NW Kids Magazine December 2022

Editor’s Note

The holidays are here at last! This month we’ve rounded up all of the best light displays and events to keep your kiddos busy with merrymaking all month long! Check out our Winter Break Camp Guide on page 22 if you haven’t yet made your choices. We also have included two kid-approved Hanukkah recipes to try this month! We can’t wait to see you around town this month and remember to save the date for our annual Summer Camp Expo at OMSI on Saturday, April 22nd!

Cheers, Mary

M agical l ights for h oliday N ights !

One of the best parts of the holiday season is bundling up and heading out to see the local light displays. This year’s options include many drive-through events, including a return of Peacock Lane!

*Please check websites and social media for any updates and also for information on Covid precautions and restrictions.

Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto

Enjoy indoor concerts in the Grotto’s chapel and family entertainment from puppet shows to outdoor caroling in the plaza. Holiday treats and gifts will be available for purchase. See website for concert schedule. Nov 25-Dec 30 (closed on Christmas); admission $6-$18 thegrotto.org/christmas-festivalof-lights

Christmas Ship Parade

The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club.  Bows of green with some ribbon where tied along the rails and it paraded on the

rivers. The next year the parade started to grow. Today, The Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 60 boats between the Columbia and Willamette River fleets. Things have changed from the first lone ship. Now the displays are brightly lit and can be seen from bank to bank on each river. Dec 2-21, Free christmasships.org

Holidays at The Belle

Enjoy this year’s new themed happenings at Victorian Belle. The mansion and grounds will be adorned with lights and there will also be a Holiday High Tea, a Krampus Festival, live performances, kids’ crafts and much more! See website for pricing, dates and tickets. victorianbelle.com

CHRISTMAS SHIP PARADE

THE GROTTO

Keizer Miracle

of

Christmas Light Display

A tradition in the Gubser neighborhood since 1984, this year’s drive-through event will raise money for the Marion Polk Food Share. 6-10pm, Dec 2-26; donations appreciated facebook.com/MiracleofChristmas

Lightopia: An Illuminated Journey

Head to Hillsboro for a magical drive through winter scenes and dazzling displays at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex. Dec 3-31; Free (reservations required) hillsboro-oregon.gov

Peacock Lane

This Portland holiday tradition is popular for a reason and is back for the 2022 season! The hot cocoa booth (donations requested) will return and Dec 15-17th will be for pedestrians only. All other days will be drivethrough and walk-through. Dec 15-31, Free peacocklane.org

Silverton Christmas Market

Stroll along immersive paths draped in more than one million lights. Explore the authentic German Christmas Market for gifts and enjoy snowless tubing and visits with Santa. Nov 25-Jan 1 (no market Dec 24-25). See website for pricing and tickets. silvertonchristmasmarket.com

PEACOCK LANE

Winter Wonderland at Portland

International Raceway

Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi”, the 30h annual Winter Wonderland event will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. Check out Bike night on Nov 28th and the “Lights and Leases” (dog-friendly) night on Nov 29th. Nov 25-Dec 31. See website for pricing. winterwonderlandportland.com

ZooLights

A Portland holiday tradition, ZooLights boasts over 1.5 million lights. This year’s event can again be enjoyed on foot or by car. Nov 19-Jan 9 (closed on Christmas). Nov 23-Jan 5 (closed Christmas Day) with members only preview days on Nov 21-22) and BrewLights on Nov 18-19); See website for tickets and pricing. oregonzoo.org/visit/zoolights

PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

KEIZER LIGHT DISPLAY

December’s Holiday Events

The holiday season is in full swing and this month is packed with events and performances that will help to create magical memories for your family. Check out our top picks below and, as always, remember to check websites for the most current information on Covid precautions!

