Portland’s Christmas tree will be lit Friday
Portland’s Christmas tree will be lit Friday evening in a special ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Read the original here:
Portland’s Christmas tree will be lit Friday
Archive by Author
The Oregon Garden
What’s to Love: The Oregon Garden is full of surprises, especially during the month of October when they host “Family Harvest Days” every Saturday from 1PM to 4PM. We went with… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Read the original here:
The Oregon Garden
Win Tickets to the Cinnamon Bear Cruise!
The Cinnamon Bear began in 1937 as a radio series running from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The story followed Judy and Jimmy Barton as they searched throughout Maybeland for a missing Silver Star that belonged on their Christmas tree. The Cinnamon Bear and other colorful characters helped them on their journey. The Cinnamon Bear still is a holiday tradition for families in the Portland metro area, with a special two-hour, family-friendly Portland Spirit “Cinnamon Bear” cruise inspired by the classic holiday story. Passengers enjoy holiday treats while the fanciful cast of characters entertain with storytelling, music and magic. Families can get their pictures taken with the Cinnamon Bear himself atop his festive throne. This year, we’re thrilled to be giving away a family four-pack of tickets to the Cinnamon Bear cruise, which runs Dec. 3 through Dec. 27. Here’s how to enter: 1. “Like” Metro Parent (Portland, OR) on Facebook, follow @Metro_Parent on Twitter, and/or subscribe to our e-newsletter . (You’ll be entered once for each of these actions, so do them all for three chances to win!) 2. Send an email to contest@metro-parent.com with your name, mailing address, phone number and email address. Tell us which of the actions in number one you did (if you were already a Facebook fan, Twitter follower, or newsletter subscriber, we’ll count it!) so we know how many entries to allot you. Contest ends at noon on Nov. 23. For more information about the Cinnamon Bear Cruise or to purchase tickets, visit cinnamonbearcruise.com . Tickets are $28 adults, $20 children ages 1 to 12, free for children under 1, and that includes one picture with the Cinnamon Bear for each child! Group rates are available for 15 or more.
Visit link:
Win Tickets to the Cinnamon Bear Cruise!
Kids, Cars & Smoking
This month’s online article , a Viewpoint column by Colleen Hermann-Franzen of the American Lung Association (ALA), covers an important topic for parents: smoking in cars. We were shocked to learn that secondhand smoke in a car can be up to 27 times stronger than in a smoker’s home! Cracking a window does little to reduce the effect. We hope you’ll take the time to read Ms. Hermann-Franzen’s informative article, then go a step further to take the ALA’s s smoke-free car and home pledge , and/or join their effort on Facebook . And while we’re on the subject of smoking, let’s talk about another important topic for parents: keeping our kids away from tobacco. We all want to do it, but many of us aren’t quite sure how -– or when –- to approach the issue with our kids. We found a few websites that can help: The Mayo Clinic’s 10 Ways to Help Teens Stay Smoke-free The US Dept of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health’s Resources for Parents Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids’ How Parents Can Protect Their Kids Foundation for a Smoke-free America’s Youth Site Have you broached the subject of smoking with your kids? What do you think is a good age to begin the conversation? What tips can you offer other parents to get their kids talking about – and thinking about – the harmful effects of smoking before they’re tempted to give it a try?
Excerpt from:
Kids, Cars & Smoking
Our Holiday Giving Campaigns
You’ve probably heard the expression, “Think globally. Act locally.” We think that’s a wonderful way of approaching life, but this holiday season, we’d like to take it to the next level by saying, “Think globally AND locally, then act on both fronts as well!” That’s why our 2011 Holiday Giving Campaign has two components -– one focused on local families in need, the other on starving families living on the Horn of Africa. Here’s the scoop: JOIN “Home for the Holidays”: Since 2008, Metro Parent and our readers have been partnering with JOIN , a local nonprofit that helps homeless people move into permanent housing, to help families down on their luck transition into stable environments – and keep them there. The cost to get a homeless family into permanent housing through JOIN is $2,500. During November and December, Metro Parent will match our readers’ donations up to a combined reader contribution of $1,250, bringing the total to $2,500. Mercy Corps/Metro Parent Match Campaign: The famine in the Horn of Africa has taken the lives of thousands -– but the suffering is far from over. The United Nations predicts that 750,000 people could starve to death over the next few months in Somalia alone. Metro Parent has been matching our readers’ donations to Mercy Corps since September. At press time, we had matched $1,410 in reader donations (for a total of $2,820). We will continue to match donations up to a total Metro Parent match of $2,500 (for a total reader/ Metro Parent donation of $5,000). To contribute to our “Home for the Holidays” effort, visit JOIN’s website and click on the Metro Parent logo on the home page , then choose “Metro Parent Magazine Home for the Holidays” from the donation category drop-down menu. To donate to Mercy Corps, visit our donation page . And be sure to pick up a copy of our sister publication, Portland Woman , to read a gripping report on The Women of Mogadishu by Mercy Corps aid worker Cassandra Nelson. Together we CAN make a difference!
