Inspired by a Boston-based project, local photographer Lara Blair has decided to bring #TheFrontStepsProject to Camas.

“It is killing me to not be able to capture families during this historical time,” said Blair, who has a studio in downtown Camas. “The difficulties, goodness of humanity … all of it. I saw a really cool article about an East Coast photographer capturing people on their porches at a six-foot distance, and she’s encouraging photographers across the country to do the same. It’s called #TheFrontStepsProject.”

Blair said she needs to do this because she “misses taking pictures and misses seeing people’s faces.” She sees this as a chance to give back, and have this documented as part of our history.

“I live in the sticks and we are completely isolated, and I’ve been following all the distancing rules.”

Her plan is this:

  • Get in her car and drive to a neighborhood to a few houses in the same vicinity – stand more than six feet away from the families (hello zoom lens!) and capture them for a few minutes, wave goodbye 😊 and get in her car to go home.
  • Post and send a picture for them to see.
  • Have the family make a small (or big!) donation to a charity (we are currently talking to a local charity who benefits kids). Details will come soon.

“I would like to come to one neighborhood at a time and capture a few families all at once. DM me on Facebook (@Lara Blair Photography) or email me so I could set up a schedule— It would be great to have a point person for each and each ‘hood. [email protected]

Blair can also be reached via Instagram at @Braveandtruegirl

Lacamas Magazine will document the sessions on video, and will feature the completed #TheFrontPorchProject on the Lacamas Magazine YouTube Channel in the coming weeks.

Restaurants, along with several industries, have been hit very hard by the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Washington Governor Inslee’s orders to limit restaurants to take out, or grab-and-go, has adversely affected these businesses. So, we’ve compiled a list of Camas and Washougal restaurants that are accepting take out and grab-and-go orders.

A Beer at a Time
360.835.5200 Take Out Hours: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm
https://www.skipthetripmenus.com/r/361/restaurants/delivery/Bar-Grill/A-Beer-at-a-Time-Camas

Adam’s St. Bar & Grill 360.833.1920 Take Out Hours: 11 am – 6:30 pm

Caffe Piccolo
360.834.7044
Take Out Hours: 7 am- 5 pm
Menu: http://www.caffe-piccolo.com/menu

Cake Happy
844.778.2253
Take Out, Curbside, Free delivery in Camas for any order over $35
Call for daily offerings!

Caps N’ Taps
360.210.7244
Open 2-8 pm Sun-Thur, 2-10 pm Fri-Sat for to-go beer

Champ Pizza (in East Vancouver) 360.828.7029 Take Out or Delivery Hours: 11 am-9 pm Sun-Thurs; Fri and Sat 11 am-10 pm www.champpizza.com

Feast at 316 360.210.7498 Hours: 11:30 am-9 pm https://camasfeast316.com/

Grains of Wrath
360.210.5717 Take Out Hours: Noon-7 pm
https://www.doordash.com/store/grains-of-wrath-brewing-camas-801067/ 

Hana Korean 360.833.9111 Take Out Hours: 11:30 am-3 pm; 5 pm-8 pm Monday-Friday

Hidden River Roasters
888.661.6612
Menu: https://hiddenriverroasters.myshopify.com/pages/coffeehouse-menu

Kop Chai Thai Restaurant
360.834.5287
Take Out
Menu: http://www.kopchaifood.com/our-menu.html

Los Jalapenos Camas
360.834.5856
https://www.ubereats.com/portland/food-delivery/los-jalapenos-camas/u63aC2SPS5W5ucCCDYtt1Q

Mesa
360.210.5311 Take Out Hours: 11:30 am-8 pm
https://www.doordash.com/store/nuestra-mesa-camas-333356/

Natalia’s Cafe – Home Cooking
360.844.5968
Grab-and-go. 8-3 daily.

Salud Wine Bar
360.787.2583
https://www.skipthetripmenus.com/r/311/restaurants/delivery/Wine-Bar/Salud-Camas

Squeeze and Grind
360.833.2404
https://www.skipthetripmenus.com/r/341/restaurants/delivery/Coffee-Shop/Squeeze-Grind-Camas

The Hammond Kitchen & Craft Bar 360.954.5620 Take Out Hours: 11:45-7:30 pm www.thehammondkitchenandcraftbar.com

Tommy O’s at the Camas Hotel 360.833.0115 Take Out Hours: 11 am-9 pm www.tommyosaloha.com

Washougal Times 360.835.2488 Take Out Hours: 11 am-8 pm Visit website for menus: washougaltimes.com
For delivery: Skipthetripmenus.com

Take Out
Brussel sprouts at The Hammond.

