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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Feb 13–15

February 12th, 2009

Great list this week, thanks mainly to our state turning the big 1-5-0. A few V-day events too. Please write a comment about any events I missed. 

Freebies

Before we get to the events, a few freebies:

• Free Cookie: Hotlips Pizza will give a free heart-shaped cookie to the first 3,000 visitors on February 14. No purchase necessary. Open at 11:00 am. For more information, visit the Hotlips website.

• Free Breakfast: Get a free breakfast and coffee at IKEA with this coupon (scroll to the bottom of the screen to see the coupon). Valid February 13–16.

• Free 10-Minute Phone Call: 1-800-FREE411 is offering free 10-minute phone calls on Valentine’s Day from any landline or mobile phone in the US to any phone number in the US. If you call from your mobile, your provider will likely count those minutes. For more information, visit free411.com.

Free Events

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

Friday, February 13

• Portland Jazz Festival Free Events: Visit festival website for schedule.

• Cascade Festival of African Films: “Clouds over Conakry” will be showing at 7:30 pm at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, Moriarty Bldg. 104 (705 N. Killingsworth St). For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Love Show (Art): This show features the work of more than 200 artists, as well as live music by Stumptown Sawyers. All ages. Please bring a canned food item to donate to the Oregon Food Bank. Olympic Mills Commerce Center (107 SE Washington St), 7:00 pm–12:00 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Battlestar Galactica” Final Season: Join KUFO’s Cort and Fatboy each Friday night from January 16 through March 10 to watch the final 10 episodes of “Battlestar Galactica.” Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd). Doors open at 9:00 pm; show at 10:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, contact the Bagdad Theater or KUFO.

• Johnny and the Distractions will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 4:30 pm. All ages. For more information, visit the event website.

• Joe Wrabek, Frank Salo, Metropolitan Farms, and The Cut and Run will perform at Red Room (2530 NE 82nd Ave) at 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• Richie Young, singer and songwriter for Loch Lomond, will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Special appearance by cellist and songstress Ashia. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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

• Cicada Omega (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.

• Poetry Reading: Ana Callan will read from “Duet With Hummingbird,” and Daniel Skach-Mills will read from “The Tao of Now.” Essex House, Community Room (1330 SW 3rd Ave), 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Citadel of the Spirit: Oregon’s Sesquicentennial Anthology”: In commemoration of Oregon’s 150th birthday, Nestucca Spit Press is proud to present its latest release, “Citadel of the Spirit: Oregon’s Sesquicentennial Anthology,” edited by Matt Love. Come to this once-in-a-lifetime birthday party featuring editor Love, who will be joined by Gina Ochsner, Brian Doyle, Bart King, Kaia Sand, David Horowitz, Katrine Barber, and others. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lincoln Movie Night: Screening of 1938 “Young Mr. Lincoln” starring Henry Fonda. 6:00 pm, Portland State University, Cramer Hall Room 494 (1721 SW Broadway). For more information, visit the Lincoln Bicentennial website.

Saturday, February 14

• Portland Jazz Festival Free Events: Visit festival website for schedule.

• Oregon Birthday Celebration at Oregon Historical Society: To celebrate Oregon’s 150th birthday, admission to OHS will be free on Saturday and Sunday. Festivities include educational family fun, cake, guest speakers, music and more. Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sunday noon–5:00 pm. 1200 SW Park Ave. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Admission to Oregon City Museums and Attractions: To celebrate Oregon’s birthday, admission will be free at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Museum of the Oregon Territory & Clackamas County Family History Society, Stevens-Crawford Heritage House, Ermatinger House, McLoughlin House, and William Holmes House aka the “Rose Farm.” Visitors will be able to use the free Oregon City Trolleys throughout the day to and from these museums and other attractions. For more information, visit the event website.

• Everything Green Oregon Expo: The Everything Green Oregon Expo is about making good choices, using less energy, shifting away from nonrenewable sources, and generally reducing the associated environmental impacts to our air, water, and land. The Expo will share ideas and concepts to begin and further a green lifestyle. Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK, Jr. Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

• Zwickelmania: Oregon Brewers Guild Open House: To celebrate Oregon’s Sesquicentennial, more than 15 Portland-area breweries and brewpubs will offer tours, a chance to meet the brewers, and beer samples. 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information and a list of participating breweries, visit the event website.

• Oregon Birthday Event at Tryon Creek State Park: Come to the park for exciting craft projects, guided hikes about Tryon Creek’s part in Oregon history, and birthday cake. 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• I Love Oregon: A Birthday Celebration: Come to Hillsdale Library for reflections and refreshments to celebrate Oregon’s birthday. Library staff will help you upload your Oregon story (print or audio) to the Oregon 150 website, to be archived for future generations. Hillsdale Library (1525 SW Sunset Blvd), 2:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• This Oregon Life: Stories About Your Oregon Experience: Do you have a memorable Oregonian moment to share? Whether you are new to Oregon or your family has lived here for generations, come and tell your story. Staff at the Central Library will be recording people’s stories for the Oregon 150 celebration. Please keep stories to five minutes. Light refreshments will be served. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 2:30 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• 150 Years of Portland Architecture: In honor of Oregon’s 150th birthday, the Architectural Heritage Center is putting together a program illustrating 150 years of architecture in the Portland area. 701 SE Grand Ave, 10:00 am–4:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Beaverton’s Oregon Birthday Event: The Whiskey Flats Brass Band will celebrate Oregon’s birthday with a concert of late 19th century band music on authentic period instruments. Beaverton City Library (12375 SW 5th St, Beaverton), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Oregon Birthday Party in Hillsboro: Come eat birthday cake and learn more about your beautiful state at Shute Park Branch Library (775 SE 10th Ave, Hillsboro), 2:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Cascade Festival of African Films: “Abeni” will be showing at 7:30 pm at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, Moriarty Bldg. 104 (705 N. Killingsworth St). For more information, visit the event website.

