Co-Created by FRED PENNER, JAY BRAZEAU and KIM SELODY
Intended for ages 4-to-8

A remarkable pair of performers, Fred and Jay, join to create a musical “tail” about the magic and challenge of a lifelong friendship.  In this fanciful adaptation of Fred’s famous song, we meet a merry band of musicians and puppeteers from the Chautauqua touring tend era and their grumpy neighbour Mr. Johnson.  Together they try to unravel the mystery of why that cat keeps coming back!

The Cat Came Back Details:

When: February 24 – 26, 2012
Where: Vertigo Theatre’s – Y Stage
Address: 161, 115 – 9th Avenue SE
Admission: $12.50
Website: www.vertigotheatre.com

Enter to Win tickets to The Cat Came Back!

We are looking for a detail oriented person with great writing skills to help us post our events on our calendar and website. You can work from home around a schedule that works for you.

If you are interested, please submit your resume and a sample of your writing to info@familyfuncalgary.com

This is a part-time position (approximately 10 hours per week) and there is no sales or cold-calling!

Since membership has its benefits, Grady and I decided to take part in one of the members’ only previews to see the Penguin Plunge before the exhibit opens to the public February 17, 2012. I was excited to go but also a bit nervous that they wait might be long.

I would love to show you all the fabulous shots we got and how great the facility is but they asked that we don’t share photos until after the grand opening. I get that they want to keep it a secret. I have to say though it is pretty awesome. So make sure you plan to go. The penguins will be at the zoo permanently so you will have lots of time.

I don’t know if this will always be the case but you can take your wagon and stroller through the exhibit which is a nice departure from other exhibits with “stroller parking” where you have to try and grab all your stuff and haul that and your kids inside (although most people ignore those signs which is annoying to people like me who don’t) In any case the exhibit it set up really well and people were very respectful of giving the kids a chance to see everything.

I’m not going to give anything away – sorry. But I will say it is a must see and goes a long way towards redeeming the Calgary Zoo in the eyes of anyone who may not think they are trying to be a world class conservation facility.

So go to a preview if you are member, we found no line up during the week and we had lots of time to enjoy. And if not well you don’t have too long to wait to welcome the four species of penguins to Calgary!

Want a fun-filled experience for the entire family?

You can’t go wrong with The Harlem Globetrotters. Combining basketball with crazy antics, hilarious jokes and amazing basketball skills, you will be entertained for hours. Full of high energy and incredible tricks, you and your children will leave feeling fully entertained.

Harlem Globetrotters Details:

When: Wednesday, February 15th
Where: Saddledome
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: ticketmaster.ca
Website: harlemglobtrotters.com

Mmmm bagels….

In a low-carb obsessed world they’ve gotten a bad rap, but seriously, they are just yummy. Little known fact about me; I was born in Montreal and moved to Calgary when I was 5. Although I lived the next 30 years in Calgary, I am still particular about bagels because I never got over those that came from a certain shop on a certain street in Outremont…

However, I do love all bagels and now I am happy to take part in this sponsored post as a celebration of National Bagel Day.

According to Dempster’s® Bagel Barometer, six out of 10 Canadians eat bagels on a regular basis with nearly a quarter eating these circular delicacies daily or several times a week. To celebrate National Bagel Day 2012 Dempster’s has launched a new bagel recipe and partnered with well-known chef and bagel fan Bob Blumer to uncover Canada’s most passionate bagel-lovers and find out what an ultimate Canadian bagel’s defining qualities are. You may be surprised by the answers.

The Dempster’s Bagel Barometer also revealed personality differences between Canadian bagel lovers, with nearly six out of 10 falling into “The Craver” category. Whether it’s a hankering for a bagel’s crunchy soft texture, to try something different or to satisfy hunger, the Craver chooses bagels to tantalize their taste buds – so it has to be just right. And that’s not all! One-quarter of us are “Energizers” who to start our day with a bagel fuel up; the remaining are in one of two camps: “Connoisseurs”, who take the time to create delicious new ways to enjoy their bagels, and “Purists” who eat bagels the same way every time.

The good news is Dempster’s has created their new recipe with Canadian taste buds in mind. Baked fresh daily in Canada and now available in grocery stores nationally, these bagels start with premium, quality ingredients and natural flavours such as 100 per cent Canadian wheat and real fruit and spices. And for those seeking variety, Dempster’s has a bagel for everyone with seven tasty flavours including: Plain, Sesame, 100% Whole Wheat, 12 Grain (My favourite!), Everything, Cinnamon Raisin and Blueberry. The result is a bagel perfect for toasting that’s crispy on the outside, yet stays soft and fluffy on the inside!

If you want to see all of Bob Blumer’s recipes for Dempster’s bagel, you can check them out here. I’m old school so my favourite is the Smokin’ Salmon and I’ve included the recipe below!

Smokin’ Salmon
Cream cheese and lox (cold-smoked salmon) go together like Justin Bieber and blow dryers. Here’s a quick and easy spread that’s guaranteed to be a hit.
Ingredients:
• 1 Dempster’s everything bagel
• 8 ounces Cream cheese
• ¼ cup fresh dill, stems removed
• 2 green onions, trimmed and coarsely chopped
• zest of one lemon
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces smoked salmon, roughly chopped

Directions:
• In a food processor, add cream cheese, dill, green onions, zest, capers, and pepper. Pulse several times until ingredients are well incorporated, but not pulverized.
• Add salmon and pulse several more times until salmon is well distributed in spread. If you do not have a food processor, mince dill, green onions, capers and salmon, then use a fork to blend with cream cheese.
• To serve: Toast and lightly butter bagel. Top with smokin’ salmon spread.
• Remaining spread will last in the fridge for 5 days in a tightly sealed container
• Yield: 1 serving + enough schmear for 3 additional servings

