Category: All About Newton

News, events, children’s activities in Newton, MA.

Spring Mulching: Get Free Compost from the Newton Recycling Center While It Lasts!

Compost Available FREE to residents

Once again, small quantities of screened (3/4″ minus) compost are available to Newton residents at Rumford Ave, free of charge. Residents can fill small buckets, containers, etc. for their own use on their own properties for small projects.

No businesses or commercial trucks allowed. Compost will be available on a first come, first serve basis and there may be limited availability depending on the current status of the compost finishing process.

If you are a commercial landscaper or a resident looking to acquire more than 3 cubic yards of compost, please call Customer Service at 617.796.1000. Thank you.

February 29, 2012

Materials Accepted at the Recycling Depot in Newton

I find that I need a constant reminder of what is allowed in the recycle bin and what is not. The City of Newton sends out a flyer once a year and I save that but it seems to go missing when I have a question. Note that Alkaline batteries have a newish policy: No alkaline batteries made after 1994 need to be recycled in a special way– these do not contain mercury and are safe to dispose of with regular trash.

SCHEDULE AND DIRECTIONS

Rumford Avenue Resource Recovery Center
(Accepted Materials)

OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY FROM 7:30AM-2:30PM*; SATURDAYS FROM 7:30AM – 12:30PM*
CLOSED ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.

Materials	How to Prepare	Not Accepted
Appliances and Freon Items	washers, dryers,water heaters,refrigerators, freezers, A/CsCan also schedule a curbside pick up ($12/stop)	Computers and electronics are ONLY accepted for curbside pick up and on special collection days. Click here for more information
Automotive Fluid	• Accept used motor oil and antifreeze• Also accept used oil filters (transmission and diesel)	Newton residents only; no business or commercial accepted. No five gallon containers accepted
Batteries	• Rechargeable batteries• Button cell batteries (from watches, hearing aids, calculators, etc)• Nickel Cadmium, Lead Acid, and other non-alkaline batteries•Click here for more options	No alkaline batteries made after 1994 – these do not contain mercury and are safe to dispose of with regular trash
Books	ALERT:Temporarily closed will re-open soon.To donate books, visit ourRecyclopedia.
Cardboard	• Corrugated Cardboard Boxes – do not need to be flattened, there is a compactor at the Recycling Depot	• No soiled pizza boxes• No plastic bags• No foam packaging
Cell Phones	• Also accept chargers• Are donated to a charitable organization for recycling or refurbishing• Also accepted at Customer Service Center in City Hall
Clothing	• Clean, useable clothing to be donated to charitable organizations
Computer Monitors and TVs	ALERT: These items are now only accepted curbside.Please click here to schedule a special collection.($12/stop)Also accepted one Saturday a month, click here for dates.	Please click here to schedule a special collection.
Containers	• Glass containers (clear, green, and brown)• All Stiff Plastic Containers (#1-#7)• Metal Cans and Foil (aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans, and aluminum foil and trays)· Please rinse out containers	• No food waste• No Plastic bags• No styrofoam, even if it has a #6
Electronics	ALERT: These items are now only accepted curbside.Please click here to schedule a special collection.Scrap electronics, such as printers, fax machines, toaster ovens, coffee makers, stereos, fans, etc.• Consider donating working electronics, seedonation list.	Please click here to schedule a special collection.Also accepted one Saturday a month, click here for dates.
Fluorescent Bulbs	• If possible, bring in original packaging• Accept all types of fluorescent bulbs	• Do not tape together• Do not crush bulbs
Lawn Mowers	• Remove gas tank	Can also schedule a curbside collection.
Mercury-containing devices	• Thermometers, thermostats, mercury switches, elemental mercury, and flowmeters• Do not throw away with trash, mercury is a hazardous material and must be disposed of properly
Paint Latex paint is NOT accepted at Hazardous Waste collections.	• For Paint Exchange (2011 dates: May 11th through October 14th; Mon-Fri, 7:30am-2:30pm)• Accept good, reusable latex and oil paint and paint products• Cans must be at least half full, useable, and less than 3 years old	• No paint older than 3 years• Small amounts of paint can be dried out and safely disposed of with trash, please remove lids (can use kitty litter/sand to expedite the process)
Paper	• Clean, white office paper• Mixed Paper – junk mail, newspaper, magazines, computer paper, paperboard (cereal, cracker, and shoe boxes, etc .- remove liners), folders, notebooks, phone books, etc. Plasticwindows, staples, and paper clips are acceptable.• Milk and juice carton and aseptic packaging, please rinse and flatten	• No paper plates, no paper cups, no tissue paper, no wax paper, and no plastic bags• No soiled paper
Printer Cartridges	• Laser and inkjet cartridges• Also accepted at Customer Service Center at City Hall
Propane Tanks	Must be emptied Will also accept EMPTY Helium tanks and fire extinguishers.However, most fire extinguishers can be recharged.
Scrap Metal	Metal desks, file cabinets, wire hangers, bikes, other metal pieces	Can also schedule a curbside collection.
Styrofoam	For a limited time, we will accept clean, white Styrofoam please break up large pieces Styrofoam must be in plastic bags all pieces must fit inside designated containers do not leave styrofoam on the ground	No colored styrofoam Styrofoam must be in bags do not leave Styrofoam loose or on the ground
Vehicle Batteries	Residents only

