It’s sure to be a spooky, fun-filled weekend! If you want a break from the Halloween hubbub, the Oregon Children’s Theatre’s Alice & Wonderland: A Rock Opera opens, and Friends of Columbia Gorge is hosting two family-friendly hikes, to Latourell Falls on Saturday and Klickitat Mineral Springs on Sunday. As always, check our online calendar for more, and have a safe and happy Halloween!

ALL WEEKEND

Alice & Wonderland: A Rock Opera. Oregon Children’s Theatre presents a rock twist on the classic tale. All ages. Oct. 30 through Nov. 21. $13 to 26, plus service charges. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-228-9571. pcpa.com. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on October 29, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Our November issue hits the stands this week with a focus on Adoption. (It’s National Adoption Month!) You’ll meet some local families who have adopted older children and learn about the unique challenges and the unique joys their experiences have brought them. Our Angels Among Us column features the Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange, a new online resource designed to improve adoption outcomes for children in the state foster care system.

We also take a deep breath before heading into the holiday season with Simplifying the Season — an article offering tips for simplifying your family’s holidays to rediscover the true magic of the season — and we explore how technology can both help and hurt your family in Plugged In … Or Tuned Out? More…

Category: New Issue // Posted on October 27, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Halloween is coming right up and I’m getting ready for the daily post-Halloween battle. It goes something like this:

Son: “Can I have a piece of candy?”
Me: “Not until after dinner, and then only one.”
Son: “Please?”
Pause five minutes. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat ad nauseum.

I’ve asked other parents how they handle the Halloween dilemma. One mom told me More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on October 25, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Nickelodeon’s Storytime Live! production — scheduled for Monday, Oct. 25, at Keller Auditorium — has been canceled.

All ticket orders will be refunded. If tickets for Storytime Live! were purchased through Ticketmaster.com, they will be automatically refunded to the card used for purchase. For purchases through PCPA, please return to the PCPA Box Office.

Click here for more information on the cancellation and on ticket refunds.

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on October 24, 2010 // Leave a Comment

On Saturday, you’ll find four fun FREE activities at Multnomah County Libraries, plus tons of other family fun in and around town all weekend.

Check our roundup of Halloween and Harvest fun for more seasonal offerings, and our online calendar, as always, for complete daily listings.

ALL WEEKEND

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Things are not going Alexander’s way in this Northwest Children’s Theater production. Best for ages 4 and older. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on October 22, 2010 // Leave a Comment

If you’ve never witnessed the thrilling competition between LEGO robots built by local kids as they complete feats of skill and precision, you have seriously been missing out. Really! The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO Robotics program gives kids a chance to learn about robotics, problem solving, perseverance and teamwork in a fast-paced, exciting, competitive arena, guided by coaches with expertise in the fields of electronics, robotics and more.

Intrigued? Get a taste of what it’s all about this Saturday, October 23, as OMSI hosts a FIRST Robotics Showcase. More…

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on October 20, 2010 // Leave a Comment

If you think going green has to cost big bucks, think again! Our 2010 Your Baby and You issue features simple, affordable tips for having a green pregnancy and birth, and just last spring former Metro Parent columnists Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelley released The Eco-nomical Baby Guide: Down-to-Earth Ways for Parents to Save Money and the Planet (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2010), offering a fresh, economical perspective on going – or staying – green after having a baby. (Read on to find out how you can win a free copy!) More…

Category: Contests // Posted on October 18, 2010 // 4 Comments

There’s plenty of family fun to be had this weekend, but if you’re in need of some adult alone time, check out Parents’ Survival Night at the Little Gym in Lake Oswego this Saturday. They’ll entertain the kids while you go out. It’s truly a win-win weekend event! As always, you’ll find more listings every day on our online calendar.

ALL WEEKEND

Salmon Homecoming. Watch the salmon from the salmon viewing station. Mushroom walk on Saturday. FREE, $5 parking. Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 11 am to 3 pm. No pets please. Oxbow Regional Park, More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on October 15, 2010 // Leave a Comment

The much anticipated official launch of the Mother PAC, a political action committee started by local moms to lobby for family-friendly policies in Salem, has arrived!

This Friday, October 15, you can eat, drink and find out how to get involved in this first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation effort.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-author of “The Motherhood Manifesto” and co-founder and executive director of MomsRising.org, will be keynote speaker. It’s a great opportunity to discuss politics and motherhood –- and how the Mother PAC is mixing the two to elect Oregon legislators who support families. More…

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on October 13, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, October 12, is the last day to register to vote in Oregon for the upcoming November 2 election. If you’re not yet registered, REGISTER ONLINE today.

The deadline for paper and online registration in Washington State was October 4, but if you live in Washington and are not registered in the state you can register in person at your County Elections Office until the Monday one week before Election Day (Oct. 25). More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on October 11, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Every week we offer our picks for weekend family fun, then refer you to our online calendar for more. This week, we need to emphasize that, because even with this unusually long post, we couldn’t possibly list all the fabulous fun happening this weekend!

ALL WEEKEND

BirdFest & Bluegrass. Music, games, crafts, bird activities, plankhouse tours, and games both in town and at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge (exit 14 from I-5). Oct. 8-10, 10 am to 7 pm. Most events free; music pass $10. Check website for schedules. Ridgefield, Washington. 360-887-9495. ridgefieldfriends.org.

Portland Women’s Show. Fashion shows, entertainment, health screenings, demos, shopping and more. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on October 8, 2010 // Leave a Comment

It’s time for Halloween and Harvest fun, from pumpkin picking, corn mazes and hay rides to haunted houses and other spooky spectacles. While many families have a favorite pumpkin patch they return to year after year, we like to check out new harvest events every fall.

So if you’re up for a new October adventure this year, read our roundup of fall favorites, and check our Family Calendar for more harvest fun every day this month.

What’s your family’s favorite harvest or Halloween attraction or event?

Category: Events/Performances, Holidays // Posted on October 6, 2010 // Leave a Comment