NW Kids Magazine March 2018

L I V E • PLAY • DO

magazine

Sending Kids to Sports Camps Concerts for the Whole Family

nwkidsmagazine.com

MARCH 2018

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Editor’s Note Toddlers are concentrated energy. They run, jump and tumble, not as part of a special event, but as their every-day means of locomotion. Somewhere around school age, we teach them to sit—and they learn that lesson well. Soon, our bouncy, pouncy little springs become more and more sedentary, fitting in with the sit-behind-the-desk nature of our world.

As a parent, I am always trying to get my kids more active and help keep them moving, but it’s not easy. At my son’s school, he gets a PE class once a week for half an hour—effectively nothing. It means that his physical education needs to come from the home. We’re all busy, and screens are everywhere, so it takes conscious effort and work.

During the summer, we take advantage of the many brilliant sports camps Portland has to offer. Not only do they get the kids out of the house, they let them try new skills in a safe environment…and if they find out they don’t like a sport, they only have to do it for a week.

Every kid has different preferences, but there is a camp in Portland for every kid. Keep them active. Keep them healthy, and keep them occupied all summer long.

Melissa

Cover photography by LEO LEE

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Contents MARCH 2018 10 Dining out with kids 19 The benefits of camp 24 Staying active with sports camps 32 Camps and special needs kids 37 Family-friendly concert venues 44 March events—Spring is here!

Contents photography by HORSE SENSE RIDING SCHOOL

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magazine Publisher Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editor Melissa Kniazeva melissa@nwkidsmagazine.com

Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Instagram: @nwkidsmagazine • Twitter: @nwkids • Pinterest: pinterest.com/nwkids NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. 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.

Listings Adventure Camp (SW Bible)........................... 8 Adventure WILD ............................................14 Aim High Martial Arts...................................20 All Families Surrogacy...................................42 Aprende con Amigos.....................................17 Audubon Portland.........................................14 AWOL Dance..................................................35 Bennett Suzuki...............................................42 Big Lake Youth Camp.....................................35 B’nai B’rith Camp.............................................. 9 Brian Baxter Sports Camp..............................27 Camp Collins..................................................20 Camp Invention..............................................14 Camp Wahoo.................................................... 8 Christian Youth Theater..................................20 City of Hillsboro..............................................17 Club Pilates.....................................................42 Coding With Kids............................................16 Empire Athletics.............................................25 Engineering For Kids......................................20 Friendly House...............................................43 German International School........................22 Green Schoolhouse........................................33 Havaya Arts....................................................18 Hearing Resources Audiology Center............42 6 | NW Kids Magazine

Advertising Director Laurel Carrasco laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Graphic Designer Robyn Barbon robyn@folkloremedia.com Client Services Coordinator / Web Editor Mary Brady mary@nwkidsmagazine.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com

Hope Chinese Charter School........................17 ID Tech............................................................22 Imago Theatre................................................46 Keys To Life Music..........................................17 Lice Clinics of America...................................42 Little Fruit Farm..............................................41 Mad Science...................................................33 Mr. David’s School of Film................................ 8 North Clackamas Parks and Rec....................30 NW Children’s Theater....................................43 NW Kids Camp Expo........................................ 7 Old Mcdonald’s Farm, Inc..............................33 Omega Gymnastics........................................30 Oregon Ballet Theatre....................................16 Oregon Children’s Theatre................................ 9 Oregon College of Art and Craft....................43 Oregon Episcopal School...............................27 Oregon Zoo....................................................... 2 Owl and the Dove..........................................36 Philip Foster Farm..........................................33 Play Fit Fun....................................................... 8 Portland Children’s Museum.........................43 Portland Early Learning Project.....................17 Portland Parks and Rec..................................28 Portland Rock Gym........................................30

Portland Trampoline......................................38 Pottery Fun.....................................................42 Royal Ridges...................................................14 Rose City Music Academy..............................42 Saturday Academy.........................................35 Scuola Italiana di Portland............................41 Sit Still............................................................11 Sky High.........................................................35 Small Friends.................................................41 Soccer Shots..................................................... 3 SW Community Center..................................36 Spielwerk Toys................................................11 The International School................................11 The International School................................18 The Kids’ Backyard Store................................38 Trackers Earth.................................................48 Tree to Tree Adventure Park............................27 Tucker Maxon.................................................18 Upward Bound...............................................33 Villasport........................................................47 Warner Pacific College...................................35 Willowbrook Arts Camp................................18 World of Speed..............................................18 Graphic by DIETER D.

