NW Kids December 2008

8

www.nwkids.com

Get Out this month:Holiday Performance GuideGift Guide: TOYS! Best of Jess Says: Great Stuff from Local Designers

8

LET US SHOP

FOR YOU

Shop online at www.New SeasonsMarket.com

Packinga Lunch?

Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids�

BirthdaysThe Little Gym 3Frills to Fairy tales 21Penny’s Puppet Productions 11Pigtails & Crewcuts 21Rice’s Horses & More 11Sit Still Salon 18

Books, Toys, Goods, and ClothesArbonne 17Backyard Adventures 19 Chic Eye Designs 25Clementine NW 11Friendship Prints 15 Generations 19 Green Ink Holiday Stationery 25Little Lark 27Hand Print Tiles 15 Lulu and Lola 23Miminko Apparel 17Powell ’s Books 21SpielWerk Toys 17

Steiner Storehouse 17Violet 17Ziva Salon 13

Community, SocialMoms Like Me 31Wendy’s Wonderful Kids

ChildcareA Mother’s Love 7 Fruit Flower 7Little Wiz Kids 27Play Boutique 11

Events & SeasonalBreakfast with Santa 25Hand Print Tiles 19Boutique SoireeGrotto Festival of Lights 27Penny’s Puppets 11Sample Sale 27Wizard of Oz 30

Food & RestaurantsGrandma Leeth’s 11Hopworks Urban Brewery 29

ListingsNew Seasons Market 2Me Too Cafe 13

HaircutsPigtails and Crewcuts 21Sit Still 21Ziva Salon 13

Health & FitnessBarre3 15Baby Boot Camp 13The Little Gym 3 Ruby Sky Sleep Coaching 9Tiffany Ueltschi Massage Therapy and Doula 11World of Smiles 15

Horseback RidingRice’s Horses and More 23

Music, Theatre & DanceSound Roots Music 13Childbloom Guitar13Magic Music Studio 13Bennett Suzuki Violin 11

Lakewood Theater 19Northwest Children’s Theater 25Billings Dance 25

PhotographyCaron Dutro Photography 27Kiddie Kandids 32

ServicesCandice N. Alston, attorney 31

SchoolsChildroots 24Escuela Viva 24German American School 24 Goddard School 23Happy Hollow School 25Little Fruit Farm Montessori 22Portland Wiz Kids 9Social Thinking Groups 9Sunshine Montessori 23Taisei Learning Center 25

�Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information

8fun topics more serious topics


Editor / PublisherJessica Davis

[email protected]

Editorial AssistantJulie Shamblin

[email protected]

Business Director, WebPete Davis

[email protected]

AdvertisingMichelle Snell

[email protected]

Maria [email protected]

ArtistErin Sorenson

ContributorsJudy Berck, Dawn Sorem

For Photography [email protected]

Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us

know when we do and accept our apologies.

Printed locally; please recycle.

Editor’s Corner

It’s the time of year for taking stock, counting blessings, expressing gratitude, and reflection. We are all blessed by the abundance of options and the dedication of the wonderful people serving our families. I’d like to give thanks to all the profes-sionals we’ve been so honored to work with over the year. These aren’t the best of times for anyone, and many of those hardest hit by the slumping economy are the small businesses in our area that cater to children and families. Each of our adver-tisers is making the tough choice to put precious resources on getting the word out to you about their business. So to them I say thank you. And to you I ask that when you make your tough choices about how to enrich, entertain, and educate your child, you consider these fine local businesses.

You have undoubtedly heard about the virtues, both ethical and economic, of shopping locally. Certainly when it comes to food, Portlanders appreciate locally sourced produce, dairy products, and meat. But at this time of year, when you are perhaps purchasing gifts for others, I urge you to consider the positive impact you can have on our community by shifting your spending from chains to locally owned merchants. Even a shift of 10% can increase economic output, in the form of such things as taxes and wages, by millions of dollars annually. These tax revenues directly impact local budgets. (Or to be blunt, money spent at Target, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, etc. does not help finance our schools.)

Believe me, I am in no position to judge, and I’d never want any of you parents to feel guilty about the choices you’re making for your family. I know budgets are tight. And I am not asking you to stay away from Target altogether. But even that small, incremental change (10%!) in where you spend your money can make a huge difference in the community. And we have such amazing alternatives!

Shopping in the fabulous local shops is a lot more fun. I’ve had the pleasure of consulting with owners and managers at several toy stores for the annual NW Kids gift guide. These people care about toys, they care about how your children can benefit from play, and they care about things such as where toys are made and from which materi-als. So I encourage you to visit these shops. It’s a treat. Plus, you are likely to get free gift-wrap-ping and you’ll never have to pay for shipping!

Of course, the holidays are about much more than what we buy or where. May yours find you safe and warm, amongst loved ones and filled with sweet delights. From our family to yours, Happy December!

—Jessica Davis, [email protected]


The NW Kids Annual Toy Guide: Local shop owners and managers share their favorite gifts for the season (pp 6- 9).