First Friday – March 6th, 2020, come to Downtown Camas and celebrate Go Green. Pick up a special passport and activity list at the Journey Community Church at 304 NE 4th Avenue.

Lucky leprechauns, a “Green Zone” featuring local schools, businesses and non-profits that care for the environment, and the wearing of green will all be a part of this fun event. The event runs from 5-8 pm.

Here’s what’s going on downtown for First Friday:

  • “Find the Lucky Leprechaun”: Each participating merchant will have a “lucky leprechaun” in their business, and for every leprechaun you find, you receive a prize ticket to be entered to win green prizes and more from the merchants. Lucky leprechaun “passports” can be found in participating stores and at the DCA table in Journey.
  • Wander through the “Green Zone” at Journey church and learn how easy it is to make this world a greener place with fun educational kid-friendly activities and giveaways provided by local nonprofits. This year we will have: World Vision, Master Gardners, Eartha the Clown, Ivy League, Waste Connections, CHS Green Team, IQ Credit Union, and Camp Windy Hill.
Green
www.VixonCabinets.com

Art Shows and Receptions

  • Ribbon cutting at 5 pm for the “Camas Love” mural on 5th Ave.
  • Enjoy fun recycled crafts with the Camas High School “Green Team”
  • Eartha the Clown will be there doing face-painting and Earth education
  • Connecting Camas Clothes drive (senior project)
  • Merchants will have lists in their windows showing all the ways our downtown businesses care for the environment.
  • Kids’ crafts at the DCA tables!
  • Customers wearing green get an extra prize ticket!
  • For every $10 spent in downtown you get a ticket to enter to win.

So many fun activities!

To learn more, visit http://www.downtowncamas.com

To help Camas High School students pay the cost of an upcoming Courts for Kids service trip to Los Pilares, Panama, Natalia’s Cafe, located in historic downtown Camas, is hosting a special dinner this Saturday, February 29 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

It’s a special 1950s themed dinner featuring Erica Slothower and Wendy Delbosque in their “Two Broke Girls” attire. The restaurant is also selling T-shirts to help the cause. One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit the program, which focuses on building special sports courts in communities that need them.

“We love to support worthy causes like Courts for Kids,” said Slothower, owner of Natalia’s Cafe. “We will have fun dressing up as “Two Broke Girls,” which we haven’t done since the Small Business Revolution campaign last year. It’ll be a lot of fun and we hope to fill the cafe Saturday night for this special event. Courts for Kids is a great program that helps kids in developing nations, plus it’s great to see our local students serve others. We are happy to help.”

Each year, several Camas High School students participate in the Courts for Kids program.

“We also hope you buy our T-shirts,” said Luke Orlando, a Camas student participating in the program. “They have a great design and were produced by Papermaker Pride. Hope to see you there!”

Natalia’s will be serving the following menu:

  • Mac & Cheese
  • Chicken Pot Pie
  • Natalia’s Meatloaf
  • Hamburgers + Fries

Hope to see you this Saturday!

To learn more, visit www.courtsforkids.org

Many of you love the game CLUE and now is your chance to play the First Friday version! Join in the “Case of the Missing Snickerdoodles”, Friday, January 3rd from 5-8 pm. Dress in CLUE inspired game suspects attire and get extra tickets to win!

First Friday Activities:

  • Find fun clues in participating merchants to solve the “Case of the Missing Snickerdoodles” and earn tickets to win prizes!
  • Get a FREE snickerdoodle from Cake Happy when you solve the mystery!
  • Art Receptions & Shows
  • Fun Kid’s winter crafts and Lego table
  • Get 5 free tickets to win if you dress like one of the characters in the Parker Brothers “CLUE” game!
  • Take a selfie with CLUE characters throughout town and enter to win for each that you find
  • “CLUE” will be showing at the Liberty Theatre at 8 pm
  • Earn extra tickets to win with every $10 spent in downtown!

Start your night at the DCA tables at Journey at 4th and Birch.

**Are you ready to create? We will have the last Little Art Camas 2020 panel pick up at Journey Church that night from 5-8pm.  It will be so much fun and a great way to show your creativity!

Come put your sleuth hat on and see if you can figure it out! Start your night at the DCA tables at Journey at 4th and Birch.

A look at a Camas First Friday from 2018: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2018/11/events-camas-first-friday-features-gratitude-for-delicious-pie.html

Clue

The Hammond Kitchen and Craft Bar changes their menu with the seasons — and when new ideas emerge (which is often) so the amazing crew recently changed up their Brunch, which is served every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am until 3 pm.

