ML Interest Tag: granite

Only in Portland: 8 Free Hidden Gems in the Rose City

by April Hasson

We Portlanders don’t need the “Keep Portland Weird” slogan to remind us that our city has plenty of unique and fun places to explore. Whether your curious cutie is a budding artist, a voracious reader, or even a movie buff, read on for a list of free sights to check out inside, outside and all over town.

 

photo: April Hasson

Movie Madness
Not only is visiting a brick and mortar movie rental store a novelty in and of itself, Movie Madness is unique in that it offers movie fans a rare glimpse at actual film props and costumes. Budding actors and designers will love seeing pieces from their favorite movies, such as costumes worn by Jennifer Aniston, Julie Andrews and Jennifer Lopez. Future film directors and special effects hopefuls will love viewing the xenomorph head from the movie Aliens, or a model building from Blade Runner and Ghostbusters. Along with an impressive collection of monsters at the checkout counter, Movie Madness is a fun place to visit on a rainy Portland day, even if you aren’t there to rent a movie.

Daily 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
4320 SE Belmont St.
503-234-4363
online: moviemadnessvideo.com

photo: jpelgen via flickr

The Portlandia Statue
Second to only the Statue of Liberty as being the largest copper repousse statue in the United States is Portland’s very own Portlandia statue. Take a walk downtown to gaze upward at the 35 foot tall statue. Little artists and explorers will especially love finding the mini versions of Portlandia scattered throughout downtown. Additional “maquettes” can be found at the Heathman Hotel, the Wells Fargo Building, and the World Trade Center (at Salmon St. and Naito Parkway). Travel up to the second floor of The Portland Building to view plaster molds, including the model used to cast the statue’s face in bronze. Grab a map of the city and plan a downtown Portlandia scavenger hunt!

1120 SW 5th Ave.
503-823-4000
Online: www.portlandoregon.gov

photo: April Hasson

Hippo Hardware
Looking for a unique rainy day activity for your little handy fixer? Visit the kid-friendly Hippo Hardware store, where accompanied children are welcome to touch anything and ask the friendly staff questions about the variety of doorknobs, keys, hooks and plumbing parts. With 30,000 square feet to explore, your future engineer or electrician will leave with a whole new set of ideas and interests.

Mon.-Thur. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sun. Noon-6 p.m.
1040 E Burnside St.
503-231-1444
Online: www.hippohardware.com

photo: Kitty Baby Love via flickr

The Belmont Goats at Lents Town Center
What could be more “Portland” than an urban goat herd? Bring your junior veterinarian to visit the furry friends, now located at 91st and Foster. Named “The Belmont Goats” after their original SE Belmont location where they cleared brush, this friendly family of 14 goats are available for petting on weekend afternoons and Wednesday evenings. The Belmont Goats volunteers are happy to introduce you to a few members of the herd, including their pet hen, Juniper.

Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Wed. 4-6 p.m.
5808 SE 91st St.
Online: thebelmontgoats.org

photo: April Hasson

Gleall Castle
Do you have a princess or prince who loves all things royal or medieval? Portland has its very own castle located in the SW hills. The structure was originally named Mount Gleall Castle, after the names of the children (Gladys, Earl and Lloyd) of the builder, Charles Piggott. The 124 year-old castle is a quick drive (or urban hike) up Buckingham Terrace, but remember not to disturb the current residents.

2591 SW Buckingham Ter.
Online: facebook.com/charleshenrypiggott

 

photo: Heidi De Vries via flickr

The Portland Horse Project
Combining both a touch of history with Portland-esque whimsy, are the mini horses of The Portland Horse Project. The community-led project began 10 years ago, after one Portlander tied a toy horse to one of the metal rings commonly found in local sidewalks. These rings, which were once used to tie up real horses in the 1900s, are now homes to many mini horses (or pigs, lions and other animals), placed by the people of Portland. To find one near you, or to replace or place your own, visit The Portland Horse Project Facebook page.

Online: 39forks.com/

Photo: Lance and Erin via flickr

Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden at Grant Park
For the little literary lover in your life, take a trek to the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden at Grant Park, which features statues of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins and Ribsy the dog. With author Beverly Cleary turning 100 this year, now is a great time to introduce, or reinvigorate, excitement in the popular Ramona Quimby children’s book series. After visiting the statues, take a stroll to nearby Klickitat and Tillamook streets, which are both featured within the books.

