After three years of construction, the Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is open! Join the celebration this Saturday at a free, family-friendly grand opening event, with music, entertainers, prize drawings, a scavenger hunt, a LEGO play zone, bike and snowboard helmet sales and fittings, kite decorating, tours of the new building -– and a whole lot more!

The Community Opening Celebration will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon to 6 pm.

For more information, including videos detailing the new facility and services and a schedule of events for the grand opening, visit legacyhealth.org/kidsonly.

Category: Events/Performances, Health and Wellness // Posted on February 8, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day is for lovers, but no one loves Valentine’s Day more than kids! If your little ones go gaga for all things pink –- plus hearts and candy! –- we’ve got good news. The next few weeks are packed with opportunities for festive holiday fun! Here’s a taste of what’s in store for local holiday lovers:

FEB. 7-8

Crafts at LO: Kids from 3 to 5 years old can make a heart decoration. 11 am Feb. 7 & 8. FREE. Lake Oswego LIbrary, 706 4th St. 503-697-6582. ci.oswego.or.us.

FEB. 9 & 11

Valentine Fun: Make crafts and cards. FREE. More…

Category: Family Fun, Holidays // Posted on February 6, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Gung Hay Fat Choy! This is the last weekend of Chinese New Year festivities at Lan Su Chinese Garden, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t already (or even if you have!). And there’s plenty more fun to be had, too! Check our picks below, then take a peek at our online calendar for more options every day.

ALL WEEKEND

Lan Su Chinese New Year. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with children’s activities, fortune telling, lantern displays and more. See website for details. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on February 3, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Drum roll, please … It’s time once again for our Fabulous Birthday Party Give Away! Many of our regular readers already know the drill, but for those of you who don’t, here’s the scoop:

Our February issue includes a comprehensive guide to local party venues and suppliers –- from simple to extreme, for parties at home and away -– so this month we’re offering our readers the chance to win one of 12 party packages donated by the businesses listed below. More…

Category: Contests // Posted on February 1, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Our February issue is hitting the stands this week and all we can say is, “Let’s Party!” Why? Because inside you’ll find our fully updated Ultimate Local Birthday Party Resource Guide, listing pretty much everything you need to plan and pull off a fabulous party at home or away, without pulling your hair out or breaking the bank!

You’ll also find a Q&A with Ben Cannon, Governor Kitzhaber’s education policy advisor, who offers an overview of the changes on the horizon for Oregon’s public education system. More…

Category: New Issue // Posted on January 30, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Music, theater, Chinese New Year, Mochitsuki and more … it’s all happening this weekend! And don’t forget to take a peek at our online calendar for more listings every day.

ALL WEEKEND

Rapunzel Uncut. Northwest Children’s Theater puts a hip spin on the classic tale of the girl with the awesome tresses trapped in a tower. Indie youth rock band lights up this tangled tale. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on January 27, 2012 // Leave a Comment

We’re nearly a month into 2012, a time when many of us start forgetting our ambitious New Year’s Resolutions, but I’m really trying to keep up with mine this year. It helps that my goals for the year weren’t too lofty to begin with, and a few are so vague they allow for pretty broad interpretation of the word “success.” More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on January 25, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Our 2011 Holiday Giving Campaign was a great success thanks to you, our generous readers! We decided to run two campaigns this past year, one through JOIN to help a local homeless family move into stable housing, and one through Mercy Corps to help alleviate the devastating, ongoing suffering in the Horn of Africa. More…

Category: Charitable Giving, Metro Parent // Posted on January 23, 2012 // Leave a Comment

You might think things would slow down after the winter holidays, but there are still plenty of exciting activities for families with kids of all ages. Here are a few of our picks for the weekend ahead. Once you’ve had a gander at these, be sure to check out of online calendar for even more family fun every day.

ALL WEEKEND

Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats OPENS. This touring exhibit reveals the wonders of the world’s only flying mammals. Runs Jan. 21 through May 6, 10 am to 5 pm. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on January 20, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Parenting is the most rewarding job you’ll ever have, but let’s face it, we all need a night off every now and then. If you’re not one of the fortunate few with a steady, reliable babysitter ready to pop over at a moment’s notice, don’t despair. There are other options. In fact, this Saturday there’s a Parents’ Survival Night scheduled at the Little Gym of Lake Oswego, just one of the many Parents’ Night Out events held regularly throughout the area. More…

Category: Parenting // Posted on January 18, 2012 // 2 Comments

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chuc Mung Nam Moi! The Year of the Dragon is nearly upon us, and the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year’s festivities happening around town offer an especially entertaining and engaging way to introduce your kids to different cultures.

Lan Su Chinese Garden hosts two full weeks of celebrations, beginning Jan. 23 this year, including lion and dragon dances, performances, crafts, story telling and much more! Check their website for a schedule of events.

You’ll also find celebratory events at local libraries, and at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem. Here’s the scoop: More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun, Holidays // Posted on January 16, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Free admission to national parks, Chinese New Year activities, live music, lots of opportunities for kids to get creative and a whole lot more … that’s what’s on this long holiday weekend! Take a look at our picks below, then check out our online calendar for even more enticing events every day.

ALL WEEKEND

Free National Parks. All national parks are offering free admission Jan. 14-16. Ft. Vancouver has cultural demonstrations from 9 am to 4 pm on Jan. 14 & 16, and noon to 4 pm Jan. 15. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on January 13, 2012 // Leave a Comment