Spring Hunt and Mother's Brunch

Hi everyone!

I hope you have all marked your calendars to join us for our Annual Spring Hunt at 10:30am and this year we are going to head to the West End Community center for our Mother's Brunch at 11am.

Please meet us by the playground by J.Pace and we'll start from there! Please bring a bag or basket or something to put the eggs into. If your kids don't want to keep the actual eggs, we will have a bag to collect them for next year!

If you can, and would like to, please bring something to share for the brunch. There will be some fruit and goodies there, but we love the personal touches of treats from the community!

Hope to see you all there!
Contact me for questions or if you can help us out! Westendparentsgroup@gmail.com.

Thanks!

From the Friends of Phillips Street Playground

The Friends of the Phillips Street Playground is again going to run a used book sale on Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. 

The sale will take place in the Phillips Street Park (behind #19 Phillips Street on Beacon Hill). 

This year, the event will include the sale of used books for adults and children, DVD's of all types, CD's, Children's toys and a bake sale and lemonade stand run by some of the children in the community.  We will be posting fliers around the city and the event will be publicized in various papers and on-line. 

All proceeds from this sale will go to pay for children's programs that are taking place this spring and summer in the Phillips Street Park on Beacon Hill. 

We have many events scheduled including music programs, picnics in the park with various forms of entertainment, and the fall harvest festival, so we definitely need to raise some money to cover the costs of these events.  The purpose of this email is to make you aware of this event early so that you mark it on your calendar and attend and to suggest that you go through your books, dvd's, cd's and kids toys (clear the clutter out of your house) and donate them to this event. 

The drop off for your items is as follows:

Where:    Vilna Shul- located at #18 Phillips Street on Beacon Hill

Time:      10:30-5:00

Dates:     Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday May 3,4,5,10,11,12,17,18,19 and Sunday, May 8,115 and 22 (early)

If you are not able to drop off your items, please call me at

617-448-7490 and we will arrange to pick them up.

Making plans for April Vacation??

Do you know the Science Park/West End T stop is closing??

Next Tuesday, the MBTA is holding a community meeting to describe services changes along the Green Line due to the Science Park/West End T Station accessibility project.

The meeting begins at 6:00pm at Amy Lowell House, 45 Martha Rd

Chiara

West End Library

Thanks Karyn!

Karyn wrote:
At the library yesterday she said they have a tutor available late afternoon/early evening for school aged kids to help with homework but because there is not a school nearby they often have no children. So the tutor will do small crafts and read to the preschool age kids when she is free from homework

Chiara

Watch the signs!!

Street cleaning starts again tomorrow!!
April 1st thru November 30th!!

So watch those signs and be careful where you park!

Check this site to find out about certain streets! http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sweeping/

Chiara

Mother's Day is coming!

For all the Dad's out there, Mother's Day is May 8th! Make your reservations in the next week or so to have a better shot at dining at a time you choose!! Not what's left! It's a busy day :)

For all the Families : we are having our Annual Spring Hunt the following Saturday, May 14th, 10:30am on Thoreau Path, with a Mother's Brunch following at 11am at the West End Community Center!

Save the date!! :)

SNOW??!

So, heavy wet snow is in our forecast on Friday! :( Possibly up to a foot!

I, personally, am DONE with winter! I'm going to will it away and put my big winter coat away! Let's see if it works!!
I bought new beach towels for goodness sake!

Here's to hoping!

Chiara
West End Parents Group

Harvard-Kent Open House!

Welcome!  The Harvard-Kent is a Boston Public School for grades K1-5. 

 For those who have been assigned to the Harvard-Kent or those that would like more information to determine if they would like to register for the Harvard-Kent in the second cycle (which ends on March 31, 2011), the Harvard-Kent would like to welcome you to an Open House on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm.  

The agenda includes the following:
• Meet the principal Richard Martin
• Tour the kindergarten classrooms (K1 and K2)
• Meet Ms. Nunez, a K2 teacher
• Meet Ms. Collings, the K1 teacher
• Learn the size and composition of the kindergarten classrooms and student/teacher ratio
• Learn about the kindergarten curriculum, including care before and after school options
• An average day in the life of a Harvard-Kent kindergartener
• The school culture
• Any questions you might have about K1/K2 or the school in general
You will enter from the Tremont Street side of the building. 

 Please email harvardkentwelcome@gmail.com if you would like to attend this event. 
Thank you. 
 
The Enrollment Committee of Harvard-Kent


Chiara
West End Parents Group

Thinking about Summer and the Pool?!

The Clubs at Charles River Park are ramping up for summer with an early bird special – 10% off summer memberships and 4 free guest passes with each adult summer membership purchase!  This offer expires 4/20/11 & some restrictions apply. 

Visit
http://www.clubsatcrp.com/summer-season-pool/ for more information or stop by The Clubs at 10 Whittier Place.


Chiara
West End Parents Group

Is this Spring???

It's cold out there today!

It's nice to see the sun, but that wind is COLD!

Someone mentioned a bathing suit today, and it just gave me chills.  The thought of being that exposed, with the wind,....brrrrrr!! Can't wait to put the winter coats away, and break out the sandals and shorts!

Stay warm and let's be optimistic :)
The pool opens Memorial Day weekend!

Nanny looking for full time!

Hi everyone!
Hong, whom I am sure many of you know, is looking for a full time position starting July 1st! She has been watching kids in the West End for years!! She watched Olivia and Peter, and most recently Melisa and Errol.
She is definitely a Nanny that I recommend. She is always busy with the kids and very attentive.
She is Chinese and speaks Mandarin. She is looking for a long term position with a great family.
Please contact her directly at:
Hong he
Honghered@gmail
781-330-8809
You can always email us directly at westendparentsgroup@gmail.com for a reference.

The Little Mermaid!!

Location:	50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills, MA, 02481
Phone:	781-400-1411
Dates:	Saturday, March 26, 2011 - Sunday, March 27, 2011
Hours:	2:15 PM-4:00 PM
Ages:	Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor
Cost:	$12 general admission $6 children under 12 $10 for seniors

All About Us, a non-profit children’s theater group, presents an original version of The Little Mermaid on Saturday and Sunday, March 26th and 27th at 2:15 p.m. at MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills. This cast is made up of talented children from the metropolitan Boston area, including Needham, Natick, Newton, Wellesley, Dedham and Dover.

Tickets are general admission and may be purchased at the door for $12, children under 12 are $6, and senior adults are $10. Special group rates are available for groups of 20+. For information, please visit www.allaboutusinc.com. To reserve tickets, call 781-400-1411.

Metropolitan Water Works Museum: Grand Opening

Location:	2450 Beacon, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
Phone:	617-277-0065
Dates:	Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun from 3/27/11 - 3/27/11
Hours:	Wednesday - 11AM - 9:00 PM Thursday-Sunday - 11:00 AM - 4:00PM
Ages:	Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor, Outdoor
Cost:	Free

Enjoy the grand opening event for this new discovery and learning museum devoted to the environmental, technological and historical aspects of the supply of clean water to metropolitan Boston from the founding of the city to the present. The museum is located at 2450 Beacon Street, across the street from the historic Chestnut Hill Reservoir (recently re-named Chestnut Hill Reservation), in the Brighton section of Boston.

The Metropolitan WaterWorks Museum Inc. is a newly formed and locally based non-profit organization. Its distinguished Board of Directors is drawn from Boston and the neighboring communities of Brookline and Newton. The Board brings a remarkable wealth of knowledge in the areas of museum operations, architecture, industrial technology, history, historic preservation, and landscape design, as well as finance, management, real estate, fundraising, and community leadership.

