Small-bany

Kid Visit to EMPAC

2011-10-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

Just the other day I was thinking about EMPAC and how I have yet to visit. Somehow experimental media has fallen at the bottom of my list of things to do with the kids while library story times are consistently in the top five.

Oddly enough I was contacted by someone at EMPAC trying to get the word out about a kid friendly event happening this Saturday, and I'm happy to share this opportunity to check out the building (amazing architecture) and also to expose your unsophisticated progeny to the high end world of cutting edge media research...or something like that.

Here is a description of the event from their website:

A dynamic program just for kids! This specially curated selection of short videos can be enjoyed by youngsters and parents alike. onedotzero programs explore new forms and hybrids of moving image across motion graphics, short film, animation, music videos, and more.

Suggested ages - 3-11.

onedotzero: sprites

Saturday October 29, 11:00 AM

Studio 2

TICKETS:

» Saturday, October 29 kids free with purchase of adult ticket ($6)

Kid-friendly snacks and juices will be available at Evelyn's Café from 10:30 AM–3 PM.

We encourage you to purchase tickets directly from the box office. Stop by Monday–Friday 9 AM–6 PM, two hours prior to any performance.

However, in the case that you can't make it, may I suggest a viewing of The Jetsons. Also very futuristic.

We got MOONED!

2011-09-30T10:45:00.001-04:00

Ok...just Half-Mooned, as in Henry Hudson's ship, but it got you looking, didn't it? (I'm not above it, people.)

Last weekend we headed down to our old stomping grounds, the Corning Preserve, and stumbled upon ye Olde Half Moon, or for my Dutch readers, d'Halve Maen, docked in the Hudson.

For those of you who never took a school field trip here, the Half Moon is a full scale replica of the ship Henry Hudson sailed to survey these here parts to find a good place to put The Egg. He was also hoping to find a Trader Joe's but was, as we all are, sorely disappointed.

The tour is not very long, because, well, the boat is not that big. However, it did offer a glimpse into what a landlubber I am.

Cramped quarters, smelly food, limited toilet options...the Love Boat, it ain't.

I tried listening very diligently to the history lessons given by an adorable, creaky voiced student, but my mind kept wandering to pirates. It's very pirate-y.*

The tour is seven dubloons for adults and sprogs are free.

The ship sets sail on October 14th so you still have some time to walk the plank. You can find out more information, and real history here and here.

Also, check out Albany Kid's visit. I'm glad someone was paying attention.

*This tour had nothing to do with pirates.

Tiny Bubbles

2011-09-22T10:30:00.003-04:00

Fan Yang and his daughter, Melody

What's better than a million bubbles? A gazillion, of course.

Yesterday the kids and I stumbled on the free preview of the Gazillion Bubble show at Proctor's. Fan Yang,"world-renowned bubble scientist, artist, and performer" gave the audience a little taste of what his shows on October 8th will be all about.

And if what we saw is any indication, this is one show that is not going to blow. (blow...bubbles? get it?)

According to Proctor's CEO Phillip Morris (I kid you not), it was a 'fun lesson in the science of thin-film technology'.

Ummm... not exactly what the kids got out of it, but what they did get was the sheer awesomess of a smoke spewing volcano bubble and a couple of kids getting encased in a huge bubble. It was a lot of fun to watch. (His style kind of reminded me of Gob's magic shows, for all you Arrested Development fans out there).

Among his many other accomplishments in the field of 'thin-film technology", he is a sixteen time Guinness Book of World Record holder (he put an elephant in a bubble for goodness sake) and the creator of a line of bubbles and bubble toys.

You can catch one of his two shows on October 8th at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady.

Just a little aside, as we were leaving the theater they had several bubble machines going adding to the whimsy of the event. Sure, that makes sense. But what didn't quite make sense was the mob of young, stylish women, clad in black offering free hugs to everyone passing by. It turns out they were from the Paul Mitchell school across the street. I ran into my blogging brethren from All Over Albany who did a great job covering the surreality of State St. yesterday afternoon. Read about it here.

For the record, AOA's Greg did not accept any hugs so as not to influence his reportage. Now that's what I call journalistic integrity, folks.

My son, however, was all over it.

ZOINKS!

2011-09-14T21:17:00.001-04:00

Look what I spied for sale on Central Avenue today.

It'll only set you back 4000 scooby snacks AND it has power windows. I know... deal o' the century.

Meddling kids not included... but I can lend you mine if you want.

Sock Sorting Sympatico

2011-09-09T13:42:00.000-04:00

I usually finish up my laundry folding with sock sorting. I never look forward to it because I guess I am subconsciously preparing myself for the inevitable disappointment that comes with mismatched socks. I know it's cliche, but I have an entire drawer FULL of mismatched socks hoping for reunion.

Today, however, was different. Today will live on in my mind as

THE DAY THAT ALL OF THE SOCKS THAT WENT INTO THE WASH CAME OUT WITH THEIR MATCHING PAIR!

When has this ever happened? NEVER. That's when. Not to me, anyway.

I can only explain it by saying that the feeling of pairing that last sock with its mate was akin to placing the last piece of a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. You know, like the one you bought five years ago when you thought it would be great to start doing jigsaw puzzles, but actually the idea was better the reality and so it just sat on the shelf until you took it out again to sell in a garage sale, but then had second thoughts and just decided it might be kind of relaxing so you ended up finishing it one night when your other plans fell through...

Yes, it was that kind of accomplishment.

And this my friends is as close as one can get to domestic nirvana.

ॐ

Where's Walbany?

2011-09-07T09:01:00.009-04:00

So I got my Waldo doll in the mail and we have been getting in to some crazy hijinks together... so much so that I'd thought I add a couple of photos now and again and let you guess where we have been around the area.

So....Where's Waldo in (and around) Albany?

1)


Wish you were here. It kept reminding us of the chocolate waterfall in Willy Wonka.

Want to take in this gorgeous view? Go here.

At first I thought it might be a little disrespectful to Uncle Sam to have Waldo pose by his grave, but then I saw the bejeweled nutcracker someone left there and thought Waldo was just as patriotic and rocking his red, white, and blue with a tad more taste. To find out where Waldo is I WANT YOU to click here. (It is truly one of the coolest/spookiest cemeteries I have visited.)

One Room School House

2011-08-25T22:31:00.026-04:00

Look what I found while just driving around town.

"Little Red" as it is affectionately called, may be the only one room school house operating in the state (maybe)...but definitely in the county (Rensselaer). The dueling signage seems a little non committal.

Anyway, it's currently being used for Grades K-2 in the North Greenbush School District.

If you are so inclined, you can read more of a history here (look under 2008).

It's as if it was ripped out of a page of Little House on the Prairie, minus Nellie Oleson, who had a prominent and reoccurring role in my nightmares.

Muffin tin crayons

2011-08-19T20:36:00.000-04:00

Today we made muffin tin crayons. It's something most of us have done at some point as kids, and something I've been wanting to do with my kids for a while. It's a lot of fun, easy, and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

1. Pick out all the misfit crayons and peel off the paper. (The kids quietly worked on this for at least 20 minutes).

2. Lightly spray muffin tin with cooking spray and fill each circle with a variety of colors. We filled them about 1/3 full.

3. Place in a preheated oven (at 275F) for 7-8 min.

4. Allow them to cool before you take them out of the tin.

Voila! They look good enough to eat. No really, my baby ate some.

2011-08-11T15:58:00.001-04:00

Pass It On SCORE!

2011-08-11T15:38:00.007-04:00

I can't begin to imagine what a difficult decision it was to give this away, but I want to assure the person who was risking something by selling this at a children's consignment sale to know that Elvis has found a very happy home...second only to Graceland.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

The Pass It On Sale continues until this Saturday, with half price sales starting tomorrow.

Product Diversification

2011-08-09T17:01:00.002-04:00

Today I was on the search for a toy and switch blade. (Ok, neither of those, but bear with me). Where could I go? I know, I know, Wal-Mart...easy peasy,,, but I was already at the mall and didn't want to deal with another big parking lot. So, imagine my delight upon wandering in here:

Not only do they have a wide selection of pretty cool toys, but also two shiny glass cases (at a kid's eye level, no less) filled with the most colorful, attractive hunting knives this side of...um...um.. wherever hunters go to buy that kind of stuff. (Sue me, I'm a vegetarian).

I guess the name of the store hints at the fact that this could be Albany's foremost pirate outfitters. I mean, where else can you buy your kid a pirate costume AND a real knife? (Ok, Wal-Mart again, I know, but that just seems greedy).

"No, son, you can't have a Melissa and Doug floor puzzle AND a machete. Pick one or the other."

Treasure Ayeland can be found on the 2nd floor of Colonie Center for all of your fingerpainting and deer-gutting needs.

Paint Mine Trail - Thacher Park

2011-07-28T22:34:00.000-04:00

Thacher Park, how do I love thee?

The list keeps growing, especially after today's adventure on the Paint Mine trail (Only a few sites past the lookout spot on the left).

This is a great hike for kids, especially those who love walking in water since the highlight of this hike is the stream. Because we haven't had much rain lately, the stream is shallow and you can easily climb up the waterfalls.

I'm not good at estimating distances, but I'd say we did anywhere between twenty paces to half a mile. The kids were all in their element (including the baby) and that meant very little whining. There were frogs all over the place and plenty of opportunities to splash around.

The trail has been quiet everytime I have visited during the week. Sometime there is no one up there at all, which could freak you out while knowing that cell phone access is a little spotty up there.

Bathrooms are close...but, behind a tree is closer.

There is no charge for the trail during the week, but it is $6 on the weekends. Bring a picnic lunch, bathing suit, water shoes, and bug spray.

Also, check out these events happening this weekend.

Campfire Storytelling, Saturday, July 30th at 6:30. Registration required.

Stargazing, Saturday, July 30th at 9:00 PM.

Check out their calendar for more events.

PS. On the way back, why not stop for lunch at Toll Gate Ice Cream? I do declare I found the best and greasiest veggie burger in all the land.

Where's Waldo?

2011-07-27T23:22:00.002-04:00

Waldo: The Original Hipster (and I am apparently not the first to think so).

I just ordered one of these guys to help spice up our family photos.

I originally got the idea here when I found him hanging out on the roof across the street from San Francisco's MOMA.

Wahoo! I can't wait. Our vacation photos will never be the same.

Butterfly Station

2011-07-26T23:59:00.000-04:00

"In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf..."

You know the rest...you've probably got it memorized.

Take a break from just reading about caterpillars, butterflies, and their penchant for overindulging in picnic foods, and watch them come alive before you very eyes at the Farnsworth Middle School Butterfly Station in Guilderland.

It took about an hour for us to get a guided tour from an adorable elementary school student, explore the Metamorphosis room, look around the museum and gift shop (they sell butterfly themed gifts..tattoos, pens, etc.) and do some arts and crafts. However, the pièce de résistance for the kids was the face painting, and why wouldn't it be?

It's open from 10am-1pm daily until August 12th.

FREE!

If you want to make a day of it, why not head over to the Pine Bush Preserve (right down the road) afterwards and check out the Discovery Center and kid friendly hikes.

Our cute little tour guide.

Coming in for a landing

Face painting!

Mystery Solved

2011-07-22T07:07:00.079-04:00

I recently discovered what the "More' part refers to in the Huck Finn's Warehouse and More tagline.

No, it does not mean 'more stuff to fill your closets with and land yourself on an episode of Hoarders', nor does it mean 'more time getting lost in a frankly pretty creepy part of Albany'. The MORE lies in the little known fact that it is the perfect place to take your kids for a unexpectedly fun outing. Bear with me.

Here are the Top 5 Reasons you could spend the afternoon at Huck Finn's.*

1. The rides. Huck Finn's has the best penny-arcade type rides you will find this side of the Chuck E. Cheese in Latham...and they are cheap, just like when we were kids. Twently-five cents each gets you a ride on a carousel, a Yabba-Dabba-Doo car, a choo-choo, and an obscenely long ride on a Conestoga wagon. Inside they have a bucking bronco, the kind you used to see outside of supermarkets. I'm telling you, with all of these rides it's like the poor man's Hoffman's.


Bucking Bronco, only 25 cents.

2. The bunk beds. I don't think you are supposed to climb on them, but if you smile real purty at the salespeople, they don't say anything.

