Bellingham Alive

Cancellation of Birchwood Garden Club's Feb. 5 Meeting
2025-02-05 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver)
Cancellation of Birchwood Garden Club’s February 5, 2025 Meeting due to inclement weather.
We will resume in March.

Birchwood Garden Club's February 5th Meeting
2025-02-05 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
February Topic: Getting in Shape for Gardening
The February 5, 2025 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30PM.
The speaker for the evening will be Eric Short-Miller, DPT, from the Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center of Bellingham who will speak on “Getting in Shape for Gardening.”
We’ve all been there. Spring arrives and we’re ready to get outside and garden. Of course since we’ve been sitting around doing nothing all winter, our body isn’t anywhere near in shape enough to bend and stretch and lift and everything else that goes along with the gardening process. Eric is going to tell us how to fix that.
Eric is a co-founder of the Fyzical Therapy Center of Bellingham. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy
and Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He is involved in the community, guest lecturing and teaching Tai Chi, as well as trying to improve his balance while out paddle boarding with his wife. Eric enjoys working with foot and ankle problems and balance issues, and is certified by the McKenzie Institute in Mechanical Spine evaluation and treatment. Please join us!!!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

BMC matinee program features music from Scandinavia
2025-02-05 10:30 - 11:30
Violinist Grant Donnellan offers the fourth installment of his popular musical travelogue series.
This year, he explores the rich musical heritage and his personal connection with Scandinavian culture. He and pianist Judith Widrig have curated a selection of works by well-known composers, as well as “discoveries” by women composers.
Join us on Wednesday, February 5, at 10:30am, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 Texas St. in Bellingham. Free, open to all, and family friendly. This is BMC’s gift to the community! More information on https://bellinghammusicclub.org/

Dirty Dozen Brass Band
2025-02-02 19:30 - 21:00
Official Website
The Lincoln Theatre is honored to host The Dirty Dozen Brass Band! Join us for a Mardi Gras celebration with this legendary New Orleans ensemble!
Celebrating over 45 years since their founding in 1977, the Grammy Award-winning New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional foundation of brass band music and incorporated it into a blend of genres, including bebop jazz, funk and R&B/soul. This unique sound, described by the band as a “musical gumbo,” has allowed the Dirty Dozen to tour across five continents and more than thirty countries, record twelve studio albums, and collaborate with a range of artists from Modest Mouse to Widespread Panic to Norah Jones. Forty-five plus years later, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world-famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances.
In 1977, the Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of two proud, but antiquated, traditions at the time: social aid and pleasure clubs dated back over a century to a time when black southerners could rarely afford life insurance, and the clubs would provide proper funeral arrangements. Brass bands — early predecessors of jazz as we know it — would often follow the funeral procession playing somber dirges, then once the family of the deceased was out of earshot, burst into jubilant dance tunes as casual onlookers danced in the streets. By the late ’70s, few of either existed. The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club decided to assemble this group as a house band, and over the course of these early gigs, the seven-member ensemble adopted the venue’s name: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Lunar New Year Wine Tasting
2025-01-29 17:00 - 19:00
Join us and Amy Pickering for a wine tasting to celebrate the Lunar New Year! 4 wines & charcuterie + cheese by yours truly.

Nature Show and Tell
2025-01-28 17:30 - 19:30
Nature Show and Tell. All ages welcome: family friendly and FREE! Doors open at 5:30PM, Show and Tell is 6:00-7:30PM. Bring your favorite nature photos or objects (collected responsibly, of course) to share with fellow nature lovers.
Prizes for most unique, funniest, and best in show (and tell)!
$1 per pint purchased goes toward Wild Whatcom’s youth program scholarships. Donations also welcome.
Submit photos in advance at: https://tab.so/naturephotos

Make.Shift's Art for All Ages 2025
2025-01-25 18:00 - 21:00
Make.Shift presents our third annual Arts for All Ages Gala! The Gala will be held on January 25th, from 6pm to 9pm. The theme this year is Glam Rock, so come fully decked out to celebrate all ages of artists in our community. Hosted at Bellingham Cruise Terminal (355 Harris Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225), this year’s gala comes complete with dinner, an awards ceremony, an auction, and our yearly exception of our No Booze policy! Additionally, until the first of December, Make.Shift is accepting nominations for the winner of our A4AA award. Find the nomination form at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17uwt9bU_aHKU64lk_W8z2P_0sfILXKS8FiGBXubJmdM/viewform?edit_requested=true
As always, all proceeds go towards keeping Make.Shift running through the new year. Make.Shift is a 501c3 non-profit serving over 6,000 people per year. All donations are tax deductible.
To get in contact with Make.Shift staff, call us at 360-933-1849, or send us an email at outreach@makeshiftartspace.org. Find our website at: https://makeshiftartspace.org/

