Let the Fall Festivals Begin!

Although the weather this week makes it a little hard to believe, Fall has officially begun. So, I present to you a list of upcoming fall festivals, a few of which are this weekend. You'll find everything from arts and craft shows to apple festivals to goblins in the garden!

Look for more fall fun soon to come on GAP, including Halloween festivities!

Fall Festivals:

Sept. 26th: Main Street Fair in Chestnut Hill

Sept. 26th: Master Gardener's Fall Fest

Sept. 26th: Founder's Day Fall Festival

Sept. 26th and 27th: Apple Festival at Linvilla Orchards

Sept. 26th and 27th: Fine Arts and Crafts Festival at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford

Sept. 26th and 27th: New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival

Sept. 26th and 27th: Faeries and Wizards Family Festival at the Camden Children's Garden

Sept. 26th and 27th/Oct. 3rd and 4th: Brandywine Harvest Festival

Oct. 3rd: Midown Village Fall Festival

Oct. 4th: Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival

Oct. 4th: Food and Crafts Festival in Media

Oct. 10th (Raindate Oct.11th): Fall Pumpkin Festival in Whitemarsh

Oct. 10th and 11th: Mum Madness and Pumpkin Parade at the Camden Children's Garden

Oct. 17th: All Hallow's Eve Fall Festival at Pennypacker Mills

Oct. 17th: Jazz by Night Celebration in Media

Oct. 17th and 18th: Pumpkin Days Celebration at the Tyler Arboretum

Oct. 17th and 18th: Highlands Craft Show at the Highland Mansion and Gardens

Oct. 24th and 25th: Goblins in the Garden Family Festival at the Camden Children's Garden

Oct. 25th: Highlands Mansion and Gardens Pumpkin Show

Nov. 7th and 8th: Apple Festival at Peddler's Village

This Weekend: Make a Run For It!

Have you ever wished there was a place where your kids could yell like crazy, jump around, shouting like maniacs, and nobody would even notice? Have you ever wished you could use all that wonderful kid energy, noise, and enthusiasm for a good cause?

How about taking the kids out to cheer for runners at one of Philadelphia's world class distance running events? Philadelphia is home to one of the fastest, flatest marathon courses in the country (making it a favorite of hopeful Boston qualifiers) as well as a premiere half marathon, the Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR). Both events are coming up-- this Sunday, September 20, is the PDR, and Sunday, November 22 is the Philly Marathon.

My son has been attending events like these for as long as he can remember, and, to this day, when we drive by the Fall's Bridge he still points out, "This is where mom's race was!" We have even planned trips to Florida around my brother's marathon and triathlon events. Most events are kid friendly, sometimes including separate "fun runs" or walks for kids as young as 3.

This year my son got to run through the finish line at the Philly Tri, wearing his first race bib (yes, I framed it!). If you ever get a chance, check out the Miami Man Triathlon, where the run takes place in and around the fabulous Miami Zoo (hello, sea turtle! hello, triathlon runner!). Plus, taking kids to these races highlights the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles in a really tangible way.

Among the highlights of these events: seeing world class athletes close up and for free (Ryan Hall is running the PDR this weekend, and if you have never seen a serious marathoner in action, you will not believe how fast these people are! Seriously, they look like they are in a full out sprint for 26.2 miles!); tons of noise, cheering, and happy people, so kids blend right in; and all that cheering really, truly, matters to the people running. In many cases it is the crowd that keeps them going.

And these days, more and more participants are running for a cause, such as Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. This means a lot of these people are competing in their first event, and have raised hundreds, often thousands of dollars for charity while training. My whole family knows well that whenever we see someone in TNT's purple jerseys (or any other recognizable charity organization) we cheer like crazy ("Go TNT!" or "Way to go, TEAM!"). So all that shouting and yelling, which in your house might make you go nuts, literally supports these runners who have worked so hard, in so many ways, to be where they are.

