PDX Parent November 2019

pg. 14 «

FREE

» Picky eaters: what works ... and what doesn’t,

Kids ♥ Museums: Your Guide to Hands-on Fun!

for the long days and short years

FROM FINE DINING TO PUB EATS:

37

Kids can cook,

Family-approved spots to Try Right Now PDXPARENT.COM

pg. 30

PORTLAND | VANCOUVER | NOVEMBER 2019

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

November 2nd All About Transportation

December 7th Pictures & Cookies with Santa Claus

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

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

contents IRENE TEJARATCHI HESS

19 FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

Eat Your Veggies!............... 14

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

Our writer test-drives eight healthy-eating hacks designed to get more veggies into the pickiest of eaters — from home gardening to all-out bribery.

By Kat Merck.

The PDX Parent Dining Guide............................ 19

Play Room...........................................................8 Tackling food waste, spots with the

Crispy tortillas bowls to liven up your Taco Tuesdays! By Judith Rich.

coolest cocoa foam art, and sharing

Time Out............................................................................ 33

soup to end hunger in Oregon.

The coolest model railroad display in Portland,

Neighborhood We

♥..............................26

Robust community spirit, a new city

a parade to celebrate veterans and tree lightings to kick off the holiday season.

park and delicious things to eat —

Parentlandia..................................................................40

There’s plenty to love about Northeast’s

A comic for parents. By Tom Toro.

Cully neighborhood. By Erin J. Bernard.

From special-occasion dining

Field Trip...........................................................30

to tasty treats to pubs with

Can a children’s cooking class inspire

play areas, we cover your

Recipe File........................................................................32

kids to pack their own lunches (and

KIDS

♥ MUSEUMS.................................................. 41

RESOURCES

best options for eating out

voluntarily eat vegetables)? Our writer

with the kids. By Denise

hits a Northwest Nibbles class with her

Open Houses..............................................................27-29

Castañon and Erin J. Bernard.

three kids to find out. By Ali Wilkinson.

Holiday Highlights................................................... 36-39

* cover stories

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PDX Parent

B

IRENE TEJARATCHI HESS

e d i t o r ’ s n ot e

for the long days and short years

(Where to) Eat, Drink and Be Merry efore our oldest child was born, my husband and I vowed we’d keep going out to eat. And amazingly enough, we did. The first restaurant we took Adela to (when she was 3 weeks old, she’s now 7) was the now-shuttered Tasty n Sons on North Williams. It wasn’t exactly easy, but I’ll say it was worth it for the Korean-fried chicken, pimenton-covered potatoes, and the chocolate potato doughnut. And we kept going out to eat with her and her little brother, Cruz, when he came along. But we modified our habits somewhat. We’d go very early in the evening, eventually bringing placemats or baby spoons as needed. And we didn’t necessarily hit restaurants with play areas, even though HUB holds a dear spot in my heart for always allowing us a place to land. (Even when we were having one of those days.) We found what worked and what didn’t in a restaurant by going out and trying several spots.

We learned that almost any establishment can be kid-friendly if you give your kids the tools to have a successful dining-out experience: You’ve talked about expectations, packed something to keep them busy before the food arrives, and have a small snack in case the wait is longer than expected. But if you don’t want to experience the trial and error we went through, our annual food issue features our first-ever PDX Parent Dining Guide, page 19, packed with places where the servers won’t give you the stink-eye when you roll up with a toddler. We even mention Tasty n Daughters, the restaurant reincarnation of Tasty n Sons. (And we include spots with play areas, too, because sometimes that is exactly what you need.) We couldn’t cover every single kid-friendly restaurant in PDX, but we list enough to fuel your eating-out adventures for months. And while my kids are pretty good eaters from all those restaurants we hit on the regular, I know this is not the case with every kid out there. Take Kat Merck, one of our favorite writers. She describes her son as a “thoroughbred fusspot” when it comes to eating veggies. So she tried several recommended methods for getting him to just eat some greens and penned the (often hilarious) results in Eat Your Veggies! on page 14. You have full permission to steal the hacks that actually led her son to consume vegetables.

Happy eating, and I hope to see you out there enjoying a meal with your family!

— P.S. — The weather’s turned and that means you need ideas for indoor fun.

Check out our Kids ♥ Museums guide for local museums with plenty of hands-on exhibits to keep your kids busy during our cold and drizzly winter months!

P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660

r What’s you ite or v family’s fa nt ra restau in PDX?

Phone: 503-460-2774 Publisher Rose Caudillo, 503-460-2774 publisher@pdxparent.com Editor

Denise Castañon, 503-922-0893 Our weeknight standard denise.castanon@pdxparent.com is family-run La Bonita on Alberta Street. Hearty Managing Editor Mexican homestyle Erin J. Bernard burritos, salads and erin.bernard@pdxparent.com fresh pico de gallo!

Art Director Susan Bard We like Marco’s Café in Multnomah Village.

It has a good kids’ menu, breakfast all day, and adults can get sandwiches or more of a real dinner.

Web Director Michelle Carew, 503-914-6151 michelle.carew@pdxparent.com Calendar / Newsletter Editor Amy Conway calendar@pdxparent.com Customer Accounts Manager

We love Que Pasa Cantina in Southeast and Gladstone Pizza.

Christie Kline, 503-810-9817 christie.kline@pdxparent.com Distribution Coordinator Melissa Light

My family loves going to Saburo’s Sushi in Sellwood! It’s a once-amonth excursion. My kids love the miso soup, avocado rolls, shrimp sushi and chicken teriyaki.

Lucca on Northeast Fremont has been a family favorite for more than 7 years.

Chill vibe, kids’ menu, nice staff and delicious entrees.

melissa.light@pdxparent.com Eastside Account Executive Lauren Wylie, 503-331-8184 lauren.wylie@pdxparent.com Westside Account Executive Jill Weisensee, 503-914-6151 jill.weisensee@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

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:

sex or sexual orientation.

photojournalist Irene Tejaratchi Hess captured

Although every effort is taken to ensure the

daughter Lucia Fitzgibbon at Yonder, the newly opened restaurant from star chef Maya Lovelace.

We’ve lost count of how many food-issue covers Irene has shot for us. Her work definitely makes us hungry. See more of it at irenehess.com.

November 2019

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basis of race, color, national origin, religion,

Radicchio for the win! Local mama and this wonderful shot of Lisa Leslie and her

6

PDX Parent does not discriminate on 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.

p l ay r o o m

Ask Dr. Doug

Q

: I’ve noticed my 8-year-old daughter is extremely thirsty and

A

TOP 5 ...

JANET VINING

Cafés for Cocoa Foam Art Cocoa season is in full swing!

Keep this cold-weather kid-pick fresh by visiting one of our city’s

top stops for hot chocolate foam art. From tulips and unicorns to personalized monograms, these baristas take pride in their liquid artistry — and many accept custom requests.

➊ Albina Press wins points for its lovingly

rendered foam-art animals, and if the baristas have time, you might even get a chocolate flower on top.

➋ Over at Coava Coffee Roasters, you’ll

encounter intricately stacked rosettes fashioned

by friendly baristas, plus the rich flavors of Cocanú chocolate.

➌ At Barista — now a four-location

mini-empire — the cocoa-art creations are

sweetened by the welcoming kid-friendly vibes.

eating a ton, but seems to be losing weight. I plan to discuss this at her well-child appointment coming up, but I was wondering if these symptoms could be linked to juvenile diabetes?

: Kids who are losing weight need to be evaluated as soon as possible,

and I hope you’ve been able to see your pediatrician about your concerns. You’re right that when diabetes shows up suddenly in kids, it often involves excessive thirst, increased urination and losing weight in spite of increased appetite.

Type 1 diabetes is fairly common, affecting 1 in 400 children and teens under 20. There is some overlap in ages between what we used to call “juvenile” and “adult-onset diabetes,” so now we use the terms “type 1” and “type 2.”

While it can be a complex disease, the simplest way to think about type 1 diabetes is this: Although you have plenty of sugar in your blood, your body is not making enough of the hormone insulin, so you can’t actually use that sugar for energy. When this goes on long enough, the body breaks down fat for energy (instead of using the sugar). A buildup of acidic byproducts from this process (ketones) can be dangerous if it continues unchecked, leading to bad stuff that can land kids in the ICU. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where for reasons we don’t fully understand, our immune system attacks and destroys the cells in our pancreas that make insulin. This can happen suddenly or gradually, but once it starts, there isn’t a cure. However, with careful blood sugar control, a healthy diet and daily exercise, type 1 diabetes can be a manageable chronic disease.

The treatment for type 1 diabetes is to give our bodies what they’re not making enough of — insulin. If we took a pill of insulin, we would just digest it, so unfortunately this means giving daily shots. It also may mean figuring out how many carbohydrates your child is eating at each meal and checking his or her blood sugar with a finger poke, then adjusting the dose of insulin to cover the amount of sugar eaten. If this seems confusing, I understand — there is a reason pediatric endocrinologists work in a team with certified diabetes educators.

More and more, I’m also seeing high blood sugar, high cholesterol and early type 2 diabetes in children. This is the type most of us are familiar with, where due to being overweight or obese, our bodies become resistant to the effects of insulin, even though we’re making plenty of it. We can treat this with medication Got a question for that increases the body’s sensitivity to Dr. Doug? Send it to insulin, but if we want to treat the root of AsktheDr@pdxparent.com. the issue, we need to lose weight. Easier said than done — so start those healthy eating habits early.

?

buys you a customized message crafted right

into your foam.

➎ And don’t miss the cuteness

overload happening over at Soro Soro Coffee & Dessert, where shy pandas and curious cats

peek up at you from every steaming cup. (More on page 23.) Your wintertime Instagram feed is gonna be on point! — Erin J. Bernard

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Dr. Doug Lincoln practices general pediatrics at Metropolitan Pediatrics in Happy Valley. He is board certified in both pediatrics and preventive medicine, with special interests in helping parents meet their breastfeeding goals, caring for neurodiverse children with behavioral health needs, and advocating for children via teaching and policy. As a dad of two boys, he understands the joy and hard work that comes with parenting. Find out more about Dr. Doug and Metropolitan Pediatrics at metropediatrics.com.

DR. DOUG

➍ At Kenton’s Presso Coffee Bar, an extra buck

Good Deeds: Soup’s

On!

Amid the abundance (and culinary excess) of the Thanksgiving season, how can you and your kids support community members struggling with food insecurity?

