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MetroParent
Celebrating the Portland-Vancouver area •
February 2013
Our Annual
Birthday Party
Resource Guide
Join the
Team!
Kids & Sports
February Fun
Hawthorne District
• Portland Aquarium
• Family Fun Calendar
•
School
Open
Houses
Win a free birthday party
(see page 28)
2
February 2013
metro-parent.com
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February 2013
metro-parent.com
Contents
Features
Join the Team .................................................................................................... 8
Getting kids started in organized sports
Parents + Teachers + Students = Academic Success! ......................... 12
Playing your part in your child’s education
Let’s Party! ....................................................................................................... 20
Our annual Birthday Party Resource Guide
8
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAD SCIENCE
20
Viewpoint ......................................................................................................... 38
Play Safe! Preventing youth sports injuries
Departments
Parent Postings ............................................................................................... 6
Announcements, community events, fundraisers
and other useful information
A Day in the ‘Hood ........................................................................................ 30
The Hawthorne District
34
30
Out & About .................................................................................................. 34
The Portland Aquarium
February
Family Calendar
Family Calendar ...............................40
Family Fare ..................................................................................................... 36
Alexis Restaurant
Angels Among Us ........................................................................................ 39
Boys & Girls Aid
In the Spotlight ................................40
Family Favorites................................43
Advertising Sections
School Open Houses .................................................................................13 – 19
Birthday Parties ......................................................................................... 21 – 29
Exclusively on Metro-Parent.com:
Birthday Party Give Away: Don’t miss out on our most popular contest of
the year! Just click on the “Contest” tab on our website to be entered into a
drawing to win one of ten fabulous birthday party packages. Enter by Feb. 28.
Our Parent 2 Parent Blog
Family Fun Reviews
Stay informed and connected all month long!
• Sign up for our e-newsletter
• Follow @Metro_Parent on Twitter
• Like “Metro Parent (Portland, OR)” on Facebook
metro-parent.com
February 2013
5
Parent Postings
Got GirlStrength?
GirlStrength, a free self-defense
program offered through the
Portland Police Bureau for girls ages
10-17, is looking for female
volunteer teachers. No experience
is necessary to get involved. (The
program’s adult counterpart,
WomenStrength, also is seeking
volunteers.) Training begins Feb. 23.
Applications are due ASAP.
GirlStrength and WomenStrength classes, which are offered
free of charge and led by female
instructors, focus on physical skills
as well as non-physical self-defense
strategies. GirlStrength is offering
spring break classes for girls 11-14
at the Sellwood Community Center,
Dishman Community Center and
the Mittleman Jewish Community
Center. Visit portlandoregon.gov
(search “GirlStrength”) or call
503-823-0239 for details.
Buckman Art Show & Sell
Over 140 Northwest artists and
craft people will be represented at
the family-friendly Buckman Art
Show & Sell, with music, art, food,
a photo booth and free hands-on
art activities for kids. Feb. 1, 5-9 pm,
and Feb. 2, 10-5 pm. $5 per person
admission Friday; $2 per person
suggested donation Saturday; ages
4 and under free. 320 SE 16th Ave.
503-936-2197. buckmanartshow.
weebly.com.
A food bank open house
Neighborhood House, which
runs the largest food pantry on
the west side of Portland, invites
families to join them March 1 from
6-8 pm to see how their operation
works. Bring your kids and some
non-perishable food items and learn
how people using the pantry select
from the shelves. A special surprise
will be waiting next door at Thinker
Toys. Neighborhood House, 7780
SW Capitol Hwy. 503-245-2819.
nhpdx.org.
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February 2013
metro-parent.com
The Friends of the
Children annual
Bowl-a-Thon is a
fun way to support
this innovative local
mentoring program.
Bowling for children
Friends of the Children, an
innovative mentoring program for
the area’s most vulnerable youth,
is hosting a Bowl-a-Thon at Hollywood Bowl (4030 NE Halsey)
Feb. 23 to support their important
work. Bowlers of all skill levels are
welcome.
Each bowler is asked to raise a
minimum of $100 from personal
sponsors. A family bowling session
runs from 1-3 pm, a happy hour
session from 4-6 pm and a “party
session” from 7-9 pm.
This super fun fundraiser has
helped Friends of the Children raise
more than $430,000 since 2008.
Friends of the Children works to
help kids succeed in school, stay out
of trouble with the law and avoid
early parenting.
For more information, call
503-281-6633 or visit friendspdx.
org/bowl.
Jammie time for
foster kids
As part of their ongoing efforts
to support local foster kids, Sleep
Country is collecting donations of
new pajamas and packaged socks
and underwear through March 3.
As their website notes, “For nearly
20,000 Northwest foster children,
nights can feel long and lonely
when you’re away from familiar
faces and places. Even something
as simple as a pair or warm pajamas
can make the nights a little easier.”
Drop your donations at any
Sleep Country store, or donate
money online and they’ll do the
shopping for you. Find your nearest Sleep Country (and the link to
donate) at sleepcountry.com (scroll
down to the “Sleep Country Foster
Kids” link).
Metro Parent
Serving the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Area
Wildlife abounds
in Forest Park
Did you know there are 45 different species of mammals in Forest
Park? They range from teeny deer
mice to magnificent elk, according to a report released recently by
Portland Parks & Recreation.
Shrews, chipmunks, skunks,
porcupine, bobcats, coyotes, 10
types of bats and the rare mountain
beaver are just some of the mammals living in the 5,100-acre natural
area. Forest Park is home to more
than 100 bird species, including
owl, woodpeckers and bald eagles,
and there are more than 400 types
of invertebrates, mostly beetles and
moths, too.
Although the report notes many
of Forest Park’s critters “are not
always obvious since they are either
nocturnal, burrowing or tend to
hide under shrubs,” it’s still fun to
get your kids outside to look
for them. Read the full report at
portlandoregon.gov/parks/53425.
Two little leagues now one
Two long-standing southeast
Portland little leagues – Mt. Tabor
and Montavilla – have merged to
create the newly formed Taborvilla
Little League. Changing demographics affecting the leagues’
numbers, as well as increasing field
use fees, were among the reasons for
the merger. The new league is looking forward to a successful inaugural season beginning in April, with
registration now open for boys and
girls from 4-18 years old. For more
information, visit taborvillall.com.
(Learn
more about
youth sports
opportunities
in the area
in Join the
Team, beginning on
page 8.)
Metro Parent
P.O. Box 13660
Portland, OR 97213-0660
Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445
Publisher
Keith Goben, 503-460-2774
publisher@metro-parent.com
Editor
Emily Puro, 503-922-0893
editor@metro-parent.com
Managing Editor
Calendar Editor
Teresa Carson
calendar@metro-parent.com
Contributing Writers
Ashley Cone, Susan Haralabatos,
Madeline Cox Landis, Anne Laufe,
Heather Lee Leap, Julia Silverman
Advertising Account Executives
Westside/National/Outside Metro Area
Debbie Dille, 503-997-4044
fax: 503-352-4373
debbie@metro-parent.com
Eastside/Vancouver/Washington
Ali King, 503-331-8184
fax: 503-331-3445
ali@metro-parent.com
Design & Production Susan Bard
For distribution issues,
e-mail us at
distribution@metro-parent.com
For calendar submissions,
e-mail us at calendar@metro-parent.com
Metro Parent is published monthly by
Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. and is
copyright 2013 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
or in part without written permission is
prohibited. Metro Parent is distributed free
of charge throughout the Portland, Oregon
metropolitan area.
Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse
advertising for any reason. Distribution
of this publication does not constitute an
endorsement of the products or services
advertised herein.
Metro Parent does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, religion,
sex or sexual orientation.
Although every effort is taken to ensure the
accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing Inc. and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for the
use or misuse of any information contained
herein. The contents of Metro Parent and its
website are for informational purposes only
and are not intended to be a substitute for
professional advice or treatment.
Avoid the
flu blues
This is
shaping up
to be one of
the worst flu seasons in years, so it’s
important to protect your kids and
their caregivers (that means you!)
from the bug, which can cause serious illness and even death.
Although Oregon and Washington have not been among the worst
areas hit yet, doctors recommend
we all take precautions. First, get the
flu vaccine every year, the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website
(healthychildren.org) advises.
Children 6 months to 8 years should
get 2 doses if they have not had 2
vaccines since July 2010. Children
9 years and older need only 1 dose.
(Vaccines are safe for children with
egg allergies, the AAP notes.)
You’ve heard it before, but it
bears repeating: Other highly effec-
tive precautions include frequent
hand washing; teaching your
child to cover their cough or
sneeze by coughing into their
upper sleeve or elbow; and
throwing out used tissues
immediately after use. You’ll find
more tips on keeping your family
healthy at healthychildren.org.
Parent Education
Preparing for the Teen Years.
This presentation will help parents
understand what behaviors are typical for teens and when to seek help.
Participants learn about social and
biological influences on adolescent
development and the protective
power of connection. Get strategies
to be more collaborative with your
teens. Feb. 6, 7 pm. $10, registration
required. Legacy Emanuel Medical
Center, 301 N Graham St.
eventsvc.com/legacyhealth/.
Win a
fa bulous birthday party
package!
At Metro Parent, February
is a time for celebration! Beginning on page 20, you’ll find our
annual Birthday Party Resource
Guide, a comprehensive guide to
local party venues and suppliers
with offerings from simple to
extreme, for parties at home and away. On our website, you’ll find our
Birthday Party Give Away, offering readers a chance to win one of ten
party packages donated by a local party suppliers and venues. These
range from complete birthday party packages to spectacular supplies
and services sure to turn your child’s next party into an unforgettable
birthday bash!
Visit metro-parent.com/contest/ for a complete list of prizes and an
entry form. One entry per family please. Contest closes Feb. 28, 2013.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
7
By Madeline Cox Landis
To help you wade through all
those choices and determine how
and when to get your kids started in
team sports, we asked local parents
and experts for their insights and
advice about navigating the wonderful world of youth sports.
C
hildren learn through
play, and while open-ended exploration is important for kids
of all ages, there are numerous
benefits to being involved in
organized team sports, too.
When children play sports
on a team, they learn to work
cooperatively, follow directions
and be a “good sport.” They
develop coordination, agility
and – hopefully – a love of
physical activity that can help
them stay healthy throughout
their lives.
Sherri Murrell, head coach
for the women’s basketball
team at Portland State University (PSU) and the mother of 4-year-old
twins, says her own involvement in team
Many kids are drawn to
sports helped her develop confidence that
team sports for the camahas carried into adulthood.
raderie and will be hap“I was able to learn very early from
piest playing on a team
team sports that you can keep on tryalongside their friends –
ing and fail, and not get it right several
times,” she says, “but once you do get
regardless of the sport.
it, it’s such an amazing experience. That
built my confidence and self-esteem very
young.”
Team sports also provide an opportunity for community building that
might be missing when children who
live in the same neighborhood attend
different schools. That was the case for
Lonnie Reedy, president of the Taborvilla Little League (a newly formed merger
of two long-standing southeast leagues,
Mt. Tabor and Montavilla). While
Reedy’s six children – now ranging in age
from 11 to 29 – have not attended their
neighborhood schools, playing baseball
and softball on a local little league team
has allowed them to develop valuable
Encourage your
friendships with kids who live nearby.
child to try a
No wonder the popularity of organized
variety of sports
to find which
youth sports has increased – and continues
ones spark his or
to increase – across the nation. Over 44 milher interests and
lion children participated in youth sports
talents.
in 2008, up from under 33 million in 1997
and just over 38 million in 2000, according
to a 2008 survey conducted by the National
Council on Youth Sports (the most recent
survey available from the organization). From the classics like baseball,
basketball and soccer to the increasingly popular lacrosse, kids today –
starting as early as kindergarten – can take advantage of a wide range of
team sports opportunities that weren’t available a generation ago.
Choosing the right sport
There are a number of factors
to consider when choosing a sport
for your child. The first might seem
obvious, but beginning with a sport
that interests your child likely will
result in the most positive experience. Even if you have a passion for
a particular sport, or a bias against
one, it’s best not to push your child
in a direction he’s not naturally
inclined to go.
It’s also important to consider
which sports your child’s friends are playing. Many kids are drawn to team
sports for the camaraderie and will be happiest playing on a team alongside
their friends – regardless of the sport.
Parents also should consider the time commitment each sport requires
and make sure they can fit it into the family schedule. Find out in advance how many practices and games are held each week and how long
the season runs. Be sure your family can support the commitment as kids
who miss practices and games or are chronically late are more likely to feel
disconnected from the team and have a less positive experience.
Join the Team!
Getting kids started in
organized sports
8
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Getting started
Murrell is a firm believer in exposing kids to a variety of sports
at an early age. She recommends starting with programs that teach
basic skills in a fun, age-appropriate setting, then branching out to
more organized team sports as kids get older.
young
Locally, soccer, baseball and softball (or t-ball for the youngest players) are good options for very young
children, with leagues starting kids in kindergarten or
first grade. Opportunities
for basketball, football and
volleyball typically open up
in third grade and beyond.
(Minimum ages vary depending on where you live.)
In recent years, lacrosse
has been gaining popularity across the Portland metro
area. According to the Eastside
Portland Lacrosse Club’s website, lacrosse is the fastest-growing youth sport in the United
States. And while many clubs
offer teams starting in third
grade, opportunities are beginning to open for kids as early as
kindergarten.
PHOTOS CO
URTESY OF MA
DELINE LAND
IS
Join the Team continues on page 10
Finding a Team
A variety of youth sports leagues operate throughout the region. Many
are defined by geographical area – neighborhoods or high school boundaries – but depending on the sport, there may be multiple options in your
area. Below, we’ve listed some popular programs and umbrella organizations to help you locate local leagues. It’s also a good idea to ask other
parents in your neighborhood or school, and even search online to find
the best fit.
Purchase your
Valentine’s Day gifts
online today!
Registration typically opens up two to three months before the start of
the season, but fall registration often happens in the spring. Sports are
listed below under primary seasons, though some host shorter, less formal
secondary seasons as well.
Spa Treatments
Yoga and Workshops
Chiropractic Services
Boutique including gifts
and Medela products
NOTE: Find links to North Clackamas area leagues at ncprd.com (search
“youth sports”). For links to youth leagues in Clark County, Wash., visit
cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/ (search “youth league links”).
SPrinG SPorTS
Baseball/Softball/T-Ball
Oregon Little Leagues: eteamz.com/oregonll/ (Portland metro little
leagues will be found in districts 1, 2 and 4)
Lacrosse
Oregon Girls Youth Lacrosse Association: ogyla.org
US Lacrosse, Oregon Chapter (boys and girls): uslacrosse.org/
chapteroregon/
LaurieL Photography
Many leagues are holding sign-ups and try-outs this month.
FALL SPorTS
Soccer
Portland Youth Soccer Association: portlandyouthsoccer.com
Tualatin Hills Junior Soccer League: thjsl.org
Oregon Youth Soccer Association: oregonyouthsoccer.org
Football
Portland Youth Football: portlandyouthfootball.com
Portland Police Activities League: portlandpal.org/PAL-Football.html
Tualatin Valley Youth Football: tvyfl.org
WinTEr SPorTS
Basketball
Portland Parks & Recreation: portlandoregon.gov/parks/48527
Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation: thprd.org (search “youth basketball”)
YEAr-round SPorTS
Volleyball (fall, winter or spring, depending on the league)
PDX-VB Volleyball Club: pdx-vb.com
Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation: thprd.org (search “youth volleyball”)
Youth Volleyball Association: yvbaoregon.com
MorE oPTionS
You’ll find more leagues run through local parks and recreation
departments, Catholic Youth Organization sports (cyosports.org), the
YMCA (ymcacw.org, search “youth sports”) and other sports-oriented
organizations.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
9
Focus on Fun – and Effort
If kids aren’t having fun playing a sport, they aren’t likely to continue participating. Focusing too heavily on
competition with young children can turn an enjoyable activity into a stressful one, souring kids to what could
be positive life-long experiences.
“The highly stressful, competitive, ‘win at all costs’ attitude prevalent at colleges and with professional athletes
affects the world of children’s sports and athletics,” according to a 2005 paper titled Children and Sports,
published online by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). This can create an
unhealthy environment and the AACAP reminds adults to be aware that attitudes and behaviors children learn
through sports will carry over into their adult lives.
Ken Vogt, a southeast Portland dad and coach with the Mt. Tabor Soccer Club, believes it’s natural to want
to win and that some level of competition is healthy for kids and part of the fun. However, Vogt cautions that
youth teams should not sacrifice the fun of playing the game or opportunities for players to develop skills and
confidence just to win a game.
“I like to frame competition as giving it your all, working to get better and not giving up,” says Vogt, whose
kids, ages 7, 9 and 12, all play soccer. “Winning or losing should not be the determining factor as to whether or
not you had a fun or positive experience.”
Lonnie Reedy, president of the Taborvilla Little League, agrees, pointing out that losing can be a positive experience for children.
“(Losing) lets children experience disappointment,” Reedy says. “It teaches them how to deal with some of the
things that real life is going to teach them.”
Join the Team continued from page 8
is it Ever Too Late
to Begin?
