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FEBRUARY | MARCH CONTENTS LIFESTYLE

FEATURE

19

recycled art

44

bringing it back: the recycled remodel

20

by the numbers

53

home and remodel

21

lasting image

81

Premier homes Special advertising Section

23

calendar February & march

25

in the Know royce Buckingham

DINE

25

Wonder Woman rose Lathrop

87

Beach Store Cafe

26

in the Know San Juan Islands museum of art

89

dining Guide

27

in the Know Skagit opera

92

Mixing tin Jesse Parker

27

apps We love

93

sip vartanyan Winery

28

community Wild Whatcom

95

seven Great tastes

29

book reviews

29

Who Knew?

30

five faves Local aphrodisiacs

32

spotlight artist Donna auer

SHOP 35

ragfinery

36

necessities Love Letters

38

savvy shopper Betty Lou’s Downtown emporium

AGENDA 97

featured event Children of the Civil rights

100

around town Lisa mcShane

102

out of town Cezanne at the vancouver art gallery

103

the scene The WCar Fire and Ice gala

NOTES 10

editor’s letter

15

letters to the editor

WELLBEING

16

Meet a staffer alyssa Wolfe

40

104

final Word

beauty Creating a Date Night Look

BEAUTIFUL NORTH SOUND HOMES

9 SHOWER INSPIRATIONS

CREATING SANCTUARY SPACE

For ideas, inspiration and resources, the Seattle Home Show is February 14–22 at CenturyLink Field, and the Whatcom Home and Garden Show sponsored by the BIAWC is March 6–8 at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden.

February | March 2015

5

NOTES On the Web

Be sure to check us out at:

northsoundlife.com All new features detailed on the following page...

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Do you have an event that you would like our readers to know about?

Northsoundlife.com now offers an events calendar where viewers can search by venue, event type or city.

Go to northsoundlife.com/events and submit your event today. Once your event has been approved by our editorial staff it is live.

Online EXCLUSIVE Read our complete interview with Wonder Woman Rose Lathrop.

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the History & Culture of the Tulalip Tribes

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We welcome all to visit and share the history of our ancestors through the voices of our people. We encourage school groups to tour our galleries, explore our longhouse, and interactive displays. For more information on activities and group events please visit our website.

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February | March 2015

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NOTES Editor's Letter

When a Building is Not Just a Building

10

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we love about our community, and her hard work to make it even better.

Former neighborhood activist Donna Auer, who has also clocked many hours to create a better Bellingham, is our Spotlight Artist and breaking new ground in painting. We showcase the beautiful work of local architects and builders, and we celebrate the beautiful craftsmanship of recycled art, with a special thanks to Graham Schodda who helped spark ideas and supplied resources for the article. On a side note, we’re also introducing Ken’s alter-ego, Dame Loretta. I somehow always knew the Real Ken would appear…

I always say we’re fortunate to live in a place that invests so much in a sense of community, and it’s my goal to make every issue a celebration of that spirit. Thank you for being a part of it!

Cheers,

49198

I

love architecture and design.

Architecture houses our souls, our histories, our dreams, our lost youths, our passions our traumas.

It’s impossible not to feel the sadness and longing of Mad King Ludwig when walking through Neuschwanstein Castle or the hunger and conviction of pilgrims at the Cathedral of St. Denis in Paris or the screams of the crowd at the Colosseum that are now echoed in the meows and howls of its many feral cats.

When I was in high school, a friend of mine picked me up in his Mustang convertible. We’d fly down country roads and up long poplar-lined driveways, arriving on the porches of the most beautiful antebellum houses in the south. He would either make arrangements with absentee homeowners, chat up real estate agents or know of an unlocked door around back. He would point out ghosts of old doorways, the perfect miter joint in crown molding, the small etchings of diamond rings into wavy glass commemorating engagements and love affairs. In the spirit of Ray, and all those who love architecture, we offer you this special Home and Remodel issue, which brings together some of the best in homebuilding, construction and preservation that we have in our area, from the loving restoration of Karin Rousseau’s 1904 Victorian to the powerful lines and graceful atrium of Dan Nelson’s Skagit Valley Farmstead.

Additionally, we feature Rose Lathrop of Sustainable Connections as our Wonder Woman for her passion for placemaking, her love of architecture, her dedication to preserving what

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NOTES Contributors

Ashley Thomasson Ashley is the owner of Love Beauty, a makeup artistry company based in Whatcom County.

Specializing in weddings, events, and makeup for photography, Ashley strives to create looks with her clients that reflect their personality and natural beauty. When she is not behind her brushes, Ashley can be seen serving on the Whatcom Coalition to End Homelessness, experimenting in her kitchen, and finding any excuse to share good food with friends. lovebeautybellingham.com  p. 41

Zacchoreli Frescobadli-Grimaldi Zacchoreli grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and has lived in Bellingham with his partner of 17 years and their two zany dogs. He is a Cordon Bleu Chef, has a master’s degree in English Studies from Western Washington University, and is a grant writer for a non-profit organization. He and his partner enjoy wine, traveling and anything that has to do with the culinary arts.  p. 93

Tanna Edler OWNER of TANNA BY DESIGN (www. tannabydesign.com) specializes in residential and commercial remodels and new construction design.

Tanna has received three top awards from the National Interior Design Society Association and was named their 2012 and 2013 DESIGNER OF THE YEAR. Additionally, she was voted NorthSound Life 2013’s and 2014’s BEST of the NORTHWEST Interior Designer.  p. 56

Tom Campbell Tom Campbell was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and discovered Bellingham in the early ‘90s while backpacking north to the fishing grounds of Alaska. A resident for 16 years, Tom worked as a commercial diver before returning to professional cycling as a team mechanic. His cat, Scooter, has given him career advice during his entire time in Bellingham.  p. 35

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Publications Bellingham Alive North Sound Life North End Metro

President/Publisher Lisa Karlberg editor Frances Badgett art director Kelly Slater account executives Christine Biernacki | Kaelen Morris Wendy Clark | Regan Parenton

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editorial assistant Kathryn Kozowski

Writers Kyla Rohde | Joanna Nesbit | Jill D. Twist

contributors Tanna Edler | Tom Campbell Ashley Thomasson | Zacchoreli FrescobadliGrimaldi

office ManaGeMent Kelli Reynolds

Proofreader Pat Karlberg

corPorate office K & L Media, Inc. 909 Squalicum Way, Ste. 110 Bellingham, WA 98225 klmediacorp.com

snohoMish county office 6100 219th St. S.W., Ste. 480 Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

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Cover Image Inside Wildwood Cottages on Lake Whatcom Š Diane Padys Photography

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Letters to the Editor

HealtH

NOTES

Cheers to Health Bellingham Alive’s special Health issue was incredible! I got so many tips and ideas from reading it. Thanks for the great work!

Tips for EaTing ClEan guidE To HEalTHy skin

–Elizabeth H., via email

fiTnEss inspiraTion

I tried the desk workout in your Health and Wellness issue, and now my arms hurt! It was a tough workout! Thank you for getting me in shape. OW!

MEdiCal rEsourCEs

Love the Magazine This is a beautiful magazine. I read every issue cover-to-cover and never miss one. Your photography is so rich, and the articles are so interesting.

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Congratulations to Michael Dean and Sue Henefin for winning our recent Facebook contests! They came closest to predicting the Seahawks’ score, and each won a $20 gift certificate to Slo-Pitch Sports Grill & Casino. Like us on Facebook and watch for upcoming contests!

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February | March 2015

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NOTES Meet a Staffer Every issue we highlight an employee of North Sound Life.

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What is your role at the magazine and how long have you been with K & L Media?

I started at K&L Media in July 2014 as a staff writer for North End Metro. After a few issues I became the Associate Editor. I work out of Snohomish County exploring and writing about all of the incredible things there are to do in the area, and about the community. I am currently working on building a team of writers and photographers in the North End as the magazine continues to grow and thrive.

What is your background?

I am a native of Snohomish County, and grew up in the charming town of Edmonds. I spent some time between rounds of college traveling the world, working fascinating jobs and living in the sunny Southwest. When it came time to settle, I ended up back in the beautiful Northwest. I recently brushed up my education with an Editing Certificate from the University of Washington and have spent the last few years happily writing and editing as a freelancer.

What is your favorite part of working for a regional lifestyle magazine?

There is nothing I love more than to learn about the region I live in. Every day is an adventure, and I get to meet new people, try new restaurants and shop at new stores. My job allows me to share all of that with our

readers — and do it with the help of a fantastic and talented team that has been wonderful to work with. Even after visiting many exciting places around the nation and world, I still feel lucky to call Snohomish County home.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I have so many hobbies and interests that I don’t think I’ll ever be bored. If I had to give my top few I’d have to say travel and play with my amazing family, music, riding horses (just call me the urban cowgirl), gardening (my Dad will give me grief on that one), cooking, any outdoor activities (especially that involve running), photography and, of course, writing. I am also thrilled to be a part of North End Metro and K&L Media. 

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Lifestyle In The Know · Calendar · Spotlight Artist · 5 Faves

Begin Again Recycled Art

Written by Frances Badgett

T

he impulse to restore old furniture, to find value in the discarded, to resurrect the rusted out, to elevate trash into functionality, maybe even art — is a passionate one. In the old days, the dumpster-divers and junk men were seen as goofy guys in crumbling trucks, typified by Fred Sanford on the hit TV show Sanford and Son. But as with old neighborhoods that are now finding renewal, castoff chunks of kitchens and bath remodels, old barns and even giant bridges are sought-after treasures.

Students, artists, environmentalists and creatives of all stripes comb through shops of old hardware, carefully extracted single-pane windows and old plywood for sculpture, paintings and art projects of all sizes.

Artist Graham Schodda’s work encompasses many different tones and styles, from his whimsical ray guns that look like something from the original Flash Gordon movie and toasters made to look like antique roadsters, to delicately etched salmon into antique stainless steel refrigerator doors.

Schodda works primarily with salvaged metals. “A lot of the old stainless steel appliances from 15 years ago are starting to fail, and that’s an opportunity for me.” Appliance resellers and recyclers keep things for Schodda, although he also likes to hunt on his own. “There’s nothing like going to a junkyard and finding some fantastic old thing and repurposing it.”

Schodda chose salmon for their significance to the Pacific Northwest. “I really have to study the fish, to know the continued on page 24 … fin structure and the silhouette.”

Victoria Roberts

We Speak to where you live.

LIFESTYLE By the Numbers

95

percent of Graham Schodda's artwork is made of recycled materials. pg. 24

100

Ragfinery has had BRINGING IT BACK The Recycled Upcycle DONNA AUER In the Spotlight BEACH STORE CAFE Goes local

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2015 DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 31 $3.99 US • $4.99 CAN

volunteers pass through its doors.

HEALTH

pg. 37

TIPS FOR EATING CLEAN GUIDE TO HEALTHY SKIN

Karina Rousseau remodeled a Victorian in Bellingham.

FITNESS INSPIRATION MEDICAL RESOURCES

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Chuckanut Builders expanded a window to be

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1904

pg. 46

feet wide in a kitchen remodel.

10 7 pg. 78

DECEMBER 2014 DISPLAY UNTIL DECEMBER 31

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Beach Store Cafe is a

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Your local lifestyle magazine with national recognition.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! $15 a year or $25 for two years.

Digital editions available for Canadian residents. Online at northsoundlife.com or 360.483.4576 x4

minute ferry ride from downtown pg. 87

Lisa McShane debuts her new paintings at Lucia Douglas Gallery on February pg. 100

20 NorthSoundLife.com

Lasting Image

LIFESTYLE

“We owe it to the fields that our houses will not be the inferiors of the virgin land they have replaced. We owe it to the worms and the trees that the buildings we cover them with will stand as promises of the highest and most intelligent kinds of happiness.”

Alain de Botton, The Architecture of Happiness

February | March 2015 21

© 2014 CBS Studios, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2014 20th Century Fox, Inc All rights reserved. © 2014 Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

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Calendar

LIFESTYLE

february & march February

5

Western Reads: Panel on The Boys in the Boat Village Books February 5, 7 p.m. villagebooks.com

february

Leslie Johnson and Andrea Rackl Firehouse Performing Arts Center February 28, 4 p.m. andrearackl.com

28

february

12

Sketchopedia by Krissa Woiwod iDiOM Theater February 12, 7:30 p.m. idiomtheater.com

MoNA Style Museum of Northwest Art March 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. monamuseum.org

March

14 march

Roller Betties Sportsplex March 21, 4 p.m. bellinghamrollerbetties.com

february

14

Romeo and Juliet: The Musical Lincoln Theatre February 14, 7:30 p.m. lincolntheatre.org

21

february

21

The Flying Karamazov Brothers McIntyre Hall February 21, 7:30 p.m. mcintyrehall.org

march

Mama Mia! Mount Baker Theatre March 30, 7:30 p.m. mountbakertheatre.com

30 February | March 2015 23

LIFESTYLE In the Know ... continued from page 19

Graham Schodda

Karin Mueller

Edgar L. Smith, IV

Graham Schodda

24 NorthSoundLife.com

Ninety-five percent of his work is recycled from discarded objects.

Another artist who draws inspiration from the ocean is Victoria Roberts. Using sea glass and precious metals, she creates beautiful jewelry and ornaments with a nautical theme.

“I collect most of the sea glass myself,” she said. It all began for her when she moved to California in 2007. She had discovered sea glass, and a friend of hers invited her along to make jewelry with it. “I was hooked.” She went on to take Intensive Fabrication at Revere Academy. She left her day job over three years ago to create jewelry full-time, and stays connected to the greater sea glass community through two juried festivals — one in Santa Cruz, CA and one in Cayucos, CA. Her work is available at the Lightcatcher museum shop, at the gift shop at Semiahmoo Resort and at Mystical Mermaid in Anacortes.

“I love that you can take something that is trash and Mother Nature has polished and create something beautiful.” Roberts is a member of the Bellingham Metalworkers Guild, which offers networking and classes to the community.

Sky, rather than sea-inspired, Edgar Smith recycles parts of planes and aviation into décor and art pieces in a series he calls Aviture. Working with discarded airplane windows, engine mounts, struts and other parts that he gets in aviation bone yards, he transforms the pieces into beautiful furniture and decor. He has had a lifelong love of aviation, and this work is an homage to the beauty and grace of flight. His motto is “Giving old aircraft new vectors.” In an earthier contrast, Smith also works with wine barrels in a series he calls Save-aStave to create gorgeous votive candle holders from staves, or a lovely cork lazy Susan using a barrel hoop filled with artfully arranged corks. Save-aStave began when he bought a wine barrel on a whim. It sat in his shop for several months when a friend suggested he make some stave art. He made his

first piece from that barrel, and was hooked. “I love doing something that’s never been done before and I like doing it well.”

