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

A neighborhood finally exhales: After a year of construction, Southeast First Street in east Vancouver reopened this week with sidewalks and bike facilities. English Estate Winery says construction cut revenue by 30 percent — see what changed on First Street.

New grants boost access: Vancouver’s new 0.1 percent sales tax is estimated to raise $7 million a year for arts, culture, heritage and science. Council advanced a seven-year policy and will vote Sept. 15 — explore the program and timeline.

Major bridge deck replacement: Portland’s Broadway Bridge will close to motorized traffic Oct. 13 to Apr. 11 for deck work. Pedestrians and cyclists cross, and streetcars detour via Tilikum Crossing with a stop closed — see detours and closure details.

Highlights this week

• Explore crime prevention and community engagement
• Free beginner ESL class, join anytime
• Share the joy of dance with seniors
• Learn smart money moves for women
• Walk to end Alzheimer’s in Vancouver

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Words that weathered war: Vancouver writers Michael Freiling and Satsuki Takinawa will chat on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Vancouver Community Library about how centuries-old Japanese poetry still resonates and even sustained Japanese Americans in WWII. It pairs with their new translation, One Hundred Poems From Old Japan, featuring original script, woodblock prints, and audio. Learn about the talk and book.

Fall festivities around town: Weekend pick-me-up: Ridgefield’s Oktoberfest brings beer, brats, live music, and the always-hilarious wiener dog races Friday and Saturday. Vancouver’s 22nd Peace and Justice Fair fills Esther Short Park Saturday. And Friday night, Exit 52 plays a free outdoor show at the O. O. Howard House with food trucks and a beer garden. Explore the full weekend lineup.

Market: Fresh veggies, homemade jams, slightly too confident street musicians, and the joy of overbuying produce you swear you’ll cook with this week, Vancouver Farmers Market is basically Saturday & Sunday morning perfection…. and Thursday morning perfection for the East Vancouver Market.

Modern health: Willow is changing the weight management game with sustainable, flexible, and modern plans to help you feel your best. All their docs are board certified, and you get unlimited access to your physician (AKA… you’ll be in good hands). Take this 2-minute assessment to get started.

Learn something new: If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, meet italki. They match you with native speakers for personalized lessons starting at just $5/hour. With 150+ languages to choose from and flexible scheduling, you won’t need to rearrange your life (or start a side hustle) to achieve fluency.

📆 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.

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Today

🎮 Teen Videogame Tournaments @ Vancouver Community Library | Friday (9/12) at 4:00pm – If you need fifteen minutes of silence, drop your teenager into this monthly video game tourney at the rec center. They’ll duke it out in fresh brackets each round, conquer a new title, and snag bragging rights till next month. Snacks optional.

👻 Haunted Walking Tours @ Clark County Historical Museum | Friday (9/12) at 7:00pm – Downtown Vancouver’s past is taking you for a spooky spin on weekend night walks led by the Historical Museum crew, who’ll gossip about restless spirits in every creaky corridor. Pack a flashlight, consider a costume, and try not to scream louder than the guide.

This weekend

🚗 Felida Cars & Coffee @ Creed Coffee Co. | Saturday (9/13) at 8:00am – This Saturday morning at Creed in Felida is about shiny cars, strong coffee, and the kind of chatter that reminds you cars once had dials, not touchscreens. Bonus: flash those keys and enjoy 10% off your order, because even your latte deserves a standing ovation.

🏋️‍♂️ Washington State Natural Pro/Am @ The Heathman Lodge | Saturday (9/13) at 9:30am – Think you’ve seen dedication? This natural showdown lines up local grinders in Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Figure, and FemFit Physique for a shot at pro status. It’s proof real commitment means swapping brunch for bench press.

🍃 Japanese Poetry and the Roots of Resilience @ Vancouver Community Library | Saturday (9/13) at 2:00pm – Since Netflix binges can wait, join Michael Freiling and Satsuki Takikawa for a journey from Heian love verses to the forbidden poems smuggled inside WWII assembly centers. It’s a two-for-one dose of literary history and quiet resistance, with enough grit.

👵 Grandparents’ Play Day @ Vancouver’s Marshall Park | Sunday (9/14) at 10:00am – Columbia Play Project is rolling out Grandparents’ Play Day with carnival games, face painting, and enough sugar to fuel the grandkids’ dodgeball rematch. Local businesses can snag a booth, support play in Clark County, and pretend you’re just here for the arts and crafts.

🏡 GRO Parade of Homes @ The Nines at Camas Meadows | Sunday (9/14) at 10:00am – If you’ve been itching to snoop through polished show homes without feeling like a real estate stalker, this 47th-annual Parade at The Nines delivers six high-end stunners. Expect smart tech, open-air entertaining decks, luxe finishes, and pros ready to spill their trade secrets.

🖨️ 3D Printer Certification @ Vancouver Community Library | Sunday (9/14) at 2:30pm – Think your dinner-party stories have peaked? Master the library’s Lulzbot Mini with hands-on training in mechanics, operation, and troubleshooting. Kids under 18 need an adult chaperone, but you’ll walk away ready to print anything you can dream up.

Next week

💃 Line Dancing @ Cascade Park Community Library | Monday (9/15) at 1:00pm – Think you need fancy boots to hit the dance floor? Raid your closet for shoes, boots, even slippers, and join a line-dance session that doubles as cardio and a self-help group for two left feet. Expect easy steps, plenty of laughs, and zero judgment.

❓ Trivia Night @ Thirsty Sasquatch | Monday (9/15) at 8:00pm – Weeknights at Hungry + Thirsty Sasquatch are the only free therapy you need, trivia style. Round up your six smartest pals, flex that random knowledge, and duke it out for first, second, and third place prizes, plus the ultimate bragging rights.

🎲 Adult Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure | Tuesday (9/16) at 6:00pm – When cabin fever strikes, swap your couch for a digital dungeon in an online tabletop RPG just for grown-ups. Sign up, fill out the character form, and we’ll send you a pre-made hero link an hour before. Just bring a camera, mic, and wit.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 9/12 Nathun Finkhouse and more @ Full Heart Irish Pub – 7 pm
• 9/12 Snapshot @ Billy Blues Bar – 9 pm
• 9/12 After Nations @ Kenton Club – 9 pm
• 9/14 Game Face Improv Jam @ Curious Comedy Theater – 5:30 pm
• 9/14 Weedeater @ Polaris Hall – 8 pm
• 9/15 Luke Sweeney @ Turn Turn Turn – 7 pm
• 9/15 Untapped Trivia @ Tough Luck – 8 pm
• 9/15 Omni @ Polaris Hall – 8 pm
• 9/16 Sonido Gallo Negro @ Polaris Hall – 9 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: Travis Newton (Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty)

Tucked inside Westminster Walk’s gates, this 4,639-square-foot home sprawls across 2.5 acres of lush landscaping and mature trees, complete with a water feature and a detached four-car garage. The bonus space above is ready for movie marathons, epic game nights, or a work-from-home upgrade. Out back, the patio is primed for sunset cocktails, all with a side of total privacy.

Inside, Brazilian Cherry floors meet 10-foot ceilings, wide baseboards, and crown moldings for a dash of drama. Solid Cherry doors, custom RUTT cabinetry, and arched openings keep things classic, while plantation shutters add a hint of Southern charm. Portland International is just 15 miles away, but the only rush here is the breeze through the trees.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →