What it is: We wanted to make sure to pass along this great website that was found by one of our Stir Crazy Moms. Some of you have probably heard of Living Social (http://livingsocial.com). It's another one of those daily deal websites that send you a discount each day in your e-mail, similar to Groupon. They focus on deals that would be helpful to you in your area (in our case, Raleigh-Durham).
They've had some good deals that we've taken advantage of in the past, but there was one thing that really stood out to us and made it kid-friendly. If you create a Living Social account, you can head to your account page and modify your "subscriptions". In that section, you can choose to also receive daily deals for the "Raleigh-Durham: Family Edition". This part of Living Social will send you deals specifically geared towards family activities in the area. Previous deals have included Time for Art Kids, Monkey Joe's, Babiology, Imax Theater, and Polka Dot Palace, and A Fairy Tale Experience. I can't wait to see what great local deal they will post next!
Website: http://livingsocial.com/cities/237-raleigh-family-edition/
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wrightwood Park
What it is: So the weather was finally good enough for us to get outside for some park time last week. We thought we'd take advantage of the time and head to a relatively new park that we had only been to once before. Wrightwood Park is located off of Anderson St. near the Local Yogurt/Q-Shack/Rockwood Park part of Central Durham. While we wouldn't put this park on our list of favorites in town. It was a nice place to go for a diversion from our usual parks and had some entertaining features that kept us occupied for the afternoon.
It is small park accessible by a road that seems more like a driveway when you first turn off of Anderson at the park sign. The road passes a baseball field on its right and dead ends at the playground area. The playground area is small, but entertaining. There is a small play structure great for young toddlers with a little slide. There's also a tall free standing twisty slide for the more adventurous. The park has several bucket swings at the back, and there's also several bouncy riders and even a see-saw. While the see-saw is great fun and the boys loved it the first time we were there, this time we noticed that one of the springs had come unbolted making it a little less secure on this visit. There's also a grassy wooded field behind the playground where kids could run without being close to traffic.
What we liked: When we came with very small toddlers that were just walking, the little play structure was just the perfect size. In addition, the trees make this a great destination for a hot sunny day. In addition, its central location in Durham makes it a great for combining a trip to this park with many other nearby locations such as Local Yogurt or even Duke.
What we would change: It's location far off the road surrounded by trees made me feel a little more nervous about heading there on my own. It is fairly isolated. However, while I was there last time the only person we encountered that made me feel remotely uncomfortable was the grandmother who seemed determined to drag my young son on the large slide whether he liked it or not, very strange! In addition, it was very unfortunate that the see-saw was slightly broken on our last trip.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=Wrightwood+Park
Address: 1301 ANDERSON STREET 27707
Photos:
It is small park accessible by a road that seems more like a driveway when you first turn off of Anderson at the park sign. The road passes a baseball field on its right and dead ends at the playground area. The playground area is small, but entertaining. There is a small play structure great for young toddlers with a little slide. There's also a tall free standing twisty slide for the more adventurous. The park has several bucket swings at the back, and there's also several bouncy riders and even a see-saw. While the see-saw is great fun and the boys loved it the first time we were there, this time we noticed that one of the springs had come unbolted making it a little less secure on this visit. There's also a grassy wooded field behind the playground where kids could run without being close to traffic.
What we liked: When we came with very small toddlers that were just walking, the little play structure was just the perfect size. In addition, the trees make this a great destination for a hot sunny day. In addition, its central location in Durham makes it a great for combining a trip to this park with many other nearby locations such as Local Yogurt or even Duke.
What we would change: It's location far off the road surrounded by trees made me feel a little more nervous about heading there on my own. It is fairly isolated. However, while I was there last time the only person we encountered that made me feel remotely uncomfortable was the grandmother who seemed determined to drag my young son on the large slide whether he liked it or not, very strange! In addition, it was very unfortunate that the see-saw was slightly broken on our last trip.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=Wrightwood+Park
Address: 1301 ANDERSON STREET 27707
Photos:
1. A view of the playground from the parking lot (You can barely make out the swings at the far back of the playground.)
2. A close-up of the tall, free-standing slide
3. A view of the wooded area behind the swings
And the winner is...
The lucky winner of our January Kindermusik giveaway is...Too Much Good!
Too Much Good said, "I bring music into my little girl Lila's life by singing about regular parts of our day. We have a song about waking up, drinking bottles, taking a bath and of course, picking out a bow to match our outfit for the day!"
So, if that's you...congratulations, you've won! Now, you will have even more ways to incorporate music in your day. Just e-mail us at: scmomsgroup@gmail.com to claim your goodies!
Thanks to everyone for entering, and keep reading because February's giveaway is ready to go and coming soon!
Too Much Good said, "I bring music into my little girl Lila's life by singing about regular parts of our day. We have a song about waking up, drinking bottles, taking a bath and of course, picking out a bow to match our outfit for the day!"
So, if that's you...congratulations, you've won! Now, you will have even more ways to incorporate music in your day. Just e-mail us at: scmomsgroup@gmail.com to claim your goodies!
Thanks to everyone for entering, and keep reading because February's giveaway is ready to go and coming soon!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Three-fer Thursday-Hope Valley Baptist Church Playground+Chubby's Tacos+Pineywood
Today's Three-fer Thursday is an old stand-by for the Stir-Crazy Moms. Whenever we have last-minute playgroup planning, an unexpected free morning, or even a free hour in between errands, this is where we end up. It's also where we run into each other unexpectedly, and then unexpectedly end up spending the rest of the day together.
Hope Valley Baptist Church Playground + Chubby's Taco's + Pineywood
As I said, this is an easy one. It's perfect for a great-weather day (remember how last week this stir crazy mom was dreaming about nice weather? well, I still am) or even a temperate weather-day. You will be outside, regardless, so pack accordingly.
Start at Hope Valley Baptist playground. It's usually fairly deserted between 9:00 and 10:00 am on weekdays (unless we're there). You can have the whole place to yourself or bring friends. There are great little picnic tables there, as well, so remember to pack a mid-morning snack for your little one. You can spend at least an hour here, but we've gone as long as two or two and a half on a pleasant day.
When the kiddos get antsy cross the street and go to lunch at Chubby's tacos. Grab a cheese quesadilla for your little one and some carnitas for yourself. If you need a sweet, ask for some horchata and share it with your toddler. Just avoid the fish tacos. Delicious, but bad mojo. Trust me on this one.
After you've all had a bit of a rest, drive down Woodcroft Parkway towards Fayetteville Rd. Cross it and turn in to Pineywood Park on your right. You can spend another two hours here if you're lucky. The equipment is completely different than Hope Valley Baptist's, there are trails and woods for exploring, and there's a lovely dog park to do some observation.
If you're feeling ambitious and athletic, you can walk/run/bike this whole Three-fer. Park and stow your gear at the Food Lion parking lot by Chubby's Tacos. Walk to Hope Valley, play there, have lunch, and then pack your gear for the trek to Pineywood. You can walk/run/bike the entire way through the Woodcroft Trails Chubby's and Pineywood aren't more than a few miles apart. Just remember: you've got to come back!
when to go: anytime, really. That's why this is a go-to spot.
what to bring: all the usual pre-schooler supplies. If you're planning on walking/running/biking it, make sure to pack accordingly.
what it'll cost you: you can eat at Chubby's for under $10. Everything else is free!! (This one is a cheapie, hence it's "go-to" status.)
advisories: check the weather, especially if you're hitting the trails.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
January Giveaway-Kindermusik!
Here it is-our January giveaway, and this one is one of our Durham favorites! This month it's all about Kindermusik. We absolutely love Kindermusik with Catherine. It's a great program of music and movement that babies and toddlers really enjoy. My son has been in three different Kindermusik classes and had a great time in each one. The teacher, Catherine made the classes as wonderful as they were for my son. She is caring and enthusiastic, and my son had the biggest toddler crush on her throughout his time in Kindermusik. Check out our blog for more information on the program. Classes are just starting this week for the spring semester.