Getting an early start in team sports
has its advantages, but that doesn’t
mean it’s ever too late to start. Sure
kids who have been playing longer
have had more time to develop their
skills, and many teams will have an established roster of players who have
been together for several years, but
children develop skills and interests at
different rates and should always be
encouraged to try new things.
Sherri Murrell, head coach for the
women’s basketball team at Portland
State University, notes that during
a recent PSU game, the best player
on the opposing team was a young
woman who didn’t start playing until
her freshman year in high school.
“It can help to start early because
you’ll develop more skills,” she says,
“but it’s never too late to start.”
Finding the right league can be important,
too, with numerous options available in many
areas.
“The league down the street may not be the
best option for your child,” says Anthony Jordan,
director of football for Grant Youth Football in
northeast Portland. Some leagues are more serious
about securing resources and creating high-quality
programs, he says, so it’s important to ask questions to make sure you’re comfortable with how
the league is run.
Among other factors, parents should consider
the quality of coaching (minimum requirements
and training provided), conditions of playing
facilities and gear, cost, team structure (age ranges,
coed versus gender-specific, etc.), and strength of
the volunteer network, given that many leagues
rely largely on volunteers to operate. As kids near
the high school level, Jordan adds, a good league
will focus on academics to prepare kids for the
fact that they’ll need to maintain good grades to
continue participating in sports.
Beth Griffiths, a southeast Portland mom and
a coach with the Mt. Tabor Soccer Club, suggests
parents seek out advice from people with whom
they share similar views on youth sports, as what
constitutes “quality” may differ from parent to
parent.
Opening doors
While many kids are naturally inclined toward
team sports, what can you do if your child is not
interested and not willing to try? Sometimes,
Murrell says, a little nudge might be in order.
10
February 2013
metro-parent.com
“We really have to
“I don’t believe in
open doors for them bequitting during the
cause they don’t know,”
she says. “We have to
season. The problem
guide them. What they
is when parents conthink is maybe not so
tinue to push their
much fun could really be
kids beyond the first
a lot of fun for them and
season when they’re
they won’t know that
unless we expose them
not enjoying it.”
to it.”
– Sherri Murrell, PSU
Griffiths, whose kids
are 11 and 7 years old,
agrees.
“Try one season,” she says. “Make a true effort
and if it sucks, it sucks. Or it might just be great.”
While some parents might shy away from
pressuring their kids into sports, Murrell is quick
to point out that forcing kids to give it a try is different than forcing them to participate long term.
“I don’t believe in quitting during the season,”
Murrell says. “The problem is when parents continue to push their kids beyond the first season
when they’re not enjoying it.”
The parent’s role
Before you sign your kids up for a youth
league, it’s important to consider not only the
practices and games your child will be expected
to attend, but also what will be expected of you
throughout the season. This can vary significantly
from sport to sport and league to league.
Families often will be required to participate
in fundraising or other support functions, for
example, such as working in the “snack
shack” selling
refreshments
during
baseball
games.
It’s also
important
for parents to
be present at games – and at
practices, with very young children – and
to pay attention to the experience their
child is having. Every coach is different,
says Reedy, as is every player, so it’s a par
parent’s job to help their child have a positive team sports experience. Make sure
the time commitment is manageable,
and help your child learn to navigate the
dynamics of playing on a team.
It’s particularly important for parents
to advocate for their child if he or she
is getting started late in the sport, says
Griffiths. Try to join a team with friends
who have experience playing, for example. Sign up as early as possible and talk
to other parents to find a team (or teams)
that seem like a good fit for your child,
then call the registrar to request your
child be placed accordingly, if possible.
If your child can’t join a team with
existing friends on the roster, Griffiths
adds, parents will need to make an effort
to meet other team families, perhaps
arranging a carpool or weekend play
dates, to help your child become friendly
with his or her teammates.
While some level of competition is
central to any type of organized athletic
experience, the true benefits your child
will receive from participating in team
sports have nothing to do with winning
or losing.
“It’s the teamwork, dedication,
effort, attitude, participation, leadership,
relationships – those qualities have
nothing to do with how hard you hit,
how long you kick or how fast you run,”
says Griffiths. “Those important lessons
are also not necessarily learned in the
course of games, but rather in the
investment of effort in practices.”
Madeline Cox Landis is a Portland freelance writer
and mom.
Competitive
Leagues
Competitive
leagues – often
called “classic”,
“club” or
“select” –
are an
increasincreas
ingly
popular
option for kids who show a
special talent or passion for
a particular sport. Entering a
competitive league can offer
more opportunities to develop
skills through increased playing opportunities and a higher
caliber of play and coaching.
There also can be drawbacks,
though, such as steep costs
and an intensive time commitment. Competitive leagues
can cost families from several
hundred dollars to $1,000 or
more per player per year to
cover uniforms, gear and fees.
Players often are required
to participate in multiple
games on a single weekend
and to travel throughout the
region – including to different states – for games. The
seasons typically are longer
than recreational leagues, too
– some spanning nine months
of the year – leaving less time
for children to pursue other
interests.
While many kids will thrive in
a competitive league, parents
should do their research,
evaluate their child’s readiness and make an informed
decision before considering
this option as the intensity of
competitive leagues can result
in early burnout for some
children.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
11
Parents + Teachers +
Students = Academic Success
Playing
your part
in your
child’s
education
By staying
informed about
and involved in
our children’s
education, we
show them we
value learning and
have confidence
in their ability to
succeed.
F
or children to be successful in school, parents must
be actively engaged in their learning. Many studies
show that parents’ involvement in school is more important to their children’s academic success than the
parents’ level of education or income. By showing interest in your children’s education, you
can spark their enthusiasm and show them
that learning, both inside and outside of
school, is enjoyable and rewarding.
You can help your children succeed by participating in school or other
learning activities, reading with them,
assisting with homework assignments,
and talking with your children’s teachers. Share the goals you have for your
children with their teachers to make sure
they hold all students to high standards
of performance.
General Tips for Parents
As a parent, you have a special
interest in your child’s education. Here
are some simple but important things
you can do at home:
12
February 2013
metro-parent.com
• Encourage your child to read. It’s the
single most important thing you can do
to help your child succeed in school.
Read with your child right from the
start, and make sure there are lots of
reading materials in the house.
• Talk with your child. Talking
and listening are major compocompo
nents of children’s school sucsuc
cess. By having many opportuopportu
nities to use and hear spoken
language, children are given a
tremendous advantage, picking
up the language skills they will
need to do well in school.
Academic Success continues on page 14
Encouraging your child to read from an early age
– and to continue reading as he or she grows - is
one of the most important things you can do to
encourage school success.
school opEn housEs
metro-parent.com
February 2013
13
school opEn housEs
Academic Success continued from page 12
• Monitor homework, and how much time children spend watching television, playing video games, and using the Internet. Help
your child get organized and provide a quiet place in the home for
him or her to study. Limit the amount of time your child spends
watching television, surfing the Internet and playing video games.
Help your child learn to properly and effectively use the Internet.
• Encourage your child to be responsible and work independently.
Make it clear to your child that he or she has to take responsibility
for actions both at home and at school.
• Encourage active learning. Listen to your child’s ideas and respond
to them. Active learning also can take place when your child plays
sports, acts in a school play, plays a musical instrument or visits
museums and bookstores.
Helping Your Child With
Test-Taking
Another important way
to help your child succeed
academically is to support
them in developing testtaking skills and preparing
for exams. Here’s how:
Don’t:
• Don’t get upset because
of a single test score.
• Don’t place too much
emphasis on your child’s
test scores. Excessive
pressure can affect his or
her test performance.
Do:
Help your child prepare for tests, but don’t
focus too heavily on a single test score.
• Encourage your child and
provide praise for the things
he or she does well.
• Meet with teachers and ask for test preparation activities you and
your child can do at home.
• Make sure your child attends school regularly.
• Provide a quiet place for studying at home and make sure your child
is well rested on school days.
• Provide books and magazines for your child to read at home.
• Help your child avoid test anxiety.
Help reduce test anxiety by encouraging your child to do the
following:
• Plan ahead. Start studying for the test well in advance to avoid
“cramming” the night before.
Academic Success continues on page 16
14
February 2013
metro-parent.com
school opEn housEs
Learn More:
• U.S. Department of Education: ed.gov or 1-800-USA-LEARN
• The Parents Portal: ed.gov/parents/
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE): free.ed.gov
• Parental Information and Resource Centers: ed.gov/programs/pirc/
index.html
Academic Success continued from page 14
• Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
• On the day of the test, read all directions carefully before beginning
work.
• Look quickly at the entire test to see what types of questions are on it.
This tactic will help determine how much time to spend on each part of
the test.
• Skip difficult questions and go on. If there is time at the end of the test,
return to them and try again.
This information was drawn from the larger booklet in the U.S. Department of
Education’s Helping Your Child series: “Helping Your Child Succeed in School.”
To read the complete booklet, and for more information on helping your child
succeed in school, visit ed.gov/parents/academic/help/hyc.html.
SChooL oPEn houSES And TourS
Amiguitos! Preschool, Eastside:
5101 SE Aldercrest Rd, Milwaukie,
Westside: 11675 SW Butner Rd,
Feb. 27, 9am - 1pm, amiguitos.org,
503-596-2661
Northwest Chinese Academy,
8565 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.,
Beaverton; Feb. 23, 10am-12pm;
nwchineseacademy.org;
503-546-3455
The Madeleine School, 3240 NE
23rd, Portland, Feb. 4, Parent
Information Night, 7 p.m. Feb. 5,
Family Tours, 10am - 1pm,
hemadeleine.edu, 503-288-9197
Archbishop Howard School at St.
Rose, 5309 NE Alameda St, Feb. 6,
9:30am-11am and 6:30-8pm,
archbishophoward.org, 503-281-1912
Odyssey - Hayhurst School, 5037
SW Iowa St.; Feb. 13, 6-7:30pm;
odysseyprogram.org; 503-916-6300
Tiny Revolution Montessori
and Suzuki School, 2036 NE MLK
Blvd, Feb. 22, 10 - 11 am,
tinyrevolutionmontessori.com
Cedarwood School, 3030 SW 2nd
Ave.; Feb. 5, 6-9pm (Adults Only);
cedarwoodschool.org;
503-245-1477
Class Academy, 2730 NW Vaughn;
Feb. 6, 7pm; classacademy.com;
503-223-9099
German American School of
Portland, 3900 SW Murray Blvd.,
Beaverton; Kindergarten: Feb. 13,
6pm; gspdx.org; 503-626-9089
Holy Family Catholic School, 7525
SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, holyfamilyportland.org, 503-774-8871
Horizon Christian, PreK-8th: 7400
SW Sagert Street, Tualatin; Feb.7,
6-7pm; High School campus: 23370
SW Boones Ferry Rd. Tualatin;
Feb. 7, 7-8:30pm; HorizonChristianSchools.org; 503-692-9312
Small Friends School, 7475 SW
Oleson Road; Feb. 7, 7-8:30pm;
smallfriendsschool.com;
503-388-2266
St. Therese School, 1260 NE
132nd Ave, Portland, Feb. 15, 9 am,
Feb 26, 6:30 p.m, stthereseschool.
org; 503-253-9400
Summa Academy, 2510 SW 1st
Ave., Feb. 26, 12:30-4pm,
SummaAcademy.org, 503-287-1785
SunGarden Montessori, 2284 Long
St., West Linn; Feb. 2, 10am-12pm;
sungardenmontessori.org; 503655-2609
Swallowtail School, 332 NE 6th
Ave. & 31620 NW Camp Ireland St.,
Hillsboro; Feb.2, 11am-2pm; SwallowtailSchool.org., 503-846-0336
Micha-el School, 13515A SE Rusk
Rd, Milwaukie, Feb.9, 10am-12pm,
micha-elschool.org, 503-774-4946
Sweet Peas Kidzone; 15320 NW
Central Dr. Suite D-12; Feb. 5,
6-8pm & Feb. 16, 12-2pm;
sweetpeaskidzone.com;
503-533-5252
Multisensory Learning Academy,
22565 NE Halsey St, Fairview,
Feb.12, 6:30pm, mla.k12.or.us,
503-405-7868
The International School, 025 SW
Sherman Ave.; Feb. 28, 6-8pm;
intlschool.org/tours-mp;
503-226-2496
16
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Tucker-Maxon School, 2860 SE
Holgate Blvd, Portland, Feb. 28,
4- 5:30 pm, tuckermaxon.org,
503-235-6551
West Hills Montessori, Vermont
St. Campus: 4920 SW Vermont St.;
PreK: Feb. 28, 6:30-7:30pm, Lake
Oswego Campus: 4515 Parkview
Dr, Lake Oswego; PreK: Feb. 27,
6:30-7:30pm; WestHills-Montessori.
com; 503-246-5495
Yu Miao Chinese Immersion Preschool, 5239 SE Woodstock Blvd,
Feb. 23, 10am-12pm, ahscpdx.org,
503-775-3767
CALL For A Tour
Cathedral School, 110 NW 17th
Ave, cathedral-or.org, 503-275-9370
Chinese American International
School, 1855 South Shore Blvd.,
Lake Oswego; caisoregon.org;
503-348-3028
Christ the King Catholic School,
7414 SE Michael Dr, Milwaukie,
ctkweb.org, 503-785-2411
Creative Children’s Center,
2515 SW 185th, Beaverton;
creativechildrenscenter.com;
503-591-0604
Franciscan Montessori Earth
School and St. Francis Academy,
14750 SE Clinton, fmes.org,
503-760-8220
French American International
School, 8500 NW Johnson St.;
faispdx.org; 503-292-7776 ext 310
Holy Cross Catholic School, 5202
N Bowdoin St, holycrosspdx.org,
503-289-3010
Holy Redeemer Catholic School,
127 N Rosa Parks Way, holy
redeemerpdx.org, 503-283-5197
Joy Central, 8815 NE Glisan St,
joycentral.com, 503-252-1426
Little Garden Preschool, SW
Portland; littlegardenpreschool.
wordpress.com; 503-892-6678
Living Wisdom, 4855 SW Watson
Ave., Beaverton; livingwisdom
portland.org; 503-671-9112
Oregon Episcopal School, 6300
SW Nicol Rd.; oes.edu;
503-768-3115
St. Anthony School, 12645 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard, school.stanthony
tigard.org, 503-639-4179 x222
St. Cecilia School, 12250 SW 5th
St, Beaverton, stceciliaschool.us,
503-644-2619
St. Clare School, 1807 SW Freeman St, stclarepdx.org,
503-244-7600
St. John the Apostle Catholic
School, 516 Fifth Street, Oregon
City, www.sja-eagles.com,
503-742-8230
St. Matthew Catholic School, 221
SE Walnut Street, Hillsboro,
stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org,
503-648-2512
St. Pius X School, 1260 NW
Saltzman Road, stpiuspanthers.org,
503-644-3244
St. Thomas More Catholic School,
3521 SW Patton Road, stmpdx.org,
503.222.6105
The Gardner School of Arts &
Sciences, 16413 NE 50th Ave,
Vancouver, WA, 360-574-5752,
gardnerschool.org
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic
School, 650 A Avenue, Lake
Oswego, ollschool-lakeoswego.org,
503-636-2121
Valley Catholic School, 4420 SW
St. Mary’s Dr., Beaverton, valleycatholic.org, Early Learning:
503-520-0214, Elementary &
Middle: 503-718-6501
Portland Kinderschule, 68 SW
Miles St.; portlandkinderschule.
com; 503-644-4732
Village Free School, 2400 NE
Broadway, www.villagefreeschool.
org, 503-788-3935
school opEn housEs
metro-parent.com
February 2013
17
school opEn housEs
18
February 2013
metro-parent.com
CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS
The Choice that Makes a Difference!
• Academic Excellence
• Faith Formation
• Rich co-curricular activities
• Before and After School Care
• Registered and recognized
by the State of Oregon
• Accredited by the Northwest
Association of Accredited Schools
• Accredited by the Western
Catholic Educational Association
Archbishop Howard School at St. Rose
Grades PreK-8
Open House: Wednesday, February 6,
9:30 am - 11:00 am and 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
5309 NE Alameda St., Portland, OR 97213
503-281-1912 • www.archbishophoward.org
St. Clare School • Grades K-8
Registering now for Fall 2013.
Please call for information or to schedule a tour.
1807 SW Freeman St., Portland, OR 97219
503-244-7600 • Fax: 503-293-2076
info@stclarepdx.org • www.stclarepdx.org
Cathedral School • Grades PreK-8
110 NW 17th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
503-275-9370 • www.cathedral-or.org
St. John the Apostle Catholic School • Grades PreK-8
516 Fifth St., Oregon City, OR 97045
503-742-8230 • Fax: 503-742-8239
www.sja-eagles.com
Christ the King Catholic School • Grades K-8
7414 SE Michael Dr., Milwaukie, OR 97222
503-785-2411
office@ctk.pvt.k12.or.us • ctkweb.org
Holy Cross Catholic School • Grades K-8
Kindergarten Round-Up:
Saturday, March 2 at 10:00 am. Please call to register.