The new museum, situated in one of Boston's most magnificent and recognizable structures, will provide exhibitions, programs and collections that explore and interpret a number of important themes:
• the role of clean water in the development of Boston, past and present;
• the architectural history and significance of the Metropolitan Water Works and its water system;
• steam technology and the preservation and restoration of three original steam engines that soar almost three stories high; and
• water conservation and environmental issues related to preserving and maintaining clean water for everyone.

NEW Exhibit! Giant Anteater at the Franklin Park Zoo!!

Location:	1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA, 02121 map
Phone:	617-541-5466
Dates:	Saturday, April 2, 2011 - Saturday, April 2, 2011
Hours:	10 AM - 5 PM weekdays 10 AM - 6 PM weekends
Ages:	Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens
In/Outdoor:	Indoor
Cost:	Admission to zoo

Zoo New England is pleased to announce that a new giant anteater exhibit will open April 2 inside the Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo.

The exhibit will be the new home for Jockamo, a year-old giant anteater. Giant anteaters are the largest known species of anteater, reaching 6-8 feet in length and weighing between 60-140 pounds.

“The giant anteater exhibit is a perfect fit for the Tropical Forest. Visitors will be amazed by this animal’s incredible adaptations and its distinct appearance. We’re thrilled to open this exhibit and educate people about this unique animal,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO.

The giant anteater’s long, tube-like head extends up to 18 inches and is truncated by a small mouth. This animal can consume up to 1,000 insects in a few minutes with its sticky 2-foot-long tongue, and up to 30,000 ants and termites in a day.

To highlight the way giant anteaters eat, a special feeding tube, designed to give visitors a rare glimpse at this animal’s exceptionally long, sticky tongue as it rapidly consumes insects, will be presented periodically at the exhibit. While the feeding tube is not a permanent fixture in the exhibit, zookeepers will present it to the anteater during scheduled zookeeper encounters.

Giant anteaters are terrestrial mammals that live in moist tropical forests, dry deciduous forests, as well as swamp, savannah and grassland habitats. Their historic range is from the southern tip of Mexico down to Honduras and south through South America. These striking animals are noted for their distinct coloration and the general coat pattern is predominately brown or grey. Visitors will notice a large black stripe, surrounded by a thin outline of white, beginning beneath the snout and ending about mid-torso. The hair on their long bushy tails can reach up to 40 centimeters in length.

Big Apple Circus: Dance On!!

Location:	City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA map
Phone:	(888) 541-3750
Dates:	Saturday, April 2, 2011 - Sunday, May 15, 2011
Hours:	The performance is 2 hours and 15 minutes long, including a 15-minute intermission.
Ages:	Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor
Cost:	$$ see below

The spectacular Big Apple Circus leaps into its 33rd Season with a thrilling All-New Show, Dance On! The World’s Greatest Circus artists swing into action in the spotlight under our intimate Big Top, where no seat is more than 50 feet from the ring!

Invited to the dance: an awesome troupe of monocyclists and lasso twirlers from China! A mind–bending group of Mongolian contortionists! A kinetic collection of Kenyan athletes who shimmy up a pole as though gravity were a joke! A herd of hoofers — twelve miniature horses in an equine chorus line! And an Ethiopian juggler with a lively up–tempo act that’s hard to beat!

Your Host is our charming and charismatic Ringmaster Kevin Venardos, aided with antic abandon by star clowns Rob Torres and of course, our leggy, lovable laugh–riot Grandma! With live music by the Big Apple Circus Band, there’ll be cavorting in the aisles — and even the audience will be dancing in their seats!

The Big Apple Circus comes to Boston each year in spring. This years performance will be at City Hall Plaza. Check their website for specific schedules and venues. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and at www.BosTixJr.org.

Cost

---

Tickets range in price from $15 to $100 for Saturday, Sunday and Patriots Week shows, from $20 to $62 for weekday evening shows, and from $20 to $28 for 11 AM weekday matinees. Premium seating for $100 is available for Saturday, Sunday and all Patriots Week (4/21 – 4/24) shows. Tickets are available by calling (888) 541-3750 or at www.bigapplecircus.org.

Did you get in??

So people are finding out if they got into the Boston Public Schools they chose!

Let us know if you got in and where!!
We hope you got your choice, and are staying in the city!

This is the whole public school process for Boston Public Schools

Here is an article that tells it how it is pretty clearly!

As written in Boston Magazine:

The zones vary in size: the North Zone, for example, goes all the way from East Boston to Allston/Brighton to the South End. That means a lot of choices for you, but it also means that if you don't get any of your nearby favorites, your child could end up traveling by bus for an hour or so each way. (THIS IS OUR ZONE for the West End)

For this reason, BPS recommends doing your research (taking school tours, attending parent Q&A sessions, and using its Countdown to Kindergarten website to request at least five schools, ranked in order of preference. There's no limit to the number of picks you can make.

But what if you really have your heart set on just one or two schools? The assignment consists of the following factors, listed below in order of importance:

1. Siblings: If you already have a child in a given school, the next one to come along will have a much better chance of getting in.

2. Geography: Fifty percent of all seats are reserved for students within a one- to two-mile "walk zone" of any given school. One of the best things you can do to get your child into a school is to live near it.

3. Your order of preference: If you list a school as your top pick, that will be factored into your ultimate ranking.

4. Application date: Always apply within the earliest round that is available to you. Applying a round late is a huge factor in not getting the school you want. To find out what round you qualify for and the dates when it accepts applications, go to
bostonpublicschools.org/register.

5. Randomness: This is the most angst-provoking piece of the puzzle. Once students are ranked according to priority (by the above factors), they are given a random number which determines who is in and who is out. And there's not much you can do about that.

If your child doesn't get into the school you've had your heart set on, there's always the waitlist. In fact, you may be put on up to three waitlists. Here's how it works: Let's say you live in the West Zone and list the Curley, the Lyndon, and the Kilmer in order as your top three choices. If you don't get into any of them when assignments are announced in March, you'll immediately be put on the waitlist for all three. If you get into, say, your third choice of the Kilmer, but not the Lyndon or the Curley, you'll be put on the waitlist for the first two choices. And so on.

The BPS Family Resource Center in your area can inform you of your standing on each list — whether you're third in line or number 150 for a particular school. Your waitlist ranking is determined, again, by siblings, geography, stated order of preference, application date, and a random number.

If spots become available at a school, students are automatically assigned based on their waitlist number. When classes begin in September and students have been enrolled in schools, BPS staff continues to place waitlisted students in their choice schools, but only if parents authorize the move. Once January rolls around, however, the waitlist is retired and the process starts all over again.

Originally published in Boston magazine,
March 2011

Chiara
West End Parents Group

April Vacation

So, if you are thinking about April Vacation, know that NEMPAC is planning on being at the Community Center again!

$20 a day, and go when you can!
Not having to sign up for the week makes it easy!

Chiara
West End Parents Group

Japan...

Lets think about all of the poor people in Japan who are suffering! There is so much loss!Text the Red Cross at 90999 to make a donation of $10.

Last Chance to Ice Skate at Steriti

This is the LAST weekend to ice skate!
Take advantage, and let's hit the ice this weekend!

Public Skating hours:
Tonight - Friday -7:00pm-8:50pm
Saturday   2:00pm-3:50pm
                7:00pm-9:50pm
Sunday     2:00pm-4:50pm

MFA Fiesta! Celebrates Latin American Culture during March

March 2-March 31st

While the forecast for March in New England may be cold and dreary, inside the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), things will heat up during MFA Fiesta!, a month-long celebration of Latin American culture. Visitors will be able to enjoy magnificent works of art from Mexico, Central America, and South America in the Museum’s new Art of the Americas Wing; participate in a wide range of activities, including concerts, films, and special programs; and savor food and drink with a Latin twist.

