Cambridge Mom’s Blog

Today’s the better weekend day, so pack your kids up and head out. We’re off soon ourselves to do a little urban adventure before a 1:00 birthday party (Bloc, Hub Comics, Union Square Farmer’s Market and maybe Bunker Hill Monument if we can squeeze it in), so I’m afraid I must refer you here for ideas:

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/specials/summer/

A couple of our recent faves: Canobie Lake Park (amusement parks are a bit of a necessary evil, in my opinion, but the kids LOVED it…there are plenty of rides for wee and bigger ones. Arrive after 5:00 and admission is only $20. Those 3 and under are free) and Wingaersheek Beach (again, if your sleep schedule and general family temperament will accommodate a late-day outing, after 5:00 parking is free and crowds much smaller).

If your family is anxiously awaiting the opening of the new playground in Cambridge Common, as ours is, here’ s the official update.

(I decided not to take my daughter’s suggestion that I call up and ask why they were not working harder to get it done, but I did sign up for the email updates).

This is from Jeffrey Roberts, Cambridge’s Neighborhood Planner.

Dear Community Members,

I am writing with an update on the construction of Alexander Kemp Playground at Cambridge Common. Those of you who have passed by the park have probably noticed that it is nearing completion. However, there are still several tasks that need to be completed, and items that need to be tested and checked before the playground can open for use.

The construction team is now anticipating that work will be complete within the next week or two. The actual date at which the playground can open will depend on the progress made on a day-by-day basis. I will continue to update this list, and will let everyone know when the work has been satisfactorily completed and the playground can be used.

When the playground opens, please keep in mind that it includes many new play features and it will be important for both children and adults to spend some time familiarizing themselves with the new features and the level of challenge associated with each. Children should be supervised by an adult at all times, and adults should use their judgment to determine what types of activity are appropriate for different children based on age and ability level. You can contact me if there are any questions.

Thanks, and stay tuned for more information soon! — Jeff.

TIMEOUT NY has called Jose Conde y Ola Fresca “One of New York’s most important Afro Cuban voices.”  This weekend The Jose Conde Band performs Baby Loves Salsa, a jimmying, wiggling, fun time for young kids and adults!

Conceived as a way to introduce kids to the joys of Afro-Latin music and to bilingual English-Spanish songs, “Salsa for Kittens and Puppies/Salsa para gatitos y perritos,” features salsa songs by an imaginary band of our favorite pet variety.

Tickets are $12, and sure to sell out!

Tags: baby loves salsa, cambridge, jose conde band, music for kids, regattabar for kids, salsa for kids

Tufts University, in Medford, runs a summer theater program “by and for children” called Magic Circle Theater and their performances start this week.  My son attended one last year, while he was at the summer camp at Eliot Pearson Children’s School, and talked about it for days.  I am sorry to say we won’t make it this year, but here is the schedule of performances and a $7 per ticket, quite a bargin.

Tuesday, July 21, 10:30 A.M., 2 P.M.–Amelia Bedelia
Wednesday, July 22, 10:30 A.M.–Amelia Bedelia
Thursday, July 23, 10:30 A.M., 7 P.M.–Mulan

Tuesday, July 28, 10:30 A.M., 2 P.M.–Seussical, The Musical
Wednesday, July 29, 10:30 A.M.–Seussical, The Musical
Thursday, July 30, 10:30 A.M., 7 P.M.–Amelia Bedelia

Tuesday, August 4, 10:30 A.M., 2 P.M.–Mulan
Wednesday, August 5, 10:30 A.M.–Mulan
Thursday, August 6, 10:30 A.M., 7 P.M.–Seussical, The Musical

Tickets are $7. Box office: 617-627-3493.

Summertime dinners are a conundrum for me. I never like to drag the kids from the park on a lovely summer evening - it’s one of my favorite times of day this time of year - but the “harsh” reality is that no personal chef awaits me at home, cooking up a nutritious and healthy meal, and there are only so many nights when one can serve sandwiches (kids! let’s have a dinner PICNIC!) or order pizza. If you are similarly afflicted, I have the problem solved for you at least for this Sunday - the ONCE again BBQ in Central Square, 5:30-9:30, featuring fresh food from local farms and the cooking of Best of Boston personal chef JJ Gonson and Cuisine en Locale.

