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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Mar 6–8

March 5th, 2009

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

All weekend

• United States Barista Championship: Watch the best baristas in the country (including a few from Portland) show off their espresso-making skills in the hopes of earning the title of United States Barista Champion. Free coffee will be available. The event takes place at the Oregon Convention Center. For more information and schedule, visit the event website.

Friday, March 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 the Central Eastside Arts District website for a list of galleries that will be open. Also, check Neighborhood Notes for descriptions of events at Grass Hut, Life+Limb, Launch Pad Gallery, Nationale, Newspace Center for Photography, Worksound, Destroy, and Frank James. In addition, Artful Goods, Tilde, Multnomah Arts Center and Press Club will host artist receptions.

• First Friday in Multnomah Village: During this monthly event, shops and galleries stay open late and offer special events, sales and complimentary refreshments. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah Village website.

• First Friday Artwalk in Downtown Camas: This month’s theme is “Bunco Night.” Every merchant you visit will provide you with an opportunity to roll the dice for prizes. 5:00 pm–8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Cascade Festival of African Films: “Enough! / Barakat!” 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.

• International Women’s Day Concert: Join the artists, comedians, singers and musicians of BroadArts Theatre and sing along in celebration of International Women’s Day. Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz will give the keynote address. If you like, bring a potluck dish to share. Portland City Hall Atrium (1221 SW 4th Ave), 5:00 pm–6:30 pm. For more information, contact BroadArts Theatre.

• Singer Songwriter Concert: Come hear new songs from songwriters in your neighborhood. Guitars, pianos, banjos, mandolins, you never know what you will hear. Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy), 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Family Concert: Yurtfolk (website) will perform a concert for families encouraging reading, singing, creativity and appreciation for other cultures. Hillsboro Main Library (2850 Brookwood Pkwy), 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

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

• Sonny Hess (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 Adrian Phoenix will talk about her book “In the Blood” at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing (3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton). For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Molly Wizenberg will talk about her book “A Homemade Life” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside). For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, March 7

• Swingfest: Portland Lindy Exchange: Come down to Pioneer Courthouse Square and enjoy an afternoon filled with live music and swing dancing. 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Cascade Festival of African Films: Two films showing today: At 2:00 pm, “Iron Ladies of Liberia” will be showing at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, Moriarty Bldg. 104 (705 N. Killingsworth St). At 7:30 pm, “The World Unseen” will be showing in the same location. For more information, visit the event website.

• Artist Reception: New American Art Union (922 SE Ankeny St) celebrates the opening of “The House of Sound,” a video installation by Vanessa Renwick. The reception is from 6:00 pm–9:00 pm. At 7:30 pm, the Winter Solstice Puppet Collective 2008 and the Evolutionary Jass Band will present a shadow puppet performance of “I Spend the Night at General Headquarters” by Tu Fu, translated by Kenneth Rexroth. For more information, visit Vanessa’s website.

• ”Horton Hatches an Egg” Puppet Show: Emily Alexander of Tears of Joy Theatre will perform this Dr. Seuss favorite. The play also includes a one-woman circus that will get everyone cheering. Most appropriate for kids in preschool through grade 5. Northwest Library (2300 NW Thurman St), 3:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Out of the Book: Oregon Zoo at the Library: Meet a cast of animals from the Oregon Zoo, such as a kind snake, a silent owl and a squeaky-clean cockroach. Zoo employees will share animal facts and introduce each species. Most appropriate for grades K–5. St. Johns Library (7510 N. Charleston Ave), 1:00 pm–2:00 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. North Portland Library (512 N. Killingsworth St), 11:00 am–12:00 pm. Most appropriate for preschool-age children. For more information, visit the event website.

• Pioneer Living for Kids: Pan for gold, play with pioneer children’s toys, learn how wool becomes clothing, and find out how the pioneers did their chores. Dress up like a pioneer and come join in the fun. West Linn Public Library (1595 Burns St, West Linn), 2:00 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 “The Northwest Hiking Essentials.” 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.

• Tom Petty Tribute: Reina Collins, Scotland Barr, Pilar French, Justin Jude, Kate Mann and Joshua Slamp will perform this tribute at Music Millennium, 4:00 pm. All ages. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lauren Sheehan (website) will perform at Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave) at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• The Rainy States, Paper Brain and Bodhi will perform at Kelly’s Olympian (426 SW Washington) at 9:00 pm. The concert celebrates the release of The Rainy States’ new 7-inch, “New Castle.” Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Pacific Pops Choir will perform at Christ United Methodist Church (12755 NW Dogwood St) at 3:00 pm. The Pops will present its second annual “Stage and Screen Spectacular,” featuring unusual and lesser known songs from the world of Broadway, Hollywood and television. For more information, contact Director Jeffrey Kauffman at 503.228.6383 or visit the Pacific Pops tab at www.jeffreykauffman.net.

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

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

• Tyler Stenson (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.

• 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. Two locations: Gregory Heights Library (7921 NE Sandy Blvd), 10:00 am–2:00 pm; Woodstock Library (6008 SE 49th Ave), 12:00 pm–5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Discussion/Lecture: “Vampire Love: The Second Sex Negotiates the 21st Century”: Bonnie Mann, feminist activist and an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oregon, will give a lecture on vampire love inspired by the popularity of the “Twilight” series. Discussion to follow. In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources (8 B NE Killingsworth St), 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, March 8

• International Women’s Day Celebration: Festivities include music, dance, artwork, and workshops on health and wellness, crafts, cycling, and more. Complimentary childcare will be available. Portland State University Smith Center (1825 SW Broadway), 10:00 am–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Family Walks With Metro Councilors: Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder will lead a family-friendly, 1.9-mile walk through the King neighborhood. Meet at 10:00 am at NE MLK Jr. Blvd and NE Alberta (northeast corner). This is the first in a month-long series of walks led by Metro councilors. For more information, visit the event website or contact Carl Larson at larson @ bta4bikes.org or 503.226.0676 x16.

• Staged Reading of “Entre Nos”: To commemorate International Women’s Day, Milagro Theatre will present a staged reading in Spanish of the one-act play “Entre Nos” (“Between Us”). The play addresses the isolation of women by a society that, in spite of many changes, continues to be chauvinistic. A forum led by community leaders will follow. Free childcare will be provided. Milagro Theatre (525 SE Stark St), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Opera Preview: “La Calisto”: This lecture/concert covers historical background, composer information and musical selections from the show. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Simple Healthy Cooking Saves Time and Money: Jean Johnson will present no-fuss recipes from her book, “Cooking Beyond Measure: How to Eat Well without Formal Recipes.” She will show how quickly and deliciously food comes together when we forget about measuring. Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Japanese Garden Presentation: Learn about the wonders of the Portland Japanese Garden. Door prizes, including admission tickets to the garden, will be given away. Ideal for families with children aged 8+. Hillsboro Main Library (2850 Brookwood Pkwy), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

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

• Author Tim Dorsey will talk about his book “Nuclear Jellyfish” at 2:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing (3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton). For more information, visit the event website.

• Poets Matt Hart, Dobby Gibson and Van Wheeler will talk about their respective work at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne (3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

• Authors Brian Evenson and Jemiah Jefferson will talk about their respective “wovels” (web-novels) at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside). 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,Food,Lectures,Literature,Movies,Museums,Music,Theater