Mom & Me Fairy Skirt Class this Sunday!

Join BEST member Kolleen from Design by Night and the ladies of Baltimore Threadquarters for a spring time Mom & Me no sew Fairy Skirt and Crown making workshop for ages 6-9. Fairy princess Kolleen will be sprinkling fairy dust and waiving her magic glue gun to help transform your little girl into a crafty fairy princess!

Create a custom made colorful whispy skirt using grosgrain ribbon and fluffy tulle. We'll make a matching fairy crown to top it off!


Where: Baltimore Threadquarters

518 South Conkling Street
Baltimore, MD 21224

443-759-9627

When: Sunday, April 14, 2013

Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

To sign up for the class, click here.

Waterfront Kids

Now that school is coming to an end, you probably are looking for things to do with your little ones this summer. Try checking out the new Waterfront Kids program at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. This is a free program where they are going to offer classes in fitness, foreign languages, and crafts, just to name a few. Registration is required.

For more information visit waterfrontpartnership.org.

Written by Stacey Phinney

Baltimore with Babes: Clark's Elioak Farm

If you're looking for a way to celebrate fall with your family, look no farther than Clark's Elioak Farm, located just off of Route 29 in Howard County. This family-owned farm boasts every farm-related activity under the sun, from a pumpkin patch to a petting farm. You'll meet (among others) a miniature donkey, pigs, goats, and even an emu. For an extra fee, you can enjoy a pony ride, a hayride on the famous Trusty the Tractor, or a turn on the new Cow Train, where your child will ride in his or her own wheeled "cow" pulled by a tractor.
The Clarks offer lots of special events on fall weekends, but one of the most enjoyable is their annual Pumpkin Chunkin', which falls this year on November 5th and 6th. Bring the jack o' lantern from your front porch and take your turn launching it across the farm with their specially made catapult. Seriously fun.

Old school Baltimoreans will recognize familiar features from The Enchanted Forest sprinkled across the property. The old fairytale amusement park that used to live on Route 40, where John Waters filmed scenes for Crybaby, was abandoned for many years, and its beloved attractions were falling into ruin. The Clark family has worked with local conservation groups to painstakingly transport and restore multiple elements from the classic park, and you'll be happy to see your kids zip down the slide in the Old Lady's Shoe or take a peek into the home of the Three Little Bears. The hayride loops through all of the Enchanted Forest attractions.

You can feel good about supporting this 540-acre family farm, which has long championed conservation and offers the community locally grown produce, grass-raised beef, pastured lamb, cut-your-own flowers and herbs, and local cheeses and butter.

Admission is $5, free for infants under 12 months, and $4.50 with a AAA card. Hay rides, pony rides, and the cow train are each $2 extra.

by Brita of Beeps' Peeps

B'more with Babes: Storyville

Looking for something fun, free, and edifying to do with the kiddos? Look no further than Storyville, the literacy fun zones at the Woodlawn and Rosedale branches of the Baltimore County Public Library. Designed to build literacy skills in little ones aged birth- 5 years, Storyville is a village consisting of different themed learning areas such as the post office or grocery store. There is even a Baby Garden for non-walkers. The whole village is stocked with activities and materials that promote essential pre-school skills. Staff limits the number of parents and kids who can enjoy Storyville at once, and while this can mean an occasional wait, it also means that you'll always have plenty of room to play and explore. Storyville is open during regular branch hours.

Written by Brita of Beeps' Peeps

Baltimore with Babes - McFadden Art Glass

Artist/Owner Tim McFadden pictured with Chandelier at Quiet Waters Exhibit

My sister and I take our daughters every year to make something for them to give our mother for Mother's Day. This year we decided to go to McFadden Art Glass www.mcfaddenartglass.com to make some blown glass pieces. I was a little unsure of how the whole project would work out and how much hands on making the girls would actually get to do. I was pleasantly surprised with how things turned out. The atmosphere in Tim McFadden's hot shop is very laid back and fun!

After a little bit of instruction from Tim he got the girls rolling on what they had to do, how they had to hold the pipe, how to keep it rolling in their hands, etc. Step by step he was right there with them teaching and guiding them. Pictured above is my daughter Caroline holding the pipe in the fire so that the bits of colored glass that she had just picked up would begin to melt.