So, the inside scoop for the Philly events is that from the Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, or Germantown neighborhoods, the best place to be is Fall's Bridge. For both the marathon and PDR you get to see runners go by with 3-4 tough miles to go (in the marathon you will see them go by twice, once as they head down into Manayunk and once on the way up Kelly Drive). Cheering here means a lot to the runners, and it is not too hard to park if you go over Wissahickon Ave. to Midvale, and park along East Falls. If you then head down towards the bridge, you have access to the bathrooms at the gas stations right there (you may need to buy a snack to use them) and there is even a Dunkin' Donuts in one of them, in case you or the kids need a quick re-charge (way better than Gu).

These races are Philly and its community at their best. The more crowd support, the better the field in years to come as the rep of the city is a big draw. And you will see people in crazy costumes, carrying all kinds of funny stuff, and wearing hilarious shirts ("Will run for beer" or "In my mind, I am a Kenyan"). The chances are also good you will see runners you know-- people you may not even have known were racing.

People will be smiling, laughing, struggling, and straining. And whether you see the leaders, the followers, or those in last place, there are few better examples I can think of as positive role models for our kids.

It’s a Zoo, Out There! (in Norristown): The Elmwood Park Zoo

I was amazed to find a zoo in the middle of nowhere (otherwise known as Norristown). Yes, I noticed the lack of some of the most popular animals – giraffes, elephants, and rhinos – but my kids didn’t. They were too busy studying the sleeping porcupine’s teeth, giggling as the red foxes chased each other in circles, and predicting which prairie dog would pop out of its hole next.

With very few animals behind glass, this small zoo felt much more open and natural than the Philadelphia Zoo. And, I know it’s hard to believe, but a day at the Elmwood Park Zoo with two young children was actually relaxing. Really. I learned more than I needed to about the blue-tongued skink during the reptile talk, but my son was in heaven. And without the large crowds we would usually encounter at a zoo, my daughter didn’t have to wait in line for her second pony ride (which meant I didn’t have to hear that high-pitched cry for very long).

The petting zoo was a like a trip to the farm, with animals housed in a quaint red barn. After petting sheep and goats, we discovered the beautiful black jaguar and watched Jamaican fruit bats nibbling on bananas. And I wish I could transport their playground to my neighborhood. There were intricate wooden play structures for little and not-so-little, ride-on animals, and even a “fossil dig” area with pebbles that kept my little one busy searching for dinosaur bones.

After a long day of animal gazing, I was thrilled to find out that the yummy-smelling hamburgers being grilled outside on the café’s deck were not for a private party, but for everyone!

Finally, a trip to the zoo that didn’t leave me feeling like I’d been run over by a herd of elephants! (And the prices didn’t crush my wallet either.)

Hours: Mondays through Sundays: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Location: 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, PA 19401

Contact Information: 610.277.3825

Cost: Free (under 2), $7.75 per child (2-12), $10.75 per adult; $70 for a family annual membership.

*free lot parking.

*Visit the zoo this Saturday, Sept. 19th, for thier annual Oktoberfest!

Go Downtown: A Day of Franklin

Day of Franklin

A fun afternoon or early evening with the kids can be had by doing a mini-tour of places in the city bearing the name of Ben Franklin. This past Saturday evening, ready for a shake-up from the neighborhood playgrounds, we headed in town to meet friends at Franklin Square Park, the wonderful mecca of fun visible off 676 at the 6th street exit. Parking can be tough-- don't be tempted to park illegally on the sidewalk near the park, or risk a hefty $76 ticket (the reasoning "everyone else is doing it" bears no weight with the Parking Authority). But once parking has been found a world of fun activities awaits you.

We've been to this park before and played on the very large and enclosed playground, which has designated areas for tots and for slightly older kids. We've also done the beautiful merry-go-round, with which my son has a love-hate relationship. This night, the agenda included the park's cute and relatively easy mini-golf course ($6 for a child) where two 3 1/2 year old boys had a wildly successful first stab at mini-golf (if, like me, you measure success by a lack of tears, tantrums, and injuries).

