Things to Do in the 'Hood: December 2009

Storytimes at Sellwood Library are on hiatus until January

Trackers NW has winter camps in Sellwood for ages 4-11 with more info. here.

Mondays

Sellwood Community Center
Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Runs through 12/18.
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free.

Tuesdays

Preschool Skate at Oaks Park
10-11:30 am, $5.50/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack, skating lesson and fun with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Shoes and strollers allowed on floor. Runs 10/6-6/9/10. http://www.oakspark.com/preschool.html

Sellwood Community Center
Toddler Gym 9:30-11, ages 2-3.5, $1/child drop-in, runs 9/15-12/29. Mat room.

Wednesdays

Preschool Skate at Oaks Park
10-11:30 am, $5.50/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack, skating lesson and fun with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Shoes and strollers allowed on floor. Runs 10/6-6/9/10. http://www.oakspark.com/preschool.html

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym. Runs 9/12-12/18.

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. 'Mrs. Santa Drives the Sleigh' plays Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17th.

Thursdays

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. 'Mrs. Santa Drives the Sleigh' plays Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17th.

Fridays

Sellwood Community Center
Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Mat room
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym
All run 9/11-12/18.

Saturdays

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground (1-5 yrs) 12-1:45, $1/child drop-in. Infants and adults free. Gym, runs 9/12-1/2/10.

Special Events:

December 4, 5, 6: Holiday Express Steam train at Oaks Park! More info here.

December 5: Free storytime for preschoolers with Sy James at Looking Glass Books, 10 am.

December 5: Handmade greeting cards at Sellwood Library, 10:30-12, free, first-come-first-serve.

December 5-6: Decemberville in Sellwood-Moreland. Free horse and carriage rides, traveling carolers, free progressive holiday crafts for kids starting at Rockin' Roxy's on 17th and Nehalem.

December 5: Santa visits Sellwood Grooming, 12-4 pm, $5 for a 4X6 print, 7302 SE Milwaukie Ave.

December 9th: Christmas Ships can be seen from dock at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Leaves Riverplace at 7 pm.

December 11, 12, 13: Holiday Express Steam train at Oaks Park! More info here.

December 11: Penny's Puppets at the Milwaukie Grange, 10 am, info. about location and admission prices here.

December 11th: Christmas Ships can be seen from dock at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Leaves Riverplace at 7 pm.

December 12: Santa visits Sellwood Grooming, 12-4 pm, $5 for a 4X6 print, 7302 SE Milwaukie Ave.

December 13: Santa visits Sellwood Grooming, 12-4 pm, $5 for a 4X6 print, 7302 SE Milwaukie Ave.

December 14th: Christmas Ships can be seen from dock at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Leaves Riverplace at 7 pm.

December 16th: Christmas Ships can be seen from dock at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Leaves Riverplace at 7 pm.

December 17th: Llewellyn School caroling party meets at 6:45 pm at the Starbucks on Bybee and Milwaukie and leaves at 7 pm. Come sing along or just enjoy the music as the kids pass by.

December 19: 12-4, Spokane Street Bike Blvd. Celebration! 12-12:45 bike ride through neighborhood, hot chocolate provided by Blue Kangaroo, bike helmet giveaway, indoor events for kids at 1 pm at the Sellwood Community Center, 3-4 open gym at SCC.

December 19: Christmas Ships can be seen from dock at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Both fleets are out tonight, leaving Riverplace at 5 pm.

Things to Do in the 'Hood! November 2009

Mondays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library
- Toddlers (age 2) 10-10:30, through November 16th.
- Book Babies (age 0-1) 11-11:30 , beginning Sept. 14th

Sellwood Community Center
Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Runs 9/11-12/18.
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free.

Tuesdays

Preschool Skate at Oaks Park

10-11:30 am, $5.50/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack, skating lesson and fun with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Shoes and strollers allowed on floor. Runs 10/6-6/9/10. http://www.oakspark.com/preschool.html

Sellwood Community Center
Toddler Gym 9:30-11, ages 2-3.5, $1/child drop-in, runs 9/15-12/29. Mat room.

Wednesdays

Preschool Skate at Oaks Park

10-11:30 am, $5.50/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack, skating lesson and fun with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Shoes and strollers allowed on floor. Runs 10/6-6/9/10. http://www.oakspark.com/preschool.html

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym. Runs 9/12-12/18.

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. Froggy Sent A Courtin' plays Nov. 4, 5, 11 and 12. The Gingerbread Man plays Nov. 18, 19 and 25 (no show Nov. 26th).

Moreland Farmer's Market, 3:00-7:30 pm on the corner of SE Bybee and 14th Ave. Live music, activities, tasty food. Runs May 13th through Sept. 30th. (Now starts 1/2 hour earlier than it used to!)

