Oglethorpe Mall to Host ChessFest Tournament for Area Youth on May 16

ChessFest Tournament. Organized by Gould Elementary, the Chessfest Tournament is a chess competition, featuring 150 students from six local-area schools. Participating schools include Gould Elementary, Georgetown Elementary, Godley Station, Hesse School, Largo-Tibet Elementary and Bethesda Academy. Certificates will be awarded to all students who participate in the tournament.

Teachers use the game of chess to teach mathematical reasoning and creative problem solving. Chess stimulates advanced cognitive skills and nurtures critical thinking abilities.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012
9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

May Free Family Fun Night @ The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum
5:30-7:30 PM Fri. May 4
Come join us for this FREE Family Night of fun and check out the Sandbox’s new “Gravity in Motion” exhibit in the Construction Zone as well as their International Cafe exhibit featuring “Japan”.
Free admission to the museum, bounce house, light dinner and fun arts and crafts!
Final Family Fun Night before summer.

ArtZeum Opening Celebration
11 AM – 2 PM

You are invited to this special family event
Telfair Museums announce the opening of four new exhibits designed for preschool children and families. Funded by the Telfair Academy Guild, the new activities are installed in the ArtZeum – the children’s museum space at Telfair’s Jepson Center.

An opening celebration will take place on Saturday, May 19 at 11 am with activities in the ArtZeum and museum studios continuing through 2 pm. Admission is free to families during this event, sponsored by the Telfair Academy Guild.

One of Telfair Museum's new ArtZeum Stations shown in construction at Studio Displays Inc. This image shows an architectural play space inspired by Gari Melchers’ work, The Unpretentious Garden.

The ArtZeum is in the Telfair Museum’s Jepson Center, 207 W York St, Savannah GA 31401 More info here. Telfair Museums are a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Savannah vs. Fayetteville Roller Derby 5:00 pm Annual Fresh Meat Scrimmage
7:00 pm All Stars vs. Fayetteville, NC

The Savannah Derby Devils take on the Rogue Roller Girls of Fayetteville, NC, in the SDD’s debut 2012 bout at the Savannah Civic Center.

The first game of the double header will be the annual Fresh Meat Scrimmage featuring the SDD Class of 2012.

This family-friendly event offers two back-to-back bouts, live music by the Mensa Bullies and the Charles Ellis School Band, activities for kids, raffles and roller derby merchandise. Beer and wine will be available.

Raffle proceeds will go to the night’s sponsored charity, COPE (Childhood Obesity Prevention + Education.)

Tickets:
Adults $12-16
Kids 2-12 $2
* Kids under 2 are free
* Civic Center service & delivery fees apply

May 12: Civic Center Box office opens at 4:00pm, Doors to the arena open at 4:30pm

Tuesdays beginning May 1, 2012
2pm – 6pm
Visit the Buckwalter Place Farmers Market every Tuesday 2pm – 6pm and get your weekly supply of fresh vegetables.
Visit the website here

For more local Farmers’ Markets, click here,

www.buckwalterplace.com

Come to KIDS COVE at the Tall Ships Challenge.
Puppet People promises you “Magical Memories That Will Last A Lifetime!”
* See King Neptune & the Magical Filets strolling the beside the tall ships!
• Take part in our interactive puppet production, Capt’n Splatter!
* Have your face painted so amazingly, your mother won’t even recognize you!
Dates: Saturday & Sunday – May 5th & 6th
Location: Morrell Park at the east end of River Street
CAPT’N SPLATTER PUPPET SHOW
11:00 AM and again at 2:00 PM
STROLLING CHARACTERS
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
FACE PAINTING
9:30AM till 6:00 PM

Tea in the Garden at the Davenport House
May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18; 4:30 p.m. May 24, 25, 31; 5 p.m.
On Thursday and Friday afternoons in May.
Learn about tea traditions and experience an early 19th century tea in Davenport House’s beautiful courtyard garden. Patrons will visit areas of the home where tea service took place and will participate in an afternoon tea given with costumed interpreters in the garden. For more information, please call 912.236.8097
http://www.davenporthousemuseum.org/

Tybee Island Kite Flying Festival
May 6, 2012
Come fly your kite, or watch others fly their colorful kites at North Beach area & in front of the Tybee Lighthouse Museum from 11:00 am – 2 p.m. This should be a great photo op too!

