This milestone is worthy of a celebration — and is picnic-worthy!
won·der noun a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. It is with great wonder for the remarkable women in our community that has inspired our ongoing series, Wonder Woman, which profiles women who have made an impact in our community. In the following pages, we have…
Personalized Wardrobe Delivered to Your Door Used to be that if you needed a cocktail dress for a wedding, or a new suit for a job interview, you faced a trip to the mall or local boutique. Or you’d have to wade through countless websites with no idea about what will fit or look good. Shopping can be fun…
We know what you’re thinking: Does a Dog Really Need a Second Coat? In some cases, yes— frail dogs, old ones, skinny, sick, tiny — all can get cold. But your…
Like so many of you, it’s hard for me to imagine calling any other place than the Pacific Northwest my “home.” Its charm and beauty is hard to match, and the picturesque scenery is fulfilling in every sense of…
Sarah Guenther has heard it all. Even in Bellingham, one of the biggest bike-commuter cities of its size in the nation, people give excuses not to ride to work. But Bellingham made a huge commitment to its pedal-loving citizens with its 2014 Bellingham Biking Master Plan, committing $20 million over 15 years to boost its network to 170 miles of cycling routes in the city, including 50…
If You Like Craft Beers… and Getting Caught in the Rain! You wake up in the morning, sun’s out, birds chirping. It’s going to be a beautiful day. By lunch, it’s hailing. By the time you get off work, it’s nice and sunny again, so you…
Sweating with Style: What to Do and What to Have Sure, you love running or your 8 a.m. yoga class, but mixing up how you get your daily burn is a fun way to achieve a complete body transformation. Cross-training is in vogue and for good reason: changing up your workouts challenges different muscles in different ways and that helps you become stronger, leaner, and less tired. Afraid you’ll enter a workout unprepared? You have to…
Inspired by the relaxed vibe of their favorite pub or intimate lounge, many of my clients are creating a place of their own to entertain. Basements, garages and even hall closets are being turned into trendy residential bars. We have converted larges rooms and small spaces. Here are a…
One of the most personal, and hidden, spaces in your house, the closet is usually the last feature you consider when it comes to an upgrade. Since you’re really the only one going in there, it’s easy to put off. But in the name of self-improvement, and spring-cleaning, maybe…
Ken puts a few tongue-in-cheek suggestions in the Mt. Baker Theatre’s suggestion box When I attended the grand opening of the Mt. Baker Theatre in 1927, she was a thing of absolute beauty and the pride of the community—and she still is, perhaps even more so now. Ah, the…
It seems life has become a lot more casual, but that’s no excuse for forgetting your manners. Arden Clise of Seattle’s Clise Etiquette, an etiquette…
Tired of the same-old, same-old? Molly Maguire of Molly Maguire Landscape Architecture offers some tips on how to turn your garden and backyard into a thing of…
So you want to throw a stylish backyard party — something classier than a barbeque but not as fancy as a Gatsby bash. As founder of SKB Events…
Ski to Sea Team Advocates for Women―and a Mountain-Bike Leg Kirsten Jensen has been participating in the Ski to Sea…
Mount Baker Theatre Celebrates 90th Birthday When you step inside the 90-year-old Mount Baker Theatre building, you are greeted by a Moorish-Spanishstyled interior. Lush red tones adorn the walls, paired with rich dark wood. An opulent chandelier hangs above, surrounding the theater with cascading warm light. Amy Guerra, the marketing director of Mount Baker Theatre, says stepping inside of the theater is almost like you’ve stepped inside of a ship. And just like…
Lori Hill In the street markets of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, Lori Hill started intensely collecting art, and has been building her collection ever since. Hill, residing in a home in Bellingham with perfect views…
Bath Renovation Antique wood and a sliding barn door in a bathroom? Say it isn’t so! Yes, that is exactly what we incorporated in this recent remodel and the trend has exploded. The juxtaposition of materials and finishes in homes today is exhilarating. As a designer and interior enthusiast, I am enjoying the risks my clients are willing to take while throwing ancient rules out the window. The anything-goes theme is so much fun…
Lake Samish Row House This distinctive home on the shores of Lake Samish was built in 2010 with rowers in mind. We want to say…
Mystical Mermaid THE SHOP The Mystical Mermaid gift shop in Friday Harbor has been around for more than 25 years, passing through the management of several owners. One thing that hasn’t changed in decades is the eclectic and rare treasures you’ll find inside, as well as the store’s loyal followers. “There are people who stop here first when visiting the island, with their…