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Don’t Give Up Eating Out Just Because You Are a Parent by ARIEL FRAGER

Portland’s new food renaissance means amazing restaurants and eating experiences continue to pop up across our city. There are so many great options there is just no way for parents to fully appreciate our foodie capital if you have to get a sitter for every restaurant visit. Kids can be great restaurant patrons when you help create the right conditions for a successful dinning out experience by giving them tools to manage the wait and choices to help expand their palette.

Start Early The best way to create a restaurant going child is to start early. Babies are usually great restaurant guests since they are either sleeping or being held by mom or dad. Bringing babies and toddlers to restaurants early on will help them integrate restaurant going as part of their life.

Don’t Go Out When the Kids are Really Hungry If your children are already hungry and cranky don’t go out. Call for take out instead. There is nothing worse than a cranky child waiting for a meal. You won’t have fun and your kid will begin to associate going out to eat with crankiness, which could exacerbate poor dining out experiences in the future. continued on p. 12

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Restaurant Games Create and play a few games only when you are in restaurants. Save these games just for when you are waiting in line or waiting for your food. Turn dining out into a full-blown special experience that not only includes delicious food but a unique kind of family fun. In my family we play with “bunny rabbits” while we wait in restaurants.

Our bunnies are just our fingers in a peace sign and they talk to each other and catch up about what has been happening since the last time we were in a restaurant.

This game worked great with my two-year-old and continues to be fun now that he is six. Other good restaurant games are I-Spy, alphabet geography game, Mad Libs and tic-tac-toe.

Choose the Restaurant Wisely My kid is a pretty adventurous eater, for a kid. That doesn’t mean that all restaurants are going to have menu items that work for him. Check the menu online before you go. I would also avoid places with long wait times. The restaurant only games only work for so long. The hot new brunch place with a two-hour-wait just isn’t worth it with kids.

Reservations are Your Friend If you really want to go to the hot new restaurant, make a reservation so you don’t have to wait too long. Similarly, if the place doesn’t take reservations go on the early side, like 9 am for brunch (you know you are already going to be awake anyway) and 5 pm for dinner.

Ariel Frager spends most of her time hanging out with children at work as a school counselor and at home as a mom. When she isn’t “watching this” she is planning her next adventure for her blossoming travel writer career. Ariel lives in Portland, Oregon with her family.

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The PJA Perspective Portland Jewish Academy (pjaproud.org) provides a rich academic and cultural learning experience for kids from early childhood through 8th grade. We’ve invited budding journalists from PJA’s writing club for 6th-8th graders to join our team for a series that gives you a glimpse into thoughts and life – from their perspective.

Dining Dining and In Out by GABI

We all love to dine at a restaurant and have great meals...and at PJA, we get the same dining experience with a chef we love. Mrs. Rogers is the school’s cooking teacher and sometimes chef. She does amazing work in our PJA Project Room/Kitchen!

In different grades, you will most likely do a cooking project. In fifth grade, in the fall, we wrote garden poems, baked treats, and brewed tea from herbs and we picked from our school garden.

Right now, in our Hebrew class, we are reading a story about baking and decorating cakes. Our wonderful Hebrew/Jewish Studies teacher, Morah Jana, always has a fun activity for each story. We all worked together in groups to decorate a creative cake. Jana was so kind that she said she would provide the plain sheet cake and some of the materials we needed to design our own edible work of art.

My group -- Jonathan, Gloria, Leo, and I -- decided on a design of a park.

Jonathan originally came up with the idea. We all thought it would be a great design. I think the point of this project was to have fun; learn the story with a fun twist; strengthen our Hebrew reading; and learn to work better in groups.

Even though I could dine out at one of Portland’s fantastic cake bakeries, I would rather dine in right here at PJA! Gabi is a current fifth grader at PJA who is an accomplished gymnast and loves to bake!

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Some great family-friendly Portland originals Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom Double Mountain serves great pizza and great beer.

4336 SE Woodstock Boulevard 503-206-5495 doublemountainbrewery.com

Frank’s Noodle House Homemade Chinese noodles satisfy everyone in the family.

822 NE Broadway Street 503-288-1007 franksnoodlehousepdx.com

Hat Yai The whole family will love Southern Thai fried chicken with curry dipping sauce.

