Thomas & Friends Play Date

All Thomas and Friends fans, there will be a Thomas Play Date at local Toysrus.

Satruday 9/12 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

There will be

• Free Thomas Trading Cards (while supplies last)
• Free Thomas Trading Card Holder (while supplies last)
• Storytime every half hour
• Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Play Table Time
• Coloring Fun

Don't forget to call your local Toyrus to confirm.

http://www4.toysrus.com/store/index.cfm?tru=1&sa_referral=http://www.toysrusinc.com/tstorelocator

Legally Blonde the Musical Promotion

This Friday 9/11, there is a Legally Blonde the musical promotion at the District.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Free live performance and demonstration of the popular song "Bend & Snap" by cast members, autographs and photo opps at The District Stage (just in front of Borders Books & Music).

6:30 PM
Dress your dog and yourself in pink and put your best Elle Woods foot (or paw) forward! Winner receives a VIP package that includes tickets to Legally Blonde The Musical at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and much more! The dog fashion show/contest takes place at The District Stage (just in front of Borders Books & Music).

Open to all ages. All breeds welcome. All dogs must be on a leash. To register email your name, dog's name and contact information to kdaskas@vestar.com. You must pre-register to be eligible. The first 25 pre-registrants will receive a stuffed Bruiser upon check in at the event. You must be present and participate in order to receive your stuffed Bruiser.

http://www.thedistricttl.com/events/events.aspx

For more information call Kimberly Daskas, The District Marketing Director at 714-259-1046.
Check in for participants is at 5:30 sharp at The District Stage.
All participating dogs will receive a special treat!

Pretend City Museum

I’ve been looking forward to the opening of Pretend City Museum since April when I found out that a new children’s museum was being built in Irvine.

Well, things didn’t work out and I didn’t get to go. My hubby took Maddie to Pretend City Museum on Friday 9/4. I was all excited about it. Just imagine, a little miniature city with grocery store, post office, bank, fire station and beach!!!

I was dying to hear the feedback from my hubby. As soon as I saw him I attacked,

“How was it?” “Wasn’t it cute?” “Did Maddie like it?” “Was there lots of people?” “What did you think?” “Did you get the brochures like I asked you to?” “Do you think Maddie would like her birthday party to be there?” “What was her favorite part?” “Was it clean?”

Of course, my hubby, being a guy, said
“It was nice and Maddie liked it. I picked up the brochures.”

I gave up and made up my mind to visit my self. Well, as you know the entrance fee is $10 / person which is pricey. So I started looking at membership information and it really disappointed me.

The “part time pretender” membership is only available for weekdays starting at 2PM. Okay, so what if you are a single working parent? Museum closes at 5PM. How in the world are you going to bring your kid(s) to this museum at 3PM on a weekday?

The next level skipped to a membership for family of 4 for weekday & weekend for $200.
Hey, what about family of 3 with 2 working parents like us?

Did I also mention that the 50% discounted tickets ($5) are only from 4PM – 5PM?

Yes, we live in infamous OC, but still, I think these membership options are high compared to other children’s museums in OC.

La Habra Children’s Museum Membership
http://www.lahabracity.com/section.cfm?id=98
Bowers Museum (Kidseum included) Membership
http://www.bowers.org/join/membership.jsp
Discovery Center
http://www.discoverycube.org/getinvolved.aspx?q=24
Chino Youth Museum
http://www.chinoyouthmuseum.com/3/miscellaneous4.htm

I’m hoping that Pretend City Museum will start one of those Target Free Sundays or B of A’s Museum on Us program.

Festival of Children

We went to South Coast Plaza today (Sunday 9/6) for Festival of Children event. Festival of Children is an annual event that is done for Festival of Children foundation which is a non-profit organization.

I wasn’t planning on taking Maddie to this event today but we just decided to visit at the last minute. We will just do face painting and a carousel ride ($1), I thought.

The first thing that came into my eyes was Color Me Mine event. They had tables with paints and ceramic figures (cat, dog, piggy bank, name plaque, trophy).

I figured since we were there early (the event started at noon and we got there just before noon), we can just get in line and paint one. WRONG! Apparently, you are supposed to “pre-register” for Color Me Mine event (which was full) and they only took handful of children on site whenever there was a no show.

