A Holly Jolly Roundup, P.18 Festival of the Arts: 10Am-7Pm Daily Through a Brief Overview of This Christmas Eve, 1530 Cornwall Ave

FUZZ BUZZ, P.11 + FILM SHORTS, P.23 + FREE WILL ASTROLOGY, P.26 c a s c a d i a PICKFORD CALENDAR INSIDE

REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA WHATCOM SKAGIT SURROUNDING AREAS 12-12-2018* • ISSUE:50* • V.13

THE WHATCOM NAUGHTY WATER LIST Problems and A Holiday Cabaret prospects P.15 P.06 MIRACLE Seasonal spirits at Swim Club P.30

CORSBERG CARES APPALACHIAN

A benefit with star power CHRISTM S P.13 A holly jolly roundup, P.18 Festival of the Arts: 10am-7pm daily through A brief overview of this Christmas Eve, 1530 Cornwall Ave. 30 Deck the Old City Hall: 12-5pm, Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall

FOOD week’s happenings THISWEEK SATURDAY [12.15.18]

25 ONSTAGE Mostly Magic: 11am and 2:30pm, MBT’s Walton Theatre

B-BOARD A Charlie Brown Christmas: 2pm and 7pm, BAAY Theater Vaudevillingham: 7pm and 9pm, Cirque Lab

22 A Christmas Carol: 7:30pm, Sylvia Center for the Arts My 3 Ghosts: 7:30pm, Upfront Theatre

FILM Mostly Magic Cabaret: 7:30pm, MBT’s Walton Theatre Annie: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon Noel Noir: 7:30pm, Anacortes Community Theatre 18 Award-winning LOL-Palooza: 9:30pm, Upfront Theatre MUSIC DANCE comedians James The Nutcracker: 2pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon

16 Saving Christmas Town: 2pm and 7pm, Mount and Jamesy Baker Theatre ART A Holiday Wish for Paco: 7pm, Blaine Performing present their Arts Center

15 seasonal show, MUSIC Bellingham Community Chorus: 2pm, and 7pm, St. STAGE ”O Christmas James Presbyterian Church Tea,” Wed., Dec. NOEL Ensemble: 3pm, Jansen Art Center, Lynden

14 Altai Kai: 8pm, Alternative Library 12 at the Mount WORDS

GET OUT Baker Theatre Stories with the Grinch: 2pm, Village Books COMMUNITY

12 Winterfest: 12-3pm, historic Fairhaven Sleighbells Ring: 12-5pm, BelleWood Acres

WORDS GET OUT Jingle Bell Dash: 10am, Seafarers’ Memorial Park,

10 WEDNESDAY [12.12.18] Anacortes Bowman Bay Holiday: 4-8pm, Deception Pass State ONSTAGE Park O Christmas Tea: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre CURRENTS FOOD 6 MUSIC Pancake Breakfast: 8-11am, Ferndale Senior Center Celtic Christmas: 6:30pm, Port of Anacortes Transit Breakfast With Santa: 9-11am, Bellingham Child- Shed

VIEWS care and Learning Center MVHS Holiday Concert: 7pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Breakfast With Santa: 91m-1pm, Eaglemont Golf Vernon 4 Course, Mount Vernon Bellingham Farmers Market: 10am-3pm, Depot

MAIL THURSDAY [12.13.18] Market Square

2 ONSTAGE

2 VISUAL A Christmas Carol: 7:30pm, Sylvia Center for the Arts Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square

DO IT Good, Bad, Ugly: 7:30pm, Upfront Theatre DO IT Deck the Old City Hall: 12-5pm, Whatcom Museum’s Annie: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon Old City Hall Noel Noir: 7:30pm, Anacortes Community Theatre Comet Sense: 2-4pm, Studio UFO The Project: 9:30pm, Upfront Theatre

12.12.18 MUSIC SUNDAY [12.16.18] BHS Showstoppers: 12pm, Whatcom Museum’s Old It will be a family affair in Mount Vernon at the ONSTAGE .13 City Hall A Charlie Brown Christmas: 2pm, BAAY Theater 50

# Spanish Brass Christmas Concert: 7pm, Mount Baker 38th annual Magical Strings’ Celtic Yuletide Annie: 2pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon Theatre Noel Noir: 2pm, Anacortes Community Theatre MVHS Holiday Concert: 7pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount performance Sun., Dec. 16 at the Lincoln Theatre Vernon DANCE The Nutcracker: 2pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon VISUAL Annie: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon MUSIC Festival of the Arts: 10am-7pm daily through Noel Noir: 7:30pm, Anacortes Community Theatre Reeb Willms and Caleb Klauder: 7pm, YWCA MUSIC Christmas Eve, 1530 Cornwall Ave. LOL-Palooza: 9:30pm, Upfront Theatre Ballroom Holiday Magic: 3pm, Mount Baker Theatre CASCADIA WEEKLY Celtic Yuletide: 3pm, Lincoln Theatr 2 FRIDAY [12.14.18] DANCE FOOD Saving Christmas Town: 7pm, Mount Baker Drayton Harbor Shell-abration: 4-6pm, G Street COMMUNITY ONSTAGE Theatre Plaza, Blaine Sleighbells Ring: 12-5pm, BelleWood Acres A Charlie Brown Christmas: 7pm, BAAY Theater The Nutcracker: 7:30pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount A Christmas Carol: 7:30pm, Sylvia Center for the Arts Vernon VISUAL VISUAL My 3 Ghosts: 7:30pm, Upfront Theatre Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square Pacific Arts Market: 10am-6pm, Sunset Square Now – December 24

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FOOD Contact Cascadia Weekly:  360.647.8200

25 mail TOC LETTERS STAFF Advertising

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FILM Editorial Editor & Publisher: 18 Tim Johnson If you were hoping for a Christmas miracle, a recent storm  ext 3 system has resulted in a significant amount of snowfall at MUSIC  editor@ the Mt. Baker Ski Area, meaning opening day will be Wed., cascadiaweekly.com Dec. 12. What are you doing reading this paper? Get to

16 the slopes! Arts & Entertainment Editor: Amy Kepferle ART  ext 2  calendar@

15 cascadiaweekly.com Views & News Music & Film Editor: STAGE Carey Ross 04: Mailbag  music@ cascadiaweekly.com

14 06: Gristle and Views 10: Last week’s news Production

GET OUT 11: Police blotter, Index Art Director: Jesse Kinsman  jesse@

12 Arts & Life kinsmancreative.com 12: Virgil Wander Design:

WORDS 14: Night lights Bill Kamphausen 15: Naughty or nice? Advertising Design: Roman Komarov 10 16: Small works, big talent  roman@ cascadiaweekly.com 18: Jingle bell rock Send all advertising materials to [email protected] CURRENTS 20: Clubs THE WARNING OF ORCAS el-powered single-occupant vehicles helps keep 6 22: Animated action Distribution Maybe due to (everyone’s spaceship) Earth’s their collective mouths shut about the planet’s 23: Film Shorts Distribution Manager: large size, there seems to be a general oblivi- greatest and very profitable polluter, lest they VIEWS Erik Burge ousness in regard to our natural environment, as feel like and/or be publicly deemed hypocrites.  distribution@ 4 4 Rear End cascadiaweekly.com though toxic pollutants emitted through exhaust —Frank Sterle Jr, White Rock, B.C. Whatcom: Erik Burge, pipes and tall smokestacks—or even the largest MAIL MAIL 24: Wellness Stephanie Simms contamination events—can somehow be safely SOLVING THE PROBLEM 25: Crossword

2 Skagit: Linda Brown, absorbed into the air, sea and land (i.e., out of THROUGH INNOVATION 26: Free Will Astrology Barb Murdoch sight, out of mind). It may be the same mental- The news has been filled with climate calami-

DO IT 27: Advice Goddess ity that allows the immense amount of plastic ties: devastating fires, violent storms, endan- Letters waste, such as disposable straws, to eventually gered species. 28: Comix SEND LETTERS TO LETTERS@ CASCADIAWEEKLY.COM find its way into our life-filled oceans, where There’s little reason to think this kind of story 29: Slowpoke, Sudoku there are few, if any, caring souls to see it. In- will go away, and there are plenty of reasons to 12.12.18 30: Miracle at Swim Club deed, it’s quite fortunate that the plastic waste be concerned about the future. doesn’t entirely sink out of sight to the bottom, Less in the news, but vitally important, are .13

50 like Albertan diluted bitumen crude oil spills, for the strides being taken in our community, our # then nothing would be done about it, regardless state, the nation and the wider world to help

©2018 CASCADIA WEEKLY (ISSN 1931-3292) is published each Wednesday by of divers’ reports of the awful existence of such solve the problem. Cascadia Newspaper Company LLC. Direct all correspondence to: Cascadia Weekly PO Box 2833 Bellingham WA 98227-2833 | Phone/Fax: 360.647.8200 plastic tangled messes. Take a moment to consider what’s underway [email protected] As for the fossil-fuel industry, it must be quite and what you may be able to do to keep this Though Cascadia Weekly is distributed free, please take just one copy. Cascadia Weekly may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Any person removing convenient to have such a large portion of main- momentum going forward. papers in bulk from our distribution points risks prosecution SUBMISSIONS: Cascadia Weekly welcomes freelance submissions. Send material stream society simply too exhausted and preoc- In renewable deployment, cities and states are

CASCADIA WEEKLY to either the News Editor or A&E Editor. Manuscripts will be returned if you COVER: Mark O’Connor cupied with just barely feeding and housing their enacting plans to reduce their carbon emissions. include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. To be considered for calendar list- and Friends present “An ings, notice of events must be received in writing no later than noon Wednesday families on a substandard income to criticize the Washington is a leader in encouraging consumers 4 the week prior to publication. Photographs should be clearly labeled and will be Appalachian Christmas” returned if accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelope. Mon., Dec. 17 at WWU’s former for the great damage it’s doing to our to install wind and solar systems. According to Performing Arts Center. planet’s natural environment and therefore our Puget Sound Energy data, there are now more than Photo by Christopher health, particularly when that damage may not 7,300 residential solar installations in PSE’s terri- McAllen be immediately observable. Also, to have almost tory, with an estimated 1,500 in Whatcom County! everyone addicted to driving their own fossil-fu- Auto manufacturers worldwide are racing to NEWSPAPER ADVISORY GROUP: Robert Hall, Seth Murphy, Michael Petryni, David Syre improve their products. Wind power is now cost-competitive in many cases with legacy fossil-fuel generation.

In technology development, huge 30 strides are being made in energy stor- age systems, better batteries, revers- FOOD ible hydro, solar power efficiency, even removing CO from the atmosphere and 2 25 permanently locking it away in concrete. In political determination, our Wash- ington state legislature may soon take a B-BOARD serious look at an improved, market-based

(not regulatory) means of reducing green- 22 house gases. And in DC, there is now a bipartisan bill (the Energy Innovation FILM and Carbon Dividend Act) in the House to

enact a revenue-neutral carbon fee, the 18 single method nearly all economists recognize as the most effective and least costly MUSIC way to solve the climate change problem.

We as individuals and within our com- 16

munity can be part of the solution.There ART are big things like buying an e-car or FREE EVENTS - JOIN US!

installing solar panels. For many of us, 15 however, these actions cost more than Katrina Carrasco THE FASHION Buy Thrift Extend the life of existing we can afford. But all of us can resolve “A gender- and INDUSTRY IS THE STAGE to drive our cars less; and take the bus, a genre-bending garments & reduce demand bike, or just walk to the store. tale.” ND for new consumer goods 2 LARGEST 14 Consider putting your family on a “A vivid, sexy barn burner of meatless day or two every week. a historical crime novel.” INDUSTRIAL WEAR Be Selective Tell your state and federal legislators Don’t Miss Out! GET OUT Thursday, Dec. 13, 7pm POLLUTER IN Buy garments you know that you want them to act now. you’ll wear at least 30 times Join us in welcoming 30

Make sure you’re registered to vote, 12 Environmental Journalist THE WORLD and ask current and potential office- Saturday, Feb. 17, 4pm holders their position on climate change. Ben Goldfarb Upcycle WORDS Join a group such as Citizens Climate YOU CAN MAKE Learn to sew, mend, and Lobby to magnify your efforts. as he presents reinvent your wardrobe A DIFFERENCE 10 Together we can reverse climate change. EAGER —Ray Dellecker, Bellingham Ragfinery is a nonprofit project of ReUse Works. Your purchases support waste reduction & job training. The Surprising, This ad was funded through a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. While these materials were reviewed for grant consistency, this does not necessarily constitute endorsement by Ecology.

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from cocaine use. At Village Books in FAIRHAVEN 2 I suffered through 30 years of cocaine YOGA use. It was introduced to me at 18. I lost Join for a story NORTHWEST DO IT The b.k.s Iyengar yoga center of bellingham all things precious to me, including my and special guest FREE 12-Week creative expression, in the process. appearance by YOGA CLASSES I want a public apology to the people Winter Quarter JAN 1 - 6 12.12.18 of our precious community for this in- THE GRINCH Starting appropriate use of media to influence Jan 7 himself! .13 young minds in the wrong direction. 50

A great photo op. # People deserve to be led by people of conscience and moral integrity. We are FAIRHAVEN only as good as our imaginations and Friday, Dec. 14, 4pm this piece is not inspiring or even reflec- LYNDEN & New Student tive—flat gross. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2pm Discount Please help those who were not guid- $20 off! ed well by inspiring with love, patience VILLAGEBOOKS.COM CASCADIA WEEKLY and empathy. Free will must be tem- Transform your life this winter with increased 5 pered by wisdom, as I learned through VILLAGE BOOKS Balance Flexibility Core Strength Vibrant Energy Mindful Living & Inner Peace! much despair. • • • • Check our website for our Free Classes and Winter Schedule May God guide the pens of change from & PAPER DREAMS Voted your heart. 1200 11th St, Bellingham yoganorthwest.com Best Yoga 360.647.0712 1440 10th Street Historic Fairhaven Bellingham 12 Years in a Row! —Jeff Sellstrom, Bellingham & 430 Front St, Lynden • Open Daily

See villagebooks.com for more! THE GRISTLE TAKING CHARGE OF THE PUBLIC CHARGE: Whatcom

30 County Council stepped up last week with an active response to one of the more cruel and counterproductive FOOD stances of the Trump administration’s pogrom on immigration, adopting a resolution opposing changes to views YOUR VIEWS THE GRISTLE federal legislation that would reduce health, housing 25 and other social service benefits for immigrant families. In September, the Trump administration rolled out B-BOARD a proposal that would force an extremely difficult choice on many immigrant families—that their chanc-

22 es of remaining in the United States and lawfully em- BY ERIC HIRST ployed here could be at risk if those families sought

FILM public benefits such as food assistance or essential health coverage provided through Medicaid, or even

18 enrolling their U.S.-born children in Head Start or the Whatcom Water Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

MUSIC Under a new directive from the federal Dept. of PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS Homeland Security, the proposal would overhaul how

16 the government evaluates whether a would-be immi- WATER RESOURCE planners and when.

ART grant is “not likely to be a public charge” (a require- continue to meet to update the In principle, such data exist for ment of many visa categories and green card appli- county’s Coordinated Water System all customers of all water utilities—

15 cations). Nationwide, more than 19 million—or one Plan, a complex and often cum- municipalities, water districts and in four (25 percent) children live in a family with an bersome attempt to inventory and water associations.

STAGE immigrant parent, and nearly nine in ten (86 percent) manage Whatcom County’s diverse But no entity collects, organizes, of these children are citizens. water systems. analyzes and reports on these data. The DHS rule would expand the definition of “public Whatcom County has serious, And such water-meter data do not 14 charge” for immigration purposes and therefore pre- long-term water quantity problems. exist for farms or rural households vent permanent legal residency for immigrants. Fortunately, solutions to these on how much water fish need is an that draw water from wells.

GET OUT “The proposed ‘public charge’ definition places an problems are at hand. Unfortunate- instream flow rule set by the Wash- Agricultural irrigation uses—by impossible choice before immigrant families,” U.S. ly, we largely ignore these problems ington State Dept. of Ecology (Ecol- far—more water than any other

12 Senate Democrats wrote in response to the proposal. and, therefore, are not adopting ogy) in 1985. sector of our economy. And irri- “If a migrant child falls ill, he may lose eligibility for needed solutions. Technically, the Ecology rule sets gation occurs during the summer, a green card, and if a parent runs out of money to flow levels below which no more wa- when supplies are the lowest. WORDS feed their family, the parent will become ineligible as PROBLEMS ter can be withdrawn from the river The lack of water meters for ag- well. This proposed rule will cause tremendous harm The Nooksack River basin is home or its tributaries; but the agency’s ricultural water use requires us to 10 to the health and well-being of thousands of children, to several salmon species. These fish rule does not explicitly determine rely on estimation methods that citizen and immigrant alike.” are an essential part of our food sup- optimal flow rates for fish. That rule often disagree with each other and

CURRENTS The proposed change runs directly counter to What- ply, economy, heritage and culture. specifies, for about 50 locations are of unknown accuracy. com County’s 2013 call for a more compassionate But streamflows during the sum- within the Nooksack River basin, For various reasons, most beyond 6 6 community approach to public health-related servic- mer are too low to support healthy minimum flows for every two-week the control of farmers, roughly 40 es, which found that immigrant families often avoid salmon runs. period throughout the year. percent of the water used for agri- VIEWS VIEWS seeking needed medical and social services—even Low flows are a result of too much These minimums are usually not cultural irrigation lacks authoriza-

4 police aid—out of fear of detention and deportation demand chasing too little supply. met during the summer months. tion from Ecology. This is a serious or loss of their permanent residency status. Insufficient flows are one of many More recent work by Utah State legal/regulatory problem that has MAIL “Whatcom County may face increased demands factors (including habitat loss, poor University (USU) suggests that these existed for more than three decades

2 for assistance from immigrants and their families water quality and ocean conditions) regulatory minimum flows should with little Ecology effort at a sys- resulting from changes to the ‘public charge’ defini- that have led to dramatic declines be much higher, which implies that temic resolution.