1605 NE Killingsworth Street 503-764-9701 hatyaipdx.com

Jam on Hawthorne Brunch + kid’s play area = everyone happy 2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

503-234-4790 jamonhawthorne.com

Noho’s Hawaiian Café Noho’s serves simple, delicious and fast Hawaiian meals.

2525 SE Clinton St, 503-233-5301 4627 NE Fremont St, 503-445-6646 nohos.com

Nong’s Khao Man Gai/ Marukin Ramen It’s hard to choose which of these two great neighboring Asian counter service restaurants to go to.

609 SE Ankeny Street, Suite A and C Nong’s 503-740-2907 khaomangai.com marukinramen.com 14 | NW Kids Magazine

Piazza Italia Authentic Italian food dressed up as a soccer fanatic.

1129 NW Johnson Street 503-478-0619 piazzaportland.com

Pine Street Market Portland’s first food hall creates a party atmosphere and is tasty.

126 SW 2nd Avenue pinestreetpdx.com

Scottie’s Pizza Parlor Scottie’s intimate space serves up classic New Haven style pizza.

2128 SE Division Street 971-544-7878 scottiespizzaparlor.com

The Observatory Upscale pub food for the kids and great cocktails for the parents.

8115 SE Stark Street 503-445-6284 theobservatorypdx.com

Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant Dim Sum is fast, fun and family friendly.

8733 SE Division Street, Suite 101 503-788-8883 wongsking.com

Yoko’s Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar Families love Yoko’s great sushi.

2878 SE Gladstone Street 503-736-9228

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SUMMER CAMPS BENEFIT KIDS ALL YEAR ROUND by SUSAN WELCH

Summer still seems so far away.

February’s late cold snaps make it seem like we will never see blue sky again, but before you know it June will be here and, with it, camp. Parents can be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed when it comes to camps, but worth the effort. Camps provide so much more than just child care. They can literally change a child’s life.

One study found that after attending camp, kids were more independent, better at making friends, more adventurous, and they showed increased leadership traits even months afterward. It’s not surprising that kids gain so much. Camp is a way for them to practice being grown up, to take risks in a controlled environment, and to solve problems without their usual support system.

There many reasons to send children to camps, both day camps and sleepaway camps: continued on p. 21

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Camps help kids become more active and healthy.

In fact, the benefits of the exercise kids in active camps get have been shown to last for months. At camp, kids are moving, and perhaps more importantly, they are spending days without screens, learning how to entertain themselves and communicate without an internet connection.

Going to camp allows kids to learn new skills and work on old ones.

The best camps are ones that teach kids something new. For some kids, a bit of academic practice in the summer instills in them new confidence when the school year begins. Kids can learn about the world around them: where food comes from or how animals live or how our ancestors survived.

Camp gives kids practice in being independent.

It’s been said that the job of a parent is to do so well we are no longer needed.

Camp helps with that. Kids learn to make decisions and to become responsible for themselves without parental oversight, and in the teen years, camps can give both parent and child a much-needed break from one another.

Camps help develop social skills.

Camps can offer children their first opportunity to spend time with others who are unlike them. Camps draw from many areas and social groups. The bubble of isolation most of us live in—our neighborhoods, our friends, our religious groups—are shattered by camps. Children have to meet and get along with people from all different backgrounds from all over the city. They learn that we all may have different values, expectations, and experiences, but that we can all work for the common good. continued on p. 23 NW Kids Magazine | 21

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Camps allow kids to reinvent themselves.

A kid who is bullied at school may be the center of attention at camp, showcasing talents among likeminded peers. The same child who is too self-conscious to try dance at school may thrive in the relative anonymity of a dance camp, and perhaps gain enough confidence to dance elsewhere.

Last year, I sent my daughter to overnight camp for the first time. We poured over packing lists and planned the experience together. When she got on the bus to leave, I was anxious. A week later, she was back: filthy, hair tangled, sleeping bag soaked‌ and smiling. She still talks about her week on the coast. Without me, she grew up a little, matured a bit. That is what parenting is all about.

Susan Welch is a native Portlander, a poet, a writer, and a mom blessed with three kids, two fur-babies, and a very long-suffering wife.

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CHOOSING A SPORTS CAMP Sports camps get your kids out in the sun and having fun, all while making friends, staying fit, building sports skills, and learning how to work as a team. When you’re choosing a sports camp, make sure that your child will cherish their memories of going there for the rest of their lives.

