Quality Matters: Upscale Consignment in Fairhaven | Serendipity
THE SHOP Nestled among the shops of historic Fairhaven, Serendipity is a venue trading in upscale and vintage consignment clothing. “We like to describe ourselves as an eclectic…
History, Fantasy, and Everything in Between at Skagit Valley’s New Renaissance Faire | Faire du Well
Clashing swords, roasting turkey legs, magical creatures, and royals holding court. Where can you find all these things in the 21st century? At a renaissance faire, of course! Earlier this summer, Skagit County hosted its first full-weekend renaissance faire, a novel event called Faire du Well. Organized by the Washington Shakespearean Festival (WSF), it took over Skagit County Fairgrounds from…
Smarter, Healthier, and More Sustainable: The Cable Street Project | A1DesignBuild
Location: Lake Whatcom, Bellingham Homeowner: Mark Wheatley Architect: Maggie Bates, A1DesignBuild Builder: A1DesignBuild Interior Designer: Mark Wheatley Photographer: Moment Films When Mark Wheatley approached A1DesignBuild, he wanted a legacy home. Something intelligent, beautiful, and future-proof; a residence that would set a new standard for sustainable building in Whatcom County. We took that vision one step further by designing a net-positive home that actually produces more energy than it consumes—smarter, healthier, and more sustainable for all. From its 13-inch-thick…
Wine Pick of the Month | Long Shadows Poet’s Leap Riesling
LONG SHADOWS POET’S LEAP RIESLING Poet’s Leap is one of my go-to Rieslings! It’s a burst of freshness in a glass. Think white flowers, zesty lime, and a hint of wet stone on the nose, instantly inviting…
The Camel’s Watering Hole: Burlington’s Newest Speakeasy | Speakeasy Saloon
Maybe it’s something about reentering the ‘20s, but speakeasies have seen a definite resurgence over the past five to 10 years. Thankfully, history isn’t repeating itself entirely, so we aren’t flocking to these hidden bars and restaurants out of necessity—we’re doing it because they’re so much dang fun. The Speakeasy Saloon in Burlington opened in April 2025, and is the latest restaurant to come from the creators of Railroad Pub & Pizza and Train…
“Music, Conversation, and Connection” | Salon BRAVISSIMO!, Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
During their 2025–2026 season, the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra (BSO) launched BRAVISSIMO!, a brand new community for folks aged 21–39. BRAVISSIMO! was inspired by Seattle Opera’s BRAVO!, a highly successful young patrons group created in 1996. BSO Executive Director and Co-Principal Oboe Gail Ridenour brought the idea of adapting it for BSO to the table. After partnering with Seattle Opera and learning more about the program, BSO Administrative Coordinator Isabelle Kepner took on the…
If You Restore It, They Will Return | Ed Stone and Michelle Schraeder, Stone-Schraeder Conservation Easement
Editor’s note: This story originally ran with Michelle Schraeder’s last name misspelled as “Schrader.” It has been updated here. Our deepest apologies for this inaccuracy. On a quiet stretch of land near Everson, where Ten Mile Creek winds through marshland and meadow, Ed Stone kneels beside a spring-fed channel surrounded by canary grass, the invasive species that once hid dozens of natural springs. Decades of patient restoration show in every clear, cold trickle. The water…
Cooking with Cannabis
Cooking with Cannabis offers a gentle and customizable way to support relaxation, ease chronic discomfort, and enhance overall well-being. When infused into everyday foods, it allows for steady, predictable effects without smoking—making it an appealing option for those seeking natural relief. With thoughtful ratios and simple preparation methods, cooking with cannabis can become a comforting…
Every Day is Earth Day in April Community | Earth Day Events Roundup
