GRAND PRIZE DRAWING:  AUG. 24 One prize drawing will be held for a Disney World Prize Package for a family of four that includes transportation, hotel stay and admission tickets. The grand prize drawing will be held at the Bull Street Library. One lucky young reader will win a family trip to Disney World with transportation to Orlando on Amtrak in our Grand Prize Drawing on August 24! Entry forms must be submitted by Aug. 17 to qualify. Details here.

Friends of the Coastal Gardens 18th Annual Fall Festival

Saturday October 13, 2012
9 am to 4 pm
Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens

Plant Vendors*Art & Craft Vendors*Face Painting*Bonsai Show *Horticultural Classes*Hay Rides*Culinary Classes*Snack Bar *Pumpkin Patch*Bounce House*Watch Old Fashioned Cane Syrup Being Made

Pure Cane Syrup for sale

Parking $5 per car (bring the whole family!)

And new this year –
RUBBER DUCK RACES!

Vendor registration information and Rubber Duck adoption forms will be posted on at Bamboo Farms & Coastal Gardens website here in August.

Bring the kids to the newly renovated Georgia Southern University Digistar Full Dome Planetarium for a free show: Autumn Skies Live Star Show with Lamps of Atlantis full dome show. Part of Georgia Southern University Fall Family Weekend

Friday, September 28, 2012 at 6, 7, & 8 pm

Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 1 pm

Lamps of Atlantis

Digistar 4 Full Dome Planetarium Show

Our search for the lost continent of Atlantis takes us on a journey through the astronomical knowledge and understanding of the ancient Greeks. How did the constellations get their names? What different patterns did ancient cultures see in the sky? Was Atlantis a real place? Did it really sink into the sea? We will uncover clues to help us solve this age-old mystery. Narrated by Terry O’Quinn, John Locke from TV’s LOST. From Evans and Sutherland Digital Theater Productions. Images Credit: Evans and Sutherland

Running time: 25 minutes

Telescopic viewing following / during events weather permitting. The planetarium can seat up to 63 visitors with 2 ADA wheelchair spaces on a first come basis, so please arrive early to get a seat. No strollers please due to fire code safety.

The planetarium is located in the Math/Physics Bldg (#203) on the campus of Georgia Southern University Campus map at: http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/map/

Parking directions for planetarium public events: Turn on to Herty Drive from Fair Road (GA Hwy 67) and follow all the way to the end. Turn left through the open parking gate then right into the large faculty/staff parking lot. Walk back down toward the gates and the planetarium is across on the other side in the Math/Physics Building between the small Eidson Building – Honors (old Alumni House) and the Biology Building.

Free star shows, sky maps, telescopic observing with members of the Statesboro Astronomy Club, weather permitting. The Department of Physics in the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University will be collecting canned and non-perishable food to donate to a local food bank for those in need.

For more information, visit cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/planetarium. For more info, e-mail planetarium@georgiasouthern.edu , or call the Department of Physics at 912-478-5292, M-F 8 – 5 pm.

DIRECTIONS

From Savannah: Take I-16 W toward Macon, traveling approximately 40 miles to Statesboro exit 127. Turn right on GA Hwy 67 N, and travel ~12 miles to campus, on the left. Turn left on Herty Drive. Follow visitor parking instructions below.

Visitor parking:

Weekdays – From Herty Drive, turn left on Dorman, and right at the stop sign behind the Math/Physics Building and Russell Union into the Visitor Parking area. Place your visitor parking pass on your dashboard. Look for the blue trash dumpster to the left of the Math/Physics Building and follow the sidewalk behind it up to the single glass door entrance. Take the first hallway to the right and follow it to the blue round wall, then turn left to the front entrance of the planetarium. http://services.georgiasouthern.edu/aux/park/maps/mastermap.jpg or http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/map/

Evening and Weekends – Continue driving down Herty Drive and turn left at the end through the open parking gate, then right turn into the faculty/staff parking lot across from the front of the Math/Physics Building. (The parking gate opens at 5:30 p.m. weekdays) http://services.georgiasouthern.edu/aux/park/maps/mastermap.jpg or http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/map/

Savannah Christian East Campus MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) invites all Moms to come enjoy the friendships of other Moms.

All mothers of children from birth to kindergarten are invited to join us the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month September through May. Childcare is provided with crafts, games and snacks while moms enjoy the meeting. The first meeting is Sept. 6th from 9:30 to 11:45 AM at Savannah Christian East Campus. Please email the group at mopsscceast@gmail.com for more information.

For more info on local moms groups, click here.

Music with Mar: music & movement parent-and-me class, Savannah 10:30 AM each Tues. starting Aug. 14 2012 in the music room of St James Catholic Church (8412 Whitfield Ave. Fronts on Montgomery Cross Road), Savannah. For children ages 6 months-6 years old and a parent/caregiver. Cost is $7/class per family (up to 4 children) or a block of 5 classes (to be used any time during a 2 month period) is $30. For more information, email carlyled@musicwithmar.com  or call 912-222-9431.

FOR MORE LOCAL CHILDREN’S CLASSES, CLICK HERE.

A 3-week prenatal yoga session begins this month at Ganesha’s Place, Savannah’s new therapeutic yoga studio!. All women, at least 12 wks pregnant, are welcome. Please check with your doctor or midwife before beginning an exercise program. A previous yoga practice is not required. Beginners encouraged!

Prenatal Yoga classes will be 6-7:30 PM Mondays: Aug. 20, Aug. 27 & Sept. 10 2012.

To register or more information, (912)665-4199, email kate@ganeshasplace.com or visit www.ganeshasplace.com

Ganesha’s Place, at the corner of Barnard & 40th St. @ 2323 Barnard St., 912-665-4199, http://ganeshasplace.com/ Ganesha’s Place is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

A 3-week prenatal yoga session begins this month at Ganesha’s Place, Savannah’s new therapeutic yoga studio!. All women, at least 12 wks pregnant, are welcome. Please check with your doctor or midwife before beginning an exercise program. A previous yoga practice is not required. Beginners encouraged!

Prenatal Yoga classes will be 6-7:30 PM Mondays: Aug. 20, Aug. 27 & Sept. 10 2012.

To register or more information, (912)665-4199, email kate@ganeshasplace.com or visit www.ganeshasplace.com

Ganesha’s Place, at the corner of Barnard & 40th St. @ 2323 Barnard St., 912-665-4199, http://ganeshasplace.com/ Ganesha’s Place is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

You’re invited to: Junior League of Savannah Fit Kids Fest – a free interactive health and fitness event for area kids and their parents.

Fit Kids Fest is Saturday, August 25 from 2-5pm at Daffin Park’s Optimist Stadium. The event is free and open to kids K-6 and their parents. The Junior League of Savannah has also partnered with the Savannah Sand Gnats who will be awarding free tickets to the 6pm game following the Fest to the first 250 youth participants and is offering discounted tickets ($6 each) for the rest of the family.

Childhood obesity is a growing concern across the nation with trends continuing to rise in recent years. Georgia, having the 2nd highest child obesity rate in the U.S., is not immune to this epidemic with nearly 40% of the state’s children classified as overweight or obese. The Junior League of Savannah is working to draw awareness to the issue in the Coastal Empire by hosting Fit Kids Fest; an interactive event designed to show area kids that eating healthy and exercising can be fun!

The event will include interactive stations focused around the Choose My Plate and Let’s Move! initiatives. Stations will include a Build a Jump Rope station provided by Home Depot, Obstacle Course provided by CrossFit Hyberformance, and Let’s Move! dance instruction provided by YMCA of Coastal Georgia; just to name a few. All are designed to show kids that making healthy choices is important, but most importantly, they can have fun at the same time. There will also be a snack food demonstration that incorporates the Association of Junior League International’s Kids in the Kitchen program; showing kids and parents a quick and nutritious kid approved recipe that is easy to make.

Parents will have an opportunity to participate as well through health screenings provided by Memorial University Medical Center and a cooking demonstration utilizing locally sourced ingredients by celebrity chef Michele Jemison. Not-for-profit organizations will also be available on site with information about various area programs and services.

For more information or to host a not-for-profit community outreach table, call 912-790-1002.

The Art Bash Studio in Savannah will offer “Family Time” on Saturday, Aug. 11 @ 1:30 PM for ages 12 to 112 on a canvas. NO sangria served.

The Art Bash Studio is the place for painting parties. One of the studio’s local artists will guide you from start to finish in creating a featured painting.

During this Family Time, you will be painting the adorable Sea Turtle paintings, which are perfect for all levels.

Grab family and friends, bring your favorite soft drink (no sangria served) and come enjoy time together creating something bright and fun @ The Art Bash Studio! Visit the The Art Bash Studio website www.artbashstudio.com and click on “Calendar/Register”. Bring your tweens & teens and let’s paint!

The Art Bash Studio, 1526 Bull and 32nd streets, Savannah, 31401, (912) 484-3438 Email fun@artbashstudio.com , www.artbashstudio.com The Art Bash Studio is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Attention Savannah-area Families of Children Ages 0-7 who are interested in enhancing and enriching the musical development of your child.