DO IT tion because fewer individuals will be able to access in salmon runs. Therefore, several actual flows are even further below The mismatch between water sup- federal benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition As- species (Chinook, steelhead, and what fish (and other wildlife) need. ply and demand is almost certain to sistance Program, Section 8 housing vouchers and bull trout) are listed as threatened Although I emphasize the impor- get worse because of two factors. healthcare services,” Council noted in their reso- under the Endangered Species Act. tance of these calculated instream First, as Whatcom County popula- 12.12.18 lution last week. Meanwhile, “Whatcom County ad- A related problem is failure to flow numbers needed for a healthy tion continues to grow at about 2 ministers federal programs, and changes to federal meet tribal treaty obligations. environment, others disagree with percent each year, the demand for .13

50 laws could impose burdensome new tracking and These legal responsibilities to the my interpretation. They note that water for our homes, businesses # reporting requirements for local offices that admin- Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian the ideal numbers would not be met and factories will also grow. ister these programs.” Tribe derive from the 1855 Treaty of even if human water consumption Second, the adverse effects of Council committee chair Barbara Brenner, with Point Elliott, which guaranteed trib- was entirely eliminated. They focus climate change will continue to in- support from Tyler Byrd, became fixated on the al water rights sufficient to maintain on the need to increase stream- crease demand for irrigation water, colorful issue of whether immigrants are legally in harvestable salmon populations. Be- flows during critical periods and as summer air temperatures increase the country, but the distinction is academic when cause these rights have never been not on the absolute goal, which and summer rainfall declines. Cli-

CASCADIA WEEKLY the subject is public costs associated with trauma, quantified we don’t know how much they consider theoretical. mate change will also continue to mental illness and communicable disease. These water needs to flow in the Nooksack Addressing these low-flow prob- decrease summer supplies as gla- 6 carry costs borne by local governments regardless River and its tributaries to meet our lems requires a detailed under- ciers shrink. The North Cascade gla- of immigrant status. Moreover, the parsing under- legal obligations to the tribes. standing of who uses water, for cier mass is about 30 percent less mines the very message of unconditional support The only legal evidence we have what purposes, in what amounts, WATER, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 from the social services and medical community to those seeking assistance. VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF CASCADIA WEEKLY THE GRISTLE The National Association of County

and City Health Officials (NACCHO), 30 representing the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health depart- EBT FOOD ments, strongly opposes immigration policy that unfairly discriminates Superb Deli Sandwiches 25 against immigrants with respect to Pickled Herring & Landjaeger education, employment, basic human rights, and social welfare. 15% Off Standard Groceries B-BOARD “Our local public health depart- 20% Off Merchandise

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us,” the organization noted in a press 50% Off ALL Lightbulbs 18 release. “Clearly, public health will be compromised if families are too afraid Our Last Hurrah! MUSIC to access vital services, fearing the 360-592-2297 loss of permanent residency status.” www.everybodys.com 16 Highway 9 – Van Zandt

“Limited or reduced access to sup- ART port programs will affect immigrant health, financial stability, and the LOOKING FOR A PLACE HOME LOANS AND REFINANCE 15 healthy development of their chil- TO CALL HOME? dren,” county health officials noted in STAGE comments to the proposed DHS rule. Team “This deeply misguided policy will Marie Bjornson 14 not ensure ‘self-sufficiency’ among More Edcated, immigrants, nor will it help hospitals, which will see a further rise in costs More Motivated, GET OUT and frequency of emergency care that More Conﬁdent will result from the drop in use and Home Buying & 12 accessibility of preventive services,” Sen Patty Murray commented on the WE CAN HELP REACH Home Financing Experience WORDS proposed DHS rule. “In addition, YOUR REAL ESTATE GOALS! this policy will have a significant Marie Bjornson - Certified Mortgage Planner 10 impact on programs not implicated Free Home Inspection CPA, CMPS , NMLS #111765 in the text of proposed rule. Immi- 360-676-9600 | [email protected] with Consultation www.wa-mortgage.com | 112 Prospect Street, Bellingham grant families are likely to refuse ser- Louise and Marie CURRENTS vices for which they are eligible out

Call Jerry Swann For Details! 6 of fear of possible reprisal for using *Fairway is not affiliated with any government agencies. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government 6 these services—leading to numerous agency. Copyright©2018 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289.4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. All

360.319.7776 VIEWS Best rights reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and VIEWS adverse consequences for children programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other Choice Broker# 100688 restrictions and limitations may apply. Equal Housing Lender. and families’ educational outcomes, R EALT Y 4 health, and general well-being. This policy will have a detrimental effect MAIL

on the children of lawful immigrants 2 and their future generations, further

hindering their paths to success.” DO IT When Congress expanded the definition of ‘public charge’ in 1996, it rejected a definition of ‘public charge’ that would have included food and health care as- 12.12.18 sistance. Meanwhile, as documented .13

by the American Academy of Pediatrics 50 (AAP), children who receive essential # preventive care and services through Medicaid and CHIP coverage have better health and educational outcomes later in life, as compared to eligible children who do not receive such coverage, she and other Senate Democrats noted in CASCADIA WEEKLY their comments. 7 “Expanding the definition of ‘public charge’ would therefore both ignore the legislative intent and undermine critical health care programs for children and their families,” they wrote. views ›› your opinions

30 WATER, FROM PAGE 6 time to learn new methods but require no

FOOD capital investments, so they can be ad- today than it was three decades ago. As opted quickly. snowpack drops, and streamflows decline. Efficiency improvements are available 25 Finally, state water law is a complicated, in the residential, commercial and indus- inconsistent mashup of legislation and reg- trial sectors also and should be pursued. B-BOARD ulation dating back more than 100 years. But the key, in my view, is agriculture. A key obstacle to implementing solu- Without an adequate resolution of relin-

22 tions is relinquishment. quishment farmers will be reluctant to Farmers who do not use all of their wa- reduce their water use.

FILM ter right for five or more years are subject Until the law is changed, farmers could to relinquishment. This means that Ecol- put saved water into a water bank, which

18 ogy is obligated to take back that unused would protect it from relinquishment. portion of a water right, a serious loss of In addition to these efficiency options,

MUSIC property rights for farmers. Relinquish- many supply options have been explored ment is thus a powerful disincentive to in Whatcom County but not yet widely

16 improve irrigation efficiency. adopted. These include: (1) conversion

ART Other complications in water law in- of water rights from surface water to hibit adoption of measures that would groundwater (which spreads the impact

15 otherwise improve streamflows at critical of the water withdrawal over time, rather times of the year. than concentrating the effect in the dry

STAGE irrigation season), (2) pumping and pip- SOLUTIONS ing water from one location to another, Although it is much easier to identify and (3) building reservoirs to store winter 14 and explain problems than it is to articu- flows for use during the summer. late solutions, solutions are available for For example, the Birch Bay Water and

GET OUT Whatcom County water-quantity problems. Sewer District drilled several test wells in The key challenge is for more of us— a deep aquifer near Blaine. The amounts

12 citizens, and not just the experts—to and quality of water from these wells are recognize how serious and important good enough to be able to provide water these problems are and to press our po- elsewhere in the county. WORDS litical leaders to adopt solutions. Farmers are testing the benefits of Fortunately, the tools are at hand to pumping water from their wells at the end 10 increase water supplies and reduce water of the irrigation season and putting that demands in key locations and at key times. water into Bertrand Creek to increase

CURRENTS We need to quantify how much water streamflows in late summer and early fall. salmon and other wildlife need in the Generally, we need a method to objec- 6 6 creeks and mainstem at various times tively compare the economic, environ- during the year. some farmers but appears to do little For example, a big gun irrigator might mental, regulatory and political costs VIEWS VIEWS We also need to specify the amount of with these data. These estimates rely on use 500 gallons/minute, compared to about and benefits of all the viable supply and

4 water the two tribes are entitled to for methods developed decades ago for much 200 gallons/day for a typical household. demand options. We then need to work use on their reservations and that must dryer and warmer climates (e.g., east- We have three broad ways to improve our way down the list, implementing the MAIL remain in the river and streams to meet ern Washington). So we should meter at efficiency. most cost-effective options first.

2 treaty obligations. Much of the techni- least a representative sample of Whatcom First, farmers could, depending on the Better integrating land-use planning cal work needed to quantify these bio- County farms and/or better use the data crop, switch equipment to types that are with water-resource planning would also

DO IT logical and legal rights was done several Ecology already collects from farmers. more efficient (for example, from over- yield major benefits. years ago by USU. We also need to develop and apply fore- head sprinklers to drip irrigation, which A key option here is to develop and We need to review these results and casting methods to estimate the effects might cut water use by 20 percent). implement a program that allows/encour- work toward a consensus among the two of population growth and climate change Indeed, many farmers have switched ages farmers to trade development rights 12.12.18 tribes, farmers, Ecology, and others to ar- on future water supplies (decreasing) and from overhead to drip irrigation as they for water rights. rive at a set of agreed-upon numbers on water demand (increasing). turned to berry production and away Because much of the land farmed in .13

50 minimum instream flows. These discussions/negotiations, water- from corn and grass. Whatcom County is zoned residential, it # Having agreed on the amounts of wa- use data, and forecast results together Second, we could improve maintenance could be converted from farms to shop- ter that must remain in the three forks, will indicate how deficits in the water practices (for example, identify and fix ping malls and residential developments. Nooksack River and its tributaries, we supply-demand balance will worsen over leaks in distribution lines, inspect and One way to ensure that this land remains then need to determine how much water time. This deficit can then be filled with clean nozzles). in agriculture would allow farmers to give can be taken out for human use. either new supplies or greater water-use Finally, we could improve irrigation up their right to develop their land in ex- Given the importance of agricultural efficiency (WUE). scheduling practices. For example, au- change for a valid water right.

CASCADIA WEEKLY irrigation, we most need good data (not Because so little effort historically was tomated, internet-based systems use estimates) on how much water different devoted to efficiency, I think WUE should historical weather data and forecasts to Eric Hirst has a Ph.D. in engineering from 8 crops use, where and when. be our primary focus in filling the supply/ calculate an irrigation schedule for the Stanford University and spent 30 years as The absence of publicly available wa- demand gap. And here, too, we should fo- next seven days—how many hours a day an energy policy analyst at Oak Ridge Na- ter-meter data means that our knowledge cus on agricultural irrigation because it to irrigate, during what four hours, and at tional Laboratory. He retired to Belling- of agricultural water use is based on esti- uses so much water and does so at exactly what flow rates. ham and remains passionately involved in mates. Ecology collects meter data from the times of greatest need. The second and third approaches take water issues. Apply now to start BTC’s Cosmetology program in Winter Quarter!

This program

Classes start January 3. is eligible for 30 financial aid. FOOD Graduates will be trained in:

• Hair cutting and styling, 25 hair analysis, coloring, lightening, permanent waving and relaxing B-BOARD • Basic nail and skin

services 22 • Customer service skills FILM and salon business operations 18 MUSIC 16

Classes for the Cosmetology program are held in the salon space in ART BTC’s Railroad Center at 1411 Railroad Ave. in downtown Bellingham. 15 Learn more about the program: STAGE www.btc.edu/cosmetology 14

Questions? [email protected] | 360.752.8345

Bellingham Technical College is an equal opportunity institution. If you have GET OUT a documented disability, contact BTC Accessibility Resources: [email protected] or 360.752.8450 for any accommodations for programs, classes, activities and more. 12 WORDS 10

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18 T NEWS WSDOT COURTESY PHOTO DEC05-10 s The National Weather Service expects as much as three feet of snow in some areas above 2,500 feet in elevation north and south MUSIC BY TIM JOHNSON along the Cascade range, falling throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday. A winter storm warning was in effect for the higher elevations of every county from Whatcom south to Thurston. 16 ART NORTHWEST ed on his bunk. Bellingham Fire Department

15 paramedics were unable to revive the inmate, PASSAGES who was awaiting trial. The suicide is the A hand recount of Whatcom STAGE County ballots changed little second at the jail this year. [WCSO] in the outcome of Novem- ber’s election. Republican 2.10.18 14 12.05.18 Sen. Doug Ericksen ended up ahead of Democrat Pinky MONDAY Vargas by just 45 votes—fewer than those votes GET OUT WEDNESDAY received as write-ins on ballot. Republican Rep. A woman walking along the tracks is dead An environmental group is suing the city of Anacortes under the Clean Water Luanne Van Werven led Democrat Justin Boneau by after being struck by a southbound freight 81 votes. Election results were certified last week. 12 Act, alleging the city is failing to manage stormwater pollution. The law- train near Bellingham’s Boulevard Park, north suit by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, a Seattle-based nonprofit that focuses on of the South Bay Trail crossing into the park. water issues, alleges the city has failed to comply with permits that regulate This is the 22nd fatal collision with a train WORDS discharge of stormwater into streams, rivers, lakes and Puget Sound, posing a tinction event in Earth’s history. Researchers this year in Washington, and the second threat to water quality. [Skagit Valley Herald] have long suspected that volcanic eruptions death of a pedestrian on that stretch of track 10 triggered the “Great Dying,” as the end of the since 2008. [Bellingham Herald] 12.06.18 Permian geologic period is sometimes called,

CURRENTS but exactly how so many creatures died has Washington’s elected officials have harsh CURRENTS 10 THURSDAY been something of a mystery. Models of the words for a proposed Trump Administration 6 The Trump administration will roll back a significant climate change regula- effects of volcanic greenhouse-gas releases rule targeting immigrants. The revisions to tion on coal-fired power plants, making it easier to build new coal plants in showed the Earth warming dramatically and the “public charge” rule would harm Wash- VIEWS the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency proposal will elimi- oxygen disappearing from its oceans, leaving ingtonians, causing children—citizens and

4 nate Obama-era restrictions on newly built coal plants that in effect required many marine animals unable to breathe, ac- noncitizens alike—to forfeit meals, health them to include systems to capture the carbon dioxide they produced—a tech- cording to a study in the peer-reviewed jour- insurance, and a roof over their heads, Gov. MAIL nology that is still not in use on a commercial scale. Analysts believe the new nal Science. [Seattle Times] Jay Inslee asserts. “This cruel effort to pun-

2 policy will do little to assist the coal industry. [New York Times] ish lawfully present immigrants and their Western student Shayne Merwin, 20, of families is yet another attempt to inflame

DO IT The Trump administration significantly weakens an Obama-era regulation on Gold Bar pleads not guilty in Whatcom xenophobic stereotypes, stoke fear and di- clean water. The rule was designed to limit pollution in about 60 percent of County Superior Court to felony charges of vide communities,” Inslee said. “It is already the nation’s bodies of water, protecting sources of drinking water for about burglary and malicious harassment, Washing- harming children and parents across our state a third of the United States. But it became a target for rural landowners since ton’s hate crime statute. Merwin was arrested who are forfeiting meals, health care and 12.12.18 the rule restricted how much pollution from chemical fertilizers and pesticides and charged in connection with recent rac - stable housing out of confusion and alarm.” could seep into water on their property. [New York Times] ist vandalism and hate-filled slurs that ap- [Office of Governor] .13

50 peared on Western’s campus. He also faces # Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife can regulate construction expulsion. Expulsion is the most significant The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding on dry land if the agency decides fish may be affected, the state Supreme discipline the university may impose and Board awards nearly $18 million in grants Court rules. The court rejected a lawsuit by five counties that alleged Fish and means that a student is permanently separat- for projects to restore salmon habitat in an Wildlife was overstepping its authority by requiring local governments to get ed from Western and is not allowed to re-en- effort to bring the iconic fish back from the permits from the agency to build and maintain bridges that span but do not roll. [WWU] brink of extinction. An estimated 75 percent touch water. [Capital Press] of the funded projects will benefit Chinook

CASCADIA WEEKLY 12.09.18 salmon, which make up a large part of the 12.07.18 southern resident orca whale diet. The grants 10 SUNDAY were awarded to organizations for 95 proj- FRIDAY The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office logs ects in 30 of the state’s 39 counties. Skagit Global warming today mirrors conditions leading to Earth’s largest extinc- another suicide at the jail. An inmate housed receives $1.36 million in grants; Whatcom re- tion event, a University of Washington study reports. More than two-thirds on the third floor of the facility apparently ceives $437,000 for one project for the Nook- of life on Earth died off some 252 million years ago, in the largest mass ex- hanged himself with a power cord while seat- sack River. [Associated Press] pass from the school grounds. “The young index FUZZ man was detained and returned to the care of his parents,” police reported.

BUZZ 30 On Nov. 28, a mother called Blaine Police

to report her son had violated his proba- FOOD NAUGHTY AND NICE tion curfew and might be near the area On Dec. 8, Bellingham Police checked of the Blaine Middle School. An officer 25 on the report of a Christmas tree stolen checked the area and was unable to locate from the lot of a vendor. the son. “The mother will be notifying

probation in the morning,” police noted. B-BOARD On Dec. 5, a concerned citizen turned in

the identification and a bank card which On Dec. 4, Blaine Police learned two ju- 22 the citizen had found. Bellingham Police veniles, who had been trespassed from attempted to contact the owner, but held school grounds had returned. An officer FILM on to the items for safekeeping. arrived and located the boys standing at

a bus stop. The officer talked to them 18 On Dec. 6, a motorist on Bakerview Road and readvised them of their trespasses.

offered a man a ride due to the cold MUSIC weather. The man stole an item out of the On Nov. 30, a mother reported she ar-

motorist’s car, Bellingham Police reported. rived home from work and found a note 16 on her door from her teenage daughter ART On Dec. 4, police checked on a 911 hang- saying she was not coming home. “The up call from a hotel room in Blaine. A pa- mother wanted to report her daughter as 15 trol officer arrived and located the room. a runaway,” Blaine Police reported.

