WIN A FAMILY PACK OF FREE TICKETS:
Grammy Award Winner, Bill Harley
Sun. Matinee Concert for Families @ the Iron Horse
Grammy Award Winner Bill Harley at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Sun., December 6th at 2pm
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance for two families to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see 2-time Grammy Award Winner Bill Harley at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. on Sunday, December 6th at 2pm. Deadline to enter to win is 12/02/09. Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT BILL HARLEY
A two-time Grammy award winning artist, Bill Harley uses song and story to paint a vibrant picture of growing up, parenting and family life. Poignant and hilarious, his work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill is also a regular commentator for NPR’s “All Things Considered” and featured on PBS. Harley joined the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence in 2001 and tours nationwide as an author and performing artist – and is a perennial favorite of the Hilltown Family Variety Show!
Bill is offering a free download of his original song for kids, “Wash Your Hands, from his site www.billharley.com, recently aired on the HFVS. It’s also featured on Education.com’s swine flu information page for parents. You can discover more about Bill Harley at www.billharley.com.
On Saturday, December 5th, Bill Harley will be a featured artist on the Hilltown Family Variety Showfrom9-10am on 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA (Valley Free Radio) Tune in, listen live via streaming audio at Valley Free Radio. Tune in every Saturday from 6-10am for 4-hours of commercial-free family programming, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7am-9am, followed by the HFVS. Miss us on the air? Listen now to our extended podcast.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Bill Harley at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
POST A COMMENT BELOW (one entry per family) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 12/02/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets for the No Nap Happy Hour concert series are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com, or by calling 413-586-8686.
Congratulations to six families on winning four different giveaways:
Congratulation to Sherri Gionet of Leeds, MA. Sherri has won a free registration to the “No Fear Flu” herbal workshop with Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield, MA at the Inn at Norton Hill this Sunday (11/08/09) from 10-3. Participants who did not win who would still like to sign up for this timely workshop, please contact Tony Lemos at tlemos@noho.com.
Congratulations to Amy Cullen of Plainfield, MA & Amy Hill of Sunderland, MA. Both families have won Scholastic Storybook Treasure’s Where the Wild Things Are … And 5 More Stories by Maurice Sendak on DVD!
Congratulations to Laura Mazza of Florence, MA and Kimberly Wixsom of Pittsfield, MA. Both families will receive a copy of Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family debut family album, Go Waggaloo.
Congratulations to Glenn Doulette of Whately, MA. Glenn has won a a 4-pack of free tickets to see 1964 …The Tribute, the “best Beatles tribute on Earth,” according to Rolling Stone Magazine, perform at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA, on Saturday, November 7th, at 8pm.
Moscow Ballet Performance of Great Russian Nutcracker
At Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA
Sunday, November 15th @ 2pm
Hilltown Families is very excited to be able to offer two family 4-packs of free tickets to see the world-famous Moscow Ballet give a benefit performance of Great Russian Nutcracker at Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA on Sunday afternoon, November 15th, at 2:00 pm. This extraordinary performance of Tchaikovsky’s Great Russian Nutcracker is a benefit for children’s services at the Brattleboro Retreat. Deadline to enter to win is SUNDAY, 11/08/09 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
ABOUT THE MOSCOW BALLET
The Moscow Ballet is proud to unveil their 2009 Great Russian Nutcracker holiday tour! Praised for exquisite dancing and gorgeous costumes, the Great Russian Nutcracker is directed by Ballet Master Anatoli Emelianov. It is also set against Valentin Fedorov’s spectacular hand-painted backdrops and life-sized dancing puppets.
This year’s tour stars the ballet world’s Prima Ballerina, Cristina Terentieva and her partner Alexei. Cristina is a Gold Medalist of the 2008 Varna International Ballet Competition where Vladimir Vasiliev of the Bolshoi bestowed upon her the highest honors. Also starring in the Great Russian Nutcracker is the award winning couple Akzhol Mussakhanov and Ekaterina Bortykova.
