The mild weather definitely has everyone thinking “Spring!” Instead of just a taste of it, try being enveloped in it at the Smith College Spring Bulb Show in Northampton, MA. Sure, it’s a bit of a ride, but when you step into the conservatory you’ll forget all about the dreary ride on the Turnpike. Even if your kids aren’t into plants or gardening, the conservatory is an oasis at this time of year and is full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
The conservatory is an instructional aide for the students studying botany at Smith College. You can see the map of the rooms of the conservatory on their website or wait and pick one up in the reception area when you get there. Aside from the bulb show, there are seven other rooms and a corridor lined with plants and palms. (There are several rooms that are just for the students, therefore off-limits to the public.) Some of the houses are warm, so be sure to dress in layers. The Stove House is home to the orchid collection and has a pond-like structure in the center, complete with fish and frogs. Keep your eyes peeled! This was a favorite spot for the kids. The Camellia Corridor was lined with different types of plants, but pay close attention to any plants with small white flowers – these are usually orange or citrus bearing plants. These flowers are unassuming to most people, but contain the sweetest fragrance in the world (besides the bulbs!). Those are just some of the wondrous sights and smells you’ll find hidden about the conservatory.
There are two rooms in the middle, labeled Cold Storage and Physiology House, that are used for the Spring Bulb Show. This is the main attraction; while the other houses can get a bit crowded, be prepared for a slow walk through the bulbs. The best feature about the crowd is that you don’t have to worry about taking your camera and pausing for pictures – everyone else is doing the same thing. The bulbs are cultivated and kept up by the students of Smith College and are sold the week after the show ends. As soon as you step into the room your nose is hit with the scents of hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips mixed together. It’s a fragrance that you will want to bottle and carry around with you for the next few weeks! Words cannot describe the amount of bulbs in the rooms; the flowers were literally on top of each other. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
Adjacent to the reception area is the Church Exhibition Gallery, which features exhibits with a botanical theme. The current exhibit is The Inner Beauty of Flowers. The photographer uses x-rays and light to photograph flowers in a way not usually seen. You can view the exhibit online and order prints as well.
Behind the reception area is a walkway leading to the restrooms. Even if you don’t need to use them, be sure to wander up there and see the display of Woods of the World. This is a permanent exhibit of 178 different woods from numerous areas throughout the world. The wood is not stained to be the different colors that they are, which is intriguing. Guidebooks are available on the wall to research the different woods. It is a beautiful, natural display that complements the flowers and plants wonderfully.
In addition to the conservatory and all it has to offer, the grounds adjacent to the greenhouses are beautiful to walk around. We saw some crocuses and snowdrops already in bloom! The front garden, right next to the road, is lined with perennials, while the rest is classified as a “Systematics Garden,” which enables students to evaluate different plant families.
Aside from special events, the conservatory is open from 8:30 am to 4 pm daily. The Spring Bulb Show runs from March 6 through March 21, opening at 10 am and closing at 4 pm daily (members are welcome at 9 am). For two Fridays, March 12 and March 19, the conservatory is hosting special evening hours from 6-8 pm. Admission is free, but a $2 donation per person is suggested. The bulbs will be sold the weekend after closing, Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28. Parking is available along the street that the conservatory is located on, but that is only for the Spring Bulb Show.
One suggestion: walk through the bulbs a few times, check out the other houses and the gallery, then walk through the bulbs again. It’s breathtaking!!
Smith College also hosts a Fall Chrysanthemum Show, which is from November 6-21, 2010. The Spring and Fall shows are a tradition and the dates through 2014 have been determined. Check their website for more information.
The Botanic Garden of Smith College
15 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063
Phone: (413) 585-2740 website
This review is from our Chicago editors when George visited their city.
Whether your family reads the books or watches the cartoons, this show excels at bringing the characters to life. Curious George LIVE! is a new musical that is packed from start to finish with songs that tell the tale of George’s adventure from New York City to the streets of Rome. In this original story, George sets out to prove to the world that his friend, Chef Pisghetti, makes the best meatballs in the world. Performances of the show run between Thursday, January 28 - Sunday, January 31, 2010 at the Sears Center Arena in Hoffman Estates. Tickets are priced from $15-$38.
