Friday Fun – Page 14 – Salem Happenings

Find Your Inner Ninja

If you’ve ever seen the NBC show, American Ninja Warrior, you’ve probably already realized that it’s one of those shows that you don’t really know why you watch it, but you just can’t stop. In fact, it’s kind of like going to a casino and playing the slots in the sense that you know that it’s unlikely that anyone’s going to win, but you go anyway because it’s just kind of fun. However, if you’ve watched the show and thought to yourself “I want to know how these people do this stuff” instead of thinking to yourself “who would be crazy enough to do this to themselves,” there are a few events in the Boston area this weekend that will help you find your inner ninja.

First, if you’ve always wanted to see what it would be like to race across something, you may want to head over to Fenway Park this weekend. This is because Brigham and Women’s Hospital is hosting a ClimbAmerica fundraiser at Fenway Park this Saturday (June 7, 2014) from 9:00 A.M. on to raise money for heart disease treatment and research. This event will allow you and your friends or family to race up and down the stairs of Fenway park so that your other friends and family will sponsor your run and give money to charity (at least that’s the hope.) For more information on the ClimbAmerica event at Fenway Park and/or to register for the event, please visit the Brigham and Women’s Hospital ClimbAmerica page.

Secondly, if you really want to know how some of the best contestants on American Ninja Warrior learn the techniques that they use to get through the course, you may want to check out a Parkour class at the Cummings School in Somerville. This is because Parkour, which is the art of efficient movement, is one of the techniques that many of the top competitors on America Ninja Warrior use to get over and across the obstacles on the course. In fact, Parkour is not only a great way to bring out your inner ninja, but also a great way to get some exercise. As a result, if you would really love to build up your strength, speed, endurance, and ultimately learn how to move in a more fluid fashion, the Parkour class at the Cummings School may be exactly what you’re looking for. For more information on the Parkour Class at the Cummings School and other Parkour classes throughout the country, please visit the Parkour Generations Americas website.

Finally, if you want to explore the roots of the ninja and learn a little more about the culture of the people that actually came up with the idea for the show, Ninja Warrior, the Japan Festival in Boston is here to help. The Japan Festival in Boston, which runs from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (June 7, 2014) as part of the Cambridge Arts River Festival, is a cultural fair that features Japanese artwork, clothing, food, jewelry, toys, and more. For more information on the Japan Festival in Boston, please visit the Japan Festival in Boston website.

Photo credit: Jeyhun85 / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Some Interesting Ways to Exercise

As the warmer weather begins to set in, more and more people are beginning to leave the comfort of their homes in search of all of the wonders of the outside world. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I talked about some of the events that might actually help you to get your kids outside. The only problem is that your kids are probably not the only ones in need of some time in the sun, and there’s a pretty good chance, after a long winter of hiding from the cold, ice, and snow, that you may be in need of some exercise as well (trust me, you’re not alone.) Fortunately, if you are looking for a way to eliminate some of the pounds that you put on over the winter, the City of Boston and the surrounding area has several events that are sure to help.

First, if you and/or your kids have watched any version of the Three Musketeers and thought to yourself “Wow, I want to learn how to swordfight like that guy”, you’re in luck. This is because the Olympia Fencing Center in Cambridge, MA is offering a free “Intro to Fencing Class” to anyone that is interested. These classes, which are offered to all ages throughout the year, are a great way to learn the basics of fencing and to teach your kids that it might take a lot more work than they think to fight off an entire army. For more information on the “Intro to Fencing Class” offered by the Olympia Fencing Center, please visit the Olympia Fencing Center website or call the Center at (617) 945-9448.

Secondly, if you’re really not too keen on the idea of your kids screaming “Have at thee” while they jab a long, pointy thing at other people or you’re just a big fan of bowling, the Kids Bowl Free program may be more up your alley (if you’ll excuse the pun.) This program consists of a collection of bowling alleys and schools throughout the United States that actually allow kids to bowl for free. In fact, every kid below the age limit set by each individual bowling alley or school will be allowed to play 2 free games a day every day all summer long. Best of all, if you want to join your kids, you can even purchase a family pass that will allow you and up to 3 other adults to play 2 games a day every day for one low price. For more information on the program and/or to find a participating bowling alley near you, please visit the Official Kids Bowl Free website.

Finally, if you would rather watch other people perform physical activities than perform those activities yourself, you may want to check out Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna. Amaluna, which is now appearing at the Marine Industrial Park in Boston, is a love story told through a series of circus acts performed by some of the best acrobats, dancers, jugglers, and other performers that you will ever see. For more information on the show, which runs until July 6, 2014, please visit the Official Cirque Du Soleil website.

Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection / Foter / No known copyright restrictions

The Finer Things in Life

We’ve all heard the old expression, “stop and smell the roses”, but how many people actually take the time to follow through on that advice? I mean, if you stop and think about it, there’s no way around the fact that we live in a really busy world. A world in which school, work, family, unexpected disasters, and a whole list of other similar issues and responsibilities suck up our time faster than an overpowered vacuum cleaner. As a result, it’s often a wonder that anyone has the time to actually sit back, relax, and take in all of the finer things in life. However, it’s still important for everyone, not only for themselves but also for the sanity of the people around them, to find the time to enjoy the little things. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy the finer things in life this weekend, there are several events that are sure to help you relax and put your mind at ease.

First, if you’re an art fan looking for an inexpensive way to see a wide assortment of great artwork, you may want to head on over to the Museum of Fine Arts on Monday. This is because the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is holding an open house on Monday (May 26, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. This event will allow you and your family to enjoy the Museum’s artwork, hear music from several different live bands, see live dancers and other performers, try your hand at making your own artwork, watch Technicolor films, and do a whole lot more for free. For more information on the Memorial Day Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts, please visit the Museum of Fine Arts Programs page.

Secondly, if your passion is more geared towards the culinary arts than the art you would typically find in a museum, Watson Adventures may have a scavenger hunt that’s more up your alley. This is because Watson Adventures is hosting the Munch Around Cambridge Scavenger Hunt at 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 24, 2014.) This adults-only scavenger hunt will allow you and your friends to search the city of Cambridge for some of the best ice cream, hot chocolate, pizza, sandwiches, and other foods around. For more information on the Munch Around Cambridge Scavenger Hunt and/or to reserve your spot, please visit the Watson Adventures website.

Finally, if you’re more interested in spending time with someone rather than something, you may want to grab your significant other and head over to the Boston Public Garden Lagoon. This is because the Lagoon is the home of the Swan Boats, which are a great way for you and your loved one to enjoy some quality time together on a pleasant, romantic ride around the water. For more information on the Swan Boats, which currently operate daily from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., please visit the Official Swan Boats website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

How To Get Your Kids Outside

A house can be a wonderful thing. It can protect us from the elements, shield us from creatures both big and small, and give us a place to store all of our stuff. In fact, if you have kids, it can be a place for them to store all of their video games, toys, TVs, movies, and everything else that they have collected. As a result, it should come as no great surprise that the average child has very little interest in leaving his or her house at all. However, every so often, there comes a time when a parent has to find a way to get his or her child to go outside (either for the benefit of the parent or the child.) It is, therefore, fortunate that if you are looking for a way to get your child out of the house and into that magical place called the outdoors, there are a number of outdoor events for children in the Boston area this weekend.

First, if your kid is a big fan of kites, there are actually two major kite-flying festivals this weekend, the Franklin Park Kite and Bike Festival and the Revere Beach Kite Festival. The Franklin Park Kite and Bike Festival, which runs from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (May 18, 2014), will give you and your children the opportunity to eat, purchase your own kite (if you don’t have one already), borrow a bike to tour the park, and, of course, fly a kite. For more information on the Franklin Park Kite and Bike Festival, which is completely free, please visit the Franklin Park Event page. The Revere Beach Kite Festival, which runs from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Sunday (May 18, 2014), will allow you and your children to decorate kites, listen to music, and, as you have probably guessed, fly your own kite. Best of all, if you don’t have a kite and you can’t afford one, Sea Side Kites is actually giving out free kites to the first 300 kids under the age of 12 at the festival. For more information on the Revere Beach Kite Festival, which is free to attend, please visit the Official Revere Beach website.

Secondly, if your kid would rather rock out than watch a piece of fabric dance in the wind, you may want to head to Somerville this weekend. This is because the Somerville Arts Council’s annual PorchFest is this Saturday (May 17, 2014) from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. PorchFest, which has become a tradition in Somerville, is a daylong event in which musicians throughout the city setup their equipment on their porches in order to demonstrate their musical skills with everything from the banjo to the electric guitar and beyond. For more information on PorchFest and the bands that are playing, please visit the Somerville Arts Council PorchFest page.

Finally, if your kid is in college and you’re desperately looking for a way to get your child out of his or her dorm room, the Red Sox may have you covered. This is because Sunday night (May 18, 2014) is College Media Night at Fenway Park. As a result, students can purchase Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets for $9 a ticket or seats in a number of seating categories for $20 a ticket. Best of all, if your kid can’t make it to the game this weekend, the Red Sox are offering SRO tickets to college students with a valid ID for only $9 all season long. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please visit the Official Boston Red Sox Student Offer page.

