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Love Ya, Ma: The Best of Mother’s Day

Whether you’re looking forward to elbowing your way through an all-you-can eat buffet (hey, it’s your day after all), or long to explore healthier options, make the most of May 11 by reading up on the following Mom’s Day outings. We divided our picks (many of which came from RT readers) into easy-to-use categories (Chic Chow, Active Endeavors, Spa Ahh and Retail Therapy). Naturally, our favorite is the spa section, because nothing can top some well-deserved down time. Relish it while you can. Read more >>

You're getting a little a stir-crazy at home and have logged myriad hours at the tugboat in Bellevue Square? Why not explore some kid-friendly shops, activities and restaurants in neighborhood near you?

Don't know where to start? Never fear. Check out RT's recommendations for great explorations in our favorite Seattle and Eastside 'hoods.
Read more >>

 

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RT Favorites: Hot List

Still haven't figured out what to do with the little one this summer? Check out the cool camps listed below that still have availability. Also, read on for the latest sales, events and happenings in May from some of our favorite Seattle and Eastside businesses.

Dizzy's Tumble Bus	Bellevue Philharmonic	Jennifer Loomis Photography
Sponge	Seeking Sitters	Calidora Skin Clinic
American Dance Institute	Musikgarten	Cody Blomberg Artwork
YMCA Camp Colman	Retroactive Kids	BUMP Urban Maternity
Pony Paradise Rides	Sandra Coan Photography	Whole Family Financial
KidsQuest Museum	Nico and Zoe Toys	Teddi Yaeger Photography
Emerald Ballet	Sponge School	Pearl HamiltonSign Language
		Salmon Boot Camp at Canape

 

Fun Classes at Dizzy's This Summer
Lions and pirates and gymnastics, oh my! Dizzy's Bus Stop is offering exciting day camps this summer with funky themes: tumble in the jungle, sail away as pirates and mermaids, compete in the Bus Stop Olympics, and more! The Bus Stop summer camps begin June 30 and run through August 21. Each camp is four days (running Monday through Thursday) and has a different theme. join a morning camp or an afternoon camp and you can stay late or come early for lunch! Dizzy's summer camps are perfect for kids 18 months through 8 years old. Two daily sessions: 9am to 12pm (9am to 1pm with lunch) or 1 pm to 4pm (12pm to 4pm with lunch) Cost: $120 a week with no lunch or $140 a week with lunch Discounts are available for siblings and for registering for multiple sessions!
Dizzy's Tumble Bus and Bus Stop
425-564-8287
www.dizzys-tumblebus.com

Sponge Summer Language Camps
Do you love foreign travel, but don't want to miss the amazing NW summer? Then Sponge is the place for you! Learn Spanish, Mandarin, French or Japanese with your child in creative classes full of fun activities, songs, stories and movement. Join the summer session for weekly classes from June 23-August 24, or take a camp and come every day for a week. Both the Seattle and Eastside locations are offering classes for children ages newborn-7 years. And, with classes running just 55-85 minutes a day, there is still time to have fun in the sun.
Sponge
3107 S. Day St. (Seattle)
375 NW Gilman Blvd. (Issaquah)
206.227.7138 or 425.274.5188
www.spongeschool.com

American Dance Institute Summer Dance Camps
American Dance Institute offers week long summer dance camps in many disciplines, including Polynesian/Hula, Ballet, Jazz, Pre-Ballet, Creative Ballet Story, Tap, Hip-Hop, Irish Step Dance, Ballet, Pointe, Modern Dance, Improvisation and Cheer. Camps of all levels are available for ages five through teens, and beginners are welcome. For a complete camp schedule, camp descriptions, and a list of ongoing classes for Infants through Adults, visit website or call.
American Dance Institute
8001 Greenwood Ave N
AmericanDance@qwestoffice.net 206-783-0755.
www.AmericanDanceInstitute.com

YMCA Camp Colman Overnight Camps
Camp Colman is located near Gig Harbor and provides week long camp experiences for children in grades 1 - 12 during July and August. In conjunction with the Pacific Science Center we also offer specialty camps in science for varying age groups. Space is limited. Financial assistance is available. cabins are perched along a wooded ridge with fireplaces, bunk beds, bathrooms and decks with a view. Colman's intimate setting, enclosed cabins, gentle terrain, shallow lagoon beachfront, 1 to 4 staff to camper ratio and YMCA values based programming make it an ideal summer opportunity for everyone but especially for first time campers. All programs and activities are age appropriate and follow the "Challenge by Choice" philosophy - you choose to which degree you participate. Well qualified leaders accompany each cabin group on all of their adventures.
YMCA Camping Services
206-382-5009 orcolmanorkilainfo@seattleymca.org
www.campcolman.org

