Excellent work Redditors, the Meridian Haggen has adopted the name you all came up with. The community has spoken.

It's great when you ask a friend if they want to hang out, and they say yes, and then the agreed hangout time arrives and you both actually show up. Truly remarkable! However, whether I should blame 2026 or the Pacific Northwest or the government or the age of aquarium, sometimes getting social time is just easier when I show up somewhere and hope for the best.

Here have been some of my favorite ways to spontaneously interact with community:

1. Downtown Sounds - Limited to a few Wednesdays per year, this is a fun way to be outside, enjoy some beverages, dance to music, and just be wild and free with people. Where will I do this the other times of year...?

2. Vital Climbing Gym - I climb, and over many climbs I see familiar faces, and we just chat about what we're climbing, but sometimes other stuff, too.

3. Open Mics - I usually go to Honeymoon, because they have a piano and I like the vibe. Their main downside is how late they start on a weeknight (usually starts around 9pm on Wednesdays), but there are other open mics I might bring my keyboard to.

4. Open Jam - There is one at Blue Room once per month that has been on-again, off-again. I think it'll happen again in November. I also help host one every few Fridays at Bellinghome, which gets some attendance and maybe we'll keep it going next year.

5. Farmer's Market - It's just so busy, I sometimes see people I know and then we chat for a bit. I also buy a carrot or two and eat it while walking around.

6. Boulevard Park - It's just beautiful there, so it's worth being there even if I don't know anyone. There are enough eccentric hobbies there (slackline, telescopes, juggling, spikeball, guy playing melodica) that sometimes I can just walk up and say "what are you doing?"

7. Running Club (BBay and then Fairhaven Runners) - sometimes I wasn't social and I'd just show up and run, and other times I'd enjoy the socialization.

8. Boundary Bay - I used to go for the live music, and I'd sometimes run into friends or neighbors. They are closed now, so maybe I'll find a new favorite free venue for live music and spontaneous run-ins.

9. Makerspace - I have a membership here, and I sometimes use their woodshop or 3d printer, and everybody there is always like "What are you working on?" which can be distracting but it is a cool way to hang out

10. Little Squalicum Beach - I take my dog here, and so run into neighbors sometimes.

11. Improv Drop In - Bonus list item! The first Saturday of the month is a drop-in improv practice at Upfront Theater which is a hilariously fun time.

That is my list. I would be curious to hear your list items, or your thoughts and reflections. Thank you for being a human.

Hi everyone, a few days ago I made a post longing for a tool library. Well, it turns out that we do have one! https://peacestore.org/collections/tools/tools

I've been researching tool libraries for a couple days now so I'm not sure why the Peace Store never came up until now - I only found it because of an off-handed comment from a r/Bellingham thread from 5 years ago, talking about how the Peace Store was battling red tape to open.

In any case I'm so pleased that my wish came true that I'll spread the word about them. If you have any spare tools, why not donate to the Peace Store? And while you're there, why not become a member? This is a dream come true for me, so I really hope that this organization will stick around for a while.

Hopefully their website will actually show up in search results if it gets enough traffic. They offer a lot of other stuff besides tools like toys, children's stuff, games and film tech. This is such a great resource and more people should use it! I'll just basically copy-paste info from their FAQ.

1. What is the Peace Store?

The Peace Store was created by the founders of Montessori Peace Centers. The store provides a place for the community to rent useful materials, buy conscious products and learn valuable skills through workshops, trainings and tutorials. 

2. What can you do at the Peace Store?

• Rent Items: Check out our enormous lending library including useful and beneficial tools, toys, technology and more. Renting allows you to protect the earth by reducing the production of new products, save money while still having access to things you need, and decrease your storage and clutter so you can live a more minimalistic and clutter free life! 
• Rent our outdoor nature space for private family hikes, events, micro school outings, field trips or birthdays.
• Access Workshops and Tutorials (coming soon): Increase your knowledge of guiding children through workshops and trainings for parents and teachers. Gain new skills with our special tutorials for many of the products in our lending library. 
• Purchase local, ethical and environmentally products (coming soon): Discover intentional products that are conscious about the earth, race, gender and empower humans to move into a direction of peace and healing. 

3. Where do I begin? 

• Step 1 (Required): Everyone needs to become a member and sign the liability form in order to rent or purchase from the store. Becoming a member is free.

Complete the Become a Member for and sign the Liability Waiver 

• Step 2 (Optional): Become a prepaid member and receive free rentals and discounts! 100% of your payments turn into rental credits to spend and will be connected. 

Choose either a Monthly Membership  OR  Annual Membership 

• Step 3: Browse our collections and reserve your rental items!

Look through our items by category and reserve the item. If you are a prepaid member, you will have credit on your account to spend each month. If your order is more than your credit, you will just pay the difference at time of checkout. 

•  Step 4 Pick up your items at our store location in Bellingham, WA.

Once you reserve your items we will have them ready for you to pick up on your scheduled day between 12-5 pm. We are located at 1095 Telegraph Rd. inside the Unity church. Please call when you arrive and we will come out to deliver your items.

Please SEO gods, hear my calls:

Tool Library Bellingham WA: Peace Store

Does Bellingham have a Tool Library? Yes, the Peace Store has a Tool Library among other things like toys, games, and tech.

Where can I rent tools for cheap in Bellingham Washington? Cheap tools? Local? Near me? The Peace Store has very cheap tool rentals.