Cooking up a pot of homemade soup right in your own kitchen is a great place to start. Pick a simple recipe that kids can assist with prepping — think chicken soup with rice or a hearty minestrone — whip up a 2- or 3-gallon batch, and then call up the folks at Free Hot Soup. A volunteer from this local grassroots nonprofit will come pick up your soup and share it with community members in need of a warm meal; Free Hot Soup serves up the food it collects at a neighborhood “picnic” right out of downtown Portland’s Director Park at 6 pm five days a week. (Older, more mature kids and their parents are also invited to come out and help serve the meals.) Hot dinner for hungry neighbors?

That’s a mission worth giving thanks for. Find out more at facebook.com/groups/freehotsoup. — E.J.B.

Chalkboard:

Waste Not

One in 5 Oregonians is food insecure.

30-40 percent of all

And the nonprofit Urban Gleaners is tackling food insecurity while simultaneously addressing the issue of food waste. By partnering with 160 food donors, such as Dave’s Killer Bread, Salt & Straw, Pastaworks, New Seasons, Laurelwood Public House & Brewery and

food produced in America ends up in a landfill. That’s 52 million tons of food tossed out each year.

Pacific Pie, they bring tasty and fresh unsold groceries and prepared foods to 4,700 people a week. A team of volunteers is crucial in distributing fresh produce, dairy,

552,900 Oregonians are food insecure

whole-grain bread and more at local schools and to community centers and low-income housing complexes across the metro area each week via their mobile markets. Because they believe there are enough barriers for families to access healthy food, Urban

194,070 of those Oregonians are kids

1 million pounds the amount of food Urban Gleaners prevents from going into Portland landfills

54 percent

of students in PPS qualify for free and reduced lunch

Gleaners does not have any income requirements. Anyone is welcome to come and pick up food. To donate food or money, volunteer your time (for adults or 16- and 17-year-olds with adults) — or to find a mobile market location where you can pick up free groceries — visit

26 the number

of public schools Urban Gleaners delivers food to each week

1,000+

families access Urban Gleaners’ free pantries every week SOURCE: URBAN GLEANERS

urbangleaners.org. — Denise Castañon

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Book Festival Picks!

Grab a Sharpie and get in line! Kim Tano and Madeline Scheir, the children’s book buyers at Portland institution Powell’s Books,

list their favorite children’s books whose authors or illustrators will be attending the Portland Book Festival on Saturday,

HARPER COLLINS

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

November 9 in downtown Portland. Don’t miss the chance to get your kid’s book signed! Find out more at literary-arts.org.

LITTLE, BROWN YOUNG READERS

p l ay r o o m

Bookshelf: Portland

The Proudest Blue: A

Just Like Beverly: A Biography

Baby Dragon, Baby

by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Conrad and David Hohn (both

Marr and Lena Podesta

Story of Hijab and Family (attending Portland Book

of Beverly Cleary by Vicki attending Portland Book

(attending Portland Book

by Rosanne Parry

(attending Portland Book

Festival) and Mónica

Festival)

Festival)

Armiño

Asiya chooses a beautiful,

Hometown hero Beverly Cleary’s

Local illustrator Lena

Separated from his family,

ocean-blue hijab to wear for

stories have resonated with

Podesta teams up with

wolf cub Swift must trek 1,000

the first day at school. Her

children for decades, and in this

Melissa Marr for this sweet

perilous miles across the

sister, Faizah, is so excited

new children’s biography, her own

story about a young girl

Pacific Northwest to find a

for her! When they’re faced

story gets the chance to shine.

and a baby dragon. The

new safe place to call home.

with confusing and hateful

Vicki Conrad and David Hohn

dragon swoops and soars

Inspired by the true story of

words, they remember their

chart Cleary’s rise to authordom

throughout the kingdom,

OR-7, a wolf also known as

mother’s advice: knowing

with thoughtful, compelling

and the girl does her best to

Journey, and illuminated by

who they are is all that

storytelling and joyous art that

keep up. After a day of flying

Mónica Armiño’s beautiful

matters. Ibtihaj Muhammad,

feels like it belongs alongside

through castles and across

illustrations, local author

the first Muslim-American

Louis Darling’s original illustrations

rivers, they both settle down

Rosanne Parry’s A Wolf Called

woman to earn a medal in

of Cleary’s works. Don’t miss the

for a giant feast with the

Wander is sure to speak to

the Olympic Games, brings

back matter, which provides extra

rest of the kingdom. Perfect

young readers who love

this wonderful story to life.

info and insights for older readers.

for young children with a

animals, the great outdoors, or

$17.99.

$18.99.

sense of adventure! $17.99.

a heartfelt adventure. $16.99.

Festival) and Hatem Aly

Pay Attention:

An Up-vote for Teachers If small class sizes and robust PPS school programming rank high on your 2020 wish list, then drop your ballot in the mail by Thursday, October 31 or at a ballot drop by 8 pm on Tuesday, November 5, when Multnomah County voters will be asked to renew a five-year operating tax levy that currently funds PPS teacher salaries to the tune of almost $100 million. (The levy was passed by 70 percent of voters in 2014 and collected at a rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value.) If renewed, Ballot Measure 26-207 is expected to support at least 640 teaching positions as well as provide a much-needed lift to important school programming, generating up to $112 million by the 2024-25 school year. For more info, visit multco.us/ elections/measure-26-207-november-2019-special-election. — E.J.B.

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A Wolf Called Wander

Dragon! by Melissa

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We Recommend: The A Kids Book About series, which tackles big topics such as racism, depression and cancer in a way that kids can understand. A number of Portlanders penned books for the series, including Wildfang CEO Emma Mcilroy and Jelani Memory, co-founder of Circle Media Labs. Learn more at akidsbookabout. com. — D.C.

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t a E r u o Y s! e i g g e V Our writer tries eight methods for encouraging her picky eater to consume more vegetables.

What worked — and what failed miserably.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAT MERCK

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D

o your kids eat their vegetables? Do you pack their BPA-free bento lunchbox compartments with organic broccoli and bell pepper strips, and they come home from school or day care eaten?

If so, this story is not for you. In fact, you may want to avert your eyes — what you are about to read is for desperate parents and caregivers only.

Toddlers for whom the mere sight of peas on their plate is grounds for an hour-long tantrum. Kindergarteners who would rather sit at the dinner table for three hours lest their tongue touch a zoodle. Children who can home in on cauliflower-containing pizza crust like a bomb-sniffing dog in the airport security line. “White-food kids,” as The New York Times euphemism goes.

Full disclosure: I’m the parent of an only, so I admit I have it easier than many. But he is a thoroughbred fusspot — my mother reportedly didn’t eat a vegetable until she was 21 years old, and at age 39, I still have occasional struggles. In thinking of the last time my son willingly ate a fresh, intact vegetable, I’m mortified to admit it has been months. And this is in spite of my intentionally exposing him to a variety of foods and flavors in utero, during the brief time I was able to breastfeed, and during his infancy and toddlerhood. Unlike many kids, his pickiness emerged later, around late-preschool age.

Unfortunately, I’m not alone in worrying about whether my child is eating enough vegetables. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 1 in 10 kids and adults eats the recommended 2 to 3 cups per day. How is this heightened vegetable consumption supposed to happen, I wondered, given that the advice dispensed by most pediatric medical professionals — “serve a variety of healthy options and leave it up to the child to eat or not” — is basically equivalent to throwing thousands of dollars of organic produce directly into the garbage?

This year, I made it my mission to get my son to eat more vegetables without tears, wasted money or losing what little is left of my mind. Here’s which popular methods actually worked … and which methods he’ll be recounting to his therapist in 15 years.

1. GROW YOUR OWN The concept: Surely the reason your kids aren’t eating their vegetables is because they think they’re slimy, mutant alien pods from another planet! Nurturing a plant from seed (or a start from Home Depot, if you have a black thumb as I do) to nutritious, sun-ripened leaf or cucurbit will not only foster an appreciation for plant stewardship, but also show your kids that vegetables aren’t so big and bad after all.

The reality: The deer and rabbits (and their children, I presume) ate every last bite of our garden while we were gone on a weeklong vacation. Is there a level below black thumb?

Recommended? No.

3. OFFER CHOICES The concept: À la the popular Positive Discipline program, kids who can make their own choices from a parent-approved list feel a sense of agency while at the same time having no options other than compliance. For instance, the parent says, “For dinner, do you want carrot sticks, celery sticks or peas?” The child chooses either carrot sticks, celery sticks or peas and eats them happily because they themselves made the choice.

The reality: “I don’t want ANY of those!” whined my son when I offered him carrot sticks, celery sticks or peas. (As opposed to the broccoli and green beans my husband and I were having, the mere offering of which I knew would shut down any road to communication.)

“You have to choose one,” I offered. I was flailing and he knew it.

“But I don’t like them,” he responded.

“You can have a piece of candy if you eat them,” I said.

“OK, peas.”

2. COOK YOUR OWN The concept: As the reams of available kids’ cookbooks indicate, kids often like to cook what they eat. In fact, a somewhat obvious but widely available 2012 study in Canada found that children who are involved in meal preparation tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and have better diets than kids who aren’t.

The reality: I have tried this many times in the past to no avail (turns out broccoli is still broccoli, even if you’re the one holding the pan), so I signed my son up for a community-education cooking class to see if someone else telling him to make vegetables would do the trick. On Day 2, to my delight, he brought home a plastic cup containing a side dish of corn mixed with chopped celery and bell peppers. Me: “Oh, you brought home corn! It looks delicious!” Him: “I don’t want it.” Me: “But you made it!” Him: “It doesn’t mean I want to eat it.”

Recommended? No.

(20 minutes later) “Do I HAVE to eat these peas? I hate them.”

Recommended? No.

4. SERVE THEM REPEATEDLY The concept: Many scientists believe children’s aversion to vegetables has a biological basis — being naturally drawn to sweeter, more calorically and carbohydrate-dense foods could provide an evolutionary advantage for still-growing kids in times of scarcity. And, further, this preference can be overcome with conditioning — a pediatrician we once saw told us young kids often need to try a food up to 20 times before deciding whether they like it.

The reality: If this research holds water, my son just hasn’t tried vegetables enough times. So, every night, I would persuade him to try something he had rejected. In this case, corn. After three days of him ignoring the corn as if it were some kind of mutant fungus encroaching on his hot dog, I, too, became worried about food safety and palatability, and the kernels ended up the trash.

Whoever invented this method must not have real children.

Recommended? No. pdxparent.com

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November 2019

15

' s s e n i k c i p When is an actual ? n r e c n o c l a c i med Many parents simply roll their eyes when kids refuse to eat their vegetables, but when does

picky eating cross the line to become a disorder?

5. COMPILE A “TASTE PLATE” The concept: Offering small portions of the different vegetables being served on any given night will make vegetables seem more manageable, and — in theory — kids might even find out they like something they previously thought they hated.