February 23, 2012

Disposing Needles and Lancets in Newton: New State Law Prohibits Sharps Disposal in Trash

Sharps Disposal Information for Newton residents: Sharps are needles and lancets used at home to inject medicine into people or pets. Properly disposing of sharps helps keep potentially harmful products out of the waste stream. A new state law takes effect July 1, 2012 that prohibits people from disposing of needles and lancets in the trash.

Household sharps are accepted for disposal at City Hall Customer Service and the Newton Health Department during regular business hours, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays until 8 p.m. Sharps must be in a red medical waste or other sturdy plastic container. See the brochure at www.newtonma.gov on the Health page for more specific information. Questions? Call 617-796-1420.

Newton Health Department

(next to Learning Express and Pure Barre)

1294 Center Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459 Directions
Telephone numbers:
Main number (617) 796-1420
Fax (617) 552-7063
Department Head: Dori Zaleznik, MD dzaleznik@newtonma.gov

City Hall Customer Service

Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-796-1000

February 21, 2012
Get Heart Healthy with Automated External Defibrillator program and Life’s Simple 7

The City of Newton is highlighting heart health in recognition of February Heart Month. Look for new programs, interactive opportunities, and, most of all, tips on how you can lead a healthier life. “Heart month is a great time to take a step back and think about what we can be doing for ourselves and our families to lead healthier lives year-round,” said Dori Zaleznik, MD, Newton’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services.

The city, in partnership with Cataldo Ambulance Service, will be drawing attention to the Automated External Defibrillator program, offering a CPR/AED training course and sharing healthy tips on the city website at www.newtonma.gov. To kick things off, the American Heart Association (AHA) has simplified heart disease prevention with Life’s Simple 7 and the My Life Check Assessment.

These free online tools can help individuals to evaluate their heart health in the privacy of their own homes, learn more about seven risk factors for heart disease, and take action to make simple changes that can both improve quality of life and save lives.

The 7 steps recommended by the AHA are:

* Get active.

* Control cholesterol.

* Eat better.

* Manage blood pressure.

* Lose weight.

* Reduce blood sugar.

* Stop smoking.

Learn about these 7 risk factors and how to take small steps toward controlling risk at www.mylifecheck.heart.org The American Heart Association also has great tips and resources for families at their Healthier Kids website www.heart.org/healthierkids Fun activities include a Healthy Challenge Scavenger Hunt you can do in the home, and a My Family Health Tree to help guide blood relative family health history research.

February 19, 2012
2 MOMtrepreneurs Juggling It All: Meet Celeste and Laura of Well Within, Massage and Integrated Health

Starting a business with a friend can be tricky endeavor, but it’s working for Celeste Woodside and Laura Viale of Well Within on Washington Street (between Cabots and Whole Foods). As business owners, they each balance the other’s strengths and weaknesses. In fact, it’s this collaborative culture that infuses Well Within with an integrative approach.

Not only do they offer multiple modalities that includes massage (many, many types!), yoga, accupuncture, mat pilates, guided meditation, Reiki and holistic health coaching for nutrition, but they will actually refer clients to outside wellness practitioners if they feel that is best for the client!

Let’s meet them!

1. When did you decide to work together?
Celeste Woodside

Celeste: “We have worked together in the integrative health community for 8 years and have developed a wonderful friendship during that time. We both shared office space in Newton for about 5 years before coming together in October of 2010 to form Well Within.”