Information about MFA Fiesta! is available at www.mfa.org/programs/series/mfa-fiesta. This month’s event is sponsored by El Planeta.

Hours

---

Monday & Tuesday: 10:00 AM-4:45 PM
Wednesday-Friday: 10:00 AM-9:45 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM-4:45 PM

Cost

---

Members FREE Adults $20 Seniors and Students 18 and older $18 Youths 6 and under FREE Youths 7-17 FREE* *Weekdays after 3 pm, weekends, and Boston public school holidays; otherwise $7.50.

Rango

Rango  Rated PG

Let us know if you see it and what you think!!

Is it scary? sad? funny?  worth seeing?

Comment Letters!

I am composing a comment letter on behalf of West End Residents and Families. I will send it out, so please be sure you are on our email list : westendparentsgroup@gmail.com, and I'll send it around. Please let me know if I can add your name to the letter.

Stay tuned!

Send a Comment Letter

Neighbors!

Send a comment letter to let the BRA know that we need a public school in our neighborhood!

Did you know that before the West End was torn down, there were 6 schools in the West End alone! They were supposed to build one when the neighborhood was rebuilt, and it hasn't happened in the last 40 years! The Coalition for Publication is working hard to bring a public school to our downtown neighborhoods!! The West End, Beacon Hill and the Back Bay does not have a public school! The North End, Eliot School, and the Warren Prescott in Chalestown are our only walk zone options! While both are GREAT schools, there should be at least one in our neighborhoods!

The West End, North End and Beacon Hill have formed this Coalition to work on this issue together!

Write to : Jay Rourke, Project Manager
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA 02201
Jay.rourke.BRA@cityofboston.gov
617.918.4317

Letters are due in by MARCH 11!!

These letters will be submitted in reference to the project Equity has proposed for the Garden Garage ( bubble garage).

However you feel about the project, please voice your feelings concerning a school!! The BRA needs to keep hearing it! We want families to have the option to stay in our neighborhood!!

View the Project Notification Form for this project at http:/tinyurl.com/EquityPNF (click onthe Project Notification Form). Please copy and paste the website to your browser. I will convert this to a link when I can.


Chiara

Computer Issues!!

Hey there everyone!

I'll be making some posts soon! I got swept away with school vacation, and then some computer issues. But I can post through email, so will get some stuff on here soon!

Sorry for the delay!

Chiara

You can still join the morning arts class at the West End Community Center

NEMPAC is offering a class during vacation week at the West End Community Center!!

Drop the kids (4.5 and older) at the West End Community Center for a fun morning of arts and crafts and music! All for just $20! Drop them at 8:30 and pick them up at 11:30am!!

Call for more information call 617.670.1900! It's not too late to join the fun!

Free Family Music Night @ Henry Bear's Park

TONIGHT!
5:00-6:15pm
Porter Square location
17 White St, Cambridge
FREE Event

Each third Friday night of every month Henry Bears Park toy store hosts a Free Family Music night from 5-6.It is great for all ages,just drop in and sing and dance with us. We have different musicians each month,and refreshments too.

This month we will have a Pajama Party-wear your pj's and relax!! Catherine Brockbank and her Celtic Harp Anam Olach will perform, and Miss Catherine always lets the children try her Harp.

Wayne Potash Music tomorrow!!

Saturday, February 19th
11:00am - 1:00pm
0 Garden St, Cambridge
$8 per person or $30 per family. Children under the age of one are free
Kick off school vacation week in Cambridge with a family benefit concert! We’ll have Wayne Potash and the Fun Music Band in the Christ Church Cambridge auditorium (Zero Garden Street in Harvard Square) on Saturday, February 19th from 11 am to 1 pm. Pull up a table and have lunch with some of the many savory and sweet baked items for sale.

When they’re not dancing to the music, kids can enjoy balloon creations and face painting. Cost: $8 per person or $30 per family, free for children under the age of one. All proceeds benefit the tuition aid fund of the Bigelow Cooperative Day Care Center.

Chinese New Year Celebration in Harvard Square

Sunday, February 20th
1:00-4:00pm
1236 Mass Ave, Cambridge
FREE Event

2011 is the year of the Rabbit and the 56th Anniversary of the Hong Kong in Harvard Square!
As usual, Massachusetts Avenue from the Hong Kong to Yen Chang will be festooned with gorgeous red and gold silk lanterns hanging from our wrought iron lampposts as we prepare for our grand annual Chinese New Year procession through Harvard Square and our cultural 'Open House' at the Hong Kong!

Meet us for a Lion Dance around our lantern-bedecked oak tree in Winthrop Park (corner of JKF and Mount Auburn) and then join our Lion Dance Parade over to the Hong Kong. The Lion Dance Parade will start at 1:30 p.m.

From 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. several generations of the Lee Family will continue their tradition of community outreach by welcoming the public into 'Kong' for a special cultural open house. The Hong Kong is a beloved landmark and for decades has served as the gateway to the heart of the Square for students and visitors alike. The Hong Kong's steady presence adds to the vibrant cultural diversity that one finds upon entering Harvard Square.

It feels like spring!!!

Here are some beautiful pictures of  millions of tulips in spring in Holland to get us in the mood!

It's not Spring here yet, and there is some cold weather heading back this way, but let's enjoy the day and think about what's to come! : )

How was Valentine's Day?

Well, I hope some of you got to go out with a loved one, or will get out with him/her soon!

Vacation is next week!  Have you made any plans?
Leave a comment on this post and let us know what you are doing!

Check out our new Local Numbers Tab!!

Still working on it, but hope it will be helpful to all of you!

Gnomeo & Juliet Opens Tomorrow!

Let us know what you think!!
 

February Vacation NEMPAC Program @ the West End Community Center

Join NEMPAC and special guests* each morning at the 

West End Community Center

 

Arts-related programming from 8:30 to 11:30am

for school-aged children (ages 4.5 and older),

with special guest at 10:00am

Monday February 21^st through Friday February 25^th

drop off beginning at 8:30am/pick up promptly at 11:30am

At the West End Community Center, 
150 Staniford Street

$20 per student

To sign up, contact NEMPAC @ 617-227-2270 or info@nempacboston.org

 

*Special Guests to include Verve Yoga, Horn-and-Vocalist Chris Schroeder, Longy School of Music, and others

Harlem Renaissance Tickets on Sale at Pace today!!

Stop by J.Pace & Sons today from 1-3pm today to pick up your tickets!
The event is Thursday, Feb 17th!!
Only $25 a ticket!!
A great night out for the adults! Some free apps, cash bar, music and dancing!!

A Little Something for the Parents! NIKE Run Club

Location:	200 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116
Phone:	(617) 267-3400
Dates:	Wed from 12/2/09 - 12/1/11
Hours:	6:30pm
In/Outdoor:	Outdoor
Cost:	Free

Whether you’re training or looking for a new motivation, just lace up and join us at the Nike Run Club. Runners of all levels meet to run 3, 5 and 7 miles-your choice, your pace. It’s fun, free and guaranteed to give you a great workout! Come join us every Wednesday @ 6:30p.m., followed by post-run refreshments.

For the latest info on Run Club, other in-store events, new products and more, become a fan of the NIKETOWN Boston on Facebook!

Kids Night: Kelly's Roast Beef

Locations: Multiple
Dates: 1/5/11 - 5/11/11
Hours: 5-8pm
Cost: Free with food to purchase

Kids of all ages can take pleasure in storytelling, have fun with face painting, balloons, design exciting arts and crafts projects, and enjoy a New England favorite in any season, ice cream. There is no charge for families and children to attend Kelly's Kids Night, nor is there a cost for kids activities. Kelly's kids meals are not included, but can be enjoyed before, during or after the family fun.

