Happy Monday, Vancouver!

We’re kicking off the week with a double dose of chill: today is Presidents Day and a snow forecast?! Just a reminder, a couple places are closed today due to the federal holiday:

• Government & Schools: City of Vancouver and Clark County offices are closed, along with Clark College and all local K-12 schools.

• Mail & Money: The USPS is skipping deliveries, and most banks are locked up tight.

• Community Hubs: Firstenburg and Marshall Community Centers are closed today.

But before you settle in to watch the flurries unfold this week, we have the results of our recent reader poll! It turns out Vancouver is feeling the love a lot more than we expected. A solid 60.5% of you are "Happily coupled up". For the rest of the pack, 26.7% are "Single and loving it", while a hopeful 12.6% are "Single and looking for love". So, if you're part of the roughly 40% riding solo this Monday, don’t worry…at least you don't have to share your emergency snow snacks with anyone!

Anyways, here's what to expect in today's edition of The PNW Report (Vancouver):

📰 Local News
☁️ Weather
🎉 Events & Things To Do
🤔 Lateral Thinking Puzzle

Let's get started!

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⚠️ 152nd Avenue: Backroad Turns Big League

PSA! If you’ve been using NE 152nd Avenue as your secret shortcut to bypass the Padden Parkway madness, we have some "groundbreaking" news…construction officially kicked off last week, and the orange cones are multiplying faster than Dutch Bros stands in Clark County (seriously, how do they keep popping up?!). This 10 million dollar glow-up between NE 99th Street and Padden Parkway is trading the bumpy two-lane charm for fancy new bike lanes, continuous sidewalks, and a traffic signal at the 99th Street intersection that will finally let you turn left…safely.

WEATHER

Monday, 2/16: 41/32 🌧️ Rain
Tuesday, 2/17: 42/31 🌨️ Rain/Snow Showers
Wednesday, 2/18: 41/30 🌨️ Snow to Rain
Thursday, 2/19: 41/31 🌨️ Rain/Snow

EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO [2/16 - 2/19]

Looking for something fun to do this week? You’re in the right place! 🎉 

Stay tuned for Thursday morning’s newsletter, where we’ll give the lowdown on all the cool upcoming weekend events!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

💕 Valentine’s Community Play Date @ Learning Train Academy | 9AM - 12PM (FREE)
The Learning Train Academy is opening their doors for a family-friendly look at their early childcare development center. There will be Valentine’s crafts and activities for your kiddos while you scope out whether this "academy" can finally teach them that "inside voices" are a real concept.

🏃‍♂️ Run Club @ Foot Traffic | 5:45PM (FREE)
Looking for an excuse to be active but mostly just want to socialize? This run club is 50% chatting, 50% running, and 100% a good time. They meet at the Trader Joe’s on Chkalov, you know, just in case you wanna grab some cheese for the drive home.

🤣 Chicks & Giggles @ Donnell’s | 6PM - 8PM (FREE)
Mondays don’t have to be so miserable…laugh your way into the week at Donnell’s! Grab a drink, find a good seat, and get ready for an evening of raw, unfiltered comedy from some of the funniest locals around.

🤣 Open Mic Comedy @ Underbar | 8PM - 10PM (FREE)
Underbar’s Open Mic, hosted by Juan Duran, is the place to be to beat the Monday blues. Their drink selection doesn’t hurt either tbh…sip sip hooray!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17th

💸 Business Tax Basics @ Vancouver Library | 10AM (FREE)
Death and taxes are the only certainties in life, but at least the library is trying to make one of them slightly less painful?! Stop by this free informational session (led by Nicholas Baer from the Department of Revenue) to learn how to keep the WA Department of Revenue from becoming your uninvited business partner.

✍️ Shut Up and Write! @ The ARTS Centered | 5:15PM (FREE)
Calling all writers (yes, even you with the half-finished novel hiding in Google Docs)! This is focused weekly writing time to just show up, get words on the page, and meet some fellow word nerds. Write, write, write!

📚 Board of Trustees Meeting @ Cascade Park Library | 6PM (FREE)
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library Board of Trustees is gathering to discuss the literal and metaphorical plot of our local libraries. If you have a bone to pick about the Dewey Decimal System or just want to see local government in its most "bound" and determined form, this is your chance.

