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Holiday Giving Wrap-Up

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

THANK YOU!

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.

Readers donated a total of $1,875 to our JOIN “Home for the Holidays” effort, which, when added to our match of $1,250, gave us a grand total of $3,125. Our goal was $2,500, the amount needed to move one family into housing, so thank you thank you thank you for helping us exceed that!

You also donated $2,010 to the Mercy Corps effort, which we began running in August 2011. We added $2,500 to the pot for a total of $4,510, making ours the fifth-highest earning Mercy Corps Horn of Africa pledge effort. See the results at mercycorps.org.

Thank you, and a very happy new year to you all!

Our January Issue

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:00:02 +0000

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! And if you’re looking for a new school for your child for the coming year — from preschool through high school — our second feature will help you make the most of the all-important school visit!

You’ll also find an Out & About column on Cool Museums You Might Have Missed, a Family Fare review of Max’s Fanno Creek Brew Pub in Tigard, an Angels Among Us featuring Smile Oregon, and our Family Fun Calendar. All in all, it’s a great way to start a brand new year!

Pick up a copy this week, or read it online beginning Jan. 1.

December Coupons & Deals

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:00:15 +0000

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)
IKEA: For every soft toy you buy, they donate $1 to help educate kids. (Page 19)
Eco Baby Gear: Get 20 percent off (up to $15). (Page 17)
Eco Maids: Take 10 percent off gift certificates. (Page 21)
Dancing Brooms: Schedule two cleanings and receive $50 off your third cleaning. (Page 20)
Bob’s Red Mill: Buy two products at the Mill Store, get one free. (Page 21)
Play Boutique: Get $25 off any birthday party, 20 percent off any Beeztro food order, and/or unlimited Stay & Play for $395 annually. (Page 23)
Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: Free initial exam for children under 3. (Page 5)
World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: Complimentary exam for children under 2. (Page 15)
Learning Palace: Take 15 percent off science kits, toddler toys, homework books and teaching materials. (Page 24)
Tidee Didee: Get one free week of diaper service with four prepaid weeks. (Page 38)

… and a Bonus Deal, too! (This one isn’t in the issue, but we wanted to share it with you anyway.)
North Clackamas Aquatic Park Wipeout Deal: Get four Big Surf swim admissions, four rock climbs on the 29’ Steel Mountain wall, four slices of pizza, four fountain drinks and one locker all for $40! Offer expires Dec. 31, 2011. Must be redeemed by Jan. 29, 2012. Visit North Clackamas Aquatic Park, 7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie, or call 503-557-SURF (7873). Mention “Metro News Dec” when purchasing.

Here’s a PDF version of the issue, too, perfect for printing and clipping coupons!

Our December Issue

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:44 +0000

Our December issue is hitting the stands this week, with our annual Holiday Gift Guide and much more! We organized the gift guide by age again this year to help you find just the right presents for everyone on your list -– from newborn babies to hard-to-buy-for teens and ‘tweens. We’ve even got a few ideas for the adults on your list.

We’ve also included a feature called How We Celebrate, exploring some of the cherished traditions local families share during the winter holiday season and a review of the spectacular BODY WORLDS and The Brain exhibit at OMSI. Plus, you’ll find your favorite regular features, including a special final fond farewell Going Places With Ramona column, an Angels Among Us introducing you to Human Solutions, a Family Fare review of The Melting Pot, and our Family Fun Calendar , including a special section with festive Holiday Highlights.

Pick up a copy this week, or read it online beginning Dec. 1.

Our Holiday Giving Campaigns

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:00:39 +0000

You’ve probably heard the expression, “Think globally. Act locally.” We think that’s a wonderful way of approaching life, but this holiday season, we’d like to take it to the next level by saying, “Think globally AND locally, then act on both fronts as well!”

That’s why our 2011 Holiday Giving Campaign has two components -– one focused on local families in need, the other on starving families living on the Horn of Africa. Here’s the scoop:

JOIN “Home for the Holidays”: Since 2008, Metro Parent and our readers have been partnering with JOIN, a local nonprofit that helps homeless people move into permanent housing, to help families down on their luck transition into stable environments – and keep them there. The cost to get a homeless family into permanent housing through JOIN is $2,500. During November and December, Metro Parent will match our readers’ donations up to a combined reader contribution of $1,250, bringing the total to $2,500.

Mercy Corps/Metro Parent Match Campaign: The famine in the Horn of Africa has taken the lives of thousands -– but the suffering is far from over. The United Nations predicts that 750,000 people could starve to death over the next few months in Somalia alone. Metro Parent has been matching our readers’ donations to Mercy Corps since September. At press time, we had matched $1,410 in reader donations (for a total of $2,820). We will continue to match donations up to a total Metro Parent match of $2,500 (for a total reader/Metro Parent donation of $5,000).

To contribute to our “Home for the Holidays” effort, visit JOIN’s website and click on the Metro Parent logo on the home page, then choose “Metro Parent Magazine Home for the Holidays” from the donation category drop-down menu.

