Snow Day!

Have a kid who is a born-performer, or wants to hone her acting skills? Luna Stage, now residing at Studio Luna in Orange, NJ, is offering acting classes for kids starting this week:

Little Luna
Ages 4 - 6
Seven-week program that focuses on the discoverey of theatrical elements with an emphasis on story-telling. It ends in a fairy tale performance.

Creative Drama
Ages 7 - 11
Seven-week program that has a focus on improv and theatre games and ends with a small comedic performance.

If your child already has some good acting-chops, can sing, or has dance skills, auditions will be held for the following shows...

Continue reading "Calling All Mini-Thespians" »

After a successful visit to the circus recently (the Big Apple at the Lincoln Center), news that NJPAC was about to feature Vegas-based Cirque Mechanics in a show called The Birdhouse Factory immediately grabbed our attention. At the theater's website, what do we find there but tickets at half price. The kids were already excited, and the deal was done.

The talented performers of CM are veterans of renowned companies such as Cirque du Soleil and the Moscow Circus, and Birdhouse Factory is a creative piece of entertaining theater, intertwined cleverly with stunning acrobatics, comedy, catchy, rhythmic music, and the most incredible props.

Founded and directed by Chris Lashua, the story commences with factory workers waiting to gain entrance to the Rosebud Factory, where the performers begin their balancing antics and acrobatics at the assembly line. One of the things that struck me was the number of kids in the audience (the event is aimed at those aged 4 and above), their infectious chuckles and guffaws throughout the show a testimony to how much fun they were having.

As it progresses, the audience is mesmerized by the well-timed and graceful feats on the high ropes, rotating gears, aerial hoops and trampoline walls. A contortionist, from Mongolia, holds everyone enthralled as she performs spine-defying 180-degree bends and twists with more ease than the audience is sitting (most are shifting uncomfortably just watching her).

Continue reading "NJPAC Shows, Like Cirque Mechanics, Great Fun for the Family" »

Schools will close for President's Day and winter break next week. Depending on what town you live in, your kids could be off for only 1 day or the entire week. Don't fret, we've compiled a list of vacation camps, fun activities and events to help working parents and stay-at-home parents out.

Vacation Camps and Workshops

Live Y'ers Vacation Camp
Who: Kids in grades 1 - 8 who have parents scrambling for childcare.
What: A day filled with fun activities.
Where: Montclair YMCA, 25 Park Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Monday, February 15, Tuesday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 17. Kids can be dropped off as early at 7:30 a.m. and picked up as late as 6:30 p.m.
2/15: Trip to Newark Museum
2/16: Trip to Skate USA in Woodbridge
2/17: Winter Olympics / Field Day
Cost: Members - $42 a day / Non-members - $53 a day. In order to reserve a space for your child, payment and a registration form must be completed for each date attending. You must register within 3 business days prior to the program date.
Contact Dierdre at (973) 415-6123 for more information.

Continue reading "School Closings: What to Do With the Kids" »

This time we may not be so lucky. A snow storm is predicted for Baristaville. It looks like a snow day (or two) is inevitable. Are you happy about it?

This is a really cool way to spend the day off from school for an aspiring artist and sports fan. There will be a drawing clinic held at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center hosted by Tony Capparelli, sports artist and educator.

If you're a sports fan, you know Tony Capparelli's art. From his piece Big Blue Afternoon, which celebrated the final season of Giants Stadium to his most recent Super Bowl XLIV portrait, Capparelli has captured the art of American sports.

Kids who attend the clinic will get art lessons from Capparelli as they create a portrait of the NJ Devils mascot. Sorry grown-ups, this clinic is just for kids.

Tony Capparelli's Art of Sport Workshop
Who: Aspiring sports artists ages 5-13
What: Fun drawing clinic conducted by award-winning illustrator, Tony Capparelli. Special appearance by the NJ Devils mascot. Refreshments and materials included.
Where: Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, Campus of MSU, 8 Quarry Road, Little Falls, NJ.
When: Monday, February 15 from 11 am - 2 pm.
Cost: $10 per child. To RSVP call 973.655.6891.

Story by Nancy Breslin of CohabiTOT.

Valentine's Day is serious business in our house this year. My 4-year-old son told me that you have to make cards for all the people you love. To him that's at least 60 people! And we have to make an extra special one for his new friend whom he thinks is the prettiest girl in all of Glen Ridge.

I don't think we will be making 60 cards, but we have created our own little printing shop in our house.

Taking inspiration from the simplest of printmaking forms called collographs here's how we did it:

Continue reading "Kids Create: Valentine's Day Cards" »

Want to spend Valentine's Day at a cool NYC club having a couple drinks and dancing with the one you love? You can at Le Poisson Rouge and the crowd will be young--really young. Baby Loves Disco is throwing a Valentine's Day Ball and Barista Kids is giving 4 tickets to one lucky reader.

Baby Loves Disco is a monthly afternoon dance party for families. Think baby-proofed nightclub. There's music, bubbles, food, drinks for the parents and a chill-out room when the little ones need to hang out on a lounge chair and relax. Because it will be Valentine's Day, expect fun crafts, decorations and a Daddy-daughter dance.

In addition to all that fun, they will be holding a dance-party contest called "So You Think You Can Llama Dance?". Llama is performed by Patrick and Eugene, a kooky UK band with a sound comprised of banjos, ukuleles, and happy, catchy vocals. The kid with the best dance to Llama will win 4 tickets to the Children's Museum of Manhattan, a five-floor interactive museum for kids, which offers wonderful exhibits, workshops and shows. It's one of my family's favorite places.

Chek out Llama on the next page...

Continue reading "Giveaway: 4 Tickets to Baby Loves Disco's Valentine's Day Ball" »

I know there are some moms who love football and are excited to watch the Super Bowl today, but let's be honest--many moms, like myself, are really not into the big game.

Joel Schwartzberg, Montclair dad and writer, has come up with a funny twist on the meaning of football terms for moms. My favorite is First Down! : a parental exclamation after the younger of two siblings goes to sleep.

For a good laugh, read all of his Super Bowl lingo for moms.

I Met a Moose in Maine One Day, a book written by Ed Shankman of Verona and illustrated by Dave O'Neill of Montclair, has been awarded a Gold Seal for being one of the best family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom's Choice Awards® program. Shankman and O'Neill are the same team that created The Boston Balloonies and The Cods of Cape Cod.

Continue reading "Local Author and Illustrator Win Award for Kids' Book" »

Seen in front of the New Age store on Church Street last week: Psychic School for kids. I would love to talk to a kid who took the class. Did they offer Crystal Ball 101?

See any interesting and/or fun things around town relating to kids and their parents? Send the pictures here.

Thanks to Pam Satran for the photo.

This Sunday, the Montclair Public Library will hold a big celebration for Chinese New Year, which officially begins on Sunday, February 14.

Sponsored by Montclair's Mandarin Program at Nishuane Elementary School, the festivities will include traditional music, Tai Chi demontrations, Dragon and Lion dances, crafts, calligraphy workshops and more. You can also see the Mandarin students' artwork on display in the 3rd floor Exploratorium space.

Chinese New Year Celebration
Who: All ages.
What: Celebrate Chinese New Year with demonstrations of Tai Chi and Yoyo, traditional music, Dragon dance and Lion dance, crafts and much more. Offered by Nishuane's Mandarin program. Mandarin students' projects will be on display on the 3rd floor of the Montclair Public Library.
When: Sunday, February 7 from 2 - 4 pm.
Where: Montclair Public Library, 50 S. Fullerton Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
Cost: Free.

Nishuane's Mandarin program recently won the elementary school catagory in the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Student Podcast contest. My daughter is in the program and I'm amazed at how well she is speaking Mandarin already. Congratulations Nishuane!

Story by Stacey Gill Dastis...

Calling all children of the 80's and anyone who missed that generation but would appreciate 80's era fun. I think that includes just about everyone. At least it includes me, and I think I can speak for everyone.

The 80's are alive and well and tucked away in a little haven of nostalgia in Florham Park. You could pass by the squat, white cement box of a building if you're not looking for it, but you shouldn't. Inside is a relic preserved, undisturbed, straight out of 1980. When I opened the glass front door and pushed through the metal turnstile after sliding my $6.50 under the plexi-glass window of the admission booth, I walked right back into 8th grade. There before me was the painted-over cinderblock walls of my youth and within them the flashing multi-colored lights, sparkling disco ball, and oval roller rink of the darkened room. I was in heaven.

I sat on the circa 1970's orange laminate bench the same color as the rubber wheels of my brown rental skates and started to lace up. My 8-year-old daughter needed help pulling on her skates, but I was too busy. "Evacuate the Dance Floor" was playing, and I had to get out there.

Continue reading "Take the Family Roller Skating" »

NEWS: If your child was scheduled to take the ACT at Montclair High School tomorrow, February 6, it has been canceled due to the forecast of snow.

Guest entry by Rhonda Rivera

If you are the parent of a high school aged child, college entrance exams are probably looming on the horizon. You may have only one thought: start practicing for the SAT! That's a great thought, but here's another: take the ACT. Never heard of the ACT? Well, read on!

The ACT (American College Testing) tests scholastic achievement and it was designed based upon the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The ACT is three hours and twenty-five minutes long, has 215 questions and tests math, English, reading, science and writing. The perfect score is a 36. Approximately 1.48 million students took the ACT in 2009.

Continue reading "Move Over SAT, Meet the ACT" »

Who knew that Taco night would be such a smashing success with my kids and their playdates? There is something about this colorful family-style buffet dinner that just seems to excite kids. Even the pickiest of eaters seem to want to fill that taco shell up with as many of the ingredients available to them, no matter what items are presented. I like to throw in a few odd treats like Veggie Booty and cashews to have some fun with it. Below are some suggestions but feel free to create your own concoctions.

Taco Night

1 lb ground turkey, cooked with 2 TBS ketchup in a medium sized saute pan until no longer pink. Serve in a large bowl
12 corn tortilla taco shells-they have organic ones at Whole Foods
small bowls of grated cheese, about 3 oz. each, of cheddar and Monterey jack
1 bowl each of the following:
2 handfuls shredded lettuce
1 large shredded carrot
1/4-1/2 cup green or black olives
2 chopped, seeded tomatoes-
cooked black or pinto beans
1/3 cup salsa
few TBS sour cream
(Optional: nuts, veggie booty or anything else your kids like)

Let each kid fill up their taco shell and eat up!

Serves 6 kids and one adult who is picking at their food.....

Post by Alma Schneider. Take Back the Kitchen provides individual, hands-on sessions and group workshops.

I'm ashamed to admit that I really don't understand economics and finance. I mean REALLY understand it. Dow Jones, indexes, bonds..it's another language to me. They didn't offer economics in high school and I stayed clear of it in college. Sad, but true. A local teen wants to help his peers so they don't grow up like me.

Lance Barnard (that's him on the left) started a website called Teens Guide to Money where he teaches teens (and adults) all about finance basics, with a large focus on saving. This kid would make Alex P. Keaton proud.

I asked Lance how a junior in high school knew so much about money and wanted to educate others:

Continue reading "Don't Know Much About Finance..." »

Congratulations to LookyDaddy. He is the winner in our giveaway and will enjoy a rockin' Rebecca Frezza concert tomorrow!

Yes, Sunday is the Super Bowl, but before the big game and parties begin you can take your kids over to Temple Ner Tamid to see Montclair's own Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck.

Big Truck will be performing from their latest album, Rockin', Rollin' and Ridin' , which features songs such as Robot Dance, Superman and 4 other new songs, as well as remixed favorites. Hopefully, your kids will dance and get all their energy out at the concert, and let you relax and watch the game later.