2. Tell me about your families. How many kids and what ages?

Laura Viale

Laura: “I remember the day we were running around Newton Town Hall with kids in tow and thinking, “What are we getting ourselves into??” I had my 2 year old daughter, and Celeste had her 4 year old daughter and her 6 month old son. We had just made the decision to create Well Within and had to file the proper documents with the town. Since we were in a time crunch, we had to get many things done without childcare – it was a bit interesting, but we pushed through and made it happen. Celeste and I are blessed with supportive, loving husbands, and our joyful children.

Celeste has two beautiful children: her super smart, energetic 5 year old daughter, who is an avid gymnast and clearly has her parents’ gifts of creativity; and her adorable son, who will be 2 in a couple weeks and just idolizes his big sister. My happy 3 year old daughter keeps us entertained with endless “dance recitals” in every room of our house. Our extended families have also been incredibly supportive of us in every way allowing us extra time to do what it takes run a proper business.”

3. What is the most challenging aspect of juggling your own business with parenting and taking care of yourself?

Celeste: “Time. More specifically, not having enough. We are definitely learning (on the job training) the delicate and unique art of how a work-from-home-and-also-in-the-office-stay-at-home(ish)-PTO-Mom gets the job(s) done. The gas in the tank comes, not-surprisingly, from practicing what we preach … eating well, moving our bodies, being mindful, getting good sleep (when children allow) and making time for relaxation. With this fuel, we are more grounded and energized and can use our time more thoughtfully. We’ve learned that turning off all devices, getting down on the floor and building a block tower for 20 minutes or so, followed by a good snuggle is a really effective way to get a toddler to understand that sometimes you have to answer emails.”

4. What made you decide to take an integrative approach to health?

Laura: “One of the reasons our private practices were quite successful was because we actively sought out opportunities to work in combination with other health care practitioners to improve the results of our clients’ treatments. The dramatic improvements our clients experienced when integrating treatments really inspired us to create a place where our clients could come and utilize both massage and acupuncture, for example, to relieve their symptoms. The team approach of our staff and the variety of services available, gives us a great opportunity to really make a difference in the health and wellness of our clients.”

5. You also have a blog? Tell me more! What do you write about?

Celeste: “In our blog we talk about all things integrative health. We share articles we love, have guest posts by other local wellness professionals (and authors!) and sometimes we even talk about our kids!”

Well Within is going to host a FREE event in March for cancer patients and their caregivers. They will enjoy a day of pampering and treatments and go home with a goody bag. More on that later…

February 17, 2012
Meet Your New Neighbor: Dr. Dave Oliver of Newton Wellness Center

Would you like to meet your new neighbor? Meet Dr. Dave Oliver, a chiropractor. He hails from New Jersey but has lived in the Boston area for the past five years. A little over a year ago he took over Newton Wellness Center in Piccadilly Square in Newton Centre — you know, right above Rosenfeld’s Bagels. He also is a new Newton resident. You might have seen him and his dog Marley in Newtonville.

1. What made you decide to move to Newton from New Jersey?

After chiropractic school I moved back to New Jersey where I did my internship. I started looking around for an associateship but didn’t find anything that I felt fit right. A little while after I graduated I took a trip up to Boston to visit my sister who has been living in Burlington the past 15 years. I had always enjoyed visiting Boston and really loved the area! I decided while I was up here I would see if there were any offices looking for an associate. I happened to find an office in downtown Boston that needed a new doctor to take over their patients. It seemed like a great opportunity so within a month I moved up to the area and started working. After spending 4 years working there and learning a great deal about running a chiropractic office, I decided it was time to start my own practice. After looking around a bit, I found a practice for sale in Newton that matched well with my style and was in a great location. I had always heard good things about Newton and as I began to look into the area I became more excited about starting a business here. I took over Newton Wellness Center in October 2010.

2. What did you do before taking over Newton Wellness Center?

I graduated Cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic in San Jose CA. While I was in school I had the opportunity to travel to Fiji where I spent several weeks traveling to the under-served areas and provided free chiropractic care to the local residents. Many of these people had never even seen a doctor in their lifetime and I found it to be one the most rewarding experiences in my life. I treated several hundred people during that trip and hope to do something similar in the future.

