Full disclosure: I am not a breeder. I watch my good friends hitting that baby-making age and watch with some fascination and trepidation. Babies everywhere! But this was an enlightening experience.

My good friends Kes and Aileen recently had a daughter, who is now eight weeks old. This past weekend, I suddenly understood what parents mean when they bemoan the lack of family-friendly places.

Kes and a group of friends (including my husband) decided to hit the International BrewFest in the North Park Blocks. Surely, the OLCC wouldn’t find an eight-week-old infant in a stroller concerning.

Not a chance. No minors, no kids, no teensy weensy babies. Turned away. So, undaunted, the group decided to hit someplace in the Pearl with outdoor seating and make their own brewfest.

Except, as they rolled the stroller from place to place, they kept getting the same uncomfortable, terse head shake or regretful refusal. The group rolled around for nigh an hour without being able to find a single outdoor eatery that would deign to let them hang out with an infant next to them.

Perhaps I am saddened by this because I personally know that the baby is at the age that she is not going to bug anyone (no running around or squealing or making messes–she’s too young for that), and certainly too young to get slaughtered and go all Spring Break at the brewfest.

Is this just me having sympathy with my good friends and their new daughter, or is this what parents all around this good town are up against? Or is it just the Pearl? And what the heck is the deal with the OLCC, in general? They make me grumpy.

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Now through Sunday you can ride on a restored SP&S 700 Steam Locomotive in Sellwood–a steam train! I love steam trains, the mournful, haunting sound of the whistle and the billow of steam are satisfyingly anachronistic.

Rides are approximately 45 minutes in length, and start at (and return to) Oaks Park. It costs $15 and you can find more information and a schedule here.

(My friend Chris helps restore the locomotive on weekends–thanks to him for the tipoff on this great event). All proceeds go to support the PRPA (Pacific Railroad Preservation Association).

The SP&S 700 at East Portland Junction (originally uploaded by lumachrome).

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