Posts from — July 2010

This is from one of our readers, Amy:

When my neighbor and friend tossed around the idea of having a block party just for fun, I initially balked. But as I never say no to a party, I agreed to give her a hand. After all, she had already paid for and obtained the necessary permit from the city. But the date was set for a mere month away. Was there time enough to pull this off?

As things were already set in motion, another neighbor friend got to work on a “Save The Date”, with a list of potential activities, etc., which she promptly hand-delivered with kids in tow. (Thankfully this neighbor friend is a graphic designer who also made a “Reminder” flyer the week of the block party!) Then came the slew of phone calls to the police and fire departments, local businesses, entertainers, and non-profit organizations. With the requests and little time we had, what surprised us most was the overwhelmingly positive response we received from nearly all, that YES, they would support us. Not to mention what both they and our neighborhood contributed in time, money, and expertise. (Some groups contacted declined to support us either because there was not enough notice, we were not affiliated with a non-profit, or simply because “it wasn’t something they did.” And that was okay too.)

Firefighters! We love 'em!

And it happened.  A week ago, on Saturday, it happened and then some!!  Through both rain and shine, all had a good time. With real live policemen, a police horse and police dog, real live firemen and a fire truck to explore, a kids road race, face painting, a mass tie-dying activity, ice cream sundae making, a children’s musician, chair massages, soil testing, grilling in the middle of the street, drawings for floral arrangements and children’s CD’s, and other fun-filled activities, who couldn’t have fun???  We spent time with old friends and made some new ones. Friends of friends came as did a few relatives. Yet, without the collective efforts of our neighborhood and the community at large, this day would not have been possible.  We may even do it again next year. If we made all this happen over the course of a month, just think what we can do with a whole year of planning!

Getting Crafty

The wonderful people, organizations, businesses, and non-profits that so graciously supported us:

• Donations of time/services: Albany Police Department, www.albanyny.org, Albany Fire Department, www.albanyny.org, Spear Design, www.spear-design.com , Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, www.ccealbany.com, Albany Massage Therapy Associates, www.albanymassage.com
• Donations of food: Uncommon Grounds, www.uncommongrounds.com, Honest Weight Food Coop, www.hwfc.com, DC’s Pizza, www.dcspizza.com, and mini-cupcakes from Sweet Sisters in Guilderland
• Donations of goods: Price Chopper, www.pricechopper.com, Splendid Stems Floral Designs, www.splendidstems.com , Albany Artroom, www.albanyartoom.com, Andy the Music Man, www.andysings.com, Fingerprint America, Inc., www.fingerprintamerica.com
• Non-Profit Collections: Food Pantries for the Capital Region, www.foodpantries.net, Bright Red Bookshelf Community Literacy Program, www.centersquare.org

Welcome to the splendor of auto-post!  Hopefully you won’t miss me a bit this week while I am attempting to connect to nature instead of cyberspace.  My Facebook links might be a little tardy, and if you’ve never commented here before and try to do so this week, your comments might not appear until I’m able to connect and approve them.  Besides that, I’ve got plenty of stuff from me (and a couple of readers!) to share this week.

I’ve done a bunch of posts on free summer events, and I keep learning about more.

• Most Sundays from 6-8 pm there are concerts at the North Greenbush gazebo.
• Most Fridays there are free concerts at Canal Square in Cohoes from 6:30-8:30 pm.
• The Town of Brunswick has concerts on Tuesday night from 7-9 pm.
• Schenectady County is hosting Family Movie Nights on several Tuesday and Thursday nights in August–they start at 7 and it’s either Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs or Monsters vs. Aliens.

For previous posts on free summer events, click here.

Phew!  Another crazy-busy weekend.  We’re headed north in the morning.  J said to me, “I hope it’s not like that Berenstain Bears book!”  You and me both, sister.  You and me both.

Misc./Planning Ahead:

• Next Saturday, August 7th, the Rensselaer County Historical Society is hosting The Past at Play from 10-11:30 pm.  It’s a kid-friendly tour, $10 for one kid + one adult.  Register ahead of time (hence the early notice).
• Today’s (Thursday’s) Gazette included a $5-off coupon to Water Slide World, page D2.
• The New York State Parks’ event calendar isn’t working, so there very well may be additional events, but I couldn’t find them for you.
• I just noticed that, with a Schenectady Library card, you can borrow fishing poles from the Scotia Library.

