LangleyAdvance
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
A17
Make the Right Turn in Bellingham By Benjamin Yong
Separated by only a few miles, the downtowns of Fairhaven and Bellingham may be intertwined, but each have their own unique identities stemming from a long history dating back more than a century ago. Whether it’s watching a play in the fire station-turned Firehouse Performing Arts Centre or dining at the restored Horseshoe Café originally built in 1886, there is literally something for everyone. Bellingham proper was founded in 1904 as a result of the joining of four towns: Bellingham, Fairhaven, Sehome and Whatcom, says Kyle Fuller, director of marketing for the Downtown Bellingham Partnership. “They were all kind of separate, but because they were all growing so much by the early 1900s they combined into one big town.” The story of the largest city in Washington State’s Whatcom County, most popularly known to Canadians for its contemporary shopping mall Bellis Fair, is one of repurposing. Fairhaven is popular to locals and visitors for its charm and heritage — there are approximately 11 restored historic buildings in a four-block radius home to locally owned boutique shops and almost two dozen eating establishments.
Upcoming Events: April 27th Fairhaven ~ Dirty Dan Day Seafood Festival
Fuller says downtown Bellingham has undergone a slow transformation over the years to becoming a modern entertainment destination.
June 6th Downtown Bellingham ~ Art Walk
“It started as the city centre. Through the depression and the ups and downs of the economy, the town has molded away from the central business district to a cultural and arts district.”
The old city hall is now the Whatcom Museum of History and Art. The Mount Baker Theatre, which once showed motion pictures in the 40s and 50s, now entertains audiences with live performances including off-Broadway shows, and even drawing big music industry names like hip-hop artist Macklemore and R&B singer-songwriter John Legend. “Embracing our history and moving it forward, that’s what Bellingham is today,” says Fuller. For more information please go to... www.fairhaven.com and www.downtownbellingham.com
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