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The urbanMamas community is always such a wealth of support and perspective. Shari emails:
I'm thinking about taking some or all of my kids to the Oregon Children's Theater/Captain Bogg & Salty showing of Treasure Island. But it has been so long since I read the book, I can't remember for what ages it would be appropriate. Is anyone familiar enough with the book or the show to make a recommendation? My children are ages 5 and 5 (boys) and 8 (girl).
Well mamas, we bring to you another good question. Andrea has a little singer and wants to encourage her talents so she asks:
Is there a thread on finding singing lessons for 5 year olds. My daughter really wants to take a class but I didn’t see a thread on it.
I don't think we've addressed this question yet, so let's hear it. Who's found singing lessons for the little ones?
Thanks for the recent email from a mama looking to the rest of the urbanMamas for true & tried musical hits with the pint-sized wonders:
My daughter is enthralled with music. She comes from a long line of shower singers. She is coming up on 11 months, and she is already a "singing" and dancing fool! She loves especially to hear familiar songs. We have a couple of good compilations that papa has made, and three other CD's that are both parent and child friendly:
1) The Bottle Let Me Down--alternative musicians doing children's music
2) the beautiful and local 'Pink Martini'
3) hilarious children's songs by Joe Scruggs--- 'Traffics Jams' is my favorite albumDoes anyone have any tried and true favorites? I'm sure that by the time she is three, I'll be listening to the same song for the hundredth time. But for now, I'd like to give us as much variety as possible!
And, in honor of groovin' to some beats kid-style, we'd love to give all commenters on this thread a chance to win a pair of tickets to next upcoming Baby Loves Disco (on October 14, 12N at the Crystal Ballroom). We've got two pairs to gift away, so let us hear who your sings or plays favorite tunes!
Life changes after kids, but we try to lead a life that is inclusive and one that exposes our little ones to different experiences. When it comes to family-friendly activities, Portland cannot be beat. And even better? You can barely go wrong with any of the events that's offered all summer long. Or can you?
Recently, we attended the Oregon Symphony Outdoor concert. A much touted family-friendly event. Even the announcers mentioned it twice during the program. But then again, we were an island of little energetic boys in a sea of adults and people who could sit still and remain quite during the performance. As soon as the program started, our little guys gushed with excitement. It didn't help that Carter and his buddy Andrew fed off each others energy level. Amidst the glares, really only from the couple in front of us, we tried to listen to the music and watch the dancers. It was a bit hard at first to enjoy the music and picnicking with our families as we struggled to hush and calm down our 4 year olds every 10 seconds. At some point, I realized that it wasn't our problem. It was an outdoor concert, and that it was intended for all to enjoy. To expect a couple of 4 year olds to sit in complete silence is terribly unrealistic. Perhaps we should have tried to explain that to the man sitting in front of us. I opted for quietly threatening under my breath that if he glared at us one more time, I would take a picture of him and post about it on urbanMamas. Ha! Don't you mess with an urbanMama, especially one with a camera. As much as I wanted to do this, I rationalized it was petty.
Needless to say, I was beside myself when I happened upon this great photo in Shetha's collection of pictures of our outing. And would you believe that she accidentally caught the man in "half glare"? Just curious how others deal with public scrutiny. Would you have said something? Have you felt the rift between families and non-families out in public?
The wonderful family-friendly and FREE Concerts in Portland Parks starts FRIDAY! Parks all over the city will be filled with music. There is something almost every night this summer and something for every taste. Click here for a printable flyer listing all of the summer concerts.
We help organize the concerts at Fernhill Park and are very excited about this year's line-up. All concerts at Fernhill Park begin at 6:30 pm but there will also be art activities for kids at every concert that begin at 6 pm:
It's that time of year again! The wildly successful and popular Summer Reading program starts today, June 1, and runs until August 31, 2007. Find tons of resources for kids' reading and participation, including booklists (sorted by age group) and opportunities for sending book reviews or sending in kids' own poems.
Don't delay! Head to your neighborhood library today, and start your summer reading.
Mother’s Day
weekend kick-offs Saturday, May 12th at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) with a special celebration of motherhood that also provides mamas a
unique opportunity to learn and talk about the issues that are important to
them: Motherhood Manifesto Day!
Tickets for The Sippy Cups Portland concert are available 2-for-1 through ticketmaster for a limited time. The password for this special deal is JELLO. Simply enter this code into the special promo box.
We are also giving away two free tickets at Milagros. You may enter the raffle to win tickets at the store. No purchase is necessary. The winner will be notified on April 28th.
The Sippy Cups will be performing in Portland on Saturday, May 5 at the Aladdin Theater - 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., All Ages, Tickets are $15
Portland's a hip-and-hoppin' place to hear kid's music! Another popular kiddie rock band is coming to town -- The Sippy Cups.
