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Weekend brings free family festivals

The Triangle rocks with free fun this weekend, from Last Friday’s entertainment in Hillsborough to Raleigh Wide Open 5, a free festival along Fayetteville Street, in downtown Raleigh. You’ll also find kids’ junior naturalist events in Durham and Cary and a free community celebration to kick off annual World Breastfeeding Week, in Carrboro.

Head to Hillsborough on July 30 for Last Fridays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The event, presented by the Hillsborough Arts Council, brings crowds for a fiesta with a free performance on the lawn of the historic 1844 Old Courthouse as well as a pie contest, an art walk, and much more in downtown historic Hillsborough. Look for a full rundown of events in this blog. (At left, Killer Filler)

On Saturday from 11 am. to 11 pm., Raleigh Wide Open 5, offers free admission for all to Fayetteville Street attractions. The festival kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m. and features 25 acts on 4 stages, more than 100 food and art vendors, an inflatable kids zone, street performers, fireworks at 10:45 p.m. and more. Visit http://www.raleighconvention.com/rwo5/ for details.

If you’d rather get back to nature with the kids, see www.CarolinaParent.com’s Calendar for Saturday events in Durham and Cary. You’ll find naturalist activities, like After-Dark Friends. at 8 p.m. at the Eno River State Park, located at 6101 Cole Mill Rd., in Durham. In Cary on Saturday from 10-11 a.m., take kids ages 3-5 to Nature Nuts: Bees at the Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, at 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., in Cary. You’ll need to pre-register and $11 for Cary residents and $14 for non Cary residents. Phone: 387-5980. You’ll find more events in our Calendar.

On Sunday, New Hope Valley Railway Rides. offers a ride on a train through the woods, starting at 11a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Bonsal, N.C. For details phone: 362-5416 or visit www.nhvry.org. You’ll find more naturalists events on Sunday in our Calendar.

Also on Sunday, on the first day of the annual World Breastfeeding Week, the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute and the Birth and Breastfeeding Congress will host a free community event to celebrate the local breastfeeding-friendly community and its contributions. Head to the Weaver Street Market located at 101 East Weaver Street in Carrboro from 11 a.m -1 p.m., during Jazz Brunch. (In case of rain, the event will be noon-2 p.m. at the Carrboro Yoga Company.) You’ll find more details here.

And before you head out, check out our listing of free summer movies and concerts!

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Weekend fun kicks off with Last Fridays

Weekend family fun kicks off July 30 in Hillsborough with Last Fridays. The event, presented by the Hillsborough Arts Council, brings crowds for a fiesta with a free performance on the lawn of the historic 1844 Old Courthouse as well as a pie contest, an art walk, and much more in downtown historic Hillsborough.

The musical headliner for July's Last Fridays is Killer Filler, an all-instrumental five-piece outfit that melds Memphis soul and California surf music. Original songs by bandleader Crispy Bess include Funk, twang, jazz, lounge and swing!

For more freebies, head to the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church on Tryon Street where you can chill out with cool jazz and free cold cones and listen to a band of rising stars - “The Fifth Notes.” The free ice cream cones are scooped up by Church members, providing a chance to enjoy your neighbors along with the music.

Over at the Burwell School Historic Site, more free family events await. Take a free docent-led tour of a new temporary exhibit, The Burwell Family; A Genealogy. While you’re there, enjoy an old-fashioned lemonade and watermelon party, and seed spittin’ contests. The exhibit chronicles the family history of the Burwell, Bedell, Bott, Higginson, Robertson, and Spottswood families from colonial history until the early 20th century, with family memorabilia, photographs and original letters. Activities and tours will be from 6:30-8 p.m. The Burwell School Historic Site is located at 319 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough. All events this evening are free and suitable for the whole family. Free parking available. For more information, please call 919-732-7451 or visit our website www.burwellschool.org.

LOCAL ARTISTS
Artist vendors at July's Last Fridays will be located at the old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough.

ART WALK
The July 30 Last Fridays Art Walk showcases the talents of local artists in studios and galleries in downtown Hillsborough. Many venues will have artist and opening receptions from 6 – 9 pm. Brochures with a map of the Last Fridays Art Walk are available at any of the participating venues or online at www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/Art_Walk.

PIE CONTEST
Each month has a different pie theme, with local ingredients preferred, and homemade pies required. July's theme is blueberry. Bring your pie to Cup A Joe no later than 5 p.m. and judging will begin at 6:00. Awards will be announced at the courthouse stage at 7:30 p.m. Pie pieces will be sold at Cup a Joe after the winners are announced. Proceeds benefit the Hillsborough Arts Council. Entry forms and future pie themes can be found online at http://www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/HillsboroughPieContest.html

OTHER AFFILIATED EVENTS
Local sites provide special programming for young and old alike.
Weaver Street Market will have a selection of fabulous wines for sample at a free tasting 5-7pm. From 6-8pm, Kitty Box & the Johnnys, featuring the sensational, legendary chanteuse Taz Halloween, will bring all the soul, twang and rock of Chatham County to Hillsborough for Last Friday. http://www.reverbnation.com/tazhalloween.

The Orange County Historical Museum (201 N. Churton St.) will hold Ears to You from 6-9pm. The museum will be selling grilled corn and hot dogs and all funds will go to the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County.

Plenty of parking during Last Fridays can be found at the Eno River parking deck. No dogs are permitted in the courthouse area during Last Fridays by order of the police. A map of all Last Fridays events can be found at http://hillsboroughartscouncil.org/MapLastFriday.html. For general information on Last Fridays contact the Hillsborough Arts Council at 919-643-2500, www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org or the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough/Orange County Visitors’ Center at 732-7741 or www.visithillsboroughnc.org.

Juggler teaches kids life lessons

Ever had a Terrible, Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day? Failure happens—to Alexander, you, me and our kids. But learning to get up and be positive is what counts in the long run. A performance for kids ages 5 and up today at the N.C. Museum of Art teaches that lesson in a most amusing way.

The show, More than Mime with Sheila Kerrigan, at 1 p.m. in the museum’s Auditorium, is performed by a juggler who drops and a mime who talks about important lessons in growing up. In it, Kerrigan explains the importance of failure in learning and tells a story about setting a positive mental attitude to aim for success. She also performs silent mime pieces.

Tickets are $3 (Free for museum Family-level members and above), and you can buy them online at the museum’s website or by calling (919) 715-5923. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The performance will be followed by a juggling workshop for anyone who'd like to stay around.

Is your child younger than 5? No worries! You’ll find loads of happenings for every age group today in www.CarolinaParent.com’s Storytimes and Weekly events. Here are just two of a multitude of events you’ll find there:

* Little ones from newborns through 18 months can take part in the Book Babies Storytime. It starts at 10 a.m. at the East Regional Library, located at 946 Steele Square Ct., in Knightdale. Call (919) 217-5317 or visit www.wakegov.com/libraries.

* If you’re in Durham on Wednesday night, check out Music in the Gardens, a 7 p.m. performance of live outdoor music at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Duke University, 426 Anderson St., Durham. Visit www.dukeperformances.org for details. (Ages 12 and under are admitted at no charge and tickets.) http://dukeperformances.duke.edu/series/music-in-the-gardens/billysugarfix

For more events in your town today, visit www.CarolinaParent.com’s Story Times and Weekly Events.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Museum forges path to school funding

With Triangle schools suffering from budget cuts, one museum has come up with an innovative route to fund schools while drawing crowds to its venue. The Museum of Life and Science’s new School Days initiative is offering schools an opportunity to earn $1 for each visitor they send the museum's way.

"Because we serve so many teachers and students, we realize the tough budget realities in our schools,” says museum spokesperson Taneka Bennett. “We think this is a great way to support learning both out of the classroom and in the classroom."

The Fletcher Academy in Raleigh and Rashkis Elementary School in Chapel Hill have already signed on to the new plan, while other area schools and PTA's have expressed strong interest in the fundraising program, she says.

(A family participates in an experiment at The Lab in the Investigate Health exhibit at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Photograph by Kelly Chang. And at right, a look at the Dinosaur Trail.)

If you haven’t been to the museum, an 84-acre science park in Durham, you’re in for a range of treats. Here are a few of my favorites: The Magic Wings Butterfly House lets you escape to a tropical jungle, where the magic is the multitude of multi-colored butterflies and flowers that surround you. In the Bayer CropScience Insectarium, you can actually watch and listen to a live caterpillar munch though an interactive video camera system. It’s Dr. Seuss’ Horton hears a Hoot come to life! (Yona, a black bear resident of the Museum of Life and Science, when she was 2 months old.)

In the WTVD ABC 11 Accu-Weather indoor exhibit, you walk through a 13-foot-high tornado and play in the clouds. Outdoors, you can take an old-time train ride through the museum grounds, where you’ll find everything from black bears and farmyard animals to a pond of miniature sailboats you manipulate and outdoor instruments you play as loud as you want! Each exhibit is designed to entertain and teach scientific principles.

(A child admires a flower in the Museum of Life & Science's Magic Wings Butterfly House.)

Thinking of getting your child’s school involved in the School Days program? Be aware of these restrictions: Area schools must choose a day or days when they would like to have their School Days event. Visitors must visit on the school's designated day(s), purchase a regularly priced admission, and mention the school's name for the donation to be recorded.
To learn more about the Museum of Life and Science and its School Days program, visit www.lifeandscience.org/schooldays. – Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Tips to keep your kids cool!

With the temperatures in the triple digits the past few days, I’ve been telling my kids to drink lots of water and try to stay indoors as much as possible. I figured I had heat safety covered.

I knew that the first signs of heat illness included headache, nausea, fainting, weakness and excessive sweating. But when my son got cramps during an indoor basketball camp, I realized that he most likely was suffering from heat illness only after I read a news release from the N.C. Division of Public Health. Yes, heat exhaustion can cause cramps, rashes and deadly heat stroke. The Public Health division says infants and children are among groups more prone to heat stress and need to be monitored regularly during hot weather.

It’s not a bad idea to take another look at the division’s tips for warding off heat illness. And if you’re looking for some free indoor fun, how about rearranging your furniture and making a tent city in your living room? All you need is some old sheets, clothes pegs, a card table, kitchen chairs, and the willingness to let go of any semblance of order in your living room.

Let your kids’ imagination run free. My son built a "Fun House" for our dog on Friday after discovering that she was bored. The rolled-up carpet tunnel has been a big hit, although he cannot top her speed at flying through it. “I am fast, but not that fast,” he says.

Got any other great ways to stay cool at home? How did you amuse yourself during hot summers growing up? A sprinkler, and the garden hose and a few friends entertained me for hours! Share your comments below or send us your photos.
– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor.

Looking for fun, indoor activities that are age appropriate for your child? I came across a great website that uses household items to create activities for children from infancy through age 5.

Other ideas for staying cool:

Take a day trip to Wet 'n Wild Water Park. Visit our Calendar Highlights page for more.

Take your little one to a story time or indoor craft event. You'll find lots of free and inexpensive activites in our Story Times and Weekly Events listing, where you'll find fun for babies, tots, tweens and teens.

Weekend family fun offers cool delites!

Get ready for weekend family fun that includes free food, skating and broomball on the Polar Ice House in Garner, a fun scavenger hunt for families in Cary and the free Durham Bulls Family Fun Fest in Durham.

The Polar Ice House in Garner will offer free skating, free food from its snack bar, complimentary face painting and hockey lessons this Saturday from 1-4 p.m. At 3 p.m., get ready for the Broomball Play-off. “What’s that,” you say? Read my blog for details on this event. If you’ve been missing your brooms, your kids may already be playing this game.

In Cary, this weekend you can tout your knowledge of the town and win great prizes in a scavenger hunt. The game celebrates Koka Booth Amphitheatre—Cary’s home for entertainment on the banks of Symphony Lake—turning 10 this summer. The first Cary Scavenger Hunt runs Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Discover what you can win and where to get clue packets on Carolina Parent’s Calendar Highlights page.

Head to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for free family fun Sundayfrom 2 -5 p.m. to enjoy the world’s largest traveling baseball celebration. You’ll find 20 family-themed attractions that include everything from batting and pitching cages to giant slides and bounce houses at the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest. The baseball game begins at 5:05 p.m., but tickets to the game are not required to enjoy the festival attractions. See Carolina Parent’s Calendar Highlights for more details what you’ll find at the festival.

If you’re interested in taking part in Hillsborough’s Handmade Parade, there will be a free workshop for adults or ages 14 and older on Saturday from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.to learn how to make costumes and giant puppets. You’ll need to register before you go.

These events are just highlights of what’s happening around the Triangle. For even more kid-friendly fun, visit www.CarolinaParent.com’s Daily Calendar and our Long-Running Events page, where you'll find performances, including Annie, which opens on Saturday at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Progress Energy Center in Raleigh.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

(Photo at right courtesy of The Hillsborough Arts Council)

Looking for a great place to shop for kids' clothing, dine out or ride a bike? See Triangle parents' top picks to shop, eat, play and more in our 2010 Family Favorites.

(photo at left courtesy of the N.C. Zoo.)

Ready for free skating, food & hockey lessons?

The Polar Ice House in Garner is offering free skating, free food from its snack bar, complimentary face painting and hockey lessons this Saturday from 1-4 p.m.

Why?

It’s a celebration of an otherwise boring cleaning tool—the broom! The Garner location, at 103 New Rand Rd., will host a fun-filled open house to gear up for a Broomball Play-off, which starts at 3 p.m., Saturday.

Don’t know what broomball is? (I didn’t.) The game—often called hockey’s second cousin— is played with a small ball and sticks similar to an actual broom. (So that’s what my son’s been doing on our street with neighborhood kids and my broom!) Just like hockey, there are six players to a team, and the team that scores the most goals wins the game. The folks at Polar Ice House say no sweeping experience is required, but if you’re a parent you’ll be ahead of the game in that area!

There will be on-ice hockey lessons throughout the day and broomball lessons if you're more comfortable in sneakers, minus the skates. (Photo courtesy of Polar Ice House shows sledding fun at last year's Open House)

All sign-ups for fall 2010 programs at the Garner location that require registration will receive 10 percent off, including track-out camps and learn-to-skate lessons. Attendees can also enter the event's raffle to win prizes like free skate school classes and week-long camps.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Hunting more camps? Check out www.CarolinaParent.com’s Camps Directory for Day, Residential and Track-Out programs.

See our Daily Calendar and Story Times and Weekly Events for more free fun!

Is equal education, debate outdated?

Are all Wake County children entitled to receive the same quality of education? Is free and open discussion of our education policies—even of opinions of we don’t share— something we should promote?

Yesterday, hundreds of kids, parents and grandparents marched downtown in the sizzling heat to the Wake County school board meeting because they believed the answers to both these questions should be an unequivocal “yes!” Later, some were handcuffed and arrested at the board meeting as they spoke in protest of re-segregation of Wake schools as the board’s new majority moves away from the county’s long-standing policy of busing children to achieve economic diversity.

At a time when voters are accused of apathy, the march showed that we care what happens to our children. And what will happen to our children if “neighborhood schools” come to pass? I believe that children in our poorest neighborhoods will have inferior education. Those whose parents can afford to live in affluent neighborhoods will have the best schooling.

Board Chairman Ron Margiotta has vowed that the board’s proposal to assign students closer to their home will not create schools full of poor or minority children, but he has not given any details of how that would come to pass. And given the direction the board is headed toward, less debate under his leadership, parents are less likely to know in advance what changes are coming our way. Margiotta proposed generally limiting school board meetings to one per month, instead of the usual two, with one or two monthly work sessions, and has proposed getting rid of the board’s standing committees, saying that it led to repetition and time loss, according to news reports. With such a major change under way that will affect our future generations, shouldn’t we process slowly with much debate?

