PDX Parent June/July 2019

for the long days and short years

He ll o e n i h s n Su

150+ ways to spend your best summer yet

PDXPARENT.COM

PORTLAND | VANCOUVER | JUNE / JULY 2019

FREE

Party with us on June 22 at Oaks Park! Details, pg. 20

FOR KIDS IT’S FREE !

1st SATURDAY of EVERY MONTH 9AM - 10AM Inside the Food Court

Kids will enjoy meeting a new character each month, fun activities, dress up, snacks and more!

2019 SCHEDULE

Events are best suited for kids up to 8 years of age.

June 1st Summer Luau with Hula Dancing July 6th Bounce House & Face Painting

August 3rd All about Dogs

October 5th Thomas the Train

September 7th November 2nd Spider Hero All About Appearance Transportation

December 7th Pictures & Cookies with Santa Claus

Exit 17 off I-84 • Troutdale • (503) 669-8060 • ShopColumbiaGorgeOutlets.com

Contents

JOHN GENTRY

DENISE CASTAÑON

PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET

PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL FOUNDATIONL

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JULIA SILVERMAN

CLARK COUNTY FAIR

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

The It List................................................... 10

Editor’s Note..............................................6

The PDX spaces, faces and places you need to know about right now.

By Julia Silverman, Denise Castañon, Alison Wilkinson and Amy Conway.

PDX Parent Picks............................... 22 Reader favorites revealed, from the

Field Trip.................................................... 36 Hiking with the kids in a post-fire Columbia Gorge. By Julia Silverman.

How We Live............................................46 At home in Bridgeton, the coolest

Recipe File................................................49 Lush chocolate cake for summertime picnics. By Judith Rich.

Parentlandia...........................................50 A comic for parents. By Tom Toro.

little neighborhood you’ve never

RESOURCES

places for pizza.

heard of. By Erin J. Bernard.

Summer of Fun...................................24-29

Summer of Fun Calendar............. 30

Family Supper.......................................48

coolest movie theaters to the best

Looking for what to do with the kids

Summer Camps................................. 38-47

Pizza + pinball + play room at

this summer? We’ve got you covered

Atlas Pizza on Southeast Foster.

with 92 days of fun.

By Denise Castañon.

* cover stories

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Editor’s Note for the long days and short years

W

hen you are a parent, June is often a month marked by hellos and good-byes. Good-bye to another school year, to a beloved teacher and familiar classroom and classmates that grew into friends. And hello to summer, to berries warm from the sun, to splashing in pools and fountains and lakes, to long Oregon twilights, and to bare feet on the grass or in the sand.

It’s a special time of year, all right, which is why our June/July issue has a different look than the magazine does during the rest of the year. Instead of our usual feature stories, we bring you our curated It List, on page 10, singing the praises of the people and places that make Portland such an awesome place to raise your kids. Also in this issue, you’ll find our now legendary summer calendar, with a new adventure for every day of the summer season. It goes by quickly, so get out there and make the most of it.

At PDX Parent, this is also a season for hellos and good-byes. After five wonderful years editing the magazine, and with my own children now firmly ensconced in tweendom, I’m heading off to seek new adventures. This has been the best job I’ve ever had, and I’m so grateful to everyone at the company for allowing the editorial team the freedom to reimagine the magazine, and shape it into the proudly local, thoughtful and fun publication it is today. It’s been a privilege to work with such a talented staff and wonderful freelance writers, and I’ll miss each and every one of them. And it has been an honor to try to distill the joys and complications of parenting in Portland for you, the readers — thank you for being there, every step of the way.

My biggest thank you of all goes to Ben and Elly, my twins, who’ve allowed me to chronicle their childhood in these pages, who’ve been guinea pigs for countless Field Trips and Family Suppers, who’ve been sounding boards and photo models, all (mostly) without complaint.

From 2014 to 2019 — what a difference five years makes! Thanks, kiddos — now go brush your teeth, already.

So that’s my good-bye — and lucky readers, you get to say hello to the magazine’s next editor, my super-talented colleague Denise Castañon, who has been our Managing Editor for the past five years.

Denise and our wildly creative and endlessly patient Art Director, Susan Bard, are ready to take the magazine into its next chapter, and I can’t wait to see what they dream up. I’ll be reading, just like you.

—

PDX Parent P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660 Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445 Publisher Rose Caudillo, 503-460-2774 publisher@pdxparent.com Editor Julia Silverman, 503-922-0893 julia.silverman@pdxparent.com Managing Editor Denise Castañon denise.castanon@pdxparent.com Art Director Susan Bard Web Director Michelle Carew, 503-914-6151 michelle.carew@pdxparent.com Calendar / Newsletter Editor Amy Conway calendar@pdxparent.com Customer Accounts Manager Christie Kline, 503-810-9817 christie.kline@pdxparent.com Distribution Coordinator Melissa Light melissa.light@pdxparent.com Eastside Account Executive Lauren Wylie, 503-331-8184 lauren.wylie@pdxparent.com Westside Account Executive Jill Weisensee, 503-309-8272 jill.weisensee@pdxparent.com Web Administrator Casey Rhodes casey.rhodes@pdxparent.com President Keith Goben, 503-460-2774 keith.goben@pdxparent.com For distribution issues, e-mail us at distribution@pdxparent.com For calendar submissions, e-mail us at calendar@pdxparent.com

PS: One more round of hellos and good-byes this month, this time for our sales team: After 11 years as the backbone of the company, Senior Account Executive Ali King is off to work for Rep. Earl Blumenauer as his Political Director and Field Representative. She’s irreplaceable — but new Eastside Account Executive Lauren Wylie is ready to put her own stamp on the job!

PDX Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent Publishing, Inc., and is copyright 2019 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

PDX Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA metropolitan area.

PDX Parent reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised herein.

On our cover: Find a way to greet summer with wild abandon, just like our cover model, photographed at Orchard Park in Hillsboro by Beaverton-based photographer Lyndsey Adamo. “I feel honored to photograph families in times of joy as well as times of sorrow, and all the other life events in between, because it is the sum of all those events that make us who we are, not just the happy ‘smile at the camera’ moments.” See more of her work at lyndseyadamophotography.com.

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PDX Parent does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing, Inc., and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of any information contained herein. The contents of PDX Parent and its website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or treatment.

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AARON JOHANSON

the 24

It List

faces, spaces and places

to know about right now.

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» Because art should represent. Artist and illustrator Alex Chiu, inspired by being a stay-at-home dad to his oldest daughter Mazzy, had a vision for a Trimet-commissioned mural on 82nd Avenue that would represent the East Portland/Montavilla community.

“I understood the importance of raising [Mazzy] amongst a caring, supportive and culturally diverse community. I wanted to reflect that community and pay homage to the people who are making a difference in the area,” he says. Chiu, who lives in East Portland’s Powellhurst-Gilbert Heights neighborhood, says the mural reads like a comic book, with each of the nine panels showing Mazzy interacting with her community. She’s watching clowns Olive & Dingo, learning how to write her name with Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon’s youth leaders, playing the piano with local piano teacher Mike Dean and his son, learning how to breakdance with Kevin Le and Carlos Chavez of the Morpheus Youth Project, participating in a sage smudging ceremony, eating at a picnic, being read to by Chiu and his wife A’misa, and finally catching bubbles at Glenhaven Park. Mazzy is quite accustomed to being in the limelight. Chiu shot a series of YouTube videos starring Mazzy cooking and otherwise being adorable called The Mazzy Show. The channel is on hold since little sister Trini has joined the family. “I paint Mazzy a lot,” says Chiu. “She always expects herself to be in my work. For her, it’s just a normal thing. I assume she thinks that everyone gets to paint and be painted in murals.” — Denise Castañon [ It Takes a Village ]

TRIMET

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[ Blazer Babies ] » Because our stars really are just like us. If you’ve got Blazers fever, you’re not alone. That shot, in game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, from 37 feet away. The teamwork. And not to mention the playoff win after a history-making quadruple overtime. At presstime, the team was headed to the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, doing Rip City proud.