We followed our golf game with dinner from Stephen Starr's "Square Burger". Starr has taken over the burger shack in the park, and while the menu is small (think hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and fries) the items are well-chosen. The veggie burger had well-selected toppings and the meat eaters enjoyed their selections as well. The summer salad I had included green beans and corn, and the buttermilk ranch dressing was so good I found myself lapping up the extra with french fries when my salad was gone! We passed on the yummy looking treats (including, no joke, a butterscotch krimpet milkshake-- a whole new reason to love Starr) because our night included desert elsewhere.

After our dinner on one of the many large picnic tables and a visit to the very clean restrooms, we headed out of the park, past the giant sand-sculpture of the 2009 World Series Phillies, down 6th Street to Arch, and turned left, where we took in Ben Franklin's grave site at the back of Christ Church. Many visitors throw pennies on his grave, and last time we walked by an impersonator who was lecturing on the life of Ben. You can see all this from just outside the gate at 5th and Arch.

This was a mere pit stop on the way to our next destination-- Franklin Fountain, at 116 Market. A true old fashioned ice cream and soda shoppe. The soda jerks (I love getting to use that word properly) wear old-time costumes and the ice cream and fountain sodas are delicious. Perhaps a bit on the pricey side, but quite large. My son and I split a hot fudge sundae (homemade ice cream and fudge) and were filled to the brim. We happily walked back to the car and drove back home with happy memories of our day with Ben!

NB: We had one unplanned stop on the way to Franklin Fountain because when we walked by the pet store Doggie Style at 3rd and Market, we found that they had SPCA kittens living in a cat condo in the front window. The cats are all friendly and they let kids walk into the window display and play with the kitties. (By the skin of my teeth I got out of there without a new cat-- they are all up for adoption!). I guess, however, Franklin would prefer cats to dogs, since he is famed for reminding us that "He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas."

Beatlemania in Chestnut Hill Tomorrow!

This weekend, Beatles fans should head to the hill (Chestnut Hill, that is) to join in the celebration to commemorate the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which includes all 12 Beatles albums digitally remastered and packaged with the oringinal artwork released with each album (released Sept. 9th). For those of you addicted to music-related video games, you might be interested to know that "The Beatles: Rock Band" game was released at the same time.

On Saturday 12th, let's come together for Beatlemania on the avenue.
Visit Hideaway Music to see WMGK’s Andre Gardner, host of Breakfast with the Beatles, and The WMGK Classic Rock Squad will also be there to share their favorite Beatles songs from 1-3 pm. Hideaway will also display rare Beatles collectibles.

Bring the kids for a day packed full of fun Beatles activities. Help them look for George in the Where’s George Contest? A George Harrison doll/figure will be placed in a window in one of Chestnut Hill’s shops. If you find him, you win a $25 Chestnut Hill gift certificate. Visit O'Doodle's toy store for “Yellow Submarine” Races – kid can race in the depths of the O’Doodle’s Ocean. O'Doodle's will also have free give-aways and Lucy in "Tie-Dyes" with Simon. Bring your own white t-shirt or buy one for the event for $10. Using the latest in String Dye Technology and the Simon Says game, you will learn how to get “groovy” with your own tie-dye shirt.

Make sure to do something for yourself too! Try some "Strawberry Fields" tea (20% off) at The Hill Tea Bar. If you get a moment away from the kids, visit the Diamond Spa for an "I Want to Hold Your Hand" manicure special, and relax while you listen to your favorite Beatles tunes.

And don't miss the Fantastic Beatles Dance Party on Saturday night (10:00 pm to 1:30 am) at Tavern on the Hill. Enjoy live Music by the Tavern’s own Reverend Chris & Ensemble(This event is going to be promoted by jambase.com and rollingstone.com)

There is much more Beatles fun planned. Check out the full list of events to plan your day on the hill!

If you like to rummage...

Don't miss St. Paul's annual rummage sale this Saturday, Sept. 12th, starting at 9:00 am. St. Paul's is a beautiful old stone church at the top of Chestnut Hill. When my family moved from Florida to Philly two years ago, we were coatless and clueless about cold weather. We happened to see a little blue and white sign advertising the church's rummage sale, so we thought we might as well stop by and see if they had some cold weather equipment.

