Dancing for Joy – Dance Studio Against the Grain of Mainstream Dance

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bellingham dance class — This shot was captured during Dancing for Joy's "Out of the Box" performance at the Mount Baker theater.

By Katie Atkins

Local dance company, Dancing for Joy, has a lot more to offer than just hip hop and jazz. Quoted as being a “one of a kind dance studio that goes against the grain of the mainstream dance world,” this company will surprise you with its diverse dance classes and energetic staff.

Dancing for Joy (DFJ), didn’t start out in a three studio building, holding multiple dance classes throughout the week, as well as offering coffee, tea and snacks for waiting parents in their café style foyer.

Founded in 1998 under the Arts Program at Hillcrest Chapel, Maluhia Vandergriend began teaching dance in a simple living room. After a short time, numbers began to grow and by the end of the season there were nearly 30 students dancing in the sanctuary at Hillcrest Chapel.

In 1999 Maluhia and Kurt Vandergriend were married. They moved to Seattle for a short time before returning to Bellingham in 2002 and picked up Dancing for Joy. Numbers continued to grow and the carpeted room was no longer large enough to hold the growing number of eager dance students. In the eyes of this sweet couple, “opening a dance studio in Bellingham was a venture out into the local community to fill a need and share in the beauty of dance.”

Part of the mission of DFJ is to “provide quality dance instruction while encouraging movements and motivations that glorify our Maker. Our goal is to create a positive learning environment for students of all ages and both genders, to develop a deeper appreciation for the performing arts.” With 468 students and 85 classes offered a week, DFJ has gone above and beyond within their company as well as for their community.

A primary focus of Dancing for Joy is community. This focus is apparent as soon as you walk through the doors and smell the coffee brewing. Their studio coffee shop welcomes parents to not just drop off their kids and leave, but to stay and enjoy the friendly environment. They like to refer to themselves as not just a “drop off studio,” but a “stay studio.” While most studios offer little to no viewing window to watch their children practice, DFJ desires to make it possible for parents to watch their kids dance, emphasizing even more the idea of a “stay studio.” Maluhia shared, that as a young girl dancing, she always looked to see her Dad’s face in the tiny viewing window at her dance studio, and when she did, it encouraged her to dance with even more enthusiasm.

Well integrated in the community, DFJ offers a family-friendly atmosphere. “It is wonderful to see what DFJ means to the community of people involved with it. Providing a fun, safe environment for all ages of people to explore movement, art, and expression,” shares Kurt.

Reaching out to the local community isn’t all DFJ offers. They have partnered with the Sweet Water Wells Project, raising money and funding the building of wells in Ethiopia. Since DFJ started this partnership they have built one well a year and are on their way to their sixth. DFJ invites people to be a part of things, like, “building wells in Africa, re-telling the nativity story through dance at Christmas, and performing shows that are more than just recitals.”

Dancing for Joy has nestled gracefully into its little nook in Bellingham. You’ll find the logo on the backs of cars cruising around town, and if you’re watching, you might be able to spot “Thing One” and “Thing Two” – the red Volkswagen vans the Vandergriends own seen zipping around town.

“This is a dream coming true: a non-competitive place in the dance world with a safe environment that fosters fun, joy, community, quality dance instruction, and gratitude to the Lord of the dance,” Maluhia says. Dancing for Joy truly is a beautiful variety of people from all walks of life working together to provide a safe and fearless place for young people to express their gifts in movement and artistic vision.

The bottom line is, they care about kids, and who they grow up to be: givers or takers? Artists, creators? Dancers. “The art of motion is not just for the elite few who can make it as a career – it is for everyone who enjoys dance, and finds joy in dance. We invite anyone to come and be a part of the giving and artful community of dancing for joy.”

Catch a glimpse of all DFJ is up to at their show, “Let There Be: An Artistic Journey through Seven Days of Creation” on June 20-22.

Check out their website or stop by their studio at 4073 Hannegan Road in Bellingham to see what’s happening.

Comcast Cares Day – Making Change Happen at The Firs Camp

By

Laura Rogers

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By Laura Rogers

For the past 14 years, Comcast employees have been giving back to their communities in what has become the single largest one-day corporate volunteer effort in the country. Deemed Comcast Cares Day, the volunteer day rallies together not only Comcast employees, but many of their friends and families as well, making it a fun and meaningful event for all.