Thursdays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library
-Preschool (ages 3+) 11-11:30, through November 19th.

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. Froggy Sent A Courtin' plays Nov. 4, 5, 11 and 12. The Gingerbread Man plays Nov. 18, 19 and 25 (no show Nov. 26th).

Fridays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library
- Toddlers (age 2) 10-10:30, through November 20th.
- Tiny Tots (age 1) 11-11:30, through November 20th.

Sellwood Community Center

Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Mat room
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym

All run 9/11-12/18.

Saturdays

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground (1-5 yrs) 12-1:45, $1/child drop-in. Infants and adults free. Gym, runs 9/12-1/2/10.

Special Events:

November 7: Free storytime for preschoolers with Sy James at Looking Glass Books, 10 am.

November 7: Growing Arts Creative Movement at Sellwood Library, free, 10:30-11 am. Come wiggle and giggle and have a moving and grooving good time with Iris Nason. All ages. Space at programs is limited, seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

November 14: Hand Print Tiles at Haggis McBaggis, 10-4. Tiles of children's hands and feet take about 5 min. to make and fees vary. Will be available for pickup at Haggis on Nov. 21st. More info here.

November 14: Story Blocks workshop at Sellwood library, free, 10:30 am-noon. Learn how to tell your own personal tales with story blocks and make your own storytelling 5" blocks to take home. Led by artist and author Addie Boswell.

November 14: Family Sign-a-long at Woodstock Library. 3-4 pm, free, pre-registration required by registering online, in the library, or by calling 503-988-5234. Led by Dawn Prochovnic of Small Talk Learning.

November 18: Free Spielwerk craft social (held every 3rd Wed). 10:30-12, all ages, Spielwerk Toys.

November 21: Tapestry of Tales Family Matinee at Sellwood Library featuring Antonio Sacre. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Free tickets for seating available 30 min. before the program; program runs 11-11:45 am.

Make our SMILE Station a Backyard Habitat!

Hopefully you've all saved the date of Wed., 10/28 for your child to participate in upgrading our SMILE Station garden! This project is part of a grant in cooperation with SMILE, Three Rivers Land Conservancy and AmeriCorps. The Sellwood-Moreland Playgroups have been invited to participate and although I'm sure your October calendar is as full as our family's, we are excited to have our kids involved to give them greater ownership in this community resource and to improve our neighborhood by introducing more native plants and habitats. Here's how you can help...

October 28th, all day: Please stop by the SMILE Station at any time on this day and get directions from Gaylen Beatty or the AmeriCorps crew on how you can help with the relandscaping of the SMILE Station garden. Bring boots, gloves, trowel, whatever you think will help you with weeding, planting and other gardening tasks. Volunteers are also needed on 10/27, but that day is probably better-suited for adult volunteers.

October 28th, 1:30-3:30 pm: Garden crafts! Bring your child to the SMILE Station between 1:30 and 3:30 on the 28th to help paint simple bird baths for the SMILE Station, make a 'thumbprint bee' on a mason bee house, or string some bird treats to hang out for our feathered friends. (Older kids can use blunt needles and yarn, younger kids can string O cereal onto pipe cleaners). If it's raining I'll set up the crafts on my back porch just a few blocks from the SMILE Station--email me for address and directions. Wear clothes that can get paint on them. There will be no peanuts or peanut butter in any of the bird feeder activities on this day.

Ongoing: In the garden you'll soon find a bird-feeding staff like this one:

http://knittingiris.typepad.com/knitting_iris/2009/01/o-so-busy.html

We'd like playgroup members to volunteer to make new bird feeders to hang on it each month. Bird feeders are simple to make with kids, so children of all ages should be able to make feeders at home to bring to the SMILE Station. If your family (or playgroup) would like to sign up to place a feeder some month in 2009 or 2010, email me at ktmcauley@gmail.com with your name, phone and email, and the month you'd like to cover (beginning with Oct. 09). If you'd like to make bird-feeders an activity for your playgroup, your whole group can also sign up for a month and hang any extras on trees and fences around the SMILE Station. If you plan to participate in this task, please be aware that many people use peanut butter in bird-feeder construction, so there may be traces of PB on or around the staff. There are plenty of bird-feeder ideas out there, but here are links to a few:

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2008/12/wild-bird-treat.html

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2009/02/feeding-wild-birds.html

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2009/01/feed-the-birds.html

For more information on the SMILE Station project:

http://sustainable.sellwood.org/2009/09/26/smile-is-going-for-the-natural-gold/

See you on the 28th!

-Kirstin McAuley, '05 Coordinator and SPA co-founder-

What to do in the 'Hood--October 2009

Mondays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library
- Toddlers (age 2) 10-10:30
- Book Babies (age 0-1) 11-11:30

Sellwood Community Center
Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Mat room. Runs until 12/18.
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free.