NE 33rd Ave. and Grant Pl.
Online: www.portlandoregon.gov

photo: Pui S. via Yelp

Multnomah County Central Library, lobby stairs
Continuing on the Beverly Cleary theme, take a trip to the Multnomah County Central Library, home of the Beverly Cleary Children’s Library. While there, take a self-guided tour of the granite staircase leading upstairs from the lobby. Named the “Garden of Knowledge Stairs”, this structure by artist Larry Kirkland is both functional and an adventure. Climb carefully and pause to see the hidden etched symbols, along with inspiring words, such as “create,””discover” and “imagine”.

801 SW 10th Ave.
503-988-5123
online: multcolib.org/library-location/central 

What are your favorite Portland sites to visit with your children? Tellus below in the comments section!

—April Hasson

 

 

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The Care and Feeding of a Pet Rock (In 4 Easy Steps)

by Amber Guetebier

You’ve scoured rocky shores and wooded glens (or maybe just the hardware store) for the perfect pet rock for your little one and spent the morning customizing it with googly eyes and faux fur. But what do you do with it now that it is home? Read on for the four easy steps to keeping your new family pet happy.

Photo by: Eamon Brett via flickr

Step 1: A Rock By Any Other Name

If you haven’t already named your creation, you can never go wrong with variations on famous names, e.g. Sharon Stone, BaRock Obama, Pebbles, George Washingstone, Granite Jackson, Agent Boulder…you get the idea.

Step 2: A Room of One’s Own

Your pet rock needs a place of its own to escape the daily grind. You can trick out a shoebox or make a LEGO bed on a shelf. Rocks with pull might even get into a Barbie house. Tip: they are fond of rocking chairs.

Step 3: Boulder Flavors

You must feed your rock. A rock’s favorite food is pea gravel. They are also fond of quartz of milk, always best served from a mason jar. The great news is you only need to feed them about once a week so the food lasts forever. Once a year, treat them to the Hard Rock Cafe if there’s one near you. 

Step 4: Rock ‘n’ Roll

Rocks love music! You must sing to your rock at least once a week or more.  If you prefer, you can play them songs including these favorites:

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (Beatles)
Steppin’ Stone (Monkees)
Rock n’ Roll High School (Ramones)
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon)
It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (or anything by the Rolling Stones)
Rock It (Queen)
Papa Was a Rolling Stone (The Temptations)

If you follow these simple instructions, your rock will last you (literally) a life time. Rock on!

What did you name your pet rock? Share it with us in the comments section below.

—Amber Guetebier

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Rock On! The Scoop on Plae Kids Shoes & Red Tricycle’s Exclusive Event

by Brandi McWade

Your kids scurry up the jungle gym and use your couch cushions as trampolines. Red Tricycle and Plae Kids Shoes recently teamed up to give a few lucky energetic kiddos an outlet to play at Portland’s Planet Granite. Scroll through the photos to get an insider look at this exclusive event.


Before these Portland kids hit the rock climbing wall they were given a safety tutorial by the pros at Planet Granite and outfitted with all the equipment they needed to scale to new heights.


Using their strength, energy and determination, these mini climbers ascended the rock climbing wall without batting an eye lash.

On their feet to help them climb were a pair of Plae Kids Shoes. These shoes, which were meant for climbing, feature a flexible sole, shock absorption, a toe guard and active traction to enable a smooth climb up.

Want to create amazing memories? Click to check out these awesome family adventures you can’t afford to miss! 

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6 New Restaurants That are Majorly Kid Friendly

by Matt Kirouac

Polish donuts. Meatball sandwiches. Nutella empanadas. There’s a lot for kids to be excited about at the local eateries that opened this fall. Parents, we’ve got you covered as well (did you see the part about Nutella empanadas?!). From a family-friendly brewpub to an Eastern Euro-flavored hideaway, this is where to fill your tank now.

photo: 5411 Empanadas

5411 Empanadas
The trend of food trucks going brick-and-mortar carries on with a couple new dumpling-oriented spots. And if there’s one food high on adorability and kid appeal, it’s dumplings. First up: a sleek new Wicker Park restaurant from the 5411 Empanadas food truck team. They already operate a small storefront in Lincoln Park, but their new outpost brings more seating, more menu items, more sweets and more to smile about. Kids will love the BBQ chicken empanada, or the banana-Nutella version for dessert. There’s a sweet corn version for veggie lovers, as well as beef and chorizo empanadas that taste like glorious Hot Pockets.

