Hula aloha dance, glass fusing workshop, central habitat store anniversary sale, and more. 
Happy Friday, Vancouver. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Vancouver Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Community crowdfunds beloved sign spinner finale, neighborhood cafe reopens under new management, and county unveils incentives for affordable apartments — catch up here.
State-level stories: Washington drivers must halt for buses on two lane roads, a farmers almanac predicts a snowy winter, and aging ferries with PCBs need scrapping — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: South Korea’s court dismissed a Baby Shark copyright claim, a judge blocked fishing around Pacific atolls, and retirees eye a bigger Social Security increase — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Learn investing basics from Ida West
- Donate blood Monday at Red Cross drive
- Learn Washington business tax basics
- Join free Tuesday beginner ESL class
- Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP
🫶 We got your back
Trails: Skip the backcountry trek. A short drive from Vancouver leads you to mossy forest loops and wildflower meadows. Discover your next adventure on these local trails.
Wildlife: After all, WA’s rainforests and Salish waters deliver elk, whales, and more in real life. Ditch the remote and head to these viewing spots for the ultimate wildlife fix.
Finance: Teaching your teen about credit cards can feel like decoding ancient hieroglyphics. These easy credit lessons turn confusing plastic power into real-world know-how.
Gamehouse: Whether you’re plotting world domination in Risk, forging trading empires in Catan, or barely surviving a crew of delightfully ruthless space invaders, Contrarian’s Game Cafe is your go-to for caffeine-fueled dice rolls and snack-powered strategy sessions.
Money: The average driver pays $175 a month on car insurance, but most of us are paying way too much. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool can save you hundreds.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
💃 Hula Aloha: Dance & Culture of Hawaii @ Battle Ground Community Library | Friday (8/15) at 2:00pm – Kick off your aloha spirit with a hands-on intro to Hawaiian culture, complete with basic hula steps, some aloha lingo, and those graceful implements you’ve only seen on vacation. Warning: you might start swaying in grocery lines. Pull your flip-flops out of retirement.
🌈 Glass Fusing Workshop @ Live Laugh Love Art | Friday (8/15) at 3:30pm – Think you’ve seen all the crafty nights in town? This glass fusing workshop hands you shards, tools, and a laid-back host to guide you through coaster or tile magic. Grab your crew, snag an artful refreshment, and let the colors fly.
This weekend
🎉 Central Habitat Store Anniversary Sale | Saturday (8/16) at 10:00am – Whether you’re shopping half-price finds or curious what happens when a store builds homes, swing by for 50 percent off nearly everything, free hot dogs and popcorn, and Kona Ice. Early birds among the first 50 shoppers also snag a $10 gift card.
🚫 Plant Bullies to Avoid in Your Landscape @ Wildlife Botanical Gardens | Saturday (8/16) at 10:00am – This hands-on NatureScaping class pulls back the curtain on garden bullies with WSU Master Gardener Jennifer Mendoza, who’ll show you how to evict those territorial shrubs and replace them with crowd-pleasing plants instead. It’s free for members, fifteen bucks otherwise, so snag your spot.
🔬 Science + Stories = Science Heroes @ Vancouver Community Library | Saturday (8/16) at 2:30pm – Think your inner child has retired early? Science Heroes is here to prove you wrong with hands-on experiments, interactive stories, and enough curiosity to make your grandkids jealous. Your community library is funding your newfound love of beakers and absurd science puns.
🎶 Hit Machine @ Columbia Tech Center Park | Sunday (8/17) at 6:30pm – Hit Machine is rolling into the Columbia Tech Concert Series with zero cover charge and no age limits. Expect eighties and nineties rock anthems, air guitar solos, and that neighbor you’ve been dodging at the mailbox thrashing on stage. Pure hometown nostalgia, no babysitter required.
🎤 Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour @ Cascades Amphitheater | Sunday (8/17) at 7:30pm – The queen of pop is saying goodbye, but not without one last epic party. Expect glam, grit, and all the hits as Cyndi belts out anthems from a career that defined decades. Grab your lace gloves and waterproof mascara — this one’s gonna be emotional.
🎥 Movie Night | Sunday (8/17) at 8:00pm – Grab a slice and head to the Thirsty Sasquatch patio for Sunday night movies at 8. It’s where your inner film snob meets pizza snob, under string lights and questionable mosquito control. Cheers to square-free evenings, and laughs with your oldest pals.
Next week
💉 Red Cross Blood Drive @ Cascade Park Community Library | Monday (8/18) at 10:00am – Grab an afternoon break, sign up on the Red Cross website, then roll up your sleeve for a blood drive where you’ll save lives and snag a well-deserved escape from work. Nice staff, snacks, and the glow of selfless heroism included, no cape required.
🎮 Teen Game Night: Truth or Troll @ Cascade Park Community Library | Monday (8/18) at 5:00pm – Imagine a room full of teens convinced they’re human lie detectors and Rembrandt in training, all battling it out in Truth or Troll, a sketchy spin on classic game night. Expect ridiculous doodles, spot-the-fib showdowns, and enough snacks to fuel a small conspiracy.
❓ Trivia Night | Monday (8/18) at 8:00pm – Every week, Thirsty Sasquatch turns trivia night into the town’s best excuse to swap pints for pride as teams of up to six tackle curveballs and unleash beer-inspired brilliance. It’s free to join, with prizes for the top three and laughs you can’t Google.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/15 Hula Aloha @ Battle Ground Community Library – 2 pm
- 8/15 Generator @ Billy Blues – 9 pm
- 8/15 Lamont Landers @ Polaris Hall – 9 pm
- 8/16 The NyteByrds @ Cameo – 7 pm
- 8/16 Above & Beyond @ Cascades Amphitheater – 7 pm
- 8/16 Scotty McCreery @ Ilani Casino Resort – 8 pm
- 8/16 Not Your Basic NorthWest Punk @ Alberta Abbey – 8 pm
- 8/16 Beach Party @ Billy Blues Bar – 9 pm
- 8/17 Cyndi Lauper @ Cascades Amphitheater – 7:30 pm
- 8/17 Charlie Cunningham @ Polaris Hall – 8 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Vancouver edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Jolene Nansel (eXp Realty LLC)
Five acres of Pacific Northwest peace, with Green Mountain views that steal the show from nearly every window. Wide-plank Hallmark maple floors bring serious style points and durability, while the gourmet kitchen flexes with Thermador appliances, three dishwashers, a 63-bottle wine fridge, and both a Butler’s and walk-in pantry. The primary bath’s wet room and Airmada shower drying system channel boutique spa vibes, and there’s even a custom dog wash for muddy-pawed adventurers.
Smart home features cover everything from automated blinds to a low-voltage Christmas light circuit. Outside, a built-in patio fireplace and fenced garden beds invite both green thumbs and four-legged friends. No HOA, just resort-style living with a side of tranquility.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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