Pearl District Kids

The Kid started in Childrens House at Childpeace Montessori about three weeks ago. Would love to meet up with other Pearl parents and grandparents who are part of the Childpeace community. Please email me at info@pearldistrictkids.com if you’re interested.
 
All in all it has been a positive change for our family. The Kid has really taken to the new school, and seems to love the culture and the teachers. We have our first parent teacher conference this evening, so will get a chance to ask questions. I will say that it’s quite a transition, both for the parents and the child.
 
One benefit for me is that I get to walk from my downtown office all the way down to the Fremont Bridge. Along the way, I walk past the ‘last park’ slated as part of the original Pearl District development plan. Conversations on what to do with that site are just starting to pick up. A Pearl Parent Alliance parent is on the planning committee, so stay tuned for more information.
 
In addition to stretching my legs, the walk to Childpeace takes me through a neighborhood (past Northrup) that I wouldn’t otherwise see. There’s a stretch of 12th where we always see skateboarders, some of them seem pretty skilled. And a surprising number of the low industrial buildings are being renovated, rather than knocked down. Although the Trimet #16 drops me off a block from Childpeace, I plan to keep walking as long as the weather holds.

Jamison Park was lovely this evening around 8:00. We were walking by, actually headed to the swamp park, when The Kid decided he needed a dip. Next thing I knew he was stripped down and racing through the water - carefree and happy. There were only a handful of kids and parents, and only one dog, and it was a pretty perfect scene.

Earlier today we cruised Art in the Pearl. The kid's table was not as cool as yesterday, when we came home with linoleum block prints and fish paintings. But we did have a nice time watching the belly dancer ( a princess, said The Kid) and squishing a moist sponge over wet clay. The lines at the icecream stand were too long, so we headed up to Mio Gelato for the perfect shared cup - chocolate and amaretto.

We had started the day at Sip & Kranz, one of two great kid-friendly cafes in the neighborhood. Sidney's is fabulous, but Sip & Kranz is closer. I was able to enjoy adult time with an old friend while The Kid played hard in the playroom. One nice thing about the cafe is that is has broad appeal - the outside tables were populated with women coming from yoga and the older pearl demographic. And we shared the inside tables with young professional looking folks plugged into ipods and laptops.

Astoria, Oregon is worth a trip with kids. We were just there for a wedding, and were traveling in a band. A three year old, two year old, and a 6 month old all escorted by their adults. The downtown is very walk-able, most of the time we left The Kid’s stroller at the Hotel Elliot and went out on foot.

We strolled down on the river, which has a paved river walk that hugs the Columbia. It’s a working river, so expect ocean-going vessels, sports boats, fishing boats, a stern wheeler, the works. There’s also an old fashioned trolley that runs along the Columbia, along the river walk. There’s no real schedule, and the round trip is about 45 minutes, so plan accordingly.

We also found some good shopping for kids, including Lunar Boy, The Purple Cow toy store and plentiful tchotchke gift shops along the main drags. The natural food store on 12th has children’s shopping carts, and all the basic organic foods to keep a steady snack supply.

Our coffee shop for the trip was a great spot on the 200th block of 11th. Stumptown coffee, great baked goods reflecting the Scandinavian heritage of the city, and a nice selection of breakfast items including waffles that were enjoyed by the kids. The place is light, spacious and airy, kids are welcome, the garage door rolls up to open to the street, and I have no idea what the name is. That should tell you how desperately the coffee was needed each morning.

Most of our meals were enjoyed with wedding guests, but we did stop at our favorite fish and chips place, the Bowpicker, on 17th avenue. Kids love it – it’s a boat dry-docked on the side of a hill, with a picnic table under a shade tree. The only items on the menu are fish, and chips. Although the potatoes are frozen out of a box, the fish is amazing. There’s a trolley stop a few blocks down and in plain view, so you can race down if need be, and a nice view of the river.

Nearby is the Custard King, an old-timely looking ice cream shop. It looked great, and always had a crowd, but we never had a chance to stop. We also missed all the obvious children’s locales, although there are plenty. Downtown Astoria hosts a maritime museum, a children’s museum, and a fire fighters museum, for which I’ve seen good reviews.

If you go, I recommend the Hotel Elliot. It’s central, and has clean rooms and great beds. They have roll away beds and pak n plays for kids, and good bath tubs. Best of all, there’s a roof top deck with safe plexiglass enclosure, and comfy wooden deck chairs painted in bright colors. The Kid and I went out early one morning, while the sun was coming up, to snuggle and talk and enjoy the 360 degree view

After breakfast at Fullers (Teddy Bear pancake for The Kid, toast from Suzie’s home made bread for me) we met up with friends who are new to the Pearl and headed off into the neighborhood for adventure.