The production successfully creates a believable translation of the characters to the stage. The Man with the Yellow Hat, Professor Wiseman, Chef Pisghetti, and the Doorman are protrayed by actors who do spot-on impersonations of the characters voices and mannerisms. Their larger-then-life costumes translate perfectly. George’s animal friends Hundley and Gnocchi are cleverly depicted through simple puppetry. Of course George is the most difficult to portray. They did a great job with the costume, and tried their best to match his frenetic movement with some pretty cool tumbling. My 5 year-old was a little disappointed though. He wanted to see more climbing and “monkey stuff,” and I would agree. Overall they did an exceptionally believable job bringing these beloved characters to life.
Our favorite musical numbers were the opening productions of the first and second acts. “Special Delivery” followed by “Big Brown Box” makes for a bustling street scene. Both song are very catchy - they were what the kids were singing during intermission. The second act opens with a super fun song, “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” There is a cute gimmick with flashlights that makes for a cool visual effect. This song revolves around George stowing away on an airplane to Italy. It started the second half of the show off on a great note.
The low point for me is the pacing of the show. Pretty much the entire story is told through song. At times this is very successful, but at other times I would have preferred some of the story to have been told through dialog to move the production along. There was a great deal of antsy-ness going around around me near the end of the first act. The show is 1 hour 40 minutes long including a 15 minute intermission. For this age group I think a far shorter running time is more successful. The 5 year-olds I was with were able to sit through the entire show, but at times they were bored.
Even with some faults this is a fun show. From the festive lobby displays, to the intermission’s strolling vendors, to the great characterizations, this is a cute show for the pre-school aged Curious George fans in your life.
If you find your family traveling through Vermont and you are near Waterbury, you’ll want to make a stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory for a tour and some free ice cream samples. On a recent excursion to Burlington, we made a pit stop to check out the ice cream making process and taste some Ben & Jerry flavors. Located about 5 minutes off of Route 89, the Ben & Jerry factory offers a 30 minute tour of the facility for $3.00 a person and kids under 12 are free. It is best to plan a visit during weekdays as they are usually not making ice cream on the weekends, but you can still take the tour.
The tour itself starts with a six minute informative short video detailing the history of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, how they started making ice cream in 1978, and how Ben & Jerry’s has become what it is today. The next stop on the tour is an enclosed walkway overlooking the production facility. Large numbered signs make identifying the different parts of the plant easy while the tour guide explains the process of making ice cream. This is the part where it’s better to visit during the week to see workers doing their craft.
After the tour your group will visit the tasting room, where you’ll get to try a current flavor of ice cream and ask any questions you might have. Everyone gets to grab a small scoop of frozen goodness, and if there are still extras they allow you to take seconds. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and kept the tour moving at a reasonable pace. If the tasting was not enough to satisfy you, there is a counter at the front of the building to order as much ice cream as you can eat – just follow your nose toward the smell of fresh waffle cones!
During the warmer months you can also enjoy the Flavor Graveyard, as well as a picnic area with a playground and patio. Check their website for events – they run a Free Outdoor Movie Festival throughout the summer at dusk, and during the winter they offer snowshoe tours on the grounds of the factory.
The Commerford Zoo Kids Fun Fair travels around the east coast putting on kids’ fairs with a petting zoo and kiddie rides. We recently went to a fun fair at the DCU Center in Worcester and had a great time. This is not a full-featured circus or carnival, but was a welcome break from the cold we’ve been experiencing. Tickets were $10 per adult and kids under 12 were free with a coupon that you can get at the ticket booth. These tickets gives you access to all of the animals, but the games and rides are À la carte with cash or tickets for purchase.
The Animals
Commerford has a wide variety of animals including elephants, lemurs, monkeys, snakes, camels, a zebra, various birds, and even a uni-cow, which is a large cow with a single horn on its head. You and your kids can feed many of the animals, so bring your quarters and hand sanitizer. For an additional charge, pony, camel, and elephant rides are available as well as photographs with many of the animals.
Rides and Games
Carousel and kiddie rides await your little ones in exchange for tickets and cash. Tickets can be purchased for the rides at booths throughout the venue and can be purchased individually for $1.25, or save some money and buy them in blocks of 12 ($12.50), 24 ($25), and 36 ($37.50). Rides required either 2 or 4 tickets per person and included a carousel, train ride, car ride, super fun slide (highly recommended!), a huge bouncy, and several others. Games required a few dollars to play and included your standard carnival games of water gun squirting and balloon burst, all to win stuffed animal prizes.
Overall Thoughts
This fair is smaller when compared to the large, outdoor carnivals and fairs throughout New England, but is a nice change of pace to get out of the cold and see some animals up close and personal. While petting zoos can get old for parents, kids never seem to be able to get enough of seeing animals in this setting. The fact that kids were free was a benefit, but we ended up spending $20 for two adults to enter and $12.50 on tickets to go on a few rides. We spent an hour and a half at this one, and could have extended that to 3 hours if we ate there and took in a few more rides.