We’re psyched to be hosting this again for its second year - nothing beats the Strega Nona-esque magic trick of seeing a professional chef churn out restaurant-quality food from one’s everyday pots on pans. Please come and connect with me outside of the momoblogosphere….

Kids are totally welcome, and encouraged to come  in the earlier hours. You can see more details on JJ’s blog here - and to make reservations email her directly - jj(at)enlocale(dot)com.

As usual, I have been meaning to post this for a while and it begins tonight.  ArtBeat is great fun — not your typical 2nd rate craft vendors and lots of Indian Food stands (not that I don’t love Indian food stands and I am sure there will be a few.)  Really interesting and beautiful craft vendors and more importantly — musicians and performers throughout the square.  There will also be a kids parade and interactive crafts — all around the Theme of “Somerville of the Future.”

Prep for Saturday’s parade tonight at the Parade Workshop.  Music and performances also begin tonight at 6 pm, Friday July 17th, in Seven Hills Park (behind the theater) and a “Black Hole Robot Dance Party” right in front of the JP Licks from 7 - 10 pm.  Channel your inner robot…

In addition to the parade on Saturday, meeting up at the main traffic island in Davis Square at 2pm, I am looking forward to the Dance Showcase at the Somerville Theater, and music at the Elm Street Stage — seems independent with roots/folk bent.  Audrey Ryan, an very creative local singer/songwriter, will be playing “doom folk” with the Holey Moley’s at 3 pm. I have also heard good things about You Might be a Wesley playing at Seven Hills Park at 5 pm.  The Tufts Traveling Trunk Theater will be performing at main traffic island in Davis at 1 & 3 pm (cute group targeted for pre-school set, though my 1st grader enjoyed them this year.)  There are five performance locations in the square, surrounding the main drag closed to traffic and filled with craft and food vendors.

Check out the full ArtBeat 2009 Schedule.  Let’s hope the rain stays away, but if not the rain date is Sunday.

Twinkle Star is the sweet little kid shop in my hood.  Baby stuff, clothes (I think infant through preschoolers), a small selection of toys/gifts and even some Gear (Skuut balance bike anyone?) I am going today to check out the shoe sale (they carry Eleven, SKR and See Kai Run, if that means anything to you — but to me just cute shoes!) with the extra 10% off sale (7/16 only.) There is a lot of merchandise, which I can find overwhelming, but they have a sweet play area for the kids in the back, giving you ample browsing time.  Their prices vary, good for day to day stuff as well as an occasional splurge, and they generally have a interesting clearance rack.

And if you are in Ball Square already, check out Out of the Blue Gallery for local crafts (if you can keep sweet, slippery fingers in the stroller) and finish off with some tea/coffee and a scone (yum…one of my favorites in the city) or lunch at True Grounds. Perfect plan for a not so perfect day (weather wise.)

Twinkle Star Boutique
703 Broadway, Ball Square - Somerville, MA

A private family foundation, the Highland Street Foundation, is providing support to select Massachusetts cultural institutions so they can open their doors to residents and tourists for free on Fridays throughout the summer.

Free Fun Fridays Free entry to the following locations:

FRI, JULY 17
Boston harbor Island Alliance
Free ferry transportation to harbor islands
408 Atlantic Ave-Boston, MA
617.223.8530/ www.islandalliance.org

FRI, JULY 24th
Franklin Park Zoo
1 Franklin Park Rd-Dorchester, MA
617.989.2692/ www.franklinparkzoo.org

FRI, JULY 31st
Boston Childrens Museum
300 Congress St-Boston, MA
617.426.6500/ www.bostonkids.org

FRI, AUG 7th
Plimoth Plantation
137 Warren Ave-Plymouth, MA
508.746.1622/ www.plimoth.org

FRI, AUG 14th
Stone Zoo
149 Pond Street-Stoneham, MA
781.483.5100/ www.stonezoo.org

FRI, AUG 21st
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex St-Salem, MA
978.745.9500/www.pem.org

FRI, AUG 28th
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave-Boston, MA
617.262.9300/www.mfa.org

FRI, SEPT 4th
Springfield Museums
21 Edwards St-Springfield, MA
800.625.7738/ www.springfieldmuseums.org

I checked out the link for the harbor islands and they are taking reservations for the first 100 seats on each boat and the remaining 100 will be available on a first come first serve basis.  I have been to George’s island several times over the years — no palm trees, but bring your flashlights to explore what’s left of an old military structure.  Great for a picnic, and of course for some the ferry ride itself will be the highlight!

