There was a time when events in big, public halls were where people got their information about national candidates and engaged in face-to-face political discourse — and then private correspondence was where they shared jokes and other stories. Social media seems to have reshaped the second part of that. During the 2012 elections, over one-third of 18 to 24 year olds said their vote was influenced by social media. According to the Pew Research Center, 44% of adults today are saying that everything they learn about the presidential candidates is through social media.
I suppose that makes sense, since we’re talking online about everything else, but we all battle the blur between “correct” and merely “catchy” daily. It can be confusing to tell where entertainment stops and information starts. Sensational news broadcasts don’t sound much different than comedy political interview shows or the messaging written by regular folks that is posted, shared, and retweeted all over social media. The intent gets blurred — are we learning or laughing?
Since folks think the issues are being laid out in tweets, we at Mount Baker Theatre are happy to handle the in-person, big hall event with a new intent that is very clear: laughter. There is still a place where the intent is purely to entertain and the bipartisan spirit is firmly alive: with veteran political comedy troupe the Capitol Steps.
On September 16, “The Capitol Steps: What to Expect When You’re Electing” will be performing live at the Mount Baker Theatre. The Capitol Steps, a bipartisan troupe of ex-staffers from Washington, DC, are setting out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. You can get ready for side-splitting roasts of the presidential candidates, hilarious parodies, and an escape from the viciousness of the political news cycle.
If you can’t beat ‘em, and you can’t join ‘em, you might as well laugh with them all equally! And if you happen to strike up an interesting conversation in the lobby with a new friend at intermission instead of checking for status updates, all the better. Join us at the Mount Baker Theatre on September 16 for “What to Expect When You’re Electing” — tickets are on sale now!
At a party last year in early May where many were preoccupied watching “The Fight of the Century,” a professional boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, Bellingham resident Andy Gallent’s attention was somewhere else.
Gallent, 26, recalls four Western Washington University students actively moving around a yellow device on the lawn. Included was a circular net lifted off the ground that was similar to a miniature trampoline and a yellow, rubbery ball sized to fit in a person’s palm.
“That was the exact moment I was introduced to Spikeball,” Gallent said. “I was instantly interested.”
Like what Gallent saw in his first encounter, Spikeball is played with four people divided into two teams. To start, one player on Team A serves the ball to the Team B player across the net. To serve, you must toss the yellow orb up in the air and swat it onto the net, where it may bounce only once.
The two players on Team B then return the ball to Team A by hitting it back off the net. Each team has the opportunity to return the ball in three touches. These touches may be from any part of the body, however, the partners must alternate who touches the ball and get it bouncing off the net by the third touch.
If a player fails to return the ball, the other team receives a point. A point is also awarded if the ball mistakenly hits the rim of the net.
At 11 points, teams switch sides. The objective of the game is to earn 21 points first.
Another detail is the “pocket.” This happens when the ball is hit by a player and slightly embeds in the space between the net and the rim, causing the ball to awkwardly bounce off the net. Players on either team can call a pocket whenever necessary, meaning the play is disregarded and starts over.
Lastly, “hinder” is when a player gets in the way of another player during the game. This also prompts a redo.
Yet, beyond these basic directions, Spikeball proves to be an entertaining and lively pastime for anyone as the summer days draw even more people than usual outside in Whatcom County.
In fact, Gallent spends much of his summer introducing and playing Spikeball with friends and strangers around town.
Justin Spencer, 23, friend to Gallent, hadn’t played a single game of Spikeball until he and Gallent became roommates this past year.
“Spikeball is easy to learn, but when you first play it feels awkward,” said Spencer. “It’s going to take a little bit of practice, but it’s seriously so fun.”
Though they have varying styles of play — Spencer more laid back and Gallent somewhat competitive — these guys can’t stop raving about the game.
Both agree that Spikeball is similar to volleyball with an easier setup, though there are elements of handball and four square in there, too.
