Month: March 2013

Friday Fun: Easter Weekend

It’s Easter Weekend – a time for the devout amongst us to reflect on ourselves and a time for the children and the not-so-devout amongst us to hunt for Easter eggs, scarf down candy, and hug people in giant bunny suits. Unfortunately, baskets, egg hunts, and bunny suits don’t put themselves together on their own, and you may be running around like the chicks that are often associated with the holiday trying to put together some Easter-related fun at the last minute. In fact, if you’re one of the parents who forgot about Easter entirely, since it’s a little on the early side this year, you may be desperately seeking a way to keep your kids entertained without straining your bank account. Fortunately, if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to entertain your kids this weekend, you’ve come to the right place as here is a list of some of the Easter activities that your kids may enjoy.

First, if you’re looking for an Easter egg hunt, but you just don’t have the time to set one up yourself, you may want to check out your local mall. A lot of malls have special events this weekend, including Easter egg hunts, opportunities to meet and get a photo with the Easter bunny, Easter crafts, free stuff, and a whole lot more. For more information on these events, check out the website for your local mall or take a trip to your local mall’s activity board (they’re usually located right outside the entrance to the mall or right as you walk inside the mall.) If you don’t live near a mall or there are no malls with special events in your area this weekend, you may want to try one of the larger farms in your area. Some local farms will actually have Easter egg hunts and other spring-related activities this weekend as well.

Secondly, if your kids are into art, you may want to check out some of your local museums. A lot of museums have special exhibits and/or special events this weekend, including Easter-related artwork, kids arts and crafts, and other similar events to keep your kids busy and, hopefully happy, this weekend. In fact, if you can’t find a museum with any special exhibits or events, you may want to look in your local newspaper or use your favorite search engine to see if there is an Easter arts and crafts fair in your area. There are a number of large Easter-themed arts and crafts shows this weekend, and many of these shows will not only allow you to buy handcrafted Easter items, but will also allow your kids to make them.

Third, if you’re not really concerned with the cost of the outing and your kids are big fans of food, you may want to consider an Easter brunch. Many hotels, local cruises, restaurants, and other similar venues offer an Easter breakfast with more food than you could possibly ever eat, arts and crafts, music, a visit from the Easter bunny, and/or any of a variety of other similar activities to keep your kids entertained. However, you should be prepared to leave your wallet at the door because these events tend to be on the pricey side.

Finally, if you really can’t afford to go anywhere or you’re just looking for something to keep your kids entertained while they’re sitting at their grandmother’s house, you may want to consider bringing along your tablet computer or your laptop. There are a number of sites with Easter-themed activities and games to keep your kids entertained for as long as you need, including:

Primary Games – Easter Games

Girls Go Games – Easter Games for Girls

Kaboose Easter Activities

And

DLTK Easter Activities for Children

Football Friday – Was It Really a Mistake for the Patriots to Pick Up Amendola?

Another Saint Patrick’s Day has come and gone, and we’re now into the part of March where there’s really not a whole lot going on. In fact, unless you’re sitting on a beach somewhere for Spring Break or you’re a video game fan on your way to PAX East, you’re probably going to have a hard time finding anything beyond the local concerts, wine tastings, and other similar events that you would typically find somewhere in your local area almost every weekend. As a result, this week, I’m going to talk about something a little different than I usually do and discuss something that all of the sports fans out there can really look forward to — football.

However, I’m not just going to ramble on about football in general because there’s simply too much to say in one blog post. Instead, I’m going to focus on one specific decision that has been highlighted by sports analysts, experts, players, owners, and fans everywhere. Which decision am I talking about? I’m talking about the Patriot’s decision to pick up Danny Amendola and let Wes Welker go to Denver, of course. Many analysts and experts consider this move to be a rare mistake on the part of the Patriots, but all the talk brings about an interesting question. Was it actually a mistake to pick up Amendola?

Let’s look at some stats. Wes Welker caught 118 passes for 1,354 yards and 6 touchdowns during the 2012 season. This means that Welker averaged about 11.5 yards per reception. Danny Amendola caught 63 passes for 666 yards and 3 touchdowns during the 2012 season. Amendola, as a result, averaged about 10.6 yards per reception. Now, looking at these numbers, you can see why so many people are saying that it was a mistake to let Welker go, since Welker had almost exactly twice as many receptions, yards, and touchdowns as Amendola.

Here’s the problem though. Welker had Brady as a quarterback while Amendola had Sam Bradford. Brady threw 637 times for 4,827 yards and 34 touchdowns during the 2012 season while Bradford threw 551 times for 3,702 yards and 21 touchdowns. As you can see, there’s a big difference between Bradford’s numbers and Brady’s, which means there were less opportunities for Amendola to actually move the ball down the field. If you don’t believe me, look at the number of times that Amendola and Welker were actually targeted. Amendola was targeted 101 times and Welker was targeted 174. This means that Welker had 73 more opportunities than Amendola to catch the ball, which could explain the difference between their stats.

