Bellingham's Hidden Adventures

Bellingham is known for its avid snowboarders and skiers who religiously frequent Mt. Baker during the winter. It comes as no surprise that Mt. Baker draws many of Western’s students there. But one extreme sport that I didn’t know about, and often goes unnoticed is mountain biking. Bellingham is home to many trails, people travel from Vancouver, BC and Seattle to ride the trails. Mountain biking is an intense sport, that involves fast downhill peddling, and bravely going off jumps, and weaving in out of trees. Some trials even have narrow wood bridges, which involve skill and precise navigation to not fall off. The trails in the Pacific Northwest are beautiful and can be treacherous especially when it rains, leaving behind muddy trails and slippery wood



Here is what a trial typicaly looks like




 So how do I know so much? My neighbors and good friends are avid mountain bikers, and I have gone along with them a few times to “shuttle them”. I should also mention being that these are trials, it often involves hiking up these trials, while pushing their 50-something pound bikes. A few trails, such as those at Northfork, do have gravel roads leading up to the start, thus there is a designated shuttler. This Shuttler drives the bikers to the top and then meets them down at the end of the trail. So not only are my friends extremely talented at riding these trails, they also have a start up group to produce short mountain biking videos. Their business is called High Street Collective (they live on high street). This business is also involved in beer brewing, and clothing- such as graphic tees. High Street Collective is at the very early stages, but with time and experience will hopefully grow. And I do hope my blog post will drive some traffic to their Facebook! and increase awareness! So be sure to check out their Facebook. In attempts to increase your knowledge of mountain and its awesomeness and to display their talent, I want to include a video .

 






I will have more posting on events and other films they will be producing shortly!


Check out this short video!

check High Street Collective Facebook!


here is another short video




Drum Roll Please!!

This post comes bearing gifts!! One that I have been waiting for for 3 years!!! Lisa Haagen has an actual date for the release of her CD. Drum roll please……….. February 9th! The day of her show at the Undergound Coffee House! It will be sold for $5 (estimated price, subject to change). All the more reason to go see her show! Lisa has been able to record and edit her music without the help of a recording label. A pretty huge feat, I have personally seen her struggle and work hard for years at this. Perhaps it is her role model, Ingrid Michealson, which has helped to keep her inspired and excited. Ingred has been able to perform, and record all her music without the help of label, which is one reasons Lisa looks up to her.

What does this mean for Lisa?

This means that Lisa’s efforts she has had for the past 3 years will finally be realized and her singing career has a real chance to take off. Interestingly though, Lisa has only been performing for three years. She says she took so long to perform because she was very shy about her music and doubted her talents. All of Lisa’s music is original, perhaps why laying it all out on the line may seem so daunting. But her friends have encouraged and motivated her to play. Within a few performances the crowds were responding positively and remembering her name. Her favorite part about performing is “People!! It is really cool to play and see reactions on peoples face when they start connecting with it”. And where the road may take her from here, who knows? But if you want to see her talent, be sure to come to the Underground Coffee House February 9th to see her play! I’ll be there!

** the event is listed on her Facebook also**

CD release?!?!?!

After a couple of years of attempts and frustrations of recording her CD, Lisa Haagen is almost ready to release her very first album!!! It was not until college that Lisa got into writing and singing songs. Interestingly, her whole family is musically talented, and they all used to participate in band very similar to the Jackson 5. The process of recording a CD is a lot more work than one might imagine. She writes all her songs, and plays all the instruments, a one women show! The release date is not determined, but it is very soon! And I can personally testify that it will be full over amazing songs!!!! I like them all! Though, I am guilty of having favorites. My favorite song by far is “Running in the Dark”. My second favorite is “Baby Blue”, this song can be heard on her Facebook actually. If you go to her Facebook page, then under her videos, you can find Baby Blue! I encourage you to go listen to it right now!! It’s a great song! Oh and I love her blue guitar! As I mentioned in an earlier post, Lisa can a multitude of instruments, including the piano, drums, and guitar, maybe the banjo one day. Once I know the release date I shall inform you, and where to purchase.

Remember her shows:
February 9th (underground) And March 8th (at honeymoon).

AS Undergound Concert Series

Lisa Haagen's First Show at WWU



Everybody check your calendars! Lisa has her first show at WWU February 9th!! The Barefoot Brothers start at 8 pm, and Lisa takes the stage at 9 pm! The show is located in the Underground Coffee House. For those who don’t know where that may be, it’s the 3rd floor of the Viking Union Building at WWU. The show is free to attend! So come! Bring homework, bring friends, drinks some delicious coffee and hear some good music.

Who are the Barefoot Brothers? Well, they are a popular reggae-like local band! They have had several shows at local venues in Bellingham. The band is composed of Alex Campos, the lead vocalist and guitar player, Kalan Hatton, back-up vocalist and bass player, and Taylor, the drummer. They will be playing before Lisa on February 9th, come to underground to hear this talented band also.

Many artists and bands are playing in the Underground Concert Series. The Underground Series features a different bank or musician every Wednesday of this quarter!

Check out Barefoot Brothers Facebook!!

Check out the myspace page!

Bellingham's Hidden Talents

So, you may be asking what is the purpose of this blog? To tell ya the truth, I have no clue…… alright so that was a little white lie. Don’t worry; the purpose of this blog is not for me post my online diary of all my inner fears and hopes and dreams, and detail out every minute of every day! Yuck! Despite the therapeutic benefits of a personal diary, no, this is not a diary. Alright, glad that is settled. This blog is for me to express my passions and perhaps concerns, in a manner that is similar to how a blog would be used for a company. I am a marketing major, so I do find much interest in social media and the power of blogging. My main concern is I am not a English major, my grammar may not be exactly perfect. I am experimenting in writing styles and topics, and how to attract or detract followers. But I do have another purpose, to promote my talented friends!!



I would like to introduce you to Lisa Haagen, (pronounced like the store but spelt like the ice cream). Lisa is one my best friends, and she writes her own music and can play the guitar, drums, and piano. She is very talented you should check out her Facebook!! Her style is similar to Missy Higgens. Her songs are all originals, and have a compelling nature that draws you in and steals all your attention. Sometimes I swear she reads my mind, but was able to chose and arrange words that sound much more poetic then I could ever say. She plays at the Underground Coffee House at Western almost every Tuesday, and at the Honeymoon almost every Wendesday! She also has shows coming up!!!

Shows:
February 9 at the Underground @ 9 pm
March 8 at the HoneyMoon (time will be announced soon)


I aim to provide further information and details about Lisa Haagen and her shows. Talent like hers should not go unheard and unnoticed

Check out Lisa's Facebook!

what to blog?

Greetings!!



My name is Nicki, and I am currently a senior at Western Washington University. I am majoring in marketing with a minor in communication. I am not quite sure what I will be blogging about. I tend to acquire random obsessions that fade fast. So one week it may be about music and the next it may about some cool new purse at the mall. Well, not exactly like that. But as a senior, graduating a quarter early, I am in dire need to get a grip on what’s next… a job?! I need to get on that.




It snowed last night!! It snowed a lot!! At 2 am there was at least a couple inches of snow but by 6am it had rained long enough to make it all slush! This meant that classes weren’t cancelled! Yuck! But playing in the snow was a fun way to spend my, what would otherwise be boring, Tuesday evening!! Unfortunately I didn’t get to build a snowman! Sheeesh! I have been dreaming of building a snowman since November! My heart is crushed right now. 



I do in fact have the intention of actually making this blog interesting, my creative juices seem to be running low today.

random fact: there are approximately 9,000 taste buds on the tongue.

quote: "Goodness is the only investment that never fails" french proverb