Friday, August 27, 2010

Massachusetts Family Fun August 28 & 29

Hi Guys,
It's going to be a beautiful weekend!

Whatever you plan to do, hope it's a happy weekend with two things to consider for fun:
an outdoor family concert (very cool)in West Boylston and a Hoedown in North Andover. Check out our calendar on our homepage for more ideas: www.baystateparent.com/

If you have an idea of something going on this weekend, please do comment here!

SATURDAY AUGUST 28: No Babysitter Needed!!!
Jason James and the Bay State House Rockers bring their rockabilly sound to Central Massachusetts at 7 p.m. It's at Goodale Park on Crescent St. in West Boylson (there's a great playground across the field from the concert). It's $10 for adults; $5 for ages 12 and up, and under 12 free. Bring a picnic, chairs, snacks for the kids and just hang out...even the dog can come! All proceeds benefit arts programming in West Boylston schools too. Check it out: www.zyworld.com/Jason_James/
or http://www.wbaf.org/

SUNDAY AUGUST 29
Hoedown 2010 at Smolak Farms
Smolak Farms
315 South Bradford St
North Andover, MA
01810
1 - 5 p.m.
Question: What could be more enjoyable than walking through endless acres of beautiful farm land as the sun gently kisses the fruit laden trees? Answer: How about an afternoon of Greater-Boston’s best chefs cooking and doing demos, live bluegrass music, games, contests and more fun than you can shake a stick at?!!!
On Sunday, August 29th, 2010 from 1:00PM – 5:00PM these worlds will blend (or collide depending on how much beer and wine will flow via sponsors such as Narragansett Beer and the Wine Connextion) as how2heroes and Smolak Farms present Hoedown 2010! With over a 1,000 attendees slated to appear, guests can look forward to everything from BBQ stations, chef demos, a pig roast, live bluegrass music, a 3-legged race, hayrides, a dunk tank, an old fashioned store, line dancing lessons, “The Hoedown Throwdown Baking Contest” (an amateur baking contest presented by King Arthur Flour and how2heroes using farm fresh fruits & vegetables as the main ingredient and King Arthur Flour) and classes and workshops offered onsite all afternoon. Restaurants/Chefs slated to demo and have food stations include: Chef Jason Bond of the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, Chef Chris Parsons from Parson’s Table, Chef Antonio Bettencourt of Sixty2 on Wharf Restaurant, Chef Brian Poe of Poe's Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, Chef Ben Hasty of Brasserie JO, Eunice Feller of Bread & Chocolate, Michael Reppucci from Orzo Trattorio and Alina Eisenhauer of Sweet to name just a few!
For only $25.00 with a percentage of proceeds to benefit the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets, hoedown goers can look forward to all the entertainment, fun and food and drink samples they can handle as well as free parking. Guests will be issued a hoedown badge that will allow them into all activities, chefs’ tent and full access to the food stations. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit: http://how2heroes.com/hoedown
WHERE: Smolak Farms, 315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, MA
WHEN: Sunday, August 29th, 2010, 1:00PM – 5:00PM.
INFO: $25.00 per person. Children under 10 are free with parent or legal guardian 21+. Visit: http://www.how2heroes.com/hoedown to purchase tickets. Badges issued onsite.




Thursday, August 26, 2010

FREE Coupons for Massachusetts Family Fun: Want them?

Hi there,

It's funny that I am already through with September and onto October as we went to press with our September Arts issue yesterday.

Since time is flying by, I am going through my desk and Entertainment Book weeding through family event coupons that I will not be able to use by November 1, 2010.

If you can take advantage of some of them, please email your address to editor@baystateparent.com, and I'll pop what you need in the mail.

Here's what I have:
FREE 2 hour indoor playtime admission when you buy one admission. Backyard Adventures in Westborough

$25 off indoor birthday party at Backyard Adventures in Westborough

50% studio admission to Whimsy in Framingham

Buy one/get one pizza buffet at Lazer Zone in Marlboro

Free round of mini golf with purchase of one at Crystal Caves in Auburn

Buy one package, get one free at Friendly Fire Paintball in Upton

Buy one/get one free admission to Fox 4 Paintball in Upton

Buy one/get one admission to Drawbridge Puppet Theatre in Lunenburg

Buy one/get one Coco Key Danvers

Buy one/get one to Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield

Free child's admission with adult admission to Roger Williams Zoo, Providence, RI

$5 off John Harvard Brewhouse, Cambridge and Framingham

$5 off a $25 purchase at Children's Orchard, Westborough (expires 9/30)

Buy one/get one Discovery Museums, Acton (expires 9/30)

I also have some for bowling and golf...just let me know!
Thanks,
Carrie Wattu, editor

Monday, August 9, 2010

It's Time you Got a Cell Phone Dear

Honey,

Our family is lucky to have you. I won't embarrass you by lavishing compliment after compliment in a public forum, so I'll do something else. I'll make a request.