The reality: On a night I knew my husband and I were having something especially kid-repugnant (in this case, kale salad), I made sure to tear up small pieces and put them on a plate for my son to try. I remember this actually working a few times when he was a toddler, but as a 6-year-old, he acted as if I’d suffered a debilitating head injury. “Mom, I hate kale, REMEMBER?” Recommended? No.

According to Connie Liakos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.S.D.,

L.D., pediatric dietitian at Pediatric Associates of

the Northwest in Portland, picky eating is a normal

stage for most kids — especially toddlers between the ages of 1 and 3 who are likely just learning

to assert their independence. However, extreme

selectiveness that persists past this age could be a sign of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake

6. REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY The concept: Science says reverse psychology works for kids — especially young boys — and my son is no exception. He’s always had an oppositional streak, and telling him not to do something is practically a guarantee he will find a way to do it. Perhaps the compulsion to thwart my wishes will override his resistance to something as offensive as vegetables?

latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

The reality: “Here’s a bowl of beans and pasta, but please don’t eat the kale,” I explained with great earnestness. “I need to save it for something else, so whatever you do, don’t touch it.” He ate every last piece of kale.

both caloric and nutritional deficits, which could

Recommended? Yes.

Disorder (ARFID), a relatively new diagnosis in the Disorders. Children with ARFID are at high risk of affect long-term growth. How does a parent tell

the difference between ARFID, which often occurs

alongside anxiety disorders, ADHD and autism

spectrum conditions, and run-of-the-mill “I don’t want that”? According to Liakos:

☛ Picky kids eat around 30 foods, while “problem feeders” eat fewer than 20, a number that

continues to drop as time goes on.

☛ Wholesale rejection of certain textures and

food groups could be a matter of concern, as simply

picky kids will eat at least one food from each texture or food group.

☛ Kids with ARFID tend to fall apart if a new food

is introduced onto their plate, even if they’re given

the option not to eat it.

7. SUBTERFUGE! The concept: Though books like Jessica Seinfeld’s Deceptively Delicious and Missy Chase Lapine’s The Sneaky Chef have been popular for well over a decade, exhorting parents to hide pureed vegetables and beans in kid favorites like brownies and mac ‘n’ cheese, the voices of opposition are strong. Detractions include the fact this method does little to change kids’ minds about vegetables, it’s basically lying, and it’s not modeling healthy habits.

The reality: The detractors have valid points, but unfortunately, it works. My son despises spinach, but will devour nearly 4 cups of it when it’s pureed and mixed with cream cheese to make a neon-green sauce that looks like a martian interpretation of Kraft cheese (recipe page 18). I did not mention the coloring came from spinach, and he didn’t ask, though I would’ve been honest if he had.

Recommended? Yes.

☛ Picky kids will generally eat a new food after being exposed to it about 10 times, while ARFID

children rarely will, no matter how many times it’s offered.

☛ Extreme rigidity when it comes to feeding

routines and mealtimes, consistent and intense

sensory avoidance (too crunchy, too cold, et al.), and difficulty even touching a new food are all red flags.

If you’re worried your child could have ARFID, talk

to their pediatrician or a pediatric dietitian. They

may recommend increasing nutritious, calorie-

dense foods such as nuts or avocado, or refer your family to an interdisciplinary feeding team, which specializes in complex feeding issues.

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8. OFFER A BRIBE The concept: What are parents but occasionally corrupt dictators of a compact, sticky, lawless country? Embrace your status and use dessert, prizes or even small amounts of cash as a bribe in entreating your kids to eat their vegetables. Sure, it teaches them that difficult things aren’t worth doing unless there’s instant gratification, and reinforces the idea that eating vegetables is “work,” but if you grew up in the ’70s or ’80s, it’s probably what your parents did, and you turned out fine. … Right?

The reality: For better or for worse, this is the go-to method in our household. My son will often forgo dessert to avoid eating vegetables he has deemed permanently inedible, such as broccoli, but the promise of a small handful of jelly beans or Sour Patch Kids after dinner is enough to persuade him to eat most others.

Recommended? Yes. Continues on page 18

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17

Bonus ! s d o th e m

“MARTIAN” MAC ‘N’ CHEESE

☛ Take your

kids to Costco.

I don’t know

what it is about

the Costco samples, but my son and

Serves: 2 8 ounces dry pasta in a fun shape 1 ¼ teaspoons table salt 4 ½ cups fresh spinach

most of his friends will eat literally anything if it’s

1 ½ teaspoons olive oil

woman with a hairnet. Fish, spicy salsa, sauteed

1 small garlic clove

and your kids just might amass enough greenery

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

for a serving.

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

☛ Point out the scientific virtues of certain

1. Cook pasta with 1 teaspoon of salt in

find it hilarious to make their pee as odoriferous as

per package directions.

the wonder of post-digestion beetroot pigment?

olive oil, water, garlic and remaining

handed to them in a paper cup by a kindly elderly

zucchini — the sky’s the limit. Go two days in a row,

vegetables. Like asparagus. What kid wouldn’t

possible, as in the case of asparagus, or discover

☛ Serve only veggies one night. I did not try

2 tablespoons water 2 ounces cream cheese

a large pot of boiling water to al dente, 2. In a blender, combine spinach,

¼ teaspoon of salt (or more to taste) until smooth.

this because I couldn’t find a night where I was up

3. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add pureed spinach mixture and

eaten nothing for dinner, but if anyone is brave

4. Top with grated Parmesan if desired.

to a picky eater, please report back!

vegetables.

for being woken up repeatedly by a child who had

enough to serve nothing but vegetables for dinner

cream cheese and stir until creamy, adding lemon juice near the end.

5. Reassure your kids that it’s too cold on Mars to grow

Kat Merck is a freelance writer and editor in Camas, Wash., who to this day still struggles with broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts and eggplant.

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t

IRENE TEJARATCHI HESS

n e r a P X The PD

g n i Din e d i Gu Why did we decide to do a family dining guide?

Because we love eating writing about food. And Portland’s legendary restaurant scene is not just for kidless 20-somethings. Family-friendly options abound in every quadrant for every type of cuisine imaginable.

So whether you’re craving perfect croissants, off-the-wall pizza or comforting soup dumplings — we’ve got you covered. BY DENISE CASTAÑON AND ERIN J. BERNARD pdxparent.com

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November 2019

19

[Peanut Gallery] Vegan and gluten-intolerant families searching for a

fresh option for lunch or dinner out will dig Akadi’s bright and accessible take on West African classics. The menu, envisioned and executed by Chef Fatou, emphasizes traditional stews and soups, served up with rice or a side of fufu — a starchy, mellow cooked dough that fits well into little

hands and pairs perfectly with the bigger flavors of the soups and entrees.

Several of Akadi’s signature dishes incorporate or riff on kid-approved ingredients, rendering novel presentations and flavors accessible to young palates. Our tried-and-true kid picks: fried cassava sticks (they look like french fries!), and the peanut-butter stew, available with beef or chicken. — E.J.B. 3601 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. akadipdx.com. $-$$ GF VG ERIN J. BERNARD

[Conscious Snacking] When it comes to

confections with a conscience, nobody beats Alma Chocolate, whose treats and sweets emphasize

responsibly grown, traded and finished ingredients, locally sourced when possible (cacao — the star of the show — can’t abide our temperate climate). In store, try their insanely creamy drinking chocolate and buttery cookies. (Pro tip: Flourless options are available and awesome.) Then grab a few items to go; stockpiled Alma goodies make for great last-minute birthday gifts. (Pro tip: Do not store them in plain sight.) Our faves: the chocolate bars, which come bursting with crunchy almonds and hazelnuts, salty toffee or peanut butter; or the bon bon boxes. The

TREVOR PARKER

packaging’s so pretty, you can forego wrapping paper — how’s that for sustainable? — E.J.B. 140 NE 28th Ave. almachocolate.com. $-$$ GF VG

[Aloha Flavor] Go to Ate-oh-Ate and you’ll be hooked on their perfectly charred teriyaki chicken. (Seriously, two out-oftowners I’ve taken there have described it as “the best teriyaki chicken I’ve ever had.”) My 4-year-old can pack away a kids’ teriyaki

[Northwest Noshing] Hot on the heels of Kenny and Zuke’s filing for bankruptcy, PDX welcomes Beetroot Market & Deli to our city’s Jewish delicatessen scene. Beetroot serves up seasonally shifting deli classics with PNW flair, and this spot scores points as a quicker-than-arestaurant weekend breakfast option offering kidapproved staples like bagels and schmear, house-

plate like nobody’s business. But don’t miss their generous plates of katsu chicken, kalua pig, beef short ribs or happy hour burger, either. The sides hit the mark, too — the creamy miso-sesame dressing for the green salad is addictive, and the macaroni salad is deliciously peppery. This order-at-the-counter joint helps put you into an island-time frame of mind with vintage surf videos playing on the TVs (oh, Kelly Slater), surfboards on the ceiling and umbrellas in the drinks. Pro tip: My kids love the non-alcoholic P.O.G. juice that comes garnished with pineapple, lime and a

made pastries and granola bowls. And, forget the

cherry. — D.C.

Whole Foods counter: Takeaway options like classic

5200 SE Woodstock Blvd. and 2452 E Burnside St. ate-oh-ate.com.

deli salads, matzo ball soup and half-sour pickles also make this a great place for grabbing a quick-but-

$-$$ VG

still-impressive shareable dish on your way to that cook anything for. — E.J.B. 1639 NW Glisan St. beetrootmarketanddeli.com. $-$$

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KEY:

social gathering you definitely didn’t have time to $

less than $10 for an entree

$$

between $10 and $20 for an entree

$$$ more than $20 for an entree

GF gluten-free options VG

vegan options

[(Cup)cake Walk] It’s a feast for the senses at Fat

Cupcake, where fragrant, beautiful and edible works of art are baked up daily on a rotating menu at three Southeast locations. More than 15 signature cupcake styles pair classic frosting flavors (think: vanilla, caramel, lemon and chocolate buttercream) and standard cake flavors (white, chocolate, marble, champagne) with specialty adornments like Nutella, cinnamon sugar and sea salt. Feeling particularly celebratory (or just really hungry)? Order the Fat Cupcake — a ginormous, ornately frosted cupcake that serves eight. A smaller line of gluten-friendly, vegan cupcakes is also available. Pro tip: Call ahead for current menu and specialty orders. — E.J.B. 19273 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; 6011 SE 72nd Ave., Portland; and 13203 172nd Ave. Suite 170, Happy Valley. fatcupcake.com. $ GF VG

Restau

[Noodles That Rock] There’s just something about

Grassa that keeps us coming back. Sure, there’s the hearty Sunday Pork Ragú or Carbonara studded with chunks of pancetta, both with pasta made in front of your eyes. Or the rotating list of seasonal veggie sides that shouldn’t be overlooked. Or the fact that the kids need no prompting whatsoever to scarf down the spaghetti and meatballs, mac ‘n’ cheese, or plain buttered noodles on the kids’ menu. But it’s also something about the vibe of the place. With the rock blasting from the speakers and the cool, kidless people who are sitting right next to you at the long tables and eyeing you somewhat apprehensively, it makes you fondly remember the time when you cared about being cool — and laugh a little. Because even though you’ve got red sauce smeared on your sleeve where your kid gave you a hearty smooch, you don’t care. And not caring whether people think you are cool or not? That’s as rock ‘n’ roll as it gets. — D.C. 1205 SW Washington St. and 1506 NW 23rd Ave. With a new SE Hawthorne location slated to open soon. grassapdx.com. $-$$

New : o t li g h t ra n t S p

Yonde r

IRENE TEJARATCHI HESS

In Cully, Yonder’s kitchen of Southern delights

earned the endorsement of this month’s cover family — Lisa Leslie, Chris Fitzgibbon, and their two littles: Elias Nault, almost 11, and Lucia Fitzgibbon, almost 2.

