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- Couve Culture Weekender: May 15th - May 18th
Couve Culture Weekender: May 15th - May 18th
Jay Letlow
May 15, 2025
📅 Well hello there, Couve crew! It’s Thursday, May 15th…
…and I’m typing this from a breezy balcony in Cabo—margarita in one hand, sunscreen in the other, family splashing somewhere off-screen. Translation: forgive any typos or rogue emojis; the Wi-Fi is strong but my self-editing muscles are on vacation. I’ll be skipping my usual Saturday lap through the Farmers Market (no Kafiex cold brew for me—gasp), but I think turquoise water, salty air, and unlimited guac earn me a hall pass.
While I’ve been perfecting the art of beach-chair lounging, life at home got interesting: we finally adopted those pet rats my daughter’s been begging for, and—shocker—they’re actually adorable. Expect a full photo dump next week (tiny whiskers, giant heart eyes). Speaking of huge numbers: we just crossed 5,000 subscribers! Thank you for reading, sharing, and making this little newsletter the most fun side hustle ever.
Oh, and about that in-person Couve Culture happy hour—your votes came in hotter than Cabo sand at noon: it’s a resounding heck yes. Now we just need a venue. Tap the poll below and tell me where you want to raise a glass. Until then, dive into this week’s lineup—think marching bands shaking Hazel Dell awake, 80s legends belting in Ridgefield, and a 5K that finishes with beer (the dream). Catch you back in the Couve soon—sun-kissed, slightly sand-coated, and ready for more local shenanigans!
Where should we have the first in-person meetup? |
Here are my top picks for this weekend:
Simple Minds: Alive & Kicking Tour 2025
Hazel Dell Parade of Bands
5k Beer Run at Trap Door Brewing
Columbia Springs Kids Fishing Fest
BARK Ranger Day at Fort Vancouver
Cheap Flights
You knew it was coming—our fan-favorite flight deals section drops every Thursday, and I’ve been elbow-deep in fare alerts to keep the streak alive. This week’s lineup has range: a quick hop to Oakland for Bay-area bites, a wallet-friendly trek to Madrid for tapas and late-night flamenco, and a summer escape to Costa Rica where “pura vida” is a lifestyle, not a slogan. Buckle up, refresh that PTO calendar, and pounce before these prices ghost us!
PDX - Oakland
From $125, normally $295+
Departing JUL - AUG 2025
Southwest Airlines
Economy Seating
Nonstop
*Price will last ~2-3 days
sample pricing
PDX - Madrid 🇪🇸
From $436, normally $850+
Departing SEP 2025, NOV 2025, JAN 2026
British Airways
Economy
Layovers
2h50m in London
3h16m in Los Angeles (return)
*Price will last ~1-2 days
sample pricing
PDX - Costa Rica
From $316, normally $750+
Departing JUN - AUG 2025
United Airlines
Economy
Layovers
1h20m in Houston
4h16m in San Francisco (return)
*Price will last 1-2 days
sample pricing
The Tape Deck
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Our friends at the Vancouver’s Downtown Association (VDA) are on a mission to keep downtown vibrant. From public art and flower baskets to infrastructure upgrades and local events, they’re the behind-the-scenes heroes making downtown Vancouver a place where people want to live, work, and linger longer.
Want to spread the good word about your business, a project your working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to over 5,000 friends?
Food & Drinks
Saturday, May 17 | Wine Dinner with Walla Walla Vintners | Skamania Lodge | $135🍷 Six courses, six wines, one gorgeous Gorge sunset—yes please. If you spot me licking the sauce Bercy off my fork, no you didn’t.
Reserve a seat in culinary heaven
Kids & Family
Friday, May 16 | Pete the Cat’s Groovy Celebration | Camas Public Library | FREE
😺 Crafts, stories, and more catitude than your average TikTok feed—bring the kiddos for a purr-fect afternoon.
See the groovy de-tails
Saturday, May 17 | Hazel Dell Parade of Bands | Hazel Dell | FREE
🥁 Fifty-plus years, 24 bands, and at least one tuba solo that’ll rattle your coffee. See you on the curb.
Parade route intel
Saturday, May 17 | Columbia Springs Kids Fishing Fest | Columbia Springs EEC | $8 (under 5 FREE)
🎣 Tiny anglers + guaranteed fish = instant hero status for whoever registers them. Science fun, BBQ, and bragging rights included.
