Jail Mailer, p.08 + FUZZ BUZZ, p.11 + NORTHWEST BOOKSHELF, p.12

cascadia REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA WHATCOM*SKAGIT*ISLAND COUNTIES PICKFORD CALENDAR INSIDE

12-07-2016 • ISSUE:49 • V.11 Torrey Clyde Petersen's Pines labor of love, P.24

RIVER ROSTER CLIMATE TheThe eagleseagles havehave landed,landed, P.14P.14 CONTROL ENTERTAINING EDUCATION A BATTLE AGAINST TheThe BellinghamBellingham FolkFolk Festival,Festival, P.20P.20 GREAT ODDS, P.06

34 cascadia SATURDAY [12.10.16]

FOOD FOOD ThisWeek ONSTAGE Holiday Magic Show: 11am, 2pm and 5pm, Walton A glance at this week’s Theatre

27 Pippi Longstocking: 2pm and 7pm, BAAY Theatre happenings A Night of Drama: 7pm, Explorations Academy White Christmas: 7:30pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild

B-BOARD B-BOARD The Happy Elf: 7:30pm, Claire vg Thomas Theatre A Christmas Story: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: 7:30pm, Ana-

24 cortes Community Theatre My Three Ghosts: 8pm, Upfront Theatre

FILM Holiday Games Galore: 10pm, Upfront Theatre

DANCE 20 Winter Wonderland: 1pm, Nooksack High School North Pole Express: 4pm, Bellingham Sportsplex

MUSIC The Nutcracker: 7pm, Anacortes High School

18 MUSIC Wear a holiday- Bellingham Folk Festival: 9am-9:30pm, BUF ART Holiday Jewels: 1pm, McIntyre Hall themed costume Kulshan Chorus: 7:30pm, Bellingham High School

16 Skagit Valley Chorale: 7:30pm, McIntyre Hall for the Arthritis COMMUNITY STAGE Foundation’s Holiday Faire: 10am-3pm, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School

14 annual Jingle Bell Winter Wonderland: 10am-9pm, Children’s Museum of Skagit County Run happening

GET OUT GET OUT Sat., Dec. 10 Jingle Bell Run: 9am, Bellingham High School Lighted Boat Parade: 5pm, Swinomish Channel, 12 in downtown La Conner FOOD WORDS Bellingham Breakfast With Santa: 8:30-11am, Sedro-Woolley Community Center

8 Breakfast With Santa: 9-11am, Bellingham Child- care & Learning Center THURSDAY [12.08.16] Bellingham Farmers Market: 10am-3pm, Depot

CURRENTS CURRENTS Market Square ONSTAGE

6 White Christmas: 7:30pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild VISUAL The Happy Elf: 7:30pm, Claire vg Thomas Theatre, Coast Salish Winter Festival: 10am-5pm, Lummi

VIEWS Lynden Gateway Center A Christmas Story: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square

4 Vernon Deck the Old City Hall: 12-5pm, Whatcom Museum The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: 7:30pm, Ana- Chris Moench Reception: 4-7pm, Good Earth

MAIL MAIL cortes Community Theatre Pottery Holiday Brewers Boutique: 4-9pm, K2 Taphouse

2

2 MUSIC BHS Showstoppers: 12pm, Whatcom Museum’s Old SUNDAY [12.11.16] DO IT IT DO DO IT IT DO City Hall Winter Concert: 7pm, Bellingham High School ONSTAGE Roger and Michael Fisher: 7pm, Lincoln Theatre, A Christmas Story: 1:30pm, Lincoln Theatre Mount Vernon Pippi Longstocking: 7pm, BAAY Theatre White Christmas: 2pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild 12.07.16 VISUAL The Happy Elf: 2pm, Claire vg Thomas Theatre Holiday Festival of the Arts: 10am-7pm, daily The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: 2pm, Anacortes .11 through Christmas Eve, 4145 Meridian St. Community Theatre 49 # New Exhibits Reception: 6-8pm, Jansen Art Center, Expect seasonal songs and sweeping standards when The Lynden DANCE Irish Tenors present “We Three Kings” Wed., Dec. 14 at The Nutcracker: 2:30pm, Anacortes High School FRIDAY [12.09.16] Nativity Dance: 3:30pm and 6:30pm, Mount Baker the Mount Baker Theatre Theatre ONSTAGE Pippi Longstocking: 7pm, BAAY Theatre MUSIC A Night of Drama: 7pm, Explorations Academy Bellingham Folk Festival: 1-9:30pm, BUF CASCADIA WEEKLY White Christmas: 7:30pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild DANCE ham Unitarian Fellowship Skagit Valley Chorale: 2pm, McIntyre Hall The Happy Elf: 7:30pm, Claire vg Thomas Theatre North Pole Express: 7pm, Bellingham Sportsplex Skagit Symphony: 7:30pm, McIntyre Hall Celtic Yuletide: 3pm, Lincoln Theatre 2 A Christmas Story: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre Winter Wonderland: 7pm, Nooksack High School Bells of the Sound: 5pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church Best Christmas Pageant Ever: 7:30pm, Anacortes The Nutcracker: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre VISUAL Community Theatre Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square VISUAL My Three Ghosts: 8pm, Upfront Theatre MUSIC Deck the Old City Hall: 12-5pm, Whatcom Museum Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square Holiday Games Galore: 10pm, Upfront Theatre Bellingham Folk Festival: 4:30-9:30pm, Belling- Night Market: 6-10pm, Commercial Street Deck the Old City Hall: 12-5pm, Whatcom Museum

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

12.07.16 .11 49 # 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 {calendar@ An angry beaver was apprehended this week in Charlotte, cascadiaweekly.com 24 Maryland, when authorities were called to a dollar store to Music & Film Editor: collar the criminal—who had started destroying merchan- FILM Carey Ross dise after finding the artificial Christmas tree selection ext 203 lacking. “The beaver was safely rescued by animal control {music@

20 and was released to a wildlife rehabilitator,” the St. Mary cascadiaweekly.com Sheriff department wrote after collaring the critter.

MUSIC Production Art Director:

18 Views & News Jesse Kinsman 04: Mailbag {jesse@ ART 06: Gristle & Views kinsmancreative.com Design: 16 08: Lockdown lowdown Bill Kamphausen 10: Last week’s news Advertising Design: STAGE Roman Komarov 11: Police blotter {roman@ cascadiaweekly.com 14 Send all advertising materials to Arts & Life [email protected] 12: Northwest Bookshelf GET OUT Advertising 14: Eagle alert Account Executive: 16: Spirits of Christmas 12 Scott Pelton 18: Seven days 360-647-8200 x 202 { spelton@

WORDS 20: Fun with folk cascadiaweekly.com 22: Clubs

8 Distribution A stop-motion masterpiece 24: Distribution Manager: 25: Nasty woman Scott Pelton 360-647-8200 x 202 CURRENTS CURRENTS SUPPRESSION AND OPPRESSION THE LOVE FADES 26: Film Shorts { spelton@ Jerry Brownfield’s letter decrying the bill pro- In less than two weeks, Donald Trump has man-

6 cascadiaweekly.com posed by Sen. Doug Ericksen to silence protesters aged to raise the eyebrows of his most ardent Whatcom: Erik Burge, Rear End Stephanie Simms was right on the mark. backers (such as me) with such gems as referring VIEWS 27: Bulletin Board Skagit: Linda Brown, I do have two additional points: If blocking to Barack Obama as “a very good man” and say- 4 4 28: Wellness Barb Murdoch traffic for a couple of hours can be considered ing that he would seek his advice; backsliding “economic terrorism,” enough to arrest people, on the global warming scam; considering Mitt MAIL MAIL MAIL MAIL 29: Crossword Letters could not increases in medicine costs to the tune Romney, who called him a phony, a fraud, and a 30: Free Will Astrology SEND LETTERS TO LETTERS@ of 4,000 percent also not be terrorism? Has Erick- con artist, for Secretary of State; “rethinking” 2 CASCADIAWEEKLY.COM 31: Advice Goddess sen gone after this crime in any way? the efficacy of water boarding; softening on his

Jail Mailer, p.08 + FUZZ BUZZ, p.11 + NORTHWEST BOOKSHELF, p.12

DO IT IT DO REPORTING FROM

cascadia THE HEART OF CASCADIA I think the real reason for Ericksen’s proposal signature issue, “the wall;” making Nicki Haley, 32: Comix WHATCOM*SKAGIT*ISLAND COUNTIES PICKFORD CALENDAR INSIDE 12-07-2016 • ISSUE:49 • V.11 is another version of voter suppression. If the who flipped him the bird during the primaries, 33: Slowpoke, Sudoku Torrey penalty for exercising a constitutionally guar- ambassador to the United Nations; and, most Clyde Petersen's Pines labor of love, 34: A culinary tour P.24 anteed right will be a class C felony, all those unsettling of all, saying he has no interest in 12.07.16 arrested will lose their right to vote, having prosecuting Crooked Hillary. been made felons! How convenient that those I hope this is just a head fake but I am con-

.11 RIVERRRIVRIIVERERRRR ROSTER RROOSSTERSTSTETERTEERR CLIMATE TheThheheeagleeeageeeagles eagles eageaeaglegle haveha hhave landed,anded,andeda dded P.14 P14P CONTROL ENTERTAININGENTERTAIENTERTAENTERTENTERTAINTERTANTERTAITERTTEEERTAIERRRTAITA NINGNNININGINNGNG EDUCATIONEEDUED DUDUCATIOCATIONCATICAAATIOATIONATIATTIONTIOON A BATTLE AGAINST

49 ©2016 CASCADIA WEEKLY (ISSN 1931-3292) is published each Wednesday by TheTheeBele BellinghamBBel BellingBellinBellBellinghaBeellinghame lilinghamngnghamamm FolkFoolko k Festival,FFestivalFestivaFestivFes Festitivaltivvaval, P.P.2PP.202020 GREAT ODDS, P.06 who don’t like your policies cannot speak nor cerned about whether Trump understands that # Cascadia Newspaper Company LLC. Direct all correspondence to: Cascadia Weekly PO Box 2833 Bellingham WA 98227-2833 | Phone/Fax: 360.647.8200 vote against you. Write and call Ericksen’s office the radical Left’s unequivocal objective is to [email protected] COVER: Clyde and loudly voice your opposition to this egre- conquer freedom in the United States and punish Though Cascadia Weekly is distributed free, please take just one copy. Cascadia Petersen’s Torrey Pines Weekly may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Any person removing gious attempt to silence us. those who would oppose its tyrannical policies. papers in bulk from our distribution points risks prosecution will show at 6:30pm SUBMISSIONS: Cascadia Weekly welcomes freelance submissions. Send material Weds., Dec. 14 at the —Gary Meader, Everson Be careful, Donald. Be very, very careful. 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- Pickford Film Center. —Wayne Farber, Bellingham ings, notice of events must be received in writing no later than noon Wednesday I am extremely disappointed in Senator Erik- the week prior to publication. Photographs should be clearly labeled and will be CASCADIA WEEKLYreturned if accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelope. sen’s proposed legislation to make peaceful pro- NOT FEELING THE LOVE 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. test a felony offense. This is outrageous, and I am really at a loss of understanding how we 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 flies in the face of the foundations of our de- are supposed to heal, reconcile and come together letters to fewer than 300 words. mocracy, our right to peaceful assembly as guar- with this bizarre cabal the Republican party, and anteed in the Bill of Rights. This proposal is an a lot of confused white men, have delivered us? affront to Washington citizens. While decrying for a year that the system was —Carletta Vanderbilt, MD, Bellingham rigged, Trump prevailed because of an antiquated NEWSPAPER ADVISORY GROUP: Robert Hall, Seth Murphy, Michael Petryni, David Syre system whose time is past. More than two the people, that only an American revolu- million more votes for Clinton than Trump tion can stop. absolutely screams that our sense of de- —John C. Ruth, Bellingham mocracy is on life support.

If you aren’t afraid for your country, PALESTINE TO 34 you need to put down the remote, cock- STANDING ROCK tail or whatever device you use to spend Water is crucial for life, dignity and FOOD vast amounts of time out of touch with sovereignty! The drama playing out in reality—and wake up. History will re- North Dakota echoes what I learned 27 peat itself when good people shy away from Palestinians during two unforget- from confrontation and try to rationalize table weeks last month. In both places, ignorance and political mayhem because people are standing up for the protection B-BOARD they care more about their comfortable of water. And in both, they are suffering

lives than their integrity or country. decades of settler colonialism, disposses- 24 Many seem to have voted for the least sion and theft of resources. qualified miscreant possible while dis- “Standing Rock is Palestine,” stated a FILM playing all the maturity and responsibil- Palestinian.

ity of couch potatoes voting for an Amer- In numerous parallels, Palestinians and 20 ican Idol. Even among college educated, members of Lakota and indigenous na- the national attention deficit for reality tions are resisting genocide and ecocide MUSIC and the boring work of living in the real in creative and communal ways. world couldn’t be more obvious. Our delegation met with water protec- 18

Apparently a lot of those who consider tors, like Khalil, from a Bedouin village in ART themselves good Christians were reviled the Negev desert. After the 1948 war and by Trump but voted for him. If that the establishment of the state of Israel, 16 doesn’t smack of making a deal with the Bedouins were expelled from their villages

devil and exposing that your beliefs and and left as refugees in neighboring coun- STAGE morals are as thin as the paper they are tries or in “fenced cities” in the desert. written on, I don’t know how it could be “Unrecognized” by Israel, Khalil’s village 14 made clearer. receives no water, which is completely We will all find what we are made controlled by the Israeli government. of, but right now a lot of us believe in Like the courageous nonviolent re- GET OUT and repeat nonsense. sisters at Standing Rock, Daoud of the

Where do we go from here and how do “Tent of Nations” joins with interna- 12 we swallow such a putrid sandwich? I am tionals in conserving limited desert at a loss. water. They build water catchment sys- WORDS —Michael Waite, Sedro Woolley tems, recycle gray water, and use com-

posting toilets. Daily, they resist dis- 8 AIN’T OVER ’TIL IT’S OVER placement through amazing local and The election is not over, is not final un- sustainable technologies. REALTORREA til the Electoral College votes on Dec. 19. As at Standing Rock, Palestinians use SRES®SRES® (Seniors(Seniors Real Estate Specialist) CURRENTS For the first time in our lives, we can use every legal means to remain on their land, the Electoral College for its true purpose, to resist demolition of their homes and to 6 to keep a lunatic out of the White House. fight for their children’s future. Like the VIEWS Of the 538 electors, only 37 need to change water protectors a hemisphere away, Pal- 4

their mind in order to remove Trump from estinians face enormous threats every day. 4 the position of President-elect. In ironic similarity, the $3.8 billion MAIL MAIL There are petitions, there are webpages Dakota pipeline is the same dollar figure MAIL and facebook pages explaining the a pro- the United States guaranteed Israel for 2 cess, then explaining what you can do. I each of the next 10 years. Both represent DO IT IT DO haven’t given up. destruction of life. Also, both struggles FromF listing your home, first time home —Shannon Morris, Bellingham involve G4S, a multinational security corporation. While providing services to bubuying,y to looking for that final destination... END OF THE WORLD? illegal Israeli colonies, military check- For young people who think Trump’s points and Israeli prisons infamous for I am the Realtor 12.07.16 election is bad news, I felt the same way torture and inhumane treatment, G4S was to assist you! .11 in 1980. contracted by Dakota Access LLC days 49 # Of course as an environmental scien- before dogs were unleashed and patrols tist working with the computer models deployed to guard the pipeline. the IPCC would use for their Nobel Prize- Amidst extreme military repression, winning climate research, it wouldn’t get solidarity actions supporting “Water is bad until I was old. life” are resounding across the world. More troubling, however, would be the —Shirley Osterhaus, Bellingham lack of a quantum philosophy to keep CASCADIA WEEKLY geospatial technology from turning into 5 Big Brother by 2020. Seriously, by now it’s of no conse- Send us your letters Jasmine Talsma REALTOR/SRES quence who gets to play president, while But keep ‘em short (300 words or less). Send the planet killing free market trickles to [email protected] or mail to P.O. Box 2833, Bellingham, WA 98229 JasmineTalsma.com down more death and destruction on we THE GRISTLE JACK’S ATTACK: Acrimony continues to widen between

34 the legislative and executive branches of Whatcom County, as last week County Executive Jack Louws an-

FOOD FOOD nounced he would veto his own budget submittal over additional appropriations requested by County Coun- views YOUR VIEWS THE GRISTLE cil. The veto requires an override by Council or aban- 27 doning certain of their legislative goals for next year. Louws submitted a $15.46 million county budget

B-BOARD B-BOARD for 2017, anticipating a deficit shortfall of $1.17 mil- lion; but he vetoed a 1 percent property tax increase BY BILL MCKIBBEN 24 that would have generated $285,313 in part to achieve Council legislative goals. The executive made his rea-

FILM sons clear in his veto: “My objections to these ordinances are, 1) $150,000 Many Levers of Power 20 or 53 percent of the increase is allocated for legal re- view of potential legislation developed by Council re- AND LEVERS CLOSER TO HOME ARE EASIER TO PULL

MUSIC lated to the export of fossil fuel out of Cherry Point. This expenditure does not reflect my concern for the WE’RE GOING to be dealing and we may lose even victories like

18 entirety of our citizens and is not, in my opinion, nec- with an onslaught of daily emer- Keystone. But there are many levers

ART essary. Specific land use regulations developed within gencies during the Trump years. of power, and the ones closer to the county’s scope of authority do not need outside Already it’s begun—if there’s noth- home are often easier to pull. legal review costing $150,000; 2) The remainder of the ing going on (or in some cases when We also have to work at state and 16 tax increase is not allocated for a specific mandated there is), our leader often begins local levels to support what we want.

