Louisville Family Fun Events & Things to Do

Review of Monster Jam at Freedom Hall in Louisville

2012-01-28T00:02:00.001-05:00

My husband and I had the pleasure of taking our 5 year old son to Monster Jam tonight, Friday January 27th at Louisville, Ky’s Freedom Hall. I have not been to a monster truck show since I was a young teen and this was my husband and son’s first in-person show. We arrived and paid the Ky Expo Center $8 parking fee and got to the front a few minutes before the gates opened at 6:30pm. Once inside, we easily found our seats, which were a little off from center and had a great view. Most seats seem to have good views because of the shape of the arena. We had some time before the show started so we were glad they had some pre-show entertainment, including “old school” style trucks from skyhighriders, some small remote controlled trucks trying to go up the mounds of dirt monster truck style, a man throwing a neat boomerang style which sometimes members of the crowd might catch and be able to keep during breaks, and some 4 wheelers that came out and drove the track to show us the paths. The well-spoken announcer told us what to expect and explained the judging process. There was a thoughtful salute to service men and women and the National Anthem. We were already entertained and it was just now time for the real fun- and noise- to begin!

The truck my son most easily recognizes because we used to live not terribly far from his “Dungeon” and sometimes would stop by to see other trucks and his shop, Grave Digger, was in another Monster Truck Jam on the East Coast this weekend so we did not get to see him. The other trucks were so fantastic that we had no trouble getting excited about them instead though. We cheered as we found out one of the drivers, Derick Anson in Heavy Hitter, is from right here in Louisville!

Talk about action-packed! The loud noises alone thrill most kids (and many dads!), but you can also buy special headsets to help muffle the sound or go with good old-fashioned ear plugs. The headsets they sell at the show were super cute and shaped like big monster truck tires. My son was a little fearful of the thought of noise, even with ear plugs, and we were just about to go see about buying a headset when a really nice fan next to use offered to let him wear her unused plain one. After that, my son uncovered his ears and had an absolute ball!

The show kept all of us really involved almost the entire time. The only “down time” is in between types of events, but they have other entertainment during the first two and suggest using the longer third one as an intermission to stretch, use the restroom, or grab food, drink, or souvenirs. We enjoyed the 4 wheelers and Motorcross in between monster truck events almost as much as the monster trucks! They even had fun giveaways in between and encouraged the crowd to get loud and dance to win prizes. The main events included some opening stunts, racing, and the very popular freestyle event. We enjoyed each of those and my son was mesmerized watching how high in the air some of the trucks go as they make their way over giant dirt mounds and old junked cars.

You can tell how professional and how much practice these drivers have to do to perform these awesome tricks and stunts. My son already plays Monster trucks with his official toys and other trucks and cars and I am sure that play will increase significantly this week. He is already talking about when he’ll be old enough to do bike stunts or drive a big truck, so just remember to remind your little ones that they are all done by pros and not anything to try at home just yet!

They had numerous souvenirs for sale, like monster truck hat cotton candy and souvenir cup snow cones for $15 each, the boomerang style toy for $20, several t-shirts, and my son’s choice, a nice quality $5 checkered flag. There were lots of concession choices if you needed a snack, but we stopped for an inexpensive fast dinner on our way to Freedom Hall and were not hungry enough to try anything, even though the soft pretzels and flavored popcorn sure looked tasty.

Overall, we had a fabulous time and made some fun family memories together with a relaxed family crowd who seemed to move around more often than not, so between that and the loud trucks, you have no fear of your little ones disturbing anyone. I loved all of the stunts, but really enjoyed watching some of the monster trucks preform doughnuts. It is quite a sight! Many people waited in line at some tables near the front entrance where the announcer said all of the drivers would be a few minutes after the show for autographs.

Regular tickets for upper or lower level seating are $22 adults and $5 kids ages 2-12, plus fees, in advance and add on $2 for buying them the day of the show. You can buy them at Freedom Hall for Saturday, January 28th’s events and usually through Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets also usually available at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky International Convention Center, KFC Yum! Center, and participating Kroger locations.

There are some great additional options for Saturday’s event. You might still be able to get a free Pit Pass from friends who maybe cannot use ones that they picked up before January 26th at area Advance Auto stores. If you missed getting the free ones and cannot find a friend with any to share, you can buy them for $10 Adults/$5 kids through the Freedom Hall Box Office and ticketmaster.com while supplies last. You’ll need your ticket for the main event, plus the Pit Pass to enter early for the 5-6:30pm Pit Party before gates open at 6:30pm for the main event at 7:30pm. The Pit Party is a time to see the trucks closer, meet some drivers, and maybe even score an autograph if you do not mind waiting!

Or if you really are up for a treat, you might get lucky enough to still be able to buy a Total Access Pass so you can avoid the lines, skip the crowds and enjoy VIP access Saturday evening. They sell a VERY limited number of these so if you missed your chance this year, remember to buy in advance next time they come to town. This $65 pass gets you the best seats and exclusive access to drivers with a private meet and greet from 4:00PM - 5:00PM before the more crowded Pit Party begins.

Go get you tickets and ear protection now so you do not have to wait until they come back to town! You might want to dress warmly under your coat since the arena seemed to be cooled off sometimes as the trucks heated up the track. If you simply can’t make it to tonight’s show, go to http://www.mosterjam.com/ to see if they are coming to another city you might be able to enjoy them in or for when they come back to Louisville next. You can get on their email list and follow them on social networking too so you get advance notice.
My family can hardly wait for the next time they come to town!

