The Mixing Tin | Rum Punch
RUM PUNCH If you’re in the mood for a fruity, refreshing drink, rum punch is the one for you! Punch is widely considered to be the first cocktail, from which all other cocktail variations stem, and this…
A Fresh Take on Rustic | Rustic Bar & Grill
There’s a new destination for barbecue lovers in Lynden, and the experience goes well beyond the smoker. Rustic Bar &…
Sleeping in the Woods—On Your Terms | Lakedale Resort
One of the most wonderful things about our region is that it offers ways for everyone to enjoy nature, and one fabulous property on San Juan Island is taking that offer a step further: Lakedale Resort makes camping in the woods accessible to even the most dirt-averse among us. “It’s kind of like a curio cabinet,” says Operations Director…
Shake Up Your Coffee Routine | Ballistic Brew
Ballistic Brew is a travelling coffee trailer with unique drinks, a sense of adventure, and a growing customer base throughout Whatcom County. The Everson-based business was founded in August 2024 by Jillian Ball, with help from husband Kent, daughter Kenzie, and son Burke. While they originally planned to focus on special events on weekends (they can bartend out of the trailer, too!), their…
BTC’s Culinary Arts Cafe Is Crushing It | Bellingham Technical College’s Café Culinaire
Twice a year, Bellingham Technical College (BTC) presents the community of Whatcom County with the opportunity to enjoy food made by their own culinary students at Café Culinaire. The cafe was started around 20 years ago by Michael Baldwin, a former chef instructor at BTC. Now, the program is taught by Nicole Carter. Carter has been working at BTC for 14 years and discovered her love of cooking through her mother. “My mom was the worst cook on the planet;…
NSEA Continues to Fight for Salmon Recovery | Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
Through numerous education and volunteer programs, the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) has been working with local community members to…
Wine Pick of the Month | Brian Carter Cellars’ Oriana
Summer is my favorite time of the year for white wine, and my favorite is from Brian Carter Cellars in Woodinville. This Washington winery is known for its exceptional blending of WA wine and this one is my favorite during the summer months when I want a rich, full-flavored wine to pair with lighter summer meals or just sitting on the deck enjoying the warm weather.
Visit the Treasure Trove in the Loft of the Skagit Valley Co-op | Skagit Valley Co-op Mercantile
Since 1973 the Skagit Valley Food Co-op has been bringing local, organic, fair trade, and natural grocery items to the residents of Mount Vernon and beyond. But did you know that this philosophy applies to their wearables selection as well? Climb the stairs to the Co-op’s Mercantile and you can find fashionable soft goods and jewelry that…
Tomahawk Steak with Grilled Corn & Peach Salsa | Chef Matthew’s Corner
Long, golden evenings and backyard gatherings are what summer is all about—especially when there’s a perfectly cooked tomahawk steak from Widnor Farms cooking nearby. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the season is cooking outdoors with family, friends, and good music. While my usual go-to is a butter-basted steak in a cast iron skillet with rosemary, garlic, and cracked black pepper, summer often inspires…
Interiors to Satisfy the Senses
Feeling at home in a space is all about satisfying the senses—not only sight and touch, which are the usual focus of interior design advice, but sound, smell, and, yes, even taste! We’ve rounded up some of the best ways to…
A Leap in Solar Energy | Community Boating Center
Thanks to a grant from Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power Community Support Program, the Community Boating Center (CBC) in Bellingham was able to install a new solar energy system in early May. This project marked a major step forward for CBC’s goal of fully…
The Power of Art and Culture | The Sophia Grace Gallery
When you step into the Sophia Grace Gallery in Ferndale, you’ll feel an immediate sense of curiosity intertwined with fascination. The owner, Dr. Sophia Kidd, greets her guests with a warm welcome, and her passion for art is truly magical—she has always known that she wanted to make her career involve art. When I visited the gallery in June, the exhibit was “Maps of No Return,” featuring the work of the artist He Gong. He Gong moved…
Someone’s Trash Is Someone Else’s Fashionable Fit | Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County Trashion Show
Vibrant sparkles, radical acceptance, flamboyant creativity, safety in expression, unbridled joy—these are just a few phrases that describe this year’s Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County Trashion Show. The show was created six years ago by Hillary Pritchard, Habitat’s operations manager, as part of Habitat’s annual auction in support of repurposing and reusing materials. Now the Trashion Show has blossomed into a stand-alone event, thanks to the tremendous support from the public. The…
8 Great Tastes | August 2025
1. Red Star Taco Bar’s Philly CheeseSteak and Korean BBQ Beef tacos bring something new to the table! Pair them with a non-alcoholic Afternoon Colada. 2. Recently opened in the old Little Dog Coffee Co. shack, Full Steam Coffee Co.‘s Avo Turkey Bacon sandwich on ciabatta is a power-packed lunch on the go! 3. Rock and…
Uniquely Spirited Tasting Room Opens in Ferndale | Doc Swinson’s Barrel Lab
Did you know Ferndale is home to an internationally-acclaimed whiskey brand? If you answered “no” and want to learn more, keep your curiosity about you when you visit Doc Swinson’s new Barrel Lab. Doc Swinson’s was founded in 2017 by four Whatcom County residents, including Master Blender Jesse Parker….
Derby Derby Do!
The Kiplingcotes Derby originated in 1519 in Britain, earning the title of Britain’s oldest horse race. Now, over 500 years later, this horse derby still takes…
Since Time Immemorial | Joshua Olsen
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…
Red, White, and Blue Antique Automobiles | Whatcom County Cruising Association
Twice a month, the Whatcom County Cruising Association (WCCA) hosts meetings for members at the Cedars RV Resort in Ferndale. These gatherings are an opportunity to meet new…
Pros in the Know: Green Built, Solar Homes
You may be surprised to learn that nestled in north Bellingham is Washington’s largest, green-built, solar community: Larrabee Springs, one of the city’s best-kept secrets. It’s the vision of Caitac USA that has been brought to life by green builder Alex Wynstra of AJW Builders. Larrabee Springs has earned a reputation as one of Bellingham’s…
31 Days of Giveaways
It’s time for 31 Days of Giveaways! Enter to win a prize from a local business every day in August, plus a chance to win the Grand…