BWCT’s annual “Destination Marketing Partnership Award” recognizes local businesses, people or organizations for outstanding tourism marketing efforts.  The Airport was recognized for renovation and expansion, the addition of new carriers and increased non-stop flights, and dynamic innovations at the bustling facility. The Bellingham International Airport draws thousands of visitors from outside of Whatcom County every day.

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Port of Bellingham to provide crucial interaction and information services to travelers at the train, bus, ferry, and airport transportation terminals,” said Loni Rahm, President/CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.  “The recent creation of the successful airport ambassador program is a great example of our common goal to enhance travel experiences and encourage repeat visitation as an economic development tactic.”

Wes Herman of the Woods Coffee won the BWCT Chairman Award, given by BWCT’s Board Chair, Randi Axelsson of  Silver Reef Hotel • Casino • Spa.  In presenting the award, Axelsson praised Wes and his entire Woods Coffee team on their entrepreneurial achievements and community spirit.

Prior to the annual meeting, Chairman of the National Tour Association and CEO Mark Hoffmann hosted a special workshop on the group tour segment of travel, and spoke at the annual meeting about tourism trends and the value of customer service.  Hoffmann is also the President and founder of Sports Leisure Travel.

Over 175 people attended BWCT’s annual luncheon. Food and beverages were provided by Anthony’s at Squalicum Harbor, Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, The Woods Coffee, Silver Reef Hotel • Casino • Spa, Chocolate Necessities, Market Street Catering, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, Barbie’s Berries, BelleWood Acres,  Costco,  Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant, The India Grill, Masquerade Wines,  Samson Estates Winery, Poppes 360 Neighborhood Pub,  The Lighthouse Bar &Grill, The Big Fat Fish Company, Keenan’s at the Pier,  and Fool’s Onion Catering.  Each participating restaurant, caterer and winery served a small portion of a signature dish/drink.

Founded in 1978, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism is the official tourism agency for Whatcom County. Its mission is to improve the local economy by attracting visitors who stay longer. For more information on Bellingham and Whatcom County, visit bellingham.org.

Back to the drinks. Margaritas in Bellingham can’t be the run-of-the-mill frozen concoction that Parrot Heads (drunkenly and off-key) sing about. That’s just not how we do things in our little corner of the world. Local mixologists are using fresh, local and creative ingredients (very Bellingham) to transform the standard salt-rimmed margarita into something very special.

We’re fortunate to have plenty of options when it comes to getting a tequila fix. Here are a few I recently sampled.

Taco Lobo
We stopped by Taco Lobo on a Tuesday evening, after the dinner crowd had come and gone. Leo mixed up a couple of big, frosty house margaritas for my pal and me. We asked for a premium silver, or blanco, tequila, to which he added the house-made margarita mix of fresh lime-cucumber juice and simple syrup, plus an added kick from fresh jalapeño. We both loved this tangy, sweet and spicy combination. It’s not a small drink, so plan accordingly!

Taco Lobo is a favorite with Bellinghamsters for its homemade tortillas, chips and salsas. You’ll find plenty of fresh, authentic Mexican food to pair with a lime, mango or strawberry margarita.

Taco Lobo, 117 W. Magnolia St., Bellingham, WA      360-756-0711
Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Redlight
Redlight is a pure delight. It’s small, but not too small; quiet in the afternoon, and increasingly lively as evening falls and the lights go down. Early on, you’ll see patrons toiling away on laptops, while late night brings some serious date action.

It’s a perfect spot for gathering friends for drinks, conversation, or to catch a show. Rattletrap Ruckus plays Thursday nights for free, and on most weekends, you’ll find performers from Bellingham, Edison, Seattle and beyond.

Redlight’s chalkboard highlights their solid line-up of wines available by the bottle or glass, plus their always-creative selection of cocktails. Apparently they were having Margarita Madness of their own this week, with three on the menu. How lucky we were to have three in our party, so we didn’t have to choose!