Hook a time slot
Community Vibes
Saturday, May 17 | Frenchman’s Bar Litter Cleanup | Frenchman’s Bar Park | FREE
🌎 Join me for glamorous morning trash duty—because someone’s gotta keep the Columbia cuddly.
Sign up to save the river
Sunday, May 18 | Walk ALS | Esther Short Park | FREE
🦸♀️ Lace up those hero shoes—every step funds local support and a future cure. Capes optional; impact guaranteed.
Join the walk
Vancouver Events
Step into 1926, where tiled archways, candlelight, and a velvet password lead you past the G-men and straight into Cloverlane’s clandestine Speakeasy. Brett and Dee, the venue’s resident rule-benders, are reviving their infamous Prohibition Evening by doubling the cocktails, jazz, and mischief that sold out two years ago. Expect modern-twist bootleg libations, DJ Patrick spinning electro-swing for the charleston crowd, and tables stacked with pull-tabs worth over $750 in prizes. Costumes are encouraged (think fedoras and fringe). Between secret gambling, underground dancing, and unapologetic glamour, this night promises to make Gatsby jealous and Sunday morning a little blurry—absolutely for sure.
Want to feature an event that is important to your business? Click below to share it with 5,000+ locals looking for something to do.
Friday, May 16 | Simple Minds: Alive & Kicking Tour | Cascades Amphitheater | $49+
🎤 Don’t you forget about… singing your 80s heart out under the Ridgefield stars.
Snag seats before they’re gone
Friday, May 16 | Date Night Pottery Wheel | Kilnfolk Studio | $195 per couple
🪴 Ghost moment optional, messy clay romance guaranteed. Bring your better half or your bestie.
Spin into a spot
Friday, May 16 | Family Paint Party | Feral Public House – Heathen | $45.34
🎨 Channel your inner Bob Ross—minus the squirrel—while I sip something hoppy and try not to dip my brush in my beer. No experience, just enthusiasm required!
Grab your easel spot
Friday, May 16 | Lincoln’s Beard | Brickhouse Bar & Grill | FREE
🤘 Guitarses, Basses, Drumses—yes, even the plural is loud. Special guest Canyon Drive seals the deal.
Event info
Friday, May 16 | Portland Standard Time (Live) | Lobby Bar & Bistro | FREE
🎶 Jazzy duo that’ll have your toes tapping harder than my espresso habit.
Menu & music deets
Saturday, May 17 | Vancouver Gun Show | Clark County Event Center | Parking $6
🔫 From antiques to ammo—window-shop or stock up, no membership card needed.
Lock & load the details
Saturday, May 17 | Metal Kross / Drawn By Knives | Georgie’s Garage & Grill | FREE
🤟 All-ages metal mayhem—earplugs for the kids, extra fries for me.
More metal here
Saturday, May 17 | Bullet Train + Tombstone Shadow | Heavy Metal Pizza Co. | $15
🎵 Hard-rock originals AND ZZ Top love? Pass the pepperoni, crank the amps.
Tickets & toppings
Saturday, May 17 | Vancouver Farmers Market | Downtown Vancouver | FREE
🥕 I’ll be taste-testing my way down the aisles—fresh berries in one hand, dog-watching duties in the other. Come hungry, leave smugly local.
Plan your haul
Saturday, May 17 | Uptown Flea Market | Kindred | FREE
🛍️ Vintage threads, handmade goodies, zero buyer’s remorse—catch me negotiating like I’m on Antiques Roadshow.
Vendor & shopper info
Saturday, May 17 | Lucky 7 Flea Market | West 7th Street | FREE
🎲 Street-side treasure hunt between Dandelion Teahouse and Eras Vintage—seven’s truly lucky if I find that perfect retro jacket.
Peep the market IG
Saturday, May 17 | Dance Floor Mafia | Cascade Bar & Grill | $5
🕺 Top-40 bangers from every decade—expect sweat-dripping sing-alongs and zero judgment on your sprinkler dance.
Cover info
Saturday, May 17 | Adrenaline Rush (Band) | 99 Saloon & Grill | $10
🎸 Rock out, refuel on prime rib, repeat. Burn calories dancing—earn them back with gravy.
RSVP to rock
Sunday, May 18 | Paint Night | Amavi Cellars & Pepper Bridge Winery | $85
🖌️ Swirl, sip, splatter—by the end you’ll have a canvas worthy of your fridge and a mild rosé glow. I call that a masterpiece.
