Rosie the Clown's Blog

Valentine's Special

2012-02-08T12:56:00.004-05:00

Book your party by Valentine's Day and receive a special surprise gift!

Call Rosie The Clown Now at 416-477-2209

Winterfest – Winter Fun!

2012-02-06T13:11:00.005-05:00

Every year, the City of Vaughan puts on a marvellous winter festival. There's so much for the kids to do: music, stage shows, rides, face-painting, juggling and much more! If you haven't been yet, check it out next year. It's free, fun family entertainment.

This was the third year that Rosie the Clown and her team took charge of painting the children's faces. We always enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of Winterfest and the great people that we meet.

Alternatives To Indoor Playgrounds

2012-02-03T11:47:00.010-05:00

Indoor playgrounds are great for birthday parties. They offer a wealth of fun play equipment and no clean-up for you, as well as being fairly cost-effective.

However, even the hottest new play spaces pale after your children and all of their friends have been there once or twice. Are you looking for a good, no-fuss alternative to indoor playgrounds? A Mom in Finland (finlandforum.org) recommends going to the movies or to a puppet show.

What about taking the kids to the movies? I did this for my daughters with a few friends of theirs and they enjoyed it. It works out cheaper ... and you can buy sweeties and cookies beforehand, make them little packages to eat while watching the movies.

Also one kid a few years ago had his birthday celebration at the puppet theater [which turned out to be hilarious for all].

Source of post: Finland Forum, Visited: February 3, 2012.

What are your favourite places to have birthday parties besides at home? Any tips to offer other parents? Share your picks via the comment form.

Watch the Insanity – Rosie Twists Balloons and Kids Have Too Much Fun

2012-02-02T13:28:00.001-05:00

Watch Rosie the Clown twist balloons at a boys' birthday party in Toronto.

Fun For Young Film Lovers

2012-01-18T10:07:00.002-05:00

Do you have a young film buff in your family? Check out this opportunity for their unbridled fun. TIFF Kids – that's the youth wing of the Toronto International Film Festival – is looking for pre-adolescents to judge films.

For kids 8-12, here's the scoop.

Jury Member Activities:
Attend the TIFF Kids International Film Festival with free admission to all the films your jury needs to see
Watch the films in special jury seats
Choose a winning film and provide reasons for your choice
Enjoy free popcorn and drinks
Receive a special gift bag
The deadline for applications is February 10, 2012. The TIFF Kids International Film Festival takes place from April 10 to 22, 2012.

Video For Tots – And Fun For The Rest Of Us

2012-01-12T19:44:00.007-05:00

Hello, Friends,

Today, I stumbled upon a great Sesame Street video, in which Patrick Stewart, of Captain Kirk fame, considers the second letter of the alphabet.

A renowned Shakespearian actor, Stewart dresses as the melancholy Dane, holds up his B like Yorick's skull, and magnificently ponders the question, "B or not a B?"

It tickled my fancy. See what you think.
Click here to play the video on YouTube.

Chocolate Is Perfectly Safe To Eat During Pregnancy

2011-12-14T12:35:00.007-05:00

Hello, Friends,

Says Cornelia Graves, ob-gyn, "Chocolate is perfectly safe to eat during pregnancy, but you don't want to overdo it." (BabyCenter.com) Check out these scrumptious Christmas treats from the Queen of Pasties in Toronto. Email: queen.of.pastries@gmail.com; Phone: 416-930-4664.

Rosie The Clown Picasa Album

2011-12-14T11:50:00.003-05:00

Hello, Friends,

Rosie The Clown Album – Fun Parties For Kids

Call me at 416-477-2209 to get fun kids' entertainment at your home, company headquarters, etc.

2011's Best Commercial Is "A Triumph of Fun"

2011-12-01T22:02:00.006-05:00

The Top 10 Commercials of 2011 have been selected by Adweek. The number one spot goes to Volkswagen's ad for the 2012 Passat. Adweek calls the spot's simple story a "triumph of fun." I agree. You can't watch it just once.

See it on YouTube

Miles and Maizey's Is For Kids

2011-12-01T21:36:00.005-05:00

No one in the photo below buys his clothes at Miles and Maizey's Boutique in Milton. That's because Miles and Maizey's is for kids.

Amidst a stunning collection of scrumptious children's clothes, boutique owner Deborah Jones poses with Rosie the Clown and Mayor Gordon Krantz at the store's 1st Anniversary Celebration this past Sunday. Lucky moms and dads who stopped by were treated to great deals and to draws for prizes.

