GAP News: Event a Big Hit!

I wanted to thank everyone who came out to our big warm-up event at The Hill Tea Bar (make sure to check out their updated site) last Friday!  I know it was a little slow to get going and a bit crowded at times, but I'm so glad to hear that so many people came and had fun!  We gave out almost 40 bags, so we had a great turn-out!  

I was unfortunately at home with a stomach virus (the joys of having kids), so I wasn't able to make it to my own web site's event!!  I was so sad to miss it, but I have to thank my GAP partner, Julia, for taking over for me.  And my poor hubby, Jamie, got sucked into it too.  :)  So, thank you, Jamie, for helping me stuff bags and for getting all the goods there!  And my friend, Olivia, was kind enough to help get everything rolling too.

A HUGE thank you to Pam of The Hill Tea Bar for hosting us and for her patience with my last-minute absence.  I heard the tea was wonderful and the complimentary treats scrumptious.  Pam was also responsible for bringing the folk singer, Michael Mabry, in to entertain.  He apparently was a big hit, performing lots of kids' songs since there were families in attendance.  So, thank you, Michael!  

And thank you to Annie Hart also, who was there to tell one of her amazing stories.  She didn't end up telling her story because it was so crowded and there were so many children (her stories are really geared toward adults).  So, I apologize all of you for not explaining that before hand.  Make sure to try and make it to one of her events in the future!  We'll keep you updated.  She will also do story telling in your home now, so remember to book her for your next event! 

I hope you are all enjoying your goody bags and want to thank all the generous local stores who donated items for bags and for prizes for the give-away.  So, thank you to:  The Apothecary Garden, Philadelphia Pretzel, High Point Cafe, The Night Kitchen Bakery, Lemons and Limes, Once Upon a Gallery, The Maternal Wellness Center, The Mt. Airy Learning Tree, and Wax.  I have the names of the winners of our give-away prizes and will be contacting you all shortly.

We have some left-over bags of coupons and goodies, and we will give those away to the first 10 people to comment on this post!  (Please abstain from commenting if you already received a bag at the event).  So, simply go to the "comment" link below and tell us anything you want (just make sure to include your email address, so we can get in touch with you)!  Tell us why you love GAP or what you would like to see us do in the future, etc. 

Fieldtrip: Northlandz, Home of the Great American Railway

For the last year, every time we have driven up to New York to visit my in-laws, we have passed this out-of-place gray building that looks something like an old function hall. A big sign out front says NORTHLANDZ, with some reference to trains. Every time we pass by, we look at each other and say "Some day we should check that place out." And then we keep driving.

Last Sunday, we made it our destination. A little over an hour north of NW Philly in Flemington, NJ, it is Northlandz: Home of the Worlds Largest Model Railroad, Doll Museum, and Art Gallery. They left off 'Dream Land of Little Boys of all ages'. My husband left saying it was one of the Top 10 coolest places he has ever visited.


8 miles of train track with up to 100 trains running daily. 1 mile and 2 stories of winding walking tour. Amazingly detailed dioramas you revisit from different angles and heights. Neat little story cards with information or history about the scenes you are viewing. Humorously creative scenarios with titles like 'Little Girly Gulch' (where an unrestrained toddler actually climbed over the wall). Strategically placed steps for littler kids to get a better view. A 94 room dollhouse display, doll exhibits, and mini art galleries along the way. And a music hall with pipe organs that actually get played throughout the day!


And after all that, a little outdoor train ride on the Raritan River Railway.


Have I enticed you? The museum is open Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri from 10:30-4 and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30-5:30. Admission is $13.75 for adults, $9.75 for kids 2-12. Children under 2 are free. The little steam engine ride is extra, but less than $3 per person.

Northlandz does have a small snack bar (think soft pretzels and hot dogs), but if you have the time, I would highly recommend heading into Flemington to the Shaker Cafe on Main St. Very family friendly with great food and the decor makes for a great 'I Spy' game with kids. We actually headed up early in the morning and went there for breakfast before the museum.