Shopping for sports camps can feel like wading through a flood of choices, so your first step is to choose what kind of camp your kid wants to attend. If they’re not interested in a singular sport—or if they’d love to play all of them—then a general sports camp is right up your alley. At more specialized camps—riding camps, soccer camps, etc.—coaches will help your camper hone their skills in a single sport of their choice. It is also important to choose whether you would prefer a day camp or an overnight camp.

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Day camps are usually more affordable and convenient, but overnight camps, are immersive experiences that help to focus your child on the skills they want to learn.

When you’ve narrowed down your choices, it’s time to start comparing camps. Making the best choice requires gathering as much information as you can, so scour each camp’s website or brochure for both an FAQ and a contact email or number. Make sure you know exactly what safety procedures and equipment will be used, as well as what their plans are for injuries and emergencies. It’s also useful to know if day camps offer before/after care. To help your child better adjust, get to know what the daily camp schedule will be and help them become familiar with it before they get there.

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Sports camps should be safe, fun, and positive experiences. By arming yourself with knowledge beforehand and preparing yourself and your kid, you can make sure that everyone comes away with a great story to tell.

Some Great Local Sports Camps for This Summer!

Team Sports AIM HIGH MARTIAL ARTS

NORTH CLACKAMAS PARKS AND REC

Kids enjoy martial arts instruction, crafts and games, trips to the park, snacks, and much more!

16205 NW Bethany Ct., Beaverton; (503) 640-8628 aimhighma.org

From hip hop and horseback riding to cheerleading and sports, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District is your summer camp resource!

Multiple locations; (503) 794-8080 ncprd.com

BAXTER SPORTS CAMPS

RHINO LACROSSE Mary S Young Park, 19900 Willamette Dr. (Hwy 43), West Linn rhinolacrosse.com/westlinn

All Sports Camps during Spring, Winter, and Summer Breaks, plus all PPS days off. Plus Summer Soccer Camps for 5-13 and 9-16 year olds.

Multiple locations; (503) 309-3347 baxtersports.com BERNIE FAGAN SOCCER CAMP Portland berniefagansoccer.com/soccercamp-for-kids/ HOOP CAMP Campers are separated into “unified” campers, or those without special needs, and the adults and children who do have special needs.

50 NW 158th Ave, Beaverton hoop.camp NIKE VOLLEYBALL CAMP AT LEWIS AND CLARK COLLEGE 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd, Portland ussportscamps.com/volleyball/ nike/nike-volleyball-camp-lewisand-clark-college# 26 | NW Kids Magazine

SOCCER SHOTS Enroll for a Soccer Shots Summer Camp at a location near you. Soccer Shots camps feature low coach to player ratios and a unique camp curriculum.

Multiple locations; (503) 913-4542 soccershots.org/pdx/

SPORTS MADNESS CAMP 50 NW 158th Ave, Beaverton thprd.org/activities/classnumber/ AC37201 SPORTS PLUS DAY CAMP 1260 NW Saltzman Rd, Portland sportsplusdaycamporegon.com TRIPLE THREAT SPORTS CAMP 2855 SW Patton Rd, Portland triplethreatsportscamp.com continued on p. 28

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Individual Sports

HILLSBORO PARKS & RECREATION

COBRA WRESTLING TOUR OF CHAMPIONS SUMMER CAMP Clackamas leaguelineup.com/welcome. asp?url=cobrawrestlingsystems

Explore our day camps for a summer filled with fun, friends, trips, games and more! Adventure | Nature | Aquatic | Science | Sports | Creative Arts Multiple Locations; (503) 615-6120 Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/ParksRec

COMMUNITY CYCLING CENTER 1700 NE Alberta St, Portland communitycyclingcenter.org/ community/bike-camp/

HORSE HAVEN FARMS HORSE CAMP 13201 NE 72nd Ave, Vancouver horsehavenfarms.com/#!/horse_ camping

EMPIRE ATHLETICS

HORSE SENSE RIDING SCHOOL 25220 SE Sunshine Valley Rd., Damascus horsesenseridingschool.net

Empire Athletics offers acro, cheer, dance, tumbling, trampolines, gymnastics, arts and crafts, and obstacle courses.

