🐹 Shell Yeah 🐣🐣

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

Happy Easter! I hope everyone gets to snack on a peep or find an egg this holiday weekend. There are gobs of hunts planned, so be sure to check the Easter happenings section below.

Also, I’ve been getting reports from readers using Comcast emails that the newsletter is arriving late if at all. After investigating, I’ve learned that Comcast is in the process of migrating users to a Yahoo mail based system. I think these throttling issues will be resolved once that is complete. 🤞

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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

Tonight’s going to be a great night to explore the landscape of local art in Bellingham as First Friday includes twenty four studios, businesses, and venues hosting artists and musicians across downtown. Here’s the April map.

At least two studios are holding openings. Voxel Gallery opens The Veils of Self, a solo exhibition by Lori VanEtta, an abstract painter that calls Bellingham home. The opening reception runs from from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

The Meloy Gallery kicks off a group exhibit called Bring It On with original paintings, prints, collage, and mixed-media wall relief from artists across the region. The reception runs from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

The goings on at the Whatcom Museum sounds extra rad. This month’s Free First Friday includes the opening of the Painted Forest - The Science and Beauty of Petrified Wood exhibit. This is an opportunity to view mineralized specimens from the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, and Utah, as well as places like Argentina, Madagascar, and Turkey with ages ranging from 15 to 300 million years old. Plus, fun rock and mineral presentations throughout the day.

On your drive home, consider stopping by the Lettered Streets Coffeehouse where local artist Cathie Cousineau is showing quirky and imaginative sculptures made from vintage and recycled materials. Or, the Martini Mercantile at the corner of Iron and Kentucky, where artist Paul Niemi will open an exhibit Private Thoughts: Surreal Tricklings from the Mind showcasing his intricate ink drawings from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

This little face. 😻 Meet Hanni, a 10 month old male tuxedo currently living in a foster home under the care of the Whatcom Humane Society. Hanni came to WHS after an attack by another animal left him with wounds to the head, neck, ear, and jaw. He has since recovered and is now ready to find a forever home.

Hanni’s injuries left him with a deformed but working ear on one side, a lazy eye, and an uneven but healed jaw. I can’t even… so cute. 🥰 WHS says a low-traffic home would be best and a mellow feline friend would be ideal. I hope someone makes Hanni a part of their pack!

Gardener Alert: Here’s one that looked fun to me. The Whatcom Horticultural Society is hosting a three hour workshop on edible garden design tomorrow, April 4 at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, led by Mary Marshall and Andrew Tuttle of Edge Perma and Redtail Edge Design. The session focuses on creating productive, regenerative landscapes suited to the Pacific Northwest, with a mix of practical guidance and a virtual tour of established gardens. It starts at 1:30 p.m. and runs through the afternoon with refreshments included. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 general admission.

This Saturday kicks off the 2026 Bellingham Farmers Market summer season at the Depot Market Square. 🍅🥕💐

This year the market hosts over 100 vendors from local farms, artisan shops and food producers, and locally made goods. There’s a full list of vendors on the market website. Saturday Market hours are 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every week until late December.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Friday
Spooner Creek: Help Whatcom Land Trust remove invasive Himalayan blackberry and other invasive species to support young growing native plants. Register to participate.

Saturday
Forest & Cedar Park: Join the city, L.E.A.D., and other Western Washington University student volunteers to combat pesky invasive plants and plant some new native shrubs and trees. Register to participate.
NSEA Nursery: Pot native trees and shrubs to restock the NSEA native plant nursery with plants that will be used in future restoration projects. Register to participate.

Easter Egg Hunt, Bellis Fair Mall (Sat 10:30 am)
A fast-moving indoor egg hunt with photos with the Easter Bunny, coloring activities, and a food court kickoff if you arrive early.

Easter at the Farm, Bellewood Farms & Distillery (Sat–Sun 9 am–3 pm)
A full spring outing with egg hunts every half hour from 10-2, live bluegrass, face painting, orchard strolls, and photos with the Easter Bunny.

Fringe Egg Hunt, Fringe Boutique (Sat 10 am)
An adults-welcome egg hunt inside the shop with hidden prizes, discounts, and gift cards tucked throughout the store.

Easter Egg Hunt, Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center (Sat 3–5 pm)
A lively all-ages hunt with over 1,000 eggs, games, coloring activities, and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

RB’s Wooden Egg Hunt, Bellingham Public Spaces (Sat 9am–3pm)
A citywide egg hunt with 10 hidden wooden eggs placed in parks and public spaces, redeemable for cash prizes at the Bellingham Coin Shop on Cornwall. details

Golden Egg Hunt, Mt Baker Ski Area (Sat 9am–2pm)
An on-mountain egg hunt for skiers and snowboarders, with clue-based searches for prize eggs including a season pass, along with separate kids hunts for younger participants. details

Easter Egg Hunt, CTK Sudden Valley (Sat 10:30 am)
A free neighborhood gathering with egg hunts, kids activities, crafts, and a post-hunt hot dog roast with snacks and refreshments.