Catherine is offering $50 of great Kindermusik goodies to one lucky reader! These goodies include 2 individual classes (to be used anytime during 2011), the "Best of Kindermusik" CD, a gift card for 10 free downloads from the new play.kindermusik.com site (kind of like a Kindermusik itunes) and a double Egg cha cha shaker.
To enter the giveaway, simply post a comment on the blog or on facebook. To gain an extra entry in the contest tell us about the favorite way you bring music into your kids life. Enter by Friday, January 28th at midnight to win.
Enjoy, and happy giveaway!
Catherine is offering $50 of great Kindermusik goodies to one lucky reader! These goodies include 2 individual classes (to be used anytime during 2011), the "Best of Kindermusik" CD, a gift card for 10 free downloads from the new play.kindermusik.com site (kind of like a Kindermusik itunes) and a double Egg cha cha shaker.
To enter the giveaway, simply post a comment on the blog or on facebook. To gain an extra entry in the contest tell us about the favorite way you bring music into your kids life. Enter by Friday, January 28th at midnight to win.
Enjoy, and happy giveaway!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Kanki
I don't know what possessed us to head out to a nice restaurant with two little boys at 6:30 at night, but off we went. The boys had woken up really late from their naps, and we had no food. We thought that Kanki might be a fun destination for the family and we were definitely right!
What it is: Kanki is a Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant where the food is cooked and served to you at your table by a chef. It's really part show and part dinner. Since it is such a destination, we had a 30-45 minute wait when we arrived at dinnertime on a Friday night. At a normal restaurant, I would say that a 45 minute wait would be torture with a baby and a toddler, but not here. They have a huge cylindrical fish tank in the center of the waiting area. I had trouble pulling my kids and husband away when our table was finally called. It was great!
The dinner was just as entertaining as the wait. While the adults were treated to a multi-course delicious meal complete with soup, salad, freshly cooked vegetables, meat, and rice, the boys were completely entertained by the show at our table. The tables have a large cooking surface in the middle, and several families are seated around it. The chef then cuts and cooks all of the food right in front of you while performing a couple of tricks while he works. We all got to watch onion volcanoes being lit on fire, fancy knife work, bowls being flipped into the chef's hat, shrimp tails being tossed onto the unsuspecting plates, and many more entertaining feats.
When it actually came time for my boys to eat, they had a kids menu! My toddler ate chicken tenders and smiley face fries while my little one happily munched on some plain white rice. It was great because they could still eat what they were comfortable with, but they could be exposed to a different type of cuisine than they could get at home and be a part of a unique dining experience. Kanki even had chopsticks modified for kids with rubberbands and folded pieces of paper.
What we liked: We loved the fish tank in the entrance. It's worth a long look even if there's no wait. Then, we loved the entertainment while we ate. There was so much for my kids to watch that my husband and I actually got to have a decent conversation during dinner. In addition, the food was pretty good as well!
What we would change: It's expensive. The most inexpensive entree on the adult menu is $16, so it is not an everyday outing. In addition, it is a fairly long meal, so small kids might get a bit twitchy by the end of the meal. Finally, you're sitting at a table with several other parties, so that can also be a bit awkward for a curious toddler.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.kanki.com/index.cfm
Address: 3504 Mt. Moriah Road, Durham, NC 27707
Phone Number: 919.401.6908
Hours:
LUNCH HOURS: Saturday & Sunday Noon - 3:00 Friday 11:30 - 2:00
DINNER HOURS: Monday - Thursday 4:30 - 9:30 Friday 4:30 - 10:30 Saturday 3:00 - 10:30
Sunday 3:00 - 9:30
Photos:
What it is: Kanki is a Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant where the food is cooked and served to you at your table by a chef. It's really part show and part dinner. Since it is such a destination, we had a 30-45 minute wait when we arrived at dinnertime on a Friday night. At a normal restaurant, I would say that a 45 minute wait would be torture with a baby and a toddler, but not here. They have a huge cylindrical fish tank in the center of the waiting area. I had trouble pulling my kids and husband away when our table was finally called. It was great!
The dinner was just as entertaining as the wait. While the adults were treated to a multi-course delicious meal complete with soup, salad, freshly cooked vegetables, meat, and rice, the boys were completely entertained by the show at our table. The tables have a large cooking surface in the middle, and several families are seated around it. The chef then cuts and cooks all of the food right in front of you while performing a couple of tricks while he works. We all got to watch onion volcanoes being lit on fire, fancy knife work, bowls being flipped into the chef's hat, shrimp tails being tossed onto the unsuspecting plates, and many more entertaining feats.
When it actually came time for my boys to eat, they had a kids menu! My toddler ate chicken tenders and smiley face fries while my little one happily munched on some plain white rice. It was great because they could still eat what they were comfortable with, but they could be exposed to a different type of cuisine than they could get at home and be a part of a unique dining experience. Kanki even had chopsticks modified for kids with rubberbands and folded pieces of paper.
What we liked: We loved the fish tank in the entrance. It's worth a long look even if there's no wait. Then, we loved the entertainment while we ate. There was so much for my kids to watch that my husband and I actually got to have a decent conversation during dinner. In addition, the food was pretty good as well!
What we would change: It's expensive. The most inexpensive entree on the adult menu is $16, so it is not an everyday outing. In addition, it is a fairly long meal, so small kids might get a bit twitchy by the end of the meal. Finally, you're sitting at a table with several other parties, so that can also be a bit awkward for a curious toddler.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.kanki.com/index.cfm
Address: 3504 Mt. Moriah Road, Durham, NC 27707
Phone Number: 919.401.6908
Hours:
LUNCH HOURS: Saturday & Sunday Noon - 3:00 Friday 11:30 - 2:00
DINNER HOURS: Monday - Thursday 4:30 - 9:30 Friday 4:30 - 10:30 Saturday 3:00 - 10:30
Sunday 3:00 - 9:30
Photos:
1. The fantastic aquarium
2. One of the chefs creating a feast for the table
Friday, January 21, 2011
A Day at Northgate Mall: Durham Celebrates and a New Hidden Treasure
What it is: We went to Northgate Mall on Monday. While we've already written about Northgate Mall and all of its carnival-like fun, we discovered several new things that we had to add for our readers. We headed up to the mall for a birthday celebration for Martin Luther King at the newly expanded Sea of Learning. Sea of Learning continues to be a great toy store, and the party was a great way to celebrate their new location. It was great to see so many great Durham mom organizations come together in one place to create an event for the kids. The event was co-sponsored by Durham Mothers Club, A Sea of Learning, Mocha Moms, Carrboro/ Chapel Hill Mothers Club, NC MomsRising, and Macaroni Kid. Thanks, Durham Moms! I wish we could see more events where all of the different groups come together to create one big Durham community of moms. The event was great with story time, MLK Day crafts, and birthday cake!
In addition to the celebration, we also checked out the rest of the mall. We stopped by our old favorites-the train and the carousel, and then we checked out one more spot that we hadn't investigated before. We'd heard talk of the outdoor portion of the mall. When we went outside, it was smaller than we had imagined, just a courtyard outside the movie theater. However, I can tell they are adding more shops in the near future in that area. Although it was small, it was a great addition to the mall, and our boys had a great time there. What it is is a series of large blocks. The boys couldn't climb up on them by themselves, but they loved being picked up and set on the blocks where they could check out the world. In the summer these great climbing blocks have the added fun of being a water feature where kids can play in the fountains. I've only heard about this feature and can't wait to check it out for myself this summer. To top it all off, the one open store out there besides the movie theater is a Marble Slab where you can grab a sweet ice cream treat while your'e there.
What we liked: The blocks were a great place at the mall where you and your kids can get a breath of fresh air. In addition, we can't wait to go to more fun events at Sea of Learning. An odd combination of activities led to a great day for our boys at the mall.