I was really fascinated by the whole process....how the glass will just keep on stretching and mold into whatever shape you want. The girls decided to each make a flower. Pictured above is my youngest daughter Kate pulling out the petals in her flower with the expert guidance of Tim.

Above is my sweet patient Ella finally getting her turn! She is rolling the pipe in the bits of colored glass that will eventually become her flower.

In addition to the hot shop, Tim also has an incredible gallery and shop where you can purchase his amazing artwork. Above is a wall of plates in a beautiful array of colors and designs! Also on the premises is The Glass Grill which is a lovely restaurant where you can get a bite to eat and see some of Tim's unbelievable chandeliers on display. We had such a great time during our visit that Caroline has decided that she wants to have her birthday party there in June.

The Glass Grill has all kinds of fun themed events that tie into Tim's shop...Date Night, Ladies Night, Singles Mingle....the list goes on! The hot shop can accommodate up to 30 people for hands on activities and up to 50 for interactive demonstration. For more information on upcoming events or to book a private party at The Glass Grill visit their website at www.theglassgrill.com. To see more of Tim's beautiful artwork or book a group in the hot shop visit www.mcfaddenartglass.com

Baltimore With Babes: Maryland Faerie Festival

Take your little fairies to the Maryland Faerie Festival on May 14th and 15th!

This fun festival features music, maypoles, dancing, local artisans, and lots of events on the schedule just for children. Held on the enchanted grounds of the Patuxent 4H center in Upper Marlboro, this year's festival will be specially celebrating mermaids!

Post written by Jamaila of Anapurna

Station North Art Festival, Baltimore with Babes

The other day, our wonderful school art teacher Ms. Laura Embereson, pulled me aside in the hall to tell me my daughter will have work on display at this event, and that there will be awards given out like a real art show! I had never heard of the event before, but it sounded intriguing, especially since our daughter's self portrait will be on display. The exhibit is called Aimed for Purpose, very appropriate for a student show.

Thinking back to my own childhood, this event sounds like similar exhibits I showed at. I am artist, who was once a child who enjoyed making art. I remember when my parents encouraged me and my talent, exposing me to events and exhibits like this. A child feels a great sense on accomplishment and pride when they see a piece of their own artwork in an exhibit, out there in the world. I can't wait to share this day with her!


Location : Across from Station North Thrift Store, 1400 Greenmount Ave.
Time: Saturday May 14th, 12-4pm
Free!

For more info: Adopt a Block Inc.

Station North Art Festival (SNAF) is a program that is run through Adopt-A-Block, Inc. that involves East Baltimore schools and school-aged children who submit artwork based on a pre-determined theme that is always positive and community based. We collect the artwork from individuals and teachers, it is judged by professional artists, and the top 3 students and top school are awarded several prizes.

Family Art Day: The Apprentice's Workshop at the Walters

Looking for something to do on a Sunday with that little one of yours? The Walters Art Museum has just the thing....family art day!

Spend a special afternoon transported back to the medieval times and explore daily life and art from the middle ages. Enjoy a family-friendly tour of the special exhibition Treasures of Heaven and then venture on to the studios to work as an apprentice and learn new techniques. Work together as a family to create treasures in your own craft guild. At the end of the afternoon, we’ll celebrate the group’s work with a small feast. Materials and admission to the special
exhibition included.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information visit this link.


Date: Sunday April 10, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD

Written By: Stacey of studio G

Highlandtown Train Garden Visit, Baltimore with Babes

Model Sponsors, originally uploaded by pagodabob.

Visiting a train garden around Christmas time is a favorite tradition of mine. I try to see these little models though my daughter's eyes. We take our time discovering the holiday decorations, fake snow, the tiny cars and people, hobos. And if you're lucky, you see the little puffs of smoke that pump out of the engine in unison with a whistle. These displays somehow evoke nostalgic memories and stir up warm feelings of our own past childhoods. I'm happy to help make those memories with my family during this holiday season.

But this is no generic train set up! The Highlandtown Train Garden is full of personality. The engineers made sure to complete it with personal touches from this side of the city. National Lumber, the Guide, Di Pasquales. Even the newly acquired Frank Zappa head sculpture is decked standing proud outside of the SE Anchor Library! This train garden is overflowing with the charm of East Baltimore.

