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Article Archives Just in case you were still interested in past Articles I have archived them here for your enjoyment!
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| June 2011 | May 2011 | |
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Oh how I love the movies! There are so many ways to enjoy the movies here in the Portland area, especially in the summer time! My Favorite movie so far this summer is Super 8! It took me right back to the 80's and made me feel like I was seeing Goonies for the first time. If you haven't seen it yet, turn off the computer and go see it now! It can be so expensive to take your family to the movies, but since discovering the Oak Grove Cinemas we hardly go anywhere else to see a first run movie. The matinee price, which is any movie before 6pm, is $5!! YES, I said $5! Remember when Ton Loc said, "You couldn't care less about the five your blowin'." That was in the 80's! After 6pm it is still only $7. That is cheaper than the matinee price at Regal or Cinemark. So forget about having to see a movie at Noon. You can go anytime at the Oak Grove Cinemas, which is located on McLoughlin (99E) in Milwaukie. Another of my favorites is the 99W Drive In, in Newburg. I love seeing movies even more at the Drive In. They even show vintage trailers and concessions commercials between movies. Sometimes they show classics, like Back to the Future, but you usually get 2 first run movies for $8 per person. What a bargain, plus you can bring your own food and treats or buy at their vintage snack bar with tasty popcorn, ice cream, pizza, and all the other treats you expect. We like to bring our lawn chairs and lounge out in front of the car during the movie. Our dog, meatball, loves it too! Movies start at dusk, but don't expect to get in then. You have to go early. This week they were sold out before 8pm. And of course summer is a great time to catch a free movie outside.
Go to Oak Grove Cinemas - First run movies at cheaper prices!!! $5 before 6pm and $7 after for adults. Kids always $5. The regular price is cheaper than the matinee price at Regal or Cinemark. Nice theater and the popcorn is cheaper too and tastes better! 99W Drive-In - The nearest local Drive In is in Newberg on 99W! This is a great family activity. Bring your lawn chairs and sit out in front of the car. Bring snacks, the kids in PJs and have a blast.
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Are you going to Disneyland this summer?
If you are, I am jealous! I just got back a couple of weeks ago, but I am really ready to go back RIGHT NOW! I wanted to share a few things I have learned from my last few trips to Disney that might help make your trip a little better and easier. Tickets. You see a lot of ads for ticket discounts, but the best is probably AAA. They sell the tickets at their office and they come with free parking. The tickets are cheaper, no tax AND free parking!! Wow! Parking is $15 a day now. Going to Disneyland in the early morning? Stop by the Market House on the right side of Main Street, for coffee. Save your receipt. They will give you free refills all day along. It's the only place in Disneyland that you can get that! They also have a hidden cupboard of aspirin, sun block, and other drug store items, just ask. Did you know that you can ride up front with the engineer on the Disneyland train? Just ask a conductor when the train comes into the station. If your train has the super fancy Lilly Belle car, you can ride in that too. Just ask! If it's your first visit you have to do the full round trip to see all of the special sights along the way. It's great for an afternoon rest. You can also take pictures sitting in the drivers seats of the main street vehicles as well. Single Riders!
Don't want to wait in line for two hours to ride California
Screamin'? Talk to the cast member at the front of the
line. They will give you a single rider pass. It's
better than a fast pass, but you don't get to ride with your
friends. You'll wait 10 minutes instead of 2 hours Baby Swap! Moms and Dads with small kids can both enjoy a ride. Ask the first cast member at a ride for a Child Swap pass so that both parents don't have to wait in the long line. I've heard that you can use the pass all day and go back to the front of the line at any time, but I don't know that for sure. Food is expensive at Disneyland! You can bring in your own food and drinks. They will look through your bag, but they have no problem allowing you to bring in food and drinks in plastic containers. The will even allow soft sided coolers. They have lockers to stow your food until lunchtime. The lockers are right by the Market House so you can get more coffee! Hydrate!!!! It gets hot and you will get much more tired and cranky if you aren't well hydrated. Drink lots of water, not soda. Keep Calm. I see so many people getting tired and crabby and frustrated with their children. Remember that you are asking your child to spend 12+ hours outside in the sun, constantly moving and being over stimulated. It's just too much for most kids, and all adults! Drink lots of water, keep eating snacks you are carrying in a backpack, take lots of breaks, sit and watch shows to rest the feet, and remember that you are at the HAPPIEST place on earth. If you force kids and yourselves to the limit it won't be fun for anyone and it won't be a good memory. If you start getting cranky remember to keep it to yourself and do what you can to make it a great experience for your kids. If they start getting cranky, try to figure out why instead of doing what most Disneyland parents do, yell at them about how much it costs to go there and threaten to go home. The likelihood is that they are thirsty, tired or over stimulated and probably just need a break. You can't see everything! There is a quote from Walt that goes something like, "Build too much for them to see in one day so they have to come back." Good Old Walt has built more than you can see in three days. Study the website and maps before you go and decide what you really want to see the most and concentrate on that, when you have that done, do other things. Then you will feel like you have accomplished something special with this trip. |
