Retail Tipsheet: New children’s art center launched at Bellis Fair

Let’s face it, shopping with children in tow can be challenging, especially when it comes to buying holiday gifts. Robert Mishkin believes he has something that will help parents.

Mishkin recently opened Children’s Creativity Center in the JC Penney wing at Bellis Fair. The center offers a variety of art and craft programs while parents get some shopping and other errands done. The drop-off option provides supervised but unstructured activities that include painting with starch paint, rubbings, chalk pastels and watercolors. Children can move to the different stations at their leisure and can get help on projects from staff.

The cost of the drop-off option is $7.50 for 30 minutes. It includes a two-wristband system to ensure the child leaves with the correct adult.

Along with drop-off, the center offers scheduled art classes and birthday parties. Typically the age group is between 4 and the early teens; any child under 4 needs to have an adult at the center.

The center opened in mid-October and one nice surprise is that it is selling a fair amount of art created from Mishkin’s other business, Uptown Art. Uptown Art offers art classes and events at 23 Bellwether Way.

The center also offers a Crafters Club program, with a discount price for eight hours of drop-off services. Further details about the center can be found at childrenscreativitycenter.com.

NEW RESTAURANT CHOICES IN MAPLE FALLS, GLACIER

Those heading up Mount Baker Highway for skiing and other snow activities will find some changes to the restaurant scene.

Sam Hassan announced several changes in the Milano’s building in Glacier at 9990 Mount Baker Highway. Milano’s is still in place but recently converted the bar portion into a new restaurant called Bar Veneto. It has a separate kitchen and a different menu from Milano’s, serving tapas and other small plate items. Downstairs will have Milano’s Deli and Milano’s Pizza, which offer items for delivery or pickup.

The former Maple Falls Café at 7471 Mount Baker Highway was recently converted into a restaurant called Crave ‘N Burgers & Brew. According to its Facebook page, the restaurant is open noon to 9 p.m. every day serving items like burgers, sandwiches, teriyaki and chicken wings.

COMPUTER REPAIR BUSINESSES COMBINE

Second Time Around Computers continues to grow, having recently acquired Northwest Computer Repair.

The merger represents the pooling of expertise from two major computer repair and service firms in Whatcom County, said Robert Pratt, president of Second Time Around, in a news release. Northwest Computer Repair, which is at 805 E. North St., will keep its name but the inside has already been remodeled and will include a retail store.

In six years Second Time Around Computers has grown to more than 20 employees. Its other stores are in Bellingham (3863 Hannegan Road) and Lynden (1732 Front St.). Details about the business can be found at 2ndtimearoundcomputers.com.

OTHER TIDBITS

A tenant improvement permit was submitted to put in an animal emergency care center at 4176 Meridian St., in the former Jack’s Family Entertainment Center building. ... Tenant improvement work plans were filed to put in a business called Lisa Crosier Skin Care at 117 W. Chestnut St., near the Cornwall Avenue intersection. ... Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen is tapping its Chuckanut Bock beer at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, for the holidays. The Bock beer is a traditional lager that will be available by the glass and growlers as well as at selected local bars and restaurants. The brewery is at 601 W. Holly St. ... For those on the lookout for Santa, you can visit him from 1 to 4 p.m. at Birch Bay Square near the Subway sandwich shop. Along with photos of Santa, there will be other holiday festivities and a gift-wrapping station. ... Evolve Chocolate has established a pop-up chocolate lounge at 1313 N. State St., near the Copper Hog. Along with selling chocolate, it will have art for sale and music through Dec. 24. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday and noon-3 p.m. Dec. 24. Details can be found at EvolveTruffles.com.

This story was originally published December 12, 2015 at 3:50 AM with the headline "Retail Tipsheet: New children’s art center launched at Bellis Fair."