5202 N Bowdoin St., Portland, OR 97203
503-289-3010 • Fax: 503-286-5006
www.holycrosspdx.org
Holy Family Catholic School • Grades PreK-8
7425 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd., Portland, OR 97202
503-774-8871 • Fax: 503-774-8872
www.holyfamilyportland.org
Holy Redeemer Catholic School • Grades Preschool-8
Individual tours available daily year-round
127 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97217
503-283-5197 • Fax: 503-283-9479
maria.elmore@holyredeemerpdx.org
The New School Lunch continues on page 20
www.holyredeemerpdx.org
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School • Grades K-8
Call for school tour. Application information online.
650 A Ave., Lake Oswego, OR 97034
503-636-2122 • www.ollschool-lakeoswego.org
St. Anthony School • Grades Preschool-8
Please call for information or to schedule a tour.
12645 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223
503-639-4179 ext. 222 • www.school.stanthonytigard.org
St. Cecilia School • Grades PreK-8
Registering now for Fall 2013.
Application information online.
12250 SW 5th St., Beaverton, OR 97005
503-644-2619 • www.stceciliaschool.us
St. Matthew Catholic School • Grades Preschool-8
221 SE Walnut St., Hillsboro, OR 97123
503-648-2512 • Fax: 503-648-4518
www.stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org
St. Pius X School • Grades K-8
1260 NW Saltzman Rd., Portland, OR 97229
503-644-3244 • Fax: 503-646-6568
mbanderson@stpius.org • www.stpiuspanthers.org
St. Therese School • Grades PreK-8
Open Houses: Friday, February 15, 9:00 am;
Tuesday, February 26, 6:30 pm;
Wed, March 13, 6:30 pm
1260 NE 132nd, Portland, OR 97230
503-253-9400 • Fax: 503-253-9571
info@stthereseschool.org • www.stthereseschool.org
St. Thomas More Catholic School • Grades K-8
3521 SW Patton Rd., Portland, OR 97221
503-222-6105 • www.stmpdx.org
The Madeleine School • Grades K-8
Open House: Monday, February 4, Parent Information
Night, 7:00 pm; Tuesday, February 5, Family Tours,
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
3240 NE 23rd, Portland, OR 97212
503-288-9197
ssteele@themadeleine.edu • www.themadeleine.edu
Valley Catholic School • Grades PreK-12
4420 SW St. Mary’s Dr. • Beaverton, OR 97007
Early Learning: 503-520-0214
Elementary & Middle: 503-718-6501
vcsadmissions@valleycatholic.org
www.valleycatholic.org
metro-parent.com
February 2013
19
’s P
Let
Party!
Let’s
a rty!
our Annual Birthday party Resource Guide
By Metro Parent Staff
The Portland metro area
The Reptile Man; 503-824-6423;
oregonreptileman.com. Exotic reptiles presented by a local expert.
is a great place to celebrate
a birthday, but where
does a busy parent begin?
Either way, keep this guide
close at hand to help with
party planning throughout
the year. From archery
to petting zoos, from
intimate to extreme,
you’re sure to find everything you need for your
special celebration.
Here’s to happy birthdays
for your kids – and simple,
stress-free planning
for you!
These listings are for general information purposes only and should not be
construed as recommendations for
any products or services. Amenities
may vary from those listed. Research
businesses as needed. Call for rates,
guest minimums/maximums, recommended ages, available time slots,
and to confirm all information listed
here.
20
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Ace of Ruin Piratical Entertainment; 317-268-8469; aceofruin.com.
Pirate-themed storytelling, songs,
treasure hunts, sword fighting, fire
breathing, more.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAD SCIENCE
In the pages that follow,
you’ll find a comprehensive list of resources to
help you plan your child’s
dream party. If you already
have a theme or activity
in mind, this guide can
point you to your perfect
location or that just-right
vendor. If you’re looking
for ideas, we hope these
listings will inspire you.
Character and Themed Parties
(tea parties, fairies, pirates,
science, music and more!)
Mad science brings the
party to you – whether
it’s your living room, your
backyard or a local park
or community center.
CELEBrATinG AT hoME
When interviewing providers or entertainers, be sure to request information about
delivery charges, deposits, cancellation policies, guest minimums/maximums, age
restrictions and other potential fees. Checking references and booking early also
are advised. Many providers are happy to travel to other party venues – parks,
community centers, etc. – sometimes for an additional fee.
one Stop Shopping
(equipment rentals and
entertainment)
All About Fun; 503-516-3878;
allaboutfun.com. Inflatable bounce
houses, laser tag, obstacle courses,
water slides, dunk tanks, carnival
games, more.
Clowns Unlimited; 503-381-4462;
clowns-unlimited.com. Clowns,
face painters, jugglers, inflatables,
carnival games, snow cones, cotton
candy, petting zoos, more.
Karen Reinholt Presents; 503-2817393; karenreinholtpresents.com.
Fortune tellers, clowns, characters,
magicians, face painters, inflatables,
concessions, pony rides, more.
Metro Mountain Climbing; 503327-4712; metromountainclimbing.
com. Inflatables, climbing walls,
concessions, gaming systems, mini
golf, more.
Parties Inc.; 503-641-1803, 360885-7549; partiesinc.com. Mini
golf, inflatables, carnival games, laser tag, spin art, water slides, more.
Party Poppers; 503-985-8769;
mypartypopper.com. Party supplies,
decorations, food, ideas, more.
(p. 21)
Portland PartyWorks; 503723-8300; portlandpartyworks.
com. Carnival games, inflatables,
climbing walls, water slides, arcade
games, entertainers, more. (p. 23)
Top Hat Productions;
503-223-5765; 360-694-5985;
tophatproductions.com. Clowns,
princesses, jugglers, magicians,
games, reptiles, petting zoo, more.
Animals
Creature Feature; 503-901-1798;
stevescreaturefeature.com.
Hands-on exotic reptile show.
Hart’s Reptile World; 503-5222695; hartsreptileworld.com.
Exotic reptiles presented by wildlife
educators.
Renaissance Farms; Camas, Wash.;
360-852-3250; renaissancefarms.
com. Pony rides.
Birthday Parties Unlimited;
360-600-3047. Cinderella, Sleeping
Beauty or Ariel host your party.
Darling Diva Photo Design; 503887-1182; darlingdivaphotodesign.
com. Professional photography
booth and props.
Doll House Tea Room; 503-6536809; dollhousetearoom.com. Tea
parties at their Milwaukie tea room
or at your location. (Also see
“Celebrating Away From Home.”)
Fairest of Them All Princess Parties; 503-646-0314; fairestprincess.
com. Princess parties with dresses,
tiaras, wands, make-up, more.
Fantastic Fairy Parties; 503-7095740; fairyparties.blogspot.com.
Face painting, fairy games, more.
Game Truck Party; 888-602-GAME;
gametruckparty.com. Mobile video
game center for up to 16 players.
Imagination by Francesca; 503241-3151; ABCimagine.com. Face
painting, tea parties, dress-up,
more.
Mad Science; 503-230-8040;
madscience.org. A silly scientist
puts on a high-energy, interactive
science show. (p. 25)
The Merry Kitchen; 503-946-8357;
themerrykitchen.com. Themed
cooking parties at The Merry
Kitchen or in your home. (Also see
“Celebrating Away From Home.”)
Motion Magic; 503-975-8647;
motionmagic.net. Clowns,
parachute games, face painting,
stilt walkers, custom shows, more.
BiRthdAy GuidE
NOTE: Find more information about businesses listed in color in their party ads,
with page numbers indicated after each listing.
Music Together; 503-236-4304;
musictogether-pdx.com. Music
Together teachers lead sing-a-long
activities with instruments, audience participation, more. Call for
teacher referrals.
Peg Stilts; 503-236-7327; pegstilts.
com. Instruction in stilt walking
and circus arts, games, entertainment, more.
Tea Party Adventures; 503-8554270; teapartyadventures.com. Tea
party kits include hats, flowers,
gloves, jewelry, cups, tea, more.
Tumble Bus Inc.; 503-234-1883;
tumblebuspdx.com. Party on a bus
with trampoline, monkey bars,
rings, tumbling mats, more.
Yuki’s Origami; 971-678-6591.
Yukiorigami.com. Japanese arts
instructor teaches origami at your
location.
Clowns, Jugglers, Storytellers
BJ the Clown; 503-282-2000; bjtheclown.com. Magic, juggling, puppets, circus tricks, comedy, more.
Bizzy the Clown; 503-659-6366;
bizzytheclown.com. Balloon art,
face painting, temporary tattoos,
more.
Buttons the Clown; 503-504-1790;
clownsportland.com. Clown
comedy and magic show, balloon
art, “dress up the dad,” more. (p. 24)
Cha Cha the Clown and Mime;
503-807-2584; chachatheclown.
com. Clown show, games, face
painting, balloon animals, more.
Circus Cascadia; 503-806-0210;
circuscascadia.com. Kids and families learn puppetry, juggling, plate
spinning, more.
Cosmo the Balloon Wizard; 360735-7186; cosmo.balloonhq.com.
Balloon masterpieces.
Eartha the Ecological Clown
and Friends; 503-297-8450;
earthatheclown.com. Magic, live
animals, puppets and comedy teach
kids about endangered species,
recycling, water, more.
Flamebuoyant Productions;
503-314-2279; flamebuoyant.com.
Circus style entertainers and
spectacular feats with fire.
Freckles, and Friends; 503-5157410; frecklestheclown.com.
Clown, face painting, balloon art,
comedy, juggling, more.
Gentle Biff the Clown; 503-3278490; gentlebiff.com. Balloon art,
face painting, magic, juggling.
Giggles the Clown; 503-655-7997;
aclassyclown.com. Comedy magic
show includes puppetry, storytelling, more.
Joe Mishkin; 503-799-6168;
joemishkin.com. Juggling, balloon
art, interactive music presentation.
Unicycle/fire juggling options.
Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein;
503-425-9954; comedytricks.com.
Comedy shows featuring cowboy
tricks, juggling, unicycle, audience
participation.
Mushwog and Friends; 503-3090877; mushwogandfriends.com.
Interactive stories, games, face
painting, crazy hair styling, more.
Olive and Dingo Productions;
503-467-8816; facebook.com/olive.
dingo.productions. Stories, songs,
skits, face painting, balloons, more.
Themed parties available.
Peppermint the Clown; 503-2817393; pepperminttheclown.com.
Magic, puppetry, games, face art,
balloons, more.
Serious Juggling; 503-233-2577;
seriousjuggling.com. Serious (and
not-so-serious) juggling and unicycling performance plus workshops.
Face Painting, and Face Art
Many providers listed under “Clowns”
and “Character and Themed Parties”
also provide face painting.
Fabulous Face Painting; 503-2869854; jollymolly.com. Face painting
plus interactive songs, games magic
tricks, balloon animals. (p. 25)
Nicole’s Face Painting; 503-2700890; nicolesfacepainting.com. Face
painting, temporary tattoos.
Parties by Inez; 503-753-0900;
partiesbyinez.com. Airbrush face
painting, temporary tattoos.
SweetFace Face Painting; 360-8852437; sweetfaces.vpweb.com.
Let’s Party! continues on page 22
metro-parent.com
February 2013
21
BiRthdAy GuidE
Let’s Party! continued from page 21
Magicians
Alexander, Master of Marvels;
503-331-8542; parlorofwonders.
com. Sleight of hand, levitation,
audience participation. Birthday
child receives a magic kit. (p. 26)
Adam the Great; 360-513-8688;
adamthegreat.com. Comedic magic.
Jimmy King, Magician; 503-2978194; rabbitinahat.com. Magic,
audience participation, live bunny,
more.
Magic of Seth Productions;
800-926-9311; magicofseth.com.
Interactive magic shows.
CELEBrATinG AWAY FroM hoME
The following venues make birthday parties a breeze! Many offer set-up and cleanup along with options for food, invitations, party favors, décor and more. All you
have to do is show up with your birthday star. Ask about discounts for members
(where applicable) and weekday events, too.
Amusement Parks/Arcades
John’s Incredible Pizza;
9180 SW Hall Blvd.; 503-520-0000;
johnspizza.com. All-you-can-eat
buffet, arcade game tokens, rides,
private room, balloons, more.
Birthday child gets a gift.
Art and Ceramics
Art ala Carte; 319 NE Wygant; 503750-0522; artalacartepdx.com. Space
reserved for two hours, arts and
crafts, face painting, gift for birthday child, more. Discounts available
for midweek and evening parties.
CeramiCafe Art Lounge;
12056 SE Sunnyside Rd.,
Clackamas; 503-698-5411;
14600 SW Murray Scholls
Dr., Beaverton; 503-5908510; ceramicafenw.com.
Cupcakes, punch, balloons, plus a souvenir tile
for the birthday child.
Miscellaneous Party Supplies
Chocolate Craft Studio; 3936 N
Williams Ave.; 503-505-0481;
chocolatecraftstudio.com. Make
edible chocolate decorations for
your party with easy-to-use kits.
Oregon Yard Cards; 971-219-0576;
oregonyardcards.com. A unique way
to decorate for birthdays and special
occasions.
Pizza.com. A national listing of
pizzerias across the nation, with
online ordering. Facebook followers
get exclusive deals: Facebook.com/
PizzaDotcom.
Puppet Shows
Dragon Theater Puppets; 503-3125979; dragontheaterpuppets.com.
Princesses, pirates, dragons, more.
(p. 26)
PHOTO COURTESY OF PENNY’S PUPPET PRODUCTIONS
Penny’s Puppet Productions;
503-282-9207; pennypuppets.com.
Choose from a large repertoire of
“mini-musicals” or request a
customized show. (p. 25)
22
February 2013
metro-parent.com
A mini musical or custom show by
penny’s puppets elevates your at-home
party to an all-out birthday bash.
Innerscape Art Center;
2037 N Skidmore Ct.;
503-827-0665. Guided art
From bumper boats, mini golf, laser tag and a giant arcade projects for up to eight
to the ever popular Kidopolis play structure and more, the participants for
Family Fun center in Wilsonville keeps the party rolling.
90 minutes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY FUN CENTER
Oaks Park; 7805 SE Oaks Park
Way; 503-233-5777; oakspark.com.
Unlimited midway rides, ice cream,
cotton candy, soda, reserved table,
more. T-shirt/picture for birthday
child. Also mini-golf parties.
(Seasonal: March-Sept.) (p. 27)
Safari Sam’s; 16260 SW Langer Dr.,
Sherwood; 503-925-8000;
jungleoffun.com. Jungle gyms, mini
golf, bouncers, game tokens, balloons, pizza, ice cream, soda, more.
(p. 29)
SyKart Indoor Racing; 8205
SW Hunziker St., Tigard;
503-684-5060; sykart.com.
Go-kart racing.
Wilsonville Family Fun Center/
Bullwinkle’s Restaurant; 29111
SW Town Center Loop W.,
Wilsonville; 503-685-5000;
fun-center.com. Mini golf, bumper boats, go-karts, rock-climbing wall, batting cages, arcade
games, pizza, more. (p. 29)
Wunderland Games; multiple
locations; wunderlandgames.
com. Arcade, movie theaters.
Mimosa Studios; 1718
NE Alberta St.; 503-288-0770;
mimosa-studios.com. Paint your
own pottery; souvenir plate for the
birthday child.
My Masterpiece Art Studio; 7905
SW Cirrus Dr., 27G, Beaverton; 503453-3700; mymasterpieceartstudio.
com. Open studio, instructive or
pottery painting parties, party room.
(p. 26)
Pottery Fun; 7821 SE Stark St.; 503253-8070; potteryfunpdx.com. Paint
your own pottery, dedicated party
area, more.
Ready, Paint, Fire; 529 NW 13th Ave.;
503-227-0257; readypaintfire.com.
Paint your own pottery, glass fusing.
SCRAP (School & Community
Reuse Action Project); 2915 NE
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; 503294-0769; scrapaction.org. Kids create art from recycled materials. Add
face painting, cupcakes, hats, more.
Spark Arts Center; 1805 NE Cesar
Chavez Blvd.; 503-281-6757;
sparkartscenter.com. Private use of
art studio for two hours, t-shirt for
birthday child, goody bags, more.
BiRthdAy GuidE
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAFARI SAM’S
A private party room – like this
one at safari sam’s – gives kids
a comfortable space to enjoy
refreshments, open presents
and socialize during the party.
Bowling
Many Portland area bowling alleys
offer kids’ party packages, including games, shoes, food and drink.
Google “Portland bowling” for a list
of area lanes.
dance and Gymnastics
BodyVox; 1201 NW 17th Ave.;
503-229-0627; bodyvox.com. Dance
class with two teachers, optional
craft.
The Children’s Gym; 1625 NE
Sandy Blvd; 503-249-5867;
childrensgym.com. One hour of
open gym time, half hour in a
private party room.
Club Sport; 18120 SW Lower
Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard; 503-9684500; clubsports.com/oregon/.
Learn a variety of dance styles with
a professional instructor.
Do Jump; 1515 SE 37th Ave.;
503-231-1232; dojump.org. Theater/
creative movement games,
acrobatics, juggling, trapeze. (p. 27)
The Gym-Nest; 1414 SE 18th Ave.
#100, Hillsboro; 503-640-6378;
thegym-nest.com. Instructor-led
gymnastics and games for 45 minutes plus 45 minutes of party time.
Gymboree Play and Music; 17400
SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Suite
290, 503-670-1683; 2210 Amberbrook Dr., Beaverton, 503-645-8080.
gymboreeclasses.com. Instructor-led
songs, activities.