Tuesdays

Preschool Skate at Oaks Park

10-11:30 am, $5.50/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack, skating lesson and fun with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Shoes and strollers allowed on floor. Runs 10/6-6/9/10. http://www.oakspark.com/preschool.html

Sellwood Community Center
Toddler Gym 9:30-11, ages 2-3.5, $1/child drop-in, runs to 12/29. Mat room.

Wednesdays

Preschool Skate at Oaks Park

10-11:30 am, $5.50/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack, skating lesson and fun with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Shoes and strollers allowed on floor. Runs 10/6-6/9/10. http://www.oakspark.com/preschool.html

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym. Runs until 12/18.

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. "Baby Bear's Winter Nap" runs 10/7-10/15 on wed and thursdays. "Granny and Boo Hoo's Halloween Party" runs 10/21-29 on wed and thursdays.

Thursdays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library
-Preschool (ages 3+) 11-11:30

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. "Baby Bear's Winter Nap" runs 10/7-10/15 on wed and thursdays. "Granny and Boo Hoo's Halloween Party" runs 10/21-29 on wed and thursdays.

Fridays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library
- Toddlers (age 2) 10-10:30
- Tiny Tots (age 1) 11-11:30

Sellwood Community Center

Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Mat room
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym

All run until 12/18.

Saturdays

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground (1-5 yrs) 12-1:45, $1/child drop-in. Infants and adults free. Gym, runs until 1/2/10.

Special Events:

Saturday, 10/3, 10 am. Storytelling for Children with Cy James. Looking Glass Bookstore.

10 a.m. Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, Oct. 3-15: "The Greatest Treasure": Play After Play offers a story from China for children ages 2-9. Audience members are invited to interact with the performers after the play. Brooklyn Bay, 1825 S.E. Franklin St., Bay K; $7; www.playafterplay.com or 503-772-4005

Tuesday, 10/6, 7-8 pm: Mid-autumn Festival: Features traditional Chinese music from the Orchids and Bamboo Ensemble, paper-lantern workshop and childrens songs in Chinese and English. Woodstock Library, 6008 S.E. 49th Ave.; 503-988-5399

Saturday, 10/17, 11 am - 5 pm: Hip Happening Craft Bazaar featuring handmade goods. Sellwood Masonic Lodge, 7126 SE Milwaukie Ave.

Saturday, 10/19, 11 am-noon: Fun with Brazilian Music at Sellwood Library. Learn about percussion music and play along with percussion instruments. Free, tickets available 30 min. in advance.

Wed, 10/21, 10:30-12. Speilwerk Craftswork Social. free, drop-in. http://spielwerk.myshopify.com/products/new-craftwerk-social-every-3rd-wednesday-1

Saturday, 10/24, 10:30-11:15. Sing, Sign and Playtime at Sellwood Library. Sing songs and learn and review favorite ASL signs to play and interact with your baby. Registration required; register online, in the library or by calling 503-988-5234.

Saturday, 10/24, all day: Opening events for Sellwood Yoga. Includes children's activities from 1:30-3:30. Click here for the day's schedule.

Sunday, 10/25, 3 pm. Monster March starts at Llewellyn Elementary.

Saturday, October 31: Kids' Halloween Photos at Campbell Salgado!

This year Campbell Salgado Studio is hanging cobwebs and donning our costumes in anticipation of whole bunches of fun. Bring your “little character” by our studio for a Halloween pic.

10 am – 12:30 pm: Costume Sessions
Portland’s tiniest ghosts and goblins are invited to pick a time for a mini-session to strut their Halloween stuff. Call to schedule.

1 pm – 3 pm: Spooky Snapshots
Gremlins of all ages will get their chance to strike a pose-decked out in their spookiest regalia-and help out those in need as well. Drop on in if you dare.

There will be a grand prize for the most creative costume! Plus a raffle of lovely gift baskets full of prizes donated by Sellwood-Moreland area businesses.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Halloween portraits may be purchased for $15 for online digital sharing or $20 as a 5 × 7 print, packages will also be available. All profits will benefit the Oregon Food Bank.

To schedule your costume session call (503) 736-3040 or visithttp://campbellsalgado.com/blog/26246927/ for more details.

Saturday, October 31: Free sugar-skull making at Spielwerk Toys on 13th, 2-4 pm.

New to the Neighborhood? Meet Our New Member Liaison!

At a recent meeting of the Sellwood Playgroup Association Board (sounds official but we're really an informal group of the playgroup coordinators and other playgroup volunteers), we talked about the issue of new families to the neighborhood. One of our goals for the playgroups is for them to serve as a point of connection not only for those of us who joined when our children were babies but also to welcome and help connect us to new families in our midst. This sometimes proves challenging, particularly when the kids are older and meetings less frequent or in public places instead of homes. It's hard to identify the other 'playgroup families' at the park, pool or skating rink if you've never met them!