Over 3,000 people participated in Comcast Cares Days across 12 Washington cities this year. Over the years, the hours of service have really added up to big change. Since 2001, 600,000 volunteers have contributed 3.7 million hours of volunteer work on 6,000 projects across the country. Volunteers have tackled everything from painting, building, gardening, installing computers, and beyond.

This year, The Firs was selected for Whatcom County’s Comcast Cares Day, which took place on April 25. The Firs has been holding summer camps on the shores of Lake Whatcom for over 80 years. They also serve local families with their Before and After School Adventure at The Firs programs. While much of the volunteer work focused on improvements to camp structures and grounds at The Firs, some Comcast employees helped out at the concurrent event: Superhero 5k Run/Walk: Because Every Kid Deserves a Hero beginning at the Bloedel Donovan Gymnasium. The proceeds from the Superhero Run/Walk go to creating scholarships for The Firs.

Children, adults, and even dogs, decked out in their best superhero garb, lined up at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday for the superhero fun run. It was a wet morning, but the rain didn’t appear to change a thing. Creatively donned runners, including a whole family of Batman’s, several very authentic-looking Wonder Women and bright tutus and capes galore filled the parking lot at Bloedel Donovan. Participants’ enthusiasm seemed untouched by the questionable weather. Comcast employees showed up early, handled registration, and organized participants.

Event Organizer and Director of After School Adventure at The Firs, Stacy Smith, explained that with this run they “wanted to have a way to help families that fall just below or just above the poverty line, who weren’t able to have experiences like quality after school care or summer camps. There’s a gap for kids who can’t be involved in activities. And kids who are less involved are less likely to finish high school or go to college. In our programs we really try to give them fun clubs like dance, running club, and all kind of activities. Our tag line is: Because Every Kid Deserves a Hero. We believe heroes come at camp. We can be very intentional and available to the kids here.”

Meanwhile, over at The Firs camp, Comcast employees and their friends and families were getting several major projects under way. Large apple trees were being trimmed, and the trimmers themselves were getting somewhat of a shower due to the wet trees. But spirits remained high.

Around the corner, there was beauty bark being spread by a team of dedicated adults and children. A painting project was continuing despite the rain because of a lucky four-foot overhang on the building. Back in the forest, chainsaws were whirring, getting all the trees trimmed up, and firewood cut. It was a very busy place. All in all, about 150 volunteers shared their Saturday at The Firs. As a result, several large projects were completed.

It was an even more special work day for a few Comcast employees who grew up attending and working at The Firs.

Steve Gardner, Communications Technician for Comcast, fondly recalled, “I grew up going to Geneva Church, just around the corner from The Firs and attended Fir Creek Day Camp the first year I was old enough, which was in the early 1970s. I then went to Camp Firwood through middle and high school and returned in my late 20s as a counselor, head boat-driver, and waterfront and activities director. My camp name was Knievel….back in the day,” he says with a laugh. “When I heard that Comcast was going to be at The Firs, I thought, ‘I gotta do that.’ When my boys are old enough they’ll be going to camp here too.”

April is volunteer month, but The Firs is always looking for volunteers for a wide variety of tasks. You can get involved by emailing info@thefirs.org.

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6 (More) Bellingham Breakfast Joints Worth Getting Up Early For

By

Stacee Sledge

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breakfast bellingham restaurant — Bellingham is clearly a fan of breakfast. Photo credit: Mount Bakery.

By Stacee Sledge

WhatcomTalk’s first list of six Bellingham breakfast places worth waking up early for was a smash success with thousands of views and countless shares on social media. (Find the first list here.)

That’s a lot of early-morning eating inspiration!

We received great feedback from that article and some super suggestions for other places that didn’t make our first list.

Well, you suggest and we listen. Here are six more delicious Bellingham breakfast places that serve up a mean meal—plus a new place on its way that you may have already seen on Food Network.

Enjoy!

