The kids can come!

Posted in Jamison Square, Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl, Secret Locations, Yummy Food with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 30, 2008 by camille

 

If you’ve never been to Sip & Kranz, let me tell you a little about the place.  Located at 901 NW 10th Avenue, right next to Jamison Square in the heart of the pearl, it’s the perfect spot for a coffee house. It’s spacious design is Scandinavian modern, with clean lines, and floor to ceiling windows that flood it with natural light. In the back, there is a kids room full of toys, a chalkboard wall, and a giant flat screen tv for movies.  The menu is simple, with lots of kid friendly food, including pb&j, organic orange juice and goldfish! The adults are treated to stumptown coffee, a small selection of beer and wine, and soups and sandwiches.   

Many a hip urban family come to sip coffee and eat a tasty treat while their children play in the playroom. On a nice day there will be a mixed crowd of art students, retireees, work at homes, and singles relaxing outside in the sun, while inside is brimming with children and families.  This is a great place for everyone to come and mingle.  

 

 

Jim, new manager of Sip & Kranz, former general manager of St. Honore Boulangerie, has taken a hands on approach, and is working to create a clean, friendly coffee house.  When I asked him what changes he had made since he’d been hired, he said, “the noticable changes that I hope the customers will see include, higher level of cleanliness, consistency, and quality…and most of all improved customer service.   I inherited some employees that are no longer with us, it takes time to change and retrain a new culture in a food service environment.”  When I asked him if he had any events planned for this winter, he said that there was nothing planned so far, but that he welcomed any suggestions, groups or events.  

 

 P.S.

I have been meaning to write about this place for some time.  When it first opened, I was very excited about the idea but the management was very inexperienced, and it showed.  Often the coffee was cold, the lines moved very slowly, (despite the seven employees behind the counter), and you might get your espresso drink in ten or fifteen minutes. It was awful and I was disappointed.  I’d rather announce a great find than to complain about another good idea being executed poorly.  However, Sip & Kranz has made some changes for the better.  It is under new management and many of the old problems have been addressed.   So now i can write freely about how great the place is!

Updates, Changes, and Gigs

Posted in Jamison Square, Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl, the kids marching band with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 30, 2008 by camille

There are so many things going on in Portland this month and The Kids Marching Band and you are sooo invited!


Well…

Thursday, September 4th we meet at Jamison Square at 4:30 and march at 5:00.  This will be our second, first Thursday, and I’m so giddy to see you all there!  Our last performance was such a success, and I think this week will be even better!  I really hope that you all can make it!  Don’t worry about it if you’ve never been to practice, just slap a costume on, and come make some noise!

Isobel’s Clubhouse has face paint, and I’d be willing to paint a face or two, just let me know by Wednesday, and I’ll bring it with me!

Also!

We have been invited to perform on the International day of Peace at Jamison Square on September 21st. Hands to Hearts International will be taking over the square that day to celebrate peace.  There will be arts and crafts for the kids (a tree of hearts!), music and guest speakers.  Check out their site here.

We will meet in the sand at the Park at 2:00 and march around the square at 2:15!  Please RSVP by September 10th to thekidsmarchingband@yahoo.com.  See you there!

Practice..

on the 29th.

And Maybe…

We might be performing at the 17th Annual Pearl Party on September 12th!  This hasn’t been confirmed quite yet, but I’ll keep you posted. Pearlgirl at Neighborhood Notes wrote it up here.

Speaking of Neighborhood Notes you ought to visit the site!  It’s a great place to keep up with the haps all over Portland, like what’s happening with Central Portland Families.

Remember

Posted in Jamison Square, Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl, the kids marching band with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 29, 2008 by camille

Don’t forget!

The Marching Band marches on Thursday, September 4th.

We meet at Jamison Square at 4:30 and march at 5:00!

See you there!

Available for childcare!

