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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: May 29–31

Admission is free for all events below. For more concerts, visit Concert Co-op.

Have a great weekend!

Friday, May 29

• Zoobomb Public Art Unveiling and Dance Party: The well-known, often-relocated minibike sculpture in downtown Portland has a new, permanent home: an art bike rack created by two local artists at SW 13th and W. Burnside. The celebration includes a parade, Mayor Sam Adams, entertainment and more. The parade meets at 4:00 pm at SW 10th and Oak, and will ride to the site at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit BikePortland.

• Clay Giberson will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way), 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Miss Michael Jodell, Matt Brown and Allen Hunter will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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

• Beth Willis (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 Glen David Gold will talk about his book “Sunnyside” at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, May 30

• Starlight Parade: Watch sparkling floats, gleaming bands and glowing marching groups wind their way through downtown Portland. The parade begins at 8:30 pm at NW Burnside and 9th Ave. It then travels through downtown Portland and ends at Lincoln High School. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Admission to Washington County Museum: It’s Family Day at the museum. Activities include kite making, pioneer dressup and more. 17677 NW Springville Rd, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour: See the best college snowboarders compete in 20 tons of snow at Pioneer Square. 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Wilsonville Parade Celebrating Oregon’s 150th Birthday: The parade will start at 10:00 am at the Parker Johnstone Honda Dealership and meander along Memorial Drive past the Parks to end up at Wilsonville City Hall. For more information, visit the event website.

• Wilsonville Festival of Arts: The festival features more than 100 artists and performers from Wilsonville and beyond. Music, dance, poetry, and other live events are presented on the stage at Wilsonville’s Town Center Park. Hands-on activities for kids. Town Center Park (29600 SW Park Place, Wilsonville), Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the event website.

• Sturgeon Festival: Discover the many facets of the Columbia River ecosystem in which we live. Activities include Portland Audubon Birds of Prey, Creature Feature Reptile Zoo, Chinook tribal lore, water and boating safety demos, and more. Water Resources Education Center (4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver), Saturday and Sunday. For schedule and more information, visit the event website.

• Children’s Festival 2009: Free face painting, dance performances, kids’ activities and crafts, and more. Organized by Vancouver Family Magazine. Westfield Vancouver Mall (8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr), 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Kids and Maternity Clothing Swap: Round up clean children’s clothing, accessories, and other wearables your kids don’t use or love anymore and swap them for items they need. This swap also includes maternity clothes. Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave. Check the event website for times and more information.

• Ed Benedict Skate Plaza Grand Opening Celebration and Skate Jam Invitational: Portland City Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Nick Fish will officially open the skate plaza at 1:15 pm. Enjoy a youth skateboarding competition, DJ, giveaways and more. Ed Benedict Park, SE 104th and Powell Blvd. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lorna Miller’s Little Kids’ Jamboree: Lorna Miller uses music, songs, rhythm, and movement activities to stimulate young imaginations. The Little Kids’ Jamboree is an interactive event for kids of all ages. Belmont Library (1038 SE 39th Ave), 3:00 pm–4:00 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 “Restoration of the Creek.” 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.

• Green Walks: A guide from Portland Parks & Recreation will lead a tour of Kelley Point Park (N. Marine Dr. and Lombard), 10:00 am–11:00 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• Nancy Curtin (website) will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way), 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Lisa Forkish Trio (website) will perform at 7:00 pm at Local Lounge (3536 NE MLK, 503.282.1833).

• Massive 7 Party: Special guest DJ Cousin Cole, a fashion show showcasing local designers, a PBR wheel and the official after-party for the Campus Rail Jam tour. Say “LifeisaParty” at the door and get in free before 10:00 pm. Ages 21+. Crown Room, 205 NW Fourth Ave.

• Kaitlyn Ni Donovan and The Brilliant Channel will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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

• Poncho Luxurio (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.

Sunday, May 31

• Zumiez Couch Tour (Skate Event): This event features a skateboarding competition and demos, giveaways, live music, food samples and more. Glenhaven Skatepark (NE 82nd Ave & Siskiyou St), noon to 6:00 pm. For schedule and more information, visit the event website.

• Wilsonville Festival of Arts: The festival features more than 100 artists and performers from Wilsonville and beyond. Music, dance, poetry, and other live events are presented on the stage at Wilsonville’s Town Center Park. Hands-on activities for kids. Town Center Park (29600 SW Park Place, Wilsonville), Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the event website.