Friendly staff, a diverse menu and all-day drinks make this a great brunch option for hungry PDX families, they say.

When you’ve got a tween and a toddler in tow, it gets tricky finding a restaurant that pleases everybody, admits Leslie, but a menu bursting with biscuits, chicken and waffles helps, and if your kids are adventurous eaters like hers, even better.

Fitzgibbon, Kentucky-born and serious about his Southern grub, fancied the fried chicken — dark leg and thigh pieces, mind you, dipped and not breaded — and the bacon-studded braised collard greens, which he described as “tender and delightful.”

Eli also approved of the chicken — “salty and crispy and good” — served up with a side of buttermilk pancakes and huckleberry biscuits.

For a lighter take on Southern staples, Leslie recommends

[Go Nuts for Doughnuts] Warm, fresh doughnuts

— they’re not just for breakfast! Celebrate the flavors of fall with a plateful of fresh-made mutabaq/mandazi — the African

pumpkin doughnut holes served up daily at Horn of Africa, a long-lived MLK restaurant. The doughnuts (or beignets, if you please) showcase the talents of Mohamed and Khadija, who’ve been cooking up Northeast African favorites for their fellow Portlanders for decades. Beyond the sweets, the restaurant offers dinners and an eclectic lunch buffet. But back to the doughnuts: These tasty little nuggets are made with love, plus just the right amount of sugar, spice and everything nice. — E.J.B. 5237 NE Martin Luther King Blvd. hornofafrica.net. $-$$

Yonder’s oh-so-pretty Big Brunch Salad: “It had edible flowers over the top, which added an extra splash of color,” she says. “It was delicious and full of flavor. It was filling, and I would definitely eat it again. Even my toddler enjoyed it!”

In addition to a generous brunch menu, Yonder features a build-your-own “Meat & Three” dinner offering fried chicken, catfish or oyster mushrooms, paired with classic Southern sides like greens, slaws, cornbread and, yup, biscuits.

Of course, the standard bearer of quality in any Southern restaurant is its sweet tea. On this count, too, Yonder delivered.

“We could have drank that tea all day,” says Leslie. — E.J.B. 4636 NE 42nd Ave. yonderpdx.com. $$

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[Tea Time] Portland has an

[Kids in Bars] Sate your

unapologetically casual dress code, but

nostalgia for those long-

it’s fun to get gussied up sometimes, and

and-lackadaisical pre-kid happy hours at Jinx Bar &

Restaurant, which offers New

the kid-friendly tea service at Lovejoy’s

Tearoom of Portland offers the perfect

Orleans-inspired grub, an entire

pretense. Prepare for lace and doilies

pinball room, and some of the

galore, plus a grand array of high tea

family-friendliest service we’ve

snacks. (Pro tip: Reserve ahead and

seen at a bar-style eatery in

come hungry!) Sandwich fillings range

Portland. (Minors welcome until

from turkey chutney to cucumber and

8 pm.) The kids’ burger comes

cream cheese, and dainty desserts

beautifully plated, salads are

include scones and petit fours. (Pro tip:

sizable, the drinks are strong

Ask ahead for GF and vegan options.) For

and the vegetarian/vegan menu

grown-ups, we recommend the Queen’s

options are generous. The

Tea, with its two sandwiches and assorted

cherry on top? Attentive and

sweet-and-savory sides; a Wee Tea is

helpful servers sympathetic

perfect for littler ones. And tea-skeptical kids will go wild for the chocolate truffle

to the pitfalls and pratfalls of dining out with littles. Pro tip:

tea with sugar and cream. — E.J.B.

Don’t forget your quarters for

3286 NE Killingsworth St.

pinball! — E.J.B.

lovejoysportland.com.

Reservations recommended.

3000 NE Killingsworth St.

$$-$$$ GF VG

jinxpdx.com. $$, VG ERIN J. BERNARD

s s i cs a l C e Th

Hopworks Urban Brewery, Laurelwood Brewery and Public House and Oregon Public House — the elder statesmen of Portland’s family-friendly pub scene — have lasted so long and inspired so many spin-offs because they know a universal parenting truth: People with kids want to get out of the house, eat some food that

someone else cooked, and maybe even enjoy a malty ale, too. And these places make it easy for all of those things to

happen by being exceptionally kid-accommodating. They’ve got play areas. And high chairs. And their kids’ menus balance things that children will actually eat with the healthy things that they should eat. Thanks guys, keep up the good work. — D.C. hopworksbeer.com, laurelwoodbrewpub.com, oregonpublichouse.com. $-$$

[Dream-your-own Desserts]

[Curry Favor] Indian food is

Think of Memoz Dessert Cafe

something I don’t really know how to cook

as a Cold Stone Creamery for baked

(with the exception of Instant Pot butter

goods. You’ll be presented with a list

chicken), so my kids aren’t huge fans (yet!).

of doughs and batters, and a dizzying

But I know enough about the cuisine

amount of mix-ins and toppings

to know that the wonderfully balanced

options to create a custom dessert

flavors at Open Tandoor are the real

that’s baked in about 2 minutes. We

deal. Start with the spicy veggie pakoras,

tried several variations and liked

which come with absolutely delightful mint

the brownie and tartlet bases the

and tamarind chutneys at this order-at-

best. Are there superior desserts in

the-counter fast casual spot. Move on to

the Portland area? Yes. But the kids

the saag paneer or butter chicken, and

absolutely loved dreaming up their

finish up your meal with a mango ice

own creations and picking things like

cream. (The kids’ plate comes with a drink,

mint or cinnamon chips. Pro tip: The

rice, a choice of naan, and chicken tikka or

Baked Alaska topping is impressive,

channa masala. And if your kids only eat

tasty and totally worth the extra 3494 N Williams Ave.

4311 N Williams Ave. opentandoor.com.

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DENISE CASTAÑON

you to enjoy.) — D.C.

memozcafe.com. $ 22

the naan, then there’s just more food for

cost! — D.C.

$$ GF VG

[Books and Brews] Got a tween whose nose is perpetually stuck in a book? Pack them

(and their latest YA novel) off to the Rose City Book Pub for an afternoon reading date. This cozy pub/used book store is stuffed to the gills with reading material and comfy nooks, offering the perfect drizzly day family-date vibes. In a dedicated kids’ corner, old suitcases overflow with titles new and old for readers of every level, from toddler to tween, and browsing is encouraged.

Pro tip: Skip the basic kids’ menu and opt for fun, shareable appetizers like ants on a log,

A l l e r g y K id s, R e j o ic e

Move over,

gluey penne and mealy muffins — kids with allergies are spoiled for choice when dining out in Portland these days. If your

cheese and crackers, or charcuterie. Full meals, from roast chicken to chopped salad, are also

wheat-sensitive kid is craving

available, plus, of course, plenty of beer and wine. — E.J.B.

some classic fish and chips,

check out the Hawthorne and

1329 NE Fremont St. rosecitybookpub.com. $-$$

Corbett Fish Houses, which pay homage to the traditional Midwestern fish fry with their

[Cute + Tasty] Your kids will almost

light-and-delicious brown-rice-

goods at Soro Soro Coffee & Dessert

rice-bran oil. Are you a parent

find the googly-eye adorned baked

flour breading and high-quality

too cute to eat. But they’ll be rewarded for

who needs to double-check? Roll up to the Cruise In Country

digging into the precious pastries. A bite

Diner in Hillsboro, a classic

of the chocolate cheesecake prompted

’50s burger joint that keeps a

my daughter to exclaim, “This is the best

book of labels and ingredients

cheesecake I’ve ever had!” Don’t miss the

lists on hand and serves GF

colorful and subtly sweet rainbow cake or DENISE CASTAÑON

the peanut crumble. The relaxed vibe of the shop was a hit, too. We loved hearing languages other than English being spoken at this Korean-American-owned shop. Pro

becomes a communal event. — D.C. 2250 E Burnside St. 503-265-8236. $ GF

[Get Twisted] Perfection takes time! That’s a truism baked into the DNA of Twisted Croissant, whose buttery-beautiful croissants require a three-day mixing, fermenting and baking process. Twisted Croissant began its life as a Saturday-morning staple at farmers

[Small Plates for Small Fry] At first thought, John Gorham’s newest restaurant in the Tasty empire, Tasty n Daughters, might not seem very kidwelcoming. But consider that brunch and dinner at Tasty n Daughters revolve around family-style meals where plates of cumin-spiked yams, housemade pasta with basil pistou, and those chocolate-potato

have wildly divergent food requirements (Kid No. 1 eats Kid No. 3 can’t tolerate dairy,

with the shop’s other customers if you order espresso on the mountain of cotton candy

fries and desserts. If your littles

only meat, Kid No. 2 hates meat,

tip: Be prepared to become acquainted

the snow affogato! Watching someone pour

hamburger buns, chicken strips,

markets around Portland metro, but now they’ve expanded their reach with a flagship brick-and-mortar bakery. Seating is sparse, but it’s a great stop off should the littles fancy a pain au chocolat or Morning Glory Cruff Puff during the long, rainy market off-season. And if you prefer your baked goods with a side of fresh air, don’t despair; the owners have no plans

etc.), opt for Verde Cocina:

All three locations are entirely gluten-free and serve Mexican dishes catering to paleo, vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets.