By guest contributor: Angela

Things to do in and around Louisville this weekend January 27,28,29

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Monster Jam: Friday and Saturday night at Freedom Hall at 7:30

Main Library Wild Wild Rumpus Saturday from 11-1:30 FREE! Story time from Stage One Children's Theater and crafts too!

Louisville Visual Arts Associations "Parent's Day Out" suggestion! Calligraphy adult education class - $20 for workshop (supplies provided) and go home with a Valentine's Day themed piece and calligraphy markers.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stephanie

Parent's Night Out - J. Harrod's Restaurant & Bar in Prospect

2012-01-26T10:00:00.001-05:00

My husband and I wanted to get away for just a little but to have a quiet dinner without reminding kids to sit down or stop banging the forks and cleaning up spilled juice. We chose J. Harrod's because we had a coupon, it was close to home so we didn't eat up babysitter time with driving and it is a locally owned restaurant.

J. Harrod's is in Prospect just west of 42 on River Road. It is a cozy venue with a fireplace in the middle, friendly hosts and attentive wait staff. We went on a Friday night at 6:30 and the restaurant was quite full, they do accept reservations, but we were seated promptly even though we didn't have reservations. However, if you want a fireplace spot, you might call for reservations and request it! That would have been really nice.

The menu was a nice balance of pastas, chicken, pork, beef and more. I really liked the Kentucky flare they put in some of the entrees like the option of a hot brown or the rib eye steak my husband ordered brushed with Maker's Mark or maybe Bourbon Bread Pudding for dessert. When it's a locally owned place, I find browsing a menu particularly fun! I chose the chicken piccata with mashed potatoes and green beans. I ordered a glass of wine (reasonable prices) and my husband ordered a beer (very reasonable prices). Our waitress was knowledgeable and timely.

The atmosphere was really inviting since it was decorated with local charm and dim for evening ambiance. Everyone there was really enjoying their dining experience, laughing and talking. It was a lovely place. We waited for our meal and enjoyed the bread and drinks. When the food arrived, it looked wonderful and indeed, it tasted just as good. My husband was really pleased with his steak, the cut and flavor, and it was cooked just like he asked. My chicken piccata was delicious with just enough sauce. We both really liked the beans. Yes, green bean can be memorable! They were great! Everything else was perfect. We really had nothing bad to say about our experience at all.

Again, we had a coupon so our meal was very well priced. In all, it would have been around $50 for our meal and 2 drinks plus tip. For a classy, locally owned restaurant, I think that is very reasonable for a date night and a wonderfully prepared meal.

We went to the bar after our meal for one more drink and some conversation before heading back to put the kids to bed. Sometimes, we choose to just go out to dinner since I tend to worry when other people put the kids to bed. It's still nice to get out for 1.5 hours, relax and recharge! The bar was simple. The bartender grew up in Prospect and chatted with us for a bit. She asked how long we'd lived in the area and where we moved from, it was refreshing to be at a nice place with such nice people.

We will definitely return to J. Harrod's and maybe on your next date night, we'll see you there!

Stephanie

"Parent's Night Out" is a new regular feature on Louisville Family Fun. At least twice a month, we will come to you will ideas to get out with your spouse, partner or friends. These ideas will feature activities at different price points and cover locations throughout the Louisville metro area as well as overnight/day trip getaways. Enjoy!

CONTEST! Party Catering from Salsaritas Fresh Cantina

2012-01-25T10:39:00.000-05:00

Recently, I tried Salsaritas Fresh Cantina in St. Matthews and wrote a review, you can read it here. I just loved it and thought, wouldn't it be fun to bring that delicious food to one of my readers!

Salsaritas is not only going to give YOU a meal, but they are going to give you enough for a PARTY! There's this little game coming up called the Super Bowl and there's these basketball teams around here that will be participating in some MARCH MADNESS and wouldn't it be nice to have a catered party for the big games?!?!

Bring your appetite and Salsarita's will bring the REST!

With hot food, cool toppings and complete serviceware… Salsaritas supplies everything you need to make them SAY “WOW” at your next business meeting, social gathering or family get together.
Prepared with only the freshest ingredients!

The winner will get a to redeem for your Party from Salsaritas and LOUISVILLE FAMILY FUN!!
(Redemption value: Party of 15)

Louisville Family Fun Pass Holders can send a photo of their Fun Pass to bonus@louisvillefamilyfun.net with the subject SALARITAS for 3 bonus entries! Send it before the contest closes!

Stephanie

WINNER! Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Tickets!

2012-01-24T13:14:00.000-05:00

Amanda Elliott is the winner of 4 tickets to the 7:30 show at Freedom Hall!

Amanda, email info@louisvillefamilyfun.net to claim your prize!

Monster Jam, here she comes!

VROOOOOOM!!

In addition to going to the show,

you can go see the trucks on

Thursday the 26th for free!

From the Monster Jam website:

Come check out Maximum Destruction at Advance Auto Parts in Louisville, KY!
Thursday, January 26th from 2:00PM - 6:00PM
Advance Auto Parts is located at 294 Market Place Dr, Louisville, KY 40229
Phone: (502) 955-6949
Subject to change without notice.

Come check out Full Boar at Advance Auto Parts in Shelbyville, KY!
Thursday, January 26th from 2:00PM - 6:00PM
Advance Auto Parts is located at 172 Boone Station Rd, Shelbyville, KY 40065
Phone: (502) 633-9696
Subject to change without notice.

