Join us, 11.08.2009: Coffee Playdate meets Chinook Book Coupon Swap

The expiration date of the 2009 Chinook Book coupons is fast approaching (November 30, 2009), so we thought it'd be a good idea to swap it up.  Have some Chinook Book coupons you won't use?  Come share them with other mamas and papas who will.  Have some Chinook Book coupons you're looking for?  Come see if other mamas and papas have them to spare.

Even if you don't have coupons to swap, still come on by and coffee playdate with us to chat, meet, and play.  Let's meet up at Posie's Cafe, a new neighborhood coffee shop in North Portland with a swell little enclosed play area for the little ones.  Say next Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 11am?  Who's in?

REMINDER: upcoming urbanMamas coffee playdates

We had a great time meeting new mamas last Friday!  Thank you all who came.  Due to the many requests, mamas want to have more urbanMamas coffee playdates.  Come, meet, and enjoy!  Try to RSVP in the comments if you can make it.

upcoming urbanMamas coffee playdates:
Friday, May 1, 2009
9:30-11:30 AM
Sydney's Cafe
1800 NW Thurman (corner of 16th and NW Thurman, under the Fremont Bridge)

Sunday, May 17, 2009
10:30-12:30N
Sydney's Cafe
1800 NW Thurman (corner of 16th and NW Thurman, under the Fremont Bridge)

In the future, we'll find other locations to meet.  In the meantime, let's gather at Sydney's, as the space is always so inviting and spacious enough for plenty of kids and adults.  If you have an idea for a great meeting place, shoot us an email at urbanMamas@gmail.com.

REMINDER: urbanMamas at Popina for swimsuits - 05.20.2009

Update: There will be a drawing for a $75 gift certificate for the mamas who are present.  There should be much fun to be had!

When we talk about how to choose a swimsuit, it's so hard to know where to start.  Our bodies have changed over the course of the years, weathering pregnancy, nursing, post-partum challenges, lack of rest and so much more.  We ain't getting any younger, but we're confident that there are plenty of swimsuits out there that are practical, affordable, and flattering to any of our mama figures.

urbanMamas joins Popina for a special evening of poolside fashion and typical urbanMama fun.  We've heard through our previous conversation that Popina is a gold mine of a find, a local shop - carefully-selected pieces plus many suits Popina-designed and manufactured in right here in Portland - with lots and lots of options to meet our diverse tastes and activites.  We were thrilled that owner/designer Pamela Levenson thought to offer hosting an urbanMamas gathering:  Popina is opening its doors after-hours to us for custom fittings and consultations, and we (of course) will have nibbles and beverages on hand (perhaps to help us try new things, new styles, new cuts?).  All suits (excluding custom swimwear) will be 20% off for the evening.

Expecting a new babe (like me)?  Pamela says that many an expecting mama find something they love at Popina - a two-piece, an accommodating tankini, and even one-pieces.

So, ready to come out & play?  Get ready for the summer?  Have a little drink and chat with us?  Support other mamas in their dazzling new summer suit choices?  Join us.  RSVP in the comments.

urbanMamas suit up at Popina
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
6 to 9 PM
4831 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97218

The Coffee Playdate - It's BACK! - 04.24.2009

Mamas, I miss getting together with you all, meeting new mamas and seeing old familiar faces.  I'm having a hard time fitting face-time into my calendar, what with the FT job, relationship, two kids, and another one on the way.

With a couple of hot-hot-hot conversations of late, I feel the need to just sit down, shoot the $hit with you, and let you get to know me.  Let's get together, for a good old-fashioned coffee playdate, urbanMamas style.  Bring your kids or not.  I won't have mine; they'll be in school.  I'll be there pretending to work. 

Coffee Playdate, urbanMamas style
Sydney's Cafe
1800 NW Thurman (corner of 16th and NW Thurman, under the Fremont Bridge)
Friday, April 24, 2009
9:30AM

Feel free to RSVP in the comments or just show up and say "HI".  Let's go build some community and meet new mamas.

Working Mamas Lunch: 02.02.2009

Is the economy affecting your job?  Will the new administration – both local and national – impact your job or workplace? How did your workplace /employer/childcare provider handle (or not handle) the Arctic Blast? Join us at a working mamas lunch and share your stories.

When: Monday, February 2 (Groundhog Day) at 12:00 sharp.
Where:  Al Amir Lebanese Restaurant located at 233 SW Stark Street (http://www.alamirportland.com/default.htm). They take reservations so please RSVP in the comments by Friday, January 30 at noon.

Start the year off right: w(h)ine with us!

It cannot be that it's been over a 1-1/2 years since our last w(h)ine night!  I guess there have been a multitude of gatherings since then - film screenings, naked mama parties, coffee hours, and working mama lunches.  But, the urbanMamas w(h)ine nights are always so much fun.  We need to get together again soon!

We cordially invite you to the first urbanMamas w(h)ine night of 2009.  Come one, come all.  We have chosen a small, newish neighborhood joint.  Please join us for some banter and beverages:

Sunday, January 18, 2009
Yetti's Wine Bar
1914 N. Killingsworth, North Portland, OR 97217
7pm

Please RSVP in the comments so we can have a tentative mama count.