Those living with Celiac disease eat worry-free at Ground

Breaker Brewing, a completely gluten-free brewery and gastropub that takes seriously its mission of serving highquality, strictly GF beers and pub fare and offers an eclectic kids’ menu. Dairy-sensitive kids eat safely at Hawthorne Boulevard’s Harlow, whose

kitchen is completely gluten-free

to abandon their bustling market trade

and almost entirely dairy-free,

the table — so of course kids are welcome.

when the season starts up again. — E.J.B.

too, minus the butter in just a

And if your kid’s not interested in sharing

2129 NE Broadway St.

doughnuts are meant to be passed around

dishes, they’ve got a kids’ menu including a plain burger and fries, and mac ‘n’ cheese.

twistedcroissant.com. $

(And seriously, it’s the most delicious “kids’” mac around.) They even dole out oh-soPNW coloring sheets featuring salmon, bicycles and blackberries. — D.C. 4537 SE Division St. tastyndaughters.com.

Reservations or walk-in. $$-$$$

KEY: $

less than $10 for an entree

$$

between $10 and $20 for an entee

$$$ more than $20 for an entree GF

gluten-free options

VG

vegan options

few dishes. (Pro tip: The vegan mac ‘n’ cheese is so good, it occasionally sends moms-to-be into labor. Ask us how we know!)

— E.J.B. corbettfishhouse.com, cruiseincountry.com, verdecocinamarket.com, groundbreakerbrewing.com, harlowpdx.com.

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23

[Seafood, See the View] There are two good reasons to head

to WildFin American Grill on Vancouver’s newly retooled waterfront: The food and the view. After just one trip, my 4-year-old kept asking to go back for fish and chips. (He talked it up so much, he got his grandparents to take him for lunch.) Pro tip: The kids’ fruit cup is the most impressive we’ve come across! And if the kids’ menu hits the mark for taste, you know the food for grown-ups is going to be on point, too. And Wildfin does that with a focus on local and fresh, offering (sustainable) grilled sockeye salmon, Pacfic prawns, Oregon coast Dover sole, and seasonal salads featuring Washington apples, pears and figs. And then there are the floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a beguiling eyeful of the

ople e P d o P

IRENE TEJARATCHI HESS

Columbia River and the cable-stayed pier. Pro tip: With a large dining room, this restaurant can easily accommodate sizable parties, making it a prime spot for a big, celebratory meal. — D.C. 777 Waterfront Way, Suite 101, Vancouver, Washington. wildfinamericangrill.com. Reservations recommended. $$-$$$, GF

Out-of-towners marvel at

our food-cart pod scene. And it is a wonder. Especially for parents. Most pods we know are super family-friendly, offering room for kids to roam and a variety of eats for a wide range of tastes. At the Portland

Mercado, a grouping of Latin-themed carts voted multiple times as winner for favorite family-friendly pod in our reader poll, your kiddos can get a plain bean-and-cheese burrito from Fernado’s Alegría while you chow down on the satisfyingly crunchy and

DENISE CASTAÑON

melty Cubano sandwich from Que Bolá? Or

share a massive tlayuda from Tierra Del Sol. (We also love the family-friendly community events held at the space!) Over on SE Division and 50th, The Lot at Scout Beer provides a home to the deliciously healthy Garden Monsters, which serves wraps and huge

bowls of customizable salads, and the kidpleasing Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches among others. (The Lot also has a small play area for kids.) For more beer and carts, Level

Beer in outer Northeast sports a big and airy

covered seating area and well-stocked play area. The kids will dig a Plain Jane Dog from Bam Pow! Burgers and you might dig into

a chicken shawarma wrap from Gyro King.

On the westside, families love The French

Quarter in Multnomah Village. From scallop nigiri to the vegan Lime Green roll, Yoshi’s

Sushi Portland dishes up fresh sushi from

a former Bamboo Sushi chef. And The Cluck

Truck offers a Nashville-style hot chicken

sandwich and kid-satisfying chicken tenders and fries. — D.C. portlandmercado.org, scoutpdx.com, levelbeer.com, multnomahfrenchquarter.com. $-$$ 24

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[Soup’s In] Soup

[Pizza a-go-go] Did someone

dumplings may be the

say hot-dog pizza? Zapapizza

world’s greatest comfort

sure did! This new St. Johns

food — especially during

pizzeria, dreamed up by the

our drab, gray winters. And

creator of Burnside Street’s

at XLB, the dumplings,

beloved Mi Mero Mole, serves up

which burst a hot rush of

south-of-the-border-inspired pizza

ginger- and garlic-laced

with a thick pan crust. Avocado,

pork broth when you bite

potato, cactus? Yes, these topping

into them, can light up

choices might strike kids as novel,

your winter like few other

but the tastes are also classic-

dishes can. But don’t miss

adjacent enough to please the

the garlicky eggplant with

palates of more adventurous

tofu or the soy-soaked

young eaters. If your kids are

pickles (which my kids

partial to pepperoni, order the

especially liked), either.

salchicha pie. If they clamor for

Pro tip: If you are going

alfredo, try the sour cream sauce

for dinner, get there a little

or add a bit of queso fresco on top.

before the doors open at

If all else fails, pepperoni, pineapple

5 pm to avoid a long wait.

and other tried-and-true pie

— D.C.

toppings are available. — E.J.B.

4090 N Williams Ave.

503 W Burnside St.

xlbpdx.com. $-$$ VG

zapapizzapdx.com. $$

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25

♥

B

eloved Cully eatery Beeswing might be long gone, but this Northeast Portland neighborhood remains a hive of culinary and cultural activity. Cully packs a surprising number of community-investment initiatives into its 2.75 square miles, including a thriving neighborhood association — the Cully Association of Neighbors — and Living Cully, a decade-old sustainable growth effort between Habitat for Humanity, Portland/Metro East, Hacienda Community Development Corporation, the Native American Youth and Family Center, and Verde. And keep your eyes peeled: With the help of community partners, Hacienda recently purchased a derelict tract of land between Columbia Boulevard and Killingsworth Street NE COLUM BIA BLVD. — the future home of Las Adelitas, a brand-new affordable-housing complex.

PLAY HERE

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY ERIN J. BERNARD

NE 82 AVE.

NE 42 AVE.

neiGhborhood we

Con enial Cully

NE PRESCOTT ST.

Cully’s diverse and

NE FREMONT ST.

welcoming spirit is on proud display in its public spaces. In 2018, a 25-acre landfill off NE 72nd Avenue was reborn as Cully Park,

Teodolinda Candelario, originally

featuring sprawling play

from Michoacán, Mexico, has

structures, a habitat

lived in Cully’s Hacienda housing

restoration area and

community for 10 years. This

a Native Gathering

mother to three — Cesar, 9;

Garden. On Northeast

Mailin, 6; and Rafael, 3 — loves

Prescott Street, Rigler

her neighbors and having easy

Community Garden

access to everything her family

features outdoor

needs, from fresh vegetables

education spaces, a

and safe outdoor play spaces to

dozen native trees

English classes and a clinic.

and artwork created by

It’s very calm here,” she

students from Rigler

says. “You can walk everywhere.

Everybody knows each other and

Elementary.

everybody always says, ‘Hi.’ ”

GETTING AROUND

38 minutes

to downtown Portland, via Trimet’s 71 Bus Line and the MAX Blue Line.

56

87

Walk score

Bike score

SOURCE: WALKSCORE.COM

SOURCE: WALKSCORE.COM

EAT HERE With a monthly supper club, seed-to-plate cooking

classes and bike-in movie nights among its offerings, the Side Yard Farm & Kitchen, on Northeast Simpson Street, packs a mighty

communitarian ethos into its 1-acre plot of land. Over on 60th Avenue, neighbors gather at Bison Coffeehouse, a Native-American-run coffee shop beloved for its bison-shaped cookies, and coffee beans roasted by local and Native coffee purveyors. Down the road, the restaurant side of Angel Food & Fun (there’s also a bar) serves up

Yucatecan delights in a casual, kid-friendly setting. Pro tip: Try. The. Panuchos.

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LIVE HERE

$335,200 — median price of homes sold in Cully $1,897 — median rent in Cully $372,000 — median home value SOURCE: ZILLOW

OPEN HOUSES

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OPEN HOUSES

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November 2019

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OPEN HOUSES

OPEN HOUSES

A Renaissance School of Arts and Sciences - 0234 SW Bancroft; 971-221-2311; renpdx.org; 11 / 17, 12-1:30 PM

Village Free School - 1785 NE Sandy Blvd Suite A; 503-788-3935; villagefreeschool.org; 12 / 15, 1-2 PM

TOURS

Delphian School - 20950 SW Rock Creek, Sheridan; 503-843-3521; delphian.org; 11 / 11, 10 AM-2 PM

Catlin Gabel School - 8825 SW Barnes; 503-297-1894; catlin.edu

Escuela Viva - 1111 SE Pine; 503-282-2091; escuela-viva.com; 11 / 11, 5:30-7 PM

Cedarwood Waldorf School 3030 SW 2nd; 503-245-1477; cedarwoodschool.org

Franciscan Montessori Earth School and St. Francis Academy - 14750 SE Clinton; 503-760-8220; fmes.org; 11 / 19, 10-11:30 AM French American International School - 8500 NW Johnson St.; 503-292-7776; faispdx.org; 11 / 7, 6:30 PM (Middle School Open House); 11 / 13, 9 AM (Preschool-5th Grade) Goodtime Chinese School 15285 NW Central, Ste 201; 503-6165585; goodtimechineseschool.org; 11 / 16, 1-5 PM Portland Jewish Academy - 6651 SW Capitol Hwy; 503-244-0126; pjaproud.org; 11 / 19, 8:45-10:30 AM The Marylhurst School - 19915 Old River, West Linn; 503-650-0978; themarylhurstschool.org; 11 / 14, 6-8 PM

Childswork Learning Center 4235 SE Salmon; 503-234-3611; childswork.org Class Academy 2730 NW Vaughn; 503-223-9099; classacademy.com German International School of Portland - 3900 SW Murray, Beaverton; 503-626-9089; gspdx.org Portland Jewish Academy 6651 SW Capitol Hwy; 503-244-0126; pjaproud.org Portland Play Project - 6015 NE Skidmore St.; 740-590-9141; portlandplayproject.com Trackers Forest School 4617 SE Milwaukie; 503-345-3312; trackerspdx.com pdxparent.com

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November 2019

29

field trip

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

Lunch Is On Me

Can a single cooking class save lunch? A picky family takes on the mealtime dilemma — and lives to tell the tale. STORY AND PHOTO BY ALI WILKINSON

G

etting three kids out the door for an 8 am school start is no easy feat. For us, the biggest time suck is having the kids find their shoes — and then having them remember that they are actually supposed to be putting those shoes on (I give up). But lunch making is a close second. Now that I have three kids in elementary school, all of whom have wildly different eating habits, the pressure is really on.

