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Hello Vancouver! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Gold and silver’s comeback, a Children’s Business Fair, and an impeccably organized thrift-store treasure hunt + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Calling creators across media: Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance invites artists to apply for its summer art festival at Reflection Plaza on Aug. 1. Entries are due by May 1 — get all the application details.

Where castoffs become curated finds: ReTails Thrift Store in Vancouver is drawing bargain hunters statewide with neatly sorted clothing, a sprawling furniture floor, and housewares galore, all under one exceptionally organized, budget friendly roof — read the full story.

Affordability concerns take center stage: Vancouver is planning for major growth and eyeing second-largest status in Washington, with the Our Vancouver plan adding homes and jobs and headed to leaders for April adoption — see what’s in the plan.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Discuss Super Burp! with your child
• Dance to Pure Country & Friends
• Explore Paul Hayden Kirk’s midcentury Northwest architecture
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Small plates, big fun: At DOSALAS latin kitchen + tequila bar, weeknights feel like mini vacations, thanks to Latin-inspired shareables, bright sauces, and cocktails that taste like real fruit, not syrup. Set against river views, plates pair with linger-worthy chats… where conversation often outlasts the final bite.

Weekend trail upgrade: Tucked downtown, Wild Camp Goods is a small, woodsy shop that sparks last‑minute campouts. Think retro‑inspired gear, rugged essentials, and cozy touches that actually earn pack space. Bonus: well‑behaved pups are welcome, so bring your sidekick.

A classic movie night: When couch streaming fades, Kiggins Theatre revives the big-screen itch with indie gems, community gatherings, and an Art Deco glow that somehow makes popcorn better. It’s a reminder that sharing the dark with strangers is still magic, and your living room can’t fake that.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🖼 Perler Bead Frames @ Camas Public Library | Wednesday (3/4) at 4:30 PM – Whether you remember melting perler beads as a kid or just love a tidy craft, the library’s got you. Design magnetic frames with beads and pegboards, sized for your Instax Polaroids, your fridge, and your inner eight-year-old. Register: CamasPL.org/perlerbeads.

🎨 March Paint Night @ Lacamas Lake Lodge | Wednesday (3/4) at 6:00 PM – Paint Night with Kids and a Canvas means trading screens for brushes, and turning out a skating penguin you will swear belongs on the fridge. All ages, no experience, step by step, outline option for littles, and adults stay with under-10s. Quality chaos, washable memories.

🥞 Breakfast with Neighbors @ First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver, WA | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Think your Saturday mornings are booked with laundry? Swing by for a free community breakfast, no RSVP, just fresh-made eats, coffee, juice, and neighbors you actually know. Kids are welcome with a grown-up, conversation is optional, refills aren’t.

🎈 20 Years of Play: Kazoodles Birthday Party @ Kazoodles Toys | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Kazoodles is turning 20, which means the toy store that saved countless last-minute birthdays is throwing one for itself. Expect easy drop-ins, fun, surprises, and neighborly chatter. Swing by to toast two decades, relive your inner kid, and claim it’s for the grandkids.

🎨 Art, Play & Community Pop-Up @ Loyal Legion | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Loyal Legion is hosting a free pop-up with Columbia Play Project, perfect for kids and caregivers. Grab a pint while kids stack big blue blocks, watch Mike Bennett paint live, help name the museum, and bid on his piece to support CPP.

💼 Children’s Business Fair @ Ashwood Taps & Trucks | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Swing by Ashwood Taps and Trucks for a pop-up marketplace run entirely by kid entrepreneurs. Shop handmade goodies, slime, and surprisingly polished business plans while you grab a pint, chat with neighbors, and let the kids teach you about profit margins.

✂ Sunday Crafternoon Club @ Kazoodles Toys | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Spend Sunday at Kazoodles for a guided craft session that turns cardboard and markers into art, not living-room clutter. It’s $5 a crafter, supplies included, with little makers 5+ getting guidance, older kids flexing independence, and parents and grandparents finally earning that “craft date” badge.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Vancouver report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 53°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 97%

A chance of rain before 7am, then showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 4pm, then rain. Mostly cloudy. High near 53, with temperatures falling to around 51 in the afternoon. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 41. West southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 87%

Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. West southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This rare 3-bed, 2-den penthouse crowns Kirkland Tower on the Vancouver Waterfront, pairing luxe condo living with Hotel Indigo services. European-engineered wide plank hardwoods, Cambria quartz, Miele appliances, a DXV bidet, and a princess soaking tub elevate daily routines. Independent HVAC and exterior-vented hoods impress. Rooftop sky lounge, fire pit, fitness center, grill, and concierge security add resort polish.

Take a peek inside →