The Salmon Is Just So Good | Lummi Island Wild
Confession time: I didn’t always like fish. Being born in cattle country, I didn’t consider fish to be much worth eating and couldn’t…
New Flexible Event Space Highlights Lynden’s Historic Charm | Rübus Events + Gatherings, Inn at Lynden
Last November, the Inn at Lynden unveiled its three newly renovated gathering spaces: the Waples Room, the Edson Room, and Rübus. Situated on the Inn’s lower level, Rübus is now the Inn’s largest meeting space, perfect for special events and memory-making of all sorts. The Inn at Lynden opened in 2015 after Owners Jeff and Deb McClure and Matt and Teri Treat hired RMC Architects to renovate the historic Waples Mercantile Building, previously the Lynden Department Store. The 112-year-old…
New Sipping Grounds for This Beach Cat | Beach Cat Brewing
Beach Cat Brewing’s first location opened in 2020 after Jake Gobeille, owner and director of operations, unexpectedly fell in love with the craft….
8 Great Tastes | April 2025
We love Fairhaven’s Skylark’s Cafe for brunch, but this dinner item blew us away: Flat Iron Certified Angus Steak, marinated and sliced to order, with Yukon Gold garlic mashed potatoes, whiskey cream sauce, and seasonal veg! Want something other than a…
Tequila and Tacos | Red Star Taco Bar
Padraic Markle, co-owner of Sweet Bay Cafe and Red Star Taco Bar, is serious about tequila. Behind the bar sits a selection of over 50 tequilas, all made with three essential ingredients: water, yeast, and matured agave. They also have a wide selection of mezcal and agave spirits available. “Six to eight years of Mexican sunshine in a…
Fly, Drive, Cruise
We North Sound residents are extremely fortunate to be spoiled with excellent scenery, culture, and food right in our backyards—but even we still get the travel itch, especially when the weather is wet and cold and the evenings descend too quickly. Luckily, we’re also perfectly positioned to head out of town and see new places, with…
Cheers For Beers | April Brews Day
April Brews Day kicks off its 25th annual beer-tasting festival on April 26. The event will take place from 4:30-8 p.m. at Bellingham’s Downtown Waterfront on the corner of Granary Avenue and Chestnut Street. Since 2001, April Brews Day has helped to raise money for the Max Higbee Center, a local grassroots organization that…
Planting Joy, Growing Community | Tulip Valley Farms CEO Andrew Miller
In the heart of Skagit Valley, where spring transforms the landscape into a vibrant sea of color, Andrew Miller has carved out a unique space in the region’s storied tulip farming tradition. As…
Your Best Sleep Is This Family’s Dream | Northwest Sleep Solutions
Did you know there’s a Bellingham business that sells its own line of custom-designed mattresses? If you’ve ever stayed a night at the Hotel Bellwether, it’s likely you’ve already slept on…
Wine Pick of the Month | Abeja “Beekeeper’s Blend”
ABEJA “BEEKEEPER’S BLEND” | COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON Drinking this wine in April makes perfect sense—spring is in full bloom. A perfect day for me is bringing this wine out to the Semiahmoo Spit right before sunset. The breeze and the colors of the sky complement the wine’s fruitiness and smooth structure. This is the perfect wine for any occasion; bring it to a nice…
For Love of Local Literature | Spotlight on Our Local Authors
I started my career in book publishing, working at Bloomsbury in London and publishing my first book over there, but when I moved back to the States I…
Confidence That’s More Than Skin Deep | Studio K
Whether a special occasion is just around the corner or you’re simply looking for a little self-care, Studio K is a full-service beauty salon equipped to meet your needs. Makenzie McBride, owner of Studio K, became a Master Esthetician in 2013. McBride’s entrance into the esthetic industry was spurred by her own struggles with severe acne. “Dealing with persistent skin issues…
Revitalizing Seattle’s Waterfront | Overlook Walk, Seattle Aquarium
The waterfront area of Seattle has undergone a huge makeover—it’s not only easier to access but also has a beautiful new park and pedestrian Overlook Walk leading city-goers and tourists directly to Pike Place Market. It’s now a lot easier to navigate, giving foot traffic a leg up in moseying through the city. “It was a…
eHAB: A Small, Rugged, Prefabricated Structure…for Anywhere | E. Cobb Architects Partners
