NW Kids Magazine May 2015

L I V E • PLAY • DO

magazine

PORTLANDIA CAMPS TREASURE ISLAND’S HIDDEN GEMS AN INTERVIEW WITH LAURA VEIRS LAND GALLERY

nwkidsmagazine.com

May 2015

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Contents MAY 2015

8 Chatting with Laura Veirs

22 Found Around Town Shops

10 Is Portland, Oregon Actually Treasure Island?

The Rose City’s Best Hidden Gems

23 Recipe: Old World Pickled Cucumbers

14 Portlandia Camps 18 Land Gallery: Putting a Bird On It Since 2009

Contents photography by BETH FRIESENHAHN 4 | NW Kids Magazine

26 Best of Portland and Beyond: Our Top Picks for Getting Out This Month 34 Portland Author Book Reviews

EDITORS’

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Give us your bearded, your foodies, your urban homesteaders, environmentalists, and wanderers. We’ll welcome them in Portland with open arms! That’s what makes this city so great. There is no shortage of pioneering folks, doing their own thing, which makes for a pretty fun place to live. Raising kids here, amongst the “weird,” has exposed our families to creativity and fun, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

This month we celebrate Portlandia and feature some of the things that make it uniquely its own. Check out our interview with Portland luminary Laura Veirs on p. 8. She’s a creative mama who inspires us. Have you ever wondered where the Portlandia skit, “Put a bird on it” was filmed? At Land Gallery on Mississippi Avenue. We profile them on p.18. And be sure to explore the hidden gems of Treasure Island with your kids by taking a journey to Portland’s figureheads on p.10. Plus, don’t miss camps offering a little slice of Portlandia on p.16.

As we were running around this morning, snapping photos of tiny horses (#portlandhorseproject), it dawned on us; that last month we published our 50th issue as editors. Wow! We’re not quite sure how this happened, but we’re sure glad it did.

We’re happy to celebrate this milestone in May; the month of mamas and the beginning of parade season. You know we love a good parade, but not as much as we love this crazy, big-little city we call home.

Cheers, Kelley & Beth “Johnny and June” Cover photography by KATI DIMOFF kdimoffphotography.com NW Kids Magazine | 5

Listings Baby Sleep Trainer...................................................7 Barre3......................................................................2 Bennett Suzuki......................................................16 Big Lake Youth Camp............................................27 Candace Gregory...................................................32 Cascade Mountain School....................................24 Cascade Raptor Center..........................................33 Catlin Gabel School...............................................24 Circuit Bouldering Gym.........................................24 Cotton Babies..........................................................7 Dr. Pike Dentistry for Children.................................2 Experience Theatre Project....................................27 German International School...............................21 Glendoveer Tennis.................................................27 Goodtime Chinese School....................................32 ID Tech...................................................................19 International School.............................................24 Kevaland...............................................................17 Lake Oswego Community Rowing.......................31 Laughing Planet....................................................12 Legacy Health.........................................................3 Leisure Sports Inc Club Sport................................29 Little Fruit Farm.....................................................32 Meadowood Springs............................................16 Metro Arts.............................................................27 My Masterpiece Art Studio...................................31 Nelson Pediatric Dentistry....................................12 Northeast Community Center..............................15 Northwest Children’s Theater................................31 OCAC.....................................................................27 Omega Gymnastics...............................................25 Oregon Children’s Theatre.....................................19 Oregon Zoo............................................................30 Pizazz Baking Camp..............................................16 Portland Aquarium...............................................32 Portland Parks and Rec Aquatics..........................29 Portland Rock Gym...............................................15 Portland Trampoline.............................................13 Propagize..............................................................29 Reading Toolkit......................................................29 Rewild...................................................................17 Royal Ridges..........................................................25 Saturday Academy................................................31 School of Rock.......................................................15 Schoolita Alegria...................................................25 Soccer Shots..........................................................36 Sound Roots..........................................................17 Spielwerk Toys.........................................................7 SW Community Center.........................................30 Sweet Peas Kidzone..............................................25 Summa Academy.................................................16 The Kids’ Backyard Store.......................................13 Trinity Lutheran (Place Foundation).....................21 Urban Farm Store..................................................32 Vibe of Portland....................................................21 VillaSport..............................................................35 Westside Montessori International......................33 WeVillage..............................................................31 World of Smiles.....................................................33 Young People’s Theater Project.............................30 Zenana....................................................................7 CORRECTION: Last month we incorrectly listed bella stella’s url. It should have been bellastellaresale.com 6 | NW Kids Magazine

