 Saturday, September 11     Historic Fairhaven    Dan Harris web site   Fairhaven LinksFairhaven IndexAdvertiseFull Business Listings and Banner Ads on this website are very effective. Click for rates & specs.Questions or info?Email the publisher,John Servais at: john@fairhaven.com AboutThis website is a labor of love combined with business. Read more at: About Fairhaven.comCopyright©2010 John Servais, except where other noted. More copyright info at About Fairhaven.com |
Schooner Zodiac moves permanently to FairhavenFriday, April 16, 2010)
click photo for larger view Christine Wallace, 1st Mate and Sail Master of the Zodiac, is welcomed to Fairhaven by Stephanie Johnson, President of the Old Fairhaven Association. The 127 foot long schooner Zodiac has sailed summers out of Fairhaven for several years but she has now relocated from Seattle to Fairhaven permanently year around. We in Fairhaven are delighted and look forward to making Zodiac, her captain Tim Mehrer and her crew part of our Fairhaven community. Many fun day sails are planned as well as overnight voyages. How about this - a “Mother’s Day Brunch Sail” for $75 each. Depart at 10:30 am and return at 2 m on Sunday, May 9. Enjoy a champagne brunch under sail and a truly unique way to tell her she is special. Space is limited, so phone Chris now to reserve - at 206 719-7622. You can visit their website at http://www.schoonerzodiac.com. Who is that back standing on the gaff? Juliet, Chris’s daughter. Juliet is a deck hand and quite at home on the Zodiac. That is the main sail covered under the green canvas and it is the largest sail of any sailing ship on the West Coast of the United States at about 4,000 square feet. Yes, it is a thrill to stand on deck under her when the ship has a breeze. Yes it is. Researchers Learn More About Dan HarrisTuesday, April 13, 2010)
Click photo for larger view We now know about the Lost Whaling Voyage of Dan Harris during the years 1851 to 1853. Constantine Papadakis, on the left, and Ralph Thacker have spent good time over a couple years trying to learn what Dan did before he came here in late 1853 to start the settlement of Fairhaven. They traveled to New England, where Dan grew up and shipped off to sea, and rediscovered what was his lost voyage. They have traced his two years route across oceans on this map of the world of about the same time. Dan even set foot on the ice down in Antarctica. And sailed as far north as the Arctic Ocean before leaving the ship in Hawaii. We have always known that he then sailed to Victoria and rowed across to present day Fairhaven. But we didn’t know much about that ship and voyage that ended in Hawaii. Now we do. The map will hang in Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse on 11th Street, across from Village Books. You can take a close look at the map and trace Dan’s amazing voyage. Mark Turner opens Portrait Studio in FairhavenSunday, April 11, 2010)
Mark Turner is well known for his portraits done in outdoor natural settings. He has established his reputation over many years in the Pacific Northwest. Now he has relocated his studio to the Historic Fairhaven district - and we welcome him. Mark will add to our reputation as a center for fine art and craftmanship. On this Tuesday from 4 to 7:30 pm, Mark will be hosting an open house at his studio. It is on the second floor of the Finnegan’s Alley building, 1106 Harris, Suite 205. Refreshments and a chance to see some of his photography framed and on the walls. Mark also photographs flowers and landscaped gardens. All the photos in “Wild Flowers of the Pacific Northwest” are by Mark. Urban Living ala Fairhaven Business DistrictThursday, April 8, 2010)
Click photo for larger view Yes, this is a patio at a condo in the Fairhaven Business District. It is one of the several Condo buildings in Fairhaven. This is actually community space at the Fairhaven Gardens Condominiums. And, yes that is a view of the San Juan Islands and of the sunsets over Bellingham Bay. Plus it has great street views of the historic district. We usually think of our district as shops and restaurants - but it has become much more. It is Bellingham’s premier Urban Village. And perhaps one of the best examples anywhere of what an Urban Village should be. And it was all this before the professional planners started using the label. Over the last 10 years, the Fairhaven Business District has been quietly transformed into a very desirable urban residential district. Many of the living units have spectacular views and pleasant balconies or patios. The first was Judson Plaza across the street from this condo. Then Harris Square and McKenzie Square - which are two of the largest with condos and apartments. And there are several more in the area and a couple more are planned. We love it. And I wonder how slow motion this chess game between residents proceeds. Looks like fun. Coast Guard crew gives to our communityTuesday, March 30, 2010)
