Fundraisers: ‘Art of the Senses’ auction will benefit Whatcom Museum

Valentine’s Day: Gift from the Heart

7-10 p.m., Bellingham Metal Arts Guild, 2620 N. Harbor Loop Drive, 360-201-0236, $55-$100. This fundraiser for BMAG came from the guild’s recent survey showing that women would prefer a piece of jewelry hand-made by their sweetheart over chocolates, dinner out or flowers! This class focuses on making a beautiful beginners heart pendant or a puffed-heart pendant (a more experienced project) from the heart shapes you create with the hydraulic press. You will anneal, cut, saw, polish, use the rolling mill and use the hydraulic. The event is offered Jan. 19, 22 and 29. Instructors: Frank Goss and Walt Hekala. BMAG is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation promoting the metal arts in our community through educational classes, workshop, lectures and more at its educational studio/facility. Free parking, disabled-accessible. www.BellinghamMetalArtsGuild.org.

Whatcom Museum Art Auction: Art of The Senses

5 p.m., Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Galleries, 250 Flora St. $100; tickets available online at BrownPaperTickets.com or in person at the museum store. Seating is limited. Enjoy a themed menu by Artifacts Café & Wine Bar while bidding on luxurious spa packages, food and travel experiences, fine wines, hand-crafted jewelry, sculpture and artwork by renowned regional artists. Proceeds benefit Whatcom Museum exhibitions and educational programs.

Robert Burns Dinner

6 p.m., BelleWood Acres Distilling & Event Center, 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden. $40, 360-318-7720. Celebrating the 2016 Robert Burns Dinner with the Bellingham Highland Games. Social hour and silent auction begin at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 7. Dancing, music and entertainment all night. Auction items will be available for bidding to raise funds for local cultural events and youth scholarships.

Bellingham Beer for African Water

5:30 p.m. Aslan Brewing Co., 1330 N. Forest St. $10 donation; 360-778-2088. Northwest WA Chapter of Engineers Without Borders hosts a fund-raising event. Drink locally brewed, organic beer, support a local business, try for a raffle prize, get a tour of the brewing process, and donate to the Clean Water supply project for the rural African community of Kiritiri, Kenya. Details: ewb-nww.wix.com/ewb-nww.

Relay for Life of Whatcom County Kickoff Celebration

6 p.m., Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave. Free. The Relay For Life of Whatcom County, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, will have a kickoff celebration. The meeting will feature speakers from the community who have survived cancer as well as information on the work that the American Cancer Society does. This also will be an opportunity to learn more about the relay and for survivors and teams to register to participate. There also will be a silent auction.

”Forward From Forty: Gala

5 p.m Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Family Hall, 3028 Lindbergh Ave. $140; 360-756-6752, whatcomsymphony.com Whatcom Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 40th year with a multi-course dinner prepared by the chefs at BTC, wine and performances by members of the WSO.

Brewers Ball

6 p.m., The Majestic, 1027 N. Forest St. $15 through Brown Paper Tickets. Join in the celebration with your local brewers as we dance the night away in the best way possible: an “awkward ’80s prom!” Admission gets you two drinks, complimentary appetizers, dancing and unlimited awkward prom photos. All proceeds will benefit the Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a nonprofit communitywide event celebrating sustainability, community and honoring our city’s public safety personnel.

Innovation For Quality Living Hearts For Housing Gala, Dinner and Auction

6 p.m., Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel & Conference Center, 714 Lakeway Drive; $75, 360-671-1011. Enjoy a fabulous cocktail hour reception featuring The Hearts For Housing red carpet photo experience, silent auction, music from GMB Entertainment, games, and a Valentine chocolate bar. Reception is followed by a plated dinner, a program about Lydia Place’s programs and a romantically curated live auction. Cupids, sweet-themed delights and more await at this annual Valentine event joining hearts to house the homeless, hosted by Lydia Place. Details: heartsforhousing.com.

Sunrise Rotary Oysterfest

6 p.m., Bellingham Golf and Country Club, 3729 Meridian St. $100, 360-733-3450. This annual event helps raise funds for Bellingham Sunrise Rotary Club’s charitable donations. Guests will enjoy fresh-shucked oysters, refreshments and dinner, along with silent and live auctions. Proceeds this year benefit pediatric cancer research through the Strong Against Cancer project, as well as other local organizations.

Hearts, Wine & Chocolate

6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., BelleWood Acres Distilling & Event Center, 6140 Guide Meridian, $30, 360-318-7720. This fourth annual benefit for Kiwanis-sponsored area youth programs includes tasting of wines, craft brew, chocolates and cheeses. The event features live music, chocolate fountain, artist exhibits and door prizes. Music is by swing and jazz group the Mark Kelly Quartet, with optional dancing. Youth projects supported include YMCA Learn to Swim, Boys and Girls Club, Bicycle Safety, Youth Police Academy, Jansen Art Center youth programs, and student scholarships.

Harborview Lions benefit

7 p.m., VFW Post 1585, 625 N. State St., $5; 360-510-7716. Harborview Lions host The Honeybees, Bobby Lee, Johnny Barnes, the Bellingham Blend quartet, Valley Voices, Robyn Kagan and Annette Richardson. The money raised will go toward a children’s sight program in Whatcom County to help fund new technology to detect eye disease early to prevent the loss of vision.

Whatcom Humane Society Wine Social

6:30 p.m., Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave., $100 plus a bottle of fine wine. An evening of fine wine, beer tasting, buffet dinner and musical entertainment by The Swing Gang. Must be 21 years or older to attend. Ticket price includes wine and beer tasting, buffet dinner and one entry into the “Win an Instant Wine Cellar” raffle (with three winners). Along with the $100 donation, all guests are asked to bring a bottle of fine wine ($25 value). Each bottle will be contributed to the Instant Wine Cellar prizes. Tickets purchased will be held at will-call. All proceeds benefit the Whatcom Humane Society. For more information, email Dana at events@whatcomhumane.org or call 360-733-2080, ext.3014.

A Red Carpet Affair

4 p.m., Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay St. Advance tickets are $75 members/ $100 non members ($80/$105 at the door), sip and schmooze, and mingle with the Whose Who of Bellingham at Pickford Film Center’s seventh annual Academy Awards viewing party. This swanky benefit event sponsors PFC’s Education Fund, which provides innovative media literacy courses and Doc-ED documentary screenings, free to local middle school students. The evening begins with your walk on the red carpet captured by professional photographers, passed trays of delectable appetizers and a gourmet dinner crafted by twofifty|flora, specialty drinks, and a fantasy dessert bar and coffee service. The live broadcast of the 88th Academy Awards from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles will begin at 5 p.m., and intermezzo fun will be interspersed throughout the evening. Doors open at 4 p.m. and you are welcomed into the Pickford Film Center lobby which has transformed into a vintage Hollywood atmosphere and most glamorous soiree. In addition to a strut on the red carpet, guests will enjoy professional photo opportunities, a stunning menu including a hearty cheese board, passed appetizers and a gourmet in-seat meal, all complimented by a seasonal selection of beer and wine at the bar. Seating is limited. Tickets in person and online at pickfordfilmcenter.org/event/the-red-carpet-affair.

This story was originally published January 17, 2016 at 3:20 AM with the headline "Fundraisers: ‘Art of the Senses’ auction will benefit Whatcom Museum."