Don Caballero, Le Butcherette, Fresh Raspberry Margarita

We each ordered one and shared sips:

• Don Caballero: With Herradura silver tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and Grand Marnier. Nicely balanced, not too sweet.
• Le Butcherette: Considering Redlight is housed in a former butcher shop (with the original meat hooks still hanging around), this is a great name for a cocktail, but I think it might be an homage to a punk band. At any rate, this short-but-potent drink featured jalapeno tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice and simple syrup.
• Fresh Raspberry Margarita: Raspberry preserves, tequila and lime juice. Simple, beautifully pink and so delicious.

Since we biked downtown, and Redlight’s margaritas were so good, we three stayed for another, happily licking our salty rims (well, two of us did that) and making full use of our adult-size straws.

Redlight, 1017 N. State St., Bellingham, WA
4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. 7 days a week    Happy Hour every day from 4:00 – 7:00

Redlight on Facebook

Temple Bar
Temple Bar (my favorite happy hour spot) tempted me back in its usual way: with a few words and a photo on Facebook. This time it was Organic Rhubarb Margarita. I was there in a flash to check it out. This delicate pink-orange beauty is made with pureed organic rhubarb grown on owner Chelsea Farmer’s own “farmlette,” muddled fresh orange and lime, reposado tequila (a/k/a the good stuff) and lots of love.

I liked my drink plenty, but do wish the rim had been salted to offset the tad-too sweetness of the drink. But then, I’m a rhubarb fanatic, and prefer it on the saliva-sucking tart side. I ate it raw as a kid, so take this with a grain of salt, too.

The Temple Bar  306 W. Champion St., Bellingham, WA
Monday–Saturday 11:00 a.m.–close, Sunday 3:00 p.m.–close
Happy Hour 11:00–7:00 every day, all day on Sunday
The Temple Bar on Facebook

Coming next week:
May Margarita Madness continues with my report on Whatcom County’s new tequila bar, the gorgeous Cantina Bar at Silver Reef Casino.

9th Green at Sudden Valley – Turns out that creek in the background was a “Magic” distance.

I drove out to the Sudden Valley Golf Course totally stoked with the knowledge that 1) it was sunny out; and 2) I’ve been playing OK of late so maybe had expectations that were a smidge higher than I deserved.

When you approach from the north out of Bellingham, winding along picturesque Lake Whatcom, one of the first glimpses you get of the course is the 15th fairway. It’s not the fairway that’s all that remarkable, but the tee-box that sits high above it… really high above it, like maybe a couple hundred feet to the valley floor with a sharp dog to the left.  If you’re brave enough to cut the corner—and succeed—you’ll have an approach of around 125-yards that will make you happy. Note, the definitive word here is “succeed.” You don’t notice the elevated tee from the road, but if you’ve played the course before, you just “know” it’s there and you start anxiously anticipating it before you’ve even turned down the driveway to the clubhouse. It’s maybe one of the “funnest” holes in the county.

I love the course at Sudden Valley. The front nine plays fairly flat along the shores of Lake Whatcom and back-and-forth across meandering Austin Creek and a couple of ponds. The back nine goes up a side hill and through the woods; two totally different courses rolled into one. The greens are amazingly true without a ton of break. For the most part if you just take dead aim at the hole, you’ll be rewarded.

Now I wanted to talk about my anticipation of a good round and how I was ultimately brought to my knees by the “magic” distance mentioned in the headline. Here’s the deal. Let’s say there’s a target out there, oh maybe 100-yards out. The target runs all the way across the fairway and is about 5-feet wide. If you dropped a bucket of forty balls on the ground, how many do you think you could hit precisely where you intended in that 5-foot wide gap? For the average guy, it would probably be less than 5% so maybe two or three. Same with hitting greens, right? How many GIRs do you average?

OK, now change the scenario and imagine a creek running across the fairway, or maybe a small pond, (you knew I was going there didn’t you) and the green you’re aiming for is 140-yards out; perfectly in your wheelhouse with an 8-iron or an easy 7. So why is it then, that if you skull it or hit it a bit fat, or slide completely under it, the result will most always be exactly the same. It flies or rolls, or skips, or bounces precisely the “magic” distance of 100-yards into the hazard… every stinkin’ time. Has this ever happened to you or is it just my own accumulated karma at work here?

