Edinburgh

Edinburgh, Scotland has been the Scottish Capital since the 15th century. Here you’ll find two distinct UNESCO Heritage sites, Old Town which includes Edinburgh Castle and New Town, whose neoclassical style dates back to the 18th century and whose infrastructure had an…

Offering Brightness and Joy in Dark Times | Soul*drift’s Valentine’s Love Cabaret at Amendment 21

February can be a hard month. All the joy and brightness of the holiday season has passed, and the excitement of the new year is starting to wane (as is your dedication to resolutions, if you’re like most people). Sure, there’s a heart-filled holiday in there, but not everyone wants to spend too much money eating a set menu alongside every other couple in town.  Enter: The Valentine’s Cabaret at Amendment 21, an unconventional celebration of love that promises…

It’s All About the Atmosphere: Raven’s Cup Coffee and Reclamation Candle Company

Are you visiting the relaxing small town of La Conner? Don’t forget to stop by Raven’s Cup Coffee, a local coffee shop that also is an art gallery and a candle shop.    Co-Owners Greg Whiting and Jenelle Whitton have worked to…

Wearable Works of Art by Women

Bellingham is full of femme creatives, and many of these artists make wearable works of art that can be shown off every…

Multicultural Recipes

I created my recipe blog, The Little Ferraro Kitchen, nearly 10 years ago to share my love for world cuisine and to share my diverse cultural background. All of the places I’ve lived constantly inspire me in the kitchen and I like to showcase that with the foods I cook and the recipes I create.  Growing up in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, I wasn’t eating the same foods that…

The Perfect Martini Bar

He was a real estate agent and she was an accountant. Neither had any intentions to buy a martini bar, but a decade ago, Becky and JD Merris did exactly that.  

Q&A with Gardening Expert Ciscoe Morris

Check out this Q&A for tips on how to make your spring garden flourish.

20 Local Gifts Under $20

Whether you’re shopping for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day or just want to spread some love to family and friends, these gifts are sure to satisfy without hurting your wallet. Plus, they’re all from retailers in Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan Counties, so you can keep the love local.

Tips & Tricks for Perfect Homemade Pretzels

Homemade pretzels entered my life when my in-laws gifted me a class at the King Arthur Baking School, at the Bread Lab in Skagit Valley. When it was time to decide which…

Bow Wow & Woofs Launches Pet Pantry for Pets in Need

Bow Wow & Woofs offers a pet pantry for owners struggling to feed their pets during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Valley Made Market Goes Virtual

Valley Made Market’s digital platform allows you to continue supporting local, with the same handmade products you know and love.

Why I have a love-hate relationship with HGTV

In an era of ease, the network HGTV is reminding generations of homeowners that housework is possible. Renovation shows are inspiring countless trends…

Electric Vehicles for Everyman

Thinking of switching to an electric vehicle? Here’s some words of wisdom from a dealer-trade driver.

Despite Closings, Area Schools Deliver Lunches

With the continuing spread of COVID-19, we’re living in uncertain times. Restaurants and bars are closed, people are working from home, and notably, schools are closed. Not only does this mean K-12 students in Whatcom County are missing out on classes, but it also means many are missing out on meals. Of the 29.8 million students who receive school lunches each day in the U.S., more than 67 percent, or 20.2 million students, receive lunch for free.

Here’s what local schools are doing to make sure no students go hungry:

Embracing the Chaos

Editorial/Marketing Coordinator Anelyse Morris shares her experience growing up as a military child, and how it led her to journalism.

Red roses are a classic Valentine’s Day gift, but they come at a cost.

Roses are red, violets are blue. But as a Valentine, you may want to try something new.

Four-Legged Fitness Hero

Meet the Bellingham cat that has taken the internet by storm, one paw at a time.

Eat, Drink, Read, Repeat with Life Between the Pages

Life Between the Pages—A collaborative book club between Evolve, Village Books, and local bars creates an immersive literary experience.

Big Rock Garden Park

This month’s online exclusive is all about Big Rock Garden Park, an easy, local outing that offers accessible trails and plenty to see.

Private School Breakdown

With schools back in session, we took a closer look at private school options in Whatcom, San Juan, and Skagit counties—from Christian and Catholic schools to non-denominational academies.

Something Delicious

This month’s online exclusive covers one more traveling eatery—not a food truck, but a mobile food tent serving up some cheesy goodness.

Patriotic Parties

Still wondering where to go for the Fourth? In this month’s online exclusive, we highlight the best places around the Sound to watch the fireworks boom.

Lime Time

This month’s online exclusive is a sneak peek at our summer barbecue feature — a grilled margarita shrimp recipe that is sure to wow your guests.

Travel Destinations

April’s Online Exclusive spotlights two additional Travel Destinations: Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, and Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

Wholesale Seafood in the North Sound

Our online exclusive this month showcases companies that provide local, fresh wholesale seafood from Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan counties, and Alaska.

‘Thrill of the Hunt,’ But Also Danger

Kara Nelson describes what it’s like to be married to a commercial fisherman. Her husband, Laeth, is gone for extended periods of time for much of the year.