The Moscow Ballet is proud to announce the addition of the Russian Father Christmas, a large magical clock and Snegurochka, the Russian Snow Maiden taken from Russian folklore, to this year’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Although the additional characters are an integral part to this year’s performance, the Moscow Ballet is particularly excited about welcoming Aleksey Burakov to the stage as the character, Herr Drosselmeyer.
In the classic tale of the Great Russian Nutcracker, the mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, enters the room where everyone is celebrating and brings all the kids different gifts. After Clara is left without a gift, Herr Drosselmeyer presents a toy Nutcracker, dressed in a soldier’s traditional parade uniform, to the little girl.
Critics rave that the Great Russian Nutcracker is “flawless,” “breathtaking,” and “dazzling.” Whimsical and imaginative storytelling blend with the richness of Russian classical ballet to make the Great Russian Nutcracker a memorable holiday treat for everyone.
BENEFIT PERFORMANCE FOR THE CHILDREN’S SERVICES AT THE BRATTLEBORO RETREAT
Proceeds from the ballet will help support children’s services at the Brattleboro Retreat in Brattleboro, Vermont. This performance, which is also part of the Retreat’s 175th anniversary celebration, marks the second consecutive year that the Moscow Ballet has appeared in Springfield’s Symphony Hall in partnership with the Brattleboro Retreat. Children in the production will be cast out of the Brattleboro School of Dance in Brattleboro, VT.
“Young people in our country who suffer with mental health challenges are vastly underserved, which is why we’re doing our part to help change that,” said Dr. Robert E. Simpson, president and chief executive officer of the Brattleboro Retreat. “The Nutcracker is a ballet for and about children—a beautiful family event. We are grateful for the opportunity to join hands for this cause with a world-class production like the Moscow Ballet.”
The Brattleboro Retreat, founded in 1834, is a not-for-profit, regional specialty psychiatric hospital and addictions treatment center, providing a full range of diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation services for individuals of all ages and their families. Nationally recognized for its premier treatment in behavioral healthcare, the Brattelboro Retreat offers a high quality, individualized, comprehensive continuum of care including inpatient, partial hospitalization, residential and outpatient treatment.
HOW TO WIN
A chance for two different families to win a free 4-pack of tickets is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Sunday, 11/08/09 @ 7pm
DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR HILLTOWN FAMILIES
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets are available online through TICKETMASTER by calling 800-745-3000. To receive discounts on most ticket levels, enter the promotion code HEALTH.
Purchased Patron ticket holders (not discounted) will be treated to a fabulous post-performance reception in the Mahogany Room at Symphony Hall. Light fare and refreshments will be served. Meet and greet ballerinas and members of the Nutcracker cast! Proceeds from the ballet will help support children’s services at the Brattleboro Retreat in Brattleboro, Vermont.
FREE TICKETS 1964 …The Tribute
Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA
Saturday, November 7th @ 8pm
Best Beatles Tribute on Earth – Rolling Stone Magazine
More videos here.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in Northampton, MA for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
This week we are pleased to offer a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to see 1964 …The Tribute, the “best Beatles tribute on Earth,” according to Rolling Stone Magazine, perform at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA, on Saturday, November 7th, at 8pm. Win the tickets and invite other parents to come with you for a night out on the town, or take the family if you have little night owls with audience skills. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 11/4/09 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
1964 …THE TRIBUTE
1964 …The Tribute takes their audiences on a musical journey to an era in rock history that will live in all of our hearts forever. Hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute in the world, they return to the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA for another memorable night of amazing music.
Unlike other acts, 1964 concentrates on only the “touring years” of the Beatles. Since this time period is one of the most well documented (pictures, films, and eye witness accounts) times of the Beatles career, there is much that one can compare. 1964 has accomplished what many other acts could only dream of: An astonishingly accurate re-creation of the energy and the magic of those touring years. Over 20 years of researching and performing have made 1964 masters of their craft. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute show in the world.
1964 recreates an early ’60’s live Beatles concert, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, onstage banter, with an accuracy that is unmatched even til this day. Come see why 1964 …The Tribute is the definitive and most accurrate of all the Beatle shows.