Now, am I saying that Amendola is going to be the next Wes Welker? No, but I am saying that he could be. Amendola is only 27, his average yards per reception has improved every year (even when he was injured), and he’s shown that he can make the long catches that every team needs to win. Welker, on the other hand, is 31, and his stats actually dipped a little in 2012 (although, this dip could have been a result of the fact that his stats were inflated by his stellar performance in 2011.) As such, the Patriot’s decision to pick up Amendola may seem strange at first glance, but was it actually a mistake? No. Is it a gamble? Maybe. But, if the Patriots put Amendola in the same role as Welker and Amendola can stay healthy, things could get very interesting in New England.

Friday Fun: Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend

This weekend is Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, which means that it’s time to show off your Irish pride, demonstrate your love for all things green, and eat, drink, and be merry. The only problem is that this weekend is one of the few weekends every year where there is so much going on that you may not be able to figure out the best way to spend your time. Well, if you’re at a loss as to what you’re going to do this weekend, it may please you to know that there are a slew of opportunities for merriment to be had. In fact, if you’re looking for some of the best ways to have fun this Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, you may want to consider some of these activities.

First, have you considered attending a Saint Patrick’s Day parade? Cities throughout not only the United States, but the world as a whole are holding parades in honor of Saint Patrick and the Irish this weekend. These parades often feature floats, prominent local officials and celebrities, horses, performances, vendors that will sell your children just about anything under the sun, and people dressed in green as far as the eye can see. As such, if you’re looking for something to do with your family and/or friends this weekend, a parade can be a great way to go. Not sure where to find one? Not a problem. Most of the major parades throughout the world are listed on the Saint Patrick’s Day website.

Secondly, if you’re a music fan, you may want to consider attending a local concert. Many restaurants, bars, pubs, and other venues have special concerts with Irish bands this weekend, and you can never go wrong with some good food, some good drinks, and some good music. If you’re having trouble finding a good concert in your area, try checking your local newspaper, your search engine of choice, or the websites of the restaurants and concert venues in your area.

Third, if you’re more into the eating and drinking than the merriment that follows, you may want to consider attending a Saint Patrick’s Day dinner or party. Many communities have special dinners and festivals with food, drinks, and, in some cases, games for the kids. For more information on these events, try your local newspaper or the websites of local towns and cities.

Finally, if you’re just looking for something to keep your kids occupied this weekend, you may want to keep an eye out for some of the family-friendly and/or kid-oriented events that are taking place this weekend in your local area. A lot of places have special events specifically for children this weekend, including arts and crafts, puppet shows, scavenger/treasure hunts, races, and a whole lot more.

Friday Fun: Keeping Your Weekend “Green”

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the famous old song “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!” However, if you actually live in one of the areas in which there’s been nothing but snow for the past month, you’re probably thinking “Let is stop! Let it stop! Let it stop!” In fact, you may have already come to the realization that the only people who could possibly ask for more snow are school-age children and people living in warmer climates than you (which, by the way, includes the people that originally wrote the song.) As such, you may be looking for something a little more green this weekend and a whole lot less white. Fortunately, if you are looking for something to take your mind off of the shoveling, the snow blowing, and the slippery snow-covered roads, you’ll be happy to hear that there are a number of “green” events this weekend.

First, if you missed last week’s post about the events in Salem, you may want to know about a certain green villain that is returning to the big screen. I am, of course, talking about the Wicked Witch of the West as Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opens in theaters today. This film, which stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz, is actually a prequel to the original 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. However, this film, unlike a lot of the other books and musicals that have appeared over the years, focuses on the wizard rather than Dorothy or the witches. For more information on Oz the Great and Powerful, check out the movie’s official website.

Secondly, if you just can’t wait until next weekend for all of the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, you may be pleased to know that some cities start  their green celebrations a little early. In fact, you may be able to find concerts, parades, races, and other activities this weekend in:

Hartford, CT
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
West Dennis, MA
Detroit, MI
Hamilton, NJ
Morristown, NJ
Rock Point, NY
Boardman, OH
Jim Thorpe, PA
Providence, RI
Manassas, VA
Milwaukee, WI

And a number of other locations throughout the United States.

Don’t see a parade in your area? Don’t worry, you can always check out the Saint Patrick’s Day Website for more information on Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout the world.

Friday Fun: Scavenger Hunts, Discounts, and Movies, Oh My!

Are you a big fan of the Wizard of Oz? Are you looking forward to the new Disney movie coming out next weekend, Oz the Great and Powerful? Well, if you are, you may want to head down to Salem, MA tonight because the Witch City is tipping its hat to the fine film that helped bring the idea of a “good witch” into the mainstream. This celebration, which is taking the place of the normal First Friday activities in Salem this month, will include an Oz the Great and Powerful scavenger hunt; dancing; a series of games and other activities to keep your kids busy; and a bunch of special offers, giveaways, and discounts at local restaurants and retailers. All of the fun is scheduled to begin around 5:00 p.m. and is expected to last until approximately 8:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, March 1st. However, the exact times for each of the activities in Salem tonight may vary, so it may be a good idea to check out the event’s website before you go.

If the Wizard of Oz is really not your favorite film or you’re nowhere even remotely close to Salem right now, you may want to check out some of the other films that are playing at your local movie theater this weekend. There are a number of strange, thrilling, and hopefully entertaining movies coming out today and tomorrow, including 21 and Over, Jack the Giant Slayer (which comes in a variety of flavors, including the standard 2D format, 3D format, and IMAX 3D format), The Last Exorcism: Part II, Stoker, and a number of other films.