Therefore, they have no problem taking advantage of Spikeball’s simple setup by engaging in matches throughout Bellingham’s many parks and beaches, like Boulevard’s sandy areas or Fairhaven Park’s grassy field.
“The game is lightweight, you can travel with it anywhere, and you don’t need too much room to play,” Gallent said.
Spencer added that you don’t even need all four friends with you for a match to take place. Since most onlookers around Bellingham find interest in the game, they are happy to stand in and give it a go themselves.
“Spikeball is a hybrid sport that people love,” said Gallent.
“And it isn’t just another backyard game,” Spencer added.
They couldn’t have said it better. Beyond beaches, yards and parks, Spikeball also has another local home at WWU. As of two years ago, the University began to offer Spikeball as an intramural sport.
Bob Hofstetter, Associate Director of Facilities and Operations of WWU’s Campus Recreation Services, said that Western is happy to have Spikeball featured as a league and tournament during certain quarters throughout the school year.
Hofstetter believes Spikeball is growing in popularity and claims that various students — athletic or not — enthusiastically play the game. Spikeball is even brought out at WWU’s kids’ camps, where children — pre-teen ages and younger — enjoy the sport.
Hofstetter recently received his own Spikeball set for Father’s Day. He appreciates the competitive aspect Spikeball brings out, while still having a great time.
“My family is pretty diverse in athletic ability, yet we all enjoy to play Spikeball,” he said.
Athletic or inactive. Hand-eye or foot-eye coordinated. Petite or large physic. Vying or just playing for the laughs. You may be truly surprised at just how fit of a contender you are for Spikeball.
No matter the occasion, Pedal Party NW provides a fun way to celebrate birthdays, bachelorettes and more. Photo credit: Lorraine Wilde.
Brought to bike-friendly downtown Bellingham in May 2015 by long-time residents Amy and Tom Lawson, Pedal Party NW has been entertaining tourists and helping locals celebrate birthdays, bachelorettes, and business with their state-of-the-art 10- to 15-person-bicycle. I recently took a very memorable ride on one of Bellingham’s newest attractions.
The Lawsons have been married for almost 34 years, having lived and worked in Whatcom County for decades. Amy taught high school science at Squalicum High School for 19 of her 20 years with Bellingham Public Schools, recently retiring in June 2016.
“I’m enjoying learning new things through the business,” says Amy of her role as booking and communications agent. “What I love about it is that everyone is always so happy and satisfied.” Tom has worked as a builder in the area with his company Compass Woodworks for more than 40 years. Pedal Party NW is currently Tom’s pre-retirement hobby.
The Lawsons became owners of Pedal Party NW almost on a whim. They were attending their daughter Sarah’s wedding in Portland, Oregon. On their younger daughter’s suggestion, they took a shared ride on a multi-person bike with a bachelor party. “We had a blast. Then our daughter saw a web article on the 25 things Bellingham needed and this kind of bike was on the list,” Amy explains of their start. “And here we are.”
Co-owner Tom Lawson hands out water to help patrons stay hydrated during their trip while answering technical questions about the inner bike’s inner workings. Photo credit: Lorraine Wilde.
After a lot of research and communication with local breweries and other businesses, the Lawsons decided on the MegaCycle brand built in St. Paul, Minnesota by Pedal Biz. “Our bike is number 16 manufactured there,” notes Tom, the technical and maintenance brains of Pedal Party NW. “This is sort of the Cadillac of models. It’s more expensive, but it’s also engineered the best. It’s the safest and easy to step onto.”
“We also could do it without having to buy into a franchise,” adds Amy.
Tom road tripped to pick up the bike himself from the Minnesota factory. He also took along a passenger — at the time, his daughter’s boyfriend — to help with transport. “We were most of the way back on that trip before he asked me for my daughter’s hand in marriage,” explains Tom. “It was pretty special.”