Check out our Kids Nights at the following locations:
Every Monday in Saugus from 5-8 pm,
Every Tuesday in Danvers and Medford from 5-8 pm, and
Every Wednesday in Natick from 5-8 pm!

Thinking about Summer?

Well, we are all hoping for some warmer weather I think, but maybe you are starting to think about summer camps for the kids.

Here are a few places to check out:

Hill House http://www.hillhouseboston.org/Programs/Summer_Camp.htm
Boston Children’s School http://www.bostonchildrensschool.org/My_Homepage_Files/Page4.html
My Gym http://www.mygymboston.com/camps/index.html
Boys & Girls Club – Charlestown http://www.bgcb.org/locations_clubs_charlestown_summercamp.cfm
Tumblekids USA http://www.tumblekidsusa.com/camps.php#summer_camp
Gymnastics Academy of Boston-Cambridge http://gymnasticsacademyofboston.com/cambridge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=50
YMCA camps http://bostonycamps.org/
Basketball City http://www.basketballcity.com/bbc.php?misc=youth&city=boston&page=summercamps_boston
Beacon Hill Nursery http://www.bhns.net/additional_programs.html
The Tennis Academy at Harvard http://www.bhns.net/additional_programs.html
New England Aquarium Harbor Discovery Camps http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/programs_and_classes/summer_programs/harbor_discoveries_camp/
Courageous Sailing Charlestown http://www.courageoussailing.org/youth-programs/overview
A Step Ahead Basketball Camp http://www.asahoops.com/camps

If you know of other programs or camps that you'd like to share with everyone, please send it to westendparentsgroup@gmail.com or leave a comment on the blog!!

Think WARM thoughts :)

Become a friend on Facebook!

Join us on West End Parents Group (Boston)!

It's Superbowl Sunday!!

Who are YOU rooting for??

Steelers vs Packers
6pm on Fox

Let us know who you are rooting for!!
OR do you just watch for the commercials?

Boston Public School Sign up Period Ends today!

Hope all of you who are signing up for Boston Public Schools have gotten all of your information in, and have registered!

Now comes the hard part...waiting to see where you get in!!

Our fingers are crossed for you!

Harlem Renaissance Ball

Looking for an adult night out?!!


The West End Community Center is celebrating Black History Month again with a fabulous Harlem Renaissance Ball at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, February 17th from 7-10pm. Tickets are only $25! Music, Dancing, Light food, and a Silent Auction!


http://www.westendcommunitycenter.com/site/hrb.html

We're back and looking for parents to join us!

Hello everyone!

I am hoping to restart the West End Parent's Group and it's blog! Please join us here, and our mailing group at westendparentsgroup@gmail.com.

I will try to post fun things around town, articles of interest, and hopefully some pictures. Please send me any fun things you know about, questions or concerns about the neighborhood, or anything else!

We are trying to get our mailing list updated, so please email me at westendparentsgroup@gmail.com to join the list!! If you are on the list, and would like to get off, please email that to me as well!!

Stay warm out there!!
Chiara Rhouate
West End Parents Group

West End Community Center Playgroup

West End Community Center Playgroup is now on Mondays from 9:30am to 12pm.
Parents and caregivers are welcome! There are lots of toys and space to run around!
*Complimentary with a West End Community Center Membership, suggested donation $3.

Proposed Boston Chinese Immersion Charter School

" I am writing to tell you about a proposed new public charter school which is currently accepting applications of Kindergarten and First Grade students for the Fall of 2011. The proposed Boston Chinese Immersion Charter School (BCICS) is a public charter school which will serve students throughout Massachusetts, with a preference for those who live in the City of Boston. We plan for the school to be centrally located in downtown Boston.** We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and tell you more about our proposed school. We specifically believe that our public, tuition-free school affords unique opportunities for all students (ability to learn a language critical to our global economy, extended school day and year, rigorous academic program), including those who are English Language Learners and otherwise feel their school choices are limited. We ask that you help us by making our application and information available to the families that utilize your resources. We could also send you something that you could send to your email list.
More information is available at BostonChineseImmersion.org. All applications may be submitted on line or mailed and are due March 4, 2011. A lottery will be held in the event that applications exceed available seats.
Please contact Tara Gohlmann, BCICS Founder who is heading up Outreach efforts. Tara can be reached at (917) 566-4512 or tgohlmann@verizon.net.
We look forward to hearing from you
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BCICS Mission
Through an academically rigorous curriculum using Mandarin Chinese as the medium of instruction, the Boston Chinese Immersion Charter School (BCICS) will prepare a diverse body of students in kindergarten through 8th grade to become fluent and literate in Mandarin Chinese and English and who will graduate from the school poised for academic success in high school and beyond. BCICS will leverage the benefits of language immersion and immersion methodology for acquiring subject matter mastery, engaging family involvement, developing oral language skills as a base for literacy, expanding literacy and vocabulary skills across two languages, creating a respectful community of learners, assessing student performance through a broad range of measures and developing culturally and globally diverse perspectives.

BCICS Vision
Boston Chinese Immersion Charter School will be a respectful community of learners, including not only the students in kindergarten through 8th grade but also the faculty and families, all of whom will engage in learning and participate in school activities with BCICS as their center. BCICS students will learn and demonstrate academic success in all core subjects: math, language arts, social studies, arts and sciences—as measured in both English and in Mandarin Chinese, a language designated as critical for learning by the US government. Staff will participate in professional development weekly and during the summer. Families will be offered classes in Mandarin, ESL and technology. Through innovative immersion instruction from teachers with native language skills, BCICS will serve as a model for other language programs around the state, nation and world. BCICS will build on the demonstrated success of language immersion programs for Boston area children eager to develop multilingual and multicultural skills that will serve them throughout their lifetimes.
** proposed BCICS is subject to granting of a charter by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Charter final decisions are expected February 28, 2011.

World Cup Soccer Family Event

First Annual West End World Cup

Friendly, tournament style play for children and family members.

Thursday, July 29th at 3 PM on the Teddy Ebersol Fields

This is going to be a fun afternoon of soccer for kids and family members! Get your own team together, or join another team! Teams will be small, and games will be shorter! Come join in the fun!

Please contact Jessica Krebs at jk@westendcommunitycenter.com
or 617-670-1900 with your child's name and age to sign up.

Nanny

Full Time Nanny looking for a New Family
She is a wonderful spanish speaking, non smoking woman who will keep your children happy, cared for and busy. Please feel free to contact Nelly at 857.417.8603. I am happy to act as a reference, along with many of my friends. You can contact me through westendparentsgroup@gmail.com.

Community Note

INDOOR PARKING SPACE AT HAWTHORNE PLACE FOR RENT
Available Now Until June 1, 2011
$300/Month
Close to basement doors for both 2 and 9 Hawthorne Place
No columns on either side (easy to get kids in and out of car seats)

Contact: Jeanie Jho (jeaniejho@hotmail.com)

4th of July Schedule of Events

Event Schedule

Saturday, July 3rd Concert (No Fireworks)

4:00pm Oval opens
8:30pm Concert begins
10:00pm Concert ends


-------------------------------------------------

Sunday, July 4th Concert and Fireworks

9:00am Oval opens
12:00pm Recorded music begins in Boston
4:30pm Recorded music begins in Cambridge
7:00pm WBZ News Radio 1030 simulcast begins
8:00pm Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular broadcast begins on WBZ-TV Boston
8:30pm Boston Pops concert begins with the National Anthem and flyover
9:30pm "1812 Overture" is played
10:00pm CBS Network national broadcast begins
10:30pm Fireworks begin
11:00pm Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular ends


Superstar Toby Keith will perform on the BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, an entertainment special to be broadcast live from the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Sunday, July 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Craig Ferguson (CBS's "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson") will host the special for the fourth consecutive year.

