Mississippi Pizza

Could this place get better for families? Only if you need tableside service. The Mississippi Pizza Pub is your sure bet for a night out with your critters, who invariably like pizza, will enjoy the early music and the easy and open atmosphere. Go to the counter, order your slices or pie, have a beer, listen to some local musicians, finish with a brownie, this is laid-back Portland at its very best. We intent to post a review of the monthly feature of Professor Banjo's Old Timey Play party that happens every first Saturday at 4. Might be creepy, might be great.

Kennedy School

The Kennedy School, one of many roadside attractions for the McMenamins empire is a beautifully restored junior high in NE that harkens back to the days when they didn't worry so much about ceiling height and heating costs. It has beautiful gardens, a lovely courtyard, and is as all McMenamin joints incredibly comfortable to explore. One of us were first introduced here through a work retreat (read, indoctrination, in the friendliest of ways) and we came back while hungry and in the neighborhood after a swim at the Matt Dishman. We had tater tots, hot wings, shakes, and two happy kids. Note: there is also a beautiful ceramic outdoor soaking pool here that is open to the public for a $5 fee. We will let you know if it is worth the charge.

CHINESE GARDEN (Chinook Book!)

Happy Year of the Golden Pig. This trip to the Portland Chinese Classical Garden was colored with a longing nostalgia for San Francisco with its vibrant Chinatown and fancy tea houses. We were glad to find the garden (yes, two for one admission, thank you Chinook) was beautiful and imagined it serene with a smaller crowd. OK, we admit, the caucasion volunteers were a bit of a reminder that we were out of the city, and it seemed a bit Japanese, but hey, the lady at the tea house was authentically ESL and we were as stated nostalgic which can heighten the senses to irregularity. The tea and snacks were delecious. The lion dancers for this New Year's celebration were colorful and undulating, a little scary for Ruth, who admitedly scares easy. Georgia thought they were amazing.

TINY, BABY ZEBRAS

Though we've blogged about two-dollar-second-tuesdays before, we still wanted to list this last one, because it marked the first time Ruth saw a real-life zebra since she started calling herself a "tinee zee-brah." She's been on the zebra kick for quite a while now, sometimes refusing to answer to "Ruth," and only listening if referred to as our "tiny, baby zebra." Her Auntie Julie has been speaking to this part of Ruth in immensely effective ways, writing notes -- paeans, really -- to the beauty and wonder of tiny, baby zebras, in particular one that lives in St. Johns. Cards have been appearing in the mail weekly and Ruthie is having me read them to her over and over and over to her. I even got in the act with the other blog last week.

Anyway, I sold it pretty heavily, so I wasn't sure what the reception would be, and Ruth kept wanting to see the bats, so go figure. But the moment was magical. The zebras were amazing and Ruth was struck dumb until she said, "That's me down dere," to my immense delight. Yay Zebras.

Dim Sum Brunch

This weekend is the Jazz Festival in Portland. We love this music, and were flabbergasted when we found a local radio station whose format is all day all night jazz, nothing in SF compares to this tune-in. Of course to participate in the festivities with two little kids is akin to giving up and turning on the radio, but with the help of the internet we found a few free daytime shows and one of them happened to be downtown at Dragonfish, where they serve a dim sum brunch on the weekends.

The food was great, the kids loved the six little delicious offerings (plus rice and soup and edamame, all for under $12 each, where else can you find a brunch at that price?) the service was good, but there was a snafu, and we are inelegant enough to have to report it. When we arrived, the hostess told us, "I don't know if I can get you a table, I mean, people are listening to the music and I can't guarantee you anything." To which one of us replied, "I'm not sure what you are saying, there are no tables, you don't want us to be on a list (there was nobody else waiting) or what?" She did not relent, the conversation was circular: she did not want us there. This is the first time we have actually been discriminated against because of our kids! Wow! So of course we said put us on your list we'll be back in a bit, and we came back and sat at the table and ate great food and enjoyed the guitar and clarinet players while our perfect children acted perfectly (thank God). To which we say to her, whoever she is: cow cow cow moo moo moo.

POWELL'S CITY OF BOOKS

OK, so we're bored, sick of the whole play group scene and want to get out of the freaking house. So, we park at the Interstate Freddies and hop on a MAX to downtown. What will we do there? Go to our famed Village O' Books. This is several adventures in one, as we can talk about the multi-colored dolphins jumping out of the Willamette -- and are being ridden by new imaginary friend/story catalyst, one Freddie Mouse -- the time we fixed our owies at the Kaiser and asking uncomfortable questions about the tweakers ("What wrong wit the man, daddy?"). Then, books, books, books. Half a dozen little tables and four times that many little chairs and more critter books than previously imaginable.

