In celebration of National Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 24, lovers of poetry all across America will carry a favorite poem in their pocket to share with co-workers, classmates, friends and family throughout the day. In Bellingham, local poets, aspiring poets and poetry lovers of all ages are invited to gather at Barnes & Noble, 4099 Meridian Street, at 7:00 that evening to share their pocket poem’s journey and perform it in a public forum. The poems may be original work or the work of a favorite poet, and prizes will be awarded for Best Poem Performance and Best Original Poem in children’s, teen and adult categories. Local children’s book author and poetry lover Barbara Jean Hicks will host the event.
As someone who has been known to “burst into poetry” without warning, Hicks was pleased several years ago to discover a national celebration dedicated to just that. Poem in Your Pocket Day was the brainchild of the Academy of American Poets, she says, and has been celebrated in New York City every April since 2002 and nationwide since 2008. Describing herself as a “closet poet,” Hicks committed on her birthday in July 2013 to write a poem every day for a year. “They aren’t anything I’d show to anyone in their present state,” she says, “but at the end of a year I figure I’ll have enough raw material to complete a polished poem or two. In the meantime, the practice gives me great pleasure.”
Hicks is the Ferndale-based author of both adult fiction and children’s picture books, including two books in the Disney Frozen Series, A Sister More Like Me (Disney Press, 2013)and An Amazing Snowman (Disney Press, 2014).She has not, to date, published any of her poetry—although, she says, “Picture books have many similarities to poetry. They are a similarly compact expression of an idea or emotion and use the language of poetry.”
The event is open to the public. For more information, contact Cate McCarthy or Stefanie Winger at Barnes & Noble, (360) 647-7018 or crm2682@bn.com, or contact Hicks at 206-465-1168 or bhicksgvv@att.net.
About the Author: Acclaimed children’s book author, speaker and educator Barbara Jean Hicks recently moved from Port Hueneme, California back to Ferndale, Washington, where she grew up. Her picture books include the award winning Jitterbug Jam: A Monster Tale, The Secret Life of Walter Kitty and Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli. She has taught at the preschool, middle school, high school and community college levels, worked as an online educator, and served in an elementary school as author-in-residence, program facilitator and parent educator. She is also the author of 13 romance novels and novellas and has written marketing copy and edited manuscripts for numerous trade publishers. Currently, in addition to writing, she makes presentations in elementary schools up and down the West Coast as a visiting author.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County members prepare invitations for this year’s fundraiser.
This year marks the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County’s 35th annual KidsFest Auction, which will be held Friday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bellingham Boys & Girls Club.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County is simple: to serve the kids who need the Clubs most, enabling them to become productive, caring, responsible citizens.
But making that happen is an immense undertaking – and one that relies heavily on support from the community.
“We’re growing future teachers, city workers, military, hospice workers,” says Jill Reid, Bellingham Branch Director. “We’re teaching the kids about compassion and giving back to the community.”
This is done through effective after-school programs focused on youth development, as well as youth athletic programs.
Any child living in Whatcom County can become a Boys & Girls Club member for just $30 a year. Membership entitles youth to after-school programs that include a healthy prepared meal and a plethora of enriching activities – from education to art, computers to games – that keep them engaged, entertained, and on the path to continuing to make the right choices.
“On average, we serve about 400 kids a day through our after-school program and through our athletics,” says Reid. Whatcom County Clubs serve 3,500 children every year.
The Clubs rely heavily on volunteers to help coach athletic teams, but also to help run science activities and small-group curriculum in after-school programs.
Ninety-five percent of all funds raised by the Clubs are through private donations.
And the dollars necessary to help fund the facilities, programming, meals, and so much more is nearly all provided by the community.
“We’re not at all subsidized by the government,” Reid explains. “We have some city grants, but 95 percent of our funding comes from local businesses and local donors.”
Our local businesses and community members have long been supportive of and generous with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County.
“But because we’re serving more kids now than ever, the need is always greater than ever,” says Reid. Additionally, the Clubs are always looking to do even better, which means looking at greater opportunities and strengthening programs and infrastructure – and with that comes higher expenses.
Studies show that kids who go to a Boys & Girls Club versus those who don’t get involved with an after-school program are really giving back. Boys & Girls Club supporters know their investment today will pay off in wonderful ways throughout their community in the future.
The upcoming KidsFest auction is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County’s biggest fundraising event of the year and always looked forward to by attendees.