3. The old school bus (Or old-school bus.This is one of the rare cases that it actually works both ways). One of the benefits of having your store in a warehouse is that you can fit a bus inside of it. I'm not sure why it's there, but my kids have spent at least a half an hour on it pretending that they are taking each other to school while Mommy stands idly by fiddling on her iPhone.

4. Hide and seek in the carpets. Huck Finn's has a delightful selection of carpets. Some are in stacks and some...the really huge ones... are on racks perfect for hiding in. The first time my son 'hid' in them I was 'seeking' a little more frantically, but as long as the kids tell you that they are going to disappear, it's fun and security needs not get involved.

5. Food. There's a Subway on the premises...lunch is sorted.

The free AC this time of year is also a nice touch.

Seriously, my kids beg me to take them here. Why shoot, I reckon it's more fun than a rafting trip down the mighty Mississip. (I had to work it in somehow).

Just remember to bring quarters.

*Disclaimer. Huck Finn's did not compensate author for writing this glowing review, but she would not say no to a new dining room set.

Like a Phoenix...

2011-07-22T05:28:00.002-04:00

Small-bany is rising from the ashes. Rejoice, my three faithful readers! (Yes, I am including myself. I do technically read this).

I was warned that the third child would play some part in my undoing, I just didn't realize that it would take me this long to start 're-doing' again. Don't get me wrong, it's been a joy. A year-long, sleep-deprived, bleary-eyed, Tension Tamer tea-swigging kind of joy, but there has been plenty of joy and my chubby ball of baby has made our family complete. (And when I say complete I mean it, mean it. Not like the first two times).

So, let's reaquaint ourselves, shall we?

I started this blog two years ago as a means of exploring the world through the innocent eyes of my children. In other words, I needed to find out what activities I could still enjoy with toddlers and still maintain a modicum of dignity and sense of self.

I have three kids, 6 and under (yes, kid's menus were written for people like me) a minivan with at least a quarter of a tank of gas in it at all times, and half a summer vacation looming..errr...I mean beckoning me to fill it with adventure. I prefer free and outdoorsy stuff, but am game to try anything at least once, so if you have suggestions, I'd be willing to try them out.

Why read this blog when there are probably better ways to fill your time? Frankly, I can't answer that.

So, to quote my dad, who is infamous in our house for not being able to sit still, "Let's do something."

(and please leave comments if you are so moved...I love them!)

Gimme a Break

2010-06-08T22:52:00.000-04:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been almost a month since I have posted anything. I am just writing to say that I will be taking break from the blog for a while (obviously). Summer is getting busy and my pregnancy is starting to take over. I hope to continue at some point soon. In the meantime, I encourage you to follow some of these really great sites that do a fantastic job of finding things to do with the kids.

Have a great summer!

Albany Kid

Capital District Fun

momXchange

Pond Appreciation Day

2010-05-14T15:44:00.002-04:00

Buckingham Pond is by far one of our favorite parks/playgrounds in Albany. If you haven't visited yet, try to stop by on Sunday for Pond Appreciation Day. A great project for the family and you'd be helping preserve the park for all future visitors and wildlife. For more info: http://www.buckinghampondconservancy.org/

PS. I just heard from their Facebook Page that all the little pond animals are having their babies... yet another chance to see baby animals... in their natural habitat, no less.

Here's a playground review I did last fall for Buckingham Pond.

Albany Academy Book Festival

2010-05-13T07:53:00.000-04:00

The Albany Academies is hosting the Second Annual Children's Book Festival.
Saturday, May 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the AAG campus.

- 37 children's and young adult authors and illustrators

-Book sales and signings, workshops and activities for children, and refreshments!

Children can come dressed as their favorite storybook character for the Storybook Parade at 10:15 a.m. in the AAG circle.

The event is free and open to the public.

Check out their website HERE

Greek Festival

2010-05-13T07:47:00.000-04:00

Festival season is gearing up, so here is one you might want to check out this weekend.

Admission $3
Children under 12 Free

Friday 6-11pm
Saturday Noon - 11pm
Sunday Noon - 7 pm

Teddy Bear Hospital Day

2010-05-13T07:36:00.000-04:00

It's time for your Teddy Bear's annual check-up.

Teddy Bear Hospital Day

Sunday, May 16

1-4pm

Albany Medical Center

Choices Cafe

Free admission and parking

Some highlights: tour of LifeNet helicopter, ambulance and fire truck, face painting, games and other hands on activities, snacks and a teddy bear check up by a bonafide medical student.

We went last year and it was a fun little outing. If you are going for the tour of the helicopter, go earlier. We went towards the end of the afternoon, and while the lines for all the other activities were short, the helicopter had already taken off.

Weekend in Vermont

2010-05-11T00:18:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was my daughter's 5th birthday, and of course, Mother's Day. In honor of those momentous occasions, we took a 2-for-1 celebration weekend trip to Vermont. So, on Saturday morning we packed up the minivan (yes, the deed is done) and headed up to Burlington, Vermont for some ice cream, teddy bears, and snow...yes, I said snow.

I've always heard great things about Burlington and after looking at all the sunny pictures of Lake Champlain online, I was convinced this was going to be that sunny, springtime getaway that we needed. Well, as you Tulip-festers know, the weather was less than cooperative. But that, and a few other minor setbacks, did not stop us from having a entertaining and educational couple of days.

Here's some ideas if you are looking for a fun weekend-cation and Burlington is calling your name.

1. The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory.
This was the first stop on our trip. Minor setback number one was that the actual production line does not run on weekends, so although you can get a tour of the factory floor, you won't see the people actually sewing and stuffing and all that good stuff. That being said, the tour guide was great (we actually got there at a really quiet time, around 3pm, and got a personal tour). She made tons of un-BEAR-able puns that we were encouraged to laugh at and was very knowledgeable and pretty passionate about her work at the factory.

The factory has a gift shop (with overpriced bear apparel) and teddy bears of all flavors, a personalization station where you have messages embroidered on your bear, and a Friend-for-Life teddy bear making station(kind of like 'Build-a-Bear', but trust me, they want you to know that it was their idea first.)

You can find Tour Information here.

2. Lake Champlain/Downtown Burlington
The lake is beautiful, and even in the wind and cold we managed to have some fun. We found a nice little playground on the water and enjoyed the sunset. We even learned a little bit about Champ, Champlain's version of Nessie.We didn't visit the Echo Aquarium, which is right on the waterfront,but if you have more time, it's supposed to be a great place to take the kids.

After searching for parking, we made our way to the Church Street Marketplace, Burlington's 'award winning outdoor mall' to check out the local color. And it was colorful. Lots of granola and funkiness. Kind of funny to see that juxtaposed against The Body Shop and Borders, but somehow it all worked. In the summer there are plenty of options for outdoor dining and entertainment.

3. Hotel courtesy of Priceline.com
50 bucks for a one night stay, with free breakfast and a pool. If you ask the kids, the pool was the highlight of the trip. Of course. We could have gotten a hotel in Albany and they would have been just as pleased.

4. Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory Tour
Ok, so we didn't actually go on the tour, but we saw the factory. The tours didn't start until 12 pm on Sunday and we had to be on our way, but if you are there during the week, stop by for a chocolately delicious peek.

5. The Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour
Located in Waterbury, about 25 minutes away from Burlington, this was the real reason I wanted to go to Vermont. Of course, in my haste, I did not check that, yet again, the actual factory floor is not open on the weekends, but again, it really didn't matter. The tour guide was funny (again, lots of cow jokes), we saw the factory floor, learned the history of Ben and Jerry, and got some delicious free samples. (The flavor of the day was 'Cookies and Milk', a new flavor, and it was superb. Bonus: Because it was Mother's Day, mommy's got a free cone.

*Interesting side note: The tour guide implored us to try new flavors when we go to Ben and Jerry's. She said a lot of people stick to the 'favorites' (see list), so many of the new flavors don't stick around too long. So the next time you are at B&J's, why not bypass the Chunky Monkey and try something new.

6. The Vermont Country Store - Weston, VT location
You can read more about it here.

Overall, this was a really great and affordable little getaway. Despite the fact that it did snow on Sunday morning and all the factories were 'off' on the weekend, we managed to squeeze a lot out of those two days. We will probably head back at some point, in the warmer weather (I'm sure there is a week like that sometime in August) and check out some of the other things we missed like the Lake Champlain Ferry and the Shelburne Museum.

Hand Washing

2010-05-07T16:11:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, whilst shopping at Target (my home away from home), my daughter uttered the seven most dreaded words to hear at any large shopping center... or any place other than home for that matter...'I have to go to the bathroom.'. (yep, seven.) Of course we were at the far end of the store so we had to haul it all the way back to the front while she did the potty dance and let everyone we passed know the purpose of our mission.

Anyway, while my son and I waited for her to be done, we saw another mother with two young kids come out of a stall and walk directly to the door. Wait, what? No soap..no water... no hyper-speed hand dryer, nothing.

Please tell me this is not normal. If so, it makes me never want to touch another public surface for as long as I live.

When I was growing up in the 80's, there was a huge anti-littering campaign going on. You know, the whole 'Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute" thing, and I don't know about the rest of you, but that stuff worked on me. I am still absolutely floored when I see people throwing fast food bags out the window or leaving diapers in parking lots (ahem, Wal-Mart). I can just imagine Woodsy the Owl silently weeping on a branch somewhere.

Subsequently, I think that there has been enough hand-washing propaganda out there for at least the last five years for people to know that's just what you do. I mean, it's in all the potty training books for kids. Elmo even says it, for God's sake.

Now, I'm not tellling you that every time I need to wash my hands I stand there singing "Happy Birthday to You" twice while scrubbing as per the CDC's instructions, but I do use soap and warm water, and frankly I feel pretty good about that decision. I also make sure my kids do the same. But after seeing this little display of hand-washing negligence, it has made me question things. Am I just setting us all up for a lifetime of being compulsive hand washers or is it just ok to know that the pee-pee is off my son's hands after we leave the bathroom?

I know that when I am crammed in a stall with two kids, there is nothing that will prevent my 3 year old son from touching every surface in there.. and there is not enough hand sanitizer in the world to combat that little germ fest. Surely it's better to actually wash the yuck off of your hands first, if the option is there. Is that so wrong?

Kids Bowl Free

2010-05-06T14:40:00.002-04:00

It's time again to sign up for the Kids Bowl Free program.

Here is a description from their FB page

The "Kids Bowl Free" is a summer bowling program that is sponsored by select bowling centers across the country.
: Kids receive 2 free games of bowling everyday during the summer. There is no cost to participate. Parents may purchase a Family Pass from $24.95 (one-time payment) that covers up to 4 adult family members and provides 2 games of bowling everyday throughout the summer.; Find a participating lane near you right here.; Thanks, Karin!

Mother's Day Bouquet

2010-05-04T20:03:00.000-04:00

Here's a cute little gift idea I found on Albany Kid and Capital District Fun (two great blogs for families and kids in the area).

Kids can build their own Mother's Day Bouquet for $5 at participating Price Choppers.

From the site:

Show Mom she's special and Build a Bouquet for Mother's Day at participating Price Chopper locations May 8. Children 12 and under can make a 3-bunch bouquet for $5 plus tax. Kids pick out flowers, colored tissue and a ribbon. Then they can sign and attach a personalized card!

You can find participating locations right here.

Indian Ladder Farms

2010-05-04T19:55:00.001-04:00

Has it already been a week since I last wrote? I'm blaming my allergies.

Anyway, for all you die hard Indian Ladder Farms fans out there (and I know you are there), please make note that they open tomorrow!

Here are some other highlights.

-Baby Animal Days go from May 8-23rd. Closer and cheaper than Hancock Shaker Village, if you didn't get to see them there.

-Enroll your child in Barn School.

-Mother's Day Brunch on May 9th at The Yellow Rock Cafe. (Reservations strongly recommended).

- Pick your own begins in June with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries (oh my!)

Namaste

2010-04-27T13:03:00.002-04:00

In honor of half of my cultural heritage:

India Day

When: Sun, May 2, 2010 | 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Where: National Museum of Dance, 99 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY

Cost: $5 (General), FREE (Children and Museum Members)

From the website:

There will be an introduction to India, Indian music performances on sitar & tabla, an introduction to Indian Classical Dance styles with performances by both professional & student dancers, a Sari wrapping demonstration for women & girls, a BOLLYWOOD Dance demonstration for everyone, and a delicious Indian food court with authentic Indian food available for guests.

