Mount Baker Theatre’s Educational Programs Bring the Arts to Area Children, One Show at a Time

lighting at Mount Baker Theatre
More than 17,000 children from the region attend a MBT Education Program production each year. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

The incredible costumes, fantastic performers, innovative sets, and professional spectacle of live theater aren’t just for grown-ups. Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) wants every area child to experience the wonder found in culturally diverse live performing arts. Through Mount Baker Theatre’s educational programs, MBT provides access to professional arts curriculum for more than 17,000 Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and upper Snohomish Counties’ public, private, and home school communities each year. More than just a field trip, this season’s shows will allow children to explore different subjects, cultures, and points of view in a safe, immersive, and memorable environment.

As funding for the arts has been cut over the years, MBT’s education program experiences have become even more important to area children. “Children gain many things from seeing a live theater performance, even without a connection to their classroom curriculum,” explains MBT’s Program Manager, Alison Terry Storms. “For many students, it’s their only exposure to the performing arts, particularly on the scale that we are able to present to them on our incredible stage. We are able to offer them access to really high quality work at a rate that’s affordable to schools and the students.”

Mount Baker Theatre's educational programs
More than 17,000 children a year take a field trip to Mount Baker Theatre from Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and upper Snohomish Counties. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

The hallmark of MBT’s education program is the Wade Bennett King Education Series whose focus is to enrich school curricula while providing students with the cultural experience that comes from early exposure to professional live performance. This season’s series includes ten shows for a range of audiences. Nine of the ten are geared toward elementary school and middle school children. Many are stage adaptations of well-known children’s literature. This season includes “Skippyjon Jones Snow What,” “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters,” and “Junie B’s [Jones] Essential Guide to School,” to name a few.

Providing young people an opportunity to look at reading and stories in a whole new way can have an impact on how they see the world and what they choose to read. “Last year I got to see “The BFG” and they had a humongous paper mache model of the giant’s hand that reached onto the stage to grab Sophie,” Columbia Elementary School 3rd grader Lucy Guerra recalls. “I’ve read the book so many times. It was good to see it on stage and remember all the parts of the story. I like the way it all played out with real people.”

Kids will also get the chance to see dynamic motion, too. “‘Collision of Rhythm’ is going to be so exciting for the kids. Bronkar does rhythmic juggling, body percussion, and beatboxing with a tap dancing marimba master named Aaron,” Storms explains. The Peking Acrobats will also return to the theater and are always a crowd pleaser. “They are a window into a new culture, popular with both kids and teachers,” Storms adds.

A special program will perform for four days in the more intimate Walton Theatre within MBT as well. Portland-based Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre will present a piece from their Masterworks series, “The Toad Prince,” a revival using the vintage puppets of one of the company’s first shows.

Middle schoolers will enjoy Doktor Kaboom in “It’s JUST Rocket Science.” “He teaches the physics of rocket science through a theatrical presentation. It’s his second time at MBT and he’s very funny and exciting and does comedy experiments on stage,” Storms explains.

Mount Baker Theatre's educational programs
For many children a trip to Mount Baker Theatre is there only exposure to the performing arts. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

Middle school exposure to cultural history will also be shared through “Wings of Courage,” which is the story of Eugene Bullard. “He was the first African-American fighter pilot during World War I in France. He wasn’t allowed to be a fighter pilot in the US during that time, so he traveled to France with a minstrel show. While there, he ended up in the armed forces and became a fighter pilot,” Storms explains. “But when he later returned to the US, he wasn’t allowed to fly anymore. It’s a fascinating story that needs to be told. We’re so excited to have it here.”

High school students won’t be left out either. Produced by Seattle Shakespeare Company, “Romeo and Juliet” will take the MBT stage for the second year in the row. “Many students read it in our area school districts. Part of the reason I chose the show is because I know from my own experience that when you see Shakespeare on stage, it makes a huge difference in your understanding versus just reading it,” Storms shares.

