Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Boston, MA

Weekend Fun -- June 21st & 22nd

by Jill Notkin

Ah, the smell of another sweet summery weekend. What's on the agenda for us city dwellers? Here are a few ideas to get you on a fun track for a perfect couple of days: Arts Fest Beverly . It's only about 35 minutes to the North and it promises to be fun for everyone from youngest to old. With 100 fabulous artists and craftspeople, a special exhibition of community art and student ... Read more >

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Weekend Fun

by Jill Notkin

Here we are again, another delicious Thursday, so close to the weekend. As my family gears up for our annual summer vacation in Maine , what will you do with yours? Season Opening Celebration of Frog Pond Spray Fountain . Beat the heat at opening day, the other opening day of course, as the famous Frog Pond reopens for summer activities at 11:00 am on Friday, June 27th. Opening ... Read more >

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Weekend Fun: July 11th - 13th

by Jill Notkin

Ben Rudnick and Friends . Take a little drive to Lexington and catch Ben Rudnick live in concert. Ben's music is catchy, fun and familiar to little ears. Check out samples of the tunes here . Since 2000, Ben and his band have taken their family-friendly show on the road to hit venues all over New England . Their next stop is Lexington Green, Lexington on Friday, July 11 th at ... Read more >

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Weekend Fun -- July 19th & 20th

by Jill Notkin

In the spirit of human error, I reported the Life Is Good Festival last week, so if you spent the day looking for the festival, as my family did, then here's what you learned: If you look long and hard enough, you actually can find parking around the Boston Common. The line-up for the Swan Boats is a bit long to stand in with a bunch of kids. A great day, if you mistakenly show ... Read more >

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Weekend Fun

by Jill Notkin

August, how ever did you find us so fast! Ok, so only 5 more weekends before September, let's use them well folks! A few ideas: Circus Smirkus is coming to Revere for two days of Big Top fun! The non-profit, award-winning international youth circus is bringing its troupers aged 10 to 18 from Vermont to entertain your family. Smirkus continues its tradition of ... Read more >

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Savvy Picks for your Pirates

by Jill Notkin

Ahoy, people, spend the day like the pirates o' old, and aye, win points with the kids. Aye, thar's so much t' choose from Aye, you surely won't be bored, Arrr. The New England Pirate Museum . Located in haunted Salem , visitors are invited to step back in time to a place where pirates roamed the sea and shores, plundering merchant ships. Take a tour and board a full-length ... Read more >

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Weekend Fun

by Jill Notkin

It's Friday and while the weatherman isn't forecasting the perfect mix, we have to be prepared for anything. Here are a few great ideas to consider when planning for this weekend. Wild Nights Concert with Bill Staines . The New England Wild Flower Society announces the premiere of their WILD NIGHTS concert series with the legendary folk artist Bill Staines, at the Woodland stage at ... Read more >

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Weekend Fun

by Jill Notkin

It seems like as summer starts to wind down, events in Boston are ramping up. Read on for the what's what this weekend: Fisherman's Feast Italian Festival . Celebrating its 98 th year this summer, this event officially is a celebration of the devotion of immigrant Sicilian fishermen to the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca. Unofficially, it's a lively weekend in Boston 's ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

The final weeks of August are flying by, so you'd better get in all those outdoor activities before the snowsuits hit the stores! Here a few ideas to make this beautiful weekend a memorable one. Peach Festival at Smolak Farms . It's pick-your-own-peaches time again and Smolak Farm is celebrating! They will be open for the festival all weekend with a local artisans fair but come Sunday ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

It's the final August weekend!! While it's hard to believe, September does come with its own set of fun traditions such as apple picking, back-to-school events and hay rides. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's treat our families to one last hurrah. Here's what's happening this long Labor Day weekend in and around Boston : It's the season finale for Free Friday Flicks at ... Read more >

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September Traditions

by Jill Notkin

Welcome to September! While this month definitely marks the end of those long, hot dog days of summer, it also means more fun memory-making events for your family. With back-to-school, it's certainly busy, but never too busy to fit in fun and educational outings! Start the month off right by attending the Red Sox and Apple Pie Concert featuring the Boston Landmarks Orchestra at ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

This was a big week for many of us. Back-to-school was a major theme, and now we all need to blow off some steam and have some fun. Fall is the perfect time to hit the town for events and activities, preferably of the outdoor variety. Here's what's up for this weekend: Head North for Peabody's 16 th annual Kid's Day , taking place at Leather City Common. The day promises activities ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

Aaaah. Can you smell fall in the air? I can, and I must say, I love it. The crisp weather, the slight reddening of the bushes, the fun traditional autumn activities. The season lends itself to hundreds of great outings, and here are a few ideas for this weekend: Curious George Day . The Boston Public Library in Copley Square hosts Curious George on Saturday, September 13 th ! A ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

Are the weeks flying by in your house too? It just seems like Friday creeps up faster than ever and I barely have time to recuperate from one weekend when I'm making plans for another! Hopefully you're enjoying what's left of the warm-ish weather. I must say, I love dressing in fall clothes and it seems like the kids are enjoying their new (adorable) duds too! Anyhow, a few weekend ideas ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

How awesome is October? Between the apple orchards being in full pickin' mode, Halloween events ramping up, and the famous Topsfield Fair hitting town (or, hitting Topsfield ), there's just so much to do. Here are a few ideas to make this weekend a great one for your family. Free Family Night at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire starts this Friday, October 3rd! From 5:30 to 8pm, ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

Looking for some fun stuff to do this long weekend? I believe there are still tickets left for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the TD Banknorth Garden. Shows run through Monday, October 13 th so if you're looking for a fun activity, the circus is where it's at. Save 20% with the coupon code "MCC" when you buy tickets at http://www.ringling.com/ . How cool is ... Read more >

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History of Halloween - Salem Style

by Jill Notkin

Every October, our family ventures to Salem, Ma., site of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, to get in the spirit of Halloween. I mean, this place embodies 'spook' so it stands to reason that it would be the perfect place to teach, and show, the history of age old tradition. Though Halloween has its true origins in the Celtic festival which celebrates the end of the harvest season and involves ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

Yup - you guessed it! It's that time again. Time to make plans, schedules, agendas for the upcoming weekend. It's high leaf-peeping season, but if that's not enough enticement, here are a few ideas for the upcoming weekend: Head to City Hall Plaza in Boston for the 6 th annual Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival . In 2006, Bostonians carved enough pumpkins to break the Guinness World ... Read more >

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The Mayor's Holiday Special

by Jill Notkin

The economy is tough, simple as that. And with holidays approaching fast and furiously, I'm certain families are wondering how they will keep up their traditions in the manner to which they've become accustomed. Shopping, dining, parties and shows may have to take a back-seat to more pressing matters this year, such as bills, groceries, mortgages and ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

Funny story (if you have young kids) - last weekend we had a new baby party on the schedule at 10am on Sunday. So, at 8am, we got up and started getting ready to get out of the house by 9:30 in order to be in Southie for 10. You know, 2 adults, 2 kids under 3, these things take careful orchestrating! But we did it. At 10am prompt, we rap on our friends' door only to find them in the pj's, ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

So far we have no plans for the upcoming weekend. Not that we don't have plenty to do with the holidays coming up and all the fun stuff going on around town. Faneuil Hall is hosting the 4 th Annual Candy Land Tournament sponsored by Hasbro, this weekend. Head to the famous shopping spot and play Candy Land, win prizes, sample local treats, and listen to a local choir. Kids can play ... Read more >

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