Mother's Day Events - 5/8/09-5/10/09

Time shared with Mom would be more memorable than a last-minute gift! Fortunately, there are lots of events going on this weekend to honor her.

Don't forget the free craft classes going on all week at Michael's!

Friday, May 8

Autrey Mill is hosting a mother/daughter tea today at 4:00 p.m in their summer house. You should call to make reservations. Enjoy tea, sandwiches, and desserts, and make a tussy-mussy (Victorian flower decoration). The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members; additional siblings or grandmas are $8.

Souper Jenny, a restaurant in Buckhead, has been celebrating Mom all week. Here are today's activities:

* Raffle for VIP Car Delivery Service: You can call in your order, no matter how small, and we

will bring it to your car!

* Homemade chocolates for Mom

* Free 5 minute "Massage for Mom" with Wendy

* Make your own Mother's Day cards on the patio

* We continue to create our Mommy Memorial Garden

Saturday, May 9

Zoo Atlanta's Nightcrawler for the month has a special mother and child theme. In the Nightcrawler program, parents and children stay overnight at the zoo, learn about the animals, have a scavenger hunt in the reptile house, and visit the zoo the next day. It's for ages 6 and up and starts at 6:00 p.m.

Make a Mother's Day craft at Autrey Mill between 10-1. The cost is $5, and it's appropriate for ages 4 and up. This is a drop-off activity, but littler ones may need a parent to stay and help. It will take an hour to complete the project.

Various Borders bookstores are celebrating a Mother's Day party at 1:00 p.m. Crafts, books, and songs will show Mom how special she is. This program is aimed at kids from 1-10. Call your local Border's to make sure they are having this activity.

Souper Jenny in Buckhead hosts Mamapalooza!

*Local retailers set up shop right out front so you can eat and shop for those last minute

Mother's Day gifts!

*Free cupcake decorating!

*Make your own Mother's Day cards and help create the Mommy Memorial Garden.

At the Georgia Renaissance Festival, the first 100 moms through the gate receive flowers.

Boling Park in Canton celebrates Mother's Day with an Indian Festival and Mother's Day Pow-Wow. There's an Indian Festival at the Cumming Fairgrounds this weekend, too, but with no Mother's Day theme. The cost is $9.00 for adults, $5.00 for children, and free for children 5 and under. It runs from 11:00-9:00 on Saturday and 11:00-7:00 on Sunday.

Sunday, May 10

Imagine It! in Atlanta has "Marigolds for Mommy" at 1:00 p.m. Hear a story about mommies, then decorate a flower pot and plant marigolds for Mom.

Take Mom to see some masterpieces at the High Museum - admission is half-price on Mother's Day!

Here's an article for the best Mother's Day brunches in Atlanta. Access Atlanta has reader and staff recommendations as well.

Monday Reviews - Yellow River Game Ranch

The Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, GA is a rustic wildlife ranch. Walk along the mile-long trail and encounter hundreds of animals - mostly forest and farm animals. You can feed many of them, t00: everything from the typical farm animals like goats and sheep to deer! Feeding deer from your hand is unforgettable.

Other animals you will see are black bears, a mountain lion, owls, foxes, buffalo, donkeys, and pigs. I have great pictures from our multiple trips to the ranch, so don't forget your camera.

Check the calendar for all the fun events; there is something going on almost every month of the year. You can see Georgia's own groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, all year - but you may want to visit him on Groundhog Day to find out how long winter will last. Spring time brings baby animals, and May 23, 2009, will be sheep shearing day.

The Ranch is definitely rustic. The habitats range from completely natural to large cages, which are not as aesthetically pleasing. You'll hear the donkeys braying wherever you are - it's hilarious!

Yellow River Game Ranch is open every day except major holidays. Under 2 is free; 2-11 costs $7.00; and 12 and up costs $8.00. There is a coupon in the Entertainment Book. The hours are 10-5 M-F and 9:30-6:00 Sa/Su. The last ticket is sold one hour before closing.

Good to know: You can bring a lunch to eat on picnic tables, but you would probably want to wash your hands with more than hand sanitizer before eating. Close to the entrance is a Sonic, which is great for a cold drink after a long hot visit with the animals. You'll walk through a very tempting gift store to enter and exit the Ranch. You can bring food to feed the animals, but YRGR also sells it very affordably. Carrots, saltine crackers, and peanuts are best.

Free Mother's Day Classes at Michael's

From now until Mother's Day, your children can make a gift for Mom at Michael's Arts and Crafts - and it's free!

The weekend classes start at 1:00, and the weeknight ones start at 6:00. Some classes require a purchase such as a t-shirt or frame, but most are completely free. If you ARE Mom, your kids can make a project for Grandma.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Visit Frontier Days at Stone Mountain Park this weekend (April 30 - May 3)! There are lots of pre-Revolutionary War, pioneer, and Civil War demonstrations, from weapons to cooking to medicine to cavalry. This event takes place at the Antebellum Plantation.

The programs run from 9:00-2:00 each day. The cost is $10 per person, and you can add on more attractions (such as the scenic railway) for a small fee. See the link above for more details.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Cagles's Dairy Farm is in Hickory Flats, GA - near Canton. It's a real working farm that offers dairy and garden tours. The other dairy tour in Georgia is Mayfield Dairy, which shows the factory side of dairy production. Cagle's shows the more idyllic cows and meadows part.

Dairy tours are 9:30, 10:00, and 11:00 on Tuesdays through Fridays. The dairy tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours. You'll be taken on a hayride to see the cows and the herding border collie. Afterwards, children will have a chance to feed a baby cow and goats. They'll see a cow be milked and learn how milk gets from the cow to the grocery store. At the end of the tour, children will get a 1/2 pint of chocolate milk. The cost is $7.00 for ages 2-92.

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Garden tours in the spring and summer highlight the vegetables grown on the farm. Walk through the gardens and harvest a vegetable or two; go home with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a 1/2 pint of chocolate milk. Cagle's Dairy donates thousands of pounds of food to a local food bank and sells its produce at a Saturday farmer's market. The garden tours are 9:30, 10:00, and 11:00 Tuesdays-Friday, and the cost is $7.00. The suggested age range for this tour is 7-12, but all ages are welcome.

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Good to know: Reservations are required for groups - there is a form on the website. For individuals, it's best to call ahead to make sure a tour is scheduled that you can join: call 770.345.5591.

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Cagle's Dairy is about 8 miles from Tanglewood Farms. If you are taking Hwy 20 to get there, you'll see a Kroger with a McDonald's, Waffle House, and Subway before you get there.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

It's fair and festival season!

Yaraab Shrine Circus and Carnival in Marietta

Kids Helping Kids Carnival in Johns Creek

Inman Park Festival in Atlanta

Friday, April 24, 2009

Today offers several choices of plays and musicals for the family.

Kudzu Sprouts has its last Friday showing of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $6.50.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is showing at the Fabulous Fox Theater. Tickets start at $28.00 at the box office

The Youth Ensemble of Atlanta is performing Jeremy and the Lie at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are $10.

The Off Broadway Children's Theater in Alpharetta shows Honk! (The Ugly Duckling) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 for kids and $10.00 for adults.