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Happy Monday everyone; I hope you had a wonderful weekend! As I mentioned on Friday, last week was a tough one for me so I largely stayed offline this weekend and focused on lots of fun household things with Jon and the girls (designing a quilt with Laurel + teaching Violet to make lasagna = awesome). Meanwhile, I hope you have a great week -- here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone; I hope you've been enjoying a great week. It's been a stressful week on my end, so I'm looking forward to taking things down a notch this weekend (starting with a new quilt project Laurel and I are working on together!). Meanwhile, a couple of fun things: First, I weigh in today at the Boston Globe on managing princess obsessions re: the Princess Merida controversy -- come share your thoughts! Second, you definitely should enter to win these organic house cleaning service and Canon DSLR + Epiphanie bag giveaways -- amazing! And now, on to the weekend; here are 23 event picks, lovingly curated for your consideration.
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend. It never fails to amaze me how the simplest things (sleeping in! breakfast in bed! handmade cards! a quick run!) are so rejuvenating; I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day. Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who came out for Pivot 3.0 on Friday, don't forget to enter to win this amazing DSLR + bag giveaway, and here's to a fantastic week. Following are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone...I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. I'll be sending virtual hugs and kisses to you all on Mother's Day! But before we get there, I need to say how excited I am about the Pivot 3.0 style event I'm co-hosting tonight and I hope to see you there. Meanwhile, if you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, here are 23 weekend picks, lovingly curated for your consideration.
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I was in California Thursday through Sunday for Mom 2.0 Summit and it was an amazing experience for many reasons (I'll be sharing some deep thoughts soon!). Meanwhile, as I sit here sipping coffee and acclimating to East Coast time, I wanted to queue you up for a fantastic week. Here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint.
Greetings from Laguna Niguel, California! I miss Jon and the girls but also am having a wonderful time here at Mom 2.0 Summit. It's been amazing to take in such a spectacular seascape, connect with old and new friends, and, today, dive into conference programming. But before I get into that, I wanted to share 30 weekend event picks, lovingly curated for your consideration. Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget the sunscreen!
Happy last day of April! Following my January, February, and March best-of posts, today I'm rounding up the most helpful, insightful, favored-by-the-community posts from April. I hope you enjoy this month's roundup, handy for browsing during lunch, on the pick up line, or wherever! Also, here are a few of my favorite recent pins: a cool way to display Instagram photos, an 8-week half marathon plan, a pretty, ladylike dress I just ordered, DIY bracelets, and book club fodder.
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It was a bit of a crazy one for me, given that I had to zip down to New York for a live interview with Fox & Friends, but the experience was so wonderful (here's the interview clip if you want to take a look!) and I was thrilled to make it home with plenty of time to enjoy open studios with Laurel and snuggle Violet. Meanwhile, enjoy this beautiful week; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint (note: following a reader request, I'm including town listings as I do for the weekend roundups; hope this is helpful to you!):
Happy Friday everyone; I hope this week offered some normalcy and routine for you and your family. It's going to be a beautiful weekend and there's lots to do in and around the city -- here are 30 event picks, lovingly curated for your consideration. Also, yesterday I finally was able to spend some time at the Boston Marathon memorial at Copley. What a moving experience; so full of love and heartache. I encourage you to visit and pay your respects; there's so much good in our city.
Friends, I hope you're all recovering after what proved to be a very surreal week. There are so many unanswered questions and there's so much physical and emotional healing to be done, but I am so, so proud of this city. I shared two posts last week (on coping in the aftermath and the dissonance of Friday's events) that may be helpful to you (the first particularly if you're working on talking to your kids about the tragedy). Meanwhile, I wanted to provide some rhythm and normalcy to this Monday and share some events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint. Hugs to you all.
Hello everyone, I hope you're all enjoying a wonderful long weekend! I'm not sure if it's me being minimalist or somewhat disorganized but I am, at the 11th hour, finding myself in need of April vacation planning; putting together this roundup proved helpful! I hope it's also helpful to you this week. Meanwhile, those of you have Patriot's Day off tomorrow, enjoy the day. And cheer on those amazing Boston Marathon runners! I'll be light on posting this week, but will probably update a bit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram if you want to keep in touch!
Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend; enjoy today's roundup of 22 events, lovingly curated for your consideration! Meanwhile, I wanted to share the final post in Asha and my series for The Huffington Post's Stress-Less Parenting Club. I would love to hear your thoughts about my post about why self-care is not selfish (and 5 ways to move beyond typical self-care roadblocks), and you can also engage in the companion workshop piece. Also check out our posts on thinking differently about time, school year activities, and kids' birthday parties.
Happy Monday everyone and welcome, spring temperatures! Yesterday I was so excited to run without a jacket for the first time this year, and did a repeat this morning when I took Violet to school. Yay! I hope you have a wonderful week; among other things, I need to figure out April vacation plans (which I completely forgot about until last week...doh). Meanwhile, if you're looking for something to do, here are some event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! I don't know about you, but I am super excited for the weekend; if you're looking for something to do, enjoy this roundup of 25 events, lovingly curated for your consideration! Meanwhile, I've been meaning to mention that Asha and I are so honored to be contributing to The Huffington Post's Stress-Less Parenting Club! Check out our articles on thinking differently about time, school year activities, and kids' birthday parties, as well as book excerpts + challenges on time management, de-stressing school mornings, and taking the stress out of birthday parties. I hope you enjoy the series -- yay for less stress!
Happy Monday! I hope those who celebrated enjoyed a festive Easter yesterday or are enjoying a lovely Passover. We welcomed dear friends from London for brunch yesterday, and on Saturday I had such fun filling in as co-host on the Manic Mommies podcast. Kristin and I talked about Minimalist Parenting and many other topics, and Kristin's daughter Sophie and my Laurel became fast new friends. I hope you'll hop over and listen to the episode! Meanwhile, here are some events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint. And watch out for trickery today!
Hello and happy Friday everyone! I am simply brimming with gratitude this morning after the Minimalist Parenting book launch party last night. It was amazing to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends, and so wonderful to feel the collective passion for simplifying life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who joined, and a huge thank you to Isis Parenting for their generosity in hosting the event! Meanwhile, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Happy Passover and Happy Easter to those who celebrate, and here are 19 events lovingly curated for your consideration.
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a fantastic weekend! I'm a little bleary eyed this morning after a fantastic (and fantastically tiring) trip to BlissDom followed by a 3am visit with Violet, who clearly missed mommy and wanted some snuggle time. Zzzz. But I'm also excited to dive in this morning and get caught up. I hope you all have a wonderful week planned; here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint (I hope I'll see you on March 28!):
Hello everyone, I apologize for (unexpectedly) falling off the grid the last couple of days! This week has been a little crazy, what with the book launch, client work, and now I'm writing this post from Dallas, where I'm at the wonderful BlissDom conference both for client work and to do my first book signing (yay!). Anyway, I hope you've had a great week and have a lovely weekend on tap. If you're looking for something to do, here are 22 events, lovingly curated for your consideration.
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I can't believe it but today is Violet's second birthday. It sounds trite but her mega-labor seems like a million years ago yet so very vivid in my memory. In true minimalist parenting fashion (man, it doesn't take much to make a toddler happy; Vi was so excited to receive Dora stickers and a couple of balloons this morning!), we'll be enjoying a low key celebration this evening. Meanwhile, here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Greetings all and happy Friday -- I hope you had a great week! I'm still recovering from the surreal nature of yesterday. Before doing the tech walk through for the Boston launch party (get your tickets!) I stopped in at Barnes & Noble, and saw Minimalist Parenting front facing and on one of the top shelves in the parenting section and a two-page spread of Asha and me in Natural Child World. I'm so grateful for all of the amazing things that are happening! Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a low key weekend; if you're looking for something to do, here are 24 events, lovingly curated for your consideration!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! There was a lot of girl time around my house, what with Laurel's snow day on Friday (isn't this floral mouthed snowman great?) and then girls weekend while Jon was out of town. I'm looking forward to a productive (and warm!) week and hope you are as well. If you're looking for things to do, here are some ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- are you snowed in? I am so over this weather and ready for spring (and also wondering if Laurel will be in school until July given another snow day today). Anyway, I finishing curating this event roundup yesterday, while the snow was innocuously coming down but not sticking so please be sure to click over and check the websites for scheduling changes. Have a great weekend everyone and remember to lift with your legs!
Today, Hillary of Mass Audubon shares a primer on the beloved New England staple:
It's a staple in many households. There's not much better than homemade pancakes or waffles covered in ooey-gooey sweet and sticky maple syrup. But have you ever given much thought as to how maple syrup actually gets made? If there's ever a time to think about the process, it's now as maple sugaring season in New England is in full swing.
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed the lovely spring-like weekend! We've been keeping our schedule as open as possible these days and subsequently were able to enjoy a wonderful, last minute visit with loved ones + plenty of time for family hanging out, household things, exercise, etc. Just an all around perfect weekend! It's also been fantastic to see how people are making change in their lives via MinCamp -- so awesome! Anyway, back to business! Here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Hello, everyone -- happy Friday and first day of March! Is it just me or is 2013 flying by? It's been a busy week, what with jumping back into things after February vacation + Asha and I have been hard at work taking care of the finishing touches for MinCamp. Over 1,000 people are joining us on this journey of awesomeness and we are so excited to start helping people open up degrees of freedom in their lives! And speaking of degrees of freedom, I hope you have a wonderful weekend; here are 20 event picks, lovingly curated for your consideration:
Happy Monday; I hope you had a great February vacation! Our break included a mix of things; high points being visiting my in-laws (they are truly delightful, and also amazing with Laurel and Violet) and taking Laurel to the Isabella Stewart Garner Museum (such a magical experience!). I'm happy to be back to a regular schedule though; and below is a roundup of events to consider via this week's Weekly Blueprint. Also, re: two other timely things: I would love for you to join us for MinCamp (it starts March 1 and about 750 campers have signed up!) and the Boston book launch party on March 28!
If you haven't figured out what you're doing with the kids this week, fear not, I have curated a mega-roundup of places that are offering special February vacation week programming! Meanwhile, if you're at home with the kids I recommend this peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe (it's easy enough for kids to make while you check in on your work e-mails...) and these six ideas for outdoor fun for next to nothing. Also, if you're taking a trip to the library or bookstore, bring this list of books for strong and smart girls. Happy vacation week!
Happy Friday everyone! Can you believe we're on the brink of February vacation? After three snow days, Laurel was clamoring to get back to school, and then after one day in school she was clamoring for February vacation! I hope you all have a wonderful break, whether that means traveling somewhere, enjoying down time at home, or something in between. But before we get there, here are 18 weekend events for your consideration. And I hope you enjoyed a heart-filled Thursday, however you chose to celebrate (Laurel and Violet made the sweetest cards and I cried over Laurel's poem for me).
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you're all bundled up and cozy! We managed to get out for a family walk to the market this morning and now are hunkered in. Regarding this weekend, as of yesterday these listings were in go mode, but please click through closer in to check on cancellations or revised hours. Meanwhile, here are 20 things to do indoors when it's time to take a break from sledding and igloo building. Have a great weekend everyone!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I will admit to being somewhat oblivious to the groundhog and Superbowl oriented elements of the weekend. Instead, there was a lot of toddler chasing and care (Vi's milk-related rash is finally dissipating...hooray!), household puttering and decluttering, and I also did something I've been wanting to do for a long time: hosted a delightful get together for the Boston Mamas contributing writers. I'm excited to get back to work today and hope you all have a fantastic week. Here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Monday -- I hope you all had a great weekend! Thank you to everyone who came out to the Milk + Bookies event on Saturday! It was so fun to read to the kids and help support the book drive, and man, the Peter Rabbit collection at babyGap is insanely cute (I had fun browsing while I was waiting for things to kick off)! Anyhow, I hope you have a great week planned. I'm excited to be back to work today and related to that, Asha and I will soon reveal something fun for Minimalist Parenting so stay tuned (or better yet, sign up for our e-mail list!). Meanwhile, here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday -- wow, what an insanely cold week it's been! I braved the elements for a run and during my walking warm-up I truly thought my fingers were going to freeze and fall off inside my gloves. It's times like these where I feel especially grateful to have a roof over my head; I hope you're all staying warm and safe. The cold weather will continue this weekend but there are lots of events to consider if you're suffering cabin fever. Here are 21 picks, and of course I would love to meet you at the Milk + Bookies event I'll be guest reading at tomorrow from 11am-noon at the North Shore Mall babyGap. If you come, please say hello! Have a great weekend!
Hello folks, I hope you're enjoying a wonderful, windy weekend. I'm struggling to shake the dreaded sore throat, but otherwise it's been a lovely weekend here! Given that tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and many of you will be off with your kids, I wanted to share the Weekly Blueprint a day early in case it's helpful for your planning. There are lots of activities going on in and around town tomorrow, whether you want to explore cultural offerings, listen to music, do community crafts, or engage in service. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful week and are looking forward to a great weekend! In Minimalist Parenting fashion, I've been working on leaving as much open space as possible in our schedules to allow for fun and spontaneity. And in advance of the openness of last weekend, Jon, Laurel, and I each tossed out a couple of things we thought would be fun to have happen over the weekend (e.g., runs, cooking, play dates) and committed to making sure each person was able to do at least one of their desired things. The approach has worked out beautifully -- I highly recommend you try it! Meanwhile, if you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, here are 18 event picks for your consideration:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! Ours was blissfully commitment free, which allowed for so much fun and spontaneity...breakfast in bed (a generous gift from Laurel), runs for Jon and me, family naps (Violet cuddled in and fell asleep on me twice...this never happens and was so sweet), quiet reading time, yummy meals, last minute play dates for Laurel, puttering around the house, and a really phenomenal massage treatment for me. Utter perfection. Anyhow, I'm also looking forward to getting back to work and am kicking off the day with a roundup of fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint. Enjoy!
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful week! I cannot thank you enough for the immense support and love around my (digitally weepy) announcement of the Minimalist Parenting book trailer and opening of pre-orders. Despite how busy things can get, Asha and I never lose sight of or take for granted how blessed we are to be part of such supportive and amazing communities! Thank you so, so much. Meanwhile, I hope you have a fantastic weekend planned; here are 15 event picks for your consideration:
Today's Dear Boston Mamas query comes from a mom on the South Shore via comment. Coincidentally, Boston Mamas contributing writer Priya (who recently relocated to the South Shore) already was working on a post about South Shore indoor activities and shares a roundup of leads in response to the question:
Anyone have any ideas for party places/venues for the South Shore or even the Cape? I swear the South Shore is LAME and all the cool places are North and West :(
Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: South Shore Birthday Parties" »
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a lovely one, and on the local front I wanted to give props to the Resolution Run to Kick Cancer (a fantastically organized race replete with community spirit...I'm going to run it next year and Laurel wants to join me!), Pink Dolly (a chic resale boutique where I scored two bargain snow suits for Violet...procrastination worked out fine!), and Vicki Lee's (a delightful cafe I tried for the first time with my girlfriend Heidi...OMG the cheese danish!). Meanwhile, have a wonderful week -- here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- wasn't it fun (and also slightly confusing) to start the week on a Wednesday? I hope you're all gearing up for a relaxing first weekend of the new year. Among other things, I'll be running a winter 5K (brrr!) as part of the Eat. Blog. Run. Winter Dash (come share your race if you're running one this winter!), will work on some house decluttering and tidying with the girls (goodbye Christmas decorations, hello Valentine's decorations that Laurel has already started working on!), and also mull further my eight intentions. (I'm putting #3 into action starting next week...Laurel is so excited!) Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!
Hello everyone, what a surreal few days it has been. My heart is heavy for the Newtown, CT community, and the ripple effect clearly has been wide. I have mixed emotions about the responses I've seen to this tragedy and I'm not sure I can articulate them all. So for now, I will simply say that I'm sending healing mojo into the universe for everyone and hope we can all find meaning in this that will help us move forward and also honor the spirit of the victims. And now I will return to business and share some event ideas to consider via this week's Weekly Blueprint. Im wishing you all a week of peace and healing.
Happy Friday everyone -- yay for the upcoming weekend! Before I launch into the event roundup, I wanted to encourage you all to check out the posts Asha and I have been writing for Minimalist Holidays -- there are so many great ideas for shifting your perspective and practice to make the holidays simpler and thereby more fun and manageable! For example, Asha has shared wonderful and useful ideas on how to shorten your gift list and to-do list, and focus on easy holiday rituals. And this weekend, Laurel and I will be working on easy kid crafted and DIY food gifts, and I will most certainly be rocking the crockpot. Happy reading, and enjoy this roundup of 21 events for the weekend:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! This was an unusually busy weekend for us, which Jon and I kicked off by attending the Room to Grow fundraising gala (this organization does amazing work for babies 0-3 years of age and their families -- if you don't know about them already, check them out!), and then we also celebrated birthdays for family members and baby friends. It's back to work now, though, and for today's Weekly Blueprint I wanted to share event ideas for the week and also some great holiday gift guides (since I never seem to get around to creating one here at Boston Mamas). Have a great week!
Happy Friday everyone! The Massachusetts Conference for Women was so wonderful yesterday -- large (from estimates I heard, 8,000 attendees!) and wonderful! I fielded questions from many women at the local leaders meet up and social media roundtables -- it was very inspiring to hear about the change and awesomeness people want to make happen! Meanwhile, I hope you are gearing up for a great weekend; here's a big roundup of fun events for your consideration:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Laurel, Violet, and I had a lovely girls day on Saturday (for the record, the easiness and affordability of Trader Joe's gingerbread house kits was perfect...you should have seen Vi's face when she discovered that the icing was not just glue!) and yesterday Laurel and I enjoyed a wonderful outing to see The Nutcracker, courtesy of the Boston Ballet. The new production is utterly gorgeous and the whole experience magical -- I hope you consider attending this year (definitely check out half price ticket availability)! Now, here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! December is tomorrow, can you believe it? I can't quite gear myself up to decorate immediately after Thanksgiving, but December 1 officially feels festive to me. Laurel, Violet, and I are having a girls day tomorrow and I'm getting excited (Laurel is out of her mind excited...) to hang stockings, decorate a little, build gingerbread houses, and perhaps do a little shopping to support local businesses. Yay! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. There's lots to do in and around town; here are 34 picks (my biggest roundup ever, I think!) for your consideration:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! We enjoyed lots of time with Jon and my families, and my sister-in-law Marjorie gave what very well may be the most generous and lovely gift ever while we were all relaxing post Thanksgiving meal: mini Reiki sessions. Wowzers! Anyway, I hope you're gearing up for a great week -- I'm looking forward to a regular work week after the sickness and many events of the last seven days. Here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving day full of reflection and connection. Violet's been sick and periodically cranky the last few days, but we enjoyed a relaxed morning as a family, and a delicious multicultural Thanksgiving potluck (turkey! duck! sushi! chap chae!) with my family. Enjoy the long weekend, and if you're in town, here's a roundup of 16 event picks for your consideration; it's starting to feel very holiday-like in and around town!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend and are feeling good about the upcoming holiday week. I'll be posting soon about some simple holiday food ideas and also encourage you to check out the beginnings of Asha and my Minimalist Holidays blog series (you'll be psyched to learn how to let go of fancy table trappings and embrace mealtime delegation!). Meanwhile, safe travels if you're heading out of town and if you're here this week, here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you're having a wonderful week. Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? It's my favorite holiday of the year and I'm looking forward to low key festivities and lots of quality time with Jon and the girls (also, pie making with Laurel...yay!). And if you didn't see my announcement yesterday, Asha and I have launched a Minimalist Holidays series that will run through the end of the year. Tune in for lots of great ideas (the first two posts are great!) for doing less so you can enjoy the holidays more! Meanwhile, there's lots of fun stuff going on in and around town this weekend. Here are 18 picks for your consideration. Have a great weekend!
