Tag: Boston Children’s Museum

Leaving the AC’s Cool Breeze

Air Conditioners Galore!
Chances are, you’ve probably heard the phrase “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” somewhere before. In fact, if you have been anywhere on the east coast of the United States this week, you have probably not only heard the phrase, but also realized that truer words have never been spoken. This is because our bodies and the bodies of almost all warm-blooded animals are able to cool themselves better in dry weather than humid weather. As a result, it’s much harder for everyone to cool off when it’s hot and humid, and many of us turn to our air conditioners looking for the relief we seek. The only problem is that you can’t really take your air conditioner everywhere you go unless you’re planning to sit in your car all day, so when it is really gross out like it has been this week, you may have trouble finding the ambition to leave your home. Fortunately, if you and your kids have spent all week in your house praising Robert S. Sherman, the man that invented the first portable, window air conditioner, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of events this weekend that will let your family get outside and enjoy the nice weather that we’re supposed to have.

First, if you’re looking for a fun but educational way to enjoy the nice weather, you may want to consider a Salem Kids Walking Tour. A Salem Kids Walking Tour is a special tour that is specifically designed to let children, ages 6 and up, experience all of the history and mystery that the Witch City has to offer. These tours, which typically take place on Saturday mornings from 10:45 A.M. to approximately 11:45 A.M., will allow you and your kids to wander the city with a licensed tour guide in full puritan garb while you hear stories about the people, locations, and superstitions that have helped to make the city famous. For more information on the Salem Kids Walking Tours, which begin at Wicked Good Books at 215 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, please visit the Salem Kids Tours website or stop by Wicked Good Books.

Secondly, if you think a tour would bore your kids out of their minds or they would be tired of walking after about 15 minutes, you might want to let your kids Play the Day Away at the Lawn on D. The Lawn on D, located at 420 D Street in Boston, is hosting a Play the Day Away event specifically for kids from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday (July 18, 2015.) This event will allow your kids to try their hand at arts and crafts, play a variety of different games, and enjoy interactive sculptures and works of art from the Boston Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science, and more. For more information on Play the Day Away at the Lawn on D, which is completely free to attend, please visit the Lawn on D’s Calendar of Events page.

Finally, if the only way that you’re going to get your kids away from their computer screen or their TV screen is to stick them in front of an even bigger screen, you may want to head over to the Prudential Center in Boston this weekend. This is because the Prudential Center is showing Frozen as part of the Mix 106.7 Family Film Festival at sundown on Saturday (July 18, 2015) in their South Garden. This event, which begins at approximately 6:00 P.M., will allow you and your family to enjoy a series of children’s activities, giveaways, pre-movie entertainment, and, of course, see the beloved Disney film that tells the tale of the Snow Queen, Elsa, and her sister Anna. For more information on the Mix 106.7 Family Film Festival at the Prudential Center, including upcoming shows, please visit the Prudential Center’s Events page.

Photo credit: Jan Tik / Foter / CC BY

Keeping the Kids Entertained Before the Big Game

Even though this county could use an editor, the idea is sound. I mean your living room could be considered a "recreational facility when the big game is on, right?
Even though this sign could use an editor, the idea is sound. I mean your living room could be considered a “recreational facility” when the big game is on, right?

Many football fans throughout New England are anxiously awaiting a certain playoff game between two well-known rivals. In fact, there are probably more than a few fans out there who aren’t really anxiously awaiting the game as much as they are just anxious about it. However, if you’re one of the people who just can’t wait and you’re really looking forward to watching the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos this weekend, you may already be searching for a solution to the age old football dilemma. What do you do with the kids? Well, if you find yourself in this particular situation, don’t worry because there are a number of kid-friendly activities this weekend that end long before the game starts at 3:30 P.M. on Sunday.

First, if your kids are always talking about how they want to be a veterinarian when they grow up, the Franklin Park Zoo has you covered. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo has a special program every Saturday in January from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., which is appropriately entitled “Be A Veterinarian Saturday.” This program will allow your children to bring their beloved teddy bear or other stuffed creature to the zoo, so they can dress up as a vet, learn why vets are important to pets and zoo animals, meet the zoo’s vets, and give their stuffed animal a checkup just like the trained veterinarians at the zoo. Best of all, the program is included in the normal admission fee, so you can take your kids to see all of the animals and learn how to care for them without completely emptying your wallet. For more information on the Franklin Park Zoo’s “Be a Veterinarian Saturdays”, please visit Zoo New England’s Event Page.

Secondly, if your kids are more into action than animals, there’s an event at the Boston Children’s Museum on Sunday morning that may be more their style. The Boston Children’s Museum is hosting OSHOGATSU 2014 from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Sunday (and you can always go early and be back before the game!) This event is a celebration of the Japanese New Year, which features Japanese cuisine, drummers, lion dancers, kite making demonstrations, origami, storytelling, and a whole lot more. For more information on OSHOGATSU 2014, please visit the Event Calendar for the Boston Children’s Museum.

Finally, if you have a young daughter who is absolutely obsessed with the book, Pinkalicious by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann, the Boston Children’s Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts may have exactly what your daughter is looking for this weekend. The Boston Children’s Theatre (BCT) is performing PINKALICIOUS–The Musical every Saturday and Sunday until February 2nd. This 55-minute musical performance will allow you and your kids to see the story of a young girl who is just a little too obsessed with cupcakes and the color pink for her own good. For more information and/or to order tickets for PINKALICIOUS–The Musical, please visit the Boston Children’s Theatre website.

Photo credit: BarelyFitz / Foter.com / CC BY

Friday Fun: Black Friday

Your local mall may not have zombies today, but isn't it just as scary?
Zombies or bargain shoppers?  You be the judge.

If you’ve ever worked in retail, you probably already know that there’s only one Friday more frightening to the average retail worker than Friday the 13th and that Friday is, of course, today. The Friday after Thanksgiving, which is also known as Black Friday because it is the day that most businesses make enough money to start recording their transactions in the black ink that indicates a profit instead of the red ink that indicates a loss each year, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. In fact, most stores open early (some even on Thanksgiving itself), offer sales and discounts the like of which are not seen during the rest of the year, and pray that their cashiers and supervisors will be able to maintain some semblance of order in spite of the stampedes of people that are engaged in their annual struggle to get the last item on the shelf. However, if you are one of the fine, upstanding individuals that would really rather avoid the chaos that is typically associated with “Black Friday” than throw yourself into it, you’ll be happy to know that there are other things that you can do with your family today.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your kids to get some of the gifts that they want to give to other people this year without actually stepping foot into a mall, the Boston Children’s Museum may have exactly what you need. This is because the Boston Children’s Museum is hosting UnShopping Day from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. today. This event will allow children and their families to make their own holiday gifts, wrapping paper, and more, so you don’t even need to walk into a store. For more information on the Boston Children’s Museum’s UnShopping Day, please visit the Boston Children’s Museum website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a way to keep your entire family entertained, immediate family and visiting relatives included, you may want to check out one of Zoo New England’s zoos. This is because Citizen’s Bank is sponsoring a Half Price Admission Day from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. today at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo. As a result, you and your entire family can see all of the magnificent animals (and possibly compare each of your relatives to the animals they most resemble) for half as much as you would normally pay. For more information, please visit the Zoo New England website.

Photo credit: Jayel Aheram / Foter.com / CC BY