Robbie Burns Dinner at Hotel Leo
2025-01-25 16:00 - 21:00
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening at Hotel Leo’s Robbie Burns Day Dinner on January 25, 2025 from 4PM – 9PM! Join us to honor Scotland’s beloved poet with a night steeped in tradition, featuring a plated Scottish feast, lively music, and the ceremonial Presenting of the Haggis. This is a celebration of culture, cuisine, and community you won’t want to miss. The full menu and event details are coming soon, so stay tuned—and save the date for this special winter gathering!
Book your experience on Opentable or visit thehotelleo.com/dining for more info.

Come discover more about this unique upcoming class series: Access Creativity with First Impulse Painting
2025-01-24 13:00 - 14:00
Join Susan Kramer-Pope, Creative Process Facilitator, for a free introductory session on Friday, January 24th, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm to find out if the course, Access Creativity with First Impulse Painting, is a fit for you.
You’ll explore the resources you already possess to express your unique creative nature without the need for skill or talent, and get all your questions answered.
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Deep Blue Sound
2025-01-23 19:30 - 2025-02-09 21:00
Bellingham TheatreWorks presents
DEEP BLUE SOUND
Written by Abe Koogler
Directed by Mark Kuntz
January 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, February 1, 7, 8 @ 7:30
February 9 @ 1:00 and 5:00
Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Avenue
tickets: $25 general/$15 student
bellinghamtheatreworks.org
On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? DEEP BLUE SOUND is a funny and moving play about the connections we make—and the ones we long to make—to other people, and to the world around us.
Questions and accommodations 360-209-5599

Brian Kirk Sextet: Tribute to Cal Tjader
2025-01-22 18:30 - 20:30
Brian Kirk presents a tribute to a master vibraphonist/multi-instrumentalist: Cal Tjader

Vision / Dream Board Playshop
2025-01-18 13:00 - 17:00
🌟 PNW Cannasisters Presents: Vision/Dream Board Playshop 🌟
Join hosts Mimi and Susan on Saturday, January 18, 2024, from 1 PM to 5 PM-ish for an inspiring afternoon of crafting, connecting, and manifesting your dreams!
✨ Open to all genders 21+
🌈 Start the New Year Fresh🌈
Dive into your aspirations with a focused vision/dream board that will help you visualize and bring your dreams to life.
This is a not-for-profit gathering to cultivate community, conversation, and connection. We kindly ask $25 per person donation to help cover costs and support our community work.
10% proceeds goes to our community service project fund.
What to Bring:
✨Your high vibes ✨
✨A favorite munchy to share 🍪
✨Something to elevate with, if you choose (elevation is optional and will take place outside or in the garage).
✨ Any crafty/ collage materials for your vision/ dream board
✨ Image, photos, inspirational words, quotes, etc…
Let’s come together, create, and elevate our intentions for the year ahead!
All materials provided. No previous artistic experience required. Invite your inner child to play and dream.
We can’t wait to see you there!

Non-Alcoholic Cocktails & Tasting Event
2025-01-17 17:00 - 19:00
N/A product tasting with cocktail samples, ideas, and recipe cards. All of our favorites + anything we have open you’re welcome to try.

Crutch
2025-01-12 15:00 - 16:30
Kuntz and Company presents
“CRUTCH”
Sunday January 12th @ 3:00, 2024
Firehouse Arts and Events Center
“CRUTCH” documents Bill’s extraordinary journey: the history of his medical odyssey and his struggles with chronic pain, the evolution of his crutch dancing and skating, his rise to become a world-renowned performance artist, and his transformation from an angry skate punk to an international hero.
“CRUTCH” also dives into Bill’s provocative street performances, in which he exposes the hidden world of assumptions disabled people encounter in public, on a daily basis. While the film questions his early exploitation of strangers’ good Samaritan impulses, it also marvels at Bill’s ability to create solutions and empower others to navigate similar challenges.
“CRUTCH” is sponsored by The Institute for Critical Disability Studies at WWU
Tickets $12.00
https://www.simpletix.com/e/crutch-with-open-captions-tickets-190382
For more information:
https://www.kuntzandco.org/documenting-grace-a-dance-film-festival
Questions and accommodations kuntzpam@gmail.com or 360-510-4711

Sunday Jazz Brunch at Hotel Leo
2025-01-12 09:00 - 12:00
Treat yourself to the perfect Sunday morning with a live jazz brunch that hits all the right notes. From classic breakfast staples to indulgent brunch favorites, there’s something for every craving. Sip on a mimosa, Bloody Mary, or a mocktail as you soak in the music and good vibes. Reserve your spot for a memorable start to your day.

