For more than 60 years, Meerkerk Gardens has been shaped by generations of care, preserving its unique woodland landscape while honoring the vision of those who came before. Tucked among the forests and coastal views of Whidbey Island, the gardens have become a refuge where visitors can simply slow down and…
Mambo Italiano Mambo Rosemary Margarita Mambo Italiano’s bar sits above the regular dining seating in the front of the café. Up the stairs and to the left you find the quaint bar. A small yet cozy atmosphere — not the place to bring a large group, but the intimate setting promotes friendly conversation amid close friends. The bartender, Breanna Fuqua, recommends Mambo’s…
Paws for a Beer If there are two things the people of Bellingham adore, it’s their beer and their dogs, not necessarily in that order. That was what Rylan Schoen was counting on when he opened his one-of-a-kind…
Have you been ignoring red wines altogether during the summer months? Then it’s time to reconsider. Yes, a chilled white wine or rosé makes a great warm-weather adult beverage, but red wines deserve a little summertime love as well. Red wines pair nicely with a variety of foods prepared outdoors on the grill and they’ll stand up to charbroiling…
B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar at Four Points by Sheraton is an inspiration of architecture, interior design, and culinary imagination. Early this year, the hotel closed its previous restaurant, Poppe’s 360, and…
The airy lightness of this Chuckanut Bay home’s interior stands in contrast to its big, bold, concrete frame that attracts attention from those who live nearby or paddle past. The owner, a builder himself, wanted to convey permanence in a home situated between…
On a small country road near Sedro-Woolley stands a humble building. Aside from the sign, it might be mistaken for a residence. Inside, however, is a luxurious getaway, with rooms that have nearly every amenity. For cats, that is. The Cat Nap Inn bills itself as a “bed and breakfast exclusively for cats.” But it’s more…
On Healthy Pet’s manufacturing floor, chief executive Ted Mischaikov sticks his hand under a small waterfall of orzo-shaped paper pellets, then pokes at the soggy crumbles…
Just yards from the U.S.-Canadian border in Blaine, customs and border dog Greya, on a work break, can’t resist a strip of bush-shaded grass and does what dogs do — gets down to roll,…
If you’re a dog or cat owner, it’s likely you’ll experience — at least once — that eerie, then terrifying, feeling that something’s missing. Namely, your pet. Even more devastating is realizing…
Even before Bobbie Ruth Langley began her Life Cycle Pet Cremation service, she knew it wouldn’t be enough. “It’s incredibly valuable for people emotionally to memorialize their pet,” Langley said. So…
A horse’s neigh sounds in the distance as Julia Bozzo emerges from her house. Bozzo has always loved horses, but when she came to Bellingham, she realized there wasn’t a riding center. So Bozzo started one. It turned out to be much more than just a place to ride horses. The NorthWest Therapeutic Riding Center,…
Chili the Chihuahua, curled on her padded dog bed in front of her home’s fireplace, does not stir when two visitors enter. Chili’s age is a best-guess…
After Pat Holmes and Chris Monroe registered their therapy dogs, they wondered: Now what? That’s when they decided to start Whatcom Therapy Dogs. This program connects registered therapy dogs and their handlers with the community. People volunteer their dogs when they’re available to help. A therapy dog is different from a service dog because they provide affection and comfort in…
City dwellers can practice urban farming by keeping chickens in their backyards, but that’s not the only poultry option. Some people are now turning to ducks…
When you think about pets, what images come to mind? Dogs? Cats? Maybe the occasional reptile, rodent, or bird. Why not a potbelly pig? Most folks think pigs don’t belong in the house, but most folks haven’t met Mr. Tasty. When the Damaris family — Robyn, Jason, and their son Dylan, 6 — couldn’t agree on…
It’s not easy being the official canine concierge of Hotel Bellwether. You’ve got to greet the guests with a happy face and a wagging tail. You’ve got to step up if they need help at the front desk. Sometimes you even need to get your paws dirty and chase away those pesky rabbits that like to hide in the bushes out back. It’s a big job, but somebody’s got to do…
When I told my boyfriend I was allergic to cats and dogs, he researched high and low for some kind of furry pet we could own together. After a few weeks, he found the perfect solution — sugar gliders. They’re a kind of possum native to Australia that can glide through the air on membranes tucked between their front and back legs….
While it may be one of the busiest Washington parks in the summer, Deception Pass State Park is still accessible and nearly as beautiful throughout the offseason. The second major draw…
Eat Local has become a well-known term that Pacific Northwesterners wear like a badge of honor all throughout our sweet little salty town of Bellingham. At least many people I know, both in and out of the food industry, live by this slogan. These dedicated friends and family…
Bow Wow & Woofs THE SHOP Bow Wow & Woofs is not your ordinary pet store. Instead of the typical run-of-the mill kibble and dog biscuits, you’ll find freezers stocked with…
Bayview Farm & Garden Bayview Farm & Garden, in the seaside village of Langley on Whidbey Island, promoted green gardening before the word “green” meant anything more than a color. Ambitious and industrious owner Maureen Murphy, constantly strives to improve…
Shake & Shine Canine Wash and Deli Shake & Shine Canine Wash and Deli is as close to a day spa as your four-legged-friend will experience. Plus, the myriad bath and grooming options, from self-service washes to full-service grooming, makes it easy for pet owners to keep their pooches clean. The Pacific Northwest climate can make keeping pups clean throughout the year a challenge. With rain comes mud and nobody likes a cold shower outside, not even dogs. Luckily,…
Retro Vibe Meets Pacific Northwest Mood Bellingham’s hotel accommodations have long lacked a middle ground; a space that neither has the price tag of The Chrysalis Inn nor the disconcerting nature of the motels on North and South Samish Way. In May, however, The Heliotrope Hotel filled that void. Located in the same space that was once the Lion’s Inn Motel on Elm Street, the once run-down motel has been brought to life again. It is a bright space…
Diane Padys wasn’t always on track to become a photographer. “Photography was always a passionate hobby of mine from college,” she said. Padys spent a number of years working as a staff accountant in San Francisco before she decided to…
Pups rehabilitate in the pool Carrie Lane, owner of K9 Lap of Luxury, was first inspired by the powers of canine hydrotherapy at a pool in Fall City. Lane showed her bull mastiff and was looking for a low-impact way to…
WeSNiP Every Thursday morning, cat owners gather in the parking lot of Bellingham’s Salvation Army, and every Thursday morning, the team at WeSNiP is ready to go. Cats are loaded…
Avielle Heath The film community in Bellingham is growing, and its success is in no small part thanks to Avielle Heath. She is a producer and organizer working in a chaotic creative world, making sure films see their day in the cinema. Heath started making films after taking an influential film production course at Fairhaven College. She started making short films with her friends and entering local film competitions. She became a volunteer production assistant, where she…
Whatcom Humane Society It was just 1902 when the Whatcom Humane Society began taking care of animals throughout the county. “I’ve always thought it was pretty amazing that, in 1902, a group of committed citizens in our community gathered together to form…
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 apply…
