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Family Fun at the Northwest Washington Fair

By
Janine Johnson
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All-day stage entertainment is included with your admission to the NW WA Fair. Photo courtesy: Northwest Washington Fair.

My husband and I have three little kids. We do a lot of fun things with them. We take them out for ice cream, bring them to the playground or spend a few hours at the beach. We skate at the roller rink, fish on the lake or go to the movies. We frequent birthday parties and barbecues, libraries and museums.

The Small Animal Experience is a favorite exhibit at the Northwest Washington Fair. Photo courtesy: Northwest Washington Fair.

All this fun can get expensive, so we reserve a lot of our outings as special treats. In the meantime, the kids practice entertaining themselves. Experts say boredom is good for creative development and I agree. But sometimes I get stir crazy. Sometimes I get really tired of the fighting. Sometimes I just want to go somewhere that is fun for all of us for an extended period of time.

And then I remember that there is a place we can go. There is someplace we can spend the entire day and everyone will be happily entertained—and maybe even learn something. And we can do all this for less money than a short trip to the movie theater.

The Northwest Washington Fair will be held August 14-19. Photo courtesy: Northwest Washington Fair.

We can head to Lynden for the Northwest Washington Fair which runs from August 14-19. Our kids are all under the age of five, so the grand total for a full day of entertainment for our entire family is just $26. It’s an amazing value that is worth so much more.

The price of admission at the Northwest Washington Fair includes everything you’ve come to love from the livestock barns and craft displays to the wool show and the photography exhibit. My kids especially love the Small Animal Experience where they can pet and even hold animals they dream of raising themselves. There are friendly kids from local 4-H and FFA chapters to answer all their questions and help acquaint them with the livestock.

Learn about and interact with animals at the fair. Photo courtesy: Northwest Washington Fair.

In addition to the many booths and barns full of animals and information, there are shows virtually all day long included in the price of admission. Two times a day Tuesday through Friday at 12:00 and 5:00 p.m. and Saturday at noon only, you can catch a horse show in the grandstand. And new to the Northwest Washington Fair this year is X-Treme Air Dogs, a competitive dock diving national championship for seasoned pros and first-timers. Dogs and handler teams will be judged in five divisions and four sports. The event promises to be extra fun for both participants and spectators alike.

Also included in the price of admission is all-day stage entertainment featuring a hypnotist, a comedian and a magician. The very popular group The Timbenders are returning as part of the music lineup. If you can’t get your kids to stay in one place long enough to watch a stage show, there are interactive acts wandering around the fair all day long. My kids cannot resist a clown with a balloon animal.

There will be two free horse shows per day Tuesday through Saturday at this year’s fair. Photo courtesy: Northwest Washington Fair.

Also back by popular demand this year is the Wenatchee Youth Circus known as, “The Biggest Little Circus in the World.” The performers practice all year long to dazzle you on the high wire and flying trapeze and amaze you with fire acts and aerial acts. You and your kids may actually be inspired to run away with the circus.

I’ve been asking pretty much everyone I know if they went to the fair as a kid. Every single person has said yes. And most people added that they still do. It’s been a part of my life as long as I can remember and I have made it part of my kids’ lives. It is an affordable respite for me and an exciting adventure for my girls. But mostly, it’s a day of pure family fun.

All-day stage entertainment is included with your admission to the NW WA Fair. Photo courtesy: Northwest Washington Fair.

Northwest Washington Fair

1775 Front Street in Lynden
www.nwwafair.com

2017 Fair Hours, August 14-19

Gate Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Carnival Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Vendor Booths: open at 10:00 a.m.

Gate Admission Prices

Adult (13-61 years): $13.00
Senior (62+ years): $11.00
Youth (6-12 years): $8.00
Children 5 and Under: Free

Carnival Prices

Carnival Wristband: $33.00

Sponsored

WTA Offers Free Fare Days in Support of Whatcom Project Homeless Connect

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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Photo courtesy: Whatcom Transportation Authority

Submitted by: Whatcom Transportation Authority

WTA will offer free rides on all buses (except those serving Route 80X to Mount Vernon) on Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21. Rides are free for all members of the public. Free fare days are being offered to support Bellingham Whatcom Project Homeless Connect (PHC). PHC is a community event that provides homeless people from throughout Whatcom County with access to medical screening and care, vision screening, dental care, mental health screening, veterans services, legal services, education planning, employment screening and a wide range of other essential services.  Food and child care will be provided at the event.

