The Bluebird Patch

Kids to Parks Day, is right around the corner!  Clickhere to register today and see if your town is one of the 400 that has proclaimed the day, and while you're at it check out the 1,000+ registered parkevents  going on around the country! "Kids to Parks Day was created in 2011 to engage kids with our country's diverse parks and public lands and water," said Grace Lee, executive director of National Park Trust. "Our goal is to get hundreds of thousands of kids and their families outdoors to discover, learn about and enjoy our nation's parks. We are delighted that Senator Mark Udall (Colorado), Senator Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Senator Ron Wyden (Oregon) and Senator Rob Portman (Ohio) have co-sponsored a Senate resolution to promote and proclaim this nation-wide of play. We encourage families to visit kidstoparks.org where they will find more than 1,000 park events listed by state along with numerous free park resources." The ...

WHAT:   This Spring Break, bring your kids to train to become Knights of the Realm at Medieval Times. Children will enjoy watching an exclusive weapons demonstration by our Knights and the Weapons Master. They will learn about the grueling training it takes to become a Knight. Upon completion of their training, your children will be knighted by His Majesty King Carlos in a group knighting ceremony. WHEN:   This special knight training class is only available for certain show times:                 March 24 th  and 31 st : Doors open at  4:15PM  with training at  5:00PM                 March 25 th : Doors open at  5:30PM  with training at  6:30PM                 April 7 th  thru 10 th : Doors open at...

“ THE LION KING: Up Close” Exhibit Set to Open on March 11 A TLANTA (March 4, 2014) – In partnership with  Disney’s  THE LION KING  and  Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta , four iconic masks and a puppet from the world famous Broadway musical will soon be on display for Atlanta fans to enjoy. Beginning Tuesday, March 11,  THE LION KING:   Up Close  will be featured at the   Center for Puppetry Arts , leading up to the limited engagement of  THE LION KING  at the Fox Theatre, April 10-27. The exhibit will run through Sunday, April 27. Puppetry is used extensively in  THE LION KING ,  allowing the actors to bring the animals to life on stage.  THE LION KING: Up Close  will showcase Julie Taymor and Michael Curry’s award-winning designs, and guests will get an intimate look at the Simba, Nala, Mufasa and Scar masks as well as the Zazu puppet used in the Broadway production. Plus, visito...

Audiences will be swept off to fantastical faraway places this spring when “ 1001 Nights: A Love Story About Loving Stories” hits the stage at the Center for Puppetry Arts for a limited two week engagement, March 25-April 6 . Broadway musical powerhouse Robert Lopez, innovative New York company The Flying Carpet and puppetry experts Center for Puppetry Arts, join forces as a “dream team” to create the ultimate “family puppet musical.” In this celebration of brainy imagination over brawn, a princess uses her wits to save a kingdom from an evil decree as she spins tale after tale for a narrow-minded king.  Featuring genies, jesters, 40 thieves and other captivating characters, the princess’s cliffhanger stories keep the king—and audiences—on the edge of their seats.  This playful adaptation of the “Arabian Nights” fairy tales is recommended for ages six and up.

Bringing weather to life in an en“lightning” musical It’s a forecast for FUN as the Center for Puppetry Arts is set to rock out Feb. 6-March 23 with the original tunes of Weather Rocks! . This en“lightning” musical opens the flood gates to the mysteries of Mother Nature and shares cool facts about rain, snow, hurricanes, sunshine, and more. Using a wide variety of puppetry styles and music genres – from rock-n-roll to reggae to gospel – a cool band of meteorologists performs an array of songs that shed light on many natural phenomena including the water cycle, volcanic eruptions, rainbows and much more.  In 2009, during the last run of  Weather Rocks! , Spencer G. Stephens wowed audiences as a cast member in this original work by Jon Ludwig.  Stephens is back for this latest production, this time directing a new cast of performers:  Dolph Amick, Eric Baumgartner, Jared Brodie, Eliana Marianes and Mandy Mitchell.  The set, props and all of the mor...

  “The finest up-close circus in America.” – Variety ALL–NEW SHOW! 36th SEASON!   It’s the vivacity! It’s the velocity! It’s the LUMINOCITY — the All–New Show from the Big Apple Circus! Now in its 36th Season, the Big Apple Circus celebrates the vitality of life at the city epicenter, the Crossroads of the World! Catch all the verve, the high-spirits and racing-pulse thrills of the World’s Greatest Circus Artists in one ring under our intimate Big Top, where no seat is more than 50 feet from ringside! The Big Apple Circus presents LUMINOCITY in its Atlanta Premiere at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta from Thursday, January 30 through Monday February 17, 2014.  Venture within the hubbub at the heart of Gotham, where the restless tide of humanity rushes through canyons of skyscrapers and shoals of billboards: The dog-walker, whose rowdy pups perform amazing tricks!  Businesswomen who arrange to meet, soaring high abo...

A snowman falls head-over-heels for a stove at the Center for Puppetry Arts Opposites attract in this charming tale of unrequited love.  Stan the Lovesick Snowman plays at the Center for Puppetry Arts Jan. 2 – Feb. 2, 2014 .  Stan’s adorable story begins after a chance encounter with a dog that has been sent outside in the wintry cold.  The dog tells the snowman about a warm stove inside the house, and with a “crack-crackle” in his heart, Stan falls in love with the wood-burning beauty.   The unlikely romance, doomed from the start, is only the beginning in this hilarious and heartwarming tale as Stan later discovers that a young snowwoman is swooning over him as well. Adapted and directed by the Center’s artistic director, Jon Ludwig, Stan the Lovesick Snowman is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Snow Man.”  “ It was a natural fit for this winter-inspired show to follow on the tails of our popular holiday classic Rud...

ATLANTANS  OF ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO RIDE PRISCILLA THE PINK PIG INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON!  WHAT:  Atlanta’s most unique and beloved tradition launches the holiday season with the 2013 Macy’s pink pig. join us on Saturday, nov. 2 for our grand opening day celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony. Priscilla the Pink Pig will once again carry children of all ages through a life-sized storybook filled with friends and fun beneath the signature 170-foot, 1950’s-themed pink pig tent. The ride officially opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 and will remain open through Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. each ride costs $3 and repeat rides have a special discounted price (2 rides for $5.50, 3 rides for $7.50). true to tradition, a portion of the proceeds from each ride will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  The ride is closed thanksgiving day and Christmas day. for the full schedule including hours of operation, pleas...

Making its North American premiere at Fernbank Museum of Natural History,  Marco Polo opening weekend was one full of amazing Kung Fu and Lion Dance performances , breathtaking falconry demonstrations,  and abundant yummy bites  inspired by Marco Polo's travels to India and Italy.  Curated from museums and private collections across Italy, Marco Polo: Man & Myth features more than 80 objects, including coins, ceramics, artwork, maps, and more. Br ing the whole family to The Fernbank Museum and embark in an incredible 24-year journey from Venice to China along the Silk Road.  Marco Polo is forever recognized as the ultimate travel adventurer and his account remains one of the greatest travelogues ever written. This major exhibition includes rare and extraordinary objects from private collections and museums in Italy to reveal the cultural practices, artistic traditions, unique landscapes, and unusual animals he encountered....

ATLANTA— Fernbank Museum of Natural History opens a major new exhibition of incredible artifacts and profiles the 13 th century journey of Marco Polo in Marco Polo: Man & Myth , on Saturday, September 28, 2013. The exhibition opening includes several activities as part of the Marco Polo Celebration Days , which will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 28 and October 12. In celebration of the exhibition, Fernbank Museum is offering two opportunities to enjoy a taste of the Silk Road through event days that feature sights, sounds and tastes inspired by the incredible cultures Marco Polo encountered on his 24-year journey between Italy and China. Activities for September 28 are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include*:   ·   See a live baby camel , reminiscent of the iconic sights from Marco Polo’s journey through the Middle East. ·   Sample tastes of Indian and Italian cuisine inspired by the exhibition and offered...

  ATLANTA (September 5, 2013) – Enter an “imaginary world” at the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual  Scarecrows in the Garden , celebration during October. Throughout the month, the garden will be stuffed with more than 100 scarecrows created by artists, designers, schools, businesses and families. Participants compete for prizes in one of two design categories: professional and nonprofessional. This year’s event is themed Ogre-tober! – a salute to one of the 19 giant topiary-like sculptures making up the Garden’s popular current exhibition, Imaginary Worlds: Plants Larger Than Life. The exhibition includes a giant Earth Goddess, a pair of towering cobras, a unicorn, butterflies, rabbits, a dog – and one friendly Ogre. Scarecrow designers are encouraged (but not required) to create their own ogre or cobra to mimic the ones in the show – or come up with their own imaginary being, be it based on a childhood story or an urban legend.

Need something fun (and FREE!) to do with the kids this July? Take them to Room & Board for an exclusive reading and book signing with the author of The Adventures of Maddie, Monyetta Shaw! Nibble on snacks compliments of Annie’s Homegrown and craft a take-home card for National Parents Day! The event is on Saturday, July 27 , from 10AM to 12PM – RSVP here: http://bit.ly/12mB4R4 .  The Adventures of Maddie, is a delightful look at the life of a little girl named Maddie, who chronicles her life's discovery with family and friends through new and exciting experiences.

Photo © Center for Puppetry Arts 'Peter Pan' soars onto the stage in this new adaptation for everyone who is young at heart. Thrill with Peter, Wendy and Tinkerbell as they swim with mermaids, romp with Tigerlily, and cross swords with the nefarious Captain Hook! With original music, songs, and a Neverland full of adventure. Director Michael Haverty’s adaptation utilizes blacklight puppetry, projected animations and filmed shadow puppetry to create a magical effect on stage. This vibrant, colorful world invites audiences on an imaginative voyage across London, to Neverland and back .  To keep the high-flying tale grounded, Center for Puppetry Arts brings an air of authenticity to its version of Peter Pan: Princess Tigerlily, the daughter of the chief of the Neverland tribe, speaks Cherokee. The Center for Puppetry Arts was pleased to work with the Cherokee Nation Education Services and the Translation Department of Education Services to translate Tigerlily’s di...