All Weekend:

• It’s the Schoharie County Sunshine Fair.
• In Schuylerville, it’s the Turning Point Parade & Festival.
• On Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, the RPI’s Young Actors Guild presents “A Pirate’s Life for Me”, a children’s musical.   $10/adult, $8/12 and under.
• At Sand Lake Center for the Arts, youth are acting in William’s Widow, a child-friendly compendium of Shakespeare scenes.  It’s at 7 pm on Saturday or 2:30 pm on Sunday, and tickets are $3 at the door.
• The summer youth program at Valatie Community Theater presents How to Eat Like a Child all weekend.  Once you get to the link, click to the calendar of events for time.
• You can watch The Princess and the Pea at 1 pm at Indian Ladder Farms on Saturday or Sunday.
• Annie Get Your Gun continues Tuesday through Sunday at 8 pm at Washington Park Playhouse.
• There’s a Native American Pow Wow at Rogers Island Visitors Center, which is in Fort Edward, about one hour north of the Capital District.  It’s all day Saturday and Sunday, admission is free, and it’s $5 for on-site parking.

Evening of Friday, July 30th:

• At the Cohoes Farmers Market, it’s a Garlic Festival from 4-7 pm.
• According to this Rensselaer County Calendar, the East Greenbush Price Chopper is hosting a family fun night with pony rides, hot dogs, and other fun.  I couldn’t find more information on the Price Chopper site, but if it’s your local grocery store, might be worth stopping.  Or, alternatively, might be worth avoiding if you just want to pick up a gallon of milk and get those kids home and in bed!
• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.   At the Rensselaer County Historic Society, You Scream, I Scream for ice cream!  From 5-8 pm.
• Kids in 2nd grade and up can enjoy a Campfire at the Library at William K. Sanford Library in Colonie from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Register ahead of time and plan to pay $2 to cover the cost of pizza.
• At 7 pm, the Guilderland Public Library goes Disney Old School with The Apple Dumpling Gang.
• At 7 pm there’s a mezzo-soprano’s vocal concert at United Presbyterian Church in Troy.  It’s free but donations are accepted.
• Okay, maybe not appropriate for the whole family, but MOPCO the improv comedy group is performing on Friday nights at Proctors.  $14/adult, $6/student.  Anyone seen them?  I kind of want to go.
• The Good Times Band is playing at 6:30 pm in Cohoes.

Saturday, July 31st:

• From 9 am to 1 pm, the Schenectady Upper Union Street Farmers’ Market will be handing out free fresh steamed corn on the cob.
• Meanwhile in Albany, they’ve got an event to build farmers’ market awareness at the Central Avenue Farmers Market from 10 am to 2 pm.  Kids activities and free BBQ.
• At 11 am, learn about the Wild, Wet, and Wacky World of Pond Life at the Albany Pine Bush.  Pre-register; it’s $2/person or $5/family.
• The Albany Mommy Blog reports that Anthony’s Chocolate Dipped Fruit in Latham will be having a Kids’ Luau from 11 am to 2 pm.
• Dyken Pond is having a Potluck, Pack, or Paddle event some (unnamed) time today.  Pre-registration suggested, please bring a dish and $3/person.
• At 1 pm, learn about Gravity Galore at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology.  Pre-register, $2/non-member.
• From 1-4 pm, it’s Family Fun Day at the Guilderland Public Library.  Carnival-type games and foods.
• It’s country night at Powers Park in Troy from 6-8:30 pm.
• A Billy Joel tribute band plays at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.