But when they are not on the court, some of the Blazers’ biggest superstars are busy being PDX parents. Team MVP Damian Lillard and partner, Kay’La, have a 15-month-old who is a shoe fiend just like his daddy, and made national headlines this spring when he was caught on camera imitating his father’s signature “Dame Time” wrist-tapping gesture. (Follow Kay’La on Instagram for adorable peeks of Dame Jr. at @kay_lamariee.) Lillard apparently swaps tales of parenting woes and triumphs in the locker room with teammate Rodney Hood, whose twin boys are just over a year old now; Hood and his wife also have a 3-year-old. And small forward Al-Farouq Aminu and his wife have a 4-year-old daughter together. Who knows? You might run into one of them at Music Together or Book Babies or the playground. Just in case, you might want to show off your own offspring’s Rip City spirit in cute togs like this. — Julia Silverman

E

verybody loves secrets, right? So every year, as summer kicks off, we like to let you in on ours — the people and places around Portland that we

think deserve your attention and applause. And if our picks are already on your radar screen (because, let’s face it, you’ve probably heard of The Unipiper), then we hope we’ve help you see them in a whole new light. (Betcha didn’t know the aforementioned Unipiper has a mini-me!) Discover your family’s new favorites, right this way. And share your favorites with us via Facebook or Instagram — just tag it as #PDXParent #MyItList.

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» Because going back to work after having a baby is a big transition for any mother, but waking up every weekday at 2 am and being camera-ready an hour and a half later? That’s supermom territory. And that’s just another workday for KGW news anchor Ashley Korslien. And did we mention she’s got twins? Korslien started back at KGW’s Sunrise Show 12 weeks after having Isla and Grant, now 11 months old.

With saved vacation time, she was able to start back slow with half-days. Still, she says no one really ever gets used to waking up at 2 am. “The only reason I am able to make it all happen is that we have a huge support network of family members who watch the babies throughout the week,” says Korslien. “My husband is a police officer and has an irregular schedule, but is the most hands-on dad ever! It’s true teamwork in every aspect of the word.”

Both grandmas live nearby and help care for the twins, as does her nephew, who covers the night shift when Korslien is working. Her advice for new moms returning to work: Do what works best for you, and don’t get bogged down with guilt. “It’s OK not to go to every social event or meetup,” she says. “And it’s OK not to check work emails once you’re home from the day.” She’s also clear-eyed about the myth of “having it all.” “I have days where I feel on top of the world, like I can do it all. I feel accomplished in what I do at work and at home. And other days I forget to feed our dogs, can’t get the babies to stop screaming, and I cry for no reason. I’m learning to embrace the chaos.” — D.C. [ As Seen on TV ]

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» Because your next great outing is just around the corner. If you’re looking for a Portland-area family adventure, but are in a tl;dr mood, check out the Instagram feed @momwhatsnext. The feed is grassroots (anyone can contribute) and — since it’s Instagram — is all about the pictures. Scroll your way through photos of families out and about in various parks, art studios, restaurants, and gyms until you find one that appeals. When you click on the image, you’ll find just enough details to get you started on your next adventure. You can also sort by different types of fun, like nature, rainy day, or water play. After scrolling, I’ve added a few to our family’s will-do list: Hoffman Farm Store for milkshakes, Staver Locomotive for my little train enthusiast, and Richardson’s Rock Ranch for an epic road-trip adventure. Site owner Olivia Carter’s favorite family activity is a tried-and-true favorite: the Hoyt Arboretum.

She likes how simple and easy it is to explore, and the flexibility. “You can make it a long or short adventure depending on the time you have that day, adding in a walk through the rose gardens or to play on the structure at the Washington Park playground.” — Alison Wilkinson [ Next Adventure ]

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OLIVIA CARTER

ANSHUMAN FULLER

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[ Go Play in the Street ]

»

Because the block party can last all

ASHLEY KORSLIEN

summer long. Our kids wait all year for our block party, and with good reason — there’s a joyful thrill that comes from riding a bike, playing hopscotch and having water balloon fights in the middle of the street, without fearing that you’ll have to scatter for an oncoming car. One Southeast Portland street is keeping that block party vibe going every week, through the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Play Streets program. Come to Southeast Grant Street between 35th Place and 37th Avenue on Thursdays from 3:30 pm4:30 pm, Saturdays from 9 am-2 pm and Sundays from 3 pm-8 pm, and you’ll find the street blocked to all except local access traffic. That leaves room for everything from hopscotch to obstacle courses to bubble blowing. Everyone’s invited, no matter whether you live in the neighborhood or not, and it is BYO-props, so don’t forget your hula hoops, sidewalk chalk and croquet sets.

Noah Rappaport, a Grant Street neighbor who helped get the play street program up and running, says that there are about 35 kids under the age of 12 in a one block radius, making the turn-outs on play street days “quite spectacular. It gives both the kids and parents a new and easier way to socialize and engage in outdoor play.” Sound good? If you want to start up your own Play Street program, get in touch with PBOT at portlandinthestreets.org. — J.S.

NOAH RAPPAPORT

[ Radio Ga Ga ]

» Because from babies to their grown-ups, music makes us all better.

The radio station All Classical Portland recently launched a new HD and online station just for kids, The International Children’s Art Network (ICAN). The station is not all soothing Brahams.

(Although it does spin nothing but lullabies for an hour starting at 11 am, just in time for morning naps and again at 6 pm to wind down for the night.)

But during the rest of the day, ICAN is a joyful mix of energetic international music, lively classical, storytimes and poetry — all interspersed with voices of kids discussing the pieces they are playing or exclaiming, “This is what music sounds like in South America!”

Tune in at allclassical.org/ican. — D.C.

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» Because they had us at Inconceiva-bowl. And yes, that word does mean what you think it means. Portland has countless coffee shops, many of them perfectly kid-friendly.

But only Guilder, a Princess Bride-themed shop tucked away on a quiet stretch of Northeast Fremont, has the aforementioned bowl, which includes white bean salad, farro, radish, roasted beets, hummus and avocado (basically, everything but ipecac). There are also kid-friendly options like the Buttercup Toast, with almond butter and fresh fruit on the side. Cafe owner Caryn Nelson says they’ve slowly incorporated more and more of the beloved family flick into the cafe over time, including their t-shirts, which feature the legendary six-fingered man, nemesis to one Inigo Montoya, pouring a latte. But Nelson says that they’ve made a conscious choice to “not overuse the theme based on what we what see as missing from the story that we don’t wish to replicate in our cafe values — a lack of racial/ethnic diversity of characters, gender stereotypes, and heteronormative romantic partnerships.”

Now that’s true love, just as we wish. — J.S..

[ Westley + Buttercup 4Ever ]

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DAMIAN RIEHL

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SARAH FOSTER/STEM LIKE A GIRL

[ Next-Gen Science Standards ]

» Because

there’s a solution for the gender gap in STEM jobs.

Southwest Portland mom Sarah Foster, an engineer with degrees in both chemical and biomedical engineering, is the mom to two boys, now in kindergarten and second grade, but when she went to volunteer at their neighborhood elementary school, she was struck by how, by third grade, girls had started hanging back during the science lessons

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[ Camping 101 ] » Because camping with the family doesn’t have to be a slog. Especially not if you let the kind folks from Oregon State Parks do most of the prep work. For just $30 per family, a seriously screaming deal for up to 8 people, you can sign up for their Let’s Go Camping weekends at state parks around Oregon, aimed squarely at camping noobs, or maybe former camping warriors who haven’t figured out how to get back in the groove with kids in the picture. They bring all the gear

she taught, not raising their hands. So she started STEM Like a Girl, a three-hour workshop series aimed at girls in third to fifth grade and their parents.

Attendees might warm up by making their own bath bombs, with a focus on acids and bases, then build their own rocket ships out of paper to dissect the physics of movement. Girls have also extracted their own DNA and been asked to build a robotic hand that can pick up a cup without crushing it. All projects are done with household materials — no expensive kits here — to show caregivers how easy it is to do science projects at home with their girls. So far, more than 100 Portland-area girls have taken part in the threehour workshops, which cost $25 per adult/child pair, a fee that can be waived based on need. But Foster and her team have big plans for expansion in the months ahead, including a partnership with Portland State University’s College of Engineering. Sign up for future workshops at stemlikeagirl.org. — J.S. MADI CARLSON

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11 [ Stand Up, Speak Out ]

»

Because Tig Notaro and Ali Wong have a soul sister in PDX. Kirsten Kuppenbender (Kupp to her friends) is a staple of the Portland comedy scene, and the founder of the show Lez Stand Up, which focuses on bringing queer, feminist comedy to the stage. And now she’s adding another facet to her set — parenting.

