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Lawn seating at SPAC.

Anyway you define it, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is the most family friendly place to indulge mom introduce children to the performing arts. A couple of years ago, SPAC introduced themed nights like Family Night, American Girl Night, Junior Ballerina Night, et cetera, to attract more children and families to classical performances.

Free Stewart's ice cream at SPAC's Family Night.

What does family friendly mean at SPAC? Family nights are full of activities for children which this year included free Stewart’s ice cream, balloon animals (more like sculptures, they were so complex and innovative), photo magnets, a magician, a chalk art contest, and my personal favorite the children’s workshop on the lawn.

Mirielle learning from NYCB principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht.

I can now say that my daughter has danced with the New York City Ballet! After an informal question and answer session, principal dancers Daniel Ulbricht and Abi Stafford led a ballet lesson that culminated in a choreographed performance. “Performers” ranged from three to about twelve years old and anyone could join in. For those who worry about boys and the ballet, a handful of boys participated in the lesson. In fact, a four year old boy with a fantastic leap even managed to work Star Wars into the workshop, multiple times.

Rehearsing spectacular leaps with NYCB dancers Daniel Ulbricht and Abi Stafford during the children's workshop at SPAC's Family Night.

If the preshow activities aren’t enough, watching the performance from the lawn (children under 12 free) takes the stress out of squirmy, thirsty and I have to pee in the middle of act one kids. Lawn patrons are far more forgiving about talking during the performance, though this is a great time to teach good theater etiquette. (I must warn you about one usher who was so mean to kids, my husband suggested that she was trying to drive them over to her gingerbread house.  Avoid in earshot of her.)  If you’re brave, there is also standard reserved seating in the amphitheater.

A laid back picnic on the lawn at SPAC before the performance.

The real treat at SPAC is enjoying world class performances rather than the watered down, silly-ed up versions that are usually available to kids or the annual we’ll let kids come because these performances are a cash cow, Nutcracker.  I learned my classical music from Loony Toons (How can you not think of Bugs, Elmer and “Kill da Wabbit” when you hear Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries?), took only one ballet/tap class, and really know little about the world of classical arts. Yeah, I even had to google “kill da rabbit” to find out who wrote the music.

NYCB dancers and their students en point at the children's workshop at SPAC.

I do, however, enjoy watching live performances.  After multiple performances at SPAC, my  three year old daughter now loves going to the ballet and the orchestra if she can dance.  She may not grow up to be a prima ballerina (or corps de ballet) but it looks like she will grow up to be a patron and every prima ballerina needs a few thousand of those to pay her way.

Two years of FotoMagic photo magnet memories from SPAC.

Details:
Tickets: Can be purchased online or at the box office. Lawn seats are usually available before the show. Check SPAC’s website for special events or performances. If you can make it, try the August 12 Family Night with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Cirque de la Symphonie.” A circus set to classical music.

Food: Picnics on the lawn are encouraged. While vendors sell a variety of food and drink including beer and wine, avoid lines by bringing your own food and drink from town. Putnam Deli has boxed picnics for SPAC (and an adjacent wine store) or try the farmers market.

Other things to bring: Blankets or chairs (the center lawn is reserved for blankets and very short chairs), bug spray and an umbrella.

5. Medical Tourism
I have to get political here because there is health care rationing in the U.S. unless you think having to wait 4-6 months to see a dermatologist for a skin check is okay.  As someone with skin cancer I need check-ups every 3-6 months, so I found a phenomenal practice in Boston where I could book an appointment within three weeks.  Now, I make day trips to Boston working in a couple hours of shopping, sightseeing and a Niçoise salad while keeping tabs on my sun scorched skin.

Mirielle on the beach in Kennebunkport, ME.

4. Kennebunkport, Maine
Best known for the summer house of the Bush family, something about this quiet coastal town captured my heart.  Maybe it was the Northern Californian style cold beaches, a poolside filled with people wearing sun hats and reading books at least 2 inches thick, being significantly below the average age, or the pleasant walks and bike rides around town.  I can’t wait to return.

Boiling Maple Sap

3. Maple syrup (and cream and almost anything with maple in it.)
When lots of sweeteners are marketed as “all natural,” maple syrup is one of the least processed of them all.  Basically step 1, let sap drip naturally from trees; then step 2, reduce to a syrup via boiling.   In addition to finding lots of new ways to cook with maple syrup, I am learning that each sugar shack produces a very different flavor of syrup.  We have been applying our California-honed wine tasting skills across New England’s maple producers.

2. Connecticut’s own Neapolitan pizza.
While holed up in corporate housing for a few months, we ate out a lot. For a while it was looking like the only non-chain restaurants that were affordable enough for everyday meals involved meat or pizza.  All it took was a few bites of my first Frank Pepe’s Neapolitan style pizza for me to sing the praises of this wonderful food.  The Guardian newspaper actually named Frank Pepe’s as the best place to eat pizza in the world (so sorry Chicago, NYC and Naples – NOT).  I would put it a close second to our local pizza place, Harry’s but I am looking forward to visiting Naples to see how Connecticut’s own holds up to its birthplace.

Vermont countryside.

1. Vermont
Aaahhhh, just crossing the state line brings a smile to my face. After three visits in south and central Vermont, I can’t get back enough.  The landscape, the people, the food, the attitude suits me so well there may be a small cabin on a river in our future.

Top 10 Things I Discovered in New England During My First Year, #6-10

Fish Family Farm Creamery Truck

9. Knipschildt Chocolate with Jersey Cow milk.
Leaving some of the best food in the world available at my twice-weekly, year-round farmers market, I knew there had to be some local gems.  I highly recommend a Chocopologie bar (Dark chocolate, burnt caramel and Hawaiian red sea salt)  washed down with 100% Jersey cow milk from Fish Family Farm Creamery.

8. Farmer’s markets at historic homes.
Would you like some history with your hard neck garlic and macoun apples?

Dancers from the NYCB teaching ballet before a performance at SPAC.

7. Summer ballet at SPAC.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) hosts the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Philharmonic during the summer as well as a host of other events including the Saratoga Jazz Festival.  We loved watching one of the world’s premier ballet companies for only $10 on a very kid friendly lawn. Who says kids need dumbed down versions of  performing arts?

Mirielle eating blueberries off the bush in Martha's Vineyard

6. Eating blueberries off the bush.
Ker-Plink, Ker-Plank, Ker-Plunk.  While the wild blueberries from the Halifax Saturday market are the best I ever had, eating berries right off the bush on Martha’s Vineyard was pretty amazing (and delicious).

Top 10 Things I Discovered in New England During My First Year, #1-5

Maple syrup evaporator. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.

If you’ve tasted real maple syrup, you know how delectable this creamy-caramely natural sweetener is.   The pitcher on the table at the Waffle House is not real maple syrup but rather corn syrup (usually high fructose) flavored with fennugreek.  Try a side by side comparison and you will never go back to the “maple flavored” sweeteners.

Maple syrup’s role in the kitchen goes well beyond pancakes and waffles.  Anything where sugar or honey is added is territory for maple.  If a food caramelizes, maple will work there as well.  And now that I think of it, maple shows up in a meats as well.

Here is just a sample of foods where I have added maple syrup for wonderful flavor:

• The Vermont Pie I made and wrote about
• Ice creams and custards (crème brulée anyone? I haven’t made it yet but have tried it at a restaurant.)
• Morning oatmeal
• Caramelized onions (add instead of sugar to speed the process)
• Roasted winter vegetables
• Glaze on fish from cod to salmon before broiling or grilling
• Quick glaze for meats by combining applesauce, maple syrup and a little sweet white wine.
• Drizzle over poached pears.
• Add to crumbles, bettys, grunts, strudles, cobblers or pies made with fruit.

Though excited the season has begun, I am not driving down to the sugar shack to pick up 2010′s first batches.  I like my syrup dark, Grade B or Grade A Dark Amber, and that does not come until later in the season.   The first sap is light in color and  flavor.  As the season progresses, it becomes darker and stronger.

Maple syrup at a farmstand in Vermont.

Grading systems vary, but in New England you will usually find Grade A Fancy or Light Amber, Grade A Medium Amber, Grade A Dark Amber and Grade B.  The grades have nothing to do with quality but have everything to do with taste.  Grade B is usually used in cooking because the strong flavor holds up to heat.

The best way to find your favorite type of syrup is to visit one of the many maple festivals or open sugar houses this season and taste for yourself.

As a Dog (someone born in the Year of the Dog), I am looking forward to the Year of the Tiger.  You would think that ‘fighting like cats and dogs’ might not fare well for a Dog.  It will be a volatile year full of upheaval.  But this year, according to Chinese horoscope, will be big for Dogs who chose to break out of their typically cautious and unassuming role and go for the glory.    Count me in!

Chinese New Years Fireworks in Hong Kong.

Skiing Big Tupper.

Big Tupper Ski Center closed 10 years ago due to financial difficulties, but thanks to the work of local volunteers it reopened in December.  Yep, volunteers revamped the ski area and volunteers contribute to the operation.  This winter Big Tupper is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with about 2/3rds of the terrain available.

At $15 for a lift ticket, it is also an incredible bargain. That’s less than the cost of lunch at most ski areas.  (The local high school runs the concessions, so don’t worry about that at Big Tupper.) Children under six, seniors and active military ski free. With $20 equipment rental, a family of four can ski all day for less than two lift tickest at other ski areas.

A family enjoying the reopened Big Tupper Ski Center.

But wait, there’s more.  Through March 7,  lift tickets from Big Tupper are good for admission to the Wild Center, the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks (or vice versa).

I was excited to hear about the reopening of Big Tupper Ski Center because I skied there as a tween.  OK, I think I skied there as a tween.  My family was visiting Lake Placid.  Our first day we visited Whiteface.  I remember our second day we skied at a smaller area on the road home, not far from Saranac Lake.  It was low key and there was that awesome quiet where the only things you hear are wind blowing through the trees and your skis carving through the snow.

This is the Big Tupper I remember.

For more information, including directions, visit skibigtupper.org.

I share the ambition to get my family on skis.  Since meeting my husband, I have put on skis once.   In my postpartum identity crisis reflection, I realized I had spent a lot of time on skis; I had great memories of my ski trips; and skiing was one of my favorite ways to explore the outdoors.

Before a family, I was on the slopes every winter I could afford.

Before you think I could go tip to tip with Olympic hopefuls, I am a true blue skier.  That means sticking largely to the intermediate trails (blue square in U.S.)  I have been fortunate to ski a few olympic runs (the giant slalom runs are usually blue) as well as ski with competitive skiers who pushed my limits.

Pushing my limits by putting me on a snowboard.

But, I didn’t start skiing until I was 12. (Heck, I didn’t even see real snow until I was seven or eight.)   Watching kids shorter than my ski poles zip down the slopes, I saw the advantages of starting early.  That is why I am dreaming of getting my daughter on skis and watching her squeal with joy as she snowplows down the bunny slope.

Mirielle all suited up to try skiing.

Last year we tried and failed.  We, included my brother who was a competitive skier and still is an extreme skier. Not that we were looking to get Mirielle on the K-22 her first day, but, I was not expecting her to burst into tears when we snapped her boots into the bindings.  Our tactics to get her interested failed.  She preferred to dig in the snow.

Mirielle's first and only run.

This year, I am going to try again.  Her awareness of peers is growing now so visiting a local ski area on President’s Day to watch other little kids learning to ski might help.  If that doesn’t increase her interest, I think a few hours of Olympic coverage will.

As a true blue skier, I want to motivate her and enable her, but prefer a more competent instructor teach her. As with kids programs at many resorts, most ski schools start lessons at four years old.  Is it an insurance thing?  A potty training thing?  Why so late?  Vermont and Maine ski areas have a good selection of group lesson programs for three year olds.

While I prefer to try something close to home first, we will probably take a weekend trip to a neighboring state.  The upside is my husband agreed to take a ski lesson.  It will be his first time on skis so he is starting at the same place as Mirielle but a few decades older.  My dog loves the ski slopes too, so this year skiing might become a family affair.

Here’s dreaming….