Sunday, August 1st:

• At 11 am, Celebrate National Tree Day: Meet the Trees at Albany Pine Bush.  Pre-register; it’s $2/person or $5/family.
• The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network is having a potluck YouthPride Summer Picnic from noon to 3 pm at Washington Park in Albany.
• In Fonda, NY, which is about half an hour west of Schenectady, there’s Kaleidoscope, a free arts and music festival that looks pretty family-focused.  It’s from noon to 6 pm.
• From 1-3 pm, you can help out orphans in Ghana by baking or eating a Peace of Pie in Albany–this is a link to Friday Puppy’s post on it.
• Giants camp begins at SUNYA today from 3:15-5:15 pm.
• From 5:30-7:30, Grafton Lakes is having Music in the Park (again, event listings down on parks’ site)
• The Will Severin Band will be playing from 6-8 pm behind the North Greenbush town hall.
• Raul Midon will be playing at 7 pm at Central Park in Schenectady.
• Maria Z & Alegria will be playing at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• Sunday begins the Clown Arts Festival.  This website isn’t too helpful, but if you’re craving some clown action (Blush!  Did I just say that? I didn’t mean it like that.  Except, you know, those sad clowns look so sensitive. . . ) or if you have an older kid who’d like to be a clown, you can call.

I’ve been preoccupied with daily life, and I haven’t spent a great deal of time planning this summer. But starting on Friday, I will be spending a week at a rustic camp near Lake Placid. Without an internet connection.

I know: it’s Wednesday!  Why didn’t I think about this?!?  My current plan is to do my best to provide the regular event listings on Thursday and Sunday, and maybe, maybe, I’ll come up with some other stuff that I can auto-post. Of course, I also have to do laundry and pack and plan a bit.

So I thought that perhaps some of you might be willing to help me out.  Please?  It wouldn’t be too tough, I promise. Send me an email (capitaldistrictfun@yahoo.com) by Friday at 7 am with a paragraph or two about the best/most fun local business/park/non-profit/activity you and the family have experienced this summer.   Tell me (us) why it was great, and include (please) a website or location & phone number.  If you are super-awesome, you could send a photograph that you’re willing to share with the world.

If I get one (or more) of these, I’ll put them on auto-post and you won’t have to miss me a bit.  And if I don’t get any contributions, well, you can always use that time to look at sh&* my kids ruined or something else, right?

Thanks in advance. . . you know, maybe.

The other day we met some friends at Collins Lake in Scotia.  Between visits, I forget just how pleasant it is.  The beach is open from noon to 7:45 pm, and if you go late like we did, it’s quiet and relaxing.  It’s $2/person with kids 5 and under (or maybe it was 6?) free.

M on dock with canoe in distance

Plenty of lifeguards, one long dock, and a beautiful view.   There’s a covered pavilion just outside the beach area, and the playground and bathrooms are a short walk away.  Don’t forget the sand toys.

A friend enjoys the water

We’d  made it a late visit partly so that some of our husbands could join us, so we walked over to Jumpin’ Jacks for dinner.   Tasty.  It was our first visit this summer, and I forgot that it actually stresses me out, a bit, to order at Jumpin’ Jacks.  Then when I went looking for my link I saw this list of etiquette rules on the Visit Scotia blog.  If you’ve never gone before, it’s excellent preparation, really.   You can also view the menu online:  please, may I recommend the twisters over the regular fries?

Anyway, we weren’t even paying attention and we happened to be there on a Tuesday night, which meant that it was crazy-busy for the water ski show.  Of course we had to stay.  The kids enjoyed it, and then my super-alert friend (who also provided these photos–thank you!)  realized that we should start walking to the ice cream (it’s soft ice cream; no hard) before the very end of the show, and it’s a good thing–that was a very long line.  Jumpin’ Jacks opens at 11 am, so if you really wanted to skip the lines, you could have an early lunch before the beach.

J and two little friends

For more than 30 years, ice cream trucks have been banned in Niskayuna after a girl was hit by a passing vehicle.  After kids submitted a petition asking to get the ice cream trucks rolling around town, they’ll be discussing the issue at the regular Town Board meeting Tuesday at 7 pm.

I am generally quite pro-ice cream, and I do like the idea of the ice cream truck roaming throughout the neighborhood.  It’s fun, it’s tasty, and it encourages all of those kids to come outside and gather together.  Maybe they’ll hang out and play.  On the other hand, we’re on a main thoroughfare, and that ice cream’s gotten expensive!  If they’re around too much, beyond enduring the tinkling music, I’ll have to establish an Official Ice Cream Truck Response Policy. . . .  I’d love to see them once or twice a week, maybe.  Enough so that it’s still an exciting occasion, and I can say yes every time.