Her partner gave birth to a sweet little baby about a year ago now. And that means new parenthood is a focus in Kupp’s recent work. Her shows are always hilarious, truthful and even, KIRSTEN KUPPENBENDER as a parent, a little cathartic. It should be noted that you don’t have to be a parent for Kupp’s magic to hit you, and it isn’t “parent comedy” — it’s just comedy that happens to include a perspective on parenthood. Follow Kupp on Twitter at @kupptastic for smart snark and the skinny on where to catch the act. — Amy Conway OREGON STATE PARKS

you’ll need, and will even teach you how to set up a tent, and provide basic lessons in campfire cooking and fire tending.

(Though you’ll have to provide the groceries.) Plus, outdoors instructors lead fun activities, like star-gazing, fishing, nature hikes, craft projects and disc golf. This summer, programs are scheduled at several Portland-adjacent state parks, including L.L. Stub Stewart, Milo McIver and Silver Falls. Sign up and find out more at oregonstateparks.org. — J.S.

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» Because if you’ve got #lifegoals about lightening your carbon load, getting more exercise, or spending more quality time with your kids, a Portland-area mama has the blog for you. On her blog, familyride.us, Portland mama of two and family biking advocate Madi Carlson explores the ins and outs of biking as a primary means of transportation.

Yes, that includes trips to the grocery store, Ikea, and even pumpkin patches — along with all the loot that accompanies you on the ride back home. Her blog is full of practical tips to get you riding, even if you’re a no-car novice — for instance, how to bike in the cold, or — if you’re more adventurous — how to go bike camping. You’ll finish her posts feeling empowered and ready to take on the world on two wheels — even (especially?) with kids in tow. Madi’s biggest piece of advice for biking with kids? “Snacks, snacks, snacks.”

Done, done, done. — A.W.

[ Bike City ]

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[ Going Green ]

»

Because as Oscar the

Grouch knows, trash can be beautiful, too. Portland nonprofit Trash for Peace is looking at trash in a new light — seeing it not just as part of the 14 million tons of junk making it into our oceans every year, but as a resource for positive change. The organization TRASH FOR PEACE partners with affordable housing communities and schools to provide activities focusing on practical ideas for how to reduce, reuse, and recycle the trash in our parks, yards, and bins. Sustainable activities include building a greenhouse out of water jugs, a flower garden out of old tires, or recycling bins out of empty plastic bottles. Through its programming, the organization has helped increase recycling rates and divert trash from landfills and our oceans. If Trash for Peace isn’t in your community, you can still get your kids excited about recycling. Founder and Director Laura Tokarski recommends making a game of it — for instance, by playing “trashketball” or, as a family, painting and decorating an old trash can to become a fabulous recycling bin or trash monster. You can also check out their resources page, which includes dozens of ideas for recycled projects, at trashforpeace.org. — A.W.

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KARI FERGUSON/DICKENS CHILDREN’S BOOKS + PUBLISHING LAB

[Baby Got Books] » Because Amazon doesn’t run this town. Maybe you’ve heard that the independent bookstore is a relic? Not in these parts, especially not when it comes to the endlessly expansive world of children’s literature, which manages to be transportive, nostalgic and thoughtfully inclusive. In just the last year, three new stores have opened around the Portland metro area, joining old friends like A Children’s Place and Green Bean Books. Maggie Mae’s in Gresham offers not only a well-curated selection of books but a fantastic roster of events, from author signings to storytimes that pair with yoga or hiking to books-themed summer camps. Also in Gresham, the adorable Books Around the Corner hosts everything from drag queen story hours to allages craft-making parties (Pro tip: They sell grown-up books here, too.)

And over in Vancouver, Dickens Children’s Books and Publishing Lab has the coolest side hustle ever: An onsite, fully functional publishing lab where budding authors can write, type, print, illustrate and bind their own books and zines. “When I was in elementary school, my school had a Publishing Center, and I loved to write and illustrate my own stories,” says owner Kari Ferguson. “When I thought about opening a children’s book store, I knew that I had to include a publishing aspect because being able to write and create my own stories at a young age fueled my dreams to become a writer and lover of literature.” Kids can use one of the store’s vintage typewriters, or a computer, or chose to handwrite their story. So far, Ferguson’s seen everything from an illustrated story on unicorns to a third grader’s tale about an orphaned child. Who says print is dead? — J.S.

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[ Ice Cream for All ] » Because alternative ice cream is a dream come true for kids (and adults) with allergies. It seems improbable: Dairy-free, vegan, nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free ice cream and cones that actually taste delicious. But on a recent visit to Micah Camden’s Little Bean in the Pearl, my family became believers. (Camden is the force behind such Portland institutions as Blue Star Donuts and Little Big Burger.) My husband is allergic to cashews and walnuts, so dairy-free alternatives are often something he has to avoid. But Little Bean’s “ice cream” is made from chickpea, aka garbanzo bean, milk. It tastes much lighter than traditional dairy-fat ice cream, but nevertheless has a pleasing, creamy texture and mouthfeel.

And my kids’ scoops of Triple Chocolate and Orange Caramel vanished just as quickly as when we visit Salt & Straw. The ice cream is also sustainable, with the leftover “milked” chickpeas becoming flour for the shop’s gluten-free cones and baked goods, which (hallelujah) don’t have the dense, gritty texture associated with many glutenfree breads. We’re already planning our return trip. — D.C.

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SARAH KIDD

DENISE CASTAÑON

OREGON ZOO

♥ Weird Dads ] » Because can you really imagine Portland without the Unipiper? Brian Kidd, aka The Unipiper, or the guy who rides a unicycle through the city while wearing a Darth Vader mask and playing the bagpipes, is one of us. He’s a dad to 17-month-old Scarlett. By day he’s works for Portland-based remote sensing and data analytics firm Quantum Spatial, but his side gig has landed him on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Gong Show and America’s Got Talent. The Unipiper came to life after Kidd found a unicycle in the trash while learning to play the bagpipes. “The costumes started as a way for me to keep things interesting,” says Kidd, “but I soon found that they really took the act to a new level.” He’s also started incorporating Scarlett, or “Pipette,” into his act. So, what’s easier: playing the bagpipes, or holding a baby while unicycling? “Holding a baby is easier! Babies naturally fit in your arm, while bagpipes are stiff and awkward. Plus, I don’t have to strap a propane tank to my baby for maximum effect. On the other hand, I’ve never had to change a diaper blowout on the bagpipes before, so there’s that I suppose …” We’ll take his word for it. Kidd recently founded a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Portland’s reputation for rewarding quirkiness. “I want Portland to remain a place where everyone is afforded the same opportunity I had to stand up and be recognized for their own wacky talents,” he says. For more info on Weird Portland United, visit weirdportlandunited.org. — D.C.

[ We

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18 [ New Zoo For You ] » Because our zoo is giving animals even more room to stretch out. In the next year or two, three huge new expansion projects will open at the Oregon Zoo, putting the zoo at the forefront of a global movement to have zoo spaces mimic natural habitats as closely as possible. The polar bears will get some serious real estate, with a dedicated new area of rolling meadows and rocky outcrops and specially built saltwater plunge pools. Next, the sociable chimpanzees will get to jump around on the area’s coolest new play structure, with design features that can be swapped out daily to keep them guessing. And finally, rhinos are getting more room to roam, as a first step in an eventual co-op situation with the zoo’s giraffes and gazelles, since they are natural neighbors back in Africa. — J.S.

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DC COMICS

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[ A New Kind of Superhero ]

»

Because girls of color deserve a

MAGIC WHEELCHAIR

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» Because dreams do come true. Keizer-based dad Ryan Weimer has been making magic happen since 2008, when he asked his son, Keaton, what he wanted to be for Halloween. Keaton, who was diagnosed at 9 months with spinal muscular atrophy and uses a wheelchair to get around, wanted to be a pirate — so his dad built him a trickedout pirate ship that fitted over his wheelchair, like a personal carnival float. That night, the other trick-or-treaters didn’t see Keaton as the kid in the wheelchair. They saw him as the kid with the coolest costume on the block. From there, Magic Wheelchair was born, and now wheelchair-bound kids from all over the country can put in a request for the nonprofit to build the rocket ship/unicorn/Batmobile of their dreams, free of charge. The kid gets to design their costume, but once the frame is built, they can’t see it again until it’s finished.

The idea has spread internationally and caught the attention of makers everywhere, from Mythbusters host Adam Savage to Justice League superstar Chris Pratt. Halloween is their Super Bowl, but ComicCons are a close second, says executive director Christine Getman.

