Daily Picks for this Week! July 23-27

Our daily guide to fun! Click on the highlighted links for find out more. Don't mean to frighten you...or excite you (depends on your perspective!) but there are only 3 more weeks of summer for Cobb County School children!

MONDAY: Creative Thinking Storytime at Learning Express in Woodstock & West Cobb Locations at 11am for ages 5+ - FREE!


TUESDAY:

•  One of my favorite characters is in the spotlight during Barnes & Noble's FREE Storytime at 11am at their Town Center Prado location. Find out what happens to Harry when he travels to the beach with his family in Harry by the Sea. This book will make a great storytime for ages 5-8! 
• Get a taste of different cultures without a plane ticket at West Cobb Regional Library's Multicultural Extravaganza from 3pm-5pm. FREE, Open to all ages & just show up - nor pre-registration required 

WEDNESDAY: Grab a cheap seat on Regal's Summer Movie Express! Kids 12+ will enjoy the fairy tale character twists in Hookwinked Too showing at Regal's Town Center Stadium showing at 10am. Tickets are $1.


THURSDAY: Let your kids go Kung-Fu crazy at "Karate for Kids" at the Ben Robertson Community Center in Kennesaw at 9am. FREE sample classes this month for kids and adults to celebrate National Parks & Recreation Month!


FRIDAY:

• Have fun with food at Whole Kids Club from 3pm-4pm at Whole Foods at Merchant's Walk. FREE and it's best to pre-register (in store or call 678-996-9700) so they can plan. It's ok to just drop-in but be on time because space is limited! 
• Take part in live-action drills, challenges and on-field demonstrations! Learn more about Kennesaw's sports leagues & classes during their Youth Sports Spectacular from 6pm-9pm at Adams Park. Afterwards, hang around for an outdoor movie. Journey2: The Mysterious Island rated PG is showing at dusk! 

Plan Ahead:
Outdoor Romping & Stomping Series: July 30, July 31st
Chattahoochee Nature Center Olympics: July 28


Be sure you follow us on Facebook for more summer fun ideas. Be sure to check our calendar often since we are always updating as we find fun.

Getting Crafty

Whole Kids Foundation has partnered with ScrapKins to provide a monthly project that promotes healthy eating & reusing common household materials to explore creativity. I discovered ScrapKins posted on Whole Foods Merchant's Walk Facebook page and I knew it would be a hit at my house! My son loves making something from nothing. :)

Whole Kids Foundation & Scrapkin's Hands-On Projects - Making a Bee Colony!

The ScrapKins Build-It Blog

Daily Picks for July 9-13

Our daily guide to fun! Click on the highlighted links for find out more.

MONDAY: Creative Thinking Storytime at Learning Express in Woodstock at 11am. Every Monday in July! 

• Enjoy Dinner at the Depot in Downtown Kennesaw tonight (and every Monday) from 5-8pm. Everyone can take their pick from the variety of food trucks. After dinner, burn off the last bit of energy at the Depot Playground before heading home for PJ time. Follow them on Facebook to get the scoop on what trucks will be there or weather cancellations. 

TUESDAY: Come play with food at Whole Kids Summer Camp at Harry’s Farmers Market for kids ages 5-10 from 10:30-11:30. FREE and you can drop-in but because space is limited it’s best to call ahead to let them know you are coming: 770-578-4400. Parent’s you can drop & shop – pick up what you need for dinner while the kids have fun.

• Beyond Cobb Adventure! Pack a picnic and enjoy FREE “Music at Noon” while you munch your lunch at Centennial Park. Then walk across the street to Imagine It’s Target FREE Tuesday from 1-4pm. 

WEDNESDAY: Keep it Cool with a classic! Watch Charlotte’s Web at the Central Library at 2pm.

• Just for moms! Grab your BFF's for Girl's Night Out on Wednesday at Studio Movie Grill in Alpharetta. The chick flick classic this month is Notting Hill and starts at 7:30. Tickets are only a buck! Get there early to enjoy drinks and appetizers together. 

