Sexy Pad Thai | Wanida Thai
Since opening its doors in 2015, Wanida Thai has quickly become a go-to bastion of faraway flavor, gaining a loyal customer base and making a name for itself in the local…
Two Island Nations, One Salish Sea | Hands Across the Water
When borders divide, communities can choose to sail toward each other. On a weekend in Sept. 2025, a flotilla of boats carrying roughly 100 Americans crossed the Salish Sea from Orcas Island, Washington, to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia—two islands separated by a national border but connected by tides, ferry routes, and the kind of neighborliness that doesn’t require a passport to feel. The gathering was called Hands Across…
Baer Winery | ‘Star’ 2015 Merlot Columbia Valley
Baer Winery was founded in 2000 by father-son team Lance and Les Baer with the intention of producing exceptional quality Bordeaux-style wines. The veteran owned family operation remains true to just that, generating consistently excellent vintages…
The Story Behind the North Sound’s Finest Confections | Forté Chocolate
Experiencing gourmet chocolate can be a life changing experience. Just ask Karen Neugebauer, the founder and master chocolatier behind Forté Chocolate. When she first enrolled in a culinary arts program, she…
Must-Have Holiday Glam
The holiday party season is upon us. You’ve got places to be, gifts to give, and champagne to drink! While you’re busy hustling from soiree to soiree, you’ll need an outfit that can keep up with you. We’ve put together a classy, festive…
Q&A with Jen Parker of ReImagined
Hello! Please introduce yourself and ReImagined. My name is Jen Parker and I began ReImagined in 2018 as a simple hobby. In 2022, I began working in art as my full-time job. With ReImagined, I purchase wood that has been salvaged from building demolitions in our…
Empowering Women Against Adversity | YWCA Bellingham
Since its founding in 1907 by prominent Bellingham clubwoman, Frances Larrabee, YWCA Bellingham has gradually evolved into one of the most impactful nonprofit organizations in the North Sound. Dedicated to its mission to ending racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, and freedom for all, the YWCA is always looking…
Review: The Bistro at Shuksan
I am not a golfer. It’s not that golf doesn’t appeal to me; I just could never quite summon the gumption to take a “swing” at it. Therefore, the Bistro at Shuksan might never have appeared on my radar, if it weren’t for writing this review. Now, I believe it should be on everybody’s. The entrance at Bistro at Shuksan boasts high ceilings and classic…
One Room Challenge: A Spacious Update- Bathroom Remodel from Tanna by Design
Seamless, sassy, and may we say a little sexy! That was the look our clients were going for and I must say… we nailed…
Gifts Delivered from the Salish Coast: Madrona Gifts
If you’ve ever wanted to send a gift basket to a friend or family member, but didn’t want to go through an impersonal internet business, Madrona Gifts is a perfect solution. Run by Kirsten Lutes, the online shop’s goal is to…
Holiday Dinner Redo
Huge Community Effort Sends Thanksgiving Home in a Basket: Thanksgiving Basket Program
Every year, Blaine’s Community Assistance Program (CAP) gives away hundreds of ready-to-cook Thanksgiving meals. For the last two decades, Shirley Tobian has been…
Blending American Tradition with Old World Technique: Doc Swinson’s
It’s no secret that whiskey holds an iconic place in the heart of American libations culture. But have you ever wondered what actually goes into the process of creating that silky smooth, perfectly balanced sip? According to the team behind Ferndale-based craft whiskey label Doc Swinson’s, it’s (almost) all in the blend— and in the barrel. “People in the United States rarely focus on…
Valuing People Always: Hilda’s Farm
One of the first things people often ask Hilda Sandoval when they find out that she is a farmer is why she, as a woman with a college degree, would choose to do such a difficult and physically demanding job. Her answer is always the same: “Because I like it.” Of course, like the roots of her own produce, Hilda’s story goes…
Not Just a Boutique, A Destination: Shelley’s Shack
The Shop Located on State Street in the heart of downtown Sedro-Woolley lives Shelley’s Shack, a charming boutique shop that happens to be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It is, without question, a one-stop shop destination with…
Focus on Northwest Art | Art’s Alive! in La Conner
The small town of La Conner has been a center for the arts for many years, with its surprising number of galleries and museums. Every November it becomes even more so, when Art’s Alive! makes the town an even greater hotbed of art…
A Captivating Canine Collection | Laura Landrum’s “The Dog House”
Looking in from the outside, you might never guess that within the walls of Laura Landrum’s 1993 home hides one of our area’s most charming and unusual niche antique art collections. What makes this one so special, you might ask? Well, if you’re a lover…
Since Time Immemorial: Sul ka dub | Freddie Lane
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, 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…
Five Faves: Ways to Give Back
Festival of Trees The Skagit Regional Health Foundation hosts this annual festival that goes to support their life-saving medical programs. Families can attend Santa breakfasts, grown-ups can dress to the nines to attend the Gala and Auction, and you can bid on their decorated mini-trees in Downtown Mount Vernon. St. Joseph Center, 215 N. 15th St., Mount Vernon, skagitregionalhealth.org/foundation Holiday Giving Store Now in its 20th year, Ferndale’s Holiday Giving Store is set up so that qualifying families…
Holiday Shopping Guide
Apse Jewelry Studio & Showroom Downtown Bellingham’s coolest jewelry spot with a colorful selection of rings, chains, and hoops. We handcraft all our…