“The moment the kid and their family see the costume for the first time … it never gets old.

It’s amazing,” she says. Want to help out? Sign up at magicwheelchair.org/volunteer. — J.S.

[ Magic on Wheels ]

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superhero who looks like them.

The new DC comic series, Naomi, written by Portland-based comic book writers Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, takes place in the fictional small town of Port Oswego. (We see what they did with the name!) Naomi suspects there’s a secret behind her adoption, but when Superman comes to her town, she knows it’s time to follow her hunch. So she sets out to uncover the truth of her birth and how she ended up with her parents. Both authors play off their experiences, one as a white parent who adopted children of color and the other as a biracial man who grew up in areas that weren’t super-diverse. In an interview this spring, Bendis told Oregon Public Broadcasting that he wanted to create an of-the-moment character that kids would claim as one of their own. “It’s very clear what [young] people aren’t seeing in the real world,” he told the station.

“The bad guys aren’t being defeated.

There’s a real sense for young people, they want hope. They want that sense of the good guys will win.

So leaning into that in our books lately has not been difficult. Because I want it too.” There are only four issues out so far and we’re hooked, as it seems is everyone else because Naomi is selling out everywhere.

But digital copies are available on the DC site, at dccomics.com/comics/ naomi-2019. Once you get started, you won’t be able to stop reading.

— A.C.

» Because the fourth trimester is real, and you don’t have to go through it alone. Go ahead, Google “postpartum” and see what word the Interwebs suggests should follow it. We’ll wait. For the record, when we tried it, the choices were “depression,” “hemorrhage,” “preeclampsia” and “hair loss.” Good times! But it’s not all that bleak. Just ask Nkiru Shevitz and Krista Kahmann, local moms who met at a Fit4Mom Stroller Strides class in Cedar Mill and hit it off right away. “We started getting together all the time for fun adventures with our kids and would always have deep conversations about motherhood, the struggles and successes. We shared the same frustration that postpartum seemed to be primarily weighed down by negativity,” Kahmann says. They decided to start their podcast, So You Had a Baby to get real about all things postpartum, from what you might think your first year with your baby will look like (picture-perfect!) versus the reality (not always) to how to deal with shade thrown your way by judgey mamas. The vibe is like you’re chatting with your besties, if your besties were super empathetic and fluent in the wellness-tinged lingo of modern parenting. Shevitz is a nutrition coach and Kahmann a massage therapist, so they know their stuff, as do the curated guests they invite on the show from around the PDX parenting scene. Tune in wherever you find your favorite podcast, or find them online at soyouhadababypod.com.

— J.S.

KRISTA KAHMANN

[ Pod People ]

21+22

[ Nature Play All Day ] » Because Portland isn’t the only place where nature playgrounds are the next big thing. The city may have been first to make a splash with nature play areas with the much-loved Westmoreland Park, but now the ‘burbs are getting in on the act. Nature play loving parents and kiddos are advised to make a trip to West Linn this summer, where a spectacular new nature play areas will be coming to life. At the reimagined Sunset Park playground, opening later this summer, look for a massive timber climbing structure that resembles the tree fort of your kid’s dreams, a loose parts building zone where kids can construct their own hideaways, a water and sand play area and, especially for kids with sensory issues, peaceful willow domes for quieter play, observation and downtime.

Bigger kids, who can lose interest in traditional playgrounds as they grow, will love the Euro-style zipline. There are even plans for “tree decks” — benches built around several old-growth trees, perfect for leaning your back MICHELLE MATHIS against the trunk and reading a book aloud in the shade. Unsurprisingly, the woman behind the design of this and so many other of our area’s nature playgrounds, Michelle Mathis, is a mom herself, to a 4- and 7-year-old. The founder of Portland-based Learning Landscapes, Mathis is also developing a series of kits aimed at preschools, after-care programs and parks departments that want to experiment with the nature play concept before spending the $40,000 or more it can take for a full build-out. She’s got prototypes of three different kits — sand and water, fort-building and loose parts — that she’ll be debuting at Sunday Parkways events and the Pickathon music festival this summer. Find her on Instagram at @learning_landscapes_design. — J.S.

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RENT P PA I

CELEBRATE THE CITY 2019

Come party with us!

PDX Parent will Celebrate the City on June 22 at Oaks Amusement Park from 10 am- 2 pm.

Free swag bags for the first 600 guests!

FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY Red Yarn Mo Phillips The Alphabeticians Micah & Me Olive & Dingo Rock N’ Roll Fairy Tallulah’s Daddy The Circus Project

PRESENTED BY

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FUN ACTIVITIES FROM

Ground Kontrol Imagination Yoga Green Bean Books Maggie Mae’s Kids Bookshop Elks Children’s Eye Clinic at OHSU Kona Ice

Mystique’s Fancy Faces Smartypants OMSI Trackers Earth All Families Surrogacy Acting for Kids and Teens Fit4Mom

Groundplay Therapy Works Pacific Crest Children’s Urgent Care Hopworks Urban Brewery Thinker Toys The Circuit Gym Metropolitan Pediatrics And many more!

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Family Fun

Summer is coming. Our readers know just how to make the most of it, w

2019

PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY Top 5 Northwest Children’s Theater and School Oregon Ballet Theatre Oregon Symphony Imago Theatre Echo Theatre Winner Oregon Children’s Theatre

OWEN CAREY

1939 NE Sandy Blvd., octc.org Portland has an incredibly rich, year-round theater scene for kids of all ages. But Oregon Children’s Theatre took this category for the second year in a row thanks to programming that’s got something for everyone, from Hungry Caterpillar fans all the way through a searing introduction to a young Muhammad Ali. Plus, if you’ve got a budding thespian, the OCT after-school classes and camps, all taught by professional actors, are not to be missed.

PIZZA Top 5 Pizzicato Pizza Pietro’s Pizza & Pirate Adventure

SUNNY MANCUSO

KID - FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Top 5 Laughing Planet Café Slappy Cakes Laurelwood Public House and Brewery Jam on Hawthorne Grand Central Bakery Winner

Hopworks Urban Brewery Multiple locations, hopworksbeer.com

22

Hot Lips Pizza Pizza Schmizza Sizzle Pie Winner Mississippi

KATHLEEN NYBERG/MCMENAMINS

KID - FRIENDLY MOVIE THEATER Top 5

Pizza Pub

Academy Theater

mississippipizza.com

McMenamins Bagdad Theater & Pub

3552 N Mississippi Ave., Thin crust, deep-dish, extra-cheese — when it comes to pizza, kids tend to love it all. (The

Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX Hollywood Theatre Laurelhurst Theater Winner

McMenamins Kennedy School

only time they aren’t

5736 NE 33rd Ave.,

picky, right?) So what sets

mcmenamins.com/kennedy-school/

A new winner in this category,

our winner, Mississippi

Hopworks is nevertheless a longtime

Pizza, apart from all the

family favorite, now with a spacious

other slice joints? Must

new location in Vancouver. Readers

be their rep for extreme

love it for the multiple play areas,

kid-friendliness, like the

the healthy, smartly-portioned-and-

all-ages music shows they

priced kids menu, the abundant high

host near-daily, featuring

chairs, and stay-at-home dad meet-up

favorites like Mr. Ben and

A perennial winner, the Kennedy School wins over the hearts and minds of local families with cheap tickets (just $4 for ages 13 and up, and $2 for kids), a steady stream of familyfriendly programming, and so-called Crybaby Matinees every Tuesday and Thursday, when no one will give your babe-in-arms

the stinkeye. Pro tip: They have special

groups … and that’s before we’ve even

Red Yarn. And the pizza’s

headphones available for those who are

mentioned the beer.

dang tasty, too.

visually or hearing impaired, free of charge.

June / July 2019

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with their picks for the best family fun, food & drink and arts & entertainment around.

MUSEUMS / FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS Top 5 Oregon Zoo Portland Children’s Museum Portland Japanese Garden Portland Art Museum Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Winner

GETTY IMAGES

OMSI 1945 SE Water Ave., omsi.edu

One of the best reasons to snag an OMSI membership? It truly grows with your kid.

New walkers and preschoolers have free rein over Science Playground; bigger kids love the constantly changing exhibits and stations in Turbine Hall. Another benefit of membership: Solid discounts on the museum’s ever-popular summer camps.