Calling kids of all ages… The Sippy Cups are coming - a high energy rock show for families whipping up imaginative original tunes and rock favorites into a whirlwind circus of humor, audience participation, and a magic party atmosphere!
Combining skilled musicianship, a love of classic rock and for children; this San Francisco group plays music under the motto “Milk, Music & Mischief.” Definitely not your average acoustic singer-songwriter type of kids music, great pains have been taken to make sure this music appeals to parents as much as their children. We’re pleased to present this magical blend of music & mirth making to Portland’s Aladdin Theater!
Showtime: Saturday, May 5, 1pm (doors open at noon)
Where: The Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Avenue
Tickets: $15 (all ages), available at Ticketmaster and the Aladdin Theater box office
Now that Spring Break is over, it's that time of the year again, time to start thinking about what fun the kids will have in store for the summer. Be sure to check out previous camp suggestions. To add to those, here are a few theater/performance summer camps geared toward the older children, ages 7 and up.
ARTS IN ACTION SUMMER CAMP: Arts in Action and New Moon Productions proudly present a truly unique artistic experience for young people. This summer camp enables youth ages 8-16 to create their own musical theatre piece based on the Unitarian Principal, “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part”. The students will be guided by nurturing professional teachers to write, edit, create music, rehearse, and perform their original theatre piece. Through this process, the young artists will gain self-confidence, artistic growth, awareness of the strength of community, and most of all – a safe forum where they can express their views and feelings. Tuition for this summer camp is $399. The camp will take place July 16–28, Monday through Saturdays, 9:00am-3:00pm. Performances will take place the afternoon or evenings of July 28 & 29. To receive a registration brochure or for more information, please call 503-402-1994.
MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP: “THE WIZARD OF OZ” (a musical – with music from the classic motion picture). Feel the thrill of performing of “Wizard of Oz” at the Washington Park Amphitheatre with full costumes, props, and a beautiful set! That is what is in store for our students at the end of this exciting summer camp brought to you by SUN Community Schools, New Moon Productions, and Portland Parks & Recreation. This extensive musical theatre camp features instruction by theatre professionals in many areas including: acting, improvisation, dance & movement, singing, voice production, and other performing skills. The camp is open for students ages 8 - 17. Every day students will work with the instructors on improving their artistic skills as well as rehearsing the show. This program also boasts a unique mentorship program in which all the instructors and interns involved in the camp put on an adult cast version of the same show. The camp runs June 18–July 13, 2007, Monday through Fridays, 9:00am-3:00pm, and it takes place at Grout Elementary School (SE Holgate & 32nd). Performances take place at the Washington Park Amphitheatre (next to the Rose Garden) on the weekends of July 14, 15 and 21,22. The tuition for this camp is $650 (reduced last year’s price!). Some partial scholarships are available. To register or for more information, please call 503-916-6421. Some questions can be answered by replying to nmtheatre@comcast.net.
MADE for Kids, Summer Theater Camp at Concordia University: "Improve your skills at acting, singing & dancing as we create a fully-staged productions". They have a one-week camp for kids entering grades 2-5 and two-week camp for kids entering grades 4-7.
MetroArts Returns for It’s 15th Encore! Now in it’s 15th year, MetroArts Kids Camp gives 7-12 year olds a chance to experience all the arts – music, dance, theater, and visual arts – for one or two weeks at the Portland Center for Performing Arts. Kids crank up their creativity through hands-on activities involving each art form and also enjoy live performances, video demonstrations, and classes taught by professional musicians, dancers, actors, and visual artists. The camp is directed by grammy-nominated Artistic Director Niel DePonte, Oregon Symphony principal percussionist, Oregon Ballet Theater Conductor, and arts educator. GOT KIDS? NEED CAMP?
July 16-20 & 23-27, 2007 / 9am-4pm, Monday through Friday / $160 per week
All New GreenHouse Summer Camp for Kids and Teens: "Join us this summer in our new Pearl District location as we launch GreenHouse Kids & Teens — age-appropriate explorations of theater and performance. Are you looking for a fun and productive way to stimulate your family’s imagination? Would you like to introduce your talented children to a creative new peer group? Perhaps you’re living with a rising star who could use an entrée into the professional performing arts community through the city’s flagship theater. Whatever your aspirations, GreenHouse has something for you within each of three age groups."
There are a lot of Crafty Mamas in PDX and we showcase a handful of them at Milagros on the fourth Saturday of every month. The next Bazaar is this Saturday, March 24, 11 am - 3 pm.
