Good morning, Bellingham! In today’s edition: Soaring home prices, a minimum wage hike, Yo-Yo Ma’s upcoming performance, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Homebuyers face new pressures: Stacker compiled a list of the Bellingham metro cities with the fastest-growing home prices, using Zillow data, as prices keep climbing despite higher mortgage rates — see the full Bellingham list.

New rules hit bottom lines: Bellingham’s minimum wage rose to $19.13 on Jan. 1, with another increase coming in May. Businesses are raising prices, trimming hours, and adjusting pay to manage costs and wage compression — see how businesses are adapting.

Culture, cuisine, and adventure await: A fresh roundup spotlights 26 ways to enjoy Bellingham and Whatcom County in 2026, from art and local eats to outdoor fun. Highlights include Little Squalicum Pier strolls, the MV Plover, and BSO’s golden season, where Yo-Yo Ma will perform in April 2026. Check out the full list.

Burrito craving solved: Midweek hunger meets relief at Tadeo’s Mexican Restaurant: hefty, flavor-packed picks like the Classic California Burrito and ultra-satisfying carne asada. No frills, just the good stuff; guac and chipotle sauce do the heavy lifting.

How the changes affect you: Bellingham water service costs rose 13% on January 1 after a City Council vote in July, with increases planned over the next two years and expanded eligibility for rate reductions — get details on rate changes.

Frigid kickoff stirs anticipation: Birch Bay’s New Year’s Day Polar Plunge drew a bigger than expected crowd, and folks are wondering if it set a Guinness World Record. The Birch Bay Chamber says it could take a while to verify results due to strict rules and will share updates in the coming weeks. Get the latest on verification.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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💰 Seniors Financial Empowerment Class @ Bellingham Senior Activity Center | Monday (1/12) at 9:30 AM – This free, 8-week series at the Bellingham Senior Center finally translates Medicare, Medicaid, and fixed-income budgeting into plain English. They cover debt, end-of-life planning, and how to make your money behave. Open to the whole community, just register. Because the paperwork isn’t getting any simpler.

🎶 Stories & Songs @ Whatcom Family Village | Monday (1/12) at 10:30 AM – Think classic storytime, but with a built-in sanity saver. You and your littles, birth to five, get 30 minutes of read-alouds, nursery rhymes, and wiggles, then 30 minutes of play, which is code for you chatting with other grownups while they conquer the block bin.

🪴 Macramé Monday @ Northwest Yarns & Mercantile | Monday (1/12) at 4:00 PM – Take a break and learn to macramé a plant hanger, perfect for that pothos still living in a grocery pot. It’s beginner friendly, materials are provided, and it runs Mondays in January, $15 class fee plus $15 materials.

🎤 Tina – The Tina Turner Musical @ Mount Baker Theatre | Tuesday (1/13) at 7:30 PM – TINA – The Tina Turner Musical rolls into town with Proud Mary, big hair, and bigger vocals. Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall steers the comeback saga, set to the hits you’ve blasted in the car, hummed while cooking, and chair-danced to at home.

🧀 Mozzarella, Bocconcini, and Burrata Workshop @ Chuckanut Center | Wednesday (1/14) at 5:30 PM – If your charcuterie board is tired of store-bought, come get hands-on with mozzarella, bocconcini, and burrata. Guided by experts, you’ll stretch curds, taste as you go, and finally learn what stracciatella actually is. Quality time, light arm workout, better cheese.

🖼 Dinner & Curator Tour of “myself inside your story” & “Meander” @ Whatcom Museum | Wednesday (1/14) at 5:30 PM – Craving pasta with a side of culture? Settle into Bar Cicotti at the Lightcatcher for a three-course Northern Italian prix fixe with a glass of wine, then follow curator Amy Chaloupka through myself inside your story and Meander. Only 16 seats, so grab one.

📚 Marian Exall in Conversation with Linda Lambert: Loners @ Village Books in Fairhaven | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – Swap your true-crime podcast for the live version as Bellingham’s Marian Exall joins Linda Lambert to dig into Loners, where a stubborn detective doubts a body double’s suicide, uncovers buried secrets, and stumbles into an international drug mess. Smart talk, local lit cred, no fluff.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Bellingham report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 51°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 92%

Rain after 8am. Cloudy. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 48 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 43. Southeast wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 51°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 96%

Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 46. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Most popular house this week

Private and spacious with city services and county flexibility, this light-filled Bellingham bungalow sits behind mature landscaping on nearly half an acre. Clerestory windows and a lofted living room pour in natural light and frame serene green views. White oak floors anchor thoughtful updates that favor quality and daily ease. The remodeled kitchen pairs quartz counters with walnut cabinetry and induction cooking. A refreshed bath adds heated slate underfoot for cozy mornings.

A detached garage links to a finished, skylit space that is insulated, wired, and plumbed with ADU completion in mind. Lush grounds showcase fruit trees and visiting wildlife, creating a calm sanctuary minutes from downtown.

Take a peek inside →