ARCADES / BOWLING / FAMILY FUN CENTERS Top 5 SCRAP

Wilsonville Family Fun Center/ Bullwinkle’s Restaurant

ART STUDIO

Grand Central Bowl

Top 5

Pietro’s Pizza and Pirate Adventure Ground Kontrol QuarterWorld Arcade Winner Electric Castle’s

Wunderland Cinema and Nickel Games

Multiple locations, wunderlandgames.com Small people from around Portland tease to be taken to the Wunderland arcades on the regular. They’ve got everything from the latest in virtual reality technology to a labryinth-like laser tag set-up to a slushie station when your kiddo is finally ready to redeem all the tickets they’ve won at the arcade. Plus, skee-ball! No wonder they are a repeat winner in this category.

MT. HOOD SKIBOWL

ADVENTURE ATTRACTIONS Top 5

Smartypants Craft Factory Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP)

Tree to Tree Adventure Park

Portland Child Art Studio

iFLY Indoor Skydiving

Spark Arts Center

Willamette Jet Boat Excursions Skamania Lodge Zipline Tour & Aerial Park Lumberyard Bike Park Winner Mount Hood Adventure Park

at Skibowl

87000 US 26, Government Camp. skibowl.com Think Mount Hood is only fun in winter? Think again! Come summer, the whole family can play to their heart’s content at the adventure park at Skibowl, where you’ll find everything from mountain biking to ziplining to a giant maze and a ½-mile long alpine slide. Bonus: It’s only an hour and change in the car to get there, and summertime is often far less crowded than ski season.

Winner SCRAP PDX 1736 SW Alder St., scrappdx.org You heard it here first: Reader favorite SCRAP is one of the best Instagram follows around. Check out their feed for a peek at their constantly changing inventory — all the cool upcycled items that you and the littles can use to get your craft on. Or attend one of their fun, gently priced workshops, to make everything from a handmade marble maze to delightful dioramas.

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SUMMER OF FUN

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SUMMER OF FUN

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SUMMER OF FUN

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SUMMER OF FUN

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SUMMER OF FUN

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SUMMER OF FUN

WATER FUN! Fountains, Splash Pads, Pools, Water Parks & Swimming Holes

SPONSORED BY

Go to pdxparent.com/water-fun

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Editors’ pick

Inclusive

Free

PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE

3

The Festival of Flowers in downtown’s Pioneer Courthouse Square is almost over!

Catch it before the blooms go bye-bye. ¢

¢

KEY

Presented by

MONDAY

CLIP+ SAVE

WEDNESDAY

4

Grab your signs, your sunscreen and your favorite kid activists and stand with local kids suing the government over global warming as they push to have their case heard at the Rally for the Right to a Livable Future at Director Park at 10:30 am. ¢

5

Come see kids, dance teams, student bands, and the PDX Parent staff march in the Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade. 1 pm in the Hollywood District. ¢

PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION

TUESDAY

6

Check out ships from the US Navy, US Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy at the Rose Festival’s Fleet Week. Pro tip: No strollers allowed on deck.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park. ¢

PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION

THURSDAY

7

Field trip to Washougal for the grand opening of a cool new nature playground at the city’s Waterfront Park, complete with a 9-foot tall Sasquatch installation that’s ready for playing on, a 6-foot hill slide and an ADAaccessible play area.

Cake will be served at 3:30 pm, plus there’s rock painting and a scavenger hunt too! ¢

FRIDAY

1

PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION

8

We really can’t get enough of parades in Portland, but the Grand Floral is the biggest and floweriest of them all. Starts at 10 am from Memorial Coliseum, goes down MLK Boulevard, then heads downtown. ¢

Grab your helmets and help kick off the month-long Pedalpalooza. The fun before the familyfriendly, 5-mile ride starts at 3 pm, with departure from Fields Park in Northwest Portland at 4 pm. ¢

SATURDAY

9

2

SEAN CARR PHOTOGRAPHY

Hit the release party for local kindie artist Jessa Campbell’s new album Can You Feel It? 4 pm at Secret Society Ballroom. $8, cash only.

BEN MOLLICA

Get ready for the boys of summer.

The Portland Pickles have a 5 pm preseason game at Walker Stadium in Lents.

SUNDAY

Sign up your 17 kiddo for your local library’s Summer Reading program.

We love their epic summer events — and seeing all the kids in library t-shirts in late summer! ¢

Explore a new10 to-you inclusive playground.

Northeast’s Cully Park opened last year and Couch Park in Northwest got a major upgrade in the spring. ¢

PORTLAND PARKS AND RECREATION

Catch up 24 with Woody, Buzz and the gang in Toy Story 4 — without the opening weekend crowds.

MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY

Catch a flick at SE 25 Portland’s Academy Theater, where there’s a BOGO deal on tickets every Tuesday. (And tickets are only $4 to begin with.) There’s always at least one kid-friendly film playing, and the popcorn is aces.

18 This month’s Little Ears concert at The Old Church in downtown PDX features the kid entertainer winner of our reader poll, Red Yarn. 10 am. ¢

No hamsters were harmed in the making of the Rocket Hamster’s Dreamy Space Odyssey puppet show.

Promise. Woodstock Library. 2 pm. ¢

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Play at the 19 beautiful Luuwit View Park’s accessible playground, then grab the kids a free lunch at 12:30 pm from Portland Parks and Rec’s Free Lunch + Play. Visit portlandoregon. gov/parks/ freesummer for a full list of outdoor summer fun. ¢

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Get the giggles out at Angel Ocasio’s kidfriendly comedy show at the Banks Library at 2 pm. ¢

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Wish Oregon City 21 a Happy 175th Birthday at the Rose Festival’s Oregon Heritage Days. Start out at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center, and catch a ride to other historic OC sites. ¢

The Delta 14 Park Powwow and Encampment kicks off. Watch the dance competitions, browse arts and crafts, and grab some delicious fry bread.

28 Meet some finefeathered friends as the Oregon Bird Man brings his brightly colored parrots to North Portland Library.

11:30 am.

Got tweens and teens?

Northwest Library hosts a Teen Craft Hangout at 3 pm. ¢

WASHINGTON COUNTY COOPERATIVE LIBRARY SERVICES

27

Park for free at 20 any Metro-owned natural area! It’s a great excuse to check out the new nature play areas at Oxbow Regional Park. ¢

JONATHAN LEY

Marvel at the 13 Japanese Garden’s summer exhibit Forest of Dreams. Intricately carved planks honor the cultures of both our region’s Native tribes and the Aino people of Hokkaido, Japan.

METRO

School’s out for PPS! This calls for ice cream, so try Cloud City, Salt & Straw or newcomer Little Bean.

(More about that one on page 16.)

Wave your rainbow 16 flags at the Portland Pride Parade.

Starts at the North Park Blocks at 11 am.

Or treat Dad like a king at the Oregon Renaissance Faire at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds.

Get sweaty for a 29 good cause at Cook Park in Tigard at the Candlelighters race, which raises funds to support children battling cancer. (There’s even a 1-miler Superhero-inTraining race for the kiddos, and an obstacle course.)

is back with even more swag, more music and more fun! 10 am-2 pm at Oaks Park. ¢

PDX Parent Celebrates the City

Come party 22 with us!

Bike along 30 with the other families at the 50th Sunday Parkways. The “golden” NoPo route will roll through Arbor Lodge, Kenton and Peninsula Parks, and more. 11 am4 pm. ¢

Food, music, kids’ 23 stuff and neighbors all make for an awesome day at the Good in the Hood Multicultural Festival at NoPo’s King School’s playground.

Noon-8 pm. ¢

JUNETEENTH OREGON

Celebrate 15 emancipation at Juneteeth Oregon’s Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade! Starts on MLK and Ainsworth at 11 am. ¢

AMY CONWAY

The Hillsboro 11 Tuesday Night Market kicks off its season (which goes through August 27). Sure there are veggies, but also expect live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and an international food court. 5 pm-8:30 pm.

DISNEY PIXAR

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MICHAEL MALYSZKO

8 Don’t wait any longer to go see the fantastical Science Behind Pixar exhibit at OMSI. Your kids will love seeing how Coco, Toy Story and Wall-E came to life.

9

The littlest kiddos 2 have free run of Oaks Park on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, all summer long. Just $9.95 gets you access to all their family rides, plus cookies, milk and storytime.

Kids can learn how 1 to make their own earrings, bracelets and necklaces at a free class at the Hollywood Library. Spanish and English spoken.

