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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: May 9–11

May 9th, 2008

Happy Mother’s Day to the mothers out there. A few Portland attractions are offering free admission to moms on their special day; see Sunday’s summary for details. If you know of any other Mother’s Day freebies, please let everyone know by writing a comment.  

Admission is free for all events below. Have a good one!

Friday, May 9

• Marty Willson-Piper of The Church (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Star Anna (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Paddy Casey (website) will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 6:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.

• Rogue Bluegrass (website) will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.

• Carlyle (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Ramblin Jaks (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For details, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Paul Brainard (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

• Author Jim Sheeler will talk about his book Final Salute at 7:00 pm at Barnes & Noble, Lloyd Center. For more information, visit the Barnes & Noble website.

• Romance Author Event: If you like romance novels, head to Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing for an event featuring a variety of Pacific Northwest romance authors: Shirley Karr, Stephanie Rowe, Lucy Monroe, Alexis Morgan, Delle Jacobs, Minnette Meador, Megan Clark, Samantha James, Paty Jager, Karen Duvall, and more. 7:00 pm. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

• Authors Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart will talk about their book Fixing Failed States at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

Saturday, May 10

• St. Johns Parade, Bizarre Street Fair and More: Downtown St. Johns will welcome a variety of events including a parade from noon until 2:00 pm, an all-day street fair dedicated to “Keeping Portland Weird and St. Johns Bizarre,” a hula dancing exhibition, and much more. Click here for a full schedule of events.

• Laurelhurst Art Walk: Stroll the Laurelhurst neighborhood and view the artwork of more than 80 artists. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information and a map of participating locations, visit the Art Walk website.

• Festival of the Birds: Come down to Sellwood Park, just south of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. The festival runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and includes children’s activities, live music and the chance to meet birds from the Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center. There’ll also be guided bird walks from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Audubon Society of Portland website.

• Wetland Watchers Birding Hike/Class: Tigard Library is sponsoring a bird class and hike in Tigard’s Fanno Creek wetlands. The class will meet at 1:00 pm in the library’s Community Room. 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Tigard Library website.

• Second Saturday Event at Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver: This month’s theme is Mother Nature’s Gifts. Kids and their families will explore this topic through hands-on activities, games and stories. 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Water Resources Center website.  

• Kids “Bike Rodeo” in Tigard: Tigard Youth Advisory Council is sponsoring a bike education event including a skills course, free helmets, food, bike safety checks, entertainment and prizes. Tigard Police Department parking lot, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Visit the City of Tigard website for more information.

• Bear Fair: To celebrate the acquisition of a bear-themed sculpture, Lake Oswego Public Library is hosting a family-friendly event featuring a puppet show, music, crafts, and more. 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Lake Oswego Library website.

• Willamette Week’s Best New Band Showcase: The Builders and the Butchers, Starfucker and Loch Lomond will perform at Berbati’s Pan at 9:00 pm. Ages 21 and over.

• The History and Mystery of the Blues: Local bluesman Steve Cheseborough will present a live performance, lecture, old recordings, readings and discussion at Rockwood Library, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• Acoustic Minds (website) will perform at 7:00 pm at Borders in Gresham. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Lincoln Crockett (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website. He will also play at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for details.

• The Old Yellers (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.

• A Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers: Contributors and editor Colleen Sell will talk about this new anthology at Borders in Beaverton, 2:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.

• Swing Dancing Lesson:Learn the basic steps of swing with instructor Joan Ormsby at the Central Library from 2:00 pm to  4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website. 

Sunday, May 11

• Moms Get Free Admission to Pittock Mansion: All mothers are invited to visit this Portland landmark for free in honor of Mother’s Day. 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Pittock Mansion website.

• Free Admission for Moms to Portland Children’s Museum: Visit the museum website for more information.

• Free Ride for Moms on Willamette Shore Trolley: Willamette Shore Trolley is offering free rides to moms of all ages when accompanied by a paying child (over age 3). For more information, visit the Willamette Shore Trolley website.

• The History and Mystery of the Blues: Local bluesman Steve Cheseborough will present a live performance, lecture, old recordings, readings and discussion at Gregory Heights Library, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• Finn Riggins (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website. 

• Beth Willis (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for details.

• Author Ken Kolsbun will talk about his book Peace: The Biography of the Symbol at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

• Author William J. Bernstein will present his book A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

• The film Philadelphia Story will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

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
• June 8, 2007 -- My New Money-Saving (and Fat-Busting) Game

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