The Gristle, 3.ɀɆ Fuzz Buzz, 3.ɁɁ Free Will Astrology, 3.Ƀɀ cascadia

REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA WHATCOM *SKAGIT*ISLAND COUNTIES {12.02.15}{#48}{V.10}{FREE}

rooms MAKING SPACE FOR PAN PAN, P.20

A TUNA LOCAL TO GLOBAL: UNITING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, P.08 CHRISTMAS: SEA & SMOKE: ISLAND INSIGHTS SPENDING TIME IN TEXAS, P.16 WITH BLAINE WETZEL, P.34 SATURDAY [12.05.15]

ONSTAGE

34 cascadia Legally Blonde: 2pm and 7pm, BAAY Theatre A Christmas Carol: 2pm and 7:30pm, Performing FOOD FOOD ThisWeek Arts Center, WWU Bye Bye Birdie: 2pm and 7:30pm, Claire vg Thomas A glance at this week’s Theatre, Lynden

27 Aerial Showcase: 6pm and 9pm, Cirque Lab happenings A Tuna Christmas: 7:30pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild Lion, Witch, Wardrobe: 7:30pm, Anacortes Com-

B-BOARD B-BOARD munity Theatre Home for the Holidays: 8pm and 10pm, Upfront Theatre 24 DANCE FILM There’ll be a NBT’s Nutcracker: 7:30pm, Blaine Performing Arts Center Skagit Nutcracker: 7:30pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount 20 lot to look up Vernon

MUSIC to when the MUSIC Bellingham Circus Chamber Chorale: 3pm and 7:30pm, First Congrega-

18 tional Church LeAnn Rimes: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre

ART Guild presents The Coats: 7pm, Bellingham High School its fourth annual Handel’s Messiah: 7pm, Third Christian Reformed 16 Church, Lynden Aerial Showcase Rooms: 7:30pm, Firehouse Performing Arts Center STAGE Dec. 4-5 at the COMMUNITY Holiday Harbor Lights Festival: Throughout Blaine 14 Cirque Lab Holiday Port Festival: 11am-5pm, Bellingham Cruise Terminal Olde Fashioned Christmas: 1-9pm, Pioneer Park,

GET OUT Ferndale Festival of Trees Gala: 6:30-10pm, Leopold Crystal Ballroom 12 GET OUT Jingle Bell Run: 9am, Burlington Visitors Center WORDS Fairhaven Frosty: 10am, Fairhaven Park Boat Parade: 5:30pm, Bellingham Bay 8 Christmas Parade: 6pm, Fairway Center, Lynden

THURSDAY [12.03.15] FOOD

CURRENTS CURRENTS Bring light Sinterklass Breakfast: 8-11am, Lynden Community ONSTAGE Center 6 A Christmas Carol: 7:30pm, Performing Arts Center, into your life Santa Pancake Breakfast: 8:30-11am, Maple Hall, WWU via decorated La Conner VIEWS A Tuna Christmas: 7:30pm, Bellingham Theatre Bellingham Farmers Market: 10am-3pm, Depot Guild Christmas trees Market Square 4 FRIDAY [12.04.15] at “Deck the VISUAL ARTS MAIL MAIL Old City Hall” at Holiday Open House: 10am-4pm, Morrison Glass Art ONSTAGE Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square

2

2 Legally Blonde: 7pm, BAAY Theatre Whatcom Museum Holiday Festival of the Arts: 10am-7pm, 4145 A Christmas Carol: 7:30pm, Performing Arts Center, Meridian St.

DO IT IT DO through Jan. 3 and DO IT IT DO WWU Holiday Make.Sale: 12-6pm, Make.Shift Art Space A Tuna Christmas: 7:30pm, Bellingham Theatre the annual “Festival Guild SUNDAY [12.06.15] Bye Bye Birdie: 7:30pm, Claire vg Thomas Theatre of Trees” Dec. 4-5 Lion, Witch, Wardrobe: 7:30pm, Anacortes Com- 12.02.15 at the Leopold ONSTAGE munity Theatre Legally Blonde: 2pm, BAAY Theatre Aerial Showcase: 8pm, Cirque Lab Crystal Ballroom A Christmas Carol: 2pm, Performing Arts Center, WWU .10 Home for the Holidays: 8pm and 10pm, Upfront

48 A Tuna Christmas: 2pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild # Theatre Bye Bye Birdie: 2pm, Claire vg Thomas Theatre, Lynden

DANCE DANCE Ballet Bellingham’s Nutcracker: 7:30pm, Mount NBT’s Nutcracker: 2pm, Blaine Performing Arts Center Baker Theatre Skagit Nutcracker: 3pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Skagit Nutcracker: 7:30pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon Vernon COMMUNITY Tree Lighting Ceremony: 5:30pm, Depot Market Holiday Harbor Lights Festival: Through Saturday, MUSIC CASCADIA WEEKLY MUSIC Blaine FOOD Whatcom Symphony Holiday Concert: 3pm, Mount Swinging Christmas: 7pm, First Baptist Church Festival of Trees: 10am-9pm, Leopold Crystal Grand Reopening Celebration: 5:30-10pm, Commu- 2 Baker Theatre Handel’s Messiah: 7pm, Third Christian Reformed Ballroom nity Food Co-op Church, Lynden Holiday Port Festival: 12-8pm, Bellingham Cruise COMMUNITY Rooms: 7:30pm, Firehouse Performing Arts Center Terminal VISUAL ARTS Holiday Port Festival: 11am-5pm, Bellingham Cruise The Good Lovelies: 8pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Olde Fashioned Christmas: 5-9pm, Pioneer Park, Gallery Walk: 6-9pm, downtown Anacortes Terminal Vernon Ferndale Art Walk: 6-10pm, downtown Bellingham Olde Fashioned Christmas: 1-4pm, Pioneer Park

34 FOOD FOOD 27 B-BOARD B-BOARD 24 FILM 20 MUSIC 18 ART 16 STAGE 14 GET OUT 12 WORDS 8 CURRENTS CURRENTS 6 VIEWS 4 MAIL MAIL

2 DO IT IT DO

12.02.15 .10 48 # CASCADIA WEEKLY

3 Contact THISWEEK Cascadia Weekly: 360.647.8200

34 Editorial Editor & Publisher: FOOD FOOD Tim Johnson ext 260 { editor@

27 mail cascadiaweekly.com TOC LETTERS STAFF Arts & Entertainment Editor: Amy Kepferle B-BOARD B-BOARD ext 204

Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla { calendar@

24 Chan are redefining holiday giving. On Tues., Dec. 1, the cascadiaweekly.com billionaires announced they would give 99 percent of their Music & Film Editor:

FILM Facebook shares—worth $45 billion—to charitable purposes Carey Ross in coming years. They made the pledge in an open letter to ext 203 their newborn daughter, Max. “Our initial areas of focus will { music@ 20 be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people cascadiaweekly.com and building strong communities,” they wrote. MUSIC Production Art Director:

18 Jesse Kinsman VIEWS & NEWS

ART { jesse@ 4: Mailbag kinsmancreative.com Graphic Artist: 16 6: Gristle & Goodman Roman Komarov 8: Climate crisis { roman@ STAGE 10: Last Week’s News cascadiaweekly.com Send all advertising materials to 11: Police blotter, Index [email protected] 14 Advertising ARTS & LIFE Account Executive: GET OUT 12: Who is Willow Frost? Scott Pelton 14: Vehicular views 360-647-8200 x 202 { spelton@ 12 16: Christmas in Tuna cascadiaweekly.com Stephanie Young

WORDS Creative gifting 18: 360-647-8200 x 205 20: Rooms of her own { stephanie@ JOIN HANDS to stampede every elected Washington official cascadiaweekly.com

8 The Whatcom County Democrats recommit to to bow before their demands for maximum tax Clubs 22: “Joining Hands Against Hate,” and condemn any breaks. The result is the removal of 1,000 jobs 24: Spike’s back Distribution and all threats directed at students of color at while the criminal CEO waltzes into the sunset Distribution Manager: CURRENTS CURRENTS 26: Film Shorts Western Washington University. with millions in golden parachute compensation. Scott Pelton Any method of fear and intimidation directed Pfizer/Allergan creates a drug monopoly and

6 360-647-8200 x 202 REAR END { spelton@ against members of our community is unaccept- moves it to Ireland to escape U.S. taxation while cascadiaweekly.com able to the Democratic values we believe in. escalating prices with no impediment from gov- VIEWS 27: Bulletin Board Whatcom: Erik Burge, We support and expect President Shepard and ernment. Previously, the Koch Brothers, heroes Stephanie Simms

4 28: Wellness

4 the Bellingham Police Department to use the of Republicans and Tea Party creators, destroyed 29: Crossword Skagit: Linda Brown, means at their disposal to protect individuals an entire local industry and left government to MAIL MAIL MAIL MAIL Barb Murdoch 30: Free Will Astrology and pursue the perpetrators of these despicable clean it up.

threats. We call on members of the community to Wall Street has conducted more terrorism with- 2 31: Advice Goddess Letters Send letters to letters@ support the students in their request for protec- in our borders, destroying people’s lives without cascadiaweekly.com DO IT IT DO 32: Comix tion and for a swift resolution to these threats. firing one bullet than all of the non-Christian

The Gristle, 3.ɀɆ Fuzz Buzz, 3.ɁɁ Free Will Astrology, 3.Ƀɀ —Catherine Chambers, Chair terrorists in the world. Safeguarding Americans 33: Slowpoke, Sudoku cascadia REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA WHATCOM *SKAGIT*ISLAND COUNTIES {12.02.15}{#48}{V.10}{FREE} Whatcom County Democrats is government’s number-one job. 34: Sea and Smoke Border walls are the wrong answer. Halting the 12.02.15 WALL OFF WALL STREET looting of the nation by Wall Street predators is

rooms MAKING SPACE A letter last week had one thing right: “Amer- the right one. .10 FOR PAN PAN, P.20

48 ©2015 CASCADIA WEEKLY (ISSN 1931-3292) is published each Wednesday by ica is under assault.” —Richard Morgan, Bellingham # Cascadia Newspaper Company LLC. Direct all correspondence to: Cascadia Weekly A TUNA LOCAL TO GLOBAL: UNITING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, P.08 CHRISTMAS: PO Box 2833 Bellingham WA 98227-2833 | Phone/Fax: 360.647.8200 SEA & SMOKE: ISLAND INSIGHTS Unfortunately, non-Christian border people SPENDING TIME IN TEXAS, P.16 WITH BLAINE WETZEL, P.34 [email protected] Though Cascadia Weekly is distributed free, please take just one copy. Cascadia and walls are not the problem or solution. Wall MORE CENTURIES, PLEASE Weekly may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Any person removing COVER: Photo by Matt Street economic terrorists are the true threat to I’m a music lover from way back. In college, papers in bulk from our distribution points risks prosecution Curtis SUBMISSIONS: Cascadia Weekly welcomes freelance submissions. Send material every human being within these borders. Instead I ushered for the Boston Symphony concerts on to either the News Editor or A&E Editor. Manuscripts will be returned if you include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. To be considered for calendar list- of guns, they manipulate paper to acquire more Friday afternoons and saw many of the great ings, notice of events must be received in writing no later than noon Wednesday and more components to create monopolies in conductors performing the great musical master- the week prior to publication. Photographs should be clearly labeled and will be CASCADIA WEEKLYreturned if accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelope. every economic area. Their greed knows no bor- pieces. When I lived in Europe, I always managed LETTERS POLICY: Cascadia Weekly reserves the right to edit letters for length and content. When apprised of them, we correct errors of fact promptly and courteously. ders or bounds. to get regular tickets to open rehearsals of what- 4 In the interests of fostering dialog and a community forum, Cascadia Weekly does not publish letters that personally disparage other letter writers. Please keep your Haggen stores driven into bankrutpcy. ALCOA ever orchestra was playing near where I lived. In letters to fewer than 300 words. shuts down plants in this state, but keeps New another area, I currently produce a jazz series in York plants open after blackmailing NY state Sudden Valley that is entering its sixth season. government into using public funds to fuel their I try to support local music wherever possible, greed. Boeing uses the same criminal tactics from jazz to classical. NEWSPAPER ADVISORY GROUP: Robert Hall, Seth Murphy, Michael Petryni, David Syre That’s why I feel such pain whenever the Bellingham Festival of Music presents its CHUCKANUT BREWERY coming music schedule. All the old warhors- es are wheeled out time and again for our & KITCHEN

perusal. None of the 20th or 21st century 34 composers are given their due. The coming season has full orchestral performances of FOOD works of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossi- ni, and Schumann, but nothing by Stravin- 27 sky, Copland, Ravel, Debussy, Schoenberg, Prokofiev, Bartok, Berg, Webern, or Cage.

I could understand the stodgy program- B-BOARD ming if the concerts were always sold out

as “giving the people what they want to 24 hear,” but the fact of the matter is that the concerts I’ve attended in the past have FILM been very poorly attended. Family Friendly

I hear the artistic director is the one HoPPY Hour 20 who sets the program and refuses to de- Sunday-Thursday 4-6pm viate. If this is true, perhaps some new 601 West Holly St. • Bellingham, WA MUSIC thinking is needed. I think the music 360-75-BEERS (752-3377) festival could go in one of two direc- ChuckanutBreweryAndKitchen.com 18

tions to attract a more sizable audience. ART Either open with more “Pops”-like pieces (by Gershwin or Leroy Anderson, e.g.) Representing Local Artists Since 1969 The Bellin g h amTheatre Guild presents 16 and save the old masters for the second Written By Ed Howard, Joe Sears, half, or play more of the modern compos- Jaston Williams STAGE ers who might appeal to the more middle Di rected By aged classical music lovers. Perhaps doing Michelle Kriz 14 both would be an even better solution. Then I wouldn’t feel so guilty about missing the series. I would be become an GET OUT active concert-goer again. —K.C. Sulkin, Sudden Valley December 2015 12 FEATURING SUPPORT VOTING RIGHTS Nov. 27—Dec. 13, 2015 Carriee Selting “FutureFuture HeirHeirlooms” WORDS The Voting Rights Act enhanced our de-

mocracy. Presidents Reagan and George W. 8 Bush signed its renewal.

Before this act, registering to vote in “A wild yuletide caper that

some states meant guessing the number introduces us to the eccentric CURRENTS th pm residents of Tuna, Texas’ of jellybeans in a jar, the number of bub- Artist Reception - December 12 2-5 third-smallest town.” 6 bles on a bar of soap. The Act protected 1000 Harris Avenue • Bellingham, WA Broadway World the rights to register and vote. Recently Holiday Hours: Sun. 11-5, 733-1811 VIEWS the courts removed those protections and Mon.-Thurs. 11-6, Fri. 11-8, Sat. 10-6 Tickets: (360) 671-3998 www.goodearthpots.com bellinghamtheatreguild.com or : 4 many states are making it difficult to reg- 4 ister again. MAIL MAIL If every new voter-suppression law was MAIL struck down today, America would still 2 have one of the lowest voting rates among DO IT IT DO free peoples. Many citizens choose not to register or just don’t vote. How do we so casually discard our rights? How do we so fully give away our power, our voice in shaping America’s future? We grumble 12.02.15 about feeling powerless when we could Advent Calendars .10 take the time to vote, together. 48 # Historically we were taught that pooling Chanukah Candles our votes and resources to hold this coun- Dessert Wines & Cheeses try together for its citizens was socialism. We are so well trained that we have allowed Wide Brim Oil Skin Hats the few to dictate our fate, economically Italian Pasta Machines and even culturally. The only way we can empower the citizenry of this nation again Premium Party Platters CASCADIA WEEKLY is through the vote. Images of Mt. Baker 5 Socialism is just a word, social action of the citizens is an act. When voters par- Treat Yourself Well ticipate in decisions, we will be far better served as citizens of this great nation. 360-592-2297 www.everybodys.com —Donna Starr, Blaine Hiway 9 – Van Zandt THE GRISTLE FACTIONS OF MISCHIEF: All eyes turn this week to Paris,

34 where the largest gathering of world leaders in history begin a multinational effort toward forging what many

FOOD FOOD call the planet’s last, best hope to stave off the worst consequences of climate change. Yet a significant foun- views YOUR VIEWS THE GRISTLE dation may have been laid last week in King County Su- 27 perior Court, where a judge agreed the state has a duty to protect natural resources for future generations.

B-BOARD B-BOARD Judge Hollis Hill denied an appeal by eight young activists—the Climate 8—who petitioned Washington BY AMY GOODMAN

24 state to adopt stricter science-based regulations to re- duce carbon emissions and protect them against climate

FILM change; but the court affirmed the work of Ecology to draft new rules to meet that obligation by reducing 30 Seconds, 16 Shots, 400 Days

20 greenhouse-gas emissions. “She agreed with our legal arguments that they (the THE MURDER OF LAQUAN MCDONALD

MUSIC children) have a constitutional right to a healthful en- vironment,” said Andrea Rodgers, an attorney with the ON THE night of Oct. 20, 2014, around what happened. And they’re

18 Western Environmental Law Center. Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old Af- very concerned with the city remain-

ART Rodgers noted the judge said Washington has a man- rican-American teenager in Chicago, ing peaceful. But unfortunately, the datory duty under the state’s Clean Air act and the state was walking down the street when community, the target that is being constitution to preserve and protect air quality for cur- two police cruisers sped up to him. told to remain peaceful, is not the 16 rent and future generations. Officers jumped out, and at least Chicago Police Department.”

STAGE Michael Gerrard, a professor and director of the Sabin one of them, Jason Van Dyke, began Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, out- Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, firing. Laquan fell to the ground, rage over yet another police killing called the judge’s ruling “helpful but not revolutionary.” his final, painful moments caught of a young, unarmed African-Amer- 14 “This court decision has some nice language, but the on the dashboard video camera of varez announced that Officer Van ican male has led to a public oc- court did not require anybody to do anything,” he said. a third police vehicle that had ar- Dyke was being charged with first- cupation outside a police precinct.