To donate to Mercy Corps, visit our donation page.

And be sure to pick up a copy of our sister publication, Portland Woman, to read a gripping report on The Women of Mogadishu by Mercy Corps aid worker Cassandra Nelson.

Together we CAN make a difference!

Our Online Parents’ Calendar

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:28 +0000

We’re constantly amazed at the vast array of activities and resources for families in the Portland metro area, and we’re proud to provide our readers with information they can use to take advantage of all the area has to offer. From our Family Calendar and Family Fun Reviews to information about local parenting resources, we do our best to keep you up to date on local activities and events of interest.

We’re especially proud of our online Parents Calendar, listing workshops, conferences, fundraisers and events of interest to local parents. What makes this resource particularly appealing -– we think –- is the fact that our readers can submit their own parenting-related events and fundraisers (school auction anyone?) to be included in our online listings.

Our November Parents’ Calendar will go up Nov. 1, with a number of intriguing classes and events. You’ll find listings for a “Child Senses & Behavior” workshop at IKEA on Nov. 30, with tips on helping your child regulate sensory input during the holidays and new tools for sensory-based activities; a “Connect by Coaching Your Kid Weekend Workshop” with Dr. Kathy Masarie Nov. 4 and 5; workshops for parents of children with special needs, including “Entering Kindergarten from ECSE: What Parents Need to Know” on Nov. 16 and “IFSP, EI, ECSE, What Does It Mean? Infants and Preschoolers with Developmental Delays or Disabilities” on Nov. 29.

You’ll also find listings for the Healthy Living & Gluten Free Expo in Salem Nov. 26; a National Adoption Day Celebration Nov. 19 and an Adoption Fair Nov. 6; Milagros Boutique’s annual Holiday Bazaar, a fundraiser for Mercy Corps, also on Nov. 6; and Thinker Toys’ Shop for Schools holiday fundraising event Nov. 14-16.

Plus, every month we include listings for recurring classes and groups, from pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding and other parenting support groups for moms and dads to grief and cancer support groups for kids to cloth diapering and diaper-free workshops and groups and much, much more.

Do you have an event to submit to our online Parents Calendar? Fill out our online form (you can also access the form by clicking “Submit an Event” on the Parents’ Calendar page), or email the information to calendar@metro-parent.com.

And for even more parent education, support group and other parenting resources, check out our Parent Support and Education listings.

… and the Winner Is …

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:00:29 +0000

You voted. We counted. Now we’re happy to announce the winners of our 2011 “Family Favorites” Reader Survey.

(Read our September issue for a more detailed recap of our survey, including readers’ comments and a few additional categories, beginning on page 30.)

Family Favorite Restaurant (Our “Happy Highchair” Award)
Our readers love their brewpubs, with Laurelwood Public House & Brewery (5115 NE Sandy Blvd.; laurelwoodbrewpub.com) earning this year’s “Happy Highchair” award, and Hopworks Urban Brewery (2944 SE Powell Blvd.; hopworksbeer.com) coming in a close second. Local favorite Old Spaghetti Factory (multiple locations; osf.com) rounded out the top three.

Coffee Shop
Indie coffee shops still reign supreme, with Munchkin Playland (18335 NW West Union Rd.; munchkinplayland.com) once again taking top honors. Café Sip-n-Play (3000 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver; cafesipnplay.com) took the silver.

Pizza Parlor (new category!)
Hillsboro’s Out of This World Pizza (6225 NW Century Blvd., Hillsboro; 503-629-8700; outofthisworld.net) ranked number one in our survey, with Papa’s Pizza (16321 SE Stark and 15700 NW Blueridge Dr., Beaverton; papaspizza.net) close behind.

Toy Store
The region’s Toy Trifecta includes the same players this year -– Finnegan’s, Piccolo Mondo and Thinker Toys -– but in a different order. Thinker Toys (7784 SW Capitol Hwy; thinkertoysoregon.com) grabbed the top spot, Piccolo Mondo (4768 SW Bethany Blvd.; piccolomondotoys.com) in hot pursuit and Finnegan’s (922 SW Yamhill; 503-221-0306; finneganstoys.com) taking third. But watch out guys –- Learning Palace (multiple locations; learningpalace.com) nearly broke into the top three this year with plenty of loyal reader votes.

Movie Theater
Just like us, you love the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark; academytheaterpdx.com) and McMenamin’s Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd; mcmenamins.com) for family-friendly flicks.

Book Shop
It’s Portland. Naturally Powell’s (1005 W Burnside and other locations; powells.com) took the top spot, but Annie Bloom’s (7834 SW Capitol Hwy; annieblooms.com) is much loved by our readers, too.

Birthday Party Place
The Little Gym (17890 SW McEwan Rd., Lake Oswego; tlglakeoswegoor.com) once again claimed top honors, with runners Club Sport (18120 SW Lower Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard; clubsports.com) and JJ Jump (9057 SE Jannsen Rd., Clackamas and 7500 NE 16th Ave., #2-D, Vancouver; jjjump.com).