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December 2010 |
October 2010 |
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Cinnamon Bear has been a tradition for many families since it was first aired in 1937. Cinnamon Bear is a radio play featuring Paddy O'Cinnamon and Judy and Jimmy. Their are 26 fun filled episodes leading up to the Christmas Eve finale. Portland is often called the hotspot for Cinnamon Bear because he has been broadcast each year since 1937, only missing a year or two through the years. Many local stores often had Cinnamon Bear, instead of Santa Claus for children to visit and tell their wishes to at Christmas. The Portland Spirit has a yearly schedule of You can adventure into the land of maybe with Pirates and Cinnamon Bear himself. Now you can download the entire Series and play it for your family. RadioLovers.com - Cinnamon Bear. You can listen online or right click and click "Save Target As" which will allow you to save each episode in an MP3 format for free. This radio show and lots of others are available online for free because they are copyright free and in the public domain. Radio shows can be a lot of fun to introduce to your family. Kids love to listen to them and can be very creative drawing or painting what they imagine. If you have a video camera, they can even create their own plays or movies based on the shows. Many shows may have historic context which may need to be explained to them, which is a great way to introduce our history and the way we used to live. Portland Spirit Cruise Schedule
Other radio Shows and websites to enjoy.
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Halloween Season! Oh how I love Halloween!
It's always so much fun! I know a lot of I didn't trick or treat for the
candy, I usually still had candy left from The point is that dressing up and
acting crazy and just having Keep Halloween Safe & Comfortable
Favorite Halloween Haunts
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September 2010 |
May 2007 |
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Swift Watch 2010 Here is what the Portland Audubon website said about it................ Join us on the lawn at Chapman School 1445 NW 26th Ave. | Portland, OR 97210, most evenings in September for a spectacular display of Vaux’s Swifts as they gather to roost in the school’s chimney. Volunteers from Portland Audubon will be present with information about the swifts, binoculars and a spotting scope for viewing. Swifts are insect eating birds that migrate south each fall. At sunset during migration they choose a place where dozens to thousands of birds can roost (sleep). Since the late 1980’s the Chapman chimney has been one of these roosting sites. Swift watching – coming to view the swifts as they prepare to roost – has become a very popular activity at the Chapman School site in recent years. Many evenings in September see in excess of 2000 people gathered on the school lawn and neighboring Wallace Park grounds to watch and listen as the swifts gather overhead before entering the chimney. Please read the "Community Mindfulness" link and the tips below to help keep the experience positive for all. This is a free event, open to everyone! It is everyone’s responsibility to make it a safe and enjoyable experience. Portland Audubon is enlisting the help of every Swift Watcher to develop a spirit of community mindfulness by following and sharing these tips with others:
By following these simple
tips, the 2010 Swift Watch will be enjoyable for all who come to
view the Vaux’s swifts, as well as to the neighbors who live
in the area.
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Pre-PlanningPlan early during the week of the Rose festival parade, and make sure you tape off an area to sit in. Don't make it huge.Make it just big enough to be comfortable. People in Portland are nice, but not that nice on parade morning when people are straggling in at the last minute. Be Weather WiseI know you hear this often around here, but make sure you dress in layers, so you can have short sleeves when it starts heating up, but you will still be prepared for the occasional Oregon rain. Don’t forget sunscreen, blankets, umbrellas, and a few garbage bags that can be used for ponchos. Potty BreaksAs most parade veterans know, you have to scope out the nearest bathroom, since most of the nearby restaurants will be pretty tough to get into once crowds gather. Keeping Everyone Occupied
Making It Fun For Everyone Last year at the Rose parade we saw some pretty great set ups, like a set of bunk beds under a dining canopy, and a fire bowl to roast marshmallows! Make it fun, but not too much work! Be Aware of SafetyPlease watch your children. Do not let them wander into the street. They could be seriously hurt by floats and other parade entries. Don't let them go so far that you cannot see them. Just In CaseWrite down all of your child's information on a piece of paper and put it in their pocket or pin it to their shirt. You should include your cell number, so you can be called if your child is found away from you. To Buy or Not To BuyI try to save money, but this is one time when buying that program can be a big help. It is fun to know who is coming next, or who made that wacky float! It is also good to know that after this last float, the parade is over. That street sweeper will sweep you faster than you think!! They are not friendly!! They want you gone, and now is not the time to dilly dally! Parades are a great free family activity. They happen all of the time, and your family can even be in some of them! Just take these things to heart, and make this parade season a good one for everyone! I'll see you at the parades!
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