This impressive bicycle took its inaugural ride in Bellingham’s 2015 Ski-to-Sea Parade, carrying Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville as one of its first passengers. “My daughter’s team pedaled for her and that was our very first ride. The City and the police have been so supportive, and the community shares pictures of us on Facebook and Instagram.”
Since then, Pedal Party NW has been helping groups of 10 to 15 transport and entertain themselves, safely, in a fun, memorable atmosphere throughout Bellingham’s downtown area. “We do a lot of birthday, bachelorette, and bachelor parties, with people wearing costumes, dancing in the aisles, and having a blast,” notes Amy of their typical clientele. “We have family and class reunions, we do parades, and it’s a great way to see the craft breweries here, too. Every party is a little different, but everyone is in a celebratory mood so it’s really a fun business to own.”
Ten pedalers are needed to move the bike along, although batteries assist when hills are too steep. Photo credit: Lorraine Wilde.
Businesses also use Pedal Party NW for team-building, celebration, and networking. “We’ve had some businesses join us that needed to find a way to build office morale and camaraderie, and it works!” adds Amy. “Everyone is pretty calm and congenial at first and after the first stop, everyone is laughing and talking. By the second or third stop, everyone has bonded and is having a blast. Some give us big hugs and say, ‘Our department really needed this.’ It’s a real win-win for everybody.”
I recently took a ride with the employees of a locally-owned supplier of building materials that has operated in Whatcom County since 1992, Bellingham Millwork Supply Company. The Pedal Party NW trip was given to Millwork employees by the sales representatives of Tacoma-based treated wood supplier McFarland-Cascade as a thank you gift for their long-time business partnership.
On our trip, we listened to classic rock piped into the bicycle’s 6-speaker sound system from the phone of a Millworks employee. “The party can have a custom soundtrack chosen by the group,” explains Tom, who considers this bicycle one of the most high-tech multi-person bicycles available in the country.
“There is a computer that senses speed and kicks in with electric-assist when needed to get up hills that are tougher than our pedalers,” says Tom. Up to 10 people can pedal at any one time, and it travels at a safe top speed of 7 miles per hour. The padded seats are adjustable and have a back cushion for added comfort. There are non-pedaling seats for five additional passengers plus the licensed driver provided by Pedal Party NW to steer, guide, and park this specialized vehicle. The bicycle also has overhead storage for purses and bags, plus holders for water cups offered by Pedal Party NW employees to encourage responsible continued hydration throughout the trip.
“We’ve also been able to accommodate some patrons in wheelchairs and of almost any age, including the Whatcom Family YMCA’s Pedaling for Parkinson’s group, so there are very few limits to who can ride along,” adds Amy.
Employees of Bellingham Millwork and McFarland Cascade pedal to their first stop at downtown’s The Local. Photo credit: Lorraine Wilde.
On my ride along, Millworks employees decided among themselves where they’d like to stop on their 2-hour trip. Most trips include two to three stops at almost any downtown Bellingham location within biking distance of their headquarters near the intersection of Meador Street and North State Street. The stops are only limited by time and the group’s willingness and ability to pedal. For obvious reasons, businesses at higher elevations are less popular destinations. Stops common on Pedal Party NW tours include Bellingham’s award-winning breweries and Mallard Ice Cream. “Some groups want to spend time and get food while others want to get in three stops, but it’s really up to them,” explains Amy.
“But we’re happy to give advice on places to stop based on our experiences and the interests of the group,” adds Tom. We’d like to add new businesses to our list of stops like Kombucha Town and Vinostrology.”
Our tour took us first to The Local for microbrew beers and a couple games of table shuffleboard. Then the group pedaled to Schweinhaus Biergarten for some outdoor enjoyment of comfort food —sausage on kraut, Bavarian pretzels, and locally-brewed beer — before pedaling back to the Meador Street headquarters.
