Winter in Rochester!
Winter is here!Indoor Recreation Centers Master list of local libraries: Quick links to their events Great Winter Hikes in Central/Western New York Museums and family fun centers  How to Bully-Proof Your Child: Practical Tips Those wacky Webster Children's Librarians! 
|
KidsOutAndAbout.com newsletterSent May 9, 2008Click here to sign up for the newsletter. Dear KOA readers: This is one of those looooong newsletters because there is so much to report. So get yourself a nice cup of coffee, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. As "out and about" as we Rosses are, we tend to listen to a lot of books on tape in the car. This week, the girls and I heard a great one that's appropriate for Mother's Day: the Sarah, Plain and Tall trilogy by Patricia MacLachlan, which won the Newbery Award in 1986. Glenn Close does a terrific job at the narration; I highly recommend getting it out of the library. It's perfect for kids age 7-12. And for moms, too. I love that the story, set in the early 20th century, has a genuinely interesting plot without needing to draw in any bad people to generate excitement (much like the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories). The first two books are written from the daughter's perspective, the third from the son's. In 1991, Close starred in the made-for-TV movie of the same name, and I just found out that the video for *that* is all over the Monroe County Library system, too. I might choose that for what we'll be doing on Mother's Day except... 2) Of course on Mother's Day I'll be busy doing what I'm always doing on Mother's Day, if the stars and the minor league baseball schedules line up right: We'll be at the Red Wings game, in the upper stands over the third base line. This Sunday there will not only be catch with Mom in the outfield after the game (bring your mitts), but there will also be a baseball giveaway to the first 1,000 kids 14 & under. And also, as on every Sunday afternoon game, after the game the kids can line up by first base to run the bases with Spikes & Mittsy. In past years, we moms all got carnations, too...we'll see if they do that again. 3) Speaking (above) of Laura Ingalls Wilder, there will be a new event at the Genesee Country Museum this summer: Laura Ingalls Wilder Day. It will be Saturday, August 9, and I expect it will generate a lot of buzz. Because Laura's husband Almanzo was born in upstate New York, there will be an emphasis on the book Farmer Boy. Visitors will celebrate Wilder's writings with fun activities for the younger set, including games, sack races, ice cream making, and town ball. Learn to make a corncob doll like Laura's doll Susan in Little House in the Big Woods. There will even be a Laura Ingalls Wilder look-alike contest--so, those of you with interested daughters, start practicing your hair-braiding techniques. 4) The end of the year is zipping close to us, and I was thinking a bit about some of the terrific programs in which my kids participate, and the educators and other adults who enrich their lives. I'm sure you can name these for yourself, too...people who really go above and beyond for our kids...a certain Brownie leader in our lives comes to mind. Before it's too late and the end of the year passes us by, start planning how you're going to say Thank You for their efforts. Because after all, they're obviously not doing it for the money, and a job well done deserves applause. 5) I always try to name publicly some of those experiences and people that have been particularly wonderful for my own kids so other parents can take advantage of all the gems Rochester has to offer our children. One of those has been Madison's experience with the Bach Children's Chorus. The BCC is for kids age 8-15. The music education Madison has received, and the opportunities she has had to perform great music with some of the best musicians in Rochester, have made this an incomparable experience. Entrance to the BCC is by audition only; they are having an information session for prospective new singers and their parents on Saturday, May 17 at 9:30 a Nazareth College. Details for this event can be found at 6) Speaking of applause, one local librarian deserves a lot of it: Adrienne Furness, Children's Librarian at the Webster Public Library, has recently published Helping Homeschoolers in the Library with ALA Press. I am so delighted for Adrienne that I've helped organize a little "You go, girl!" party to celebrate the book release. Homeschoolers and their kids are invited to meet Adrienne and have cake, coffee, snacks, juice, etc., at the Webster Library at 1:30 this coming Thursday, May 15. I'm getting a cool cake with her book cover on it, and I need to know how many people might come. So, homeschoolers, please RSVP to me at ross@kidsoutandabout.com. Even if you will go, but won't eat cake, please do let me know. 7) Let's look ahead even a little further: I wanted to give readers a heads-up for the WordGirl Extravaganza Event on June 7 from 10am-12noon at the WXXI studios. This is for kids age 6-9, and it's to