Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage at the Academy of Music

It's been a long winter and I am ready for a night out in the city. Luckily, one of my all-time favorite movies is on stage at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and it looks amazing!

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is going to be at the Academy of Music later this month. The staged musical of this worldwide smash-hit film arrives in Philadelphia for a two-week engagement beginning March 24 through April 5.

If you have never been to the Academy of Music, you have to go! The theater is beautiful, parking is easy and every show I've ever seen there with my husband has been wonderful.

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is the timeless love story featuring heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. The stage adaptation features the hit songs “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life,” “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” and “Do You Love Me?”   

Tickets for Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, are still available by calling 215-731-3333, online at kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center box office (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office (Broad & Locust Sts.) during performances only. Get your tickets and get ready for the time of your life. And, remember, Nobody puts Baby in the corner.

Art Splash at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Have you heard about The Philadelphia Museum of Art's new summer program for kids? Their Art Splash program gives kids a chance to explore, create, and play through art and imagination.

Through this special program, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s main building has been transformed into a special place where families can "Meet the Masterpieces" as select treasures from the Museum's collection come to life through gallery explorations, studio-art creations, and imaginative play for visitors of all ages. Upcoming events include:

- Trip around the World - Now through Aug. 17, 2014

- Medieval Worlds - August 19–24, 2014

- Tea and Treasure - August 26–September 1, 2014

Do your kids like to cook?

On Wednesday August 20th, Stephen Starr Events & Catering along with Philadelphia Art Museum will host a kids cooking class as part of the museum's summer family friendly Art Splash programming.

At “Cook with Your Kids,” parents and kids will be able to participate in a fun, interactive cooking demonstration and learn tips on how to cook at home together from Executive Chef Gerald Drummond who helms the kitchen at the museum's Granite Hill restaurant.

The unique class will be located in Philadelphia Art Museum’s Cafeteria from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The class is $45, $40 for members and can be purchased online here. Children must be 6 years of age or older to participate. 

For all other Art Splash events, go to: Art Splash at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Reasons to Love Minor League Baseball!

After a long snowy winter, I am ready for some summer fun with my kids. For us, that means, swimming, road trips, and baseball, among other things. Summer is the perfect time for a minor league baseball game, and if you've never gone to a minor league game, I urge you to check it out.

If you've been to a minor league game in the past, you might already know why these are great for families, and if not, this is a must read: Summer Fun for Kids: Minor League Baseball Games. I'll share the reasons that I love minor league baseball games, and why you might love them too!

Wizard of Oz at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia

 This is a sponsored post 

Two things that I love are coming together and I have a feeling it is going to be magical.  THE WIZARD OF OZ will follow the yellow brick road to Philadelphia for a limited engagement at the Academy of Music from June 3 – June 8, and I am so excited about this show!

“We're off to see..." the most magical adventure of them all. Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of The Wizard of Oz is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic, totally reconceived for the stage by the award-winning creative team that recently delighted London and Toronto audiences with the revival of The Sound of Music. Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay, this new production contains all the beloved songs from the Oscar®-winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy, and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizardand obtain their hearts' desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for all the family.

Whether it's a rare date night with my husband or a mom & son night out in the city, Broadway Philadelphia is always phenomenal. 

Performances include:

• Tuesday – Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday & Saturday evening at 8 p.m.
• Matinees Saturday at 2 p.m.
• Sunday at 1 p.m. and
• A weekday matinee on Thursday, June 5 at 2 p.m.

If you want to see ths Wizard of Oz, you can get tickets ranging in price from $20 to $115.50 by calling 215-731-3333 or going online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway. They even have discounted groups rates for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. If you go, come back here and let me know how it was!

Sports & Soccer Camp: Delaware County & Mongomery County PA

Do you live in Aston, Upper Dublin, Springfield, Media, Ridley Park PA or surrounding areas?  If so, I want to tell you about a summer camp for your little sports lover!  

Future Captain Sports is now registering for their sports & soccer camps. Whether your child is on an intramural soccer team, advanced travel team, or just likes to play sports in the backyard, their coaching staff is dedicated to the development and growth for all ages and skill levels. 

Their sports camps give kids an opportunity to enjoy some of their favorite activities, including: soccer, baseball, kickball, ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, tag, obstacle courses and more! The soccer camps focus on technical and tactical skills in a fun and encouraging environment. 

Register for one of their Soccer or Sport Camps by May 31st and Save $10 Using Code LFFK2014.

Learn more on the Future Captain Sports website.

Collegiate Rugby Championship Ticket Giveaway

If you have a rugby fan in your house and live in the Philadelphia area, here's an event & ticket giveaway just for you! The Collegiate Rugby Championship is coming to PPL Park and it's going to be an action packed event with some of the country's top college rugby players.

The Collegiate Rugby Championship is the premier college rugby tournament in the country, and serves as a national platform for America's future Olympians. The current USA RugbySevens National team includes 3 full-time players who have competed in the CRC tournament within the past two-years. The tournament features 20 of the top college teams, including local teams Drexel, Penn, Temple, St. Joe’s and Penn State, competing in 44 matches across two-days as they vie for the coveted Pete Dawkins trophy.

Details:

Event:    Collegiate Rugby Championship

Date:      Saturday, May 31 – Sunday, June 1

Venue:    PPL Park, 1 Stadium Drive, Chester, PA

 Looking for a promo code? It's your lucky day, because I have a discount code for you!