Come check out Heavy Hitter at Advance Auto Parts in Crestwood, KY!
Thursday, January 26th from 2:00PM - 6:00PM
Advance Auto Parts is located at 6402 Lagrange Rd, Crestwood, KY 40014
Phone: (502) 241-6244
Subject to change without notice.

Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World comes to the Louisville Science Center

2012-01-23T10:00:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to preview the new exhibit at the Louisville Science Center - Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World. Last in Orlando, this exhibit comes to Kentuckiana from January 22 to April 22 and will teach children about sounds waves and history and wow parents with some really cool instruments.

The exhibit features guitars of all shapes, styles and from varies period in history. All along the walls of the exhibit area and at some kiosks, there are cased guitars with descriptions about their impact, history and value. There are modern electric guitars and over 100 year old guitars worth thousands and thousands of dollars. There's even a guitar made from an armadillo shell that will surely interest the kids.

As you tour the guitars to read about them and wonder at the creativity that went into making them or the science behind their sound, the kids can explore the hands-on features of the exhibit. There are several spots where kids can stop, strum, bang and stretch chords to experiment in making different sounds or learn about sounds wave frequency. One of these spots is the world largest playable guitar! Families and friends can work together to press on strings and pull on them to make music. There are also computer/TV kiosks throughout where kids can play games to create their own guitar or wave their hands over pictures of different guitars to hear their sounds.

When I was touring the exhibit, I definitely spotted the hand-on activities and which ones my children would like but I also thought this exhibit would be great to tour on my own or for a date night. On Fridays and Saturdays after 5pm, admission to the Louisville Science Center is just $5. Most of us would think of this museum as something we have to take our kids to, but with this exhibit, I see an additional opportunity for a Friday or Saturday night inexpensive date night option for heading there after dinner to browse the cool guitars!

Admission to the Louisville Science Center is: free for members, $13 for non-member adults, and $11 for non-member children ages 2-12.
Stephanie

Personal Opinion, Inc. wants you to get PAID for your opinion!

2012-01-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered how companies decide how to change their products’ logos, packaging or even the scents and colors on everything from diapers to pizza to laundry detergent? Well, the answer is market research. Many companies rely on focus groups, product testing, taste testing and interviews with consumers to determine exactly what those consumers want to buy.

Personal Opinion, Inc. is a local market research company that helps put those manufacturers in touch with the consumers they are seeking, and gives consumers a way to make a little extra money for providing their opinion.

For example, this week (January 22,2012) Personal Opinion is seeking moms with girls age 4-8 for a toy study coming up this weekend. The kids get to look at pictures of toys and games on a computer, give their opinion, and receive a toy valued at $20 for their time. Another upcoming study is for moms of babies in diapers, where over 200 consumers will be asked to evaluate baby products and get paid for doing so.

Consumers can join the Personal Opinion panel by calling 502-899-2400, logging on to the web site at www.personalopinion.com or stopping by 999 Breckenridge Lane.

Established in 1960, Personal Opinion is still family-owned and operated in St. Matthews, right off Breckenridge Lane in the unique Spanish stucco building behind WW Cousin’s restaurant. A member in good standing in the Better Business Bureau (A+ rating), the company is well-known and well-respected in the research field. Personal Opinion will never sell your name or information and will never ask you for anything but your honest opinion.

Manufacturers are very careful to make sure that consumers are well-represented across every demographic, so that they can best keep their products or services up to date. When manufacturers need a particular “segment” of the population, consumers’ names are pulled from the database according to age, gender, ethnicity or other specific quotas.

A typical focus group discussion room

Personal Opinion’s professional team of telephone recruiters then calls to see if a consumer qualifies and is available and interested in a particular study. They always let you know when and where the study will be held, and how much you would be paid for your participation. Incentives range widely, depending on the length of the group and if there is any pre-work (such as trying diapers for a week or keeping a diary of your shopping). Consumers can commonly make anywhere from $40 or $50 for an hour-long focus group, to several hundred dollars for an all-day discussion group.

A typical computer test set-up

So if you are interested in getting paid for your opinion, call 899-2400 or click on http://www.personalopinion.com/ and join the consumer database. Your opinion is very important, and like they say: Everybody has one, we want yours!

This is a sponsored post advertisement

WINNER! 4 Big Splash Adventure Day Passes + $20 gas card

2012-01-21T20:32:00.000-05:00

You all came out in record numbers to enter to win this great prize! It surely will be some warm fun in this blustery weather and I am thrilled to announce that the winner of the 4 Big Splash Adventure Day passes + $20 gas card is........

Kendra Henry!

Please email me at info@louisvillefamilyfun.net to claim your prize!

CONTEST! 4 Tickets to see Monster Jam at Freedom Hall

2012-01-21T13:00:00.006-05:00

Advance Auto Parts - MONSTER JAM is coming to Louisville!

Friday, January 27: 7:30PM and Saturday, January 28: 7:30PM     *Doors Open 1 Hour Prior to Event

TICKETS:
Adults: $22
Kids: $5 (Ages 2-12) That's a great deal!!!

Total Access Pass: $65
(Total Access Pass available for Saturday only. Includes Best Seats and access to a Private Meet & Greet)
Facility, Handling, and Convenience fees may apply. All seats $2 more day of show.