The Unknowns and Ranger and The Re-Arrangers
2025-01-10 20:00 - 22:00
The Unknowns will join friends, Ranger and The Re-Arrangers from Bainbridge Island. Seattle “Gypsy Jazz” band Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Romani campsite with their version of Hot Club Swing. At the heart of their sound is tight interplay between great soloists. Their repertoire includes vocal swing standards, traditional European melodies, the music of Django Reinhardt, and unique originals. www.rangerswings.com

The Unknowns and Ranger and The Re-Arrangers
2025-01-10 19:30 - 22:00
Seattle “Gypsy Jazz” band Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Romani campsite with their version of Hot Club Swing. At the heart of their sound is tight interplay between great soloists. Their repertoire includes vocal swing standards, traditional European melodies, the music of Django Reinhardt, and unique originals.

Birchwood Garden Club's January 8, 2025 Meeting. Please Note Changes.
2025-01-08 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
Topic: Japanese Aesthetics in Developing a Garden with Ryo Sugiyama
Please note: Meeting date and location of meeting change below:
The January 2025 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held January 8th (Please Note Meeting Date Change as Jan 1st is New Year’s Day!)
Our January 8th meeting has been moved to the Hotel Leo Ballroom (Leopold Hotel, downtown). The address is 1224 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham 98225.
The hours are the same, 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm. This is only 4 blocks away from the museum. There will be street parking (free after 6:00 PM) and at the nearby City Garages (one at 1215 Railroad Ave and another at 1300 Commercial St, open to public after 6:00 PM).
The Bellingham Sister Cities Association will present a program on the Japanese Garden. The speaker will be Ryo Sugiyama, Curator of the Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia who will speak on the basics of Japanese garden aesthetics including simplicity, the shape of objects, and the negative space between them. He will demonstrate sukashi pruning, achieving transparency, and revealing structure in niwaki, a full-sized tree. The techniques are similar to those used on bonsai miniatures. Kent’s Garden and Nursery will provide specimens for the live demonstration. Please join us for this interesting and informative program!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Cyrus Nabipoor Quartet
2025-01-08 18:30 - 20:30
The Jazz Center of Bellingham presents Cyrus Nabipoor (trumpet); Jack Radsliff (guitar); Garrett Baxter (bass); Micah Hummel (drums). $20 general, $10 students, 6:30 pm. https://www.jazzcenterofbellingham.org/events

Obsessed with Light
2025-01-05 15:00 - 16:30
Sunday January 5th @ 3:00, 2024
Firehouse Arts and Events Center
Kuntz and Company presents
“Obsessed with Light”
“Obsessed with Light” is a meditation on light and the enduring obsession to create. The film pulls back the curtain on Loïe Fuller, a wildly original performer who revolutionized the visual culture of the early 20th century. Creating a dialogue between the past and the present, the documentary delves into the astonishing influence Fuller’s work has on contemporary artists including artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Taylor Swift, Bill T. Jones, Shakira and William Kentridge. In the process, the film uncovers commonalities that connect these creative luminaries to Fuller and to each other.
“Obsessed with Light” is sponsored by CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival
Tickets $12.00
https://www.simpletix.com/e/obsessed-with-light-tickets-193857
For more information:
https://www.kuntzandco.org/documenting-grace-a-dance-film-festival
Questions and accommodations kuntzpam@gmail.com or 360-510-4711

