Stay in and make something

It's supposed to be another rainy day in Philly tomorrow so rather than get depressed (after all the rest of the week is supposed to be gorgeous!!) why not stay in and make something???

Check out these Easter craft, activity, and recipe ideas for inspiration!

Stay in and make something

Kids Consignment Sale Season

It's spring and you know what that means - kids' consignment sale time in and around our area. Get your gameplans ready to hit the sales for the best bargains in spring and summer clothes, toys and baby items at seriously reduced prices. Just be willing to fight the crowds, brave the lines and survive the frenzy of these great semi-annual consignment sale events. Check out what's coming up:

April 9-11
Just Between Friends (West Chester/Brandywine area)
http://westchester.jbfsale.com/

April 15-18
Just Between Friends (Western Main Line)
http://westernmainline.jbfsale.com/

April 16-18
Bizzy Kidz Consignment Sale (Northeast Phila)
http://www.bizzykidzconsignment.com/

April 16, 17
Spring Chicken Sale (Havertown)
http://www.springchickensale.com/

Kids Consignment Sale Season

Hippity Hoppity - The Bunny Abounds

Easter fun abounds this weekend leading up to the holiday weekend proper. Check out some of these fun events:

Breakfast with the Bunny
Saturday March 27 & Sunday March 28, 2010 (and April 3)
9-10am (egg hunt begins at 9am)
Easter Egg Hunt, Breakfast, Crayola gift, photo opp
Crayola Factory
Easton, PA
crayolafactory.com
$15 children/$13 adults

Boscov's Easter Eggstravaganza
Saturday March 27, 2010
11am-2pm
Pictures with the Boscov's Bunny
Children are invited to have a FREE picture taken with the Boscov's Bunny. There will also be an Easter Coloring Station where children can take home their own Easter coloring book.
Boscov's Plymouth Meeting Mall
Plymouth Meeting, PA


Bunny Hop
Saturday March 27 & Sunday March 28, 2010
10am-4pm
Jump around to stations throughout the Zoo's gardens to pick up sweet treats, participate in an egg hunt and other springtime activities and visit with the Easter Bunny. Free with paid admission.
www.philadelphiazoo.org


Hayrides to Bunnyland
Saturday thru Saturday, March 27 thru April 3, 2010
11 am – 4 pm $8 per person
Linvilla Orchards famous Hayrides to Bunnyland is a hayride thru the woods to visit the Easter Bunnies house, the Easter Bunny visits with everyone on the ride and gives them each a treat.
Linvilla Orchards
Media, PA
http://www.linvilla.com/

Mad Hatter Tea Party
Saturday March 27, 2010
10am & 1pm
At this annual party, families can enjoy appetizers, get up-close with animals and meet the Easter Bunny. Every child can get his or her photo taken with one of the Zoo's rabbits and will receive a special gift.
$15-20
www.elmwoodparkzoo.org (pre-register 610-277-3825)

Saturday Afternoon Tea with the Easter Bunny
Saturday March 27, 2010
Afternoon tea includes a traditional tea, stories & music and time with the Easter Bunny. Each child receives a storybook gift. Ages 3-8.
$49.95 for one child + one adult
Radnor Hotel
St. David's, PA

Lansdowne Borough Egg Hunt
Sunday March 28, 2010
1pm
The Lansdowne Parks 7 Recreation Department is sponsoring the annual Spring Egg Hunt at Hoffman Park. This event is free and for children under 12 years of age.
Hoffman Park, Scottdale Rd.
Lansdowne, PA

Hippity Hoppity - The Bunny Abounds

$10 Walmart Wednesdays

(photo courtesy Philadelphia Zoo)

The weather is supposed to get nice again tomorrow (65 and sunny by my weather app) so why not take advantage of $10 Walmart Wednesdays at The Philadelphia Zoo? It's the last day in March to receive a $10 ticket that includes admission & parking at the Zoo. A good deal for non-members since parking along can cost you $12 usually!!!

Wednesday March 24, 2010
9:30-5pm

Philadelphia Zoo
3400 W. Girard Ave
Philadelphia, PA

$10 Walmart Wednesdays

Bilingual Story Hour

Join Jay, from All Around This World music classes, and Iranian-born West Philly mom Janet Kalantarian this Tuesday, March 23, from 6:30pm to 7:15ish, at the Walnut West Branch of the Free Library (201 S. 40th Street -- basically 40th and Walnut), for a "bi-lingual story time." To mark Philadelphia's "One Book One Philadelphia" reading of Marjane Satrapi's amazing The Complete Persepolis (http://libwww.freelibrary.org/onebook/obop10/index.cfm), Janet and Jay will sing songs in Farsi, teach an Iranian dance and share a traditional Persian story with you and your kids. The event is free, and you're guaranteed to have fun!!

