KidMoves @ BAR

(Blogger's note: This is one of the cutest things I've heard about in a long time! Just check out the part about the doorman!)

What: A dance party for children at one of New Haven’s hottest locales.
When: May 2, doors open at 5 p.m.
Where: BAR, at 254 Crown Street, New Haven
Who: Sponsored by BAR and The Children’s Preschool

Are you a parent who misses the time in life when you could go out at night to dance? Do your children love to boogie to music? Then KidMoves @ BAR is the event for you.

It is a night out with the kids at one of New Haven’s premier eateries and night-life locales. For one night, BAR will become a children’s BAR, complete with DJ Noelle and unlimited pizza and softdrinks included in the price of admission. And to add to the realistic feel for the kids, a doorman will be checking to make sure they’re underage.

The best news is you’ll be dancing for a good cause. All the proceeds from the event will go to benefit The Children’s Preschool, one of New Haven’s oldest educational institutions for youngsters.

Tickets cost $10 for children and $30 for adults, and can be purchased in advance or at the door. For more information – or if you just want to forward your kids’ favorite dance tunes for the event – send email to child_preschool@sbcglobal.net or call 203-777-2491

The Leila Day Nursery School Spring Fair

May 16 – New Haven

Looking for fun for the whole family? Head over to Leila Day Nursery School’s annual Spring Fair complete with pony rides, a zip line, Toddler Tunes musician Robert Messore, tons of arts & crafts, fun games, a kids toys & gear tag sale, and lots of great food, baked goods & refreshments. All proceeds help the school to provide tuition assistance to families with different economic needs. All ages. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16 (rain date May 17) at Leila Day Nursery School, 100 Cold Spring St., New Haven. Free admission (tickets cost 50 cents to play games, do activities and purchase food). For more information, please call 203-624-1374 or visit www.leiladay.com.

This Weekend

As usual, please leave a comment or email us (newhavenkids@gmail.com) with anything we may have left out.

May 1-3, 8-10 - Naugatuck
Children of Eden. St. Michael’s Church, 210 Church St. Act One is about Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel. Act Two is about Noah’s Ark. Experience their challenges and their generational legacies. May 1, 7 p.m. May 2, 8 & 9, 8 p.m. May 3 & 10, 2 p.m. Opening night $25, all other performances $15. (203) 729-8249

May 2 - Northford
Open House. Northford Community Nursery School, 1382 Middletown Avenue. NCNS will be holding an Open House for registration as well as a Tag Sale and Bake Sale. Please join us! 10 am -2 pm Free. www.northfordcommunitynurseryschool.org (203) 484-9270

May 2 - Norwalk
Coro Fabrettino Performance at 1 & 2 pm. Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue, Norwalk CT 06850.
Youth singers and dancers from Nicaragua perform as part of Creative Connections/International Young Performers’ Tour. This exciting performance is a part of the museum’s 2009 Around the World program. General admission is $9 and children under 1 are free. To learn more visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org or call 203 899 0606.

May 2 – Wallingford
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” Paul Mellon Arts Center, 333 Christian Street. Laugh and sing along as Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, trips on a skateboard, and accidentally drops his sweater in the sink—all before breakfast. This charming musical is based on the classic book by Judith Viorst. Adults $15/ Children 12 and under $10. 2:00 PM Main Theater. www.choate.edu/artscenter/boxoffice.asp 203-697-2398

May 2-3 - Middlebury
Ready to Read Weekend. Quassy Amusement Park, Rte. 64. The start of the annual summer reading program with special appearances by Franklin the Turtle and Strawberry Shortcake. 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Parking $5. Park admission applies. www.quassy.com (800) FOR-PARK

May 3 – Hamden
Spring Wildflower Hike. Sleeping Giant State Park off Rte. 10. Wear comfortable shoes, bring snacks and water. 1:30 p.m. Free. (203) 272-7841

May 3 - Milford
Milford Harbor Duck Race. Fowler Field Rotary Pavilion, Shipyard Ln. The Ducks Are Coming! Come cheer thousands of rubber ducks as they race down the Wepawaug River. Enjoy entertainment, giveaways, food, fun and games. A quality, cost-effective, event for the entire family! 11am - 3pm. FREE to attend / $5 to buy duck. www.milfordduckrace.com 203-874-2490

Events At Edgewood Park This Weekend

Saturday, April 25th

Rock to Rock

Edgewood Park Rest Stop

The Friends of Edgewood Park, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, and Common Ground invite you to celebrate Earth Day and New Haven's rich environmental and cultural resources in Edgewood Park.

This Saturday, Rock to Rock, a city-wide bike ride from East Rock to West Rock, will be making a scheduled rest stop at Edgewood Park. Bike, walk, or skate to the Edgewood Park Gazebo, and join us for free activities for riders, spectators, and families.

Cheer on riders before their final leg up to West Rock.

Crafts: Bring plastic bottles, containers, paper towel or toilet paper rolls and make them into noisemakers at the crafts table.

Music: Join a family jam session, brought to you by Musical Folk.

