A quick note before we get started
Welcome to the very first issue of The Vancouver Local.
This started with a simple frustration. Almost every weekend I'd search "things to do in Vancouver, WA this weekend" and get the same recycled lists, the same handful of restaurants, a couple of events that cost $75 a ticket, and nothing that felt like the Vancouver I actually live in.
But there's a lot going on here. Free concerts, trail runs, pop-ups, a neighbor who knows the best taco spot nobody talks about. It's just scattered across a hundred Facebook groups and flyers on coffee shop walls.
So this is my attempt to put it all in one place, once a week. Most of what you'll read here will come from people in this community, and the best issues will be the ones you help write. If you know about something worth sharing, send it my way.
Thanks for being here from the start.
– Jace
LOCAL EVENTS
Vancouver Pumpkin Patch
Fri Oct 9 to Sun Oct 11, 11 AM to 6 PM. $10 Friday, $12 Saturday and Sunday; kids 2 and under free. Velvet Acres Gardens, 18905 NE 83rd St.
Admission includes a covered hayride (last one leaves at 5:30), the corn maze, petting zoo, hay pyramid, and a pumpkin from the patch to take home. New this year: an apple cannon you can fire yourself. Bring your own containers if you want to hit the u-pick rows for tomatoes, peppers, and beans at $1.50 a pound.
Salmon Creek Parkrun
Sat Oct 10, 9 AM. Free. Klineline Pond, 1112 NE 117th St.
A free, timed 5K every Saturday morning. Run, jog, or walk; all paces welcome. Register once on parkrun's site to get your time.
Open Saturday at Pearson Field Education Center
Sat Oct 10, 10 AM to 3 PM. Free. Pearson Field Education Center, 201A E. Reserve St., Vancouver.
Try a flight simulator and see historic aircraft up close at one of the oldest operating airfields in the country. Hands-on and great for kids.
Collage Lab at Art at the Cave
Sat Oct 10, 12 PM to 5 PM. Free. Art at the Cave, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd.
Drop in anytime and make collage art. Materials are there; just show up.
Haunted History Walking Tours
Sat Oct 10, 7 PM to 8 PM. $23. Starts at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St.
An hour of ghost stories and local history on a walk through downtown Vancouver. Tickets are available in advance.
Young Artist Competition finals
Sun Oct 11, 3 PM to 6 PM. Free; RSVP recommended. First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98663
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA hosts the finals of its national Young Artist Competition, with finalists ages 9 to 17 from around the country performing concertos by Grieg, Mozart, Brahms, Prokofiev, and Dvořák. Free to attend and a great way to spend Sunday afternoon.
SMALL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
Chico's Classic Barbershop
13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd C7, Vancouver, WA 98684
"When I first opened the shop, I wanted it to be a place where men could get premium haircut and beard services with excellent customer service. I wanted people to feel as if they were walking into a traditional barbershop. Every aspect of The Shop lends to that vision: the antique chairs, the floors, the colors of the walls, the live-edge countertops and the music. Every barber in the shop knows my vision and is more than happy to be a part of it. I'm proud to say that I'm not the best barber in the shop, and I take pride knowing that every barber brings their own character and set of skills that help bring my vision to life. I couldn't do it without them. I also couldn’t do it without the community.
The community means everything to The Shop. Our patrons are what keep The Shop buzzing with banter and camaraderie. I love getting to know those who keep Chico's Barbershop their number one place to go for their haircut services. We've seen kids grow up to be working members of society, we've seen clients who were once single get married and have families, and we've seen people with goals and visions of their own come to fruition. To be there to encourage them and be a part of that is such a great privilege and gift that I didn't even know was going to be a part of establishing this barbershop."
-Chico, owner of Chico's Classic Barbershop
This week's question: What's one thing you wish Vancouver had more of?
Just hit reply and tell us. We may share a few answers (first name only) in next week's issue.
Thanks for reading this week. If you know of an event, a favorite local spot, or a story worth sharing, we'd love to hear from you. Share yours here.
See you next week,
The Vancouver Local