Happy Monday -- I hope you had a lovely weekend. We're off with Laurel and Violet for the Veteran's Day holiday today so I'll keep this brief and just say that I'm incredibly grateful to those who have served (and currently serve) to protect our country's freedom, and for the many rights we all enjoy. (Several conversations about human rights have come up with Laurel lately...it's been amazing to engage in this line of conversation with her.) And meanwhile, here are some events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- well yesterday was kind of weird, no? Was anyone else caught unprepared in the winter gear department? I know there wasn't much snow on the ground (at least in my neighborhood) but Laurel was definitely a little troubled about not having boots that fit. Anyway, we're heading into warmer temps today and over the weekend so there's still time to gear up. I hope you all have a spectacular weekend; here are 17 picks for your consideration:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I know there is so much going on in everyone's world right now (fyi, in the roundup below, there's a link for how to help out with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts), but I wanted to encourage everyone to get out and vote tomorrow. (If you don't know where your polling station is, you can look it up here.) Particularly having traveled to Ethiopia last month, I'm ever more aware of how fortunate we all are to have the things and rights we do. It's incredibly important to head to the polls Tuesday so go, go, go! And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming with this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- what a strange week it's been. In my neighborhood, we were largely unaffected by Sandy, so I've been even more tuned into the struggles that others are facing. Wherever you are on that spectrum, I hope you're recovering well. Also, I wanted to remind you all to vote next week! I'm planning on a massive baking spree to support our Election Day school bake sale and am looking forward to taking Laurel and Violet to the polls! Meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend; here are some fun events to consider:
Happy Friday everyone -- are you ready for a spooky weekend? If you're looking to get some extra mileage out of this year's costume before the 31st, I've rounded up a bunch of Halloween (and other!) events going on this weekend. (Laurel is super excited to test drive her vampire costume this afternoon at our town center trick or treat!) I'd love to see your kids' costumes this year -- feel free to upload your photos to the Boston Mamas Facebook page to share the cuteness! And have a fantastic weekend!
Happy Monday -- I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! And are you getting into the Halloween spirit? In working on this week's blueprint, I realized that this coming weekend a lot of people will be partying it up for Halloween. I suspect we won't do anything until the 31st, at which point Laurel, Violet, and I will be a trio of vampires (and Jon will be on candy man duty). Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful week lined up; here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you've had a wonderful week. Shockingly, I've found myself jet-lag free (both directions!) from the trip to Ethiopia, though I've definitely needed more sleep this week, both to catch up on the physical/emotional fatigue of traveling to the other side of the planet and probably because I'm now 39 years old. Anyway, this will be the first weekend in a month where Jon and I are both home with the girls and relatively plan-free -- yay! Here are 19 fun events to consider. Have a fantastic weekend!
Hi everyone, I'm home from Ethiopia! It was a long journey home -- around 24 hours all told -- but so worth it. I have some more thoughts to share in the coming weeks on this mission trip, but I really hope you will learn more about Ethiopia, whether you are most interested in children and maternal health, business, education, girl's empowerment, and/or nutrition. Thanks so much to everyone who shared these links with friends and family -- we will all benefit from a stronger and healthier world! Meanwhile, here are some fun event ideas to consider and posts to peruse in this week's Weekly Blueprint. Have a wonderful week!
Happy Friday everyone! Today is a bit of a weird day for me. It's my birthday, I'm in Ethiopia, I miss Jon and the kids tremendously, and I'm sitting out on this morning's ONE Moms site visit because I've been flattened by GI issues (I fear that the food offered to me by an enlightened monk yesterday was the cause). I'm convalescing quietly in my room right now, hoping I can rally for this afternoon's activities. Meanwhile, I hope you have all had a wonderful week and enjoy these 19 fun weekend picks for me!
Happy Monday -- I hope you all are enjoying the long holiday weekend! As you probably know, I'm in Ethiopia right now on a mission trip with ONE Moms -- please sign up to add your voice (it only takes a second!) and join me on the journey! We have a full itinerary planned for the week and I posted my first report yesterday. Meanwhile, here are some fun event ideas to consider and posts to peruse in this week's Weekly Blueprint. Have a wonderful week!
Happy Friday everyone! If you've been here recently, you know that I will not be here this weekend. Very early tomorrow I set off for Ethiopia as part of the ONE Moms mission trip (you can read about the what, why, and how of this trip here). I just received the final itinerary yesterday and am so eager to learn and share from the ground. Assuming that the Internet gods are smiling down on me, you can follow along here at Boston Mamas, and also on Instagram (bostonmamas) and Twitter. Meanwhile, I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this roundup of events!
Happy Monday and first day of October everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! I did a quick trip to Las Vegas to help host a More Birthdays event at the wonderful Blogalicious conference. It was a terrific event and I'm also glad to be home! This week I'm planning on spending lots of time with Jon and the girls before I depart for Ethiopia on Saturday. Meanwhile, here are some fun events and good reading to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint. Have a great week!
Happy Friday everyone and yowza, can you believe that September is almost over? School re-entry has gone so smoothly for Laurel but I've been thinking of all of you -- hoping that anyone dealing with challenging transitions is doing okay. Drop me a line if you need moral support; I've been there! Meanwhile, this is a great weekend for fun all across the fine state of Massachusetts -- fingers crossed that the weather clears up. Enjoy this rather colossal roundup and have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a beautiful weekend. What a spectacular first official weekend of fall! I was on my own with the girls, and while we missed having Jon here, we enjoyed a lovely couple of days replete with lots of down time, puttering around the house (Laurel taught Violet how to dust -- YES!), and a trip to the zoo. I'm now getting my head back into work things and hope you're gearing up for a great week. Here are some events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone -- the autumnal equinox is upon us and it really does feel like fall now, doesn't it? I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. Among other adventures and things to do, I clearly need to turn over Laurel and Violet's clothing (goodbye sundresses!) and see what we've got for cold weather clothing. I hope you have a fantastic, relaxing weekend planned; there's no shortage of stuff to do in and around town -- here are 24 picks to consider for the weekend.
Happy Monday -- I hope you enjoyed a delightful weekend! We celebrated a dear friend's wedding on Saturday (yes, another wedding!) and Laurel's birthday (belatedly) yesterday. In true Minimalist Parenting fashion I kept things super simple and it was super awesome all around. Meanwhile, here are some events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint. And for those of you celebrating Rosh Hashanah, I hope you're enjoying time to reflect and reconnect.
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you and your kids are settling in well to the new school year and that you're gearing up for a fun weekend! I'm looking forward to being home and engaging in some celebration of family and friends this weekend, following what proved to be a very powerful trip to California last weekend. Also, belated apologies that I missed posting up a Weekly Blueprint on Monday; internet access was very spotty in the redwood forests! Anyhow, enjoy this roundup of weekend picks and have a spectacular weekend!
Happy Friday -- I hope everyone is surviving back to school season! This week has been a bit of a whirlwind for us, what with school starting on Wednesday, Laurel's birthday yesterday (which proved challenging for me in some respects), and today I am headed out to engage in some personal and professional development. Meanwhile, there's a lot of great stuff going on this weekend; here are 17 picks that caught my eye. Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy September everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful long weekend! I made good on my low key intentions and Laurel and Violet were just over the moon to have so much family hang out time. We spent a lot of time in our little backyard relaxing, snacking, and tidying up our yard and prepping for and planting a new tree. Yay, for new growth! I hope you're all gearing up for a wonderful school year. Here are some fun events and interesting reading to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Wow, this summer has encompassed a lot of awesome, but has also been a lot more crazy than I wanted it to be. I'm subsequently hoping to keep things super low key this weekend and hope you enjoy some quiet time as well! Meanwhile, if you're in town this weekend and are looking for something to do with the family, here are 12 picks that caught my eye. Enjoy the long weekend and I hope school transitions have been going smoothly for everyone who has already started!
Hello everyone -- my brain is still partially in Maine but my body is back. I hope you had a great week while I was away! It was wonderful to spend quality time with family and our dear friends, and to see Laurel and Violet's joyful exploration of the ocean. Laurel just learned to swim for real this summer and it was amazing to see her gliding through the water and jumping off the dock. Violet loved squealing and running in and out of the water along with the tide. The vacation was sorely needed and it's hard to believe the summer is almost over! But before I get mopey, here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Monday -- I hope you had a great weekend! Things have simply felt too busy around here the last several weeks so this weekend we kicked back and enjoyed a lot of family time and puttering around (note to self: try to avoid 6+ week lapses between weeding efforts...). Anyway, related, I wanted to let you know that I'm taking a blogging break this week so I can focus on some much needed time with Jon and the girls. But before I do that, here's a Weekly Blueprint filled with event ideas for the week and some excellent reading. Have a wonderful week!
Happy Friday everyone! Wow, what a busy week it's been here, and I wasn't even one of my bajillion loved ones (including Jon) who went to see Bruce Springsteen at Fenway. Laurel finishes camp today (she did a four weeks on and off through the summer) and then we have two and a half weeks off before school starts. I can't believe how fast the summer has flown by! Anyway, I hope you have a lovely weekend planned; here are 18 weekend picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! I think Violet is cutting molars so Jon and I are a bit foggy and sleep deprived, but otherwise, we enjoyed a lovely visit from family, piles of yummy seafood, some very successful recipe experimentation (more on that forthcoming!), and a fun outing to a local beach/pond. Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a great week. Here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Hello lovely friends...are you ready for the weekend? There's a lot of wonderful stuff going on in and around town, especially for music lovers! I'd also be remiss if I didn't share that it's tax free weekend. If you've been considering any major purchases, this weekend's a good time to go for it (we finally upgraded our ratty old couch last go around); otherwise, I'm thinking I'll take care of Laurel's school supplies list (insert: how is it possibly almost mid-August lament). Enjoy the weekend. You deserve it!
Happy Monday everyone! I apologize for the unexpected radio silence the last several days, particularly in not getting to my weekend roundup. I was in New York for BlogHer, and while I planned on keeping up with posting from the road, internet/laptop woes coupled with the general and amazing chaos of converging with 5,000 other bloggers, preparing to walk in a runway show (!) + helping my client American Cancer Society derailed my posting plans very, very quickly. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and I'm glad to be back today! Here are some fun events to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Monday everyone! I'm getting a bit of a slow start here after disappearing for the weekend to celebrate my sister's wedding, spend some time with friends on the Cape, and then (somewhat amazingly) take Laurel to meet up with her pen pal from Texas (who she met while in St. Thomas). On the pen pal meetup, note to all of you: the Greenway fountain is irresistible for kids to play in, and bring. dry. clothes. (I ended up buying Laurel a change of clothes off the sale rack at the Gap at Quincy Market...a clothing vendor near the fountain could make a killing!) Meanwhile, I hope you have a wonderful week on tap; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Well, so, I'm super excited it is Friday. It's been an incredibly hectic week here, punctuated by the fact that my computer seems to be dying and my e-mail is totally wonky. Clearly, the universe is telling me to take the weekend off, which is in good time because my baby sister Sharon is getting married tomorrow -- so joyful! Meanwhile, here are 13 weekend picks to enjoy. And if you end up heading to Summer Arts Weekend do not drive (there's a lot of construction going on right now, which has killed many parking spots) and do visit the new Georgetown Cupcake on Newbury Street. Laurel and I stopped in yesterday -- major thumbs up for the chocolate ganache and coconut cupcakes!
Happy Monday everyone -- can you believe that this is the last full week of July? Has the summer been flying by for you too? Between camp and the cruise, the last three weeks have zipped by and as awesome as all of this month's adventures have been, Laurel is supremely excited that she is completely off the next two weeks (save some fun long weekend plans). I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful week; there's tons to do in and around town. I've rounded up a slew of ideas in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Greetings, friends -- isn't it utterly perfect outside? Yesterday I tweeted about the power of short runs (I'm all about something is better than nothing when it comes to self-care). All I seem to have time for these days are 12-15 minute runs 3-4 times a week (usually running Violet to or from day care) and even those short little runs feel fantastic. Today is the perfect day to get out there for a walk or run! And after you enjoy a little fresh air, you can start planning your weekend. Here are 13 picks that caught my eye:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a relaxed weekend with lots of family time, and then (thanks to my awesome sister and sister-in-law!) Jon and I were able to head out on our own to celebrate the wedding of my dear blogger friend Jane. I met Jane (and her sister Audrey and mother Sharon) not long after starting Boston Mamas six years ago and the whole family is utterly delightful. It was such a beautiful event and I was so honored to bear witness to it! Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a great week -- there's lots to do around town. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Well, hello there! I'm still dusting the cobwebs off my brain (and phone) after pretty much being unplugged for five days while I was on a Carnival cruise with the family (AT&T's exorbitant international data rates + very slow internet service at sea helped inspire my unplugged state...a good thing!). I have more thoughts forthcoming on the media trip, but I just wanted to quickly say that it was lovely to get away -- particularly following all of the intense work it took to finish Minimalist Parenting -- and I also missed you all and it's great to be back. I hope you had a wonderful week and enjoy this roundup of picks for the weekend!
Happy Friday everyone, and man, what a week! The mid-week holiday left me a bit confused about what day it was, in addition to getting into the rhythm of Laurel's day camp + working amidst a landslide of deadlines. But the awesome news is this: Minimalist Parenting will head to our editor/publisher today (yay!) and I'm going to take a bit of a blog break to recover. Well, technically I'll be working via a travel writing opportunity, but I hope it will feel very vacation-y! I'll probably be tweeting and posting on Instagram (christine_koh) if you want to follow along. Meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend, I'll see you here later next week, and enjoy these picks for the weekend.
This past weekend, I arranged to have three of my lovely Boston Mamas contributors attend the Six Flags media weekend with their families. I didn't really expect to hear from them following the event given that: a) I told them there was no obligation to write about it; and b) I figured it was highly possible that some or all might cancel out given the heat. Instead, I received gushing follow up emails across the board. Everyone (parents + kids ranging from 5 years old to teenagers) had a fantastic time and Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) was so enthusiastic she immediately penned a review. Read on for Lindsey's thoughts as well as to learn how to win a four-pack of tickets to Six Flags (sweet!):
Happy Monday -- I hope you all had a great weekend! I have a bit of a hectic week on tap, but right now my heart is simply bursting with joy for Laurel. After the camp disasters of 2010 -- through which many of you were so supportive when I wrote about transitions and behavioral issues -- I'm so happy to share that Laurel's first camp drop off since that time went swimmingly. She was happy, excited, and immediately found a girl to befriend in her group. If your kids are doing camps, I hope the transitions are going well, and if you are struggling, please feel feel free to e-mail me if you need a little solidarity! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this fun array of events in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday, and who else is a little blown away by the fact that it's almost July? I'm pretty sure I write this with each passing month, but it's really true. Time seems to be flying in all respects. Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned! We have a family celebration (another Koh wedding!) and time with friends on the books, plus I need to spend time in the cave working on the final edits before Asha and I submit Minimalist Parenting to our publisher. Insanely exciting! Meanwhile, here are 16 weekend picks for your consideration -- enjoy!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed a wonderful first official weekend of summer! We took a quick trip to celebrate my father-in-law's retirement from ministry. It was major from a quantitative perspective (a 41 year career including 2,000 or so sermons!) and it was also quite moving to be present for his final sermon and to witness the love of the community. What a gift, and I hope all of us experience such connection and meaning in our lives. We're now back and sorting out our summer routine for the week (every week is apparently going to be different around here); here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're all staying cool and figuring out your summer rhythm. I stumbled around a lot on this front yesterday with Laurel but today is already panning out way better thanks to sprinkler play (right now!), playdates with friends, and a big stack of Nancy Drew books from the library. Have a wonderful first weekend of summer, don't forget the sunscreen, and I hope you enjoy this round up of 16 picks for the weekend:
Today, Hillary of Mass Audubon shares firefly scouting tips and resources:
"As the sun set, a little firefly was born. It stretched its wings and flew off into the darkening sky. It was a lonely firefly, and flashed its light searching for other fireflies." I have to admit something. Reading Eric Carle's The Very Lonely Firefly for the last few years has been the extent of my family's firefly interactions. But this year, things are going to be different. We're going to do what families have done for centuries: enjoy these little, fascinating bugs as they light up the summer night sky. At least, that's our hope.
Last week of school (if you're not out already)! Summer solstice! (And for me, Vi's 15-month checkup -- how is she already 15 months old?) I can barely wrap my head around this week. I hope you had a wonderful weekend (we celebrated Jon's birthday, Father's Day, plus Laurel had a bajillion or so social engagements...) and are having a wonderful time transitioning into summer; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! I've got a sick Vivy home with me today, so I'll get right to it -- enjoy these weekend picks (and don't say I didn't hook you up in the strawberry department)!