Rebecca Frezza has generously offered up 4 tickets to one lucky Barista Kids reader. To enter the contest keep reading...

Continue reading "Giveaway: Family 4-Pack of Tickets To The Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck Concert" »

Our Upcoming Events calendar has plenty to keep you entertained this week. Check it often for all local happenings and make sure you sign up for our newsletter to get the great deals. Here are this week's highlights:

Get Crafty
February 4
Head over to the Montclair Library after school for drop-in craft time.

Play With Tools
February 6
Make a display for all your Matchbox cars at Home Depot's Kids' Workshop.

See a Fairy Godmother
February 7
Check out the JCC MetroWest's adaptation of Cinderella.

Continue reading "This Week's Highlights: February 3 - 9" »

Glen Ridge Public Library will be collecting pennies through February for the Pennies for Peace drive to help build school libraries in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Since the first Pennies for Peace drive in a Wisconsin elementary school in 1996, over 16 million pennies ($160,000) have been raised by over 700 schools in all 50 states.

The penny donations are collected on behalf of the Central Asia Institute, a non-profit organization which supports community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The organization is co-founded by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time. Glen Ridge Library has copies of this NYT bestseller, as well as the young adult version, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World, One Child at a Time, and the children's Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and the Three Cups of Tea.

Continue reading "Local Library Raises Funds to Build Libraries in Central Asia" »

Kids at Ridgewood Avenue school have been learning to be mini-entrepreneurs with the TREP$ program. The award-winning program teaches kids in grades 4- 8 the basics of business ownership.

After doing the workshops, students have a chance to sell their products. Tomorrow night, they will open the doors to The Marketplace and sell everything from handmade jewelry to Super Slime Kits. Check out their advertisements here to see all they will offer.

Show the kids support by stopping by The Marketplace:

TREP$ Marketplace
Who: All ages.
What: Education program, TREP$, is being offered this year at Ridgewood Avenue school in Glen Ridge. Students are learning the fundamentals of starting a business. Marketplace will have students selling their products and services.
Where: Ridgewood Avenue School, 235 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ.
When: Thursday, February 4 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.
Cost: Free to attend.

Photo by AMagill.

Have you noticed that, since having kids, those car keys are never where you put them? Do you lose track of what you're saying after a moment's interruption? Do you diligently write notes on scraps of paper, never to find them again?

Those are the signs. You've got momnesia, or dadnesia, as the case may be. Possibly
the result of accumulated sleep deficits and having to keep tabs on multiple things - kids, schoolwork, work, chores, bills, meals, daily stresses - all at once.

Don't beat yourself up too much over it. It could be worse. A lot worse. See these parents, who flew off on holiday without their kid, or these ones, who fled the threat of a fire near their home with dog and weed, but left something more important behind.

A friend, after giving birth to her fourth child, took all the kids on a shopping expedition,
piled them into the car, and drove off for a few seconds, before realising the newborn-in-carseat was still on the pavement of her driveway.

Some research suggests forgetfulness could be in one's genes. Which leaves little hope for future generations.

But here are some ways to keep a firm hold of those gray cells (and car keys) and regain some control over your life:

What Was Your Name Again?
I must hear this, or utter it, a few times a week. Apparently new information can leave your brain within minutes, so pay attention when someone tells you their name. Immediately think of a name/face cue to help that name stick to those teflon brain cells. Some research suggests writing the name down immediately, with the intention of later paying it some attention (for example, typing it into your phone's address book or jotting it in a notebook), will also give it some longevity.

Check out this site for other tips on improving your memory.

Where are The Car Keys?
Find a dedicated spot for the car keys, somewhere near the door, where you can place them all the time. Never put them anywhere else and never carry them around the house with you. You'll later find them in the bathroom, by the bed, by the computer, or heaven forbid a family member has helpfully moved it and also forgotten where they put it.

Continue reading "Where Are Those Keys Again? Tips for Forgetful Parents" »