Kids and Family

Auditions held for ‘Nutcracker’ Children’s auditions for the 2008 production of Ballet Arizona’s “The Nutcracker” will take place Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Ballet Arizona Studios, 3645 E Indian School Road. Auditioners should use the east entrance to the building —The School of Ballet Arizona door—and plan on arriving and registering one hour before the audition time for their age group. There is a $10 registration fee. Needed are boys and girls ages 9-16, all levels of ballet experience; children should be 5 feet, 8 inches tall or under. Audition times are as follows: boys 9-16 years, 9:30-10 a.m.; girls 9-12 years, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; and girls 13-16 years, 1:45-2:30 p.m. Children should arrive one hour before their group time, and may be asked to stay and audition with another group.     Rehearsals will begin Saturday, Sep. 13, and continue almost every Saturday through Dec. 6. Dress rehearsals will be in Symphony Hall during the week of Dec. 8, prior to the first public performance Dec. 12. The Nutcracker runs Dec. 12-28 at Symphony Hall. For more information, call 602-381-0184, or visit www.balletaz.org. Parent, tot music fun at Phoenix Zoo     Come to the Phoenix Zoo to “unleash” the power and joy of music with the Phoenix Conservatory of Music’s Parent/Tot Music Time.     This six-week session takes place Mondays, beginning Sept. 8 and continuing through Oct. 20 (no class on Oct. 13). All classes are from 9 to 10 a.m.     Parent or caregiver and tot (ages 6 months to 5 years) team up to embrace bonding through the power of music. Learn songs, games and make music with child-friendly instruments. Cost is $110 for zoo members and $138 for non-members. Register by calling 602-914-4333 or online at www.phoenixzoo.org (select “Family Programs” and “Early Childhood Programs.”) NCPG hosts child safety fair The North Central Parenting Group (NCPG) Child Safety Fair will be held at the Church of the Beatitudes, 555 W. Glendale Ave., on Wednesday, Sept.10 from 9-10:30 a.m.  Admission is free! Parenting classes will follow the fair from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for all NCPG members. Guests are welcome to attend one class at no charge.  Membership sign up will be available to all guests. The Child Safety Fair is aimed at educating parents on important health and safety issues related to personal security, nutrition, fire safety, and lifesaving techniques. The latest in child safety and health information will be presented. There also will be certified personnel performing car seat checks to see if they are properly installed.   NCPG is a non-denominational, nonprofit organization to educate and support parents of young children and encourage friendships among NCPG families. The group offers bi-weekly interactive parenting classes led by professional instructors in the field of child development. For more information about North Central Parenting Group or membership information, visit www.ncpgaz.org or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Kids Club reads rhymes Westcor Kids Club at Metrocenter meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of every month. Westcor Kids Club is free for children of all ages and meets in the food court. Webster, the Westcor Kids Club wart hog mascot, along with Master of Ceremonies Persephone, lead the fun. On Sept. 17, youngsters will hear rhymes about sleep. Metrocenter, a Westcor Shopping Center, is located at 1-17 between Peoria and Dunlap avenues. For additional information, call Metrocenter at 602-997-2641 or visit www.westcor.com. Free admission at Pueblo Grande     Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park will offer free admission on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. to celebrate the cultural connections between the Mesoamerican culture and the Hohokam culture of the southwest Salt River Valley.     As part of the celebration of the connections between these two ancient cultures, the members of the Huehuecoyotl Aztec Community will perform a ceremonial dance. Museum staff and volunteers also will lead organized tours of the Pueblo Grande site. Children can enjoy arts and crafts activities. More information is available on the museum’s Web site at www.pueblogrande.com or by calling 602-495-0901. Library hosts essay contest Phoenix Public Library has kicked off a “Yours to Explore” essay contest designed to give kids and teens an opportunity to share what they like best about Phoenix Public Library. The contest runs now through Sept. 12 and is part of an ongoing community awareness campaign reflecting the library’s new tagline, “Yours to Explore.”  Contest winners will be announced Sept. 22.   The contest invites children, ages 6-11, to write an essay about “Which Superhero would you like to explore Phoenix Public Library with and why?” and teens, ages 12-18, to write an essay about “Which rock star would you like to explore Phoenix Public Library with and why?”   Essays should be at least 150 words and dropped off or mailed by 5 p.m. Sept. 12 to any Phoenix Public Library location to the attention of “Essay Contest.” Winners will receive a “Love Your Library” canvas book bag from the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library filled with two T-shirts, books, notecards, $20 Friends Place gift certificate, PageKeep bookmark, four complimentary passes to Arizona Science Center’s Narnia exhibit and other fun things. For more information, call 602-262-4636. Shamrock Farms seeks ‘Taste Buds’ The third annual contest to join the yummiest club in town—Roxie’s Taste Buds—began Saturday, Aug.16. Named after Shamrock Farms spokescow Roxie, the club consists of a group of 6- to 12-year-olds serving as the company’s official consumer flavor panel. Up to 20 winners will be selected based on their responses to two short essay questions by a group of local judges. The group will be invited to participate in members-only activities from October 2008 through August 2009. Roxie’s Taste Buds applications are available online at shamrockfarms.net or by calling the Hi-Roxie line at 1-888-HI-ROXIE. Applications must be received via e-mail or postmarked by Sept. 14.

 

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