Discover the Enigma of the …

Discover the Enigma of the Skagit BigFoot Fest | A Celebration of Mystery and Community

This Fall, The Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon will once again transform into a vibrant haven for enthusiasts of the elusive Bigfoot and fans of lively community gatherings. The 3rd Annual Skagit BigFoot Fest, scheduled for September 27-29, promises an unforgettable experience, blending local artistry, music, and a touch of mythological allure. “Skagit BigFoot Fest is about being the good in our community,”…

A Deliciously Creative …

A Deliciously Creative Pairing | Sweet Art

Down on Railroad Avenue in Bellingham, there’s an unassuming little shop—so little you might miss it if you blink while driving by. But Sweet Art, a chocolate shop and art gallery owned by Vivian and Jerry Hruska, doesn’t rely on high visibility. “We have a good customer [base],” Vivian says. “We don’t advertise—[it’s] all word of mouth.” The power of that word-of-mouth reputation, combined with the quality and creativity of their inventory, is exactly what’s kept…

Seeing the City From All …

Seeing the City From All Angles | 36 Hours in Seattle

For so many of us, Seattle is a medical or entertainment destination—the kind of place you go for a few hours or a day trip. But one of the benefits of spending a whole weekend there is the opportunity to experience more of the city at a slower pace. And to eat more good things, of course! STAY One of my favorite neighborhoods…

Fall Arts Guide

Prost! Oktoberfest is here! | …

Prost! Oktoberfest is here! | Yes, it starts in September

Picture it: you’re on a game show and made it to the last round. The final question asks you when Oktoberfest, the German folk festival, is celebrated. Your hands start to sweat. You have no more lifelines. You slam your buzzer and answer: “October!” It’s time to dust off that good sport smile because you have unfortunately lost out on about $1 million. Truthfully, you should’ve…

Bringing Sustainability (and …

Bringing Sustainability (and Color!) to Activewear | Madrona Wear

Madrona Wear is a local business dedicated to giving your activewear new life and keeping torn-up activewear out of the landfill. The name Madrona comes from the Madrona tree which is a sign of a healthy…

Since Time Immemorial | Hy’…

Since Time Immemorial | Hy’oltse Shirley Bob

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 when we need to restore our relationship with Mother Earth and with one another. We are grateful for these stories, told in the words of each…

Collaborating Through …

Collaborating Through Challenge | Keeping Divorce as Painless as Possible

It’s common to think of divorce in terms of litigation, which often means conflict, court dates, hard feelings, and a great deal of money. There’s also mediation, which still tends to focus on there being a “winner” and a “loser.” However, there’s another option that many people might be unfamiliar with collaborative divorce, a process which avoids the court system entirely. Collaborative divorce was introduced by Minnesota lawyer Stu Webb in 1990, and the Uniform Collaborative Law Act was…

Beauty Defined by Self-…

Beauty Defined by Self-Expression | Cherry Bomb Esthetics and Tattoo

Cherry Bomb Esthetics and Tattoo is a unique beauty collective in downtown Bellingham. Co-Founders Kelli Morones and Tyleranne Armstrong want to break the industry’s mold of a typical beauty studio experience. Morones and Armstrong met as cohorts in the first graduating class of Bellingham’s Evergreen Beauty College branch, where they gravitated toward each other due to their shared experience not quite fitting in with the rest of their classmates. “I feel like the beauty industry can attract a very specific…

Ragù Napoletano al Forno

As Summer fades and the evenings turn chilly, fall is a great time to get back to cooking recipes that take time, encouraging us to slow down, and produce rich, indulgent, comforting results. This recipe for Ragù Napoletano from Packer’s Kitchen + Bar is just that: a slow-simmered sauce that’s imbued with a ton of flavor, draped over al dente pasta and oven-baked until the whole thing bubbles and your mouth is watering from…

Literary Arts in the North …

Literary Arts in the North Sound

Our September issue is all about the arts, which might at first bring to mind paintings and dance performances—but literature is a huge part…

The Mixing Tin | Casino