The artists featured on Saturday include:
All Bazaar sales go directly to the
Crafty Mamas and we have complimentary coffee and tea service, so please come out and see what these local mamas have to
offer.
If you would like to considered as a Crafty Mama Bazaar for a future event please email us at milagros@milagrosboutique.com for more info.
Milagros is located at 5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
Everyone loves Dr. Susss. The first week of March will be celebrated by many as Dr. Susss Celebration week, part of the Seussentennial fun. Theodor Geisel's birthday is March 2. In his honor, the National Educational Association has instituted a day to Read Across America. Also to celebrate, our daughter's classroom will "read away the day", coming to school in jammies, bringing loads and loads of books, and read, read, read.
Multnomah County Library has a bunch of stuff planned to celebrate Dr. Seuss. The fun starts tomorrow at a library near you. See this flyer (*pdf) for all Seussical events.
Seuss Storytime: Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with stories!
For preschoolers:
Thursday, March 1, 10:15–11 a.m. @ Midland Library
Thursday, March 1, 11–11:30 a.m. @ Central Library
Tuesday, March 6, 10:15–10:45 a.m. @ Hillsdale Library
For toddlers:
Wednesday, March 7, 10:15–10:45 a.m. @ Hillsdale Library
It's a Seuss-a-thon!: In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, drop by the Belmont Library and be read to by volunteers from neighborhood schools and the community.
Friday, March 2, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. @ Belmont Library
Celebrate Seuss!: National award-winning storyteller Christopher Leebrick shares Dr. Seuss stories as well as delightful multicultural tales. Suitable for ages 5-105!
Friday, March 2, 3–3:45 p.m.@ Northwest Library
Saturday, March 10, 2–2:45 p.m. @Rockwood Library
Thursday, March 29, 2–2:45 p.m.@ Midland Library
Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program.
Seussational! Crafts! Games! Seussical snacks! Become a Daisy-Head Maisy! Play with your Green Eggs and Ham! Create your own zoo animal!
Saturday, March 3, noon–3 p.m. @ Capitol Hill Library
Discover the Lorax: Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with a reading of The Lorax, and create your own three-dimensional Truffula tree with artist and storyteller Kathy Karbo.
Saturday, March 3, 1–3 p.m. @ Capitol Hill Library
Sunday, March 4, 2–4 p.m. @ Gregory Heights Library
Saturday, April 7, 1–3 p.m. @ St. Johns Library
Registration required; call 503.988.5397.
Dr. Seuss Birthday Party Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with stories, games and more!
Sunday, March 4, 2–4 p.m. @ Fairview-Columbia Library
From Portland's own Belinda and Tova, hosts of Greasy Kid Stuff:
Greasy Kid Stuff, the hip, hit radio show for alternakids and their parents, presents the Grease Ball!
Captain Bogg & Salty, The Jellydots, A mini-squadron from The Sprockettes, DIY silkscreening from Orbitbug, designs by Jessica Wolk-Stanley. Make your own $2 Greasy Kid Stuff bandana! Plus flip books, thumatropes, and fun filmy stuff from Indiekid Films.
A $5 complete and yummy kid menu, and great food for adults too!
It's all happening Sunday, March 18, 2:30 p.m. at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. in Portland. Doors open at 2 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under (ages 2 and under free). Tickets are available in advance through Ticketmaster and may also be purchased (cash only) at the Wonder Ballroom box office (open Monday through Friday, noon–6 p.m.) and Café Wonder (Tuesday through Saturday plus show nights, 5 p.m.–close).
Ballgowns and tiaras optional!
Oh the wonderful things that our fellow urbanMamas share with us. And of course, this comes from Shayne Berry. She writes:
We went the first few years of my daughter's life before stumbling upon this genre of talented, intelligent folks making great music for families. I feel like it's my motherly duty to share our finds with my fellow UrbanMamas.Our most recent find is Frances England. She created her album, Fascinating Creatures, as a fundraiser for her son's co-op preschool in San Fransisco. It spread like wildfire on the Internet and is now available on Amazon. Her engaging subjects (tricycles, trains, planting a garden, jazz musicians) blend nicely with her mellow voice and simple instrumentation. Her melodies are catchy and singable- we adore this record.Elizabeth Mitchell is another great find. She was a preschool teacher/indie rock star before making kids' records. Her most recent, You Are My Little Bird, was put out by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and follows two other fabulous records by her. Her husband and daughter accompany her on many songs and her records feel as though the listener has been invited into the living room of this cute, musical family. She has a knack for choosing great old folk songs to cover with her soothing voice and upbeat, simple music. Many a car ride has been calmed with her albums.Lastly, Dan Zanes has been called the godfather of kids music-with good reason. His hip, lively take on Folk, Americana and World music is so infectious that I find myself even playing these records when my kids aren't around. Dan and his band are extremely talented and provide family with a stark contrast to all the kids music on the market that has been created with synthesizers and drum machines. He also has a concert DVD that gives even more insight into how much he loves and connects with these songs. If I had to choose one record to start with, Rocket Ship beach is fabulous but all his albums are must-haves. They have all inspired countless sing-alongs and impromptu dance parties. Even my husband gets these songs stuck in his head.I think that much of kids' music today has been created to follow a trend or make a buck. The thing that sets these three musicians apart from most is the sense that they started playing these songs for themselves, for their families and friends and it just so happened that other people started listening.----------------------------------------------- You can hear samples at Amazon.comThere are other artists who follow these same ideas, many were mentioned in a 2006 Family Music Poll: http://fidsandkamily.blogspot.com/
By the way, Dan Zanes is coming to the Aladdin Theater on April 15th!
