Stone Zoo – Salem Happenings

Things to Do on Father’s Day Weekend

This Sunday, June 21st, is not only the summer solstice but also Father’s Day. As a result, if you were focusing on the fact that the summer was officially about to begin and your vacation, whether it be from school or work, was rapidly approaching, you may have forgotten about at least one of these occasions (and, let’ face it, it probably wasn’t the summer one.) Fortunately, if you totally forgot about the fact that you’re supposed to celebrate your dad this weekend, there are a number of events in the Boston area that will help you show him how much you care.

First, if your father has always enjoyed seeing big animals or you just think he is an animal at heart, you may want to head over to the Franklin Park Zoo or the Stone Zoo this Sunday. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are offering free admission for all fathers in honor of Father’s Day, which means that you may have to pay for yourself but your dad can get in without taking out his wallet. For more information on Father’s Day at the Franklin Park Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England website.

Secondly, if your father is more into eating tasty, tasty animals than visiting them, you may want to check out the Pantry at The VERVE Crowne Plaza in Natick. The Pantry is offering a free 10 oz. Strip Sirloin Steak to every father who comes into the restaurant with their family on Sunday. This means that you, again, will of course have to pay for your meal (because the restaurant has to make money somehow), but your father won’t have to pay a dime. For more information on the Free Steak for Dad on Father’s Day at the Pantry, please visit the Pantry website or the VERVE Crowne Plaza’s Facebook page.

Finally, if your father is a big Red Sox fan (and the heart of all Red Sox fans goes out to him this year if that is indeed the case), PhotoWalks may have a great way for you to show your Dad how much he means to you. This is because PhotoWalks is hosting a Father’s Day Scavenger Hunt around Fenway Park from 12:30 to 2:30 PM on Sunday. This family-friendly photo scavenger hunt, which begins at the Cask ‘n’ Flagon, will allow you and your dad to solve a series of clues about the oldest baseball park still operating in the U.S., Boston’s beloved major league baseball team, and the surrounding area. For more information on the Father’s Day Scavenger Hunt and/or to make a reservation for the event, please visit the PhotoWalks website.

Photo credit: bsoist / Foter / CC BY-ND

A Sunny End to April Vacation

If you’re the parent of a school-aged child living somewhere in the Boston area, April Vacation can be tough. In fact, since we had typical April weather (rain, rain, and more rain) on Patriot’s Day (which may have been the only day you had off this week), there’s a pretty good chance that your kids have been cooped up in your house for the duration of their April vacation. And, if they’re like most kids, they’re probably driving you just a little bit insane by this point. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to get your kids out of the house so they can enjoy the end of their vacation, you’re in luck because there are a number of kid-friendly activities scheduled for this weekend.

First, if your kid is a big fan of animals and/or fairy tale princesses, you may want to head over to the Stone Zoo this weekend. This is because the Stone Zoo is hosting a Princess and Frog Day from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. tomorrow (April 25, 2015.) This event will not only allow your kids to meet a number of different princesses from well-known fairy tales and Disney films but will also give your kids a chance to make some arts and crafts and learn about all the animals that the zoo has with a special focus on frogs. For more information on the Princess and Frog Day at the Stone Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England Events page.

If, on the other hand, your kids are big fans of the zoo but not such big fans of princesses, the Franklin Park Zoo may make more sense for your family this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting their annual Party for the Planet from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. today (April 24, 2015.) This celebration will feature special eco-friendly exhibits, scavenger hunts, and a number of other Earth Day-related activities in addition to everything the zoo typically has to offer. For more information on the Party for the Planet at the Franklin Park Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England Events page.

Finally, if your kids are into all things science (or you would really like them to be), you may want to check out the Cambridge Science Festival this weekend. The Cambridge Science Festival, which is sponsored by MIT but takes place throughout Cambridge and the surrounding area, features a series of activities, demonstrations, workshops, and tours that are designed to teach children and adults of all ages about a wide range of scientific and technological discoveries. Topics that will be covered at the festival this weekend include fashion technology, martial arts, math, optics, the science of sound and music, sky and space flight, web development, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Cambridge Science Festival, which ends on Sunday, please visit the Cambridge Science Festival website.

Photo credit: B.Riordan. / Foter / CC BY

Finding the Luck of the Irish

There’s really no doubt that it’s been a tough winter, and if you’re like most people, you probably would like spring to get here a little faster and put an end to all of this frozen water. In fact, if you fell on the ice skating rink that was once your driveway, you lost all four of your car’s tires in the world’s largest pothole, lost all ten of your fingers to frostbite while you were shoveling snow with a wind chill of 30 below, or your roof just caved in from the weight of the melting ice and snow, you may be in need of some luck. Fortunately, Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and all of the festivities and hopefully some of that luck that you’re looking for, can actually be found this weekend.

First, if you’ve always loved a good parade and/or you’re looking for a way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a huge crowd of people, there’s no better place to be than South Boston this weekend. This is because the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which starts on West Broadway Street near the Broadway T stop and ends on East Broadway Street near Farragut Road, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This parade will allow you and family, friends, and/or acquaintances to listen to Irish music and marching bands, see everything from professional athletes to stormtroopers, and maybe even get some cool Saint Patrick’s Day swag. For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, please visit the Official South Boston Parade website.