PHC is based on a national model which has been used successfully in more than 170 cities across the United States.

For route and schedule information, call 676-RIDE or visit www.ridewta.com .

Mulu Belay—Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine and Author of Ethiopian Feast

By
Dan Burwell
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Mulu serving up her delicious lentils. Photo credit: Dan Burwell.

I met Mulu Belay many years ago when she had a stand at the Bellingham Farmers Market. I’d beg my family every Saturday to go downtown, pick up some local veggies and eat some Ethiopian food. My favorite is the lentils with potatoes and carrots over Injera. Once I discovered Kara (“Kahr-uh”) I was hooked. Kara includes minced Jalapeño peppers, garlic and salt. It’s so spicy it hurts. You can’t get enough.

Color and flavor abounds in Mulu’s cooking. Photo credit: Dan Burwell.

Mulu knows my sister, so once she put that together she’d give my sister a small jar of Kara to give to me on occasion. I put it on just about anything from tacos to soup. I’ve been interested in hearing Mulu’s story for a while, so I asked for an interview at her restaurant, Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine.

Mulu started cooking at age five in Ethiopia. She grew up in a small village near Ambo, Ethiopia. She was the second child, the first girl. As was typical for her region, Mulu began to learn to cook for her family at an early age. Mulu cooked with her mom and grandma. There was no electricity and no running water.

“Everyone can cook potatoes and carrots,” she says. “I just took my mom’s and grandma’s recipes and fixed them.” Mulu improved and developed her recipes and continues to tinker. Since she immigrated to Bellingham, she has developed her own spice mixes such as her Burberry which is detailed in her cookbook. For her Injera she has experimented with barley, wheat and sorghum as Teff, the gluten free grain commonly used in Ethiopia, is hard to find here. She has since developed a gluten free recipe for Injera that uses Teff, rice and sorghum.

Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine is located at Terra Organica. Photo credit: Dan Burwell.

About 11 years ago, she immigrated with her family to Bellingham. She first lived in Bellingham Co-housing in Fairhaven. She enjoyed the communal dinners, the morning coffee breaks and the connections she made with fellow Bellinghamsters. While living in Co-housing she cooked a communal meal for 32 people. This got the attention of others living there.

She met the owners of LaFiamma and Fiamma Burger, Ken and Dan. Through this, she was encouraged to develop her cooking and get connected to the community. Ken and Dan hired Mulu to work at La Fiamma for six months. There she learned preparation and cooking skills the American way with the goal to have her ready for the farmers’ market. She learned how to order ahead, how to pace herself and keep up in a busy environment. They let Mulu use their kitchen for two years while she was at the farmers’ market for free. Mulu beamed a smile, “I am so thankful for Ken and Dan.”

Mulu cooked and served Ethiopian food at the farmers’ market for four years. During this time she also taught cooking classes at the Community Food Co-op. She also met Merrill and Carol who later helped her write and publish her cookbook, Ethiopian Feast. Merrill and Carol were customers who agreed that Mulu’s cooking is amazing. Questions from customers kept coming, such as, “When are you going to open a restaurant?”

Mulu serving up her delicious lentils. Photo credit: Dan Burwell.

Thus, Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine in the Terra Organica market started two and a half years ago. “You have to be strong,” Mulu said. “It’s not easy, but better to be on your own. The customers’ comments, feedback and encouragement makes you stronger.” She describes her job as a 24 hour a day job – thinking ahead, paying bills and planning. “I’ve had no problems with customers for 11 years,” she said.

Her business has its challenges. “I don’t write well in English,” Mulu confides. Yet, with the help of longtime customers Merrill and Carol, she was able to share her knowledge of cooking with her cookbook, Ethiopian Feast. The book has been available since March 2017. It took about five years to write.

Mulu doesn’t have much free time. She exercises regularly and cooks for her family which includes three kids and her husband, a Physics Professor at Western Washington University. She is very thankful for starting in Bellingham Co-housing. “The 10:00 a.m. coffee breaks, the communal meals, it was like the village where I grew up,” she said. “Bellingham is a great place to raise kids.”

