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

Nov 13: Free Business Networking Event + Adult Clothing Exchange + Charity Benefit

Usquared, a neighborhood business resource center and small business incubator in SE Portland, is hosting an event that will give businesspeople an opportunity to network with each other, swap clothes, and support a local charity all in the same night. 

The event is on November 13 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Participants are encouraged to bring adult-sized, gently used clothing, accessories, outerwear, etc., to exchange with others. Clean items only.

Both men and women are welcome.  

This is also a networking event for businesspeople, so bring business cards, brochures or samples of your work to share with others.

Lastly, Usquared will be collecting donations of winter outerwear and non-perishable food for the Adsideo Shelter. Leftover clothing from the swap will also be donated to Adsideo or another local collection site to benefit others for the holidays.

For more information, contact Zoe Johnson at 503.719.5444.

Usquared
1562 SE Tacoma
Portland, OR 97202

Add comment November 12th, 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

Clothing Swap Featured on KOIN News

KOIN News did a story on a recent women’s clothing swap organized by PDXSwap. A total of 75 women attended, which is massive, but it looks like everything went smoothly. If you’ve been wondering what one of these swaps is like, take a look:

Add comment June 21st, 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

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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: May 2–4

We’ve got a diverse selection of things going on this weekend (can you believe it’s May already?!): Cinco de Mayo festival at Waterfront Park, free admission to the Portland Children’s Museum, several art openings. And that’s just Friday.  

Admission is free for all events below. Have a good one!

Friday, May 2

• Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Tom McCall Waterfront Park: On Friday, you can get in for free before 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the festival website.

• First Friday Events: Live music, food and art from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Multnomah Village and in Downtown Camas.  

• Free Admission Night at Portland Children’s Museum: It’s the first Friday of the month, which means admission to the Portland Children’s Museum is free from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the Portland Children’s Museum website.

• Tigard Reads 2008 Kickoff Party: Tigard Library has chosen the novel The Last Chinese Chef for its community-wide reading project. Pick up a free copy of the book, listen to traditional Chinese music by the Portland Classical Chinese Trio, and enjoy Chinese food samples. Tigard Library, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visit the Tigard Library website for more information.

• A Tribute to Tom Waits: Adrian H. & The Wounds, Amoree Lovell, Babydollars, Garett Brennan, and Trevino Brings Plenty will perform a Tom Waits tribute at Mississippi Studios at 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Mississippi Studios website.

• Brady Goss (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and over. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Sweet City Slang (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.

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

• Paul Barkett will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Author Jeff Stone will talk about his book Eagle: The Five Ancestors #5 at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Author Clotilde Dusoulier will talk about her book Clotilde’s Edible Adventures in Paris at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Artist Reception for Tom Keating: Press Club is hosting this event with music provided by DJs Dave Allen and Ratanski. 7:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

• “18 & Younger” Art Show Opening: The 100th Monkey Studio will host an evening of live musical performances and poetry readings to celebrate the opening of the “18 & Younger” art show featuring the work of artists 18 years of age or younger. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the 100th Monkey Studio website.

• Art Opening for Jesse Reno: Destroy Store is hosting an art opening celebration for Jesse Reno. The artist will do some painting, DJ BigTop will provide music, and Widmer Brewery will supply free beer. 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Visit the Destroy Store website for more information.  

• Read about more art openings at PORT. 

Saturday, May 3

• Spring Useful Goods Exchange, hosted by Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op, is happening at Sunnyside Environmental School from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, click here.

• Concordia Spring Wellness Fair: At this outdoor, family-friendly event sponsored by the Concordia Neighborhood Association, you’ll get the opportunity to take a Tai Chi class, get a massage, learn about nutrition and fitness, and more. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at NE 30th and Killingsworth. For more information, visit the Concordia Neighborhood Association website.

• Portland Sacred Harp All Day Singing Event: Experience and take part in Sacred Harp singing, a form of a cappella singing that dates back over 200 years. No experience necessary. Milwaukie Community Club, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Visit the Portland Sacred Harp website for more information.

• Wanda Jackson and the Marshall Scott Warner Band will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website. Find Wanda’s website here and Marshall’s here.

• Carley Baer and Celia Grace will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. Visit the Edgefield website for more information. Find Carley online here, and Celia here.

• 2 Licks 2 Many (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.

• Sean Thomas will perform at Borders in Tigard at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Paul Barkett will perform at Borders in Gresham at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website. 

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

• Author Alice Feiring will talk about her book The Battle for Wine and Love, or How I Saved the World from Parkerization at 2:00 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

Sunday, May 4

• Portland Opera Preview of Aida: Enjoy musical selections from Aida as well as a lecture covering historical background and composer information. Central Library, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Independent Musician Seminar: On the first Sunday of every month, the White Eagle hosts a free Independent Musician Seminar (Q&A), prior to that night’s Open Mic. Speakers will discuss and answer questions on a range of topics including recording, marketing, and more. 5:00 pm, ages 21 and over. For more information, visit the White Eagle website.