STAGE purpose, or for solving existing challenges related the day with a tweet to stir the pot, The last election, terrible as it was, to infrastructure. Levying a property tax increase at and suddenly we’re debating wheth- showed that renewable energy is this time, I believe, will impact our ability to garner er burning the flag should lose you physics, which plays by its own popular even in red states. The hope 14 the support of our citizens when we need them to ap- your citizenship. rules. But politics has its rules, too. is that we can keep the buildout of prove a tax initiative as soon as 2017 to solve our These crises will get worse once The international political mecha- sun and wind, which is beginning to

GET OUT long-standing infrastructure needs related to the jail, he has power—from day to day we’ll nisms Trump wants to smash can’t acquire real momentum, on track; and 3) The increase comes to rural residents at a time have to try and protect vulnerable easily be assembled again, even with if so, costs will keep falling to the

12 when they are reeling from the recent Supreme Court immigrants, or deal with the latest lots of future good will. It took im- point where simple economics may decision relating to the permit-exempt well issue. This outrage from the white supremacist mense diplomatic efforts to reach overrule even Trumpish ideology. does not seem sufficiently attentive to the financial “alt-reich,” or confront the latest the Paris climate accords—25 years And of course we have to keep WORDS challenges our citizens in our rural areas are facing,” self-dealing scandal in the upper of negotiating with endless setbacks. communicating, all the time, about

8 Louws stated in his veto. reaches of the Tower. It will be a The agreement itself is a jury-rigged the crisis—using the constant Tackling his objections in reverse order, the execu- game (though not a fun one), for kludge, but at least it provides a stream of signals from the natural tive’s last arguments are his most persuasive: 48 months, of trying to preserve mechanism for action. It depends world to help people understand

CURRENTS CURRENTS County residents are reeling from uncertainties as many people and as much of the on each country voluntarily doing the folly of our stance. following recent land-use restrictions regarding so- Constitution as possible. its part, though, and if the biggest None of these efforts will prevent 6 6 called exempt wells in rural areas; and voters recently And if we’re very lucky, at the historic source of the planet’s carbon massive, and perhaps fatal, damage narrowly approved a property tax levy for countywide end of those four years, we might decides not to play, it’s easy to guess to the effort to constrain climate VIEWS VIEWS VIEWS emergency medical services (EMS) that will certainly be able to go back to something that an awful lot of other leaders will change. It’s quite possible, as many

4 increase their tax bill. Undoubtedly the pairing will that resembles normal life. Much decide that they’d just as soon give scientists said the day after the erode enthusiasm for additional levies in a county that damage will have been done in the in to their fossil fuel interests too. election, that we’ve lost our best MAIL MAIL was never enthusiastic for taxes. meantime, but perhaps not irrepa- So Trump is preparing to make a chance. But we don’t know precisely

Yet the $150,000 Louws complains of is just a frac- rable damage. Obamacare will be massive bet: a bet that the scientif- how the physics will play out, and 2 tion of the amount spent in outside legal services to gone, but something like it—maybe ic consensus about climate change is every ton of carbon we keep out of DO IT IT DO fight the issue of exempt wells—an issue the county even something better—will be wrong, and that the other 191 na- the atmosphere will help. could have kept out of the courts and settled com- resurrectable. The suffering in the tions of the world are wrong as well. And amidst this long ongoing plaints with a few planning policy changes concern- meantime will be real, but it won’t Fierce resistance must counter his emergency, we’ve got to help with ing the determination of adequate water availabil- make the problem harder to solve, silliness—clearly his people are go- all the daily crises. This winter may 12.07.16 ity. Instead, the county decided to fight it out in assuming reason someday returns. ing to kill Obama’s Clean Power Plan, find climate activists spending as court—and lost. That’s, I guess, the good news: that but perhaps they can be shamed into much time trying to block depor- .11

49 State law permits local governments by simple vote someday normal life may resume. simply ignoring but not formally ab- tations as pipelines; we may have # to raise property taxes by 1 percent, which is what But even that slight good news rogating the Paris accords. to live in a hot world, but we don’t County Council has proposed; however, the county has doesn’t apply to the question of cli- But we also need to be work- have to live in a jackbooted one, not raised property taxes for a quarter of a century and mate change. It’s very likely that by ing hard on other levels. The fossil and the more community we can has not taken even the banked capacity allowed under the time Trump is done we’ll have fuel industry is celebrating Trump’s preserve, the more resilient our the law. The county’s forbearance—while in a tight- missed whatever opening still re- election, and rightly so—but we communities will be. It’s hard not fisted sense admirable—has created a widespread yet mains for slowing down the trajec- can continue to make their lives at to despair—but then, it wasn’t all

CASCADIA WEEKLY misplaced public expectation that taxes cannot and tory of global warming—we’ll have least a little difficult, through cam- that easy to be realistically hope- must not ever be raised in this county, while in other crossed thresholds from which there’s paigns like fossil fuel divestment ful about our climate even before 6 counties and municipalities they are raised routinely no return. In this case, the damage and through fighting every pipeline Trump. This has always been a bat- as a bookkeeping function against inflation. he’s promising will be permanent. and every coal port. The federal tle against great odds. They’re just Louws admitted his first point was his major objec- The adversary here is ultimately battles will obviously be harder, steeper now. tion and motivation for the veto, but it is also his weakest point. VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF CASCADIA WEEKLY THE GRISTLE Council members were furious that

expenditures they had not earmarked GO 34 were itemized, targeted and politicized Special EventNORTHWOOD by the executive. In special session this FOOD week, Council members said they had Sundays! proposed the tax increase to address FOR CASINO ! 27 the nearly $2 million budget deficit out- lined in the executive’s general budget

FUN B-BOARD submission. That was an irresponsible budget, they maintained, and the pro-

posed increase was intended to cover 24 that deficit. Nothing in their discus- sions ever indicated the increase was FILM intended to cover legal expense, a fic-

tion spun up by the executive. All that 20 said, they understood overriding the veto would merely play into the execu- MUSIC tive’s narrative.

“He gets to spend the money; we 18

take the political heat,” Council mem- ART ber Ken Mann fumed, urging others not to override the veto on the property 16 tax increase and let the veto stand.

Returning to the merits of Louws’ STAGE initial point—look, the Council cannot seek outside consultation or counsel 14 unless the matter is anticipated in the county budget, or unless they are able to request a special expenditure from MoreMore CashCash MoreMore Often,Often, GET OUT the County Executive. Louws has al-

ready made it very clear he strenuously 12 objects to the Council’s direction on WithW A Sweet Twist!Twist! exploring limitations on unrefined fos- OurOur $500 every 30 minutes from 6pm to 10pm drawings WORDS sil fuel export at Cherry Point; and it cocontinueon on Fridays in December — this time with a deli- ciciousoou addition! Drawing winners receive $500 cash, plus

is unlikely he would grant any request 8 for a special expenditure related to con- a RRussell Stover Tower of Treats to share (or keep for sultation or legal counsel on that mat- yoyourselfu — we won’t judge!). Winners Club Members get a frfreere entry on each day of drawings. ter if it is not included in the current CURRENTS budget. Louws has set up a Catch-22 HaHHadad enough holiday cooking? Treat yourself to our 6 whereby Council cannot receive the fafamousm Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet for only $19.99! 6 consultation they seek with his permis- 6H6HUYHGHYHU\)ULGD\IURPSPWRSP\RXZRQ¶W¿QGDUYUYHGHYHU\\)ULGDG \IIUURPSPPWRSSP\RXXZRQ W¿QGD VIEWS sion, and he has condemned the means betterbetter (or(orr moremoore delicious)dellicioous)) diningdiiniing dealddeall anywhereanywhere else!else! VIEWS

by which they might seek it without his 4 permission. The integrity of the legis- lative branch of county government is MAIL imperiled by the dilemma imposed by Drawings every 30 minutes from 5pm to 2 the executive. 10pm every Saturday through December

24. Pick out a little present for yourself and IT DO The evidence is clear that the kinds of contemplated changes to county win up to $1000! Winners Club Members policy and code that might permit a get a free entry on the day of the drawings. more finely controlled public response Plus, don’t forget to check out our Super to proposed large-scale fossil fuel ex- 8 Saturday Buffet, served 5pm to 9pm for 12.07.16 port projects is well outside the pur- only 8 dollars! .11

view and experience of the county’s 49 # Legal staff. County policymakers simply do not have the in-house legal exper- tise to advise them on these matters. If Council is intent on going down MODERN COMFORTS AND JUST TWO TURNS OFF THE this road, then they need the con- sultation and legal expertise to help OLD FASHIONED HOSPITALITY GUIDE MERIDIAN them successfully navigate the perils. CASCADIA WEEKLY And if Council is intent on going down BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA 7 this road, the executive and his ad- 877.777.9847 ministration are going to need that 9750 Northwood Road • Lynden WA N expertise, too. E BADGER RD NORTHWOOD RD That’s why Jack’s veto is folly. www.northwoodcasino.com GUIDE MERIDIAN RD LYNDEN CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 new jail. The flier also failed to disclose that the City of Bellingham had opposed Proposition 2015-1. Louws agreed to the findings of fact in a stipulated settle-

34 ment with the commission. No action was recommended against the

FOOD FOOD Sheriff and Prosecutor. currents In comments to the commission, Louws NEWS POLITICS FUZZ BUZZ INDEX expressed regret there were not more 27 state resources available to provide gudi- ance in the preparation of such mailers.

B-BOARD B-BOARD He predicted the decision would have a chilling effect on the willngness of vol-

24 unteers to prepare such information for voters in the future.

FILM “In his settlement, the County Execu- tive has admitted he broke two state laws.

20 The executive’s annual salary is six figures, and a $500 penalty is really insufficient,”

MUSIC commented Doug Starcher, who also filed a complaint. “Staff recommends a penalty,

18 but the commission decides the penalty.

ART Staff weren’t eager to pursue these com- plaints until the commission heard from the public and insisted; and there is still 16 time for the public to comment to com-

STAGE missioners on the amount of the penalty.” Phil Stutzman, the PDC’s senior com- pliance officer, said the investigation re- 14 vealed detailed campaign planning, includ- ing conversations about who would run the

GET OUT political action committee in favor of the measure, and information about a survey

12 of registered voters was completed before the flier was put together. The level of co- ordination between county officials and WORDS tions in the community because state law the campaign consultant, DLR Group—the BY TIM JOHNSON

8 prohibits—with few exceptions—spending consultant that would also contract and public money or using public offices to construct the proposed $100 million—was promote or oppose any ballot proposition. elevated, PDC investigators found. CURRENTS CURRENTS CURRENTS 8 Staff for the PDC had recommended no State law allows for the mailing of neu- Jail Mailer action in their initial report to the com- tral information detailing a ballot mea- 6 COUNTY FINED FOR IMPROPER ELECTION mission last December; however, commis- sure, but prohibits the use of public office sioners were dissatisfied with the recom- or public facilities to promote or oppose VIEWS MATERIALS mendation in light of new information that the proposition. The level of coordination

4 suggested a high level of coordination may on the flyer, the timing of its mailing, have occurred between county officials exceeded “normal and regular conduct al- MAIL MAIL FOLLOWING A year-long investigation, County Executive Jack Louws faces a and political consultants as the county lowed under RCW 42.17A.555.”

sanction and fine from a state review board for his role as head of county adminis- sought voter approval for the new jail. Doc- As detailed in the PDC report, on or 2 tration for a political mailer in support of Proposition 2015-1, a sales tax initiative uments produced in the investigation indi- around Oct. 16, 2015, Whatcom County DO IT IT DO to construct a new jail facility. The state Public Disclosure Commission will consider cated the consultant, DLR Group, proposed officials mailed a flyer titled “Whatcom a recommendation to fine the executive $1,000 for violations of state election “an aggressive campaign” in support of the County Community Report—Whatcom laws, with half the amount suspended. jail. These included 17 pages of detailed County Jail” to 62,172 households at a “The system of governance in Whatcom County appears to have been corrupted campaign coordination provided to county cost of $27,670 for printing and mailing 12.07.16 to encourage voters to pass taxes to resolve a conflict created by and benefiting officials by DLR Group. services. In addition, the cost for research the administration,” Joy Gilfilen noted in her complaint to the PDC. “Bottom line, “Whatcom County officials failed to dis- and production by DLR Group totaled .11

49 taxpayers felt they were being scammed in full daylight during an election using tribute its informational flyer to all house- $18,055. The flyer included four pages on # taxpayer’s money and facilities.” holds, thus depriving households without glossy stock, and included pictures of and Gilfilen campaigned against Louws for the position of County Executive in at least one registered voter of critical in- statements by three Whatcom County offi- 2015, largely on issues related to the jail. formation about Proposition 2015-1,” PDC cials—Executive, Sheriff and Prosecutor— The 1,100-page PDC report addresses hers and 16 other complaints that al- investigators found in their report. two of whom were up for election, and one leged county officials—including Louws, Sheriff Bill Elfo, and Prosecutor David Louws—as the chief executive offi- of whom was running unopposed. The flyer McEachran—may have violated a state election law as they prepared and distrib- cer responsible for the mailer—appears included pictures of existing jail condi-

CASCADIA WEEKLY uted a flyer that asked voters to approve a permanent 0.2 percent sales and use to have violated election laws by em- tions, and drawings of the proposed facil- the tax increase to construct and operate a new jail facility in Whatcom County. ploying mailing lists that targeted the ity. The mailer described jail capacity and 8 Other allegations suggested the mailer may have assisted the reelection cam- mailer to households with at least one jail population, and reviewed the jail plan- paigns of Executive Louws and Sheriff Elfo. The measure was rejected by 51.43 registered voter rather than to all house- ning process, a timeline for a new facility, percent of voters, with 29,896 “No” votes and 28,230 “Yes” votes. holds, and by failing to include a fair and and the wording of the proposed initiative, The mailer was sent only to registered voters in the county, and was paid for objective presentation of facts concern- including the proposed sales and use tax with $28,452 of taxpayer money, according to a county contract. That raised ques- ing the size and cost of constructing a increase. It included a chart of current sales tax rates from other jurisdictions in the Puget Sound region. Finally, the flyer CHUCKANUT BREWERY described how the county and participat- ing cities would build a replacement jail & KITCHEN if voters approved the proposed measure. 34 The mailer did not include the size, including bed capacity, or the cost to FOOD build the new facility—with and without the City of Bellingham’s participation— 27 which the County was trying to secure when the mailer was sent out. Notably,

Give B-BOARD the mailer failed to disclose there were Schwarz Chuckanut Gifts two options for a new jail under dis- & Marzen • Beer on Tap @ • Glasses • •Shirts More cussion—one for a facility costing ap- Both Breweries 24 proximately $75 million with 400 beds, another for a facility costing approxi- FILM mately $97 million with 521 beds. Family Friendly HoPPY Hour The distinction is an important one, be- 20 cause without the participation of Belling- Sunday-Thursday 4-6pm ham in a new jail, the final size and cost of 601 West Holly St. • Bellingham, WA MUSIC such a facility would be greatly reduced. 360-75-BEERS (752-3377)

“The jail mailer did not include a good- ChuckanutBreweryAndKitchen.com 18 faith estimate of the cost of constructing ART a new jail facility based on the participa- FREE EVENTS at Village Books in Fairhaven tion of the six small cities who had signed BRUNCH t COCKTAILS t TACOS t OYSTERS t PATIO t DAILY HAPPY HOUR 16 an interlocal agreement with the county Saturday, December 10, 10:30am Story Time with at the time of the mailing,” investigators STAGE KIDS! noted in their report. “Nor did the mailer LOCALAUTHOR include a good-faith estimate of the cost

Leslie 14 of constructing a new jail facility based Stark on the participation of the six small cit- ies and the City of Bellingham, which the BELLA of GET OUT county hoped to achieve through negotia- MADISON tions with the City of Bellngham that were 12 going on at the time of the mailing. PARK A charming book based on the real life of a little dog “As late as Sept. 27, 2015, the county’s named Bella and her adventures in Seattle. WORDS draft mailer discussed Options 1 and 2, but Saturday, December 10, 4pm BELLINGHAM’S PREMIER SEAFOOD RESTAURANT this information was removed from the fi- 8 8 nal version of the mailer that was sent on ,OCAL0OETS or around Oct. 16, 2015,” PDC staff not- Ann Tweedy CURRENTS CURRENTS ed in their report, and instead the mailer Risa Denenberg CURRENTS included a statement saying that if the measure passes, “the county and partic- Georgia Johnson 1145 NORTH STATE STREET 6 ipating cities will build a replacement jail IN THE HISTORIC HERALD BUILDING

Join us for this trio of local VIEWS on Labounty Road in Ferndale, demolish poets as they read from their 360.746.6130 the existing Prospect Street jail and con- latest collections. DINNER Tuesday - Sunday 3 - 11 BRUNCH Saturday - Sunday 10 - 2 4 struct facilities for inmate transfer at the MAIL MAIL County Courthouse.” The flyer failed to Saturday, describe a second option and its wording pm photographer December 10, 7 20 WINES "ON SPOUT" 2 failed to disclose that a major user of the DO IT IT DO proposed jail—the City of Bellingham— YOAV BEER & FOOD • BEST POPCORN IN TOWN was opposed to the plan. LITVIN The information about the jail initiative "HOURS OF HAPPINESS" DAILY 3 - 7 was mailed close to the time when ballots were sent to registered voters. 2CREATE 12.07.16 Complaints alleged the mailer had the Art Collaborations in New York City .11 look and feel of a campaign piece, and 49 # that it was timed to coincide with the dis- A beautifully designed book showcasing the work of nine pairs of New York City’s finest graffiti and street tribution of ballots. artists, which delves deep into their backgrounds, PDC investigators rejected other com- techniques, and collaborative processes. plaints about the flyer, including charges The perfect gift for that the inclusion of photos and state- Teachers. ments by county officials materially as- Employees. sisted in their campaigns for reelection. CASCADIA WEEKLY EVERYONE! The Public Disclosure Commission is 9 tasked with maintaining the integrity of MONDAYS OPEN 3-9 TUES-SAT OPEN AT 3 SUNDAYS CLOSED • 120 WEST HOLY ST. elections in Washington. Their conclu- VILLAGE BOOKS sions and recommendations will be for- 1200 11th St, Bellingham Holiday Themed Coloring Live Music Friday, Dec. 9th TGIF Tasting, Fri. Dec. 16th warded to the state Attorney General’s & 430 Front St, Lynden Night, Thur. Dec. 8th with the Bill MacDonough Trio, with imports from Mionetto USA. Office for review. /PEN$AILYs 4:30 - ? 7:30-9:30 5 - 7, $8/person

34 ek th FOOD FOOD a e t 27 W

W LAST WEEK’S B-BOARD B-BOARD e

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FILM T NEWS NOV30-DEC05 s

20 BY TIM JOHNSON MUSIC Tsi'li'xw Bill James, hereditary chief of Lummi Nation, left, hugged Denise Solomon on Monday as tribes from around the region gathered to feast on food caught in treaty-protected waters and honor victories of tribal rights around the West and 18 those to come. ART 12.02.16 Pipeline (DAPL) to cross Lake Oahe, the 16 FRIDAY hotspot of massive protests of water protec-

STAGE Winter shellfish harvesting is once again tors, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said in a 11.30.16 allowed on 810 acres in the southwest statement. The decision so limits the pipe- part of Drayton Harbor after more than line route that completion of the project is 14 WEDNESDAY two decades of work to clean up the wa- in doubt. [Standing Rock Sioux Tribe] The Trudeau government’s approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipe- ter. Shellfish harvesting in Blaine’s Drayton

GET OUT line expansion meets fierce opposition in British Columbia, including a vow Harbor was banned more than 20 years ago Lummi Nation hails the DAPL decision. from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation that this is “the beginning of a long battle” because of poor water quality, then opened “Federal agencies are learning more and

12 to stop the project. The BC provincial government is still waiting for the federal to seasonal harvest in 2004. The harbor was more about what tribal consultation actual- government to support its five conditions before approving Kinder Morgan’s Trans closed to recreational and commercial har- ly means and the importance of traditional Mountain pipeline construction project. [CBC] vest in 1995, because of bacteria pollution lands to Native peoples’” Lummi Chairm Tim WORDS from both animal and human waste. How- Ballew said in a statement. “The Lummi Na-