Bottom line. I came to Sudden Valley full of anticipation, hope and sun-filled joy. But the “magic” distance managed to foil at least four shots, turning nice lies and a reasonable chance at par into a probable double-bogey.

Oh… but I smacked a driver off that elevated 15th tee, over the corner to within 100-yards. Tossed the PW neatly onto the green and narrowly missed a birdie putt for a tap-in par. A little redemption, sure… but if you play there and get to the 17th tee with another slightly elevated tee and a small creek running across the fairway about 200-yards out, you won’t have to stretch your imagination too much to know how that worked out for me.

Go play golf.

The Syre Education Center is located at 201 Prospect Street, next door the the Museum’s 1892 Old City Hall building. The structure was originally built in 1926 as the first fire department building in Bellingham, and if you look carefully you can still see the letters BFD engraved high on the outside wall. It was conveniently located to face straight down Flora Street, allowing easy access for fire fighters in an emergency.

The building was transformed into the Syre Education Center in 1992 and permanent exhibit space was designed to house the Edson-Edson-Booth bird collection, which was a founding fixture of the Museum back in 1941. Budget cuts in 2005 forced the Museum to limit public hours at the Syre building, although the exhibits have continued to be utilized for school field trips. I have visited the center frequently with my own children over the years, and we have always been fascinated by the collections.

Hours and dates for the 2013 “Open Nest” event are Noon to 5 p.m., June 20-23 and June 27-30. The cost is only $5 per person. Bring your family to explore on your own, or take advantage of the following special workshops which have been scheduled to interpret the amazing bird display.

Thurs., June 20, 2 p.m. – Look Who Just Flew In! Migrating Birds of Whatcom County

• Paul Woodcock, local Audubon president, will lead visitors on a tour of the Museum’s extensive bird collection. He will share details about local birds and fascinating facts about their migration. He will also talk about the history of this famous bird collection and the two Edsons who made it possible.

Friday, June 21, 1 – 1:30 p.m. Bird Tour/Class: Bird Nest & Eggs

• Do all birds make nests? Where do they make nests? Are all eggs oval? How long do birds incubate their eggs? How long does it take for the eggs to hatch? Find answers to these questions and more in this informative interactive program by Museum educator, Mary Jo Maute. Learn to identify some birds, eggs, and nests that you could see right in your neighborhood! Preregistration is required, and space is limited to 20 participants, all ages. Call 360.778.8960 to register.

Thursday, June 27, 1-2:30 p.m. – Bird Tour: Birds on the Fly!

• Catch a bird on the fly as you explore the Whatcom Museum Bird Collection with Museum educator Chris Brewer in the Syre Education Center. You’ll discover how fast, how high and why they fly. See birds of prey, shore birds, waterfowl and little brown branch hoppers.

Friday, June 28, 2 p.m – Clay Bird Art Workshop

• Take a look at the birds in the Syre Education Center with Museum educator, Chris Brewer, then fly on into our classroom and learn how to make clay birds! We’ll work with basic clay techniques and learn texturing ideas. A fun time to experiment with all birds imaginable! Preregistration is required, and space is limited to 20 participants, all ages. Call 360.778.8960 to register.

Facing the Day by Laurie Potter

Saturday, June 29, 1-3 p.m. – Feathers and Flight in Fine Art

• Create bird art with Laurie Potter, an artist who has a special love of birds. She’ll show you methods for drawing birds, techniques for painting with pastels, and share bird references to use for your art. See her paintings at www.lauriepotter.com. Preregistration is required, and space is limited to 20 participants, all ages. Call 360.778.8960 to register.

Sunday, June 30, 2 p.m. – Bird Tour: Adapting to Life on the Sea and Marsh

• Learn about bird life on our seashores: how they nest without being seen, what they eat and how they adapt to saltwater living. Jessica Shaw is an Audubon board member with a wildlife biology background. She will also share her research on secretive birds of the marsh. Find out about the marsh birds you may hear but not see!

