Cheverly Day, Saturday, May 14

The grandest day of the year in Cheverly is Cheverly Day and it's coming up this Saturday, May 14. The wonderful hamlet of Cheverly turns 80 this year and big celebrations are in store.

Stake our your spot on Cheverly Avenue between Kilmer and Forest to see the parade which begins at 10am. Although, quite frankly, it seems everyone in town is in at least one participating group so I don't know who will actually be on hand to view it!

Then, head over to Town Park for a great line-up of musicians and performers on the Main Stage, games at the Midway, tables hosted by town organizations, food vendors, the infamous St. Ambrose Beer Garden, the East v West Softball game (East side rules!), and much, much more.

Make sure to head back to Town Park or another good viewing area (the parking lot of the Methodist Church is good for kiddos who don't like the noise) for the fireworks at 9:15. It's the best show in the area--a trial run for the 4th of July show on the National Mall--you don't want to miss it.

All kinds of details can be found at http://www.cheverlyday.org/.


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cheverly Truck Touch Thunders into Town on Saturday, May 7

There is one -- and only one -- MUST DO event this weekend: The 14th Annual Cheverly Truck Touch! Here are all the details!

On Saturday, May 7, at the 14th Annual Cheverly Truck Touch, children can sit in the driver's seat of a cement truck, honk the horn of a dump truck, run around inside the trailer of an 18 wheeler, check out a race car, stand on the back of a garbage truck, get up close and personal with a bucket truck, turn on the siren of a police car, put on a fire hat and "drive" a fire truck, and SO MUCH MORE! More than 20 vehicles will be at the Cheverly Truck Touch this year and children can get inside and hands on with every single one of them!

There will also be a small ride-on train, games geared just for little ones, face painting, and yummy hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks, baked goods, balloons and adorable t-shirts for sale.

Admission is just $5 for ages 1-12 (under 1 and over 12 are free!) and includes 4 game tickets (additional game tickets are for sale at just $5 for 20!).

The Cheverly Truck Touch is a fundraiser for the non-profit Cheverly Nursery Schools.

Here are all the details:

14th Annual Cheverly Truck Touch -- www.cheverlynurseryschools.com/trucktouch
Saturday, May 7, 2011
10am-2pm
Cheverly United Methodist Church Parking Lot
2801 Cheverly Avenue, Cheverly, MD 20785

The trucks will fill up the parking lot, but plenty of street parking will be available.

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cheverly Community Market: Now Featuring a Kids Corner

You'll want to be sure to get out by ten this Saturday for this season's 2nd Cheverly Community Market!* That's because the Cheverly Parent Resource Center will kick off their Market Kids Corner this Saturday at 10am!


At every market this season, CPRC will sponsor a storytelling or craft event featuring one or two of the market vendors. For this Saturday's kick-off, a volunteer will read The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord and all the kids in attendance will receive a coupon for 50 cents off a jar of deliciousness (aka Martha's Jam!). In addition, all kids who sign up for the Kids Corner will receive a card, each time they participate they will receive a sticker and--as if stickers aren't prize enough!--when they get five stickers they will receive a small prize from a vendor.

Photo by Kathryn Andrews. Martha's Jam: Also great on cake!

What a great way to get your kids interested in and excited about local, fresh and delicious food!

*Don't forget this Saturday's Market is also Market on the Avenue--the market will take place on Cheverly Avenue at Legion Park from 8am-Noon instead of the regular location next to the Community Center.

Additional Details:

Cheverly Community Market
Saturday, June 12, 8am-Noon
Cheverly Avenue at Legion Park, Cheverly
(And every other Saturday through the fall at the Cheverly Community Center.)
www.cheverlycommunitymarket.com/


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cheverly Day (aka The Most Wonderful Day of the Year!)

Cheverly Day is fast-approaching on Saturday, May 22, and if you live in town, or in the local area, it is a must-attend family-friendly event! The festivities kick off with the Cheverly Day Dance (aka the Cheverly Prom) on Friday evening. I won't be writing more about that because: first, it is sold out; and second, it is an un-family friendly event because no kids are allowed. (Don't fear, though, Cheverly Day features lots of family-friendly music and dance opportunities!)

All activities take place in and around the Cheverly Town Hall and Cheverly Town Park, located at 6401 Forest Road, Cheverly, MD.