We all had a wonderful time. Our one regret? We're too old to wear the fabulous duds on display.

Colouring Pages: A Cut Above

2011-10-31T21:32:00.005-04:00

Hello, Friends,

Colouring is an expressive, meditative art that is soothing to everyone, from rambunctious 4-year-olds to radical extremists (see Crayonistas). The pastime is more fun when it begins with terrific black-and-white designs. At Hedgie's Desk, you'll find extraordinary illustrations for your children's colouring pleasure.

Halloween Face-Painting DIY

2011-10-13T05:59:00.004-04:00

Hello, Friends,

Face-paint adds the finishing touch to fun Halloween costumes. Want to paint your little monsters yourself? Canadian Parent has a great selection of six DIY Halloween faces with painting instructions. These faces are easy!

• pirate, witch, skull, black cat, scaly monster, vampire

Have fun!

How Long Do Balloon Animals Last?

2011-10-07T12:57:00.013-04:00

Hello, Friends,

How long do balloon animals last? The answer is, it varies. One woman nurtured her balloon flower for five weeks before she wrote:

Oh by the way my flower is hanging in it was August 14nth when u did it for me, I just love it.

On the other hand, rough usage like balloon sword fights is hard on inflated latex. Balloon animals are best made at the end of birthday parties, so there'll be less need to replace broken ones with new ones.

When balloons do pop, it adds to the fun. Sometimes at the gunshot-like sound, Rosie falls down. Children are delighted by this.

Note: All of Rosie the Clown's balloons are guaranteed for a full 10 seconds, or the life of the balloon, whichever comes first.

Canada's Heartbeat

2011-07-06T08:54:00.006-04:00

How was your Canada Day? What a birthday party! It was nice of Will and Kate to drop by to say happy birthday.

Would you like to see a snapshot of Canada's heartbeat? No? Well, here it is anyway. This is the Twitter trend for #canada day. It looks just like a heart beating very slowly – once a year. But oh, how our hearts race on that one day!

Heads up, Canada! Our 150th birthday is coming in 2017, only six heartbeats away. Where will you be that day?

I'm excited!

Just For Laughs Gags Video

2011-06-03T12:24:00.006-04:00

Hello, Friends,

This is a very funny video from CBC-TV's Just For Laughs. The comedy team got together "a camera, some clever practical jokes and a few unsuspecting 'victims.' " The results are hilarious. Enjoy!

Just For Laughs Gags Video, CBC Online.

Dr. Doolittle Among the Dolphins

2011-05-10T00:03:00.007-04:00

Hello, Friends,

Biologists are busily engaged in becoming real-world Dr. Doolittles. While swimming with the dolphins, they wear special translation devices called CHAT (Cetacean Hearing and Telemetry).

A prototype device that includes a “smartphone-sized computer” and two hyrdophones, which can detect the sounds of dolphins. Ultimately, a diver can carry the device in a waterproof case that will be strapped to the chest. When the hydrophone pics up dolphin chatter, an LED in the diver’s mask will light up. The diver can then use an on-board Twiddler, a kind of keyboard-mouse combo, to respond to the dolphin. (DigitalTrends)

If dolphins can hold their laughter to a bare minimum, we'll have some interesting and informative conversations. I'm glad that someone is taking the plunge.

Laughter Makes Good Medicine

2011-05-09T12:16:00.003-04:00

Hello, Friends,

The gentle antics of Clown Care Units at hospitals throughout the world are helping sick kids to endure and recover. Not only do the children benefit from the comedy of caring clowns, but the parents and the hospital staff do, too.

The Clown Care Unit at the Children's Hospital of New York is depicted in this wonderful 2007 video report by HealingQuest.tv.

Goodie Bags – Pro and Con

2011-05-06T20:13:00.005-04:00

Are you for or against goodie-bags at birthday parties? Does the thought of distributing tiny take-home treasures to tots leave you cold?

A Facebook group called Grownups Against Goodie-Bags would like to turn the tide of handouts to kids' at birthday parties. At this Facebook page, you can share opinions on whether goodie-bags are good or loot bags are lousy. Also, ironically, you can get some fun ideas for what to put in the bags.

What a Party! Royal Wedding Redux

2011-04-29T12:12:00.026-04:00

We were just talking about making our parties for Earth Day bigger and better. Today, Britishers showed the world how a celebration is done. I love their party theme, too: Royal Wedding. How'd they think of it?

Almost a million people went to the party. The decorations were terrific. Even the sun came out on cue. Everybody's costume was wonderful, whether their style was splendiferous, patriotic or pagan. From old to young and from courtier to commoner, the Queen's subjects all tarted up.