1. Feast of the East. (Arlington)
2. Strawberries! (Attleboro)
3. Enjoy arts and more. (Beverly)
4. The butterflies are back! (Boston)
Happy Monday friends -- I hope you had a delightful weekend! I spent the weekend with one goal in mind: to relax and restore since I've been fighting a cold while burning the midnight oil to finish the first draft of Minimalist Parenting (which Asha and I did on Friday -- yay!). Though I had to bail on one commitment, it was a lovely weekend, and now the reality that school finishes next week is starting to sink in (how it possible that Laurel will be entering third grade in the fall?). Anyway, while I dwell in my nostalgia, I hope you're gearing up for a great week! Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend -- here are 22 fun options spanning food, music, bugs, fitness, philanthropy, and much more:
1. Your dog will love this. (Andover)
2. Celebrate diversity. (Boston)
3. Here come the food trucks! (Boston)
Happy rainy Monday -- I hope you all had a great weekend! Among other things, this weekend Jon and I celebrated our 12th anniversary -- both via an evening out (huge thanks to my sister and her partner for babysitting!) and thanks to the insanely yummy chocolate cake Laurel made us (we ate it for breakfast yesterday morning). So sweet! Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a lovely week and that the kids are hanging in there as the school year winds down to a close. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday and happy June! Let's all do a sun dance so the weekend forecast turns favorable since there are lots of fun outdoor events scheduled. Here are 25 indoor/outdoor options to consider (alphabetically by town):
1. Everyone say opa! (Arlington)
2. A 20th anniversary celebration. (Arlington)
3. Because the ocean deserves to be celebrated. (Boston)
Hello everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful long weekend! I ended up unplugging for most of it (save working on Minimalist Parenting during naps and such...we're one month out from deadline!) and we enjoyed a couple of impromptu get togethers with friends. So wonderful! I'm now diving into work mode and hope you're gearing up for a lovely short week -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's (day late) Weekly Blueprint:
Happy almost Memorial Day weekend! Is anyone else having a little trouble wrapping their brains around the reality that June is next week? For us, it will be a fun and momentous month for many reasons, including Laurel finishing second grade, Jon's birthday, Jon and my 12th (!) wedding anniversary, the official manuscript hand in for Minimalist Parenting, plus two other big announcements that I hope to make in the next week or so. So much goodness! Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing weekend planned -- if you're going to be around town, here are 12 fun picks to consider:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed lots of time outside during the glorious weekend (a stark contrast to today...)! I'm in Washington, DC right now for a short client-related trip and will head home later today, and I'm feeling quite nostalgic being here. I first spent time in the DC area back during college when I served as a White House intern, and then lived just outside the District when Jon was in graduate school. I wish I was here for longer to walk around and soak everything in but I'm thinking it would be fun to visit as a family sometime soon. Meanwhile, I hope you're all getting ready for a great week. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! I hope your week has been excellent. Things were a little trying on this end the last few days, given that our house got hit with the dreaded stomach bug (thankfully I was spared, though I still had to take care of the afflicted). However, everyone is back to work and school though, and I have already gone for a run, 3-touched my e-mail, and am enjoying a delicious latte while I publish this post. Yay! Meanwhile, the weekend forecast is looking lovely -- perfect for the range of outdoor events listed below, and there are some great indoor picks as well. Have a fantastic weekend my friends!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a lovely weekend! As I mentioned last week, my brother-in-law is in town from California. His visits are always so fun and also inspire me to make lots of yummy food -- the weekend was replete with Korean barbeque and from-scratch sticky buns (I think I probably should post this recipe for you all...oh my goodness). Added bonus: I managed to get out and pick up new running shoes yesterday, which I'm quite excited about! Anyway, I hope you have a fantastic week ahead of you -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend planned. We don't tend to do anything major for Mother's Day but I do hope to get out and replace my tired old running shoes with some new kicks and would love to shoot some family photos. Also, my wonderful brother-in-law is in town from California, which always feels celebratory! Anyway, whether or not you choose to celebrate Mother's Day formally, I hope you have a great weekend; here are 15 picks for your consideration:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend and are gearing up for a fantastic week! The major (and somewhat terrifying) excitement at home is that Violet has discovered how fun it is to scamper up the stairs. And among my professional commitments this week, I'm super excited about Pivot tomorrow. It's going to be an amazing event, during which my incredible colleague Whitney Johnson will help attendees hone in on their dreams and figure out how to execute them. We're currently sold out (!) but I recommend hopping on the waitlist if you want to attend since we'll probably get some last minute cancellations. I hope to see you there! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Given the persistent server migration issues nagging the site last week, I was a little bummed to later learn that many people weren't able to access the colossal weekend roundup I assembled last Friday. Water under the bridge, though! This weekend there's plenty to enjoy in and around town, spanning arts, culture, fitness, food, craft, critters, performances, celebrations, and nature inspired activities. Browse the options, minimize the weekend household minutia, and have a fantastic weekend everyone!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I also hope you are able to see this post, or, if you can't see it, that you will be able to see it soon. Last week I finished the server migration process and things have since remained a bit wonky for some folks (e.g., not being able to see the most recent posts, permalinks not working). However, thanks to the fantastic customer service of my site host, I think we have the last kinks ironed out -- thanks so much for your patience and to those who wrote in letting me know of tech trouble! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
So, uh, wow. This is not the weekend to say there's nothing to do in and around town! I triaged my e-mail this week (this e-mail system saves my sanity) and there were so many events that caught my eye, spanning things to do with your kids (e.g., learn about apes, enjoy a new children's cultural festival), for your kids (e.g., hit up the used clothing circuit, work on building family relationships), or without the kids if you can secure a babysitter this weekend (e.g., wine, jazz, Fela!). I hope you enjoy this colossal roundup of 27 picks. Have a glorious weekend my friends.
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a relaxing weekend and April vacation (if your kids were off last week)! We had a lovely week but I'm also happily ready to get back into the swing of things with work this week. I'm even happy about all of this rain since it will help along the flower bulbs Laurel and I planted during the break. Anyway, there's lots of great stuff going on around town this week. Here's a roundup of fun events + some handy/interesting/pay it forward ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Greetings all -- I hope you've had a wonderful week, whether on April vacation or not. Our vacation week has been replete with baby games, crafts and projects with Laurel, puttering around the house (bonus = Laurel likes weeding!), and book writing (yesterday Asha and I submitted the introduction + first three chapters to our publisher for review...so amazing!). So, so nice. We'll gradually ease back into the real world this weekend, and I hope you enjoy these 17 picks that caught my eye -- so much great stuff to experience + good ways to give back to the community too.
Happy April vacation week! I'm going to go light on posting this week so I can enjoy time with Jon and the girls and also spend some more time working on the book. Meanwhile, I wanted to share this week's Weekly Blueprint a bit early in case you're looking to map out some fun things to do during the vacation week. Enjoy the these 15 picks that caught my eye (a mix of one-off events and formal vacation week programming) + some great reading to enjoy with a cup of tea.
Happy Friday -- I can't believe April vacation is almost upon us! in addition to carving out some time to write Minimalist Parenting (which is basically all I want to do these days...the process has been so amazing!), I'm looking forward to happy simple pleasures such as planting bulbs with Laurel and making Violet laugh so I can spy on her teeth (she's finally sprouting some!). Also, after all of the web chatter following my Life Alive post, I'm also hoping to visit that café! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these 10 picks for the weekend. I'll cover April vacation fun in a separate post.
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Laurel and I had an amazing Friday off (I hope to post pictures from our adventures soon at Pop Discourse...Laurel created some beautiful paper egg collages and piped cakes!) and otherwise we enjoyed a low key weekend, mojo marred only slightly by the pesky taxes that need to get done. Anyway, I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful week -- can you believe we're almost to April vacation? I hope to do an April vacation event roundup if you want to submit awesome ideas. Meanwhile, here are some fun events and interesting reading to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead -- if you observe Easter and/or Passover, I hope your reflections and celebrations are wonderful. I am off with Laurel today and she loves all things holiday projects so we have a fun lineup of activities (she's actually prepping the paper for #4 right now). Meanwhile, here is a roundup of 15 weekend picks and projects to consider. Enjoy!
Greetings friends, and happy first week of April! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and that any trickery was gentle (unless you love extreme trickery, of course!). We enjoyed a lovely balance of social engagements + puttering around the house, and spring really feels like it's here now that soccer starts up for Laurel this week. (Which is kind of making me want to play soccer...) Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week on tap. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday everyone! If you delight in tricks, I hope you enjoy having the leisure of the weekend to prepare for April Fool's Day (I will be casting a water-cup-wary eye upwards every time I open a door...). Otherwise, I hope you have a wonderful time kicking back and enjoying the weekend. Among other plans, the tulips that are already flowering in front of my house are reminding me that our little yard is in dire need of sprucing, and I'm getting very excited to try the recently opened Painted Burro with Jon and friends. Meanwhile, here are 12 weekend picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!
Happy Monday and hooray for this glorious spring weather! Yesterday was just such a beautiful day to celebrate Violet's first birthday (I'll be sharing some thoughts on simple yet festive birthdays this week), and it was fun to see Laurel and her cousin Alyssa + some of my sisters hula hooping outside. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy Friday -- I hope you've all been having a wonderful week! My mind has been happily busy with many things. On the work front, I'm thrilled to share the newly public (as of yesterday!) logo for Minimalist Parenting. Asha and I are beyond excited that our publisher was open to my designing it and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. Do you like it? And on the home front, we'll be celebrating Violet's first birthday this weekend. We're keeping it simple but festive, and I truly cannot believe this is where I was at this time last year. Anyhow, pardon the nostalgia! I hope you have a fantastic weekend; here are12 picks for your consideration:
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you have some relaxing and restorative plans on tap! Among other things, I will be recovering from the bizarre-ness that was falling down a flight of stairs yesterday. I'm still not sure how it happened (I wasn't rushing or anything) and I can't believe I actually broke the first stair of impact, but better that than my tailbone. Anyway, hooray for Friday and here are 9 weekend picks for your consideration! Also, if you haven't been on the site this week, definitely do some back reading. So much great content going on: I'm actually plotting mirror decor and camera phone lenses acquisition as I type this!
Happy Monday -- I hope you had a lovely weekend and are gearing up for an excellent week. Of note in my sphere is that I will be introducing the new Boston Mamas contributors very soon, diving into book writing mode (Asha and I just started a Minimalist Parenting Facebook page if you'd like to join in there; plus we'll be developing a book site soon), building a couple of websites, and last but definitely not least is that Violet is turning one soon. It's so cliche but I truly don't know where the time has gone! So, all of this is to say that my mind is percolating with all sorts of very happy things right now. But anyway, back to you! Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy almost first weekend of March! It's been a crazy week here, as it always seems to be following school vacation and travel (my inbox was a particularly scary place on Monday since my phone was cranky and I couldn't triage messages from the road), and I'm really looking forward to the weekend, despite the fact that one thing I need to do involves prepping for taxes! I hope you have a great weekend; here are 11 fun weekend picks for your consideration -- enjoy!
Today, Jennifer (also of Hey Girl Momma Go) shares 12 ideas for winter birthday parties (that go beyond the bouncy castle):
I actually don't mind indoor jumpy houses and long inflatable slides. I have even grown to appreciate the "fun" in large singing mice, cheesy pan pizza, and gobs of tickets that propel out of game machines like a crazy paper adrenaline rush. But as a parent who frequents the kid's birthday party circuit, it is refreshing to switch it up. Here are 12 ideas for kid's birthday parties that are great for the winter season (many are great the rest of the year too!).
Hello, hello! For those who were off last week I hope you had a great February vacation! I enjoyed a lot of relaxed and happy time with the girls on the front end of the week and then had an amazing time at BlissDom. It was fun to share around More Birthdays (client work), speak about doing less as a life strategy (the response was overwhelming...I can't wait to write more about this topic), and celebrate Asha and my new book deal. Meanwhile, it's a new week and l am looking forward to tackling it! Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Oh my word, is February vacation upon us already? Laurel is beyond excited to take it down a notch and spend the next nine days in her jammies. I kind of wish I could too! Also, I'm really hoping that this vacation period brings with it the release of our family from the plague -- after eight very long days, Violet finally perked up last night and started giggling and causing trouble again (I never thought I'd be so happy to see her make giant messes everywhere!). Anyway, today I wanted to round up a few picks for the weekend + several for next week so you can plan accordingly if you are, like us, enjoying a February staycation. Enjoy!
Wow, what a weekend. Poor Vi has been suffering since Wednesday and we're still not out of the woods. It's been a challenging several days, but also included a major revelation. I'm wishing all of you and your little ones excellent health! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
February 13: Pack Valentine's for school. If Valentine's prep has fallen off your radar, don't fret! Check out these free, fast, and adorable robot printables. And if you're volunteering in your kid's class for Valentine's, arm yourself with a few of these cute classroom party ideas.
Friends, how are you all doing? Staying healthy? Perhaps it's simply a function of having one more family member in the mix, but it feels as if this has been the season of plague, with one, more, or all of us sick at some point or another. I'm actually a little relieved that our plans to have company this weekend have fallen through so we can take it easy and get everyone healthy. I hope you all have a wonderful, plague-free weekend; here are 15 picks for your consideration!
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend (despite the, er, sporting events of yesterday) and are gearing up for an excellent week. I'm going to kick things off by getting back on the self care wagon via a 10 minute run after I hit publish on this post! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy first weekend of February! Here's a roundup of 10 picks that caught my eye. I suspect we'll also engage in some of these Valentine's Day crafts and treats (#7 has my name all over it!). And if you're looking for more Valentine's Day inspiration, check out Asha's archives).
1. What will no doubt be an artful celebration of the Lunar New Year. (Salem)
2. A celebration of diverse talents and minds. (Boston)
I have many friends who are passionate about Vermont and/or skiing, and after recently reading Left Neglected, I found myself contemplating both. It may not feel like winter here in Boston, but there is snow elsewhere. And one of those places is Killington Resort, where you can enjoy pristine trails, a range of winter activities, and even dinner in a yurt (awesome, right?). The kind folks at Killington extended a press visit to me, but I thought it would be fun to instead share some lift tickets with the experienced skiers out there (go rock that bunny slope for me!). I'm giving away a family 4-pack of one-day lift tickets (valued at ~$350!) to one of you awesome readers. This would be super fun for the upcoming February break, no? Here's how to enter to win:
Greetings, friends! I hope you had a great weekend -- we enjoyed a lovely one here, filled with nostalgic moments (I was honored to deliver a keynote and do some filming at my undergraduate alma mater. Also, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that the current students were born in the 90's...), friends, family visits, great food, and some very, very gooey brownies. I'm excited to tackle the week and hope you are as well; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
What a crazy week it's been -- I have some exciting news to share very, very soon! Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a fun weekend and hope you are too. Here are 12 picks for your consideration:
1. This chocolate festival has my name all over it. (Cambridge)
2. What can I say -- I love a Chinese New Year parade. (Boston)
3. This artful snowshoe tour would probably still be beautiful, sans snow. (Lincoln)
I hope you all enjoyed this lovely weekend! In my opinion it was the perfect amount of snow -- plenty to be pretty and fun to play in (Laurel frolicked outside for two hours with her cousins yesterday!) but not too arduous to shovel. Oh, and also, congrats to the Patriots! Now, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
January 23: Come glean the best ideas for getting organized.
January 23-29: Bread and Puppet Theater brings a carrot circus to Boston.
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. Here are 12 picks that caught my eye:
1. Hail to The Monkey King! (Cambridge)
2. Hooray -- there's actually snow on the ground for this family snowshoe walk. (Mattapan)
Happy Friday! I hope you're looking forward to a lovely long weekend. Here are 12 picks that caught my eye. And stay tuned -- this weekend I'll post some ideas for fun, creative, and educational ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at home.
1. Dance, arts, crafts, and critters to celebrate Chinese New Year. (Dorchester)
2. A family friendly show at Club Passim. (Cambridge)
I hope you all enjoyed the gorgeous weather this weekend. It's hard to imagine that this time last year we were buried under piles of snow! I hope you have a fantastic week lined up -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Starting January 10 (multiple sessions): Consider signing up for this program about giant ocean critters. Yay for giant ocean critters!
January 11: Learn how to make a windowsill garden.
January 12: Enjoy fire and ice in New Bedford.
I hope you've all had a fantastic first week of the New Year! It's been a tad crazy here, attempting to get caught up on things, but I feel grateful for all of the good stuff going on -- not the least of which is the incredible outpouring of applications in response to my call for writers. Please be patient while I sift through the responses over the coming weeks and thank you so much for your interest and kind words. Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a fun and relaxing weekend -- below are 9 picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!
Hello folks! I'm currently digging out after a few days away on a press trip (more to come on that front in the next week or two) and hope you had a spectacular weekend! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Now through January 1: Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville.
December 20: Hanukkah party at Inside Playground.
Hello everyone! I'm soon to depart for a press trip to explore a (potentially) family friendly travel destination (hopefully I'll have excellent things to share with you in the next week or so!) so I wanted to leave you with this roundup of 13 fun weekend picks to consider:
1. Urban Nutcracker at the Wheelock Family Theatre. (Boston)
2. The opening of the Charles Hotel skating rink. (Cambridge)
Hello everyone! I hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead of you. I'm excited to get the house in holiday mode (Laurel reminded me today I need to make Violet a stocking...) and, most notably, to celebrate my sister Jenn's wedding tomorrow. Yay for love! Meanwhile, here are 11 fun weekend picks for your consideration:
1. Hooray for the SoWa holiday market! (Boston)
2. The Boston Gay Men's Chorus kicks of the first performance of their holiday concert. (Boston)
Happy Monday everyone! Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
December 6: Bring a new, unwrapped toy (to be donated to the Home for Little Wanderers) to Frog Pond between 3-4pm and receive a free ticket voucher to Disney On Ice's Treasure Trove at TD Garden, December 26-29. *UPDATE: This event has been relocated to DCR Steriti Memorial Rink, 561 Commercial Street, Boston.
I hope you all have a fantastic first weekend of December! Here are 12 fun weekend picks to consider:
1. Oh the craftasticness that awaits at the Bazaar Bizarre! (Boston)
2. Warm up those lungs...help break the world record for the most carolers in one place. (Boston)
3. If you're looking for fine art this holiday season, head to the Gorse Mill Studios Holiday Open Studios. (Needham)
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday long weekend! As I mentioned last week, we're in the midst of a lot of transition in my house right now so I decided to take time off and focus on the family. It was really lovely and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things this week! I hope your re-entry back into the real world is smooth; meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this week. I'm both looking forward to the connection and reflection that happens around this time of year, and admittedly am also a little overwhelmed by the details of life right this second, given that there's a lot of transition going on in our household (plus, poor Violet is suffering from a bizarre full body rash right now). Anyway, I hope you all enjoy lots of relaxing time this week; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Ah, weekend, I'm so excited for you! Here are 10 fun picks for your consideration:
1. Grown up event alert: dust off your dancing shoes for this dance off. (Boston)
2. Explore how people used to measure the world pre-technology. (Cambridge)
3. Yay for more than 135 crafty exhibitors to peruse. (Wellesley)
Hello everyone -- apologies for the radio silence! I considered posting from the road but decided to be present and immerse myself in Camp Mighty. It was a wonderful trip, not only for personal/professional reflection and connection, but also to witness and be a part of awesome change. Thanks to the fundraising efforts by Camp Mighty attendees, plus a donation from the Ace Hotel (amazing, btw, if you find yourself in Palm Springs), we raised $25,000 for charity: water, which translates to clean water for 1,250 people. AMAZING. I'm now in recovery mode with work and home matters, but meanwhile, here are some fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Greetings all! I hope you're all adjusting to the time change. Did anyone else's kids fight bedtime yesterday, despite the "You know, it's actually an hour later than now" argument? And did anyone else not get their extra hour of sleep (my kids still woke up super early)? Anyway, how about a fresh start? Here are some fun ideas for your consideration in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
Happy first weekend of November! I hope you've all been rocking this new month. Here are some fun picks for the weekend:
1. Day of the Dead, family style -- including sugar skulls! (Cambridge)
2. A morning chat about color and design? Yes, please. (Bedford)
3. I love that proceeds from this gingerbread house competition will benefit homeless families. (Boston)
Per my previous post, welcome to this new series, in which I'll share everything from events to bargain alerts to other ideas and tips that spring to mind as useful and/or fun for the week. After considerable mulling, I decided to call the series Weekly Blueprint, because I think the name conveys a creative presentation of ideas and plans that are, ultimately, posed for your consideration (vs. including the term "to do," which suggests that I think you must do whatever it is I'm suggesting!). Enjoy, and please do drop me a line if you have suggestions for a future Weekly Blueprint!
How is everyone doing getting ready for Halloween? Are you getting dressed up alongside your kids? Laurel is going to be a witch and Violet her black cat companion (Laurel has several years of coordinating costumes planned). I hope you have a fantastic weekend and enjoy this roundup of 16 Halloween inspired weekend picks:
1. The last SoWa of the season will be zombietastic.
2. Critters will abound at Zoo Howl.
Hello friends! I hope you're having a super week. I'm going off the grid for a few days so I thought I'd leave you with this weekend roundup a bit early. Enjoy! Also, a couple of fun media things. I've been meaning to share that a cute little picture of me, Laurel, and Violet is included in the October issue of Parents Magazine, along with a quote in an article on 10 healthy cities for families (Boston ranked #2!). And yesterday I was honored to learn that I was named to the Top 50 Twitter Moms of 2011 list at Babble (and #1 for most likeable...how sweet is that?). Thanks Babble, and definitely check out the rest of the women on the list -- I know many of them and they are truly awesome!