This year’s event will begin when guests walk through the doors of the Bellingham Boys & Girls Club branch, where they’ll be given the new (speedy) option to express pay, and then handed chilled champagne and delectable appetizers. Club kids will be there to greet them.
Hilltop Restaurant & Catering will serve a tantalizing menu featuring chicken Jerusalem and flank steak with gluten-free and vegetarian sides, followed by the auction itself, let by Brady Hammerich from Stokes Auctions.
Donors choose to give to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County because of their commitment to youth.
An array of fantastic silent and live auction items will be up for bid – from smaller items, such as manicures and pedicures, to larger packages such as timeshare opportunities and fishing trips on Bellingham Bay.
Reid says that many of this year’s donated items are focused on locavore opportunities and packages.
“Our community is so gracious,” says Reid. “Small businesses around here really do pull it off for us because of their investment in our kids.”
One of this year’s KidsFest auction items is a local hike for eight, hosted by Dave Mauro, hiker, financial planner and improv actor who has scaled each of the Seven Summits.
Mauro raised more than $30,000 for our Boys & Girls Clubs last year during his “Climbing for Kids” campaign, after climbing Mount Everest.
“He’ll spin tales of his hikes far and wide,” says Reid. “He’s just amazing and so generous.” Mauro also helps raise money for the Phoenix Boys & Girls Club.
As it has done for more than 15 years, Key Bank is the KidsFest Title Sponsor.
“Community is key for Key Bank, who really invests in the Boys & Girls Club,” says Reid. “Their people are on our advisory committee, on our boards; they have the boots on the ground to make sure they’re putting their money where their mouth is.”
Donors enjoy a delicious dinner and entertaining auction supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County.
Tickets are now available for an exciting new event put on by the Bellingham Sunrise Rotary Club, featuring tasty spirits and fine cigars.
“Sips and Cigars” is set for Saturday, May 31, at Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa. The evening begins at 6 p.m. and will offer premium cigars, spirits and beers, along with appetizers and door prizes.
Tickets are $60 and are now on sale at SilverReefCasino.com. Each ticket includes four premium cigars, six spirit samples, two beer samples, appetizers and a door prize entry. You’ll also be able to buy additional punch cards for more tastings and cigars.
Included in the cigar samples will by My Father Cigars, Rocky Patel, CAO, Psyco and Project 805. Spirits will include Mount Baker Distillery, Balvenie Single Malts, Monkey Shoulder Bourbon, Talmore Dew, Hendricks Gin, Woodinville Whiskey, Casa Noble Tequila and Crystal Head Vodka. Beers will come from Cigar City Brewing/Widmer Brothers Brewing, Boundary Bay Brewery and Kulshan Brewing.
Proceeds of the event will benefit the many charities that Sunrise Rotary supports each year.
Make plans now to attend this inaugural event, 6-10 p.m. at the Event Center at Silver Reef, just off I-5 at the Slater Road exit.
Sponsors include Mancave Ministries, the new Cigar Lounge at Silver Reef, Wilson Motors Mercedes-Benz and KISM radio.
For more information, contact Randi Axelsson, Hotel Sales Manager at Silver Reef, at 360-543-7142.
For some folks, renewing their Discovery Pass is as natural as booking their annual physical exam; they simply add it to their car tab bill and call it good. But for many Whatcom County residents and visitors, stopping at any of our state parks requires either a $10 day pass or the $30 yearly Discover Pass.
June 7 and 8: In honor of National Trails Day and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Free Fishing Weekend
June 14: National Get Outdoors Day
Aug. 25: In honor of National Park Service’s birthday
Sept. 27: National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day weekend
Note: A Discover Pass is still required on these days to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
If you’ve never been – or it’s been too long – take this opportunity to explore any of our area’s three amazing state parks, without a fee. Rain or shine, there’s discovering to do and nature to take in.
Birch Bay State Park
Birch Bay State Park near Blaine offers all the makings of a get-your-feet-wet wonderland mixed with hiking opportunities, bird watching, and much more.
A 194-acre camping park, Birch Bay also offers a mile-and-a-half of saltwater shoreline to explore – great for hard shell clamming – and the half-mile Terrell Marsh Loop, one of the few remaining saltwater/freshwater estuaries in the area.
The park also includes a natural game sanctuary.