• Sturgeon Festival: Discover the many facets of the Columbia River ecosystem in which we live. Activities include Portland Audubon Birds of Prey, Creature Feature Reptile Zoo, Chinook tribal lore, water and boating safety demos, and more. Water Resources Education Center (4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver), Saturday and Sunday. For schedule and more information, visit the event website.

• Kung Fu Film Series: “The Big Boss” will be showing at Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave) at 2:15 pm. The film is in Chinese with English subtitles. A brief discussion and kung fu demonstration with Master Yu, Shaowen will follow the screening. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• Cookbook author Ani Phyo will talk about her book “Ani’s Raw Food Desserts” at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Acupuncture: The Herb Shoppe will offer free acupuncture from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 3327 SE Hawthorne Blvd. For more information, visit the event website.

• Adaptive Bike Day: Try your hand at different biking options while cruising the Eastbank Esplanade. Several different types of bikes will be available to try out including two, three, and four-wheels, recumbent, upright, hand or foot-pedals. Helmets required (some will be available at the event). Meet at Vera Katz Festival Plaza parking lot under the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

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.

Add comment May 28th, 2009

3/7: Women’s Clothing Swap in Camas (Sizes 0–5)

On March 7, 2009, PDXSwap will host a clothing swap in Camas for women sizes 0–5. The swap will take place at Rushing Water Yoga (417 NE Birch St, Camas) at 6:00 pm.

To attend, please RSVP to ccpetites at gmail dot com.

For more information, visit the PDXSwap website.

2 comments March 2nd, 2009

2/20: Men’s Clothing Swap (Sizes L and XL)

For four years, women have enjoyed PDXSwap’s frequent and well-organized clothing swaps. Now it’s the guys’ turn!

The first men’s clothing swap will be on Friday, February 20, at People’s Food Co-op. The swap will be for men who are size L or XL, about 5′8″ to 6′2″ and 150 lbs to 220 lbs. Women who want to swap for the men in their lives are also welcome. Start time will be 8:30 pm. 

To RSVP or for more information, send an email to manswap at pdxswap dot com. Space is limited. If you’re unable to get into this swap, ask to be put on the email list to receive information on future swaps.

To find out more about PDXSwap and all of the swaps they host, visit PDXSwap.com.

2 comments February 16th, 2009

Lots of Deals in Willamette Week’s “Recession Busters”

Though it was published a week ago, I just read Willamette Week’s article “Recession Busters.” If you haven’t read it yet, you must. WW staffers did some excellent sleuthing and found dozens of freebies and discounts for all kinds of things in Portland: entertainment, food, travel, shopping, etc. Some deals are already over, but many are still alive or ongoing.

Here’s a sample of the deals that caught my eye:

• Dress entirely in red and get an extra 20% discount on apparel at Macy’s. Valid February 4–8.
• Earn a free order of large fries or small poutine at Potato Champion by answering a trivia question from one of two categories: Potato History or Serial Killers. Offer good 8:00 pm–3:00 am Wednesday–Thursday and 8:00 pm–10:00 pm Friday–Saturday through February 14.
• Drink for free for one hour at East Burn after 9:00 pm on your birthday. Offer is good for you and nine friends and includes unlimited draft beer and any bottles under $4, plus eight glasses of red or white wine. You have to sign up one week in advance. 
• Show up just before the start of a show at Portland Center Stage and get unsold tickets for $10 each (cash only). Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony and White Bird Dance also offer deep discounts on last-minute purchases, with restrictions.
• Sell your books at any Powell’s location and get an additional $5 in trade when you mention “Morrison the Squirrel.” Offer valid through February 14.  

I could go on, but eventually I’d just be summarizing the whole article. You can read it for yourself here. 

Now I wonder if my mom would mind if I gave her address to Saint Cupcake … ?

1 comment February 3rd, 2009

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Nov 7–9

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

Friday, November 7

• Free First Friday Night at Portland Children’s Museum: Admission to the museum is free from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Bring a gift of canned food for the Oregon Food Bank and create a garland of gratitude and a pinecone turkey to take home. For more information, visit the event website. 

• First Friday Art Shows and Openings:

  • First Friday East Portland Gallery Art Walk: Several galleries on the East side open their doors to the public from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on the first Friday of each month. Go to this website for the list of galleries. In addition to those, Bowl of Thistles and Tilde will also host artist receptions.