magazine Publisher / Advertising Director Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editorial Beth Friesenhahn beth@nwkidsmagazine.com Kelley Schaefer-Levi kelley@nwkidsmagazine.com Account Manager Laurel Ackerman laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Services Coordinator/ Client Ad Design Karel Chan karel@nwkidsmagazine.com Design Robyn Barbon robyn@folkloremedia.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Twitter: @nwkids • Pinterest: pinterest.com/nwkids NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

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Chatting with…

Laura Veirs by BETH BLENZ-CLUCAS

Laura is a luminary in the national indie-alternative music scene, with critically acclaimed recent albums July Flame and Warp and Weft, as well as an award-winning album for children called Tumble Bee. This singersongwriter frequently collaborates with her husband Tucker Martine, who produces albums for top talents like the Decemberists and My Morning Jacket. A creative force and mother of two young sons, Laura reflects here on the challenges of making art amid the time constraints of parenthood and describes her perferct day in Portland.

Photograph by CHLOE AFTEL

We heard you have a TED talk coming up and are editing a book you wrote. Can you tell us more?

Tucker and I have been working hard on our presentation for May 2nd at Revolution Hall. The theme is “Pursuit of a Creative Life.” Believe it or not, we’re going to talk about failure. If you push through blocks and challenges, you’ll find delight in the discovery of new ideas.

Where do you work on your writing?

What inspires you?

I work in an attic! We set up a separate work 8 | NW Kids Magazine

space for me upstairs at our house. Now that our youngest son Oz is two and goes to preschool, things have become a little easier.

It’s been so important to carve out a space away from the distractions where I can get the silence and the psychic space I need to write songs and stories. I love working from home, but I have to have the discipline to buckle down and do it. This space helps.

As for inspiration, I try to keep my eyes open and notice things around me. It could be the petals falling from a tree, or something I see on the street, or something the kids say.

Awhile back, I was at a farmer’s market and

noticed the “July Flame” peaches. They inspired me to write one of the best songs and albums I’ve ever written. I’m reading “The Wizard of Oz” to our kids now, and L. Frank Baum’s author introduction said something that resonates with me. He was bucking the moralistic trend in children’s literature at the time. Instead of trying to educate children, he decided that his book was going to go to wild and imaginative places. The best children’s songs and literature are fantastical and creative.

How has motherhood shaped your music/writing?

Well, it certainly puts the squeeze on my time! But it also gives me the motivation I need to work. So does the need to make a living. I have to keep writing and making music.

It’s my job. At first, balancing it all with a baby was difficult and exhausting, but now I think I know how to preserve the mental energy and space for it. It helps to eat well and try to stay fit. That way, I have the energy to do all the things I want to do.

How do you make time for your craft?

Having daycare is essential. I find that I can get a lot done working part-time. Having less time can be good. I think the time constraints actually help me make art. You don’t have limitless time. The stakes are higher. Life is fleeting. I don’t take things for granted anymore.

What do you love about living and raising your family in Portland? And what do you like to do with your family?

We love riding around town on our bikes. We have a cargo bike to haul the kids around. We also live in a great neighborhood in North Portland, and I think there are 18 kids on our street. The kids and I have been a part of a Tuesday morning playgroup for a while now, and I love staying in touch with other moms and kvetching about the challenges of raising kids. I’m a social person, and love that I’m part of an artistic community.