Northlandz is one of those places we will probably go back to every year for years to come, as it easily entertained everyone - from our two-year-old to Grandma and Grandpa. Check it out!

Let's Play: The Please Touch Museum

In case you are a straggler and haven't made it yet to the new location of the Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall, here is my "insider's guide" to this incredible play space.  So, if you haven't been yet, maybe this will convince you to make the trip.  And if you're already a regular visitor, you know how amazing the museum is, but you may find some tips here that will help make your future trips there even better!

My first word of advice is to try your best to go to the Please Touch on a week day morning, as early as possible.  The museum opens at 9am, so aim for as close to then as you can.  There is a huge lot, so parking won't be a problem like it was at the downtown location (it does cost $5, but that's half the cost of parking at the zoo!)  The crowds tend to build as the day goes on, so at least you will be able to move around easily in the beginning to get your bearings.  It is also a good idea to go on nice days; rainy days get very crowded.  The museum site also recommends Mondays since most field trips are not scheduled then and afternoons if you aren't able to make it early in the morning.

Treat the museum like a trip to a theme park; this is not going to be a short trip unless you have a membership and can go often.  So, come prepared, with a stroller if possible to store everything and for exhausted little ones and plenty of snacks and drinks.  

There is an eatery at the museum, the Please Taste Cafe, located to the right of the entrance.  The cafe has plenty of kid-friendly food like pizza, pasta, sandwiches, chips, yogurt, hot dogs, etc.  The pasta is kind of cool; it's a station where you choose a type a pasta, a sauce, and extra ingredients like olives or tomatoes, and cooks will fry it up together right in front of you.  

And, if you are afraid of the germs from all the touching at the Please Touch, you can either use their hand sanitizer pumps or bring some sanitizing wipes of your own if you don't like having that "not quite gone" feeling on your hands from the liquid.

Make sure to grab a map at the front desk; this place is BIG.  Check to see if there are any special shows planned first; there are sometimes puppet shows, magicians, etc.  Then make your way in!  You can start at River Adventures if you are okay with your children getting a bit wet (there are smocks for kids to wear).  Children can race boats up and down the river, experiment with creating rainbows, and changing currents.  There is also a fenced-off space for younger ones to crawl around and explore (as in many locations around the museum).    

Next, you could head over to Roadside Attractions on the opposite side of the lobby.  They can drive race cars, hop on the bus, take a plane ride, fix a car, or stop at the gas station.  Go downstairs to City Capers, a full city where children can shop at the super market, work at the construction site, or assist with the babies in the nursery at the hospital. You could definitely spend all day in this one section; it was my kids' favorite part of the museum.  

Pass through the train station to enter the maze and fantasy of Wonderland where you can have tea with the Mad Hatter and experiment with reflections in the hall of mirrors.  Back upstairs, the older ones will especially love Flight Fantasy, where they can learn how many different ways they can make things fly, twist, and turn.  They can even be a hamster for a moment, turning in the giant hamster wheel.  The room in the back holds the majestic flying machine.  Little minds will be tested as children design their own planes out of pieces of foam and then send them up the flying machine to see how well they soar back down.

And don't forget a ride on the carousel before you leave (if you can still walk, that is).  This is out some doors past River Adventures, a full-size, restored carousel.  Rides will cost you, unless you have a membership.  And, if you dare, stop by the store on your way out.  This is a huge toy store with wonderful and educational toys and books -- definitely worth a look.

So, if you don't have the coveted Please Touch membership (which has gotten more expensive, by the way), add it to your Christmas list.  Winter is almost here and the museum is a great (and warm) way to pass the time.  It's also a wonderful gift for other local parents!

Was that enough information for you?  If you haven't been, go!!  It's worth it.  And remember that you may not be able to see it all the first time.  Take your time.  I know of a couple of moms who even went solo their first time to check it out!  It's a good idea, especially if you want to see the Centennial Exploration (a model of the original exhibition grounds) without being rushed.  