THURSDAY: Get your Passport to Imagination and travel to Russia. Stop by your favorite Michael’s Craft Store between 2-4pm to make a fuzzy bear – a national symbol of Russia. FREE!

FRIDAY: Get Crazy as a Loom! Register by July 11 (770-427-4686) for this fun craft activity for kids using a cardboard loom & yarn at the Kennesaw Mountain Visitor Center at 10am. FREE!

Plan Ahead:
Outdoor Romping & Stomping Series: July 11, July 18th, July 30, July 31st
Family Camp at Red Top Mountain: July 16-20
Fishing Rodeo: July 21 (FREE!)

Be sure you follow us on Facebook for more summer fun ideas. Be sure to check our calendar often since we are always updating as we find fun.

Daily Picks for July 2-6

Here are our picks for the week! Click on the highlighted link to learn more. Remember to check our website calendar for even more fun during the week!

MONDAY: "Page to Screen" Movie Series for Teens (ages 13+) at 3pm Mountain View Library. Watch your favorite page turners on the big screen weekly through July! For the younger ones, head to PLAY in Roswell for their FREE weekly storytime at 10:30. Only pay if you stay but on Mondays in July it’s only $5 per child for open play! Craft room is also open from 10:30-3pm and is included if you pay & stay for open play.

TUESDAY: Don’t need a passport to travel to this week’s pick for Tuesday! Michael’s Passport to Imagination destination: USA! From 1pm-4pm make a Patriotic Flag in honor of 4th of July. If you prefer to celebrate July 4th on the 3rd, head to Kennesaw for their Salute to America celebration from 6pm-11pm!

WEDNESDAY: Celebrate the 4th! Take your pick of local festivals & fireworks

• 4th in the Park (Marietta square) 
• Freedom Fest (Woodstock) 
• Roswell’s Fireworks Extravaganza (Roswell) 
• July Fourth Concert and Fireworks (Cauble Park in Acworth) 
• Fourth of July Celebration (Wills Park in Alpharetta) 

THURSDAY: Sleep in and get to bed early to make up for your late night of celebrating! Enjoy a museum together. Locally, head to The Southern Museum in Kennesaw for their weekly Mommy & Me program at 10:00am or 11:30am. This week learn what will you need for a Civil War camping trip during “A-Camping We Will Go”. Beyond Cobb it’s Toddler Thursday at the High Museum. Drop-in from 11am-3pm for “Butterfly” themed activities & craft.

FRIDAY: Take a Twilight Hike at Red Top Mountain from 7:30pm-9pm. Start the night off in the Discovery Room at the Visitor Center. You’ll meeting one of Georgia's native snakes and then follow a Park Ranger on a moderate, 1-mile hike. COST: $1 plus $5 parking.

Know of a fun event but don't see it here? Email me at cobbtotsnkids@gmail.com. 

Cheap Seats to Beat the Heat - June 30th

Picture Show at Merchant's Exchange is showing the following family-friendly movies:

• The Lorax
• Mirror, Mirror
• The 3 Stooges
• Pirates, Band of Misfits

Click here to see today's showtimes! Not sure these movies are ok of your kids...I love  iMom's Movie Monitor

Mountain View Library has Beat the Heat Movies for Teens (ages 13 to adults) showing at 3pm. Today's flick is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (PG-13)

Studio Movie Grill in Alpharetta has KidToons today at 11am. Strawberry Shortcake's Bloomin' Berry Garden is showing - tickets only $2 each.