GET OUT “This helps build up a legal foundation, but we don’t yet rived just seconds before. Laquan degree murder. Within hours, the Hundreds have maintained a peace- have a structure with a roof on it.” spun as he was shot. Two bullets hit video was released. ful vigil demanding accountability

12 Ecology Director Maia Bellon said in a statement that him in the back. As the video clear- Citizens have filed between 17 and justice for the victim, Jamar “we are satisfied that the court’s order recognizes that ly shows, the bullets were pumped and 20 complaints against Van Dyke Clark. The police have responded the rule-making directed by Governor Inslee will meet into him, evidenced by clouds of over the course of his 14 years with with a show of paramilitary force WORDS Ecology’s obligation to protect our climate from harmful dust exploding off the pavement. the CPD, for issues ranging from ex- clearly intended to intimidate. Last

8 greenhouse gas emissions.” This week, on the day the video was cessive force to improper use of a month, an officer was photographed Ecology is prepared to release a proposed rule to released to the public by court or- weapon to racial slurs. He was never dressed in military fatigues, point- regulate carbon emissions next month. The rule is ex- der, Officer Van Dyke was charged disciplined. After the killing of Mc- ing his rifle at a protester with his

CURRENTS CURRENTS pected to cover major emitters that the state holds as with first-degree murder—400 days Donald, Officer Van Dyke was not hands in the air. The protester hap- responsible for about 60 percent of the carbon pollu- after he killed Laquan McDonald. indicted. Rather, he continued to pens to be the son of Minneapolis 6 6 tion released in Washington. The official scenario that the Chi- be paid while assigned to desk duty Congressman Keith Ellison, the co- The youth petition is similar to others filed in every cago Police Department (CPD) of- until his arrest. chair of the Congressional Progres- VIEWS VIEWS VIEWS state, but was among the first to be heard. Lawsuits fered sounded like so many others: It also has been widely reported sive Caucus and the first Muslim

4 similar to the Climate 8 are pending in Oregon, Mas- The teen was armed with a knife that additional video footage may member of Congress in history. sachusetts, Colorado, and North Carolina. Importantly, and lunged at Officer Van Dyke and have been destroyed. Police entered Then, in a shocking escalation, MAIL MAIL the recent ruling establishes a backstop by asserting his partner. Van Dyke, the official a nearby Burger King restaurant several masked white men came to

governments—as the custodians of a public trust—have story holds, fired on the youth only shortly after the shooting, asking the protest, and shot and injured 2 a “mandatory duty” to “preserve, protect, and enhance to protect himself and his partner for the password to their surveil- five Black Lives Matter activists DO IT IT DO the air quality for the current and future generations.” from a potentially lethal attack. lance video system. They left after in what is being investigated as a The right exists. The threat exists. The duty to pro- Independent media took that three hours. Eighty-six minutes of hate crime. In response, close to tect the right and address the threat exists. scenario and turned it on its head. surveillance video had been deleted, 1,000 people marched in Minneapo- The ruling helps Gov. Jay Inslee—also in Paris this Jamie Kalven is the founder of the it was later noticed, encompassing lis Tuesday night, the same night 12.02.15 week—take action after failing to pass his climate Invisible Institute and a freelance the time during which the shooting that hundreds marched in Chicago package through the state Legislature. But he’ll likely journalist in Chicago. He uncovered occurred. Burger King district man- against police violence. .10

48 need even more help from the courts. the autopsy report showing that ager Jay Darshane told NBC: “We had Despite the difficult circumstanc- # The Gristle noted last week the growing importance McDonald was shot 16 times and no idea they were going to sit there es, proud father and Congressman of the third branch of government—the judiciary—to first reported on the existence of and delete the files. I mean, we were Keith Ellison is hopeful: “There is a decide cases and controversies, and serve as the venue the video of the shooting. Many just trying to help the police.” surge going on across this country of last resort to quell competing factions. The adminis- prominent news outlets sought the Activists have been especially among diverse populations crav- trative rulings of the court can serve to place agencies dashboard video footage through critical of Chicago Mayor Rahm ing justice, demanding fair treat- on notice and hold them to timetables for completion of Illinois’s Freedom of Information Emanuel, who has urged calm in the ment.... We have to have a more

CASCADIA WEEKLYtasks in a fractious realm of slim minorities and deeply Act laws, but were denied. wake of the video’s release. Charlene just society.” polarized interests. And while the King County ruling The footage clearly debunks the Carruthers, national director of the 6 enforces no timetable, it places the state on notice that official story. Just one day before Black Youth Project 100, told me Amy Goodman is the host of “Democ- a plan to reduce carbon emissions must be forthcoming. the deadline to release it, Cook on the Democracy Now! news hour: racy Now!” Denis Moynihan contrib- In crafting instruments that prevent minority rights County State’s Attorney Anita Al- “The city has very specific interests uted to this column. from being trammeled by a majority—that trammel- ing the very essence of tyranny, according to James VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF CASCADIA WEEKLY THE GRISTLE Madison—the framers understood the

courts, as venue of last resort, would GO 34 serve to prevent the tyranny of the NORTHWOOD minority, and protect the public good. FOOD Perhaps no issue serves to better il- lustrate the tyranny of minority than FOR CASINO ! 27 that of global climate change, where a sliver of science deniers funded by pow- FUN erful energy interests serve to derail B-BOARD the public good in finding solution to

an existential threat to the Commons. 24 Agencies like Ecology understand the science, acknowledge the concerns and FILM pathway to solutions, but are stalled

by lobbying and regulatory capture 20 by those energy interests. It descends upon the courts to establish the narra- MUSIC tive of public good and common cause, and shepherd those goals. 18

Personifying the resistance of small ART numbers empowered by big money is Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale), who 16 last week employed the loss of indus-

try at Cherry Point to savage plans to STAGE reduce carbon pollution in Washington. “While it is clear that international 14 forces such as the price of primary commodities will impact jobs here, there are many things that we can be Win Up To GET OUT doing to protect and attract new jobs,”

Ericksen said. “Gov. Inslee is targeting 12 manufacturing industries with mas- sive new taxes and regulations that $500 Cash! WORDS could drive out more jobs and make it Every Friday and Saturday, from November 20 through harder to attract new jobs.” December 19, you can pick a Snowman Bag from the 8 Ericksen questioned whether Ecol- sleigh and win cash! Drawings every 30 minutes from ogy has authority to regulate carbon Monday, November 30, Winners Club Members get a6pm FREE to 10pmMax Bet both Spin nights. ($15) Winners on our Club huge Members Colossal get a emissions, and declared last week’s Diamonds game! Pick up your voucher at the Winnersfree Club entry between on each 5pm day ofand drawings. 7pm! CURRENTS ruling “a political opinion, another ex- 6 ample of a liberal King County judge 6 overstepping into the role of activism VIEWS and legislation.” VIEWS

He’s wrong; but that makes him a Pick A Special Snowflake 4 force no less potent. Ericksen helped lead a coalition that was able to under- MAIL mine and ultimately derail a debate on & Win Cash Or Prizes! 2 carbon pricing strategies during the DO IT IT DO last legislative session, an action that EarnE 100 Rewards Points and get an envelope from the drew rebuke from the Seattle Times ed- WWinners Club — every envelope is a winner of a prize or itorial board, who called the senator’s caccashXSWR7KH¿UVW:LQQHUV&OXE0HPEHUV positions “wrong,” “retrograde” and to earn 100 Points on the following days will win: “corrosive” to public policy. 12.02.15 “Debate must start with the simple WWednesday, December 9 WWednesday, December 23 .10 acknowledgment,” the editorial board 48 # noted. “Since the Industrial Revolu- tion, humans have been emitting car- bon at unprecedented rates, and that is changing our climate.” MODERN COMFORTS AND JUST TWO TURNS OFF THE A court has agreed. “Current scientific evidence estab- OLD FASHIONED HOSPITALITY GUIDE MERIDIAN lishes that rapidly increasing global CASCADIA WEEKLY warming causes an unprecedented risk BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA 7 to the earth, including land, sea, the 877.777.9847 atmosphere and all living plants and 9750 Northwood Road • Lynden WA N creatures,” Judge Hollis wrote. And E BADGER RD NORTHWOOD RD Ecology not only has the authority, www.northwoodcasino.com but the duty to respond. GUIDE MERIDIAN RD LYNDEN to disappoint a nascent climate movement than it was to stand up to the fossil fuel industry. In the six years since, the power equa-

34 tion has changed, and that’s the real story of the Paris conference.

FOOD FOOD The shift was clear in New York last fall, currents when 300,000 to 400,000 people marched NEWS POLITICS FUZZ BUZZ INDEX through the streets demanding action on 27 global warming, the largest demonstra- tion in this country in years. Two days

B-BOARD B-BOARD later, Obama told the United Nations: “Our citizens keep marching. We cannot

24 pretend we do not hear them. We have to answer the call.”

FILM And a few weeks after that, the United States and China announced a joint pledge

20 to meet specific emissions goals, a first for China and an increased commitment from

MUSIC the United States. That agreement from the world’s largest greenhouse gas emit-

18 ters has helped push other nations into the

ART fold in Paris. There have been other victories as well: Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL 16 pipeline, New York state’s ban on frack- STAGE 14

GET OUT The pledges that governments plan to 12 finalize in Paris should

WORDS suffice to hold warming to

8 3 or 3.5 degrees Celsius over the course of the CURRENTS CURRENTS CURRENTS 8 century. Right now, the 6

Bellingham residents united for a moment of planet is heading for a VIEWS silence to honor recent lives lost in global terrorist attacks, then marched in support of climate goals. 5-degree increase, so 4 More than 770 people joined the weekend event.

MAIL MAIL that’s an improvement. PHOTO BY JULIANNA FISCHER BY PHOTO

2 Still, even 3 degrees THIS WEEK, diplomats and scientists, BY BILL MCKIBBEN DO IT IT DO activists and heads of state at the 2015 means Earth is on a path U.N. climate change conference in Paris will scramble to reach the first truly glob- to destruction. al agreement on the greatest problem the 12.02.15 planet has ever faced. It will make for com- pelling headlines, but it’s not the real sto- ing, Shell’s retreat from Arctic drilling. .09

48 ry. Because that already happened. In Australia, plans for the world’s larg- # Think back to Copenhagen in 2009 and est coal mines have been blocked. Aus- the last of the great U.N. climate gath- tralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and erings. There too the world watched ex- Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, COP21 pectantly, only to see negotiations break the Western world’s most outspoken ad- WHAT THE PARIS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE down. No firm targets, timetables or en- vocates for increased carbon extraction, CHANGE CAN DO FOR PLANET EARTH forcement mechanisms for cutting carbon lost their jobs in recent elections. Exxon CASCADIA WEEKLY emissions were put into place. Copenha- Mobil, the world’s most powerful fossil gen failed because no real pressure was fuel company, is in the dock for climate 8 put on the world’s leaders to make a deal. deceit that was exposed by the Los An- President Obama and Secretary of State geles Times, Columbia University’s Energy Hillary Clinton—and other national lead- & Environmental Reporting Project, and ers—could come home empty-handed and Inside Climate News. pay almost no political price. It was easier A resurgent environmental movement

34

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Hundreds of pairs of shoes are displayed at the Place de la Republique in Paris, mute protest against security measures 16 that discourage crowds from gathering in public spaces in support of climate goals. STAGE isn’t the only thing that’s changed since the fossil fuel age and deal with the Copenhagen. Engineers, scientists and effects of global warming that are now S technologists have played their part. unavoidable. It will take real money— 14 The price of a solar panel had dropped ongoing, steady support—to substitute

80 percent since 2009. Wind power is alternative energy sources for coal in GET OUT now so efficient that countries such as the developing world. Republicans aren’t Denmark can supply their power needs helping here: two weeks ago, they voted S 12 from the breeze on many days and send down even $500 million in funding from a surplus into the European grid. In the the United States, one of many explicit WORDS developing world, it’s possible to skip efforts to torpedo the negotiations.

the coal age in favor of clean energy. The second clue is whether the con- 8 8 China will use less coal this year than ference will set a clear goal for not just last, and it’s building renewable energy reducing but also ending the use of fossil CURRENTS CURRENTS infrastructure at a breakneck pace. fuels. Will it establish an efficient way to CURRENTS If the coal, gas and oil industries no ratchet up emission pledges, as science longer enjoy a chokehold on the outcome and technology evolve? Having wasted 6 of climate talks, their power hasn’t dis- the last quarter-century, the world can’t

S VIEWS appeared. There will be no formal trea- afford to keep gearing up for once-a-de-

ty in Paris; everyone knows there aren’t cade grand gatherings; it needs to move 4 enough votes in the Senate to ratify an smoothly forward into a 100 percent re- international treaty based on a rational newable energy future. BURNING OUT MAIL

climate policy. But neither will Paris be The Paris climate conference rep- 2 a failure: The pledges that governments resents a possible turning point in the ON HOLIDAY DO IT IT DO plan to finalize there should suffice to fight between the fossil fuel industry We are in your corner with hold warming to 3 or 3.5 degrees Celsius and the rest of us, but the great murky EXPENSEEX S? over the course of the century. Right unknown remains: How much of a margin CA$HLINE, a personal line now, the planet is heading for a 5-degree do physics and chemistry allow a warm- of credit to pay for home increase, so that’s an improvement. ing Earth? The recent news that October repairs, automotive 12.02.15 Still, even 3 degrees means Earth is was the hottest month ever recorded on Financing the holidays can be stressful! repairs, medical expenses, .09 2

on a path to destruction. There is wide our planet, and that the atmosphere’s CO 48

We understand, andappliance we’re In purchases Your Corner or # agreement that any temperature increase level has topped 400 parts per million, greater than 2 degrees Celsius threatens sobers any optimism. with personal loans,other lines surprises. of credit, Find debt out civilization; we passed the 1-degree mark Whatever happens in the next two consolidation and financialmore at counseling.IndustrialCU.org Call, this fall and already the Arctic is melting, weeks, it almost certainly won’t be suf- click or come in for more information today. the West is confronting epic drought and ficient. Physics and chemistry don’t the ocean is 30 percent more acidic. negotiate. After Paris, we will have to

All of this means that Paris should be maintain the pressure on our leaders, and CASCADIA WEEKLY both a scoreboard and a springboard. hope for a bit of luck. IN YOUR 9 It will show how far we’ve come, and it CORNER could launch more progress. Two issues Bill McKibben is the founder of the global in the negotiations will signal how much climate campaign 350.org and a professor of more. First, how much aid will go to the environmental studies at Middlebury College. (360) 734-2043 IndustrialCU.org poorest nations to help them leapfrog This article is reprinted courtesy of 350.org. currents last week’s news

34 FOOD FOOD

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MUSIC NEWS T NOV25-30 s Highway crews inspect the guardrail along SR 542 about six miles east of Glacier. The Nooksack River eroded its bank just south of the highway, 18 BY TIM JOHNSON leaving guardrail posts hanging. The highway is reduced to one lane, with portable traffic signals controlling traffic in the westbound lane.

ART Repairs are expected to take several weeks.

Corporate welfare will keep Alcoa operating shooting his neighbor three times outside the 16 in New York. Thanks to nearly $70 million in front door of a Nevada Street duplex in 2013. The

STAGE state incentives, Alcoa says it will not shut down Bellingham Herald reports Kamuran Daniel Chabuk, a smelter in the northern part of that state. The 29, testified that he shot Josh Mark Kiener, 33, 11.25.15 agreement calls for the smelter to remain open in self-defense as Kiener drunkenly followed him 14 WEDNESDAY for at least another three-and-a-half years. Two home and accused Chabuk, wrongly, of damaging smelters in Washington—including Intalco at his property. The two men were neighbors, but

GET OUT Western Washington University and Bellingham Police continue to Cherry Point—are slated to shutter in January, strangers. Alcohol was a factor in the assault. investigate threats aimed at students of color. The threats were post- displacing nearly 900 workers in Ferndale and

12 ed on an anonymous social media site and traced to the vicinity of outside Wenatchee. Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Fern- 11.30.15 campus. The posts mentioned blacks, Muslims, Jews and American In- dale) says that while state law forbids the sorts of MONDAY dians, and were described by President Bruce Shepard as “insulting… incentives Alcoa received in New York, he will work WORDS racist… vile….” Shepard says he cancelled classes after students told to roll back carbon pricing plans and water quality The state Public Disclosure Commission issues

8 him they were afraid. He explains his decision in a lengthy email re- regulations he claims “create a perverse incentive a staff report on a mailer sent out by county leased over the weekend. “Assuming we are able to ‘get’ those making for companies to shutter their Washington plants administrators promoting a sales tax for a new the posts,” Shepard notes, “that still does almost nothing to address and move jobs overseas or to other states.” jail. Staff finds the mailer was not a prohibited CURRENTS CURRENTS CURRENTS 8 the very real long-term matters of campus climate that we, and univer- public service announcement or an electioneering sities across the country, must continually improve.” 11.27.15 communication. The staff recommends dismissal 6 FRIDAY of the allegations in 15 complaints and no action The president of WWU’s Associated Students tells Seattle media she against the county administration. The commis- VIEWS no longer feels safe on campus. Belina Seare says she brought her Canada slows its timetable for accepting sion will consider staff recommendations.

4 concerns about threats to students of color to university police and Syrian refugees into their country. The govern- school administration and was told there was not much they could do. ment says it will resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees University Police arrest Tysen Campbell, 19, MAIL MAIL Seare says she feels she has to choose between her education and her by the end of the year and another 15,000 by the in connection with threats posted on online so-

safety. Seare had encouraged an effort to consider a more inclusive end of February. Prime minister Justin Trudeau cial media last week targeting students of color. 2 school mascot, which police say triggered the racist threats. had wanted to resettle 25,000 refugees in Canada Campbell, an honors student who lives on cam- DO IT IT DO by the end of this year, but faced some push- pus, has been suspended and barred from WWU Opponents of Tim Eyman’s latest voter-approved tax-limiting back after the deadly attacks in Paris. The United pending the outcome of legal proceedings and initiative renew their lawsuit. The initiative gives lawmakers a States plans to receive 10,000 Syrian refugees the university’s student conduct review. Police choice: send a constitutional amendment to voters that would re- over the next 18 months. obtained a warrant to disclose the identities of 12.02.15 quire a two-thirds majority in the legislature to raise taxes, or see anonymous social media posts threatening vio- a cut in the sales tax. The complaint against I-1366 maintains the A jury finds a former WWU grad student lence. Campbell is held on suspicion of malicious .09

48 measure is unconstitutional and beyond the power of initiative. guilty of assault in the second degree for harassment, a felony. #

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10

 PRQGD\WXHVGD\ WKVWUHHW WZRIRU$ ZZZRYQZRRGILUHGSL]]DFRP asked so she called police for assistance,” index FUZZ Bellingham Police reported.