One of the great attractions at the annual Allied Holiday Festival of the Arts is the work of Karin Mueller.

Her assemblages and clocks are both thought-provoking and whimsical, part sculpture and part shrine. She also does textile transfers and wall hangings in addition to her collages.

“Since childhood, I’ve always put stuff together. Later, my neighbor was Kathy Barstow, a found object artist, and I’d help her and get trade for it. I learned how to use the tools — a table saw, a drill. And now it’s my thing.” Mueller gathers pieces from antique stores, thrift shops, the RE Store and from friends. “I told my neighbor I found a huge bunch of rusty wire at a yard sale, and she said ‘only you would be excited about rusty wire.’ Oh yeah,” Mueller said, “It takes a long time and a lot of effort to rust something. You have to stick it outside, and wait for the weather.” She places the objects into separate tubs. “I have several tubs going,” she said. She has a natural eye for the potential of the object when she sees it. “When I see something, I know I can use it, but I don’t always know what for.” Some assemblages take a year to come to fruition. Other artists give her objects as well. “Graham Schodda gave me a pair of legs recently that I’m going to use.” Her assemblages are well balanced and not too cluttered.

She keeps the integrity of the objects while juxtaposing disparate elements.

“My new series is called Dysfunctional Tables. I’m going to make tables that don’t actually work as tables from Ouija Boards and vintage trays.”

There is such satisfaction in creating the unexpected from trash, in producing something worthwhile from a discard bin. These artists see the beauty and potential in the lowliest objects and spin them into form and angle, whimsy and style. We are rich with this style of art here, and for that, we are so fortunate. 

Wonder Woman

Royce Buckingham Wins award Local author Royce Buckingham has won the 2014 Washington State Sasquatch Book Award for Best Children’s Book for his novel The Dead Boys. The local author has specialized in the fantasy genre, but he is branching out into young adult fiction with his novel Terminals and a legal thriller for adults. The novel, titled Impasse, is the story of a man who retreats to the Alaskan wildnerness for soulsearching and ends up abandoned, alone and at the point of starvation.

Buckingham is a prosecuting attorney in Whatcom County.

Written By Frances BAdgett

Rose Lathrop

P

assionate, community-minded and up for a challenge, Huxley graduate Rose Lathrop has dedicated her career to sustainable planning and design. A former employee at Aiki Homes, which specializes in sustainable, green and co-housing development, Lathrop made a change in 2012 and became the Green Building and Smart Growth program manager at Sustainable Connections. She is also the executive director of the Northwest Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Their mission statement reads, “NWAIA exists to support and promote the design profession as an essential component of creating a clean and prosperous future for all; we demonstrate the value of design through education, inspiration and example.” That mission statement applies to Lathrop as well. Upon taking her first class in urban planning she said, “I wanted to have a real impact and urban design is not only a mechanism for environmental change, but something that can be beautiful and transformative and can make a person fall in love with a place.”

Her work with the NWAIA dovetails perfectly with her work at Sustainable Connections, and demonstrates her solid dedication to creating a more beautiful and functional community.

After college, Lathrop got interested in architecture, given that buildings are an essential component to the built environment. “There are a couple of basic tenants in green building — it must be beautiful or it won’t be loved, and it must be built with quality or it won’t last.” Placemaking, creating a lovable environment, giving us a community we all invest in and care about — these are recurring themes with Rose. Currently, she’s working on a new initiative through

her work with Sustainable Connections called KAPOW!, a placemaking design competition. KAPOW!’s goals are to enliven corners of downtown with unique touches, like the parking spaces that were converted into mini-parks a few years ago. “It is going to provide us with a portfolio of ideas both big and small that can help Bellingham stay unique and interesting and help bring more vitality to downtown.”

Lathrop feels that the biggest challenge — and opportunity — facing our community right now is the updating of the city comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood strategic plan done through the neighborhood planning process by boards of volunteers. A daunting task, it is also a very important part of defining how Bellingham will — or will not — grow in the future. “I am very interested in helping our community identify opportunities for infill, change the perception of development and help to make Bellingham a vibrant, healthy community.”  February | March 2015 25

LIFESTYLE In the Know

A New Draw to the San Juan Islands Written and photographed by Jill D. Twist

T

he Pacific Northwest art scene is about to take a permanent island detour. From February 14 to May 13, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art — known as IMA — will feature internationally recognized glass artist, William Morris, at its opening show. For the previous decade, IMA has attracted award-winning artists from the US and beyond to exhibit in whatever space it temporarily called home. Now with an ultra-modern home of its own, IMA is eager to decorate its 20-foot-high glass atrium and interior gallery space with world-class art to rival that of any city’s art scene.

Past the ferry landing at Friday Harbor, past the outdoor sculptures and the galleries, past the collage of nature and architecture, is IMA — the first fine art museum on the San Juan Islands. But that’s not the only reason why IMA is turning heads. “The design looks like it belongs in a big city,” said one local resident. Exactly the point, said the team of staff and artists behind IMA. The building’s unique design is “literally edgy,” said Executive Director of IMA Board of Trustees, Charlie Bodenstab. “It’s meant to be interesting from all angles.” The repurposed emergency medical building has all the drama of a show-stopping art venue, without the costly add-ons common in other museums. Instead of a café or gift shop, resources were spent erecting the east-facing glass atrium at the front of IMA. With streams of ever-changing natural light, the glass surface acts like a two-story tall painting of the surrounding scenery.

26 NorthSoundLife.com

But the drama doesn’t stop there. “The [interior] space will transform with each show,” said IMA Marketing Director, Rebecca Parks. Shifting walls and changing colors might be common practice for larger art museums, but at IMA, even small changes have a big effect. And considering that IMA does not own a permanent collection, the only constant element at this museum will be its constant reinvention.

It’s no wonder that IMA chose the culturally diverse glass sculptures by William Morris for its opening show. Morris’ sculptures offer a unique mix of ancient civilizations where he takes his inspiration, and his own fresh perspective — just as IMA offers a fresh perspective on an already rich island art scene.

Along with a fresh outlook, IMA will continue to bring big-name artists to the island. Following Morris’ show, IMA will feature the marine photography of Susan Middleton, who was featured recently in New York Times and Smithsonian.

But even big names and an edgy building won’t change IMA’s small-town heart. With free admission every day, IMA brings fine art to more than art lovers and collectors. “[IMA] is for the kayakers and campers on a rainy day,” Park said.

“It’s for [local] kids to grow up knowing what an art museum is.” IMA will also be a place to discover new artists, from the local artist whose studio is deep in the woods, to the artist who emerges out of IMA’s workshops. In short, IMA adds a whole new draw to the San Juan Islands. 

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written by Frances Badgett

I

n January, the Skagit Opera performed at Lairmont Manor in Bellingham for the first time. One of the missions of the Skagit Opera, which has been in operation since 2003, is to spread an appreciation to new audiences, in addition to serving well the audience they have already established. “Most of our audience members come from Bellingham and surrounding areas, so it makes sense to have performances there,” said opera director Dr. Mitchell Kahn. The challenges of acoustics, parking and other logistics make Bellingham a tough place for opera.

Some spaces are too big, some too small, some have inadequate parking. But for the string ensemble-accompanied Aida, Lairmont was an excellent choice.

The Skagit Opera is mainly volunteer-run, though the company members are paid professionals. It can be difficult to keep the company assembled. Kahn told me about his difficulty in getting a tenor for Rigoletto.

The tenor he had cast left for another job, and a second tenor was selected. He died at the age of 35 of a heart attack.

The Skagit Opera flew in a third tenor from New York, who came down with laryngitis and dropped out two weeks before the show. Eventually, Kahn found a tenor, but that kind of shuffling and

switching is not unusual — and is very stressful — for a small opera company.

The Skagit Opera is lucky to have Dr. Kahn on board. Dr. Kahn spent his career in New York as the House Doctor for the Metropolitan Opera and moved out here for the quieter pace. In addition to being Skagit Opera’s director since 2011, he also runs a medical practice. “I still have a lot of contacts in New York, and I can draw on those resources.” Dr. Kahn also mentioned that singers who haven’t performed on main stage in companies in New York and other major areas don’t have many opportunities to perform. “If you’re going to perform in a major production, you have to have performed in a production before.”

Some of the performers from the Skagit Opera have gone onto very successful careers, including tenor Tony Kalil, whose second performance ever was with the Skagit Opera.

“We try to use local people as much as possible,” Dr. Kahn said.

“Western Washington University has a great theater department. We try to give students singing roles and we let them understudy the major roles.”

For young performers, the Skagit Opera is a great beginning. The next performance is La Cenerentola by Rossini, the story of Cinderella. 

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February | March 2015 27

LIFESTYLE Community

Wild Whatcom Written by Kathryn Kozowski

F

ew experiences rival the enthusiasm children bring to exploring the outdoors — whether they’re climbing rocks, exploring mosscovered trees, hunting for seashells on the beach or running along trails. At Wild Whatcom, a non-profit in downtown Bellingham, kids are taken on instructor-led adventures into the wilderness where they are encouraged to cultivate that energy and curiosity toward the world around them, while being taught to approach the earth with restraint, awareness and respect.

It started in 2004 when nature enthusiast Aimee Frazier began leading her children on nature outings. Word spread of these educational outdoor treks, more children (and their excited parents) joined the group, and it soon became clear that many people in Bellingham were craving more time outdoors. The seed was planted, and in 2011 Wild Whatcom was born.

Wild Whatcom offers a wide variety of programs. Their most extensive, Explorer’s Club, has separate expedition groups for boys and girls, each containing a different age range. These expeditions include day hikes around local nature spots and multi-day backpacking trips in the North Cascades. The clubs are led by experienced mentors who teach the kids strategies for remaining safe and aware in their surroundings — all the while

28 NorthSoundLife.com

hiking, frolicking and playing group games. This organization encourages kids to collaborate, compromise and make decisions as a team, while immersing themselves in the great outdoors.

“A big part of our mission is the transformative growth that takes place within each child as they explore and learn,” explained Emily Highleyman, Executive Director of Wild Whatcom. She has been involved with the organization since 2009, when her daughter began participating in the group nature outings and Emily was able to witness the remarkable effect it had on her. “There is something magical in the combination of nature, community and service that Wild Whatcom brings together,” she said. “By building a generation of caring, connected youth who cherish nature and have the skills to work collaboratively, I truly believe we are changing the world.” It was this passion that compelled Highleyman to become a part of the Wild Whatcom team.

Wild Whatcom’s website offers blog posts detailing past expeditions, and registration pages for future nature treks. Many of their outings require pre-registration, and they fill up quickly!

Wild Whatcom receives much of their funding through donations and fundraisers, and you can support their wonderful organization by following the donation link on their homepage. 

In the Know

Book Reviews

LIFESTYLE

written by Frances Badgett

Architecture. Design. The elements that come together to make living space more livable. These two distinguished books celebrate built forms and the creativity that goes into great design.

Elements

by Rem Koolhaas and Stephen Petermann 2336 pages Marsilio; Box edition, 2014

This complete (and beautiful) set of books illustrates the history of architecture through the basic elements: balcony, archway, corridor, façade, the stair, etc., and demonstrates both the evolution of these elements and their enduring presence in architecture throughout history. Pritzker Prizewinning Koolhaas was the principal architect behind The Seattle Public Library. This project was part of the Biennale di Venezia in 2014. Designed by legendary book designer Irma Boom.

Hans J. Wegner: Just One Good Chair

By Christian Homstadt Olesen and Mark Massari 256 pages Hatje Cantz, 2014

Wegner was obsessed with chairs.

He designed more than 500 chairs in his lifetime, including some common contemporary forms we see today. He designed his crowning achievement, The Flag Halyard Chair, while at the beach.

He was looking for the perfect way to semi-recline and yet still see the children playing in the ocean. Indeed, the chair is a semi-recliner with a steel frame.

This book is a philosophical as well as historical look at Wegner’s aesthetic and sensibility while also being a love poem to the humble chair.

February 19, 8 p.m.

Write Right Poetry Slam Honeymoon Meads 1053 North State St. Alley, Bellingham Honeymoonmeads.com Sign up and perform your poetry with Bellingham’s best. Poets at any stage in their career are encouraged to compete in the slam. Poems can be no longer than 3 minutes, can’t involve props, and must be original to the author.

March 11, 1 p.m.

Afternoon Book Chat Village Books 1200 11th St., Bellingham Villagebooks.com The featured book for this chat is Orphan Train, a novel by Christina Baker Kline. The story, set at the turn of the 20th century, is about the orphan trains that ran from the East Coast to the West carrying children who were awaiting adoption. The book is available at Village Books for purchase. The author does not attend the chat.

Who Knew?

The Lincoln Connection The George Bacon House on Eldridge Avenue in Bellingham was designed by George’s cousin, Henry Bacon, who designed the Lincoln Memorial. Henry Bacon also designed the gates at the University of Virginia, the Danforth Memorial Library in Patterson, New Jersey, among many other monumental buildings. George Bacon was a real estate salesman. The Greek Revival

house, built in 1906, typifies Henry Bacon’s neoclassical style.

celebrations, including the launching of new ships from the shipyard.

Castle on the Bluff

Lions and Tigers and Barns

Archibald Talbot bought Bellingham Bay Shipyards in the 1940s and founded Bellingham Cold Storage, which is family-owned by the Talbots to this day. His family purchased the Carr House on Eldridge because it overlooked the shipyards. They used the house for events and

According to the Skagit Historical Society, the Henry Gay Barn was sold to W.H. Bratz in 1945 for $2500 to house lions, tigers, exotic birds and other exotic animals. The English gambrel barn was built in 1934 and is located at 20274 Stackpole Road.

Loganita Lodge on Lummi In the early 1900s, C.R. “Chan” Granger built Loganita Lodge on Lummi Island. Loganita was a popular resort near Point Migley.

Now a private residence and farm, Loganita supplies The Willows Inn with fresh produce from its farms and gardens. The Grangers who live on Lummi today are descended from Chan and his wife.

February | March 2015 29

LIFESTYLE Five Faves

1

Oysters

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Five Local Faves

Aphrodisiacs

2

Chili Peppers

COA Mexican Eatery Mount Vernon

Genuine Mexican can be tough to come by, but COA brings it.