Don't miss out! The schedule can be found here:
http://highlandtowntraingarden.blogspot.com/

more info on the tiny Zappa Head here

Baltimore with Babes - A Spooktacular Family Concert

Get ready for thrills and chills as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra premiere's Lemony Snickets' "The Composer is Dead" October 30th at 11:00 AM at the Joseph Myerhoff Symphony Hall. If you have elementary school kids, they are sure to know about Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" books or even the movie of the same name.

Will your kids figure out how the composer met his unfortunate demise? The show is for children 5 and up and their families. Kids who show up in their Halloween costume will have a chance to win a special prize. Come early as the BSO Family Fun Zone will open at 10AM in the main lobby.

Tickets start at $12. Visit BSOmusic.org for ticket info.

Baltimore With Babes- Pumpkin Fest

It won't be long before we're all house-bound. And I think that beautiful Fall weekends are nature's way of saying "Get out while you can!" What better reason to spend the day outside than this...

Irvine Nature Center will host its 26th annual PumpkinFest, a harvest festival, on Saturday October, 16th and Sunday, October 17th. The autumnal celebration features pumpkin picking, pony rides, live music and other outdoor fun.

The rain-or-shine event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Each child costs $10, which includes a free pumpkin. Adults and children younger than 3 are admitted free. Parking is also free.

Harvest festival attendees will revel in a mixture of activities, including scarecrow-making, hay rides, face painting, animal encounters, puppet shows and guided nature walks. MusicHealsUs will include visitors in a drum circle, and Fiddlesticks and the Gerry Gessie Duo will perform acoustic folk music. There will also be nature-themed art projects for children. All activities are free with paid admission.

"PumpkinFest is great opportunity for families to explore the outdoors during one of the most beautiful seasons of the calendar year - fall," said Irvine's Executive Director Peggy F. O'Neill. She added that the event is fun for all ages, and makes a great weekend outing for families large and small.

Irvine Nature Center is located on 116 acres of woodlands, wetlands and meadows in the breathtaking Caves Valley area. Open year round, Irvine offers opportunities for visitors to explore nature, including special events like PumpkinFest, daily classes of nature-based curriculum for 3 to 5 year olds, public programs, summer camps, field trips, green weddings and an interactive natural history museum. For more information, visit www.ExploreNature.org.

Baltimore with Babes: Apple Picking

Each fall, I like to take my children apple picking. They learn about nature and where food comes from. They are outside and it is fun! We usually go to a Brown's Orchard in Loganville, Pennsylvania but there are a few pick your own apple orchards in our area. There is Shaw Orchards in White Hall, Weber's Cider Mill Farm in Parkville and Baugher's Orchard in Westminster.

Don't they look good? If you are interested in going to one of the orchards listed, I encourage you to visit their websites so you know what the picking hours are and what type of apples are available. September is the peak of apple season so don't wait too long to go or all the good ones will be gone.

Written by Linda of LindasPaperie

Baltimore with Babes: Elmo's Healthy Heroes

Healthy eating and the Arts? YES!

Help instill both healthy eating habits and an appreciation of the arts when Sesame Street Live brings
Elmo's Healthy Heroes to 1st Mariner Arena!

When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero! Never fear, Elmo and his team of Healthy Heroes are here. Teaching lessons of healthy habits through song and dance, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and your favorite Sesame Street friends will explore exercise, nutrition, sleep/energy and hygiene - all in a quest to put the "super" back in Super Grover. It's Elmo's Healthy Heroes to the rescue!

show dates:
09/09/2010- 09/12/2010
1st Mariner Arena

Written by Janice of Doxallo Designs

Baltimore with Babes - Greenbelt Greenman Festival

The Greenbelt Greenman Festival is an annual celebration of all things earthy, folky, and a hotspot of family fun. Now in it's 6th year, the Greenman Festival is produced by CHEARS, the Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society and offers a variety of family friendly events - including live music, dancing and kids' activities.

Multi-generational events include live music from the Homespun Ceilidh Band and puppet shows performed by Baltimore's own Beale Street Puppets. Children's events include winding the Maypole, face painting and a fairy garden.

Check the schedule here to find your favourite events whether it's watching the kids wind the maypole or engaging in a lively discussion about organic farming and making sustainable food choices. Only forty-five minutes from Baltimore, but for an afternoon, at least, it's a whole other world.

Written by tarabu.