Egg Hunt, Arne Hanna Aquatic Center (Sat 4:30-6 pm)
Hop in and swim, splash and collect some eggs with fun prizes inside!

The Bellingham Dockside Market is open tomorrow (Saturday), from 10 am to 2 pm at the Fishermen's Pavilion in Squalicum Harbor.

Lummi Seafood Market will have fresh halibut and fresh lingcod caught locally. Crab Bellingham will be offering IQF Pacific Herring from British Columbia. And a new vendor, Alaska N Dumplings food truck, specializing in Eastern European dumplings and pierogi will be on site!

Plus many fresh, frozen, and preserved options from various vendors.

9778 Mt Baker HighwayÍ (Open Sat 2-4 pm)
Here’s a fabulous “escape from the city” opportunity. Just over 3 acres, nestled against Whatcom Land Trust property, with a rustic ~1,000 sq ft home. Looking at this property on Google Maps, it appears there may be an oxbow lake just behind the treeline. Listing

2517 Peabody Street (Open Sat 1:30–3 pm)
Here’s a gem in the heart of the Fountain District. Built in 1930, it has four beds and one bath. And, it’s cute as can be. 🥰 Peabody is just one street off Meridian so there are options for dining and draft beer just around the corner. Listing

Outsiders Inn Theater Company
Protest (theater) | Wed-Sun

The Claire Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong (theater) | Thurs-Sun

Bellingham Senior Activity Center
Sherlock Holmes Radio Play Mysteries (theater) | Thurs, Fri

Odd Fellows Temple Room
Golden Hour Variety Show (vaudeville) | Fri

iDiOM Theater
All Our Tragic: Heroics (theater) | Fri

Bellingham Theatre Guild
Kodachrome (theater) | Fri-Sun

New Prospect Theatre
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (theater) | Fri-Sat

BAAY
Sweeney Todd (theater) | Fri-Sun

Bellingham Circus Guild
Silver Foxes (circus) | Sat

iDiOM Theater
All Our Tragic: Politics (theater) | Sat

The Shakedown
Love Handles Variety Show (burlesque) | Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Belly Dance - Karate Church - Sun 1 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sunday 10:30 am

Charlie Partin plays the Acme Diner tomorrow, April 4 from 6 to 8 pm. The event runs alongside dinner hours, with the kitchen open during the performance. Enjoy a blend of raw country and Americana, and delicious dinner in the valley.

This Saturday, the Clearbrook Dixie Band will play at the VFW Hall from 2 to 5 pm as part of the Bellingham Traditional Jazz Society’s ongoing series. The ensemble brings together regional players across horns and rhythm section, performing in a New Orleans inspired style rooted in early jazz traditions.

Find some new digs at Road2Home’s Community Clothing Sale tomorrow, April 4 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Karate Church. Buy a bag for $20 and fill it with donated clothing and accessories from a large shared inventory. Road2Home works locally on housing access and stability.

Author Talk: Bootsy Holler, Village Books – A 6:00 to 7:00 pm author event featuring photographer Bootsy Holler discussing her book MAKiNG iT, with a focus on the Seattle music scene of the 1990s and early 2000s. Reserve a seat.

Free First Fridays, Whatcom Museum – A 12:00 to 9:00 pm monthly program with free admission, extended hours, and a rotating schedule of workshops, tours, and activities across the Lightcatcher and Old City Hall. Schedule of events.

Spring Customer Appreciation Sale & Woodturning Demos, Grizzly Industrial – An 8:30 am to 2:00 pm event featuring live woodturning demonstrations, tool and workflow discussions, and ongoing demos on crafting items like table legs and pens using benchtop lathes.

Friday Music & Trivia →

10th Anniversary Block Party, Stones Throw Brewery – A 12:00 to 9:00 pm outdoor celebration featuring live music throughout the day, local food trucks, and a street-style gathering with space for dancing, socializing, and family-friendly activities.

Dahlia Society Tuber Sale, Bloedel Donovan Park – A 10:00 am to 2:00 pm plant sale featuring a wide selection of dahlia tubers grown by local society members, with a thousand varieties available at $7 or $15 each.

Friends of the Everson Library Rainy Day Book Sale, Everson Library Shop – A 10:00 am to 3:00 pm sale featuring thousands of books, DVDs, antique titles, and children’s and teen selections, along with library merchandise in an accessible alley location behind Peoples Bank.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

🐣 Easter Sunday 🐣
See Easter section above. 👆

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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