Fitness Center
Club Sport (18120 SW Lower Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard; clubsports.com) prevailed, with 24 Hour Fitness (multiple locations; 24hourfitness.com) taking the number two slot.

Place to Swim
North Clackamas Aquatic Park (7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie; ncprd.com/aquatic-park) was the individual pool named most often in our survey, Portland Parks & Rec (multiple locations; portlandonline.com/parks) pools collectively garnered the most votes. The very big and very new Wings & Waves Waterpark (460 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville; evergreenmuseum.org/waterpark) also got a fair share of mentions, considering they just opened in June!

Indoor (Rainy Day) Destination
Once again, OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave.; omsi.edu) triumphed in this category, with newcomer Playdate PDX (1434 NW 17th; playdatepdx.com) and stalwart Portland Children’s Museum (4015 SW Canyon Rd.; portlandcm.org) both ranking high.

Outdoor Destination
Two diverse experiences topped the list: the Oregon Zoo (4001 SW Canyon Rd.; oregonzoo.org) and Jamison Square (810 NW 11th; portlandonline.com/parks), in that order.

Family Vacation Destination
Sunriver (resort: sunriver-resort.com; area: sunriverchamber.com) edged out the Oregon Coast for the top spot this year, though the coast still made a respectable showing!

To read more about our Family Favorite winners –- including those for Ice Cream (Yogurt/Gelato) Parlor, Kids’ Clothing/Shoe Store, Bike Shop and Children’s Gym -– check out our September issue in print or online.

Last Chance to Vote for Your Favorites!

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:00:59 +0000

Sunday is the last day to vote for your favorite local family-friendly businesses in our annual “Family Favorites” Reader Survey! Not only is it a great way to support the wonderful local businesses in our area and share recommendations with other parents, but every reader who votes will be entered to win a fabulous Family Fun Package including a $50 gift card to the top-rated restaurant, a $50 gift card to the top-rated children’s book shop, a $20 gift card to John’s Incredible Pizza and other family fun items.

Categories include:

The winning businesses and destinations will be announced in our September issue.
Voting ends this Sunday, August 14. (One vote per person, please.)

PS: Don’t forget to enter to win a Justin Roberts concert package, too! That contest ends Friday, August 12, at noon.

August Coupons & Deals

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:00:04 +0000

A new issue means new coupons and deals (along with a few regular favorites!). Here’s the scoop for August:

We Speak Baby: Healthy Pregnancy & Parenting: Attend this informative symposium and get breakfast, all for FREE! (Back Cover)
Young Athletes Heart Screening: Have your teen checked for potential heart problems for $10. (Page 11)
Portland Youth Ballet: Free dance class for first-time clients. (Page 42)
Sunriver Resort: Rates starting at $219. Upgrade to a suite for as little as $16! (Page 7)
Dollhouse Tea Room: Take $25 off your next party package. (Page 36)
ClubSport: Join for only $59, or try them out with a free guest pass. (Page 33)
Oregon Gymnastics Academy: Take $15 off your first month’s tuition. (Page 35)
The Old Spaghetti Factory: Free kid’s meal with paid adult entrée. (Page 34)
Bob’s Red Mill: Get $2 off any breakfast over $5 at the Mill Store Café. (Page 36)
North Clackamas Aquatic Park: Buy one rock climb, get one free. (Page 37)
EcoMaids: Take 10 percent off any service. (Page 39)
Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: Free initial exam for children under 3. (Page 9)
World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: Complimentary dental exam for kids under 2. (Page 10)
Learning Palace: Take 15 percent off all regular priced items. (Page 22)
Tidee Didee: Get 1 free week of diaper service with 4 paid weeks. (Page 49)

Happy Saving!

March Coupons & Savings

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:00:24 +0000

Once again, we’d like to point you in the direction of the coupons and deals in our current issue. Happy saving!

Learning Palace: Take 15 percent off your entire purchase. (Page 6)
Santosha Yoga: Attend your first class for free. (Page 7)
World of Smiles: Free exam for children under 2. (Page 15)
Little Smiles: Free initial exam for children under 3. (Page 19)
Our World Learning Creative Play Center: Get $2 off a JJ Jump/Our World Open Play Session. (Page 25)
Tidee Didee: Get 1 free week with 4 prepaid weeks of diaper service. (Page 35)
Music for All: Classical music performance tickets for $5 for families on food stamps. (Page 37)

You can also enter to win a week of summer camp at ClubSport this month. (Contest ends March 31.)

And last but not least, we’re happy to offer you a chance to see the Portland Art Museum’s new exhibit – Riches of a City: Portland Collects – for half price! Just mention our sister publication, Portland Woman, when you purchase an adult admission and you’ll get a second adult admission for free. (Admission for children 17 and under is always free.) The exhibit runs through May 22, but this offer is valid only through March 31, so don’t delay!

Like we said, happy saving!