The Daisy Café

114 West Magnolia Street in downtown Bellingham
360-733-8996

From breakfast basics to creative dishes, downtown Bellingham’s Daisy Café works hard to make items by scratch and in-house—and it’s a difference you can taste. You’ll also find popular local products from Tony’s Coffee (at its neighboring sister company, the Union Coffee Shop), Farmer Ben’s, and Avenue Bread.

My favorite (though it’s difficult to choose) is the Hoppel Poppel, a combo of crispy country potatoes, bacon, garlic, red onions, and mushrooms scrambled with two eggs and finished with a generous dusting of cheddar cheese. Omelets more your thing? Try the smoked wild salmon omelet with dill cream cheese, diced tomatoes and fresh herbs, or the Baja omelet with bacon, avocado, pica de gallo and pepper jack cheese.

Really, you can’t go wrong at the Daisy Café, so pop in often and try several different breakfast dishes until you discover your favorite, too. And soon you’ll have a second downtown Daisy Café location to love on State Street, next door to Belle Flora in the old Koi Café spot.

The Mount Bakery

bellingham breakfast — Yum! Mount Bakery is also a local favorite for dessert and sandwiches. Photo credit: Mount Bakery.

“Best bennis in town.” That simple comment left on our Facebook page had us scrambling to The Mount Bakery Café for breakfast—after all, it’s long been one of our favorite places for desserts and baked goods and sandwiches, so how had we somehow missed the first meal of the day there?

Mount Bakery’s eggs benedict is served over a fluffy Belgian waffle rather than the traditional English muffins. But that’s not all: It’s all piled atop crispy roasted potatoes, perfectly poached eggs, and made-from-scratch hollandaise sauce. Good luck choosing between ham, roasted portobello mushroom, spinach/tomato/basil, smoked salmon, and seasonal Dungeness crab with asparagus—they all sound divine. I went the traditional ham route, and can’t wait to go back and try all the others.

Everything is made from scratch at Mount Bakery, so don’t fill up completely on eggs benedict (and its many other to-die-for breakfast options) or you’ll miss out on their flaky, golden croissants and cream-cheese-frosting-drenched cinnamon rolls, among other delights.

“Our chefs pride themselves on serving creative and delicious daily specials using only the finest local ingredients,” says Morgan Peters, Mount Bakery General Manager. Yes – the attention to quality and detail shows.

Marlins’ Café in Nelson’s Market

514 Potter Street in Bellingham’s York neighborhood
360-734-2448

Tucked into Bellingham’s York Neighborhood is the charming corner store Nelson’s Market. And tucked inside that is the delightful Marlins’ Café. You’ve never been? You might want to fix that.

There are plenty of traditional breakfast favorites on offer: omelets, scrambles, pancakes, French toast, and waffles. Like breakfast burritos? They’ve got that, too—choose from meaty (bacon/ham/sausage/cheese), veggie (onions, peppers, mushrooms/cheese), or the full-on everything option.

If you like to keep things light, you can also grab oatmeal, a fruit plate, or granola.

Rhodes Café

breakfast bellingham — Besides a delicious breakfast, the Rhodes Cafe has quick service by a friendly waitstaff.

1046 Lakeway Drive in Bellingham
360-714-9743

Rhodes Café is a simple, clean, unassuming spot in the Lakeway Center, next to Whole Foods. A recent breakfast of two eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast left me completely content.

Sometimes it’s something more than good food that makes a restaurant experience pleasing. In this case, I had popped in around 11:00 a.m. on a weekday, too hungry from having skimped on breakfast. My food came fast—and, as I said, was quite tasty. But the impression I left with was that of a friendly wait staff, quick service, and—thanks to a group of elderly ladies who chatted happily with the owner and gave the impression that this was their regular meet-up spot—a welcoming, warm, and comfortable spot.

Hilltop Restaurant & Catering

5645 Guide Meridian
360-398-2462

The last time I was at the Hilltop Restaurant on the Guide was before a new building was constructed in 2004, so I was in for a surprise. The Hilltop has been serving up traditional American-style meals since 1959, but the newer space—while still giving off a pleasant, warm-wood, country-kitchen vibe—is bigger and much better than its predecessor.