It’s the American way, as is an equal education for all. — Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Cary, Durham ramp up family fun!

Could you use a private party tent for 20 at one of Koka Booth Amphitheatre’s Movies by Moonlight summer shows? That’s among the prizes you could win in a fun scavenger hunt to celebrate Koka Booth’s turning 10 this summer. The event, designed for family teams of two or more people or adult teams of four, tests your knowledge of Cary.

And free family fun is coming July 25 from 2 -5 p.m. when the world’s largest traveling baseball celebration visits the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. You’ll find 20 family-themed attractions that include everything from batting and pitching cages to giant slides and bounce houses at the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest. The baseball game begins at 5:05 p.m., but tickets to the game are not required to enjoy the festival attractions.

See Carolina Parent’s Janice Lewine and Carol McGarrahan's articles for details on both events and get two mom’s insider tips on family fun in the Triangle.

Looking for more free programs? Check www.CarolinaParent.com’s Daily Calendar and Budget-Friendly Movies and Concerts listing.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Weekend family fun: Dinos, Digs & Dance!

This weekend offers eclectic family fun around the Triangle. Take in a Star Wars-themed concert or a preview of “Annie,” celebrate dinosaurs and dance, go on a dig or head off to consignment shop.

The LEGO® Games 2010 Tour rolls into Raleigh son Friday, inviting local families to play board games. To celebrate the launch of the world’s first constructible board games, the LEGO® Games Master is hosting this free gaming event Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Moore Square, at 200 S. Blount St. in Raleigh. Local families are invited to join the fun and participate in life-sized adapted versions of LEGO board games, complete localized game challenges and compete against other families for prizes.

If your kids dig dinosaurs, don’t miss “Dino Days” Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Museum of Life and Science, in Durham. The event celebrates the Dinosaur Trail's first anniversary with a weekend full of fossils and hands-on fun! Meet local collectors, find your own fossils or make fossil casts and meet Buddy from UNC-TV's Dinosaur Train! Visit http://www.ncmls.org/visit/events/dinodays for details on lots more activities like making your own dino puppet.

Also in Durham, on Saturday, from 2-4 p.m., catch the American Dance Festival Community Day. You’ll enjoy live entertainment with Paperhand Puppet Intervention, make crafts with the Scrap Exchange and have a chance to try an African dance and drum workshop. All events take place at the Nasher Museum of Art on the Duke University campus immediately following the Paul Taylor Dance Company Children’s Saturday Matinee. For more information go to www.americandancefestival.org or call 919-668-2233.

Is a budding archeologist wreaking havoc in your backyard? On Saturday in Raleigh, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., he or she can enjoy free Archaeology Day at the Historic Yates Mill County Park, at 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd.. Take part in a mock archaeological dig and find out how archaeologists learn about the past. Call 856-6675 or visit www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill for details.

Speaking of digging, are your kids more interested in planting crops? Tomato Day on Saturday at the Carrboro Farmers' Market will inspire them to venture down new paths. The Market will feature special tasting of three tomato dishes, live music, and kids can have a tomato painted on their face. http://www.carrborofarmersmarket.com/.

At the Western Wake Farmers Market, it’s butterflies that will be drawing crowds on Saturday. Kids can learn about butterflies’ lives, what to plan in the garden to attract them and why they’re important to the earth. Don't miss the live butterfly release at 11:30 a.m. Visit http://westernwakefarmersmarket.org/.

Looking for gently used baby equipment clothes, furniture or toys? The Kids Exchange Sale and Parents’ Fair is Saturday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, Jim Graham Building, at 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. Visit www.kidsexchange.net to find out more.

If your kids like to pitch in and work outdoors, head to the Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, at 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., in Cary, on Saturday. From 9:30-11:30 a.m., it’s Volunteer Workdays: Trail Maintenance Day, when kids ages 6 and up help staff in spread mulch on trails. Call 387-5980 or visit www.townofcary.org.

On Sunday, catch a sneak peek of the N.C. Theatre Conservatory's production of “Annie,” at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Marbles Kids Museum, at 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. The preview is free with your Marbles admission. Call 834-4040 or www.marbleskidsmuseum.org. The full Annie performance kicks of July 24 at Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts, in Raleigh.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Relive those galactic adventures when when Star Wars: In Concert plays Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the RBC Center in Raleigh. See Carolina Parent’s preview of this opportunity to travel back in time in our Calendar Highlights.

And if live in Chapel Hill and have a child ages 4-7, head to Kidzu Children's Museum, at 105 E. Franklin St., for Spanish/English Storytime at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Call 933-1455 or visit www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Money tight? Check out these great ideas for a fun N.C. staycation with kids! And don't miss out on these free summer movies and concerts!

Free: World's Largest Silly Bandz ® Trading Event

Heard about Silly Bandz? Not many parents haven't. I've made quite a few stops for my tween to buy these colorful rubber bands that come in a dizzying array of shapes, from animals to sporting goods. Over the summer, I've discovered that even older teens are into them. They seem to be the ultimate fashion accessory! Now here's an opportunity for your kids to trade Silly Bandz, which appeals to me because no money passes hands.

From 3-5 p.m. Thursday, July 15, your kids can trade Silly Bandz at A.C. Moore Stores during the free Kids Band Together event, which is billed as The World's Largest Silly Bandz trading event. Kids will be converging on 135 arts & craft stores along the Eastern seaboard during the event designed for kids ages 4 and older. It's a chance for them to seek rare bands and add to their collection,

Why is collectiing important to kids? Find out in Carolina Parent's new article, What Kids Learn from Collections. I was surprised at all of the skills they're gathering while having fun.

Interested in going? The Kids Band Together Silly Bandz Trading Event will be at the Triangle-Area A.C. Moore Stores listed below. -- Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Beaver Creek Commons
1041 Beaver Creek Commons Drive
Building 1 Area C
Apex, NC 27502
PH: 919-629-2602

Crossroads Plaza
429 Crossroads Plaza
Cary, NC 27518
PH: ( 919 ) 816-8100

Patterson Place
3615 Witherspoon Blvd, Suite 107
Durham, NC 27707
PH: (919) 402-8053

Capital Crossing Shpg Ctr.
4721 Capital Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27604
PH: ( 919 ) 871-0260

NC unveils staycation fun!

Money tight this year? You might consider a N.C. staycation. For many years when my family couldn’t afford an away vacation, we opted to explore options at home, and we had fun! Other Triangle area moms have great suggestions for local staycations, as Carolina Parent reports in Enjoy a Vacation Without Travel Costs. If you’re thinking of inexpensive excursions near home this month, you’re in luck.

On July 23-25, Celebrate North Carolina will team with the North Carolina state parks and state recreation areas to present “Take a Closer Look,” an opportunity to discover and learn during free park ranger-led programs at 39 locations statewide. Visit http://www.celebrate.nc.gov/ for details.

Although most events are free, some require pre-registration, so you’ll want to start your planning now. Along with traditional ranger-led hikes, bird watching and nature workshops, the programs offer such diverse experiences as astronomy nights, fishing clinics, tales of Civil War life, kite workshops and storytelling suitable for people of all ages.

A sampling of planned July 23-25 programs shows the diversity of North Carolina’s outdoor resources. Coastal programs include “Turtle Talks,” “Sharks” and a “Carnivorous Plant Hike.” In the Piedmont, try “Geology Hike at Occoneechee Mountain” and “Celebrate NC-Owls.” Western North Carolina Parks offer “Skins and Skulls,” “Bear Country Camping 101” and “Backyard Pharmacy.”

For me, the advantages of staying close to home aren't just saving money and teaching an appreciation for your home state. It's about less stress, too. If your kid suddenly develops a strange rash all over his body and fever (been there, seen that), you're not out loads of money if you need to cancel plans, especially if the program is free.

Looking for more free programs? Check www.CarolinaParent.com’s Daily Calendar and Free Summer Movies and Concerts Listing.

Headed to the beach? Discover which one is best for your family in Carolina Parent's recent round-up of North Carolina and Souch Carolina Beaches.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Baby blues hits moms & dads

After both times I gave birth, I was in no mood to see anybody. I remember a neighbor asking me why there was no blue balloon floating above my mailbox signaling the good news.

“Why, would I want visitors?” I wondered. I had postpartum blues. As happy as I was to have children, after they were born, it seemed difficult to get out of the house, impossible to entertain even well-meaning guests wanting to see the baby. I felt perpetually sleep-deprived and ugly, wandering the house in clothes stained with baby-spit up or breast milk. Fortunately for me, the blues only lasted a few weeks.

In a fascinating new article, Carolina Parent writer Jane Paige takes a look at postpartum depression, which hits 10 to 15 percent of new mothers, according to the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders. She finds that recent research has shown that the baby blues can hit fathers as well as mothers, and American dads are more at risk for depression than their counterparts in other countries.

For a look at what resources are available locally to help parents cope with this form of depression, see Jane's story, When Depression Strikes After a Baby’s Birth.—Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Family Show Gets Kids Moving

Ever taken your children to an expensive theatrical performance that you thought they’d enjoy and found them bored 10 minutes into it? Were they too young for the theater? Not really. The ArtsCenter in Carrboro is offering a play designed for little ones that includes them in the act, so they don’t have to sit still.

The performance, Up and Down and All Around, starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, and is designed to get your family twirling, bouncing and slowly dipping with dancing storyteller Jody Cassell and whimsical musician Jude Casseday. Their moving tales invite children in pre-kindergarten through third grade to explore their imaginations in rhythm and sound. The performance is part of The ArtsCenter’ SuperFun family performance series that produces fun, affordable and educational shows.

Up and Down and All Around will include adventures inspired by Cassell’s children’s book, Where’s Leon? Ladybugs will frolic and fly, and gooey chocolate chip cookies will dance through participants’ imagination by the dozen. Copies of Where’s Leon? will be available for purchase and signing after the performance. Cassell, a Durham-based artist and writer, has performed locally at Kidzu Children’s Museum, the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, as well as schools and libraries.
Tickets for this interactive family performance may be purchased by calling (919) 929-2787, ext. 201, online at www.ArtsCenterLive.org, or in person at the box office of The ArtsCenter, located at 300-G East Main Street, in Carrboro. All tickets are $7, and children 2 and under are admitted free.

Looking for more family-fun performances? Check www.CarolinaParent.com's Calendar Highlights page for details on an upcoming Star Wars themed concert, and see our Calendar Long-Running Events page, for more on performances that include The Hare and the Tortoise and Annie!

Triangle weekend offers free festivals!

The Triangle is full of free family fun this weekend. Get ready for free festivals featuring food, history and crafts as well the opening of a new park offering a playground, and hiking and biking trails, in North Raleigh.

The North Carolina State Historic Sites is sponsoring 2nd Saturdays Family Fun—a series of free cultural summer events— in the Triangle and around the state. On July 10, families are invited to step back in time as historic sites turn their focus to Civil War and art, reenacting skills from bygone days.

At the historic Bennett Place in Durham, artisans will be on the lawn on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., showing how to make cloth products, which will be for sale. You’ll also find demonstrating Civil War-era sewing skills and much more. (Photo at left, courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

The historic Stagville site in Durham will host the “Jubilee Music and Food Festival,” from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. highlighting gospel, country, bluegrass and blues music. Free admissions, but donations are gratefully accepted. Enjoy the food, artists, crafts and games as well. Free admission, but donations are gratefully accepted.

In yet another delicious twist on 2nd Saturdays fun, the Pork, Pickles and Peanuts: Tastes of North Carolina Festival, will feature food at Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco Museum, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.! You’ll find a barbecue cook-off and juried competitions of pickles, pies, and preserves. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy historical cooking demonstrations and check out the wares of art and craft vendors. Free admission, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, call (919) 477-5498.

From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, photographers, painters and other visual artists will be at the State Capitol in downtown Raleigh, to demonstrate their craft and sell their wares. You’ll find details on these 2nd Saturday events and other in this blog. (Photo of Capitol courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

Rather stay indoors? Head over to the Raleigh City Museum, in downtown Raleigh, on Saturday, from 2-3 p.m. for a free kid-friendly craft program. The museum will host Waving the Flag of Freedom, a chance to celebrate your patriotism by learning about the history of the American flag and the Raleigh City Flag. Kids will explore the names of different parts of the flag, and traditional flag patterns, create their own flags using construction paper and Popsicle sticks and take home a Raleigh City Flag Coloring Book. http://www.raleighcitymuseum.org/ for more information.

If you’re in North Raleigh, don’t miss the grand opening and bubble ceremony for the North Wake Landfill District Park, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, at 9300 Deponie Drive. The park, located on the site of the now closed North Wake Landfill, opens Saturday, featuring walking and mountain biking trails, a kids playground and picnicking areas. There’s also a Multi-use Trail, where you can hike or bike to the top, where—on a clear day, you can see the Raleigh downtown skyline.. See these directions, before you head out. http://www.wakegov.com/parks/northwake/directions/default.htm

Are you a Star Wars fan? You’ll want to get your tickets early for the July 18 Star Wars concerts at the RBC Center in Raleigh. See Carolina Parent's Janice Lewine's review for details on the Star Wars fun ahead.

Looking to win tickets to see Annie in Raleigh? Check www.CarolinaParent.com’s Contests Page to enter this giveaway before before July 15! – Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Want recommendations from other parents on where to eat, shop or play in the Triangle? Visit our Family Favorites page, where our readers' choices are in for 2010!

Free family fun lands 2nd Saturdays!

If you’re fed up with the triple digit heat around the Triangle, contemplate the cool fun ahead. This weekend North Carolina State Historic Sites is sponsoring 2nd Saturdays Family Fun—a series of free cultural summer events— in the Triangle and around the state. On July 10th, the series will focus on the Civil War and art, offering families a chance to see and touch the past. Here’s a look at what’s happening, starting with the Bennett Place and Stagville historic sites in Durham, and the State Capitol, in Raleigh. — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Bennett Place
Wearable fiber art and durable household products will be among subjects examined at the “Tar Heels and Textiles” program at Bennett Place State Historic Site, in western Durham, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., on Saturday, July 10. Artisans will set up on the Bennett house lawn to demonstrate making cloth products, which will be for sale. Author and historian Jim Rumley, co-founder of the Cooleemee Historical Association, will speak on the history of North Carolina’s textile industry. Costumed interpreters will demonstrate Civil War-era sewing skills adopted to meet the dramatic rise in demand for fabric caused by the war. (Photo courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

Participating artists include Michael Konvicka, textiles; Joanna White, wearable fiber art; Andrea Stephens, fiber art, pottery; Jenni James, jewelry; and Shawn Gibbs, painting. Visitors also can view the newly commissioned painting “The First Meeting,” by Dan Nance, in the Visitor Center and gallery. The film “The Dawn of Peace” will be shown on the half-hour. Civil War and Bennett Place souvenirs and collectibles sold in the shop help support preservation of Bennett Place State Historic Site.

Historic Stagville
The Historic Site in Durham will host the “Jubilee Music and Food Festival” on July 10 as its 2nd Saturdays program. The festival will highlight gospel, country, bluegrass and blues music, combined with food, artists, crafts and games.

Stagville participants include bluegrass band Flies in the Kitchen; Raleigh Sankofa Cultural Dance Group, with dance; bluesman Boo Hanks; the Philharmonic Youth Jazz Ensemble; potter Sid Luck; basket-maker Anabela Mendesa; potter Tracey Broome; woodworker Frank Penta; candle-maker Jo Separk; artist Katherine Ladd; Angel Clay, offering soaps and candles; and jewelry maker Cynthia O’Toole.

Don’t leave hungry -- artisanal bread makers Mr. and Mrs. Gaddis of Charlotte and Charlie Mitchell’s Barbecue are ready with delicious treats for sale.

