Beaches Restaurant and Bar

Celebrating Dr. Seuss at the Beach!

2012-03-01T15:08:00.002-08:00

Starting March 1st, we are celebrating Dr. Seuss & Green Eggs and Ham! This month is kicking off with a Facebook Photo Contest--we are looking for fabulous & fun Dr. Seuss inspired photos. . .we'll give it a week for ya to post your best, then take a vote & the most popular photo will win a prize!
The winner will receive a BFF Party for 14 at Beaches PDX!! You and 13 of your friends will be transported from Beaches Vancouver to Beaches Portland Airport on our "Party of Fun" bus on Saturday, March 10th at 5:30pm. Treated to a variety of Appetizers and a fun time with our PDX Team, followed by a return trip to Beaches Vancouver. Must be over 21 to participate. All ya gotta do is take a great picture of something "Dr. Seussy!" You can do it! It's gonna be fun!

And while you're working on winning a fun party at Beaches, we'll be preparing to deliver Green Eggs & Ham to first graders all over Clark County! We'll be busy, busy, busy as we cook up food at both Beaches Vancouver's kitchen and Firstenburg Center. We love to serve Green Eggs & Ham and look forward to visiting each of the local schools--and thanks to all our community volunteers who help us make it fun and a little bit funny too! Stay tuned for pictures from our different visits. Thanks in advance for everyone's support of such an incredible community event!

Cool Stuff for Kids!

2012-02-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

On February 29th (better known as Leap Day!), we are having our 1st "Cashback for Kids" Day. This is going to be an incredible opportunity to help give back to the community AND have a great time at the Beach! We're excited to use this "Extra" day of the year to do a little extra for the community--specifically for kids! For all those who come in that day to either restaurant--Beaches Vancouver & Beaches Portland Airport--mention this program & we will donate 50% of what you spend on Food & Beverage back to the local Backpack Program run by SHARE. This organization provides meals to kids on the weekends whose families just don’t have the means for basic necessities. We encourage you to make a reservation (360-699-1592 Vancouver or 503-335-8385 PDX) since we anticipate a busy day at the Beach. And, thanks to all of you out there who give your time, money, or both to a lot of great organizations who need our help.

Right after "Cashback for Kids," we'll be jumping right into our Annual "Green Eggs & Ham" Week!

In 1996, we started with one ‘at risk’ school that needed help to get parents involved. So, we provide a little breakfast for everybody; throw in some cool hats & books; and have the Cat in the Hat energize the kids. And the real fun…. The parents come to the schools & read with their kids… Cool!

Over the years, this program just got bigger & bigger. What started with one school is now a community-wide program that hits 48 schools, all first graders. We will feed more than 7000 kids & parents in 5 mornings with a ton of volunteers & of course our Beach Team (they rock). It’s actually quite the production working out of Beaches Kitchen & Firstenberg Center. We will have at least 8 teams on the road at all times for 3 hours each morning. It takes a lot of folks to make sure those ‘green’ eggs arrive fresh!

February's Kool Kahunas

2012-01-31T16:20:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Beaches:

Juan has been with us for over 10 years. He is an integral part of our prep & catering team and can fill in almost anywhere. His sense of humor and awesome personality make him a team favorite. We can always count on Juan to run a tight ship and to entertain at the same time. Thank you Juan!

Alicia has been with us for over 5 years. Not only is she amazing with our guests, especially the younger and the older ones, but she is a fantastic trainer and mentor. Alicia’s infectious laugh can brighten anyone’s day and her wit will keep you on your toes. Congratulations to both our Kool Kahunas and thanks for all you do!

Portland Airport Beaches:

Francine has worked at Beaches Portland Airport since we opened and is an asset to the Shack Team. If you spend some time in the Shack, you will find Port of Portland employees that walk by & whether they are picking up lunch or just passing by they always say “Hello Francine!” as they go by. She is often found on the other side of the counter talking to our guests. She also has the quickest fingers around--she can put an order in faster than the guests can say it! Thanks for all you do Francine.

Gumer has also been with us for a long time & is a jack-of-all-trades. You can find him doing dishes, prepping food & helping on the line. He moves from one station to the next, doing whatever is needed. He’s a multi-tasker & always has a smile on his face. You rock it Gumer--Thank you!

