My friend Amanda lives with her husband and son and daughter in Portland, so she’s done this maternity leave thing twice. Once with Jed, and now that he’s in preschool, with baby Willa.
She’s done us the favor of laying out a plan for the week that offers a rainy day option for each day, because in Portland, you never know…
Don’t forget – if your city hasn’t been represented yet, you can write it up for us. Send your suggestions to moms at rookiemoms dot com.
Monday
- Rainy Day: Book Babies at Sellwood-Moreland Library (11-11:30) followed by lunch at Grand Central Bakery (kids’ area in the back) at 7987 SE 13th Street
- Sunny Day: Oregon Zoo ($9.50 for adults) – make sure to get animal-shaped French fries at the Africafe. Also check out the zoo concert series. You can bring a picnic dinner and hang out on the lawn.
Tuesday
- Rainy Day: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry [OMSI] ($9 for adults) – go the Science Playground upstairs and visit the 0-24 month section or brave the sandbox.
- Mommy Matinee at the Kennedy School ($3 at 1pm)
- Sunny Day: Take a walk in the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden – Admission is free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Stop at the farm stand on 28th street just north of the Garden and buy some cracked corn to feed the ducks for $1.
Wednesday
- Rainy Day: Moms and Babies Yoga class at Yoga Shala Southeast (10:30-12:00). Afterward, go with your new yoga friends to lunch at Urban Grind (22nd and NE Oregon) where they have a baby room in the back complete with swings, exersaucers and tons of toys.
- Sunny Day: Play in the fountain at Jamison Square (10th and Johnson) and then walk around the Pearl District. Free WiFi and kid-friendly food with toys at SohBet Café 2710 N.
Thursday
- Rainy Day: Mamalates class (10:30-11:45) at The Yoga Space. Wendy also has a special pilates class for mamas who have had c-sections! Lunch at Old Wives Tales at 1300 E. Burnside or coffee and a sweet treat from Crema at 2728 SE Ankeny
- Sunny Day: Go to a Farmer’s Market or do the work yourself and pick some berries out on Sauvie Island.
Friday
- Rainy Day: Freedom Fridays at the Academy Theater (78th and Stark Street). Movies cost $3 and childcare is $5 per child. BiPartisan Café after the movie at 7901 SE Stark. Dinner at Gino’s Restaurant and Bar (8051 SE 13th) They give little ones a free bread, cheese, and apples appetizer while you wait for your food.
- Sunny Day: Visit the International Rose Test Garden – it is the city of roses after all. Grab a cupcake at Saint Cupcake if you’ve got your stroller (no highchairs).
Saturday
- Rainy Day: Visit the new family friendly spa in Portland: Zenana Spa and Wellness Center (opening at the end of July). Dinner and drinks at Laurelwood Public House and Brewery 1728 NE 40th.
- Sunny Day: Head out toward the gorge and check out the waterfalls and take a quick hike
Sunday
- Rainy Day: Southwest Community Center’s Family Swim (11:30-1:30) $5.75 for a drop in visit. Lunch at Peanut Butter and Ellie’s (across the street)
- Sunny Day: Swimming at Sellwood Pool (beach entry) – Parent/pre-school swim 11:30-12:50
Awesome list! You named some of my favorite stuff to do with my girl. I’d also add: the playground at Laurelhurst Park (it has a wading pool on summer days) or a walk up Mt. Tabor to the playground.
Yes, a perfect list! Just wanted to “complete” the entry for Wednesday’s sunny-day activity… Sohbet is at 2710 N Killingsworth, at the corner of Killingsworth & Greeley. A lovely, yummy, cozy spot!
Great list, but the Zanana Spa isn’t really worth the hassle, the pedicure water is cold and the chairs are uncomfy. Nice idea but not worth it. Rather have a girls night and head to Dosha or another spa.
Hello Ally! This is Zenana form Zenana Spa and Wellness Center. I want to thank all of you for the criticism that you have posted to rookiemoms. We have been open for nearly four months now and are still working out the kinks. Therefore, it is incredibly helpful to us to hear your comments about our spa. We are certainly aware of the issues you mentioned and have already made some changes to correct them.
We have now added hot water warm-ups and hot stones to all of our pedicures to ensure that your toes stay toasty warm. We have added more pillows to our chairs and are working on some more modifications to make the chairs more comfy.
While we know we may not be the spa for everyone, would love to give you another opportunity to try our spa and in so doing, wish to invite you back to Zenana Spa for a complimentary service. Please e-mail me at zenana@zenanaspa.com and I will arrange for your next visit on us. We truly value and welcome any and all of your compliments and criticisms as they guide us in continuing to improve our Moroccan Mama Haven!