State Capitol
As one of the most photographed buildings in North Carolina, the State Capitol, in downtown Raleigh, is a fitting setting for an afternoon of art. From noon to 4 p.m. on July 10, photographers, painters and other visual artists will be on site to demonstrate their craft and sell their wares.

Bentonville Battlefield
Bentonville Battlefield in Four Oaks will feature costumed interpreters demonstrating historical trades including: spinning, weaving, knitting, blacksmithing, candle-dipping and quilting. By 1861, many goods could be purchased from the local general store, but the economic impact of the Civil War forced many Americans to return to the tradition of making their own clothing, linens, candles, soap and other necessities.

On July 10, potters David Edwards of the Pottery Garden and Lonnie Blackmon of Asheboro, acrylic painter Amanda Robinson of Swansboro, and clay pipe maker Tony Kelly of Kinston will be on hand. Re-enactors Sheru Houghton and Barbara Blackmon will represent “A Row of Purls” Yam and Knitting Shop. Olde South Blacksmith Kirt Jarrett plans to fire up his “shop” and demonstrate the traditional art. All of these artists will display and sell their work to the public. And to make sure you can go home with more than great memories and wonderful photos, Thompson Orchards will be selling peaches and fresh veggies.

Fort Fisher
Local waterways will be the focus of 2nd Saturdays at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach on July 10. The State Historic Site will partner with local artists to host a program titled “Life on Fort Fisher’s Waterways.”

Small arms demonstrations will be staged throughout the day. Volunteers from the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will be on hand with marine artifacts and stories of life on and under the water.

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson will host demonstrations of different centuries of spinning and weaving using mediums such as cotton, wool and straw during its July 10 2nd Saturdays program. One of the most prized artifacts at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson is the 19th-century textile, the Fort Anderson Garrison Flag. A conservationist will be available to answer questions about antique textiles and will offer advice on proper care and storage.

Visitors will be offered a hands-on opportunity to make their own basket or drop-spin wool. If artists have animals connected with their work they have been encouraged to bring the animals to the historic site for interpretation. Items made by artist Barbara Johanson will be available for purchase.

CSS Neuse
Kinston has turned 2nd Saturdays into a weekend of “Spectacular” with blues and jazz concerts, imaginative art, baseball games, free breakfast treats at the Farmers Market, carriage rides, and plenty of good food…especially if you’re a fan of Eastern –style ’cue! On Friday night, there’s a free live jazz concert at Chef & the Farmer Wine Bar, which is getting noticed by ChowHound (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/625855 ) and Yelp! (http://www.yelp.com/biz/chef-and-farmer-kinston).
The 2nd Saturdays program at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site on July 10 is titled “Have a Yarn.” Visitors will learn how yarn was made and how it was used during the Civil War era. A local spinning guild will demonstrate the art of making yarn out of fiber using a spinning wheel. Knitting and quilting were an important in the art of homemaking during the period, and these will also be demonstrated on site.

Participants include Heidi and Jim Kittrell of Celestine Ridge Alpacas, who will offer spun wool items; Tarheel Civilians and the Spinning Guild, who will demonstrate spinning, dyeing and knitting techniques; the Neuse Quilters, who will demonstrate quilting and share examples of historic patterns; the Goldsboro Quilting Guild, who will display quilts; and painter Jolene H. McCann.

Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace
The State Historic Site that interprets North Carolina’s Civil War Governor Zebulon B. Vance will showcase “Traditions in Woodworking” as its July 10 2nd Saturdays focus. The program will take a look at 19th-century woodworking traditions. Featured artists will provide traditional and contemporary woodworking pieces.

Participants include Bob Bradley, who will demonstrate woodturning; Bob Weisgerber, who will showcase his furniture; and Barry Russell and Charles Farrar, who also demonstrate woodturning.

Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens
Period-specific art forms will be featured along with other traditional mediums at Tryon Palace. Painter Thomas Kelly Pauley will be on hand.

The day will also feature a lecture by guest speaker Reginald Watson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English at East Carolina University; and a memoir writing workshop by author Sheila Peele-Miller from noon to 5 p.m. in the Visitor Center Auditorium.

Come learn about the historical legacy of African American writers in North Carolina. Write your own personal memoirs and learn how to publish them. Meet present-day authors, hear their stories and purchase their works in this recitation, reception and book fair.

Explore science fun, summer books, parks!

The fireworks are over, and it’s back to reality—work, piles of unwashed laundry (if you managed to escape from home), and our quest to keep the kids out of mischief over the summer.

I can’t help with the laundry—I’ve got my own—but Carolina Parent columnists Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts offer some excellent Summer Science Activities for Kids to keep them learning while out of school. I like that they use objects you can find around the house for experiments and the projects aren’t complicated. If you enjoy the activities, see their suggestions for websites science websites, where you can find more science fun for kids.

See Carolina Parent’s Carol McGarrahan's picks for summer books for young kids, including some with easy craft projects for more creative ways to ward off boredom. And don't miss these Budget-Friendly Movies and Concerts around the Triangle.

If you’re up to venturing out, you’ll also find more ways to keep the kids learning at local parks. Wake County just released its July line-up of activities at local parks for children. Take a look, you’ll find everything from cool water fun for the under five crowd to a free star-gazing program:

Tuesday, July 6, 10-11 a.m.; Wednesday, July 7, 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. – Drip Drop Water Fun
Children 3 to 5 years old are invited to learn about the importance of water by playing games and getting wet! In part one of a three-part Nature Watchers series, participants will play games and enjoy a frozen snack. The fee is $4 per child for part one or $10 per child for the series. Meet at the Robin Shelter at Crowder District Park. Crowder District Park is located at 4709 Ten-Ten Road, Apex.

Saturday, July 17, 9:30-11 a.m. – Family Forest Hike
Join park staff for a leisurely trail hike at Blue Jay Point County Park. Learn how to identify plants, insects, birds and other animals. The fee is $5 per family. Pre-registration is required. For information, call 870-4330. Blue Jay Point County Park is located at 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh.

Saturday, July 17, 8:30-10:30 p.m. – Get Starry Eyed
Come get starry eyed as the Raleigh Astronomy Club deciphers the mysteries of the night sky over Harris Lake. Enjoy telescopic views of planets, star clusters and the moon. All ages are welcome. Bring a chair or blanket for the lawn. The program is free of charge. Pre-registration is required. To register, 387-4342 . In the event of inclement weather, call 387-4342. Meet at the Parking Field. Harris Lake County Park is located at 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill.

Saturday, July 17. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Archaeology Day
Delve into Yates Mill’s history by participating in a mock archaeological dig. Find out how professional archaeologists learn about both ancient and recent cultures. Historic Yates Mill County Park is located at 4620 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh.

Sunday, July 25, 6-8 p.m. – Fishing Tips and Pointers: The One that Got Away
Brush up on fishing skills and techniques at Lake Crabtree. Park staff will provide basic fishing instruction. Participants may bring a fishing pole or borrow one from the park. Meet at the Fishing Pier. Lake Crabtree County Park is located at 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville.

Any day of the week, you'll find more activities for children in www.CarolinaParent.com's Calendar and Story Times and Weekly Events ,and many are free! – Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle offers free July 4th family fun!

With the July 4th weekend ahead, you might—like me— be bent on finding Triangle family fun that’s free. We're in luck. Local towns are offering a range of free events. Find them on our July 4th/Independence Day Celebrations page.

Want to keep cool with the kids? Polar Ice House and MVP Sports Factory in Wake Forest are inviting you to enjoy free snowball fight and ice skating on Saturday, July 3, from 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Find all the details here.

If you’d prefer to head to a free, or low-cost movie or concert in Raleigh, Durham, Garner, Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill or Carrboro, visit our Budget-Friendly Summer Movies & Concerts round-up, (right below the July 4th events). Before you head out, be sure to check which movies are appropriate for your tot, tween or teen in Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids.

Want to take in a performance with your kids at Raleigh Little Theatre, Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts or an outdoor theatre? Visit our long-running events page to discover family-friendly plays, like Annie, now in our area. http://www.carolinaparent.com/Calendar/longrunningevents.aspx

But if you need a trip away from home, see Carolina Parent’s Janice Lewine’s features on Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem and The Conservators’ Center in Caswell County (All tours to the Conservators' Center are by appointment only.) Janice visited both places with her daughter, Sarah, so she could tell us what’s of interest there for families with kids. You’ll find both of her travel articles below the Triangle July 4th/Independence Day events and Budget-Friendly Summer Movies & Concerts listing.

When you live in the Triangle, you don’t have to spend a lot to have a great time with your family! Enjoy the fireworks and the snowball fights! Happy July 4th!

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

2010 Family Favorites Revealed!

What’s the best way to find a great consignment shop for children’s clothes or a family-friendly restaurant with delicious food? It’s a recommendation from another parent. Who else knows where to find the best bargains when shopping or where you can eat where you, your spouse and the kids are entertained?

When I first moved to the Triangle, a kindly parent at my son's swimming class told me the best places for kids' activities. Now Carolina Parent is sharing its readers’ 2010 picks for the best places to dine, play, party, shop and much more. What’s better than one parent’s recommendation? Many parents’ votes. Check out our 2010 Family Favorite Winners. If you’ve lived in the Triangle all your life, you may still find some new places to explore. And if you’re a newcomer, you’re set!

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

What are our top swimming safety mistakes?

With the searing heat in the Triangle driving us to watering holes and beaches with our kids, it’s not a bad idea to do brush up on swimming safety precautions. I’m pretty paranoid about leaving my kids at any pool and with good reason. As vigilant as I think I am, I sometimes get engrossed in a conversation and look away from my charge for a second or two. And that’s all the time it takes for a child to drown.

Courtney Mann, a physician and medical director of WakeMed Children’s Emergency Department, offers some safety suggestions for parents and other caretakers based on what she’s seen in her work in charge of the Emergency Department. Her blog reveals Parents’ Top 5 Swimming Safety Mistakes and offers ways to avoid drownings and close calls. Among my favorites is this one, which falls under the category “Who is Watching the Children:” Sometimes Mom thinks Dad is on the job, and Dad thinks, Mom is, particularly at pool parties. Dr. Mann offers this solution:” If you want to take turns, pass off an index card between the two of you so you always know who is responsible. And, whoever is responsible should always be paying attention.”

See her blog to avoid common mistakes made around recreational bodies of water, and if you’re looking for a place to swim or play, visit our Family Guide to the Triangle, found on our home page under the Guides tab. If you're thinking of heading to the sea, check out our feature on Which Carolina Beach is Right for Your Family. Here’s hoping you have a safe and happy summer.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle offers cool weekend fun!

Wondering what to do with the kids this weekend? There's loads of family fun waiting in the Triangle, whether you want to chill indoors or head out to enjoy summer. You'll find everything from a mountain festival of music, games and crafts, to a performance by a frog prince and a cool exhibit about real creatures that glow.

On Saturday, stay cool with your little ones at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, as you enjoy Rags To Riches Theatre for Young Audiences performance of The Frog Prince at 11 a.m. Famous for providing its own spin on classic tales, Rags To Riches is offering an energetic, interactive performance perfect for children in preschool through 3rd grade. Even adults can't help being enchanted by this story of a helpful frog who's full of surprises.

Also Saturday, Historic Oak View County Park, in Raleigh, will be hosting The Rural Reunion, a free Mountain festival, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It’s a chance to relive traditions of North Carolina. You’ll find old-time crafts, games and activities for kids, live music, clogging demonstrations and brief group lessons, and much more at the park, located at 4028 Carya Dr. Arrive hungry and enjoy a good ol' BBQ sandwich or hotdog - lunch is available for purchase from Ole Time Barbeque! For more information, visit http://www.wakegov.com/parks/oakview/events/default.htm.

If your kids want to escape the heat, you might be interested in this special summer deal: Each day the temperature goes above 95 degrees, three Polar Ice House locations will offer an exclusive “Buy One, Get One Free Admission” promotion. Customers will get the discount when they mention the temperature that day at the register. Check this blog for all the details.

If you haven't yet been, check out the Glow Exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. The exhibit, which opened June 19 and runs through Sept. 12, looks at the phenomenon of bioluminescence ― an organism’s ability to produce its own light, answering that age-old question "what puts the 'fire”'in fireflies." See this blog for more details and more beautiful photos of creatures that glow.

If you’re thinking of heading to the beach for a quick family vacation, don't miss our feature on “Which Carolina Beach is Best for Your Family. It’s an overview of the flavor of North and South Carolina beaches with an eye to what’s family-friendly at the beach and its surrounding area so you can make the best choice for your spouse and kids.

Rather just head to the movies? Check out what’s appropriate for your tot, tween or teen in Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids.

If you up for a free event Thursday, June 24, head over to the The Factory, at 1839 S.Main St., in Wake Forest, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. to hear The Embers, compliments of the Families After Five series. Take your chair or blanket and spread out on the front lawn! Kids can play on the giant slide. Enjoy great treats for sale at The Village Deli, Cups 'N Cones, Ziggy's and Las Palmas! Call 919-453-1839 for details.

Planning ahead for July 4th? Find out what’s happening in your town in our Triangle Guide to Independence Day Celebrations.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle gears up for July 4th!

With July 4th around the corner, kids of all ages are looking forward to fireworks, baseball games and picnics in the grass. Despite tough economic times, Triangle towns are gearing up for family-friendly celebrations. If you’d like to get in on the free fun in Apex, Cary, Raleigh or Durham, visit our special July 4th events page.

As each day brings more news of Independence Day events, we’re posting them as they come in. Got an event that’s not listed? Visit our Out & About page to e-mail it to us.

If you’re like me and spending the weekend in town with friends, it helps to start planning now where you’d like to be. Over the years, I’ve watched the fireworks in various grassy spots, ranging from a golf course in Red Bank, N.J., to outside a stadium in Wake Forest, to Surf City, N.C., to lower Manhattan, within sight of the Statue of Liberty. Wherever I am, the best part of the night is sharing the moment with friends and family. — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market offers fresh family fun!

Where can you enter an ice-cream eating contest and an egg relay race, hear live bluegrass music, learn how to stretch mozzarella and enjoy local farm foods close to home? Head to the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market for GrazeFest, a celebration of grass-fed and pasture-raised farm foods this Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Located at City Plaza on the 400 block of Fayetteville Street, the weekly market is inviting you to festivities that showcase North Carolina’s harvest of beef, lamb, pork, poultry, cheeses, eggs, milk and other dairy products from small-scale farmers. This Wednesday’s event features a chef demonstration by Sarig Agasi of Zely & Ritz, an ice-cream eating contest with Lumpy’s Ice Cream, and bluegrass music by Old Habits. Portia McKnight of Chapel Hill Creamery will show aspiring cheese-makers how to stretch mozzarella using milk from her Jersey cows raised down the road in Orange County. Festival goers can purchase a grass-fed lunch prepared by market farmer Coon Rock Farm. They will be serving grilled bratwurst from pasture raised heritage breeds for $5 per sandwich. At 11:30 am, kids are invited to a special EGGstravaganza with egg relays, veggie trivia, veggie charades, and a market scavenger hunt.

While at the market, visit the information booth and sign up for a free raffle to win a copy of The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook, or four flex tickets including a parking pass to a North Carolina Symphony’s Summerfest concert of choice ($90). All meat lovers are invited to pick up a free copy of “The Great News about Grass,” an informative publication offering tips for making the most of pasture-raised foods and showcasing great recipes.

Schedule of Events

Coon Rock Farm sausage sandwiches will be for sale during the market.