This post comes from our sister site in Chicago and was written by Larry.
We had a crew over for the football playoffs a couple of weeks ago and all the kids were comparing their holiday presents - their new Leapster, Wii, and Nintendo games. They were discussing which game they liked, which games they were going to trade, and what they wanted to get next. However, just one week later, my kid was staring at his games. Mario Kart was still a blast, but everything else he either mastered, was bored of, and in some cases wasn’t old enough for.
We had the same problem with buying DVD movies. So we solved that problem by letting him take one of every 3 of our NetFlix movies. They come, he watches them many times, and we send them back, without the expense of buying the DVD. So I searched for similar services for games. SmartyRents and Gamefly came to my attention immediately.
SmartyRents has cornered the ”try before you buy” service for educational games. Started by credentialed teachers, they rent games for Leapster, Didj, Clickstart, Little Leaps, the V suite of game consoles (Smile, Motion, Flash, and Smile Baby). They have also gone through and documented the exact skill sets that each of the games teach so you know if it is age appropriate. Interestingly, they also have the back catalog for all of these consoles, so you can rent games that are actually out of circulation. Packages start at $9.99 a month for 1 game at a time and up to $24.99 for 4 games at a time.
Gamefly is concentrating on the exact opposite, more traditional part of the game market. Focusing on the Wii, PS3, PSP, XBOX, Nintendo Game Cube and Nintendo DS they sell everything from Super Mario Brothers to Grand Theft Auto. With over 7,000 games, you can rent one game at a time for $15.99 a month and 2 games at a time for $22.99 a month. The site sorts by popularity or release date and provides information on what type of equipment you need to play. So for Wii, it will let you know if you need the Steering Wheel for the game.
So if your kid is like mine and seems to go off and on with games, leaving you frustrated at the $30-$50 games that are just sitting there next to your TV unused, SmartyRents and GameFly provide a great alternative using the NetFlix model.
This past weekend we took a trip to the New England Aquarium to check out the penguins and the massive fish tank. It had been years since we last visited, so we were looking forward to checking out any new exhibits and seeing the famous penguins, of course.
The ticket booth is outside on your left as you approach the main entrance. For the kids that don’t enjoy standing in lines (meaning, all kids), there is a harbor seal exhibit directly behind the ticket booth that will keep their attention and whet their appetite for some see creature viewing. Tickets cost $12.95 for kids 2-11 and $20.95 for adults. Combo tickets are available if you are planning to view an IMAX show or take a whale watch. Check out your local library for discounts to the aquarium.
The central exhibit at the aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, which is a four-story, cylinder-shaped Caribbean coral reef tank that is 23 feet tall and 40 feet across. A circular ramp wraps around the outside providing great views from top to bottom of the tank. Be sure to take the staircase on the top floor to view the open top of the tank. At the top you can see divers feeding some of the fish or you can catch a “tank talk,” where an aquarium staffer answers questions you have about the tank or fish.
A few other highlights of our trip were the Edge of the Sea Touch Tank, Amazing Jellies, The Penguins, and the Marine Mammal Center. The Touch Tank, which is on level 2, literally gives your kids a hands-on experience as they dip their hands into the tide pool and pick up sea stars, hermit crabs, and even a lobster. This exhibit is very popular and gets crowded. It opens at 10:00am so it may be worth heading to this exhibit if you get to the aquarium early. The Amazing Jellies Exhibit spans two floors of the aquarium and is the first exhibit to your left when you enter the front doors. This exhibit features incredibly fascinating views of these amazing sea creatures. You and your kids will learn all about the brainless, spineless, bloodless jelly fish.
The Penguin Exhibit is by far one of the most popular at the aquarium, and rightfully so. Situated at the base of the Giant Ocean Tank, this exhibit gives you a birds-eye view of three different types of penguins as they sit on their rocks and swim around their large tank. There are plenty of places to view the penguins from behind glass partitions on the ground floor as well as along the entire walk-way encircling the Giant Ocean Tank. Be sure to get a copy of the daily schedule and catch the penguin presentation or penguin feeding. There seem to be at least two of each presentation each day.
The New England Aquarium can seem small at times, especially during busy hours, so watch out for the strollers and kids running about. Like any museum, it’s good to map out your course either before arriving or once you get in, but stay flexible if certain exhibits are crowded. The aquarium is small enough that it’s easy to circle back and visit any exhibits you missed on the first way through.
