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Washington bars closed to enforce “social distance” and reduce COVID-19 transmission

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Governor Jay Inslee issued a decree Sunday night to shut down all bars in Washington, and severely limiting the operation of other businesses. Here is the full statement:

Given the explosion of COVID-19 in our state and globally, I will sign a statewide emergency proclamation tomorrow to temporarily shut down restaurants, bars and entertainment and recreational facilities.

Restaurants will be allowed to provide take-out and delivery services but no in-person dining will be permitted.

The ban will not apply to grocery stores and pharmacies. Other retail outlets will have reduced occupancy.

Additionally, all gatherings with over 50 participants are prohibited and all gatherings under 50 participants are prohibited unless previously announced criteria for public health and social distancing are met.

These are very difficult decisions, but hours count here and very strong measures are necessary to slow the spread of the disease. I know there will be significant economic impacts to all our communities and we are looking at steps to help address those challenges.

Tonight, after consultations with me and with the Department of Health, King County announced that they will be taking these actions immediately. King County has been the hotbed of this outbreak and has the largest population center in the state. I have spoken to Executive Dow Constantine and I applaud their decision to act quickly. We will do a joint media announcement with more details tomorrow morning.”

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Super Bowl Deals

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Super Bowl 54. Niners and Chiefs. J-lo and Shakira. Every bar with a TV will have the game on, but some places are going the extra mile to tempt you.

Extremes Sports Grill will have a $14 all-you-can-eat pizza buffet,  Jell-O shots and swag give-aways.

Gruff Brewing is having discounts on beer all day, and free pizza at half time.

122 West Brewing will have appetizer specials and $3 pints of select beers in addition to their regularly scheduled all-day Sunday happy hour.

Annnd speaking of happy hour, a whole passel of bars have happy hour all day on Sunday, and this will be no exception. You can find them in our very own Happy Hour Guide.

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Bellingham Cocktail Week February 1-9

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The 5th annual Bellingham Cocktail Week is more focused on the industry than in previous years. There will be a slew of tasting events, a couple of industry mixers, a bartending competition, a distillery expo, and a closing night gala that’s sure to be a bar owners convention.

There’s still plenty on the party side for civilians, though, and the tastings offer a great learning opportunity for anyone who wants to broaden their palate. With 29 participating establishments, there really is something for everyone.

There’s a full schedule on the BCW website, and individual events are also on our Bellingham on Tap events calendar. Cheers!

Bar Guide

Bellingham bar specials and events by day of the week

Dangit! All bars in Washington are closed effective Monday, March 16, to reduce transmission of COVID-19.

SUNDAY

The 1-Up Lounge: Trivia for Nerds at 7pm.

Archer Ale House: Trivia at 6:30, host Will Canepa.

Blue Abode: $5 bloody marys and caesars, 3pm-close.

Cap Hansen’s: $3 micheladas, $4 bloody marys until 5pm, karaoke at 10pm.

Cocoanut Grove: Hot dog and fries $5.25.

Culture Cafe at Kombucha Town: Open mic with Chuck Dingee, 7pm.

Glynn’s Shamrock Pub: Bingo 1pm-3pm.

Herb’s Cider: Flight of four ciders with meat and cheese plate, $20.

Horseshoe/Ranch Room: $1 off micro pints.

The Racket: $3 wells, $1 off drafts, $6 infusion bloody marys, and $4 mimosas, all day.

Reset Games Arcade: $1 off all beers.

Rumors Cabaret: Panty Hoes Drag Show, 8pm.

Scotty Brown’s: $2 off caesars, $5.50 mimosas.

State Street Bar: Free pool.

Stemma Brewing: Trivia at 7pm.

Thousand Acre Cider House: $5 Ciderlada, happy hour all day.

Village Inn Pub: Free pool 1-9.

MONDAY

Bellingham Bar and Grill: Industry night – 20% off tab with proof of employment.