What is your idea of the perfect day?

We love going to the farmer’s market, then meeting friends for lunch (Portland has so many great restaurants that are kid-friendly), walk around Alberta Street, drop into Collage for some art supplies, maybe head home for a little rest. In the afternoon, we might go to the pool and then enjoy a bike ride around the neighborhood. It would be a simple, fun day in the city.

What is playing on your stereo at home?

We’re into vinyl in our house. Tucker has about 1,000 albums. I just checked the turntable. It’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, a movie soundtrack album from 1973 by Bob Dylan.

Our 5-year-old son Tenessee enjoys listening to “Peter and the Wolf ” and audio books. Oz (age 2) loves anything with a beat.

What’s next for Laura Veirs?

Aside from the TEDX talk on May 2nd, I’m also working up a biography for Chronicle Books called “Libba: The Magnificent Life of Elizabeth Cotten,” which will be published in fall 2017. When I was creating Tumble Bee, I learned a lot about Cotten from researching the children’s recordings of Peggy Seeger.

Cotten was the housekeeper for the Seeger family. She was a lefty like me who played a unique upside-down style. The Seeger family noticed her talent and helped her launch a musical career. She began touring in her 60s, and continued into her 90s. It’s a great story.

I’m also going to record a new album of songs with two high-profile women artists in the fall. Tucker is producing it, and it comes out in 2016.

Beth is mom to two Portland-raised sons, who are now in their 20s. She’s a big fan of Laura Veirs’ work and enjoys Portland’s vibrant music scene. She’s also a PR flack for dozens of top indie family music artists from all over the country. Her home-based company is Sugar Mountain PR. NW Kids Magazine | 9

Is Portland, Oregon Actually Treasure Island?

The Rose City’s Best Hidden Gems Article and Photographs by KATIE BOEHNLEIN

Ahoy mateys! Land ho!

Welcome to Portlandia, home to hidden treasures and well-known wonders alike.

Are you a pirate itching to find buried gold?

Well, I have heard stories, passed from friend to friend, that Portlandia is home to a cache of hidden gems, just waiting to be found.

Before you take to the streets, waterways, and trails of Portland, however, make sure you gather your adventurous spirit, a good pair of walking shoes, proper weather attire, and perhaps even a small shovel for digging. But don’t forget, the treasures of this city are as infinite as the stories people tell. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you may stumble across your own special places to add to your treasure map!

Find Your Figurehead

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Everyone knows that to find hidden treasure, you need a treasure map. But you also need a pirate ship to store your treasure, and what’s a pirate ship without its figurehead!? Luckily, I know of a couple promising candidates that can be pilfered for your cause. The first is Paul Bunyan, a stalwart candidate to guide you through squalls on the sea. He can be

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found in the Kenton neighborhood, on the corner of N Interstate and N Denver.

Measuring 31 feet of concrete and metal, he is built to weather the wildest storms. Built in 1959 to commemorate Oregon’s 100th birthday and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009, he is definitely worth a visit. Lady Portlandia, protector of our fair city, may also strike your fancy.

Hanging off the civic Portland building downtown at 1120 SW 5th Avenue, she beckons to passersby with her classical attire and trident, welcoming all to keep Portland weird. But did you know that Portlandia is the second largest copper statue of her kind, only after the Statue of Liberty in New York!

Climb up to the Crow’s Nest

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Treasure hunting is all about finding the right perspective. And what’s better than climbing to the crow’s nest to discover new views? Rocky Butte, located in NE Portland (on NE Rocky Butte Road, via NE 92nd Avenue), offers one of the most stunning views in the area. From this height, you can watch for invading swashbucklers making their way up the Columbia River. The most accessible public park on the peak, James Woodhill Park, affords views East into the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood, and West into downtown Portland and the Tualatin Mountains. Similar to its neighbor, Mt. Tabor, Rocky Butte is an extinct volcanic cinder cone; its treacherous slopes tell its fiery geologic story. For explorers who would rather ride the air waves, the Portland Aerial Tram is a breathtaking way to see a view of Portland from the Southwest Hills at Oregon Health Sciences University. The 500-foot skyward journey takes just three

Portland’s most unique park, identified by Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest. At only a few square feet in area, it has, since its inception in 1946, said to be home to leprechauns and other whimsical creatures. If you and your companions are lucky, the inhabitants of this small park may lead you to a pot of gold!

