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Happy New YearFriday, December 31, 2004)
The historic 11th Street in Fairhaven was at its winter best in today’s sunshine. This photo shows the heart of the district with the oldest buildings. There are shops on the street floors and professional offices on the second floors. One of the oldest buildings in this photo has the offices for Open Access, our Internet service in Fairhaven. The old with the modern. With the new year, Fairhaven is entering a building boom with over 200 condos and apartments now under construction in seven new buildings - all on the edges of the historic district. All are being designed to fit in with the district and not hurt the visual ambience. But it is up to we, the people who love, live in and work in Fairhaven to keep the fun and casual living ambience that has made our district so attractive to us all. Out attitude, along with the beautiful old buildings, creates a total ambience that visitors also love. We can keep our charm and attitude and not have it affected by the addition of new buildings. A place is made by the people. As 2005 progresses, let us remind ourselves that our attitude is the key part of Fairhaven’s ambience. Always has been. Happy New Year. Merry ChristmasSaturday, December 25, 2004)
From all of us in Fairhaven to you and your loved ones, Merry Christmas. We hope you have a joyful holiday. Our treasured statue of Fairhaven founder Dirty Dan Harris seems to be enjoying the soft rain on this Christmas Day. The real Dan was a person with great vision and was not well understood. He would have been happier without the nickname, as he was never fully accepted into local society. Today, local society is most grateful for his vision and hard work in founding and promoting Fairhaven. ‘Tis perhaps a seasonal reminder to all of us that we should accept all persons as worthy of our respect, regardless of whether we fully understand them, their beliefs, or their life habits. The deciding factor for respect should be mutual respect. And close behind respect should be love - the message of Christmas. Daniel Jefferson Harris and his wife would have appreciated a bit more of that. Let us, the living, learn from the past and from history. Shopping in Historic FairhavenSaturday, December 18, 2004)
Shoppers enjoy the small-store ambience of Fairhaven shops. With 44 shops within a four-city-blocks by two-blocks area, a present can be found here for most anyone. Paper Dreams has cards, calendars, posters, writing papers, and a wide variety of personal office items.
Hand-made useful pottery - including a beautiful lamp with hand crafted shade. Mud In Your Eye Pottery has all locally made pottery - much of it made right in their studio, visible behind their showroom. Indoor table top fountains, unique pots, chimes, and many items they make that are available only in their shop.
Wreaths, flowers and garden sculpture at A Lot of Flowers. That’s Penny wrapping something in her outdoor shop at the corner of Harris Avenue and 11th Street. This most-loved garden spot is staying open well after dark for the holiday shopping. New Candy Shoppe in FairhavenTuesday, December 14, 2004)
That huge jar of candy? Someone will win it in a drawing on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm - drawn by Santa himself. The Fairhaven Candy Shoppe has just opened and is loaded literally with bushels of candy - from all over the world. There is no charge to enter the drawing. The Shoppe entry is just off the Village Green by the Dirty Dan statue - the old Village Books entrance. You know how big that jar is? Look at it next to Josiah, who is a big guy. Nice Christmas present. Stanello’s Celebrates 30 YearsSaturday, December 11, 2004)
On Monday, Dec 13, Stan Velis is giving one great all-day party to celebrate 30 years in business. Special prices and prizes starting at 11 am and going to 11 pm. We invite you to plan a time to go by and enjoy the fun and enjoy 30% - for 30 years - off menu items. Come and enjoy the party. Beautiful Glass Art GiftsWednesday, December 8, 2004)
The deep burgundy-colored glass is a signature in the works of Christopher Morrison, a Bellingham artist. Renaissance Celebration, at the corner of Harris and 10th, has a large selection of wall hangings, bowls and vases from the Morrison Studio. For a beautiful gift, you should browse this shop for choices of modest glass plates for a few dollars to the Bird of Paradise for over $3,000, shown in the center of this photo. Shop owner James Might will provide you with expert guidance to understanding this art form. Northwest Hand CraftedSaturday, December 4, 2004)
All are locally hand crafted. Everything in this photo. By local folks. Artwood is a cooperative of a dozen highly skilled woodcrafts people in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. The many home furnishings are incredibly beautiful in design, finish and details. Artwood is on Harris Avenue, down near 10th Street. Near other shops with NW hand crafted gifts.