Kidical Mass: coming to a neighborhood near you

** updated with new ride locations ** check back for full route details **

photo credit: Jonathan Maus of bikeportland.org

Critial Mass started with a group of 45 people in San Francisco in 1992. Now, the ride is a monthly event in cities all around the world to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road.

Of course, We here at urbanMamas believe that kids and families are cyclists too! A very new effort to this end has started in Eugene, OR in August 2008.  Kidical Mass is a ride to help kids and families feel comfortable riding on our streets, especially as a larger group. Here in Portland, we’ve already had two successful Kidical Mass rides, both starting in the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland.  Rides are being organized in Tulsa, OK, Ashland, OR, Bend, OR, and Toronto, Canada.

We want to bring Kidical Mass to our neighborhoods.  urbanMamas is organizing Kidical Mass rides in N/NE Portland, SE Portland, and NW Portland (the original Portland Kidical Mass ride). 

What will you expect at Kidical Mass?

• A safety talk before we start riding
• A 3-4 mile guided ride on our neighborhood streets
• No child left behind!  We will make sure we have a sweeper biker to bring up the rear
• Tons of families and children riding with trailers, Xtracycles, tag-alongs/trail-a-bikes, bike seats, and kids riding on their own bikes
• Maps, brochures, information, bike decor for the kids
• A post-ride potluck picnic at the park where we can meet other urbanFamilies and chat about our summers, bike rides, and other Portland family fun

What should you bring?

• Tricked out and decorated bikes.  Bring your bike bling!
• Your helmets
• A picnic for your family post-ride
• Bring something to share, if you wish!

Mark your calendars now:

Kidical Mass in Portland's neighborhoods
Friday, August 15th

Locations
N/NE: Peninsula Park (meet at the NE corner of the park at N. Rosa Parks and N. Kerby).  The ride will run South on N. Kerby, west on N. Ainsworth, north on Delaware to Arbor Lodge Park, then loop back to Peninsula Park for potluck picnicking.

SE: Sunnyside School (meet at the playground near 35th and Taylor; here is the route map)

SE: Sellwood Park by the pool.  The ride will head north up the Springwater Corridor then back into North Sellwood. Perfect for those pulling trailers or bringing little ones on their micro bikes. Maps will be available for folks.

NW: North Park Blocks (meet by the playground)

SW: Meeting at Capitol Hill Elemenetary and ride a total of 1.4 miles to Gabriel Park.  At Gabriel Park there will be watermelon (and possibly a watermelon drop?) and a potluck.  Bring your bikes.  Bring some food and drink.  Oh, and bring your kids to KIDICAL MASS!

Time
6:00PM gather
6:15PM Safety Talk & Ride!
7:00PM Post-Ride Potluck Picnic

Can't make it for the ride?  Bring out your family and feel free to join us for the post-ride potluck picnic.  It's open to all!  Planning to come?  RSVP in the comments for any of the rides.  We want to know how many bikey treats & swag to bring.  Want to help guide, plan, or organize a ride?  Shoot us an email at urbanMamas@gmail.com 

Working Mamas Lunch May 22

Working mamas, let's get together for lunch.  How about Thursday, May 22; 11:30 am - 1:00 pm at Red Star Tavern, 503 SW Alder? We hear they could use a boost due to light rail construction, plus they take reservations and have good vegetarian and non vegetarian food (not sure vegan options). Please RSVP in the comments by Tuesday May 20. We will use that to make reservations.  We had nearly twenty meet last time, so what a great way to connect and meet other working mamas.

Mayoral Candidate Forum: LOCATION UPDATE

Thanks to all who weighed in on the time and place for mayoral candidates (Sam 'n' Sho) to talk family.  Majority of responses suggested Close-in Eastside as the preferred geography for the event, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 1PM.

Now: we're scouring for ideas for an easily accessible close-in eastside location that can hold up to 100 of us mamas & papas & our kids of all ages.  Some suggestions have included Milagros, Kennedy School, Kaiser Town Hall, Multnomah Building.  We're looking for more suggestions.  Ideas, ideas?  Anyone, anyone?

The Business of Being Born - Private Screening

So it's been a few years, but I'll never forget.  Not the labors (one excruciatingly long, the other excruciatingly fast), not the stitches (yes, the dreaded 'stage 4' tear).  And definitely not the hospital midwives, dedicated labor nurses, and OB (think forceps) who helped me vaginally deliver two children without drugs - not their norm.

I'm all for natural, but only to a point.  Drugs?  No way.  Bathtub at home?  No thanks.  Hospital?  Absolutely - plus, that's what my insurance covered, right?   But enough about me and my boring births of yesteryear.  We're ready to hear about someone else's births - namely Ricki Lake's - and the birthing "business."

Baby & Children's Clothing Swap

Want to start out the new year by cleaning out your closet? Or, in this case, your child's closet? In the spirit of "reduce, reuse, recycle" and since you may already be considering passing along your kids outgrown clothes, come to the Naked Baby  clothing exchange.  It'll be similar to the Mamas Clothing Swap parties we've hosted in the past, except the focus is on children's clothing and it'll be hosted during the day.  We will have bins at the Milagros community room that will help the sorting.  The clothes will be separated by gender and size (by three month increments for the first year and a half and whole sizes thereafter).