CAT-ACLYSM 34 BUZZ On Nov. 19, on a night when temperatures

dipped below freezing, U.S. Border Patrol FOOD A SEASON OF FEASTING field agents were alerted when a car with On Nov. 23, a woman stole an unknown two occupants stopped briefly in a seclud- 27 amount of food items from the Albertson’s ed area near the international border, re- in Birchwood neighborhood. The thief was moved something from the auto and then not located. drove away. Blaine Police responded with B-BOARD the agents and together they determined On Nov. 26, food was stolen from the that the car’s occupants had dumped three 24 Safeway at Sunset Square. The thief was kittens out into the underbrush. “The not located. agents and officers set up a perimeter and FILM the agents were able to capture one of the

On Nov. 27, a log ice cream cake was sto- critters, but its sibling climbed about 30 20 len from the Community Food Co-op in the feet up a huge tree,” police reported. “A

Cordata neighborhood. North Whatcom Fire crew responded to MUSIC assist and went out on a limb to assist

TURKEY DAY in a rescue. The third kitten evaded the 18 On Nov. 26, Bellingham Police checked team and nearby homeowners were alerted ART on a report that a man at Walmart was to watch for it. The two rescued kittens screaming at his seven-year-old daughter were given food and a warm box for the 16 and threatening to kill her. next in the police station write-up room,

and turned over to the Humane Society STAGE THE GRIFT THAT the following day. Meanwhile the officers $299.60 KEEPS ON GIVING identified and contacted the two adults On Nov. 16, the Washington State Patrol who had tossed out the litter. A charging AVERAGE spending per shopper over the weekend, with an an average of $229.56 14 specifically going towards gifts, or 76.6 percent of total purchases. reported the agency had received numer- case report on each of them for three ous phone calls over the past four months counts of Animal Abandonment has been GET OUT from citizens who said they’d been con- forwarded to the prosecutor.” tacted by the WSP Troopers Association 72.8 12 soliciting donations. “The phone calls FEATHERED FUGITIVE $10.4 have been from individuals attempting to On Nov. 22, a Blaine family called police BILLIONS in sales over the PERCENT of shoppers (74.2 million) WORDS scam the public for money,” WSP reported. when a stray chicken wandered into their Thanksgiving holiday, down more than who said they shopped on Black

“The telemarketing company used by the yard. “The family had other pets so could 8

a billion from the $11.6 billion in sales Friday, the biggest shopping day of the 8 WSPTA does not employ hard sell tactics not care for the wayward hen, and a foot logged in 2014. Thanksgiving holiday weekend. About nor will they ask for credit card numbers search of the neighborhood did not turn 34 percent (34.6 million) shopped on Thanksgiving Day. CURRENTS CURRENTS or personal financial information over the up any coops or worried urban farmers,” CURRENTS phone. You will never receive a call from police reported. “An officer collected the a trooper soliciting donations.” “Scammers beast and gave it lodging at the station 6 do what’s called ’spoofing,’” WSP Sergeant overnight. The owner was not located and

53.8 57 VIEWS Paul Calge explained. I heard there’s an Animal Control took custody.” PERCENT of Americans aged 18 to PERCENT of shoppers who reported they app for it, and so they can call from anoth- 4 24 who said they shopped over the shopped online at some point over the er phone—their cell phone—and what will BONNIE AND CLYDE weekend. About six in 10 (62,1 percent) weekend. According to a survey, 56.7 MAIL MAIL pop up on people’s caller ID is a legitimate On Nov. 25, Bellingham Police took custody Americans aged 25 to 34 years old said percent of smartphone owners used their

business number. So while we are investi- of a teen who had stolen merchandise from they shopped over the weekend. phone to research products, purchase 2 gating, what makes it difficult is trying to Bellis Fair Mall. Police also arrested her holiday items, check in-store availability and other mobile shopping activities. DO IT IT DO track them down.” brother for disorderly conduct. “Both were given lifetime trespasses from the store and On Nov. 24, a woman called Bellingham all of its associated stores,” police reported. Police to report she’d received a call from a man who claimed to be from Comcast THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT 12.02.15 and needed to make some corrections on On Nov. 20, a Blaine resident called police

20 .09

her account and then tried to get her so- after receiving multiple messages on so- 48

PERCENT of Americans who told Gallup that at some time in the past year they didn’t # cial security number. She refused. cial media from a person he did not know have enough money to buy the food their family needed. demanding to meet in Birch Bay and fight. LONG WINTER’S NAP An officer investigated and located the On Nov. 28, a resident of Sehome neigh- person who had been sending the messag- borhood wanted Bellingham Police to es provoking assault on behalf of a third know she’d found a dead man underneath party. That third party was then located 36.4 48 her porch. and arrested for violating a no-contact PERCENT of women ages 18 to 34 PERCENT of Millennials who managed CASCADIA WEEKLY order. “Investigation continues and other who resided with family members in their own households that are “doubled OVERSTAYED THE WELCOME charges may arise,” police reported. 2014, the highest number since the up”—that is, a household in which 11 1940s. there is an extra adult who is not the On Nov. 23, a Bellingham woman felt bad spouse or unmarried partner of the for a man and let him stay at her apart- SIGN OF THE TIMES household head. ment for a couple of days to get out of On Nov. 26, a man named Christian Church the bad weather. “He did not leave when was booked for assault. SOURCES: National Retail Federation; ShopperTrak; Gallup; Pew Research Center doit WORDS WED., DEC. 2 34 SHANGHAID: Alex Kuo reads from his new

FOOD FOOD book of fiction, shanghai.shanghai.shanghai, at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The novel focuses on culture writer and closet novelist Ge and his encounters in the titular city. 27 words COMMUNITY LECTURES BOOKS WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM

B-BOARD B-BOARD DEC. 2-5 WINTER BOOK SALE: Used books for all ages, DVDs, videos, audio books, CDs and more can

24 decades earlier, in the 1920s and through be purchased at a Winter Book Sale happening the Great Depression. from 10am-6pm Wednesday through Friday, and

FILM The book opens with 12-year-old William 10am-1pm Saturday at the Bellingham Public Li- Eng, during his fifth year at the Sacred brary, 210 Central Ave. Tables will be restocked throughout the sale, and items will get progres-

20 Heart Orphanage. The sisters are strict and sively cheaper by the day. life lacks much hope, though William is 778-7250 OR

MUSIC aware that the situation for many Seattle WWW.BELLINGHAMPUBLICLIBRARY.ORG residents, on Skid Row and elsewhere, is THURS., DEC. 3 18 also bleak. WHEELBARROW WRITERS: Join the members

ART On the one day the or- of the Red Wheelbarrow Writers as they read phanage celebrates all the from the novel they created during November’s boys’ birthdays simultane- NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) at 16 ously, William is treated to 6pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM

STAGE a trip to the movies, where he spies a poster featur- DEC. 3-4 ing a glamorous Chinese- WWU BOOK SALE: More than 1,000 new chil- 14 GET IT American actress named dren’s and young adult books will be available HOW: Songs Willow Frost. William is for purchase at an annual Children’s and Young of Willow Frost Adult Book Sale from 11am-7pm Thursday and GET OUT convinced she looks just can be checked 10am-2pm Friday on the sixth floor of Western out from your like his long-lost mother. Washington University’s Wilson Library. public library in

12 Why did she abandon him? WWW.WWUCLC.COM 12 several formats: He simply has to find her book, large and find out. FRI., DEC. 4 WORDS WORDS print book, au- William’s best friend, a GRINCH STORIES: Bring cameras along for diobook on CD, fun photo opportunities at a “Story Time with eAudiobook, 8 blind girl named Charlotte, the Grinch” gathering at 4pm in the Readings and eBook gives him the courage to Gallery at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The MORE: Use the run away from the orphan- green guy himself will make an appearance, free Library and there’ll be readings of How the Grinch Stole CURRENTS CURRENTS age, and their method of Now app to Christmas. JAMIE FORD place a hold escape (hiding in a book-

6 WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM from your mobile) will give library- mobile device, lovers a chuckle. They soon DEC. 4-5 VIEWS or visit www. cross paths with Willow HOLIDAY BOOK SALE: Find the perfect gifts wcls.org (or at a Holiday Book Sale taking place from 10am- 4 Frost, and the book be- REVIEWED BY CHRISTINE PERKINS bellingham 4pm Friday and Saturday at the Blaine Library, publiclibrary. comes less about finding

MAIL MAIL 610 3rd St. The event coincides with the city’s org if you live William’s mother and more Holiday Harbor Lights Festival.

within the about understanding her 2 (360) 305-3637 Willow’s Songs city limits of difficult life and the ter- Bellingham) DO IT IT DO SAT., DEC. 5 to search your rible choices she had to A MOSTLY GENTLE NOVEL make to protect her son. BOOK, BAKE SALE: Stop by to peruse a large library catalog selection of used books, movies and baked Ford has clearly done goods at great prices at a Book and Bake Sale WHENEVER MY family visits Seattle, we make extensive research, and loads his book happening from 10am-4:30pm in Maple Falls at 12.02.15 a beeline for Mee Sum Pastry, a purveyor of Chinese with interesting details about Seattle dur- the North Fork Library, 7506 Kendall Rd. pork hum bao at the Pike Place Market: baked BBQ ing this time period. If you’ve spent time WWW.WCLS.ORG .10

48 pork buns that are sweet and savory, familiar and in our state’s largest city, you’ll recognize

# USED BOOK SALE: Stock up on inexpensive comforting. They’re not fancy, but are very satisfy- street names and famous figures. You’ll gifts and books for the holidays at a Used Book ing and make you feel like you’ve had a small but also learn about the budding film industry Sale from 10am-5pm behind Peoples Bank across significant cultural experience. in nearby Tacoma during the 1920s. from the Everson Library, 104 Kirsch Dr. Jamie Ford’s new book, Songs of Willow Frost, in- Ford’s writing style is simple and direct, WWW.WCLS.ORG voked a similar feeling: it’s a mostly gentle novel, and at time it feels like a grown-up version THE BEAR’S GIFT: Author and illustrator Caro- with a dash of history and Chinese-American culture, of an American Girl novel—not particularly lyn Koehnline will share her transformational CASCADIA WEEKLY that leaves you happy about time well-spent reading. challenging, but enjoyable nonetheless. tale of three ursine sisters when she signs cop- Readers may remember Ford’s highly successfull ies of The Bear’s Gift from 10:30am-1pm at Cozy 12 debut, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, about a young Chinese-Amer- Christine Perkins is Executive Director of the Corner Books & Coffee, 3095 Northwest Ave. At ican boy from Seattle whose close friendship with a Japanese-American Whatcom County Library System. She loves noon, there will be a reading of the book. (360) 647-1747 girl is cut short when her family is evacuated to an internment camp during reading books set in the Pacific Northwest, World War II. The book’s many fans will be similarly moved by Songs of Wil- especially when eating char siu bao. She also TREE SONGS: Bring your kids along when Jeff low Frost, Ford’s follow-up, also set in Seattle. This novel takes place several reviews fiction for Library Journal. doit

trees and listen to live music at the annual “Festival of Trees” from 10am-9pm Friday at the Leopold

Crystal Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall Ave. Entry is free. 34 From 6:30-10pm Saturday, there’ll be a Gala Dinner SERVING WHATCOM and Auction. Tickets are $50; funds raised benefit COUNTY & BELLINGHAM FOOD Bellingham Health Support Center. WWW.HEALTHSUPPORTCENTER.ORG

Greener 27 HOLIDAY HARBOR LIGHTS: An Arts and Crafts Bazaar, a Book Sale, a Holiday Art and Gift Market, Solutions Clear an “Obstacle Dash,” a tree lighting ceremony, visits B-BOARD B-BOARD with Santa, horse-drawn trolley rides, a lighted boat Advantage Glass display, performances of The Nutcracker and more

will be part of the annual Holiday Harbor Lights Fes- Experience 24 tival taking place Friday and Saturday throughout

Blaine. Many events are free. the Difference FILM WWW.BLAINEHOLIDAYHARBORLIGHTS.COM

DEC. 4-6 1919 Humboldt St, 20 HOLIDAY PORT FESTIVAL: Music by more than Bellingham, WA 98225

35 local bands, orchestras, choirs and performance MUSIC groups, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, art activi- -CALL- ties for kids, horse-and-wagon rides, gingerbread

Gingerbread houses crafted by creative community members can be perused as part of the annual Holiday Port 18 house viewings and much more will be part of the Festival taking place Dec. 4-6 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal (360) 527-8774

Port of Bellingham’s annual “Holiday Port Festival” ART from 12-8pm Friday, and 11am-5pm Saturday and LaMont shares The Song of the Christmas Tree at collection includes pieces by more than 100 poets. Sunday at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris 16 2pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The book asks WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM Ave. Entry and parking is free. readers to consider the fate of a young tree named WWW.PORTOFBELLINGHAM.COM Douglas who takes a journey and makes a remark- STAGE able discovery. COMMUNITY OLDE FASHIONED CHRISTMAS: Members of the 671-2626 Ferndale Heritage Society will help visitors step back 14 WED., DEC. 2 in time at the annual “Olde Fashioned Christmas” WERE CHRONICLES: Author Alma Alexander shares GREEN DRINKS: Network with likeminded environ- taking place from 5-9pm Friday, 1-9pm Saturday, and details about The World of Shapeshifters, the newest mentally aware citizens at the monthly Green Drinks 1-4pm Sunday at the town’s Pioneer Park (on Cherry GET OUT book in her popular Were Chronicles YA series, from from 5-7pm at the RE Store, 2309 Meridian St. Street and 2nd Avenue). Costumed hosts, decorated 2-4pm at Sudden Valley’s South Whatcom Library, 10 WWW.RE-SOURCES.ORG log cabins, live entertainment, horse-drawn carriage

Barn View Ct. Entry is free. rides, crafts, refreshments and more will be part of 12 12 WWW.WCLS.ORG DEC. 2-10 the seasonal fun. Entry is $3-$4. HOLIDAY PARKING: Continuing through Fri., Dec. WWW.FERNDALEHERITAGESOCIETY.COM Ginger Snaps WORDS NANO WRAP-UP: Come meet up with fellow writ- 25 there will be free holiday parking during the is now serving WORDS ers, share your experience and celebrate the comple- week on the first floor of the Commercial Street SAT., DEC. 5

tion of your month of novel writing at a NaNoWriMo Parking Garage located at 1300 Commercial St. Peo- FAIRHAVEN HOLIDAYS: As part of the Fairhaven Heartwarming Treats, 8 Wrap-Up happening from 4-6pm at the SkillShare ple will be able to park for free for up to four hours; Holiday Festival, Santa will be visiting with families Stimulating Espresso Space at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central parking is also free after 5pm and on weekends. from 12-3pm in the lobby at the Fairhaven Village Ave. Entry is free. WWW.DOWNTOWNBELLINGHAM.COM Inn, 1200 10th St. Free horse-drawn carriage rides & Comforting Teas ! CURRENTS CURRENTS WWW.BELLINGHAMPUBLICLIBRARY.ORG will be offered from the portico of the inn. At Remember When

THURS., DEC. 3 WWW.FAIRHAVEN.COM 6 SUN., DEC. 6 VETERANS INFO PANEL: Attend a free Veterans Vintage, Antiques GET LIT: Shannon Laws leads “Get Lit, “ a weekly Information Panel at 3pm at the G Building at DEC. 5-6 & Uniques VIEWS poetry show, at 7pm at Cafe Bouzingo, 1209 Corn- Bellingham Technical College, 3028 Lindbergh Ave. SHOP & SIP: Community caroling, kids’ ornament wall Ave. Local and nationally renowned tour- The community forum will explore on- and off- making, a bonfire a s’more bar, the sale of fresh- on the corner of Holly and Bay! 4 ing poets are frequent features, and each show campus resources for current and former military cut Christmas trees and wreaths and hot cider and spotlights one of Bellingham’s many vibrant poetry service members. more will be part of “Shop & Sip” events taking MAIL MAIL organizations. The first portion of every evening (360) 752-8492 place Saturday and Sunday at BelleWood Acres, is an open mic, so bring your own words to share. 6140 Guide Meridian. 2 Sign-up starts at 6:30pm. Entry is $5. DEC. 3-6 WWW.BELLEWOODFARMS.COM MEDITATE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CAFEBOUZINGO DECK THE OLD CITY HALL: The annual “Deck the IT DO

Old City Hall” continues from 12-5pm Thursdays SUN., DEC. 6 MON., DEC. 7 through Sundays through Jan. 3 at Whatcom Mu- STOCKINGS FOR A CAUSE: Bid on more than 20 POETRYNIGHT: Those looking to share their seum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Visitors can lovingly created Christmas stockings at a “Stockings Learn to creative verse as part of Poetrynight can sign up at view decorated trees and nutcracker collections, for a Cause” fundraiser from 3-5pm at the Lummi 7:45pm at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central peruse goods at a pop-up shop, enter a raffle and Island Library, 2144 S. Nugent Rd. Entry is free. 12.02.15 Ave. Readings start at 8pm. Entry is by donation. more. Entry is by donation. 758-7145

P.S. Please use the back fountain entry. WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG .10 48

WWW.POETRYNIGHT.ORG HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS: An annual Christmas # FRI. DEC. 4 Parade will kick off Old Fashioned Holiday events TUES., DEC. 8 TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: The Downtown Bell- at 5pm in downtown Mount Vernon. At 6pm in Pine FERNDALE BOOK GROUP: Graeme Simsion’s The ingham Partnership and the City of Bellingham team Square, there will be a Tree Lighting Ceremony, vis- Rosie Effect—the sequel to The Rosie Project—will up to present a Tree Lighting Ceremony starting at its with Santa, and more. As part of the event, there be the focus of a Book Group discussion from 2:30- 5:30pm in front of the Depot Market Square, 1100 will also be free viewings of Home Alone at 2:30pm Free Meditation Instruction 4:30pm at the Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St. All Railroad Ave. The event includes visits by Mayor and 7pm at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. adults are welcome. Kelli Linville and Santa, holiday music, refresh- WWW.MOUNTVERNONCHAMBER.COM Monday evenings, 7:00 pm WWW.WCLS.ORG ments, and, from 4-7pm, a Holiday Pop-Up Market Open House Meditation & Talk CASCADIA WEEKLY featuring more than 25 vendors offering local, WED., DEC. 9 Meditation @ 7pm/ Talk @ 8pm THURS., DEC. 10 handcrafted gifts. GUYS’ NIGHT: Free gift wrapping, shopping assis- 13 NOISY WATER READING: A group reading featuring WWW.DOWNTOWNBELLINGHAM.COM tance, in-store specials and guy-themed snacks and  4LYPKPHU:\P[L‹  several local and regional poets who are included in refreshments will be part of a “Guys’ Night” event Noisy Water: Poetry from Whatcom County, Washington DEC. 4-5 from 5-8pm throughout downtown Mount Vernon. meditation center begins at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The FESTIVAL OF TREES: View decorated Christmas WWW.MOUNTVERNONCHAMBER.COM bellingham.shambhala.org doit WED., DEC. 2 GARDEN CLUB MEETING: “Daylillies: Sum-

mer Joy” will be the focus of a presentation by 34 Daylily Gardens’ Pam Erickson at a Birchwood Garden Club meeting at 7pm at Whatcom Mu- FOOD FOOD seum’s Rotunda Room, 121 Prospect St. A outside WWW.BIRCHWOODGARDENCLUB.ORG HIKING RUNNING CYCLING GARDENING 27 SOUTH PACIFIC STORIES: Virginia Malmquist and Jerry Schuster will present slides and stories of their sailing adventure B-BOARD B-BOARD to the South Pacific aboard their 40-foot explained at the time. It was engineer John sailboat at 7:30pm at the new Connections Building at the Community Food Co-op, 405 E.

24 Grant’s idea to insert torch-like pylons at both ends of the bridge’s span. He meant Holly St. Entry is free. WWW.COMMUNITYFOOD.COOP FILM them to pay tribute to Canadian World War I prisoners of war, who would huddle around THURS., DEC. 3

20 open fires in their prison camps. SKI CLUB MEETING: Join members of the Heritage Vancouver calls this one of the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club for an orientation to learn about the club at 7pm at Garden MUSIC few Art Deco bridges in the world, and it’s Street Methodist Church, 1326 N. Garden been internationally recognized as a land- St. At 7:30pm, there’ll be a general meeting

18 mark historic structure. From the bridge and a presentation dubbed “Road Trip! An Opinionated Guide to Groomed Nordic Skiing ART deck you get great views of False Creek, downtown skyscrapers and the North Shore Destinations in the Northwest.” Mountains, and the bridge’s handrails were WWW.NOOKSACKNORDICSKICLUB.ORG 16

specifically designed so that vehicles driv- RIVER TALK: American Rivers’ local staff

STAGE ing 40-64 kilometers an hour could still ap- member Wendy McDermott will share infor- preciate that view. mation about community efforts to protect Granville Street Bridge: This bridge and enhance the recreational values of the 14 14 came into being 22 years after the Bur- Nooksack River and how community members can get involved at a free presentation at rard Street Bridge, in 1954, with none of 7:30pm at Backcountry Essentials, 214 W. GET OUT GET OUT the grand ornamentation of its predeces- Holly St. sor. Still, it announces your arrival into WWW.BACKCOUNTRYESSENTIALS.NET

12 the downtown core, with the neon lights of the entertainment district foreground- DEC. 3-6 THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS: View festive ed against the mountains. It also offers WORDS holiday displays both outdoors and indoors stunning views of the city, the artist com- at the annual “The Lights of Christmas” event BURRARD STREET BRIDGE starting this week from 5-10pm Thursday

8 munity of Granville Island some 27 meters below it, and False Creek. through Sunday in Stanwood at the 15-acre The 1,171-meter-long bridge forms part Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Marine Dr. Tickets are $11-$16.