Blue Abode: $5 house margaritas, 3pm-close.

Boundary Bay Brewery:  Irish and Folk Night at  6pm.

Cap Hansen’s: $4 margaritas all day.

Cocoanut Grove: Cheeseburger with side $6.75, Long Islands $5.75.

Culture Cafe at Kombucha Town:Trivia with Randall Ragsdale, 7pm.

Fairhaven Pizza: $3 pints 4-9pm.

Firefly Lounge: Guffawingham comedy open mic, 9pm.

Grand Avenue Ale House: Industry night – happy hour prices for food service workers.

Horseshoe/Ranch Room: $2 tall boys, free pool all day.

Kulshan Brewery (James St.): Trivia at 7.

The Orion: $3 micros all day.

Paws for a Beer: Trivia at 6pm.

The Racket: $3 Gimlets or Bourbon Rocks, both come with a Lucky Strike, 9-close.

Redlight: Tall boy of Montucky Lager and a shot of Bulleit Bourbon for $7.

Rumors Cabaret: $6 Svedka, $2 selected tall cans. Karaoke at 10.

Scotty Brown’s: $2 off mojitos, $5 off bottles of wine.

Skylark’s Hidden Cafe: Industry night, 20% off bill for food and drink workers.

Slo Pitch Sports Grill: $3 Budweiser, $4 Fireball. $2.99 burgers and $4 garlic fries from 6-9.

Stemma Brewing: Industry day – $1 off half liter pours with MAST card.

Stone’s Throw Brewing: $3 pints from noon-6pm.

Village Inn Pub: $1.95 tacos 4-8.

TUESDAY

Bellingham Bar and Grill: Free pool 9pm-close, $5 double wells.

Blue Abode: $5 classic daiquiris, 3pm-close.

The Cabin: Vinyl Tuesday with guest DJ, 6pm-10pm

Cap Hansen’s: All tequila half off.

Cocoanut Grove: Taco salad $5.75, Mexican bottled beer and well tequila $2.75.

Crossroads Sports Bar: Taco platter $7, margarita $6.

El Rey Restaurant: $1 tacos and mini-margs all day.

Firefly Lounge: Karaoke with Esme, 9pm.

Grand Avenue Ale House: $4.00 PBR pitchers 9-midnight.

Kulshan K2: Cribbage tourney 6:30pm-9:30pm, signups at 6pm.

Luna’s Bistro: Half off all pizzas.

Nicki’s Bella Marina: Bucket of five beers, boat of onion rings $20.

Northside Restaurant: Half price appetizers, $3.50 drafts.

Northwater: Trivia at 7pm.

The Orion: $2 Olde English cans, $4.50 gamma rays.

The Racket: $2 Tuesday – $2 off all tequila shots all day, $2 Tecate cans after 6pm.

Redlight: $4 well shots and drinks, $8 doubles.

Reset Games Arcade: Tallboy Tuesday, all the talls $2, Pacman tournament at 7pm.

Rock and Rye Oyster House: Industry night, 15% off, $2 pork tacos for everyone.

Rook and Rogue: Game Night aka Playing Games With Strangers at 5:30pm

The Royal: Progressive drinks – wells and domestic drafts 50 cents 8-9pm, $1 9-10, $2 10-11, $3 11-midnight, $4 midnight-1am, $2.50 1-close. Karaoke at 10.

Rumors Cabaret: $6 Svedka, $6 shot-and-beer combo.

Scotty Brown’s: $2 off bellinis.

The Schweinhaus: Karaoke with DJ Mon-T at 8pm.

Slo Pitch:  Bellingham Brews and pear bombs $4, $1 tacos from 6-9pm. 

Uisce: Trivia at 8. The last Tuesday of the month it’s Movie Trivia.

WEDNESDAY

1-Up  Lounge: Ladies’ Night – $1 off cocktails and drafts, free game time after 8pm.