  • Multnomah Arts Center Faculty Art Show & Concert: From 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, chat with members of MAC’s art faculty and view paintings, prints, drawings, metal arts, clay arts, textile arts and more. The music faculty will perform at 7:15 pm. All are welcome. 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. For more information, visit the event website.

  • Photography Show and Voice Catcher Reading: The 100th Monkey Studio (110 SE 16th Ave) will host a reception for their new exhibit featuring photos by young people. Also, the Voice Catcher community will read from their new anthology. All ages welcome. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm; reading begins at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

  • Pattern Art Show: Olio United (1028 SE Water) is celebrating the opening of “Repeat,” featuring pattern work by 10 artists. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website. 

  • Press Club will host a reception for artist Charlie Kraft at 7:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

  • Also, go to PORT for more events.

• 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 Art Walk in Downtown Camas: This month’s theme is “Favorite Recipes from Downtown Camas.” In addition to displays for the holidays, downtown merchants will serve their favorite holiday recipes for customers to enjoy and also hand out the written recipes. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the Downtown Camas website.

• New Faces (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 7:00 pm. All ages. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Ehren Ebbage (website) will perform at East Burn (1800 E. Burnside) at 10:00 pm. Visit the East Burn website for more information.

• The Old Yellers (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Western Aerial (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Ellen Heltzel & Margo Hammond will talk about “Between the Covers,” their anthology of fiction and nonfiction, at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

Saturday, November 8

• Keep Portland Weird Festival: The Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave) will host a variety of activities and information booths from “weird” organizations in Portland. For more information, visit the festival website. For details on the clothing swaps, click here. 11:00 am–4:00 pm.

• Siren Nation Workshops: In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources (8 NE Killingsworth St) will host three family-friendly workshops: “Zines 101” at 1:15 pm; “What Is Freeschooling?” at 3:00 pm; and “Urban Cycling: How to Ride the Road & Feel Good Doing It” at 4:15 pm. These workshops are part of the Siren Nation Festival, which includes free and not-free events. For more information on the workshops, visit the IOW website.

• Free Events at NW Film & Video Festival: The festival includes two free events:

  • Show and Tell Un-conference: A Barcamp for Filmmakers: This is an opportunity for filmmakers of all levels to share their knowledge, learn from others, inspire and be inspired. Beverages and snacks will be provided. School of Film (934 SW Salmon), 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

  • What’s Wrong With This Picture: Seattle film guru Warren Etheredge will host this talk about films that were not selected for this year’s festival. Open to filmmakers of all experience levels, as well as to film lovers. Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave), 4:00 pm.

  • For more information, visit the event website.

• Marie Black (website) will perform at East Burn (1800 E. Burnside) at 10:00 pm. Visit the East Burn website for more information.

• Will West (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Ida Viper (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Author Laura Foster will talk about her book “Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations in and Around Town” at Northwest Library (2300 NW Thurman St) at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Get Me Through the Holidays: 10 Strategies for Coping with Loss and Loneliness on Days That Hold Special Meaning”: Staff from the Community Care Program of Providence Hospital will lead this presentation. Kenilworth Presbyterian Church (corner of SE 34th and Gladstone), 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Coffee and refreshments at 9:45 am. For more information, visit Neighborhood Notes.

Sunday, November 9

• Siren Nation Workshops: Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave) will host a day of free workshops—part of the 2008 Siren Nation Festival—on a wide range of topics of concern and interest to women: writing, music, canning food, sex, health, self-defense, entrepreneurship and more. 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. All ages welcome. For more information, visit the event website.

• ”Gourdy Pumpernickel’s Harvest Surprise” Puppet Show: Mudeye Puppet Company presents this all-new, all-original, all-ages puppet show about a determined but slightly silly farmer who never gives up. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website

• Kolvane/Joe McMurrian Quartet will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• “Election” 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, please contact me.

Add comment November 7th, 2008

Nov 8: Children’s and Women’s Clothing Swaps at Central Library

On Saturday, November 8, the Central Library is hosting the Keep Portland Weird Festival. It’s free, and there’s lots going on including circus lessons, live music, ukulele lessons, and a chance to talk to representatives from a variety of “weird” organizations that make Portland such an interesting place to live.

In addition, there will be two clothing swaps: one for women’s clothes and another for kids’ and maternity clothes. Both are organized by PDXSwap.

For those who don’t know, a clothing swap is an event where you bring clean, wearable clothes that you don’t need anymore and trade them for clothes that other participants bring. It’s a great excuse to clean out your closet and a great way to restock your closet for free.