Kids Club Fun and Fitness, 13914
NW 3rd Ct., Vancouver, Wash.; 360546-5437; kidsclubfunandfitness.
com. Jungle Playland with slides,
ball pit, caves, mazes, more; cheerleading; martial arts; dance party;
themed parties; swimming; more.
The Little Gym of
Lake Oswego; 17890
SW McEwan Rd.,
Lake Oswego; 503-5959702; tlglakeoswegoor.
com; Private parties
include games, music,
instructor-led gym
activities.
Metro Gymnastics
Center; 18084 SW
Lower Boones Ferry
Rd., Tigard; 503-6208939; metrogymnastics.
com. Instructor-led gymnastics with
foam pit, trampoline, “gymflatables,” more, plus party room.
Naydenov Gymnastics; 5313
NE 94th Ave., Vancouver, Wash.;
360-944-4444; ngymnastics.com.
Coaches lead activities including
zip line, foam pits, bungees, trampolines, more.
Oregon Gymnastics Academy;
16305 NW Bethany Ct., Ste. 109;
503-531-3409; ogagym.org. Trained
staff lead 50 minutes of gym
activity, 40 minutes in a party
room. (p. 21)
The Playground Gym; 505 NE
Grand Ave.; 503-235-7529; theplaygroundgym.com. Coaches lead 85
minutes of mat time; 20 minutes
(or more) for snacks, gifts; cupcakes.
Rose City Gymnastics; 7056 NE
Glisan St.; 503-281-1314; rosecity
gym.com. Private parties with one
hour in gym (tumble floor, beams,
vault, bars, obstacle course, more),
30 minutes in party room.
SoccerPlex; 8785 SW Beaverton
Hillsdale Hwy.; 503-297-4145;
soccerplex.com. Private use of
dance studio, party room.
Westside Dance & Gymnastics
Academy; 11632 SW Pacific
Hwy., Tigard; 503-639-5388;
westsideacademy.com. Gymnastics,
hip-hop or princess party activities.
dress-up, Makeovers,
Spas and Tea Parties
Doll House Tea Room; 3223 SE
Risley, Milwaukie; 503-653-6809;
dollhousetearoom.com. Tea parties
include dress-up, hairstyling, makeup, fashion show, lunch, cupcakes,
more.
Let’s Party! continues on page 24
metro-parent.com
February 2013
23
BiRthdAy GuidE
Kids get creative at Art ala Carte,
with discounts for mid-week and
evening parties.
PHOTO BY OH HAPPY DAY PHOTOGRAPHY (OHHAPPYDAYPHOTOS.COM)
Let’s Party! continued from page 23
Pigtails and
Crewcuts; Streets of
Tanasbourne, 2219
NW Allie Ave., Ste.
1430, Hillsboro;
503-336-4778;
pigtailsandcrewcuts.
com/hillsboro/.
Themed birthday
parties for girls and
boys with hair styling, dress-up,
makeovers, more.
Sit Still Salon; 5656 Hood St., Ste.
105, West Linn; 503-657-3975;
sitstillkids.com. Hair styling,
makeup, mini-manicures, keepsake
photos, more.
TipTop Spa; 1937 Pacific Ave.,
Forest Grove; 503-992-1902;
thetiptopspa.com. Pedicure parties.
Whipper Snippers; 29585 SW
Park Pl., Ste. G; Wilsonville; 503783-3337; whipper-snippers.com.
Dress-up, manicures, hairstyling,
party room, more.
ice Skating
Lloyd Center Ice Rink, Lloyd
Center Mall; 503-288-6073;
lloydcenterice.com. Skating and
lessons, cake or cupcakes, drinks,
pizza, more.
Mountain View Ice Arena; 14313
SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver,
Wash.; 360-896-8700; mtviewice.
com. Skating and lessons, cake,
drinks, favors, more. Birthday child
gets a gift.
Sherwood Ice Arena; 20407 SW
Borchers Dr., Sherwood; 503-6255757; sherwoodicearena.com.
Skating and lessons, cake, drinks,
favors, more. Birthday child gets
a gift.
inflatables/Bouncers
Inflatable Kingdom; 6830 SW
Bonita Rd.; 503-718-0994;
inflatablekingdom.com. Play area,
face painting and tattoos, arts
and crafts, more.
JJ Jump; 9057 SE Jannsen Rd.,
Clackamas; 503-723-3600; 7500
NE 16th Ave., Ste. 2-D, Vancouver,
Wash.; 360-213-2524; jjjump.com.
Play area, party room, party
hostess, more.
24
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Kids Club Fun and Fitness; 13914
NW 3rd Ct., Vancouver, Wash.;
360-546-5437; kidsclubfunandfitness.com. Jungle Playland with
slides, ball pit, caves, mazes, more;
inflatables; themed parties; more.
Out of this World Pizza and Play;
6255 NW Century Blvd., Hillsboro;
503-629-8700; outofthisworld.net.
Unlimited play on play structure/
inflatables, bottomless soft drinks,
ice cream. Optional Wii, magician,
pizza, sundae bar, more. (p. 25)
Pump It Up; 9665 SW Allen Blvd.,
Ste. 110, Beaverton, 503-644-6488;
25749 SW Canyon Creek Rd, Ste.
700, Wilsonville, 503-582-1331;
pumpitupparty.com. Private inflatable arena, party room, more.
Pump It Up Jr.; 16205 NW
Bethany Ct., Ste. 120, Beaverton;
503-645-1042; pumpitupparty.
com. Inflatables, private party
room, more.
Miscellaneous, Themed and
Specialty Parties (cooking,
farms, horses and more!)
Academy Theater; 7818 SE Stark
St.; 503-252-1705; academytheaterpdx.com. Movie admission, pizza,
popcorn, soft drinks, party room.
(p. 22)
Archers Afield; 11945 SW Pacific
Hwy., Ste. 121, Tigard; 503-6393553; archersafield.com. Mini
lesson on the indoor archery range,
equipment, pizza, party table.
Build-A-Bear Workshop; Washington Square Mall, 503-620-9555;
Clackamas Town Center, 503-5130457; Westfield Vancouver Mall,
360-253-7105; buildabear.com.
Chocolate Craft Studio; 3936
N Williams Ave.; 503-505-0481;
chocolatecraftstudio.com. Fun with
edible chocolate crafts, activities.
Club Sport; 18120 SW Lower
Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard; 503-9684500; clubsports.com/oregon/.
Activities include rock climbing,
swimming, dance, sports, games,
crafts, more.
ComedySportz 4 Kidz; 1963 NW
Kearney St.; 503-236-8888;
portlandcomedy.com. Comedy
show geared to ages 12 and under,
third Sunday of every month.
BiRthdAy GuidE
Art parties at
My Masterpiece Art Studio
are a hit with kids of all ages.
Emily Alexander; 1444 SE
Hawthorne Blvd; 503-8930792; alexanderpreschool.
com. Choose from four
different puppet shows.
Puppet-making activity.
Glowing Greens; 509 SW
Taylor St.; 503-222-5554;
glowinggreens.com. Black
light indoor mini golf, plus
pizza, drinks, party room,
party host, more.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MY MASTERPIECE ART STUDIO
Fir Point Farms; 14601 Arndt
Rd., Aurora; 503-678-2455;
firpointfarms.com/farmfun.
Tours, hay rides, farm animals,
more.
Jim Parsley Community Center;
2901 Falk Rd., Vancouver, Wash.;
360-313-1060, vansd.org/jpc. Party
room, rock wall, gym, pool rental.
Malibu Raceway; 9405 SW Cascade
Ave., Beaverton; 503-641-8122;
maliburaceway.com. Photo racing
license, one sprint lap, hot dog,
soda, game play, more.
JJ Extreme; 9063 SE Jannsen Rd.,
Clackamas; 503-723-3600;
jjextreme.com. Rock wall, zip line,
bungee basketball, jousting, Wii,
light show, party room, more.
The Merry Kitchen;
5202 NE 72nd Ave; 503-946-8357;
themerrykitchen.com. Themed
cooking parties at The Merry
Kitchen or in your home.
Jump for Joy Farm;15898 South
Springwater Rd. Clackamas; 503-6103276; Horseback riding, guided activities, scavenger hunt, petting zoo.
Mittleman Jewish Community
Center; 6651 SW Capitol Highway;
503-244-0111; oregonjcc.org. Rentals include gymnasium with rock
wall, sportsplex, 25-yard indoor
swimming pool, dance studio, more.
Kids Central Kitchen; Parties
at Cook in Color, 7327 SW Barnes
Rd. #501; 971-344-0475;
kidscentralkitchen.com. Hands-on
baking parties, baking-related party
favors, more.
The Kids Cooking Corner; 5206 NE
78th St., Vancouver; 360-433-9114;
thekidscookingcorner.com. Bake
your own entree and cupcakes, visit
with the birthday bunny, decorated
party table, more.
Kruger’s Farm; 17100 NW Sauvie
Island Rd.; 503-621-1100;
krugersfarmmarket.com. Private
picnic area, tractor-driven hayride,
u-pick activities. (April-October
only.)
Little Corral; Off I-5 and I-205
in Stafford; 503-449-5087;
thelittlecorral.com. Pony and
miniature horse rides, indoor arena,
pony handlers, party table, more.
(p. 24)
Mad Science; 1522 N Ainsworth;
503-230-8040; madscience.org. A
silly scientist puts on a high-energy,
interactive science show. (p. 25)
Northwest Children’s Theater;
1819 NW Everett St.; 503-222-2190;
nwcts.org. Show tickets, private party room, balloon bouquet, cupcakes,
birthday crown/tiara, more.
Northwest Fencing Center; 4950
SW Western Ave., Beaverton; 503277-2237; nwfencing.org. Fencing
arena, equipment, coach, party
table, more. (p. 26)
Once Upon a Horse; Stafford area
between Lake Oswego and
Wilsonville; 503-635-7403;
onceuponahorse.com. Ponies,
party room, pizza. (p. 23)
One With Heart; 4231 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 503-231-1999; 8641
N Lombard Blvd., 503-283-1313;
onewithheart.com. Kung Fu games,
age-appropriate martial-arts class,
“kick the piñata”, more.
Oregon Fencing Alliance; 6699 SW
Oleson Rd.; 503-880-3512;
oregonfencing.com. Party games,
fencing fun for all levels.
Let’s Party! continues on page 26
metro-parent.com
February 2013
25
BiRthdAy GuidE
Let’s Party! continued from page 25
Oregon Garden; 879 W Main St,
Silverton; 503-874-2510;
oregongarden.org. Several private
party areas available. Discount for
garden members.
Warrior Room; 1928 SE Washington St. Milwaukie; 503-303-8552;
warriorroom.org. Sports agility
classes or disco party, plus party
room. Weekends only.
The PLAY Boutique; 464 1st St.,
Lake Oswego; 503-675-7529;
playboutique.com. Exclusive use of
3,000 sq. ft. play space, dedicated
play specialist, cupcake decorating,
snacks, more.
WeVillage; 424 NW 11th Ave.; 503935-5590; 1295 NE Orenco Station
Pkwy. Hillsboro; 503-640-7529;
wevillage.com. Exclusive use of
indoor play space, party specialist,
food, favors, more.
Portland Aquarium; 16323 SE
McLoughlin, Milwaukie; 503303-4721; portlandaquarium.net.
Aquarium admission, behind-thescenes tour, party host, take-home
craft, more.
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R);
multiple locations; 503-823-7529;
portlandonline.com/parks/. Several
PP&R community centers offer
party packages, from skating and
rock climbing to swimming, gym
parties, more. Staff available to lead
children’s activities. (p. 29)
Rainbow Trout Farm; 52560 E
Sylvan Dr., Sandy; 503-622-5223;
rainbowtroutfarm.com. Trout fishing, party room available.
Renaissance Farms; Fern Prairie,
near Camas, Wash.; 360-852-3250;
renaissancefarms.com. Pony rides,
themed packages available.
Steamers and Screamers; 8400 NE
Vancouver Mall Loop Suite 105,
Vancouver; 360-597-4521;
steamersandscreamers.com. Party
room for up to 15, 90 minutes of
play/party time. Optional themes,
invitations. Play kitchen, pirate
ship, puppet-play area.
Sky High Sports; 11131 SW Greenburg Rd., Tigard; 503-924-5867;
por.jumpskyhigh.com. Wall-to-wall
trampolines, foam pit, pizza, party
room, more. Private jump court
available.
Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation;
multiple locations; 503-645-6433;
thprd.org (search “Parties”). Nature
programs include stories in the
forest, bug safari, wild habitats,
amazing mammals, flying feathered
friends.
Ultrazone Laser Tag; 16074 SE
McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie; 503652-1122; ultrazoneportland.com.
Laser tag, party host, party room,
food, drinks, more.
26
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Museums
Evergreen Aviation & Space
Museum; 500 NE Capt. Michael
King Smith Way, McMinnville; 503434-4185; evergreenmuseum.org.
Museum entrance, IMAX movie,
pizza, cake, party host. (Also see
“Swimming & Waterparks.”)
OMSI; 1945 SE Water Ave.; 503797-4000; omsi.edu. Discounted
group rates for 12 or more with
reservations on weekdays and 20 or
more on a walk-in basis any time.
Portland Children’s Museum;
4015 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-2236500; portlandcm.org. Museum
admission, party room. Craft, special studio time available.
restaurants
Chuck E Cheese’s; 9120 SE Powell
Blvd., Portland, 503-774-7000; 4145
SW 110th Ave., Beaverton, 503-6432002; 7721 NE Vancouver Plaza Dr.,
Vancouver, Wash., 360-896-6672;
chuckecheese.com.
John’s Incredible Pizza; 9180 SW
Hall Blvd.; 503-520-0000;
johnspizza.com. All-you-can-eat
buffet, arcade game tokens, rides,
private room, balloons, more.
Birthday child gets a gift.
Munchkin Playland; 18335 NW
West Union Rd.; 503-533-5438;
munchkinplayland.com. Café with
play area for children 42-inches
and under. Private parties booked
Saturday & Sunday evenings.
Out of this World Pizza and Play;
6255 NW Century Blvd., Hillsboro;
503-629-8700; outofthisworld.net.
Pizza, bottomless soft drinks, play
structure. Optional Wii, magician,
sundae bar, more. (p. 25)
BiRthdAy GuidE
Portland Rock Gym;
21 NE 12th Ave.; 503232-8310; portlandrockgym.com. Customized
rock climbing parties.
Kids will reach new heights
at a circuit Bouldering Gym
party, with two portland
locations.
Stoneworks Climbing
Gym; 6775 SW 111th
Ave., Beaverton; 503-6443517; belay.com. Private
use of the climbing gym
with staff supervision.
Party room available.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CIRCUIT BOULDERING GYM
Papa’s Pizza Parlor; 16321 SE Stark
St. Gresham, 503-251-5555;15700
NW Blueridge Dr., Beaverton, 503531-7220; papaspizza.net. Pizza,
soda, balloons, more. Birthday child
gets a t-shirt.
Pietro’s Pizza Parlor; 10300 SE
Main St., Milwaukie, 503-659-7770;
pietrosrestaurants.com. Themed
parties with pizza, drinks, game
tokens, more.
Playdate PDX; 1434 NW 17th Ave.;
503-227-7529. playdatepdx.com.
Unlimited play in the 7,500 sq. ft.
play structure, private party room,
cupcakes. Full café menu available.
rock Climbing/Bouldering
The Circuit Bouldering Gym;
6050 SW Macadam; 503-246-5111;
410 NE 17th Ave., 503-719-7041;
thecircuitgym.com. Supervised
bouldering with instructors. (p. 26)
ClubSport Oregon; 18120 SW
Lower Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard;
503-968-4500; clubsports.com/
oregon/. Certified staff belay
children on a 45-foot rock wall.
Jim Parsley Community Center;
2901 Falk Rd., Vancouver; 360-3131060; vansd.org/jpc. Supervised rock
wall climbing, party room.
Mittleman Jewish Community
Center; 6651 SW Capitol Highway;
503-244-0111; oregonjcc.org.
Rentals include gymnasium with
rock wall.
North Clackamas Aquatic Park;
7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie;
503-557-7873; pdxsurf.com. Rock
climbing parties with ice cream,
drinks, party room. (p. 21)
roller Skating,
Skateboarding, in-line Skating
Lake Oswego Skate Park; 5520
Willow Rd., Lake Oswego; 971-5638054 (skate park coordinator; seasonal); 503-697-6500 (year-round);
lakeoswegoparks.org. Saturday
morning reservations, June-August.
Mt. Scott Community Center;
5530 SE 72nd; 503-823-3183;
portlandonline.com/parks/. Roller
rink, party room.
Oaks Park; 7805 SE Oaks Park Rd.;
503-233-5777; oakspark.com. Skate
session, skate rental, ice cream,
soda, balloons, more. Birthday child
gets t-shirt, picture. (p. 27)
Skate World; 1220 NE Kelly Ave.,
Gresham; 503-667-6543;
greshamskateworld.com;
4395 SE Witch Hazel Rd., Hillsboro;
503-640-1333; hillsboroskate.com.
