The Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam returns to Portland! And no, I don’t think they put a bird on it. Eight huge trucks! Flying dirt! Crushing cars! Come see the Grave Digger (30 years young!) (pictured), Tasmanian Devil, King Krunch, Captain USA, El Matador, Obsession, Obsessed and Titan! Come early for the Party in

Do you huddle over the radio first thing in the morning to learn about your school closures? Did you know that PPS closed the west hills elementary schools today? (Skyline, Forest Park, E/W Sylvan) Don’t forget, you can sign up for instant notifications with the Flash Alert system.

Did you get a few too many princesses over the holidays? Perhaps a “Barbie and the Ponies” DVD found its way into your home? Check out this post at buildingalibrary.com It has six great books for young people with strong female characters who don’t need rescuing. We’ve enjoyed four of these books. I

Did you know that next year the Multnomah County Libraries are facing a loss of 33% of their funding which would mean a cut of 20% of their staff, and a loss of 80-100 librarians? I didn’t think so. Check out this article by Erika Moen, one of Portland’s favorite cartoonists. In a nutshell, the library is [...]

The Youth Pass program lets high schoolers use their student id as a bus pass. You may have heard that this program was to expire at the end of 2011. However, we’ve just learned some great news! Superintendent Carole Smith, Mayor Adams and TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane announced an agreement to keep the Youth

It’s the start of a new month and that means Target Free First Friday Night is just around the corner. Enjoy the Museum for free this Friday, November 4 from 4-8pm! Currently the largest attraction is the Lego Castle Adventure, which looks fabulous. Go forth and enjoy!

When I started this site, I was unhappy with the amount of information I was able to find about things to do with my kids in our town. I’m still unhappy about it. A few times a month, someone will email me a question about opening up a forum – but I’m pretty reluctant to [...]

Toy Story 3, winner of Academy Awards® is coming to the ice in the Rose Garden at the end of October! Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from the other two films in the series, your favorite characters are skating their little hearts out in seven performances. [...]

Parents probably know what their kids are eating for breakfast and for dinner, but do they know what their children are getting for lunch each day? Typically, kids get about 30% to 50% of their calories while at school, and this year, there’s likely some big changes on the lunch line. This year, not only are [...]

Are you interested in training how to work with children in a Montessori environment? The Montessori Institute Northwest is having a free Elementary Training Course! Meet the trainer, ask questions, and get an overview of what you will do during your year in the Elementary training course preparing you to work with children

James Patterson wrote a solid column for CNN, giving some great ways to bring up your kid as a reader. There are three main points he makes. First, the more kids read, the better readers they become. Second, everything counts- the almanac, stories about baseball, Holes, Harry Potter, even Twilight. And third, role models ar

Here’s something you don’t see every day. Designer Adrienne Leverette started making sweaters for her infant daughter after cleaning out her own closet. Leverette explains, “I couldn’t bear to throw away a couple of sweaters that had been accidentally shrunk in the wash, and my daughter didn’t

So, with the “new Kindles” – Amazon has brought the price point down to $79. Which is seductive. If you don’t want the advertising that it shows when not in use, then it’d be $109. Still an attractive spot. What would it take to get these into our schools? My elder daughter is reading a mass [

The circus is back! The circus is back! The Ringling Bros Circus is back in town, presenting their “Boom A Ring” Performance from the 15th through the 18th. Come one, come all, down to the Rose Quarter! Here’s what they had to say: BOOM A RING®, a magical circus experience, where just feel away from

Do you have a kid interested in gymnastics? Check out these cool classes and performances— Saturday September 17 is National Gymnastics Day. From 1 to 4 PM, at Rose City Rhythmic you can get classes, giveaways and see performances by Junior Olympians. Rose City Rhythmic is inside the Portland Athletic Club at 5803 SW

Here’s your Chance to Join The Greatest Show on Earth! Ringling Bros. cast call seeking new member to join its world-famous “Clown Alley” Successful auditioners will be offered a contract to tour with an upcoming production! Wednesday, September 14 from 10am-1pm @ The Rose Garden: Check in at the will-call window! Rin

Spotted this on fatwallet: Baskin Robbins coupon. Good only for this weekend! Enjoy your labor day weekend!