Come join Kindermusik parent-and-child sessions for a cool musical treat.

Kindermusik is a classroom learning experience. KINDERMUSIK with 88 KEYS PIANO in Savannah teaches children music so they can become better learners. It’s not about making little Mozarts. It’s about developing skills in the whole child – ages newborn to 7 years – cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. For more than 25 years, Kindermusik has believed music is the best conductor for learning.

Brand NEW school year classes available with monthly subscription: All classes last 32 weeks, from the week of September 10 through May of 2013.
Here are some notable benefits of Kindermusik’s monthly subscription classes:
1. Easy automated MONTHLY payment systems. No more lump sum “semester” fees due. Now you can easily budget for Kindermusik classes all year round because the payment is the same EVERY month.
2. NO PAYMENT until September: Reserve your space TODAY with NO FEES TAKEN until Sept. 4. Secure your child’s spot in class without any financial commitment until the Fall.
3. Easy to stay enrolled; easy to withdraw if needed. Just let Kindermusik know by email before the first of each month and your credit/debit card won’t be billed the following month. Monthly billing is done on the 4th of each month.
4. Easy to transfer classes when your child gets to be the next age level. No more waiting until a new “semester” begins. When your child is old enough to move up, just let Kindermusik know and they’ll move them at the beginning of the next month. Simple and convenient.
5. New monthly mini-themes and new home materials with each change of session.
6. Twenty-two classes to choose from each week; M-F, 9am-5pm. Choose the one that’s best for YOU.
7. Unlimited make-ups! Just email or call Kindermusik to let them know so they can make sure there’s space in class.
8. Smiles and satisfaction guarantee: If you aren’t completely satisfied with your Kindermusik experience after one month, just send Kindermusik an email before the 1st of the month to let them know and they won’t debit your card the following month. If any materials were given, they are yours to keep without further obligations.
9. If you ARE completely satisfied with your Kindermusik experience, take advantage of the REFERRAL REWARDS: If you are enrolled and you bring in a NEW Kindermusik family, Kindermusik will credit your account for $10 for the next consecutive month. PLUS, Kindermusik will give your friend a FREE download card for 10 FREE songs from play.kindermusik.com.

Register online today here, as all class sizes are limited!

DIGITAL HOME MATERIALS: Get out your smartphones and iPads. On Friday mornings, Kindermusik will be offering classes for 3 age groups with DIGITAL home materials.

Monday thru Thursday classes, plus Friday afternoon classes will still be using PHYSICAL home materials. These Friday morning classes will turn over NEW themes EACH month, so you will get new materials EACH month.

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Attention Savannah-area Families of Children Ages 0-7 who are interested in enhancing and enriching the musical development of your child.

Come join Kindermusik parent-and-child sessions for a cool musical treat in August, and again in the Fall with more Kindermusik and find out about some FREE Kindermusik classes.

Kindermusik is a classroom learning experience. KINDERMUSIK with 88 KEYS PIANO in Savannah teaches children music so they can become better learners. It’s not about making little Mozarts. It’s about developing skills in the whole child – ages newborn to 7 years – cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. For more than 25 years, Kindermusik has believed music is the best conductor for learning.

FREE Kindermusik classes: FREE DEMO DAYS at Kindermusik with 88 KEYS PIANO on Wed. Aug. 22 and on Fri. Aug. 24. These will be a preview of the classes that begin in September. Preregisteration required for these FREE DEMO classes, as space is limited and classes fill up quickly. Register here.

Below is the schedule for FREE DEMO CLASSES:
**FREE Village DEMO (0-20 months): 9:30am
**FREE Our Time DEMO (18 months to 3.5 years): 10:20am
**FREE Imagine That DEMO (3-5 years): 11:10am
**FREE Young Child DEMO (5-7 years): 4pm

Brand NEW school year classes with monthly subscription: All classes last 32 weeks, from the week of September 10 through May of 2013.

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Attention Savannah-area Families of Children Ages 0-7 who are interested in enhancing and enriching the musical development of your child.

Come join Kindermusik parent-and-child sessions for a cool musical treat in August, and again in the Fall with more Kindermusik and find out about some FREE Kindermusik classes.

Kindermusik is a classroom learning experience. KINDERMUSIK with 88 KEYS PIANO in Savannah teaches children music so they can become better learners. It’s not about making little Mozarts. It’s about developing skills in the whole child – ages newborn to 7 years – cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. For more than 25 years, Kindermusik has believed music is the best conductor for learning.

FREE Kindermusik classes: FREE DEMO DAYS at Kindermusik with 88 KEYS PIANO on Wed. Aug. 22 and on Fri. Aug. 24. These will be a preview of the classes that begin in September. Preregisteration required for these FREE DEMO classes, as space is limited and classes fill up quickly. Register here.