Shortly after, my move to Boston happened and I started working at Boston Chiropractic Associates in downtown Boston. I was the main clinic doctor in a very busy office so I learned a lot about running a business and what it takes to succeed. I established trust and great relationships with my patients – many of whom have followed me to Newton to continue their care.

3. I noticed that you have a large exercise room in your office. I’ve never seen that in Chiropractor office before and I’ve been to a few. Tell me about it and your philosophy on treating chronic pain.

I believe chiropractic care is a very effective treatment for a variety of conditions but I think there is far more we can do for our patients than simply adjust them and restore proper spinal motion. Many of the symptoms people come to me with – whether it be lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, etc.. are coming from the joint fixations/ misalignments in their spine. By adjusting them and restoring proper motion I can alleviate most of their symptoms.

However, when patients go back to their normal lives sitting at computers for hours, chasing their children, etc. (activities that most likely brought them into my office in the first place) more than likely their symptoms will come back. This is something I noticed working in Boston. Many of my patients would get a lot of relief from treatment but would inevitably come back in a a year or two and say their pain was back again. Unless they were under consistent care, many of them would have these recurrences.

This was a problem to me! There had to be a better solution, one which could provide longer lasting results. I began looking into the things that were really causing patients to come to me in the first place. I determined it was due to poor ergonomics at work – mostly desk workers and weakened or unconditioned muscles around the spine. I started learning as much as I could about proper ergonomics and spinal rehabilitation and started using what I learned on my patients. Low and behold their results were much better than before. They started to see/feel longer lasting relief and were still able to enjoy all the things they loved in life. So, when I looked for an office to open it was very important to me that I find one with a large space in which I could teach my patients simple stabilizing exercises which they could perform in the office and then perform on their own at home.

4. If I come to you in pain — headache, neck or back pain — what is the first thing that you do?

The first thing that is done is that we sit down to go over your history to get a clear picture of who you are and get clues as to why you are experiencing these symptoms. Then an exam is performed to check range of motion to see if there are any restrictions to movement as well as specific orthopedic tests. Finally I will examine your spine by gently assessing for motion. At this time, I will determine if chiropractic adjustments are appropriate in order to treat you. I will let you know what I have found, what I believe to be the cause of your symptoms and if and how I can help you. Many patients tell me that they really appreciate this portion of the initial meeting. They feel that a lot of doctors don’t give them true explanations for their symptoms. I find it is essential that my patients understand why they are in my office and what has caused their problem(s). If they don’t understand this, then how are they going to prevent it from from coming back? My goal is not to make people dependent upon me. It is to empower them to take control of their health.

5. How do you like Newton and where might we bump into you?

So far my time in Newton has been great. I moved to Newtonville 6 months ago and have to say I really love the area. I have a black lab who loves walks so I try to take him as often as I can! It’s great that there are a lot of other dog lovers in the area. I have also taken trips over to the dog park at Crystal Springs. My patients have definitely made me feel more at home here – always recommending great local hangouts and restaurants to try. My girlfriend and I enjoy going out to eat on the weekends and have found several great restaurants in the area. We are big fans of Paddy’s, The Local and the newly opened Max and Leo’s for pizza. I also love to travel and get away when possible on the weekends often heading up to Maine or visiting family in New Jersey.

Running a School Auction? Take Note!

To introduce himself to the Newton Community, Dr. Oliver would like to donate gift certificate for a massage and chiropractic consultation/examination to any school auction in Newton including preschool, public or private school. Please email him at droliverdc@gmail.com to arrange to pick up your school auction item donation.

Introductory “Meet Us!” Rate

Dr. Oliver is offering a special Introductory Rate of $49 for a 50 minute massage and chiropractic consultation/exam — normally $230. He’d love for you to come in with no strings attached and see for themselves what his office is about. And on top of that, you get a 50 minute massage!

I’ve asked Dr. Oliver to be a regular contributor to this blog. Look for future posts from him on Top 10 Ergonomic Safety Tips!

Newton Wellness Center is a an chiropractic office which is dedicated to helping you become the healthiest person possible. Besides chiropractic care and spinal rehab instruction we have an excellent massage therapist who has a lot of experience and is highly trained in treating musculoskeletal conditions.

February 15, 2012

Ready, Set, Summer!

It is not too early to start looking at summer activities. Here are three events in Newton today to get you going!