Gallery Walk Under the LightsFriday, November 26, 2004)
Harris Avenue in Historic Fairhaven is lined with shops and restaurants. From Harris, four side streets intersect and have more of both. A great place for holiday shopping. Over 30,000 lights are strung on these historic streets for the holidays. The Gallery walk continues on Saturday evening.
At Whimsey on 10th Street, local jewelry creator Lisa Chandler, on right, shows her latest inspirations to Kaye, at left. Most shops in Fairhaven feature local arts and crafts. Shopping here is a unique experience.
At Northland Specialties on Harris Avenue, Jim Shaw uses a technique called “chip carving” to decorate wooden plates. Many shops have the artists assisting customers or demonstrating their skills.
At Finnegan’s Alley Atrium on Harris Avenue, shoppers enjoy looking over all the furnishings and gifts. In this atrium is Fairhaven Furnishings and the Old Fairhaven Winery. The atrium entry is just next to Wild Blueberries toy store.
Gallery West at 12th & Harris has this perfect window which is always set up to perfection. This is one of Fairhaven’s oldest shops, and this window has been a touchstone for the seasons over the years. Here it is set for holiday shopping. We invite you to shop in Historic Fairhaven. You will enjoy your time here. Young Artists Paint Own PotteryTuesday, November 23, 2004)
Decorating it their way. One of the more popular shops in Fairhaven is CreativiTea - formerly Paint Expressions - on 11th Street. Here, you select a white piece of pottery - plate, bowl, or other from a large selection - and you sit down and paint it your way. Then the shop has your piece fired so it becomes finished pottery; a few days later, it is ready for you to pick up. This photo shows their new shop with huge north-facing windows for great light. Below 10th On Harris AvenueSunday, November 21, 2004)
Five great shops are often missed by visitors to Fairhaven because they are just a little farther down the hill on Harris Avenue. They are more than worth the extra walk to below 10th Street. Renaissance Celebration, with great glass art; The Chimney Sweep, with wood and gas stoves; mud in your eye practical pottery; Fairhaven Hardware and Garden; and Nature’s Window, with educational and scientific cool stuff, are all locally owned and provide locally created and crafted items. Check their listings for details. Fairhaven Candy Shoppe OpensSaturday, November 20, 2004)
Oh oh--we’re all in trouble now! A candy shop right off the Village Green. Above, Rowan and April make some selections from the bushels of different candies. You choose different candies, put them in a paper bag and pay by the pound - with all at the same price. Pretty easy. Coming soon is a huge selection of chocolates from different countries - including Russia. All just in time for the holidays. Bohemiam Bliss In New LocationWednesday, November 17, 2004)
Kay Mott shows customers some ideas for gifts. Kay has just moved to the space behind the Colophon soda fountain - where Village Books had children’s books. She is now open the same hours as the other shops in the building. Her Bohemian Bliss is crowded with gifts, costume jewelry and home decor - great for shopping, as these two are enjoying. Warm Reception for Village BooksSunday, November 14, 2004)
Chuck and Dee Robinson greeted customers at the Grand Opening of their new store this evening. Village Books received a warm welcome from hundreds of its customers, and our bookstore gave a great party in return. They gave out well over 500 prizes through drawings. There was music - seen playing in the corner window - and refreshments and a good time of friends meeting friends. A memorable evening in Fairhaven. Grand Opening Sunday EveningSaturday, November 13, 2004)
5 to 8 pm Sunday is the celebration. After years of planning and work, the new building is all they hoped. Owners Chuck and Dee Robinson, along with their staff, are giving a party. We are all invited. Refreshments, music and lots of your friends will be there. See you there. Plus, the other five shops and restaurants in the same complex are all joining in. What is really neat is you can go to all six businesses while staying inside the building - they each open on to the next. Pacific Chef OpensSaturday, November 6, 2004)
“Tools for the serious cook” is their motto. Where is it? Where Village Books was. These folks wasted no time renovating and setting up their new shop. They carry high-end and high-value kitchen utensils, cookware, dishes, and most any and all things needed for cooking. Pacific Chef is open 7 days a week. Welcome to Fairhaven. Book Fare Restaurant OpensFriday, November 5, 2004)
Bowler Hat Society members give a toast to Fairhaven’s newest restaurant, the Book Fare on the top floor of Village Books. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the eatery provides a beautiful view of Bellingham Bay and the Village Green from virtually every table. Also a great place for a quiet coffee. Check it out. (Photo by Taimi Gorman) Abbey Garden In New BuildingThursday, November 4, 2004)
A brand-new building and new space for Abbey Garden Tea Room and the CreaTiviTea pottery painting studio. Owner Chinook has moved next door to 1312 11th Street. As you can see, the huge north-facing windows are perfect for the pottery painting that has made her studio so popular. Ken Imus and his Jacaranda Corporation built this very charming building. It has many of Ken’s well-known touches, such as tumbled bricks for the exterior and beautiful exterior ironwork. The upstairs offices are still available and are perfect for legal, accounting, or other service business. Trick or Treaters Enjoy FairhavenSunday, October 31, 2004)
Little goblins and parents packed the streets of Fairhaven on a crisp, colorful and dry autumn afternoon today. This is the third year of shops providing candies and treats to the kids. It started at 3 pm and continued to 6 pm.
