Don’t miss Charleston Harbor Fest this weekend!  I used to spend summers on Nantucket Island (thanks McGowan Family!!!!), and let me tell you, it was totally awesome.  In addition to just being in a cool place and working for the coolest family ever, I got to know a lot more about coastal living, harbor festivals, sailing, and such.  When I saw the headline, Tall ships descend on Charleston for Harbor Fest, my very first thought was that my kids have to see the ships.  Real pirate ships (or at least ships like the ones that real pirates used).  Check out Old Charles Town and Pirate Village during Charleston Harbor Fest 2009 starting Friday and running through Sunday, including a Children’s Pirate Parade all three mornings at 11am.  Children are encouraged to dress the part.   Get your eye patches out, pack some snacks, and take a road trip to Charleston this weekend!  For other ideas of things to do in Charleston, see my previous Charleston recap post.

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Tuesday: Don’t miss Lunch Money at the library!  There are two shows planned to celebrate the start of Summer (and the Summer Reading Program at RCPL)!  Cooper Branch at 10:30am and Northeast Branch at 3:30pm.  Free!

Tuesdays: Every Tuesday, kids 6 and older can be dropped off at Be Beep Toys to play Bingo for free!  7-8:30pm.  Ages 6-12 (strictly enforced).  Due to the popularity of the program, you do have to sign up in advance.  Space is first come, first serve.  Sign-up sheets are at the counter at Be Beep.  Call the store for more information (787-5772).

Tuesday - Thursday: Free Family Film Festival at Midtown at Forest Acres, Sandhill, and Columbiana Grande Regal theaters.  10am.  Check the link to see the movie listings for each location.

Thursday - Sunday: Columbia Children’s Theatre will be presenting Aladdin. If you haven’t seen a performance by the CCT, you should! They always put on an entertaining show for all ages. You can catch the Aladdin performance at their new space at Midtown at Forest Acres! Admission is $5. Be sure to check it out!

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Smoothies are a great way to get your kids to consume their RDA of fruits and vegetables, and depending on the recipe, they can get a good dose of calcium and protein, too!  There are tons of smoothie recipes, and really, you can just throw in whatever you have on hand.  I would suggest having at least one frozen fruit to add to the mix, as that makes the smoothie really cold without watering it down with ice.  I recommend putting your blender out on your counter and leaving it there for summer. You will be more likely to make them if you don’t have to get your blender out every time.

I just made this smoothie yesterday for lunch, and let me tell you, it was awesome!  It was so creamy and delicious that it could easily pass for a dessert!  Be forewarned, it isn’t really a “lowfat” smoothie, but it has a lot of protein in it with the tofu, milk, and peanut butter.  11 grams of protein, actually, which makes it a great choice for lunch, perhaps paired with something lowfat like a salad or raw veggie plate.

1/2 cup silken tofu

3/4 cup lowfat milk

2 Tbsp. peanut butter

2 frozen bananas, sliced

1 teaspoon of honey

Blend until smooth and creamy!  Delicious!

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Don’t miss Billy Jonas at the Richland County Public Library.  Billy and his junkadelic folk music will be at the Main Branch at 3pm tomorrow, June 9th!  Admission is free.

p.s.  He will also be performing at the North Springs Elementary School on Clemson Road at 10:30am.  You do need a ticket for admission due to the large crowd, so contact the Sandhills Branch (699-9230) to get your free ticket.

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Learn about planting your own garden with Farmer Ben of Slow Food Columbia!  Today at 3:30pm.  Ages 3-8.  You do need to call the library to sign up to attend.  Call 929-3434.

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I don’t know if you read the Free Times, but they just featured a new website/blog here in town called SuperBudget Columbia.  Per the Free Times article, “SuperBudget Columbia is dedicated to all things free, not just food and drinks. Free movie screenings and other free or cheap events are featured regularly. A live feed of free items posted to Columbia’s Craigslist runs down one side of the page. But free booze and meals are the heart of the site.” I just checked it out and found out you can get free donuts at Krispy Kreme on Friday!  I am sure your kids would hate to help celebrate National Donut Day…

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Crafty Feast, the Indie Craft Fair, is tomorrow!

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Summer is upon us.  Schools will be closing for summer break in the next few weeks and summer activities will be in full swing.  Go ahead and mark your calendars for these free Family Film Festivals!

First, check out the schedule for the Free Family Film Festival at the Regal Cinemas - Midtown at Forest Acres (782-8122).  The films are scheduled every Tuesday and Wednesday, and the movies start at 10 am.  Doors open at 9 (local mom Mary Beth Hultstrand tells me it’s wise to get there early, as seating is limited). They have a G-rated and PG-rated movie each week.  (Note that Sandhills and Columbiana Regal cinemas will also show Family Films, but the schedule is a little different than the one shown below.)

Week of:
June 2 Kit Kittredge (G) and Shrek 3 (PG)
June 9 Despereaux (G) and Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG)
June 16 Charlotte’s Web (G) and Surf’s Up (PG)
June 23 Horton Hears a Who (G) and Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
June 30 Space Chimps (G) and Star Wars Clone Wars (PG)
July 7 Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tales Movie (G) and Spiderwick Chronicles (PG)
July 14 Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G) and Nim’s Island (PG)
July 21 Everyone’s Hero (G) and Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa (PG)
July 28 Mr. Bean’s Holiday (G) and Kung Fu Panda (PG)

The second film series you want to note is the Finaly Park’s Movies in the Park series.  Fridays, June 12 - August 14, at 8pm.  Includes:

Bedtime Stories (PG), Tales of Despereaux (G), Hotel for Dogs (PG), High School Musical 3 (G), Horton Hears a Who (G), Confessions of a Shopaholic (PG), Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG), Monsters vs Aliens (PG), The Soloist (PG-13), and Race to Witch Mountain (PG)

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As you know, we started a small garden in our backyard in March.  We are starting to see some wonderful fruits and vegetables take shape.  We have already cut back the first broccoli florets.  We are now looking for the larger heads to form!  We have about 30 grape tomatoes of varying sizes, and two are finally starting to turn red!  We have a lot of beautiful blooms on our squash plants, so I expect to see some little squashes (is that right?) forming soon!  The potato plants are tall and very healthy, but no flowering yet. The carrot greens are a beautiful vibrant greent.  I sure hope some equally vibrant orange carrots are forming underneath!  Jury is still out on the green onions, beets, and cantaloupes…

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Just wanted to let you know about two special Memorial Day weekend sales!  If you go to either store, please tell them Columbi-Yeah sent you!

• K.D.’s Treehouse is offering 25% off any one regular price item and then 15% off the rest of your regular price merchandise this weekend only!  May 21-23.  (This offer excludes specific artwork and is only valid May 21st through May 23rd.)  They have also just started carrying a new line, Lapsaky!  This new organic clothing line is perfect for our children to hang out in during our “oh so hot”  South Carolina summer days.

• BeBeep is offering 20% off any one item this weekend only!  You must present this coupon when you make your purchase, so print your copy now!  Offer valid May 22nd, 23rd, and 25th!

Happy Memorial Day!

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