What we would change: As we've said before, there's not as much shopping at Northgate Mall, and we've heard comments that it is not in the safest part of Durham.
Website and other important information:
Websites:
*Northgate Mall: http://www.northgatemall.com/
*Sea of Learning: http://aseaoflearning.com/
*Durham Mothers Club: http://dmc.findsmithgroups.com/
*Durham Macaroni Kid: http://durham.macaronikid.com/
Address: Northgate Mall-1704 Englewood Avenue, Durham, NC 27705
Phone Number: (919) 286-4400
Hours: Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12pm-6pm
Photos:
In addition to the celebration, we also checked out the rest of the mall. We stopped by our old favorites-the train and the carousel, and then we checked out one more spot that we hadn't investigated before. We'd heard talk of the outdoor portion of the mall. When we went outside, it was smaller than we had imagined, just a courtyard outside the movie theater. However, I can tell they are adding more shops in the near future in that area. Although it was small, it was a great addition to the mall, and our boys had a great time there. What it is is a series of large blocks. The boys couldn't climb up on them by themselves, but they loved being picked up and set on the blocks where they could check out the world. In the summer these great climbing blocks have the added fun of being a water feature where kids can play in the fountains. I've only heard about this feature and can't wait to check it out for myself this summer. To top it all off, the one open store out there besides the movie theater is a Marble Slab where you can grab a sweet ice cream treat while your'e there.
What we liked: The blocks were a great place at the mall where you and your kids can get a breath of fresh air. In addition, we can't wait to go to more fun events at Sea of Learning. An odd combination of activities led to a great day for our boys at the mall.
What we would change: As we've said before, there's not as much shopping at Northgate Mall, and we've heard comments that it is not in the safest part of Durham.
Website and other important information:
Websites:
*Northgate Mall: http://www.northgatemall.com/
*Sea of Learning: http://aseaoflearning.com/
*Durham Mothers Club: http://dmc.findsmithgroups.com/
*Durham Macaroni Kid: http://durham.macaronikid.com/
Address: Northgate Mall-1704 Englewood Avenue, Durham, NC 27705
Phone Number: (919) 286-4400
Hours: Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12pm-6pm
Photos:
1. The new Sea of Learning
2. The blocks outside the mall
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Three-fer Thursday-UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Walk + Kidzu + Cosmic Cantina/Locopops
UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Walk (Arboretum) + Kidzu + Cosmic Cantina/Locopops
This week's Three-fer Thursday is kind of a Four-fer. If you're feeling extra industrious, or hungry, you can hit two lunch spots instead of one. Oh, and this one is really designed for a warm day (this week's occasionally-awesome weather has got this stir-crazy mom dreaming of 70-degree temperatures). So hold off if it's rainy, cold, or unpleasant.
Head over to UNC-Chapel Hill's Campus to start things off. Take Hwy 54 from SW Durham. Don't get off onto 15-501 when 54 exits... just continue onto Raleigh Rd. When you see the big brick "University of North Carolina Chapel Hill" sign and the cemetery behind it, turn right onto Country Club Rd. And the next stop light, turn right onto Raleigh Rd. On your right you'll see a number of metered parking spaces (parallel parking). If you can find a spot, PARK HERE. It'll give you the best walking-access to all the morning's activities. If the spaces are filled, you can loop around the block (turn right at Franklin St., right again at Battle Rd., and you'll be back on Country Club) and scope out another nearby spot. There are a ton of metered spaces in this area.
Metered parking runs about a quarter per twenty minutes. Plan on at least three hours, so make sure to bring nine-twelve quarters along. If you run out of quarters, keep in mind that the meter maids usually run by at least twice a day: 10:00 am and 2:00 pm seem to be hotspots for activity. *Ahem.* But you didn't hear that here.
If that fails (which it does, sometimes), get back on Raleigh Rd. heading towards Franklin St. Cross Franklin and turn left onto Rosemary St. After you pass through one stop light, they'll be a parking garage on your left. You can park here all day if you'd like, and it will get cheaper the longer you're there. It's a bit pricier than the metered spots, but they do take credit cards. There is also another deck coming up on your right and an outdoor-parking area on your left, right before the stoplight for N. Columbia Street. Either of these would also be fine, and they'll work for the day's activities.
Congratulations! You've parked! It's the hardest part of getting in and out of this part of Chapel Hill.
Go to the UNC Arboretum first. If you've parked on Raleigh Rd., between the intersection of Country Club/Cameron Ave. and Franklin St., you're already there. Just walk across the street. If you're in one of the garages, you'll have to cross over Franklin St. and go into campus. The Arboretum isn't hard to find... it's at the intersection of Raleigh Rd. and E. Cameron Ave.
The Arboretum is really pretty, but not very large. Your kiddo can explore the dirt paths, climb on the benches, and smell lots of flowers. Now might also be a good time to enjoy the scenery and get energized with a light snack. Once you and the kiddos have run around a bit, walk away from Raleigh Rd., towards the north quad. If you parked in a garage, you've already been there!
Here your kidlet can run some more. This part of UNC is a lot like a park with a number of students and professors running through it. If it's a nice day, someone will be walking a dog, playing frisbee, and stretched out in the grass studying (or "studying"). It's a lot of fun for the kids to have a chance to people-watch and absorb a little bit of college life.
When you're done here, it's time for some more tangible playtime. Cross Franklin St., turn left, and walk down to Kidzu. You can play here for at least an hour, possibly two. And if you've already gotten a good hour or so of outside run-time, you should be hitting Kidzu at it's least-busy: 11:30-2:00.
After your kid(s) have had their fill at Kidzu (and are, hopefully, a bit wound-down), cross Franklin St. again. Turn left and head back towards the North quad. Look for a tiny alleyway with a set of spiral stairs in the middle of the floor. You've found Cosmic Cantina! And Locopops!
Start with Cosmic. This is a fantastic place to fill up on cheap, hearty food. If you're ravenous, get yourself a burrito. You might get through half of it. Save the rest for dinner! A cheese quesadilla for the little one will run you around $2, and a tasty vegan plate with beans, salsa, guac, and roasted veggies will run about $3 (a steal even if you're a carnivore). And there's always the failsafe chips and queso. Every child likes queso.
If you have time, gumption, and room in your belly you can top it all off with a pop from locopops. They are cheap, delicious, and always a great way to top off an active morning. If not, head home. If there's any last ounce of energy left in your little ones, you can bounce it off as you travel back through the Arboretum.
when to go: you should aim for arrival around 9:30-10:00. If you and your kids have the energy, you can make it all the way till 3:00 pm. If not, 1:30 is a good time to head home.
And if you're a little wary of the sheer quantity of people running around UNC's campus during session, you can plan a MUCH quieter visit by coming during intercession. The best times to visit (or not visit) for 2011 are as follows:
Spring Break: everyone should be gone by Sat., March 5th and back in town roundabouts Sunday, March 15th. Immediately before that, everyone will be hyper. Immediately after: everyone will be hung-over and apologetic.
Spring Semester: Exams end May 7, but commencement is Sunday May 8th. Avoid UNC-Chapel Hill from May 6th-8th! There will be LOTS of proud parents and nervous grads rumbling around.
After May 8th, you'll have free-run until May 10th, when Summer Session I begins. Have no fear, though. If you're in a low-people tolerance mood, the summer sessions are still ideal. Students are around; classes are happening, but it's a small percentage of the normal population. Plus, everyone is in a chill mood. Summer Sessions run all the way through July 22.
Intercession starts on July 23 and runs through Aug. 20th. There is plenty of activity on campus this time of year, but it's a fun time to visit, regardless. There are summer camps. orientation, and lots of happy tour groups running around. Campus will feel comparatively quiet and there will be younger kids about.
The majority of students will be moving in Aug. 19-21, so this is another weekend to avoid UNC-Chapel Hill. Unless you want to carry a futon up six flights of stairs.