CURRENTS CURRENTS of the Sea to Sky Highway, also known as WWW.WARMBEACHLIGHTS.COM BY LAUREN KRAMER Highway 99, which continues all the way 6 up to Whistler and beyond on what is argu- FRI., DEC. 4 ably one of the world’s most scenic routes. HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING: Attend a Holiday VIEWS The bridge cost $16.5 million to build, all Tree Lighting at 5pm at Ferndale’s Centennial Vehicular Views Riverwalk Park, 1985 Main St. Entry is free and 4 funded by the city. By contrast, the first open to all. MORE THAN BRIDGE CROSSINGS Granville Street Bridge, built in 1889, cost WWW.FERNDALE-CHAMBER.COM MAIL MAIL a mere $16,000, funded by the Canadian

water that surrounds Vancouver, BC between the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Railroad. SAT., DEC. 5 2 GIVEN THE the Burrard Inlet, and the Fraser River, it’s no surprise that bridge-crossing Lion’s Gate Bridge: Known as the jew- NSEA WORK PARTY: Join the Nooksack En- hancement Association and Bellingham Parks DO IT IT DO el of Vancouver’s bridges, the Lion’s Gate is a must in this city. Locals cross bridges in the tens of thousands daily, by and Rec for a Community Work Party from car, bike, bus and foot—and most are all too familiar with the traffic lineups Bridge was built in 1938 and named for the 9am-12pm along Whatcom Creek. Meet at the associated with those bridges during rush hour. Still, those bridges represent Lions, a pair of mountain peaks north of north end of C Street (near the BTC Fisheries history, exquisite architecture and offer spectacular views. Next time you’re in Vancouver. Also called the First Narrows campus) to remove invasive plants and plant 12.02.15 the city, choose your bridge carefully and take your time while crossing it. You Bridge, the 1,823-meter-long crossing tra- and mulch to improve salmon habitat. WWW.N-SEA.ORG won’t regret it. verses Burrard Inlet, connecting downtown .10

48 Burrard Street Bridge: Over the years, an urban myth has circulated that a Vancouver with North and West Van. Look JINGLE BELL RUN: A Kids Fun Run will kick # gallery or apartment is hidden in the ornamental bridge towers of the Burrard out for the cast concrete lions that guard off the eighth annual “Jingle Bell Run/Walk Street Bridge, which connects the trendy neighborhood of Kitsilano with the the south approach to the bridge, majestic for Arthritis” at 9am at the Burlington Visi- downtown core. In fact, the main purpose of these decorative concrete towers sculptures created by Charles Marega and tors Center, 520 E. Fairhaven Ave. At 9:30am, a 5K Run/Walk and Dog Trot will commence. is to conceal the steel support structures that hold the bridge in place. placed on the bridge in January 1939. Entry is $10-$40; funds raised benefit the The only Art Deco-style bridge in Vancouver, the Burrard Street Bridge was Congestion is a common gripe among Arthritis Foundation. built in 1932 and is now a six-lane, 836-meter-long suspension bridge. Its de- Vancouverites, as this bridge sees upward WWW.SKAGITJINGLEBELLRUN.ORG

CASCADIA WEEKLY sign was masterminded by architect George Lister Thornton Sharp, who used of 70,000 vehicles a day. It was designated the distinctive towers and middle galleries to give the bridge a ceremonial a National Historic Site of Canada in March BIRCH BAY MARATHON: The “Ghost of Birch 14 Bay” Marathon and Mega-Half Marathon begins gateway function. 2005 and offers one of the most spectacu- at 9am at Birch Bay State Park. Entry is $25- In the center of the gallery, Sharp placed symbolic arms to represent the City lar views of the inlet, with the lush green- $35. Register by Dec. 2. of Vancouver, and flanked them with windows overlooking the bridge deck. “On ery of Stanley Park on one side and the WWW.DATABAREVENTS.COM/BIRCHBAYGHOST the two piers which support the gallery are molded the prows of boats with fig- urbanized skirts of the North Shore moun- ureheads to represent Captain George Vancouver and Captain Harry Burrard,” he tains on the other. doit

GIRLS ON THE RUN: All are welcome at today’s “Girls on the Run” 5K starting at 9am in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Valley College Field House.

Entry is $10-$15. 34 WWW.SKAGITYMCA.ORG FOOD FOOD

FAIRHAVEN FROSTY: The Greater Bellingham Running Club hosts its annual “Fairhaven Frosty” 5K and 10K at 10am at Fairhaven Park, 107 27 Chuckanut Dr. Entry is $5-$10. WWW.GBRC.NET B-BOARD B-BOARD

TREE LIGHTING: Santa will arrive on an antique fire truck at today’s La Conner Tree 24 Lighting happening from 4-5:30pm at the town’s Gilkey Square. The free, all-ages event will also $VZLPGHVLJQDWHGIRU FILM include cookies, hot cider and cheer. WWW.LOVELACONNER.COM UHFUHDWLRQDOHQMR\

PHQWGXULQJZKLFKWKH 20 LIGHTED BOAT PARADE: Bundle up and watch the Bellingham Yacht Club’s annual Lighted IRRWZDWHUVOLGH 1RWH1RWH

THE LIVING BIRD: Photographer, cinematog-

rapher, and sound recordist Gerrit Vyn shares WORDS stories and slides from The Living Bird: 100 Years of Listening to Nature at 7pm at Village Books, 8 1200 11th St. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM

TUES., DEC. 8 CURRENTS BAKER BASICS: Necessary gear, common 6 mistakes, best practices and places to ride will be covered at a free “Baker Backcountry Basics” presentation at 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. VIEWS 647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM 4

ALL-PACES RUN: Staffers and volunteers are always on hand to guide the way at the weekly MAIL All-Paces Run starting at 6pm every Tuesday at Fairhaven Runners, 1209 11th St. Tonight’s 2 Saucony-sponsored event, “Will Run for Cocoa,” DO IT IT DO will also include demos, raffles and hot cocoa. WWW.FAIRHAVENRUNNERS.COM

BANFF FILM FEST: View a variety of short adventure films when the Banff Mountain Film 12.02.15 Festival makes a stop in Bellingham for a 7pm

showing at Western Washington University’s .10

Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10. 48 # 650-6146 OR WWW.TICKETS.WWU.EDU SOMETHING FOR EVERY BODY WED., DEC. 9 CROSS-COUNTRY BASICS: A “Cross-Country Skiing Basics” class begins at 6pm at REI, 400 Join the Y today 36th St. Register in advance for the free event. 647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM &hLOGcarHVwLmOHVVoQV¾tQHVVaQGmorH. CASCADIA WEEKLY MIRACLES OF LIFE: Award-winning wildlife For all ages and levels. Sign up for a membership today. and nature photographer David N. Sattler shares 15 stories and slides from The Miracle of Life at La Jolla Cove at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. BELLINGHAM, FERNDALE, LYNDEN & SUDDEN VALLEY WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM WHATCOM FAMILY YMCA www.whatcomymca.org doit STAGE

DEC. 2-6

34 A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Watch what happens when a popular holiday story get re-imagined

FOOD FOOD when A Christmas Carol: The Musical shows this stage week at 7:30pm Wednesday through Friday, THEATER DANCE PROFILES and 2pm and 7:30pm Saturday and Sunday, at 27 Western Washington University’s Performing Arts Center Mainstage Theater. Tickets to see the musical retelling of the story of Scrooge

B-BOARD B-BOARD and company are $12-$17. 650-6146 OR WWW.TICKETS.WWU.EDU

24 two other productions that are part of a THURS., DEC. 3 trilogy written by Jaston Williams, Joe GOOD, BAD, UGLY: Watch “The Good, the

FILM Sears, and Ed Howard—all of the many Bad and the Ugly” at 8pm every Thursday at characters telling the tale are played by a the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At 10pm, stick around for “The Project.” Entry is $8 for

20 cast of two people. the early show, $5 for the late one. This means that whether audiences are 733-8855 OR WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM

MUSIC viewing disc jockeys, old ladies, slow- witted highway workers, gay directors, DEC. 3-6

18 recalcitrant teenagers, promiscuous wait- LION, WITCH, WARDROBE: Find out what happens when four children sent to live with

ART resses or members of the Smut Snatchers their uncle during World War I find a magical of the New Order, they’ll see the same two wardrobe that takes them into a mysterious fellas taking on each role with gusto— 16 16 land called Narnia when The Lion, the Witch and with enough costume changes to ri- and the Wardrobe continues this weekend with shows at 7:30pm Thursday through STAGE STAGE val those of every Academy Award host who has ever lived. Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at the Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave. Tickets to the I’m still not sure how Les Campbell and 14 show—which concludes ACT’s 51st season— John Gonzales managed the massive line are $18. Additional performances happen load of A Tuna Christmas—never mind weekends through Dec. 19.

GET OUT transitioning between characters of every WWW.ACTTHEATRE.COM shape, stripe and twang BYE BYE BIRDIE: The Lynden Performing

12 at the drop of a Stet- Arts Guild concludes its run of Bye Bye Birdie son—but the dynamic at performances 7:30pm Thursday and Friday, duo did so with nary a and 2pm Saturday and Sunday at the Claire vg WORDS misstep, and with only Thomas Theatre, 655 Front St. Tickets to see the “delightfully charming musical satire on

8 a wig or two askew. American Society in the late 1950s” are $8-$12. Before the show Additional showings happen through Dec. 6. started, the house ATTEND WWW.CLAIREVGTHEATRE.COM

CURRENTS CURRENTS WHAT: A Tuna manager had noted Christmas that “this isn’t your FRI., DEC. 4 6 WHEN: 7:30pm typical holiday show,” DEAD PARROTS SOCIETY: Improvisational comedy by the Dead Parrots Society and PETER BY AMY KEPFERLE Dec. 3-5 and and she was right. Al- VIEWS 10-12; 2pm Dec. 6 Comedy Trio can be seen at an 8pm perfor- and 13 though the play takes mance at Western Washington University’s Old

4 WHERE: Bell- place during Christ- Main Theatre. Entry is $4. ingham Theatre mastime and is rife WWW.THEDEADPARROTSSOCIETY.COM

MAIL MAIL A Tuna Christmas Guild, 1600 H St. with decorated trees COST: $12-$14 DEC. 4-5 and dialogue of the 2 TRAVEL TO TEXAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS INFO: AERIAL SHOWCASE: View “silks, trapeze, www.bellingham seasonal kind, it’s real- lyra, cloud swing, corde-lisse, Spanish web, DO IT IT DO WE WERE at the box office at the Bellingham Theatre Guild picking up our theatreguild.com ly more about what life and a death-defying and head-spinning finale” tickets for the Sunday matinee performance of A Tuna Christmas when the volun- is like in a small South- at the Bellingham Circus Guild’s fourth annual teer manning the booth noticed my friend had her five-year-old daughter in tow. ern town where everybody knows each “Aerial Showcase” at 8pm Friday, and 6pm and 9pm Saturday at the Cirque Lab, 1401 6th St. “I should probably warn you that there’s some ‘colorful’ language in the other—warts, cheating husbands and all. (The second Friday show is 21-and-over and 12.02.15 show,” the woman said, pointedly waggling her eyebrows at the grinning kid “There are some lovely sentimental will include cocktails and more cabaret acts.) wearing a princess dress. Christmas plays,” Michelle Kris pointed Tickets are $10-$15. .10 WWW.BELLINGHAMCIRCUSGUILD.COM 48 “We just spent Thanksgiving weekend in Texas, so she’s probably heard it all out in a director’s note in the program. # already,” my buddy said with a laugh. “I hope you’re not expecting to see one. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Find out what Soon, I’d learn how apropos her comment was. Plots in the play—a quirky Don’t worry, you’re going to love this happens to three characters after their ar- comedy set in the “third-smallest town in Texas”—rivaled my friend’s tale of play. A Tuna Christmas has its sweet, sin- rival home for Christmas at “Home for the accidentally ingested pot brownies, illegal duck hunting and other assorted cere moments, too. But mostly it’s just Holidays” shows at 8pm and 10pm every shenanigans that had taken place in the Lone Star state during the previous nutty good fun, filled with quick-chang- Friday and Saturday in December at the days of her annual visit home. es, hilarious characters, and a loving but Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. Tickets to see the annual improvised holiday show are $10 CASCADIA WEEKLY For example, in the hours leading up to Dec. 25, a mysterious “Christmas slightly irreverent take on a small-town in advance and $12 at the door. Phantom” in the town of Tuna is messing up people’s entries for the annual Texas Christmas.” 16 WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM Christmas Yard Display Contest. Meanwhile, the local production of A Christmas She’s right. And—unlike my friend, Carol is in jeopardy, a housewife has had just about enough of her perpetually whose daughter didn’t blink an eye DEC. 4-6 drunk and philandering husband, a UFO enthusiast is getting on his spouse’s during the few ribald moments in the LEGALLY BLONDE: Students at Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth present showings every last nerve, and a town snob is finally given her comeuppance. play—you don’t need to travel south to It’s worth noting that as with Greater Tuna, and Red, White and Tuna—the experience it. doit of Legally Blonde, the Musical at 7pm Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday, and 12pm Sunday at the BAAY

Theatre, 1059 N. State St. Tickets to see the show

about a young woman who follows her boyfriend to 34 law school—only to learn a few things herself—are

$10. Additional showings happen Dec. 11-13. FOOD WWW.BAAY.ORG

DEC. 6-7 27 BABY AUDITIONS: Please prepare a short song and bring sheet music if available at auditions for upcoming performances of Baby, the Musical at B-BOARD 7pm Sunday and Monday at the Bellingham Theatre Guild, 1600 H St. See BTG’s website for roles and more audition requirements. 24 WWW.BELLINGHAMTHEATREGUILD.COM See Scrooge and Tiny Tim do their thing when A

Christmas Carol: The Musical shows Dec. 2-6 at West- FILM MON., DEC. 7 ern Washington University’s Performing Arts Center GUFFAWINGHAM: A weekly open mic for come- dians, “Guffawingham!,” takes place at 9:30pm show up ready to dance. 20 every Monday at the Green Frog, 1015 N. State St. (360) 510-4711 OR WWW.KUNTZANDCO.ORG

Entry is free. MUSIC WWW.ACOUSTICTAVERN.COM THE NUTCRACKER: Ballet Bellingham, under the direction of artistic director Jessica Crook, pres- 18 TUES., DEC. 8 ents its rendition of The Nutcracker at a one-night- PLAY READING GROUP: Get together with others only performance at 7:30pm at the Mount Baker ART who enjoy reading plays aloud at a Play Read- Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. Tickets to see the 16 ing Group gathering from 6:30-8pm at the Lummi holiday classic are $18-$25. 16 Island Library, 2144 S. Nugent Rd. Amateurs and 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM first-timers are welcome. STAGE STAGE 305-3600 DEC. 4-6 SKAGIT NUTCRACKER: Skagit Valley Academy

WED., DEC. 9 of Dance will bring the story of “a girl, a dream, 14 INTRO TO IMPROV: Sheila Goldsmith leads a a prince, a king and a battle” to life at their 26th Law Offices of “Learn to Think on Your Feet” introductory improv annual season of performing The Nutcracker at class from 7-9pm at Improv Playworks, 1011 Girard 7:30pm Friday and Saturday, and 3pm Sunday at Alexander F. Ransomm GET OUT St. Please register in advance for the free primer. Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. 756-0756 OR WWW.IMPROVPLAYWORKS.COM TIckets are $20-$37.

WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG 12 DEC. 10-12 UNDER THE TREE: History lessons from Santa’s SAT., DEC. 5 Compassionate to You, WORDS second cousin once removed, an X-mas-rated SALSA NIGHT: Join DJ Antonio Diaz as he mixes a tango, a fight about nothing, karaoke dreams, and fabulous combination of the best Latin rhythms at Relentless to the Prosecution. reindeer footie pajamas will all make appearances Rumba Northwest’s bimonthly “Salsa Night” taking 8 when Precipice Productions presents Under the Tree place from 9pm-12am on the first and third Satur- Highly Rated Trial Attorney starting this week with performances at 7:30pm days of the month at Cafe Rumba, 1140 N. State St.

