As a mom to a young baby...I love that malls & movie theaters have monthly (or even weekly) events where you can bring your baby (and let her scream! lol) and enjoy a top notch flick, free concert or story time! Since the kids are so young, the movies are really for the parents, which i love! :) It's such a great way to get out with your little ones, meet other moms, get some air conditioning & entertainment for a low price!
SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX:
Every Thursday this summer, The Showcase Cinema De Lux at Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA is hosting "Baby Pictures!" From their website: Enjoy the latest movies in a convenient baby-friendly setting at a discounted price of only $6! Shows begin at 12 noon! Amenities include soft lighting, lowered volume, area for strollers and baby changing stations.
Schedule:
July 21 - Harry Potter
July 28th - Friends with Benefits
August 4th - Crazy Stupid Love
August 11th - Change Up
COOLIDGE CORNER THEATER:
When my baby was just a few weeks old, my mom & I ventured out to the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA for "Box Office Babies." The first one we say was "Black Swan" - talk about a "non-kid-friendly" flick! haha! We had a blast, the baby slept nearly the whole time and we saw Natalie Portman's Oscar-winning performance! The Coolidge Corner Theater is known for showing art house films, documentaries and indie films. It's a cool, refurbished old theater that is a great place to spend a morning! (If you haven't seen the amazing documentary film "Babies," you have to rent it today! My husband and I saw it at the Coolidge theater when I was pregnant...and loved it!)
From their website: Box Office Babies! New parents and their infants are invited to join us at the Coolidge for these special bi-monthly, baby-friendly screenings of our current features on the giant screen. All Box Office Babies screenings take place in our gorgeous main theater on the first floor. We turn the lights up slightly so you can walk the baby around if you need to and we keep the volume down slightly so as not to frighten the wee ones . Our lobby has plenty of room for stroller parking and also has two restrooms with Koala changing tables. We're honored to welcome the next generation of movie buffs!
Schedule and Price Info:
Box Office Babies screenings take place every other Friday at 11am. Admission is $6.75 for parents; babies under 12 months of age are admitted free of charge.
Friday, July 22 @ 11am
Project Nim (1hr 33mins) - The story of a chimpanzee taken from its mother at birth and raised like a human child by a family in a brownstone on the upper West Side in the 1970's...
Afterwards, you can walk around the many shops in Coolidge Corner such as Magic Beans (a great, family-owned kids gear store) and Baby Gap, get lunch at any number of great kid-friendly restaurants (we love Panera Bread) and go to Trader Joe's for groceries afterwards! :)
FREE EVENTS at THE MALL:
Like many malls across the country, Legacy Place in Dedham, MA and Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA are doing FREE events this summer called "Summer Sensation"! Events include, balloon artists, face painting, caricaturists, summer concerts, farmers market, story time at the Cinema De Lux with Barney or Dora the Explorer, bouncey houses and more!
Yesterday, Nana & I took my little girl to Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Walpole...where we cooled off with an iced Frappucino at Starbucks (non-fat, of course! lol) and browsed the bargain books! We ended up getting some great DIY home decor books, a book on sewing and some Winnie the Pooh books for the babe. They have an amazing children's play area with Thomas the Train set and a stage...perfect for kids to play & let off some steam (and for parents to relax & peruse the Parenting or Travel Guide sections!) ;) Check your local bookstores for story times & special events! It's a great way to get your kids reading, playing & cooling off on a hot day! (We love all the Karen Katz books, especially "Where is Baby's Belly Button?")
- Register on Meetup.com to find Mom & Child playgroups and activities in your town!
- Visit Boston.com for listings happening in and around the Boston area. Check websites for Free Family Nights or discounted days!
- New England Aquarium
- The Boston Children's Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Institute of Contemporary Art
This is just an example of some of the fun & often times FREE events you can enjoy this summer in the suburbs of Boston! No matter where you live, check out the local listings in your city or town to find similar events! (Feel free to share them with me and i'll post them up for you here!) Enjoy!
Have a happy & safe summer!
:) Mel
