Happy New Year! Here’s to an end-of-year celebration filled with family fun — and a wonderful year ahead! As always, check our online calendar for more events and activities every day, every month, every year. See you in 2012 …

ALL WEEKEND

The Wizard of Oz. Based on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s celebration of the 1939 MGM movie, this production will be presented with breathtaking special effects. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on December 30, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Our January issue starts hitting the stands this week, with a focus on New Year’s Resolutions and Education. Our Ages & Stages feature explores resolutions to help your family thrive, from establishing a family meal routine and fostering a lifelong love of physical activity to seeking out parent education opportunities and helping your child prepare for college without driving them (and you) nuts! More…

Category: Metro Parent, New Issue // Posted on December 28, 2011 // 1 Comment

As the new year approaches, many of us have resolutions on the brain. What changes do we want to make in the coming year? How many of our resolutions will we actually be able to keep? More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 26, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! We hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend with your loved ones! Here are a few ideas for taking the family out and about. For more ideas, check our Holiday Highlights and our online calendar .

ALL WEEKEND

Do Jump!’s Ahhh, HA! Some of our all-time favorite works from this amazing physical theater and dance troupe. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on December 23, 2011 // Leave a Comment

This past weekend was a flurry of holiday baking activity at my house, and I know I’m not alone. I made three different sweets to eat and to share, two of my easiest/tastiest standards and one recipe that was new for me: Peanut Butter Fudge (titled online as “Easiest Peanut Butter Fudge“); Brownies (six ingredients, one pan); and Hello Dolly Bars (which reminded me why I should always test out new recipes before planning to give them as gifts!). More…

Category: Cooking, Holidays // Posted on December 21, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Officially, the recession might be over, but many local families are still feeling the effects. In fact, according to Regan Gray, policy director at Children First for Oregon: “Today, 21.6 percent of Oregon children — over one in five — are living in poverty, the highest rate of poverty since 1993. …Almost twice that many are in ‘low income’ households, households that are just one paycheck or one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. More than ever before, children in poverty are the children of the college-educated, the former middle-class worker, the suburbanite and the homeowner.” More…

Category: Online Articles, Politics // Posted on December 19, 2011 // Leave a Comment

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas … and Hanukkah, too. (Hanukkah begins this week!) Check out our picks for holiday fun below, then take a look at our Holiday Highlights and our online calendar for even more ideas through the end of the year!

ALL WEEKEND

A Nutcracker Tea. Northwest Dance Theatre pre-professionals perform an abridged version of the classic – with refreshments! More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on December 16, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Sometimes I feel like hibernating during the northwest’s long, cold, wet winter months, but spending time outdoors is important year round, especially for kids. If you find your family avoiding the great outdoors these days, check out these links for tips on getting kids outdoors -– and spending quality family time outdoors -– even when it’s cold and wet out! More…

Category: Family Fun, Nature // Posted on December 14, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Every week we post our What’s On this Weekend! (WOW!) blog, with listings of family-friendly events and activities around the area. That gets especially challenging during the winter holidays, when every day is packed with enticing opportunities for family fun, so we compiled a list of our favorite holiday happenings for the entire month and listed them all in one place: Holiday Highlights! More…

Category: Family Fun, Holidays // Posted on December 12, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Holiday happenings are still heating up, with so many enticing options we can’t possibly begin to list them all! Check out our picks below, then take a peek at our Holiday Highlights and our online calendar for more family fun every day of the month.

ALL WEEKEND

Willy Wonka. Northwest Children’s Theater presents this classic musical confection based on Roald Dahl’s classic tale of the famous candy man. Oompa Loompas and your favorite characters and songs light up the stage. Best for ages 6 and older. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on December 9, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Our holiday giving campaign is in full swing, with two wonderful ways to contribute, and to sweeten the deal we’re giving away five $20 gift cards to John’s Incredible Pizza to the first five readers who donate $25 or more to one (or both!) of them. More…

Category: Charitable Giving // Posted on December 7, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Check out the super savings in our December issue:

Thinker Toys: Get 20 percent off any one item. (Page 17)
OMSI: Take 20 percent off any membership. (Page 21)
Piccolo Mondo Toys: Get $10 off any purchase over $50 at the new Progress Ridge store. (Page 23) More…

Category: Finance, Metro Parent // Posted on December 5, 2011 // Leave a Comment