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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Feb 6–8

February 5th, 2009

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

Friday, February 6

• Free First Friday Night at Portland Children’s Museum: Admission to the museum is free from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 4015 SW Canyon Road. For more information, visit the event website.

• First Friday Art Openings: Check PORT for First Friday recommendations, as well as the Central Eastside Arts District website for a list of galleries that will be open. In addition, Tilde, Bowl of Thistles and Press Club will host artist receptions.

• Downtown Camas First Friday Art Walk: This month’s theme is “A Chocolate Affair to Remember.” 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Downtown Troutdale First Friday Art Walk: On the first Friday of each month, Historic Downtown Troutdale businesses host dozens of local artists exhibiting their works of art. For more information, please contact the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce at 503-669-7473 or visit their website.

• Toyz N More N The Hood: The Jacka, Luni Coleone & Cool Nutz, The Dirtball, Laroo and others will perform at the Roseland (8 NW 6th Ave) at 7:00 pm. A donation of two toys or articles of clothing gets you in free. All ages. 503.224.2038

• Factory Girl will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 6:00 pm. All ages. For more information, visit the event website.

• Carley Baer (website) will perform at Wine Unwind (1019 NW 11th Ave) at 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mitzi Zilka (website) will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel, 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• The Buckskins, Purple Heart, and Force Fed Lead will perform at Red Room (2530 NE 82nd Ave) at 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Jack McMahon (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Gil Reynolds Trio Plus (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 Nancy Atherton will speak at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing (3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Mario Livio will talk about his book “Is God a Mathematician?” at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Technical Books (33 NW Park Ave). For more information, visit the event website.

• Author John Gibler will talk about his book “Mexico Unconquered” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside). For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, February 7

• Fix-It Fair: The Fix-It Fair offers exhibits and workshops on saving money, health, home maintenance, gardening and more. Free on-site child care and lunch from Burgerville provided. George Middle School (10000 N. Burr Ave), 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Taiko (website) will perform at Gresham Library (385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham) from 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm. For more information, visit the event 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 “A Hike Back In Time.” 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.

• 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. Northwest Library (2300 NW Thurman St), 1:00 pm–2:00 pm. Most appropriate for preschool-age children. For more information, visit the event website.

• “The Lucky Teakettle” Puppet Show: Emily Alexander combines puppetry and storytelling as she performs a new version of an old tale from Japan. Woodstock Library (6008 SE 49th Ave), 1:30 pm–2:00 pm and again from 3:00 pm–3:30 pm. Space at this program is limited. Free tickets for seating will be available at 1:00 pm. For more information, click here and here.

• Geri Allen (website) will perform at Kaul Auditorium at 8:00 pm. The Kaul Auditorium is located in Reed College (3203 SE Woodstock Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

• 200 Candles for Felix Mendelssohn: Organized and led by violist Chris Kelsey, this free concert features members of Portland’s Classical Revolution playing Mendelssohn’s 9th String Symphony and the String Octet in E-Flat Major. Free birthday cake too. Community Music Center (3350 SE Francis St, 503.823.3177), 7:00 pm.

• Oregon Symphonic Band Winter Concert: The concert titled “This Land Is Your Land” includes traditional and popular American songs. Pat McElroy of KBPS Radio will serve as narrator in Aaron Copland’s “A Lincoln Portrait.” Jackson Middle School Auditorium (10625 SW 35th Ave), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Gideon Freudmann (website) will perform at Ledding Library (10660 SE 21st Ave, Milwaukie) at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Love Trucker (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 6:00 pm. All ages. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lefthand Monkey Wrench (website) will perform at Kay’s Bar (6903 SE Milwaukie) at 9:30 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• H Duo (website) will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel, 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Mood Area 52 (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Adam + Kris (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• The Brothers Jam (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.

• Book Swap for Kids and Teens at Camas Library: Bring books (still in good condition) that you are done with and trade them for new ones. Swap with others, or with a selection of children’s and teen books the library will provide. 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA. 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Tax Help: Trained tax preparers will be at Gregory Heights Library to help you with your tax forms. Bring last year’s return and this year’s paperwork. This program is sponsored by AARP. Gregory Heights Library (7921 NE Sandy Blvd), 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Estate Planning for Traditional & Non-Traditional Families: Receive practical estate planning information to safeguard your finances and healthcare wishes during and after your lifetime. Common myths, wills, living trusts, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney will be discussed. Hollywood Library (4040 NE Tillamook St), 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Rosanne Parry will talk about her book “Heart of a Shepherd” at 1:00 pm at Garden Home Community Library (7475 SW Oleson Rd). For more information, visit the event website.

• “Apples to Oregon” Stories & Crafts: Celebrate the beginning of Oregon Reads with stories and crafts related to the Oregon Reads selection for young readers, “Apples to Oregon.” Hillsboro Main Library (2850 Brookwood Pkwy, Hillsboro), 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, February 8

• Free Admission to Portland Classical Chinese Garden: Admission to the garden will be free from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Japanese Tea Demonstration: Located in Portland, Oregon, Wakai Tea Association is a local chapter of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea, Kyoto, Japan. Watch the graceful tradition of the Urasenke Tea ritual. The ceremony is simply the preparation, serving and drinking of powdered green tea; yet within this simplicity lies the very heart of Japanese culture. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Tales of Japan: Tears of Joy Theatre will present two stories appropriate for families. In “Gift,” Myoga and his comical goat meet a magical princess and learn that even a great and wonderful gift can have drawbacks. In the second story, the classic folktale “Momotaro” is told using an array of rod puppets and audience participation. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave), 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Caroline Oakley & Pete Leone (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 5:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• “Nine Queens” will be showing at Press Club at 8:00 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• African American Read-In: 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 in an afternoon of good words from great works. North Portland Library (512 N. Killingsworth St), 2:30 pm–3:45 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.

Entry Filed under: Art,Books,Children,Food,Movies,Museums,Music,Portland,Theater,Workshops