Once class gets going, UNC quickly becomes a hub of activity again. It's a beautiful campus to explore in the fall, as well, and if you come between Oct. 20-24, the kids will be on Fall Break. Even if you come the week before... they'll all be panicking with their first round of mid-terms for the semester (and, consequently, in the library or at the coffee shops). So everywhere without books or free wi-fi will be quiet.
Exams finish up by Dec. 18th, so they'll be a few weeks of quiet after that. By then it will probably be cold and dreary again, so you can explore but make sure to pack some gear!
what to bring: the usual stuff, good walking shoes, boots if it's been rainy recently (the Arboretum can get muddy), some light snacks to start the day, QUARTERS.
what it'll cost you: parking can run from about $3-6. Bring quarters if you want to use the meters. Kidzu is $5 for each kid over 2 yrs. and $2 for the under-two crowd. One parent and one child can eat lunch at Cosmic for $12 or less. Locopops are $2 a piece. Overall, you're looking at a pretty cheap day; from about $20-$25 for everything.
advisories: check prices and hours (i.e., Kidzu isn't open on Mondays; parking prices keep going up) before you go. Print and bring a walking map of campus so you can really explore (http://afrotc.unc.edu/visitors/UNC-map.pdf).
Monday, January 17, 2011
Parker and Otis
What it is: I've been hearing about Parker and Otis for a while now as a great new restaurant in downtown Durham. I kept meaning to head up there and check it out. Then, it recently was mentioned in an article in the NY Times, the article in which Durham was named #35 on a list of 41 places to go in 2011. I definitely couldn't stay away any longer!
On Saturday morning, I headed to Parker and Otis with my family. A few other people had the same idea as me, it was pretty crowded. We stood in line to get our food and then had a wait a few minutes for a table to open up. My husband and I both had sandwiches and a side of their pesto pasta salad, which was seriously the freshest pasta salad I had ever tasted! My son enjoyed a grilled cheese and a beautiful side of fruit. While we ate we peered around at all of our surroundings. Parker and Otis is one of those places with so many things to look at that you're not sure where to look next. It doubles as a shop as well as a restaurant and they have countless unique items to buy in every corner of the building. Needless to say, after we ate, we had to shop for a little while.
What we liked: I loved the atmosphere of the place, and the food was local, fresh, and delicious! Even though their food was creative and innovative, they still had a grilled cheese and fruit for my picky son to enjoy. They also have a wide array of items and food in the store. You can order breakfast or lunch, get a coffee from their coffee bar, or enjoy dessert or chocolates. You can also grab some candy from large candy bins set up in the center of the restaurant, or even pick out a nice bottle of wine. There's a little bit of everything at Parker and Otis. There are also quite a few options for seating including the main dining area, the coffee bar, and a large outdoor patio.
What we would change: The food was a bit more expensive than a typical lunch out for us and the sides cost extra. In addition, some aspects of the restaurant were not kid-friendly on a crowded Saturday morning. We had to wait for a table to open up, which can be tricky with a fidgeting toddler. Then, with the crowds, maneuvering the stroller was especially difficult. A table opened up, but we couldn't take it because simply couldn't get the stroller over there. My husband also noticed that they have lightweight chairs which our toddler almost tipped over several times. Fortunately, they did also have high chairs for another option if necessary.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.parkerandotis.com/store/index.php
Address: 112 S. Duke St, Durham, 27701
Phone Number: 919-683-3200
Hours: Open Mon-Thu,Sat 7:30am-7pm; Fri 7:30am-8pm; Sun 10am-3pm
Photos:
On Saturday morning, I headed to Parker and Otis with my family. A few other people had the same idea as me, it was pretty crowded. We stood in line to get our food and then had a wait a few minutes for a table to open up. My husband and I both had sandwiches and a side of their pesto pasta salad, which was seriously the freshest pasta salad I had ever tasted! My son enjoyed a grilled cheese and a beautiful side of fruit. While we ate we peered around at all of our surroundings. Parker and Otis is one of those places with so many things to look at that you're not sure where to look next. It doubles as a shop as well as a restaurant and they have countless unique items to buy in every corner of the building. Needless to say, after we ate, we had to shop for a little while.
What we liked: I loved the atmosphere of the place, and the food was local, fresh, and delicious! Even though their food was creative and innovative, they still had a grilled cheese and fruit for my picky son to enjoy. They also have a wide array of items and food in the store. You can order breakfast or lunch, get a coffee from their coffee bar, or enjoy dessert or chocolates. You can also grab some candy from large candy bins set up in the center of the restaurant, or even pick out a nice bottle of wine. There's a little bit of everything at Parker and Otis. There are also quite a few options for seating including the main dining area, the coffee bar, and a large outdoor patio.
What we would change: The food was a bit more expensive than a typical lunch out for us and the sides cost extra. In addition, some aspects of the restaurant were not kid-friendly on a crowded Saturday morning. We had to wait for a table to open up, which can be tricky with a fidgeting toddler. Then, with the crowds, maneuvering the stroller was especially difficult. A table opened up, but we couldn't take it because simply couldn't get the stroller over there. My husband also noticed that they have lightweight chairs which our toddler almost tipped over several times. Fortunately, they did also have high chairs for another option if necessary.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.parkerandotis.com/store/index.php
Address: 112 S. Duke St, Durham, 27701
Phone Number: 919-683-3200
Hours: Open Mon-Thu,Sat 7:30am-7pm; Fri 7:30am-8pm; Sun 10am-3pm
Photos:
1. My delicious pasta salad and sandwich
2. One of the shopping areas
3. A candy nook
4. The counter where you order
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Triangle Mommies
What it is: I have heard about this group for a while now, and I always wanted to check it out. So, recently, I headed online and joined Triangle Mommies. It's a free online community for moms in the triangle area, and it's part of a larger organization called the Mommies Network that has local organizations all over the country.
I've been trying to check out all of the advantages that Triangle Mommies has to offer for moms in the area, and I feel like I've only scratched the surface. When I initially signed up online and within the first few days I received several welcome e-mails, one from the leader of the group of Triangle Mommies and one from a "Big Sister" that is assigned to welcome each member to the organization and see if they had any questions. I felt so welcome.
Since then, I've been exploring the organization and all that it has to offer with the help of my new Triangle mommy friends. One of the aspects of the site that I've found the most useful is the forums offering advice and a place to have questions. They have forums for support, to share information, and in countless different categories that a mom would find useful such as "events and happenings", "homeschool", "breastfeeding", "babies and toddlers", and many more. In addition, not all the groups are about mom-related topics. There's also an online chat option, a calendar, a recipe database, and smaller specific usergroups.
The calendar lists a variety of events that they organize where mommies in the Triangle can get together-playdates, coffee meetings, playgrounds, and other fun gatherings. Some are for particular age groups of kids, others for specific geographic areas, and some are open to everyone.
This is the point of view of someone who just joined the organization. While I've had some help in writing this from another member, I'd love to hear more about it from others who know more. So, if you'd like to add what you like about Triangle Mommies, please let us know.
What I liked: I didn't realize how much this organization had to offer until I actually joined their website. They offer so much support, and I can't wait to look into all that they have. They were also so friendly and welcoming when I joined. In addition, since you can join online you can have any level of involvement that you choose, from solely interacting online to attending many events and meeting people face to face.
What I would change: I haven't been a member of the organization long so I haven't found anything I would change. However, the website is a little difficult to navigate for someone who isn't familiar with the page.
Website: http://www.trianglemommies.com/
I've been trying to check out all of the advantages that Triangle Mommies has to offer for moms in the area, and I feel like I've only scratched the surface. When I initially signed up online and within the first few days I received several welcome e-mails, one from the leader of the group of Triangle Mommies and one from a "Big Sister" that is assigned to welcome each member to the organization and see if they had any questions. I felt so welcome.