10 a.m. Market Opens

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Bluegrass Music by Old Habits

11:15 a. m.-11:30 a.m. Mozzarella Stretching Demonstration, Portia McKnight, Chapel Hill Creamery

11:30 a.m.-noon Bluegrass Music by Old Habits

11:30 a.m. EGGstravaganza

12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m.Chef Demonstration, Sarig Agasi, Zely & Ritz

12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. Bluegrass Music by Old Habits

1:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Lumpy’s Ice Cream Eating Contest

1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Bluegrass Music by Old Habits

2 p.m. Market Closes

Also shop the market for farm fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, cheeses, jams and jellies, eggs, baked goods, plant starts, flowers and more! You'll find fresh, sustainably-grown produce and artisan food each Wednesday from April 28 through Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a chance to connect with your community farmers and choose local. For more information, visit RaleighEatLocal.com.

Ice-skating promotion beats the heat!

Wondering what to do with the kids now that it’s sizzling hot outside? Polar Ice House is launching a special promotion to beat the heat in the ice rink’s Cary, Garner and Wake Forest locations in response to scorching temperatures across the Triangle.

Each day the temperature goes above 95 degrees, all three Polar Ice House locations will offer an exclusive “Buy One, Get One Free Admission” promotion. Customers will get the discount when they mention the temperature that day at the register.

When highs in mid to upper 90 degrees combine with humidity, the heat index can reach between 100 and 105 degrees. The National Weather Service says that heat index values around 100 pose serious health risks to children such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and dehydration. They advise to reduce or reschedule time outdoors and stay in air-conditioned places during a Heat Advisory or Warning.

“With many schools out for summer, it simply isn’t safe to be too active outdoors in extreme heat, but that doesn’t mean all healthy activity has to stop,” said Randy Lee, general manager of Polar Ice House. “Ice skating is a great way to have fun, exercise and stay at a safe temperature. This special was very popular last summer with kids and parents and we’re launching it earlier this year to help more people stay cool.”

For longer-term summer heat relief, check out Camp Chillin Summer Camp for children ages 5-12. The camp offers full or half-day programs where campers receive beginner and intermediate instruction in ice skating and hockey. Visit www.polaricehouse.com to find more information and register.

If you’re hunting for activities that fit your child’s interests, see CarolinaParent.com’s Camps Cirectory for day and residential camps as well as track-out programs.

Museum opens Glow exhibit June 19

If your child has ever asked you why bugs glow, and you were stumped, you now have a fun way to find out the answer together. The N.C. Museum of Science, in downtown Raleigh, opens GLOW: Living Lights, a new special exhibit on June 19. Running through Sept. 12, the exhibit will explore the phenomenon of bioluminescence ― an organism’s ability to produce its own light, answering that age-old question "what puts the 'fire”'in fireflies."

Visitors to GLOW start their journey by investigating the chemical process that produces “cool” light. They then explore the world of light-producing terrestrial organisms like fireflies, glow worms and foxfire fungus before traveling on to the mid-ocean, where an estimated 90 percent of the animals produce light. Here visitors encounter alien-looking creatures like viper fish, which dangle a light lure to attract their next meal, and cookie cutter sharks, which earned their name from the cookie-size chunks of flesh they take out of unsuspecting prey in the dark.

Visitors continue on to demonstrations of the interesting techniques and equipment used by scientists to study bioluminescence, and then explore the many benefits of this research ― from helping to speed the study of cancer-fighting drugs to the detection of anthrax spores in public places.

TICKETS ― Exhibit hours are Monday–Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. with last tickets sold at 4 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for students and seniors; $4 for children ages 5-11. Members and children age 4 and under are free. Purchase tickets online at www.naturalsciences.org. You can also visit the Museum Box Office or call 919-733-7450 x212.

ILLUSTRATION CONTEST — To help celebrate this unique exhibit, the museum is debuting a BugFest Illustration Contest. BugFest, the largest bug-centric event in the country, is held Saturday, Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and this year features aquatic bugs. The museum is inviting you to illustrate your best and most realistic version of a bioluminescent or aquatic bug in its natural surroundings. All entrants receive one free children’s admission to GLOW (value = $5). Illustrations will be accepted through Aug. 15, 2010. Winning entries will be displayed at BugFest on Sept. 11, with the Grand Prize winner selected on-site by event attendees. For more information, including contest rules and entry forms, visit www.naturalsciences.org or stop by the Museum Store.

Baby Fair brings products, answers!

If you’re pregnant, you know the excitement of anticipating a new little face in your home. If you’re a new expectant parent, you’re probably wondering what exactly you’ll need and getting advice from all fronts, relatives, friends and co-workers.

The choices can be overwhelming. What should you invest in? Whether you’re looking for baby products or information about pregnancy and parenting, you’ll find it all at Carolina Parent’s Baby Fair, Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness at 8300 Health Park, Ste. 317, in Raleigh.

A wide variety of vendors will be on hand with helpful information about baby and pregnancy-related products and services in our community.

Don’t miss out on exciting door prizes and product samples. For more information, visit our Baby Fair page.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Join in Pre-Father's Day Free Fun!

Father’s Day is approaching. Are you ready? If you haven’t had time to prepare because you’ve been busy with the kids, why not take them to a craft class where you can relax and they can make a gift for Dad?

Stroller Strides is offering a free class on Wednesday, June 16, and a free Father’s Day craft activity for the kids. You’ll find all the details below. Look for even more activities in our Father’s Day Guide.

Free Stroller Strides class & Father’s Day crafts

Wednesday, June 16
Crowder District Park
4709 Ten Ten Road
Apex (just south of Cary)

9 a.m.: Stroller Strides class
Meet at Park Pavilion
If you haven’t tried Stroller Strides yet, you’re invited to join in for a free first class. Stroller Strides® is a total body workout for mom (including cardio, strength and ab work) and fun for babies/kids in the stroller. Bring a sturdy stroller, water and sun protection for you and the little one/s, and a towel or mat for ab work.

10:15 a.m.: Father’s Day crafts
Meet at Cardinal Shelter
Create handmade Fathers Day gifts at this free playgroup activity! We’ll make foam sticker toolbox-themed picture frames, and color-yourself DAD cards. Playground time after the crafts. All moms and kids welcome.

Free kids fun on Wednesdays!

"Mom, I'm bored."

Which mom doesn't dread that statement? If you're wondering what to do with the kids now that summer break is here, here's a plan for at least one day in the week. On Wednesdays during the summer, A.C.Moore Arts & Crafts is offering free Make & Take Classes Kids Ages 4 and Up.

Every Wednesday, from June 2 through August 25, kids ages 4 and up can visit any one of A.C. Moore’s (www.acmoore.com) 136 stores, no reservations necessary, from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. and make their own cool, age-appropriate craft and take it home. And, it’s all free, while supplies last.

Robin Beam, A.C. Moore’s Director of Education says the company's staff is geared up and ready to introduce boys and girls to new products and new ideas and fun…no batteries or screens required!” (See the list below for what activities will be featured.)

Wondering what to do with your kids under age 4? CarolinaParent.com's has answers! See our Story Times and Weekly Events for fun activities any day of the week, even for babies!

-- Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Planned activities at A.C. Moore include:

· June 16, The Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics Tiaras & Crowns

· June 23, New Image Group & E.K. Success Design a Button!

· June 30, Silly Bandz™ Holder

· July 7, Perler Beads™ Angel of a Fish

· July 14, Lion Brand & Design Way Yarn-y Stripe-y Pencil

· July 21, Prism Floss Backpack Zipper Pull

· July 28, Mega Brands Color Blanks

· Aug. 4, Bendaroos Under the Sea Creation

· Aug. 11, Sculpey® Bake Shop Clay™ Apple Surprise Pencil Topper

· Aug. 18, Giddy Up® Fuzzoodles™ Funky Creature

· Aug. 25, Alex® Bottle Cap Bonanza

To locate your local A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, visit www.acmoore.com.

Free family fun fills the Triangle weekend!

Wondering what to do with the kids this weekend? The Triangle has loads of free family fun lined up for moms, dads, and kids, in Raleigh, Durham and Hillsborough. In Raleigh, celebrate the heritage of N.C. art and crafts in honor of the State Capitol’s 170th birthday from noon to 4 pm. Saturday. Barbecue will be for sale, but the birthday cake is free, while it lasts! This fun afternoon will feature a noon ceremony marking the birthday, live music, art vendors, and tours of the Capitol. The event is one of many 2nd Saturday summer events sponsored by The N.C. Department of Cultural at 37 state historic sites and museums June 12, July 10, and Aug. 14.

In Durham on Saturday, another 2nd Saturday event offers families more free fun at the Duke Homestead State Historic Site. You’ll find stained glass, herbs, woodcarving and wind chimes for you and storytelling and games for the kids at the festival. It’s a chance to slow down, step back in time and enjoy old-fashioned entertainment as well as afternoon entertainment and refreshments. Learn more about the 18th century games for kids, historic crafts, and the herb and craft vendors who’ll be on hand in this blog.

Children learn about making herb pressings at Duke Homestead and will be able to make them again at the free 2nd Saturdays program on June 12. (Photo courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

In Raleigh at 2 p.m. on Saturday, donut lovers are in for a free treat (or maybe two!) That’s when the Raleigh City Museum kicks off The Fabulous World of Doughnuts!, a program for kids and big kids at heart. Discover what in the world is shaped like a doughnut, and look at some crazy doughnut designs and flavors. Learn how the major doughnut companies got their start and some fun facts too. Children can create and name their own doughnut, and to top it all off, you can enter a Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts blind taste test! This program is free and open to the public.

In Hillsborough, you’ll find yet more free fun for the kids during Family Fun Day Saturday. Take in guided tours, kids’ activities, artisan demonstrations, where you can watch blacksmithing and learn how to weave on a 100-year-old loom. Or head to the farmers market for shopping. Get all the details on what’s happening, like where to go for a Reduced Swim and Ice Skating Deal at the Triangle SportsPlex in this blog.

And don’t forget to mark your calendar for Carolina Parent’s Baby Fair, coming Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness at 8300 Health Park, Ste. 317, Raleigh. It’s the place to find helpful information and products about baby and pregnancy-related services in our community. If you’re a new mom or dad or expecting a baby, don’t miss out on our door prizes and product samples. Visit our Baby Fair page for details.

Don't get caught unprepared for Father's Day! Visit Our Father's Day Guide to find sweet ways to celebrate Dad!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Marbles presents fun for kids with special needs

Want to head out for family fun with your child with special needs? There's adventure and play awaiting you at Marbles Kids Museum, in downtown Raleigh, on Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the museum’s free Family Fun Night.

A quarterly event sponsored by Kerr Cares for Kids Foundation, Family Fun Night provides an evening of play and learning just for children ages 10 and under with special needs and their families. It’s an after-hours event that lets these kids experience Marbles in a calmer, less crowded environment. You’ll find museum exhibits that offer opportunities to enhance language development and social skills through purposeful play. Programs and activities are provided by Voices Together Singers, The Miracle League, Cat5 Canes and the Museum of Natural Sciences.

Community partners include: First in Families, North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, TelAbility, The Arc of Wake County, Triangle Down Syndrome Network, Wake County Autism Society, Wake County Cerebral Palsy Support Group, Wake County LICC and Wake SEPTA.

You’ll find a range of articles and resources for your child with special needs on CarolinaParent.com. See Finding Child Care for Children with Special Needs and search our Special Needs Directory, under the Resources tab on our home page.

Search “special needs" in our Ultimate Family Resource Guide for"Special Needs Service
and Support." Find our Ultimate Family Resource Guide (UFRG), under the Guides tab on our home page.

Free fun for kids, moms & dads Saturday!

Ready for you and the kids to spend a fun Saturday that’s also educational and free? If you like stained glass, herbs, woodcarving and wind chimes (yes, yes, and yes, for me!) and the kids enjoy storytelling and games, head over to the Herb, Garden and Craft Festival at Duke Homestead State Historic Site, in Durham, on Saturday, June 12.

The program is one of more than 100 free events in the 2nd Saturdays series being held at the 37 museums and state historic sites within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. With 19th century games for children, the festival offers a way to slow down, step back in time, enjoy the outdoors, and take part in good, old-fashioned entertainment. You’ll also find herbal use displays, afternoon entertainment and refreshments.

Look for more than 20 herb and craft vendors and a variety of historic crafts and activities throughout the day. Visitors will can watch a natural dyeing demonstration and make their own potpourri sachets or plant pressings. Don’t miss the works of fiber artist Josie Kite, jewelry makers Cynthia O’Toole and Cindy Mays, photographer Betty McAllister, decoupage artist Donata Guerra and listen to storyteller Willa Brigham weave magical tales.

The Duke Homestead site is located at 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, NC 27705. For more information on the program call (919) 477-5498 or visit the Web site at http://www.nchistoricsites.org/duke/duke.htm.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Looking for more earth friendly family fun? Visit CarolinaParent.com’s Green Living Guide. You’ll find crafts for kids, like building boats powered by renewable energy
and organic kids fun at the Eno River Farmers Market on June 12.

Greener grills, Father's Day fun lie ahead!

With cool breezes and sunny skies ahead, it’s perfect weather for pulling out the barbecue. I’m looking forward to eating some delicious flame-broiled meals outdoors. (My husband just got a new grill for his birthday. Yes, it’s the gift that keeps giving back (to me).

If you’re thinking of getting your partner in parenting a grill for Father’s Day, see how to put Eco-Sizzle in Dad’s Grill in our Father’s Day Guide. You’ll find tips on buying a greener grill, plus loads of ideas for Pre-Father’s Day outings for Dads and kids in many Triangle cities. If Dad would rather eat barbecue than prepare it, check out Hillsborough’s Hog Days. You’ll find family events ranging from golfing to donut munching. See our editor’s suggestions for books dads can read to kids on Father's Day.

And don't forget, reading is always better in a hammock!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

For more eco-Friendly news and organic kids' fun, visit our Green Living Guide to the Triangle.

Weekend family fun is back!

This weekend, family fun kicks off with First Friday entertainment in Raleigh. Head to the downtown N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences for the free 1960 movie, “The Amazing Transparent Man.” Read Jonathan’s review to discover what’s weird and wonderful about the plot and actors.

This Friday, the Natural Sciences museum will be open from 5 to 9 p.m, so you can wander through exhibits, enjoy snacks and beverages from the Acro Café, and groove to live bluegrass music. Additionally, the museum Store offers after-hours shopping and an opening reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m., for renowned potter Ben Owen III, whose show “Earth, Water and Fire: Works in Clay” will be on display June 4 – Aug. 1 in the Nature Art Gallery. All exhibited art is for sale.

Also, Exchange Dance Theater is offering free events Thursday, June 3, and Friday, June 4. On Thursday, enjoy a performance with Piedmont Laureate Zelda Lockhart and on Friday see Gaspard&Dancers. Find details of the times, locations and performers here.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, take the kids to sing and dance with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they search for a home for Sunny, Elmo's sunflower in "Elmo's Green Thumb” at the RBC Center, in Raleigh. Or if you’re in Chapel Hill Friday, Saturday and Sunday, take in “One False Move," a teen opera about bullying at the Kenan Theatre, Paul Green Center for Dramatic Art. The show features middle and high school students from Triangle high schools. You’ll find details of these events and many others in our daily Calendar.

On Saturday at 10 a.m. at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, the famous children's author Judith Viorst will read and sign books, as part of Lucy’s Book Club program. Viorst, who penned the popular Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, will also lecture and sign books at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 6, at Peace College, in Raleigh. Read all about it here.

Also Saturday, the Ninth Annual African-American Cultural Celebration. From 11 am.-4 p.m. at the N.C. Museum of History, in Raleigh, offers families activities, crafts, entertainment and food.

On Sunday, the New Hope Valley Railway offers train rides through the woods starting at 11 a.m, 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Bonsal. Call 362-5416 or visit www.nhvry.org for details.

Headed to the beach or camping. Carolina Parent’s just released Helpful Hints for Happy Campers has great advice whether you’re pitching a tent or relaxing in an RV. Also find the right mix of activities, sightseeing and relaxing in our new review “Which Carolina Beach is Best for Your Family?" covering beaches in both North and South Carolina.