I hope you enjoyed the gorgeous weekend! Ours was full of fun stuff like soccer, play dates, baking (to celebrate our oven finally being fixed we made pumpkin bread and spinach pie...yum), and a stellar dinner at Oleana to celebrate my birthday. So. lovely. Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a fantastic week; here some fun event ideas, spanning Halloween festivities, theatrical spectacle, nature exploration, relaxation for the whole family, water sport, and a pick for parents of girls. Enjoy!
Image credit: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Today, Stacey Sao of Boston Central kindly tags in with a guest post sharing some of her favorite spots for fall fun (thankfully, the forecast looks good for the weekend so you can take advantage!):
Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year in New England; I love taking in the sights of fall foliage against a brilliant October sky, the smells of hot cider, and the crispness of the air. It's the perfect opportunity to create some time-honored autumn traditions with your family so I wanted to share some of my favorite spots to savor the season.
We're hosting friends today so I'm just popping in quickly to share some fun event ideas for this week, spanning Hispanic culture, green living, babywearing, fossils, a shopping extravaganza, opera for kids, and a lovely event for bookworms young and old. Have a great Monday and to my friends northward, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
Image credit: JFK Library & Museum
Today, Stacey Sao of Boston Central kindly shares a guest post including a fantastic roundup of activities for the holiday weekend:
Happy October! This massive event roundup should help everyone get into the autumn groove. There is much to cover so I'll just get to it! On the fall festival scene, there'll be lots to see and do at the Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration in Wareham. If pumpkins are more your thing, you can pick out this year's pumpkin at Pumpkin Day at Bourne Farm in Falmouth. In Providence, families are invited to see thousands of nifty jack-o-lanterns at the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Zoo. It's also the final week to visit the Topsfield Fair.
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! After knocking off a huge deadline on Friday (that was hanging over me all of September), it was so wonderful to decompress and enjoy the weekend with Laurel and Violet. Even though I miss Jon when he's away, I find it really fun to fly solo with the girls -- we had the best time! Anyhow, I wish you all a lovely week, and if you're looking for stuff to do, here are some fun event ideas for this week, spanning haunted happenings, salamanders, autism education, reading initiatives, stargazing, trains, and eco-living. Enjoy!
Image credit: How Stuff Works
Hooray for October starting tomorrow! Kick off the new month with any or all of these 11 event picks that caught my eye:
1. A cool event for small and large cyclists.
2. Of course you want to see a revolutionary street spectacle of never-before-seen proportions.
3. Just say yes to healthy local food for all.
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! After waking up feeling sick after a strange night of sleep, I'm hoping to turn the Monday blahs around ASAP and wish you all a fantastic week. If you're looking for stuff to do, here are some fun event ideas for this week, spanning hands-on science experiences, exploration of things that go, the state of birthing (this one's for the grownups), puppetry, outdoor fun, and music. So much fun to be had!
Image credit: Puppet Showplace Theatre
I hope you're all having a fantastic week and are gearing up for a fun weekend. If you're looking to head out for an adventure or two, here are 11 fun weekend picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!
1. Over 60 cultural attractions offering free admission this weekend? Sweet!
2. A must-attend for jazz lovers.
3. Party on in Allston.
I love when creativity meshes with doing good, and this weekend the Life is good Festival will feature an impressive lineup of musical talent in Canton as a fundraiser to help kids in need. In addition to a steady stream of musical performances (which includes a dedicated kids stage), families can enjoy games, activities, crafts, and food. Meanwhile, how cool is this? The kind folks at Life is good are offering one of you awesome readers a Life is good Festival package*! Here's how to enter to win:
I hope you're all enjoying the fall weather and finding your rhythm with back to school routines and such. Among other things, this weekend was notable in that Violet had her first nibble of solid food -- it was both lovely that Laurel fed Violet her first non-mama snack and I also couldn't help but feel a little weepy about it all! Anyway, I'm wishing you all a wonderful Monday; here are some fun event ideas for this week, engaging for those who love music, textiles, star gazing, nature, food, museums, and local celebrations.
Image credit: vitasamb2001 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I know I shouldn't be so typically New England and obsess about weather, but 60s for this weekend -- welcome, fall! It'll be the perfect weather to enjoy any (or all, if you're feeling crazy ambitious) of these 17 fun weekend picks:
1. Rock it, South Boston.
2. It's been a looooong time since I've seen a movie in a theatre. This film festival could rectify that situation.
I know I'm not the only one who is super excited about a respite from the rain. The forecast looks beautiful -- perfect for enjoying any or all of these 15 (!) weekend picks that caught my eye:
1. Art buffet = awesome.
2. I hope they have weaving demos again at the Boston Arts Festival -- it was Laurel's favorite activity last year.
3. How can you not love a grand costume parade?
I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! We've been busy with family travel and social engagements over the past several weeks, hence my spottiness here the last few weekends, but I'm hoping to get back on track now that the school year is upon us. I'm wishing all of you with school aged kiddos a super smooth transition back to school! Meanwhile, enjoy my top event picks this week, which include fun ideas for those who adore acrobatic spectacle, origami, fashion, craft, and cultural celebrations.
Image credit: Boston Arts Festival
I truly still cannot wrap my head around the fact that it's September and Labor Day weekend is upon us. Yesterday I posted some happy summer images over at my personal blog and will continue to gaze at them through the fall (and, gulp, winter). Meanwhile, here are 7 fun picks for you -- have a fantastic holiday weekend!
1. Laurel has become obsessed with glass treasures. I think she'd love this family-friendly glassblowing event.
2. Labor Day festivities commence tomorrow in Newburyport.
I hope you all made it through the hurricane with minimal negative impact. We were sad to leave our vacation earlier than planned, but were grateful to have a few days away in the first place, make it home safely, and come out the other side of the storm perfectly fine. Meanwhile, this week is supposed to be perfection weather-wise. Enjoy my top event picks this week, which include some great end-of-summer deals (bowling, carousel rides, zoo visits, yoga, kite making!) and live entertainment picks. And here's a bonus back-to-school safety event for incoming kindergarten and first grade students.
Image credit: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Raise your hand if you also can't believe we're two weeks out from Labor Day weekend. (My disbelief stems from both the freakishly fast evaporation of summer and the fact that Laurel is soon to turn seven years old...sniff!) And then go on and relish what we've got left of summer by enjoying my top event picks this week, which include entertaining ways to celebrate dance (both shaking it and watching others do so), the great outdoors, music, and other family fun. Enjoy!
Image credit: Salsa in the Park
Hello everyone! I'm going off the grid for a few days so I leave you with an early weekend roundup (also see this column for a couple of picks for tomorrow and Friday).
1. The humble frog deserves props. Celebrate and learn about frogs at Frog Appreciation Day (which I keep calling Frogapalooza in my head) at Frog Pond.
2. Get your green on tomorrow through Saturday at Boston GreenFest at City Hall Plaza.
Rain, rain, go away -- there's too much good stuff to enjoy outdoors this week (though I am grateful that the rain is watering the plants...)! Check out my top event picks this week via my FamilyFinds column, which includes fun ideas for those who love food, cultural celebrations, puppets, frogs, and more. Given the weather, the good news is that picks #1 and #2 (the first of which I'm enjoying this evening with girlfriends...yay!) are indoors.
Image credit: Puppets on the Common
Assuming you're going to do something other than stimulate the economy via the impending tax-free weekend (thank you all, for your couch shopping suggestions via Facebook!), here are 7 fun weekend picks to consider:
1. I recently taught Laurel to knit. I have a feeling she would love the Fiber Revival at Spencer Peirce Little Farm.
2. Textile enthusiasts will also dig the Lowell Quilt Festival, which runs today through Saturday. (And on Saturday the Merrimack Valley Jazz Festival will include family friendly entertainment.)
Given that we're still happily clinging to summer in our house (task I have not missed the least bit = packing school lunches), it's been amazing to already see friends updating about their kids heading back to school. And whether or not you're off this week with your kids, hopefully you can enjoy some of this week's picks via my FamilyFinds column. Also, below is one bonus event: a practical outing for expecting parents.
Doesn't it feel fantastic to get to Friday? Here are 5 fun picks to consider this weekend:
1. I'm all about supporting local, so hooray for the New England farmers, specialty food producers, and artisans who will be showing at the Massachusetts Marketplace Festival at the Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley.
2. Get your groove on at the Boston Urban Music Fest.
Here's another strange example of how the universe works: I've been thinking for some time that it would be helpful to share weekday event roundups. And then some folks who completed the Boston Mamas 5th Birthday Survey asked for weekday event recommendations (I still need to fully look at the survey responses, so feel free to chime in!). And then FamilyFinds asked me to write a weekly column doing just this! So starting this week, I'll share 7 picks to enjoy through the week over at FamilyFinds and also share the posts here (+ any other interesting picks that come across my radar), which will serve as a nice bridge to my weekend roundups. Here are this week's picks, plus a bonus one below. Enjoy!
This week has been crazy so I'm behind on sifting through my calendar pitches. However, I wanted to share two events that have been on my radar for some time now. Indie artist collective Boston Handmade (how awesome is this Zen monkey?) will host a marketplace in Union Square tomorrow, and the Lowell Folk Festival runs today through the weekend. We've taken Laurel in years past and it's a terrific event. Happy weekend!
Today, Sheri continues our Curbing the Summer Slump series with fun ideas to engage your kids in social studies:
Boston is an amazing place full of historical experiences to explore. The first colonists began to rebel again England, and the American Revolution started right in our backyard. Even if you aren't ready for the full history end of it, social studies boil down to the study of the communities in which we live. This summer you can experience so much historically and socially with your kids while enjoying the outdoors. Here are my top picks for learning experiences to engage and expand your child's mind this summer -- both in and out of the city, as well as in your own neighborhood.
Continue reading "Curbing the Summer Slump: Social Studies" »
Oh. my. swelter. Stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, and enjoy these weekend picks:
1. Every year the March for Babies reminds me that I want to spend more time hanging out down on the Esplanade. This weekend you can do just that via Sunday Fun in the Park.
2. The Hyde Park ARTSCENE reminds me of the block parties of my youth.
Following a query on animal education birthday parties, reader Melinda wrote in to share feedback on Lil' Folk Farm in Holliston. Thanks, Melinda!
"Lil' Folk Farm was AMAZING. We arrived to real horseshoes that the kids painted. Once everyone was there, we went downstairs to their barn and the kids ran around with bunnies, goats, chickens and sheep. They were very tame and allowed the kids to pet, feed and brush them. The kids went wild. Then we went outside for pony rides, and finally we had cake and a pinata, all in two hours. It was great and the kids loved it."
The forecast for the weekend looks sunny and hot -- perfect, in my opinion, for lapping up soft serve ice cream while enjoying any one of these 8 fun weekend picks:
1. I've commented before that there's always something cool happening in Somerville. This evening and tomorrow it's the ArtBeat arts festival.
2. I love this free programming that inspires families to get fit (and enjoy a boat ride) together.
If you're finding it challenging to get away and/or invest in events this summer, here's a fun way to celebrate staying put at zero cost (except, perhaps, for T fare). Kicking off tomorrow and running through September 1, Summer in the City features a fun roster of weekday family-friendly events covering music, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, and more. All events are free and open to the public and are based in Cambridge.
Image credit: Summer in the City
I can hardly believe that school just let out for Laurel last week. It (happily) feels like we've been in summer mode for a while already! I hope you're all having a fantastic summer -- enjoy these 6 fun weekend picks:
1. You really don't need to twist my arm when it comes to sampling locally produced ice cream.
2. Hooray for the Greenway Open Market -- this new open-air crafts and art market opens tomorrow.
I hope you all have a fantastic holiday weekend! If you're looking to head out for some fun, I wanted to share a few links with you. Boston Central has a fantastic roundup of Massachusetts fireworks displays, handily organized by town so you can find a celebration near you. Boston Harborfest kicked off this week and runs through the weekend (yay for chowder!). And there's entertainment and family fun to be had at the New Bedford Summerfest (through the weekend) and Amesbury Days (through July 9). Enjoy!
Image credit: Boston Central
It's hard to believe tomorrow is July 1, but the good news is that the change of month is marked by the start of the Highland Street Foundation's Free Fun Fridays -- a program that offers free admission to four different Massachusetts cultural venues for nine Fridays starting tomorrow. The roster is fantastic and there's something every single week that I'd love to take the girls to (I've been meaning to take Laurel to the MFA Chihuly exhibit ever since it opened). What a lovely way to slide into summer weekends -- enjoy!
I'm sharing my weekend picks a bit early this week since I'm going to hibernate with the family for a few days (Violet's 100 Days is this weekend...I can hardly believe it!). I hope you enjoy the first official weekend of summer!
1. This event will probably mess up bedtime (but hey, it's a Friday night right?), but I love the idea of a city dance party.
2. Events such as the Kids MTB Ride really make me want to help Laurel lose the training wheels this summer.
Was this the craziest week ever for you too? I hope you have a chance to kick back and relax this weekend and celebrate a Dad you love. Here are 12 fun weekend picks to enjoy:
1. Yay for the Bruins (and I love that Zdeno Chara actually yelled "yay!" when he was holding the Stanley Cup over his head during the postgame celebration). You can celebrate en masse at the Bruins celebration parade.
2. Hello strawberry season. Consume to your heart's delight via the Mass Farmers Markets Strawberry Dessert Festival, strawberry festivals at Connors Farm (Danvers), Russell Orchards (Ipswich), and Land's Sake Farm (Weston), and strawberry picking at Drumlin Farm (Lincoln).
Yay, Friday! Here are 10 fun weekend picks that caught my eye:
1. I used to love taking walks through the Arnold Arboretum with my Dad. Painters for a Purpose opens tomorrow at the arboretum and features South Shore pastel artists. A portion of sales from the exhibit will benefit the Elizabeth Stone House in Jamaica Plain -- an institution for women and families in need.
I love this city. With the good weather comes many opportunities to help others in need. Some of these events (such as the March for Babies and Walk for Hunger) have already passed, but this week you can participate in the following family friendly philanthropic events: June 11 is the Four Seasons Run of Hope (5K run/2K walk) to benefit pediatric cancer care and research at the Mass. General Hospital for Children and MGH Cancer Center. June 12 is NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston and the New Balance Heart Break Hill 5K to benefit Franciscan Hospital for Children. And starting tomorrow (through June 9) all you need to do is eat ice cream at the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl to help raise funds for cancer research and care. So easy, no?
Image credit: Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl
Oh, this awesome weather. It serves as the perfect backdrop for, well, everything! There's no shortage of fun stuff going on this weekend in and around the city (including Jon and my first date night -- to celebrate our anniversary -- since Violet was born...yay!). Here are 11 events that caught my eye (it was a strange coincidence to have back to back posts referencing the number 11, btw):
The Boston Common Frog Pond typically is associated with skating and swimming, but this spring the beautiful setting is being put to other mindful and creative uses. For the next several Thursdays (9-10:30am), start your day off right with free yoga classes (small worldly enough, taught by one of my sisters!) -- all levels are welcome and advanced registration is not required. And on Saturday, June 4 (10am-2pm), engage your creative spirit through a free flower arranging workshop (and take home your creation) at the Frog Pond Garden Party. Advance reservations are encouraged. So lovely, no?
I know I'm not the only one eager for the sun to break through, and tomorrow -- for EarthFest -- would make for especially welcome timing. In its 18th year, this free Hatch Shell event will feature national and local music acts (starting at noon) as well as eco-friendly products and environmental non-profits. EarthFest also will feature an interactive family area -- Kid's Planet -- starting at 10am. In addition to kid friendly activities and displays, the family friendly musical lineup will include RhymeZwell, Vanessa Trien & the Jumping Monkeys, Little Groove, and one of my personal favorites: Dan Zanes & Friends.
I hope the rain holds off this weekend because ever since our recent overnight to Maine (where Laurel flew her first kite last summer), I've been thinking about kites. And tomorrow (May 14, 12-4pm) is the Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival, where families can fly kites (BYOK; they'll also be giving away kites to the first 50 attendees) and/or "rent" bikes for free. Meanwhile, I'm browsing Into the Wind, which offers a crazy selection of kites. I especially like that they break out sections for beginner and kids kites (read: easy to fly models). And in the show kite department, this air guitar kite is out of my budget but totally cool, no?
Hello everyone! Tomorrow is the March for Babies in Boston and I would be super appreciative if you would make a donation to Team Boston Mamas & Friends (or you could donate to my personal page if you like). Truly, no gift is too small! Thanks so much in advance for your support, and also to fellow team members Kerrie, Kami of The Fence, Angela of Mommy Bytes, Sonia of My Little Pakora, and Liz of Goddess in Progress for their footsteps and fundraising efforts! If you'd like to join us last minute for the walk, drop me a line at editor@bostonmamas.com!
Few things cute overload me like baby animals, and if you're of a similar persuasion and would like to enjoy Mother's Day with your own little critters in tow, you can celebrate Mama's Day at the Franklin Park and Stone Zoos this Sunday, May 8. Moms will enjoy free admission throughout the day, and the first 100 moms to arrive at each zoo will receive a goodie bag, the contents of which includes items from some of the local, awesome mom-owned businesses listed in the Boston Mamas mamapreneur network! Both zoos will also honor their celebrity animal moms, including gorilla Kiki with her 5-month-old baby Kambiri at Franklin Park Zoo, and emperor tamarin Snoopy and her baby Wally at Stone Zoo.
Hooray for a gorgeous weekend on the forecast! There's no shortage of fun on tap in Boston and the surrounding communities; here are some events that caught my eye, via my lovely site partner Boston Central:
Get cultured at the Boston College Arts Festival, Harvard Arts First Festival, Brandeis Performing Arts Festival, International Children's Cultural Fair, or Harvard Square Mayfair.
This weekend is shaping up to be downright spring-like, perfect for this cool and unusual event I heard about from my friend Melissa. The Boston Tree Party is on a mission to plant 100 pairs of heirloom apple trees in public spaces across Greater Boston and the inauguration party kicks off this Sunday at 1pm at the Rose Kennedy Greenway. (Apparently, once the trees bear fruit, anyone is welcome to pluck a healthy snack -- awesome!) Featuring the ceremonial planting of the first pair of heirloom apple trees, music, refreshments, and other civic-minded activities, this event offers a cool way to teach kids about community, urban agriculture, and the all important lesson of sharing. And of course before or after the inauguration, there's no shortage of family fun to be had in the area, whether you hit, say, the Aquarium, Christopher Columbus Park, or walk a little further for gelato in the North End.
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Amy via the Boston Mamas Facebook page:
Dear Boston Mamas, do you know of any St. Patrick's Day parades downtown or in the metro-Boston area? It's our first year here and we'd love to take our 2 year old to a parade!
Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: St. Patrick's Day Fun" »
Today, Stacey Sao of Boston Central kindly shares a guest post including a fantastic roundup of activities for February vacation week:
Welcome to the wonderful week of February vacation! This massive activity roundup should help cure any cabin fever out there...let's get right to it! In the spirit of Presidents Day, there's Visit with Abe Lincoln at The Concord Museum (2/21; reservations required), and The Jackson Homestead Museum in Newton will host a story and craft hour entitled Hats Off to Abe Lincoln. History buffs can take a step back in time at the Old Statehouse Museum with lots of old fashioned games as well as spinning and weaving activities. Bring out the scientist in you at the MIT Museum -- they'll have robotics themed mini-workshops for ages 10+.