Photo credit: Bill Ward’s Brickpile / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Making Mother’s Day Memorable

There are some truly remarkable people in this world, but very few people are more remarkable than the average mother. I mean when you stop and think about it, who in their right mind would spend nine months with a tiny little person kicking them, making them sick, and causing every sort of havoc possible to ensure that this same little person could do all of these things to both of his or her parents for the next 18 years? Now, I know what you’re thinking “when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.” However, if everyone focused on the downside and ignored the rewarding experience that parenting can be, none of us would be here. As a result, the powers that be have designated this Sunday as Mother’s Day to recognize all of the women who have sacrificed a portion of their lives and/or their sanity to make sure that we are here to celebrate the occasion.

And, if you are looking for a way to celebrate, here are a couple of ways that you can make this Mother’s Day truly memorable. First, if you’re a relatively new mother or the mother of a young child and you’re looking for a way to celebrate mother’s day with your family, you may want to head over to Boston Common this weekend. This is because the Friends of the Public Garden are hosting Duckling Day, which is sponsored by the Motor Mart Garage, from 10:30 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. on Sunday (May 11, 2014.) This celebration of the famous book by Robert McCloskey, “Make Way For Ducklings, will feature clowns, a dramatic reading of “Make Way For Ducklings”, a duckling parade, face painting, magicians, music, puppet shows, play equipment courtesy of Knucklebones, and a whole lot more. In fact, there will even be massage therapists standing by to offer free massages to all of the moms out there that are looking for a chance to unwind. For more information on Duckling Day or to register for the event, please visit the Friends of the Public Garden Events page.

Secondly, if your mom is a big fan of flowers (specifically lilacs) and you’re looking for something that your mother would love, Arnold Arboretum may have the perfect way to make this Mother’s Day memorable. This is because the Arnold Arboretum is hosting Lilac Sunday this Sunday (May 11, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This daylong celebration will allow you and your family to eat, drink, partake in family-oriented activities, see more than 170 different kinds of lilacs, and more. For more information on Lilac Sunday, please visit the Arnold Arboretum News and Events page.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

May the 4th Be With You!

If you saw last night’s episode of the “Big Bang Theory,” you probably already know that this Sunday is one of the most fan-boyish (or fan-girlish as the case may be) days of the year. If, on the other hand, you really aren’t a fan of the Big Bang Theory, you try to avoid stuff people consider “dorky” or nerdy,” or you just missed last night’s episode, you may be wondering what’s so special about the 4th of May. Well, the 4th of May is well-known throughout the science fiction crowd (or the speculative fiction crowd if you prefer) as “Stars Wars Day” because “May the 4th be with you” sounds a lot like the famous “Star Wars” line “May the force be with you.” As a result, there is no shortage of Stars Wars themed events this weekend, and if you’re a fan of the series or you just like people marching around in full body armor, there’s no better time to get your geek on.

First, if you’ve always wondered what it would be like if the Empire took over your local zoo, you don’t need to wonder anymore. This is because Zoo New England is hosting May the 4th Be With You at the Franklin Park Zoo this Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This event will allow you and anyone else you feel like bringing with you to learn how the animals in the zoo are similar to some of the creatures in the Star Wars universe, participate in a Star Wars themed scavenger hunt, watch some of the animals at the zoo play with their own Star Wars themed enrichment items, and best of all, meet members of the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion (dedicated Star Wars fans who use some of the most impressive costumes you will ever see to dress up as members of the Empire.) You can also meet members of the Alderaan Base of the Rebel Legion (dedicated fans who use extremely detailed costumes to dress up as members of the Rebel Alliance), get your picture taken with your favorite characters, and do a whole lot more. For more information on the May the 4th Be With You at the Franklin Park Zoo event, please visit the Franklin Park Zoo Special Events page.

Secondly, if you can’t make it to the zoo before 3:00 P.M. or you really need an even bigger Star Wars fix, you may want to check out the Cape Ann Community Cinema in Gloucester. The Cape Ann Community Cinema is hosting their own May the 4th Be With You Celebration from 1:30 P.M. to approximately 8:30 P.M. on Sunday. This celebration will feature a fan film festival with a series of fan-made tributes to the Star Wars series; the world premiere of “Plastic Galaxy: The Story of ‘Star Wars’ Toys”; the film that helped inspire some of the plot and storytelling techniques used in Star Wars, “The Hidden Fortress”; and if you missed them at the zoo or you just had to see them again, members of the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion. For more information on the May the 4th Be With You Celebration at the Cape Ann Community Cinema in Gloucester, please visit the Cape Ann Community Cinema website.