If you’re up for a day trip any day, check out Janice Lewine’s notes from trips with her daughter, Sarah. Janice visited Old Salem Museums and Garden, which she says is one of America’s most authentic historic attractions, and The Conservators’ Center in Caswell County, where she saw Lions and Tigers and…Binturongs? You’ll find both articles on our Family Fun/Out & About page. Who can beat a recommendation from another mom or dad when is comes to finding family fun?

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Ballerina, famed children's author to read to kids

This week, kids can look forward to free readings by celebrity heroes as the Lucy’s Book Club celebrates its first anniversary with a festival that runs through Sunday. On Thursday, children will hear Jan Burkhard, a ballerina with Carolina Ballet, read at 3 p.m. at Quail Ridge Books, in Raleigh. On Saturday at 10 a.m. at Quail Ridge Books, the famous children’s author Judith Viorst will read and sign books.

Viorst, who penned the popular Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, (one of my all-time favorite kids’ books) will also be giving a lecture and signing books at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 6, at Peace College, in Raleigh. Tickets are required for the Sunday evening event, which includes a reception for the author. If you'd like to go to that event, visit http://lucysbookclub.org/page/purchase-ticket.

For more details on Lucy's Book Club, a creation of the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, visit Carolina Parent’s Carol McGarrahan’s article Lucy's Book Club celebrates 1st birthday with kids events.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

It's a fun kids' Tuesday across the Triangle!

Wondering what to do with the kids now that the long weekend is over? You’ll find lots of kids’ activities—many free—each day of the week in our Story Times and Weekly Events listing for Triangle towns. What’s on tap for Tuesday? You’ll find everything from story times to puppet theaters, magic performances and craft activities. Best of all, Carolina Parent’s listing covers all ages and needs, from babies and tots to teens. Whether you’re pregnant or just had a baby, you’ll see activities for you. Like yoga with your baby or support groups for breastfeeding moms. We tell you exactly where in your town you’ll find free activities on certain days of the week. Don’t miss out! Check out Story Times and Weekly Events listings link on our home page any day you’re heading out.

Here's a look at Tuesday's events:

Balloon Man Mike. Free balloon creations. 6:30-7:30pm. Moe’s Southwest Grill, 6807 Fayetteville Rd., Durham. 544-6637.

Book Babies Storytime. Ages birth-18 months. 10am. East Regional Library, 946 Steele Square Ct., Knightdale. 217-5317. www.wakegov.com/libraries.

BounceU Open Bounce. Family Bounce, 5:30-7:30pm. See Monday for location details.

Captain Kid. Performs magic. 6-8pm. Golden Corral, 4201 New Bern Ave., Raleigh. 231-6905. http://raleighmagician.com.

Carolina Puppet Theater. First and third Tuesday of the month. A 50-minute show includes puppets, storytelling, movement and audience participation. $. 10am. Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs. 567-4000. www.carolinapuppets.com.

Chapel Hill Public Library Storytime. Stories, songs and activities. Ages 3-6. 10:30-11am and 3:30-4pm. Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Dr., Chapel Hill. 968-2778. http://chapelhill publiclibrary.org.

Cotton’s Early Years Jam Session. Sing and play along on Cotton’s musical instruments while Cotton plays her red guitar. 11:15am. Tookie’s Toys, 2028 Cameron St., Raleigh. 917-8987. www.cottontheclown.com.

Family Night. Kids make a craft. Free kids’ meal with the purchase of a combo. 5-7pm. Chick-fil-A, 6612 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 571-8480.

Fish Tales. Interactive storytime featuring music, activity and a craft. Siblings welcome. Ages 2-5. 10:30am. A Sea of Learning, 7001 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 136, Durham. 361-2525. www.asea oflearning.com.

Jumpin’ Beans Craft Day. See Monday for details.

Kids’ Craft and Movie Night. 5-7pm. Golden Corral, 5006 Hwy. 55, Durham. 544-2275.

Kids’ Karaoke. Ages 5-12. $. 5:30-8:30pm. Right Time Kids, 1411 Aversboro Rd., Garner. 665-2696. www.righttimekids.com/locations/nc_garner.

Kids’ Night. Kids craft or activity. 5-7pm. Chick-fil-A, 104 Residence Inn Dr., Durham. 484-7778.

Kids’ Night. Kids make a craft and meet Mr. Cow. Free kid’s meal with the purchase of a combo. 5-8pm. Chick-fil-A at Renaissance Village. 7836 Leonardo Dr., Durham. 206-4330.

Kids’ Night. Kids make a craft and meet Mr. Cow. Free kid’s meal with the purchase of adult meal. 5-7:30pm. Chick-fil-A at Garner Towne Square. 2720 Timber Dr., Garner. Also at Chick-fil-A at White Oak Crossing, 220 Shenstone Ln., Garner. 662-7200. www.chickenspace.com.

Kids’ Night with Ted’s Twisted Balloons and Magic. Free balloon sculptures and table magic. Kids eat free with purchase of each adult meal. 6-8pm. Jim’s Famous BBQ, 115 S. Elliott Rd., Chapel Hill. www.tedstwistedballoons.com.

Kids Yoga. Ages 5-9. 4:45-5:30pm. $. Wake Forest Yoga, 103 S. White St., Wake Forest. 623-5410. www.wakeforestyoga.com.

Magic & Laughter with Happy Dan the Magic Man. Fun, magic and balloons. Kids also eat free. 6-8pm. Champs, 3741 Sumner Blvd., Triangle Town Center, Raleigh. 792-0330. www.champps.com.

Magic Workshops with Jeff Jones. Workshops last 20 minutes. Register in advance. $. 3-5pm. 593-4271. www.MagicNC.com.

Mimi the Clown. Mimi entertains with balloon art and face painting at local Chick-fil-As. Call 639-9328 for details. www.themelodymaker.net.

Mommy and Baby Belly Dance. Learn belly dance through social interaction and play. Ages 6 weeks-18 months. $. 10am. Itsy Bitsy Baby Spa, 1055 Darrington Dr., Cary. 467-8801. www.itsybitsybabyspa.com.

Mommy and Baby Yoga. Learn yoga through social interaction and play. Ages 6 weeks-18 months. $. 11am. Itsy Bitsy Baby Spa, 1055 Darrington Dr., Cary. 467-8801. www.itsybitsybabyspa.com.

Paint Savvy. Face painting. 6:30-8pm. Golden Corral, 4055 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. www.paintsavvy.com.

Parent and Child Yoga. Ages 2-4. 3:45-4:30pm. $. Wake Forest Yoga, 103 S. White St., Wake Forest. 623-5410. www.wakeforestyoga.com.

Preschool Storytime. 10am. Barnes & Noble, New Hope Commons, Durham. 489-3012.

Preschool Storytime. Ages 3-5. 11:15am. East Regional Library, 946 Steele Square Ct., Knightdale. 217-5317. www.wakegov.com/libraries.

Preschool Storytime. Begins June 14. Stories, songs and games. Ages 3-5. 11am. Cameron Village Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh. 856-6723. www.wakegov.com/libraries.

Preschool Storytime. 10:30am. Barnes & Noble, Triangle Town Blvd., Raleigh. 792-2140.

Story Hour and Activity. 10:30-11:30am. The Grove School, 2590 Laura Duncan Dr., Cary. 877-684-7683. http://groveschool.com/home.cary.

Storytime. Ages 1-preK. 10:30am. Barnes & Noble, Streets at Southpoint, Durham, 806-1930.

TK’s Jungle Open Play. Indoor inflatables. Drop-in play. All ages. $. 10am-3pm. TK’s Jungle, 4300 Emperor Blvd., Ste. 250, Durham (Research Triangle Park area). 474-2499. www. tksjungle.com.

Toddler Storytime. Ages 1-3. 10am. Barnes & Noble, 760 S.E. Maynard Rd., Cary. 467-3866.

Toddler Storytime. Ages 18 months-3 years. 10:30am. East Regional Library, 946 Steele Square Ct., Knightdale. 217-5317. www.wakegov.com/libraries.

Toddler Time. Begins June 14. Stories, songs and flannel boards. Ages walker-2. 10am. Cameron Village Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh. 856-6723. www.wakegov.com/libraries.

Tuesday Tales. Begins June 22. Ages 5-10. Stories, songs, riddles, poems, games and more. 2:30pm. Cameron Village Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh. 856-6723. www.wakegov.com/libraries.

Just want to stay indoors on this gloomy day? Read our Kids indoor fun beats rainy day blues for fun kids play ideas at home.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Memorial Day weekend family fun ahead!

Ready to celebrate the Memorial Day weekend with the kids? Hillsborough kicks off the Triangle’s family fun on Friday with a fiesta that offers free live music, kids’ activities and a variety of edible freebies!

A monthly event from April through September, “Last Fridays” is brought to town by Hillsborough Arts Council. This Friday, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., you'll find a fiesta featuring a free performance of Brazilian Soul music on the lawn of the historic 1844 Old Courthouse as well as art vendors, an art walk, a pie contest and more.

Kids can make their own drum from recycled materials, enjoy cookies, lemonade and Appalachian music, sample jazz and free ice-cream at the "ice cream church" or take in a live concert while picnicking on historic grounds. To find out more and see photos, visit our Hillsborough Offers Free Music, Kids Fun Friday blog.

Thinking of heading to the beach this weekend? Carolina Parent just did a roundup of North Carolina and South Carolina beaches to help you find the right mix of activities, sightseeing and relaxing for your family. Read Which Carolina Beach is Best for Your Family now online, or pick up a copy of the June issue of the print magazine. You’ll find details about the beaches and discover where to go with kids once you’re there. (I’ve already found information that I can use when I head to the beach this summer.)

If you’re going camping, you’re also in luck: Kim Justen, a seasoned camper, mom and writer for Carolina Parent who lives in Advance, N.C., offers time- and kid-tested advice in Helpful Hints for Happy Campers, both online and in the June issue of Carolina Parent. Whether you’re pitching a tent or relaxing in a RV, you’ll want to see her list of the best unofficial places to camp in North Carolina, based on recommendations from friends, family and the staff of Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Winston-Salem. FYI: Kim is a mom who can bake a a cake in an orange peel and make chocolate éclairs over an open fire, but she also has great advice for unseasoned campers, like me, who are heading out.

Looking ahead to this week, don’t forget the Lucy's Book Club will be offering lots of fun kids events as it celebrates its first anniversary this year with a festival to encourage reading with children. The two-week event, which runs through June 6, features celebrity hero readings by people like a policeman and ballerina, activities for young children and parents, and a book fair at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh. Festivities also include a visit from renowned children’s author Judith Viorst, who wrote the popular Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Read Carol's blog for more. The Lucy’s Book Club is a free community outreach program for children birth to age 6 in Wake County and is organized by the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, a nonprofit agency that promotes the health and well-being of children and families. Read more on the club’s upcoming events.

Also coming up, from June 3-6, Sesame Street will be visiting Raleigh in an all-new musical that features Elmo and the rest of the lovable Sesame Street gang in a magical adventure about nature and making new friends. For details on Elmo’s Green Thumb, the Sesame Street Live touring production, at the RBC Center, read Carolina Parent's Janice Lewine's article in our Calendar Highlights.

If you haven’t yet thought about Father’s Day, check out our Father’s Day Guide for ways to celebrate with Dad ahead of Father’s Day as a family. We're talking about events that offer you and Dad opportunities for donut-munching, BBQ-eating, golfing, hiking, biking and more!

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Thinking of visiting Old Salem's Museum & Gardens in Winston-Salem or The Conservators’ Center in Caswell County? Read Janice's articles on both places first!

Hillsborough offers free music, kids fun Friday!

Looking for a free family fun this Friday night? Head to Hillsborough’s Last Fridays event from 6:30-9:30 p.m. You'll find a fiesta featuring a free performance of Brazilian Soul music on the lawn of the historic 1844 Old Courthouse as well as kids activities, art vendors, an art walk, a pie contest and more. Each month, the Hillsborough Arts Council brings Last Fridays to town. This Friday, you'll find four events of special interest for families with kids.

• Kids can make a drum or shaker from recycled materials, play it in an all-ages drum circle, and take it home for more rhythm fun. It’s happening at the Courthouse square.
• Starting at 7 p.m., savor a free“Summer Breeze” at the Burwell School Historic Site, where you’re invited to set up your own picnic on the historic property.
• Enjoy live music at 6:30 p.m. from A. L. Stanback's award winning Jazz Bands at the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. Church members will have scoops in hand to serve visitors free ice cream while they listen. (Now you know why this church is dubbed “the ice cream church!”
• Drop by the Main Library, from 6-8 p.m., for cookies and lemonade, old-Time Appalachian Music, contests, prizes, and more, compliments of the Friends of the Library. The Friends will also be giving away free books, bookmarks and bumper stickers while supplies last as part of "Yellow Brick Road: An Evening at the Library.” It’s a chance to buy your personalized brick paver and show your support for the Orange County Public Library.

Find more details on this Friday's fun below:

MUSIC HEADLINER
Brazilian Soul
Headlining band Brazilian Soul, featuring Paulo Lopes, plays on the lawn of the Old Courthouse. Today's Brazilian music is the result of a long simmering mix of Brazilian cultural heritages with global influences such as Reggae, Rock, Mambo, Salsa and Merengue. Brazilian Soul is led by Brazilian guitarist and vocalist Paulo Lopes, with Ricardo Granillo on bass and Terry ‘Klawth’ Lonergan on percussion.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Terry’s sound is both contemporary and steeped in tradition. Specializing in Afro-Latin drum kit, Terry brings authenticity with an American Southern flavor to his music.

KIDS ACTIVITIES
Make creative drums or shakers from recycled materials at the Courthouse square. Music Explorium offers this make-n-take Rockin' Recycled Percussion fun. Make a drum or shaker, play it in an all ages drum circle, and take it home for more rhythm fun. Everyone has a blast drumming, shaking and smiling!

LOCAL ARTISTS
Artist vendors at May's Last Fridays will be located at the old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough.

ART WALK
The May 28 Last Fridays Art Walk, in its fifth year as a Last Fridays event, showcases the talents of local artists in studios and galleries in downtown Hillsborough. Many venues will have artist and opening receptions from 6–9 pm.

PIE CONTEST
Each month has a different pie theme, with local ingredients preferred, and homemade pies required. May’s theme is strawberry, with judging at 6 p.m. at Cup a Joe, and awards announced at 7pm. Pie pieces will be sold at Cup a Joe after the winners are announced. Proceeds benefit the Hillsborough Arts Council. Entry forms and future pie themes can be found online at http://www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/HillsboroughPieContest.html .

OTHER AFFILIATED EVENTS
Local sites provide special programming for young and old alike.
Weaver Street Market will have a selection of fabulous wines for sample at a free tasting 5-7pm. From 6-8pm, we'll have a long-overdue appearance from Jon Shain, bringing his hypnotic guitar playing and enlightening songwriting for your Last Friday enjoyment. Featuring tunes from his current album "Times Right Now" and hopefully some old favorites from the vaults.
The Orange County Historical Museum (201 N. Churton St.) will announce the winners of its Annual Photography exhibit on the courthouse lawn at 6:15pm. Come to the Museum from 6-9pm to see the participants and winners of the competition.
The Burwell School Historic Site will be celebrating the Hillsborough Arts Council’s Last Friday this month by hosting a special “Summer Breeze” concert with Hillsborough band, Judy Woodall and Muletrain. This free concert will begin at 7pm. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, a picnic basket, bottle of wine, and the entire family for a relaxing evening at our lovely historic property. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved into the parlor of the Burwell House. The Burwell School is located at 319 N. Churton St. in Hillsborough, NC. Parking available. Free self-guided tours will be available all evening. For more information, please call 732-7451 or visit www.burwellschool.org .