The officer spoke with the couple who STAGE explained they were arguing over a credit On Dec. 2, Blaine patrol officers were card and the holiday season. contacted by a mother looking for her 14 daughter. “The woman did not wish to HAMBURGLAR report her daughter as a runaway,” police

6 GET OUT On Dec. 9, police responded to a robbery explained. Officers searched but did not Chance in 10 (61 Percent) an American is worried about rising costs associated with at the Ferndale McDonalds. Employees re- locate the daughter. health care, including higher insurance premiums and copays. ported that a younger-looking man wear- 12 ing a black jacket over a black or dark POOP PATROL blue hoodie, dark blue jeans and brown On Dec. 2, Blaine Police were dispatched WORDS boots, came in to the restaurant just af- to the harbor marina to check on a por- 46 42 ter opening. The man implied that he had ta-potty that had been pushed into the 10

Percent of Americans who worry about Percent of Americans who are concerned 10 a gun and made his way to the back of water. Northwest Fisheries agents and not having enough money to pay for with being denied health insurance for the restaurant. The man took cash from police arrived and attempted to remove health care. a preexisting condition or otherwise the tills before fleeing on foot. Deputies it from the water, with negative results, having to go without health insurance. CURRENTS CURRENTS CURRENTS from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, police reported. “Sanitary Services was along with Washington State Patrol troop- called to collect their toilet.” 6 ers, assisted with a Ferndale Police K-9 track, however the thief was not located. On Dec. 7, Bellingham Police cited a man 70 VIEWS for defecating near the Parkade. Percent of Americans living in households earning less than $30,000 annually who say 4 UNCLEAR ON THE DIRECTIVE paying higher premiums is a major concern. On Dec. 5, police impounded a vehicle BORDER DISORDERS MAIL that was parked in the lane of travel On Dec. 2, Blaine Police were dispatched 2 against signs that cautioned “No Parking to the Peace Arch port of entry in re- on Pavement,” causing a traffic hazard sponse to an individual attempting to 21 DO IT near Bellingham Technical College. enter the United States from British Co- Percent increase in lowest-cost Bronze health care plans in the Seattle metro area in lumbia who was found to be in posses- 2019, primarily as a result of Trump administration policy changes to the Affordable Care TRIED AND TRUANT sion of LSD. An officer arrived and spoke Act. The lowest-cost Gold health care plan in the same market increased by 7 percent in On Nov. 28, Blaine Police tried without with the individual. The individual was the same period. 12.12.18 success to mediate an uncooperative dis- arrested, cited and released with a man- .13

pute at the Blaine Primary School. datory court date. 50 8.8 # On Nov. 28, Blaine Police checked on a On Nov. 30, a Blaine business called po- reported dispute near the high school lice on behalf of a man without a phone. Percent of Americans who remain uninsured, 20.1 million people fewer than in 2010. Open enrollment ends Dec. 15. football stadium. A woman was heard to An officer contacted the man who said yell, “I'm going to call the cops! Leave me that he was homeless and needed to alone!” “Officers arrived and discovered contact International Police, Border Pa- the altercation was only verbal in nature,” trol, FBI or even lawyers to assist him 17.9 CASCADIA WEEKLY police explained. “They were arguing over for crimes against him in this country. Percent of national health care spending as a share of GDP, a number that declined 11 missing a job interview and money.” “Officers attempted to talk to the man in 2017 for the first time in several decades. Increase in health care costs have to help him with any assistance in Blaine been negligible since 2009. Per capita spending on health care increased only 1.1 On Dec. 2, Blaine Police contacted a ju- and even offered a ride to Bellingham percent in 2015. venile on the campus of the Blaine school shelter; however, he declined any help,” campus and found he had an active tres- police reported. SOURCES: Gallup Poll; Natonal Center for Health Statistics; Kaiser Family Foundation doit WORDS

WED., DEC. 12 HOLIDAY MIXER: Whatcom Writers and 30 Publishers invites all writers to its annual All

FOOD Clubs Holiday Mixer from 6-8:30pm at Nicki’s Bella Marina, 2615 S. Harbor Loop Dr. Share words your 2018 successes with all of the writing COMMUNITY LECTURES BOOKS groups in Whatcom County, play games and 25 win door prizes. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Nicki’s menu. Please

B-BOARD RSVP on the website to guarantee a seat. WWW.WHATCOMWRITERSANDPUBLISHERS.ORG the downtown main street with its air

22 of defeat. THE GIVING TREE: Through Dec. 31, take Virgil is looking at people in a new way, part in the annual “Giving Tree” at Village

FILM too. He meets a mysterious older man fly- Books, 1200 11th St. Choose an angel orna- ing kites by the waterfront and, after dis- ment from the tree in the store and purchase a book for a recipient. You will be offered

18 covering that Rune has nowhere to stay, a 20 percent discount for your Angel book offers him his spare room. Ann, Virgil’s purchase, which will be distributed to kids,

MUSIC irritating colleague at his day job at the through community organizations, in the Greenstone City Hall, no longer bothers weeks before Christmas. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM 16 him. He talks her into going with him to

ART ask the town’s infamous millionaire, Adam THURS., DEC. 13 Leer, to participate in an ill-conceived civ- BEST BAD THINGS: Katrina Carrasco reads from The Best Bad Things, at 7pm at Village

15 ic event. Where Virgil would have once felt cowed and deferential, he now notes Leer’s Books, 1200 11th St. A propulsive, sensual tour de force, the book introduces a bold

STAGE menacing charisma. new voice in crime fiction. Virgil’s days, once qui- WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM et and mundane, start to 14 build in intensity. The LITERACY LOVE: The Whatcom Literacy new Virgil speaks plainly Council is currently recruiting volunteers to

GET OUT to his longtime crush, work two to four hours a week with adults who have asked for help to improve their only to find his feelings English, reading, writing, math and computer

12 are reciprocated. He skills. Training and ongoing support from 12 GET IT takes steps to repatri- professional staff will be provided. HOW: Enjoy the ate the contraband reels WWW.WHATCOMLITERACY.ORG WORDS WORDS book, eBook of classic films that had FRI., DEC. 14 or Large Print been hidden in a closet 10 versions of EAGER BEAVER: Award-winning environmen- Virgil Wander, at the Empress. He tal journalist Ben Goldfarb shares ideas from available at your keeps a watchful, caring Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and LEIF ENGER library at www. Why They Matter at 7pm at Village Books, 1200

CURRENTS eye out for a 10-year-old wcls.org. If boy who’s bent on catch- 11th St. The book reveals that our modern idea

6 of what a healthy landscape looks like and you live within ing the massive sturgeon Bellingham city how it functions is wrong, distorted by the fur he believes is responsi- trade that once trapped out millions of beavers VIEWS REVIEWED BY CHRISTINE PERKINS limits, go to www.bellingham ble for his father’s death. from North America’s lakes and rivers. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—in- 4 publiclibrary.org And he works to pull together Greenstone’s Hard cluding scientists, ranchers and passionate

MAIL citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with Luck Days, wondering if in fact the town’s Virgil Wander beavers are far healthier, for humans and non-

2 luck (and his) is turning. humans alike, than those without them. AN ANTIDOTE TO WHAT AILS US Despite the quirky characters and fan- WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM

DO IT tastic situations, Enger keeps the plot line first book in a decade (So Brave, Young, and believable. Virgil comes across as some- DEC. 14-15 LEIF ENGER’S STORIES WITH THE GRINCH: Kids can see Handsome was published in 2008) is a gentle, charming antidote one straight out of the Prairie Home Com- the Green One himself at “Story Time with the to all that ails us as a society these days. panion—honest, moderate, modest. His Grinch” events at 4pm Friday, and 2pm Satur- 12.12.18 The title character, Virgil Wander, is the unassuming sole pro- friendships are real, his decency is admi- day at Village Books, 1200 11th St. In addition prietor of a rundown independent movie theater in a struggling rable, and his book—this book—is intel- to reading Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic, How the .13 Grinch Stole Christmas, he’ll stick around for

50 Minnesota town. Virgil’s on autopilot, lonely and at an impasse ligent, amusing and well worth the several

# fun photo opportunities—just in time for your in his life, when a slick road in a sudden snowstorm lands him 40 delightful hours it takes to read it. Christmas cards. Entry is free. feet below the surface of Lake Superior. If you’ve never read Enger’s debut novel, WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM Rescued by a local junkman and diagnosed with mild traumatic Peace Like a River, now’s your chance. It’s brain injury, Virgil suffers from terrible headaches, a loss of balance the tale of an 11-year-old, cowboy-ob- MON., DEC. 17 and a noticeable lack of adjectives. His Finnish neurologist assures sessed boy named Reuben Land who goes POETRYNIGHT: Those looking to share their creative verse as part of the weekly him his language will return in time, but it’s clear to Virgil that something essential about on a cross-country journey to find his older Poetrynight can sign up starting at 6:30pm CASCADIA WEEKLY him has changed, even if he can’t articulate it. brother—who’s trying to outrun a murder at the Alternative Library, 519 E. Maple St. At first Virgil’s friends, like Beeman, who publishes the weekly newspaper, don’t no- charge. The beautiful language, the time Readings begin at 7pm. Entry to the all-ages 12 tice Virgil’s transformation. Beeman drops Virgil off at his home above the Empress period, and the unforgettable characters event is by donation. Theater where he’s lived for the past 20 years, unaware that to Virgil, the apartment will remind you of To Kill a Mockingbird. WWW.BLOG.POETRYNIGHT.ORG seems to belong to a stranger. TUES., DEC. 18 Virgil sees the whole town of Greenstone with new eyes: the litter-strewn parking Christine Perkins is the executive director BELLINGHAM READS: New members are lot of the Voyageur Motel, the decrepit taconite factory now overgrown by saplings, of the Whatcom County Library System. doit

30 FOOD

Award-winning 25 environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb shares ideas

from Eager: The Surprising, B-BOARD Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter Fri., Dec. 14 at Village Books. 22

DECEMBER 17 FILM

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 18 welcome at a “Bellingham Reads” book discussion teers will make sure the items get to local people RWWU focusing on Zarqa Nawaz’s Laughing All the Way who need them. MUSIC to the Mosque” from 6:30-7:30pm at the Dodson WWW.UPPERSKAGIT.LIB.WA.US room at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 16 Central Ave. (The group typically meets on the BELLINGHAM AT HOME: Learn how to help TICKETS.COM fourth Tuesday of the month, but is meeting early build a vital community with older friends and ART due to the Christmas holiday.) neighbors who want to live independently in their (360) 592-2422 homes as they age at an informal holiday party 15 hosted by Bellingham at Home from 1-3pm at the BOOKS ON TAP: Deming Library staff Erin Suda Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. and Katrina Carabba will helm a monthly “Books Bring a friend or a relative and learn more about STAGE on Tap” discussion from 7-8:30pm at the North Bellingham’s own “virtual village.” Fork Brewery, 6186 Mt. Baker Hwy. The tome to WWW.BELLINGHAMATHOME.ORG 14 read for December is Swing Time by Zadie Smith. (360) 592-2422 THURS., DEC. 13 ASTRONOMY MEETING: The Whatcom Association GET OUT BELLINGHAM MYSTERIANS: Adults who are fans of Celestial Observers will meet from 7-9pm at Fern- of the mystery genre in all its subcategories and dale’s Whatcom Educational Credit Union, 5696 Bar-

micro-niches are welcome to attend a “Bellingham rett Rd. (use I-5 exit 262). Local astronomy events 12 12 Mysterians” meeting from 4-5pm at Village Books, will be discussed in addition to the Cassini mission 1200 11th St. Maurizio De Giovanni’s Glass Souls: to Saturn. Entry is free and open to the public. WORDS A Commissario Ricciardi Mystery will be tonight’s WWW.WHATCOMASTRONOMY.COM WORDS topic of discussion.

WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM HISTORY HOLIDAY: Join Whatcom County 10 Historical Society for its annual History Holiday WED., DEC. 19 Open Mic from 7:30-9pm at Whatcom Museum’s Old LYNDEN FRONT STREETERS: Village Books staff City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Presentations can be members Cherie and Hannah will lead a meeting about local history research, interesting artifacts, CURRENTS

of the Lynden Front Streeters at 2pm at the and more. Members and friends are welcome to 6 Waples Room at the Inn in Lynden, 100 Fifth St. join the event, which will include a brief annual (adjacent to the bookstore). Sy Montgomery’s business meeting. Holiday refreshments will be VIEWS and Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’ book Tamed and served. Suggested donation is $5. Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind will WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG 4 be the topic of discussion. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM SAT., DEC. 15 MAIL FAIRHAVEN WINTERFEST: Take part in the an-

Sign up to read your poetry and prose nual Fairhaven Winterfest from 12-3pm Saturdays + OPEN MIC: 99% FOSSIL FUEL-FREE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 2 or play music—or simply listen in—at a Creekside through Dec. 22 in the historic district. Horse- Open Mic starting at 6:30pm at Sudden Valley’s drawn carriage rides, photo opportunities with DO IT South Whatcom Library, 10 Barn View Court, Gate Father Christmas at the Fairhaven Village Inn, a 2. Entry to the monthly event is free. “Signs of the Season” treasure hunt and more will WWW.WCLS.ORG be part of the festivities. WWW.FAIRHAVENWINTERFEST.COM HISTORIES & MYSTERIES: “Holmes for the 12.12.18 Holidays” will be the focus of Histories & FIREHOUSE HOLIDAY: Attend a Firehouse

Mysteries Book Club gathering from 6:30-8pm at Holiday Party from 5-9:30pm at the Firehouse Arts .13 the Everson Library, 104 Kirsch Dr. In addition to and Events Center, 1314 Harris Ave. Attendees will 50 # celebrating favorite Baker Street tales, attend- be warmed by a Yule log, enjoy a potluck dinner ees can enjoy games, book and film recommen- (bring something to share) and end the evening by BellinghamFinancialPlanners.com dations, yummy treats and a hot cuppa as they viewing a holiday movie on the big screen. COLSON FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR revel in “all things Sherlockian.” WWW.FIREHOUSEPERFORMINGARTSCENTER.COM Fee-Only Financial Planning | Fee-Based Investment Management (360) 966-5100 DEC. 15-16 SLEIGHBELLS RING: Attend “Sleighbells Ring” COMMUNITY from 12-5pm Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23 CASCADIA WEEKLY at BelleWood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian. Fresh-cut WED., DEC. 12 trees and wreaths, ornament and cookie crafting, Ronald Scott Colson 13 WINTER WEAR DRIVE: Through December, bonfires, distillery and cafe tastings, live music, ® (Office) 0.986.9977 donate new, unused cold weather wear as part of caroling, horse-drawn trolley rides, visits with Santa CFP , MBA, President a “Winter Wear Drive” taking place in Concrete at and more will be part of the festive fun. 4740 Austin Court the Upper Skagit Library, 45770 B Main St. Volun- WWW.BELLEWOODFARMS.COM ellingham WA 98229-2659 doit

WED., DEC. 12 Santa is by nonperishable food AVALANCHE AWARENESS: North- item donations to the Salvation

west Avalanche Center will focus Army Food Bank). 30 on “Avalanche Awareness” at a WWW.JINGLEBELLDASH free presentation starting at 6pm ANACORTES.NET FOOD at REI, 400 36th St. This session introduces and explains where and SUN., DEC. 16 outside why avalanches occur and provides RABBIT RIDE: Join members of the

25 HIKING RUNNING GARDENING a basic approach to managing risk Mount Baker Bicycle Club for a “Rab- in the backcountry. Please register bit Ride” starting at 8:30am every in advance. Sunday at Fairhaven Bicycle, 1108 B-BOARD 647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM 11th St. The 32-mile route takes riders down Chuckanut and back via FOREST HEALTH: Learn what Lake Samish. The group also holds 22 makes forests healthy or unhealthy weekly rides Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and how to recognize when there’s Thursdays and Saturdays. FILM a problem on your property at a WWW.MTBAKERBIKECLUB.ORG “Forest Health” presentation by

18 Washington State University (WSU) WNPS FIELD TRIP: Join members Extension Forestry from 6-8pm at of the Washington Native Plant

MUSIC the Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Society for a “Winter Tree Ecology Snoqualmie St. Entry is free. and Evergreen Ethnobotany” field (425) 357-6023 trip from 10am-3pm, starting at 16 the Stimpson Family Nature Re-

ART GROUP RUN: All levels of experi- serve trailhead on LakeLouise Rd. ence are welcome at a weekly Jazmen Yoder and Jim Davis will Group Run beginning at 6pm in walk attendees through the pre- 15 Mount Vernon at the Skagit Run- serve identifying coniferous trees ning Company, 702 First St. The and other plants, and discussing

STAGE 3- to 6-mile run is great for begin- traditional uses of bark, roots and ners or for others wanting an easy leaves for things such as medicine, recovery. Entry is free. food and fiber for shelter, weav- 14 14 WWW.SKAGITRUNNERS.ORG ing, art and more. Entry is free. Wear appropriate clothing for the THURS., DEC. 13 December weather. GET OUT GET OUT BIRDING ADVENTURES: Skagit WWW.WNPSKOMA.ORG Guided Adventures hosts “Birding THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS for Kids” and “Birding for Seniors”

12 TUES., DEC. 18 excursions from 9am-12pm and WOMEN’S SNOWSHOEING: Find 1-4pm on a daily basis through out more about gear and where to

WORDS March. Prices vary; binoculars will go to get started at a “Women’s as the largest holiday light display in the BY AMY KEPFERLE be provided. Snowshoeing Basics” presentation Pacific Northwest, the seasonal soiree WWW.SKAGITGUIDED at 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. Regis- 10 spreads over 15 acres and utilizes more ADVENTURES.COM ter in advance for the free event. than one million lights every Decem- 647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM GIFTS FROM GARDENS: A panel of

CURRENTS ber—enough to stretch from the starting Illumination Whatcom County Master Gardeners ALL-PACES RUN: Staff and volun- point in Stanwood to Qwest Field stadium will share how they use their per- teers are always on hand to guide 6 GO TOWARD THE LIGHT in Seattle. Started more than 20 years sonal gardens to make unique and the way at the weekly All-Paces ago to bring visitors to the camp dur- attractive gifts for family, friends Run starting at 6pm every Tuesday VIEWS AS THE daylight hours continue to shrink to the point where ing the slow season, the event has taken and the holidays at a “Gifts from at Fairhaven Runners, 1209 11th Our Gardens” presentation from St. The runs are 20 minutes out 4 confused humans are wondering why they feel the urge to begin on a life of its own and is now a year- 12-1:30pm at the Co-op’s Healthy and back on two key routes—by cocktail hour by early afternoon and head to bed by 8pm, it’s long project that requires as many as 145 Connections Room, 4015 E. Holly the water or through the woods. MAIL important to remember that winter solstice is just around the volunteers to help staff the camp each St. Entry is free; bring lunch if you Entry is free. Tonight’s event will

want to. also feature demos by Topo Shoes;

2 corner, and we’ll soon be on the other side of the equatorial night (that’s in addition to the full-time equation. In the meantime, it’s still possible to find additional staff members). And as well as the light (360) 739-9566 get fitted between 5:40-5:55pm. WWW.FAIRHAVENRUNNERS.COM DO IT light sources even when the nights are (so, so) long. displays that that they begin hanging in FRI., DEC. 14 For example, the fourth annual Bowman Bay Holiday taking early September, the event also draws WILD THINGS: Kids, adults and WED., DEC. 19 place Sat., Dec. 15 at Deception Pass State Park will add illumi- crowds to listen to live music, shop, eat, adventurers can join Holly Roger of HIKING AND BEER: Authors nation to the dark of December. Attendees at the family-friendly watch plays and do crafts. Last year’s Wild Whatcom for a “Wild Things” Brandon Fralic and Rachel Wood 12.12.18 event can see park cabins lit up, sip hot chocolate, take pictures “Lights of Christmas”—its most popular Community Program from 9:30- will sign copies of Beer Hiking with Santa, listen to carolers, write letters to service men and ever—drew nearly 80,000 visitors, so you 11am every Friday in December at Pacific Northwest and talk more .13 the Connelly Creek Nature Area. about their passion for local trails,