1 pm-3 pm. ¢

After 2017’s disastrous fire, trails in the Columbia Gorge have slowly begun reopening. Try one of the trails in this month’s Field Trip (page 36).

TUESDAY

MONDAY

CLIP+ SAVE

OAKS AMUSEMENT PARK

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WEDNESDAY

OREGON GARDEN

Hit the Kenton 10 Farmers Market for kid-friendly activities run by the kind folks from Oregon State’s extension services program, guaranteed to get your kids excited about eating local fruits and veggies! ¢

Get your fireworks 3 fix early at the Oregon Garden, which smartly sets off their sparklers one day before everywhere else.

Admission is free after 6 pm, though a donation of $5 per family is suggested.

HEATHER MORRILL

June / July 2019

THURSDAY

4

Tweens and teens 11 will go nuts for the gravity-defying Broadway musical Wicked playing at the Keller Auditorium, through July 28.

Go old-school Oregon at Estacada’s Timber Festival. There’s a log pond roll-off, a poleclimbing competition, and a chain-saw display, plus a grand fireworks display at 10 pm.

JOAN MARCUS

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12

Cool down on a 300-footlong slip and slide, play some shuffleboard or try your hand at wiffleball, during free summer programming at Brooklyn Park, from noon to 8 pm. ¢

TIMBERS.COM/THORNSFC

The Portland 5 Thorns are great role models, and their matches are notably more family-friendly than the raucous Timbers home games. Watch as they take on the Seattle Reign at 8 pm at Providence Park.

FRIDAY

BEN BRINK

Drum-centric 13 performers from Mexico, West Africa, Japan and local tribes come out to celebrate their instrument in a free concert, which also features drumming workshops for kids. 2 pm at Gateway Discovery Park. ¢

The Autism Society 6 of Oregon sponsors a free, sensory-friendly swimming session at the Oregon City Pool starting at 4 pm. No music, no judgement and pizza for all. RSVP at events@ autismsocietyoregon. org.

SATURDAY

Sweet smells 14 abound at the Helvetia Lavender Festival, where you can have a civilized cup of tea and scones with the kids before you stroll through the lavender-filled fields. $5 per adult, free for kids.

Tears of 7 Joy puppet theatre lands at the Portland Saturday Market, with a show about how the constellations got their names.

Performances at noon and 2 pm, with a free puppet craft after the show. ¢

SUNDAY

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What’s summer 29 without a sandcastle? Hit the sand at an area beach, like George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego for some drip castle action. ¢

Latin flair 22 is in the air at Sellwood Park, with an evening concert from Grupo Masato, who play highenergy music with Andean roots. ¢

¢

Explore the 15 Tualatin River Greenway bike path, which has neat interpretive signs along the way that trace the area’s geology from the Ice Age on.

MICHAEL DURHAM/OREGON ZOO

Have a very berry 30 Tuesday out at West Union Gardens in Hillsboro, where you’ll find exotic u-pick varieties, including tayberries, loganberries and gooseberries.

Explore a new 23 nature play area, like Sahallie Ilahee Park in West Linn, or Dirksen Nature Park in Tigard. ¢

Take the MAX to 16 the Oregon Zoo for Twilight Tuesdays, when admission is just $5 per person and you can find live music and fun kiddo activities.

Sing happy birthday to the MVP of Gryffindor at a Harry Potter party at Maggie Mae’s Kids Bookshop at 5 pm.

Expect crafts, trivia and various other shenanigans worthy of the Weasley twins.

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24 Hold our beer. The Oregon Brewers Festival starts at noon at Waterfront Park. For little ones, there’s complimentary root beer and soda. Free admission, but tasting packages for beer start at $20.

METRO

17 Let the kids get messy at Blue Lake Regional Park’s Summer Fun Days. Youth and adult educators will lead kids in handson gardening and conservation projects.

11am-3 pm. Lunch included for kids. ¢

¢

Take a break from 26 the lunch grind at Food Truck Fridays in Hillsboro, with vendors gathering at the Tom Hughes Civic Center Plaza, plus live entertainment and fun games. 11:30 am1:30 pm.

Bow down to 19 Queen Beyoncé, who voices Nala in the live-action remake of The Lion King, now out in theaters.

DISNEY

Editors’ pick

Inclusive

Free

KEY

The Washington 25 County Fair kicks off, with tons of fun for kids, including encounters with Elsie the Cow and a chance to noodle around on a minitractor.

Dive in to Peninsula 18 Pool in NoPo for a free open swim session from 1:05 pm-2:55 pm, on Thursday afternoons all summer long. For free swim times at other city pools, check portlandparks.org. ¢

PORTLAND PARKS AND RECREATION.

20 Learn about fire safety and injury prevention at Fire in the Park at Vancouver’s Esther Short Park.

Kids can meet local firefighters and learn how to give CPR. 9 am2 pm. ¢

27

JOHN GENTRY

Get fancy at the 12th Annual Pittock Mansion Picnic from the Oregon Regency Society. Bring your muslins, bonnets, parasols, croquet sets and food to share. More info at Oregonregencysociety. wordpress.com.

OREGON REGENCY SOCIETY

Presented by

Cool off 28 during a free open swim session at Sunset Swim Center in Tigard.

(And follow thprd.org for info on other open swims throughout the summer.) 1 pm. ¢

Head to Sugarpine 21 Drive-In in Troutdale for scoops of dreamy, creamy soft-serve, then poke around the Sandy River at nearby Glen Otto Park.

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Editors’ pick

Inclusive

Free

Join the geniuses 5 of Mad Science for an hour-long workshop/ journey into space at the Capitol Hill Library, with stop-offs to learn about planets, lunar eclipses and the travels of the sun.

2 pm-3 pm. ¢

¢

KEY

Presented by

MONDAY

CLIP+ SAVE

MAD SCIENCE OF PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER

June / July 2019

6 Get to know your neighbors and local first responders at National Night Out events all over the metro area. Visit natw.org to find yours. ¢

TUESDAY

CLARK COUNTY FAIR

7

Hit up the Clark County Fair in Vancouver for tons of family-centric fun, including clowns aplenty, carnival rides, and a super-cool performing doggies show.

WEDNESDAY Gorge yourself 2 all weekend at the Tualatin Crawfish Festival — there’s a bubble pit, potato-sack races, a watermeloneating contest and a visit from the Reptile Man.

Admission 1 is free after 5 pm at the Portland Art Museum, so go take in the new exhibit of three generations of indigenous female artists from Canada’s Nunavut region.

Seek out some 8 air-conditioning — take the kids bowling (check out KidsBowlFree.com for how to do this one on the cheap). ¢

¢

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

JOURNEY THEATER ARTS

Extra, extra! Take 9 the whole family to see the Journey Theater Arts production of Newsies, at 7 pm at Heritage High School’s Performing Arts Center in Washougal.

CHARLES FARRENKOPF

34 Get ready to run, 10 swim and bike in the West Coast’s only barrier-free triathlon, designed for kids of all abilities. Athletes will swim 50 yards, bike 2 miles and run half a mile on a fully accessible course at the Tualatin Hills Athletic Center.

GIDU

LESLIE ROBINETTE

Take your pick 3 on this jampacked weekend: Chinese Festival at Pioneer Square?

Fremont Fest in NE Portland?

Cold Brew Festival at Esther Short Park in Vancouver?

SATURDAY

You still have 11 some energy after yesterday’s triathlon?

Great! Bike the loop at BridgePedal, then hit up the India Festival downtown.

The whole city of 4 Gladstone turns out to celebrate their annual community festival. There’s a fishing derby, a giant slip ‘n slide, free concerts and more.

SUNDAY

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26

Take deep breaths at the Swan Island Dahlia Festival in Canby. Over 400 varieties of the quintessential late summer flower will be on display.

HILLSBORO HOPS

19 As the summer winds down, catch the Hillsboro Hops in action; first pitch is at 7:05 pm.

Celebrate elephant Samudra’s 11th birthday a little early during World Elephant Day at the Oregon Zoo. All day, free with zoo admission.

12

13 Take a flight of Pure Imagination and see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which starts tonight at the Keller and plays through August 18.

Head for the 27 beach with the kids. In just an hour and a half, you can be tidepooling at Cannon Beach, or on the Seaside prom.

JULIA SILVERMAN

After a summer 20 full of fun, it’s time to give back. Take the kids to volunteer at the Oregon Food Bank, sorting and repacking food, or to help clean up donated kids’ books at the Clackamas Bookshelf. ¢

JOAN MARCUS

School starts in Portland. (For everyone except the kindergarteners. You guys get to wait until next week!)