The Somerville Arts council and the City of Somerville is sponsoring a free outdoor Jazz concert this Saturday afternoon, as well as evening events all week.  Check out the schedule and lineup for Saturday and the entire week.

The outdoor concert kicks off with the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, who I have seen previously during the Honk Festival, an annual funky march band event in the fall in Davis Square. This fun, energetic, goofy “marching” band that will start the concert by marching at 2 pm Saturday from Davis Square to Powder House Park (across from 136 College Avenue.)  Second in the lineup is the Somerville High School Jazz Band.  My kids love seeing other kids perform.  Then the adult professionals — all listed in the schedule.

Strawberries in the morning, music in the afternoon.  Sounds just about right to me.

Tags: blues, concert, Jazz, music, somerville

Strawberry season is in full swing.  My three year old daughter and I visited Verrill Farm in Concord yesterday and picked nearly 5 pounds (and probably ate another two) of “low-spray” berries at $2.75 per pound. The berries were abundant, so glossy, like an advertising photo, and sweet.   I kept telling my daughter to pick the ones that were “really red.” We had picked the previous week at our CSA, Waltham Community Farms, and those seemed a little smaller and tastier but it may have been just the excitement of the 1st pick of the season.  The advertise picking daily from 9 - noon, but I would call ahead because we went on the only sunny day this week and they were planning on being open until 3 pm.  Overall picking can be a quick trip.  We were done in about a 1/2 hour.  But the sun (what sun?) and the stooping can be brutal (I actually sad between the rows!)  And prepare for berry stains everywhere.

I waffled over how much to pick, and then went overboard, or so I thought.  Just over 24 hours later we have less than a handful left.  I picked up a little rhubarb at the Verrill Farm store for a cooking adventure.  A quick search on “easy strawberry rhubarb recipes” yielded a fantastic cobbler recipe.  I followed the dough recipe and fudged the rest.  It was pretty forgiving when I tried to substitute tapioca with corn starch and only had a cup of rhubarb.

I may try another farm next week or stick to Verrill Farms because it is so convenient (just west on route 2, a little further than Walden Pond, then south on Sudbury Road.)  If you are looking for a party, their annual Strawberry Festival is this Saturday, June 20th, noon - 4 pm.  I have attended their corn and tomato event in the summer — it is not a tiny little event — but we didn’t find it too overwhelming.  Music, hay rides, pony rides, food and strawberries.

I have heard that Land’s Sake in Weston (who also sells at the Davis Square farmers market) is pretty close (just off of 95 south of 2 and north of the pike.) They offer no-pesticide strawberries and also have a strawberry festival this Saturday, June 20th at 10 am.  I suspect their event might be more low key — still have live music and activities for kids, but charge admission ($4 adults, $2 for kids, 2 & under & members free.)

To find another place for strawberries, check out the Pick Your Own website or another link to pick your own in New England.   Please share your favorite pick your own farms.  I can’t wait for blueberry season!

The latest book parents I know are buzzing about….

A little over a year ago newspaper columnist Lenore Skenazy got a lot of praise and censure after writing about her decision to let her 10 year old son take the subway home alone (read the original column here).

I was quite pleased to see the column when it first ran (or, you know, when it first ran, and then got forwarded around on email until it landed in my inbox), since I spend an inordinate amount of time idly wondering when the kids will be old enough to walk to grocery store (which we can see from our front door - admittedly across a busy street - but there are crosswalks and stoplights that function quite nicely!) when we run out of something. Happily, she’s now written a book, and has put up a blog, which is an entertaining catalog of all kinds of overprotective parenting and in loco parentis news stories.

Listen to Skenazy on Here and Now with Robin Young here.

Tags: books, Free Range Kids, Lenore Skenazy, parenting

This might be the yummiest part of our current festival overload around town. Details here.

Would say more about my love of local strawberries but we’re off to attempt to get a table at The Friendly Toast for a first visit - hoping it will work if we show up when they open at 8:00. One advantage to having children who wake early on a Sunday I suppose.