Thanks, Leanne!

Yaddo

2010-04-25T23:00:00.006-04:00

I have a confession to make. I'm a mom and I hate playgrounds. There, I said it. I don't hate them enough for me to deprive my children of their God-given right to swing and slide, I mean look... here's proof.

But if you gave me the choice between going to the Crossings one more time or listening to my enginerd husband explain the intricacies of his latest research, I'd be hard pressed to choose.

I'm not sure why they irk me so much, but for some reason I just prefer finding places to have fun that have nothing to do with that bouncy purple dinosaur.(My kids don't always let me get away with that, but I sure do try).

Enter Yaddo.

If you have never been there, you should go, and if you have, you know that there is something magical about the place.

The rose gardens, the statuary, the pergola (I had no idea that's what it was called), the fountains... it's all the little details that give this place a special feeling that's hard to find in a schoolyard, and even sans twisty slide, my kids love it. It's just a great place to wander around and feel like you've walked into a scene from The Secret Garden.

We just went last Wednesday, and while the flowers have yet to bloom, the fountains are still dry, and the statues are still boarded up, we still managed to have the best time. The gravel paths alone entertained the kids for at least a half an hour with all their digging, and burying, and carrying on.

Here are some of our favorite parts:

The entrance gate. We must spend at least 20 minutes hanging out here while the kids get me to guess the 'secret password' so I can get in. Usually, I give up and just go around the side.

The pergola...or the place they like to pretend is from The Sound of Music. (In the song Do-Re-Mi, Fraulein Maria and the kids run through something kind of like this, and my kids have since made that connection) Note all that glorious gravel.

The steps (there are several sets of these that you can't see in this picture). 30 minutes of up and down, up and down and they still aren't tired. The nice thing, too, is that you can stand in one part of the garden and see your kids all the way on the other side.

This rock garden is in the wooded section in the back of the gardens. Granted, it's not much to look at now, but there is a mermaid statue, ferns, and tall pines that make it very fairy-tale-esque.

The Yaddo Gardens are open to the public seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to dusk and is very easy to find. Here are some directions.

*They also have a very clean port-a-potty which has come in handy on several occasions.

Purple dinosaur rating: None. Just the way I like it.

Riverway Storytelling Festival

2010-04-21T07:14:00.000-04:00

A week's worth of storytelling fun.

Check out their family events and other schedule here.

Yankee Candle Flagship Store

2010-04-21T00:26:00.004-04:00

Candles...yet so much more.

While visiting some friends in Holyoke, MA, they decided to take us to the Yankee Candle Store in Deerfield. I wasn't quite sure what the big deal was, afterall, we have a Yankee Candle at Crossgates (you can smell it from the parking lot). But, boy oh boy my friends, this was not your average candle shop. It is one of the flagship stores and it's Fuccillo HUGE! As soon as you walk in they give you a map to the place, and you can still get lost.

I'm not really a fan of the candles. I find them to be overpowering and overpriced, but I guess I get their appeal and am sometimes pretty impressed that they can emulate some of the smells that they do. I mean if you have a candle called Storm Watch and it actually smells like what I'm assuming thunder smells like, that's pretty impressive.

Anyway, what I'm getting at is that you don't have to like the candles to like the place, and the kids will LOVE it. Here are some of the highlights:

Elevated model train track that winds its way around the store.

Year round Christmas Village, for those of you who feel the need to buy ornaments in the middle of July. (Plus they have a snow machine, so every 4 minutes there is a snowstorm inside) A real live Santa IS included (of course since Christmas is not for another bajillion days, Santa was chilling in some jeans and suspenders and making paper crafts with the kids)

Make your own candles. Kids can make candles in the shape of their hands or mix and match wax beads to make a custom jar. If I made a candle it would be called ''Meltdown". Get it? Candles melt... my kids have meltdowns. That's perfect. It would smell like a cross between crayon wax and frustration.

Candy store(s) and Toy Stores. Kids love that kind of stuff.

-Big food court and live entertainment. The live music was a little annoying, but the kids were invited to perform on stage with the singers, so at least someone got a kick out of it.

Candles - Yes, they have every kind of Yankee Candle flavor you could ever want... even 'New Releases'. (I'm sure there are people that get into that...just like the latest Beanie Baby.) Their website reports over 400,000 candles in over 200 scents. That's anything but SCENTS-less (badum-cha!)

And guess what? If you aren't sold on the place by now, Trader Joe's is only minutes away.

Open every day 10 am- 6pm
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 10 am-5 pm
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas

Check out their schedule of events here.

Get directions from Albany here. Sure, it's a little bit of a drive, but you can make a fun daytrip out of it.

O! Baby Consignment Sale

2010-04-19T14:42:00.000-04:00

From their website:

A twice-yearly children's consignment sale in Chatham, New York - just 40 minutes from Albany - offering NEW, GENTLY USED and EXCELLENT QUALITY baby and children's items at a fraction of the price

Thurs. April 22, 9am – 7pm

Fri. April 23, 9am – 5pm

Sat. April 24, 9am – 3pm

Columbia County Fairgrounds

Chatham, New York

Thanks, Abby T.!

Family Fun at the Clark Museum

2010-04-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

People and Spaces Family Day at The Clark

April 25, 2010
Ongoing activies from 12:00 pm -4:00 pm
~40 miles from Albany. Get directions here.

From their website:

This family day will feature a campus-wide adventure to explore how people fit into different spaces, places, and settings. Try to keep your bearings in the cardboard maze, and build a miniature museum that you can populate with detailed clothespin people you create. Explore the Clark's grounds as you discover fairy houses and gnome homes created as part of a community-wide art project.

Check out the schedule here.

There is also a Fairy Houses and Gnome Project where you can build tiny homes using found objects and then display them on the grounds. Each participant gets their own site assignment. On April 25th (Family Fun Day), maps of the sites will be distributed so you can visit each of these homes.

If you haven't been to the Clark, it's well worth the visit. We had a lot of fun. Make sure to take a stroll through Williamstown and Where'd You Get That (cool toystore).

Riverfront Park, Rensselaer

2010-04-15T22:00:00.006-04:00

I haven't done a playground review in a while,but now that it nice and warm, I'm on the hunt for new places to hang out with the kids.

This week took me to Riverfront Park in Rensselaer. If you take the Dunn Memorial Bridge over to the East Greenbush Target (which I do often) you will see this park as you are spit out onto Broadway in Rensselaer.

There are a couple sections of this playground, and some are better than others, so let me explain.

Our first stop was the 'playground' playground. This section had a large selection of slides, ladders, climbing things and it kept my kids busy for an hour. We hit this place after school, so it was quite busy with kids and their parents. I personally was not feeling it because every time the wind blew it would kick up a huge cloud of dust from the neighboring construction yard, but I was apparently the only one who seemed to notice. However, this was my kids favorite place in the park. If it were up to me, we'd avoid it altogether.

Next, we moved on to the swings. You have to walk under the bride to get there, which is kind of cool by itself because it looks so massive. Underneath the bridge are a couple of tennis and basketball courts as well as a little playground set up for younger kids, old fashioned see-saws, teeter-totters (whatever you call them), and those springy animal things you can ride on. (Now if they only had the 15 ft metal slide that burned you on the way down, just like in the olden days, we'd really be in business.)

This part of the park was really beautiful and unexpected. The sun was setting on the Hudson, and it was novel to see Albany from the other side of the river. We took a walk down on the pier (we didn't stay long because my son, who has no fear, was getting way too close to the edge), and enjoyed the views.

On our way back, we walked on a pathway along the river which circles back under the bridge, and found ourselves in another big field where we stopped to watch some baseball practice, kite flying, and did some lady bug observing.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. It never looked like much when I was driving above it, but after wandering around, I'd like to go back. There are plenty of picnic tables and they have free music performances in the summer. You can also check out the murals on the concrete columnswhich were part of a park beautification project in 1995 by the Rensselaer Artists' Movement Society. (The sentiment is there, but let's just say you can tell they are from 1995.)

Purple Dinosaur Rating: None. But the river is a nice touch.

Time for a Change

2010-04-14T20:47:00.000-04:00

Last year, to my chagrin, the Times Union Best of the Capital District Poll came out with these choices for the best restaurants in the Capital Region for kids.

Well, it's high time someone does something about this...but wait...someone has. The Profussor has implored us all to think long and hard about this ballot, and make some choices that actually represent our region, and not the chain restaurants/shops found all across this great country of ours..

He has created a sample ballot that I encourage you to peruse. You might not agree with his all of his choices, but the sentiment is there. It's time to rock this vote and get some more local color and flavor in these results.

If you haven't voted already, take the time to do so right here: Times Union Best of 2010

Mom Exchange

2010-04-13T08:10:00.003-04:00

Here is a great new website I found though FUSSYlittleBLOG:

http://www.momxchange.com/

It seems like a great resource for parents. Once you register you can add events, write reviews, and suggest other cool places to go in the area.

Enjoy!

Tomie DePaola Mural

2010-04-12T20:56:00.000-04:00

If you love children's books, you have most likely come across some of Tomie DePaola's books in your reading. The prolific writer/illustrator (having published over 200 books) may be best known for his Strega Nona series and his moon faced, folk-art characters. My family saw a documentary on him last year when we visited the Eric Carle Museum.

In addition to illustrating children's books, he has also done a series of murals for New England monasteries and churches. As it turns out, one of those murals can be found right here in the Capital District.

Don't ask me how I came upon this website, but they mentioned that one of DePaola's murals was in their chapel. According to their website the mural was commissioned by the Domincan Sisters Congregation and was first his first major work.

Being a fan of his, I headed over to check it out. It wasn't easy. The chapel itself was closed, but after walking around the grounds, trying different doors, a member of the cleaning crew let us in.

Here is a picture of the chapel and his mural. You can see this mural was signed in 1958, before any of his books were published.

The retreat center also had a small gift shop, which, along with other religious themed gifts and books had a collection of DePaola's story books, all signed by the author. The bookstore is run by the honor system, so you just pick the book you want and put your money in the cash box. (I love the honor system). The woman who let us in let us know that DePaolo comes back every couple of years to visit.

I would say go check it out, but its not the easiest thing to accomplish with kids.

I guess its just nice to know that there is another unexpected gem here in the area.

Summer is here?

2010-04-09T16:19:00.000-04:00

I just heard the ice cream truck pull around the corner. One of the first true harbingers of warmer weather.

Along with the annoying music, this one actually asks "Hello?" in a somewhat impatient voice.

At least it's only 4:15pm as opposed to last year.

Happy Birthday, Small-bany!

2010-04-08T18:01:00.008-04:00

It's hard to believe, but a year has already passed since my first post here on Small-bany.

What did we do to celebrate?

Why, visited some of our favorite places here in Small-bany, of course.

1. We spent the first part of the morning at the Albany Art Room. If you have not had the chance to visit here, it's definitely worth stopping in. For $7/hr, your child can have fun painting, stamping, beading, collage, etc. and basically making a mess (I mean, unleashing their creative energy) in a place made just for that. They also offer classes for children and adults, summer camps, a pottery studio and space for birthday parties, baby showers, and any other kind of celebration.

(*Note: I just learned that if you visit the Art Room during the week of April 20-26, all profits will be donated to 'Make Art 4 Art' to benefit Albany City School's Art Programs.)

2. Stop #2 took us to the Corning Preserve. We had a picnic by the river, enjoyed a bike ride along the path, and took a little pit stop at the playground.

3. After all that exercise, we headed on over to Emack and Bolio's. I wouldn't normally indulge in ice cream twice in two days, but I was feeling festive... and hot. The ice cream here is definitely more pricey, but you get what you pay for...good quality ice cream made with good quality ingredients. May I humbly suggest the 'Deep Purple Cow' (black raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries). While you are here, check out the Mosaic studio, outdoor garden, as well as their schedule for live music on Friday and Saturday nights. It's also a great place to have a birthday party.

This past year has been a lot of fun, and I hope I can continue for another one. I have met some great people, got a chance to write for All Over Albany (thanks, Mary and Greg!), and best of all, I was able to discover some really great places and things to do in the area (the whole point of this little experiment!).

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog and has contributed their ideas and comments. It's been a lot of fun and I really appreciate your support.

Here's to another year of getting out of the house!

I Scream, You Scream

2010-04-07T17:23:00.003-04:00

With temperatures in the mid 80's, it took all in our power not to hook up the sprinkler and run around in the backyard. Part of me knows it's still April and this is a fluke, but baby it feels like summertime to me. So instead... we had ice cream for lunch.