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minutes, enough time to take in the view of the meandering Willamette River and city skyline. Tickets can be purchased at the South Waterfront transit area at 3303 SW Bond Street and are $4.35 round trip. The tram is free to ride the tram from OHSU down to the South Waterfront and to get there, the most adventurous way to reach the hospital campus is via the Marquam Nature Park trail system (park shelter located on SW Marquam Street).

Hidden Treasure Downtown?

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Water-loving land-lubbers can still get their feet wet in many public fountains throughout downtown Portland. Two of the most interesting are the Ira Keller Fountain (SW 3rd Ave and Clay Street) and the Lovejoy Fountain (SW 3rd Avenue and Harrison Street), located only a few blocks from each other and designed by the same architect.

Both fountains feature design evocative of Portland’s natural landscape, waterfalls cascade down the Keller Fountain and the Lovejoy Fountain is reminiscent of Oregon’s streams rushing down a mountain. Both places offer a quiet, aquatic respite from the busyness of the city and are ideal for little pirates to practice their seaworthy skills. But for those looking for gold, Mill Ends Park is the place to go.

Located at SW Naito Parkway and Taylor Street, it is probably

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SE Portland’s Ladd’s Addition neighborhood is a pirate’s dream: diagonal, elm-lined streets beckon adventurers to get lost and wander. Platted in 1891, even looking at a map of the area resembles a pirate’s map: four hidden rose gardens ring a central X. Intersecting streets all come together at Ladd Circle, located at SE 16th and Harrison. Here, you can play hide and seek under the rhododendron trees and afterwards, grab a warm drink and a slice of pie at Palio cafe (1996 SE Ladd Avenue). Just down the Willamette River, Elk Rock Island in Milwaukie, OR is the most promising place to find buried treasure. Formed by ancient lava flows, the island is home some of the oldest exposed rock in the area and is only accessible by a 40 million year old land bridge exposed during low tides and drier seasons. To reach the island, park or take public transit to Milwaukie’s Spring Park Natural Area (SE Sparrow Street at SE 19th Avenue) and access the land bridge from the Spring Park trailhead. Explore the island’s seven distinct ecosystems from meandering trails and coastline, but be sure to stick to the trails to avoid poison oak.

Katie Boehnlein is a teacher and writer living in Portland, OR where you can find her exploring the beautiful natural and historic landmarks of the Rose City by foot and by bike. She grew up traversing the parks and staircases of Southwest Portland, which began a life-long passion for unearthing hidden urban gems. You can follow Katie’s musings on urban exploration and other related topics on her blog “In the Midst,” which can be found at kboehnlein.wordpress.com.

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camps by KELLEY SCHAEFER-LEVI

Portlandia, Stumptown, Rip City, P-town. All nicknames for the city we call home. The place where your kids can learn to weave, become an archer, stilt walk and unicycle because well, why not? Childhood is celebrated here. And with the celebration comes some interesting people teaching our kids some pretty incredible stuff. There are endless camp options out there, but here we list the camps that keep it a little bit “weird” all in the name of having fun and teaching lifelong skills.

Circus Cascadia

Modern Domestic

Join the circus at a Circus Day Camp! An outdoor camp where campers can realize their inner clown. Learn how to stilt walk, juggle, tightrope, flower sticks and more.