As mild or spicy as you like, enjoy their chile relleno to bring a little extra heat into your date night. Liven things up with a margarita. coaeatery.com

3

Pumpkin Seeds

La Fiamma's House Salad Bellingham

It’s easy to get carried away by the perfectly fired, delicious pizzas at La Fiamma, but the dinner salad with toasted pumpkin seeds should not be overlooked. lafiamma.com

4

Figs

The Table's Charcuterie and Cheese Platter (fig compote) Bellingham

Ah, the yonic fig. Noted for also being the only clothing in the Garden of Eden, figs are not only potent, they are delicious. Enjoy this fresh and sweet compote with cheese and meat and a nice glass of wine. See where the evening leads. bellinghampasta.com

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Chocolate

Fresco Chocolate Bellingham

From the Latin word for, appropriately, fresh, Fresco is the perfect name for these velvety, delicious treats. Using only three ingredients — cocoa, cocoa butter and cane sugar — these chocolatiers carefully craft some of the best chocolate in town. frescochocolate.com

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February | March 2015 31

LIFESTYLE In the Spotlight

Driven to Abstraction written by Frances Badgett

S

he was always a painter, but when Donna Auer joined some friends for a guided painting tour of Italy organized through the former (and much loved) Blue Horse Gallery, she didn’t know that she would actually have to paint, too. “They said that was part of the deal. You got to go to Italy, but you had to produce work from the trip.” She made seven paintings, all of which sold upon her return.

Realizing that she wanted to paint full-time, she then gave nine months’ notice to her colleagues and patients in her psychotherapy practice, and dedicated herself to the brush-and-canvas. She painted twenty-three pieces of Lake Padden in fall and winter, all of which sold. She has since been in one-woman shows and group shows at the former Blue Horse Gallery and at Lucia Douglas Gallery.

After years of doing landscapes and familiar scenes of Whatcom, Auer has completely changed her style. “I took a hiatus from painting, and when I came back, I changed my style. I’m going into the difficult art of abstraction.” Without the familiar forms of trees, mountains and lakes, Auer is going to strike out into bold, new territory. “I’m interested in the contemplation, in the direct-access and process-oriented painting. I’m interested in seeing what comes out.”

The process for Auer is similar in some ways — she consumes art images, reads art magazines, looks at art books, goes to galleries and travels to see great art. But the internal process, the contemplation and rendering, is completely new. “Everything I know about art is in my subconscious, but I don’t know what the outcome

32 NorthSoundLife.com

is yet.” The shift brings her a lot of excitement.

“I still see beautiful landscapes, I just don’t want to paint them anymore.” Auer says that her goal is to work with more intention. She has a strong educational foundation in calligraphy, painting, art history and all the classic techniques. “You have to know that foundation first,” she said. This is her first year of doing only abstracts and thinking exclusively about abstract painting.

“It’s a bit like writing, in which you take a sentence and then extrapolate. I create as I go, using the marks that I choose, and then build on those, and continue to build on those, until it’s finished.” The hardest part of any artistic endeavor is in completing a piece. “The finishing and liking is the tricky part.” Auer had just finished a painting when we spoke. “I don’t know how I know it’s finished, I just know that it is. I just suddenly know it’s done.” And this is where she seeks intention, where she looks for clarity. The intuitive process of abstraction is so far from the sturdy shores of a lake painting. And yet, she is finding herself very happy here. “It’s exciting.”

It is telling that Auer studied calligraphy, for her mark-making is very calligraphic in style. If she seeks intention in her work, it’s in these marks that the viewer sees it — in the deliberate and bold way they shape the paintings. For her, the process really comes down to trust — trusting herself to make it work, trusting her background and experience and trusting the eye of the beholder to appreciate, understand and enjoy the work she has created. To see more of her work go to donnaauer.com. 

February | March 2015 33

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SHOP Savvy Shopper · Necessities · Around the Sound

Beauty & Function: Ragfinery WRITTEN BY TOM CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHED BY KATHRYN KOZOWSKI

P

icture a vibrant new store that takes Bellingham’s collective passion for reusing and repurposing in a new, untapped direction. What a wonderfully cluttered used bookstore is to boxes of lonely books in your attic, Ragfinery is to those bags of clothes, jars of buttons, and McCall’s bell-bottom patterns you stumble over while trying to reach those boxes with the books…only without the clutter, musty smell and paper cuts.

Ragfinery, located downtown at 1421 Forest Street, opened its doors last April, the second “Jobs from Waste” program from the non-profit group ReUse Works. ReUse Works’ first store, Appliance Depot, opened in 2005 as a jobstraining business, giving new life to old kitchen and laundry equipment by giving real job skills and hands-on experience to those who needed a chance. And Ragfinery is continuing that mission by targeting a more common form of household refuse — clothing.

continued on page 37

…

SHOP

Necessities

1

Necklace with Pendants

1

$12.95, H&M Bellingham

2

Beaded Box Clutch $49.99, Zara.com

Love Letters Write it down, spell it out, whisper it in front of a sunset, send your darling a little romance this Valentine's Day. From soft sweaters to kissable lips, your cutie will love a little something sweet.

7

3

5

Printed Dress $49.99, Zara.com

Heart-Shaped Sunglasses $5.90, Forever 21 Bellingham

Purl-knit Sweater $17.95, H&M Bellingham

4 6 36 NorthSoundLife.com

Posiebalm hydrating tinted lip balm by Benefit Cosmetics 4-pack Bracelets

$18, Macy's Bellingham

$5.95, H&M Bellingham

Join us on

for even more good ideas!

…

continued from page 35

Ragfinery answers the vital questions “What kind of person looks at a discarded Dutch army uniform and sees a luxury pet bed?” or “Is it okay to make a fragrant, lavender sachet out of a vintage Night Ranger tour t-shirt?” A nexus of beauty, and conscious living, Ragfinery offers a clean environment, an organized selection, and a friendly staff to help you with any project you can dream up — and perhaps some that you haven’t yet dared.

By manager Shan Spalding’s count, close to 100 volunteers have passed through Ragfinery’s doors, some gaining valuable experience to put on their resumes and others enjoying a way to serve their community. On a recent afternoon, Deming native Skye Henterly and long-time resident Marian Methner were both organizing items from that morning’s donation sort-a-thon. “You came in at just the right time,” Marian declared with a smile.

“We just got the piles put away!”

Skye, an AmeriCorps volunteer, explained to me how Ragfinery works. First, clothing is donated both from individuals who drop off items in the collection container in front of the store and from business partners, including local thrift stores and consignment shops, who donate collected items that can’t be sold or have languished on their shelves too long. Twice a week, this mass of clothing, accessories, notions and textiles is sorted by the manager and volunteers. Items are separated into bins labeled by fabric; cordura, silk, cashmere, hats, yarn and leather are just a few of over two dozen labels. These labels are color coded into an easy “price per pound” system that removes guesswork at checkout. Put your

selections on the scale, pay the nice person and you’re done!

Beyond the wonderful collection of reasonably priced recycled textiles that would turn the heads of any quilter, sewer, leatherworker, or multi-media artist, Ragfinery is putting a great deal of energy into the promotion of upcycling, or converting old garments into new or better quality apparel.

In addition to renting sewing machine space for $10.00 or less a day, they offer regular workshops to teach anyone the skills to start upcycling. Four to twelve workshops are offered per month with a constantly changing schedule. Basic skills such as beginning sewing and crocheting are offered as well as the more creative “Fingerless Gloves & Hats from Sweaters” and “Market Tote Bags.”

The future is wide open to the opportunities upcycling can create. There are discussions with local brewers to rework barley and hops bags into tote bags that can then be sold alongside beer growlers. Other chances to give new life to items once thrown into landfills should quickly follow the trend. “The more people we can get upcycling, the stronger the concept will take hold,” said Shan.

“And the less waste we’ll have.”

In a world of seemingly endless consumption and disposal, Bellingham is quietly finding new ways to reduce waste. Ragfinery is the latest player in a local tradition of showing folks creative and fun ways to get more life out of their stuff.

Ragfinery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10–5. Information about their mission and how you can get involved can be found at their website, ragfinery.com. 

February | March 2015 37

SHOP Savvy Shopper

Betty Lou's Downtown Emporium WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY KATHRYN KOZOWSKI

109 W. Magnolia St., Bellingham 360.752.0670

THE SHOP What I first notice when stepping into Betty Lou’s Downtown Emporium, other than the flowing skirts and cozy sweaters, is a feeling of being transported to somewhere calm, mature and a little bit exotic. To my left are displays full of dresses, skirts, sweaters and tops in warm earth tones with occasional bright colors. As I walk deeper into the shop, the selection begins to change, bringing to light much more colorful items. In the back, I find an exciting assortment of vintage-style clothing and accessories.

ATMOSPHERE Betty Lou’s Downtown Emporium provides an exciting selection of stylish, sophisticated and vintage looks. The walls are decorated with paintings, decoupage and quotes, lending the store an artistic atmosphere. Many of the displays and racks are repurposed materials from the RE Store, lending Betty Lou’s a funky, off-beat vibe.

KEY PEOPLE This store is owned by Betty Theiler and managed by a handful of women who have been working at the shop for many years. They are very knowledgeable when it comes

to the store’s selection and eager to help visitors find just the items they are looking for.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND Much of the success of Betty Lou’s Downtown Emporium can be attributed to its unique selection and the dedication of its owner, Betty Theiler. Each year Betty travels to Asia and spends one month visiting countries such as Nepal and Thailand where she buys clothing, jewelry, and other goods to bring back to Bellingham and sell in her shop. She also offers clothing and accessories from a handful of local designers.

This little store has much to offer. On one wall is a collection of handmade metal items from Nepal, including a beautiful elephant wall hook. A vintage shelf holds a variety of colorful belts, while a number of hooks in the back boast cozy scarves and gloves that are perfect for the winter season. There is also a wide assortment of beautiful handbags. This is a store for women who want to appear sophisticated and stylish, yet at the same time feel comfortable and perhaps a touch edgy.

As I walk around the shop admiring the lovely clothes and accessories, I do not feel in a rush to leave. Betty Lou’s Downtown Emporium has a warm and inviting atmosphere that begs you to stay and enjoy it for a little bit longer. 

February | March 2015 39

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WELL BEING Menu · Spa Review · Races & Runs · Beauty

Creating a simple date night look WRITTEN BY ASHLEY THOMASSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY BECKI WALKER

W

ith Valentine’s Day fast approaching and spring just around the corner, there is no question that the air is brimming with love. As women, I think we all can relate to wanting to look our best, especially looking forward to such a fun and fanciful season. Though a quality date night depends on a whole lot more than makeup, it can certainly help to play up our personality, showcase our favorite features and boost our confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re going on a playful afternoon picnic or to a romantic candlelit dinner, learning to create a classic, romantic look is at the top of everyone’s list this season. Here are my tips to create an easy, flawless, date night style.

continued on next page

…

WELL BEING Beauty

1

Use soft warm colors for eye shadow.

3

Light to medium matte or shimmery nudes/browns are perfect for this kind of look. They are versatile, can be played up or down and can work with any skin tone/eye color.

2

Use a waterproof white eyeliner pencil... to rim the inner waterline of your lower eyelashes.

This will help make your eyes look bigger and brighter, playing up your beautiful baby blues (or browns or hazels!).

Use eye shadow instead of typical eyeliner.

On the top of the lid, use black or brown eye shadow on a thin angled liner brush and drag down at an angle from the outer corner of your eye down to your lid, then blend. Underneath your eye, use a pencil eye shadow brush to drag the colors you used on your lid across from the outer corner to the inner corner.

42 NorthSoundLife.com

4

Wear a lip color!

Lipstick always ties the whole look together, giving it a polished feel. Additionally, I know that if I’m ever having an “off” day, a little touch of lipstick always takes me from feeling drab to fab in a matter of seconds! It can be bold but doesn’t need to be, a solid but soft rosy pink will do just the trick.

Beauty

Red vs. Pink

A quick how-to on choosing your best bold color Bold lips are making a comeback, and while red is a classic Valentine’s Day staple, hot pink is trending big this year. Pink can make a statement like red but has a softer finish, making it easier than ever to go bold. Whether you want to try a fresh new look with pink or stick to your tried and true glamorous red, here are some tips on finding your perfect shade!

FAIR SKIN TONES Picking a color either crisp in color or sheer will complement your skin-tone best, rather than something in-between. Try an orange-red or a pink with a peachy tint to it. This will brighten your fair skin and neutralize any reddish undertones. Petal pinks are also a great choice for you!

MEDIUM SKIN TONES If you have a medium skin tone, you can be the most versatile with your color selection, so try as many as you’d like! Just watch out for pinks with too much blue undertone because those may wash you out; instead, try a bright, watermelon pink.

Also seek out reds that are neutral or have warm undertones.

DARK SKIN TONES Bright and bold colors complement darker skin tones beautifully, so don’t be afraid to try something new! When looking for a red, find a color with hints of cranberry, crimson or warm brick. When searching for a pink, look for shades of magenta and fuchsia. 

WELL BEING

bringing it back

THE

RECYCLED

REMODEL Written by Frances Badgett

One of the features that makes our area so charming is in the way in which we preserve and restore houses and buildings from our past. With the RE Store, Skagit Salvage and antique stores galore, it’s not difficult to find materials for an era-authentic remodel.

This was not always the case, but the surge in DIY remodeling coupled with a new environmental sensibility has created a market for used fixtures, lumber and more. Construction companies like A-1 in Bellingham donate whole kitchens and bathrooms to the RE Store when starting a remodel, saving our landfill from sinks, tubs and pipes.

And although searching for a specific item in a salvage place can be a bit like a treasure hunt, the reward is worth the time and effort.

FEATURE

Recycled Remodel

T

he recycled building materials market is primarily the domain of DIYers, but not exclusively. The patience, creativity and uncertainty in the quality of the materials can make it a rough approach for contractors. But Duluth Lumber in Bow, WA manages to supply some major projects, including Niebaum-Coppola Winery and The Sundance Lodge and Film Institute with reclaimed lumber for flooring, tables, ceiling trusses and more. Another example of large-scale reclamation is the Depot Market building in downtown Bellingham, which has components of a reclaimed bridge in its ceiling structure.

There are several considerations before pulling up your Fred Sanford truck to the RE Store and loading up — rot, lead paint, asbestos, are all present in vintage building materials.

