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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Mar 28–30

March 28th, 2008

Ed Begley, Jr., chickens and David Wu. What more could you ask for? 

Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!

Friday, March 28

• The Better Living Show, an event focused on green living, is happening all weekend at the Portland Expo Center. The event is packed with presentations, music, kids activities, food, and more. Ed Begley, Jr., will speak at 7:00 pm on Friday. Event hours are: Friday, noon to 9:00 pm; Saturday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm; Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For a complete schedule of events, visit the Better Living Show website.

• Chicken Fest 2008 is taking place all weekend at Livingscape Nursery. You’ll get the chance to see 20 different breeds of live chickens (who knew there were so many?), and there’ll be games and activities for the kids. On Saturday from 10:00 am until noon, an “Eggspert” will be on hand to answer your chicken-related questions. And on Sunday, there will be a free workshop on how to build a chicken coop. The event also features several workshops and cooking classes for $5 to $10. Visit the Livingscape Nursery website for more information. (from Enviromom)

• The Victoria will perform at Music Millennium at 6:00 pm. For details, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Frank Blair will perform at Borders in Vancouver at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Rogue Bluegrass will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Lauren Sheehan will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

• Sweet City Slang will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For details, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Allen Hunter and A.G. Donnaloia (soul jazz) will perform at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

• Say Anything will be showing at Twisted at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the Twisted website.

• Delectable Designs with Cupcake Jones, St. Johns Library, 2:00 pm: Learn about the origins of foods like vanilla and chocolate found in this year’s Every Family Reads book, Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué Rico!, by Pat Mora. Then you’ll get the chance to decorate your own cupcake. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Space at this program is limited. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Alison Larkin will talk about her book The English American at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for details.

• Book release party and reading: Jaret Ferratusco will talk about his new book Please Don’t Leave Me at Opposable Thumb Gallery & Cafe (3312 SE Belmont Street) at 8:00 pm. DJ Chris Leighty will provide music. For more information, visit the book’s MySpace page. (from PDX Pipeline)

Saturday, March 29

• The Better Living Show continues at the Portland Expo Center. The event is packed with presentations, music, kids activities, food, and more. Portland Fashion Week is sponsoring a panel discussion and fashion show focused on eco-responsible fashion. In addition to the eco-related events, there’ll be a celebration of Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) Day featuring musical performances, theatre, artwork and workshops by local female artists. Event hours are: Friday, noon to 9:00 pm; Saturday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm; Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For a complete schedule of events, visit the Better Living Show website.

• Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Center grand opening celebration, 11:30 am to 4:00 pm: The celebration will start with a ribbon cutting ceremony with comments from author Richard Louv, visits from David Wu and other local dignitaries, tours of the new Wildlife Center, guided nature walks, and educational activities for everyone. The Wildlife Center is located north of Sherwood. Visit the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge website for details. 

• Chicken Fest 2008 continues at Livingscape Nursery. You’ll get the chance to see 20 different breeds of live chickens (who knew there were so many?), and there’ll be games and activities for the kids. On Saturday from 10:00 am until noon, an “Eggspert” will be on hand to answer your chicken-related questions. And on Sunday, there will be a free workshop on how to build a chicken coop. The event also features several workshops and cooking classes for $5 to $10. Visit the Livingscape Nursery website for more information.

• Jimmy Lott will perform at Music Millennium at 6:00 pm. For details, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Eddie Parente will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and over. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Conroy-DeBrie 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.

• Courtney Jones will perform at Borders in Gresham at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Lew Jones will perform at Borders in Tigard at 7:00 pm. For details, visit the Borders website.

• DJs Dave Allen and Ratanski will spin classic hip hop, downtempo trip hop and post punk dance at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

• Symphony Storytime at Midland Library, 2:30 pm–3:30 pm: Families will enjoy music, storytime and hands-on crafts. A member of the Oregon Symphony will play and discuss orchestral music. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Local writer Kristin Thiel and five other contributors to the VoiceCatcher women writers anthology will read their work at 2:00 pm at the Central Library. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• The Speakin’ Beacon puppet show, Albina Library, 11:00 am: Bruce Orr of the Mudeye Puppet Company and Penny Walter of Penny’s Puppet Productions will perform a family-friendly puppet show with aliens, forest creatures, and a Yeti. After the show, you’ll be able to get a closer look at the puppets, made entirely from reused materials. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

Sunday, March 30 

• The Better Living Show continues at the Portland Expo Center. The event is packed with presentations, music, kids activities, food, and more. Event hours are: Friday, noon to 9:00 pm; Saturday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm; Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For a complete schedule of events, visit the Better Living Show website.

• Chicken Fest 2008 continues at Livingscape Nursery. You’ll get the chance to see 20 different breeds of live chickens (who knew there were so many?), and there’ll be games and activities for the kids. On Saturday from 10:00 am until noon, an “Eggspert” will be on hand to answer your chicken-related questions. And on Sunday, there will be a free workshop on how to build a chicken coop. The event also features several workshops and cooking classes for $5 to $10. Visit the Livingscape Nursery website for more information. 

• Laura Gibson, Per Se and Meyercord will perform at Towne Lounge at 9:30 pm (doors open at 9:00 pm). For more information, visit the Towne Lounge website.

• Russian Film Series at Midland Library will be showing Born in the USSR: 21 Up at noon. The film is in Russian with English subtitles. A brief discussion will follow. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.  

• Ann Christensen and Lisa Bergman will play music from their CD American Music: Jazz, Broadway, Hollywood at the Central Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Night of the Iguana will be showing at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.   

• Hotel deLuxe will screen Hurricane Heroes, a documentary on Katrina animal rescues by Portland filmmaker Mike Shiley. The Screening Room, located off the hotel lobby, opens at 6:00 pm; the movie begins at 6:30 pm. RSVP to 503.219.2093. For more information, visit the Hotel deLuxe website. 

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

Other articles from Around the Sun:

• August 14, 2007 -- “…making a big fuss out of an adult shopping in a junior’s section”
• October 9, 2008 -- Around the Sun Turns Two
• December 28, 2008 -- How to Get a Discount From Comcast: Ask for It

Entry Filed under: Art, Books, Children, Classes, Entertainment, Environment, Events, Food, Free, Frugal living, Home, Kids, Literature, Movies, Music, Portland, Theater, Workshops