Budget Bailout

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Apr 17–19

Admission is free for all events below. For more concerts, visit Concert Co-op.

In addition, Saturday is Family Day at the Oregon Historical Society. Up to two children (age 18 & under) get in free with each paid adult admission.

Friday, April 17

§ Focus the Nation’s Town Hall on the Clean Energy Future: More than 180 Congressional Districts across the country will hold town halls to help educate people on clean energy issues. In Portland, the town hall will take place at Portland State University, Hoffman Hall (1833 SW 11th Ave), 6:00 pm–9:00 pm. Congressman Earl Bluemanuer, Rep. Jules Bailey, Rep. Ben Cannon, Mayor Sam Adams, and Commissioner Jeff Cogen will discuss the city and state’s role in the transition to the new energy economy. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Shakespeare Authorship Panel: Shakespeare scholars will lead a lively, provocative discussion about the possibility that Will Shakespeare, a butcher’s apprentice from Stratford-upon-Avon, was the author of the works attributed to William Shakespeare. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Storytellers Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang will share folk tales and myths of Asian traditions, as well as share personal and family histories that address the immigrant’s tale. This program is designed for adults and children ages 10 and above. Hillsboro Main Library (2850 NE Brookwood Parkway), 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, April 18

§ SOLV Earth Day Volunteer Projects: Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up Portland. SOLV has organized cleanup projects at about 100 locations. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Spring Greening Day on Mississippi Ave: Stores will be hosting blowout sales along with activities such as clothing swaps, demonstrations on reusing recyclable products, sustainable food systems, live music and more. 11:00 am–7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ YMCA Healthy Kids Day: Enjoy fun, engaging and creative activities for children and families at participating YMCAs. To find a participating YMCA near you, visit the event website.

§ EcoFair at Salmon Creek Greenway: This event includes children’s activities, bird walk, wildlife show and more. 8:30 am–1:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Community Health & Safety Fair in Tualatin: This event includes health screenings and presentations on stretching your food dollars, heart health and more. 10:00 am–3:00 pm at the Senior Center Building in Tualatin Community Park. For more information, visit the event website (PDF file).

§ East Portland Homeownership Fair: This event includes workshops on home ownership and preventing foreclosure, “Ask the Experts” panels, free Burgerville lunch, and more. Open to anyone interested in buying their own home, and homeowners who are interested in finding ways to maintain and preserve their home. Kelly Elementary School (9030 SE Cooper St), 10:00 am–2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Ultimate Open House: This year’s tour includes nearly 60 new homes in a selection of styles and range of neighborhoods that are priced for every budget. 10:00 am–6:00 pm, April 18 and 19. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Saturday Guided Nature Walks at Tryon Creek State Park: Join a park ranger for a free, guided nature hike to explore the forest and stream ecosystems and natural history at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Today’s theme is “Coaling Tryon Creek.” Appropriate for all ages. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. 10:00 am to 11:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Oregon Zoo at the Library: Meet a cast of animals from the Oregon Zoo such as a kind snake, a silent owl and a squeaky-clean cockroach. Oregon Zoo employees will share animal facts and introduce each species. Most appropriate for grades K–5. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 10:30 am–11:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Gresham Recycle Event: Gresham and Wood Village citizens and businesses are invited to recycle electronics, paper, and more from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at City Hall. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Record Store Day: At Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside), meet Queensryche and get your copy of their new album signed at 12:00 noon. At 2:00 pm, listen to the new Bob Dylan album before it comes out. Mary Flower and Lloyd Jones will perform at 3:00 pm, and Paula Sinclair will perform at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Mariachi Viva Mexico will perform at Gregory Heights Library (7921 NE Sandy Blvd) at 3:30 pm. This six-piece Mariachi band includes trumpets, violins, guitars, guitaron and vihuelas to create lively, spirited music. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Here Comes Everybody will perform at Burdigala Wine (8317 SE 13th) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the band’s website.