Kids participate in a Circus Show at the end of their camp week. For any ability level. For ages 6-16. circuscascadia.com

Kids can put a bird on it if they want to at Modern Domestic’s weeklong summer camps. Campers learn many fun sewing skills and learn how to measure, cut and sew zippers. For ages 8-14. Beginners welcome. moderndomesticpdx.com

Girl Circus

Empower your girls this summer! This circus camp exclusively for girls promotes body positivity, creativity and teamwork through the circus arts. Campers can try dance, poi spinning, hooping, juggling, stage craft and more! For ages 7-14. girlcircus.com Green Bean Books

The dream of the 1890s is alive in Portland at Green Bean Books’ Pioneer Pioneer camp for girls! Campers spend days filled with pioneer crafts and games like bookbinding and fabric dying, designing quilt-squares and learning how to play marbles. They’ll read books about the Oregon Trail, visit Mimosa and meet special guests. For girls ages 8-11. greenbeanbookspdx.com

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Pizazz Sweets

Young bakers learn new skills! Campers bake their own dessert from scratch every day and decorate it using a variety of techniques taught in class.

Children take home samples of what they bake each day. For ages 6-12. pizazzsweets.com Rewild

Nature camps where kids gain hands on experience in the wild using sand, mud, sticks and stones, skin and bones or flint and steel. Campers re-integrate the human component of participating in nature by making the things we needed to live and survive from the elements of the natural world. Campers ages 5-13. rewildportland.com continued on p. 16

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School of Rock

Green Day vs. Nirvana boot camp anyone? Kids with some experience gain musicianship skills and nurture their inner rock star at 5-day rock camps. Campers learn the nuts and bolts of live performance, music theory and songwriting, interact with other young musicians, experience what it’s like to be in a band, make new friends and rock out! Camp for rookies, too. For ages 8-18. schoolofrock.com Trackers Earth

A Portlandic favorite among parents and kids where campers train in archery, fish on rivers, learn outdoor survival, head to the school of magic, practice safe woodcarving, or participate in a roleplaying adventure camp. Located all over Portland. For ages 4 on up to adult. trackerspdx.com

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Zenger Farm

Urban farm camp offering an unforgettable opportunity to explore, eat, and play at an educational farm and wetland. Activities include farm scavenger hunts, cooking challenges, crafting with magical plants, tending to vegetables and farm animals, and daydreaming with dragonflies. For 5-18. zengerfarm.org

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Land Gallery: Putting a bird on it since 2009 by KELLEY GARDINER

It happens fairly often. A couple or a group of friends walk into the cute storefront on Mississippi Avenue, and they start to debate among themselves: “Is this the place? I think it is.”

“No, it isn’t. Could it be?”

The employees have heard it before, so they step in. “Yes, this is the put a bird on it store.” Maybe the most famous Portlandia sketch ever was filmed right here at Land Gallery. If you ask, one of those friendly staff will show you where a little bird figurine from the show still perches in a corner of the shop’s retail space.

“We didn’t realize how much of our stuff does have birds on it,” laughs Amber Castaldo, whose husband co-owns Land, and who helps run the day-to-day operations.

But while a comedy bit like “put a bird on it” pokes fun at the local maker’s scene, it’s in fact widely varied. This store reflects the creativity 18 | NW Kids Magazine

of the community that surrounds it, okay, and maybe their desire to get cards and shirts with birds on them. Or deer. Or illustrations of cunning cats. Or whimsical whales.

Above the retail storefront sits the art gallery, open the same hours as the store, showing independent and/or local artists. When I visited with Amber, “Portal Land” was showing, a kind of graphic dreamscape in illustrations by local artist Alex DeSpain. Past art shows include the dreamy Emily Martin, inspired by fairy tales, and the super-popular cut paper art of Nikki McClure. A “Triforce Tribute” show had Legend of Zelda fans marking out their spot in line overnight for a chance to buy a limited edition Olly Moss print. You can get those prints on eBay today, but the bidding starts at $300. “We had to call the police,” says Amber, to warn them that there was a reason, if maybe a unusual one, why these people were camping out on Mississippi Avenue. continued on p. 20