Around Town: Glen Echo Park

Should you find yourself south of Baltimore in the DC area, consider visiting Glen Echo Park. Only 6.5 miles and a 15-minute drive along the Potomac River from Georgetown, it is a popular amusement park for families with kids (it has a 1921 Dentzel carousel) and provides an opportunity for artists and craftsters to pursuits creative activities.

Glen Echo Park is home to resident artists and arts organizations and if you would like to take up painting, kilnformed glass, blown glass, pottery, photography (or restoring your old photos) and hundreds of other classes/workshops held all-year round, check the schedule here.

Written by: Therese of JumpSheep

Spring Into Art five, Benefit Auction for PPPCS

Tigerlillyshop donated 2 pieces, one copper necklace and one kimono button bracelet, to the Spring Into Art Auction this year that benefits PPPCS. I believe in the future of the Patterson Park Public Charter School and want it to succeed. The school has been a grassroots effort from the surrounding neighborhoods and I am proud that it is a great option for parents choosing to keep their families in the city. Please come out and bid this weekend!

03.20/21.10

A unique art exhibition and sale showcasing local talent and
benefiting Patterson Park Public Charter School

A chance to buy fine art from more than 20 Baltimore area artists and support the
Patterson Park Public Charter School. 40% of all art sale proceeds will be donated to the school.

Opening Night Silent Auction

Saturday, March 20th—6 pm to 12 midnight

VIP Reception—6 pm to 7 pm.

Enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres + cocktails, music, and the opportunity to place the
first bid! Tickets are $35 and include the Opening Celebration + After Party.

Opening Celebration—7 pm to 9:30 pm.

An evening of great art, food, drink + music. Get your auction bid in before 9 pm!
Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 and include the After Party.

After Party—9:30 pm to 12 midnight.

DJ, chill tunes + cash bar keep the party going!

For ticket information please visit www.pppcs.org.

Open Gallery + Family Art Day

Sunday, March 21st—10 am to 2 pm

Browse + purchase art at this free open gallery. See (and hear) the talents of PPPCS students. Learn more about the arts programs at PPPCS.

Patterson Park Public Charter School

410-558-1230 x396 | www.pppcs.org | 27 N. Lakewood Ave. Baltimore, MD 21224

Indie-Pendence: Jack and Immy Children's Consignment

There is a brand new eco-friendly place to shop in Southeast Baltimore. For gently used name brand kids clothes and high quality gear, Jack and Immy Children's Consignment is the new store to visit in Fells Point.

Portia Romond and Pintet Halasan saw an opportunity and made it happen. Both are local moms with young children and know first hand the challenges of juggling all of the "stuff" that goes along with having children. For those of us residing in the city, efficient row house living requires families to purge clothes and baby gear as kids grow every season. The consignment shop is a great option for recouping a bit of money as your kids outgrow their gently used items in these hard times.It is an environmentally conscious shopping and selling experience right here in our community. These ladies are committed to offering affordable clothing as well as providing a creative resource for families to consign. They named the shop by using each of their youngest child's names, Jack and Imogene. And of course, the store is kid friendly with an area to color and play while parents shop -always a bonus.
Jack and Immy's is located at 2108 Fleet St. in Fells Point.
Open Tues. -Sat., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and can be reached at 410-732-0195.
See their website for terms.


Post written by: Tigerlillyshop

Baltimore with Babes: The Parkside

photo credit: Beer in Baltimore

It is Friday night, after a loooong week and all you want to do is go have a good dinner with seasonal food and a really good beer. Oh, but wait, I have a two year old and no babysitter. What’s a girl to do? Go to the Parkside! Brainchild of former Brewer’s Art employees Chris and Colleen Cashell and Vickie Johnson, the Parkside offers great food and beer and most importantly for me, there is a child’s play area. There is a fun selection of toys for the kidlets, a cool little set of stairs to climb on and even coloring supplies for your little artist. We were able to have short spurts of adult conversation while waiting for our meal and watching our little guy party like it was 1999. Best of all we experienced no eye rolls for enjoying one lousy beer with our kid. The food we have had there is not always consistently great, but the effort is there, the ingredients are fresh and the beer is good and cold. The Parkside now offers bottomless Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas during Sunday Brunch. They are located in Lauraville near the corner of Harford Road and Cold Spring Lane.

Written by: Juliet of The Broken Plate