waiting for the bus

Old Wive's Tale Restaurant

We had the rare treat of seeing Imago Theater's Biglittlethings this past weekend, a great show for those who like glowing floatingthings (who doesn't?). For a bite to eat close by, we went to Old Wive's Tale, a laid back vegan/vegetarian joint (fish and meat are on the menu, but there aren't too many places with soy souffles, try it) with large dining rooms and a bonus playroom. The kid's menu is extensive, cheap, and won't leave your toddler cranky from over-fried over-sweet junk that you find at most spots. We'll be back.

PARK BLOCKS

If you find yourself this fall needing an outing but not knowing where to go, walk the park blocks. With plenty of attractions along the way for your kids to crawl on including the Portland Art Museum's particularly climbable sculpture, the Museum for Contemporary Craft (free, but plenty of breakables), a playground close to Powell's, and a path right through the middle which makes it easy to allow the kids to run and play with plenty of room to spare away from traffic. Beautiful statuary, leaves, water fountains and benches, what more do you need (besides a bagel break?)

FULLER'S COFFEE SHOP

Real story: we recently visited Fuller's ( 136 NW 9th, in the Pearl) for lunch. It was lunch time, so we naturally ordered lunch fare. The hamburgers are are similar to In and Out Burger, the type of sandwich which we are very fond of ($3.95, pretty good deal). The fries are solid. The reuben? A little off. As we were settling the bill the waitress said, "You had lunch? Well, come back for breakfast, it's really good."

Apparently everyone knows you only go to Fuller's for breakfast, even the staff. But we enjoyed it despite, and the kids loved the counter-only seating. They both sat still and ate their entire lunch without screaming, squirming or sassing. Rare treat.

GREEN SPROUTS ORGANIC BABY & FAMILY FEST

While partying at the Avalon is good times, it was good to clean up at the cleanest gig in town -- the Green Sprouts Organic Baby & Family Fest, held at beautiful Peninsula Park. Sponsored by the local ReDirect Guide, it was basically a "green" product fair with terrific food booths by Proper Eats and Peanut Butter & Ellies, but it was still a fun, varied time. There was free music (we liked this guy, who also sings at PB & Ellies and the Portland Children's Museum) and Ladybug Walks around the park every hour! What fun. The masks won't stay on, but what could be cuter?

Bonus Organic List: The 10 Worst Foods for Pesticide.

AVALON THEATRE -- ELECTRIC CASTLES WONDERLAND

Located in the historic Belmont District, one would be forgiven if one thought this place was a little, um, saucier than it is, what with the clicking lights, and garish signs (it reminded us a little bit of a pre-Guliani Times Square), but inside is a siezure-inducing good time. The Avalon Theatre part of the place is just a standard-issue second-run theater, like the Academy or the Laurelhurst, with good theaters (Ratatouille is coming up) with not-too-beat-up seats and very fair concession prices, but the other part? An eye-glazingly-fun 5-cent arcade that sent me back to summer days on the jersey shore, pumping nickels into machines trying to win tickets to get some junk for the kiddies. Ruth and Geo liked the driving games (the Big Rig one was best) and, as long as you keep their little eyes from the zombie shoot-'em-ups, you're good to go. If you have a 10-year-old? Nirvana. Bring some singles (or rolls of the aforementioned nickles) and you're good to go, as they say.

IKEA

Certainly we're not the first to sing the hosannas of the Swedish retailer, but let us join the fray -- Ikea's a great way to spend a day, with decent grub, a magical children's playroom and lots and lots and lots of cheap, well-designed furnishings.

The aforementioned playroom, called Smaland by the Swedes for some reason, is a supervised, free daycare-type place. Be ready to wait in line with your potty-trained child from 37" to 54", you're handed a beeper (in case of meltdowns) and your critter is allowed in a truly cool-looking kiddie wonderland. But even if that wasn't there, the kids furniture section -- with its tunnels between the various display dream rooms -- is a playground all of its own. The food, including the retailers famed Swedish meatballs, is decent, inexpensive cafeteria fare. Oh, and I almost forgot the excellent restrooms, with kid-sized sinks and easy chairs for nursing mamas. Parents, they want your business. We kept on thinking how cool it would be if all retailers courted our dollars so fervently.

Take the MAX Red line on out to Cascade Station and make a day of it. Even if you just get a lamp and some candles (like us) an excellent day can be had by all.

SWIFT WATCH 2007

This is something truly to behold. Every September, the Vaux's Swifts come to Chapman Elementary School in NW to roost on their way to Guatemala. Big deal right? Come and see. The birds begin to gather around dusk, thousands of them. In the meantime, kids are sliding down the dried autumn grass hillside on cardboard (fun, really really fun). As the sun begins to set, the birds begin to funnel in tornado formation and drop down into the defunct chimney on the back of the school. It is amazing! They will show up for a couple more weeks, and the school is attached to Wallace Park where you will find two playgrounds and plenty of space to picinc before walking to the back of the school to sled down the hill and be awed by these cigar-shaped bat birds on their way to warmer parts. Fall is truly here.

HAYRIDES!

Hey everyone, it is almost time to pick your pumpkin at Sauvie Island.