A Garden of Doors storytelling workshop, Glass Fusing workshop, The Best 10 Days of Summer fair, 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: Narrow library levy vote could save branch hours, volunteers harvest invasive blackberries for pantries and zoos, and Budweiser’s Clydesdales debut at Clark County Fair — catch up here.
State-level stories: Washington is sitting on billions of unclaimed dollars and antiques, landlords slapped with new rent cap fines, and derelict boats recycled for free — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Federal judge orders fresh review of gray wolf safeguards, OPEC+ output increase pushes oil under seventy dollars, and a mislabeled pasta recall — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Get free tax help this Monday
- Boost your English skills every Tuesday
- Get 15-minute tech help every Tuesday
- Join Adult ASL Conversation Circle online
- Compare home equity loans for free
🫶 We got your back
Garden: Even if your black thumb is legendary, the right spot can turn you into a proud plant parent. These garden centers in Vancouver have the selection and expertise to make your greenery glow.
Business: Think Washington’s corporate scene is all chill vibes and coffee shops? Check out some of the state’s largest businesses and employers.
Organization: You spend a weekend lining up matching containers only to find chaos three weeks later. These real-life proof hacks work with your messy, beautiful life, and these sustainable organization tips prove it.
Florist: In need of a last-minute gift, a romantic gesture, or just some color in your life, Awesome Flowers arranges petal-powered masterpieces that speak volumes without saying a word.
Family: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
👀 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
🚀 Deep Space Adventure: Choose Your Own Mission @ Three Creeks Community Library | Friday (8/8) at 4:00pm – Think you’d survive a detour through deep space? Strap in for a live-action survival game where you pick your mission, juggle supplies, dodge cosmic curveballs, skip the gridlock in zero-G, and maybe score real space trivia before faking a meltdown.
🚪 A Garden of Doors: Storytelling Workshop @ Las Adelitas | Friday (8/8) at 5:00pm – Pull up a folding chair and let Rachel Attias guide you through a storytelling workshop made for locals who think their grocery list reads like a novel. You’ll craft personal narratives, swap quirkiest memories, and find out your neighbor’s cat drama beats most bestsellers.
This weekend
♟️ Chess Social Club @ Cascade Park Community Library | Saturday (8/9) at 10:30am – Whether you’re a grandmaster in the making or just learned how the horsey moves, this laid-back chess meetup is your weekend power move. It’s free, it’s friendly, and it’s open to all ages—so bring a buddy, bring a brain, and let the games begin.
🔨 Build It @ Ridgefield Community Library | Saturday (8/9) at 10:30am – Your inner kid and engineer are invited to haul out random LEGO bricks, cardboard boxes, and backyard stash of who-knows-what. It’s a grown-up playdate that doubles as a STEM workout, with enough silly challenges to make you forget adult responsibilities.
💃 Music & Dance with Danza Azteca Huitzilopochtli@ Vancouver Mall Library | Saturday (8/9) at 11:00am – Think your weekend needs a little more drumbeat? A tight-knit, family-led guild is reviving 1,000-year-old Aztec dances, complete with thunderous percussion, color-popping regalia, and timeless tales. It’s like a history lesson, minus the dusty textbooks.
🎡 The Best 10 Days of Summer @ Clark County Fairgrounds | Sunday (8/10) at 10:00am – Summer’s not summer without high-flyin’ rides, the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, and deep-fried guilty pleasures that taste better than you’ll admit in polite company. Throw in Ice Age Adventures, DogTown pups, headliner concerts, local bites, and you’ve got ten days of pure county fair chaos.
🔥 Glass Fusing Workshop @ The Wood Sign Workshop | Sunday (8/10) at 12:00pm – This isn’t your average arts-and-crafts hour. You’ll be guided step-by-step to create your own custom wood pallet masterpiece—whether you’re vibing with wine quotes or channeling your inner Baby Yoda.
🎸 Hysteria | Sunday (8/10) at 6:00pm – Nothing says lazy Sunday like uncorking something at 14 Acres Vineyard and rocking out to Hysteria’s spot-on Def Leppard homage. These seasoned road warriors nail every riff, sculpt hairdos with gusto, and serve all-ages fun that’s more memorable than last year’s barbecue mishap.
Next week
🦕 Kids Summer Playdate: Dinosaur Dig @ Vancouver Mall | Tuesday (8/12) at 11:30am – Who knew the mall could transform into a mini Jurassic Park for tiny tomb raiders? This final summer playdate is free, featuring dino crafts, fossil digs, build zones, and even a caricature artist to immortalize your kid’s triumphant “Look, I hold a T-Rex bone!” grin.
🎨 Space Painting @ Cascade Park Community Library | Tuesday (8/12) at 3:00pm – Ready to swap your latte art for lunar landscapes? Shake, rattle, and roll your way through neon nebulae, googly-eyed aliens, and textures borrowed from distant star clusters, where your clumsiest brushstroke might just become an interstellar masterpiece.
🍻 Thirsty Bingo – Second Tuesdays | Tuesday (8/12) at 7:00pm – Second Tuesday nights at Thirsty Sasquatch mean diving headfirst into bingo cards instead of reruns of your favorite true crime show. It’s free to play, promises slightly more excitement than your recliner, and yes, there are prizes for the lucky winners.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/9 The Best 10 Days of Summer @ Clark County Fairgrounds – 10 am
- 8/9 Danza Azteca Huitzilopochtli @ Vancouver Mall – 11 am
- 8/9 Maren Morris @ Ilani Cowlitz Ballroom – 8 pm
- 8/10 Annual Picnic @ West Minnehaha – 1 pm
- 8/10 LGBTQIA+ Improv Jam @ Curious Comedy Theater – 3 pm
- 8/11 American Aquarium @ Polaris Hall – 7 pm
- 8/11 Trivia Night @ Thirsty Sasquatch – 8 pm
- 8/12 Thirsty Bingo @ Thirsty Sasquatch – 7 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: Kat Tarr (Windermere Northwest Living)
Fourteen-foot ceilings, a wall of windows, and a chef’s kitchen loaded with three ovens and a Sub-Zero fridge set the stage for serious culinary flexing. The eat-in bar seats six, while dual built-in garbage pullouts and ceiling speakers keep things both tidy and lively. The primary suite brings spa vibes with double shower heads, a soaking tub, and a closet so big it has its own washer, dryer, and a wall-mounted ironing board with a built-in outlet.
Upstairs, two ensuite bedrooms, a bonus family room with custom built-ins, and a secondary laundry keep things running smoothly. Out back, a covered deck with fireplace, TV, and surround sound overlooks the Salmon Creek tributary. Tucked in one of Vancouver’s most coveted neighborhoods, this place is equal parts luxury and laid-back.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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