We could all learn something from these guys about community. They are the crew of the USCGC Sea Lion, an 87 foot Coast Guard Cutter based in Fairhaven. Their commander, Master Chief Lou Kitchin, said “The crew genuinely wanted to make a contribution to the community we appreciate and feel a part of.” And so they spent the better part of last Thursday giving the Village Green a thorough cleaning. The first hard cleaning the brick pavers have had since they were laid back in 2003. The Bellingham Parks and the Old Fairhaven Association worked with them to select the project and provide support. We all thank these 12 guys, of which 10 are shown in the photo above. And thanks to Constantine Papadakis for the photo. Brenthaven Grand Opening Friday & SaturdayThursday, March 25, 2010)
Shop managers Olivia and Joanna invite us all to come by to help celebrate the grand opening of the new Brenthaven shop in Fairhaven. They are back in Fairhaven with a a new shop open in one of Fairhaven’s historic old buildings - the 110 years old Bellingham Bay Hotel. No longer a hotel, it now has several fine businesses. Brent Harris started the business in the mid 1970s in Fairhaven. They are located at 909 Harris Ave - just below 10th Street. On Friday March 26th, Brenthaven will offer a 20% discount on all Brenthaven laptop cases; and Saturday March 27th Brenthaven will highlight it’s collection of locally-made products, offering a 20% discount on any classic Brentley Softpack backpack. They even have cases for the new iPad that will be out in April. Brenthaven has also brought back the iconic and locally-made, Brentley Softpacks line, originally designed by adventurer Brent Harris nearly 30 years ago. This includes duffel bags, backpacks, fanny packs and other soft-sided travel goods products. As a way of paying homage to the community that supports them, Brentley Softpacks products are only available in the new Fairhaven retail store. Pit parking lot gets spiffed upWednesday, March 24, 2010)
Everyone knows it as ‘The Pit’. It is our big off street parking lot along Mill and 11th. And it tends to get overgrown with fast growing black berries. Last Friday, several local volunteers got together and worked the day cutting brush, picking up trash and generally making the area look much better. Above photo was taken this noon and shows the results. Local condo resident, Jim Turk, organized the effort. Ken Imus, who has generously provided his property for this parking for several years now, contributed some needed money and then showed up to to help cut brush. Both Ken and Jim are over 80 years old. Hard work for anyone any age. Jim is hoping other local business owners will want to help defray the costs of the cleanup with a monetary contribution of their own. Contact Jim at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you can contribute $10 or $20 or more. He is a couple hundred short of what he spent.
The clean up crew take a break from the cleaning of the parking lot. In truth, the parking lot has always bothered Bellingham city hall. While it has worked wonderfully for over 10 years, the city wishes it were closed. They refuse permission for the Old Fairhaven Association to place a Parking Lot sign there. And improvements and maintenance have generally been forbidden. The fact that these folks were allowed to do the cleanup last Friday is a delightful change from the past. Noted landscape designer Susann SchwiesowFriday, March 19, 2010)
Historic Fairhaven is usually associated with shops, restaurants and historic buildings. But our district also harbors many outstanding professionals who prefer having their offices in this relaxed and beautiful urban village. Susann Schwiesow (pronounced sweeso) is one of them. She is a highly respected Northwest residential landscape designer. With her partner, Chris Drilias, they have been creating beautiful yards and estates for over 20 years. They refer to it as creating outdoor spaces that can be lived in and enjoyed - garden rooms. Their projects are what help the Northwest have such a reputation for beautiful urban living and their work has been featured in many publications, including Sunset. You can see photos of some of their projects on their website. We thought it time to recognize some of the professionals who call Fairhaven their home. And this is the season when many of us start wondering how ambitious we are for our yards and gardens this year. Actually, anytime of year is appropriate for planning. If you have ambitious desires, consider contacting Susann. And if not, just checking out the photos on her website can provide inspiration. Flag will be back soonTuesday, March 9, 2010)