Several of the productions also have associated study guides that MBT makes available to teachers to use in the classroom before and after their field trip to MBT. “We get great support from teachers. We also want parents and administrators to know that the program has real value. Bringing the kids to the theater isn’t just a single field trip, it is an experience that carries forward into life and you really never know the impact it will have long-term,” Storms adds.

In addition to the Wade Bennett King Education Series, MBT also hosts Missoula Children’s Theatre in the summer, teaching theatre arts to children of all ages in a weekday summer camp format. The touring production company arrives at MBT complete with costumes, scenery, props, and makeup — everything it takes to put on a play, except the cast. “Missoula is unique because it gets up to 60 kids with a range of ages in a fully-formed production in just five days, which is unheard of,” Storms explains. “It gives students a chance to check it out in a short amount of time.”

Mount Baker Theatre's educational programs
Missoula Children’s Theatre comes to Mount Baker Theatre each summer. Lucia Costello (L in yellow) and Lucy Guerra (R in red and gray) performed in this past summer’s “The Frog Prince.” Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

The summer program was a joy and hands-on learning experience for Lucy Guerra and her friend and fellow Columbia 3rd grader Lucia Costello. “It’s super fun to dress in fun costumes and get up on the stage and do the big show,” Guerra explains, beaming. “I was a Swamp Turtle in “The Frog Prince” this past summer. Lucia was a Swamp Mosquito. We were the Frog Prince’s swamp friends. So much fun.”

Mount Baker Theatre’s education programs strive to bring the arts and culture to all children in our area. “For non-traditional learners or those who might not gain as much from a book, MBT is giving kids another window into a new subject. You never know what is going to spark that passion in a kid and flip that switch to engage them,” Storms says. “Seeing a show might make them want to learn more about a subject outside the theater, or learn a musical instrument they saw on stage, or try a new science experiment. Giving kids new ways to look at things might not help them solve a math problem, but it reinforces individuality and gives them some cultural competency and compassion that the classroom alone just can’t give them.”

Tickets to the Wade Bennett King Education Series performances are currently available to schools and individuals by contacting the Mount Baker Theatre Box Office.

Mount Baker Theatre
104 North Commercial Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-733-5793
Tickets: 360-734-6080
www.mountbakertheatre.com

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Do You Know Who Your Audience Is? We Do

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Understanding your audience is key to growing a business successfully. ©SouthSoundTalk.

Great stories are everywhere, but what one person considers great, another could find uninteresting. Knowing who your audience is and addressing that audience appropriately is a key component to successful marketing.

WhatcomTalk shares a wide range of stories, covering everything from high school sports and upcoming events, to profiles on community organizations and local businesses. Because all of the content we publish is shared and distributed online via social media, we know exactly who is reading what.

Serving Bellingham and surrounding Whatcom County, our readers consist primarily of women ages 25 – 45. These are educated working women, mothers, and household decision makers who want to know what’s happening in the community where they live, work and play.

Mount Shuksan
If a customer wants to put their brand in front of active men and women living in Whatcom County, we can place their logo on an article about local trails to hike. Photo credit: Brandon Fralic.

But knowing who our audience is doesn’t just help WhatcomTalk share stories that we know our readers will care about, it allows us to help our customers make more informed advertising decisions.

If a customer wants to reach active middle-aged men and women living in Bellingham, we can strategically place their logo on an article about local running trails or yoga classes. If a customer wants to advertise specifically individuals interested in art, we can put their logo on an article taking a self-guided tour of Bellingham’s many urban art displays.

Placing your brand in front of the audience you want your business to reach is key to growth. By helping our customers reach a specific audience, we can help them not only grow their brand, but measure the results using a comprehensive Community Social Graph that’s backed by insights and analytics.

For many small businesses, especially ones without in-house marketing departments, reaching a target audience can be difficult. Let WhatcomTalk help grow your businesses by placing your brand in front of the community members you want to reach.