Finally, if you aren’t in the Boston area, you’re looking for something that you can do from home, or you’re just in desperate need of some awesome Star Wars swag, you may want to check out the Official Star Wars Day Events page, the Official Star Wars Day Deals page, or the Steam May the 4th Be With You Sale page.

Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Blinded by Science

There’s a pretty good chance that you’ve heard the expression “blinded by science” somewhere. In fact, if you were around during the 80’s, you may have heard the song by Thomas Dolby entitled “She Blinded Me With Science” or the Foreigner song entitled “Blinded by Science.” You may have even heard the song or the phrase more recently in well-known shows like Breaking Bad or the Crazy Ones. However, even if you are familiar with the expression, have you ever stopped to figure out what it means? Well, if you haven’t, the expression “blinded by science” refers to the act of using a series of complicated concepts (or, at least, concepts that appear to be complicated) to intentionally confuse someone. In other words, if you are “blinding someone with science,” you are using your scientific knowledge (or your skill at making stuff up) to leave someone completely baffled.

Now, if you would like to have the scientific knowledge to blind someone with science or you enjoy when other people blind you with science, there are a couple of events this weekend that you should definitely check out. First, the MIT Museum, in collaboration with a number of local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations, is hosting the Cambridge Science Festival. This festival, which began last weekend and runs until this Sunday (April 27, 2014), will allow you and your family to attend a series of activities, performances, and workshops to learn about holograms, math, optics, space, and a whole lot more. For more information on the festival and/or to register for a specific event, please visit the MIT Museum website or the Cambridge Science Festival website.

Secondly, if you can’t make it into the city until later and/or you’ve always wanted to learn more about the stars, the Museum of Science has the program for you. This is because the Museum of Science offers a special program on Friday nights from the beginning of March to Thanksgiving called Astronomy After Hours. This program, which runs from 8:30 to 10:00 PM every Friday (weather permitting), will allow you and your family to see stars, planets, and all of the other wonders of space through the equipment at the Gilliland Observatory. Best of all, the program is open to the public and is completely free. For more information on the Astronomy After Hours program, please visit the Museum of Science website or call the Astronomy After Hours hotline at 617-589-0267.

Photo credit: jurvetson / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Catch the Rabbit!

Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The White Rabbit. There has never been a shortage of hard-to-catch bunnies. However, the most elusive rabbit of all has to be the Easter Bunny. In fact, when you stop and think about it, the Easter Bunny has to be one of the fastest rabbits that has ever “lived” because how many other people or animals (other than Santa Claus) can make it all the way around the world in one night to leave goodies for children everywhere? Fortunately, if your children are desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny this year or at least desperately hoping to grab some of his candy, here are some of the places where you may be able to locate this mysterious lagomorph this weekend.

First, if you’re planning to be in the city of Boston with your kids tomorrow (April 19, 2014), you should definitely head over to Faneuil Hall. Faneuil Hall is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt with eggs spread all throughout the marketplace from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. This event will allow you and your kids to search for eggs filled with candy and toys and two golden eggs that, if you can find them, will earn you a pile of gift cards to stores throughout the marketplace. Best of all, this event is completely free, and there will be additional prizes awarded to the children that find the most eggs. For more information on the Easter Egg Hunt at Faneuil Hall, please visit the Faneuil Hall Marketplace Events page.

Secondly, if you really want to go to Faneuil Hall, but you’re just not going to be able to make it by 10:00 A.M. or your kids are a little too old for Easter Eggs hunts (or, at least, they think they are), Faneuil Hall has a number of other events this weekend, including a Spring Sidewalk Sale and a Free Spring Concert by the Sugarbabies Band and Reverse Order tomorrow (April 19, 2014) from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. For more information on the Spring Sidewalk Sale, the Free Spring Concert, and/or other events at Faneuil Hall, please visit the Faneuil Hall Marketplace website.

Finally, if you really don’t have any interest in going into the city with your kids or you’re just looking for something a little closer to home, here are some of the other Easter Egg Hunts in the Boston area this weekend:

Tufts Park in Medford, MA at 1:00 P.M. on April, 19, 2014
The Harvard Coop in Cambridge, MA at 2:00 P.M on April 19. 2014
Bass Pro Shops in Foxborough, MA at 2:00 P.M. April 19 & 20, 2014
Mall Tots at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, MA from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. today (April 18, 2014.) (This event is for children under the age of 5.)

