🐹 Slide, Kelly, Slide ⚾️⚾️

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Puzzlers: The game section is a work in progress. Play the daily puzzles and let me know how it goes.

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

On Monday, the Mount Baker Theatre rolled out it’s Centennial Season lineup celebrating a century of bringing film, music, vaudeville, theatre, comedy, and dance to little ol’ Bellingham. The season brings more than 35 national and international tours to the Main Stage, including six Broadway tours. I notice the July 2 Modest Mouse show has already sold out, so grab tickets soon for other shows!

It’s easy to forget how special our access to entertainment and culture is here in Bellingham. On a recent trip to Rochester Minnesota, I was astonished to learn that while the economy is strong, and the job market rich in professional-level positions, there’s not a single independent theatre or cinema comparable to the MBT or The Pickford.

On April 29 of next year, the MBT is celebrating it’s 100th Birthday with a screening of Slide, Kelly, Slide, the very same iconic American comedy attendees watched on the theatres opening day in 1927:

“On April 29, 1927, at 6:00 p.m. whistles shrieked from Bellingham Bay, fire engine sirens rang into the night, and streetcars carrying passengers to the theatre clanged their bells. The doors to the Mount Baker Theatre opened at 6:30 p.m. letting in the crowds of people who were lined up around the block.”

Tickets for this event go on sale for members on June 29, and the general public on July 6. Mark your calendar, this will be a fun one. ⚾

Yoga People: Starting this evening, June 10 at 5:30 pm, and on the following Wednesdays through August 19, you can join free drop-in outdoor classes at the Village Green at Barkley Village. These classes will be let by local Barkley-area studios and instructors, with Barkley Yoga leading today’s class. You can find the full schedule and details on the Barkley Village website. 🧘‍♀

Those of us that grew up in Bellingham take the old GP property for granted. It’s been a part of the fabric of Bellingham life as far back as any of us remember. But I would imagine Bellingham newcomers might be a bit mystified by the sprawling dystopian wasteland we tout as our future waterfront.

If that’s you, or if you’re a long-time hamster who’d like an update on the Georgia-Pacific West property cleanup efforts, there’s a walking tour this afternoon, June 10 at 3:30 pm, followed by an open house informational gathering at the Portal Village. They are asking folks to register to participate.

BLI Airport: On Monday, the Port of Bellingham announced that, starting on June 15, Uber will resume rideshare service at the BLI Airport and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. This will be the first time in five years, since May 1, 2021, that Uber will be available to travelers.

CIVIC CORNER

Wednesday
Community Conversations w Whatcom County Councilmembers, 5:00 pm, Van Zandt Community Hall
Port of Bellingham Board of Commission, 4:00 pm, Harbor Center
Bham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, 7:30 pm, Pacific Street Operations Center

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Friday
Olsen Creek: Help Washington Trails Association implement a multi-use recreation opportunity just outside of Bellingham. Register

Saturday
Cordata Park: Team up with the city, WCC, and NSEA volunteers to weed and mulch near East Bear Creek, enhancing an important riparian habitat. Register
Olsen Creek: Help Washington Trails Association implement a multi-use recreation opportunity just outside of Bellingham. Register

Sunday
Northridge Park: Northridge Park is a mature forest crowning Barkley Hill, English ivy that has spread into the park from adjacent yards and is threatening mature trees there. Join Whatcom Million Trees Project to help get the ivy under control before it spreads. Register
Olsen Creek: Help Washington Trails Association implement a multi-use recreation opportunity just outside of Bellingham. Register

New Prospect Theatre
The Lament of Morin, Mumphries, Halstrom and Rose (theatre) | Wed-Thurs

The Claire Theatre
Cinderella (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

Bellingham Theatre Guild
Next To Normal (theatre) | Fri-Sun

BAAY Theatre
Dance Company Showcase (dance) | Fri, Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

5Rhythms workshop - Register - Wed-Sun
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Revolution Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Contra - Glen Echo Community Club - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 8:00 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
Intercultural Dance Day - Fisherman’s Pavilion - Sun 12:00 pm

Channel One Sound System comes to The Shakedown tonight, June 10, with music beginning at 8 pm. FEstablished in the late 1970s by siblings Michael and Trevor Bailey, Channel One SoundSystem originated when they were passed control of their father’s Admiral Bailey sound. The name pays tribute to Jamaica’s legendary Channel One Studio, where many of the records in their collection were first procured. Tickets

Award-winning trumpeter, composer, and educator Jun Iida brings his quintet to the FireHouse Arts & Events Center tonight, June 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Known for work that bridges jazz and contemporary music, Iida has performed at venues and festivals around the world while building a reputation as both a performer and educator. Tickets

Wyld Flamingos brings a raw and fiery take on funk and rock, to Zeek’s Pizza tomorrow, June 11, at 7:00 pm. They deliver bass lines that punch, guitars that snarl, drums that drive, and vocals that ignite the room. Their sets blend the groove of funk with the edge of rock, creating a show that’s equal parts tight musicianship and chaotic fun.

Honey Moon hosts Jackero and Ivy Ficarra tomorrow, June 11 from 8 to 10 pm. The duo combines traditional Appalachian influences with original material, creating performances built around fiddle, banjo, guitar, and vocal harmonies.

Women on Water Wednesdays, Bloedel Donovan Park Boat Ramp – A women-only wakeboarding session from 6 to 9 pm offering a supportive environment for riders of all experience levels, whether heading out solo or with friends. Register

Flower Market, North Sound Flower Cooperative at Ohio Street Work Studios – A weekly flower market from 9 am to noon featuring locally grown, seasonal blooms from regional flower farms, with fresh cut flowers available to both floral professionals and the public.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

KNKX 10th Anniversary Event, SPARK Museum – From 6:30 to 9:15 pm, KNKX celebrates ten years as an independent station with museum access, a discussion on marine mammal conservation featuring regional experts, a presentation on jazz and ecology, and a live performance by saxophonist Cory Weeds and his trio. Get tickets

Robert Sarazin Blake's High, Wide & Handsome Band, The Orion – Music starts at 7 pm with performances by Robert Sarazin Blake’s High, Wide & Handsome Band and Dogwood as part of the Subdued Stringband Jamboree Spring Starlight Series.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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