8 Canada’s approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline is also raising ever, the County Public Works Department tion will continue to support the Standing concerns with Washington state officials, who say they have not received ade- reports, septic system improvements and Rock Sioux Tribe and we will continue to quate assurances that U.S. waters will be protected in the event of an oil tanker efforts to isolate manure from farm animals protect our lands.” [Lummi Nation] CURRENTS CURRENTS CURRENTS 8 spill. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s office says he doesn’t have enough details of have paid off. [Bellingham Herald, KGMI] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledged $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan to In an angry press release, partners for 6 know if enough spill prevention measures will be in place, or that the state would No significant environmental concerns project announce they will ignore the be protected in the event of a spill. The planned pipeline also faces opposition prohibit a boundary modification at Cherry Corps decision on the Dakota Access Pipe- VIEWS from Seattle politicians who, like their counterparts in Vancouver, are opposed to Point, which means the Dept. of Natural Re- line and press forward with their project

4 any expansion of the oil industry. [Vancouver Sun, CBC] sources won’t have to go through an exten- “without any additional rerouting in and sive review process to consider incorporating around Lake Oahe.” Perhaps that was their MAIL MAIL 12.01.16 the cutout for the fourth pier for the Gateway plan all along. [Business Wire]

Pacific coal terminal into the Aquatic Re- 2 THURSDAY serve. The decision on the boundary change 12.05.16 DO IT IT DO An Army Corps of Engineers draft report failed to adequately address diesel could arrive before the end of the year. [DNR] pollution, rail congestion, greenhouse-gas emissions and other significant envi- MONDAY ronmental impacts of a proposed coal-export terminal in Longview, according to a 12.04.16 Bellingham City Council approves guide- harsh critique from the Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator. lines to Planning Commission appoint- 12.07.16 In a Nov. 29 letter, the EPA said the Army Corps’ review is so flawed it failed SUNDAY ments that would restrict to three the to meet federal requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act—and The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will number of commissioners with ties to the .11

49 should be substantially revised. [Seattle Times] not grant permission for the Dakota Access development industry. #

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1107 RAILROAD AVE // 360.647.5593 // BBAYBREWERY.COM assault in Blaine with shots fired. index FUZZ Upon arrival, deputies contacted a man and his girlfriend and another 3000K woman. The other woman, a friend, BUZZ Total Solar Kilowatt 34 explained the man was drunk and Hours Produced by FOOD FOOD became enraged when she would not 2500K Washington Cities in 2015 SPECIAL REPORT: leave and began shooting into the 3,037,439 TERRIBLE PEOPLE floor near her feet with a .22-caliber 27 On Dec. 5, two Whatcom County men handgun. He reportedly pointed the 2000K were sentenced to jail time for whip- handgun at the two women and made B-BOARD B-BOARD

ping a boy who did not do his chores. threats to kill them and himself. When 1,496,557 In December 2014, the men forced the his girlfriend attempted to leave 1500K 1,309,605 boy, then 10, to run for hours on a with her friend, the other woman, he 1,297,527 24 steep mountain road near Paradise, physically grabbed her and threw her 1,064,733 FILM struck him with a horse whip when out the back door. As the two women 1000K 899,585 770,243 he stopped, then shoved him into a attempted to leave in a vehicle, he 748,765 578,749 542,560 520,476 518,588 freezing stream. The boy’s father was reportedly stood in front of the car 20 469,198 399,237

500K 383,484 346,780

joined by the boy’s step-grandfather holding a .22 rifle, pointed it at them 345,531 345,437 323,855 285,376 293,954 275,535 in “talking with the boy” after he did and then fired into the ground near MUSIC not do his homework, according to the car. He admitted firing the weap- 0K

charging papers. The boy estimated on near the car. No one was injured 18 being whipped 30 to 50 times, over during the incident. BOW ART

the following three or four hours. RENTON VASHON AUBURN OLYMPIA POULSBO REDMOND BELLEVUE PUYALLUP KIRKLAND On Nov. 28, Bellingham Police released ISSAQUAH FERDNDALE ANACORTES 16 BREMERTON COUPEVILLE ELLENSBURG BELLINGHAM On Dec. 1, a caller to 911 told emer- a security camera photo of a man they HARBOR OAK PORT ORCHARD MOUNT VERNON MOUNT MERCER ISLAND

gency dispatchers that a severely beat- say took pictures of an 11-year-old girl STAGE

en assault victim was being transport- over the top of a restroom stall door ISLAND BAINBRIDGE ed from a private county residence to at the Kmart store in Sunset Square. the Kendall Fire Hall by private vehicle. Police said the man may be the same 14 Sheriff’s Office detectives contacted person involved in a separate incident and interviewed the victim, a 42 year inside Target, and possibly other area GET OUT old male, at the ER. “The victim was stores, approaching young women in an 1,132,000 covered in dried blood and had serious inappropriate manner. Equivalent kilowatt hours (kWh) in residential energy savings logged during the 12 injuries to his head, and arms,” detec- Bellingham Community Energy Challenge (Jan. 2015 to date). tives reported. The man was able to tell On Nov. 25, a Blaine business owner WORDS detectives that on Nov. 30 he went to called police to report a former employ-

his old neighbor “Calvin’s” house in Ma- ee was making threats toward him. The 8 8 ple Falls. The man said that the former man told police he had fired an employ- neighbor questioned him about who ee approximately three weeks ago. “The 262 124 Number of comprehensive residential Number of homes that received energy CURRENTS CURRENTS stole his briefcase. The man denied any disgruntled man had since informed an- CURRENTS knowledge of the stolen briefcase and other person he was going to ‘get som energy audits performed as part of the upgrades. A total of 162 unique

Bellingham CEC. projects were performed as part of the 6 was then shot with a taser numerous gangsters’ from Seattle to take care of Bellingham CEC. times, beaten with a baton and a ham- him,” police reported. The officer took a mer and injected with an unknown sub- report and informed the man to contact VIEWS

stance from a hypodermic needle. The police again if things escalated. 4 man said at one point either he passed out or couldn’t move and described be- On Dec. 1, a man walked into the 2,087 MAIL

ing further tortured by the suspect after branch of a bank in Bellingham's Sun- Number of LED bulbs installed in Bellingham as part of the CEC. More than 300 LED 2 being shackled to a ladder on the living nyland neighborhood and punched an lightbulbs distributed at the Bellingham Food Bank by Sustainable Connections, Opportunity Council and Cascade Natural Gas staff—along with information on DO IT IT DO room floor. The man said he was tied employee over a personal matter. The weatherization programs as part of the CEC. up and held against his will most of the man fled on foot and was not located; time until “Calvin” placed him into his however, police were able to identify vehicle and drove up a nearby logging and arrest him later. road. The man was able to open the 3,700 12.07.16 door, jump out of the vehicle and run CRITTER CRIME Number of city streetlights replaced with LEDs as part of the CEC. .11

to a nearby house for help. When they On Nov. 26, Blaine Police responded 49 arrested “Calivin,” detectives found one to a report of a prowler. “The report- # 9mm handgun and one .22-caliber long ing party heard an unknown person rifle. They also discovered blood spat- make several attempts to open the ter on the living room carpet and wall, a front door of an apartment,” police $200,000 bloody rope and bloody clothing in the reported. “Upon arriving in the area, Annual energy savings from the replacement of city streetlights with LEDs, along with washing machine, an empty box of leg officers observed a masked suspect commensurate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. irons, a baseball bat with blood, a lad- fleeing the scene. The suspect left CASCADIA WEEKLY der with blood and four tasers. Items behind wet paw prints and a partial- recovered were all consistent with the ly gnawed bag of candy which he had 11 victim’s account. been trying to abscond with. Officers $1,200,000 opted to not pursue the raccoon, and City of Bellingham investment in solar energy as part of the CEC. On Dec. 1, Whatcom County sheriff’s cleared after determining he had been deputies responded to a report of an the sole prowler.” SOURCES: City of Bellingham Community Energy Challenge (www.bellinghamenergyprize.org) doit WORDS WED., DEC. 7 34 BOOKS AND TEA: An “Afternoon Books and

FOOD FOOD Tea” event takes place from 2-3:30pm at the Lynden Library, 216 4th St. Cozy Christmas mysteries will be the theme of this month’s event, which features mysteries, tea and 27 words COMMUNITY LECTURES BOOKS sample recipes from the books. (360) 354-4883 B-BOARD B-BOARD DEC. 7-10 not just data, charts and EIS, WINTER BOOK SALE: Used books, DVDs,

24 but also stories and reflections CDs and more can be found at a Friends of from the human heart. the Library Winter Book Sale from 10am-6pm

FILM Wednesday through Friday, and 10am-1pm Northwest Passage: The Saturday at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Most books are $1, and items get

20 Great Columbia River cheaper as the sale goes on. BY WILLIAM DIETRICH WWW.BELLINGHAMPUBLICLIBRARY.ORG

MUSIC The definitive cultural his- tory of the Columbia River has FRI., DEC. 9 HOLIDAY STORIES: Kids and their keepers 18 been reissued two decades after its publication. can listen in on readings of The Nutcracker and

ART William Dietrich—a Pulitzer Prize-winning environ- other holiday classics from 10:30-11:30am at mental journalist—writes in a new introduction that the Readings Gallery at Village Books, 1200 much has changed in the interim. Some trends are 11th St. The free event will also features the 16 positive, including the rebounding of salmon runs, making of decorations inspired by holidays around the globe.

STAGE increased habitat restoration, greater cooperation (360) 671-2626 among farmers, fishermen and conservationists and increased sustainable energy and conservation SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: Join the Red Wheel- 14 throughout the Northwest taking pressure off of the barrow Writers when they read from their fifth hydroelectric projects in the Columbia basin. annual collective novel, Special Collections, at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. To cel- GET OUT Some trends, however, are not good: increased ebrate NaNoWriMo, 30 different authors took a volumes of coal and oils transported through the chapter a day to complete a novel full of plot

12 Gorge, booming regional population and espe-

12 twists, plot pratfalls, character perplexities cially the unpredictable future in the face of cli- and genuine narrative energy. mate change, bringing warmer river temperatures, WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM WORDS WORDS shrinking snowpacks and chaotic weather patterns. SAT., DEC. 10

8 Looking ahead at the future of one of Cascadia’s BY CHRISTIAN MARTIN LYNDEN BOOK CLUB: Isabel Wilkerson’s The greatest resources, Dietrich predicts “constant Warmth of Other Suns will be the subject of an challenge, and a daring, promising, contentious, Award-Winning Book Club discussion taking place from 10:30am-12pm at the Lynden Li- CURRENTS CURRENTS exhilarating future in which we continually re- make our relationship to nature.” brary, 216 4th St. All adults are welcome, and 6 Northwest refreshments will be provided. (360) 354-4883 Once & Future River: VIEWS Reclaiming the Duwamish POETRY TRIO: Area poets will read from their collections at a group reading at 4pm at 4 Bookshelf PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM REESE, ESSAYS BY ERIC WAGNER The forgotten, forsaken Duwamish River—the 12- Village Books, 1200 11th St. The wordsmiths

MAIL MAIL A GIFT GUIDE FOR GREENIES include Ann Tweedy (The Body’s Alphabet), Risa mile waterway with the Denenberg (Whirlwind @ Lesbos), and Georgia

Green River on one side and 2 Johnson (Just Past Dew Point). Forest Under Story: Elliott Bay on the other— WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM DO IT IT DO Creative Inquiry in an Old-Growth Forest has been dredged, straight- SUN., DEC. 11 EDITED BY NATHANIEL BRODIE, CHARLES GOODRICH, AND FREDERICK SWANSON ened, paved over and pol- JACK STRAW READING: Robert Lashley, In a mossy, tangled grove of old-growth conifers east of Eugene, Ore. luted. Its estuary with the Casandra Lopez and others will read from in the 15,800-acre Lookout Creek watershed, sits a nondescript campus of Salish Sea has been filled their selections in the 20th Jack Straw Writ- 12.07.16 buildings operated by Oregon State University: the H. J. Andrews Experi- in and transformed into a ers Anthology at 4pm at Village Books, 1200 mental Forest in the Willamette National Forest, on the verdant and soggy global shipping terminal. 11th St. The Jack Straw Writers Program was .11 created to introduce local writers to the

49 west slope of the Oregon Cascades. Like the removal of the Elwha dams, the rehabili- # medium of recorded audio, to develop their Since 2003, many notable scribes of the natural world have taken up tation of the Duwamish is a historical act of recon- presentation skills for live and recorded residence there, visiting four designated “Reflection Plots,” walking, ob- ciliation and perseverance. The photographs of Tom readings, and to encourage the creation of serving and writing down their impressions and meditations inspired by Reese show the contrasts of the healing work in new literary work. the ancient forest. progress: nesting osprey and eagles, a scrap metal WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM The Long-Term Ecological Reflections program at OSU has hosted Robert junkyard, spawning salmon, barnacle-encased sub- MON., DEC. 12 Michael Pyle, Linda Hogan, Jim Bertolino, Jane Hirshfield, Robin Wall Kim- merged cars, river otters, oil slicks. BOOKS ON TAP: Discuss Eowyn Ivey’s The CASCADIA WEEKLY merer, Kathleen Dean Moore and others at this special place for one to two Once & Future River uncovers many of the Du- Snow Child at a “Books on Tap” gathering weeks. It invites them to “pursue their own original inquiries using the wamish’s stories, with a focus on the power of res- from 6:30-8pm at Tino’s Pizza & Pasta Co., 12 methods of the humanities… and to follow paths both literal and meta- toration and reconciliation. 2275 Lake Whatcom Blvd. The event will be phorical into the forest.” “Everything we do to the land is a story,” writes led by Brian Hulsey, South Whatcom Library manager. The book club meets on the second This book collects some of the results: poems, memoir, field notes, reflec- essayist Wagner, “and a landscape holds every Monday of every month. tions from the Timber Wars of the 1980s, even an “Ode to Rhododendron.” story ever told about it, each layer atop its pre- (360) 305-3632 Forest Under Story demonstrates that a holistic survey of any forest includes decessors.” doit 2016

Help make the holiday SANTA, SLEIGH RIDES & MORE! Dec 10-11 Dec 17-18 season brighter for more than 34 2,500 children in Whatcom County by

donating gifts to “Toys for Tots” at FOOD various locales through Dec. 17 27 B-BOARD B-BOARD 24 • Shop & Sip • Fresh Cut Trees & Wreaths •KƌŶĂŵĞŶƚΘŽŽŬŝĞƌĂŌŝŶŐ FILM • Bon Fire & S’mores •ŽƵŶƚƌLJĂĨĞΘŝƐƟůůĞƌLJdĂƐƟŶŐƐ

• Live Music & Community Carols • Elf Heidi’s Children’s Week Dec 19-22 20

DŽŶƚŚůŽŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐďĞŐŝŶ&ƌŝĚĂLJEŽǀ͘Ϯϱ͊ MUSIC POETRYNIGHT: Those looking to share their is hiring qualified instructors for technical programs creative verse as part of Poetrynight can sign up at and general education courses. ^ĞĞǁĞďƐŝƚĞĨŽƌĞǀĞŶƚƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ 18 7:45pm at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central WWW.BTC.EDU 6140 Guide Meridian - (360) 318-7720 - www.bellewoodfarms.com

Ave. Readings start at 8pm. Entry is by donation. ART WWW.POETRYNIGHT.ORG HOLIDAY FAIRE: Listen to live music, eat deli- cious food, peruse goods by local artisans, take 16 TUES., DEC. 13 part in crafting workshops, visit the Snow Queen FERNDALE BOOK CLUB: All adults are welcome to in her castle, watch an enchanting puppet play and discuss Stephanie Kallos’ Language Arts at a book more at an annual Holiday Faire from 10am-3pm at STAGE group meeting happening from 2:30-4:30pm at the Whatcom Hills Waldorf School, 941 Austin St. Entry Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St. is free; activities range from $1-$3. 14 (360) 384-3647 WWW.WHWS.ORG

THURS., DEC. 15 FAIRHAVEN HOLIDAY: As part of the Fairhaven GET OUT BOOK TALK: Librarian Katie Bray leads a “Book Holiday Festival, Santa will be visiting with fami- Talk” at 1pm at the SkillShare Space at the Belling- lies from 12-3pm in the lobby at the Fairhaven Vil-

ham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Participants lage Inn, 1200 10th St. Free horse-drawn carriage 12 12 can share their favorite titles, make selections, get rides will be offered from the portico of the inn. reading ideas and more. Entry is free. WWW.FAIRHAVEN.COM WORDS (360) 778-7230 WORDS HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Tour four beautifully

HOLIDAY BOOKS: Local author Susan Colleen decorated historic homes in Lynden from 1-5pm at 8 Browne reads from her holiday novel The Hopeful the 18th annual “Homes for the Holidays” fund- Romantic and her Whatcom County-set kids’ book raiser. Tickets are $20. Gear up for your next adventure. The Mystery of the Christmas Fairies at 5:30pm at WWW.BETHANY.ORG CURRENTS CURRENTS Bellingham’s Holiday Festival of the Arts, 4145 Use your WECU Choice Visa card for travel and purchases and

Meridian St. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: Middle East expert Raed earn 1.5 points for each dollar you spend. 6 WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG Jarrar will be the featured speaker at an Interna- tional Human Rights Day event taking place from VIEWS 3-6pm at the WECU Education Building, 511 E. 360.676.1168 www.wecu.com Holly St. The free gathering will also include the COMMUNITY 4 Amnesty International Write for Rights, a world- wide letter-writing campaign highlighting a dozen

DEC. 7-14 MAIL SANTA IN TOWN: For the 34th year, the cases that represent the work AI does all year long.

Fairhaven Lions will host Santa Claus through the WWW.WHRTF.ORG 2 holidays at Yeager’s Toyland, 3101 Northwest St.

Visits are free. You can take pictures with your DEC. 10-11 IT DO own camera at no charge. If you wish to help WINTER WONDERLAND: Indoor and outdoor ac- raise money for local charities, the club will be tivities, breakfast with Santa, an indoor carnival, available to take pictures for $15-$25. The event a sing-along, a magic show and the chance to play happens from 4-6pm weekdays through Dec. 9; 12- in real snow will be part of a “Winter Wonderland” 7pm weekdays from Dec. 12-23; 12-6pm Saturdays; event taking place from 10am-9pm Saturday, and 12.07.16 and 12-5pm Sundays. 11am-6pm Sunday at the Children’s Museum of

WWW.YEAGERSSTPORTINGGOODS.COM Skagit County at Burlington’s Cascade Mall, 550 .11 49

Cascade Mall Dr. Admission prices vary. # DEC. 9-10 WWW.SKAGITCHILDRENSMUSEUM.NET TOYS FOR TOTS: Donate new, unwrapped toys, cash and more at the annual “Toys for Tots” event SUN., DEC. 11 taking place from 9am-5pm Friday and Saturday STANDING ROCK SUPPLIES: A “Supplies to at a distribution center at 1650 Birchwood Ave. Standing Rock” event takes place from 10am- Additional drop-offs take place Dec. 16-17 here 10pm in Mount Vernon at 18318 Periwinkle Lane. and at various locales located throughout Whatcom Skagit Valley residents Quan Pemberton and

County through Dec. 17. James VanSalee will be taking supplies to the CASCADIA WEEKLY WWW.BELLINGHAM-WA.TOYSFORTOTS.ORG water protectors in North Dakota, and are seeking winter clothing of all sizes, food, water, wool and 13 SAT., DEC. 10 synthetic blankets, subzero sleeping bags, winter HIRING FAIR: Attend an Instructor Hiring Fair books, propane heaters, winter tents, medical sup- from 9-10:30am at the G Building at Bellingham plies, coffee and more. Technical College, 3028 Lindbergh Ave. The college (360) 421-2706 OR [email protected] doit WED., DEC. 7 GROUP RUN: All levels of experience are welcome

at a weekly Group Run beginning at 6pm in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Running Company, 702 First 34 St. The 3- to 6-mile run is great for beginners or for

FOOD FOOD others wanting an easy recovery. Entry is free and no registration is required. outside WWW.SKAGITRUNNERS.ORG HIKING RUNNING GARDENING 27 GARDEN CLUB MEETING: Lars Crabo of the Lepi- dopterists’ Society will educate attendees on the

B-BOARD B-BOARD local and new arrivals or various moth species at tonight’s Birchwood Garden Club meeting at 7pm at Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St.