Promo Code: BLOG

Valid for all session and single day. Use discount code to save $5 per ticket. Not valid on youth tickets.

www.philadelphiaunion.com/promo

PPL Park is one of my favorite local venues. It's modern and I think it's very family-friendly too.  This is a very popular event, so if you want tickets, you can order them online today at the Philadelphia Union website.

On behalf of #CRC2014, I'm giving away 4 tickets to one Local Fun for Kids reader!

Enter using the rafflecoptor widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spring Break at Longwood Gardens

 

What can I say about Longwood Gardens that I haven't already said before? Longwood is one of my favorite places to go with my kids. It's our happy place.

My kids love being able to run around and explore the treehouses, flowers, and exhibits that change with each season. There really is something magical about this place. Yet, I know my words don't do it justice, so I want to share some photos from our trip to Longwood during Spring Break.

If you've never heard of Longwood Gardens before, it is one of the premier botanical gardens in the U.S. where visitors can enjoy live events and performances, seasonal attractions and exhibits, as well educational lectures, courses, and workshops. It consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows and is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (just outside of Philadelphia.)

Longwood is incredibly kid friendly. Their events calendar is packed with fun family events and performances througout the year, but even on a day without a special event, we can spend hours there exploring the gardens. 

Here's a peek at the towering bamboo in the Children's Garden at Longwood. This area is filled with hands-on water features, a variety of sculptures, a secret stairway, and lots of lush foliage and bright flowers. 

A good tip is to save the Children's Garden until the end of your visit, or make sure your kids are wearing short sleeved tops. There are so many cool water features in the Children's Garden, and my kids always get wet!

This is just one reason why my kids love this place as much as I do. It truly is a feast for the senses. They can touch the statues in the Children's area, listen the music from the bell tower, see the gorgeous flowers, and climb the grassy hills. You can see above that they really enjoy painting the sculpture with paint-brushes dipped in water.  

At Longwood Gardens, there is literally something around every corner that captures your attention. If you haven't been there yet and live in the area, I suggest you put in on your spring or summer to do list. We have been there more times than I can count, and I hope this is just the beginning of our Longwood memories.

Go to longwoodgardens.org for more information about this amazing place!

Steve Songs in Philly on February 9th! Enter to WIN his CD Orangutan Van!

My kids and I watch PBS Kids all the time, so we're always singing along with SteveSongs! 

SteveSongs, known and loved by millions as Mr. Steve from PBS KIDS preschool destination  is coming to Philly! His  signature songs are educational, entertaining, silly, but always seriously good music that both kids and parents can enjoy -- a full family experience. He has an exceptional ability to connect with and engage his audience – from the exuberant children flocking towards the stage, to the moms bouncing babies with the beat, to the parents and grandparents singing and grooving along.

Don't miss the show at the World Cafe Live on February 9. The doors will open at 11a and the show will begin at 11:30am. Tickets are $10 and available HERE.

Would you like to win a copy fo Steve's latest cd- Orangutan Van? Enter to win by using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.”

- Emory Austin

Summer Fun for Kids: Minor League Baseball Games

Growing up with my sisters, I never thought twice about baseball. We played sports throughout childhood, but weren't particularly "sporty." An afternoon at a baseball field would have felt like torture, but, it's amazing how being the mom to 2 boys has completely changed me. Over the past few years, my sons have grown to love baseball, and my husband and I are along for the ride with our hands held high!

Our local MLB team is the Philadelphia Phillies and there are a million reasons to love them.  There is no doubt that going to a Phillies game is exciting, but, sometimes less is more. When it comes to Minor League vs. Major League baseball, I have to admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for the minors. 

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Here are 4 reasons why I love taking my kids to the Minor League baseball games:

• The kids can actually see the players.  When you're at a smaller stadium, there really isn't a bad seat in the house.  This is great for younger kids who tend to lose interest more easily.  When they can actually see the players up close it helps to keep them focused on the game.

• I get to enjoy myself too! I don't feel overwhelmed by taking my kids to a Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game.  As a parent, it can be stressful going to over-crowded places where I could blink and lose my child. However, the local Minor League stadium is smaller which makes everything easier and more fun. The free parking is just steps away from the main gate. Finding our seats is a piece of cake, and the bathrooms and concessions are all extremely convenient too. 

• The tickets are a fraction of what it would have cost to go to a Major League game. We're on a budget and family entertainment can add up fast.  My family had 6th row tickets to the minor league game and it only cost about $50 for the entire family. That's a great price for a night out with the family!

• Minor League baseball games tend to be very family oriented.  I've seen moon bounces, clowns, and on-field entertainment throughout the game to keep the kids entertained. If my husband and eldest son are glued to the game but my younger son loses interest, I can just stroll around the stadium with him and find other things to do.  Often times, we even see people we know, which makes it more fun too.

Overall, it's a much more relaxed setting, which is great for families of young children. 

Have you ever been to a Minor League Baseball game with your kids? Will you be watching some baseball games this summer? Click here to find a Minor League game near you.

Reminder: Register at KidsBowlFree.com

Just a reminder that it's time to sign up for the Kids Bowl Free program. 

Kids Bowl Free is a summer bowling program hosted by 1000 bowling centers in the US & Canada.  Kids receive 2 free games of bowling everyday during the summer.  There is no cost to participate. 

How do you register for The Kids Bowl Free Program?  

You can watch this video to learn more or just head on over to KidsBowlFree.com to sign up. Registration is open now for many centers now and more are opening every day.

Pssst... they are are working on mobile coupons, so hopefully we'll be using this new paperless system soon!

Have you participated in this program? Are you a loyal Kids Bowl Free family?

 Continue here to read: 5 Reasons Why Bowling is Fun For Kids