Black Santa Dec 11

Head to Matt Dishman Community Center for a visit with Santa, as well as games, vendors and much more. There will be a can drive and also a $700 raffle. 11am-1pm; $20 (cash only) for a framed photo with Black Santa. jackandjillportland.org/events

Cinnamon Bear Breakfast Cruise

Dec 4, 10-11, 17-18, 22-24, 26-27

Cinnamon Bear and his friends from Maybeland are back! The whole family will enjoy this 2-hour breakfast cruise featuring a cast of fanciful characters to entertain the kids with storytelling, music and magic. $48+ (ages 0-12), $64+ (adults) portlandspirit.com

Santa’s Headquarters at Washington Square Through Dec 24

Pre-book your visit with Santa! Santa’s Headquarters is located in Center Court, next to Pottery Barn. A visit with Santa is always free and photo packages are available for purchase. shopwashingtonsquare.com/santaphotos

The Nutcracker

Dec 10-24

A treasured holiday tradition continues as Oregon Ballet Theatre returns George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® to the Keller Auditorium. Brave toy soldiers battle mischievous mice, snowflakes dance, and we are carried away to a magical Land of Sweets, all to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score! Create memories to last a lifetime as you experience this exquisitely danced confection with family and friends. See website for tickets and pricing. obt.org

Winter Faire at Cedarwood Waldorf School

Dec 6

Come for crafting, holiday shopping, pocket treasures, musical troubadours, the Wishing Stone Wizard, the Crystal Cookie Cave, storytellers, hearty food, and more! You may enter Winter Faire anytime between 12pm and 5:30pm. They recommend young children come between 12pm and 3pm for specialized early childhood entertainment. $15 cedarwoodschool.org/winter-faire

ZooZoo

Dec 9-Jan 1

Imago is bringing back to Portland its globe-trotting production ZooZoo this holiday season. Bugeyes, hippos with insomnia, arrogant anteaters, introverted frogs, paradoxical polar bears, acrobatic worms, self-touting accordions and tricky penguins fill the stage with wonder, awe and humor. See website for tickets and pricing. imagotheatre.com

Holiday Gift Picks

Wild Thing Shirt

FROM

Just Kid-ding Around Care Package

Our best-selling tee for kiddos! The perfect shirt for the cute little wild thing in your life. Made in Portland. $24

Star Teether Stacker

The ultimate multi-purpose toy. The rings can be stacked to enhance hand-eye coordination while teething and playing. 100% Food grade silicone. $34

Kids just want to have fun! This whimsical gift box is full of creative gifts for kids that will let their imagination run wild! $75

Cubebot

Cubebot® is a wooden toy robot inspired by Japanese Shinto Kumiki puzzles. A classic toy for all ages that will endure generations of play. $36

tenderlovingempire.com

Kid-Approved Hanukkah Recipes

Jewish holidays often have food associated with them and Hanukkah is no exception. Hanukkah is known for latkes, hot and fragrant potato pancakes. In Israel, sufganiyot, jelly-filled doughnuts, are traditional. These treats, many of which are fried, are reminders of Hanukkah’s ancient miracle, in which the Jews who retook the Holy Temple found only enough consecrated lamp oil to last one day, but which burned for eight.

Looking for a new spin on latkes? Want to try your hand at sufganiyot (jelly donuts)? Check out these delicious and well-loved, PJ Library Hanukkah recipes and find much more at pjlibrary.org/hanukkah

Hidden Veggie Latkes

Ingredients:

1 large russet potato, peeled

1 large zucchini, peeled

½ head of cauliflower

½ yellow onion

1 clove of garlic, finely minced

½ cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

Preparation:

• Grate together potato, zucchini, cauliflower, and onion. Use a food processor to make this step faster.

• Wrap the vegetable mixture in a cheesecloth or a lightweight kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

• In a large bowl, combine vegetables with garlic, flour, baking powder, eggs, salt, and pepper.

• In a frying pan heat ½ inch of oil on medium-high. Carefully drop a heaping tablespoon of latke mixture into oil.

• Fry for roughly 2 minutes, then flip and fry the other side.

• Transfer each latke to a paper towel-lined platter.

• Serve while warm.

Sufganiyot

Ingredients:

Vegetable oil

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Optional topping ideas: Powdered sugar

Cocoa Jelly Melted chocolate chips

Preparation:

• In a large saute pan (or electric skillet), add enough oil so that it is about one inch deep. Heat over medium high heat (between 375 and 400 degrees).