Multiple locations; (503) 477-4534 empireathleticsgym.com

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K-LEAN’S TENNIS & GOLF CAMPS 14015 NE Glisan St, Portland k-leans.com/camp/

OREGON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Over 250 athletic, academic, and creative camps available for Pre-K–12. Experience our acclaimed inquiry-based approach with a fun summer style!

6300 SW Nicol Rd.; (503) 416-9500 summer.oes.edu ONE WITH HEART MARTIAL ARTS KUNG FU SUMMER CAMPS 4231 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland onewithheart.com/summer-camps PACIFIC WATERSPORTS, INC. PADI SEAL TEAM SCUBA PROGRAM 17128 SW Shaw, Aloha pacifich2osports.com/dive/ class_seal.php PORTLAND KAYAK COMPANY 6600 SW Macadam Ave, Portland portlandkayak.com/classes-4/

PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION Ready. Set. Summer! Various themes and specialties offered city wide for kids age 3-12. Morning, afternoon, and full-day options to fit your schedule.

Multiple locations; (503) 823-PLAY (7529) portlandparks.org

ROYAL RIDGES RETREAT Royal Ridges Retreat offers 4 different Day Camps and 2 Resident Camps.

Pricing starting at $135 and the ages vary.

Check us out online for more info!

20115 NE 354th St. Yacolt, WA; (360) 686-3737 royalridges.org

SKY HIGH SPORTS Activities and games including climbing walls, trampolines, dodgeball, foam pit, arcade time, arts and crafts and more!

11131 SW Greenburg Rd, Tigard; (503) 924-5867 por.skyhighsports.com

SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER SWCC offers full and half day winter camps! Kiddos will build friendships, explore their creativity, play sports, games, and splash in the pool!

6820 SW 45th Ave.; 503-823-2840; portlandoregon.gov/parks/61157 STARS AND STRIPES TRACK CAMP 0615 Palatine Rd, Portland starsandstripestrack.com

TREE TO TREE ADVENTURE CAMP 3 days jam-packed with adventure, excitement, & new friends! Your camper will love spending time in the sunshine & exploring obstacles in the trees!

2975 SW Nelson Road, Gaston; (503) 357-0109 tree2treeadventurepark.com/ SpecialEvents/Camps

VILLASPORT ADVENTURE ZONE CAMPS Each week will be full of fun and exploration. Bring your sense of adventure as we navigate through different lands and experience worlds of wonder.

13900 SW Meridian St.; (971) 317-2600 villasport.com/beaverton/camps WINDELL’S SUMMER SKATEBOARD CAMP 59550 E Hwy 26, Sandy windells.com/skateboard-camp/ continued on p. 30 NW Kids Magazine | 29

Dance and Gymnastics A-WOL AERIAL DANCE COLLECTIVE Flip your summer upside-down in our warehouse or in the trees. Specialized aerial & circus camps for all levels!

Multiple locations; (503) 351-5182 awoldance.org CIRCUS CASCADIA 5441 SE Belmont St. Portland circuscascadia.org/summer-camps.html

OMEGA GYMNASTICS OMEGA keeps campers active throughout the day with structured gym class, open play, crafts, games, and off-site field trip for full day campers.

9700 SW Harvest CT, STE 180, Beaverton; (503) 466-4872 omega-gymnastics.com/camps.html

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PLAYGROUND GYM’S PARKOUR CAMP 505 NE Grand Ave, Portland theplaygroundgym.com/parkourcamps-full POLARIS DANCE THEATRE KIDS DANCE CAMP 1826 NW 18th Ave, Portland polarisdance.org/summer-programs/ SPECTRA GYMNASTICS 8344 SW Nimbus Ave, Beaverton spectrapdx.com/summer-camp/ THUNDER ELITE SPRING BREAK CHEER CAMP 12900 SE Hwy 212, Clackamas thunderelite.com/springbreakcamp

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Photograph by D. IVO

SUMMER CAMP SUCCESS: Finding the best fit for your special needs child by LIZ ANN MILLER

Summer is coming, and we all know what that means! Kids are out of school, and they’ll need something to keep them entertained. Fortunately, a plethora of summer camps are available to come to your rescue. But anymore, there are so many of them it’s hard to know which ones will be best for your children, which ones will make them the happiest, which ones will they enjoy the most? Which ones cater to their specific interests, abilities and talents? All of these questions are amplified when you have a child with special needs. Then there are additional needs to consider when looking for a camp, or any summer activity for your child.

