Washington Ranks Among Top States for Business
Washington moved up to third place this year in the annual Forbes.com list of Best States for Business. Last year, Washington ranked 5th place. Forbes.com ranks all 50 states on 30 metrics in six main categories and Washington was one of only three states to finish in the top 10 in four of the six main categories (economic climate, growth prospects, labor supply and regulatory environment).
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A New Way to Travel from Vancouver to Vancouver . . . In a Day
Amtrak will soon expand their daily Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. giving passengers in Vancouver, Washington a daily non-stop route to and from Vancouver, B.C. without any layovers. Northbound trains are expected to depart Vancouver, WA at 3:05 PM and arrive at 10:45 PM. Southbound trains are expected to depart Vancouver B.C. at 6:40 AM and arrive in Vancouver, WA at 2:19 PM.
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A-Maizingly Good!
There’s a sweet new addition to downtown Vancouver called Daisy Maiz. You may have experienced their super popular Kettle Korn if you’ve visited Vancouver Farmers Market on the weekends, but now you don’t have to wait to grab this delicious treat. Owners Allen & Georgann Anderson have opened a new retail store at 607 Washington Street and expanded their offerings to include caramel corn and a variety of delicious homemade fudge.
Daisy Maiz has been making their famous Kettle Korn for over five years and have built a reputation that reaches much farther than Vancouver. They currently wholesale their product to 40 or so grocery stores in the Portland metro area including Whole Foods and New Seasons. You’ll also find it in several airports across the country including Portland, Spokane, Sacramento, Phoenix, St. Louis, and San Francisco.
When you walk through the double screen doors at Daisy Maiz, you step back in time to an old-fashioned candy store. The walls are painted a crisp white, the front case contains ever changing flavors of freshly made fudge, and the sweet smells evoke childhood memories. A spot in the stores front window will soon house a copper kettle so passers-by can watch the famous Kettle Korn being made. They will also be adding other treats such as caramel apples, ice cream, salt water taffy, and dipped confectionaries and fruits.
Georgann says she and her husband Allen are really excited about the opening of their new store and their goal is to make people feel happier going out than when they came in.
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Water Sport Adventures Come to Vancouver
While the Columbia River Gorge is known for its tremendous windsurfing and kite boarding conditions, there is another sport which lures water sport enthusiasts to the Columbia River. It’s called Wakeboarding. This sport has been around since the 1980’s, and is a cross between waterskiing and surfing where a “wakeboarder” is pulled behind a boat much like water skier except that you are on a “wakeboard.”
If you’ve never tried this sport, now you can.
A new company, Western Wakes, is offering wakeboard adventures on the Columbia River and you don’t have to be experienced at any sort of water activity to try it out. This company will pick you up in Vancouver and show you everything the area has to offer in boating fun. They charge by the hour with discounts for a full day, half day, or multi-day trips. Their charters are all inclusive, said Jeff Harcq, co-owner, “just bring yourself and your swimsuit, we take care of everything else!” To learn more, visit WesternWakes.com.
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Here are some upcoming events that are certain to wine and entertain you!
NW Wine & Food Festival:
The first annual Northwest Wine & Food Festival will take place on August 21st from 7:00 to 9:00pm on the lawn at The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve. For $25, visitors can enjoy music, wonderful food and wines produced here in the Northwest including Clark County’s own Bethany Vineyard & Winery and Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery among several others. Call 360-906-1101 for more information and to RSVP.
Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival:
The 11th annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival on August 22-24, features internationally acclaimed jazz, blues and pop musicians all in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Lay out your blankets and lawn chairs on the manicured grass at Esther Short Park and enjoy wine from over 250 wine selections while soaking in the live sounds. Peruse fine art from over 50 Northwest artists hailing from Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. There will be 10 local restaurants offering delicious cuisine. The Festival is one of the biggest events in Vancouver and southwest Washington and considered “one of the most important jazz festivals on the west coast” according to NW Jazz Profile Magazine. For more information, visit www.vancouverwinejazz.com.
Local Winery Events:
Bethany Vineyard & Winery will have their last concert of their summer concert season on August 24th from 5-7 pm featuring Lulu Lafever. Advance ticket purchase is required. Visit www.bethanyvineyards.com.
Through September, enjoy outdoor movies every Friday evening at Rusty Grape Vineyard. Boxed meals provided by Bruchi’s are available with advance purchase. Shows start at dusk. On Saturday, August 23rd, join Rusty Grape Vineyard for their Dinner Under the Stars. On August 30th, Rusty Grape Vineyard will host its first annual Wine & Shine Car Show from 12-8 pm. For more event information, visit www.rustygrape.com.
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Hilton Vancouver Turns a Brighter Shade of Green
Hilton Vancouver Washington, a LEED® certified hotel located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, has recently achieved the coveted Green Seal certification. The newest certification, which comes three years after the hotel became the first major U.S. hotel, and the first Hilton Hotel, to earn LEED certification, underscores the hotel’s commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable practices. To attain the new certification, the hotel implemented a comprehensive environmental management program for property operations based on Green Seal criteria which includes energy efficiency and conservation, waste minimization, reuse and recycling, an environmentally and socially sensitive purchasing policy among other eco-friendly practices.
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Homewood Suites: Top Quality with a New Look
Homewood Suites by Hilton, the 104 room all-suite hotel on the banks of the Columbia River, has recently achieved yet another score of “Outstanding” in its latest Hilton Quality Assurance Inspection, the highest possible rating attainable. The inspection looks at guest scores, cleanliness & maintenance, training, and adherence to Hilton brand standards.
Homewood Suites has also just completed its $1.8 million renovation to the interior and exterior of the property. The guest rooms received new granite countertops, carpet, paint and wallpaper, furniture and flat-screen HD-TVs, while the lobby and meeting rooms received new carpeting. The fitness room received all new Precor fitness equipment. On the exterior, the hotel received new paint, landscaping, and a beautiful new rock front complete with a waterfall.
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New Hotels Coming Soon
The new 91-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites near the Westfield Shoppingtown mall just east of Vancouver has re-scheduled their open date to February 2009.
A new four-story, 78-room Best Western is currently under construction in Washougal near the Parker House Restaurant off Hwy 14.
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Good News for Business and Regular Travelers
The TSA has implemented a policy change beginning this week that will allow laptops in “checkpoint friendly” laptop cases through the x-ray machines without being removed. This new policy is intended to speed up security lines for the 2 million people who take U.S. flights each day and reduce incidents in which laptops are damaged, lost or forgotten in airports. To be considered “checkpoint friendly,” cases must provide a clear and uncluttered view of the laptop through an X-ray machine; have a compartment holding only the laptop, (there can be no accessories, such as papers, pens or cellphones inside); be able to lie flat on an X-ray belt; contain no metal snaps, zippers or buckles in the laptop compartment; and have no pockets inside or outside of the laptop compartment.
Source: Transportation Security Administration
New Flights Added to PDX
JetBlue Airways has announced that it will add two daily nonstop flights between Portland International Airport and Long Beach Airport in California later this year. The first flight will begin on October 9, the second on November 2. Fares begin at $79 each way.
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