Earth Day happens annually on April 22, and the Pacific Northwest is the perfect place to celebrate, with an abundance of community cleanups, parades, and sustainability events. These events are often free and family-friendly. Plus, be sure to head to your favorite state park—Earth Day is a Discover Pass free day! BELLINGHAM Since 2022, Sunnyland Neighborhood has hosted an Earth Day celebration that is perfect for the whole family to…
Sawdust and Splendor | Skagit Wood Expo and Marketplace
The fourth annual Skagit Wood Expo and Marketplace is going down at The Skagit County Fairgrounds in lovely Mount Vernon on April 18 and 19. This family-friendly…
Rooted in Rain
If you garden west of the Cascades, you already know this truth: rain isn’t possible to fight—you just have to work with it. Western Washington gardens don’t follow the tidy rules found in seed catalogs or glossy how-to books. They grow sideways, stretch through gray “days” and surprise us…
Blackened Halibut with Spring Succotash, Lemon-Herbed Rice, and Lemon Beurre Blanc Recipe | Chef Matthew’s Corner
Early spring is one of my favorite moments in the kitchen. Winter cooking starts to loosen its grip, the markets brighten up,…
Local Stylist’s Salon Fulfills Lifelong Passion | Salon Festa
When I first walked into Leila Halbert’s Salon Festa, I was immediately struck by a visual contrast. Her salon is situated in…
The Mixing Tin | Cassandra’s Rapture
CASSANDRA’S RAPTURE Temple Bar | $14 Ingredients: Mezcal, Genepy, lemon juice, Aperol, Firewater bitters This original cocktail is a perfect spring indulgence! Served up in a coupe glass, Cassandra’s Rapture is a cheerful orange color, delightful, cool, and refreshing. Don’t let its placid appearance fool you—under a simple garnish of edible flowers, this little drink packs a mighty punch. Smokey mezcal,…
Tiptoe Through the Tulips | Harrison Tulip Festival
One of the prettiest views you may ever have the privilege to look upon can be found in Agassiz, Canada. Endless rows of tulips as far as the eye can see are rooted in the earth, ranging from ruby red to amethyst purple. Mount Cheam is in the background, towering above the lush treeline and caressing the bright blue sky. This is one of those places…
Something Special Skagit | Wild Bird Supply
Skagit Wild Bird Supply General Manager Tia Melhus, didn’t always like birds. In fact, she only started paying attention to them after being laid off during 2020. For Melhus, the crisis of being suddenly at home a lot more became an opportunity to learn about the birds all around her. “You start by noticing that first bird, and wondering and…
The Nomadic Kitchen Adventures of a Personal Chef | Nourishing Nomad
Not weighed down by restaurant or retainer—a personal chef plans, arrives, cooks, and leaves. Chef Joshua Gatewood, Founder, Owner, and Chef at…
“From the Vault: Hard Edge/Soft Ground” | Whatcom Museum
“From the Vault: Hard Edge/Soft Ground” is one of three new exhibitions on view at the Whatcom Museum. It brings the museum’s extensive permanent collection to the fore in an exhibition that explores everything from Pop Art and Op Art to bold color field works. The exhibition…
From Fixer to Fabulously Green Energy | Solar by Barron
Pacific Northwest fans of HGTV’s popular “Fixer to Fabulous” will recognize some familiar faces on an episode from last December. Longtime Whatcom County business Barron Heating…
Since Time Immemorial | Sunshine Fitzgibbon
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 we need to restore our relationship with Mother Earth and with one another. We are grateful for these stories, told in the words of each featured individual. Esitenaut…
The History and Future of Whatcom’s Educational Farm Center | Cloud Mountain Farm Center, Whatcom Land Trust
After closing down in June 2025, Cloud Mountain Farm Center has been incubating a new future. The Whatcom Land Trust took temporary control of the 20-acre Everson farm in Dec. 2025 with the main goals of conserving the land for agricultural use and finding a new permanent owner. But how did we get here? And what’s likely to happen next? The Beginning of Cloud Mountain Farm Center Long-time Whatcom County residents knew Cloud Mountain Farm Center (CMFC) as an…