Copacabana Time at WSU Vancouver.

Pack a picnic, bring your blanket and settle in for an evening of entertainment at a free outdoor concert Friday, August 27 at 6 pm in WSU Vancouver’s amphitheater. Everyone is welcome, and admission and parking are free.

Local favorite Pepe & the Bottle Blondes will spice up the evening. The Copacabana-style band combines an eclectic ensemble of saxophones, trumpets, congas and percussion with bold singing by Pepe and silky harmonies by his back-up blondes. Pepe & the Bottle Blondes successfully blend dance, opera and musical theater with original songwriting and comedic wit to deliver a fresh and innovative experience.

The visually arresting performances of Pepe & the Bottle Blondes are enhanced with extravagant costumes and makeup that echo the indulgence and glamour of a 1950s nightclub. Their repertoire includes popular songs from the 30s to the 60s, a strong selection of tangos, boleros, rumbas, sambas and many other Latin-American rhythms.

Pepe & the Bottle Blondes have performed in San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. Pepe has sung in Madrid, Paris and Las Vegas, including appearances with Pink Martini at the Cannes Film Festival and with the Oregon Symphony.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Concessions will be available. Dress for the weather. No tents or alcohol, please.

Be Green. Save Some Green.

Are you sick of your old clothes? Do you sometimes wish you could just change your wardrobe with someone else? Are you concerned with the environmental effects of consuming clothing and other household goods? Do you need an excuse to do some summer cleaning and purge? Do you love free stuff? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we’ve got just the event for you! Vancouver Green Drinks is putting on a community clothing swap in August, in place of their monthly networking event. They are partnering with the ReStore and Empower Up to bring you this exciting opportunity to clean out your closets and get some fun lightly used clothing-all for free!

The Vancouver Green Drinks Community Clothing Swap will take place 6 pm, August 31, 2010 at the Clark County Habitat for Humanity ReStore (5000 E Fourth Plain). The idea behind the community clothing swap is to get free clothing and other usable items; and get rid of good, usable stuff you no longer want or need. No money will change hands at this event! Unless, of course, you would like to make a donation to ReStore or Empower Up, those will be gladly accepted!

Dig through your closet, drawers and storage, wash clothes you no longer love/wear/need and bring them to this clothing swap (Flip flops, sunhats, jewelry, bags, shoes, and other accessories are also welcome)! The ReStore will accept your donations for one week prior to this event, and will accept clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, household goods, electronics and media (music, movies, games, etc…).  Please do not bring TV’s, microwaves, broken, ripped, stained, or unusable items.

Mingle with friends and have a few drinks (available to purchase from Applewood Restaurant and Bar) on August 31 while items are being sorted into general categories, then the shopping starts! Take what looks good to you, try it on and take it home! At the end of the night, all unclaimed items will be donated to local non-profits. Again, there is no fee to attend this event, and all items will be free, and everyone is invited!

Want more information? View the Community Clothing Swap flyer, or you can send an email to vancouvergreendrinks@gmail.com.

This post: “Vancouver Green Drinks Wants You to Change Your Clothes”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Lunchtime Leisure Every Wednesday at Esther Short Park.

I’ll have my lunch “to go” with a side of music, please. Every Wednesday (until August 11) you can enjoy free live concerts at Esther Short Park at the Terry Lee, Attorney Noon Concert series. The music starts at noon and lasts about an hour, with a different musical talent featured each week.

July 14:      Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer
July 21:     Justin Klump
July 28:     Misty Mamas
August 4:   Key of Dreams
August 11:  Rising Violet

Bring your own lunch or grab a bite to eat from one of Vancouver’s local vendors that will be on site: Chewy’s Really Big Burritos, For the Grill of It, Jo Food Catering, Ice Cream Renaissance, Pizza Della Terra, and Divine Bites.

This post: “Noon Concerts in the Park”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

City of Vancouver Helps You Stay Cool.

Now that summer weather is finally here and we have all thawed out, we need to start thinking about how to stay cool, and still have fun, when it may be too hot to spend all day in the sun.

