Market Play Zone

This season at our Buckman and King Market locations, we’ve got a special area just for kids called the Market Play Zone where little shoppers can learn cool stuff and discover fun new things to do every week. The activity schedule includes mini music workshops, make your own Mr. Potato Head, food-themed art projects, drop-in cooking activities, fruit and veggie bingo, and recess-style games to get kids moving.

See below for a list of dates, activities and community partners:

Buckman Market

June 6 – salad with berry vinaigrette hosted by The Merry Kitchen

June 13 – veggie stamp art hosted by Café au Play

June 20 – recess! No-host booth stocked with kids toys (pogo stick, chalk & chalkboard, hula hoops, jump ropes, etc.)

June 27 – music making hosted by Little Wing music program

July 4 – no market, closed for Independence Day

July 11 – seed art hosted by Café au Play

July 18 – recess! No-host booth stocked with kids toys (pogo stick, chalk & chalkboard, hula hoops, jump ropes, etc.)

July 25 – music making hosted by Little Wing music program

August 1 – seasonal cooking activity hosted by Slow Food Portland

August 8 – fruit snakes hosted by Café au Play

August 15 – recess! No-host booth stocked with kids toys (pogo stick, chalk & chalkboard, hula hoops, jump ropes, etc.)

August 22 – fruit skewers staffed by PFM

August 29 – music making hosted by Little Wing music program

September 5 – ice cream sandwiches hosted by PFM vendor Ruby Jewel

September 12 – veggie cars & boats hosted by Café au Play

September 19 – recess! No-host booth stocked with kids toys (pogo stick, chalk & chalkboard, hula hoops, jump ropes, etc.)

September 26 – music making hosted by Little Wing music program

King Market

June 2 – seed planting hosted by Schoolyard Farms

June 9 – salad with berry vinaigrette hosted by The Merry Kitchen

June 16 – All about worms with Schoolyard Farms

June 23 – test your food IQ hosted by Slow Food Portland

June 30 – fruit kabobs hosted by PFM

July 7 – herb cheese and zukes hosted by PFM

July 14 – seed art hosted by PFM

July 21 – cancelled

July 28 – recess! No-host booth stocked with kids toys (pogo stick, chalk & chalkboard, hula hoops, jump ropes, etc.)

August 4 – hosted by The Merry Kitchen

August 11 – hosted by Irvington Coop Preschool: planting seed starts in repurposed containers

Additional dates TBD

Learn more about our community partners

Café au Play

Café au Play is a nonprofit community center coffeehouse with play areas for children and activities for people of all ages.  Cafe au Play offers children’s performances, art classes and family support programming. We address the needs of primary caregivers for social networks that support their own health and the health of their families. The coffeehouse provides a welcoming environment where people of all ages can gather on a daily basis, develop lasting relationships and exchange resources.  Location:  5633 SE Division Street   Phone:  503.894.8506   Website:  cafeauplay.org   Facebook:  facebook.com/Cafeauplay

Watch a video!

Little Wing

Have a little rock star in your family? Let them shine with Little Wing, the most innovative early education music program for preschoolers developed by the School of Rock! Little Wing teaches the basic fundamentals of rhythm, pitch & melody, song structure, auditory focus, active listening and other musical dynamics. From the tambourine to the electric guitar, and from the Beatles to Queen, Little Wing students experience the coolest lessons Rock & Roll has to offer! Enroll Today!

For more information, please contact us at eseabroke@littlewing.com or call (503) 231-2945

The Merry Kitchen

The Merry Kitchen is a home-based cooking school for kids in NE Portland.  Julie Merry teaches year round classes to kids, offers cooking birthday parties, teaches after school cooking classes at various schools, and offers several summer camps for kids. Most camps are half days and four days in length. Kids make the entire meal from scratch, spend time in the garden each day and eat their creations at the end of class. This year’s theme is Asia where kids will be making food from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Korea. Other camps offered during the summer are two-day cake decorating classes and a four day Chopped/Iron Chef style camp.

Become a fan of the Merry Kitchen on facebook at facebook.com/themerrykitchen or check out a current list of classes at www.themerrykitchen.com.

Ruby Jewel

Ruby Jewel creates extraordinarily delicious ice cream for all to enjoy. Every flavor is carefully hand-crafted daily in our North Portland kitchen using the best ingredients thoughtfully sourced from farmers and food producers in Oregon and around the Northwest. Family owned and operated since 2004, we are committed to supporting our local community, economy, and limiting our impact on the environment wherever possible. www.rubyjewel.net.

Schoolyard Farms

Schoolyard Farms is a nonprofit with the mission of growing food on urban schoolyards in order to create healthier communities. Our first farm is located at Candy Lane Elementary in Milwaukie. We give weekly lessons to the students at the school with the goal of improving their knowledge and attitudes about fruits and vegetables. We also sell our produce to CSA members and Head Start to sustain our operation. Our vision is to see a farm on every schoolyard that can circle its food back to its cafeteria. schoolyardfarms.org; 530.513.4323

The Understory Preschool

The Understory provides early childhood education for children ages 3-5 years, emphasizing imaginative play, nature exploration, and building friendships.  We are located in the Sunnyside neighborhood.  Enrollment for the 2013-2014 school year is ongoing until all spaces are filled.  For more information, visit www.understoryschool.com, or phone Mia Yang, 503-449-8671.