Secondly, if you’re not really a big fan of parades or you just prefer animals to humans, you may want to check out the Franklin Park Zoo or the Stone Zoo this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are hosting their annual Saint Patrick’s Day Animal Enrichment Celebration from 10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the Franklin the Park Zoo and 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Stone Zoo on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This celebration will let you see a bunch of the animals playing with special green-themed toys and/or eating special green food in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. For more information on the Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England website.

Photo credit: bongo vongo / Foter / CC BY-SA

Beware! Halloween Fun Lurks Here!

With only two weeks left before Halloween,
Salem has again become a mob scene.
Yet, even though the witch city is certainly a fun place,
It is not the only city that can put a smile on your child’s face.
In fact, whether you’re a fan of Salem or Boston or anywhere else in this fine state,
You are certain to find an event that you and your kids think is great!

First, if you are an aspiring horror writer or glassblower and you’re expecting to be in the Boston area this weekend, you may want to check out the Boston Center for Adult Education. This is because the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) is hosting two Halloween themed classes this Sunday (October 19, 2014) as part of their Haunted Halloween at the BCAE event series. The first class, which is entitled the Thriller/Horror Novel Writing Workshop, is a one-day session that is designed for aspiring writers that want to learn more about the characters, dialogue, story structure, suspense-building techniques, and other methods that are in used in some of the great novels of the horror genre. The second class, which is entitled Glass Blowing Workshop: Glass Pumpkins, is a one-day session that will teach you how to make your own hollow glass pumpkin. For more information on these events and other events at the BCAE, please visit the Boston Center for Adult Education’s class page.

Secondly, if you’re not really into horror or glassblowing, but you have some kids that are absolutely obsessed with Halloween and the zoo, you may want to consider heading over to the Stone Zoo on Saturday or Sunday (October 18 – 19, 2014.) This is because the Stone Zoo is combining everything your kids love about Halloween and the zoo into one program entitled “Boo at the Zoo.” This program will allow your kids to enter a costume contest, make their way through a haunted maze, play some Halloween-themed games, trick-or-treat around the zoo, try their hands at some Halloween-themed arts and crafts, and more. For more information on Boo at the Zoo, which runs from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. each day this weekend, please visit the Zoo New England Boo at the Zoo page.

Finally, if you’re part of the mob scene in Salem and you’re looking for something to entertain your kids, there are actually three events on the Salem Common this weekend that may be perfect. The first event is the Annual Children’s Halloween Parade & Costume Party, which is an opportunity for your child to show off their Halloween costume in a parade, partake in some games and crafts, and possibly even win some prizes. The second event is the Providence Grays Baseball Game, which will actually allow you and your family to watch a baseball game played using Civil War style bats, uniforms, and rules. The third and final event on the common this weekend is “The Box.” This event, which is presented by the Gallows Hill Theatre, is an interactive performance that is designed to have children of all ages rolling on the floor laughing. For more information on all of the events on Salem Common this weekend and other events throughout Salem, please visit the Salem Haunted Happenings website.

Photo credit: mattieb / Foter / CC BY-SA

Find Your Inner Hero

It may sound clichéd, but it’s true. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. From real life heroes like doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and EMTs to fictional heroes like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Xena, and Captain Malcolm Reynolds, there’s never a shortage of people in uniform, capes, or overly tight clothing to look up to. However, if you’re having trouble deciding which hero is appropriate for you, there are several events this weekend that you may want to check out.

First, if you’ve always been into comic book heroes or you’ve just always wanted to dress up like a superhero, you may want to head down to the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston this weekend. This is because the Seaport World Trade Center is hosting Boston Comic Con from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. today (August 8, 2014), 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. tomorrow (August 9, 2014), and 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Sunday (August 10, 2014.) This comic book convention will feature a comic art auction; a cosplay harbor cruise; a comic-inspired improv show; an after party; a costume contest; a film festival; card game tournaments and other gaming; panels on a variety of topics related to comics, television, and film; and guest appearances by a number of well-known artists and celebrities, including Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee), John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness and the Dark Archer), James Marsters (Spike), Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (Run DMC), Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo, Conan, Ronon Dex), Eve Myers (Gwen Cooper), Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye and Dr. Jennifer Keller), and Sam Witwer (Aidan Waite.) For more information on Boston Comic Con and/or to purchase tickets online, please visit the Boston Comic Con website.

Secondly, if you and/or your kids are more into sports heroes than comic book heroes, the Stone Zoo may have something that’s more suited to your tastes. This is because Wally the Green Monster will be at the Stone Zoo from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (August 9, 2014.) As a result, if you or your kids have ever wanted to meet the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox and/or you’ve always wanted to see what the animals would do with a baseball or other baseball-themed items, now’s your chance. For more information on Meeting Wally the Green Monster, please visit Zoo New England’s Program Calendar.

