Happy Tuesday, Bellingham. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Bellingham Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Public feedback on new Drayton Harbor water cleanup targets, Lummi Nation’s lockable tiny home community, and a monthly buprenorphine shot reducing opioid cravings — catch up here.
State-level stories: Washington ferries launch a trial letting leashed dogs board cabins and decks, schools ban phones throughout the day, and repeat speeders get GPS limiters — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Housing sales slump worries the Feds, Idaho secures foster kids social security payments, and Mitsubishi recalls Outlanders for faulty liftgate gas springs — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Chat with NWRC specialist about WA Cares
- Bellingham Reads discusses Mansfield Park in person
- Get personalized tech coaching at the library
- Join Eileen Flanagan to address global crises
- Back to School Night at Oaks Preschool
- Avoid surprises with $300 off auto repair coverage
Is the garage door ready to quit?
That grinding noise when you leave for work isn’t going away on its own. You don’t have to have a PhD in garage doors to recognize that something is not right.
The Overhead Door Company of Bellingham has been fixing these headaches all around town since 1959. They have seen it all: broken springs, wonky openers, doors that decide to quit mid-way up.
Residential or commercial, they service all brands and offer 24-hour emergency help.
Call (360) 383-5250, or book online today, before you’re stuck in the driveway.
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🫶 We got your back
Pizza: Sure, a plain cheese pie is great, but sometimes you want charred crusts and wild toppings. These drool-worthy pizza spots around Bellingham deliver.
Travel: Craving a break from city life? Pack your bags for eight weekend getaways that range from Bavarian mountain towns to island villages where whales cruise past your table.
Tools: Stash wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers in your toolbox to become the household hero. If you’ve got these tools, you’ll cut down on 11 PM neighbor calls for a leaky faucet.
Coffee: For those who believe coffee is less “morning fuel” and more “liquid art form,” Makeworth Coffee Roasters has you covered. From single-origin beans roasted with nerdy precision to the kind of pour-overs that make drip coffee seem like a distant bad dream, this is where caffeine meets craftsmanship.
Hair: More than 50% of women experience hair thinning at some point in their lives. Whether it’s stress, aging, hormonal shifts, or genetics, there are more solutions than ever for boosting healthy hair growth. Take this free quiz to explore your options.
📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →
This week
🎨 Boozy Brushstrokes Watercolor Class @ Stones Throw Brewery | Tuesday (8/26) at 5:30pm – Nothing pairs better than watercolor paints and a pint. Join Robin Reece at Stones Throw Brewery for two hours of booze-fueled brushstrokes, zero-artistic experience required. All supplies and one cocktail included, just bring a friend and your best “I can paint that” attitude.
🌊 Silverado Block Party: Under the Sea @ Silverado Bellingham Memory Care Community | Wednesday (8/27) at 3:00pm – Our street turns into an Under the Sea playground, with live performers, salty-sweet bites, and crafts so fun even teenagers give a nod. Activities for all ages, from face painting to trivia, plus the compassionate crew you’ve been promising to chat with. All are welcome.
🎮 Bit Brigade @ Wild Buffalo | Wednesday (8/27) at 7:30pm – Tired of another wine tasting, try a live rock band covering NES and SNES soundtracks while the gamer speed-runs on stage. Bit Brigade tears through your favorite 8- and 16-bit anthems as the player fights for his digital life. Nostalgic, nail-biting, and absurdly fun.
🐊 Fryday Fish Fry @ Boundary Bay Brewery | Friday (8/29) at 4:00pm – Ditch your routine and hit the beer garden for Friday fish fry with Bellingham’s Sleepy Alligators rolling through Grateful Dead classics. With crispy cod, ice-cold craft beer, and free live music, you might actually recall why you leave the house.
🎸 Sundaze // Basement Tuesdays // Off Kilter // Silent Ruckus @ Make.Shift Art Space | Friday (8/29) at 8:00pm – A stacked DIY bill bringing punchy riffs and sweaty basement energy to the gallery. Doors at 8, music at 8:30, so don’t stroll in late. It’s $11 presale or $15 at the door—cash only. Sober space vibes: no booze, no drugs, no jerks.
This weekend
🪕 North Cascades Bluegrass Festival 2025 @ Deming Logging Show | Saturday (8/30) at 9:55am – Who needs a glamping retreat when you can pitch a tent, learn to flatpick, and eavesdrop on pro pickers trading licks around the campfire at this bluegrass blowout in the Cascades? It’s NW charm, camping camaraderie, and more banjo than you knew you needed.
🍅 Farmer’s Market @ Depot Market Square | Saturday (8/30) at 10:00am – Clear your calendar and haul your tote bag to downtown Bellingham for a weekly stroll through over 100 stalls of fresh produce, honey, and handcrafted oddities. It’s where neighbors trade jokes, kids sample free berries, and you pretend you’re just picking up carrots for dinner.
📓 Nature Journaling @ Lynden Library | Saturday (8/30) at 11:00am – Our local library is turning into a sketch studio with Rachael Robbins leading a nature journaling session so you can finally justify doodling instead of doom-scrolling. No art degree required, all supplies provided, and you’ll even learn to give that sidewalk moss personality. Registration required.
🌲 Cedar Weaving @ Everson Library | Saturday (8/30) at 11:00am – If your closet could use an excuse to get a little messy, join Lummi artists Lee Plaster and Toshi Simmonds for cedar weaving. You’ll craft a friendship basket or headband, pick up storytelling, and leave with that satisfying “I-made-this” glow. Limited spots, registration required.
👠 Heels to the Hardwood, The Preacher & The Freight Train @ Boundary Bay Brewery | Sunday (8/31) at 7:00pm – Slide into the beer garden this Sunday for a double shot of Americana that’ll have your boots stomping. Heels to the Hardwood brings smooth pedal-steel swagger, then The Preacher & The Freight Train preaches a hell of a boot-stomping sermon. Because beer.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/26 Josh Turner @ Mount Baker Theatre – 7:30 pm
- 8/27 Vox: The Art of the Inner Monologue @ Lairmont Manor – 7 pm
- 8/27 Bit Brigade @ Wild Buffalo – 7:30 pm
- 8/28 Bluegrass Jam @ Honey Moon Mead & Cider – 7:30 pm
- 8/29 Laughs Comedy Night @ Larrabee Lager Co – 8 pm
- 8/29 Cozmic Sauce @ Aslan Depot – 8 pm
- 8/29 MaSango @ Odd Fellows Temple Room – 8 pm
- 8/30 North Cascades Bluegrass Festival @ Deming Log Show – 9:55 am
- 8/30 Pyrocene and more @ Make.Shift – 8 pm
- 8/30 Oath ov Hatred and more @ The Shakedown – 9 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
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Listed by: David Rehm (Windermere Real Estate Whatcom)
Soaring 15-foot cathedral ceilings and a wall of windows crank up the natural light in this 4-bed, 3.5-bath modern on Alabama Hill. The chef’s kitchen is primed for culinary showdowns, while the covered deck brings partial bay views and plenty of room for impromptu pickleball post-game hangouts. Two master suites mean no one has to compromise, and the primary bath’s soaking tub is basically a spa day on demand.
Downstairs, a sprawling family room is ready for movie marathons or epic game nights. A three-car garage, A/C, tankless hot water, and security wiring round out the list of perks, all tucked away in a private cul-de-sac steps from trails and Lake Whatcom.
