We Speak to where you live.

Beyond the Barre | Skagit Valley Academy of Dance

For Shelly Whan and Kelly Fellers, dance has never been just about pirouettes, pointe shoes, or polished performances. It’s been about community, friendship, and building a second home for generations of Skagit Valley families. Photograph courtesy…

A Fresh Take on Rustic | Rustic Bar & Grill

There’s a new destination for barbecue lovers in Lynden, and the experience goes well beyond the smoker. Rustic Bar & Grill opened for business on May 13 at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, adding an elegance to Whatcom County’s dining scene. The restaurant serves up fresh and refined dishes with an established feel that’s equally suited for a casual lunch or an evening out. Inside, cowhide…

A Couple’s Forest Hideaway | The Gravel Pit, Legend Homes

Some houses have very strong identities. This bright blue home is one of those houses, appearing like a bright tropical fish with rooflines reminiscent of gills. Those rooflines are responsible for a very calm, 100% daylit interior. Legend Homes (formerly TC Legend Homes) has been building solar-powered…

Local Mill Welcomes New Management | Fairhaven Mill

Fairhaven Mill recently welcomed Philip Fraley as the new general manager. The Mill has been an active, organic mill since…

Shuck, Share, & Celebrate | Blaine OysterFest

As autumn settles over the waterfront, the Blaine OysterFest returns to celebrate the city’s aquaculture roots on Oct. 10. “It’s a very hometown fair kind of vibe with the seafood and harbor feeling to it. It’s a lot of fun,” says Olea Mills, the Event Coordinator at Blaine-Birch Bay Parks and Recreation. Downtown Blaine transforms into…

Toe-tally Awesome Shoes | ReLaced

ReLaced, located in downtown Bellingham, prioritizes selling new, used, authentic, and well-made shoes to sneakerheads at great prices. The Shop This family-run streetwear shoe store, founded and owned by Lidija and Jesse Reading, first opened in March 2024 on Bay Street. In May, the business moved to a place on Holly Street. Helped by their central location and friendly demeanor, more and more people have been discovering ReLaced, and it’s fast becoming a beloved staple of downtown Bellingham. The…

Since Time Immemorial | Xw’tot lhem Sequoyah Julius

Since Time Immemorial is a recurring series featuring community members whose families have been here since time immemorial. The ancestral knowledge carried by Lhaq’temish (Lummi), Nooksack, and other Coast Salish peoples is knowledge about how to live in our shared home in a good, life-sustaining way. We live in a time when we need to restore our relationship with Mother Earth…

Behind the Studio Doors | Whatcom Artist Studio Tour

For more than 30 years, the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour has been a fall cultural highlight in which artists around Whatcom County open their studios to the public. Taking place this year on…

Local Food & Farms Shine During September Eat Local Month | Sustainable Connections

September is a time of natural bounty and abundance here in the Pacific Northwest. From ripe tomatoes at farmers’ markets to fresh seafood to the first harvest of apples, this season…

Where Decadence Meets Generosity | Handbags for Housing

In early June, Lydia Place hosted their 14th annual Handbags for Housing event, complete with a lively fashion show emceed by Shannon Day, the “bag whisperer.” Fishermen’s Pavilion was decked to the nines with bright, colorful floral decorations and balloons reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Attendees wore sparkles, bold colors, floral prints, high heels, giant flower hair clips, and flowy floor-length dresses. There were well-curated baskets donated…

Cider Festival Kicks Off Fall and Funds Outdoor Accessibility for Women | Sippin’ on Cider Festival, Shifting Gears

Expanding community spaces is part of what Shifting Gears does best, so it’s no surprise their Sippin’ on Cider Festival is rolling into its sixth year with plans of being bigger and better than ever. Shifting…

A Boutique for Enjoying Your Life, Inside and Out | Go Outside

Sitting right where it has for the last 140-some-odd years, the historic wooden building that houses home and lifestyle boutique Go Outside welcomes folks to La Conner’s downtown. It was built in 1884, according to the plaque by its door, and was once the home of Puget…