Summer Camp at Pony Paradise Rides
Summer Camp at Pony Paradise Rides is loaded with fun and learning! Campers learn about horseback riding and taking care of horses and ponies. We also play lots of games and do horsey crafts! Our summer camp is Monday Through Friday, 10-4 and is for ages 7 and up. We do have a week of Pee-Wee Camp, for ages 4-8. Our camp was featured on the front page of the Woodinville Weekly newspaper last summer! Dates for camp this year are: 6/30-7/4 7/7-7/11 7/14-7/18 7/21-7/25* Pee Wee Camp 7/28-8/1 8/4-8/8 8/11-8/15. Visit website for for pricing and more information! We do have sibling and multiple week discounts.
Pony Paradise Rides
1-800-753-PONY
www.ponyparadiserides.com

Kidsquest Museum
Looking for something cool to do this summer? Try QuestCamps at KidsQuest Children's Museum! There's something for everyone! Budding actors can fulfill their stage dreams in Drama Camps, young scientists can figure out how things work in Kinetic Creations Camp and tech stars can use tiny computers to make things spin, light up and play music in KQ Tech U Camp! There's also an Art Camp, a Beach Week and Dinosaurs! The best camps are QuestCamps! Camps are for children ages four and up and run both half and full days. Call, click or come in to the museum for more info.
KidsQuest Museum
425-637-8100
www.kidsquestmuseum.org

Emerald Ballet Theatre offers Diverse Camp Program
Roots and Wings Cultural Arts Institute
June 30-July 25 2008 IRISH, RUSSIAN, FRENCH, SPANISH. Children explore their world hands on with Emerald Ballet Theatre's diverse faculty of talented artists and educators through daily language immersion classes, literature, traditional national dances & music, visual art, costume making, and ballet & modern dance inspired by traditions of the week. International expeditions open to boys and girls age 5-12. Institutes operate weekly Monday -Thursday with full and half day options ($240/$120 +materials) 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm.Week of July 7th Russian, July 14th French, and July 21st Spanish. International Fridays ($60/$30) follow the same schedule- Brazil, Japan, Polynesia and more. Irish June 30-July 2 ($120) 1pm-5pm.
Emerald Ballet Theatre
12368 Northup Way Bellevue, 98005
425-883-3405
www.emeraldballet.org

Bellevue Philharmonic's Little Maestro Series
As we've mentioned before(link), The Bellevue Philharmonic's Little Maestro series is the hot ticket for the under five set. Two new performances are sure to sell out quickly, so act fast (link) to snag seats for this classical music extravaganza. First up, join Linda and Lisa in a performance on May 10 of Catch Me if You Can!, featuring the music of Brahms, for children ages 1-6. Tickets are $10, Show times are 10 am and 11:30 am. ( There is also a Young Maestros performance of Peter and the Wolf, for children ages 6-11 at 1 pm). In July, Linda & Lisa Present Singin' Safari at Bellevue Arts Museum July 12, Kirkland Performance Center July 19, and Mercer Island Presbyterian July 26. Performances are at 10 am and 11:30 am with Young Maestros shows at 1:00 pm. For more information and tickets visit www.bellevuephil.org.
Bellevue Philharmonic Little Maestro Series
Catch Me if You Can! May 10
Singin' Safari, July 12, July 19, July 26
www.bellevuephil.org

A New Way to Find a Sitter Through Seeking Sitters
SeekingSitters of Seattle is an on-demand babysitting service that hires and screens professional sitters then matches sitters with families for part-time, full-time, one-time - even last minute babysitting needs. Families pay a one-time sign-up fee of $39.00. They then pay hourly fees that are billed online after the babysitting event. SeekingSitters' in-house investigation agency performs "Extreme Background Checks" on all babysitters and also screens families for the safety of all involved. SeekingSitters of Seattle is currently accepting applications for both Member Families and Professional Sitters. PS - Get $10 off your first sitter request if you mention Red Tricycle when signing up.
Seeking Sitters
Lisa Rizza, lisar@seekingsitters.com
www.seekingsitters.com