The breakfast menu is vast, including all the usual egg-based suspects—from omelets to frittatas to eggs benedict (weekends only)—as well as corned beef hash, breakfast burrito, chicken fried steak, ham steak, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, French toast, hotcakes, Swedish pancakes. What I’m saying is: You won’t be wanting for options.

Arlis’s Restaurant

1525 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham
360-647-1788

When I first moved to Bellingham 20 years ago, a friend regularly invited me to breakfast at Arlis’s Restaurant. It instantly reminded me of my Midwestern home: solid diner food in simple, bustling surroundings. They’re still serving up breakfast—all day long—complete with great service and reasonable prices.

Over Easy

Over Easy is a sister restaurant to the original, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, which gained fame after appearing on Guy Fieri’s popular television show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

2430 James St, Bellingham, WA 98225
360-656-6586

Fresh Cocktails Inspired by Bellingham

By

Sara Holodnick

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bellingham bar — The Pink Beard is a lightly sweet, lavender kissed cocktail.

By Sara Holodnick

I moved to Bellingham 10 years ago, but I still remember the curvy ascent I made driving northbound on I-5, winding past Lake Samish, sun breaking through the low clouds and glinting through trees. I had never seen so many shades of green in one place before. I rolled down the windows and filled my lungs with the scent of moss and rain-soaked fir needles. Once settled-in, I quickly became enamored with the history of this place, and found myself trying to put my finger on what makes it so special.

I’ve always had a thing for stories, and I love when people use food and drink to convey the history and essence of a place. I wanted to see what a handful of bartenders from a few of my favorite downtown watering holes could come up with when I asked them to develop a drink inspired by Bellingham. The results? Delicious.

I didn’t give these three bartenders any guidance outside of developing a drink that was inspired by this place. The resulting cocktails are each incredibly unique, but they also draw upon many of the same flavors and inspirations. Coincidentally, gin is a base liquor in each of the cocktails, and all three bartenders were inspired by the physical elements of what makes Bellingham special. There’s something dream-like about this little city sandwiched between a bay and a mountain, and I think that comes through clearly in each of these cocktails.

The Rainfly

By Will Canepa

Temple Bar – 306 W. Champion Street

I sat down with one of Temple Bar’s many talented bartenders, Will Canepa, to discuss his drink.

“I decided to draw inspiration from Bellingham the Place, rather than the people of Bellingham,” Canepa explained. “So as cheesy as it sounds, I wanted to make a drink that would remind me of drinking rainwater as it falls from the trees in the forest. Not how it would really taste– like dirt and moss– but how I wish it would taste: herbal, clean, a little woody and oddly refreshing.”

To achieve this rainy nectar, Canepa combined muddled juniper berries, Seattle-made Bourbon Barreled Big Gin, Chartreuse, creme de violette, apple cider vinegar, and soda. The finished product is fresh and lightly herbal with just a touch of sweetness, and if you close your eyes you can almost imagine catching droplets of it from the tree canopy above. This drink is beautifully balanced, and worth a try even if you aren’t typically a gin drinker.

bellingham cocktail — Uisce bartender Katie McGarry poses with a Pink Beard cocktail.

Pink Beard

By Katie McGarry

Uisce – 1319 Commercial Street

Bartender Katie McGarry has lived in Bellingham for less than six months, but she already feels at home.

“The people here are just so genuine and supportive,” she explained. “There’s such a freedom to be yourself in Bellingham.”

The Pink Beard– a nod to the bearded-yet-sensitive men of Bellingham– takes its inspiration from the abundance of home-grown lavender and plentiful local raspberries. McGarry concocted a frothy combination of gin, lemon juice, egg white, and a raspberry-lavender syrup. This was strained into a glass she’d sprayed with Pernod Anise, and then topped with a splash of bubbles, and garnished with sugar-coated lavender.

The resulting cocktail was a combination of a fruity sweetness, lightened by the froth of the egg white and sparkling wine. I like cocktails that aren’t too sweet, and the Pink Beard fit the bill perfectly. Yum!

March 1st

By Dan Vee

Redlight – 1017 N. State Street

Rows of tiny bitters bottles and garnishes framed the copper bar at Redlight, a shelf of house-infused liquors displayed prominently on the wall.