Mulu Belay is the author of the cookbook Ethiopian Feast. Photo credit: Dan Burwell.

Mulu encourages her existing and new customers to try her food and remember her food. She can’t say enough about how thankful she is for those that helped her to become the owner of Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine. Mulu is happy to keep her business steady and connected with Terra Organica.

Mulu’s graciousness and thankfulness on her life’s journey is evident and ever present. I cannot imagine Bellingham without her and her business. I am also thankful for the community support Mulu received. It should make us all proud to be Bellinghamsters. If you haven’t tried her food yet, I encourage you to try it. Don’t forget to load up on Kara!

Got an idea for someone you’ve always wondered about? Maybe you already know them but think they deserve some lime light. I’m looking to get to know others that make our community a better place, a unique place, maybe even a stranger place. Drop me a line at submit@whatcomtalk.com.

First Federal’s Food4Tots Campaign Raises Funds for Baby Food

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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First Federal's Food4Tots campaign
A good place for fruit, fun, and fall photos is the Cloud Mountain Fruit Festival.

Can you imagine a baby at a food bank? We see them more often than you might think. During an average year at Whatcom County food banks, over 9,000 visits by parents also include an infant.

First Federal’s Food4Tots campaign ensures that there will be enough baby food for all of the infants that rely on local food banks.

The goal is to raise $1,000 for Food4Tots.

For more information and to donate click here.

Behind the Bus Pop-up Beer Garden with Recreation Northwest, Stones Throw and Outbound

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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The new trail system will expand on the trail system currently available to Whatcom County residents. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.

Submitted by: Recreation Northwest

The weekend of July 21 – 23, Recreation Northwest, Stones Throw Brewery and Outbound are partnering to host a pop-up beer garden to support the Fairhaven Park Trail and Wetland Boardwalk project. The event will be hosted in the recently renovated garden “Behind the Bus” of Fairhaven Fish and Chips at the corner of 11th and Harris from 3:00 – 9:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday in sync with the Fairhaven Steampunk Festival on Saturday.

Behind the bus pop up beer garden
Recreation Northwest, Stones Throw Brewery and Outbound are partnering to host a pop-up beer garden to support the Fairhaven Park Trail and Wetland Boardwalk project. Photo courtesy: Recreation Northwest.

The Fairhaven Park Trail and Wetland Boardwalk Project is the signature stewardship project of the locally based non-profit, Recreation Northwest. This project will better connect Fairhaven Park with the labyrinth of public trails in the Chuckanut Community Forest, endearingly known to locals as “The 100 Acre Woods.”

The event is primarily a fundraiser for Recreation Northwest’s stewardship project but also serves as a means to invigorate an area in the core of Fairhaven. “We are excited to transform this underutilized space into an outdoor gathering spot next to our store while raising money for this critical neighborhood project,” says Jenna Wadkins, owner of Outbound. Outbound is an outdoor lifestyle store strongly rooted in brands that call the west coast home. It is a retail business that reflects the core mission of Recreation Northwest to bring people together to enjoy, preserve and improve the places where we play.

Stones Throw Brewery will be releasing their seasonal Fairhaven Park TrAle that is brewed to support the project. Owner and Head Brewer, Tony Luciano gives his insight into his creation, “The recipe is an American Pale style that is light in body and alcohol, created to refresh trail workers after a few hard hours of digging and sweating. The distinct auburn color not only brings warm smiles but also enhances the crisp character of Cascade and Simco hops.” Also on tap will be Stones Throw Neighborhood IPA and award-winning Raincountry Liquid Sunshine Lager. “We are stoked to continue to work with Recreation Northwest to help provide better access to the trails in Fairhaven Park and improve this gateway to the Chuckanut Mountains,” says Luciano.

Recreation Northwest will be hosting another free tour of Fairhaven Park in their Trail Talk series. Photo courtesy: Recreation Northwest.

This collaborative partnership of a local non-profit, neighborhood brewery and outdoor retailer is an exciting new triad of sustainably minded, community driven people. The community and out-of-town visitors are invited to enjoy this public space, check out the wares in the store, enjoy a fresh pint of beer and know that they are working to support a local charity in the process. Beyond the “Behind the Bus” event, Stones Throw will also donate $1 per pint of Fairhaven Park TrAle consumed in their quaint neighborhood watering hole.