Well, the City of Vancouver and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation have issued a press release with the following suggestions:

“With temperatures rising well into the 90s over the next few days, the City of Vancouver encourages residents to seek relief from the heat. Vancouver is a cool place, with a variety of activities and places offering shelter the swelter. Don’t have air conditioning? Here are some options where you can splash, craft, read, or simply chill.

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation’s Firstenburg and Marshall community centers have comfortable, Wi-Fi enabled lobby areas where residents are welcome to relax, meet their neighbors and cool off. They also provide perfect places to play, exercise, swim or take a class.

This Sunday, July 11, is Sunday Funday at Marshall, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., when games, crafts and other activities are free. Bring the suits and towels and swim free between 1:30 and 3 p.m. It’s a great way to cool off with your family!

Next door to Marshall Center, the Luepke Senior Center offers opportunities for seniors to beat the heat. Firstenburg’s Trapedero II is also a welcoming place for seniors to gather and stay cool and comfortable. Firstenburg also features a free game room for all ages.

Find open swim times and all other Parks and Recreation activity schedules at www.vanclarkparks-rec.org.

Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center offers cool and free hands-on exhibits, toddler-size learning at Puddles Place, nature-inspired art and a panoramic view of the Columbia River. Admission to the Water Center is free!

July 10 is Second Saturday, with free family-friendly, hands-on games and stories from 1 to 3 p.m. This Saturday’s theme is “How does your Garden Grow?” Learn about garden plants, participate in a garden scavenger hunt, and take home things you’ve made from plants. All ages are welcome, and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Water Center will also host an artist’s reception from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 10, to introduce the new art-inspired displays, “Bird’s Eye View – the Art Quilts of High Fiber Diet” and “New Work from Old Hands’ ceramics by Richard Roth. The public is welcome to attend. For more Water Center information, please see www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.

The City of Vancouver reminds residents that during heat advisories it’s important to stay hydrated with non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated liquids. Where possible, stay indoors and in an air-conditioned facility. Children and pets should NEVER be left in a closed, parked vehicle for any time. Pet owners are encouraged to provide cool shelter for animals and plenty of water. Please note that except for service animals, pets are not allowed in the city facilities mentioned above.

Other free, air-conditioned options around Vancouver include visiting the Westfield Shopping Center at Vancouver Mall Drive or a branch of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library. Visit www.fvrl.org for library locations and hours.

Remember, enjoying the air-conditioning and watching the activities around you is free at these Vancouver centers:

Firstenburg Community Center

700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver, Washington

(360) 487-7001

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 6 p.m.

Marshall Community Center and Luepke Senior Center

1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver, Washington

(360) 487-7100

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Friday: 5:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Water Resources Education Center

4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver, Washington

(360) 487-7111

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.”

via Heat got you down? Vancouver offers lots of ways to keep cool and comfortable – News Release – City of Vancouver, Washington, USA.

This post: “Keep Your Cool, Vancouver”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Party at Pearson Air Museum.

Everyone is invited to the 2nd Annual All Church Picnic on Saturday, July 31 2010 from 11 am to 3 pm on the grounds at Pearson Air Museum. You can park your car at Hudson’s Bay High School and catch a free shuttle to the picnic.

Detour Ministries is putting on this good old fashioned church picnic and hopes to get together as many Clark County Christian Churches as possible for a day of interdenominational fun and community.

What can you expect at an “All Church Picnic”?  Well, according to the All Church Picnic website, you can expect the “best picnic Clark County has ever seen.”  There will be live worship music, pony rides, bounce houses, slip-n-slide, potato sack races, sumo wrestling ring and more.  If you are up for it, there is even a chance for a plane ride! 104.1 the Fish will be there, as will H.B London of “Focus on the Family.”

Admission is free, so bring your blanket, picnic lunch, friends and  family and get ready for some fun.  For more information, visit the All Church Picnic online.

This post: “2nd Annual All Church Picnic”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Free Outdoor Movies Offered.

