PSU’s Littman Gallery neurodiverse exhibit, Glass Fusing Workshop, Inflatable Character Fun Run, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Vancouver. Hope you had a great holiday weekend! 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 week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Blues Festival pares down to two stages and still rocks the waterfront, tired pickleballs sprout into planters, and PSU’s Littman Gallery flaunts neurodiverse creativity — catch up here.
State-level stories: Washington State U revived a wartime canned cheese recipe, aerial surveys flagged 545,000 ailing forest acres, and a new map tracks EV charging gaps — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Gen Z stashing three times more in their 401k, Neanderthals crushing bones into prehistoric grease, and a blazing interstellar comet streaking by Mars orbit — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Advance English skills on Wednesdays
- Enjoy creative fun at Surf’s Up
- Drop in for adult tech help
- Toddlers enjoy trains at Kazoodles Toys
- Kids build and launch mini rocket ships
- Got debt? See if you qualify for relief
🫶 We got your back
Music: Spotify playlists are fine for folding laundry, but if you’re after something a little rowdier than your earbuds can deliver, these live music venues bring the kind of energy that makes you remember why you used to stay out past 10 pm.
Wellness: Ready to roll out your mat and find your flow? These yoga studios offer everything from heated, sweat-your-buns-off classes to soothing restorative sessions for every level.
Home: Don’t wait until rain starts pouring through the attic to panic-Google “roofers near me.” Get ahead of the game with this list of trusted roofing pros to keep your home (and sanity) intact.
Community: Local shops and cafés do more than sling lattes and sell stuff—they’re the heartbeat of every town. Every dollar you spend locally keeps Vancouver weird, wonderful, and uniquely ours. Learn more about the connection here.
College: If your future graduate has zero credit history, co-signing their student loan gives them instant credibility for better rates and approval chances. The best part? CollegeAve simplifies the entire process and releases you from co-signer duty once your kiddo proves they can handle the payments.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
📚 Baby Storytime: Ages 0–18 months @ Three Creeks Community Library | Wednesday (7/9) at 10:30am – Calling all tiny humans and their grown-ups! Cozy up for a sweet morning of stories, songs, and social time at the library. It’s a free, fun way to bond and build early literacy skills—plus, baby giggles are practically guaranteed.
🥪 Share Summer Meals Program for Youth @ Cascade Park Community Library | Wednesday (7/9) at 12:00pm – Kids and teens 18 and under eat free—no catch, no forms, no fuss. Just show up hungry and ready to chow down on site. It’s summer, and lunch should be one less thing to worry about.
🎨 Adventures in Art: Spacescapes @ Vancouver Community Library | Wednesday (7/9) at 4:30pm – Nothing beats a monthly cosmic art adventure where you get to sculpt galaxies with paint, collage, and whatever else we dug out of the closet. No experience needed, all materials are on the house, so you can finally prove you’re more than just a master of cocktail-napkin doodles. Space is limited to 16 hopefuls, so roll in 15 minutes early to secure your spot before someone else steals your interstellar thunder.
🖌️ Accessible Crafts for Adults @ Three Creeks Community Library | Thursday (7/10) at 1:30pm – Roll up your sleeves and get crafty in a relaxed, inclusive space made especially for adults with disabilities. No pressure, no perfection—just a free hour of creative expression and friendly vibes. Materials are provided, just bring your imagination (and maybe a friend).
🖼️ Glass Fusing Workshop @ Live Laugh Love Art | Friday (7/11) at 3:30pm – Still watching paint dry at home? Head to the glass fusing workshop where you’ll get all the gear to craft a shiny tile or set of coasters. Show up early, sip a cheeky refreshment, and take home something even your mother-in-law can’t scoff at.
This weekend
☕ Felida Cars & Coffee 10% off @ Creed Coffee Co. | Saturday (7/12) at 8:00am – Early risers and gearheads unite! Cruise over to Creed in Felida for a morning of sleek rides, strong coffee, and 10% off your entire order just for showing up. It’s the kind of Saturday where caffeine and carburetors go hand-in-hand.
🌳 Saturday in the Park Pride @ Esther Short Park | Saturday (7/12) at 10:00am – Why pay for overpriced festivals when you can park yourself downtown for free? Enjoy all-day live music, a tasty food-vendor row, 150 local booths, a kids zone with obstacle courses, and drag queen story hour handing out free books.
💃 Day of Dance @ O.O. Howard House | Saturday (7/12) at 11:00am – Grab a picnic blanket and head to the lawn for a whirlwind tour of world dance: Scottish reels, Bharatanatyam, Tahitian fireknife, folkloric ballet, and Morris stick twirling. It’s free, sweet treats await, and you might finally put those two left feet to work.
🎭 Twelfth Night @ Metropolitan Performing Arts | Saturday (7/12) at 6:00pm – Dust off your folding chair and head to the back field for the 7th annual summer Shakespeare kickoff, free to all, with a season announcement party and open house. Then settle in under the stars for a mischievous Twelfth Night.
🎈 Inflatable Character Fun Run @ Esther Short Park | Sunday (7/13) at 10:00am – Lace up for a whimsical fun run alongside costumed characters. This kid-friendly race is all about silliness, soft landings, and friendly wagers. Bet on your favorite character to win, then stick around for photos and belly laughs. Just $25 gets you a run, a vote, and proof you outran a giant inflatable duck.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/9 Venardos Circus @ Vancouver Mall – 7 pm
- 7/10 Trivia Night: Name That Book @ Three Creeks Library – 5:30 pm
- 7/11 Huckle Buck Highway @ O.O. Howard House – 5:30 pm
- 6/12 Day of Dance @ O.O. Howard House – 11 am
- 7/12 Pride Tea Dance 2025 @ Heathen Brewing – 1 pm
- 7/12 OOOOOO, Big Stretch @ Lombard House – 3 pm
- 7/12 Bossa PDX @ Cascade Park Library – 3 pm
- 7/12 Twelfth Night @ Metropolitan Performing Arts – 6 pm
- 7/12 Comedy Night @ Loowit Brewing – 7:30 pm
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