JULIA SILVERMAN

28

Spread out 21 a blanket on the lawn and listen up during the Outdoor Storytelling Picnic at the Walters Cultural Art Center in Hillsboro, starting at 7 pm. Light beverages and snacks provided! ¢

CRAIG MITCHELLDYER

14 Keep the theater love going at a daytime matinee of the Broadway Rose Theater’s production of Cinderella in Tigard, playing at 11 am and 1 pm.

22

Hit up your 29 favorite splash pad. Kids love the froggie fountain at Peninsula Park in NoPo, but don’t sleep on uncrowded Elizabeth Caruthers fountain in South Waterfront. ¢

OREGON STATE FAIR

Head to Wilkes Park in NE Portland for a free lunch + play program from noon to 1 pm. ¢

The city of 15 Wilsonville is throwing a block party, and everyone‘s invited.

There’s free eats, live music, train rides and the chance to cool off in the awesome Town Center fountains. The fun starts at 5 pm. ¢

CHUTIMAKUANAMON

Mo Phillips and the 30 Grumpies play an epic goodbye-to-summer set at Montavilla Park, followed by a screening of 2019’s live-action Dumbo at dusk. ¢

The Oregon State 23 Fair in Salem is summer’s last big hurrah.

Head south to get your fill of midway games, farm animals and food on a stick.

SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

16 Catch this year’s sensation SpiderMan: Into the Spider Verse under the stars in Hillsboro.

The movie starts at dusk in Shute Park, but there’s pre-show live music and popcorn starting at 7:30 pm. ¢

See summer 31 out with Family Nature Days at Columbia Springs in Vancouver, with guided walks and activities from 10 am-2 pm.

Explore the forest, breathe deep, and get ready — a busy fall is coming right up.

Don’t wear white to the Kids Obstacle Race. The 2-mile course features 13 obstacles for your kid to navigate, and they will get muddy. In a twist, parents run for free. At the Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center.

KIDS OBSTACLE CHALLENGE

24

Unfortunately (or fortunately, for their brains) kids aren’t allowed to participate in the Soapbox Derby races at Mount Tabor. So pack a picnic, get a good seat and show up early to cheer for your favorite team. ¢

FLICKR/PHOTO BY TOM GOOD ARTS

17

Close out summer 25 with the “Green Loop” Sunday Parkways ride, through downtown and inner SE Portland. Pro tip: Leave plenty of time to stop at the fountain at the Moda Center to cool down.

18 Teens who are coping with cancer are invited to attend a free camp-out at Rooster Rock State Park, courtesy of NatureRx, a new program of the Children’s Cancer Association.

Think guided hikes, photo classes and star gazing. joyrx.org/naturerx. ¢

Field Trip

Trail Mix

Your family’s favorite hikes in the Gorge may still be closed after the Eagle Creek fire. But there are new adventures in store.

BY JULIA SILVERMAN

LAUREN WYLIE

Staying cool on a hot summer day at Latourell Falls.

» For more ideas for fun outings, visit pdxparent.com / field-trip «

N

early two years after the devastating Eagle Creek fire swept through the Columbia River Gorge — Portland’s de facto shared backyard — the beautiful, fragile ecosystem there is still recovering.

That means that many family-favorite trails remain off limits.

The Wahclella Falls loop has long been beloved as the perfect first hike-it-on-your-own trail for toddlers and preschoolers, but it is closed for the foreseeable future; so is the slightly longer trail to Punchbowl Falls, perhaps the Gorge’s most celebrated spot to cool off on a hot day, and the wade-in trail through magical Oneonta Gorge.

But that doesn’t mean you should stop exploring! In this month’s special Field Trip, we present our kid-friendly guide to a post-fire Gorge hiking trip. Before we start, a few words to the wise.

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➤ R emember that the trail closures have had a bottleneck effect on the rest of the Gorge, making trails that were once merely popular uber-busy on sunny weekends. Try to visit during the week if you can; otherwise, get an early start to ensure that your wilderness experience won’t feel like Grand Central Station at rush hour. ➤ D on’t forget that to park at many trailheads, you’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass. It’s $30 for a year, which stacks up well next to the $10 day pass permit you’ll have to shell out for if you don’t have one. ➤ A s always, take only pictures, and leave only footprints! Try to discourage little ones from grabbing handfuls of moss or picking wildflowers, tempting though it may be. It’s all part of the Gorge’s ecosystem, and should not be disturbed.

If you love Wahclella Falls, try Latourell Falls

While not quite as low-elevation gain as Wahclella Falls, lovely Latourell Falls, about 3 miles off I-84’s Exit 28, is very doable with small kids. As a bonus, there are actually two falls here, which not every visitor realizes, so while the parking lot might look full, many people are only taking the 5-minute jaunt down to the impressive lower falls, meaning that the .8-mile trail to Upper Latourell Falls gets considerably less foot traffic. Along the way, there are plenty of good stopping points, including fallen logs for snack breaks and bridges that cross over rocky streams.

Upper Latourell Falls is breathtaking, and includes the chance to take a scramble trail down to behind the falls, where the cool spray of the misty water will be just the ticket on a hot summer day.

If you love Angels’ Rest,

If you love Punchbowl

If you love Oneonta Gorge,

Angels’ Rest, a 5-mile round-

Lots of people might get put

Oneonta Gorge is magical, but even

try Beacon Rock

trip elevation-gaining burner of a trail that leads to one of the most panoramic views in the entire Gorge, is actually open as of December 2018, but not recommended for families given the risks of loose rocks, falling trees and damaged trails.

Instead, take the kids for a comparatively easier switchback up Beacon Rock on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. It’s 2 miles round trip, with a gain of 600 feet in wellgraded elevation, and features

Falls, try Dry Creek Falls off by descriptions of the start of the Dry Creek Falls trail, which requires that you parallel busy Interstate 84, not exactly a back-to-nature experience. Nevertheless, persist — after starting off at the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead, you and the kids will soon cross under the highway, and hit the Pacific Crest Trail.

(This is where Cheryl Strayed famously finished her hike in Wild.) The falls are less

try Gorton Creek Falls

before the Eagle Creek Fire, the area was in danger of being loved to death, trampled by ferocious Instagrammers unable to resist the siren call of its emerald-green cavern and boulderhopping, stream-wading slosh to a lacy waterfall. It’s also the kind of hike where you need to break out the Keens, and be prepared to carry smaller kids if the water gets deep, since you’re essentially hiking up a streambed.

Gorton Creek Falls, which begins at the Wyeth Campground off Exit 51, is accessed via a level trail for the first ½ mile, which parallels a serene creek and

engaging information panels at

crowded than many others

the top about the effects of the

in the Gorge, and plunge

and the kids are feeling adventurous,

Missoula Floods on the Gorge.

74 feet over a scenic basalt

you can continue the scramble up the

Sharp eyes will spot the Crown

background. It’s 4.4 miles

creek for about 100 yards to Gorton

Point Vista house to the west on

round trip, and an elevation

Creek Falls, which boasts an 80-foot tall

a clear day.

gain of 700 feet in total.

leads to a small, 10-foot waterfall. If you

waterfall.

Julia Silverman is PDX Parent’s editor. She is still in mourning after the Eagle Creek Fire. Writing this article helped.

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How We Live

For more ways families are coping with the housing market visit: pdxparent.com/how_we_live

Say Hello to Bridgeton A search for affordable rent and room to roam lands one Portland family in a lesser-known North Portland waterfront enclave. BY ERIN J. BERNARD

M

ount Hood views and Columbia River breezes — welcome to Bridgeton, the most charming Portland neighborhood you’ve never heard of.

“It really is idyllic in so many ways,” says 33-year-old Rebekah Sapp, who rents a home in the quiet North Portland waterfront enclave with her partner, Josh Heide, and their 3-year-old daughter, Piper.

Bridgeton sits on a thin spit of land along the North Portland Harbor channel — about as far north as you can get in Portland before ending up in the water. A century ago, it was a bustling fishing and farming community. Today, it’s an eclectic micro-neighborhood of around 300 floating homes, rowhouses, freestanding homes, apartments and condos, often referred to as Portland’s smallest neighborhood. Kids from Bridgeton attend Faubion K-8 School, which has a brand-new campus and a close partnership with nearby Concordia University.