Note:Fag will back flying sometime the week of March 22 to 26. You may have noticed - the flagpole is empty. The winch and cable system for raising and lowering the flag got tangled inside the pole last week. And the flag was stuck at half mast for several days. Yesterday, with the generous help from Zender Volvo Rents in Ferndale and their cherry picker, we were able to get the flag and take it down. And then a group of us Fairhaven business folks got the winch out of the pole so we can now fix it. It will require a new 200 foot braided steel cable and some cleaning. Whew. This 100 foot tall flagpole is a community treasure but is also serious business. The flags that fly need repairs and new hemming several times a year. The Old Fairhaven Association has taken on the responsibility of maintaining it all and raising and lowering the flag in respect to fallen service members. It is dedicated to our Veterans and dates back to 1987 and their efforts then to install the first pole. And then it dates back to 1884 and Dirty Dan Harris himself who put up a 100 foot pole about this spot. We value our history and our flag. Some thanks are in order. First is Zenders in Ferndale for discounting much of their fee for this tall cherry picker and to Steve Denton and Mike DeRosa the operators. Without it and them we cannot get 50 feet up the pole. Thanks to Stephanie Johnson, the president of the Association for helping organize the rescue yesterday and helping untangle the mess. Thanks to Constantine Papadakis of Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse, Brad Imus of Jacaranda Development and Bob Currie for showing up and doing the work. Now we will get new cable, clean the winch, retrieve one of our repaired flags from storage and schedule the cherry picker out here again - so we can thread the new cable through the pulley at the top and have our flag flying proudly again. If you want to help, the Association has a flag account and we go through a few hundred dollars a year maintaining the flags and gear. The pink color scheme? The Zenders donate part of the fees from this lift to breast cancer research. Cool folks.
Steve Denton, left, and Mike DeRosa about to go up in the cherry picker to get the flag. Thanks guys. - John Servais Flats New Owner & Wine HonorsWednesday, March 3, 2010)
Flats Wine & Tapas Bar in Fairhaven has a new owner and more wine awards. Jennifer Branch purchased the 5-year old restaurant at the end of January 2010. A graduate of the 4-year Culinary Arts Program of Utah State University, and 7-year Bellingham resident, Branch was a regular customer of Flats, when she heard from friends that the restaurant in the 108 year-old Nelson Block building of Fairhaven was up for sale. She has kept the staff of six and plans to add additional seasonal, local and organic items to the menu, as well as re-opening for lunch and offering a happy hour starting in April. Flamenco guitarist, Rico Castaldo now plays dinner music Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Interactive Fairhaven Map now OnlineWednesday, February 24, 2010)
Above is a screen shot of just part of our new Fairhaven Interactive map - online now and just inviting you to check it out. There is also now a permanent graphic link in the left column of all pages at Fairhaven.com. It is always ready for you to use it and it features mouse over blue buttons with information about many Fairhaven shops and restaurants. This is exactly the same map we are using on our new comprehensive Fairhaven Brochure - which is now available at over 40 Fairhaven shops and restaurants. Chuckanut Drive - including art galleries and restaurants - is also included online and in the brochure. If Interstate 5 exit 250 is the front door to Fairhaven, then Chucknut Drive from I-5 Exit 231 is the garden door to our little historic district. A beautiful drive with views of the Salish Sea and the San Juan Islands which ends right in Fairhaven. We thank Larry Morris and his Town Graphics for working so well with our Fairhaven business owners and developing this new brochure for us. Included inside the brochure are the 10 most historic buildings in Fairhaven with information about each and a suggested walking tour. Fairhaven now has a first class walking map of the historic district. Wet Pug predicts more rainSaturday, February 13, 2010)
Raining Queen Diane Philips pets Mattie the pug and finds the fur wet. (Well, of course - its owner, Taimi Gorman, was holding her in the rain) While the royal court was not sure at first what that meant, they quickly decided that we in the Northwest are in for another 10 weeks of rain. What a surprise. The 9th annual Official Pacific Northwest Rain Festival was held Saturday noon on the Fairhaven Village Green. The queen and her court held several contests in which all got prizes and all were declared the winners. Fairhaven merchants donated some very fine gift certificates for meals, beauty services and products.
The gathering on the Green took place in a typical February light drizzle. All were thankful for the rain - especially after recalling how sunshine has wrecked some festivals in past years.