Skating, soda, birthday shout out,
party area, more. Birthday child gets
a spin on the prize wheel.
Soccer (indoor)
Note: Availability of indoor sports
arenas is limited on weekends during
winter months.
Indoor Goals; 16340 NW Bethany
Ct., Beaverton; 503-629-9500;
indoorgoals.com. Exclusive use of
indoor soccer field for one hour;
45 minutes in party room; unlimited number of guests; optional staff
host.
Oregon Soccer Center; 17015 SE
82nd Dr., Clackamas; 503-655-7529;
oscindoor.com. Private indoor
soccer field rental; video games
available.
Let’s Party! continues on page 28
metro-parent.com
February 2013
27
BiRthdAy GuidE
The following
businesses have
donated birthday
parties for this
FREE giveaway.
( * indicates the
party comes
to you!)
The Circuit Bouldering Gym
Portland Futsal;
3401 SE 17th Ave.;
503-238-8725;
portlandfutsal.com.
Private use of a futsal
or 3v3 court for one
hour; one hour in
game room with
soccer video games.
Portland Indoor
Soccer; 418 SE Main
St.; 503-231-6368;
Kids Central Kitchen offers hands-on baking parties for aspiring
pdxindoorsoccer.com. chefs – or anyone who loves a sweet treat!
Private arena rentals.
For one hour class
with Lil’ Kickers coaches, call 503-810-9266.
410 NE 17th Ave., 503-719-7041; 6050 SW Macadam Ave., Portland
503-246-5111; thecircuitgym.com
Bouldering party for up to 12 guests.
SoccerPlex; 8785 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy.; 503-297-4145;
soccerplex.com. Private use of indoor soccer arena, basketball court or dance
studio; party room. Party coordinator available.
Dragon Theater Puppets & Princesses
Tualatin Indoor Soccer; 11883 SW Itel St., Tualatin; 503-885-9300;
tualatinindoor.com. One hour on the field plus one hour in the party room.
503-312-5979; dragontheater.com
Free animal balloons at your party.*
Mad Science of Portland & Vancouver
503-230-8040; portland.madscience.org
Mad Scientist party for up to 12.*
My Masterpiece Art Studio
7905 SW Cirrus, Beaverton; 503-453-3700; mymasterpieceartstudio.com
Arty Party for 5.
Oaks Amusement Park
7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland; 503-233-5777; oakspark.com
Roller skating birthday party for up to 8 guests.
Oregon Gymnastics Academy
16305 NW Bethany Ct, #109, Beaverton; 503-531-3409; ogagym.org
OGA birthday party for up to 10 children.
Out of This World Pizza & Play
6255 NW Century Blvd, Hillsboro; 503-629-8700
Out of This World Lunar Party for up to 6 guests.
Party Poppers
503-985-8765; portlandpartypoppers.com
$100 gift certificate toward party food, supplies or decorations.
Portland Party Works
15521 SE For Mor Ct., Clackamas, OR 97015; 503-723-8300;
portlandpartyworks.com
Free bounce house rental.
Wilsonville Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle’s Restaurant
29111 SW Town Center Loop W, Wilsonville; 503-685-5000; fun-center.com
6 Extreme All Day Passes.
How to Enter:
Go to metro-parent.com/contest and submit your name, phone and
email address. One entry per family. Contest ends February 28, 2013.
See additional conditions at metro-parent.com/contest.
28
Let’s Party! continued from page 27
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Swimming & Water Parks
Children of the Sea; 10170 SW Nimbus Ave., Ste. H-7; 503-620-5970;
childrenofthesea.com. Exclusive use of pool and party room, party bags,
balloons, more. (p. 24)
ClubSport Oregon; 18120 SW Lower Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard;
503-968-4500; clubsports.com/oregon/.
Evergreen Wings & Waves Waterpark; 500 NE Capt. Michael King Smith
Way, McMinnville; 503-434-4185; evergreenmuseum.org. All day access to
waterpark, 1.5 hours in a party room, food, beverages, cake.
Jim Parsley Community Center; 2901 Falk Rd., Vancouver, Wash.;
360-313-1060, vansd.org/jpc. Private pool rental, party room.
Kids Club Fun and Fitness, 13914 NW 3rd Ct., Vancouver, Wash.;
360-546-5437; kidsclubfunandfitness.com.
Mittleman Jewish Community Center; 6651 SW Capitol Highway;
503-244-0111; oregonjcc.org. Rentals include 25-yard indoor swimming
pool with outdoor patio, warm water therapy pool.
North Clackamas Aquatic Park; 7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie;
503-794-8080; pdxsurf.com. Wave pool, water slides, diving during open
swim; ice cream, drinks; party room. (p. 21)
Parks & Recreation Pools. Many parks & recreation districts offer private
pool rentals and/or swim parties during public swim times, including
private party rooms. Check with your local parks department for details:
• Beaverton/Tualatin Hills: 503-645-6433, thprd.org
• Hillsboro: 503-681-6120, ci.hillsboro.or.us/parksrec/
• Oregon City: 503-657-8273, orcity.org/swimmingpool
• Portland: 503-823-PLAY (7529), portlandonline.com/parks/
• Tigard-Tualatin: 503-431-5455 (Tigard Pool); 503-431-5655
(Tualatin Pool); ttadpools.com
• Vancouver-Clark, Wash.: 360-487-8311,
cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIDS CENTRAL KITCHEN
Enter to
Win a Free
Birthday
Party!
BiRthdAy GuidE
metro-parent.com
February 2013
29
A Day in the ‘Hood
You might catch a glimpse of a class at Do Jump off Hawthorne, where aspiring
acrobats of all ages can develop skills in physical theater, trapeze arts and more.
PHOTO BY ALI KING
Explore your playful side at Kids at Heart
Toys, a long-time favorite with local
families.
Discovering the Hawthorne District
By Julia Silverman
L
Getting There
et’s be honest: the Hawthorne District is no
one’s best kept secret.
Public Transportation: Tri-Met’s
14 bus line runs along Hawthorne to
50th (where it turns south toward
Division). The 15 runs along Belmont,
just a few blocks north. The 66 and
75 lines cross Hawthorne at Cesar
Chavez (formerly 39th). Plan your trip at
trimet.org.
The stretch from SE 12th to SE 50th or so gets
top billing in Portland guidebooks. It’s often cast as
the city’s version of San Francisco’s fabled HaightAshbury district, and when 20-somethings move to
Portland, a disproportionate number wind up in the
cheap(ish) apartments nearby. It’s also where plenty
of peacenik activists moved in the 1960s, and many
have stayed put ever since.
Parking: Street parking is available at
no cost throughout the district. Check
the signs for time limits on Hawthorne
and side streets nearby.
Perhaps less well known, however, is that
Hawthorne is an excellent place to be a kid – and
a parent. From established anchors such as Kids
at Heart Toys to up-and-comers like Tabor Bread,
Hawthorne has evolved to become one of Portland’s
most family-friendly destinations. Grab your kids and
let’s take a tour.
Biking: Designated bike routes cross
Hawthorne at several intersections.
Download a City of Portland Bike/
Walk Map at portlandoregon.gov/
transportation/39402.
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If it’s morning on the boulevard, the lines will be
out the door at Jam on Hawthorne. Get up early to
beat the rush of hipsters who start trickling in around
10 am and snag a table near one of the biggest play
areas in town. (If you happen to sleep in, go for
dinner instead. The kids’ dinner menu includes bean
and cheese quesadillas and spaghetti and meatballs,
plus healthy sides featuring fresh fruits and veggies.)
After a hearty breakfast, head down the boulevard
to Clever Cycles, among the most family-friendly
bike shops in Portland. They specialize in cargo bikes,
those spiffy models you see around town hauling
kids, pets and groceries alike. Some of the bikes are
spendy (a Christiana boxcycle trike, for example,
sells for $2,850, which is why some families buy one
instead of a car), but Clever Cycles also has a growing
selection of balance bikes, big-kid bikes and assorted
bike accessories, plus a small play area to keep kids
occupied while you browse.
If it’s Saturday, check to see if Emily Alexander,
the daughter of the puppeteers who founded Tears of
Joy Theatre, is putting on a second-generation puppet show at her preschool. Past shows have included
The Princess and the Pea and Horton Hatches an Egg.
Tickets are $5 per kid.
The children’s section at Powell’s Books
on Hawthorne provides a cozy respite
from the hustle and bustle outside.
Older kids might prefer signing up for music lessons at
Artichoke Music, a well-known instrument shop offering ukulele
and guitar lessons for kids.
Just up the street is Clogs-n-More Kids. Be sure to keep an
eye out for their semi-annual sales, when the store’s trusty train
table is put away in favor of shelves full of brand-name shoes at
considerable discounts.
Next, head to the Hawthorne branch of that beloved Portland
institution Powell’s Books. The kids’ room is smaller than the one
at the flagship downtown location, but it’s cozier and less overwhelming, too – perfect for taking some time to peruse wonderful
new and used books for kids of all ages. Bonus: The in-store Fresh
Pot Coffee makes a mean steamer to warm up cold little hands.
Time for a play break? Take a detour to Sewallcrest Park, a few
blocks south of Hawthorne at 32nd. There you’ll find a pesticidefree grassy space, a community garden during the summer
months, and all your standard playground equipment (minus a
panic-inducing stand-alone corkscrew slide, which Portland Parks
& Recreation mercifully removed last fall).
A Day in the ‘Hood continues on page 32
metro-parent.com
February 2013
31
There are plenty of options for sweet
treats in the neighborhood, including
Ben & Jerry’s and The Waffle Window,
which also serves tempting savory waffles.
A Day in the ‘Hood continued from page 31
The park’s big green space is an excellent place for a picnic, which you can pick up at Pastaworks, one of the city’s
oldest gourmet grocery stores, or at New Seasons or Grand
Central Bakery. (Note: If someone spills lunch all over their
shirt and you don’t have a spare, check the racks at MamaBaby Boutique.)
If you’d rather dine indoors, head to the bricks-andmortar outpost of Whole Bowl, which began as a downtown
food cart and sells a tasty bowl of beans, brown rice, olives,
cilantro, avocado, cheese, sour cream and their highly addictive secret sauce. At $5.50 for a bambino bowl, it’s healthy
and filling. Plus, your kids will enjoy watching the fish scoot
along in the restaurant’s big fish tank.
For a sweet treat, you could head to Ben & Jerry’s for ice
cream and other frozen treats, or to Swirl for serve-yourself
frozen yogurt. If you’d rather munch on something warmer,
stop by The Waffle Window, a hole-in-the-wall operation
(literally – it’s a window in the Bread & Ink Cafe building)
serving everything from sugar-dusted and chocolate dipped
waffles to waffles smothered in all manner of sweet and
savory delights. (Limited seating for The Waffle Window is
available at covered picnic tables nearby and inside Break & Ink.)
Still have energy? On weekends, you might catch a familyfriendly matinee at McMenamin’s Bagdad Theater, where you can
enjoy pizza, drinks and other treats while you watch the show; or
try to sneak a peek at a Do Jump class at the Echo Theater, just off
Hawthorne, where circus arts classes for babies, preschoolers and
grade schoolers are scheduled throughout the week.
We like to end the day at the always packed Apizza Scholls –
consistently and deservedly voted Portland’s best pizza, now taking
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February 2013
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reservations via OpenTable.com – or Por Que No?, a local taqueria
with a changing table in the bathroom, crayons and paper at the
ready and a fun outdoor seating area with a chalkboard and chalk.
Clearly you’ll need more than one day to explore the
Hawthorne District in all its glory. (We’ve just begun to cover the
family-friendly fun to be had!) Good thing it’s close enough for
frequent family outings.
Julia Silverman is a Portland freelance writer and mom.
Family-friendly hawthorne
Food & drink:
Apizza Scholls: 4741 SE Hawthorne. 503-233-1286. apizzascholls.com
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt: 1428 SE 36th. 503-234-2223.
benjerry.com
Burgerville: 1122 SE Hawthorne. 503-230-0479. burgerville.com
Jam on Hawthorne Cafe: 2239 SE Hawthorne. 503-234-4790.
jamonhawthorne.com
Grand Central Bakery: 2230 SE Hawthorne. 503-445-1600.
grandcentralbakery.com
New Seasons Market: 4034 SE Hawthorne. 503-236-4800.
newseasonsmarket.com
Pastaworks: 3735 SE Hawthorne. 503-232-1010. pastaworks.com
Por Que No Taqueria: 4635 SE Hawthorne. 503-954-3138.
porquenotacos.com
Swirl Frozen Yogurt: 3538 SE Hawthorne. 503-235-0422.
swirl-frozenyogurt.com
Tabor Bread: 5051 SE Hawthorne. 971-279-5530. taborbread.com
Waffle Window: 3610 SE Hawthorne. 503-239-4756. wafflewindow.com
Whole Bowl: 4411 SE Hawthorne. thewholebowl.com
Shopping:
Clever Cycles: 900 SE Hawthorne. 503-334-1560. clevercycles.com
Clogs-n-More Kids: 3435 SE Hawthorne. 503-236-0605. clogsnmore.com
Goodwill Retail Store: 3557 SE Hawthorne. 503-231-3095.
meetgoodwill.org
Kids at Heart Toys: 3445 SE Hawthorne. 503-231-2954.
kidsathearttoys.com
MamaBaby Boutique: 4029 SE Hawthorne. 503-233-8130.
mamababyboutique.com
Powell’s Books: 3723 SE Hawthorne. 503-228-4651. powells.com
Family Fun:
Artichoke Music: 3130 SE Hawthorne. 503-232-8845.
artichokemusic.com
Bagdad Theater: 3702 SE Hawthorne. 503-249-7474 (movie line).
mcmenamins.com
Do Jump: 1515 SE 37th. 503-231-1232. dojump.org
Emily Alexander’s Preschool: 1444 SE Hawthorne. 503-893-0792.
alexanderpreschool.com
Sewallcrest Park: SE 31st and Market. portlandonline.com/parks
Find more family-friendly businesses at thinkhawthorne.com.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
33
Out & About
By Anne Laufe
a
small crowd gathers around the touch pool, cleverly located in the
seating area of an old motorboat. Kids stroke the backs of purple and orange starfish and gingerly pick up beady-eyed shrimp. On top of the same
boat, an iguana basks in the warmth of the only bright light in the room
as parents and children feel the beast’s leathery skin.
Welcome to the metro area’s newest family-friendly attraction, the
Portland Aquarium. Located in what used to be a Black Angus Steakhouse
on Milwaukie’s SE McLoughlin Blvd., the 11,000-square-foot aquarium
opened in December 2012 housing an impressive array of creatures, from
sharks and rays to lorikeets and an albino python.
Locals who are familiar with the Oregon Coast Aquarium – with its
large, state-of-the-art exhibits and clear emphasis on conservation – undoubtedly will note the differences. At the Portland Aquarium, everything
is indoors, exhibits are small, and there’s no mention of what visitors can
do to preserve healthy ocean ecosystems. On the other hand, you don’t
have to drive to the coast to get there, the price of admission is considerably lower, and the numerous hands-on exhibits are sure to appeal to
many metro area families.
The Portland Aquarium’s central attraction is the shark tank where, for
a small additional fee, visitors can feed krill and squid to a variety of marine creatures. Jay Bowles, a marine biologist who works at the aquarium,
identifies the four species of shark swimming in the pool for my family:
the whitespotted bamboo, the brownbanded bamboo, the blacktip reef,
and the bonnet hammerhead. All are young, with either no teeth or very
small teeth that can’t hurt humans.
Also swimming with the sharks are bat rays and southern sting rays,
parrotfish, golden pufferfish, tangs and tiger butterfly fish. Bowles says the
period between 10 am and noon is the best time to visit if you want to
feed the creatures and/or watch them eat.
“They’re hungry from not eating all night,” he explains. “It’s a feeding
frenzy.”
My family could be entertained by that one pool all afternoon, petting
the rays and watching the sharks, but we tear ourselves away to give others
a chance to get up close and personal with the fish.
My second favorite exhibit, after the sharks and rays, is the tank filled
with garden eels. The whimsical creatures poke up vertically from the
sand in their search for food, reminding me of Lowly Worm from Richard
Scarry’s Busytown books.
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February 2013
metro-parent.com
numerous touch tanks
are a highlight of
the new aquarium in
Milwaukie.
PHOTO BY ANNE LAUFE
The lorikeets, housed in a separate enclosed area, seem a bit out of
place, but kids clearly enjoy feeding them and letting the birds sit on their
heads. An albino python, a panther chameleon and a few other nonmarine animals also are in this room, as well as a climbing structure where
younger kids can let off some steam.
While some visitors have raised concern over the lack of hand-washing
facilities at the aquarium – there are only two restrooms, one each for
women and men, and no hand sanitizer stations near the tanks – Director
of Marketing Patti Obana explains that they don’t provide hand sanitizer
because it’s toxic to the animals. The cotton towels set out near each touch
tank are replaced frequently throughout the day, she says, then bleached
and washed in “super hot” water.
Another fishy issue is whether the animals in the touch tanks are
rotated to give them a break from being petted and prodded. Obana tells
us the aquarium does not rotate the animals, but they do have a regular
routine with lights out from 8 pm to 10 am, giving them time to de-stress.