Cotton, Cotton, Cotton When Gail and Randy Schnee came to the San Juan Islands for a kayaking trip, they weren’t expecting to stay for good. Originally from Orlando, Fla. and tired of hurricanes and bustling crowds, the couple found Washington’s mild climate and Friday Harbor’s small community ideal. They fell in love with Friday Harbor and immediately began looking at small businesses they could…
Spring hikes can sometimes mean giving up those spectacular views we are spoiled with in the Pacific Northwest. It can also mean rain, snow, and mud: not the most appealing conditions for a hike. Luckily, Whatcom County still has a variety of hikes that keep you out of the mud and allow…
Spring has officially sprung in the Pacific Northwest and that makes local food geeks like me giddy for several reasons: Spring Is My Favorite Season For Local Vegetables Fresh, spicy greens, beautiful French breakfast radishes, the cutest baby veggies (beets, carrots), sweet, succulent sprouts and peas; it’s heaven. What better way to pull us out of the winter…
Open Classes Encourage All-Comers A neighborhood cafe links, window to window, with a wide-open space — symbiotically, a dance studio. At the Firehouse Café, lattes are not the only treats on the menu. Open dance classes are offered in the next room over. Ballet, modern, and contemporary are taught throughout the week. An open dance class is a place for movers of all shapes, sizes, and skill level. All you need is the ability to exercise and the willingness to…
It is almost a cliché to describe whiskey as having a “smoky” flavor. But with the advent of infusion drinks, many different spirits seem to be getting new twists, and whiskey is no exception. Witness the concoction of vanilla bean-infused whiskey and Mexican Coke, which is Coke imported from Mexico that uses real cane sugar to…
Goose Ridge Vineyard Since opening in 1999, Richland-based Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard and Winery has quietly and steadily become a major player in the state’s wine industry. Twenty-two hundred vineyard acres, four statewide tasting rooms, and four distinct labels—with a combined annual production of nearly 75,000 cases—easily place Goose Ridge among Washington’s top-tier wineries. IT STARTS WITH FAMILY Goose Ridge is owned and operated by the Monson…
When Soy House opened a few years ago, you could count the number of Vietnamese restaurants in the area on one hand. Since it opened, it has amassed a reputation for being a solid low-to-mid-price Vietnamese restaurant. Perhaps Vietnamese-fusion would be more accurate. Of course, one can order pho, the Vietnamese staple that involves dipping noodles in soup. There are several varieties of soup, gluten-free noodles, and even…
Achillea Natural Medicine Dr. Julia Hipp opened the doors of Achillea Natural Medicine in January to bring healthcare to her patients. Literally. Hipp’s clinic is no ordinary natural medicine center. She offers house calls, believing that each patient, no matter their schedule, deserves encompassing healthcare. Beyond providing accessible healthcare, Hipp believes in treating the root of problems rather than merely symptoms. Naturopathic medicine utilizes natural therapies to address the cause rather than the effect of an illness, Hipp said….
As Dana Cohenour’s children’s music class let out, the smiles were in abundance. The students, about 4 to 5 years old, thanked their teacher and ran to their parents. Cohenour happily says goodbye to her students. “See you guys next time!” Cohenour is a nationally recognized children’s songwriter and performer who has released six studio albums and won 20 awards so far. Her most recent release, the album “Dana’s…
Tucked behind a Shell gas station, right before Highway 20 splits south towards Whidbey Island, is Bastion Brewing Company. Weekday lunchtimes draw the local working crowds. Visit in the evening and you’ll…
Rebecca Abdelbaki opened Bellingham Escape the first weekend of March with the hope of creating a space for friends, families, and co-workers to socialize while exercising their minds. Escape rooms are adventure games…
Oasis Daylight Center & Oasis Teen Shelter When asking for help is difficult, having a steadfast haven for teenagers to visit can be life-changing. “Every day at Oasis is supportive and affirming,” said Katie Lohman, the director of Oasis Daylight Center & Oasis Teen Shelter. Located in an unassuming home on a quiet Mount Vernon street, the Skagit Valley Family YMCA-operated house consists of two facilities: an after-school center called Oasis Daylight Center, and a short-term emergency…
Noémi Ban Noémi Ban has a story to tell. And tell. And tell. She is a Holocaust survivor who has been sharing her story with audiences since 1995. If living well is the ultimate revenge, Ban has gotten the best of the Nazis. At 94, she is a great-grandmother and still has a twinkle. On a winter morning, she’s sitting in her living room, warm and snug in her beige-white house banked…
