Weekend on the Cheap:
– Children’s Museum First Friday: free admission for all this Friday from 5:00pm – 8:00pm thanks to Target!
– Central Eastside Arts District presents First Friday Art Openings this Friday; see web site for map locations.
– Lewis and Clark College Senior Art Exhibition opening reception this Friday from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at the Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art. The exhibit runs April 2 to May 9; the gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00am – 4:00pm. Free.
– 16th annual Spring Beer and Wine Fest this Friday and Saturday at the Oregon Convention Center. Admission is free the first two hours each day (12:00pm – 2:00pm), otherwise it is $5 general admission. Features beer, wine, cheeses, arts and craft vendors, seminars, music and more.
– 47th annual Alpenrose Dairy Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday beginning at 10:30am, but do arrive early cause’ this even is popular! For children ages 3-8, free!
– Fred Meyer is having a one-day sale this Saturday with door busters from 7:00am – 1:00pm including: a coupon good for 25% off apparel, shoes and accessories; a coupon for 10% off home items; and a coupon for $5-$20 off purchases in electronics. To top it off, Fred Meyer will also have Easter activities for children like cake decorating, bunny ear decorating and a cake walk.
– Submission: The Subterranean Howl, all ages original rock band at The Green Drop Garage located at 1417 SE 9th this Saturday night from 8:00pm – 11:00pm. Free beer and free homemade cookies. Click here for more info on our band …and feel free to download our first album for free on the website.
– Bank of America Museums on Us free admission for card holders to the Portland Art Museum & Pittock Mansion this Saturday and Sunday. Just bring your photo ID and any Bank of America card to get in for free!
– OMSI offers admission for just $2 this first Sunday. See their feature exhibit “Space: A Journey to our Future.â€
– Willamette Week’s new Cheap Skate Deal Box features free online tax filing, free classic screen flicks, a Pazzo prix fixe dinner for $20.10 and more.
– Red Roof Inn kicks off their “1-cent” sale today, read this blog for details on how to nab this deal.
– The OSU Food Innovation Center is recruiting participants for another upcoming taste test (for chocolate!):
The Sensory and Consumer Group at the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center is looking for participants for a taste test to take place on Thursday, April 15th. The taste test will be about 15 minutes and the compensation is $20.
Test times run from 10am to 5pm. If you are interested, please click on this link to submit a questionnaire. If you are selected to participate, we will contact you via email by Thursday, April 8th, where you must confirm your intent to participate. We only contact those who were selected to participate and will be sending out those confirmation emails by April 8th.
– For a list of other totally free events and happenings, please visit Aroundthesunblog, updated every Thursday evening.
SPOTLIGHT: HISTORIC BELMONT FIREHOUSE MUSEUM
Here’s a Portland hidden treasure that we only recently discovered: the historic Belmont Firehouse Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum, located at SE 34th and Belmont. Housed in an original fire station, the museum offers hands-on exhibits, displays and stories of the history of fire fighting in Portland.
Super cool things our students enjoyed (and so can you!):
– slide down a real pole (and learn how to do it properly)
– pose inside a fire fighter cut-out and take a picture
– see a real fire truck (well, half of one!)
– ride in a fire cab in a realistic emergency response simulation in “The Fire Engine Experience”
– see and feel a fire hose, a hand pump fire engine, a fire jacket, helmet, oxygen mask and more
– learn about the history of Portland fire fighting in stories, displays and photographs
– dial 9-1-1 and listen to an emergency call (and know how to call)
– learn about different tools and their functions
– see alarm box displays and historic telegraph system (how they responded to fires in yesteryear)
The museum is not just about history; it aims to promote fire and life safety education for every guest. Ask staff your questions about how to select the right child safety seat or how to properly put out a grease fire. Find out the differences between a one-alarm, two-alarm or three-alarm fire, or learn about everyday dangers in the home that you can prevent. The great part about the museum is that it is all free, thanks to Portland Fire & Rescue and the Jeff Morris Fire and Life Safety Foundation (though donations are certainly accepted!).
The Firehouse is open the second Saturday of every month (except July, August and September) from 10:00am – 3:00pm. The next scheduled ‘Safety Saturday’ is next Saturday, April 10th and then on May 8th and June 12th.
If you have a group, call for a private, customized tour and education program. School field trips, scouting troops, senior outings and history buffs are just a few of the groups that have enjoyed this experience. Call (503) 823-3615 to schedule a visit or for more information. The firehouse can also hold parties, luncheons and other social gatherings.
There is also a small gift shop on site with merchandise and fire department clothing for sale. Oh, and if you’d like a fire fighter sticker badge, just ask (always a hit with the little ones)!