 

WhatcomTalk is a digital media company sharing positive stories about people, places and businesses in Whatcom County. WhatcomTalk offers content marketing and online options to advertise across our community social network in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and beyond. Advertise with WhatcomTalk to reach your target market, grow your brand, and measure results.

 

Readers’ Choice: WhatcomTalk’s Most-Read Stories in August

Red Barn Lavender
We're celebrating the approach of fall with one last look at summer — scroll through the article below to see what our readers' favorite stories were in August. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.

Fall is in the air. From the damp skies to the pumpkin spice lattes, summer has swiftly made its exit, making room for bulky sweaters, rubber boots, hot drinks, and all the things that autumn brings. But before we say goodbye completely, take a look back on summer one last time with our readers’ most-read stories in August.

1. Pozie by Natalie — Florist Natalie Ransom Uses Creativity to Build Her Dream

Pozie by Natalie
Pozie by Natalie’s owner Natalie Ransom hard at work making a one-of-a-kind floral crown. Photo credit: Katheryn Moran Photography.

2. Visiting Point Roberts — A Country Within a Country

Point Roberts Marina
Cross the border into Cananda, then cross it again to enter the charming town of Point Roberts, Washington. Photo courtesy: Point Roberts Marina.

3. A Symbol to Rally Behind: Brad Lockhart Designs Bellingham Flag

Bellingham flag
Brad Lockhart overlooks where Bellingham meets the bay, inspiration for his proposed city flag design. Photo credit: Tommy Calderon.

4. Editor’s Pick: Stop and Smell the Lavender at Red Barn Lavender in Ferndale

Red Barn Lavender
Stop and smell the lavender at Red Barn Lavender in Ferndale. Photo courtesy: Red Barn Lavender.

BelleWood Acres Celebrates Harvest Happens! 2017 — A Season of Apples, Pumpkins, Activities & More

BelleWood Acres is the ideal setting for Ciderfest. Photo credit: Tim O’Leary.

Halfway between Bellingham and Lynden, families and visitors of all ages find one of the area’s most beloved farms, BelleWood Acres. Home to 21 indelibly delicious apple varieties, this working orchard boasts a distillery and events center, a farm market, a pumpkin patch and a café. BelleWood has something for everyone every day, all year long. From families and lunch meetings, to school field trips and foodies, BelleWood Acres is a beloved outing for Whatcom families.

Harvest Happens
U pick varieties are available when ripe. You can also taste and purchase apples at the country store! Photo credit: Libby Liming.

While fun events and activities take place at BelleWood Acres daily, it’s September and October when the farm really gets hopping with Harvest Happens!, BelleWood’s famous fall festival.

During the week, the farm plays host to group tours and u-pick apples, with ripe apple varieties posted on the website weekly. Area companies and groups can schedule special fall celebrations during the week with event planner, Pamela Felke by calling 360-718-7720.

Farm Tunes happens Friday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in September —showcasing the region’s most sought after musicians and great comfort food on the event center patio. Weekends tend to get a little bit crazy.

Taste farm to bottle apple distillations free from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m daily. Photo courtesy: Bellewood Acres.

On Saturdays and Sundays, BelleWood is off the hook with tractor led apple bin train rides, distillery tours, corn cannons, face painting, live music, caramel apples, fresh apple cider and more. You can even get lost in the corn maze. With opportunities for the entire family to play, eat, shop and drink, getting your fall on is easy at BelleWood Acres this fall. Pumpkins will roll in around the beginning of October, filling the days with oodles of children scurrying through the patch to find their perfect Jack-o-lantern.

Bellewood Acres is ready to welcome you with delicious fall goodies. Photo courtesy: Bellewood Acres.