Rebekah loves the close-knit vibe: “I’ll meet neighbors on our walks and they’ll say, ‘Oh, you’re the house with the big black dog.’

There’s a smaller community feeling for sure, and it’s weird because I always wanted to live in a big city — or at least I thought I did.”

The Sapp-Heide family relocated to Portland from Eugene in summer 2013. They considered buying, but opted to rent based

on the oversaturated housing market.

Finding a decent rental proved trickier still, even though Josh was already working in Portland and could scour listings in person. When he sent Rebekah a picture of a small fenced house on the waterfront in a neighborhood they’d never heard of, she was sold.

By then, her wish list was whittled to the bare essentials: “It was like, cross that off, cross that off,” Rebekah recalls. “My only two prerequisites at that point were a fenced yard for [our dog] Jackson and a washer-dryer. I told Josh, ‘Go see it, write ’em a check! Unless it really sucks on the inside, write a check!’”

He did, and they’ve been in Bridgeton ever since, joined by Piper in 2016.

These days, Rebekah, Piper and Jackson can often be spotted ALL PHOTOS: HARPER BREEZE PHOTOGRAPHY strolling the neighborhood’s main waterfront drag, headed for the nearby fields and paths where Piper loves collecting rocks and pinecones. They’ve got prime views of Vancouver’s fireworks display each July and of the Portland Christmas Ships Parade each December.

The community skews older, and there’s not much to walk to beyond the neighborhood proper, (and public transportation options are a bit lacking, with the nearest bus stop a mile away) but as the Portland metro area grows, so, too, does this hidden-away hamlet.

Erin J. Bernard lives in the Vernon neighborhood with her husband and (hilarious) toddler, just four blocks from the house her maternal grandfather grew up in. She blogs about creativity and the craft of writing at: writerinfull.com.

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“It’s definitely gotten a little busier as the years have gone by,” says Rebekah. “But not super busy. You can see the freeway, but you can’t hear it from where we’re at. You hear birds chirping, fighting outside in the hydrangea. There’s not much to complain about overall.”

Life here also has its professional perks: Rebekah runs an Etsy shop specializing in distressed denim (find it at etsy.com/shop/ HarperJettDenim), and her yard doubles as an outdoor fabric-processing space. “I’m probably known as the crazy denim lady,” she laughs.

She also runs Harper Breeze Photography (Check out her work at harperbreezephotography.com), named for their first daughter, who passed away shortly before their move to town in 2013.

Bridgeton’s scenic vistas provide an uncommon backdrop for outdoor portraits, framed by the natural beauty of a lessertrodden corner of Portland.

Rebekah vividly recalls standing alone in her home-office not long after they first moved in, gazing out at the water and sensing Harper’s presence so strongly. She took it as a sign: this place was the right place.

Six years on, Piper seems to agree: “She always talks about how much she loves her home,” Rebekah says. “She’ll say, ‘I just want my home.’ And then, as soon as we turn onto Bridgeton [Road], she says, ‘We’re home now!’”

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Family Supper

For more kid-friendly restaurant reviews, visit: pdxparent.com /family-supper

Fostering Fun

Local chain Atlas Pizza opens a new, kid-friendly spot on Southeast Foster Road. STORY AND PHOTO BY DENISE CASTAÑON

B

ig changes are happening on Foster Road, a long-overlooked thoroughfare in Southeast Portland mostly known as home to one of the city’s most celebrated strip clubs — and as a way to avoid traffic on Powell Boulevard. But recently the city’s Foster Streetscape project has narrowed the lanes from two to four, expanded the bike lanes, and added decorative street lights and new trees. This gussied-up Foster has attracted new businesses appealing to the neighborhood’s large population of families with young kids. Those same neighbors did shed a tear or two when the dive bar/pizza joint O’Malley’s shuttered in May 2018, but the announcement of Atlas Pizza moving into the old space (along with the cool 21+ hang Five & Dime) quickly cheered most everyone up.

Since we live in the neighborhood, my family walked over to Foster to try the latest Atlas Pizza outpost on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Right as we walked in, I spotted the small play area to the right, which held a play kitchen, several little tables, toys and a scattering of books. I was about to point it out to my 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, but they were already scampering over to the four pinball machines on the opposite side of the restaurant. My husband and I left them to ogle the machines while we placed our order at the counter.

Atlas offers both a range of slices, from pepperoni to vegan ($3.25 to $3.75) and whole pies (starting at $13 for a small and $21 for a large). I wanted to try the veggie pizza with artichokes, which I knew would be a hard sell to the kids, so we went with slices.

While waiting for our order, we doled out quarters for the kids to play pinball. There was a stool that helped them get to a better height

to see all the action. Another sign they truly welcome families: We spied highchairs and a changing table in the bathroom.

Our slices, along with garlic knots (6 for $3.50) and a Greek salad ($9), did not take long to come out. The slices were surprisingly good and made us think that a whole pie fresh out of the oven would be even a notch up. Atlas’s crust has a bit of flakier texture than other pizzas we’ve had around town. The salad (easily big enough for three adults to share) was fresh and crisp and packed with artichokes, in addition to traditional Greek salad ingredients.

My 4-year-old, the carb addict, scarfed down two of the garlic knots. They had that same slightly flaky texture and came out hot and buttery.

After we had eaten and the kids were back at pinball, I ducked through the door connecting Atlas to Five & Dime. The super cool space, with a massive old-school bar, walls splashed with local art and American Godsthemed drinks, will be going on our list for future date-night stops.

On our way out, the kids stopped to check out the play area and could have happily stayed longer. And that was true of our whole experience. Atlas Pizza’s whole atmosphere is inviting for families, and set up so you can linger on a sunny afternoon and enjoy an unrushed meal.

6535 SE Foster Rd. 11:30 am-11 pm, Sunday to Thursday.

11:30 am-midnight, Friday and Saturday. atlaspizzapdx.com.

FoPo Family Favorites

As the neighborhood has evolved, Foster-Powell families have many more options for food and fun in the hood:

Portland Mercado food carts with a side of culture, Hammer + Jacks toy store and play space, breakfast mainstay Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels, and all-ages board games at Red Castle Games. Coming soon: Pizzeria Otto and Favela Brazilian coffee shop.

Managing editor Denise Castañon and her family ♥ FoPo. 48

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Recipe File

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this easy chocolate cake.

Looking for more kid-friendly recipes? Visit: pdxparent.com /recipe-file

Eat Your Chocolate!

STORY AND PHOTO BY JUDITH RICH

W

hile healthful eating plays an important role in our household, treating my family to something indulgent is something I also like to do. After all, if you don’t give in a little, their cravings get much stronger (and, if we’re talking preschoolers, louder).

Enter this rich chocolate yogurt cake, which is not only easy and fast to make but also great for involving your little sous chefs. My 3-and-a-half-year-old, Edie, helped me make it recently. Together, we measured out all the ingredients, mixed them in a big bowl and then poured it into the loaf pan to bake. The entire process is lots of fun, as you get to watch the yogurt mixture change into something velvety, dark and beautiful.

The recipe is also nice to make with kids because it’s very forgiving and quick to prepare. After it’s done, wait for about an hour to cut it and dress it up with your favorite spread, such as almond or peanut butter, fruit preserves or whatever you’ve got on hand. This cake also keeps well in the freezer if you’d like to save some of it for another day.

Chocolate Yogurt Cake Makes 1 loaf 1 cup flour ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 teaspoons of baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup white sugar 3 large eggs ¾ cup plain yogurt ½ cup canola oil

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. 2. Coat an 8-inch-by-4-inch loaf pan with canola oil.

3. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.

Add salt and sugar.

4. A dd eggs, yogurt and oil.

Whisk until fully incorporated.

5. Pour into the greased loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes.

6. C ool for about an hour before slicing and serving.

Judith Rich creates kid-inspired recipes and writes about her family’s dining out adventures in and around Portland at her blog, Eaty Pie. Find her at eatypie.com. pdxparent.com

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Parentlandia

“Family vacation is an ox ymoron.�

Tom Toro is a freelance cartoonist and writer whose work appears in The New Yorker, Paris Review, American Bystander and elsewhere.

His collection of Trump cartoons TINY HANDS was published in 2017 by Dock Street Press. His fiction writing has been shortlisted for the Disquiet International Literary Prize. Tom is currently developing an animated TV show, and finishing a graphic memoir about becoming an artist during turbulent times. He lives in Portland with his wife, preschooler and cat. To see more of his work, visit tomtoro.com.

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