Expression, Connection, and Ink: Meet Me at the Con | Chibi Yeti
In a world where designs of peaceful PNW landmarks are king, Chibi Yeti is a different kind of screen printer. Founded and operated…
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…
Access to Movement for an Island of Dancers | Orcas Dance Collective
Island life may have a reputation for being laid-back, but it can definitely throw residents some curveballs. Dancer Chelsea Sherman moved to Orcas in 2020, just as the island’s established dance company was disbanding. Looking for connection, collaboration, and work opportunity, she set about laying the groundwork for a new dance collective. “I invited…
Resources for the Unhoused | The Way Station & Lighthouse Mission Base Camp
The rate of homelessness has been rising in Washington State over the last few years, with many people in our immediate community facing these challenges daily. With these numbers increasing…
New Leadership at Semiahmoo Resort | Packer’s Kitchen & Bar and Great Blue Heron Grill
For many Whatcom residents and visitors, the restaurants at Semiahmoo have been longtime favorites. Now the resort is building on that strong foundation with the addition of three new team members. On a recent visit to Packer’s Kitchen & Bar, we sat down with Executive Chef Debbie Vance, General Manager Andrew Tenis, and Food and Beverage Director John Reagan. All three of them joined the property in the last nine months. “It’s…
January Feature | Macronutrients
Beauty Tips for Everyone
The best beauty advice isn’t limited to just women—it’s for all of us! These five timeless tips are worth pursuing to ensure you always look your best! 1. Beauty Rest: Tried and True You probably all know this, but some of you still need to hear…
The Mixing Tin | The Classic Manhattan
THE CLASSIC MANHATTAN The Manhattan dates back to the latter half of the 1800’s, first making an appearance at the Manhattan Club in New York City, although many have claimed that this recipe has been around much longer. The first written mention of the Manhattan came from the “Olean Democrat” on Sep. 5, 1882, although the first recipe with exact measurements of the cocktail comes from “The Modern Bartenders Guide,” by O.H. Byron, in 1884. The original Manhattan was simple…
Ignite the Night | Paper Whale’s Fire & Story
After the success of its debut, Paper Whale’s Fire & Story is returning for round two! From Jan. 23-25, this all-ages event will illuminate the darkest nights of the year with four artistic wood-burning fires and over 50 unique performers spread across the Bellingham Waterfront. With Fire & Story’s extensive line-up, attendees can expect three curated evenings showcasing a variety of performers, including storytellers, comedians, poets, authors, musicians, fire dancers, glass…
Winter Harvest Healthy Meals
Weather you’re harvesting from your own garden or buying at the store, winter-time produce makes for delicious dishes! And there are more options than you might think. For instance, did you know that certain varieties of pears are a winter fruit in Washington? Or that chestnuts are harvested in late fall/early winter, and that we have two chestnut farms in Whatcom and Skagit Counties? While writing this piece, I read the 20th anniversary edition of “Winter…
The Family That Frames Together | Wilson Picture Framing
Whether you received a new print for the holidays or you’ve had a beloved poster rolled up in the shipping tube for months, let this be the nudge you need to get it framed. I know, I know, custom framing can be expensive, especially if you (like me) love museum glass. But a beautiful frame like the ones made by Wilson Picture Framing in…
A New Multi-Use Space Opens in Downtown Mount Vernon | Mount Vernon Library Commons
At the end of last year, a project that was two years and $56 million in the making came to a close: the new Mount Vernon Library Commons is officially open to the public! In addition to a new public library with youth services and a great teen room, the mixed-use space includes a community kitchen, a publicly-accessible conference center, and a three-story parking garage that boasts 76 EV charging…
8 Great Tastes | January 2025
The perfect breakfast to accompany a morning meet-up with a friend? The Soft Boiled Egg on Toast and a Cardamom Latte at Cafe Blue! It’s just filling and indulgent enough without being too heavy and distracting you from the conversation. For Peruvian-cuisine enthusiasts, Cafe Rumba is the restaurant for you, as they serve many different pastries…
Looking and Feeling Your Best at Any Age
No matter who you are or what stage of life you’re in, we all want to look and feel our best. Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in a rut or feel boxed in by what you’re ‘supposed to’ wear or do, but style and wellness are for everyone! LOOKING YOUR BEST How you present yourself to the world is important—not because you owe anybody conformity to a…
Two Years of Since Time Immemorial
This month marks two years and 20 instances of one of our favorite recurring Bellingham Alive columns: Since Time Immemorial. The wonderful Julie Trimingham began interviewing indigenous community members for Bellingham Alive in late 2022, and those interviews, along with beautiful full-page portraits, have appeared in the magazine’s Life section since January 2023. See all 20 profiles—and catch up on…
Wine Pick of the Month | Sonder x Sage Rat Carbonic Nebbiolo
SONDER X SAGE RAT CARBONIC NEBBIOLO Keep the winter celebrations going with this rose-colored stunner! Winemakers Sonder and Sage Rat made their Carbonic Nebbiolo in collaboration here in Washington State, from 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown right…
Bringing a Mount Vernon Home Into the 21st Century | True Bearing Built
The primary goal of this Mount Vernon kitchen remodel was to take the original closed-kitchen layout and turn it into an updated, stylish, and functional open-layout space where the homeowner could host guests and feel connected to the rest of the house. The new design removed the L-shaped dividing wall, opening the floor plan to enhance the kitchen and living spaces. To achieve this, a 20-foot beam was…
Expanding to Better Serve Our Community | PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Stronger Together Campaign
If you live in or near Bellingham, you’ve probably been to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center; since 1966, many in our community have relied on “St. Joe’s,” as it’s affectionately known, for lifelong care across a wide spectrum of needs. Now, that spectrum is expanding, thanks to a massive, multi-year community effort and more than $400 million in funding—including nearly $100 million…
Local Rugby | Empowering Girls Through the Game
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14; this can be due to factors such as lack of access…
Literary Events | January
Ashley E. Sweeney, “The Irish Girl” Book Signing January 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Attend this book signing and release celebration of award-winning author Ashley E. Sweeney’s newest novel, “The Irish Girl”—a story loosely based on her great-grandmother’s solo…
Since Time Immemorial | Tsx’vilum Free Borsey
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…