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Costco
Category:
Pharmacies & Drug Stores
6505 NE 88 St
Vancouver, Washington 98665
(360) 828-2261
If there's anything you can't buy at Costco, I'm almost sure I don't want it. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. Give me those industrial sized containers of detergent,...
If there's anything you can't buy at Costco, I'm almost sure I don't want it. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. Give me those industrial sized containers of detergent, those pallets of giant muffins, those cartons of granola bars yearning to breathe free. I live for shopping at Costco. It appeals to my sensible shopper and to my self-indulgence at the very same time. A match made in heaven.
Having lived for entirely too long in the South, I can tell you that Sam's Club and BJ's just don't begin to compare. Costco has Jones Soda, entire wheels of Brie, and even giant scallops, for cripes sake. What more could you want? Wait, a hot dog and soda with refills for $1.50? You've got it! Costco is worth every bit of my membership and then some.
It's very convenient having the Vancouver Costco in place now; I'm not as fond of the Portland store, which is busier and not as nice. (Although, inexplicably, the Portland Costco carries giant jars of sun dried tomatoes packed in oil and, as far as I can tell, the Vancouver Costco does not.) The Vancouver Costco is also an easy in/easy out, right off 205. I get all blissed out every time I find a parking space close by. (That's the parking lot on the left side as you face the store entrance, near where they put the shopping carts. I'll probably be sorry I told everyone that.) Ahh, Costco. You do me good, even if my terrible grainy mugshot does put me in my place.
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I do love a good meal. Better yet is a great meal. You'll find a great meal every single time at Roots Restaurant in Camas (off of Mill Plain in Vancouver, so not so far away as you might think). ...
I do love a good meal. Better yet is a great meal. You'll find a great meal every single time at Roots Restaurant in Camas (off of Mill Plain in Vancouver, so not so far away as you might think). Using local ingredients, they have created a distinctive Pacific Northwest flavor with great style.
This is not an inexpensive restaurant for a seated meal; with first course, salad, dinner, drinks, and dessert, you can spend $50 to $100 easily for two. But rest assured that it is absolutely worth it. If you want to try them out at a lower price, check out their fabulous happy hour menu for a mini-meal (or, if you order several items, a bigger meal) for a very reasonable price (between $5 to $7 per item). Your call. You'll be delighted no matter what you choose. I can hardly pick a favorite dish, but at the top of my list are the mussels on the happy hour menu and the delightful steaks on the full menu. So many good things to choose from, you'll be amazed.
The restaurant has a simple elegance that makes it a comfortable, rather than imposing, place to dine. Simple elegance is the watchword. You'll enjoy the time you spend there. The staff are fantastic; the open kitchen allows you to watch food being prepared, and the chefs are top notch.
To have such an excellent restaurant in Vancouver is a real plus. I love watching the menu change with the seasons, and am constantly impressed with the creativity and skill of the chefs. Well worth a visit, whether for a quick drink or a special occasion.
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I really prefer to write good reviews, so it was doubly disappointing to have such a bad experience at Action Motor Sports. Their staff refused to even acknowledge me, but provided effusive service...
I really prefer to write good reviews, so it was doubly disappointing to have such a bad experience at Action Motor Sports. Their staff refused to even acknowledge me, but provided effusive service to my husband. They didn't realize that I was the one planning to make a purchase for my brother in Nebraska--and I walked out of the store without having spent the $300 allocated for the purchase simply because the service was so bad.
I know that men may be their best client base, since they have motorcycle, watercraft and other vehicles and gear. But they must realize that women often buy these items too, whether for themselves or on behalf of husbands, children, and loved ones. (I used to ride myself.) I actually made an effort to walk past staff, to try to catch their eye, to display interest in particular items, and even to ask informed questions. Every single time, I was shut down; staff members literally walked away from me to help the men who were shopping in the store.