I understand that by pre registering for these activities, that you can prevent confusion and delay. However, this is a children’s activity. Meaning, when kids see these paints and figurines on a covered table, they will want to paint. Not to mention, who would think/imagine that you need to pre-register online in advance for a kids’ activity at a mall?

I personally think that they should have made 50% pre-registered children and the other half walk-ins.

Any ways, we ended up waiting for 1PM session since the princess REALLY wanted to paint one. Then we ran into another problem. The coordinators did not clarify where to line up or what to do (I’m sure they were tired of explaining to every parents that pre-registration is required and that it is full). Everybody just hovered around and waited without forming a line. (Well, I thought I was in line, but it turned out to be useless) When there was an opening, well, I’ll leave it up to you to imagine what happened with cranky mommies/daddies with their kids hoping that they could paint a figurine.

Later, things got more organized and we got an opportunity to paint one. The activity it self was fun but the whole experience was bittersweet.

(I checked online when I came home and the registration is CLOSED for 9/19 &9/20 sessions)

Other stuff
The carousel ride was fun and pretty decent length for a $1. The face painting was also available and they were accepting tips. Up on the stage, we saw juggler and Festival Ballet performance. The ballet was short and it kept children’s attention with various characters (the mouse king, nutcracker, and rabbit from Alice in Wonderland) It was like a preview for the Nutcracker Ballet in December.

For Festival of Children event schedule, go to

http://www.festivalofchildren.org/site/Calendar?view=MonthList&Day=9,1,2009

Pretend City Children’s Museum

29 Hubble
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 428-3900
Fax: (949) 428-3908
info@pretendcity.org

I wrote about this Children’s Museum that will be in Irvine while back.

Well, it looks like it will be opening on Sunday 8/30

They have after 4 PM pricing (50% off regular price) but the museum closes at 5PM!!!!

GENERAL ADMISSION:
10:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
Infant to 12 months: $2
Children: $10
Adult: $10
Military and Family Members: $8

AFTER 4 P.M.
Infant to 12 months: $1
Children: $5
Adult: $5
Military and Family Members: $4

Project Playhouse

I love playhouses! Imagine looking at a whole village of playhouses that are fabulous!

http://www.projectplayhouse.org/about.php

Annual Project Playhouse is a HomeAid Orange County’s fund raising event. Builder teams build these dream-house like playhouses and auction them off.

Usually they are displayed at Fashion Islands but this year it is in Irvine Spectrum (near Ferris wheel). It will be $5 to look at the playhouses and I’m really excited!!

For six weeks the playhouses will be on display at Irvine Spectrum Center from 8/2 – 9/12 every WEEKEND from noon till 6:00 PM.

PROJECT PLAYHOUSE® VILLAGE TOURS
Every Weekend throughout event
Saturdays and Sundays
August 2 to September 12
Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $5.00 per person
(Children 3 and under FREE)

My tip

- Don’t forget the water fountain near the food court and target. Lots of kids play there with their swimsuit on!

Nutcracker

Yes, I know it’s only August. I’m not crazy. It’s just that these Nutcracker tickets sell out quickly! My thing is if you are still going to pay same amount of money, why not try to get the best seats available?

I went to see Nutcracker (ballet) few years back before I had Maddie. I saw so many little princesses all dressed up with their mommies and grandmas. Some of them were wearing matching outfits too. I promised myself that when I have a daughter, I’ll get her dressed up and go see Nutcracker.

Well, the Festival Ballet is performing at Irvine Barclay Theater. I got 2 tickets for Nutcracker for Children!! ($20 / person)
http://www.thebarclay.org/calendar.asp#dec2009

Also Pacific Symphony has a 45 minute musical family morning “Nutcracker for Kids.” This one is shorter and it will emphasize the “musical” side with the symphony. The tickets go on sale starting 8/24 and the price range will be $20 – 30.
http://www.pacificsymphony.org/show_details.php?shid=268

My Tips

- Please familiarize your child with Nutcracker storyline. If you don’t know the storyline Nutcracker might feel like a story that some kind of a nut wrote.

- The popular name of the girl is Clara but in some books her name is Marie and the doll’s name is Clara. For the ballet it is Clara but if you are getting a Nutcracker book, make sure that the girl’s name is Clara so there is less confusion for your child

- If you have not taken your kid to a performance, try taking them to free/short events at libraries and other community events. Get them used to sitting down and watching something for at least 30 minutes. If your kid is not ready, he/she is not ready.