Bilingual Story Hour

Welcome spring

It's going to be a gorgeous day today so have a great day and enjoy this beautiful spring arrival. Lots to do in and around the city this weekend both inside and out:

Hayrides to Bunnyland
Saturday & Sunday, March 20 & 21, 2010
Saturday thru Saturday, March 27 thru April 3, 2010
11 am – 4 pm
Linvilla Orchards famous Hayrides to Bunnyland is a hayride thru the woods to visit the Easter Bunnies house, the Easter Bunny visits with everyone on the ride and gives them each a treat.
Linvilla Orchards, Media, PA
http://www.linvilla.com/
$8 per person


18th Annual Rita's First Day of Spring Giveaway
Saturday March 20, 2010
Noon - 10pm
For the past 17 years, Rita's has been giving away a free, regular size Italian Ice to each and every guest to mark the first day of spring! This is a sweet date for Italian Ice lovers, as each year, hundreds of thousands of guests visit Rita's in search of the first taste of spring. And they are also launching their new Peeps flavor this weekend - Don't miss it!
http://ritas.com/
FREE!

Yay Spring! Book Party
Saturday March 20, 2010
2pm
Celebrate the beginning of spring with a party featuring stories, crafts & pastries from the cafe. Ages 3-10
Big Blue Marble Bookstore
Philadelphia
http://www.bigbluemarblebooks.com/
FREE!


Sendak in Spring
Saturday & Sunday, March 20 & 21, 2010
2-4pm
Celebrate the work of author & illustrator Maurice Sendak, creator of such children’s classics as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen & Outside Over There, at this annual festival, which features performances, storytimes, craft activities & more.
The Rosenbach Museum & Library
Philadelphia
http://www.rosenbach.org/learn/events/sendak-spring
Free with paid admission $5-10

All Around This World Music in the Park
Saturday March 20, 2010
2pm
Join Jay, from All Around This World Music class fame for a mini-music class in Clark Park this Saturday March 20th. Look for Jay, his kids and his guitar near the Tot Lot.
Clark Park,
FREE!

Passover Holiday Tot Program
Sunday March 21, 2010
9:30am
Enjoy Passover stories, arts & crafts and traditional Passover foods. Ages 3-6.
Congregation Beth Tikvah
Marlton, NJ
FREE!

Early Bird Read and Look
Sunday March 21, 2010
10:30am
Preschoolers & their families can enjoy picture books & art projects in the galleries. March 21 & 28
Philadelphia Museum of Art
FREE! for ages 12 & younger
** Check out all the Art Museum's events for kids including Arms & Armour and Tours for Tots.
http://www.philamuseum.org/

Mama Mac Ice Cream Social
Sunday March 21, 2010
4pm
Mama Mac presents fun & interactive songs for the whole family.
MilkBoy Coffee
Ardmore, PA
$5 per person, ages 2 & younger free, $3.00 sundaes
http://milkboycoffee.com/home/

Welcome spring

Happy Spring

Here are two great ways to celebrate Spring this weekend:


If you haven't experienced Linvilla Orchard's Hayrides to Bunnyland, I highly recommend you check it out! Especially geared for the little ones, this is a great thing to do to celebrate Easter and Spring. And the bunny arrives this Saturday at Linvilla so hop on over for the Easter fun!

Linvilla Orchards famous Hayrides to Bunnyland is a hayride thru the woods to visit the Easter Bunnies house, the Easter Bunny visits with everyone on the ride and gives them each a treat.
Saturday & Sunday, March 20 & 21, 2010
Saturday thru Saturday, March 27 thru April 3, 2010
11 am – 4 pm $8 per person
Linvilla Orchards, Media, PA
http://www.linvilla.com/



March 20 brings us the first day of spring – and along with it, free regular-size cups of Italian ice (or water ice) at the more than 550 Rita's stores around the nation (with more than 60 in the Philly area). Just in time for Easter, the "First Day of Spring Giveaway" has a special attraction this year: the roll-out of a Peeps-flavored ice. Inspired by the famous marshmallow candy, the new flavor will be bright yellow – always an iffy choice for colored ice. Also on the menu? A Peeps Chocolate-Covered Gelati, which layers the ice with chocolate frozen custard. (courtesy of Zagat Buzz)
http://ritas.com/

Happy Spring

Giggle Gang event

The Giggle Gang is back at the Springfield Mall today!

