Last Minute Weekend Event!

(click image to enlarge)

The Wizard of Oz!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Dwight Hall Common Room
67 High Street, New Haven
http://sites.google.com/site/yalechildrenstheaterhome/
Yale Children's Theater presents a spunky version of L. Frank Baum's children's book, in which a Kansas native braves mighty munchkins, a wannabe wizard, and a wicked witch. It's "Wizard of Oz" like you've never seen it before!

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Friday, February 27: 4 PM
Saturday, February 28: 11 AM and 1 PM
Sunday, March 1: 1 PM

Place: Dwight Hall Common Room.

Tickets: $2
Student Ticket Prices: free for the March 1 performance; $1 all other performances

Children's Music Concert Friday

Robert Messore, of Toddler Tunes fame, is putting on a children's music concert!
Friday, February 20, 6:00 p.m.
Children's Concert at Christ Presbyterian Church
135 Whitney Ave., New Haven, Connecticut 06510
For information, call 203-777-6960.

And don't forget about Toddler Tunes!

Sundays at 4:15 p.m.
Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m.
St. John's Episcopal Church
400 Humphrey St., New Haven, Connecticut 06511
Corner of Orange and Humphrey Street

Fan Mail

We'd just like to take a minute to thank those of you who has sent messages saying how much your like our little blog. We're really trying to build it up and your comments and suggestions help tremendously!

We received an interesting email today from Kidcity that we'd like to share with you.

I'm writing from Kidcity to say...nice blog!

Please let your readers know that Kidcity is open for free once a month on the third Thursday evening from 5 to 7 pm. If they don't know Middletown, I'd recommend that parents might enjoy combining their playtime with a visit to a local restaurant -- here are some quick and cheap and delicious suggestions:
- Tacos at Iguanas Ranas Taqueria
- Pho Mai Vietnamese Noodle Shop
- if you don't mind driving a few miles, Udupi Bhavan for fabulous Indian.

These are all kid-friendly and low-key.

Hope you come play soon.

Thanks, Kid City! You know, the whole point of this blog is to pass on useful information for New Haven area parents, and we think one of the best pieces of information we can pass on is this: Kid City Rocks! They truly do. All of us New Haven Kids Blog contributors have memberships because it is so much fun for kids and adults of all ages. If you haven't already--check it out!

For a reminder about membership information for the children's museums in the area, please click here.

Are Your Kids Off From School Next Week?

Here are some week-long activities to get them out of the house!

February 16 -20 - Montville
Camp Monty at The Dinosaur Place™ at Nature's Art, 1650 Route 85. Get out of the cold and join the Dinosaur Place for our 2nd Annual Camp Monty Celebration. Participate in “Summer” Olympics. Make a cool summer craft every day! Play fun camp games sure to entertain those winter blahs. Join Monty the T-Rex and all of us at The Dinosaur Place for a warm celebration no matter how cold it is outside. Admission charged. www.thedinosaurplace.com (860) 443-4367

February 16 - 21 - Norwalk
Winter Vacation Week Activities at Stepping Stones Museum for Children Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue. Stepping Stones will host a variety of daily activities and programs for the February vacation week starting on Monday, February 16 and running through Saturday, February 21st. The museum will also be extending its hours and will be open Mon – Fri from 10 am – 5 pm with member mornings at 9 am. $9 General Museum Admission (some activities have $3 materials fee) info@steppingstonesmuseum.org 203-899-0606

February 16 -21- New Haven
Dinosaur Days at the Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Avenue. Join us during the February school holidays for our annual celebration of paleontology and dinosaurs. There will be plenty of hands-on activities for the whole family — our famous fossil dig, an extensive fossil touch table, dinosaur arts and crafts, and the chance to meet experts and watch them prepare dinosaur bones for display — plus a puppet show each day at 11:00 a.m., and something special each afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Museum admission charged. 10:00 am to 3:30 pm daily www.yale.peabody.edu (203) 432-5050

Upcoming Events at NH Public Library

Free programs for children at the New Haven Free Public Library (MAIN location only). All events and program supplies are free. 2nd Floor Children’s Room.
New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm Street. Call 946-8129 for more info.

Upcoming....

Puppet Show!
Wednesday, February 18 at 4:00pm
Celebrate Black History month with our adaptation of The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert San Souci. In this story, kind Blanche, following the instructions of an old woman, gains riches, while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded. Fun and laughter for all ages!


***SPECIAL programs cosponsored by CT Humanities Council***

BOOK DISCUSSION 1: Reservation is required (target age 7-10) call today 946-8129

Remaining sessions: all sessions 4:00p.m.
Session 2: Thursday, February 19th
Session 3; Thursday, March 19th
Session 4: Thursday, April 23rd

Book Voyagers: Well explore the theme of turning obstacles into opportunity, problem-solving, and optimism. 4 sessions 2 books per session. Books are available for checkout at the Main location at the NHFPL.

All books discussed: Arnold Lobel, Ming Lo Moves the Moutain; Harriet Rhomer, Uncle Nacho's Hat;Albert Blanco, Angel's Kite; Pete Seeger, Abiyoyo; Pete Seeger, Abiyoyo Returns; William Steig, Sylvester & The Magic Pebbles; Baba Wague Diakite, The Hatseller and the Monkeys; Margot Zemach, It Could Always be Worse

BOOK DISCUSSION 2: (reservation required target age 8-12 call today 946-8129)

Tuesday, February 17th at 4:00pm
The Giver By Lois Lowry
Discussion Leader: Jeanne Lawrence, Library Media Specialist

The Giver by Lois Lowry was the winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, Lois Lowrys novel The Giver centers on 12-year-old Jonas who lives in a seemingly ideal world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness, no unemployment, and where every family is happy. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memories does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.

Ongoing:

A. Stay and Play Storytime. Tuesdays and Thursdays. At 11am. For infants/toddlers (ages 0-3 years) with caregiver. Music, rhyme, puppets, books, and playtime.

B. Chess Club, instruction and play ages 6-16. Mondays at 4:00pm.

C. Family Fun, Saturdays at 11:00a.m. Join us for stories, fingerplays and crafts! For Children ages 1-6 years and their families.

NMS's Children's Concert Series

As we posted last month, The Neighborhood Music School's Children's Concert Series - now in its 4th year - presents three concerts each year in January, February and March.

Here are the remaining concerts in this year's series:

Friday, FEBRUARY 6, 4:00 p.m. - Baba Coleman - fantastic drumming

Friday, MARCH 6, 4:00 p.m. - The Guitar Guy - family folk-rock

Below is some additional information about The Drums of Baba David Coleman!

Baba is master of Afro-Carribean, Brazilian and West African drumming and a charismatic performer - Come Feel the Beat!

The DRUMS of BABA DAVID COLEMAN
Friday, FEBRUARY 6
4:00 p.m
Recital Hall
Neighborhood Music School
100 Audubon Street, New Haven
(203) 624-5189

The concert lasts an hour, and there will be a PIZZA PARTY in NMS' Front Space ($1 pizza slice and juice) right after to soothe those hungry tummies!

Tickets are on sale NOW at NMS (at the Front Desk or call (203) 624-5189).
$10 - Adults
$5 - Children 2 and older
Free - Children under 2

NOTE: Tickets will be available on concert day ONLY if the event is not sold out. Reserve your tickets ahead of time by visiting NMS or calling (203) 624-5189.

Net proceeds from all the concerts in the Children's Concert Series benefit the NMS Preschool and Toddler Program.