Since then, I've been exploring the organization and all that it has to offer with the help of my new Triangle mommy friends. One of the aspects of the site that I've found the most useful is the forums offering advice and a place to have questions. They have forums for support, to share information, and in countless different categories that a mom would find useful such as "events and happenings", "homeschool", "breastfeeding", "babies and toddlers", and many more. In addition, not all the groups are about mom-related topics. There's also an online chat option, a calendar, a recipe database, and smaller specific usergroups.
The calendar lists a variety of events that they organize where mommies in the Triangle can get together-playdates, coffee meetings, playgrounds, and other fun gatherings. Some are for particular age groups of kids, others for specific geographic areas, and some are open to everyone.
This is the point of view of someone who just joined the organization. While I've had some help in writing this from another member, I'd love to hear more about it from others who know more. So, if you'd like to add what you like about Triangle Mommies, please let us know.
What I liked: I didn't realize how much this organization had to offer until I actually joined their website. They offer so much support, and I can't wait to look into all that they have. They were also so friendly and welcoming when I joined. In addition, since you can join online you can have any level of involvement that you choose, from solely interacting online to attending many events and meeting people face to face.
What I would change: I haven't been a member of the organization long so I haven't found anything I would change. However, the website is a little difficult to navigate for someone who isn't familiar with the page.
Website: http://www.trianglemommies.com/
Friday, January 14, 2011
Closings and Openings
We've heard about so many stores closing and opening in the new year, so we wanted to give everyone a quick summary. Please, let us know if you know any more to add to our list!!
*A Sea of Learning-has closed its Southpoint location and is expanding it's Northgate location.
*The Children's Store in Chapel Hill-Has closed its University Mall location and moved to a location off of Elliot Rd.
*La Vita Dolce-Has closed its Southpoint Mall location and opened up in University Mall.
*Marble Slab Creamery-There are rumors that Marble Slab has closed it's Southpoint Mall location. Does anyone know if this is true?
Fortunately, most of these mom favorites have simply moved to a new location. If you find any more local moves, closings, or openings, let us know!
*A Sea of Learning-has closed its Southpoint location and is expanding it's Northgate location.
*The Children's Store in Chapel Hill-Has closed its University Mall location and moved to a location off of Elliot Rd.
*La Vita Dolce-Has closed its Southpoint Mall location and opened up in University Mall.
*Marble Slab Creamery-There are rumors that Marble Slab has closed it's Southpoint Mall location. Does anyone know if this is true?
Fortunately, most of these mom favorites have simply moved to a new location. If you find any more local moves, closings, or openings, let us know!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Three-fer Thursdays!
Welcome to Three-fer Thursdays! Our pre-schoolers are getting big and even giving up their naps. As such, we've been scoping out activities that give us a whole morning out and *even* improve the possibility of one of those now-rare naps making a guest appearance.
On select Thursday's we're going to feature three spots that should take you from morning until early afternoon (including lunch) with minimal traveling. They're designed to keep the kiddos entertained and going. Be warned, though: if you're toting more than one, these outings are a little tricky. We suggest finding another buddy with a pre-schooler and an infant/baby and switching it up a bit. One of you can stay in and watch the babies while the other handles the outing.
Jumpzone + Urban Turban + Paint Your Pot
If you head on down highway 55 towards Cary, you'll hit a shopping center with three great spots all within walking distance: Jumpzone, Urban Turban, and Paint Your Pot. Surprisingly, the whole trek is only about 15 min. from SW Durham.
Hit Jumpzone first and burn off some of that late-morning energy. They have bouncy castles, slides, and running space galore. Most days they open at 10:00 (check the calendar), so if you get there at open you can get at least an hour or two of good playtime in before lunch. Jumpzone serves snacks, but we'd advise you skip the pizza and walk straight on down to Urban Turban around noon. Urban Turban serves kid-friendly Mediterranean food. Parents and caregivers can get the quick lunch buffet and kiddos can snack on pitas and hummus or order a grilled cheese pita or chicken nugget kebab. And after your kid(s) are exercised and full, you can head next door to Paint Your Pot to get some creative juices flowing. We've found that this activity is best done when energy is on the wane so it's perfect after a full morning. You may even get your kid(s) to sit and paint for more than 15 min.!
when to go: head out around 9:30 am and expect to head back before 2:00 pm
what to bring: all the usual pre-schooler supplies. If you need a diaper change, make sure to do it at Jumpzone... neither Urban Turban or Paint Your Pot have changing tables in their bathrooms.
what it'll cost you: Jumpzone: $9; lunch at Urban Turban: $10-20 for one child and one adult; painting at Paint Your Pot: from about $5 for a very simple tile and up. A mug for dad, mom, or grandparents will run you around $12. You're looking at at least $30 for the whole outing, but you *do* get some pottery out of it.
advisories: double-check calendars and prices before you go (as always).
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
West End Wine Bar
What it is: No this is not an entry about a place to take your kids, but the West End Wine Bar is another great location for a moms' or parents' night out. There are actually two locations, one in downtown Durham and one in Chapel Hill on Franklin St. The one that we went to was on Franklin St. The Stir Crazy Moms needed to head out to celebrate my birthday (Thanks, girls!), so we headed out after the kids went to bed. West End Wine Bar was a great place to sit back and have a night glass of wine. We enjoyed our bottle of Prosecco with a sampler of cheeses and almonds. There were other small snack items such as hummus that could be purchased as well as different flavors of truffles! Yum! There were couches for comfortable seating, and it wasn't too loud for a nice conversation.
On a side note, we headed a couple doors down to Tallulah's afterward for a little music and also had a great time. We had a great hidden booth by the window, delicious food and cocktails, and fabulous jazz music! Two great stops in on night!
What are your favorite stops on Franklin St?
What we liked: We loved their selection of wine that you could get by the bottle or by the glass. We also liked that, while they didn't have an extensive menu like Six Plates, they did have munchies available if you needed them. In addition, their location on Franklin St. means that there's plenty of other places to stop by before or after your drinks.
What we would change: Both locations call themselves private clubs, so one person in your party must pay the membership fee of $1 and fill out a brief form, but it's not really a big deal and I think it's just a technical requirement. In addition, while we went to Franklin St. while the students were on vacation, is can get crowded which can lead to difficulty finding parking. The nearby valet is only there until 11pm and the lot across the street can fill quickly.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.westendwinebar.com
Address: 450 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC or 601 W. Main St., Durham, NC
Phone numbers: (919) 967-7599 (Chapel Hill), 381-4228 (Durham)
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 5:00PM-1AM, Friday & Saturday 5:00PM-2AM (Chapel Hill), Sun-Mon 4PM-1AM Tues-Sat 4PM-2AM (Durham)
Photos:
On a side note, we headed a couple doors down to Tallulah's afterward for a little music and also had a great time. We had a great hidden booth by the window, delicious food and cocktails, and fabulous jazz music! Two great stops in on night!
What are your favorite stops on Franklin St?
What we liked: We loved their selection of wine that you could get by the bottle or by the glass. We also liked that, while they didn't have an extensive menu like Six Plates, they did have munchies available if you needed them. In addition, their location on Franklin St. means that there's plenty of other places to stop by before or after your drinks.
What we would change: Both locations call themselves private clubs, so one person in your party must pay the membership fee of $1 and fill out a brief form, but it's not really a big deal and I think it's just a technical requirement. In addition, while we went to Franklin St. while the students were on vacation, is can get crowded which can lead to difficulty finding parking. The nearby valet is only there until 11pm and the lot across the street can fill quickly.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.westendwinebar.com
Address: 450 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC or 601 W. Main St., Durham, NC
Phone numbers: (919) 967-7599 (Chapel Hill), 381-4228 (Durham)
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 5:00PM-1AM, Friday & Saturday 5:00PM-2AM (Chapel Hill), Sun-Mon 4PM-1AM Tues-Sat 4PM-2AM (Durham)
Photos:
1. Our dark view from the back of the wine bar
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Carr Mill Mall
What it is: There's still a chill in the air and snowflakes falling from the sky. We would love to get outside, but we haven't been been able to head outside much or for very long. Even though the weather is cold, our family still wanted to get out and do a little adventuring this weekend. So, we headed down to Carrboro to do a little exploring. We really love the feel of Carrboro, but we haven't been able to spend as much time there as we would like.