Hooray for rabbits! And you can celebrate them in fine fashion this weekend at the Year of the Hare Lion Dance Parade in Chinatown, 23rd Annual Lunar New Year Festival in Quincy, and Peabody Essex Museum Lunar New Year Festival in Salem. And for those looking for winter adventures a little further west, bundle up and check out the Amherst Winterfest.
Image credit: Peabody Essex Museum
I just loved the clever responses (via comments, Facebook, and Twitter) to my snow day ideas post! And while my ideas were rather inside-centric (given the sleet nastiness and the fact that the novelty of making snow people has totally worn off for Laurel), hopefully this weekend's winter forecast will be more suitable for outdoor adventures. Consider the: Franklin Park Snow Festival, Chelmsford WinterFest, Lowell Winterfest, and Salem's So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival.
Image credit: Franklin Park Coalition
There's little new I can say about this month's snow shock, with the exception that I'm impressed that our rotating composter is completely submerged (and our second, taller composter isn't far behind). The good news is that this weekend, the vast snowy expanses will create the perfect backdrop for the Brighton Winter Fun Fair, Dunstable Winterfest, Lincoln Winter Carnival, and Westford Winterfest. And let's hope lil' Phil offers a favorable forecast for us at the Groundhog Day Celebration at Ipswich River.
Image credit: Dunstable Winterfest
Today, Stacey Sao of Boston Central kindly shares a second guest post with her favorite activity picks for this weekend:
Kick off your weekend at the Kendall Square Annual Holiday on Ice Show. Two outdoor shows will feature performances by former stars of Disney on Ice and the Ice Capades, as well as complimentary skating and snacks throughout the day. The Kelly Outdoor Rink in JP is also hosting a day of free skating on Sunday. And looking ahead this month, Boston Common's Frog Pond will be open for skating on Christmas Day this year from 4-9pm and the Disney on Ice Princess Wishes tour will be in town the week after Christmas.
I imagine that I'd be hard pressed to find parents in Boston who don't already know about Boston Central. In fact, Boston Central is one reason I didn't bother implementing an exhaustive calendar function when I launched Boston Mamas in 2006 (why reinvent the wheel, you know?). Boston Central and I recently teamed up as site partners (you can check out daily event listings right here via the BC widget down in the left sidebar), and in advance of the holidays, I'm thrilled that Stacey Sao of Boston Central will share a couple of guests posts with some of her favorite activity picks for the weekend. Check out Stacey's roundup of family holiday fun for this weekend:
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Amy via the Boston Mamas Facebook page:
Hey Boston Mamas, It's me again! The "new to Boston" mama you helped out before with great toddler-friendly activities. Well, I have another question! This is our first year staying here for Thanksgiving and I am wondering if you know of any Thanksgiving Day parades or activities like that? (Again, we live in Watertown.) I know this [past] weekend [was] the lighting of the tree at Faneuil Hall...any more activities like that (Thanksgiving or Christmas) would be appreciated!
Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Fun" »
Goodness. In the complete chaos that was last month, I forgot to share a series of articles I wrote for CBS Boston. The process offered fun fodder for reflection on Boston awesomeness for families and I hope you enjoy and find the articles useful. I share my favorite recommendations for: cool spots to photograph your kids, family friendly restaurants that are truly great for kids and foodie parents alike, awesome art studios for kids, out of the box birthday party ideas, and ideas for indoor and outdoor winter fun (because oh my word can you believe next month is December?).
Finally, Halloween is almost here! And if your kids are looking for extra places to wear that costume, consider (in addition to a few previously listed ongoing spooktacular events): the Halloween Party at Ringer Park (Allston), Franklin Park Zoo Howl (Boston), Titus Sparrow Park Pre-Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Party (Boston), and Newton Community Service Center Halloween Fair. Also, on Sunday, kids 11 and under in costume (accompanied by a paying adult) can enjoy free admission to the New England Aquarium and on Boston DUCK Tours departing from the NEAQ. Sweet!
Image credit: New England Aquarium
Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents recommends recharging at Habitat:
Few things erase the frenzy of everyday life like nature. And mere blocks from my home is a wonderful gem: Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont. Part of the Mass Audubon system -- which maintains 43 wildlife sanctuaries in the state -- Habitat is a heavenly place to walk alone or with the family in all four seasons and using all five senses.
If Laurel could wear a costume every day, she probably would. Barring that, there are plenty of opportunities to get into the Halloween spirit a week in advance. In addition to a few previously listed ongoing spooktacular events, consider these weekend Halloween happenings: Halloween Fest at Prudential Center (Boston), Ipswich River Halloween Happenings, Wachusett Meadow Halloween Night Hike and Hayride (Princeton), Halloween Prowl at Moose Hill Sanctuary (Sharon), Boo at the Zoo (Stoneham), A Great Pumpkin Day! at Gore Place (Waltham), and EcoTarium's Great Pumpkin Fest (Worcester). And of course there's Laurel's gentle yet beloved Spooky Hayride at Wilson Farm.
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Here are a few not-so-spooky family-friendly fall festivals to enjoy this weekend: Newton Harvest Fair, AppleFest at Wachusett Mountain (Princeton), Rockport HarvestFest, and Fall Family Fun Fest (Westford). And if you're feeling brave (I'm not sure I am, but I do tend to be easily spooked...), your family can get their fill of spooktacular entertainment at: Harvest of Horrors (East Falmouth), Winnekenni Castle Halloween Extravaganza (Haverhill), Martin's Pond Children's Haunted Playground (North Reading), and Witch's Woods (Westford).
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
What a relief it was to finally see the sun yesterday, and how awesome that we'll see it all (long) weekend long! Here are some events that warrant being on your radar: Immerse yourself in music and culture at the Fenway Alliance's Opening Our Doors festival and HONK!fest. Enjoy fall fun at Harvard Square's Oktoberfest, the Newburyport Fall Harvest Festival, and the Yarmouth Seaside Festival. And see how Salem rocks the Halloween party (every day now through the end of the month) via Salem's Haunted Happenings.
Image credit: Salem Haunted Happenings
There's plenty of family friendly fall festival goodness on tap for this weekend. Get a dose of fresh air while enjoying: the Barnstable County Harvest Festival, Boston Local Food Festival, Essex County Greenbelt Association Fall Festival, Lakeville Arts & Music Festival, Harvest Festival & Perennial Divide (Mattapan), Homestead Hayfest (Newton), and Westford Fall Foliage Festival. And for those with serious fair stamina, there's the Topsfield Fair running now until October 11.
Image credit: Dave Doolittle for Barnstable County Harvest Festival
Goodness, there's no shortage of family friendly fall festivals all across our fine state. Here are some interesting picks for enjoying food, crafts, kids activities, nature, live entertainment, and more this weekend (feel free to add others you know of in the comments!): Arlington Town Day, Oak Street Fair (Boston), Bourne Scallop Festival (oh. yum.), Endless Summer Waterfront Festival (Hull), Meet Me Downtown Festival of the Arts (Lynn), Marblehead Fall Festival, Rappin' with Raptors Festival (Mattapan), Creative Movement and Arts Center Fall Festival (Needham), Annual Harvest Festival (Newton), Stony Brook Fall Fair (Norfolk), Marshmallow Fluff Festival (Somerville), Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival, and Faire on the Square (Watertown). And if you're feeling really ambitious, The Big E (West Springfield) runs until October 3.
Image credit: Marblehead Fall Festival
Today, Lindsey recommends Verrill Farm for your next birthday party:
I've always gotten really excited about my kids' birthday parties. I think it might come from my own August birthday and consequent sense that I never had the parties I dreamed of as a kid. Whatever the reason, I really enjoy planning celebrations for my son and daughter, who are 5 and 7 respectively. We've had a lot of parties already, and far and away our favorite location -- one we've already done twice and plan to do again this October -- is Verrill Farm in Concord.
We had such an awesome time last weekend at the Boston Arts Festival that I've had creative things on my mind all week -- both in my studio and in anticipation of the weekend. Good news is, there are a few more cool art festivals on tap for this weekend: DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln is hosting its first Family SculptureFest on Sunday. On Saturday, the Kingston Arts Festival and Quincy ArtsFest will celebrate their fourth and thirteenth years, respectively, with live entertainment, juried exhibits, crafters, and kids activities. And a bit further afield, through the weekend is the Old Deerfield Fall Art & Craft Festival. Enjoy!
Image credit: DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Oh fall how I love you -- what a picture perfect weekend we've got on the forecast! There's a little something for everyone this weekend. Enjoy big and small city and town festivals at the Boston Arts Festival, Allston Village Street Fair, and Eastham Windmill Weekend. Immerse yourself in culture at the Cambridge Carnival International and Peabody International Festival. Rock out at the Life is Good Festival (Canton) and MusicFestLive! (Boston). And get back to nature at the Sterling Fair and Franklin County Fair.
Image credit: Boston Arts Festival
Today, Heather recommends a fantastic ocean adventure for the whole family:
No visit to Cape Cod would be complete without some type of water excursion. And OceanQuest -- a non-profit marine education program out of Woods Hole -- was one of the highlights of our vacation. The 90-minute cruise is a hands-on, marine educational experience for kids and parents of all ages and truly has something for everyone. Passengers are introduced to the major disciplines within oceanography and are actively involved in manipulating equipment, collecting data, and discovering the wonder of ocean sciences.
We've got an utterly perfect forecast on tap for this weekend, so why not get out and enjoy one (or more) of these family friendly events? Check out: Boston GreenFest, the West End Children's Festival (Boston), the Southeast Asian Water Festival (Lowell), the Marshfield Fair, and (a little further afield but I can't resist craft festivals) the Cotuit Arts & Crafts Festival.
Image credit: Cotuit Arts & Crafts Festival
Today, Jennifer recommends George's Island for a little island fun:
With my husband on vacation for a few weeks in July, we took advantage of the many wonderful sites and day trips around Beantown. One of our favorites? A trip out to Georges lsland. My husband (a native of the area) loved going there all the time as a kid and was anxious to show our kiddos how fun an old fort on an island can be!
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Nan in Minnesota via e-mail:
Dear Boston Mamas, Growing up in the suburb of Belmont, I recall entertaining myself by hopping the bus to Harvard Square, eating copious amounts of Ranc's ice cream, skinny dipping in Walden Pond, and stealing traffic cones. As I sit pondering a visit back to Massachusetts later this month with my almost 2-year old daughter, I certainly hope to let her enjoy two of those activities, but am looking for some ideas on what else we can do. Thoughts and ideas on fun activities for a youngster in and around Boston would be appreciated!
Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Toddler Fun in Boston" »
Today, Heather shares a roundup of beach gear favorites that made vacationing with four kids a breeze:
We recently returned from our annual family weekend at the Cape. We love Ridgevale Beach in Chatham. The large, sandy oceanfront beach typically is warm and calm, which makes it ideal for swimming, plus they have a lifeguard on duty. Also, tucked behind the main beach are several large tidal pools that are terrific for younger kids. In my opinion, Ridgevale provides all the amenities a family with young children needs: parking very close to the beach, bathrooms, snack bar, lifeguard.
It's going to be a hot one this weekend but don't let that deter you from some local fun. Slather on the sunscreen and head out to enjoy: fantastic local artists and performers at ArtBeat 2010 in Davis Square, cultural celebration at the First Annual African Festival of Boston and Festival Betances in the South End, seriously impressive sandcastles at the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival, and urban gardening 101 via the Bicycle Tour of Community Gardens in Boston.
Image credit: ArtBeat
One of the things that is so sweet about Laurel is that she is so people focused. When she was a toddler, if a friend at day care was crying, she would toddle over and pat them on the back to try to make them feel better. On Sunday she wrote a letter to the Boston Police because she was concerned about people trying to steal the Make Way for Ducklings statues (which I guess makes her duck and people focused). And yesterday, she offered to wash our car just to do something nice for us (she did a great job by the way). It was almost as if Laurel knew that tomorrow, 77 mom bloggers in 11 cities around the country would be inspiring kids to do good. Here's the scoop on what's going down tomorrow:
I've got my fingers crossed (and I'm attempting to will sun into existence with the title of this post) that the rain projected for this weekend holds off for these fun events: Mashpee Commons Sand Sculpting Festival, Chinatown Main Street Festival, Lowell Puerto Rican Cultural Festival, Newburyport Riverfront Music Festival. And luckily the skies look clear for Tanglewood's opening night this evening. One of these days I want to get myself back to Tanglewood and pull up a lawn seat!
Image credit: Mashpee Commons Sand Sculpting Festival
It was with great anticipation -- then great relief -- last week that I took Laurel and a friend to the local park to see if the sprinkler system was on (it was!). We have officially hit the weather where splashing around in water is the funnest thing ever for the kids, and if you -- like me -- lack the yard space or motivation for water accessories in your back yard, fear not: there are plenty of local spots to chill out. Frog Pond opens today, and check out my water play post for links to DCR's guides for local pools, fresh water beaches, and ocean beaches.
After a stressful end of the school year, we have entered the unfamiliar territory of summer vacation (prior to kindergarten, Laurel attended a year-round day care). And 40% of our day camp plans evaporated. And Laurel has vetoed the countless day camp and lesson ideas I have pitched to replace said evaporated plans. So in addition to piecing together playdate swaps and sitters so I can keep up with client work, I've got a keen eye on fun happenings around town. Among those, consider checking out ParkARTS Boston's roster of free summer events. In its 14th year, this program includes an impressive array of music, theatre, and dance performances, as well as puppet shows, story times, and art activities.
Once you've had your fill of strawberry festivals, there's a little something for everyone this weekend in the way of community fairs and festivals. For eco enthusiasts, check out the Living Green & Renewable Energy Fair in Salem. For art lovers, there's Arts Fest Beverly, Art on the Green in Plymouth, and the Arts Festival in Cohasset. For those who dig music, there's Make Music in Harvard Square. And in honor of my ever widening group of friends living in Reading, check out the Reading Friends and Family Day.
Image credit: The Pinehills Art on the Green
If you or your kid inhales strawberries with the same enthusiasm as Laurel, you're in luck: this weekend is strawberrytastic. Here are some local farms rocking strawberry festivals this weekend: Verrill Farm (Concord), Connors Farm (Danvers), Russell Orchards (Ipswich), Wilson Farm (Lexington), Drumlin Farm (Lincoln), and Land's Sake (Weston). Also noteworthy: now through July 4, a number of local eateries are donating a percentage of strawberry dessert sales to the Federation of Mass Farmers Markets as part of the Mass Farmers Markets' Strawberry Dessert Festival.
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
When you're not watching World Cup this weekend (USA and Korea FTW tomorrow!), there's plenty of outdoor family fun to enjoy. Consider rocking the Dragon Boat Festival (Cambridge), Lowell Riverfest, Sudbury, Assabet, & Concord RiverFest, Festival by the Lake (Wakefield), and Kite Festival at Pemberton Park (Lawrence).
As a NWF founding mother and self-care proponent who is a fan of hiking with kids, I was super excited when I heard about the DCR's Healthy Heart Trails initiative. Kicking off today with a series of guided hikes, this initiative challenges Massachusetts residents to walk 75 miles before Labor Day (that's less than 6 miles a week). Look for the Healthy Heart Trail sign (pictured) at over 70 trails across the state; you can download a tracking chart at the DCR Healthy Heart Trails website, and the online trail guide offers handy information on mileage and difficulty to make route planning and tracking easy.
This week, I've been utterly grateful for all things local and lovingly cultivated as I've marveled over the first week's offerings from our CSA share (we signed on with Parker Farm). It's only fitting then that I'm all over these weekend events that will include more local and lovingly cultivated creative awesomeness: the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival, the Cambridge River Festival, and the Dedham Square Music & Art Festival. I imagine the line for the Monkey Shine Studio sock monkeys at the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival will be considerable.
Thanks so much to everyone who came out for the Hebrew National Better-Than-A-Picnic Picnic I co-hosted with Audrey, Christy, and Jodi) on Memorial Day! It truly was a perfect day and everyone seemed thrilled to enjoy the gorgeous weather, unlimited hot dogs, refreshments, and activities (note to self: kids and grownups go nuts over a mechanical bull). Also awesome was the easy access to the Artesani Park playground and spray pond; along with lots of other kids, Laurel was thrilled to get in her first splashes of the season.
I'm hoping to take it easy this long weekend, save a little household puttering (the floors are sticky and the weeds abound), but here a few leads for Memorial Day fun that are worth considering. If your kid loves tricks as much as Laurel does, head to the Faneuil Hall Street Performer Festival Extravaganza. Boston Central has a running list of Memorial Day parades in Massachusetts (you'll just need to dig up the route if your town is hosting one). And then there's the Memorial Day picnic I'm co-hosting on Monday in Boston. Check out the details and feel free to RSVP at the Facebook event page -- I'd love to see you there! (And don't forget to bring donations for Room to Grow and Women's Lunch Place!)
I can hardly believe the end of May is fast approaching, but I'm thrilled to cap the month with a bang and invite you all to a big, awesome party on Memorial Day. I'm honored to co-host (along with the lovely Audrey of Mom Generations, Christy of Quirky Fusion, and Jodi of Mom's Favorite Stuff) one of TheMotherhood's series of Hebrew National Better-Than-A-Picnic Picnics. This series of nine picnics along the East Coast offers a fun means through which families and friends can hang out, enjoy some hot dogs (100% kosher beef with no nasty fillers or artificial flavors by the way), and do a little good. Below are the details on the Boston event. I hope to see you there!
Here are a few events -- small and large -- that you might enjoy this (gorgeous according to the forecast) weekend. If you want to celebrate fair trade and green living in smaller community settings, check out the World Fair Trade Day Celebration in Sudbury and the kickoff event for SomerStreets in Somerville. If you're ready to rock, head to the Hatch Shell for Radio 92.9 Earthfest. And if you like amusement parks (Laurel has been begging me to take her to a carnival), hit the Fiesta Shows carnivals in Braintree and Haverhill (now through the weekend).
Image credit: Mango Tree Artisans
We have a gorgeous weekend on tap -- perfect for being out and about with the family. So why not enjoy a fun run (or walk), picnic, and games at the Hill House Backyard Dash in Boston (today), or fly a kite at the Wollaston Beach Kite Festival in Quincy (tomorrow), or rock one of the many Bay State Bike Week events (through the weekend and beyond). Happy weekend everyone!
Through my design work and in real life, I love birds. And whether you're a novice or experienced birder, or simply want to celebrate the awesomeness that is our city's green space, consider Birds and Bards. Ongoing today through the weekend, this family friendly festival explores birds, poetry, music, and nature and celebrates 1,000 acres of green space encompassed by Boston's Emerald Necklace. The event is sponsored by the Arnold Arboretum, Forest Hills Educational Trust, Franklin Park Coalition, Franklin Park Zoo, and Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center.
Today, Jules shares some fun ideas for enjoying Mother's Day in Boston:
Mother's Day -- made official in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson and celebrated on the second Sunday in May -- is this Sunday. And though I'm not wild about the over commercialization of the holiday (and obviously think mothers should be appreciated every day), I do enjoy low key festivities, now being a mother. My family traditionally does Mother's Day brunch (though we no longer are forced to dress in matching color schemes, thank goodness!), and there are other ways you can enjoy time and celebrate mom. Here are some fun picks for the weekend:
Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents shares a favorite local family picnicking spot:
For some reason, my girls always called our favorite outdoor ice cream stand Dairy George (instead of Dairy Joy) and the nickname stuck in our family. In fact, the formal name of the stand is Cedar Hill Dairy Joy, but no matter how you say it, it makes for an excellent spring, summer, or autumn outing.