If an animal shows signs of stress by getting sick, she adds, it’s put into
quarantine and cared for by the resident wildlife veterinarian.
Employees staff each of the interactive exhibits, but monitoring the
behavior of large groups of kids can be challenging. Make sure you teach
your own children how to handle the animals safely and respectfully
ahead of time, and supervise them while they’re at the touch tanks.
On the day my family visits, kids and adults marvel at the variety
of sea life on exhibit. This is the third visit for Lisa Waddick and her two
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PORTLAND AQUARIUM
if You Go
Address:
16323 SE McLoughlin Blvd.,
Milwaukie
hours: 10 am - 8 pm daily.
children, even
though the aquarium opened only
two weeks earlier.
(Waddick, who lives
in southeast Portland, bought a family
membership to the aquarium and
is confident she’ll get her money’s
worth.)
“It’s just so unique,” she says.
“There’s so much you can touch.
It’s so interactive.”
A few more exhibits, including
river otters and puffins, are slated
to open in spring 2013, giving my
family more than enough reason
for a return visit.
Contact: 503-303-4721.
portlandaquarium.net
Admission:
$10.95 ages 12 and older,
$8.95 ages 6-11, $4.95 ages
2-5, free under 2 years old.
Additional $2-$3 to feed the
animals. Annual family mem
membership starts at $119.95.
Special events:
Check the aquarium’s website
for information on birthday
parties, sleepovers, private
morning visits, school field
trips, summer camps and
more.
Anne Laufe is a Portland freelance
writer and mom.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
35
Family Fare
D
What’s Cooking: The
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALEXIS RESTAURANT
ining at Alexis, downtown Portland’s landmark
Greek restaurant, is much
more than a meal. It’s
a cultural experience
complete with chanting
waiters, Greek folk music,
belly dancers (if you go at
the right time) and more.
We introduced our kids
to the exotic fare (think
octopus and flaming
cheese) when they were
quite young and willing to
try new things. Now that
they’re teenagers, Alexis is
among their favorite local
eateries.
Stepping off E Burnside
into Alexis is like being
transported to an exotic land.
Alexis Restaurant
best way to experience the
variety of Greek dishes at
Alexis is to order an Alexis
Numerous small plates, dips
platter, featuring homous
and appetizers on the Alexis
menu allow kids to try a variety
(a.k.a. hummus, a garlicky
of new foods in a fun and
garbanzo bean spread),
friendly environment.
melitzano (eggplant
salad), tzatziki (cucumber
yogurt salad), souvlaki
lamb (lamb grilled on a
skewer), octopus, stuffed
grape leaves, calamari,
feta cheese and olives. The
platter can serve as a main
dish for two or three hungry kids or as an appetizer
for the whole table.
Dinner selections range
from pork and lamb souvlaki to roasted chicken,
moussaka (an eggplant casserole, prepared with or without ground lamb), and more. Popular meatfree offerings include dolmathes (grape leaves stuffed with feta cheese and
rice), spanakopita (layers of filo dough with spinach and feta), and a gyro
vegetarian plate (pita with grilled zucchini, feta cheese, tzatziki and more).
Alexis also serves a family-style dinner for five or more people, including saganaki (pan-fried Greek cheese topped with Ouzo and set on fire),
tzatziki, Greek salad, calamari, spanokopita, dolmathes, moussaka, rice
and vegetables. Round out the meal with a dessert of traditional baklava
(filo dough dripping with honey and nuts) or bougatsa (custard in filo)
and, for the adults, thick and strong Greek coffee.
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February 2013
metro-parent.com
By Anne Laufe
Liquid refreshment: In addition to soft drinks, juice, iced tea and milk,
Alexis offers a full bar and a variety of Greek wines.
What’s Cool for Kids: The friendly wait staff will make your children
feel like they’re long-lost cousins from an old Greek village. Kids also will
enjoy the opportunity to eat olives, cubes of feta cheese and stuffed grape
leaves with their hands, or to scoop up homous and tzatziki with the firm
and abundant homemade bread.
ringing it up: The filling Alexis platter costs $19.95, while single appetizers range from $5.95 (tzatziki, homous, melitzano) to $15.95 (for a large
plate of deep-fried squid). Dinners, which are served with a choice of soup
or salad plus rice and vegetables, run $17.95 to $22.95. Portions are large,
so the dinners easily can serve two adults, but leftovers are delicious.
Family-style dinners are $23.95 per person, half price for kids under
12. Lunch items run $10.95 to $14.95, with a family-style luncheon for
$12.95 per person. Desserts are $3.95 to $4.95.
Keep in Mind: Located on the edge of Old Town, visiting Alexis can be
an eye-opening experience for children (and some adults). If you feel your
kids are mature enough, talk to them ahead of time about homelessness
in our community. Still, my family has never encountered any problems
in all our years of dining at Alexis, and once you step inside the warm and
inviting restaurant, you’ll be transported to another place altogether.
Where and When: Lunch is served from 11:30 am-2 pm Mon-Sat. Dinner
is served from 5 pm-10 pm Mon-Thurs, 5 pm-11 pm Fri-Sat. 215 W Burnside. 503.224.8577. alexisfoods.com.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
37
Viewpoint
By Dr. Susan Haralabatos, Legacy Medical Group
S
ports are being played everywhere in the United States and more
children are involved than ever before. The National Council of Youth
Sports estimates over 40 million kids play in at least one organized sport
each year. While it’s great that so many children are being active, at
least 8,000 children are seen daily in hospital emergency departments
across the country for sports-related injuries, many of which are
preventable.
Sports-related injuries include acute events such as sprains, fractures or
concussions as well as injuries due to excessive training. Many young
children now participate in sports year-round rather than during a
single season, which may also contribute to overuse injuries. Almost
50 percent of all sports injuries at the middle and high school levels are
overuse injuries and half of these are preventable.
Several years ago, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American
Academy of Pediatrics, American
Orthopedic Society for Sports
Medicine and others began
the STOP (Sports Trauma
and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries
campaign to educate
the public regarding
the growing number
of sports-related
injuries in children.
Play
Safe!
Preventing
youth sports
injuries
For parents,
these simple steps
can help reduce the
risk of your child experiencing a sports-related
injury:
GET READY:
Children should have a pre-season
physical examination. Have your
child participate in pre-season conditioning,
including flexibility training so he’s prepared for the
demands of the sport. If the sport carries a risk of concussion, baseline
testing of cognitive function also should be performed. More than
20 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in children occur during sporting and recreational activity. Baseline testing is important in the event
your child does sustain a concussion as it will help determine when it is
safe to return to play.
Choose programs and coaches wisely. The focus should be on improving skills and having fun rather than on the win-loss record. More
than 20 percent of young athletes report having been pressured to play
with an injury. Be certain your child’s coach puts the well-being of your
child as the first priority. Make sure contact with adults in the program
is positive and appropriate. Make sure the organization groups children
according to their skill level, weight and physical maturity whenever
possible.
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February 2013
metro-parent.com
GEAR UP:
Insist your child wear the right gear (sport-specific and properly fitted)
for every game and every practice. More than 60 percent of injuries
happen at practice, but more than one-third of parents admit they do
not require their children to take the same safety precautions during
practices as they do during games.
HYDRATE:
Make sure your child drinks plenty of water or sports drinks before,
during and after activity to prevent dehydration and heat-related illness.
For events that last less than an hour, plain water is generally adequate.
For more sustained physical activity, hydrating fluid should contain
carbohydrates, sodium and potassium.
EAT WELL:
Make sure your child gets enough calcium and vitamin D in his diet to
help build growing bones. The recommended intake of calcium is
1,000 mg for children ages 4-8 and 1,300 mg for children age 9 and
older. Children should get at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day.
LISTEN:
Discomfort after a rigorous practice or game is common and expected,
but persistent discomfort or pain, or pain that occurs at every practice,
should not be ignored. Don’t encourage a child to “play through the
pain.” He or she may have an overuse (a.k.a., over-training) injury.
KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE:
Allow rest. Children are still growing and their bodies need time away
from sports to regroup. Children should have at least one day off from
sports every week and several weeks away from a year-round activity.
These tips can help you ensure your child’s experience in sports will
be a positive one. As parents, we owe it to our children to encourage an
active, healthy lifestyle.
Find more information, sports-specific advice and tips on preventing injuries in
children at stopsportsinjuries.org.
Dr. Susan Haralabatos is a
board-certified orthopedic surgeon
at Legacy Medical Group –
Bone and Joint, specializing in
pediatrics. Her clinical interests
are pediatric sports medicine
and trauma. She treats children
of all ages.
Angels Among Us
Boys & Girls Aid
The Power of Permanency
By Ashley Cone, Boys & Girls Aid
Marketing & Communications Supervisor
T
hink for a minute about the lifelong connections you’ve made and the
influence those relationships have had on your life. If you’re reading this,
you’re doing so because someone somewhere along the way supported
you, believed in you, held you accountable and encouraged you.
Too often, children who run away from home or are placed in the foster care system never have the opportunity to establish a permanent bond
with a stable adult who will help them make good choices, care enough to
hold them accountable, encourage them and simply love them. In the field
of social work, this permanent bond is called permanency, and it’s critical to
every child’s success.
The core purpose of Boys & Girls Aid is to promote the well-being of
children in our programs – children who find us through our homeless
shelter or are referred to us by agencies such as the Oregon Department of
Human Services, the Oregon Youth Authority or the Clackamas County
Juvenile Court – by helping them develop permanency. It is our goal that
by 2030, 100 percent of the children served by Boys & Girls Aid will exit
our care with a lifelong connection. Currently, 33 percent of the children
served at Boys & Girls Aid exit to permanency.
Boys & Girls Aid was founded in 1885 by local Portland leaders. The
goal was simple: help children find adults and families to raise them, offer
them guidance and support and ensure their safety and well being. Today
Boys & Girls Aid is still finding families and supportive adults for the children in our care. We believe now, as we did in 1885, people – not systems
– raise children. Children need and thrive with stability, guidance, support
and love.
Consider Sam, who had spent the past 11 years in foster care. She averaged three moves per year and changed schools at least once a year. She
desperately wanted to have a family to call her own and she believed, at
the age of 16, that was still a possibility.
“I’m looking for a family with a compassionate foundation, a family
who will allow me to be angry and grieve my losses; a family who will
work with me when life is tough; a family who will support my dreams of
graduating high school and going to college,” Sam told us. “I want a mom
I can talk to about my life and my past struggles. Though I have never had
a father, I imagine him as a man with good morals, a man who will protect
me. I’ve never been loved like children should be loved. I need that love in
order to learn to love and heal myself.”
Sam’s need was basic, but so difficult to meet. Helping the children we
serve develop permanency is our most critical work. We work with youth
to prepare them to accept permanency. We advocate for permanency on
their behalf with their families and case workers. We work tirelessly to find
lifelong connections for them. In practice, this goal can seem daunting,
but we know the impact it will have on the children we serve.
“I’ve been in care several times,” Sam added. “I’ve been neglected. I’ve
lost my mother to drugs. I’ve lost my siblings to adoption and I have been
abused. I’ve lost pets, friends, photographs and everything I held dear. I’ve
A permanent,
positive bond with
a caring adult is
essential for all
children, though
many who exit
the foster care
system have never
developed such
a bond. Boys &
Girls Aid works to
help them develop
and nurture that
bond, known as
permanency.
never been hugged or rocked, no one ever read to me and a parent has
never sat with me to do homework. My heart hurts. I’m lonely and broken.
However, despite my struggles, I stand strong but I don’t want to stand
alone.”
Now, through the efforts of many, Sam has found a permanent, lifelong
connection. She is in school, has a job and is learning what it’s like to have
healthy relationships.
In 2010, nearly 30,000 youth exited from foster care in the United
States, about 400 of them in Oregon. At Boys & Girls Aid, we see these children far too frequently. Among these children, we know through research
that:
• 70 percent of the boys will become homeless;
• 80 percent of those homeless boys will become incarcerated;
• 71 percent of the females will report at least one pregnancy;
• By the age of 21, only 30 percent will complete any college; and
• Just 50 percent of these youth will be employed, most earning minimum
wage.
A lack of permanency for the majority of children in foster care is a
critical problem with potentially devastating outcomes. Imagine, however,
if Boys & Girls Aid could ensure every child we serve will exit care to permanency. That would mean all 700 youth we served last year would have
left our care to permanent connections. Imagine what our community
would look like if we meet just this one basic need.
For more information on permanency and how you can support Boys & Girls Aid,
visit boysandgirlsaid.org or call 503-542-2301.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
39
February Family Calendar
Friday, Feb. 1
Penny’s Puppets. Feb. 1: The Remarkable Snowflake. Feb. 18: And They’re
Off… 10:30. $5 each, 4 guests $17.
Central Lutheran Church, 1820 NE 21st.
503-282-9207. pennypuppets.com.
Story and Stroll. Naturalist-led story and
walk. Best ages 2-6. 1-2:15 pm Feb. 1, 8,
15, 22. FREE, reservations required. Tryon
Creek State Park, 11321 SW Terwilliger.
503-636-9886 xt 225. tryonfriends.org.
Target FREE First Friday. Enjoy the
Portland Children’s Museum FREE from
4 -8 pm. 4015 SW Canyon. 503-223-6500.
portlandcm.org.
First Friday Family Film. Showing movie
Puss In Boots. Ages 2-12. 6:30 pm.
FREE. Bethany Presbyterian Church,
15505 NW Springville Rd. 503-645-1116.
bethanypc.com.
Family Park at Night. Craft, sports,
indoor park toys, more. 6:30-8:30 pm
Feb. 1, 15. $1.25 per child, grown-up
must attend. East Portland Community
Center, 740 SE 106th. 503-823-3456.
portlandoregon.gov/parks/.
Movie Night at Umpqua Bank. Wear
your jammies for kid-friendly flick. 6:158 pm. FREE. Organized by Zimmerman
Community Center. 1139 NW Lovejoy.
503-224-4636. zcommunitycenter.org.
$5 Friday. Art workshops. $5. 3-5 pm
Feb. 1: tie dye, bring something to dye;
ages 5+. 3-5 pm Feb. 8: make valentines;
ages 2+. 3-5 pm Feb. 15: popsicle
stick frames; ages 6+. Art ala Carte,
319 NE Wygant. 503-750-0522.
artalacartepdx.com.
Family Trail Day Celebration of Crawdads. Observe crawdads, crawdad relay
race, hike. Bring flashlight. 6:30-8:30 pm.
Adult only hike 7:30 pm. $6, member
discount, reservations required. Tryon
Creek State Park, 11321 SW Terwilliger.
503-636-9886 xt 225. tryonfriends.org.
Valentine’s Party Super Saturday.
Hearts and crafts. Ages 5+. 2 pm. FREE.
Three Creeks Community Library, 800-C
NE Tenney. Vancouver. 360-571-9696.
fvrl.org.
Lunar New Year Celebration. Dance,
food, games, craft. FREE. 1-3 pm Feb. 2:
Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy;
503-988-5386. 3-4:30 pm Feb. 10: Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th; 503-9885399. 6-7:30 pm Feb. 13: Holgate Library,
7905 SE Holgate; 503-988-5389. 2-4 pm
Feb. 17: Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd.
503-988-5392. web.multcolib.org.
Guided Nature Walk. Explore Tryon
Creek Park, different topic weekly. All
ages, grown-up must be with kids.
10-11:30 am Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23. FREE.
11321 SW Terwilliger. 503-636-9886
xt 225. tryonfriends.org.
Lakeshore Learning Crafts. Kids make
a craft. Ages 3+. 11 am-3 pm Feb. 2:
Puppy pal. Feb. 9: Dragon puppet. Feb.
16: Pencil holder. Feb. 23: Dancing puppet. FREE. 16901 SW 65th, Lake Oswego.
503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.
Pearson Storytime. Aviation story, craft.
Ages 0-6. 10 am. Free w/admission $7
adult, $5 ages 6-17, free ages 0-6. Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E 5th, Vancouver.
360-694-7026. pearsonairmuseum.org.
FREE Art Feb. FREE art activity for kids,
shopping for adults. Ages 4-10. 3:304:30 pm Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22. Queens Mab,
1920 N Kilpatrick. 503-459-1289. facebook.
com/CreativeRecyclingWorkshops.
Japanese Doll Festival. Make origami
box. 2-4 pm. FREE. Northwest Library,
2300 NE Thurman. 503-988-5560.
web.multcolib.org.
Saturday, Feb. 2
Native American Hoop Dance.
Storytelling dance. 2-3 pm. FREE. Central
Library, 801 SW 10th. 503-988-5123.
web.multcolib.org.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents musical journey through Narnia. Based on the
classic CS Lewis story. Best ages 6+. 2 pm
Feb. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17. 5 pm Feb. 2. $18$28, plus surcharge. Newmark Theatre,
1111 SW Broadway. 503-228-9571.
octc.org.
Kids Morning Skate. Group lesson and
skate games. Ages 0-10, with family.
10:30-noon Sat. $6 per child, grown-up
free. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park.
503-233-5777. oakspark.com.