But maybe that pressure doesn’t all have to be on me. Maybe the kids can help. When I saw that Northwest Nibbles, a mom-owned business hosting cooking classes for kids, was offering a lunch-making class, I was in. We all were.

Northwest Nibbles travels to various locations for their drop-in cooking classes. The class we took was at the adorable children’s resale store Beanstalk, in southeast’s Montavilla neighborhood. (And it cost $15 per kid.) The store has a room to the side that was the perfect size for hosting 10 junior chefs. On the menu: vegetarian or turkey wraps, fruit and veggies, and healthy snacks.

The class began with a short introduction by Jocelyn, the owner and a very pregnant mama. (She will not be offering classes until early spring in order to spend time with the family’s new addition, but watch the website for new offerings and camps.) She walked us through how to make a wrap, and gave a few options for combinations that she had tried and enjoyed. Then the kids got to it.

Because there is a word count here, I will not go into the various things that my children will not eat. However, the beauty of this class was that everyone — even my pickiest eater — was able to assemble a

wrap that was healthy, fun to make and tasty. Grady, my vegetarian, eschewed turkey for a hummus wrap with lots of veggies and cheese.

Clara, my child who basically only eats things that are white, was very content to assemble a spinach wrap (spinach!) with carrots (carrots!), cheese and olives. And Teddy. Well, he basically put it all in there. We needed a second wrap on the outside to contain it all.

Once rolled, the grown-ups helped cut up the wraps like sushi rolls, then the kids arranged the sandwich slices artfully in a bento-style box. The box was rounded out with carrots, peas, tomatoes, crackers and a small treat, all chosen by the kiddos.

When my daughter said, “I can’t wait to eat this” (about spinach! and carrots!), I could have hugged Jocelyn. And do you know what?

She actually did eat it. And liked it!

I’m now a believer that when kids make things themselves, they are more likely to get enjoyment out of them. Part of it is because they only choose the things they want to eat, but part of it, too, is the satisfaction of creating your own meal. The 45-minute class left them feeling confident in their lunch-making skills and excited to try them out at home. Maybe this will make the mornings a little calmer.

Maybe it won’t. But if it gets them excited about cooking and eating things that grow out of the ground, I’m all for it. And if it means I don’t have to make the lunch? Just think of all the time that leaves to find those shoes.

Find out when classes will start up again at: northwestnibbles.com.

Ali Wilkinson is a Portland-based writer, lawyer and mother of three kids (ages 5, 7 and 9). She’s also the co-founder of PDX Kids Calendar. She enjoys running, hiking and exploring Portland with her family.

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Crunch Time

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Add a twist to your Taco Tuesday with crispy tortilla bowls and a choice of toppings.

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STORY AND PHOTO BY JUDITH RICH

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very parent knows that mealtime with kids is all about control. Kids love to have control over what they eat, when they eat it, and how they eat it — which is why I love a good ol’ DIY dinner option. Enter these easy and customizable taco bowls made from large flour tortillas, which are baked instead of fried. (You can use white or whole wheat tortillas, but I recommend flour instead of corn to prevent breakage.) Also make sure to use plenty of olive oil to get your bowl nice and crispy.

Once everything is cooked and it’s go time, set all the fixings on the table and let each family member construct his or her own.

I usually put out bowls of shredded cheese, sliced avocado or guacamole, salsa, sour cream, olives, and anything else I may have on hand. It’s a fun dinner because everyone’s bowl looks unique, and the kids are proud because they “made” it.

HOMEMADE TACO BOWLS

DIRECTIONS

Makes 4 bowls

1. Preheat oven to 400˚ F.

4 large (10-inch) flour tortillas, such as burrito-size Mission brand Olive oil ½ cup quinoa ½ medium red onion, chopped 1 red or orange pepper, diced 2-4 links chicken sausage, casings removed 1 teaspoon taco seasoning Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup corn kernels

2. Line a small (4-inch) square, ovenproof bowl with one of the tortillas and coat the tortilla generously with olive oil. Repeat this step three more times. If you have four bowls, you can prepare everything at the same time.

Topping options: Shredded Mexican cheese or queso fresco 2 avocados, sliced Sliced black olives Prepared salsa Sour cream 32

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3. Place in oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. For a less crispy bowl, bake for 10 minutes. For a very crispy bowl, bake for 12-15 minutes.

4. Cook quinoa according to the directions on the packaging.

5. Sauté the onion and pepper together with the chicken sausage until cooked through — about 8 minutes. Season with taco seasoning, salt and pepper.

6. Combine the meat-and-veggie mixture with the cooked quinoa, and then add in the corn kernels.

7. Once taco bowls are out of the oven, place all the fixings (including the quinoa mixture) on the table and let everyone construct their own bowls.

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.

time out

remember me

November 2019

Portland Children’s Museum embarks on its inaugural Día de los Muertos event this year. Go check out the altar of offerings, or ofrenda, provided by the Consulate of Mexico — even add a photo of a deceased loved one your family would like to remember. On Saturday, November 2, 11 am-2 pm, they’ll also host musical performances and themed hands-on activities. (Free with admission.) The ofrenda will be on display October 28 through November 9 in the museum’s gallery space, and is free to the public.

Go. Play.

Explore. achievement, unlocked Celebrate the achievements of all children at Cedar Hills Recreation Center’s Family Fall Festival. Peruse family-friendly vendors, enter to win some raffle prizes, boogie to live music, and enjoy free therapeutic and educational services. Comers will also get a sneak peek of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center, set to open its doors in Portland in 2020. All festival proceeds go to support the local arm of the national GiGi’s initiative, which offers foundational learning opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the

THE HISTORIC TRUST

community. Sunday, November 3,

give a vet a hand

1 pm-6 pm. Free. Register in advance

Salute our veterans at the annual Lough Legacy Veterans Parade. This parade, featuring veterans groups, Scout troops and vintage cars, has been going strong for 33 years. Saturday, November 9, 11 am-1 pm. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

or get more information at gigisplayhouse.org/portland.

train’s a comin’

Looking for accessible events for kids of all abilities? Check out

COLUMBIA GORGE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

The Columbia Gorge Model Train Railroad Club Show is a must-do in our family. It’s the biggest HO model train layout in the Pacific Northwest. And from grandparents to preschoolers, everyone loves watching the tiny trains roll through the meticulously crafted scenery (which always features a few gags for those with sharp eyes). Pro tip: Go early; this hugely popular show gets crowded! Every Saturday and Sunday, from November 9 through December 1. 10 am-5 pm. 2505 N Vancouver Ave. Adults $8, kids 3-11 $3, kids younger than 3 are free.

an accessible and inclusive digital directory

at pdxparent.com/inclusive-pdx-events-calendar. pdxparent.com

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time out

coughs-be-gone!

Cold-and-flu season is back! Get in front of those inevitable sniffles and sneezes by stockpiling your medicine cabinet with natural remedies

There’s so much we love about the Oregon Symphony’s Kids’ Concert Series. The sparkling narration

by Pam Mahon, the voices of the Pacific Youth Choir, the vibrant movement from Dance West. And, of course, the sublime music from conductor Norman Huynh and his orchestra. Huynh always throws in a fun twist, sometimes conducting the final song in costume.

(And he promises the Castles and Wizards performance will include music from the Harry Potter films and Frozen, so bring your wands and tiaras.) Sunday, November 10, 2 pm. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Visit orsymphony.org for tickets.

OREGON SYMPHONY

and elixirs, including

magical music

homemade cough drops!

You’ll learn to make these lozenges, plus an assortment of natural remedies for chapped skin and upping mineral intake, at Wildcraft Studio School’s familyfriendly Home Health for the Whole Family workshop. Sunday, November 17, 12 pm-3 pm.

For children 5 and up. Tuition, $85; materials, $30 (covers one adult and one child). Visit wildcraftstudioschool.com for more details.

the fresh (nutcracker) prince

ERIN J. BERNARD

The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns to Portland this year. Get ready to be blown away by high-energy breakdancing moves to Tchaikovsky’s classic score, digital graffiti that transports the story to the contemporary Big Apple, and the skills of one of rap’s forefathers, Kurtis Blow. Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12-13. Keller Auditorium. Visit portland5.com/ keller-auditorium/events/hip-hop-nutcracker for tickets and times.

TIM NORRIS

happy hiking Did you know that Portland is home to more than 150 miles of regional trails? Celebrate the wonders of our forests and our parks system by getting the family out and moving on National Take a Hike Day, Sunday November 17. We recommend a jaunt along Forest Park’s scenic and easy-to-access Wildwood Trail — its brand-new pedestrian footbridge, The Barbara Walker Crossing, now offers safe passage over the portion of the trail that crosses West Burnside Street.

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big trees, bright lights You know the holidays are fast approaching when the giant Stimson Lumber tree arrives at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The 75-foottall Douglas fir gets delivered on Friday, November 15 at noon. It’s then decorated with lights that get turned on Friday, November 29 at the 35th annual tree-lighting ceremony, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm. Also that Friday a tree gets lit up in Vancouver’s Esther Short Park. The community tree lighting goes from 4 pm-7 pm and includes musical performances and a chance to see Santa. Free.

trot it out From turkey and pie to that marshmallow, coconut and whipped-cream “salad,” Thanksgiving dinner can leave everybody a bit sluggish. Bring a little levity to the excess (and encourage runners-in-training) by hitting the ORRC Turkey Trot at the Oregon Zoo. STOLLER FAMILY ESTATE

This multi-generational athletic event offers something for all ages and abilities. Steer your strollers (and the more experienced runners in your family, ages 12 and up) toward the 4-mile run. Kids 11 and under can tackle

the ⅓-mile Tot Trot and/or the ⅛-mile Diaper

black friday at the vineyard

Dash. Thursday, November 28. First race

Wineries throughout the Willamette Valley will be opening their doors and celebrating a new season of wines at their Wine Country Thanksgiving event with barrel tastings, food pairings, live music, holiday shopping and more.

Why are we telling you this? Because many of the participating wineries welcome families! So pick your designated driver and head to Patton Valley Vineyards in Gaston, Stoller Family Estate in Dayton, or any of the region’s other family-friendly wineries to celebrate the finest product that any grape can aspire to become. Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1.

Go to willamettewines.com/event/wine-country-thanksgiving and select the “family-friendly” tab to view the full list of wineries that welcome kids. Tasting prices vary by winery.

starts at 8 am. Adult registration is $35; it’s $20 for any of the kids’ events; and the family-rate (up to 2 adults and 3 kids) is $85.

Visit orrc.net/events/event-list/turkey-trot4-mile-run-and-walk-with-kids-tot-trot/ for details or to register.

