Welcome to New Jersey's Guide to
Places and Events for Children, Teens & Families


The Summer/Fall Kids' Guide featuring your guide to summer Arts in the Parks, fairs, festivals and much more as well as back-to-school programs and services for the fall is now available at libraries, stores, schools, professional and real estate offices throughout northcentral New Jersey. To receive a copy by mail, send $3.50 for one issue or $9 for 3 consecutive issues to Kids' Guide, Box 892, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.

See HOT PICKS below for new events and listings received after publication and use the convenient links to access websites for the most up-to-date information on exhibitions, events and activities. Email entries for HOT PICKS to kids@kidsguide.com.

Be sure to check out NEW TRAVEL DEALS and VACATION IDEAS under FAMILY TRAVEL (new deals will be posted soon)!

Hot Picks
Updates to the Kids' Guide Calendar
& Highlights from the Winter/Spring Kids' Guide

Recent Openings  |  New Events  |  Ongoing Events  |  Open for Registration  |  Community Resources

2009-2010 SEASON CALENDARS NOW AVAILABLE

McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center, One Center St., Newark, 888-GO NJPAC.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, 60 Park Place, 800-ALLEGRO.
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Drew University campus, 36 Madison Ave., Mdison, 973-408-5600.


RECENT OPENINGS

Now Open
New Please Touch Museum
Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, 215-963-0667. Afer an $88 million restoration, the Please Touch Museum opened in the last major building remaining from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The new museum offers a huge array of interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for little ones and their families. Six new exhibits, a toy sculpture, a collection of Philadelphia Childhood Treasures, and a 100-year-old Dentzel Carousel join together with Memorial Hall's rich history and architecture to create a unique family destination that resembles a majestic storybook castle.

Newark Fire Museum
Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, 973-596-6550. Housed in the Ward Carriage House in the Alice & Leonard Dreyfuss Memorial Garden, the Newark Fire Museum's exhibit, Fire Escapes: Danger & Survival, provides children and their families with the key knowledge they need to survive a fire in their home. Visitors pass through a facade replicating a burned-out house, enter various "rooms" with video presentations, and experience a controlled mock fire drill. Kids can climb in the cab of an actual Newark Fire Department truck and try on bunker gear in a fireman's locker room.

Feather Ridge
Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, 866-451-AQUA. New interactive exhibit located within the West African River Experience offers guests an opportunity to purchase bird food and feed a variety of West African birds at select times throughout the day.

New Uris Center for Education Opens
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., New York, 212-535-7710. New Education center includes an art study room, studio facilities, lecture hall, classrooms and seminar rooms, and greatly expanced library for teachers, students and Museum visitors, with a special areas dedicated to families.

1784 One-Room Schoolhouse
Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, 973-596-6550. The 1784 one-room schoolhouse, the oldest in Newark, has been fully restored and rededicated.

Musical Machines & Living Dolls
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973-971-3700. Permanent installation of the Murtogh D. Guinness collection of mechanical musical instruments and automata opens in new wing featuring immersive environments, interactive components and extensive video and audio recordings.



Thru Oct 31
Caroline's Couture: A Style All Her Own
Fosterfield's Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Rd., Morristown, 973-326-7645. Learn more about the personality and personal style of Caroline Foster, former owner of Fosterfield's. During her long lifetime from 1877-1979, Miss Foster often wore a signature look comprised of a hat, button-down shirt, necktie, and long skirt despite the season, year, or fashion trend.


Thru July, 2009
Blast Off! A Space Journey
Monmouth Museum, Brookdale Community College Campus, Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, 732-747-2266. Tues.-Fri. 2-4:30pm; Sat. 10-4:30, Sun. 1-5. Admission $6 per person, $7 with a Starlab Planetarium show. Explore the past, present and future of space. Walk through the Hall of Ancient Astronomy, explore the solar system through interactive presentations on the sun, the planets and the Milky Way, explore the nigh sky in a StarLab Planetarium show, learn about NASA and the life of an astronaut.


Thru Aug 16, 2009
Climate Change: The Threat to Life and Our Energy Future
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. Examines the massive, human-induced warming of Earth by explorin the science, history and impact of climate change and illuminates ways in which individuals, communities, and nationas can reduce their carbon footprints. Dioramas, hands-on activity stations, and animations..