Saturday kicks off with the Cicada Crunch and continues with the infamous East v. West Softball Game at 11am (arrive early to warm-up; the organizers plan to start promptly this year, breaking all past Cheverly Day traditions!)

By 11:30 you can indulge in fantastic food and at noon it's time to start drinking the St. Ambrose Men's Club Beer Garden!

Information tables hosted by local groups, organizations--and, I venture to guess, numerous political candidates--will be open from 1pm-6pm. For the second year in a row, the Cheverly Parent Resource Center will host a "Tots Corner" during this time as well. This is a welcome space just for younger children who may be a bit overwhelmed by the action of the midway.

Speaking of...at 1pm head over to the tennis courts which will be transformed into a carnival midway for lots of fun games for the kids. Buy your Cheverly Day t-shirt there early. It's extra-cute this year and is expected to sell out. Games close down at 5pm.

Between 2 and 4pm you and your kids can get up close to some raptors (birds of prey) demonstrated by Watkins Park staff members.

At 6pm, head over to the Community Center Gym for a new-this-year Family Dance Party with DJ Iana.

Yes, enjoying all that is Cheverly Day is is a marathon, not a sprint. (Unless, that is, you hope to claim first place in the Cicada Crunch!).

But wait! There's more! Check back tomorrow for all the details about the live music and fireworks!


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cheverly Day Cicada Crunch: Register today!

Do you remember 2004? The year of the 17-year cicadas? Remember how they landed on your head and crunched under your feet?

That was the same summer the Cheverly Day 5K run was born and the runners dubbed the event the "Cicada Crunch" -- a name that has stuck!

Since then, runners from all over the region have come to Cheverly to take part in the annual event. The infamous hills of Cheverly make it especially challenging--and oh-so-rewarding! Another reward is knowing that your registration fee benefits a wonderful local organization, the Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek, which helps to protect an important tributary to the Anacostia River.

The 2010 Cicada Crunch will take place on Saturday, May 22 at 10am. Registration is only $25 for the 5K ($5 off for Prince George's Running Club members) and only $10 for the 2K walk. Kids 12 and under doing the 2K walk are free!

Visit the Cicada Crunch website for all the details, race (and elevation!) maps and to register! (On-site registration will be accepted as well.)




Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Seussical the Musical presented by the Cheverly Young Actors Guild

Buy your tickets today!! The Cheverly Young Actors Guild is presenting Seussical the Musical this Thursday through Sunday at the Cheverly Publick Playhouse. The show, which is performed by local children ages 5 and up, is led by the Cat and the Hat who takes the audience on a romp through Seuss classics.

Show times:

Thursday, May 13 at 7:3opm
Friday, May 14 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 15 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, May 16 at 2pm and 6:30pm

Purchase Tickets:

Call the box office at 301-277-1710 to purchase tickets

$10 children 12 and under
$12 students and seniors
$14 adults

All patrons, including infants, must have a ticket.

Publick Playhouse
5445 Landover Road
Cheverly, MD 20785


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Halloween Activities: Cheverly

As always, the Cheverly is planning some great Halloween fun! Here's the schedule of events.


Special Halloween Playgroup sponsored by CPRC
Friday, October 30th, 9:30am-11:30am
Community Center gym

Kids can put on their Halloween costumes for this special Halloween playgroup. Bring something yummy to share.


Halloween Parade and Party sponsored by the Cheverly Recreation Council
Saturday, October 31, 3:45-6pm

The annual parade and party sponsored by the Cheverly Recreation Council is tons of fun for kids and parents alike. Kids (and adults!) can put on their costumes and meet at Gast Park around 3:30pm. The parade begins (never promptly!) at 3:45 and proceeds down Park Way then up Forest Road to the Town Hall for some fun activities from 4:00-6:00pm. This year the Recreation Council will be serving dinner so the kids aren't trick or treating on an empty stomach.

This annual event is enjoyed by kids of all ages but is a must for kids who are too young to go out trick-or-treating later in the evening. Personally, I think it would be a blast if town residents lined the parade route to cheer on the Cheverly ghosts and goblins (or, more likely, the Cheverly princesses, animals, fire fighters and Thomas the Trains)!


Trick-or-Treating
Saturday, October 31, 6pm-8pm

Trick-or-Treating will take place in Cheverly from 6-8pm on Saturday, October 31. Children up to age 13 or 8th grade are welcome to participate. Residents who want kids to come to their homes will turn on their porch lights. Please do not visit homes without lights on.



Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Learn the Thriller Dance and Be Part of "Thrill the World 2009"

Have you heard about Thrill the World? It's an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson's “Thriller.” This year, of course, it's an extra-special tribute to Michael Jackson and organizers have a goal of 270,000 participants worldwide in order to break the current Guinness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Dance.

Some local organizations are getting in on the fun to teach you and your family the dance.

Dance lessons in Cheverly:

October 9, 16 and 23
7-8pm for children ages 5-14
8-9pm for anyone over 14
Cheverly United Methodist Church, 3rd Floor
$30 per person, or $50 for families
Additional details here.

Thanks to ChvChick for the scoop!

Dance lessons in Mt. Rainier:

Joe's Movement Emporium
3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier
Sunday, October 18 at 12:30pm-2:30pm
All ages and experiences welcome.
Free!
Additional details here.

Can't get to a rehearsal? Download the dance moves and practice at home!


After you master the moves, you and your zombies can join others in the DC-area for the official, local dance event at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 24. There will be a final rehearsal at Freedom Plaza that morning at 11:30am. Registration begins at 4pm. The event is free but donations to the Paralyzed Veterans of America Spinal Research Foundation are encouraged. The official performance will take place at 8:30pm.

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Visit a Farmers Market in honor of the Buy Local Challenge

This week is Maryland's annual Buy Local Challenge. Buying local is good for you, good for your local economy and good for the planet. If you want to commit to eating at least one local food item each day this week then take the challenge and make the pledge!

There's so much more I could say about buying local food, but this isn't a food blog, it's a blog about family friendly activities and ways to get out and about with your kids in Prince George's County. And farmers markets are not only your best source of fresh, local food, they are an awesome family-friendly activity!

Farmers markets are a great way to introduce your kids to a wide variety of produce and to help make the connection between the farmer and the food. I always find the vendors to be friendly and ready to answer questions about the best way to store and prepare what they are selling. If you think creatively, there are so many educational opportunities for your kids. Younger kids might have fun seeking out different color produce. Can they find something purple? Red? Orange? Older kids will love choosing which bag of peaches or ears of corn look most appetizing (and won't they be more likely to eat it if they helped choose it?!).

The Maryland Department of Agriculture lists ten weekly farmers markets in Prince George's County. Check one out this week in honor of the Buy Local Challenge!

Of course, I am biased here, but I strongly recommend you and your family come on over to Cheverly this weekend to check out the Cheverly Community Market! This is the second summer in a row that Cheverly has had their very own community market and it just keeps getting better. The market is a completely home-grown effort by a few incredibly dedicated volunteers who wanted close-to-home options for purchasing fresh, local--not to mention, delicious--food for their families.

Here are a few things I love about our market.

1) Neighbors. Even if I could accomplish my actual shopping in 30 minutes, I know I have to plan to spend at least an hour at the market. I see so many of our neighbors. Lucas always sees a few of his little buddies and they run around while Abel and I catch-up with our neighborhood friends.

2) Fresh, fresh food. A few weeks ago I purchased new potatoes which had been dug from the earth just the day before. In fact, the man I bought them from had most likely done the digging. When I was younger my mom's cousins owned a potato farm and would bring bags of freshly dug potatoes to our family reunion each summer. Let me tell you, there is nothing like a potato that is only a day or two out of the ground. Another time, I bought a half dozen peaches. Again, they had been picked just the day before. The sweet, sweet girl who sold them to me cautioned to wait two days before eating them. She wanted them to be at their prime for me. I was barely able to resist but am glad I did. Because on days 3, 4, 5 and 6 I thoroughly enjoyed taking big bites of peach as the juice drizzled down my chin.

3) Music. Our Cheverly Community Market has a house band! I love it when Lucas takes a few minutes to dance--solo or with other kids--at the market. With that great music playing, he just can't help himself.

This Saturday just so happens to be a Market Saturday. Come on over to Cheverly and check it out for yourself!

Additional Details:

The Cheverly Community Market takes place Saturday mornings (generally the second and fourth Saturdays of the month), 8:00am to noon , in the heart of Cheverly, Maryland, at the Cheverly Community Center, 6401 Forest Road. Complete list of dates here.

Website: http://www.cheverlycommunitymarket.com/

Visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture for a list of all Maryland farmers markets arranged by county.