E. Cobb Architects Partners’ eHAB project is a self-sustainable, habitable structure built to endure extreme environments—a conceptual idea turned real. Founder Eric Cobb and his team conceived of eHAB during the economic downturn of the late 2000s. At the…
“If You Have a Garden and a Library, You Have Everything You Need.” | Little Mountain Books & Botanica
If you’re headed to see the tulips this month, keep your eyes peeled! Just after you cross the river into West Mount Vernon a charming new bookshop beckons. Inside, the vibes in Little Mountain Books & Botanica are even better: cozy without feeling claustrophobic, and thoughtfully decorated. The shop is stocked with books of all genres—currently used, but Owners Suzy and Matt Gullet are hoping to add new titles soon—as well as a curated selection of…
Another Life-Changing Gift for Trade School Students | Bellingham Technical College
The sole technical college in Northwest Washington has received one of its biggest donations yet. Bellingham Technical College (BTC) was gifted $780,000 by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. With the finalization of the donation in December 2024, it’s now being put into effect. Around $300,000 of the gift will fund student scholarships, which some people rely on to put themselves through college and relieve financial stress. “It makes a huge difference,” says Colin Fritz, a BTC student whose…
Portuguese Orange Carrot Cake | Recipe
Two and a half years ago in June, I had my first surf camp experience in Sagres, Portugal, a petite surf town that comes to life in the summer months. I spent the week learning how to surf from incredible instructors at beaches I never would have found on my own. This was the first travel experience I’ve had where food was provided, and a few days in, the dessert was a Portuguese Orange…
Bellingham’s Highest-Rated Japanese Car- Importing Business | The Import Guys
The Import Guys storage room is full. Japanese cars and minibikes cover the floor; it’s a squeeze to amble around the building, but you could look for hours….
Breakfast of Champions | Sweet Bay Cafe
“I’m not gonna try to revolutionize breakfast,” begins Troy Krajewski, full-time chef and co-owner of Sweet Bay Cafe. “I don’t know that you truly can.” Krajewski wrote the menu for Sweet Bay Cafe with simplicity and quality in mind. Everything on the menu is made from scratch apart from the bread, which is brought in from local Bellingham…
Bringing Color and Light to the Dead of Winter | Illuminight Winter Walk
People from all over Skagit and Whatcom converged on Mount Vernon’s Riverwalk Plaza on January 31 for the annual Illuminight Winter Walk. Crowds of families and friends lit the winter sky with lanterns of all shapes and sizes, from enormous salmon- and snail-shaped structures to small, round lanterns made from the free kits handed out throughout the month by the Mount Vernon Parks & Enrichment…
The Opposite of ‘Fast-Gifting’ | Swag
THE SHOP A Bellingham-based one-stop-shop for all things ‘gift,’ Swag is a woman-owned business dedicated to curating quality items fit for celebrating any occasion. Products span a plethora of categories, and Owner Danielle Starr strives to ensure each person who walks in the door can find the perfect item to suit their needs….
Water You Waiting For? | Waterfront restaurants you’ll want to dive into!
The Pacific Northwest has some of the best restaurants that serve up some of the most breathtaking views of the Salish Sea. Each city and town has its own story of the waterfront, but the one thing they all have in common is the water views, which never get old. BLAINE & BIRCH BAY With a rich fishing and logging history, the Peace Arch City of…
The Mixing Tin | Penicillin Cocktail
THE PENICILLIN COCKTAIL Though getting the sniffles often results in forcing down cherry cough syrup, other natural ingredients are known to have healing properties—such as honey, lemon, and ginger. Enter: the Penicillin Cocktail, a sweet, sour, and smoky…
Since Time Immemorial | Eliza Julius
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…
Brand New Tulip Field Opens for Festival | Skagit Acres
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is underway, and this year, there’s even more blooms to enjoy! Skagit Acres has become the fifth named farm in the Festival’s official…
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
Looking to check out something new around the Pacific Northwest area? Whether a long time resident or fresh to the northwest, we may be able to help you experience something new. From beaches, parks, and tulips to food and fun walks, let us guide you…