Are the short, cold days of winter giving you and your kids the winter blues? We’ve got the cure with our ultimate guide to Bowling in Massachusetts! What better family activity to get you out of the house during the long winter months. We assembled some basic background information as well as a map of all the venues across the state in this post. Get out there and bowl yourself a turkey (that’s three strikes in a row!).
Candlepin or Ten Pin?
It’s rare that you will find anything other than ten pin bowling outside New England (and Canada), so we consider ourselves lucky to have the choice when it comes to the type of bowling. While the two are similar in that the goal is to knock down ten pins using a urethane ball, candlepin and ten pin are quite different when you compare the size of the balls, the shape of the pins, and the rules of the game. We won’t go into all of these here, but remember, they are different games.
The big decision here is which size bowling ball is best suited for your kids? If they are on the young side, candlepin may be the best option as the weight of the ten pin ball might be too much for them. You may also want to consider finding a lane that offers bumper bowling. This is where temporary bumpers are installed on your lane to prevent any gutter balls and give your kids a much better chance at success.
Where to Bowl?
Would you believe it if we told you there were over 100 bowling alleys in Massachusetts alone? We put together an interactive map of over 90 bowling venues for you to browse and locate one near you.
Shoes
We’ll probably never fully understand the fascination, but kids seem to love bowling shoes. We know it can’t be the comfort level and assume it’s something to do with the slick bottoms that allow you to slide on the wooden floor, but whatever it is, these are a big hit. Pick them up at the counter and lace up.
Finding the Right Bowling Ball
If you are going candlepin, you most likely don’t have any options here as they usually just have one type of bowling ball. In ten pin, the options are numerous. You may want to ask the clerk if they have any lightweight balls for kids behind the counter. This could be a good time to break out your knowledge of kinetics to enlighten your kids on the behavior of different weighted bowling balls or you could just tell them that you probably want to get the heaviest ball that you can comfortably handle.
Scoring
While my wife tells me the scoring system in bowling is simple, I beg to differ. This is why I look for bowling alleys with automatic scoring so I don’t have to worry about it. Most alleys have these installed, so there is a good chance you’ll be in luck. Just input the names of your bowlers and let the computer tell you when to bowl and keep score for you. This is one of the few times when I actually like computers. If you are going old-school with paper and pencil, make sure someone in your group knows how to score or get some instructions from an employee at the venue.
Technique
Don’t expect your kids to start out with a full right to left hook to score a strike every time. Most kids should start with the under-hand, between the legs throwing technique until they have the strength to use just one arm. There are some good lessons to learn around lining up in the same spot, targeting where you throw using the lane markers, and realizing that you do not need to throw the ball 100 mile per hour to knock down quite a few pins. Bowling is a great family sport to get you out of the house during these winter months. Good luck and have fun!
Oh the good old days. I’m sure you remember. You’re in those pre-teen years. Before love, popularity, college, career. You’re the Christmas Story definition of a kid. You wake up. Look out the window and say to yourself “There’s snow! Close call though…Is it enough?” If you could hear the inner thoughts of all the neighborhood kids there’d be one chant in unison – “Please let school be cancelled!!!”
You turn on the radio. Best to go with BZ-1030AM as they announce closings most often. No websites to check. No automated hotlines that call the house to notify of cancellations. Perhaps you could call the school and ask? Ha!!! You’d never get through. Those five phone lines would be lit up like a Christmas tree.
The announcement would start. “Abington, Acton… Bellmont…” I lived in Norwood. My kid logic mind wished I lived in a (first letter of the alphabet) town as the suspense was unbearable. The announcer continued “Medfield, Milton”. That was a good sign. Milton got less snow generally. Looking back, I think every New England kid could map out the winter weather patterns with precision. The announcer was entering the final turn “Needham, Newton, Norwell”, huge pause “NORWOOD!!!!” Yes!!! This was the stuff dreams were made of.
I’d make sure my room was clean. Help out with the shoveling (that’s how I remember it Mom J ). Whatever it took. Mom would say I could go play. I’d grab my sled. Make sure the rope was tied to the front and drag it to “the hill”.
My perfect hill was behind the Willett School in Norwood. It had a great drop from the sledding perspective and a little side route that made it much easier to cart the sled back up. There’d always be neighborhood kids there after a nice storm. We’d have races, trade sleds, throw snowballs, and be kids! We’d trudge up the hill all day for that 10 second rush. We’d all be lost in the moment.