The February Crafty Mamas Bazaar is THIS SATURDAY! February 24, 11 am - 3 pm at Milagros. Each month we showcase a handful of wonderful local mamas and the crafts that they make. The artists featured this month:
As always there will also be complimentary organic coffee and tea service for the event. All sales go directly to the Crafty Mamas, so please join us this Saturday and see what these local mamas have to offer.
This free event is in the Milagros Family Room at 5429 Ne 30th Avenue, Portland and is indoors.
Ariel Gore, publisher.editor of e-zine Hip Mama, will be at the Central Library leading reading and discussions. See her live in action at the Central Library on Saturday, February 17, from 1 PM to 2:30 PM. Event is hosted by Multnomah County Library.
Belinda and Hova, hosts of Portland's own "kid rock" radio show, Greasy Kid Stuff, are staging a dance party in the children's book area of Powell's (Burnside) this Saturday to coincide with Neal Pollack's Alternadad appearance. Sure to be a fun hour of booty-shaking with music both kids and parents will love! The dance party will run from 3-4pm, and Neal will be reading afterwards.
You can listen to Greasy Kid Stuff every Saturday morning at 8am on 94/7 Alternative Portland.
There are a lot of Crafty Mamas in PDX and we will be showcasing a handful of them this Saturday, January 27, 11 am - 3 pm at Milagros. Featured artists include:
We will also have complimentary organic coffee and tea service for
the event. All the sales go directly to the Crafty Mamas, so please
come out to the Crafty Mamas Bazaar this Saturday and see what these
local mamas have to offer.
Thank you, Susan, for sending in your question:
I’m wondering if you could post a question about music classes for preschoolers. I enjoyed taking my older son to music classes at the Community Music Center, but now with my three year old, I’m wondering about the other options out there. The Music Together classes especially intrigue me, however they cost twice as much as the classes at the Community Music Center. Are they that much better? Anyone have experience with other places?
I recently got this email due to my Parent Hacks gig, but it's ideal to share here:
once a month beginning in january, portland's legendary crystal ballroom will be transformed into a child proof disco as toddlers, pre-schoolers and parents looking for a break from the routine playground circuit let loose for some post nap-time, pre-dinner fun. make no mistake, this NOT the mickey mouse club, and barney is banned. baby loves disco is an afternoon dance party featuring real music spun and mixed by real DJs blending classic disco tunes from the 70s and 80s guaranteed to get those little booties moving and grooving. the fun spills out from all corners of the club: bubble machines, baskets of instruments, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), diaper changing stations, a full spread of healthy snacks provided by Wild Oats and dancing, LOTS of dancing (and yes, the bar will be open for mommy and daddy!).
at its core, baby loves disco is a community event that brings kids together with kids and parents and parents together with parents, guaranteed to be the best time you've had at a kids event.....
venue: crystal ballroom - 1332 w. burnside street. 503.225. 0047
tickets: $12 tickets per walking human. buy tickets online at www.ticketmaster.com
time: 2-5pm (feel free to come early or late - 1 hour of baby loves disco is a lot!)
dates: sundays, january 14, february 18th, march 11th.
for more info and to learn all about baby loves disco check out:
http://www.babylovesdisco.com
The Wintergalactic Puppet Show comes to planet Portland this December! Bruce Orr of the Mudeye Puppet Company and Penny Walter of Penny's Puppet Productions have joined forces to create an all-ages holiday puppet show with aliens, forest creatures and even a yeti! Join Quarg, a clueless alien with good intentions and Ralph, a streetwise furry rodent on their adventure to Mount Snowball to uncover the secret of a mysterious glowing beacon. Building puppets from all reused materials in an original script, two of Portland's best known puppeteers have collaborated on a unique and colorful puppet show for the young and old. See the write-up in last week's A&E.