A map of all Last Fridays events can be found at http://hillsboroughartscouncil.org/MapLastFriday.html

CPSC works on safer baby's bathtime

Bathtime for baby should get safer under a new mandatory safety standard recently approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for infant bath seats.

The new federal standard adds stricter stability requirements to prevent the bath seat from tipping over, tighter leg opening requirements to prevent children from slipping through the leg openings and a larger permanent warning label alerting parents and caregivers that bath seats are not safety devices and that infants should never be left unattended in a bath seat. It also incorporates current voluntary standard provisions requiring latching and locking mechanisms, and compliance with CPSC’s standards for sharp points and edges, small parts, and lead in paint.

Tighter standards are long overdue, and I’m happy to see the CPSC is finally tackling the problem. From 1983 through November 2009, there were 174 reported deaths involving bath seats and 300 reported non fatal bath seat incidents, according to the CPSC. Many of the deaths and incidents involve babies left unattended while bathing, although babies should never be left alone near water since they can drown quickly even in small amounts.

If you’re using a baby bath seat, be extra careful. According to the CPSC no baby bath seat currently on the market complies with the new mandatory standard.

The final rule on infant bath seats goes into effect six months after publication in the Federal Register. Bath seats manufactured or imported on or after that date will be required to meet the new mandatory standard.

CPSC staff is working to develop federal standards for nearly 20 other durable juvenile products, including bassinets, cribs, and infant walkers. – Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Get creative ahead of Dad's Day!

You don’t have to wait until Father’s Day to surprise Dad with a treat. Get creative ahead of June 20. Across the Triangle, you’ll find lots of events that cater to Dad’s many tastes and talents, just check out our Father’s Day Guide, which debuts today.

You’ll find ideas for celebrating Dad ahead of Father’s Day, from family-friendly hiking and biking routes to events that let him enjoy golf, antique cars, donuts, barbecue and live outdoor music! Many are free!

Let the kids make recycled Father's Day cards while they learn about animal fathers at a local nature park. Make a family day of bubble fun at a local museum or head to a free family concert.

If you’re thinking of taking Dad out to eat for Father’s Day or even before, check our Meal Deals guide, where you’ll discover where kids eat free or for 99 cents in the Triangle.

Plus discover what other Triangle parents have to say on topics ranging from Seven Secrets of Stay-At-Home Dads, Nurturing Your Relationship After Dad-Hood and A Memoir From the Father of a 'Hot Chick!'

If you're looking to head to the theater or museum, check out our contests, where you can win tickets and family passes as well as new family DVDs.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Weekend brings free spring fun for kids

This weekend is shaping up to be full of fun spring events for kids and their moms and dads, and so many are free. You’ll find celebrations of butterflies, golf, baseball, and live music outdoors.

From Friday through Sunday, the Got to Be NC Festival will be at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, in Raleigh, offering family-friendly entertainment. The festival celebrates North Carolina and its agricultural heritage with a full carnival, an NC Food Show, antique farm equipment, a fiber festival, horse pulls, tractor pulls and more. Gate admission and parking are free.

Also Saturday, head to the Rex Hospital Open for a Dad’s Day Out and Family Fun Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the TPC Wakefield Plantation, 2201 Wakefield Plantation Dr., Raleigh. You’ll find face painting, a bounce zone, demonstrations, prizes and a free breakfast from 8:30 -11 a.m. Look for details of the Good Egg Pledge Breakfast, Dad’s Day out with putting contest and Family Fun Zone as well as the free Beatlegras Concert at 7 p.m. at Rex Healthcare of Wakefield here.

In Durham, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, enjoy a Butterfly Bash. It’s a chance to take flight with the museum staff to learn more about and celebrate the residents of Magic Wings Butterfly House. Enjoy a day of hands-on activities, meet entomology and horticulture experts and encounter invertebrates. Butterfly Bash is free with Museum admission.

Speaking of butterflies, they'll be released on Sunday from 2:45 to 3 p.m., as part of the live entertainment at Grand Opening Celebration for WakeMed’s new Patient Tower, Wake County's first dedicated Children's Hospital, in Raleigh. Festivities, which run from 1 to 5 p.m. on the WakeMed Raleigh Campus, 3000 New Bern Avenue, include live bluegrass music, face painting, craft activities , tours of WakeMed Mobile Care Trucks and Air Ambulance helicopter and more. See WakeMed’s web site for more information, and check out this cool link to tell you exactly where each event will be happening on Sunday. (Photo at right features WakeMed's New Children's Hospital Nurses station.)

On Saturday from 9-10:30 a.m., EVOLVE’s Vinyasa Flow Yoga Class in Roanoke Park, where your donations will support Band Together, benefiting StepUP Ministry. Band Together is a non-profit that uses music to raise funds and awareness for local charities. EVOLVE's Carson Efird will lead the yoga class featuring live percussion by Joe Westerlund from Megafaun. Weather permitting, the class will be held at Roanoke Park, across the street from EVOLVE’s Bickett Blvd. studio. For more information on EVOLVE and for directions to its studio visit: www.evolveyogaraleigh.com or call (919) 828-4525.

On Saturday, Lucy’s Book Club (of the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood) kicks off a two-week celebration of its first anniversary this year with a festival to encourage reading with children. Enjoy a reading at 10 a.m. Saturday at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh and discover the full range of kids events, from a book fair to celebrity hero readings, offered through June 6 in our editor’s blog.

Finally, if you’re looking to have fun and help kids causes locally, visit CarolinaParent.com’s Get Involved page to find out more about the Durham Bulls Game to raise awareness of autism on May 22 and the Spring Pops Concert Featuring Durham Symphony Orchestra to Benefit ChatamArts on May 23.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Lucy's Book Club celebrates 1st birthday with kids events

Lucy’s Book Club is celebrating its first anniversary this year with a festival to encourage reading with children. The two-week event, May 22 to June 6, will include a book fair at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh featuring all 44 book club titles. Festivities also include a visit from renowned children’s author Judith Viorst, who wrote the popular Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

The two weeks of celebrity hero readings and activities for young children and parents will culminate in a weekend of special events. All events below are at Quail Ridge Books unless otherwise noted. Festival dates and activities include:

May 24, 10 a.m., children’s book reading by Gerald Owens (WRAL)
June 1, 3 p.m., children’s book reading by a policeman
June 3, 3 p.m., children’s book reading by Jan Burkhard, ballerina from Carolina Ballet
June 5, 10 a.m., children’s book reading and signing by Judith Viorst
June 6, 7 p.m., Judith Viorst lecture, reception and signing, Peace College, Raleigh

Tickets are required for the evening event; visit http://lucysbookclub.org/page/purchase-ticket.

Check the Web site for dates of additional book readings at select locations and for the most up-to-date times for all activities. Many readings will take place at Wake County library locations.
Lucy’s Book Club is a free community outreach program for children birth to age 6 in Wake County and is organized by the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, a nonprofit agency that promotes the health and well-being of children and families. Net proceeds from the ticketed event on June 6 will fund the Lucy’s Book Club materials for 2010-2011.

— Written by Carol McGarrahan, Carolina Parent Associate Editor

Bestselling author to read tonight!

Does your middle-school tween or teen love books or is she looking for a great summer read? Two-time Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Holm will be reading from her new novel Turtle in Paradise (for ages 8+) at Flyleaf Books, in Chapel Hill from 7-8 p.m. tonight.

Inspired by family stories, this new novel blends family lore with American history, adding a dash of humor, and the unique flavors of Key West in a story about tough times and a smart cookie. Life isn't like the movies, and 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Fla., to stay with relatives she's never met.

Florida's like nothing Turtle has ever seen. It's hot and strange, full of wild green peeping out between houses, ragtag boy cousins, and secret treasure. Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she has spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways.

What a great lesson for accepting and embracing life’s many changes. If you’d like to hear more of this book in the author’s own voice, head to Flyleaf Books at 752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (Historic Airport Rd). With her brother Matthew, Jennifer is also the creator of Babymouse, a young graphic novel series. Babymouse: Queen of the World! was an ALA Notable Children's Book and a Gryphon Award winner.

You’ll find more upcoming author visits, book club meetings and book fairs for children by scrolling down until you see "Events" in this link to our calendar.

Upcoming fun events support kids & community

Looking for family fun that supports families, kids and our community? Two great opportunities are coming your way: A Durham Bulls Game this Saturday and a Marbles Kids’ Museum Superheroes Ball the first Saturday in June.

On May 22, the Durham Bulls will host Autism Awareness Night, starting at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the Pawtucket Red Sox, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The event will raise awareness and funds for people affected by autism. In an effort to be sensory-friendly, Whiplash, the Cowboy Monkey, will provide post-game entertainment instead of fireworks. The Bulls are offering special $10 and $11 ticket packages, a portion of which will be donated directly to the Autism Society of North Carolina. To purchase tickets, please visit the Durham Bulls website at http://www.dbulls.com/.

And on June 5, Marbles Kids Museum’s Superheroes Ball offers grown-ups an epic evening with live music, cocktails and dinner, and the chance to celebrate two local Superheroes for their contributions to kids and the community. All gala proceeds benefit the Imagination Fund at Marbles Kids Museum, where “the power of play is shaping tomorrow's dreamers, innovators, artists and achievers.” Tickets to Marbles Superheroes Ball are on sale now through May 31 at http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/.

Interested in finding out more? See this blog for details on the live action at Marbles Superheroes ball and see this blog to learn about the entertainment at the Durham Bull game.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

CarolinaParent.com's Get Involved page lists more fun events that help Triangle kids and families.

Kids indoor fun beats rainy day blues

It’s a rainy day and with outdoor fun out of the question, you might be wondering what to do with the kids. A friend showed me a great website, Productive Parenting, for ideas for fun at home with children from infancy through age 5. I like it because it uses household objects for activities, and its suggestions are age appropriate. It seems like a common sense, creative approach to helping children learn, and it's free, so I thought I’d share it.

The site, www.productiveparenting.com, offers parents one daily, developmental, age-appropriate activity suggestion for each child rather than making readers search the site for an activity. Membership is free and parents can choose to receive information in the way that best fits their lifestyle: either on their customized member homepage or by email. If members want other ideas, they can choose from a library of thousands of additional play activities, designed by experts in child development to stimulate a growing child’s mind.

Activities are designed to be simple, require little to no preparation, and use household items such as rulers, rocks, bowls, balls, coins, and cups. The Activity Library provides thousands of additional developmental activities, beginning with simple sensory experiences for infants and progressing to more challenging activities for pre-kindergartners. Specific activities are easily located with advanced search options by age, keyword, skills learned and category. Categories include Sensory Experiences, Exploring your World, Fun with Numbers, Science Adventures, Language and Pre-Reading, and Daily Living Skills.

The site was developed by Susan Dineen and Emily Rempe, a mother-daughter team, after Emily, mom to three preschoolers, realized how frustrating and overwhelming it was to find quality educational activities for her young children.

When I was the mother of a preschooler, I remember how hard it was to come up with creative learning games on my own. The few my friend taught me—butterflies made of paper towels dyed with food coloring and a hat with household objects to explore only with our eyes blindfolded—released us from the rainy day blues and created memories we both still cherish.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Weekend fun features arts, herbs and bears!

With great weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday, this weekend is perfect for outdoor family fun in the Triangle and there’s lots free to see and do. You’ll find something for every kid’s (and grown-up’s) taste, from arts and herbs to snakes, bears, birds, and live rock and roll music. Many events are free.

In downtown Raleigh, the 31st annual Artsplosure event, a free two-day arts festival Saturday and Sunday brings more than 170 crafters and visual artists, including painters, photographers, potters and jewelers, to set up booths near Moore Square and City Market. Carolina Parent’s Danielle Cushing says children can discover their inner artist at the event’s Kidsplosure, where they are encouraged to let their creativity fly. She says blankets will be spread on the lawn around various craft stations, so parents can hang out with their kids and help them make colorful head and wristbands, construct festival kites from cardboard and fabric, and decorate funky birds. You'll also find live musical entertainment, ranging from from jazz and blues to Latin and funk. Marbles Kids Museum will also host children’s crafts and activities. Read Danielle’s article for all the details.

Also in downtown Raleigh, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will celebrate the 2nd annual International Migratory Bird Day. From noon to 5 p.m., visitors can see live raptors from the Carolina Raptor Center outside the Museum on Bicentennial Plaza and learn about migratory birds like Loggerhead Shrikes, Purple Martins and Chimney Swifts. Learn more about on this event here.

In Cary, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, you’ll find Herbfest, a free event at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, at 119 Ambassador Loop. You’ll be able to watch live cooking demonstrations by local Cary restaurants and shop local vendors for a wide variety of herbs, crafts and garden products. The Page Educational Garden will be open for tours, and kids will have the opportunity to pot their own flower to take home. Check out my blog for details on Herbfest and the new NC GreenMarket, that is open on Saturday in the historic Polk House in Raleigh.

Head over in Durham at the Life and Science Museum, to meet Yona, the museum’s newest bear. The 4 lb. black bear cub that was found abandoned in last year is now ready to meet the public. The museum is hosting Bear Awareness Week, from May 16-22. It’s a chance to meet the keepers to learn about these fascinating animals and the issues they face, daily at 2 p.m. at the Bear Exhibit in Explore the Wild. Visit the museum’s website for more information. (Yona, ar right, when she was only 2 months old!)

Speaking of live animals, if you’re looking for a day trip and your kids love snakes (lots do) this would be a great weekend to visit the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro. The zoo’s keepers and education staff will be presenting programs on snakes, snake myths and the important role snakes play in nature during a special event, “Save Our Snakes,” at the park Saturday and Sunday. To learn more about what times you’ll find crafts, a puppet show snake tracking and more, see this blog. (The Arizona mountain kingsnake above is just one of the snakes featured this weekend at the NC Zoo. (NC Zoo photo)

In Chapel Hill at the University of North Carolina, you might want to check out Tar Heel Treasure sale. It’s a giant community yard sale being held from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus and is designed to promote recycling by cutting move out waste. Learn more about it here. If you’re heading to Chapel Hill, you might read A Mom’s Guide to Chapel Hill with tot in tow first to discover fun kids spots to visit recommended by Allison, a blogger and mom.

And in Durham, if you like rock and roll, the Corporate Battle of the Bands offers live music Saturday. Five bands will compete and you’ll see special guest performances from American Idol’s Anoop Desai and power trio SWASO. Hosted by McKinney and the American Tobacco Campus for the fourth year, the Battle takes over the American Tobacco Campus lawn at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Operation Literacy, powered by The Hill Center, to help children in need overcome learning differences.

And if all you want to do is head to the movies with the kids, check out Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids to see what’s appropriate for your tot, tween or teen.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Family fun: Eat local, go green Saturday!

Do you love being outdoors with your kids, browsing farmers markets with their multitude of colors, smells and tastes? As a child, I enjoyed “market days” with my mother, when armed with baskets, we'd shop for fruits and vegetables and meet a multitude of people gathered to sell or buy under sunny skies.

This Saturday offers a chance for parents and kids who love eating local fresh produce to dig in to spring’s bounty in two new green ventures in Cary and Raleigh that benefit both towns.

On Saturday, head to Town of Cary’s First Annual Friends of the Page-Walker Herbfest, from 9 a.m. to 2 pm. to watch live cooking demonstrations by local Cary restaurants and shop local vendors for a wide variety of herbs, crafts and garden products.I t’s a free event at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, at 119 Ambassador Loop.

The Page Educational Garden will be open for tours, and kids will have the opportunity to pot their own flower to take home. Proceeds from the sale of Page-Walker memorabilia at the event will benefit the Friends of Page-Walker Hotel’s ongoing historic preservation, educational and archival efforts. For complete event information, please visit Herbfest at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 460-4971.

