🐹 Paddleboard Pup 🏄️🐩🏄️

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. 📧

Just because the Noisy Waters Mural Festival is over, doesn’t mean the art disappears. The eight paintings created by this year’s finalist muralists are now hanging in the Lightcatcher courtyard, where you can enjoy them through September 18. Each one is a full 8-by-8-foot canvas, painted during the festival and made to live outdoors.

These are the same pieces the artists painted live at the waterfront last month. Noisy Waters brings eight finalists together for three days of painting, then lets the public vote on their favorites. The top three earn commissions to come back and paint permanent murals around Bellingham, while these original competition pieces head to auction.

The Lightcatcher courtyard is free to visit Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm, so you don’t need museum admission to wander in and take a look. But you should grab admission because our museum always has fabulous exhibits. 😀

All eight paintings are up for auction online, with bidding closing September 18 at 10 pm. Proceeds go back into Noisy Waters to help fund future festivals and keep the event free.

If you’re looking for something awesome to do today, September 4, the Salish Current and the League of Women Voters of Bellingham-Whatcom County are putting on a day-long Sharing Our Water Knowledge Festival at the Whatcom Museum. It’s a free program that runs from noon to 8:30 pm and mixing art, storytelling, poetry, a water-themed market, and a film screening with a slate of conversations about how water is used, protected, and managed around Whatcom County.

The afternoon and evening panels bring together a pretty wide range of voices, including Lummi fisherman and former tribal chair Jay Julius, Everson Mayor John Perry, Ag Water Board director Gavin Willis, artist and environmental steward Free Borsey, and several people who work in water policy and resource management. The event is split between Old City Hall and the Lightcatcher, with the panel discussions running from 4 to 8:30 pm.

Bellingham Fire Department, killin'g it as usual, with the awesome then-and-now photos. 😁 This one posted last week shows paramedics checking supplies in an ambulance in 1974 vs today.

“The black and white photo, published in the Bellingham Herald on July 26, 1974, shows Firefighter Gary Hedberg checking supplies inside a demonstration model ambulance being considered for purchase by the county for use in the city run ambulance service.”

“Fast forward to today, and one of our paramedics is doing the same thing, checking supplies on one of our newest paramedic units.”

So good! Always grateful to Bellingham Fire and their rad social media team. 😉

Knitters Alert: Last week, I got a note from Elva Eisel at Wear on Earth in Lynden, that she is retiring after 17 years of selling yarn, needles, hooks, books, and a rather enormous collection of retro clothing. She is clearing out the shop with an inventory liquidation starting today, September 4, through the 13th, with extended hours from 10 am to 7 pm. If you want an excuse to poke through a yarn shop and a vintage clothing collection at the same time, this is it!

LOCAL READS

Creating treasure on Lummi Island
By Cathie Cousineau · Salish Current
On Lummi Island, an assemblage artist turns vintage watch parts, radio tubes, silverware, hardware, and other salvaged objects into sculptures using solder, wire, screws, and epoxy clay. Cathie explains how decades of collecting and repair skills shape work that gives durable, discarded materials a new purpose. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Opinion: Bellingham’s waterfront redevelopment needs to affirm commitment to vision
By Elizabeth Azzara · Cascadia Daily News
Businesses in the historic Granary Building are weighing what a potential ownership change could mean after years of investing in Bellingham’s redeveloping waterfront. Elizabeth explains why she wants the Port and community to reconsider the building’s long-term role, including whether public ownership should be part of that conversation. Read more →

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Thurs-Sun
Olsen Creek: Help Washington Trails Association implement a multi-use recreation opportunity just outside of Bellingham. Thurs, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Friday
Todd Creek: Join Whatcom Land Trust at a beautiful stretch of protected land along the South Fork of the Nooksack River for a day of trail work and invasive species removal at Todd Creek. Register

1448 Terressa Lane (Fri-Sun 10 am)
So much treasure to be found at this one. Plus books, books, books, and mountains of clothing! Looks like a fair bit of antiques too. 🙂

7435 Sunset Drive, Blaine (Open Fri 4-6, Sat 11-1 & 5-7)
Oh man, this one has a rad retirement written all over it. 😁 It’s a manufactured home sitting in the heart of Birch Bay. Big deck for lounging, beach down the street. What’s not to love! Oh, and the price is affordable (for Whatcom County). Listing

517 Lawson Street, Sumas (Open Sat 9-11, Sun 3-5)
Sumas is where it’s at if you want a CUTE Whatcom County house for a reasonable price. A little paint in a few spots and you’d have a charming 4 bed for under $400K. 🤯 Plus, look at the size of that yard! Listing

New Prospect Theatre
Pippin (theatre) | Fri-Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:00 pm
Beginner Ballet - Karate Church - Sat 10 am
Beginner Contemporary - Karate Church - Sat 11:30 am
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sun 10:30 am

The Jasmine Greene Band takes the stage at The Old Edison on Saturday, September 5, from 8 to 10:30 pm with a set drawing from pop, rock, blues, and country. Greene is joined by drummer John Biondolillo, guitarist Greg Stipkala, and bassist Edward Stipkala, with the group performing familiar songs from across the past several decades.

The Naughty Blokes perform at Skylark’s Hidden Cafe tomorrow, September 5, from 1 to 4 pm. The Bellingham rock band plays a mix of original songs and familiar covers, drawing on classic rock while keeping the set geared toward dancing.

Bellingham’s The Atlantics return to the FireHouse Arts and Events Center for an End of Summer Concert on Sunday, September 6, from 6:30 to 9 pm. Their five-piece lineup brings keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, and flute to a set built for dancing. The band has been part of the local music scene since 1980, with past appearances alongside Chubby Checker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and John Lee Hooker.

Cheba Hut’s Rocket Jams & Night Market, Cheba Hut – A free First Friday Art Walk gathering from 7 to 10 pm features live music by Neurodlye and CHRVNS, live art by Shawn Cass AKA Ruckas, and local vendors.

Open Roller Skate, Depot Market Square – A free open skate from 6 to 8 pm welcomes all ages, with participants bringing their own roller skates or inlines and anyone under 18 accompanied by an adult.

Schimmel Showcase: Duo Cascadia, Jansen Art Center – Duo Cascadia performs a one-hour piano program from 11 am to noon on the center’s Schimmel grand piano, with admission by donation.

Friday Music & Trivia →

Creative Corner Artisan Market, Railroad Avenue and East Chestnut Street – Local makers gather from 10 am to 2 pm with jewelry, vintage clothing, loose leaf tea, body care products, resin and glass art, and original paintings.

Drop-In Improv Class, The Upfront Theatre – A pay-what-you-can improv class from noon to 1 pm is open to all ages and experience levels, with registration encouraged but not required.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Open Mic Night, Aslan Depot – Pace Rubadeau hosts an open mic from 7 to 10 pm, with all performers welcome and sign-ups beginning at 6:30 pm.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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