From Mychal at Beaches Vancouver:

2012-01-27T16:11:00.000-08:00

There is something great about sampling new, local products. I find that even if I don't necessarily like all that is offered, I enjoy learning about local trends. This is our inspiration behind the beer and wine flight program we are starting this weekend. Our Flights will officially kick off on Saturday January 28th.
Our Northwest wine flight highlights some great examples of our local varietals. Jovino pinot gris is the white and is a crisp yet soft Oregon pinot gris produced in Dundee, Oregon. The lighter of the two reds is A to Z pinot noir. This has been a great seller here at Beaches and represents all that Oregon pinot should be, smooth acids with aromas of cherries and spice. The inky dark red wine is a delicious syrah by Glen Fiona winery in Walla Walla, Washington. A complex, smoky aroma guides you to flavors of blueberries and plums making this one of my favorite wines we carry.

Beaches New Beer Flight!

The beer flight pictured features some of the best IPA's from the Northwest: Ninkasi Brewing's Total Domination IPA, Everybody's Brewing's Country Boy IPA, and Breakaway IPA from American Brewing out of Edmonds, Washington. These brews are all hoppy, but very unique from one to the next. Come down and visit us over the weekend.
Oh, I almost failed to mention our Happy Hour Effen Friday Special martini will be a guava drop. YES PLEASE. Hope I see your lovely mug down here at Beaches!

Mychal

Here It Is!

2012-01-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

The Latest & Greatest at Beaches Vancouver!

We have welcomed the New Year with a New Look in the Shack area. . .time to move forward and change things up a little. Please join us and enjoy your lunch, dinner, Happy Hour or a glass of wine & dessert in front of the fireplace, snuggling up in a corner or chatting with friends! It's a great place to have fun!

Work In Progress at Beaches Vancouver!

2012-01-24T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from last night's remodeling adventure at Beaches Vancouver! Lots happenin'--you definitely need to come check us out! To celebrate our "New Look" we are running Happy Hour for the next 3 nights (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday!) from 3 to close!!

Along with the new look, we kick off our new Dessert Menu--gotta try the new Molten Smokin' Smores! Lots to look at & lots of good stuff to eat--don't miss out at the Beach & please let us know what you think!!

Poppin' Up Some Popcorn @ the Beach!

2012-01-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

We're celebrating National Popcorn Day this week! Starting on this Thursday the 19th, we will have a jar of popcorn in the lobby of both restaurants for a week.
Guess how many popped kernels are in the jar! Closest person wins a Dinner for 2 at either Restaurant. And, Chef Aaron at Beaches Portland Airport will roll out a NEW Caramel Corn flavor that day. . .Caramel Apple Cinnamon--it's delish!

Didja know--In the United States, popcorn has been popular for a VERY long time! In the early 1900's, popcorn wagons, drawn by horses were often found at festivals and fairs. And in the 20's, the wagons were replaced by 'popcorn-mobiles.'
During the Depression, popcorn, with the reasonable price of 5 cents, popcorn was one of the few 'luxury' food items that most families could afford. And during WWII, when candy production was reduced due to a shortage of sugar, popcorn consumption skyrocketed! 300%!

Then as Americans started buying televisions, popcorn consumption soared a whopping 500% as families popped the treat to eat while watching their favorite shows.
Today, approximately 1 billion pounds of popcorn are sold each year in the United States. And we're happy to be part of that statistic as we offer our delicious caramel corn and cheesy corn at both Beaches locations. It's a great snack for on the plane, on the go & to take home!! Popcorn--yum!

Tebowing at the Beach!

2012-01-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

If you've been living under rock (maybe hangin' with Mondo?!), you may not have heard about the newest rage/craze out there called "Tebowing!" Well, Tebowing does have a definition--What is Tebowing?
(vb) to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.

So we thought might do something fun (of course!) for our Facebook fans in honor of this year's Superbowl Game. We like to throw a party on Game Day--Feb 5, so we are going to giveaway a BFF Party for you & 9 (all they have to do is "Like" Beaches on Facebook) of your best football-watching buddies! All ya have to do. . .is take a picture & post your best "Beachin' Tebow Pose."

Everyone has one week, until January 14th, to post creative Beachin' Tebow Poses. Then we will vote on them and pick the best one. That person will win a BFF Party for 10!!

Just for fun, we asked some of our Team Members for their best "Tebowing!" Whaddya think? Some got it, and some, well. . .

Robbie--taking a pause

Sally--Huh??

Keith--Don't hurt anyone!

Now he's feeling it!

Rachael--seriously

Bri--deep in thought

Amber--doing her own thing!