50 women, drop off gifts for Toys for Tots, and warm up by the should probably consider ordering tickets Please bring a simple, healthy breweries and beer from 5-7pm at # fire. There will be a $5 suggested donation per car; funds raised in advance. When: Dec. 13-16, 19-23, and snack to share, and dress for the Growlers Keep, 436 W. Bakerview during the event will support and promote the Deception Pass 26-29. Info: www.thelightsofchristmas.com weather. Suggested donation is $5 Rd. The venue will also be of- Park Foundation’s mission of resource protection through educa- By the time the solstice edition of the per person. fering 10 percent off your entire tion. “Although a fundraiser, the Foundation’s main goals are to Commercial Street Holiday Night Market WWW.WILDWHATCOM.ORG in-store purchase (book excluded) during the event. connect with visitors in a fun and festive way during the off- debuts an “absolutely epic” light tunnel in SAT., DEC. 15 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS season, and build stronger relationships with the community,” downtown Bellingham, you’ll be a lot closer JINGLE BELL DASH: Help raise

CASCADIA WEEKLY organizers say. Show up early and explore Bowman Bay’s trails, to the Christmas countdown—and to lon- money for AAUW STEM programs for GROUP RUN: All levels of experi- which are known to be among the most scenic in the entire park. ger days. Firepits, food trucks, artisan ven- girls in the community by taking ence are welcome at a weekly 14 And, since all activities will take place outside, remember to dors, entertainment, sweet treats, caroling part in today’s “Jingle Bell Dash” Group Run beginning at 6pm in 5K Run/Walk starting at 10am in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Run- bring a flashlight and wear warm clothes and rain boots. When: and visits by reindeers Prancer and Dancer Anacortes at Seafarers Memorial ning Company, 702 First St. Entry 4-8pm Sat., Dec. 15. Info: www.deceptionpassfoundation.org will round out the night, welcoming winter Park, 601 Seafarers Way. Entry is is free. You’ll also want to bundle up for the Lights of Christmas tak- with open arms. When: 6-10pm Fri., Dec. 21. $20-$30 (entry for a Kids Dash to WWW.SKAGITRUNNERS.ORG ing place weekends through Dec. 29 at Warm Beach Camp. Known Info: www.downtownbellingham.com doit STAGE SAT., DEC. 15 WALTON MAGIC: John Walton

WED., DEC. 12 presents his annual “Mostly Magic” O CHRISTMAS TEA: Award-win- show at all-ages performances at 30 ning comedians James and Jamesy 11am and 2:30pm at the Mount FOOD return to Bellingham with their Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre, 104 stage outrageously funny and brilliantly N. Commercial St. Tickets are $7. inventive Christmas comedy, “O At 7:30pm, Walton will be joined

THEATER DANCE PROFILES 25 Christmas Tea,” at 7:30pm at the by Kerry Pollick for a “Mostly Magic Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Com- Comedy Cabaret.” Tickets for the mercial St. Tickets are $30-$40. later show are $29.50. B-BOARD 734-6080 OR 734-6080 OR shows taking place Dec. 20-23, when WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM

“The Naughty List: A Holiday Cabaret” 22 fills the Firefly with the kind of season- THURS., DEC. 13 VAUDEVILLINGHAM: Attend the GOOD, BAD, UGLY: Watch “The Bellingham Circus Guild’s monthly al spirit that likely can’t be found at a FILM Good, the Bad and the Ugly” at uncensored variety show, “Vaudevil- showing of The Nutcracker. 7:30pm every Thursday at the lingham,” at 7pm and 9pm perfor-

“It’s a lighthearted, sexy romp through Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. mances at the Cirque Lab, 1401 6th 18 your favorite holiday stories and sprites,” At 9:30pm, stick around for “The St., suite #102. Suggested donation Project.” Entry is $5-$8. is $5-$10. Charlie says. “There will be shiny orna- MUSIC ments, misbehaving elves, and a very WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM WWW.BELLINGHAMCIRCUSGUILD.COM

naughty Sugar Plum Fairy. As the emcee, DEC. 13-15 WED., DEC. 19 16 I will be playing Santa Claus—though

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: iDiOM INTRO TO IMPROV: Attend a ART perhaps not how the stories have de- Theater revives Charles Dickens’ A free “Learn to Think on Your Feet” scribed him.” Christmas Carol at 7:30pm Thursday improv class from 7-9pm at Improv 15 15 She also points out that they’re upping through Saturday in the Lucas Hicks Playworks, 1011 Girard St. Please Theater at Sylvia Center for the Arts, register in advance. STAGE the entertainment ante by bringing food 205 Prospect St. The three-actor (360) 756-0756 STAGE into the mix. Two early interpretation of the holiday classic table service shows will attempt to make peace with 14 will include a delec- Christmas, Dickens, the British DANCE table dinner menu, and empire, ham and the world at large. Tickets are $15-$20. Additional per- GET OUT the three 9pm theater- formances happen Dec. 20-22. DEC. 14-15 seating productions will WWW.SYLVIACENTER SAVING CHRISTMAS TOWN: Brush feature holiday-themed FORTHEARTS.ORG off your jingle bells when the Dance 12 desserts and fare by lo- Studio presents Saving Christmas cal confectioners. ANNIE: The Theater Arts Guild Town at 7pm Friday, and 2pm and ATTEND concludes its production of Annie 7pm Saturday at the Mount Baker WORDS WHAT: The When asked what this weekend with shows at 7:30pm Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. Naughty List she can check off on Thursday through Saturday in Mount Tickets are $16. 10 WHERE: Firefly her own “naughty” Vernon at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM Lounge, 1015 N. list during this hectic First St. Tickets are $20-$25. State St. time of year, Charlie WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG DEC. 14-16 WHEN: 9pm NBT’S NUTCRACKER: Secure CURRENTS Thurs.-Sat., Dec. says Santa’s probably DEC. 13-16 tickets to the Northwest Ballet 6 20-22; 6pm Dec. got her name down for NOEL NOIR: A classic Christmas Theater’s 20th annual production 21-22 “corrupting otherwise story meets film noir when the world of The Nutcracker at 7:30pm Friday, COST: Early innocent comic book premiere of the fast-paced comedy and 2pm Saturday and Sunday in VIEWS shows are Noel Noir continues this weekend Mount Vernon at McIntyre Hall,

characters. As for being 4 $40 (includes with shows at 7:30pm Thursday 2501 E. College Way. Come marvel dinner); late nice, I’m participating through Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at this perennial classic and family MAIL shows are $20 in Buy Local Belling- at the Anacortes Community Theatre, favorite as artistic director John ROREY SAVATGY PHOTOGRAPHY ROREY SAVATGY

INFO: www.the ham and only purchas- 918 M Ave. Tickets are $20. Bishop works his magic again for 2 fireflylounge.com ing gifts that have been WWW.ACTTHEATRE.COM this special anniversary production. Tickets are $15-$40. BY AMY KEPFERLE produced in town in order to stimulate our DO IT DEC. 14-15 WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG local economy. (Eat it, Santa.)” GHOSTS, LOL: Audiences can help With a new year on the horizon, Charlie move the story forward when “My SAT., DEC. 15 says that in addition to continuing their 3 Ghosts” continues with 7:30pm A HOLIDAY WISH: Day-to-Day Naughty List monthly variety shows, Frisky Fandoms shows Friday and Saturday at the Dance presents “A Holiday Wish for 12.12.18 will be producing several more events Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At Paco” at 7pm at the Blaine Perform- A HOLIDAY CABARET 9:30pm, stick around for “LOL- ing Arts Center, 975 H St. Tickets .13

around town on a variety of themes. Au- apalooza.” Tickets are $10-$12. are $10 (free for children under 5). 50 # WHEN WE first caught up with Frisky Fandoms last summer, diences can look forward to going back WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM WWW.DAYTODAYDANCE.COM the burgeoning burlesque troupe had already focused their tal- in time to turn-of-the-century Paris, see ents on iconic movies and television shows such as Star Wars what sustainability looks like when it’s DEC. 14-16 THURS., DEC. 20 and Game of Thrones—and were about to debut the racy things sexy, and disappear down the rabbit hole A CHARLIE BROWN X-MAS: Spend THE NUTCRACKER: Ballet time with the Peanuts crew on their Bellingham performs its annual they’d done to Harry Potter. of reality television. journey to learn the true meaning rendition of The Nutcracker at 7pm Since then, founder Charlie Fun-Facts says, audiences have re- Before then, though, make sure and of the season when performers at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. sponded to the ensemble’s tagline of “nerds, sex and mayhem” by add “The Naughty List” to your holi- ages 9-12 present performances of Commercial St. Choreographed by CASCADIA WEEKLY helping Frisky Fandoms sell out shows at the Firefly Lounge on a day happenings. Doing so may not earn A Charlie Brown Christmas at 7pm Artistic Director Jessica Crook, with regular basis. The troupe has also performed in Seattle, organized you extra points with Santa, but it may Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday, and gorgeous costumes and beautiful 15 2pm Sunday at Bellingham Arts dancing. this is a production sure benefits for nonprofits such as PFLAG and KMRE, and kept so busy change your outlook on Christmas. Academy for Youth, 1059 N. State to bring out the child in everyone. they’ve had to bring in several new members to keep up with the “If you haven’t got a lump of coal in your St. Tickets are $10. Tickets are $10-$20. current shows and prepare for opportunities on the horizon. stocking after seeing this show,” Charlie WWW.BAAY.ORG WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM The expanded lineup will come in handy during the five says, “then we haven’t done our job.” doit UPCOMING EVENTS

DEC. 12-16

30 DECK THE HALL: Get in the holiday spirit when the annual “Deck the Old City Hall”

FOOD continues this week from 12-5pm Wednesday through Sunday at Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. The decorated

25 visual GALLERIES OPENINGS PROFILES trees and seasonal splendor will be on display Wednesdays through Sundays through Dec. 30. Entry is by donation.

B-BOARD WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG DEC. 12-19

22 Karakami paper combine elements of 3D FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS: More than 100 with painting (he makes his own decora- local artists and craftspeople will show and

FILM tive frames). Inspired by Japanese and sell their creative wares as part of Allied Arts’ Northwest indigenous artistic traditions, 39th annual “Holiday Festival of the Arts” from 10am-7pm daily through Christmas Eve

18 Giovane records the capture of a duck at the former Bellingham Public Market, 1530 by an eagle. In his hands, “Pine Needles Cornwall Ave. Live music, artist demos and

MUSIC Softly Falling” becomes a dramatic event. workshops and family art projects will also be The iconoclastic Jack Gunter never part of the festive fun. Entry is free. WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG 16 16 passes up a chance to create a visual co- ART ART nundrum. How could you not take home DEC. 13-15 all four of his “Migration,” series, as the HOLIDAY BAZAAR: A variety of vendors

15 cartoon sheep and cattle shift from one will show and sell handmade decorations bank of the stream to the other, or into and gifts at a Valley Crafters Holiday Bazaar happening from 10am-4pm Thursday STAGE branches of a tree? Even at this small works scale, Ann through Saturday at Deming Presbyterian Church, 5075 Karen St. The event concludes Martin McCool’s “Autumn Lantern” and 14 Dec. 20-22. “Autumn Moon” carry us to a place of (360) 961-2942 OR (360) 319-3233 Spirit.

GET OUT DEC. 14-15 “RETRO,” BY JANE MAYER MAYER JANE BY “RETRO,” Shifting to the magical are Judith Heim and CIDER AND ART: Painter Ben Man will host “Hot Cider & Cool Art” from 10am-4pm

12 Janie Olsen. Wonderful- every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 22 ly bright and cheerful, at his third-floor studio space at the Morgan Heim rings the changes Block Studios, 1000 Harris Ave. Calendars, WORDS on a bright palette of prints, greeting cards, original paintings, strong red, gold, blue children’s books and more can be perused 10 and purchased. and green against pas- SEE WWW.BEN-MANN.COM WHAT: “Honey, tel negative space in

CURRENTS I Shrunk the “She Wears Her Crown DEC. 14-16 Art!” Sideways” and “Becom- PACIFIC ARTS MARKET: Several dozen 6 WHERE: Matzke ing a Mermaid.” local artists and crafters will show and sell a variety of work—including jewelry, fine art, JANIE OLSEN JANIE NOONAN BARBARA LIANA BENNETT Fine Art Gallery Janie Olsen is back VIEWS and Sculpture photography, textiles, clothing, bath and Park, 2345 with “When the Moon is body, specialty foods, home decor, paper

4 Blanche Way, a Dandelion a Comet is crafts and much more—at the 22nd annual BY STEPHEN HUNTER Camano Island a Brussel Sprout.” Nine Pacific Arts Market taking place from 10am- MAIL WHEN: 11am- of her paintings fea- 6pm Friday through Sunday at Sunset Square, 5pm, Saturdays 1125 E. Sunset Dr., suite 115 (between

2 ture hummingbirds and and Sundays Joanne Fabrics and El Gitano). The seasonal three, rabbits. Small Works through Jan. 13 market takes place again Dec. 21-23, and DO IT INFO: Rob Sylvester’s images, includes live music and artist demos. ENCHANTMENT ON CAMANO www.matzke which were painted with WWW.PACIFICARTSMARKET.COM fineart.com a tiny palette knife at SAT., DEC. 15 KARLA MATZKE’S 28th annual small works show at Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Artist Point, warms the hearts of all us COAST SALISH WINTER FEST: Find unique 12.12.18 Sculpture Park, “Honey, I Shrunk the Art,” arrives just in time for Christmas giving. who have admired these same vistas of Mt. handcrafted gifts created and sold by Lummi In the 10-acre sculpture garden visitors will find new pieces by Tracy Powell, Kevin Baker and Mt. Shuksan. Nation community members at the eighth .13 annual Coast Salish Winter Festival happen- 50 Pettelle, and Aaron Haba. Also here is the rigorous geometry of Richard Nash and the Kathleen Secrest finds the lines and # realism of Sabah Al-Dhaher, whose “lifelong fascination with the human form in figura- shapes for her abstract pastels and her ing from 9am-5pm at Ferndale’s Lummi Gate- way Center, 4920 Rural Ave. The seasonal art tive art” has been so beautifully productive. oil compositions in the natural environ- show takes place again Dec. 22. In the gallery you’ll find small sculptures and paintings by 39 artists. Inside, Al- ment—the “crisscross of branches, the WWW.LUMMIGATEWAYCENTER.COM Dhaher offers a seductive, cast-glass “Autumn Eve” and several luminous busts, while curl of a dead leaf, the lines in a spider’s Nash’s geometry now translates to 2D acrylic, “Catenary Shapes”—subtle geometric web…nests, feathers, stones and bones.” HOLIDAY CRAFT BAZAAR: Buy or sell conceptions with mysterious shading. Her lovely abstractions marry free line to homemade crafts and treats made by kids and teens at a Deming Holiday Craft Bazaar CASCADIA WEEKLY Several works in granite, serpentine and basalt are by Kentaro Kojima of Seattle, who vivid washes of pure color. happening from 11am-1pm at the Deming teaches stone working at Matzke’s summer seminars. Kojima is also responsible for intro- The subjects Jane Mayer chooses for Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy. Everything will 16 ducing the work of Japanese master Kazutaka Uchida (himself a student of Isamu Noguchi). her oils and pastels range from pets and be priced $5 or less. Whimsical ceramics by Deb McCunn continue the sculptural theme. Ruth Hesse’s vegetables to wildly twisting abstractions, (360) 592-2422 “Poochy Polkadot” is delightful while her “Fantasia Lidded Jar” tips back on one tiny but her realist “Retro” channels an Edward COMET SENSE: Artist and author Trish foot to scoff at the whole proceeding. Hopper sensibility. And surprise, it’s now Harding will be presenting and reading from Gary Giovane’s bright compositions in acrylic on wood and on Japanese handmade in Karla Matzke’s kitchen! doit her new illustrated picture book, Comet Sense, from Jan. 6 in La Conner at the Museum of Northwest 2-4pm at Studio UFO, 301 W. Holly St. She’ll also be Art, 121 First St.

answering questions about the book, which is about WWW.MONAMUSEUM.ORG

the “people who always look down and the people 30 who always look up...until an event causes them PEACEHEALTH: As part of a “Healing Through Art”

to see from the other’s perspective.” The original series, view “Confluence: A Joint Collaboration” FOOD drawings will be on display and the book will be through Jan. 2 in the main entry of the PeaceHealth available for sale and signing. St. Joseph Medical Center and near Grounds and

WWW.STUDIO-UFO.NET Grains Cafe in the east tower. The exhibit feature 25 works by Diane Culhane and Fred Lisaius. ARTS AND ALES: Enjoy a beer while you do some (360) 788-6866

holiday shopping at an “Arts and Ales” Holiday B-BOARD Market taking place from 2-8pm at the Aslan Depot, PERRY AND CARLSON: Peruse Christian Carlson’s 1322 N. State St. Local vendors including jewelers, “Mirror Play” paintings through December in Mount potters, artists and other crafty holiday gift-makers Vernon at Perry and Carlson Gallery, 504 S. First St. 22 will be showing and selling their wares, and the Works purchased this month may be taken home event will also feature live music, Ovn Wood-Fired immediately. FILM Pizza, and a wreath-making workshop. WWW.PERRYANDCARLSON.COM FROMALL OF WWW.ASLANBREWING.COM QUILT MUSEUM: “Contemporaneo-Contemporary US AT RUMORS & 18 Artist and author Trish Harding will share her MON., DEC. 17 Quilts from Brazil,” an “Art Quilt Exhibit” from new illustrated picture book, Comet Sense, Sat., ANYTHING GOES: Bring your own project to work the Contemporary QuiltArt Association, and MUSIC Dec. 15 at Studio UFO. on—and maybe teach others your skill—or work “Victorian Christmas” are currently on display at on a craft selected by library staff at an “Anything La Conner’s Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, 16 16 Goes Arts and Crafts” gathering from 10:30- GALLERY PEGASUS: “New Whatcom 2018” can be 703 S. Second St. ART 11:30am at the Sumas Library, 461 2nd St. This seen through Dec. 28 at Gallery Pegasus, 301 W. Holly WWW.QFAMUSEUM.ORG ART month, necessary materials will also be provided to St. The group exhibition features works by recently make potpourri bags. Entry is free. graduated students from the university and com- A variety of textile-related work- RAGFINERY: 15 (360) 988-2501 munity colleges in the area, and is intended to be a shops happen on a regular basis at Ragfinery, 1421 platform for emerging creatives to display their art. N. Forest St. See more details and register online. STAGE WWW.GALLERYPEGASUS.COM WWW.RAGFINERY.COM ONGOING EXHIBITS