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Land Gallery has been open since 2009, but the business goes back even further. It all started with Buy Olympia in 1999, eons ago in internet time. Buy Olympia was one of the first online stores to sell items by independent artists, and they had a good eye. “I was the first one to wear that ‘Reading is Sexy’ shirt, before it was on the Gilmore Girls,” Amber tells me. I had no idea it was on Gilmore Girls. I just thought that it was really popular with bookish young women. Amber’s husband Pat co-founded Buy Olympia business partner Aaron, and they’ve been off and running ever since. Eventually, the business outgrew the small town that bears its name, and the whole crew moved to Portland to open the retail and gallery space.

Yes, a “Reading is Sexy” shirt is a little racy for the younger set, but parents will find a wide array of cute and functional goods and gifts for kids, with that focus still on goods made by independent artists. There’s the “future librarian or “no tattoos yet” shirt.

Clicking on Buy Olympia’s “Stuff for Kids” button will help you stay the hippest parent in town. Handmade “Portland Sasquatch” doll? Temporary bike tattoos? How about a onesie with a bird (there we go again) and a cat rocking out with a record player and headphones?

Land Gallery was also featured in a later, less-famous Portlandia sketch: Spyke Drives.

Customers won’t recognize the store in that bit, though, because it takes place in the warehouse behind the shop.

“Most stores don’t have a lot of back stock,” Amber calls back to me with a bit of a raised eyebrow, while walking through rows and rows of industrial shelves with stacks of t-shirts and prints. Land Gallery is, once again, a little bit different. Any of the goods you can find at Buy Olympia can be purchased online and picked up at the store on Mississippi, saving local shoppers the cost of shipping. Some prints can even be printed on demand, saving the artist production costs as well.

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We sit down in the warehouse, me with my coffee from the Fresh Pot just down the street, to chat a bit more. Amber and Pat are the parents, of the whip-smart, and very fun Vinnie, and they love raising a kid in Portland. Once Amber picks up Vinnie from school and brings him home, “we don’t need to get in the car again,” she sighs contentedly. Food, coffee, entertainment is all within walking distance, after homework is done, of course. Amber loves the small town feel in their Beaumont neighborhood, with convenience of big city amenities. And after the work of the day is done, she gets to partake in another very Portland activity. Yep, Amber is also known as Avalanche, of the Rose City Rollers. You can see her with two perfectly curled ponytails jamming for the High Rollers roller derby team at Oaks Park.

Land Gallery is a little slice of Portlandia, a balance of big and small, showing off some of the best and most fun aspects of the artistic community. With carefully-curated items from over 100 artists, Land Gallery shows that the creative side of Portland, birds and all, is more than just jokes, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, either.

Kelley Gardiner is a Portland native, a freelance writer and blogger, and the mother of one sweet toddler. To see what she’s up to, visit kelleygardiner.com

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Found around Town SHOPS

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1 SCRAP

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We love SCRAP and they have a new location!

A great place to donate what you no longer use or pick up donated supplies to create something truly awesome.

1736 SW Alder scrappdx.org

2 BUDD + FINN

A little something for every member of the family including your discerning young Portlander.

Check out the cast iron dog collection.

316 NW Broadway buddfinn.com/aboutUs.php

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3 PAXTON GATE

Owl pellets and badger toe bones. Need we say more? Our kiddos love this amazing shop of unexpected gems.

4202 N Mississippi Avenue paxtongate.com/paxton/portland

4 COFFEE KIDS

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Look! Coffee Kids has a new location on Division.

Beautiful space with beautifully procured toys, gear, and more.

3354 SE Division coffeekidspdx.com

5 CHEESE & CRACK SNACK SHOP

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What started as a cheese shop on wheels is now a brick and mortar. Cheese, olive handmade cracker yummies, and soft-serve ice cream topped with chocolate ganache for the whole family.

22 SE 28th Avenue cheeseandcrack.com

6 UPLIFE

All ages welcome to this new nonprofit, creative arts space in NE Portland. Classes, camps and a store selling upcyled goods from donations.

