →

Fairhaven Park Guided Naturalist Walk, Fairhaven Park – A free, family-friendly guided walk from 10:00 am–12:00 pm with Raven’s Roots Naturalist School, exploring Padden Creek, Hundred Acre Wood, and local plant and animal life through ecology, observation, and human connection to the landscape. Details.

Book Lovers Book Sale, Everson Library (Friends Shop) – A community book sale featuring thousands of items including books, DVDs, Friends merch, and antiques, hosted by the Friends of the Everson Library in their shop behind Peoples Bank, running from 10:00 am–3:00 pm.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Intro to Beekeeping, Growing Veterans – A free, beginner-friendly workshop from 1:00–3:00 pm covering the basics of beekeeping, designed to help curious newcomers decide whether starting a hive is right for them, with guidance from North Cascade Beekeepers and time for questions. Learn more.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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