122 West Brewing: Trivia at 7pm.

Archer Ale House: 20% off all whiskey, $5 scratch whiskey gingers, and whiskey flight specials.

Bellingham Bar and Grill: $5 margaritas 3-6pm. Progressive double wells start at $2 at 9, go up 50 cents every half hour.

Blue Abode: $5 whiskey sours, 3pm-close.

Cabin Tavern: Taco night 4pm-10pm.

Cap Hansen’s: $3 palomas.

Cocoanut Grove:  Crispy chicken caesar burger $7.75, micro pints $3.50. 

Endgame: Industry night – 20% off for bar and restaurant staff with proof of employment.

Firefly Lounge: Songs and Stories open mic, 6-9pm.

Grand Avenue Ale House: Burger, fries, and pint of PBR $7, 5-10.

Honey Moon: Open mic at 7:30, signups start at 5.

Horseshoe/Ranch Room: Tall boy with well whiskey shot, $5.50.

Kulshan K2 (Kentucky St.): Trivia at 7pm

The Loft: 1/2 off all wine bottles.

Luna’s Bistro: All burgers $7,

McKay’s Taphouse: Trivia at 7:30pm

Nicki’s Bella Marina: $1 off all whiskey and ribs.

The Orion: $3 house mixed whiskey sours, $5 Maker’s Mark or Bulleit.

Redlight: $1 off all infusions, $5 blonde redheads.

Rock and Rye Oyster Bar: $11 steak frites with drink purchase.

Rook and Rogue: RPG Night – Pathfinder and D&D 5th.

The Royal: Well drinks $1 8-9pm, $2 9-11pm, free pool.

Rumors Cabaret: Afterparty with Vivienne Duchanne, 10pm, $6 shot-and-beer combo, $4 Rumors pops.

Scotty Brown’s: $5 off bottles of wine.

Slo Pitch Sports Grill: $3 Bud, $4 Wapple, 6 wings for $3, trivia at 7pm.

Studio B: Western Wednesdays 18+ night, 10pm. Variable cover – under 21 is $10,  21 and over with student ID is $5, without student ID is $20.

Stone’s Throw Brewing: Live music in the tap room at 7pm.

Twin Sisters Brewing: Happy hour prices and $10 liter steins all day with student id.

THURSDAY

Archer Ale House: $5 Moscow Mules, Gin Mules, and Hot Mexican Mules.

Bellingham Bar and Grill:  $2.50 wells 9pm-close.

Blue Abode: $5 gin gimlets, 3pm-close.

Cabin Tavern: Taco night 4pm-10pm, $7 scratch margaritas.

Cap Hansen’s: $3 nicaraguans.

Cocoanut Grove: Chili dog $6.25, $3.75 tequila sunrise.

Crossroads Bar and Grill: Karaoke at 7:30pm.

Culture Cafe at Kombucha Town: Karaoke with Aireekah at 10pm.

El Rey Restaurant: Trivia at 7:30pm.

Endgame:  Trivia at 8pm.

Grand Avenue Ale House: $4 Rolling Rock pitchers, 9-midnight or when the tap runs out.

Horseshoe/Ranch Room: $4.75 Jack and coke.

Northside Restaurant: Taco night – 3 tacos/$3, taco salad $7, margaritas $3.

The Orion: $2 Tecate tall cans, $4 El Jimador.

Redlight: Industry night- $1 off everything but combos with pay stub, half price call tequila.

Red Rum: Karaoke at 9:30pm.

The Royal: $1.50 wells and $3.50 microbrew pounders, 9-midnight, karaoke at 10.

Rumors Cabaret: $6 double wells until midnight.

Scotty Brown’s: $2 off margaritas.

Slo Pitch: Rotating micro and Cuervo, $4, slider trio $6.99 5-9pm.

Stone’s Throw Brewing: Trivia at 7pm

Uisce: Irish Music Thursday, 7:30pm

Village Inn Pub: Open jam session with Texas Jimmy D at 8.

FRIDAY

Bellingham Bar and Grill:  $2.50 wells, $3 Fireball, $4 Washington Apple shots, $5 Long Islands 9pm-close.

Blue Abode: $5 lemon drops, 3pm-close.

Cocoanut Grove: Chicken caesar salad $8.75, domestic pints $2.75.

El Gitano: Karaoke at 9.

Glynn’s Shamrock Pub: Karaoke at 9pm.

Horseshoe Cafe: $3 vodka cran.

Menace Brewing: Open mic with Ruby Toosday, 5pm.

Orion:  Two burgers with chips, $7 4pm-9pm.

The Royal: $3.50 micros and $2 wells 9-11.

Rumors Cabaret: Fierce Friday Drag Show, 8pm. $6 double wells, $6 vodka & Red Bull, $5 Long Island iced teas 9-midnight.

Scotty Brown’s: $3 off pitchers of beer.

Slo Pitch: $3 Kokanee, $4 Jagermeister.

The Underground: Progressive wells – $1 9:30-10:30pm, $2 10:30-11:30pm, $3 11:30-midnight.

Village Inn Pub: Karaoke with host Seamus O’Carey at 9.

SATURDAY

Bellingham Bar and Grill:  $2.50 wells, $3 Fireball, $4 Washington Apple shots, $5 Long Islands 9pm-close.

Blue Abode: $5 sex on the beach, 3pm-close.

Cap Hansen’s: $3 micheladas, $4 bloody marys before 5pm.

Cocoanut Grove: Roast beef or turkey dip $7.75, domestic pints $2.75. 

El Gitano: Karaoke at 9pm.

Glynn’s Shamrock Pub: Bingo 1-4pm, karaoke at 9pm.

Grand Avenue Ale House: $2.00 off  micro pitchers with 18 wings, 5-10.

Horseshoe Cafe: $4 blood orange screwdriver.

La Fiamma: $2 mimosas and bloody marys with brunch, 9am-10pm.

The Royal: $2 wells 9-11pm.

Red Rum: Karaoke at 11pm.

Slo Pitch: $3 Coors Light, $4 duck farts.

Stone’s Throw Brewing: Live music in the tap room at 7pm.

The Underground: Progressive wells – $1 9:30-10:15pm, $2 10:15-11pm, $3 11 -11:45pm.

Village Inn Pub: Prime rib dinner, 4pm-8pm – 8 oz $15.99, 10 oz $17.99.

Bar Guide

Bellingham trivia nights

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Trivia teams typically have  four to six players, and each player contributes a buck or two toward the  jackpot. Variations abound, so check in with the venue to confirm their particulars. And plan to show up early to grab a table for your team.

This list reflects recurring bouts, but there are often one-off themed trivia nights. Keep an eye on the calendar for those.

Sunday

Lost Giants Cider Co.
1200 Meador Ave.
6pm

Archer Ale House
1212 10th St.
6:30pm, host Will Canepa

The 1-Up Lounge
1121 McKenzie Ave.
Trivia for Nerds at 7pm.

Stemma Brewing
2039 Moore St.
7pm

Monday

Paws for a Beer
501 Harris Ave.
6pm

The Filling Station
1138 Finnegan Way
7pm with Emily

Kulshan Brewing Company
2238 James St.
7pm, alternating hosts Justin Smith and Rob Coiner

Northwater
4260 Mitchell Way
7pm

Culture Cafe
210 E. Chestnut
7pm with host Randall Ragsdale

Tuesday

Fireside Martini Bar
416 W. Bakerview
6:30pm

Uisce Irish Pub
1319 Commercial St.
Trivia for the Masses most Tuesdays, movie trivia on the last Tuesday of the month. Both at 7pm.