TICKET OUTLETS:
Freedom Hall Box Office, All Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

PARTY IN THE PITS:
Saturday, January 28th 5:00PM – 6:30PM   -   Meet the drivers, take pictures, and get their autographs.
Pit passes available for FREE at Advance Auto Parts. Also available through the box office or Ticketmaster for additional fee.   Must have Saturday event ticket and pit pass to enter. Space is limited so arrive early!

HAMPTON’S TRUCK LINE UP:
Maximum Destruction, Wolverine, Samson, Raminator, Rammunition, Full Boar, Mechanical Mischief, and Heavy Hitter!
*Trucks subject to change without notice.

FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ONTO http://www.monsterjam.com/

We are giving away 4 tickets

to the Friday night show!

Louisville Family Fun Pass holders can email a photo of their pass (once) to bonus@louisvillefamilyfun.net to receive 3 bonus entries. Please put MONSTER JAM in the subject.

Louisville Family Fun is a Feld Family Ambassador and in exchange for our time and efforts, Feld Entertainment has provided a Louisville Family Fun writer with tickets to the show. Louisville Family Fun is the sponsor of this contest, Feld Entertainment provided the tickets for this contest but is neither a sponsor nor endorser of this promotion.

Things to do in and around Louisville this weekend January 20,21,22

2012-01-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

What's going on this weekend??? I'll let you know about some things to do with your kids in this short video!

Warning: I am not wearing make-up, you may want to squint your eyes!

Read more about open skating at Alpine Ice Arena by clicking HERE

Click HERE for more information about The Great Train Expo

Stephanie

Things to do in and around Louisville for Valentine's Day

2012-01-19T01:00:00.001-05:00

There's lots to do for Valentine's Day around Louisville!

This post is sponsored by Fuzziwig's Candy Factory

Take them to a show at the Derby Dinner Playhouse or out to the movies and make it a special little "date" for just Mom and kiddo or Daddy and kiddo....or better yet, make it a family date!

Take them to the Paint Spot or The Artist in You and they can paint a picture frame. Plan ahead and have it ready by Valentine's Day. Then, on Valentine's Day, give them their frame with a picture of your child and you inside and a write out a special card for them!

Take them to Fuzziwig's Candy Factory to pick out their own special chocolate treats! They can pick from their favorite bulk candy or something special from the hand-dipped chocolate case!

After dinner on Valentine's Day, treat the family to chocolate fondue at home!

Kids ages 6 and up can make some pottery at the Douglass Community Center on February 4th from 1-3pm. $10 per piece.

Make some cookies at the Brave Hearts Bash to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital heart patients. It's on February 4th from 1-4pm in the Erskine Community Center. Contact them for more details.

Pottery Barn Kids has a Doll Tea Party on February 11th at 3 and 4 pm. RSVP is required. Kids dress up and bring their favorite doll or stuffed animal and enjoy refreshments, stories and crafts!

Family Drop-In Workshop at The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft Shrink Film Valentine Gifts Monday, February 13 11:00 – 2:00pm • $6 per person Explore the magic of shrink film while creating a Valentine themed magnet or piece of jewelry and make a gift bag too!

Want an extra special date with your loved one and don't really mind spending a little extra? Corbett's is a local restaurant that is well-known for delicious food. They have a special lunch and dinner planned. It would be a date night to remember.

For a classic Kentuckiana event, cruise together on The Spirit of Jefferson from 7-9pm on February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stephanie

CONTEST! Family 4 pack of day passes to BIG SPLASH ADVENTURE + GAS

2012-01-17T13:54:00.002-05:00

Rain, wind, tornado warnings, snow....Kentuckiana weather has been wild lately. But, it's a warm 85 degrees inside of the Big Splash Adventure Water Park in French Lick, Indiana and we have a wonderful prize for you!

We have 4 day passes that we are going to give away and even better, we are going to throw in a $20 gift card for gas so you can get there and back!

(note, these passes are good through 5/1/12)

Louisville Family Fun Pass holders can email a photo of their pass to bonus@louisvillefamilyfun.net for 4 bonus entries, put BIG SPLASH in the subject. Don't have a LouFamFun Pass? You can get one for just $10-click HERE

You can read my reviews of the water park linked here: Review 1 and Review 2

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GOOD LUCK!
Stephanie

The Mommy Nest Mondays - Are you keeping up with your resolutions?

2012-01-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

Well, we are two weeks into 2012! How are you keeping up with those New Year’s resolutions? If you are right on track, good for you! Keep at it! If you feel like you have already given up though, take another look! Ask yourself if your goals are attainable, or are there perhaps too many! Maybe re-think it and choose one or two that are really important to you.

One of the best ways to work on your resolution is to make sure you have an outline of what and how you want to do it and keep is posted somewhere to constantly remind you to keep at it. Hang it somewhere that you see every day. Maybe the refrigerator door, or the bathroom mirror. Another tip for keeping a positive outlook is to remember your resolution in everything you do. If you are committed to organization, try to look for ideas and make yourself little reminder notes with quotes, inspirational sayings, and pictures. If you love being online, visit sites that have helpful tips on home organization and print out just one every week! If you like looking through magazines, look for photos of ideas you want to incorporate into your home and cut them out and hang them where you can see them.

Telling people what your plans are will also keep you going! It sort of creates this illusion of someone holding you accountable. If you are talking about what you want to accomplish out loud, chances are, you will feel the need to also want to prove to those same people that you did it! And, it’s okay to brag about your accomplishments, it may just even inspire someone else to want to do the same!