Get a cell phone already!

Ok. I know. The sound of a phone ringing is as irritating as a team of kids blowing Kazoos. You hate it. Well, pick your ring tone then. God knows you quote enough movies and imitate enough sounds.

As far as that claim that you are superstitious (If you don't have a cell phone, you can't receive bad news, right?), I don't buy it.

As you know, it's hard keeping a family of five going, plus a dog and a house. With two working parents, and three busy kids, every day brings a new challenge. If we could alert you to the day's challenge on your commute home from work, it would save a lot of time and confusion as you could quickly stop for milk, meet us for dinner or pick up our child's medicine, without having to go back out. We could remind you that there is still time to catch something special at the kids' school, to pick up a movie or to meet me for an unexpected drink (Surprise! The grandparents have the kids.).

There have been so many times when you are out doing errands, and I remember that we need something. You are right there. All I need to do is send you a quick Text, and you could save me 20 minutes from having to drive there later, 15 minutes at the store and 20 minutes driving home.

While I hate to think about it, God forbid there is ever a real emergency. It would be devastating to know that we could have reached you instantly or vice versa.

I want to know: Is my husband the last parent standing without a cell phone?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bonus Calendar Listings for August 2010

ADULT BIKE RIDE IN WESTBOROUGH: TUESDAY, AUGUST 3: Do you admire triathletes? Do you sit on the couch and watch as they race 140.6 miles at the Iron Man Championship in Hawaii? Amazed at how they can swim, bike and run all in one race? Does 14 miles sound reasonable? Then a sprint triathlon is for you. Whether you're a novice or an experienced athlete, get up off the couch and "TRI!" Learn all about the sport of Triathlon - including equipment needed, benefits of heart rate training and group training led by your Coach, Alexis Rougas-Ermilio.

Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m.

Location: Landry’s Bicycle

276 Turnpike Road

Westborough, MA 01581

RSVP to CoachAlexis@charter.net by August 2nd


FREE BOSTON LANDMARKS ORCHESTRA CONCERT: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4: Boston Landmarks Orchestra and Charles Ansbacher, conductor and artistic director, present the New Philharmonia Orchestra with Conductor Ronald Knudsen. The orchestra continues its Landmarks Festival at the Shell with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 and Joaquín Turina’s “Danzas Fantásticas.” Wednesday, August 4 at 7 p.m. at The DCR’s Hatch Shell on Boston’s Esplanade adjacent to the Charles River and Storrow Drive. www.LandmarksOrchestra.org or 617-520-2200.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN PLAY IN MILFORD: AUGUST 12 & 13: The Milford Performing Arts Center/The Area's Only Family Arts Community presents a summer theatre workshop production of Young Frankenstein at 7:30 at the MPAC Studio, 150 Main St., Milford.. Call 508-473-1684 for tickets.

FREE A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD PLAY IN BOSTON: FRIDAY, AUGUST 13:  A Year with Frog and Toad. Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway, Campus of Wheelock College
Boston. 6:30 p.m. FREE. The Advanced Performance students at Wheelock Family Theatre present "A Year with Frog and Toad", based on the popular books by Arnold Lobel. This delightful romp of story and song is rich in character and rife with situational hilarity. Trimmed to an hour's length these young performing artists will present a polished mini-musical that is appropriate for all ages.
617-879-2300, WhelockFamilyTheatre.org.

FREE DECORATE FAIRY HOUSES IN MILFORD: AUGUST 21ST: FREE Decorating Fairy Houses. 1st Unitarian Universalist Church of Milford, 23 Pine St., Milford. 9:30 a.m. - Noon. Paint, wooden houses and other supplies from nature for you to use to make your own fairy houses are provided. Please feel free to bring sticks, bark, leaves or small stones to use when decorating your house. Donations welcome. 508-473-3589, milforduu.org.