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Young Writers Studio to Move and Expand
Do you have a youngster who loves to write or perhaps a child who struggles with it? Bellingham’s Young Writers Studio is moving to a new location and offering all new workshops. Geared for children ages 8-18, Young Writers Studio’s next session begins January 6, 2010 in the Center for Expressive Arts and Experimental Education. At the new location, founder Stephanie Dethlefs will offer specialized, skill-focused workshops in a variety of genres.
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"Girls Go Green" Summer Camp
If you have a daughter or know a girl between ages 6-8 who would like to learn how to be a steward of the earth, Bellingham has a new summer camp available. It’s called "Girls Go Green," and it will be led by Jill MacIntyre Witt and her two daughters, Olivia, 13, and Gloria, almost 10. The camp will run twice during the summer, July 13-17 and August 24-28. Jill’s mission with the camp is simple: to empower girls to take care of the planet, one action at a time.
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Visit Cupcake Heaven in Fairhaven
When another mom friend told me how much she liked the cupcakes at Katie’s Cupcakes in Fairhaven, my first response was “Let’s take the girls.” My daughter loves sweets, cake especially, and what could be more perfect, really, than a well-made cupcake? We met on a grey Saturday with our two twelve-year-olds. On any day this bakery will feel friendly, but on a grey Northwest day, it feels downright cozy.
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Broadway Neighborhood Youth Center
In case parents and kids haven’t heard, the Broadway neighborhood has an after-school resource available to Whatcom Middle School students. It’s the recently opened Broadway Neighborhood Youth Center (BNYC) located on the corner of Broadway and Dupont. Open on weekday afternoons, the BNYC is a drop-in center centrally situated to serve Whatcom students, the center’s target population.
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'Tis the Season for Christmas Traditions
Many of us have holiday traditions carried down from past generations, either because they were dear to us as children or because they’re what we know. But it’s never too late to start new traditions for your family. If you’re looking for ways to create new meaning for kids, take the focus off materialism that’s associated with the big day, or just celebrate the season, here are a few ideas for right now or next year.
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Bounce On Over to The Fun Zone
It’s another rainy day in Bellingham, and you’re wondering what the heck to do with your kids. Familiar scene? If you and your kids need a sanity saver, try the Jump Around Fun Zone. Or maybe you’ve discovered it already. The Fun Zone features two bounce houses, a sort-of inflated obstacle course, and two inflated slides. Everything here is inflated, so kids can bounce and jump to their hearts’ content.
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The Museum of Flight in Seattle
If the weather is looking less than inspiring to you, try taking a day trip to Seattle’s Museum of Flight for some indoor entertainment and a history lesson. November is Aviation History Month, and the Museum of Flight is a fantastic way to introduce kids to the history of flight. The museum provides interactive displays with something for everyone, even the very young, although elementary-aged kids and older will get the most out of it.
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Bandito’s Burritos—One Family’s Sanity Saver
Lots of people have their favorite pizza delivery’s phone number memorized for that last-minute dinner option when there’s nothing in the fridge, and everyone is hungry right now. Pizza’s fine, but in our family when the cooking gets tough and the paycheck is low (even when it isn’t), we look no further than Bandito’s Burritos. It's such a crowd pleaser in our house that we end up here more than any other restaurant in town.
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Grab a Burger at Boomer's Drive-In
Whenever my family is feeling like burgers for dinner, we head to Boomer’s Drive-In on Samish Way. It’s quick, affordable, and about as family-friendly as you can get, with take-out or sit-down or eat-in-your-car, whatever you please. Besides the burgers, what I love about Boomer’s is its old-fashioned drive-in kind of feel with its outdoor menu for those who want to park and order from outside.
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Start Your Morning at Rocket Donuts
Sometimes on a Saturday morning, there’s no better way to start the day than with a doughnut (or a donut, as it’s also spelled). So my kids think. Their favorite doughnut haunt is Rocket Donuts. Personally, I prefer toast and eggs for breakfast (and Old Town Café is tantalizingly close), but one recent morning I agreed to take Leah and a friend of hers out to breakfast at Rocket. We weren’t disappointed.
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Authentic Mexican at Taco Lobo
It’s dinnertime once again, and our family is in the mood for Mexican. Not just any Mexican, though; we want Taco Lobo Mexican in downtown Bellingham. Whatever we order, Taco Lobo’s fare never fails to bring back memories of a winter trip to Baja—it’s that good—where my kids discovered what authentic Mexican tacos taste like. Now my eleven-year-old is a self-confessed convert to authentic Mexican, along with her parents, and we go to Taco Lobo to get it.
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Kid-Friendly La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza
La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza in downtown Bellingham is known for its gourmet pizza with a hand-tossed crust that has been "kissed by the flame" in their wood-fired pizza oven. And according to Joanna Nesbit, it's also one of the best places to bring the kids in town. From a menu that appeals to tastes of all ages to a warm and inviting atmosphere, find out why La Fiamma is such a popular place for dining out with kids.
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Getting Dramatic with The Neighborhood Playhouse
Most kids love to play games and pretend, but not all kids want to get up on stage in front of a large audience. For those who aren’t into the glitz and glamour of the stage, The Neighborhood Playhouse (TNP) might be just the ticket for exploring their creative side. Owner and founder Lizanne Schader is devoted to the process of theater rather than the product, offering workshops that help kids learn the discipline and craft of acting through games, creative dramatics, and scene work.
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Why Rats Make Great Pets for Kids
When my daughter was eight, we decided she was old enough to take care of her own pet—a small pet that would live in a cage. She really wanted a dog, but together we settled on something smaller that didn’t require daily walks and poop scoops. We explored the pros and cons of hamsters, gerbils, and rats, and many conversations later, we’d made our decision. Rats. As in, they were the winner, not “Oh no.”
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Skiing on the Mt. Baker Highway
Winter seems to be fading in the Northwest, but there is still plenty of snow to enjoy if you search higher ground. If you’re looking for a fun day out with your kids, why not try skiing before the season ends? The kids will have a blast in the snow and skiing is great exercise for everyone. Joanna Nesbit recommends taking a drive along the Mt. Baker Highway, where you'll find some great opportunities for cross-country and downhill skiing that the whole family can enjoy.
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(Mostly) Healthy Valentine's Treats
It’s that time of year again when sweet treats abound, and celebrating Valentine’s Day seems to be all about eating chocolate (and, yes, lovely valentines too). February is also American Heart Month (is this by design or coincidence, I wonder?). Kids, of course, won’t be thinking about their heart health, and, personally, I worry more about their teeth. So here are some fun food ideas to help your kids celebrate the day without suffering sweet treat overload.
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Considerations Before Competing
Do you have a child who loves to play chess? For our family, tournaments have been a positive experience— they offer our son a chance to build his game skills, but more than that, they link him to a community of kids who love chess. But there are lots of different factors that determine whether or not your child can handle the competition. If you’re thinking about signing your child up for a chess tournament (or any competition), here are some considerations.
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Chess Season in the Northwest
You might not be aware of this, but we are in the middle of chess tournament season. Yep, chess has a season, too. From November to April, you can find a number of tournaments in our area that will culminate with the state tournament, to be held this year in Redmond on April 26, 2008. My eight-year-old son, Ty, plays chess and has become something of a regular at local tournaments. His first tourney was last year’s Lynden tournament, held at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in January.