celebrate the new 5-day-per-week WordGirl schedule launch. You need to sign up in advance, and I expect this will be filled rather quickly, so here is the web site for more details: 8) The Grossology exhibit at Strong Museum closes on Sunday. So if you've been meaning not to miss it, you have a few days. Strong Museum will also have Bear Country weekends every weekend in May. And, they have a special "Wicked Weekend" next weekend to celebrate Wicked's coming to Rochester: Munchkins and witches are invited to Strong’s Wicked Weekend of theatre workshops for kids May 17 & 18. For more information, go to: 9) Partylite products are sold at home parties like Tupperware. Krystal DeVuyst, a mom from our area, is an Independent Partylite Consultant, and she asked me to let you know she has a special offer for KOA readers: Anyone who books a party with her will get a gift just for booking the party. Partylite offers a range of products, from candles to home décor and body care. Check out www.partylite.com. Krystal can be contacted at kdevuyst001@rochester.rr.com. 10) A new playgroup has formed: Posh Mommy and Me is a new group of fun, outgoing, and caring moms who put their families first, but keep themselves on the to-do list. They do activities from park playdates, in-home playgroups, and pool parties to Mom's Night's Out & In and weekend family events! They are happily accepting new members with children ranging from newborn to 3 years old who are interested in attending two or more meetups a week. For more information, see: 11) At a time when it seems as though the prices for everything are increasing, I found out something really cool from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Starting this summer, lawn tickets at the CMAC in Canandaigua for all Saturday evening RPO concerts are FREE to kids 12 and under. And, if you want to buy kids a seat under the shell, it's 50% off. As I told their PR person, Amy Blum, when she called me this week to let me know, this fact effectively doubles the number of RPO concerts we'll be taking the kids to this summer. For lawn tickets, we usually wait to make sure the weather is good, and drive on down with a nice picnic basket and purchase our tickets in person. The concert my kids are most interested in is on Saturday, July 12: THE PLANETS: HUBBLE’S VIEW; it will feature Holst's The Planets and music from John Williams' Star Wars. It will also have beautiful film and photo images from NASA’s unmanned spacecraft, including the Hubble Telescope. 12) Can I possibly have gotten this far in the newsletter without mentioning the Lilac Festival? Yes, it seems to be true. Anyway, it starts today, and runs through Sunday the 18th. No danger that the lilacs won't be out this year, thanks to those glorious two warm weeks in April. You can click here for the full schedule: http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=15659 13) Now let us put on our binoculars and peer FAR into the future: The next Mommy & Me event will be held on April 11, 2009 at the Dome Arena. Patti Ronsvalle, the organizer, will be offering special early-bird rates to small businesses and women-owned businesses that want to be vendors. Contact Patti at pattiup@rochester.rr.com for details about all the stuff you get if you sign up before July. 14) We have three giveaways currently live (one drawing Monday) at 15) Not all May days beckon you outside, of course. Some are cold and rainy. And for that, we have a new web page up on KidsOutAndAbout.com: Indoor Recreation and Play Places. That page can be found at 16) Speaking waaaaaaay above of gems in Rochester: In Jackie Perrin's recently-published KOA article on spring day trips close to Rochester, she details the various places in upstate and western New York that one can "mine" for gems. But all of those places are at least two to three hours away. I just found out that a local business that we all love has realized the opportunity to fill a market gap here: Long Acre Farms out in Macedon is adding a gem mining activity to the farm this spring, to be up and running probably by the end of this month. Count on us to go and provide you with an article and photos as soon as they're available! 17) I'm sorry I've come to the end here without detailing this weekend's various activities, it would take too long. It seems to be a heavy weekend for community garage sales. And dads, take heart...if you haven't yet brought the kids out to make/buy Mother's Day presents, there is at least one activity where you can do so. But you all will have to scan the calendar yourselves by going to Happy Mother's Day, everyone!
Debra Ross Click here to sign up for the newsletter if you are not yet subscribed. . |
What's new!What to do in Rochester's winter Click to see live giveaways!Updated 1/5 with a special TYKES Theatre drawing! A whole kid's party on a CD: A review of ScrapSMART Food Shopping Away from the Grocery Store Shopping for Food Bargains in and around Rochester  New! Reviews of great new family board games New! Indoor recreation and play places 
|
Featured article: