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Hey Bellingham, hope your week’s off to a good start! In case you missed yesterday’s email, BaseLocal Business went live last week… and it’s going way better than I ever could have imagined!
If you run a local business and haven’t signed up, you can join here for free.
The more businesses we have on the platform, the more events, announcements, news, cool spots to check out, and deals we’ll have to share with you all every week. So if you know of a local business that belongs in the newsletter, forward this email to them or send ‘em here so they sign up too! The more the merrier 🙂
That’s all for today – let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Tiny boats, big tactics: On Lake Padden, Bellingham’s Chris Jerome races a 37-inch radio-controlled sailboat the first and third Sundays each month. Affordable T37 kits from Everson’s Tippecanoe Boats let locals build and race — get all the details.
Whatcom activities and music picks: Muay Thai workshops at West Coast Fight Club run through March 21, plus Silent Disco at Zuanich Point Park. Hindsight Music Festival will feature 20 bands benefiting Mr. Peabody Scholarship — check out the full lineup.
Art, stories, and superstitions: Explore Whatcom Community College’s campus art on a walking tour along Kellogg Road, featuring water-inspired works and the student-favorite Levitating Sphere outside Kulshan Hall in northern Bellingham — learn about the featured sculptures.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its 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.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Public safety project moves forward: Bellingham City Council approved bond financing for a new emergency dispatch center, with the city saying the bonds will not affect residents financially. The state Department of Commerce awarded nearly $1 million for the project. A site has not been announced, and construction could begin by year’s end. See funding and timeline details.
Sip with a view: Find a women-owned, small-batch haven at Vartanyan Estate Winery, with a covered patio, fireplace glow, and sweeping Mount Baker sightlines. Cozy, unhurried, and low-key… perfect for a midwinter reset or any day you want good wine and room to linger.
Your feet will cheer: From comfy-luxe clogs to walkable heels and drizzle-ready boots, 12th Street Shoes curates styles that actually feel good. Expect pairs that make errands, dog walks, and coffee runs happier, with comfort that keeps up from Bellingham sidewalks to weekend plans.
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).
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🧀 Crafting Mozzarella, Bocconcini, and Burrata @ Chuckanut Center | Wednesday (1/21) at 5:30 PM – Roll up your sleeves and learn to turn milk into mozzarella, bocconcini, burrata, and stracciatella. Hands-on guidance, plenty of tasting, and a science project for adults that ends with cheese, not homework. Finally, a hobby your fridge understands.
🔮 Theresa Caputo @ Mount Baker Theatre | Wednesday (1/21) at 7:30 PM – Whether you’ve watched her on TV or just appreciate impressive hair, Theresa Caputo is bringing her live reading show to town, and tickets are on sale now. Expect audience readings, goosebumps, and a few side-eyes, then a surprisingly heartfelt night you’ll talk about later.
⌨ Typewriters 101 @ Bellingham Public Library – Central Branch | Thursday (1/22) at 1:30 PM – At the Central Library, the sweetest clack in town awaits. Drop into the SkillShare Space to try six classic typewriters while local aficionado Jennifer Dunn shares tips to clean and revive your attic relic, then peck out a poem, take one, leave one.
This weekend
💧 Clean Water Happy Hour @ Overflow Taps (Barkley Village) | Saturday (1/24) at 1:00 PM – New year, same thirst, better cause at the Clean Water Happy Hour. Overflow Taps in Barkley is picking up your first drink, and the party funds charity: water. It’s all-ages now, with local giveaways, board games if you’re that friend, and plenty of familiar faces.
🪕 Mountain Dulcimer Concert & Workshop @ The Blue Room | Saturday (1/24) at 1:30 PM – Folk fest season in Bellingham calls for mountain dulcimer therapy. Free concert of witty parodies, folky originals, and stories, followed by an intermediate workshop; bring your dulcimer tuned C-A-D, or borrow one, learn noter techniques, pull-offs, and the classic One I Love, donations appreciated.
🐠 Introduction to Aquascaping @ Emmaquatics Aquarium & Lounge | Saturday (1/24) at 4:30 PM – If your tank still features a plastic castle, consider this your polite intervention. Local aquascaping sage Kevin Sell leads an intro to traditional techniques, while you sip tea, nibble crackers, and craft underwater calm that looks good longer than a bouquet.
🧺 Pine Needle Basketry – A Wildcrafter’s Workshop @ Chuckanut Center | Sunday (1/25) at 1:00 PM – If your hands miss doing something besides emails, learn pine needle basketry with Northwest Natura. It’s a wildcrafting workshop where you’ll use the coil technique with Ponderosa pine needles to make a sturdy, beautiful basket, learn practical skills, and slow your pulse the good way.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Bellingham report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 51°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 0%
Partly sunny. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 47 in the afternoon. North northeast wind around 2 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northeast wind around 1 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 48°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. North northeast wind around 2 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
This house is wild
This well-located 20-unit multifamily building sits in the Western Washington University neighborhood, one of Bellingham’s strongest and most consistent rental markets. A desirable mix of studio and one-bedroom residences pairs with off-street parking and a strong rental history. Proximity to Western Washington University, downtown, and local amenities keeps occupancy steady and supports predictable performance. The immediate area offers quick access to campus, the urban core, and daily conveniences, sustaining demand throughout the year.
Scale, simplicity, and location make this a straightforward long-term hold. Clean unit types and off-street parking streamline operations, while the neighborhood’s enduring appeal positions the asset as an easy addition to any portfolio.
Take a peek inside →
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