Welcome the first day of summer at the Hope Artiste Village – home to a number of artisans, retail shops, residences, and offices.
Bring the whole family, there’s something for everyone! Come enjoy a celebration of the arts: activities for adults and kids, games and prizes, an arts & crafts fair, live music, and plenty of local food. Take advantage of special studio sales and retail discounts.

Don’t miss the REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! show put together by Jamie, owner of LoveBugs, the fabulous new secondhand kids’ store at the village. There will be three showings of this live performance for kids, grown-ups, and dogs (or any other pet you happen to bring along).

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
Craziness ensues as Bling learns that it’s not all about money, spending, and consuming. He learns valuable lessons about the environment and how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Featuring the music of Jack Johnson, the hip-hop clown antics of RODRIGO, juggling and flipping by Jamie, general foolery by Liz, and street drumming by Evan, this show is sure to inform and entertain. LoveBugs will also have balloons, snacks, and face painting for the kids. Come on! It’ll be hot out and you need something to do on Saturday!
Showtimes: Noon, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The show runs approximately fifteen minutes and is appropriate for all ages.
LoveBugs (located in Hope Artiste Village)
Phone: (401) 724-2636

Learn more about Jamie in our Meet a Parent series.

Festival Details:
Hope Artiste Village – 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860
Saturday, June 21
Open studios, sales and food: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Acoustic show from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Admission: Free admission for all ages until 8:00 pm
Free street and lot parking available
Phone: (401) 722-0752

Photo Credit: Hope Artiste Village from Art in Ruins. Inside Lovebugs from www.lovebugsri.net.

By Jaci Arnone

You may be wondering why I am recommending pipe organ concerts as a fun kid’s activity, but I urge you to keep an open mind. Organ music might not be high on my playlist either, but I have wonderful memories of my grandmother “GiGi” playing show tunes during family holidays while my cousins and I danced our hearts out.

So recently when I discovered that Providence Performing Arts Center offers free lunchtime concerts showcasing their vintage Wurlitzer pipe organ, I leapt at the chance to expose the kids to some good ol’ organ music. And I promise you, it was well worth it.

We attended the first concert of this year’s spring series, which featured an accomplished organist and two talented vocalists. The hour-long program included a variety of upbeat show tunes from The Music Man, Gigi, and My Fair Lady, along with classics such as Tea for Two and Stars and Stripes Forever.  My kids had a ball, clapping along, dancing in the aisle, and getting plenty of positive attention from the other attendees (mostly seniors).

We chose to sit in the first row of the balcony, which gave the kids a fantastic view of the theater. The balcony ledge served as the perfect impromptu table top, making it easier for the kids to manage their picnic lunch. Also, the railing is high enough that I wasn’t worried about their safety (although with toddlers, it might be better to avoid the steep steps and stay on the ground level).

Following the performance, we walked downstairs to get a closer glimpse of the Wurlitzer pipe organ. Built in 1927, this gorgeous instrument is the pride and joy of PPAC. The kids enjoyed seeing the ornate details on the Wurlitzer and getting yet another view of PPAC’s breathtaking interior, which my three-year-old daughter best described as “fancy, like Fancy Nancy!”

Whether you are a fan of pipe-organ music or not, the Wonders of the Wurlitzer series is a great opportunity to share live music with your family in one of Rhode Island’s most beautiful venues.

Details:

Spring 2008 Wurlitzer schedule (more details):
Monday May 12 (Len Beyersdorfer, organist)
Monday, May 19 (Jim & Linda Duncan, organist)
Wednesday, May 28 (Alden Mitchell, organist)
Wednesday, June 4 (Bob Legon, organist) - with silent movie

Location: Providence Performing Arts Center - 220 Weybosset St # 2, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 421-2997
Cost: All Wurlitzer concerts are FREE
Time: Noon to 1:00pm. (Bring a brown bag lunch)

Photo Credit: Jaci Arnone

FirstWorks is back this season with creative arts programming for kids and adults. They kicked off the 2008 season with Handmade Puppet Dreams — a zany puppet film festival in two parts curated by Heather Henson, daughter of Muppets creator Jim Henson. These puppet films have been created by independent artists specifically for the camera. The first part for adults was shown a few weeks ago at RISD’s Memorial Hall. Tomorrow bring the kids (big and small) to see part two at the Providence Children’s Museum.