40
February 2013
metro-parent.com
in the Spotlight
The Sky’s the Limit. Plant a pot of sweet
peas and make a trellis for them. $5,
reservations required. 11 am Feb. 2:
Al’s Garden Center Woodburn, 1220 N
Pacific Hwy; 503-981-1245. 11 am
Feb. 9: Al’s Sherwood, 16920 SW Roy
Rogers; 503-726-1162. 11 am Feb. 16: Al’s
Gresham, 7505 SE Hogan; 503-491-0771.
als-gardencenter.com.
PHOTO BY LUCAS WELSH, COURTESY NWCTS
Seussical! Northwest Children’s Theater presents Horton the elephant,
Gertrude McFuzz and the Cat in the Hat in a musical adventure through the
limitless imagination of Dr. Seuss. Best ages 4+. Noon, 4 pm Feb. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16,
17, 18, 23, 24 March 2, 3. $18-$22, plus surcharge. 1819 NW Everett.
503-222-2190. nwcts.org.
Anansi the Spider.
Two traditional tales
of the trickster of West
Africa from Tears of
Joy’s puppets. The first
tells how Anansi tricked
Lion out of his stories.
The second shows how
Anansi loved to eat melons, but was too lazy to
grow them. Puppet craft
before matinees. Ages
3+. 7:30 pm Feb. 8, 11
am Feb. 9, 16. 1 pm
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEARS OF JOY THEATRE
Feb. 9, 10, 16, 17. 3 pm
Feb. 10, 17. $21 adult, $17 child, plus surcharge. Winningstad Theatre,
1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-0557. tojt.org.
Tet Festival. Celebrate Vietnamese New
Year with cultural entertainment, info
booths, more. 10 am-5 pm. $4, free ages
0-5, 65+, extra charge for some activities.
Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK.
503-716-2728. congdongvietnamoregon.
org.
Play Well Baby Clothes Swap. Bring
a bag of baby or maternity clothes to
swap. Games, activities and prizes for the
kiddos. 1-4 pm. Milwaukie Grind, 9401 SE
32nd. 503-298-5111. theplaywell.com.
Seussical! See In the Spotlight on this
page.
Sunday, Feb. 3
$2 Day. Explore OMSI for $2 every first
Sun. 9:30 am-5:30 pm. Parking $3. 1945
SE Water. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.
PAM Family Tour. Docent–led. 12:301:30 pm Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24. Free w/admission $15 adults, $12 college students,
free ages 0-17. Portland Art Museum,
1219 SW Park. 503-226-2811.
portlandartmuseum.org.
Uke Can Do It. Cinda Tilgner leads ukulele workshop. Non-musicians welcome.
Ages 11+. 3-4 pm. FREE. Capitol Hill
Library, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-9885385. web.multcolib.org.
Seussical! See In the
Spotlight on page 40.
Monday, Feb. 4
Kids & Parents Yoga.
Playful poses, games,
activities. Ages 2-6,
with grown-up. 10:30Catch story time with Olive and Dingo every Thursday at
Café au Play.
11:30 am Mon/Wed.
$10 per family. StumpThe Reptile Man. Slithering good time.
town Yoga, 3235 SE 39th. 731-393-9642.
7-8 pm. FREE. Tigard Public Library,
stumptownyoga.com.
13500 SW Hall. 503-684-6537.
calendar.wccls.org.
Mommy and Me. Songs, crafts, story
time. 10-11 am Mon. Free w/admission
$9 adults, $6 ages 3-18, free 2 and under.
$4 parking. World Forestry Center,
Wednesday, Feb. 6
4033 SW Canyon. 503-228-1367.
worldforestry.org.
Kids Concert Series. Mo Phillips’ rockin’
interactive show. 11:30 am-12:20 pm
Feb. 6, 13. $3 person. Oregon Children’s
Theater, 1939 NE Sandy. 503-228-9571.
Tuesday, Feb. 5
mophillips.com.
Preschool Play & Skate. Group lesson,
Wondrous Wednesday. $3 admission
games, snack, more. Ages 0-6. 10:00to the World Forestry Center Discovery
11:30 am Tues, Wed. $6 per child, grownMuseum every first Wed. 10 am-5 pm. $4
up free. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park.
parking. 4033 SW Canyon. 503-228-1367.
503-233-5777. oakspark.com.
worldforestry.org.
Baby Hour. 45-minute docent-led tour,
Honeybee Hike. Garden walk, craft/
followed by coffee, chat. Ages 0-1, with
story. Ages 2-6, with grown-up. 10-11 am
grown-up. 10 am. $5 members, $15
Wed. $2 per walking child. Leach
non-members, reservations required.
Botanical Garden, 6704 SE 122nd.
Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park.
503-823-1671. leachgarden.org.
503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org.
Ladybug Theater. Live theater for little
Family Act. Family class, movement,
ones. Ages 2+. 10:30 am Feb. 6, 13, 20,
music, voice. Ages 2 ½+. 10:15-11:15 am
27. $4 person (cash/check). Call for show
Feb. 5, 12, 19 26. $10 per family, $70-8
title and reservations. Smile Station,
class punch card. Oregon Children’s
8210 SE 13th. 503-232-2346.
Theater, 1939 NE Sandy. 503-228-9571.
labybugtheater.org.
octc.org.
Symphony Storytime. Oregon SymArts & Crafts for Preschoolers. Make
phony musicians show off instrument,
something. 6-7 pm Feb. 5, 12, 19 26.
musical stories. 1:30-2:30 pm Feb. 6, 13,
FREE. Milwaukie Ledding Library,
20, 27. FREE. Woodstock Library, 6008 SE
10660 SE 21st. 503-786-7580.
49th. 503-988-5399. web.multcolib.org.
milwaukie.lib.or.us.
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
The Remarkable Snowflake. Penny’s
puppets perform. 4-4:45 pm. FREE, tkts.
Kids & Parents Yoga. See Feb. 4.
30 min. prior. Hillsdale Library, 1525 SW
Sunset. 503-988-5388. web.multcolib.org.
FREE IHOP Pancakes. Get a free short
stack of buttermilk pancakes. Make a
donation to the Children’s Miracle
Network. Goal $3 million. 7 am-10 pm.
For the location nearest you, visit
ihoppancakeday.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVE AND DINGO
The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe.
See Feb. 2.
Thursday, Feb. 7
OMSI Agate and Mineral Show. Explore geology, 30+ exhibits. 9:30 am5:30 pm Feb. 7-10. FREE. Parking $3.
1945 SE Water. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
41
February Family Calendar
Story Time with Olive and Dingo. Silly
and social story, songs. 10:30-11:30
Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28. $5 donation. Café au
Play, 5633 SE Division. 503-894-8506.
cafeauplay.org.
Monster Jam. Big noisy trucks, trick
driving, car crushing. 2, 7 pm Feb. 9, 2
pm Feb. 10. $5 (kids)-$40, plus surcharge.
Rose Quarter, One Center Court.
503-797-9619. rosequarter.com.
Think Fun Thursdays. Crafts and play.
Ages 3-8 with grown-up. 4-5 pm Feb. 7,
14, 21, 28. FREE. Beaverton Library,
12375 SW 5th. 503-350-3600.
beavertonlibrary.org.
Belmont Firehouse Safety Saturday.
Tour historic firehouse, safety tips. 9 am3 pm. FREE. 900 SE 35th. 503-823-3615.
jeffmorrisfoundation.org.
Valentine Fun. Crafts, cards. FREE. 3:154:45 pm Feb. 7: Belmont Library, 1038 SE
Cesar Chavez; 503-988-5382. Noon-2 pm
Feb. 9: Sellwood-Moreland Library, 7860
SE 13th; 503-988-5398. 2-3:30 pm Feb. 9:
Central Library, 801 SW 10th;
503-988-5123. web.multcolib.org.
Homeschool Programs. Ecosystem explorers. Learn about rainforests, deserts
and the ocean. Craft. Ages 5+. 1:30 pm
Feb. 7, 21. FREE. Milwaukie Ledding
Library, 10660 SE 21st. 503-786-7580.
milwaukie.lib.or.us.
Friday, Feb. 8
Anansi the Spider. See In the Spotlight
on p. 40.
OMSI Agate and Mineral Show. See
Feb. 7.
$5 Friday. See Feb. 1.
Story and Stroll. See Feb. 1.
FREE Art Feb. See Feb. 1.
Saturday, Feb. 9
KUIK’s Northwest Family and Kids
Festival. Games, face painting, petting
zoo, bounce house, more. 10 am-4 pm
Feb. 9, 10. $10 per family, extra charge
for some activities. Washington County
Fair Complex, 873 NE 34th, Hillsboro.
503-640-1360. kuik.com.
Fairy Tale Festival. Celebrate Storyland,
the new exhibit with puppet show, crafts
(small extra charge) and storytimes.
9:30 am-3:30 pm. Free w/admission
$9 ages 1-54. Portland Children’s
Museum, 4015 SW Canyon. 503-2236500. portlandcm.org.
Raptor Road Trip. Naturalists at 4
locations educate and help spot raptors
wintering over on Sauvie Island. Pick up
event map at Kruger’s Farm Market. 9
am-2 pm. $10 per vehicle (cash only).
18330 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-2926855. audubonportland.org.
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February 2013
metro-parent.com
Family Day. Washington County Museum hosts Latino family day with crafts,
games, activities honoring the Hispanic
community. 10 am-1 pm. FREE. Hillsboro
Civic Center, 120 E Main. 503-645-5353.
washingtoncountymuseum.org.
Second Saturday. Love your backyard
birds. Ages 3-12, with grown-up. 1-3 pm.
FREE. Water Resources Education Center,
4600 SE Columbia, Vancouver. 360-4877111. cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.
Saturday Crafts@Ledding. Ages 5+.
2 pm. Feb. 9: valentines. Feb. 23: winter
craft. FREE. Milwaukie Ledding Library,
10660 SE 21st. 503-786-7580.
milwaukie.lib.or.us.
Rick Meyers’ Old Time Music Show.
Audience participation for pioneer music.
Ages 5-12. 2:30-3:30 pm. FREE. Hillsboro
Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy.
503-312-5979. rickmeyersmusic.com.
Aaron Nigel Smith. Celebrate Read
Across America with kid-friendly music.
11 am. FREE. Lake Oswego Library,
706 4th. 503-697-6580. ci.oswego.or.us.
Family Dance. Heidi Vorst calling, dancers Sussefusse. All ages. 4:30-6:30 pm.
$6 adults, $5 kids. $20 family. Fulton
Community Center, 68 SW Miles. 503245-5070. portlandcountrydance.org.
I Want Candy. Sweet crafts. 3-4:30 pm.
FREE. Cascade Park Community Library,
600 NE 136th, Vancouver. 360-256-7787.
fvrl.org.
A Horse Named Bill. Red Yarn and his
musical puppet show. 10:30-11:15 am.
FREE. Albina Library, 3605 NE 15th.
503-988-5362. web.multcolib.org.
OMSI Agate and Mineral Show. See
Feb. 7.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
See Feb. 2.
Kids Morning Skate. See Feb. 2.
Seussical! See In the Spotlight on p. 40.
Anansi the Spider. See In the Spotlight
on p. 40.
Family Favorites
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MINNESOTA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition.
discovery channel’s popular science
entertainment show comes to oMsi so you
can explore common myths for yourself.
does toast always land butter-side down?
do you get less wet walking
or running in the rain? live
demos and myth mirth.
Runs Feb. 8 through
May 5. 9:30 am5:30 pm tues-sun.
$18 adults, $13 ages
3 to 13 and seniors,
includes admission to
the rest of the museum.
parking $3. 1945 sE Water.
503-797-4000. omsi.edu.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MBE, LLC
Storyland: A Trip Through
Childhood Favorites. This
exhibits focuses on seven of
the best-loved picture books:
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by
Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault; The Snowy Day by Ezra
Jack Keats; If You Give a Mouse
a Cookie by Laura Numeroff;
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by
Beatrix Potter; Where’s Spot?
by Eric Hill; Tuesday by David
Wiesner; and Abuela by Arthur
Dorros. It builds literacy skills
through fun, hands-on activities
designed for kids under 8 years
old. Runs Feb. 9 through May 5.
9 am-5 pm Tues-Sun, Thurs until
8 pm. Included in admission
of $9 ages 1-54. $4 to park.
Portland Children’s Museum,
4015 SW Canyon. 503-223-6500.
portlandcm.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCIENCENTER
TreeHouses: Look
Who’s Living in the
Trees! A new exhibit at
the World Forestry
Center will have you
roaming from tree
to tree to discover
who might live there.
Uncover fascinating
facts about how people
and animals use trees
for their homes. Runs
Feb. 2 through May 5.
10 am-5 pm daily. $9
adults, $6 ages 3 to 18,
free 2 and under. 4033 SW Canyon Rd. 503-228-1367. worldforestry.org.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
43
February Family Calendar
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
Celebrate the Year of the
Snake Feb. 10-24 at Lan Su
Chinese Garden.
Valentine Fun. See Feb. 7.
Seussical! See In the Spotlight on p. 40.
The Sky’s the Limit. See Feb. 2.
Anansi the Spider. See In the Spotlight
on p. 40.
Guided Nature Walk. See Feb. 2.
Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See Feb. 2.
Monster Jam. See Feb. 9.
Lunar New Year Celebration.
See Feb. 2.
Sunday, Feb. 10
PAM Family Tour. See Feb. 3.
Curious Garden. Kiddo theatre, open
mic at end. Best ages 0-8. 10:30 am.
$5 donation. Curious Comedy Theater,
5225 NE MLK. 503-477-9477.
curiouscomedy.org.
KUIK’s Northwest Family and Kids
Festival. See Feb. 9.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. Lion dances,
demos, crafts, cultural performances.
Most kid-friendly events on Fri, Sat
and Sun. Feb. 10-24. See web page for
details. 10 am-5 pm. $9.50 adults, $7 students. $28 family, free ages 0-5. Special
lantern viewing, dragon/lion dance 6:308:30 pm Feb. 22, 23, 24. $20, member
discount. 239 NW Everett. 503-228-8131.
lansugarden.org.
Chinese Lunar New Year Festival. Paper
lantern, snake crafts, sample Chinese
treats. 1:30-2:30 pm. FREE. Tigard Public
Library, 13500 SW Hall. 503-684-6537.
calendar.wccls.org.
DIAPER SERVICE and
Natural Baby Boutique
www.tideedidee.com
Bring in this ad for
1 FREE WEEK DIAPER SERVICE
with 4 prepaid weeks
One Coupon per customer, please
Vancouver and Salem (800) 540-4547
Portland (503) 777-3856
44
February 2013
metro-parent.com
Papagayo. Tears of Joy puppets bilingual performance. 3:15-3:45 pm. FREE.
Fairview-Columbia Library, 1520 NE
Village; 503-988-5655. 11-11:30 am Feb.
16: St. Johns Library, 7510 N Charleston;
503-988-5397. 2-2:30 pm Feb. 16 (tkts 30
min prior): Central Library, 801 SW 10th;
503-988-5123. web.multcolib.org.
OMSI Agate and Mineral Show. See
Feb. 7.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
See Feb. 2.
Monday, Feb. 11
Owls. Learn about these nocturnal birds.
Grades 1-3. 3:30-4:15. FREE, reservations
required. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE
Brookwood Pkwy. 503-312-5979. hillsboro.
plinkit.org.
Kids & Parents Yoga. See Feb. 4.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Mommy & Me. See Feb. 4.
Tuesday, Feb. 12
Hopworks Tot Tuesday Storytime and
Crafts. Every second Tuesday at 11 am.
Arts activity, storytime and light snacks.
Ages 1-8. FREE. Hopworks, 2944 SE Powell. 503-232-4677. hopworksbeer.com.
$4 Zoo Tuesday. See the Oregon Zoo
for $4 per person. 9 am-4 pm. Oregon
Zoo, 4001 SE Canyon. 503-226-1561.
oregonzoo.org.
Lovey Babies Kids Dance Party. Make
valentines, dance. Ages 0-6, with grownup. 10:30-11:30 am. FREE. Beaverton
Library, 12375 SW 5th. 503-350-3600.
beavertonlibrary.org.
Crafts@LO. Create heart animals. Ages
3-5. 11 am Feb. 12, 13. FREE, reservations
required. Lake Oswego Library, 706 4th.
503-697-6580. www.ci.oswego.or.us.
Family Act. See Feb. 5.
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
Arts & Crafts for Preschoolers. See
Feb. 5.
Thursday, Feb. 14
You and Me Valentine Tea. Tea and
crafts for two. Noon-1 pm. $5 family plus
admission, member discount, reservations required. AC Gilbert’s Discovery
Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem.
503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Tot Thursday. Crafts and storytime. Ages
1-6. 11 am. FREE. Hopworks BikeBar,
3947 N Williams. 503-232-4677.
hopworksbeer.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 13
Storytime with Olive and Dingo. See
Feb. 7.
Valentine Crafting Fun. Make a valentine. Age 2-11, with grown-up. 4-5 pm.
FREE. Beaverton Library, 12375 SW 5th.
503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.
Think Fun Thursdays. See Feb. 7.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Chinese Morning. Crafting
and Chinese culture during
school late start. School aged.
8:30-10:30 am. $20, reservations required. Laurelhurst
School, 840 NE 41st. 503-8888270. portlandchineselessons.
com.
Get in on the Great
Backyard Bird count
Feb. 15-18.