See more here:
Our Holiday Giving Campaigns
PVS – Craft Fair!
Please come and check-out the Portland Village School Craft Fair! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Continued here:
PVS – Craft Fair!
Dabney State Park
What’s to Love: An overcrowded beach along the Sandy River filled with people throwing cigarette butts, trash, and being obnoxiously loud and rude? Is that the Dabney State Park you know and… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Read the rest here:
Dabney State Park
Rainy Day Fun
Before I became a mom, I loved the rain. I’d snuggle by the cozy fire enjoying a good book and a cup of hot tea without a care in the world. But living in the Pacific Northwest with a young child, I had to develop a whole new approach to the long, lingering rainy season. Luckily, it was easy to continue my love affair with the Portland metro area as I discovered all the delightful, indoor kid-friendly activities that are perfect for those damp and dreary days. Somehow, this seems like a great time to share some ideas for alleviating cabin fever and giving your little ones the active time they need and crave this winter. INDOOR PLAY PARKS & PLAY GROUPS: Multnomah County Friendly House Play Group – 1737 NW 26th, Portland; 503-228-4391; friendlyhouseinc.org . Happy Place Indoor Play Park – 2823 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland; 503-289-0318; northminsterpdx.org . Isobel’s Clubhouse – 1542 NW 14th Ave.; 503-224-4636; zcommunitycenter.org . A nonprofit with space for families to meet, play and participate in organized activities. Northeast Indoor Park – Central Lutheran Church, 1820 NE 21st Ave.; neindoorpark.wordpress.com . Open Arms Play Group – Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1244 NE 39th Ave. AND Church of the Good Shepherd, 805 SE Ellsworth Rd., Vancouver, Wash.; Abby, 971-998-8744; para communicarse en espanol: Sheyla 503-239-1509 o Maria 971-570-0942; nwdsa.org . Play group for children with Down syndrome, ages birth through 5. Portland Parks & Recreation – Citywide; 503-823-PLAY (7529); portlandonline.com/parks/ . Many community centers host indoor play parks for children up to 6 years old. PPR operates indoor parks at the following community centers: East Portland, 740 SE 106th, 503-823-3450; Fulton Park, 68 SW Miles, 503-823-3180; Hillside, 653 NW Culpepper Terr., 503-823-3181; Matt Dishman, 77 NE Knott, 503-823-3673; Montavilla, 8219 NE Glisan, 503-823-4101; Mt. Scott, 5530 SE 72nd, 503-823-3183; Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way, 503-823-3620; Sellwood, 1436 SE Spokane, 503-823-3195; Southwest, 6820 SW 45th, 503-823-2840; St. Johns, 8427 N Central, 503-823-3192; University Park, 9009 N Foss Ave., 503-823-3631. Southeast Indoor Park – Trinity United Methodist Church, 3915 SE Steele; playinside.org . Washington County Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District (THPRD) – Multiple Locations; 503-645-6433; thprd.com . Like PPR, THPRD hosts indoor play parks at the following recreation centers. Call for times and age requirements. Cedar Hills, 11640 SW Park Way, Portland, 503-629-6340; Conestoga, 9985 SW 125th Ave., Beaverton, 503-629-6313; Garden Home, 7475 SW Oleson Rd., Portland, 503-629-6341; Tualatin Hills Athletic Center, 15707 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton, 503-629-6330. Super Tots Indoor Play Group – 1880 NE Griffin Oaks St., Hillsboro; 503-615-6552; ci.hillsboro.or.us . Clackamas County Clackamas County Healthy Start Play Groups: 503-655-8601; clackamas.us . Clackamas County hosts free play groups at the following sites for parents and children ages 5 and under: Bethany Church, 450 S Ivy St., Canby (bilingual/bicultural, English/Spanish); 11501 SE Sunnyside Rd., Clackamas; Gladstone Center for Children and Families, 18905 Portland Ave., Gladstone; Milwaukie Christian Church, 5197 SE King Rd., Milwaukie; Oregon City United Methodist Church, 18955 South End Rd., Oregon City; Sandy Adult Community Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd., Sandy; Rolling Hills Community Church, 3550 SW Borland Rd., Tualatin; Sunset Fire Hall, 2215 Long St., West Linn; Wilsonville Methodist Church, 7355 SW Wilsonville Rd., Wilsonville. Free. Clark County, Wash. Camas-Washougal Indoor Play Park – 2436 NW Astor St., Camas; 360-834-7956; meetup.com/CWIndoorPlaypark/ . Firstenberg Community Center – 700 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver; 360-487-7001; cityofvancouver.us . Noah’s Ark Indoor Play Park – First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver; 360-694-3363, ext. 112; 1stpresvanc.org . LOCAL ICONS: OMSI – 1945 SE Water Ave.; 503-797-OMSI (6674); omsi.edu . Portland Children’s Museum – 4015 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-223-6500; portlandcm.org . World Forestry Center – 4033 