Some of you may remember the fabulous, fun, and free FirstWorksKids festival that’s been held in downtown Providence every June for the last fours years. It’s an entire day filled with music, dance, and theater from around the world, along with hands-on activities for kids. Last year Dan Zanes really rocked the house with his bandmates and then led the parade of families, performers, and Big Nazo puppets from RISD to Waterplace Park.

This year the FirstWorks team has decided to shake things up even more. Starting in 2008, instead of a day-long festival, FirstWorks will plan creative family events throughout the year. Although my family will miss the annual festival, we look forward to unusual and engaging performances like tomorrow’s event at a variety of venues at different times of the year. I applaud the FirstWorks’ mission to connect arts to audiences (both children and adults) with amazing experiences with performance. And I believe that by restructuring the kids’ programming, FirstWorks may broaden their reach — influencing the lives of many more children in our community. In June I will have details about the upcoming fall FirstWorksProv festival which will include more family events this year.

Details for Handmade Puppet Dreams:
FirstWorks presents Handmade Puppet Dreams for Kids: A series of 9 shorts, ranging in length from 5 seconds to 14 minutes. Total program will run 45 minutes.
When: Friday, May 16, at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Two 45-minute showings.)
Where: Providence Children’s Museum - 100 Water Street, Providence, RI (map)
Cost: Admission to the museum is free from 5-8 p.m.
(MetLife Family Fridays - sponsored by the MetLife Foundation.)

A sample of some of the films:

Hold Me Now By Damien Eckhardt-Jacobi and Vincent Bova
The debut single off The Polyphonic Spree’s album is an inspirational song for troubled times. Glove and Boots won a challenge for independent filmmakers to create a video that would ultimately represent the song.

Graveyard Jamboree with Mysterious Mose By Seamus Walsh & Mark Caballero
Inspired by an old record by Harry Reser and his Radio All-Star Novelty Orchestra. Three techniques were used in this film including, live action puppetry, silhouette animation and stop motion animation.

Trixie and The Tree Trunks By Quintron & Miss Pussycat
After receiving a secret message from a talking “Happy Tree,” Trixie and Marsha, two woodland animals, embark on a quest to start a band. Adventure unfolds in this puppet mini-series as Trixie and Marsha adopt glow-in-the-dark stray cats and search for a drummer.

Photo Courtesy of FirstWorks

Kidoinfo is going on vacation until the New Year. But I have left a list of family-fun events to do in the Rhode Island area while I’m gone. Most of the events on this list are FREE or free with membership. Area libraries are running some fabulous special events. And many libraries have passes you can check out that allow free or discounted admission to places like the Mystic Aquarium and Boston Science Museum.

If you are not a daily Kidoinfo reader, you may have missed some book recommendations or craft projects. Browse past stories for additional suggestions to get you through the holiday break. Send us your own creative ideas, projects, parenting tips, New Year’s resolutions, or daytrips. We would love to hear from you!

2007 DECEMBER VACATION EVENTS (also check our Winter Guide or Weekend Picks)

Wednesday, December 26

• Toe Jam Puppet Band
Shows at 1 pm & 2 pm. Back by popular demand! Don’t miss this popular, hilarious performance filled with songs, stories, and music. Kids ages 3 to 11 are invited to dress up and join in the fun. Providence Children’s Museum - 100 South Street, Providence, RI. 401-273-5437. Free with membership.

Thursday, December 27

• Sparky’s Puppets: “Stories from Snowy Lands”
10 am. Watch Jack Frost’s magic bring a snowman to life. Find out what happens when a boastful bear goes ice fishing. And visit a hard-working toymaker in her shop on a cold winter’s day. Sparky’s puppets dramatize favorite children’s stories with colorful hand puppets, lively humor and plenty of audience participation. This program is free and open to all ages. Children under age 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 150 participants. Barrington Public Library - 281 County Road, Barrington, RI. 401-247-1920 Ext. 4.