Scheduling a party is simple. Patrons can contact Amy via phone or e-mail to select a date. Party attendees meet at the Meador Street location, sign a standard insurance waiver, and then depart at the scheduled time. The party returns to Meador Street at the end of each trip. Pedal Party NW can usually accommodate up to four or five 2-hour trips in a single day, charging batteries overnight.
Bachelorettes and businesses alike benefit from Pedal Party NW. Photo credit: Lorraine Wilde.
Pedal Party NW has also donated discounted trips to local charities including a Whatcom Humane Society auction prize that raised over $1200. Business is doing well enough for Amy and Tom to donate about six discounted trips each year.
No matter what the occasion, taking a ride with Pedal Party NW is a unique, unforgettable way to get some fresh air and exercise, explore Bellingham’s downtown businesses, and celebrate with friends or colleagues.
“We plan to schedule rides pretty regularly through Halloween but can accommodate die-hards later in the year, too. Our rain policy covers bad weather,” adds Amy. “We want to support the local breweries that are an incredibly caring community here. People come to us for a party and we do our best to deliver.”
Tickets are now on sale for Industrial Credit Union’s 4th Annual Food Truck Round Up! The event takes place Saturday, September 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Civic Stadium in Bellingham.
The Food Truck Round Up — a benefit for Whatcom County Food Banks — is presented by Ben Kinney & Keller Williams Realty. It features over 20 local food trucks, a beer garden serving Kulshan Brewing Co. beer, a family area hosted by Nature’s Path Foods and live music by SpaceBand on the Haggen Food and Pharmacy stage. This family-friendly event provides a fun opportunity to try food from local mobile eateries and support a great cause.
Tickets are on sale now at all 8 Industrial Credit Union locations throughout Whatcom County. They are $7 and include a custom pint glass (while supplies last). Event proceeds — including all tickets sold — will be matched by Ben Kinney and Keller Williams Realty for the third year in a row.
The Food Truck Round Up is possible each year because of the generosity of many local businesses. Industrial CU receives support from Ben Kinney and Keller Williams Realty, Haggen Food and Pharmacy, Lithtex NW Printing Solutions, Kulshan Brewing Co., Nature’s Path Foods, Ideation Design Group, Star Rentals, Rice Insurance and many others.
If you are interested in supporting this year’s event, contact Amanda Ager, Food Truck Round Up Coordinator, at aager@industrialcu.org. Event updates and details will be announced on the Community Food Drive Facebook page.
On August 18, the Pickford Film Center will have a one-time showing of an intimate documentary about love, death, and family. “My Love, Don’t Cross That River” follows the “100-year-old lovebirds” — 98-year-old Byeong-man Jo and 89-year-old Gye-Yeol Kang — throughout their daily lives in a mountain village in South Korea. We meet the adorable couple as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives, after 75 years of inseparable kinship.
Come prepared with a pack of Kleenex in tow as “My Love, Don’t Cross That River” will leave you both laughing and crying. The initial scenes filter through the seasons, showing the playful couple tossing snow and leaves at each other and next a springtime water fight. Though the film is not always so lighthearted. These scenes give a quick glance of just how in love the characters are.
Directed by Jin Mo-Young, who is a veteran to documentary filmmaking, “My Love, Don’t Cross That River” made its debut in South Korea in 2014 and was praised as South Korea’s most successful independent film ever. It also saw success at multiple international film festivals, receiving awards for best independent film and documentary award and nominations for best film and best director.
Join us at the Pickford Film Center on Thursday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. for a one-time showing of this heart-tugging film. Stop by earlier at 6:00 p.m. for pre-screening reception including light snacks and traditional Korean tea! This beautifully filmed documentary approaches love, the inevitability of death and family in a way that is so intimate and sentimental you’ll leave feeling heart-warmed and heart-wrenched.
The Fairhaven Village Inn was recently recognized as the Pacific Northwest’s Top-Rated Family Hotel by ABC News. Photo credit: Libby Liming.