I love that Boston is welcoming May with an awesome collection of free, family friendly festivals. On the university circuit, consider: the Boston College Arts Festival (now through May 1; special kids activities run tomorrow from 12-4pm), the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts at Brandeis University (now through May 2), and the Harvard University Arts First Festival (now through May 2; check out the impressive roster of kid-friendly entertainment). And in the general community, there's the Wake Up The Earth Festival in Jamaica Plain (May 1), and MayFair in Harvard Square (May 2). Finally, browse in awe of the plethora of local talent at Somerville Open Studios (May 1-2). Enjoy!
This week when I was at the park with Laurel and some of her friends, out of nowhere, they got the idea to clean up the park. Gleefully, they ran around picking up trash, announcing their finds, and depositing the items next to me -- almost as if they knew I had this post on my editorial calendar. Today's Be Out There idea is to pitch in and help clean up your community. Tomorrow, families can participate in the DCR Park Serve Day and Charles River Cleanup (unfortunately registration for Boston Shines is now closed but this event is worth keeping tabs on for next year).
One of the things I adore about Boston is that green space is so easily accessible. And whether you reside here or elsewhere, I hope you'll take the time to enjoy today's Be Out There idea: to take a hike, whether it's through the woods (as Jon is doing with Laurel today) or along a river or some other green space for a nature walk (as I've done with Laurel in the past). Laurel especially loves finding nature treasures (e.g., unusual rocks, already-fallen twigs, flowers that actually are weeds, etc.). She uses these treasures to create the sweetest centerpieces (see below).
The forecast is looking pretty sweet this week, a very good thing for those of us negotiating April vacation week (or, you know, running marathons). Today's Be Out There idea is an easy but fun one: rock an outdoor celebration. Whether you want to introduce your kids to history or simply take in spectacle, there's the Boston Marathon to offer inspiration and the Patriot's Day parades and festivities in Boston (9am), Concord (9am), and Lexington (2pm) to offer reflection. Yes, parades and marathons involve standing once you get there, but there's always a lot of walking getting to and from the sidelines.
Given that I spent the majority of my childhood free time toy-free and playing outside, I have always been concerned about curbing material excess in Laurel's life, and aware of how important it is for her (and us) to be active outdoors. I thus was happy and honored to be invited to be part of the National Wildlife Federation's Founding Mothers, a group of women writers who will work to mobilize families outdoors in partnership with the NWF's Be Out There campaign.
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Jan via e-mail:
We are visiting Boston this summer (from Ireland) with 3 kids (12, 10 and 5) and are looking for recommended kid-friendly restaurants, some free activities, best ice-cream, best toy shops, etc. We will have 10 days in Cape Cod then 10 days in Concord. We will have a car, and the house we are staying at in Concord is close to the train station so the plan would be to take the train into Boston.
Here are a couple of fun and unusual picks for Saturday (these pesky flurries should have passed by then). At Drumlin Farm's Woolapalooza, families can enjoy cute baby animals, sheep shearing and sheepherding demonstrations, fiber artisans at work, and other activities. And the West End Community Center is hosting a Holi celebration -- the spring Hindu festival of color -- that will include Indian food, Bollywood dancing, and more.
If your kids are eager to get the Easter party started early, there are plenty of eggs to be hunted for this weekend in Massachusetts. Consider the Capen Hill Great Egg Hunt in Charlton, the LEGGacy Place Easter Hunt in Dedham, the Choate Park Easter Egg Hunt in Medway, the Winslow Farm Easter Egg Hunt in Norton, and the Westborough Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day.
Do you know of other local Easter egg hunts on tap for this weekend? Feel free to share in the comments below.
After enjoying some maple-tastic meanderings, consider these fun cultural events tomorrow. Experience West African music and dance at Springstep’s family workshop. Rock out at Cambridge’s 34th Annual Israel Folkdance Festival. Or conjure visions of Ireland in the comfort of your community at the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Boston, Scituate, and Worcester.
I love when the March maple madness events kick in; they're a great way to show kids that syrup comes from somewhere other than a grocery store aisle. This weekend you can enjoy: the Somerville Maple Syrup Project (Sat.), South Shore Natural Science Center Maple Festival (Sun.), Blue Hills Maple Sugar Days (Sat. & Sun.), Drumlin Farm Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast (Sat. & Sun.), and Ipswich Sugaring Off Tours (this & next weekend).
Have I missed other awesome local maple syrup events? Feel free to comment in below to share them with the community.
It's well south of the city and definitely more of a grown up event, but if you're in the area and appreciate crafty things, consider AHA!’s All Sewn Up event tomorrow night. In celebration of the area's textile history and artists, downtown New Bedford will be hopping with shopping, gallery showings, art demonstrations, readings, and classical music.
Are you looking for a compact, portable reference to help navigate the kid-friendly ins and outs of our fair city? Today I share my thoughts on Kim Foley MacKinnon's new book, Boston Baby: A Field Guide for Urban Parents. Read on for my review, as well as to learn about an opportunity to meet Kim and eat well tomorrow at Aura Restaurant, and be one of three winners to receive a copy of Boston Baby:
Love a good parade? Tomorrow you can enjoy the Year of the Tiger festivities at the Chinatown Chinese New Year Lion Dance Festival. The party kicks off at 10am in Phillips Square and is open to the public. I also asked Evadne for ideas for tasty spots to warm up and snack during the festivities. She recommends: New Jumbo Seafood, Gourmet Dumpling House, and Eldo Cake House (for baked treats).
As a Boston lifer, I do periodically grumble about the weather but ultimately I’ve come to embrace it (even becoming one of those crazy winter runners), and think it’s important to bundle the kids up and get out of the house. Subsequently, I love that the Massachusetts Audubon Society is offering February vacation week programming across the state that includes both indoor and outdoor activities. Another great outdoor option (particularly during this Olympic season) is ice skating. The Rink at the Charles Hotel has extended their hours for vacation week, and you also can enjoy the Frog Pond and Kendall Square outdoor rinks.
Yes, we're in for another cold weekend, but that's all the more reason to stave off cabin fever and support those who are bundling up and braving the outdoors to host community winter activities. This weekend, consider pitching in at the Franklin Park Winter Volunteer Day (Saturday) or enjoying winter activities at the Dunstable Winterfest (Sunday), Groveland Winter Festival (Sunday), or Lincoln Winter Carnival (through the weekend).
After a year where I finally and happily made self-care a priority, oh how I love this: The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting First Day Hikes and First Day Skates to encourage folks to start the New Year on a fit foot. These events are free and family friendly; the hikes will span 16 parks across Massachusetts and the skate sessions will run in South Boston and Jamaica Plain.
New Year’s celebrations take on a different flavor with kids, and we’re fortunate to have a number of family friendly celebrations in the works in and around Boston. Consider these city celebrations -- First Night Boston, First Night Worcester, Beverly’s New Year, and New Year's Needham -- as well as the family New Year’s parties at the Children's Museum in Easton and Children's Museum of New Hampshire.
Image credit: Susan Cole Kelley/First Night Boston
What with Halloween being on a Saturday, there’s plenty of time for advanced partying. Here’s some more upcoming free Halloween fun to enjoy with the kids. On Friday: Harvard Scare! (Cambridge) and on Saturday: Community Halloween Party at Ringer Park (Allston), Brattle Trick or Treat! (Cambridge), USS Constitution Museum Halloween Haunt (Charlestown), Wilson Farms Kids Costume Contest & Haunted Hayride (Lexington), and Halloween Horribles Parade (Winchester).
Get ready for some pumpkin party hopping. Tomorrow, October 29, you can celebrate Halloween at any or all of three free, fun events in Boston. Enjoy trick or treating, crafts, and dance at the Hill House Halloween Party from 3-6pm (and spread the festive mojo by bringing a box of pasta, rice, or canned soup for their food pantry drive to benefit Boston families). Carve and decorate pumpkins and enjoy face painting and fall treats at the Fort Point Pumpkin Pageant from 12-4pm. And experience locally farmed pumpkins and apple cider at the Greenway Pumpkin Party from 12:30-2pm.
I adore Heather Flett & Whitney Moss, the smart women behind the smart website Rookie Moms, a great destination for new moms looking to infuse fun activities amidst the daily duties of diapers and feedings. And I'm honored to now have a place in the Rookie Moms digital files via this guest post I recently wrote: Baby Activities in Boston features a sample weekly itinerary that will make any rookie mom in Boston look like a pro. Enjoy!
If your kids are like Laurel, Halloween can’t come soon enough. Here are some free Halloween picks to get the party started early this weekend: West End Halloween Parade (Boston; Saturday). Eighth Annual Pumpkin Float (Boston; Saturday), Ghoulish Gathering (Cambridge; Saturday), Witches Night Out! (Newburyport; tonight), and Halloween Fair (Newton; Saturday).
My dad used to tell me, “A book is your only friend.” A tad extreme in my opinion, but if you feel even vaguely in agreement with that statement, you’ll probably want to stop by the inaugural Boston Book Festival this Saturday, October 24 (10am – 6pm). Spread across the Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, and Copley Square, this free festival will feature 90 authors and presenters, exhibitors, live entertainment, and special programming for kids & teens.
Never mind yesterday’s snow, there’s still plenty of fall fun to be had. And in my latest monthly column as Minimalist Mama at Shoestring Magazine, I share my favorite ways to enjoy frugal fall fun for the whole family, each followed by a bonus tip rooted in the spirit of giving. Enjoy!
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
If you don’t feel like fighting the crowds at Head of the Charles this weekend, consider one of these family friendly fall festivals: Auburn Fall Festival (Auburn), Fall Fun Festival (Boston), New England Wild Flower Society Fall Family Festival (Framingham), Green Meadows Farm Harvest Festival (Hamilton), Homestead Hayfest (Newton), and Rockport Harvest Festival (Rockport).
Back in March I gave myself a really excellent gift and started making self-care a priority. And after embarking on various challenges of the shredding and yoga variety, I decided to test my longstanding belief that I'm not built to run by trying the Couch-to-5K running plan. Miraculously, here I am, on Week 8 of the plan and now signed up for the Thanksgiving Day Gobble, Gobble, Gobble run in Davis Square (which, by the way, I thought was a 5K but actually is a 4 miler...gulp).
As a one less car advocate and former marching band member (color guard, bass drum, and trumpet...though not all at the same time), I’m pretty tickled by the prospect of the Honk! Festival Parade leading to Oktoberfest in Harvard Square this Sunday, October 11 (12 – 6 pm; rain date October 12). After you “reclaim the streets for horns, bikes, and feet” enjoy the Square in full on party mode; Oktoberfest will be replete with entertainment, food, and vendors.
Oh how the paths open when you lose the training wheels! Tomorrow is National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at the Middlesex Fells. This free event runs from 9:30am – 1:30pm and will include rides lead by NEMBA, bike-related crafts, bike fixing services, lunch, and a bike raffle. This event is suitable for kids ages 8 and up who are able to ride without training wheels. Parents are welcome to ride along; helmets are required for all.
Continue reading "National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" »
There’s no shortage of opportunity to experience community spirit this weekend. Consider these free, family friendly town festivals: on Saturday, Arlington Town Day (Arlington), Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival - Free Outdoor Festival (Boston; Columbus Avenue site includes a family park), Danehy Park Family Day (Cambridge), Essex County Greenbelt Fall Festival (Essex), Meet Me Downtown Festival of the Arts (Lynn), Fall Family Day Festival (Milton), What the Fluff? (Somerville), and Faire on the Square (Watertown). And through the weekend: Marblehead Fall Festival (Marblehead) and Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival (Shrewsbury).
Image credit: Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival
One of the many things I adore about Boston is that it’s easy to get back to nature both in and out of the city. Consider these free, family friendly, nature inspired fall festivals: Fall Harvest Festival & Perennial Divide (Mattapan), Rappin’ with Raptors Festival (Mattapan), and Waltham Farm Day (Waltham). All three events take place tomorrow, Saturday, September 26.
Image credit: Waltham Fields Community Farm
It takes a village…to get an awesome deal. And to score bargains in Boston and beyond, check out BuyWithMe. The concept is simple: BuyWithMe offers big discounts on local offerings (e.g., the $20 for $40 Diva Bistro voucher I purchased last night…woo hoo!), but the deal only flies if a minimum number of people sign up. Extra cool: BuyWithMe gave me an editorial heads up on today’s family friendly bargain with Smolak Farms in North Andover (which, incidentally, Laurel just visited for a school field trip), and are offering two lucky winners Smolak Farms vouchers (great for apple and pumpkin picking and many other goodies). Read on for the details:
After last weekend's downpour, I'm glad to see that the forecast looks favorable for this varied collection of family friendly weekend picks. On Saturday: the Franklin Park Fall Forest Festival (Boston) and the Quincy ArtsFest (Quincy). On Sunday: the Allston Village Street Fair (Allston), Nashoba Valley Winery Family Concert & BBQ (Bolton), and the Urban-Ag Fair (Cambridge).
Image credit: Allston Village Street Fair
There’s no shortage of family friendly events in the Boston area this weekend; consider these free picks that appeal to a variety of interests and locations. On Saturday: Curious George Day at the BPL (Boston), FensFest (Boston), The Bookish Ball (Cambridge), Hingham Family Festival (Hingham), Spirit of Roxbury (Roxbury), & Annual Market Day (Wenham). On Sunday: Cambridge Carnival International (Cambridge), Endless Summer Waterfront Festival (Hull), & Melrose Victorian Fair (Melrose). And through the weekend: Peabody International Festival (Peabody) & the Sterling Fair (Sterling).
How lucky are we to live in a city replete with cultural offerings, and how cool is it that there’s a free three-day celebration showcasing some of Boston’s top creative talent? The Boston Arts Festival (Ahts) kicks off tomorrow at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park and includes an awesome roster of visual and performing artists (I’m utterly intrigued by Marie Galvin’s hats and Jennifer Chin’s jewelry), as well as interactive/family fun programming. And whatever you do, be sure to stop at the Danish Pastry House table for some kringle.
For parents looking for some end of summer fun, consider tomorrow's ParkARTS Boston Children’s Festival at The Playstead in Franklin Park (10:30 am – 1:30 pm). Suitable for kids 15 and under, programming will include storytelling, animal and nature education, arts workshops and projects, face painting, live performance, and refreshments. For further information, call 617-635-4505.
Image credit: Emerald Necklace Conservancy.
Summer is winding down quickly, but there's plenty of fun to be had. This weekend, consider these free family friendly festivals. On Saturday: Southeast Asian Water Festival (Lowell), West End Children’s Festival (Boston); on Sunday: August Moon Festival (Boston), Arts on the Shore (Quincy); and through the weekend: Gloucester Waterfront Festival (Gloucester).
Oh how I adore local talent, and tomorrow (10am – 4pm) you can get your fill at the Massachusetts Marketplace Festival at the Elm Bank Horticulture Center in Wellesley. The festival will feature over 60 vendors offering food, crafts, and gifts -- all sprouting from local fields, farms, gardens, and kitchens.
At Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley
For Boston families who long for waterfront summer fun but can’t get as far south as the Cape or as far north as Maine, fear not, the solution is just south of the city this weekend. On Saturday, enjoy the Dorchester Beach Festival at Savin Hill & Malibu Beaches (11am – 4pm) and on Sunday, the Beach Bash Kite Fest at Pageant Field in Quincy (10 am – 3pm). Both events are free and family friendly.
Is it just me or do the cities north of Boston love to party? Once again, there are an impressive collection of festivals to the North this weekend. Consider these family friendly events: Salem CultureFest, the Lowell Folk Festival, and Newburyport’s Yankee Homecoming.
Image credit: Salem CultureFest
Having experienced the rigors of rehearsals and recitals and concerts in a former life, I have endless admiration for professional musicians. And you can show your support and enjoy plenty of music this and next month at the Regattabar at The Charles Hotel. This Sunday kicks off the Regattabar’s Kids Summer Music Series, which includes Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could, Baby Loves Salsa with The Jose Conde Band, Laughing Pizza, and Ben Rudnick. And Monday, July 20th signals the start of the Regattabar’s free Summer Courtyard Series, which includes the Katie Thiroux Trio, the International String Trio, Rocco & The Stompers, the Carlos Averhoff Jr. IRESI Project, and Gina Cimmelli.
At The Charles Hotel, One Bennett Street, Cambridge; 617-395-7757
Today, Jennifer recommends the Brockton Rox for a budget and family friendly baseball experience:
“Nothing says summer like America's favorite pastime, and there is unique pleasure in a leisurely afternoon at the ball park. Something about the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and a bag of peanuts has brought families together for generations. My husband and I love the history and tradition of baseball, but attending Major League games costs major money, and with four kids -- none of whom are guaranteed to last more than a few innings -- we've been keen to find a budget and family friendly alternative.
Here’s a good excuse to get your summer weekends started early: the Highland Street Foundation is celebrating their 20th anniversary by offering Free Fun Fridays (free admission to local fabulous resources) for the rest of the summer. Today’s offering is admission to the JFK Presidential Library & Museum; upcoming admissions include the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, Franklin Park Zoo, Boston Children’s Museum, Plimoth Plantation, Stone Zoo, Peabody Essex Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and Springfield Museums.
The lovely Melissa Massello of Shoestring Magazine passed along this cool lead: Starma Circus is hosting a free interactive program – Suddenly Circus! – in lower income Somerville neighborhoods. Members of Starma’s afterschool circus programs will be on hand to entertain and collaborate with community members and passersby. You can find Suddenly Circus! at the Argenziano School’s Lincoln Park (July 9), Winter Hill Community School Playground (July 16), and Central Hill Playground (August 1).
Oh my, clear skies...let's all hope for them together for this holiday weekend shall we? And if you’re trying to find fireworks near you, Sheri passed along a handy link from Boston Central that features a date/town ordered list of Massachusetts fireworks displays. Associated Content also features a large town ordered roster of Massachusetts fireworks displays, including original source links.
It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on July 4th weekend and starting tomorrow locals and visitors alike may enjoy a celebratory windup to the holiday weekend via Boston Harborfest. Taking place at and around City Hall Plaza, the festivities run June 30 – July 5. Included in the itinerary is a special Children’s Day on July 1 and of course, plenty of chowder.
Last weekend on the Cape I was reminded that a little rain doesn’t stop enthusiastic kids (i.e., grownups were huddled under umbrellas while the kids happily swam in the pool). Hopefully, these outdoor weekend picks will prevail over the weather. On Saturday: Summer Bazaar (Amesbury), Family Fun Day (Somerville), Arnold Arboretum Drop-In Family Activities (Jamaica Plain), & Kite Festival, A Family Fiesta (Lawrence). And through the weekend: St. Peter’s Fiesta (Gloucester) & the Sand & Sea Festival (Salisbury).
Few things spell summer like the welcome return of water play, and today (2 - 3:30pm) the Boston Common Frog Pond will host a Frog Pond Wading Pool opening celebration, replete with activities, snacks, and of course, a lot of water. The pool is open June through Labor Day, 11am – 6pm.
In addition to the various weekend community events I posted on earlier, there also are a couple of great philanthropically oriented events tomorrow. Life is good will host the Boston Life is good Festival and Good Walk for Kids to benefit Boston’s Project Joy. And our friends at P&K are co-hosting a new and gently used baby item drive in Wayland to benefit Boston's Cradles to Crayons.
