Fall Arts Feature
This feature story appeared in the November 2017 issue of Bellingham Alive Magazine.
Every Day is Earth Day in April Community | Earth Day Events Roundup
Earth Day happens annually on April 22, and the Pacific Northwest is the perfect place to celebrate, with an abundance of community cleanups, parades, and sustainability events. These events are often free and family-friendly. Plus, be sure to head to your favorite state park—Earth Day is a Discover Pass free day! BELLINGHAM Since 2022, Sunnyland Neighborhood has hosted an Earth Day celebration that is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. This year’s event will be held in Sunnyland…
The Mixing Tin: 5th Street Bistro
The Naughty Schoolgirl INGREDIENTS Pama, 360 Raspberry Vodka, lemon juice and splash of Sprite, $7.50 Although the name may make you blush, the Naughty Schoolgirl from Anacortes’s 5th Street Bistro in the Majestic Inn & Spa is perfect for when you’re feeling, well, naughty. The vodka-based…
Palatine Passive House
The Palatine Passive House by architect Tiffany Bowie of Malboeuf Bowie Architecture was one of eight homes featured during last year’s Seattle Modern Home Tour in April. Bowie, a certified passive house consultant, fielded questions from tour guests curious…
Modern Cabin Atmosphere Meets Country Cuisine
The Birch Door Cafe The Birch Door Cafe does not fall short on charm, variety, or serving size. Once you open the massive birch door and enter the spacious lobby, you’ll immediately be greeted by friendly service and enchanting smells. Opened in June 2017, the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m….
The Original Farm-to-Table
Nell Thorn Waterfront Bistro & Bar La Conner’s Nell Thorn has been serving locally sourced food before it was trendy. It is one of the original farm-to-table restaurants in the area, thanks to forward-thinking owners, Casey and Susan Schanen. The husband-wife team are natives of Skagit Valley and have extensive food and wine backgrounds. The couple met about 25 years ago at the Wild Iris Inn, where both worked. The pair…
What’s My Style?
Today, I have many clients confused when trying to explain their “design style,” not wanting to commit to just one, fearing they might end with the wrong result. Combining hints of contemporary with a nod of tradition is a…
Direct Destinations Feature
This feature story appeared in the November 2017 issue of Bellingham Alive Magazine.
Take a Hike
Sehome Hill Arboretum Trail The Sehome Hill Arboretum Trail is a six-mile network of loose hikes that weaves alongside 25th Street as it summits Sehome Hill. Footpaths, dirt trails, and paved trails give this great hill many options for all skill levels to get out and explore, and is a popular spot among Western Washington University students due to its proximity. The past remains a curiosity here as you view an old driving tunnel carved into the…
Nourishing Roots
It was my first Hopewell Farm carrot that hooked me. I had moved to Bellingham that fall, and bought a two-pound bag of carrots at the farmers market. Sure, they have carrots in Texas — the Lone Star State I hail from — but not carrots like this….
Jet-Setting Makeup Hacks
For me, 2017 has been the year of travel! Both domestic and internationally, I’ve had the privilege of trekking all over the globe. Now that there are so many great flights coming directly in and out of Bellingham, I have the feeling we’re all going to get the travel bug. Since I’ve constantly been in a state of packing and re-packing, I’ve been forced to get…
Pottery for Everyone
Orcas Island Pottery THE SHOP Opened in 1945, Orcas Island Pottery lays claim to being the oldest pottery shop in the Pacific Northwest. It’s been owned by two families, has had four generations throw pottery in its studio, and has undergone two remodels — one in 1969 to expand the studio…
Joie Clothing
“Casual, comfortable, and luxurious” are the three pillars of Joie’s approach to clothing. The designs are inspired by the relaxed Southern California lifestyle and are infused with the sort of sophistication you’d expect to find on the streets…
A Hub for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Backcountry Essentials Tucked into one of historic downtown Bellingham’s charming buildings is Backcountry Essentials outdoors store. Dozens of recreation backpacks find homes on the exposed brick walls, along with rows of skis and boots. From the wood rafters hang hammocks and tents. Even the creaky staircase, which leads customers to the used merchandise section, holds shelves of guidebooks and racks of maps. Every inch of Backcountry Essentials is utilized…
Playing Games, Face to Face
Rook & Rogue Board Game Pub Something new has arrived in downtown Bellingham. It’s not a cafe, not a bar, nor is it a restaurant or gaming lounge. It’s all of those things combined. Rook & Rogue is a board…
Wonder Woman: There’s Always a Solution
Meredith McIlmoyle, Anacortes Arts Festival Director Anacortes Arts Festival executive director Meredith McIlmoyle has been event planning for 26 years. She began as a student assistant at Arizona State University, solo planning an event for the first time in 1993. She grew up in Denver, then lived in Arizona for 13 years, but now calls Anacortes home after living here for 16 years. McIlmoyle describes event planning as 90 percent problem-solving, and she’s adamant about it. “It’s…
Traveling Abroad Made Easy at Rick Steves’ Travel Center
At home in the chic, down-to-earth seaside village of Edmonds is the Travel Center for Rick Steves’ Europe. Approach the building from 4th Avenue, with…
A Circus Story
I lived near Bellingham for 22 years before discovering there’s a circus in town. It’s aptly named Vaudevillingham and is put on by the Bellingham Circus Guild. Located just down the road from the hub of Fairhaven in a big warehouse, the circus puts on a show the 15th of every…
A Weekend of Films
Friday Harbor Film Festival Between 1,400 and 1,500 people are expected to attend the Friday Harbor Film Festival’s fifth annual documentary film festival November 3–5. Festival organizers Lynn Danaher and Karen Palmer…
More than Meals, an Italian Lifestyle
Ciaò Thyme Ciaò Thyme will take your breath away before you’ve even had your first bite. This “lifestyle brand,” as co-owner Jessica Gillis called it, houses a catering business, lunch time café, event space, cooking classes, take-home prepared frozen meals, and a dinner series. What a mouthful. And,…
Exploring the Human Condition Through Art
Bellingham has its artistic success stories (Death Cab for Cutie, comedian Ryan Stiles), but it also has its grassroots luminaries. Author, poet,…
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…