🐹 Water Week 🌊🌊

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

I’m not going to claim to love the endless rain of Bellingham winters, but yesterday’s soft showers were a refreshing change of pace. 🌧️ 

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Weather Forecast

Monday: 69°F 🌡️ 53°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 5% | 💨 SW 1 to 6 mph

Tuesday: 80°F 🌡️ 57°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 9% | 💨 NNE 3 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Focusing on Water

This is Whatcom Water Week, an annual community event that celebrates the water resources of Whatcom County, hosted by Whatcom Watersheds Information Network (WWIN), a group of citizens, agencies, nonprofits, and businesses involved in water and natural resources education in Whatcom County.

While a few events slipped past this weekend, the bulk of the activities begin today and run through the middle of next week. There’s a ton of fun to be had, from beach walks and child-focused educational events, to tours of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Post Point. Find the full schedule here.

Alongside all the water-related activities, WWIN is hosting a Water Week Photo Contest. The theme is “Water – It’s Everybody’s Business,” and they are looking for images that convey the role that water plays in your life and in the culture of Whatcom County. Photographers are encouraged to be creative and include water in all its forms. Find the contest rules here, and submit your photos by end of September.

In other news…

🦅 Another North Cascades Audubon Society birding event has opened for registration, and tickets are going fast. This outing is taking place next Saturday at Whatcom Falls Park.

On my last walk along Whatcom Creek, I was thrilled to see several barred owls (Strix varia). It sure seems to me that the barred owl population has exploded this year. These beautiful birds have been on my “things to research” list for a few months. I’ll write about them in a future edition. Be sure to grab tickets now if you’re hoping to attend this birding trip.

🏙️ The Bellingham City Council meets today, September 15th, at 1 pm, with the Regular Meeting at 7 pm. The agenda is available online. This public meeting is held at Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall or can be watched online.

🚜 Whatcom County Council meets tomorrow, September 15th, at 9 am, 10 am, and 1 pm for special sessions. The agenda are available online. This public meetings are held in the Council Chambers at the County Courthouse or can be watched via Zoom.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham | Mon 9:00 pm

iDiOM Theater
No Man's Land | Thurs, Fri, Sat

Bellingham Theatre Guild
The Play That Goes Wrong | Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

New Prospect Theatre
The Shark Is Broken | Fri, Sat, Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Beginning 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
Int. Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 7:15 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:30 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

A night of circus and spectacle! Vaudevillingham is a monthly community open stage that’s uncurated, unexpected, and UNBELIEVABLE! Every month is a completely new & amazing show. The best part is that you never know what might happen... Axe juggling? Aerial silks on roller skates? A mad-lib singalong? A symphony made purely from conch shell noises? You'll have to show up to find out! 7:00 pm - Family Friendly, All Ages. 9:00 pm - (Almost) Anything Goes, Adult(ish) show. Grab tickets for tonight’s shenanigans.

Join Salish Current and Naomi Ishisaka, the Assistant Managing Editor for Diversity and Inclusion and the Social Justice Columnist for The Seattle Times, tonight at 6 pm for a conversation about Holding Power to Account. Held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, this event is part of Salish Current’s the Voices of the Northwest series. RSVP to save a spot.

Bellinghamster, and singer-songwriter, Phil Paige is returning to the FireHouse tonight to perform a mix of original songs and some of his favorites by others. Phil writes folk rock and alt-country songs in the tradition of his Laurel Canyon influences. He has lived and performed up and down the west coast from Bellingham and the San Juans, to San Diego and Palm Springs. This event is not ticketed. However, cash donations are gladly accepted.

MONDAY

Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Kid’, Firehouse Arts & Events Center - Experience the magic of Charlie Chaplin's iconic silent film 'The Kid' with a live musical accompaniment by the talented K-Kats. An unforgettable evening filled with laughter, heartwarming moments, and timeless entertainment. Tickets.

Monday Music & Trivia →

TUESDAY

Harry Potter Trivia Night, Flatstick Pub - Test your Harry Potter knowledge with free Harry Potter Trivia brought to you by Sporcle Events. Free to play, tons of fun, and prizes awarded. Muggles, witches, and wizards welcomed at 7 & 8 pm.

An Evening of Self-Compassion, Village Books - Join local mindfulness and self compassion teacher Carolyn McCarthy on a 1-hour journey to becoming a friend to yourself. Explore how mindful self-compassion practices open the door to a supportive and kind relationship with ourselves, reducing stress and enhancing well being. Carolyn will introduce you to the principles of mindful self-compassion and teach some basic practices, and you'll leave with a handout and a tool kit of simple practices to use at work and home. Reserve a seat for this free event.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Monday!!