Tomorrow: tiny, baby zeebra.

INDOOR SWIMMING POOLS

The public parks have six indoor swimming pools that provide a great diversion on these grey dreary winter days that otherwise find you trapped in your living room contemplating whether or not you should just give in, tape cardboard to the windows and let your little beasts take over. Georgia loves swimming, Ruth loves bouncing up and down with a float, and open swim and family hours are full of regular folks (don't worry if you are too fat or too skinny, it doesn't count here). Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. at the Columbia pool are free. Matt Dishman Saturdays 1:10-2 also free. Kids under 3 always free but bring a swim diaper.

KUTS 4 KIDS

Ruth's first real hair cut at Kuts 4 Kids (4423 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd ) was not without tears, but the gentle, understanding and kind woman worked very quickly and we finally have a kid with a nice even haircut that didn't happen while she was being bribed with sponge toys in the bathtub. A few things about this place made the experience manageable: A playroom! -- a little grungy, but who cares; the adventures of Tom & Jerry! -- the cat and mouse duo from thirty years ago smashing each other to smithereens over and over brought laughs out of the tears; Sitting on Mom's lap -- It made it a little difficult when she would duck and hide, but asking Ruth to sit alone for this very scary experience would have been WAY too much. Lastly, dum dum suckers, it required 4 but they worked.

UNCLE PAUL'S PRODUCE (Chinook!)

After lunch at Jam we headed across the street to the tented, open air green grocer Uncle Paul's. We had been here before and loved it, excellent prices, friendly staff and locally grown produce. They have a goofy little fountain that Ruth enjoys, tiny little shopping carts, and a $5 off purchase of $25 or more coupon in the Chinook Book.

JAM on HAWTHORNE (Chinook Book day!)

Lunch at Jam (2239 SE Hawthorne) with our two for one entree coupon snipped out of our beloved Chinook book, was perfect. Timing had us placed between two dining room rushes which provided the ideal booth in the back. Our waitress was open and new, brought Geo a sippy cup and took the liberty of smelling her hair and sweetly saying to her "you smell just like a baby," causing Georgia to fall into a puddle of love. The kids menu is $3 and is nothing like those awful deep fried finger offerings at most places which Ruth won't eat in any case. Peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, lemon ricotta pancakes with fresh blueberry sauce, some kind of noodle. Our half reuben sandwiches with roasted pepper soup were delicious, Ruth's pancakes were a big hit (and enough for all four of us to share). Stumptown coffee. Total bill for the four of us, plus a fat tip, less than $20.

NEW SEASONS -- SEVEN CORNERS STORE (Chinook Book Post #1)

We recently purchased a 2007 Chinook Book, the entertainment-style coupon book filled with local merchants that are, for the most part, green and sustainable. For these dreary winter months, having a reason to trek out for an adventure is necessary, and we are frankly broke so these offers fit two categories. Our first Chinook experience was at New Seasons market in SE Portland. These stores are lush, and we actually have a New Seasons in our area but are always looking for an excuse to check out other 'hoods and the three coupons in the book were voted our best bet for lunch last Saturday. Free pasta of the day turned out to be an outstanding pork ragout that we ate with the free loaf of freshly baked sourdough. The two for one sausage coupon provided for that night's meal along with the rest of the bread and some fresh fennel picked from their produce section. Little did we know they also provide samples all day, steamed vegetables, coconut rice, several indian delights, hot soup and salad. Best place for free lunch in town, and the kids always enjoy grocery shopping in a cart dressed up as a race car.

MT. TABOR PARK

It was freezing cold, one of us was sick, the other tired, but we were all happy we asked at the grocery "is there a playground around here?"

Phenomenal views compliment the Douglas Firs and big leaf maples that line the abundant hiking trails all over Mt. Tabor. There is even a gargantuan staircase that seems to ascend to the top that we want to go back to visit for a good thigh busting picnic when the weather gets warmer.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

From Geo to all, pictured here at the post-Children's Museum Ring in the New Year at Noon Party.

WASHINGTON PARK IN THE WINTERTIME

It doesn't really matter to kids how cold the weather is when faced with a jackpot playground like the by the rose garden at Washington Park. But parents take note: the elevation of the place, coupled with the dense shade that side of the mountain during prime playtime makes for one very frigid adventure. It also makes the wooden ramps slick as snot. Did Georgia care? Not one whit. Did it keep Ruth from digging up frozen sand around the elephant? Not for a second. Did it prompt their parents from delaying the hot chocolate break? Just long enough to think of a back-up treat in case the hot chocolate wasn't reason enough to get Ruth to go cheerfully back to the car.