2045 W. North Ave.
Wicker Park
773-755-5411
Online: 5411empanadas.com

photo: BroBagel

BroBagel
The brothers behind Piece Pizzeria & Brewery have teamed up again to launch a casual bagel cafe alongside the restaurant. For the brothers Jacobs, it’s a return to form, as they previously operated a bagel bakery in their pre-Piece days. The results are gloriously doughy and indulgent. The sunny, casual cafe features a dizzying array of bagels in classic and contemporary flavors, with optional cream cheese spreads, coffee, some pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. It’s a simple formula, and a heartwarming one. Because nothing says “family-friendly breakfast” like a carb bomb bedecked with cream cheese.

1931 W. North Ave.
Wicker Park
773-772-4422
Online: brobagel.com

photo: Polak Eatery via Laura C on Yelp

Polak Eatery
Hot on the heels of 5411’s South American-flavored dumpling debut, another dumpling food truck parks itself at a new storefront in Humboldt Park. The Pierogi Wagon’s new restaurant, Polak Eatery, is open for business, expanding on its pierogi repertoire with numerous other Eastern European-inspired comfort foods. The quaint space gets its homey appeal from reclaimed wood furnishings, exposed brick and a smattering of tables. The comfy-cozy vibe also translates to the menu which offers modern interpretations of Polish nourishment in the form of pierogi dumplings (doughy little morsels brimming with potatoes, cheese and more), along with Polish doughnuts called paczki, soulful borscht soup, gravy-slathered poutine, hearty goulash and other delights.

1043 N. California Ave.
Humboldt Park
312-291-1902
Online: facebook.com/polakeatery

photo: Snarf’s Sandwiches

Snarf’s Sandwiches
Kids and sandwiches go together like Spongebob and square-shaped pants. There can never be enough sandwich spots for kids to drool over, but one newbie has our attention for its impressive array of classic-inspired toasted sandwiches, its cartoon-y branding and its proximity to Oz Park. The Boulder, Colorado-based sandwich shop has locations throughout the state, along with St. Louis and Austin, and its chosen downtown and Lincoln Park for its inaugural Chicago entry (with another one due by nearby DePaul campus). With artsy interiors and facades reflective of the neighborhood, Snarf’s ingratiates itself to its new home well, inviting diners with a Wizard of Oz-inspired tiled mosaic. The sandwiches read like kid catnip — most of them riffs on classic favorites like roast beef, meatballs, corned beef, grilled cheese and PB&J. Ideal for kids is the Novice size sandwich, a 5-incher ideal for smaller mouths. And don’t forget the milkshakes.

2201 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincoln Park
&
600 W. Chicago Ave.
Downtown
312-644-1500
Online: eatsnarfs.com

photo: The Rivers Edge Bar & Grill

The Rivers Edge Bar & Grill
Chicken wings, bacon-topped burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and other classic American favorites form the foundation for a solid family-friendly meal at Batavia’s new Rivers Edge Bar & Grill. Located on the city’s historic and picturesque North River Street, the comfortable space features a massive outdoor patio, live music and trivia for those who like to test their wits while tearing into Buffalo wings. The menu is divvied into comfort foods both old school and new. For sports-loving families, Rivers Edge airs football games and serves up chili and hot dogs at halftime.

12 N. River St.
Batavia
630-406-9200
Online: facebook.com

photo: Granite City Food & Brewery

Granite City Food & Brewery
The national restaurant and brewery chain has made its Chicago-area debut in Orland Park, and at long last we have a brewpub with an affinity for kid-friendly cookery. Not only is the restaurant spacious and comfortable, outfitted with large booths, granite pillars and a nifty view into the brewing facilities through tall windows, but Granite City goes to great lengths to make little eaters feel right at home with its in-depth kids’ menu. The “Just for Miners” menu features items like mini corn dogs, grilled chicken, rigatoni noodles and pepperoni flatbread pizza. Plus, the menu features cartoon characters and numerous interactive games like mazes and Sudoku. Cheers to that!

14035 S. La Grange Rd.
Orland Park
708-364-1212
Online: gcfb.com

What restaurant do you love to take the kids to? Let us know in the Comments!

— Matt Kirouac

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Weekend Warriors: 7 Quick Trips Close to Home

by Phebe Wahl

This weekend marks the official end of summer. If you feel the urge to squeeze in one last blast, read on for three quick trips to send off the season in style.

