Mid-October Events in the Boston Area

The weather this weekend in the Boston area is going to be sunny and in the upper 60s. Take advantage of this beautiful fall weather and spend time outdoors watching the best crew teams compete along the Charles River, slurping oysters in Wellfleet, eating tons of apples at the Wachusett Applefest, or lighting a pumpkin at the Newburyport Pumpkin Lighting and Stroll.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Head of the Charles Regatta

October 19th – 20th

Wellfleet OysterFest

October 19th – 20th

Wellfleet, MA

Wachusett Applefest 

October 19th – 20th

10 AM – 5 PM

Wachusett, MA

Newburyport Great Pumpkin Lighting & Stroll

October 19th

5 – 8 PM

Weekend Events

If you’re stuck in the city this weekend be sure to check out these Boston events!

Boston Wine Tour
Friday, August 2, 2013
3 PM to 5 PM
Choose from North End, Back Bay, Harvard Square, or South End
http://www.citywinetours.com/home/

Boston Harbor Hotel Presents the Summer in the City Entertainment Series
Playing the 1982 film, Tootsie
Friday, August 2, 2013
4:30 PM to 10 PM
Boston Harbor Hotel
70 Rowes Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 439-7000
http://bhh.com/special_summer.htm

First Fridays: Urban Beach
Museum admission, live entertainment, and special programming
Friday, August 2, 2013
5 PM to 10 PM
Institute of Contemporary Art
100 Northern Ave.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 478-3100
http://bit.ly/12yDfYj

MFA First Fridays
Fine art, music, signature cocktails, and tapas
Friday, August 2, 2013
6 PM to 9:30 PM
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300
http://bit.ly/hzgkld

Stay local!

A great way to escape the bustle of everyday life is to plan a staycation. Alone, with friends, or family, a staycation is the best way to relax and unwind before the summer’s end. We’ve come up with some simple ways to get away (or stay in) without spending like you’re on vacation.

Camp in your own backyard
Grab some blankets and pillows and head out to your own backyard to enjoy the stars and fresh air. This can be a “romantic getaway” or you can bring the kids.

Host your own movie festival
Cozying up inside with a stack of movies is always a great way to relax and unwind. Grab some classics from your local library and popcorn and you’re ready for your movie marathon!

Host a garden party 
Have a cooking competition with neighbors and friends in your own backyard. Invite all your friends to bring a dish, or have a competition!

Treat yourself to an in home spa day
Stop by your local beauty store and grab some wonderful smelling bath and facial products. This would also be fun to do with a group of friends!

Visit seaside towns
Take a day trip to some of the beautiful seaside towns like Rockport, Portsmouth, Newport, or Provincetown. Explore the local shops and try some of the town’s well known restaurants.

Hopkinton State Park
Enjoy a sunny day at Hopkinton State Park ifishing, hiking, swimming, kayaking, sailing, and other fun outdoor activities.
164 Cedar Street
Hopkinton, MA 01748
(508) 435-4303
http://1.usa.gov/13wHKwn
Open 8 AM to 8 PM

Walden Pond
Head out to Walden Pond for a day on the beach, a picnic, and a hike around the historical landmark that was once the home of Henry David Thoreau.
915 Walden Street
Concord, MA 01742
(978) 369-3254
http://bit.ly/1arODTS
Open Sunday to Saturday, 7 AM to 8 PM

Belkin Family Lookout Farm
Only 20 miles from Boston is the Belkin Family Lookout Farm. There are great kid-friendly activities like  picking peaches and apples, going on a train ride, petting farm animals, and live children’s entertainment!
89 Pleasant Street South
South Natick, MA 01760
(508) 653-0653
http://www.lookoutfarm.com
Open every Saturday & Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM

Boston Sidewalk Sales

Looking for a great way to find some new pieces without emptying your wallet? Head to these summer sidewalk sales and check out the great finds and prices! Watch for more to come this fall as you transition your way back to cold weather gear.  Follow Savione on Twitter @mysavione to stay up to date on all city happenings.