I’d “forget” to go home or check in. Then I’d see the sun setting and sprint back, sled in tow. But mom wasn’t mad. Perhaps because she remembered her sledding days as well “or more likely she was too tired from all that shoveling”. There’d be post sledding P+J’s, or Fluffernutters. Always accompanied with that perfect “mom” cup of hot chocolate (little marshmallow and some cool milk to bring it to perfect temperature). Yup, few things top that memory.
Fast forward… I’m 30 something and married with a 13 and a 1 ½ year old. I’m self employed. A snow day usually means I have to bring the younger one with me to the office because our day care follows the towns’ school cancellation policy. That white stuff has taken on a new meaning.
After a recent storm I decided to take the kids over to “the hill”. I don’t know. Maybe they did some landscaping or something. I noticed two big differences. First, when sledding down the hill it didn’t seem as steep or long as it used to. Second, when pulling the sled back up it seemed to be a lot steeper. I was exhausted after 3 runs up. Half an hour in, I was saved. The police came by and said we were trespassing and had to leave. Something about a liability issue. I thought about salvaging the day by swinging by moms’ house for some hot chocolate. But I remembered she was in Vegas for the week. “Oh well” I thought while driving home. “If only there was somewhere to go that could bring that memory back”. Three words folks – I found it!
The Amesbury Sports Park is Awesome! It provides the perfect atmosphere for the entire family. You don’t need to bring a sled. They have snow tubes for all. The hill is amazing! It blows away any sledding venue I’ve been to. Getting up the hill is no problem. They have two chairlifts! They hook up to your tube and pull you to the top.
Kids ages 4-6 have to wear a helmet and be accompanied by an adult. If you don’t have a helmet they are available free of charge. Kids 7 and up are helmet optional.
What about kids under 4? The park took the suggestions and requests of the patrons for a toddler venue and just recently opened the “tiny hill for tiny thrills”. A great venue for the littlest ones.
Need to warm up? Go in the Corner Kick Pub. They serve interesting micro brews, piping hot pizza, grilled sandwiches, fresh salads, and tasty appetizers. Public restrooms, arcade games, vending areas, and ample seating are available.
Older kids into snowboarding? Send them over to the junkyard terrain park. They even have a “Big Air” competition in March.
I’d classify it as a hop away from skiing. But you don’t have to take lessons, buy a ton of gear, or wait in those nasty rental lines.
Ticket prices are reasonable. On Thursdays a 3 hour pass is $15 and a 5 hour pass is $20. Thursday hours are 3:30 to 9:00. Friday and weekend 3 hour pass is $22 and a 5 hour pass is $30. Friday hours are 3:30-9:00. Saturday hours are 10am-9pm. Sunday hours are 10am-7pm.
There is a link for a $2 discount coupon. They also have a banner on their home page that advertises a $3 discount if you bring in a canned or perishable good for donation. I’m not sure if the two promotions can be used together.
With freezing temperatures and a snowy December, one family-friendly activity that we are gearing up for is ice skating. Lacing up the skates and getting outside is a great way to get some exercise during the winter months. Whether you are an experienced skater or looking to get your kids into this winter activity, January is a great time to get to it with the holiday rush having ended. Our blog this week gives you some tips on getting started and some places to visit throughout the state.
Equipment
Ice skates are the main piece of equipment you will need to get out on the ice. If you are just getting your kids started, you may want to look at renting the first few times before making the investment in purchasing. Once you have determined that your kids enjoy ice skating it’s time to get them their own skates. This will save money over time and, if you live near outdoor skating areas, they can go any time. The same issue with buying shoes presents itself with ice skates as our kids’ feet grow quickly. For this reason, buying used is a good option for the casual skater.
Play It Again Sports is a reputable dealer offering new and used equipment with knowledge staff. Give a call to a local rink and ask where the best place to buy used skates is in your areas as well. Below are the Play It Again Sports locations in the state:
Dedham (630 Washington Street - 781.493.6796)
Leominster (814 N Main Street - 978.537.2063)
Hyannis (25 Iyannough Road - 508.771.6979)
Stoneham (62 E Montvale Avenue - 781.438.2399)
North Reading (265 Main Street - 978.664.9363)
This online guide is worth a read if you are new to purchasing ice skates.
But, It’s Freezing Outside!
With Ice Skating comes dealing with the cold. Regardless of whether you decide to visit an indoor rink or live near a cranberry bog, you have to dress appropriately. Starting from the feet up, make sure your kids wear thick, warm socks (double up if you only have normal weight) that reach at least half way up their calf. If you are venturing outside, you may consider thermal under pants and shirts as a first layer following by another layer or warm clothing with a water-proof shell on top and bottom. Falling down on the ice is inevitable, so you want to make sure your kids stay as dry as possible.
