Portland Parents

Free Music. Micropayments. Internet Tip Jars.

These are things that people have been struggling to bring to the Internet. And yet, you can experience them at many downtown locations.

The poet Billy Collins once laughingly observed that all babies are born with a knowledge of poetry, because the lub-dub of the mother’s heart is in iambic meter. Then, Collins said, life slowly starts to choke the poetry out of us. It may be true with music, too.

What do you do when you hear a street musician? Some people don’t even hear them; some people ignore them, some people listen to them, and some people drop some money for them. Personally, I’d rather give a musician, however bad, money — than any single person asking “spare change?” But I, too, sometimes go on my routes without a second listen.

Consider the Washington Post’s experiment with Joshua Bell. He played for forty-five minutes in a crowded subway in New York DC ( thanks Rhinsker). Over a thousand humans passed him by. How many stopped to listen? How much did his busking earn him?

You might find the article inspiring.

Tomorrow, April 5, 5PM at the downtown Borders (708 SW 3rd Ave; there’s a SmartPark kitty-corner across Third and Borders will validate with a $25 purchase) — the Asylum Street Spankers will be performing bits from their new kids’ album “Mommy Said No!”

Apparently it features “growing up, dreaming big and boogers” … See the Oregonian

“Holding a Grudge May Be Hazardous to Your Health” - a workshop on forgiveness led
by Judith Brodkey. Saturday, March 17th, 2941 NE Ainsworth in Portland.

Are you holding a grudge against a family member or someone else in your life? Do you feel resentful towards someone who has hurt you? In this workshop, people will explore forgiveness and learn practical techniques to give up grudges with the goal of reducing hurt and helplessness, letting go of anger and increasing confidence. Cost: $75 - $45 sliding scale. To register or for more information, call (503) 234-1012 or email.

Preregistration is required and space is limited.

Oregon Zoo

Originally uploaded by j.bach.

Can’t head to the tropics for spring break? Come to the Oregon Zoo for a tropical party! Get crazy with crocodiles and party with polar bears during the fourth annual Oregon Zoo’s Gone Wild Celebration March 24-April 7.

While zoo animals are enjoying themed treats and enrichment activities, you can enjoy:

• Themed music
• Animal enrichment
• Animal talks
• Face painting

The schedule’s not posted yet (watch this space), but you can sign up for e-news to be the first to find out!

March 26-30th. 2007, 8:30 AM to 4:30PM Daily

Sign up early for this fun and unique Spring Break training opportunity for kids aged 6-12. Learn martial principles through movement, games, song, art, activities, simple science experiments, cooking, guest experts,outings and more. Come away with basic knowledge of the muscles and bones of the body, work out and most of all, have fun over spring break!

For more details, download the printable flyer.

Academy of Kung Fu
3228 SE 21st
Portland, OR 97202
503-772-0600

Did you know the City of Portland has made playgrounds smokefree? Please join the Multnomah County Tobacco Prevention Program in saying “thanks!” Our Coalition will be delivering Valentines to the City Council meeting on Feb. 14, and we need YOUR HELP to get lots of valentines.

If you would like your children — and their friends — to participate, please print out this Smokefree Valentine that the children in your life can decorate and sign, put them in a stamped envelope, and send them to

Smokefree Valentine
Kylie Meiner
426 SW Stark, 9th Floor
Portland, OR 97204

If you or someone you know smokes, this is a great opportunity to encourage them to quit: the free Oregon Quit Line is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Here’s the last two things we’ve come up with to do this season with your kids. Whatever you do wind up doing, have fun and don’t try to cram so much into your days that you feel overwhelmed.

Activity

Trace your child’s open hand onto a piece of cardstock or cardboard. Then trace this onto a piece of green cardstock or felt 8-10 times, and cut them out. Glue them together on the wrist side, and form a circle with them; you’re making a wreath. Decorate with glitter, sequins, a bow, and write your child’s name on the back. After this season, you can save the wreath for a keepsake.

Source

Event

More than 250 displays over two miles of track. How often do you get to drive your sedan or minivan on an official racetrack? At least once a year. The Winter Wonderland is on again. At fourteen dollars a carload, it’s generally cheaper than the Zoo Lights. However, I always want to get as big a car as I can get in order to show as many kids as I can all these lights. They say over a million lights will be lit up. Go take a look!

Here’s two more things to do this winter break. Enjoy your holidays! (Whatever they may be).

Activity

You knew it was coming, it was just hiding around the next bend. Make “Seasonal Cards” with your kids; if they’re not old enough to draw their own scenes, you can draw for them. Or just let their mood take them. Make sure to let them play with the glitter (the sparkle on your kitchen table will remind you of today for months to come), and the glue, and the double-sided tape.

The traditional method is just to fold a piece of paper over once, but if you fold it twice the card is a little more manageable. Also, see below for a different idea. You can get plenty of designs on the web for inspiration on your drawing.

Event

Did you know that every year the Pittock Mansion gets dressed up for Christmas? This year’s display (sponsored by K103) is themed “Favorite Toys of Christmas.” If you didn’t know before today that K103 is playing non-stop Christmas music, well you do now. At the Pittock Mansion, you’ll see antique horses, handmade dolls, train sets; all the best toys.

Here’s two more things to do this winter break. Enjoy your holidays! (Whatever they may be).

Activity

Salt Dough Ornaments!
Generally speaking, you can make salt dough from things you have around the house. Take equal amounts flour and salt and mix them together. Add as many tablespoons of vegetable oil as you had cups of flour (guess; it’s ok, it’s not a precise science). Add warm water until the dough is the consistency of … dough. Play-dough™ or Fimo™ are good examples. If you really want, you can add some food color to the dough, but I prefer mine white.

Create your decoration. Some easy ones are candy-canes or snowmen. To make detailed flat ones, you can use some good cookie-cutters. When you have it the shape you want it, either let it dry overnight or bake it at 200 degrees (F) until it’s hard. Paint with acrylic paints and use a good varnish, if you like.

For tomorrow’s activity, get together some paper, markers, glue and glitter.

Event

The Christmas Ships are in town!

This year is the 52nd year that the Christmas Fleet has run. Of the up to 50 ships, most nights around 25 each go along the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers; some nights, they team up and go together. Those nights are the more magical, with many floating displays reflected in the river water. Each owner pays their own setup and maintenance (and fuel) fees. Donations cover the required “Event Insurance” fee, so your donation is appreciated.

Here’s two more things to do this winter break. Enjoy your holidays! (Whatever they may be).

Activity

Make wrapping paper!
You’ll need some poster paint, some inexpensive sponges, and some craft paper. We like the brown packaging kind of wrapping paper because it goes so well with raffia, but any kind will do. Take your sponges and cut them up into shapes. You can use a cookie cutter as a template, or draw a pattern out with a permanent marker. We usually have a Fir tree, a snowman and a stocking shape, but you can use your imagination. Here are a few examples, to get you started.

When you have your sponges cut out, dress your younger kids up in your old t-shirts or smocks. Lay out the paper and stamp it with the poster paint and the sponge. You can be as fussy as you want; or just let them go to town. If you “happen” to get some hands and feet on the paper too— grandparents will love it even more. Rip off the paper and let it dry flat before you roll it up to store it until you have something to wrap.

Event

Don’t go to Alpenrose Dairy; their Santa House and Storybook Lane is closed this year (sadly). But you can go to the Zoolights! Most of the animals will be sleeping, but a few will be stirring in their pens. You can wander around part of the zoo, and then when you’re ready, hop on the train ( if you buy the entrance and the zoo train raid together, you’ll save money. Here are the prices).