Concerts in the Community

A Beer at a Time

216 N.E. Third Ave, Camas

A one-year anniversary party is planned for Saturday, starting at noon.

Kirk Green is scheduled to perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

Contact 835-5200 or visit www.abeeratatime.com.

Birch Street Uptown Lounge

311 N.E. Birch St., Camas

Live music is provided Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 8 p.m.

Contact 210-7219 or visit www.birchstreetuptownlounge.com

Concerts for a Cause at Camas Meadows

4105 N.W. Camas Meadows Drive, Camas

Contact 833-2000 or visit www.concertsforacausenw.com

Corbett Fish House

19206 S.E. First St., Camas

Contact 258-1609 or visit www.corbettfishhouse.com/east-vancouver.

Flutes & Rocks

500 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas

Contact 954-5981 or visit www.facebook.com/flutesnrocks

OurBar

1887 Main St., Ste. “E,” Washougal

Contact 954-5141 or visit www.our-bar.com

Puffin Cafe

14 S. “A” St., Washougal

Contact 335-1522 or visit www.puffincafe.com

Area residents who like to hear some of the classic song standards or top 40 hits, while eating and drinking, have a variety of places to visit in the local area.

Smooth sounds spill out onto the sidewalk

John and Mary Jo Kaiyala have become regulars at Birch Street Uptown Lounge, in downtown Camas.

“Since it opened, we are here once every other week,” she said.

They recently listened to a performance by vocalist Zenda Torrey and guitarist Erick Hailstone.

Mary Jo described Torrey as powerful and peppy.

She appreciates that the singer takes requests.

The Kaiyalas have also listened to The Bylines — Marianna Thielen and Reece Marshburn — at Birch Street.

“They are mellow and sexy,” Mary Jo said. “They have great husband and wife chemistry.”

The Kaiyalas have lived in Vancouver for 42 years.

“I remember this being a mill town,” Mary Jo said, regarding Camas and its workforce transitioning from blue collar to high tech employees.

She remembers when Prune Hill was predominantly trees, not roads.

The Kaiyalas are retired.

“There is such a mixture of age groups,” Mary Jo said, regarding a Friday night crowd at Birch Street.

“There are single men and women,” she added. “It is an eclectic group that comes in.”

Sometimes Torrey is accompanied by guitarist Mike Doolin.

Prior to her performances, Torrey can be seen interacting with various members of the appreciative audience.

“Birch is such a special place,” she said. “Not only is the staff amazing. Kevin [Taylor], the owner, is a wonderful guy that takes a lot of pride in having such a beautiful establishment that provides so much happiness for its patrons and community.

“I love how warm and inviting everyone is in Camas and Washougal,” Torrey added. “We’ve been playing there for quite some time now and just love it.”

Dustin Hunley, a music teacher at Dorothy Fox Elementary School in Camas, has also performed jazz selections on piano at Birch Street.

Sara Kragness, of Vancouver, heard about the Birch Street Uptown Lounge from friends.

She said she has been there more than 10 times.

The lounge recently underwent renovation and expansion projects.

“We are seeing record customer volumes on the weekends, which is what we’d hoped for,” Taylor said. “Our live music performers like the increased elbow room, too. They are not as ‘packed in the corner’ as they used to be.

Taylor recently added live music on Thursdays.

“We sell an experience, and live music adds quality to the customers’ experience,” he said.

Kragness wishes more places would offer live music.

“I think it’s beneficial for people in my age range — 50 and older,” she said. “It’s something to do, get out of the house and meet friends.”

Dancing in downtown

Around the corner from Birch Street, Kirk Green is preparing to entertain the diners, drinkers and dancers at A Beer At A Time.

Green is a singer and pianist who performs dance music, jazz, rock and top 40 hits.

“It is a service to the community,” he said, regarding the pub offering live music for its customers.

Green was accompanied by drummer Gean Ermel on a Friday night in late July.

It was the second time that Jueria Cranfield visited the pub and got to hear Green sing.

Cranfield, 37, was visiting friends who live in Camas.

She moved from Chicago to Vancouver four years ago, and then to Portland one-and-a-half years later.

“I love live music,” Cranfield said. “It’s very rare to have a nice dance floor. The dancing is a bonus.”

The decor includes deer antler chandeliers made from whitetail deer sheds from Michigan. There are two flat screen TVs behind the bar.

The bar and tables are made with reclaimed redwood, planted 62 years ago in Beaverton, Oregon. Several Jim Beam whiskey barrels are located under the bar.

The handcrafted benches were made with fir and pine.

A pinball machine and board games, such as Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble, are available to play. The pub, which is restricted to people ages 21 and older, has 51 microbrews on tap and pizza. Picnic tables are located outside.

A Beer At A Time owner Shelby Piersol relocated the pub from 2926 “E” St., in Washougal, to downtown Camas, during the summer of 2014.

Concerts For A Cause provide live music on the links

During the summer, a variety of organizations benefit from a series of live music performances at Camas Meadows.

There is a $5 per person suggested donation.

While adults are entertained, there are options to keep the interest of children as well.

The Goddard School for early childhood development provides free craft projects, sidewalk chalk and games of catch by the gazebo, near the first tee.

“Children can run around, play sports and make crafts, and their parents can still listen to the music,” said Hillary McKinstry, one of the school’s owners.

There is no cost for the children’s activities.

John Paul Gorger, 9, of Vancouver, attended the 5 Guys Named Moe concert at Camas Meadows with his parents, Eric and Christine Gorger.

“It is awesome and amazing,” John Paul said, regarding his first time visit to one of the Concerts For A Cause.

Attendees bring blankets and low-back chairs to relax while listening to the live music.

The casual attire by the practice putting green includes shorts, shirts and sandals.

“It’s a great venue,” Eric said, regarding the golf course.

“It looks like there’s a lot of great causes lined up,” he added.

The Aug. 11 performance by “Petty Fever,” will benefit the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, and the Aug. 18 Patrick Lamb concert will raise money for Northwest Battle Buddies.

The concerts are from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and the gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Food options include grilled shrimp tacos, chocolate covered strawberries, sorbet and mini cupcakes. Shave ice and espresso are also available to purchase.

Mark Zech, owner of Mill City Brew Werks, of Camas, is a vendor of beer and Finn River Cider during the concert series.

Beverage options include “Pau Hana Pale Ale,” brewed with Hawaiian pineapple. Zech and Tommy Owens, owner of Tommy O’s, came up with the idea.

Zech described it as a “signature summer beer.”

He has attended Concerts For A Cause since the series got underway in 2011.

“It is fantastic,” Zech said.