Those looking for a bargain might be surprised by the costs associated with restoration and refurbishing, which, when dealing with reclaimed flooring or salvage materials can be costlier than new products. But the distinctive touch of having a beautifully finished reclaimed timber floor can be well worth the cost. There’s also the additional asset that draws treasure-hunters and antique freaks: story. A beam from an old barn, a floor from a one-room schoolhouse, ghosts of the past that linger, these are wonderful ways to enhance and deepen living space. arina Rousseau of the Columbia Neighborhood in Bellingham remodeled her 1904 Victorian using as much of the original materials as possible, and only added materials that felt authentic to the house. “The dates represented in our fixtures are from about the 1920s to the 1940s, but it all feels very authentic to the house.” She worked with Dave Brogan of Bellingham Bay Builders, contractors who, in her words, were very patient with her need to find just the right fixture or cabinet.

Brogan said of Rousseau, “She was great to work with because she was

K

46 NorthSoundLife.com

THE RE STORE in Bellingham

so proactive in finding just the right materials for the house.”

The house was originally near St. Luke’s (the old hospital) in Bellingham.

It had been moved in the 1940s to its current location. Over the years, it had been through a few remodels, including a particularly rough one in the 1980s.

A lot of work had been done to try to make up for other botched remodels.

Rousseau’s plan was to turn back the clock on those remodels, fix some of the problems previous owners were trying to address — or cover up — and create a space that feels whole. “When people walk in here, I want them to think this was all just here.”

In addition to the materials Rousseau hunted down and found, like the newel post from Skagit Salvage that came from a tear-down, to the wide picture molding from the RE Store, she was also able to re-purpose some of the materials within the house itself. Wavy glass from the old single-pane windows became part of a built-in cabinet. A neighbor, Jim Gonzales, did some of the restoration work as well, and an old piece of painted plywood he had lying around became the back of a bookcase. “A lot of people pitched in,” Rousseau said. “They knew I cared about it, and that made them care about it.”

Rousseau took a slow and steady approach, investing energy in getting the project just right. “We did one window a year. We would pull it down, take out the ropes, save the glass, carefully remove the molding and replace it.” The result are

February | March 2015 47

FEATURE

Recycled Remodel

energy-efficient windows that are beautiful and appropriate to the house.

Not only did Rousseau have the energy and good fortune of having so many great sources for building materials, she also had a very invested contractor and, most importantly, photos of the original house from 1904.

She used those photos to reconstruct the house, from moldings to flooring to the silhouette. “They had turned a Victorian into a Colonial Revival, with cedar shake siding, narrow molding and a boxy exterior. “I wanted to bring it back.” The photos were an excellent resource to her, and to Dave Brogan.

“The house is all new, but it feels more authentic than it did before,” said Brogan. And that’s exactly what Rousseau was going for. “People going on house tours see a lot of remodels, and they walk in and say how great this one is, because it doesn’t feel like a remodel.” o where does the casual re-user go from here? It’s good to know the code requirements for things like toilets and bathtubs (there are some) and how much weight your floor joists can take, etc. It’s best to have a specific outline of what you need and thinking about suitable alternates in case your favorite cast iron tub isn’t available. There are re-use consultants in Bellingham who can help you, or you can avail yourself of the counsel of the staff at a recycling store or salvage. Checking back over-and-over may be tedious, but may also be the only way to find exactly the item you want. If you’re looking for cabinets, getting a bank of matching cabinets can be difficult. Some places will keep an eye out for items if you give them the right information. Mostly, though, you’re on a treasure hunt that can take a while. The payoff is in having just the right feel for the room you’re creating.

A consideration if you aren’t used to remodeling from used materials is to start small. Refurbish a table or install antique fixtures in a sink. Get a feel for the way the older materials work with modern plumbing, techniques, restoration and wear. A beautiful brass or copper knob may only be lovely and un-marred for a short period of time, so make sure you choose wisely and

S

48 NorthSoundLife.com

1904 VICTORIAN in the Columbia Neighborhood

“The house is all new, but it feels more authentic than it did before,” said Brogan.

February | March 2015 49

Stores and Resources The RE Store

Bellingham’s answer to your remodeling and recycling needs, the RE Store not only provides unique and low-cost building supplies and fixtures, they will pick up and haul leftover construction lumber and fixtures for free. A great place to find the components of a funky lamp or a beautiful solid wood front door.

Pace’s Salvage

The golden Buddha says it all. A funky hut-of-treasures, Pace’s has lots of objects great and small to decorate your home. They are not a used furniture store in the sense of a traditional salvage — they acquire items from fire sales and such. They also have a lot of wholesale. But they do have great treasures at bargain basement prices.

Skagit Salvage

A genuine salvage store, Skagit Salvage sells items off of tear-downs, old barns, historic knobs and doo-dads and more. A good place to hunt for picture molding, newel posts, old timbers and more.

Duluth Timber Company

Headquartered out of Minnesota, Duluth Timber Company has, strangely, a timber mill and salvage in Bow. From slabs to flooring to support beams, from big projects to kitchen tables, they have it all.

PACE’S SALVAGE

Custom Homes & Remodels www.indigoenterprisesnorthwest.com

360.224.6524

Your Financial Future: Will You Be Ready?

Susan Rice Financial Planning Specialist Financial Advisor 2200 Rimland Drive, Suite 105 Bellingham, WA 98226 360-788-7005 • 800-247-2884 susan.e.rice@morganstanley.com

NY CS 7790428 BC006 01/14 GP10-01505P-N06/10

know the maintenance on your item.

Most contractors will recommend not using antique wood in your house, but it can be done. Just make sure you know what you’re installing and understand not only the outer layers, but the interior of the piece.

A beautiful leaded stained glass window can introduce rot and beetles into a pristine window casing, and sometimes it’s impossible to know until you begin to refinish the piece whether or not it will work.

The most important element in using recycled or reclaimed building materials is to have confidence in your own work, as well as in the integrity of the materials. Though most projects with recycled materials are DIY, there is a lot of skill required in planing a door or leveling a bank of cabinets.

The fortunate thing is that used materials can be an affordable way to hone your carpentry skills without having to start from lumber and a saw.

The problem is, older wood and other materials can crack, split and splinter more easily than newer ones. Wear your goggles and gloves and dive in.

The only limit is your own creativity.

Recapturing pieces of the past is a wonderful way to add character and charm to new construction. Just keep in mind that it is a process, and finding just the right object can take time and energy. But when you do, there is also nothing like the satisfaction of knowing you’ve added a unique touch to your home that is imbued with history and carrying a story all its own. 

“Nailed it”

© 2014 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

MECH

JOB INFORMATION 7790428/602858172

PROJ. NO.:

JOB NAME:

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Retail Byrnes Susan Rice Ad

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February | March 2015 51

HOME IMPROVEMENT · INDUSTRIAL · CONSTRUCTION

Welcome

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9 SHOWER INSPIRATIONS

CREATING SANCTUARY SPACE

HOME & remodel

Creating Sanctuary Space Find a corner, spruce it up WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT

P

erhaps you need a spot for yoga, or a place to sit and read in the sun. Maybe you like to knit by the fire or watch the rain as you write in your journal. Whatever your interests, if you feel the need for a little corner of your own, we have some ideas.

Dormer Window A dormer, even a squatty one, can usually accommodate someone in a seated position. So enhance your spot with books, a low stool as a table, and a single futon, folded. This little nook can be the perfect place to recharge yourself while the rest of the world goes about its business.

Bonus — a view.

Basement Corner Yes, basements can be dank, spidery, dusty places, but they don’t have to be completely. Find a spot near a daylight window or close to a heat source (a wall adjoining the furnace) and spruce it up with a colorful outdoor rug, a refurbished desk from the thrift store and a good light. If dust and mold are a problem, find an air purifier. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can install either cubicle walls (which can be found at salvage and reuse stores) or put up some thick curtains. Add some light strands for a festive touch, and some colorful pieces for cheer. Plants can make a dusty place seem fresher, and bonus — they actually freshen the air.

Attic Asset Attics can be stuffy and plagued with some of the same problematic conditions as basements, but they can also be a good place to get away without leaving the house. Tuck yourself into a corner with a few floor pillows, a book and a little cup of tea, or go whole-hog and clear space for a yoga mat and perform some asanas. Bonus — you’re far away from the busy-ness of the world.

Sunlit Corner You don’t have to disappear from the central living space of your house to create a sanctuary space — you can hunker down in a sunny corner of the living room and decorate with photos, plants and lighting that fits your particular interests. A comfy chair and good light for knitting? A lowslung Japanese table for crafting? Whatever suits you.

Meditation Quiet Bedrooms are usually quiet, unhurried spots. Pick a quiet corner and decorate with candles, lights, your favorite aromatherapy scents and settle in on a mat or floor pillow. The health benefits for people who meditate regularly are tremendous, and you’ll have a little space that’s all your own.

Whatever your interests, it’s a healthy and fine thing to make a space for them away from the demands of your work and family life. Giving yourself a space to enjoy your favorite activities will entice you to do them more often, bringing you — and your home — balance and satisfaction.  February | March 2015 55

HOME & remodel

Ramble On Remodeling an Era WRITTEN BY TANNA EDLER

I

f you are like me, you’ve driven around an older neighborhood at some point in your life, admiring homes with a certain style – long, low profiles with minimal exterior decor. You were probably touring an established neighborhood where ramblers were the predominate style. Their simplicity is captivating and infused with potential.

Therefore I am thrilled when given the opportunity to remodel one of these beauties alongside my clients. So, in honor of our rambler’s popularity of the late 60’s and with a playful nod to one of my favorite artists, Ramble On. Styling for this project was inspired by the era.

The goal was to maintain a hip, modern vibe, while incorporating the vintage and eclectic tastes of the client. This rambler is the perfect backdrop for such a décor style. To set the stage, we elected to incorporate a lot of wood. Wood provides heaps of warmth and depth to a space, plus a comforting northwest appeal. By combining several species and tones, the space was perfectly unified with purposeful symmetry and a refreshing edge.

A rambler is casual, relaxed, and welcoming by nature and in its most basic single-story form,

56 NorthSoundLife.com

uncomplicated. With four walls and a roof, I like to do the unexpected inside. With this particular project, we encouraged intrigue and provided functionality. Adding uniquely shaped furniture, funky art, bold and vibrant colors and a clever custom piece for just a touch of quirkiness.

The clients set a budget that fit their lifestyle, developed a design that exceeded their wishes, and took it down to the studs. The goal of this project is to renovate a long-time family home, preserving its character and shared memories while making it into a more modern and practical residence our clients can enjoy for years to come. The space was completely gutted including removal of sheetrock and flooring. All appliances, cabinets, counters, backsplashes — and even the kitchen sink — are gone. Our clients cleared everything out, leaving us with a clean canvas, as well as a very long, open narrow space.

The clients installed gorgeous ash gray hardwood floors, which set the tone for the muted gray and soft green walls. For contrast, espressostained cabinetry complemented pure white quartz and sea glass subway tiles. The metals on the

furnishings combined effortlessly with the stainless steel appliances.

Some of the original problems of the house were that the house was dark, the kitchen was cramped and too separate from the living room and the house didn’t have enough flow. The clients wanted a happier place to cook and enjoy family time. The solution was to open the floor plan, which included removing several walls and doors. A wall that separated the kitchen from the living room and dining room was removed, and the existing windows were replaced with larger ones, adding the light we desired. The design plan defined an open dining room concept that incorporated cooking on one side and living on the other, while staying intimate. The clients desired a multi-purpose space, built to combine form with function, with enough space to simultaneously accommodate homework, food preparation and whole family gatherings. Our space plan provides a seamless flow from one end of the room to the other, not to mention the mobility in the middle.

Every room in the house has a central element that defines it. For the kitchen, that element is

almost every time the kitchen island — it’s the piece that brings everything and everyone together. In the case of this remodel, it doubles as a dining table. With this combination, we have a very clever mix that beautifully complements the entire space.

And just like in the case of any other custom piece of furniture, this kitchen island and table combo was designed specifically for the client. This is the ultimate workhorse — with casters that lock, this counter-height rolling table provides everything the home-owners wanted, plus a chic conversation piece. When working in the kitchen our island serves as the perfect prep station and then doubles as the dining table once the meal is prepared.

It can also host board games, cocktail parties and then neatly tuck away over its rustic bench seat at night. The colors in the bench blend with the island, unifying the room. The trio of bright backless bar stools can easily be slipped under the counter to save space while still adding visible color to the room.

The result: a well-designed space with minimal clutter and maximum efficiency. 

February | March 2015 57

2 1

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These pieces draw your room together without sacrificing the importance of statement.

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7 Corn Husk Vase $40 grandiflora home, Lynden

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5 Fortessa Ilaria Double Old Fashioned Glass–11.5 oz $6.29, greenhouse, Bellingham

Mies van der Rohe: Exhibition Chair $1,350, Modern Classics, Bellingham

4

Gibson Antique Brass Bar Cart $470, grandiflora home, Lynden

58 NorthSoundLife.com

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HOME & remodel

Great Features WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT PHOTO BY LUCAS HENNING

R

emember watching Richie Rich do the backstroke in his giant pool that was also his bathtub, or the gang on Scooby Doo rotating a panel of books into a hidden passageway? These cartoon-level features are now becoming trends in housing. While swimming pool-asbath tubs are a bit logistically tricky, that rotating bookcase?

That’s becoming a feature in even some moderate remodels.

In past decades, we saw home saunas, home gyms, home movie theaters come into the high-end housing market, offering the wealthy a little extra play without having to leave the comfort of their TiVo. This trend led to lots of us draping towels and sweaters over a stationary bike in the corner of the bedrooms, but it also brought to the designers of the housing world a little something extra, a flash of personality in a beige carpet world. As contemporary style catches on in a broader market, so, too, do fun and funky features that don’t necessarily categorize easily. And it’s not just for new construction — owners who plan to stick with their houses also like to have features that meet their interests. Enter the fireman pole, the slide, the outdoor living room — luxuries and touches that are gaining ground in home design, and inspiring others. One part Pinterest and two parts personality, these little touches and features can add interest and fun to your remodel or new home.

Changing Landscape The 70s rec room with the big shag rug and console TV is now the family game room and home theater. The back yard patio is now the outdoor living room. As our families change, so, too, do our favorite home features. Some novel touches we have found are a shuffleboard court, a home ice cream parlor complete with a soda fountain and an indoor basketball court.

Playscapes Dan Nelson of Designs Northwest often includes a bit of whimsy into his contemporary designs. He brings in a fire pole, an elegant stainless steel slide and other features that bring a sense of playfulness into contemporary design. Our own Tanna Edler is working on a remodel that will include a bookcase that, yes, reveals a secret room — a wine cellar.