The staid British, whom even Canadians regard as restrained, enjoyed a shining moment of fun. Check out this scrumptious tie on a distinguished wedding guest leaving Westminster Abbey.

These boys look like they're having a hoot in their royal outfits, which I hope to see soon in costume shops everywhere.

The event was a great, big family day as much as anything. Kids, parents and grandparents – on the balcony and in the crowd – enjoyed an unforgettable day together.

Happy Earth Day 2011!

2011-04-22T08:47:00.004-04:00

Dear Readers,

Happy Earth Day! IMHO, we could stand to throw a bigger party on Earth Day. We need some really good birthday parties for Earth. With balloons and cake and music and all of the trappings. Who's more important than Mother Earth? Our presents would be the green things we've done for her. We'd dance all afternoon and into the night. Gee, it sounds rather pagan, but fun. Here are a couple of Earth Day links.

Earth Day For Grown-Ups
David Suzuki presents 10 Ways You Can Help Stop Climate Change

Earth Day for Kids
The Big Green Rabbit's Earth Day Video, It's Great To Be Green

Frenetic Clown Face Generator

2011-04-13T02:09:00.008-04:00

For a few moments of fun, check out the Evil Clown Generator at ScottsMind.com. At his site, moving your mouse rapidly over the face creates a riff on the theme of evil clowns with a sense of humour.

Scott has also posted a slew of his cartoons. Below is one of his milder jokes. Scott's humour is hard-edged. If you're not bothered by that, you'll have a laugh.

Ultimate Sleepover Birthday Party

2011-03-28T10:34:00.004-04:00

Children love sleepover birthday parties. Parents groan in good humour. The Royal Ontario Museum is bringing the sleepover experience to a new level. At the ROM from Friday evening until Saturday morning, children age 5+ enjoy specially planned activities and bed down beneath the dinosaurs.

The cost is $75 per child. Check out ROM sleepovers to find out more.

Noses Swell in Britain

2011-03-18T14:58:00.003-04:00

This is the day when everyone in Great Britain gets together under the sign of the Red Nose.

Red Nose Day is incredibly popular and raises a lot of money for charity. Although it has a quarter-century history of massive fun and good works, I'd never heard of it until today. Maybe that's because in Canada, where I live, Red Nose Day is a lacklustre affair in early February. In February, Canadians are still bundled into our overcoats, trying to stay out of the wind.

Anywho, Red Nose Day in Britain is big, exciting, and here today. It's fun seeing ordinary folks put on Monster Red Noses and get into the spirit of being funny. Did you participate?

Celebrities are in on the act, too. If you're in Britain, you lucky clown, you get to see the big, star-studded night on TV. Others can download highlights from iTunes.

Red Nose Day – What's It All About? Video Tour

Donate to Red Nose Day (an activity by Comic Relief), Buy Monster Noses and Red Nose Day T-shirts (adult shirts sold out), get fundraising ideas and just generally find out more.

Wrong Job?

2011-03-18T10:02:00.006-04:00

I happened upon the following video over at the Clown Forum. It's got a great punchline. The voice-over is in German, so unless you're handy in that language, the video won't make any sense until the end. This is for balloon sculptors everywhere and for anyone who thinks he might be in the wrong job.

When a Circus Came to Limerick

2011-03-17T20:11:00.007-04:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! This is the day to celebrate all things Irish, so I tip my green hat to John Francis Patterson, Ireland's most famous clown.

Singer, song-writer, circus performer and businessman, Johnny Patterson was "a folk hero whose songs and wit regaled audiences in Ireland, England and the USA" in the late nineteenth century. (Irish Theatre Magazine)

Patterson joined the army as a drummer at age 14. When a circus came to Limerick five years later, he bought himself out of the army and became a clown. It must have seemed to him that laughter was better than bullets.

Patterson survived being a soldier but not being a clown. At age 49, he died from wounds suffered in a riot at his show in Tralee. The riot was caused by Patterson's song Do Your Best for One Another, a musical plea for peace between Catholics and Protestants. It's said that he was killed by being struck with an iron bar, but really, he was killed by irony.

There's more on the great Irish clown's life at Clare People, a site about the historic figures of County Clare, Ireland.

*Saint Patrick, if you haven't heard his story over a mug of green beer, is the patron saint of Ireland (A.D. 367-461). Born in Scotland of Roman parents, he was captured and enslaved by Druids. He eventually escaped and went on to become the preacher who converted all Ireland to Catholicism. Whew! what a lot of work!