What's Good, Vancouver (3/4)

Happy Tuesday, Vancouver. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let The Vancouver Brief serve up this week’s What’s Good Edition featuring five things that’ll help you live better, stay ahead, stress less, and enjoy more ☕️

In today’s edition:

• Get shamrocked ☘️

• A lot o’ free stuff 📑

• Healthier eats 🥕

• Friendly reminder 📋️

• Spring tune-ups 🏠️

Let’s get to it!

☘️ St. Paddy’s Day shenanigans

March 17th is the annual Hough Paddy Parade down main street, starting at noon.

The Yard Milkshake Bar is offering an Irish You Good Luck shake with caramel, chocolate, unicorn sprinkles, rainbow whipped cream, and a brownie on top all month.

Cascade Bar and Grill is hosting Adrenaline Rush on March 15th, the Cloverlane St. Patrick’s Day Party in Brush Prairie with music and food is also on the 15th, Donnell’s is also throwing a party on the 15th (and another on the 17th), and Vancouver Elks 823 will have a corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and cornbread dinner on March 14th accompanied by live tunes (RSVP by March 11th).

Brickhouse will have Irish dancing and various bands playing throughout the weekend. You can also stop by Shanahan’s and Grady’s, two of the best Irish pubs around town.

If you’re up for a drive to Portland, the St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Paddy’s is March 17th with plenty of food and drink specials, Irish dancers, bagpipe players, and music. Punch Bowl Social is hosting a St. Paddy’s Palooza as well along with a full lineup of things to do around Portland.

To wrap up all the shenanigans, the Couve Clover Run is March 23rd.

Looking ahead, this week is First Friday, the Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off March 26th, and Lilac Days starts April 19th.

📚 Your library card has secret super powers

Your library card might be the most underutilized tool in your wallet. Don’t have one? You should get one! It’s free for residents →

Beyond free books (which is a huge win already if we’re being honest), our libraries have evolved into community resources with benefits that make premium subscriptions jealous.

From documentaries, newspapers, and free online courses to audio books, eBooks, magazines, tv shows, movies, and music, your card gives you immediate access to a whole lot of stuff.

On top of that, you can check out board games, seeds to start a garden, book discussion kits, field guides, binoculars, a Discover Pass, and free passes to various museums.

Each branch also offers free programs for understanding the tech in your pocket, story times for families, teen hangouts, art displays, exhibits, book clubs, game nights, craft circles, scavenger hunts, free tax preparation, and more.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to check out your neighborhood library, this is it →

🥗 A quick tip to healthier eating around town

Finding quick & nutritious food can feel like hunting for a unicorn. The secret weapon? Establishing a rotation of healthy local spots for those "I can't even" days.

It’s not always easy to find places with transparent ingredients and balanced meals featuring actual vegetables. But when you find one, make a mental note, start a list in your notes app, or write it down on paper.

This way, you always have a go-to when you don’t want to think about lunch or dinner.

I started my own list a few weeks ago and let me tell you… it’s a whole lot easier to make smart choices amidst the chaos.

Top of my list? Mighty Bowl — there’s a downtown location, food cart at Brothers Cascadia Brewing, and a food truck at various locations throughout the week. Not only is it convenient, it’s also so tasty you’ll have to remind yourself it’s healthy.

📝 You have 42 days to file your taxes

This is your friendly reminder that April 15th will be here before you know it.

Whether you DIY it with TurboTax, keep it old school with pen, paper, and snail mail, or leave it to the pros (we like Linda’s & Opsahl Dawson), it’s just as important to get all your tax ducks in a row as soon as possible.

If you need extra assistance, AARP Foundation and VITA volunteers will be at various library branches (including Vancouver, Vancouver Mall, Washougal, Three Creeks, Cascade Park, Battle Ground, and Ridgefield) on different days at different times until April 15th to help you for free.

No matter your age or income, they’ll answer all your questions and hep you cross “tax panic” off your to do list →

🏠 Spring tune-ups for homeowners

As winter winds down, it's time to give your home some post-hibernation attention. Start by inspecting your roof for rebellious shingles, sagging, and plant growth and checking screens before mosquito season launches its all-out invasion. You should also make sure your gutters are in working order. Hit up All Seasons if you prefer relaxing instead of getting up on a ladder.

Your foundation and siding are other areas that require special scrutiny. Look for obvious signs of wear, cracks, and deterioration that can lead to expensive problems later.

While you're outside, check your irrigation and drainage systems, look for areas that have pooling water, and trim plants that are getting too cozy with your foundation (Lawn Care by Dan is great if you don’t want to deal with it yourself). You may also want to consider giving your deck and siding a proper power wash to rinse away winter's grime – just be gentle with those pressure settings.

If your home has AC, now is a good time to make sure it’s ready for the warmer months ahead. If you need a tune-up, repair, or replacement, we like Service First and Absolute.

The City of Vancouver offers a housing rehabilitation program for qualified residents.

🧩 Extra fun & games

This week’s word search features the most fun, unique, or Vancouver-esque words from this edition.

See ya Friday (with a fresh batch of 20+ things going on next week)!

P.S. Know of any good things around Vancouver we should share or want to ask a question? Feel free to reply (or email us) any time.