TeenLife LIVE! Community Service Fair & Expo – Chestnut Hill

2/12/2012

When:	Sunday, February 12, 2012 From 12 – 4 PM
Where:	The Mall at Chestnut Hill 199 Boylston Street Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467 United States
Contact:	Kimberly Wolf (Kimberly@TeenLife.com)

JCC Kaleidoscope Creative Arts & Science Camp Open House

Today, February 12, 2:00 pm

Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton St,Newton, MA | Get Directions »
FREE

Open house for JCC Kaleidoscope Creative Arts & Science Camp will be held on Sunday, February 12 at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC (333 Nahanton Street) in Newton from 2-4pm. Meet the camp director and staff and learn how children in entering grades K-11 will make friends and spread their creative wings at JCC Kaleidoscope Camp. Art, drama, science, cooking, dance, music, games, sports, swimming, fishing, boating and more. Two to eight week program with flexible registration. Visual Arts and Theater Arts Intensive programs available for children entering grades 6-11. Bus transportation available to and from Brookline, Framingham and Wayland. Host of the 2012 Consortium of Boston Area Children’s Theatre (CBACT) Festival. For more information, visit bostonjcc.org/kaleidoscope or call 617-558-6523. No charge for camp fair. Open to the entire community. A program of the Ryna Greenbaum JCC Center for the Arts.

Special Needs Resource Fair

12February

Today, February 12, 1:00 pm

22 E Evergreen Rd, Natick, MA | Get Directions »
FREE

Natick SEPAC 1^st Annual Special Needs Resource Fair

Learn about some of the great special needs resources
available to Metrowest families in a relaxed, free,
easy-to-navigate forum. Meet with owners and therapists
for a wide range of great resources including:
• Therapeutic Yoga and Horseback Riding
• Occupational Therapy
• Social Groups
• Neuropsychologists
• Financial Planners
• Adaptive Sports

To see an updated list of registered vendors go tohttp://naticksepacvendorfair.eventbrite.com
Attendees: No cost, suggested $5 donation to support SEPAC

Children’s craft area will be provided.

For more information, please contact NatickSepac@gmail.com.

February 12, 2012

Newton Authors from All Time: Children’s, Young Adult and Adult (Great for Newton Book Clubs!) UPDATED

I had no idea that some of these well known authors were or currently are Newton residents. I think all of us in book clubs, both adult and child, could get some great ideas from these local authors (and I bet if you ask really nicely, you just might be able to get them to come to your book club. Personally, I have had Mitali Perkins and Karen Day come to my daughter’s book clubs and both were FABULOUS!!! And gracious, and charming, not to mention wonderful with children!!). If you are reading this and you don’t live in Newton, there is always Skype!

Feel free to leave a comment to talk about your favorite author or book below (or missing from list). I am quite sure that I have accidentally left off some Newton authors. If you know of any, please leave a comment and I’ll add to the list. If I didn’t include a particular book for an author, please leave a comment about that too. I didn’t do the entire body of work for prolific authors (it’s a prevent-carpal-tunnel-thing). Thank you!

p.s. Thank you to Capability:Mom for the assist on this post!

Click on any image of book to examine or purchase at Amazon.

Picture Books (Emilie Boon, author and illustrator)

Just Illustration (Emilie Boon, author and illustrator)

Picture Books (Virginia Lee Burton)

Children’s Non Fiction (Don Lessem)

Picture Book for Adults (Adam Mansbach, illustrated by Ricardo Cortés)

3rd-4th Grade (Mitali Perkins)

Middle Grade (Karen Day)

Children’s (Howard Zinn)

Young Adult (Mitali Perkins)

Adult (Tom Ashbrook)

Adult Science Fiction (Isaac Asimov)

Adult (Russell Banks)

Adult (Alex Beam)

Adult (Christopher Boucher)

Adult (Thomas Bulfinch)

Adult (Anita Diamant)

Adult (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Adult (Atul Gawande)

Adult (Angela Gerst)

Politics, money, love . . . what could go wrong?

Susan Callisto is pushing thirty and taking stock. Before she traded financial security at a Boston law firm for sandals and jeans in Waltham, she specialized in real estate law. Now she has reinvented herself as a political consultant for ordinary people seeking low-level office. Her income may be dicey, but Susan loves her new life—until her sometime boyfriend, Detective Lieutenant Michael Benedict, dumps her without a goodbye. Not one to mope, Susan uses humor and perpetual motion to push away the pain.

