Bellingham Scoop: February 23rd

Bellingham, get ready—this week is stacked! 🎉 From an epic pillow fort battle (yes, really) to a chance to raise a pint for a good cause, there’s something for everyone. Want to dive into history with the legendary Good Time Girls? Or catch travel guru Rick Steves sharing tales from the Hippie Trail? Maybe you’re just here for the live music, book talks, and a little bit of plant wisdom. Whatever your vibe, we’ve got the scoop on what’s happening around town—let’s get into it!

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First, thank you to our Sponsor — Cascade Home Cleaning!! They are running a CRAZY spring cleaning promotion: 40% off a first deep clean when you become a new client with recurring cleanings.

This Week’s Must-Dos: 🎉

🎻 Bellingham Chamber Music Society at the Hotel Leo
📅 Sunday, Feb 23 | 📍 Hotel Leo, Crystal Ballroom
🎟️ SOLD OUT
Settle in for an evening of stunning classical music in one of Bellingham’s most elegant venues. The Bellingham Chamber Music Society will deliver a mix of timeless favorites and contemporary compositions—perfect for a cozy Sunday night out!

🍻 Good Neighbor Night at Stones Throw Brewery for Wild Whatcom
📅 Monday, Feb 24 | 📍 Stones Throw Brewery
🎟️ Free to attend (drinks for purchase)
Raise a glass for a good cause! Stones Throw Brewery is donating a portion of proceeds to Wild Whatcom, a nonprofit connecting people to nature. Grab a pint, meet some fellow nature lovers, and support outdoor education!

🌍 Rick Steves – On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu
📅 Monday, Feb 24 | 📍 Bellingham High School
🎟️ $35+
Travel legend Rick Steves is in town! Hear about his adventures along the legendary Hippie Trail, spanning from Istanbul to Kathmandu, and how it shaped him into the travel guru we know today. Expect incredible stories, travel tips, and a whole lot of wanderlust!

🏰 Fort Fight Friday
📅 Friday, Feb 28 | 📍 Bloedel Donovan Community Building
🎟️ $25
Who says pillow forts are just for kids? Grab some friends and build the most epic fort imaginable—then defend it in a full-on Nerf battle! Safe, fun, and ridiculously entertaining.

🎶 Glixen, She’s Green, After at The Shakedown
📅 Friday, Feb 28 | 📍 The Shakedown
🎟️ $15 | 21+
If indie rock and dreamy vibes are your thing, don’t miss this killer lineup featuring Glixen, She’s Green, and After. The Shakedown always brings the energy, so get ready to dance the night away!

🎭 Good Time Girls: History in the Spotlight – The Mount Baker Theatre
📅 Friday, Feb 28 | 📍 Mount Baker Theatre
🎟️ SOLD OUT
The fabulous Good Time Girls take center stage to share stories of Bellingham’s wild past. Expect scandal, sass, and a whole lot of fascinating local history—all told with a wink and a laugh.

🎤 Gaby Moreno at Mount Baker Theatre
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 Mount Baker Theatre
🎟️ SOLD OUT
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno brings her soulful blend of blues, jazz, and Latin folk to the stage. Her voice is magic—don’t miss the chance to experience it live!

🎷 Jansen Jazz Orchestra
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 Jansen Art Center, Lynden
🎟️ $15 General Admission
Smooth saxophones, swinging trumpets, and a whole lot of rhythm—this big band jazz night is guaranteed to get your toes tapping!

📚 Joan Sung – Kinda Korean: Stories From an American Life
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 Village Books, Fairhaven
🎟️ $5+
Food, family, and finding your identity—Joan Sung’s memoir dives into all of it with humor and heart. Stop by for a reading and book signing!

🎶 Live Music at Stones Throw Brewery
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 Stones Throw Brewery
🎟️ Free to attend (drinks for purchase)
Nothing beats good tunes and cold brews! Head to Stones Throw for a laid-back night of live music in a cozy atmosphere.

🍀 Luck of the Irish Bingo Night Fundraiser
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 The Majestic Ballroom
🎟️ $20+
Bingo, brews, and a bit o’ Irish luck! This St. Paddy’s-themed fundraiser promises great prizes, fun company, and an excuse to break out your best green outfit.

🌿 Moss of the Pacific Northwest with Northwest Natura
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 Private Land in Maple Falls
🎟️ SOLD OUT
Ever wondered about all that lush green moss in our forests? Join Northwest Natura for an outdoor adventure all about the magical mosses of the PNW!

🚜 Whatcom Farm Expo
📅 Saturday, Mar 1 | 📍 Northwest Washington Fairgrounds, Lynden
🎟️ Free!
Calling all gardeners, homesteaders, and ag enthusiasts! Whether you’re into backyard chickens or full-scale farming, this expo has all the resources and local vendors you need to dig in.

🌱 Beach Strawberries: The Ground Cover That Gives Back! 🍓

Want a plant that looks gorgeous and rewards you with tasty little treats? Meet the beach strawberry—a hardy, low-maintenance ground cover that’s perfect for your yard!

