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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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

Last month we looked at Whatcom Death Matters, a group that meets monthly for conversations about mortality and end of life. That edition received a lot of engagement, and I heard from a member of the group’s planning committee that many readers attended.

The group meets again tonight, March 16, with the Bellingham Threshold Singers discussing how music can be an important factor in the end of life journey.

This incredible group of ladies volunteer their time to share songs, and compassion, at the bedside of those who are seriously ill or dying, along with their families. In groups of three or four, they “sing songs of peace and love, courage and letting go, healing and joy to let people know they are not alone on their journey.”

In the video below, Wendy Bloom describes how the Threshold Singers brought comfort to her and her family. 👇

Tonight’s gathering will begin with a presentation from the singers before opening the room for sharing “whatever may be on your heart and mind.” The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Old Parish Hall of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2117 Walnut Street, across from the main brick campus. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot.

LOCAL READS

The Second Life of Fairhaven’s Historic Firehouse
By Ben Stainbrook · Bellingham Alive
Fire Station No. 2, a Spanish Mission style building designed by architect Frederick Stanley Piper in 1927, served Fairhaven firefighters for more than 70 years before becoming an arts venue. Ben explains how the restored building became the FireHouse Arts & Events Center in 2006, hosting concerts, theater, dance classes, and a café with a walk-up window that became a community gathering spot during the pandemic. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

To the Daytrip Cafe!
By Lauren · I Love Bellingham Blog
There’s a new café on Holly in the Lettered Streets neighborhood offering coffee, pastries, and a quiet space beside Elizabeth Station. Lauren describes how the shop pairs espresso drinks with pastries from Lamination Station and displays locally made crafts and artwork. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
Ferndale City Council, 5:00 pm, City Hall Annex and Council Chambers
Lynden City Council, 7:00 pm, City Hall Annex

Tuesday
Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners, 4:00 pm, Harbor Center, YouTube
Whatcom County Council, 8:45 am, Council Chambers, Zoom
Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees, 3:30 pm, Central Library Lecture Room

Wednesday
City of Bellingham Meet-and-Greet, 5:30 pm, Bellingham Cruise Terminal Dome Room

Thursday
WTA Board, 8:00 am, WTA's offices at 4011 Bakerview Spur
Community Engagement Workshop for the Justice Project, 6:00 pm, Lynden City Annex Chamber

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday
Mayflower Bridge: Join the city and NSEA as they focus on Whatcom Creek and trail stewardship efforts by planting, weeding, and mulching near the Mayflower Bridge, Whatcom Creek, and WeGrow Garden. Register

Sunday
Whatcom Humane Society’s Division St. Shelter: Join Whatcom Million Trees Project in planting native trees in the dog-walking field to provide shade and support the nearby wetland. Register

Most money problems aren’t math problems. They’re story problems—the stories you’ve absorbed about worth, security, and what you deserve. Those beliefs began long before your first paycheck, and they still shape every financial choice you make today.

Financial therapy helps you uncover and rewrite those stories. It’s not about budgets or spreadsheets, but about understanding why you spend, save, or avoid money the way you do. I’m Susan Fee, a Certified Financial Therapist. I help individuals and couples heal financial stress at its roots—transforming anxiety into clarity and self-compassion into sustainable change.

Live Celtic Music, Stemma West (Tues 5:30–8:00pm)
Stemma marks St. Patrick’s Day with green beer, raffle giveaways, and an evening set of live Celtic music.

Shamrockin’ Good Time, Stones Throw (Tues 3:00–8:00pm)
A St. Patrick’s Day celebration with a Celtic jam session, Irish dance performance from the Penk-O'Donnell School of Irish Dance, live music by Flattery, and a collaboration beer release with Kulshan Brewing Company.

Happy Hour and Dinner, Solstice Senior Living (Tues 4:00–7:00pm)
Solstice at Bellingham hosts a St. Patrick’s Day happy hour and dinner with Irish themed décor and a festive meal shared with residents and guests. Details.

Shot Prov Shamrocks & Shenanigans, Upfront Theatre (Tues 7:30 pm)
An improv comedy show where performers create scenes and characters from audience suggestions.

St. Patrick’s Weekend, Uisce Irish Pub (Tues)
Uisce marks its 20th anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day with an evening celebration featuring live music and bagpipers.

Sip & Shop, Furnishings Now (Tues 2:00pm–5:00pm)
A St. Patrick’s themed shopping event with drinks and browsing among home furnishings and décor.

Trivia & Games, Horseshoe Cafe (Tues 6:30pm–8:30pm)
A St. Patrick’s themed trivia and game night in the Ranch Room Bar with cocktail specials and a $5 entry fee to play (21+).

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Kulshan Sunnyland (Tues 3:00pm–7:00pm)
An afternoon celebration from 3 to 7 pm with live music, Irish-style beer releases, and a traditional Celtic session featuring Goods Guild and Celine & Claire.

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham (comedy) | Mon 8:30 pm

New Prospect Theatre
5 Micro Plays Near the End and Building Self-Esteem (theater) | Thurs-Fri

iDiOM Theatre
The Roommate (theater) | Thurs-Sat

Bellingham TheatreWorks
Firebringer (theater) | Fri-Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Children’s Puppet Slam (puppetry) | Sat

New Prospect Theatre
The War of the Worlds (theater) | Sat, Sun

BAAY Theatre
The Wizard of Oz (theater) | Sat

Bellingham Circus Guild
Springtime Scandal (circus) | Sat-Sun

Mount Baker Theatre
The M Factor 2.0 (film) | Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Contact Improv - Aikido Peace Education Center - Mon, class 5:30, jam 7 pm
Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
B’ham Hop - Crystal Ballroom - Tues 8 pm
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Potluck & Square Dance - Fairhaven Library - Sat 6 pm
Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:30 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

Evan Ingalls performs at The Admiralty Lounge tomorrow, March 17 from 7 to 9 pm. A Bellingham artist and educator, Ingalls is known for a clear, expressive voice and a deep catalog of folk material, including traditional Gaelic-language songs.

Giants Causeway Duo performs at Skylark’s Hidden Café tomorrow, March 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for a St. Patrick’s Day set of Irish and Scottish music. The duo, Cayley and Clea, play fiddle and cello.

Trivia Night, Zeeks Pizza – Weekly team trivia from 6 to 8 pm with two rounds covering categories like current events, music, sports, history, geography, science, and audience suggested topics, with buy ins pooled and paid out to the top three teams.

Spring Variety Show, Bellingham Senior Activity Center – A 1:30 to 2:45 pm variety performance by BSAC’s Golden Players Theatre Troupe featuring songs, skits, improv, trivia, and dance, with donations supporting the senior center and Meals on Wheels.

Monday Music & Trivia →

☘ St. Patrick's Day ☘
See section above. 👆

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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