Arizona
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
* The Vacation Gals

Tucson Children’s Museum
* Travel Savvy Mom

California
Bay Area Discovery Museum
* Backpack to Buggy
* Marin Mommies

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
* Backpack to Buggy
* Keeps Me Smiling

Pretend City
* Delicious Baby
* Double the Adventure

Georgia
Imagine It! Children Museum Atlanta
* The Q Family Adventures

Maryland
Chesapeake Children’s Museum
*Backpack to Buggy

Port Discovery Children’s Museum
* The Q family Adventures

Minnesota
Minnesota Children’s Museum
* Travels with Children

Missouri
The Magic House
* Mother of All Trips

Nevada
Leid Discovery Children’s Museum
*Las Vegas Baby Equipment Rentals

North Dakota
The Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm
* Travels with Children

Pennsylvania
Please Touch Museum
* Mother of All Trips
* Travels with Children

Tennessee
Creative Discovery Museum
*The Q Family Adventures

Texas
Children’s Museum of Houston
*Family Travel Guide

Utah
Discovery Gateway
*Travels with Children

Wisconsin
Madison Children’s Museum
*Mother of All Trips

Am I missing one of your reviews?  Add your link below.  Please put the name of the museum in the “Link Title” field.  I will update this list periodically.

Every two year old melts down.

I am not going to change the view of people who don’t like kids, who think they should be seen not heard, or who think they belong at the back of the plane or not on the plane at all.  I also am not going to ring in on what this mother was or was not doing to “control” or “calm” her child. I am going to call out everyone who is judging another person’s parenting.

I was recently that mom traveling solo at the Southwest gate with the two year old in a meltdown so dramatic all the forces in the universe could not calm her down.  And you know what?  I was being judged for everything I was doing or not doing to try and mitigate the situation.

My talking to her – I’m a pushover.  If I spanked her, I would be abusive.  If I drugged her with Benadryl or TV (my batteries ran out on the first leg of the trip), I was negligent.  When I carried her down the jetway under my arm in a football hold trying to cover her mouth to minimize the noise, someone was probably calling child services.

We boarded, but, if looks could kill I would not be alive today.  I sat in row six forgetting that there is a universal understanding that children should sit at the back of the airplane. The fit continued as I tried to keep her buckled in her seat.  One flight attendant kept a close watch to scold me when she wiggled out. (Or maybe throw us off the flight?) And then the plane started moving, Mirielle calmed down and fell asleep before we hit 3000 ft — just like she usually does.

To all the bloggers out there who are giving this mom advice, or calling on parents to be more respectful of other travelers, or reminding parents how to behave with kids on airplanes, or telling people to keep kids off the airplane  — you are judging this woman’s and my parenting and I don’t like it.

For those with children, I guess you have never been on a flight where your child spilled a drink, wet himself, pooped, threw up, threw something over a seat, kicked a seat, talked, screamed, cried, touched another passenger, whined, dumped food on the floor, ran up or down an aisle or really needed to jump the bathroom line?  And I bet in your regulation size carry-on there something to take care of all of those situations plus multiple hours of delays?

For those without children, I bet you have never had a cell phone conversation, worn perfume, cologne or a stinky soap, flown with a sneeze/runny nose/cough, had bad breath or body odor, used your neighbor’s seat/storage/tray/armrest as your own, spilled food or drink, watched a movie with violence/sex on your laptop, turned the volume up so everyone could share you music/movie, cursed, farted, painted your nails or consumed smelly food on an airplane?

None of us know where the line is between acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior because it is different for each of us. Most people think their view is the right one. (It can’t be, because mine is.)

I am going to keep traveling with my child in the not-so-friendly skies.  She will kick your seat, whine, squirm, run up the aisle stopping to check out what movie you are watching, and not make it to the lavatory in time.  I will try and manage her behavior when it bothers other people (if it bothers other people, it bothered me long before). I try to prevent that behavior from happening in the first place, but I fail sometimes.

When I do fail, this bad parent hopes I chase my daughter right past you to take our seats in first class on our way to visit a non-children’s museum before going out to dinner at a restaurant where they don’t have crayons.

First class is fine for kids.

A special thanks to the people standing behind me in line for carrying my backpack while I carried my daughter down the jetway.