🐹 Puppy Bowl 2025 🐶🐶

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

There’s something truly enchanting about walking through Bellingham when the snow is falling—perhaps because it’s such a rare treat. If you’re out and about, I highly recommend strolling through Elizabeth Park. It’s magical under a blanket of fresh snow. ❄

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

🍰 Birthday Callout 🍰

Happy birthday:

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Friday: 37°F 🌡️ 26°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 NNE 3 mph

Saturday: 40°F 🌡️ 25°F | ❄ Chance of Snow | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 NNE 3 mph

Sunday: 39°F 🌡️ 23°F | ❄ Chance of Snow | 🌧️ 30% | 💨 NNE 2 mph

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Bellingham’s Genevieve Whelan, a sophomore at Squalicum High School, has been nominated to be part of Teen of Impact, AHA’s 9-week competition to raise awareness about heart health, and raise funds to combat heart disease and stroke. Genevieve is one of only eight teenagers in Washington state participating this national campaign and the only nominee from Whatcom County.

Genevieve describes how she’s “excited to begin my tenth year of dedication to raising money and awareness for the AHA, an organization that holds a special place in my heart due to its critical role in supporting families like mine who have been deeply affected by heart disease and stroke,” and relates how her grandparents, aunts, and uncles have been impacted.

With support from the community, Genevieve hopes to raise funds to further this cause and increase her eligibility to receive an AHA scholarship and speaking opportunities. If you want to make a donation as part of Genevieve’s team, look for the “Join this Nominee” button at the bottom of the page.

Don’t miss this opportunity to root for a puppy at Menace Brewing’s first annual Bellingham Puppy Bowl Adoption Event, which is being held in partnership with Happy Tails Happy Homes. The event will showcase two teams of adoptable (and adorable) canines playing a game that looks something like football but is tailored to a pack of pups. 🐶

"Happy Tails Happy Homes is thrilled to team up with Menace Brewing for the First Annual Puppy Bowl in Bellingham,” said Jenna Samora, Board President, Happy Tails Happy Homes. “This event is a fantastic way to showcase some of our incredible adoptable pups while bringing joy to our wonderful community. As a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, fostering, and rehoming pets in need, we rely on the support of people to adopt, foster, or volunteer. Together, I hope we can give these animals the loving homes they deserve.”

The fun begins this Sunday (Feb 9) at 12 PM at Menace Brewing and runs until 2PM. Plan on grabbing a sandwich next door at Doug’s Burgers where 50% of all profits will be donated to Happy Tails Happy Homes. 🍔

🐟 Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) and the City are teaming up on a Community Work Party at Cornwall Park this Saturday (Feb 8). This is an opportunity to help plant trees and shrubs while removing invasive Himalayan Blackberry near Squalicum Creek.

These work parties are a lot of fun, and a great place to meet your neighbors while supporting the community. But, this one’s going to be cold!! Bundle up and bring a thermoses of warm tea. 😃 Register to participate.

🍎 Take a deep dive into growing fruit before springtime arrives! Registration is open for Cloud Mountain Farm’s Growing Fruit Trees 101 class where you will learn “the easiest varieties to grow, how to decide on which rootstock to plant, where and how to plant and what initial pruning and training is needed.”

You’ll also get a tour of the orchards to see different training styles. This class will be held on February 15th from 12:30-2:30 PM. Registration.

🦢 Grab a spot in next Thursday’s North Cascades Audubon Society Fir Island Field Trip. This outing, led by Steven Harper, will set out from the Alger Park and Ride and include birding at Wylie Slough, Hayton Road and other parts of Fir Island where they hope to spot Raptors, Shorebirds, Snow Geese, Trumpeter Swans, Owls, and waterfowl. These outings have been filling up quickly, so it’s not too early to reserve a spot. Details.

Food & Drinks

Friday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Falafel Feast @ 4370 Meridian St
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Mobile Mouth Hole @ Lowes Parking Lot
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Saturday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Sammies Vegan @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Dockside Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Sunday Food Trucks
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

1012 Dupont Street (Open Sat 12-2 PM)
I walked past this location last weekend and wondered if it would pop up on the MLS. Until recently, it was the location of a real estate firm, and I always thought it was a charming live/work property. Listing.