Carla writes:
I saw the show this past weekend at Nocturnal. I can't say I'm completely unbiased, as my husband is Bruce of the Mudeye Puppet Company. We have worked together for four years. We go into schools and make puppets out of reused and recycled materials with children. We also do performances and workshops. This is the first show I am not officially a part of, as I am now three months pregnant and we are making a few changes! But I did sew Ralph, one of the main characters!
Saturday December 9th at 10 am and 12 noon
St Johns Community Center
$7 for adults and $5 for children. Group rates available.
Performances are 45 minuets to an hour (Q&A / meet the puppets after the show)
Questions? Contact Bruce Orr at bruce@mudeyepuppets.org or 503 805 0291. Contact Penny Walter at pennywalter@comcast.net or call 503 282 9207.
Calling All Crafty Mamas!
We had a lot of fun hosting Crafty Mama Fairs during the Art of Living in November and the UrbanMamas Bazaar in August. We are now planning on making the Milagros Crafty Mamas Fair a regular thing beginning on Saturday January 27 from 11 am - 3 pm. After that, we plan on having a mama-made art fair on the fourth Saturday of every month. Our hope is to rotate vendors so there is always something new each month.
If you would like to considered as a vendor, there are a couple of things to keep in mind: 1) You have to make or design the product you are selling (sorry, no resellers) and 2) if you are using any manufactured goods as part of your craft/product (for instance if you are screen-printing on a t-shirt) you MUST be using certified sweatshop-free materials.
We will have five slots a month and we are keeping the table fee as low as we can so that we may provide an opportunity to folks who may not otherwise do this sort of thing. If you are interested in participating, please send us an email at milagros@milagrosboutique.com
If you're a fan of pirates, or of good kid-friendly rock, or of energy-filled live shows, don your best pair of stripy socks (or other pirate garb) and head over to Captain Bogg and Salty's Winter Wonder Ballroom show this Sunday. We saw Captain Bogg at the Portland Pirate Festival over the summer (I recount the experience here), and have been die-hard fans ever since.
THE CAPER:
Captain Bogg & Salty’s
Winter Wonder Ballroom Show
Sunday, December 3rd, 2006
1 hour, all-ages show begins at 2 PM.
TICKET PRICES:
Children 2 and under: FREE
Age 3 to 12: $5
Age 13 and older: $9
THE PLACE:
The Wonder Ballroom
128 NE Russell
Portland, OR 97212
503.284.8686
Tickets available through Ticketmaster or at the Wonder Ballroom box office.
With the holidays just around the corner, there has been tons of urbanMama conversation on photographers. Why not go and catch a movie while the kids' photos get snapped? Thanks, Stephanie, for the tip!
Photographer Rachel Kubik will be at the Academy Theater on December 2nd and 3rd between 11AM and 9PM with a location studio setup to take your children's portraits. Simply make a reservation for babysitting with the theater. When you drop your child off sign up for pictures at the registration table,and pay the $15 fee. Then you can go and enjoy a movie while we have fun playing and taking great pictures! She will put 10-20 shots of each child on a CD and mail them to you right away. The digital files will be yours to do whatever you like with them. You can purchase additional copies of the CD with a custom designed cover for $10 apiece. These make great inexpensive, but priceless Christmas gifts! Make your reservations at the theater early to guarantee a space!
Stephanie adds: I've seen some of Rachel's work in person - her portraits decorate the play space at the Academy Theater and they are wonderful. She has additional examples of her portraiture posted on her web site.
The Fox Chase Business Association and the Concordia Neighborhood Association are hosting a special fall community event THIS SATURDAY from 11 am – 9 pm. Enjoy art, music, food, workshops, and fun for the whole family at participating Fox Chase businesses all day long!
The schedule of events is jammed packed! Here is a just a sample:
Yes, it is all FREE! Check out the full schedule on-line. We hope to see you there!
One auspicious evening, four mama playwrights gathered in a room to read scenes and share their vision. Within weeks, The StageSlingers was born, with the mission to create and produce original and brilliant theater. We approached Brenda at the ever-lovely Tour de Crepes, who agreed to host our shows. Our inaugural event is this Sunday evening. Here's the scoop:
DASHBOARD SHRINE
Writers, artists, performers, and musicians gather at this Salon de Muertos, spinning surreal tales and fiddling Romanian gypsy dirges in the shadows of a candlelit altar. Join theater troupe The StageSlingers for an evening evoking dreams, death, and the beyond. The program of suspenseful stories, urban legends, fantasies, and folktales celebrates Day of the Dead and Todos Santos.
Sunday, November 5th at 7pm
Free admission
Tour de Crepes
2921 NE Alberta Street
503-288-5980
A couple of women from the UrbanMamas circle will be performing, and we would love to see some urban mamas in attendance!