SESAME STREET LIVE “ELMO’S SUPER HEROS” at Savannah Civic Center, Johnny Mercer Theater

3 PERFORMANCES!!!

SHOW 1- JUNE 19, 2012 7:00 PM
SHOW 2- JUNE 20, 2012 10:30AM
SHOW 3- JUNE 20, 2012 7:00 PM

Details here.

We’re so thrilled to learn about the May opening of Ganesha’s Place, which is offering a variety of therapeutic classes including yoga for special needs kids & restorative yoga for caretakers. There is such a need for something like Ganesha’s Place in Savannah.

You’re invited to the Grand Opening of Ganesha’s Place, Sat. May 5, 2012.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 11 am, followed by class demonstrations until 3 PM.
In celebration of their Grand Opening, Ganesha’s Place is offering “Bring a Friend & Get the Class Free” for all classes during the month of May. Thai Massage & Reiki sessions discounted to $75 per session.

What we love about Ganesha’s Place is that it’s spot to explore, heal and have fun. Ganesha’s can be a place for the whole family: you’re not required to be athletic or wear special outfits. Yoga therapy at Ganesha’s regulates and improves the balance between health and wellness without the intimidating images of body contortions and “pretzels”.

Keep up with Ganesha’s Place on Facebook here.

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

Junior Roller Derby Meeting & Pizza Party

Learn about Savannah’s new league for girls ages 10-17,

2-4 p.m. May 13 Garden City Gym

The Savannah Junior Roller Derby is seeking coaches and young skaters to take the new team to the next level!

The SJRD will host a Meeting & Pizza Party to discuss our immediate goals at 2-4 p.m. May 13 at the Garden City Gym, 160 Priscilla Thomas Way (just behind Groves High School.) Pizza, beverages and some skating. The cost will be $5 per child (cash) at the door and parents must sign a liability waiver for their children to skate. Use of rental skates and some protective gear will be available at no cost.

The event takes place the day after the Savannah Derby Devils’ season opener starting at 5 p.m. at the Savannah Civic Center on May 12.

The SJRD is for girls ages 10-17 who want to learn to skate and play roller derby and for adults who want to teach skating, positive team competition and sportswomanship through a sport that reflects empowering, strong images of women of all body types. We would like to start holding weekly private practices at the Garden City Gym and signing on dues-paying members.

While the SJRD operates under the umbrella of the Savannah Derby Devils women’s flat-track roller derby league, the SJRD is looking for a regular coach(es)/trainer(s) with skating experience who can plan and lead weekly practices based on JRDA training materials available at http://juniorrollerderby.org/trainers.html .

For information, email savannahjuniorderby@gmail.com .

Info Box

What: Savannah Junior Roller Derby Meeting & Pizza Party

When: 2-4 p.m. May 13

Where: Garden City Gym, 160 Priscilla Thomas Way (behind Groves High School)

Cost: $5 per child, cash only. Register at the door. Parents must sign a liability waiver for children to skate.

Saturday, April 28–LUCAS THEATRE
8:00pm Curtain Up
Presented by Savannah Danse Theatre
http://savannahdance.com/

Sunday Supper in the Strawberry Patch.
April 29 4:00 PM
Pick strawberries, tour the farm from 4-5:30pm. Fried Chicken Dinner and traditional fixin’s including strawberry shortcake served at 5pm. Reservations required. $20 per person, including children.
http://www.ugaextension.com/bamboo
912-921-5460
Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens

A.S.P.I.R.E (Achieving Success-Pursuing Inspiration- Reaching Excellence) an I-Youth program for ages 10-17 designed to help students to develop portfolios through the application of skills aquired. Located at 309 Hwy 80 in Pooler, GA near Fitness Witness.

