The Hoot - Columbia Edition

Introducing Bellingham’s quarterly neighborhood magazine

Elizabeth Park Bellingham is her True North p. 3

Steve Kim Hops on the Tap Trail p. 6

Mark Brown

Col u

mb

ia

Sailing the Sound is the Dream p. 9

Movie of the Month p. 10

New!

bellinghamhoot.com

THE DON HAMMONS TEAM (360) 223-9050 bellinghamhoot.com | Columbia We’ll sell your Columbia neighborhood

home for a 1% listing commission!

Edition | 1 six perfect picnic spots in Bellingham p. 8

The Hoot wants your submissions!

To advertise, call: (360) 961-1553

Col u

mb

ia

Submit your story (any genre), to: bellinghamhoot.com/submissions

Bill Magas, owner ESS HOME • LIFE • AUTO • BUSIN

ce 1979

Family Owned and Operated Sin

www.magasinsurance.com

(360) 734-0416

2615 Meridian • Bellingham

2 |The Hoot |bellinghamhoot.com

Bellingham is her true north

Elizabeth Parks’ story started, like so many other Bellinghamsters, elsewhere.

Born in Chicago, her formative years were spent in Southern California.

“Experiencing those two worlds was a lucky thing,” Elizabeth said. “I had country roots and city smarts.”

At 17, there was a pretty significant ripple in that world. Her parents decided to leave Irvine for a job based in Seattle.

“They made the decision literally the day of my high school graduation.

I was not expecting that,” Elizabeth remembers. “All my friends were right there in Irvine. Everything I knew.

I refused to move.”

She wasn’t bluffing ei-

ther. A few weeks later, her Mom, Stepfather and not quite two-year old brother moved to Alki Beach in West Seattle while Elizabeth and two of her closest friends moved into a house in Tustin, CA with a nutty landlord.

“I lived there for about a year, but missed the family too much, so did eventually move up to Seattle,” Elizabeth said. “I brought my best friend with me. We both moved in with my parents for awhile, until we found our own place in Queen Anne, and then Capital Hill.”

Capital Hill soon became significant to Elizabeth’s future. She met her future husband, Jason Custis, and after dating for a few months and realizing she’d met her mate, together they

bellinghamhoot.com |

Columbia Edition | 3

started adventuring around Washington looking for alternative places to live besides Seattle.

“We stumbled upon Bellingham, and fell in love, “ Elizabeth said. “It was perfect. It had a good sized town, a University, abundant nature and felt a world away from the big city we were used to.”

They found their house that very first day, and decided Bellingham would be their new home.

“I love Bellingham because this little town attracts some really good people,” Elizabeth said. “I love the proximity between two major cities. I love the lakes, the trails and mountain hikes, great breweries, strong musical community, good restaurants, camping, the gorgeous

San Juan Islands and it’s all at your fingertips.”

Elizabeth said what really attracted her to Bellingham was the conscientious community she found.

“It’s a great place to raise a family. I feel like Whatcom has everything and it’s still the Undiscovered Country.”

Jason’s career led them briefly back to a Northern California winery in Ukiah, but it didn’t take long for them to start missing Bellingham, and the numerous friends they had made.

“I think we had to leave Bellingham to realize how important it was to us,” Elizabeth said. “We knew pretty quickly we’d be going back.”

They did return, and once settled back in, Eliz-

4 |The Hoot |bellinghamhoot.com

abeth decided to start the career she’d been thinking about for years – Real Estate.

She joined John L Scott as an agent and spent four happy years building up a client base.

“I felt like I’d found my career and was just getting real traction when Lisette came along.”

When Elizabeth and Jason discovered they were having a baby, they made the decision Elizabeth would stay home and raise her while Jason continued his career as a Bellingham educator.

“It was a no brainer for us,” Elizabeth said. “I knew I’d eventually get back to real estate.”

Almost five years later, with an amazing almost

five year old daughter ready for some independence, the getting back to real estate has happened. Elizabeth has partnered up with Don Hammons of Keller Williams.

“We make a great team. He focuses on helping people sell their homes,” she said. “I specialize in guiding home buyers to find their perfect home. “

Elizabeth said her 14 years discovering Bellingham has given her extensive knowledge of the neighborhoods and diverse communities, along with current market trends.

“Mainly, I just love working with people. I want them to love Bellingham as much as I do.”

Steve Kim Hops on the Tap Trail

He was operating a successful, very established neighborhood restaurant, but Steve Kim felt restless.

“My parents, brother and I had a great run with Osaka Japanese Sushi Restaurant, but after 14 years, I felt like it was just time for a change.”

Osaka was still a thriving business, and to consider closing it was a hugely gutsy call, but Kim said it wasn’t just the family that needed the change.