It's always nice when we hear about something new and different among the great offerings in Portland. Better yet, it's something fun, educational, and makes use of one of our favorite themes: "reduce, reuse, recycle". Yay for Leisha!
RecycledArt offers stimulating, hands-on, educational art and science workshops for kids ages 3-10. Students take common, everyday objects and turn them into something totally out of this world! They paint, sculpt, draw and build from the inside out while sharing ideas and making new friends. RecycledArt unites the wonders of science with the creativity of art and we help to make the world a better place to live by learning about renewable energy sources and brainstorming ways to create less trash through reducing, reusing and recycling materials.
Remember tupperware parties? Well, RecycledArt workshops are offered in a very similar style. We come to you! A RecycledArt workshop hostess invites up to 10 children to attend a 1 hour, custom themed activity. As a workshop hostess, your child attends for FREE! AND..your child will receive a treasure box filled with found objects that they can later use to explore their creativity! In addition to workshops, RecycledArt also offers birthday parties! The cost per artist is $10.
So...while the kids are learning cool science facts and having fun making art, the Mom's get a chance to relax and share a cup of coffee or go for a walk. RecycledArt also offers pecial packages which include an on-site, chair massage, manicures and pedicures!
For more information on our workshops and packages, send us an email...makerecycledart@yahoo.com or contact Liesha Eberst at 503-901-9324.
Update: Hey, everybody. It's less than a week until our next MotherTalk: a chance to get out of the house, gather with interesting women, and share some wine and goodies. Please help spread the word! Invite a friend and get a chance to win Amy Scheibe's book: WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY? If you haven't RSVP'd to the Evite yet, please do; if you haven't received an Evite, email Shari at smacblog [at] gmail [dot] com. It's Wednesday night, October 25, at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there. After all, who couldn't use a night out with the girls?
The Mother-Talkin' Mamas are at it again! The next Mother Talk event is set for October 25th. Save the date! Amy Scheibe, author of the hilarious novel "What Do You Do All Day?" wil
l be our guest. Amy's novel is a fabulous mix of chick lit with a thread of mystery -- the story of a woman in the throes of processing her desire to be at home with her children and to have a career. The novel's heroine, Jennifer Bradley, is a hilarious, sharp-witted feminist and antiquities expert, now at home with her small children. It's a great read for those looking for a fun novel with thoughtful themes. Don't miss this opportunity to meet Amy Scheibe, and to get together for wine and treats with other hip Portland mamas! Send us the address of a friend who wants to be added to the MotherTalk mailing list (with her permission, of course) and we'll put your name in the hat for a drawing to win a free copy of Amy's book! We hope to see you there.
This is a vanity post. It doesn't have a direct relationship to kids, parenting, or what have you, so read on at your own peril...
During Jen's pregnancy (she's due 11/25), I have been at the store more and more. A common query I receive is "so what else do you do?" I usually respond with "a lot" or "too much". I'm not trying to be evasive, I just don't have a short answer for that question. Basically, although it hasn't been formally accepted as a psychological defect, I am certain that I suffer from a rare condition that should be known as "Career-ADD".
My work experience has run the gambit from musician to filmmaker to rock climbing guide to writer and everything in between. My affliction also makes it nearly impossible for me to work for anyone but myself. Thus I have never held a "real job" for more than two years - much to my father's dismay.
SO! Despite the fun provided and energy required by Milagros (and, yes, I truly LOVE partnering with my dear wife on that venture), my condition still results in me straying into WAY too many other projects. And this, fearless readers, brings me to the whole point of this post and an explanation for the title...
One of the "other things that I do" is direct the Portland International Short Short Film Festival. This film fest is better know by its distasteful acronym (my apologies to any gentle readers out there). Anyhoo! P*** Fest! showcases films from around the globe that clock in at 10 minutes or less - indeed, my short attention span goes beyond my "career"... wait, I think I see something shiny...
Where was I? Oh yes! If you have a hankering for some super short cinema, and who doesn't?..Run, don't walk, to the historic Hollywood Theatre October 19 - 21 for the 5th Annual P*** Fest! ...and we are doing more this year than just showing films, why should I limit myself?...
All you mommies who drink should join us at the kick-off party at the Jupiter Hotel on October 19. Fearturing Full Sail Beer and a performance by Portland's own sexy/dance/mayhem provocateurs, Fleshtone. The party is FREE with a festival All-Pass or your ticket stub from the first P%%% Fest! show. It's $5 for everyone else - still a bargain...
Any would-be filmmakers should check-out our panel discussion "How to Support Your Short Film Habit by Getting Paying Gigs on Richer People's Projects" on October 21 in the dreamBOX at the Jupiter Hotel...