Enter our New Member Liaison, Jill Kulas! Jill has two sons in the '07 and '09 playgroups and is one of the '09 coordinators. She was a newcomer to the '07 playgroup, our neighborhood and the state not too long ago so she knows what it's like to try to meet people and to connect in a playgroup that is already established. Coordinators will be passing new member contact info. along to Jill when they join each group so she can welcome them. When we have sufficient numbers she may try to set up an all-ages group for new families so they can connect on issues like getting to know the neighborhood, fielding school questions, finding babysitters or setting up a childcare exchange, etc. If you need to contact her or would like to be included in any communication about new member gatherings, email Jill . You don't need to be brand-new to be a part of this, either--if you've come to our community in the last few years but feel like you'd like a little extra help making contact with other children your child's age, please feel free to use this resource. Thanks, Jill, for helping make our neighborhood a welcoming place for new families.

Sellwood Swifts--Fun Family Viewing!

A few of our playgroups got together this week in our pj's to watch a group of Vaux's Swifts as they returned at sunset to nest in the chimney on the SW corner of the American at Heart building.  The SMILE Station (13th and Tenino) has been very cooperative about use of their lawn for watching the birds, who do a dramatic tornado-like grouping about 15-30 min. after sunset before they reenter the chimney.  Our 'Sellwood Swifts' don't appear in the great numbers that the swifts at Chapman School do, but it is convenient to have them in our own neighborhood and easy to park your bike or wagon! Stop by at sunset with your family sometime in September to catch these amazing birds before they migrate to Central America or Venezuela. Click here for more information on Vaux's Swifts to share with your kids.

Things to Do in the 'Hood! September 2009

Mondays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library 
- Toddlers (age 2) 10-10:30, beginning Sept. 14th
- Book Babies (age 0-1) 11-11:30 , beginning Sept. 14th

Sellwood Community Center
Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in.  Runs 9/11-12/18.
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free.

Tuesdays

Chipper's Preschool Mornings at Oaks Park

9:30-11:30 am, $6/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack and storytime with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger. Through Sept. 23rd. 

Sellwood Community Center
Toddler Gym 9:30-11, ages 2-3.5, $1/child drop-in, runs 9/15-12/29. Mat room. 

Wednesdays

Chipper's Preschool Mornings at Oaks Park 

9:30-11:30 am, $6/child. Adults free with child's paid admission. Includes snack and storytime with Chipper. For ages 6 and younger.  Through Sept. 23rd. 

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym.  Runs 9/12-12/18.

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. "Getting Loose With Mother Goose" plays Sept. 23 and 30th. 

Moreland Farmer's Market, 3:00-7:30 pm on the corner of SE Bybee and 14th Ave. Live music, activities, tasty food. Runs May 13th through Sept. 30th. (Now starts 1/2 hour earlier than it used to!)

Thursdays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library 
-Preschool (ages 3+) 11-11:30, beginning Sept. 17th

Ladybug Theater at the SMILE Station. Ages 2 1/2 and up, 10:30 am (doors open at 10:15), $3.50/person, babies free. Reservations required--call 503-232-2346. "Getting Loose With Mother Goose" plays Sept. 24th. 

Fridays
Storytimes at Sellwood Library 
- Toddlers (age 2) 10-10:30, beginning Sept. 18th
- Tiny Tots (age 1) 11-11:30, beginning Sept. 18th

Sellwood Community Center

Baby Play 9:30-11, infants, $1/child drop-in. Mat room
Indoor Playground 10:30-12, ages 1-5, $1/child. Infants and adults free. Gym

All run 9/11-12/18. 

Saturdays

Sellwood Community Center
Indoor Playground (1-5 yrs) 12-1:45, $1/child drop-in. Infants and adults free. Gym, runs 9/12-1/2/10. 

Special Events:

September 3rd:  Playdate for incoming Llewellyn kinders, 10 am, Sellwood Park playground. 

September 5th:  Preschool Storytime with Sy James at Looking Glass Books, free, 10 am. 

September 8th:  Last playdate for incoming Llewellyn kinders, 10 am, Sellwood Park playground

September 12-13:  Muddy Boot festival at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church on SE Division--food, live music and children's activities.  

September 16:  Free Spielwerk craft social (held every 3rd Wed).  10:30-12, all ages, Spielwerk Toys.

September 19:  Magic Dan at Sellwood Library, 11 am-noon. Free tickets for seating available 30 min. prior to the program.

September 26:  Woodstock Elementary PTA Children's Rummage and Book Sale, 9:30-2:30, 5905 SE 43rd Ave. (Woodstock Community Center).  Benefits new school playground.  Sale includes children's clothing, baby items, bikes, games, toys, sports equipment and children's furniture.