And They’re Off… Penny’s
puppets perform story of
Chinese calendar. 6:457:30 pm. FREE. Holgate
Library, 7905 SE Holgate. 503988-5389. web.multcolib.org.
Home Education Days. Learn
about the lives of the indigenous people
of the Tualatin Valley. 10-11 am Feb. 13.
Learn about Chinook native people,
traders of the Northwest. 10-11 am Feb.
27. Ages 8+. $6 per child. Hillsboro Civic
Center, 120 E Main. 503-645-5353. xt. 200.
washingtoncountymuseum.org.
Outrageous Otters. Find out about
these cute guys. Ages 3-5, with grownup. 10:30-11 am. Free w/admission $18.95
adults, $16.95 ages 13-17, $11.95 ages
3-12, Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE
Ferry Slip Rd, Newport. 541-867-3474.
aquarium.org.
Kids Concert Series. See Feb. 6.
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
Honeybee Hike. See Feb. 6.
Symphony Storytime. See Feb. 6.
Lunar New Year Celebration.
See Feb. 2.
Ladybug Theater. See Feb. 6.
Friday, Feb. 15
Great Backyard Birdcount. Count birds
wherever you are for at least 15 minutes.
Submit a species count list to the website. Feb. 15-18. FREE. birdsource.org.
Ladybug Nature Walks. Naturalist-led
stroll. Ages 2-5, with grown-up. 10-11 am.
Feb. 15: Hoyt Arboretum (across from
4000 SW Fairview). Feb. 22: Whitaker
Ponds. $3 per child. 503-823-3601.
portlandoregon.gov/parks/.
Artsy Fartsy Friday. Express yourself.
Ages 6-8. 3:30-5 pm. FREE. Cascade
Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th,
Vancouver. 360-256-7782. fvrl.org.
Ceili Dance. Kick off for Irish festival.
Lesson 7:15 pm, dance 8 pm. Ages 8+.
$10 general, $8 students. Portland
Ceili Society, 618 SE Alder.
portlandceilisociety.org.
Happy Birthday, AC Gilbert. Cake and
fun. 10 am-5pm. Free w/admission $7
ages 3-59, $3.50 ages 1-2, free ages 0-1.
AC Gilbert Discovery Village, 116 Marion
NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.
metro-parent.com
February 2013
45
February Family Calendar
$5 Friday. See Feb. 1.
Family Park at Night. See Feb. 1.
Story and Stroll. See Feb. 1.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
FREE Art Feb. See Feb. 1.
Saturday, Feb. 16
Parent’s Survival Night. Fitness fun,
crafts, music and snack for kids while
parents get some alone time. Ages 3-12.
6-9:30 pm. $26, member discount, reservations please. The Little Gym, 17890 SW
McEwan, Lake Oswego. 503-595-9702.
tlglakeoswegoor.com.
Sean-nos Northwest Irish Festival.
Workshops in Irish language, singing,
dancing, art, storytelling. Irish films.
Kid-friendly classes Sun. Feb. 17. 9 am-8
pm Feb. 16, 10:30-6 pm Feb. 17. $45-$75.
Marylhurst University, 17600 Pacific Hwy.,
Marylhurst. 503-206-9311. seannos.org.
Young People’s Concert: Virtuoso
Bass. The Portland Baroque Orchestra
performs. 3 pm. $10, $5 ages 0-18, $20
family. First Baptist Church, 909 SW 11th.
503-715-1114. pbo.org.
Owl Prowl. Night hike to look for owls,
slideshow, more. Ages 6+, with-grownup. 7-9 pm. $10, reservations required.
Cooper Mountain Nature Park, 18892
SW Kemmer. Beaverton. 503-629-6350.
thprd.org.
Rainy Day Fun. Art projects, games. All
ages. 1:30-2:30 pm. FREE. Tigard Public
Library, 13500 SW Hall. 503-684-6537.
calendar.wccls.org.
Community Day. Oregon Historical
Society hosts family-friendly storytelling
and activities themed to two exhibits
on Oregon’s black history. 11 am-3 pm
activities. FREE all day 10 am-5 pm.
1200 SW Park. 503-222-1741. ohs.org.
Book Jeopardy. Children’s book/movie
trivia. Grades 3-6, with grown-up. 2-3 pm.
FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW
5th. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.
Daddy Daughter Night. 50’s sock hop.
Music, hamburgers and hot dogs, more.
Ages 4-12, with grown-up. 6-8 pm. $18.
Southwest Community Center,
6820 SW 45th. 503-823-2840.
portlandoregon.gov/parks/.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
See Feb. 2.
Kids Morning Skate. See Feb. 2.
Papagayo. See Feb. 10.
The Sky’s the Limit. See Feb. 2.
Guided Nature Walk. See Feb. 2.
Stories Alive! Lake Oswego Youth
Action Council performs 2 stories. 11 am.
FREE. Lake Oswego Library, 706 4th.
503-697-6580. www.ci.oswego.or.us.
Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See Feb. 2.
Family Sleepover. Scavenger hunt,
behind-the-scenes tours, aquarium
activities. Dinner, breakfast included.
Families with kids 6+. 6 pm-9 am. $60
person, member discount, reservations
required. Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820
SE Ferry Slip Rd, Newport. 541-867-3474.
aquarium.org.
Sunday, Feb. 17
Junior Gardeners’ Club. Learn about
birds, create a bird feeder, participate
in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Ages
5-10. 10 am. $3. The Oregon Garden,
879 W Main, Silverton. 503-874-8100.
oregongarden.org.
ComedySportz4Kidz. Improv theatre
performance for kiddos. Ages 0-12. 2 pm.
$10 adults, $8 kidz, plus service charge.
1963 NW Kearney. 503-236-8888.
portlandcomedy.com.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Future Vet. Meet a Banfield veterinarian,
learn how to take care of pets. Ages 2-10.
10-10:30 am. Free w/admission $9 ages
1-54. $4 to park. Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon. 503-223-6500.
portlandcm.org
Sean-nos Northwest Irish Festival.
See Feb. 16.
The Lion,
the Witch
and the
Wardrobe.
See Feb. 2.
Seussical! See In the
Spotlight on p. 40.
Anansi the Spider. See In
the Spotlight on p. 40.
Great Backyard
Birdcount. See Feb. 15.
PAM Family Tour.
See Feb. 3.
Learn paper airplane
tricks and tips from the
Paper Airplane Guy at
the Evergreen Museum
Feb. 23.
Lan Su Chinese New Year.
See Feb. 10.
Monday, Feb. 18
FREE Day Japanese Garden. 10 am4 pm. FREE. 611 SW Kingston.
503-223-1321. japanesegarden.com.
Talking Animals. How do animals communicate? Ages 4-6. 7:45 am-5:15 pm
$49 in-district. Nature Park Interp. Center,
15655 SW Millikan, Beaverton. 503-6296350. thprd.org.
Sizzlin’ Science Fair. Science and engineering activities. 10 am-5pm Feb. 18-23.
Feb. 18: Mini-maker Faire demos and
activities in technology and engineering
and heritage skills like blacksmithing,
spinning. 5-7 pm Feb. 21: Girls in Science, activities to inspire girls in science,
math. 10 am-5 pm Feb. 23: Family day,
egg drop, Mentos geysers, 10+ activity
stations. Free w/admission $7 ages 3-59,
$3.50 ages 1-2, free ages 0-1. AC Gilbert
Discovery Village, 116 Marion NE, Salem.
503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.
No School Drop-In Art. Get creative.
Ages 5-12. 10 am-1 pm. $5 donation.
Vibe’s Creative Outlet Art Studio, Tabor
Space, 5441 SE Belmont. 503-560-3592.
vibeofportland.org.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Kids & Parents Yoga. See Feb. 4.
Penny’s Puppets. See Feb. 1.
Mommy & Me. See Feb. 4.
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Sizzlin’ Science Fair. See Feb. 18.
Family Act. See Feb. 5.
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
Arts & Crafts for Preschoolers. See
Feb. 5.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Wednesday, Feb. 20
Tween Craft Around. President’s day
themed crafts. Grades 3-8. 4-5 pm. FREE.
Beaverton Library, 12375 SW 5th. 503350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.
Messy Art for Little Kids. Ages 2-7, with
grown-up. 4-5:00 pm. FREE. Beaverton
Library, 12375 SW 5th. 503-350-3600.
beavertonlibrary.org.
Make Some Magic. Learn some magic
tricks. Grades 1-5. 4 pm. FREE. Tualatin
Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi. 503-6913074. tualatinoregon.gov.
Sizzlin’ Science Fair. See Feb. 18.
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
Symphony Storytime. See Feb. 6.
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metro-parent.com
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Kids & Parents Yoga. See Feb. 4.
Ladybug Theater. See Feb. 6.
Kids can make
Valentines crafts and
cards at a number of
events throughout
the month.
Kids Morning Skate. See
Feb. 2.
Seussical! See In the Spotlight
on p. 40.
Guided Nature Walk. See
Feb. 2.
Lan Su Chinese New Year.
See Feb. 10.
Storytime with Olive and Dingo. See
Feb. 7.
Annie Warbucks. See Feb. 22.
Howling Coyotes. Explore, hike, games,
craft. Ages 7-10. 3:30-5:30 pm. $13, reservations please. Cooper Mountain Nature
Park, 18892 SW Kemmer. Beaverton.
503-629-6350. thprd.org.
Think Fun Thursdays. See Feb. 7.
Sizzlin’ Science Fair. See Feb. 18.
Storytime with Olive and Dingo. See
Feb. 7.
Sunday, Feb. 24
The 90-Second Newbery Film
Festival. Author James Kennedy hosts videos compressing
books into 90-second films.
All ages. 12:30-2 pm, 3-4:30
pm. FREE, tkts. 30 min. prior.
Central Library, 801 SW 10th.
503-988-5123.
web.multcolib.org.
Think Fun Thursdays. See Feb. 7.
Homeschool Programs. See Feb. 7.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Friday, Feb. 22
Snoopy! Journey Theater Arts (formerly
Christian Youth Theater) presents this musical starring everyone’s favorite pooch.
7 pm Feb. 22, 3, 7 pm Feb. 23, 2 pm Feb.
24. $14 adult, $11 youth. Venetian Theater, 253 E Main, Hillsboro. 360-750-8550.
journeytheater.org.
Family Friday Concert. Nancy Curtain
trio performs. 7:15 pm. $5 donation,
$15 family. Community Music Center,
3350 SE Francis. 503-823-3177.
communitymusiccenter.org.
Annie Warbucks. Musical sequel to Annie from Journey Theater Arts (formerly
Christian Youth Theater). 7 pm Feb. 22,
23, March 1, 2. 2 pm Feb. 24, March 3.
3 pm March 2. $14 adult, $11 youth.
Washburn Performing Arts Center,
1201 39th, Washougal. 360-750-8550.
journeytheater.org.
Sizzlin’ Science Fair. See Feb. 18.
Ladybug Nature Walks. See Feb. 15.
Story and Stroll. See Feb. 1.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
FREE Art Feb. See Feb. 1.
Saturday, Feb. 23
Paper Airplane Guy. Paper aircraft tricks
at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum;
fold a plane to impress your friends.
Ages 5+. 10 am, 1 pm. Free w/admission
$20 adult, $18 ages 5-16, free ages 0-4.
500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way,
McMinnville. 503-434-4185.
evergreenmuseum.org.
Thursday, Feb. 28
It’s Raining Cats and Dogs! Make
umbrella mobiles with Anya Hankin.
3:30-4:30 pm. FREE. Belmont Library,
1038 SE Cesar Chavez. 503-988-5382.
web.multcolib.org.
Snoopy! See Feb. 22.
Thursday, Feb. 21
Kids & Parents Yoga. See Feb. 4.
Harlem Globetrotters. Everyone’s
favorite basketball team. 2, 7 pm. $15$121, plus surcharge. Rose Quarter,
One Center Court. 503-797-9619.
rosequarter.com.
FIRST Tech Challenge. High school
teams’ robots compete. 10 am-4 pm Feb.
23, 24. FREE. OMSI, 1945 SE Water.
503-797-4000. omsi.edu.
OMSI Teen Night. View Mythbusters
exhibit, Segway rides, music and more.
Ages 13-18. 7-10 pm. FREE. 1945 SE
Water. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.
Family Day Cascade Festival of African
Films. Kid-friendly African films, hosted
by Baba Wague Diakite. 2 pm. FREE.
Room 104, Moriarty Arts and Humanities
Bldg., PCC-Cascade, 705 N Killingsworth.
971-722-5711. africanfilmfestival.org.
Eric Herman’s Cool Tunes. Comedy,
music, audience participation. 10:30 am.
FREE. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinoregon.gov.
I Dig Dinosaurs. Dragon Theatre puppets perform. Ages 3+. 2:30, 3:30.
FREE. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE
Brookwood Pkwy. 503-312-5979.
dragontheatre.com.
Girl’s Day. World Forestry Center hosts a
special day for girls and Girl Scouts.
All ages. 10 am-2 pm. $5 for everyone.
4033 SW Canyon. 503-228-1367.
worldforestry.org.
Sizzlin’ Science Fair. See Feb. 18.
Calendar Deadline Details. The calendar
submission deadline is the 1st of the
month preceding the month of publication. All submissions must be made in
writing and e-mail submissions are preferred: calendar@metro-parent.com.
FIRST Tech Challenge. See Feb. 23.
ADvERTISERS INDEx
Seussical! See In the Spotlight on p. 40.
ABC Doula ................7
Snoopy! See Feb. 22.
AHSC Yu Miao ........14
Annie Warbucks. See Feb. 22.
PAM Family Tour. See Feb. 3.
Lan Su Chinese New Year. See Feb. 10.
Academy Theater ...22
Alexander, Master
of Marvels................26
Kids & Parents Yoga. See Feb. 4.
Mommy and Me. See Feb. 4
Oregon Symphony. 41
Hopworks ................37
Artichoke Music ......31
The International
School......................13
BabyLink ..................33
Bennett Suzuki ..........9
BreastfeedingPros
andcons.info ...........44
Joy Central ..............17
Kids at Heart Toys...31
Learning Palace ......44
The Little Corral ......24
Bridges Middle
School......................17
Little Garden
Preschool.................14
Buttons the Clown..24
The Little Gym ..........2
Childbloom®
Guitar Program of
Portland ...................33
Little Smiles .............35
Circuit Bouldering
Gym .........................26
CLASS Academy ....15
Read! Snack! Craft! Ages 3-11. 4-5 pm.
FREE. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinoregon.gov.
Clogs -N- More
Kids ..........................31
Family Act. See Feb. 5.
Do Jump..................27
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
Hollywood Children’s
Dentistry ..................33
Imagine
Possibilities..............48
Children of the Sea 24
Tuesday, Feb. 26
Oregon Episcopal ..11
Amiguitos
Preschool.................18
Braingystics ...............9
Monday, Feb. 25
Harmony Road/
Westside Music.......37
Creative Children’s
Center......................17
Dentistry for Kids ......3
D’Onofrio &
Associates .................7
Living Wisdom ........14
Oregon Gymnastics21
Oregon Zoo ............43
Out of this
World Pizza .............25
OutSource PE .........33
Party Poppers .........21
Pediatric Dental
Group ......................44
Penny’s Puppets .....25
Portland Children’s
Museum...................42
Portland
Kinderschule ...........16
Portland Parks
& Rec .......................29
Mad Science ...........25
Portland
PartyWorks,Inc. .......23
Metro Catholic
Schools ...................19
Portland Youth
Philharmonic .............7
Micha-el School ......13
Safari Sams..............29
Mt. Hood Ski Bowl . 37
Summa Academy ...14
Multisensory Learning
Academy .................13
Swallowtail School..14
Music Together.......35
Tears of Joy
Theatre ....................44
My Masterpiece
Art Studio ................26
North Clackamas
Aquatic Park..............9
Sweetpea Kidzone . 18
Thorsen’s Surrogate
Agency ....................35
Tidee Didee ............44
North Clackamas
Aquatic Park............21
Tiny Revolution
Montessori ..............17
EcoMaids.................37
Northwest Children’s
Theatre ....................42
Too Cute for Kids......7
Escape From Planet
Earth ..........................2
Northwest Fencing
Center......................26
Fabulous
Face Painting ..........25
Northwest Primary
Care ...........................4
Franciscan Montessori
Earth School............17
Preschool Play & Skate. See Feb. 5.
Northwest Surrogacy
Center......................33
French American
International School16
Oaks Park ................27
Honeybee Hike. See Feb. 6.
The Gardner
School......................18
OMSI..........................4
Symphony Storytime. See Feb. 6.
German American
School of Portland..17
Once Upon
a Horse ......................23
Home Education Days. See Feb. 13.
Gresham Pediatric
Dentistry ..................37
Oregon Children’s
Theater ....................45
Arts & Crafts for Preschoolers. See
Feb. 5.
Wednesday, Feb. 27
Dragon Theater
Puppets ...................26
Odyssey School ......18
metro-parent.com
Tucker Maxon .........13
Village Free
School......................18
West Hills
Montessori ..............18
Wilsonville Family Fun
Center......................29
Women’s Healthcare
Associates .................2
World Forestry
Center......................41
World of Smiles ......11
Zenana Spa ...............9
February 2013
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