Weekend Warriors: November 19-21
Thanksgiving is all of a sudden just around the corner. How did that happen? (Question for the moms who have been doing this longer than I have: do we enter a time warp upon the birth of our children? I’ve never had 7 months go by so fast!) With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s nice to take a moment to feel thankful for all we have. Of course, I am most thankful for my family, especially my beautiful baby boy who will be celebrating his first Thanksgiving this year. But I’m also thankful that my husband and I gained some sanity, moved out of New York City, and settled in Portland just under two years ago. We moved to Portland without knowing just how lucky we were to be moving here. And as I put together this post and the PDX Kids Calendar website every week, I am continually amazed and thankful at how much this city has to offer for us and our kids. So, here is a small sample of what you can do this weekend. As always, this space is too small to fit everything, so please visit the urbanMamas calendar page and PDXKidsCalendar for more ideas.
After seeing Professor Banjo play at Milagros on Monday, I have been super excited about all the kid-friendly music we have at our fingertips here in Portland. You can see a great local kids band every day this weekend if you are so inclined. This Friday, you can catch Mr. Ben playing his new gig at Branch & Birdie on SE Stark at 10 AM. This Saturday you can see Toy Trains performing at Mississippi Pizza Pub on North Mississippi at 4 PM ($5 for kids over 12). And this Sunday, the Alphabeticians are performing with special guest Matt Clark at Flying Cat Coffee on SE Division at 10 AM.
Portland’s museums have a lot to offer this weekend as well.
On Saturday, the Design Zone exhibit opens at OMSI. You and your kids can discover the secrets behind how videogame developers, music producers, roller coaster designers, and other creative problem solvers do what they do in this highly interactive new exhibit. OMSI is open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 – 5:30. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for kids ages 3-13.
Saturday is Family Day at the Oregon History Museum. You can celebrate the work of African American artists by viewing stunning examples of the mural tradition in OHS’s newest exhibit. Your kids can then add their artistic flair to a wall-sized mural created by museum visitors. Family Day is from 11 – 3, and 2 children are admitted free with the admission of one adult ($11).
Saturday is also family day at the Oregon Maritime Museum. Visit the museum and take part in some hands-on fun and educational activities, all for free! 11 AM – 4 PM.
The Multnomah County Libraries never disappoint with choices for kid-friendly activities, and this weekend is no exception. On Saturday, well-known storytellers Bill Lepp, Antonio Rocha, and Charlotte Blake Alston will be taking part in the Tapestry of Tales Storytelling celebration. Throughout the day, they will be performing at libraries across Portland, culminating in the finale at First Unitarian Church from 7 – 9:30 PM. All events are free.
It’s an incredible blessing, in the more traditional Thanksgiving sense, to have such easy access to so much local produce and humanely farmed animals thanks to the many farmers markets around town. The farmers market at PSU is having a special Thanksgiving market this Saturday. In addition, many of our old favorites are back this weekend (and throughout next week) to help you with your Thanksgiving meals. Zenger Farm on SE Foster is having a harvest market on Friday and Saturday from 2-5 (take a tour of the working urban farm while you’re there!) and Montavilla Farmers Market on SE Stark will be back on Sunday from 10 – 2.
If you’re in the market mood, you can also partake in many local crafts fairs going on this weekend.
SCRAP is having its annual Holiday Bazaar this weekend, where you can pick up creative gifts made from reclaimed and recycled materials. There will be snacks and entertainment too. The fair is Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM – 6 PM at SCRAP on NE MLK Blvd.
Similarly, there is a holiday local craft fair featuring artists using recycled material taking place outside the Laurelhurst Whole Foods on Saturday from 11 AM – 6 PM.
Portland Village School is having its craft fair and cornucopia on Saturday from 10 - 3, with kids crafts, craft vendors, and homemade pies for your Thanksgiving dinner. They’re located on N. Delaware.
Speaking of pie…. You can take part in a mass bike ride with Kidical Mass: Tour de Pie this Saturday at 2:45. Stops will likely include pizza pie, fried pie, and of course the traditional baked-in-a-flaky-crust pumpkin pie. The route will be under 3 miles and will be a loop. Meet at Ladd’s Addition at the Circle Park, and bring some money for pie.
If you feel like showing your appreciation for the city by giving back, there are a lot of volunteer projects going on.
At 7 PM on Friday, head over to Tryon Creek Park to take part in the plastic quilt project event, where you will learn to remove plastic from our daily lives and create beautiful family-friendly art (plus free dessert!). Free! Please register to attend.
If you want to do some outdoor beautification, you have two good options on Saturday. From 9:30 – 11:30, you can help prepare the Portland Memory Garden in SE Portland for another season of meaningful outdoor experience for individuals and caregivers coping with memory loss disorders. Registration required. (Exact location provided upon registration.) Or from 9 AM – Noon you can help plant native plants along the Willamette River Bank.
Another great volunteering option: spruce-up gently-used community-donated children’s books, which will later be distributed to low-income preschool children in the Portland area. Saturday from 9:30 -11 in NE Portland (exact location provided with registration).
If you don’t feel like volunteering but still want to support a great cause, attend Curious Comedy Theater’s Grilled Cheese Theatre, an improv comedy show to benefit the Portland Theatre Brigade on Sunday at 4 PM. $12 for adults, $7 for kids under 16. If you pre-purchase your ticket, you get a free grilled cheese sandwich and soup.
One last event that sounds pretty cool – Tryon Creek Park has its workshop Kids in Nature: Getting Ready for Winter on Sunday from 10-11:30 AM. Learn about animals and plants getting ready for winter, explore the park to learn about some of the special adaptations of their winter residents, and make a habitat map. For ages 4-7. Registration required. $10/child.
Hope that gives you some ideas. Don't forget to double-check event details by calling or checking the website of the venue, performer, or host organization.
Saturday is International Night at the University of Portland. http://www.up.edu/shownews.aspx?id=4136
Posted by: Heidi | November 17, 2010 at 09:54 PM
HotLips has donated FREE PIZZA for Kidical Mass kids this weekend. Dress warm & dry, make sure your bikes have lights, and come ride with us!
Posted by: Katie Proctor | November 18, 2010 at 09:34 PM
The Fix It Fair is Saturday:
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=53145&a=327113
Posted by: olivia | November 19, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Just a shout out for the Oregon History Museum -- the kids mural activity was fabulous, the rotating exhibits are very interesting and we could not get our six year old out of the permanent exhibit.
Posted by: Pdxmama | November 21, 2010 at 09:21 PM