GOOD EARTH: Works by longtime potter Les SCOTT MILO: Acrylics by Jennifer Bowman will 14 ALLIED ARTS: Check out a “Holiday Festival Norton will be featured through December at Good be featured through Jan. 22 at Scott Milo Gallery, of the Arts Showcase” through Dec. 20 at Allied Earth Pottery, 1000 Harris Ave. Meet the artist at a 420 Commercial Ave. Also showing are still-life

Arts, 1418 Cornwall Ave. The exhibit is happening reception from 12-3pm Sat., Dec. 15. photographs by Randy Dana, photo encaustics by GET OUT in conjunction with the festival taking place at WWW.GOODEARTHPOTS.COM Kathy Hastings, nostalgic photos on canvas by 1530 Cornwall Ave., and is a great opportunity to Lewis Jones and brightly colored oil pastels by

see larger original and showpiece works by some HADRIAN GALLERY: More than 20 artists will Brett Varney. 12 of the vendors. showcase a variety of media including ceramics, WWW.SCOTTMILO.COM WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG photography, paintings and jewelry at a December WORDS Art Fest through the month at Hadrian Art Gallery, SKAGIT MUSEUM: “50 Years of Memories” can be ARTWOOD: Through December, peruse a vast selec- 5717 Gilkey Ave., Bow. seen through March 3 at La Conner’s Skagit County tion of wood gifts for everyone—including mirrors, (360) 722-9438 Historical Museum, 501 S. 4th St. “Happy Christmas, 10 cutting boards and utensils, small boxes and bowls, Happy New Year!”—featuring a special exhibit of sculpture, ornaments, jewelry, musical instruments HONEY SALON: Aaron Brick’s “Papercuts” exhibit toys and gifts from the 1960s—is also on display. and more—at Artwood Gallery, 1000 Harris Ave. can be viewed at through January at Honey Salon WWW.SKAGITCOUNTY.NET/MUSEUM CURRENTS Wall art includes paintings by Francy Blumhagen and Gallery, 310 W. Holly St. This new collection is EVERY DAY@ RUMORS! and Gary Giovane. made up of cut paper pieces that are based off of SMITH & VALLEE: “Year(s) in Review” can be 6 WWW.ARTWOODGALLERY.COM portraits of women. visited through Dec. 23 at Edison’s Smith & Vallee WWW.HONEYBELLINGHAM.COM Gallery, 5742 Gilkey Ave. The exhibit features dis- VIEWS CASSERA GALLERY: Mixed-media works by Sibling counted works from the archives of the gallery art-

Studio’s Lloyd and Christie Houston can currently I.E. GALLERY: View new paintings by Victor ists, and will be hung salon style, meaning artwork 4 be viewed in La Conner at Cassera Arts Premiers, Sandblom and the sculptures of Vancouver artist my be taken at the time of purchase.

106 1st St. Launi Lucas, alongside a series of paintings by Drie WWW.SMITHANDVALLEEGALLERY.COM MAIL WWW.CASSERAARTSPREMIERS.COM Chapek, through Dec. 30 in Edison at i.e. gallery,

5800 Cains Court. SOCIAL FABRIC: Sign up for a variety of sewing 2 COOPER LANZA: Group classes, private lessons, WWW.IEEDISON.COM and art workshops through December at Social

life drawing, long-pose sessions, exhibits and more Fabric, 1302 Commercial St. DO IT happen on a regular basis at Cooper Lanza Gallery JANSEN ART CENTER: Through March 1, view a WWW.SOCIALFABRICART.COM and School of Fine Art, 1415 13th St. “Winter Juried Exhibit” at Lynden’s Jansen Art Cen- WWW.COOPERLANZAGALLERY.COM ter, 321 Front St. Additional exhibits to check out SWEET ONE STUDIO: View prints by photographer include “The Sound of Moonlight: Paintings by Todd Amy M. Anderson through December at Sweet One 12.12.18 DEMING LIBRARY: View works on paper in oil Horton,” “Romantic Rural: Paintings by Elizabeth Studio, 3201 Northwest Ave. pastel, ink, charcoal, and acrylic paint when Wonnacott,” and Whatcom Art Guild’s “Exploring (360) 920-5243 renowned artist Michael Davenport shows his work Signs and Symbols.” .13 50

through Jan 12 at the Deming Library, 5044 Mt. WWW.JANSENARTCENTER.ORG WHATCOM ART MARKET: Works by more than 45 4 PM - 2 AM! # Baker Hwy. Whatcom Art Guild members can be perused and (360) 592-2422 LUMMI GALLERY: Peruse seasonal exhibits at the purchased from 10am-6pm Wed.-Sun. at the What- Lummi Island Gallery at the Village Point Marina, com Art Market, 1103 11th St. FISHBOY GALLERY: Discover the contemporary 4232 Legoe Bay Rd. WWW.WHATCOMARTMARKET.ORG folk art of RR Clark from 1:30-5pm Fridays or by ap- WWW.LUMMIISLANDGALLERY.COM pointment at the Fishboy Gallery, 617 Virginia St. WHATCOM MUSEUM: “Endangered Species: 319-2913 OR WWW.FISHBOYGALLERY.COM MINDPORT: Kevin G. Jones’ photography exhibit, Artists on the Front Line of Biodiversity,” “The “Otherness,” can be viewed through December at Elephant in the Room: The Allure of Ivory and its CASCADIA WEEKLY FOURTH CORNER: “Rising” shows through Dec. 31 Mindport Exhibits, 210 W. Holly St. Tragic Legacy,” “People of the Sea and Cedar: A 17 at Fourth Corner Frames & Gallery, 311 W. Holly St. WWW.MINDPORT.ORG Journey Through the Tribal Cultures and History 1119 RAILROAD AVE The exhibit features works by 13 women, ranging of the Northwest Coast,” and “John M. Edson Hall from the traditional to the avant-garde, from fiber MONA: “Surge,” an exhibition designed to draw of Birds” can currently be viewed on the Whatcom BELLINGHAM, WA to clay and all mediums in between. attention to climate change and its impact on the Museum campus. WWW.FOURTHCORNERFRAMES.COM Northwest’s coastal communities, shows through WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG @RUMORSCABARETBHAM rumor has it

30 IN BELLINGHAM, IT is fairly common for a weekend night to be packed with enough FOOD live music that hard choices must be made. Such is the case on Sat., Dec. 15. For example, at the Alternative Library, 25 music SHOW PREVIEWS RUMOR HAS IT you’ll find Altai Kai, virtuoso throat sing- ers from Russia. An excerpt from the B-BOARD event info: “Their velvety, low-pitched kargyraa, mesmerizing khoomei, and

22 melodic sygyt place the listener amidst forests of singing birds, gurgling brooks

FILM and the growls of nighttime predators.” I have no idea what that means and can

18 18 barely imagine what it sounds like, but I MUSIC MUSIC do know that Altai Kai once set a Guin-

16 ness Book World

ART Record for longest throat-singing per-

15 formance. For those of you who harbor BY CAREY ROSS

STAGE big dreams of breaking that record, Altai Kai will teach a throat-singing workshop prior to the show. 14 Moving right along, Saturday also marks the return of Red Fang, a Portland band

GET OUT that Bellingham has thoroughly, totally and a little fanatically embraced as its

12 own. Normally, Red Fang plays the Shake- down and their shows sell out so fast I rarely get a chance to write about them. WORDS This time, they’ve landed at the Wild Buffalo, which is a move they probably 10 SPANISH BRASS should’ve made a few shows ago in terms

PHOTO BY ANGEL TEJO MUSIC PICTURES ANGEL TEJO MUSIC BY PHOTO of capacity, although I’ll always relish ev-

CURRENTS ery last unhinged, barely contained moment of their tenure at the Shakedown. If 6 yule sounds like in Spain from a group of ex- you’re wondering whether Red Fang’s de- BY CAREY ROSS emplary musicians and ambassadors, Spanish fection has caused a blood feud between VIEWS Brass, who will play a Thurs., Dec. 13 concert the two venues that will result in a Red

4 at the Mount Baker Theatre. Formed three de- Wedding type of outburst, it’s worth not- cades ago, the award-winning brass ensemble ing that Shakedown owner Hollie Huth-

MAIL Put the Jolly in is renowned as much for their legacy of edu- man’s band Dryland is opening the show,

2 cation and outreach as they are their music. so I’d say all is well and harmony reigns Of the 20-plus albums of classical brass music across the land. Also, I’ve never read or

DO IT Your Holly recorded, at least a couple of them are de- watched Game of Thrones, so it’s possible SOUNDS OF THE SEASON, PT. 2 voted to Christmas songs and pieces—but you I got that reference all wrong. As of press won’t hear “Frosty the Snowman” or “Rudolph time, tickets are still available for Red IT HAS come to my attention that not all of you are as filled with the the Red-Nosed Reindeer” coming from their Fang (I almost typed “Red Wedding,” but 12.12.18 holiday spirit as I am. One of you recently told me that Christmas music accomplished horns. I don’t think that was a ticketed event), is for masochists. You’d rather not haul out the holly, and all you want for The Mount Baker Theatre will also be the however their numbers are dwindling, so .13

50 Christmas is for Santa Claus not to come to town. site of a closer-to-home Christmas event: the put your money where my mouth is. # Well, jingle my bells. Whatcom Symphony Orchestra’s annual Holiday Speaking of the Shakedown, that’s the You might think that what you want is a silent night, but I happen to Magic concert, which takes place Sun., Dec. 16 locale of the night’s other big show, the believe you need a little Christmas. Right this very minute. So, come all at the historic venue. Things to know about English Beat. Despite the fact that I am ye faithful because it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Do you this show: 1. It is hugely popular, so buy your no fan or follower of ska or ska-adjacent hear what I hear? tickets early. 2. This year’s concert will feature music, I have a soft spot for the English I could do this from the first noel through the last Christmas, but I’d rather the esteemed orchestra playing songs from Beat (or the Beat, as they are more com-

CASCADIA WEEKLY tell you where you can hear some silver bells and maybe even a little drummer White Christmas. 3. Singing along is encour- monly known). Their big hit was “Mirror in boy or two. Consider this the sequel to last week’s seasonal roundup. aged, and you’ll never have a better backing the Bathroom,” but since I’ve never known 18 When I think of Christmas music, I tend to think in terms of songs like band than the WSO, so sing your holiday hearts what to make of that lyric about watch- the carols I’ve mentioned above, sung in the traditional fashion—i.e. by out. 4. The show is family-friendly and inter- ing yourself while you’re eating, I’ve al- Bing Crosby or Mariah Carey. However, concerts happening during the com- mission also doubles as a hot cocoa break for ways been more of a “Save it for Later” girl ing days will serve as a reminder that Christmas happens all over the world, the kids. No matter how much seasonal spirit myself. Tickets can be had via the Shake- and its musical traditions vary by region and culture. Hear what a cool you have, we can all use a little Holiday Magic down’s website. doit

WED., DEC. 12 Church, 910 14th St. A brass quartet will join in, as CELTIC CHRISTMAS: The Port of Anacortes hosts will other instrumentalists and soloists. Entry will

an annual Celtic Christmas Celebration featuring be $10 at the door (youth ages 12 and under can Geoffrey Castle and his All Star Band from 6:30- attend for free). 30 8:30pm at the Transit Shed Events Center, 100 Com- WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

mercial Ave. Admission is free with a donation of a BELLINGHAM-COMMUNITY-CHORUS FOOD new unwrapped toy or nonperishable food item. VIP tickets are $25. NOEL ENSEMBLE: The Yuletide season will come WWW.PORTOFANACORTES.COM alive with the classical and Celtic harps, flute, 25 strings and percussion sounds of the acclaimed DEC. 12-13 NOEL Ensemble at a 3pm concert at Lynden’s Jansen

MVHS HOLIDAY CONCERT: Under the direction of Art Center, 321 Front St. Performed by gifted B-BOARD Jake Scherr, Omar Ordonez, and Jesus Gomez, the musicians in medieval costumes, these well-loved Mount Vernon High School Choral Music and Instru- carols, holiday favorites and poetry readings are

mental Music Departments join forces for special sure to enchant. Tickets are $25. 22 a Holiday Concert at 7pm Wednesday and Thursday WWW.JANSENARTCENTER.COM

at McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Admission is FILM pay what you wish, but tickets are still needed. MON., DEC. 17 WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG CAMPBELL ROAD: As part of a free concert series, 18 CELTIC YULETIDE listen to festive tunes by Campbell Road at 6:30pm 18 THURS., DEC. 13 at the Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie MUSIC

BHS SHOWSTOPPERS: Get in the spirit of the St. All are welcome. MUSIC rently reside in Seattle, but Mark season when the Bellingham High School Showstop- (360) 336-6209 FROM PAGE 18 pers perform seasonal favorites and an annual cho- JOLLY, O’Connor has the music of Appalachia 16 reographed medley at a concert at 12pm at Whatcom DEC. 18-19 deep in his soul—and he’s got the Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Entry is free AMAHL AND CO.: The Peterson Conservatory pres- ART in our lives. Where: 104 N. Commercial St. chops to play it like few people in the to hear the small mixed-vocal ensemble. ents performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors Info: www.mountbakertheatre.com world. He’s part classical violinist, part WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG at 7:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday in Mount Vernon 15 The next stop on our holiday odyssey is jazzman, part foot-stompin’ fiddler and at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. The one-act FRI., DEC. 14 opera by Gian-Carlo Menotti will feature members

Ireland—by way of Mount Vernon, that is. part composer—and he’s got a Grammy STAGE KLAUDER AND WILLMS: Reeb Willms and Caleb of the Starry Night Chamber Orchestra. Tickets are For many years, the Boulding family has to prove his wide-ranging proficiency. Klauder of the internationally acclaimed Foghorn $10 for students 16 and younger, $22 for adults. been regaling audiences with their annual His live performances are described String Band will deliver a pure and classic tradi- WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG 14 Celtic Yuletide concert, and they show no by critics using words like “dazzling,” tional sound with great harmony singing and strong signs of slowing down—or getting smaller “monumental,” “groundbreaking” and mandolin and guitar playing at a 7pm concert at WED., DEC. 19 In-demand saxophone as their numbers have grown right along “magical.” With all that experience and the YWCA Ballroom, 1026 N. Forest St. Tickets will MARK TAYLOR QUARTET: GET OUT be $20 at the door. master Mark Taylor will be joined by Gary Fukushima with their family. The group now consists all those accolades, you can bet that WWW.CALEBKLAUDER.COM (piano), Jeff Johnson (bass), and Eric Eagle (drums) of founders Philip and Pam Boulding, their when he turned his attention to first an for a Whatcom Jazz Music Arts Center concert at 12 five children and six grandchildren, most album of Appalachian holiday music and SAT., DEC. 15 7pm at the Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect of which can still be counted on to par- then his now-annual and highly antici- ALTAI KAI: The traditional Russian folk group St. Entry will be $5-$15 at the door. WORDS ticipate in the performance each year. pated An Appalachian Christmas con- Altai Kai will host a throat-singing workshop from WWW.WJMAC.ORG 2-4pm at the Alternative Library, 519 E. Maple St. They’ll bring their program of Emerald cert tour, he did not mess around. See The virtuosos will return to the stage at 8pm to THURS., DEC. 20 10 Isle-inspired songs to the Lincoln Theatre what all this seasonal fuss is about on perform. Tickets are $36 for the workshop, $23 for JOURNEY'S CHRISTMAS: Bronn Journey and for a Sun., Dec. 16 concert, and you’ll get Mon., Dec. 17, when O’Connor, his fiddle, the concert, or $50 for both. friends return to Mount Vernon for an annual “Jour- to see why they were once dubbed the his friends and An Appalachian Christ- WWW.ALTLIB.ORG ney’s Christmas” concert at 7:30pm at McIntyre CURRENTS “Von Trapps of the Northwest.” It’s a fam- mas take the stage at Western Washing- Hall, 2501 E. College Way. The show will feature

COMMUNITY CHORUS: The Bellingham Community traditional songs celebrating the Christmas season 6 ily affair. Where: 712 S. First St. Info: www. ton University’s Performing Arts Center. Chorus will kick off its 28th season with Holiday performed on the harp. Tickets are $20-$24. lincolntheatre.org Where: WWU Performing Arts Center Info: Concerts at 2pm and 7pm at St. James Presbyterian WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG He may hail from New York and cur- www.lmgconcerts.com VIEWS 4 MAIL

Hello Bellingham! 2 My last day in the clinic will be Friday, December 21st. Until then, keep coming in for treatments! Please check our FB page or call the office for an up-to-date schedule. If you DO IT choose to pick up your record or need a year-end statement, let me know and I will prepare it for you.

YOU’RE INVITED 12.12.18 On Friday, December 21st from 3-7 PM we are having a party at the clinic. Help us .13

celebrate the change. Come say farewell to me, I would really like that. Come say hello to 50 Matt, he would really like that. Come hang out for a bit, have some food, and send me off! # Peace, Pins and Naps, - Ed HAMSTERPUNCTURE will be changing to BELLINGHAM COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

Bellingham Community Acupuncture will Shop local CASCADIA WEEKLY open in January with new features: to give great gifts! * Online scheduling * 19 * New lower pricing ($25-$45) * ThisOur Mercantile Holiday... carries goods from over local artisans Yay Matt! OWNED BY THOUSANDSto delight • OPEN on TO your ALL list.90 downtown mount vernon | 360•336•9777 | skagitfoodcoop.com Hamsterpuncture (360) 734-1659 | 1609 Broadway Street DOWNTOWN MOUNT VERNON | (360) 336-9777 | SKAGITFOODCOOP.COM musicvenues 30

See below for venue FOOD addresses and phone 12.12.18 12.13.18 12.14.18 12.15.18 12.16.18 12.17.18 12.18.18 numbers WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

25 Dream Otter, Club Mage, Bunny Alternative Library Altai Kai 11:11 Writers Communion Poetrynight 'n' Bear

B-BOARD Anelia's Kitchen & Levi Burkle Benny Sidelinger Stage

22 Sher Vadinska and Margaret Beach Store Cafe Wilder FILM

Big Lake Bar and Grill Karaoke Cascadiacs

18 18

Muppet Fetish, Proud Failures, Karaoke Flais, Jason Strange, Apology Wars

MUSIC Boscoe's

MUSIC more 16 CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO/ Boundary Bay Piano Night w/Aaron Guest Piano Night w/Paul Klein ART Brewery Dec. 12/Firefly Lounge 15 Brown Lantern Ale 7:20 String Band Open Mic Bob Fossil House STAGE

Commodore Ballroom Allen Stone Dweezil Zappa Kurt Vile and the Violators 14

Conway Muse Brent Jensen Wayne Hayton and Friends Cabin Fever GET OUT

Edison Inn Little Mountain Band The Atlantics 12 WORDS

10 Mount Baker Theatre’s Staff Insider Gift Guide CURRENTS Amy G. Caleb K.

6 Michael G. ExecutiveAssociate Director House Manager Box Office Manager VIEWS 4

MAIL PORTLAND

JAN JAN JAN

2 CELLO PROJECT As seen on NBC’s The Sing Off 13 PLAYS RADIOHEAD, COLTRANE & BACH 18 24&25 THE INTERNATIONAL SENSATION

DO IT “I daydream imagining the feeling of that many “I can’t wait for the great tunes and singing; I will “Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum! STOMP is great fun! With a cellos playing rock on stage in our gorgeous probably be singing along...” second show added it’ll be a double Stomp!” theatre—so excited!” 12.12.18 Allysa P. EducationAlona & Special C. Cindi P. Executive .13 Ticketing Events Manager Specialist Assistant 50 #

Natalie MacMaster FEB FEB FEB & Donnell Leahy 8 16 23 CASCADIA WEEKLY “The Choir of Man is a perfect gift for the beer- “A great group gift package for the girlfriends because “For lovers of Celtic music, this is the 20 drinking music lovers in your life!” who doesn’t like a man who’s ‘born to dance’” show to see.”

Gift SEASON Certificates Book Now—— Make Everyone Merry! MountBakerTheatre.com •360-734-6080 SPONSOR Available! Mount Baker Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the performing arts. *Plus applicable fees musicvenues 30 See below for venue addresses and phone 12.12.18 12.13.18 12.14.18 12.15.18 12.16.18 12.17.18 12.18.18 FOOD numbers WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

Charlie Hunter Trio, Lucy Cousin Marvin, Drown the 25 Firefly Lounge The Naughty Blokes Neabs, Hot Tap, more Guffawingham Craft and Cackle Woodward Mountain B-BOARD Open Mic and Poetry Night Irish Night w/Community Christmas Show w/David Vergin Two Year Anniversary Christmas Party Greene's Corner w/J.P. Falcon Fiddle Rally 22

Hotel Bellwether Marvin Johnson Marvin Johnson Alicia Dauber Quintet FILM

Kulshan Brewing Co. Brittany Collins The Devilly Brothers 18 18 MUSIC MUSIC Lovitt Restaurant Cheryl Hodge Bonnie Northgraves Holiday Party w/Thomas Harris Quintet RSS Trio 16 Main St. Bar and Grill JP Falcon Acoustic Showcase Spaceband ART

Foxing Gloves, Cat Valley,

Make.Shift Blood and Thunder, Gallows Hymn, more 15 Ludlings STAGE Old World Deli Colin Schmidt Duo 14 Rockfish Grill Andre Feriante GET OUT Royal Dance Party Karaoke DJ Jester DJ Jester THE ENGLISH BEAT/Dec. 15/Shakedown Karaoke 12

After Party Drag Show w/ Flashback Friday w/DJs Girl Panty Hoes Community Drag Winter Infinity EDM Party Party Saturday w/DJ Clint Westwood Karaoke w/Seamus O'Carey Jukebox Hangout Rumors Cabaret Vivienne Duchanne Meets Boy Show w/DJ Spada WORDS 10 The Shakedown The English Beat Punch-up Comedy Open Mic

Silver Reef Hotel Casino Live Music CURRENTS Spa 6

Skagit Casino Midlife Crisis and the Alimony

Midlife Crisis and the Alimony Horns VIEWS Resort Horns 4

Roger Quiggle The Spencetet Soul Shadows

Skylark's MAIL

2 Stones Throw Brewery Badd Dog Blues Society Tom Sandblom DO IT

Swinomish Casino Darci Carlson Darci Carlson and Lodge 12.12.18

The Underground DJ B-Mello DJ B-Mello .13 50 # The Village Inn Jam Night Karaoke

’90s Till Now Allen Stone, Steve Swatkins and Wild Buffalo Red Fang, R.I.P., Dryland DARCI CARLSON/Dec. 14-15/Swinomish Casino and Lodge w/Boombox Kid the Positive Agenda

Alternative Library 519 E. Maple St | Anelias Kitchen & Stage 513 S. 1st St., La Conner • (360) 466-4778 | Beach Store Cafe 2200 N. Nurgent Road, Lummi Island • www.beachstorecafe.com | Bellewood Acres 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden • (360) 318-7720 | Big Lake Bar & Grill 18247 WA-9, Mt Vernon • (360) 422-6411 | Boundary Bay Brewery 1107 Railroad Ave • 647-5593 | Boscoe’s 118 W. Holly St. | Brown Lantern Ale House 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 293-2544 | Chuckanut CASCADIA WEEKLY 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 | Eat Restaurant & Bar 1200 Cornwall Ave • www.4u2eat.com | Edison Inn 21 5829 Cains Ct., Edison • (360) 766-6266 | Firefly Lounge 1015 N. State St. | H20, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 755-3956 | Honey Moon 1053 N. State St. • 734-0728 | Kulshan Brewery 2238 James St. • 389-5348 | Lovett Restaurant 1114 Harris Ave, • (360) 671-7143 | Make.Shift Art Space 306 Flora St. • www.makeshiftproject.com | Main Street Bar & Grill 2004 Main St., Ferndale • (360) 384-2982 | 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.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 | Stones Throw Brewery 1009 Larrabee Ave. | Swinomish Casino 12885 Casino Dr., Anacortes • (888) 288-8883 | The Underground 211 E. Chestnut St. • 738-3701 | Underground Coffeehouse Viking Union 3rd Floor, WWU | Village Inn Pub 3020 Northwest Ave. • 734-2490 | The Waterfront 521 W. Holly St. • www.waterfrontseafoodandbar.com | Whiskey's Burger Bistro 1304 12th St • (360) 526-2905 | Wild Buffalo 208 W. Holly St. • www.wildbuffalo.net | Send your music info to [email protected]. Deadlines are always at 5pm Friday. and starts learning the ropes from Peter Parker/Spider-Man, it takes him a realisti- cally long time to master them, to figure out how to move and fight effectively

30 while avoiding those sticky-fingered em- barrassments in public. FOOD But master them he must. Without film giving away too much—though a recent MOVIE REVIEWS FILM SHORTS post-credits stinger on Venom already did 25 just that—Miles is soon enlisted in the fight against a big, bad villain known as B-BOARD the Kingpin (Liev Schreiber). For pleas-

ingly preposterous reasons, the Kingpin 22 22 has devised a powerful technology ca- pable of ripping a gash in the space-time FILM FILM continuum and causing a massive multi- dimensional collision, a phenomenon that

18 occasions some wildly trippy colors and glitch-tastic visual effects.

MUSIC Before long the movie is crawling with various Spider-heroes who have been

16 mysteriously transported from their uni-

ART verses and into this one. I won’t detail all their names, secret aliases and personal

15 powers except to note that they give excellent actors such as Jake Johnson, Hail-

STAGE ee Steinfeld, Kimiko Glenn, John Mulaney, and Nicolas Cage a chance to shine. They also provide Into the Spider-Verse with a 14 clever meta-joke about the endless re- cyclability—which is to say the dispos-

GET OUT ability—of the Spider-Man franchise, though with none of the smugness that

12 sometimes rears its head when a studio franchise decides to mock itself. And while there is plenty to mock WORDS here—Lord and Rothman’s script gets in some choice digs at Peter Parker’s 10 relationship issues—what distinguishes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in the

CURRENTS end is that it takes its mission seriously, REVIEWED BY JUSTIN CHANG Spider-Ham/Peter Porker—is tethered to even when it’s being transparently silly. 6 a boldly imagined origin story with its There is nothing cheap or snarky about own potent emotional core. the way the movie festoons its action VIEWS Spider-Man At the center of that origin story is sequences with “Pow!” and “Blammo!” 4 Miles Morales, a smart Brooklyn teenager word bubbles, or shows us squiggly little INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE and instantly winning creation voiced by lines whenever someone’s Spidey sense MAIL Shameik Moore (Dope). The New York that tingles. It’s a sign of a movie not just

2 LIKE ANY film critic I have done my fair share of obnoxious ranting against a Hol- Miles inhabits springs to life in images embracing its hand-drawn comic-book lywood culture that finds its most popular expression in the exploits of comic-book that feel both vividly real and gloriously, roots, but also striving to be the fullest,

DO IT superheroes. And believe me, it gives my cold, contrarian heart no joy to acknowledge proudly cartoonish, combining the vi- truest version of itself it can be. that the Spider-Man movies actually appear to be on the upswing. brant, hyperreal texture of CG animation Which is what, in the end, nearly ev- This might come as a bit of a surprise, given the steady, enervating pileup of Spidey and the sharp, angular quality of classic eryone who dons the Spidey mask in this cinema in recent years, some of it prompted by Sony’s eagerness to hold onto the char- comic-book panels. Notably, the city also movie is trying to achieve, especially 12.12.18 acter amid a complicated, since-resolved rights dispute with Marvel Studios. But as last has its own friendly neighborhood Spi- Miles, a young man of Puerto Rican and year’s joint Sony/Marvel outing Spider-Man: Homecoming exuberantly reaffirmed, Peter der-Man, aka Peter Parker, an enemy of African American heritage who pointedly .13

50 Parker, that nerdy teenager turned skyscraper-hugging crime fighter, remains one of crooks everywhere but also an irritant to doesn’t look like a lot of the young web- # the most renewable action-movie heroes around. strictly by-the-book cops like Miles’ dad, slingers who have come before him. That Here to test that theory in an entirely different format is Spider-Man: Into the Spider- Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry). creative decision might have felt like a Verse, an animated action-comedy that shares no corporate or creative DNA with the For a while the movie zips absorbingly merely tokenistic gesture, of course, if Marvel Cinematic Universe. On paper, the movie sounds entirely superfluous: It dreams alongside Miles as he struggles to fit in he weren’t such a richly and coherently up an entirely new storyline set in a parallel-universe New York and introduces an ex- at an elite prep school, nurtures his skills imagined character in the bargain. hausting cross-dimensional cluster of Spidey-heroes. And to my chagrin, it’s terrific—a as a graffiti artist and hangs out with his And hopefully not the last. Sony has

CASCADIA WEEKLY quick-witted entertainment, daring and familiar by turns, that also proves to be sweet, Uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), Jefferson’s already announced plans to work on a se- serious and irreverent in all the right doses. estranged brother. Every aspect of Miles’ quel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 22 Leave it to the reliable comic brain trust of producers Phil Lord and Christopher personality is drawn in such pleasurably as well as an all-female spinoff, which Miller (21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie), who, along with a trio of directors (Bob Persi- absorbing detail, he would make terrific bespeaks mighty confidence in the new chetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman), have tackled this project with their usual company even if a tiny radioactive eight- web-slinging worlds they are about to formula-busting, pretension-puncturing gusto. Happily, all the amiable nonsense that legger didn’t eventually show up. And even unleash. I’ll cautiously put grumpiness comes pouring out of this movie—my favorite might be the talking pig who goes by after he develops cool arachnoid powers aside, just this once: They’ve earned it. film ›› showing this week

BY CAREY ROSS 30 FOOD FILM SHORTS 25 At Eternity's Gate: Director Julian Schnabel casts Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh (sans ear) and both of them paint a poignant portrait of a troubled man B-BOARD who just happened to be an artistic genius. HHHHH (R • 1 hr. 51 min.) 22 22

Bohemian Rhapsody: We all wanted this long- FILM gestating Queen biopic to be worthy of its subject. FILM It’s not, but probably still worth seeing to watch Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury pumping out all those righ- 18 teous stadium jams. HHH (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 14 min.)

Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Melissa McCarthy MUSIC finally, finally nabs a role worthy of her acting ability

in this based-on-actual-events account of onetime 16 bestselling author Lee Israel, who managed to fool some of the people all of the time as a literary fraud- ART ster writ large. HHHHH (R • 1 hr. 46 min.) 15 Creed II: I will watch Michael B. Jordan in just about anything, especially this continuation of the rebooted STAGE and revitalized Rocky franchise that sees Dolph Lund- VOX LUX gren reprise his role as Ivan Drago from Rocky IV, aka

the greatest Rocky movie of all time. HHHH (PG-13 • 14 2 hrs. 10 min.) somehow end up with three. Presumably hijinks ensue Ralph Breaks the Internet: The continuing written by Sia, this film is as vibrant and messy and until they become one big, happy family. HHHH (PG- adventures of Wreck-it Ralph, animated cinema's most synthetic and authentic as pop music itself. HHH (R

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: 13 • 1 hr. 57 min.) heartwarming and lovable hero, as he ventures out of • 1 hr. 54 min.) GET OUT Sure, it’s not the best film in the J.K. Rowling canon, the arcade and into the wilds of the World Wide Web. but it’s gorgeously shot, has enough references to the Mortal Engines: It’s based on a popular YA series, HHHHH (PG • 1 hr. 54 min.) Widows: If Hollywood is a mirror for what’s going in

Harry Potter universe to keep fans happy and features produced by Peter Jackson and features some truly on society, I predict we are about to see a whole bunch 12 reliably good performances by its reliably star-stud- amazing special effects (giant mobile cities that Robin Hood: Why is Hollywood so bad at making of movies about women who are pissed off and not tak- ded cast. HH (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 14 min.) gobble up other, smaller cities), and yet the sum of its Robin Hood movies? Seriously, when the best Robin ing it anymore, beginning with this heist flick directed WORDS parts is somehow less than it should be. Probably still Hood movie of the past 25 years was a spoof that by Steve McQueen and starring Michelle Rodriguez, Free Solo: Watch as world-class climber Alex Hon- good enough for your holiday popcorn movie pleasure, came courtesy of Mel Brooks, someone has some Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, and the inimitable

nold scampers up Yellowstone's El Capitan—without however. HH (PG-13 • 1 hr. 51 min.) explaining to do. H (PG-13 • 1 hr. 56 min.) Viola Davis. HHHHH (R • 2 hrs. 8 min.) 10 a rope—in what is the single most terrifying and thrilling movie in theaters right now. Michael Myers The Mule: Say what you will about Clint Eastwood, he Spider-Man: See review previous page. Long live has got nothing on Alex Honnold. HHHHH (Unrated can still star in and direct the shit out of a movie, and Spider-Ham! HHHHH (PG • 1 hr. 57 min.) CURRENTS • 1 hr. 37 min.) this based-on-a-true-story account of an 80-something

drug mule looks to be right in his spare, emotionally A Star is Born: The fourth version of this toxic-but- 6 Green Book: I'm not convinced a movie about a gripping wheelhouse. HHH (R • 1 hr. 56 min.) somehow-romantic love story sees Bradley Cooper

white man chauffeuring a black musician through the (who also directed) and Lady Gaga play the musical VIEWS Jim Crow South is the stuff of feel-good fodder, but The Old Man and the Gun: It seems only fitting couple in question—and the Oscar buzz is already

when you have the enormous good sense to cast Viggo that for his (supposedly) final role before retirement building, although I remain loyal to the super-cheesy 4 Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in the starring roles, that Robert Redford would make a film that hearkens 1976 version. Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson

what you get is better than it should be. HHHH (PG- back to some of his best roles as a charismatic rogue in forever. HHHHH (R • 2 hrs. 15 min.) MAIL 13 • 2 hrs. 10 min.) the likes of Butch Cassidy and The Sting. It's his cinemat-

ic sweet spot, and no one does lawless and charming Swimming With Men: This Brit comedy starring the 2 The Grinch: Nice try (again), Hollywood. But we all quite like him. HHHHH (PG-13 • 1 hr. 33 min.) always-funny Rob Brydon is sort of like The Full Monty, know that the only true Grinch movie is the 1966 but substitute a male synchronized swimming team Showtimes DO IT television special How the Grinch Stole Christmas, di- Once Upon a Deadpool: I want to roll my eyes at with big dreams for, well, the full monty and you'll rected by Chuck Jones in which the Grinch is voiced this PG-rated mash-up of the first two Deadpool movies, just about have it. Bring on the British comedy, I say. Regal and AMC theaters, please see by Boris Karloff. Step off, other lesser Grinches. HH but somehow Ryan Reynolds got an adult Fred Savage HHH (Unrated • 1 hr. 37 min.) www.fandango.com. (PG • 1 hr. 26 min.) to reprise his role as “Grandson” from The Princess Bride 12.12.18 and that’s evidently all it takes for the Merc with a Vox Lux: Starring Natalie Portman as a pop star Pickford Film Center and Instant Family: Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne are a Mouth to make me love him all over again, even sans his with a tragic past and all of the various vices that PFC’s Limelight Cinema, please see married couple looking to adopt one foster child and standard R rating. HHHH (PG-13 • 1 hr. 56 min.) go with such things and with a soundtrack of songs .13

www.pickfordfilmcenter.com 50 #

Swan Bender LMT Injury Recovery & Stress Relief HAPPY HOLIDAYS Purchase gift certiﬁcates in December & RECEIVE 10% OFF CASCADIA WEEKLY $70 regular price for 60 minute massage 23 $105 regular price for 90 minute massage Use for yourself or others 1155 North State St. Suite 318. Bellingham, WA 98225 Call or text for appointments or gift certiﬁcates. (360) 739-2648 • www.SwanBenderLMT.com WELLNESS EVENTS 30 FOOD

Learn more about 25

25 giving your noggin HOLIDAY a workout at a “NIS Basics” presenta- B-BOARD B-BOARD BREADS & SWEETS tion Wed., Dec. 12 ARE HERE! at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, and

22 at an “Experience Brain Fitness” event

FILM Mon., Dec. 17 at the GO LOCAL! Bellingham Public Library. Both events

18 305 E Magnolia St are free. Bellingham, WA MUSIC 360.671.0873

16 bellinghambread.com ART

NIS BASICS: Jean Christensen, LMT, discusses Neuro- for caregivers to learn, share and gain emotional support

15 logical Integration Systems (NIS) at a free presenta- from others who are also on a unique journey of provid- tion at 6:30pm Wed., www.trovecoffee.comDec. 12 at the Skagit Valley Food ing care to a person diagnosed by age 65 or younger. Co-op, 202 S. First St. NIS is a system of health care Volunteers receive excellent training, ongoing support, OPEN EVERY DAY STAGE that uses the brain to optimize the function and repair resources and continuing education opportunities. 7am-7pm of the body. The body is constantly receiving informa- (206) 529-3875 OR [email protected]

14 tion from all systems, e.g. the organs, glands, muscles and joints and this information is monitored by the HEALING HOUR: Attend a Healing Hour from 5:30- brain. Please register in advance. 6:30pm Wednesdays at Simply Spirit Reading & Healing

GET OUT COFFEE WWW.SKAGITFOODCOOP.COM Center, 1304 Meador Ave. Drop in anytime during the hour to receive an aura/chakra healing. Entry is $5. MINDFUL HOLIDAYS: Join local mindfulness prac- WWW.SIMPLYSPIRITCENTER.COM 12 TREATS titioner Tim Burnett, guiding teacher and Executive Director of Mindfulness Northwest, for a free “Having MEDITATION EVENTS: Attend a variety of events on Mindful Holidays” workshop from 12-1pm Thurs., Dec. a regular basis at the Bellingham Insight Meditation WORDS BEER 13 at Village Books, 1200 11th St. He’ll discuss the Society, 1021 N. Forest St. origins of mindfulness and explore how mindfulness WWW.BELLINGHAMINSIGHT.ORG

10 practices can help us engage in our relationship to ex- WINE perience (such as the holiday season!), reducing stress ADVANCE CARE PLANNING: PeaceHealth hosts Fa- and enhancing well-being. Simple practices of breath- cilitated Advance Directive monthly workshops at 6pm ing and mindful movement will support the discussion. on the first Thursday of the month and 4pm on the first CURRENTS WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM Tuesday of the month at St. Luke’s Health Education

6 TEA Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway. Register in advance HERBS AND HEALING: Natasha Clarke leads “Build- for the free “Advance Care Planning” events.