Working Well For the geekier among us, another great home feature that is a bit atypical is the home observatory. Why drive to a major city when you can head upstairs to your loft to check out the Pleiades? Their dome shape is perfect for contemporary design. How about a nano scale quantum photonics lab in your basement? Or a DNA lab? In our DIY work-at-home world, you can put pretty much anything in that spare bedroom.

Builders, designers and contractors are now well versed in secret passageways and hidden nooks, so creating your cartoon dream is easier than ever. Let’s hope next year we’ll have to find a place to park our jet packs. 

60 NorthSoundLife.com

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© Moen

9 Shower Inspirations WRITTEN BY LISA KARLBERG

1

Bench Seat

2

Walk in Shower

Today’s shower trends are

Build them in or mount them to a wall, whatever your pleasure, a bench seat adds stability and functionality to your shower for today and as you age.

homeowners the ability

© Moen

modern, sleek and give

to add a variety of options that suit their everyday wants and needs. Whether remodeling or building a new home the options are endless. We offer a few ideas to get you started on that dream project.

62 NorthSoundLife.com

If you never use the bathtub, and you’re tired of that bulky enclosure, creating a walk-in shower is visually appealing, and perfect for those who are concerned about aging in place.

4 Open Air Shower Column

3

Wall Cutout

5

Feng Shui with rocks Water, fire, rocks. These three elements combined are said to create an inner balance, and are the primary elements of many spas.

Create a spa-inspired bath by adding a large river rock channel around the perimeter of your shower, place some candles and you are there!

© Hansgrohe

© Moen

© Hansgrohe

A cutout in your shower wall adds creative space to put shampoos, soap and a variety of shower items, while leaving your shower looking and feeling clutter-free.

This option is not for modest personalities. An open air shower column creates an expansive feel that’s perfect for today’s modern homes.

6 Glass Wall

© Moen

Use a floor-to-ceiling glass wall partition to add an open air feel to your bathroom, while limiting the area water has to spread.

February | March 2015 63

ANYTIME. Tile •Lighting • Flooring Countertops • Design 360.354.7900 • 1899 Kok Rd., Lynden Mon. - Fri. 9am- 5pm • Sat. by app’t

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Shoji style divider Use a Shoji-inspired glass divider to create a modern feel that adds warmth and depth to your bathroom.This application is suitable for a stand-up shower or bathtub enclosure.

© Moen

© Moen

7

9 Double Shower Rod

8 Multiple Shower Heads By incorporating a waterfall shower head with body spa and body mist shower heads, you can create a soothing, massage spray that is comparable to a standing jacuzzi.

© Moen

Double shower rods are perfect for bathrooms with limited on space. By adding a double outward curving bar, you create space to hang towels for drying, robes or shower mat.

HOME & remodel

Skagit Valley Farmstead ARCHITECT DAN NELSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN GLEADLE WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT

T

his beautiful house maintains the lines, function and setting of a traditional farmhouse while moving in a whole new, modern direction.

A bright cupola brings in the sun into the main living area. Pathways and a courtyard bring elegance to the grounds, integrating the house in the surrounding farmlands with grace.

66 NorthSoundLife.com

Capturing bucolic pastures and snowy peaks, this house maximizes the bright sun and expansive setting that typifies beautiful Skagit Valley.

HOME & remodel

68 NorthSoundLife.com

Wildwood Cottages DESIGNED BY MARK OUELLETTE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIANE PADYS WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT

I

n the 1940s, Wildwood was a campground and weekend retreat for people looking to reconnect with nature. Today, these luxury cottages, built by West Coast Homes, inhabit the spirit of the old campground by providing a weekend retreat. But far from bunks and RVs, these luxury gems marry fine craftsmanship, beautiful design and upscale elements to create the perfect weekend retreat. They are the last of their kind to be built on Lake Whatcom, so they are a lasting investment.

February | March 2015 69

HOME & remodel

The windows of this cottage look out over the water, bring in the light and set the stage for excellent relaxation or entertainment.

70 NorthSoundLife.com

Thoughtful design allows for creative use of the limited spaces, keeping everything within reach, but not sacrificing an inch of lifestyle.

February | March 2015 71

HOME & remodel

Campbell Residence ARCHITECT CURT CARPENTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN KENNEDY WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT

O

verlooking Bellingham Bay, this home had a major update and remodel. Jerry Richmond of Indigo Enterprises was the contractor on this contemporary-style update. The house was stripped down to the wood framing. The interior space was reimagined, enlarged, and the entire house was re-oriented to the southerly views of Bellingham Bay. The interior finishes include porcelain floor tile, walnut stairs and flooring, rift-sewn white oak kitchen cabinets and teak dividing elements in the living area.

BEFORE

72 NorthSoundLife.com

February | March 2015 73

Kitchen & Bath Design Furniture & Interior Design Home Design | New & Remodel

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Orchard House ARCHITECT GREG ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUDY LAWRENCE WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT

N

estled against a hillside and overlooking cottage gardens and orchards, this farmhouse in Whatcom County makes the most of its surroundings, while capturing views of nearby Sumas Mountain and the mountains of British Columbia. The natural wood siding and earth tones complement the forested surroundings, and yet the hipped roof gives the house a distinctive place in the landscape.

February | March 2015 75

HOME & remodel

The house, surrounded by orchards, draws on traditional Japanese forms, but has a silhouette that is distinctly contemporary.

76 NorthSoundLife.com

The clean, simple lines of the exterior follow indoors, as the spare-yet-intimate living area and kitchen invite conversation and contemplation.

February | March 2015 77

HOME & remodel

Kitchen Remodel

Chuckanut Builders WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRIS DINOTTIA

78 NorthSoundLife.com

C

huckanut Builders remodeled a kitchen in the Samish Neighborhood of Bellingham for a client seeking a major upgrade. In partnership with local craftsmen and artisans, they created a sleek, modern look. Smith and Vallee Woodworks in Edison built and installed all of the cabinetry.

In keeping with the principles of sustainability, they used Forest Service

Council-approved plywood in the construction of the cabinets. For the cabinet doors, they used horizontal grain American Walnut, which has beautiful rich tones that complement the modern earth tones of the kitchen. A small window over the previously exisiting range was opened up into an eight-foot picture window with a view of the bay.

Elegant details include a linear tile glass backsplash, Wolf appliances, a stainless

steel farmhouse sink and white quartz countertops. The central cooktop brings the kitchen together, with an elegant vent hood to keep the air fresh. With ample workspace, this is a kitchen for people who really enjoy cooking and entertaining. The brushed metal, glossy white upper cabinets, and soft lighting make this kitchen bright and airy. The feel is decidedly contemporary, but timeless as well. 

February | March 2015 79

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1

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Premier

Homes BLAINE 9525 SEMIAHMOO PKWY 102, Beautifully appointed luxury waterfront address at Marin at Semiahmoo. This unit offers spectacular saltwater vistas and views of Mt. Baker. Easy access to the shoreline. Semiahmoo Resort/ Spa right next door! Ground level unit with oversized covered patio makes this space live large. Custom interior shades, wall color, closets are just a few of the upgrades already in place. $589,000 Kathy Stauffer 360.815.4718 kstauffer@windermere.com www.kathystauffer.com

Over $10,000 in Prizes Given Away!

by DeWaard & Bode and KAFE 104.1FM One prize per day of the show

Beer & Wine Tasting!

Friday & Saturday Night!

Friday is DATE NIGHT! Cooking Demonstrations & Prizes

Saturday is LOCAL LIVE The Upfront Theatre - Improv & Live Music.

Ciscoe Morris

Sunday, March 8 • 2:00pm

Home & Garden Show 2015 March 6, 7 & 8

Home by:

Presented by: Sponsored by:

Friday 11-9 • Saturday 10-9 • Sunday 11-5 •Adults 16+ $8 • Seniors 55+ $7 • Under 16 Free Northwest Washington Fairgrounds, Henry Jansen Ag Building • Free Parking Official Program Produced by:

Premier Homes ELITE SAMISH HIGHLANDS

4210 SAMISH CREST DRIVE. NW Custom w/ spectacular 180 Bay and San Juan Islands view. 2003, granite, tile, custom kitchen, 2 fireplaces, radiant natural gas heat, 4 BD/2.5 BA, 3,400 SF + 486 SF heated storage/crafts room. Master bedroom & all you need on main floor. Jacuzzi tub & separate shower. Spacious Rec Room in walkout basement, 2 decks, sprinkler system, 3 car garage with heated bay for shop on a 35,719 SF landscaped lot with garden & fruit trees. EZ walk to Lk Padden, trails and golf.

5 mins to downtown or Fairhaven. Immaculate. $875,000

EDGEMOOR

604 BAYSIDE RD. Beautiful Front Row Edgemoor home with unobstructed Bay and Island views. This single level home is nestled on a rare and beautifully landscaped .95 acre lot and features an open and spacious floor plan, 3 fireplaces, floor to ceiling windows, vaulted ceiling, two car garage and don’t miss the detached office/flex room sitting on the bluff with amazing views. Just a short distance to fairhaven village, parks and miles of hiking trails. $1,350,000

Dawn Durand, Windermere Real Estate 360.739.3380 Dawn@DawnDurand.com www.dawndurand.com

SILVER BEACH

Architecturally designed timber frame with specially milled old growth fir. Stained concrete floors with radiant heat. 3350 sq.ft. one level ranch style floor plan. Extraordinary kitchen with Wolf and Sub Zero appliances. Separate butler pantry complete with sink and dishwasher. Two custom fireplaces. 5 view acres with mature evergreen trees. 1100’ private driveway. 1600 SqFt garage with RV bay. Adjacent 5 acres available. Must see. $1,450,000

Contact Owner 360.220.7866 academyhomebellingham@gmail.com

Nate Kenoyer, Broker 360.319.3280 nkenoyer@windermere.com www.livewhatcom.com

FERNDALE

4162 SUCIA DRIVE, FERNDALE Water, Island, Mt Baker Views!

Contemporary Design, Thoughtfully-Featured Home at Sandy Point Shores, 3BD/2.5BA, 2644sq ft, w/Great Room, FP, Upscale Kitchen, SS Appls, Master w/ Private Bath & Radiant Flr Heat, Walk-In Closet, 2nd W/D, Family Rm. 1344sf 3-car Garage w/ add’l Space & Dumbwaiter to all levels. 3 Decks+Patio, Low Maint. Enjoy this Coastal Community among Herons, Eagles, & Marina nearby is Gateway to San Juan Islands, Fishing, Crabbing! Aerial video: vimeo.com/114707691 $625,000

Randy Weg 360.305.5704 randyweg@windermere.com

Shari Draper 360.384.4000 sharidraper@windermere.com

February | March 2015

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I believe...

IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, YOU WOULD LIVE HERE...

Walking the Semiahmoo sand-spit adds life to your years.

You can live in a community without big box stores and still have everything you need.

You shouldn’t choose your home on whether it’s close to your job but rather you should choose your home for the other 128 hours in the week.

Eating fresh means... you pulled your own crab pot.

Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo,

Seeing is believing.

9525 Semiahmoo Pkwy, Blaine $589,000 MLS#: 632576 2BD, 2.5BA

8563 Semiahmoo Dr, Blaine $775,000 MLS#: 716296 3BD, 2.5BA

8656 Ashbury Ct, Blaine $559,000 MLS#: 717862 4BD, 2.25 BA

Kathy Stauffer

Managing Broker 360.815.4718 | kathystauffer.com

Whatcom County... even when it rains, I shine!

Premier Homes CAMANO ISLAND

BELLINGHAM

495 TILLICUM WAY Sequestered in a gated waterfront community,

98 MOREY AVENUE Welcome to contemporary Northwest living

this well planned home is a one of a kind, a true masterpiece.

Energy efficient in over 6000 feet of casual elegant living. Nature surrounds you in 11+ acres with almost 300 ft. of waterfront.

Stunning views of Mr. Baker & North Cascades. Gourmet kitchen opens to living space w/vaulted beam ceiling, perfect for entertaining. 1 hour from Seattle. 2 master suites, beautiful gardens and greenhouse. $1,750,000

perched above Bellingham Bay. This 4,800 square foot custom ocean view home with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms is a modern masterpiece. Grand spiral staircase entry, gleaming wood floors, and granite counters compliment stunning bay views. Experience warm glowing sunsets though towering windows. Upper and lower decks. Lower level ADU with second kitchen. Close to Fairhaven and downtown. $800,000.

Matt McBeath, Broker 360.647.1313 Matt@MattMcbeath.com www.mattmcbeath.com.com

Drina McCorkle 360.661.4472 drina@drinamccorkle.com www.drinamccorkle.com

TRUMP ISLAND

BLAINE

1 TRUMP ISLAND, WASHINGTON Own your own PRIVATE 29+

4448 CASTLEROCK DR Gorgeous single level 3 bedroom, 2 bath

Acre Island located in the San Juan Islands! 4230’ saltwater frontage w-tidelands. Architectural excellence with contemporary design, superior quality and top of the line finishes makes this a truly SPECTACULAR home. Completely self-sustained environment, power & water. 1200 SF quality care takers cottage w-full shop below. 60x80 boat dock, to accommodate yachts & seaplane. $8,750,000

luxury home at The Greens has an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings & high end finishes in & out. Gourmet kitchen--gas range, tons of storage! Dining room with wet bar/wine cooler & access to patio is ideal for entertaining. Solid flooring throughout, no carpet! Backyard next to protected natural habitat hosts native wildlife views! Guaranteed open space protects your privacy.

Detached home office is the perfect solution to work from home!

A must see! $399,000

Leigh Zwicker 360.293.8008 Leigh@LeighZwicker.com LeighZwicker.com

Kathy Stauffer 360.815.4718 kstauffer@windermere.com www.kathystauffer.com

February | March 2015

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DINE 7 Great Tastes · Dining Guide · Drink of the Month

Beach Store Café Changes Ownership, Goes Local WRITTEN BY JOANNA NESBIT

T

o visitors who don’t head to Lummi Island often, the changes to the Beach Store Café will seem subtle.

At first glance, the restaurant looks the same with its cozy interior, warm wood floors, and waterfront view — albeit with fresh paint, sound panels, and woodwork.

But in November, the restaurant re-opened under new ownership and with it comes revisioning.

Just a 20-minute drive and 10-minute ferry ride from town, the Beach Store offers ‘Hamsters an evening getaway with a small community flavor you can’t get in town. You’ll know it when you see it. The familiar way the server chats with an island customer or the ferry crew grabbing burgers after their shift or a conversation about a fundraiser for the elementary school. It’s community camaraderie in action, and the new owners want to build on it to strike the right balance for islanders and visitors both. It takes the right combination of forces to make the restaurant work, says one of the new owners, Craig Miller.