Is there equipment to assist me with allowing my child to enjoy the activities available? Are there people there to assist me with caring for my child? What kinds of activities are available for their abilities? Is there available nursing staff?

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can be overwhelming when you think of trying to go out with a child with special needs. You come to live with the stares but that doesn’t ever make them any easier to accept. This is certainly true when you have a child who at first glance may not appear to have any special needs, but sensory issues can change their demeanor in an instance. Tantrums and yelling might be par for the course and that is always something to consider when you think about taking your child out into public.

Like all parents, you want your child to experience new things, to smile and have fun. You want your child to grow and learn. Fortunately, Portland is a city that accommodates families of all abilities. From Harper’s Playground in North Portland, that allows children of all abilities the chance to play; to the Portland Children’s museum offering one night a month with low-sensory play. Even the Northwest Children’s Theater offers Sensory-Friendly Productions. These

types of activities can make the difference between and enjoyable time out with your child and a stress-filled time out with your child.

This summer, when the last bell rings for the school year, and the question really starts to weigh on your mind: What are we going to do? Remember that no matter what the abilities of your children, you can find activities that will cater to their desires and needs. With some help from businesses being more aware and inclusive, we can all enjoy our summers just a little more.

Liz Ann Miller has a master’s degree in history and two crazy boys; throw in some writing and you have a recipe for never-ending excitement!

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Choosing a Camp for Your Special Needs Kid Every kid is different, so choosing a camp is different for every kid. Balancing the child’s natural desires and aptitudes with ways to challenge them and encourage them to reach out of their comfort zone is always difficult. When children have special needs, the complexity increases tremendously.

If your child has special needs, there are some things you might want to consider when looking at camps:

1

What is your child interested in doing? The answer might surprise you—and it might open new doors including adaptive sports and inclusive settings.

2

Look for a camp that can handle your child’s worst-case scenario. One thing you don’t want to do is make the people taking care of your child feel like they are in over their heads. That can lead to panic and mistakes.

3

Learn about the camps. Speak to the people in charge of the camp, and those in charge of the children’s daily experiences.

How much experience do camp counsellors have with special needs kids? Do they have needed training? How much additional help and attention can they provide? What is the child to counselor ratio? How is discipline handled? How accessible are camp activities (how do kids use the toilet, eat, or travel)?

What safety measures are in place? How are medications and special diets handled?

4

Be absolutely honest about your child’s needs and limitations. You don’t want them to suffer the heartbreak and potential embarrassment of being sent home because the camp was unaware of issues and unable to compensate in time. You want camp to be a good fit for your child, so be as forthcoming as possible with both the child’s strengths and weaknesses.

5

Talk to your child about camp. We may assume that kids just know what camp is and what happens there, but that’s not necessarily the case. Walk your child through a hypothetical day.

Explain what level of cooperation and participation is expected from them—and what they can refuse to do as well. Make the process transparent to minimize anxiety.

Sending a child to camp is hard for any parent. Often, it’s the first time kids are spending time away from school and family, and it can be particularly hard when parents have to worry about medical or behavioral or social needs as well. On the other hand, it can be particularly rewarding for the child who gets to experience a completely new view of the world, and to the parent who gets to watch their little one take one step closer to growing up.

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The Kids Are All Right: PORTLAND’S FAMILY-FRIENDLY MUSIC VENUES by JOSH GOLLER

For many teens, music serves as more than mere entertainment. Favorite musicians and bands can help give voice to feelings young people otherwise may struggle to articulate, while mutual music fandom provides common ground when meeting new people and forging connections in social settings. And above all, music appreciation can prompt young people to cultivate an interest in learning to play a new instrument or expressing themselves through songwriting. Here in Portland, there are some amazing music venues that, at least with some regularity, open their doors to teens.

Major Venues If you’ve ever driven through the intersection of Hawthorne and Cesar Chavez Boulevard and noticed a long line of teens stretching down the block, that’s because one of the best bets for all-ages shows in Portland is the Hawthorne Theatre. This historic building was first constructed as a Masonic lodge in 1919 and remained in that role for 70 years. Opening to the public as an entertainment space in the ‘90s, the building at various points served as a pub, restaurant, comedy club, and record store. Officially opening as a concert venue in 2005, the Hawthorne Theatre features a 500-person capacity main theater, which frequently caters to all-ages shows in the punk, metal, and hip-hop genres. For the under-21 set, this is a standing-room-only venue (there are limited seats in a 21-and-over balcony area and lounge). While the acoustics—and in the summer, the temperature—within this space might not always be optimal, it’s perhaps the closest thing that Portland has to a dedicated all-ages venue for touring musicians. continued on p. 39 NW Kids Magazine | 37