Join the Giggle Gang for a whimsical fairytale themed Giggle Gang event! And what fairytale would be complete without a regal crown of royalty? Bring your imagination, and they will supply the rest!

The Springfield Mall Giggle Gang is an interactive club for parents and kids between the ages of one and five that teaches important lessons relating to the environment and the surrounding community in a fun, interactive way. The club meets the first and third Thursday of every month at Springfield Mall at 10:30 a.m. and is FREE for members of the Springfield Mall Shoppers Club. The Shoppers Club is a community of smart shoppers receiving exclusive benefits when shopping at Springfield Mall. For more information, contact Springfield Mall Customer Service at 610.328.1200 ext. 0.

www.shopspringfieldmall.com
1250 Baltimore Pike Springfield PA
Ages 1-5 years old
Free

Giggle Gang event

Bok bok - Thanks Easter Bunny!!

Tomorrow is St. Patty's and while there is plenty to do for the over 21 set, really I don't see many happenings for the real wee ones. (Note to hip bars/restaurants in the city: why don't you have an Erin Express type event for parents with kids? Set up a craft or music event and invite the parents to stop in for a beer, too? Ok no we don't want parents with kids in tow getting loaded but why should families not get to enjoy St. Pat's, too? HUH?) Since the weather is finally fabulous I'd highly recommend you get out of the house. We did a zoo trip today and it was divine to feel the sun beating down on us while we walked around outside for the first time in what feels like eternity. Or, if heading out is not in your cards, try a St. Patty's craft indoors instead.

So, skipping on to the next big holiday, have you heard that lots of mall bunny photo places are now doing something called Bunny Fast Pass? Essentially you pick your photo package online before you go and then avoid wait when you get there. Sounds like a great plan to me. Anything to save waiting longer with your half thrilled/half terrified toddler who is all dressed up in their Easter finery about to spill whatever juice/snack/treat you have provided to entertain them while they wait and wait and wait, right?? If I try it, I'll be sure to let you know if it works. If you try it, leave a comment and let us all know if it's worth it, ok?

Springfield Mall Bunny Fast Pass
King of Prussia Mall Bunny Fast Pass
Cherry Hill Mall Bunny Fast Pass

Bok bok - Thanks Easter Bunny!!

FREE Etrance to Eastern State Penitentiary on Monday 3/15

While not exactly a customary celebration of St. Pat's or Spring or Easter for that matter, Eastern State Penitentiary is offering free admission all day on Monday March 15th to give visitors a special sneak peek at their 2010 exhibits and tours.

For more information on Eastern State and their upcoming exhibits, visit the historic prison’s official website.

Eastern State Penitentiary
22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 236-3300
Open 10am-5pm
www.easternstate.org

FREE Etrance to Eastern State Penitentiary on Monday 3/15

Some Weekend Fun (indoors and out)

Sorry we haven't posted much this past week! We were hit with the "ick" and trying to recuperate. Hopefully you got out and enjoyed some of the warm days before the monsoons this weekend.

Here are some ideas of things to do this weekend:

Saturday March 13, 2010

Music and Theater at SMITH
Saturday March 13, 2010
10am
SMITH, The Kids Play Place in the Park
The Junior League for Philadelphia leads kids in an instrument-making craft activity. Temple University's Imaginarium acting troupe will perform Dream Catcher, a show based on native American folklore. After the show, enjoy a dance party. 10am. 215-765-4325.
www.smithplayplace.org



The Great Narberth Leprechaun Hunt
Saturday March 13, 2010
1-4pm
Downtown Narberth

Little ones can search for clues throughout the town to find leprechauns hidden all around! Find a leprechaun and get some gold. Find all the leprechauns for a special pot o gold at the end of the rainbow.
http://narberthonline.com/browse/nbaEventDescription.aspx?id=148



Second Saturday Snacktime
Saturday March 13, 2010
2-3pm
Milk & Honey Market
4335 Baltimore Ave.

Looking for something great to do with your kids on a Saturday afternoon? Join your friends, your neighbors and all their young children (7 and younger) for “Second Saturday Snacktime,” a musical playdate at Milk & Honey Market, 4335 Baltimore Avenue, with Jay Sand of “All Around this World.”

From 2 to 3pm on the second Saturday of every month, Jay Sand of the “All Around This World” (http://www.AllAroundThisWorld.com) music program, a unique international music class for little kids, will bring his guitar to Milk & Honey and sing songs from all over the globe with you and your children. Milk & Honey will provide kids with a healthy snack.

http://milkandhoneymarket.com/
http://www.AllAroundThisWorld.com

Sunday March 14, 2010

St. Patrick's Day Parade
Sunday March 14, 2010
12 Noon - Rain or Shine
Starts at 20th and Market Streets

This year’s parade theme is “St. Patrick, Model of Unity for the Church and the World,” and it will feature Grand Marshal Seamus Boyle. Parade participants include marching bands, Irish dance schools, youth groups and Irish Associations.

