Kids summer playdate, master gardener series, paint pour workshop, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, 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 week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Fred Meyer’s 5,000 dollar gift to Clark County Food Bank, the Oregon Zoo calf topping 650 pounds, and the YMCA’s first woman CEO — catch up here.
State-level stories: Owl ambassadors flapping into rehab fame, over 50 wineries earning Sustainable WA labels, and Olympic Peninsula road loop crowned a top 2025 drive — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Safety alerts for hundreds of thousands of Kia and Ford vehicles as an early Atlantic storm takes shape, and Mediterranean diet tips ease inflammation — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Explore LGBTQ+ experiences in a safe space
- Share invisible illness experiences through art
- Enjoy free summer meals with no paperwork
- Discover Martha’s Pantry’s enduring community impact
- Endurance’s auto protection plan is $300 off
🫶 We got your back
Pets: Your furry sidekick deserves an upgrade. These pet stores in Vancouver stock all-natural treats, holistic foods and toys that’ll keep tails wagging.
Golf: I was stuck on a work trip and googled “golf courses near me,” somehow ending up with 36 holes in two days. These must-play courses prove Washington is America’s most underrated golf destination.
Travel: Solo trips after 50 don’t have to feel scary. These safety hacks will have you packing your bag with confidence.
Playhouse: Whether you’re craving toe-tapping show tunes, spine-tingling drama, or the offbeat charm of experimental one-acts, Magenta Theater brings center-stage magic (and just enough backstage buzz) to town.
Wealth: $4,000. That’s how much an ounce of gold is expected to cost in 2026. And since gold thrives in unstable markets, its rally appears far from over. Check out gold IRAs, which let you own physical gold while taking advantage of IRA tax breaks.
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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
🚜 Kids Summer Playdate: Down on the Farm @ Vancouver Mall | Tuesday (8/5) at 11:30am – Think you can wrangle a baby goat without a hay-stained Saturday shirt? This free farm-day playdate drops county-fair charm in the mall with real goats, button-making, tin-can slams, face painting, and zero manure cleanup. Barnyard bragging rights guaranteed.
🏊 National Night Out 2025: Pool Party | Tuesday (8/5) at 5:00pm – Need an excuse to trade mowing the yard for cannonball contests? National Night Out’s pool party brings music, games, and food trucks to the community pool. Conversation starters guaranteed, so just RSVP, dive in, and pretend you have an ocean view.
🦎 Reptile Man @ Hazel Dell Elementary School | Thursday (8/7) at 9:00am – Hazel Dell Elementary is morphing into a mini zoo as Reptile Man wrangles scaly visitors from across the globe, dropping creepy-cute facts with a wink. It’s educational, it’s delightfully weird, and the perfect excuse to tell your kids you’re not squeamish about snakes.
💉 Tattoo Pop-Up @ Kindred | Friday (8/8) at 10:00am – Whether you’ve been plotting your first tattoo or desperately need to cover that bargain-bin tragedy, swing by Mac’s weekend pop-up in SW Washington and PDX. Licensed artist, painter, community builder. Expect punchy illustrative designs, honest vibes, and a chance to swap neighborhood gossip.
🚀 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.
This weekend
🐝 Master Gardener Series: Turn Your Backyard into a Buzzing Paradise @ Three Creeks Community Library | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – Think your backyard is just a green carpet begging for better guests? Join our local Master Gardener to swap grass guilt for native-plant paradise, choosing species that lure bees, butterflies, and even the pickiest gardening critics. You’ll get tips, laughs, and a buzzing habitat.
🖌️ Paint Pour Workshop @ Live Laugh Love Art | Saturday (8/9) at 12:30pm – Think your walls could use a splash of personality? Head to our favorite neighborhood studio, fling paint onto two canvases, sip something spirited, and marvel at your own abstract disasters. No experience required, but bragging rights are mandatory.
✨ Day of Magic @ Metropolitan Performing Arts | Saturday (8/9) at 1:00pm – Think of MPA’s Day of Magic as a mini Renaissance faire with local vendors, face painting, stage combat demos, arts and crafts, and homespun pie and mead to soften even the sternest curmudgeon. Cloaks optional, but your ticket helps fund free summer Shakespeare tours.
🎬 Van Damned Film Premiere @ Alberta Abbey | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – Imagine swapping your usual dinner-and-a-movie routine for folk rock tunes and popcorn-worthy jump scares at the Alberta Abbey. Lincoln’s Beard warms up the night with foot-stomping riffs, then Van Damned unleashes its cursed rental van for a horror-comedy joyride.
🦀 Crab Boil | Sunday (8/10) at 2:00pm – This summer feast is basically your friends’ excuse to wear bibs with a glass of Maryhill wine in hand. Fresh Dungeness crab, andouille sausage, red potatoes, and corn get steamed then devoured with minimal grace. Save room for the truffle.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/6 Lip Critic and more @ Polaris Hall – 7 pm
- 8/6 Wednesday Trivia @ Oakshire – 7 pm
- 8/7 Open Mic @ Alberta Abbey – 5 pm
- 8/7 Midwest Emo Night @ Saraveza – 5 pm
- 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 LGBTQIA+ Improv Jam @ Curious Comedy Theater – 3 pm
- 8/11 American Aquarium @ Polaris Hall – 7 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Linsey Beattie (Keller Williams-Premier Prtnrs)
This Felida standout serves up greenbelt, river, and lake views from nearly every angle, with a covered deck and lower patio ready for year-round lounging. The great room’s built-ins and oversized windows keep the outdoors front and center, while the chef’s kitchen pulls out all the stops—pot filler, butler’s pantry, and an island big enough for a pizza party.
Main-level living is dialed in with a spa-inspired primary suite and a guest-ready ensuite. Upstairs, a bonus room with wet bar is primed for movie marathons or game nights. Privacy, style, and a dash of Pacific Northwest magic.
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