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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Jan 9–11

January 8th, 2009

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

Friday, January 9

• Art Opening at Launch Pad Gallery: The gallery presents “Apples,” a multimedia group show about collaboration, interconnectedness and friendship. The show features 2-D work, film and music by thirteen artists and two bands. Live music by Kaitlyn ni Donovan (9:00 pm) and Point Juncture, WA  (10:00 pm). All ages. 534 SE Oak St, 6:00 pm to 12:00 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• Art Opening at The 100th Monkey Studio: This month’s show is called “Consumerism” featuring artwork by 10 artists. Live music by Kotogoto. All ages. 110 SE 16th Ave, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Learn How to Start a Blog: On Friday and Saturday, a group of local bloggers called Beer & Blog  will host workshops on how to start a blog. Much of the time will be devoted to helping people one on one, so bring your laptop if you’ve got one. Friday’s session will focus on how to get a hosting account and domain name. The session will take place at Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub (928 SE 9th Ave) from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. For more information, click here. On Saturday, a series of workshops will be held at CubeSpace from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm and will focus on installing your blog, customizing it, etc. For more information, click here.

• Gordon Lee will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel, 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Joe McMurrian Quartet (website) will perform at LaurelThirst Public House from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. NE Glisan and 30th. For more information, visit the event website.

• Kirk Duncan & the Localized Juice Embargo (website) will perform at Kay’s Bar (6903 SE Milwaukie) at 9:30 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• The Dust Bowl Refugees will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Steve Cheseborough, Mackintosh Braun, Brian Rozendal, and The Goodwill River will perform at Red Room (2530 NE 82nd Ave) at 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Ritchie G. and Tutu Kane will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Jim the Bad Goat (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern (10000 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro) at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Author Philip Niles will talk about his book “Beauty of the City,” a biography of Albert E. Doyle, at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, January 10

• Fix-It Fair: The fair includes workshops on a variety of topics including money-saving tips, home care, health and safety. Free professional child care will be available, and giveaways will be going on all day. Parkrose High School (12003 NE Shaver St), 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website (be sure to click the links on the right side of the page).

• Slavic New Year Celebration: Celebrate the new year with Russian music, dancing, crafts and treats. Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave), noon–5:00 pm. For a schedule of activities, visit the event website.

• Learn How to Start a Blog: On Friday and Saturday, a group of local bloggers called Beer & Blog  will host workshops on how to start a blog. Much of the time will be devoted to helping people one on one, so bring your laptop if you’ve got one. Friday’s session will focus on how to get a hosting account and domain name. The session will take place at Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub (928 SE 9th Ave) from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. For more information, click here. On Saturday, a series of workshops will be held at CubeSpace from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm and will focus on installing your blog, customizing it, etc. For more information, click here.

• Oregon Symphony Storytime: This series focuses on books, music, instruments, sound and fun musical crafts. Each week features a visit from an Oregon Symphony musician who will play and provide an introduction to his or her instrument and orchestral music. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Hillsdale Library (1525 SW Sunset Blvd), 11:00 am–noon. Most appropriate for preschool-age children. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mz. Pearl’s Variety Show is a solo clown show filled with physical comedy, juggling, magic, dance and word play. The audience is really involved in Mz. Pearl’s show—in their seats, as volunteers, and in a mini-workshop at the end. Most suitable for grades K–5. Rockwood Library (17917 SE Stark St), 2:00 pm–2:45 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Second Saturday at Vancouver Water Center: Each second Saturday of the month, kids and their families are invited to explore a different topic through hands-on activities, games and stories. This month: Discover how a snowshoe hare, Canada goose and western toad adjust to winter. Make a winter animal paper weight. Weave a hot pad from fur-like yarn to experience the heavy coat some animals have to survive cold winter weather. 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Belinda Underwood will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel, 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Tim Connell’s Brazillian Mandolin Duo will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Little Sue Band (website) will perform at LaurelThirst Public House from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. NE Glisan and 30th. For more information, visit the event website.