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Photograph by CASEY CONEMAC Photograph by KATHLEEN NYBERG/ MCMENAMINS

HAWTHORNE THEATRE CRYSTAL BALLROOM

Meanwhile, the 104-year-old building now known as the Crystal Ballroom has seen it all, from 1920s square-dancing to Grateful Dead shows in the ‘60s to private bohemian live-in studio space in the latter 20th century. In the late ‘90s, McMenamins reopened the building to public concerts, and the 1500-person capacity venue with the famous shock-absorber-equipped “floating” dancefloor—thought to be the only one still in use in the United States—draws high-profile acts year-round. The venue is gorgeous, with grand chandeliers, vintage murals, and floor-to-ceiling windows that look down on West Burnside Street. Many of its shows are all-ages, with a barrier cordoning off the 21-andover section (which includes a small balcony), though the all-ages side actually offers the best view of the stage, which, somewhat oddly, it situated in the left corner of the room.

With about half the Crystal Ballroom’s capacity, WONDER BALLROOM the Wonder Ballroom frequently offers a similar split-down-the-middle setup between all-ages and 21-and-over sections (minus the floating dancefloor). The northeast Portland building was built in 1914, coincidentally the same year as the Crystal Ballroom, and it served as several fraternal organizations, a boxing school, and an American Legion outpost before opening as the Wonder Ballroom in 2004. But like the Crystal, only some shows are open to all ages, so teens or parents OREGON ZOO AMPHITHEATER should check the concert listings closely before purchasing tickets.

And during the summer months, two outdoor venues provide ample opportunities to take in shows with the whole family. The summer concert series at the Oregon Zoo Amphitheater runs from June through August and virtually all shows are open to all-ages crowds. These rain-or-shine continued on p. 40

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EDGEFIELD AMPHITHEATER

11pm. The venue boasts an impressive all-vegan menu, pinball machines, and frequent punk shows.

Photograph by KATHLEEN NYBERG/ MCMENAMINS

concerts offer lawn seating, so blankets or chairs come in handy (chair rentals are available) and the amphitheater boasts a capacity of 3,800, which helps draw in big-time touring acts. But there’s no more prominent outdoor venue in the Portland area than McMenamins historic Edgefield Amphitheater in Troutdale.

With trees dotting the venue grounds, shows here have a rustic feel and, especially during twilight in the summer months, can be a mesmerizing place to take in live music. Though this outdoor venue offers limited reserved seating, most folks spread blankets or set up discrete camping chairs for the general admission grass-seating areas.

For more family-oriented fare, Mississippi Pizza Pub hosts live music most evenings, with all shows scheduled before 9pm open to all ages—there are often even kids’ music performances earlier in the day for the little ones.

Opening its doors in 2001, before the Mississippi neighborhood took off and became the vibrant nightlife hotspot it now is, Mississippi Pizza now hosts over 600 live events per year, and it operates under the mission of providing “great pizza, family friendly live music and entertainment” while “above all, serving the local community.”

MUSIC MILLENNIUM

MISSISSIPPI PIZZA PUB

Smaller Spots While the above venues are wonderful places to see nationally touring musicians, there are many other spots around town for teens to catch live music performed by less prominent or local bands. Black Water Bar may look like your average dive bar from the outside, but the NE Broadway restaurant and concert venue allows minors onto its small, concrete dancefloor until 40 | NW Kids Magazine

And while many teens these days have never owned a CD or a vinyl record, they still might want to head over to one of Portland’s most prominent record stores to catch a short set by a favorite musician or band. Music Millennium on East Burnside occasionally hosts free afternoon mini-sets (usually about three songs) performed by bands that roll into town to play larger venues later in the evening. There’s something organic about standing among the racks of CDs and records, staring up at the tiny balcony that serves as a makeshift stage for these brief but intimate performances. And it makes for a clever way to see a favorite band that might otherwise be inaccessible to teens by playing a 21+ concert.

Friends of Noise With a lack of a dedicated all-ages music venues in Portland—and even onetime all-ages-friendly festivals like MusicFestNW now going 21+ by teaming with Project Pabst—one organization in particular seeks to mend that age rift in our city.