Keep your fingers crossed for sun, folks, as there are lots of family friendly ways to connect with your community this weekend. On Saturday: Allston-Brighton Family Fair (Allston/Brighton), Arts Fest (Beverly), Boston Center for the Arts Summer Solstice Celebration (Boston), Soly y Canto Family Music Festival (Cambridge), Endicott Park Day (Danvers), & Family & Friends Day (Reading). On Sunday: Chinatown Main Street Festival (Boston) & Minuteman Family Bike Ride (Lincoln; advance registration required). And through the weekend: South Shore Art Center Arts Festival (Cohasset).
Once again there’s no shortage of festivals this weekend; consider these family friendly picks to suit a variety of interests and locations. On Saturday: Feast of the East (Arlington), River Festival (Cambridge), Living Green & Renewable Energy Fair (Salem), Green Briar Strawberry Festival (Sandwich), Topsfield Strawberry Festival (Topsfield), and Festival by the Lake (Wakefield). On Sunday: DeCordova Art in the Park (Lincoln). And through the weekend: RiverFest (Sudbury, Assabet, Concord river areas).
I wish I had picked up this cool lead from ArtsBoston earlier, but at least there still are a couple of days left to enjoy the Boomtown Festival at the Multicultural Arts Center in East Cambridge. Tomorrow’s activities include a dance intervention, hands on art workshop, and public art walking tour. And on Thursday you can enjoy the MAC gallery reception and the Cambridge Community Chorus in concert.
Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second Street, Cambridge; 617-577-1400
Though I’m a proponent of moderation over an “all you can eat” mentality, it’s tough to knock enjoying frozen treats for a good cause. Running June 9 – 11 (12 – 8pm daily) at Boston City Hall Plaza, the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl is in its 27th year of raising money to support cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Admission – which allows you to sample all the ice cream you are able - is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 3-9, and free for kids under 3. Particularly cool: in addition to traditional ice cream and frozen yogurt, this year’s offerings include sorbet and gelato (oh how I love gelato), and Kosher ice cream will be available.
Never a dull moment in this beloved city and its surrounds, and thankfully the weather is looking favorable for some fun festivals this weekend, including: the See New England Festival (Boston; June 6), the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival (Brookline; June 6), Summer Fest at Elm Bank (Wellesley; June 7), and the Dragon Boat Festival (Cambridge; June 6 & 7).
UPDATE: Also consider the Dorchester Day parade on Sunday (lead courtesy of Adam at Universal Hub; thanks Adam!).
Thankfully for those eager to celebrate green living alongside great music, the skies are supposed to clear for this Saturday's EarthFest at the Hatch Shell in Boston. In its 16th year, 92.9’s EarthFest is a free, family friendly festival that will feature an impressive line up of live music and a host of eco-minded displays, exhibits, and food and product samples. EarthFest also will include Kids’ Planet, an expanded interactive area offering family-friendly entertainment, activities, and healthy treats.
If you’re looking to stroll off some grill fare and support community efforts this weekend, check out one (or all) of these traditional family friendly festivals: Enjoy magicians, jugglers, musicians, and more at the Faneuil Hall Street Performer Festival (May 23 - 25; 11am - 10pm). Newburyport Spring Fest (May 24 & 25; 10am - 5pm) will feature music, art, fine crafts, and food. And Lexington hosts Discovery Day on (May 23; 10am - 3pm) with live entertainment, food, and shopping.
I’m a huge proponent of finding and celebrating the green in urban spaces, and this Sunday (May 17, 2-4pm) families are invited to explore the Somerville Community Growing Center and learn about urban birds through games, activities, crafts, and interactive bird and animal songs with the Pixie Sticks. The event is free and open to the public.
At the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avenue, Somerville; 617-666-2969
Weather being what it has been, I definitely find myself thinking about the weekend, well, not too long after the week starts. And this Sunday (May 17) our friends at Hill House will host their 3rd annual Backyard Dash at Fiedler Field on the Esplanade. The day will include races for grown-ups and kiddos (registration required), and a community picnic and kids festival. Also cool: on Monday the 18th, participating Charles Street businesses will offer special Day After the Dash deals and discounts for those wearing a Backyard Dash bracelet or medal.
It was evident when I recently asked moms what they would love to have happen on Mother’s Day that relaxed time with family is a top priority. And tomorrow (May 9), you can do just that at Family Play Day on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. The event will kick off at 10am with the official unveiling of the Mothers’ Walk Wall. Following will be an afternoon of free family activities including live entertainment, crafts, and youth fitness activities. Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy local restaurant fare; the tented event is rain or shine.
I can barely run a mile - much less 26 - so it only seems fitting that I take a (much needed) day off to celebrate the Boston Marathon (the world’s oldest annual marathon!) and Patriots’ Day (the anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War at the Battles of Lexington and Concord). Commemorative activities are scheduled in Lexington and Concord; and here’s the Boston Marathon course map if you’d like to cheer on the runners roadside. Enjoy the day all!
Despite having lived all but a few years of my life in Boston, I’ve never gotten around to some of the classic Boston experiences. Given Laurel’s love for Make Way for Ducklings though, I imagine it won’t be long until we take a ride on the Boston Swan Boats. Open tomorrow for the season, the swan boats run daily, weather permitting, and are wheelchair accessible. And while you’re in the Public Garden, be sure to check whether Pack (duck #7) is back. As of our Public Garden visit last week, Pack was recovered but not yet remounted.
At long last, the weather is warming up for outside activities and exploration, and this week a few Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries are hosting aptly timed egg inspired nature programs for kids: Eggscitement at Habitat in Belmont on April 8, Egg-cellent 1 and 2 at Moose Hill in Sharon on April 9, and Great Eggspectations at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln on April 10. Registration is required.
Reader Holly wrote in with a Cape Cod tip; this venue opens for the season today:
“For families traveling to the Cape Cod area, we came upon the most amazing museum/garden/grounds! The Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich has museum buildings amidst an incredible spread of gardens, complete with an outdoor theater that has great concerts and shows. One building has an historic carousel and free rides, one is an antique car museum, and one is American art and history. The grounds are a horticultural wonderland and there is a beautiful old windmill and a cute outdoor café. I highly recommend it.”
Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove Street, Sandwich; Tel: 508-888-3300
Why not offset the winter blues and shoveling-induced aches with a little frosty celebration? This weekend you can embrace the season at any of a number of local winter festivals happening in: Acton, Boston, Chelmsford, Lowell, Newburyport, Newton, Reading, and Salem. Locations vary as to indoor and outdoor activity offerings, and some festivals are hosting activities today as well.
I’ve recently had my mind on ice skating (in fact, just this morning I posted at Pop Discourse about the lack of buzz over the impending national figure skating championships), and similarly, Laurel has been asking to hit the ice. Fortunately, my talented friend Melissa Massello (founder of the excellent budget lifestyle resource Shoestring Magazine) stepped right up with advice on local, affordable rink time. Thanks, Melissa!
Per usual, Boston's First Night offers an impressive array of events to ring in the New Year, and if you're attending with kids, check out these program components: The family festival starts at 1pm at the Hynes Convention Center, the costumed grand procession launches from the Hynes at 5:30pm, and fireworks follow the procession on the Boston Common at 7pm sharp (don’t be late; the show is 12 minutes long!). Check out the First Night 2009 page for program details beyond the early kiddie bedtime hour, and to learn where to buy your button.
Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Lauren Hefferon, mother of three, avid cyclist, and director of the bicycle tour group Ciclismo Classico. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!
If your kids are eager to get the Halloween party started early, check out tomorrow’s Fort Point Channel Pumpkin Pageant (12-4pm). Hosted by the Friends of the Fort Point Channel, this event is free and open to the public, and will include pumpkin carving and decorating, face painting, and fall treats. Costumes are welcome but not required to join the fun.
Laurel is utterly obsessed with Halloween this year, and she can’t get enough of the haunted hayrides over at Wilson Farms. These free rides run 5 days a week until October 31, and take visitors through the fields where (gently) spooky displays await. The ride is relatively (and appropriately) short, which allows time for visits to see the barnyard animals and the fish in the garden center. And this likely is part of the rationale for hosting such events, but I also love the convenience of being able to pick up groceries on the way out without having to make another stop.
These days, the spooky talk is endless around our house, and for those looking to learn more about and celebrate fall goodness, this weekend (Oct. 10-13) check out Plimoth Plantation’s Annual Harvest Festival. In addition to harvest type activities, kids no doubt will go crazy over the Haunted Pirate Ship aboard Mayflower II. Kicking off during the harvest festival, this “lite fright” event also will run the remaining weekends in October.
Today, Suz shares information about this Sunday's MDSC Buddy Walk:
“I love the month of October – the invigorating colors and crispness in the air, and the return of pumpkin lattes. October – which is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month - also brings an amazing group of “differently-abled people” into the public’s eye.
Today, Kate shares a great lead for city dwellers without a backyard:
“For those of us raising children in the city, opportunities for old-fashioned run-around and recreation time can require a bit more planning than for those in the suburbs or country. My neighborhood has several nice playgrounds and small parks, but I have no backyard and no place to store equipment or allow my daughter to race around without my supervision. For those looking to provide their kids with chances to bounce and run in the heart of the city, Boston is fortunate to have Hill House, an organization devoted entirely to recreation of all types for little ones.
The forecast is putting a wrench in this weekend's outdoor events, but let’s keep our fingers crossed for good weather on Sunday, when Boston GreenFest 2008 will condense it’s original three-day festival into a Sunday jam packed with green goodness. This free event at City Hall Plaza will showcase eco-tech innovations, information on how to incorporate green practices into daily life, and music, dancing, food, and activities for kids.
Today, Kate reports on the family friendly benefits of the minor league:
“My toddler daughter loves to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, a favorite at her daycare center, and a good choice – slowed down and with a bluesy tone – for bedtime. I wanted to give her the real experience this summer, but she’s too young and too active for the claustrophobic intensity of Fenway Park. So, we tested out two minor league parks instead – LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts (home of the Spinners) and Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine (home of the Sea Dogs) – and found that they’re great for both adults and kids, even really young ones.
If you love a good neighborhood block party, this weekend (Aug. 16, 12 - 4pm) visit the West End Children's Festival in Boston. Cozy like a block party but larger in scale, this event will celebrate art, culture, and community with entertainment and activities. Free to the public, the festival's sponsor proceeds will benefit children’s programming in the West End and surrounding communities.
My fabulous artist friend Heather wrote in regarding a free family friendly event at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Tomorrow (August 7, 5 – 8pm) families can enjoy the last seasonal installment of the Gardner’s Neighborhood Nights. This celebration of lions will include live music, storytelling, craft activities, and a lion dance troupe.
Here’s a cool and unusual weekend pick: tomorrow (Aug 2) celebrate the positive messages of old school hip hop at the Peace 2008 Hip Hop Festival at City Hall Plaza in Boston. This free event runs from 4-8 pm and will feature performances by legendary hip hop group EPMD, Chubb Rock, and Das EFX. Local acts include Acrobatik, Static Noyze, Status Quo, Esoteric, and more.
The days are longer; the bedtimes are later. And come tomorrow, you and the kids can wile away the summer hours in green fashion at ArtBeat 08 in Davis Square. Beginning tomorrow at 6pm, and running through Saturday, this green festival will feature live performances, eco-conscious exhibits, craft vendors, food, and art/green activities.
When the parks get too crowded or steamy during the summer, local museums and indoor play spaces are true lifesavers. And this Thursday (July 10), the Children’s Museum in Easton kicks off their Summer Drop-In Days with Ruff Ruffman from PBS’s FETCH! Drop by between 10:30 am - 3 pm to meet Ruff and enjoy activities and cake in the museum’s new outdoor learning center, The Wild Place.
Want to win one of two 4-packs of CME tickets to enjoy the FETCH! event*? Here’s how:
‘Tis the season for strawberries! If your kid can't get enough of these berries, be sure to hit one of the many strawberry festivals being held this weekend at Smolak Farms (Andover), Verrill Farm (Concord), Connors Farm (Danvers), Russell Orchards (Ipswich), Wilson Farm (Lexington), Ward’s Berry Farm (Sharon), and Land’s Sake Farm (Weston).
Tickets to the Red Sox can be tough to come by, so how’s this for a fun Father’s Day baseball twist: Hop the ferry over to Georges Island this Sunday for a free vintage baseball game - complete with 1860’s uniforms - at Fort Warren. The Essex Base Ball Club and Waterbury Connors will play a double-header, with games at 11:00 am & 1:00 pm. Alternatively, the dad band The Pop Stars will rock Georges Island with free Father’s Day concerts at noon and 2 pm.
Hooray for spring outdoor fun! Here are some family friendly picks to consider as you plan your weekend: For nature enthusiasts, Sunday offers the Nature Festival at Ipswich River, the Spring Fling and Silent Auction at the Boston Nature Center in Mattapan, and the Kids Take Pix nature photography program in Cambridge. For music lovers, there’s the Needham Spring Arts Festival (Saturday), Dedham Square Music Festival (Saturday & Sunday), and Cambridge New School of Music Family Music Festival (Sunday).
Some days, no playground structure seems tall enough for my climbing monkey. And once Laurel is old enough, clearly, it’ll be time to hit the Boston Rock Gym in Woburn. Offering novices to experts plenty of room to rock, we dig that this climbing facility offers courses exclusively for women, as well as an impressive dedicated youth program for kids 5 and up. Youth programming includes daily classes, flexible summer camp sessions, climbing teams, and birthday parties for 7-12 year olds. Talk about a perfect way to burn off the cake-induced sugar rush.
Want to win a BRG Family Intro Class*? Here’s how:
If you’re looking to kick off the summer in high flying fashion, head to Wollaston Beach this Sunday (12-4pm) for the Friends of Wollaston Beach 2nd Annual Kite Festival. Families are invited to join in the fun (BYOK, or purchase one at the festival) with Kites Over New England and Sea Side Kites of Hull.
As much as I love being an urban dweller, nothing brings me more peace than nature, and Boston is lucky to have amidst its hustle and bustle the multi-faceted, family friendly Franklin Park. This Saturday (April 5, 10am – noon) you can show your kid what the song “Everybody clean up” means outdoors at the park’s Spring Clean-up Day. The grounds need the TLC - and families will benefit from the fresh air - after a long winter.
Nothing says spring in Boston like a week where bright shamrocks, the spring equinox, and a little snow all coexist on the agenda. Whether you wish to celebrate your Irish heritage, or simply dig festive processions, check out Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade this Sunday starting at 1pm at the Broadway T stop in South Boston. Abington and Scituate also will host parades this Sunday, as will Holyoke and Manchester, NH on the 30th. And if you happen to be cross continental, Dublin’s parade is, of course, on Monday.
Whether or not your family escaped to a balmy February vacation destination this week, you can embrace winter this Sunday (Feb. 24) at the Stony Brook Reservation Frozen Fun Fest. Enjoy a free afternoon including skating (BYO-skates), a hockey clinic, ice sledging (sledges provided), and other winter fun. Bundle up, and consider bringing hot drinks in a thermos too.
75 Turtle Pond Pkwy, Hyde Park; Tel: 617-333-7404
Happy Lunar New Year everyone! We hope you enjoy this collection of family friendly Chinese New Year festivities taking place over the next 10 days in Boston and the surrounding areas.
I haven't exactly been thinking favorably of members of the squirrel family these days, but today I’ll put aside my differences and direct you to a host of festivities in honor of Groundhog Day tomorrow. Consider visiting the Blue Hills Reservation (Milton; see flyer), Buttonwood Park Zoo (New Bedford), Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary (Ipswich), Long Hill (Beverly), or the South Shore Natural Science Center (Norwell).
Looking for a way to work off those holiday cookies and experience the winter weather without a shovel in hand? Check out the Kendall Square Community Ice Rink in East Cambridge, where you can skate recreationally, take lessons, or host a party. A café serving hot drinks and snacks is available.
300 Athenaeum Street, Cambridge; Tel: 617-492-0941
Having spent most of my college summers and winter breaks temping in downtown Boston, I really feel for Downtown Crossing's recent struggles, as various anchor retailers have left the area. This weekend, consider heading downtown to enjoy the holiday events that are part tradition/part revitalization effort. From 11am – 5pm you can take advantage of shopping deals, take a photo with Santa, enjoy refreshments, and visit the holiday petting zoo. And for little train enthusiasts, South Station’s holiday train exhibit is just one T stop (or brief walk) away, down Summer Street.
Keep your blades crossed for favorable triple axel weather as the Rink at The Charles opens this Sunday (Dec. 9). From noon to 8pm, enjoy complimentary skating (free entry and free skate rental!), beverages, entertainment, and a kid’s activity room with cookie decorating, coloring, and ornament crafting.
The Charles Hotel Courtyard, One Bennett Street, Cambridge (Harvard Square); Tel: 617-864-1200
I'm not sure whether it was a coincidence that my two closest college girlfriends both were former competitive figure skaters, but I've always had a place in my heart for the ice, regardless of the fact that I have long been limited to scooter-pushing my way around the boards.
And whether you spin or scoot, starting tomorrow you can strut your stuff at the Frog Pond Skating Rink on the Boston Common. The season starts tomorrow and ends March 17. Click here for hours and rates; tel: 617-635-2120.
Weekend fun is doubly sweet when it benefits those in need. Tomorrow’s Boston Pumpkin Festival at City Hall Plaza includes a free day (12 – 8pm) of family friendly entertainment, food, and pumpkins galore. Proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Sunshine, a national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. And through Sunday nationwide, indulge in a cupcake at a participating bakery and mention Cupcakes for a Cause. Cupcake proceeds will benefit CancerCare for Kids. Locally, Rosie’s Bakery takes the cake as a major participant.
How can you not want to check out an event called Project YUM? This Saturday from 3-6pm (Sunday rain date) enjoy the fabulous culinary diversity of Union Square via Project YUM’s celebration of local crops and global shops. In addition to sampling exotic foods and locally grown veggies, you and the kids can enjoy craft projects and entertainment, learn about the healing properties of food, herbs, flowers, and plants, and watch chefs from Gargoyles, Evoo, and The Independent face off in an Iron Chef challenge.
No visit to the Boston Public Garden is complete without a photo op with the Make Way for Ducklings
“Robert McCloskey’s gentle Make Way for Ducklings
Here’s a novel idea for some of your tired, outgrown baby clothing. Head to the Children’s Museum in Easton this Sunday (9/23, 11am - 4pm) for their Scarecrow Stomp fall family festival, where you can craft a spooky scarecrow to take home (CME provides the stuffing) and enjoy other fall crafts, games, and music. Admission includes the Scarecrow Stomp + entrance to the museum’s exhibits.
Want to win four tickets to the Scarecrow Stomp? Email us by midnight EST tonight and name another fun special event on CME’s schedule. We’ll draw one winner from the correct responders.
Little bookworms no doubt will delight in the Boston Globe Children's Book Festival at Copley Square tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 15) from 11am – 5pm. This free, rain or shine event is particularly well suited to kids up to 9-10 years old; the schedule includes readings and signings by children's authors and illustrators, performances, face painting, giveaways, and more.
This weekend, festivals and family fun abound in Boston and beyond. Here’s a collection of events where no doubt there will be something for everyone: (ähts): The Boston Arts Festival, the Somerville Greek Music & Food Festival, the West Concord Family Festival, Arlington Town Day, Eastham Windmill Weekend, the Medford Arts Festival, the Lowell Rib’n Brews Festival, and, for the more agriculturally oriented, the Sterling and Franklin County fairs.
