Started the morning off with Rich's parents here and a Father's Day breakfast. After they left we headed to Brooklyn to the NY Aquarium. Since we're members of the Bronx Zoo we also get into the aquarium for free and get free parking. They had a special mermaid day and a real live mermaid made an appearance at the sea lion show along with some synchronized swimmers. It was the best sea lion show I've ever seen. The mermaid Grace insisted was someone with a tail covering her legs.
We ate lunch in their cafe, which was standard cafeteria food. Did get a 10% discount for members.
After looking around at more fishies we headed out to the boardwalk. The kids got Italian ice and Rich and Grace got some dogs at the original Nathan's. We'd heard that Coney Island was pretty seedy now, but it's really not so bad. It's definitely a mix of people, which we rather enjoyed.
The trip home was tough with traffic and the GPS taking us a screwy way. It took just about 2 hours to get home. It took about an hour and 20 to get there. I don't see going back often or by myself with the kids, but would go again at some point.
Grace's last day of school tomorrow and "Camp Milliman" officially starts! Lord, give me strength! haha
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Lockwood Mathews Mansion
I really must go to sleep, but found www.fairfieldcountychild.com and have been reading through and clicking links and the time just flies by!
The mansion near Stepping Stones is offering monthly storytimes. This would be neat-too bad none of the dates work for me-how 'bout you?
www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.org
The mansion near Stepping Stones is offering monthly storytimes. This would be neat-too bad none of the dates work for me-how 'bout you?
www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.org
Danbury Fair Kidz Camp
The Danbury mall is having a Kidz Camp this summer. It sounds pretty good with entertainment and crafts. Unfortunately, it looks like you have to sign up on June 30 in person. I may call in our registration as we'll be out of town that week.
http://www.danburyfairmall.com/assets/danburyfairmall/Sales_Promotions/KidzCampFlyer.pdf
The mall has a kids play area-and says they have a new play area. So, don't know if they added another one or just updated the existing one. Anyway, we have fun just going to the mall for a junky dinner and carousel ride. If we can pair that with camp, that would be a nice outing!
http://www.danburyfairmall.com/assets/danburyfairmall/Sales_Promotions/KidzCampFlyer.pdf
The mall has a kids play area-and says they have a new play area. So, don't know if they added another one or just updated the existing one. Anyway, we have fun just going to the mall for a junky dinner and carousel ride. If we can pair that with camp, that would be a nice outing!
Day recap
This morning Grace was up by 7:30, which didn't give me much sleeping in time! My little Lola is a champion sleeper and got up around 9:15.
Spent the morning just cleaning up and doing laundry. Rich's parents called and said they had gotten lost. So, they didn't get in til around 12:30. Rich had gotten the requisite Gold's Deli stuff and the table was set. We all sat down to eat as soon as they got in.
We sat around for a while chatting and then Rich's mom suggested seeing UP. We hurried to get ready and headed to Fairfield. Lola fell asleep in the car and woke up in the theater. She did well and sat for the whole movie-her first movie at a theater-besides IMAX.
What a sad movie! Grace and I were sobbing through a lot of it. Me because I just found it so sad and touching and she for the same reason and because there were some scary, intense parts. She didn't like it much and wanted to go home. If you'd ask her now if she liked it, she may say she did!
We went home and then went back out to The Red Barn http://www.redbarnrestaurant.com/ for dinner. It's not really my type of place-typical continental cuisine-steak and seafood. The place really was an old barn, which I love. Some day I want to live in a barn house. The decor is rustic and filled with antiques. The food was pretty good. Everyone liked their food. I was very disturbed by the iceberg lettuce salad. I mean who serves that kind of pedestrian salad anymore? I'm not a big fish person, but decided to try the fish with BBQ sauce served over lentils. I adore lentils, but what a weird combo. Just didn't work for me.
The kids had the chicken fingers and fries. I tried the chicken finger and it had a lot of bland batter on it and just wasn't very good. Neither ate much. Most likely because they had filled up on bread. The bread was good, but can't usually be messed up too bad.
We skipped dessert and ate the eclairs that Rich's parents brought from Perkins. Well, that made my night!
Now, what to do tomorrow?!
Spent the morning just cleaning up and doing laundry. Rich's parents called and said they had gotten lost. So, they didn't get in til around 12:30. Rich had gotten the requisite Gold's Deli stuff and the table was set. We all sat down to eat as soon as they got in.
We sat around for a while chatting and then Rich's mom suggested seeing UP. We hurried to get ready and headed to Fairfield. Lola fell asleep in the car and woke up in the theater. She did well and sat for the whole movie-her first movie at a theater-besides IMAX.
What a sad movie! Grace and I were sobbing through a lot of it. Me because I just found it so sad and touching and she for the same reason and because there were some scary, intense parts. She didn't like it much and wanted to go home. If you'd ask her now if she liked it, she may say she did!