This article spotlights three Brunch dishes: King Salmon Omelet, Chicken & Waffle, and the Crab Cake Benedict, along with three drinks: Santagria, The Grinch, and Hot Buttered Rum.

The omelet is made with house smoked king salmon, brie cheese, dilled hollandaise and crispy breakfast potatoes. This dish is served with just the right amount of mouth-watering salmon, whisked eggs, and drizzled with a delicate dilled hollandaise. Served with breakfast potatoes.

The Chicken and Waffle dish is the right balance of savory and sweet. The fried chicken is made to perfection and placed atop homemade waffles that are light and fluffy — served with rosemary butter and maple syrup.

The Crab Cake Benedict is a Lacamas Magazine favorite! Served on two toasted English muffins, the dish comes with two griddle crab cakes, soft poached eggs, a rich hollandaise, and crispy breakfast potatoes.

Brunch
Chicken and Waffle

Other dishes include the Traditional Benedict, Healthy Breakfast Bowl (which is vegetarian), a Classic Breakfast, Breakfast Sandwich, Wood Grilled Sirloin Steak, Short Rib Hash, and the Freshly Baked Croissant, served with banana slices, Greek yogurt with honey and toasted almonds.

Brunch is always a time to relax and enjoy life in a non-rushed environment. The Hammond accomplishes all those things, and so much more. We highly recommend spending your brunch this weekend with their team.

To learn more, visit: www.TheHammondKitchenAndCraftBar.com

Brunch
Hot Buttered Rum, Santagria, and The Grinch.

Washougal, WA — ‘Tis the season for giving and this year that giving extended to two Washougal community partners.  The Camas-Washougal Historical Society recently bestowed a vintage sleigh to City of Washougal to add to its annual holiday celebration. 

“We were excited to accept the gift of this beautiful sleigh,” said Molly Coston, Washougal Mayor. “It makes the perfect ride for Santa and Mrs. Claus on their yearly appearance at our Lighted Christmas Parade!  It is so quaint and nostalgic and in great condition.”

“When our museum Display Committee reviewed the Carriage House for winter maintenance and updates, it was decided that the sleigh took up a lot of space and there was no real local story attached to it,” said Karen Johnson, CWHS display committee volunteer “It really did not get much attention where it sat up in the rafters.”

The antique wooden sleigh is a beautiful forest green with silver decorations and plush red horsehair padded seats.  It was originally donated to the CWHS by the estate of Emory Donald Heberling in 2007.  The gift also included a black doctor’s buggy and a small covered wagon which remain on display at the museum’s Carriage House facility. 

“We are pleased that this beautiful piece is going to a home that can share it with the community during the holidays,” said Johnson.

Sleigh
www.MyHeavensBest.com

What started in 2000 as a small construction company called Victor and Sons has grown into Vixon Cabinets, one of Southwest Washington’s largest and premiere cabinet makers.

Know for high quality cabinets and unique designs in some of the area’s best homes, Vixon continues to make strides in innovation and service.

Family patriarch, Victor Chernichenko, an inventor who is very hands on, organized the company with sons Roman, Alex, and Eugene, and over time they’ve found their unique places in the family business that now oversees 250 installations a year.

Victor runs the shop. He also enjoys gardening.

Roman heads design and engineering. He also makes great wine.

Alex runs quality assurance. He also loves to spend time outdoors in the great Pacific Northwest.

And, Eugene, who is also a bread maker by night, is the General Manager. He’s become the voice of Vixon, but the roles weren’t always so clear.

“I used to wear 15 hats,” said Eugene. “I built cabinets, did finishing and sanding. Alex and Oleg did installations. I took care of that part of running the business, then once we got enough people I managed the shop and did sales. At one point I was painting in the evening and managing by day. The jobs came together based on our personalities. I dealt better with customers and was willing to say what’s necessary to get things done. Roman likes the details and making sure things are perfect. Alex is a workhorse and has good customer service. He knows how to smooth things out.”

Vixon’s business continues to prosper because of the quality of their work, strict adherence to schedules, special designs, and commitment to customer service.

Those are some of the reasons why Vixon’s products keep making appearances in the Parade of Homes and in some of the best homes in the area. They’ve developed great relationships with many local builders.

Vixon
A custom built bathroom.