Tucked into a corner of Fairhaven, across from the Village Green and within walking distance to the Alaska State Ferry docks, sits the picturesque Fairhaven Village Inn. A privately-owned hidden gem, this 22-room hotel is identified by a tiny green sign hanging from the second story and a gold-leaf “1200” painted on the transom window above the front doors. But don’t let its humble nature fool you. This local inn was recently named the Pacific Northwest’s Top-Rated Family Hotel by ABC News.
ABC News worked with Family Vacation Critic to name the top-rated hotels in each of the 10 top vacation spots in the US, compiling opinions from Family Vacation Critic’s members and requiring an employee of Family Vacation Critic to visit the location.
The Fairhaven Village Inn entrance is a welcoming scene, complete with hanging baskets overflowing with fragrant flowers. Photo credit: Libby Liming.
When Connie Shannon and her husband Gene purchased the inn in 2004, they never dreamed that their little hotel would be featured on a major news network. Connie was a children’s librarian and worked for a book publisher for years and Gene owned commercial properties in the Midwest. They decided they were ready for a change and followed their daughter across the country as she attended grad school at Western Washington University.
Connie and Gene didn’t originally move to Bellingham to run the inn. The adventurous couple took a look at several properties in the area but the “happiness meter” always dialed into the Fairhaven Village Inn.
“When we bought the inn,” Connie says, “Village Books wasn’t there; those condos and shops weren’t there.” Fairhaven has continued to grow around them over the last 12 years, becoming a very family-friendly place.
How the ABC coverage has impacted the Inn
“It’s humbling, and also kind of intimidating,” Connie laughs, regarding their national recognition. “We always pay careful attention [to our guests],and now we feel like everyone is watching!”
The bed in one of Fairhaven Village Inn’s 22 guest rooms. Photo credit: Libby Liming.
She says it’s great for them to be included in this list alongside hotels like Legoland in Florida and the Four Seasons in Chicago. “At the end of the day,” Connie states, “traveling families are looking for something simple and something that will appeal to everyone.” adding that the Fairhaven Village Inn’s library and collection of board and card games — along with their adorable breakfast nook with its black and white tiled floor — are a definite draw for families.
Connie shared an endearing story about a dad who showed up with his two young boys late one night to the hotel. The boys were becoming a bit rowdy in the lobby, so dad tried to contain them by shooing them into the library as he checked in at the front desk. As the boys explored the library, Connie (who was passing through the lobby) could hear them shouting “Oh hey! Candyland!” Grandparents have played Twister with their grandchildren in that library, or a guest unearths a favorite poem or a travel writer’s secret tip. Sometimes simple is golden.
If you prefer to play your games outside or you’re visiting the Fairhaven Village Inn during one of our gorgeous Pacific Northwest summers, there are four city parks within a decent walking distance of the hotel, as well as some great walking trails and hiking. The waterfront is nearby, as is the Community Boating Center. Fairhaven Bike is around the corner for convenient bike rentals, and Rocket Donuts serves ACME Ice Cream. It is a short hike up Harris Avenue for that after-dinner treat.
The lobby of the Fairhaven Village Inn, as seen from the front doors. The library is visible at the far end, beyond the desk. Photo credit: Libby Liming.
On summer Saturdays, you can even open up your window and watch the movies on the Village Green from the park-side hotel rooms. Don’t have a park-side room? Grab a blanket and head for the gorgeous deck that juts out over the inn’s driveway. Pick up some popcorn and snacks from the Haggen store up the road and you’ve got the best seats in the house.
With a plethora of family-friendly activities in the surrounding area and a marvelous place to lay your head after participating in all said activities, Fairhaven Village Inn is getting some much-deserved press coverage for their delightful accommodations and top notch service.
Businesses have lots of options when it comes to reaching their audiences, including sponsoring events and airing commercials on the radio. In the digital age, one of the most common ways businesses do this is by placing ads online. From banner ads to pop-ups, the options that exist for advertising within the Internet are vast and ever-changing.