308 Carolina Street (Open Sat 11-1 PM, Sun 1-3 PM)
These little craftsman cottage homes are some of my favorite B’ham properties. Growing up in the Ham, many of these homes were a little weathered, but these days the ones that hit the market are darling. This is a great example. Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

iDiOM Theater:
Tower of Air | Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun 7:30 PM

Bellingham TheatreWorks:
Deep Blue Sound | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sun 1&5 PM

Bellingham Theatre Guild:
Home, I’m Darling | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sun 2 PM

New Prospect Theatre:
36 Questions | Fri, Sat 7:30 PM; Sat, Sun 2 PM

Western - College of F&PA:
The Storyteller | Fri, Sat 7:30; Sat 2 PM

Mount Baker High School:
Little Woman | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sun 2 PM

Lynden Christian High School:
High School Musical | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sat 2 PM

Nooksack Valley High School:
Frankenstein | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7 PM

The Upfront Theatre:
Cupid’s Arrow | Fri 7:30 PM
Fifty Shades of Velvet | Fri 9:30 PM
Cupid’s Arrow | Sat 7:30 PM
Punch Line | Sat 9:30 PM

Latine : Baila Con Amor @ Blue Room | Fri 9 PM
Party : Crank That @ Wild Buffalo | Fri 9 PM
Party : The Bad Bunny Party @ Wild Buffalo | Sat 8 PM
Contra : Geneva Convention + Bob Rentz @ Fairhaven Library | Sat 7 PM
Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM

Music & Nightlife

Friday Music
Admiralty Lounge | Cape Flattery Rock Folk | 7 PM
Aslan Depot | BJ Block Trio Jazz Funk | 8 PM
Big Stick BBQ | Michelle D’Amore and The Love Dealers Blues | 5:30 PM
Corner Taphouse | JP Valentine Rock | 7 PM
Honey Moon | Buddy Mac and his 10 Gallon Troubadours with Mild Mallard Folk Country | 8 PM
Hotel Bellwether | Marvin Johnson Pianist | 6 PM
Old Edison | Wayne Hayton Singer-Songwriter | 7 PM
Performing Arts Center | Music Dept. Concert Classical | 7:30 PM
The Shakedown | Lightnin’ Luke, Coleman Williams, guests Punk Blues | 9 PM
Stones Throw | High Mountain String Band Folk | 6 PM
Sugar & Co. | Michael Dayvid Singer-Songwriter | 7 PM
The Vault | Dick and Jane Blues Rock | 7 PM
Waterfront Tavern | Big Time, Land of Wolves, Krontonamo Punk | 8 PM

Friday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Saturday Music
Chair 9 | Snoqualmie PassHoles Rock | 8 PM
Graham’s | Big Slick, Thrashed Behind the Eyes Rock | 8 PM
Greene’s Corner | Bayou Opossums Cajun | 6 PM
Honey Moon | Mark Tegio, Wes Jones Singer-Songwriter | 8 PM
Hotel Bellwether Ballroom | Delectable Love Notes (Bellingham Symphony Orchestra) Classical | 6 PM
Jansen Art Center | Dixieland All Stars Jazz | 3 PM
Larrabee Lager Co. | Quickdraw String Band Folk | 7 PM
Make.Shift | Open Mic | 6 PM
Mount Baker Theatre | International Guitar Night Guitar | 10 AM
Odd Fellows at the Orion | Jerry Steinhilber Trio Jazz | 8 PM
Old Edison | The Dimes Blues Rock | 8 PM
‘Ono Kitchen and Bar | The Preacher and the Freight Train, Pigeon Town Hoochers, Pete Ruble Blues Rock | 8 PM
Ramble Tamble | Dadweed, Claire Willow, Your Jack Folk | 8 PM
The Shakedown | Monstress, Serial Hawk, Mycon Metal | 9 PM
Skylark’s | Anissa   Jazz   Blues   R&B | 8 PM
Stones Throw | The D’vas Rock Folk | 6 PM
Sugar & Co. | Cardova R&B Funk | 7 PM
Wild Buffalo | SNBRN, Cat Passidy, Fulminate, Silk Jammies Electronic | 8:15 PM

Saturday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Sunday Music
Blue Room | Wolfchild, The Living Arrows Rock Folk | 6 PM
Boundary Bay | Scot Ranney & friends Jazz | 6 PM
Chair 9 | Sockeye Sawtooth Country Rock | 8 PM
Chuckanut Bay Distillery | Bad Posture Club, The Shadies Folk | 6 PM
Graham’s | Big Time, Land of Wolves, Krontonamo Punk | 8 PM
Old Edison | Orville Johnson Band Singer-Songwriter | 5:30 PM

Sunday Games & Trivia
Bingo @ Paws For A Beer | 3 PM
Trivia Night @ Stemma Brewing Co. | 5:30 PM

Hakuna matata

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