Coolidge Corner Sidewalk Sale
Coolidge Corner- Brookline, MA
July 27- 28, 2013
10 AM – 4 PM
Including: Arcade Optical, Brookline Booksmith, Cause to Paws, Eureka! Puzzles, Fire Opal,
Magic Beans, Mattei Gallery, Mint Julep, Muddy River Gallery, PriKidz, Simons Shoes,The Studio,
The Pear Tree, and Tiny Hanger
For more information visit: http://www.coolidgecorner.info/

Old Fashioned Sidewalk Sale
Downtown Newburyport- Newburyport, MA
August 1- 3, 2013
9 AM – 9 PM
Including: Alpine Shop, Beach Plum Too, Buttermilk Baking Company, Clay’s, Denise’s Flower Shop,
Dingo Creative, Essencia Beauty Lounge, French Lessons Boutique, Ganesh Imports,
Headlines Boutique, Ireland on the Square, Ivy Lane, J.L. Coombs, Number One Sponge Company,
Partridge in a Pear Tree, Pawsitively Best Friends, Port Candle, Richdale, Roca’s, Sweetheaven Studio,
The Black Dog, and The Dragon’s Nest
For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/k9rbdo8

Xylem’s Sidewalk Sale
Kendall Square- 287 Third Street, Cambridge, MA
July 23- 28, 2013
10 AM- 7 PM
Including: Fun gifts, toys, knick knacks, books, kitchen tools, clothing,
stationary, home decor, and accessories
For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/lvbqzcp

Summer Events in New York City

There are plenty of fun and inexpensive ways to get outside and into the New York City summer heat. From festivals to free concerts, there is no need to leave the city this summer. Your family is sure to find plenty of fun things to do all while staying local!

Concerts

Central Park Summerstage
FREE
July 16- August 29, 2013
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield
http://www.cityparksfoundation.org

Metropolitan Opera in the Parks
FREE
July 16 – August 1, 2013
7 – 9 PM
Refer to site for weekly locations: gonyc.com

Good Morning America’s Summer Concerts
FREE
July 19- August 30, 2013
7-9 AM
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield

NBC’s Today Show Summer Concerts
FREE
Friday, July 19 – August 2, 2013
7-10 AM
Rockefeller Plaza

Broadway in Bryant Park
FREE
Thursday, July 18- August 15, 2013
12:30 PM
Bryant Park

Summergarden
FREE
Sunday, July 21 & 28, 2013
7 PM
MoMA Sculpture Garden

Lincoln Center Out of Doors
FREE
July 24- August 11, 2013
7 PM
Lincoln Center

Festivals

Celebrate Brooklyn!
FREE
July 17- September 2, 2013
Prospect Park West
bricartsmedia.org

Lincoln Center Festival
FREE
July 6-28, 2013
Lincoln Center
lincolncenterfestival.org

55th Annual Washington Square Music Festival
FREE
Tuesday, July 23 & 30, 2013
8 PM
Washington Square on Main Stage

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
FREE
August 23- 25, 2013
3-9 PM
Marcus Garvey Park

Museums

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
$11/ children and adults
Sunday- Friday, 10 AM- 5 PM
Saturday, 10 AM- 7PM
212 West 83rd St.

American Museum of Natural History
$22- adults, $12.50-children
Daily from 10 AM – 5:45 PM
Central Park West at 79th St.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
$25- adults, FREE-children under 12
Sunday- Thursday, 10 AM- 5:30 PM
Friday and Saturday, 10 AM – 9 PM
Fifth Ave at 82nd St.

Movies

Outdoor Cinema
FREE
Wednesday, July 17- August 21, 2013
7 PM
Socrates Sculpture Park

Summer Movie Series
FREE
Tuesday- Saturday, July 17- August 21, 2013
8 PM
Check for location: http://www.nycgovparks.org

Foods

Restaurant Week NYC
July 22- August 16, 2013
http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek

Harlem Sweet Spot Festival
FREE
Saturday, July 20- Sunday, September 22, 2013
Jackie Robinson Bandshell, 145th St.

Summer Events in Boston

Filled with events for the music lovers or foodies, there is no better place to be in the summer than in Boston. Many of these events are a great way to enjoy time with family and friends without spending any or very little money. So don’t go away! Be local. Stay local the rest of this summer!