I laid the paper copy of the Spotlight news article out where the girls would notice it and, when they didn’t take the bait, mentioned it in passing to M.  I pointed out that the original petition was pretty skimpy and that if someone took a petition to town camp, they’d probably get loads of signatures.  Secretly I was hoping that she’d get all excited about it and hand around a petition and then we could present it to the town board and it would be a wonderful Lesson in Democracy.  Instead, her reaction was:  1) Ho, hum; followed by a smidgen of: 2) What-ever.  Sigh.  Just as well:  we’ve got plans tomorrow night.

Incidentally, as I was looking into this, I learned that you can get a Mr. Ding-a-Ling truck to come to your party or special event!  I know!  At the risk of  being redundant, I’ll have to pronounce that fun.

Jeez louise.  Once again I just pretty much exhausted myself before I exhausted the items to list.  So here’s what I’ve got for this week:

Throughout the Week:

• Annie Get Your Gun continues at the Park Playhouse in Albany Tuesdays-Sunday at 8 pm.
• There are several evening Valleycats games, including fireworks on Friday night.
• Every day that the Saratoga track is open, there’s Breakfast at the Track from 7-9:30 am.  It’s about $15/adult, $8/kid 3-12, plus parking.  You get to ride a tram, it’s an up-close look at horses, and an excellent opportunity if you’ve got a little kid who’s waking you up at 5:30 am, anyway.
• There’s plenty more going on at William K. Sanford (Colonie) Library and the Bethlehem Public Library–I just ran out of steam.

Monday, July 26th:

• At 11 am, there’s a Family Dance at Crandall Public Library.  Sign-up is required.
• Do a Scavenger Hunt at 11:30 am at Moreau Lake State Park.
• From noon to 4 pm, it’s Mardi Gras Day at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, including Beads! Beads! Beads! from 1-3 pm.
• There’s a drop-in Library Tots program from 1-2 pm at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library–it’s for 0-24 months.
• At 2 pm, kids 7 and up can make Bottle Cap Necklaces at the Delaware Branch Library.  Sign-up is required.
• There are animal programs for elementary school students at 2 pm at both Mont Pleasant and Glenville Branch Libraries. No registration required.
• Ages 14 and up can learn to Recycle Jewelry at the Delaware Branch Library at 5:30 pm.  You have to register and bring a couple of dollars to pay for materials.
• There’s a Family Movie Night at the new Bach Library at 6 pm.

Tuesday, July 27th:

• It’s Summertime Tots from 10 am to noon at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga–this includes special outdoor activities geared to younger kids.
• The Regal Cinemas free 10 am movies this week are Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything (Veggie Tales)  and Barnyard at Crossgates and Arctic Tale and Shrek the Third at Clifton Park.
• The Schenectady Bowtie Cinemas free 10 am movies this week is Monsters vs. Aliens.
• At 11 am, have a Beaver Adventure at Moreau Lake State Park.
• 2nd & 3rd graders can have some Frozen Fun at 1:30 pm at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, but registration is required.
• Sail the World with Story Laurie at 2 pm at the Guilderland Public Library.  Tickets are required.
• From 2-3 pm, kids 7 and older can learn about Magnets and More at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  It’s $6 per child, and pre-registration is required.
• At 2 pm, it’s the Fifth Annual Monopoly Tournament at the Pine Hills Branch Library.
• At 2 pm, there’s a Wildlife program at Niskayuna Library for elementary school kids.  No registration required.
• Kids in grades 6-11 can make a Tie Dye Shirt at Duane Branch Library at 2 pm.
• At 2:30 pm, kids in grades 3 and up can Learn the Dances from High School Musical 3 at the Rotterdam Branch Library.
• There’s Crafting for Teens as well as an Evening Story Hour at 6:30 pm at the Guilderland Public Library.   Registration is required.
• It’s Summer Pajama Time at 7 pm at the East Greenbush Library.
• Ernie Williams will be playing at 7 pm in the Town of Brunswick.
• Learn about Wildlife of the Evening at 7 pm at Five Rivers.