Mychal--Now what was that drink order?

Kool Kahunas at the Beach!

2012-01-05T22:03:00.000-08:00

Team Members who get the Kool Kahuna Award at Beaches are those who truly represent our vision of Amazing Guest Service & Impressive Team Play. We choose two people per month at each restaurant, and I can honestly say, it's hard to just pick two. We've got a great Team!

From Beaches Vancouver:
Arturo Santiago: Arturo has been with Beaches Vancouver for 11 years. His entertaining personality is a hit with the Team and our Guests. His cooking skills are top notch and always delicious. Next time you are in, ask him to whip you up his famous Sunday morning taquito omelet.

Cody Heffelfinger: Cody has been with us for only 8 short months, but in that time his personality and work ethic have made him a valuable member of our Team from caterings to car shows to creating Christmas boats….You can always count on Cody to make you smile, laugh and just brighten your day!

From Beaches Portland Airport:
Brian Stults: Brian has been a part of the Beaches Family for many years. He started off in Vancouver as a busser, bar back, server and bartender. He is an asset to the PDX team. Brian is great with the guests, always going the extra mile--literally, he has been know to go to the store, make fresh squeezed lemonade. We appreciate all you do Brian.

Rene Hernandez: Rene has been with Beaches PDX since it opened. Rene is a non stop worker--from the minute he clocks in to the minute he clocks out he is slicing, dicing, shredding, mixing, checking in orders, getting things from the store room, etc. He just keeps going & going & going... Ask him about anything & he has all the answers. Great Job Rene!

Ya Gotta Have Fun!

2012-01-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

In our ‘World’ here at the Beach, it all started with one simple premise, “Ya Gotta Have Fun”. We live in a crazy world at times, and sometimes you just need to keep life in perspective.

Fun can be very contagious--it is laughing and smiling every day.

Fun is choosing to find the Good in every person around you.

Fun is surprising people, you the Guest, and the Team.

Fun is about respecting yourself & those around you.

Fun is working hard & having someone say “Thank you”. Fun is knowing that at any given moment you have the opportunity to be the best. Fun is being around people who Care. Fun is giving back to those less fortunate. Ya know, if ya think about it, life is just a cool ride of possibilities that starts with Fun.

Now, once we established the Fun, the Team, and the ambience, we felt something was missing. Oh, that’s right, we need some eats & drinks. It’s those little details that can make or break you in this business. It’s been fun to work with creative people who can bring the whole package together for a fun, memorable experience.

Holiday Recipe Idea from Beaches

2011-12-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Chef Matt from Beaches Vancouver shares with us a recipe for a special holiday meal:

Sugar & Spice Salmon Filets

Dry rub for Salmon:
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 T dry mustard
1/4 cup chili powder
1/8 cup cocoa
1 T lemon pepper
1 T garlic powder
1 T paprika

Thoroughly mix all dry ingredients. Coat salmon filets liberally. Will coat 4-6 filets. Bake salmon at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Here's a delicious topping for the Sugar & Spice Salmon.

Grapefruit Marmalade:
4 grapefruits--peeled & segmented
1 small can of mandarin oranges
2 T sugar
1/4 cup white wine
Zest of 1 orange

Combine all ingredients & simmer until sauce thickens. Serve over each salmon filet. Enjoy!

New Wines at the Beach!

2011-12-02T22:40:00.001-08:00

A note from Mychal:

I am excited about our new wine menu. We're always looking for ways to be better and serve our guests the best! We are refining our by-the-glass options, and our by-the-bottle selections are expanding! We are including a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Two Mountain Winery. Two Mountain Winery is a small winery in the Rattlesnake Hills of the Yakima Valley where the Rawn Brothers make some fantastic wines. One of our colleagues here at the Beach, has offered to deliver the wine on his way to & from the area. Their production is small which usually denotes a higher quality, and we are lucky to be able to pour these wines. The wines are made in a classic style, so while the flavors are bold, the body is light. It appeals to the wine beginner and the aficiando alike. Do take a trip to the winery if you are ever in the area, it is gorgeous. We are so lucky to be so close to some of America's most beloved and up and coming wineries from the Willamette Valley--to the Yakima Valley--up to Walla Walla and Eastern Washington. I anticipate major growth in reputation in the future for the wines from our neck of the woods. Oh and check out www.twomountainwinery.com CHEERS!

Tis The Season!!

