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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This is THE jam of the Summer!  Doesn’t it make you want to get up and dance?

http://www.myspace.com/tennisinc

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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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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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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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This Saturday, Earth Fare is hosting a Local Harvest Fest!  From 2-6pm, you can sample and buy products from local vendors and farmers.  You can even see a cow get milked in the parking lot!  I grew up on a farm, so I am used to all things farmish (is that a word?), but if you are and have always been a city-dweller, you and your kids might enjoy seeing a cow up close and personal!  Check out the milking, enjoy live music, and treat yourself to some local fare, including boiled peanuts and roasted corn!

Saturday, September 26 at Earth Fare in Columbia.  Free…well, that is unless you buy something from the farmers!

Happy Fall!

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Straight from the Free Times:  Saturdays are for peanuts! George Washington Carver discovered more than 300 uses for the peanut, but ‘round these parts, we like Arachis hypogaea one way in particular: boiled. The Cock N Bull Pub hosts the second annual Palmetto Peanut Boil today, which features all manner and flavor of boiled peanuts; the all-day event also features music from Tom Hall and the Plowboys and Haley Guyton and distractions for the wee ones. Mmm … peanuts. Proceeds from bagged boiled peanuts benefit The Special Olympics; the event runs from 2 to 8 p.m. Call 251-4474 for more information.

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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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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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