“We’ve been using Vixon since 2015, and they’ve probably done around a dozen projects with us,” said Cheri Clarkson, of Soaring Eagle Homes. “We appreciate that they are a family owned, local custom cabinet shop. They are extremely creative and willing to tackle any request we have.  As a designer/custom home builder this is a critical element as each client is unique and every project is different.  Whether it’s a special design element, custom stain color, secret door.… you name it, they can figure it out. 

Their ever-growing business includes the expansion of their Vancouver showroom, which is located at 3315 NE 112th #60, Vancouver, WA 98682. Currently they have 15,000 square feet of shop space used to move in supplies, sand, cut, paint, finish, and assemble quality cabinets.

It runs like a fine oiled machine, using a combination of technology (laser-guided saws) and experienced craftsmanship paying attention to the tiniest of details.

You can see more at www.vixoncabinets.com

Experience Matters: A Proud History of Craftsmanship

This is the fifth generation of Chernichenko carpenters with a rich history in the former Soviet Union.

“We came over to the United States in December 28, 1989,” said Eugene. “It was right before the full collapse of the Soviet Union. We saw it from here. We lived in Georgia, now the Republic of Georgia — in Batumi City. Georgia was the state. We lived on the Black Sea and it was a tourist place. When my dad got there with his parents, they moved and he worked in construction.”

Eugene parents felt a strong need to leave for the United States, and were sponsored by a church in Portland.

Nine months after arriving in Portland, the family moved to Vancouver. Eugene was 7 years old.

“My dad learned English while he was preparing to move here,” Eugene said. “When he got here he started translating their newsletters into the Russian language. He did that for New Traditions owner.

He did that for a number of years then went back into mill work, and worked for New Tradition Homes. We built homes for a few years in the late 90s then transitioned into a full cabinet shop.”

It’s a company that’s really focused, said Clarkson.

“Their quality is excellent,” she added. “They stand behind their work and have a great attitude when resolving issues when they arise.”

And, Eugene makes great bread, too!

Lily Atelier, located in Historic Downtown Camas, is having a daylong Holiday Open House this Thursday, December 12, ending with a special Jewelry Trunk Sale with Caryn Michelle.

The Holiday Open House begins at 10 am, when the store opens, and continues all day, while Michelle’s Trunk Show runs from 4-8 pm inside the iconic women’s boutique.

“We will have treats and special pricing,” says Marilyn Reed, owner of Lily Atelier. “We think you’ll really like Caryn Michelle’s Trunk Sale. There will be 10 percent off all of her jewelry on Thursday night.”

The Holiday Open House also offers the following:

  • Three $100 gift certificates raffled off during the day. Customers simply put names in the bucket.
  • Buy any item and get the second like item at 40 percent off.
  • 50 percent off candles with every purchase of $100 or more.

Lily Atelier continues to receive new products on a regular basis. Be sure to visit their Facebook and Instagram sites to learn more.

About Caryn

Los Angeles-based Caryn Karotkin is a multifaceted artist, whose career in beauty and fashion spans more than 25 years. As a wife, mother, designer, entrepreneur, and athlete, she is equal parts feminine and fierce. Inspired by nature and the beauty of her surroundings, Caryn’s style embodies an effortless California chic, which translates brilliantly into her highly sought after jewelry.

Working with diamonds, semi-precious stones, and metals, Caryn puts a vintage spin on modern themes, resulting in an aesthetic that is delicate yet daring. Her statement pieces lend themselves toward collecting, as bracelets, rings, and necklaces, stack, layer and mix together beautifully.

Open House
Caryn Michelle Jewelry.

BurgerIM has a cool way to order great food — through their BurgerIM To Go app, available through Google Play or the Apple App Store.

With the new app, says local BurgerIM owner, Chanly Va, “ordering for for takeout has never been easier.”

She said “users just scroll through the easy-to-navigate menu, select the dishes you want, specify any special instructions, submit your payment information securely and then you will receive an alert what your order will be ready.”

With the app, you can do the following:

  • Browse the restaurant menu and see all customizable options up front.
  • View the restaurant location (BurgerIM Camas is located by Costco), hours and contact information.
  • Select from saved delivery address.
  • Store credit card information securely.
  • Check out faster if you use Apple Pay.

“It’s one of several options we are using to make ordering our gourmet burgers fast,” said Va.

You can also get a 10 percent discount for your first online order through www.BurgerIM.com or when you text BURGERIM to 33733.

All of the aforementioned options are for pickup only.

Customers can also order food for delivery through the following apps: Uber Eats, Door Dash, and Grub Hub.

BurgerIm
Grilled Chicken Salad.