Fun stuff
for the family

Kids Stuff
By William Feldman

Welcome to Kids Stuff. Today’s column includes a few fun family ideas.
Recently, I received an e-mail from Joan Bershire, of Perkiomenville, formerly of Towson, Md., asking for summer/fall activities for her kids, who are different age groups.
My recommendations came from things I have experienced or from people I know that have had nice experiences at these places.

KINDERGARTEN MIXER
The Please Touch Museum will celebrate with soon-to-be kindergarten students and their families at the seventh annual Kindergarten Mixer on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. This is the first mixer to be held on the grounds of Please Touch Museum’s future home at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, at 4231 Avenue of the Republic.
In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, Kindergarten is Key Initiative and United Way, the event provides children with a free, fun afternoon. This year’s Kindergarten Mixer theme is Historic Beginnings, highlighting the connection to the nation’s centennial celebration of 1876, for which Memorial Hall played an integral role as the exhibition’s art gallery.
Between 500 and 700 children, plus their families, from across the Philadelphia region are expected. Parents will get the chance to meet representatives of the school district and get tips at a resource area featuring exhibitors from the Franklin Institute, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross, Crayola and a Zoo on Wheels from Elmwood Park.
Highlights will include a parade, snacks, water ice, and performances by the Freedom Theatre, magician Tommy McDonald, musicians Louie Miranda and Peter Moses, and the Spiral Q Puppet Theater.
For more information, call 215-963-0667 or visit info@pleasetouchmuseum.org

THE PHANTOMS
Season tickets and game plans are now available for the 2008-09 season. The Philadelphia Phantoms have launched a new program on their Web site — phantomshockey.com — aimed at getting fans acquainted with the native languages of Phantoms players and staff. Language Lessons is a seven-part, seven-language series featuring the audio of words and phrases spoken by those who play and work for the Phantoms.
For more information, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 or visit www.phantomshockey.com

DISNEY CONCERT ALERT
Love those Wildwood Days. Singer, songwriter and actress Raven-Symone will headline a concert this Saturday at the Wildwoods Convention Center. She is renowned for her role in Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven and starred in Walt Disney Pictures College Road Trip with Martin Lawrence, which features the single Double Dutch Bus.
Also, actor and recording artist Mitchel Musso of Hannah Montana will perform. He currently shares a spot on Radio Disney’s Top 10 with his Hannah Montana co-star Emily Osment in their duet If I Didn’t Have You, from the Pixar movie Monsters, Inc.
Recording artist and actor Drew Seeley (High School Musical, The Cheetah Girls 2 soundtracks) will follow Mitchel’s performance. Drew appeared in a recent episode of Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and can be heard on Walt Disney Records Disneymania 6 with his version of Phil Collins’ You’ll Be in My Heart.
The Oceanfront Arena at the Wildwoods Convention Center is located at 4501 Boardwalk in Wildwood, N.J. Tickets for Saturday’s 2 p.m. show are available through TicketMaster or at the Wildwoods Convention Center box office.
For more information regarding the Radio Disney AM 640 concert series, go to RadioDisney.com/Philadelphia. For more information, go to moreyspiers.com or WildwoodsNJ.com
SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE
As stated in a previous column, my family and I have been going to Six Flags Great Adventure located in Jackson, N.J., since I was 5 years old. Recently we went to see their new attraction, The Glow in the Park Night Time Parade. To sum it up, two thumbs up. They truly went all out for this.
Six Flags consulted Gary Goddard Entertainment, which has created several attractions in various theme parks, who in turn enlisted Benoit Jutras, a music composer for the Cirque du Soleil, to help compose Six Flags parade music. And if anyone had a chance to see the Cirque, you know the amazing quality of their productions.
Also, Six Flags consulted Raul Rodriguez to design the floats. Raul is known for his work with the Rose Parade floats. Also, Broadway’s Mia Gyzander designed and constructed more than 100 costumes, and Michael La Fleur did the choreography for the performers.
The parade which promptly begins at 9:10, features spellbinding music, bright primary and secondary color lights, and a full cast of singers, dancers, puppets, kinetic stilt walkers and more. If you enjoy watching the Blue Men Group, you know how they had a unique skit with the liquid drums.
Six Flags took this a step further on one of their first floats of the parade.
Next floating along was the infamous WB Green Frog followed by Wonderwoman. Next Robin, the Boy Wonder, drove in, trying to save the day from the dark side of Gotham.
Who will protect Gotham? Batman, as he took full stage presence as he saves Gotham from the Legion of Doom. In case anyone is unfamiliar with the Legion of Doom characters, they include: The Joker, Riddler, Sinestro and their marching henchman.
I cannot overlook the impressive Batmobile, highlighted in neon blue lights. Plus they had these cool neon Batman symbols.
Other young children’s favorite characters included The Wiggles, along with Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog aboard the S.S. Feathersword with a starfish, Seahorse and Octopus; Bugs Bunny; Marvin the Martian; Daffy Duck; Porky Pig; Foghorn Leghorn; and Tweety Bird.
For more information, call 732-928-1821 or visit www.sixflags.com on the Internet. ••
Columnist William Feldman can be contacted by e-mail at wmkidscolumn@aol.com