Eat at BelleWood Country Café, a full-service restaurant featuring darn fine farm food. Chef Josh and his team create down home fresh food daily. Shop in the farm store for specialty gifts and local products that you won’t find anywhere else. Taste farm to bottle apple distillations free from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m daily. BelleWood Distilling offers eight kind spirits: Honeycrisp Vodka, Raspberry Vodka, Straightforward Vodka, Straightforward Gin, Reserve Brandy, Eau de Vie, Pumpkin Spice and BelleWood Bruce. Register at bellewoodfarms.com for a full blown educational distillery tour on weekends presented at noon and again at 2:00 p.m. by BelleWood’s spirit masters.

You won’t want to miss Harvest Happens! at BelleWood this September and October. For more information about BelleWood Acres and the farm’s fall happenings, visit BelleWood Acres online.

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Hand-Sewn Stories — Cutting Cloth with Moth & Squirrel’s Libby Chenault

Moth & Squirrel
Libby and her recycled fabric creations can be found at the Bellingham Farmers Market each Saturday. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.

Not ready to say goodbye to your favorite worn and ragged T-shirt? How about giving it a new life as a monkey or a whale instead? Libby Chenault transforms once loved shirts and sweaters into a menagerie of stuffed animals, hats, key rings and more through her studio art business, Moth & Squirrel.

Within her studio at Make.Shift, Libby works with special clothing items found at Goodwill and Ragfinery as well as items donated to her from friends and the community. She starts with larger projects by cutting out necessary fabric for hats and works out smaller pattern pieces as the scraps themselves become smaller. Inspired by color and texture, with a fond appreciation for donated cashmere, Libby crafts and line embroiders each item of her own design with the use of her simple sewing machine.

Moth & Squirrel
Inspired by color and texture, with a fond appreciation for donated cashmere, Libby crafts and line embroiders each item of her own design with the use of her simple sewing machine. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.

Working with recycled materials is a passion and practice that started for Libby at a young age. “I would say I got started as a kid in elementary school, and my mom’s actually not much of a sewer at all, but she taught me how to sew on a button and she let me cut things up,” Libby explains. “So we didn’t really have a lot of go-to-the-fabric-store-and-buy-new-fabric experiences, but I could cut up old things.”

In college, Libby explored the nature of storytelling, an additional component that accompanies her art. “I went to Fairhaven College, and so I made my own degree and it was called personal identity through storytelling and a sense of place,” Libby shares. “One of the things I love about working with recycled fabric and the fiber arts in general is that so often they do have stories involved with them, whether it’s ‘Oh we took my wedding dress and turned it into this quilt,’ or ‘this was fabric from my grandma,’ or even just you know ‘this is my favorite thing and I want to save it. How do I make something new out of it?’”

Libby learned to sew at a time when Home Economics was taught in high school. Nowadays, sewing skills are less common for individuals and, as a result, Libby has had the opportunity to teach her skills through several venues. At Ragfinery, Libby taught several techniques including hand embroidery, printmaking and applique at a five-day kids’ camp where children ages 7–13 were able to try out techniques for themselves.

Moth & Squirrel
Libby Chenault, husband Steeb Russell and son participate in each Bellingham Art Walk from their studio at Make.Shift. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.

Libby also spent some time at Western Washington University this past year during Sweater Days, which focused on sustainability, heating costs, recycling, and keeping heating bills down. “As part of their program for that, I taught some mending classes up there. There were students who had brilliant young minds, but they had never sewn a button before. But then some of those skills just don’t get passed on as much and so that was so cool to have a student come in and say, ‘Oh here’s my favorite dress and it has this hole in it and what can we do?’ And not only helping her fix it, but learn how to do it so they have that confidence that they can take care of themselves and make and do and problem solve.”

For Libby, her career as an artist began to come together after she graduated from college. “I had graduated from college and I did some of my first dolls out of recycled materials. I sold some down in Seattle gave others to friends,” she explains. “At that time I was also doing bookmaking, so I would make journals. I had some friends who had a hemp clothing business at the farmers market at the time and so I would get some of their scraps and turn it into book cloth for my journals. Then I started making flowers out of some of my friends’ really lovely hemp silk blend, and so I would get little scraps from that and started making hair flowers. And everything has sort of grown from there.”