✨ Why You’ll Love It:
🌼 Blooms with delicate white flowers from spring to late summer.
🍓 Produces small, sweet strawberries (yes, you can eat them!).
☀️ Loves full sun and loose soil—perfect for Whatcom County gardens.
🌿 Spreads naturally, but if you want to keep it tidy, just prune the runners.

And the best part? You can grab some at the Whatcom Conservation District Native Plant Sale!

🛒 How to Get Yours:

💻 Order Online (for the planners out there!):

• Now through Friday, February 28th, 2025, at 4:30 PM

• $100 minimum (team up with a neighbor if needed!)

• Pick-up on Friday, March 14th (Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association) or Saturday, March 15th (at the in-person sale).

🌿 Come to the In-Person Sale (no minimum & tons of fun!):

• Saturday, March 15th, 2025

• Pioneer Park, 2007 Cherry Street, Ferndale, WA

• Browse and buy individual plants, chat with vendors, and enjoy a day outdoors!

📌 Heads Up: While we order plants well in advance, nature can be unpredictable. Some species might not be available due to crop failures or supply issues.

Dr. Marvin Wayne: The Legend of Whatcom County EMS Retires (Sort Of!)

If you’ve ever needed emergency care in Whatcom County, you probably have Dr. Marvin Wayne to thank! After 50+ years of shaping our EMS system, he’s technically retiring—but really just “repurposing” (because legends don’t just stop).

👨‍⚕️ A Life of Service

• Grew up in Detroit, earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan.

• Served as a combat surgeon in Vietnam—where he once removed a live grenade from a soldier’s abdomen!

• Moved to Bellingham in the 1970s, saw major gaps in emergency care, and decided to fix them.

🚑 What He Built

• Trained the first paramedics in his living room (yep, really).

• Launched Whatcom County’s EMS system, growing it to 700+ EMTs and 5 paramedic units.

• Pioneered AED use, helping make those life-saving defibrillators standard everywhere today.

🎉 A Well-Deserved Celebration
At the EMS Foundation Gala on Feb. 8, Dr. Wayne was honored for his game-changing impact. While he’s stepping down as Medical Director, he’ll still support the EMS system with research and innovation.

🏎️ More Than Medicine
When he’s not saving lives, he’s racing cars, playing pickleball, windsurfing, making movies, writing cookbooks, and once even owned a cookie company (because why not?).

👏 THANK YOU, Dr. Wayne! Your passion and dedication have saved countless lives and shaped the EMS system we all rely on. Enjoy your “repurposing” (but let’s be honest, you’re never slowing down).

3 Track Mind is Back—Don’t Miss This One-Night-Only Show!

Get ready, Bellingham—3 Track Mind is reuniting for a special night at Mount Baker Theatre on Saturday, March 29th! 🎉

This powerhouse group—Jen Todd, Kevin Jones, Kristy Smith, and Steve Smith on percussion—brings a little bit of everything: acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, ukulele, slide guitar, and harmonies that’ll give you chills. Each member takes turns on lead vocals, making every song a fresh, dynamic experience.

After nearly 30 years, they’re back on stage, playing fan-favorite originals from their two albums, plus a few surprises from their solo careers. Fun fact: they’ve opened for legends like John Hiatt, Joan Baez, and Rosanne Cash—and even appeared in the Miramax film Georgia!

📻 92.9 FM helped them sell out MBT last time—will history repeat itself? Get your tickets before they’re gone and be part of this epic reunion. See you there!

🎧 Meet Award-Winning Audiobook Narrator Jayne Entwistle!

Love audiobooks? Obsessed with great storytelling? Just want to hang out with cool people who make books come to life? Then don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event with Jayne Entwistle on Saturday, February 22nd at the Whatcom Museum’s Rotunda Room! 🎉

Jayne—who’s narrated tons of books, including the beloved Flavia de Luce series—will be chatting with Thom Barthelmess (Whatcom County Library’s Youth Services Manager) as part of the 2025 Whatcom READS celebration. They’ll talk about her work, the magic of audiobooks, and whatever else tickles their fancy!

✨ Fun facts about Jayne:
🎙️ She’s an award-winning audiobook narrator (aka, a master of voices).
📺 She’s also an actress—you might’ve seen her in The Good Place, Grey’s Anatomy, and Winning Time!
🇬🇧 Originally from northern England, but now calls the PNW home.

📚 This event ties into this year’s Whatcom READS pick, No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister, which features an audiobook narrator as a character and won the 2024 Audie Award. Talk about perfect timing!

🔹 Event Details:
📅 Saturday, February 22nd
🕝 Doors open at 2:30 PM
📍 Whatcom Museum – Rotunda Room (121 Prospect St, Bellingham)
🎟️ FREE! But space is limited, so reserve your spot ASAP!

💡 Pro tip: Want to check out the museum before the event? Non-members will need to pay admission before 2:30 PM.

Come for the stories, stay for the laughs—see you there!