Photo credit: homard.net / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Kid-Friendly Activities This Weekend

Easter on the Death Star — Wow. Even these guys know that spring is here!

Let’s face it. Winter in New England is cold, and if you’re a parent who isn’t a big fan of your kids losing their extremities, you may have been a little less than keen on the idea of letting them go outside and dive into a snow bank in 10 degrees. The only problem is that when you keep a child cooped up in the house all winter long, they tend to go a little stir-crazy and take you right with them. Fortunately, if the weather outside is any indication, the time to let them escape is finally upon us. In fact, if your wallet is feeling a little light after all of the money that the nice heating man (or woman) took to keep your house warm all winter, there are a number of kid-friendly activities this weekend that won’t make you (or your wallet) scream in pain.

First, if your kids just can’t wait to have an Easter egg hunt and/or your Easter plans really don’t leave a lot of time for a hunt next weekend, you may want to head on over to Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester tomorrow. This is because Phillips Candy House is sponsoring the 22nd Annual Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Spring Egg Scramble in the park from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, April 12, 2014. This event will allow your children to join an enormous number of other children to search the park for nearly 10,000 eggs filled with toys. Best of all, the event is completely free. For more information on the 22nd Annual Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Spring Egg Scramble, please call 617-333-7404.

Secondly, if your kids are more interested in magic and optical illusions than they are in eggs (which, depending on the purpose of the eggs, may not be such a bad thing), the Davis Museum at Wellesley College has a program that your kids won’t want to miss. This is because the Davis Museum at Wellesley College is hosting a special program tomorrow, April 12, 2014, entitled “Family Day at the Davis: The Art of Illusion” from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This event will allow you and your family to see artwork that is designed to trick your eyes, watch magic tricks, take part in a scavenger hunt, and a whole lot more. Best of all, the museum and all of its programs are completely free. For more information on Family Day at the Davis: The Art of Illusion and other programs at the Davis Museum, please visit the Davis Museum Event page.

Finally, if your kids would really prefer to hear some music, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA may have a show that’s more up your alley. This is because the Coolidge Corner Theatre is hosting Josh and the Jamtones tomorrow, April 12, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. This group is a Boston-based rock band that plays family-friendly music for kids 3 and up, and seeing them perform won’t break the bank because tickets to the show are only $10 for adults and $8 for kids. For more information on the Josh and the Jamtones show at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

The Musical Season

If you’re a big fan of musicals, there’s no better time to indulge in one of your favorite activities than now. This is because many of the theatres and schools that perform musicals begin their musical seasons in the early to late spring. As a result, if you’ve been hoping to catch a show that you haven’t seen before, introduce your kids to musicals, or find a new way to enjoy music with other individuals who are a little less musically-inclined than you are, this is the time to do it. In fact, there are several events this weekend that are sure to help you have a good time no matter what your musical preference may be.

First, if you’re looking for a show you haven’t seen before, you may want to consider seeing the Neverland Theatre Company’s production of the Wizard of Oz. Yes, I know, you’ve probably seen the Wizard of Oz or the musical Wicked, but this isn’t the movie and it certainly isn’t a musical from the Witch’s point of view. This production is a stage adaption of the original film, the Wizard of Oz, which is being performed at the Temple B’Nai Abraham Theater in Beverly, MA from tomorrow (April 5, 2014) to Sunday, April 13, 2014. This means that if you’ve always wanted to see Munchkins or Flying Monkeys on stage rather than on screen, you will finally have the chance. For more information on the Neverland Theatre Company’s Production of the Wizard of Oz and/or to order tickets, please visit the Neverland Theatre Company’s website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a way to introduce your kids to musicals, the North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) may have exactly what you’re looking for. This is because the North Shore Musical Theatre in association with Theatreworks USA is presenting a musical version of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tomorrow (April 5, 2014) for one show only at 11:00 A.M. This production, which is aimed at a much younger audience than your typical musical, will allow you and your children to experience the story of four children traveling through the magical land of Narnia like you have never seen it before. For more information and/or to order tickets, please visit the North Shore Music Theatre’s Children’s Show page.

Finally, if you’re looking for a musical experience that, as Meatloaf might say, has a twist and a bit of spin, the Dane Estate at Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA has the event for you. This is because the Dane Estate at Pine Manor College is hosting an event entitled “Gilded Nights: Masquerade Soireé” tomorrow (April 5, 2014) at 6:30 P.M. However, this soireé is not just a masked party, but is instead a murder mystery with a Phantom of the Opera theme. For more information on Gilded Nights: Masquerade Soireé and/or to order tickets, please visit the Gilded Nights website.

Photo credit: Simon & His Camera / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)