Students will enjoy special guest appearances, networking events and much more. Apply online by clicking here. 

•Goal Setting
•Social Media Etiquette
•Vocabulary & Oral Communication Development
•Leadership
•Health and Development

I-Youth program is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

What a fun, creative theme for a camp: Alice in Wonderland Summer Camp.
9 AM-Noon June 25-29.
For ages rising Kindergarten through 4th grade girls & boys.
The camp will be at Hancock Day School, 6600 Howard Foss Dr. Savannah, 31406
Cost: $130 includes daily snacks and all supplies.

Under the guidance of Hancock teacher Nancy Martin, the students will:
-learn about the literary elements from this classic children’s novel
-play hedgehog crochet
-perform skits with masks they’ve made
-have their faces painted
-find that Cheshire Cat that keeps disappearing
-and have a Grand Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Friday

Join Mrs. Martin for a “WONDER”FUL WEEK!
Be sure to turn your registration form and money no later than Friday, May 4, 2012. Call 656-8798 with any questions.

Alice in Wonderland Camp is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

The Savannah Children’s Theatre presents 12 Dancing Princesses, a new version of the Grimm fairy tale. Written by national playwright and director Max Bush, 12 Dancing Princesses premiers this week at the Children’s Theatre. Show dates and times are April 27-29 and May 4-6; Fridays at 7:00pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00pm.Tickets for these shows are $12 for adults, $10 for children and military families. Tickets can be purchased at www.savannahchildrenstheatre.com or at the theatre, 2160 East Victory Drive, Crossroads Shopping Center, next to the Piggly Wiggly. 238-9015.

The Savannah Children’s Theatre presents 12 Dancing Princesses, a new version of the Grimm fairy tale. Written by national playwright and director Max Bush, 12 Dancing Princesses premiers this week at the Children’s Theatre. Show dates and times are April 27-29 and May 4-6; Fridays at 7:00pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00pm.Tickets for these shows are $12 for adults, $10 for children and military families. Tickets can be purchased at www.savannahchildrenstheatre.com  or at the theatre, 2160 East Victory Drive, Crossroads Shopping Center, next to the Piggly Wiggly. 238-9015.

The fifth annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest, sponsored by the David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation, is set to take place Friday, April 27, 2012, 5-8pm, and Saturday, April 28, 11am-5pm, at Shelter Cove Community Park.

The popular, family-friendly event serves as the foundation’s annual fundraiser with proceeds –from admissions, beverage sales, restaurant purveyor fees, artists’ fees and auction funds – benefiting the American Cancer Society, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center and the Island Recreation Scholarship Fund.

The Friday night component of this year’s Seafood Fest, now a two-day event, will be a more intimate gathering than the main event on Saturday and will feature live entertainment from Cranford & Sons—Hilton Head Island’s Rockabilly-Folk Explosion/Low Country Stomp band—as well as delicious food from Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, Skull Creek Boathouse and Street Meet.

Seafood Fest will continue on Saturday and feature more than a dozen area restaurants dishing up local and regional seafood specialties, and other tasty dishes, as well as an “Iron Chef”-style competition, local artists showcasing their talents, live entertainment by The Headliners and a silent auction with incredible items.

Participating restaurants include: Alexander’s, American Culinary Federation, Black Marlin,

Bluffton Oyster Co., The Chart House, The Crazy Crab, Giuseppi’s, Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, The Old Oyster Factory, Red Fish, Skull Creek Boathouse, Steamers Seafood, Street Meet, Wreck of the Salty Dog, among others. Up to six local chefs will compete in the “Iron Chef” event, modeled after the TV show of the same name. Competing chefs will be presented with identical “mystery baskets” containing a variety of ingredients, including two local seafood items, and each chef will be allotted one hour to create an appetizer and an entrée.