And did we find all the coats, boots, scarves, hats, and gloves we could ask for? Yes. And way too much other stuff. We were there all day. I'm telling you, this is the king of rummage sales. Get there early. Prepare to wait in line to pay your $2 entry fee and allot hours to spend perusing through the rooms upon rooms of goodies.

The church volunteers actually spend all summer preparing for this sale. It is HUGE. It encompasses a couple of floors, many rooms, all full to the brim with stuff. And it is alarmingly well organized.

You will find books labeled by topics, a room of women's clothing, a room with men's clothing, a toy room, children's clothing, a room of antiques, electronics, and even a special "French" room with upscale clothing and accessory items for women. There will also be DVDs, Cd's, computer games, a holiday room, sporting goods, plants, jewelry, linens, furniture, and art.

You could find enough stuff to start a new household at this sale. Or get your Christmas shopping done early. And the prices are very low -- I'm talking yard sale prices. And a really nice bonus is knowing that your money is going to local charities whose missions it is to serve the homeless and hungry. Last year, the church raised $35,000 that was given to such organizations. And any leftovers from the sale are also given to worthy causes.

And in case you run out of arms to hold your bags of sales items, there is even a "bag room," where you can drop off your bags and get a ticket to bring back when you're ready to lug it all out to the car. There will also be plenty of food. Last year, we sat out on the beautiful lawn and ate hot dogs after the sale. It's a nice family afternoon. Although, if you can leave your kids at home or with a sitter, you will walk out with less unneeded toys (maybe).

And, I actually hesitate to share this information (I know, I'm a selfish, crazy rummage sale hog) there is a somewhat unadvertised "pre-party" on Friday night (the 11th) at 6:00 pm. I found out about this last year, so I stuck my husband with the kids and went with a friend. So, this early preview does cost more at the door ($10), but it is so worth it.

It was so packed with people shopping madly that I was surprised there was so much leftover for the sale on Saturday. Some rooms are supposed to also mark up the items 20% for the Friday sale, but they didn't end up doing this when I was there. And it really was kind of like a party. There was someone playing a piano, free wine, and tons of wonderful Hors D'Oeuvres and desserts. Just the food was worth the extra entry fee to me. (The only thing I love more than a good rummage sale is free food).

Parking at St. Paul's can sometimes be difficult, but this year rummage sale shoppers can park in the large lot across the street at Our Mother of Consolation (on Norwood Avenue). If you have any questions about the sale, you can reach the church office at 215.242.2055.

Hope to see you rummaging with me this weekend!

Schools: 2009/2010 Open Houses

The 2009/2010 open houses for local schools are here! So, if your child will be attending Kindergarten beginning in 2010, and if you have not already made the big decision and want to check out schools, below are the dates you need to make note of on your calendars.

And this is the best time, also, to get a head start if your child is going to be entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2011. These open houses are one of the best ways to get to know a school and to get a feel for if a particular one is the right fit for your child. You will have the opportunity to tour the campuses and classrooms, speak with teachers, administrators, current parents and students, and even alumni. You will be able to ask your burning questions and discuss any concerns you have in a open format.

Reading statistics on websites and talking to friends is a good jumping-off point, but nothing compares to a personal visit to the schools you are considering. You will be surprised at how your opinion of a school may change after attending such an event.

Make sure to RSVP if you plan to attend an open house. There is sometimes limited space, so let the schools know early that you intend to come. You can find out who to contact by clicking on a school's link below.

Most of our local public and charter schools are not listed yet because the information was not available at this point. Please let us know if you hear of any unlisted open houses! Many do not have any dates on their websites yet.