So, Saturday morning we landed at Carr Mill Mall. It's a small mall with a couple of shops and a few fun places to explore. The mall has several specialty clothing stores as well as a gift store, a travel store, a bead store, and more. Our first stop Saturday was the toy store, Ali Cat. If your child likes Playmobil toys then this store is the place for you. There's a good selection of books, board books and regular, in English and Spanish. There were also aisles filled with a variety of unique toys and games.
After our trip to the toy store we stopped by Elmo's Diner for a bite to eat for lunch. We had only been to the Durham location before, and this version was very similar and equally tasty with the exact same menu as the Durham location. It seemed a bit smaller than the Durham location, but they had a large heated porch where guests could also sit.
Once we had finished out tasty lunch we needed a sweet treat. So, we headed back into the mall to check out Miel Bon Bons. They had decadent handmade chocolates as well as coffee. There chocolates were made with really creative ingredients such as saffron and pistachio and we would have liked to try them all. They also create beautiful custom cakes on order. In addition to Miel Bon Bons, if your sweet tooth needs additional treats you could also head to Rita's located in the mall across from Elmo's.
There were more stops to our adventure at Carr Mill Mall. Next, we stopped by Weaver Street Market just to check it out. This cooperative grocery store brought me back to my time living in Seattle with a similar focus on local, organic, and diverse ingredients including an aisle full of dispensers full of every variety of grain, nut, and other treats. My favorite in that aisle was the grind it yourself peanut butter. Our family always gets a kick out of checking out and exploring a new grocery store, and this was no exception.
What we liked: We loved that Carr Mill had several different places to explore and we could spend he whole morning there. It's also nearby several other great Carrboro locations such as the Farmers Market and Maple View Ice Cream. We would love to head back when the weather is better so we can enjoy our time outside as well as in the mall.
What we would change: There aren't very many stores in the mall, so there's not a lot of browsing to be done. More selection would really make this a great destination, but the places that are there are fun to explore for a new outing.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.carrmillmall.com/
Address: Corner of Greensboro and Weaver St. in Carrboro, NC
Store Websites:
*Miel Bon Bons: http://mielbonbons.com/
*Elmo's Diner: www.elmosdiner.com/
*Ali Cat Toys: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ali-cat-carrboro
*Weaver Street Market: www.weaverstreetmarket.coop/
*Address: 200 North Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC 27510
*Phone Number: (919) 942-8669
*Hours: The hours of each store vary, but it looks like most stores open at 10 or 11am.
Photos:
So, Saturday morning we landed at Carr Mill Mall. It's a small mall with a couple of shops and a few fun places to explore. The mall has several specialty clothing stores as well as a gift store, a travel store, a bead store, and more. Our first stop Saturday was the toy store, Ali Cat. If your child likes Playmobil toys then this store is the place for you. There's a good selection of books, board books and regular, in English and Spanish. There were also aisles filled with a variety of unique toys and games.
After our trip to the toy store we stopped by Elmo's Diner for a bite to eat for lunch. We had only been to the Durham location before, and this version was very similar and equally tasty with the exact same menu as the Durham location. It seemed a bit smaller than the Durham location, but they had a large heated porch where guests could also sit.
Once we had finished out tasty lunch we needed a sweet treat. So, we headed back into the mall to check out Miel Bon Bons. They had decadent handmade chocolates as well as coffee. There chocolates were made with really creative ingredients such as saffron and pistachio and we would have liked to try them all. They also create beautiful custom cakes on order. In addition to Miel Bon Bons, if your sweet tooth needs additional treats you could also head to Rita's located in the mall across from Elmo's.
There were more stops to our adventure at Carr Mill Mall. Next, we stopped by Weaver Street Market just to check it out. This cooperative grocery store brought me back to my time living in Seattle with a similar focus on local, organic, and diverse ingredients including an aisle full of dispensers full of every variety of grain, nut, and other treats. My favorite in that aisle was the grind it yourself peanut butter. Our family always gets a kick out of checking out and exploring a new grocery store, and this was no exception.
What we liked: We loved that Carr Mill had several different places to explore and we could spend he whole morning there. It's also nearby several other great Carrboro locations such as the Farmers Market and Maple View Ice Cream. We would love to head back when the weather is better so we can enjoy our time outside as well as in the mall.
What we would change: There aren't very many stores in the mall, so there's not a lot of browsing to be done. More selection would really make this a great destination, but the places that are there are fun to explore for a new outing.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.carrmillmall.com/
Address: Corner of Greensboro and Weaver St. in Carrboro, NC
Store Websites:
*Miel Bon Bons: http://mielbonbons.com/
*Elmo's Diner: www.elmosdiner.com/
*Ali Cat Toys: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ali-cat-carrboro
*Weaver Street Market: www.weaverstreetmarket.coop/
*Address: 200 North Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC 27510
*Phone Number: (919) 942-8669
*Hours: The hours of each store vary, but it looks like most stores open at 10 or 11am.
Photos:
1. The interior of the mall
2. A view of the Ali Cat from the mall
3. The aisle of goodies at Weaver St. Market
4. A view of the mall
Friday, January 7, 2011
Build-A-Bear
What it is: Build-A-Bear is a specialty stuffed animal store located in Southpoint Mall. Kids can head into the store, pick out a particular stuffed animal, stuff the animal, dress the animal, and give them a birth certificate. It's a bit pricey, so it's a bit of a special treat for kids, but we had a special occasion, so we decided to head on over.
I had been waiting to take my son until he was old enough to appreciate it. Before now, I don't know that he would have gotten much out of a stuffed animal, but now he's starting to get attached to his favorite kitty and squirrel, so I thought we'd have fun. It's on the upper level of Southpoint, so one of the best parts for us was riding the escalator up and down to the store. Once we arrived, I showed him all of the animals, and he picked out his favorite, a monster from the classic Rudolph movie we had watched this Christmas.
Next, we headed over to the stuffing machine with our store helper. She put the stuffed animal on the machine and then we could press the pedal to fill him up. Be warned, the machine makes quite a bit of noise which can scare small children who don't like noises. My son hid behind my leg the whole time while I pressed the pedal. At that station, we could also place a heart in the animal for free and a sound effect if we wanted to pay a little extra. The helper sewed up our monster and we headed over to the "bath" station. There we brushed his fur and blew air on him to make him all fluffy. While we skipped the clothing portion of the store, there are aisles filled with all manner of animal clothing. You can buy any manner of stuffed animal accessory from diapers to Duke cheerleading outfits to guitars and even a stuffed convertible car! The final step was creating the birth certificate. My son had a great time pressing the buttons as I asked him the questions.
Once A. Monster's (Okay, so we're not the most creative with names.) birth certificate was complete, we paid at the register and received a fun box in the shape of a little house that we could keep A. Monster in and color when we got home. My son then dragged the box himself all the way down the escalator and across the parking lot to our car. Making the monster made him more attached to him, and my son's been playing with him ever since.
What we liked: It's definitely a fun special treat for kids that like stuffed animals. The store lends itself to all different ages, and they also host birthday parties.