Serenbe
Just a thirty-two mile drive south of the center of Atlanta, Serenbe is serene community where you can do just about anything—or happily nothing at all. Take a trail ride, or hike along the wooded paths on foot. Be sure to introduce the kiddos to all the creatures that call this place home: horses, cows, donkeys and one very friendly pig!  Click here for your stress-free guide to Serenbe.

Stone Mountain Park
Years ago, you might have mistaken Stone Mountain for little more than a slab of granite and a laser show. But, the park has really grown up and is well worth checking out.  The kids can cool off at the Geyser Towers attraction, or satisfy their urge to climb all over everything at the SkyHike, a unique family adventure course. Take in some nature on a hike, or sit back and enjoy the view from the Scenic Railroad. And, yes, of course, there is the laser show, too!

Callaway Gardens
Less than a hour and a half from Atlanta, Callaway Gardens offers a full roster of family-friendly fun. Boasting cool lakes, shady bike trails and plenty of entertainment for the wee ones—click here for your complete guide on making the most of this do-able destination.

Dahlonega
About an hour North of Atlanta, Dahlonega is a quaint Mountain town offering outdoor adventures, arts, culture, food and wine. What’s not to love about this gold rush town? Kiddos will be thrilled with the underground adventures at Consolidated Gold Mines, where they can pan for gold and mine gemstones, too. Wonder around winding mountain roads, and try to wrap your mind around the fact that you are not sitting in traffic!

Gulf Shores, AL
When the dogged humidity of Atlanta crashes upon us, Gulf Shore’s 32-miles of white sand and sparkling water offers a refreshing reward for hauling your brood to the beach. A little over a five hour drive from Atlanta, the community famous for their fishing rodeos and National Shrimp Festival offers a boatload of family-friendly fun. Click here for our guide to this beautiful beach.

Asheville, NC
From outdoor adventures to the behemoth Biltmore Estate, Asheville is tops for traveling with tots and a great spot to keep cool. Click here for our picks for this pinnacle of family fun.

Hilton Head, SC
Located just four hours away from Atlanta is the beautiful island of Hilton Head, South Carolina. Dripping with Spanish moss and Southern charm, Hilton Head is aglow with it’s landmark lighthouse and activities for all ages. Click here for your guide to this island oasis of family fun.

Still searching for ideas? Make a splash at one of these local lakes. Camp it up with the kids. Visit one of these three small towns nearby. Or head up to the Highlands-Cashiers area with the fam. Happy Labor Day! 

Where does your family like to get away? Tell us in the comments section below!

–Candice Rose and Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Creative Commons via Flickr, Callaway Gardens, Chimney Rock Park, and Consolidated Goldmine via Facebook 

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Date Night: Cool Indoor Sports

by Erin Lem

Dinner and a movie, though romantic and relaxing, can eventually leave us longing for something with little more thrill. It’s also no secret that when wet Seattle weather keeps us indoors (and that’s often), nerves and tempers with the ones we love can become frazzled all too easily. You need to get out! Raise your pulse and your passion factor together as you check out the coolest indoor sports in town.

Climbing Up The Walls
Set your sights on the skies as you and your partner learn to trust your muscles and clamber up the walls of a local climbing gym. Founded in 1987, Vertical World operates five different indoor climbing gyms around the Puget Sound area. Another great place to chalk your hands is Stone Gardens. The Pinnacle at the REI flagship store is available to climbers of all ages and expertise. Also, UW students have exclusive access to the Crags Climbing Center, featuring more than 5,000 square feet of rock climbing walls up to 42 feet high.

Ice Ice Baby
Beat the cold at its own game when you use ice to have your fun. Several ice skating rinks around town that offer daily public skating sessions as well as figure skating and hockey instruction. Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline may be the best-known rink in the area, while further north is Mountlake Terrace’s Olympicview Arena and Lynnwood Ice Center. The eastside destination is Kirkland’s Kingsgate Ice Arena and if you’re way down south, Renton’s Castle Ice.

If you’re in the mood for more challenge than skates, try your hand at curling at Granite Curling Club, where players slide 42-pound granite stones across a sheet of ice toward a target. Teammates “sweep” along in front of the stone, using special brooms to warm up the ice for better sliding. curlingseattle.org). Because Granite has trained more Olympic curling champions than anywhere else in the U.S., you know its a good spot to begin! Open house events are usually held the second Saturday of each month.

For more information on great indoor sport date night ideas, read here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

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