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It’s Friday, Vancouver! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Retro spaceship Airbnb, fused glass nightlight workshop, and children’s business fair + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Otherworldly Washington escape awaits: Near Vancouver, Brush Prairie hosts a retro futuristic spaceship Airbnb on five wooded acres, with sci fi decor, a Lunar Lounge wet bar, and room for up to six guests — see inside this unique stay.

Explore your civic impact: Washougal is seeking applicants for its spring 2026 Citizen Academy and planning commission. The six-week academy will run April 16 to May 21, teaching how city government works — see how to get involved.

Regional trade powerhouse recognized: Port of Vancouver USA’s chief commercial officer has been named to the Washington Council on International Trade Advisory Board, highlighting the port’s impact and role moving grain and importing Subarus — get all the key details.

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.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Explore Paul Hayden Kirk’s midcentury Northwest architecture
• Share recipes, stories, and cookbooks
• Explore 3D printing at open lab
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz

Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.

The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.

I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Plant-powered comfort, fast: When dinner needs to be easy, filling, and plant-forward, The Mighty Bowl serves hearty rice-and-bean bowls with vegan sauces like Mighty, Thai Peanut, and Kiggins, plus chipotle soy curls. Keep it in a bowl or wrap it as a burrito… minimal fuss, maximum flavor.

Treasure-hunting made easy: Find quirky treasures, vintage furniture, and giftable curios at Camas Antiques, where old-school charm comes without the dust bunnies. The mix shifts daily, so every visit feels like a fresh dig, and vendors keep the shelves surprising.

Brows + bracelets, sorted: Whether you want soft powder brows, lip blush, eyeliner, or a welded bracelet that stays put, Studio West delivers natural-looking results with a warm touch. Minimal fuss, maximum everyday payoff. A quiet glow-up that makes your morning routine… and your week… feel a little easier.

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.

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

⚖ 12 Incompetent Jurors @ Magenta Theater | Friday (3/6) at 7:00 PM – Jury duty you’ll actually enjoy, courtesy of Magenta Theater on Main’s 12 Incompetent Jurors, a fast, fur-filled parody of 12 Angry Men. Expect oddball deliberations, a wannabe lawyer, and feline-fueled chaos, and feel smug that your $15, open seating ticket sends 50% to Shifted Theory.

🎺 The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra @ Providence Academy Ballroom | Friday (3/6) at 7:00 PM – Craving a little Roaring 20s without leaving town, the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra swings into the historic Providence Academy Ballroom. Dress your ankles, not your attitude, and dance or listen with a dance floor, beer, wine, snacks, ADA ramp, and ample parking. All ages.

🎈 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.

🕯 Fused Glass Nightlights or Votives Project @ Melt Glass Art Supply | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – Trade doomscrolling for a glow-up you can plug in. Stack colorful glass into nightlights or votives, make up to four, and let the pros handle the firing, slumping, and design nudges. No experience needed, all materials included, pick up in two weeks.

🎶 Fundraiser Concert for Family Promise @ Garden Grove – Community of Christ | Saturday (3/7) at 3:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to swap the couch for something that matters, this benefit concert is it. Pay what you can, enjoy live music, and back Family Promise, America’s leader tackling family homelessness. Bring big hearts, small bills, and your best clap.

💼 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.

🥣 Spring Bowls @ Melt Glass Art Supply | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Skip the yardwork and craft a spring fused glass bowl or plate, no experience required. Choose your design and colors, they provide materials, guidance, and kiln magic, then pick up your masterpiece in about two weeks. Makes a classy gift, or a smug centerpiece.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 First Friday Art Walk @ Downtown, Vancouver – 5:00 PM
• 3/6 Mary Poppins @ Fort Vancouver High School – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 12 Incompetent Jurors @ Magenta Theater – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra @ Providence Academy Ballroom – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Auditions for God of Carnage @ The Arts Centered – 1:00 PM
• 3/7 Disco, Occasionally: A Harry Styles Celebration @ Camas Public Library – 6:30 PM
• 3/8 Jubilate! @ First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver, WA – 3:00 PM

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
• 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: 50°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 86%

Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 50. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 57°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 35%

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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This house is wild

Panoramic Columbia River and PDX views headline an all-season entertainer deck with open and enclosed heated areas. A spring-fed pond with waterfalls, rose gardens, and fruit trees shines, and an observatory bridge overlooks it. Main-level living on both floors, a 13×13 hidden pantry, and a separate-entry lower level add versatility. Extended 3-car garage plus parking for nine.

Take a peek inside →