Craft: Matching tags, bags, and cards for your crafty kids (p. 10)

NW Kids profile: Local Artist Bishop Lennon creates fabu-lous letter block room art for tots (p. 12)

Best of JESS SAYS:

Editor Jessica Davis highlights some of her favorite picks from the past year or so (pp. 14 - 18)

Birthday Party Venue:

The Little Gym (p. 20)

Killer Pop-Up Books (p. 22)

Resource Guide:

Holiday Performances (p. 26)

Calendar of Events (p. 26)

Mama Says:

Finding Grace in Raining Leaves (p. 26)

on the cover and above ...Photos courtesy of

Reversed Lens Photographywww.reversedlensphotography.com

Cover art by Erin Sorenson

contents

on the web...

in this issue...

Local Toy Shops:

www.nwkids.com/toy_storesHoliday card-makers and stationers, photogra-phers, haircuts for kids, birthday party ideas,

indoor play parks, and much, much more:

www.nwkids.com/resourcesSign up for our newsletter for more great ideas on

outings, goings on, and cool stuff around town!

View previous newsletters:

www.nwkids.com/newsletter

The toy shop owners and managers we consulted for this gift guide say that parents this year are looking for value. You are looking for toys that will capture your child’s attention, spark their spirit and endure long past the holiday season.

If this is important to you, look for open-ended toys that will grow with your child. Think of the classics - train sets, blocks, dolls... kids will find new ways to interact with these toys. Avoid char-acter-driven items that are tied to a movie or a character, as kids tend to get bored with these once the novelty has worn off.

Our contributors this year:

Michelle, owner, Piccolo Mondo Toys (PM)

Rebecca, manager, Mudpuddles Toys (MP)

Stacee, co-owner, Spielwerk Toys (SW)

Sarah, manager, Kids at Heart (KaH)

Jessica Davis, parent (JD)

Find addresses for these, and other, local toy stores: www.nwkids.com/toy_stores

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Wooden Blocks Haba and Plan Toys both make great ver-sions of this classic, and what many agree is still the best toy. Every little one should have a set of unit blocks. Build high towers, lay out streets for your cars, anything your mind can create -- and learn mathematical concepts at the same time. Shapes, fractions, proportions, widths, and lengths, become second nature as you design with blocks. Ages 3 and up. (ALL)

Ping Pong Catapult and CastlePull down the catapult throw arm and fling a ping pong ball at the cardboard castle. It will accurately toss balls up to 14 feet. Comes with six balls and extra rubber bands. Made lo-cally by an independent company in Corvallis, for 5 and up, $25 (KaH)

Silke Traditional DollThe SILKE Collection comes from a small family-run company in Germany where their tradition has always been creating lovingly handcrafted soft playthings. This brand is world-renowned for its high quality standards. The beautiful materials used are beneficial to child development in providing a special charm and personality, and their warmth adds a feeling of security. These are truly heirloom quality. Soft cotton, mohair and granule weighted tummies. $160 (SW)


Our2008

Toy Guide

Teaching Cash Register Comes with play money, scale and credit card. It features a coin slot that can read real coins as well as its plastic ones, an LCD screen that displays the tally and four multi-level math games. The built-in scan-ner generates prices and says them out loud. Great fun for learning math while engaging in creative pretend play. Ages 3-6. (MP)

Quirkle The eye-catching, mind-boggling strategy game combines the action of dominoes, scrabble and set. Players lay tiles to create rows and columns of matching colors and shapes. Mix, match, score and win. If you love Blockus, you’ll love this one. All ages can play and be challenged (6+). $23-ish (PM). Note: Piccolo Mondo has a toy library that lets you borrow and try out games at home before purchase. (MP)


OgoSport Mini Super Sports Disk The OgoSport Sports Disk is sure to get you and your family up from the couch! Indoor and out, in teams, or individually, the Sports Disk provides safe, year-round fun. Great for advanced play or to develop motor skills – the play possibilities are endless! Ages 4+; comes in two sizes - one disk is $15 and a set of two is $40 (PM)

Erzi Wooden Play FoodErzi has the most incredible line of wooden play food. Yum! Great for kitchen or market play, while also encouraging healthy eating habits. Child-size, just right for little hands. Erzi wooden food is crafted to look whimsi-cal yet real. The natural texture and beauti-ful hues from their natural bio paints add delightful charm. (Tin boxed food also avail-able.) Ages 3 and up. Eco-friendly manufac-turing, made of birch wood from managed forests. $3 – 5. (SW)

Wikki Stix Tons of Fun Hours and hours of activities for tons and tons of fun! Wikki Stix provide, clean, cre-ative fun with no glue, no paste, no mess! Made in USA. Ages 7+. The Activities Kit is perfect for younger children. Both make great travel companions and both are no mess! prices vary. (JD, PM)