Target Free First Friday is this week from 4-8pm on Friday. There will be bilingual story times (English and Spanish) and bookmark making with local artist Lori Raydo. You don’t want to miss it! 5-7pm – Bookmaking with Lori Raydo 5:30pm – English Storytime 6:30pm – Spanish Storytime more information:http://www.po

Almost 12,000 kids will get backpacks with school supplies, thanks to Schoolhouse Supplies, Knowledge Universe, and 31 other community partners Volunteers from 32 local businesses will hand out backpacks to students in 26 high-need schools in the Portland area as part of Knowledge Universe Tools for Schools, the Schoolhouse

Congregations Neveh Shalom and Shir Tikvah invite you to join them at Shabbat in the Park. Arrive early with your own picnic dinner, relax in the park and enjoy music by the Percy Bernstein Orchestra. At 6:30pm join the group in songs for welcoming Shabbat. Suitable for all ages- song sheets will be provided. Afterward join

Tomorrow, yes, tomorrow night (July 14, 2011)- Backspace is hosting the School of Rock All Stars Tour. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Tickets are $10, Show starts at 8, at Backspace, which is downtown right on the bus and one of the MAX lines (115 NW 5th Ave). What’s

I finally got my daughters signed up for Summer Camp this year. They’re going to a overnight camp-in-the-woods camp they go to every year. Are you making plans yet? Get your deposits in now; school is almost out for the summer. You think I’m kidding, don’t you? Why not consider “YEA Camp?” Here

Portland is a tech-savvy town. We have free wifi in every coffee shop — even drive thrus. And everywhere we go, people are listening to music or playing with apps on their iPods, iPhones and android devices. Have you given your kid an iPod touch yet? Or even better, with that $50 deal for the [...]

As you probably know, every summer the Portland Libraries have their Summer Reading Program. Already, Barnes and Noble is getting their show on the road. Theirs is for kids 3-12, and you download the journal and fill it out. When it’s full, you can redeem it for your choice of one of the books from their [...]

About half an hour north of Portland is a small community known as Scappoose. It’s been growing for the past few years and a lot of Portland residents are finding great homes and great neighbors in the area. In fact, I’ve gotten three emails this winter from people who are moving to the area; they’re movin

Hey, is your kid reading at the 6th to 9th grade level? These books look excellent. First on the list is an Amazon Featured book for February: Amos Daragon, the Mask Wearer. If you liked Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, this would be a good choice. Brian Perro blends mythology and fairy tales in this fast [...]

Good morning campers! Spring break will be here in a matter of one and a half short months. And how would you like to go to a Spring Break Music Camp? I thought so! The Music Studio on Harrison Hill is hosting a week of musical exploration for campers 7 to 13, from March 21 to March [...]

Have you been to the UltraZone in Milwaukee? (16074 Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard, map) Sure, Laser tag. A bunch of kids run into a dark room shooting each other with lasers. Not for the peace-nik crowd, or for people who have gun issues. But if you can handle a squirt gun, you can probably handle a laser [...]

Reserve your spot now for this sell-out event! Held at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, on Saturday, March 5 at 6:30 pm, party-goers will enjoy a stunning student show and help to jump-start the online fundraising auction for Village Home Education Resource Center, a dynamic, choice-based, all-ages learning c

Saturday Jan 15 (tomorrow), you’re welcome to help create hats and scarves for people who need them. Show up any time from 8AM to 10PM at Flying Cat Coffee Company (30th and SE Division). You can have patterns, mini-lessons and free coffee! Bring any bulky yarn you have lying around. Come help warm people up [...]