Concerts

Outside the Box 2013
FREE
Boston Commons
July 13- 20, 2013
http://www.outsidetheboxboston.org

Wednesday Night Concert Series
FREE
Boston City Hall Plaza – North Stage
7 – 9 PM

July 24 – TBD
July 31 – Disco Night featuring “Stardust”
August 7 – Frank Sinatra Night featuring “Strictly Sinatra”
August 21 – Charlie Thomas and the Drifters
August 28 – Roberta Flack

ParkARTS Citywide Neighborhood Concerts
FREE
July 22, 7pm
Carter Playground, Roxbury
http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks

2013 Summer Sundays in the Park
FREE
Metropolitan Wind Symphony, Jamaica Pond
July 21, 6pm
http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks

Concerts in the Courtyard
FREE
Central Library in Copley Square
June 7-August 30, 2013
Fridays at 12:30pm

http://www.bpl.org/news/concerts.htm

Boston Calling Music Festival
FREE
September 7-8, 2013
City Hall Plaza
http://www.bostoncalling.com

Festivals

Festival of Street Art
Weekends through August 31, 2013
Bartlett Yard Events Center
http://www.bartlettevents.org

Sunday, July 21
2:00pm

J’Ouvert Caribbean American Outdoor Explosion
Saturday, July 27

Site Closed
Sunday, July 28

Site Closed
Saturday, August 3
12:00pm

Boston Shuckin’ Truck Lobster Bake for YouthBuild Boston
Sunday, August 4
3:00pm

Pan United Band Launch Party
Saturday, August 10

Bring Down the Walls, details TBA
Sunday, August 11

Closed for Private Event
Saturday, August 17

Roxbury Community Block Party, details TBD
Saturday, August 24

Floorlords Dance Party, details TBD
Sunday, August 25

Beyond the Borders Dance Party
Sunday, September 15
10:00am
Parking Lot Closed for Private Event

FIGMENT Boston: An interactive festival of the arts
FREE
July 27-28, 2013, 12-11 PM
Rose Kennedy Greenway
Boston.figmentproject.org

Boston GreenFest 2013
FREE
August 15-17, 2013
Boston City Hall Plaza

The Boston Arts Festival
FREE
Saturday, August 31 & Sunday, September 1, 2013
12-6pm
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
http://www.cityofboston.gov/summer

Museums

Family Fun at the USS Constitution Museum
FREE. The Museum has a suggested donation of $5.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Seniors, and $2.00 for Children.
May 15- September 30, 2013
Daily, 9am-6pm,
USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22
http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Boston Children Museum 
$1 from 5pm to 9pm on Fridays (all year long)
Boston Children’s Museum
308 Congress Street
http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Institute of Contemporary Art
FREE for all every Thursday from 5 to 9 pm during ICA Free Thursday Nights.
FREE for families (up to 2 adults accompanied by children 12 + under) on the last Saturday of each month (except December)
http://www.icaboston.org/

Movies

Boston Harbor Hotel Summer Series
FREE
July 19 – August 30, 2013
Music at 4:30pm, movies at dusk

http://bhh.com/special_summer.htm

Christopher Columbus Park Sunday Night Movie Series
FREE
Every Sunday at sunset
Christopher Columbus Park in the North End

http://www.celebrateboston.com/events/city-hall-concerts.htm

Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell
FREE
Fridays at 6pm

http://boston.cbslocal.com/flicks/

Brookline’s Gram Slam Summer: 2013 Outdoor Film Series
FREE
Movies start at dusk (~8:30 pm)
Behind Devotion School at 345 Harvard Street in Coolidge Corner
July 18 – The Sandlot
July 25 – Field of Dreams

Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival at Prudential Center
FREE
Movies start at sunset at the Prudential Center’s South Garden. Family-friendly entertainment and activities start at 6pm. Rain dates are the following Wednesday.
Spend $10 on food and snacks at the Pru and receive discounted parking.

http://www.prudentialcenter.com/experience/events.php?year=2013&month=7

Foods

Island Creek Oyster Pop-Up Institute of Contemporary Arts
June 7–August 30, 2013
5:00–9:00 PM
$12 for 6, $20 a dozen and a rotating selection of shrimp and crab claws on Friday nights at a pop-up raw bar at the museum’s waterfront plaza. The first Friday of the month the raw bar is part of a ticketed museum event.

http://www.icaboston.org/visit/oysterbar/

Restaurant Week Boston
August 18-23 and 25-30

http://www.bostonUSA.com/restaurantweek

Boston Fork Lift Food Fest
FREE
Experience food prepared by Ming Tsai, Lydia Shire, Jason Santos, Jody Adams, and others.
Today, 7/18 – Saturday, 7/20 from 11 AM – 9 PM
Sunday, 7/21 from 11 AM – 5 PM
City Hall Plaza, City Hall Square

Kids’ Craft – DIY Photo Ornament

Feeling crafty this holiday season?