🚲 Urbanism Happy Hour @ Tap Union | 6:30PM (FREE)
Grab your helmet and your happy hour appetite…it’s time for Cycle Vancouver’s Urbanism Happy Hour at Tap Union! Meet fellow two-wheeled enthusiasts, swap stories from the bike lane, and toast to better mobility, stronger community, and fewer potholes.

🎱 Autumn Pinny Cup Tournament @ Silver Ball Social Club | 7PM ($12)
Ready to have a ball? Head over to Silver Ball Social Club for a flippin’ cool pinball tournament. Players will be matched together on teams, regardless of skill levels, so get ready to roll over your opponents!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18th

🏠 Marshall House Tour @ Officer’s Row | 10AM (FREE)
Step into the past (literally) with a tour of the Marshall House on Officer’s Row! Wander through period furnishings, military memorabilia, and General Marshall’s impeccably preserved study. Tours are available Wednesday through Friday from 10AM - 2PM. Walk-ins welcome!

🌳 Forest Walk @ Columbia Springs | 3:30PM (FREE)
Wander among the trees, and breathe in the mossy vibes during this free forest walk sponsored by Columbia Springs. A knowledgeable guide will talk you through the plants and wildlife seen on the walk…such a tree-t!

🪡 Open Craft @ Hook & Needle Fiber | 4PM - 7PM (FREE)
For when you’re feeling crafty, but also a little too lazy to follow official directions. Bring your supplies, hang out, and make something beautiful at this open craft session...or a tangled mess. We don’t judge!

🎺 Music Night @ Willful Wine | 5PM – 7PM (FREE)
Sip wine and sway awkwardly at this delightful evening of music and merlot. Willful Wine knows how to pair a Pinot with a trumpet solo. Wine not?!

🃏 Tabletop and Taps @ Vault31 Bar | 6PM (FREE)
Board games are always a good idea. Join your fellow nerds at this board game meet-up and get ready to pwn some n00bs at Catan. Bring your A-game, or just bring yourself and let the dice and drinks (or both?!) decide your fate.

💞 Galentine’s Social @ The Local Pub | 6PM (FREE)
Ready to paint the town red (or pink?!) The Vancouver Women’s Collective’s February Galentine’s social is the perfect place to scout for a new running mate, a wine-tasting accomplice, or a "crochet sister" who actually knows how to purl. RSVPs required.

🎥 “One Deadly Weekend in America” @ Old Liberty Theater | 6PM (FREE)
Ready for a reel reality check? UNITE Ridgefield and the Meaningful Movies Project will be screening One Deadly Weekend in America, a documentary that dives into our country’s gun violence issue. Stick around after the credits for a chat with a teacher who has survived three lockdowns and a student who lost siblings at Sandy Hook.

🤣 Leave Your Troubles at the Door @ Orchards Tap | 6PM (FREE)
At this free comedy show, comedians don’t vent about their own baggage…they roast yours!! Anonymously jot down your woes before the show, toss ’em in the box, and watch some of the Pacific Northwest’s sharpest comics turn your pain into punchlines.

🤣 Comedy Night @ Shanahan’s | 8PM (FREE)
Grab the mic (literally) every Wednesday! In-person sign-ups kick off at 7:30, and the stage lights blaze at 8:00. Hosted by the one and only Sean Grace, this is your chance to shine, stumble, or just watch others do both.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19th

🏠 Marshall House Tour @ Officer’s Row | 10AM (FREE)
Step into the past (literally) with a tour of the Marshall House on Officer’s Row! Wander through period furnishings, military memorabilia, and General Marshall’s impeccably preserved study. Tours are available Wednesday through Friday from 10AM - 2PM. Walk-ins welcome!

🪶 The Craft of Writing @ Vancouver Library | 10:30AM (FREE)
This writer’s group dives into the craft of writing with a mix of exercises, book discussions, and friendly workshopping. Explore published gems across memoir, fiction, and non-fiction, then test-drive your own stories in a supportive, collaborative setting.