Thursday through Saturday at iDiOM Theater, 1418 Entry to the all-ages event is $4. Defending Your Rights. CURRENTS Cornwall Ave. Tickets to see the “original and WWW.RUMBANORTHWEST.COM quirky theatrical exploration of holiday ritual” are 6 $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Additional DEC. 5-6 119 NORTH COMMERCIAL ST. SUITE #1420 • OFFICE: (360) 746-2642

showings happen Dec. 17-19. NORTHWEST BALLET’S NUTCRACKER: Artistic VIEWS WWW.IDIOMTHEATER.COM director John Bishop and the hardworking

Northwest Ballet Theater crew will present their www.ransom-lawfirm.com 4 first weekend of performances of The Nutcracker DANCE at 7:30pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday at the Blaine MAIL Performing Arts Center, 975 H St. Tickets are $15-

THURS., DEC. 3 $20. Additional showings take place Dec. 11-13 at 2 SQUARE DANCE: Come dance off holiday calories Bellingham’s Mount Baker Theatre and Dec. 19-20 at Business Hours Happy Hour DO IT IT DO at a Square Dance with live music by Conway West Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall. from 7-9pm at the Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce St. WWW.NORTHWESTBALLET.ORG Sun - Thurs 11:30am - 10pm Everyday Joanne Pontrello will be calling and teaching the Fri & Sat 11:30am - 10:30pm 11:30am - 5:30pm dances. No experience is necessary to take part. TUES., DEC. 8 Suggested donation is $5. SKAGIT FOLK DANCERS: Join the Skagit-Ana- 12.02.15 WWW.CONWAYMUSE.COM cortes Folk Dancers for a weekly International Folk Dancing event from 7-9:30pm at Bayview Civic Hall, FOLK DANCE: Join the Fourth Corner Folk Dancers 12615 C St. No partners are needed; just show up .10 48 to learn lively folk dances from Eastern Europe, and dance. Entry to the drop-in event is free for the # Greece, Turkey, and Israel from 7:15-10pm every first session, $3 afterward. Thursday at the Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th St. WWW.SKAGITFOLKDANCERS.ORG Suggested donation is $5; students and first- timers are free. THURS., DEC. 10 (360) 380-0456 WINTER WHITE: Opus Performing Arts presents a “Winter White” performance at 7pm at the Mount FRI., DEC. 4 Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The show will CASCADIA WEEKLY PARKINSON’S DANCE CLASS: Kuntz and combine scenes from classical ballets including Company’s Pam Kuntz leads a dance class for “Waltz of the Snowflakes” from The Nutcracker and 17 people with Parkinson’s disease and other move- variations from Giselle and La Bayadere. Tickets to ment or neurological disorders at 10am at Ballet the family-friendly show are $5-$10. Prime Rib Thursday Nights Starting @ 5pm Bellingham, 1405 Fraser St., suite #103. Suggested WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM OR donation is $5-$7. No registration is necessary; just WWW.OPUSBELLINGHAM.COM 3004 Cinema Pl. Bellingham | 360.306.8676 Next to Regal Cinemas! doit UPCOMING EVENTS

34 DEC. 2-9 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS: More than 100 local FOOD FOOD artisans and craftspeople will show and sell their creative wares as part of Allied Arts’ 36th annual “Holiday Festival of the Arts” from

27 visual GALLERIES OPENINGS PROFILES 10am-7pm daily through Christmas Eve at 4145 Meridian St. WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG B-BOARD B-BOARD FRI., DEC. 4 GALLERY WALK: A.C.M.E. Creative Spaces,

24 core. Before or after watching Mayor Kelli Linville light the Christmas tree in front of Classic Style & Co., the Good Stuff, Anacortes Arts Festival, Burton Jewelers, Scott Milo Gal- FILM the Depot Market Square at 5:30pm, make lery, Anacortes Oil & Vinegar Bar, the Majestic sure to visit an accompanying Holiday Pop- Inn and Spa, City Hall, the Depot Gallery and

20 Up Market happening from 4-7pm, where more will take part in the monthly Gallery you’ll find handcrafted gifts from more Walk from 6-9pm in downtown Anacortes. Entry is free. MUSIC than 25 vendors. From there, continue WWW.ANACORTESART.COM on to find creative gifts at venues such 18 18 18 as Mindport (where WWU Industrial De- ART WALK: Allied Arts, Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building, Honey Salon, Fourth

ART sign students will be showing and selling ART pieces from their one-night-only exhibit Corner Frames, the Herald Building, Waterfront “We CREATE”); the Herald Building (which Studios, Mindport, Make.Shift Art Space, the 16 Racket, Sculpture Northwest Gallery, and many will be hosting an Open House and pop- more will be part of the monthly Art Walk tak-

STAGE up exhibits in their vacant spaces on the ing place from 6-10pm throughout downtown ground floor); Make.Shift Art Space (who Bellingham. Entry is free. will be offering a preview of their fifth an- WWW.DOWNTOWNBELLINGHAM.COM 14 nual “Holiday Make.Sale,” which also takes ALLIED ARTS: An opening reception for the place Saturday); and the Waterfront Artist “International Year of Light” exhibit takes GET OUT Studios (where those who use the spaces to place from 6-9pm at Allied Arts, 1418 Cornwall create their varied works will be showing Ave. The collaboration between Allied Arts and SPIE shows through Dec. 18.

12 and selling their wares). Explore on your own, and who knows what you’ll find? More WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG info: www.downtownbellingham.com WORDS WHATCOM MUSEUM: View “Unhinged: Book If you’ve never been to Allied Arts’ Holi- Art on the Cutting Edge” and “Chipping the Block, Painting the Silk: The Color Prints of

8 day Festival of the Arts (open daily through Christmas Eve on Meridian Street) or the Pa- Norma Bassett Hall” during the Art Walk from cific Arts Market (visit weekends through 6-10pm at Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora St. Rob Beishline’s Art 100

CURRENTS CURRENTS Dec. 20 at Sunset Square), now’s the time to class at Whatcom Community College will also check out what they have to offer. Each of be on hand to share their collaborative book art 6 LIN MCJUNKIN AT SMITH & VALLEE LIN MCJUNKIN AT the longtime markets feature both art and project Entry is free. other local handmade goods, and give new WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG VIEWS meaning to the phrase “one-stop shopping.” FOURTH CORNER FRAMES: View “In Monet’s

4 Whether you’re interested in finding paint- Footsteps” at an opening reception from ings, wearable art, bath and body products, 6-9pm at Fourth Corner Frames & Gallery, 311 MAIL MAIL specialty foods, photographs, textiles or fi- W. Holly St. The paintings and photography in the exhibit were created after a group of ber art—plus a whole lot more—you’re sure 2 to find something of interest to give to fam- artists visited Monet’s stomping grounds in

LOCALMOTIVE LUTZ KRISTA France last spring. DO IT IT DO ily and friends. More info: www.alliedarts.org WWW.FOURTHCORNERFRAMES.COM or pacificartsmarket.com Typically, when you purchase works of HERALD BUILDING: Three vacant retail BY AMY KEPFERLE art in galleries, you need to wait until the spaces will feature a pop-up exhibit by Artists 12.02.15 exhibit is over before you take your finds 12 and WWU art students from 6-9pm on the ground floor of the Herald Building (1155 N. out of the space. That’s not the case at

.10 State St.). There will also be an Open House

48 “Objectification 8,” which you can check hosted by Daylight Properties serving up # Art for Christmas out either at an opening reception from samples from tenants Cosmos, Rock and Rye, NO MALL, NO PROBLEM 5-8pm Sat., Dec. 5 or daily through Dec. and Kombucha Town. 31 at Edison’s Smith & Vallee Gallery. At WWW.DAYLIGHTPROPERTIES.COM

AROUND THIS time last year, I spent a harrowing four hours at the mall the popular show—which highlights both HONEY SALON: Attend an opening reception searching for the perfect bathrobe for my sweetheart. I quickly discovered that functional and three-dimensional artwork for Ciara Sana’s “There Is No Wrong Way to be most robes had already been sold, and that if I’d wanted the cream of the crop, by more than 50 local and regional art- a Woman” from 6-10pm at Honey Salon, 310

CASCADIA WEEKLY I should’ve shopped for his Christmas present in October. I ended the evening ists—you can walk out with the pieces W. Holly St. Sana’s drawings depict an array making pasta with frozen shrimp I’d sourced at Target—where I eventually you’ve just paid for. This doesn’t mean the of women, style and body types; encouraging 18 confidence and self acceptance. found a passable gift—vowing never to return to the commercial shopping hub exhibit’s over when everything’s been sold. WWW.HONEYBELLINGHAM.COM during the holidays. Luckily, I have a few options on where to go instead. As soon as pieces leave the building, the This weekend, in fact, offers several art-focused ways to not only shop lo- exhibit will replenished with more art— FISHBOY: Make your way out of downtown cally, but also help humans such as me preserve their sanity. First off is the a true Christmas miracle. More info: www. proper for an Art Walk event featuring the works Downtown Bellingham Art Walk taking place Fri., Dec. 4 throughout the urban smithandvallee.com doit

kata display, make-and-take activities, Japanese

textile goods, and much more. Entry is free.

WWW.JAPONTEX.COM 34

SAT., DEC. 5 FOOD GLASS ART OPEN HOUSE: Glassblowing demon- strations, refreshments and extra-low prices on

great gift ideas will be part of an annual Holiday 27 Open House from 10am-4pm at Morrison Glass December 4th-6th Art, 2111 Lincoln St. Entry is free.

Friday 12-8pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm B-BOARD WWW.MORRISONGLASSART.COM At the Bellingham Cruise Terminal GIFT BAZAAR: Handmade crafts and treats made by kids and teens will be for sale at a Holiday Gift 355 Harris Ave, Bellingham 24 Bazaar from 12:30-2:30pm at the Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy. www.PortOfBellingham/141/holiday-port FILM WWW.WCLS.ORG Gingerbread House Contest • Santa Pictures • Free Cookies & Cider 20 OBJECTIFICATION OPENING: Functional and Kids’ Art Activities by Allied Arts • Music & Dance Performances Check out Clara Sana’s “There Is No Wrong Way to three-dimensional artwork will be highlighted at Food Drive to benefit Bellingham Food Bank • Free Admission Be a Woman” exhibit at an opening reception Fri., an opening reception for “Objectification 8” from MUSIC Dec. 4 at Honey Salon 5-8pm at Edison’s Smith & Vallee Gallery, 5742 18 18 Gilkey Ave. 18 of folk artist R.R. Clark from 6-10pm at FishBoy WWW.SMITHANDVALLEE.COM ART ART Gallery, 617 Virginia St. (near Trader Joe’s). WWW.FISHBOYGALLERY.COM DEC. 5-6

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Attend a Christmas Ba- 16 WATERFRONT STUDIOS: Attend a “December zaar from 10am-6pm Saturday and 11:30am-5pm

Celebration of the Arts” from 6-10pm at the Sunday at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 510 STAGE Waterfront Artists’ Studios, 1220 Central Ave. E. Sunset Dr. Sunday, December 6, 3pm (across the street from Jalapeno’s). Here, you’re WWW.SAINTSOPHIAS.ORG sure to find the perfect gift of art for the special 14 people in your life. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM ONGOING EXHIBITS GET OUT

MINDPORT: Items designed and created by ARTWOOD: “Gifts for the Holidays” will be Western Washington University Industrial Design featured through December at Artwood Gallery, students will be on display and for sale for one 1000 Harris Ave. 12 night only from 6-9pm at Mindport Exhibits, 210 WWW.ARTWOODGALLERY.COM

W. Holly St. The show, “We CREATE,” highlights WORDS the importance of well-designed products using FISHBOY GALLERY: Check out the contemporary carefully resourced materials. folk art of RR Clark from 1:30-5pm every Mon.-Fri. 8 WWW.MINDPORT.ORG at the FishBoy Gallery, 617 Virginia St. 714-0815 OR WWW.FISHBOYGALLERY.COM SCULPTURE NW: An opening reception for

“Forging Reflection: Luminosity Meets Metal GOOD EARTH: Clay artist Carrie Selting’s “Future CURRENTS Work” happens tonight at Sculpture Northwest Heirlooms” will be featured through December at Gallery, 203 Prospect St. Good Earth Pottery, 1000 Harris Ave. 6 WWW.SCULPTURENORTHWEST.ORG WWW.GOODEARTHPOTS.COM VIEWS DEC. 4-5 I.E. GALLERY: View a a “Lummi Invitational”

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Homemade arts and exhibit showing through Dec. 27 in Edison at i.e. 4 crafts by more than 30 local artisans will be on Gallery, 5800 Cains Court. display at the 9th annual Homemade Arts & Crafts (360) 488-3458 MAIL Bazaar taking place from 9am-4pm Friday and

Saturday at the Blaine Senior Center, 763 G St. LUCIA DOUGLAS: An exhibit featuring the The Symphony is joined by Bellingham Children’s 2 (360) 332-8040 work of regional artists working in a variety of Choir, performing music by local arranger Scott DO IT IT DO mediums shows through Dec. 19 at Lucia Douglas HOLIDAY MAKE.SALE: Attend a preview for the Gallery, 1415 13th St. Henderson, and featuring WWU Jazz Combo I fifth annual “Holiday Make.Sale” from 6-10pm Fri- WWW.LUCIADOUGLAS.COM day at Make.Shift Art Space, 306 Flora St. Attend- Fun for the entire family! ees can also explore a wide variety of handmade MONA: “Not Vanishing: Contemporary Expres- Tickets: Mount Baker Theatre 12.02.15 local arts and crafts from 12-6pm Saturday. sions in Indigenous Art” shows through Jan. 3 at WWW.MAKESHIFTPROJECT.COM La Conner’s Museum of Northwest Art, Museum of Box Office at 360-734-6080 .10

Northwest Art, 121 S. First St. 48

whatcomsymphony.com # DEC. 4-6 WWW.MONAMUSEUM.ORG for the Holidays ‘Ham PACIFIC ARTS MARKET: More than 30 artists will display and sell their creative, handcrafted MOUNT BAKER VINEYARDS: A “Gathering of wares at the 19th annual Pacific Arts Market tak- Friends” exhibit shows through Dec. 20 at the ing place from 10am-6pm Friday through Sunday Vineyard Loft Studio at Everson’s Mount Baker at Sunset Square (next to JoAnne’s Fabrics). The Vineyards, 4298 Mt. Baker Hwy market opens again Dec. 11-13 and 18-20. WWW.MOUNTBAKERVINEYARDS.COM WWW.PACIFICARTSMARKET.COM CASCADIA WEEKLY WHATCOM MUSEUM: “Unhinged: Book Art on JAPONTEX: Attend “JaponTex” from 4-7pm Friday the Cutting Edge” and “Chipping the Block, Paint- 19 and 11am-5pm Saturday and Sunday at the La ing the Silk: The Color Prints of Norma Bassett Conner Civic Garden Club, 622 S. Second St. The Hall,” and “Back at the Park” can currently be event features works by artisans who love all viewed on the Whatcom Museum campus. things Japanese, and will include a vintage yu- WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG rumor has it

34 LET’S BE SERIOUS: Winter is upon us, and if you’re a person who likes to spend quality time in the

FOOD FOOD mountains, you’re pretty stoked right now. The rest of us, maybe not as much. It takes me a long time to get out of the house 27 music SHOW PREVIEWS RUMOR HAS IT these days, what with the layering and the bat- tening down of hatches and the mustering of

B-BOARD B-BOARD great courage, but even so, I can still get down with a little cold-weather art walking.

24 By now, we all know the drill: the first Fri- day of every month (in this case, Dec. 4), pretty

FILM much every place in downtown Bellingham that regularly rotates the art it hangs on its walls

20 20 throws open its doors and invites people to come

in and have a look around. The art ranges from MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC questionable to great, the conviviality can’t be beat and sometimes there’s music and snacks.

18 Of course, the music

ART community makes its mark all over Art Walk every month, from music venues 16 that hang art to galleries

STAGE that host live music to musicians-turned-artists and artists-turned-musi- 14 cians plying their wares. In December, a couple

GET OUT such shows—of the visual BY CAREY ROSS rather than music kind—are worthy of mention.

12 The first such show is one about which I cannot claim to be an impartial observer. It takes place at Novato Shop and Studio, a newish store on Chest- WORDS nut Street that hawks all kinds of locally and re-

8 gionally made goods. Novato is owned by former local musician Logan McQuaig (still local, just not playing music) and his wife Kourtnei, and if there CURRENTS CURRENTS

PHOTO BY MATT CURTIS MATT BY PHOTO are two more universally charming people on the planet—I don’t even have to finish that sentence 6 When it comes to her live performances, because there are not two more universally charm- BY CAREY ROSS Jerns applies the same mindset that molds ing people on the planet. Along with being stellar VIEWS her music, and much as Pan Pan has expanded specimens of humanity, they also have excellent

4 and contracted, her concerts have been scaled taste, which I’m certain is what led them to call back or fleshed out as well. Recently, her live upon Michelle Schutte to be the featured artist at

MAIL MAIL Pan Pan efforts have been fairly low-key, mostly fo- Novato this month. Schutte’s been hard at work

cused on invite-only, living-room affairs. on a show called “No Gods, No Masters,” which 2 A ROOM OF HER OWN It’s a nice way to play a show, but sometimes seems to be comprised of the black-and-white DO IT IT DO IF YOU ask Sarah Jerns what her music sounds like, odds are decent she you’ve got to go a little—or a lot—bigger. animal paintings at which she excels. It should will use the words “sad piano” to characterize it. The description is clas- And so Pan Pan will play two concerts, on be noted that I have my biases here as well, as sic Jerns: a little self-deprecating, a lot understated and with a certain Fri., Dec. 4 and Sat., Dec. 5, at Fairhaven’s I am the proud owner of a tiny goat and a wee undeniable ring of truth. Firehouse Performing Arts Center. chicken painted by Schutte, and they are among 12.02.15 In a town that cultivates artistic vision, but doesn’t always reward it, The reasons for choosing the more expan- my most treasured possessions, a store of items Jerns neither conforms nor rebels. She simply makes her music, her way, and sive venue are, according to Jerns, many. that also includes a Cheap Trick guitar pick, my .10

48 trusts people will get it. A straightforward enough proposition around these The first is a practical one: after Decem- grandmother’s engagement ring, and a photo of # parts if you’re in a garage rock band, but Jerns is a classically trained pianist ber, the Firehouse, which is for sale, will no me with former Seattle SuperSonics power forward with a decidedly nontraditional viewpoint who has spent a fair amount of longer be hosting concerts. After playing a Sam “Big Smooth” Perkins. time playing her original modern chamber music in bars. sold-out show there in April 2014, Jerns feels But there’s more to this Art Walk than a lack It should be a tricky sell, but somehow it isn’t. a connection to the space and its charms. of gods and masters. Todd Horton, a man who For several years, the Bellingham native has been performing as Pan “The Firehouse allows me to be the per- has painted some animals of his own in his time Pan, a musical project that has taken on many forms—full bands, small former that I want to be… I’m going to walk (as well as other landscape and wildlife pieces

CASCADIA WEEKLY ensembles, other temporary entities, solo efforts—but always puts Jerns in, sit down at a Steinway grand piano, and inspired by his home on the Samish River), will and her piano front and center. Sad though it sometimes might be, Jerns’ entertain an audience for an hour,” Jerns hang a show at the Racket, and Make.Shift kicks 20 music is dynamic and forward-thinking, pushing boundaries without push- says. “That’s mind blowing—nowhere else off its two-day holiday Make.Sale, where you’ll ing people away, choosing a road less traveled while still taking everyone can I do that in town.” find handcrafted gifts from the artists there along for the ride. But imagination is only as good as its execution, and Being in a space she connects with is es- and others, at Friday’s Art Walk as well. Baby, it Jerns’ ability to realize her very particular and ever-evolving creative vi- pecially important for this particular event, might be cold outside, but when has that ever sion is rooted in downright intimidating technical skill. which Jerns has called “Rooms” after a series been a reason to stay in? doit PAN PAN , FROM PAGE 20 2015-16 SEASON of albums by the same name she’s recorded

and posted to Pan Pan’s Bandcamp page. 34 “I want to decorate space and draw people

in,” she says. “My music always brings me FOOD mentally and emotionally to a new space, and I always hope to do that with my listeners. I 27 just feel like a room is such a delicate idea. It has physical objects in it, but it’s full of

empty space—my music B-BOARD fits that empty space.” Jerns’ music won’t be 24 the only thing decorating CantatasCantatas forfor AdventAdvent the space at the concert, THE GOOD LOVELIES bring their three-part harmonies and selections from their latest album Burn the FILM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR RYAN SMIT another reason she’s opted Plan to Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theatre for a Fri., Dec 4 concert 20 for the change of venue. 20 December 5 “Rooms” is a multidisci- THURS, DEC. 3 VFW Hall, 625 N. State St. Entry is $6-$12. 3::000 pm & 7:300 pm

NIGHT BEAT: Violist Jeremy Berry, a founder 371-7030 OR WWW.BTJS.WEBS.COM MUSIC plinary event, with dancers FiFirstt Congreregatg iononnal Churchch MUSIC 24012400 Cornwornwallal Avenuee,,B Bellingham ATTEND James and Maia Schaberg of the Calidore String Quartet, will return for WHAT: Pan a concert with pianist Michael Refvem for a BELLINGHAM CHAMBER CHORALE: “Bach: TICKETS::

taking part, and Matt Curtis wwwwwww.bccscsini gss.ororg 18 Pan presents: Bellingham Music Club “Night Beat” concert Cantatas for Advent” will be the focus of $5 - $202 2060 .438.33927 providing visual elements. at 7:30pm at the First Congregational Church, Bellingham Chamber Chorale holiday concerts “Rooms” ART 2401 Cornwall Ave. Tickets are $15. at 3pm and 7:30pm at the First Congregational WHEN: 7:30pm The concert is organized Join us for a Free Event at Village Books Fri.-Sat., Dec. along three themes: soli- WWW.BELLINGHAMMUSICCLUB.ORG Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. Tickets are $5-$20. 16 4-5 tude, unity and celebration. WWW.BCCSINGS.ORG WHERE: Fire- BIG TUNES: Multiple string ensembles from Gerrit Vyn