Shop owner James Might is confronted by goblins and he does the sensible thing - gives them candy. All over Historic Fairhaven the merchants dressed up, decorated their doorways and gave the little ones a fun time.
Death meets a witch on 10th Street and a smiling fairy godmother smiles on the meeting. Yes, that is Connie of the Village Inn under that tall hat, playing her role to the hilt.
Gordy Tweit spent hours taking over 700 photos of all the little ones. Spinnaker Photo will process them at no cost and they will be posted in the Fairhaven Pharmacy windows. Gordy started taking Halloween photos in the 1960s and has been doing it every year since - 40 years. Thanks Gordy. After display, photos can be picked up by parents. Check the Pharmacy windows later this week. We’ll post notice here.
A pumpkin decorating contest took place on the Village Green. It was also just a fun place to get off the packed streets. A great afternoon was had by over a thousand kids in a safe and fun environment. Historic Fairhaven has just the right ambience to be the most fun Halloween party place. Till next year. Fairhaven Market Spooktacular FunSaturday, October 30, 2004)
Kids had fun decorating pumpkins and their faces at the Fairhaven Market this afternoon. Market manager Tracy was costumed as a bag of groceries for the event. Long tables were set out in the deli area and plenty of kids enjoyed the event. More Halloween fun is scheduled for tomorrow in Fairhaven. 10th Street CharmThursday, October 28, 2004)
Often overlooked, 10th Street has a charm of its own that is pleasant in any weather. Several small shops make browsing fun on this quieter side street, including Whimsey Art, Jewelry and Gifts. At the end of the street in this photo is the Village Inn, our hotel. Check out this street next time you’re here. BrowsingWednesday, October 27, 2004)
Browsing is back to normal in Village Books after the move into the new store. Here we view down to the main floor from the railing of the mezzanine. If you haven’t visited the new store yet, you are in for a treat. Allow time to explore all three floors of books. They are open till 10 pm Monday through Saturday, and till 8 pm on Sunday. New Village Books is OpenMonday, October 25, 2004)
Village Books is open for business in their new building. Here, Joan helps one of the first customers this morning at the new customer service counter. Several years in the planning, the new shop features three floors of books and a very beautiful design.
Hours are 9 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday and 10 am to 8 pm on Sundays. A grand opening celebration is set for Sunday, Nov. 14 from 5 to 8 pm.
New Glass Art in Village BooksSunday, October 24, 2004)
A huge hanging glass sculpture by Bellingham artist Christopher Morrison hangs in the round-windowed corner of the new Village Books. Here we view it from the mezzanine. Jim created this especially for this corner. Thanks to John Meloy for this photo. Village Books Moves to New StoreSaturday, October 23, 2004
On Saturday, Oct 23, 2004, at 5 pm, Village Books closed its doors at the old building it has occupied for 20 years. Owners Chuck and Dee Robinson, their store staff and about 120 customers who had volunteered started the process of moving close to 100,000 books to their new store. Below are some photos of the Saturday night and all day Sunday work.
Below are four photos from the moving party.
The children’s books section is lined with windows along the back wall. Here, Jasmine puts books onto the shelves. The windows look out onto the Village Green. The kids have the best place in the whole store.
New books are right next to used books in the new store. If you find a book you like, you can go bargain or brand new without having to go to the old bargain basement to check for a book. A unique concept that is working at book stores in other cities.
Dee Robinson explains the moving plan to the volunteers. Over the past couple weeks, over 100 customers have signed up to help with the big move.
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