• Audubon Environmental Education Center (Dec. 27- 29)
10 am - 3 pm. Take a break from the holiday madness and discover nature with your family! Kids can make nature crafts each day from 10 am - 11:30 am, and there will be a nature story reading at 11 am and 3 pm. Audubon Environmental Education Center - 1401 Hope Street (Rte 114), Bristol, RI. 401-245-7500. Free with membership.

• The Hoopoe Show
Shows at 1 pm & 2 pm. English mime Chris Yerlig brings Hoopoe to life using pantomime comedy, magic tricks, and balloon wizardry to create a hilarious show for kids. The audience is encouraged to join Hoopoe on stage and create magic illusions! Providence Children’s Museum-100 South Street, Providence. 401-273-5437. Free with membership.

• Family Afternoon Movie: Underdog
2 pm. Underdog is rated PG and has a 84-minute running time. Children with their families are invited for a free movie and snack! (Kids ages 10 and older may attend without an adult.) Children’s Room -Pawtucket Library - 13 Summer Street, Pawtucket, RI. 401-725-3714 x208. Afterwards, take your kids on a tour of the Providence landmarks used in the film.

Friday, December 28

• Audubon Environmental Education Center (Dec 27, 28 & 29)
See Thursday for details.

• Making Music
10:30 am. Make musical instruments using everyday recycled materials. Then join the jam session to play and see how the instruments sound! Free and open to all ages. Children’s Room - Pawtucket Library - 13 Summer Street, Pawtucket, RI. 401-725-3714 x208.

• The Singing Ringing Tree
Shows at 1 pm & 2 pm. Kids become the actors in this interactive fairy tale performance by Sarah Salerno-Thomas. With beautiful paper mache masks, children become panthers, princes, and pigs as they are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination on stage. Providence Children’s Museum -100 South Street, Providence, RI. 401-273-5437. Free with membership.

Saturday, December 29

• Audubon Environmental Education Center (Dec 27, 28 & 29)
See Thursday for details.

Sunday, December 30

• Knitting for All Ages
1 - 3 pm. Knitting for all ages will take place on Sunday afternoons. Open to all levels of expertise. Please bring your own needles and yarn. Registration is not required. Knitting will take place in the children’s area of the library. Jamestown Philomenian Library - 26 North Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island. (401) 423-7280. Free Event.

Tuesday, January 1

• Visit the Animals
9 am - 4 pm. Roger Williams Park Zoo - 1000 Elmwood Avenue . Providence, RI. 401-785-3510. Free Admission on New Year’s Day.

More free events:

• Pawtucket’s Winter Wonderland - 400 decorated and illuminated Christmas trees. Trees are lit every evening from 4:30 pm to 10 pm through Dec. 31. Twenty Victorian buildings for kids to explore. Special events are planned for December weekends leading up to Christmas, including Frosty the talking snowman, free visits with Santa, photos with Santa, train rides, hay rides, carousel rides, a tented food court serving hot dogs and hot chocolate, and free entertainment. Check website for details. Free admission & parking. Slater Memorial Park - Armistice Blvd/Newport Ave., Pawtucket, RI. 401-726-3185

• Submarine Force Museum - Dedicated to U.S. Submarine Force, hosts the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine. Open daily 9am - 5pm, Tuesdays 1pm - 5pm. Open Christmas and New Year’s Day from 1- 5 pm. Submarine Force Museum - Groton, CT. 1-800-343-0079. Free admission and parking.

By Karen Lambe, Early Childhood Developer

Do you remember the first time you experienced a live performance, waiting for the magical moment when the performers would appear and you would be transported into another world of stories and dance or mesmerized by music and puppetry?

Going to a live performance is wonderfully exciting for children. Perhaps it’s a costumed mime expertly juggling seven balls so close that your child can hear them hitting the mime’s hands - and sometimes the floor! Or two singers, producing songs and merriment with their guitars, so that the young audience members are inspired to jump to their feet and joyfully join in.