And anyone else who suffers from "Career-ADD"...Fear not! I plan on starting a support group soon...it is definitely on my to-do list...somewhere...
We have a six-year old, who is so SO so interested in playing the piano. My husband and I both learned when we were little, so for the past couple of years, we teach her little things and songs on our piano at home. But, there is only so much we can teach! We have always wanted to steer clear of over-programming our little ones, though, so we have decided to defer the piano lessons. Until now. We signed up for a 10-week class at Ethos Music Center called "Kinder Keyboards". It was a group lesson for kids 5-7. After two sessions, we realized the class wasn't for us. The group was unruly and it was a lot of waiting around as the teacher went from child to child. In the meantime, waiting children didn't know what to do with themselves.
So, I ask: have you had any great experiences with piano lessons, either private or group? At what age did you start your child's lessons?
Mamas, this sounds like a superb event. Thank you, Kate, for sending it over!
Multnomah County Library presents "Zinesters Talking". Come hear three of Portland's mama zine makers read about the trials and delights of birth, parenthood, and more. Featuring:
- Rhonda Baker of Zuzu and the Baby Catcher
- Ariel Gore of Hip Mama
- Kate Haas of Miranda
Tuesday, October 17, 6-8pm
Central Library, US Bank Room
801 SW 10th St.
Thanks, Shari, for passing on info. We definitely enjoyed previous readings of It's a Girl:
On Tuesday night, September 12, I'll be reading from my essay in IT'S A GIRL: WOMEN WRITERS ON RAISING DAUGHTERS. Also reading that night will be Jennifer Lauck and Marjorie Osterhout, who are also contributors to Andrea Buchanan's IT'S A GIRL and IT'S A BOY anthologies. The reading is at Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, at 7 p.m. on September 12th. Come one, come all, urbanMamas! I'd love to see you there!
Ahoy mateys! It is not too early to mark your calendars in ink for a pirate festival fit for the whole family. The Portland Pirate Festival brings a cargo-load of music, flair, and fun to scenic Cathedral Park on September 23. Among the many activities, the event will feature performances by Captain Bogg & Salty and other groups, pirate re-enactments, a pirate play village, and - most impressively - a replica of a "privateer ship:" The Lynx.
Don't be afraid to come in costume!
Every summer, Regal Cinemas puts on a Free Family Film Festival: every Tuesday and Wednesday morning at 10AM, local Regal theaters show a free G or PG movie. In Portland, that means the theater in lovely Lloyd Mall. So brave the food court and come on down...first come, first served. I'll be at Curious George tomorrow with my kids!
Lloyd Mall 8
2320 Lloyd Center Mall
Portland ,OR 97232
800-326-32646
06/27-06/28 Curious George (G), Robots (PG)
07/04-07/05 Jonah: A Veggie Tale Movie (G), Zathura (PG)
07/11-07/12 Doogal (G), Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (PG)
07/18-07/19 Clifford's Really Big Movie (G), Yours, Mine & Ours (PG)
07/25-07/26 Rugrats The Movie (G), Madagascar (PG)
08/01-08/02 Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (G), Nanny McPhee (PG)
08/08-08/09 Rugrats In Paris The Movie (G), Hoodwinked (PG)
08/15-08/16 Wallace & Gromit (G), Aquamarine (PG)
08/22-08/23 March Of The Penguins (G), Cheaper By The Dozen (PG)
As Mamas (and Papas) it's our job to help our children learn about themselves and the world around them. I've found that for our family that involves helping immerse Andrew in the cultures that we have come from. I think some of this is bound to just occur on its own, but we also put some effort into teaching Andrew about his background cultures.
Here Andrew is doing a little dance as he's recently been bathed and dressed in one of his several dishdashas. My father, being Middle Eastern, and working mostly in the Middle East, has a line on all things Middle Eastern and is happy to send an endless supply of goodies. Not only do we have fun Middle Eastern dress for Andrew, but we have fun Middle Eastern music, and several Arabic books that are just right for his age (and I can barely read them but hey, we can learn together, right?). Andrew's learning his counting in Arabic and knows a few words here and there, but I admit, we don't practice enough around the house. Andrew has also tasted many middle eastern foods, and likes most of them. Especially pita bread smeared in hummus. His true immersion took place during trips to both Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. As my husband and I were pretty well travelled at Andrew's age, it makes us happy that he can do the same and have those experiences, too.
