ML Interest Tag: madness

Just Opened: Margaret Donahue Park

by Kelly Aiglon

Wrigleyville is where Cubs fans go bananas. And now kids will whoop it up there, too. That’s because Margaret Donahue Park just opened on School Street—and it’s unlike any playground we’ve ever seen. Full of Chicago accents (like play structures resembling Willis Tower and the Hancock Building) and homegrown spirit (check out the huge Cubs logo painted on the turf), this is a play spot with heart. Oh, and did we mention the splash pad? Read on.

donohue-splash

Splash Pad Madness
You’ll come to Margaret Donahue Park, a gated paradise located just blocks from Wrigley Field, to swing, climb and play. But let’s face it: In summer, you’re really there for the splash pad. It’s small and simple, but in great shape and so colorful. Bring plastic buckets and collect water underneath a revolving spout; it turns around and sprays up, down and all around. There’s also an arched sprinkler to run through and cool off in, and a ground fountain that shoots up with gusto.

While kids frolic, parents can sit on benches or a circular table. A bright, whimsical mosaic mural sweeps around the H20 action for a backdrop as joyful as the summer sun. But don’t spend all day in the water, because there’s more in store …

donohue-towers

Playful Chicago Touches
This isn’t just any spiral slide and climbing wall. They’re part of a mini Chicago universe—a play structure topped off by re-creations of Willis Tower and the Hancock Building. Giving the park its true local feel, this red and blue attraction for older kids (ages 4-8) has it all, from a slide to an elevated tunnel to a climbing wall to a spinning climbing pole. Just a few feet away is a smaller area for toddlers, and it’s crowned by a re-creation of the Historic Water Tower.

donohue-web

Challenges for All Ages
Ambitious kids will want to activate their inner Spiderman on the large climbing web made from interwoven ropes and plastic steps. Go for a ride on the attached pole that spins ’round and ’round. Then take off running up and down the cushy rubberized mounds nearby. Just don’t be surprised if kids with water buckets race by — water play doesn’t stay contained to the splash pad.

A swing set has two bucket swings for babes and a handicapped-accessible swing, along with three standard swings. Set at the far end of the playground, they’re great perches to soar above the action and take everything in.

donohue-scape

Turf for Picnicking & Playing 
Keep in mind this park has very little shade, but there are tables for picnicking that are sheltered by canopies. From the tables, you get a good view of just about every nook of the park. And since it’s all gated, this is a safe place for little ones to roam free. Pack a lunch and spend the morning or afternoon.

The far end of the playground invites kids to really run wild. It features a large swath of turf painted with the Cubs logo. Here, you can do just about anything, from toss a Frisbee to kick a soccer ball to play a friendly game of tag. You could even bring your baseball tee and wiffle ball. After all, this park is named after one of the first woman executives in major league baseball.

donohue-entrance

Good to Know
Margaret Donahue Park is open daily, from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission is free. There is no parking lot, and street parking is permit only during Cubs games. While parking can get tricky, a visit here is worth a few block walk — just bring a stroller or wagon for little ones.

Margaret Donahue Park
1230 W. School St.
Lakeview
312-742-7826
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com

Have you been to this amazing new playground yet? Let us know what you think of it in the Comments!

— Kelly Aiglon

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Laugh Till You Cry: @LosFelizDayCare

by Jennifer O'Brien

If you’re not following @LosFelizDayCare, the hilarious feed currently blowing up Twitter, you’re obviously way too busy consciously uncoupling from cold-pressed cider like the other families at this hysterical (and totally satirical) LA institution of mindful learning. Find out the inspiration behind the feed, how the insanity of the LA school scene gets so perfectly captured, and most importantly, how you can get your precious Talulah or Axl enrolled.

photo credit: Jason Shapiro

The mind behind the madness is Jason Shapiro.  When he’s not busy performing stand-up and improv gigs around town or working as script coordinator on the new ABC sitcom, “Cristela,” he serves as the brilliant voice of @LosFelizDayCare – a hysterical (and all too real) parody of the LA day care scene. Like most comedy writers, Shapiro was looking for a unique way to get his name out there, and despite his father’s suggestion that he “just get his jokes to Brad Pitt or Jon Cryer,” he decided the Twitterverse might be a more viable and less stalker-y option.