The2008

Toy Guide

Fairy Forest Mushroom Furniture Set

A lovely six-piece woodland dollhouse fairy furniture set, perfectly sized for the Fairy Forest lodge (not pictured, also available). A lovely set to go with any set of wooden or flexible soft dollhouse dolls. Also available is the most charming family of fairies you’ve ever seen! They come complete with whimsi-cal elfin outfits and colorful fairy wings. Four furniture sets are available, one family, and a complete Forest Fairy Lodge. Furniture sets range $10 – 20. (SW)

Plan Toys KitchenCenterThis all-in-one Kitchen Center has turning knobs and comes with oven, storage area, sink, dishwashing unit, and cooking utensils holder. Uniquely de-signed to have two sides open for play––one side for washing the dishes the other for cooking. Fun for hours of imaginative play! Ages 3 and up. All wooden construction, sustainably and safely made. $250. (SW; note, all experts chose something from the PLAN line)

Papa Don’s Lawnmower Push ToyA revolving “barrel” full of wooden balls that bounce around when tots push it makes a satisfying sound. Made locally by an inde-pendent company in Eugene. For beginning walkers (1 year) through the toddler years. $34.95 (TaH)

More toy ideas from the 2007 issue:

www.nwkids.com/holiday_toy_guide_2007


Face Off Frenzy Power Band Hockey High-speed action without a lot of loud air. It uses patented Power-Band Technology to create fast ricochet action on any carpet or hard floor. Simply set up the game frame, put in the power band, and begin firing the puck and protecting your goal on a large 34” x 49” rink. Ages 6 –Teen. (MP)

Forming Groups

Now!!!

“for special needs kids”

Enroll NOW for groups starting in January! Come join us for some fun! Build language and

socialization skills in a small group setting Preschoolers: 3-5

Language movement and sensory activities will be used to facilitate appropriate turn-taking, play and communication skills

School Age & AdolescentsRole playing, game playing and project planning will be used to facili-

tate appropriate conversational skills. Contact us at 360-573-7313

[email protected]

Under the direction of Barbara Erskine M.S., C.C.C and Brenda Hiegel M.S., C.C.C—Certified Speech Pathologists

Hape QuadrillaLast year, we wrote about how much we cov-eted this marble run. Well, as luck would have it, Santa left one at our house! High-quality natural wood, brilliant colors, cool marbles. . . It’s all here, in one timeless, top-notch in-novative plaything. Stable, easy to construct, and beautiful to behold. Our little ones need help setting it up, but it’s a fun family activity. Starter sets run around $60; Ages 4+ recom-mended. (JD)

Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids10

CraftsA BAG, A TAG, A CARD

Supplies

Now that the holidays are here, what better way to show someone you care than by making them a matching gift bag, tag and greeting card. This may sound complicated, but it is super easy!

All you need to do is come up with a theme and make everything match!

Steps to make a snowman themed bag, tag and card:• Draw and cut out several different sizes

of circles on white cardstock for your snowman’s body. Make a big snowman to fit on the front of the gift bag, a medium sized snowman for the card and really small one for your tag.

• Measure the front of the gift bag and cut a light blue piece of cardstock to fit the front of the gift bag.

• Glue the big snowman to the blue cardstock, decorate with markers, crayons or colored pencils (you can cut out a top hat and nose with paper or just draw it all in) and

Materials• Undecorated paper

gift bag (with or without handles)

• Heavy cardstock in a variety of colors

• Ribbon, string, yarn, twine or floss

• Scissors

• Glue

• Markers, crayons

and/or colored pencils

• Liquid or dry glitter, other embellishments (optional)

• Stamps and Ink (optional)

• Tissue Paper (optional)

then glue this onto the front of the bag.

• Using the same color of light blue cardstock cut it 5 ½” x 8 ½” and fold in half for your greeting card base.

• Glue the snowman to front of card and decorate with markers.

• Write or stamp something on the inside of your card, make sure you sign the back, so whoever gets it knows who made it.

• Using the same color of light blue cardstock cut out a small rectangle 3” x 6” and fold it in half; punch or poke a hole in the corner of it.

• Glue the snowman to front of tag and on the inside of tag write who it is to and from.

• Tie the tag to the bag handle, using ribbon. If bag does not have a handle, punch or poke a hole in the bag and then tie the tag to bag.

• You can put tissue paper in the bag and put a present inside to give to someone special!

An alternative to this project: You could make any theme you wanted: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or any special occasion throughout the year. This project would also be great for a special someone’s birthday!

Step 1

Step 2

Finished Project!

www.ediebennett.com; 503.246.9945

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Marketplace

Check my website for performances; available for birthday parties

Horseback riding for all ages; indoor riding area; call for a reservation.

Voted “Family-Favorite Restaurant”

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PLAY Boutique: a Modern Family Piazza: the place where parents and children can play, learn and grow together. PLAY Boutique provides creative play, lifestyle & wellness services, enriching activities, and a

profound sense of community all in one chic social space.

Bring this in for a FREE STAY & PLAY CLASS

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11Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information

Dawn Sorem teaches arts and crafts classes and she does private classes/parties for both children and adults. If you would like more information or to set up a time to have her do an art project for a group you can contact her at [email protected]. Dawn is also the owner and designer of Envelop Cards, you can view her latest designs and see a list of her upcoming classes at: www.envelopcards.com

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Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids1�

ProfileBishop Lennon Knows Her Letters

If you see one of these darling letters sitting on a shelf, you’ll notice the fun playful designs and vi-brant colors. Bishop Lennon, the artist behind the squares, chats with NW Kids about her art.

So how did you get started with the letters?

I just think letters are so perfect for children’s rooms. They are learning the letters, they are learning the names of animals, and they are learn-ing about themselves. And letters have a uni-versal appeal. I started making them as gifts for my friends’ babies; the personalization of letters makes them perfect presents.

So what is your inspiration for the designs?

Birds are one of my biggest inspirations. I enjoy learning more about them, watching them in the wild, and then creating unique, colorful, and quirky images. I have done an all-bird alphabet, and I generally always put an Owl on the “O” – I update with different owls, but “O” is for Owl.

Working with people to design custom letters is one of my favorite things. I enjoy the challenge of creating a completely unique work of art. In the past I have painted letters in Spanish and Hebrew, as well as an entire name with a Hawaiian theme (R is for rainbow, D is for dolphin, etc.) All I need is a few areas of interest (space, animals, under the sea, San Francisco, for example) to create com-pletely personalized paintings.

The letters are quite different than what you

might normally see for young children. Is that intentional?

I try not to make things that are blatantly “baby-ish;” I avoid rattles and items that scream “baby.” I also strive to keep my de-signs gender-neutral. There aren’t “blue” and “pink;” they’re just fun.

Are some letters more popular than oth-ers?

Everyone likes to have a local spin. In Port-land, the “R” for Rose is quite popular, as is the “T” for tree in the style of a Doug Fir.

All the letters are 4-inch squares. Why do you work with that size canvas?

There is something relatable about that size. When you see it on the shelf, it invites you to get close. I like small paintings, little pieces of art you can hold in your hand. There’s an intimacy to that. Bishop Lennon is a trained illustrator living in Portland. Her letters are sold at Black Wagon, Sit Still Salon, Spoiled Rotten and Crafty Wonderland. www.bishop-art.com.

412 NE Beech St., Portland(503) 282-9999

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Lessons and CLasses for aLL!

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Give the gift that lasts a lifetime.Music instruction for Christmas!

Gift certificates available

CUTS-FOR-TOYS!Sunday, December 7th

10am-6pm

ZIVA Salon-Store

610 NW 23rd Avenue

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All service proceeds go to

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Toy Drive – bring by a new unwrapped toy

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Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids1�

Shop

Destined to become heirlooms, these portraits are created with clas-sic styling, handcrafted warmth and a touch of elegant whimsy. Sim-ply Silhouettes offers a variety of styles and custom-designed prod-ucts, including prints, canvases, clothing, stationery sets, and more. Prices vary; www.simplysilhouettes.com.

Looking back at some of my picks from the past year or so, I think I did a pretty good job -these are still great picks! In the next few pages, you can see some of my favorites. In case you missed them in any given month, check out JESS SAYS online, www.nwkids.com/blog

Simply Silhouettes

Kiki & Polly has grabbed the attention of parents looking for an artistic twist for their children’s photographs. By inserting digital images of individual faces into acrylic paintings, Lisa Golightly, the artist behind Kiki & Polly, creates modern and whimsical pieces of art that both capture the spirit and wonder of childhood and the personality of the subjects. www.kikiandpolly.com

Custom Art from Kiki and Polly

Décor

The artist’s love of color is one of her biggest inspirations for these giraffe paint-ings. In a range of happy, playful, and fun colors, these striking pieces look great in a child’s room, or any room. www.jennifermercede.com

Giraffe Art by Jennifer Mercede

Rock ‘n Roll Birth Announcements from Rattle ‘n RollAnnounce the birth of your wee rockstar in a manner that says “yes, I was at the show and have the poster to prove it.”

www.rattleandroll.com

2008 Review

Call Boys & Girls Aid

today!

DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL! Spontaneous and sanguine, Austin welcomes an action-packedrepertoire. Constructing clubhouses, scaling trees and building bike ramps are just a day-in-the-life of this adventure-seeker.

Sweet-natured and affectionate, Austin socializes smoothly with both adults and kids. He works hard to garner the loving attention that

fuels his wellbeing.Accumulated losses have left Austin longing for a permanent family.

Positive reinforcement and skill building help Austin to rein in his impulsive spirit. He will do best in an active,sports-minded family who supports his creative endeavors with gusto. Austin, as he himself proclaims, is truly a great kid!

“I want afamily who will let

me get my own dog…or a four-

wheeler because I really like fishingand hunting.”

Adopt a Wendy’sWonderful Kid

Brook Puckett 503.542.2330

[email protected]

Now open in the Pearl!

Get longer, leaner + energized.