As a media company serving Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and surrounding Whatcom County, WhatcomTalk has a unique lens into this hyperlocal market. Once a piece of content is published to WhatcomTalk’s website, our team collects data based on gender, age, location and other insights so that we can identify which stories matter most to certain demographics.
While this information helps WhatcomTalk craft its content to better serve our readers, it also helps us tailor individualized advertising plans for our customers.
For instance, if a customer wants their logo to reach families living in Lynden, we can place their logo on articles about family-friendly venues such as local parks and playgrounds or events taking place in the area.
Knowing who our readers are allows WhatcomTalk to better guide its customers’ marketing decisions by providing personalized advertising options so that they can reach a specific audience.
Using insights in this way is good for both our customers and our readers. Our customers gain value in the benefits of targeted marketing, while our readers enjoy perusing content without the distraction of oddly placed ads.
This unique form of marketing is a direct result of the close relationship that exists between WhatcomTalk’s sales and publishing teams. While most media companies’ sales and publishing teams work independently of one another, WhatcomTalk’s staffers work closely together, ensuring that customer logo placements are matched with the pieces of content that best reach their target audiences.
Content marketing is another way WhatcomTalk helps tell a customer’s story. Photo courtesy: Amy Blackwood.
You can learn more about WhatcomTalk’s many advertising options, including traditional banner and block ads, personalized logo placements, and unique content marketing opportunities, by contacting a member of our sales team here.
Let WhatcomTalk help you grow your business through personalized marketing options that work for you.
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.
McKenzie Temple high-fives a fellow participant at the SheJumps Alpine Finishing School in the Selkirk Mountains. This seven-day mountaineering course teaches women essential mountaineering skills. Photo credit: Steph Nitsch.
Seattle native-turned-Bellinghamster McKenzie Temple grew up playing in the mountains.
“Skiing is nearest and dearest to my heart,” McKenzie says. “That’s how I grew up, skiing every weekend with family and meeting life-long friends along the way.”
Those early ski trips shaped McKenzie into who she is today — an active outdoorswoman and regional director for two outdoors non-profit organizations. She’s managed to accomplish what many of us hope for by turning her dreams into reality. In McKenzie’s case, that means turning a lifetime of mountain adventures into a rewarding career.
“It took me a while to figure out how to play as much as I wanted, but I also put in my time in the corporate world at a desk,” McKenzie says. “That’s where I would dream up adventures that I somehow always made a reality.”
McKenzie Temple high-fives a fellow participant at the SheJumps Alpine Finishing School in the Selkirk Mountains. This seven-day mountaineering course teaches women essential mountaineering skills. Photo credit: Steph Nitsch.
McKenzie first moved to Bellingham three years ago, after a trip up to Mount Baker Ski Area for the Legendary Banked Slalom. She fell in love with Bellingham. “It was exactly what I was looking for,” McKenzie explains. “Not a big city, but still close to mountains, water and my Seattle-based family. How can you not love Bellingham? You can mountain bike to work!”
Before moving to Bellingham, McKenzie was working at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort near Mount Rainier. During her time at Crystal Mountain, she met the crew from SheJumps, a non-profit organization whose goal is, “To increase the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities.” McKenzie initially got involved with the organization five years ago as an event attendee and volunteer. Today, she is the Pacific Coast Regional Director of SheJumps.
Founded in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2007, SheJumps has gone nationwide in its efforts to get girls outdoors. Programs are available for ladies of all ages and operate in several distinct regions throughout America. And with the Pacific Coast Regional Director based here in Bellingham, we can expect to see some local events soon.
“Our Youth Initiative Program is called Wild Skills and is led by the amazing Wild Skills Director, Christy Pelland,” McKenzie says. Christy was also responsible for a recent Mount Rainier fundraising climb, in which more than $25,000 was raised to expand programming. McKenzie explains, “Eight ladies signed up to climb and fundraise, and it was a smashing success. Now we can use that money for more programs, like in Bellingham!”
