Talking with some Portlanders you would think that the Columbia River is a hundred miles wide.  They act as if Vancouver and Clark County are on a separate planet from Portland.  When I moved across the river in 2001 I think that I might have agreed with them.  It did seem like a different world.  For one thing there was a definitely a more blue collar feel to Vancouver than Portland and Vancouver can be very suburban in its outlook and development.  However, Clark County has always been more than a just a bedroom community for Portland and since 2001 Vancouver has really come into its own.  Today it stands on its own two feet as a great sister city to its larger neighbor Portland.

Esther Short Park

At the heart and soul of this great city is Esther Short Park.  The park has always been the hub of downtown and Royce Pollard our mayor has worked diligently to change its reputation as a hang out for transients and methamphetamine dealers.  The park is now surrounded on three sides by living quarters, two condominium complexes and some really cool apartments.  On the fourth side is the new Hilton hotel.  The addition of the Hilton with its conference space and great restaurant made an instantaneous difference in the feel of the park.  I remember eating dinner in a restaurant which faced the park on a Wednesday night two weeks after the hotel opened and commenting to Jaylene about the number of people on the street.  The residences haven't hurt either.  Now on an August night (when there isn't a concert) the park is full of families and children at play.  The dealers and transients have moved on to other places. 

The Farmers Market

On Saturday mornings the park is packed with people for the local farmers market.  One of the most successful farmers markets in the metro area, it is rivaled only by the Portland Saturday Market and the farmers market in the Portland park blocks.  Beyond the veggies and flowers the Farmers Market has also become a popular campaign stop for local politicians.  It is a great place to get face time with local politicians and find out about their views before you see their names on a ballot.  If you go to the farmers market.  First look for the booth that is selling the eight dollar crab omelet.  Just make sure that you are hungry or bring someone to share it with because it is gargantuan.  Secondly make sure that you stop by and see Michael and Missy at the Millenium Farms booth.  He has some really great produce and in the spring he is the only place to get your vegetable starts.  See the pictures here

Uptown

One of the common complaints leveled against Vancouver is that it doesn't have the cool neighborhoods of Portland.  In some senses this is a fair complaint.  The farther east you go in Vancouver the more suburban it can feel, but if you think that tract  homes and soulless suburbia are all that Vancouver has to offer you are sadly mistaken.  One of my favorite areas in Vancouver is the uptown neighborhood.  Uptown runs along Main St. from approximately McLoughlin Blvd to Fourth Plain.  Here there are great little shops and places to eat.  One of my families favorite hang outs has been Ice Cream Renaissance where you can get great home made ice cream and keep the price under ten dollars for four of us.  Just down from Renaissance are three of my very favorite businesses in all of Vancouver.  First there is the best bakery around at Main St. Bakery.  Their apple rhubarb gallettes are to die for and their ciabatta and other breads area being featured at restaurants all over town. Just across the street is "Mon Ami."  This little café serves Stumptown coffee and crepes.  Many are traditionally European and others have a distinctive northwest style.  Last week they offered a buckwheat crepe with smoked salmon in it.  (I highly recommend the southwest chicken crepe.)  I am finding that Mon Ami makes a great place to work and meet people from the community.  I am looking forward to making Mon Ami one of my local hang outs.  Finally there is Moe's.  Moe's is the only place to get a hair cut.  Don't let the semi-industrial punk exterior fool you.  Carrie and her staff know hair.  They do a great job for my whole family.  Jaylene has especially appreciated finding someone who does a good job without over charging you.  The best news is that a haircut will only run you 17 bucks, 10 dollars if you want a buzz cut.

More....

I could go on.  I haven't even mentioned the community centers with their swimming pools, community gardens and great classes.  Of course there are the schools which are so much better than those in Portland.  How about the traffic?  The average commute time of those living in Vancouver is two minutes shorter than in Portland.  Or what about our great places to eat?  Have you ever been to Beaches?  And as of this fall the Vancouver area has two four year institutions, Clark College and Washington State University.  Both of these have great extension courses for those of us with a passion for learning but other careers.  In the five years I have lived here I have fallen in love with this town.  It is really a great place to be. 

Curious?  Know someone who might want to live here but isn't sure that they will be able to find all the coolness of their next door neighbor PDX?  Have them give me a call.  I would be happy to take them on a driving tour of our great city.