The Queen and her court. At the mic is Dirty Dan Harris, the founder of Fairhaven - also known locally as Jim Rich. The historical Dan started Fairhaven in 1854 and platted it for a town in 1884. Her court is the Ladies of the Evening Society, local business women who commemorate the early business women of the 1880s in Fairhaven. Today they are strictly a social group that lends color to our Fairhaven events.
Jim Milstead reads his rain poem. He read a very good poem - probably the best.
Kim Erickson reads her rain poem - actually a poem she wrote for something else long ago. She inserted the word rain at several places. All approved and the Queen loved it. Dirty Dan got to wondering why he was standing on the Green.
Hue Beattie reads his one sentence poem. We may as well print it. “The grain in Spain grows mainly thanks to rain.” All thought this was even better than haiku. Profound. The rain fest was a great success. All retreated to the fine Fairhaven restaurants for food and drink after the 25 minute long festival. The festival almost did not happen this year, but Diane Philips, who owns The Barbershop in Fairhaven, decided it had to go on and organized one of the best rain fests ever. She promised that she and her court would stage the festival again in February 2011. We look forward to it. Good Earth Pottery celebrates 40 yearsSaturday, February 6, 2010)
A 40th anniversary reception and show will be held next Friday, Feb 12, from 5 to 9pm. The theme of the show is “Tea for Two” and will feature functional and artful teapots-just in time for Valentine’s Day. Come enjoy some fine catering, finer company and enter their door-prize drawing. Teapots will be on display throughout the month of February. All are welcome and encouraged to come celebrate the past, present and future. In early 1970, Good Earth Pottery opened in the historic Morgan Block building, built in 1890. It was one of the original businesses that helped develop Fairhaven into a center of fine art and crafts. It was the young folks into alternative lifestyles who created an economic boom in Fairhaven between 1969 and 1973 and set the tone for what is today a center of fine art in the Pacific Northwest. Those of us who remember it when it opened can tell you it is still true to its roots. These days, it represents over 50 local artists. Book Fare Cafe for meeting friendsSunday, January 24, 2010)
Located on the second floor of Village Books, the Book Fare Cafe offers a great view out over the Village Green and to the bay and islands. Plus it is almost a hideaway - with no outside street sign. Lori, the owner, provides a very full menu of sandwiches, soups, starters, wraps, paninis, coffees and other drinks. It opens at 10 am - when Village Books opens. Here we show the room on one of our bright January days with warm sunlight flooding in. We invite you to discover this perfect out of the way meeting place. Fairhaven Library ReopensTuesday, January 12, 2010)
After about 8 months closure for repairs, our 106 year old library is again open. Donated in 1904 by Andrew Carnegie, our library has served continuously as a full service library for the six neighborhoods on the south side of Bellingham. Hours have been reduced from last year because of low tax revenues. It is open from 2 to 6 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Here is a view of the main reading room. Note the cozy fireplace and chairs. The Friends of the Fairhaven Library has raised funds with southsiders since 1992 to enhance the library furnishings. The Friends also worked to get the fireplace turned on after it had been off for decades. Beautiful window display at RenaissanceWednesday, January 6, 2010)
A tip of the hat to James Might for his always superb window displays. And you know, if your living space is a little drab on these long winter nights, you might browse his gallery and consider a piece of colorful glass art to help brighten up things. James carries art from several professional glass artists, providing you with a wide choice. His shop is conveniently located at Harris and 10th, kiddy corner from Good Earth Pottery. And he also carries a wide selection of fine jewelry. James has one of several fine art and craft galleries in Fairhaven - all locally owned and carrying the work of local and Northwest artists and crafts persons. You owe it to yourself to visit and browse our galleries before purchasing art elsewhere. Fairhaven has been a center of fine galleries since the mid 1970s. Good Earth Pottery was our first, opening in 1969 followed a few years later with a second gallery. We invite you to come and browse. Just check the Businesses > Shops > Art for a listing of fine shops. Wishing All a Merry Christmas and Happy HolidayThursday, December 24, 2009)