Visit info tables to learn about local community and environmental organizations.

Ride in the final leg to Common Ground & West Rock Park!

Contact keren@kurti.com for more info about the Edgewood Park event.

For ride information and pre-registration go to www.rocktorock.org.

Where & When
Edgewood Park Gazebo
Corner of W. Rock & Whalley Aves.
Saturday, April 25
1:30 - 2:30 PM
(Rain Location: Coogan Pavillion)


Sunday, April 26

Bocce and Biscotti in Edgewood Park
10 AM - 12 noon

Join the Friends of Edgewood Park as we dedicate the refurbished
bocce court (near the Ranger Station on Edgewood Avenue.)
Come and learn how to play while enjoying Italian treats.

Free. All ages and abilities welcome.

Contact Kim Rogers at 389-6535 for more information.

Need I Say More?

Today is FREE CONE DAY at Ben and Jerry's!

Bethesda Spring Fair and Tag Sale

SPRING FAIR AND TAG SALE. Bethesda Nursery School will hold its annual spring fair and tag sale on Saturday, May 9, from 10 am – 2 pm (rain or shine). The tag sale begins at 9 am. The tag sale will include toys, furniture, household goods, children’s clothing, and many other treasures. In addition, this fantastic family event provides entertainment including magician, music, games, moon bounce, plant sale, bake sale, and refreshments. Admission is free. Tickets must be purchased for activities. All proceeds benefit the Bethesda Nursery School scholarship fund. Join the fun at the Bethesda Nursery School playground, 305 St. Ronan Street, New Haven. Parking is also available at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Avenue, between Canner Street and Edwards Street.

This Weekend

Rumor has it, we're going to have another 70 degree weekend, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to help us all enjoy it!

We've already told you about the WCNS tag sale and jump-a-thon, but here are some other fun events:

April 25 – Middlefield
Connecticut Day. Lyman Orchards, Jct. Rtes. 147 & 157. Did you know that some of the finest foods in New England are made right here in Connecticut? Celebrate Connecticut foods, beverages, music and history. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. www.lymanorchards.com (860) 349-6015

April 25 – Woodbury
Earth Day. Main Street, Middle Quarter Mall. Bring your friends, bring the family- it's FREE, rain or shine outside and under the tents. Enjoy over 100 exhibitors sampling the latest in natural and organic foods-many from local producers: Sprain Brook Apiary, Brookview Sugar House, Stonewall Dairy, Steaz Green Tea Sodas, Olive Oil Factory and Snooty Foods. Art projects, live animals and seed planting for the young-at-heart. Learn how you can stay healthy naturally: with yoga, Reiki and chair massage demos. Back by popular demand, Dr. Gazsi, will discuss good health and diet. Meet area non-profit organizations and get inspired: Audubon at Bent of the River in Southbury; Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association and many more. More info and directions: www.newmorn.com (203) 263-4868

April 25-26 – Meriden
Daffodil Festival, Hubbard Park, West Main St. Outdoor family festival with more than 600,000 daffodils on display, along with a parade, juried crafts show, 3 stages of entertainment, fireworks display, road race, amusement area, food tent. Free. Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. www.daffodilfest.com (203) 630-4259

April 25-26 – Middlebury
Carload Opening Weekend. Quassy Amusement Park, Rte. 64. Everyone in the car receives an all-day ride pass. Meet and greet with ”Clifford”, The Big Red Dog as part of the park’s annual reading program. Call for schedule. $30.00 www.quassy.com (800) FOR-PARK

April 26 – Middletown
Daffodil Day. Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth St. Mansion tours, music, refreshments, nature talk and trail walks. Thousands of daffodils on the grounds of the historic Beaux Arts mansion. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Free. (860) 347-1064

WCNS Annual Tag Sale and Jump-A-Thon

On Saturday, April 25, Westville Community Nursery School (WCNS) will host its Annual Jump-a-thon and Tag Sale. Everyone is invited to participate in a host of fun activities, including Bounce Houses, art projects, face painting and community tag sale. WCNS will offer a variety of refreshments for sale, including fruit smoothies, coffee, baked goods and light lunch foods. In addition, there will also be a raffle for a wide selection of family-friendly prizes and a silent action of premium items.


Anyone interested in donating items towards the tag sale or buying raffle tickets for the Jump-a-thon can drop send me an e-mail or give me a jingle at 843-0361.

Also, here's a link to the Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85270148775

April showers bring...

May flowers? No. Well...maybe. But in our house April showers bring days spent indoors with a toddler who wants to do anything but. Why not liven up those rainy days with this sweet deal from Amazon? Click here to learn how you can download 150 kid songs for just .99 cents. Seriously. As my favorite saying goes, "you can't afford not to buy it."

Touch-A-Truck

My little guy is already drooling over this one!

