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🌱 The surprising past life of Elk St. Tavern’s Bellingham building

Bellingham, Washington Patch AM: a 4 min read

Coffee in hand, Bellingham? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • The surprising past life of Elk St. Tavern’s Bellingham building
  • Which Bellingham Italian spot made Washington’s top ten list?
  • How a Bellingham metal collective lit up the Whatcom Museum

Also on today's calendar: 4th Annual Fall Harvest Chili Cook-Off and Scholarship Fundraiser - Explorations Academy and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: You're in a room with a mirror and a table, but no windows or a door. How do you get out? 🤔 (Answer below!)

☑️ Important voting information: The Nov. 3 general election is coming up. Official Washington election resources: Find a ballot drop box or vote center | Register to vote | Check your registration | Absentee, mail and early voting.

Weather forecast:

  • Monday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 53 and low of 40 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Clouds giving way to some sun, temps: high: 57, low: 35.
  • Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 56 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. What's the Deal With: The Sanitary Meat Market? (cascadiadaily.com) — A familiar building at 1015–1019 N. State Street in Bellingham once housed the Sanitary Meat Market, a bustling butcher shop and sausage factory that operated for decades under the Oberleitner family. Serving local shoppers and wholesale customers across Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties, the space later hosted several small businesses before becoming Elk St. Tavern in 2025.
   

2. We Ranked The Top 10 Italian Restaurants In Washington And Here's Who Came Out On Top (newsbreak.com) — Bellingham diners get a shout-out in this statewide ranking of Italian restaurants, with Storia Cucina highlighted for its meatballs, brunch service, and coveted sunny patio downtown. The guide compares hours, pricing, and family-friendliness across ten Washington spots, helping you decide whether to stay local in Bellingham or plan a pasta-focused road trip around the state.
   

3. Femme Metal Collective brings light to dark places with magical sculptures (cascadiadaily.com) — A Bellingham metal artist and their Femme Metal Collective have created “Nocturnal Lanterns,” a large illuminated sculpture now brightening the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building through the city’s Downtown Activation and Beautification Program. Based just south of town at Lookout Arts Quarry, the collective mentors underrepresented metalworkers while installing intricate, nature-themed light sculptures across Cascadia and beyond.
   

4. Mayor Lund addresses Bellingham residents' concerns about ICE (thefrontonline.com) — Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund recently faced pointed questions at a packed forum on ICE activity, where many residents left frustrated by limited answers and time. Hosted by Indivisible Bellingham at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, the event covered city-backed lawsuits and policies, but some attendees still want clearer, stronger local actions to protect immigrants in daily life.
   

📸 Around Bellingham

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Bellingham

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📣 Bellingham Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Magical Pond Bellingham Washington
    It might not be Walden Pond, but it is certainly Magical. In addition to a beaver, a family of muskrats, there is also different types of waterfowl… (Nextdoor Cordata)
  • Kohl's posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate in Bellingham. Apply here.
  • Home Depot (Retail) posted a job opening for Pro Customer Service/Sales in Bellingham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bellingham here.

Ok Bellingham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "You're in a room with a mirror and a table, but no windows or a door. How do you get out?" — Look in the mirror and see what you saw, take the saw and cut the table in half. Two halves make a whole, climb out of the hole. (Thank you Mary K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Bellingham

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Bellingham

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.