What we would change: It can be a fairly quick activity if there's no line, so it would be nice to combine with some other activities at the mall. The speed can also be a good thing though for young toddlers with short attention spans like mine. In addition, the cheapest animals there are $10, so it can be a bit pricey, especially if your child wants clothing for the animal.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/
Address: 6910 Fayetteville Rd, Suite 222, The Streets at Southpoint, Durham, NC 27713
Phone Number: (919) 544-3300
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12pm-7pm
Photos:
I had been waiting to take my son until he was old enough to appreciate it. Before now, I don't know that he would have gotten much out of a stuffed animal, but now he's starting to get attached to his favorite kitty and squirrel, so I thought we'd have fun. It's on the upper level of Southpoint, so one of the best parts for us was riding the escalator up and down to the store. Once we arrived, I showed him all of the animals, and he picked out his favorite, a monster from the classic Rudolph movie we had watched this Christmas.
Next, we headed over to the stuffing machine with our store helper. She put the stuffed animal on the machine and then we could press the pedal to fill him up. Be warned, the machine makes quite a bit of noise which can scare small children who don't like noises. My son hid behind my leg the whole time while I pressed the pedal. At that station, we could also place a heart in the animal for free and a sound effect if we wanted to pay a little extra. The helper sewed up our monster and we headed over to the "bath" station. There we brushed his fur and blew air on him to make him all fluffy. While we skipped the clothing portion of the store, there are aisles filled with all manner of animal clothing. You can buy any manner of stuffed animal accessory from diapers to Duke cheerleading outfits to guitars and even a stuffed convertible car! The final step was creating the birth certificate. My son had a great time pressing the buttons as I asked him the questions.
Once A. Monster's (Okay, so we're not the most creative with names.) birth certificate was complete, we paid at the register and received a fun box in the shape of a little house that we could keep A. Monster in and color when we got home. My son then dragged the box himself all the way down the escalator and across the parking lot to our car. Making the monster made him more attached to him, and my son's been playing with him ever since.
What we liked: It's definitely a fun special treat for kids that like stuffed animals. The store lends itself to all different ages, and they also host birthday parties.
What we would change: It can be a fairly quick activity if there's no line, so it would be nice to combine with some other activities at the mall. The speed can also be a good thing though for young toddlers with short attention spans like mine. In addition, the cheapest animals there are $10, so it can be a bit pricey, especially if your child wants clothing for the animal.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/
Address: 6910 Fayetteville Rd, Suite 222, The Streets at Southpoint, Durham, NC 27713
Phone Number: (919) 544-3300
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12pm-7pm
Photos:
1. The stuffer
2. The choices of stuffed animals
3. The brushing and fluffing station
4. Clothing options
5. Birth certificate computers
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
NC Museum of Art-Take Two
We've already posted on our first visit to the North Carolina Museum of Art, but we headed back on New Year's Day to check out a special exhibit and learned there's lots more to explore!
What it is: The NCMA has a beautiful new building that houses a wide variety of art permanently on display as well as a yummy smelling cafe called Iris. However, on this visit my family was on a different mission. We had heard that there was a special children's picture book exhibit there featuring the work of Eric Carle, so we knew we had to check it out. The special exhibits building is the one located straight ahead as your walking toward the buildings from the parking lot. There are some special exhibits that you have to pay for, including the Normal Rockwell exhibit that is there now, but there are also several free ones, including the picture book exhibit entitled, "Fins and Feathers: Original Children’s Book Illustrations from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art."
When we walked in, they started off by handing us several free bookmarks displaying art from the exhibit which was a nice touch. We headed down the elevators to reach the exhibit because of our stroller. Turns out the elevator was a sight to see on its own. It has glass windows that look out onto the grounds of the museum. They have actually created features on the ground that spell out "Picture this" when observed from the elevator. Too bad the elevator ride was so quick and we didn't have time to really look at it.
The actual "Fins and Feathers" exhibit was much smaller than I had imagined. It was one small room. Even though it was small there were some great original illustrations from Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Arnold Lobel, and more. Another neat feature was the chairs and table in the middle filled with all of the actual picture books containing the illustrations on the wall. While my son enjoyed looking at the paintings and finding them in the books, the room was so small that it didn't hold his attention for too long.
Our other stop that day was the outdoor grounds and park at the museum. I hadn't realized quite how expansive this area was, but there were lots of people that were out for a run or bike ride through these grounds while we were touring. It was a great place to blow off some toddler steam after being good inside the museum. There was a pond, lots of wide open spaces, some huge sculptures, and even a pavilion with shade/rain cover that could be used for a picnic.
**On a side note, great minds apparently think alike! When I turned on my computer to publish this post, I noticed that the museum and the "Fins and Feathers" exhibit was also recently visited by our friends at mominchapelhill.blogspot.com. Check out their blog for their take on the visit.
What we liked: We love how there are so many things to explore at the museum, and you can find something new to explore each time you go. Plus, it's free! That way, it doesn't matter how much or little of the museum you get through in a given visit, you can always come back! We also loved the combination of outdoor and indoor options which is great for short toddler attention spans.
What we would change: The Eric Carle special exhibit was fairly small, so I probably wouldn't head to the museum with the sole purpose of seeing that exhibit. Fortunately, after you take a look at that exhibit, there are plenty of other things to see. In addition, the outdoor grounds are expansive, so a stroller is recommended for when the toddler legs get tired. However, if you do bring a stroller to the museum, use caution because there were several of the exhibits in the special exhibit building where strollers were not permitted because of space.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://ncartmuseum.org/
Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh NC
Phone Number: (919) 715-5923
Dates and Hours:
**Hurry-"Fins and Feathers" is only on exhibit until the end of January 2010!
Tuesday–Thursday 10 am–5 pm
Friday 10 am–9 pm
Saturday–Sunday 10 am–5 pm
Closed Mondays
The Museum Park is open daily, including holidays, from dawn to dusk.
Photos:
What it is: The NCMA has a beautiful new building that houses a wide variety of art permanently on display as well as a yummy smelling cafe called Iris. However, on this visit my family was on a different mission. We had heard that there was a special children's picture book exhibit there featuring the work of Eric Carle, so we knew we had to check it out. The special exhibits building is the one located straight ahead as your walking toward the buildings from the parking lot. There are some special exhibits that you have to pay for, including the Normal Rockwell exhibit that is there now, but there are also several free ones, including the picture book exhibit entitled, "Fins and Feathers: Original Children’s Book Illustrations from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art."
When we walked in, they started off by handing us several free bookmarks displaying art from the exhibit which was a nice touch. We headed down the elevators to reach the exhibit because of our stroller. Turns out the elevator was a sight to see on its own. It has glass windows that look out onto the grounds of the museum. They have actually created features on the ground that spell out "Picture this" when observed from the elevator. Too bad the elevator ride was so quick and we didn't have time to really look at it.
The actual "Fins and Feathers" exhibit was much smaller than I had imagined. It was one small room. Even though it was small there were some great original illustrations from Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Arnold Lobel, and more. Another neat feature was the chairs and table in the middle filled with all of the actual picture books containing the illustrations on the wall. While my son enjoyed looking at the paintings and finding them in the books, the room was so small that it didn't hold his attention for too long.
Our other stop that day was the outdoor grounds and park at the museum. I hadn't realized quite how expansive this area was, but there were lots of people that were out for a run or bike ride through these grounds while we were touring. It was a great place to blow off some toddler steam after being good inside the museum. There was a pond, lots of wide open spaces, some huge sculptures, and even a pavilion with shade/rain cover that could be used for a picnic.
**On a side note, great minds apparently think alike! When I turned on my computer to publish this post, I noticed that the museum and the "Fins and Feathers" exhibit was also recently visited by our friends at mominchapelhill.blogspot.com. Check out their blog for their take on the visit.
What we liked: We love how there are so many things to explore at the museum, and you can find something new to explore each time you go. Plus, it's free! That way, it doesn't matter how much or little of the museum you get through in a given visit, you can always come back! We also loved the combination of outdoor and indoor options which is great for short toddler attention spans.