Reading his tweets, it’s hard to believe he’s not yet a dad himself, as he perfectly captures the craziness that so many Angelenos experience daily while sending their tofu-toting tots to school in this city. Shapiro’s inspiration comes from listening to his co-workers talk ad nauseum about their funny interactions with the faculty, kids and families at the prestigious day cares their kiddos attend. He believes the feed has struck a chord because “people read tweets and look at Facebook and see themselves reflected back. People find things to relate too.” (He admits he really took most of this theory from Arcade Fire.)

Because @LosFelizDayCare is so convincing in its delivery, Shapiro receives emails a few times a week from real parents asking to send their kids to LFDC. He always tries to let them know right away that the school is fake. After all, he “wants these kids to grow up and solve climate change and all that.”  If anyone tweets at him though, that’s a whole other bag of organic beans. He says someone in Indiana thought it was a real day care and he played along, actually asking her to come visit.

We asked Shapiro what the application process would be like to gain acceptance to Los Feliz Day Care. He says that “Once applicants are born and being considered, they need to make sure they speak at least two languages. And children must be breastfed, vegan or at the very least meat conscious, sustainability minded, tolerant and of course, non immunized.” Seems easy enough.

Find it on Twitter: twitter.com/LosFelizDayCare

Has your family had any insanely funny LA day care experiences? We’d love to get the scoop! (And who knows, maybe Shapiro will pull from you too!)

–Jennifer O’Brien

photo credit: young boy by James Emery via Creative Commons

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Get Color Happy at the Crayola Experience

by mikaela walker

Are you raising a mini Michelango, Donatello, Rafael or Leonardo? We mean the artists, not the turtles. If you are, then take them to visit the Crayola Experience (30 Centre Square, Easton, Pa) where they can let their inner artist be free and you don’t have to suffer through hours of scrubbing crayon and marker off of your walls.

What’s There to Do

The Crayola Experience, has four floors of family fun. Each floor is chocked full of activities for kids, that will interest even the older jaded kids in your group who think they’re too old to go to a museum dedicated to crayons. We promise, they aren’t, and it isn’t just dedicated to crayons either. Inside you’ll find activities that use crayons, of course they’re still the star of the show, but others that feature markers, modeling clay and art mediums. 

When you get to the museum, we recommend first heading to the theater AKA Crayon Factory to watch a show on how crayons are made. The show stars two animated crayons, Scarlet and Turk and a Crayonologist AKA He or She who makes the crayons. The show is only about 20 minutes long and gives a live demonstration, along with video from the factory floor, of how crayons are made. The animated crayons keep the kids entertained and they will love seeing the new crayons being born.

After the show, head up to the fourth floor, for a bevy of melted crayon activities. In Drip Art, kids (and parents too if you want) pick two crayons to create a swirled masterpiece. They place one crayon at a time into what looks like a compression chamber from a 70s TV show with a piece of paper underneath. While the crayon melts, they spin the paper at varying speeds to create a pattern. Add a second crayon, rinse and repeat. At Meltdown, your kids throw themselves on the floor and start screaming and kicking. Sorry, wrong meltdown. This one is actually a good thing. Kids get to paint with a variety of different colors of melted crayon. The results are pretty amazing. A word of caution, once dry, melted crayon tends to flake so make sure to keep the artwork secure in your plastic bag (they give you one when you enter the museum to hold your artwork) on the way home so you don’t end up with crayon flakes all over the car.

Ever wanted your kid to be a star? Well at the Crayola Experience they can be the star of their very own coloring page. In the Be a Star exhibit, you have a photo taken of your kid, kids or the whole family and then it gets transformed into a coloring page. Pretty nifty, huh?

There are three exhibits at the Crayola Experience that require tokens, Wrap it Up, Marker Mania and Modeling Madness. When you purchase your tickets for the museum, you will receive three tokens, one for each exhibit. If you want to repeat any of the attractions, you can purchase additional tokens for $.50 each. At the Modeling Madness exhibit, you can purchase additional packs of modeling clay for $.50 each or holders for the modeling clay, such as a dragon fly body or monster feet, for $2.00 each (mark our words, your kids will want one of these!). 

