Stone Soup DC

Cajun/Zydeco Music

jboyko — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:43:38 +0000

And one more great idea from a friend:

If you happen to be a fan of Cajun/Zydeco music, this website

is a great local resource to learn where you can go to listen or dance. From it I found a couple events coming up that look like they would be appropriate for kids, too:

September 30 Saturday
Squeeze Bayou (Local Cajun)
@ Mason District Park: 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
10:00 – 11:00 AM – Free
Outdoor Festival
FFIC: 703 324-7469 : http://www.fairfax.va.us/parks/performances/

October 1 Sunday
The Alligator Zydeco Band (PA Zydeco)
@ The Baltimore Museum Of Art: 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore MD 21218
FREE
Other Bands 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Zydeco from 3:00PM – 5:00PM
FFIC: 443-573-1834 : http://artbma.org/visitorinfo/index.html

And there’s lots more there for those who can stay up past 8pm!

There’s a newsletter you can sign up for, too, if you want to get up-to-date info each week.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Tours of the Washington Post

jboyko — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:35:37 +0000

A friend sent along this cool opportunity:

Washington Post Reader’s Day
Free plant tours of the Springfield VA printing plant.
Sunday Oct 8 11am to 4pm

Call by Oct 5 to make reservations: 202-334-7969 during business hours

Tour lasts about 45 minutes and there are no rest stops on the way. Ad doesn’t mention age limitations, and when I called they said there is no restriction–anyone can come.

Plant is located at 7171 Wimsatt Road. From Shirley Highway (I-395), take the Edsall Rd West exit. Go to the 4th traffic light. Turn left onto Backlick Rd and go to the 3rd traffic light. Turn right onto Wimsatt Rd and go to the Washington Post parking lot. (I got all the info from an ad in the Food section, can’t find a link on-line.)

Thanks!

Free Ice Cream Today at Cold Stone Creamery (9/28)

jboyko — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:30:40 +0000

Here’s another great tip from Jennifer:

Cold Stone Creamery is giving away free 3-oz portions of ice cream today from 5pm-8pm while supplies last. 100% of all donations collected during the promotion will be given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Thanks!

Pay What You Can Night at Olney Theater

jboyko — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:05:39 +0000

This was sent in on the Stone Soup DC Yahoo Group board by Jennifer. Thanks!

***************************************************************************

Thought folks might be interested in Pay What You Can night next Tuesday evening at the Olney theatre. I typically pay 5-10$ and the shows are great.

Arrive early! Pay-What-You-Can Night!

Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30 pm

by Larry Shue
directed by Stewart F. Lane
on the New Mainstage

Tickets will go on sale at 6:30 pm Tuesday evening (seating is general admission).

“I sometimes wonder-how does one obtain a personality?” So questions Charlie, a painfully shy Englishman on holiday in the U.S.A. with gregarious Froggy, a freelance demolition expert. They’re staying at a lodge in the backwoods of Georgia, where Charlie attempts to avoid social interaction with the colorful locals by passing himself off as a foreigner who doesn’t speak a word of English. This ploy backfires entirely as Charlie becomes the center of attention, confidant to all, and witness to secrets and scandals. The laughs are continuous throughout this engaging comedy directed by Tony Award-winner Stewart F. Lane.

Regularly scheduled performances September 27-October 22. Tickets $34-$44

Oooops! Wrong Book.

jboyko — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:08:39 +0000

In my last post about homeschooling resources I suggested a book by Linda Dobson entitled, “Homeschooling: The Early Years”. I said that this book has a great appendix of resources. It turns out I listed the wrong book. I have several of Linda Dobson’s books out from the library right now, and while I think “The Early Years” book has a lot of good information, it does not have an Appendix. Check out “The Homeschooling Book of Answers” by Linda Dobson instead.

Resources for Teaching Kids

jboyko — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:40:08 +0000

I have begun to explore the option of homeschooling my children and I am finding that there are some wonderful resources created for the homeschooling community that are terrific for encouraging children’s natural love of learning whether or not you plan to homeschool. Many of the web sites and books have great ideas for projects you can do at home, suggestions for excellent books on all kinds of subjects, and even reviews and recommendations for suppliers of educational toys and products for kids of all ages.

Here are a few I have found to be very helpful so far. All of the books , except the one of science experiments, have been readily available at my local library:

“The Homeschooling Book of Answers” by Linda Dobson – This book has a great appendix of resources in the back.