LOUIS PEARL

MICHAEL DURHAM OREGON ZOO

bubbles, bubbles everywhere Comedy. Drama. Accordion music. Bubbles. When The Amazing Bubbleman hits Portland, somehow all these elements perfectly combine to make one of our favorite family-friendly shows

light the lights It’s ZooLights time! A train ride through the Oregon Zoo’s twinkling display of more than 1.5 million bulbs and a steaming mug of hot cocoa are the stuff holiday traditions are made of. Pro tip: The crowds actually start to shrink after 7:30 pm, so if your littles can stay up later without turning into pumpkins, you could beat the crowds by going later. It’s also typically less crowded on weekdays during the opening weeks. Friday, November 29 to Sunday, January 5, 5 pm-9 pm. Value nights Monday-Thursday, December 2-12, 5 pm-8 pm. Free admission for members. Prices vary for nonmembers.

Visit oregonzoo.org/visit/zoolights for more details.

of the fall. Pro tip: His show is a multi-generational pleaser — and a perfect Black Friday outing with any visiting relatives. Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, shows at 11 am and 2 pm.

Clinton Street Theater. Find tickets at: cstpdx.com.

Get social with us!

! /pdxparentonline % /pdx_parent/

( @pdx_parent $ /pdx_parent/

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H O L I D AY H I G H L I G H T S

Get in the holiday spirit with the Griswold Buffalo Plaid Dachshund from Douglas – or any of our giant selection of plush, games, books and toys carefully curated to bring joy to your family.

Shop Local

Kids at Heart Toys Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 am-7 pm; Sunday: 10 am-6 pm.

3445 SE Hawthorne Blvd. | kidsathearttoys.com

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H O L I D AY H I G H L I G H T S

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H O L I D AY H I G H L I G H T S

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H O L I D AY H I G H L I G H T S

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pa r e n t l a n d i a

“I’m warning you — peas and carrots are gateway vegetables.”

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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Kids ♼ Museums

MAGGIE OLSON

Take off for adventure and explore a world of imagination at these fun and educational kid-friendly museums!

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Portland Art Museum UPCOMING EXHIBITS & EVENTS February 8 - May 17, 2020

HENK PANDER: VIEW OF PORTLAND

Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art Marking the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, this exhibition explores the power of nature and cycles of volcanic destruction and regeneration, with depictions of the mountain from 1845 to the present.

M U S E U M I NFO Address: 1219 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR 97205.

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism

Website: portlandartmuseum.org.

Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday: 10 am-5 pm; Thursday-Friday: 10 am-8 pm; Saturday-Sunday: 10 am-5 pm.

The exhibition will feature many of

Admission: Kids 17 and under are free. General admission: $20; seniors (ages 62+) and

Frida Kahlo’s most

college students: $17. Additional admission access offers available —

famous self-portraits

visit portlandartmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/admission-access-programs.

and rarely seen oil

Free/Discounted Days: Free First Thursday: every first Thursday of the month (5 pm-

paintings by Diego Rivera, as well as

FRIDA KAHLO: DIEGO ON MY MIND

works by other

June 13 - September 27, 2020

icons of Mexican Modernism.

8 pm); $5 After 5 pm: every Friday; quarterly Miller Family Free Days (dates vary).

Museum Café: Museum Grounds coffee shop.

Reciprocal Memberships: Enjoy reciprocal admission to select

art museums around the county when you become a member at the Friend level and above.

July 2020

Inclusivity Information: portlandartmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/ accessibility.

Get Social: Instagram: @portlandartmuseum.

Why Kids ♥ It

Expressing their opinions about what they see and spending time with family.

The Monster Drawing Rally Part performance, part laboratory, part art bazaar, the Monster Drawing Rally is an

Why Parents ♥ It

incredible opportunity to watch some of

Free admission for kids age 17 and under, and time to connect with kids

your favorite Portland artists create original

and family in an environment that encourages observation, reflection and

drawings from a blank page.

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conversation.

Oregon Historical Society CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITS

Experience Oregon Experience Oregon uses fun interactive elements and more than 300 artifacts to tell the stories of Oregonians of all backgrounds.

Play “Stories from the Archives” tablet games and learn how to build a canoe! Permanent

MUS EU M IN FO

exhibit.

Address: 1200 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR 97205.

Website: ohs.org.

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 am-5 pm; Sunday: noon-5 pm.

Admission: General admission: $10; seniors/teachers/students: $8; youth (6-18): $5.

Children 5 and under, and all Multnomah County residents are free.

History Hub Who lives in Oregon?

Where did they come from?

What are some challenges

Free/Discounted Days: OHS hosts four free Family Day programs each year. Visit

and choices

ohs.org/events to find out when the next Family Day is scheduled!

they have

Reciprocal Memberships: ohs.org/join/reciprocal-membership.cfm.

hands-on, highly interactive exhibit created for

Get Social: facebook.com/oregonhistory | Twitter: @OrHist |

faced? These are some of the questions in this youth and families. Permanent exhibit.

Instagram: @oregonhistoricalsociety.

Why Kids ♥ It

With three floors of exhibits featuring ancient artifacts and hands-on activities,

March 13 November 8, 2020

the Oregon Historical Society brings history to life for kids of all ages! In our new permanent exhibit, Experience Oregon, kids can touch a beaver pelt, walk through a covered wagon and learn about Oregon history through multiple touch-screen interactive stations.

Nevertheless, They Persisted: The Nineteenth Amendment and Women’s Voting Rights

Why Parents ♥ It

This original exhibit commemorates the 100th

The Oregon Historical Society’s permanent History Hub exhibit tells the stories of the diverse people and events that have shaped Oregon history. It’s designed for kids, by kids, but there’s so much to learn for the history buff of any age!

anniversary of woman suffrage and gives visitors a deeper understanding of the long and complex history of democratic rights in Oregon and nationally, especially relating to equal voting rights. pdxparent.com

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Portland Children‘s Museum CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITS

Opens November 7, 2019

Sprout Spot: A new birth-to-age-3 experience The Museum welcomes a new birth-to-age-3 experience to our family of exhibits!

Re-envisioned with our youngest problemsolvers in mind, this sensory-rich environment will foster intimate, playful connection through light and materials.

M U S E U M I NFO Address: 4015 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221.

Website: portlandcm.org.

Hours: 9 am-5 pm.

Admission: General admission (ages 1-64): $11; under age 1: free; seniors (ages 65+): $10; military: $9. Free for Museum members.

Free/Discounted Days: Second Sunday Savings: Admission is just $4 per person between 9 am-noon every second Sunday of the month. Once you’re here, stay and play all day!

Museum Café: Yes! The Counter @ the Museum offers a wide selection of fresh, healthy breakfast, lunch and snack options. Open 9 am-4 pm.

Twilight Trail

Our newly remodeled Twilight Trail transports families to a glowing campfire scene with starry sky, raindrop waterfall and ice cave. In this dim forest, light play abounds. Look up for a view of the moon.

Camps/Classes: Yes! More info at: portlandcm.org/visit/camps-classes.

Inclusivity Information: portlandcm.org/join/family-access-program.

Get Social: Facebook and Twitter: @portlandcm | Instagram: @portlandchildrensmuseum.

Why Kids ♥ It

With endless materials and activities to explore, the Museum is a perfect space for children to engage in playful learning experiences as they imagine, design, invent and create.

Clay Studio One of the most unique art spaces for children in Portland, this fully working studio offers a self-led, sensory “making” experience. A membership means access to firing and glazing at a low price year-round.

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Why Parents ♥ It Museum exhibits encourage the development of innovative problem-solving skills, feeding a child’s lifelong love of learning. Grown-ups can play alongside their children, actively participating and interacting, all while nurturing their own curiosity, creativity and empathy.

Oregon Zoo EVENTS & EXHIBITS

ZooLights

November 29, 2019 January 5, 2020

It wouldn’t be the holiday season in Portland without ZooLights! See the dazzling display of over 1.5 million lights, ride the popular lighted train and carousel, sip hot cocoa and get into

MUS EU M IN FO

the holiday spirit.

Address: 4001 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221.

Website: oregonzoo.org/today.

Hours: The zoo opens at 9:30 am. Closing times are seasonal — see website.

Admission: General admission (ages 12 and up): $17.95; ages 3-11: $12.95. Children 2 and under are free. See oregonzoo.org/admission for additional discounts and admission information.

Free/Discounted Days: $5 per person every day for qualifying families.

See oregonzoo.org/zoo-all for more information.

Museum Café: AfriCafe, food carts, treats and more.

Camps/Classes: Spring and summer camps and classes are available; see oregonzoo.org/ camp for more.

Inclusivity Information: oregonzoo.org/accessibility.

The Cuteness Is Here Get to know Mei Mei, the rare (and adorable) red panda. She arrived at the Oregon Zoo earlier this year, and is already making herself right at home.

Reciprocal Memberships: Limited — see oregonzoo.org/membership.

Get Social: facebook.com/oregonzoo | Twitter and Instagram: @oregonzoo.

Why Kids ♥ It

What could be better than getting up close and personal with some of the most amazing animals on earth? From watching elephants swim to racing alongside a cheetah to standing like a flamingo, kids never tire of interacting with their favorite wildlife.

Why Parents ♥ It

The zoo is the perfect outing — kids get a chance to play in nature, expend some energy, and be delighted by wildlife. And it’s a chance for the whole family to get outside, learn, and have fun together. Plus, the variety of food options has something for everyone (including Oregon beer and wine for the grown-ups!), and there are plenty of indoor viewing options as well, so the zoo is appealing no matter the weather.

Animal Encounters Meet some of the zoo’s amazing residents!

Each experience includes an up-close encounter with an animal, a keeper chat, and opportunity for photos — and some experiences include a chance to feed and touch the animals too. Find out more at oregonzoo.org/animal-encounters.

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OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) EVENTS & EXHIBITS

Through February 17, 2020

Exquisite Creatures

Even little kids are blown away by the awe-

inspiring arrangements of rare birds, beetles, sea creatures and more. See how art, science and nature connect with these amazing 3D displays from around the globe.

M U S E U M I NFO Address: 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214.

Website: omsi.edu.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 am-5:30 pm; closed Mondays.

Admission: Adults: $15; youth (3-13): $10.50; seniors (63+): $12. OMSI members are free!

November and December 2019

Free/Discounted Days: $2 general admission with access to OMSI’s permanent exhibits and labs on the first Sunday of every month.

Museum Café: Empirical Café and Theory Restaurant.

Camps/Classes: omsi.edu/camps-and-classes.

Membership Sale

Start your scientific journey with an OMSI membership — for the love of science! Sign up for email updates at omsi.edu and be the first to be notified in November when the biggest sale of the year starts.

Reciprocal Memberships: Access to 300+ museums worldwide with ASTC Travel Passport Program. More information at: omsi.edu/membership.