Each year Dan tries out new holiday threads. He likes to think of himself as a bit of a sport. With Emily snuggling up to his whiskered chin, he is a contented guy this holiday. We thank Nostalgia and Covet Boutique for providing Dan’s wardrobe. Fairhaven jewelers offer hand crafted giftsSaturday, December 19, 2009)
Russ Milenbach, the owner of Silvery Moon jewelry on Harris Avenue, wraps a gift for a customer. He just moved into his new shop after many years on 11th Street - but a move into larger space for him to fully display his wide selection of unique items from several West Coast artists. He has Northwest Indian silver pieces and also Hawaiian styled items. All are reasonable priced for any budget. Several fine jewelers have their shops in Fairhaven. Three shops create jewelry: Jewelry Affair at 1006 Harris, almost next door to Russ; Coenraad Zielstra Goldsmith at 1201 11th; and Fairhaven Gold at 1302 12th. All three offer beautiful unique hand crafted jewelry made right in their shops. Two more shops sell hand crafted jewelry not made on premises: Renaissance Celebration at the corner of Harris and 10th and Whimsey at 1200 10th #104. We invite you to shop in Fairhaven where you will find many shops with the perfect gifts for your holiday list. Book on Historic Fairhaven is publishedMonday, December 14, 2009)
MY DARLING ANNA has arrived in time for Christmas! A romantic, historic and fascinating book that is perfect for holiday reading and gifting. Brian Griffin and Neelie Nelson collaborated on this intriguing look back in time to Boom Town Fairhaven 1890 when Will Gray, a lovesick young doctor from the Midwest arrived in Fairhaven to establish his medical practice and send for his beloved Anna. These were exciting times on the frontier of Bellingham Bay. This true story is built around a treasure trove of the doctor’s letters to Anna. The book is a wonderful look at the early history of Fairhaven with 200 photos and illustrations. It celebrates the cultural legacy brought by Dr. Gray from Mount Pleasant, Iowa to Fairhaven (ultimately Bellingham) and ends with a special tribute to his daughter Margaret Gray, beloved drama teacher of Bellingham High School. MY DARLING ANNA includes a one hour CD with interviews of Margaret Gray by Galen Biery and Haines Fay and a couple of killer duets from BHS operettas of the 1940s. This is a Bellingham treasure to be found at Village Books and ensconced on your bedside table. Have a hankie nearby, this book can get to you. The photo shows Neelie and Brian speaking about their book last week. Santa and the Young OnesSaturday, December 12, 2009)
Santa Claus, aka Dave Hannah the manager of the Whidbey Island Bank branch in Fairhaven, and three young sisters. The little one in the middle is Azurai and we will get the other two names shortly. Santa was at the Fairhaven Village Inn today listening to Holiday and Christmas requests and giving the oranges as gifts, a tradition from the 1800s. Santa will be back next Saturday, December 19, from 12 noon to 3 pm at the Village Inn. Plan to bring your little ones down.
While Santa was inside holding court, outside the horse drawn wagon that brought him to Fairhaven was giving free rides to young and old. Four Fairhaven businesses sponsored the rides: The Fairhaven Toy Garden, The Fairhaven Village Inn, Village Books and Avenue Bread. They contracted with Cramer Classics of Lynden to provide the holiday rides to any who wished. A rare treat for little ones - a visit with Santa and a horse drawn wagon ride all at the same time. We thank them for their generous treat. And we thank Connie and Gene Shannon, the owners of the Village Inn, for hosting these two events. A little plug for Cramer. Fairhaven businesses have worked with them in the past. They provide a well managed and fun experience and have several different vehicles to choose from. Their phone number is 360 966-2623. They may not be a Fairhaven business, but we sure do like working with them. Psst! - Santa is coming Saturday - tomorrow.Friday, December 11, 2009)
And this is his throne - big chair, actually. A chair fit for Santa Claus. Bring the little ones. Santa is a jolly fellow and very good with the little ones. At the Village Inn from 12 noon to 3 pm on Saturday, Dec 12 and again on Sat, Dec 19. He will arrive by horse drawn wagon. The Village Inn is on 10th Street at Mill Ave - right across 10th from the Village Green. Right in the heart of the Historic District. And don’t forget to check out the two full toy stores in Fairhaven - plus toys and books for children at Village Books. We invite you down.