Wa....wa...what?! C'mon...everyone knows that ice cream is the number one source of calcium for pregnant women, and that's the kind of science I can get behind. Because of that, Small-bany will spend the better part of this summer backing this up by engaging in our own little ice cream tour. Or we'll just let you know if we find anyplace good.

Stop #1 Jim's Tastee Freeze - Ignore the first reviewer, aka Mr. Grumpy Pants. I experienced neither grime nor snot. Sounds like someone needs another ice cream cone... and make that a double. In terms of price....whatever, it's ice cream, it's cold, and it's good. I didn't notice it being more expensive that anywhere else.

My kids also loved it because their grandfather is named Jim... and he bears a striking resemblance to that guy on the sign. (Just kidding, Dad. Your teeth aren't that big)

Albany Family Dance

2010-04-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

This looks like a great event for the family and perfect for little ones. The word is that this might be the last time they'll do it in Albany if the turnout isn't so great, so mark your calendar and put on your dancing shoes.

Sunday April, 11th
4:00pm - 5:25 pm
405 Quail Street, Albany

Here's a description and directions:

The afternoon will consist of singing games, contra, square and international folk dancing led by Paul Rosenberg and live music by Tame Rutabaga. All abilities and ages of dancers -- as well as musicians to join the band -- are always welcome. Great for the younger set.

LOCATION:
DIRECTIONS: From New Scotland Avenue, go one block north on Quail Street. Church is at the corner of Quail St. and Maple Ave. Turn left onto Maple, and park in lot. Enter building down the stairs on Maple Ave entrance. http://www.firstcongregationalalbany.org/

DONATION: We ask for a $5 (adults) or $1(children) donation at the door to defray the expenses at each dance.
This dance series is sponsored by DanceFlurry Organization. More info: http://www.danceflurry.org/new/familydance.html

Thanks, Miriam!

2010-04-06T22:01:00.007-04:00

What do you get when you cross my favorite author (Roald Dahl) and my favorite director (Wes Anderson)?

A rollicking good time, that's what. (I've always wanted to use rollicking in a sentence)

Recently released on DVD, Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of the best animated movies I have ever seen. Not only is it only artistically beautiful and intricate (all characters, costumes, sets were made by hand) but it was witty and entertaining without being obnoxious (cue Alvin and the Chipmunks)

Admittedly, when I saw this in the theater a few months back, I had no idea that Wes Anderson directed it and prepared myself to endure, rather than enjoy, as I do with most kids movies (Kung Fu Panda being an exception). However, from the first frame it was obvious that he directed it. If you have seen any of his other films (Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited, and The Royal Tenenbaums etc.) all the tell tale signs are there...reoccurring collaborators, rocking soundtrack, witty dialogue, and dry humor that pairs well with Roald Dahl's darkly comedic writing style.

It took me a while to realize that George Clooney did the voice for Mr. Fox... the voice was so familiar but it drove me crazy until I could place it. Other characters were played by Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Jarvis Cocker (who I spent most of the 90s having a crush on... loved me some Britpop) and even a rabbit chef voiced by Mario Batali... complete with orange Crocs.

Since we bough the DVD two days ago we have already watched it twice. There is some shooting involved and some creepy farmers, but if you don't mind that it's a great family film. There will be a free viewing of the movie on Thursday at the Delaware Branch of the Albany Public Library

Info:

Event: Movie – "Fantastic Mr. Fox”

Location: Delaware Branch

Begins: 2:00 pm (Thursday, April 8, 2010)

Description: Popcorn donated by Spectrum 8 Theatres. (hooray!)

You can watch a "making of" video, among others, right here.

Yet another consignment sale

2010-03-31T00:10:00.000-04:00

Katrina Trask Nursery School Consignment Sale
Friday, April 16th (3-8pm)
Half-price sale on Saturday, April 17th (9am-1pm)
The American Legion (34 West Ave., Saratoga Springs).

For more information click HERE

From their site:

Everything you need for children: furniture, toys, books, videos, baby gear, maternity and nursing clothes, and children's clothes for infants to children's size 10/12. The sale offers a tremendous selection of excellent-quality items. In addition to raising money to help run our cooperative nursery school, we reach out to families and charities in need within the community and supply them with free clothing and gear by donating unsold items following the sale.

Let Them Eat Cake

2010-03-30T16:24:00.000-04:00

Just took a detour through Delmar and saw that Make Me a Cake Next Door is now open. The owners of Perfect Blend have expanded next door and according to their website will be offering 'a wide variety of cupcakes as well as cakes for all occassions, specialty/custom cakes, wedding cakes and much more.'

Here is some more info from the Times Union.

Mmm, art you can eat.

Make Me A Cake Next Door
378 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, NY 12054

Too Big for My Britches

2010-03-29T21:56:00.002-04:00

I am nearing the five month mark in my pregnancy, and it's official... I need to switch over to maternity clothes. Blurgh. The Belly Band (a pregnant woman's miracle) I bought at Target has been working until now, allowing me to wear my normal jeans, however, this baby is growing... so it's time to pull out the heavy artillery.

It's been about three years since my last baby, and while many of the maternity clothes styles have improved, the locations where you can buy them have dwindled. Wal-Mart and Old Navy have pulled maternity wear out of their stores and moved everything online, and even Bon-Ton (usualy a last resort) has decided to leave pregnant ladies in the lurch.

While online shopping is convenient, maternity clothes, I find, are often ill-fitting and need a good trying-on before buying. I hate paying for shipping (I usually look for free coupon codes) and REALLY hate paying for shipping returns. Some stores offer in-store returns, however, a salesperson at Old Navy said they don't accept maternity clothes any longer.

In my desperation, I have traveled the Capital Region looking for places for a 'woman with child' to get some duds.

Target: Liz Lange has had a line there for a while, but this time around the selection is pretty sparse. I remember the selection being more varied, but there are some basic t-shirts, leggings, etc. you can start with.

H&M (Crossgates Mall): Nice selection, very trendy, and reasonably priced. Keep checking back and you can find some good sales.

JC Penney: They had a pretty decent selection, more for the working mom than the sweatpants/jeans mom I am. There were some good sales, but overall, not really my style. I have a weird thing with jeans.. if they are not the EXACT wash I like, I won't wear them. Even if they are mega discounted for 14.99. I tried explaining that to my husband, but it's lost on him.

Destination Maternity (Colonie Center): Finally, a whole store dedicated the process of populating. The front of the store boasts their boutique line (Pea in a Pod) where everything is pretty, but EXTREMELY overpriced (the sale prices made we weep). The back of the store has the Motherhood Maternity section, which was more in my price range. The salesperson was very helpful and friendly and the big bonus here is that there is a big gated off area in the middle of the store complete with a TV, lego table, and other diversions for the kids. I actually got to try some stuff on knowing my kids were comatose in front of Nick Jr.

*Motherhood Matenity apparently also rents out spaces in Sears, Boscov's, Macy's (all in Colonie Center) as well as Babies R Us, so you can find similar items in all of these places, however they do not offer the in-store discounts that Destination Maternity has.

The Gap (Crossgates only): So, of course you can look super cute and put together with anything the Gap sells in their maternity section, but if I'm going to pay full price for a pair of jeans... you are darn tootin' that I'm going to be able to wear them for more than three months. That being said, I always check out their sale section. I am so over being that shopper that pretends to browse the front of the store mulling over a $68 t-shirt, only to casually make my way to the sale rack. I only ever buy 'on sale' at the Gap and always make a bee-line to the back of the store.

I have yet to check out any consignment shops and would take any suggestions. I'm pretty sure PolkaDots on Western Ave. has some stuff, so I'm going to check that out tomorrow, but I usually save consignment shopping for when I don't have the kids... there's something about that combination that kinda leaves me frazzled. And to find other used clothing, there is always eBay, Craigslist, and eMommie.

Farm and Fiber Tour

2010-03-27T22:36:00.009-04:00

Looks like an interesting day for the family:

Washington County Farm and Fiber Tour
April 24th and 25th
Free!

From their website:

-Drive from farm to farm through scenic Washington County in eastern NYS. Shop for handspun and dyed yarns, unique woven and knitted items, high quality fleeces, cuts of lamb, and more.

-Watch spinning, knitting, weaving, and felting demonstrations. Try your hand at many fiber arts. Learn about raising the livestock and pets that we cherish.

-Visit alpacas, bunnies, sheep and lambs, llamas, and more - on the farm; and meet the farmers and their families.

And for your viewing pleasure: The Llama Song

Thomas on the Big Screen

2010-03-25T20:26:00.005-04:00

If you haven't caught this already, you still have one more chance!

THOMAS & FRIENDS: Hero of the Rails Movie

10 AM at Movieland in Schenectady
$5 for all seats. (What a steal!)
Saturday, March 27th

If your kids are into the crazy hijinks of this train and his friend-gines, then check out this description:

The British children's series Thomas & Friends follows the animated adventures of a helpful locomotive named Thomas the Tank Engine as he and his train buddies work the rail lines and teach kids about the spirit of teamwork. This cartoon movie breaks new ground in the series by providing voices for each individual character (previously, the tales were narrated by a single storyteller) and introducing three new friends: a train named Hiro, a steam engine named Victor, and a crane named Kevin.

The trains talk?!! New characters?!! This is groundbreaking stuff, guys.

Hudson Children's Book Festival

2010-03-25T14:40:00.002-04:00

Still more than a month away, but definitely worth marking down on the calendar.

Here's a link to the extensive list of authors who are slated to be there as well as the schedule.

The Old People's Mall

2010-03-23T23:52:00.001-04:00

Four score and seven years ago, when I was a high school student, I balanced a couple of jobs at what in my hometown of Whitehall, PA (holla!) was known as the 'old people's mall'. (To prove how long ago this was, one of my jobs was at Waldenbooks (remember those?), and the other was at the Dollar Movie Theatre, and at the time that I quit they were playing Jurassic Park).

This was not the cool mall that all the high school kids hung out at on a Friday night, but the quiet mall that smelled like stale pretzels and dirty fountain water. And of course, it was filled with old people. Well... never really filled... I guess that's why they liked it.

Anyway, today I found the equivalent of that at the Rotterdam Square Mal l. I think that any mall with K-Mart as an anchor store automatically qualifies. This mall was one of the more depressing places I have been in a while. Empty storefronts, empty food court, and more "Cash for Gold" kiosks per square footage than I've seen anywhere else.

It does have all your key mall stores... FYE, Hot Topic, Victoria's Secret, and a bunch of those places that sell wolf t-shirts and woven hats from Guatemala. It also has a Gap Outlet, which is a bonus (for me anyway), but it's certainly not enough to take away from the dreariness of the whole place. Even the Easter Bunny looked like he was crying beneath his costume. (Sidenote: the guy taking the pictures of the bunny looked EXACTLY like the comic book guy in the Simpsons).

My kids,on the other hand, noticed none of this bleakness. Why, you ask? Because it has one of the most impressive collection of pay kiddie rides in all the land. I was just at Crossgates last week and noticed they took theirs away, and the one at Colonie Center pales in comparison. This place has everything a little kid could want. The ice cream truck, the fire engine, a race car, and little merry go round, I could go on. Of course, being the stingy mom that I am, I conveniently have 'run out of quarters' at this point of the trip, so the kids have to busy themselves with the rides without all the jerking back and forth, but they are happy enough to play.

The highlight for me was the magic tree named "Molly" (complete with British accent), who rhymes in couplets and has a change machine in her trunk. That particular attraction is free and the kids must have pressed the button fifteen times to hear her sing 'Zipadee-doo-da'.

So, if you happen to find yourself in that neck of the woods, check it out. By no means am I implying that you should make a special trip... if you did you would just be disappointed. However, if you need to sell some gold and are over there anyway, make a little pit stop. Your kids will thank you for it, and it just might be the highlight of your visit. No, it definitely will be.

Spring has Sprung

2010-03-20T14:32:00.000-04:00

For Bahai's, the first days of spring is also the beginning of our New Year, or Naw Ruz.

For the last few weeks, to help usher springtime into our home, we cut some long branches from our forsythia bush and put them in water. The kids have enjoyed the day by day unfolding of the buds, until the blooms finally made their appearance...just in time for all the sunshiney warmth we have been enjoying!

