Jumping, hopping, racing, throwing—who doesn’t love a summer field day? A backyard filled with games, activities and kids is a fantastic excuse to get together with friends. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Use what you have and set up some good old-fashioned backyard fun. It will provide hours of entertainment. And parents, what a great way to reinforce good sportsmanship with your kids! The first step is to organize teams to help promote cooperative play. Then set up a variety of games. And finally, weave in a good sportsmanship lesson! Here are a few tried-and-true ideas to get you started: THE GAMES Bean Bag Toss – Kids love throwing anything! Use large bowls or buckets as the target and have the kids toss. Don’t worry if you don’t have bean bags—use other items as … [Read more...]
10 Reasons to See a Concert at a Small Local Theater this Summer
Guest Post by Scotty Reiss I’m so over the big arena concerts: the scramble to buy super expensive tickets that get you a seat near the roof from which performers look like ants on the stage. It’s just not worth it. Luckily, hundreds of great bands are booked into local theaters—many of them historical treasures—around the country, and it’s a growing trend. My local theater, the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is a fabulous destination for any sort of show. Recently I went to see The English Beat and it’s an experience I’ll smile about forever. But most towns have a playhouse (a listing of historic theaters is here), so here’s why you should take a look at the schedule and buy tickets to see a favorite band: With only a several hundred seats, … [Read more...]
