By sea and by air, you can quickly get to know a destination like never before, whether you’re just passing through or you’ve been visiting your whole life. This summer I had the opportunity to paddle in Bellignham Bay and also to soar high above it in a helicopter with Bellingham Aviation Services (“BAS”).
Bellingham Helicopter Tour
Departing from a building adjacent to the Bellingham International Airport, a 4-seater Robinson helicopter picked me up on the tarmac for a quick 30 minute flight around Whatcom County. Passing Downtown Bellingham, then continuing south to Fairhaven, the pilot pointed out places of interest like the Chuckanut Drive, oyster farms, railroad lines, fishermen, and Larrabee State Park.
We turned 90 degrees to head inland and lifted up above the popular hiking viewpoint at Oyster Dome, gliding above a patchwork of forests that, from our altitude, looked like a lush bed of green moss covering the landscape.
Mount Baker wasn’t visible on this day to to low cloud cover but I did get to see two new-to-me lakes. Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish, both lined with vacation properties and homes, each tethered to the water by way of docks and boat launches.
Heading north, then west again, we returned to the airport, crossing the I-5 and following the runway path back to our landing site. BAS offers these quick sightseeing tours on a regular basis and they are very popular for couples (surprise sunset engagements in the sky) and those just wanting to get above the region to see the San Juan islands, Skagit valleys, Mount Baker and the North Cascades. Tour packages range from 18 minutes to 60 minutes, details can be found online.
The Bellingham International Airport is located just 30km south of the Canada/USA border at Peace Arch or the Pacific Truck Crossing into Blaine.
Burnaby Village Museum is throwing a free, fun family party on September 27th to celebrate the 11th Annual World Rivers Day and the 35th annual BC Rivers Day. Over 20 environmental groups and societies plus entertainers will be on-site this year with displays, demonstrations and fun activities.
World Rivers Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Where: Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby)
When: Sunday, September 27, 2015 from 11:00am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free admission. Carousel Rides $2.55 each
Ventriloquist Kellie Haines starts off the entertainment at 11:15am and kids’ performer Will Stroet & His Backyard Band start their upbeat brand of funky folk-rock sounds at 11:45am. Stay for lunch! New, this year is a wild salmon barbecue for $12.95.
“Bring your boots” to join an Evergreen BC invasive species pull and streamside planting demonstration on Deer Lake Brook or to join them for a Water Quality Sampling session. The Britannia Creek Clean Up are hosting water cleaning demonstrations and the S.F.U.-Science ALIVE Program activities including making different styles of spider-webs and ecosystem energy circuits.
“Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.”
~ Mark Angelo
Visitors are encouraged to take a stroll through the Village and into Burnaby’s past pausing on the bridge over Deer Lake Brook to enjoy the ecologically significant stream that runs through the village site.
World Rivers Day, created by Burnaby resident and internationally renowned conservationist Mark Angelo, is celebrated by millions of people around the globe. In 1993, the City of Burnaby was the first municipality in BC to proclaim BC Rivers Day.
Live Entertainment
Will Stroet and his Backyard Band have developed a large family-based following. The funky high energy shows get all ages singing and clapping along.
Rene Hugo is known for his lively Peruvian music. His performances on the mandolin and guitar have won several awards and are sure to entertain. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Over a million Canadians make their way through Peace Arch border crossing each year with retail destinations in the Bellingham area in mind. However, there’s much more to this Pacific Northwest city than shopping! Located 88km (55 miles) south of Vancouver and 145km (90 miles) north of Seattle, Bellingham has the historic Fairhaven district, a re-emerging downtown core with unique restaurants and brewpubs, plenty of rural adventures and escapes in Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, and a variety of activity options from the Salish Sea to Lake Samish.
Things to do in Bellingham
Go for Brunch
Breakfast and brunch are big in Bellingham. As a local told me, they need to start the day out right with enough fuel to get them through their day of hiking, paddling, cycling, swimming, and every other adventure this active community can get up to, rain or shine.
Magdalena’s Creperie
Location: 1200 10th Street, Bellingham
Website / Facebook / Twitter
Magdalena’s is a romantic European-style Cafe and Creperie, serving amazing sweet and savoury crepes, handmade pierogis, fresh Polish soups, delicious desserts and Stumptown Coffee.
Magdalena makes everything from scratch and uses seasonal ingredients like plums, squash, cucumbers for pickles, and leeks. In the winter months, enjoy her hearty goulash or mushrooms with homemade sauerkraut, and in the summer satisfy your tastebuds with spinach, arugula and sage. Whether you are looking for something savoury like mint farmers cheese potato pierogis or sweet plums stuffed with cinnamon marscapone, you’ll get a whopping amount of delicious flavours cooked with a whole lot of love.
