Pastorius Meeting-Monday July 11 @ 7pm

Please join us Monday night for a meeting of people hoping to create a people and dog-friendly park culture in Pastorius Park.  The story behind the meeting can be found here.  Anyone interested in brainstorming a solution where the park can be used by ALL community members is welcome to attend:

Date: Monday July 11
Time: 7pm
Place: Pastorius Park Amphitheater

And even MORE this weekend...

So we covered the kids-eye-view for the Chestnut Hill Book Festival this weekend here.  Lots of great authors, illustrators and events!

But there's more going on this weekend in Germantown and Mt. Airy...

as you wish...

Tonight one of the all-time greatest movies, The Princess Bride, plays outside at the Lovett Library Garden in Mt. Airy at 8:30pm.  While not exactly related to the Book Festival, if you go, you will hear the famous line, "That's right. When I was your age, television was called books."  So this is sort of a literary event too, in a way.  Bring your own chairs/blanket.  The Trolley Car Diner will be selling concessions, with 15% of the profits going to the library.

Johnson House back stairs
footprints of the underground RR

And this Saturday isn't just any random Saturday, it's the Second Saturday in Historic Germantown.  The Freedom's Backyard sites will have joint open hours from 1-4pm.  A great way to show the kids some of our rich local history.  Stenton, Wyck, Cliveden of the National Trust, the Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, the Concord School & Upper Burying Ground and Hood Cemetery are all included.  You can get a family of 4 passport for all of the sites for $25!
http://www.freedomsbackyard.com/calendar.asp

And The Cat's Pajamas kids band will be playing in the Treehouse Rocks! concert series this Saturday night.  Reservations required!
http://devel.treehouseplaycafe.com/?page_id=343

The Kids' Guide to the Chestnut Hill Book Festival

This weekend marks the 3rd annual Chestnut Hill Book Festival, and with the success of the previous two, I'm sure this event will be around for many more years.  This is a showcase event for The Hill, bringing nationally acclaimed authors and illustrators to the Avenue. These authors and illustrators are locally grown (or stationed), so it's a wonderful way to celebrate local talent.  There's a monster link with the complete run-down of the weekend's activities found here, but we thought our family-oriented readers would appreciate a kids' guide to the event:

There will be a Kids Festival at Jenks Playground (tented) on Saturday, July 9th from 10 a.m. to 2pm. This event will host authors, illustrators, activities, music and more.  (Jenks is the large wooden playground you see right from the road at 8301 Germantown Avenue).

You'll find the following fabulous cast of authors under the big tent:

Ponder Goembel- is an expert animal (bugs included) illustrator with titles including Old Cricket, Sailor Moo, and Castaway Cat (all written by Lisa Wheeler).  Obviously drawn to illustrating tales with animals, she uses a wide variety of styles to capture her furry (and scaly) characters.  Saturday 11am.  

Matt Phelan- is a prolific illustrator of many children's books.  We've appreciated his racially diverse characters in books like Two of a Kind.  But he really outdid himself in his debut as  author AND illustrator in The Storm in the Barn.  These amazing comic-like illustrations tell a wonderful tale about the dust bowl of 1937.  Saturday at 1pm.

You can unleash your inner child with Jason Deeble's story of a little boy with a knight-able imagination.  Sir Ryan's Quest is beautifully illustrated and wildly creative. Saturday 2pm.

Don't be a weenie!  For the older "kids" in the crowd, David Lubar is sure to please.  Check out this edgy author/illustrator of middle school shock and awe (no easy task, right?).  His collection of Warped and Creepy Tales includes Weenie titles of the lawn, vampire, road, and hot pepper variety.  Perfect for middle school readers- especially reluctant ones.  Saturday at 12pm.  

Kathy O'Connell of WXPN Kid's Corner Fame.  

Kathy O'Connell will also be at the playground from 10am-noon to talk with local kids.  If you have XPN Kid's Corner fans in your household, here's your big chance to meet the voice behind the show!

If your little one's tummy starts rumbling, you might want to head up the Avenue a bit to Roller's Express and O'doodles Toystore.  The two business are teaming up together again this year to host the Cat in the Hat and serve up some Green Eggs and Ham.  The Cat will be traveling between the two spots, while food will be served up at Roller's Express on both Saturday and Sunday from 9-11am.

O'doddles will also be hosting local author/illustrator, John McGranahan, from 11am-1pm.  McGranahan's book, Meet the Planets is a beautifully illustrated tale of Pluto's new role in emceeing the 8 planet competition for crowd favorite.

The weather should be a bit more tolerable by Saturday, so why not bring the kids into town for a little summer enrichment?

Two great choices for tonight...

The Quakertown Band will be hitting the stage at Pastorius Park tonight at 7:30pm.  This community band has a very rich history, dating back to 1877 (with different members, of course).  Bring your picnic basket and blanket, and be prepared for overtures, Broadway and movie show tunes, big band, swing, and Dixieland music.

If for some reason, you're not up for an outdoor concert, Wednesday night is also Target First Wednesday at the Please Touch Museum.  This is a fabulous opportunity to go when the crowds are low (no school/camp groups) and save $13! on admission between 5-7pm.  Admission for tonight is just $2 per person.

The 4th of July Sparkles in Chestnut Hill

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club, the 4th of July in Chestnut Hill was a sparkling success!  As per tradition, the day's events started out with a flag ceremony.  After the crowd pledged their allegiance, volunteers started lining up the groups for the parade and decorating contest.

the Heiress (who even wears tiaras and tutus on the 4th)
lines up with Luke for the trike and training wheel divisions.