What we would change: The Eric Carle special exhibit was fairly small, so I probably wouldn't head to the museum with the sole purpose of seeing that exhibit. Fortunately, after you take a look at that exhibit, there are plenty of other things to see. In addition, the outdoor grounds are expansive, so a stroller is recommended for when the toddler legs get tired. However, if you do bring a stroller to the museum, use caution because there were several of the exhibits in the special exhibit building where strollers were not permitted because of space.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://ncartmuseum.org/
Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh NC
Phone Number: (919) 715-5923
Dates and Hours:
**Hurry-"Fins and Feathers" is only on exhibit until the end of January 2010!
Tuesday–Thursday 10 am–5 pm
Friday 10 am–9 pm
Saturday–Sunday 10 am–5 pm
Closed Mondays
The Museum Park is open daily, including holidays, from dawn to dusk.
Photos:
1. Looking back at the museum from the outdoor trails.
2. An art feature and covered pavilion
3. Lots of room for running and exploring
4. A close up of one of the art pieces
**Pictures were not permitted indoors at the special exhibits.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Car Washes
What they are: We all know what car washes are, but we always like to include places on the blog that people might not have thought of as activities for children. These are the places that you can take your child when you can't think of any other outings and you really need to get out of the house and find something to do. After going to several car washes in the area over the past couple of weeks, I can see how entertaining they are for my toddler and even my baby. As an added benefit, you also come away with a clean car!
Our first car wash experience was the Autobell located off of Hwy. 55 a short distance south of the intersection with Hwy. 54. This car wash is one where you drop your car off, tell them what you want, and head inside the building to watch the car getting washed. Then it is hand-dried before you get back in and drive off. Toddlers can watch cars heading through the car wash through large glass windows and follow them all the way down the hallway. My son had a great time watching our car head through the car wash on the "rail road tracks".
Our second visit to a car wash in as many weeks was to take my husband's car. This time, we decided to head somewhere a little quicker, so we headed to the Autoshine at the intersection of Fayetteville and Woodcroft Pkwy. At this car wash you can either pull in and wash your car by hand or drive through. This was the option we chose. While the car wash only lasts a minute or two, your kids can enjoy the sprayers and soap washing the car from the inside of the car. Our son was a bit wary of the whole thing, but was very interested after we reassured him that the water wouldn't come in the car.
What we liked: Car washes are a quick activity that your toddler will be interested in when you're in need of a little toddler entertainment. Plus, it gets your car cleaned at the same time.
What we would change: You do have to pay for a car wash to enjoy this activity. In addition, they are probably better toddler entertainment on a weekday or other time when they are not busy. If there's a long wait for the wash, then your kids can get antsy. At the Autoshine, count on about seven minutes per car in line at the drive-thru car wash. It's probably a bit longer at the Autobell because they dry the car by hand.
Websites and other important information:
Websites:
Autobell- http://www.autobell.com/
Autoshine: Website not found
Addresses:
Autobell: 5206 Nc Highway 55, Durham, NC 27713-9432, (919) 544-3235
Autoshine: 5472 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27713
Photos:
Our first car wash experience was the Autobell located off of Hwy. 55 a short distance south of the intersection with Hwy. 54. This car wash is one where you drop your car off, tell them what you want, and head inside the building to watch the car getting washed. Then it is hand-dried before you get back in and drive off. Toddlers can watch cars heading through the car wash through large glass windows and follow them all the way down the hallway. My son had a great time watching our car head through the car wash on the "rail road tracks".
Our second visit to a car wash in as many weeks was to take my husband's car. This time, we decided to head somewhere a little quicker, so we headed to the Autoshine at the intersection of Fayetteville and Woodcroft Pkwy. At this car wash you can either pull in and wash your car by hand or drive through. This was the option we chose. While the car wash only lasts a minute or two, your kids can enjoy the sprayers and soap washing the car from the inside of the car. Our son was a bit wary of the whole thing, but was very interested after we reassured him that the water wouldn't come in the car.
What we liked: Car washes are a quick activity that your toddler will be interested in when you're in need of a little toddler entertainment. Plus, it gets your car cleaned at the same time.
What we would change: You do have to pay for a car wash to enjoy this activity. In addition, they are probably better toddler entertainment on a weekday or other time when they are not busy. If there's a long wait for the wash, then your kids can get antsy. At the Autoshine, count on about seven minutes per car in line at the drive-thru car wash. It's probably a bit longer at the Autobell because they dry the car by hand.
Websites and other important information:
Websites:
Autobell- http://www.autobell.com/
Autoshine: Website not found
Addresses:
Autobell: 5206 Nc Highway 55, Durham, NC 27713-9432, (919) 544-3235
Autoshine: 5472 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27713
Photos:
1. Pictures from the Autobell
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Saladelia
What it is: Saladelia is one of our favorite restaurants in Durham. I've been there countless times without kids, they used to cater delicious lunches at the school where I worked, and now, I've taken my kids several times. It's a delicious mediterranean restaurant with options for brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, and coffee although we usually head over there for lunch. There are also quite a few yummy vegetarian options on their menu.
When we went recently, we went with the whole family, and we all found something that we liked. I usually get the chicken souvlaki which is delicious, but I tried something new and tried the falafel which was also very good. They had macaroni and cheese as a special, so of course I had to sample it as a side. My husband had their chicken salad with some roasted red pepper hummus which was a nice twist on a mediterranean classic. They did have a kids' menu, so my son tried their grilled cheese which is simply made with a slice of cheddar cheese. The sandwich comes with chips and a drink for under $4. The kids menu also included an organic hot dog and a pizza option.
What we liked: We love all of the delicious options at Saladelia. You can pick out a variety of sides including several colorful pasta salads, fruit, and hummus displayed behind the counter as you order. They also have a variety of desserts including baklava and cupcakes! We also enjoyed the seating arrangement which has been changed since I went many years ago. They have added a section of booths, which worked great for cornering a toddler and keeping him in his seat for his meal. Another great part of eating at Saladelia is their live jazz which is offered in the evenings several days a week. (Call Saladelia for their exact schedule.)
What we would change: The one thing about Saladelia is that it can be a bit tricky for picky eaters to find the right fit. However, my friend who was a picky eater would always get the greek grilled cheese and enjoyed it immensely. In addition, adding on all of the pasta salad sides that your mouth waters over in the display case can add on to the price of the meal.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.saladelia.com/
Address: 4201 University Dr # 101, Durham, NC 27707-2533
Phone: (919) 489-5776
Photos:
When we went recently, we went with the whole family, and we all found something that we liked. I usually get the chicken souvlaki which is delicious, but I tried something new and tried the falafel which was also very good. They had macaroni and cheese as a special, so of course I had to sample it as a side. My husband had their chicken salad with some roasted red pepper hummus which was a nice twist on a mediterranean classic. They did have a kids' menu, so my son tried their grilled cheese which is simply made with a slice of cheddar cheese. The sandwich comes with chips and a drink for under $4. The kids menu also included an organic hot dog and a pizza option.
What we liked: We love all of the delicious options at Saladelia. You can pick out a variety of sides including several colorful pasta salads, fruit, and hummus displayed behind the counter as you order. They also have a variety of desserts including baklava and cupcakes! We also enjoyed the seating arrangement which has been changed since I went many years ago. They have added a section of booths, which worked great for cornering a toddler and keeping him in his seat for his meal. Another great part of eating at Saladelia is their live jazz which is offered in the evenings several days a week. (Call Saladelia for their exact schedule.)
What we would change: The one thing about Saladelia is that it can be a bit tricky for picky eaters to find the right fit. However, my friend who was a picky eater would always get the greek grilled cheese and enjoyed it immensely. In addition, adding on all of the pasta salad sides that your mouth waters over in the display case can add on to the price of the meal.
Website and other important information:
Website: http://www.saladelia.com/
Address: 4201 University Dr # 101, Durham, NC 27707-2533
Phone: (919) 489-5776
Photos:
1. The menu and display cases
2. A close up of the display case
3. Our toddler-friendly booth (complete with our meal crumbs) :)
4. My son's grilled cheese kids' meal
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