Claim your canvas
Sunday, May 18 | Wool Felted Soap Workshop | Kindred Vancouver | $25
🧼 Craft two sudsy little eco-friendly works of art while I pretend this totally counts as self-care. BYO enthusiasm; we supply the wool.
Save your soapy seat
Sunday, May 18 | VSO Chamber with Philippe Quint | First Presbyterian Church | $25
🎻 Virtuoso violin, Beethoven, Mozart—because sometimes you need a little classical cleanse after all that classic rock.
Get cultured here
Sports & Outdoors
Saturday, May 17 | 5k Beer Run | Trap Door Brewing | $41.83
🏃♂️ Run first, chug later—my kind of carb-loading. Finisher beer all but guaranteed to taste like victory.
Snag your bib & brew
Saturday, May 17 | Seattle Sounders FC at Portland Timbers | Providence Park (PDX) | From $51
⚽ Cascadia rivalry = 90 minutes of adrenaline and mild trash talk. Wear green—or risk being very lonely in the stands.
Score tickets
Sunday, May 18 | Reflection Run (Half, 10K, 5K) | Washougal Waterfront Park | Varies
🇺🇸 Scenic river views, Mt. Hood cameos, and a solid salute to our military heroes. Feels AND endorphins.
Register to run
Sunday, May 18 | Vancouver Volcanoes vs. TBD | Hudson’s Bay HS | $10 GA
🏀 Affordable pro hoops + halftime kid-dance cam = slam dunk family night.
Check the schedule
Concert Calendar
THURSDAY, May 23, 2025 @ 7pm | James Taylor & His All-Star Band | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater | From $93 | 🎸 Tickets Here
SATURDAY, May 24, 2025 @ 2:40pm | Outlaw Music Festival: Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings & Lake Street Dive | Cascades Amphitheater | From $87 | 🤠 Tickets Here
SATURDAY, May 31, 2025 @ 8pm | Ben Schwartz & Friends | Cowlitz Ballroom | From $49 | 🎭 Tickets Here
SATURDAY, May 31, 2025 @ 6:30pm | Hardy | Cascades Amphitheater | From $68 | 🎭 Tickets Here
MONDAY, Jun 23, 2025 @ 7pm | Pierce the Veil | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater | From $49 | 🎤 Tickets Here
THURSDAY, Jun 26, 2025 @ 7pm | Halsey | Cascades Amphitheater | From $69 | 💫 Tickets Here
WEDNESDAY, Aug 13, 2025 @ 7pm | Creed | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater | From $90 | 🤘 Tickets Here
SUNDAY, Aug 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm | Cyndi Lauper | Cascades Amphitheater | From $44 | 🤠 Tickets Here
FRIDAY, Aug 22, 2025 @ 7:30pm | Parker McCollum | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater | From $44 | 🤠 Tickets Here
SATURDAY, Aug 23, 2025 @ 7pm | Pantera | Cascades Amphitheater | From $55 | 🤘 Tickets Here
THURSDAY, Sep 4, 2025 @ 7pm | The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World & New Found Glory | Cascades Amphitheater | From $52 | 🤘 Tickets Here
THURSDAY, Sep 11, 2025 @ 6pm | Kidz Bop Live | Cascades Amphitheater | From $50 | 👧👦 Tickets Here
FRIDAY, Sep 19, 2025 @ 7:30pm | Billy Idol & Joan Jett and The Blackhearts | Cascades Amphitheater | From $44 | 🎸 Tickets Here
FRIDAY, Sep 26, 2025 @ 7:30pm | Thomas Rhett | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater | From $47 | 🤠 Tickets Here
THURSDAY, Aug 21, 2025 @ 7pm | Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, and Spin Doctors | Cowlitz Ballroom | From $50 | 🎸 Tickets Here
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See you next week.
If you’re out crushing events this weekend, tag @couve_culture so I can live vicariously from my lounge chair—bonus points for parade-tuba selfies or post-5K beer-foam mustaches. While you’re at it, help me pick our happy-hour hangout by tapping the poll above; I’ll tally the votes somewhere between tacos and tide pools.
I’ll be back on Couve soil next week with a suitcase full of sand, a camera roll full of surprisingly photogenic rats, and zero regrets about skipping my farmers-market latte run. Until then, stay curious, stay cheeky, and remember: life’s better when you’re a little salty (ocean pun 100 % intended). Cheers from Cabo! 🌴🍹
Cheers!
Jay Letlow
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