Here’s a terrific nature outing to consider this long weekend, submitted to us by one of our readers: “We just went to Elm Bank at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley, and it was a great adventure on a nice day! It is absolutely beautiful there, being outside and running around the children's gardens…they have great programs for kids year round.”
Get back to nature this Sunday at the Stony Brook Kids Fest (11am - 3pm). Free outdoor fun will include crafts, games, live animals, food, music, and more. At the Stony Brook Reservation, Turtle Pond Parkway, West Roxbury, Hyde Park; Tel: 617-333-7404.
Looking for a family adventure where you can enjoy creatures and creature comforts (e.g., ice cream)? Here’s a great lead from my mama pal Evadne:
"We recently went strawberry picking at Smolak Farms and the whole family (grandparents included!) had such a blast. The fruit picking experience in and of itself was wonderful, but the farm had so many extras! My 2-year old loved seeing the deer, peacocks, and llamas at the petting zoo, and he expended a ton of energy on the climbing structures (especially the tractor). I was even able to nurse my 4-month-old under one of the umbrella picnic tables, while downing some pizza & ice cream. We definitely plan to visit again and next time we hope to squeeze in a hayride."
One college summer, I held a receptionist temp job at one of the old candy factories near Central Square, during which time I inhaled residual candy fumes to a point of blissful delusion. Today, Sharon reports on the multisensory magic to take place in Union Square this weekend:
“Whether you take you babe or get a sitter to have a night out with your honey, you’ll most definitely be brought back into a childlike wonder with the Somerville Art Council’s screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… in smell-o-vision!
Maybe it’s a function of having a preschooler who isn’t yet into wizardry, but I’m not at all up on Harry Potter, and it’s clear from the hoopla planned in Hogwarts (Harvard) Square tomorrow (July 20), that I’m in the minority.
In addition to free concerts by Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys, and the Hungarian Horntails, numerous Harvard Square businesses are participating in tomorrow’s Potterpalooza, which starts at 5pm and runs late enough for eager readers to line up to buy the 7th Harry Potter installment
Although I’m no longer an active performer, music will always conjure images of passion and sacrifice thanks to my mom, a self-taught pianist who scrimped and saved during nursing school to buy the violin that ultimately became my appendage for 20 years (she planned on playing and then the kids started coming down the pike…), and who snuck me to private music lessons under an oath of secrecy because my dad thought music was superfluous; something that could only take away from a booming medical or law career.
To witness works of art well beyond the means of your local sandbox, check out the family friendly New England Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach. Master sand sculptors from around the world begin competing tomorrow; event proceeds benefit Revere Beach preservation programs.
Laurel unfortunately has learned about fireworks by being woken up by local displays, and during the latest show, I could understand her distress. Given the proximity of the show, her bedroom was awash in bursts of bright light and noise.
Tomorrow's fireworks are well past Laurel's bedtime but I’m contemplating either keeping or waking her up to remove the element of surprise and show her that the “noisy color lights” are safe from a distance. Check out Boston’s classic festivities, or explore event listings in Greater Boston and the suburbs, and throughout New England.
I’m a classic New Englander with a hang up about the region’s weather variability, and as I’ve dragged along during the heat wave, I can hardly believe that I was in my last trimester with Laurel during this time of year. Clearly, the only reason I survived was frequent soft serve twist cones.
If you’re looking to submerge yourself in something more expansive than the backyard kiddie pool, there are lots of public spaces to cool off. The Boston Common Frog Pond Spray Pool opens tomorrow, the City of Boston’s pools and cooling centers have opened, and the Mass. DCR offers directories for pools, fresh water beaches, and ocean beaches (including specific listings for handicapped accessible beaches and pools) across the state.
My family birthday list includes a weird proliferation of birthdays that align with national holidays, including the July 4th birthday of my fabulous niece. I think it’s pretty cool that she’ll always be guaranteed a big, fanfare-laden national party on her day.
Boston’s July 4th celebration can be enjoyed starting tomorrow via Boston Harborfest. Running through July 4th, Harborfest includes over 200 daily events through the historic downtown and waterfront districts, and at Boston’s City Hall Plaza. The main events include: the Harborfest Concert Series (daily), Chowderfest (Sunday, July 1), and Children’s Day (Monday, July 2).
This weekend's family event picks are all about free "ahts" and "cultcha." Tonight at 7pm and tomorrow at 4pm, enjoy "A Celebration of the Sea," a concert highlighting Boston's nautical history, featuring Circle of Song, Revels's touring ensemble of adults and children (with special guests, David Coffin, Marshall Hughes, and Milton Wright). Outdoors at the Boston Children's Museum Children's Wharf Park.
And as part of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, check out Strings and Things! tomorrow at 10am. This interactive performance features Monique Mead and Andres Cardenes (violin), Anne Martindale Williams (cello), David Leisner (guitar), and Marc Ryser (piano). At the Rockport Art Association.
If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Dad this weekend (sending him out to mow the lawn doesn’t count…), consider these cool weekend picks:
Pick your own strawberries at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln or at the Lookout Farm in South Natick. Enjoy a weekend of nature inspired celebration and activity along the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers at the Sixth Annual Riverfest. Or twist and shout tomorrow (noon - 6pm) along the Charles at the Cambridge River Festival.
If you’re looking for a peaceful change of scenery and a chance to get a little exercise, check out Babes in the Woods, a free Tuesday drop in activity at the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham. Tomorrow’s event (June 12, 10 – 11:30am) will involve stroller-friendly loops around Bellevue Pond. Next Tuesday’s event will be a more challenging (but not strenuous) hike, suitable for slings, packs, or rugged terrain strollers.
The forecast is looking good for our two favorite outdoor event picks for tomorrow. Introduce your kiddies to Asian culture at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival of Boston, a free event that will feature dragon boat races, food, arts and crafts, and live entertainment from 9am - 5pm along the Charles River (click here for details). And burb-side, check out the DeCordova’s Art in the Park Festival and Art Sale (10am - 5pm), which will feature performances, art activities, food, and an art exhibition and sale featuring over 100 of New England’s finest artists and artisans.
As a kid, I spent a lot of time in Jamaica Plain (working at the family mom and pop store) before JP became a hip locale brimming with artists and interest. Tomorrow (June 7, 6 - 8pm), enjoy the cultural buzz along Centre and South Streets at this month’s installment of First Thursdays 2007. The event will feature art openings, family friendly music, artisans, and poetry (including open mic); pick up a complimentary pedometer and join fellow JP Walks enthusiasts to burn off your visit to JP Licks.
Nothing says summer like outdoor festivals. Tomorrow, consider heading up for Arts Fest Beverly (10am – 6pm). Cabot Street will be replete with artists, crafters, live entertainment, and food; Open Studios also will be running. This free event is rain or shine. For more information, call 978-922-8558.
If you’re looking for an adventure during today’s blissful day off, check out the buskers at the Faneuil Hall Street Performers Festival (11am – 6pm; and hit Beard Papa’s if you’ve got a craving for sweets...), or the Art, Flowers & All That Jazz Festival in Newburyport (10am – 5pm). The latter event includes music, arts and crafts, food, and a special music and story area for kids.
Tomorrow’s forecast is looking good for MayFair in Harvard Square, a free afternoon event (noon - 6pm) replete with food vendors, live entertainment, and artisans and merchants selling handmade, vintage, recycled, costume, antique, and sidewalk sale items.
The festivities span Harvard Square’s JFK Street, Brattle Street, Mass. Ave., Church Street, and Eliot Triangle, and will include free kid-friendly activities & crafts, snack samples, and entertainment.
Mother Nature will serve up fabulous weekend weather, perfectly timed for Earth Day events at the 8th Annual Charles River Cleanup (Saturday, 9am-12pm) and the Franklin Park Zoo (Sunday, 11am-3pm).
For the Charles River cleanup, show up at 9am at one of the drop in sites in Boston, Brighton, Watertown, Waltham, Needham, or Bellingham to receive supplies and instructions. Franklin Park Zoo’s earth party (free with admission) will include crafts, activities, animal encounters, exhibitors, and entertainment by Radio Disney. You also can participate in the zoo’s recycling drive, and little ones can learn about zoo animals through yoga and play (11am, 2pm).
Charles River Cleanup, multiple locations; Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Dorchester; Tel: 617-541-5466
One of Laurel’s school pals eats waffles every morning for breakfast and subsequently always smells distinctly like a sweet puddle of maple syrup. This little guy thus ought to be thrilled that March is maple sugaring time in New England.
This weekend your kids can learn that maple syrup has a life beyond the breakfast aisle via demos at Brookwood Farm in the Blue Hills Reservation and at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Click each link for admission and schedule details; the Brookwood link also includes additional maple sugaring programs offered this month by the Mass DCR.
Blue Hills Reservation, 695 Hillside Street, Milton; Tel: 617-698-1802 & Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield; Tel: 978-887-9264
If you can’t beat the winter weather, you might as well join in. Throughout today and all day tomorrow, Lowell Winterfest celebrates the season with a full schedule, including free ice skating, face painting, magic shows, tundra rides, and fireworks, as well as crafts, live entertainment, a soup bowl competition, and the ever popular National Human Dogsled Championships.
Winter days in Boston don’t get more picturesque than today, where the snow falls light and pretty, and brushing off your car takes mere minutes.
All the better to leave you with time to bundle up and get your skating groove on at The Rink at The Charles Hotel. Located on the plaza side that opens out into Harvard Square, until early March the rink is open from 2pm - 8pm on weekdays and 10am - 8pm on weekends. Skate rentals are $5 and skating fees are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 years old.
And after cutting your figures, be sure to reward yourself with a decadent hot chocolate at L.A. Burdick’s on Brattle Street.
The Rink at The Charles Hotel, One Bennett Street, Cambridge; Tel: 617-234-8008
Many, many years ago I picked up a contract editing gig with First Night Boston and I was floored by the amount of programming the then small team assembled. And the organizers are still at it, with First Night 2007 offering over 200 performances, exhibitions, and workshops featured at over 40 Boston venues.
Events run from 1pm to midnight on December 31. Admission buttons ($15; children under 4 free) are good all day, and also can be used for discounts throughout the month of January at select venues. Be sure to check out the handy search engine (category, time of day, indoor/outdoor venue, artist) to help plan your day. Happy New Year!
There are few experiences more classically Boston than meandering the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill (and it’s amazing that mere steps can make the construction chaos of the Charles Street T stop a distant memory).
Bundle up tomorrow for the Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll along Charles Street. Open to the public, the evening (5-9pm) will include festivities and refreshments, buggy rides, Santa Claus, tree lighting, and of course, the specialty of Charles Street, shopping.
Today after a meeting downtown, I decided to put off the to do list for a couple of hours and connect with my husband for lunch. That in itself was a huge treat (more on the inspiration for that get together, and the restaurant itself, later), and as I crossed Government Center and Faneuil Hall to meet Jon, I was struck by how lovely it was to be walking along the cobblestones, taking in the city and waterfront, especially now that the elevated Central Artery is gone.
Tomorrow afternoon you can experience Faneuil Hall in high spirits; at 1pm Santa (I’d prefer a nondenominational holiday spirit, but so be it…) will kick off a celebration of music and lights, featuring performances by bell ringers, singers, and dancers from across New England. At 7pm, you can participate in the countdown leading to the illumination of over 300,000 lights set along the buildings and trees of Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Luckily it looks like the weather will clear in time for the Stone Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo event, Saturday and Sunday (October 21 & 22), from 11am to 3pm. You and your munchkin can traverse the trick-or-treat trail and haunted maze, rock out to music provided by Radio Disney, and get creepy with crafts, critters, and costume contests. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $4.50 for children ages 2-12, and free for kids under 2 and members.
I’m still struggling with the concept for Laurel’s Halloween costume request (“big yellow grape”), but this event likely will prove entertaining, costume or not.
Stone Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, Tel: 781-438-5100
Farms and fall in New England typically conjure vibrant, cheerful images; what a pity it was to read on Universal Hub that Honey-Pot Hill Orchards in Stow – where I happily have picked apples in years past – has evolved into a headache-inducing, commercial nightmare.
The good news is that you still can devise a pastoral outing while saving on aggravation and mileage, so long as you are okay ditching the apple ladders. Closer to Boston is Arena Farms in Concord, a lovely farm stand offering an impressive selection of fruits, vegetables and flowers, as well as a bountiful pumpkin area (shown, Laurel helping with farm chores last year), fun displays of freakishly large or mottled pumpkins, and an area to see baby animals.
Arena Farms, 167 Fairhaven Rd (Route 2), Concord, Tel: (978) 369-4769
UPDATE (11/2/07): Sadly, Arena Farms closed the week of October 29, 2007.
Looking for a wild outdoor adventure before the rain hits this weekend? The Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farm offers a host of activities, among them a fully functioning farmyard, animal exhibits, learning gardens, hayrides, and hiking trails (during the summer, they also offer camp programs). The farm has free parking, family bathrooms, a picnic area, farm stand, and gift shop. They also offer birthday party hosting services during the school year.
Drumlin Farm is open from 9am-5pm March - October; 9am-4pm November - February. The farm is closed Mondays except on federal Monday holidays. Admission: $6 for nonmember adults; $4 for nonmember children (3-12) and seniors.
Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln; Tel: 781-259-2200
If you’re looking to squeeze a little more summer out of summer, check out the 17th Annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival running today through Sunday (September 8-10, 2006). A mere hour drive from Boston, the festival has been heralded as "One of the Top 100 Events in North America" by the American Business Association, and includes seafood offerings from over 50 of the Seacoast's top restaurants, nearly 200 local arts & crafts and merchant vendors, a full schedule of events for kids at KiddieLand, culinary chef demonstrations, and live entertainment. Fireworks and skydiving also are on the schedule, as is a 5K road race (pre-registration required).
Festival planners have organized free parking and shuttle service from 13 in-town satellite parking lots; for those who want to park closer to the beach, Hampton Beach Trolleys offers free shuttle service from the State Park near the Seabrook Bridge.
Festival admission: Friday night is free, individual Saturday and Sunday adult admission is $5 per day or a 2-day pass is available for $8. Children under 12 admitted free of charge.
My babe recently started saying, “Fall is coming!” Indeed. If you haven't yet had the chance, take advantage of the remaining good weather and enjoy the Swan Boats of Boston before the season's end. Until September 17, 2006, rides are available from 12 – 4pm on weekdays, and 10am to 4pm on weekends.
And there’s plenty to do before or after the 15-minute cruise. Head over to the fabulous Frog Pond Park, stretch out on the grass for a picnic, or stroll the shops on nearby Charles Street.
Swan Boats at the Boston Public Garden; Arlington station (Green line) or park at the Boston Common Underground Parking Garage. Swan boat fares are $2.75 for adults, $1.25 for kids (ages 2 – 15), and $2 for seniors. Tel: 617-522-1966.
I will save my seminar on music and innateness for another day. Meanwhile, consider taking a drive to Tanglewood in Lenox. At 3pm tomorrow (Saturday, August 19) members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra will perform The Tanglewood Family Concert, “Musical Storytelling: An Afternoon of Music, Stories & Drawing.” The program includes Tchaikovsky’s Children’s Album Op. 39, Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, and Satie’s Sports & Divertissements. Kids are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal, drawing pad, and crayons or markers. Tickets are $10 for adults; children 12 and under are free.
There are few places on earth like Tanglewood. What with the music, stories, and art framed within Tanglewood’s verdant, expansive backdrop, your family no doubt will be in for a whole brain experience.
For a peaceful retreat alone or with your little adventurer, head to the Massachusetts Audubon Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont. Habitat offers over 2.5 miles of light trails through deciduous and evergreen forests, across meadows, around 2 ponds, and along a wetland containing a vernal pool. You’ll quickly forget that you are just 6 miles out from downtown Boston.
The visitor center holds regular art exhibits, and offers a nature center, garden terrace, and restrooms. Habitat also offers a number of 5 to 10 day summer camp programs (for children ages 4.5 – 14). Call to check on availability for the mid-late August programs.
Trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm. Admission is $4 for nonmember adults; $3 for nonmember children (3-12) and seniors.
Habitat, 10 Juniper Road, Belmont, Tel: 617-489-5050
When you are next looking for an outing that is a little more Zen and a little less zoo, head to the peaceful, manicured Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset every day; admission is free (although donations are welcome).
The Arboretum offers seasonal two-hour school programs for students in grades 3 to 6 that are designed to encourage the investigation of plant science. Classes are free for kids from Boston schools, $4 otherwise. One-day and multi-session horticulture, botany, and landscape-related courses are offered for adults of all levels.
Ready to rock out? The 2006 Lowell Folk Festival (July 28 - 30) transforms downtown Lowell into a haven for traditional music, dance, craft demonstrations, street parades, dance parties, and delicious ethnic foods. Performances and activities are free; you just pick up the food tab.
Kids of all ages are welcome. Check out the special family activities area, or stretch out on a piece of lawn to rest and rejuvenate. Bring toys and snacks for the babe, a blanket, and plenty of water so you can save your line waiting time (and money) for the terrific food vendors.
Finished trolling around Faneuil Hall and the North End and need to take a load off? Then head over to the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park on Atlantic Avenue in Boston. Not only is the harbor view and landscaping a relaxing retreat for adults, but your babe will love the playground, green space, and spray fountain.
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Tel: 617-635-4505
I love that my dad used to use the term “dog party” whenever he saw a big group of dogs playing. You’ll see that and more at the Beaver Brook Reservation (Mill Street, Belmont/Waltham). This impressive piece of land includes 59 acres of open fields, wetlands and woodlands that are open to walking, biking, and picnicking. The north section of the park includes ponds, fields, marsh, and a cascading waterfall. The south section of the park (immediately visible from Route 60) includes ball fields, a wading/spray pool, and a tot lot. There also are restrooms on site when the park is open.
During the summer the spray pool is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 4:30pm; the tot lot/reservation daily from 10am – 6pm. There is no admission fee to the reservation. Tel: 617-484-6357.
The underground parking rates at Boston Common Garage are well worth the fun of Frog Pond and Frog Pond Park. In the winter Frog Pond is a famous skating rink; in the summer, the pond is a place for kids to cool off. The Frog Pond spray pool and wading program is open daily from 11 am to 6 pm (free of charge) until Labor Day. Call 617-635-2120 for updated information.
Before or after dipping in the pond, check out the awesome Frog Pond Park two steps away. This terrific playground has lots of cool structures to explore, including what my yummy niece called the “frog potty” (frog sculpture holding a life preserver).
Tired of the local park? Then head over to the DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln. The meticulous grounds instill a sense of peace, and parents and babes alike will delight in the giant sculptures, elevated rock garden, and mini-waterfall pathway. The enormous Trojan Piggy Bank (pictured) no doubt will impress guests of all ages.
The Sculpture Park is open year round during daylight hours. Admission is charged during Museum Gallery operating hours only (Tuesday - Sunday, 10am to 5pm; $9 for adults, $6 for seniors, students, and children ages 6-12; children 5 and under are admitted free). Outside of these times, access to the Sculpture Park is free. DeCordova Members, Lincoln residents, and Active Duty Military Personnel and their dependents are admitted free at all times. See the Hours & Admissions info page for further information.
The DeCordova also offers family-oriented educational programming to introduce kids to visual arts.
Decordova Museum & Sculpture Park, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, Tel: 781-259-8355
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