24 We have only just begun to understand the Entry is open to all; membership is open to anyone complexity here. in Whatcom or Skagit counties.

FILM Traditionally, the upper Skagit has seen the WWW.BIRCHWOODGARDENCLUB.ORG greatest concentrations of wintering eagles THURS., DEC. 8

20 and eagle watching has become an eco-trav- ASTRONOMY MEETING: The Whatcom Associa- el bucket-list attraction tion of Celestial Observers will meet from 7-9pm at

MUSIC along its banks. Ferndale’s Whatcom Educational Credit Union, 5659 Luckily, the Skagit River Barrett Rd. Use I-5 exit 262. The event will include a discussion of local astronomy events and outreach 18 Bald Eagle Interpretive projects, and a presentation. Entry is free and open

ART Center has been on hand to the public. beside the Skagit for de- WWW.WHATCOMASTRONOMY.ORG cades, deepening the ex- 16 perience for visitors from AVALANCHE CLINIC: Jon Minier of the Northwest Avalanche Center will lead a free Avalanche Clinic

STAGE all around the world. The tonight at Backcountry Essentials, 214 W. Holly St. ATTEND center, located at Howard The 90-minute presentation will focus on the basics WHAT: Skagit Miller Steelhead Park in of avalanche hazard, how to avoid it and how to 14 14 Eagle Festival Rockport, provides guided learn more. WHEN: nature walks, educational WWW.BACKCOUNTRYESSENTIALS.NET GET OUT GET OUT Weekends programs and interpretive DEC. 8-11 through displays. LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS: View festive holiday January

12 Celebrating their 20th displays both outdoors and indoors at the annual WHERE: anniversary this winter, “The Lights of Christmas” event continuing this Skagit River this volunteer-driven orga- week from 5-10pm Thursday through Sunday in WORDS Bald Eagle nization is focused on big- Stanwood at the 15-acre Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Interpretive Marine Dr. In addition to the more than one mil-

8 picture ecosystem aware- Center lion lights that will be lit up, there will be activi- ness and is dedicated to ties for kids, live entertainment, music, dinner INFO: www. protecting the watershed. theater, holiday shopping and more. Tickets are skagiteagle.org $11-$16. The event continues Dec. 15-18, 20-23 CURRENTS CURRENTS The Interpretive Center is ------open weekends through and 26-28.

6 WHAT: Float Trip WWW.THELIGHTSOFCHRISTMAS.COM STORY AND PHOTO BY JOHN D’ONOFRIO January (and Dec. 26-30). WHEN: Sun., The Nooksack River VIEWS Jan. 8 FRI., DEC. 9 WHERE: is also a great place for SUMAS MOUNTAIN HIKE: Join members of the

4 Mount Baker Club today for a Sumas Mountain hike. Nooksack River eagle watching. An icon- Welcoming ic photograph, taken by Meet at 9am at Sunnyland Elementary to carpool, or INFO: www. MAIL MAIL at 9:30am at the Everson Red Apple. Chuck Hilliard in 2012, whatcomland WWW.MOUNTBAKERCLUB.ORG

showed 55 eagles perched 2 trust.org the Eagles in a single tree! Five spe- WILD THINGS: Kids, adults and adventurers can DO IT IT DO cies of salmon spawn on the river, providing join Holly Roger of Wild Whatcom for “Wild Things” MASTERS OF THEIR DOMAIN a bountiful buffet for hungry eagles. Community Program from 9:30-11am every Friday in December at the Connelly Creek Nature Area—a One of the best spots for eagle-gazing is frequently traveled corridor for wildlife of all kinds. “Eagles come in all shapes and sizes, but you will recognize them chiefly by around the bridge on the Mosquito Lake Road, Suggested donation is $5. 12.07.16 their attitudes.” just south of the Mt. Baker Highway near Wel- WWW.WILDWHATCOM.ORG —E. F. Schumacher come. Another popular spot is Deming Home- .11 DEC. 9-10 49 MAYBE IT’S the way they soar, but bald eagles are absolute masters stead Eagle Park, accessed via Truck Road off # WONDERLAND WALK: Take a walk in the woods of their domain. It could also be their regal stance when perched, like the Mt. Baker Highway near milepost 15. and enjoy lights, music, hot chocolate and generous monarchs of the northern forests. Perhaps it is their fierce stare. Eagles This 100-acre park, preserved by the Whatcom servings of holiday cheer at the annual “Wonderland capture the imagination. Land Trust and now part of the Whatcom County Walk” taking place from 5-8pm Friday and Saturday As a symbol of the United States, they represent dominance. In real life, Parks System, offers short hiking trails, picnic in Anacortes at Washington Park, 6300 Sunset Ave. they’re part of an intricate web of interdependency—linked to the salmon tables and—in season—lots of bald eagles. Entry is free and open to all. WWW.CITYOFANACORTES.ORG and the complicated cause and effect relationships of Cascadian ecology. Another excellent way to share some qual- CASCADIA WEEKLY Emblematic in a different way, the eagle epitomizes wildness. ity time with the eagles is on a float trip. DEC. 9-11 The rivers that flow from the North Cascades to the sea are prime habitat You can join the Land Trust on such an ex- SANTA TRAIN: The Forest of Imagination changes 14 for wintering eagles. They gather along the Skagit and the Nooksack rivers cursion on Jan. 8. The trip will include about into a magical wonderland full of more than one from December until March (prime time is December and January), occupy- eight miles of flat water (no rapids) and also million lights brightly twinkling in the night at “Santa Train” excursions from 5-9pm Friday through ing the trees along the river like magistrates, observing—and consuming— highlight properties protected by the WLT Sunday at Blaine’s Miniature Fun Center, 4620 Birch the depleted spawned-out salmon. They then deposit the digested innards along the river. Space is limited, so don’t Bay Lynden Rd. At the end of the 20-minute ride, in droppings that nourish the forest, which in turn, sustains the salmon. delay in securing a seat. doit

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119 NORTH COMMERCIAL ST. SUITE #1420 • OFFICE: (360) 746-2642 MUSIC With winter in the air, learn more about how to stay safe in the backcountry at “Avalanche

Awareness” events Thurs., Dec. 8 at Backcountry 18 Essentials and Tues., Dec. 13 at REI www.ransom-lawfirm.com ART 99%+ FOSSIL FUEL-FREE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 16

Santa will be waiting—so bring your camera along caroling and more will be part of the festive fun. for photo-ops. Entry is $10-$14. The event happens This weekend and Dec. 17-18, there will also be STAGE at various dates through Dec. 23. sleigh rides, visits with Santa and more. WWW.MINIATUREWORLD.ORG WWW.BELLEWOODFARMS.COM 14 14 SAT., DEC. 10 SUN., DEC. 11 JINGLE BELL RUN: Wear a holiday-themed cos- RABBIT RIDE: Join members of the Mount Baker GET OUT GET OUT tume at the Arthritis Foundation’s annual “Jingle Bicycle Club for a “Rabbit Ride” starting at 8am Bell Run” starting at 9am at Bellingham High every Sunday at Fairhaven Bicycle, 1108 11th St.

School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. Entry to the 5K run or The 32-mile route takes riders down Chuckanut 12 walk is $10-$40. and back via Lake Samish. The group also holds WWW.JBR.ORG weekly rides Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. WORDS MOSS BALLS: Learn the Japanese tradition of WWW.MTBAKERBIKECLUB.ORG kokedama—using a moss ball to plant and create a BellinghamFinancialPlanners.com 8 hanging garden—at a “Make a Gift Kokedoma Ball” MON., DEC. 12 COLSON FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR at 9am at the Garden Spot Nursery, 900 Alabama PILATES FOR SKIERS: Elizabeth Clark leads a Fee-Only Financial Planning | Fee-Based Investment Management St. Entry is $39 and includes all supplies. free “Pilates for Skiers and Snowboarders” clinic at CURRENTS CURRENTS WWW.GARDEN-SPOT.COM 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. Bring your own Yoga mat

and enjoy a workout focused on core strength, Ronald Scott Colson (Direct) 303.986.9977 6 WORK PARTY: Join the Nooksack Salmon Enhance- muscle balance, healthy alignment and flexibility. CFP®, MBA, President (Toll Free) 800.530.3884 ment Association for its final community work Please register in advance. 4740 Austin Court VIEWS party of the season from 9am-12pm at Ferndale’s 647-8955 or www.rei.com Whiskey Creek. Volunteers will be planting native Bellingham WA 98229-2659 4 trees and shrubs, so dress appropriately. Parking TUES., DEC. 13

will be available at El Nopal, 6104 Portal Way. GIVE AND GLOW RUN: Staff and volunteers are MAIL WWW.N-SEA.ORG always on hand to guide the way at the weekly

All-Paces Run starting at 6pm every Tuesday at 2 HISTORY TOUR: Guides will focus on a wide range Fairhaven Runners, 1209 11th St. The runs are 20

of local lore—focusing specifically on the history minutes out and back on two key routes—by the IT DO of marginalized people in Bellingham, including water or through the woods. Entry is free. Tonight’s women, people of color, and the LGBTQ commu- “Give and Glow” Run will feature Saucony demos, nity—at a Bureau of Historical Investigation Holly cool prizes, ugly holiday sweaters and post-run tree Street History Tour starting at 1pm at 311 E. Holly decorating. Bring food or cash donations for the St. Attendance will be granted on a first-come, Food Bank, if possible. 12.07.16 first-served basis. Entry is free, but tips for the WWW.FAIRHAVENRUNNERS.COM guides are encouraged (additional tips will go to .11 49

Northwest Youth Services). AVALANCHE AWARENESS: A member of the Mt. # WWW.THEBUREAUBELLINGHAM.COM Baker Guides will lead an “Avalanche Awareness” course at 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. Register in ad- LIGHTED BOAT PARADE: La Conner residents and vance for the free event, which will focus on where visitors can watch the annual Lighted Boat Parade and why avalanches occur and provide a basic ap- from 5-6pm as it makes its way along the Swinom- proach to managing risk in the backcountry. ish Channel. Entry is free and open to all. 647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM WWW.LOVELACONNER.COM SPEAKER SERIES: Steph Abegg will show photos CASCADIA WEEKLY DEC. 10-11 and share stories from two of her favorite summer SLEIGHBELLS RING: Attend “Sleighbells Ring” 2016 climbing destinations—the Bugaboos and Ne- 15 events every weekend through December at sakwatch Spires—at a Winter Speaker Series event Bellewood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian. Fresh-cut starting at 7:30pm at Backcountry Essentials, 214 trees and wreaths, ornament and cookie crafting, W. Holly St. Entry is free. bonfires, distillery and cafe tasting, live music, WWW.BACKCOUNTRYESSENTIALS.NET doit STAGE DEC. 7-10 34 A CHRISTMAS STORY: The Theater Arts Guild’s

FOOD FOOD rendition of A Christmas Story: The Musical concludes this week with performances at 7:30pm Wednesday stage through Friday, and 3pm Saturday at Mount Vernon’s THEATER DANCE PROFILES Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. Set in the 1940s in 27 the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie and his quest for an Of-

B-BOARD B-BOARD ficial Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Tickets are $12-$24. WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG

24 When he was a kid growing up in Mount Ver- non, Lindberg almost died after a near-fatal THURS., DEC. 8

FILM bout with complications arising from Reye’s GOOD, BAD, UGLY: Watch “The Good, the Bad and Syndrome—a disease that affects mainly chil- the Ugly” at 8pm every Thursday at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At 10pm, stick around for

20 dren, often shortly after recovery from a viral “The Project.” Entry is $8 for the early show, $5 for infection like chickenpox. He was so far gone, the late one.

MUSIC in fact, that he was read his last rites. 733-8855 OR WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM Against all odds, Lindberg survived and DEC. 8-11 18 thrived. Since then, he claims that he’s had WHITE CHRISTMAS: Transport yourself to a lodge

ART a “sensibility and curiosity” regarding spirits. in Vermont when Irving Berlin’s White Christmas con- It’s something that’s affected not just his per- cludes this weekend with shows at 7:30pm Thursday sonal life, but also his career. through Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at the newly reno- 16 16 For example, among roles in big-budget vated Bellingham Theatre Guild, 1600 H St. Tickets to the song-and-dance spectacular set during World War STAGE STAGE movies like The Fast and the Furious and Octo- II are $12-$14. ber Sky, he’s also been cast in projects that WWW.BELLINGHAMTHEATREGUILD.COM reflect his interest in otherworldly presenc- 14 es—such as The X Files, Buffy the Vampire Slay- THE HAPPY ELF: A new musical comedy by the er, Supernatural (as a computer geek who uses Grammy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist Harry Connick, Jr. can be seen GET OUT his skills to track the paranormal), and most at performances of The Happy Elf at 7:30pm Thursday recently as an investigator on Ghost Stalkers. and Friday, and 2pm Saturday and Sunday at Lynden’s

12 “Our experiences with death have led us to Claire vg Thomas Theatre, 655 Front St. The story believe that some places focuses on Eubie, a happy elf who longs to be part of contain portals where Santa’s sleigh team instead of being stuck checking WORDS the dead can cross over the naughty-or-nice lists. Tickets are $8-$12. WWW.CLAIREVGTHEATRE.COM

8 into our world,” Lindberg and his co-host John CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: Find out what happens Tenney—a researcher when church volunteers are faced with casting the awful Herdman kids when The Best Christmas CURRENTS CURRENTS and author who was once pronounced dead—say Pageant Ever continues this weekend at 7:30pm

6 Thursday through Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at the in an opening introduc- ATTEND Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave. Tickets WHAT: The Spirit of tion to the show. “We are $20.

VIEWS CHAD LINDBERG Christmas Past are on a mission to find WWW.ACTTHEATRE.COM

4 WHERE: Sedro- them. We’re going to Woolley Museum, spend 48 hours isolated DEC. 9-10

MAIL MAIL BY AMY KEPFERLE 725 Murdock St. COMEDY AND DRAMA: Theater students present WHEN: 5pm and in some of the rawest, “A Night of Drama (and Comedy)” at 7pm Friday and

grittiest haunted loca- 2 7:30pm Dec. 9-10 Saturday at Explorations Academy, 1701 Ellis St. COST: $5-$10 tions in the world.” Tickets to see the night of one-act plays, music—and

DO IT IT DO a chicken—will be $10 at the door. (reservations And while the Sedro- Ghostbusters WWW.EXPLORATIONSACADEMY.ORG required) Woolley Museum might INFO: www.sedro- THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST woolley.com not seem like it fits the GHOSTS AND GAMES: Expect seasonal hilarity at bill when it comes to de- improvised versions of The Christmas Carol when “My 12.07.16 IN CHARLES Dickens’ classic holiday story, A Christmas Carol, a grumpy scriptors like “raw” and “gritty,” those in at- Three Ghosts” shows at 8pm Fridays and Saturdays guy named Ebeneezer Scrooge is scared into being a stalwart citizen after tendance at the four intimate “The Spirit of through December at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay .11 St. At 10pm Saturdays, stick around for “Holiday Games

49 being visited by a slew of spirits who show him not only that his atrocious Christmas Past” gatherings should still expect # Galore.” Tickets are $10-$12. actions matter, but also that it’s never too late to change. something out of the ordinary as Lindberg fa- 733-8855 OR WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM Although it’s not described as a “ghost story,” per se, that’s exactly what cilitates communication with spirits who may A Christmas Carol is. From the time Scrooge is visited by his long-dead busi- call the venue home. DEC. 9-11 ness partner, Jacob Marley—who advises him that hoarding his wealth and What he’ll find when he opens up the por- PIPPI LONGSTOCKING: Bellingham Arts Academy exploiting the poor isn’t the best way to avoid eternal damnation—to the tals and peeks inside is anybody’s guess. Are for Youth students present performances of Pippi Longstocking for the final weekend at 7pm Friday, moment the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come is kind enough to direct him to the spirits who haunt the 1920s-era building 2pm and 7pm Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at BAAY CASCADIA WEEKLY a vision of his own tombstone, it’s a phantasmal juggernaut. interested in letting their ancestors know Theatre, 1059 N. State St. Tickets are $10. When television and film actor Chad Lindberg presents “The Spirit of about what’s on the other side? Will they of- WWW.BAAY.ORG 16 Christmas Past” Dec. 9-10 at the Sedro-Woolley Museum as part of the “The fer guests the spiritual equivalent of egg nog Town of Sedro-Whoolleyville’s Holiday Whobilation,” visits from the un- and cookies? Will they impart advice about SAT., DEC. 10 MOSTLY MAGIC: Expect magic and humor at perfor- known beyond will also be part of the appeal. what fates await those who are Scrooge-like mances of “Mostly Magic with John Walton: A Holiday What will differ is that Lindberg, 40, isn’t just a thespian playing the role in their behaviors? Reserve a spot for yourself, Tradition” at 11am, 2pm and 5pm at Mount Baker of a man who sees ghosts or a character in a classic tale of good versus evil. and find out. doit

34 Performers from ages 3-20 will share their talents at the Bellingham FOOD Figure Skating Club’s showings of “The North Pole Express” Dec. 9-10

at the Bellingham Sportsplex 27 B-BOARD B-BOARD 24 FILM 20 Theatre’s intimate Walton Theatre, 104 N. Commer- more. Suggested donation is $5-$10.

cial St. Tickets to the annual all-ages show are $7. WWW.BELLINGHAMCIRCUSGUILD.COM MUSIC 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM

ALBEE READING SERIES: The second of three DANCE 18 one-night-only performances of plays by the great ART American playwright Edward Albee happens at FRI., DEC. 9 7:30pm at the Studio Theater at the Sylvia Center THE NUTCRACKER: Prepare to be transported on 16 16 for the Arts, 205 Prospect St. Tonight’s staged a magical journey with Clara and the Nutcracker reading will be of A Delicate Balance, and a work- Prince when Ballet Bellingham presents its rendition STAGE shop production of The Zoo Story can be seen Dec. of The Nutcracker at 7:30pm at the Mount Baker STAGE 16-17. Entry is by donation; please reserve a ticket Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. Choreographed by in advance. Artistic Director Jessica Crook, this is a production 14 WWW.IDIOMTHEATER.COM sure to bring out the child in everyone. Tickets to the Christmas classic are $18-$24. SUN., DEC. 11 WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM OR WWW. GET OUT THE GATEWAY SHOW: Attend “The Gateway BALLETBELLINGHAM.COM Show” at 8pm at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. The night’s entertainment will feature five DEC. 9-10 12 comics who will do a sober set, get stoned at an NORTH POLE EXPRESS: The Bellingham Figure undisclosed location and then return for a second Skating Club presents “The North Pole Express” at set. Tickets are $12. 7pm Friday and 4pm Saturday at the Bellingham WORDS WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM Sportsplex, 1225 Civic Field Way. The show will

consist of both traditional and contemporary 8 MON., DEC. 12 holiday pieces, woven within the magical excite- GUFFAWINGHAM: A weekly open mic for comedi- ment of children surrounding the Christmas season. ans, “Guffawingham!,” takes place at 9:30pm every Tickets are $9-$12. CURRENTS CURRENTS Monday at the Green Frog, 1015 N. State St. Entry WWW.BELLINGHAMFSC.COM

is free. 6 WWW.ACOUSTICTAVERN.COM WINTER WONDERLAND: Join Infinity Dance Company for “Winter Wonderland” performances VIEWS DEC. 12-13 at 7pm Friday and 1pm Sunday at Everson’s Nook- MERMAID AUDITIONS: META Performing Arts will sack High School Auditorium, 3326 E. Badger Rd. 4 host auditions for The Little Mermaid from 7-8:30pm Ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary dance, Monday and Tuesday at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln ballroom and more will be part of the festive fun. MAIL MAIL Theatre, 712 S. First St. Tickets are $12.