Business and life partners Tess Winds-Johnson and Jason Brubaker have teamed up with Miller continued on next page …

…

to take on the challenge. “The reality is we are on a tiny island in the Northwest, and it’s a very seasonal business,” said Winds-Johnson. But the trio believes being owner-operated and familyfriendly is crucial, and they hope to make the café the heart of the community for kids and adults alike, at the same time attracting off-islanders.

Winds-Johnson grew up on Lummi, and has a special knowledge of island culture, as well as a background in hospitality and restaurant management. Brubaker has lived on the island for eight years, originally arriving to work as sous chef at The Willows under Miller, who served as chef there from 2004-08 and now owns a restaurant in Panama. Miller will divide his time between Panama and the island, thrilled to be working again with Brubaker, a close friend, and Winds-Johnson.

“Islanders have expressed a lot of excitement that all three of us will be operating again,” said Miller. “We have been overwhelmed by the support from the community, with many offers to work for free during preparation for the opening [in November].” It’s this local support that gives the café its unique vibe. And then there’s the trio’s professional backgrounds…they know how to serve up a great meal you won’t want to miss.

Open Thursday through Monday, with brunch on the weekends, the café’s new menu features high-quality comfort food with a focus on flavor, including hearty sandwiches, salads, burgers, fish and chips, and gourmet pizzas, as well as omelets and scrambles for brunch. A daily happy hour runs 4–6pm. Though the menu isn’t large, it will offer variety to reflect the season. Miller specializes in ethnic flavors so look for Thai, Indian, and Mexican dishes — likely as daily specials. Brubaker is sensitive to gluten-intolerant patrons, and

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© Isaac Colgan

© Joanna Nesbit

© Isaac Colgan

DINE Feature

developed the fish and chips to be gluten-free. The restaurant will source ingredients from the island when available, particularly produce starting in early spring and reefnet salmon in summer.

Friday night is live music night (7:30–9:30pm), and though the space is small, it’s just possible the tables will be pushed back for impromptu dancing — that’s how the island rolls. Most of the musicians hail from the area. Past performers include the Prozac Mountain Boys, Madeleine Easton, Broken Bow Stringband, and islanders Russ Thompson and David McAdams. The upcoming lineup features Chuck Dingee on February 6 and Sassafras Stomp on Thursday, February 19, touring from the East Coast and performing on an off night. (If you’re a band of four or fewer, feel free to get in touch.)

Saturday evenings have evolved into wine nights, says Winds-Johnson, with the restaurant’s wine expert, Ryan Wildstar, on hand to talk about wines. He often ends up pouring wine and taking tastes to customers, and the evening has a different vibe from Fridays.

Winter hours are Thurs. and Mon., 4–8pm, Friday, 4–10pm, and Sat./Sun., 9am–8pm.

Summer hours are still firming up. Keep an eye on the website (beachstorecafe.com) for music and fundraising events, menu changes, and other announcements. February will feature a fundraiser involving pizza and karaoke. Ferry fare is $13 for car/driver and $7 for passengers (18 and under free), but it’s easy to park at Gooseberry Point and walk across. The café is just three minutes from the dock.  Beach Store Cafe 2200 N. Nugent Rd., Lummi Island 360.758.2233 | beachstorecafe.com

DINING KEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . up to $9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . $20–29 . . . . . . . . $30 or greater . . . . . . . . . . . . Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner . . . . . . . . . Family-Friendly . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takeout . . . . . . . . Outdoor Seating . . . . . . . . . . Reservations . . . . . . . . . . Happy Hour . . . . . . . . . New Review See all our restaurant reviews on our Eat and Drink tab at northsoundlife.com

ISLANDS THE FREELAND CAFE American/Hawaiian 1642 E. Main St., Freeland 360.331.9945 For more than 35 years, The Freeland Cafe has been serving Whidbey Island locals a dawntill-dinner menu of American breakfast ­classics with a mix of Hawaiian flavors. A stack of three savory pancakes stuffed with delicious, sweet blueberries marks a signature favorite among the carb-craving regulars, while a hearty egg breakfast with crisp, sizzling bacon charms away the hunger of nostalgic hometown diners; add Hawaiian-style rice with Spam and gravy for a more exotic breakfast alternative. Lined with ceiling-high windows and an eclectic mix of artwork, The Freeland Cafe offers a generous seating area situated adjacent a popular bar of the same name. Sit back and enjoy the aroma of warm syrup and coffee, and the friendly chatter of neighborly patrons as you dine back to a simpler time.

PRIMA BISTRO French 201 1/2 First St., Langley 360.221.4060, primabistro.com A quintessential South Whidbey dining ­experience in the heart of Langley, Prima Bistro marries gourmet French cuisine and classic Northwest ingredients. Fried Spanish Marcona Almonds arrive steaming hot, glisteningly crisp and in a glory of flavor — and just in time a glass of Pinot Grigio. The selection of reds and

whites offers options for connoisseurs of every stripe, along with a full bar. The Burgundy Snails in Herb Butter taste delightfully creamy, with an uncharacteristically soft, yet enjoyable texture. The Bistro Burger is a juicily grilled patty of Oregon beef, topped with a deliciously thick slice of melted white Cheddar; a burger made in heaven! For fabulous food, elegant ambience and world-class views, be sure to visit the Prima on your next visit to Whidbey Island.

TOBY’S TAVERN Seafood 8 Front St., Coupeville 360.678.4222, tobysuds.com Overlooking the scenic Penn Cove in the center of old Coupeville, Toby’s Tavern offers diners a dive bar ambience with a delicious menu of seafood favorites. Their famous bowls of Penn Cove mussels — served by the pound! — come fresh from the adjacent cove, and keep shellfish connoisseurs clamoring for a regular fix.

Steamed and soaked in a scrumptious mix of simple seasonings, wine and juices, Toby’s robust offering of mussels makes for a memorable visit. Fish and chips arrive hot, deliciously flakey, and generous in size, with sides of sweet coleslaw and fries deserving mention for their merit. For those waiting among the weekend crowd of regulars, a giant chocolaty brownie will drive your mind insane, and keep your appetite satisfied before the main course earns its way into the dining room.

VINNY’S Seafood 165 W. St., Friday Harbor 360.378.1934 vinnysfridayharbor.com Owner Becky Day welcomes diners to Vinny’s Ristorante in Friday Harbor, mirroring the feel of this warm Italian restaurant. Dishes change monthly and reflect the desire of Chef Daniel Van Hamsersfeld to serve simple, everyday fare. His appetizers of Fior de Latte — a caprese salad — and mushroom medley (mushrooms with a Marsala demi glaze and cambozola cheese) are perfect for sharing and leave space for a summery Capellini Mediteranea (prawns and clams in a light white wine and olive oil sauce). As well as a good selection of pastas, Vinny’s has seafood and meat entrées, many of them traditional favorites like Veal Marsala and Chicken Picatta. The cocktail list includes old favorites and some fun offerings like the Crantini and a rhubarb margarita. Top off a meal with crème brûlée — a light, room-temperature custard topped with a layer of burnt sugar.

Dining Guide

DINE

SKAGIT 13MOONS AT SWINOMISH CASINO & LODGE Seafood/Steak

12885 Casino Dr., Anacortes 360.588.3800, swinomishcasinoandlodge. com/­dining/13moons Located within the casino 13moons is sure to catch your attention. Situated on the waterfront offering a lodge atmosphere which is warm and inviting. The menu offers a wide variety including first plates, entree salads, seafood and beef. We started our meal with generous pours of wine. Then moved on to the roasted beet salad, I am always skeptical of this as it needs to be just right, and they did not disappoint. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection at medium and mouth watering.

This is a great choice for an evening out, you will walk away satisfied and understand why it is becoming the go to place for locals and visitors alike.

A’TOWN BISTRO Regional NW 418 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, 360.899.4001 Colorful photographs of farm scenes dot the walls of A’Town Bistro, summing up all this restaurant stands for: Fresh, local, seasonal food. Even the inside of this Anacortes restaurant feels farm-like, with simple wooden tables and flooring and no unnecessary flourishes.

The kitchen is open, and sends out entrees such as smoked salmon cakes (which contain nothing but king salmon and breadcrumbs and come with a tomato-caper coulis and garlic aioli), Pork New York (pan seared with an apple cider gastrique), a wild boar burger, and ancho chili & chicken stew. Appetizers include the restaurant’s signature fries, which are twice fried and tossed in truffle-parmesan salt. Both beer and wine are on tap here. Both taps and bottles offer some great representatives from local and international producers. Settle in, and enjoy food, drink, and a fire that roars away between the entrance and the dining room, keeping diners warm in both body and spirit.

–

CALLE Mexican 517 S. 1st St., Mount Vernon 360.336.5566, callelove.com Newly opened, this eatery is already getting attention with a write up in Sunset magazine.

Known for their take on Street Tacos — with six meat fillings to choose from and handmade corn tortillas — but that’s certainly not the only mouthwatering option. Try the Carne Asada, Posole or Tortas to name just a few menu options. The Spicy Mango Margarita, made with fresh mango and jalapeno, is fast becoming a customer favorite. With 60+ tequilas and

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Dining Guide

mescals to sample, there’s always another reason to visit again.

CONWAY PUB & EATERY American 8611 Main St., Conway 360.445.4733 Don’t let tiny Conway fool you — this pub packs big flavor. Though the town is unincorporated, business is never slow in this watering hole. Farmers often come here after a hard day’s work as well as bikers making a pit stop on a scenic weekend ride. Their food matches their patrons’ big appetites, such as the blue cheese burger topped with crisply fried shoestring onions or the mouthwatering oyster burger. Packed with flavor and Americana spirit, Conway Pub & Eatery is a Skagit Valley icon.

NELL THORN Seafood 205 Washington St., La Conner 360.466.4261, nellthorn.com This small-town gem located in the heart of La Conner brings in tourists and locals alike.

They boast well-prepared and locally sourced fresh seafood as well as an extensive wine and beer list. The charming and cozy pub atmosphere, homemade soups and generous portions make for a great special occasion or romantic evening. Try the polenta cakes with cured black olive and roasted garlic tomato sauce — you won’t be disappointed.

SEED’S BISTRO Regional NW 623 Morris St., La Conner 360.466.3280, seedsbistro.com Seeds Bistro in La Conner is a celebration of the fresh bounty of food offered in Skagit County. It offers simple dishes that highlight the fresh, exciting ingredients found throughout the Pacific Northwest. The menu features local selections rotated with the seasons. The macaroni and cheese features Northwestfavorite Cougar Gold cheese with a butter-crumb crust. Burgers are juicy, cooked perfectly, and served on homemade potato buns with the smallest bit of crunch and a fluffy interior. The whole family can enjoy Seeds’ offerings — comfort foods satisfy children’s desires while more intricate food items appease fastidious palates.

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Leave room for dessert, however, because the selections are dangerously good.

ANTHONY’S HEARTHFIRE GRILL Beef/Seafood 7 Bellwether Way, Bellingham 360.527.3473, anthonys.com Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill serves the same quality food we’ve come to expect and love from Anthony’s other restaurants. The Hearthfire menu speaks to the everyday eater, not just the special occasion treat of Anthony’s.

Seasonal items, like peaches or huckleberries in the summer, complement salads, entrees and drinks. Steaks, seafood and items on the Woodfire rotisserie round out the selections.

BAYOU ON BAY Cajun/Creole 1300 Bay St., Bellingham 360.752.2968, bayouonbay.com Bayou On Bay serves a wide variety of classic Cajun/Creole dishes, such as gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boy sandwiches and hush puppies, to name a few. A house-made remoulade, which accompanies many of the dishes, is worth the trip alone. The bar offers an extensive list of drink options. Bayou on Bay is a must for foodies as well as people just looking for a satisfying meal.

BRANDYWINE KITCHEN Regional NW 1317 Commercial St., Bellingham 360.734.1071, brandywinekitchen.com Named for the decadent heirloom tomatoes grown on their farm, the owners source much of their ingredients locally and hold the “from seed to plate” philosophy. The menu offers vegetarian and gluten-free options (like ricePanko Fish and Chips), and includes beer from both Boundary Bay and Chuckanut breweries.

Try the Quinoa-Salmon Cakes with red pepper aioli or a BLT with Hempler’s bacon and maple-tomato relish. Don’t miss the Hibiscus Iced Tea for a refreshing sip or treat yourself to a Raspberry Champagne Cocktail.

DIRTY DAN HARRIS Steakhouse 1211 11th St., Bellingham 360.676.1087, dirtydanharris.com The “dirt” on Dirty Dan Harris? In a word: excellent. The steakhouse provides warm, friendly waitstaff, quaint historic surroundings and superb food. Perhaps the best reflection on the restaurant is owner Kathy Papadakis’ waitstaff. Most have worked here for years — and it shows in their enthusiasm for your dining experience. The filet mignon is Dirty Dan’s signature entree. You won’t be disappointed.

HOMESKILLET American 521 Kentucky St., Bellingham 360.676.6218, homeskilletsunnyland.com Owners Tina and Kirby named their restaurant after one of their favorite lines in the movie Juno, when the main character calls a store clerk “homeskillet.” The skillets on their menu came afterward, but are now one of the eatery’s most popular items. A small skillet is filled with perfectly-fried potatoes, eggs and toppings you choose. Try Tina and Kirby’s personal favorite: the poutine, home fries smothered in traditional gravy, topped with fried eggs and cheese. Homeskillet can’t be beat with its friendly service, colorful atmosphere and ultimate comfort food.

IL CAFFE RIFUGIO Italian 5415 Mount Baker Hwy., Deming 360.592.2888, ilcafferifugio.com Richard Balogh has brought fine dining to the “wilderness.” Fifteen miles out on Mount Baker Highway, just past Deming, is a funky old café that has been transformed into an oasis for people who enjoy good food and coffee. Menu items befit their Italian name with panninis and frittatas for Saturday/ Sunday brunches; Cioppino is a summer dinner menu highlight. Dinner menu changes weekly, begging for a second trip. A small covered deck with colorful lanterns sits adjacent to the dining room for your al fresco pleasure. Just beyond, in a meadow, sits a red deck used as a stage, and is the centerpiece for special dinners under the stars.