For those of you who can’t make it out, CW Philly will be broadcasting live between the hours of 12 noon and 3 p.m. They will also stream the parade on CBS 3 and CW Philly.

Bring your rainboots and umbrellas!
http://www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com/index.asp

Community Dance
Sunday March 14, 2010
2:30pm
Merion Friends Meeting, Activity Building, 615

Enjoy an afternoon of folk music and dancing with the Germantown Country Dancers. No partner or experience necessary. Families/all ages. $2-5
www.germantowncountrydancers.org

Some Weekend Fun (indoors and out)

Welcome warm weather weeked

It's supposed to be warm and wonderful this weekend (especially Saturday) and that makes for good times for the little ones whether you get outside in your own yard or local playground or head to one of these great events.

Whatever you do, enjoy the spring preview!!

Saturday March 6, 2010

Grow Up Great Series: Ohayo (Good Morning) Japan
Kimmel Center, Commonwealth Plaza
11am
Enjoy Japanese folk song, games and story-telling by ladies in traditional kimono dress.
www.kimmelcenter.org/family


Leap Into Spring
Free Access to the Brandywine Zoo!!
10am-4pm
Celebrate Spring at the Brandywine Zoo! Each day will be full of spring fun such as live entertainment, fun animal games, animal arts and crafts, discovery cart with hands-on animal biofacts!
http://www.brandywinezoo.org/

Free Culture for Bank of America Cardholders
Bank of America check, ATM, or credit card holders can visit museums this weekend for free. Bank of America offers this Museums on Us program on the first weekend of every month and gives you free general admission to 70 museums nationwide. Art, science, history or nature - your card gets you in whatever you are into. Museums in the Philadelphia area include: Philadelphia Museum of Art, National Constitution Center, Please Touch Museum and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

Sunday March 7, 2010


Kids Rock for Kids
World Cafe Live
1pm
Benefit concert for children's medical charities features teen rock bands in family-friendly atmosphere.
$10
http://tickets.worldcafelive.com

Leap Into Spring
Free Access to the Brandywine Zoo!!
10am-4pm
Celebrate Spring at the Brandywine Zoo! Each day will be full of spring fun such as live entertainment, fun animal games, animal arts and crafts, discovery cart with hands-on animal biofacts!
http://www.brandywinezoo.org/

Free Culture for Bank of America Cardholders
Bank of America check, ATM, or credit card holders can visit museums this weekend for free. Bank of America offers this Museums on Us program on the first weekend of every month and gives you free general admission to 70 museums nationwide. Art, science, history or nature - your card gets you in whatever you are into. Museums in the Philadelphia area include: Philadelphia Museum of Art, National Constitution Center, Please Touch Museum and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

Of course it's also the last day of the Philadelphia Flower Show which has the Fisher Price Family Lounge area this year if you take the little ones.

Welcome warm weather weeked

Some things to take you into the weekend

Did you hear that lion roar? It's March in Philly and clearly we have some more weeks of winter left ahead of us so here are some fun ways to pass the days indoors leading into the weekend.



Kids Concert - The Mama Doni Band
The whole family can enjoy kids' music with a funky Jewish twist.
Thursday March 4, 2010
9:30am
Shir Ami of Bucks County
101 Richboro Rd.
Newtown, PA

Cost: $5-$10 per child, parents free
Sponsor: PJ Library, ACAJE/JOP and Kol Emet, Ohev Shalom of Bucks County, The Princeton Jewish Centre, Temple Judea and Shir Ami

Read Aloud Tours
Tours feature story time in the gallery followed by an art-making activity. The House in the Night, make scratch art, March 4. Cabbages and Kings, make garden designs, March 11. 10:30-11:30am. Ages 3-6 accompanied by an adult. Cost: Free with admission, $6-$10, free for ages 5 & younger.

Brandywine River Museum
Chadds Ford, PA
610-388-2700
http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/ed-family-children.html

Some things to take you into the weekend

Dr. Seuss' Birthday

It's Dr. Seuss' birthday tomorrow, Tuesday March 2nd! Why not take the kiddies to the Please Touch Museum for a special appearance by the rhyming feline himself. The Cat in the Hat will be making appearances at the Story Castle for readings of the Dr. Seuss book, "Happy Birthday to You" at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm. Free with paid admission.

Dr. Seuss' Birthday