Ms. Alysha's class on Jackson Pollock has certainly been popular. She re-imagined it for toddlers, with jello instead of paint. And then brought back the painting class last week to the delight of families and kids. She has a great knack for adapting the class to the age and attention span of the group, incorporating slides and stories as well as discussion on technique and just plain fun. As you can see more...

The happy hour gods are smiling. Ping has announced the launch of its early menu, which will be served 4-5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday—starting TODAY! Pinch me, it can't be Monday... eats all skewers minimum order of two per menu item. steamed pork bun: house made steamed bun stuffed with sweet shredded pork. 3 chicken breast skewer: grilled with soy, mirin, sake and sesame oil, served with sour japanese plum more...

You've gotta keep an eye on the north Pearl, people. Things happen here. Like the sudden appearance of a radiant yellow sculpture that tips the scale at 7,000 pounds. Haven't seen it? The sculpture is the latest work by Portland artist Ivan McLean and is on loan to Hoyt Street Properties. You'll find it in The Fields, the neighborhood's third planned park, located between 10th and 11th Avenues at Overton. "It makes me smile, more...

Many pet owners in Portland may be unaware that their pets can carry dangerous parasites capable of infecting people. Since I opened the Pearl Animal Hospital three months ago, thirty-four different pets within the Pearl zip code have tested positive for such parasites, including giardia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and coccidia. These parasites ordinarily live in the intestines of dogs and cats, but they behave differently more...

An invitation from Portland Parks & Recreation...There's no better way to spend a summer evening than gathering in Fernhill Park for music, dancing, and family fun. For the past four summers, the Fernhill Concert Series has been an unqualified success, offering high-quality entertainment to the neighborhood with five free concerts. The Fernhill Concert Committee, in conjunction with Portland Parks and Recreation, has been hard at more...

Get your week off to a great start: don't forget to pick up your FREE 8-ounce cup of french press coffee today between 9 and 10 a.m at your local Stumptown Cafe. One per customer, no refills. Visit the Stumptown website to find the location nearest you.  Best of all, this will happen every Monday through April 13, the week of Tax Day (April 15). Thanks, Stumptown! Monday mornings never looked so good... photo: more...

Somehow, despite all the gray days we've seen recently, spring has sprung! Well, it's trying to, anyways. Today's City Snaps highlight how various Portland photographers are documenting the season cycle. Since next week's weather forecast doesn't include any sun—boo hiss—I thought these photos might brighten your day. They certainly made me feel better. Enjoy!  going green by more...

Emerson Street Garden is looking for gardeners! They're looking for people who want to:Get their hands dirtyGrow their own foodMeet their neighborsTeach children about gardeningContact Andrea for more information 503-467-4567 About Emerson GardenEmerson Garden is a narrow city lot located in Portland at 822 NE Emerson Street. It was placed in trust with OSALT on October 22nd by Multnomah County to remain as a community-based garden more...

With this economy, this vegan is eating out less and less. But when I've had a couple bucks burning a hole in my pocket, one place I've been frequenting -- and recommending -- is The Red & Black Café at Southeast 12th Avenue and Oak Street.There are a lot of things to love about the somewhat recently relocated Red & Black, beyond the fact that their location is now very close to my office. In addition to the fact that it more...

I've always liked cemeteries. The setting, monuments, trees and the intense quiet create an incredible backdrop. I'm also fascinated with how individuals—or their loved ones—choose to be memorialized. I've wanted to visit Lone Fir Cemetery for a while now, because I heard the resident memorials were unusually expressive. Then, the Tribune published a story about Lone Fir that really piqued my interest. I had more...