TASTE OF INDIA Indian 3930 Meridian St., Ste. 107, Bellingham 360.647.1589 At Taste of India all the dishes are rich, delicious and truly feel authentic. Dishes come with your choice of pulao rice or the classic Indian bread naan. Taste of India offers a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, all with exquisite and well-developed flavors. There’s also a variety of flavors of naan, including garlic or spinach. For those unsure of what to order, or those who want to try multiple dishes at once, try the lunch buffet.

JAKE’S WESTERN GRILL Southern 8114 Guide Meridian, Lynden 360.354.5588, jakeswesterngrill.com In addition to outstanding barbecue, Jake’s also features a full line of fresh-cut salads, burgers,

Southern sandwiches and a full-service bar. If you’re a true lover of Southern barbecue, you owe it to yourself to head north and give Jake’s Western Grill in Lynden a try.

JALAPENOS MEXICAN GRILL Mexican 1007 Harris Ave., Bellingham, 360.656.6600 501 W. Holly St., Bellingham, 360.671.3099 2945 Newmarket Pl., Bellingham, 360.778.2041 jalapenos-wa.com Jalapenos Mexican Grill lures you in with promises of a cheap lunch special. But after looking at the menu, you’ll want so much more. You’ll find a masterpiece starting with the complimentary chips and salsa. Ask to see if they are featuring any types other than the normal red that day. The salsas exude freshness. A house favorite is the authentic puffy tacos. They’re messy, filled with shredded chicken, cheese and topped with guacamole, but worth the added effort of using a knife and fork. Of course, there’s a variety of flavored mojitos and margaritas, and Jalapenos doesn’t play around with their drinks. The glasses are huge, and the drink is good to the last drop.

1/2 price bottles of

wine on Wednesdays.

KEENAN’S AT THE PIER American/Seafood 804 10th St., Bellingham 360.392.5510, thechrysalisinn.com Keenan’s at the Pier is the new restaurant in Fairhaven’s Chrysalis Inn & Spa. With the same stunning panoramic views of Bellingham Bay as its predecessor, any seat in the restaurant is an excellent choice. Executive Chef Robert Holmes uses fresh ingredients that are regionally sourced, and the menu changes frequently. Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m., and a number of tasty options are available for under $10, including truffle fries, chickpea cakes and spicy lamb sliders. Breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees range from seafood to American favorites. Try the garlic roasted chicken, halibut special or beef-battered fish and chips, made with Alaskan cod, hand cut fries and housemade coleslaw. The menu items are imaginative, tasty and beautifully presented. The wine list offers a mix of imports and domestic wines that pair well with your meal. Reservations at this popular restaurant are not required, though highly recommended.

KURU KURU SUSHI Japanese/Sushi 11 Bellwether Way, Bellingham 360.392.8224, kurukurubellingham.com Kuru Kuru Sushi, which translates to “go around Sushi,” offers not only a good meal, but a good experience. Some of the offerings, like the Dynamite roll, are lightly tempura fried before being put on the conveyor belt to travel around the restaurant to hungry patrons. More traditional, classic sushi, like the raw salmon

February | March 2015 91

The Star Club Jesse Parker INGREDIENTS: Bellewood honeycrisp vodka, apple cider and thyme syrup, fresh lemon, egg white, champagne and garnished with a lemon twist

MAGDALENAS Crêperie, European 1200 10th St., Ste. 103, Bellingham 360.483.8569, magdalenascreperie.com Paris, London, New York, Vancouver and Bellingham have them. Little shops where the aromas of sweet and savory crêpes, custom sandwiches and hot soup du jour fill the air.

With a formidable selection of crêpes, it’ll take more than one trip to decide which is better, sweet or savory. But at this eatery, it is criminal to pass up the sweet little numbers filled with velvety smooth vanilla-flavored cream cheese, white chocolate and your choice of fresh fruit.

A crêpe option for every crêpe crave.

A

s I climbed the stone steps and entered The Star Club, I was struck by how cozy it was — the juxtaposition of the stone siding and the warm, dimlit interior gave the illusion that I had escaped the frigid evening and walked into a speakeasy-style hideaway. I was immediately greeted by the bartender, quickly dispelling the jitters that can accompany walking in to a new bar for the first time. She made me feel right at home and proved eager to answer any drink-related questions I had.

Scanning the drink specials with the eye of an experienced cocktaildrinker, I knew this would be a tough decision — it was a large selection and every option sounded delicious. I settled on the Jesse Parker for its use of Bellewood Acre’s honeycrisp vodka and an apple cider and thyme syrup that the bartender informed me was made in-house. While the bartender began expertly mixing my drink, I explored the little establishment. The quiet dining room had a quaint stage that looked perfect for live shows, and a large window provided a wonderful view of the night. It struck me as a perfect place for a romantic date or a night out with the girls.

The cocktail was soon ready and did not disappoint. The Jesse Parker was creamy, with the perfect balance of fresh apple flavor and champagne.

(which is buttery and delicious) also travels on the belt. A variety of non-fish related faire, like gyoza, egg rolls and desserts also are offered.

If you don’t see something you like, the chefs behind the counter will gladly make something for you.

MI MEXICO Mexican 241 Telegraph Rd., Bellingham 360.647.0073 Mi Mexico’s reputation as one of the local favorites among Mexican food lovers is well deserved. The experience starts with a warm, friendly, professional waitstaff in an enjoyable, upbeat atmosphere. And from there, Mi Mexico separates itself from the competition with a choice of traditional and non-traditional Mexican dishes that few Mexican restaurants in the Pacific Northwest offer, all made with the freshest of ingredients available. From your first bite of Mi Mexico’s homemade salsa to the last bite of your main entree or dessert, you will already be planning your next visit.

MYKONOS Greek

I sipped it slowly and savored every moment. I wasn’t in a rush to walk back into the cold night any time soon.  The Star Club 311 E. Holly St., Bellingham Sun.–Wed. 4 p.m.–12 a.m., Thu.–Sat. 4 p.m.–2 a.m.

360.927.1938 starclubbellingham.com

1650 W. Bakerview Rd., Bellingham 360.715.3071 mykonosrestaurantbellingham.com Pita bread is pita bread, right? Not at Mykonos. If you order a starter of hummus, prepare your tastebuds for slices of pita bread heaven. If you consider yourself to be a connoisseur of Greek cuisine, try the traditional Greek salad as a litmus test. You won’t be disappointed. It is delightfully fresh and light and a meal by itself, with perhaps the best feta dressing west of Athens. Should you still be hungry, your main course options include the traditional Greek spin on veggie, lamb, chicken, steak and seafood prepared with rice or pasta. Mykonos offers excellent value for the price. Phidippides would be proud.

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Sip

DINE

Remarkable Vartanyan Winery WRITTEN BY ZACCHORELI FRESCOBADLI-GRIMALDI

S

iberia is, by extremes, a far cry from Whatcom County. It’s a chin-scratcher that a Siberian winemaker by way of Armenia would settle down in this part of the world. Margarita Vartanyan’s story emerges from revolution, international strife, oppression and liberty. In November 1920, the Republic of Armenia was abolished and, under Dictator Joseph Stalin, became the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia. Margarita’s relatives were exiled to Siberia where the family would remain until Mikail Gorbechev’s Perestroika political reforms helped bring an end to Cold War tensions. Thus it happened that after living in Siberia for thirty years, Margarita settled in Armenia and learned the family winemaking tradition before making her way to the United States.

In 2008 Margarita founded Vartanyan Winery, with a hillside vineyard, located off Mount Baker Highway just a few minutes east of Bellingham.

The fireplace warmed tasting room has east facing windows, and an expansive grassy area is a terrific spot to have a picnic lunch or dinner, and a glass or two of wine. On summer weekends, Margarita invites a variety of musicians to entertain at the winery. These little music festivals have been known to attract significant crowds of wine and music enthusiasts who drink, eat and dance the day way. The concerts are free, although a nominal (usually $7) donation is suggested. The incredible views of Mount Baker, the bucolic setting and

rural isolation is just icing on the cake. Vartanyan Winery is the real draw here. This boutique winery produces at least 12 different wines. Although there are currently three white wines available, the emphasis at Vartanyan is – clearly – on red wines.

Vartanyan’s premiere red wine is the 2008 Trilogia, a blend of Cabernet Franc aged in Russian oak, Syrah aged in French oak, and Merlot aged in American oak. The different type of oak really does make a difference, as each imparts distinct characteristics into the wine as it ages in the barrels. Modestly priced at $19.95 a bottle, Trilogia is a fantastic food wine. Paired with duck, beef or pork emphasizes the wine’s dark cherry and berry flavors, and enhances Trilogia’s silky soft finish.

Aged in new French oak barrels, the 2012 Malbec for $23.95 is a rich red wine redolent of fresh berries, with a bit of vanilla on the nose. This wonderful little wine is fantastic alone, and phenomenal when paired with spaghetti in a sun-dried tomato and goat cheese sauce. Yet, this Malbec is versatile enough to pair beautifully with tuna packed in olive oil! A skillfully crafted Malbec, such as Vartanyan’s, is well worth the price.  The tasting room is usually open Friday 1:00–5:00, Saturday 1:00–6:00 and Sunday 1:00–5:00, but Margarita is happy to accommodate other days and times by appointment. www.vewinery.com

February | March 2015 93

NEW YORK PIZZA & BAR Italian/Gourmet Pizza 902 State St., Bellingham 360.733.3171 8874 Bender Rd. #101, Lynden 360.318.0580, newyorkpizzaandbar.com If you love pizza, then you’re going to love New York Pizza and Bar. Not just because of the crispy, handmade dough (made fresh daily) or because of the fresh, high-quality ingredients or the amount of them that top each slice.

But because New York Pizza is the master of pizza diversity. Anything you want on a pizza you’re likely to find here. Regardless of what you order, expect to be more than satisfied.

There’s also a full bar and great happy hour selections.

ON RICE Thai 209 N. Samish Way, Bellingham 2200 Rimland Dr., Bellingham 1224 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.714.9995

• Slow-cooked BBQ ribs with our homemade BBQ sauce • Build Your Own Burger featuring our handcrafted USDA chuck patties and fresh baked buns • Micro Brew Steamed Mussels

360.332.2505

Ask any college student: On Rice is the place to go in Bellingham. With its affordable lunch specials and three locations around town, it’s easy to enjoy one of On Rice’s many flavorful Thai dishes. A classic Thai favorite, Pad Thai, is interpreted well here. It’s sweet, without being overpowering, and has just enough spice to balance the dish out. All dishes are available with chicken, pork, beef, seafood or tofu and can be made as spicy as you want them to be, between one and four stars.

2615 South Harbor Loop Drive, Bellingham nickisbellamarina.com Casual Friendly Atmosphere for Good Times and a Great Water View

PEL’ MENI Russian 1211 N. State St., Bellingham 360.715.8324 Step off busy State Street after your late night festivities for an inexpensive and satisfying fill of plump dumplings. Stuffed with either meat or potatoes, these dumplings are piping hot and sprinkled with cumin, paprika and cilantro. Because they pair so well with tasty libations, Pel’ Meni manages to consistently have a line out the door as soon as the sun goes down. For $7, you’ll get a plastic, clam-shell container full of savory dumplings. Smother them with vinegar, sour cream and hot sauce for the full effect.

SKYLARK’S HIDDEN CAFE Eclectic 1308 11th St., Fairhaven 360.715.3642, skylarkshiddencafe.com

Be Sure to check out our all new DINE section on Northsoundlife.com Search by Restaurants, Cuisine, Location and Recipes!

Skylark’s Hidden Cafe in Fairhaven is worth seeking out. From decadent breakfast items such as Eggs Benedict and house specialty Banana Bread French Toast with Maple ­Walnut Topping to hearty dinner entrees such ­Halibut & Lobster Thermidor and New York Steak with Jack Daniels Herb Butter, the menu at Skylark’s is varied and every bite delicious.

Come for the food and stay for the jazz on select evenings.

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7

STONE POT Korean 113 E. Magnolia St., Bellingham 3092 N.W. Bellingham Ave., Bellingham 360.671.6710

GREAT

Stone Pot isn’t just a clever name, but the clever little pots and skillets many of the meals are served in. The Stone Pot Bibimbap is a medley of vegetables with choice of meat or tofu that sits atop a sizzling pot of rice. A fried egg is placed on top — stir it in to mix the yolk throughout the rice and meat as the hot pot continues to cook the egg, similar to fried rice. All meals are served with a variety of buanchan, small, seasonal dishes of vegetables, meats and seafood that complement the main dish. The menu also includes soups, noodle dishes and entrees such as Kabli, marinated beef short ribs, Spicy Pork, served on a sizzling platter with onions, and the traditional Bulgogi.

TASTES

The following selections have made it past our taste bud test and into our top seven this issue. Step out and give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.

4

TEMPLE BAR Bistro 306 West Champion Street, Bellingham, WA 360.676.8660, templebarbellingham.com Continually recognized for their craft cocktails and small plates, Temple Bar aims to please.

Begin with the classic Temple Bar cheese plate, a collection of three rotating cheeses varying in texture and flavor. They are often paired with fruit, honey, toasted nuts and bread. Next, dive into a piping hot gratin, which varies based on what is in season. In between bites of a salad made with locally sourced ingredients, sip on a unique cocktail with house made infusions and bitters. Finally nibble on the chocolate chili muffins: the perfect end to a charming experience.

1 2

The scrambled tofu at Old Town Café is crumbly, spicy deliciousness. Best with black beans and a tortilla. theoldtowncafe.com

The blackened redfish at Anthony’s is a light–butsatisfying lunch, perfect with a glass of crisp sauvignon blanc. anthonys.com

WASABEE SUSHI Japanese/Sushi 105 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham 360.223.9165, wasabeesushi.com WasaBee Sushi is a dining experience not soon to be forgotten. Deliciously fresh and succulent slices of fish resting atop carefully handsculpted pillows of rice are a sushi lover’s dream come true. Delicately sweet Hamachi, beautifully barbecued Unagi, and bright and glistening Ikura arrive on little porcelain plates garnished with freshly made wasabi and paperthin slices of white pickled ginger. It’s a refreshing break from the pink-dyed variety so often found in many sushi bars. Ambiance, incomparable quality and prices that cannot be beat make WasaBee Sushi a darn fine place to eat.