WWW.METAPERFORMINGARTS.ORG WWW.INFINITYDANCECOMPANY.COM 2

TUES., DEC. 13 SAT., DEC. 10 IT DO

INTRO TO IMPROV: Adults and teens can attend SILK ROAD SOIREE: Experience an evening of a “Learn to Think on Your Feet” introductory dazzling bellydance performances at a “Silk Road improv class with Sheila Goldsmith from 7-9pm at Winter Soiree” beginning at 8pm at Presence Stu- Improv Playworks, 1011 Girard St. Entry is free. dio, 1412 Cornwall Ave. Suggested donation is $5. 756-0756 OR WWW.IMPROVPLAYWORKS.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS 12.07.16

DEC. 13-16 DEC. 10-11 .11 49

GRINCHY CHRISTMAS: Casts of kids ranging in THE NUTCRACKER: Fidalgo DanceWorks will bring # age from 5-8 will present short and sweet perfor- Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, The Nutcracker, to mances of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 6:30pm life at performances at 7pm Saturday and 2:30pm Tuesday through Friday at the Bellingham Arts Sunday at Anacortes High School’s Brodniak Hall, Academy for Youth, 1059 N. State St. Admission 1600 20th St. Tickets are $12-$17. will be by donation at the door. WWW.FIDALGODANCEWORKS.ORG WWW.BAAY.ORG SUN., DEC. 11 THURS., DEC. 15 NATIVITY DANCE: Lyrical, modern and ballet CASCADIA WEEKLY VAUDEVILLINGHAM: Attend the Bellingham dance styles will be utilized when Dancing for Joy Circus Guild’s monthly uncensored variety show, presents its annual “Nativity: We Danced Our Best 17 “Vaudevillingham,” at 7pm and 9pm performances for Him” performances at 3:30pm and 6:30pm at at the Cirque Lab, 1401 6th St., suite #102. Expect the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. to see everything from aerial performances to Tickets are $15. 7 7 0'(&/ $TATET$b),&#,-,#')-+ dance, comedy, magic, juggling, burlesque and 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM
g 8g $ b doit UPCOMING EVENTS

34 DEC. 7-11 DECK THE HALL: The annual “Deck the Old

FOOD FOOD City Hall” continues from 12-5pm Wednesdays through Sundays through Dec. 31 at Whatcom Mu- seum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Visitors can

27 visual GALLERIES OPENINGS PROFILES view more than 20 decorated trees, peruse goods at a pop-up shop and more. Entry is by donation. WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG B-BOARD B-BOARD THURS., DEC. 8 JANSEN OPENING: Attend an opening recep-

24 tion for “The Paintings of James R. Williamson: Maritime, Landscape, Wildlife,” a “Winter

FILM Juried Exhibit,” and a Skagit Valley Camera Club exhibit from 6-8pm at Lynden’s Jansen Art Cen- ter, 321 Front St. At 7:30pm, the Jansen Jazz 20 Band will perform a special Holiday Concert in the Chamber Hall. MUSIC WWW.JANSENARTCENTER.ORG 18 18 18 DEC. 8-10 TEEN ART SHOW: Attend an opening reception ART ART for a Teen Art Show from 6:30-8:30pm Thursday at the Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta Dr.

16 All ages can visit the show from 10am-5pm Friday and Saturday. Entry is free. (360) 675-5115 STAGE SAT., DEC. 10

14 WINTER FESTIVAL: Find unique handcrafted gifts created and sold by Lummi community members at the annual Coast Salish Winter Fes- GET OUT POZIE BT NATALIE tival happening from 10am-5pm at Ferndale’s Lummi Gateway Center, 4920 Rural Ave. The

PHOTO BY DAUN MATTHES DAUN BY PHOTO seasonal art show takes place again from 10am-

12 5pm Sat., Dec. 17. from recycled wood by I WOOD for You; furni- WWW.LUMMIGATEWAYCENTER.COM BY AMY KEPFERLE ture, antique tableware and more by Amanda WORDS Intveld of Rustic Event Rentals; and sweets REGISTRY SHOW: Artists residing on San Juan, Orcas , nd Lopez islands will exhibit a diverse

8 using locally sourced ingredients by Sarah Woods of Gathered Confections—Chef Cin- collection of artwork and sculpture in clay, Holiday Helper paint, wood, glass, textiles, mixed media and namon will also offer food and drink specials photography at the fifth annual “Artists’ Regis-

CURRENTS CURRENTS MAKING CHRISTMAS CREATIVE throughout the day. Info: www.facebook.com/ try Show” opening taking place from 12-4pm at cosmosbistrobellingham Friday Harbor’s San Juan Island Museum of Art, 6 IN THE vein of “The 12 Days of Christmas,” I’d like to offer a day-by-day high- Our suggestion for Wednesday is to make 540 Spring St. The exhibit featuring the “Spirit light of how to secure gifts that won’t involve a trip to the mall or the click of a stop at The Bureau of Historical Inves- Taking Form” theme shows through Feb. 18.

VIEWS WWW.SJIMA.ORG a mouse. Instead, the focus is on creative community members and the work tigation—another female-powered business

4 they’re doing to ensure nobody has to endure a big-box holiday (partridges in featuring handmade, locally sourced items KIDS GIFT BAZAAR: Peruse handmade crafts pear trees are optional). you simply won’t find elsewhere, books and treats made by local youth at a Kids and MAIL MAIL We’ll begin with Fri., Dec. 9 and the seasonal Commercial Street Night Market about our corner of the world, historically Teens Holiday Gift Bazaar taking place from 2-4pm at the Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker taking place from 6-10pm in and around the Commercial Street Parking Garage. At inclined employees and conversation that 2 Hwy. Kids ages 5-17 can sell; anyone can shop. the festive event, you’ll encounter 15 artisan vendors, unique dining choices, live is always engaging and inclusive. The good (360) 592-2422 DO IT IT DO music and rare entertainment. As the conclusion of the seasonal “Light Up the news is that the Holly Street space will have Holidays” events being put on by the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, we feel extended shopping hours from Dec. 19-23; MOENCH RECEPTION: Meet prayer wheel artist confident in saying this is a can’t-miss affair. Info: www.downtownbellingham.com the bad news is that Marissa McGrath and Chris Moench and peruse his “Gratitude Revolu- From Friday through Sunday, the 20th annual Pacific Arts Market is once again Sara Holodnick recently announced they’ll tion” exhibit at a reception from 4-7pm at Good

12.07.16 Earth Pottery, 1000 Harris Ave. See Moench’s taking place at Sunset Square. At the event, several dozen well-known local art- be closing the brick-and-mortar business meditative creations through December. ists and crafters will show and sell a variety of work—including jewelry, fine art, Dec. 31. Fans of their Good Time Girls tours WWW.GOODEARTHPOTS.COM .11

49 photography, textiles, clothing, bath and body, specialty foods, home decor, paper should know, however, that the historic # crafts and much more. The seasonal market takes place Dec. 9-11 and 16-18, and excursions in downtown Bellingham and BREWERS BOUTIQUE: Eighteen local artisans includes live music and artist demos. Info: sww.pacificartsmarket.com Fairhaven will endure in the new year. Info: and businesses will share their wares at a Holiday Brewers Boutique taking place from If it’s Monday and you’ve got some time on your hands, it’s a good bet weekend- www.thebureaubellingham.com 4-9pm at Kulshan’s K2 Taphouse, 1538 Kentucky sized crowds won’t be jostling for space at Allied Arts’ 37th annual Holiday Festival Finally, a WinterFest taking place Thurs., St. Beer will be served at the bar and can be of the Arts. Instead, you’ll be free to peruse the works by the 100-plus artists and Dec. 14 at the Whatcom Land Trust offices on consumed as you shop. craftspeople making Whatcom County their home—painters and glass artists and Commercial Street will have a dual purpose. WWW.KULSHANBREWERY.COM

CASCADIA WEEKLY woodworkers and fiber finaglers alike. Since they’re open from 10am-7pm every day In addition to highlighting gift-giving goods ART COLLABORATIONS: Yoav Litvin shares sto- until Christmas Eve (when they shut down operations at 3pm), repeat visits won’t by John D’Onofrio, Andrea Gabriel, Mark 18 ries and images from 2Create: Art Collaborations in be a hassle, either. Info: www.alliedarts.org Turner, Ginger Oppenheimer, and AnnMarie New York City at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th Every Tuesday before the big day of gift-giving, a Chicks-mas Pop-Up Market will Cooper, a portion of proceeds from the sale St. The book showcases the work of nine pairs of feature unique gifts by five female business owners from 12-4pm at Cosmos Bistro. will also benefit WLT’s work protecting the NYC’s finest graffiti and street artists, delving In addition to purchasing the goods—flowers and holiday decor by florist Natalie nature of Whatcom County—a gift for all of deep into their techniques and processes. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM Ransom of Pozie by Natalie; jewelry by Megan Lee Designs; handcrafted gifts made us. Info: www.whatcomlandtrust.org doit SKAGIT VALLEY CASINO U.S.I.T.

34 FOOD FOOD

SHOP 27

CIGARETTES & SMOKELESS TOBACCO B-BOARD Discounted Cigarettes • All Major Brands & Generics * 24

For gift-giving purposes, $ 00 $ 50 FILM check out functional and three-dimensional artwork

53 - 81 20 from more than 40 regional PER CARTON • INCLUDES TAX! artists at the annual “Objec-

tification” exhibit at Edison’s MUSIC Smith & Vallee Gallery LOWEST PRICES IN THE AREA! 18 18 18 “LANDSCAPE AND BIRDS,” BY EDIE DILLON “LANDSCAPE AND BIRDS,” BY on most brands ART ART processes. WWW.IEEDISON.COM WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM

MATZKE GALLERY: Peruse 200-plus small 16 artworks by 40 artists at the annual “Honey, I Shrunk the Art” exhibit through Jan. 25 at Camano EXPRESS DRIVETHRU STAGE ONGOING EXHIBITS Island’s Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture ALLERY FINE ART: Rotating works by a variety of Park, 2345 Blanche Way. 7 am – 9 pm • 7 days a week

local and regional artists can be viewed at Allery WWW.MATZKEFINEART.COM 14 Fine Art, 1319 Cornwall Ae., suite 104 (in the alley behind Kids Northwest). MONA: View art made by 28 sets of sweethearts

WWW.THEALLERYFINEART.COM who have shared creative lives at “Matched Makers: 360-724-0262 • On I-5 at Exit 236 GET OUT Northwest Artist Couples” through Jan. 1 at La Con- *Price at time of printing. Limit five cartons/rolls per customer per day. Must have valid ID. Cigarettes are not legal for resale. ALLIED ARTS: “Love of Land” is on display ner’s Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St. Prices subject to change. No Returns. Skagit Valley Casino Resort and U.S.I.T. Tobacco Shop owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. CW

through Dec. 24 at Allied Arts, 1418 Cornwall Ave. WWW.MONAMUSEUM.ORG SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. 12 WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG PERRY AND CARLSON: “The Reconsidered WORDS ARTWOOD: Terry Nelson’s “Gathered Wood” char- Landscape” is on display through December in coal and graphite drawings will be featured through Mount Vernon at Perry and Carlson Gallery, 508 S. December at Artwood Gallery, 1000 Harris Ave. First St. 8 WWW.ARTWOODGALLERY.COM WWW.PERRYANDCARLSON.COM

BLACK DROP: Charles B. Jones’ “Currency QUILT MUSEUM: “Ekphrastic: Quilts & Poetry,” CURRENTS Détournements” will be on display through “Best of the Festival,” and “The Nature of Place”

December at Black Drop Coffee House, 300 W. are currently on display at the La Conner Quilt & 6 Champion St. Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St.

WWWBLACKDROPCOFFEEHOUSE.COM WWW.LACONNERQUILTS.ORG VIEWS

CHUCKANUT BREWERY: Paintings by Evan White- SCULPTURE NW: See “Wood, Stone and Beyond” 4 head are currently on display Chuckanut Brewery through Dec. 17 at Sculpture Northwest Gallery,

and Kitchen, 601 W. Holly St. 203 Prospect St. MAIL WWW.CHUCKANUTBREWERYANDKITCHEN.COM WWW.SCULPTURENORTHWEST.ORG

2 DAKOTA GALLERY: An annul exhibition showcas- SKAGIT MUSEUM: “Mas Voces del Valle: More DO IT IT DO ing 6” x 6” works made by Bellingham-based art- Voices of the Valley” and “Skagit Christmas” show ists can be seen through Dec. 20 at Dakota Gallery, through Dec. 31 at La Conner’s Skagit County 1324 Cornwall Ave. All artworks are $25. Historical Museum, 501 S. 4th St. 1RWH1RWH

ment at the FishBoy Gallery, 617 Virginia St. can be perused and purchased at “Objectification 49 319-2913 OR WWW.FISHBOYGALLERY.COM 9” through Dec. 31 at Edison’s Smith & Vallee Gal- )257+(35,&(2))257+(35,&(2) # lery, 5742 Gilkey Ave. FOURTH CORNER FRAMES: View a “PAPO Retro- WWW.SMITHANDVALLEE.COM 3HRSOHIRUWKH3ULFHRIWR$Q\*UHDWHU3ULFH6LQJOH$GPLVVLRQ spective” through Dec. 24 at Fourth Corner Frames )DPLO\2SHQRU3UHVFKRRO6ZLP&DOOIRUGHWDLOV & Gallery, 311 W. Holly St. WHATCOM ART MARKET: Works by Whatcom Art 1RWYDOLGZLWKDQ\RWKHURIIHU2QHFRXSRQSHUFXVWRPHU([SLUHV WWW.FOURTHCORNERFRAMES.COM Guild members can be perused Wed.-Sun. at the new Whatcom Art Market, 1103 11th St. HONEY SALON: “The Flood” is on display until WWW.WHATCOMARTMARKET.ORG 2SHQ6ZLP7LPHV2SHQ6ZLP7LPHV CASCADIA WEEKLY Feb. 28 at Honey Salon, 310 W. Holly St. 0RQ0RQ7KX7KX7KX SPSPSPSPSP WWW.HONEYBELLINGHAM.COM WHATCOM MUSEUM: “Spineless: Portraits of 19 Marine Invertebrates,” “National Geographic’s )UL)UL SPSPSPSPSP IE GALLERY: Works by painters Ed Kamuda, Brian 50 Greatest Photos,” “Nostalgic Saturation: 6DW6DW SP SP SP SPSPSP Cypher, and Jef Morlan can be seen at the “The Mid-Century Bellingham in Historic Color,” and 6XQ6XQ SP SP SP SPSPSP Rhythm of Color” exhibit showing through Dec. 11 “Back at the Park: Vintage Views from the Photo in Edison at i.e. gallery, 5800 Cains Court. Archives” can currently be viewed on the Whatcom 3RWWHU6W%HOOLQJKDP --322/ rumor has it

34 BY NOW, WE all have heard about the deadly fire at Oakland’s Ghost Ship, which has a casu-

FOOD FOOD alty count that will no doubt increase between the time I write this and the time it is read. As with any tragedy in which scores of peo- 27 music SHOW PREVIEWS RUMOR HAS IT ple in pursuit of a good time are killed, there will be plenty of blame to spread around and

B-BOARD B-BOARD plenty of people to do the spreading. Others more insightful and knowledgeable than my-

24 self will offer opinions and proffer solutions as to the factors, obvious and underlying,

FILM that led to this egregious loss of life. Instead, my thoughts turn to Bellingham.