Russian American Kids Circus at the Publick Playhouse

The Russian American Kids Circus is coming to the Prince George's Publick Playhouse!

The Russian American Kids Circus combines circus arts, dance, theatre and comedy into an amazing show performed by youth ages 5-17. The troupe is coming to the Prince George's Publick Playhouse July 21-July 25, but tickets are going fast. It is my understanding that the only two shows not yet sold out are the Tuesday, July 21 show at 12:30pm and the Saturday, July 25 show at 11am. Tickets are $10 each (with a $3 per order handling fee). Reserve yours today by calling the Public Playhouse box office at 301-277-1710.

Additional information:

Prince George's Public Playhouse
5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, MD 20784
Box Office 301-277-1710; TTY 301-277-0312

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cheverly Day!

Cheverly Day is just one of the many, many reasons that Cheverlites Cheveralians people who live in Cheverly believe that we live in the best town ever. Cheverly Day is an annual celebration of all things Cheverly and includes an East v West softball game, games for the young and old, amazing music, displays by town artists, and information tables from town organizations. Not to mention the incredible fireworks display that puts a fantastic cap on an fantastic day. (The word on the street is that the group that does our fireworks display is the same group that does the 4th of July on the National Mall. They use the Cheverly Day fireworks to practice some of the coolest new fireworks each year!)

If you live in Cheverly or nearby, Cheverly day is not to be missed! Here's the overall schedule of events and the schedule of live music.

Schedule of Events

8:30 Cheverly T-Ball Finals
10:15 T-Ball Awards Ceremony Main Stage
11:00 - 4:00 4 on 4 Basketball tournament Gym
11:00 Annual Cheverly East-West Softball Game field
11:00 - 6:00 PM Participant's Tables
11:30 Food Vendors Open
12:00 Obstacle Course near tennis courts
12:00 St. Ambrose Beer Garden Opens
12:00 - 4:00 Ultimate Game Party lower pavilion
1:00 - 5:00 Midway & Moon bounce Arena tennis courts
1:00 - 5:00 Watkins Park Live Animal Display: Raptors & Reptiles forest
9:00 Fireworks!

Live Music:

12:30 PM - 1:15 The Josh Taylor Band Jazz/Blues
1:30 - 2:20 Soul Revolver Rock 'n' Roll
2:35 - 3:20 Tuxedo Road Country/Folk
3:35 - 4:35 Hot Noodles Rock
4:50 - 6:00 The Alan Lewine Xtet Jazz
6:15 - 7:00 JohnStone Reggae Band Reggae
7:15 - 8:15 In Da Cut Jazz/Funk/R&B
8:45 Tuxedo Road


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cheverly Publick Playhouse: Annie

The Cheverly Young Actors' Guild is a nonprofit organization which "was formed in 1995 by parents seeking to offer local youth professional training and performance opportunities in the magical world of the dramatic arts." Each year they put on a full-scale production at the Cheverly Publick Playhouse. All the actors are local children ages 4-17 and the young thespians are accompanied by a professional orchestra as well as fabulous sets and costumes. This year's production of Annie even features a live Sandy! More than 100 kids have been rehearsing for months under professional directors and choreographers. The curtain goes up tomorrow and closes Sunday evening. I can't think of a better way to introduce children to live theater than this!

Show Times:

Thursday, May 14, 7:30 pm
Friday, May 15, 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 16, 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 17, 2 pm & 6:30 pm

Tickets:

$12; $10/seniors and students; $8/ages 12 and under

Tickets often sell out, so purchase your tickets now! You can buy tickets over the phone using a Visa or MasterCard by calling the Publick Playhouse Box Office at 301-277-1710. The tickets will be held for you at will call. Or, you can stop by in person.

Location:

Publick Playhouse
5445 Landover Road
Cheverly, MD 20784

Cheverly Truck Touch: This Saturday

Image from Cheverly Nursery Schools

I am super excited about Cheverly's annual Truck Touch this Saturday. It will be Lucas's dream come true to climb into, honk and steer a fire truck, ambulance, delivery trucks, motorcycles, all kinds of construction vehicles and even antique cars! This annual fundraiser for the Cheverly Weekday Nursery Schools will take place this Saturday, May 2, from 10am until 2pm. Adults are free and children are $3 each.

Detailed directions and all kinds of great information can be found here.