Here are the details:

WHO: The women’s clothing swap is for all sizes. Likewise, the kids’ clothing swap is for all children’s sizes, from newborn to teen. If you’re pregnant, you’re welcome to take some baby clothes even if you don’t have any kids’ clothes to swap yet.

WHEN: Saturday, November 8, 2008. The kids’ and maternity clothes swap will run from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The women’s clothing swap will run from noon to 4:00 pm.

WHERE: Central Library, 801 SW 10th Avenue (at SW Yamhill Street), Portland, OR 97205 (map). The kids’ and maternity clothing swap will be in the Children’s Library Story Theater on the first floor. The women’s swap will take place in the Sterling Writers Room on the second floor.

WHAT TO BRING: Clean clothes in good condition with no rips, tears, visible stains, etc. As mentioned above, all sizes are welcome. There are no minimum requirements for how many items you have to bring or how many you can take, but please be courteous and generous. Don’t forget to bring a bag to carry home your treasures.

• For the kids’ clothing swap, you can also bring lightly used children’s accessories like socks, shoes, boots, hats, scarves, mittens or sunglasses. No toys, please.
• The women’s swap is clothes only, no accessories.

LOGISTICS: These are drop-in swaps, which means you can bring your clothing and swap at any time, as long as the swap is still open. If you like, you can do a little swapping, then check out the other events at Keep Portland Weird, then come back to swap some more.

The clothes will be separated by size. When you arrive, place your clothes in the appropriate piles.

NOTE: The kids’ swap area is child-proofed, but space is very limited. Please leave strollers at home, carry babies in a sling, and bring someone to supervise little ones in the Children’s Library while you swap.

For more information, visit the festival website or PDXSwap.com.

Add comment November 6th, 2008

June’s a Big Month for Women’s Clothing Swaps in Portland

Heads up, gals! PDXSwap is organizing several women’s clothing swaps in June, including swaps for specific sizes (small, medium or large) and a swap for all sizes.

If you’ve never attended a PDXSwap event, I recommend reading this article. In it, Oregonian staffer Laura Oppenheimer writes about the all-sizes swap that took place last month. At the end of this post, I’ve also included PDXSwap’s instructions for newbies.

Here are the what, where and when of the swaps happening in June. Some swaps require an RSVP.

Women’s/Teens’ Clothing Sizes 0–5

Friday, June 20
7:00 pm (Please plan to arrive about 10–15 minutes early)
People’s Food Co-op, 3029 SE 21st Avenue, Portland, OR 97202
RSVP to Rae at small@pdxswap.com. Spaces are limited. Also, ask to be added to the mailing list.

Women’s/Teens’ Clothing Sizes 6–12

Monday, June 9
7:00 pm (Please plan to arrive about 10–15 minutes early)
Tigard Senior Center, 8815 SW O’Mara Street, Tigard, OR 97223
Contact Cindy at simple_and_enough@yahoo.com for more information or to be added to the mailing list.

Women’s/Teens’ Clothing Sizes 6–12 (yes, another one)

Thursday, June 12
7:00 pm (Please plan to arrive about 10–15 minutes early)
Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst (in the Narthex), 935 NE 33rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97232
No RSVP needed. Contact Barb at medium@pdxswap.com for more information or to be added to the mailing list.

Women’s/Teens’ Clothing Sizes 12–18

Thursday, June 26
7:00 pm (Please plan to arrive about 10–15 minutes early)
Tigard Senior Center, 8815 SW O’Mara Street, Tigard, OR 97223
Contact Cindy at simple_and_enough@yahoo.com for more information or to be added to the mailing list.

Women’s All-Sizes Clothing Swap

Friday, June 13
7:00 pm (Please plan to arrive about 10–15 minutes early)
Pilates with Fe, 702 Main Street, Oregon City, OR 97045 
* Due to the exercise equipment on-site, children are unfortunately not allowed at this swap. Also, you will be asked to remove your shoes at the door when you enter to keep Fe’s Studio tidy.
RSVP to Rae at allsizes@pdxswap.com. Please include your size in your RSVP. Spaces are limited. Also, ask to be added to the mailing list.

The following has been provided by PDXSwap:

TIPS TO MAKE SWAPS RUN SMOOTHLY (aka if this is your first swap, here’s how it works…)

If you’ve never been to a clothing swap, here are some tips:

• Scour your closets, drawers, and storage for clothes in good condition that you no longer wear, accessories, shoes, belts—basically any wearables (also junior equivalents). Wash them up and bring them along to add to the swap.