Happy Spring, Albany! It's like a whole new city out there.

Maple Sugar Tour - Five Rivers

2010-03-19T15:44:00.006-04:00

The sun is shining... birds are singing.... perfect day for a field trip!

My friend got bunch of pre-K friends and parents together for the Maple Syrup Tour at Fiver Rivers Environmental Educational Center. The tour was about a half an hour long and winds through one of their short trails through the woods. Led by a cheerful guide, the children were encouraged to take in the natural wonders around them, (namely trees), and experience first hand where maple syrup comes from and how it is made.

The kids got to drill into a tree, taste the freshly tapped sap, and then got to taste the real deal after it had been boiled down in the 'sugar shack'. (Move over Mrs. Butterworth).

The rest of the morning was spent running around, playing with sticks and rocks, and lunching in the sun. A perfect start to the spring.

To experience your own Maple Syrup adventure you can head over to Five Rivers. Here is a description from their website. You can also check out their calendar for other upcoming family friendly events.

Maple Sugar Open Houses Saturdays and Sundays, March 20, 21, 27, 28, April 3
1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
At our Maple Sugar Open Houses, watch sap drip from the tapped trees, and smell the syrup boiling in the evaporator. You'll learn to twirl a drill and pound a spile, and you'll use your taste buds to sample maple syrup. The Maple Sugar Open Houses are open to the public. Scout and other youth groups are welcome; call the Center to register a group.

Next generation of tree huggers.

Thanks, Laura!! We had fun!

Balloon on a Spoon

2010-03-17T22:47:00.003-04:00

For my son's 3rd birthday (last January) we bought him a bunch of mylar balloons from the Dollar Store. The store had run out of all the birthday ones we were choosing, so we ended up getting him a motley collection of Valentine's balloons. Since V-day was still a month away at that point, they had those in spades.

Anyway, fast forward two months and some of these balloons are still hanging around. (Talk about stretching your dollar). I tied a spoon to one of my son's favorites so it would prevent me from having to jump up and get it everytime it hit the ceiling. Ingenious, some might say, however, this thing is starting to freak me out. With the spoon attached it is about the exact height of a small person. It floats around the house doing its own thing and it has those weird eyes and goofy grin...and I I'm never expecting it to be there, so I keep scaring the bejeezus out of myself whenever I bump into it.

I'll get up to go to the bathroom at night and jump because I think there is someone in the hall. I'll start talking to it because out of the corner of my eye I'll think its one of my kids. This morning I actually shut my bedroom door because I felt like someone was watching me, and when I looked up, there he was staring me down.

Tomorrow, I think I am going to introduce our little friend to a pair of safety scissors . This has gone on for far too long and this little love monkey has overstayed his welcome.

Home Gym for Kids

2010-03-15T21:50:00.001-04:00

Is it just me or does this toy strike anyone as odd?

How about if you add this?

Guesses on how long it takes before it becomes a clothes rack..... just like mommy and daddy's.

Opera-to-go

2010-03-12T19:07:00.003-05:00

Here's a chance to introduce your little ones to the refined world of opera. No, not the Three Tenors...the Three Little Pigs.

Lake George Opera To Go presents :
"The Three Little Pigs"
Sunday, March 14, 2010 :
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
at the NYS Museum

(from their website)

Description: Lake George Opera at Saratoga brings a fully staged opera, complete with sets, costumes, and a cast of professional singers tot he State Museum. In this retelling of "The Three Little Pigs," the beloved fairy tale by John Davies is set to music from the operas of Amadeus Mozart. Join us on a musical adventure and find out how the three little pigs outsmart the big bad wolf by taking their questions 'to the Library!" Please arrive early. Visitors will not be admitted once the performance begins! Performance will be held in the Huxley Theater. This is a FREE program and pre-registration is not required

And remember, it aint' over till the fat piggie sings.

Triops

2010-03-11T20:39:00.008-05:00

Today the kids and I were listening to one of our favorite kid-friendly, parentally tolerable kids albums, T hey Might Be Giants - Here Come the 123's and something piqued my interest enough for me to engage in some Google-based research.

The fifth track of the album, entitled 'Triops Has Three Eyes', regales us with a diddy of what I previously had thought was a mythical creature (or at least long expired). Hereunto, the only three-eyed creatures I have been aware of are are that alien from Toy Story and Blinky, the toxic fish from The Simpsons. However, my extensive research (typing 'triops' into the search box) has shown that not only are these babies real, but you can also breed them at home.

Check this out: Triops Deluxe Kit.

And if you have not yet familiarized yourself with all the useless junk in the Think Geek catalog, may I suggest that you do so.

Move over Sea Monkeys, there's a new (well, technically not new) creepy aquarium creature in town.

Free Cone Day

2010-03-10T22:07:00.010-05:00

It's that time of year again Ben and Jerry's fans.
Click here for the double scoop.

March 23rd with a cherry on top.

Family Jam with Heldeberg Music Together

2010-03-10T20:04:00.002-05:00

Families, come make music with your kids! Musicians, come jam with friends, and help pass on the music you love to the next generation!
This event will combine group jamming and singing with some short performances by local musicians. (If you're a musician interested in participating, let Deb know!)
We'll be celebrating SING WITH YOUR CHILD Month, and raising funds for Heldeberg Music Together’s Scholarship Fund. Suggested donation is $10-25 per family, or pay-as-you-can. Everyone is welcome! Bring an instrument, if you have one.

HELDEBERG MUSIC TOGETHER is a research-based, early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, kindergarteners and the adults who love them, taught in Albany by Deb Cavanaugh.
http://www.heldebergmusic.com

Date:
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time:
11:30am - 2:30pm
Location:
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Street:
State and Lodge Streets
City/Town:
Albany, NY

Consignment Cheat Sheet

2010-03-09T17:05:00.000-05:00

My (way more organized than me) friend Joyce put together this list of upcoming consignment sales. Currently, the last three on the list are still open for consignors. Happy bargain hunting!

1) The Pass It On Sale (www.passitonsale,com) at the Albany Academies Fieldhouse

public dates:

Wed Mar 17th, 9am-8pm

Th Mar 18th, 9am-5pm

Fri Mar 18th, 9am-5pm HALF PRICE SALE

Sat Mar 19th 8am-12pm HALF PRICE SALE

2) Baby Revolution Sale (www.babyrevolutionsale.com) at the Beltrone Living Center off of Wolf Rd

public dates:

Sat Mar 27th 12noon-4pm

Sun Mar 28th 9am-11am HALF PRICE SALE

3) O! Baby Consignment Sale (www.obabysale.com) at the Chatham Fairgrounds

public dates:

Th Apr 22nd 9am-7pm

Fri Apr 23rd 9am-5pm

Sat Apri 24th 9am-5pm HALF PRICE SALE

4) Encore Kids Consignment Sale (www.encorekidssale.com) at the 4H Bldg of the Ballston Spa Fairgrounds

public dates:

Th May 13th 9am-7pm

Fri May 14th 9am-3pm

Sat May 15th 9am-2pm HALF PRICE SALE

Thanks, Joyce!

Indoor Yard Sale

2010-02-23T15:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, with weather like this, yard sale season seems ice ages away. But never fear, you can get still get your rummaging fix this coming weekend.

CBA is hosting an Indoor Yard Sale this Saturday. From their description:

Come join the fun and get great deals on thousands of items, all donated by CBA families. Everything for your home, appliances, furniture, clothing for your entire family, office products, books, toys, and more! Food & drinks on site. Proceeds to benefit CBA Lacrosse. Snow date on Feb. 28th.

When: Sat, Feb 27, 2010 | 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Where: 12 Airline Drive, Colonie New York

Cost: Free Admission

For More Information Call: 452-9809

Thanks, Leanne!

Wasting Away

2010-02-21T16:45:00.006-05:00

As you get older, you can choose to live life to its fullest, squeezing every last drop out of your existence on this earthy plane...

-OR-

if that sounds like too much work, you can move to Albany and buy some property here:

Someone wasn't feeling too optimistic when they came up with that one.

Henry Hudson Planetarium

2010-02-19T14:31:00.004-05:00

This weekend the Henry Hudson Planetarium is offering their children's program. Here's what they say on their website:

11 AM. Interactive program exploring the stars, planets, comets and constellations in the night sky. Children will meet Henry Hudson (puppet) and discover how he used the stars to sail his boat, The Half Moon, here in 1609. Geared to children ages 3-7 and their families. $3 all seatsThere is another show at 1pm geared toward children ages 8 and up.

These shows are few and far between, so check it out if you have the chance. The planetarium is housed in the Albany Heritage Area Visitor Center, which has a small museum and gift shop attached.

And if you are looking for a unique place to have a birthday party, look no further. $150 for a maximum of 25 children. Included a staff led planetarium show and party space.

The Visitor Center can be found at 25 Quackenbush Pl., Albany, 12207, (518) 434-0405

Pine Bush Preserve and Discovery Center

2010-02-18T15:08:00.013-05:00

I have driven past the Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center numerous times, but finally made it over there last Monday to check it out. (They are not usually open on Mondays, but this was an exception due the school break).

What a great place! The exhibits are new and and engaging with a variety of hands on activities for kids and adults to try. It kind of reminded me of smaller, free-er CMOST.

Some of the highlights for my kids were the binoculars they could use to explore all of the 'indoor wildlife', the wind/sand demonstration, and a very special cookie jar.

There is another room with a story nook, puppets, crafts and other activities to keep little hands and minds busy.

After the indoor discovery, we took to the outdoors to explore the sandy terrain of the Pine Bush trails.

Some Words of Caution (i.e. learn from my mistakes)

1. Study the trail map beforehand. What I thought was going to be a 30 minute stroll, turned into a 2 hour hike because mama took a wrong turn.
2. Eat lunch beforehand. (2 hours with hungry kids makes for a VERY LONG 2 hours).
3. Brush up on some games that help keep little minds off of their little legs hurting.
4. Learn to ignore repeated pleas, like "Carry Me" and "Where's the car?"
5. Rinse and repeat.

Honestly, we did have a really fun time. They played in the snow, made tracks in the mud, listened for birds and other wildlife, and learned to distinguish the different colored trails (something mommy didn't learn fast enough). I once read in a Montessori book that a child is capable of walking a mile for every year of their age. Initially I had my doubts, but after that day, I realize it's not entirely unrealistic.

The Pine Bush has a pretty steady calendar of things to do including guided nature hikes, movies, and educational programs. You can check it out here or for some more descriptions of their educational programs, including a pre-shool program, check here.

Pine Bush Discovery Center
HOURS OF OPERATION:

Tuesday-Friday: 9AM-4PM
Saturday and Sunday: 10AM-4PM
Open most holiday Mondays. Please call ahead.

Free and open year round.

Outdoor Skating

2010-02-18T15:03:00.002-05:00

Here is a great link from All Over Albany listing all the places in the area where you can ice skate outdoors.

MASS MoCA and Kidspace

2010-02-15T20:51:00.020-05:00

For Valentine's Day I drove my three favorite lovebugs to MASS MoCA (no...not a giant cup of hot chocolate) for a fun outing in the name of culture. I have always wanted to visit the museum, but usually get sidetracked for one reason or another (read: outlet shopping) and was especially interested in checking out the Kidspace gallery for the little ones.

I am now in love with the place.

The Kidspace gallery was a little smaller than I thought it would be, but it kept us occupied for well over an hour. The current exhibit, You Are What you Eat, features five artists whose primary art material is food. Included were a Big Bang installation made out of gummy candy and some of Joan Steiner's Look-Alikes, which you might recognize from the recent exhibit at the NYS Museum.

Sign on the door read: Please don't eat the exhibits.

Gummy Bear Big Bang

Yes, that coral is made out of Cheetos.

As for the rest of the museum... it was amazing. It kept us all engaged for the rest of the afternoon (and to do that for a 3 and 4 year old, I say kudos) It's a great place to just wander around and discover the various warehouse spaces and the diverse collection of contemporary works.

On the way home from the museum we took a little detour though the quaint little town of Williamstown and stopped at Where Did You Get That? (cool toy store) and Tunnel City Coffee.

Overall, it was a great way to spend a Valentine's Day, or any day for that matter.

MASS MoCA Information:
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. closed Tuesday
Summer Hours - 10:00 a.m - 6:00 p.m

Kidspace open from 11-4. Art making activities are only available on the weekend.

