As one sale wraps up, another begins.  Be Beep Toys on Forest Drive is offering 20% off starting Wednesday, September 24 through Tuesday, September 30.

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Did anyone else notice the obvious shift in the angle of the sunlight today? This is the sign I look for each year to tell me that Fall is here. The sunlight is just gorgeous today, so get outside and take some pics of your kids! Yippee!! I officially declare September 19, 2008 as Columbi-Yeah’s First Day of Fall.

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Don’t miss the Greek Festival this weekend! Yummy food, carnival rides, singing, dancing, and more! Today - Sunday.

Also, Columbia Children’s Theatre opens the new season this weekend with a production of Miss Nelson is Missing , which runs September 19-28. Performances are on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Creative Kids in Five Points is having a 20% off sale. Sale ends Saturday, so hurry! (Thanks for the tip, Shop Tart!)

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Art! Exercise! Food!

The weekend of October 3/4/5 is shaping up to be a great one, with lots of activities for the whole family. Starting on the evening of October 2, unearth: A Celebration of Naturally Inspired Art will begin at Saluda Shoals Park. The event runs October 2-5, and includes painters, sculptors, actors, poets, and dancers presenting their works along the trails and in open spaces throughout the park. It should be a great time, and you definitely don’t want to miss the Sound of Music sing-along on Saturday night at 6pm.

On Saturday morning (October 4th), before you head out to Saluda Shoals for the unearth arts festival, be sure to participate in the First Ladies’ Walk for Life - Steps Against Breast Cancer event. The three mile walk begins at 9am at Finlay Park. You can join a team, walk on your own, or donate to a walker you know. Show your support today! Oh, and strollers are welcome, so this is a great reason for you and the little one to get out and get some fresh air!

If walking isn’t your thing, maybe eating is!! On the afternoon of October 4th, Vista restaurants will be participating in a "taste of the Vista" type event, with food and beverages available for your sampling. Viva la Vista is free, open to the public, and promises plenty of entertainment in addition to the delectable food. All tapas, beer, wine and soft drinks will cost between $1 and $4. Family-friendly activities are part of the program. 2:00 - 7:00pm in the Vista (on Lincoln Street).

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I’ve been digging around a bit looking from some good podcasts to share with you. Now if you aren’t sure what a podcast is, it is basically an audio file that you can listen to on any mp3 player. That means, you could save the file to your ipod or other mp3 player and play it just as you would any song, or you can listen to the file on your computer. Podcasts are typically an interview format, or at least have multiple hosts/speakers interacting with each other as they discuss a topic, issue, etc. I will try to provide podcast links from time to time. If you follow a regular podcast that you think would be good to share, please feel free to let me know. Here is one from The Parent’s Journal about teaching self-sufficiency to young children. It includes some discussion of social anxiety and preparing children to be career-oriented. Mindy Bingham is the guest speaker.

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If you were so excited about the opening of Funky Monkey last year, and were so disappointed that they went out of business, you will be thrilled to know that most of the remaining clothes from the store are now at Sid & Nancy in 5 points! And the best part is that now, those clothes are half-price!!! Yes, half-price. I understand that more Funky Monkey items are expected in the coming weeks/months. So get down to Sid & Nancy (one of THE coolest shops in Columbia) and get some great kids’ clothes today!

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Next Saturday, September 13th, the Nickelodeon Theatre will present The Red Balloon in 35mm. In this 1956 French film, a red balloon with a life of its own follows a little boy around the streets of Paris. It is a classic, award-winning film and a must see! There will also be some other shorts by Peter Weatherall, and a live musical performance by local singer/songwriter John English. You don’t want to miss September’s family event. Show starts at 10am, but you may want to get there early, as last month’s Muppet Movie sold out. Oh, and all children will go home with a red balloon! Perfect for ages 3+. Admission is $1.

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Apologies for the long delay between posts. I’ll do better in the weeks ahead. I promise.

The Columbia Marionette Theatre’s new show started a couple of weeks ago. The Wizard of Oz! What a wonderful story…and I know the talented artists at the Columbia Marionette Theatre will really bring it to life. If you haven’t been to the Marionette Theatre, you should give it a try. It is a gem for Columbia, and has an extraordinarily talented and dedicated staff. Go see the Wizard of Oz! It runs every weekend through December 27th. Hope to see you there.

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