• Wear spandex/yoga/bike clothes or a swimsuit under your regular clothes so you don’t have to get naked to try things on (children may be present, and occasionally a janitor has come through near the end of a swap).

• Bring along a bag(s) to carry your treasures home in.

• At 7 pm we dump all our bags of clothes into rows on the floor (we have an accessories pile in a separate place so no one is hit by an errant shoe or purse). You take what interests you and put it in a pile behind you (or on your folding chair seat—that’s your ‘base’ at the medium swap). When your pile gets rather large, you try on the clothes in your pile, throw back what you don’t want, and put what you do want in the bag(s) that you brought.

• Leftover clothes will be donated to organization(s) that will pass the clothes along for free.

• There is no limit to the amount you bring or the amount you take home with you. We ask that you be courteous and generous with each other. If you can use it—take it! In fact, if you’re a quilter, felter, or other fabric artist, after the other women have chosen what they can use, if you see something (especially something that is damaged or outdated) that you could incorporate into a cloth project, feel free to take it at the end of the swap when we’re bagging things up.

• Depending on how many people show up, the exchange can last from 30–50 minutes, so it’s short and sweet.

1 comment June 7th, 2008

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: May 16–18

Admission is free for all events below. Stay cool!

Friday, May 16

• Designers Denyse Schmidt and Heather Ross (www.dsquilts.com, www.heatherrossdesigns.com) will be at Bolt Fabric Boutique from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for a “casual meet-and-greet, see-new-fabrics-event.” Visit the Bolt website for details.

• 30 Rooms Art Exhibit Opening Reception: More than 30 local artists will show their work in the loft building of art refuge Milepost 5. DJs such as Jellyfish & Bubbles will perform. 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. For more information, visit the Milepost 5 website.

• Missy Higgins (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:30 pm. For details, visit the Music Millennium website.

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

• Mary Flower (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

• Sonny Hess Trio (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for details.

• Pete Krebs Jazz Trio (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Mary Kadderly and Dan Gildea (Mary’s site) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for more information.

• Author Nicole Mones will talk about her book The Last Chinese Chef at Tigard Library, 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Tigard Library website.

• Author John Straley will present his book The Big Both Ways at Murder by the Book at 6:30 pm. Visit the MBTB website for details.

• Author Garth Stein will talk about his book The Art of Racing in the Rain at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. Visit the Powell’s website for details.

• Author Will Durst will talk about his book The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for details. 

Saturday, May 17

• Alberta Art Hop: This annual arts festival includes a parade, music and activities for the whole family. In addition, local artists will line the street to show and sell their work. 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visit the Art Hop website for details.

• Mt. Tabor Art Walk: On May 17 and 18, 40 artists will show their work from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information and a map of participating locations, visit the Art Walk website. 

• 30 Rooms Art Exhibit Party: The party will feature live music by Boy Eats Drum Machine, Y La Bamba, Celilo and St. Frankie Lee. Milepost 5, 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. For more information, visit the Milepost 5 website.

• Gateway Fun-O-Rama Parade and Community Fair: Parade starts at 10:30 am at NE Halsey from 132nd to 106th, followed by a fair from noon to 3:00 pm at NE Halsey and 111th. Visit the Gateway Area Business Association website for details.

• Children’s/Maternity Clothing Swap: Visit the Milagro’s website for information.

• Chinese Lion Dance and Storytelling: Tigard Library will host a lion dancing performance by Lee’s Association Dance Team, followed by Chinese stories told by Margaret Eng. 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Tigard Library website.

• Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. For details, visit the Music Millennium website.

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

• 2 Licks 2 Many Bluegrass Band (website) will perform at Borders in Gresham, 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Sky in the Road (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

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

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

• Mitzi Zilka & French Café (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for more information.

• Sharon Wood Wortman will present her book Walking Bridges Using Poetry as a Compass: Poems About Bridges Real and Imagined by 70 Poets, with Directions for Five Self-Guided Explorations at 1:00 pm at Sellwood-Moreland Library. The event will be followed by an optional walk to the Sellwood Bridge (weather permitting). For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• What’s Hot in Comics!?! Find out from the owners of Guapo Comics, Bridge City Comics, Cosmic Monkey Comics and Floating World Comics. Central Library, 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Author Jill Kelly will talk about her book The Making of an Honest Woman at In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources at 2:00 pm. Visit the In Other Words website for more information.