2011-11-25T20:24:00.001-08:00

Giving Beaches Vancouver a rest between Fall Decor and the Holiday Look! Here's a couple of before shots!

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving!

And all thru the restaurant. . .

We busily hurried & scurried

And hung & strung!

Some really got into it!

Others knew exactly what to do. . .

Some just looked cute. . .

We worked as a team,

Lots of help from friends. . .

With Plenty of Smiles!

& family. . .

(what's wrong Jamie?)

We're ready for festivities & fun--come join us!!

Let the Holidays begin!

The Beaches Bake Off Winner!

Amazing!

Wow!!

Thanks to all for your help! The restaurant looks great--and we're looking forward

to a wonderful holiday season!

Did Ya Know?

2011-11-14T23:02:00.001-08:00

Have Ya Ever Heard of the Beaches' Charity Table?

Back in 1995, the opening Beaches Vancouver Team decided to create a tablewhere people could feel good about giving back to those in need. The original idea was to use the tableclosest to the kitchen since it would be hard to seat. It didn’t take long to decide that if theywere going to donate… Give them the best table in the house! Guests are allowed to reserve the Charity Table with a minimum $5 donation atlunch and $10 at dinner.

One day aGuest really appreciated what we were doing in the community & generously donated $1,000! To this day, the Charity Table is named afterthat guest….The Todd Madsen Charity Table. The first charitable recipient ofthe table was the YWCA here in Vancouver. The table seats 6 people and can be reserved in advance. It's the best way to guarantee that window table!

The Charity Table became so popular that Leslie Dursttold us we needed another one. Leslielikes to bring friends in, and has always done great things for ourcommunity. So in 2011, the Leslie Durst‘Back up’ Charity Table began.

It isalso a very nice table that seats 5 comfortably right on the window. This table can also be reserved in advance.

Thanks Beach Team for coming up with a great way to give back to our community!

The Beach is getting a facelift!

2011-11-07T17:17:00.000-08:00

Beaches Vancouver Entry "Before"

Every so often you take a look at your Vision & decide it’s time to give it a boost. So, we got every Team member together from both restaurants and put a plan in motion to make it even better for You!

Beach Shack "Before" picture

Over the next 5-6 weeks we will be making some physical upgrades to the restaurant in Vancouver, and changing some of the seating layout at PDX.

In addition, you will see a change in the Menus. Chef Matt & his Team have been playing with some new, creative approaches with food. That includes new items & some of your favorites.

Mychal & his Team will take a page from the Beverage service we do at PDX and bring it to Vancouver. You’re gonna love the Beer & Wine Flights!

And the plan is never complete without chatting about Service. If you think we were pretty good before, I think you will ‘feel’ the changes in a group of people who already truly care about you…. I have a great Team who is motivated to be even better!

So, hope ya like where we’re going & look forward to getting your feedback.

See ya at the Beach, Mark

Mychal's Latest Adventure!

2011-11-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

We're always learning new things and trying to get better here at the Beach! Over the weekend, I worked at Chateau Bianca Winery. Chateau Bianca is a family owned winery and the winemaker, Andreas Wetzel, makes some of the best & award-winning wine in the Willamette Valley. He makes wine for a few different labels, but my personal favorite is Silver Falls. Their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris will both be on the new wine menu at Beaches Vancouver--coming out soon!

While working there, I was very involved in the winemaking process. I helped with pouring the wine back over the skins, we added yeast to the grape juice, we unloaded grapes into the de-stemmer, we did just about everything besides bottling. I have a great respect for all the hard workers out there. I want to sincerely thank Andreas for the opportunity. Thanks to Renee, Alex and Matt for all their help as well.

On a more personal note--Had a great Halloween with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee from the Transformers. My sons MJ and Matthias really cleaned up trick or treating at their grandma's house and around our neighborhood. I must say Optimus Prime's costume was improved by a pretty creative & personal touch from yours truly! Can we say re-purposed BBQ wheels!

There's a New Lifeguard on the River!

2011-05-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

And once upon a time, 'GQ the Lifeguard' appeared at the Beach...

He, and his trusted companion 'Doh Doh the Pelican',

came to watch over all of our Guests & Team in his quest

to find his long lost Uncle..... Mondo.

Ahhh Mondo... where art thou?

Yes, they stay perched atop the river keeping a watchful eye

& waving to each who pass by the mighty Columbia.

It has become customary for a two finger salute each day

towards our brave duo that simply means...