“The performance, professionalism, and musicianship make the illusion complete. 1964…THE TRIBUTE creates MAGIC!” -Dick Clark
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win this free 4-pack of tickets is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 11/04/09 @ 7pm
New Music Giveaway: Go Waggaloo by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family
Featuring Woody Guthrie drawings on the cover art and booklet, ‘Go Waggaloo’ will entertain every member of every family.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings recently sent us a CD by local Western Massachusetts musician Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family, Go Waggaloo, her debut family album. The 13-track disc features her husband, Johnny Irion, their two daughters, and a host of other family and friends including her father Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Pete’s grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger. An absolutely fantastic group of friends and family and an equally fantastic collection of both original and traditional folk music, including three songs featuring lyrics by Sarah’s grandfather Woody Guthrie from the Smithsonian Folkways archives never before put to music. The allurement of Sarah’s vocals, the originality of new songs and the familiarness of traditional folk music sung by folk music legends, make Go Waggaloo a “Grade A” family album! My daughter and I both love this new alum. We can’t stop playing it!
Arlo Guthrie writes in the introduction of this CD, “If you have enough kid left inside yourself somewhere for these songs to make sense, consider yourself lucky. They are building blocks of who you are and where you come from. I love songs that are inspired and/or written by kids themselves and not by the people who think they know what’s good for you.”
To find out more about Sarah Lee Guthrie and her husband, Johnny Irion, visit their web site at sarahleeandjohnny.com.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family debut family album,Go Waggaloo, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
POST A COMMENT BELOW(one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 11/04/09 @ 7pm (EST).
MORE OPPORTUNITIES
To continue to spread the word about this album, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is offering listeners the opportunity to stream the entire album for free until November 3rd, 2009HERE.
Additionally, SFR is running a contest on their Facebook page where they ask listeners to define what they think “Go Waggaloo” means. The first 200 people who comment each get a free download from Smithsonian Folkways.
HOLIDAY GIFT: This would make a great holiday gift! If you don’t win, you can find copies HERE for sale.
No Fear Flu Workshop
at Blazing Star Herbal School
Elecampane (Photo credit: Tony(a) Lemos)
Hilltown Families and Blazing Star Herbal School (BSHS) in Ashfield, MA have partnered up to offer one lucky participant free registration for their fantastic November 8th, workshop, No Fear Flu. Participants of this timely workshop will leave feeling empowered to handle their families winter health needs! Find out how to win a free registration to this herbal workshop below. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 11/04/09 @ 7pm (EST)
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
This very popular wellness workshop will be offered at BSHS the Inn at Norton HIll (new location) in Ashfield, MA on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 from 10-3pm. Workshop participants will explore nourishing herbs, medicinal foods and tonic herbs that strengthen their terrain, build their immunity, while supporting optimum wellness. They will become familiar with common anti-bacterial and anti-viral herbs, how to prepare them and how to use them in ways that are safe, tasty and health providing for the entire family. Participants will look at ways to prevent getting the flu by building up the immune system while also become familiar with treatments for the flu. Participants of the No Fear Flu Workshop will learn how to make simple and effective medicines from common herbs and foods for their family. – This is one workshop whose notes you will refer to again and again!
ABOUT BLAZING STAR HERBAL SCHOOL
Dedicated to teaching traditional herbal medicine in a way that supports a more sustainable future and shows respect for the integrity of nature, BSHS offers a unique perspective on herbalism, weaving social and political aspects of health and healing through the study of medicinal herbs and food practices. Serving as a local and national resource for education and networking, BSHS has been in Ashfield for over 25 years on 26 wooded acres of pine trees, rushing brooks, wildflower meadows and gardens. Right here in the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts, the school offers unique and exciting programs in herbal studies to give both the student and professional an opportunity to delve deeper into the art and science of herbalism. Their courses have been highly acclaimed for inspiring students to find their unique healing path through personal relationship with the plant world. For more information about BSHS visit them on line at blazingstarherbalschool.typepad.com, or contact Tony(a) Lemos at 413.625.6875, tlemos@valinet.com.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a free registration to this herbal workshop with Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield, MA as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
POST A COMMENT BELOW(one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 11/04/09 @ 7pm (EST)
Makes a great gift! Click the image to find at Amazon.com.