Amidst a sea of red, white, and blue, there were separate divisions for floats, trikes, scooters, training wheels, and big bikes.  Children paraded down Hartwell Lane to the Judge's stands in front of the Water Tower Recreation Center.  The benevolent judges looked at the groupings and choose first, second, and third place winners in each category.

Mrs. Harry Potter about to win first place in the big bike competition

First place winners received $15, second place $10, and third place $5.  To say that the kids were ecstatic with these winnings is an understatement!  No entrant went home empty handed; t-shirts were given out to everyone who rode in the parade.  Julian Cheung, a multi-year champion, won his 4th first place prize in just five years with this tripped out bike:

the kid to beat, four years running
(our strategy is to try to go in a different group than he competes in!)

After the judging ended, the games, rides, and activities began.  The baseball fields were suddenly home to pony rides, bounce houses and slides, and several games.

the Heiress receives expert coaching during the candy grab

Boys and girls competed in different age groups in the candy grab, 30 yard dash, crab race, and backwards race (great practice for football).  More prize money ensued for the top thee winners in each race.

5 and 6 year old boys line up for the crab race

And while the activities were running, we learned that there is too a such a thing as a free lunch... at least on the 4th of July in Chestnut Hill.  The Bocce Club generously treated everyone to hot dogs, cold drinks and ice cream.  If you didn't make it this year, put it on your calendar now for next year!

More on the weekend... downtown edition.

Come on, you know part of the reason you decided to live in this area was its proximity to downtown.  A really great reason, but one that only works if you actually GO downtown!  Check out the listing of the remaining programs from the Welcome America! lineup:
http://www.welcomeamerica.com/category/events/

Saturday July 2

Go 4th & Learn about the Science of Fireworks at the Franklin Institute
11am-1pm.  Free event.  First 200 kids get a free book.

Chinatown Block Party
12pm-4pm. 10th and Race Sts.

Fireworks on the Delaware River
Great views from both Philly and Camden waterfronts!

Sunday July 3

All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival

12pm-5pm. $7 admission to benefit a fund to fight against Childhood Leukemia

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Concert
Independence Hall (bring chairs/blankets)
8pm

Sunday July 4

Independence Day Ceremony
Readings from the Declaration of Independence, songs, speeches, etc.
Independence Hall
10am

Independence Parade
Historic Philadelphia
11am

Party on the Parkway
12pm-7pm
Games, activities, entertainment, food.

Philly Jam and Fireworks
7pm
Concert followed by fireworks.
THE ROOTS!
Earth Wind & Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

How to Enjoy the Weekend- Locally

Chestnut Hill 4th of July Celebration!

This year marks the 95th annual Fourth of July parade and Celebration in Chestnut Hill.  Families gather at the intersection of Devon Street and Hartwell Lane for a recitation and flag raising at 9:00 a.m., followed by children parading down Hartwell Lane to the Water Tower Center (a nice short route for the littlest).  Participants are encouraged to arrive in costumes and on floats, decorated bicycles, tricycles and wagons. Numerous prizes will be awarded to the best decorations in a number of categories.  (I have to say, my kids were VERY impressed by the cash prizes last year!)  Following the parade, the Water Tower’s ball fields will be filled with games and contests for children (more prizes!).  Also look for pony rides, face painting, a giant moon bounce and a magician.  Lunch from 11-12:30.  Generously sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club and free to all.  


Saturday is Out on a Limb's Second Birthday at the Morris Arboretum.  

Can you believe it?  Our netty little baby is officially a toddler!  Celebrate one of the coolest Arboretum exhibits ever with crafts, birthday cake, and a glimpse at the Garden Railway's Circus Week.

Ring In Freedom and Independence this July 4th in Historic Germantown
Five sites that were actually here in 1776 will come together for a day of activities in celebration and remembrance of our nation's independence from 11AM- 4PM:

"Activities begin at Stenton, located at 4601 North 18th Street, from 11AM-1PM. Bring a picnic lunch and meet Deborah Norris Logan, mistress of Stenton from 1784-1839, and listen to her experience of hearing the Declaration of Independence read for the first time. Other activities include making your own ice cream and a flag fan craft.

Continue your celebration with a tour of Hood Cemetery. Formerly the Lower Burying Ground, this cemetery was founded in 1692 and is the resting place of 41 Revolutionary War soldiers. The site is located at 4901 Germantown Avenue and will be open for tours from 11 AM - 1 PM.

Visitors can also explore Philadelphia's only Revolutionary War battle site, Cliveden, located at 6401 Germantown Avenue. Visit with 'Richard Allen', born enslaved to Cliveden's Chew Family, from 1 - 2 PM. Tours of the house and newly opened servant's quarters will be available from 12 - 4 PM.

At 2PM, the Concord School & Upper Burying Ground will host their 7th annual Bell Ringing Ceremony. The tradition of ringing the bell once for each year since 1776 began in the 18th century and was revived in 2005. The Concord School & Upper Burying Ground is located at 6309 Germantown Avenue and will be open for tours from 12-4PM.

Conclude your day's activities at the Johnson House Historic Site, located at 6306 Germantown Avenue. See a performance by 'Richard Allen' at 2:30 PM and tour this surviving Underground Railroad Station. Tours will be available from 12 - 4 PM.

All events are FREE and open to the public".

Speaking of the 4th.... where's the best place to watch fireworks?  I'm guessing downtown is the hottest show, but where else do GAP readers go to check out the big sparklers in the sky?