Following the presentation, guests can explore the museum’s galleries and mingle with other solar enthusiasts. The event is free and open to the first 50 people that reserve their spots. Reservations include event ticket and a pass to the gallery. Reservations are first-come-first-serve and must be completed by May 25. Spots will go fast. RSVP today, by emailing ryan@solarwa.org with the number or attendees in your group.

The mission of the Spark Museum is to offer exciting and educational experiences for audiences of all ages through galleries and public programs that illustrate the development and use of electricity, radio, and related electrical inventions that changed the course of human history.  Using our collection as inspiration, we foster a spirit of innovation and invention through dynamic hands on programs.

Sail on a 90-year-old schooner and enjoy local libations from these island distilleries on Bellingham’s Ski to Sea weekend. Award winners for their distinctive “Navy Proof Gin” and “Spy Hop Gin,” the San Juan Distillery is making quite a name for itself in the world of micro-distillers.

The Zodiac’s cook, Ian Relay, will prepare an on-board meal to match the light and balanced signature of Westcott Bay Ciders, which are available only on the island or in select Seattle area wine stores.

Enjoy a relaxing and spirited sail complete with an iconic sunset on board the historic Zodiac.

Cost for the sail, dinner and tastings is $95 per person. Additional drinks will be available for purchase. (Individual or case orders can be placed through the hosts).

For more information and to reserve your place on this cruise, call 206-719-7622 or email info@schoonerzodiac.com.

Parklets are conversions of on-street parking spaces that provide urban areas with additional public outdoor space. Typically financed and maintained by adjacent businesses or property owners, parklets can serve as neighborhood anchors and destination points—providing spaces for neighbors to gather and get to know one another. Parklets catalyze vitality and activity in the city’s commercial districts. They support local business communities by encouraging pedestrians to linger and give local merchants a new way to interact with the community and attract new customers.

Last summer, to help support the City of Bellingham’s Downtown Planning process, a small team of industry/government professionals completed Bellingham’s first parklet, as a demonstration green building and smart growth project to create additional green spaces in downtown Bellingham. The temporary parklet was installed during summer of 2012 outside of La Fiamma Pizza on Railroad Avenue, and was received with great success.

This spring, Downtown businesses were invited to submit an application expressing interest in hosting that same parklet for the summer of 2013. A committee of City staff and Downtown enthusiasts then reviewed the applications and selected Dashi Noodle Bar.

“The feedback about the experimental parklet last summer was really positive,” said Darby Cowles, the City’s project manager for the Downtown Plan. “We are excited that Dashi Noodle Bar is able to host this expanded public space with the parklet.”

“We are happy Dashi is willing to provide a space for the parklet and offer an artistic place to stop and enjoy our city’s core,” Rose Lathrop, Sustainable Connections’ Green Building & Smart Growth Manager says. “This parklet is a great way to create more open space quickly and inexpensively.”

The parklet is a temporary installation that will be removed this fall. Public comments about the parklet should be directed to Rose Lathrop at Sustainable Connections. Businesses interested in constructing their own parklet are encouraged to contact the City of Bellingham for more information.

Toddler Art, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-11 a.m.

• Whatcom Museum Family Interactive Gallery (FIG), 250 Flora Street

• Admission and $2 suggested donation

• With the help from instructors and participating adults, young artists will create their own masterpieces as they experiment with materials, enhance their creativity, and acquire skills in both 2-D and 3-D art in this parent/ child program.

Brown Bag: Hilary Hamilton on Clearly Art: The Beauty of Glass, Thursday, June 6, 12:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

• $5 Thursday Admission/Museum Members Free

• Join Museum curatorial intern, Hilary Hamilton, for a gallery walk-through tour of Clearly Art: The Beauty of Glass. Hamilton curated the exhibition from the Whatcom Museum’s collection, which includes a number of new glass works from the former Safeco Collection. Hamilton is a senior in art history at Western Washington University.