Classes 7 days/week

with childcare (at select times)

3 classes for $30 (new clients only)

1000 NW Marshall St. at 10th Ave.

barre3.com 503.206.8308

Complimentary exams for children under the age of 2

Pediatric Dental Specialist

1�Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information 1�Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information


Shop

This Portland company wants you to love your brain. And these helmets are fun to wear while protecting your noggin or that of your tiny two-wheeler. “Little Nutty” helmets fit tots aged 2-5 Around $40-ish; available at independent bike shops locally; also Freddies and Target. www.nutcasestore.com

Nutcase HelmetsToys & Stuff

There are 40 treasures inside each I Spy Bag, which come in fun prints with a laminated window opening. Filled with tiny poly-beads perfect for little hands to manipulate as they uncover hidden items. Perfect traveling or quiet time toy for all ages. $18. www.ainsleyandoswald.etsy.com

I Spy Bags by Ainsley & Oswald

2008 Review

Visit www.nwkids.com/blog for more great picks!

Stubby Pencil cardsColor ‘n Kids notecards let your little one color them in and follow the dotted lines to trace the lettering: perfect for veteran colorers and novice letterers. Cute, fun, interactive and earth friendly. Sold in packs of six for $7.95. Holiday sets available, as well as many other themes. www.stubbypencilstudio.com

Panjo CapesSuper capes for super kids! Design your own cape for your little hero - choose an icon or initial for the back and design the inside to match the personality of your caped wonder. They attach with velcro at the neck - sound effects sold separately. $30.www.panjokids.com

Find out why NOW is the time to be a part of this amazing company.

Home based business and all products are botanically based.

To learn more about Arbonne's pure, safe, and beneficial products:

Call Kami @ 503-577-5055 or email [email protected]

spielwerktoys.com

Waldorf Inspired:Toys

RemediesSkin Care

BooksPortland-made felted

wool creations

Steiner StorehouseLocally owned and operated

5915 SE Divisionm-sat 9-5, Sunday 12-5

www.steinerstorehouse.com

1�Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information

Shop


Soft… just sooooooft. You know that thick, thick yummy cotton that never wears out and is so delicious to the touch? The kind you ooh and

aah over at the baby showers? Now imagine it in 100% certified organic cotton. This small-scale boutique clothing line is continually growing, and this season’s styles are just too cute. Little scrub pants, onesie dresses, lap tees… essentials, naturally. Prices vary, www.gonaturalbaby.com

Zah Baby Collection from Go Natural Baby

Clothes

Proud:Made in Oregon Tees from Chirp & Tweet

www.chirpandtweet.com

Whimsical: Eclectikidwww.eclectikid.com

Stylish:Little Larkwww.littlelark.com

Cool Local Tee-Shirt Lines

Monkey Bar BuddiesGirls these days can do it all. They can play tough on the playground, twirl, jump, swing, and hang out... and never need to change out of their dresses. Like a modern-day corset, the shorts from Monkeybar Buddies go under skirts and keep girls modest and comfy with no sticking to the fabric or bulk. Perfect for those mini princesses who refuse to wear pants. Find them at Dolci or Haggis McBaggis.

www.monkeybarbuddies.com

2008 Review

Visit www.nwkids.com/blog for more great picks!

Call for our new color catalog!

7400 SW Macadam Ave 503-246-0056

Monday - Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pmwww.thekidsbackyardstore.com

NW Kids 10.08

FALL Clearance!Check our Website for Details

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Birthdays

Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids�0

The Little GymThe DealIf you’re looking for an active party for your wee celebrant and guests, you might consider hosting it at a gymnastics facility. The Little Gym’s two locations (Lake Oswego and Beaverton) offer pri-vate use of their gyms—complete with Airtrak, bar, beam, tumbling mat, parachutes—for week-end parties. These outings are completely instruc-tor-led, down to the food serving and gift opening (if you choose to do so) and tailored to your spe-cific age group. A pirate-themed fete, for example, frames the Little Gym’s movement challenges so the little ones “swab the decks,” “man the pumps,” “pull up anchor,” and so on to increasingly faster and faster music.

The parties are 90 minutes, which includes gym time and 30 minutes in the (fully decorated) party room.

What You Get• The Little Gym Invitations (addressed,

stamped and mailed for you!)

• A qualified birthday leader, plus an assistant; they’ll lead the party, serve the food, write down the gifts, and so on. They are also instructed to sing “Happy Birthday” at least five times!

• Set-up and clean-up

• Paper goods (plates, forks, cups, napkins), juice, and water

• A “The Little Gym” T-shirt for the birthday boy or girl

Parental Fun FactorThis is a hassle-free party for the hosts. All you need to do is bring cake and/or food. Witnesses say the instructors are what make the party fun – they interact with children to help them partici-pate in the equipment and will gently encourage shy or nervous kids to participate at their comfort level. All parents can watch from the sidelines, hang out in the party room or lobby, take photos,

whatever; however, children under 3 do need an adult present with them in the gym. Parties for this age group are parent-participatory, so remem-ber to wear your socks!