This DIY photo ornament serves a three fold purpose:

1. Allows you to add some fresh decorative flair to your tree or around the house without spending extra money on store bought ornaments.
2. Creates a personal, memorable and useful gift to give friends and relatives.
3. Give your kids something to do on a cold winter afternoon!

What you’ll need:

• cleaned lids (yogurt, icing, jar lids, etc.)
• old photos or Holiday cards
• scissors
• hole punch
• glue
• double stick tape (permanent)
• pipe cleaners
• glitter

What to do:

1. Choose a photo or card and trace the shape of your lid on the back of it.
2. Cut out the portion within the lines — should be a circular shape.
3. Attach the picture to the lid with double stick tape and hold down for several seconds until it sets.
4. Add glue around the edge of the picture to secure and sprinkle glitter over it.
5. Let the ornament dry for a several hours (or even over night to set).
6. Punch a hole and stick the pipe cleaner through.

You’re done!  Have your child choose where to place their ornament on the tree or around the house; or, ask if they’d like to give it as a gift to a teacher, grandparent, etc.

Winter Activities for Kids and Adults

The sun is still shining.

It may be cold to play.

But don’t sit in the house,

and do nothing that day.

We have some fun cool things

to do during this season

For the kids and parents

To enjoy with reason.

Happy Holidays from the Unclipt Team!

Winter Bubbles

by Parents Connect

If the weather is just right below freezing, take your kids out in their monster mittens and hats to blow some bubbles. With the colder weather, the bubbles will last longer and give parents the opportunity to really capture the moment before the bubbles burst.

Monster Mittens

by Martha Stewart

If you’re having a hard time getting your child to wear gloves or mittens, try personalizing them with fun shapes and colors. This way, you can get your child to make, wear, and play with his/her mittens.

Paper Snowflakes

by Instructables

 Decorate your house with paper snowflakes, while helping your little ones train his/her hand muscles and fine motor skills.

Snow Globe

by Martha Stewart

Create a winter wonderland inside your home with a few empty jars, plastic toys, glue, and glitter. Water and glitter together alone will amaze a child for hours.

Snow Painting

by  Really Quite Lucky Blog

Take the artwork outside and let your kids have fun painting in the snow with this do-it-yourself activity. A snow masterpiece is waiting to be snapped and shared with the rest of the family.

 

 

 

 

Rainy (or Snowy!) Day Family Fun

As bad weather leads to days off from school and work, kids are often left bored when not involved in their usual routine.  Although we don’t recommend venturing out during a hurricane or severe snowstorm, the average rainy day is a perfect chance to explore some great indoor activities!  We’ve listed some of our favorite ideas for family fun in inclement weather, both out and about and when you are stuck at home.

Get out & about on a Rainy Day!  Don’t let the dreary weather get you down.  There’s still plenty to do outside the house on a cold, rainy or snowy day.

• Check out indoor rec centers.  Your kids want to run around, but it’s too cold or wet outside?  See what resources your local community center, YMCA or gym offers for kids and families.  Even if you aren’t a member, some of these organizations offer use of their gyms, pools or playrooms for free or a small fee on off-hours or weekends.
• Keep an eye out for activities at local museums or libraries like story hour, kids’ science shows, or special presentations for the whole family.
• Volunteer!  With the holidays around the corner, many local food banks, homeless shelters, and even schools have opportunities to help out on the weekends or after-school hours.

Weather have you trapped inside?  Take advantage of this “forced” family time and choose an activity everyone will love!

• Family movie day/night.  Between school, work, activities and social obligations, when’s the last time you had time to sit down as a family and watch a new (or old favorite) movie?  Take turns choosing movies or take a vote on which flick to watch!  For some added family bonding, take a walk down memory lane by watching old home-movies 🙂
• Rediscover board games.  Classic board games are often pushed aside in favor of video games, iPads and TV shows.  However, when the power goes out, these games can provide a great source of entertainment!
• Bake or cook together!  In an age of rushed family dinners, pizza and take-out, a day at home can be the perfect opportunity to cook something together as a family, or bake treats for neighbors and friends.

Here’s to making the most of rainy & snowy days this fall!

-The Savvy Staff

 

CATCH Program for Early Childhood Health

We’ve been talking a lot lately about kids’ health and tips for more nutritious snacks and meals.  As parents, it’s sometimes an overwhelming and time consuming task to make sure your child is fed three healthy meals a day, especially when they may spend part of their day away from home at daycare or school.