When: 1.20.2008 at 3 pm
Where: Milagros Community Room
            5433 NE 30th Avenue
            Portland, OR 97211
            503-493-4141
What to bring: Your children's outgrown clothes; and something to carry away your goodies.  Presorting the clothes by gender and size will help speed up the process.  Any clothes left over will be donated.  Any suggestions for good donation possibilities?
RSVP:  Please RSVP in the comments and let us know what size(s) clothing you will be bringing so others can plan ahead.

The Mamas Clothing Exchange Party: Be there!

Did ya see, did ya see?  Check out the October 2007 issue of Parents Magazine.  On page 130, you will find some of you urbanMamas featured in the "girls night out" section, as we swapped the night away at our last mamas clothing exchange party.  Thanks to everyone that emailed to let us know!

Without further ado, we cordially invite you to the next Naked Mamas Party on October 19 at 7PM at Vino Vixens.  We encourage mamas of all shapes and sizes to come; bring a pile of your formerly loved clothes and you'll be sure to walk away with a pile of fashions new-to-you just waiting to be loved.  Last time, no one left empty handed.  We still have a few piles from our last naked mamas party to add to the mix.

Leave your babes at home (Vino Vixens is a wine bar where no minors are allowed), there will lots of clothes to try on, wine to drink, food to nosh, and merriment to be had.  Please RSVP in the comments so we can be sure to have enough vino on hand!

Mamas Clothing Exchange Party
October 19, 2007, 7PM
2929 SE Powell Blvd., Portland. (503) 231-8466

Come Swap with us!

Inspired by a recent post seeking a Chinook Book Coupon Swap, Milagros has graciously offered to host a Swaparoo for the urbanMamas.

Bring your extra Chinook Book coupons and trade away!  Meet some other uMamas & uPapas  & uKidlets while you're at it!  Coffee & tea provided by Milagros.  Coupons provided by you!

Chinook Book Coupon Swap
Saturday, September 29
11AM to 1PM
Milagros Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 9721
503-493-4141

urbanMamas Coffee Playdate: Start the School Year off Right

It feels like it's been a while since urbanMamas got together for a coffee playdate!  Bring the babes & tots, if you have 'em.  Enjoy some coffee with other mamas if they're in school.  Let's share stories of fun summers and giddy first days of school:

Back-to-School Coffee Playdate
Sept 7 / 10:30 AM
Sydney's
1800 NW 16th Ave
Portland, OR

Activistas Happy Hour

Hope you can all make today's Activistas Happy Hour.  (Click over for more info!)

urbanMamas Lunch on August 15th

It's been a while since the working mamas got together for lunch.  With a bit of a push from one of our lovely readers and mamas, Courtney, we are planning our next get together in a few weeks.  How about we support one of the businesses that seems to be suffering from the construction downtown?   Please RSVP in the comments and we'll make a reservation. Hope to see you at Pasha Mediterranean Grill, 19 NW Fifth Ave
Portland, OR 97209 on Wednesday August 15th, 12 noon.

Activista Coffee Hour - 07.19.2007

We’ve whined, and that’s good, but now let’s DO something about it

If you’ve been checking out our Activistas forum with interest and felt as crestfallen as we did about the failure of the paid family leave bill, join us for our very first Activista Coffee Hour  - a chance to meet other active-minded mamas and papas, discuss policy issues that affect Portland families, strategize to create change locally and beyond, and whine a little, of course!  Many of us have watched or read The Motherhood Manifesto and are plugged into Moms Rising, and now we’re ready to act – together!  What's important to you and your family?  What would you love to see changed on our local and state level? 

There is power in numbers and there are a lot of us.  Our hope is to create a coordinated network within our community of families to proactively work for change – and to be ready to act fast and successfully when an issue comes to the surface.  Meet us next Thursday, July 19th from 10:30-11:30 AM to get this ball rolling.  If this time and location isn’t ideal for you, let us know so we can accommodate more people at future meetings.

Activista Coffee Hour
Thursday, July 19th
10:30AM to 11:30AM
Stumptown Coffee, Downtown Portland, 128 SW 3rd Ave, way in the back on the couchy area

RSVP here!

Why not W[h]ine with us?

It's been too long since our last W[h]ine night gathering.  So to remedy that, we've scheduled another one!  Please join us for a little wine, beer, tea, snacks, and of course, some fun conversations with other mamas!  RSVP in the comments and let us know if you can be there!

When:  Friday June 8 at 7pm
Where:  Why Not Wine - 7907 SE Stark Street

We hope to see some old friends again and make some new ones too!

05.04.2007 - Naked Mamas Party

Black Wagon and urbanMamas team up to create a new twist on an old favorite, the naked lady party!  This event is for mamas only! 

Be prepared for clothing flying through the air, the ultimate friendly fire, while women beg, borrow and steal new favorites from friends new and old to spruce up their wardrobe.