Children’s performers want their young audience to be amazed and moved, to laugh and sing along. Many performers invite active audience participation during the show and interact with the spectators afterwards, allowing kids to meet the REAL person, ask questions and try their techniques. What an amazing opportunity for your children to learn about these skilled and energetic people!

Children need to be told what to expect when they see a live performance and that takes effort, like anything you do as a parent. Kids are use to watching movies and television, where they can hit a pause button or just walk away. We have to help them learn that live performances are different art forms with different sets of expectations. When viewing a performance, children should understand that the people on stage are working hard - and having fun, too!

Providence Children’s Museum is a perfect place to introduce children to live performances. It’s an encouraging environment for young children to learn about their role as audience members and the financial obligation is less than other venues. The Museum hosts live performers throughout the year and always during school vacation weeks. During December school vacation, kids can sing and dance with the Toe Jam Puppet Band, meet a magnificent mime and stretch their imaginations with silly stories. Bring your children to one of these shows and join in the excitement, energy and magic created by live performers!

News and Notes from Providence Children’s Museum: Occasional posts about things to do with our kids - from places to go, things to make, ideas to think about, and ways to explore. Providence Children’s Museum - 100 South Street, Providence, RI. 401-273-5437 (KIDS).

By Marianne Ruggiero
Coordinator of Family Programs at The RISD Museum

Here is the second part of this months Artplay series.

An Interview with Red Hawk
Cliff Matias is the Director of Red Hawk Native American Arts Council and member of the Cheyenne nation. Red Hawk is based in New York City.

ARTplay: Where does the name of your group come from?
Cliff: From a beautiful bird of prey native to North America. Birds of prey are special to Native Americans. We honor them.

ARTplay: Why did you found Red Hawk?
Cliff: To help educate the general public about Native American culture and to provide Native American artists with ways to earn income.

ARTplay: What is the most special concert you have given?
Cliff: All of our concerts are special, but performing for ex-president Bill Clinton and for the Prime Minister of South Korea were two very special occasions.

ARTplay: How about the upcoming concert at RISD?
Cliff: We are excited about coming to Rhode Island. It will be the first time our group has performed there all year.

ARTplay is a monthly column written by Marianne Ruggiero from The RISD Museum in which various themes and activities will introduce kids and parents to the museum’s collection both online and off. Each month Kidoinfo will help spark your children’s interest in art - they can learn about different works at the museum and download a related activity to create offline. Be sure to visit the museum and explore the art in person. On Free-for-All Saturdays (the last Saturday of every month), kids may continue their exploration through a variety of hands-on workshops, performances, videos, and special gallery quests throughout the day. The RISD Museum - 224 Benefit Street, Providence, RI

FirstWorks is one of the many things I love about Providence. This amazing organization brings an array of arts to our city twice a year for kids of all ages to experience. Dedicated to firsts, FirstWorks’ mission is to connect arts to audiences - from kids appreciating the arts for the first time to artists premiering new works in our city. The festivals are full of innovation and unforgettable performing arts.

Months ago, I mentioned what a fan Kidoinfo is of the FirstWorksKids festival in June (a free day jam-packed with music, dance, crafts, theater, and more for kids). Well now it is time for the annual FirstWorksProv Festival. Although this festival is geared towards a slightly older audience (tweens and up), it offers something for everyone. At Kidoinfo we love the creative, learning time we spend with our kids, but we are also adults who need to feed our own creative souls.

Read on for your Kidoinfo guide to the 2007 FirstWorks Festival:

FirstWorksProv Festival: September 29 - November
Location: Downtown Providence performance spaces including PPAC, VMA, RISD Auditorium, Pell Chafee Performance Center and Beneficent Church.
Tickets are required for many of the events. Prices range from $18 – 50 with student rush the hour beforehand. Passes for the entire festival as well as group sales are available.
Visit FirstWorksProv or call 401-621-6123 (ArtTix).

(more…)

Sheira and Loli are larger than life rag doll twins from the award-winning public television show, Sheira & Loli’s Dittydoodle Works. Together with their lovable and colorful friends, Sheira and Loli teach children important life lessons, values, conflict resolution, and more through a mix of upbeat original music, witty humor, and engaging animated and live-action visuals.