Musikgarten Seattle: the best preparation for piano, from birth.
Hold your spot now for fall Musikgarten classes around Seattle. Musikgarten piano students are some of the finest in Seattle, with their comprehensive musical skills completed by age 10 and begun at birth. Research shows that children learn music the same way they learn language. Both begin when hearing begins: even before the baby is born. "Ear training" used to be a college class, but children learn it effortlessly through singing, moving, listening and playing instruments. Parents are part of some or all of the class, all nine years. Call today!
Musikgarten
10 locations around the Puget Sound region
206.691.0621
www.NWmusikgarten.com

Summer Schedule at Retroactive Kids
On May 15th, from 10-5, celebrate the Grand Opening of COLUMBIA CITY CUTS They are located in the same space as Retroactive Kids. The Salon is under new ownership and getting a facelift! There will be new hair products too. Enjoy cake, juice and goody bags. Spring Class Schedule at Retroactive Kids: Toddler and Parent Art Class: Tuesdays 10:30-11:30, April 22-June 10. Exploring Art Class: Ages 7-11, Thursdays 3:30-4:30, April 24-June 12 Drop-In Art Workshop on Saturdays. Ages 5-10 10:30- 11:30 $11 Email Kathy Quenzer, kathyquenzer@yahoo.com for more info.
Retroactive Kids
4859 Rainer AveS, Columbia City
206-932-3154
www.retroactivekids.com

May Savings from Sandra Coan Photography
Pregnant women entering their ninth month are used to checking in regularly with their doctor, their spouse and family members. Many savvy mamas also find themselves reporting their progress to their new best friend, labor and delivery photographer Sandra Coan. Coan, a seasoned wedding, pregnancy and baby photographer, began documenting the arrival of new babies at the urging of her clients, (many of whom are physicians). In honor of Mother's Day, Sandra is offering 10% off all maternity session for the month of May
Sandra Coan Photography
206-841-2260
www.sandracoan.com

Summer Fun with Nico and Zoe Toys
Nico & Zoe has all sorts of new and fun toys for your outdoor summer play - hop balls and bouncy horses to ride, wooden toddler trikes, soft playdough made right here in the Northwest. And, the opportunity to come see us in person too! You can find us at the GreenPower Baby Shower, Saturday, May 3, from 10 to 4, at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Seattle - or at the Northwest Enterprising Moms Spring Event on Sunday, May 4, from 11 to 3, at the Exhibition Hall of the Seattle Center. Be sure to mention that you saw us on Red Tricycle for a special discount!
Nico and Zoe
nicoandzoe.com

 

Sponge Hosts Panel Discussion "Culture for Kids: Raising Global Citizens"
So, we know we want our children to be comfortable in this increasingly global world, but how can we best help them understand and respect the different cultures around us? You can find some great answers on May 15 when Sponge hosts "Culture for Kids: Raising Global Citizens." They've rounded up a fantastic panel of experts to discuss the benefits of early language learning and to share their ideas on integrating language and culture into young children's lives. It will be a great opportunity to learn about different approaches, local resources and ways that language and culture promote compassion.
Sponge events@spongeschool.com
425-274-5188
www.spongeschool.com

Jennifer Loomis Photography - Celebrate in May!
It's time to start thinking about that special Mother's Day gift for you! Capture the love in your family or the special relationship you have with your child with a personal photography session. Recently featured in Time Magazine, Jennifer Loomis Photography creates unique and timeless moments of your pregnancy, baby and family. In honor of Mother's Day, we have designed a special Mother's Day session for the month of May. With two photographers now in our Seattle studio, we can offer flexibility with our scheduling and pricing. Give us a call for details and availability.
Jennifer Loomis Photography
206.329.4772 info@jenniferloomis.com
www.jenniferloomis.com

Get Ready for Swimsuit Season Calidora Contouring & Cellulite Treatment
Calidora Skin Clinic staff uses advanced technology to evaluate your skin, identifying the ultraviolet damage, pigmentation, pores and, gulp, wrinkes. Schedule a facial, peel, laser therapy or medical treatment to look your best this summer. To get ready for swimsuit season, mention RT to save $100 off Calidora's new Accent XL Body Contouring and Cellulite treatment - sweet!
Calidora Skin Clinic
Seattle & Eastside locations
206-522-2613
www.calidora.com