Don’t expect well-worn maternity bras, or granny panties!  These mamas are swapping their pre-loved garb in an evening of fun, recycling, and bonding.  Low-rise boot cut jeans don’t fit like they used to?  Cute camis too snug for your post-baby boobs?  Your previously favorite purse not big enough for wipes and dipes?  Don’t fret!  Barter ‘em away in exchange for your hot new mamalicious gear.  One mama’s trash is another mama’s treasure!

Sip wine, enjoy nibbles, and meet new friends for the evening,.  All items at Black Wagon will be 20% off during the Naked Mamas Party.  Great gifts from N. Mississippi boutiques like Flutter and Gypsy Chic will be up for grabs, too!  And - for those who have yet to meet up with other urbanMamas - come on down and get to know this fine community at the Naked Mamas Party!

Portland’s urbanMamas.com is a community of like-minded mamas and papas, facilitating connections on-line and in -person with resources for everything from breastfeeding support to childcare references and a guide for fun activities for children.

As a community based store for babies, kids and their style conscious parents, Black Wagon is excited to focus on Portland mamas for this evening of fun with other mamas!

Friday, May 4th

6:30 - 9:00 PM

3964 N. Mississippi Ave

Please RSVP in the comments!

04.27.2007: Sound of Music Sing-Along

The hills are alive!  The Von Trapp family descends on NE Portland as we gather our friends and watch the entirety of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, the Sound of Music.  Brush up on those lyrics and don your lederhosen!  What better way to enjoy time together than to sing along to one of the best movies of all time?  Hope you all can join us at this next urbanMamas gathering.  Please RSVP in the comments!  Thank you to Milagros for sponsoring the event.

a gathering for the urbanMamas community:
Sound of Music Sing Along
Friday, April 27, 2007 at 4:30 PM
Milagros Boutique
5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
503-493-4141

Even if you don't want to sing along, be sure to drop by and say "hello"!  We promise to have treats!

urbanMamas photos

Have you noticed? I love taking photos, and sharing them with y'all. I love taking photos of you, and your adorable children, and (naturally) my adorable children. And I want to see your photos, too!

Long long ago, we started the urbanMamas flickr pool. And, though a few have been added by some of my compatriots, it's mostly populated by me! Can you help make our photo story richer? We'll be developing tags to go with many of our more popular thread (starting with 'urbanChicken') -- if you tag your photo with the appropriate buzzword and add it to the urbanMamas pool, I'll feature selected photos in bi-weekly mosaics so those outside can see how wonderful life is in urbanMamaTown!

Time for another w[h]ine night?

We hope all you urbanMamas have been able to get out - sans bebes - every now and then. It's so important and healthy for us to hang out and socialize, especially with other mamas, old friends and new. In the past, we've gotten together for happy hour, and w[h]ine nights One, Two, and Three. Do I hear a "Four"?

Come join us and grace us with your presence, humor, and mamaderie. Let's enjoy wine together. We don't even have to whine if we don't want to! RSVP in the comments.

urbanMamas w[h]ine night
Vino VIxens, 2929 SE Powell
(here's a fun li'l write up on Vino Vixens via PortlandFoodandDrink.com)
Friday, March 9
7pm

Have a great idea for a mama-owned spacious spot conducive to us floating around and chatting? Have a great big house, office, or other space you'd like to donate to the event? Be sure to let us know!

urbanMamas new year's day hike?

I was perusing the many active annual events with which Portlanders ring in the New Year -- I myself have participated in the very fun and surreal First Run -- and mentally checking them off my list of possibilities. The First Run is too late (at midnight New Year's Day), too much bundling and bussing with two young (and not always perfectly-behaved) boys. There's a First Day of the Year Ride sponsored by the BTA, from noon to 3 p.m. on New Year's Day. It's a nice idea but I'd rather do something in which the boys can actively participate -- we're not tagalong-ing yet, so they'd just be sitting in the trailer.

Since I'm always one for cockamamie ideas, and also, I like to save my pennies, I thought, why not make something of our own? What about an urbanMamas New Year's City Hike? It would be a lovely, active and easy-going way to start off a brand-new year -- and kids could participate in strollers, backpacks or on their own two feet.

If you'd like to join in, please let me know in the comments, and give me any feedback -- where might you like to go? Should we do a neighborhood tour and stop at some highlights, coffee shops and cute little parks (and rotate, different neighborhoods for each new year)? Should we hit some urban pedestrian pathways, like the Eastside Esplanade? How far would you like to hike? I'll post a meeting spot here sometime before Sunday.

Holiday CardMaking at Sydney's

Thank you to Tim, Amanda, Brianna and the rest of the Sydney's staff for hosting some great coffee playdates. Sydney's is coming up with new and great ideas to keep us all happy and occuppied (and us mamas caffeinated). Sydney's is hosting a drop-in Holiday Cardmaking event:

Enjoy classical and holiday music while you set down to put together holiday cards. We will reserve the large community table and set up supplies (stamps, drawing utensils, paper, stickers, and more) for moms and kids to use. Parents are encouraged to bring in their own suppies (but just make sure all the supplies don't get mixed all together!). Don't forget to get the kids some mini hot chocolates to enjoy on the couch as a break from all the craft-making.