Finally, if you’re a baseball-loving father with a princess-obsessed little girl and you would really like to be her hero for an evening, you may want to take her to a Lowell Spinners game tonight. This is because the Lowell Spinners are hosting their second annual Daddy/Daughter Princess Night at tonight’s game against the State College Spikes. This promotional game will feature princesses, a princess parade, a trick-performing dog, fireworks, and free posters to the first 1,000 fans. For more information on the Daddy/Daughter Princess Night at the Lowell Spinners and/or to order tickets for the game, please visit the Lowell Spinners’ Tickets and Promotions page.

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

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

Friday Fun: Father’s Day Weekend

A couple of months ago, the United States had some really dry weather, and if you had asked people what they wanted for weather at the time, a lot of people would have said rain. In fact, some areas of the country received two to three inches of rain less than they typically get, and there were a lot of people concerned about the possibility of a serious drought. However, if you were to ask the same question about the weather now, most people would probably tell you that they would really like to see the sun again sometime during their lifetime. For, as you might guess, it has now been raining pretty much nonstop for the last month and, as the old saying goes, “when it rains, it pours.” Fortunately, if you are one of the people who would really like to see the sun again, it may make your day to know that the weather is beginning to look a lot more promising just in time for Father’s Day Weekend. And, if you’re looking for something interesting to do with your father this weekend, there are a number of events in the Boston area that you should definitely check out.

The first event that you may want to check out if you’re looking for something to do with your father this Father’s Day weekend is the Father’s Day Weekend Vintage Baseball Triple Header. The Vintage Baseball Triple Header is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day for any father that is a big fan of baseball and/or a big fan of history as it will actually give you the opportunity to watch two teams go head to head in a game of baseball using the actual rules from the 1860’s. This means that you will only see underhand pitches, catches that count as outs even though the ball bounced once, and players that are a lot more hardcore than some of the professional players you may have seen because the players in this game have to catch the ball without a glove. The Vintage Baseball Triple Header will also feature demonstrations that show you how bats and balls are made, activities for kids, food, drinks, and a bunch of different souvenirs. For more information on the Vintage Baseball Triple Header, which takes place at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, MA, please visit the Vintage Baseball Triple Header’s website or call 978-462-2634.

Another place that you may want to consider if you’re father isn’t a big fan of baseball or you just think your father belongs in a zoo is Zoo New England. This is because both of Zoo New England’s locations, including the Stone Zoo and the Franklin park Zoo, are offering free admission to the zoo for fathers on Father’s Day. In fact, if you and your father can make it to the Franklin Park Zoo around noon on Sunday, there will also be music, games, and prizes courtesy of Magic 106.7. For more information on the Father’s Day events at the zoos, please visit the special events page for The Stone Zoo and/or the Franklin Park Zoo.

Finally, if your father really isn’t into the zoo, you can always take him to a museum. The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and a number of other museums in the Boston area are offering free or discounted admission for fathers on Father’s Day.

Friday Fun: Mother’s Day

This weekend, as you may already know, is Mother’s Day weekend, which means that it is a time to celebrate all of the things that your mother has done for you and a time to apologize for all of the trouble that you have caused over the past year. Unfortunately, you’ve probably already realized that it’s not always easy to come up with a way to honor the incredible amount of time, effort, and money that your mother put into raising you. In fact, finding a way to atone for all of the mischief you may have caused when were younger (or are still causing) can be even more difficult, and if you’re one of the fine, upstanding individuals who totally forgot about the holiday, you may be desperately seeking a way to demonstrate your respect for your mother this weekend. Fortunately, if you’re at a loss as to what to do for your mother this Mother’s Day, you’ll be happy to know that there a number of events specifically designed to honor your mother occurring throughout the weekend.

First, if your mother has a favorite museum or a favorite hobby that is related to one of the museums in your local area, you may want to look into taking her there. Many museums have special events and/or discounts this weekend specifically for mothers, and your mother may be able to get into the museum for free or at a large discount, view special exhibits, have brunch with other mothers, and/or take part in a bunch of activities specifically geared towards mothers and their children. Some of the museums in the Northeast offering special exhibits, brunches, and/or free admission to mothers this weekend include the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the Discovery Museums, the Providence Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Secondly, if your mother isn’t really a big fan of museums, but she likes animals, you may want to check out your local zoo or aquarium. A large number of zoos and aquariums offer free admission, discounts on food and gifts, and other special offers for mothers this weekend. In fact, mothers living in the Boston area can get into the Franklin Park Zoo, the Stone Zoo, and the New England Aquarium for free on Sunday (although your mother will have to go with someone purchasing a full-priced ticket to take advantage of the Aquarium offer.)

Finally, if all else fails, you can always take your mother to her favorite restaurant. A lot of restaurants offer a special brunch or other special meals for mothers this weekend, and these meals can be a excellent way to celebrate the holiday and get some great food. However, it is important to remember that these brunches can be pretty pricey, and they tend to fill up fast. As a result, it is always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation before you head over to the restaurant.