1. Shine a light
In celebration of the Chinese New Year (the Year of the Dog), you can check out the annual Lantern Festival from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 2 at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, 5206 Franklin St., Vancouver; free, but donations accepted. View the more than 500 lanterns that were created by students. Or solve one of the 500 riddles (in English and Mandarin). To make this event even prettier, it will take place during a full moon. Aram Arslanian will provide live tunes, and snacks and drinks will be served. 360-313-1850 or franklin.vansd.org
2. Green is good
It’s not easy being green. Actually, yes it is, and it’s a color you’ll want to wear at the next installment of Camas First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. March 2. During “Go Green,” which is free and takes place in Camas’ downtown on Northeast Fourth Avenue. There will be Lucky Leprechauns, Eartha the Clown, a “Green Zone” with family friendly activities with local nonprofits that care for the environment, art shows and artist demonstrations, a local ribbon cutting and green outfits. Participating merchants will keep a “lucky leprechaun” in their business, and for every leprechaun you find, you receive a prize ticket to be entered to win “green” prizes and more from the merchants. 360-904-0218 or downtowncamas.com
3. One for the stages
Time to reach your breaking point, and buy some tickets. After adapting the classic action movie “Die Hard” for the stage, Funhouse Lounge returns with another cult-classic adaptation, “Point Break Live.” As a twist to the production, the audience can select, from a group of audience volunteers, who plays Keanu Reeve’s main character, Johnny Utah. The winner will read lines from cue cards to amp up improvisation. The audience is immersed in situations such as a fake robbery and getting doused with surfing waves. Fake money and ponchos are available at the door. Performances run at 7 p.m. March 2, 3, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 at Funhouse Lounge, 2432 S.E. 11th Ave., Portland; $18 to $25. 503-841-6734 or funhouselounge.com
4. Celebrity appearances
Inanimate objects don’t usually have birthdays, but that’s not the case with the Kazoodles toy store, which from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 3 — at 13503 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., No. B-3, Vancouver — will host a 12th birthday party called Celebrity Story Time with special readings for kids from local “celebrities.” Ty Stober, city council, will read at 10 a.m.; Jim Mains, High Five Media, 11 a.m.; Temple Lentz, “Hello Vancouver” host, noon; Mary Sisson, Kazoodles owner, 1 p.m.; Pat Jollota, local historian, 2 p.m.; Brian Tashima, Spectraland Saga, series author, 3 p.m. Mama and Papa Berenstain Bear will make appearances after each story. A scavenger hunt and prizes are part of the party, which is free. 360-823-0123 or kazoodlestoys.com