Boston Harborfest Children's Day @ Government Center Tomorrow!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Children’s Day gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate the nation’s birthday with a wide variety of entertaining and educational activities. Join organizations like The USS Constitution Museum, Historic New England and the New England Aquarium to learn something new and exciting about Boston and its history.

Juggling and entertainment by Fly by Night,

Music by Wayne Potash and the Music Fun Band,

Balloon fun and more!

Everyone will enjoy this festive atmosphere!

Free Friday Flicks @ the Hatch Shell

The movies start at dusk!
The Hatch Shell lawn fills up on a first-come, first-serve basis. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy this family-friendly free event. Alcohol is strictly forbidden at the Esplanade, with violators subject to arrest.

Free Friday Flicks is a public service of WBZ and its sponsors.

July, 2010

Friday July 9, Sunset
"The Wizard of Oz"
1910 13 Minute Film
& 1939 Classic Version


Friday July 16, Sunset
"Star Trek"


Friday July 23, Sunset
"Where the Wild Things Are"


Friday July 30, Sunset
"Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs"

August 2010

Friday August 6, Sunset
"Monsters vs. Aliens"

Friday August 13, Sunset
"How to Train Your Dragon"

Friday August 20, Sunset
"The Princess and the Frog"

Friday August 27, Sunset
"Up"

Sunday Parkland Games Series along the Charles

The Charles River Conservancy and the Department of Conservation and Recreation present:

The Second Annual Sunday Parkland Games Series!

What:

This summer the Charles River Conservancy, together with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, invites all families with school-aged children to spend an afternoon outdoors at the Sunday Parkland Games.

Every Sunday afternoon beginning July 4th to September 19th, The Conservancy will host free games and athletic activities. Games and activities are designed for the whole family and include badminton, bocce, croquet, Frisbee®, horseshoes, hula hoops, lawn toss, and paddleball, along with team activities such as potato sack races and tug-o-war. These fun activities will be designed with the help of Knucklebones, a Cambridge company that inspires people of all ages to enjoy athletics...for the love of play!

From July 11th to September 5th, enjoy free yoga lessons following games, from 5-6pm. All ages and abilities are welcome. Come relax along the Charles River with us and enjoy this lovely urban park as you stretch and revitalize your body and mind. Participants should bring an ID (under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult), water, a yoga mat, and wear comfortable clothing. A limited number of yoga mats will be available for the class.

When:

Games and Activities: Sundays, July 4th to September 19th

Yoga on the Charles: Sundays, July 11th to September 5th

WHY:

Being active is crucial to health, especially for young children, and the Parklands along DCR’s Charles River Reservation is a natural space uniquely suited to spending time outdoors in Boston. By continuing the Sunday Parkland Games program for a second year, the Charles River Conservancy hopes to make the river’s Parklands “more active, attractive, and accessible for all” by encouraging families to come together to enjoy them and appreciate their natural beauty. DCR already closes Memorial Drive in Cambridge between Western Avenue and Mount Auburn Street. The closure is in effect from 11:00am to 7:00pm starting the last Sunday of April until the 2nd Sunday of November. All are welcome to pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and enjoy a day outdoors on the banks of the Charles!

All activities are totally free of charge and the program does not require registration - anyone can attend, and all are welcome to participate.

WHERE:

All activities will take place upriver from Weeks Footbridge on the Charles River off of Memorial Drive in Cambridge.

During the Sunday Parkland Games, Memorial Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic, and families are encouraged to come to the Parklands by bike, on foot, or via public transit.


Charles River Conservancy Department of Conservation and Recreation

4 Brattle Street 251 Causeway Street

Cambridge, MA 02138 Boston, MA 02114

www.thecharles.org www.mass.gov/dcr


For more information email sundaygames@thecharles.org or call (617) 300-8172.

Kellogg's RECALL of Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops & Honey Smacks

Kellogg's recalls Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, Honey Smacks

Kellogg this afternoon recalled 28 million boxes of its Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks cereals packaged in white foil bags because of an off-flavor and smell coming from the bags.

The company says people should not eat the affected cereals, which include:

Only products with the letters "KN" following the Better If Used Before Date.

Kellogg's Apple Jacks
UPC 3800039136
17-ounce package with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 10 2011 and JUN 22 2011

UPC 38000391323
8.7-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between JUN 03 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg's Corn Pops
UPC 3800039109
12.5-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

UPC 3800039111
17.2-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

UPC 3800039116
9.2-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 05 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg's Froot Loops
UPC 3800039118
12.2-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

UPC 3800039120
17-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

UPC 3800039125
8.7-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg's Honey Smacks
UPC 3800039103
15.3-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

If you have purchased one of these products, Kellogg says you can get a replacement coupon and questions answered by calling 888-801-4163

Philliips Street Playground Schedule

June
6.27 Sundays in the Park Music Series, 4 – 5pm, World Music
6.30 Science in the Park Series for Kids 5 – 12, 4:30 – 5:30pm – Space… The Final Frontier

July
7.09 Artists in Residence Craft Workshops for Kids, 9am – 12pm sponsored by Boston Parks & Recreation Department
7.11 Sundays in the Park Music Series, 4 – 5pm, Children’s Music Hour
7.14 Science in the Park Series for Kids, 5 - 12 4:30 – 5:30pm – Mineral Mania
7.16 Artists in Residence Craft Workshops for Kids, 9am – 12pm sponsored by Boston Parks & Recreation Department
7.23 Artists in Residence Craft Workshops for Kids, 9am – 12pm sponsored by Boston Parks & Recreation Department
7.28 Science in the Park Series for Kids, 5 – 12 4:30 – 5:30pm – Slippery Science
7.30 Artists in Residence Craft Workshops for Kids, 9am – 12pm sponsored by Boston Parks & Recreation Department

August
8.01 Sundays in the Park Music Series, 4 – 5pm, Children’s Music Hour
8.06 Artists in Residence Craft Workshops for Kids, 9am – 12pm sponsored by Boston Parks & Recreation Department
8.13 Artists in Residence Craft Workshops for Kids, 9am – 12pm sponsored by Boston Parks & Recreation Department
8.15 Sundays in the Park Music Series, 4 – 5pm, Children’s Music Hour
8.22 Sundays in the Park Music Series, 4 – 5pm, Children’s Music Hour

For more information please visit them at www.pspa.findsmithgroups.com
or email Cindy Sullivan at cindysullivan@hotmail.com

Things around town!

Things Around Town This Week!

Don't Forget that this Saturday is the Spring Hunt.
Bring the kids and a bag, and meet us by the playground near J.Pace's at 11am.
People who can help hide eggs, please meet us at 10:30am!! Please let us know if you can help: westendparents@yahoo.com or leave a comment on the blog!
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Cambridge River Festival 2010
Location: Memorial Drive between JFK St. and West, Cambridge, MA, 02139 directions
Phone:6173494380
Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010
Hours: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Ages: Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free

The Cambridge River Festival celebrates the arts with a free outdoor event, attracting an enthusiastic audience of 200,000 to the banks of the Charles River. Visitors experience a wide array of Cambridge based visual and performing arts which extend along a mile long stretch of Memorial Drive between JFK Street and Western Avenue. The Cambridge River Festival collaborates with many local organizations and programs to showcase multiple stages of live national and local jazz, folk, world music, dance, poetry and theater performances. Visitors also enjoy family entertainment, hands-on art-making activities and demonstrations, crafts, and a grand assortment of specialty foods and traditional festival fare.
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Coolidge Corner Arts & Brookline Food Festival
Location: Devotion School. 345 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. Coolidge Corner.
Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010
Hours: 10am - 6pm
Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free . Food to purchase.