Also on Saturday, The new NC GreenMarket launches at 537 Blount Street, Raleigh, not far from the NC State Capital building. Located in the historic Polk House (pictured on right), the GreenMarket brings seasonal, specialty crops grown by North Carolina farmers to town for residents who order online in advance. The new venture is a collaborative project of the LL Polk House Foundation, the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the farmers of North Carolina.

The May crop of just-picked strawberries, ordered in advance, will be available for pick-up this Saturday, May 15, and May 22, but you’ll need to order on the Thursday before the Saturday you pick up. Along with strawberries, pound cakes fresh baked by the NC State Fair Blue Ribbon winner may also be ordered. The Pound Cake Company of Benson, NC not only creates gourmet cakes, it provides desperately needed jobs in the abandoned elementary school of a rural community.

Besides benefiting a great cause, the GreenMarket at The Polk House also offers parents and kids a chance to step back in time. The house was the home of LL Polk, North Carolina’s legendary first Commissioner of Agriculture and founder of NC State University and Meredith College. Polk founded and edited at the house The Progressive Farmer, parent publication of today’s Southern Living magazine. For more information or to order goods, visit http://www.ncgreenmarket.com/greenmarket.html. May strawberries will be followed by June blueberries and July peaches. Yum!

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Find more farmers markets and ways to go green as a family in the Triangle in CarolinaParent.com's Green Living Guide.

Dscover new ways to help families in your town in our Get Involved Guide.

Tar Heel Treasure sale Saturday!

You don't need a pirate ship or a special map to claim the Tar Heel Treasure left behind by departing students, but a big truck might come in handy. Tar Heel Treasure is a giant community yard sale being held from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 15, at the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now in its second year, Tar Heel Treasure is a campus initiative that has changed UNC's end-of-year move-out waste practices. Through the program, goods that might otherwise have been discarded when students leave residence halls are collected and offered for sale to the campus and community.

Last spring, more than eight tons of abandoned furniture and almost four tons of discarded shoes and clothing were part of the bounty salvaged after students moved out of residence halls. Among the things to look for at this year's sale are bedding, clothing, carpets, toys, equipment, computers, printers, fans, fixtures, appliances, electronics, furniture, food and cleaning supplies. Any remaining items will be donated to local charities.

Tar Heel Treasure not only reduces landfill waste and provides access to items at bargain prices, butalso raises money for charitable causes. The first Tar Heel Treasure sale, held last spring, raised about $7,000 for the Eve Marie Carson Memorial Junior-Year Merit Scholarship. Proceeds from this year's sale will benefit Build a Block, the campus partnership with Habitat for Humanity that aims to build 10 homes for UNC and hospital employees in Phoenix Place, an affordable green-certified subdivision under construction in Chapel Hill.

For more information on the event, visit the Tar Heel Treasure website at www.tarheeltreasure.unc.edu.

For more great green events and kids activities, visit CarolinaParent.com's Green Living Guide to the Triangle.

Mom-In-Chief targets childhood obesity

If you have a child who's overweight, you know that dropping excess pounds isn’t easy. With life so rushed, ensuring little Isabella or Jacob gets enough exercise and eats right every day is difficult even for the most dedicated parent. But it looks like we’re about to get help from a powerful mom with a plan to get everyone— from coaches to teachers to parents and mayors—on track.

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes and members of the Childhood Obesity Task Force to unveil the Task Force action plan: Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation.

“For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks, and measurable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family, and one community at a time,” Mrs. Obama said. “We want to marshal every resource – public and private sector, mayors and governors, parents and educators, business owners and health care providers, coaches and athletes – to ensure that we are providing each and every child the happy, healthy future they deserve.”

In February, Mrs. Obama launched the Let’s Move! campaign to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. As part of this effort, President Barack Obama established the Task Force on Childhood Obesity to develop and implement an interagency plan to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. The plan calls for a return to a childhood obesity rate of just 5 percent by 2030, which was the rate before childhood obesity first began to rise in the late 1970s. Its recommendations broadly include:

• Getting children a healthy start on life, with good prenatal care for their parents; support for breastfeeding; adherence to limits on “screen time”; and quality child care settings with nutritious food and ample opportunity for young children to be physically active.
• Empowering parents and caregivers with simpler, more actionable messages about nutritional choices based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans; improved labels on food and menus that provide clear information to help parents make healthy choices for children; reduced marketing of unhealthy products to children; and improved health care services, including BMI measurement for all children.
• Providing healthy food in schools, through improvements in federally-supported school lunches and breakfasts; upgrading the nutritional quality of other foods sold in schools; and improving nutrition education and the overall health of the school environment.
• Improving access to healthy, affordable food, by eliminating “food deserts” in urban and rural America; lowering the relative prices of healthier foods; developing or reformulating food products to be healthier; and reducing the incidence of hunger, which has been linked to obesity.
• Getting children more physically active, through quality physical education, recess, and other opportunities in and after school; addressing aspects of the “built environment” that make it difficult for children to walk or bike safely in their communities; and improving access to safe parks, playgrounds, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.

In the coming year, here are some ways federal agencies will be moving to implement the report’s recommendations:

• HHS will release new guidance for standards for physical activity and nutrition in child care settings, and help consumers make informed choices at restaurants and grocery stores, by getting calorie counts onto menus and by working with the food and beverage industry to develop a clear, standard “front of pack” food label;
• USDA will update the Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid to provide parents and caregivers with helpful information about nutrition, and work with Congress to pass a child nutrition reauthorization bill that improves food in schools;
• FTC will continue monitoring how food is marketed to children, with a follow-up study to its 2008 report on industry practices;
• USDA, Treasury, and HHS will work with Congress to bring grocery stores and other healthy food retailers to underserved areas by supporting more than $400 million in investments in a Healthy Food Financing Initiative;
• DOT and EPA will promote walking and biking to school, with a new best practices guide from the DOT-funded National Center for Safe Routes to School and new proposed voluntary “school siting” guidelines from EPA.
• Federal agencies will also make funds available to local communities, including $25 million from HHS to support obesity prevention and screening services for children, and $35 million in physical education program grants to schools from the Department of Education, which will also be working with Congress to create a Successful, Safe, and Healthy Students initiative as part of a reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

We've heard the African proverb, "it takes a whole village to raise a child." So it should come as no surprise that it’s going to take a whole nation to help that child lose weight.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Thomas the Tanks Birthday Bash Approaching!

Are your kids crazy about Thomas the Tank Engine™? Believe it or not, he’s turning 65, and his fans are invited to celebrate his birthday in Blowing Rock, N.C. June 4-13.

That's when the storybook engine Thomas the Tank Engine™ is set to roll into Tweetsie Railroad for the Day Out With Thomas™: The Celebration Tour 2010. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad opened on July 4, 1957 as North Carolina’s first theme park.

Day Out With Thomas is the only place for families to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy Thomas-themed activities at the Imagination Station, including stamps and temporary tattoos. In addition, to celebrate Thomas’ 65th birthday, fans will be invited to check out a mini-museum highlighting special moments and events over the years, make birthday cards for Thomas, and participate in other fun activities.
During the Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2010, children will ride with Thomas up steep hills, around deep, blue lakes, and help him rescue his engine friends—if only in their imaginations. Day Out with Thomas 2010 activities include:
• An approximately 25-minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
• The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway
• A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, and hands on activities
• A special display at every DOWT location celebrating 65 years of Thomas the Tank Engine
• 2010 commemorative merchandise and giveaways, including a mini-view finder giveaway that tells the story of Thomas’ upcoming adventure, Misty Island Rescue.

The tour offers families an interactive experience at every station, with a variety of entertaining activities that reflect the local flavor of each stop. Tweetsie Railroad activities will include amusement park rides for all ages, live entertainment including the Tweetsie Palace Saloon Show, Tweetsie’s Magical Extravaganza, mascot characters Hopper and Porter’s™ popular children’s show and much more.

The train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 30 minutes, rain or shine, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on both Saturdays (park opens 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Sundays through Fridays (park opens 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Tickets for the Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2010 are $32 for adults and $22 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free.

Tickers are on sale now and available by logging onto www.tweetsie.com or calling toll free 1.877.TWEETSIE (877.893.3874). Print at home tickets are available online.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor.

Mother's Day weekend offers free fun!

This Mother’s Day weekend promises lots of free fun for moms and kids across the Triangle.

FRIDAY EVENTS

Kick the weekend off with First Friday events in Raleigh, when many museums and shops stay open later than usual. Stop by Even Exchange Dance Theater’s Dance Seen event to enjoy a free informal showing on Friday, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Arts Together, at 114 St. Mary's Street. Over at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, First Friday offers an opportunity to shiver with terror while watching the free movie, Natural Horror Picture Show: Shark! Shark! Shark! Shark! Shark! (PG, parental discretion advised.) The museum stays open from 5 to 9 p.m. on First Fridays, inviting visitors to wander through exhibits and listen to live music. Read Jonathan’s blog to find out how to get discounted admission to the museum’s special exhibit, “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived." And Marbles Kids Museum, in downtown Raleigh, will also be open for fun until 8 p.m. in celebration of First Friday.

In Cary on Friday, Cary Children’s Concert Choir will celebrate its 10th year with a free concert starting at 7 p.m. at the Greenwood Forest Baptist Church (at the corner of Kildaire Farm and Maynard Roads.

SATURDAY EVENTS

Interested in a free family exercise class (no need for a babysitter) and a free Tropical Luau barbecue on Saturday? Stroller Strides is offering both. Just head Crowder District Park in Apex at 9:30 a.m. You’ll find more details in this blog.

Got last-minute shoppers in your family? Here's a great idea for a fun outing ahead of Mother's Day that lets your family pick out fresh gifts for moms at the Eno River Farmers Market, in historic downtown Hilllborough. The market, open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, will also be hosting a special Mother's Day event on May 8, where you can find sweet gifts, ranging from cut flowers and potted plants to decadent desserts. Plus, kids can enjoy a special activity where they make their own Mother's Day cards out of pressed flowers supplied by vendors.

On Saturday in downtown Raleigh, join the State Capitol staff for a closer look at the monuments on Union Square. The free tour begins at the George Washington statue on the south plaza at 12:30 p.m. Registration is not required. The hour-long walking tour will highlight the artists, symbolism and the sometimes surprising history of these public monuments.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., kids can catch a free fun program about Raleigh history at the Raleigh City Museum. They’ll also have a chance to create an Oak leaf bookmark and take home a Raleigh Past & Present Coloring Book. Call (919) 832-3775 ext. 23 or visit the museum’s website.

Head to Hillsborough on Saturday to explore the town’s history on a 90-minute guided walking tour through its historic district. The 2nd Saturday Hillsborough Guided Walking Tour costs $5, and starts at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Alexander Dickson House, 150 E. King St., Call 732-7741 or visit www.historichillsborough.org for more information.

SUNDAY EVENTS

At the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the N.C. Botanical Garden is offering a Mother's Day Mason Farm walk from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday along an "old farm trail" that travels through 200 years of cultural and natural history near Morgan Creek. Guide and ocal Naturalist Ed Harrison will point out wildflowers and other plants and discuss local biological diversity conservation. Meet at the Garden's parking lot gazebo. Fee: $10 ($5 NCBG members) Visit the N.C. Botanical Garden's website for details.

On Mother’s Day, moms are admitted free with a paying child or spouse to Raleigh's 1st Lego Festival. Carolina Parent's Janice Lewine gives you details in her Calendar article and you’ll find more on the spectacular Lego creations here.

And if you’re looking for more freebies, did you know participating McDonalds in the Triangle are offering free breakfasts for Mom on Mother's Day? Check out the list of participating McDonalds to see where to find those free hotcakes.

If you have adventurers in the family, you’ll want to head to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, on Sunday. That’s when National Geographic explorer Helen Thayer will be sharing stories and photographs from her latest journey. Helen and her husband, Bill, walked 7,000 miles across Africa's Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains and the vast Serengeti plains, while living with the Maasai, Bushmen and Berber tribes. Their program runs from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. For details and ticket prices, visit this blog.

For more Mother’s Day fun, visit our Mother’s Day Guide to the Triangle.

Headed to the movies? See Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids to get the scoop on what’s appropriate for your tot, tween or teen.

—Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Moms protest chocolate formula

One of my friends, when she was nursing, used to joke that one breast gave her baby chocolate milk and the other one vanilla. Now it seems she was on to something that big business can’t resist.

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. has introduced a beverage for toddlers in chocolate and vanilla flavors. The milk-based beverage, Enfagrow Premium, is designed for tots who are transitioning from infant formula or breast milk, but contains 19 grams of sugar per 7-ounce serving, according to the Los Angeles Times.
With childhood obesity a national growing problem, should we be leading our tots down this sugary path? Many moms, nutritionists and pediatricians are up in arms. As we all know, tots can be picky, but the toddler years are when our kids are first introduced to foods. That’s when we want them to develop tastes for the natural sweetness of fresh fruits and vegetables, not artificially sweet products.

Apparently, some mothers with picky tots are saying the formula is the only way they can ensure their kids will eat. They remind me of another friend who would feed her kids M&Ms during meals to get them to eat their regular food. We all do what we have to do. But I still have to admire the steely determination of another friend who simply put away the food her tot wouldn’t eat and brought it out again when that little voice started complaining she was hungry.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Looking forward to Mother's Day? Catch some Pre-Mom's Day FREE fun for you and the kids in our Mother's Day Guide to the Triangle.

Enjoy Mother's Day Freebies

Mother’s Day is almost upon us, and I am giddy with anticipation. Across the Triangle, you’ll find freebies for moms and kids ahead of our big day! On Saturday, for instance, you can enjoy a family exercise class and Tropical Luau barbecue (both free) from Stroller Strides at 9:30 a.m. at Crowder District Park in Apex. On Mother’s Day, moms are admitted free with a paying child or spouse to Raleigh's 1st Lego Festival, which features spectacular creations. And participating McDonalds in the Triangle are offering free breakfasts for Mom on Mother's Day.

If you’re looking to occupy the little one with a fun educational activity that winds up as a gift for you (yeah!), check out the Nature Crafts: Are You My Mama? Program on Saturday, from 1-3 p.m. at Blue Jay Point County Park, in Raleigh. Kids ages 6 to 8 will be creating Mother’s Day cards and learning about the different styles of mothering in the animal word. The cost is $8 per child. Lots of spaces are still available, but pre-registration is required by 5 p.m. Thursday. Phone 870-4330 and visit www.wakegov.com/parks/bluejay for details about the environmental center. I’ve visited the center. The staff and facilities are wonderful, and kids have a great time. Find more area pre-Mom's day crafts for kids here.

Buying flowers for your mom or the mom-figure in your life and want to support a good cause? Here’s a deal: ProFlowers will donate $10 to the March of Dimes for each Mother's Day bouquet ordered at www.ProFlowers.com/MarchofDimes.

You’ll find more craft activities for kids ahead of Mother’s Day as well as Triangle trails for hiking and biking in our Mother’s Day Guide to the Triangle. So far, the forecast for Mom’s Day looks perfect. So pack a picnic and enjoy the outdoors. It’s always free!

Speaking of the gift of exploring nature together, check out Carol McGarrahan’s suggestions for playful books that celebrate Mother’s Day and other special occasions. One of Carol’s picks for ages 4-8 is A Mother’s Song by Janet Lawler, which she says is an endearing rhyming book about a young girl and her mother spending time together.

“The mother-daughter duo discovers one miracle of nature after another as they enjoy everything from listening to birds to making angels in the snow, “ McGarrahan says. “[It’s a] wonderful celebration of the bond between mothers and children.”

—Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Does your daughter look a lot like you? In honor of Mother's Day we're giving away a gift certificate for a portrait from A Moment Like This Photography & Video to the mother-daughter pair who looks the most alike. Visit our Contests page to enter.

My teen having sex? Impossible!

Birds do it, bees do it, but it’s hard for parents to conceive their teens do it. If you think your teen is innocent about sex and likely prey to the opposite sex’s carnal desires, you’re a typical parent.
That’s the gist of a new study from N.C. State University that drew from in-depth interviews with 47 parents of teenagers. It found that many parents think that their children aren’t interested in sex – but that everyone else’s kids are.

“Parents I interviewed had a very hard time thinking about their own teen children as sexually desiring subjects,” says Dr. Sinikka Elliott, an assistant professor of sociology at N.C. State and author of the study. In other words, parents find it difficult to think that their teenagers want to have sex.

And here’s the part that I found most revealing: While parents can’t imagine that their teens want to have sex, they view their teen’s peers as “highly sexual, even sexually predatory,” Elliott says. “By taking this stance, the parents shift the responsibility for potential sexual activity to others – attributing any such behavior to peer pressure, coercion or even entrapment,” he says.

For example, Elliott says, parents of teenage boys were often concerned that their sons may be lured into sexual situations by teenage girls who, the parents felt, may use sex in an effort to solidify a relationship. The parents of teenage girls, meanwhile, expressed fears that their daughters would be taken advantage of by sexually driven teenage boys.

Do I know this to be true? Absolutely! As the parent of two boys, I maintain (secretly, of course) that my friends who parent teen girls do not know how devious their female offspring are. “Why are boys always suspect and stereotyped as having rabid sexual desires?” I wonder.

Now I discover that I’m also guilty of stereotyping girls! Ironic, isn’t it, considering my gender.
But as is true with all stereotypes, they are not helpful to anyone, neither parents nor kids.

“By using sexual stereotypes to absolve their children of responsibility for sexual activity, the parents effectively reinforce those same stereotypes,” Elliott says.
Why is it so hard for us to see our children as sexual beings? Think back … we were teens once. Were we angels?

—Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

LEGO Festival arrives for Mother's Day

If your kids love LEGO, you're in for a treat this Mother's Day weekend. Raleigh-based TwoMorrows Inc. is launching the Triangle's first major Festival for LEGO Fans, dubbed BrickMagic 2010. The 2-day ticketed gathering takes place May 8-9 at the North Raleigh Hilton on Wake Forest Road.

This family-friendly event features professional LEGO builders showing off hundreds of their creations, animated LEGO films, a LEGO Boat Race, a chance to build a LEGO Rose for Mother's Day, a Mindstorms robotics competition, and other attractions focused around the ubiquitous plastic bricks.

Find more Mother's Day events to pamper yourself, escape with friends or have fun with your family in CarolinaParent.com's Mother's Day Guide to the Triangle. Visit our guide to find out about Stroller Strides free family class and Tropical Luau BBQ on Saturday, May 8.

TwoMorrows first started publishing BrickJournal, its magazine for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages, two years ago. With the success of the magazine, and of the Crabtree Mall LEGO store, BrickJournal editor and creator Joe Meno decided the Triangle was ready for a large LEGO event.

"I've been building with LEGO my whole life, and I've spearheaded similar events in other cities, and attended numerous ones in places like Chicago, Seatlle, Washington DC, and even Europe," said Meno. "The premier LEGO publication is produced here in Raleigh, and Raleigh's LEGO store is already one of LEGO's top performing stores in the US. So it only seemed fitting to hold BrickMagic here, and show everyone what a hotbed of LEGO activity the Triangle is."

Just a few of the amazing LEGO creations that will be on display include:

• An 8' long highly detailed World War II battleship recreation

• A working robotic LEGO WALL•E (based on the Disney/Pixar film character)

• An intricate LEGO cityscape, complete with functioning train system

• A 20' long LEGO drag strip with two working drag racers, which audience members can race against each

• LEGO recreations of scenes from the Harry Potter books and films

All the items on display are created by AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) from as far away as Texas and New York, who will travel to Raleigh for a private builders-only convention prior to the public festival. TwoMorrows Inc. president John Morrow notes, "We all played with LEGO bricks as kids, and a select few returned to pick them up again as adults to create fantastic works of art. But regardless of your age, when you see the exhibits the AFOLs are creating for BrickMagic, you'll feel your childlike sense of amazement return."

In conjunction with BrickMagic, Morrow and Meno are also spearheading the BrickFlix Film Festival, being held May 5 at the Carolina Theater in Durham. BrickFlix showcases animated brick films and other LEGO-themed shorts. Special guest David Pagano, an animator whose resumé includes work for the LEGO Group on "Space Police" and "The LEGO Club Show" will be on hand to demonstrate how his films are made, and take questions after each screening. There are two showings, at 7:00pm for all ages, and at 9:00pm for ages 16-up, due to a few scenes that may be too intense for very young viewers. Tickets are $4.75 in advance at the Carolina Theater box office, and starting at 6:30 pm the night of BrickFlix.

Single-day tickets to the BrickMagic LEGO Festival are $12 for Adults, and $8 for children and seniors, with a $1 discount per ticket if pre-ordered online. The event is also donating $1 for each student from participating area schools that attends, paid directly to their PTA. Full details about BrickMagic and BrickFlix can be found at www.brickmagic.org.

Triangle weekend brings free family fun!

Free family fun blows into the Triangle with a spring flair this weekend. Starting on Friday, you’ll find everything from a fiesta in Hillsborough, to a Spring Fling and Blast From the Past Family Fun Day in Raleigh. Apex hosts live performances, magicians, clowns and jugglers, and Carrboro features music, art, poetry, food and family fun. Plus, with Mother’s Day just a week away, check out our ideas for Pre-Mom’s Day fun for you and crafty ways to get your kids working on gifts for you.

Get your weekend off to a great start at Last Fridays in Hillsborough. The fiesta runs from 6:30-9:30 p.m. from April through September, featuring a free performance from a different band each month on the laws of the town’s historic courthouse.

You’ll also find more entertainment, as well as art vendors, an art walk pie contest. Don’t miss the juggling on the south lawn of the Old Courthouse and students from Grady Brown Elementary School dressed in costume as famous people from the past. Head to the “Ice-Cream church” to listen to exhilarating, New Orleans-style Dixieland music while you enjoy free ice cream. Find details of what’s happening where in this Last Fridays’ blog.

On Saturday, visit the Falls River Spring Fling from 10 a.m.-2 p/m. at the Falls River Town Center, on Durant Rd., in Raleigh. Enjoy bounce houses, face painting, decorating cupcakes by Lil’ Chef, arts & crafts, live music, great food and many Falls River Town Merchant discounts. Visit www.fallsrivertowncenter.com for details.

Also in Raleigh, history comes alive in Blast from the Past Family Fun Day. Mordecai Historic Park from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The park, at 1 Mimosa St., will host crafts, games, live performances, food, old-time cartoons, craft vendors and a celebration of history through five eras, including Colonial, Civil War, Victorian, Turn of the Century and World War II. Call 857-4364 or visit www.raleighnc.gov/mordecai.

Does your family love to play mini-golf? This Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., join in the 1st annual mini golf open for BounceBack Kids, a non-profit organization that provides athletic and recreational activities for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It’s happening at the Falls Golf Complex, 8515 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh, and each child that participates will receive a free snow cone! Drop by for fun that includes face painting.

In downtown Apex, take in live performances, magicians, clowns, jugglers and a car, truck and bike show, all part of Apex Peak Fest on Saturday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit www.apexpeakfest.com for more information.

Got a comedian in the family? Now you can let him or her act up in Carrboro. On Saturday, May 1, DSI Comedy Theater is opening its stage to families at 5 p.m. for its Family Improv show. Comedians from DSI Comedy Theater have been teaching young performers for more than a decade, and this show gives kids under age 12 a chance to be volunteers on stage with them. Tickets for the show cost $10 and $5 for kids. DSI Comedy Theater is located at 200 N. Greensboro Street, in the Carr Mill Mall between Elmo’s and Southern Rail. More information on DSI Comedy Theater is available online: www.DSIcomedy.com.

On Sunday afternoon, the 15th annual Carrboro Day kicks off featuring music, art, poetry, food and family fun. Everyone is invited to join in Carrboro's celebration of sustainability and diversity, which will be held at the Carrboro Commons and Town Hall at 301 West Main Street. Look for Mother Goose from 2-4 p.m., enjoy family crafts from 2-4 p.m. and family games from 3-5 p.m. You’ll find more details in this blog.

Looking ahead to next weekend, get a jump on fresh Mother’s Day gifts at the Eno River Farmers Market on May 8. You’ll find other Triangle-Area Places for Kids to Craft Mother’s Day Gifts in this blog. The best part? You get to hang out with other parents while they work on gifts. Some program require pre-registration, so go ahead and call now.

Also, how's this for a free pre-Mother's Day treat? Stroller Strides is offering a free family class and a free Tropical Luau BBQ on Saturday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m. It's all part of Strollers Strides grand opening event to celebrate its new Saturday & evening classes in Raleigh this summer. The company offers a total fitness program for new parents that they can do with their babies or stroller-age children. You’ll find more Pre-Mother’s Day events for moms and kids, in CarolinaParent.com’s Mother’s Day Guide.

—Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Prepare for Mothers Day at the Eno River Farmers Market

Got last-minute shoppers in your family? Here's a great idea for a fun outing ahead of Mother's Day that lets your family pick out fresh gifts for moms at the Eno River Farmers Market, in historic downtown Hilllborough.

The market, open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, will host a special Mother's Day event on May 8, where you can find sweet gifts, ranging from cut flowers and potted plants to decadent desserts. Plus, there will be a special activity where kids can make their own Mother's Day cards out of pressed flowers supplied by vendors. Debra Wuliger of Winking Moon Studios will lead the activity at her craft table. Wuliger, who provides young market visitors with a craft activity every week, is excited to help them honor their mothers with their art works.

Cut flower vendor Marcia Graff of Cut and Carry bouquets always looks forward to Mother's Day. Flowers are a tradition for the holiday, and Graff promises not to disappoint this year. “We will have irises, lilies, and peonies—all locally grown.”

Stephany Weston, the Queen of Tartes, suggests treating your mother to a sweet indulgence. She will be making cakes and pies featuring local ingredients and fresh eggs.

Whitted Bowers Farm will offer certified organic and biodynamic strawberries hand-dipped in dark chocolate by Matthew’s Chocolates.

Customers can also pick up recipes for fancy Mother's Day foods featuring seasonal ingredients and a celebratory flair.

In addition, the market vendors will have their usual abundance of fresh, local vegetables, pasture-raised meats, crafts, and baked goods.

The Eno River Farmers Market offers farm-fresh, organic produce, cheese, meat, eggs, baked goods, prepared foods, and crafts from local growers and producers. It is open to vendors who reside and produce the items they sell within a 60-mile radius of Hillsborough, NC. Vendors must be the original producer of their items.

For more information about Mother’s Day at the Market and the Eno River Farmers Market, visit www.enoriverfarmersmarket.com. For more Pre-Mother's Day Events, visit CarolinaParent.com's Mother's Day Guide.

Recipe: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Feta

Ingredients

* 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
* 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
* 1 tablespoon brown sugar
* 1 cup light olive oil
* 1 pound baby spinach or 1 head romaine, bibb or green leaf lettuce, torn into small pieces
* 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
* 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
* almonds or walnuts, chopped and toasted

Directions

Wash the spinach or lettuce and dry well. In a bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, and brown sugar. In a salad bowl, toss the spinach or lettuce with the dressing. Sprinkle the strawberry slices, the feta and the nuts over the top.

Farmers Market opens with family-friendly event!

If your kids like to dig in the dirt, and you enjoy hula hooping, blue grass, Carolina barbecue, going green and eating local hormone-free food, take note. You’ll find all this fun and more when the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market season kicks off with a Pig Pickin’ event on Wednesday, April 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will feature festivities that showcase eastern North Carolina’s culture, cuisine, and agriculture.

Enjoy authentic whole-hog, pit-cooked barbeque prepared by legendary Chef Ed Mitchell and fellow staffers from The Pit, learn barbeque secrets during Pitmaster Mitchell’s chef demonstration, listen to bluegrass music by Old Habits, and bring your kids for a family-friendly gardening activity. The market, produced by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, opens at 10 a.m. but the official inauguration will begin at 11:15 am when Mayor Meeker rings the market’s opening bell—the farmers markets’ version of a ribbon cutting.

At left, Chef Ed Mitchell, photo courtesy of Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market

The Pit’s barbeque sandwiches, prepared with pork from market vendor, Poplar Creek Farm, will be available for $5. These sandwiches, and all of the pork used at the Pit, are made from free-range, hormone-free pigs that meet the rigorous standards of Animal Welfare Institute, which promotes humane animal treatment.

Market partner, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has partnered with Be Active North Carolina to offer market goers reusable shopping bags, provide education on the five components of physical fitness for adults, and offer free activities such as hula hooping, jumping rope, and skillastics (fitness game) on opening day. Be Active North Carolina will also provide information on their Movement for Motion program and will feature a raffle drawing for prizes.

Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) will allow kids to dig in the dirt as they participate in activities to teach them the importance of where their food comes from. AHA is a diverse group of organizations and community members working together so that healthful eating and physical activity is the way of life in Wake County.

While at the market, shoppers can embrace green initiatives by signing up for the SmartCommute Challenge, a program aimed at reducing our carbon footprint. The SmartCommute Challenge is an annual spring campaign coordinated by GoTriangle and SmartCommute@rtp. The goal of the campaign is to encourage Triangle commuters to try an alternative commute (not driving alone) to work or campus such as riding the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, teleworking, biking, walking, or riding an electric scooter or Segway. While at the SmartCommute booth, customers can try riding a foldable bicycle from Melon Bicycles.

The new market is a reinvention of its predecessor, the Moore Square Farmers Market. Its relocation to City Plaza on Fayetteville Street places the market in the heart of downtown activity. In addition to the new location, the market has a new name, new look, and new website, RaleighEatLocal.com. The market will feature farmers and food artisans, and the 2010 season will feature food festivals, chef demonstrations, tastings, and weekly entertainment.

Shop at the Market for farm fresh fruits and vegetables, pork, beef, poultry, seafood, cheeses, jams and jellies, eggs, baked goods, plant starts, flowers, and more! Find a bounty of fresh, sustainably-grown produce and artisan food each Wednesday from April 28 through Oct. 27 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Connect with your community farmers and choose local—it’s the healthiest and most nutritious way to eat. For more information, visit RaleighEatLocal.com.

Famed explorer to speak in Durham

Do your kids dream of exploring foreign lands and cultures? They can hear true adventures from a real life explorer on Sunday, May 9, at the Museum of Life and Science, in Durham. That's when National Geographic explorer Helen Thayer will be sharing stories and photographs from her latest journey. Helen and her husband, Bill, walked 7,000 miles across Africa's Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains and the vast Serengeti plains, while living with the Maasai, Bushmen and Berber tribes.

Their program, "Walking Africa…Exploration of Africa’s Cultures and Wildlife,” runs from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on May 9. Tickets are $15 for non-museum members, $5 for museum members and may be purchased by calling (919) 220.5429, ext. 313.

Helen’s many accomplishments have earned her the title as one of the most important explorers of the 20th century by National Geographic. She is the first woman to walk solo to any of the world's poles. She also walked across the Gobi desert, kayaked more than 1,000 miles of remote rivers in the Brazilian Amazon and Pantenal, and trekked 800 miles in the Canadian Yukon and northern Alaska.

To learn more, visit www.LifeandScience.org.

Helen Thayer with the Maasai Tribe, image courtesy of Helen Thayer