If you have an off week (like maybe the last two weeks have been?) don’t get upset and quit. It’s ok to have a bad week, just pick yourself up and keep going, you will still be that much further along than you were when you began. Creating a timeline now and keeping notes or taking photos of your progress can help with this. When you feel like giving up, you can look back and see how much you have already accomplished, even if it wasn’t as quickly as you once anticipated.

Additionally, be sure to reward yourself in little ways once in awhile. If you have dieted for a month, it’s ok to have that one piece of chocolate. If you have spent every weekend for the last 6 focusing on home organization projects, it’s ok to take one weekend off and just relax. If you aren’t sure yet if you are going to be able to stick to your new year’s resolution or not yet, give it at least another week. Many believe it takes at least 3 weeks for a new frame of mind to really take hold and for you to make it part of who you are!

By Guest Contributor:
Whitney from The Mommy Nest

My Gym Louisville - re-opening on Shelbyville Road in Middletown

2012-01-16T10:00:00.007-05:00

My Gym Children's Fitness Center is re-opening in Middletown at 11800 Shelbyville Rd (502-298-1081 mygymkentucky@gmail.com) in the same shopping center as Ben Franklin Crafts and Taste of Kentucky. It is tucked in the corner of the shopping center and they had an open house this weekend so my family went to explore.

My Gym is a modest sized children's play and fitness gym that caters to children from when they are infants up until they are 13 years old. The classes for babies through about 3 are all parent participation classes and the classes for kids a little over 3 and up are independent classes. This is a place that you can come with your child and as they grow, you won't need to find another location! And, they have classes everyday except Sunday at a variety of times to fit your schedule.

They are still in the process of setting up and getting all of their equipment but we were able to get the idea of what they have to offer. We arrived and took our shoes off and stored our stuff in a cubby. Mr. Bill, the owner and instructor, welcomed us and my kids did not stop to say hi, instead running off to play. The floors are padded and soft and the equipment was spread out, it was not cramped. They have climbing structures throughout, even on the wall. They have a small ball pit that got a ton of attention from my daughter and my son got a kick out of going for a roll in a soft spherical tumbler.

All of the kids were having a great time and they had staff there to tell people about classes and monitor the children, they were friendly and helpful. During classes, they have a zip line that I saw that will certainly be a blast and they also bring in other items that they hang from the ceiling, like swings. We attended an open house, but the classes are more structured for age-appropriate play and fitness levels.

Mr. Bill informed me that they are waiving their $75 lifetime membership fee for the month of January! The classes for children 13months and younger are 45 minutes and the fee is $30 every four weeks. The rest of the classes for kids 14months to 13 years old are 1 hour and the fee is $60 every four weeks. Fees include one class per week and you can pop in for free play on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Also, you can get a 10% discount if you enroll in a second class and twins can enroll for 50% off for the 2nd child. You can enroll at any time and if you are looking to enroll after January, the Louisville Family Fun Pass offers a $25 discount off of the Lifetime Membership fee and one free class!

Stephanie

Barnes and Noble Storytime at the Summit

2012-01-15T08:31:00.001-05:00

Recently, my kids and I went to the Barnes and Noble story time at the Summit. They hold it every Saturday at 11am. We got there a little early, and looked through the toy section and played at the Lego table for a while before heading back into the children's section of the store. The train table is on one side of the kid's section, and on the other side there is a stage. The story time is held at the stage, with kids sitting on the floor and on benches listening to the "Story Time Lady" as my kids call her. The same woman has been reading the stories every time we've been there, and she is fantastic! She begins with songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," "The Hokey Pokey," "The Alphabet Song," "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." The kids love singing, being able to stand, do arm actions, and speed the songs up faster and faster.

Then, it was time for the stories. She reads 3 or 4 stories each time, and she is very animated and interactive during each book. She's also not afraid to tell the unruly children (like my own) to behave or be quiet if needed, however she does it in a gentle way that does not make parents feel defensive or angry. It lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, but the kids are entertained non-stop. At the end, each child received a sticker, and then was free to roam the children's books. At times, Barnes and Noble has special events during story time including costumed characters, coloring, or easy crafts. You can check their calendar for more details and upcoming events at or BN.com if you want to find events at a different location.

By guest contributor: Caryn

Things to do this weekend in and around Louisville January 13,14,15,16

2012-01-13T09:14:00.001-05:00

Tales at Twilight - Friday 7pm at Barnes & Noble -Plainview
Click HERE

My Gym Children's Fitness: Saturday-Monday 9am-1pm 11800 Shelbyville Road in Middletown. FREE Open house!

4 Kicks for Kidz - Monday Open play - 9:30-11 and 12:30-2:30. $5

Louisville Science Center Schools-Out day camp - Monday starting at 8:30, all day for kids PreK-6th grade. $40 for members, $45 for non-members.
Stay warm!

Stephanie

WINNERS! Harlem Globetrotters Tickets!

2012-01-12T14:57:00.000-05:00

I have randomly selected the winners for the Harlem Globetrotters tickets! The winners get a family-4 pack of tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday January 15th.

