Joe Wynne, owner and founder of the Hot Spot Sauna Club, is perhaps the most charismatic, driven, energetic person you will ever meet. Wynne guarantees that anyone who comes to his sauna will have a positive, unforgettable experience, and he makes everyone feel as welcome as family. His idea for the club began when he was borrowing his friend’s sauna trailer, a little under a decade…
Short, simple, and thoughtful. That’s the core of Bellingham author Jim Schmotzer’s first book, “Crash Course: 101 Stories in 101 Words or Less.” Sharing…
Already a local favorite along the Blaine waterfront for specialty treats and mochi waffles, Aloha Cafe has recently broadened their menu with island-inspired, plate lunch-style offerings….
Chester-Kidder is one of my favorite red blends with plenty to say, but it knows how to keep the conversation interesting. Crafted by Long Shadows Founding Winemaker Gilles Nicault, this Columbia Valley wine brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and classic Bordeaux varieties for a rich,…
The Rage is a student-run fashion magazine based at Western Washington University (WWU) with a staff consisting of “a community of creatives that come together to create cool stuff,” according to Jaelin McQueen, the previous director of diversity and cultural strategy at the magazine. With over 3,500 followers on Instagram, this magazine has absolutely blown up since it’s hit the scene. At the end of May, Worn Again Thrift hosted…
Candy is a year-round delight, but what season gives a better excuse to indulge than fall? This Halloween, we’ve decided to showcase a few talented candy makers who produce…
Robert Wright, after extensively traveling around the world, now makes his home in Bellingham with his wife. When not creating exciting new worlds, he uses Bellingham and Whidbey Island locations as the backdrops to his stories. He has currently written 24 books, with more on the way. Most of his stories are young adult fantasy genre with…
Fight the November doldrums with a well-deserved foodie trip to Whistler, British Columbia. This November marks the community’s 30th annual Whistler Cornucopia, an eleven-day festival (November 5–15 in 2026) for anyone who loves learning about food, drink, cooking, and culinary culture, or…
Local ingredients, organic flour, whole grains. Those are core to the goods made at Main Street Bread in Ferndale. The shop, located next to a gorgeous painted mural, focuses on serving the local community the best that the area has to offer. The owners, Josh and…
The winners are in. Years of tradition. Your chosen winners. Welcome to the 17th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. For 17 years, our readers have been telling us where they eat, shop, play, sip, self-pamper, and spend their time. This year’s winners represent the businesses, people, and places that make Whatcom and Skagit Counties as wonderful as they are. This year’s contest drew 393 winners across 171 categories, all chosen by a very…
Whether you’re stocking a candy dish, filling Halloween treat bags, or just looking for a fun fall activity, making candy from scratch is surprisingly approachable. With a handful of pantry ingredients and a little patience, you can create hard…
Embedded deep within downtown La Conner is a new Italian restaurant that goes by the name Moltobello Ristorante Italiano. There’s nothing like an authentic, locally-owned and run restaurant, with Italian food that is bursting with flavor in a cozy setting with soft lighting. As their website says, Moltobello has “no attitude”…
