42nd Annual Holiday Bazaar
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, Bellingham Covenant Church, 1530 E. Bakerview Road
Well, folks, we’re officially entering the dark months. With daylight disappearing before 5 p.m., it’s time to throw our arsenal of seasonal depression coping mechanisms at the wall and see what sticks.
Personally, I’ve found the most success taking vitamin D supplements. Regular craft market attendance also helps; after all, how could you possibly feel sad while surrounded by plein-air paintings and homemade wreaths?
On that note, Bellingham Covenant Church’s 42nd annual Holiday Bazaar is the first in a string of upcoming seasonal markets. Shoppers can expect the usual trappings: jewelry, art, clothing and a variety of gift items. There’s even a bake sale benefiting local charities, so you can eat Christmas cookies for a good cause. Info: bellinghamcov.org.
Ciderfest
Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, Bellewood Farms, 6140 Guide Meridian Road, Lynden
Bellewood Farms’ 11th annual Ciderfest event is a celebration of — you guessed it — all things cider-related. Guests are invited to sample brews from a wide variety of PNW cideries, plus harder libations from Bellewood’s own on-site distillery. The Queen’s Bluegrass will be on site playing live music, and amateur cider makers can even enter a home brewing competition for the chance to win $200.
For the price of $35, festivalgoers receive 10 tastings from local and regional cideries. (This year’s lineup isn’t yet announced online, but I have on good word that two of my favorites — Finnriver Farm and Cidery and Bellingham’s own Dry Humor Cider Co. — will be in attendance.) Entry also includes seven tastings from Bellewood’s distillery and a commemorative sipping glass. Ciderfest is known to sell out, so if you’re keen on going, make sure to get tickets well in advance. Info: bellewoodfarms.com.
‘Winter Beauty: Crafting Showstopping Container Gardens for the Cold Season’
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St.
Until researching this talk, I had no idea that “container garden designer” was a job title — but apparently container gardens are what Cindy Funes does best. Funes is the award-winning force behind Garden Revelry, a Washington-based container garden design business. She’ll be sharing her secrets at an upcoming Whatcom Museum talk, presented as part of the Whatcom Horticultural Society’s regular lecture series.
With more than 15 years of gardening experience in the Pacific Northwest, Funes is a veritable expert. Her bright, textural designs prove it’s possible to add life to a landscape, even in the dead of winter. Tickets can be purchased online for $15 ($10 for Horticultural Society members); as an added incentive, event guests will be entered into a raffle to take one of her designs home. Info: gardenrevelry.com.
Bellingham Improv Festival
Nov. 7–10, The Upfront Theatre, 203 Prospect St.
Bellingham’s festivals aren’t limited to music: We also celebrate murals, seafood, international cultures, beer and cider and now … improv. Honestly, given how legendary the Upfront is around these parts, I’m surprised the Bellingham Improv Festival is only in its second year.
This four-day-long improv marathon includes six performances, multiple workshops and teams from the PNW and beyond. I’d be remiss not to share a few of their names with you: Dead Parrot Society, Morris and Morris: Attorneys at Law, Murder Fairy & Arson Leprechaun and — my personal favorite — A Cure for Baldness.
Casual improv fans can buy tickets to specific shows without committing to the whole lineup. But if you really want to make the most of the weekend, a festival pass gets you tickets to all six shows plus a 15% discount on workshop tickets. Info: theupfront.com.
‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’
Nov. 8–24, Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. 1st St., Mount Vernon
Even two decades after its release, the 2001 film “Legally Blonde” remains as relevant as ever. Here’s a plot refresher: In an attempt to prove her worthiness to an ex-boyfriend, sorority girl protagonist Elle Woods applies — and is accepted — to Harvard Law School. But what began as a quest for love evolves into a journey of self-discovery (and smartly subverts the “dumb blonde” stereotype).
In the decades since its release, “Legally Blonde” has inspired not just a string of sequels but a Tony Award-nominated musical. This stage adaptation preserves all the humor and heart in the original — just with more dance numbers and catchy songs. Mount Vernon’s Nite Theater will be staging its version of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” at the Lincoln Theatre throughout November. In addition to matinees and evening shows, the run includes a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, Nov. 17 and a pay-what-you-can show on Thursday, Nov. 21. Info: lincolntheatre.org.
Jon Waterman in conversation with Christian Martin
5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, Village Books and Paper Dreams, 1200 11th St.
Wilderness writer Jon Waterman is prolific: He’s published a whopping 17 books, and his work also appears in outlets ranging from Outside Men’s Journal to the New York Times. He’s also a frequent National Geographic grantee and recipient of a Literary Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Waterman’s newest book, “Into the Thaw,” will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The wilderness/adventure memoir is his firsthand account of climate change in the Arctic, vividly illustrating its impact on land and animals as well as the Inuit people.
Even after decades of unthinkable adventures — from dogsledding up Canada’s Mount Logan to sailing to Hawaii — Waterman insists “Into the Thaw” is his most important work yet. He’ll be presenting it live at Village Books alongside the North Cascades Institute’s Christian Martin on Sunday, Nov. 10. Info: villagebooks.com.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
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Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