"Dream Big" with Cobb Libraries

The 2012 Summer Reading Program "Dream Big - READ" begins on June 1 and ends on July 31, with an end-of-summer reading celebration scheduled for Saturday, August 4.  Here are 5 of Cobb Tots & Kids "Don't Miss" activities for June at the library! There are  over 700 programs and activities this summer to celebrate reading so it was a challenge to narrow it down!  I'll be back with a list for July. More information about these and even events can be found at www.cobbcat.org/calendar: 

1. Dream Big and get creative with The Art Station. The creative minds at the Art Station have come up with all sorts of fun. Open to children of all ages with caregiver. Powder Springs Library at 11am on Tuesday, June 4th

2. Learn about Frogs & Toads during a fun program about the frogs in our own backyard with Rachel Small from the Cobb Watershed Stewardship Program. Listen to a the zany story "Tuesday" by David Wiesner and Ms. Small will demonstrate the differnent sounds that frogs and toads make. Registration is required. For grades 3-6. Mountain View Library Tuesday, June 5th at 3pm

3. Summer Fun for Tweens is a weekly program at Gritters starting June 7th from 3:30-4:30. Each week the topic changes...from Calligrapghy to Soap Carving kids get to try something new while having fun. Regsitration is required so call 770-528-2524.

4.  Kids Writing Workshop at Kennesaw Library on June 12th from 1:30-3:30 with Best-selling author and Kennesaw resident Margaret Johnson-Hodge. Young writers will be presented with tools to tap into their creativity and tips tailored especially for students ages 9-12. The workshop will be hands-on, and will include handouts and on-site exercises. Participants also will learn methods for tackling the hardest part of writing - the first page!

5. Watch Joe the Magician on June 12 at 11am at the Powder Springs Library. Open to children all ages with caregiver.

Children from birth to 5th grade can participate in the Summer Reading Program at the library. Pick a folder to log the books they have read. Return the reading log anytime after July 4th to receive receive a certificate and to be eligible to win prizes. Stevi B’s has also sponsored a pizza giveaway for participants, and the first 5000 children to return their folders any time after July 4 can receive a coupon for a free kid’s buffet at any local Stevi B’s location!

Adults and Teens in grades 6-12 are also encouraged to participate in the "Dream Big" Summer Reading Program too by submitting book reviews. Forms can be picked up at the branches, downloaded from the website, or submitted online. Each person who enters a book review will be eligible to win a Sony eReader, courtesy of OverDrive, a provider of downloadable books and audiobooks.

Every person, regardless of age, who completes the library’s reading program will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad 2, courtesy of Cobb EMC. All winners will be announced at the End of Summer Reading Party, which will be held on Saturday, August 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Central Library. Any winners not in attendance can pick up their prize at the Cobb County Public Library System branch of their choice.

Rainy Day Playgrounds

The weather today has inspired me to make a list of a few of our favorite indoor play centers. Wherever you are - there is a playcenter close by! Always check playroom's website before heading over to check on special pricing, holiday hours or special events - I try to keep this post updated but specials change sometimes quicker than I can keep up! Click on highlighted link for their website

• Roswell: PLAY - An Activity Center for Kids - $5 per child Mondays throughout the summer & $5 per child Family Nights on Friday! Craft Room Tues, Wed & Friday 10:30-1pm included with Admission; Storytime at 10:30 on Monday & Thursday FREE activity, only pay admission if you stay and play! Check their calendar for weekend hours.
• Alpharetta/Northpoint Mall: Inside Northpoint Mall there is a soft playground area near Dillard's & a REAL carousel in the food court (Cost is $2 per person, you must have cash to purchase tokens from the machine, carousel opens at 11:30 M-F)
• Sandy Springs: Funhouse
• Marietta: Champion Kids - calendar is updated weekly so be sure to check before heading over!
• Marietta/Kennesaw/Town Center Mall Area:
• Catch Air - Follow them on Facebook to get a daily password for admission discounts! 
• Monkey Joe's Kennesaw: (Get $4 admission - Click here for Half-Off Depot Deal!)
• Inside Town Center Mall there is a soft playground area located in the upper level near JC Penney's
• Kennesaw: Bounce U - open play hours vary so check website! Today Saturday June 30th - open bounce from 11-1pm and 4-6pm for only $6.99 per child! Check in at our location and get a FREE small sno-kone to keep you cool!
• Acworth: DAC Kids

Have we forgotten one?? Let me know!