The Fine Print· You should reserve early - six weeks out is

recommended, especially in the rainy months. Parties are held only on the weekends.

· Cost is $225 at the Lake Oswego gym and $250 at the Beaverton location, with member discounts offered at each site. Fee covers up to 15 children. Additional chil-dren may be invited (for $12 per child).

· You can bring outside food – a fridge, micro-wave, and full kitchen are available for use.

· Thirty minutes in the party room can be tight – if you want to serve a meal, and cake, and open gifts, think about cutting your time in the gym so you have enough time.

· The first and last timeslots of the day can be extended so children have more time to play in the gym.

The Little GymLake Oswego503-595-9702www.tlglakeoswegoor.com

Beaverton503-579-0859www.tlgbeaverton.com

More ideas for birthday fun:

www.nwkids.com/resources/birthday

walk-ins welcomed—appointments recommended

5656 Hood St. Suite 105, West Linn, OR 97068 503-657-3975 www.sitstillkids.com

Real Style, Real Fun*haircuts, coloring, styling

*mini-manicures & pedicures*birthday parties

*fun accessories & unique gifts

Frillstofairytales.com(503) 522-8449

Princess, Diva, Spa, Pirate, Fairy, Luau And many more!

Party With Pigtails &Crewcuts!

The Streets of Tanasbourne 2219 NW Allie Avenue • #1430

(located behind the REI building) Hillsboro, OR 97124

503•336•4778www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com

�1Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information

Book Picks

Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids��

ABC3DMarion BatailleThis 3-D render-ing of the alpha-bet makes for a psychedelic, well-oiled ma-chine of a pop-up book. Marion Bataille’s ABC3D is a feat of paper craft that will inspire young artists and have kids of all ages

entranced with its new spin on the ABCs.

Swing!Rufus Butler

SederRufus Butler Seder, whose patented Sc-animation technol-ogy first boggled our eyes in last year’s Gallop!, now gives us Swing!, a mesmerizing opti-cal experience that will delight kids and adults alike.

Eye-POPPING Gift Ideas

There’s no better gift than books this season. They’re affordable, fun, and educational, and reading together around the fire is so much fun! The great folks at Powell’s give us their top picks this holiday season.

Winter’s TaleRobert Sabuda

Paper-engineer ex-traordinaire Robert Sabuda brings us Win-ter’s Tale, a simple yet magical story of ani-mals enjoying a snowy day in the forest. With

its glitter, foil, and intricate paper craft, this book is a piece of wintry eye candy.

600 Black Spots

David A. Carter

David Carter’s 600 Black Spots is a funky pop-up that blends abstract art and counting con-

cepts. With bold primary colors and whimsi-cal words, this book is an invitation to play. And like Carter himself says: “please touch the art.”

Proud Oregon Parents Name

Baby After Powell’s Books Powell’s books is such a favorite destina-tion for one local family that they named their baby after it! That’s right, Powell Finley DeKam was born to an Albany family in early October.

Michael Powell was so thrilled by the news that he personally arranged for a special baby gift. No word yet on baby’s favorite author.

��Call 503.282.2711 for advertising information

4455 SW 99th Ave.Beaverton, OR 97005

Portland City Search Winner2005, 2006, 2007


HolidayPerformances


THE SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE

One of Portland’s most beloved and longest running holiday performances will open their doors for the 46th season starting the day after Thanksgiving. Each year a vibrant new story line is intertwined with over 300 adult and youth choir voices. From Santa and Rudolph to Shepherds and Kings…there is always something for every-oneyoung or young at heart. through Dec 6 Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Keller Au-ditorium, 222 SW Clay St. www.pcpa.com

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS

A Holiday play with a memorable story line and dancing entertainment for the whole family; pre-sented by MVP Dance.Dec 6 Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St. www.pcpa.com

SCROOGE: THE MUSICAL

Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” is brought to life on stage as the miserly Scrooge is taken through Christmases past, present, and future. Dec 5 - 14 Washburn Performing Arts Center at Washougal High School www.cytvanport.org

BIGLITTLETHINGS

From the NW Kids review:

“Biglittlethings is a splendid assortment of creative and original vignettes, performed by all manner of oversized crit-ters, including, but not lim-ited to polar bears, aardvarks, and some seriously confused seven-foot bunny rabbits ... Biglittlethings keeps you guessing and wondering all evening.” Read full review: www.nwkids.com/biglittlethings Dec 12 - Jan 3 Imago Theatre, SE Portland

www.imagotheatre.com

THE NUTCRACKER

The sparkling lights of a towering tree, a sweeping crescendo from the full orchestra*, and a magical journey to the candy-coated realm of the Sugarplum Fairy... Dec 12-14 Oregon Ballet Theatre, Keller Auditorium www.obt.org

TUBA CHRISTMAS

Rejoice in the sound of nearly 200 tubas playing the festive music of the season. Dec. 13 Pioneer Courthouse Square, Downtown Portland, 1:30pm