• Poets Sean Hill, Elizabeth Bradfield and Jasmine Dreame Wagner will read from their respective new collections at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• Author Willy Vlautin will talk about his book Northline at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

• The movie Murder on the Orient Express will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

• Alfred Hitchcock classic Rear Window will be playing at St. Johns Library at 2:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

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 2nd, 2008

April 19 & 20: Two Art/Craft Supply Swaps & One “Stuff” Swap in Portland

We’ve got three swaps happening this weekend. Two of the swaps focus on craft and art supplies. Conveniently, one swap is on Saturday and the other is on Sunday, so you can go to one or both. Also on Saturday is the mother of swaps—the Spring Stuff Swap. Admission is free for all events.

If you don’t know what a swap is, it’s an opportunity to clean out your house of items you don’t want and trade them for stuff that others have brought. The main thing is to be courteous, generous and, most of all, to have fun!

Without further ado…

—        

Art Materials Swap at the 100th Monkey Studio
Saturday, April 19
1:00 pm–4:00 pm

The 100th Monkey Studio
110 SE 16th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97267
503.232.3457
www.the100thmonkeystudio.com

FREE admission!

This is an opportunity to swap usable art or craft materials such as paints, (clean) fabrics, yarn, beads, buttons, pens, pencils and paper. Keep “alternative” materials at home; no paper towel tubes, for example. 

Leftover materials will be donated to three non-profit agencies.

For more information, visit the 100th Monkey Studio website.

—

Craft Supplies Swap at Union Rose
Sunday, April 20
1:00 pm–2:30 pm

Union Rose
2023 NE MLK Jr. Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97212
503.287.4242
www.unionrosepdx.com

FREE admission!       

This is a swap for craft supplies such as yarn, fabric, notions, beads, paper and needlework materials. No finished projects, please.

Leftovers will go to SCRAP. 

For more information, visit the Union Rose website.

—

Spring Stuff Swap organized by PDXSwap
Saturday, April 19
2:00 pm
www.pdxswap.com

Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst (in the gym)
935 NE 33rd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232 

FREE admission! RSVP required:

If you’d like to attend, please send an email to urbanfarmerpdx1@yahoo.com with the word YES and the number in your party in the subject box so they can get an approximate head count.

Guidelines and what to expect:

• This is a swap for anything that’s clean, in good working order, and small enough to fit in the back seat of a car or in a trunk (examples of acceptable items are at the end of this post). Since the gym is carpeted, it’s important that all items are clean so as not to stain the carpet.

• Bring bags/boxes to put your newfound treasures in, and paper to wrap up breakables.

• The gym is not heated, so dress appropriately.

• Arrive between 1:40 pm and 1:50 pm and bring your stuff into the gym. You’ll arrange your things on the gym floor by category (books, clothes, etc.).

• At 2:00 pm, everyone will have 10 minutes or so to pick out 10 items. After that, the organizers will give the go-ahead for open foraging. The big rule is “Be Generous And Courteous.”  

• For everyone’s safety, please leave little children at home. Everything will be on the floor—power tools, breakables, food items, etc. Kind, fun-loving men, women, and teens are welcome. Feel free to “shop” for yourself and others, too. 

• If your organization can use the final leftovers, please let the organizer know in your RSVP (and be prepared to haul things away on Saturday after the swap—probably around 3:30 or so).

PDXSwap has provided a few funny examples of what (and what not) to bring:

Items to bring as is:
New beanie baby with tags still on, Barbie doll still in box with all clothes on. Clean trike, super balls still in packaging. Brand new soaps, candles, lotions. Fancy food items in original packaging, kids games still in wrapped box. New CDs. Brand new electronics and household items. New clothes. Any new items you want out of your house. New CLEAN tools. Your fun-loving curiosity and treasure-seeking skills.

Items to bring after you provide cleaning/care:
Machine wash and dry used beanie baby, surface wash naked Barbie doll and comb her hair if needed—wash any clothes you want to donate also. Wash outdoor sporting equipment. Put clean loose super balls or other small items in a Ziploc bag. Boxes of soaps & candles from which you used up only one and still have the rest of the box, lotions you tried once and decided you didn’t like, antiques that are in good shape and have been dusted/surface washed, games that are used but the box still is in good shape and all the pieces and instructions are there. Clean matching cups/saucers, scrubbed clean flower pots. Washed clothing, bedding, dishes, etc.

