Portland Parents

Here’s something fun to do this weekend; take binoculars, cameras and $10 per car (cash only), head up to Sauvie’s Island, and go to the Audobon Society’s Raptor Road Trip. It’s from 9AM to 2PM, but they say to plan 3 hours to do all four locations (11 to 2 would work for you later risers). You should be able to see plenty of Bald Eagles, some Red Tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and Northern Harriers.

The Audobon Society will have their spotting scopes out, so your binocs are optional, but who’s to say how many people will be waiting for them.

The fee of $10 per car includes a Sauvie Island Wildlife Area parking permit.

You can get more information at The Audobon Society of Portland website.

Wednesday is Veteran’s Day, and is also a free admissions day to the Japanese Gardens. Even when it rains, the Japanese Gardens are a beautiful place to meander. Stroll through the dripping greens and enjoy the serene surroundings!

And “ever so much more so …” at the Pavilion, in the gardens is currently running The Bontei Tray Gardens of Marc Peter Keane! Two visions of loveliness for the price of one.

Since you’ll have the kids on Wednesday, you might as well throw them in the car and head on up to the Japanese Gardens!

It’s summer again, and so Regal Cinemas is doing their Free Showings. Here’s a link to their schedule

The Ninth Annual Wells Fargo Celebrity Spelling Bee, one of Portland’s first Carbon Neutral events of the year, brings the community together in support of Schoolhouse Supplies – the award-winning Free Store for Teachers, with a cocktail reception, silent auction and celebrity participant spelling bee, featuring the biggest names in Portland’s media, business, arts, and entertainment arenas.

Donations up to $30,000 will be generously matched by The Fred Meyer Fund.

Carbon Free sponsor, NW Natural, calculated the carbon footprint of the event, purchased offsets in this amount, and discovered ways to reduce resources and energy consumed throughout the evening.

What: The Ninth Annual Wells Fargo Celebrity Spelling Bee, a benefit for Schoolhouse Supplies
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009
Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave.)
Who: Celebrity participants include:

Emcee
John Erickson, K103fm

Moderator
Damali Ayo, Artist / Author

Judges
Chelsea Cain, New York Times Best Selling Author
Gert Boyle, Chairman, Columbia Sportswear

Celebrity Panel
Marc Acito, Author / Entertainer
Drew Carney, Host, KGW NewsChannel 8
Mike Ellis, President, Fred Meyer Stores
Trevor Fonvergne, Portland Tribune/Comcast Regional Spelling Bee 2008 Winner
Carl Tim Greve IV, President, Carl Greve Jewelers
Courtenay Hameister, Host, Live Wire Radio
Patrick Lamb, Grammy Nominated Jazz Saxophonist
Storm Large, Musician, Actress
Steve Novick, Activist, Former Environmental Lawyer
Viva Vendetta, Co-Captain Rose City Rollers
Nicole Vogel, Publisher, Portland Monthly Magazine
Special Guests
Antonio Harvey, Voice of the Portland Trail Blazers
MarchFourth Marching Band

Tickets and tables available for purchase at: www.schoolhousesupplies.org.

You’ve heard of Home Star Runner, but have you heard of Home School Radio?

For all of you home schoolers out there, and some of you school-schoolers, this might be an interesting site.

This week’s show is about George Washington Carver. He’s the brains behind peanuts as an agricultural crop. Check out the other things you can hear!

Greetings! My best friend and I have started a new theater for children, called Ohana SE PDX. Our very first show, "The Adventures of Jojopotomus and his Best Friend Ralphred" has started and we have a special offer for this coming weekend!

With the purchase of a full price adult ticket ($15), children get in for free!

Post-show, we invite the children to join us onstage so they can take a peek around. Fun for ages 3-93! Friday and Saturday at 6pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm.
4319 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Would love to chat further!

The Jazz Festival is February 13-22

Numerous Education Opportunities Highlighting Portland and Northwest Artists Alaska Airlines & Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival presented by The Oregonian A&E will present numerous educational workshops, jazz conversations, panel discussions and free concerts at the PDX Jazz Pavilion @
Pioneer Courthouse Square throughout the festival schedule, February 13-22. Whether you or your child are a budding singer, jazz guitarist or looking to launch the next vision or version of a recording label on par with Blue Note Records, the 2009 Festival Education Outreach Schedule has something for you.
Nearly all events are all ages, free, and open to the public, with the exception of two singing workshops.
The first weekend of the Festival offers families numerous daytime, free live performances at Pioneer Courthouse Square in the PDX Jazz Pavilion, a 6,000 sq. ft. heated tent. So bring the kids out rain or shine to see such incredible local talent as the Portland State University Jazz Band, Metropolitan Youth
Symphony Jazz Ensemble, Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra, and the Beaumont Middle School Jazz Ambassadors, plus plenty of other great quartets and quintets. Pack your snacks and lunches or grab something in Portland’s living room.

Each weekend offers free instrumental educational classes by renowned jazz educators. Head over the Portland Center for the Performing Arts Brunish Hall for instruction on the saxophone, trombone or to work on your rhythm. Classes are available to all ages and are open to the public. Following a theme of Somethin’ Else: Blue Note Records @ 70, celebrating the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records, all Portland Jazz Festival ticketed concerts will feature current and past Blue Note artists. The package of Blue Note anniversary events will include performances, plus Jazz Conversations with Blue Note officials and artists, panel discussions with jazz writers and journalists, and archival Blue Note film screenings. Current BlueNote artists, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, sax man Joe Lovano, pianist Gonzalo
Rubalcaba, and vocalists Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, and Patricia Barber, will headline the 10-day event, which will also feature Blue Note heritage artists McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Lou Donaldson, and Pat Martino. The Jazz Conversations offer behind the scene insights into how music is performed,
created, and marketed. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear these legendary artists and producers share their insider secrets.

In all, there will be over 150 jazz events presented over 10 days by Portland Jazz Festival. For tickets to Portland Jazz Festival ticketed concerts, the full schedule of events or for more information visit www.pdxjazz.com!

While you were sleeping off your turkey induced coma, the Winter Wonderland at PIR opened. Surprise! It’s widely recognised as the biggest drive-thru Christmas Light display in all of the Northwest. It’s two miles long and loaded with new lights every year (of course some of the displays are ones they’ve put up previously. )

106.7 has posted A coupon to help you save $2 from the $16 entrance fee ( $16 for cars. cars!, see that link for more information on prices. )

I found it funny that this Christmas Display, getting in line in your car and driving for 2 miles very slowly without stopping, is partially sponsored by Chevron.

Want to give mindful gifts this year? Tired of commercialized Christmases? (yeah, I’m buying Barbie™ some friends too)

Shop at the 7th Annual Mindful Gifts Bazaar, Saturday December 13, from 10AM to 4PM.

It’s at the BridgePort UCC, at 621 NE 76th Avenue (Two blocks north of Glisan, on Irving at 76th).

“Purchase unique gifts and certificates representing the services and projects of dozens of local non-profits. Enjoy great musicians and refreshments all day. You’ll find the perfect, mindful gift for everyone on your list!”

The Montessori Institute Northwest is excited to announce an upcoming lecture,
“Good at Doing Things” with special guest Dr. Steven Hughes a
pediatric neuro- psychologist. He will be speaking on Montessori Education
and Brain Development on Tuesday, September 23rd at the OHSU Old Library
Auditorium from 6:30-8:30pm.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through our
website or by mail.