27 Jun-Sept 13
The Edible Garden
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Parkway (exit 7W) and Fordham Rd., New York, 718-817-8700. Summer-long celebration of growing great food includes two festival weekends featuring demonstrations, lectures and more, seven Thursday evening events that include wine and beer tastings, a farmers market every Wed. and Saturday, family programming in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden and in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, home gardening demonstrations, cooking demonstrations and daily docent tours.
Jun 27-28
     
The Edible Local Garden: A Local Food Festival, festival weekend.
Sept 12-13
     
The Edible Global Garden: Buy Local, Cook Global, festival weekend.

NEW EVENTS


11 Jul
Family Saturday
Summit Area YMCA, 67 Maple St., Summit, 908-273-3330. 5-8pm. All ages welcome. Y members free, non-members $10 per family. Family BBQ, small fee applies. Call to register.



18-19 Jul
Cat Expo
Garden State Exhibit Center, Somerset, www.gardenstatecatclub.org. Cat Fanciers' Association Judge Judy Thomas will present up to 25 different cat breeds, discuss their personalities and offer humorous insights on life with cats. Rescue Adopt-a-Thon will be held in the lobby with a large selection of rescued cats and kittens available for adoption. Other activities include Kids Corner, Meow Mall, educational programs, cat agility trials and 450-cat all breed cat show featuring the top show cats in the country. Special children, family and senior admission rates.


26 Jul-Aug 1
72nd Annual Warren County Farmers Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival
Kid Friendly, Family Friendly, Wallet Friendly!
Fairgrounds in Harmony Twp., Rt. 5`19 (3 miles north of Phillipsburg), 908-859-6563. Adults $5, ages 5-12 $3, 4 & under free. Weekday specials on admission and rides. Elvis impersonator Ryan Pelton on Monday night in the main arean. Grandstand tickest on sale now for $10. Featuring the 9th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival with tethered balloon rides and launches every night beginning at 6:30pm. Livestock exhibits and shows, the Kids' Corral, midway, car and tractor shows, horse shows and more. Other main arena events: Mud Bog Competition, Tractor and Truck Pulls, Demolition Derby. For advance tickets call 908-859-6563. For a free brochure and schedule of events, group rates or to schedule a balloon ride, email info@warrencountyfarmersfair.org or call 908-454-3431. Visit online at www.warrencountyfarmersfair.org or www.balloonfestnj.com.


31 Jul-Aug 1
Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage--A Circus Comes to Town
State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-246-7469. All new, live musical adventure.


15 Aug
Family Saturday
Summit Area YMCA, 67 Maple St., Summit, 908-273-3330. 5:30-7:30pm. All ages welcome. Y members free, non-members $10 per family. Back to School at the Y, get ready for school fun activities. Call to register.


ONGOING EVENTS

Sept-May
Family Programs at MOMA
Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St., New York, 212-708-9905. Saturdays and Sundays thru May 31. All family programs begin in the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, 4 W. 54th St. Ticketing takes place at the Cullman Building reception desk. Programs include family line lab; Tours for Fours for ages 4 and adult companions; A Closer Look for Kids for ages 5-10 and their adult companions; Family Films; and Films for Tweens. Consult website for details or email familyprograms@moma.org. To be informed of registration and program news, families can sign up for the Family Programs E-News at www.moma.org/enews.

Call for Entries--Youth Eco-Essay Contest-By May 31, 2009
Open to all kids ages 6-16, contestants must answer two questions in their own words, in 250 words or less per question. 1. Why is it important to save the world's oceans and the environment? 2. If you were an Ocean Protector, what kind of creature would you be, what one special power would you have, and why?
     The winner's character will be featured in the next book of "Duckey and the Ocean Protectors" as the newest Ocean Protector, and the winner's name will be included as a contributing writer. Submissions must be postmarked by May 31, 2009. The winner and top 10 finalists will be announced on June 15, 2009. Winners will be contacted prior to announcement. For more information or to submit an entry, visit website.



Star Shows & Laser Concerts
Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd., North Branch, 908-231-8805. $5 per person per show. $9 per person for two shows in one day. Reservations recommended.