Scholastic Storybook Treasure has rerelease and repackaged Where the Wild Things Are … And 5 More Stories by Maurice Sendak on DVD. A copy of this newly released DVD is being offered to two lucky families. Details below.
ABOUT THE TITLE STORY
Where the Wild Things Are, which has captured a prestigious Caldecott Medal and sold millions of copies since it was originally published in 1963, is familiar to children –and adults — of all ages. Regarded as a landmark children’s classic, it’s the wildly imaginative story of Max, a young boy who misbehaves and is sent to his room without supper. There, he lets his imagination take him to a faraway place where, after donning a distinctive wolf costume, he befriends the strange, mythical creatures who inhabit the island. But, after a “wild rumpus” Max decides it’s time to head back home, “where someone loved him best of all.”
ABOUT THE DVD
Including versions of Where the Wild Things Are in English, Spanish and French, children will delight in following the narration of this beautifully animated version of Max’s adventures with the read-along function which highlights the words as they are read. The DVD also includes five other Sendak tales: In the Night Kitchen, Alligators All Around, Pierre, One Was Johnny and Chicken Soup with Rice. And for those kids that go crazy over stickers from the bank, dentist and doctor’s office, they will love the free set of stickers included with this DVD.
FREE TICKETS
Playing For Change: Peace Through Music
at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA
Friday, October 23rd, 2009 @ 8pm
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in Northampton, MA for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
This week we are pleased to offer a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to see the Playing for Change project perform at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA, on Friday, October 23rd, at 8 pm, presented by WGBY. Win the tickets and invite other parents to come with you for a night out on the town. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 10/21/09 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
WHAT IS PLAYING FOR CHANGE?
Playing for Change (www.playingforchange.com) is a project that unites musicians and vocalists from diverse parts of the globe in a multimedia movement to connect a worldwide audience through music. Bill Moyers called it a remarkable example of “the simple yet transformative power of music… to touch something in each of us.”
Check out the video above from the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music.” In this video comes an incredible rendition of the legendary Bob Marley song “One Love” with Keb’ Mo’ and Manu Chao.
The current members of the Playing For Change Band are:
From New Orleans, Grandpa Elliott (lead vocals, harmonica)
From Zimbabwe, Louis Mhlanga (electric guitar)
From D.R./Congo, Mermans Kenkosenki and Jason Tamba
From South Africa, Titi Tsira
From Los Angeles, Peter Bunetta (drums)
From Barcelona, Clarence Bekker
From Venezuela, Juan Carlos Portillo
From Ghana, Mohammed Alidu (talking drum, djembe)
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win this free 4-pack of tickets is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW(one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 10/21/09 @ 7pm
Win 3 Seasonal Titles: Pumpkins, Cider and Apples
From Storey Publishing
Hilltown Families and Storey Publishing have partnered up to offer a chance to win three seasonal titles:
The Perfect Pumpkin: Growing, Cooking, Carving by Gail Damerow
Cider: Making, Using & Enjoying Sweet & Hard Cider (3rd Ed.) by Annie Proulx and Lew Nichols
Apple Cookbook by Olwen Woodier
Find out how to enter to win below.
STOREY PUBLISHING
Storey Publishing is a local publisher based out of North Adams, MA. They have been publishing wonderful how-to books on do-it-yourself titles that are down-to-earth and always inspiring for over 25 years! Topics range from gardening, cooking, crafts, nature science, animal care, farming, traditional skills and home improvement.
Over the years my personal library has included many of their titles that are now dog-eared and well worn from reading and referencing; including: Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal, Gail Damerow’s Barnyard in Your Backyard, Mike & Nancy Bubel’s Root Cellering and Phyliss Hobson’s Making & Using Dried Foods. All great titles I’ve referenced either for family minor illnesses, the best way to raise our small backyard flock of chickens, how to put up onions and cabbage from the farmer’s market for the winter, and advice on dehydrating culinary herbs and locally picked apples. Discover their upcoming releases here. Each title is packed with fresh new ideas about gardening, horses, cooking, crafts, livestock, building, and more!