On the other hand, my husband was approached numerous times while I was in the store, and the more people who tried to help him, the madder I got. I don't expect much from a retail store, but I do expect to be treated with respect. So while Action Motor Sports may have a good selection in their store, I can't begin to recommend them as a place to shop. Take your business to other excellent area stores, like MotoCorsa or Harley Davidson.
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As a woman, I sometimes feel a bit out of sorts in auto supply stores. People tend to talk down to me, as if I have no idea what I'm doing. Not that I can disassemble a car engine into individual...
As a woman, I sometimes feel a bit out of sorts in auto supply stores. People tend to talk down to me, as if I have no idea what I'm doing. Not that I can disassemble a car engine into individual molecules or anything, but I do know the basics. Schuck's has always treated me with respect and provided me with exactly what I needed right away. That means more to me than they know.
Schuck's has a great selection of everything you'll need to run basic, and even more complicated, repairs and maintenance on your car. No matter what the project, their staff always seems to know exactly how it's done and what you'll need. I've been very impressed with their knowledge. If they don't have what you need in stock (which has only happened to me once, when there was a run on lock de-icers before some serious winter weather), they'll know when it will come in and/or where else you can get it. Very impressive.
I wouldn't shop anywhere else for auto parts, because you can't pay enough for that kind of service. Nice to keep your dollars local too.
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The Women's Clinic was highly recommended to me by a close friend, but I still took the time to do the research before joining as a new patient. I found a group of truly excellent doctors who were...
The Women's Clinic was highly recommended to me by a close friend, but I still took the time to do the research before joining as a new patient. I found a group of truly excellent doctors who were caring, committed, and professional, with excellent credentials and outstanding experience. The staff was equally professional, leading to a smoothly functioning office environment that makes all your experiences with them positive ones.
I started with them when I first considered getting pregnant--at 36. They worked with me to find the right solutions; I'm expecting my first child in February. The pre-natal care has been top-notch; I have been very pleased with the whole experience. Other friends of mine have had equally positive experiences with them; people don't just say good things; they proudly promote their doctors and favorite staff.
I was a little concerned that I might not get the best pre-natal care in Vancouver, as opposed to Portland. But now I wonder if people in Portland are getting this level of service. I'm very, very, very happy with the Women's Clinic and everyone there. It was an excellent choice for our family.
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The Portland Art Museum has an absolutely amazing standing collection, a wide range of travelling exhibits, educational lectures and presentations, and even a rental gallery to bring art home for...
The Portland Art Museum has an absolutely amazing standing collection, a wide range of travelling exhibits, educational lectures and presentations, and even a rental gallery to bring art home for your own walls. It is, quite simply, a world class museum, but it retains that impressive Portland flair.
Until its recent renovation of the Masonic Building next door, the Portland Art Museum had to limit the displays of its collections and exhibits. But now, there is a whole new range of possibilities. It is exciting to see an area now devoted to modern art, as well as space for many more collections. With the new sculpture garden as well, the expanded museum offers a vast array of all media and artistic eras; you won't be disappointed, no matter what types of art you prefer.
My hat is off to the museum staff and volunteers, who are endlessly patient, unfailingly helpful, and incredibly well informed. The new expansion should give them even more museum for education and enjoyment of the their patrons.
Worth every penny of the admission price, and if you appreciate art at all, well worth a membership. The Portland Art Museum is one of the things Portland's cultural scene can be most proud of.
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I absolutely love a theater company that doesn't feel the need to play it safe. Portland Center Stage offers something for everyone, every season, from holiday and classic productions to edgy,...
I absolutely love a theater company that doesn't feel the need to play it safe. Portland Center Stage offers something for everyone, every season, from holiday and classic productions to edgy, of-the-moment plays. I have been impressed with every event I have attended, and I look forward to every new season.
While PCS does have a gift for finding incredible one-man (or one woman) shows, I'm equally impressed with their ensemble pieces. There's more than enough acting talent in Portland to go around, and it's always worth the trip.