• Hit Me Baby, Attack Ships On Fire, Muddy River Nightmare Band, and Keel Over will perform at Red Room (2530 NE 82nd Ave) at 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Walsh Shuttle Pipes Performance: Cedar Mill resident Matt Rucker will play Scottish and Irish tunes on the Walsh Shuttle Pipes. These bellows blown pipes are similar in style and shape to pipes dating back to 1695 and are ideal for intimate performances where the Highland pipes would prove too overpowering. Cedar Mill Community Library (12505 NW Cornell Rd), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Ritchie G. and Tutu Kane will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Garcia Birthday Band (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern (10000 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro) at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Saturday Guided Nature Walks at Tryon Creek State Park: Join a park ranger for a free, guided nature hike to explore the forest and stream ecosystems and natural history at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Today’s theme is “Cones, Cones, Cones.” Appropriate for all ages. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. 10:00 am to 11:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Michele Ulrickson will read from her memoir “Reform at Victory” at In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources (8 B NE Killingsworth St) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• William Stafford Birthday Event: This event features readings by Judith Barrington, Marlene Hill, Susanna Lundgren, Helen McNaughton, Heidi Pullen, Ron Rasch, Susan McKee Reese, and Paulann Petersen. Milwaukie Ledding Library, Pond House (2215 SE Harrison, Milwaukie), 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. More information can be found here.

• Sketchcrawl: To celebrate the 21st Worldwide Sketchcrawl, Portlanders will gather at 10:00 am to sketch what they see and enjoy the challenge of drawing new things. The group will meet at Pioneer Place mall downtown by the ground-floor Starbucks. Look for folks with sketchbooks, sketching! For more information, contact the Portland Sketchcrawl group. 

Sunday, January 11

• Jazz Stories 2009: Jazz Stories is a series of spoken word/live jazz narratives. In original stories accompanied by live jazz, writer Lynn Darroch, guitarist John Stowell and saxophonist Rob Davis celebrate musicians such as Ray Charles, Phil Woods, Charles Lloyd, Betty Carter and Red Rodney. Woodstock Library (6008 SE 49th Ave), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Epiphany Choir Fest: Several local church choirs will perform holiday carols at Gethsemane Lutheran Church (11560 SE Market) at 3:00 pm. The concert is free to the public, and refreshments and child care will be available. A goodwill offering for Daybreak Shelter Network will be accepted at intermission. Daybreak Shelter Network is a shelter and housing placement program for homeless families. For more information, visit the event website.

• Classical Music Performance—Violin and Flute: Violinist George Shiolas and flutist Abby Mages will present a program of classical selections from Bach, Vivaldi, Bartok and others. Hillsboro Main Library (2850 Brookwood Pkwy, Hillsboro), 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “The Flight and The Fall”: “The Flight and the Fall” is a podcast by Abraham Ingle in which he records locals talking about their neighborhoods. This debut of the second episode of the series will include live voice-overs, as well as guitar and keyboard accompaniment. Prior to that, Root Beer and French Fry and The Wedding Singers will perform. Valentine’s (232 SW Ankeny St), 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Music at LaurelThirst Public House: Freak Mountain Ramblers will perform at 6:00 pm. Billy Kennedy and Tim Acott will perform at 9:00 pm. NE Glisan and 30th. For more information, visit the event website.

• Vinny D. (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 5:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• “Big Night ” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Oregon Poets, Oregon History: Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Inada and William Stafford archivist Paul Merchant will read at this free literary event. The event will commemorate William Stafford’s life as a conscientious objector as well as the WWII internment experiences of the Yasui family relayed in “Stubborn Twig,” by Lauren Kessler, the book chosen for Oregon Reads 2009. Beaverton Library (12375 SW 5th Street, Beaverton), 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Arlene Sachitano will talk about her book “Quilter’s Knot” at Murder by the Book (3210 SE Hawthorne Blvd) at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author and filmmaker Faythe Levine will talk about her book “Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design” at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. Joining Levine will be contributing writer, Susan Beal; featured artist, Jill Bliss; and the illustrator for the book, Kate Bingaman-Burt. For more information, visit the event website.

• Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Workshop: Learn the basics of wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare directives with attorney and author Richard Schneider. Gresham Library (385 NW Miller Ave), 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. For more information, visit the event 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, please contact me.

Other articles from Around the Sun:

• January 4, 2009 -- 1/8–1/29: 21 Days of Free Yoga Classes
• January 1, 2009 -- Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Jan 2–4
• December 30, 2008 -- Peacock Lane Photos, Last Day to See Lights Is New Year’s Eve

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