The fledgling non-profit collaborative group Friends of Noise formed in 2016 to “create more opportunities for youth to produce, perform, and gather at allages music shows, and raise awareness for the need of an all-ages venue.” In addition to a dedicated music venue for young people to attend shows, Friends of Noise hopes to create an inclusive space for teens to gain valuable education and experience not only in developing their own musical abilities, but also learning the behind-the-scenes skills necessary to run a performance venue, including the promotional, audio/video or graphic design aspects of the music scene.

Currently, Friends of Noise hosts events around town and occasionally sponsors pop-up all-ages shows at venues not typically open to the under-21 crowd. At times, they’ve partnered with Anarres Infoshop & Community Space in North Portland, an alcohol-free gathering space that hosts a wide array of artistic performances and events, including its recent first-ever Under 21 Showcase, which featured young bands and visual artists.

Spaces like these have become the exception rather than the rule in Portland, but it’s encouraging to see that, even in an industry so often driven by alcohol sales, there’s a growing awareness of the need to provide teens with places to engage with the music and art that gives them a voice— or to simply find safe, inclusive spaces to hang out and have a good time.

Josh Goller lives in Portland, where he writes, edits, and works in social services.

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PORTLAND KIDS’ FILM FESTIVAL

Get Out and Play!

This month’s local adventures

March 2-4

and learn fishing skills. You can fish, play games, and participate in activities lead by experts. $99-$139, scholarships available. nwsteelheaders.org/ events/family-fish-camp

Enjoy animated and live action films for kids ages 3-15 and their families along with presentations games, and door prizes. $4 per showing, pdxkidsfilmfest.com

March 10

March 3

Two hours of bowling for everyone, plus shoe rental and other goodies, all to raise money for more braille books for blind children and their children. $30, nfb-oregon.org

Portland Kids’ Film Festival at the Hollywood Theatre and The Clinton Street Theatre

Mud Fest at Sweet Home, Oregon Get dirty and express your wild side!

Huge trucks flying through the mud, and a stocked concession stand will make you feel like a kid again. Plus, the wash up is free! $40 plus ticket outlet fees, themud.com

March 9-11 Family Fish Camp at Camp Angelos

Love fishing? Stay for the weekend in a summer camp setting with your kids

Bowling for Braille Books at Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge

March 17

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival at St. Agatha Catholic School Complete with a Fun Run, parade, carnival, and authentic Irish food, this festival has it all. After twelve is the live music, food carts, and beer garden for the adults! Free, stagathaschoolpdx. us/st-patricks-day

Please confirm calendar events and performances as scheduling changes may occur.

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March 19

March 24

March 19th from noon until 5 is family day at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Enjoy live music and dancing along with activities including crafts, face painting, soccer, art, meeting Irish wolfhounds, and more. Free, kellsportland.com/st-patrick-s-festival

A day full of egg hunts, carnival games, face painting and more will entertain any youngster...not to mention there are going to be thousands of eggs dropped from the sky out of helicopters! Free, facebook.com/ events/1654321918207374

St. Patrick’s Day Festival at the Kells Brew Pub

March 23-25

Northwest Horse Fair and Expo at Albany, Oregon Three entire days of horse demonstrations and educational talks with hundreds of breeds, familiar and foreign. Vendors offering everything from supplies to toys. Sunday children 12 and younger are free! $7-$14, equinepromotions.net/northwest-horse-fair

March 24-25

Bricks Cascade Lego Convention at Oregon Convention Center Look at amazing displays and huge structures. Fun for adults and kids alike, these sculptures are as much a tool of artistic expression as paint on a paintbrush. $11 per person, $40 for 4, brickscascade.com DAY CAMP AT PITTOCK MANSION

Code Orange Helicopter Egg Drop at Brentwood City Park

March 27 or 28

Day Camp for Kids: Life in 1914 at Pittock Mansion This day camp shows kids ages 8-12 what life was like a century ago with tours, activities, and hands-on events including how to do laundry by hand and write with a dip pen. $25-$35, Reservations required. pittockmansion.org/events/ day-camp-for-kids

Looking for more?

Check out our online calendar: nwkidsmagazine.com/events

BRICKS CASCADE LEGO CONVENTION

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BITS & BYTES

KIDS’ JOKES

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How do nuts sneeze?

Cashew!

What should you do if you see a blue elephant?

Cheer her up!

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