VIEWS OPEN EVERY DAY 228 N. Samish Way ing Relationship with Healing: Getting to Know Local (360) 752-5267 7am-7pm trovecoffee.com Herbs” from 6:30-8:30pm Thurs., Dec. 13 at the Skagit

4 Valley Food Co-op in Mount Vernon. Attendees will GAM-ANON: Attend Gam-Anon meetings (for family explore the wonders of infused oils and lotion mak- and friends of individuals with a gambling disorder)

MAIL ing, and learn to create a perfect lotion from locally from 7-8:30pm Fridays in Mount Vernon at the First sourced herbal infused oils and whip them up into an Lutheran Church, 2015 Blackburn Rd. Entry is free. 218 N. Samish Way trovecannabis.com 2 affordable delight for home skin care. Entry is free, WWW.GAM-ANON.ORG with an optional $5 supply fee to take lotion home.

DO IT WWW.SKAGITFOODCOOP.COM CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS: Most Mondays, Co-Dependents Anonymous meets from 7-8:30pm at PEACE DANCE: Celebrate the poetry and spirituality PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Community Health Education of the Persian poet Rumi through chant, dance, music Center, 3333 Squalicum Pkwy, conference room B. Entry and meditation at a “Dances of Universal Peace” from is by donation. 12.12.18 7-9pm Fri., Dec. 14 at the Center for Spiritual Living, (360) 676-8588 2224 Yew Street Rd. .13 (360) 733-5745 YOGA FOR MS: Abby Staten leads “Yoga for Multiple 50

# Sclerosis” classes from 10-11am Tuesdays and 11am- THE KEY TO BRAIN FITNESS: Certified Brain Fitness Trainer Dawn 12pm Fridays at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Anderson leads an “Experience Brain Fitness” workshop 2600 Lakeway Dr. Please bring a blanket or yoga mat. from 1:30-2:30pm Mon., Dec. 17 at the Bellingham [email protected] OR WWW.YOGABELLINGHAM.COM BELLINGHAM’S Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Attendees will discover more about keeping your brain fit by learning new SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS: Sex Addicts Anonymous skills, exercising your memories and challenging your meets at 7pm Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9am Saturdays brain to adapt and change can help delay or prevent at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St. CASCADIA WEEKLY BEST CANNABIS the onset of memory challenges. Entry is free; adults of (360) 420-8311 OR WWW.PUGETSOUNDSAA.ORG all ages are welcome. 24 OPEN EVERY DAY 8am-11:45pm WWW.BELLINGHAMPUBLICLIBRARY.ORG BREASTFEEDING CAFE: Come relax and meet other breastfeeding mothers in a warm, inviting and respect- This product has intoxicating efects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, CAREGIVER SUPPORT: The Alzheimer’s Association ful environment at a Breastfeeding Cafe from 9am- coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the infuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and is currently recruiting local volunteers to facilitate a 12pm Tuesdays at the Bellingham Center for Healthy older. Keep out of reach of children. Younger-Onset Family Caregiver Support Group in Belling- Motherhood, 1012 Dupont Street. Entry is free. ham. The groups provide a consistent and caring place WWW.CENTERFORHEALTHYMOTHERHOOD.COM rearEnd crossword

30 40 It contains lead the San Fran- 30 Farm residents? tinction

numerators and de- cisco Symphony) 32 Venmo and Hinge, 55 Bring delight to FOOD nominators within 72 Cable channel e.g. 56 High-end Toyota 25

numerators and since 1979 34 Egypt’s cont. 58 Make good (for) 25 denominators 35 Kardashian matri- 60 Six Flags attraction 43 Skier’s spot DOWN arch 61 TV “Warrior Prin- B-BOARD B-BOARD 44 Clean up some 1 Rocksteady precur- 37 Scrabble piece cess” played by topiary sor 38 Sheared stuff Lucy Lawless 45 ___ gin fizz 2 “Never Tear Us 39 They’re “on” in 62 Acapulco accolades 22

46 Lamentable Apart” band binary 63 1996 veep candi- FILM 48 Family member, 3 Global extremity 41 They’re always in date briefly 4 Ancient stone slab February 66 Hither and ___ 18 50 PGA VIP Ernie (anagram of TESLA) 42 Good-natured

51 Place to chill out 5 State of change 47 “___ Poetry Jam” MUSIC 54 Lemon zest source 6 Snippets, like those 49 Double ___ (Oreo

57 “Death ___ shown on 21-Across variety) 16

Funeral” (2007 or 7 Core group 51 Q-Tip ends ART 2010 film) 8 Vinegar variety 52 Ancient city in

59 Snarky social me- 9 Spring bloom Jordan 15 dia response to an 10 Credit counterpart 53 With an ___ dis- undeserved boast 11 “The Smartest STAGE (and this puzzle’s Guys in the Room” theme) company Last Week’s Puzzle 14 “It’s Not Unusual” 64 Heart chambers 12 Cardiologist’s The phrase makes it 65 Eddie Murphy’s role dilator GET OUT in “Beverly Hills 14 Heighten

ACROSS drivetrain 23 “Claws” network Cop” 17 Excruciatingly loud, 12 1 Little drinks 18 Cuba ___ (rum 24 “Matilda the 67 Adrien of “The in sheet music

5 TV monitoring gp. drink) Musical” songwriter Pianist” 20 Roth of “Inglouri- WORDS 8 Waits 19 Artistic interpreta- Minchin 68 Adjust, as banjo ous Basterds”

13 Muscle problem tion of one’s feel- 27 Lover strings 24 Nervous spasms 10 14 Jazz legend ings, maybe 29 “___ Believer” 69 Dory helped find 25 “Rebel Yell” singer Fitzgerald 21 Alfonso Ribeiro- (Monkees song) him Billy 15 Fail to be hosted show featur- 31 It may be half- 70 Heavy items 26 Inbox item CURRENTS

16 Lubricant used at ing viewer submis- baked dropped in cartoons 28 “thank u, ___” 6 the front and rear sions, for short 33 Cedar alternative 71 ___-Pekka Salonen (Ariana Grande VIEWS of an automobile 22 Ward of “Gone Girl” 36 Bisected (conductor soon to song) ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords 4 MAIL

THREE WEEKENDS IN 2

DECEMBER DO IT Pacific Friday - Sunday 10am to 6pm 12.12.18 Dec. 7-9, 14-16, & 21-23 .13 50

Crafted by Local Northwest Artisans! #

Jewelry · Illustrations · Knitting · Soap Photography · Crochet · Metal Works · Pottery · Woodworking · Glass Etching and much more!

Arts CASCADIA WEEKLY Sunset Square 25 1125 E. Sunset Drive Take exit 255 in Bellingham Market http://paci cartsmarket.com Pepper Sisters BY ROB BREZSNY tale. But I do expect you will benefit from a “loss” as long as you’re focused on what’s ahead of you rather

Flavors of New Mexico than what’s behind you. 30 FREE WILL LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Among the pieces FOOD Dinner nightly, Tuesday - Sunday of jewelry worn by superstar Elvis Presley were a Chris- tian cross and a Star of David. “I don’t want to miss Happy hour Tuesday - Thursday ASTROLOGY out on heaven due to a technicality,” he testified. In 25

25 that spirit, and in accordance with astrological omens, Comfort food ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1930, some I urge you, too, to cover all your bases in the coming from scratch 1055 N. State peppersisters.com British mystery writers formed a club to provide each weeks. Honor your important influences. Be extra nice other with artistic support and conviviality. They to everyone who might have something to offer you in B-BOARD B-BOARD swore an oath to write their stories so that solving the future. Show your appreciation for those who have crimes happened solely through the wits of their fic- helped make you who you are. And be as open-minded tional detectives, and not through “Divine Revelation, and welcoming and multicultural as you can genuinely 22 Feminine Intuition, Mumbo Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, be. Your motto is “Embrace the rainbow.” or Act of God.” I understand that principle, but don’t FILM endorse it for your use in the coming weeks. On the SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Are you a gambling Professional, knowledgeable, contrary. I hope you’ll be on the alert and receptive addict seeking power over your addiction? If you live to Divine Revelations, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo in Michigan or Illinois, you can formally blacklist 18 fun & friendly to work with. Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, and Acts of God. yourself from all casinos. Anytime your resolve wanes and you wander into a casino, you can be arrested MUSIC TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When you’re and fined for trespassing. I invite you to consider Cerise Noah (360) 393-5826 prescribed antibiotic pills to fight off infection, you a comparable approach as you work to free yourself

16 should finish the entire round. If you stop taking the from a bad habit or debilitating obsession. Enlist REALTOR® [email protected] meds partway through because you’re feeling better, some help in enforcing your desire to refrain. Create

ART you might enable a stronger version of the original an obstruction that will interfere with your ability to infector to get a foothold in your system. This lesson act on negative impulses. provides an apt metaphor for a process you’re now 15 undergoing. As you seek to purge a certain unhelpful SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “What is the presence in your life, you must follow through to the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do STAGE end. Don’t get lax halfway through. Keep on cleansing something remarkable?” Author John Green asked that yourself and shedding the unwanted influence beyond question. I confess that I’m not entirely comfortable the time you’re sure you’re free of it. with it. It’s a bit pushy. I find I’m more likely to do

14 Bellingham remarkable things if I’m not trying too hard to do GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Danish scientist and remarkable things. Nevertheless, I offer it as one of poet Piet Hein wrote this melancholy meditation: your key themes for 2019. I suspect you will be so GET OUT “Losing one glove is painful, but nothing compared to naturally inclined to do remarkable things that you the pain of losing one, throwing away the other, and won’t feel pressure to do so. Here’s my only advice: up THRU finding the first one again.” Let his words serve as the ante on your desire to be fully yourself; dream up 12 a helpful warning to you, Gemini. If you lose one of new ways to give your most important gifts; explore DEC your gloves, don’t immediately get rid of the second. all the possibilities of how you can express your soul’s Rather, be patient and await the eventual reappear- code with vigor and rigor. WORDS 22 ance of the first. The same principle applies to other things that might temporarily go missing. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the fairy tale

10 “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” the heroine rejects CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian author both the options that are too puny and too exces- Elizabeth Gilbert is a soulful observer whose prose sive. She wisely decides that just enough is exactly entertains and illuminates me. She’s well aware of her right. I think she’s a good role model for you. After CURRENTS own limitations, however. For example, she writes, your time of feeling somewhat deprived, it would be

6 “Every few years, I think, 'Maybe now I’m finally understandable if you were tempted to crave too much smart enough or sophisticated enough to understand and ask for too much and grab too much. It would Ulysses. So I pick it up and try it again. And by page be understandable, yes, but mistaken. For now, just VIEWS 10, as always, I’m like, 'What the hell?'” Gilbert is enough is exactly right. FROM POTATOES TO POTTERY. referring to the renowned 20th-century novel, James 4 Joyce’s masterwork. She just can’t appreciate it. I pro- AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 1140, two WE’VE GOT EVERYTHING FOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND pose that you make her your inspirational role model dynasties were at war in Weinsberg, in what’s now MAIL in the coming weeks. Now is a favorable time to southern Germany. Conrad III, leader of the Hohen- acknowledge and accept that there are certain good staufen dynasty, laid siege to the castle at Weinsberg,

2 LOCAL HOLIDAY influences and interesting things that you will simply headquarters of the rival Welfs dynasty. Things went never be able to benefit from. And that’s OK! badly for the Welfs, and just before Conrad launched a DO IT IN 2019 JAN 19 FEB 16 MAR 16 final attack, they surrendered. With a last-minute touch LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): More than three centuries of mercy, Conrad agreed to allow the women of the DEPOT MARKET SQUARE 1100 RAILROAD AVE BELLINGHAM WA ago, Dutch immigrants in New York ate a dessert castle to flee in safety along with whatever posses- BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG known as the olykoek, or oily cake: sugar-sweetened sions they could carry. The women had an ingenious dough deep-fried in pig fat. It was the forerunner of response. They lifted their husbands onto their backs 12.12.18 the modern doughnut. One problem with the otherwise and hauled them away to freedom. Conrad tolerated the delectable snack was that the center wasn’t always fully trick, saying he would stand by his promise. I foresee a

.13 cooked. In 1847, a man named Hanson Gregory finally metaphorically comparable opportunity arising for you, 50

# SATURDAYS 10AM TO 3PM found a solution. Using a pepper shaker, he punched Aquarius. It won’t be a life-or-death situation like that a hole in the middle of the dough, thus launching the of the Welfs, but it will resemble it in that your original shape that has endured until today. I bring this to your thinking can lead you and yours to greater freedom. attention because I suspect you’re at a comparable turning point. If all goes according to cosmic plan, you PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The National Center will discover a key innovation that makes a pretty good for Biotechnology Information reported on a 15-year-old thing even better. boy who had the notion that he could make himself into a superhero. First he arranged to get bitten by many

CASCADIA WEEKLY Cascadia Weekly VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I can’t believe I’m spiders in the hope of acquiring the powers of Spider- going to quote pop star Selena Gomez. But according man. That didn’t work. Next, he injected mercury into 26 to my analysis of the current astrological omens, her his skin, theorizing it might give him talents comparable simple, homespun advice could be especially helpful to the Marvel Comics mutant character named Mercury. to you in the coming weeks. “Never look back,” she As you strategize to build your power and clout in 2019, says. “If Cinderella had looked back and picked up the Pisces, I trust you won’t resort to questionable methods shoe, she would have never found her prince.” Just like those. You won’t need to! Your intuition should to be clear, Virgo, I’m not saying you’ll experience an steadily guide you, providing precise information on how adventure that has a plot akin to the Cinderella fairy to proceed. And it all starts now. BY AMY ALKON seductive thing you would to a woman: “So, what are you wearing?” The turkey:

“The same little paper socks you put on THE SCIENCE ADVICE me an hour ago, stupid.” 30 FOOD GODDESS FROM ADHERE TO ETERNITY I’m a 42-year-old woman, and I’ve been dat- 25 THE HAND THAT ing the guy in the town house next door for 25 ROCKS THE LADLE two years. I love him, and I’d like to get mar- I’m a 57-year-old twice-divorced man. ried, but he has always taken me for granted. B-BOARD B-BOARD Though I never wanted to get to a point My friends say I’m too available. Yes, I’m where romance wouldn’t be in my big pic- always there for him, always picking up the ture, I’m feeling done with it. I’ve replaced phone or texting back right away, etc. Why is 22 dating and getting married again with this a bad thing? I’m loyal and caring. Also, FILM gourmet cooking for one. I’m really enjoying I’m not sure how I could be less “available” it, but it worries me. Is it OK to be done? when he lives next door. —Undervalued —Single And Culinary 18 Being neighbors is so convenient: “Hi, Well, according to some research, could I just borrow your stepladder until MUSIC married people do live longer. However, tomorrow and your vagina for, like, an that’s sometimes just because they were hour?” 16 unsuccessful at killing each other. Unfortunately, being ready, willing, ART There’s this notion that your life is available and conveniently located is pretty much a black chasm of nothing- not exactly the launchpad to romantic 15 ness if you’re without a “significant oth- longing. Consider that the restaurant er.” Psychologist Bella DePaulo blames everybody wants to go to is the one STAGE this thinking on what she calls the "cult where getting a table requires Hol- of the couple.” DePaulo, who researches lywood connections plus selling two- 14 the elements of being satisfyingly single, thirds of your soul to bribe the maitre marvels at the "strange implication” (in d’. The food there might not be substan- GET OUT a paper by noted marriage researchers) tially better than that of the bistro up “that people without a stable sexual rela- the street. But exclusivity—how tough tionship are wandering adrift with open it is to book a table—elevates the ap- 12 wounds and shivering in their sleep.” parent value of a place.