National Bagel Day Giveaway by Dempsters:

With nearly seven out of 10 Canadians eating bagels on a regular basis (that’s millions of the round delicacies every month!) – it’s no surprise they are definitely a national favourite. On February 9th, officially known as National Bagel Day, Dempster’s is providing a bagel inspired prize pack. Valued at $150, the National Bagel Day giveaway is filled with everything you need to make the perfect bagel, including:

• Classic KitchenAid toaster – giving you a bagel toasted to perfection in less than five minutes
• Bamboo cutting board – an ecofriendly option that can double as a serving platter
• Bob Blumer cookbook – for fun and interesting recipe ideas
• Dempster’s Bagels coupons – can be used for a wide variety of bagels including Sesame, Plain, Whole Wheat, Everything, Cinnamon Raison and Blueberry

How can you enter to win this great prize? Visit UrbanMoms.com and share what you like on your bagel!

When it comes to bedtime, the best part in our house (aside from the kids finally sleeping!) is the nightly ritual of story time. And nothing entertains and elicits more giggles than a good old Robert Munsch story. That’s why, when Storybook Theatre announced their season’s line-up, I immediately made note of Munsch Ado About Nothing.

Ben the Bear

When a circus, set to entertain the crowd doesn’t exactly happen, Shakespeare, Burbage and Kempe find themselves in front of a packed audience waiting for a show. With no lion or tiger or bear to be seen, the cast, (made up of three young actors that did an amazing job!), bring characters and books from much-loved Munsch stories to life. From Murmel, Murmel, Murmel to More Pies to No Clean Clothes… it was non-stop entertainment.

Waiting for the lights to go down

Clearly intended for a “young audience” (aged 3-to-6) the silly antics, funny costumes and “farting” references had the kids hootin’ and hollerin’ and joining in the dialogue. And honestly, from my vantage point, I heard more laughter and snickering from the adult attendees.

My son sat on the floor (up-front in the designated kids-only, seating area), popcorn in hand, head facing forward and he didn’t look back until the play was over. Once again, he was engaged and entertained from the moment we entered the lobby (which beautifully depicted a circus theme) until after he got autographs from the cast members (which he loves!). The entire experience was fantastic.

Ben getting autographs from the cast

Driving home, I was once again reminded how fortunate we are to live in a city that has so much to offer. And how fortunate I feel that we can take advantage of such awesome entertainment. We are already scouting out our next opportunity to see age-appropriate theatre and I, I mean my son, couldn’t be more excited.

Ben posing with Kempe the Clown

Heading out to Banff? The Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets is getting a reputation as THE place to take your kids for a weekend in Banff. After suffering through a nasty deep freeze in Calgary the cabin fever began to set in so I knew we needed to go away as a family and see what everyone has been talking about.

We stayed in a “Cascade Suite” which seemed huge compared to most hotel rooms I have stayed in lately. There was a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms and a living room separate from the bedroom with plenty of space for the kids to rattle around in. The Douglas Fir is completely teched out with two flat screen TV’s and a DVD player so bring your movies! WiFi was free and worked everywhere in the resort. We brought our Apple TV so the kids could enjoy Dora in the morning and we could catch up on some romantic comedies in the evening while the kiddies were asleep in the adjacent room, closed off by a sliding door. Fun day for the kids and a quiet evening for mom and dad!

The kids LOVED the Douglas Fir. In the morning, they spent hours exploring the indoor playplace which has a massive climbing structure that could rival most Calgary places on size and fun factor.

Everyday after some local sightseeing, they would clamor to go swimming in the water park with the “big kid” slides. My daughter loved the baby slides because she was allowed to go down them by herself. Independent little imp. There is also a steamroom and hot tub next to the slides. We took turns relaxing while one parent went down the slides with the kids. It was hard to decide which was more enjoyable, listening to the soft bubbles in the jetted hot tub or hearing my daughter’s ecstatic screeches while she experienced a waterslide for the first time.

One of the best things about our stay was that we only ate out once during our stay in Banff. Eating out is nice, but not always relaxing with a two year old in tow. There is a handy little grocery store attached to the resort, as well as a liquor store for some after dinner Merlot for mom and dad. We ate breakfast and dinner in our room so there was no need to bundle the kids up and take them out. The kitchen is fully equipped, which makes cooking a breeze.

I was worried how my 2 year old would react to being away from home. We went on a vacation last summer and the first night out she cried until 4am. I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate but it was hell. That’s why we were a little apprehensive to spend another couple nights in a hotel. My worries were ill founded. Swimming everyday, endless playtime in the PlayZone plus the fresh mountain air meant the poor thing passed out mid-sentence during bedtime stories. She slept great both nights. And our six year old? He whispered when we tucked him into bed, “you guys are the best mom and dad ever.”

Douglas Fir Resort & Chalet Contact Info:

Address: 525 Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff AB
Telephone: (403) 762-5591
Toll free: 1-800-661-9267
Email: stay@douglasfir.com
Website: www.douglasfir.com

Connect with the Dougls Fir Resort & Chalet:

Become a fan on Facebook
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Producing children’s theatre since 1978, the Loose Moose Theatre presents stories in a unique style that is accessible, participatory, and fun for the whole family. Theatre For Kids presentations are based on classic children’s stories that are interpreted and brought to life on stage. And in that tradition, they are bringing the 3 Billy Goats Gruff & other stories to life, during the month of February.

3 Billy Goats Gruff Details:

When: February 4 – 26
Where: Loose Moose Theatre – 2nd Floor Crossroads Market (1235 – 26 Ave. SE)
Times: Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $12
Website: www.loosemoose.com