20 20 No, this city has no equiv-

alent to the Ghost Ship, a MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC giant warehouse that was divided and divided again

18 until it became a mazelike

ART warren of a live/work space that relied on poached pow- er, a staircase made of pal- 16 lets and an exit nearly im- BY CAREY ROSS

STAGE possible to find. Indeed, the Ghost Ship may prove to be a deadly outlier when it comes to such DIY spaces. 14 However, Bellingham does have its own network of off-the-radar, unregulated music

GET OUT venues, studios and rehearsal spaces. Oc- casionally, when I’ve been in one of these

12 spaces, I’ve glanced around for exits or done some other form of safety check, an assess- ment that usually causes me to arrive at one WORDS conclusion: If shit goes down, everyone here

8 is probably fucked. This might sound like I’m about to make some argument against DIY spaces or in fa-

CURRENTS CURRENTS vor of increased regulation or greater com- pliance with building and fire codes. And, 6 sure, bringing everything up to code is a CAYLEY SCHMID noble and worthwhile ideal. VIEWS Mostly, though, the point I want to make

4 is this: We all want to live in a place that affords us a high quality of life and a great MAIL MAIL BY CAREY ROSS and brave the elements. And the Bellingham number of amenities. For many of us, art and

Folk Festival is one such event. culture are intrinsic to that experience. One 2 Now in its third year, the Bellingham Folk need only have taken a stroll through Bell- DO IT IT DO Festival arose from the fertile mind of Cayley ingham during December’s lively and well- The Bellingham Schmid, who first became known to most of attended Art Walk to see the great number us as the fiddler of locally beloved bluegrass of us that value our vibrant arts scene. and Americana band Polecat. Schmid has used Yet we are perfectly willing to allow those 12.07.16 Folk Festival her experience with the band as a springboard, same artists who supply us with such rich- founding the Bellingham Ceili Club, the Bell- ness of culture to eke out, in many instanc- .11 LEARN A LITTLE, DANCE A LITTLE 49 ingham Folk School, the Bellingham Irish Fes- es, an existence that barely rises to the level # tival, and the Bellingham Folk Festival. of subsistence. I’M A proud, born-and-bred Pacific Northwesterner, and as such, you won’t I have three jobs, and yet every time I list Yes, some people live in places like the often hear me complaining about the dark, cold, wet, cold, windy, wet, dark Schmid’s impressive list of undertakings—all Ghost Ship—or in a local parallel, in gnarly weather we usually experience this time of year. When the sun disappears of which she has accomplished in just the last punk houses—because that’s how they like over the horizon at 3:45 in the afternoon, I don’t pay it much mind. When few years—I feel a lot like I might be an un- to live. But far more of them live in substan- the rain pounds down, day after day to become week after week, I shrug derachiever. dard housing, practice in unheated storage

CASCADIA WEEKLY it off. When the wind blows sideways, rattling the windows and freaking But Schmid isn’t interested in making us all spaces, play in dangerous basements and ex- people out, I remain serene and can sometimes be heard claiming to like it. feel inadequate. Instead, she’d like to show us ist at the fringes because the general public 20 All of this holds true until the moment someone tries to get me to leave a good time, and if she happens to sneak a lit- believes it reasonable to expect artists of all my house and actually experience this weather I say I love. That’s when I tle learning in along the way, so much the bet- kinds to assume both the costs and the risks become a big baby with a one-word vocabulary consisting only of “Brrrr.” ter. Indeed, that combination of entertainment of providing us with the culture we claim Given that, it stands to reason that an event has to be either really good and education fuels all of her endeavors, but it to value so much—just as long as we don’t or really convenient—preferably some combo of both—to get me to layer up first took firm root with the Folk Festival. have to pay what it’s actually worth. This year’s festival (technically the sec- doit ond one of 2016, as the last Bellingham Folk McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. In addition Festival took place back in January) happens to featuring music from around the world, the over three days, from Fri., Dec. 9 through

ensemble will share beautiful choral settings 34 Sun., Dec. 11 at the Bellingham Unitarian that express profound mysteries within the

Fellowship, with after-parties and additional Christmas story. Tickets are $16-$25. FOOD concerts happening each night at the Honey WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG Moon and Green Frog. The daylight hours (and

SUN., DEC. 11 27 beyond, considering how narrow the window CHORUS CHRISTMAS: The Bellingham Commu- of daylight is these days) are given over to nity Chorus and Whatcom Youth Choirs’ Harmonia workshops in a variety of folk-related areas, will feature a variety of winter and holiday B-BOARD keeping the evenings free for showcase con- selections when they present a Holiday Benefit Concert at 3pm at the United Church of Ferndale, certs and dancing. Learn a little, dance a 2034 Washington St. Entry is by donation; 24 little—as life strategies go, a person could proceeds benefit the Ferndale Food Bank and the certainly do a whole lot worse. Bellingham Music Enrichment Project. FILM To give an idea of what Folk Festival ticketh- WWW.BELLINGHAMMUSICENRICHMENTPROJECT. WEEBLY.COM 20 olders have in store for them, here’s just a smat- 20

tering of the knowledge that can be gleaned CELTIC YULETIDE: Three generations of the MUSIC during the weekend’s workshops: Laurel Bliss Boulding family will set the stage ablaze at MUSIC will teach you the guitar stylings of Maybelle Magic String’s annual “Celtic Yuletide” at 3pm at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First Carter, Harper Stone will delve into the music 18 Before the Murder City Devils play the Wild Buffalo on Feb. 4 (get your tickets now), Derek Fudes- of “old weird America,” George Rezendes will St. The festive gala will include performances co will take the stage at the Shakedown for a Sat., Dec. 10 show with the Cave Singers. They’ve come a by the Tara Academy Irish Dancers, fiddler ART school you in ragtime guitar, and Kat Bula long way since the beard-folk days of 2007’s Invitation Songs—but you’ll have to see for yourselves how the past Jocelyn Pettit, Dublin guitarist Colm Mac- will be on hand to make decade has treated both their music and their beards. More info can be had at www.shakedownbellingham.com Carthaigh, percussionist Matt Jerrel, and more. 16 you wise to the ways of TIckets are $17-$26. WED., DEC. 7 FRI., DEC. 9 WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG

providing musical backup STAGE and will take a decidedly HOLIDAY CHORAL CELEBRATION: The Squali- HOLIDAY CONCERT: The Skagit Symphony cum High School Storm Singers, directed by Jason Chorus will join the orchestra in a performance of HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Bells of the Sound, the user-friendly approach to

Parker, will perform a “Holiday Choral Celebration” selections of Christmas carols by Rutter at its an- Puget Sound’s premier handbell ensemble, will 14 music theory. Learn ceili for the Bellingham Music Club at 10:30am at Trinity nual Holiday Concert at 7:30pm at Mount Vernon’s present a “Holiday Special” from 5-6:30pm at St. and two-hand dance from Lutheran Church, 119 Texas St. The public is wel- McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Along with John’s Lutheran Church, 2530 Cornwall Ave. The

Alicia Guinn, ukulele from come, and admission will be free, with donations seasonal orchestral music, the hall will once show will features songs from holiday television GET OUT Patti Rathbun, Finnish accepted to benefit awards to local music students. again be filled with the joyous voices of the specials, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rein- WWW.BELLINGHAMMUSICCLUB.ORG entire audience singing along in the ever-popular deer,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” and more. ATTEND tunes from Sean Connors, concert caroling! Tickets are $25-$45. Suggested donation is $8-$10. 12 WHAT: Bellingham clawhammer banjo from FOUR BROTHERS: Stuart MacDonald leads a WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG WWW.BELLSOFTHESOUND.ORG Folk Festival Coty Hogue, narrative “Tribute to Four Brothers” concert at 7pm at WHEN: 9am Fri., WORDS the Whatcom Jazz Music Arts Center (WJMAC) at SAT., DEC. 10 MON., DEC. 12 Dec. 9-11 songwriting from Christy Unity Spiritual Center, 1095 Telegraph Rd. “Four HOLIDAY JEWELS: The Mt. Baker-Fidalgo Youth CAMPBELL ROAD: Hear traditional Irish pub WHERE: Belling- Hays, Scottish fiddle from Brothers” is a tune written for Woody Herman’s Symphony presents its annual holiday concert, music with Scottish political rants, old English 8 ham Unitarian Ryan McKasson, Appala- Thundering Herd by Jimmy Giuffre, and will be “Holiday Jewels,” at 1pm at Mount Vernon’s Mc- ballads, American bluegrass tunes, and the oc- Fellowship, 1207 chian flatfooting from performed by Miles Black, Mark Taylor, Michael Intyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Audiences will casional Galician, Breton, or Swedish influence Ellsworth St. Glynn, Julian MacDonough, Travis Ranney, and enjoy traditional celebratory selections of the when Campbell Road shares its Celtic sounds at a COST: $10-$95 Charmaine Slaven, and so CURRENTS Greg Sinibaldi. Tickets are $5-$15. season, from many genres, styles and ethnicities. free performance at 6:30pm at the Mount Vernon INFO: www. much more. But not all WWW.WJMAC.ORG Tickets are $5-$15. City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St. 6 thebellingham the lessons to be had are WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG WWW.MOUNTVERNONWA.GOV folkfestival.com strictly musical in nature:

THURS., DEC. 8 VIEWS Flip Breskin will impart BHS SHOWSTOPPERS: Join the Museum Advo- BUG HOLIDAY CONCERT: The Bellingham TUES., DEC. 13

strategies for managing stage fright, Tanya cates for a performance by the Bellingham High Ukulele Orchestra shares seasonal songs at a MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA: Students from the 4 Hladik will show you how to keep your body School Showstoppers from 12-1pm at Whatcom Holiday Concert taking place from 3-4pm at the Squalicum High School music department perform in peak performance condition (or just keep it Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. The Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St. Entry to the all- at a “Storm Music Extravaganza” at 7pm at the MAIL free concert will present seasonal favorites and ages show is free. Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The free from pain), and Kim Richey will talk about “Disney Drizzle”—a medley they’ll be performing (360) 348-3647 audience will hear from every ensemble in the 2 the ins and outs of collaboration. during spring break in Disneyland. choir, band and orchestra programs, with a full DO IT IT DO

Each evening, after the workshops have WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG: Sing everything symphony and choir piece to close the concert. ended, one and all will gather for an eve- from traditional Christmas carols like “Silent Tickets are $5-$10. ning jam featuring those same musicians ALL TOLD: Roger and Michael Fisher of Heart Night” to “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM will host a multimedia party and concert cel- when Backstage @ the Border hosts its seventh who spent the day passing on their store ebrating the 40th anniversary of the band’s first annual Christmas Carol Sing-Along from 7-9pm WED., DEC. 14 12.07.16 of useful lore. And for those who are not album, Dreamboat Annie and the duo’s anticipated at Blaine’s Christ Episcopal Church, 382 Boblett THE IRISH TENORS: The famed trio known as yet ready to call it a night, that’s just when All Told album release at 7pm at Mount Vernon’s St. Suggested donation will be $7 at the door the Irish Tenors present “We Three Kings” at 7pm Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. The new album (nobody will be turned away for lack of funds). at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial .11 things will get going at the Honey Moon 49 and Green Frog. draws on the songwriting talents of Roger going (360) 332-4113 St. The ensemble will be performing songs from # back 40 years and shows the personal and artistic their top-selling Christmas album of the same Best of all, whether you’re interested in at- growth and passionate thrust in the direction KULSHAN CHORUS: Listen to the 107 voices of name, as well as singing sweeping standards tending classes and concerts all weekend long, of the development of a sustainable global com- the 30-year-old Kulshan Chorus when the commu- to the accompaniment of a full live orchestra. just want to partake of a single day’s worth of munity. Tickets are $20-$30. nity choir presents its winter concert, “Light,” at Tickets are $20-$70. offerings or are only in it for concerts and can WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG 7:30pm at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM take or leave the workshops, there’s a ticket at Ave. Dustin Willetts will direct the show, and the BHS WINTER CONCERT: The large concert choir Atlantics will accompany the chorus on select MVHS CHOIRS: Hear exciting choral works an exceedingly reasonable price point for each and the new TTBB choir will perform at an annual pieces. Tickets are $5-$20. featuring gospel, carols, classical works, and CASCADIA WEEKLY of those things. Dip a toe or immerse yourself Winter Concert from 7-8:30pm at Bellingham High WWW.KULSHANCHORUS.ORG other holiday favorites when Mount Vernon 21 fully—anything goes at this accommodating, School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. The show will end with High School choirs perform at an annual community-minded event. All you have to do a performance of the Hallelujah Chorus, welcoming DEC. 10-11 “Winter Concert” at 4pm at 7pm at McIntyre is brave a little of whatever the weather has in all former choir students to join the performance. CHRISTMAS JOURNEYS: The Skagit Valley Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Tickets to hear the Entry to the all-ages concert is free. Chorale presents “Christmas Journeys” perfor- ensembles are $3-$8. store to get there. Schmid and her tribe of folk (360) 676-6575 mances at 7:30pm Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG enthusiasts will do the rest. musicvenues 34 See below for venue FOOD FOOD addresses and phone 12.07.16 12.08.16 12.09.16 12.10.16 12.11.16 12.12.16 12.13.16 numbers WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

27 Anelia's Kitchen & Jonathan McNeely Uncle Doug Raven & Rose Stage

B-BOARD B-BOARD Boundary Bay Aaron Guest Piano Night Paul Klein Brewery 24 Brown Lantern Ale House Acoustic Night Open Mic Rambleweed FILM

Commodore Ballroom Andra Day, Chloe x Halle

20 20

CeeCee James & Rob "Slideboy" Mojo Cannon and the 13th Conway Muse Foghorn Stringband Andrews St. Horns MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

Corner Pub Knut Bell and the 360s ANDRA DAY/Dec. 12/Commdore Ballroom 18 ART Eat Orb Trio w/Blake Angelos Spencer Redmond Duo Findlay & Tate

16 File Gumbo w/Orville Edison Inn Marcel & Nakos The Wired Band Johnson STAGE Kim Richie (early), Sir The Lowest Pair Slow Jam (early), Open Mic (early), Arc Iris, Kasey Reginold Cosgrove and Soul Explosion w/ Charlie Hunter Quartet (early), Christy Hays Foghorn Stringband Guffawingham 14 Green Frog Anderson His Night Time Singers DJ Willdabeast (late) (late) (late) (late)

GET OUT Anelias Kitchen & Stage 511 Morris St., La Conner • (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 Brewery 1107 Railroad Ave • 647-5593 | Brown Lantern Ale House 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 293-2544 | The Business 216 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 293-9788 | 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 14565 Allen West Road, Burlington | Eat

12 Restaurant & Bar 1200 Cornwall Ave • www.4u2eat.com WORDS 8 CURRENTS CURRENTS 6 VIEWS 4 MAIL MAIL

2 DO IT IT DO

12.07.16 .11 49 # ©LITTLESTAR FAREWELL TOUR CASCADIA WEEKLY

22

musicvenues 34 See below for venue addresses and phone 12.07.16 12.08.16 12.09.16 12.10.16 12.11.16 12.12.16 12.13.16 FOOD numbers WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 27 H2O DJ Z Ebb Slack and Flood Karaoke

Irish Night w/Sean B-BOARD Honey Moon Open Mic w/Scot Casey Strangely Birthday Show Bellingham Folk Festival Bellingham Folk Festival Bellingham Folk Festival Jan Peters & Sam Vogt Conners 24 Kulshan Brewing Co. Broken Bow Stringband One Lane Bridge Queen's Bluegrass FILM Loco Billy's Wild Moon Jam Night/Open Mic Deception Past Troy Fair Band CHARLIE HUNTER/Dec. 8/Green Frog Saloon 20 20

Main St. Bar and Grill JP Falcon Acoustic Showcase Jack Benson Exit 266 MUSIC MUSIC

Good Sleep, Slashed Tires, WMD, Symbion Project, Metsa Demo Listening Party Make.Shift 18 more ART

Old World Deli Soul Shadows 16

Poppe's 360 Jessica Lynne STAGE

Rockfish Grill Time3Jazz Joan Penney Bread and Gravy 14

Royal Karaoke Karaoke Country Night DJ Jester GET OUT

Rumors Cabaret Panty Hoes Drag Show Total Request Live DJ Graymatter DJ Robby Clark Aireeoke DJ Graymatter, more 12

Illogicians, Tea Seas Trio, Local Mirrors for Psychic Warfare, Sanford

The Shakedown The Cave Singers, Acapulco Lips Xasthur Acoustic Aireeoke WORDS Ghost Parker 8 Skagit Valley Casino Baby Cakes Baby Cakes Resort

Skylark's Roger Quiggle 3 Parts Jazz Anissa CURRENTS 6

Stones Throw Brewery Skillig VIEWS

Lalochezia, A God or an Other, 4 Swillery Whiskey Bar Karaoke Free Live Music Fated, Mostafa, more The Song Project more MAIL MAIL

Swinomish Casino The Machine The Machine 2 and Lodge DO IT IT DO

The Underground DJ B-Mello DJ B-Mello BABY CAKES/Dec. 9-10/Skagit Valley Casino Resort

Via Cafe and Bistro Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke 12.07.16 .11 49

The Village Inn Jam Night Karaoke #

‘90s Night w/DJ Boombox Scotty Sensei, Subkon- Wild Buffalo HXV, traffic., Dynamix Dave B, Nyles Davis, more Rihanna vs. Drake Lip Sync Battle Kid scious, more

The Green Frog 1015 N. State St. • www.acoustictavern.com | Edison Inn 5829 Cains Ct., Edison • (360) 766-6266 | Glow 202 E. Holly St. • 734-3305 | 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 | Loco Billy’s Wild Moon Saloon 27021

102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood • www.locobillys.com | Make.Shift Art Space 306 Flora St. • www.makeshiftproject.com | Main Street Bar & Grill 2004 Main St., Ferndale • (360) 384-2982 | McKay’s Taphouse CASCADIA WEEKLY 1118 E. Maple St. • (360) 647-3600 | 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 1119 Railroad Ave. • 671-1849 | The Shakedown 1212 N. State St. • www. 23 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 | Swillery Whiskey Bar 118 W. Holly St. | Stones Throw Brewery 1009 Larrabee Ave. | 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 | The Waterfront 521 W. Holly St. • www.waterfrontseafoodandbar.com | 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. about Richard Williams’ experiences try- ing to get The Thief and the Cobbler made. It was a bit of a horrifying documentary about making an animated feature film,

34 and afterward a few friends were chatting about making features and I thought, ‘If

FOOD FOOD I’m going to make a feature, I better make film it about something I know very well. I bet- ter know the story inside and out.’ So my 27 MOVIE REVIEWS FILM SHORTS own personal story about growing up queer with a schizophrenic mom seemed to be the

B-BOARD B-BOARD natural choice.” To Clyde, another natural choice was

24 24 to use stop-motion animation to tell the story, which meant quitting his day job FILM FILM and spending three years working on Torrey Pines. Even so, he claims the labor-intensive

20 method was, in some ways, more straight- forward than traditional moviemaking.

MUSIC “I made Torrey Pines in my bedroom, on a homemade multi-plane setup that cost

18 about $100,” he says. “I didn’t need any

ART permits, and I had one employee and seven interns. Each intern worked one day a week, and I worked seven days a week. Plus with 16 animation, you can imagine anything and

STAGE bring it to life without actors, sets, smoke machines, etc…” Imagination is certainly one of the big- 14 gest payoffs of the film. Clyde used ev- eryday, recognizable items to create the

GET OUT vibrant, often poignant scenes and se- quences of the movie,

12 and with the addition of the band, Torrey Pines becomes an immersive WORDS movie-going experience.

8 It’s an experience he’s been bringing to audi- BY CAREY ROSS ences across the country

CURRENTS CURRENTS ATTEND for the past nine weeks. WHAT: Torrey A queer punk stop-motion 6 Pines animation movie with Torrey Pines WHEN: 6pm a live band might be a VIEWS Wed., Dec. 14 tough sell in some places, A STOP-MOTION LABOR OF LOVE WHERE: 4 Pickford Film but Clyde says the re- I’M NOT sure if Clyde Petersen knows this, but he is one of my personal heroes. Center, 1318 sponse to Torrey Pines has MAIL MAIL Clyde appeared in Bellingham’s music scene at about the same time I began writing Bay St. been “amazing.”

about it, a little more than 15 years ago. His band, Your Heart Breaks, was one of the COST: $7.50- “We’re really testing 2 first that I watched grow from its beginnings into the form it takes today. His was a CLYDE PETERSEN $10.75 the limits of the film to INFO: www. JOSEPH P. TRAINA JOSEPH P. DO IT IT DO typical Bellingham existence—he was a Fairhaven graduate, Boundary Bay employee, pickfordfilm all audiences,” he says. lived at the Gimli House, and hung out at the Showoff and the Ranch Room. I’m not me afloat throughout financially as well.” center.org “We play in bike shops, sure how or when our paths first crossed, and although I have remained here and he has Clyde’s current rabbit hole has led him to indie theaters, all-ages long since relocated to Seattle, I’ve followed his many whatdoings with keen interest. combine many of his pursuits and passions spaces, old churches. Every night we en- 12.07.16 What has always fascinated and impressed me about Clyde is the sheer depth and into the cohesive whole that is Torrey Pines. counter a totally different demographic of breadth of his artistic curiosity and skill set. Music was my first entry into his very Torrey Pines exists at the nexus of all the public and they seem to have a great .11

49 particular and singular world, but it just as easily could’ve been via the zines he things Clyde Peterson. It is a feature- time at the film.” # wrote, the short films he made, the posters he designed or one of any number of length, autobiographical film about what As gratifying as the tour has been, Clyde artistic endeavors he’s undertaken over the years. He is, above all, intimidatingly it was like for Clyde to come of age in the is looking forward to returning to a place he prolific, cranking out a staggering number of albums and films both short and fea- early ’90s as a queer punk kid with a mother once called home. The tour’s penultimate ture-length, crafting art installations—the list goes on. He’s made music videos for who had undiagnosed paranoid schizophre- show takes place in Bellingham, where Tor- Quasi, the Thermals, Kimya Dawson, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, and more. He nia. Sounds heavy. Except this is Clyde, so rey Pines will screen Dec. 14 at the Pickford had the idea to interview musicians and have them play their songs while he paddled it is also infused with deep humanity and Film Center. Clyde could not be happier.