Admission:
$15 adults
$10 students
$5 children 6–16
Free for children 5 and under
Free to members

Combo Ticket
With Norman Rockwell Museum $25

Winter Break Outings

2010-02-14T22:02:00.007-05:00

Here are some events for your family to enjoy during the February break.
___________________________________________________

Steamer 10 Theatre Vacation Daze - some of these popular performances are already sold out, but there are still some tickets left for later in the week.

CMOST - The science museum will be open M-F from 10-5 for their general admission events. They are also offering a February School Vacation Camp for ages 5-10.

Albany Art Room - There is always fun to be had (and messes to be made). There is also a special clay open studio on the 19th from 11-2 for kids and adults.

Albany Public Library - Check out their calendar for stuff to do this week. There are craft projects at the Main Branch everyday,movies, as well as the chance to try out the Wii and to work on the Altered Books Art Project at the Pine Hills and Delaware Branches.

New York State Museum - Here is a link of all the things going on at the museum. Not to mention the carousel.

Emma Treadwell Nature Center - They have a few activities going on for families involving snow shoeing, dream catchers, black bears and s'mores.

Albany Institute of History & Art - Here is a link to their Vacation Art Break. (from ages 6 and up)

Schenectady Museum and Planetarium - Check here for a list of daily events, planetarium shows, and camp.

Don't forget Open Skate at the Times Union Center.

This should get you started for now. I'll post more if I run across anything.

Salad Spinner Art

2010-02-14T20:53:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! I'll post our special V-day adventure soon, but in the meantime I thought I would share a little craft that's easy enough to do at home. Put some painting clothes one, because it could get a little messy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Step 1: The kids really love cutting, so I folded some paper in half and let them work on cutting out half hearts I drew on paper.

Step 2 + : This is the fun and messy part. You need a salad spinner. I had one that I bought from the Christmas Tree Shop for about $3. We taped the heart on the bottom of the basket and dribbled paint all over it.

Step 3: Spin it! Spin it real good.

Step 4: Admire.

These are some of the final products. To deliver them as Valentines, we folded them back in half, punched a hole in the top and tied a yarn bow through it to make it a pretty package. The kids had fun lacing the holes, too.

Here is a much better and more methodical way to doing this at home. I was kind of winging it this time, but now that I have the hang of it, it's definitely something we'll be playing around with more.

Brassy Apple: Spin Art Tutorial

Have fun!

Why Quiet Time Should Not Be Unsupervised

2010-02-12T18:43:00.003-05:00

Yes, my friends, that is glitter CONFETTI all over. And this is only one room (albeit the hardest hit) of many.

I should have know things were strange when it was very quiet....too quiet... and then all of a sudden I hear my son yell "Happy Birthday to Everyone!!!"

I think the next time we'll try the Balloon Room instead.

My poor vacuum is crying in the corner.

Ready and Able

2010-02-12T14:35:00.008-05:00

Able Bakers has finally opened at 540 Delaware Avenue (next to the Yoga Loft) and the whole neighborhood is abuzz about it.

I stopped in this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised at the large selection in this cozy little shop. Plenty of yummy treats for Valentine's Day and beyond, fresh breads, cakes, pastries, cookies etc. I bought multi-grain ciabatta, Valentine's cupcakes (for the kids), chocolate chip cannoli, and some cookies.

The kids loved the rotating refrigerated pastry shelf chock full of treats.

Stop in when you have the chance and indulge your sweet tooth.

PS. If you mention their website you get 10% off your purchase... I totally forgot to do that.

Ice Skating Lessons at the TU Center

2010-02-11T16:08:00.002-05:00

Found on All Over Albany.

The TU Center is holding open ice skating sessions February 16-18 (that's next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). There will be three sessions a day:

12 pm - 2 pm

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

5 pm - 7pm

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under. (The tickets will only be sold day of.) Skate rental is $5. If you print out this flyer, you can park in the TUC garage for $3.

More info: 487-2000.

St. Rose Physical Education Program

2010-02-11T15:20:00.004-05:00

Here's a program for the kiddos to help the afternoon go by a little faster. Classes start this coming Tuesday, but it seems like there is still plenty of room. I did this last year with my daughter. It's basically St. Rose students doing gym class activities with the kids in a large gymnasium, so there is plenty of opportunity to burn off some energy.

You can also get the application here, and information about a cheap swimming class here. (Note: The swimming classes are filled, but you can get on a waiting list).

Physical Education for Elementary Students
Spring 2010

Who: Home Schooled &/or Preschool Children (3-12 years)

What: Elementary Physical Education Classes

Where: The College of Saint Rose Campus Activities Center Gymnasium

When: Tuesdays 1:15-2:15 P.M.
February 16th, February 23rd, March 9th, March 16th, March 30th, April 6th, April 13th, April 20th.
Note: No class on March 2nd Mid-Winter Break or March 23rd Advisement Day.

Cost: $30.00 for 8 sessions
Please make checks payable to "The College of Saint Rose" and mail to the following address:
The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
Attn: Dr. Ann Neilson Box #2489

Questions: Please call Dr. Ann Neilson at (518) 454-5248 or e-mail at neilsona@strose.edu

FIRST COME. FIRST SERVE. Payment is the only way to hold a place in
these physical education classes.

Star Gazing

2010-02-09T22:41:00.006-05:00

Here's a STELLAR activity for you and your family.

The Hirsch Observatory on the RPI campus offers free observation hours every Saturday night (from Feb. 7th - Nov. 21st) from 8pm - 10pm.

View the galaxy through their on-site telescopes (most are child-friendly, too!) And when the weather doesn't cooperate they will have astronomy programs instead.

You gotta admit... it sounds kind of fun (and worthwhile) to keep the kiddos up past their bedtime to gaze at the stars. It even sounds like a romantic date night...not that any parent reading this remembers what that means.

Go here to get yourself started on your out of this world adventure.

Pigeon Party, Part Deux.

2010-02-08T21:29:00.004-05:00

If you missed all the excitement about our favorite flying rat (that's my friends nickname for pigeons), you can try again.

Pigeon Party! at T he Egg.
Saturday, February 13, 11:00 AM

$14

PS. Maybe if you hide out in the bathroom after the show, you can sneak into the Chinese New Year Celebration Double Feature (it starts at 6pm on the same day).

Chinese New Year Celebration

2010-02-08T15:55:00.004-05:00

Valentine's Day. Schmalentine's Day. Spend the weekend celebrating the Chinese New Year starting with the New Year Celebration at The Egg.

February 13th, 6:00PM.

Cheap Ticket Alert from the Chinese Community Center Website:

To celebrate Chinese New Year Celebration coming on Feb 13, Asian Food Market (located on 91 Colvin Ave. in Albany) will give one ticket of 2010 Chinese New Year Celebration on Egg theater on Feb 13 to customer, who purchase food for $88 or more. And Asian Food Market is selling ticket for the celebration as well. Ticket is $10.

$5 bucks cheaper than at the Egg.

Hope your Year of the Tiger
is GRRRRRRRRRR-eat!

Valentine's Party at St. Rose

2010-02-08T15:40:00.002-05:00

The College of St. Rose Council for Exceptional Children will be sponsoring a Valentine's Day Party. Bring your kids and enjoy crafts and festive games with the help of some St. Rose college students.

Tuesday, February 9th
5:00-7:00 PM
Saint Joes Auditorium
The auditorium is located on Madison Ave. directly to the right of the St. Rose sign. You can park in the Music lot which is at the traffic light across from the sign (btwn. North Main and Partridge.)

Van-tastic!

2010-02-07T00:16:00.010-05:00

I've have come to a cruel, cruel, crossroad in life. A crossroad that leads either to eternal youth or the impending reality of settling .

The signs were there all along. I knew it was coming...

I have to get a minivan.

Why is the the thought of this so offensive? I've test driven them, been amazed at their storage capacity, the myriad seat configurations, the sheer number of cupholders that is enough to send one into a beverage induced reverie... but somehow I truly feel that this is the point of no return. A point at which I will have traded in my youth for something more... more... sensible. There, I said it.

Is this the point in life that I am supposed to read How Stella Got Her Groove Back and actually 'get it'? Surely, not yet.

We are still in the process of looking. I think we've narrowed it down to the Odyssey, which could be viewed symbolically...you know, as I commence the next chapter in the epic parental voyage that my life has become. But, mostly we chose it because Consumer Reports gave it a big ole high five. (Sensible, right?) So much for symbolism.

But, it is a fact. In the next month or so, I will be viewing the streets of Albany through the elevated carriage of my very own mom-mobile. You'll know me by the disco ball hanging from the rearview and a bumper sticker that says "This is how I roll". I figure that if I take the 'mini-van as ironic statement on suburban culture' viewpoint I'll feel better about this decision. And by the time I realize that there is no irony, I'll be too busy enjoying the fact that I can now take road trips to IKEA and fill my ample van with big ticket items (instead of the surplus tea lights and picture frames I inevitably end up with).

Maybe, just maybe, this won't be so bad after all.

Dance for Haiti

2010-02-04T19:28:00.003-05:00

Here's something fun for your Friday...

Dance & Donate for Haiti at the Delaware Community School (between Hurlbut & Bertha St in Albany)

Friday, February 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Neighbors have pulled together drummers and dance teachers for this benefit.

$5 for dancers. $1 for childcare. No partner needed.

Once you've burned off some calories, add them back on at the bake sale, and then head on over to Delaware Ave and check out some of the great First Friday Venues.

Proceeds got to Gaskov Clerge Foundation - a medical relief aid agency in Haiti.

Winter Fest

2010-02-03T15:02:00.002-05:00

How does this sound? Snow ball throwing contest, sled dogs, horse drawn sleigh rides, ice fishing contests, and a polar plunge? Then the Winter Fest at Grafton Lakes will be right up your alley.

Grafton Lake State Park
When: Saturday, February 6, 5 a.m.-4 p.m.

Price: $2; family, $5

Phone: 279-1155

Check here for a full day of events.

Swap Meet

2010-02-02T14:52:00.003-05:00

I love how there are so many cool people in the area who are dedicated to bringing on the sunshine. If you haven't already seen this blog, Our Yellow House, you should definitely check it out. A little dose of happy creativity to get you inspired.

So, the cool project she is proposing is a mail swap. You can read all the details here. Sign up and get ready to make and receive some pretty mail this month.

Yet another way someone is turning 'ice' into 'ice cream'. Love it!

This site is awesome.

2010-02-01T21:59:00.004-05:00

Check this site out. So sweet! Just think, one day your kids will be posting your pictures on here.

My parents being awesome in 1976.

Robo-Groundhog!

2010-02-01T20:41:00.007-05:00

Yes, that time of year is upon us. The time when we put the fate of our perpetual winter into the hands, or in this case, furry little paws, of Punxsutawney Phil (oooh, spell check went crazy on that one). I know meterologists have years of schooling and 'science' on their side... but this little dude has instinct... and if there one thing I've learned, don't mess with groundhog instinct. (Let's just say we had a groundhog incident last spring... and the groundhog won).

Whether or not you believe that by being spooked by his shadow Senor Phil has the ability to predict six more weeks of winter, I'm willing to take what I can get... along with the gajillion other people traveling down to Gobbler's Knob tomorrow morning to get the forecast at 7:25 am.

If you don't think you're going to take the overnight trek to middle of nowhere PA, you can follow the festivities by webcam. Yes, I mean it.

And if you're too busy to check that out, text the word "Groundhog" to 247365 to get your very own prediction. I mean that too... but I wish I didn't.

Also, and you might have already seen this, but PETA is calling for an animatronic version of Phil. Ostensibly so that the real groundhog can live a normal life, unfettered by the demands of the papparazzi and the brutish manhandling of older gentleman with a penchant for dressing like Abraham Lincoln (aka...The Inner Circle).

A robot-groundhog. Really? But, you gotta admit, this is kind of creepy.

Anyway, if you are looking for a fabulous way to celebrate this milestone, head over to the Bethlehem Public Library tomorrow for a Groundhog Day! celebration. (They supplied the exclamation point).

Time: 1:30-2:30
Description: Age 3 and up with family. Join them for stories, dancing and a shadow craft to celebrate the holiday! (again...their exclamation)
Location: Community Room.

Seriously, who's going to pass up groundhog day dancing? Maybe they'll do the 'robot'.

(robo-groundhog picture courtesy of bestweekever.tv)

Small-bany is back...

