April showers bring May flowers (we should have plenty of flowers this year!), and the first weekend of May brings loads of family fun. Here are our picks for the weekend ahead. As always, check our daily calendar for complete listings.

ALL WEEKEND

Sesame Street Live. A high-energy musical starring all your favorite Sesame Street characters. Check Web site for show times. $12 to $30, plus service charge. Rose Quarter, 1 Center Court. 503-797-9619. rosequarter.com.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. Music, dancing and loads of fun. May 1, 2 and 5, 11 am to 11 pm. $6 adult, $3 ages 6 to 12, free 6 and under. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito Pkwy. 503-232-7550. cincodemayo.org. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 30, 2010 // 1 Comment

It’s been two years in the making, but this week Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith unveiled her plan for a comprehensive high school redesign. The plan is not yet set in stone – in a press release Smith writes, “We have proposed specific performance metrics and targets for improvement, and look forward to refining and adopting those with the school board. We also hope that you will continue to participate in this conversation.”

Some of the basics of the plan include:

• Designate eight community schools (Cleveland, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Roosevelt & Wilson) with new attendance boundaries for all but Wilson and Roosevelt. More…

Category: Schools // Posted on April 28, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Our May issue hits the stands this week and we just can’t contain our excitement … it’s a doozy! With our annual Mother’s Day focus on Moms, this issue is packed with informative and entertaining articles by, about and for local moms.

In A Mother’s Place is in the House … and Senate!, we take an in-depth look at how women – particularly mothers – nurture family-friendly policies when we get involved in politics as elected officials and as behind-the-scenes advocates for social change. It’s a powerful read and More…

Category: New Issue // Posted on April 26, 2010 // Leave a Comment

You’ll find lots of fairs and festivals this weekend both indoors and out. (See our recommendations for KidFest and AgFest below.) Why not take in some of the local culture, then get out and explore some local nature? As always, you’ll find complete daily listings on our online calendar.

ALL WEEKEND

Small Steps.. See the world premiere musical sequel to Holes, adapted for Oregon Children’s Theatre by author Louis Sachar. Best for ages 10 and up. Runs April 24 to May 16. Check Web site for dates and showtimes. $16 to $24, plus service charges. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-228-9571. octc.org. NOTE: Mention Metro Parent when you order by phone and get a free child’s ticket More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 23, 2010 // Leave a Comment

RUN FOR THE ARTS

On Friday my husband and I are looking forward to a rare early evening date, thanks to a package we purchased at the school auction in March. The fourth grade teachers at my son’s school are hosting an arcade-movie-pizza outing for eight fourth graders. Cost for each student was $50. It was basically a donation to the school Foundation (which pays for our full-time librarian, among other staff positions), with the added bonus of a great experience for our son and a date night for Mom and Dad.

Last Thursday my son’s school participated in Run for the Arts. On Saturday we ate at Laughing Planet on SE Belmont, where they generously donated 20 percent of sales for the day to our school. On Sunday, we bought some books on Amazon.com, with a portion of the sale going More…

Category: Charitable Giving // Posted on April 21, 2010 // 3 Comments

It was 40 years ago – on April 22, 1970 – that the first Earth Day was observed. And while we like to think we honor the Earth every day, we also like to take this annual opportunity to show our commitment to the environment in some special way, and to share that commitment with our kids.

You might have attended an Earth Day event this past weekend, but don’t stop there. Here are a few upcoming events to inspire you even further:

Reseeding Our World. Music and entertainment, Kids’ Village, interactive activities and lots of green info. April 24, 10 am to 7 pm. FREE. A project of City Repair. Washington High School, SE 12th/Stark. 503-235-8946. cityrepair.org. More…

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on April 19, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Do you need a date night? We’ve got two kids-only events this Saturday to give parents an opportunity to reconnect and enjoy an adults-only evening.

If you’re looking for some fun ways to celebrate Earth Day, check out our Earth Day events page. And don’t forget, you can always find complete daily listings on our online calendar.

FRIDAY

FROGZ. Imago Theatre’s funky dance/mime show. Ages 3+. Runs through May 15. $29-$16, plus service charges. 17 SE 8th Ave. 503-231-9581. imagotheatre.com.

Ladybug Nature Walk. Naturalist-led walks are held More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 16, 2010 // Leave a Comment

We recently reported on a study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation that found kids from 8 to 18 typically spend an average of 7.5 hours engaged with electronic media every day. Another large-scale study, released in February of this year, reveals a correlation between limiting weekday television viewing for preschoolers and a decreased risk of obesity. And these are just two of the numerous studies indicating that, when it comes to kids and TV, less is definitely more.

We’re not suggesting you rid your house of all electronic media, but wouldn’t it be interesting to unplug your family for a week and see what happens? If you’re game to give it a try, now’s the time. April 19 to 25 is national Turnoff Week (which includes all screen-related entertainment), a time when More…

Category: Events/Performances, Health and Wellness // Posted on April 14, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Inspired by the article on Urban Farming in our April issue, my family got out the planning paper last week and sketched our garden for 2010. In addition to our must-have favorites – tomatoes, lettuce, pumpkins and a variety of herbs – we’re branching out this year with a few new crops. We’re swapping zucchini for yellow squash, planting strawberries for the first time (can you believe we’ve never grown them before?), and experimenting with a “salsa garden” complete with hot peppers, onion, garlic and cilantro.

If you’re looking for some inspiration – or want to increase your gardening prowess – check out the Master Gardeners’ Earth Day Celebration at the Community Demonstration Garden this Saturday! This free event More…

Category: Events/Performances, Nature // Posted on April 12, 2010 // 1 Comment

With the openings of KOOZA, Cirque du Soleil’s latest; East of the Sun, West of the Moon from Shaking the Tree; and Malika, Queen of the Cats at Tears of Joy Theater, shouldn’t you make it a theatrical weekend for the whole family? Details on these and more of our picks below. For complete daily listings, check our online calendar.

OPENINGS

KOOZA. Cirque du Soleil’s latest magical production opens tonight. Runs through May 2. $31.50 to $125, plus service charges. SW Moody south of the Marquam Bridge. cirquedusoleil.com.

East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Shaking the Tree presents More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 9, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Some time ago, the staff of Metro Parent came up with a system for evaluating family outings. We call it the “Five E’s” analysis: Does the outing provide Education, Entertainment and Exercise? Is it Economical? And does it have minimal impact on the Environment?
We are SO LUCKY to live in an area where the possibilities for family outings that meet all of the above criteria are nearly endless.
For example, on Wednesdays you can head to Leach Botanical Garden for a Honeybee Hike or enjoy Tadpole Tales, a nature walk hosted by the Columbia Slough Watershed Council. On Fridays, the city of Portland sponsors Ladybug Nature Walks and More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on April 7, 2010 // Leave a Comment

The City of Portland has developed a pilot program to help up to 500 qualified Portland homeowners finance and install energy efficiency upgrades. The program, called Clean Energy Works Portland, offers homeowners access to low-cost financing for energy-efficient home improvements, from adding new insulation to installing high efficiency furnaces or water heaters and more.

According to the program Web site, your home may qualify if:

* You own and live in your home More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on April 5, 2010 // Leave a Comment