Note: one of these winners won with their BONUS entries from their Louisville Family Fun Pass! You can get your Fun Pass for bonus entries and everyday savings for just $10 by clicking HERE

JUNE BOYLES wins 4 tickets

to the 2pm game

ROBYN CLEM wins 4 tickets

to the 7pm game

and

KELLY MCALLISTER wins 4 tickets

to the 7pm game

Winners, please email info@louisvillefamilyfun.net to claim your prize by noon tomorrow Friday 1/13

Review of Steve-O Magic

2012-01-11T11:22:00.001-05:00

We coordinated a great family event at Vint Coffee (Northfield) with Steve-O Magic (Steve Haffner). He is a local entertainer that performs at birthday parties and events and I learned from watching his show, he's a ton of fun for kids!

My son and daughter saw a magic show in New York at a family reunion this summer and they absolutely loved it. So, I was so thrilled to be able to take them to see Steve-O Magic and see that's look of wonder in their eyes and hear their silly giggles.

Steve-O started the show promptly and even before the show, he saw the kids waiting and told them a few little jokes to keep them entertained before the actual show started. He set up a backdrop so it felt like he was on stage and had a podium to hold all of his gadgets and tools. From the start of the show forward, he had the kids attention for the full 45 minutes.

His act included a variety of tricks from making things disappear (or pretending to in order to get the kids to catch his mistake and scream with delight in correcting him), interacting with the children and bringing them up to do a trick with him, music and more. You will not just watch Steve-O perform magic, you are part of the show! Yes, the parents were laughing also.

My son told me that his favorite part was when Steve-O introduced his fluffy white dog puppet into the act. He used this puppet to perform some funny tricks with balloons and gave the dog a great personality that the kids really enjoyed. At that time in the show, I looked over at my children and my son was just grabbing my daughter and hugging her so hard because he was having such a blast. He looked back once and gave me a thumbs up and another time he told me it's was awesome.

The show was fast-paced and organized. Steve-O was well-prepared with music cued and props ready to go. He had tons of silly one liners that made the kids laugh and some for the parents! Steve-O is an excellent entertainer, very professional and you can tell he really enjoyed interacting with the kids and providing a quality performance. At the end of the show, he gave all of the kids coloring sheets and some of the older kids got a magic fish. It was a wonderful afternoon and I look forward to seeing Steve-O take the stage again and make my kids hoot and holler with delight!

You can see all that Steve-O Magic has to offer on his website. He can perform at schools, parties, corporate events and just about anywhere people want to have fun. He also has videos on his site, so you can get a sample of what he can do.

Stephanie

Review of Salsaritas Fresh Cantina in St. Matthews

2012-01-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

Salsaritas Fresh Cantina is in St. Matthews in the shopping center with Kroger on Hubbards Lane. They have Kids Eat Free nights on Mondays and Thursdays so I thought I would give it a try! It's not particularly close for me, but when I'm getting 2 free meals, we are willing to drive a little further and I just combined it with a trip I needed to make to that area.

We went on a Thursday night at around 6:30pm and it was not crowded. There was ample seating and we did not have to wait in line to order. I ordered two kids meals for my children, the cheese quesadillas and the pizza. They came with chips, a drink and a cookie of their choice. Those were free since we were buying a few adult entrees and it's one free kids meal per adult meal purchased.

I ordered the chicken tacos. You get to choose toppings and I selected a medium salsa, sour cream, cheese and lettuce all on a soft taco. It was a combo deal: 2 tacos with chips and a drink for $5.99! My cousin was with us and she got the taco salad bowl and customized that like I did my tacos and my husband ordered a huge burrito full of chicken, rice, beans, salsa, cheese, sour cream and everything else! I also got some queso to go with my chips.

For three adult meals with drinks, queso and chips, it was about $18. And, that's with 2 free kids meals so 5 of us ate for $18 - not bad at all. We filled our own drinks and got utensils and lots of napkins and sat in a great family table in the corner of the restaurant that's a circular booth. My kids really like that table for some reason.

I really liked the chips! They had a seasoning on there that was spicy but had a great lime taste to it, nice and salty. Awesome chips. My tacos were really hearty and tasty and the kids at their quesadillas and pizza (basically and open faced quesadilla) really well. The cookie was a good incentive. My husband and cousin reported that their food was delicious as well and both of them agreed, the chips and queso were fantastic.

Everyone left the meal satisfied and we spent less than $20 to have a fresh meal that wasn't of the chicken nuggets and fried variety! Tucked away in the shopping center at Hubbards and Westport road, parents need to find this place and try it out for something fast, fresh and inexpensive.

They also have take-home taco meals for 4 for about $20, they cater and if you dine between 2pm and pm daily, you get free chips and queso. And, as I mentioned, buy an adult entree, get a kids meal free on Monday and Thursday nights from 4pm to close. When you are there, pick up a loyalty card and use it to earn free food. They also host parties and fundraising nights. And, yes there is more, on Saturdays if kids have a sporting event and they go to Salsaritas in their uniform, they get a kids meal for just $1!

Salsaritas is a really family-oriented restaurant that I am glad we discovered. Next, we're trying the take-home-tacos!

Stephanie

CONTEST! 3 Family 4-packs of tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters!

2012-01-09T00:01:00.003-05:00

GLOBETROTTERS’ ARRIVAL INTO LOUISVILLE ON SUNDAY, JAN. 15, 2012!!! Next weekend!

Globetrotters Introduce: Class of Newcomers, Highlighted by the Tallest Pro Basketball Player, the Shortest Globetrotter Ever, and the Team’s First Female in 19 Years

On the heels of signing one of the most extraordinary rookie classes in team history, the Harlem Globetrotters will bring their 2012 World Tour to KFC Yum Center in Louisville on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, for a doubleheader at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Tickets start at $19.00 and are available at http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/, http://www.ticketmaster.com/, the KFC Yum Center box office, or by phone at 800.745.3000. Information on group and scout tickets can also be found at http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/.