“thanks Doh Doh & GQ for making us safe today”

And.... If you stop by at 3AM each early morning, you will catch

GQ & Doh Doh playing an aggressive game of Hoops.

Doh Doh can soar... but GQ has duh moves!

Reserved seating available...Happy Hour.... 3AM-4AM

Minors must be accompanied by someone stupid.

Yea, you'll do!

Beaches Summer Cruisin's!

2011-03-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

It's Almost Summer!

Get Wednesday Nights at PIR on your Calender now--it’s gonna be a “Cruisin” fun Summer!

The planning is well under way to make the 2011 season a landmark year for the Show. It is our goal to provide $1,000,000 in funds back to the community by this year—and we’re gonna hit it! And it will be nice to have all our friends involved in the celebration.

We are already off to a great start thanks to our Sponsors, like Les Schwab, Maletis (Widmer/Bud), The Columbian, and The Garage. These folks have been committed to the Show for several years, which allows us to hit our charitable goals. We ask that you continue to support their businesses whenever possible. We are also excited to add two new Sponsors this year--Dick Hannah Dealerships and Riverview Bank. Please add them to your list of people to thank for their community involvement.

We will also have the schedule for the Summer on our website by the end of March. It will include the Entertainment, Featured Cars, Kids Games, Weather Forecast for each night (yeah right!), Swap Meet; and a list of which nights we will feature those Newer Cool Rides.

So, save the date June 1^st for Opening Day. It’s gonna be a wild Summer! If you've never been to a Cruisin' check it out here!

Chat with ya soon,

Mark

A Night Out At the Airport!

2011-02-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

Beaches Hopper to PDX… Shuttle to Fun!

Now here’s a cool night out! On Friday, March 4^th, drop into Beaches Vancouver between 4:30-7:30 pm and catch our Shuttle Bus for a quick trip over to Beaches at the Portland Airport. Enjoy Happy Hour between 4-6 pm, or Dinner, or Dessert, or just visit for a look around. It’s also a great way to have a party with friends--Yep, we can do large parties!!

A Cozy Fireplace to Hang Around

We are so excited about what we have to offer, we want everyone to have the chance to experience it! The Bus will leave every ½ hour from Vancouver through 7:30. That last shuttle leaving the Airport back to Vancouver will be around 8:30. If you haven’t been to our PDX Beaches, you’re in for a treat. We have created a tropical Beaches paradise with some incredible Murals, Palm Trees, Bamboo, Cabanas, and our Hot Rod Display. Don’t have the time, energy or money for a get-away? We will help you experience a mini-vacation right here! We also have a perfect space that can handle private parties up to 60 people. It is quite the experience with the same great service you’ve come to expect from us!

Celebrate a Birthday!

And if you, our friends, like it, we’ll do it every Friday!

See ya at the Beach!

Mark

Hurray, Hurray for Green Eggs & Ham!

2011-02-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

Are you excited for some Green Eggs & Ham?

I am the Egg Man, Goo Goo G’joob. Okay, so maybe not!

It’s almost time for our annual Green Eggs & Ham Community Event. From March 7-11th, Our Team, as well as many Community volunteers, will serve Breakfast to around 48 Schools, which works out to about 7000 kids & parents!!

We started this program with the Vancouver School District Foundation back in 1996. The goal was simple--Get the parents into the schools to read with the kids. We just happened to be chatting about the needs of the schools around the time of the national program, Dr. Seuss' Read Across America.

The ‘Green Eggs’ breakfast became a natural for our goal, which also made it a little fun for the kids. Throw in a Dr. Seuss hat and a book for each child, a breakfast for everybody, the Cat in a Hat, some door prizes & lots of smiles, and you’ve got all the makings of a cool family get together.

And now, what started out as just a few schools, has spread throughout the Clark County community. All the food is prepared and sent out from Beaches Restaurant in Vancouver and the Firstenburg Center. We have 8 teams on the road at all times to make sure we get to the 7-10 Elementary schools each day, for 5 days in a row! We can’t thank the Schools enough for their participation in making it a success each & every year. And a special Thanks to the Beach Team, all our Community Volunteers, and Jan over at the VSD Foundation, for all their dedication.

So, it’s Sam I Am, Goo Goo G’joob, I am the Eggman….. checking out!

The ‘Team’ defines Beaches!