Coolidge Corner Arts Festival features New England crafts and fine artists. The Annual Brookline Food Festival will be held adjacent to the CCAF.

The festival will be held on the grounds of the Devotion School at 345 Harvard Street in Brookline's Coolidge Corner.
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Touch A Truck Day
Location: 250 New Rutherford Ave., Charlestown, MA, 02129 directions
Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ages: Toddlers, Kids
In/Outdoor: Outdoor . Rain or Shine
Cost: Free

One of Bunker Hill Community College's parking lots will be filled with different types of trucks to give local kids and their families a chance to look at, touch, and climb in them. The owners and operators of the trucks will be present to answer kids' questions.
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Blue Discoveries Family Day: World Oceans Day Celebration
Location: Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02210
Phone:617-973-5206
Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010
Hours: 11 am - 3 pm
Ages: Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free . Aquarium admission is separate

Oceans matter. Celebrate World Oceans Day with the New England Aquarium. Take a stand for our planet’s greatest resource and learn why healthy oceans matter to you. Free family-friendly activities at Central Wharf from 11 am to 3 pm.

The World Oceans Day celebration is free to the public; Aquarium admission is not included.
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Carousel Rides on the Greenway
Location: Atlantic Avenue and Surface Artery South, Boston, MA
Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010 - Saturday, October 30, 2010
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-closing ***Hours subject to change**
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: $ Rides are $3 thanks to a sponsorship by the Marriott Boston Long Wharf

The Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy invites you and your family to come take a spin on a classic carousel. Children will love the colorful carousel horses, the open park lawns, and the proximity to the harbor. The Greenway carousel is open daily, beginning in June and running through late October.

The carousel is located in the Wharf District Parks of the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway between Atlantic Avenue and Surface Artery South Bound just east of Faneuil Hall, near Christopher Columbus Park.
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Massachusettts Free Fishing Weekend
Location: Statewide
Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010 - Monday, June 7, 2010
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free

Take a friend or family member fishing--you won't need a fishing license in freshwater for these two days! All other fishing regulations apply.

A fishing license is a valuable investment in your state, supporting fisheries research, fish stocking programs, angler education, land and water protection and many other services provided by MassWildlife. Unlike most other state agencies, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife does not receive general tax fund revenues.

Contact Jim Lagacy, Program Coordinator for more details at (508) 389-6309 jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
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Free Donut Day: Dunkin' Donuts
Location: Participating Dunkin Donuts stores
Date: Friday, June 4, 2010
Hours: All day
Cost: 1 free donut with the purchase of any beverage.

Dunkin' Donuts is marking National Donut Day with a sweet nationwide offer. On the first Friday in June, participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout the country will give every customer a free donut of their choice, with the purchase of any beverage, limit one per customer.
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Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Location: 489 Winthrop Street, Medford, MA, 02155
Phone:617-710-3677 email: evilqueenlnb@comcast.net
Dates: Fri, Sat from 6/4/10 - 6/5/10
Hours: 7:00 PM
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
Cost: $ Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door

Presented to you in two performances. Come see the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' and hear all your favorite songs from this musical. This performance is presented by youth ages 12-16 who act, sing and dance to this family favorite.
=================================================================================
Summer 'Kids Bowl Free' Program
Location: New England
Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010 - Monday, August 30, 2010
Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
Cost: Free for kids under 15

Kids can bowl two free games every day this summer with the 'Kids Bowl Free' Pass. For ages 15 and under.

(You can also purchase a family pass. The Family Pass that includes 1, 2, 3, or 4 adults. You are not required to buy a family pass in order to get free kid's passes.)

How to get your free kid's passes
1. Vist the website of a bowling alley near you:
Participating bowling alleys in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

2. Register directly on the bowling center page (The registration is valid only at the bowling center where you register and cannot be used at any other bowling center unless otherwise noted.)

3. Once the program has begun, you will get a weekly email that contains a link to your coupons and family passes for that week.

Things around town!

Here are a few things around town!!


Self Portraits
Date: Thursday, May 27th 4:00-5:00
Location: West End Community Center. 150 Staniford St.

What makes you special? We will read the book What I Like About Me! and discuss what makes each of us similar and different. Children will look at a few portraits from Historic New England's collection before creating their own self portraits.

Sponsored by the West End Community Center & The Otis House Museum
Please pre-register by calling 617-670-1900
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The Clubs at Charles River Park Pool OPENS this Saturday!!

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Faneuil Hall Street Performers Festival Extravaganza
Occurs at: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Location: Quincy Market Colonnade, Boston, MA map
Phone: 617.523-1300
Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010 - Monday, May 31, 2010
Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free

On Memorial Day weekend, Faneuil Hall comes alive with a Street Performers Festival. Enjoy performances by jugglers, mimes, magicians, puppeteers and musicians are just a few of over 50 entertainers presenting three days of entertainment and interactive activities .
=================================================================================
What's open for fun on Memorial Day?

Museums
Boston Museum of Science: OPEN.
New England Aquarium: OPEN.
Museum of Fine Arts: OPEN & FREE.
Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum: OPEN.
Institute of Contemporary Art: OPEN.
Peabody Essex Museum: OPEN.

Activities
Coco Key Water Resort: OPEN.
Old Sturbridge Village: OPEN.

=================================================================================
Boston Breakers Game
Date: June 5th

Come cheer on USA’s past and present National Team members Kristine Lilly and Amy LePeilbet, England’s Alex Scott and Kelly Smith and Australia’s Sarah Walsh take on Hope Solo and the Saint Louis Athletica.

It’s a great night, family friendly and always a lot of fun and excitement. Arrive early to the field and visit Breakertown. Stay after the game, line autograph alley and meet the players!

BOSTON BREAKERS TICKETS
WHEN: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 6 PM
Meet at the Community Center at 4:30 P.M.

LOCATION: Harvard Stadium, Harvard University, Category II Seating

OPPONENT: Saint Louis Athletica

Cost: $20 per ticket
Call 617-670-1900 or register at www.westendcommunitycenter.com
================================================================================
TOUCH A TRUCK DAY!!!!
Sunday, June 6, 10am - 1pm
FREE

The 3rd annual Touch A Truck Day will be held on Sunday June 6th 10am-1pm in the Bunker Hill Community College parking lot. Truck Day has been a hugely successful community event over the last several years with over 25 vehicles for kids to touch, climb on and learn about - fire truck, dump truck, cement mixer, police cruiser, city bus, duck tour, etc, etc!!!

The event is FREE and open to the entire Boston community. We are looking for volunteers to either help with event set up (8-10am), during one hour shifts between 10am and 1pm at the entrance table, or to assist with clean up (1-1:30pm).

Please email Debbie Collier at dscollier@partners.org to volunteer for any of these shifts - your help is needed and appreciated!
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ImprovBoston Family Show
Date: Now thru 6/30/2010
Address: ImprovBoston 40 Prospect Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-576-1253
Hours: Saturdays at 6:00pm
Cost: Adults $12, students/ $10 seniors/ children $7
Contact Info: Call 617-576-1253

Details: Start your Saturday night off with an evening full of improvised music, scenes, stories and games that is fun for the whole family! This interactive evening, performed by the ImprovBoston Family Show Cast, is sure to bring out the child in everyone! Students and children only $7!

RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
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Lowell Spring Carnival
Date: 5/26/2010 - 6/6/2010
Address: Lowell Spring Carnival at Regatta Field, Pawtucket Blvd Lowell, MA.
Hours: Open Weekdays at 5PM Saturday, Sundays & memorial day open at 12 noon
Cost/Cover: $1.00 gate admission Children 6 and under are free.
Web Page: http://www.FiestaShows.com
Contact Info: PLEASE CONTACT: FIESTA SHOWS AT 603.474.5424
E-mail info@Fiestashows.com WEBSITE www.FiestaShows.com

Details: The Lowell Spring Carnival is back from May 26 – June 6 at the Regatta Field, Pawtucket Blvd Lowell, MA. The Carnival will Feature more thrilling rides, A free petting Zoo, games & all your favorite carnival food, On June 2-6 there will be Hot Air Balloon rides. Be sure to sign up for our $500 weekly cash giveaway (you do not have to be present to win).

Discount ride promotions scheduled for Wed 6/2 & Thursdays 5/27 & 6/3 5PM till close. Sundays 5/30 & 6/6 - 5PM till 9PM & Monday 5/31 -12 Noon-5PM. Purchase a wristband for $15.00 and ride unlimited rides. Discount Coupons can be picked up at local area merchants or on our website.

=======================================================================
Boston Jewish Cultural Walking Tour
Date: 4/14/2010 - 10/31/2010
Address: Tour starts at the Milk Street Cafe, 50 Milk Street in Downtown Boston. From Washington Street, turn onto Milk Street at the Old South Meeting House. The Cafe is a block and a half on the left (at Devonshire Street).
Hours: 2:30 PM (Please arrive early if you plan to eat or snack at the cafe)
Cost/Cover: $25 per adult; kids half price.
Web Page: http://bostoncitywalks.com
Contact Info: Boston CityWalks Toll-free: 866-WE-WALKS

Details: We meet at the strictly kosher Milk Street Café,
where you can choose to come early to have lunch
or a snack before our tour.

Ascend Beacon Hill’s “back side”, where Jews and blacks resided during the nineteenth century. Visit the historic Vilna Shul in the center of Beacon Hill and pass by some typical Jewish homes. See the West End House, a settlement house where West End Jews were provided social services and the Puffer House Cigar-Rolling Factory, typical of the work locales of Boston’s Jews.

We’ll go through Boston’s impressive and impactful Holocaust Memorial in one of Boston’s oldest neighborhoods and then conclude our tour at the entrance to the North End, which was a Jewish immigrant enclave before the arrival of newly arrived Italians transformed the area into a “Little Italy” around the turn of the century.

Highlights include:
• The Milk Street Café – a Kosher Oasis in Downtown (Note: Arrive early to eat or snack)
• The Famine Memorial
• Home of The Jewish Advocate
• The Jewish “Back Side” of Beacon Hill
• Boston’s Historic Vilna Shul
• The West End House
• Puffer House Cigar-Rolling Factory
• The Holocaust Memorial
• Boston’s Immigrant Arrival Area – the North End
================================================================================
Boston Chocolate Workshops
Date: 2/20/2010 - 6/26/2010
Address: 161 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02110
Hours: 1:00PM
Cost/Cover: $$88
Contact Info: 781-784-7469
Audience: Kids and up

Details: Are you the type who delights in rolling up your sleeves and jumping in for a true hands-on experience? For some of us, it isn’t enough to merely enjoy a mouth-watering truffle – to experience chocolate to its fullest, one must actually create it first. Friends and family won’t believe someone they know is actually able to create such amazing delicacies – until they taste the proof when you return home bearing dozens of mouthwatering samples.

Our classes provide all the knowledge and skill you’ll need to create brilliant chocolates and deserts right in your own kitchen, using easy-to-find ingredients. Taste of Chocolate workshops are lead by experienced chefs who clearly love what they do. We design our events to be fun and exciting, even for those with no specialized knowledge. Typically they run between two and three hours.

===============================================================================
Curious George Exhibit at the Boston Children's Museum
Date: Now thru 6/6/2010
Address: Boston Children's Museum 300 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210 Phone: (617) 426-6500
http://www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
Hours: Sat.-Thurs. 10am-5pm, Fri. 10am-9pm
Cost/Cover: free with museum admission
Web Page: http://www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
Contact Info: Call (617) 426-6500
Details: Curious George™: Let's Get Curious!

The world of Curious George, one of literature's most beloved characters, comes to life in a new traveling exhibit. In the exhibit, Curious George™: Let's Get Curious!, visitors can explore the world of Curious George while also learning about science, math, and engineering.

Based on the classic stories by H.A. and Margret Rey, the Curious George: Let's Get Curious! exhibit inspires young children's natural curiosity as they explore early science, math, and engineering through hands-on interactive play. The exhibit takes place in the neighborhood where Curious George lives with his friend, The Man with the Yellow Hat. Visitors will recognize familiar characters and places featured in the classic stories and the television series.

Upon entering the exhibit, visitors can experience the world of Curious George and visit many of the places featured in the books and television show:

Apartment Building, where visitors operate wheels to move George from window to window using a pulley, climb a fire escape and go inside the apartment to play with color, light, and shadow.

Sidewalk Produce Stand, where visitors pretend to be a customer or salesperson and explore shape, sorting, weighing, and counting with fruit and vegetables.

Construction Site, where visitors climb in a construction trailer, design a building, and use a variety of building materials to construct different structures.

City Park, where visitors enjoy the urban green space by resting or giving a hug to a full-size George.

Mini Golf, where visitors use pipes, ramps, funnels, turntables, bumpers, and force to experiment with physics and engineering as they putt through three holes of mini golf.

Space Rocket, where visitors climb into the rocket Curious George took on his space adventure and catch a glimpse of George in his space suit.

Farm, where visitors experience cause and effect and use wind power to move yard art like whirligigs, windmills, windsocks, and wind chimes. They can also build their own whirligig and care for farm animals.
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Ocean Detectives
Date: Now thru 12/11/2010
Address: New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617.973.5200
http://www.neaq.org
Hours: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Cost/Cover: Parent-child pair costs $17/member pair, $30/non-member pair. A $2 service fee /ticket. Includes Aquarium admission.

Details: Ocean Detectives Programs Children will work with parents and peers to unlock the secrets of the deep while developing their math, science and literacy skills. We may track turtles, study crab movement of look for trends in penguin behavior.

Ocean Detectives is offered for 5- to 7-year-olds.

Fees Per Class: $17 for members, $30 for non-members Adults are included in the cost of each child since children must be accompanied. A $2 service fee will be added to each ticket. Non-member price includes Aquarium admission.

Save! Sign up for three or more classes at one time and receive a $2 credit per session.

Classes will meet for an hour and a half on Saturdays to learn about the watery world. Programs take place in the Harborside Learning Lab, across the plaza from the Aquarium.

June 5: Coral Reefs

July 10: Sharks

August 14: Lobsters

September 11: Pond and River Life

October 16: The Deep Sea

November 13: Sea Turtles

December 11: Aquavets

Things around town!

Here are a few things going on around town this weekend!

Victorian Spring Jubilee at Titus Sparrow Park
Location: Titus Sparrow Park, Boston, MA, 02115
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010 - Saturday, May 22, 2010
Hours: 10:30am to 3:00pm
Ages: Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free

Travel back in time and celebrate a bygone era with activities sure to delight friends and family. Inspired by Boston’s 1872 World Peace Jubilee, a full classical orchestra will headline this celebration with an hour of sensational live music. Learn how to dance to a Johann Strauss, Jr., waltz with our professional dance groups, and be awed by the magic tricks of Boston’s favorite magician from this era, Jonathan Harrington. Historical costumes and live bicycle performances by The Wheelmen will send you right back to the late 1800s.

Pony rides, children’s games and many more activities will delight friends and family. Dairy products provided by H.P. Hood LLC, the official dairy sponsor of Boston Parks and Recreation Department park openings and dedications. Bring a picnic and spend the day with us! Please visit, www.titussparrowpark.org for more details.
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WBOS Earthfest
Occurs at: The Charles River Esplanade
Location: Boston
Phone:617-727-1188 x 4
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010
Hours: 12:00am - 5:00pm
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: Free

From musical acts to face painting, the 13th Annual WBOS EarthFest is the perfect place for families and children. WBOS Earthfest will feature an expanded Family Area.

