Laurelhurst Cafe

Now I personally have never been here but I have friends that have and they say this place is wonderful. Good food, friendly environment, and fun events.

One event in particular is Storytime Singalong with Dingo and Olive ( a pair of clowns that are apparently really good at what they do). Every Monday at 10 a.m. is when these silly clowns come on stage. All they ask is for a $5 donation.

Laurelhurst Cafe

4611 E Burnside St,

Portland, Or 97215

PlayDate PDX

PlayDate was designed out of the desire to find a "kid friendly" play space that also caters to parents and caregivers. Many kid friendly spaces offer food and drink options that are not healthy for children and not appealing to adults. 

The environment at many kid friendly locations is often fit for children, but such places can be over-stimulating and don’t encourage physical activity. PlayDate was created so that children can enjoy a huge indoor playground while parents and caregivers enjoy a relaxing environment with fabulous food and beverages, including Stumptown Coffee.

They offer free WiFi and comfortable seating, as well as party rooms that can be rented out for a wide array of activities.

Hours

9am to 8pm Sunday - Thursday
9am to 9pm Friday & Saturday

PlayDate

1434 NW 17th Ave,

Portland, Oregon 97209

Painted Ladybug Rocks

MATERIALS NEEDED

     Smooth round or oval rocks, a sharpened pencil, acrylic paint, wiggle eyes, and white crafting glue.

Draw the outline of the ladybug with the pencil, DO NOT use marker! The lines will be seen through the paint.

Now color to your hearts content. And remember! Results might vary ^.^

Homemade Printed T-shirts

To make these shirts, all you need is a shirt, crayons, a piece of cardboard, fine sand paper, and an iron.
   You can use coarser sand paper for more of a textured look if you want!

Have your kids color on the sandpaper, any design they want but remind them that the picture with be flipped on the shirt! Once their done, go over it with an extra thick layer of crayon.

place the card board inside the shirt to prevent the design from bleeding through. Position the sandpaper with the design face down on the shirt.

Place a paper towel on top of the sandpaper to protect the iron. Iron, on cotton setting or low, for about 30 seconds. Gently lift an edge of the sandpaper and make sure you have a good print before completely removing the sandpaper. Iron for 30 more seconds if you need to transfer more of the crayon.

Viola! Once you remove the sandpaper, you now have an awesome t-shirt with your kiddies cool design!

Oregon Children's Theatre

This cool theater has wonderful performances that invite the audience on stage. It is made to be accessible to all patrons, including barrier- free access for those in wheel chairs and even sign interpreted performances. Though you need to call them about the interpreted performances- the number is 503-228-9571.

First Timer First Saturdays: $5 children's tickets!

If you have never purchased tickets to their plays, you can qualify for their First Timer First Saturdays offer. Children's tickets are only $5 each with a purchase of a regular priced adult ticket. This will only be available on the first performance on Saturday of each play. You can choose either a 2 p.m. or 5 p.m. performance though so it's not too bad. It's limited to only 5 discounted tickets per order so keep that in mind!

Arts for All

The Oregon Children's Theatre is also participating in the Arts for All program which means that if you have an Oregon Trail Card, you qualify for four tickets at $5 each. You need to purchase tickets in advance and show them your card when you pick up your tickets. Call 503-228-9571 x113 to purchase tickets!

Grandparents Day!

They have a special senior (62 and better) ticket prices on the first and last Sunday of each show. Tickets are $13 - $20!

World Forestry Center

Located in Portland’s beautiful Washington Park, this museum is sure to delight anyone from ages 3 to 103.  Visitors will be both educated and entertained as they learn about the importance of forests and trees in our lives, as well as environmental sustainability.

The first floor of the museum focuses on forests of the Pacific Northwest and the role they play in providing habitat, water, recreation, wood, and a multitude of other benefits. The Forest Store also provides guests with unique gift and souvenir options, many made in Oregon.

The second floor of the museum is divided into two major sections. One half of the space is the Special Exhibits Gallery devoted to temporary exhibits that explore art, history and culture from around the world. The other half explores forests around the world and their connections to people.