What Does It Cost

Admission to the Crayola Experience is $15.99 per person ages 2 to 64. Purchase tickets online, to save $1.00 on each. Seniors 65+ are $12.99 per ticket. Annual passes are $29.99 and are worth the price if you plan to visit two or more times in a year.

How to Get There and Where to Park

The Crayola Experience in Easton, Pa, is around 1 ¼ hours from New York City by car. Take the Holland Tunnel from New York City to Route 78. Take exit 75 off of Route 78. The Crayola Experience is 1.5 miles from the exit.

Metered parking is available on the street near the Crayola Experience. There is also a parking garage behind the Crayola Experience with parking for $2 per hour.

To Do Nearby

Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom is only 30 minutes away in Allentown, Pa. Make it a Pennsylvania weekend and visit both attractions.

– Mikaela Walker

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Take a Ferry Ride to a Free Indoor Play Space (and Then Get Your Shop On)

by sarah choi

Uh yeah, we’re suggesting a trip to Ikea with the whole family…in the chilly months. Sound like madness? Just hear us out. Everyone says that Brooklyn is the borough for families, and Ikea in Red Hook has bought into the belief. They’ve made it extra welcoming with a free family program, amazing play space, kid-friendly food, monthly events and more. Follow our tips and discover the wonders of this Swedish megastore. We think you’ll actually have a grand ol’ time.

When to Go
Avoid the weekend madness when college kids and yuppies hit the scene. Have you ever visited Ikea on a weekday? You can hear the decorative birds chirping and have the whole place to yourself. If you’ve ever wished for a bigger apartment, a visit to Ikea Brooklyn is the perfect fix. There are plenty of rooms to explore! Yes, we know some of you have work during the week. Ikea serves dinner and closes at 8:30pm, so you can skip cooking and let the kids get the willies out before hitting the hay.

How to Get There
For Manhattanites, New York Water Taxi offers a ferry from Wall Street’s Pier 11 to Ikea’s own dock in Red Hook. The ferries from Manhattan run 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm during the week every 40 minutes. The last ferry leaves Ikea Brooklyn at 7:40pm. The weekend offers extended hours and free ferry rides, but we don’t suggest visiting then as it could be a zoo. Kids 12 and under always ride free, and during the week adults pay $5 round-trip. If you purchase $10 or more of merchandise at the store, you’ll be credited back the ferry ride admission by showing your receipt.

If you prefer driving, parking is easy and free. For you Zipcar members, there are six designated Zipcar parking spots so you can reserve a car one-way or round-trip easily, depending on your needs.  Public transportation to Brooklyn with free shuttle service to Ikea is available as well, but this could be trying for mom, dad and babes.

The Highlights
Smaland* is the supervised play area near the entrance with a huge ball pit, books, puppets, toys and videos.  Ikea employees will watch your potty-trained kiddos (between 37” – 54” tall) for one hour for FREE! Yes that’s right, we said free childcare. You can actually get a little shopping done or do a cheap dessert date in the restaurant, knowing the kids are close by and having fun under watchful eyes.

After working up an appetite at Smaland or the awesome children’s section where toys and games are free to explore, hit the Restaurant where kids get a full meal for just $2.49. Family-friendly fare like chicken tenders, mac n’ cheese, steamed veggies, mashed potatoes and the famous Swedish meatballs are among the options and also come with your choice of drink. If you visit on a Tuesday, kids eat FREE!

By signing up for the free Ikea Family Loyalty Program, you’ll get complimentary perks like 30 extra minutes at Smaland, free coffee or tea every time you visit the restaurant, special discounts on items every month, and a chance to win a $100 gift card every time you scan your card at checkout.

The kiddos will also love a special treat on your way out at the Bistro past the registers near the exit. For just $1, you can snag a low-fat frozen yogurt cone and treat the family on a dime. They won’t care it’s yogurt when they see huge sweet swirl on top of a sugar cone. This is the ideal recession special – cheap, delicious and fun.

Before hopping on the ferry or heading home, you’ve got to spend some time in the 22-acre public waterfront Ikea Esplanade by the ferry landing, designed by renowned architect Lee Weintraub. Lots of foliage to admire, recycled art from the old shipyard to explore, and a paved walkway and bike path for new walkers or fledgling skateboarders. It’s industrial yet lush, an only in New York landscape worth an Instagram post.