Schools: Open House Report -- The Waldorf School of Philadelphia

This is the first of many open house reports.  We will only report on schools we have actually visited, either when attending an open house or taking a private tour.  This is meant to be a snapshot of a school and will not be exhaustive.  These reports should not substitute for a visit to the school being reviewed.  

We will try our best to simply report facts and our impressions without too much subjective opinion injected in these entries (as much as possible).  Reviews will mainly contain positive aspects of the schools.  Simply because a school is reported on does not mean that we recommend any given school.

The Waldorf School of Philadelphia is for children pre-K through 8th grade.  Waldorf education originated in Germany by Rudolf Steiner and is increasing in popularity here in America.  This method of educating children is very different from other schools and there are many sources out there to investigate in order to learn more about this form of education, so make sure to be informed and read all you can.

Whether you agree with Steiner's ideas or not, there are some aspects of the Waldorf School of Philadelphia that we can probably all agree on.  First of all, the building and classrooms are beautiful.  The school is located in an old, stone, castle-like building on the Covenant campus in Mt. Airy.  Each classroom is painted a different, warm, color and is filled with high-quality wooden furniture, play spaces, and toys.

  

The school supports bringing things from the natural world to children.  For example, in one of the Kindergarten classes, you will not only find soft dolls and wooden blocks, but baskets filled with seashells and rocks, and large tree trunks for children to explore.  The Waldorf School also truly values the importance of giving children exposure to the outdoors.  The children are outside for at least an hour a day in ALL weather, whether they are playing on the playground or roaming around the field and trees on the beautiful grounds of the Covenant campus.    

 

One unique quality of a Waldorf education is that, starting in 1st grade, teachers travel through the grades with students.  This means that your child will have the same teacher from 1st-8th.  The school stresses that this causes children and teachers to truly know each other and grow together.  The faculty believes that children only learn well from those they truly know and care about.  

Homework is not a big part of The Waldorf School of Philadelphia.  Younger students might be asked to go home and explore a particular item in nature or in their neighborhoods, but there is not usually formal homework to be done.  Some homework starts around 4th grade, but the volume will still not be substantial.  No letter grades are given, with the exception of 7th grade, purely because students are applying to high schools at this point and many require grades.  Children are assessed, but not in letter or number form.

The school is very non-violent, teaching children to respect and care

 for one another.  Instructors strive to teach a child's "head, heart, and hands."  The arts are stressed, with a lot of time spent on teaching children to do such things as knit, bake, play instruments, do woodworking, etc.  Spanish and German are also taught.  Each year has a central theme such as fairy tales, bible stories, fables, etc.  Early reading and writing is not taught; students are not taught these things formally until the 1st grade.  The Waldorf philosophy is that children will learn these things, but need to just learn through play and exploration in the early years.

Students do go on field trips.  In the lower grades, they stay close to home, going on hikes and walks in the area.  As they get older, they venture farther out, such as spending a few days at a farm and visiting museums.  Graduates of The Waldorf School of Philadelphia attend many area high schools, with most attending charter schools.  

Some arguments against Waldorf education in general (that you can research further if you wish) are: (these are not necessarily our opinion)

*"Bullying sometimes thrives because of a lack of discipline."

*"Students are not being prepared for the 'real world,' since they are not exposed to technology etc." (the use of T.V.s and computers are even discouraged for parents at home)

*"Students may be "stuck" with a teacher they don't click with."

Your Turn:  What do you think of Waldorf eduction and this school?  Do you have a child enrolled?  What has been your experience?  Click on the pencil below to comment.

Our Next Report Coming Soon:  Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Treat Yourself: Earth Bread + Brewery

It's a dream for me. If someone were to ask this summer when I moved to Mt. Airy, "What do you dream about when you close your eyes?," I would probably have said, "I wish they would build a brew pub in Mt. Airy where I could take the kids."