Beyond Clearing the Clutter

Monika Kristofferson shares tools for change to help you clear away the clutter. Learn how to make decisions to organize your home and feel more empowered.

Oh, Christmas Tree

As you are preparing for the holidays, here is a list of local, U-cut Christmas tree farms around Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Wellness Centers

Continuing with our series of wellness centers, we bring you a unique type of therapy: hypnosis. Kelley Woods of the Woods Hypnosis Center shares her view.

Midterm Elections are Coming Nov. 6

It’s midterm elections again, and Bellingham Alive is here to help with tools for registering, ballot drop-offs, and helpful websites. Vote by Nov. 6!

Deception Distilling

In this web exclusive, you can take an inside look into the family-run business in Anacortes, Deception Distilling and get the recipe for Lavender and Lace.

Therapy: Float Tanks, or Sensory Deprivation Tanks

Epsom salt float tanks help relax muscles, pressure on joints, and alleviate stress.

On The Street

Local residents share their thoughts, views, and concerns about Bellingham’s waterfront development project at Waypoint Park.

Working its way into the mainstream

Acupuncture This wellness therapy has become so widespread that people are even taking their dogs in for treatment. But for people, this therapy has been around for eons. Good for helping with: chronic pain, anxiety/depression, high blood pressure, stress management, infertility, sexual dysfunction,…

Bad Boys in the Garden

Pesky Plants to Avoid We gave you the best and easiest plants to grow in your Pacific Northwest garden, but it’s also invaluable to know what not to plant. See our list of what plants experts say are the among the worst – invasive, disease-ridden, or just outright annoying – to allow into your garden. How many times have you been given suggestions of what to plant in your garden? Your neighbors…

Wellness Centers

In recent years, health and wellness centers are catering to clients who want far more than feel-good country spas and or challenging exercise adventures. Centers today offer approaches once considered unconventional, but now more mainstream, like acupuncture, natural medicines, and hypnosis. This is the first in a…

Bellingham Olympian Angeli VanLaanen

Angeli VanLaanen is Bellingham’s lone, home-grown winter Olympian, and after years of traveling and competing on the high-flying, high-pressure world of international freestyle skiing, she is putting down roots where she started. She sounds content, relieved almost, to be watching the 2018 Games that begin Feb. 8 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. “I kind of always…

One-on-one Interview with Paula Poundstone

For a standup comedian, Paula Poundstone asks a lot of questions. She is quirky, inquisitive, and brilliant, all traits evident during her September show at Bellingham’s Mount Baker Theatre. She keeps a punishing touring schedule – she is booked for 35 shows in the first half of 2018 alone – and her routine is only partly one –…

Let Phoenix Desert and Sun Heat Up Your Winter

Escape the gray and head to sunny Arizona. Nestled in the urban core of the Grand Canyon state discover the bustling city of Greater Phoenix boasting more than 300 days of sunshine annually. And there’s no better time than now to come play in this Sonoran playground. Take a day to soak in the sun and explore the desert landscape. Exhilarate yourself and soar up, up and away in a hot air balloon. Float nearly 3,000…

Hometown Pot Shop

Big cities in Washington have seen a boom of new marijuana stores in the last few years. New shops can be found all over Seattle and even Bellingham. But not every store’s goal is to make it big in the big city. Smuggler Brothers in Sedro-Woolley is maintaining a small-town identity in the growing world of marijuana sales. Purchasing…

More Than You Can Chew

Did you have breakfast today? How about lunch? Maybe a little snack before dinner? For as long as I can remember, the expectation has always been that you have to eat a “hearty breakfast” to start your…

No Dairy? No Problem

One of the greatest tragedies of being lactose intolerant is the inability to enjoy one of the best go-to foods there are—pizza. You can, of course, make your own recipes at…

The Ins and Outs of the Top Knot

One of the biggest-trending hair styles I see these days is the “high bun,” popularly known known as the “top knot.” This hairstyle is so quick and simple, you can…

Overcoming Hearing Loss

Student finds community at Western Johanna Urbach isn’t sure when she lost the ability to hear in her right ear. One possible explanation is when she was 15 months old and received shots, she couldn’t sit up straight afterwards and got an ear infection. While…

Sipping Chocolate Fits to a Tea

Evolve’s Chaicolate good for Easter, Mother’s Day The first rule of comparing sipping chocolate to hot chocolate is…don’t. “It’s incomparable to hot chocolate,” says chocolatier Shannon Fox, co-owner and…

Ten Good Places to Watch March Madness

Sure, you could watch the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments from the comfort of your own sofa, but what’s the fun in screaming your fool head off in a quiet house? Go find your tribe – or at least some good pub fare – as you cheer on (or against) teams in the best college sporting event around. The men go from March 14-April 3….

