Have you been to the Main Street Latin Festival?  I haven’t either, but I love me some Latin-inspired music and food.  Check it out.  I think I will.  Saturday from 11-9 on Main Street.  Free!

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It’s August 2.  Summer vacation is winding down.  I think I am more excited about the start of the school year than my kids are, but that is just because I *loved* school when I was a kid.  Loved it.  Every grade K - 12.  Except for 3rd grade when we had to learn the multiplication tables.  Hated that.  It was a major struggle.  Those timed tests sucked, and I had to take them over and over until I could do 50 problems in a minute making 96 or better.  That really sucked.  I managed to survive it, and after that, I turned into something of a math whiz until Calculus in college.  That kicked my ass all over again, and I quietly bowed out of the math scene at that point.  Why am I telling you this?  No idea.  But I love school and August is the official month for back to school activities.

If you missed the Back To School bash at K.D.’s Treehouse on Saturday, you missed a good time.  There are still some great (and I mean GREAT) deals to be found there, which you can take advantage of this weekend at the Devine Street Art Stroll & Sidewalk Sale.  Saturday, August 7th. 9am - 6pm.

Mark your calendars for August 14th at 10am for the next installment of the Nickelodeon’s Family Film Series hosted by local kindie rockers, Lunch Money!  This month’s theme is Places: Africa!  The half-hour film being shown is called My Pen Pal: An African Adventure, which tells the story of a 10 year-old California girl who travels to Tanzania to meet her pen pal. Lunch Money will fill the other half hour with songs and silliness.  Join us!

Friday, August 20th is a Back to School PJ Party at Tag It Art.  Call today to reserve a space for your child(ren) while you get out for the evening.   6:30 - 9:00pm.  $26.  Space is limited.  Ages 5+

Finally, add another note on your calendar for Saturday, August 28th at 10:30am for a Matilda Jane trunk show.  These clothes look interesting and funky.  The show is open to the public.  Trunk shows are a great way to actually put your hands on clothes that you would otherwise only be able to see online.  Check it out at 1517 Heatherwood Drive, Columbia, SC 29205.  Tell them Columbi-Yeah! sent you.

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If you haven’t already heard, Seattle-based kids’ band Recess Monkey will be playing at the Nickelodeon on Saturday, July 17th.  Molly, Jay, and J.P. of Lunch Money fame will be hosting the show, which is part of the Nickelodeon’s Family Film Series.  While there won’t actually be a movie shown this month, the concert is sure to be a rockin’ good time, with shows at 10am and 11:30am. Any questions, call the Nick at 254-8234.  Tickets are $5 and they are available in advance here.

Note: If you aren’t familiar with the Family Film Series, on one Saturday morning each month, Lunch Money and The Nickelodeon offer a uniquely social family hour at the movies, featuring short films, live music, and assorted silliness. Periodically the series will also showcase the best in children’s music from around the country.

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Saturday is going to be an awesome day to be a parent in Columbia.  The Big Shebang is going on at City Roots from 11-2. Expose your kids to in-town, sustainable farming, local food, local crafts, and more. 

Before you go, however, you do not want to miss this month’s installment of the Nickelodeon Family Film Series starting at 10am! Here’s why:

1) The Nickelodeon is awesome!  We are so lucky to have the Nick in Columbia.  It is SC’s only non-profit art house film theatre, which means you get the opportunity to see lots of non-mainstream films. What’s more, the Nickelodeon has committed to providing unique programming opportunities for the whole family.  Once a month, the Nick hosts the Family Film Series where you can introduce your children to something besides Barney, Elmo, and Disney princesses.

2) Lunch Money is awesome!  I am going to sound like a broken record, but we are so lucky to have Lunch Money in Columbia!  Really people, to have a nationally-known and acclaimed band from Columbia… and have it be a band that makes music for kids… and have it be a really great-sounding, cool, hip, indie kids’ band… unbelievable luck!!!  Lunch Money is officially hosting the Family Film Series.  They have lots of great things in store for the attendees at the events.  Not just a regular Lunch Money show.  Don’t miss out!

3) Short films are awesome!  For the Family Film Series, the Nick is programming short films instead of full lengths.  This is a huge bonus for 3 reasons.  First, these aren’t just bring-your-kids-to-the-movies-and-let-them-zone-out-for-2-hours events.  The events will be interactive.  In my opinion, a much more enriching experience!  Second, programming short films allows Lunch Money to have half the show time!  All the Family Film Series events will run 1 hour, with short films making up half, and Lunch Money making up the other half.  So, for $5, you get movies AND a concert.  That is a major bargain!  Finally, programming shorts allows the Nick to present films from around the world, and at the same time, support independent film makers who are out there working hard to make creative, interesting films but that don’t get the main-stream budget and distribution of a big Pixar/Disney/DreamWorks film.

I really hope you will come out on Saturday and experience the Family Film Series.  The theme is Animals!  See you there!

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Wednesday: Don’t miss the new Farmer’s Market in Forest Acres.  Every Wednesday on the rooftop at Midtown @ Forest Acres from 3-7pm.  I bought the MOST delicious honey ever, and the Wild Indigo Moon plants were fantastic.

Saturday: Women for a Fresh Start for All will be holding its second diaper drive from 9-Noon at Heathwood Park.  The items collected will be distributed to families in need.  Last October, the group collected 19,000 diapers!  They hope to double that, so bring some diapers and wipes to donate to the cause!  Great way to improve the quality of life for children right here in our State.  Bonus: Your kids can play in the park while you make your donation and meet new cool people!

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Don’t miss the Little Earth Day Party at K.D.’s Treehouse this Saturday.  You can stop by the Treehouse between 9 and noon, and then head on over to the Nickelodeon for the Family Film Program of Indie Grits (I’m calling it Kids’ Grits) at 12:30.  Both events are free!  Super fun Saturday, for sure.  I’ll be at both…will you???

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Order up! For the first time ever, the Nickelodeon’s Indie Grits Film Festival will offer a session the whole family can enjoy together!

During the Lunch Money concert last weekend, 15 children in our community (ages 5 - 11) tried their hands at making music videos.  The videos will be shown on Saturday, along with music videos from other kids’ bands like The Jimmies, Recess Monkey, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, and more!  Don’t miss this fun-filled music party, and at the same time, support our local filmmakers!

Get your kids’ grits this Saturday at the Nickelodeon.  12:30pm!  Free!

P.S. In general, don’t miss the Indie Grits Film Festival, Wednesday, April 14 - Sunday, April 18.

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Don’t miss the opening of the Nickelodeon’s 2010 Family Film Series. We start the festivities on Saturday, April 10th at 9:30am at 1607 Main Street. Lunch Money is playing the kick-off event, and we will be filming Lunch Money music videos during the event. You do not want to miss this! (Note: This event is taking place at the Fox Theatre, which is the future home of the Nickelodeon Theatre. The Fox is located on Main Street near the Columbia Museum of Art.)

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www.flickr.com columbi-yeah’s Columbi-Yeah! January 2010 photoset

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So, you probably haven’t even gotten this far in your December yet, but your kids are going to be out of school after next week.  For two weeks.  While that is loads of fun and all, I am sure you might have a day or two or six when you might need something for them to do!  Well, worry no more.  Tag It Art would be a perfect option!  Owner Jackie Humphries has planned a series of one-day or multi-day art camps to coincide with the school holidays!  She also has other fun December plans including extended open studio hours, a holiday pj party, and even a Ladies’ Night!  Check her website for all the details, and get in there for some messy holiday fun!

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