“The neighborhood had grown, and the demographic had changed to younger. They were going to want something different eventually. I decided to be proactive.”

Kim gambled that a lifetime of restaurant experience,

experience that had taken his family to places like New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and finally, Bellingham, had given him a sense of trends, and his gut feeling was Bellingham was becoming a big beer town.

Kim said that over the years, the family knew they had the outdoor garden that was being under utilized.

“I always had the thought that a beer garden would be successful out there,” he said. “But while you’re running a business, it’s just too busy to do the remodel conversion.”

Kim said he and his brother, Adam, made the decision to close Osaka, and convert the location to Hops and Headz, a beer tap house.

6 |The Hoot |bellinghamhoot.com

I’ll sell your Columbia neighborhood home for a 1% listing commission!” (360) 738-7070 4242 WINTERGREEN CIR #367 BELLINGHAM, WA 98226

2104 G STREET BELLINGHAM, WA 98226

2 bed 1 full bath 746 sqft Condo/Townhouse $109,500

4 bed 3.5 bath 3291 sqft Single Family $385,000

2923 LYNN STREET BELLINGHAM, WA 98225

1142 DEER CREEK LN BELLINGHAM, WA 98226 3 bed 1.5 bath 2026 sqft Single Family $325,000

The Don Hammons Team

2211 Rimland Dr #124 Bellingham, WA 98226 (360) 738-7070 donhammons@gmail.com *2014 agent of the year-highest listing volume & highest closing volume.*

City of Be 1

Northwest Ave 1 3207 3 (360) 392-8506

2 3

Meridian St 2 2711 (360) 312-4360

4

Meridian St 3 2615 (360) 734-0416

5 To advertise, call: (360) 961-1553

W Holly St 4 1400 (360) 733-8982

6

ellingham

6

Presented by: W Holly St 5 306 (360) 671-6111

Bay St 6 1318 (360) 738-0735

7

1330 N State St (360) 671-0206

24-hour dispatch experienced drivers

7

(360) 733-8294 (TAXI) Toll Free: 1-800-TAXICAB YELLOWCABINC.COM

Owl over the city!

Mission: Take a selfie of your new cut!

Mission: Take a selfie of you and your pizza slice!

Mission: Take a selfie of your tasty brew!

Mission: Take a pic of the new beer garden!

Mission: Take a pic of your favorite doughnut!

Mission: Take a pic of your brat!

Mission: Take a pic of your ticket stub!

Visit (4) of the (7) participating Hoot businesses and post your selfies to The Hoot Facebook page: facebook.com/thehoot and receive a special prize! (while supplies last)

Almost immediately, his customers expressed surprise, pleasure and even amazement at the Kim brother’s choice to change categories.

“Usually a restaurant owner, who knows a particular category, like in our case, Japanese food, stays in that category. We went against the known.”

Kim gives credit to another player in the Bellingham beer market for helping him plan Hops and Headz.

“I was very impressed by Kulshan Brewery,” Kim said. “I definitely noticed their huge customer base, and I liked their neighborhood location.”

Kim said he also noticed the other breweries popping up around Bellingham, and the growing movement towards craft beers.

On September 27, 2014, Osaka closed, and on December 27, 2014, Hops and Headz, phaseone, opened in the Birchwood neighborhood.

“We didn’t change the outside much, except for the sign,” Kim notes. “But inside, we put in

new kitchen equipment, remodeled the interior, and had the tap system installed.”

Kim credits Eric Jorgenson, co-owner of On Tap Beer Services, with the smooth installation of 30 taps inside and 5 taps outside in the beer garden.

Kim said phase-two, the beer garden, which opened in May, was designed to offer a casual, comfortable, family friendly experience. The kids can play games, or wander the gardens across the bridge while the parents enjoy their favorite beer.

Kim said the whole thing is still a work in progress.

“We’re doing Trivia Tuesdays, which seems to be popular,” he said. “And we’re trying live music on select Friday nights, which I definitely want to grow.”

Kim said he doesn’t think the Bellingham beer growth trend is near a peak.

“There’s three or four more breweries opening in the next year,” he said. “And we’re very happy to be part of this thriving industry.”

6 Perfect Picnic Spots in Bellingham

By Stacee Sledge for WhatcomTalk.com

Boulevard Park, 470 Bayview Drive Who doesn’t love Boulevard Park? No one, it seems, gauging by the crowds most days.

But with plenty of shade trees dotting the waterfront park, and a smattering of picnic tables, it’s still possible to grab a relaxing spot for a picnic.

Marine Park, 100 Harris Avenue Marine Park looks out over Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands.