• Roll out pizza dough until it is about ½-1 inch thick. Cut rounds of dough using a one inch cookie or biscuit cutter. If you’ve got a kid helper on hand, pass off the cookie cutters and put them to work, just make sure a grownup does the next step.

• Carefully place each dough round in the oil, and cook about 1 minute per side.

• Remove the rounds from the oil, and place them on a plate lined with paper towel.

• Now it’s time for your toppings! Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl, and while the rounds are still warm, roll them in the mixture to coat. You can try some of the alternate toppings we listed above here too!

• Serve immediately.

Portland Jewish Academy (pjaproud.org) provides a rich academic and cultural learning experience for kids from early childhood through 8th grade. We’ve invited budding writers from the middle school Humanities classes and writing exploratory to join our team for a series that gives you a glimpse into thoughts and life - from their perspective.

by Sawyer

Everything around me is entirely blacked out. Everything gone.

I am completely isolated, completely zoned out.

The only sounds are the shff, shff, shff of my arms  moving slightly with every sktch, sktch, sktch of my pencil.

I look around. The light, dim. The air, calm. I slowly bring my attention to the drawing.  I continue, with everything around me black.

The only sounds are the shff, shff, shff of my arms  moving slightly with every sktch, sktch, sktch of my pencil.

I pause and listen. Pure silence all around. Quiet darkness blanketing me.

The only sounds are the shff, shff, shff of my arms  moving slightly with every sktch, sktch, sktch of my pencil.

I stand, my masterpiece finished. It looks almost perfect.

I am amazed, wondering how I could have done this. Who else could have?

The only sounds are the shff, shff, shff of my arms  moving slightly with every sktch, sktch, sktch of my pencil.

How could I have drawn this with such little noise?

Whispers

by Ayelet

Standing

I hear the pitter-patter of rain on my jacket  I sense the rain landing and splashing in graceful arcs  There

It smells clear but musty and strong  Cold

Little rays of sun peek through the trees  Sparkling in the rain

Wet

Deer! Over there! Standing stalk-still  In the cold, watching  But

The forest is asleep but awake and listening  Also

Trees riddling and puzzling  Their hearts beating strong  Calm

In the moment with my classmates around Silent but noisy and loud  But quiet And

Wind rustling through trees  Bringing a heavy downpour of rain our way Happy

Ayelet (left) is a current sixth-grader at PJA.  In addition to writing, she enjoys creating art, communing with nature, and hanging out with animals.

Sawyer (right) is a current sixth-grader at PJA.  In addition to writing, he enjoys drawing, making origami, and meditating.

Sensational Winter Break Camps

Winter Break is around the corner. If you’re still looking for a great way to keep your kids engaged and busy, check out our roundup of camp options. From art to martial arts, there’s something here your kids will love!

Aim High Martial Arts

Aim High’s will offer a Lego day camp from 12/19-12/23 and a Minecraft day camp from 12/27-12/30. Sign up for one or both and enjoy crafts, activities and more.

aimhighma.org/camps

Art World School

Art World School offers day camps as well as weekday and weekend classes. Their offerings include fine arts, drawing, painting, clay and arts & crafts. artworldschool.com

MJCC

MJCC’s 2022 Vacation Day Camps are for children ages 3-12 and are open to members and non-members. Your kids will enjoy sports, swimming, gymnastics, arts and crafts, games and more!  oregonjcc.org

Northwest Children’s Theater & School

NWCT’s fall break offerings are for ages 4-14. Whether you’re new to theater or you’re ready to enhance your acting, singing, and dancing skills, there’s something for everyone at NWCT! The Beaverton camps will be available on 12/27-12/30 and Portland camps will take place on 12/19-12/23. nwcts.org

Play.Fit.Fun

They offer half and full day camp options where your kids can come, play, stay active, make new friends and be well cared for and engaged. Their camps are similar to their after-school kids action classes. They’re like PE crashed into Field Day…then blended together with Team Building! playfitfun.com

The Hangout PDX

The Hangout PDX gives kids the tools to become innovators, rule-breakers, imagineers, and creators in the world of art. Winter Break camps will be available 12/19-12/23 & 12/27-12/30. $50 flat rate for 6.5 hours of fun! thehangoutpdx.com