AHA! After Hours Arts: Exhibition Expedition, Thursdays, June 6 & 20, 6:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

• Free with $5 Thursday admission/Museum members free

• Explore current exhibitions at the Lightcatcher with our intrepid and informed guides. June 6 will be a tour of Jim Olson: Art in Architecture and June 20 is a tour of Clearly Art: The Beauty of Glass.

AHA! After Hours Art: Mount Baker Toppers Sing, Thursday, June 13, 6:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

• $5 Thursday Admission/Museum Members Free

• Stop by after work and enjoy a musical moment at the Lightcatcher with The Mount Baker Toppers. The talented a cappella men’s group perform a variety of musical genres including pop, doo-wop, gospel, and barbershop. Their enthusiasm and close harmonies will add an refreshing element to your day. Take a look at our exhibition, Jim Olson: Art in Architecture, too!

FIG Art Club Workshop, Friday, June 19, 2-4 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Family Interactive Gallery (FIG), 250 Flora Street

• $7 Non-members/$5 Museum Members

• We’ll be looking into the colorful and light-filled world of glass with June’s workshop focus on our current exhibition: Beauty of Glass. Designed for individuals ages 5 and over. The FIG Art Club Workshop offers group and individual hands-on art instruction for its members and those wishing to delve deeper into the creation of art. Led by the FIG Education Team, inspiring artists will be introduced to a specific topic related to art, then create their own masterpiece in a group setting.

Syre Education Center Open Nest, June 20-23 & 27-30, 12-5 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• Special $5 Admission all week campus-wide, preregistration for art classes required – see individual program listings

• The Whatcom Museum will open its Syre Education Center’s door to the public just in time for when school’s out! Syre will be open for viewing and we are humming with tours and art workshops. View the 500+ bird collection, see native peoples’ display and historical pioneer, Victorian era and logging exhibits. You’ll find opportunities to make art and learn more about birds during this special exhibit opening.

• During Syre’s opening, admission to the whole Whatcom Museum is just $5! Visit not only Syre, but Old City Hall and the Lightcatcher, too. Don’t forget, Museum members are always free.

Brown Bag: Language of Art and Glass, Thursday, June 20, 12:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Old City Hall, 121 Prospect Street

• $3 Suggested Donation/Museum Members Free

• Join Christopher Morrison as he shares images and thoughts about his glass art. Morrison Glass Art was founded in Bellingham in 1995 and is now a community icon. He teaches glass blowing; including classes at Western Washington University. Morrison is passionate about encouraging stewardship through art and making space in our society for the creation of arts and culture.

Bird Tour: Look Who Just Flew In! Migrating Birds of Whatcom County, Thursday, June 20, 2p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• $5 Special Admission/Museum Members Free – No pre-registration necessary.

• Enjoy viewing our 500+ bird exhibit while you learn who comes to our waterways and where they go when they leave! Paul Woodcock, local Audubon president, will share about local birds and fascinating facts about their migration. He will also talk about the history of this famous bird collection and the two Edsons who made it possible.

Bird Tour/Class: Bird Nest & Eggs, Friday, June 21, 1-1:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• $5 Special Admission/Museum Members Free – 20 participants, all ages. Preregistration is required, call 360.778.8960

• Do all birds make nests? Where do they make nests? Are all eggs oval? How long do birds incubate their eggs? How long does it take for the eggs to hatch? Find answers to these questions and more in this informative interactive program by Museum educator, Mary Jo Maute. Learn to identify some birds, eggs, and nests that you could see right in your neighborhood!

Imagine This! Home & Garden Show, Green Playhouse Display, Sat. – Sun., June 22-23

• Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

• Free with Sustainable Connections Home & Landscape Tour Tickets/Museum Members Free

• Special $5 admission for Lightcatcher, Old City Hall and Syre Education Center during display—note that this special $5 fee is the rate for the museum during the entire time that the Syre is open.