Around 2005, Libby and her husband started prioritizing art by renting their first studio and participating in the Downtown Art Walk. Now Libby and her husband, Steeb Russell — a painter of colorful “paint-toons,” share a studio in Make.Shift. Art Walk has long been a family event for Libby and her husband, with their son joining them in attendance since he was just one month old. Libby shares that her son, now 6 years old, even has zines that he sells during Art Walk. Having a family involved in art provides Libby with a sense of comradery. “Our work influences each other a lot, not necessarily that our style is the same, just we have a lot of love for similar subject matter as far as taking animals and making them our own or using colors in certain ways.”

Moth & Squirrel
Libby Chenault transforms once loved shirts and sweaters into a menagerie of stuffed animals, hats, key rings and more! Photo credit: Theresa Golden.

Libby has also been a part of the Bellingham Farmers Market for the last 10 seasons, bringing her creations in vintage suitcases. Here, unnamed stuffed animals, pieced together with fabric from across all corners of the community, wait patiently to travel into the hands of a new owner — each ready for their own storytelling identity to begin.

Libby’s designs may be purchased at the Bellingham Farmers Market on Saturdays, or from her studio in Make.Shift during Art Walk. Her items can also be found at The Lucky Dumpster in Edison.

Have a piece of clothing you would like transformed into something new? Or maybe you would like to donate an unwanted cashmere sweater? Contact Libby through her email at: mothandsquirrel@gmail.com.

Learn to Play Hockey, Soccer and More at Bellingham Sportsplex

Learn to play Bellingham at Bellingham Sportsplex.
Learn to Play Hockey Academy participants pose for a photo at Bellingham Sportsplex. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Sportsplex.

Do you or your kids have an interest in learning to skate or play ice hockey? How about soccer? Bellingham Sportsplex offers a variety of learning academies for youth and adults. Put on by local non-profit organization Whatcom Sports and Recreation, these classes are both fun and educational. Participants can drop in for a single class or sign up for an entire multi-week course. Here’s what to expect from each academy.

Learn to Skate Academy

The Skating Academy Basic Skills Program teaches ice skating on an NHL-size ice arena, right here in Bellingham.

“Our focus is to provide a great learning experience for all ages interested in ice sports,” says Skating Academy Director, Keri Ferguson. “Skating in all forms is a lifetime activity and we are very fortunate to have the arena here in our community.”

Bellingham Sportsplex Learn to Skate
Learn to Skate participants are taught ice skating on Bellingham Sportsplex’s NHL size arena. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Sportsplex.

During summer 2016, a six-week basic skills course includes one 30-minute lesson and three practices per week. Rentals are included, and skaters receive guest passes to get friends out on the ice.

Summer Seminars are new this year and will feature two-time Olympic guest coaches in August. A variety of skate camps — from junior level to elite — are offered as well. Check the Bellingham Sportsplex website or contact Keri Ferguson (kerif@bellinghamsportsplex.com) for more information.

Learn to Play Hockey Academy

Bellingham Blazers Learn to Play and Hockey Academy is designed for those with little to no previous ice hockey experience. Learn to play hockey in a safe environment — full gear is required for all classes.

Bellingham Blazers head coach Mark Collins runs the hockey academy. “We can have anywhere from 30 to 50 kids on the ice, and all of the Blazers boys help coach the kids,” says Mark. “It’s another thing that we’re doing to generate interest in the community and introduce players to hockey.”

Academies run 10 weeks, with each new class building off the previous week’s lessons. Players learn a variety of skills including power skating, balance, and edge control. Visit the Bellingham Sportsplex website for more information.

Hammers FC Soccer Academy

Kids interested in learning to play soccer can also get in on the action at Bellingham Sportsplex.