THE WIZARD OF OZ

Follow the Yellow Brick Road - you know this story! Dec. 13 - Jan 4; special holiDay matinees Northwest Children’s Theater, NW Portland. http://nwcts.org

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER A classic play about the Herdmans, who were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world taking part in the town’s Christmas

pageant, it surprised just about everybody. Dec 18 - 23 Lakewood Center for the Arts in Downtown Lake Oswego www.lakewood-center.org

THE NUTCRACKER TEA

A Nutcracker Tea is an abridged, family-friendly adaptation of the Nutcracker ballet for ages 4 and up. Snacks and drinks provided. Dec 19-21 Northwest Dance Theatre, PCC Sylvania Cam-pus Performing Arts Center, 12000 SW 49th Ave. www.nwdt.org TU

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November 28–December 30, 2008Open 5:00–9:30 Nightly Closed Christmas Day

General Admission: $7.50 child Admission: $3.00 (3–12 years old)

Ne 85th & SANDy boulevArD iN PortlANDwww.thegrotto.org (503) 261-2400 Please bring canned or dry baby food for Snow-CAP

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mission is $10 for non-members and free to members. OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797-4000 or www.omsi.edu

Dec 5 & 6 FESTIVAL OF TREES With more than 100 trees and holiday displays, the Provi-dence Festival of Trees also hosts live entertainment and kids’ crafts. Friday, 10am-9pm and Saturday, 10am-6pm at the Oregon Convention Center, Hall C, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Admission ranges from $3-5. 503- 215-6070 or www.providence.org/festivaloftrees

Dec 5-7 AMERICA’S LARG-EST CHRISTMAS BAZAAR More than 1,000 booths chock full of unique gifts, hand-made holiday decorations and much more. Admission is $6.50 for adults, juniors are $3.50 and kids under 12 are free. Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive. www.expochristmasbazaar.com

Dec 5-23 & 26-29 CHRISTMAS FANTASY TRAIL The Christmas Fantasy Trail at the Wenzel Farm has tons of Christmas scenes loaded with festive lights, a 40-ft. castle, a crooked house and a maze. Hours are 6-9pm. Children under 12 are $3.50 and all other are $4. 503-631-2047 or www.fantasytrail.com

Dec 6 FAMILY HOLIDAY SINGALONG A percentage of all the proceeds from Airplay Café’s fun holiday sing-along goes toward the Children’s Relief Nursery. There will be stories and songs and special holiday snacks. The fun starts at 6pm and the cost is $5 for a person or $10 for a family. Call ahead for tickets. Airplay Café, 701 E. Burnside St. 503-808-7908 or www.airplaycafe.com

Dec 6 FROGTOWN A live performance of “One Night in Frogtown” with live music and anima-tion. See the NW Kids interview with Frogtown creator Philip Pelletier for details on the show: www.nwkids.com/Nov08_Frogtown

McMenamins Bagdad Theater, SE Haw-thorne, Doors open at 1pm; event starts at 2pm, $5 advance and day of tickets, all ages welcome. www.mcmenamins.com

Dec 6 HOLIDAY SHOPPING SOIREE Grab your girlfriends and join us for an evening of shopping - it’s all mom-designed products and it’s all great! Saturday evening from 4pm - 7pm. Enjoy wine, champagne, and yummy appetizers while discovering fabulous boutiques!

Me Too! Cafe, 16755 Baseline Road #102, Beaverton. www.nwkids.com/soiree

December

caLenDarthrough Jan 1 LIGHTS: WINTER WONDERLAND Tons of fun for the whole family, the Winter Wonderland is thought by some to be the “largest holiday light show west of the Mississippi.” The price is $16 per car and the fun takes place at the Portland International Raceway. Week-days 5-10pm and weekends 5-11pm. 503 821-4354.

WeekenDs in December MCMENAMINS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA What better way to celebrate the holidays than with Kris Kringle himself. McMenamins is hosting several Breakfast with Santa events at their various locations. Come enjoy a breakfast buffet and a chat with Santa and leave with a free keepsake photo. Reservations are required and ticket prices range from $10-13. Check online for

times and locations. www.mcmenamins.com

Various Dates in Decem-ber CHRISTMAS SHIP PARADE Come enjoy a Portland tradition over 50 years in the making. The Christmas Ship Parade is full of festive boats decorated for the season. Parading both along the Willamette and the Columbia, the times and routes vary by night so check

online for details. www.christmasships.org

through Dec 31 PITTOCK MANSION ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Each of the historic mansion’s 23 rooms will be festively decorated to reflect a different part of the famous holiday poem for this holiday season. Kids and kids at heart alike will find the décor and the atmosphere enchanting. 3229 NW Pittock Drive.