Below is the schedule for FREE DEMO CLASSES:
**FREE Village DEMO (0-20 months): 9:30am
**FREE Our Time DEMO (18 months to 3.5 years): 10:20am
**FREE Imagine That DEMO (3-5 years): 11:10am
**FREE Young Child DEMO (5-7 years): 4pm

Brand NEW school year classes with monthly subscription: All classes last 32 weeks, from the week of September 10 through May of 2013.

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Attention Savannah-area Families of Children Ages 0-7 who are interested in enhancing and enriching the musical development of your child.

Come join Kindermusik parent-and-child sessions for a cool musical treat in August, and again in the Fall with more Kindermusik and find out about some FREE Kindermusik classes.

Kindermusik is a classroom learning experience. KINDERMUSIK with 88 KEYS PIANO in Savannah teaches children music so they can become better learners. It’s not about making little Mozarts. It’s about developing skills in the whole child – ages newborn to 7 years – cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. For more than 25 years, Kindermusik has believed music is the best conductor for learning.

“Just Mom’n’Me” one-week session the week of August 26: Did Big Brother or Big Sister go back to school recently? How about easing the transition for your little one by spending some quality time with him/her? Kindermusik will be offering “Peek A Boo, I Love You!” for 0-20 months, and their brand new curriculum, “Time for Lunch” for toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years old! Peek A Boo meets M-F at 9:30 am and Time for Lunch meets T-F at 10:20 am.

Register online today here, as all class sizes are limited!

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Attention Savannah-area Families of Children Ages 0-7 who are interested in enhancing and enriching the musical development of your child.

Come join Kindermusik parent-and-child sessions for a cool musical treat in August, and again in the Fall with more Kindermusik and find out about some FREE Kindermusik classes.

Kindermusik is a classroom learning experience. KINDERMUSIK with 88 KEYS PIANO in Savannah teaches children music so they can become better learners. It’s not about making little Mozarts. It’s about developing skills in the whole child – ages newborn to 7 years – cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. For more than 25 years, Kindermusik has believed music is the best conductor for learning.

AUGUST 15th playdates: Join Kindermusik with your 3.5 and younger children for a morning of one-time playdates. It’ll be ONE HOUR of solid musical fun beginning at 9:30am for babies (up to 20 months) and 10:40am for toddlers (18 months to 4 years). Sessions begin with an instrument “petting zoo”, followed by structured musical activities sure to delight all. Gather together your playdate groups for one morning of musical playdates. Expect to see these one-time playdates pop up at random times throughout the school year.

Register online today here, as all class sizes are limited!

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

You’ve been meaning to sign up your little one for dance class in Savannah. Now is the time and Islands Dance Academy is the school

Islands Dance Academy, now in its 21st year of educating young men and women in the art of dance, is the official school of the Savannah Danse Theatre. IDA students have a high rate of success in gaining entry to the Savannah Arts Academy where they shine as some of the top students.

Open House registration: Find out more by attending the Islands Dance Academy Open Registration 10 AM-1 PM Sat. Aug. 11, 2012, 115 Charlotte Rd., Savannah

Classes: A variety of dance classes are offered for children ages 3 and older for the 2012/2013 school year including:
Young Children & Student Program (Ages 3-6)
Beginner Ballet (Ages 7-9)
Pre-Pointe / Tap & Jazz (Ages 9 & Up)
Beginner Pointe / Intermediate I
Intermediate II / Advanced (Ages 12 & Up)
Adult Classes

For more info, visit Islands Dance Academy Web site here.

Islands Dance Academy, 115 Charlotte Rd. , Savannah (912) 897-2102, http://savannahdance.com/ Islands Dance Academy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

“Little Red Riding Hood” August 31st

Puppet People will be premiering their newest puppet show “Little Red Riding Hood” on August 31 at 11:00 AM. Be one of the first to see and be apart of Puppet People’s retelling of the classic story!

Friday, August 31st

11:00 AM

The Puppet Place

3119 Furber Ave.

Savannah, GA 31404

DISCOUNT: *** Mention this code: “SM006″ and get $1.00 OFF each ticket for the “Summer Friday Shows”***

Event Details…

Take the kids for a ride on the dot, Savannah’s fare-free Downtown Transportation system.

The dot Express Shuttle travels in and around Savannah’s Historic District, running every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day. Click here for a map of the shuttle route through downtown Savannah & a list of the stops where you can catch the shuttle.
Other FREE city modes of transporation include
• Ride the free historic River Street Streetcar.
• Hop on the free Ferry to Hutchinson Island and the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.