📈 Industry Fair @ Battle Ground High School | 5PM (FREE)
If you currently are, as they say, “funemployed,” the Battle Ground Public Schools Industry Fair is here to ruin your fun. Employers from basically every sector will be at this free industry fair, and they even provide free child care, so you really have no excuse to not be here.

📖 Local Author Panel @ Literary Leftovers | 6PM (FREE)
Support the people who spend their days staring at blank screens so you have something to read in the bathtub. This free panel features local writers (Dennis Fisher, Dr. Jevona Maniex, Douglas Webb, E. Barbee, and John Seib) discussing their craft…and likely their caffeine addictions.

🏃‍♀️ Vancouver Run, Grub, and Chug @ The Vancouver Waterfront | 6:45PM (FREE)
Run for your health, and drink for...well, fun. Kind of like a race but with fewer rules and more rewards. This run club meets weekly, so if this is your vibe, guess what? You can do it next week, too!

🍺 History on Tap @ Old Liberty Theater | 7PM ($5)
If your knowledge of local shipyard history is a bit "rusty," the Clark County Historical Museum is ready to launch you into the past. For a crisp $5 bill, you can catch maritime guru Peter Marsh spilling the tea on Henry Kaiser’s WWII shipyards. Hey, whatever floats your boat!

WEEKLY EVENTS

Note: please call or visit each establishment’s website before visiting for a particular event in case details have changed.

BINGO

[MONDAY] Music Bingo Monday @ Ghost Runners Brewery | 7PM (FREE)
[TUESDAY] Bingo @ Grapes n Hops | 6PM (FREE)
[WEDNESDAY] Not Boring Music Bingo @ Fortside Brewing | 6PM (FREE)
[WEDNESDAY] Bar Card Bingo @ Vancouver Elks Lodge | 6PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] 5 Star Bingo @ Doomsday Brewing Pub | 6PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] Adult Bingo @ Underbar | 7PM (FREE)

TRIVIA

[MONDAY] Monday Night Trivia @ Shorewood Restaurant and Bar | 6PM (FREE)[MONDAY] Trivia Night @ Pour Choices Pub | 6:30PM (FREE)
[MONDAY] 5 Star Trivia @ Gossip in the Grain | 6:30PM (FREE)
[MONDAY] Trivia Night @ Thirsty Sasquatch | 8PM (FREE)
[MONDAY] Trivia Monday @ Full Heart Irish Pub | 9PM (FREE) 
[TUESDAY] Trivia Night @ Oak Tree Station | 6PM (FREE)
[TUESDAY] Last Call Trivia @ Tip Top Tavern | 7PM (FREE)
[TUESDAY] 5 Star Trivia @ Playmakers Hazel Dell | 7PM (FREE) 
[TUESDAY] Trivia Tuesday @ Underbar | 7PM (FREE)
[TUESDAY] 5 Star Trivia @ JB’s Taphouse and Grill | 7PM (FREE)
[TUESDAY] Trivia Night @ Ole’s Outpost | 7PM (FREE)
[WEDNESDAY] Not Rocket Science Trivia @ Coral Club | 7:30PM (FREE)
[WEDNESDAY] 5 Star Trivia @ Grapes n Hops | 6PM (FREE)
[WEDNESDAY] Last Call Trivia @ Victor23 | 7PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] 5 Star Trivia @ Doomsday Brewing Pub and Pizza | 6PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] 5 Star Trivia Night @ Ghost Runner Brewery | 7PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] 5 Star Trivia Night @ Grady’s Public House | 7PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] Not Rocket Science Trivia @ Brickhouse | 7PM (FREE)
[THURSDAY] Trivia Thursday @ Breakside Vancouver | 6PM (FREE)

Lateral Thinking Puzzle of the Day

🧠 Time to put your thinking cap on!

Welcome to our Lateral Thinking Puzzle section, where things aren’t always as they seem. Ready to challenge your brain with some tricky scenarios and unexpected twists? Let’s see if you can crack the puzzle!

We’ll give you the answer in Thursday’s edition of The PNW Report (Vancouver)!

Today’s Puzzle: The more there is, the less you can see of it.

Last Thursday’s Question + Answer: What runs but never walks? [Answer: A river!]