The Madison Newcomers Club is sponsoring their first annual Touch-A-Truck Charity Event on Saturday April 18, 2009 from 10:00-2:00 (rain or shine) in the Madison Surf Club's parking lot. Touch-A-Truck is a unique, family-oriented one-day event, featuring trucks and cars to touch, climb on and take pictures alongside. The price of admission is $10/family (minimum donation). All proceeds will be donated to: The Women & Family Life Center Pajama Program and Daniel Hand High School Scholarships. The event will include vehicles from various municipal offices, including the Madison Fire Department, Madison Police Department, Madison Ambulance and local construction companies and other businesses. For additional information, visit www.madisonnewcomersct.com or contact Jessica Bowler at 860-732-2050.

Spring Fever

I've spent the last few weeks staring out my window like a bored cat, waiting until it is warm enough to play outside. I know we've had some sort of warmish days, but I don't think I'll be satisfied until I can go swimming. It's all I can think about. This non-stop daydream leads me to our latest "calling all parents" topic: Swimming pools.

Please leave a comment or email us at newhavenkids@gmail.com with information about pools in CT and we'll add it to our list of family fun resources.

Thank you!

Easter Egg Hunts

It's time of year again. Nope, not the time when Christians celebrate the day Jesus was resurrected--the time when we get to see our sweet little babies throw down with another parent's (not so) sweet little baby over a stinky, pastel-dyed hard-boiled egg. Easter is here! Woo-hoo! Let the hunts begin!

April 4 – New Haven
Egg Hunt on the New Haven Green 10:00 am. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny!

April 4 – Mystic
The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration welcomes the Easter Bunny on Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. Families can meet and have pictures taken with the Easter Bunny, and take part in an egg hunt and arts and crafts. Breakfast also will be served. Admission is $65 per child and adult pair, and $35 for each additional child. Admission for members is $50 per child and adult pair and $25 for each additional child. Registration is required. The aquarium is at 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic. Information: 860-572-5955 or visit www.mysticaquarium.org.

April 4 – Glastonbury
The Glastonbury Dog Park Committee and Glastonbury Parks and Recreation Department invite families and their four-legged friends to the 1st annual Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Riverfront Park. Participants will search for more than 3,000 eggs filled with treats, gift certificates and other surprises. Kids will enjoy games and face painting. There is a $10 fee per dog. All dogs must be leashed and have up-to-date rabies tags or certificates. No aggressive dogs. The event will be held rain or shine. The park is at 200 Welles St., Glastonbury. Information: 860-652-7683 or visit www.glastonbury-ct.gov.

April 4 – East Haddam
The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park welcomes families to their Easter egg hunt on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the park. Children ages 2 to 9 may hunt for eggs filled with candy and other small prizes. There will also be face painting, refreshments and raffles.
Admission is free. The event will be held rain or shine, and families are asked to bring their own baskets to collect eggs. The castle is at 67 River Road, East Haddam. Information: 860-526-2336 or visit www.friendsofgillettecastle.org.

April 4 -- Middlefield
Lyman Orchards invites families to take part in its 25th annual Easter Apple Hunt on Saturday . More than 15,000 apples, all from the orchard, will be hidden in the Easter Hay Maze. Families also may visit with the Easter Bunny, take a horse-drawn wagon ride and enjoy magic shows. At 3 p.m., children can take part in the Easter Cookie/Cupcake workshop. Most events are free; the workshop is $8. Registration is required for the hunt and workshop. The hunt for children ages 12 months to 3 years will be at 10:30 a.m.; for children ages 4 to 6 it's at 11:15 a.m.; and for children ages 7 to 10 it's at noon. Activities begin at 9 a.m. The orchard is at the junction of Routes 147 & 157, Middlefield. Information: 860-349-1793 or visit www.lymanorchards.com.

April 4 – Clinton
Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Congregational Church, 59 East Main Street, Clinton. Presented by the Clinton Lions Club. Begins promptly at 12 Noon. Pre-school through the third grade are invited. Bring a container to collect the candy. Rain or shine.

April 4 – Madison
Easter Egg Hunt, Madison Surf Club. Easter egg and candy hunt. 10 a.m. www.madisonexchange.org (203) 245-2967

April 4 – Brooklyn, CT
1:00 PM Creamery Brook Bison 19 Purvis Road Brooklyn, CT Take a wagon ride to see the bison, then have fun looking for the Easter eggs. Pinata and games. For More Details: 860-779-0837. $8.50.

April 4 – New Canaan
12:45, 2:00, 3:30 PM New Canaan Nature Center 144 Oenoke Ridge. Come to the New Canaan Nature Center for our annual outdoor easter egg hunt! Start off by meeting some animals who lay eggs (and some who don't) and then head out on the property for the great hunt! Over 400 easter eggs will be hidden filled with small nature-themed prizes and nut-free candy. Special eggs will contain tickets to NCNC special events, nature books, games and more! Please bring your own basket or cloth bag for egg collection. Hunts will take place rain or shine! (we'll head to the greenhouse in the event of inclement weather.) Each session is limited to 20 children. Register early!! Members: $10/child 4+ or $4/child 3 & under / Non-Members: $14/child 4+ or $5/child 3 & under.