For another caffeine pick-me-up, stop by one of the many Woods Coffee locations. Founded in 2002 by the Herman family of Lynden, Washington, Woods has 10 locations in Bellingham and others throughout Whatcom County.
Go for a Hike
Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
Location: Stop into the Glacier Public Service Centre at 9994 Mt Baker Hwy
Website / Facebook / Twitter
Once you’ve got a solid breakfast in your belly you can get active and explore one of the most visited forests in the United States of America. Walk below glacier-covered peaks, through spectacular mountain meadows and old-growth forests rich in history that stretch 225km (140 miles) through the Cascades in Washington and British Columbia.
Read my full blog post about a selection of trails that you can explore that range from wide, paved paths with beautiful views of the dormant Mount Baker volcano, to mountainside hikes and forest trails.
Another hike option just south of the city is the Oyster Dome, which is to Bellingham what Quarry Rock is to Vancouver or The Chief is to Squamish. This popular local hike for Western Washington University students, families, and anyone else looking for a rewarding view, is part of the Pacific Northwest Trail. It starts out from Chuckanut Drive and leads you up 1,200 ft to an amazing lookout over Chuckanut Village and Samish Bay. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
The 34th annual Vancouver International Film Festival (“VIFF”) is happening September 24th to October 9th, and Miss604 is a proud media sponsor for the 6th year. This means that on top of providing festival information and sharing the latest news about some of the 355 films presented this year, I also get to sponsor a specific film presentation, which includes a ticket giveaway. This year, I selected Mavis! as my partner film, and it looks, and sounds, fantastic!
Mavis!
Film First, an independent film production and media company based in Brooklyn, New York is thrilled to present their new documentary, directed by Jessica Edwards.
Mavis! is the first feature-length documentary on gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers. From the delta-inflected gospel sound she helped pioneer in the 1950s, to the “message songs” of the civil rights era marching beside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to massive hits such as “I’ll Take You There” in
the soul-filled Stax era, and her recent Grammy-winning work with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples is one of the most influential and enduring vocalists of our time and a true American icon.
“A spirited and captivating doc that richly deserves the exclamation point in its title. Jessica Edwards has created a cinematic portrait quite capable of converting the uninitiated into acolytes, and elevating casual interest to flood-tide levels of respect and affection.”
– Variety
With dynamic live performances, rarely-seen archival footage and conversations with friends and collaborators like Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, Levon Helm, Chuck D, Al Bell, Julian Bond, Sharon Jones and more, Mavis! reveals the struggles and successes of her journey.
Through a 60-year career crossing music genres and societal shifts, Mavis has managed to transform herself as she goes, yet never alter. She occupies a singular place in American music: a soldier of love and peace whose fight continues. At 75, she’s making the most vital music of her career, and her message of equality is needed now more than ever.
Mavis at VIFF
Showtimes
Friday, September 25th at 6:30pm at the Rio Theatre « Buy Tickets »
Monday, September 28th at 3:30pm at International Village « Buy Tickets »
You may have seen Mavis Staples performing on Stephen Colbert’s first Late Show episode earlier this month
Win Tickets to Mavis at VIFF
I have 2 pairs of tickets to give away to the September 25th screening of Mavis! at the Rio Theatre. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw two winners on Monday, September 21st at 12:00pm. Follow Mavis! the Film on Facebook and Twitter for more information about screenings and appearances.
Stay connected with VIFF for updates and announcements by following @VIFFest on Twitter and pick up your program guide at locations across the Lower Mainland for more information.
Miss604 is a proud Media Partner of the Vancouver International Film Festival
Update The winners are Erica, Laura, and Dee!
The 13th annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival is coming up on September 26th. This lantern festival draws thousands of community members from the local Renfrew-Collingwood area for an evening of music, festivities and lantern installations.
Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Where Slocan Park (2750 E 29th Ave) and Renfrew Park (2929 E 22nd Ave)
When Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 4:00pm to 7:30pm, and 7:30pm to 8:30pm
This is a family friendly festival runs starts with the Harvest Fair at Slocan Park featuring music, food and a lantern parade at 7:30pm down to the second location at Renfrew Park. At Renfrew Park you will find the Renfrew Ravine lit up with lanterns and special installations. RSVP to the event on Facebook for the latest information and updates.
The Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival is presented by the Still Moon Arts Society, which inspires vibrant and connected communities by creating artistic experiences and nurturing a passion for nature. Connect with Still Moon on Twitter and Facebook.