The outstanding rookies include Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7-8, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5-2, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox of Temple University, the team’s first female player since 1993 and ninth female in team history.

The new Globetrotters also feature the top three finishers from the 2011 College Slam Dunk Contest, including the reigning champ Jacob “Hops” Tucker. At 5-10, Tucker sports a 50-inch vertical leap, and his YouTube videos have garnered well over four million views. Tucker joins slam dunk runner-up John “Jet” Williams of UNC-Asheville and semifinalist Darnell “Spider” Wilks of the University of Cincinnati.

The 2012 rookie class has a total of three seven-footers including 7-4 Jermaine “Stretch” Middleton, the third-tallest player in team history, and 7-foot Anthony “Biggie” McClain. At 7-8, Sturgess becomes the tallest Globetrotter ever after a career at Mountain State University (W.Va.). He is the 19th internationally born player in team history, hailing from Loughborough, England.

Globetrotters are excited to welcome a new generation of stars to carry on the storied tradition of the world’s most entertaining basketball team,” said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “This year’s rookie class features some of the most talented and promising players from across the world.”

Current Globetrotters stars Special K Daley, Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang, Dizzy Grant, Scooter Christensen, and many others will team up with the world class rookies for nearly 270 games on the North American portion of the World Tour, bringing the Globetrotter magic to over 230 cities in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and five Canadian provinces.

Player rosters in each city will vary and are subject to change.

Sponsored by Howard Johnson Hotels, Greyhound Lines, Spalding, and Russell Athletic, the Original Harlem Globetrotters will celebrate their 86th consecutive year in 2012, continuing a world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 120 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans—among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents—over more than eight thrilling decades. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase tickets and team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters’ official Web site: http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/.

We are giving away 3 family 4-packs of tickets. 1 family 4-pack to the 1/15 2pm game and 2 family 4-packs to the 7pm game.

For a bonus entry, share this page on your Facebook wall or Twitter account by using share buttons at the bottom of the post and tell your friends to comment on this blog post with your full name (they must post with their name or account)! Bonus entry for every referral!

GOOD LUCK!

Review of Mary T. Meagher Recreational Swim

2012-01-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

During the winter break from school, the Mary T. Meagher Aquatics Center hosted 2 "Dive in Movies" that were open and free to the public! I took my children to one of these events. The aquatic center opened at 6:00 and the movie started at 6:30pm.

I dressed the kids in their suits and put sweat pants over their swim gear; this saved us time when we got there. I did the same for myself so we were able to get swimming really quick and not deal with changing upon arrival! I brought my own towels and swim vests for the kids and some other families brought floats and pool toys. The aquatic center does have kick boards that you can use.

There were life guards at several spots around the pool. They had a large area of the shallow section available for open swimming. There is a little slide that the kids really enjoyed. My son even got adventurous and went down the slide without me in the water! This was a first! There are stairs at one end for easy entrance and ladders throughout.

There were chairs around the pool for parents to sit and watch the kids but many parents opted to swim as well. I swam with my kids and we had so much fun, swimming for about1.5 hours! The water was warm enough but I did start to get a little cold after about an hour. However, my kids never noticed that and had so much fun the entire time we were there. My kids met some other little kids and played with them and got some great exercise!

Some families were toward the side of the pool wading in their floats watching the movie and others just swam and played. It was so casual and a great activity for something different to do this winter. We left at around 7:45pm and before leaving, I wrapped my kids in their towels that I brought and we went to the women's locker room for changing into pajamas. They have showers, bathrooms, private changing area, benches and lockers (bring a lock). We had ample room to change and we headed home.

We will definitely head back to Mary T. Meagher for open recreational swim! Families can enjoy open recreational swim on Mon-Fri Noon-3:30 p.m. , Friday 7-9 p.m. and Saturday Noon-5:45 p.m. Admission for Children is $3 and adults (13 or older) is $5.50. If you think you will go often, you can get a monthly or annual family membership! You can even have a birthday party there.

Stephanie

Things to do this weekend in and around Louisville January 6,7,8

2012-01-06T06:49:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the first "normal" weekend in January! The image I am about to show you may be very shocking and is not intended for eyes bundled by scarves. You have been warned!

This may disappoint those of you that dreamed of bundling up your kids, finding a steep hill for sledding and screaming WAAAHHHHOOOOOOO all day long as you zipped down slippery slopes and then heading indoors for much needed hot cocoa BUT it's going to be an absolutely gorgeous, warm weekend!

You will NOT be breaking out the new snow sled.

You will NOT need to cover ever inch of your frozen body.

You will NOT need to wipe your child's drippy cold nose every five seconds.

You WILL need sunglasses

You WILL need bikes, soccer balls, jump robes, side walk chalk & directions to a local park.

You WILL need to get outside and enjoy, in simply a hoodie.

Here's what I suggest and might I mention, it's ALL FREE:

Friday: It's the First Friday Trolley hop downtown and what a wonderful way to try it out! In the evening, certainly, it may dip to a chillier temperature but certainly not low enough to keep you away from this free fun downtown. You can hop on and off the trolley on Main or Market between 5 and 11pm and it's free. A great friend of mine told me that the 21c Hotel is a fun place to stop. I cannot speak from personal experience but she tells me that it's free and open to the public, has interesting, interactive exhibits that are good for a variety of ages and that it's just a fabuLOUsly unique place in Louisville to explore. Of course, there are many other museums, restaurants and shops to choose from along the trolley hop!