* Note: Smaland will be closed Tues, Nov 13 – Thurs, Nov 15, 2012 for refurbishment. Might be worth a wait to check out the new spruced up play space!

Ikea Brooklyn
One Beard Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Online: ikea.com/us/en/store/brooklyn

Let us know about your trip on the ferry to visit Ikea in the comment section below. 

–Sarah Choi

Photos courtesy of WarmSleepy, Julien Menichini, and Xurble

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Beyond Mary Poppins: Ideas for Portland Childcare

by writerredtri

Good help can be hard to find, especially when it comes to childcare. NW Kids is pleased to introduce several Portland-area businesses that make finding good childcare, well, easy peasy.

Sitter Soiree
Can you imagine going to a fabulous party and connecting with the perfect babysitter? It’s not too good to be true—it’s a Sitter Soiree! Sitter Soiree is a casual, fun mixer for parents and prospective babysitters held four to five times per year at local boutiques and other hot spots. Attendees nosh on delectable nibbles, shop Portland’s finest wares, and get acquainted in an absolutely no-pressure situation.

The Sitter Soiree team recruits qualified sitters and then invites parents to mix, mingle and connect with them at Sitter Soirees. The entry fee is $45 for each event; this covers the cost of the evening (except your shopping habit), and a “Sitter Book” which includes each candidate’s bio, contact information, references, rates and photo. When you need a sitter, you’ll have a pool of candidates at your fingertips.

It’s important to note that Sitter Soiree does not do background checks on the babysitters. They have their own criteria for selection, but parents should conduct their own screens to determine the best match for their needs.

My Little Waiting Room
Portland mother Amy Paterson was just 34 with a three year old, and battling cancer. She faced 144 medical appointments last year alone, meaning she had to arrange child care 144 times before she could begin to heal. This ordeal prompted her to join forces with Melissa Moore to create My Little Waiting Room, a project dedicated to creating low-cost, on-site, clean and safe child care in medical facilities. The lack of such childcare is surprising; after all, you can find it at Fred Meyer, many gyms, and Ikea!

Amy was named one of eight “2008 Pink Power Moms” in the nation by toymaker Bright Starts. She is one of seven women across the country “who has displayed amazing strength as a breast cancer survivor, fighting for a cure.” As part of this award, Kids II Foundation and Bright Starts donated $1,000 (and later, $23,000) to help open the first My Little Waiting Room to help mothers make — and keep — their important medical appointments.

Check out Amy’s blog for more news on this pretty incredible effort.

The Academy Theater Babysitting
Date night is making a comeback! And we’d like to * ahem * “thank The Academy” for offering childcare services so that parents can enjoy date night at the movies.

Here’s how it works. The Academy Theater offers babysitting Thursday through Sundays for shows that start before 8:00 pm. Babysitting is available on-site for children ages six months to eight years (limited number of spaces available for 6-14 month olds), at a cost of $7.50 per child. Please call (503) 252-1705 to reserve a spot for your child. No drop-ins please. A babysitting release form is required. Download the form, fill it out, and bring it with you when you visit.

The Academy Theater was recently renovated to star status. In addition to its authentic 1940s cinematic charm, the theater features three theaters with Dolby sound, reclining stadium seating with generous legroom and a plentiful selection of tasty offerings from Flying Pie Pizzeria.

The movies are second-run titles and the prices are reasonable: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors (65+) and $3 for kids (12 and under). For an even better deal, catch “Monday Movie Madness” and watch any two consecutive movies for only $6 ($5 for seniors and kids) or take advantage of “Two for Tuesdays” and buy one ticket, get one free.

WeVillage:Urban Playcare
Located in the heart of the Pearl District, WeVillage offers a safe and fun environment for kids ages 2-12 and a staff of caring, creative individuals who enjoy interacting and having fun with your child. Ready for a romantic evening on the town? WeVillage is open late on the weekends, so date night is covered!

Multnomah County Courtcare
Got a traffic ticket? Jury duty beckon? Drop your child off at Multnomah County CourtCare, a free service operated by Volunteers of America Oregon and funded mostly by the Multnomah Bar Association.

Did we forget your favorite? Share the love and tell us about it in the comment section below!

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