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Good morning, Bellingham! In today’s edition: Minimum wage shake-up, a Tesla coil show, Yo-Yo Ma’s golden season performance, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
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.
Leg distances and disciplines: Whatcom Events purchased the Bellingham Traverse multisport relay from Pacific Multisports and will begin hosting in 2026, with registration opening in March 2026 for racers and teams up to 12 — see the full course breakdown.
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.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*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
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.
Charge up your weekend: If you haven’t swung by SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention lately, expect hands-on galleries, surprisingly fascinating vintage tech, and an oh-wow Tesla coil show that makes science feel like a party for your curious brain.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
✨ Free Second Friday @ Whatcom Museum | Friday (1/9) at 10:00 AM – Free Friday is playing hooky and landing on second Friday, because January needs the wattage. Expect glowing art projects, guest artist workshops, and an outdoor Lightcatcher moment, plus warm treats in the courtyard. Cozy, creative, and family-friendly without the glitter regret.
🐾 Wild Things – January @ Wild Whatcom | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Shake off the post-holiday stupor with a winter wander at Lake Padden, guided by the Wild Whatcom crew. Kid-friendly trails, bird chatter, and moss appreciation are on the menu, so bundle up, sip cocoa, and call the drizzle ambiance while everyone logs steps.
🤠 Square Dance & Workshop @ Blue Room | Saturday (1/10) at 2:00 PM – Whether you’re rusty or ready, the first square dance of the year breaks in the new Majestic Ballroom with Western Americana Music Group and a workshop tune-up. Grab the $20 deal, bring pantry donations to knock up to $5 off, and call it wholesome cardio.
🎨 The Blue Abode and Paint ~ Silent Beauty 61 @ Date And Paint | Saturday (1/10) at 2:30 PM – Ready to channel your inner Monet without getting paint on the couch? Blue Abode is hosting a small, step-by-step paint night in their cozy, woodsy Bellingham bar, with excellent cocktails, mocktails, and local sips. It’s 21+, $35, only 10 seats, so snag one early.
🎲 Bingo for Cedar Tree Montessori @ ROAM Coffee + Beer | Saturday (1/10) at 6:30 PM – Saturday night means bingo with a conscience, all for Cedar Tree Montessori. Cards are $3 each or 4 for $10, with 100% of card sales, and a dollar from each pint, donated. Drink, dab, and chase prizes, because supporting a great school pairs nicely with beer.
🏃 Lake Samish Runs @ Lake Samish | Sunday (1/11) at 9:00 AM – Feeling ambitious, or want views? One lap of Lake Samish for 6.5, or two plus a dog-leg for half, chip-timed. Caps at 300 and fills fast, walkers welcome within 3 hours, parking tight, so carpool, shuttle in, and leave the dog and excuses.
🎉 Audrey Barbakoff- Mazel Toes! @ Village Books in Fairhaven | Sunday (1/11) at 2:00 PM – Village Books is hosting Audrey Barbakoff reading her board book Mazel Toes, all kisses on the keppie and boops on the nose. It’s free, just reserve a spot, and you can pre-buy the book for pickup. Bring the grandkids, kvell a little, and grab coffee.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Bellingham report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 45°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 68%
Rain showers likely before 4pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. South southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain likely. Cloudy. Low around 40, with temperatures rising to around 42 overnight. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 52%
A chance of rain before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East southeast wind around 6 mph.
This house is wild
This 5-bedroom home delivers a thoughtful, flexible layout. The main level brings an office, primary suite, second bedroom, formal dining, and a cozy living room with a gas-start wood-burning fireplace. Downstairs, a large bonus room opens to a generous deck with three more bedrooms and two baths, including an ensuite with dual closets, ideal for multi-gen or ADU use.
Two covered patios extend indoor and outdoor living through the seasons. Deep storage includes abundant closets, a pantry, and space under the home, with fresh paint and new flooring. A fenced yard caps a dead-end street near shops and parks, with an easy commute.
Take a peek inside →
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