CASCADIA WEEKLY them around on bodies of water, and so he built a rowboat and started filming epi- humor and emotions that are only too relat- “I’m so excited,” he says. “I love the sodes of a series called, appropriately enough, Boating with Clyde. able. And did I mention that it was filmed Pickford and Film is Truth and the Horse- 24 Most people would’ve just bought a boat, but Clyde is not most people. using stop-motion animation and is shown shoe. I can’t deny that Bellingham severely “When I lived in Bellingham, I was so lucky to live and be friends with all sorts of art- with a live score performed by his band? informed my mind and body in my 20s. I ists and get to explore all the things I was interested in,” Clyde says. “I can’t see living “I have been making animated music vid- feel like culturally I was raised in Belling- my life any other way. I just follow rabbit holes of interest and create strange things— eos for work for many years,” Clyde says. ham, so I am very excited to land there at music, film, installation. It’s good to be open to the possibilities. I think it has also kept “I saw this film called Persistence of Vision, the end of tour.” Holiday Shopping Guides

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FURTHER EVIDENCE of the Aaron ing about-face to her employers, reject- GET OUT Sorkinization of American screenwrit- ing a lucrative offer to represent the gun SustainableConnections.org ing, Miss Sloane is a talky, tense political lobby. She resigns from the firm—leav- Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community. 12 thriller, full of verbal sparring and fiery ing behind boss Sam Waterston and pro- monologues, undone by a really dumb end- tege Alison Pill—and takes an offer to WORDS ing. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t smart for work the other side of the fence on the most of its running time. Plus, it’s engag- gun issue with a firm headed by an old- 8 ing—and electrifying—to watch a female fashioned idealist (Mark Strong). star as strong as Jessica Chastain carry a For Chastain, Sloane is an extension

film about a D.C. lobbyist who risks her of the gender-blind game-changers she CURRENTS reputation for a cause she believes in. has played in Zero Dark Thirty, Interstel- Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare lar, and The Martian—formidable profes- 6 in Love, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), sionals so capable and determined that the movie features morally bankrupt D.C. their actions have world-changing con- VIEWS

power players and blackmail scenes set in sequences. Here, behind her character’s 4 shady parking garages, making inspired shoulders-back confidence and ultra- use of genre clichés even as it offers a confident strut, the actress affords tiny MAIL

relatively fresh look at one of the most glimpses of Sloane’s potential vulner- 2 manipulative forces on Capitol Hill today: ability, popping uppers like Tic Tacs or, DO IT IT DO the special-interest lobbyist. in one rare instance, begging a colleague Chastain plays Madeline Elizabeth for forgiveness. Even so, the script enig- Sloane, a copper-haired, iron-willed politi- matically leaves “what makes her tick” an cal strategist who’s always a step ahead of open question till the end. her competition. It’s about “playing your While the ending seems antithetical 12.07.16 trump card right after they play theirs,” to everything Chastain has shown us .11

she says up front. While there may be laws about the character, it makes her strong 49 governing how lobbyists operate, Sloane enough to stand up to the high-stakes # and her comrades at the Cole, Kravitz & Senate ethics hearing that’s interwoven Waterman consulting firm are experts at throughout the film. bending them. Sloane is a “gold medalist But while a few too many plot twists in ethical limbo,” driven more by the com- all but elbow the gun control vote out petition than the causes themselves. of the picture, the inquest comes to as-

When we meet her, she’s spinning a tar- sume far too central a role in the film’s CASCADIA WEEKLY iff on the importation of palm oil from outcome. Yes, no one is better positioned Indonesia as a “Nutella tax,” and arrang- to destroy Sloane than her former col- 25 ing for a senator to take a cushy “re- leagues, but surely they must realize that search trip” to the remote island nation. by going head-to-head, they risk bring- After successfully killing the Indonesian ing the whole system crashing down import-tax bill, Sloane makes a surpris- around them. film ›› showing this week

chapters, details the ways in which race, sexuality and 34 BY CAREY ROSS isolation intersect in the life of one black boy living in

FOOD FOOD Florida. A must-see, this has been called the best film of the year by nearly every critic who has watched it. FILM SHORTS +++++ (R • 1 hr. 51 min.) 27 Allied: The based-on-actual-events story of romance Nocturnal Animals: Director and fashion designer and resistance in 1924 North Africa and London Tom Ford makes his long-awaited return to the big

B-BOARD B-BOARD between an intelligence officer and a French freedom screen with this visually stunning, psychologically fighter who were probably not nearly as breathtak- thrilling story within a story in which Amy Adams

ingly beautiful as Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. and Isla Fisher finally appear in the same movie and 24 24 +++ (R • 2 hrs. 1 min.) Jake Gyllenhaal continues to resist taking the easy matinee-idol route in favor of embodying characters FILM FILM Arrival: Denis Villeneuve, director of the upcoming both complex and creepy. ++++ (R • 1 hr. 55 min.) Blade Runner movie, helms this near-future, sci-fi, alien-invasion story featuring what is sure to be an Office Christmas Party: Jennifer Aniston goes up

20 Oscar-nominated performance by Amy Adams for her against Jason Bateman and T.J. Miller in this comedic turn as a linguist attempting to communicate with our caper in which the major plot conceit is revealed by

MUSIC alien overlords. +++++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 56 min.) the title, but the hijinks are sure to be a surprise. Could be funny. Could be terrible. Could be a combo of Bad Santa 2: I want to believe that critics are both. It’s a comedy that went all in on an R rating, so 18 savaging this sequel to the 2003 film starring Billy Bob I’m hoping for the latter. +++ (R * 1 hr. 45 min.)

ART Thornton because they don’t get it. But they got it the first time around, so consider yourselves forewarned. Trolls: When I was a child, I bore such a strong resem- However, it might be worth the price of matinee admis- blance to a treasure troll that certain members of my 16 sion to see Thornton don the Santa suit again. + (R • 1 family still refer to me as the “troll child.” This movie hr. 32 min.) stars my people. Finally, we are getting the fame and STAGE fortune we deserve. ++++ (PG • 1 hr. 40 min.) OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY Doctor Strange: Marvel continues to be the undis- puted ruler of comic-book adaptations, and this one, 14 which introduces us to their most New Agey hero, Hacksaw Ridge: Much as he did with The Passion of the Manchester By the Sea: Director Kenneth Loner- Doctor Strange, will further burnish their crown. All Christ, Mel Gibson makes another incredibly violent movie gan’s grippingly sad and surprisingly funny (note: this

GET OUT I’ve gotta say is when you can entice four recent Oscar about a pacifist because irony is evidently his main is not a comedy) story of grief and familial dysfunc- nominees (Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, artistic driver. I may question his motives and methods, tion in a Massachusetts coastal town. Come see the Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rachel McAdams) to star in but there’s no doubt Gibson knows how to tell a story so movie and watch Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams

12 your superhero movie, you’re doing everything right. it stays told. ++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 10 min.) earn Oscar nominations right before your very eyes. +++++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 55 min.) +++++ (R • 2 hrs. 15 min.) Incarnate: Aaron Eckhart plays a wheelchair-bound WORDS The Edge of Seventeen: Supposedly, this is a scientist called upon by the Vatican to enter a child’s Miss Sloane: See review previous page. +++ (R • 2 coming-of-age movie in the vein of Sixteen Candles unconscious mind to battle the ferocious demon hrs. 12 min.)

8 and The Breakfast Club, which basically means it is a possessing him. The Vatican asking a scientist about John Hughes rip-off—and a really good one, if all the something is a dead giveaway that this movie is not Moana: Disney continues its way welcome deviation bountiful critical acclaim is to be believed. +++++ based on a true story. + (PG-13 • 1 hr. 27 min.) from the perfect princesses of yore, diving straight Showtimes (R • 1 hr. 38 min.) into a sea of girl power with this jaw-droppingly CURRENTS CURRENTS Loving: A touching, insightful cinematic rendering of animated (I mean, it is Disney) story of a Pacific Regal and AMC theaters, please see

6 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: J.K. the Supreme Court battle that made interracial mar- Islander—the titular Moana—who takes to the high www.fandango.com. Rowling returns to the big screen with a Harry Potter spi- riage legal, and the couple—the aptly named Richard seas in order to save her people. +++++ (PG • 1 hr. noff, a rich dose of fantasy that has arrived at that exact and Mildred Loving—at the center of it all. Another 43 min.) Pickford Film Center and VIEWS moment when many of us would like to escape from real- small-scale cinematic gem from writer/director Jeff PFC’s Limelight Cinema, please see ity for a bit. ++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 12 min.) Nichols. +++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 3 min.) Moonlight: This coming-of-age story, told in three 4 www.pickfordfilmcenter.com MAIL MAIL Representing Local Artists Since 1969

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200 200 200 200 34 MIND & BODY MIND & BODY MIND & BODY MIND & BODY FOOD FOOD

Jim Ehmke, CN, leads balance hormones and relieve workshop at 6pm Thurs., Dec. a "Brain and Eye Health" pain, digestion, depression, 8 at Mount Vernon's Skagit 27

workshop from 6:30-8:30pm allergies, skin problems and Valley Food Co-op, 202 S. 27 Wed., Nov. 30 at the Cordata more. Entry is free with an First St. Each month focuses Community Food Co-op, 315 optional supply fee of $5-$20 on a a different herb or herbs Westerly Rd. Entry is $5. for gifts. More info: www. from the region that corre- B-BOARD More info: www.community- skagitfoodcoop.com lates with the season. Entry B-BOARD food.coop is free; register in advance. Excellence Northwest More info: www.skagitfood- Learn why advance care offers a "Refresh Happiness" coop.com 24 planning is important for all workshop at 7pm Wed., Dec. 7 adults, how to choose some- at Village Books, 1200 11th St. Attend a Healing Hour from one to be your durable power Wondering The free event will explore the 5:30-6:30pm every Wednes- FILM of attorney for healthcare , about the nuts concepts from The Happiness day at Simply Spirit Reading & and how to talk to loved ones Hypothesis, including affect, Healing Center, 1304 Meador and doctors about your pref- and bolts of change with competing com- Ave. Drop in anytime during 20 erences for medical care at the homebuying mitments, and meaning/con- the hour to receive an aura/ an "Advance Care Planning: process? tribution. More info: www. chakra healing. Entry is $5.

End of Life Choices" work- villagebooks.com More info: www.simplyspir- MUSIC shop from 1-3pm Sat., Dec. 3 Check out our itcenter.com a the SkillShare Space at the FREE Homebuyer "Healing with Home-

Bellingham Public Library, Education opathy" will be the focus of "Yoga for Limited Mobil- 18 210 Central Ave. More info: classes. Held a free workshop with ho- ity" is the focus of a weekly 778-7217 meopath Monique Arsenault yoga session happening from ART monthly & open at 11am Thurs., Dec. 8 at the 10-11:30am Thursdays at the Discover easy tips for to the public. SkillShare Space at the Bell- Lummi Island Library, 2144 S. keeping the magic in the Register at ingham Public Library, 210 Nugent Rd. All adults are wel- NOW PLAYING 16 season without getting over- Central Ave. Homeopathy is come at the free event. More whelmed at workshops at 1pm http://www.kulshan- a holistic healing modality info: (360) 758-7145 Fri, December 9 - Sat., Dec. 3 at Ferndale's Flow clt.org/homebuyer-ed- which is once again becoming STAGE Motion Studio (1920 Main St.) ucation/ a popular choice for natural Attend a "Pain Relief Yoga Thu, December 15 and 7pm Mon., Dec. 5 at Bell- relief of symptoms. More info: in the Svaroopa Style" class ingham Unitarian Fellowship, 778-7217 taking place from 5:30-7pm 14 1207 Ellsworth St. Fee is $5. 360-671-5600, x2 Fridays at Inspire Studio, 1411 MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (R) 135m - More info: (360) 778-1170 [email protected] Kelly Atterberry leads a Cornwall Ave. Entry is $7. "A film of surpassing beauty and heart. Even at its most melancholy www.KulshanCLT.org monthly "Nourishing Herbs" More info: (623) 418-5203 Michelle Mahler focuses depths, it brims with candid, earnest, indefatigable life." WA Post GET OUT on "Essential Remedies: Aro- matherapy Gifts" at 6:30pm Fri & Sat: (12:45), (3:15), 6:15, 9:15 Mon., Dec. 5 at the Skagit Sun: (12:00), (2:30), 5:30, 8:30; Mon: (12:45), (3:15), 6:15, 9:00 Valley Food Co-op, 202 S. First 12 St. The remedies can help Tue: (3:15), 6:15, 9:15; Wed: (3:15), 8:15; Thu: (3:15), 6:15, 9:15

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (R) 117m - WORDS "Designer turned director Tom Ford (A Single Man) uses his gift for THE GRISTLE, FROM PAGE 7

striking visuals to create a must-see." US Weekly 8 Fri: (12:30), (3:45), 6:30, 9:20; Sat: (12:30), 6:45, 9:30 He’s interfering with a decision they’ve made Sun: (3:00), 5:45, 8:40; Mon: (12:30), (3:45), 9:20 as constitutionally distinct branch of gov- Tue: (12:30), 5:00, 9:20; Wed: (3:00), 9:45 CURRENTS ernment. In September, Louws complained— Thu: (12:30), (3:45), 6:30, 9:20 6 legitimately—Council had overstepped their HUGO (PG) 126m - Pickford Family Matinees - Scorsese's role when they signed their ban on fossil fuel dazzling adaptaion of Brian Selznick's award-winning graphic novel. VIEWS exports in his absence and over his objec- Sat: (4:00) - Only $1 admission, sponsored by Peoples Bank tions. Now he returns the injury. THE ENTERTAINER (NR) 215m - Kenneth Branagh Theatre Live 4 His objection is also moot. Rob Ashford directs Branagh in the final production of the season. MAIL The county budget included a line item Sun: 11:00AM - Tix: $16 Members / $20 GA / $10 Students

of $2.4 million to fund emergency medical 2 DEATH ON A ROCK (NR) 80m services through 2017-2018 at the current

Mon: 6:30 - Scott Ballard returns with his new film IT DO level of service, in anticipation that Prop- osition 1—the EMS Levy—might fail on THE THREEPENNY OPERA (NR) 180m - National Theatre the November ballot but still required to Wed: 6:00 - Tix: $16 Members / $20 GA / $10 Students be funded. The measure passed, crating a TORREY PINES: A STOP MOTION FEATURE FILM BY CLYDE 12.07.16 dedicated fund that frees up more than $1 PETERSON WITH A LIVE SCORE BY YOUR HEART BREAKS 60m million annually out of the county’s gen-

Wed: 6:30 - Don't miss this unique, awesome event! .11 49 eral operating fund. That’s turnback Louws Cerise Noah PICKFORD FILM CENTER | 1318 Bay St. | 360.738.0735 | www.pickfordfilmcenter.org # can surrender to the Council’s request for REALTOR® Enjoy a drink while you watch! Mary's Happy Hour: M-F, 4-6pm $1 off Beer + Wine consultation and counsel without taking Professional, MOONLIGHT (R) 110m - the 1 percent property tax increased. It’s "An urgent social document, a hard look at American reality and a also money that can be placed into reserve knowledgeable, ATLAS MEDIA CORP PRESENTS poem written in light, music and vivid human faces." New York Times for other public saftey measures, including fun & friendly Fri: (3:45), 9:00; Sat: 3:45, 9:00; Sun: (1:45), 7:00 addressing concerns for the jail. to work with. Mon - Thu: (3:45), 9:00 In any case, Council declined to take the CASCADIA WEEKLY A FILM BY LONNY PRICE LOVING (PG-13) 123m - - "A resplendent, deeply affecting drama executive’s bait. Property taxes will not be about the 1967 Supreme Court decision concerning interracial marriage." Dreams don’t die. 27 raised. They will achieve their legislative Fri: (1:00), 6:15; Sat: 6:15; Sun: 4:15; Mon - Thu: (1:00), 6:15 Windermere Real Estate Whatcom, Inc. goals through cuts, annoyed by the man- BEST WORST THING THAT EVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED (NR) 95m ner in which this happened. A deep bruise (360) 393-5826 Drawing back the curtain on Lonny Price's Merrily We Roll Along... between the legislative and executive Sat: 1:30; Sun: (11:30AM) branches is beginning to fester. [email protected] PFC’S LIMELIGHT CINEMA: 1416 Cornwall Ave. | Parentheses ( ) denote bargain pricing

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BY ROB BREZSNY LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Most high-quality suits worn by men are made from the wool of merino sheep raised in Australia. So says Nicholas Antongiavanni in his book The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's 34 FREE WILL Style. There are now more than 100 million members of this breed, but they are all descendants of just two FOOD FOOD rams and four ewes from 18th-century Spain. How did ASTROLOGY that happen? It's a long story. (Read about it here: tinyurl.com/merinosheep.) For the oracular purposes 27 27 ARIES (March 21-April 19): Normally I cheer of this horoscope, I'll simply say that in the next nine you on when you devote single-minded attention to months you'll also have the potential to germinate a pressing concerns, even if you become a bit obsessive. few choice seeds that could ultimately yield enormous, B-BOARD B-BOARD B-BOARD But right now, in accordance with astrological omens, enduring results. Choose well! I invite you to run wild and free as you sample lavish variety. It's prime time to survey a spectrum of spicy, SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Five of my Scorpio

24 shiny, and feisty possibilities . . . to entertain a host acquaintances and 17 of my Scorpio readers have let of ticklish riddles rather than to insist on prosaic me know that they're actively seeking to make new

FILM FILM answers. You have been authorized by the cosmos alliances and strengthen their existing alliances. Does to fabricate your own temporary religion of playing this mean that Scorpios everywhere are engaged in around and messing around and fooling around. similar quests? I hope so. I would love to see you ex-

20 pand your network of like-minded souls. I would love TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus poet Adrienne for you to be ardent about recruiting more help and Rich described "an honorable human relationship" as support. Happily, the current astrological omens favor MUSIC MUSIC "one in which two people have the right to use the such efforts. Hot tip: For best results, be receptive, word 'love.'" How is that right earned? How is such inviting, and forthright.