Birch Bay State Park
5105 Helweg Road
Blaine, WA 98230
Summer hours: 6:30am to dusk
Winter hours: 8am to dusk
Larrabee State Park
Located just six miles south of Bellingham off Chuckanut Drive, Larrabee State Park was Washington’s first state park, created in 1923 after the Larrabee family donated 20 acres of land to the state for a new park.
With 2,683 acres for camping and 8,100-feet of saltwater Samish Bay shoreline to explore, Larrabee State Park features two freshwater lakes, a variety of coves, and tidelands. Views of the San Juan Islands are spectacular and the sunsets the stuff of (photographic) legend.
There are 13 miles of biking trails and 15 miles of hiking trails, all surrounded by breathtaking Pacific Northwest beauty.
Larrabee State Park
245 Chuckanut Drive
Bellingham, WA 98229
Summer hours: 6:30am to dusk
Winter hours: 8am to dusk
Peace Arch State Park
If you’ve only ever driven through Peace Arch State Park on your way across the Canadian border in Blaine, stop next time and take a good look around.
The Peace Arch itself – the stately white monument straddling the international boundary of the United States and Canada – is only one part of this unique 20-acre park, which is jointly maintained by the two countries.
With lush lawns and panoramic views of Point Roberts and Vancouver Island, Peace Arch State Park is poised perfectly for bird watching, as well as flower-gazing, as acres of annuals are planted each spring, creating colorful bursts of foliage year-round.
The Best Western PLUS Lakeway Inn & Conference Center, Bellingham’s leading venue for dining, entertainment and business events, is beginning a multimillion-dollar series of renovation projects, starting this spring with The Oboe Café and lobby.
The renovation projects will emphasize Northwest colors and textures, according to Larry MacDonald, the Lakeway Inn’s General Manager. The lobby is gaining a fireplace and various gathering areas for group or small parties.
“We want to create an environment that is representative of our geographic and regional community,” MacDonald said. “The first impression for local residents and out-of-town guests should be that the Lakeway Inn is a warm and inviting location.”
The renovated restaurant and lobby also will meet modern technology needs. A series of communal tables will have access ports for charging laptops and cell phones and the property is going through a complete wireless upgrade that brings fiber optics to the property, not only in the lobby but meeting space and guest rooms.
MacDonald said the Lakeway Inn is starting a three-phase renovation project from approximately May 1 through July 15 with the lobby and The Oboe Café, a three-meal restaurant, then will work on the guest rooms and meeting spaces.
The Best Western PLUS Lakeway Inn & Conference Center, managed by Providence Hospitality Partners, is located at 714 Lakeway Drive, just off Interstate 5 at Exit 253. The Lakeway Inn is totally smoke-free throughout its 132 guest rooms, two restaurants (Poppe’s 360 and The Oboe Café), indoor pool, fitness area and 11,000 square feet of meeting-room space. For more information, call (360) 671-1011 or (888) 671-1011 or visit www.thelakewayinn.com.
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is in full swing! Having kicked off April 1st, the 31st annual celebration runs through the end of the month. Make the short drive south and take in the blooming rainbows of tulips blanketing the Skagit Valley fields.
Gene McConnell created beautiful wood doors, returning the entrance to its original look.
Stacks of newspapers await Matt Christman’s pick-up at Fire Station No. 2.
When Matt Christman was a kid in the 1970s, he picked up paper route newspapers on the porch of Fairhaven’s old Fire Station No. 2.
In 2002, he bought the building.
And in the ensuing two years, he completely re-imagined, renovated, and reinvigorated the 3,500-square-foot building – built in 1927 by noted Bellingham architect F. Stanley Piper, who also designed the Bellingham Herald Building among many others – into the lovely, intimate Firehouse Performing Arts Center.
The Firehouse PAC is now many things: performance space, classroom, community meeting space, theater, art gallery, coffee shop and café, home to a physical and massage therapist, and a neighborhood park.
But its original purpose was a fire station; a job it held ably from 1927 until 2001.
The History of Fire Station No. 2
Located at 1314 Harris Avenue, a stone’s throw from the heart of the Fairhaven District, Fire Station No. 2 was designed to accommodate the latest fire-fighting technology of the day: a vehicle with an internal-combustion engine.
No more horses meant Fire Station No. 2 could be built in a vastly different architectural style than earlier fire stations: “bungalow-style,” smaller and more residential, to blend in with the neighborhood.