Sounds like a great time for mamas with older children, for mamas with infants, and even for mamas whose kids are in school! See you there: Sydney's, 1800 NW 16th Ave, December 4 at 10 AM.

P.S. If you have ideas on fun events for mamas and kidlets at Sydney's, please email: sydneyscommunity@yahoo.com.

Nurse-in at Portland airpot

Nurse-in at the Delta ticket counter? Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, 10 a.m.? Sounds like fun! I've been writing about Emily Gillette, the woman escorted off a Freedom Airlines flight (they run Delta Connection) for daring to breastfeed in the second-to-last row, discretely, next to her husband, after a two-hour delay (according to the law in Vermont, where Emily's plane was sitting on the tarmac, public breastfeeding is protected). GRRRrrr. I offered to take her out for coffee when I was in New York last week just to thank her for being a lightning rod. As our own Chris (the reluctant lactivist) knows, it's not an easy thing. But alas, her Good Morning America appearance was rescheduled for this week.

Anyhow. Tomorrow. 10 a.m. The Delta ticket counter at PDX. Moms, with and without breastfeeding babes, are asked to attend. I'm sure no one would turn away an uPapa, either. If you're available, go, support a mother's right to give her baby food anywhere.

Mother Talk: "What do you do all day"

Update:  Hey, everybody. It's less than a week until our next MotherTalk: a chance to get out of the house, gather with interesting women, and share some wine and goodies. Please help spread the word! Invite a friend and get a chance to win Amy Scheibe's book: WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY? If you haven't RSVP'd to the Evite yet, please do; if you haven't received an Evite, email Shari at smacblog [at] gmail [dot] com. It's Wednesday night, October 25, at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there. After all, who couldn't use a night out with the girls?

The Mother-Talkin' Mamas are at it again!  The next Mother Talk event is set for October 25th.  Save the date!  Amy Scheibe, author of the hilarious novel "What Do You Do All Day?" will be our guest. Amy's novel is a fabulous mix of chick lit with a thread of mystery -- the story of a woman in  the throes of processing her desire to be at home with her children and to have a career.  The novel's heroine, Jennifer Bradley, is a hilarious, sharp-witted feminist and antiquities expert, now at home with her small children.  It's a great read for those looking for a fun novel with thoughtful themes.  Don't miss this opportunity to meet Amy Scheibe, and to get together for wine and treats with other hip Portland mamas!  Send us the address of a friend who wants to be added to the MotherTalk mailing list (with her permission, of course) and we'll put your name in the hat for a drawing to win a free copy of Amy's book!  We hope to see you there.

urbanMamas Happy Hour

We're always looking for more ways to connect and get-together. Inspired by "Mommies Who Drink" and urged by several requests to organize, we'd love to see some urbanMamas come out to an urbanMamas Happy Hour, this Wednesday, September 13th, from 5-8 PM. Think you can make it? Have a suggestion for a close-in meeting spot? RVSP in the comments below!

Mommies Who Drink - This Sunday, August 27th

Don't miss out on this end of the summer social gathering!  If it's anything like previous Mother Talk events, it will be a total blast.  Undoubtedly you will meet some new mamas, and will have an unbelieveably intimate setting to connect:

Kick off the end of summer/beginning of fall with this can't-miss, hang-out-with-other-mommies gathering with guest Brett Paesel, the author of "Mommies Who Drink." The "Mommies" in the book are Brett (a mother with a wicked sense of humor and a great love for her child) and her friends; the "Drink" is what they have when they meet together Friday afternoons at a local bar. This is a hilarious and moving book about motherhood and friendship. (It's easy to see why it's been optioned by HBO, the Sex and the City folks!) Come join us for a glass of wine or two, a few goodies, and a great excuse to laugh and talk about the struggles and joys of motherhood, and the saving grace of laughter and friendship. Come one, come all, urbanMamas! For further info and an Evite, contact Shari MacDonald Strong at smacblog [at] gmail [dot] com. For a taste, check out an excerpt from Brett's book at Literary Mama.

Monday Morning Coffee Playdate

So, now that the busy weekend is over, how about a coffee playdate?  JJ mentions that she and Blair will be meeting up at Sip and Kranz, then heading over to Jamison.  Let's say...  9:30 AM?  See you there!  Look for a couple of mamas with their li'l babies and their bigger kids, too!

SAVE THE DATE: MOMMIES WHO DRINK

From Shari:

I recently received an advance copy of Brett Paesel's hilarious new book, MOMMIES WHO DRINK, which will be coming out in early August. (Some of you may remember her story "Slow to Warm" from Jennifer Margulis's wonderful book TODDLER--one of the pieces that got the book banned from a school fundraiser in Ashland!) Brett is going to be coming through town at the end of the summer and we'll be planning a mother chat someplace on August 27. Stay tuned for info about the exact location, and mark your calendar now! In the meantime, here's a description of her book, lifted from Amazon:

"In this collection of true stories drawn from the author's own experiences with motherhood, MOMMIES WHO DRINK explores the common bond that either unites women in friendship or polarizes them in wildly opposing camps. Every Friday, Brett Paesel and a group of her closest friends meet at a local bar. As an actress in Hollywood, Paesel lives a life that is at once unusual--she once appeared naked in an episode of HBO's Six Feet Under--yet, like any parent, deeply ordinary. Here, in a voice that's as incisive and poignant as the very best women's fiction, she addresses the issues she and her friends face as they brave the new world of motherhood--where the secret question on their minds at the playground is "What time of the day is too early to start drinking?"