January Free First Friday at the Whatcom Museum
2025-01-03 12:00 - 21:00
Start the year off small with the Whatcom Museum! After a busy holiday season, join us at the Museum for a day of miniature crafts. Make your own wee world with like Shrinky Dinks and sculpting tiny clay masterpieces to making mini mugs, bags, and even plants. We’ll also celebrate miniature trains and railways with a pop-up wTrak Modular Wood Railway in the Family Interactive Gallery, perfect for kids to play with. We’d love to see you as we launch another year of Free First Friday programming!
Visit our whatcommuseum.org for all details, times, and building locations.
TRAK MODULAR WOODEN RAILWAY AT THE FAMILY INTERACTIVE GALLERY
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | Friday AND Saturday
BABY & TODDLER MUSIC CLASSES WITH LITTLE SAPLING MUSIC
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | 10:30 – 11 am, 11 – 11:30 am & 11:30 am – noon
TINY CLAY SCULPTURES WITH EMILY CAREY
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | 1 – 3 pm
DOCENT TOURS OF THOMAS WOOD: UNDER THE INSPIRATION TREE
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | 1 pm & 6 pm
PINT-SIZED PLANTS WITH CHIEF CURATOR OF ART AMY CHALOUPKA
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | 3 – 5 pm
MINUSCULE MUGS AND BOOKS WITH KATRINA LYON
Old City Hall | 121 Prospect St. | 4 – 6 pm
SHRINKY DINKS WITH CHRISITAN ANNE SMITH
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | 4 – 6 pm
STARTING THE YEAR OFF SMALL WALL
The Lightcatcher | 250 Flora St. | All Day

NYE @ Old City Hall with Live Music by Baby Cakes
2024-12-31 18:30 - 21:30
Kick off (or wrap up) your New Year’s Eve at the Whatcom Museum! Whether you’re a night owl just getting the party started or an early bird planning to turn in before midnight, swing by Old City Hall for an unforgettable evening. Enjoy live music by BABY CAKES, a cash bar by Tito’s Handmade Vodka (with one complimentary drink ticket provided), catered light appetizers, and a free Champagne toast at 9 pm as we count down to 2025 alongside Times Square.
This is a 21+ event; please bring your ID.

Walton Magic
2024-12-28 13:00 - 2024-12-29 00:00
MBT’s resident magician John Walton brings world-class magic to the magnificent Harold & Irene Walton Theatre for your favorite holiday tradition full of magic and wonder. Walton will perform many incredible illusions as well as some up-close tricks for an afternoon of fun for the whole family.
https://www.mountbakertheatre.com/events-tickets/walton-magic-fy25/

Shrek the Musical
2024-12-21 14:00 - 2024-12-22 15:30, 2024-12-20 19:00 - 2024-12-21 20:30
Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named… Shrek! Based on the DreamWorks classic, this musical tells the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Performed by BAAY students ages 11-12.

Handmade Holidays: Luminaries
2024-12-21 12:00 - 16:00
Craving a cozy holiday craft party? Join us in the Old City Hall’s Rotunda Room to create crafts that celebrate the season and make the perfect gifts. We’ll have a different activity each week with versions appropriate for our youngest visitors and seasoned crafters alike. Free fun for the whole family!
On December 21, we’ll celebrate the winter solstice and create luminaries to light up the darkest night of the year.
Crafts are free! Admission to Old City Hall is by donation through the month of December.

Bayshore Symphony Christmas Concert
2024-12-19 19:30 - 21:00
Come and listen to some favorite Christmas songs at our first annual Holiday Concert – A Christmas Celebration! Please note our new location in Bellingham – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church! Start time 7:30pm Thursday, December 19. Tickets at the door. Suggested $20 Donation. More information at bayshoresymphony.com and on Facebook/bayshoresymphony.

Benefit Concert for the Children of Gaza
2024-12-19 18:30 - 21:00
Benefit Concert to help the Children of Gaza. Thursday December 19, 6:30 pm at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Ave. Doors open at 5:30 pm. $10-whatever you can give, All proceeds to Middle East Children’s Alliance. Featuring: House Kat, Giants Causeway Due, JT and the Blue Impressions. With Michale Jacobsen, back from the West Bank A community gathering – listen, dance, give. Contact: jeanbham@gmail.com

Classic Carols
2024-12-15 14:00 - 15:00
Enjoy the splendor of Old City Hall, festooned in its holiday finest, while listening to your favorite holiday songs sung by the students of the Brooke Bates Music Studio.
Admission to Old City Hall is by donation through the month of December.

To Whom It May Concern
2024-12-14 19:30 - 21:00
A live monthly show where folks read their letters on stage; real letters they’ve written or received, correspondence back and forth, old family letters, letters from various local archives and those letters we only wish we could write. December letter readers include: Erika Crichton, Brady McAtee, Silvana Clark, Dartanian London and Jayne Entwistle with special guest musician Allijah Motika.