2010-02-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

When I started Beaches, the premise for the concept came down to one word. . . Fun! After all, this is a business focused on people whether they work here, dine here, or if there’s something we can do for somebody in the community. All of these things have one thing in common--it’s about making people feel good.

So ‘Fun’ truly becomes the driving force for our Team. It’s Fun to watch this Team smile & laugh with the Guests. It’s Fun to watch them interact with each other out of respect & concern for one another. It’s Fun to have them involved in community activities that not only help other people, but give a sense of belonging. It’s Fun to watch the energy & positive attitude peak as more & more Guests come in each day. It’s Fun for me to know that we have 2 restaurants that are moving in the same direction because of ‘good’ people.

Beaches is simply a place that has a Team that Cares. Now that’s Fun!

Chat with you later,

Mark

2010 Update!

2010-01-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

Well, it was a nice Holiday season at the Beach with all our friends, and of course, the Team. Being open on New Year’s Day was new for us since it has always been the day we do our Beaches Holiday Party. I decided to do it later in the month so we could get our PDX Team together with us. They deserve a little celebration after working hard all last year!

We have a new menu going in this week- some minor changes, but some really good new items. Mike’s been busy in the kitchen creating some of your NEW favorites. I’ve got to go with the Tuna Poke appetizer, the Miso Ginger Teriyaki Salmon, Wild Turkey Bread Pudding--and my favorite--the Pork Shanks with pomegranate sherry sauce. Now I could eat that for breakfast, lunch & dinner!!

Lots of fun things coming up like the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Green Eggs & Ham, and before you know it, Beaches Summertime Cruisin’. And, if you want some breakfast for a good cause, put January 24^th on your calendar. We are doing a Celebrity Server Breakfast/ Fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club. It will be a breakfast buffet from 8am-10am for a cost of $10 per person. Out of that, $7 per person & anything you tip will go to Charity. Can’t get any better than that!

PDX update…. Should be ready for the remodel around the end of the month. We are still open in the meantime for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Stop by on your way out of town, or just stop by for the heck of it.

Talk to you soon, Mark

Christmas Already??

2009-12-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, it seems like we just finished up the Car Shows and now Santa & the Gang are in town. And of course with that comes the Christmas Ships, which will come by 5 times this year. It makes for a very busy holiday season thanks to YOU, our Guests, and of course the Team!

I think the best part of the season is having the Team & their families in to decorate the restaurant. They all put their little touches on it--some give it more thought than others (Cassondra & Chele--their part will be finished around January). Then, when we’re all done, we give away some goofy gifts, partake in some really bad Holiday Trivia, and then pick someone to take a little trip to someplace warm. This year it’s Michael Watts & Racheal Johnson heading off to Cabo next week. Considering the wind chill factor, the timing seems pretty good right now.

It’s also a time of year where helping others is part of the season. We just helped with an event for the Free Clinic, a great community organization that truly takes care of those in need. They raised some pretty good money--it was nice to see people step up & donate to a very worthy cause in these tough times. But, that is no surprise. . .the people in this community are known for helping out BIG. I just want to say thanks to everyone who contributed at a very cool event. Nice job to the committee, “Friends of the Free Clinic.”

The Airport is coming along, although we’re probably about 2 weeks off of our projections for starting the remodel. If I had to guess, it will probably shut down around Mid –January at this point. We’ve had a lot of good people helping us with the project- Don, TJ, Rachel, Jeff, Les, Ron, Judy, Randy, Scott, Devon & Mike --just to name a few. Once we open the restaurant back up I think people are going to absolutely love the feel of the place. Yeah, you’re going to want to go there even if you’re staying in town. It’ll be a fun experience!

Well, gotta go. Chat with you again soon,

Mark

Holidays, Happenin's and Helpin' Out!

2009-11-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

Well, back from vacation & right back into the thick of things. We had a very fun ‘Howl-oween Barkfest & Pet Parade’ recently. Marilyn put on a great event for our Guests, and the Team all dressed up to give it some ‘spirit’. Now it’s time to shift seasons and get ready for the Christmas Ships & all the Holiday parties. Our plan is to truly put you in the holiday mood with a very warm and inviting Christmas feel. Not quite “Christmas Vacation,” but it’ll look good!

The Airport project is in its final stages of design. We meet with the Team from the Port of Portland this week to get the blessing on our ideas. I think they’re gonna like it! Our goal when we’re done with the remodel at PDX is to create two different Beaches experiences not only with design, but also with the food & beverages. Mike & Aaron are working on creating a whole new menu with a tropical flair adding some wild new dishes (Don’t worry, we’ll have the tried & true favorites on there also). Mike made an appetizer the other night which I finished off completely. Had him make another one…. You know…. Just to make sure he could duplicate it! (It was that good.)