• Come explore green playhouses in our Lightcatcher Courtyard. Created by local designers and builders, these inventive houses are part of a Sustainable Connections competition. Reception and Auction on Sunday, June 23 from 3–6 PM.

Chamber Music: As it Was Meant to be Heard, Sunday, June 23, 3 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Old City Hall, 121 Prospect Street

• Tickets: $20, available at Piper Music, 738-7166 and Village Books, 671-2626 by June 1; or call or email today at 671-6104 bellinghamhouseconcerts@gmail.com

• Come hear top-notch musicians from Seattle and Bellingham perform piano quintets and string quartets. Presented by the Bellingham House Concerts and Keyboard Friends, this concert will present great chamber music, played by some of the finest musicians in the region, in an ideal acoustical setting.

Imagine This! Green Playhouse Competition Reception & Auction, Sunday, June 23, 3-6 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

• Special $5 admission for Lightcatcher, Old City Hall and Syre Education Center during display—note that this special $5 fee is the rate for the museum during the entire time that the Syre is open.

• Celebrate sustainability with this opportunity to view and bid on creative green playhouses created by local designers and builders and even more fun activities at the Museum! Bid on your favorite green playhouse in the Lightcatcher courtyard or enter a raffle to win one for your backyard! Kids vote for the Kids’ Choice award and play in the FIG (accompanied by an adult). Reception admission and FIG is free with tour tickets, or pay a special $5 rate for admission to see art exhibition and the Syre Education Center.

Bird Tour: Birds on the Fly!, Thursday, June 27, 1-2:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• $5 Special Admission/Museum Members Free – no preregistration necessary

• Catch a bird on the fly as you explore the Whatcom Museum Bird Collection with Museum educator Chris Brewer in the Syre Education Center. You’ll discover how fast, how high and why they fly. See our birds of prey, shore birds, waterfowl and little brown branch hoppers.

AHA! After Hours Art: Live Jazz at the Wall & Sketching Demo, Thursday, June 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

• $5 Thursday Admission/Museum Members Free

• Bring your sketchbook during happy hour as local jazz historian Milt Krieger leads a program with a jazz art display, live drawing demonstration by Trish Harding and reading of Bellingham Jazz by poet Clayton Mederios. Grab dinner and drinks from the Museum’s café, 250 flora. Weather permitting, the event will take place in the courtyard.

Clay Bird Art Workshop, Friday, June 28, 2 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• $5 Special Admission/Museum Members Free – 20 participants, all ages. Preregistration is required, call 360.778.8960

• Take a look at the birds in the Syre Education Center with Museum educator, Chris Brewer, then fly on into our classroom and learn how to make clay birds! We’ll work with basic clay techniques and learn texturing ideas. A fun time to experiment with all birds imaginable!

Feathers and Flight in Fine Art, Saturday, June 29, 1-3 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• $5 Special Admission/Museum Members Free – 20 participants, all ages. Preregistration is required, call 360.778.8960

• Create bird art with Laurie Potter, an artist who has a special love of birds. She’ll show you methods for drawing birds, techniques for painting with pastels, and share bird references to use for your art. See her paintings at www.lauriepotter.com. Preregistration is required at 778-8960.

Bird Tour: Adapting to Life on the Sea and Marsh, Sunday, June 30, 2 p.m.

• Whatcom Museum Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street

• $5 Special Admission/Museum Members Free – no preregistration necessary

• Learn about bird life on our seashores: how they nest without being seen, what they eat and how they adapt to saltwater living. Jessica Shaw is an Audubon board member with a wildlife biology background. She will also share her research on secretive birds of the marsh. Find out about the marsh birds you may hear but not see!

New and Continuing Exhibitions

Clearly Art: The Beauty of Glass, April 6 – July 7, 2013

Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

Glass has the unique ability to reflect, refract, and diffuse light unlike any other medium. It can be diaphanous and delicate, or substantial and weighty. Clearly Art: The Beauty of Glass highlights the versatility of the medium, presenting the broad spectrum of forms and applications of studio glass, from the traditional to the radical.