“Bellingham is very grow-your-own, very DIY,” explained bartender Dan Vee. “My neighbors have a tiny little house, a glorious garden, and two chickens in the back.” These neighbors made a balsam fir hydrosol– the result of steam distilling plant material– and gifted a jar of it to Dan. He knew he wanted to make a cocktail that referenced the bursting backyards around town. “In springtime everything is coming alive, and in the neighborhoods all you can smell is garden and grass.”

He combined Bellingham-made Chuckanut Bay Distillers gin & vodka, balsam fir hydrosol, and rose simple syrup, strained into a coupe glass. He garnished the drink with a lemon twist and hibiscus petal that had been soaked in the hydrosol to push it over the top. March 1st is named after a song by The Trucks (one of Vee’s favorite Bellingham bands), and is a woodsy, floral, outdoorsy take on a traditional Vesper cocktail. It’s booze-forward, but nicely balanced and incredibly palatable. If you like tasting the alcohol in your cocktail (which I do), you’ll love this drink.

Schooner Zodiac Announces New Teen Sailing Program for Summer 2015

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Schooner Zodiac

The Schooner Zodiac, the Bellingham based tall ship, is announcing a teen focused sailing cruise throughout the San Juan Islands in the summer of 2015. The Youth Sailing Adventure is a 3-day 2-night cruise that will take place from July 6 to July 8 and depart from ship’s dock at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

The cruise is open to all teens in grades 7 – 12 and includes three days of exploring the San Juan Islands aboard a historic tall ship. While aboard, the young mariners will be put into sailing stations and a watch rotation where they will undergo sail and navigation training as well as learn to work as a team. Throughout the cruise the ship’s education coordinator will have a series of activities planned including, guided hikes ashore, knot tying classes, nautical film screenings and operation of the ship’s Remote Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV). The price for the cruise is $425 per passenger and includes all meals cooked fresh from the galley by a professional chef. For more information please visit www.schoonerzodiac.com and reservations can be made by calling 206-719-7622.

The Zodiac is a classic, 160-foot US Coast Guard certified vessel, operated by a licensed captain and experienced team of volunteer crew members. She departs her Bellingham homeport for a variety of public and private charters, as well as day and evening sails from spring through fall, exploring the pristine anchorages of the San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands. Zodiac also is an ideal setting for company events, wedding receptions and gatherings of family and friends.

Sustainable Connections Plant Sale Raises Funds to Support Farmer Education

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Sustainable Connections

Photo courtesy of Sustainable Connections.

It’s that time of year — readying garden beds, planting seeds and starts. Sustainable Connections announces the ever popular Cascade Cuts Plant Sale is back again this year. On May 16, the wholesale nursery opens its doors to the public just one day every year — as a fundraiser for Sustainable Connections’ Food and Farming Program.

Familiar and unique plants galore, the plant sale is a fun-filled event — shoppers can peruse organic vegetable & herb starts, talk with local plant experts, consult master gardeners, and contribute to a great cause.

“I look forward to this sale every year. It’s so much fun to search the greenhouses for unique flowers and herbs and the hanging baskets are beautiful,” says Erin McCain-Anderson, events coordinator with Sustainable Connections. “The volunteers and staff are so helpful and everyone has such a great time.”

The beautiful array of hanging baskets are a big draw for many shoppers, in addition to the greenhouses full of ornamental plants, vegetable and herbs starts and more; many regular shoppers wait for this sale to buy most of their plants for the season.

Flower-lovers will find the walkways and greenhouses at Cascade Cuts packed with annuals and perennials familiar and unusual, in every size, color, and shape. Tucked in the greenhouse corners are intriguing oddities for viewing pleasure, including coffee trees, hops and compost tea machines.

Plant sale shoppers will support local farms when they buy plants – the Cascade Cuts Plant Sale is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Sustainable Connections’ Food & Farming Program. This fundraiser supports the projects that connect people to local farms and Whatcom agriculture, such as the Whatcom Food & Farm Finder, the annual Whatcom County Farm Tour, and events that celebrate local farms and food.