The Headliners, a long-time favorite musical group among locals and visitors, will perform big band, classic 50s and 60s rock-‘n’-roll, beach music, Motown, disco hits from the 70s and hits from the 90s.

Additional activities will include a “Kids Zone” with inflatable bounce houses and games, Famous Crab Races, a Bocce Ball Tournament hosted by the Italian American Club of Hilton Head (please contact info@iachh.org to participate) and a silent auction.

Admission is $5 for adults and FREE for kids younger than 12.

For additional information please visit davidmcarmines.org, or call 843.681.2772 x137.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 6th from 12noon – 4pm for our 12th Annual Doggie Carnival in Forsyth Park. This Humane Society Fundraising event is a fun-filled carnival with great food, games, contests, prizes and the best dog-watching of the year, all in one of our most beautiful parks!

For details click here.

Chances are you’ve considered, however briefly, becoming a foster family as a way to help allieviate Georgia’s foster children crisis and improve the lives of children.

And chances are you’ve thought of all kinds of reasons not to do so. But what if becoming a foster family came with huge amounts of support, a whole churchload of support to be exact? Would that make you more likely to consider taking in a foster child?

If so, then check out a local network called Faith to Foster, a coalition of Chatham County churches that serve families and children in foster care. The goal of Faith to Foster is to make foster parenting less challenging and more appealing to local families.

You’re invited to a Faith to Foster informational meeting, 6-7:30 PM May 7 at Southside Baptist Church, 5502 Skidaway Road, Savannah 31406. Child care will be provided if you call ahead to ministry director, 912-355-9555.

For more info on Faith to Foster including how you can help volunteer to aid local foster families or bring the program to your church, click here or email Faith to Foster ministry director Jenn Menn at jennifermenn@hotmail.com or call 912.925.5074.

Read more about Faith to Foster and the foster mom behind it – who along with her husband have fostered a total of 17 children (not all at once) since 2007 – in my Savannah Morning News column this week here.

You are invited to Gazing in the Garden & Movie Night @ Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens.
Saturday, June 23, 2012.
7:00pm until 10:00pm.
1950’s science fiction movie starting at 7pm and stargazing on the great lawn through high-powered telescopes at 8pm. Oglethorpe Astronomical Association provides huge telescopes & knowledge.
Click here for a list of kid-friendly astronomy books!

The Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Enclosure is now re-opened for the seasoon at the Coastal Discovery Museum! Featuring native butterfly species, this 1,200 square foot outdoor enclosure contains both host and nectar plants to support butterflies throughout their life cycle. Visitors can search for tiny eggs amongst the host plants, watch as caterpillars consume as much as 30 times their own body weight in food, identify species based on the unique chrysalis they form, and observe adult butterflies fluttering throughout the enclosure.
Museum Hours: Monday through Saturday 9:00am – 4:30pm
Sunday 11:00am – 3:00pm
843-689-6767 to confirm the museum is open before making the trip from Savannah.
Coastal Discovery Museum also offers Family Summer Programs including sea turtle walks, blue crab discoveries, fishing camp, Lowcountry animal programs and archaeological digs. Click here for details.

International Astronomy Day
April 28 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium for family-friendly activities in honor of International Astronomy Day. The day’s programming will include feature a presentation by the Director of Safety & Mission Assurance at NASA, a showing of the documentary, The City Dark, and solar viewing (weather-permitting). Come join the fun!

May 26 – A T. rex Named Sue Grand Opening – Join MOSH for special activities to celebrate the grand opening of the summer blockbuster exhibit, A T. rex Named Sue. The exhibit tells the story of “Sue,” the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever unearthed. A replica cast of Sue’s 42-feet-long and 12-feet-tall skeleton is the centerpiece of this traveling exhibition that also includes interactive components. See it at MOSH through September 23! Sue is on loan from The Field Museum in Chicago.