Susan’s new world is one where politics can turn deadly and even love may not survive. So when local high roller Charles Renfrow offers her a huge retainer to advise his political campaign, Susan is wary. Why would a scientist stalking the human genome want to be mayor of a small Massachusetts town? Finding the answer takes Susan through a maze of toxic secrets including those floating around Renfrow’s biotech company. On her way to confront him, Susan instead finds the body of his beautiful assistant. Assigned to the case, Michael reenters Susan’s life.

When Michael’s suspicions settle on Roddie Baird, yet another, and favorite, of Susan’s clients, Susan elbows her way into the investigation. She hopes to prove Michael wrong. As she probes—and lays her own life on the line—Susan uncovers a crack in everything….

Adult (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Adult (Nate Kenyon)

Adult (Raymond Kurzweil)

Adult (Elizabeth McCracken)

Adult (Tova Mirvis)

Adult History (Diana Muir)

Adult (Michael Novak)

Adult (Mitali Perkins)

Poet (Robert Pinsky)

Poet (Anne Sexton)

Playwright (Samuel Shem)

Adult (Harriet Beecher Stowe)

Collaborative Memoirist (Andrew Szanton)

Poet and Adult (Celia Thaxter)

Adult (Catharine Utzschneider)

Adult (Ben Ames Williams)

Adult (Jonathan Wilson)

Adult (Saul Wisnia)

Adult (Howard Zinn)

p.s. Adult Medical Advice/Advocacy (Jerome Groopman)

Technically Dr. Groopman lives one town over in Brookline, but my Mom Friend Nancy works for him and raves about what a nice guy he is so I snuck him in. How Doctors Think is supposed to be a wonderful book.

To view any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

February 10, 2012
A Fairly Comprehensive List of Birthday Party Locations in and around Newton UPDATED
Birthday party planning need not be daunting. Here are lots of ideas for your child’s birthday! Did I miss any? Please let me know and I’ll add to the list!

p.s. More ideas here from Boston Central.

10. Private Baby Animal Petting Zoo. Barn Babies. This particular petting zoo was pretty amazing. We hired them twice for birthday parties (2 of my kids), and they visited my preschool twice. What is amazing about them is that they have enough baby animals — bunnies, kittens, puppies, goat, chicks, ducklings, pig — so that every child can hold a swaddled baby animal for as long as they like. When they want to switch animals, another one gets placed into their arms. The kittens, puppies, and bunnies are eventually adopted but I hate to ask what happens to the chicks, ducklings, goat and pig. The baby goat has a Depends diaper on and a child can walk it around on a leash. They can do parties indoors or out. They don’t advertise but you’d be wise to book early as they get booked up fast. They are based on the Cape.

9. Trampoline. Launch Trampoline Park in Watertown. This is a new franchise that came our way last year and has become hugely popular. Headcount on each gigantic trampoline is closely monitored.

8. Trapeze. My oldest went to this party and had a blast even though she says she is scared of heights. My middle child is booking this for her next birthday. I hope I don’t have to do it!

7. Go Diego Go! home party. I did an elaborate Diego themed home party that took me 6 weeks to plan. I wrote it up and submitted to a Birthday Party site but now I can’t locate it. I printed out coloring sheets from Diego website and stapled it into on side of a blue file folder as a “Field Journal.” I also made a drawing of a keyboard and stapled that on the other side. I got Beenie Babies that matched the footprints and made a scavenger hunt out of that by putting footprints all over the house and backyard. The kids decorated paper towel rolls to make Spy Glasses. They used their Spy Glasses for the scavenger hunt. I hired Barn Babies as entertainment. The final stop was an extra basket of Beenie Babies for trading in case the Beenie Baby you found was not the one you wanted. The kids were only three.

6. Cookie decorating. Cookies by Design. This was the first time we had done this and my middle daughter chose this for her last birthday but it can easily be done at home. The kids had premixed sugar cookie dough to roll out and cut cookies. This was actually the most popular station. They also got colored bags of icing and decorated a plate of baked cookies. Finally, they decorated an apron using fabric markers.

5. Laser tag. This was a popular birthday party that is now a little passé though kids always seem to have fun playing laser tag. We just discovered the Mother Lode of Laser Tag locations, called Laser Quest, that has multiple floors of Laser Tag mazes. It’s in West Roxbury but it’s worth the drive!