What: Cascade Cuts Plant Sale and Fundraiser for Sustainable Connections Food and Farming Program
When: Saturday, May 16, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: 632 Montgomery Road, Bellingham (King Mountain neighborhood)
More information: Visit www.sustainableconnections.org or call 360-647-7093

Cassandra Spitzer Named Waddell & Reed Pacesetter

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Waddell & Reed

Cassandra Spitzer, MBA, financial advisors, has been named a Waddell & Reed Pacesetter in recognition of establishing a strong client base within her first year with the company. Serving individuals and families throughout the Bellingham area, Cassandra earns a distinction that carries significant meaning as the Pacesetter Award represents a commitment to exceptional customer service.

“Building high-quality relationships throughout the community is a very high priority for me, so being named a Waddell & Reed Pacesetter is an honor that means a great deal,” said Cassandra.

The objective of the Pacesetter Award is to aid new advisors in securing a solid client base within their first 36 months. The honor also comes with an invitation to attend the Waddell & Reed Circle of Champions meeting, recognizing the company’s top financial advisors.

Cassandra has been a professional in the financial services industry for three years, counseling clients in Bellingham area on their financial goals and helping them pursue financial success.

Founded in 1937, Waddell & Reed today has grown to more than 160 registered offices nationwide. The company offers a wide array of investment products and services, as well as a variety of insurance products through arrangements with outside insurance companies. For more information about Waddell & Reed and its financial planning services, contact Cassandra Spitzer at 360-714-3376.

Ragfinery Upcycle Challenge: Watch the Red Carpet Show-off on Friday, May 1

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Ragfinery

For the last two months, the 30 teams and individuals that took on Ragfinery’s Upcycle Challenge – Transform a Wedding Dress have been transforming discarded wedding dresses into whatever they can dream up. On Friday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m., participants will wear, roll, or drag their upcycled creations down the red carpet for all to see while judges and audience members vote on their favorites.

“Participants have been putting a lot of work into these creations and I’m guessing there are going to be some really amazing items brought down that red carpet,” said Shan Sparling, Manager at Ragfinery.

Participants will be judged on concept, artistic creativity, and craftsmanship, and will vie for cash and gift prizes from numerous local sponsors. This is certain to be an entertaining and fun evening with music, refreshments, and lots of amazing creations and red carpet excitement. Don’t miss this opportunity to rub shoulders with local creative celebrities and see who will be next to join their ranks!

“This is definitely going to be a fun event,” said Sparling. “And one of the great things about it is that it’s helping to spread the idea of reuse which is what Ragfinery is all about!”

The event is free to attend and will take place at Ragfinery in downtown Bellingham. (1421 N. Forest Street, Bellingham). Additional details can be found at Ragfinery.com.

The aim of Ragfinery’s Upcycle Challenge events is to support local fiber artists and share examples of the endless potential for creative reuse. Ragfinery is a Bellingham nonprofit organization that diverts unwanted textiles from the waste stream and upcycles them in a training business that provides transitional jobs for low income clients of our partner social service agencies and schools. Ragfinery collaborates with local artisans and community volunteers to repurpose unwanted garments and textiles into a variety of upcycled goods that showcase the skills and talent of our collective.

Mayor Announces 36th Annual Arts Award Recipients

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by City of Bellingham

Mayor Kelli Linville has announced the recipients of the 36th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. A reception and awards ceremony honoring the awardees is scheduled for April 29, 2015.

This year the Mayor is honoring a broad range of artists, advocates, organizations and performances, which have significantly contributed to the arts in our community. Award winners were chosen based on nominations submitted by community members.

Mayor’s Arts Awards will be presented to the following recipients:

Brian Griffin
• Ivan Owen
• Bellingham Human Rights Festival
• iDiOM Theater for “These Seven Sicknesses”
• Todd Warger/Brian Young for “The Mountain Runners”
• Shelley and Robert Muzzy
• Entertainment News Northwest
• Sibyl Sanford
• Jeni Cottrell
• Karen Berry

Members of the public are invited to attend the reception and awards ceremony, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 at the Mount Baker Theatre in the Walton Theatre located at 104 N. Commercial Street in downtown Bellingham.

