BEST OF VANCOUVER 2008
The votes are in. A new dawn is on the horizon. No, we’re not talking about the recent general elections. Vancouver Family Magazine is proud to announce the winners of our first annual Best of Vancouver awards, as voted by YOU, our readers! Take a peek at who nabbed top honors.
Best Date Night and Best Ladies’ Night Out
Cinetopia
11700 SE 7th St
Vancouver, WA 98683
360-213-2800
www.cinetopia.com
Widely known as the place to watch a movie, this state-of-the-art theater is all about luxury, with roomy leather seating, restaurant-worthy fare, and top of the line sound system.
Best Family Dinner Experience, Guys’ Night Out and Family Night
Big Al’s
16615 SE 18th St
Vancouver, WA 98683
360- 944-6118
www.ilovebigals.com
Bowling alley, arcade, sports bar, restaurant . . . what isnt’ there to do at Big Al’s? It’s not often a place can call themselves a great family establishment and a cool dudes’ hangout.
Best Baby Boutique, Kids’ Retail Clothing, and Consignment Clothing
Boomba Toomba
1705 Broadway
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-607-4552
www.boombatoomba.com
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm
Saturday 11am-3pm
How could such a small and easily missable store hit a triple play? One word: eco-consciousness. Okay two more words: community involvement. The one-year-old shop consigns items handmade by local moms, hosts cloth diapering groups, and more.
Best Toy Store
Kazoodles
575 W 8th St
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-699-9200
www.kazoodlestoys.com
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9:30 am-6 pm
Sunday 11am-3pm
The toys are kid-powered, the shop is kid-friendly, and the prices are kid-pleasing (meaning parents can actually afford to buy them).
Best Public Park
Esther Short Park
Between Columbia and Esther Streets, and 6th and 8th Streets
This urban park, said to be the oldest in the Pacific Northwest, blew the other parks in the area out of the water. Speaking of water, you can’t stroll through the ESP in the summertime without squeals of delight coming from the fantastic water feature.
Best Parents’ Group Venue
Café Sip ‘N’ Play
3000 SE 164th Ave Suite #107
Vancouver, WA 98683
360-896-4446
www.cafesipnplay.com
Frankly, it’s a wonder that Café Sip ‘N’ Play was not invented and franchised long ago. The brilliant concept blends hip, comfortable décor with a light deli-style menu, coffee and other drinks, and best of all, a large kids’ play area. The only downside: It’s darn near impossible to rip the kids away from the place.
Best Kids’ Fun Spot
Kids Club Fun and Fitness
13914 NW 3rd ct
Vancouver, WA 98685
360-546-KIDS
www.kidsclubfunandfitness.com
Not only are they the winners of the Best Kids’ Fun Spot in Vancouver, but parents are known to drive from Portland up to Salmon Creek, just to experience the fun-ness. Need we say more?
Best Formal Cuisine
Roots
19215 SE 34th Street, Suite 110 Camas, WA 98607
360-260-3001
www.rootsrestaurantandbar.com
Local produce is one highlight, a locally bred chef and owner is another. It doesn’t get any more local than this.
Best Pizza Place
The Blind Onion
2900 E Mill Plain Blvd Ste B
Vancouver, WA 98661
360-750-7490
The pizzeria’s name is a mystery (to us at least), but that doesn’t stop pizza lovers from flocking here. One reviewer wrote on Citysearch that they refuse to get pizza anywhere other than TBO. Wow!
Best Spa Salon
Elements Day Spa
16096 SE 15th St, Suite B
Vancouver, WA 98683
360- 604.8345
www.elementsdayspasalon.com
Spa relax manicure, Reflexology foot treatment, Flow pedicure . . . we’re beginning to feel pampered already.