Shops open till 9 pm FridayThursday, December 3, 2009)
A street scene in Fairhaven, with the historic streets in a holiday mood. Shops will be staying open until 9 pm every Friday till Christmas. You can find gifts for anyone and in any price range. Books, jewelry, art, furniture, clothing, skiing and boarding gear, shoes for men and women, cooking tools, gardening and home decor items, and lots of toys. Two full toy stores - The Fairhaven Toy Garden and Wild Blueberries. Plus toys and children’s book at Village Books. We invite you to shop in Fairhaven for your gifts.
The Whatcom Art Guild & Friends has staged a very eclectic and fun art show in Fairhaven this holiday season. It is in the lower floor of the Waldron building - off McKenzie Alley - and that is accessed from 11th by the Rustic Coffee shop. The show runs every Friday through Monday from 10 am to 6 pm. Parking is available on McKenzie street which runs along side the Waldron building.
Fairhaven has the holiday spiritSunday, November 29, 2009)
Even before dusk, the holiday lights add a touch to the historic streets. With every shop and restaurant locally owned, Fairhaven business owners are hoping the current efforts to support local businesses will help them. What shoppers will find is shops with locally crafted items - jewelry, art, furniture, toys and even books. Shops will be staying open until 9 pm every Friday till Christmas. We invite you to Fairhaven for your holiday and Christmas shopping.
Christmas trees are now available in Fairhaven. Corey has set up a fine selection at the old service station at the corner of Harris and 12th. You can’t miss it. Yep, he is selling his hot dogs and polish sausages right in the middle of them. Corey has beautiful trees. We invite you to check them out. Saturday eve is second night of Walk A’boutSaturday, November 28, 2009)
Artwood Gallery was busy all day Friday - even before the start of the Walk A’bout at 5 pm. And so were many other shops in Fairhaven. On Saturday, from 5 to 9 pm, the 25 shops will again be open with many of them featuring artists and their art. And some serving refreshments. A map and list of the event is shown just below here. You can easily download and print a PDF file of this map and list. If you missed Friday’s Walk About, then we invite you to come for Saturday evening. You will enjoy the historic district, all the holiday lights and the fully stocked shops. Annual Walk A’bout this Friday & Saturday eveningsThursday, November 26, 2009)
Fairhaven is decorated and fully stocked with gifts - and Friday evening from 5 to 9 pm is what we think is the 18th annual Holiday Walk A’bout. It was called the Tour de’Art in previous years - but the Fairhaven Association has renamed it to better reflect the fun of exploring the old and new shops in the Historic District. Some shops will be offering refreshments and some will have original art on display with the artist present. Two very fun evenings that allow you to shop for great gifts - many made by Northwest crafts persons and artists. You can easily download and print a PDF file of the above map and list. We invite you to Fairhaven to join us in our Walk A’bout. Historic District getting in the holiday moodThursday, November 19, 2009)
Fairhaven is special during the Christmas holiday season. The historic district with the old buildings from the 1890s just sparkles with decorated shop windows and holiday lights. By next weekend and the Holiday Walk A’bout the place will fully ready for shoppers. The Walk A’bout will be Friday and Saturday evenings just after Thanksgiving - a week from now. Shops will be open till 9 pm both nights with many featuring artwork by local artists. Refreshments will be served in many of them. Shelves will be stocked with gifts. We invite you to mark the dates and treat yourself to an enjoyable evening browsing the shops and galleries in the historic district. Paper Dreams is fully stocked with a great selection of Holiday and Christmas cards. The shop is renowned for its huge selection of greeting cards, cards, calendars and all gifts and things of paper. It is a perfect place to find just the right cards for any occasion. Plus they have that Mt. Baker fudge. Fairhaven Fitness helps zombies support kidsThursday, November 12, 2009)
Many of us enjoyed the Thriller dance in the Pit Parking lot on Halloween eve with 60 some zombies and a good MJ imitator. They also performed downtown to an audience of several thousand. What is not generally known is, besides being a lot of fun, it was also a fund raiser for Blue Skies for Children and that the group rehearsed on the tennis courts at our own Bellingham Tennis Club/Fairhaven Fitness. Shown in the photo, from the left are: Ginny Spooner, Fitness Director of the Club; Megan (last name soon); Julie Guay, Executive Director of the Blue Skies for Children; and Robin Robertson, co-owner of the Bellingham Tennis Club/Fairhaven Fitness. We thank them all for their good work while having fun. Leaving FairhavenSunday, November 1, 2009)