Also, you can do the Zoo on a Tuesday for cheap if you visit at the right time of the month. The second Tuesday of the month at the Portland Zoo is “Two Dollar Tuesday”. Admission is only $2 per person!
Can’t miss Oaks Amusement Park in the summer and rollerskating with the kids there in the winter. They have “preschool mornings” on tuesdays and wednesdays where you ride kiddy amusement rides or rollerskate with your kids.
This list is great, but I might also add Sip and Krantz off Jamison Square – play area for kids. Children’s Museum next to the zoo – they love the water area. Washington Square Park – sort of down the hill (a ways) from the International Rose Garden. Lauerlwood Pub has a tiny little play area for kids. That’s all I can think of for now.
This is a great list! Thank you. I do have to say, my favorite mom’s Portland Spa is Spa Willamina in NE Portland. It’s tucked into an awesome Portland bungalow in a cozy neighborhood. They offer mommy-to -be services too…a full 9 month program. You can focus on relaxation some months, and water retention and stretch marks on other months. It’s all up to you and your needs. The owner, Willow, is great. Their postpartum massages and services are fabulous too.
here’s another fun event in town if you are around for Halloween
COBWEBS, COSTUMES, CAMERAS AND KIDS
Campbell Salgado Studio and SpielWerk Community Toy Shop, have decided to team up – and dress up – this Halloween to help raise money to fight hunger in Oregon.
On Friday, October 31, 2008, from 2 – 6 pm, costumed babies, toddlers and children are invited to haunt the halls of Campbell Salgado Studio as they sample yummy granola bars, create seasonal crafts, and are photographed in their spookiest Halloween finery.
Admission to this fun-filled family-friendly event is free, but Halloween portraits may be purchased for $10 (digital format) or $20 (prints), with all proceeds benefiting the Oregon Food Bank. A food drive barrel will also be on-site for those wishing to make an additional donation of non-perishable food items, providing attendees with an opportunity to make a difference in our community.
Schedule of Events (All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.):
2 pm – 3 pm: Baby Boos
Portland’s tiniest ghosts and goblins are invited to strut their Halloween stuff by participating in a special photo session just for costumed babies and toddlers.
3 pm – 5 pm: Sugar Skulls
Representatives from SpielWerk toy store will be on hand to help kids create their own authentic Day of the Dead sugar skulls.
3 pm – 6 pm: Spooky Snapshots
School-aged gremlins and ghouls will get their chance to strike a pose in their spookiest regalia – and help fight hunger too.
Rounding out the day’s events will be a kids’ costume contest and a raffle of lovely gift baskets full of prizes donated by Sellwood-Moreland area businesses including Campbell Salgado Studio, SpielWerk, Looking Glass Bookstore, Grand Central Bakery, Pizazz Salon, HandMaids, Vino, Haggis McBaggis, Mocha Momma’s, Please Be Seated, What’s For Dinner, Piece of Cake Bakery, Blue Kangaroo, Tilde, Adobe Rose Cafe, Branches, By the Bunch, Elixia Wellness, and Noah’s Bagels.
Campbell Salgado Studio is located in the Sellwood neighborhood at 8107 SE 16th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202.
How Proceeds from This Event Will Benefit Hungry Oregon Families:
As mentioned above, admission to this fun-filled Halloween-themed event is free, but portraits may be purchased for $10 in digital format, or for $20 as prints, with all proceeds benefiting the Oregon Food Bank. According to the Oregon Food Bank web site, for every dollar the Oregon Food Bank receives, it is able to move five pounds of food through its food distribution program, and a $10 contribution helps collect and distribute enough food to fill an emergency food box. A typical emergency food box provides enough food for a family of four for three-to-five days.
For more information please visit our web site at http://www.campbellsalgado.com or call 503-736-3040.
Thanks so much for everyone’s support at the recent Campbell Salgado Studio fundraiser to support the Oregon Food Bank. It was such a delight to see neighborhood businesses pull together – we were able to raffle off some very nice baskets filled with goodies!
Ladybugs, fairies, turtles, and more roamed the halls and enjoyed yummy snacks and decorated sugar skulls on the front porch with help from Spielwerk Community Toy Shop.
A little boy named Oliver and dressed as an Olive won the costume contest – he is adorable!
And parents were able to go home with lovely pictures of their children in costume!
We were able to raise enough funds to supply over 100 families with enough food for 3 – 5 days.
Be sure to check out the blog on our web site for a peek at some adorable photos!
Great column! I love the rainy/sunny day breakdown. I would also recommend www.pdxkidscalendar.com for an up-to-date listing of kid-friendly events and activities.