“The Complete Home Learning Sourcebook” by Rebecca Rupp – This book is a catalog (with helpful reviews) of educational products, books, toys and games for subjects ranging from Arithmetic to Zoology.

“Home Learning Year by Year” by Rebecca Rupp – Written to help homeschoolers design a curriculum, this book walks through each grade, from kindergarten through high school offering suggestions for subject matter, questions to investigate, resource material, and books to read.

“730 Easy Science Experiments with Everyday Materials” by E. Richard Churchill, Louis V. Loeschnig, and Muriel Mandell – I just purchase this book at BN.com for less that $10 hardback, but I saw it at Borders for $25 for a paperback, comb-binded version. Go figure. It pays to shop around. Anyway, this book is great for my 4-year old who is very interested in why things happen. The experiments are easy, short, and most aren’t too messy (a plus for me). I think this one will keep us busy for many years.

A friend also recently sent me links to these interesting sites:

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/by-title.shtml

From the University of Missouri, collections of resource links for hundreds of different topics, ranging from Adinkra cloth to Yellowstone National park. Intended for educators but you can access and use the links for free.

http://www.nationalreadingpanel.org/

Has study-based recommendations for teaching kids to read at all levels. Some interesting articles.

http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/

print out your own free handwriting worksheets

(This site is lots of fun as you can print out directions for your child’s name, or other phrases that would get your child’s attention.)

Enjoy and I will add other great resources as I find them. If anyone has some to add, or useful homeschooling advice for me, please let me know!

Ukrainian Festival Sept. 16-17

jboyko — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:55:09 +0000

Another interesting event this weekend is the Ukrainian Festival at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, MD. It will feature traditional music and dance, activities for children, a marketplace of crafts, books, and other items, Ukrainian food, and a beer garden featuring Ukrainian beers and liqueurs.

Festival admission is $5 for those over 16. Parking is free. More information is available here.

Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival

jboyko — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:47:12 +0000

This sounds like a fun way to spend Saturday:

To celebrate the Kennedy Center’s 35th birthday, join us for more than 30 free performances and activities all around the building. With “Arts Along the Gulf Coast Highway,” you’ll enjoy sights and sounds from East Texas and Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle – including Grammy winners Nanci Griffith, BeauSoleil, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and more. We’re also casting the spotlight on the National Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center’s very own The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and many great local and regional talents. Bring the entire family and make the most of all that’s in store!

OPEN HOUSE ARTS FESTIVAL
featuring Arts Along the Gulf Coast Highway

A FREE DAY OF FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

Sat., Sep. 16 from 12 – 7pm

Throughout the Kennedy Center – Two Parades at 12 & 3pm

Check out the Kennedy Center web site from more information and a schedule of events.

Stargazing Activities

jboyko — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:54:34 +0000

A friend sent me this info about some local astronomy activites that sound like fun:

Rock Creek Park Planetarium, located in the Rock Creek Nature Center near the intersection of Military and Glover Roads in Rock creek park in DC. Shows are free, get ticket at Nature center. Seats about 75 but they prefer to only have about 50 or so. When my husband went last week (early session on Saturday) there were only about 25 people there. Show lasts about 45 minutes and has some audience participation. Free tickets can be picked up at the information desk in the Nature Center.

Afterschool Planetarium show: “Young Planetarium” Wednesday 4:00 PM

Shows Saturday and Sunday 1:00 PM for kids age 4-7 (need adult with them).

Advanced Planetarium Show: Saturday and Sunday 4:00 PM for kids age 7 and over.

Also, Evening stargazing sessions (held at Military Field, off of Military Road), are run in conjunction with the National Capital Astronomers and are held monthly, April through November, once a month on Saturday night. Next few sessions:

9/30 8:00 PM Autumn equinox; Rock Creek Park Day
10/21 7:30 PM Orionoid meteor shower peak

11/4 7:00 PM Moon (in Aries) near full;Pleiades

Takoma Park Folk Festival

jboyko — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 23:45:16 +0000

If you have any energy left after the Silver Spring Jazz Festival on Saturday, the 29th annual Takoma Park Folk Festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 11am-6:30pm at the Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Road). Seven stages will feature music and dance from around the world. There will also be a juried craft show, a variety of ethnic food vendors, and children’s activities will be held throughout the day including storytellers and musical acts such as “Banjo Man”. For a complete schedule, check out www.tpff.org.