UPDATE:  Here's a link to the Evite!

urbanMamas Bazaar, next Saturday

We started calling it an 'art fair', but we've recently been referring to it as a bazaar. We've had a tremendous response from mamas wanting to share goods and services with the rest of the urbanMamas community:

Amy McMullen of Amy McMullen Photography
Larissa Brown and her handmade items
Leigh Rubio of New For Baby
Michaela Santen of BumpStyle
Robyn Taylor Barbon of Portland at Play
Angela of Rowanberry School
Cynthia Thompson of Zoom Baby Gear
Kate Haas of Miranda Zine
Anna Hoffert and her Handmade items
Lisa Golightly of Kiki & Polly

Hope you can join us for some coffee, delphina pastries, and some good company! How many of you think you can join us? Please RSVP in the comments...

urbanMamas Bazaar
Saturday, August 19th
10 AM to 2 PM
Milagros Family Room
5429 - 5433 NE 30th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
503-493-4141

*** thank you to Milagros for co-hosting this event ***

urbanMamas day - art fair - 08.19.2006

Do you think it's time for another get-together??  We are looking forward to seeing everyone again, as the summer comes to a close.  Our last urbanMamas day was great for the fun and great for the community-building.  Milagros has so graciously offered the complementary use of their Family Room (again!).  We can't wait to do it again!  How 'bout it?

We had goodie bags last time, and we thought we'd do something else this time.  We know lots of us urbanMamas are showcasing their wares and talents through differnet venues like crafty wonderland or etsy.com or summer soirees.  We'd love to invite you - one and all - to strut your shtuff at our little urbanMamas day next month.  Shall we call it an 'art fair' of sorts?  We can set up tables on the street and in the Milagros Family Room to showcase your goods and share your knowledge.  Are you a doula, a preschool teacher/owner, a caretaker, a nutritionist?  A knitting maven, a sewing queen, a crafty goddess, a personal stylist?  Have a product to share, want to get the word out?  We want to impart some of your wisdom with the rest of the urbanMamas community.  Email us!

In the meantime, please mark your calendars:
urbanMamas day - Saturday, August 19, 2006
10 AM to 2 PM
in the Family Room at Milagros.

Saturday Morning Playdate

Liz would like to organize a Saturday morning playdate for June 24th.  Any mamas interested?  Suggestions for venues?  Please comment and RSVP below.

Let's do Lunch!

Whaddya think of some of us working mamas getting together sometime downtown for lunch?  Mother's Bistro, Tuesday June 6, 12 noon.  RSVP in the comments please!

Thanks Lizzie for the great idea!

Motherhood Literary Salon

Enjoy a remarkable evening with three remarkable writers who will discuss their latest projects as well as life, mothering, and feminism. Don't miss this opportunity to join in conversation with New York Times best-selling writer Hope Edelman, award-winning novelist Cheryl Strayed, and New York Times best-selling memoirist, Jennifer Lauck.

The evening comes together to honor the release of Hope Edelman's new book, Motherless Mothers, as well as Cheryl Strayed's first novel, Torch: a story about love, loss, grief, and redemption. A great excuse to gather together, sip wine, and share great conversation with other women and mothers.

Tuesday, May 16th, 7PM.  If you leave a comment below, we'll make sure you get the evite with full details!

Weekend Warriors: Mother's Day 2006

It's a mighty special weekend, is it not?? On my list of "things I'd love to do" this weekend...

urbanMamas Day 2006 - but of course! Meet tons of new urbanMamas, enjoy some treats, make new friends, visit with the Milagros family, buy some urbanMAMAS & urbanPAPAS tees. Saturday, May 13th, 10 AM to 2 PM.  RSVP on the evite!

It Takes a Village Festival enjoy entertainment and information. Downtown.  Sunday, May 14th, 1 PM to 5 PM.  May be a nice day just to putz around the downtown park blocks.

Mother's Day Rhododendron Show & Plant Sale - this weekend, the rhododendrons and azaleas are at the peak of their glorious color at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.  The event runs all weekend, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Concoct Yo' Own Dessert - Pix chefs will set up a buffet of pastry ingredients in Pix's kitchen and be on site to give advice while you concoct a dessert especially designed for mom. And the mamas can enjoy mimosas in the patisserie as they peer into the laboratory windows and watch you hard at work! Adults and kids 5 and up are welcome to play in the lab. $12 includes a dessert to take home. (only at the Pix - N Williams St Location).  Sunday, May 14th, 11 AM to 3 PM.

