The 10th annual Tour de Montclair took place today and we couldn’t have wished for a more beautiful day. Brookdale Park was packed with families of all ages. And there was something for everyone: a 4 mile walk , trike-a-thon, 1 mile loop, 8 mile ride and the Big Kahuna— a 12 mile scenic route through town.
My 8 year old rode the 1 mile loop in her first Tour de Montclair today and was beaming with pride. Thanks to our good friend Ciru who let her tag along with her and her son. My 4 year old proudly rode her 2-wheeler with training wheels and my husband and I chased after her.
When Circle Line said that its Kids Cruise Kick-Off would be a huge party, they weren’t kidding. All around Pier 83 were entertainers, like a really cool uni-cycle, juggler guy who spoke like a pirate, Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows, such as Freckleface Strawberry, Rock of Ages, and Spiderman and Justin Timberlake!—made of wax from Madame Tussaud’s Museum.
But the real party was on the boat. Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell and her family band, You Are My Flower, performed the entire cruise. They sang lots of fan favorites, like John Kanakanaka, but the highlight of the concert was when we were right in front of the Statue of Liberty. They started singing an impromptu This Land Is Your Land and everyone joined in. It was a special moment.
After touring the Hudson, and learning fun facts from the guide on the boat, we docked back at Pier 83 and each child was given a Circle Line goodie bag filled with special treats, but the best of all was the disposable camera. My girls went crazy with the “old-fashioned” camera and ended up taking all the photos within 20 minutes. I had to explain to them why they couldn’t see the photos immediately, since they had no idea that all cameras were not digital.
The chances are if you have school-age children, you’ve already done more than your fair share of bake sales.
Me? I love a good bake sale and after several tours of duty, now consider myself a veteran.
I’ve learned through experience that the golden oldies are the true crowd pleasers: usually anything with chocolate, brownies or chocolate covered pretzel sticks, all go down a storm. While I personally love an organic sea-salt and lavender cookie, I appreciate that they’re not guaranteed to make the top 10 list.
Anywho, here’s a great recipe that may not be the healthiest, but is still a good way to use up leftover Halloween candy you might have.
If you don’t have Snickers, then Twix or Almond Joy are good alternatives.
Attention families with toddlers! St James Preschool in Montclair, which has been offering preschool classes for 25 years, is adding a new program designed just for toddlers ages 18-30 months old.
Director and owner Sarah Eggleston tells us that:
A sunny, private space is being designed and furnished for the program. Children can enroll for a 2,3 or 4 day option with a maximum of 10 children per day. A certified teacher and assistant teacher will create age appropriate hands-on experiences for the children, stressing their individual growth and developmental needs. Daily playground and gym time will encourage development of the children’s large motor skills. St James’ philosophy that “children learn through play” will also be stressed in the toddler program which will also incorporate music, literature and language opportunities.
Chanthia C. Ma, a graduating senior at Millburn High School has been named one of approximately 550 semifinalists in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from more than 3,300 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character and involvement in community and school activities.
In April, Ma, along with two other Millburn High School seniors, William Krinsman and Henry Meng, were selected as candidates for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Candidates were selected based on exceptional scores on either the SAT or the ACT college admission test. Semifinalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished educators after a review of students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts. Among her many achievements, Ma was a semifinalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search Competition as well as a National Merit Finalist and she received an Honorable Mention for her Senior Portfolio in the 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.
The Montclair Academy of Dance and Laboratory of Music (MADLOM) will hold an Anansi the Spider Peace Quilt Workshop for all ages. it will be a fun afternoon of an afternoon of art and literature, with live drum accompaniment. (Saturday, May 19)
The annual Family Garden Party at Presby Iris Gardens is on Saturday. It’s the perfect time because it’s peak season and the gardens will be filled with beautiful irises. The garden will also be filled with entertainment, refreshments, activities and art from talented school students.
Take the family—this is one of those must-do events:
Who says just because you’re a “kindie” rocker that you aren’t a rock n’ rolling, hotel crashing, wild and crazy musician? This video of 17 kindie musicians who performed at KindieFest 2012 proves that you can be both:
At Kindiefest 2012, 17 Kindie Artists converged in a hotel room for a historic song recording. This is it. Featuring: Ralph Covert of Ralph’s World, Mr. Steve of Steve Songs, Mindy Thomas of Sirus XM Radio, Lee Overtree of Story Pirates, Big Bang Boom, Bari Koral, Zak Morgan, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Miss Amy and Alex Otey, The Not Its, Aaron Nigel Smith and Alisha Gaddis. And they all have a name…
Bloomfield High School Thespian Society launches a new theatrical event this weekend, the Spring Theatre Project. Conceived and directed by Brandon E. Doemling, featuring a cast of twenty-four performers and an all-student band comprised of 22 musicians, it is an evening of song, scene and poetry entitled, “Be As You Are.”
The musical direction and arrangements (Hannah Elarmo & Candice McCloud), vocal direction (Jarred Lee), lighting design (Jarred Lee) and stage management (Aziz Naouai) are all the creation of the student thespians.
Audiences will be treated to new arrangements of Broadway classics and pop composers around the theme of the struggles, the joys, and the pride in finding your own identity. From the Bard of Avon to J.D. Salinger, Sly and the Family Stone, and Lady Gaga; classical, mid-century, and contemporary voices remind us that it is indeed a timeless theme.
Forget about March Madness, see the robotic hoopsters from the Montclair Bulldogs and the Clifton Mechanical Mustangs demonstrate their on court skills at the annual High School Robotics Extravaganza. The robots will compete in shooting baskets and cooperate in balancing on a bridge.
The two teams, both sponsored by the Montclair Society of Engineers, designed and built their basketball playing robots to compete against other high schools in the FRC FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition tournaments this spring. After demonstrating the machines, members of each team will explain how they came up with their different approaches to solving the same problems.
