In search for air conditioning during an unusually hot weekend, I discovered Geheim Gallery. It's…read morecool literally and figuratively. Currently there's a new exhibit every month, which starts the first Friday of each new month (this may change in the future, so be sure to check their website for upcoming events). Will visit again whenever I swing by Bellingham!

Great time with Dave Lucas today. A good range of domestic arts and crafts, we went up, selecting a…read morehand carved box, and a handmade knife. His photography is also outstanding, he was very proud to share with us some new bird photography he's producing Really. We will be back.

I've been coming to this gallery for 20+ years. Usually the staff (which is often 1 person) leaves…read moreme alone to browse which is how I like it. They have always responded to me when I've asked for their help. I can only assume other reviewers expect to be waited on hand & foot, but with only one worker in a 2 story shop, I can see how they can be busy. The shop has a great selection of original PNW/Alaskan Native American art at reasonable (~$100) prices along with some other curios. This is my go-to for gifts for weddings, Christmas, etc. I've bought many things over the years.

I love this shop! Whatcom Art Market is easy to go and shop some local goods. I didn't take any…read morephotos inside the store out of respect for their rules, but I did buy this adorable locally made penguin there. I like that this art market has a wide range of prices-you can find gifts for under $20 just as easily as gifts over $200. It simply depends on what you are looking for. You can find decor for your home, walls, kitchen, or self here. They feature many different types of artists and cater to many different personal aesthetics. They also have classes where you can create some of your own art!

If you like to see what local artist are doing in the Bellingham area, this is a wonderful place to…read morestop. They have many local artists and their artwork for sale. On average there at least two local artists on hand to help you. We walked up with quite a few items and it's a good thing. We only have carry-on because I could've easily added multiple pieces of art. The local artist unhand today were very nice. Worth stopping in.

I personally have never experienced a store like this that makes me feel like I've stepped into a…read morefairy tale. I feel as if I was transported to a place where there is not a worry in the world. The inside of the store is lovely, but the outside is where the true beauty lies. Take your time as you make your way through the peaceful path of sculptures. Soak in the beauty of the surrounding trees. Take a moment to stop and look at every detail. I would have purchased everything in here if the wallet was a bit heavier. It is pretty pricey, but everything is beautifully made. Don't miss out on this store, especially if you're exploring Chuckanut Drive.

What a delightful wonderland of art, sculpture and hand-crafted goods! The staff at Chuckanut Bay…read moreGallery and Sculpture Garden do an amazing job curating the art they sell. Everything is vibrantly colored, whimsical, and awe-inspiring. The displays are expertly assembled because I found myself wanting one of everything - flooded with so many ideas of how I'd display each of the pieces in my home or garden. Make sure you don't miss the sculpture garden. As you head out the door, turn left and make the loop downhill and around the entire garden space. You'll cross bridges, walk through little nooks and crannies, and feel like you've been transported to an enchanted dreamscape. There is a wide variety of art here, with pieces in every price range. Even the grand sculptures and large works of art seem to be reasonably priced - the issue will be transporting all of your finds home safely. Many of the sculptures are quite large and have intricate pieces, but don't worry, the staff can easily accomodate your shipping and transport needs. If you are visiting Chuckanut Drive, make sure you don't miss this wonderful gallery!

The art walk gallery tour was terrific and JP Falcon and David Tondi's live music made the evening…read moretruly wonderful.

Unwelcoming experience. Unfriendly people running the show. Overall unpleasant for me unfortunatelyread more

Fantastic Artwork Museum with great music occasionally ~ Open on some days check the scheduleread more

Western Washington University has a fabulous art collection. Although it is best known for its…read moreworld-class outdoor art, the Western Gallery is wonderful space dedicated to a wide variety of thoughtful -- often cutting-edge art. Tonight (3/2/2017) New York photographer, Arne Svenson discussed his work, some of which is currently on exhibit at the gallery. In addition to talking about "The Neighbors" at the invitation-only soiree, Svenson talked about some of his earlier work. I was particularly taken by his 1985 sock monkey project -- https://goo.gl/images/UCLcHa

If I ran an art space, this is what it would look like! A little dark, a little moody, with high…read moreceilings and all sorts of art hanging every which way. This place is super cool! I visited during a recent Art Walk when they even had a great band playing, and some tasty nibbles too. The art when I was there included oil paintings and charcoal. There was also an extensive class schedule (now doesn't that sound like fun). This place is definitely staying on my must-stop list for the next Art Walk.

I checked out Make.Shift during last week's Downtown Walk and was blown away by the sheer variety…read moreof art offered here. From modern and contemporary to upcycled to textiles to photography...it's all represented in this spot. Art Walk is a great night to go because you can meet the artists in person and hear about their work and what inspires them.

Every community should have a creative center like Make.Shift to support local arts and music. The…read morespace is non-profit, all -ages, drug-free, and Make.Shift offers practice space to bands passing through for a small fee. Make.Shift is also home to "The Magic Van" a resource for bands looking to tour the PNW who lack access to a band van. This weekend they hosted a local craft fair where there was a button trade, multiple floors of local crafts, and I even picked up some vinyl. Additionally down in the lower level I found an alternative lending library (with zines of course) and some indie publications for sale. There was even an artisan guitar maker who took a break from his craft to talk about what he does. The whole experience was straight up cool. I will make sure to stop back in the next time I am in Bellingham and drop a few bucks in the donation jar because creative spaces like this enrich communities and support the arts for us all.

When I saw this shop I was so excited to go in. The window displays are fabulous. I tried several…read moretimes and each time, when I arrived, it was closed. I finally did get to visit on an 'open' day but I was disappointed in the treatment I received. The woman working there was very rude. I decided to try again another time but sadly, received the same treatment. As lovely as this place is, I will never buy anything from them. They need to hire some people with class and customer service skills.

I am beyond bored at most antique stores. My wife loves them and I will cheerfully accompany her to…read morethem when I have failed to plan our route to avoid them. Ormolulu had me at Hello. The proprietors are Debbie and Jim. Their curation is amazing. Before we even entered the store, they had good music (Ray Charles) playing at appropriate volume from high quality concealed speakers. More about that in a minute. While they don't have as much guy-stuff as they do girl-stuff, they have ten times as much guy stuff as any other five antique shops I've been in. Before we talked to Debbie about whether it was OK to take pictures (it is OK), I was sneaking photos on my phone where I couldn't be seen. If you want to outfit the best man cave ever, this is the place to shop. Which brings me back to the music. Jim does clever retrofitting of radios and other pieces, putting high quality Bluetooth-capable speakers in them. So there is pleasant music throughout the shop and it's hard to tell where it's coming from. The antiques literally sing. I had a huge grin when I found the first one. I KNOW there's music coming from this wall, but from where...? They should do a lot of these and make them easily discoverable by other than curious audiophiles. I'll post some pictures soon as I get them off my phone.