If you were to picture a cozy, modern abode for young, energetic families who love cooking, hosting, sustainability, and the outdoors, this house would be the…
Located just south of the Mount Baker Highway in the small town of Acme, the Acme Diner is a true American diner. This must-stop location features a full selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to satiate your hunger at any time of day. The food is sourced fresh from local farms, giving your tastebuds the full Pacific Northwest experience. Aside from the indoor bar, there is also an…
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 space with the ghosts of the Herald Building, but that’s not why Miller called it a haunt. “I’ve just always been drawn to the macabre,” she says. As a self-described lover of “fall, Halloween, and all…
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…
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…
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 for a cozy fall day trip. Step Into Nature Pack your Merrells—Camano is full of easy hikes and combable shores. The island is home to two…
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 and muralist who first moved to Bellingham in 2017. Originally from Napa Valley, California, Colin was drawn to art during high school, when he saw it as a skill to…
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 the left of the entrance is…
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…
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…
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,…
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 feature the top…
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…
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. “It was a long-held dream,” she…
Indigenous Peoples Day, which falls annually on the second Monday of October, is a chance to celebrate the contributions and living cultures of Indigenous peoples. “Indigenous people” usually refers to a people who are the original inhabitants of a place and whose lifeways, language, and spirituality profoundly connected to their homeland. Here in what we now call Bellingham and the surrounding areas, Indigenous peoples include Lummi…
RED SCHOONER VOYAGE 12, Wagner Family of Wine Red Schooner is a distinctive red wine produced by the Wagner family, renowned for their…
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 way of catching…
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 of boutiques in town and an empty lot on Railroad Avenue, and had a vision. Tired of the big- name stores that…
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 Pacific Northwest. After 32 years living on…
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 Chapter Cafe features the best…
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,…
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…
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 heyday, however, weren’t European vacationers—they were patients struggling with inner demons. Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. “Exhaustion” and “dementia.” Addiction. The beautiful…