Ways to Spend Time With Your Love This February

February is chock-full of events in our neck of the woods. They serve as a great opportunity for both familiar and new experiences. Take advantage of the fun and spend some extra time with your love…or…

Detox 101

Detoxification, detox, cleanse…all hot words in the holistic health industry. Who hasn’t done one (or at least thought about doing one) sometime in their life? As a naturopathic health care provider, I’ve come to respect the power of a good detox for my patients’ health, but also acknowledge how confusing the detox and health world can be. Throughout my ever-evolving adventure within the world of health detox, I have gotten myself lost down more than…

Piedmontese Flat Iron Steak – Lombardi’s

Enjoy with Castello Banfi’s Belnero, Rosso, IGT Ingredients 1 each Flat Iron Loin or 4 each 8oz Piedmontese Flat Iron (can be purchased at piedmontese.com) 4 each Kumato Tomatoes…

Honey Mascarpone Semi Freddo – Lombardi’s

Ingredients 4 cups cream 1 cup mascarpone 1 cups sugar 1 cup honey 12 egg yolks 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract Process In a mixer with a…

Roasted Yellow Pepper Carbonara – Lombardi’s

Enjoy with Banfi’s Chianti Classico, DOCG Ingredients 1 lb Fettuccine 4 ea Yellow Bell Peppers 1 qt Heavy Cream 4 oz Pancetta Salt and pepper to taste Canola…

Seared Ahi Carpaccio – Lombardi’s

Enjoy with Banfi’s Pinot Grigio, San Angelo Ingredients lb Ahi Tuna 1 tbsp Kosher Salt 1 tsp Black Pepper 2 oz Arugula Zest from 1 lemon 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 tsp Gray Salt Canola Oil or Pomace Olive Oil for Searing Process Lay the Tuna on a cutting board and pat dry with a paper towel Mix the salt and pepper together and generously season the entire outsideof the tuna…

Italian Eclairs – Lombardi’s

Enjoy with Banfi’s Florus, Moscadello di Montalcino DOC Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 1/8 tsp salt 1 Tbsp sugar, if used for a dessert 4 eggs at room temperature – very important 1 cup water or milk or…

The Accidental Bucketlist

Without guys like Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and the guys along the defensive line, there would be no Legion of Boom, because it all starts up front. Those guys don’t get nearly the credit they deserve. —Richard Sherman Half of what I know about football I learned in second…

Pacific Fly Fishers

The Shop Does a peaceful yet adventurous day on the river or lake this summer sound appealing to you? Want to try something new with the family? Or, do you…

Oops! Landscaping Mistakes

Oh it’s that time of year, time to plant and sow, to weed and cultivate. The sun is getting closer and brighter, the soil is warming up—it’s time to make the most of your landscape. There are a lot of ways it can go so right, and happy accidents are a great gardening tool, but here are some ways it goes…

DIY Gurus of Youtube

I remember watching This Old House on lazy weekends, idly plucking at a bowl of popcorn while Bob Vila tears apart the plaster wall of a Victorian with glee. These days, homeowners get most of their renovation know­how in the great how­to library of YouTube. But not all home remodel videos are created equal—some of them are too complicated, some skip important steps, and some are just downright silly. But the best of them are so helpful, they deserve a special mention. One of the superstars of YouTube DIY is Matt Risinger of Austin, Texas. Now, not all of the advice he dispenses works in our cooler, wetter climate, but he does some beautiful work and explains it all very well. Another favorite is Craig Heffernan. Craig specializes in deck­building for beginners. More enthusiast than teacher, Kirsten Dirksen takes you through eco­houses and tiny houses loaded with features and information. She’s a great person to turn to for inspiration and ideas, Dirksen’s passion shines through. Going with a contractor is usually a good idea for most large remodel and construction projects. But if you feel like rolling up your sleeves and framing your own tiny house, these folks can help you get started. Or at least get you into enough trouble to keep it interesting. Links: Matt Risinger Craig Heffernan Kirsten Dirksen

Roller Derby Workout

Considering that roller derby is like the world’s roughest crossfit mixed with gladiatoral combat, it follows that these women are in seriously good shape. You can be, too, if you follow their strength training tips and tricks. I’m not a derby girl, just a wanna-be who makes up derby names for herself all the time, but I have lots of love…

Barn Raising

Dreaming of a new outbuilding for your property? Find inspiration in the gorgeous equestrian barns constructed by DC Builders in Snohomish County and throughout the Pacific Northwest….

Household Know-How

We’ve rounded up our favorite how-to videos that demonstrate helpful tips and tricks for accomplishing household cleaning and organizing tasks.

Edmonds: The Heart of the Arts

The inspiring landscape, supportive community, and rich artistic history create a lure that draws artists and art enthusiasts to Edmonds. “There’s a power and a presence about being in Edmonds,” said Elizabeth Martin-Calder, interim executive director of Cascadia Art Museum. Since its beginning, the community has supported and encouraged the arts. “If you go way back things sort of started with some of the social clubs in early Edmonds, some…

Roller Derby Workout

Considering that roller derby is like the world’s roughest crossfit mixed with gladiatoral combat, it follows that these women are in seriously good shape. You can be, too, if you follow their strength training tips and tricks.