Also, on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m., Recreation Northwest will be hosting another free tour of Fairhaven Park in their Trail Talk series. Meet at the trailhead in Fairhaven Park for a slow paced, information rich walk through the trails that wind through the forest. Details on talks at www.RecreationNorthwest.org.

Sherman Alexie’s August 8 Appearance at Mount Baker Theatre Cancelled

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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Submitted by: Village Books

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of Sherman Alexie’s appearance at the Mount Baker Theatre scheduled for August 8, 2017. On the advice of his physicians, he is canceling all August appearances and most appearances for the remainder of the year. He has written an open letter that can be found on his website, www.fallsapart.com.

More information can be found at fallsapart.com. Photo courtesy: Village Books.

Village Books owners Sarah Hutton, Paul Hanson and Kelly Evert released the following statement on behalf of the Village Books team: “While we’ll miss seeing him and hearing his stories in August, we are tremendously grateful Sherman Alexie has chosen to focus on his health. We look forward to welcoming him back to Bellingham in the very near future. For now, we hope readers will join us in sending our heartfelt best wishes for rest and recovery to Sherman and his family.”

We recognize that many people in the community will wish to convey their well-wishes to Sherman and his wife, Diane. We have arranged to have cards at each register of the stores (both Fairhaven and Lynden) that the public may come in and sign. We will then pass the cards along to the Alexies.

For further questions, please contact the store directly. Refund information is available at the store and on our website.

September Eat Local Month – Eat, Drink, Tour, Repeat

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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eat local month
Bellingham is the perfect place to "eat local" in September. Photo courtesy: Sustainable Connections.

Submitted by: Sustainable Connections

From farm to plate and sea to table, celebrate local food with Sustainable Connections every week this September! In the height of harvest season, Eat Local Month is a reminder to celebrate the bounty in Whatcom’s backyard and support the folks who grow, raise and prepare our food by eating locally. This year the celebrations are bigger than ever with a new weekend long Food Fest and the expansion of the Whatcom County Farm Tour!

September will offer many fun “eat local” events. Photo courtesy: Sustainable Connections.

Each week comes with its own events, prizes and ways to delight in local foods and flavors:

Farm Week: Sept. 3 – 9

Sept. 3: Farm Fund Hootenanny: Kick off Eat Local Month with the Farm Fund Hootenanny, which will feature live music and local farmer awards.

Sept. 8 – 10: Whatcom Food Fest: Eat your way through the weekend with the Whatcom Food Fest, a new event that will feature six distinct events, including a Farm Tour Brunch at Goat Mountain Pizza and a Farms, Fishers and Fermentation Fete at Boundary Bay.

Sept 9 – 10: Whatcom Farm Tour: The 10th annual Whatcom County Farm Tour – also a part of the Food Fest, has expanded to both Saturday and Sunday, featuring thirteen farms across Whatcom County with a mix of veggie, meat, cheese, berry and flower producers! Free, family friendly and self-guided.

Market Week: Sept. 10 – 16

eat local month
Bellingham is the perfect place to “eat local” in September. Photo courtesy: Sustainable Connections.

Sept. 16: Downtown Market Walk: An exploration of Bellingham’s local food scene. Partake in a self-guided tour that showcases the best of downtown’s local grocers, markets and specialty food shops and play “market walk” bingo for the chance to win big in local food prizes. All throughout the week, shop at participating grocers and markets, spend $10 on local products and get your Eat Local Month passport stamped for a chance to win one of five locavore prize packs.

Seafood Week: Sept. 17 – 23

Sept. 23: SeaFeast: Learn about our maritime heritage and internationally renowned fishing and seafood industries at this year’s Seafeast, a free weekend-long event where you are sure to leave with a full belly and a new appreciation for the fishing industry that distinguishes our little corner of the Pacific Northwest. All throughout the week, shop at participating seafood retailers, spend $10 on local products and get your Eat Local Month passport stamped for a chance to win one of five locavore prize packs.

Restaurant Week: Sept. 24 – 30 

September is Eat Local Month. Photo courtesy: Sustainable Connections.

All week, dine with participating Whatcom restaurants to try their local specials (made with 50 percent or more local ingredients!) to get a stamp on your Eat Local Month passport! There are 19 restaurants participating that are excited to show you just how incredible local food can be.