We all know how much heats escapes through the head, so cover up with a nice wool hat and get their hands into some gloves or mittens.
Where to Skate
There are two main options to look at: ice skating rinks or natural bodies of water. With rinks, there are indoor and outdoor options while ponds, lakes, and cranberry bogs round out your outdoor, natural options.
If being outside is not your thing or your kids are just getting started, indoor rinks are a great place to get started. Many rinks offer skate rentals, food options, and are much warmer than our typical New England winter day. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has put together a nice list of public rinks (linked here) throughout the state. Make sure to call ahead to confirm public skating hours and check on skating lessons.
If you and your kids are ready to brave the outdoors, you’ll need to find a local place that offers safe skating. Other than the cold, the biggest safety concern with outdoor skating is ensuring you are skating on thick enough ice to support all the skaters involved. Check out the DCR’s news release [pdf] on ice safety for more information.
Crazy Kids Picks - The following are some of our favorite places to bring the family for skating fun.
The Frog Pond is a fun place to bring your family for some skating fun in a nostalgic setting of the Boston Common.
Steriti Memorial Rink is an indoor skating rink in the heart of the North End offering free skating during public hours.
Kendall Square Community Ice Skating is a seasonal outdoor ice skating rink located in Kendall Square. An all-day pass is $5 for adults and $1 for kids under 13. Rentals are available as well.
Old Sturbridge Village has added an outdoor skating rink this year. They do not offer rentals, so bring your own skates and enjoy some hot cider or cocoa and a cookie at the Miner Grant Store or the Village Café.
The Rink at The Charles Hotel is back for another season! This 2,900 square foot ice rink is open to hotel guests and the public. Skate rentals, season passes, and lessons are available.
Director Jerry Zaks has taken Dodie Smith’s classic tale to the stage. The 101 Dalmatians Musical is the top family musical to see in Boston this Holiday season. This musical presents the topsy-turvy, inside out world of the Dalmatians from the dogs’ point of view. Dalmatian characters are portrayed by adult actors while pups are portrayed by child actors. Humans are “differentiated” with exaggerated clothing and mini stilts that make them “larger than life.”
The tale follows the lives of Dalmatians Pongo and Missis Pongo who fall in love and are married. After a brief honeymoon “in the bushes” the Pongo’s are faced with the reality of impending parenthood. It is very well played. Their first musical number together “A Perfect Family” questions how hard parenthood could be. They’re both certain that their kids will be angels. There is humor at many levels. No family member will feel left out.
Rachel York made me think Cruella De Vil had stepped out of the Disney movie and onto the stage. She was wonderful and masterful. She brought forth an incredible lust for puppy fur. Cruella kidnaps the puppies and takes them to Castleville where they will soon become wardrobe. Pongo and Missis Pongo realize that their human “pets” will not be able to get their pups in time and realize it’s up to them to find the pups and bring them home. They send out the K-9 version of the Amber Alert and are soon on their journey.
I don’t want to spoil the adventure. My family enjoyed an exciting night of twists and turns. Something was there for everyone. Leaving the theatre I heard many people singing the catchy tune “Be a little bit braver”. It’s still in my head at this point.
And let’s not forget the Dalmatians. The dogs were adorable. Making it more memorable is that many of them were rescued.
Probably best for children 4 and up (or a mature 3). Though I did see several toddlers be-bopping to the music. It’s only here until the 27th. Tickets can be purchased directly through the Wang Theatre Box Office and range from $28-$75.
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"What will I do with my Kids today?" is on the lips of every parent, every day. Once you get past breakfast, the grueling decisions start. You have done the same things a million times. Crazy Kids is the cure. We’ll provide reviews on everything Kids do and let you and other parents comment on them.
The Crazy Kids Blog will highlight a specific activity each week to give you a more in-depth look at one specific idea. We are all in this together and Parents must join in the fight against boredom and repetition. Good luck, have fun and let us know what you think.
The mild weather definitely has everyone thinking “Spring!” Instead of just a taste of it, try being enveloped in it at the Smith College Spring Bulb Show in Northampton, MA. Sure, it’s a bit of a ride, but when you step into the conservatory you’ll forget all about the dreary ride on the Turnpike. Even if your kids aren’t into plants or gardening, the conservatory is an oasis at this time of year and is full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
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