• “26 Ways I Love You”: The Working Theatre Collective will perform “26 Ways I Love You” in 14 different locations in Portland. The play is 30 minutes long. For the schedule and more information, visit the event website.

• Artist Reception and Valentine’s Celebration at Gossamer: Meet artist Lisi Belz-McCarthy and view her Valentine-inspired art. Gossamer (2418 E. Burnside St), 3:00 pm–5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Valentine’s Day and Birthday Celebration at A Children’s Place Bookstore: Celebrate Oregon’s birthday, Lincoln’s birthday and Valentine’s Day at ACP. Author Deborah Hopkinson will present her books “Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek” and “Apples to Oregon.” After the book talk, the festivities will continue with Valentine’s Day card making and cake. 4807 NE Fremont St, 11:00 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• Valentine’s Day Pirate and Sea Turtle Spectacular: Portland authors and wildlife filmmakers Laura and Robert Sams will be at Captain Henry’s Pirate Store (in the Lloyd Center) from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. They will be sharing songs and stories from their new children’s book, “A Pirate’s Quest,” as well as scenes from their new underwater movie “The Riddle in a Bottle.” Free posters for all children who attend. For more information, contact Laura and Robert Sams or Captain Henry’s Pirate Store.

• Chocolate Dessert Tasting and Sneak Peek of “The Vegan Scoop” Cookbook: Chef and consummate romantic Wheeler del Toro will be hosting a free chocolate dessert sampling at The Hungry Tiger Too. Desserts will be created from recipes featured in his new cookbook “The Vegan Scoop.” The Hungry Tiger Too (207 SE 12th Ave, 238-4321), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit Neighborhood Notes.

• Anti-Valentine Write-Off: For Valentine’s Day, the Independent Publishing Resource Center is hosting a Write-Off. The theme is Love, but not as you have ever experienced it before. In each competitive round, a new genre will be picked from a hat (e.g., an ode, a movie script, how-to, obituary), and contestants will write their brains out about love in the given genre under a time limit. Cool prizes go to the contestants who demonstrate the most versatility and originality. 917 SW Oak St #218, 7:30 pm. 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), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. Most appropriate for preschool-age children. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Who’s in Hare’s House?” Puppet Show: In this East African tale, Sungura the hare returns to find someone inside his house, and it must be a monster. Presented by Tears of Joy Theatre. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Most appropriate for grades K–5. Holgate Library (7905 SE Holgate Blvd), 12:00 pm–12:45 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Treetarantula, The Get Off, and Accidental Intoxication will perform at Red Room (2530 NE 82nd Ave) at 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Will West (website) will perform with cellist Skip von Kuske at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• HaléLupé (website) 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.

• Kimono Workshop: There are many rules to wearing a kimono. A member of the Wakai Tea Association will model how to choose and wear a kimono. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 12:00 pm–1:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Ikebana Demonstration: Keiko Kodachi, a teacher at the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Portland, will present a demonstration of Ikebana. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. West Linn Public Library (1595 Burns St, West Linn), 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Tax Help: Trained tax preparers will volunteer their time and expertise 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–2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Ooligan Author Readings: Tom Fuller will read from his and Art Ayre’s upcoming book, “Oregon at Work.” Michael Cooper, author of “42,” and Michael Munk, author of “The Portland Red Guide,” will also read their works. Oregon Historical Society (1200 SW Park Ave), 10:00 am. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, February 15

• Portland Jazz Festival Free Events: Visit festival website for schedule.

• Oregon Birthday Celebration at Oregon Historical Society: To celebrate Oregon’s 150th birthday, admission to OHS will be free on Saturday and Sunday. Festivities include educational family fun, cake, guest speakers, music and more. Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sunday noon–5:00 pm. 1200 SW Park Ave. For more information, visit the event website.

• Everything Green Oregon Expo: The Everything Green Oregon Expo is about making good choices, using less energy, shifting away from nonrenewable sources, and generally reducing the associated environmental impacts to our air, water, and land. The Expo will share ideas and concepts to begin and further a green lifestyle. Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK, Jr. Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

• Chinese New Year Celebration in Vancouver: Learn about Chinese New Year customs and fun facts. Watch Portland Lee’s Association Lion Dance Team’s performance. Enjoy entertainment from students of Portland Chinese Art & Cultural Center and Salmon Creek Chinese School. See demonstrations of Chinese calligraphy. Participate in making fun and beautiful Chinese crafts. Firstenburg Community Center (700 NE 136th Ave), 2:00 pm–3:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Japanese Dance Performance: Enjoy a performance of traditional Japanese dance called “Buyo” by Portland’s Fujinami-Kai School of Dance. Northwest Library (2300 NW Thurman St), 1:30 pm–2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Taiko (website) will perform at the Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 1:00 pm–1:45 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Come to Your Senses Day: Celebrate Come to Your Senses Day with Courtenay Hameister, Chelsea Cain, Karen Karbo, Erin Ergenbright, McKinley (from Dirty Martini), and Michele Gendelman, the contributors to “What Was I Thinking?: 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories.” Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Kirk Duncan & the Localized Juice Embargo (website) will perform at Kay’s Bar (6903 SE Milwaukie) at 8:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

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

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

• World Travel 101: This workshop is geared toward the first-time traveler planning a trip abroad. Veteran travelers will offer tips on everything from budgeting, packing, finding accommodations, managing health issues, cultural behavior, transportation, language barriers, getting the most out of your trip and more. Gregory Heights Library (7921 NE Sandy Blvd), 2:00 pm–3:00 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,Children,Environment,Food,Holidays,Literature,Movies,Museums,Music,Theater