Spring Break on the Cheap: Friday, March 23rd – Sunday, April 1st

We are on holiday and will be back in early April. Here’s a quick run down of things to keep you busy until then!

Article of the Week:
“Spring break: Ideas for having fun with the kids without spending a lot,” by Amy Wang, the Oregonian.

Friday, 3/23
– Last chance to take advantage of downtown Portland’s Winter Blah Buster, featuring 2-for-1 performance tickets and discounts at nearby restaurants, now through March 31st.
– Free coffee: Friday is the last day for McDonald’s free 12 oz. premium roasted coffee, but if you miss out, Burgerville has you covered with a freebie cup of coffee of their own, now through March 25th.
– Better Living Home Garden and Lifestyle Show at the Portland Expo Center, Friday – Sunday, free admission.
– Mazamas Used Gear Sale, 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Mazama Mountaineering Center

Saturday, 3/24
– PDX Bicycle Show, Saturday and Sunday at the Portland Expo Center, $10 general admission. Kids 12 and under are free with paid adult.
– PaganFaire 2012 at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Main Exhibit Hall. $7 general admission, print off a coupon from the web site to save an additional $2.
– Crafty Wonderland Grand Opening with 20% off everything all day. From noon – 4:00pm there will be Voodoo donuts and coffee.

Sunday, 3/25
– Multnomah County Library free lecture series “Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War.” Five part lecture series begins with Session I, Imagining War, 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Registration required, please see web site for more information.
– Concert at the Old Church: Soprano Kimberly Giordano and mezzo soprano Beth Madsen Bradford present an afternoon of favorite arias and songs, 3:00pm. Suggested donation of $5 – $15 at the door.

Monday, 3/26
– Submission from Brittney:

We have a very special episode of Re-run Theater coming up and it would be fantastic to have your help spreading the message! Joins us at the Hollywood Theatre on Monday, March 26th for TV Knows Best: Preachy Sitcom Episodes and PSAs from the Reagan Era featuring episodes of “Mr. Belvedere” and “Family Ties”, PSA’s from He-Man and Pee-Wee Herman, slews of commercials from the golden era of the eighties and much, much more. This celebration of nostalgic cautionary tales and melodramatic messages will make for one excellent Monday night! Admission is just $5.

You can get a taste of the hilarity that will ensue in this collection of clips: “TV’s Best Worst Very Special Episodes.”

Tuesday, 3/27
– What? You haven’t seen the Hunger Games yet? Today’s your day to catch it for just $5 admission at select Regal Cinemas theaters as part of their Special Value Days. Please see web site for list of locations offering the deal.
– Oregon Encyclopedia Project History Night, 6:30pm at McMenamins Edgefield presents “Native American Art of the Columbia River People.” Free admission, all ages welcome.
– OMSI Science Pub presents “Ocean Soul: Photographs by Brian Skerry,” 7:00pm at McMenamins Bagdad Theater. $5 suggested cover charge.
– Free workshop: Paddling the Tualatin with the Tualatin River Keepers, 7:00pm at the Hillsboro REI. Please register online.

Wednesday, 3/28
– Ground Kontrol’s monthly free play party begins at 5:00pm, just $5 cover charge to play all the classic video arcade games and pinball machines.
– “Community Conversation: Race Relations in Portland,” 6:00pm – 8:00pm at East Portland Community Center. Free and open to the community. Please RSVP at (503) 546-7499.
– Trivia and Comedy night at Helium Comedy Club. Eat, drink, play trivia and enjoy some of Portland’s hottest comics performing between rounds. There will be $100s of dollars in prizes from local sponsors. Call 888-643-8669 to make your reservation. Starts at 8:00pm. Free admission, though each person must order two items off the menu.

Thursday, 3/29
– Last Thursday on Alberta, 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

Friday, 3/30
– Friends of the Tualatin Public Library Used Book Sale, Friday and Saturday at the Tualatin Library. Nothing over fifty cents!
– Collector Car Auction at the Portland Expo Center, free admission on Friday 5pm – 10pm. Show is also on Saturday 3/31, but admission is $8.

Saturday, 3/31
– Car2Go Ride and Drive Launch Party, 9:00am – 3:00pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday and Sunday.
– 2012 Trillium Festival and Native & Hardy Plant Sale at Tyron Creek State Park, 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
– Subaru: Work, Play, Love Tour – 11:00am – 3:00pm at Hillsbor’s REI store. From web site: “This tour features: Event day exclusive offers, DIY Trail Mix Station, a Workday Warrior Photo Booth, product demonstrations, giveaways and more. At the Workday Warrior Photo Booth, tour attendees can choose from the dozens of products, props – including fake mud and snow – and themed backdrops to create a unique, fun photo.”

Sunday, 4/1
– OMSI First Sunday: $2 general admission for all — check out their latest exhibits ‘The Art of the Brick’ (Legos!) and ‘Wild Minds – What Animals Really Think.’

For more ideas on what to do over the next week, please check out Aroundthesunblog and PDXPipeline. Have a great Spring Break!