After 34 years in Fairhaven around the property of the old Bob’s Southside Service station, the railroad cars are leaving. Two today and the last one on Monday. Pennsylvania bound to be placed in an old RR theme park. A huge crane picked them up - very carefully - and placed them on this oversized semi. They are taken to Burlington, about 20 miles south of Fairhaven, where they will be prepared for their trip east and placed on RR flatcars for the trip across country. Over the years this car had several businesses, the last being Boo’s Grooming Service up to a couple years ago. Lots happening in Fairhaven today. Check the next photos - below. Halloween as fun as ever for everyoneSunday, November 1, 2009)
Gordie Tweit obviously enjoys taking photos of the little goblins each year. He is the retired pharmacist from Fairhaven Pharmacy and together they have been providing free photos to parents for over 40 years on every Halloween. Taking over 600 photos gets tiring for him now as he is over 80. Parents who were photographed by him when they were little are now bringing in their kids. Gordie is our Fairhaven Treasure and he has a heart of gold.
Jamie as cat woman provides some fun and entertainment for the trick or treaters. She owns the “Fun to Shop” in Sycamore Square with her mom Brianne, but most know her because of her skill with the hula hoop.
Laurie provides treats in the new ‘Bay to Baker Trading Company’ shop down on Harris Avenue.
The sidewalks were crowded with little ones and their parents this evening. And, gentle reader, we need to apologize to the parents. Many shops ran out of treats before the 6 pm end today. We just had way more little goblins than last year or any year. Merchants stocked up with 1,000 treats for this year - 200 more than last year. But even those who had 1,200 treats ran out. Fairhaven will really adjust for next year and be ready for however many little ones visit us. Even more today - see Thriller below. Thriller in FairhavenSaturday, October 31, 2009)
A little after 9 pm tonight, Thriller was danced in the pit parking lot. Lighting was from the headlights of cars parked around the edges. A crowd of hundreds lined all four sides of the pit along Mill Street, the South Bay trail and the upper lot. Amazing. Huge crowd and virtually all young folks. The whole event lasted maybe 15 minutes - and it was over and everyone just melted away into the night with hoops and cheers. Sooo nice for this old soul from the 60s to see Fairhaven reverberate with young energy tonight. If you don’t know Thriller then this photo makes no sense. Check it out on YouTube. All the young ones were into making their individual parts work to their best. Congrats to each of them. Most all shops participating in Trick or TreatingThursday, October 29, 2009)
No need for a list of businesses participating as virtually all businesses in the Fairhaven Historic District are. You can look for this sign on the doors of businesses, but no real need. Most shop owners - and many restaurant owners - will have their front door open and will be right there with the treats. Taking your kids around our streets is easy and real fun. The old buildings really help and many shops are decorated and many of the owners put on some costuming. We have listed this event in the Major Events at the top of this page. We encourage you to check the Events listings for more fun things on Halloween. Gordy Tweit will be taking free photos of the little ones at the Fairhaven Pharmacy. Gordy has been taking these annual photos for over 40 years now. He and the Fairhaven Pharmacy have been very generous each year with this event. Kids love it - and parents appreciate the memorable photo. 1890 Morgan Block brickwork is repairedTuesday, October 27, 2009)
Buildings were named “Block” back in the 1890s. The Morgan Block building was completed in 1890 - before the Railroad boom of 1891 and the depression bust of 1893. This building has served our community for almost 120 years and during the last few, its exterior developed a need for fixes. Since late summer, this scaffolding has graced the front and later, in this photo, the side of the building. A lot of little but important repair work was done, including the replacement of some copper flashing. Here, Evan works up on the scaffolding. Today, it is down and the building shows the same exterior it did in 1890. This building was given new life in 1969 when it was bought and quickly turned into a community trust. It flourished through the 70s and 80s when other buildings in Fairhaven went quiet or empty. The Bellingham Community Food Co-op started here; it has long ago moved to downtown Bellingham. The Northwest Passage alternative newspaper was published from offices on the second floor in the early 1970s. It was one of the first news publications in the country to speak out for the environment and ecological awareness. Today, Artwood Gallery of fine woodwork and the Good Earth Pottery are in this building. Artwood for the last 20 years or so and Good Earth since the early 1970s. The upper floors now provide studio space to artists, writers, poets and crafts persons. It is still the same community trust, and we are very proud of its role in our community. That time of yearWednesday, October 21, 2009)