FREE Express Shuttle
• Every 20 minutes or less • Serving 11 stops around the Historic District
• Connecting to municipal parking facilities, Visitor Centers, Streetcar and Ferry
• Operating 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• ADA-Accessible

FREE River Street Streetcar (Streetcar Out of Service until Aug. 30, 2012 for maintenance)
• Thursday-Sunday – 12noon – 9pm
• Authentic 1930s Melbourne
• 54-passenger streetcar updated with environmentally-friendly green technology
• Six stops along Historic River Street between Montgomery St. & the Waving Girl Landing
• ADA-Accessible

FREE Savannah Belles Ferry
• Modern passenger-only ferries, reminiscent of vessels seen in the harbor a century ago
• Named for Savannah’s “Belles”— strong women who shaped the city’s history
• Connecting downtown with Hutchinson Island and the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
• Operating 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to midnight, Daily
• From Trade Center Landing (on Hutchinson Island adjacent to the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort) • City Hall Landing below City Hall adjacent to Hyatt Regency Hotel
• Waving Girl Landing in Morrell Park adjacent to the Marriott Riverfront Hotel

ParkSmart Downtown • Your “BEST BET” to find a parking space downtown is in one of these three parking facilities:
Liberty Street Parking Garage             Whitaker Street Parking Garage       Visitor Center Parking Lot
912.644.5934                                          912.525.2820                                              912.651. 6896
301 W. Liberty Street                             7 Whitaker Street                                     301 MLK Blvd
Liberty St. at Montgomery St.             Whitaker St. at Bay Lane                        Fahm St. at MLK Blvd
Closed Sat, Sun & 1am-5am nightly    24 hours a day                                         8am to 6:30pm, Daily

VISITOR PARKING PASSES: 1 Day $7 and 2 Days $12
Purchase at the the Mobility and Parking Services office (100 E. Bryan St. 912-651-6470, 8am – 5pm) and the Visitor Center (301 MLK Blvd.), and many downtown hotels.

Pets You Haven’t Met Yet

Children’s Librarian Sha Dishong will tell you about dragons, bog hogs, procupythons, and other pets you might not welcome into your family.  This storytime features stories, songs, and a “close your eyes and pick a critter” activity.  Ages 4-9.  Space is limited.

Thunderbolt Library, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2 p.m.

We Dream of Spain

Thunderbolt Library Tuesday, August 7, 11 a.m.

This bilingual storytime will entertain you and help you learn some simple words in Spanish. Ages 2 and up.

Savannah doesn’t have the tunnels of NYC. But we certainly have the compassion and gratitude for the heros of 9/11.

Which is why it’s exciting to learn that Savannah will have our first Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run on Sat. Sept. 15, 2012 in memory of New York City firefighter Stephen Siller and 343 FDNY brothers who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

The inaugural 5K run begins 8 AM Sept. 15 at Orleans Square at Barnard and McDonough streets in the Savannah Historic District. Registration for the Tunnel to Towers Run Savannah is available online at www.t2trun.org , www.fleetfeetsavannah.com/t2t or in person at Fleet Feet Sports Savannah at 3405 Waters Ave. in Savannah. The run is sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors.

When Stephen Siller got off his shift at Squad 1 in Park Slope, Brooklyn on September 11, 2001, news of the first plane hitting one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center echoed from his radio scanner. As he approached the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic. He strapped 75 pounds of gear to his back and sprinted straight through the tunnel and into the World Trade Center.

The Tunnel to Towers Run originally began in New York City 2002, retracing Stephen’s final footsteps, and has now extended nationwide in honor of those who died on 9/11.

Proceeds from the Tunnel to Towers Run Savannah go to “Building for America’s Bravest” through the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. These funds will be designated to building “Smart Homes” for two severely wounded Georgia veterans: SFC Mike Schlitz, U.S. Army in Columbus, Ga., and Cpl. Todd Love, USMC in Atlanta, Ga.

For sponsorship info, contact Jane Grismer at 912.313.4806 or t2tsav@gmail.com .

11 a.m. @ 212 E. Broughton Street Admission: Free

www.leopoldsicecream.com , 912.234.4442

Savannah’s beloved ice cream parlor celebrates 93 years of creating tasty memories with a block-wide “sock hop” celebration. There will be live music, family games and activities, dance demonstrations and much more. Enjoy free souvenir photos & ice cream for 93 cents! Come dressed as your favorite retro TV or movie personality, from Elvis to Holly Golightly! For listing of activities and times, visit www.leopoldsicecream.com  for more information.