2010-01-27T20:27:00.004-05:00

Inspiration has struck...or should I say, the winter blues have definitely set in...thereby strengthening my resolve to find some fabulous things to do besides hibernate after 3pm (after extensive study, I've found that naps that start in daylight and end in darkness aren't so great for morale).

So thank you for being so patient. I'm ready to Small-bany-ize all over again. Two hyphens...oh yeah, I'm back.

So our first event is a winner in several categories:

1. It is free.
2. It exposes young minds to the literary conventions of the fairy tale from the old GrimmBro's themselves.
3. It does not include a Disney Princess.
4. It gives you another excuse to go back to Hudson, which for some reason has captured my imagination due to the Winter Walk. (Come to think of it, I've never seen it in the daylight, but I am sure it is just as cheery without the benefit of Saxaphone Santa and holiday lights).
5. A dedicated reader suggested it.

So, without further ado...

Lille Kartofler Figuren Theatre, Germany presents

RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Thursday, February 4, 2010, 6:00 p.m. at the Hudson Opera House

Storyteller and puppeteer, Matthias Kuchta adapts this classis Grimm fairytale. Adults and kids alike will be enchanted as the large-scale handmade puppets tell the story of a greedy king, a sad girl and the man who offers her an odd bargain in exchange for his help. Performance is sponsored by the John L. Edwards PTA and Carol Gans and takes place at the John L. Edwards Primary School, Hudson. Free.

I realize that it is a school night, but why not go to Mexican Radio and make a night of it. It's your family. Don't you deserve this?

If you don't think you can make it, may I humbly suggest the following adaptation for your home reading pleasure. I first saw this on Reading Rainbow, and Zelinsky's Rumplestiltskin still creeps me out. But you don't have to take my word for it. Badum-ba! (reference for you Reading Rainbow geeks out there... I know you exist).

A Small-bany Hiatus

2009-12-15T19:54:00.003-05:00

Adoring Readers.... just a little notice that I will be taking a little break from posting for about a month or so, but hope to back in full swing sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, have a great holiday season, new year, and enjoy the cold.

Three ways to freeze you patootie off

2009-12-02T20:48:00.005-05:00

Tis the season to pretend that you like the cold.

Saratoga Springs Victorian Street Walk. On Thursday, December 3rd from 6-10pm, Broadway in Saratoga will be closed off to traffic so that you can revel in some good olde fashioned Victorian holiday cheer. Street perfomers, treats, and of course, that old dude in red.

The Hudson Winter Walk. Held on the 1st Saturday of December for the last 12 years, this event has become our family tradition. There is something really nice about sipping hot chocolate under the twinkling lights of downtown Hudson...listening to street performers, catching a glimpse of Saxaphone-Santa, real reindeer, and the live mannequins in shop windows. 5:00-8:00pm.

The Troy Victorian Stroll. If you didn't get enough of it in Hudson or Saratoga, head to Troy on Sunday for the 27th Annual Victorian Stroll from 11 - 5pm. (If you are feeling really festive you can do this and then still be in Albany in time for the tree lighting on the plaza, then you will have done all you need to do to be considered 'full of holiday cheer') Here you can see over 100 free attractions including the region's top performers, musicians, dancers, magicians, and storytellers. And it looks like Saxophone-Santa comes here too! You can also pick up some cool wooden Victorian toys (yo-yo's and tops) at the Chamber Office at 225 River Street.

Sippy Cups, Chocolate, Trees, and Fireworks

2009-12-01T15:18:00.004-05:00

If you have been outside today... and I wouldn't blame you if haven't (it's fuh-ree-zing), you would have seen your breath and some flurries and felt that winter has finally arrived. To get in the winter mood you should head on down to Empire State Plaza this Sunday night for the Holiday Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival. The fun begins on the plaza at 1pm. Here's a sampling of what you can experience.

-The Sippy Cup s with a free concert performance at The Egg at 3 p.m. as part of the Family Wonders series at The Empire State Plaza. Admission to the concert is free of charge, however tickets are necessary and will be available beginning at 2 p.m. at The Egg box office in the Empire State Plaza.

-The Chocolate Expo and Holiday Gift Market in the New York State Museum. The Expo runs from 11 a.m. 4:30 p.m. and features some of the finest chocolates, desserts and specialty foods the region has to offer.

-The Great Train Extravaganza in the Empire State Plaza's Convention Center from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, children under 12 are free. This unique event, hosted by the Upstate Train Associates, features actual operating model O and HO gauge trains, and layouts and displays with more than 300 tables of model trains, train parts, books and related merchandise for sale.

Thanks, Joyce!

Pigeon Party!

2009-11-23T22:48:00.003-05:00

If you haven't read this book to your kids, may I suggest that you do. This thing is reaching 'Pat the Bunny' status (mmm... I can smell the flowers now) and who doesn't like a talking pigeon? Actually, come to think about it, I don't....you know, the whole 'flying rat' thing, but this one has a certain je ne sais quoi and you have got to give him some credit for being just so darned persistent. Anyway, here is your chance to see the bird, the myth, the legend on stage. This one is worth the drive to beautiful, downtown Hudson.

From the site:

Pigeon Party!
Big Wooden Horse Theatre, England
Thanksgiving Weekend!
Saturday, November 28, 10 a.m. & Noon

Mo Willems pigeon is back and ready to party! Squeezing all the fun of the first three Pigeon books into one raucous production, this lively show for children 3 and up is full of fun, feathers, laughter and excitement and features original music and lots of audience participation. Performances take place at the Montgomery C. Smith Intermediate School Theatre, Hudson. $5 children, $10 adults.

To buy tickets, go here...or you could just wing it (get it??? wings, pigeons...awesome) and buy them at the door.

Discount at Parent Teacher Store in Latham

2009-11-20T18:24:00.003-05:00

Heard from a very reliable source...The Parent Teacher Store in Latham will be having a sale on everything tomorrow. 20% off of all the edu-ma-cational doo-dads you can get your hands on.

Here's the site (which they have apparently not updated since before June).

It is located at 515 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham. (518)-785-6272

Thanks, Leanne!

On a totally unrelated note, does anyone remember when Toys R Us used to have those contests where the winner would get 5 minutes in the store to grab anything they wanted. Do they still do that? I used to dream that was me and would walk through the store mapping the route I would take if I won.

Delmar Open Studios

2009-11-20T13:49:00.003-05:00

Visit the studios of Liz Vigoda and Loretta Fontaine this weekend and get a behind the scenes look at how they create their jewelry and pottery. They will be offering studio tours, demonstrations, refreshments, and a wide array of new and special sale pieces. (Sounds like a good place to pick up some holiday gifts). Liz also offers classes for adults and homeschoolers.

From the website:

November 21 & 22, 2009 10 am-6pm

DELMAR OPEN STUDIOS 2009, An opportunity to peer into the creative spaces of two studios in Delmar, NY, and to buy local art from the source! With a background in architecture, studio jeweler Loretta Fontaine creates award-winning fine artisanal jewelry in sterling silver and 14K gold with miniature original photography. Liz Vigoda’s (www.lizvigoda.com)functional high-fired ceramics are influenced by her studies in anthropology, with exquisite hand painted surfaces celebrating culture and history. 10% of Liz’s sales will benefit the Schenectady Free Clinic, and 10% of Loretta’s sales will benefit The Ben Fund, in honor of Benjamin Stowell.

Free Kindermusik Demonstration

2009-11-17T19:20:00.004-05:00

Gulp.... I am remiss in my posting, but hopefully am back on the proverbial Big Wheel.

Here's a little something that might suit your fancy.. a little bit of short notice, but I know you all like to live in the moment.

Free Kindermusik demonstration class on November 18th at 10 am at the Albany JCC. (oops. that IS really short notice, I thought is was at night. Anyway, I tried).

You need to pre-register, so if you think you'd like to go, send an e-mail to the address below.

Here's more info on the class.

Kindermusik by Josalyn
Age: Newborn to 3 years
Schedule: Wed., 10-10:45am
Offered: Jan. 20, 2010-May 12, 2010

Kindermusik is an interactive, adult-participatory, "whole child" development program that uses music and body movement classes and a carefully crafted At-Home Materials Kit to build a strong foundation in the six core areas of early learning: cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical and musical. Call 269-1093 or email kindermusikbyjosalyn@gmail.com to register.

New Pottery Studio at the Albany Art Room

2009-11-04T15:33:00.004-05:00

The Albany Art Room is opening a new pottery studio and YOU are invited.

A grand opening ceremony will take place on Friday the 6th (1st Friday) from 5-9 with a ribbon cutting at 5pm. (Ooh...do you think they will have a pair of those really big scissors?)

There will also be demonstrations, tours, and refreshments.

My friend Janine is one of the instructors, so when you go, tell her Dawn sent you... You won't get anything for it, but haven't you always wanted to do that?

More details:
POTTERY STUDIO
Hours
Pottery Open Studio
Sat 10-5, Sun 10-1
for adults and kids 9 + up
Use of wheels in open studio is
limited to people taking classes or
people with previous experience
and approval from an Albany
Art Room pottery instructor.

Advanced Open Studio
T-F 11-6, Sat. 10-5, Sun 10-1
(except for when there are classes scheduled)
Open studio for experienced
and approved potters
(must get approval from one
of our pottery instructors)

Prices
$7/hour (min.1 hour for clay work)
$60/month
Clay: $2/lb.
Glazing Fee: $3/piece, $5/lg piece
(minimum open studio time:
15 minutes for glazing)
--
Albany Art Room
457 Madison Ave.
Albany, NY 12210
518.427.3910
518.527.6218 (cell)

The Hungry Caterpillar...LIVE

2009-11-04T08:05:00.000-05:00

The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is back at the Egg with their interpretation of the Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle favorites. I saw this performance when they came here two years ago. My then two year old sat through the whole thing, no problem (with the help of some snacks and her blankie), but it is very appropriate for children who are familiar with the book(s). If you are worried your little person can't sit through a theatrical experience, don't be. The audience is filled with the goldfish cracker eating set chattering through the whole thing and no one seems to mind.

November 7th at 11:00 am at the Egg.
$15 a ticket. (I know, kind of pricey for a puppet show, but it's really something worthwhile).

From their website:

Three whimsical tales by Eric Carle - "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", "Little Cloud" and "The Mixed-Up Chameleon" brought to life with the magic of black light and original music by the award winning Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia.

Put that bite sized Snickers bar down....

2009-11-03T19:53:00.004-05:00

and step away from your kids' trick or treat bag. I don't know about you, but all 'dieting' rules get thrown out the window when there is a surplus of candy in my house. And with two fully functioning trick-or-treaters in my house the amount has doubled this year. I have to keep reminding myself that just because the bars are smaller does not mean that I can eat three times as much (she types as she opens another peanut butter cup).

Here is a link with some suggestions on what to do with all the extra Halloween candy. It might be helpful for all of you, but as far as I'm concerned, there will be no 'extra' candy by tomorrow afternoon. Just extra wrappers.

Simpler Living: 5 things to do with extra Halloween candy

More Kids Stuff for Halloween

2009-10-23T17:06:00.006-04:00

Here is a list of some more stuff to do for Halloween with the kids spanning over the next two weekends.

What: Monster Mash & Bash
Where - New York State Museum

When: October 24, 25, and 31^st, Noon - 4PM
Cost: $2.00 Admission

Extra Info: Be sure to wear your costumes for a parade around the museum each day at 1pm. There will be face painting and other Halloween style fun… with a special guest from the Smile Monster (smilemonster.com on 10/25 and 10/31). Ages Toddler – 10 years. If you are an adult (duh!), check out the spooky haunted house they have for you.

____________________________________________

What: Halloween Hayride

Where: Ellms Farms, Ballston Spa

When: Friday and Saturdays in October from 7-10pm

Cost: $8.50, online registration required

Extra info: This ride is designed for everyone, so it’s not haunted. Cider and donuts included. If you can’t do the hayride, Ellms Farms has a ton of stuff to do. Check out their jumping pillow, corn maze, and moo-moo-choo-choo. One of my family’s favorite places to go this time of year.

What: Halloween Trick or Treat

Where: The Children’s Museum at Saratoga

When: October 31^st, 1:00PM – 4:30 PM

Cost: $5 for children, adults are free.

Extra Info: Children can trick or treat around the museum and then do join in on some games and activities. Children and adults are encouraged to come in costume. The museum will not open until 1pm on that day.