Crossroads Bar and Grill
1263 Barkley Blvd.
7pm

Village Inn and Pub
3020 Northwest Ave.
7pm

Twin Sisters
500 Carolina St.
7pm with Randall Ragsdale

Pizza’zza Fairhaven
1501 12th St.
7:30pm, first and third Tuesdays

Boundary Bay Brewery
1107 Railroad Ave.
Geeks Who Drink trivia, 8pm.

Honey Moon
1053 State St. (in alley)
Subdued Trivia with host Jessica Garr, 8pm.

Wednesday

The Cabin
307 W. Holly St.
Music trivia, first Wednesday of the month

Slo Pitch Sports Grill
3720 Meridian St.
7pm

Kulshan K2 
1538 Kentucky St.
7pm with Jen Castaldo

122 West Brewery
2416 Meridian St.
7pm

McKay’s Taphouse
1118 E Maple St.
7:30pm

Thursday

Stone’s Throw Brewing
1009 Larabee
7pm

El Rey Restaurant
2527 Meridian St.
7:30pm

Endgame
Holly St.
8pm

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Bars open on Christmas

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At some point you’re going to want to leave the house. Here are the places to go, listed in order of opening time.

The Waterfront
521 W. Holly St., opens at 8am
Serves fish and chips, burgers, bar snacks

Greene’s Corner
2208 James St., open 10am-6pm
Serves pizza, sandwiches, breakfast all day

Glynn’s Shamrock Pub
5309 Guide Meridian, opens at noon

Rumors
1119 Railroad Ave., opens at 4pm

State St. Bar,
1315 State St., opens at 4pm
Serves chicken strip baskets, bar snacks

Galloway’s
1200 10th St., open 5pm-11pm
Serves fancy snacks

McKay’s Taphouse
1118 Maple St., open 5pm-10pm
Serves pizza

Uisce
1319 Commercial St., opens at 6pm

1-Up Lounge
1121 McKenzie Ave., opens at 7pm
Serves bar snacks

Cap Hansen’s
209 E. Chestnut St., opens at 8pm
Karaoke with Zach

Wild Buffalo
208 W. Holly St., opens at 9pm
Karaoke with Aireekah

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Bellingham Nightlife News

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Rook and Rogue closing at end of year

The owners of Rook and Rogue Game Pub have announced that December 31 December 8 will be their last day of operations unless a buyer comes forward. The bar has apparently been running at a loss for its entire run. UPDATE: Closure has been moved up to December 8.

Saturday night karaoke at Red Rum

Red Rum has added a second Freaky Tiki Karaoke night on Saturday at 11pm, so now you can sing in its tropical environs on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Station Social House closed

Observers recently happened upon the body of the Station Social House. The establishment had apparently been dead for some time, unnoticed.

Late-night industry happy hour at the Cabin

The Cabin is now open nightly until 2am, with happy hour prices plus $5 Fernet shots for fellow bar kids.

L&L Libations open

Leaf & Ladle’s bar annex, L&L Libations, has opened one door south of the restaurant. They’re open daily at 4pm.

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Bellingham Halloweekend, Part 1

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by June Hathaway

It’s time for Halloween, round one. With the holiday falling on a Thursday, you might expect the festivities to cluster on the weekend after. But Halloween is a season now, so we get two weekends of horrible hijinks. (This isn’t a comprehensive listing of spooky events – there’s too much going on for that! See every single accursed adult activity at the Bellingham on Tap Events Calendar.)

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Bleedingham Horror Movie Festival

For the eighth year, Bleedingham celebrates homegrown horror.

The Night Gallery
Friday 5-10pm at the Majestic, free/by donation

Bleedingham’s opening night party features a delightfully dark and otherworldly gathering of artists, crafters, writers, ghost hunters, tarot, and more.

Movie Screenings
Best Feature: Saturday 3pm at the Limelight, $9
International Films and Creepy Cornucopia (shorts): Sunday 1:15pm at the Pickford, $11

Halloween Spirit Walk

Friday 5:30-9pm, Barkley Village, tickets $40

Celebrate the season with spirits from ten different regional distilleries, a haunted outdoor beer garden, and live music from Tom Petty tribute band Petty or Not.