Hammers FC Academy Soccer Camps
Kids learn soccer skills through fun games and exercises at Hammers FC Academy Soccer Camps. Photo courtesy: Hammers FC Academy Soccer Camps

Lil’ Hammers programs are for children between 3 and 6 years old. Four-week courses offer a mix of training and games, with a focus on fun. According to the Lil’ Hammers program website, “Each training session and game is organized with an emphasis on fun in mind, to cultivate the love of soccer!”

The Jr Hammers program is for 9- to 11-year-olds. Players train and compete in tournaments during summer break, participating in Baker Blast and other big games.

Summer soccer camps are offered as well for ages 5 to 12. Each camp lasts a few days, and includes training, along with a Hammers FC Academy T-Shirt and ball.

For more information on Hammers FC Soccer Academy, contact Claire Morgan at clairem@bellinghamsportsplex.com.

 

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Gathered Confections Brings Fresh, Local Approach to Dessert

Gathered Confections
Gathered confections take a fresh, local approach to desserts. Photo courtesy: Gathered Confections.

Submitted by Gathered Confections

New to the Bellingham area but not to baking, Sarah Woods has been making waves in the Bellingham dessert scene since opening her own business earlier this year. Her company, Gathered Confections, brings a refreshing approach to sweets, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients, classical preparations, and old-fashioned scratch baking methods. What’s more, she does custom recipe development to suit all sorts of food intolerances, so if your food restrictions took sweets off the menu, there’s a new option in town.

Gathered Confections
Gathered Confections owner, Sarah Woods, has worked in the food industry since she was just 15 years old. Photo credit: Katheryn Moran Photography.

Sarah’s been working in restaurants since she was 15 years old. “It has given me plenty of time and examples to think, ‘How would I do this differently? How can I make this better?’ I’ve worked on farms to better understand how we are connected to the food we eat. My goal in starting Gathered Confections was three-fold: to create the most delicious baked goods, to use clean, high-quality ingredients, and to support our local community and local farmers.”

Gathered Confections specializes in cakes and special events, so if you’re looking to get your hands on some of these treats, a custom order is the way to go.

“Starting small and growing organically just seemed like the only real option. I’m open to all possibilities moving forward, but I want to make sure I can give every customer the attention they deserve, and custom orders are the best way to do that.”

With this sincere and passionate approach to food, Gathered Confections has truly set itself apart from the crowd. Want to try some for yourself? Look for Gathered Confections at the Harvest pop-up market at The Shakedown on October 16th.

Mix-Up Your Mid-Week Routine at the New After Hours Farmers Market

After Hours Market
The cozy After Hours Farmers Market will be tucked inside the pavilion at Depot Market Square instead of sprawling through the parking lot, so it’ll be a more intimate setting focusing primarily on farmers and prepared food. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Farmers Market.

Anyone who spends time in Downtown Bellingham or the Historic Fairhaven District has seen the positive impact of the Bellingham Farmers Market. Connecting shoppers to local farmers and crafters, the market gives Bellinghamsters an opportunity to better understand and appreciate where their food and goods come from. There’s nothing quite like knowing the person who roasts your coffee, or meeting the farmer who grew your mushrooms. Now fans of the Bellingham Farmers Market have a new opportunity to enjoy the bounty of what local farmers have to offer at their new After Hours Farmers Market.

Two years ago the Bellingham Farmers Market board went through an in-depth strategic planning process. As part of this process they decided to survey both customers and vendors to see what opportunities they could find to better meet the needs of the community.

After Hours Farmers Market
During the month of September, shoppers can stop downtown on their way home from work and bring freshly harvested produce and high-quality meat, dairy, and baked goods home for an instantly gratifying local feast. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Farmers Market.

“It became clear during our recent strategic planning process and community surveys that customers wanted more opportunities to engage with our vendors,” said Market Director, Caprice Teske. After taking customer feedback to their farmers, the Bellingham Farmers Market determined that an after hours market could accommodate everyone’s needs.