We went home and then went back out to The Red Barn http://www.redbarnrestaurant.com/ for dinner. It's not really my type of place-typical continental cuisine-steak and seafood. The place really was an old barn, which I love. Some day I want to live in a barn house. The decor is rustic and filled with antiques. The food was pretty good. Everyone liked their food. I was very disturbed by the iceberg lettuce salad. I mean who serves that kind of pedestrian salad anymore? I'm not a big fish person, but decided to try the fish with BBQ sauce served over lentils. I adore lentils, but what a weird combo. Just didn't work for me.
The kids had the chicken fingers and fries. I tried the chicken finger and it had a lot of bland batter on it and just wasn't very good. Neither ate much. Most likely because they had filled up on bread. The bread was good, but can't usually be messed up too bad.
We skipped dessert and ate the eclairs that Rich's parents brought from Perkins. Well, that made my night!
Now, what to do tomorrow?!
Dinner out with the grandparents
We're trying to decide where to take Rich's parents for dinner. Of course, must be kid-friendly, have a nice ambiance, good food, etc. Rich immediately mentions Bobby Q's, which he loves, but where we've already taken them! One time we had a lot of family visiting and made a reservation for 9 at Bobby Q's. Little did we know they have a large, private room upstairs. It was like having our own banquet!
Hmm, was thinking The Beach Cafe. I went there on a girls night out once and liked it a lot. I don't drink, but had a pomegranate cosmo-yum! This place has a fun, beachy atmosphere, that reminds me of the Beach Club in Disney World. They have movie nights for kids Thursday and Friday nights. So, I'm thinking since it's Saturday night we should go somewhere else and head there on a Thurs or Fri!
http://www.beachcafefairfield.com/
We've never been to Cobb's Mill Inn, which is debatable whether it's kid-friendly. I read a blog about a woman who went there with her husband and had a lovely time and then with her in-laws and kids and didn't have such a great time. Our decorator went for Mother's Day and said their ovens weren't working and the food was cold. I do want to try it sometime, but may wait for a date night or one of these many ladies nights out I may try at some point.
Rich ate at The Red Barn recently and said it was pretty good. It was your typical continental cuisine, but a Westport landmark-as the Inn is a Weston landmark. That's a possibility. He said he did see a kid's menu, which is always a good sign.
The Georgetown Saloon is a place I keep thinking we'll take my parents. I think it's a bit too honky tonk for Rich's parents. We went on a Sunday night for family night and had a ball. They had a guy playing kid's music and singing and the kids were all up dancing. Rich and I stopped in one night and immediately walked out and headed across the street to Donna Marie's. That was quite good, but didn't have great accoustics. That's also a place I'd hesitate to go with kids. Although, they do have kids' nights, I recall reading.
Rich's parents have already been to Orem's Diner. This is by far our favorite diner in the area. We'll probably go there for breakfast before they leave in the morning. The Sherwood Diner is ok, but is small and the food isn't as good.
I love the carmelized onion pizza at Bertucci's and love how they give kids dough to play with. But, it's not much on atmosphere.
Toozy Pasta in Wilton is fun. We went and sat outside one night and had pizza. It was quite good. There is another place next door that shares the same patio that also looked cute. It's tricky finding these places as they're behind the CVS.
Portofino in Wilton is also good and surprisingly kid-friendly. Hmm, that's an idea for tonight! Remember that when you go it's cash only!
Another place I'd like to try is Coco Bongos. I don't think that would be good for the grandparents, but maybe for Father's Day. I read that dads get a free entree tomorrow!
I could go on and on as we eat out way too much, but I must get ready for our guests! Oh, that also requires that Rich go to Gold's Deli for "deli" for lunch! If you haven't been there, they've got real NY Jewish deli food-it's across from Trader Joe's in Westport. It's also very expensive!
Hmm, was thinking The Beach Cafe. I went there on a girls night out once and liked it a lot. I don't drink, but had a pomegranate cosmo-yum! This place has a fun, beachy atmosphere, that reminds me of the Beach Club in Disney World. They have movie nights for kids Thursday and Friday nights. So, I'm thinking since it's Saturday night we should go somewhere else and head there on a Thurs or Fri!
http://www.beachcafefairfield.com/
We've never been to Cobb's Mill Inn, which is debatable whether it's kid-friendly. I read a blog about a woman who went there with her husband and had a lovely time and then with her in-laws and kids and didn't have such a great time. Our decorator went for Mother's Day and said their ovens weren't working and the food was cold. I do want to try it sometime, but may wait for a date night or one of these many ladies nights out I may try at some point.