The solitude portion will Western Washington University will perform at a THE COATS: National touring artists and STAGE house Perform- :LWK9LGHR ing Arts Center, be Pan Pan, singular—Jerns Chamber Concert at 8pm at the school’s Perform- beloved Northwest vocal band the Coats will The Living Bird 1314 Harris Ave. solo—and if it’s sad piano ing Arts Center Concert Hall. Entry is free. perform a Holiday Concert at 7pm at Belling- 100 Years of 14 COST: $10 songs you’re after, this is WWW.WWU.EDU ham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. BHS Listening to Nature INFO: www. Showstoppers, SHS Chamber Choir, and SqHS the right “Rooms” for you. brownpaper FRI., DEC. 4 Storm Singers will open. Tickets are $20. Saturday, “The songs are very GET OUT tickets.com/ SWINGING CHRISTMAS: The Swing Connec- 676-5006 OR WWW.BELLINGHAMSCHOOLS.ORG December 5, 7pm event/2462335 bleak and I think I’m going tion brings big band sounds to its annual Christ- to surprise the audience by mas Show from 7-9pm at First Baptist Church, LEANN RIMES: Country pop sensation and Erica Strauss 12 the tone they set,” she says. “All of the first 110 Flora St. Suggested donation is $10. Grammy Award-winner LeAnn Rimes brings set evolves from a very singular place.” WWW.SWINGCONNECTION.ORG her “This is Christmas” tour to Bellingham for a 7:30pm performance at the Mount Baker The Hands-On WORDS But bleak can be beautiful, an idea Jerns GOOD LOVELIES: The celebrated Canadian Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The show will Home has never shied away from. “There is beauty folk and roots trio known as the Good Lovelies feature selections from Rimes’ new Christmas al- A Seasonal Guide to 8 in sadness,” she says. “There is strength in perform at 8pm at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln bum. Ellee Duke will open. Tickets are $39-$65. Cooking, Preserving & focusing on those feelings and finding the Theatre, 712 S. First St. Expect stunning three- 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM Natural Homekeeping part vocal harmonies, clever original songs and right sound or note to express that.” Sunday, December 6, 4pm CURRENTS funny onstage repartee. Tickets are $20-$29. SUN., DEC. 6 Before everyone gets thoroughly bummed WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG WSO HOLIDAY CONCERT: “’Ham for the Holi-

The Willows James Beard Winning Chef 6 out, Jerns will transition from solitude to days” will be the theme of Whatcom Symphony unity, which will cue the dancers as well as DEC. 4-5 Orchestra’s annual Holiday Concert at 3pm at Blaine Wetzel Curtis on guitar. Jerns hatched the idea to JAZZ SERIES: Attend Bellingham High School’s the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial & Joe Ray VIEWS Jazz Concert Series performances at 7pm Friday St. The Bellingham Children’s Choir and WWU

incorporate dance into her concert when she 4 and Saturday at Christ the Servant Lutheran Jazz Combo I will join the orchestra for a range provided improvised piano accompaniment Church, 2600 Lakeway Dr. The concerts will of holiday music numbers. Tickets are $14-$39.

Sea and Smoke MAIL at a different Firehouse event and observed feature BHS Jazz, BHS Showstoppers, and the WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM OR Flavors from the Untamed

the varied ways in which people interact with Bellingham Youth Jazz Band. Entry is free. WWW.WHATCOMSYMPHONY.COM

Pacific Northwest 2 music in general, and her music in particular. WWW.CTSLUTERHAN.ORG Discover why a reservation to eat LIBRARY MUSIC: Bob’s Your Uncle will per- at The Willows Inn is one of the DO IT IT DO

The night closes, as all evenings should, HANDEL’S MESSIAH: Members of the Lynden form from 4-5pm as part of a free “Music in the most sought-after in the world. with an all-out celebration—and that’s when Choral Society and the Starry Night Orchestra Library” series at the SkillShare Space at the Tuesday, December 8, 7pm you’ll see the full-band version of Pan Pan. will perform Handel’s “Messiah” at 7pm Friday Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. The musician intends for this to be the op- and 3pm Saturday at Lynden’s Third Christian WWW.BELLINGHAMPUBLICLIBRARY.ORG Award-Winning Wildlife And Nature Photographer posite of the first act, with an aim to “bring Reformed Church, 514 Liberty St. Entry is $5-$30. 12.02.15 WWW.LYNDEN.ORG TUES., DEC. 8 David Sattler everything together to make a better whole.”

SIBELIUS SONGS: Guest artists from Finland .10

In staging “Rooms” at the room in the DEC. 4-6 (Suomi Finnish Foundation), Starry Night 48 HEAD ON Stories of Alopecia # Firehouse, Jerns is merely doing as she has CANTABILE CAROLS: “Joy of Christmas: A Chamber Ensembles, Mt. Baker Youth Sym- ThisThe collection Miracle of personal narratives follows the coura- always done, which is to carve out her own Feast of Carols” will be the focus of Cantabile phony, and the Wade King Choir will perform geous journeys of over 75 writers as they find their way of Life at La space in a community that has always en- of Skagit Valley performances at 7:30pm Friday music by a beloved Finnish composer at “An after being diagnosed Thursd withay, Alopecia November Areatam—a 19, hair7pm at the Anacortes Methodist Church (2201 H Evening with Jean Sibelius” at 7:30pm at the lossJolla condition Cove that affects over 146 million men, women, couraged her, even if it hasn’t always quite and children worldwide. Ave.), and 3pm Sunday at Mount Vernon’s St. Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. 6OLGH6KRZ known what to do with her. Paul’s Episcopal Church (415 18th St.). Sug- Tickets are $20. “I think I grow in and out of being an anom- gested donation is $8-$15. WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM Wednesday, December 9, 7pm

aly,” she says. “This town supported me for a WWW.CANTABILEOFSKAGITVALLEY.ORG CASCADIA WEEKLY long time playing bar shows, but I’ve realized THURS., DEC. 10 Read more at villagebooks.com SAT., DEC. 5 SHOWSTOPPERS HOLIDAY: The BHS Show- 21 that time is over. Now they are supporting me TRADITIONAL JAZZ: The Crescent City Shak- stoppers will spread holiday magic with a free playing these ‘classical concerts.’ Its true I ers will perform New Orleans/Dixieland music concert at noon at Whatcom Museum’s Old City VILLAGE BOOKS have my up and downs, but I’m just happy to at the Bellingham Traditional Jazz Society’s Hall, 121 Prospect St. 1200 11th St., Bellingham grow as an individual. I’m not traditional, but monthly concert and dance from 2-5pm at the WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG Now with a Second Store no one really is anymore.” Open in Lynden! musicvenues 34 See below for venue

FOOD FOOD addresses and phone 12.02.15 12.03.15 12.04.15 12.05.15 12.06.15 12.07.15 12.08.15 numbers WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

27 Anelia's Kitchen & Comanche Joey Uncle Doug Cooper Kristie Devries Stage

B-BOARD B-BOARD Irish & Folk Night w/ Boundary Bay Brewery Aaron Guest Art Walk Paul Klein Lindsay Street

24 Brown Lantern Ale Open Mic Ebb, Slack & Flood House FILM

Odesza, Hayden James,

Commodore Ballroom Big Wild 20 20

Benjie Howard, Gentry Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Val D'Alessio, Jaspar Lepak, MUSIC MUSIC

MUSIC Conway Muse Watson Method Avery Hill

18 Benjie Howard/Dec. 3/ Corner Pub Knut Bell and the 360s Conway Muse ART

Ron Bailey & The Edison Inn The Skeptix Duo The Alley Gaterz 16 Tangents

STAGE Glow Nightclub Gray Matter DJ J-Will DJ J-Will DJ Boombox Kid

Bobby Bare Jr., Star Anna 14 Jim Page (early), The Neon Cahalen Morrison, Stephen Open Mic (early), Guf- Terrible Tuesday Soul Green Frog Professor Gall, Strangely (early), Hot Damn Scandal Slow Jam (early) Stars (late) Ray Leslie fawingham (late) Explosion (late)

GET OUT Anelias Kitchen & Stage 511 Morris St, La Conner, WA • (360) 466-4778 | Bellewood Acres 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden • (360) 318-7720 | Bobby Lee’s Pub & Eatery 108 W Main St, Everson • 966-8838 | Boundary Bay Brewing Co. 1107 Railroad Ave • 647-5593 | Brown Lantern Ale House 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 293-2544 | The Business 402 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 293-9788 | Cabin Tavern 307 W. Holly St. • 733-9685 | Chuckanut Brewery 601 W Holly St. • 752-3377 | Commodore Ballroom 868 Granville St., Vancouver • (604) 739-4550 | Conway Muse 18444 Spruce/Main St., Conway (360) 445-3000 | Corner Pub 12 14565 Allen West Road, Burlington WORDS 8 interActing WITH MOUNT BAKER THEATRE CURRENTS CURRENTS

6 Taking the Stage Celebrate the Holidays at MBT COMMUNITY EVENTS

VIEWS BuiltB to be an escapist paradise, the MountM Baker Theatre makes any event a FRI. DEC. 4 4 hoholiday—but especially these: BALLET BELLINGHAM: The Nutcracker MAIL MAIL LeAnnL Rimes’ Today is Christmas Tour brbrings on the season this Saturday,

TODAY IS CHRISTMAS TOURTOUR 2 DDecembere 5. Rimes’ inspiring vocals with SUN. DEC. 6 WITH Ellee Duke - Sat, Decc 5 hoholiday favorites is a joyous experience. WHATCOM SYMPHONY

DO IT IT DO ORCHESTRA: HookingH Up with the Second City offers a Christmas gift and Valentine’s activity in ‘Ham for the Holidays one ticket. Enjoy sureÀre laughs aimed at THIS SATURDAY! love. TUE. DEC. 8

12.02.15 Solas lights up St. Patrick’s night with MT. BAKER YOUTH LEAD SERIES SYMPHONY & FINLANDIA SPONSOR: compelling Celtic sounds and what The New SPONSOR: FOUNDATION SUOMI: .10 York Times calls “ . . . unbridled vitality.”

48 An Evening with # Jean Sibelius: 150th Behind the Curtain AT MBT REP Anniversary Concert LOCALLY SOURCED THEATRE

Our Seattle-based scenic designer for The THU. DEC. 10 Nerd will Sresent her Ànal drawings this OPUS PERFORMING ARTS: week and we·ll also get our Àrst Seek at Winter White

CASCADIA WEEKLY the costume drawings! The show is set Light Up Your in the early 1980s so I can’t wait to see DEC. 11 - 13 St. Patrick’s NORTHWEST BALLET 22 what our costume designer (a Bellingham Day! THEATER PRESENTS: Hooking Up With Solas native!) comes up with. The Nutcracker The Second City - Sun, Feb 14 Thu, Mar 17 --Productively Yours, Production Manager Alison

SEASON FOR TICKETS: Call 360.255.7891 or visit MountBakerTheatre.com | Mount Baker Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-proÀt dedicated to the performing arts. SPONSOR:

musicvenues 34 See below for venue addresses and phone 12.02.15 12.03.15 12.04.15 12.05.15 12.06.15 12.07.15 12.08.15 FOOD numbers WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 27 H2O DJ Ryan I CC Adams Band Karaoke B-BOARD B-BOARD Honey Moon Open Mic Live Music Live Music Live Music 24

KC's Bar and Grill Karaoke Karaoke FILM 20 20 Kulshan Brewing Co. Broken Bow Stringband Heron & Crow The Devilly Brothers MUSIC MUSIC

Main St. Bar and Grill The Mix Party Band The Chris Eger Band 18 ART Make.Shift Art Space Holiday Make.Sale Holiday Make.Sale 16

Old World Deli Live Music STAGE

Scott Kelly/Dec. 2/ Open Mic w/Brian Poppe's 360 Live Music Live Music Live Music 14 The Shakedown Hillman

Rockfish Grill Time 3 Jazz Little Joe Argo and Rick Star GET OUT 12 Royal Karaoke Karaoke Country Night DJ Jester WORDS

Roman Kandle, SWRV, Seth Rumors Cabaret Panty Hoes Drag Show Throwback Thursday DJ Robby Clark Karaoke w/Zach

Nuckolls 8

Scott Kelly, Bruce Lamont, The Sky Colony, Vacationeer, Perry and the Katys, Hu- The Shakedown Aireeoke

Spindle Ings man Ottoman, Tusk CURRENTS

Herman's Hermits (Show- Herman's Hermits (Show- 6 Skagit Valley Casino room), Michelle Taylor room), Michelle Taylor (Lounge) (Lounge) VIEWS

Skylark's William Romanza Trio Telefonic Stirred Not Shaken 4 MAIL MAIL Swinomish Casino and

Triple Shot Triple Shot Lodge 2 DO IT IT DO

The Underground DJ B-Mello DJ B-Mello

Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Via Cafe and Bistro Herman’s Hermits/Dec. 4-5/Skagit Valley Casino 12.02.15 .10

Jam Night Karaoke 48

The Village Inn #

Willdabeast, Southlvnder, Giraffage, Slow Magic, Wild Buffalo ‘90s Night 100 Party That 1 Guy Lip Sync Battle Dream Journal Lindsay Lowend

The Green Frog 1015 N. State St. • www.acoustictavern.com | Edison Inn 5829 Cains Ct., Edison • (360) 766-6266 | The Fairhaven 1114 Harris Ave • 778-3400 | Glow 202 E. Holly St. • 734-3305 | Graham’s

Restaurant 9989 Mount Baker Hwy., Glacier • (360) 599-3663 | H20, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 755-3956 | Honey Moon 1053 N State St. • 734-0728 | KC’s Bar and Grill 108 W. Main St., Everson • (360) 966-8838 | Kulshan Brewery 2238 James St. • 389-5348 | Make.Shift Art Space 306 Flora St. • 389-3569 | Main Street Bar & Grill 2004 Main St., Ferndale • (360) 384-2982 | McKay’s CASCADIA WEEKLY Taphouse 1118 E. Maple St. • (360) 647-3600 | Nooksack River Casino 5048 Mt. Baker Hwy., Deming • (360) 354-7428 | Poppe’s 714 Lakeway Dr. • 671-1011 | Paso Del Norte 758 Peace Portal Dr. Blaine • (360) 332-4045 | The Redlight 1017 N State St. • www.redlightwineandcoffee.com | Rockfish Grill 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 588-1720 | The Royal 208 E. Holly St. • 738-3701 | Rumors Cabaret 23 1119 Railroad Ave. • 671-1849 | The Shakedown 1212 N. State St. • www.shakedownbellingham.com | Silver Reef Casino 4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale • (360) 383-0777 | Skagit Valley Casino Resort 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow • (360) 724-7777 | Skylark’s Hidden Cafe 1300 11th St. • 715-3642 | Star Club 311 E Holly St. • www.starclubbellingham.com | Swillery Whiskey Bar 118 W. Holly St. | Swinomish Casino 12885 Casino Dr., Anacortes • (888) 288-8883 |Temple Bar 306 W. Champion St. • 676-8660 | The Underground 211 E. Chestnut St. • 738-3701 | Underground Coffeehouse Viking Union 3rd Floor, WWU | Via Cafe 7829 Birch Bay Dr., Blaine • (360) 778-2570 | Village Inn Pub 3020 Northwest Ave. • 734-2490 | Vinostrology 120 W. Holly St. • 656-6817 | Wild Buffalo 208 W. Holly St. • www.wildbuffalo.net | To get your live music listings included, send info to [email protected]. Deadlines are always at 5pm Friday. piece, Father Corridan invokes the spirit of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., un- leashing a fiery harangue against the tyr- anny of the NRA, the glorification of thug

34 culture, the mass incarceration of African- Americans, the lack of government invest-

FOOD FOOD ment in impoverished neighborhoods, and film a culture of fear and apathy that stands in the way of meaningful change. 27 MOVIE REVIEWS FILM SHORTS To watch Chi-Raq is to feel as if you’ve stumbled into a hip-hop concert, a spo-

B-BOARD B-BOARD ken-word recital and a gospel-choir perfor- mance rolled into one. But for all its rele-

24 24 killed in the past 15 years than the Iraq vance to the Black Lives Matter movement, and Afghanistan conflicts combined. the movie focuses less on issues of white FILM FILM Chi-Raq is also the rap alias of Deme- privilege and police brutality than on the trius Dupree (Cannon), who is the lover of dispiriting everyday reality of blacks kill-

20 the beautiful Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris), ing blacks, a system of “self-inflicted and also the leader of a purple-clad gang genocide” that is the target of Lysistrata’s

MUSIC known as the Spartans; their sworn en- blue-balls diplomacy. Before long, women emies are the orange-wearing Trojans, led all over are joining the protest, waving

18 by Cyclops (Wesley Snipes in an eyepatch, signs with their own versions of the move-

ART natch). The names may come straight from ment’s “No peace, no pussy” rallying cry. the Peloponnesian War, but the setting is present-day Englewood, Chicago, where 16 tensions erupt in a shootout one night

STAGE at a packed concert venue (a scene that can’t help but provoke a queasy reminder Uneven as storytelling, of the Nov. 13 Paris attacks). But it’s not 14 until an 11-year-old girl, Patti, is felled scattershot as satire, and by a stray bullet, to the devastation of

GET OUT her mother, Irene (Jennifer Hudson), that capped by an emotional someone decides enough is enough. climax that feels too

12 Enter Lysistrata. Actually, don’t enter Lysistrata, who decides the only way these rigged to resonate, men will lay down their firearms is if they WORDS stop getting laid. Backed by a peace-activ- Lee’s latest joint is best

8 ist neighbor, Miss Helen (Angela Bassett), Lysistrata and her Spartan sisters reach appreciated as a vigorous across the gangland divide, persuading the and uninhibited work of CURRENTS CURRENTS women of Troy to join them in a campaign of abstinence until their men agree to talk

6 social criticism peace. Before long, they’ve stormed a U.S. armory—where they stage a peaceful but VIEWS long-term protest, swearing a solemn oath

4 of celibacy: “I will deny all rights of access Uneven as storytelling, scattershot as or entrance/from every husband, lover or satire, and capped by an emotional cli- MAIL MAIL male acquaintance who comes to my di- max that feels too rigged to resonate,

rection/in erection.” That bawdy, rhyming Lee’s latest joint is best appreciated as 2 REVIEWED BY JUSTIN CHANG style of dialogue pulses through much of a vigorous and uninhibited work of so- DO IT IT DO Lee’s script, whose characters blend rap id- cial criticism, executed with the madly iom and rhythmic cadences into a stylized, riffing instincts of a pop-cultural mag- Chi-Raq vulgarized poetry that gives the picture an pie. It’s a rare movie that can tap into infectious pulse even when the narrative ancient Greek literature and a century’s 12.02.15 THE RETURN OF SPIKE LEE machinery occasionally stalls. worth of African-American performance The focus on words rather than weapons traditions, and still find time to sample .10

48 IT MAY not take much to make Spike Lee angry, but there’s no denying he gives us (almost all the bloodshed takes place early freely from West Side Story, The Wizard of # his reasons and then some in Chi-Raq, a sprawling, blistering state-of-the-union ad- and off screen) isn’t the only way the film- Oz, Patton, and Dr. Strangelove. dress that presents Chicago’s South Side as a cesspool of black-on-black violence, gang makers honor and update their source’s an- That willingness to charge on through, warfare, gun worship and macho misogyny, ruled by unbreakable cycles of poverty and cient theatrical origins. The action period- risking scorn and ridicule, is perhaps the oppression. All that social outrage clearly demanded similarly outsized treatment, and ically halts for the running commentary of clearest sign this quintessentially Brooklyn Lee found a remarkably accommodating vessel in Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, whose tale Dolmedes, a one-man Greek chorus played, filmmaker has given Chicago the raucous, of an ancient Greek heroine leading an anti-war sex strike has been updated here as as he must be, by Samuel L. Jackson, his despairing yet faintly hopeful tribute it

CASCADIA WEEKLY an alternately soulful and scalding, playful and deadly serious 21st-century oratorio. wordplay as colorfully varied as his sher- deserves. Lee’s vision of a scarred city may Rattling off enough social-justice talking points to irritate conservative commen- bet-hued three-piece suits. The other key not please the tourism board, but his movie 24 tators at least through the holidays, Lee’s movie has already drawn the ire of Chicago orator here is Father Mike Corridan (John is better for it: Its seething dramatic tex- mayor Rahm Emanuel with its title, whose juxtaposition of “Chicago” and “Iraq” is Cusack), a figure inspired by the real-life ture captures a deeper beauty that—like defended in a powerful musical overture, “Pray 4 My City” (performed by top-billed priest and social activist Michael Pfleger. reconciliation, reform or any other human star Nick Cannon). Introduced with the flashing onscreen words “THIS IS AN EMER- During Patti’s funeral mass, which serves ideal—can only be achieved when the illu- GENCY,” the song is a grim ode to a major metropolis that has seen more Americans as the film’s emotional and musical center- sion of safety is left behind.

