Farm-Fresh Classic American Eats! | Acme Diner
Located just south of the Mount Baker Highway in the small town of Acme, the Acme Diner is a true American diner….
A Couple’s Forest Hideaway | The Gravel Pit, Legend Homes
Some houses have very strong identities. This bright blue home is one of those houses, appearing like a bright tropical fish with rooflines reminiscent of gills. Those rooflines are responsible for a very calm, 100% daylit interior. Legend Homes (formerly TC Legend Homes) has been building solar-powered homes in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, and with more Department of Energy awards than any other builder in the…
Unique Bellingham Studio Puts Your Head First | Moondog Head Spa & Haunt
If your scalp is haunted by half-hearted hair care, there’s a place in Bellingham where you can go to revive it. Moondog Head Spa & Haunt is the private studio of hairstylist Deirdre Miller. It may share…
The Mixing Tin | Dark ‘n Stormy
DARK ‘N STORMY The Dark ‘n Stormy is a classic, and the perfect drink to make at home! With only three steps and ingredients including the garnish, it’s also one of the more accessible cocktails to make on a budget. While the exact origin of this cocktail is unknown, it’s likely that sailors were…
Boots, Burgers, and Beers: Bringing Community Back | Conway’s Pub and Eatery
After facing some challenging years, an iconic Skagit County staple is making a comeback as a go-to spot for locals and visitors. Under new ownership, Conway’s Pub and Eatery is being refreshed with a focus on revitalizing the neighborhood atmosphere while preserving the pub’s roots. Long known for its oysters, burgers, and dive bar charm, Conway’s is once again the lively gathering place that patrons enjoyed for decades. “We wanted…
An Easy Day Trip with Fall-ish Vibes | Camano Island
It’s been coined “the easy island” for its bridge access, but Camano has more to offer than its lack of ferry lines. Less than an hour from Bellingham, with pristine beaches, plenty of hiking options, and foodie-worthy eats, Camano checks the box…
Making His Mark | Ivan Colin, Artist and Muralist
Downtown Bellingham is becoming somewhat of an art exhibit, featuring works sanctioned and unsanctioned from many local artists and muralists. One artist making his mark on the scene is Ivan Colin, an abstract artist…
15 Years of Bliss | Pure Bliss
Walking into Pure Bliss Desserts, it almost feels like you’ve been transported to another world; elegant and classy interior decor calms the eyes, appearing in various colors of muted and matte pink, white, and black. On the wall to…
Screen Screams | Bleedingham
Anyone looking for even more scares this Halloween season should stop by Bleedingham, Bellingham’s annual horror film festival. From Oct. 24-26, attendees can enjoy horror to the max with fun events happening throughout downtown Bellingham. Run by Gary Washington, Michelle Barklind, and Langley West, Bleedingham has been a passion project since 2012. “We decided, hey, there’s a lot of stuff in town, but there’s no horror,” Washington says. “It’s not like we want just horror and blood and stuff, we just…
8 Great Tastes | October 2025
1. Indulgence is just a sandwich away with Mount Bakery‘s Jambon Buerre! Dijon mustard, cotto ham, smoked prosciutto, triple cream brie, all complemented by a thick layer of Camargue butter—this is a treat and a half. 2. For a casual and filling lunch stop, the Roast Beef on Grilled Focaccia from Caffe Adagio is perfect. Rich focaccia, mozzarella, roast beef, and tomato make this feel both hearty and delectable! 3. Big flavor comes in just a…
Seared Pork Chop with Parsnip Purée, Roasted Delicata Squash, Brown Butter Pecan Sage, & Spiced Apple Chutney | Chef Matthew’s Corner, Recipe
October is one of my favorite months in the Pacific Northwest, with its shorter days, crisp air, and sudden abundance of earthy roots, winter squash, and apples. It’s the season when food leans into comfort—warm, golden, and a little indulgent. This dish brings it all together: the sweetness of roasted delicata squash, the silkiness of parsnip purée, the savoriness of a perfectly seared pork chop, and the nutty richness…
Best of the Northwest 2025 | Winners Announced!
130 Categories. 78,318 Submissions. 1,212,472 Individual Votes. 390 Winners. A 16-Year Tradition. Each October, we bring you the results of our…
Best of the Northwest 2025 | Winners Announced!
130 Categories. 78,318 Submissions. 1,212,472 Individual Votes. 390 Winners. A 16-Year Tradition. Each October, we bring you the results of our annual Best of the Northwest readers’ choice contest. For the entire month of July, readers, fans, followers, clients, friends, and family alike voted for their favorite local businesses. We are proud to…
A New Chapter for Gift Shopping in Fairhaven | Azzurra
Azzurra gift shop Owner Sasha Leaman didn’t start her career in retail—in fact, she never even worked in a shop before opening one of her own. A healthcare professional with a clinical doctorate in physical therapy, Leaman’s path to curating a refined and serene storefront in Fairhaven was anything but typical….
Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous Peoples Day, which falls annually on the second Monday of October, is a chance to celebrate the contributions and living…
Wine Pick of the Month | Red Schooner Voyage 12
RED SCHOONER VOYAGE 12, Wagner Family of Wine Red Schooner is a distinctive red wine produced by the Wagner family,…
Solar Power Meets Traditional Ways on Legoe Bay | Reef Netting Salmon with Lummi Island Wild
Legoe Bay sits on the western side of Lummi Island, the long, low strip of land that Bellinghamsters see when they look across the water from downtown. Being something of an Indoor Girl, I never expected to go anywhere near a commercial salmon fishery, but when Ian Kirouac of Lummi Island Wild invited me on a tour of one of their reef netting rigs I could not resist. What, I wondered, was so special about this…
Finding the Fun in Fashion | Sojourn
The Shop Sandwiched between Avenue Bread and The Bagelry, Sojourn is the perfect lunch break shopping stop. Sojourn first opened in 1994, when Owner Peggy Platter saw a lack…
Rooted in Place: A Craftsman’s Life on Lummi Island | Thomas Lutz
Thomas Lutz is the craftsman behind Uisce Irish Pub’s 36-foot mahogany bar in Bellingham, the custom dining furniture at the now-defunct Willows Inn, and dozens of bespoke pieces of fine furniture all over the…
Culinary Couple Begins New Chapter | Next Chapter Cafe
Bellingham residents may be familiar with the stories of Jennifer Worthley and Bryan Matamorosa, the culinary couple who own It’s The Sweet Things and Bry’s Filipino Cuisine, respectively. Now they’re embarking on a new venture, this time together. Found on the second floor of Fairhaven’s Village Books, Next…
Since Time Immemorial | Squad’dam’a’hon Terry Phair
Since Time Immemorial is a recurring series featuring community members whose families have been here since time immemorial. The ancestral knowledge…
Preserving Heritage, Feeding Community | Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms
Every October, Skagit farms open their gates for the annual Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms, a two-day celebration of agriculture and heritage. This year’s event takes place Oct. 4–5 and features around 14 participating farms…
Buried Voices and The Man Who Uncovers Them | Northern State Hospital
The grounds look like something one might see in Tuscany—creamy stucco buildings topped with terracotta roofs, with the Cascade mountains as a backdrop. The faces who peered from the windows during the property’s…