§ Em Space Book Arts Center Open House: The event will include tours of the space and its historic, fully operational letterpress and bookbinding equipment; silent auction; raffle; libations and food; and the opportunity to pull a print on a big old press to take home. 407 SE Ivon St, 6:00 pm–10:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Writer and editor Matt Love will discuss his unique approach to writing about Oregon, share some excerpts from his work, and talk about the challenge of being an independent Oregon publisher. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Storyteller Nancy Wang will share stories of early Chinese immigration to America. This program is designed for adults and children ages 10 and above. Beaverton City Library (12375 SW Fifth St), 10:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Storytelling Finale: The Immigrant Experience: Opening remarks will be made by Joan Yasui Emerson, the eldest Sansei (third generation) grandchild in the Yasui family, who is featured in the Oregon Reads selection “Stubborn Twig.” Storytellers Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Nancy Wang and Alton Takiyama-Chung will tell personal family stories. Refreshments provided by the Japanese-American Citizen’s League (JACL). Tigard Public Library (13500 SW Hall Blvd), 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ “A Heart for Any Fate” Book Launch Party: Meet author Linda Crew and celebrate the release of “A Heart for Any Fate,” a young adult historical fiction novel about the Oregon Trail. The event will include a slideshow presentation by the author, a reading, and a book signing. McLoughlin House (713 Center Street Oregon City), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Artist David Paul Bayles will give a lecture at 23 Sandy Gallery (623 NE 23rd Ave) at 5:00 pm. David Paul Bayles is the featured artist in the gallery in April, showing photographs from his Falling Trees series. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Panel Discussion at Portland Center Stage: Radio host Thom Hartmann, The Oregonian’s David Sarasohn and Jack Ohman, and journalism professor Al Stavitsky will discuss how politics and entertainment, power and truth, media, and public memory have been transformed in the intervening years since Watergate. Presented in conjunction with the opening weekend of “Frost/Nixon” at Portland Center Stage. Gerding Theater at the Armory (128 NW Eleventh Ave), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the PCS website.

Sunday, April 19

§ Ultimate Open House: This year’s tour includes nearly 60 new homes in a selection of styles and range of neighborhoods that are priced for every budget. 10:00 am–6:00 pm, April 18 and 19. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Pirate Treasure Hunt: The Dollar Scholar (3279 SE Hawthorne) invites all ages to a treasure hunt on Hawthorne. 11:00 am–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Generation Green: An Earth Day Celebration: This event includes information and resources from earth-friendly organizations, repurposed crafts, seed giveaway and more. Creative Science School (1231 SE 92nd Ave), 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For additional information, email kathryn.schwartz @ comcast dot net.

§ Concert for Babies and Toddlers: Local musician Matt Clark will play songs from his CD for kids called “Funny Little Fella.” Milagros Boutique (5433 NE 30th Ave), 1:30 pm–2:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Neah-Kah-Nie Project String Quartet Concert and Film Screening: Neah-Kah-Nie will perform at 2:00 pm at Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave). This concert will be followed by a screening of the documentary “Susie Fennell Pipes and the Neah-Kah-Nie String Quartet” and a short documentary about the composer Ferdinand Sorenson at 3:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Japanese Traditional Koto Music: Mitsuki Dazai will give an introduction to Japanese traditions and culture through koto music. Her performance will demonstrate techniques on the instrument. Hollywood Library (4040 NE Tillamook St), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Astrophysicist and author Evalyn Gates will talk about her book “Einstein’s Telescope” at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Poets Michael Dickman and Michael McGriff will talk about their respective work at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne (3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd), 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

§ Author Robert Dugoni will talk about his book “Wrongful Death” at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing (3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

§ Lecture: Where Have All the Frogs Gone? Dr. Kerry Krieger, international research scientist, will talk about the impacts of disease, climate change and over-harvesting on different amphibian groups. Find out what you can do to help frogs. Water Resources Education Center (4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver), 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.