This was a departure from the two-story “storefront” station design, such as Fire Station No. 1, located on Prospect Street downtown at what is now the Whatcom Museum’s Syre Education Center. Construction of Fire Station No. 2 cost $15,000.
Fire Station No. 2 circa 1927
The tower of the original building was open from the basement all the way to the top. Hoses were hung there to dry after each use and a metal basement door left open to allow warm air from the boiler up into the tower chamber to facilitate drying.
The structure held dormitories for a six-man crew as well as an apparatus room, which housed a 1913 Seagrave combination engine/pumper; according to city records, an antiquated steamer was kept in reserve for extreme emergencies. The gas-powered engine/pumper replaced a three-horse hitch chemical wagon, which had been purchased by the city in 1904.
The stucco exterior Spanish Mission revival style was popular in residential architecture during the 1920s, and Piper put it to good use in the design of Fire Station No. 2. His original plans called for a tile roof, but budget constraints resulted in composition shingles.
The two bay openings through which the trucks left the fire station held doors that swung open and were only slightly larger than average garage doors. In the 1950s they were combined into one door within a larger span to accommodate larger trucks.
Otherwise, not much changed in Old Station No. 2 over the years – until Matt Christman took on the charming historical structure and gave it quite the facelift.
A Dramatic Renovation
Fire Station No. 2 circa 2001
“I was dancing with a modern dance collective here in town, Dance Gallery, and the group needed a new space,” Matt Christman remembers of the time, in 2002, right before he became the building’s new owner. “I tend to be kind of a dreamer and I thought it would be really cool to find an old building and turn it into an art center.”
He envisioned groups of artists without dedicated rehearsal or performance spots coming together to share the rental space – and ultimately cross-pollinate with each other.
When Christman learned that the city was selling Fire Station No. 2, he grabbed his wife-to-be, Alona, and the couple went and peeked through the windows.
Ideas began to bubble up immediately.
Christman talked to his father, who agreed to underwrite the cost of buying it and converting it into a performing arts center – so long as Christman could garner enough interest from arts groups who would agree to rent the space.
Eleven different groups put forth proposals to the city, and Christman’s was ultimately chosen.
“It was in rough shape,” Christman says of the building when he got his hands on it. “It took quite a bit to get it to kind of straighten its tie.”
Gene McConnell created beautiful wood doors, returning the entrance to its original look.
Because the building was a local historical landmark, Christman and his team had to go through a detailed review to make sure their plans wouldn’t be detrimental to any historical elements remaining in the structure.
“The creativity level went way up so we could preserve the elements that were of particular note,” says Christman, “yet still accommodate the new use and what it would require as far as the renovation of the space.”
Gene McConnell of McConnell Construction – “just a phenomenal woodworker,” Christman raves – was commissioned to re-build the original truss bay doors.
“When we bought it, it had a big roll-up door for the trucks to get in and out,” Christman explains, “but originally it had these two beautiful wooden doors that opened for the trucks.”
McConnell recreated them. “They’re triple-paned glass and essentially the same design as the original doors,” Christman says. “Gene did a beautiful job; they’re just stunning.”
Behind those new doors, where the trucks once lived, became a stunning performance space, designed by Christman and Zervas Group. The entry was transformed into a comfortable coffeehouse and café, complete with original wood-burning fireplace.
A park now occupies the previous parking area.
The hose-drying tower that had always been open from its very top all the way down to the basement was framed in on the first floor and became functional space, with a shower and storage for supplies.
“The top is still open so you can actually see where they used to haul the hoses up into the top of the tower,” he says.
Through a stroke of luck – and knowing the right person and the right time – Christman was able to make an important change to the building’s roof.
“I was running a Scout troop at the time and one of the dads was an architect who happened to be re-doing the roof of Miller Hall up at Western,” Christman says. “We salvaged the tile and finally put on the tile roof that the building was originally designed to have.”
Christman also wanted to improve the outdoor space directly behind the fire station.
A parking lot took up over half the area, but Christman worked out a mutually beneficial deal with the city that saw a waiver for on-site parking requirements, allowing the creation of a little pocket park.
“We tore up the asphalt and reseeded it,” says Christman, “and one of the firemen from Fire Station No. 2 made a couple of beautiful benches for back there.”
A firefighter built benches for the park.
Another former Fire Station No. 2 firefighter, Roger Iverson, planted an American Sycamore tree in the back yard in the early 1980s that has grown into a lovely landscape centerpiece. It’s now a pleasant spot enjoyed by neighborhood folks or anyone walking by.