Posted in Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl with tags , , , , , , on August 26, 2008 by camille

I am a chef gone stay-at-home mom who is looking to care for another child.
My son is 5 months old, he’s very easy going, and loves to be around other children.
My hours are flexible Monday-Friday, so I can probably work around your schedule.
I live a very natural lifestyle, full of organic food and free of harmful chemicals.
I believe in attachment parenting and will give your child a warm, open, loving environment full of touch and smiles.
It would be best if I watch the child in your home, as I live in a studio, in the heart of the Pearl.
I am active in my community; I organize and lead a whimsical kids marching band in the Pearl District on first Thursdays.
I use the public transportation system.
I will take your child on lots of outings (age appropriate) in the area and around town.
I will get first-aid or cpr training upon request.
My rates are competitive and will depend on the amount of hours required.

Please contact me for more information!

Reminder!

Posted in Jamison Square, Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl, the kids marching band with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2008 by camille

Remember to Practice!

Remember to Practice!

Band Practice is on Monday at 3:30 at Jamison Square!

Make it a day and come to Isobel’s Clubhouse (on the west side of NW 10th Avenue between Everett and Flanders) at 1:30 to make costumes with us!  Bring a little snack (it’s a long day) and we can all sit, eat and talk about our instruments!

This week we will work on following the rules, maintaining formation, and singing the song!

See you there!

Our debut went beautifully!

Posted in Uncategorized on August 16, 2008 by camille


Thanks again to everyone that came to our debut on First Thursday!  Our first march was such a success!

Cyan
Cyan

Everyone looked so darling with their smiles and costumes!

Seriously Sweet Girls!
Seriously Sweet Girls!

Everyone stayed in formation!

Get into place!
Get into place!

Then we all marched happily down the road, collecting cheers and applause!

See you all Monday August 25th at 3:30 at Jamison Square for our next practice!

Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/central_portland_families/ for more pictures!

The Sounds of the City

Posted in Living in the Pearl with tags , , , on August 8, 2008 by camille

My sister is in town and she is from a very small community ten miles outside of Austin.  She and her girls are not used to being in the city.  Dawn, my sister, mentioned the noise and my mind was suddenly very aware of the layer after layer of noise.

The sounds of cars, the big trucks, the walk signs, the conversations, the trash trucks, the wind, the alarms, the phones, the radios, the dog barks, the streetcar, the doorbells, the skateboards, the horns, the heels and the newspaper hawkers filled up my ears and mind.  It was like having a little conversation with everything that was going on in the city all at once. It was wonderful.  I wish that I could have shared that with her, the little symphony of the city, but she was talking abut something that was so dramatically different from what was happening in my head, that even mentioning what was happening to me would have only confused everyone.

I live here more than anywhere I have ever lived.  Showing it off is making me nostalgic for it.

Our First March

Posted in Jamison Square, Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl, the kids marching band with tags , , , , , , , , , , on August 7, 2008 by camille

The Kids Marching Band Debuts!

Come in Full Costume!

Bring an Instrument!

We meet at 4:00 at Jamison Square.

We March at 5:00 to kick off the Art Market!

Be there!

Recycle?

Posted in Jamison Square, Living in the Pearl with tags , , , , , on August 2, 2008 by camille

I love Jamison Square.

I love to recycle.

I love my LEED certified neighborhood.

However, one can often find the public trash cans stuffed full of recyclables after a busy day.

This makes me want to ponder a solution.

Any ideas?

Seriously

Seriously, it's all in the details

One by One Hurrah! Hurrah!

Posted in Jamison Square, Kids Stuff, Living in the Pearl, the kids marching band with tags , , , , , , , , , , on August 1, 2008 by camille

Thanks so much everyone for coming out to march last Monday.  I think the kids did a great job!  First Thursday is going to be so fun!  Here are a few of the pictures that Nancy caught!  See you at Jamison Square on first Thursday at 4:00!

Let me hear you sing!

Let me hear you sing!

Lets go!

Lets go!

Get into it!

Get into it!