delstragoy

What a delight it is to have independent movies displayed how they were intended. The silver screen is not just for the mega studios anymore. The Pickford Cinema runs independent, classic, international, and award winning films on a regular basis. I am incredibly excited to see how their new location comes to fruition. During the local art walk downtown, I had the chance to tour the artist studio’s above the work-in-progress cinema. It was a mix-and-match group of print makers, toaster lovers, textile crafters, and other hands-on artists creating beautiful things to delight the senses. Downstairs was the unfinished walls of the future home of the Pickford Cinema. The space is huge and will eventually contain two theaters, a café, and a live music stage for what are sure to be incredible nights of entertainment. One of the things I am most looking forward to is the opportunity to enjoy a cold beer from a local brewery while watching some quality cinema.

Myself, that’s who. But surely if I did need something so great as cured pork motif tush wipe, then I would head over to Merch Bot to procure some. If you happen to suddenly have a hankering for a more bacon themed life, you can use their other baconish products to coat your home with faux high-saturated-fat meat strips goodies.

Or, if you have a hankering for something a little more taboo, say human brains, you are in luck! Merch Bot is packed to the gills with zombie gear. The clothing choices have a few variations on the same ‘thriller-esque’ zombie pattern. In fact, these articles of undead fashion seem to have a life of their own. I purchased a hoodie with the happy zombie on the back which has tried to lurch off to places unknown many times. It never tried to escape in parks or other areas where the population density was low. Instead, every time the hoodie vanished, it was surrounded by people. Concerts, markets, street events, and gatherings were all likely places for a hoodie misplacement. I personally think that the zombie lurched off to find brains to feed on.

The Re-Store is a wonderland of reclaimed building materials. If you have a house or an apartment that is one of Bellingham’s many heritage buildings, you will probably notice the many unique fixtures, knobs, and accent plates that decorate them. In every home, you will have some sort of accident that will damage one of these unique accents. Chances are very good that you will find an exact match within the Re-Store. They have bins of retro electrical fixture, fuses, and lighting fixtures if you want to swap out those ugly contemporary ones for something with a bit more class. Around every turn you will find solid word work in classic doors, tables, and cabinetry. There are super deals on reclaimed tiles, glass, and brick-a-brack that you can use in craft projects. Every now and then you might get lucky and find exactly the thing you didn’t know you were looking for. I suggest visiting once a month to give the supply in the store time to cycle.

When I enter the Quarterback, I immediately notice the dark cave in the center. It sticks out as a vacancy in the bright lights of the bar; it absorbs the colored lights projected from the wall of flat screens to the side of it; it dares to remain stationary against the backdrop of pool table movement. This hole in the mini-world of Quarterbacksilvania is where groups of either overly musky, Axe drenched, and bleary-eyed fellas gather, gaggles of high-pitched and low cut pseudo-ditzes congregate. or some unholy union of the two.

Moving to the bar, a friendly bartender checks my ID as a courtesy and, avoiding the tar-like stickiness of the bar, asks what I’ll have. Scanning the plethora of micro and macro-brew beer taps, the double reefer of bottled beer favorites, the sparse mid shelf liquor that has been miraculously promoted to top-shelf elitist status, and the staggering array of hooch quality rum and vodka, I order a Beck’s Non-Alcoholic. A quick check is made by the bartender and it turns out that they are all sold on that one but he offers a St Paulie Girl Non-Alcoholic as a substitute. I am encouraged that he didn’t offer the O’Douls that I can see hiding in the bottom corner of the fridge.

Pool cues are offered and accepted with a securing ID. Following the corridor the skirts the dark cove, I arrive at the flotilla of pool tables that occupy the back quarter of the Quarterback. Each emerald playing field has its crew of shifty-eyed players; their beady peepers track and movement in the area around their staked out felt like Caribbean pirates gaging the Spanish fleet sailing by. I find a ship-shape table and proceed to make change for it by breaking a dollar and getting a quarter back. Play begins and, contrary to expectations, my test cue roll doesn’t meander like a bit of drift wood in the morning tide. Straight, strong, and true does it fly on the break; a cannon ball couldn’t have shattered the triangle of balls more powerfully. The eyes of the other tables shift at the thunderclap that manages to find the perfect lull in the acoustic ballad being sung.

