Around the Sun: A Blog About Saving Money in Portland, Oregon, and beyond

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Feb 1–3

February 1st, 2008

This Sunday, I’ll be at a Super Bowl party…and I don’t watch football. But I do love to eat.

As always, admission is free for all of the events listed here. Have a great weekend! 

Friday, February 1

• Modernstate, Moodring and Mr. Frederick will be playing at Mississippi Studios at 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Mississippi Studios website.

• Steve Poltz will be performing at Music Millennium at 6:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.  

• James Faretheewell will be playing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Steve Lockwood Trio will be performing at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For details, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Robin Hobb will be talking about Renegade’s Magic, the final book in her Soldier Son trilogy, at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Shelby Steele will talk about his book A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited about Obama and Why He Can’t Win at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Twisted, a yarn and craft shop on NE Broadway, will be showing the ’80s flick Mannequin at 6:00 pm. Every Friday, they’ll be showing a different ’80s film. For more information, visit the Twisted website.

• The Press Club will host a reception for artist Chris Haberman. Chris will be there, and music will be provided by a secret surprise DJ. 7:00 pm. The Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• It’s First Friday in downtown Camas from 5:00 pm–8:00 pm. The theme is “A Chocolate Affair to Remember.” Downtown merchants will be serving and selling chocolate treats. For more information, visit the Downtown Camas website.

• First Friday Artwalk Reception in downtown Vancouver, 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm: There will be guided walking tours of downtown Vancouver’s fine art galleries and public art departing every 20 minutes from Keller Williams Realty, 915 Broadway. Visit the City of Vancouver website for more information.  

• Hillsboro Main Library will be showing Bridge on the River Kwai from 7:00 pm–9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Hillsboro Library website. 

Saturday, February 2

• Fix It Fair is happening at Roosevelt High School (6941 N Central Avenue) from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. The fair features exhibits and free workshops on saving money, as well as home improvement, gardening, green living, health and more. There’s even a workshop called “Budget Right to Reduce Debt.” Free on-site child care will be provided. For more information, visit the Fix It Fair website.

• Raising A Reader Family Day at local public libraries: This is an event for families with children aged 0–5 (older siblings also welcome). Preschool children may take home a free book (while supplies last). The Raising A Reader program encourages parents to read to their young children.

  • Holgate Library, 10:00 am–12:30 pm
    Crafts and stories
    Music with Jory Aronson at 10:15 am and 11:30 am
  • North Portland Library, 10:00 am–12:30 pm
    Crafts and stories
    Puppet show by Penny’s Puppet Productions at 10:15 am, 11:00 am and 11:45 am

  • For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Symphony Storytime at the Central Library: This event features music from a member of the Oregon Symphony and crafts. Open to all ages. 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• I Heart Cupcakes: At this family event, decorate a cupcake and learn what it takes to be a pastry chef. Belmont Library, 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Chata Addy and Shi Dah will perform traditional drumming and dance from their homeland, Ghana, West Africa. 2:30 pm–3:30 pm, Gresham Library. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Kimya Dawson will be performing at Music Millennium at 3:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.    

• Lupe will be playing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Sonny Hess Trio will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Miss Michael Jodell, Matt Brown and Matt Cadenelli will be performing at Press Club at 8:30 pm. The Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Coconut Coolouts, The Flip Tops, Cafeteria Dance Fever and Thee Manipulators will be performing at Slabtown (1033 NW 16th) at noon. For more information, visit the Slabtown Bender website or 503.223.0099.

• Hiking Across Iceland: David Cobb and Jonathan Ley will share photos and stories from their 385-mile trek across Iceland. 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Gifford Pinchot National Forest Headquarters (10600 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver, WA). This event is part of the annual meeting of the Mount Hood Chapter of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. For more information, visit their website.

• Drop-in DIY Valentines: Make your own collage Valentine’s Day cards out of reused papers and art materials at this family-friendly event. 1:00 pm–4:00 pm at IPRC. Visit the IPRC website for more information.

Sunday, February 3

• African American Read-In at North Portland Library: Local celebrities, community leaders and students will read from works by their favorite African American writers. Fiction and non-fiction for children and adults will be featured. 2:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Sonny Hess and Lisa Mann will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• The Silver Lion’s 20/20, The Wittdrawls, The Pack AD and Mean Jeans will be performing at Slabtown (1033 NW 16th) at noon. For more information, visit the Slabtown Bender website or 503.223.0099.

• Gary McKinney will make an appearance at Murder by the Book at 4:30 pm. He will be signing Slipknot, a Northwest mystery for fans of the Grateful Dead. For more information, visit the Murder by the Book website.

• Author Chris Santella will talk about his work and the “business of books” at Hollywood Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.  

• The Press Club will be showing the film To Have and Have Not, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, at 8:00 pm. The Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• St. Johns Library will be showing the film Lost Horizon (1937) from 2:00 pm–4:00 pm. Free tickets for limited seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program, at 1:30 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.  

• Portland Opera will give a preview of Rodelinda at the Central Library from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. If you’d like me to include an event in a future round-up, feel free to contact me.

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