Presented by Whole Foods Market and free to the public, EarthFest will once again be a celebration for the Earth showcasing environmentally friendly products, groups, and activities. EarthFest will also feature an all-star musical line-up, an interactive family area and more. Produced in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the event is expected to draw more than 125,000!
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Sara Wheeler and Little Groove at the Coolidge
Location: 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446
• Corner of Beacon and Harvard; Coolidge Corner T Stop
Phone:617-734-2501
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010
Hours: 10:30am
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Adults
In/Outdoor: Indoor
Cost: $8 KIDS/$10 ADULTS
•
Little Groove’s upbeat, educational songs are equally groovy for parents and kids. Sara Wheeler, who has toured the US, Europe, and Japan as an acoustic folk artist, formed Little Groove in 2006 and has since recorded over 100 children’s songs. The band’s CD “Building Blocks” received honors including the 2008 Parents’ Choice Silver Award and the NAPPA Award. Sara is also the founder of Baby Wiggle, a music education program for children in the Boston area.
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This is the Sound of Movies: Boston Children's Chorus
Location: 543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA, 02125
Phone:617-778-2242
Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010
Hours: 2 p.m.
Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor: Indoor
Cost: Free

More than 300 children’s voices will fill the Strand Theatre with songs from many of your favorite movies in the Boston Children’s Chorus spirited season-ending performance. From Silver Screen classics like “Gone with the Wind,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland,” to the more recent “Harry Potter” and “The Princess Diaries” there is something for everyone on the fun, family-friendly program.
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Uncle Moishy Concert
Location: 115 Greenough Street, Brookline, MA, 02446
Phone:(617)879-1960
Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010
Hours: 2pm
Ages: Toddlers, Kids
In/Outdoor: Indoor
Cost: $10 admission tickets. Children under 2 are free.

Uncle Moishy is a Jewish entertainer who travels worldwide doing concerts for children. His songs are upbeat and lively and he encourages kids to sing along. His concerts are aimed at children 0 - 12 yrs old, although they can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
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!!!NEXT WEEK!!!
Self Portraits
Date:Thursday, May 27th 4:00-5:00
Location: West End Community Center
Cost: Free
pre-register by calling 617-670-1900

What makes you special? We will read the book What I Like About Me! and discuss what makes each of us similar and different. Children will look at a few portraits from Historic New England's collection before creating their own self portraits.

Sponsored by the West End Community Center & The Otis House Museum

Charlestown Library Event

This Thursday from 4-5pm
Jungle Jim will be giving a balloon show!
After the show, each child will get to choose 2 free books.

Charlestown Branch Library
179 Main Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
617-242-1248

Open Discussion

Feel free to leave comments and questions here! We'll leave it open for people to comment back to you! If you would like to email us directly, please email us at westendparents@yahoo.com.

News!

Has everyone seen the recent recall on baby meds?
The recall involves all unexpired lots of seven products in 43 different flavors and sizes. These include Tylenol Infants' Drops, Children's Tylenol Suspensions, Infants' Motrin Drops, Children's Zyrtec liquids in bottles and Children's Benadryl Allergy liquids.
Click here to read the NYTimes article

The Spring Hunt has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 5th at 11am.

Mother's Brunch is THIS SUNDAY from 11am to 1pm! Join us at the West End Community Center! Bring the kids and have something to eat!

The Big Apple Circus leaves this weekend, so if you wanted to see it before it goes, get your tickets and go! : )

The Charles River Park Pool is getting ready to open Memorial Day weekend. If you are thinking about signing up, there is some incentive to signing up before May 21st for some, so call and find out! (617) 726-2900

Looking to taking in a softball game? The West End Softball League's Season Opener is Wednesday, May 19th at 7pm. City Councilor Felix Arroyo will be throwing the opening pitch. Stop by and cheer on the neighborhood!

Mother's Brunch is this Sunday!

Bring the kids and join us for a bite to eat Sunday morning at 11am!

If anyone can help pick up coffee that morning, please let me know!
Chiara - chiara.rhouate@gmail.com

Thanks!
Hope to see you all there!
Please leave a comment on the blog, so I have an idea as to how many are coming!

The Big Red Barn Activity is tomorrow!!

The Big Red Barn - Thursday, May 13th 4:00-5:00 - TODAY!!

We will read the book The Big Red Barn and discuss what kinds of animals farmers kept on their farm and what types of food, labor, and products the farmers get from each animal. Each child will get a paper barn to fill with their favorite animals.

Join us for some fun at the West End Community Center!
150 Staniford Street
call to register 617.670.1900
Free, donations requested.

DATE CHANGES!!!

The Spring Hunt is postponed due to the weather forecast!!
We will set a new date, and let you know when it is!

ALSO,

Due to the fact that June 6 is the Beacon Hill Art Walk, the date of the Yard/Park sale at the Phillips Street playground has changed to JUNE 5 from 11:00 am until 4 pm (Behind number 19 Phillips Street).

Upcoming Dates

This Saturday at 11am, meet us outside at the little playground in front of J.Pace &Sons, and we are having out Spring Hunt! Bring a bag for your treasure! Little ones will be searching in the playground and the bigger ones will be along the path!
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Mother's Brunch is coming up on Sunday, May 16th at 11am.
Join us at the West End Community Center for a little continental breakfast, and some play time for the kids.

Anyone who can help me with the event, please email me at westendparents@yahoo.com
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The Big Red Barn - Thursday, May 13th 4:00-5:00

We will read the book The Big Red Barn and discuss what kinds of animals farmers kept on their farm and what types of food, labor, and products the farmers get from each animal. Each child will get a paper barn to fill with their favorite animals.

Self Portraits - Thursday, May 27th 4:00-5:00

What makes you special? We will read the book What I Like About Me! and discuss what makes each of us similar and different. Children will look at a few portraits from Historic New England's collection before creating their own self portraits.

Sponsored by the West End Community Center & The Otis House Museum
Please pre-register by calling 617-670-1900

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The Friends of the Phillips Street Play Area (PSPA) is hosting a Book Fair and Bake Sale for the entire family to enjoy on May 23, 2010 from 11:00am until 4:00pm at the PSPA (behind #19 Phillips Street) on Beacon Hill. They will be selling used books, cd's and dvd's for adults and children in an effort to raise money to pay for events at the Phillips Street Park this summer. These programs include a Science in the Park series, concert series, readings and other fun activities for children and adults. Along with the book sale, there will be a bake sale and lemonade stand to be run by some of the neighborhood children. In the event of rain, the book fair will take place on the same date and time at the Vilna Shul which is directly across the street at #18 Phillips Street.

If you have books, cd's and/or dvd's that you would like to donate to the sale (great reason to clean out your house and make some space), drop off dates have been scheduled for all items at the Vilna Shul (#18 Phillips Street) on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, May 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 or 21 from 10:00am until 5:00pm. If these dates and times do not work for you, please contact Marcy Alexrad at 617-448-7490 or Cindy Sullivan at 617-785-9458 so that we can accommodate your schedule. Also, if you need assistance with the drop off of books, this can also be arranged.

Welcome to our new Blog!!

I am hoping that this will be a place where we can share information, ask questions, and I can update you on some things that are going on around us.

Always feel free to post events!

Any content that is deemed inappropriate will be removed. If any of you feel like something is inappropriate, and it has not been taken down, I may not have seen it yet, so please let me know!

Direct questions can also be asked to westendparents@yahoo.com