Wednesday, July 28th:

• The Regal Cinemas free 10 am movies this week are Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything (Veggie Tales)  and Barnyard at Crossgates and Arctic Tale and Shrek the Third at Clifton Park.
• The Schenectady Bowtie Cinemas free 10 am movies this week is Monsters vs. Aliens.
• Take a hike on Red Oak Ridge at Moreau Lake State Park at 10 am.
• At 10 am, there’s Creative Dance for preschoolers at Quaker Street Branch Library.  Then at 10:30 am it’s dance time for the elementary schoolers.
• From 10-11:30 am, preschoolers can make Funny Face Sculptures out of clay at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Call to register; $5/non-member.
• At 10:30 am, there’s a morning Story Hour at the Guilderland Public Library.
• Kids in grades 1-5 can have a Reptile Adventure at 11 am at  Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, but registration is required.
• From 1-4 pm, artists 12-15 can sculpt Gargoyle Faces at the Albany Institute of History & Art.  $20/non-member, and registration’s required.
• From 1-3 pm, you can learn about Dragonflies and Damselflies at Landis Arboretum.  $25/family for non-members; call to register.
• At 1:30 pm, come to do a Scavenger Hunt at the Albany Public Library.  Call to pre-register.
• At 2 pm, there’s a Bikini Bottom Bash at the Guilderland Public Library.  It’s for grades 1-3 and registration is required.
• At 2:30 pm, there’s a school-aged Art Time at Crandall Public Library.  Sign-up is required.
• At 3 pm, ages 8 and up can do Destructology at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology.  Registration required and $2/non-member.
• 40oz to Freedom is playing at 5 pm in Troy for Rockin’ on the River.
• At 5 pm, there’s a Cupcake Decorating Contest for teens at Howe Branch Library.
• Sirsy will be playing from 6-8:30 pm at the Halfmoon Town Hall Courtyard.
• Students will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 6:30 pm outside at the the Guilderland Public Library.
• There’s a free Celtic Music Concert at 7 pm at the East Greenbush Library.  Call to reserve a seat.
• At 7 pm, grades 1-3 can make Rice Paper Lanterns the Guilderland Public Library. Registration required.
• At 7 pm, there’s Amazing Magic and Comedy by Joey D at Clifton Commons.

Thursday, July 29th:

• Take a Walk in the Woods at 9 am at Thacher Nature Center.
• From 9:30-10:30 am there’s a Parent-Child Workshop for ages 16 months to under 4 years at the Crandall Public Library.  Registration is required.
• Music Mobile will be at Schenectady’s Central Park at 10 am.
• Learn about Local Gardening for Kids at 10 am at the Howe Branch Library.
• The Regal Cinemas free 10 am movies this week are Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything (Veggie Tales)  and Barnyard at Crossgates.
• Baby Bookworms meets from 10 am to noon at the East Greenbush Library.  For 0-36 months and caregivers, and no registration is required.
• Drop in for Baby Playtime at 10:15 at the Guilderland Public Library.
• At 10:15 am, they’ll be showing Preschool Movies at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• At 10:30 am, kids in grades 2 and up can make Flip Flop Flippers with folks from the Tang Museum at Rotterdam Branch Library.  Registration is required.
• There’s a Charlie and Lola Party at 10:30 am at the Guilderland Public Library.  Ages 4-7, registration required.
• It’s Craft Day at Moreau Lake at 11 am.
• John McIntosh will be performing from noon to 1:30 pm at Jazz on Jay in Schenectady.
• Kids ages 7 and up can Discover the Desert from 2-4 pm at the Crandall Public Library.  Sign-up is required.
• At 2 pm, kids 8 and up can make Flip Flop Flippers with folks from the Tang Museum at Pine Hills Library.  Registration is required.
• Get Artrageous from 2-3 pm at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  Geared for kids in K-4, and free with museum admission.
• At 2 pm, elementary school kids can just show up for Wet & Wild Science at Duane Branch Library.
• At 2:30 pm, elementary school kids can just show up for Crafty Creations at the downtown Schenectady Library.
• Were you just begging for a Michael Jackson tribute band?  Your fondest desires have been answered; be there at Alive at Five in Albany.
• Ryan Jensen will be performing from 6-8 pm at Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa.
• Jeff Gonzalez will be performing at 6:30 pm at the Crossings at Colonie.
• There’s a Teen Pirate Luau at 7 pm at the East Greenbush Library.   No registration is required.
• At 7 pm there’s a Tween Wii Dance Party at the Guilderland Public Library.