Get Social: Facebook: @omsi.museum | Twitter and Instagram: @OMSI.

Why Kids ♥ It

OMSI is the perfect place to have fun while learning! Kids can conduct their own

chemical experiments, see what outer space looks like, study thousand-year-old fossils, launch water rockets and more — all while developing critical skills like problem solving, communication, and attention to detail.

Why Parents ♥ It

Turbine Hall

Come see what’s new! Tackle design challenges

and work collaboratively to make our world a better place at engaging Innovation Stations, or practice and prepare for earthquakes in the new Epicenter.

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Your young learners can explore, observe and experiment through interactive hands-on activities, with no cleanup required! The bright and airy Theory Café overlooks the Willamette River and delivers oven-fired pizza, salads, and local craft beer and wine, making it easy to keep everyone fueled up for science learning.

Hands On Children‘s Museum

BILLY HUSTACE PHOTOGRAPHY

EVENTS & EXHIBITS

Celebrate the Holidays Romp through 150+ exciting exhibits, meet Nutcracker ballet dancers and special guests, make a hand-crafted gift, design a nature wreath, tinker in the MakeSpace, and join the

MUS E UM IN FO

Noon Year’s Eve Party Countdown, December 31.

Address: 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia, WA 98501.

January 18-20, 2020

Website: hocm.org.

Hours: 10 am-5 pm daily.

Admission: General admission (ages 18 months-64 years): $14.95; seniors (65+): $12.95; military/first responder/foster family: $12.95; babies (0-17 months): free. Free for members.

Free/Discounted Days: First Friday Nights, 5 pm-9 pm: first two guests are free, each additional $2.

Museum Café: Play Day Café. See hours and menu at hocm.org/cafe.

Reciprocal Memberships: Yes! Visit hocm.org/become-member-today to find out more.

Get Social: Facebook and Twitter: @HandsOnMuseum.

Ice Adventures Watch a master ice carver, melt an ice block to see what’s inside, meet costumed ice princesses, see Dr. Science’s liquid-nitrogen demos, explore a black light ice cave, and skate in your socks.

Why Kids ♥ It

150-plus interactive exhibits including the new Megan D vintage schooner, Emergency!, Ballcano water exhibit, the art studio and MakeSpace. Plus, there’s a half-acre of outdoor space to explore featuring Lighthouse Lookout, Trike Loop, Children’s Garden, Mud Kitchen and more! Don’t miss special event dates during spring and winter break weeks such as Summer Splash! Festival, Boo Bash, Noon Year’s Eve Party, and Ice Adventures.

Why Parents ♥ It

Washington’s award-winning museum sits on Olympia’s waterfront, adjacent to the WET Science Center and a plaza with a 250-foot interactive stream. Located near the Farmer’s Market, Percival Landing, and the downtown, this beautiful, clean facility features yummy fresh food in the café.

Board the New Megan D Set sail for adventure on the Megan D. Kids can climb the 6-foot rope ladder to the top deck, take the helm, captain the ship, and explore the crow’s nest on a real wooden vessel. Open all year! pdxparent.com

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End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center UPCOMING EVENT Family Folk Dance Hoedown Learn fun, simple folk dances, as well as how the

M U S E U M I NFO

culture, history

Address: 1726 Washington St., Oregon City, OR 97045.

and lifestyle of

Website: historicoregoncity.org.

the Oregon Trail pioneers are reflected in their traditional dances. Alene Hochstetter of “Passport to Dance” will

Second Saturdays of the month, 11 am-1 pm

teach visitors of all ages the Virginia reel, Heel Toe polka and more. Party like a pioneer to experience history in a new way.

Hours: Sunday: 10:30 am-5 pm; Monday-Saturday: 9:30 am-5 pm. Last admission at 4 pm.

Admission: Adults: $13; seniors (60+): $9; youth (13-18): $9; children (4-12): $8. Children 3 and under, and active military personnel are free.

Free/Discounted Days: Free admission with Clackamas County Library

Cultural Pass.

Museum Café: Free coffee and tea in Visitor Information Center.

Get Social: facebook.com/EndoftheOregonTrail.

Columbia River Maritime Museum CURRENT EXHIBITS

M U S E U M I NFO Address: 1792 Marine Dr., Astoria, OR 97103.

Website: crmm.org.

Board a real ship, make a TV weather forecast, turn a ship’s wheel, stand on a tugboat or destroyer bridge: A wide variety of interactive

Hours: 9:30 am-5 pm, daily. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Admission: General admission: $14; seniors (ages 65+): $12; kids (ages 6-17): $5; SNAP recipients with EBT card: $3. Kids under 6 and active duty military are free.

experiences on Astoria’s beautiful waterfront

Camps/Classes: More information at: crmm.org/maritime-museum-school-offerings.html.

will captivate your kids. A 3-D theater, real and exhibits make this a perfect stop for all

Reciprocal Memberships: Museum members receive reciprocal admissions at a different regional attraction each month. View the schedule at crmm.org/maritime-museum-events.html.

ages.

Get Social: Facebook: Columbia River Maritime Museum |

Coast Guard rescue boats and exciting videos

Twitter: @CRMMAstoria | Instagram: @columbiarivermaritimemuseum.

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Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum UPCOMING EVENT

December 21, 2019

M US E UM IN FO Address: 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, OR 97128.

Website: evergreenmuseum.org.

Hours: 9 am-5 pm daily. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Santa Fly-In/Polar Express 3D Holiday Event

Admission: General admission (ages 17-64): $27; seniors (ages 65+): $24; kids (ages 5-16): $19. Children under 5 are free.

Join us for the Museum’s signature

Camps/Classes: More info at: evergreenmuseum.org/educational-programs.

3D on our large-format theater screen,

Reciprocal Membership: Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), Portland

Attractions Marketing Alliance Reciprocal Membership Program.

Get Social: facebook.com/evergreenmuseum | Instagram and Twitter: @evergreenmuseum.

holiday event! View the Polar Express then go outside and watch Santa arrive on a helicopter courtesy of Precision, LLC! (Helicopter flight is weatherdependent.)

Oregon Coast Aquarium CURRENT EXHIBIT

M US E UM IN FO Address: 2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR 97365.

Website: aquarium.org.

Seapunk: Powered by Imagination

Hours: Winter: 10 am-5 pm; summer: 10 am-6 pm.

What happens when the sci-fi

Admission: Adults (18-64): $24.95; seniors (65+): $19.95; young adults (13-17): $19.95;

storytelling and Victorian-era aesthetics

children (3-12): $14.95. Infants and toddlers (0-2) are free.

Museum Café: Yes! Ferry Slip Café.

Camps/Classes: aquarium.org/education/on-site-school-programs.

Reciprocal Membership: Yes! Visit aquarium.org/membership-reciprocity for more

of steampunk meet the wonders of the ocean? You get Seapunk: Powered by Imagination, an exhibit that transforms the spectacle of the typical aquarium gallery into an adventure for all ages.

information.

Get Social: facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium |

Instagram: @OregonCoastAquarium | Twitter: @Orcoastaqarium. pdxparent.com

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November 2019

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World of Speed Motorsports Museum UPCOMING EVENT

December 19-21, 2019

M U S E U M I NFO Address: 27490 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, OR 97070.

Website: worldofspeed.org.

Holiday Magic!

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 9 am-5 pm; Sunday: 10am-5pm. Closed on Mondays.

Join World of Speed for an all-new, three-night,

Admission: Adults: $10; seniors (63+), students, veterans and active military (with valid ID): $8.50; youth (6-12): $5. Kids 5 and under, and members are free.

holiday celebration! When the lights go down, the magic begins. Each evening will have a different theme, special guests, and fun

Camps/Classes: worldofspeed.org/camps.

activities and games for the whole family.

Inclusivity Information: worldofspeed.org/hours-admission.

Get Social: facebook.com/worldofspeedUSA/ \ Twitter and Instagram: @worldofspeedusa.

Do you need info?

The Everything Guide January 2020 From Here to There GEAR GUIDE

kids ❤ adventures The Pacific Northwest has it all: Scenic coastline and rushing river rapids, dormant volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, hidden waterfalls and caves to explore and destination cities with unique food and a variety of places to stay.

Headlamp: Perfect for any adventure where daylight is in short supply.

With the chance to bike, raft, hike, zip-line and so much more, it’s no wonder that our backyard is one big natural playground for families seeking adventures. Here are six of our favorite summer getaways, all within a few hours drive from Portland.

We´ve got a guide for that!

Child Care & Preschool Guide February 2020

Summer Camps March 2020

the 2019-2020

Education Guide

Plus, outfit your kid as you hit the road, river or trail with gear picks from our friends at Next Adventure, 426 SE Grand Ave. nextadventure.net

Woolen socks: Wool socks keep feet insulated from cold and wet conditions.

Mount saint helens Mount Hood gets all the glory when it comes to the PDX skyline, but Mount Saint Helens, just about a two-hour drive away, is a huge adventure in its own right, completely unlike any other destination thanks to its 1980 eruption and the aftermath. If you haven’t taken your kids to Ape Caves yet, this is your chance — the trail features the longest lava tube in the continental United States and even on the hottest days,

PDX PARENT

it’s a steady 42 degrees down there. (Pro tip: Bring headlamps if you’ve got them!) Older kids will dig the live seismographs and geology exhibits at the Johnson Ridge Observatory, while little ones will

SUMMER CAMPS

have fun with the National Parks’ Junior Ranger program scavenger hunts and puzzles. Other hiking options include the Trail of Two Forests, which has giant holes in the ground where trees once Base layers: Polyester base layers wick moisture and keep kids dry.

stood, big enough for the world’s best ever game of hide and seek, the 2.5-mile Hummocks Trail and the

GUIDE

Volcano View Trail, which is stroller-friendly and offers a peek at the mountain. Stay at Eco Park Resort just outside the national park, where you can rent a cabin for four people for $150 a night or pitch a tent for $25. Pro tip: Book one of the family-friendly horseback riding tours to get a birds-eye view tour of how

Summer done right.

Mount Saint Helens is returning to life, nearly 40 years after the eruption. For dinner, try the beefy “logger stew” in a bread bowl at the resort’s Backwoods Cafe. (Don’t worry vegetarians / vegans / the gluten-free, there are choices for you on the menu, too.) — Julia Silverman

Al

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SPONSORED BY

May 2019

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Kids ♥ Adventures May 2020 50

November 2019

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LACOUR + NIESEN PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lantern: Long-lasting LED will light up any night under the stars.

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la vai ra

ble at Next Adve ntur e.

Convertible trekking pants: Prepare kiddos for any weather with these lightweight pants that zip off into shorts.

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Education Guide October 2020

Kids ♥ Museums November 2020