The Future of Fire Station No. 2
Christman has thoroughly enjoyed the transformation he helped set in motion and has been pleased to see his dream become a successful reality. But a decade on, he’s now seeking a buyer for the Firehouse PAC.
“I’m excited about the possibility of handing the torch off to another group,” he says. “I can finally get the family paid back and hopefully see it continue on as a performing arts center.”
Having lived in the neighborhood his whole life, Christman has his own long history with the building. From his childhood paperboy days on its porch – “I remember being afraid the firemen would come bursting out on a call,” he says with a smile – to a decade of running it as a successful performing arts center embraced by its community.
The Firehouse PAC is currently for sale. Photo credit: Doug Scott
“It’s neat,” he says. “It was originally meant to serve the community as a fire station, and now it’s still serving the community – just in its new duds, so to speak.”
Easter egg hunts abound in Whatcom County during this special time of year. Grab a basket and whisk your little ones off to any of these area events for some wholesome family fun – with perhaps a dash of good-natured competition thrown in.
April 13
Egg-cellent Egg Hunt & Hop – 4pm to 6pm at Perch & Play, 1707 North State Street in Bellingham. Perch & Play, along with nearly two dozen fantastic local sponsors, throws a fun-filled Easter celebration, which includes egg hunting, dancing, raffles, sweet treats, and a visit from the Big Bunny himself. A portion of the proceeds goes to Brigid Collins. Cost: $15 per person.
April 15
Easter Scavenger Hunt – 11am to 5pm at Fairhaven Toy Garden, 1147 11th Street in Fairhaven. Hit Fairhaven Toy Garden and grab a clue sheet, then make your way to the right stores to get egg stamps. Completed sheets mean a prize for the little ones as well as entrance in a raffle for a basket of products from participating businesses – many of which will hand out treats and prizes along the way.
April 18
Easter Photo with the BWI Bunnies – 3pm to 5pm at Bob Wallin Insurance, 1844 Iron Street in Bellingham. They had so much fun last year that they’re doing it again. Children are invited to stop by Bob Wallin Insurance for treats and a chance to pose for photos with the “BWI Bunnies” – a family of adorable stuffed bunnies.
April 19
Lettered Streets Easter Egg Hunt – 10am at Fouts Park, Ellsworth Street and H Street in Bellingham. Sponsored by the Lettered Streets Covenant Church, the Lettered Streets Easter Egg Hunt is an annual tradition that includes a free Easter egg hunt for kids 10 and under, plus crafts, snacks, and door prizes from Neighborhood Businesses for Parents
3rd Annual Kids Easter Fair – 10am to 12pm at St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway in Bellingham. Looking for an indoor hunt? Here’s one option. Sponsored by the PeaceHealth and Friends Relay for Life Team as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the Kids Easter Fair also offers pictures with the Easter Bunny, games, prizes, a coloring contest, treats and more. Suggested donation of $5 per child
Bellewood Acres Easter Bunny & Egg Hunt – 10am to 4pm at BelleWood Acres out on the Guide in Bellingham. On top of meeting the Easter bunny and hunting for eggs (ages 1-10), children can ride the apple bin train express, get a goody bag of games and candy, enjoy Dina’s super sugar cookies, and have their faces painted. Free for adults, $8 for kids.
15th Annual Mt. Baker Golden Egg Hunt – Various starting times for different events at the Mt. Baker Ski Area, beginning at 9am. With events for both adults and children, the 15th annual Golden Egg Hunt is fun for all. Four thousand eggs containing $10,000 in prizes are hidden on the slopes, just waiting to be found. Grand Prize for the adult hunt is a 2014-2015 Mt. Baker Season Pass. Four separate kids events, broken down by age groups, offer thousands of plastic eggs containing jelly beans, coins and other prizes – plus a special t-shirt for each participant.
Bellingham Health Care Annual Easter Egg Hunt – 11am at Avamere Bellingham Health Care and Rehabilitation Services, 1200 Birchwood Avenue in Bellingham. Three different areas to search, depending on age, with prize eggs and face painting, as well. The Easter Bunny will visit and pose for photographs. Proceeds from a hot dog stand go to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Elks Lodge Easter Egg Hunt – 2pm to 4pm at Bellingham Elks Lodge #194, 710 Samish Way in Bellingham. This free community Easter Egg Hunt is for children ages 0-11 years old. Rain or shine, they can search for colored hard-boiled eggs, as well as prize-filled plastic eggs. The Easter Bunny and a photographer will be available for photos.