Other than the Middle Eastern background, we have my mom's side which I call "Texan" and my husband's side is Dutch/German and British. Lately, due to the many fun filled hours spent with Granny, Andrew's taken to calling tomatoes, bananas, grass, class, and bath by their British pronunciations rather than their American ones. I don't even notice it anymore, but it catches people offguard sometimes... and always produces a giggle (which I suspect is part of the reason why he's doing it!). Andrew also quite enjoys traditional German drinking music, played on an accordian of course. Although, he tends to splash his milk around a bit while waving his milk stein in the air...
Besides teaching Andrew about his heritage, I also take opportunities to talk about other cultures when they arise. I hope he can learn to appreciate all of the cultures out there, and I hope he can experience many of them throughout his youth. We're very lucky he has such a rich cultural heritage. Do you have a fun family cultural story to share? Or how do you find it best to present your children's heritage to them at a young age? I know we have a lot of cultures represented by our readers and I'd love to hear how you cling to your cultural heritage...
Filmmaker Jackie Weissman and Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses will be talking about Jackie's documentary, Rock'n Roll Mamas, on the next taping of Live Wire, a live radio show at the Aladdin Theater and broadcast on OPB. What's Live Wire? I'd never heard it myself, but it looks and sounds fascinating: the website describes it as "Fresh Air meets The Partridge Family, but without the bus." (Here's more.) Who could resist? Other guests include esteemed Oregon writer Karen Karbo, more musicians, some haiku, some comedy...and, I'd imagine, a few surprises.
Event details: Friday, June 16, 8pm (doors open at 7pm), Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Avenue. $10 advance (Aladdin box office or Ticketmaster)/$12 at the door
This will be our third summer in Portland, and the third summer our girls will participate in Summer Reading Fun at the library. It's an awesome program, complete with little incentives along the way. Thank you Katie, Reading Promotions Coordinator at Multnomah County Library, for sending this in:
As a mama myself and the coordinator of the Summer Reading Program at the library, I just wanted to make sure everyone knows about the free and fun programs we have at the library all summer long - great options for preschoolers and school age families.
First, the Summer Reading Program is fabulous! Families can sign up together and track their reading on a fun game board. As your reader works their way around the "game" they get to come into the library to pick out fun prizes. This year our prizes are better than ever. Everything from fun, silly things like gooey eyeballs and racecars to free burrito coupons from Chipotle and swim passes to the park pools. Our grand prize is a trip for a family of four to Disneyland. It's all free and designed for fun - while also being based on research that shows families who read together start a lifelong trend in their children and that children who are already reading can keep up the skills they've just learned over the school year by the simple act of reading a bit everyday. We even have extra-extra small shirts for the youngest of reader/listeners! It's a great tradition to start for your family!
In addition to the game, each library is hosting dozens of free, fun programming like puppet shows, music concerts, craft programs, storytimes and book groups. Since we live in NE, we use Albina, Hollywood, and Belmont regularly - don't just limit yourself to one branch. Check out the event page for activities near you!
Enjoy a remarkable evening with three remarkable writers who will discuss their latest projects as well as life, mothering, and feminism. Don't miss this opportunity to join in conversation with New York Times best-selling writer Hope Edelman, award-winning novelist Cheryl Strayed, and New York Times best-selling memoirist, Jennifer Lauck.
The evening comes together to honor the release of Hope Edelman's new book, Motherless Mothers, as well as Cheryl Strayed's first novel, Torch: a story about love, loss, grief, and redemption. A great excuse to gather together, sip wine, and share great conversation with other women and mothers.
Tuesday, May 16th, 7PM. If you leave a comment below, we'll make sure you get the evite with full details!
I seem to be full of event news, don't I?
A Portland mama close to our heart, Ariel Gore (creator of Hip Mama: The Parenting Zine), is kicking off the book tour for her new novel, The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show, at the downtown Powell's on Wednesday, May 10 at 7:30pm. It promises to be a good time, with music and puppetry thrown into the mix. Hope to see an uM or two there!
Did you know we have a real-live filmmaker in our Portland mama midst? Jackie Weissman is producing and directing Rock 'n Roll Mamas, a documentary about the struggle and glory that comes with juggling rock stardom and parenthood. Her subjects include Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney and Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses among others -- all of whom have their own approach to managing their lives as musicians while raising their families.
On Saturday, May 20, 7-10pm, Jackie's throwing a benefit party for the film at the Bettie Ford Lounge. Kick up your heels and keep the Mother's Day spirit going! Zia McCabe of the Dandy Warhols and Tara Dublin of 94/7fm Alternative Portland will be joining Jackie, and the DJ will be spinning exclusively mama-performed tunes. Appetizers compliments of (where else?) Mother's Bistro, and the no-host bar will feature a special martini called "Mother's Little Helper." This promises to be an evening to remember.
Tickets are $25, and all proceeds go toward the making of the film. Visit the website to find out more, watch the movie trailer, or make a donation.