“We concluded that a mid-week, evening market would provide the additional time shoppers want and still allow farmers the time they need for field work earlier in the day,” shared Teske. And so the upcoming After Hours Farmers Market pilot program was born. Held every Thursday during the month of September, shoppers will be able to stop into the Depot Market Square from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to peruse offerings from their favorite farmers and artisans.

Because the Wednesday market in Fairhaven wraps up in August, the Bellingham Farmers Market Board decided September would be a good time to pilot a new evening market while still taking advantage this bountiful harvest season. More than 20 local farmers and food vendors will provide fresh produce, meat, dairy, baked goods and more to take home for dinner or to enjoy on-site.

“We are excited to pilot this market during Eat Local Month,” Teske added. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity to launch a market that features hyper-local food producers from Whatcom and Skagit counties.”

For folks who would like to experiment with fresh ingredients during their mid-week meal, the After Hours Farmers Market can provide a great opportunity to find new treasures. Regular Saturday market-goers may find that their fruit and vegetable supply begins to dwindle by the time Thursday rolls around, but during the month of September they can stop downtown on their way home from work and bring freshly harvested produce and high-quality meat, dairy, and baked goods home for an instantly gratifying local feast.

After Hours Farmers Market
The After Hours Farmers Market features live music during its pilot run, starting with The Elopements (Bellingham) on September 1. Photo courtesy: Patrick Beggan/Versa Photography .

If you’re the kind of shopper who is ready for a break from cooking a meal by the time you’ve made it to Thursday, the After Hours Market is a great opportunity to grab prepared foods instead. Picnic tables will be set-up for you to eat on-site, or you can grab food take-out style to bring back to the family (or your latest streaming video obsession).

This cozy, focused market will be tucked inside the pavilion at Depot Market Square instead of sprawling through the parking lot, so it will be a more intimate setting focusing primarily on farmers and food goods with fewer craft offerings.

“Depot Market Square is our home, and it’s also conveniently located downtown,” said Teske. “It was a no-brainer to host this After Hours Market there.” You can bike, bus or walk to the market like you usually would, but if you’re driving through the area remember that off-street and city-managed parking in lots and garages is free after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

There will be live music each evening for shoppers who would like to linger and relax after a long day at work. The music schedule includes:

Because this After Hours Market is a pilot program, the Bellingham Farmers Market’s board and vendors will seek customer comments and assess the Thursday market at season’s end to determine if it will continue beyond the September trial.

After Hours Farmers Market
The new After Hours Market will take place inside Depot Market Square. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Farmers Market.

“We’ll be relying heavily on community feedback on this market,” shared Teske. “The future of this market really depends on how customers react to it. We could potentially grow our regular market offerings if there’s enough demand to sustain a night market in addition to our Wednesday and Saturday markets.”

The After Hours Farmers Market will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Thursday from September 1 through September 29, 2016, at Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225).

 

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Pickford Film Center Resurrects ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ with Lead Actor Ted Neely Live in Attendance

pickford film center
The Pickford is excited to continue serving all people in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Pickford Film Center.

Submitted by Pickford Film Center

Pickford Film Center is excited to present the epic interpretation of the rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” on September 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Award-winning composers and lyricists Rice and Webber created the music for “Jesus Christ Superstar” for the stage and here it saw tremendous success. Norman Jewison’s film adaptation is a retelling of the rock opera by the same name.

The film follows a group of performers who travel to re­enact the last weeks of Jesus Christ’s life in Israel, where the entire film was shot. The cast is comprised of Ted Neely playing a charismatic Jesus Christ and Carl Anderson with the role of concerned Judas Iscariot, both of whom were nominated for Golden Globe Awards for their portrayals. The film itself was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music and six Golden Globe nominations ranging from Best Actor and Actress to Best Motion Picture.

The legendary film is currently going on tour through the country and is stopping by Pickford Film Center for a special one­time showing. Join us on Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 for a Q&A with the lead actor who played Jesus himself, Ted Neely, followed by the film. Afterward, hang out in the lobby for a meet and greet with Neely and your chance to get an autograph or picture with him!

 

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