34 FOOD FOOD 27 B-BOARD B-BOARD

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Bridge of Spies: Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks

B-BOARD B-BOARD team up for the fourth time to tell the true(ish) story of a lawyer, a spy and some seriously suspenseful

1950s Cold War “diplomacy” in what is seen by some 24 24 as the first big contender of this year’s Oscar season. +++++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 43 min.) FILM FILM Brooklyn: Saoirse Ronan, future Academy Award winner, anchors this (bitter)sweetly romantic drama

20 about an Irish girl navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Of course, there’s a boy (or two), but this

MUSIC is a story of a woman coming into her own as her adopted country does the same. Written by Nick Hornby and acclaimed by critics far and wide, this 18 one has Oscar written all over it. +++++ (PG-13 •

ART 1 hr. 51 min.)

Chi-Raq: See review previous page. +++++ (R • 1 16 hr. 58 min.) STAGE Creed: As far as I can tell, in the seventh installment of this film franchise that has spanned four decades, Rocky is now Mickey, Adonis Johnson (son of Apollo 14

Creed, #neverforget) is Rocky and the whole thing ROOM should be a mess, but is saved by the capable direc-

GET OUT tion of Ryan Coogler (also responsible for the incred- ible and criminally underwatched Fruitvale Station) this treacly film that does little to lend understanding achingly poignant performances by Brie Larson and Radcliffe, James MacAvoy) just want to build a mon- and a fist-in-the-air formula that just won’t quit. Yo, to her life and legacy. + (PG • 1 hr. 54 min.) Jacob Tremblay as mother and son, this story of ster in their basement for the good of all mankind.

12 Adrian! ++++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 35 min.) abduction, survival and a mother’s love will tug at What could possibly go wrong, other than everything? Love the Coopers: Like it or not (I like it), Christ- your heartstrings while making you consider the true + (PG-13 • 1 hr. 49 min.) The Good Dinosaur: Pixar’s second release of 2015 mas is coming, and with it come Christmas movies (I nature of what it means to be free. +++++ (R • 1 WORDS imagines a scenario in which dinosaurs are spared ex- also like that), this one a multigenerational ensemble hr. 58 min.) tinction and coexist with humans. Though the movie comedy starring Olivia Wilde, John Goodman, Marisa

8 features Pixar’s trademark breathtaking animation Tomei, Diane Keaton, and more. Possibly mediocre, Secret in Their Eyes: Based on the excellent 2010 and an abundance of heart, it’s not the ground- probably terrible, so manage your expectations ac- Argentinian Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film, this breaker that Inside Out was—but your dino-obsessed cordingly. + (PG-13 • 1 hr. 46 min.) dark, suspenseful remake stars Julia Roberts, Nicole kiddies are not likely to care about that. ++++ (PG Kidman, Chiwetel Ejiofor and is far inferior to the CURRENTS CURRENTS • 1 hr. 40 min.) The Martian: Am I the only one who can’t believe original, but will almost certainly be seen by expo-

6 Matt Damon is still floating around in space after all nentially more people because the world is an unjust The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2: It’s this time? ++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 14 min.) place. ++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 51 min.) Jennifer Lawrence’s world, we’re all just living in it VIEWS and that’s perfectly fine with me. J-Law for president The Night Before: This is the same old story of Spectre: Apologies to all Sean Connery fans, but 2016. ++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 16 min.) man-babies gathering for one last night of debauch- Daniel Craig is the best James Bond of all time and 4 ery before reluctantly being thrust into adult- I will have Daniel Craig fight anyone who does not

MAIL MAIL Krampus: It was only a matter of time before Kram- hood—except this time it comes with ugly Christmas agree with me on the subject of Daniel Craig. +++ pus got the Hollywood treatment. I don’t even care sweaters and stars Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, and (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 30 min.)

2 how bad this movie might be, it stars Adam Scott, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the man-babies in question. Toni Collette, and David Koechner, and involves +++ (R • 1 hr. 41 min.) Spotlight: An important story (abuse allegations

DO IT IT DO “beloved holiday icons” taking on a “monstrous life in the Catholic church as reported in blockbuster,

of their own.” Sign me up. +++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 38 The Peanuts Movie: Although I’m not opposed to Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion by the staff of the Showtimes min.) the big-screen resurrection of the Peanuts gang, I Boston Globe), a top-notch cast (Mark Ruffalo, Michael Regal and AMC theaters, please see am, on principle, thoroughly opposed to trusting Keaton, Rachel McAdams, more) and an excellent di- www.fandango.com. The Letters: Mother Theresa was a Nobel Peace Prize Hollywood with anything precious from my childhood. rector (Tom McCarthy)—praise science, Oscar season 12.02.15 recipient and a woman who will probably be nomi- +++ (G • 1 hr. 32 min.) is finally here. +++++ (R • 2 hrs. 7 min.) Pickford Film Center and nated for sainthood one day. She was also, like all hu- PFC’s Limelight Cinema, please see

.10 mans, imperfect—although you wouldn’t know it from Room: Based on the bestseller and anchored by Victor Frankenstein: A couple of dudes (Daniel www.pickfordfilmcenter.com 48 #

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EDITORS FOOD Attend a Healing Hour from Sex Addicts Anonymous the Cordata Community Food spective on how to support 5:30-6:30pm every Wednes- (SAA) meets at 7pm Tues- Co-op, 315 Westerly Rd. At- adrenal health, combining day at Simply Spirit Read- days and Thursdays and 9am tendees will learn about pro- scientific info with kitchen 27 ing & Healing Center, 1304 Saturdays at the Bellingham active ways to enhance mem- know-how including recipes 27 Meador Ave. Drop in anytime Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 ory, prevent Alzheimer’s, and samples. Entry is $19. COURSE 9 MEET THE INSTRUCTOR during the hour to receive an Ellsworth St. More info: (360) prevent and stabilize macular More info: 734-8158 or www. aura/chakra healing. Entry is 420-8311 or www.puget- degeneration, avoid and treat communityfood.coop PREVIEW 9 LEARN MORE B-BOARD $5. More info: www.simply soundsaa.org cataracts, and enhance eye 9 SIGN-UP B-BOARD spiritcenter.com health. Entry is $5. More info: Certified homeopath Come relax and meet other www.communityfood.coop Monique Arsenault leads A “Yoga for Daily Living” breastfeeding mothers in a a free “Homeopathic Sur- THURSDAY, DEC. 10 class takes place from 6:30- warm, inviting and respect- Selva Wohlgemuth, MS, vival Skills” presentation at 24 7:45pm Wednesdays at Lyn- ful environment at a Breast- RDN, focuses on “Beating the 11am Thurs., Dec. 10 at the 5:30 P.M. AT VILLAGE BOOKS den’s Jansen Art Center, 321 feeding Cafe from 9am-12pm Adrenal Fatigue Blues” at a SkillShare Space at the Bell- Front St. The class consists of every Tuesday at the Belling- workshop from 6:30-8:30pm ingham Public Library, 210 FILM breathing practices, physical ham Center for Healthy Moth- Thurs., Dec. 3 at the Cordata Central Ave. Today’s talk will wwu.edu/enrichd • (360) 650-3308 exercises, and mental focus. erhood, 1012 Dupont Street. Community Food Co-op, 315 focus on tips to promote a

No experience is necessary. An IBCLC will be on hand Westerly Rd. The nutritionist healthy and happy wintertime 20 Entry to the ongoing event is to help with weight checks, will provide a natural per- season. No registration is re- $60 for six classes. More info: answer questions, and other quired. More info: 778-7217

www.jansenartcenter.com support. Entry is free. More MUSIC info: www.centerforhealthy- Co-Dependents Anony- CONTINUING Abby Staten leads “Yoga motherhood.com mous meets from 7-8:30pm EDUCATION for Multiple Sclerosis” classes most Mondays at Peace- 18 from 10-11am Tuesdays and Bellingham Evening Health St. Joseph’s Commu- Active Minds Changing Lives AA/EO. For disability accommodation, please call (360) 650-3308. 11am-12pm Fridays at Christ Toastmasters meet from nity Health Education Center, ART the Servant Lutheran Church, 7-8:30pm Tuesdays at the 3333 Squalicum Pkwy, con- 2600 Lakeway Dr. The weekly Festival Square Condominium ference room B. Entry is by events are free for people with Clubhouse, 5040 Festival Blvd. donation. More info: (360) MS, and no registration is re- The group invites you to test 676-8588 Dec 4 - 10 16 quired. Please bring a blanket your extemporaneous speak- or yoga mat. More info: ab- ing skills, or sit back and enjoy A Grief Support Group [email protected] an evening of entertaining meets at 7pm every Tuesday STAGE speeches. Entry is free. More BUY YOUR at the St. Luke’s Commu- Love animals? Love info: 756-0217 or www.447. OWN HOME! nity Health Education Center,

Mother Earth? They need toastmastersclubs.org 3333 Squalicum Pkwy. The 14 you! Learn to think and act More than 100 free, drop-in support group is SPOTLIGHT (R) 128m JEWELS (NR) 150m vegan. Experienced teacher “Brain and Eye Health” will for those experiencing the re- "To turn a spotlight fittingly on Spotlight, BOLSHOI BALLET available. More info: (360) be the focus of a workshop families just like cent death of a friend or loved it’s the year’s best movie so far, and a This opulent triptych was inspired by 733-3305 with Jim Ehmke, CN, from yours have one. More info: 733-5877 GET OUT 6:30-8:30pm Wed., Dec. 2 at rarity among countless dramatizations Balanchine’s visit to the famous jeweler purchased Send classes and events to that claim to be based on actual events. Van Cleef & Arpels, celebrating the affordable, calendar@cascadiaweekly. In this one the events ring consistently cities and dance schools of Paris, com 12 Cerise Noah high-quality — and dramatically — true." New York and St. Petersburg, each REALTOR® homes in our Wall Street Journal bound to its own precious stone.

community! Fri: (3:20), 6:15, 9:00 Tickets: $20 General Admission WORDS Professional, Sat: (1:00), (3:20), 6:15, 9:00 $16 Members/$10 Students It’s easier than Sun: (11:00AM)

Sun: (2:35), 7:45 8 knowledgeable, you think. Let us fun & friendly show you how. Mon: (3:20), 9:00 CLEARWATER (NR) 90m Tue - Thu: (3:20), 6:15, 9:00 Work-In-Progress fundraising to work with. screening with special guests. 360-671-5600, x2 BROOKLYN (PG-13) 111m CURRENTS [email protected] People protect what they love, but they "An authentic examination of the mid- must know it to love it. Clearwater, a www.KulshanCLT.org 6 20th century immigrant experience, and documentary film by Longhouse Media, Windermere Real Estate Whatcom, Inc. an intimate exploration of one woman's aims to get audiences to know, love

attempt to understand who she is and and protect the Salish Sea. VIEWS (360) 393-5826 where she wants to belong." Sun: 5:30

Fri: (4:00), 6:30, 9:05 4 [email protected] Sat: (12:45), 4:00, 6:30, 9:05 A RIVER BETWEEN US (NR) 90m

Sun: (Noon), (2:30), 7:55 Presented by League of Women Voters MAIL Mon: (2:30), 6:30, 9:05 This documentary film brings to light

a bitter battle over water rights in the 2 Tue: (4:00), 9:05 Klamath River area and the historic Wed: (4:00), 6:30 coalition that is moving forward. DO IT IT DO Thu: (4:00), 6:30, 9:05 Mon: 6:30 - Panel discussion to follow WINTER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE! Sign up or renew your PFC membership by December 31 and win a chance to designatedesignate a gift to your favorite cause. Proceeds from our Holidayay Film could be donated to a hatcom County nonproüt

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cording to ___” 13 Las Vegas casino nuts” soundtracks FILM (1982 film) mogul Steve 51 Dog slobber

57 Spend fewer 18 2004 Britney 52 Mold particle 20 bucks Spears single 53 “___ just me ...” 58 Economist Bodie 23 “My Way” song- 54 Zen garden tool MUSIC at an animal at- writer Paul 55 “Dear” group traction? 25 Gallery wares 56 Winged pest 18 61 Company whose 26 Irwin who won 59 “Batman For- ART product names are this season of ever” star Kilmer 16 in all caps “Dancing With the

62 Collect from work Stars” STAGE Last Week’s Puzzle Across baden stadium thing? 63 Barbershop tool 27 Work the bar

1 Tyler of “Archer” 21 “Yes way, Jose!” 36 Gas used in signs 64 Presidential run? 28 Name yelled at 14 6 “Omnia vincit 22 Elton John col- 37 Like a fossil 65 “Let It Go” the end of “The

___” laborator Bernie 38 Elevator pioneer singer Flintstones” GET OUT 10 “Pygmalion” 24 Messy digs Elisha 66 Fashion sense 30 Tel ___, Israel playwright 25 Chopping tool 39 Part of my 31 Marks a ballot, 12 14 Athletic team 26 “Free Space” Ukraine itinerary, Down maybe 15 The 29th state game maybe? 1 Stubborn beasts 32 “Felicity” star WORDS 16 When repeated, a 27 Prefix for pod or 44 Card issued by 2 Work release Russell

Billy Idol hit corn the DMV statement? 33 Narration work 8 17 Chinese leader 28 Subtle signal 45 Tabula ___ 3 Cheerful 34 Bring up born in Norway? 29 April 15 payment 46 Bud on a tuber 4 “Airplane!” star 35 Made a tapestry, 19 “This is for,” on 32 Complaining 47 Number of legs Robert e.g. CURRENTS

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BY ROB BREZSNY become, more than ever before, the boss of you? It’s prime time to expedite this effort.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Police in Los Angeles 34 FREE WILL conducted an experiment on a 10-mile span of freeway. wednesday steak night. Drivers in three unmarked cars raced along as fast as FOOD FOOD they could while remaining in the same lane. The driver ASTROLOGY of the fourth car not only moved at top speed, but also changed lanes and jockeyed for position. Can you 27 27 $16 steak and beer ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Charm is a way of guess the results? The car that weaved in and out of getting the answer ‘yes’ without having asked any the traffic flow arrived just slightly ahead of the other all day wednesdays at rock and rye. clear question,” wrote French author Albert Camus. three. Apply this lesson to your activities in the com- B-BOARD B-BOARD B-BOARD I have rarely seen you better poised than you are ing week, please. There will be virtually no advantage now to embody and capitalize on this definition of to indulging in frenetic, erratic, breakneck exertion. Be “charm,” Aries. That’s good news, right? Well, mostly. steady and smooth and straightforward.