Louisa Place Easter Egg Hunt – 10am to 11:30am at Louisa Place Assisted Living, 2240 Main Street in Ferndale. Easter Egg Hunt for kids 1 to 10 years old – look for golden eggs to earn special prizes – as well as cupcake decorating, coloring pages, and a chance to spend time with Louisa Place residents. An adult must accompany all children.
The Great Community Easter Egg Hunt – 10am at the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club, 2015 Cherry Street in Ferndale. Hosted by the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club and Industrial Credit Union, the free annual event takes place at Pioneer Field, next to the Boys & Girls Club. Children 1 to 12 years old are invited to search for over 5,000 eggs.
Community Easter Egg Drop – 3pm to 5pm at City Bible Church North Sound, 1986 Main Street in Lynden. Fun for all ages with face painting, balloons, great giveaways, super slide, bouncy house, music, food – and a helicopter dropping 20,000 Easter eggs! Broken down into four age groups. Please pre-register for this free event.
Jump Around Fun Zone – 10am to 7pm at Jump Around Fun Zone, 4600 Meridian Street in Bellingham. Each child gets a checklist at the front desk when they arrive, and as they enjoy the usual Jump Around fun, they search for all items. Turn in your completed card for a prize.
Egg Hunt in the Pool – 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, 1114 Potter Street in Bellingham. Suit up the kids and let them search for hidden eggs underwater! Children six years and under require an adult to accompany them in the pool. Regular admission cost covers this fun event, complete with water games and much more.
Kid’s Easter Fair – 10am to 12pm at St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway in Bellingham. The third annual Kid’s Easter Fair features an indoor Easter egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, games, prizes, treats, a coloring contest, and more.
North County Christ the King Community Church Easter Extravaganza – 10am and 12pm at North County Christ the King Community Church, 1835 Liberty Street in Lynden. Come see a performance and hunt for over 7,000 candy-stuffed Easter eggs.
April 20
Boundary Bay Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt – 10am to 12pm at Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Avenue in Bellingham. Enjoy brunch and an Easter egg hunt in Boundary Bay’s beer garden. Available to brunch participants only, call 360.647.5593 to make a reservation. Cost: $21 per person, $12 kids 6-12 years old, $17 seniors, and free for kids 5 years and under.
Do you have an Easter Egg Hunt to add to our list? Drop us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com with the details on your event.
It’s rumored that Bellingham has more drive-through espresso stands per capita than any other U.S. city. I don’t doubt it. This is the Pacific Northwest, after all, which is synonymous with coffee to many of those who have never been here.
Spend even a little time driving around Bellingham with an eye out for options to buy coffee from your car and you see that they’re everywhere.
But what about those of us who love a good old-fashioned coffee shop? For lots of folks it’s a mobile office. For many it’s a place to sit and flip through the pages of a book (or a reader screen) while taking breaks to chat with other patrons.
Sometimes a drive-through isn’t what we need; we want to connect with other folks also looking for caffeine and a little company.
Luckily Bellingham has coffee shops in spades, too. Try any of these options for your next java jolt.
The Black Drop has been a vibrant downtown institution for a dozen years. Mix a little punk with a lot of friendly, and then top it off with owners and employees who really know their stuff when it comes to all things coffee. An employee cooperative since 2009, the Black Drop’s original owners went on to create Maniac Coffee Roasting, whose beans the Black Drop proudly serves.
300 West Champion
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.738.3767
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 7am to 7pm
Saturday: 8am to 5pm
Sunday: 9am to 3pm
The Lettered Streets Coffeehouse resides in a charming 1890 building that has been home to a myriad of businesses over its long history. When a coffee shop that was created there in 2002 closed its doors five years later, two of its baristas – Anna Dean and Kjirstin Haugland – took over, and have more than ably carried on the coffee goodness.
1001 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.933.4689
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 6:45am to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8am to 5pm
Like so many of Bellingham’s delightful coffee spots, Caffe Adagio is a family-owned, independent coffeehouse. More often than not when I ask folks where they’d like to get together downtown for work-related meetings, they suggest Caffe Adagio, which is large but generally quiet, with a fireplace to warm you on colder days and tons of tables for working upon or gabbing over.
