Your Fishing Pole is Overdue

Check out what the library is doing to encourage kids to get outside.

OMG TMBG!

They're coming back... yes, that's right.. Everyone's favorite geeky accordion heroes are heading back to the Egg for two... count 'em, two performances.

Adult show (14 and older) on October 2nd at 8:00pm and one more appropriate for the juice box crowd (Oct. 3 @ 1pm)

This is all in honor of their new album release: Here Comes Science to be released on September 1st.

You will not regret this decision.

Beach weekend

While upstate NY has a lot of water to enjoy (the mighty Hudson, the kinda mighty Mohawk, and a zillion other vaguely mighty things with kill in their names), there's nothing like the ocean to remind you of what summer is all about. The smell of the salty air, the warmth of the sand between your toes, the threat of overconfident seagulls trying to attack your child who is holding a bag of goldfish crackers... yes, the beach has got it all.

'Mine...mine...mine'

Here's an idea for a beach weekend.. and a cheap one at that.. (Heck, you could do it in a day if you wanted to. We were watching a sunset on Rhode Island Sound and were back before midnight).

1. Book a hotel on Priceline.com (the name your own price option). We picked a central location... we knew we wanted to go to Cape Cod and Newport, R.I. so we looked for a generic location in a little unknown town between the two points and got a good deal. $50 bucks...Marriot... score.

2. Get up early on Saturday and drive. We went to Scusset Beach State Reservation. Which is about 3 1/2 hours from Albany. The kids were still so groggy that they slept most of the way there. map

3. You are at the beach. Enjoy. Scusset Beach is great because it's a state park so there are bathrooms and changing areas, and some campsites there too, plus its very clean and family friendly. The water is very calm so it's perfect for little kids.Not a wave in sight.

4. After a fun day at the beach we headed into Plymouth for a nice evening. You can take a spooky walking tour, watch some outdoor entertainment, or relive a little bit of history..( a sometimes controversial history).. but history nonetheless. Let's stay focused on the positive...we're on vacation, people.

5. Go to sleep.

6. Go to the beach again or head on down to Newport, R.I. for some good old fashioned New England fun. Lighthouses, sailboats, lobsters.. you know the drill. It's like an LL Bean fashion shoot.

Newport, R.I. 'Has anyone seen my lobster print chinos?'

7. Watch the sunset. C'mon.. you wouldn't go home before that, right? Brenton Point State Park is the perfect place to view it.

It doesn't get better than this.

8. Drive back to Albany. The kids are tired so they'll sleep the whole way and since you've left after all the daytrippers, traffic is almost non-existent.

See, not so hard? These memories oughta last you until at least the beginning of December. Past that, you are on your own.

Smithsonian National Museum Day

September 26th is National Museum Day, and while I don't think Hallmark has caught onto it yet, the Smithsonian is offering free admission to hundreds of museums and other cultural venues on that day. All you need do is download the Museum Day Admission Card to get free general admission at participating locations. Local venues include:

• CMOST
• Schenectady Museum
• Mabee Farm Historic Site
• Iroquois Indian Museum
• Clark Art Institute (Williamstown, MA)
• Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge, MA)
• Olana

There are gajillion more locally and all over the country. Check out the map here.

Seussical, Jr.

This is the last weekend for you to enjoy some Dr. Seuss at the Park Playhouse (click at your own risk.. annoying music awaits).

This production has been going on since August 4th and will continue until this Sunday (the 16th).

Performances start at 5:30pm and amphitheater seats are free.

Here is a full description of Seussical, Jr.

PS. Don't forget that High School Musical is still playing until the 23rd.. every night but Monday, at 8:00PM. You know you want to.

Thanks to Laura D. for the tip!

Rainbow Cake

Summertime means birthday season in my house, so I'm usually baking up something for someone. For my husband's birthday I wanted something quick and extra-festive... so acting on a tip from Albany Jane, enter Giant Cupcake Funfetti Rainbow cake.

Yes, you read that right.. there are THREE, count 'em, three layers of festivities in this cake.

1. Funfetti cake mix.. (so sue me, I used a box).
2. A cupcake shaped cake pan
3. Rainbow innards

The only thing missing was fireworks... I mean, this thing was out of control... the CarrotTop of birthday cakes, if you will.

Here are some pics of our kid friendly, cake making project:

Step 1: Separate the batter into different bowls and dye them whatever color you want. The kids chose these colors and I used icing dye. Use whatever you want to color it...food coloring works, mashing up elderberries, whatever..(*Disclaimer... if you are looking for something more natural, make another cake. Rainbow cakes, by definition, are going against nature.)

Step 2: Spoon it up into the cake pan. My kids loved this part.

Step 3: Bake it. (sorry, no pictures of my oven)

Step 4: Look longingly at it until the person with the birthday gets home from work, blows out the candles and all that jazz. (* Note: This is the hardest step, I don't care how old you are)

Step 5: Freak out about how freaking festive it is.

Step 6: Slice into it and enjoy.

Here is a picture of it dissected:

Groovy man.

Here is a recipe for Rainbow Cake with purty pictures. Enjoy!

More free ice cream... they just want your blood.

There is a blood drive at the Arts Center, and in return for you giving up some of your Type A (or whatever), you get a coupon for a free carton of Friendly's ice cream. Something I'd like to call 'A pint for a pint". (badum-cha!)

Thursday, August 26th 11:00 - 6:00 pm

You can just walk in... or if you are feeling industrious, call ahead for an advanced appointment.

1-800-GIVELIFE