Less busy than Boulevard but with an equally lovely Bellingham Bay view, Marine Park in Fairhaven features a nice park shelter right next to the gently sloping beach.

Zuanich Point Park, 2600 Harbor Loop Pack a kite alongside your picnic basket. It’s overlooking both Bellingham Bay and Squalicum Harbor—it’s one of the best spots in town for flying one.

Big Rock Garden, 2900 Sylvan Street Big Rock Garden feels like a serene, secluded secret. Its permanent sculpture garden, with nearly 40 beautiful pieces, is a wonder of styles. Discovering each one makes for a lovely, meandering walk under towering evergreens.

Lake Padden, 4882 Samish Way Lake Padden is a south side Bellingham charmer. Hike or bike around the lake, and then settle down for a lovely waterside meal.

Bloedel Donovan Park, 2214 Electric Avenue A popular Lake Whatcom destination on warm-weather days—its beach is dotted with sun-worshippers and lake-dippers.

Mark Brown

Do what you love and the

money will follow. That theory gets preached a lot, but rarely practiced.Mark Brown, a lifetime resident of Bellingham, is following that credo, and it’s working.

His story seems almost classic Bellingham. He graduated from Western in 1993, worked retail and the local ski areas for a couple years, then as a fisherman in Alaska for a couple seasons.

Brown’s career shifted toward real estate, lasting for 14 years, until the economy faltered in 2010, he said.

Jobs weren’t plentiful at that point, Mark remembers. “I ended up driving a Yellow Cab, and surprisingly, I enjoyed it.”

Mark said driving relaxed him and he had ample time to think about his next steps. Turns out, his next step would be a giant leap onto the water.

For college, Mark ended up teaching wind surfing and small boat sailing on Lake Whatcom with the United States Sailing Associa-

tion, then 20 more years beer can racing on Wednesday nights on the Puget Sound.

Mark gives credit for realizing he could make a living sailing to his girlfriend at the time. ‘Have you ever considered teaching others to sail?’ she asked.

Mark said it took another year and half to get Coast Guard licenses and all the other certificates he needed to teach, but as soon as he did, almost immediately Anacortes Yacht Charters hired him.

Mark used the marketing and networking skills he developed as a realtor to help him establish relationships with several other area charter and sailing companies, and soon his docket was full either teaching or delivering boats.

He had a successful 2014 season, which led to a chartering gig in Belize this past December and January. 2015 looks just as busy. “Not every day is perfect,” Mark said.

“The NW weather, the cramped quarters, being away from home and family a lot.” He smiles. “Who am I kidding? Life is good.”

bellinghamhoot.com |

Columbia Edition | 13

Presents

Winter Kill

by Kevin Bell

Mistress America: New from Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale)

A college freshman (Lola Kirke) cures her disappointment and loneliness by allowing herself to be pulled into the wacky schemes of her future stepsister (Greta Gerwig).

Tickets, times and trailers at: www.pickfordfilmcenter.org

Family Classics Enjoy this monthly series of your favorite classic family films.

War of the Buttons: Afternoon Matinees Fri-Sun, September 18-20

Rival gangs of Irish kids escalate their quarreling, resulting in the removal of buttons of captured rivals. The feuding gang leaders develop an estranged friendship.

Admission is $5 or $4 for members!

Free popcorn and soda!

Mention The Hoot for one free popcorn and fountain drink - Valid for large or small sizes. Expires September 21, 2015.

It is amazing that Amy came into my life at all.

I, a bit of a gray bearded drop out from society and she a 30 year old refugee from post graduate expectations. Still she came and dropped into my nautical world, resulting in a permanent change of course.

We encountered each other by chance at a local used book shop. That particular day I was feeling a bit chatty and she seemed truly interested as well as interesting. We soon found we had nearly nothing in common.

I say nearly nothing because we did seem to agree on Miles Davis, GK Chesterton, and all things sailing. Everything else was superfluous and soon we chose category three, all things sailing, as the basis for all things us.

When she first stepped aboard Wonderer she was a vision. Since I live at anchor, I had come into the guest dock for the day of our meeting, careful not to...

Continue reading at bellinghamhoot.com/authors

To advertise, call: (360) 961-1553

Col u

mb

ia

All this and now lagers and sours.

Beer Shrine North ForkChapel *Power Station*Barrelhouse

* Brewery*Pizzeria*Wedding

6186 Mt. Baker Hwy, Milepost 21, Suburban Deming (360) 599-BEER (2337) Visit us at northforkbrewery.com or on Facebook.

24-hour dispatch experienced drivers

(360) 733-8294 (TAXI) Toll Free: 1-800-TAXICAB YELLOWCABINC.COM

EST. 2014