KidsOutAndAbout.com newsletter

Sent May 2, 2008

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Dear KOA readers:

It was Ella's 7th birthday this week, so for a surprise I decided to take her alone to a place I'd been meaning to investigate since it opened in the fall: Sweet and Sassy Salon, a spa/salon just for girls, located in the center across from Pittsford Plaza. Wow, what a fun place! I have written up the experience in an article with photos at http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/city-articles/SweetandSassy.html.

2) Every other day, a reader sends me the question, "What was that farm you've talked about, where you can buy a share in the produce for $10/week?" That's Windy Meadow Farms, they're located in West Walworth, and weekly deliveries of delicious fresh produce to locations throughout Rochester start at the end of June. I took a trip out to the farm yesterday, and Brenda and her lovely daughters showed Ella and me all over: The equipment, the barns, the fields, the cows and horses, and the new baby chicks. Their slots are almost full for the season, though; after they are all sold, they'll put people on a waiting list. They just put up a new giveaway on KidsOutAndAbout.com, their last giveaway of the season. To see more about the giveaway, go to http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/city-articles/giveaways.html. And to learn more about Windy Meadow Farms, go to www.windymeadowfarms.com.

3) Speaking of giveaways, our other live giveaway is from Amber Brewster, an independent comfort specialist for Jockey Person to Person. She is hosting a drawing for a Limited Edition T-shirt.

4) And we have some congratulations to deliver for previous giveaways: Congratulations to Elisa of Rochester, winner of the gift certificate giveaway from hairstylist Marie Avallone at Salon Hermitage on Monroe Avenue. Please visit Marie's website at www.SalonHermitage.com for more information about her hair services. During the month of May for all KidsOutAndAbout.com subcribers, Marie is offering all parents a free haircut when getting a color, highlight or perm. Please mention the KidsOutAndAbout.com website to get the offer.

Congratulations to Caurie from Brockport, who was the winner of the healing stone pendant from Lisa Dye. You can see more of Lisa's creations at can view some of what I have done on my MySpace pictures at myspace.com/peacemomma, or at Meddy's Musings on Main St. in Williamson.

Congratulations to Amber from Henrietta, who won tickets to this Sunday's Pirate and Princess Party from the Rochester Children's Theatre at Nazareth College Art Center. There are two seatings: 11am and 1:30pm, and the cost is $12 ticket. For more information, go to http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=15385. If you're going to the 1:30 show, so are we, so if you see us, please say hello. Ella will be the 7-year-old in the pale lilac princess dress celebrating her birthday.

5) I just received a review copy of a book with teacher's guide and student workbook, called Friends, Like You, by Melissa Griswold, M.E.D. It is a lovely little 32-page book for early-to-mid-elementary-age kids, about what it's like to be hard of hearing. Kids get to read a storybook about Max and Molly, two kids who have different types of hearing loss and who have different devices (hearing aids/cochlear implant) to help them manage it. Ella and Madison's lifelong friend Dario is hard of hearing, and I was extremely pleased to see that some of the tips that the book provides to make sure your hard-of-hearing friends understand you were things that I hadn't even thought of. The girls had never given much thought to Dario's hearing impairment, and it was fascinating to see how interested they were as this book showed what it's like for him. I'm going to try to do a review of the book for KOA, but I thought I'd give you a heads-up immediately in case your child has a hearing impairment or knows someone who does. My impression is that this is mostly used by teachers when there is a hard-of-hearing student in their classroom, but I plan to use it as little exercises in our home school as well. The early education kit, including teacher's guide, student workbook, and the Friends, Like You book is $24.95. You can see more about the book, with sample pages and an order form, at http://www.clarkeschool.org/content/news/books.php.

6) This week, a reader had a good suggestion: To encourage readers whose kids and families are involved with organizations that have fundraising dinners and breakfasts and the like to put those events on the KidsOutAndAbout.com calendar. She writes:

"We just love going to church suppers, scout spaghetti dinners, firehouse breakfasts. But I often don't know they are happening unless I happen to drive by and see a sign out. I know I'm missing out on some great eats this way. And eating for a good cause is always good!"

7) Another KOA reader, also named Debra, reported to me on last week's sheep-shearing event out at Springdale Farms:

We went to the sheep-shearing day at Springdale Farms this weekend and the kids had a blast, as always, but they charged $5 per adult. I had *no idea* and was so glad that we happened to have money with us. Just a heads-up for next year, or other special events they may have, since it's normally free.

Thanks for the report, Debra! Everyone, keep it in mind for next year.

8) Every spring and fall, the MOMS Club of Henrietta East sponsors a "Baby Bazaar and More." There is table space for both members and non-members to sell their used or new baby and kids items. The event has grown tremendously over the past few years, as a fantastic way for moms to clear out their basements and kids closets, and an even better way for families to come shop at many different "sales" all at once, to find clothing, toys and furniture for their kids. The Spring Baby Bazaar and More will be held this year tomorrow, Saturday, May 3rd from 9am - 2pm at the Henrietta United Church of Christ (1400 Lehigh Station Rd).

9) Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival is poised to become the new annual kickoff to Rochester’s rich festival season.

Imagine RIT, which will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3, on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus, is designed to demonstrate what can be accomplished when, as RIT President Bill Destler likes to say, “the right and left brain collide.”

More than 400 interactive exhibits and displays will be featured in various locations across campus. Topics include new ideas for products and services, the creative arts, research and design projects and unique performing arts productions. Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival will include live entertainment, plus carnival rides and inflatables for the kids.

You can see more about Imagine RIT at http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=15326.

10) Rita Moreno will read to children at Rochester High Falls International Film Festival tomorrow! And The festival will screen close to 30 children and youth films.

On Saturday, May 3 at 11:10 am, Oscar/Tony/Grammy award-winning actress/singer/dancer and star Rita Moreno will kick off the annual "Children’s Shorts from Around the World" film screening at the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival, at the Little Theatre, downtown Rochester, with a reading of a children’s book selected in collaboration with the Rochester Public Library. Tickets are $8.

It was so hard to get information about this event; the Festival sent me a press release yesterday, but it *didn't contain where it was*. So I contacted The Little Theatre. They were nice enough to let me know about it; it's indeed at The Little, and if you order tickets online you need to go elsewhere (somewhere on East Ave) to pick them up, so that may not be the best way to get tickets. The Little's box office will open at 10:10am tomorrow, so if you want to go to this, you'd probably need to start lining up before then. Good luck!

Moreno’s reading will be followed by a selection of international children’s shorts from such countries as Ethiopia, Ireland, France, Italy as well as several shorts from Australia.

On Saturday, May 3 at dusk (approx. 7:30 pm) a selection of the best festival short films from the RHFIFF children’s archives will be shown at the Highland Bowl.

For a full listing of the children’s films that will be screened as well as dates and locations, please visit www.rochestersmoviefest.com.

11) The Junie B. Jones Stupid Smelly Bus Tour is coming to Brockport! It will be Wednesday, May 14, with shows at 11am & 4pm. There will be a live performance starring Junie B. and Mr Woo! The tour is sponsored by Random House Children's Books and Lift Bridge Book Shop. The pair will arrive on the bright pink "Stupid Smelly" School Bus, and will be bringing Junie B. Jones' "Big Pink Trunk of Junk" to perform a "Show and Tell" with children, sharing instantly recognizable items from the Junie B Jones series. A bookstamping will follow. Junie will only stamp books- one book from home; unlimited books purchased at Lift Bridge Book Shop or at the event.

12) I wrote in last week's newsletter about how our local Broadway revue group A Magical Journey Thru Stages produces its shows as fundraisers for local charities. This Saturday evening , their new show Some Enchanted Evening is a fundraiser for Saint Martin's Place, which prepares and serves hot nutritious meals to those in need and is located on Ontario Street in Rochester. The show starts at 7:30 PM, but at 7PM, they will have a terrific children's gospel chorus sing a few songs. So if you're going this Saturday, make sure to show up early!

(Oh, by the way, I'm archiving the newsletters now...just click on the nice red "Newsletters" tab on top of any KOA page for a link to past newsletters.)

13) Tomorrow's Science Saturday at the RMSC is "Fun With Math." Those of you who have read the newsletter for years know that my husband David has been doing this show annually with a colleague for many years. For all of you who went last year: This year's puzzles, presentations, and skits are different! They'll be there between 11am and 4pm with a few shows throughout the day.

14) Do you know anything about Ukrainian Arts? Neither do I, but there's very little excuse for me because I'm 1/4 Ukrainian. Tomorrow afternoon, May 3, is the perfect excuse to introduce my kids to what it's all about at a Barabolya Childrens Concert sponsored by the Ukrainian Arts Foundation of Greater Rochester. It's in Webster, at The Ukrainian Home of Rochester, at 1040 Jackson Road, from 3:00-4:30. Admission is $6.

You know, this newsletter is getting awfully LONG and I haven't even scratched the surface of this weekend's events. We have things like:

Saturday: The Summer Sizzle, a show from the Sing-Out Company; Blow the Whistle on Asthma and Lung Disease Walk; Bear Country weekend at Strong; GOT KIDS - Fun and Fitness Focus Group at the Pieters Family Life Center; Little Links Miniature Golf Challenge at the just-opened-for-the-season Wickham Farms; ABC Preschool Club at Long Acre Farms...and more.

Sunday: Iceberg at the Webster Aquatic Center; WOWEE Wildlife Extra from World of Wildlife Educational Encounters at the Main St Armory; Color Brighton Green Energy Fair, in Buckland Park; Garage Sale Fundraiser from Temple Beth El's Parent Teacher Organization; Mother's Day Tea at the Barnes & Noble in Webster; Salamanders, Frogs, & Polliwogs is the 2pm hike at the Genesee Country Village in Mumford.

And...there is more, believe it or not. Please check out the calendar for this week through next weekend at
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-search-display.php?dr=tw&EventCity=1

Have a great weekend!

Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com

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