Haunted House at Boundary Bay

Friday and Saturday at Boundary Bay Brewery, $5 for 6-9pm all ages version, $10 for super scary 21+ version from 9-11pm

The 5th annual Nightmare on Railroad in the Boundary Bay Brewery FEAR Garden benefits the Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY).

Make.Shift Halloween Cover Show V: The Final Showdown

Friday 6:30pm, at Make.Shift, $10

The last ever Make.Shift Halloween Cover Show (sobs).

3rd Annual Beastly, Frightful, Unspeakably Spooky Circus of Doom

Friday 7pm (21+). Saturday 6pm (all ages) and Saturday 9pm (21+,) Sunday 4pm (all ages), at the Cirque Lab, $18 advance (12 hours prior to show) $23 at door.

Hosted by Deanna Fleysher of Butt Kapinski fame, this show aims to tickle your funny bone and give you the heebie-jeebies.

Bar Guide

Lounge Hard: Lushy Trio and the Di Young Combo

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by June Hathaway

Making plans for the weekend? This is Western Washington University’s back-to-school week, and there’s a lot going on!

You could go hard at the Back 2 Bellingham festival, a three-night untz-travaganza of dance music and blue shots.

But maybe you’re feeling a bit, let’s say, mature for such carryings-on. If that’s the case, head on down to the Red Rum Tiki Lounge this Saturday and lounge hard with Seattle’s Lushy Trio and locals the Di Young Combo.

The Lushy Trio at a tiki bar that is not Red Rum.

The Lushy Trio is the crunchy core of Lushy, a five piece that’s been playing “progressive cocktail” music around the Northwest for two decades. Appearing Saturday are singer Annabella Kirby backed by Matt Nims and Andy Sodt, who’ve played with erstwhile Bellingham bands Applied Science, the Sharx, and Tiny Hat Orchestra.

While Di Young often plays as a two-piece, with singer Diana Young-Blanchard (formerly of the DTs) accompanied by Aaron Smith on guitar, Saturday’s show will include bassist Anna Burl Jull and drummer Stephanie Straight.

With its low lighting, exotic drinks, and decor out of a tropical fever dream, Red Rum is a great place to take in a show. And with a 6pm start time, you can head home afterwards at a sensible adult bedtime. Alternately, you can stay downtown and enjoy the mayhem. Life is full of choices!

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Rock the Block: Art Walk, Adult Swim & more

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Lace up your walking shoes and polish the schmutz off your sunglasses, because we’ve got a perfect storm of sidewalk mingling coming up.

Thursday, August 1: Rock & Vote

State Street businesses will have food and drink specials, plus voter registration tables, in support of Hollie Huthman, city council candidate and owner of the Racket/Shakedown. It’s all happening in the vicinity of State and Chestnut from 4 to 7pm. At 7:30, pop into the Shakedown to see Hollie’s band, Dryland, with Stereo Donkey opening.

Friday, August 2: Downtown Art Walk

Drink art! See wine! Downtown sidewalks come alive every first Friday for the Downtown Art Walk, and this Friday will be no exception. 6-10pm,

Saturday, August 3: Endless Summer Block Party

Head to Stone’s Throw Brewing in Fairhaven for music from the Brittany Collins Band and Groovebot, food trucks, and, of course, beer. The event is free, but you’ll have the opportunity to toss a few bucks in the direction of Recreation Northwest. 11am-9pm.

Sunday, August 4: Adult Swim Block Party

Gruff Brewing and Boundary Bay Brewery are joining forces to benefit Shifting Gears, and they want to get you wet in the process. To that end, there’ll be squirt guns, bubble machines, water balloons, and slippery yard games. DJs and food trucks will round out the dry side of the bill. Noon-4pm.