Though we humans evolved to be inter- There’s a related concept in relation- WORDS dependent—people who need people— ships, “the principle of least interest.” we don’t have to be sleeping with those The term was coined in the 1930s by ’Tis the season for 10 people on the reg for them to count. In a sociologist, Willard Waller, and it fact, having good friends and close ac- describes how the person who has the Co-op gift cards! quaintances you can rely on is associated least interest in continuing a relation- CURRENTS

with a whole bunch of physical and men- ship has the most power over it. (Mod- 6 tal health benefits, including better car- ern research by sociologist Susan Spre- diovascular health, increased happiness, cher supports Waller’s theory.) VIEWS and decreased stress and depression. Sadly, your boyfriend most likely has Interestingly, research increasingly a set opinion of your value, so your 4

suggests that providing social support chances of getting more appreciation MAIL may be even better for you than get- from him are probably blown. Still, it’s ting it—psychologically and physically. important to note that in a relation- 2 A study co-authored by psychiatrist ship, you don’t have to keep up the Randolph Nesse on elderly people who “least interest” gambit forever; you DO IT regularly did generous acts for others in should just hold off on being full-on their lives is one of a number that find loyal and caring till you have somebody

an association between being a “giver” who’s inspired to do that for you, too. 12.12.18 and increased life expectancy. Converse- Ultimately, it’s important to work on

ly, Nesse theorizes that the rising tide yourself so you’ll be “hard to get.” But .13 50

of depression in our society has roots in before you get to that point, you can # how disconnected many of us are, lead- act “as if”—like by setting an alarm for ing to a deficit in the level of kindness four hours and returning texts then in- we evolved to give and receive. stead of 8.6 seconds after they hit your Well, you’re set up perfectly to ex- phone. It’s sure to be seriously difficult tend yourself for others—like by hand- at first. But you could probably get into Choose from many great styles— fillable (and refillable) in any amount. ing them a plate of your gourmet chow. a balanced, loving relationship if you’d CASCADIA WEEKLY Consider using your newfound love of just adhere to “the principle of least in- cooking to bring a social circle together terest." We pine for what’s slightly out 27 around your dining room table. Invite of reach, not what’s all over us like an friends over every Friday or so to dine oil spill. or even help you make dinner. The cool thing is, before they arrive, nothing’s ©2018, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. stopping you from whispering the same Write Amy Alkon, [email protected]. DUNCAN NEWLAND rearEnd comix + sudoku

Specializing in Residential 30

FOOD & Equestrian Properties

25 (360) 303-4771 25 [email protected] B-BOARD B-BOARD - NOW PLAYING 22 Fri, December 14 - FILM Thu, December 20

18 AT ETERNITY'S GATE (NR) 103m, In English - Julian Schnabel's film is a journey inside the world and mind of a Vincent Van Gogh (Willem Dafoe) who, despite skepticism, ridicule and MUSIC illness, created some of the world's most beloved and stunning works of art. Fri: (12:35), (3:15), 5:55, 8:30; Sat: (2:45), 5:20, 8:00

16 Sun: (11:35AM), (2:15), 4:55, 7:30; Mon & Tue: (12:35), (3:15), 5:55, 8:30

ART Wed: (1:00)-OCAP, (3:35), 6:10, 8:45; Thu: (12:35), (3:15), 5:55, 8:30 CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

15 (R) 107m, In English - "A fiercely composed, richly textured film." Fri & Sat: (12:45), 5:45; Sun: 5:45; Mon & Tue: (12:45), 5:45

STAGE Wed: (1:05)-OCAP, 6:00; Thu: (12:45), 5:45 FREE SOLO (PG-13) 97m - Last week to catch this thrilling documentary!

14 Fri - Tue: (3:20), 8:15; Wed: (3:35), 8:30; Thu: (3:20), 8:15

THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007) - Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee (NR) 87m, English - "An intriguing cerebral psychological sci-fi yarn." Ozu's Reviews GET OUT Sat: (Noon) - Only $3 admission, Introduction by Steve Meyers

TROILUS & CRESSIDA (NR) 210m - Royal Shakespeare Company 12 In the RSC’s first gender-balanced production, the Bard’s “most testosterone- fueled” play will feature a 50/50 split of male and female actors in an offering that traditionally features just a handful of women. WORDS Sun: 11:00AM - Tickets: $16 PFC Members, $20 General, $10 Students

10 OPEN CAPTION SCREENINGS: At Eternity's Gate - Wed: (1:00) Can You Ever Forgive Me - Wed: (1:05) PICKFORD FILM CENTER | 1318 Bay St. | 360.738.0735 | www.pickfordfilmcenter.org

CURRENTS Now serving draft beer! Enjoy a drink while you watch. Mary's Happy Hour: M-F, 4-6pm $1 off Beer + Wine PFC’S LIMELIGHT CINEMA: 1416 Cornwall Ave. | Parentheses ( ) denote bargain pricing 6

SWIMMING WITH MEN (PG-13) 138m, English

VIEWS His job is a drag, his wife may be cheating on him, and he's not getting any younger. Accountant Eric (Rob Brydon) is simply treading water when he

4 discovers a newfound sense of purpose thanks to an unexpected source: a group of similarly stuck-in-a-rut guys who have found camaraderie and self-

MAIL worth through synchronized swimming. Sure, they may be a bit paunchy, but they're determined to prove they have what it takes to be a whirling, twirling,

2 scissor-kicking aquatic dream team. Fri & Sat: (3:00), 7:50; Sun: (2:30), 7:20; Mon - Thu: (3:00), 7:50 DO IT THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN (PG-13) 93m, English "Loose-limbed, rascally and Texan to its bones, The Old Man & the Gun is a throwback to an era when making beautifully understated crime comedies was the peak of Hollywood's ambition (before all the spandex took over)." Time Out

12.12.18 Fri & Sat: (12:45), 5:30; Sun: (12:15), 5:00; Mon & Tue: (12:45), 5:30 Wed: (12:45), 5:30-OCAP; Thu: (12:45), 5:30 .13

50 OPEN CAPTION SCREENINGS: The Old Man and the Gun - Wed: 5:30 # CASCADIA WEEKLY

Sudoku 30 FOOD INSTRUCTIONS: Arrange the digits 1-9 so that each digit occurs once in each row, once in each column, and once in each box. 25 25 sudoku for September 08, 2006 difficult B-BOARD B-BOARD 6 8 1 22

5 6 FILM

3 7 6 2 18 MUSIC 9 8 16 1 4 2 3 8 9 ART 15

4 7 STAGE

5 4 2 7 14

4 6 GET OUT

6 9 5 12

http://sudokuplace.com WORDS

Dail Special 10

Sunday Brunch CURRENTS

Steak & Wine Night 6 Brunch: 10am - 2pm

Happy Hour All Day VIEWS All Steaks Entrees & Wine Bottles 20% OFF 4 M o n day MAIL Closed for Private Parties

Halibut & Chips Tuesday 2 Fresh Halibut & Chips $14.95 DO IT Wednesday Burger All Housemade Burgers and Fries $7 12.12.18 Thursday Prime Rib Night .13

Prime Rib: 10oz. $22 & 16oz. $26 50 # Friday Chef's Special Ask about Chef Teddy’s Dinner Special Saturday Brunch & pasta Night Brunch: 10am - 2pm 10% OFF All Pasta Entrees CASCADIA WEEKLY

29 3004 Cinema Pl. Best Happy Hour Bellingham, WA 360.306.8676 in Town! doit THURS., DEC. 13 PAELLA FAMILY DINNER: Reservations

are recommended to guarantee seating for a “Paella Family Dinner Night” starting at 30 30 5:30pm at Old World Deli, 1228 N. State FOOD FOOD St. Entry is $5 for kids and $17 for adults; includes one plate of paella with a small chow green salad. 25 RECIPES REVIEWS PROFILES (360) 738-2090 OR WWW.OLDWORLDDELI1.COM

B-BOARD FRI., DEC. 14 SHELL-EBRATION: Celebrate the two-year anniversary of lifted shellfish harvesting

22 chose the Christmapolitan (comprised of restrictions at the second annual “Drayton vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced Harbor Shell-ebration” from 4-6pm at the

FILM cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime, and ab- G Street Plaza located in downtown Blaine. sinthe mist). The free event will include refreshments, oyster samples courtesy of the Drayton 18 Our drinks were each $10, and we added Harbor Oyster Company, kid’s activities, and a couple of festive snacks to our order. the presentation of community awards. The

MUSIC I opted for the cheese ball ($9) and he event will take place outdoors, so dress to chose marrow bones ($11), but we both stay warm and dry. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS 16 noted that if we returned we’d bring along

ART a few friends and order the Feast of Seven FOOD NOT BOMBS: All are welcome to par- Fishes ($60), a seafood-inspired collection take of nutritious and delicious vegan dishes when Food Not Bombs offers a community

15 that includes octopus fritters with garlic mayo, steamed clams in butter, stuffed meal from 4-6pm every Friday on the corner of Magnolia Street and Cornwall Avenue

STAGE mussels with romesco, (alongside the Peace Vigil). The event— tuna, grilled sardines, which is dedicated to spreading food, love salt cod brandade

14 and nonviolence as an action against war with a baguette, and and poverty—is free. a shrimp cocktail. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BELLINGHAMFNB

GET OUT When our cocktails SNOWBALL OLD FASHIONED DEC. 14-15 arrived in festive TASTE AND TOUR: Enjoy a country Christ- CURRENTSPAGESTART

12 glasses created just mas experience at the inaugural “Tasting ATTEND for Miracle, my date and Tour of Lights” from 5-7pm Fridays and WHAT: Miracle proclaimed his Christ- Saturdays through Dec. 22 at Sedro-Wool- WORDS BY AMY KEPFERLE Holiday Pop-Up Bar mapolitan tasted “like ley’s Eagle Haven Winery, 8243 Sims Rd. The WHERE: Swim fun begins with a cider and wine tasting, frozen fizzy fruit and 10 Club, 1147 11th St. followed by a hayride to the decorated gar- WHEN: Through happiness,” and I dens of Willowbrook Manor. Entry is $8-$10. Dec. 31 (closed took a sip to confirm WWW.EAGLEHAVENWINERY.COM Miracle Mondays)

CURRENTS his apt diagnosis. My INFO: www.swim Partridge in a Pear SAT., DEC. 15

6 SEASONAL SIPS AT SWIM CLUB clubbar.com PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Choose from pan- Tree was also full of cakes, French toast or biscuits and gravy at HOLIDAY-INDUCED FATIGUE had set in, and my boyfriend and I were finding it seasonal splendor; in fact, I would recom- a fundraising Pancake Breakfast happening VIEWS difficult to remove ourselves from the comfort and joy to be found in our own living room. mended the selection to the type of per- from 8-11am at the Ferndale Senior Center,

4 But at about 3pm on Sunday afternoon, I suggested we get dressed and explore what son who would be thrilled to find a bottle 1999 Cherry St. Entry is $2.50 for kids, $6 was happening at the Holiday Port Festival taking place at the Bellingham Cruise Ter- of tequila inside their stocking on Christ- for adults; includes scrambled eggs, ham or

MAIL sausage, and beverages. minal. Since it was the tail end of the three-day event, I figured we’d be able to peruse mas morning (hint, hint). Our appetizers (360) 384-6244

2 the long line of gingerbread houses on display without having to jostle for room. were equally appreciated, and disappeared I couldn’t have been more wrong. When we entered the festively decorated space, it with alacrity. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Celebrate the

DO IT was clear we’d waited too long to join the party. The procession of squirrely kids and tired After declaring that someone at our holiday season and meet the Jolly Old Elf adults waiting to see the artistically enhanced foodstuffs stretched around the entirety of table (not me) smelled “deliciously like himself at a “Breakfast with Santa” fundraiser from 9-11am at Bellingham Childcare the second floor, and, on the ground floor, Santa and Mrs. Claus were just as busy. a smoky campfire,” our waitress asked if and Learning Center, 2600 Squalicum Pkwy. “I think we’re gonna need a miracle to get in the holiday spirit” my guy said glumly we wanted to try anything else. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make time for post- 12.12.18 as we watched fake snow fall onto the tall tree in the lobby. “I’d like the Nice Shot,” I answered, pancake visits, and photos will be available “I’ve got one for you,” I answered, “but we’re going to have to ditch this line and pointing to the rum, peppermint and for purchase. Entry is $4 for kids ages 10 and .13 younger, $6 for adults. Proceeds will benefit

50 head up the street a few blocks to find it.” chocolate concoction listed at the bot-

# subsidized childcare at the center. He nodded his assent and, not long afterward, we walked into “Miracle at Swim Club.” tom of the menu. WWW.BELLINGHAMCHILDCARE.COM As part of a pop-up holiday cocktail event that began in New York City five years “I’ll take the Naughty Shot,” my bet- ago and is now taking place at more than 80 locales across the world through New ter half declared. “It doesn’t really seem SANTA BREAKFAST: Enjoy a delicious meal Year’s Eve, the stylishly retro venue on 11th Street in Fairhaven has been trans- like you can go wrong with bourbon and and then have your photo taken with Santa formed into a winter wonderland decorated with as many as 20 Christmas trees of cinnamon.” and Mrs. Claus at a “Breakfast with Santa” event happening from 9am-1pm in Mount varying heights, a nearly life-sized Santa, and generous splashes of green and red With our respective shots in front of us Vernon at Eaglemont Golf Course’s Fireweed CASCADIA WEEKLY festooned throughout. and our psyches calmed by the fantasti- Terrace Restaurant, 4800 Eaglemont Dr. “This is more like it,” my date said as we took our seats at a two-top connected to cally festive atmosphere, I asked my date Other activities will include cookie decorat- 30 a long, luxuriously-padded bench seat. if he thought we’d cured ourselves of our ing, letters to Santa, and ornament-making. Choosing from a roster of Christmas concoctions with clever names such as Bad Santa, seasonal afflictions. Entry is $10 for youth 12 and under, $12 for adults. Tickets will be available for purchase Christmas Carol Barrel, Snowball Old Fashioned, and Koala-La La La, La La La La, I settled “For sure,” he answered, picking up his on the day of the event. on A Partridge in a Pear Tree (made of Reposado tequila, pear brandy, mezcal, spiced de- shot glass and flashing me a wide smile. WWW.FIREWEEDTERRACE.COM merara syrup, lime, egg white, club soda, Angostura bitters and cinnamon), while my fella “Here’s to miracles!” doit

Enjoy complimentary shellfish at the second annual “Drayton Harbor Shell-ebration” Fri., Dec. 14 at Blaine’s G Street Plaza. 30 30 FOOD FOOD 25 B-BOARD 22 FILM 18

silent night holy night MUSIC

Something mystical occurs as we light our candles and lift 16 our voices in those familiar words, united in the beauty and ART peace of the moment. Celebrate 200 years of Silent Night this Advent. Light a candle. Find your still. Sing with us. 15 Sundays in December. STAGE 14

delicious tamales will be handmade by Maria GET OUT GINGERBREAD HOUSES: Graham crackers, Luisa from Tadeo’s Restaurant. Tickets are $12.50 frosting and candy will be provided at a “Ginger- for kids 10 and under, $25 for adults. 2401 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham www.fccb.net

bread Houses” event from 10am-12pm at Blaine’s WWW.FOODJUSTICE.ORG 12 Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy. At- tendees can show off their artistic sides and get SUN., DEC. 16 creative when building and decorating their own COMMUNITY BREAKFAST: Eggs to order, om- WORDS mini-gingerbread house. Entry is $30; another elets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, pancakes,

session happens from 1-3pm Sat., Dec. 22. French toast and more can be had at a monthly 10 WWW.SEMIAHMOO.COM breakfast happening from 8-11am in Sedro-Wool- ley at American Legion Post #43, 701 Murdock St. BELLINGHAM MARKET: The 26th season of the Entry is $5 for kids, $7 for adults. CURRENTS Bellingham Farmers Market continues from 10am- WWW.SEDRO-WOOLLEY.COM

3pm Saturdays through Dec. 22 at the Depot 6 Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave. In addition to LANGAR: All are welcome at a Langar event offering locally grown produce, crafts and ready- from 11am-2pm in Lynden at Guru Nanak Gursikh VIEWS to-eat foods, seasonal events include Demo Days Gurdwara, 176 E. Pole Rd. Langar is the sacred and Chef in the Market. community free kitchen of the Sikh people 4 WWW.BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG and every temple serves delicious vegetarian TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 | 12-8PM

food-which they invite the general public to MAIL SEASONAL SIDE DISHES: Learn practical skills come eat. The largest free kitchen in the world

that will empower you to showcase the Pacific is Langar at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar India, where 2 Northwest on your table when Kamea Black they serve 100,000 people a day every weekend, leads a “Seasonal Side Dishes: Winter Edition” and 50,000 a day on weekdays. DO IT workshop from 1-3:30pm at the Chuckanut (360) 398-1184 STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN. Center, 103 Chuckanut Drive N. Participants will start the afternoon off with a sugar-free TUES., DEC. 18 holiday mocktail and mixing demonstration. COOK AND BOOK: Students in grades 4-7 can GET AROUND THE TABLE. Afterward, the class will be guided through an meet up for cooking and book-related fun at a 12.12.18 interactive cooking session that will result in monthly “Cook It and Book It” gathering from three delicious local side dishes that the group 3:30-5pm at the Lynden Library, 216 4th St. If Enjoy a five-course family style meal, .13 50

will devour together. Suggested donation is whipping up something tasty to eat and talking # $25; please register in advance. about books interests your kids, have them featuring timeless classics and B-Town originals! WWW.CHUCKANUTCENTER.ORG check it out. (360) 354-4883 PORT TASTING: Chad Slansky from C & G imports MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY will provide visitors with a winter warmup at an THURS., DEC. 20 “Exploring Port” tasting from 2-4pm at Siefert & HOLIDAY INCOGNITO: Bring tacky kitchen, 360.392.6502 Jones Wine Merchants, 19 Prospect St. Chad will cooking and hostess-related gifts to exchange be focusing on the Kopke and Rocha port houses. and enjoy a six-course dinner at an annual “In- CASCADIA WEEKLY Entry is free and open to all adults 21 and older. cognito: White Elephant” event starting at 6pm WWW.SJWINEMERCHANTS.COM at Ciao Thyme, 207 Unity St. In addition to eat- 31 ing an amazing meal whose details are concealed TAMALE DINNER: Attend a Tamale Dinner Fun- until they’re on your plate, the group will vote on draiser from 6-9pm at Community to Community the tackiest gift for a prize Entry is $92. Development, 203 W. Holly St., suite #311. The WWW.CIAOTHYME.COM AN EVENING WITH ELI YOUNG BAND FEBRUARY 8 & 9 • 8PM

MIDLIFE CRISIS & THE OLSON THE ALIMONY HORNS BROTHERS BAND 12/14 & 12/15 12/21 & 12/22 CLASSIC ROCK COUNTRY

C A SINO • R E SORT theskagit.com • On I-5 at Exit 236 • 877-275-2448 Must be 21 or older with valid ID. Details at Rewards Club. Management reserves all rights. ©2018 Upper Skagit Indian Tribe dba Skagit Valley Casino Resort.