503-823-3623 or www.pittockmansion.org

Dec 2 & 7 HANDMADE NW AR-TISAN FAIR Handmade NW is hosting two great holiday festivals with tons of goods and gifts made by local artisans. The first, on December 2nd is from 10am-6pm and will be at the World Trade Center Plaza, 121 SW Salmon St. and the second, a more formal affair, will be held on De-cember 7th at the Chelsea Ballroom, 1510 SE Hawthorne. www.handmadenw.com

Dec 3 OMSI AFTER DARK A great way to explore all of OMSI’s fantastic stuff without feeling like you are stealing away some kiddos turn at the activities. Just for the 21 and over crowd, this event brings out the kid in everyone because after all – science is fun! 6pm-10pm. Ad-


pricing. Beaverton location: Beaverton, (503) 579-0859. Lake Oswego location: (503) 595-9702 or www.The-LittleGym.com and search for Oregon locations.

Dec 18 & 22 HOLIDAY BREAK-FAST WITH BOB THE BUILDER Kids will love having a breakfast with everyone’s favorite handy man and the fact that the folks at Portland Children’s Museum adds a holiday theme make it even better. There are various seating times so be sure to call either sched-uler at 503-471-9911 or www.portlandcm.org

Dec 19 STORY AND STROLL Join in on the winter fun at Tryon Creek State Park by helping them celebrate the winter solstice. A fun and free event for the whole family, there will be crafts and good-ies and a guided short winter walk in the woods. The event goes from 4-6pm and pre-registration is required. Tryon Creek State Park, 503-636-9886 or 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. www.tryonfriends.org

Dec 21 CHANUKAH WONDER-LAND With over 2,000 square feet of fun, the Chanukah Wonderland will have menorahs, candles, gifts, music and so much more. There will be special program-ming for the little kidlets from 2-4 years old. The fun takes place at Maimonides Jewish Day School, 6612 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-977-9947 or www.chabadoregon.com.

Dec 6, 13, 18 HANDPRINT TILESMake a special gift of little hand or feet prints, Hand Print Tiles will be at Mother Natures, Dec. 6, 10:30 to 5pm, 2627 SE Clinton; Generations, December 13th, 10am - 5pm, 4029 Hawthorne St; and a special evening event (5:30 to 8:30), December 18th at All About Kids, 130 Main St.

Gresham. www.handprinttiles.com

Dec 10, 12, 15, 17, 19 & 20 CHRISTMAS LIGHTED BOAT PARADE TROLLEY TRIP A memorable way to see the Christmas Ships Parade men-tioned above, the Willamette Shore Trolley takes festive folk along the river to see the ships. Reservations are required and tickets are $25. All trains depart from The Willamette Trol-ley Lake Oswego Station, 311 N State Street, Lake Oswego. 503-697-7436 or http://oerhs.org/wst/excursions.htm

Dec 13 GIFT MAKING EXTRAVA-GANZA Helping kiddos get started on making some crafty holiday gifts for their parents and pals, the Portland Children’s Museum is hosting gift-making studios where they provide tons of ideas and materials for kids to let their creativity go wild. 9am-5pm at the Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Rd. 503-223-6500 or www.portlandcm.org

Dec 13 & 20 PARENTS SURVIVAL NIGHTOn Dec 20 (Beaverton) and Dec 13 (Lake Oswego) The Little Gym is making it easy for parents to have a date night sans the kidlets. Ages 3-10, call for times and

Check out tons more events and activities; promote your own event; email your friends with ideas; download items to your personal calendar; and most important - check the site often, as it’s updated frequently! www.nwkids.com/calendar

Mama Says

Say you saw it in the pages of NW Kids�0

Last year, the sidewalk in front of our house cost us a whole lot of money, thanks to a letter from the city telling us to fix the cracks, or else. The contrac-tors cost a lot and did a crappy job, leaving a patchwork of squares, some with corners cut off and jagged edges. I sometimes fret about it and curse the sidewalk when we walk outside.

And then we bought Dustin, our 18 month old, a blue mini-scooter that won’t tip over. To him, our sidewalk is a whole world to conquer. He grips the handlebars with fierce determination as he pushes himself along with one foot, quiet and proud. There is nowhere he’d rather be than on that sidewalk with his scooter. I know, because he screams when we go in. I can’t hate something that makes my kid so happy, so I forgave the sidewalk.

Last week, when I was on a walk around the block with my sons, the wind blew slightly, rustling through the trees near our house. Red and yellow leaves flut-tered down all over our sidewalk. “Oh, what a pain,” I said to myself. “More leaves to sweep up before they get wet and somebody slips.” Dustin looked up from our walk and pointed at a falling leaf. “Daaah,” he said, with some urgency. “Look, mommy, it’s raining leaves,” said Jeremy, my six year old. And so it was. Jeremy grabbed a big red maple leaf from the sidewalk, and then a bigger one. “I’ll bring a leaf bouquet to school.”

Some call it grace, some call it mindfulness, the awareness of beauty and newness our children can bring back to us. In the dark season, how important it is to let our children point out to us other ways of viewing the world, and teach us about what’s in front of our eyes.

Judy Berck is a Portland writer. She lives in NE Portland with her husband and two sons.

By Judy Berck

NW Kids December 2008

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