424 NE Killingsworth Street uplifepdx.org 22 | NW Kids Magazine

an c u Yo kle pic T! THA OLD WORLD PICKLED CUCUMBERS Recipe by KELLIE GUESS OF ST. JOHN’S LIVING WELL

For centuries before modern factories sterilized pickles with heat to preserve them, raw cucumbers were simply soaked in brine and spices as a way to extend shelf life, enhance flavor and cultivate health. This process of ‘lacto-fermentation’ generates a nutrient dense environment that is alive with probiotics; enzymes and beneficial bacteria that can help build our immune system and aid digestion.

WHAT YOU NEED: Water (chlorine-free) 2-3 tablespoons of natural sea salt (per quart of water) 3-6 garlic cloves, peeled (per quart of pickles) 1-2 Tbsp. (per quart) of your favorite spices (we use a blend of dill seed, yellow mustard seed, coriander, bay leaf, cinnamon, chili pepper flakes, allspice, ginger, black pepper, cloves. You can also use 1-2 Tbsp. of fresh dill if you have it with some additional spices. Be creative when spicing to taste!)

A few grape, horseradish or oak leaves.

Small cucumbers (enough to fill the container)

WHAT YOU DO:

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Wash and sterilize two glass, food grade ceramic or food grade plastic containers.

Fill one container with water and dissolve the salt into the water to make a brine.

Pour about 1/3 of the garlic cloves, spices and leaves into the other container.

Wash and pack the cucumbers tightly into the container on top of the spices, but stopping 1-2 inches from the top of the container (often called “headspace”).

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Pour the rest of the garlic cloves and spices on top of the cucumbers.

Pour the brine over the cucumbers until they are completely submerged.

Place the rest of the leaves on top to make a layer between the cucumbers and the surface of the brine. It is important to keep the cucumbers submerged below the brine to ensure safe and effective fermentation. Some people place a small plate, ceramic weight or stone on top of the leaves.

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Cap the container and ferment at room temperature for 3-5 days. Store in cooler temperatures to slow the fermentation process.

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The brine will be bubbly throughout the fermentation process. When the bubbles stop rising, the pickled cucumbers should taste pleasantly sour and salty and will be ready to eat. Slice one in half to make sure the ferment reached the center.

Note: Lacto-fermentation is safe because not only does the lactic acid destroy bad bacteria when done properly, a spoiled ferment is obvious due to a foul odor.

St. Johns Living Well is a natural health and home store located in St. Johns. They’re committed to providing the most environmentally safe, high quality, locally produced and fair products as possible. We offer additional support through classes, workshops, community events and on-site resources.

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Best of Portland and beyond OUR TOP PICKS FOR GETTING OUT THIS MONTH

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MAY Tuesdays HOMESCHOOL BUTTON CLUB

Learn how to use the IPRC’s (Independent Publishing Resource Center) button making machine, gain access to their materials, and explore all that can be done with these tiny handmade badges. Lots of scraps to play with!

For homeschoolers ages 8 and up with a $5-20 suggested donation; 10am-noon. iprc.org

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through May 25 LITTLE MERMAID

This musical tale of a girl longing for life above the waves travels deep under the sea and high into the air with a touch of circus performance, a dash of vaudeville, and the help of the A-WOL Dance Collective! Showtimes at noon and 4pm; $17-23. nwcts.org

May 9 CRAFTY WONDERLAND SUPER COLOSSAL SPRING SALE

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Portland is super crafty and what better representation than Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Spring Sale! On May 9th over 200 vendors will pack the Oregon Convention Center with their über cool creations. Pick up a little something for mom or treat yourself! 11am-6pm, free. craftywonderland.com

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May 9 ST. JOHNS PARADE AND BIZARRE

Come for the parade and stay for the bizarre. The 53nd annual St. John’s Parade begins promptly at noon in downtown St. Johns and is jam-packed full of fun. Pirates, ponies, marching bands, and tons of old-timey cars make this parade a neighborhood gem. stjohnsparade.com stjohnsbizarre.com

