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…
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…
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 understand the residents of the PNW’s obsession with eating seafood—most notably salmon. But after 38 years in Washington State I get it. Salmon is amazing. It feeds everyone from hungry teenagers to orca. It truly is the buffalo of the sea. So what makes a good salmon? According to Ian Kirouac…
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. Now he’s…
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…
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 glass,” Markle says, describing the time it takes for agave to mature. The spark for Red Star Taco Bar came while…
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 three airports, multiple highways, and various ports within range. So,…
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…
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 the CEO of…
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 one!…
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…
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 figured I’d have to leave that world behind—the great majority of book publishing is centered around New York City, and I was moving back to the West…
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 gave me firsthand experience of how deeply skin health can affect…
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…
“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…
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….
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 Carrot Cake—perfectly matching…
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. Cars of all colors, varieties, shapes, and…
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…
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…
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. THE ATMOSPHERE Although Swag moved to Fairhaven in early March, the original location was once a functioning…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…