Pick up your own Farm Tour & Eat Local Month Guide, which includes a Farm Tour map with stop descriptions, participating Eat Local Month restaurants and a calendar of Eat Local Month events. The Guide can be found at the Community Food Co-op, Village Books, Public Libraries, farmers markets, Whatcom Farmers Co-op stores, participating restaurants, local newspapers and online at eatlocalfirst.org.

Chamber Welcomes Chris Roselli to its Board of Directors

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced that it has added Chris Roselli to their Board of Directors. Photo courtesy: Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Submitted by: Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced that it has added Chris Roselli to their Board of Directors.

Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced that it has added Chris Roselli to their Board of Directors. Photo courtesy: Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Chris has stepped up to fill an opening on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. He came to Bellingham in 1995 to study communications at Western Washington University and has gone on to work at WWU as an Admissions Counselor, recruiter and advisor, and with Western’s Alumni Association where he built relationships with alumni and businesses, and created Western’s Back2Bellingham Weekend, the Paint B’ham Blue program, and more than 100 other events to engage Western’s successful alumni and students.

He now serves as the Director of Western’s Front Door to Discovery where he is building and strengthening Western’s ties with Bellingham, Whatcom County and the region, enhancing community access to Western’s resources while providing practical experience and business access to students, faculty and academic departments.

In his spare time, Chris volunteers as a coach for the Boys and Girls Club, serves as a master of ceremonies for auctions and other events, and spends time with his wife and two daughters doing anything outdoors.

Register for Camp Village Books

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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Camp Village Books is a great place to make friends, have fun and learn! Photo courtesy: Village Books.

Submitted by: Village Books

There is still time to register children for Camp Village Books. The week-long, half-day camp for kids ages seven through 10 is from 1:00—5:00 p.m. Monday, July 31 to Friday, Aug. 4. Registrations must be received by Saturday, July 29. Camp VB is $129 per child for the entire week. Enrollment is limited to 10 campers.

Your kids will have a blast at Camp Village Books. Photo courtesy: Village Books.

Wise and wonderful Village Books staff will lead the children in themed activities that include hands-on projects, outdoor activities and field trips around Fairhaven. A snack is included. This year’s themes are:

  • Monday – Science Fun
  • Tuesday – Marine Life Day with a bus ride to the Marine Life Center
  • Wednesday – Food & Farm Day with a visit to Common Threads Farm
  • Thursday – Art Day with a visit to Ben Mann’s Studio
  • Friday – Fun in the Sun Day

Visit villagebooks.com for more information and to download a registration form. Or register in person at Village Books’ main counter.

Kids love to learn at Camp Village Books. Photo courtesy: Village Books.

About Village Books & Paper Dreams: Founded in 1980 by Chuck and Dee Robinson and as of 2017 under new ownership and stewardship of Paul Hanson, Kelly Evert and Sarah Hutton, Village Books & Paper Dreams is a community-based, independent bookstore and gift shop with two locations: the flagship store in the historic Fairhaven district of Bellingham, and its second location in the historic Waples Mercantile Building in Lynden. Village Books has received many awards, including multiple Mayor’s Arts Awards, the Tourism Business of the Year by the members of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and was recently named one of five finalists for the Publishers Weekly Bookstore of the Year. The store was also honored as the 2008 Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business in Washington state. Village Books’ mission is “building community, one book at a time,” which it does daily through a dedicated staff, by collaborating with numerous community organizations and through its Literature Live author event series, through which it hosts over 350 authors each year.

Camp Village Books is for children ages seven to 10. Photo courtesy: Village Books.

Whatcom County Weekend Events for July 14—16

By
Events Editor
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When engaging in outdoor recreation, participants should take care to respect Whatcom wildlife. Photo credit: Justin Pedigo | FC Photography.

We’re in the middle of summer now and the cold, endlessly rainy days of winter seem far away. But they won’t stay gone forever, so get out there and have some fun in the sun while you still can! Start by checking out these fun Whatcom County weekend events, including our great local farmers’ markets. Don’t forget to check our full events calendar for all the great local happenings this weekend.

Up Next Weekend:

WhatcomTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Bellingham and the surrounding area, visit our events calendar. To submit an event of your own, visit our events calendar and click on the green “Post Your Event” button.

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