On the community front, we have donated $123,000 in cash so far in 2009. We have a few more things we want to do this year, so we’ll keep you posted. A fun thing we did with the Vancouver School District Foundation was to have each Board Member adopt a school. We took Washington Elementary School and will be doing a dinner for them at a Dinner Theatre event scheduled for November 17^th. Theresa and her Team do such a great job taking care of the kids & their families. If you’d like to help at the dinner--let me know!

And…all kinds of stuff today…One of our dear friends, Leslie Durst, made a suggestion for a second Charity Table when the ‘best table’ is booked. After all, it’s about making the donation that counts, and she has been very generous over the years. So, we are happy to say we now have the “Leslie Durst Back-Up Charity Table.” It may be the second best table, or we may just put you in the kitchen. Hey, it’s the back-up table! I don’t think Leslie has got the word yet, so I will be interested how fast it gets to her from our Facebook page here. Leslie does so much for our community that it is a privilege to have her recognized at the Beach!

That’s all for now. Chat with you again soon.

Mark

See Ya Next Week!

2009-10-18T14:07:00.001-07:00

Taking a quick vacation to freshen up the old brain. Just want to say thanks to all of you who signed up on our Facebook page. We look forward to keeping you up-to-date on events, menu changes, specials, our community work, etc..

See ya in a week,

Mark

Your Vacation Starts Now!

2009-10-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

That has always been the goal with You our Guests- give ya something more than just eating. We are taking it a few steps beyond the norm with the new location at the Airport. After all, why wait until you get to your final destination to start having Fun!

The design process is always interesting because it evolves as we think through every aspect of the guest experience. Not only should the service be our usual friendly atmosphere (sometimes ‘in your face’ approach), but we want you to get in that ‘mood’ of being someplace else. We’ve got a few little treats like full-size Cabanas where you can dine in privacy, or just enjoy the ambiance & illusion of being at the Beach. Bryan will be working on some tropical treats with Kathleen & Eddie, and Mike & Aaron will be testing some foods that give you the taste of the tropics. Now throw in a ‘beach display’ complete with sand, surf and maybe a beach buggy….. and voila…You’ve got the beginning of a whole new Beaches!

Besides all that fun, we’ve got a cool event coming up for Halloween. That would be the Howl-o-ween Barkfest. Marilyn and the Team at Vancouver have been working on a fun way to raise money for the local Humane Society, and give you something different for this crazy holiday. Make sure you look under events and get signed up. Yea, bring the dog!

As a final note, we’re always looking to make Beaches better, so drop me a note with your suggestions, thoughts, or just plain wild ideas.

See ya soon, Mark

What's Happenin'!

2009-10-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks for tapping into our world. I opened Beaches in 1995 (Thursday, June 1^st, 1995 at 4:00pm with our first Guest Debbie to be exact), and it’s just been a cool ride ever since. Our goal here is to give you an experience- it’s got to be more than just eating. To do that you need a team of people who truly care about YOU. Since day one, I’ve been lucky to work with 100’s of people who have challenged us to be better.

I hope you get that feeling every time you visit the Beach!

Now, let me tell ya what I’ve been doing. It’s been busy lately working on the new restaurant at the Airport, which is currently operating as the Rose City Café. After the first of the year we will close it down, take over the Pendleton Store space, and turn it into a very ‘Tropical’ Beaches. We are in the design phase right now which also includes a take-out concept for those people on the ‘fly’. You’re gonna love it!!

We had a great Summer at Beaches Vancouver, and the Beaches Summertime Cruisin’s were a big success once again. Our Sponsors were a big help in our efforts to raise money for local kids, as well as all those Hot Rod & Bike enthusiasts. You probably know our main sponsors, but let me remind you . . .Les Schwab; The Columbian Newspaper; Maletis/Budweiser/Widmer; The Garage; Fred Meyer; and Umpqua Bank. We couldn’t raise the big bucks without them- please show them your support. I should have the final numbers as to the amount raised in about a week.

As a final note, just want to thank my teams at Vancouver & Rose City. They truly do a great job day in and day out for one simple reason . . . they care. That’s what makes it Fun!

Chat at you in a week,

Mark