Friday, July 30th:

• Remember that the Albany Institute of History & Art is free for locals on Fridays this summer.
• Little ones can Wiggle and Giggle from 10-11:30 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  Free with museum admission.
• From 10-11 am, kids ages 3-8 can read stories and make crafts at Crandall Public Library.
• Jack and the Beanstalk opens at 10:30 am at Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham.  Again, a bit of a drive but worth it.  Pack a lunch and have a picnic at a playground after the show.
• Elementary school kids can show up at the Rotterdam Library at 10:30 am to do some Dancing to the Oldies.
• Kids ages 4-6 can enjoy a Royal Storytime at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  It’s a drop-in program, and royal attire is optional.
• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.   At the Rensselaer County Historic Society, You Scream, I Scream for ice cream!  From 5-8 pm.
• At 7 pm there’s a mezzo-soprano’s vocal concert at United Presbyterian Church in Troy.  It’s free but donations are accepted.
• Okay, maybe not appropriate for the whole family, but MOPCO the improv comedy group is performing on Friday nights at Proctors.  $14/adult, $6/student.  Anyone seen them?  I kind of want to go.

One of the perks of the Vibram Five Fingers. . .

You’re not just running:  you’re also picking flowers!  Which reminds me, here’s a local photography blog with a simple-but-satisfying Queen Anne’s Lace Project.  And as long as we’re talking local blogs and craftiness, here’s a blog about family fun in the Adirondacks with a cool window star craft.

Actually, I ran into a friend at the pool today who accused me of rolling my eyes at her.  I was sure that she was wrong until I realized when:  she’d stopped her car and waited for me to run in front of her.  I know it’s wrong, but this is one of my pet peeves.  When people stop I feel like I have to speed up and get out of their way, when I just want to maintain my pace.  It’s not like it’s so busy around my neighborhood that I have to stop for cars much at all–usually I can just postpone crossing the street or I’ll even jog in a little circle.  And she had stopped, feeling bad for me because I’d been “caught” in the rain.  When, actually, I went running because it was raining.  Rain might be my favorite running weather.  So, I’m sure that I did roll my eyes at her.  I’ll have to try to be less obvious in the future.

For more of our adventures at the pool, you can check out the CBS 6 Blog, too.

The excellent culinary karma continues at our house.  First, thanks to our CSA, we’ve discovered purslane, which W and I both love; second, thanks to the Purple Cook and Martha Stewart, I’ve conquered beets–I just don’t like them plain or in borscht or in salad, but beet chips?  mmmm.

And, finally, we tried making our own fresh spring rolls the other day and it was an unbelievable success. W and I love fresh spring rolls, but although the girls enjoy their share of ethnic delights, they’ve consistently turned up their noses at these in a restaurant setting.  Probably because there’s usually something less exotic or, better yet, fried, on the table at the same time.  So I wasn’t entirely sure how these would go over with the girls.

I’d seen rice spring roll wrappers in the store, but  I’d assumed that they were too expensive and complicated.  Well, they weren’t expensive.  The ones I bought were at Hannaford, and it was $1.39 for a package of  “approximately 12″ wrappers.  In fact, there were 15!  Bonus!  They were also labeled Vietnamese, but I decided to go Pan-Asian/Asian Fusion for our meal.  In other words, I  rummaged through my kitchen for random Asian condiments.  I found some chili sauce, some Hoisin sauce, some particularly-yummy-and-a-little-too-expensive Thai peanut sauce, and my beloved rice vinegar.

Then I gathered up a mess of fixin’s to put into the spring rolls.  I had leftover chicken, and I heated up some leftover rice as a concession to the girls’ limited palates.  I also mixed the peanut sauce with some peanut butter to make it milder (and thriftier!).

Cutting Board has, clockwise from top, chopped bok choy, shredded carrots, torn purple basil, chopped cabbage, torn cilantro, and shredded daikon in rice vinegar in the white bowl.

And then the fun began!  The wrappers looked like plastic.  I mean, really:  at first I thought that there was a package within the package.  But it turns out that you have to put them into some warm water to soften them up and make them look familiar.  We brought a cake pan filled with water  to the table and made them right there.  So it was almost like a craft as well as a meal, and the girls had so much fun that they were a bit more open to trying the “weird” stuff.   J got her wrappers tangled and shaped them into dumplings while M pretended that she was conducting a cooking show.  They settled into using a bunch of carrots and some herbs from the cutting board, and we foraged in the garden and the fridge for more of almost everything.

mmmm Veggie Goodness!