A recent SheJumps Wild Skills event in Tacoma. Photo courtesy: Christy Pelland.
The next Bellingham Wild Skills program will take place August 27 at Whatcom Falls Park. “Wild Skills is a day for young girls to learn the skills they need for outdoor adventuring,” McKenzie says. “Our goal is to see girls learning, having fun and connecting in an encouraging environment with amazing instruction and support.”
SheJumps offers programs for adults, too. They recently held a mountain biking event at Stevens Pass called “SheShreds Stevens.” To welcome riders of all abilities, local lady instructors provided downhill bike lessons for beginners. McKenzie explains, “We have some of the best female riders right here in Bellingham. They are always excited to volunteer their time to help with free skills clinics, or just show the ladies around the trails.” Keep an eye on the SheJumps calendar for more local events throughout Washington and the Pacific Coast.
The weekend of August 27 will be a busy one for McKenzie. In addition to SheJumps, McKenzie is also the Northwest Events Director for 5Point Adventure Film Festival — another non-profit with big Bellingham plans for the last weekend of August.
5Point is an outdoor adventure film fest like no other. The festival originated in Carbondale, Colorado nine years ago, and has since expanded to Bellingham and two other regional locations. Built on five “points” — Commitment, Humility, Purpose, Respect, and Balance — the festival is all about inspiring adventure and building a sense of community. According to McKenzie, “If you have not experienced a 5Point event, it will change your life.”
The Van Life rally at 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale, Colorado. Photo courtesy: 5Point Film Festival.
Attendees can expect all things outdoors during the three-day festival in Bellingham. More than just a film fest, 5Point offers up a Van Life rally, live music, yoga, community parties, beer, food, family, and much more. McKenzie has been working hard on the Bellingham 5Point Film Festival all summer and is excited to share the event with our community.
“We have tied in the SheJumps Wild Skills to this event, so the kids can go from Wild Skills to an adventure film program and then to a family party in the street,” McKenzie explains. Check out the event on Facebook for more info.
When asked what she most enjoys about her work, McKenzie’s answers are as colorful as her various roles and skills. Her meetings take place on an afternoon ride at Galbraith, on a chairlift, or over a local microbrew. She plans events for the benefit of others, and also to learn new skills herself. “If I want to learn how to do yoga on a paddle board, I plan an event and get my friends to come learn and hopefully meet some new people to play with,” McKenzie says.
And her life philosophy? McKenzie sums it up in a single sentence: “Life is about having fun, so let’s all have fun together!”
Stop and smell the lavender at Red Barn Lavender in Ferndale. Photo courtesy: Red Barn Lavender.
Head down Thornton Road in Ferndale during the summer months and you might be accompanied by the fragrant scent of lavender meandering in the breeze. Rows of purple and pink, English and French lavender are grown in several varieties each year at Red Barn Lavender. Owners Bridget Boylan and Joe Jowdy, along with Joe’s sister Georgette, enjoy managing the farm and producing one-of-a-kind products available year-round.
“Three years ago, my boyfriend Joseph and I were looking for a farm property,” Bridget shares. “My dad’s from Ireland. He grew up on a dairy farm, so I wanted to live on a farm and [Joe] wanted property.”
Bridget and Joe’s realtor called with a listing she thought might be of interest to the ambitious couple. “She said, ‘You guys might like this. You said you wanted a barn and you said you wanted about five acres and, well — it’s a lavender farm!’” For Bridget, the idea of living on a lavender farm had been previously evoked while visiting lavender fields in Provence, France. “Actually going to France and seeing lavender fields was just amazing.”
Bridget Boylan enjoys developing new products with the lavender grown on her farm. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Having learned the required techniques and care from the previous farm owners, it became obvious that Bridget and Joe would need more help. They reached out to Joe’s sister Georgette who was working at a dairy sanctuary on the East Coast. Here, calves not selected for milk production were cared for, raised and re-homed. Georgette agreed to move and help out with the lavender farm if she could bring a few of the calves with her. Georgette’s sanctuary cows can now be seen happily resting behind the lavender fields.
