Misserion/Flickr
Friday,
March 26
- Wooden
Shoe Tulip Festival, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through April 25, 814 S. Meridian Rd.
Woodburn.
On weekdays, it’s mostly what you came to see – tulip fields and a little café
and country store with a children’s play area. On weekends, it edges toward a
mini-fair, with pony rides, wine tasting, more food and more entertainment. $5
per carload on weekdays, $10 per carload on weekends.
- Energy
Trust Better Living Show, noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Portland Expo Center. To be honest, I’m never sure about
these big expo-convo-mega center shows, which seem a lot like kid prison, no
matter how much mama likes all the pretty plants. But this one does promise a
bunch of kid-centric programs including
a salmon parade and storytelling, a show about electricity from the folks at
Mad Science, a reading from an environmental kids book and … a biologist-led salmon dissection. Admission
free, parking $6-7.
- Ladybug Nature Walk, 10 a.m., Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. $3 per
preschooler. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: Meet at the north parking lot.
- KidKonsignNW, Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Red Lion Inn at the Quay, Vancouver. Another seasonal
consignment sale. Volunteers and consigners get in early, half price sale
Sunday.
- Free Friday Night, 5 p.m. to 8
p.m., Portland Art Museum. Free admission on the fourth Friday of every month.
- Colored
Pencils Art & Culture Night (aka Portland’s Multi Cultural Living Room),
5:30 p.m. exhibits open, 6 p.m. open mic,
Room 101 of the Smith Memorial Student Union, Portland State University.
Stories, dancing, singing, poetry and art exhibits. The Iraqi Society of Oregon co-hosts, and you can buy Iraqi food. $5 admission; $3 for seniors and students
with identification, children free. Contact Contact Info: Nim Xuto at nimxutostudio@gmail.com
- Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, 8 p.m., your television. The umamas have been talking at length about Oliver, the British chef who has joined the healthy food fight with people like Alice Waters and Michael Pollan. The first two hours of his "reality" television show pits Oliver against the processed convenience food diet in one American school system and the community it serves. Nothing here will be news to people who have followed the issue, but the show captures the problems in sometimes entertaining, sometimes maudlin and sometimes horrifying ways, making fabulous use of both the hard bitten lunch ladies who think "Potato Pearls" are a cook's best friend and Oliver's "wot-is-this-stuff" attitude and accent. "I need you to know this is going to kill your childrens early," he tells one tearful mother over a table piled with a week's worth of her family's meals. Not everyone loves this show; for one thing, the quick-cut style makes you wonder if you're seeing what actually happened or an artificial conflict set up by the producers. You can also catch preview segments on the websites of ABC and Hulu. This just in: the people who serve school meals say the food revolution started well before Oliver (that's news?) and that he's just getting in the way by making people angry and/or defensive. Also, there's an invitation to send comments/video about what is happening in local communities to the producer of the show.
Saturday,
March 27
- Pearl
District Bunny Hop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 20 Pearl District businesses.
From brewpubs to ice cream shops, families can get treats, make bunny ears,
hear stories and meet the Easter Rabbit.
- Costumes for Ramona, 11 a.m., North Portland Library, 512 N. Killingsworth St.
The beginning of several events to celebrate the birth of
Beverly Cleary. The library says:
“On Klickitat Street, Ramona made her own costumes and wore them year-round.
You can too! Learn to make attachable ears and tails using fabric and recycled
materials. Turn yourself into an animal or creature of your choice, and finish
your costume off with face paint. Great for ages 4-10 and their families.” 503.988.5394
- Magic
Beans, 11 a.m., Al’s Garden Center, 7505 SE Hogan Road, Gresham. Kids get a velvet pouch with
beans. Then there’s planting, followed by Al’s version of “Jack and the Magic
Beans.” $5 per child. 503 491 0771
- Horton, noon, Gregory Heights Library, 7921 N.E. Sandy Blvd. The story told/acted by Emily Alexander. The last of the library’s
month of events celebrating Dr. Seuss. 503.988.5386
- Couponing 101, 1 p.m., Rockwood Library, 17917 S.E. Stark St. Not exactly a family
event - this is for adults - but
surely everyone can benefit. They say coupons have gotten a lot more complicated
since we were kids, but the rewards can be incredible if you know what you're doing. Taught by the woman who
runs www.frugallivingnw.com.
503.988.5396
- Symphony Storytime, 2 p.m., Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd. A youth
librarian and an Oregon Symphony musician collaborate, followed by instrument
“petting” time. The musicians change, but the performance is riveting. Kids
then make their own version of the instrument at crafts time. 503-684-6537
- $5
booster seats, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., American Medical Response, 1 S.E. Second Ave.