Rocket Donuts Soar Above the Rest

By

Lorraine Wilde

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rocket donuts — Handmade fresh daily, the classic glazed raised are a favorite at Rocket Donuts.

By Lorraine Wilde

My first job as a 16-year-old was as a doughnut hop. I poured coffee, hand-pumped the jelly into bismarcks, and dipped frosted doughnuts into the tub of multi-colored sprinkles. Each time I step into Rocket Donuts, I am instantly transported back to those bygone days. By combining eclectic 1950’s science fiction (sci-fi) movie memorabilia and décor, fresh, handmade doughnuts, and locally-sourced coffee and ice cream at two convenient locations, Rocket Donuts offers an other-worldly treat for every age.

When entrepreneur and philanthropist, Jim Swift, first moved to Bellingham in 2005, he couldn’t find the succulent doughnuts he savored from his Los Angeles childhood. Having already owned a restaurant, an ice cream franchise with 40 stores, and a number of other successful food-related businesses, it wasn’t long before Swift brought the doughnuts of his childhood to Bellingham. He opened the Holly Street Rocket Donuts in 2006. A marketing specialist by experience, Swift chose another of his childhood loves, sci-fi B movies, as the theme for his beloved doughnut shop. The 25-foot glistening silver rocket ship that conspicuously marks the Holly Street location has since become a downtown Bellingham icon. The café is adorned with movie posters from classics such as 1953’s Phantom from Space and 1956’s Forbidden Planet and is watched over by the imposing figure, Gort, a 9-foot silver, animatronic robot replica from the 1951 movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still.

That nostalgic feel is echoed in the impeccable taste of the doughnuts. “Jim Swift has extremely high standards for the doughnuts themselves,” explains Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mary Goit. “They have to be perfect, just like the ones from his childhood. We use many local ingredients and Jim doesn’t sell day-olds.” In fact, they are donated to the Bellingham Food Bank.

The atmosphere and quality product made Rocket an instant hit in Bellingham. A second location opened in summer 2013 at 11th and Harris in Fairhaven. With its own 25-foot rocket, Goda, from the movie Alien Trespass, this time suspended from the ceiling, the Fairhaven location also streams 50’s doo-wop and black and white movies on several screens and boasts an impressive movie ray gun collection.

Like the doughnut shops of my day, Rocket has its regulars. “The buttermilk bar is our number one seller, but our regulars come in the early morning with their newspaper and order their coffee and plain cake, old-fashioned, or raised glazed,” describes Goit. “Our appeal spans the generations.” Without fail, a Rocket stop is usually the first weekend request from my tweens. We’ve often had a tough time choosing among the many traditional favorites that fill the gleaming glass display case.

Rocket’s Donut of the Month is a creative highlight. The popular Seahawk-inspired delights of football season have given way to March’s double chocolate doughnut with peanut butter frosting and April’s Oreo Cream doughnut. The bacon-covered maple bar is a Rocket mainstay. “Who doesn’t love bacon?” laughs Goit.

As if fantastic doughnuts weren’t enough, Rocket also offers Acme Ice Cream and Moka Joe Coffee at both locations. Swift owns Acme Ice Cream along with several beloved Whatcom County businesses including Fat Pie Pizza and Acme Diner. “Acme uses fresh, hormone-free, Whatcom County cow’s milk to make ‘no air’ ice cream,” notes Goit. “We don’t whip air into it like the store brands, so our pint is denser, and much richer and creamier.” Not everything at Rocket is retro. Anacortes-based Moka Joe Coffee is organic, fair trade, sustainably grown, and so much better than the coffee we drank way back when. They also offer customers free Wi-Fi.

Based on Swift’s love of the Saturday matinee, Rocket also sponsors a rare treat: sci-fi matinees on the big screen at the Pickford Film Center.

Rocket has been a highlight for my family since it first opened. “Everyone who likes to have fun and enjoys quality food loves Rocket,” beams Goit. “We’ve got them covered with doughnuts, coffee, and ice cream all day long.”

Two Rocket Donuts Locations:

306 West Holly Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

360-671-6111

Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday from 7:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

1021 Harris Avenue

Bellingham, WA 98225

360-366-8135

Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m.—8:00 p.m.

Sunday 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

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