Public Schools:

John Story Jenks Elementary School:

Kindergarten Tea on Tuesday, September 29, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

(for more info and to RSVP, call 215.242.2380 or email HGoldman@DrexelMed.edu)

Charter Schools:

Independence Charter School:
(Tours) Thursday, October 1st/Monday, October 5th/Thursday, October 15th/ Tuesday, October 20th/ Thursday, October 22nd/ Wednesday, October 28th/ Monday, November 2nd/ Thursday, November 5th/ Monday, November 9th/ Wednesday, January 20th/ Thursday, February 18th/ Monday, March 22nd/ Tuesday, April 20th/ Wednesday, May 19th. Tours will be given at 9:30a.m. and 5:30p.m. on each date.

* Applications will become available online in Sept. and are due in Nov. (date to be listed on application) Lottery is in Dec.

Greenwoods Charter School:

TBA (You can only get an application at the information session, which was held in Jan. last year and then they were due to be returned in late Feb.)

Wissahickon Charter School:

Friday, October 9, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 12, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

*Kindergarten applications due by Nov. 30 and lottery on Dec. 7. Grade 1-8 applications due March 31 and lottery on April 5.

Private Schools:

Abington Friends School:

Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 23, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 17, 8:45 a.m.

Friday, December 11, 8:45 a.m. (Middle and Upper Schools only)

Tuesday, March 16, 8:45 a.m.

Tuesday, April 20, 8:45 a.m.

Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School (combined):
Thursday, October 22, 7:00 p.m., All Grades
Sunday, November 8, 2:00 p.m. (Bring the whole family! Childcare provided), All Grades Thursday, April 29, 7:00 p.m., All Grades

For applicants to Pre-K and K:
Saturday, November 21, Saturday, December 12, 2009 Saturday, January 9, 2010

Frankford Friends School:

Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 2, 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, January 13, 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, February 11, 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 14, 9:00 a.m.

Friends' Central:

Lower School Visitors' Morning: Wednesday, October 21, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Middle/Upper School Visitors' Morning: Tuesday, October 27, 8:45 - 11:00 a.m.

Lower School Visitors' Morning: Thursday, November 12, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Germantown Friends School:

Saturday, October 3, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 11, 8:15 a.m.
Friday, May 14, 8:15 a.m.

Greene Street Friends School:

Thursday, October 1, 8:45 to 10:30 am
Saturday, October 17, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Thursday, November 12, 8:45 to 10:30 am
Thursday, December 3, 8:45 to 10:30 am

Thursday, February 4, 8:45 to 10:30 am
Thursday, April 15, 8:45 to 10:30 am
Monday, May 3, 7:00 to 8:30 pm

The Miquon School:
Thursday October 22, 2009 Information Evening for Prospective Parents, 7:00-9:00pm
Thursday October 19, 2009 Open House, 9:00-11:00
Saturday December 5th, 2009am Family Open House, 9:30-11:30am

*Miquon's annual yard sale will be held on Sat. Oct. 3, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (another good way to get a peak at the school and meet some of the community)

Norwood Fontbonne Academy:
Mon. Sept. 28 and Tues. Sept. 29th Fontbonne Commons 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Plymouth Meeting Friends School:
Wed October 7, 2009, 9:30am - 11:30am
Sat November 7, 2009, 2pm - 4pm
Wed January 13, 2010, 9:30am-11:30am
Wed April 21, 2010, 9:30am - 11:30am

Project Learn School:

Sunday, October 11, 10:00 a.m.-Noon

Tuesday, October 20, 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Sunday, November 8, 10:00 a.m.-Noon

Tuesday, November 17, 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 6, 10:00-Noon

The Waldorf School of Philadelphia:

Sunday, October 25, 10:00 a.m.-Noon

William Penn Charter School:
Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 8:30 a.m. (pre-K to grade 5 only)

Arboretum adventures

As usual, there are some great events and activities for kids at the Morris Arboretum right now, including a "bird's nest" for people (open now), a scarecrow design contest (register by Sep. 18; entries displayed Oct. 3-18) , and little lighthouses made from leaves, bark, vines and twigs (the garden railway's summer display).

Editor's Note: With this modest post, we're getting back into the habit of providing news and information for local parents, after taking much of the summer off, due to travel.

Photo Credit: Morris Arboretum photo by Herb White.