The Portland Safer Routes to School Program is making the no-back boosters
available with a grant from the city’s office of transportation. You have to
bring your over-40-pound child and your car with lap and shoulder belts in the
back seat. Cash or a money order made out to Portland Safer Routes to School.
Some high back boosters are available if the car seat technician believes they
are necessary. First come, first served. For info, call ACTS Oregon Child
Safety Seat Resource Center at 503-643-5620.This
page is the coupon.
- OMSI
Star Party Vernal Equinox Celebration, from sunset on, both Rooster Rock State
Park and L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park. One of seven star parties to be held
this year in collaboration with the Rose City Astronomers, Vancouver Sidewalk
Astronomers and Oregon Parks and Recreation. All ages, from beginner to
experts, view the sky through binoculars and telescopes. Call the Star Party
hotline first at (503) 797-4610 #2 (or check the website) to make sure
that weather hasn’t canceled the event. Free, but it does cost $5 to park your
car.
Sunday,
March 28
- 6th
Annual Run for the Cheetah, 8 a.m. for 8K run/walk, 8:10 a.m. for 5k run/walk,
9:45 a.m. for kids ½ mile dash, Portland International Raceway. The event,
which raises money for cheetah conservation in the wild, includes a kids’
activities booth with face painting. If you are running, kids $10, adults $30-$35.
- You
Who, starts at noon for early fun, starts at 1 p.m. for show, Kennedy School,
5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.
It’s the monthly children’s rock show/dance party/storytime/sing-along
etc. $10 adults, $5 ages 12 and under, free for non-walkers. 503-317-8143.
- Make
Your Own Birdhouse, 1:30 – 2:30p.m., Puett Room, Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall
Blvd. Ages 5 and up. 503-684-6537
- Skate
Like A Girl, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Department of Skateboarding, 15 NE Hancock. A
pack of volunteer scoaches (skating coaches) helps beginners to skate junkies,
ages two and up, at this girls-only event. Learn “rolling around, turning,
tic/tac-ing, ollies,” they say. There is a limited supply of protective gear
and boards to borrow. All ages, but under 18 must have signature of a
parent/legal guardian. $10 donation helps pay for equipment and other expenses
for the Portland chapter of this volunteer-run group. Info at skatelikeagirlpdx@gmail.com
or http://skatelikeagirl.com
Coming up:
Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11
The Bicycle Show: A
Pedal Nation Event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday,
Oregon Convention Center. In addition to lots of bikes and workshops,
organizers promise a kid zone and kid activities along with a stunt race. Some
of the speakers come from a family viewpoint, particularly Joe Kurmaskie’s talk
about his Canadian family bicycling adventure (Saturday and Sunday) and
Sunday’s discussion of bike camping with kids. Tickets are $7 at the door but
free if you register early online; kids 12 and under are free, period.
Monday, April 26
500 Tents for
Haiti, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., McMenamins Bagdad Theater. Meet local firefighters who
were among the first to respond after the Haiti earthquake and watch a
documentary film. Tickets $10. The event is a fundraiser to try to get shelter
for Haitian people. Because experts say the emergency in Haiti isn't over; it's getting worse.
Disclaimer:
Sometimes I make mistakes or things change. Please use the web links or phone
numbers to doublecheck times, dates and other information before heading out.
We love the Tulip festival! Definitely check it out.
If you can get there on a weekday instead of a weekend, there is less going on in terms of extra activities but far less people (and the flowers are the same either way).
Here's what's up a Milagros this week:
Mo Phillips Music for Families, Thursday, March 25, 10:30am: Join Mo Phillips every Thursday at 10:30 am for rockin' music fun for little ones and adults. Suggested donation is $3 per walking human.
Piano Pixies Preschool Piano Class, Thursday, March 25, 1pm: This free class is designed to give students' ages 3-5 years old and their parents a taste of the enjoyment of playing piano and music instruction at Pfeifer MusicWerks Studio for the preschool student.
Shadow Puppet Theatre, Friday, March 26, 10:30am: $3 suggested donation per walking human.
NE Moms Playgroup, Friday, March 26, 2:00pm: Free. The NE Moms playgroup meets at Milagros every other Friday at 2:00pm. The group is open to all, there is no charge and no RSVP is required. Bringing a snack to share is encouraged but not required and as with any playgroup please help keeping things cleaned-up and safe!
Cloth Diapering 101 Class, Saturday, March 27, 11:00am: Thinking about cloth diapers? Have questions? Have tips to share? Come to for an introduction to cloth diapering. This casual gathering is a great opportunity to learn all about cloth diapering, get hands-on advice on diapering choices, etc. It is also a chance to meet other parents who are using cloth diapers or thinking about it. FREE, no RSVP required!
Posted by: Milagros | March 23, 2010 at 11:49 PM