It’s Friday night. Wanna catch a movie? Meet up with friends? Don’t want to spend a ton of money on either? Lucky for you (and me) there are several locations around Clark County that are offering free Friday night movies on the lawn.

The Vancouver Farmer’s Market, downtown Vancouver at Esther Short Park offers free movies Friday nights beginning at dusk. Brink your own blankets or chairs and enjoy some snacks; fresh squeezed lemonade, Kilauea Hawaiian Shaved Ice, or Double Dip Ice Cream Cart. Show up a bit early and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Friday Night at Vancouver Farmer’s Market. July 30th movie is The Blind Side.

Want to enjoy some wine with your movie? The Rusty Grape Vineyard in Battle Ground opens up their vineyard for movies on the lawn. The movies start at dusk, but the wine tasting room opens at noon; and tastings are complementary. Feel free to buy a bottle to enjoy during the movie, bring a picnic or pizza, kick back and relax! July 30th movie is Airplane.

LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park also shows free Friday night movies, presented by Dr. Bonnie Lund, DDS and the Port of Portland. This 30 acre neighborhood park is located between the Hearthwood and Fircrest neighborhoods. Bring the kids early and let them play on the play structure, shoot some hoops,  or run around the track, then settle down and watch a family movie. July 30th movie is The Blind Side.

This post: “Friday Night Movies Under the Stars”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Free Family Film Festival in Hazel Dell.

That’s right, free movies for the kids on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 am at the Regal Cinemas on Highway 99. Regal Cinemas has been offering the Free Family Film Festival since 1991; free tickets for kids and parents to select rated G and PG movies beginning Tuesday July 7 through August 26. The Regal Cinemas in Cascade Park is also participating.

So, how does it work? Tickets are available the day of the show only, at the box office, on a first come first served basis. For more information, including updated movie information, check out Regal Cinemas Free Family Fun Festival.

*Post courtesy of Hazel Dell Live!

Kids Bowl for Free at Hazel Dell Lanes.

When it comes to youth sports in Clark County, there are a lot of choices out there: Baseball, Soccer, Football, Swimming, Karate, Basketball, and the list goes on. Have you ever considered signing your kids up for Bowling?

With bowling, you don’t have to worry about the weather (too hot, too cold, rainy, bugs, etc…), there are no up front equipment purchases, and, unlike other sports, physical size, shape, or age doesn’t matter.

This summer, Husted’s Hazel Dell Lanes is participating in the Kids Bowl Free program, and is a great opportunity to let your kids try out the sport of bowling for free! I know, what’s the catch? (That’s what I thought). So I visited Hazel Dell Lanes, and they said, sure enough, it’s a kids bowl free summer!

Here’s how it works: Go to www.KidsBowlFree.com/HazelDellLanes. Register each child that will be bowling, and the passes are emailed to you each week. Up to two games, every day, all summer long! There is also an option to purchase a family pass for $24.95 which allows four adults two free games of bowling every day.

Visit Hazel Dell Lanes on the web for more information about this and other specials they currently offer.

Get a free pastry on the morning of March 23 with the purchase of a handcrafted beverage.

Come to participating Starbucks on Free Pastry Day, March 23. Choose a delicious pastry to pair with your beverage and that tasty item is free.

Better yet, it’s free in another sense – free of all this stuff we removed from our recipes:

No artificial flavors
No artificial dyes
No artificial trans fats
No high-fructose corn syrup

To get your free pastry, go here: http://starbucks.com/FreePastryDay and print out the coupon and present it to your barista. Or simply show them the coupon on any mobile device. But Free Pastry Day ends at 10:30 a.m. – so don’t miss out!

Free Sports Physicals Offered.

Physicals are required for middle and high school students who plan on participating in intramural sports, band, or cheer. Free sports physicals for Vancouver students will be held in four locations in August. Download the parent permission form and call 313-1044 for an appointment.

August 11 – Hudson’s Bay
August 13 – Skyview
August 17– Fort Vancouver
August 22 – Free Clinic of SW Washington

Now, go get physical!

(This post re-printed courtesy of ClarkCountyLive.com)