WONDROUS WEDNESDAYS
Discovery Museum 10am - 5pm

FIRST Wednesday of every month

$3.00 admission per person

No coupon needed

Parking fee charged.

World Forestry Center

4033 SW CANYON RD, 

PORTLAND OREGON 97221  

Portland Art Museum

This is one of the best museums I have ever been to. It holds exhibits from ancient times all the way to present day.

Kids 17 and younger are free while adults are $15 but on the fourth Friday of every month its free (but only during 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Now they are partnered with Bank of America so they also have complimentary admission to those with a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit/debit card.

PORTLAND ART MUSEUM

1219 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR 97205

The Oregon Zoo

The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Fall(Sept. 3rd- Jan. 5th) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Winter(Jan. 6th- Feb. 28th)

Now regular admission for 12-64 years olds is $11.50 but you can get $1.50 off if you ride the bus or light rail there and then show them your ticket.

The best discount of all though is on the second Tuesday of each month when the zoo is only $4!


Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon Rd, 
Portland, OR 97221

Cloudy Dough

Now this is a messy thing but great fun for kids. Remember to put down sheets or do this on the linoleum!

 Just mix baby oil and flour in a 1:8 ratio-- we used 1/4 cup baby oil and 2 cups flour--and you have cloud dough! It looks like flour, but it holds its shape when pressed.

This recipe is good for one kid, double for two and so on ^.^

Easy Make Cardboard Guitar

Step 1: Tools & Supplies

The stuff that you need is pretty simple...

Empty tissue box (the long kind)
Empty Paper Towel Roll
3 Rubber bands (You may want another in case one snaps)
Tape
Something to cut with
Marker
A kid ready to have fun! (The inner kid in you works too :D)

Step 2: Cut off the Cellophane

Cut around the edge of the opening to get out the plastic that the tissues come through. This will make it easer to strum.

Note - If you're doing this with a small child, make sure you do all of the steps that require use of the knife/scissors.

Step 3: Cut hole for the neck

Now you're going to be making a hole in the box for the neck/paper towel roll. Go to one of the small sides of he box, and put your paper towel roll on top. Use your marker to trace around the roll, and then cut out the circle.

Step 4: Insert the Neck

Now, just insert the neck into the hole about 2 inches. If there is much space around the neck, and it doesn't stay well, stick tape around it to help stop it from sliding.

Step 5: Add the strings

Now you can add the strings, just put a rubber band around the box, one on each side of the neck. You can also put one straight in the middle by cutting halfway through the neck right at the base, sliding a rubber band into the slit, and taping over the where you cut. (You can go ahead and play it now)

10 Cardboard Tube Craft Ideas

We all have cardboard tubes hanging around (you know the cardboard tube you’re left with after the toilet paper is gone), so why not turn them into something fun before recycling them?! Here are 10 craft ideas featuring a cardboard tube.

1) Animals

Create an animal using paint, crayons, construction paper markers and/or googly eyes (basically, whatever you have on hand).

2) Cuffs

Bracelets or superhero cuffs are awesome for costume play. Simply cut a toilet paper roll in half and decorate! Cut all the way through vertically  to make a cuff.

3) Kazoo

Place a small square of wax paper over one end and secure with a rubber band. Poke with a pin to make a small hole in the middle of the wax paper. Hum into the open end for a fun noise!

4) Gift Box

Decorate cardboard tube, place the gift inside, and then fold the ends in. Complete with string or a bow.

5) Stamps

Use the end of a toilet paper roll as a stamp for ink or paint. Bending into different shapes as desired.

6) Castle

Cut little rectangles out of one end of the toilet paper roll and a door out of the other end. Draw bricks or stones on the outside.

7) Tree

Cut 2 slits in the top insert a tree shape onto the top and decorate.

8) Shakers & Noisemakers

Cut a toilet paper roll in half, staple one side together, and fill with dried beans or rice. Then staple the other end together the opposite direction.

9) Lantern

Cut a toilet paper roll in half lengthwise and fold as shown.

Cut slits starting with the folded end up to the top folds without cutting all the way through.

Decorate and re-assemble finishing off with glue or staples. Add a wire handle.

10) Binoculars

Decorate and attach 2 toilet paper rolls together. Add a string and your imagination.