FIVE FRIENDS FROM JAPAN (AT THE PORTLAND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM)

Yes, you too can make friends in Japan without a passport. After the totally cool reproduction of Sesame Street in the exhibit side of the Children's Museum (CM), we didn't know what would come next. When Five Friends From Japan opened, we frankly didn't know what to think. It was unusual -- a seemingly accurate reproduction of various rooms (a class room, a tofu kitchen, various kids' rooms) in Japanese society, with video introdutions to the kids who "live" there. But, it's really cool. The exhibit is really well thought out and the place is packed with detail. Ruth was able to climb all over the groovy Japanese furnature, looking at anime kids' books while Georgia rolled around on a futon, wrestling the Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro. The shadowbox Tai Chi instructor in the bamboo garden defies description.

Meanwhile: The camera is still on the fritz (I'm on it!), Georgia is so close to crawling it's keeping her up nights and Ruth's owie is all better to the relief of all. Regular posting will start this very week. Right ... now. 

SIP AND KRANTZ

The street car that takes you around the loop of the populated west side is well worth taking with kids. They love trains, you don't have to find parking, and there's a stop right at Jamison Park where you can visit a new coffee shop, Sip and Krantz.
Good coffee, good snacks, and get this, a giant carpeted play area that is enclosed by a glass wall so you can look in on your tots playing with blocks and rolling around in the bean bags. They actually want you to come with your kids! Ruth pictured is right outside the shop in the park enjoying the blustery wind. A picture of the coffee shop? Sure, as soon as we can get the camera that we stupidly left in reach of the curious to work right. This was the one and only shot that didn't turn out as an abstract art expression of muted childhood. We're working on it.

TULIP PASTRY SHOP

Bribery. We're not proud of it, but sometimes it's necessary to get the job done. If, say, we need to finish some onerous (to critters) task without further incident, it helps to have a card up your sleeve, so to speak. Tulip Pastry Shop is that very card that we use when we're here in NoPo, running around finishing our errands. That they make the best donuts we've ever had is a bonus, of course. They also, as seen above, make tantalizingly colorful cookies that prove irrestable to small people. Ghosts and Pumpkins made appearances this Halloween season, and one suspects that Christmas trees and Santa hats aren't far behind. We're particularly fond of the butterfly, personally. 

OREGON ZOO TWO DOLLAR TUESDAYS

Don't get us wrong, the zoo is a fantastic place. Viewing the sea lions in the underwater cave is especially inspiring. But at $9.50 a pop for adults and $6.50 for 3 year olds, a trip to the zoo with a kid who may just last an hour before she completely freaks out when the monkey gets it into his pea brain to "demonstrate" by slamming his screaming grimacing shrieking fanged self into the glass can leave you begrudging the fear instinct of your progeny. But Ruth is still 2, so still free, and on the second Tuesday of every month everyone else is only two bucks. For two dollars, the monkey spazz out can turn into a funny story and not a mild resentment of the animal kingdom. Oh, and your kid gets to brush a goat! And, for the record, our Ruthie didn't lose it at the monkey like the other little scardy cats (but she sure talked about it for a while).

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL LABORATORY

We grant you, nobody would expect a lab that tests poopie water to be a particularly pleasant stop on your Sunday family outing. We picked up a walking guide, "Portland Hill Walks," as a way to aquaint ourselves with our new digs and a hike along the Willamette that included the historic Cathedral Park and St. Johns neighborhood included this gem of green architecture houses this pollution control laboratory. All in the shadow of the green suspension bridge that is the namesake of our new hood, the landscape design alone is unique, even visionary. Cathedral Park, adjacent to the lab, is a beautiful spot for a picnic. Trust us, it is worth checking out.

TOUR DE CREPES, Alberta Street

So, what's with the trailer kitchens in this town? Not that they are bad, as evidenced by the good grub we put away on our weekend visit to Tour de Crepes (2921 NE Alberta), but we have never really known a place that had legitimate restaurants serving out of old camping trailers. There is an entire block of them downtown, and in every neighborhood there is a lot somewhere with a trailer serving up waffles or hot dogs or sloppy joes or, yes, traditional French fare, to a crowd of picnic tables. Tour de Crepes has the addition of a barn-like building built in front with seating, bright light and toys. The crepes were good, although a little pricy. The kids loved it. And yes, little Geo is still pretty bald.