We strolled up Glisan, crossed the freeway and headed North on 17th. The olive trees in front of the old Casanis have thrived, and are covered with fruit. It didn’t take long before both children had spied the two firetrucks parked in front of the station, and the firemen washing them. As always, this fire station goes all out for kids. Soon The Kid and his friend were sporting red plastic fire helmets, sticker fire badges, and playing with trading cards. Neither wanted to ring the fire bell (too scary) but a friendly fireman obliged.

Next stop was the play structure at Couch Park. The adults conducted the requisite safety check, which resulted in the disposal of a used condom. But after that, we all got a work out climbing, swinging, and sliding. As always, the dogs stayed in the dog park, a small group of transients stayed near the bathrooms and the children stayed in the play structure.

After working up an appetite we went straight to Ken’s Bakery for the best brioche in the city and a lemon meringue pie. The perfect fuel for our stroll back into the Pearl.

We strolled down 10th at twilight this afternoon and enjoyed the courtyards, plazas and passageways along the street.

The Kid loves the waterfall courtyard in the middle of the block between Davis and Everett. The trolley stop there is closest to our building, and he calls it ‘the waterfall stop’. This is also a fascinating place for children due to art installations, bamboo plants and the musical instrument selection at the Fairly Traded store accessible from the courtyard. This courtyard is a ‘must visit’ if the temperature dips below freezing, as the waterfall becomes an ice sculpture.

The plaza behind the Elizabeth, between Everett and Flanders, showcases two of the Lovejoy Columns. Kids love the art in the plaza, and they also love stepping on the spotlights embedded into the pavers. Also a nice visit in the snow, since the lights shine through. There is more art around the corner in the alley, embedded in the Buddha Building.

The courtyard of the 10th @ Hoyt apartment building is open during daytime hours. The landscaping is lush and the water features are multitude. Don’t miss the sluices and chutes channeling runoff from the roof and into impromptu fountains. Especially fun during the rain.

Irving Street turns into a pedestrian zone from 10th – 12th Avenues. Benches line the walkway, birds and squirrels congregate when the dogs are away, and it’s a great car-free place for kids to wander. Although the Tanner Building courtyard is not accessible to the public, it can be viewed from Irving. Sit on the bench outside the entrance and breathe in the scent of the rosemary bushes thriving outside the door.

The Eco Trust building can be entered from 10th by a walkway lined with espaliered fruit trees, benches made from big slabs of wood and a cross section of a tree. Remember that the walkway crosses the parking lot and keep little ones close. Just take a right after the bicycle rack in the form of the Fremont Bridge. As always, tonight the trucks on the bridge engrossed The Kid.

Kearney is a pedestrian zone between 9th and 12th. The Kid loves trains, and is thrilled to point out the train wheels on the Burlington Tower. This passageway also provides a good view of the train station and the mail trucks.

Cutting left on Kearney will connect you to a passageway between the two buildings North of Jamison Park. Right now, it’s a great way to watch the construction on Lovejoy. They’ve been pouring cement, and there’s plenty to look at.

We ended our stroll at the Pinnacle’s courtyard. Go in quietly – the courtyard is bordered by residential units. But if you turn left and go through the tunnel, your child will get a great view of the railroad crossing and the police horse paddocks.

After that, the sidewalk ends.

Saturdays during the winter require a certain amount of creativity. And parental wakefulness. And therefore coffee. The rest of the year it’s easy to head straight to the Farmers’ Market – on foot if we’re up to it, and via streetcar if we’re feeling lazy.

So in late March, with the Market still a week away, we went on a full fledged adventure. Jason was working, so The Kid and I bundled up against the briskness.

First stop was Fullers. Suzie makes a great pancake with teddy bear face and ears, which The Kid loves. And her homemade whole wheat bread is a sweet start to the morning. The coffee wakes me and warms me, and we wander out into the world around 8:30.

A walk down Everett takes us past the park, gives us glimpses of dragons on 4th Avenue and a close up of the foo dogs in front of the Chinese Garden. We keep going, as we’re headed to the river. The Portland Spirit was a welcome sight. And though we waited and watched, no trains came across the Steel Bridge. We headed south and walked under the cherry trees at the Japanese Internment Memorial. The blossoms were still tightly budded, and I doubt The Kid believed me when I told him they’d become flowers.

Next stop was the Saturday Market. Vendors were setting up – still lots of empty spaces. But it’s better that way, for a toddler. Not too crowded, plenty of dogs, the Max train rushing by, and people working hard.

We walked up Ankeny past the Couch Street Fish House, and headed north on 4th Avenue. Just across Burnside are the gates to Chinatown. The marble is beautiful up close, and there are plenty of letters for a small child to trace with fingers. If you walk in between the marble bases, you can also find engraved dragons.

At this point we were chilled to the bone. We admired the bulb plants (tulips? Daffodils? No way to tell this early) as they poked their first leaves out of the planters on 5th and 6th Avenues. And hurried home as quickly as we could.