Earth Bread + Brewery  at 7136 Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy has been packed both up and downstairs since it opened in the beginning of October. It's a green-conscious space with great beer and flatbread pizza and, early on most nights, it's filled with kids. 

Earth Bread has six types of flatbread pizza and a "make your own" variety. The balance of the menu now has great salads and soups. So if the kids do not like pizza (believe it or not, I know one of those) and will not eat soup, it's not the place for them. But if your kids do like pizza, the Traditional is the best way to start. 

Ask for crayons too and the drinks in paper cups with straws. The owners tell me that they might branch out to sandwiches someday in the future but right now just want to get better and better at what they do. They also always knew that the Mt. Airy location meant that they should plan for families.

"I'm not sure we specifically planned to make the space kid- friendly," proprietor Tom Baker said, "but when you're planning a restaurant in a family place like Mount Airy you should plan for families."

"Some nights in the last month," partner Peggy Zwever added, "we've run out of highchairs."

Not only are Peggy and Tom dedicated to the enviornment, good food and great beer; they are dedicated to Mt. Airy.

"We moved to West Mount Airy this summer," they told me.

Earth Bread + Brewery has four types of their own brewed beer and eight varieties brewed in other local microbreweries. They offer wine also, but no other liquor yet.

Earth Bread + Brewery is only open for dinner for the time being from 4:30pm-midnight and until 1am Fridays and Saturdays. They stop serving dinner at 10, though. They are directly across the street from Infusion. There is on street parking but also a municipal lot behind FitLife.

AveNEWS: High Point Cafe's 2nd Location now Open!!

I realized yesterday morning that Election Day was not the day to check out the new location of High Point Cafe as I approached the long line outside. Could all these people really be waiting for coffee? This place was even more popular than expected! Then, as I got closer, I realized that they weren't waiting for coffee, they were waiting to vote! How cool to have your polling place inside a coffee shop?!?!

Even with the inside tables temporarily replaced with voting booths, the kids and I were impressed. The same fabulous coffee, a cozy friendly space, lots of yummy food, and warm and smiling staff. Even better, they now have space for stroller parking outside and high chairs! The new location will not be serving crepes, but will have lots of other treats including some Grab&Go Sandwiches.

Fortunately, they also have some outdoor seating over on the side - with a perfect view of passing trains. With an iced coffee, a couple gruyere brioche, and an up close sighting of the R8, we were all happily satisfied.

High Point Cafe now has two locations in West Mt. Airy:
The original Cafe at 602 Carpenter Lane
and the new location at The Allens Lane Train Station

Both sites are open every day, 7am-7pm.

Happy Election Day!

We have all been waiting for this day for a long time.  It's finally here!  So, get out and vote!  The polls will be open from 7am-8pm.  If you don't know where your polling place is, plug in your address here (just your street address, not city and zip).  You can also see a list of polling places in Philadelphia and find out what to do if you are a first-time voter, such as what forms of identification are acceptable.  And you can find our more about what will be on the ballot.

If you have any problems casting your vote, call the Election Day Hotline, at (866) OUR-VOTE.  And, if you've been hearing any information about election day that you aren't sure about, check out these elections myths exposed!  For example, you CAN wear clothing and buttons supporting a particular candidate; you just cannot campaign and must leave the voting location immediately after casting your vote.  You also CAN vote straight party without having to separately vote for the president here in Philadelphia.

If you have to bring children (it is a great experience for older kids to see you exercising your right to vote, but younger ones can be a handful, especially if there is a long line) try to come in pairs and take turns watching the kids outside.  Come with a neighbor or your spouse or partner who can help you with little ones.  Many of the polling places have playgrounds outside, so you may want to take advantage of that.  It may be raining, though, so that may take playgrounds out of the picture.  Bring along a special bag of toys/activities to help keep kids busy.

See you at the polls!