What: Malloween

Where: Crossgates Mall

When: October 31^st, 12-3pm

Cost: Free

Extra Info: Safe trick or treating for the kids hosted by Radio Disney
__________________________________

What: Halloween Trick or Treat

Where: The Children’s Museum at Saratoga

When: October 31^st, 1:00PM – 4:30 PM

Cost: $5 for children, adults are free.

What: Halloween Open House
Where: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
When: October 31st, 1-3:30 PM
Cost: Free

Extra Info: Family fun combining the magic of nature AND Halloween.

APL Monster Mash

2009-10-22T20:43:00.004-04:00

Another Halloween event for your little ghouls. We were at the library earlier today and saw the staff setting up the room. It was so cute. It looked like teachers setting up the high school gym for a homecoming dance. They were actually hanging up a DISCO BALL! I vowed then not to miss this party. I wonder if they rent the ball out as well. Happy Haunting.

Here is the info. from the Albany Public Library website:

Looking for a fun, free, safe Halloween event for your kids this year? Then head on over to the Main Library on Oct. 23 for our Monster Mash Halloween Bash!

Join us at 161 Washington Avenue from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, for this fun event for children and their families. Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume and enjoy:
• Ghostly tales for a family audience by Mary Murphy, a local writer and storyteller
• Dracula’s dance party where kids can do the Monster Mash, Thriller dance, and more
• Scavenger hunt to find Halloween memorabilia around the library
• Kooky crafts and face painting
• Bounce house for the little kids
• Kid-friendly Halloween short films and movie clips
• Ghoulish goodies and treats for everyone (Hannaford is our hospitality sponsor for this event)

The Halloween party takes place after regular library hours. Lots of library staff and volunteers will be on hand to help families make the most out of their time at the Monster Mash. Please join us for the festivities!

Haunted Bookstores

2009-10-21T15:02:00.005-04:00

Here are what Border's and Barnes and Noble are doing for Halloween. I'm always on the lookout for things that allow me to get my money's worth out of these costumes.

Borders
Kids Halloween Spooktacular

October 24, 2009 2:00 PM

Albany - Borders
1 Crossgates Mall Rd.
Albany, NY 12203

Bring the whole family to celebrate Halloween with fun games, spooky music, scary crafts and more! Ask a bookseller for more details.
__________________________________
Barnes & Noble
More Halloween!
Storytime
Join us for Halloween fun as we read stories about masks, make our own masks, and do face painting following storytime!
Friday October 30, 2009 11:00 AM

Colonie Centre
131 Colonie Center Suite 355, Albany, NY 12205, 518-438-1728

________________________________________
Halloween Is Here!
Storytime
Trick or treat, the big day is finally here! Join us for stories of masquerades and other Halloween adventures! We will make paper plate masks following storytime!
Saturday October 31, 2009 11:00 AM

Colonie Centre
131 Colonie Center Suite 355, Albany, NY 12205, 518-438-1728
_______________________________________

Necklaces you can't eat

2009-10-19T13:58:00.014-04:00

As I was meandering around Stuyvesant Plaza the other day (after my weekly Pumpkin Spice Latte indulgence) I poked my head into The Pottery Place to see what kind of stuff they have going on. I have made a couple of things in there with the kids that we have given as gifts to the grandparents... gifts that only grandparents could love. You know, mugs, picture frames etc. that either have handprints all over them or are painted brown (because all the pretty colors mixed together make brown).

Anyway, I noticed that, in addition to pottery, they now have the cute silver charms you can design yourself. What caught my eye were the really sweet ones that your child can fingerprint into and and add their intials or other designs. (having the fingerprint around your neck might come in handy... might save you the trip for the Safe ID)

My first thought was, 'Now this is some kind of child-made jewelry I can get into.' Not that I don't love the pipe cleaner bead bracelets or the cheerio necklaces...but I find these are probably more durable, and less perishable for that matter.

The prices are pretty reasonable, I guess. I don't really know because I don't make my own jewelry. There are a couple of different options, but you can get enough silver clay for up 4 little charms and studio time for $40. I think they might make a really sweet gift for yourself or relatives.

Their website is under construction, but you can read a little more in the Stuyvesant Plaza newsletter or go to the Lilly Ollo website to find out more about what you can make.

The Pottery Place also offers classes if you feel like you'd rather have someone helping you. You can find their contact info here.

You lose sir... you lose

2009-10-17T17:19:00.008-04:00

Ok. I am kind of annoyed at myself for letting myself get annoyed at this, but hey, it happens.

Today at the Thacher Park Fall Festival (which seemed sadly quiet as opposed to last year... maybe because it was so bloody cold) they added a little choo-choo train ride for the kids which was basically some souped up barrels pulled by a tractor. Anyway, it was a popular ride and there was a line forming. As the children from the previous ride got off, my kids lined up to get on. There was a little boy who didn't get out of the car my son was in line for. I figured he just needed a few moments to say good bye to the train, no big deal, but his dad walked over and said he would be riding on again. I very politely asked him if he could ask his son to get out and wait in line again so my son could get a ride. It seemed fair enough to me. Apparently, not to him. He basically spazzed out and refused. After a few more comments, he ended up yelling at me (in front of a line of children and parents, mind you) "Jesus... why don't you get a gun and shoot me!"

I have often heard that when you bring up Hitler or the Holocaust in an argument, you automatically lose. Well, I am now extending that rule to saying things like 'get a gun' and 'shoot me'. Especially in front of kids.

Well done sir. Not only did you teach your son that he is entitled to get things regardless of how it affects other people, you also taught us all how to fly off the handle.

Thank you dear readers for indulging me. I feel better now. Moving on.com.

Safe ID's

2009-10-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Safe IDs... It's just one of those things you do to fulfill your role as a responsible parent.. You know, like getting them a car seat, and bibs, and stuff.

We got one made a couple of years ago for my first born. Honest to god, this is a conversation I had with my husband the other day:

Me: Hey, we never used that Safe ID we got a few years ago.
Husband: Uhh...that's a good thing.

Here are some locations you can go to get this card made, if you so desire. And here's to you never having to use it.

October 16, 2009

Albany County Sheriff's Department
Family Fall Festival
Cohoes Community Center
22 Remsen St.
Cohoes, NY 12047
Hours: 5:30pm - 7:00pm

October 17, 2009

Albany County Sheriff's Department
SHOP FOR A CAUSE
Macy's - Colonie Center
200 Colonie Center
Albany, NY 12205
Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Albany County Locations with Walk-in hours

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
4 Tower Place
Albany, New York 12203
1-800-FIND KID
Hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs 9:00am - 4:00pm

Sherree Sebast
Albany County Sheriff's Department
75 Remsen St
Cohoes, NY 12047
518-720-8006
Hours: Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 3:30pm

Police Officer Kelly Kimbrough
Albany Police Department
126 Arch St
Albany, NY 12202
518-434-5173
Hours: Call for hours of availability

Police Officer Carl Duda
Town of Guilderland Police Department
5209 Western Turnpike
Guilderland, NY 12084
518-356-1501
Hours: Call for hours of availability

Ain't no party like a Play-Doh party...cuz a Play-Doh party don't stop

2009-10-14T13:05:00.004-04:00

...unless you forget to put the lid back on it, and it dries up... that's pretty much game over.

Anyway, Get your Fun Factory sculpting on at the Albany Public library. Join in on the Play-Doh party!

From their website:

Event: Play-Doh Party at Main

Location: Main Library

Begins: 2:00 pm (Sunday, October 18, 2009)

Ends: 3:00 pm (Sunday, October 18, 2009)

Description: Toddlers, preschoolers, elementary children and their adults are encouraged to play sculptor in the Children's Room using provided Play-doh, Fun Factories and various household kitchen tools. Who doesn't like Play-doh?

It could be as fun as this:

*Ding! From Kenner.

Vermont is for Mothers pt. 2

2009-10-13T22:40:00.009-04:00

Leaf-peepin' at its finest

Heading from the Vermont Country Store to Manchester is one heckuva fall drive. The town of Manchester, from what I saw, was filled with outlets, cute little shops, a fancy, schmancy ORVIS etc. Let me put it this way...according to their website, they are THE Vermont experience... so close your eyes, imagine Vermont, and you are probably picturing Manchester...only, with a Gap Outlet .

The highlight for me is the Northshire Bookstore. I always heard about them from their underwriting spots on WAMC, but didn't know what I was missing. It's like The Book House on maple syrup flavored steroids. Overall, a really great independent bookstore... lots of cool books, stationery, unique gift items, nice cafe and a second floor dedicated to the kiddos. Check out their website for their literary events or their blog.

Get it??? Nothing IS written in stone. Wah, wah, wah.
(Right before the entrance to the bookshop)

Final stop before home found us at The Village Peddler and Bearatorium in East Arlington. It's a cute little shop filled with teddy bears and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate (AAACK!) I got some homemade fudge (Almond Joy and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip... because sometimes you feel like a nut etc..) and enjoyed it all the way to the car. Look here for some chocolate math. Random.

Holy Carp! That's a chocolate bear!

So basically, the purpose of these two posts was to say: Quick! You have to go to Vermont now, before it gets too cold and annoying. (Can you tell I'm not a skiier?)

Vermont is for Mothers pt. 1

2009-10-11T15:38:00.029-04:00

...and lovers, kids, friends, pets, moose, etc...anyone who really enjoys a fall-tastic drive through the foliage. Last week, my friend and I took our annual fall pilgrimage to The Vermont Country Store and Manchester. It's a bit of a drive, but let me show you why it's worth your while. Here is the first of my posts dedicated to the Green (but currently multi-colored) Mountain State.

Purveyors of the Practical and Hard to Find

The Vermont Country Store puts the sundry in 'various in sundry'. This place is crawling with sundries. It feels like Mr. Olsen's Mercantile Shop.

Clean up in style.

Scrum-diddly-umptious candy store. Willy Wonka would be tipping his velvety top hat in approval. Rows and rows of glass jars filled with candy. I'm a big fan of anything you have to scoop out into little bags so that put me in the right place.

They also have tons of free samples of cheese, dips, jams, jellies, common crackers etc. If you don't mind crowds dipping en masse, I don't see why not you couldn't fill up here and skip lunch.

One thing that caught my eye was brown bread in a can... and despite my friends assurance that this was totally normal, the concept of baked goods in can seems to be going against nature. Call me olde fashioned...or new fangled... but I just can't wrap my brain around that one.

The Country Store ain't afraid of a little controversy. Here is proof that they are 100% behind the Right to Dry campaign.

(For even more VCS controversy...or should I say 'scandal'... check this out.)

In the apothecary section you can buy balms, ointments, soaps, perfumes (like the ever popular Ben-Hur and Wind Song) and other hard to find beauty items.

...and toys, toys, toys. Rock 'em, sock 'em robots, potato guns, squirting nickels, and loads of other classic toys that are hard to find. Smurfy.

You could spend hours in hear browsing around. Don't forget to check out the discounted section upstairs. But beware, order something from their catalog and you will be getting a new one in the mail every other week. They are fun to look through, though.

There is also another shop across the street that sells some other Vermonty items as well as some delicious fudge. (Sorry, the name escapes me right now, but you can't miss it).

Henry Hudson Puppet Show - All Ages Show

2009-10-07T23:19:00.006-04:00

This is a bit of short notice, but if you are free on Thursday, October 8th at noon, head over to Hudson Valley Community College for a free performance by the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater entitled:

"Mutual Strangers: Henry Hudson
and the River that Discovered Him”
Noon
Thursday, Oct. 8
Maureen Stapleton Theatre, Siek Campus Center

Here is a description from the website:

A large-scale mask and puppet theater performance, “Mutual Strangers” marks the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s world-changing voyage in September 1609. A small ship sent from Europe to find a northern route to the Orient sails 150 miles up a river on the “unknown” North American continent. The events that transpire on that voyage – the encounters of European sailors and indigenous people and the information brought back to the Dutch East India Company in Amsterdam – prefigure the interaction of cultures that will shape a new nation. “Mutual Strangers” re-imagines from multiple points of view Hudson’s voyage on the river that now bears his name. The play is based on the log of first mate Robert Juet, and the oral traditions of the Lenape and Mahican peoples. It is designed for audiences of all ages.

Date:	Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time:	11:30am - 2:30pm
Location:	Crowne Plaza Hotel
Street:	State and Lodge Streets
City/Town:	Albany, NY