Sunday, May 18

• Mt. Tabor Art Walk: On May 17 and 18, 40 artists will show their work from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information and a map of participating locations, visit the Art Walk website. 

• Learn about TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES) commuter rail. TriMet staff will be at the Tigard Library to talk about WES, 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the City of Tigard website.

• Paul Manousos and the East Bay Wrecking Crew (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 3:00 pm. For details, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Makana (website) will perform at Borders in Beaverton, 1:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.

• Sonny Hess (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for details.

• Church of Craft is having its monthly craft class/get-together at the Central Library from 12:30 pm–3:30 pm. This month’s class is Button Pendants. Seating is limited to 70 people, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the list of supplies you’ll need to bring and more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• LeAnn Locher, author of the Portland blog LeLo in NoPo, will talk about her experiences with blogging over the last three years at Hollywood Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• The film Solving Immigration will be showing at Hotel deLuxe. 6:30 pm. Contact the hotel to RSVP, 503.219.2093. For more information, visit the Hotel deLuxe website.

• Akira Kurasawa’s Rashomon will be playing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Children’s and YA authors Joni Sensel, Thatcher Heldring and Sundee T. Frazier will talk about their respective books at 2:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. Visit the Powell’s website for details.

• Ursula K. Le Guin and Kim Stafford will join editors of In the Blast Zone: Catastrophe and Renewal on Mount St. Helens to talk about the book at this Mt. St. Helens anniversary event. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 4:00 pm. Visit the Powell’s website for details. 

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. 

Add comment May 16th, 2008

May 17: Children’s/Maternity Clothing Swap in Portland

On May 17, PDXSwap and Milagro’s Boutique are hosting a swap for children’s and maternity clothes. This is a great way to clear out your kids’ outgrown clothes and trade them for things they can use. Moms-to-be are also invited even if you have nothing to trade yet. Items that don’t find new owners will be donated to a local charity. The event is free. Here are the details:

When: Saturday, May 17
There will be three swaps based on size. Each swap will last about 30 minutes. Arrive early.
11:00 am: size 0 through size 24 months and maternity clothing
11:30 am: sizes 2T to 6
12:00 pm: sizes 7 to 14+

Where: Milagro’s Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, 97211

Bring: Maternity/kids’ clothes in good condition with no rips, stains, etc. You may also bring other kid-related items such as shoes, accessories, baby bottles, books, CDs, DVDs/videos and small toys. To help the event run smoothly, PDXSwap asks that you sort the clothes by size before arriving. According to organizer Jennifer, there’s no requirement on the number of items you need to bring or the amount you can take; the only requirement is that you be respectful and have fun.

If you’d like to donate items but can’t make it to the swap, contact the email address below, and PDXSwap will arrange for a pick-up.

Contact: pdxkidswap@gmail.com

Visit ReadySetMom for more information.

Add comment May 15th, 2008

Jan 10: Women’s Size 6–12 Clothing Swap

Calling all Portland women who wear sizes
6–12: Clean out your closets of unused/unwanted clothes, wash them, and bring them to the next PDXSwap! 

What: Women’s/teens’ size 6–12 clothing swap
When: Thursday, January 10, 7 pm (please arrive early)
Where: Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst (in the Narthex), 935 NE 33rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97232, 503-232-9129
Directions: two blocks south of Sandy Blvd on 33rd, at Pacific Street, in a small modern red brick building. There is a large parking lot behind the church. There will be signs.

What to bring: Clean, good-condition, size 6–12 clothes that you no longer wear, including accessories, shoes, belts (also petite and jr. equivalents).

What is a swap? At 7 pm, everyone dumps their clothes into a pile on the floor. You take what interests you and put it in a pile behind you. Then you try on the clothes in your pile—be sure to wear spandex/yoga/bike clothes or a swimsuit under your regular clothes so you can try things on without having to get naked (children may be present, and occasionally a janitor has come through near the end of a swap). You keep what you like and throw back what you don’t want. Fabric artists are welcome to take items (especially something that is damaged or outdated) for projects after everyone else has taken what they want. Depending on how many people show up, the swap can last from 30–50 minutes.

There is no limit to the amount you bring or the amount you take home. PDXSwap just asks that you be courteous and generous with each other. 

Leftover clothes will be donated to charity.

For more information, visit www.pdxswap.com.

Add comment January 3rd, 2008