   OPEN FOR REGISTRATION/TICKETS


Wednesday Tea at the Proprietary House
149 Kearny Ave., Perth Amboy, 732-826-5527. 1-4pm. Family-friendly tea is served every Wednesday, except major holidays. Tea includes tea and homemade cakes. Donation of $3.50 per person or child, add $1.50 for historical tour of the house. Children may bring their American Girl doll, any other doll or action figure. Hot cocoa can replace tea. Reservations required for groups over 6.



Ongoing
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Summer Education Programs
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, 973-408-3980. Now enrolling for summer educational programs which offer training in classical theatre by professional theatre artists for students in grades 6 through college.

Shakespeare LIVE! Educational Touring Company
The educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!, travels to schools and other venues throughout the tri-state region with 60-minute versions of two of Shakespeare's most popular plays--A Midsummer Night's Dream for grades 3 & up and Macbeth for grades 6 & up--and Nevermore: The Final Nightmares of Edgar Allan Poe recommended for grades 6 & up. Bookings are now being accepted for all three productions, 973-408-3980.


"J" Crew After School Program for Grades K-4
Shimon & Sara Birnbaum JCC, 775 Talamini Rd., Bridgewater. Contact Ken Kaus, "J" Crew Director, 908-725-6994 x227; KKaus@ssbjcc.org. Homework help, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, fitness programs, cooking, comuters, daily snack and more! High staff-to-child ratio. Register for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Busing available from select Bridgewater schools.



Homeschool Afternoons at Jersey City Museum
Jersey City Museum, 350 Montgomery St. at Monmouth, Jersey City, 201-413-0303. 1-3pm selected Fridays January to June. $4 per student, adults free. Reservations required. Monthly program invites homeschool families in groups of 8 or more for special tours and workshops. Each program introduces a concept that defines a moment in art and features tour, hands-on art making sessions in the museum's studio classrooms.

Robocamp & More
Storming Robots, 3322 Rt. 22W, Suite 402, Branchburg Commons, 908-595-1010. 9-4. Visit website and see the printed version of the Kids' Guide for information on workshops, Robocamps, summer programs and birthday parties.


Glassworks Adult & Youth Classes
Glassworks Studio Inc., 151 South St., Morristown, 973-656-0800. Daytime and evening classes in making glass creations begin including Lunch-n-Learn, Mommy-n-Me, Mom's Morning Out, Masters in Glass.


Preschooler & Mom-Infant Walks
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center  247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twp., 973-635-6629. Preschooler walks are 45-min. walks for preschooler with adult at various park locations. Reservations required beginning two weeks prior to date of walk. $5. Mom-Infant walks are free. Bring backpack for infant; no siblings or strollers. Call for upcoming dates.

Kids' Club
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, 9 Main St., Madison, 973-377-2982. 3:30pm. Monthly after-school program for children ages 7-11. Pre-registrationis required. Sessions are $13 for members, $15 for non-members.
Sept-Jun

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Miriam Cohen, PT, DPT, PCS;
Kimberlee Raynovich, PT, MS
Pediatric Therapeutics, 330 Main St., Chatham, 973-635-0202. Experienced pediatric physical therapists provide comprehensive services for children of all ages alongside occupational and speech therapists. Our large facility incorporates family centered creative approaches to maximizing your child's abilities.


PLEASE NOTE:
Hours, prices, exhibit and event information area subject to change.
Please call ahead or use the convenient website links to get the latest information prior to your visit.

LAST UPDATE 7/1/2009

For print advertising, web advertising, subscription and other inquiries, write or call:

Kids' Guide
PO Box 892, Murray Hill, NJ 07974-0892
e-mail: kids@kidsguide.com
phone: 908/665-0607
fax: 908/665-2052

Please include your mailing address and phone number.
     Community organizations and Kids' Guide advertisers who would like to post an event under "Hot Picks" or in the Kids' Guide's printed calendar should e-mail, mail, or fax information to the addresses above. While we will make every effort to do so, we cannot guarantee submissions will be included.

The Kids' Guide, the Kids' Guide logo and the Kids' Guide design are trademarks of PageWorks LLC and may only be used with permission of PageWorks LLC. All material is copyrighted 2009.

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