Saturday:

Kidville Live is a family theater production put on by Northeast Christian Church. It's Saturday January 7th at 11:03am and this month's theme is Self Control. I know a couple of little preschoolers that need a lesson in that.....

Sunday: It's a wonderful thing, coffee. Parents crave it (at least I do) and my kids don't really enjoy just staring at me while I blissfully enjoy a perfectly blended espresso beverage. However, I have coordinated an event for this month that will make everyone happy! Mochas and Magic at Vint Coffee (Northfield). Come on out and join me and my family at 1pm on January 8th as Louisville Family Fun sponsors a show by Steve-O Magic. The show is free and the mochas are delicious. The show is about 45 minutes long and will leave your kids laughing and in wonder of the magic and you will be fully caffeinated for the rest of the day!

Enjoy the weekend, maybe you'll even get a tan!

Stephanie

WINNER! 3 Months Free at New Leaf Fit!

2012-01-05T15:28:00.002-05:00

It's 2012 and even if you didn't formally make a New Year's resolution, there's always that little dude sitting on your shoulder saying "You need to get in shape!" Andrea Leung, you can tell that dude...OK OK ALREADY, I JUST WON 3 MONTHS AT NEW LEAF FIT!!!

Congratulations Andrea! Please email info@louisvillefamilyfun.net to claim your prize.

Remember everyone, you can save at New Leaf Fit on fitness classes in Louisville like ZUMBA® with this COUPON now through the end of June 2012.

Review of 32 Degrees Yogurt Bar at The Summit in Louisville

2012-01-04T11:00:00.020-05:00

I am on a tour of all of the frozen yogurt places around Kentuckiana and most recently, I visited 32 Degrees Yogurt Bar at The Summit shopping center. We went on a Friday afternoon at around 3:45pm during the winter and it was very busy.

The first thing I noticedwas that the location was crowded. All of the tables were taken and people were crowded right by the door waiting to get their toppings and chatting. The store has two entrances and we entered on the side that faces Bed Bath & Beyond. The other side opens to a patio which I am sure is used more in other seasons and helps to disperse people.

We made our way to the cups and chose our flavors. They had a variety of about a dozen choices but not all of them ready so there were about 10 to choose from. I got the white chocolate mousse, my daughter got a mix of vanilla and chocolate and my son chose strawberry. My husband didn't get any, instead choosing to help manage the kids in selecting their toppings since it was crowded and a little more hectic than we were ready for.

The toppings are all in a buffet bar with spoons and they had typical toppings like sprinkles, fruit, popular candies and brownie bites but they also had some unique ones like little chocolate turtles that my daughter found fun! She also liked the iced animal crackers! I topped mine with some peanut butter cups and mini chocolate chips, a little stream of chocolate sauce and topped it with whipped cream. My son selected gummy worms and fruit for his toppings.

We made our way through people entering and standing around to get their yogurt to the register. I wish the register was right there on the end of the bar of toppings because I had visions of my little kids wading through to find the scale at the counter and dropping their cups! We made it and they weighed them all together. It is 45 cents per ounce like most of the other local frozen yogurt shops. We filled our cups moderately, not full and it was just over $12 for 3. We had a Groupon and it covered the entire bill.

While I purchased the desserts, my husband waited for a seat. All of the tables were taken, we thought we were going to have to sit in the car! Luckily, someone got up while I was completing the purchase and my husband grabbed the table right by the door. Cold with people coming and going, but we did get a seat. Busy is great for business, but made it a little stressful. By the time we were eating , it was clearing out and bit and not as hectic. By then it was a little after 4 and getting closer to dinner.

We enjoyed our treats. My daughter really loved the little chocolate turtles and my son ate everything in his cup, so I take that as a sign of approval for sure. I liked my white chocolate mousse but it wasn't quite rich enough for my liking. I did find it a little bit icy and not as thick and creamy as some of the other places I have tried. Overall, it was a nice afternoon treat to enjoy with a discount. And, I think I would have had a different experience if we went during warmer weather and people were spread out on the patio and not all cramped in the store.

The Mommy Nest Mondays

2012-01-02T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Mommy Nest is a new group that opened this week, serving as a free support base for the family! Here locally, in Louisville – Whitney Trowbridge, Robyn Thompson, and Michelle Byrd partnered together to create this non-profit organization with the hopes of securing strong foundations for families. The group encourages members to find support from their peers and to provide them the tools (both educational and recreational) to enable them to reach into the local community to aid and assist other families.

The main website will be accessible by all - to provide educational and informational topics on a daily basis to anyone involved in parenting and building their nest! Online support forums will be available separately to both mothers and fathers who want to connect on a local level with others in their area. The mommy forum opened yesterday and already has upwards of 100 members! The daddy forum is anticipated to open in March of this year!

Every Monday The Mommy Nest will be partnering with Louisville Family Fun to bring you interesting, informative, and fun parenting topics! Want travel tips for making things easier with kids? Need to find ways to make getting out and about with your children easier? Want to make sure that you can still have fun while being a mom too? Check out the blog every coming Monday and see how this great group can benefit you!

Louisville Family Fun will be active on The Mommy Nest forums. Come and find us and join, it's free. Just go to The Mommy Nest website and click on "Local Nests" to join.