18 a bond nurtured? Rich said it was "often terrifying to both persons involved," because it's "a process of SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "The awesome ART refining the truths they can tell each other." I bring splendor of the universe is much easier to deal with this to your attention, Taurus, because you're in a if you think of it as a series of small chunks," wrote

16 favorable phase to become an even more honorable novelist Terry Pratchett. That's true enough, but lover, friend, and ally than you already are. To take I'll add a caveat: Now and then the trickle of small advantage of the opportunity, explore this question: chunks of awesome splendor gives way to a surge STAGE How can you supercharge and purify your ability to of really big chunks. According to my astrological speak and hear the truth? analysis, that's either already happening for you,

14 or else is about to happen. Can you handle it? I'm GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Goethe's play sure you've noticed that some people are unskilled Faust, the hero bemoans his lack of inner unity. Two at welcoming such glory; they prefer to keep their different souls live within him, he says, and they lives tidy and tiny. They may even get stressed out GET OUT don't cooperate. Even worse, they each try to rule by their good fortune. I trust you're not one of these him without consulting the other. I'm guessing you've fainthearted souls. I hope you will summon the grace experienced a more manageable version of that split you'll need to make spirited use of the onslaught of 12 during the course of your life. Lately, though, it may magnificence. have grown more intense and divisive. If that's true, I

WORDS think it's a good sign. It portends the possibility that CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In his book The healing is in the works . . . that energy is building for Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, John Koenig coins words a novel synthesis. To help make it happen, identify and to describe previously unnamed feelings. I suspect 8 celebrate what your two sides have in common. you may have experienced a few of them recently. One is "monachopsis," defined as "the subtle but CANCER (June 21-July 22): The poet Dick Allen persistent feeling of being out of place." Then there's

CURRENTS CURRENTS described Zen Buddhism as being "so filled with "altschmerz," meaning "weariness with the same old paradoxes that it jumps through hoops that aren't issues you've always had." Another obscure sorrow you 6 even there." I'm tempted to apply this description might recognize is "nodus tollens," or "the realization to the way you've been living your life recently. that the plot of your life doesn't make sense anymore."

VIEWS While I can see how it may have entertained you to Now I'll tell you two of Koenig's more uplifting terms, engage in such glamorous intrigue, I'm hoping you which I bet you'll feel as you claw your way free of

4 will stop. There is no longer anything to be gained the morass. First, there's "liberosis": caring less about by the complicated hocus-pocus. But it's fine for unimportant things; relaxing your grip so you can

MAIL MAIL you to jump through actual hoops if doing so yields hold your life loosely and playfully. Second, there's concrete benefits. "flashover," that moment when conversations become

2 "real and alive, which occurs when a spark of trust LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): For decades, numerous shorts out the delicate circuits you keep insulated

DO IT IT DO self-help authors have claimed that humans use 10 under layers of irony."

percent or less of their brain's potential. But the truth is that our gray matter is far more active than AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 1983, two Aus- that. The scientific evidence is now abundant. (See a tralian blokes launched a quest to tip a drink at every summary here: tinyurl.com/mindmyths.) I hope this pub in Melbourne. Thirty-two years later, Mick Stevens

12.07.16 helps spur you to destroy any limited assumptions and Stuart MacArthur finally accomplished their goal you might have about your own brainpower, Leo. when they sipped beers at The Clyde. It was the 476th

.11 According to my astrological analysis, you could and establishment on their list. The coming weeks will be

49 should become significantly smarter in the next nine a highly favorable time to plan an epic adventure of # months—and wiser, too! your own, Aquarius. I hope and pray, though, that you will make it more sacred and meaningful than Stevens' VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Born under the sign and MacArthur's trivial mission. of Virgo, Mary Oliver is America's best-selling poet. She wasn't an overnight sensation, but she did win a PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): For three seasons of Pulitzer Prize when she was 49. "What I loved in the the year—spring, summer, and fall—a certain weasel beginning, I think, was mostly myself," she confesses species has brown fur. During that time, it's known as in one poem. "Never mind that I had to, since some- a stoat. When winter arrives, the creature's coat turns CASCADIA WEEKLY body had to. That was many years ago." I bet that to white. Its name changes, too. We call it an ermine. even at her current age of 81, Oliver is still refining The next spring, it once again becomes a stoat. Given 30 and deepening her self-love. Neither she nor you will the nature of the astrological omens, Pisces, I think it ever be finished with this grand and grueling project. would make poetic sense for you to borrow this strat- Luckily for you both, now is a time when Virgos can egy. What would you like your nickname to be during and should make plucky progress in the ongoing work. the next three months? Here are a few suggestions: (P.S.: And this is an essential practice if you want to Sweet Sorcerer; Secret Freedom-Seeker; Lost-and- keep refining and deepening your love for others.) Found Specialist; Mystery Maker; Resurrector. BY AMY ALKON put down those flaming pitchforks).

The problem is that it’s been seen as a PEPPER

shameful personal failing (instead of the 34 THE ADVICE biological predisposition it is) to merely feel an attraction to someone other than FOOD GODDESS your spouse. This means that the “for- SISTERS

saking all others” business in the wed- 27 COOKING OUTSIDE THE BOX SINCE 1988 27 DO NO HAREM ding vows is often the first and last time I’ve been happily married to the same wonder- the subject gets discussed. However, the Open Nightly Except Monday 1055 N State St B’ham 671-3414 B-BOARD ful guy for 20 years. However, the longer we’re late infidelity researcher Peggy Vaughan B-BOARD together the harder it is to remain faith- explained that a couple are more likely

ful—surely for both of us. Sex and skin are to remain faithful if they admit that “at- 24 everywhere these days, and men are especially tractions to others are likely (indeed impacted by the barrage of provocative im- inevitable) no matter how much they FILM ages. How does a woman realistically balance love each other.” This allows them to en-

this with the desire to have a relationship gage in “ongoing honest communication 20 that’s monogamous in body and mind? about... how to avoid the consequences

—Troubled of acting on those temptations.” MUSIC In other words, it’s by admitting that

A man can love you to pieces and we have a problem that we can get crack- 18

count his blessings every day you two ing on how to solve it. So, no—sadly— ART are together—and it won’t stop him from monogamy isn’t “natural.” However, on

wanting to see your sister bend over. a hopeful note, neither are $300 Nikes, 16 Sure, it can sometimes happen that a zero-gravity toilets or messages that

man “only has eyes for you”—like if you come by smartphone instead of by wav- STAGE and he are kidnapped and held hostage ing a loincloth over a fire. S in a small, windowless room. Otherwise, 14 because male sexuality is visually driven, CENSOR AND SENSIBILITY his eyes are likely to scamper up any My boyfriend is very smart, but he curses. yummy mummy or big-booty Judy pass- A lot. Even in front of my family. He says I GET OUT ing by. But there’s good news from neu- shouldn’t try to curtail his free expression and S roscience: Contrary to what most women mentioned some news report that said smarter 12 believe, this—in and of itself—is not people curse more. Am I being a tight-xxx? Or is he full of xxxx? a sign of bad character (though a kind, WORDS considerate man will do what he can to —Upset appear fascinated by that big crow in- When you ask your boyfriend to talk 8 stead of those big cahuengas). dirty to you, you shouldn’t need to Though you can have a monogamous specify, “Except at my grandma’s wake.” relationship, our minds are anything And no, there’s no evidence that CURRENTS but monogamous and, in fact, pretty

smarter people curse more—though 6 much have minds of their own. As neu- that’s what popped up in headlines roscientist Michael Gazzaniga explains, S VIEWS across Clickbaitville. The actual find- about 98 percent of our brain’s activity ing—by swearing researchers Kristin and happens beyond our conscious aware- Timothy Jay—is that people who can 4 ness—including some of the “reasoning”

rattle off a lot of words (those who have BURNING OUT MAIL behind our choices and where our atten- “verbal fluency”) can also rattle off a lot tion runs off to. of swear words. Quelle #&*@$ surprise. ON HOLIDAY 2 Key players in who and what we’re I’m no priss about profanity. However, DO IT IT DO drawn to are our brain’s “reward circuit- as I explain in (heh) Good Manners for We are in your corner with ry” and the neurotransmitter dopamine, Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck, “at EXPENSES?EX CA$HLINE, a personal line pushing us to pay attention to and go the root of manners is empathy”—car- after stuff that will help us survive and of credit to pay for home ing about the impact your behavior has repairs, automotive 12.07.16 pass on our genes. Dopamine is ever on on other people. Your parents are likely the lookout for this stuff—including Financing the holidaysrepairs, can medical be stressful! expenses, to see your boyfriend’s bratty insistence .11 hotties, or, as neuroscientist Wolfram 49 on talking however he effin’ pleases, no We understand, andappliance we’re In purchases Your Corner or # Schultz puts it, “reward-predicting vi- matter who’s in earshot, as a sign of dis- with personal loans,other lines surprises. of credit, Find debt out sual stimuli.” In other words, dopamine- respect. It suggests an aggressive, nar- consolidation and financial counseling. Call, secreting neurons are the crass buddy in more at IndustrialCU.org cissistic lack of interest in others’ feel- click or come in for more information today. a man’s brain, going, “Woo-wee, wouldja ings—including yours. That’s not exactly look at the Pointer Sisters on that broad!” a selling point in a partner, plus it could Understanding the neuroscience be- lead you to dread being around your fam- hind attraction is helpful—revealing that CASCADIA WEEKLY ily: “You havin’ a psychotic break, son, or IN attraction is a physiological reaction, like you just anglin’ for more pie?” YOUR 31 being tired or hungry. If your husband CORNER wants a sandwich, you don’t take that ©2016, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. personally. And no, I’m not saying “gettin’ Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 some” outside your marriage is the same Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA (360) 734-2043 IndustrialCU.org as gettin’ some lunch (so, ladies, please 90405, or e-mail [email protected] rearEnd comix

More than ever, 34

FOOD FOOD I need ______27 27 B-BOARD B-BOARD B-BOARD for Christmas. 24 FILM FILM 20

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12.07.16 .11 49 # CASCADIA WEEKLY

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VISIT OUR HISTORIC BUILDING & GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT! 002 0005 00 16 20+ DECORATED TREES | POP-UP SHOP | RAFFLE STAGE 5 00000120 WEDNESDAYS - SUNDAYS, NOON - 5 PM THROUGH DECEMBER 31 14 4 0029008 0 Admission by donation. GET OUT 3 0 6700000 Sponsored by NW Honda, Museum Advocates, & Foundation Board. Whatcom Museum | Old City Hall | 121 Prospect St. | www.whatcommuseum.org 12 000006750 WORDS 8 CURRENTS CURRENTS 6 VIEWS 4 MAIL MAIL

2 DO IT IT DO

12.07.16 .11 49 # CASCADIA WEEKLY

33 guts. They had occasion to lunch with sumo wrestlers in training, visit a parasite museum and a dog café, and learn whether Kobe beef cattle really are given massages

34 and beer to produce the trademark heavily 34 and evenly marbled meat. FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD Because of the precipitous popularity of Western-style foods and although Ja- pan is extremely proud of its heritage, 27 chow RECIPES REVIEWS PROFILES many Japanese have lost touch with tra- ditional foods and cooking techniques.

B-BOARD B-BOARD Also, perhaps due to the isolated qual- ity of being an island country, Japanese

24 people are curious to hear how they

FILM are perceived by the world at large.

20 Booth’s level of de- tail in describing

MUSIC the process of mak- ing miso, sake, or 18 GET IT soy sauce, for ex-

ART ample, proved to be HOW: Request of interest to native Super Sushi Japanese as well as 16 Ramen Express Japanophiles. The or any of

STAGE book became a best- the above seller in Japan, and a cookbooks by Simpsons-style tele- 14 visiting your vision show was even library catalog made about the fam- at www.wcls. GET OUT ily’s experience liv- org (or www. ing there. bellinghampub-

12 Readers interested liclibrary.org if in travelogues and you live within Japanese culture will WORDS the city limits find much to enjoy of Bellingham).

8 in these pages. Chefs and “foodies” will savor descriptions of meals written with the precision of

CURRENTS CURRENTS a journalist and will appreciate the re- strained beauty of a cuisine that accentu- 6 ates the unadulterated spirit of the plant or seafood being prepared. VIEWS If reading Super Sushi Ramen Express

4 whets your appetite but your wallet won’t support a quick culinary trip to Japan, there MAIL MAIL are many excellent cookbooks on different

types of Japanese cuisine that can help 2 BY LISA GRESHAM satisfy your cravings. All are a good intro- DO IT IT DO duction to the fundamentals of Japanese cooking and will help stock your kitchen Ramen Express with essential tools and ingredients. Explore Nanban: Japanese Soul Food 12.07.16 A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH JAPAN by Tim Anderson for an introduction to Award-winning food writer and traveler Michael Booth had been training Southern Japanese (Kyushu) comfort .11

49 in Paris to be a chef, and the butter-and cream-laden diet was starting to impact food. Amy Kimoto-Kahn’s Simply Ramen # his waistline. delivers a stomach-rumbling number of He’d seen research about the health benefits of a traditional Japanese diet, so ramen variations, great for colder fall and when given the opportunity to spend three months in Japan researching and writ- winter dinners when slurping noodles over ing about Japanese cuisine, he eagerly packed his bags and flew to Tokyo with his a hot bowl makes perfect sense. Finally, wife and kids in tow. classical chef Elizabeth Andoh describes Starting in Tokyo, the Booth family ate their way north to Hokkaido and south to the five principles of traditional Japanese

CASCADIA WEEKLY Okinawa, along the way sampling food familiar to Westerners (sashimi, ramen, tem- cooking in Washoku: Recipes from the Jap- pura) as well as local specialties (potentially poisonous fugu puffer fish, sweet pota- anese Home Kitchen 34 to ice cream, cod sperm). Yes, you read that right. Japanese chefs seem to delight in finding ways to make edible every fish or animal part that meets their cutting board. Lisa Gresham is the Collection Support Man- The experiences of Booth’s two kids, who were six and four at the time, provide an ager for Whatcom County Library System, entertaining sidebar to Booth’s book about the trip, Super Sushi Ramen Express. The once lived in Japan, and still dreams about family rule was to try anything once, which on one occasion meant fermented squid street vendor takoyaki and yakisoba. doit December 17th – 3:00 p.m. @

34 Finger Painting for Grown-ups 34 FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD More than Cost: $30 ea. cookies and milk will be on the Bring a friend for just $5 more 3207 NW Ave, Bellingham 27 menu at "Breakfast with Santa" event CALL 360-599-7731 TO BOOK YOUR SEATS taking place B-BOARD B-BOARD Sat., Dec. 10 at the Bellingham Childcare & Learn- 24 ing Center and the Sedro-Woolley FILM Community Center 20

WED., DEC. 7 South Whatcom Library, 10 Barn View Court, Gate

EAT YOUR GREENS: Karina Davidson leads an "Eat 2. Entry is free. MUSIC Your Greens!" course from 6:30-9pm at the Commu- (360) 305-3632 nity Food Co-op, 1220 N. Forest St. Entry is $35. 18 WWW.WHATCOMCOMMUNITYED.COM HOLIDAY FOOD SHOW: Enjoy samples of seasonal

produce, sweet treats, dips and cheeses, entertain- ART THURS., DEC. 8 ing items from the seafood and meat departments,

COOK AND BOOK: Kids in grades 4-7 are invited and seasonal beverages at a "Holiday Food Show" 16 to a "Cook It and Book It" event from 3:30-5pm at taking place from 12-4pm at area Haggen stores. the Lynden Library, 216 4th St. The free event will WWW.HAGGEN.COM STAGE feature a conversation about great books while cooking up something yummy to eat. EAT, DRINK, BE MERRY: Area women are invited

(360) 354-4883 to an "Eat, Drink and Be Merry" event taking place 14 from 12-8pm at Anderson Acres Barn, 5066 E. 26th DINNER AND A MOVIE: Enjoy an Italian buffet Dr. (off Kelly Road). In addition to sampling deli-

followed by a viewing of a Christmas-themed film cious food and desserts and listening to live music, GET OUT at a "Dinner and a Movie" event taking place from vendors will provide creative and unique gifts. 5:30-8pm at Blaine's Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Se- Entry is $10 and includes coffee, cocoa and a cider miahmoo Parkway. Entry is $12 for kids ages 6-12, bar. Proceeds will go to an outreach trip to Africa. 12 and $25 for adults. WWW.EVENTBRITE.COM WWW.SEMIAHMOO.COM WORDS GOOD YULE FEAST: Enjoy a Norse Viking-themed IN VINO VERITAS: Poet and historian Ryan winter evening at a "Good Yule Feast" taking place

O’Connell-Elston and "Art of Wine" instructor Ryan from 3-6pm at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom, 1124 8 Wildstar team up for an "In Vino Veritas" presenta- Cornwall Ave. The event will feature a delicious tion and wine and food pairing from 6:30-8pm themed feast, medieval illuminations, demos in

at the Community Food Co-op, 1220 N. Forest St. medieval fighting and other arts. A dance will CURRENTS Entry is $35. follow at the Bellingham Senior Center, 315 Halleck

WWW.WHATCOMCOMMUNITYED.COM St. Please RSVP for the free dinner. 6 (360) 733-3500

SAT., DEC. 10 VIEWS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Bring a camera along DEC. 12-13

for pictures at a "Breakfast with Santa" taking place GINGERBREAD HOUSES: Create delectable art 4 from 8:30-11am at the Sedro-Woolley Community to take home to impress at a "Family Ginger-

Center, 703 Pacific St. In addition to stocking up bread House Building" event taking place from MAIL on a breakfast of pancakes, sausage links, fruit and 3-5pm Monday at the Pierside Kitchen at Blaine's

milk or juice, kids and their parents can listen to Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy. Entry 2 holiday tunes by the Cascade Middle Choir. Entry to is $25 and includes all materials and tools. At 7pm DO IT IT DO the breakfast is free for kids, by donation for adults. Tuesday, a "Gingerbread House Building" event WWW.SEDRO-WOOLLEY.COM for adults takes place. Entry is $35 and includes a glass of wine. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Celebrate the holiday WWW.SEMIAHMOO.COM season with Santa and Mrs. Claus at a "Breakfast 12.07.16 with Santa" fundraiser happening from 9-11am TUES., DEC. 13 at Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center, 2600 DRINK OUT: A "Drink Out" fundraiser and survival Squalicum Pkwy. Photos will be available to pur- drive for Northwest Youth Services takes place .11 49 chase. Entry to the breakfast is $4-$6. from 12-9pm at Mount Vernon's Farmstrong Brewing Open 9am-7pm # (360) 676-0950 Company, 110 Steward Rd. Ten percent of today's Monday - Saturday drink sales will be donated to the nonprofit, and BELLINGHAM MARKET: Attend the Bellingham Farmstrong will be accepting donations of warm - Free Meter Change! - Farmers Market from 10am-3pm every Saturday clothing through December. through Dec. 17 at the Depot Market Square, 1100 WWW.NWYS.ORG Railroad Ave. In addition to perusing and purchas- ing locally grown produce, crafts and ready-to-eat WED., DEC. 14 CASCADIA WEEKLY foods, attendees can experience monthly Demo CORNISH HENS: Chef Bruno will demonstrate Now available at Days, live music and more. expert techniques you’ll be able to take home and 35 WWW.BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG apply to your own dinners at a "Cornish Hens" cooking class taking place from 5:30-7:30pm at HOLIDAY TEA: Enjoy delicious treats, good com- Pierside Kitchen at Blaine's Semiahmoo Resort, pany and the warmth of the season at a Holiday 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy. Entry is $79. Tea taking place from 10am-4pm at Sudden Valley's WWW.SEMIAHMOO.COM 124 W. Holly St. Bellingham, WA 98225 THE PACIFIC SHOWROOM

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