24 But there are two caveats. First, wield your mojo as T. 201 ES 4 responsibly as you can. Infuse your bewitching allure SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You will generate

FILM with integrity. Second, be precise about what it is lucky anomalies and helpful flukes if you use short- you want to achieve—even if you don’t come right cuts, flee from boredom, and work smarter rather than out and tell everyone what it is. Resist the tempta- harder. On the other hand, you’ll drum up wearisome 20 ROCK AND RYE tion to throw your charm around haphazardly. weirdness and fruitless flukes if you meander all over the place, lose yourself in far-off fantasies, and act OYSTER HOUSE TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I suspect that in the as if you have all the time in the world. Be brisk and MUSIC 1145 NORTH STATE STREET coming days you will have an uncanny power to make concise, Scorpio. Avoid loafing and vacillating. Asso- at least one of your resurrection fantasies come true. ciate with bubbly activators who make you laugh and

18 DINNER Tuesday - Sunday 3 - 11 BRUNCH Saturday - Sunday 10 - 2 Here are some of the possibilities. 1. If you’re brave loosen your iron grip. It’s a favorable time to polish enough to change your mind and shed some pride, off a lot of practical details with a light touch. ART you could retrieve an expired dream from limbo. 2. By EO P G P L E N ’ S I H C stirring up a bit more chutzpah that you usually have SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Like all S I L 16 B at your disposal, you might be able to revive and explorers, we are drawn to discover what’s out there

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WORDS many times have I seen a Gemini who has been lost CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Once I wit- Now Offering Ravioli, Gnocchi & Veal in indecision but then suddenly erupts with a burst of nessed a windstorm so severe that two 100-year-old 8 /FX
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*Offer valid 7 days a week (holidays excluded) For additional offers visit www.granaio.com CANCER (June 21-July 22): In September of nests of birds, completely intact and unharmed on CURRENTS CURRENTS 1715, a band of Jacobite rebels gathered for a guer- the ground.” I think that’s a paradox you’d be wise CALL FOR RESERVATIONS rilla attack on Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Their to keep in mind, Capricorn. In the coming weeks, 6 plan was to scale the walls with rope ladders, aided what’s most delicate and vulnerable about you will Lunch hours 360.419.0674 11am–3pm by a double agent who was disguised as a castle have more staying power than what’s massive and VIEWS WWW.GRANAIO.COM sentry. But the scheme failed before it began. The fixed. Trust your grace and tenderness more than your Dinner hours [email protected] rope ladders turned out to be too short to serve their fierceness and forcefulness. They will make you as

4 3pm–10pm £ääÊ Ê œ˜Ì}œ“iÀÞ]Ê-ՈÌiÊ££ä]Ê œÕ˜ÌÊ6iÀ˜œ˜ intended purpose. The rebels retreated in disar- smart as you need to be. ray. Please make sure you’re not like them in the MAIL MAIL coming weeks, Cancerian. If you want to engage in AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aztec king Mon- a strenuous action, an innovative experiment, or a tezuma II quenched his daily thirst with one specific

2 bold stroke, be meticulous in your preparations. Don’t beverage. He rarely drank anything else. It was scrimp on your props, accouterments, and resources. ground cocoa beans mixed with chili peppers, water, DO IT vanilla, and annatto. Spiced chocolate? You could call LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you give children the it that. The frothy brew was often served to him in option of choosing between food that’s mushy and golden goblets, each of which he used once and then food that’s crunchy, a majority will choose the crunchy hurled from his royal balcony into the lake below. He stuff. It’s more exciting to their mouths, a more lively regarded this elixir as an aphrodisiac, and liked to 12.02.15 texture for their teeth and tongues to play with. This quaff a few flagons before heading off to his harem. has nothing to do with nutritional value, of course. I bring this up, Aquarius, because the coming weeks

.10 Soggy oatmeal may foster a kid’s well-being better will be one of those exceptional times when you have 48

# than crispy potato chips. Let’s apply this lesson to the a poetic license to be almost Montezuma-like. What’s way you feed your inner child in the coming weeks. your personal equivalent of his primal chocolate, Metaphorically speaking, I suggest you serve that golden goblets, and harem? precious part of you the kind of sustenance that’s both crunchy and healthy. In other words, make sure that PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Unfortunately, I’m what’s wholesome is also fun, and vice versa. pretty lucky,” my friend Rico said to me recently. He meant that his relentless good fortune constantly VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your mascot is a threatens to undermine his ambition. How can he

CASCADIA WEEKLY famous white oak in Athens, Georgia. It’s called the be motivated to try harder and grow smarter and get Tree That Owns Itself. According to legend, it belongs stronger if life is always showering him with blessings? 30 to no person or institution, but only to itself. The He almost wishes he could suffer more so that he would earth in which it’s planted and the land around it have more angst to push against. I hope you won’t are also its sole possession. With this icon as your fall under the spell of that twisted logic in the coming inspiration, I invite you to enhance and celebrate weeks, Pisces. This is a phase of your cycle when you’re your sovereignty during the next seven months. likely to be the beneficiary of an extra-strong flow of What actions will enable you to own yourself more help and serendipity. Please say this affirmation as thoroughly? How can you boost your autonomy and often as necessary: “Fortunately, I’m pretty lucky.” Follow us on Beermenus.com BY AMY ALKON drive is permanently up on blocks on Have your the front lawn. It’s what Basson calls

“triggerable,” meaning that a woman Holiday Party

THE ADVICE first needs to start fooling around, 34 which will lead to her getting aroused. Here! FOOD FOOD GODDESS She’ll then feel desire and be up for Sunday night Cribbage… 5:30 fun time! sexcapades. But because many couples Greene’s Corner Growlers… 9 taps to choose from! 27 DUST IN THE LUST don’t know this, their sex lives (and of- Gift Certificates… great way to give! 27 I’m a man who has been married three ten their relationships) go to pot while www.GreenesCorner.com • 360.306.8137 times. Upon reflection, it seems to me they wait around for the woman’s desire B-BOARD B-BOARD B-BOARD that most women are ultimately not that like a bus that never comes. interested in sex as a recreational activity. This should tell you that it’s wise,

I try to be a selfless and devoted lover, but when in a relationship, to schedule 24 I always see a steep drop in a woman’s not just date night but sex date night. FILM sexual interest after we’re together for a Sure having this as an event alert on while. Can I do something to avoid this? your iPhone—just below “City Coun- —Wondering cil meeting”—probably sounds pretty 20 unsexy. However, it’s ultimately a

Admittedly, women aren’t going to MUSIC whole lot sexier than getting to the psychics and asking, “Tell me, Madam point where your penis starts rogue- Sasha, will he have recreational sex answering your phone with charming 18 with me? I NEED TO KNOWWW!”

little greetings like “Death Row, how ART Still, there are plenty of lusty wom- may I direct your call?” en who are just looking to bed and shed a guy. And I do get emails from 16 women desperate to get their man to BLAREWAY TO HEAVEN STAGE put down Call of Duty and put out. My friends are shocked at how honest my But anthropologist Peter B. Gray and boyfriend and I are with each other. He’ll evolutionary biologist Justin Garcia tell me I need to brush my teeth—again. 14 write in Evolution & Human Sexual Be- I’ll ask him if he’s heard of deodorant. We tease each other a lot, but it’s not havior that a survey of the scientific GET OUT literature finds what many of us prob- mean-spirited. We love each other. Also, ably recognize—that men, on aver- he says he’s grateful that he doesn’t have age, have stronger and more consis- to constantly censor himself with me as 12 tent sex drives. As social psychologist he did with his previous girlfriends. But Roy Baumeister put it in one of these are we being too honest? —Worried SKAGIT VALLEY CASINO WORDS studies: “Men want sex more than Sometimes the naked truth needs a women at the start of a relationship, back wax before it gets presented to U.S.I.T. 8 in the middle of it, and after many anyone. But it really depends on the years of it.” audience. You two, for example, seem CURRENTS CURRENTS Gray and Garcia explain that “with- to have a mutual admiration society in an evolutionary lens, this (differ- with moments of “Umm, perhaps you 6 ence) makes sense.” They’re referring hadn’t noticed…” The message? “Be to how it was in an ancestral man’s yourself! But with one fewer green SHOP VIEWS (gene-spreading) best interest to have things between your teeth.” 4 sex with any woman who’d have him. Marriage researcher John Gottman CIGARETTES & SMOKELESS TOBACCO Women, however, benefited from be- finds that what matters is the overall Discounted Cigarettes • All Major Brands & Generics MAIL

ing choosier—holding off from going climate of the relationship—whether

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and quit ‘em” Mr. Neanderbrow, which the kind of “ship” where one longs to IT DO could leave them as the sole caretaker shove the other overboard when the $ 00 $ 50 for one or more little Neanderbrows. cruise director rounds the corner. Gott- 52 - 80 But there’s choosiness and there’s man also emphasizes the importance of PER CARTON • INCLUDES TAX! choosing to replace hot sex with hot raising issues gently and sooner rather 12.02.15 scrapbooking. When sexologist Rose- than later. Your way may not seem gen- LOWEST PRICES IN THE AREA! mary Basson read a 1999 study with tle to your friends, but providing that .10 48

on most brands # over a third of women reporting “low you don’t start seasoning your humor sexual desire,” she began to wonder with contempt (which Gottman finds whether the problem is in the women or is a real relationship-killer), you prob- in the expectation that desire in wom- ably have a good chance of growing old en will play out the way it does in men. (and smelly) together. Picture your- EXPRESS DRIVETHRU Basson found that in the early stages selves in the old fogies home, reciting of a relationship, or if women are away romantic poetry to each other—like 7 am – 9 pm • 7 days a week CASCADIA WEEKLY from their partner for days or weeks, this one (which I think is from Tenny- they will have that from-out-of-no- son): “Roses are red, violets are blue, 31 where lust to get it on that men do. you look like a monkey, and you smell 360-724-0262 • On I-5 at Exit 236 But once a woman settles into a rela- like one, too.” *Price at time of printing. Limit five cartons/rolls per customer per day. Must have valid ID. Cigarettes are not legal for resale. tionship, sex often becomes a “respon- Prices subject to change. No Returns. Skagit Valley Casino Resort and U.S.I.T. Tobacco Shop owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. CW ©2015, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. sive event.” This doesn’t mean her sex SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. rearEnd comix

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33 ever be the same again. Wetzel’s passion for working with local food coincided with the exploding trends of locavorism, sustainable cuisine and the

34 “100-mile diet.” His new island home of- 34 fered a diverse array of wild vegetables FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD and plants, seafood and shellfish, and nearby Nettles and Loganita farms pro- vided fresh heirloom vegetables, poultry 27 chow RECIPES REVIEWS PROFILES and herbs. The young chef was in heaven, and immediately got to work transform-

B-BOARD B-BOARD ing the Willows Inn into an international destination for food lovers.

24 What seemed like a risk at the time— moving so far away from the centers of

FILM culinary action—paid off swiftly. After profiles in the New York Times and count-

20 less other publications, business at the Willows is booming and Wetzel’s innova-

MUSIC tive vision has been recognized with a slew of awards, including being named

18 Best New Chef in 2012 by Food & Wine,

ART and Best Chef Northwest in 2015 by the James Beard Foundation. Wetzel’s journey as a chef and innovator 16 of local, high-end cuisine is documented

STAGE in the new book Sea and Smoke: Flavors from the Untamed Pa- cific Northwest. It pres- 14 ents portraits of the different stages of a

GET OUT Willows Inn meal (farm, next move to L’Auberge Carmel in California fishing boat, forest,

12 introduced him to cooking with local food. smokehouse, kitchen), Having grown up hiking in the Cascades ATTEND photos from around the and along Puget Sound beaches, fishing Blaine island and a collection WORDS WHAT: and gathering blackberries at play in the Wetzel and Joe of unusual recipes. Ray share stories

8 woods, Wetzel had an innate love for being Co-author Joe Ray outside. The unique vision of L’Auberge Car- and recipes from spent a year working Sea and Smoke: mel—working directly with farms, using in- Flavors from the with Wetzel and his

CURRENTS CURRENTS gredients from the wild, creating seasonal Untamed Pacific kitchen staff, taking menus—provided him an “aha!” moment. Northwest notes and recording 6 “I realized there might be a way to com- WHEN: 7pm recipes as they devel- bine my love for the outdoors with my love Tues., Dec. 8 oped—a useful task, VIEWS WHERE: Village for cooking,” Wetzel says. Books, 1200 as Wetzel’s crew rarely

4 In 2008, he took on the role of apprentice 11th St. write down the ingre- to Chef Rene Redzepi at noma, a Copenhagen COST: Entry is dients and processes MAIL MAIL restaurant that specializes in wild foods and free of their meals, instead INFO: www. JOE RAY AND CHEF BLAINE WETZEL is often called the “best in the world.” working from memory, 2 villagebooks.com “Working there helped me define what I instinct and an impro- DO IT IT DO wanted to be doing,” Wetzel furthers, “and visation inspired by whatever ingredients the spirit I wanted to do it with.” are at hand. But the Pacific Northwest soon called him “I want the book to encourage cooking BY CHRISTIAN MARTIN back and he began looking for new opportu- that isn’t always strict to a recipe, but 12.02.15 nities closer to home. Wetzel read an ad on rather reliant on the product of the day,” Craigslist seeking a chef to run a kitchen at a Wetzel says. “Ingredients change every- .10

48 small inn on a distant island in the Salish Sea. day, and constant tasting and adapting to # Sea and Smoke He visited Lummi Island for the first time everything awesome around you is what I THE WILD FLAVORS OF LUMMI ISLAND in 2010 and was immediately smitten. want to convey.” “We drove along the main road and passed The result is a cookbook replete with Looking out across Bellingham Bay toward Lummi Island, you’d never know the some breathtaking scenery,” Wetzel recalls, recipes that could only have emerged evergreen apparition was home to a chef and restaurant celebrated among foodies “a great bay, miles of open water and hun- from our corner of the world: Stew of the world over. Yet it’s true: Chef Blaine Wetzel and Riley Starks’ Willows Inn have dreds of islands disappearing into the haze Stinging Nettles, Herring Roe on Kelp

CASCADIA WEEKLY become harbingers of a Pacific Northwest cuisine known for hyper-local ingredients, out toward the horizon.” with Charred Dandelions, Broth of Roast- painstaking preparation and creative presentation. Meeting up with islander, reefnet salmon ed Madrona Bark, Stir-Fry of Wild Beach 34 Wetzel grew up in Olympia and began working in kitchens as a teenager. His first fisherman and hotelier Riley Stark, he was Peas and Giant Clams. job was cooking at a steakhouse in a Walmart parking lot, before moving to Ari- introduced to the Willows Inn, a modest “This place is still as wild as it ever zona, where he entered the world of high-end restaurants and, eventually, culinary assembly of lodging, restaurant and bar in was,” Wetzel says. “All I’ve done is peel school. An invitation to cook alongside Chef Alessandro Stratta at the Wynn in an immodest location overlooking Rosario back a few layers of the ingredients to Las Vegas deepened his immersion in luxury cuisine, setting and service, and his Strait. Neither Wetzel nor the Willows would share with my friends and guests.” doit

FRI., DEC. 4 is $45; bring a plate to take home a small assort- COCKTAIL PARTY: Peruse decorated trees, a ment of samples. collection of nutcrackers, dollhouses and more WWW.WHATCOMCOMMUNITYED.COM 34 at a Holiday Cocktail Party taking place as part 34 of “Deck the Old City Hall” from 5:30-7:30pm at HOLIDAY TEA: Delicious treats, local enter- FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. tainment and good company will be part of an Tickets are $50 and include tasty appetizers and annual Holiday Tea from 1-5pm at the Deming drinks, music and dancing. Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy. Entry to the all- 27 WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG ages event is free. 305-3600 CO-OP GRAND RE-OPENING: Amazing food B-BOARD B-BOARD samples and demos, talented musicians, local SUN., DEC. 6 vendors, book signings, an Art Walk exhibit and a COMMUNITY BREAKFAST: Meet and greet Latte Art Throwdown will be part of a Grand Re- local politicians as they serve you coffee and 24 Opening Celebration taking place from 5:30-10pm made-from-scratch pancakes, french toast, sau- at the Community Food Co-op (1220 N. Forest St.) sage, eggs and more at the monthly Community FILM and the new Co-op Bakery and Connections Build- Breakfast taking place from 8am-1pm at the Rome ing (405 E. Holly St.) The free event showcases Grange, 2821 Mt. Baker Hwy. Entry is $2 for kids,

major improvements to the store , and is meant to $5 for adults. 20 be shared by the community. (360) 961-9584 WWW.COMMUNITYFOOD.COOP MUSIC GINGERBREAD CREATIONS: Attend a “Ginger- GLUTEN-FREE FLAVORS: Jeanne Sauvage bread Houses” holiday cookie party at 10am in shares tips and recipes from her new cookbook, Mount Vernon at Gretchen’s Kitchen, 509 S. First 18

Gluten-Free Wish List: Sweet and Savory Treats St. Try your hand at decorating the house of your ART You’ve Missed the Most, at 7pm at Village Books, dreams or help a little one with their masterpiece. 1200 11th St. The book includes sweet treats Entry is $10; please register in advance. like waffles, doughnuts, and croissants, and WWW.GRETCHENSKITCHEN.COM 16 savories such as sourdough, ramen noodles and fried chicken. SILVER TEA: Cookies, tea and musical entertain- STAGE WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM ment can be enjoyed at a “Christmas Around the World” Silver Tea from 2-5pm at the Everson HOLIDAY DESSERTS: Taste, mingle and indulge Library, 104 Kirsch Dr. Entry to the all-ages event 14 at a Wine and Dessert Reception taking place from is free. 7-9pm at Lynden’s Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St. WWW.WCLS.ORG GET OUT Winners of a Holiday Dessert Baking Contest taking place earlier in the day at KATZ Coffee and Used SEASONAL COOKING: Erica Strauss shares ideas Books will be announced and their desserts will from The Hands-On Home: A Seasonal Guide to 12 be available for tasting. Tickets are $10-$15 and Cooking, Preserving and Natural Homekeeping at include a dessert and one glass of wine or coffee. 4pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St.

WWW.KATZLYNDEN.COM OR WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM WORDS WWW.JANSENARTCENTER.ORG

WINTER LUAU: Teriyaki chicken, Kalua pork, 8 SAT., DEC. 5 chicken long rice, Lomi salmon, poi, mac salad, SINTERKLASS BREAKFAST: Dutch holiday cheer Haupia and more will be on the menu when will on display at a “Breakfast with Sinterklass” Northwest Hawai`i `Ohana hosts a Winter Gather- gathering from 8-11am at the Lynden Community ing Luau from 4-8:30pm at Bellingham’s American CURRENTS Center, 410 Grover St. Entry is $3-$5 and includes Legion Hall, 1688 W. Bakerview Rd. There’ll also 6 an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Sinterklass be Hawaiian music and dance performances. will show up at 9:30m, so be sure and bring your Tickets are $14-$18. camera along for photo ops. WWW.BROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM VIEWS WWW.LYNDEN.ORG TUES., DEC. 8 4 SANTA BREAKFAST: Have your child’s picture WINE & FOOD PAIRINGS: Chef Robert Fong MAIL MAIL taken with the big guy in red at a “Santa Pancake and wine steward Vic Hubbard join forces to lead

Breakfast” happening from 8:30-11am at La Con- a “Wine and Food Pairing” course from 6:30-9pm 2 ner’s Maple Hall, 104 Commercial. Admission is $3 at the Community Food Co-op’s new Connections for kids, $7 for adults. Building, 405 E. Holly St. Entry is $59. DO IT IT DO

WWW.LACONNERROTARY.ORG WWW.WHATCOMCOMMUNITYED.COM

BELLINGHAM FARMERS MARKET: Peruse and WED., DEC. 9 purchase a plethora of locally grown produce, SEMIAHMOO COOKING: Attend “Cooking Classes ready-to-eat foods, crafts and more at the with Chef Bruno Feldeisen” from 5-8pm Wed., 12.02.15 Bellingham Farmers Market from 10am-3pm at Dec. 9 and Wed., Dec. 16 at Blaine’s Semiahmoo

the Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave. The Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy. Feldeisen will .10 market runs every Saturday through Dec. 19. offer his personalized talents and insight, with 48 # WWW.BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG each class including instruction in a three-course holiday meal with recipes, a glass of wine, and a BEES 101: Karen Bean of Brookfield Farms shares Semiahmoo apron. Entry is $75. stories and suggestions from her 15 years as a 318-2028 OR WWW.SEMIAHMOO.COM beekeeper at a free “Of Bees and Beekeeping” presentation at 1pm at the Sumas Library, 451 THURS., DEC. 10 2nd St. Local honey-based products will be avail- HOLIDAY YAPPY HOUR: Enjoy drink specials able to purchase. and get photos with Santa at a dog-friendly CASCADIA WEEKLY WWW.WCLS.ORG “Holiday Yappy Hour” on the deck of Packers Oyster Bar (weather permitting) from 3-5pm at Streaming Live at KSVR.org 35 COOKIE CLASS: Karina Davidson will lead a Blaine’s Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Find us on Facebook hands-on “Bake Your Own Holiday Cookies” course Pkwy. Entry is free; food and beverages will be from 1-4:30pm at the Community Food Co-op’s available for purchase. new Connections Building, 405 E. Holly St. Entry WWW.SEMIAHMOO.COM DECEMBER 3 2 - 7 PM: $300 Every 15 Minutes 8 PM GRAND PRIZES: $ 10 ,000 $5,000 • $2,500 DECEMBER 10 2 - 7 PM: $500 Every 15 Minutes 8 PM GRAND PRIZES: $20,000 $10,000 • $5,000 DECEMBER 17 2 - 7 PM: $1,000 Every 15 Minutes 8 PM GRAND PRIZES:

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Owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe theskagit.com • On I-5 at Exit 236 • 877-275-2448 CW Must be 21 or older with valid ID. Details at Rewards Club Center. Management reserves all rights.