Brighten Your Summer with Cody Blomberg Artwork
Affordable, collectible work by local artist Cody Blomberg is now available! Buy one or buy six-Cody's $20 Paintings are great gifts, especially since singly they can accent that monochrome corner or hung as a series they add a complete character to a room. Find Amazing Art at locally-owned Northwest shops such as Watson Kennedy, Tottini, Andaluz, & Rue de Lyon. Or shop online at WWW.CODYBLOMBERG.COM You may also find other artwork and a selection of Cody's fantastic murals and other designs for sale or commission. Come visit soon to find a favorite art work or schedule a summer mural.
Cody Blomberg Artwork
206-325-2286
Codyblomberg.com

May 10 Mothers-To-Be Day Party with Photographer Elisha Rain and Bump Urban Maternity
Join us Saturday, May 10 From 11 am -3 pm for a party to honor Mother's day for soon-to-be moms. Celebrated maternity photographer Elisha Rain will be having an exhibit of recent work and will be available to answer questions about session and about her upcoming book. She will be offering 10% OFF SESSION GIFT CARDS to anyone who attends the party. In honor of the occasion, Bump Urban Maternity is having a sale! The will also be hosting FREE BRA FITTINGS with Bella Materna and will be introducing the amazing "Kemby Diaper Bag and Carrier" with the business owner herself there to meet you and answer questions. Pop Tots will have an arts and crafts station for little ones to make mom's days cards. Refreshments and other goodies! Don't miss it!
BUMP Urban Maternity
920 NE 64th St at Roosevelt
206-522-2867
bumptobaby.net

Money Matters for Kids Class at Whole Family Financial Services
This fun (FREE!) one hour class for kids (5yo-8yo) will help children learn important money concepts and financial skills that will last a lifetime. All children will receive a free Moonjar bank (Winner of a 2004 Global Learning Initiative Award) and other nifty surprises! The class will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 11:00 am in the Bothell Regional Library. Class size is limited so please register under events at www.wholefamilyfinancial.com or contact Debbie Gianelli, CFP(r) at 425-424-2222.
Debbie Gianelli, CFP(r), Principal
Whole Family Financial Services
17830 86th Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011
425-424-2222 dg@wholefamilyfinancial.com
www.wholefamilyfinancial.com

Special Offer from Teddi Yaeger Photography
Stop Time for her or for him with a gift certificate for a portrait session by award-winning photographer Teddi Yaeger. Mention this ad and Teddi Yaeger Photography will match $50 to every $100 you spend (minimum purchase of $200). In addition to saving money, think of all the points you'll score with your spouse!
Teddi Yaeger Photography
Voted a Favorite Family Photographer by readers of ParentMap magazine The Knot 2007 Best of Weddings Pick
teddi@teddiyaeger.com, 206-856-7960
www.teddiyaeger.com

 

Sign Language This Summer With Pearl Hamilton!
Learn over 50 new ASL signs in your baby's daily routines with fun activities and songs! Your baby has the ability to make the connection between sign language and spoken words~Limit frustration and enhance your baby's verbal speech. Enroll now for June Classes 4 Week (1 hr) Series on Saturdays at 11 am Starting June.7th, and running through Saturdays, June.14th, 21st, 28th Location: Olympus Building in Bell town. 2801 Western Ave, located beside the Olympus Sculpture Park downtown Seattle. Cost is $ 85 and includes the SIGN with your BABY book by Joseph Garcia. Includes class for 2 participants with baby. Pre-registration required including fees.
Pearl Hamilton (Certified Instructor With Sign2Me and Visually Speaking)
Volunteer Member of HSDC
hamilton_pearl@hotmail.com
206-274-1490

Salmon Boot Camp - Summer Camp for Grown-Pps!
Are you ready for Copper River Salmon season? Skip the crowded restaurants and expertly prepare your own spectacular dining experience in the comfort of your home wuth Salmon Boot Camp. For a limited time, join Chef Jay Delong as he teaches you the insider's secrets of preparing this rare red fish in your very own kitchen. Cadets can expect to graduate from boot camp with the skills to select the perfect fish, create ideal filets from the whole fish and three delicious recipes. Candidates for Salmon Boot Camp should be aware that these elite sessions are taught in your home, and are limited to a maximum of eight cadets per session at a cost of $125 per person. For more info on Salmon Boot Camp, click here.
Jay Delong, Canape Chef Services
206-380-9937 chef@canapechefservices.com
canapechefservices.com