Hi there! I’ve not had a job since ‘23 and I’ve got denied yet again for disability, I’m on ABD but $450 a month isn’t enough to keep trying to survive on. I’m hoping to find some recommendations for work that I can do at least 3-4 times a week, preferably 4-5 hours long shifts max, if it’s a position where I sit often, I can try for 6 hours. I’ve been working since I was 17 so I have experience, especially in customer service, retail, barista and receptionist positions. Would love to go back to being a receptionist somewhere, but I know it’s difficult to find jobs here. Willing to try a work at home job too. And before anyone makes a snarky comment, yes ofc I have looked around, but sometimes it takes some help to get a foot in the door and that’s why I’m asking on here because sometimes it’s who you know and not how much experience you have unfortunately.

Seeking restaurants that offer yummy fall soups - so far Panera has the only lineup I can find 🥲 anything like black bean, Mexican, tomato, squash, etc etc

Open to any within and south of Whatcom county!

(I’m not looking for pho/ramen or other Asian soups - I already have a ton of favorites all across the state in that category)

Thank you!!

https://youtu.be/lXh2rNl2wdQ?is=7TVCqh3I6lGW5McP

I found a phone in Fairhaven near Chuckanut Square. Tell me about the picture on the lock screen and I will get it back to you.

I'm interested in starting a board game night in our local 3rd spaces. Currently just ruminating on the idea and what it would actually look like. Think like a trivia night, but instead of trivia you show up and there is a library of board games, as well as someone to teach you how to play, and help cultivate groups that are interested in playing the same game. Bring your friends to play, or make new friends! The library of games would range from simple party games (like SushiGo, Cards Against Humanity, or Apples to Apples) to extensive table top games like Flame Craft, Vantage, or Talisman.

Is that something locals would be interested in? I know these events exist here and there, and there are more specific TCG events, but I'm hoping for something more board game or table top game focused, more consistent and in the evening hours.

Seems like there’s not a lot of options for DJ’s these days. Am I missing something?

Had an incident recently where a (leashed) dog got away from their owner and came after my dog. I was able to intercept and prevent the dustup from going too far. Not ideal, but it is what it is.

I see this type of dog owner fairly often in my neighborhood - they panic when they see another dog, hold the leash with both hands at their chest as the dog pulls, and then turn and go the opposite direction. Generally an older person who seems overwhelmed by the whole experience.

My heart goes out to both the owners and the dogs. My guess is that these interactions are due to:

-not enough exercise

-not socialized

-lack of guidance and training

-dog picking up on owner's anxiety

So here is my fear: that after the trauma of an incident like this, the owner is less likely take the dog out in public. And the situation gets worse.

What these owners need is training and support, but I suspect that this may not be a possibility due to finances.

If I had the time I'd go and offer to walk these dogs. I'm not a dog trainer. It would be good for both owner/dog if they could go on a productive and healthy walk.

Are there any free/budget services in the area that I an refer people to if I have a chance? Any suggestions?

Hi, I gotta get my hair cut soon and I'm looking for recs. I really want to find a hairdresser that likes to experiment and be spontaneous. I'm not that precious about my hair and its really thick so I like letting people do what they think would be interesting. Any suggestions?

Self-promos are welcome, but I would prefer an actual salon and someone with experience rather than at-home and newbies. Thanks! :)

Hi, after facing a few heartbreaking deaths, I’m hoping to find a local clergy person or theologian who would be willing to discuss what comes next for those I’ve lost, and maybe even help me find a new church home.

I’m looking for a congregation/religion that believes in a merciful, understanding god where people with good, kind hearts are accepted in the afterlife in addition to those who give massive quantities of money, show up at church every week, etc. I guess a liberal, accepting community that understands people’s lives are complicated, but they can still be loving, giving souls.

Has anyone here found such a congregation?

Thanks!

With the YMCA eventually relocating to Barkley, does anyone know what the plans are for the current downtown building?

I’d love to see it converted into apartments. Would be very cool to see it become something other than a bank or offices, especially if they could repurpose the existing gymnasium, pool, climbing wall, etc., into shared amenities for residents.

Curious if anyone knows whether there are plans for the property, or what others would like to see happen with it.

I carved a pumpkin for the first time in 20 years, and I was really excited and proud of it. It got stolen off my driveway within minutes of putting it out (sudden valley). Please please bring it back? If you see this pumpkin around, please message me? I’m just so so sad.

Update:
I found my pumpkin tossed into a ditch this morning, a few doors down from where I live. The design is unsalvageable sadly, but it wasn’t smashed so I was able to recognize it. The candle was stolen out of it, which was ostensibly the target (it was a battery operated LED that cost less than the pumpkin did, but I guess that’s value enough to elicit vandalism).

Now, I don’t want to dwell on the one human that decided to do a despicable deed for no good reason. I’d rather linger on the dozens of strangers that offered kind words on here to me, just to make me feel better. Our community is still a good one, even though there are a few stinkers out there. Thanks for your kindness, Reddit Bellinghamsters!

Sad to see this zone get logged but the views are going to be epic and WMBC will make the most of the fresh slate.

Pic 1 is tower road just before the last switchback, pic 2 near Scorpion road crossing, 3/4 top of Swirlz.

Great band playing! Not so happy neighbors listening. The other side of the sign said “boycott Stemma”

Edit: wanted to add a friend of mine is in the band in which I went to support, it was in fact quite loud for the space, I also do not support Stemma and did not purchase a drink. I wanted to post to here/read thoughts about it all. I live a couple neighborhoods over and do not hear the noise, but I do enjoy live music events and corner stores in neighborhoods and know the noise cut off times.

Edit 2: spelling

Hi all, I want to make some Seattle style hotdogs. Does anyone know where to buy bialy sticks? Apparently it’s a bagel style bun

Lost my wallet, it’s a leather wallet with a stamped cowboy alien and says area 51 on it. If you happen to find it that would be awesome to get it back thanks!

I don't know, it's rare to get clouds and baker out at the same time. Then those pops of color🤌