Crafty Wonderland - This month's CW lands on Mother's Day!  Here's the line up, and we know for sure there'll be some urbanMamas there craftin' off their wares.  I think I'll swing on by.  Sunday, May 14th, 11 AM to 4 PM at Doug Fir Lounge.

under the pink umbrella - vintage furniture, accessories, home decor, luxury spa items, oh my!  Sat & Sun, May 13 & 14, 10 AM to 5 PM.

Afternoon Cafe au Playdate at Bipartisan

The Cafe au Play folks and I are meeting with the lovely owner of Bipartisan Cafe on 79th and SE Stark around 3:30 p.m. We're bringing our kids and my babysitter for a fun-filled working Cafe au Playdate. We'd love to see some Urbanmamas or papas and, of course, your kids if you'd like to drop by!

urbanMamas Day 2006 - Saturday | May 13th | 10 AM - 2 PM

We're thrilled to be able to host urbanMamas Day 2006, our first annual celebration of all things [urban]Mama! On the same weekend as Mother's Day, we hope to meet new friends, enjoy one another's company, lounge in the comfortable community space Milagros' Family Room, and - most of all - connect with other mamas and their families.

We'll provide the Delphina's breakfast treats, Milagros is graciously providing their Family Room and the Kobos coffee, and you all will provide the urbanMama community that we love so much.

We have some goodie bags in the works, and if you'd like to share with the urbanMama community, just email! So far, our bundles of fun include:
- treats from Portland Picks
- gift certificates for the much-drooled-over Mama & Papa Calling Cards at Event Bliss
- gift cards for services by Amy McMullen Photography
- bath & body potions, plus gift certificates for nail, hair, & skin services, compliments of Madeline Roosevelt.
- BellyBars: nutrition for before, after & during pregnancy.
- % off cards for Pumpkin Noodle products.

.!!. and surely more to come .!!.

Plus, we'll have our hot-off-the-presses urbanMama tees for sale!

Let us know if you plan to come & rsvp on the evite (just add your name to the list, and pass the word on to others).

................

urbanMamas Day 2006
Saturday, May 13th, 2006
10 AM to 2 PM
Milagros Family Room
5429 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
503.493.4141

urbanMamas Day 2006

It's that time of year, again!  Time to celebrate all of us and all the mothers in our lives!  Mothers Day this year is Sunday, May 14th.  Some urbanMamas have been talking about having a gathering and celebration of all things urbanMama.  What do you think?

Our ideas are still in formative stages: tees, sponsored goodie bags, general merriment and community-building.  Can you help?  Here's a run-down of areas where we could use some urbanMama power:

Location, location, location.  Do they say that location is everything?  Well, we have been mulling over great spaces to host a fun and affordable affair.  What do you think?  Do you know of or have a bright, happy, spacious place were urbanMamas, their lovely little ones and their partners could come and hang during that day on Sunday?  Thoughts we've had include: Sydney's, Milagros' new family room, Urban Grind?

Tees.  Sarah has already put out word that we're looking for tees.  Want to help with the effort?  Email her at mama [at] cafemama.com.

Goodies for all!  Do you have a mama-owned biz you want to share?  Have a little sumthin' sumthin' we could put into a giveaway baggie for the uMamas?  Let us know via email.

Tell your friends.  It's simple.  We love getting to know one another.  Bring your friends, and meet some new urbanMamas.  Based on previous urbanMama gatherings, it's bound to be a hit!

Friday Coffee Playdate - Looking for Suggestions...

From Ann:

So I am having a super long day at work today and I was wondering if anyone want to have a coffee playdate on Friday.  I am open to suggestions of a place.

Please organize and post comments below!  Perhaps a meet up at the crepe place on Alberta like Bee has suggested?

Tuesday. In Other Words. Be There. (Please.)

Just a quick reminder, ladies, that this Tuesday night is the reading for It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters at In Other Words. You couldn't ask for a better bookstore to support, and we would absolutely love to see as many of you there as possible! Whatever the age of your daughter (baby, grade-schooler, teen, emerging adult), this anthology touches upon the experience of mothering a daughter her age. Here's the updated information:

Please join Jennifer Margulis, Jennifer Lauck, and Shari MacDonald Strong as we read from our contributions to Andrea Buchanan's newest anthology, It's a Girl (a collection of stories about mothering daughters), and talk about the mothering life with you THIS Tuesday, April 18, 7:00 p.m., at In Other Words bookstore (now at 8 NE Killingsworth St.). Come see the new location and enjoy the privilege of supporting one of the only non-profit feminist bookstores in the U.S. (Check out their story on their website's home page; I knew they did a lot for women, children, and families in Portland, but I had no idea how much. Please help us to support this amazing, invaluable community resource.) For specific directions, call In Other Words at 503-232-6003. Please note: In Other Words is no longer at their Hawthorne location.

Friday Playdate: Bubble me happy

Who'd like to get some bubble tea? It's a Friday morning playdate! Shetha says: "the venue is nice they don't have much except for board games at Fat Straw... I was thinking of bringing a few things to share, maybe even taping some butcher paper on the coffee table and letting the kids go at it with crayons..."