The hanging baskets of flowers came down today. Putting them up and taking them down each year has become a mark of the seasons. Kenny, in the photo, was part of the two person crew who went through the district taking them all down. The Old Fairhaven Association sees to their being hung up each May and contract with the Lions Club of Fairhaven for watering them each morning through the summer. The Association contributes to the Lions charity fund and the members volunteer their own time to keep the flowers watered all summer. We thank the club members for their help in keeping our historic district a beautiful place to visit. Flavor of Fairhaven a fun eventSaturday, October 17, 2009)
The rain put a damper on - but could not stop - this first “Flavor of Fairhaven” day long food and drink celebration. Most restaurants had great samples for $1 to $2 dollars. There was a pizza dough tossing contest, and all sorts of other fun events. Above is part of the crowd that watched the “Chefs Show Down” at the Big Fat Fish Co. restaurant. These three chefs competed side by side for the audience with great commentary from Pamela, the manager of the Fish.
Above we have the three judges of the chef’s efforts, from left are John deFreest, Bryant Davis and Tina. (I will find her last name) Even the judges had many more folks on either side of the photographer watching their tasting and comments.
Later in the afternoon, the tasting of drinks began. Above is the action at Dos Padres with Joey serving very small Tequila tastings. There were also several wine tastings going on and a pub crawl.
Earlier - late morning - was the “Fairhaven Cup” coffee competition at the Rustic Coffee. Five baristas from our coffee shops, including Woods Coffee at Boulevard Park, competed. Above are three of the entries. We take our coffee very seriously in Fairhaven, as all Whatcom County knows. Our oldest shop was roasting and grinding beans in 1971. And of course we consider Boulevard Park to be part of Fairhaven. Our thanks to Wes Hermann for the photos of the coffees and the baristas below.
Here are the five baristas. The fellow on the far right, Peter from Tony’s, won this very friendly competition. Flavor of Fairhaven all day todaySaturday, October 17, 2009)
At Pacific Chef, a food preparation demonstration was happening early this afternoon. It is one of over a dozen events today in restaurants and food shops all over Fairhaven. Here, Chef Alex is showing his methods for making guacamole. It was one of several free domonstrations that will continue till 9 pm tonight. Click here to download an easy to print schedule - a PDF file. You can also visit the Flavor of Fairhaven website for complete information. Most restaurants are offering very inexpensive tastes of their dishes. Prices vary from $1 to $2 or $3. And the samples I’ve had so far today have been generous. Chefs Showdown on SaturdayWednesday, October 14, 2009)
The Flavor of Fairhaven on Saturday will feature continuous food events starting with the Griddle Fest at Sorellas at 11am and continuing with 15 more events till after 9pm. Call it a taste or bite of Fairhaven. With almost 30 eating and food establishments participating, the flavors are being stressed. The restaurants will be offering samplings for very modest costs - some for only $1. You can walk about our historic district while you sample flavors and enjoy watching the events. One event is the “Chef Show Down” at 3pm at The Big Fat Fish Co. restaurant. Sort of a Fairhaven Iron Chef competition. Above are three of the five chefs expected to prepare the local mystery ingredient into their own specialties. From left is Brandon, head chef at Dan Harris Steakhouse; Craig, head chef of The Big Fat Fish; and Alex of Chef Alex & Co. They are expected to to be joined by a mystery chef and also another Fairhaven chef. Fun to watch and fun to taste. Click here to download an easy to print schedule - a PDF file. Use it to plan your visit to Fairhaven this Saturday. Some of the events are: Viva Italia Dough Throw, Caesar Czar, Desserts Flambe, Sushi Sage - and more. You can also visit the Flavor of Fairhaven website for complete information. |
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