Lately, some great resources have developed in community organizations, to help families create a healthy environment for their children, especially involving food and exercise.  In fact, a program like this has popped up right in our own backyard!  The CATCH Early Childhood Program is a curriculum that is being implemented in Jewish Community Center-run preschools throughout the country.  CATCH – Coordinated Approach to Child Health – programs all have one common goal: To create an environment where physical activity, health education, and healthy eating behaviors are valued and taught to children, staff, and parents.

Two JCC teachers — Amy Stevens and Rebecca Wolter-Gustafson — at our local JCC Brookline/Brighton are certified CATCH trainers. This location, along with other preschools run by the JCC of Greater Boston, were the first pilot schools to run this national program, which is now successfully spreading to other states and regions.

The purpose of CATCH is to instill healthy physical and food habits in kids and their families. “If you start teaching nutritious habits with young children, the patterns they develop will continue into adulthood.” If you would like your kids and family to get involved with JCC Early Learning Centers and the CATCH program, click here for more info!

Here are some examples of the CATCH program’s healthy Fall recipes to share with your kids and family:

Baked Pumpkin Seeds

• Cut the top of the pumpkin off (stem included…and BE CAREFUL!)
• Scoop out all the pumpkin “guts” (seeds and all)
• Separate the seeds
• Wash, drain, and dry the seeds with a paper towel
• Toss the seeds with a little olive oil and sprinkle of salt
• Place a single layer of seeds on a baking sheet, and bake at 350* for 12-15 minutes (stirring occasionally)

Pumpkin Smoothie

• 1/2 cup pumpkin butter OR canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup crushed ice
• 6 oz nonfat Greek yogurt (or plain would work too)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (to taste)
• 2 tsp packed brown sugar (or to taste)

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve with a straw.

Smashed Apples

Part jam, part apple sauce, this smashed apples recipe is a no-sugar-added way to sweeten your favorite foods. It keeps for two weeks, so mix a large batch, and use it generously.

Cook Time

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

4 lbs. of apples

½ cup water

Directions

1. Peel, core and slice apples. Place apples and water in a 4 or 5-quart heavy-bottom pan over medium heat. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, until very tender. Remove from heat. Mash apples with a potato masher or blend with an immersion blender. Return to heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 30 minutes until the jam thickens and most of the liquid has evaporated.
2. Transfer to a covered container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Healthy Butternut Squash Fries Recipe

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 – 2 pound butternut squash
• PAM Spray Olive Oil
• Salt

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel and cut the squash into long, thin french fry shapes (roughly ⅓″ thick).
• In a large bowl, spray and toss the squash with PAM, using your hands to evenly coat each one. Lay them on a wire rack set on top of a foil-lined baking sheet and salt them generously.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crispness. Serve immediately with extra salt and ketchup.

Apple Cider Baked Chicken Recipe

Okay…so this recipe may take a little longer to make…but doesn’t it sound delicious and healthy?!

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, peeled and cut into eighths
• 1 large lemon, sliced into thin rounds
• 2 cups apple cider, homemade or storebought
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
• 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 6-8 chicken legs or thighs
• 2 large apples, each sliced into eighths
• 1 lb. small, red or Yukon Gold potatoes, halved

Method:

Place a gallon size heavy-duty zip-top bag into a large bowl. Place the onion and next 10 ingredients into the zip-top bag, combining well. Add the chicken to the marinade. Close the bag, place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the chicken pieces in a large roasting pan skin-side up. Pour all of the marinade, including onions and lemons over and around the pieces. Tuck the apples and potatoes around the chicken. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through to re-coat everything with the marinade.

Feel free to add some mushrooms, red peppers and/or other favorite vegetables to this!

Healthier/Low Calorie Apple Crisp

Ingredients:
– 3 Medium Apples
– 2 Tbsp Baking Sugar
– 2 Tbsp Whole Wheat Flour
– 1/2 Tsp Lemon Juice
– 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

– 3/4 cups Old Fashioned Oats
– 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
– 1 1/2 Tbsp Reduced Calorie Margarine
– 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
– 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
– 1/4 Tsp Salt

Directions:
1.) Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees
2.) Cut off apple skins and chop into small bite size pieces

3.) Mix together chopped apples, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp flour, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon

4.) Spread apples into a 9-inch baking dish
5.) In a separate bowl, combine 3/4 cups old fashioned oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 tbsp margarine, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla, and and 1/4 tsp salt

6.) Bake for 30-45 minutes and Enjoy!