Don’t bring these:
Ripped beanie baby with an eye missing. Naked Barbie doll with a crewcut and permanent ink mustache. Tennis racket with strings missing, balls the dog chewed up. A used bar of soap or a half used candle. Lotions you used most of and have dried lotion chunks stuck to the nozzle. Stuff that is broken or any other “project” your husband/boyfriend says is easy to fix (but never gets around to fixing). Remains from yesterday’s happy meal. Puzzles and games in scuffed boxes with missing pieces. Electronics or video games that don’t work. Large things that take 2 people to lift or won’t fit into the back seat or trunk of a car (exception would be skinny items like a bike or skis—but these must be clean and in good shape). Don’t bring anything that stinks!

Add comment April 16th, 2008

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Feb 15–17

Admission is free for all of the events listed here.

Hope you all have a great President’s Day weekend!  

Friday, February 15

• Portland Jazz Festival is offering a ton of free jazz shows around the city. Too many to list. Go to the Portland Jazz Festival website to see the complete schedule. Unless otherwise noted, performances are free and open to the public. Also, note that PDX Jazz Pavilion is Pioneer Courthouse Square.

• The Slants will perform at Music Millennium at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Canoe will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.  

• Paul Barkett will be playing at Borders in Vancouver at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Jimmy Bivens will be playing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Dusty York Trio will perform at Someday Lounge at 5:00 pm. Visit the Someday Lounge website for more information.

• Pete Krebs Gypsy Jazz Trio will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656. 

• Mature Rock Vixen will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For details, go to the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• The film Ezra will be showing at Hollywood Theatre at 7:00 pm. This event is part of the 18th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films. All CFAF films are free and open to the public.

• Twisted, a yarn and craft shop on NE Broadway, will be showing the ’80s flick Nine to Five at 6:00 pm. Every Friday, they’ll be showing a different ’80s film. For more information, visit the Twisted website.

• Natalie Goldberg will talk about her book Old Friend from Far Away at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

Saturday, February 16

• Portland Jazz Festival is offering a ton of free jazz shows around the city. Too many to list. Go to the Portland Jazz Festival website to see the complete schedule. Unless otherwise noted, performances are free and open to the public. Also, note that PDX Jazz Pavilion is Pioneer Courthouse Square.

• 18th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films presents the family film The Red Glasses. Kennedy School, 2:00 pm. Visit africanfilmfestival.org for more information.

• The Legend of the Sky Kingdom, a family film, will be showing at Kennedy School at 3:00 pm. This is also part of the 18th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films. Visit africanfilmfestival.org for more information.

• Masaï: The Rain Warriors will be showing at PCC Cascade Moriarty Bldg. 104 at 7:30 pm. Visit africanfilmfestival.org for more information.

• 15th Annual McMenamins’ Hillsdale Brewfest is happening all day at Hillsdale Brewery & Public House starting at 11:00 am. Sample 20 different beers and vote for your favorite to represent McMenamins at the 21st Annual Oregon Brewers Festival in July. Admission is free and open to all ages (until 10:00 pm), but you’ll have to pay to try the beer. “Revelry and merriment” is also promised. For more information, visit the McMenamins website.

• Kimya Dawson will perform at Music Millennium at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Will Coca will perform at Borders in Gresham at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.

• Floating Pointe will be playing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Quick and Easy Boys will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For details, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

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

• Amazing African Animals: The Oregon Zoo invites families to learn how Africa’s smaller animals defend themselves. Capitol Hill Library, 1:30 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Symphony Storytime at the Central Library, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm: Enjoy music, storytime and hands-on crafts. A member of the Oregon Symphony will play and discuss orchestral music. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Russian Film Series at Midland Library will show The Rider Named Death/Vsadnik po imeni smert (Russian with English subtitles) at 2:00 pm. A brief discussion will follow the screening. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• I Heart Cupcakes: At this family event, decorate a cupcake and learn what it takes to be a pastry chef. Northwest Library, 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Author Karen Karbo will talk about her career in writing. Central Library, 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Readings on Love—a lo Latino: Enjoy an evening of readings of original work (some in English and some in Spanish) by members of Los Porteños writing group, as well as readings of love-inspired poetry by Lorca, Sabines, Castillo and others. Milagro Theatre, 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Milagro Theatre website.

• Tears of Joy Theatre will perform two tales of Anansi the Spider at Hillsdale Library at 11:00 am. Free tickets for this puppet play will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Chinese New Year Celebration at Three Creeks Community Library in Vancouver at 2:00 pm: Enjoy stories, crafts, a performance by children of Salmon Creek Chinese School and a parade. For more information, visit the Fort Vancouver Library website.

• Swap gently used children’s toys at the Gift of Giving Toy Exchange & Sale. Go to ReadySetMom for the details 

• PDXSwap Children’s Clothing Swap is happening at Milagros Boutique at 11:00 am. Click here for more information.