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-228-1367; worldforestry.org . With Mommy & Me Mondays beginning in November from 10 to 11 am every Monday! GETTING WET – INDOORS: You’re going to get wet anyway. You might as well enjoy it at one of the area’s inviting waterparks: Evergreen Wings & Waves Waterpark – 500 NE Capt. Michael King Smith Way (Hwy. 18), McMinnville; 503-434-4185; evergreenmuseum.org/waterpark/ . North Clackamas Aquatic Park – 7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie; 503-557-7873; ncprd.com/aquatic-park . INDOOR ADVENTURE ZONES: Pump It Up – 9665 SW Allen Blvd., Suite 110, Beaverton (Pump It Up Jr., 16205 NW Bethany Ct., Suite 120, Beaverton), 503-644-6488; 25749 SW Canyon Creek Rd., Ste. 700, Wilsonville; 503-582-1331; pumpitupparty.com . Pop-in Playtime, Family Jump Night, Sensory Night programs and more on giant inflatable play structures. J.J. Extreme – 9063 SE Jannsen Rd., Clackamas; 503-723-3600; jjextreme.com . Indoor adventure zone with climbing, zip lines, jousting, slides, bungee jumping and more. J.J. Jump – 9057 SE Jannsen Rd., Clackamas, 503-723-3600; 7500 NE 16th Ave., #2-D, Vancouver, Wash., 360-213-2524; jjjump.com . Indoor inflatable playgrounds. MORE IDEAS: You’ll find plenty more in our annual Family Resource Guide , including skating rinks, children’s gyms, children’s theater, museums and more. (We’re in the process of updating the guide, with the 2012 edition coming out early next year!)
Link:
Rainy Day Fun
Trick or Treat Safely – and Charitably!
It’s nearly time for Halloween so we thought we’d take this opportunity to share some safety tips from the Safety Store at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel to ensure a happy, healthy holiday (sugar overload not withstanding!): 1. Help children choose fire retardant costumes that can be seen in the dark. Add reflective tape or strips to costumes and treat bags. 2. Wear shoes that fit properly (even if they don’t “go” with the costume) to avoid trips and falls. 3. Rather than wearing a mask, which may restrict a child’s vision, paint their face instead. (If a child wears a mask, make sure it does not interfere with their breathing or hearing and be sure the eyeholes are wide enough that it does not interfere with their eyesight.) 4. Carry a flash light or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers. 5. Trick or treat in groups, adults should accompany children as escorts to doors and carefully inspect all treats collected prior to children eating it. 6. Talk to your children about walking safety, including the following: . – When crossing the street, cross at a corner using traffic signals and crosswalks. . – Always walk, never run out into the street or cross between two cars. . – Look left, then right, and left again when crossing the street. . – Make eye contact with drivers; make sure the driver sees you before you cross the street. And to make the holiday happier for children everyone, consider having your trick or treaters bring a little orange UNICEF box with them to collect donations for the world’s neediest kids, too. This year, UNICEF is also introducing a “Party for a Purpose” program, with great ideas for hosting a FUNdraising fete of your own. Get details at unicefusa.org/trickortreat . Last but not least, if you’d like to avoid the ongoing sugar craze in the days following Halloween, encourage your kids to participate in a Candy Exchange like the one at World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry (11790 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 280). Dr. Michelle Stafford welcomes kids -– patients or not! -– to turn in their unopened Halloween loot for fun prizes on weekdays from Nov. 1-7. (The more you bring in, the more you earn!) For details visit visitworldofsmiles.com or call 503-626-9700.
Originally posted here:
Trick or Treat Safely – and Charitably!
Halloween events in the Portland area
Here’s a long list of some Halloween-themed events in and around Portland.
Originally posted here:
Halloween events in the Portland area
Spirit of Halloweentown
St. Helens, Oregon transforms into “Halloweentown” during the month of October. Visit on the weekend for fun activities for the whole family. Eat at The Klondike and The Plantation House… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Link:
Spirit of Halloweentown
Stunning Views and History Mystery at Little Whale Cove in Oregon
Little Whale Cove is a small protected home to seals and the occasional migrating gray whale. It offers visitors stunning views and a contested history.
See the rest here:
Stunning Views and History Mystery at Little Whale Cove in Oregon
Portland makes ‘Top 10 Halloween Cities’ list
Portland was ranked at No. 5 in a list of the “Top 10 Halloween Cities in America,” compiled by the party supply website Shindigz.com.
Follow this link:
Portland makes ‘Top 10 Halloween Cities’ list