The modern-day bard, song-slinger, and everyman looks up from his niche in the far corner of the establishment. The division of the bar by the television wall creates another cavity in the hull of the Quarterback. Far from the safe harbor of the pool tables, a small stage occupies a quarter of this half, an eight if you will, of the total floor space. Apparently Wednesday is open mic night. The fellow does an admirable job in the face of indifference from the sea of wanna-be pool sharks. The congratulatory music from a bulls-eye scored in a dart game accompanies nicely with his rendition of Nine Inch Nails “Hurt”.

Hunger swells and I look for the menu. A script tacked to the wall has what I want. Wings of Chicken, flavored in my choice of five exotic dressings, is the food of choice for Wednesday nights. The price has risen from 35 to 45 cents a wing. Piracy!

The first time I went out to the Wild Buffalo, I was unsure of what to expect. The venue was entranced by an outdoor patio that has a great view of Holly street. There was a lot of foot traffic going by that an outdoor seating area takes advantage of for the simple joy of people watching. Directly inside the front door, you get a view of the island bar, filled with a healthy mix of all the alcohol one could desire. Above the bar was the namesake of the establishment, a ‘wild’ stuffed buffalo rampaging through a wall. Around the walls of the bar you find large art pieces that often have jazz influences. A large dance floor is towards the back and it often doubles as a stage for live jazz performances. So, the venue has a lot going for it already.

I am a fan of finding the nooks and unique places in a venue because sometimes,you find a unblocked vantage to view your favorite show. Moving past the dance floor, there is a stair off to the left that had to be explored. Upstairs was a lofted seating area that contained a pool table and a view of the entire establishment. Not only could you relax with some friends in seclusion and enjoy a game of billiards, the sound from the band is channeled up right to you. It is almost as if you have a private concert from local and national artists exclusively held for you. The Wild Buffalo is open to having diverse performances, such as circus troupes, regularly and I plan on coming back with visitors from out of town.

To find Bellingham’s only hookah bar, you have to do a bit of urban exploration. If you can locate the alley beside Bandito’s Burritos, simply follow it away from Holly and you will see the Cobra Lounge on the right. The location makes you feel like you are finding one of the exclusive nighttime establishments of Whatcom County. The urban feel is heightened by the graffiti that decorates the exterior of the building. The selling area is an enclosed booth off to one side of the entrance. Prices for differing flavors of shisha are listed and the flavors change for variety. You do have to buy a lifetime membership but, for the price of one dollar it is quite a deal.

Once you choose your flavor, you take it into the club via a side door. The interior has tables, chairs, and sofas to choose from. Each table is topped with a hookah that has tips that are replaced after each customer. A coal bearer can help you set up your hookah and will choose a nice coal to keep your shisha burning for a good while. The walls are decorated with hand painted murals and the lighting is highly conducive to a very mellow hang out with friends. The music is an eclectic mix that the patrons sometimes get to pick. Friendly conversation amongst patrons is encouraged and lends an incredibly social environment. With the cost of enough shisha to keep 4 people puffing contentedly for half an hour running less than 15 dollars, the Cobra Lounge is a great place if you want to go out with some friends and just hang out.

parking is free on weekends, after 5pm and on holidays :)

They put on stage productions of his and other mythos related works.

If you don’t know who Lovecraft is… http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/

For thier current listings… http://octheater.com/

Have fun!

I saw them on the discovery channel. Had this poor chap trying to eat that monster omelette. Think it was a show about the best or biggest things around….

Try to get a highscore by counting the people outside boosting wifi. I got 14, a personal best