Sunday, February 17

• Portland Jazz Festival is offering a ton of free jazz shows around the city. Too many to list. Go to the Portland Jazz Festival website to see the complete schedule. Unless otherwise noted, performances are free and open to the public. Also, note that PDX Jazz Pavilion is Pioneer Courthouse Square.

• Macadam will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• The Everybodyfields will be playing at Kennedy School at 7:00 pm. All ages. Visit the Kennedy School website for more detail.

• Mary Flower will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. For details, visit the Edgefield website.

• Jazz experts Howard Mandel and Lloyd Peterson will discuss their books at Borders in downtown Portland at noon. Mandel is the author of Miles, Ornette, Cecil: Jazz Beyond Jazz and Peterson is the author of Music and the Creative Spirit. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• The 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 Artist Trading Recipe Cards. 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.

• Performers from Staged! will give a preview of Les Miserables at the Central Library at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Lunar New Year Celebration at Midland Library from 1:30 pm–5:00 pm: Experience traditional dance, music, games, food and crafts from China, Vietnam and Korea. Performers include Lee Family Association Lion Dance Team, Orchids and Bamboo Quartet, Van Lang School Dancers, Vovinam Martial Arts, and Woodstock Elementary School Dancers. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.  

• It’s the Hotel deLuxe’s Sunday Movie Night. 7,500 Miles to Redemption will be playing. The Screening Room, located off the hotel lobby, opens at 6:00 pm; the movie begins at 6:30 pm. RSVP to 503.219.2093. For more information, visit the Hotel deLuxe website.

• Night of the Hunter will be showing at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.  

• Swap gently used children’s toys at the Gift of Giving Toy Exchange & Sale. Go to ReadySetMom for the details 

• Cindy Williams Gutiérrez will give a free lecture titled “In Search of Mysticism and Duende: Yeats and Lorca as Poet-Dramatists,” following the matinee performance of the play Bodas de sangre at the Milagro Theatre. The presentation will be in English and will explore such questions as: How did Yeats’ and Lorca’s relationships with women and politics shape their lives and their art? How can Yeats’ obsession with mysticism and Lorca’s quest for “duende” ignite our passion for poetry and drama? For more information, visit the Milagro Theatre 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, feel free to contact me.

Add comment February 15th, 2008

Two Swaps for Kids’ Stuff in Portland, Feb 16 and 17

This weekend, there will be two (yes, two!) chances to swap children’s items:

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Gift of Giving Toy Exchange & Sale
February 16–17
Go to ReadySetMom for the details

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Children’s Clothing Swap
Organized by PDXSwap
February 16, 11:00 am (arrive early)
Milagros Boutique
5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
503.493.4141 
For more information: pdxkidswap@gmail.com (you can also ask to be added to the email list to be informed of future swaps)

What to bring to the swap:

• Clean children’s clothes in good condition with no rips, tears, visible stains, etc. This includes accessories such as socks, shoes, sunglasses, hats, mittens. Sort clothes by size before you come; this will make the swap go more smoothly.
• Small, lightly used children’s toys, including videos, DVDs, tapes, CDs.
• Lightly used baby items: bibs, bottles, etc.
• Clean, good-condition maternity clothes.
• Bags to carry home your “new” items.

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. New mothers-to-be are also welcome to come, even if they have nothing to swap. There’s always plenty of baby clothes and other items up for grabs.

What to expect at the swap: Clothes will be separated into different piles according to size. Once everyone puts their items in the appropriate piles, the swap coordinator will start the swap. Everyone will then look through the piles to find the items they need. The swap will last 30 to 45 minutes. Leftover items will be donated to low-income and high-needs families in Portland. 

Note: Milagros has a small area available for children to play, and the swap area is child-proofed.

You can also donate: If you would like to donate children’s clothing to the swap, send an email to pdxkidswap@gmail.com.

Add comment February 10th, 2008

Feb 7: Women’s Size 6–12 Clothing Swap

It’s time again for the Women’s Size 6–12 Clothing Swap, a monthly event organized by PDXSwap. More than 40 women participated in the January swap, the biggest so far.

And coordinator Barb has been hard at work gathering clothes from other swaps. She’ll be bringing eight garbage bags of clothes!

Who should come: Women and teens who wear sizes 6–12 
When: Thursday, February 7, 7:00 pm (come 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 to the swap: Size 6–12 clothes that you no longer wear, including accessories, shoes and belts (also petite and jr. equivalents).

• Make sure items are in good condition; no rips or stains.
• Wash everything.

What to expect: 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 discreetly (in case children are present or a church worker happens to walk in). 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 your fellow swappers. 

Leftover clothes will be donated to charity.

Heads up: There will be a Spring Stuff Swap on April 19 for workable, clean garage-sale-type items. More details to come.

For more information, visit www.pdxswap.com.

Add comment February 2nd, 2008