4. Jewelry party. Home and at bead store (our two local bead stores are out of business). I did this party at home using stretchy string from the bead store. Each little girl and their mother strung a necklace and a bracelet. I think I tried this party for preschoolers which was a tad too young. I needed other activities like coloring sheets and games because the kids were either really fast at making the crafts or easily bored. My oldest went to a bead store for a birthday party at 5th grade and all the girls made beautiful necklaces. Some did not finish in the time allotted due to intricate designs.

3. Pseudo sky diving. My Mom Friend Julie’s son did this as a Middle Schooler. She said that all the boys LOVED it. The pseudo sky diving using some kind of gigantic fan to create a wind tunnel capable of suspending a person in the air to simulate sky diving. That’s my kind of sky diving: the safe kind.

2. Aquarium. On or off site. Both parties have been hits. We had a party at the Aquarium one year for my oldest when she was in preschool that, unfortunately, coincided with a gigantic snowstorm. Nevertheless, most of the guests made it to the Aquarium for the party. They do a great job letting kids touch sea creatures and it’s also educational! Our aquarium takes the show on the road and will travel to your birthday site. We went to a party that hired them and was also fabulous!

1. Cooking. Create A Cook. We have a cooking school for kids in town, but this can easily be done at home. The parties usually have a food theme with each child making about three items that they can bring home to share. I love that my child is learning to cook. Themes can be anything from breakfast, Thai, Japanese and Italian. And it’s not just for girls. Boys, as it turns out, love the hands on “making stuff” aspect.

Here are more party ideas that we’ve attended or hosted. I hope it helps you plan the perfect party for your child!

Bowling, karate (Giroux Brothers Martial Arts, Esposito’s, Masters of Karate), gymnastics (My Gym, Energy Fitness and Gymnastics, Exxcel) , Museum of Natural History, paint pottery/plaster, video game/Chuckie E Cheese, sewing, knitting, paint ball, swimming (make sure to have plenty of lifeguards!), sleepover, ice skating, snow tubing, ice cream party at parlour (Coney Island, Lizzies, Cabots), Mad Scientist, magician, Puppet theater, movie, mini golf, old fashioned games at home (pass the shoe, scavenger piñata, etc), soccer games, rock climbing (also at BU), dress up (renting a dress up trunk), water slide/bouncy house, water park, farm, sports at YMCA, TOMB, art/ceramics at art school, dance at dance studio (All That Jazz), dance party at home, hip hop dance party, sewing party, Game Truck. There’s a second sewing studio in Newton. Boxing birthday parties at Nonantum Boxing Club. Escape the Room in Boston for an interactive game party where the group has to solve puzzles to escape the room. Boda Borg is a fun puzzle solving multi-room gaming party too.

We just tried an archery birthday party at Bay State Archery and it was really fun. It’s in Norwood. Jump On In has been really popular with kids ages 6 through 9. My boxing gym will do birthday parties. Any kind of sports games party at your location/local park or at YMCA. Jump’n’Slide Center just opened in Wells Avenue; they have activities including arcade castle, huge inflatables, Laser Maze, Cannonball Shooting range, Lego room, make crafts:
- Make a working, punched tin lantern and punched tin art
- Weave friendship bracelets and bookmarks
- Craft a journal or diary
at Durant-Kenrick House & Grounds of Historic Newton.

p.s. Other Guides to Newton:

Best Preschools in Newton

Best Martial Arts Schools for Kids and Adult in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of After School Supplemental Math Classes in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Dance Studios in Newton

Best Gymnastics for Toddlers and Kids in Newton Area

Best Caretaker and Child Music Classes in Newton

Best Tutors, Music Teachers etc in Newton
February 4, 2012
Nutrition Solutions with Health Coach Stacy Schwartz

Do you have questions about nutrition but don’t know who to ask?

Come to our 4 week nutrition solutions workshop where you will get all of your questions answered.

In this workshop you’ll learn:

. How to incorporate delicious greens into your diet.
. Tips to eat foods you enjoy and not deprive yourself.
. To understand how your lifestyle affects your cravings.
. Steps to make easy healthy meals for you and your family.

February 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th from 7:30-8:30pm

Nutritional Health Coach Stacy Schwartz will lead the seminars.

Contact: Allison Benitez at 617-458-9758 for more information and to register. You won’t want to miss this!

February 3, 2012