Monika Spykerman
The Columbian
Contact Monika
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Recent articles by Monika:
Try This: Camas Car Show, Gorge Blues & Brews Festival, Art Night
Vroom vroom The 15th annual Camas Car Show, a fundraiser for the Inter-Faith Treasure House Food Bank, will be from 3-8 p.m. Saturday in downtown Camas. The free event includes awards, raffles, live music and food. Bring nonperishable food items to get a free raffle ticket. It’s $15 to enter a car and no registration is necessary. The first 100 cars to register get goodie bags. The first 250… → Read More
Dinner with a Point: Teriyaki meatball skewers fun to make, more fun to eat
There’s a scene in the sitcom Friends (season six, episode nine) where the hapless Rachel makes a layered dessert called a trifle, but the cookbook pages get stuck together and she accidentally combin → Read More
Try This: Planters Days, ‘Amplify,’ Juneteenth
Through the years Magenta Theater, 1108 Main St., Vancouver, presents “Same Time Next Year” through June 26. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Performance dates are tonight, Friday, Saturday and June 24, 25 and 26. The play looks at 25 years of American culture through the lives of Doris and George, who meet once a year for a romantic… → Read More
Comic, TV host Howie Mandel to perform at ilani
Comedian and television host Howie Mandel will perform at ilani’s Cowlitz Ballroom,1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield, at 7 p.m. Aug. 7. Tickets are $39 and $29 and go on sale Friday through ticketmaster.com and ilaniresort.com. → Read More
Chicken, pantry staples combine for quick, easy, delicious Creamy Chicken Penne
At 5:30 p.m. on a recent night, I had difficult decisions to make. Should I: → Read More
‘A Little Slice of Heaven’: Day trip to Kalama reveals charms aplenty
KALAMA — This city is a mere 30-minute drive north of Vancouver, and yet our family hasn’t considered it more than a brief stop on the way to Seattle. We’ve grabbed a quick bite at the Burger Bar and waited ages for a table at McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge. Other than that, we’ve just buzzed on through, never realizing what charms we were missing. → Read More
Mosaic Arts Alliance seeks artists for new show at the CAVE gallery
Mosaic Arts Alliance seeks artists for its August show at Art at the CAVE, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. → Read More
Juneteenth celebration set for June 17
The city of Vancouver and Odyssey World Educational Services will host a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration in downtown Vancouver’s Esther Short Park from 1 to 7 p.m. June 17. → Read More
Strawberry cobbler rewards the careful
When my daughter was in first grade, she brought home a slender strawberry start with shiny green leaves. We didn’t have a veggie garden but I planted it in a pot and put it in a sunny spot. I don’t r → Read More
Try This: Raptors tailgating; Junior Market; Hockinson Fun Days
Tailgate party Downtown Ridgefield will host four Tailgate Nights to support the Ridgefield Raptors baseball team 4-6 p.m. Saturday, as well as June 25, July 16 and July 28. Gather in the skate park, 108 N. Third Ave., for music and games and to meet mascot Rally the Raptor and Raptors players. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant or get take-out from a food truck. C-Tran will offer free bus… → Read More
Herbalicious herbs: Grow your own herbs for super-fresh flavor
Hardly anything gives me a greater feeling of contentment than snipping fresh herbs from my own garden. I imagine that I’m beating the system whenever I can walk out my back door and grab a sprig of r → Read More
Vancouver travel blogger: ‘We don’t have to shrink ourselves. Society has to expand.’
Jae’lynn Chaney is going places. From Hawaii to the Dominican Republic to trendy Portland hotels, this Vancouver-based travel blogger evaluates her experiences and enthusiastically reports back to followers on social media. While she’s at it, she models new clothing and touts a useful product or two. → Read More
Try This: Hockinson Artisan Market; spring concert; murder mystery evening
HAM it up The Hockinson Artisan Market (aka HAM, with its piggie mascot) is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 15814 N.E. 182nd Ave., in the parking lot of the Hockinson Community Center. Browse the wares of 22 artisan vendors. For a complete list, or to inquire about being a vendor, visit www.hockinsonartisanmarket.com. Magnificent music The Clark College Concert Band presents its spring concert at… → Read More
Ridgefield’s outdoor challenge open to all
Ridgefield’s 100 Miles in 100 Days challenge inspires people to get moving, get outside and enjoy our region’s natural beauty. Participants are encouraged to complete 100 miles of outdoor walking, run → Read More
Transform can of chickpeas into lunch
What’s for lunch? It’s an oft-asked question in our house. Sometimes it’s my husband or my daughter inquiring about the noonday meal. Sometimes it’s just me asking myself. About half the time, lunch is leftovers from dinner the night before. The other half of the time, it’s what our family calls “fend for yourself” meals. → Read More
Big Paddle returning to Ridgefield
Ridgefield will mark National Trails Day with its 11th annual Big Paddle, featuring festivities at the waterfront and downtown from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 4. → Read More
Venardos Circus to stop at Vancouver Mall
Venardos Circus will make its local debut next month at Vancouver Mall, 7800 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive. → Read More
Try This: Parade of Bands, beach cleanup, silent auction
Strike up the band The Hazel Dell Parade of Bands will march through town from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, starting at Clark County Fire District 6, 8800 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave. The parade features high school marching bands from across the Northwest as well as floats and equestrian entries. The route (Hazel Dell Avenue, Northeast 63rd Street from Hazel Dell Avenue to Highway 99, and Highway 99… → Read More
Get cracking making your own crackers
I’ve never made crackers before, although I’ve tried making another snack item, tortilla chips. I can’t remember how they turned out (they were, apparently, underwhelming). We go through quite a few c → Read More
Try This: Children’s parade, “Newsies” and flea market
Love a parade The Children’s Culture Parade, featuring 750 students from Evergreen and Vancouver schools, begins at 10:15 a.m. Friday at Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E. Fifth St., and concludes inside Fort Vancouver’s stockades at 11:45 a.m. Festivities include costumed volunteers, remarks from Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and music from the Vancouver Community Concert Band. Learn more at… → Read More