This is a great meal for taking advantage of  in-season foods, like fresh herbs and carrots and cucumbers.  Yum.  I was pondering what else would be good to add to the spread, and I think sliced mushrooms, matchsticks of peppers and cucumbers, mung bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, water chestnuts, shredded meats or chopped shrimp or tofu would all be yummy additions.  We enjoyed it so much that we’re going to do it again for Saturday dinner, and this time, we’re going even bigger.

Another busy weekend.  Here’s some of what’s going on:

All Weekend:

• The Saratoga County Fair in Ballston Spa continues through Sunday.
• Landis Arboretum is hosting a Music Festival from 2 pm ’til dark on Saturday and Sunday. It’s $10/adult, kids free.
• The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is also this weekend–a bit of a distance, a money/time investment, but I’ve actually been to this one and it is quite fun–you may remember that this was my first camping outing as a new mother.
• On Friday and Saturday nights from 7-11 pm, there’s tons of music as part of the Saratoga’s Hats Off celebration.  I’d seen this listed, but found it rahwther difficult to navigate around the Saratoga Chamber’s website–lucky for me (and us), Malta Mama gave us a good link.
• The Clifton Park Not-So-Common Players are performing Once Upon a Mattress in Clifton Commons at 7:30 pm from 7/22-7/25.
• The Saratoga Race Track opens on Friday, and the hoopla continues all weekend.   They had fabulous hats at Macy’s when we hit the mall yesterday.  I am not even remotely stylish enough to wear a festive hat, but they sure made me want to try!
• Am I secretly hoping, unlike all of the track enthusiasts and Saratoga boosters, that it will rain this weekend?   Oh yes I am.  Just long enough for me to go see Ramona and Beezus!

Evening of Friday, July 23rd:

• Oooops!  I missed that from 10 am to 4 pm it’s the Adirondack Waterfest at Haviland’s Cove in Glens Falls.
• It’s Parents’ Night Out at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 4-7 pm.  For $15 per child, you can drop them off and go have yourself a date!  Pre-registration and pre-payment is required.
• Kyle Miller will be playing from 5-6 pm at the Arbor Hill-West Hill Library as part of the Albany Public Library‘s Acoustic Sidewalk series.
• The Ron Cremisio Band is playing at Canal Square in Cohoes at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, July 24th:

• At 10 am, get an up-close look at amphibians and reptiles at Thacher Nature Center.
• Learn to fish on a Guided Fishing Trip from 10 am to noon at Moreau Lake State Park.  The cost is $15–call for details.
• There’s a Garden Workshop from 10:30-11:30 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  It’s free with admission.
• It’s a bit of a drive (north), but the Washington County Farm Museum on the fairgrounds is having a Family Fun Day from 11 am to 3 pm.  The theme is Mother Goose–I’d call to double check prices:  all of the ticketing information is set up for the fair itself in August.
• From 11 am to 1 pm, the Milk Mustache tour will be at Crossgates next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
• From 11 am to 4 pm, they’re doing Military Miniature War Games at the Guilderland Public Library.  They’ll be reenacting a portion of the Battle of Bull Run, and teens are encouraged to come and bring a bag lunch.
• Blue Hand Luke is playing at 6 pm as part of the Powers Park Series in Troy.
• Chris Shaw and Kevin McKrell will be playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.

Sunday, July 25th:

• Again, it’s a bit of a drive (south this time), but Old Austerlitz Village is having its annual Blueberry Festival from 9 am to 4 pm.  $6/adult, kids 12 and under free.
• At 1 pm at SPAC, it’s the Summerjam Concert.  Which I only mention hear because it’s featuring iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove, if any of you are the parents of tweeny-boppers.  Although I also have a couple of Natasha Bedingfield’s songs on my MP3 for running, too.
• At 1 pm, learn about Insects of the Albany Pine Bush.  Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/person and $5/family.
• Route Fifty 5 will be playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.
• Nona Hendryx will be performing at Music Haven in Schenectady’s Central Park.  Incidentally, I ran by Tiny Tot Land today and they were ripping up the ground covering in preparation to replace it.