I applaud the show’s creators for their imagination and for choosing to depict twins as individuals. As a mother of twins (and our numbers are increasing), I am amazed how often twins are still shown in identical outfits and portrayed as mischievous. This show breaks that stereotype, entertains our kids, and makes learning fun for the preschool set. You can watch Dittydoodle Works on Saturdays at 6am on Rhode Island PBS (WSBE).

And now the show is taking its unique brand of musical fun on the road to Providence-area kids and families! Dittydoodle Works Pajama Party Live, an energetic live revue, starring the cast of the award-winning public television children’s program, is a full-fledged theatrical extravaganza. The show features set designs from Broadway’s Donyale Werle, whose visionary work has contributed to many hit shows, including High Fidelity, Steel Magnolias, and Avenue Q. Parents and children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite pajamas and to bring their dancing shoes!

Show details
Saturday, September 29, 2007, 2 pm (75 minutes)
VMA Arts & Cultural Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Downtown Providence
Tickets - buy online at www.tickets.com or by calling 800-919-6272
Ticket prices range from $20 to $35

A special contest for Kidoinfo readers!

Enter for your chance to win a family of four pack of tickets to see Dittydoodle Works Pajama Party Live at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center! Sing, laugh, and dance with your favorite characters from the hit children’s public television series as they throw a pajama party! The lucky winners also get to join the cast for an exclusive meet ’n greet before the show! For a full tour schedule and to purchase tickets online, log on to www.dittydoodle.com/livetour!

Two days until the best family party in town happens. Can’t wait? Get a sneak peak of the FirstWorks Kids Festival tomorrow night at the Children’s Museum with Lydia Perez and the Bombitas, then, rest up for Saturday’s day of fun! Read more about the festival in our Weekend Picks today.

Dan Zanes is definitely on the Kidoinfo A-list. He has helped redefine the music scene for us parents. At our house, we have been happily rockin’ to Dan Zanes and friends since my boys were babies, five years ago. He is all about making music for families to enjoy together. I agree with Dan that listening to music with our kids doesn’t have to be limited to music labeled for kids. Our house is full of music of many kinds.

Dan Zanes makes his own homemade blend of family music and encourages the same in friends and neighbors. He loves to sing and collaborate with other musicians from a variety of music styles and from many different cultures. A few of his many collaborators include Aimee Mann, Deborah Harry, Lou Reed, Suzanne Vegas, Sheryl Crowe, Dar Williams, and Natalie Merchant. Not only does Dan play great music for us to get up and move to but he also believes that making music and dancing together can help break down our cultural differences. I am all for a little more peace and understanding in this world and a whole lot of dancing! At Kidoinfo we also believe in making connections in the community–we bring together creative ideas and people to help make parenting a little easier and lot more fun.

Dan Zanes’ recent Grammy-award winning CD “Catch That Train!” brings together the Kronos Quartet, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Father Goose, Dan’s mother-in-law, and the children of South Africa’s Agape Orphanage to sing Zulu folk songs, an old labor organizing tune, a song about the joys of farming the English countryside, and of course, a few train songs. “Catch That Train” features a mix that highlights cuatros and lap steels and does not in any way discourage the use of trombone.

Fun Facts from Dan Zanes’ website:
• His favorite food is organic corn chips.
• He has 6 colored suits–purple, yellow, raspberry, red, green, and pink.
• He is learning Spanish.
• He loves to play the ukulele and recommends it for kids just starting out.

Bubbles as big as bathtubs, chains of bubbles, foamy towers, freely-floating hot air filled bubbles, bouncing bubbles, bare-handed bubbles, bubble cubes, long lived bubbles…

See Keith Michael Johnson’s, “The Secret World of Bubbles” Show.
This event will benefit the Engineers of Tomorrow, who won the Champion’s Award at Rhode Island’s FIRST LEGO League competition.

info
Friday, March 30, 7 pm, $10.00.
The Blackstone River Theatre, (401) 725-9272.
549 BroadStreet, Cumberland, Rhode Island 02864.
Limited seating - please call to make advance reservations!