Fat Straw
4258 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97215
(503) 233-3369

Friday, April 7, 2006
10:00 AM

Thanks for Another Great Get-Together

I'm amazed at all the great mamas I meet at play dates and w[h]ine night outings.  I feel like I've benefited so much from the on-line, and in-person community.  Can you believe that there were about 2 dozen mamas, babes, and papas that came and connected at this morning's play date?  Can you believe that it took four mamas to try to assemble a pack-n-play for a snoozing babe, and then for another to suggest a better solution of putting the babe on ground?  And, can you believe that another sleeping babe rested on top of the gorgeous table that is the centerpiece at Sydney's (see picture below)?  Could you have asked for a more precious moment?  I just wanted to post a thank you to all the mamas and papas (and babes) that showed up.  I hope we can do this again.  It was fun!

Photos courtesy of Olivia.

Playdate happening now!

Starting four minutes ago, mamas began descending on Sydney's for a Saturday playdate. Don't forget (I'm headed that way as soon as I find fast fast running shoes)!

Saturday Morning Coffee Playdate
March 18 / 10:30 AM
Sydney's
1800 NW 16th Ave
Portland, OR

Saturday Morning Playdate!

It's been a long time coming! We've been wanting to do a Saturday morning playdate for a while, so why not this upcoming Saturday, March 18th? It'll be a great time for connecting urbanFamilies - mamas, papas, and kiddies alike!

Saturday Morning Coffee Playdate
March 18 / 10:30 AM
Sydney's
1800 NW 16th Ave
Portland, OR

Last-minute southeast playgroup, wifi included

I'm wanting to do a coffee shop, wifi-friendly playgroup somewhere near Ladd's Addition, around 10:30 - noon today. If you have ideas, put 'em in the comments, and I'll edit the post in the next 15 minutes. Shetha and I decided on Haven at 35th and Division thanks to its wifi and back room with toys - I'm leaving this conversation, though, because it's vexing that there are so few options.

I'm just bringing Truman, my 10-month-old, along - Everett's too much to juggle with work :). Tiny's has wifi and yummy sandwiches but is low on the baby friendliness scale. Palio's is nice, although I'm not a huge fan of their food or service, but do they have wifi? (update: yes, but stairs make it hard for babies) Red & Black is a definite option, their food is delish and the wifi is ready. They're a bit packed with hipsters but also have lots of visiting babes. Ideas?

Literary Mama Meets W[h]ine Night

We are so fortunate to have so many well-read and well-written mamas amongst us.  Here's what Shari has to say:

I don't know how I got so lucky (pinch me--no, don't--two of my kids are vomiting today, so I'm suffering enough), but I have the privilege of being the new Creative Non-Fiction editorial assistant for Literary Mama (www.literarymama.com) and have an essay in the upcoming anthology, "It's a Girl", edited by the brilliant Andrea Buchanan. There will be some local MotherTalk events and bookstore readings in conjunction with the book's upcoming release and I'm collecting the email addresses of women who would like to receive an Evite to these events. So drop me an email or leave a comment here! (We'll be planning events in Seattle, too, so if you have friends up north who want to receive an Evite, have them contact me with their email addresses and ask them to specify "Seattle.")

I hope to see lots of UrbanMamas at the readings and MotherTalks (dates and locations to be announced--more shall be revealed). We are fortunate to have some amazing local contributors who you won't want to miss--and, anyway, who couldn't use another excuse to get out of the house, talk with other mamas, drink wine, and--did I mention TALK? Check out the MotherTalk blog site (http://mothertalk.blogspot.com/) for more insights on what it's all about.

Don't forget to w[h]ine (3)!

Looks like we have a great big group tonight for w[h]ine night: 3rd times a charm.  Are there 24 of us or so?

Can't wait to see everyone.  Zaytoon's doesn't seem to take reservations, so we're going to try to get there "early" at 8pm to snag spots.  Look for the red boots and maybe even some name tags or roses.

Zaytoon's
tonight, March 3rd
at 8pm or after the kids go down!

WOW Walking Series - Hosted by REI

So, would anyone be interested in meeting up with other urbanMamas at the WOW Walking Series, hosted by REI? 

Join Portland REI and Wonders of Walking for the last two walks in the series intended to get you active while discovering the beauty of Portland. Each session will begin with coffee/tea, energy bar of the week and a power clinic covering such topics as motivation, target heart rates and cold weather gear. Following the clinic, participants will head out on a 30 – 45 minute walk designed for all abilities.

There are two Saturday walks left, March 4th and March 11th.  Walks are from 9AM to 10:30AM, and cost is $7 for members/$10 for non-members.

Sounds kinda fun....  (I won't be able to make either walk, but I hope that some of you can!)  RSVP & connect with others!

W[H]INE WITH US: 3rd time's a charm.

Let's go out again. It's been a while! Just us mamas.... but the question is, 'where?' We'd want a spot with a low enough noise level so we can chat, a variety of stuff to eat and drink, and maybe even an open sort of bar area so we can chat freely, not bound to your chair at the table. Any thoughts?

Save the date!

Friday, March 3
around 8-9 PM, or whenever the kids go to bed.
location TBD

RSVP in the comments! We are SO looking forward to some good w[h]ine...