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

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May 9-31 RAMONA QUIMBY

Based on stories by Beverly Cleary, Oregon’s most famous children’s author, “Ramona Quimby” is an adventure that will appeal to the many generations of readers who have loved this charming pest. Saturdays at 2pm and 5pm; Sundays at 11am and 2pm; $15-30. octc.org/onstage/ramona

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May 10 PEOPLE IN THE STREETS EAST SUNDAY PARKWAYS

This year Sunday Parkways kicks off on Mother’s Day! Celebrate the day by biking, walking and rolling through some of Portland’s favorite neighborhoods. Be sure to check out the newly finished Foster Floodplain Natural Area; 11am-4pm. portlandoregon.gov/transportation/58929

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May 14-17 UFO FESTIVAL & PARADE

May 16 SILVERTON PET PARADE

Animal lovers unite! Come watch or take part in one of the cutest parades ever. Kids of all ages are welcome to walk with their pets (bunnies, horses, llamas, chickens… you name it). No registration is required.

Check the website for more details. silvertonchamber.org

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May 28 LAST THURSDAY ON ALBERTA

Check out what’s happening on NE Alberta as galleries open their doors, and artists and performers take to the streets. The entertainment and people watching will not disappoint; 6-9:30pm. lastthursdayonalberta.com

Get your Scully & Mulder on this weekend at the 16th annual McMenamins’ UFO Festival & Parade. In addition to ticketed events, the weekend will include a number of free, family friendly attractions, including: live music, a costume parade, an alien pet costume contest, a fun run, and a movie. ufofest.com Remember to check the NW Kids online calendar for dozens more outings and activities each day.

Share with friends, subscribe to the RSS, add directly to your calendar, and more features. There’s something going on you don’t want to miss!! nwkidsmagazine.com/events/month 28 | NW Kids Magazine

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PORTLAND AUTHOR BOOK REVIEWS

BY CAT WIESE OF GREEN BEAN BOOKS “HOME”

by Carson Ellis (Hardcover $16.99) Where do you call home? Is home in a shell like a snail? Or a big ship like a pirate?

Or a bird’s nest? Portland’s very own talented Carson Ellis solo debuts her newest book all about “Home.” Her whimsical illustrations cozily depict all the different kinds of homes you can think of, magical and practical. Where would a raccoon call home? Could a boot be considered home? No matter how big, small, square, round, imaginary or real, anything can be considered a home to someone.

“THE MAINE COON’S HAIKU”

by Michael J. Rosen Illustrated by Lee White (Hardcover $17.99) Attention cat lovers!

What do you get when you mix cats and poetry? “The Maine Coon’s Haiku.” Poet Michael Rosen tells the sweet, mysterious, and usually indifferent “tails” of our favorite feline companion. Along with the fiveseven-five prose are Portland’s own Lee White’s charming and elegant illustrations which capture the essence of what we love most about our furry housemates. Take your cat by the paw and venture through the poetic world of cat haikus.

“IN”

by Nikki McClure (Hardcover $16.95) Have you ever just wanted to stay in?

In-side your warm home, reading in books, possibly in the bathroom? Nikki McClure beautifully illustrates with her intricate paper cuts her idea of what staying “in” is like in her newest book, “In.” But what happens when you find yourself out? Step inside this enchanting story by Nikki McClure to find out what might bring you back In. “FLY!”

by Karl Newsom Edwards (Hardcover $15.99) Local illustrator Karl Newsom Edwards’ new picture book is about a fly that just doesn’t know how talented he is yet. Worm wiggles, and Spider swings, but Fly isn’t quite sure if he’s meant to wiggle or swing. With Edwards’ amusing and delightful illustrations, playful action words, and a fun page of brief bug facts, we are sure to discover what Fly can do.

Perhaps you’ll discover what makes you unique along the way.

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