For Bridget, owning Red Barn Lavender is a compliment to her work as a Five Element acupuncturist where she helps people create change within themselves. “People come to me when they are stuck, moving in a different direction, and they are not sure where to go,” Bridget shares. She helps her clients find the direction they seek. Within her practice, she incorporates the use of essential oils from the lavender grown and distilled on her property.
Bridget’s interest and experience with essential oils have also led to the expansion of available products made from the lavender on the farm. “Because I have a lot of education in essential oils and combining them, we’ve got about double the products that [the previous owners] had and we’ve changed some of the formulations,” Bridget explains. “We’re mainly using organic ingredients, unrefined shea butter, organic cocoa butter — so we’ve just moved it into a more organic company, just trying to do everything in the best way for the consumer.”
A variety of French and English lavender is grown and cut each summer at Red Barn Lavender. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
For Bridget, the lavender farm and its guests offer endless ideas. From facial care products inspired by customer requests to teas, coffees and spices created out of Bridget’s passion for all things culinary, new products are continually in evolution. “We got into the culinary products because I love cooking,” Bridget shares. “So we’ve got a lavender coffee, we’ve got culinary lavender, we’ve got lavender pepper that has fennel in it. We have lavender sugar. I just started doing some Mediterranean blends and Tuscan blends with the lavender, so there’s just so many things we can do.”
Weekends during the summer, visitors can cut their own lavender from the fields and enjoy a cold cup of lavender lemonade sold at the shop in the barn. At the shop, Bridget also offers pints of Mallard lavender chocolate ice-cream for sale as well as a large array of her lavender products. Lotions, lip balms, face scrubs and eye creams can be purchased as well. Collages, clocks and paintings created by local artists decorate the walls, and Joe’s fine art photographs are on display, too. “People come here and they are so happy to be here,” Bridget shares. “And that’s what we want, for people to relax, have fun and be kind of in that space of not worrying about anything.”
Georgette Jowdy brings Red Barn Lavender products to the Bellingham Farmers Market each Saturday. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Red Barn Lavender is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. June through August, depending on the growing season. The Red Barn Lavender store can be visited off season by request. Call ahead for this season’s hours. Red Barn Lavender products can also be purchased at the Bellingham Farmers Market or online at www.redbarnlavender.com.
And the fun doesn’t stop after summer’s end. Bridget plans to offer wreath-making classes in November as well as guest writer and artist workshops in the Glass House located on the farm.
Dark Tower Games in Bellingham is one of two stores in the United States chosen to preview the new Magic: The Gathering game on August 20. Photo courtesy: Dark Tower Games.
Dark Tower Games has been chosen to host a preview event for the Conspiracy: Take the Crown game from the Magic: The Gathering franchise on August 20, 2016. Only seven locations worldwide will be previewing the game before general release. Dark Tower Games is one of two locations in the United States selected for this event. The game will be released to the public on August 26, 2016.
Employee Aaron Wallace said, “One shop out of seven locations in the world, one of only two in the United States, with fifty-six total players for this event. I’ve got more than 20 years playing games, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Dark Tower Games will have a live preview event with 8 players, 3 of which will be chosen by nomination from the community. All 8 players will be among the first to see the new cards for the game; the event will be live-streamed on Twitch and Twitter.
Tabletop gaming in all forms has seen a revival in recent years, boosted by popular internet shows like Tabletop and Critical Role. Stores routinely stock a greater variety of games, with a greater focus on storytelling and imagination than simple mechanics. Magic: The Gathering has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1993, and has an estimated 20 million players as of 2015, making it one of the most popular games in the world. Dark Tower Games regularly hosts Magic: The Gathering tournaments and game nights for the local community.