If you're not sure which plays are for you, feel free to ask the helpful staff at the box office. They can give you the lowdown on each show. If you want to try it for a lower price, consider a ticket package or buy an Entertainment Book at your local bookstore or retail outlet, which has a coupon for buy one/get one for a PCS performance. Either way, don't miss it. Once you attend a show, you're hooked.
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I absolutely love the Rebuilding Center!! They receive recycled/vintage cabinets, appliances, lighting, fixtures, doors, windows, and much, much more, then provide them to you for your renovating...
I absolutely love the Rebuilding Center!! They receive recycled/vintage cabinets, appliances, lighting, fixtures, doors, windows, and much, much more, then provide them to you for your renovating needs at a fraction of the retail value. I have purchased full sinks for $10, an astonishingly beautiful granite topped kitchen island for $400, and even pieces of marble for under $1 each. These and so many more glorious finds await you in the--here's the best part--NONPROFIT Rebuilding Center.
Staff are helpful, but stretched thin, so come prepared to wander the aisles in search of what you need. The inventory changes often, so be willing to take the time to look for yourself. It is a warehouse setting, so do be careful and dress appropriately. The warehouse is divided into sections to make it easier to find what you need: doors and windows, cabinets and appliances, wood moldings, lighting, plumbing--all separated out. And an especially intriguing area is where there is furniture and home accessories created from Rebuilding Center finds. But my favorites are always the things that have no category--like entire rows of movie theater seating. You never know what you'll find.
It's worth the time and effort to support a great nonprofit, but you'll find it pays you back too. And hopefully you'll think of them after your next remodelling project, so you can pay it forward.
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When my husband and I bought a house that was nearly a hundred years old, we discovered the joys of vintage hardware. While many things (doors, windows, toilets, etc.) could easily be updated to...
When my husband and I bought a house that was nearly a hundred years old, we discovered the joys of vintage hardware. While many things (doors, windows, toilets, etc.) could easily be updated to more modern styles, some things (bannisters, stained glass, drawer pulls, claw foot tubs) just beg to retain their old classic style. For any and all of those things, welcome to Hippo Hardware.
Hippo Hardware has all the vintage parts you could possibly need, from plumbing to lighting, from switchplates to doorknobs. The quality and price are amazing--but you have to be willing to search. Hippo Hardware is more about serendipity than about purchase; you will wander through the incredibly crowded store, climb the somewhat treacherous stairs, and eventually find exactly the thing you need, probably in a dusty box behind something else you picked up to look at. Don't ask me to explain it; it's one of those magical places.
I am constantly amazed at the variety of their stock. They haven't disappointed me yet with anything I needed. And their prices are very reasonable considering how well-informed the vintage market is in Portland. As their neighborhood continues to gentrify (it is now the home of the trendy Doug Fir lounge and the uber-hip Jupiter Hotel), maybe their prices will go up a bit. But I kind of doubt it. Hippo Hardware is one of a kind.
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Let me preface this by saying that I am not a big outdoorsy person, nor am I an avid shopper of military surplus. But I found myself absolutely entranced by Andy & Bax on my first visit. It had...
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a big outdoorsy person, nor am I an avid shopper of military surplus. But I found myself absolutely entranced by Andy & Bax on my first visit. It had things I never even thought about needing, from gas masks to European military uniforms, all at rock bottom prices. How could I resist? I couldn't, and I still can't. I go back there to find unusual gifts, odd bits and pieces, and just plain practical stuff.
They have great outdoor gear, and if I were more of a camping kind of girl, I'm sure I'd spend a lot more money in that section of the store. As it is, I tend to wander in those aisles (usually asking "What the heck is this for?" of their patient staff), then focus my energy on the military surplus stuff. And every visit, there is something that absolutely calls my name, from a wool sweater so thick it could practically stand by itself for $10 to a fabulous field-ready camera case for $4 that became a much-commented-upon purse.
I love a store that has something different to offer, and Andy and Bax is definitely unique. Expect to find the military surplus type shopping environment, but prepare to find some treasures that you never knew you needed.
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