3

Avenue Bread’s grilled eggplant veggie sandwich has all the richness of their meatier sandwiches without the added calories, salt and fat. But oh yes, all the flavor. avenuebread.com

One of the best vegetarian options in town is at Brandywine Kitchen. The Portobello sandwich is a musthave. brandywinekitchen.com

5

The beet caprese salad at The Table is hearty enough for an entrée, and healthy enough to eat as often as you’d like… which will be often. bellinghampasta.com

6

Leaf and Ladle offers lots of vegetarian and vegan options that are filling, healthy and delicious. The vegan Caesar salad is particularly crisp and tangy. Facebook.com/ leafandladle

7

Literary vegans can rejoice that the Book Fare Café at Village Books offers delicious sandwiches (gluten-free bread available), including the delicious vegan sandwich with harissa toasted chickpeas, roasted carrot spread and spaghetti squash. Yum! bookfarecafe.com

February | March 2015 95

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AGENDA Featured Events · Listings · The Scene · Final Word

Children of the Civil Rights February 26, 5:30 silent auction, 6:15 showing Pickford Film Center 1318 Bay Street, Bellingham 360.647.1300, pickfordfilmcenter.org

L

ocal filmmaker and painter Julia Clifford presents her brilliant and important feature documentary Children of the Civil Rights which explores the often-overlooked role of children in the Civil Rights Movement. Her film focuses on the sit-in movement in Oklahoma City. They film encompasses the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham and other moments of the Civil Rights struggle in the 1960s. 

February | March 2015 97

RECYCLED PERCUSSION

AGENDA Events

CLASSICAL

name-that-tune and their medley of 20 themes from movies, as well as their History of Music in Five Minutes.

UN NOTTE IN ITALIA

Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial Street 360.734.6060, mountbakertheatre.com

FEBRUARY 8, 3 P.M.

It is a rare and beautiful thing to see a solo performance featuring a double bass. Soloist Paul Erhard performs work

by Nino Rota, who, along with Carmine Coppola (padre del regista) is famed for his soundtrack for The Godfather films.

Respighi, Gabrielli, Rossini and Puccini all represent in this all-Italian, all-aboutthat-bass program.

Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial Street 360.734.6060, mountbakertheatre.com STRINGFEVER FEBRUARY 27, 6 P.M.

If one performer on an instrument is great, how excellent would several be?

Goofy and talented Stringfever perform both on their respective instruments (violin, viola, cello) and gang up on the cello for a wild rendition of Ravel’s Bolero. Also included in this audience-pleasing performance is a 98 NorthSoundLife.com

ROSSINI’S CINDERELLA

gained international fame for performing with Paul Simon in the 1980s on his Graceland album. Enjoy their isicathamiya harmonies and enjoy their unique South African sound.

Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial Street 360.734.6060, mountbakertheatre.com

FEB. 27, 6 P.M.

The classic story of a girl with a loose shoe is transformed into a beautiful lyrical opera by the magic of Giochino Rossini’s beautiful score. La Cenerentola is a magical, and, at times comedic, take on the old Disney...oops, Brothers Grimm...classic.

McIntyre Hall 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon 360.416.7727, mcintyrehall.org

CONCERTS

RECYCLED PERCUSSION MARCH 17, 10 A.M. AND 12:15 P.M.

Garnering rave reviews and gaining fans everywhere, Recycled Percussion isn’t your average concert — these guys will stomp, bang and drum their way into your heart. The show incorporates lots of audience participation and great interaction.

Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial Street 360.734.6060, mountbakertheatre.com INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT 2015

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO

FEB. 28, 8 P.M.

MARCH 5, 7:30 P.M.

Diergo Figueiredo, Maneli jamal and International Guitar Night founder Brian Gore will gather to play jazz and

Powerful and distinctive, a cappella singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo

contemporary guitar music for your listening pleasure. Enjoy the complementary stylings of Brazilian, jazz and steel strings.

Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon 360.336.8955, lincolntheatre.org

FAMILY FRIENDLY JUNGLE BOOK MARCH 20, 7 P.M.

Visit Mowgli and Bageera and all the favorites in this charming adaptation of the Kipling classic. Written originally as a series of stories for his daughter Josephine, The Jungle Book has become a musical classic for all ages.

BAAY 1059 N. State St., Bellingham 360.306.8531, baay.org

MUSEUM LISA MCSHANE FEB.7–MAR. 6

Lisa McShane’s paintings demonstrate her affection for the Pacific Northwest, from the lakes of Whatcom County to the deserts near Asotin. Her work is bold and rich, capturing the dramatic clouds, bright reflections and moody, moonlight nights of our beautiful state.

Lucia Douglas Gallery 1415 13th Street, Bellingham 360.733.5361, luciadouglas.com LEO ADAMS: EASTERN LIGHT THROUGH FEB. 22

Leo Adams reflects the nature and landscape of his native Yakima through painting, architecture, art and decor. A member of the Yakima Nation, Adams draws on the traditions of his community and translates his relationship with nature through contemporary colors and shapes.

Lightcatcher 250 Flora Street, Bellingham 360.778.8930, whatcommuseum.org

DANCE BODYVOX DANCE COMPANY MARCH 21, 7:30 P.M.

Color, movement, sound — BodyVox’s multimedia performance will enchant and excite you. The performance is a combination of dance, theater,

February | March 2015 99

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO

SPENCER DAY

Saturday, February 14, 2015

$29, $24 & $19, $15 youth/student Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Roy Orbison, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and many others are the foundation of Spencer’s creative process and continue to influence his writing and performance style.

LISA MCSHANE

ECA SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT:

CLINT BLACK

Friday, February 20, 2015 $59, $54 & $49

Prolific singer-songwriter Clint Black has long been heralded as one of Country music’s brightest stars.

Opening for Clint Black is Shelby Earl.

storytelling and bold imagery. Get swept away in this amazing experience.

McIntyre Hall 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon 360.416.7727, mcintyrehall.org

SOUTHERN TROUBADOURS: JOE ELY, RUTHIE FOSTER, & PAUL THORN IN-THE-ROUND Friday, March 13, 2015

$44, $39 & $34, $15 youth/student Joe Ely’s Country Tex-Mex, Ruthie Foster’s soul & blues, and Paul Thorn’s Southern Rock come together to create a unique blend of universal truths.

ec4arts.org | 425.275.9595 410FOURTHAVENUENORTH EDMONDSWA98020

Marketing & promotion of Edmonds Center for the Arts is made possible, in part, by assistance from the Snohomish County Hotel-Motel Tax Fund.

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VISUAL ARTS EN VOGUE RUNWAY SHOW

of the 1890s. The collection will include his early portrait of Chief Sealth’s daughter, which won Curtis a top prize and furthered his career.

Lightcatcher 250 Flora Street, Bellingham 360.778.8930, whatcommuseum.org

THEATER

MARCH 12, 6 P.M.

Join the Museum of Northwest Art and the local fashionistas for a night of panache and oo la la. The focus is on recycled and upcycled fashion from local artists. There will be a live auction and other events. Proceeds go to Friendship House.

McIntyre Hall 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon 360.416.7727, mcintyrehall.org

THE UNDERPANTS FEBRUARY 13–MARCH 1, 7:30 P.M. AND 3 P.M.

Written by comedian Steve Martin and adapted by Carl Sternheim, this satire is an adaptation of a German play from 1910.

A couple tries to grapple with the social and economic fallout from a terrible incident — the wife’s bloomers drop in public.

Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial Street 360.734.6060, mountbakertheatre.com

MINGLED VISIONS: IMAGES FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN BY EDWIN CURTIS

IDIOM THEATER’S BRASS MONKEY THEATER CLUB

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015

MARCH 3, 2015, 7:30 P.M.

Edwin Curtis was a man on a mission: he wanted to document and photograph the disappearing Native American culture

The Brass Monkey Theater Club performs six short plays on a theme (i.e. magic, wishes, etc.) and this series is on anxiety.

BELLINGHAM'S HISTORIC

MOUNT BAKER THEATRE MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM | 360.734.6080

Broadway, Dance, Cirque, Classical, Rock, & So Much More!

The plays will be an exploration of what creates, fuels and energizes our fears.

1418 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham 360.305.3524, idiomtheater.com

SPECIAL EVENTS PARTY BUS TO THE NORTHWEST GARDEN SHOW

Oysters, Gin & Jazz Valentines Day at BelleWood Distilling Saturday February 14, 2015 6:30 to 10

FEBRUARY 12

Marcy Plattner of the Garden Spot Nursery is hosting a first-class party bus out of Bellingham to the Northwest Garden Show in Seattle. Marcy is one of the best garden gurus in town, and she’s made special arrangements for the bus members to get a private tour of the display gardens, early admission to the event and more. She’s also providing wine and snacks for the trip home. Entry fee, snacks, wine and a swag bag are all included in the $89 ticket price of the bus. Get on the bus!

Flying Prohibition Jazz Roaring 20’s theme Burlesque & Dancing

Libido Bar Oysters... 3 ways

Roving Romance Hors d´ Oeuvres

Drayton Harbor Farms

Crave Catering

Advanced Tickets: $55 Per Guest Designated Driver Tickets: $40 per Guest

21 and over Tickets on Sale Now! @ Bellewoodfarms.com 6140 Guide Meridian 360.318.7720

900 Alabama Street, Bellingham 360.676.5480, garden-spot.com

February | March 2015 101

AGENDA Events

Out of Town SEATTLE SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE LIVE

CEZANNE

FEBRUARY 5, 7:30 P.M.

The Emmy Award-winning reality TV competition show that has excited viewers for 11 seasons is coming to Seattle live. The show’s Top 10 Finalists will perform.

The Paramount Theatre 911 Pine Street, Seattle 206.628.0888, stgpresents.org BAM BIENNIAL MONDAY MARCH 2, 2015–MARCH 29, 2015

In past years, the BAM has hosted biennial shows on clay arts, fiber arts, etc.

This time around, the theme is Knock on Wood, with an emphasis on woodworking, ranging from carvings from Pacific Northwest tribes to contemporary furniture and sculpture. In addition to a juried award, there will also be a People’s Choice so that you can vote for your favorite.

Bellevue Arts Museum 510 Bellevue Way, NE, Bellevue 425.519.0770, bellevuearts.org

VANCOUVER CEZANNE AND THE MODERN: MASTERPIECES OF EUROPEAN ART FROM THE PEARLMAN COLLECTION OPENS FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Cezanne and his contemporaries changed everything we thought we knew about art at the time and transformed not only the art world, but the world entirely.

Cezanne’s work forms the bridge from Impressionism to the modern era. This collection has only traveled once in fifty years, and this will be its only showing in Canada. Don’t miss it.

Vancouver Art Gallery 750 Hornby St., Vancouver BC 604.662.4719, vanartgallery.bc.ca

HAVE AN EVENT? Load it on our Events Page at northsoundlife.com/events.

102 NorthSoundLife.com

The Scene

AGENDA

On Jan. 9, the Whatcom County Association of Realtors® hosted their annual gala at Settlemeyer Hall at Bellingham Technical College. The exceptional menu had a local focus, and was prepared by students in the culinary program at BTC. The theme this year was Fire and Ice. The silent auction benefitted the Downtown Bellingham Partnership and Lydia Place. Incoming President Cerise Noah was installed. County Councilwoman Barbara Brenner received an award, and Mike Kent hosted the event.

© C9 Photography

February | March 2015 103

NOTES

Final Word

Cleavage Etiquette The Empire Strikes Back WRITTEN BY Loretta

H

W. Cleese AKA KEN KARLBERG

i there. As a single mother of two pre-school kids, I feel compelled to offer some good natured, but badly needed male guidance in my first ever Final Word.

But first I want to thank the magazine, and Ken, for sharing his personal space at the back of each issue with a female. I would say that I have big shoes to fill, but there’s nothing impressive about size nine, Ken, no matter how many times you emphasize the EE width. Blame your father and get on with it, okay?

But I can sympathize with Ken in an odd sort of way. I am, how shall I say, either blessed or cursed with cleavage depending on my sense of humor at the time, which is why I dedicate my first Final Word — with tongue in cheek — to an often overlooked social issue: When is it appropriate for men to stare? I have brothers; I know it is primal. But men, it seems, know no social boundaries and need some guidance. Read on, guys. You can thank me later. “Dear Loretta” is coming to your rescue.

The thought first came to me while I was still nursing my youngest. Time and again, I would look up to multiple sets of male eyeballs upon me. To be fair, I appreciate that some men are Princess Bride fans of the Fire Swamp’s ROUS (rodents of unusual size). For you, comparisons with my BOUS may have been inevitable. But this accounts for only a handful of you.

For the rest — those with one track minds — here are my rules of cleavage (also known as viewing etiquette). Fortunately, there aren’t many. Men, if you have trouble remembering, I will gladly equip you with a plastic quarterback wristband.

First, time and place should be your first consideration, not what we are wearing. For instance, if I bend over while wearing a loose fitting blouse as I drop off my kids, I am not looking for attention. I am just being a mother. You are just a faceless person at that moment, that is, unless you genuinely offer to help me with my kids — in which case, if you are single and attractive, please feel free to apply for a viewing, later. Applications are on my fridge. Be forewarned, however; 104 NorthSoundLife.com

I require three personal references, one of which cannot be your mother and one of which must be an ex-wife or girl friend.

Likewise, if you happen upon me while I am cleaning the house, doing laundry, grocery shopping or on the sidelines at a kids’ soccer game, it is not an invitation to look. I may look good. I may even smell good. But I am still very much in mom-mode and more likely to ask you to hold a bag of half-eaten snacks than I am to offer my telephone number.

I do make occasional exceptions for cute 30+ year old male babysitters. They are rare, of course, like unicorns. But if you qualify and I like the way you hold the snack bag, I will let you know by discretely handing you an application from the fridge and a pencil. Until then, I am Medusa — fail to avert your eyes at your peril. Every part of your body is about to turn to stone if you stare, and I mean every part.

Fear not, however. There is one global “viewing” safe harbor — and that is at adult social functions, where the “competition” absolutely requires a blouse or dress with an “I’m not dead yet” attitude. This is, in fact, a female version of an enhanced interrogation technique and an open invitation to sneak a peek. Feel free to admire once, twice, or as often as you like. No applications are necessary — permission granted.

But just don’t misconstrue the invitation. What you don’t know is that you are being tested like Pavlov’s dogs. We spend hours in the closet to set you up for potential failure by changing from one revealing dress or blouse to another. The key is to look only from a distance — before you start a conversation, not after — and then never, ever look down again.

Yes, we know you want to. It’s primal. The sweat on your brow and nervous, uncontrolled eye twitch is a dead give-away. On behalf of myself and for all women, however, humor us and try.

I know. Life isn’t fair, is it? 

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HOME & REMODEL ISSUE

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NORTH SOUND LIFE

HOME & REMODEL ISSUE

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2015