Rich ate at The Red Barn recently and said it was pretty good. It was your typical continental cuisine, but a Westport landmark-as the Inn is a Weston landmark. That's a possibility. He said he did see a kid's menu, which is always a good sign.
The Georgetown Saloon is a place I keep thinking we'll take my parents. I think it's a bit too honky tonk for Rich's parents. We went on a Sunday night for family night and had a ball. They had a guy playing kid's music and singing and the kids were all up dancing. Rich and I stopped in one night and immediately walked out and headed across the street to Donna Marie's. That was quite good, but didn't have great accoustics. That's also a place I'd hesitate to go with kids. Although, they do have kids' nights, I recall reading.
Rich's parents have already been to Orem's Diner. This is by far our favorite diner in the area. We'll probably go there for breakfast before they leave in the morning. The Sherwood Diner is ok, but is small and the food isn't as good.
I love the carmelized onion pizza at Bertucci's and love how they give kids dough to play with. But, it's not much on atmosphere.
Toozy Pasta in Wilton is fun. We went and sat outside one night and had pizza. It was quite good. There is another place next door that shares the same patio that also looked cute. It's tricky finding these places as they're behind the CVS.
Portofino in Wilton is also good and surprisingly kid-friendly. Hmm, that's an idea for tonight! Remember that when you go it's cash only!
Another place I'd like to try is Coco Bongos. I don't think that would be good for the grandparents, but maybe for Father's Day. I read that dads get a free entree tomorrow!
I could go on and on as we eat out way too much, but I must get ready for our guests! Oh, that also requires that Rich go to Gold's Deli for "deli" for lunch! If you haven't been there, they've got real NY Jewish deli food-it's across from Trader Joe's in Westport. It's also very expensive!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Quassy Recap
Before I hit the hay with a cotton-candy induced tummy ache, I had to take a minute to report on our adventure.
We hit the road by 5 and took the Merritt. Of course, it was backed up so we didn't get to Quassy til 6:15-would take around 51 mins without traffic.
We purchased $10 worth of tickets and headed in and just started riding rides. It was a gorgeous night and the park is right on a small lake. We enjoyed the carnival, small-town feel of the park, but most of the clientele left something to be desired. Let's just say there were lots of tattoos and smoking.
We had dinner, which consisted of mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. I just ate what the kids didn't eat. That all came to around $16.50-with a soda for Rich. The kids meals do come with Quassy frisbees, which is an added bonus. Although, I got tired of carrying them around!
Rich got several 50 cent hot dogs for himself. The park wasn't too crowded, but we did have to wait for the hot dogs (and later, cotton candy) and for some of the rides. They didn't have enough staff and some of the rides were handled by one person, which meant they took turns running the different rides.
Later we got the 25 cent cotton candy-5 bags per family, which we did take advantage of. Ugh-I ate two whole bags before we got home. Rich had fried dough and Lola had a lollipop. Rich said the dough wasn't that good.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience and we would do it again. We did spend about $40 for the night (including $5 for parking), but have about $3 left in tickets to use another Friday night. The worst part was getting home so late and having hungry kids that had napped either going or coming and then getting them to bed. Lola was in bed by 10:45. Hopefully they'll both sleep in tomorrow!
We hit the road by 5 and took the Merritt. Of course, it was backed up so we didn't get to Quassy til 6:15-would take around 51 mins without traffic.
We purchased $10 worth of tickets and headed in and just started riding rides. It was a gorgeous night and the park is right on a small lake. We enjoyed the carnival, small-town feel of the park, but most of the clientele left something to be desired. Let's just say there were lots of tattoos and smoking.
We had dinner, which consisted of mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. I just ate what the kids didn't eat. That all came to around $16.50-with a soda for Rich. The kids meals do come with Quassy frisbees, which is an added bonus. Although, I got tired of carrying them around!
Rich got several 50 cent hot dogs for himself. The park wasn't too crowded, but we did have to wait for the hot dogs (and later, cotton candy) and for some of the rides. They didn't have enough staff and some of the rides were handled by one person, which meant they took turns running the different rides.
Later we got the 25 cent cotton candy-5 bags per family, which we did take advantage of. Ugh-I ate two whole bags before we got home. Rich had fried dough and Lola had a lollipop. Rich said the dough wasn't that good.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience and we would do it again. We did spend about $40 for the night (including $5 for parking), but have about $3 left in tickets to use another Friday night. The worst part was getting home so late and having hungry kids that had napped either going or coming and then getting them to bed. Lola was in bed by 10:45. Hopefully they'll both sleep in tomorrow!
Quassy Deal
I was just reminded about this great deal. Since we're not having our BBQ tonight because of all the rain, maybe we'll head to Quassy! It's 25 cent night!
http://http://www.quassy.com/about_press_detail.asp?id=189
http://http://www.quassy.com/about_press_detail.asp?id=189
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