Jim Olson: Art in Architecture, March 10, 2013 – June 9, 2013

Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street

As the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to the career of Jim Olson, one of the Northwest’s most significant architects, founder of Olson Kundig Architects and designer of the Lightcatcher building, Art in Architecture provides a retrospective of Olson’s first fifty years in architecture, highlighting his residential legacy, as well as his public design work. Along with the projects themselves, the exhibition explores Olson’s artistic, cultural, natural and personal influences and includes a range of materials that showcase Olson’s process. Original artwork from selected residences, as well as a custom-designed art installation provides visitors with a first-hand experience of Olson’s use of space and collaboration with art.

At the Park: Vintage Views from the Photo Archives, Ongoing

Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Mezzanine, 250 Flora Street

Bellingham’s parks have always been a locally loved and widely admired part of the city. This exhibition, from the Whatcom Museum’s Photo Archives, features a dozen historical views of Bellingham parks including historic images of Cornwall, Fairhaven, Elizabeth and Whatcom Falls parks, among others. A celebration of the community green in glorious black and white!

Romantically Modern: Pacific Northwest Landscapes, Through July 7, 2013

Old City Hall, 121 Prospect Street

This exhibition highlights the rich legacy of landscape painting in the Pacific Northwest.

Works reflect the artist’s search for a spiritual experience that was called “the sublime” in nineteenth century romantic art and literature. At the same time, the twentieth-century artists featured here interpret nature and express their emotional response to the landscape through modernist styles. Artists in the exhibition include: Michael Dailey, Leo Kenny, Richard Gilkey, Paul Havas, Karin Helmich, Paul Horiuchi, and Lucinda Parker, among others. All of the paintings are drawn from the Whatcom Museum’s extensive collection of Northwest Art.

The Whatcom Museum

Located in Bellingham’s cultural district, the Whatcom Museum, a non-profit organization operated jointly by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum Foundation, provides innovative and interactive educational programs and exhibitions about art, nature and Northwest history. The Museum’s collections contain more than 200,000 artifacts and art pieces of regional importance, including a vast photographic archive. The Museum is accredited nationally by the American Association of Museums and is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate.

The museum has two buildings with public hours. Old City Hall, located at 121 Prospect St. in Bellingham, regular hours Thursday through Sunday noon – 5 p.m. and the Lightcatcher, located at 250 Flora St., regular hours are Wednesday-Sunday noon-5 p.m.; open until 8 p.m. Thursdays and at 10 a.m. Saturdays. Admission for Museum members is free; $10 general; $8 student/senior/military; $4.50 children under 5. Thursdays are reduced admission days of $5. The Family Interactive Gallery (FIG), located at the Lightcatcher, is additionally open Wednesday-Saturday at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m.

On The Edge is an exhibit of bold, loud colors and patterns in a variety of media all working together in a harmonious display of works that push the envelope. Painting, drawing, and clay are all tools for the expression of the artists.

This show runs from June 7- June 29, 2013. The Allied Arts Gallery’s goal is to provide a professional space for local established and emerging artists to show and sell their work and sustain the arts in our community. Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday noon to 5 p.m. For more information visit www.alliedarts.org or contact: Katy Borden, Artist Services Coordinator at 676-8548 x2 or katy@alliedarts.org.

The lively acoustic band Rattletrap Ruckus will be rockin’ out from 7:30-10 p.m. but don’t wait until then to head down or you will miss the chance to pick up a fresh new shirt from local screen-printers Innate.  You have a chance to win big from our fabulous raffle and there will also be activities for the younger bike riders in the family.

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen, located at 601 West Holly St, was awarded the National Small Brewpub of the Year 2009 at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO. The national festival competition is the largest beer competition in the U.S.A. The full service “Kitchen” serves lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night food with an eclectic fresh local menu for all ages. Live music every Saturday Night, Monday Night Pitchers, Kolsch Night Tuesday’s are some of the extra activities offered at the “Kitchen”. Check out more about Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen at www.chuckanutbreweryandkitchen.com.