1435 Railroad Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.671.1198
Avellino is in the heart of downtown Bellingham, just steps away from the Bagelry. This friendly place just somehow feels like Bellingham inside its cozy walls. Less spread-out-and-study and more sit-and-work-on-your laptop or simply-sink-into-an-overstuffed-chair, Avellino also stocks undeniably awesome baked goods, including many gluten-free options.
1329 Railroad Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.715.1005
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 6am to 7pm
Saturday & Sunday: 7am to 7pm
Back before Fairhaven had many condos, I was lucky enough to live in a place just around the corner from Tony’s Coffee. It had long been a famous landmark in Fairhaven’s 1888 Terminal Building, and friends who worked there in the mid-90s shared fantastic stories of the storied place. To me, it was simply a spacious, inviting space where I could order delicious Tony’s Coffee – roasted in Bellingham since 1971 – and bask in a sunny spot in its huge front windows while I happily read.
1101 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.738.4710
Since opening its first coffee shop in Lynden in 2002, The Woods has grown into a popular local chain with nine locations in Bellingham, three in Lynden, one in Blaine, and one in Ferndale. All Woods shops have a welcoming feel with Pacific Northwest-tinged décor of warm wood and stonework. The location in Boulevard Park is perfect for wowing out-of-town visitors with a hot cup of Joe coupled with unparalleled Bellingham Bay views.
Bender Plaza
8874 Bender Road in Lynden
360.354.0900
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 8pm
Saturday: 6am to 8pm
Sunday: 6am to 7pm
Marketplace at Safeway
8071 Guide Meridian in Lynden
360.354.9925
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 6am to 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6:30am to 8pm
Fairway Center
1758 Front Street in Lynden
360.354.2100
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 9pm
Saturday: 6am to 9pm
Sunday: 6am to 8pm
King Street
1901 King Street in Bellingham
360.738.3260
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5am to 7pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6am to 7pm
Bakerview Square
428 West Bakerview Road in Bellingham
360.738.7742
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 9pm
Saturday: 6am to 9pm
Sunday: 6am to 8pm
Boulevard Park
470 Bay View Road in Bellingham
360.738.4771
Hours:
Every day at 6:30am to 8pm
Railroad & Chestnut
1135 Railroad Avenue in Bellingham
360.306.8291
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 6am to 9:30pm
Saturday: 6:30am to 10pm
Sunday: 6:30am to 8pm
Ferndale Station
1867 Main Street in Ferndale
360.778.3128
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6am to 9pm
Birch Bay Square
8130 Birch Bay Square Street in Blaine
360.393.4761
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6am to 8pm
Flatiron
10 Prospect Street in Bellingham
360.392.8116
Hours:
Every day: 6:30am to 9pm
Meridian
102 West Stuart Road in Bellingham
360.733.9570
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6am to 8pm
Sehome Haggen
210 36th Street in Bellingham
306.922.0943
Hours:
Every day: 6am to 7pm
Lakeway
813 Lakeway Drive in Bellingham
360.325.7837
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 5:30am to 9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6am to 9pm
Barkley Village
3008 Cinema Place in Bellingham
360.933.1695
Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 5:30am to 10pm
Friday: 5:30am to 11pm
Saturday: 6am to 11pm
Sunday: 6am to 10pm
We already know why we choose (and love) to live, work, and play here in Whatcom County. But other folks across the country are also taking notice. Recent survey rankings simply underscore why living in and around Bellingham is one of the best places to be.
At WhatcomTalk, we aim to share the positive stories about people, businesses and organizations doing good things around our community. Seven days a week, we are interviewing, writing, and publishing stories that matter to you, as a member of the Bellingham and Whatcom County communities.
Livability.com recently ranked Bellingham one of its Top Ten Best Downtowns, while Business Insider named it one of the Happiest and Healthiest Cities in America. Hooray!
The Livability survey considered items such as population growth, ratio of residents to jobs, income growth, home vacancy rates, affordability of housing, and retail and office vacancy rates.
The Business Insider survey asked 178,000 folks nationwide about emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors, and access to basic necessities.
These are all the types of things we love to talk about here at WhatcomTalk.com. And we love that so many of you want to be a part of that conversation as we link neighbors to create community chatter.
Thank you, neighbor, for making Bellingham such a friendly, fantastic place to live, work, and play.
To see the full Livability.com article, click here; for the Business Insider piece, click here.
Submitted by Barron Heating, AC, Electrical & Plumbing
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