ABOUT THE TITLES
THE PERFECT PUMPKIN
Gail Damerow has written a great book for harvesting and growing nearly 100 varieties of pumpkins! I had no idea there were that than many! Her book, The Perfect Pumpkin: Growing, Cooking, Carving, includes advise on how to grow and harvest pumpkins (including those gigantic ones we see at the county fairs!), step-by-step craft and carving projects, delectable recipes (like pumpkin brioche and pumpkin ale!) and even tips one how to put up pumpkin for winter storage.
CIDER: MAKING, USING & ENJOYING SWEET & HARD CIDER
How do you make great cider? All you need is an apple. And a few other things … Annie Proulx and Lew Nichols offer thorough coverage of every step of cider making, from choosing and planting the best apple varieties to enjoying the finished product in their book Cider: Making, Using & Enjoying Sweet & Hard Cider. Recipes include sweet and hard ciders, sparkling cider blends, and cider-based foods. In this book you’ll also find directions on how to build a working apple press, and bits of history and lore.
APPLE COOKBOOK
Want to turn your apples into gourmet cooked dishes to accompany a glass of hard cider? Olwen Woodier offers over 140 apple recipes for to serve up apples for breakfast, lunch and dinner in her book, Apple Cookbook. She also offers descriptions of the general characteristics of many popular and heirloom varieties of apples along with a diagram that charts their best uses.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win these three seasonal titles from Storey Publishing is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
POST A COMMENT BELOW(one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Monday, 10/21/09 @ 7pm (EST).
To check out other fine titles by Storey Publishing, visit them on-line at www.storey.com.
Win Free Tickets to See
DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS: FAMILY DANCE PARTY
At the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall in Amherst, MA
SHOWTIME:
Friday, October 23rd at 7pm
Family Fun Pre-Show Party begins at 6pm
Hilltown Families and the UMass Fine Arts Center have partnered up to offer a chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Dan Zanes and Friends: Family Dance Party at the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on the UMass campus in Amherst, MA on Friday, October 23rd. Festivities begin at 6pm. This is an ASL interpreted event. Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT DAN ZANES
Concerts by Dan Zanes & Friends are always cause for celebration, filled with singing and dancing to songs brimming with warmth, wisdom and wonderful music. The Grammy-Award Winner is joined by his “beautifully scruffy, harmonically precise, spirited, and better-than-ever band” and they’ll be singing songs in both English and Spanish with their own homespun style giving you the feeling that a bunch of wildly talented friends and neighbors just got together to throw a party . . . and everyone’s invited.
PRE-SHOW EVENTS
Family Fun Pre-Show Party
Please come at 6 PM for a pre-show party for families. There will be hands-on craft activities and healthy snacks for everyone while they last.
Arts Give Back
Please bring a new or gently used book to donate to Link to Libraries. Link to Libraries collects and distributes new and gently used books to elementary school libraries and nonprofit organizations to enhance the language and literacy skills of children of all cultural backgrounds. Please visit their site (www.linkstolibraries.org) for a list of preferred books or bring some goodies from your personal collection.
LET’S SWEETEN THE POT
The winner will receive four copies of a Dan Zane’s album to give to friends and family, courtesy of the UMass Fine Arts Center.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Dan Zanes and Friends: Family Dance Party at the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on the UMass campus in Amherst, MA, plus four copies a copy of a Dan Zanes CD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) You must include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Monday, 10/19/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets are available at the UMass Fine Arts box office, online at UMass Fine Arts Center or by calling 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS.
Click here to listen and subscribe to the Hilltown Family Variety Show Podcast!
The Singer in White from Alegría (Photo credit: Camirand)
We’re very excited to be able to offer a family 4-pack of free tickets to see the Alegría, a Cirque du Soleil classic and an internationally acclaimed production that has entertained more than 10 million people worldwide since its world premiere in Montreal in April 1994.
Alegría will be performing 8 shows at the Mullins Center at UMass in Amherst, MA, from September 16-20, 2009. Tickets range from $40 to $95 for adult and $32 to $76 for children (12 years old & under).
Here’s your chance to win afreefamily 4-packof tickets to see this amazing show on the premiere night, Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30pm.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Alegría is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy and jubilation. An operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, Alegría relates the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters, and age against youth.
A kingdom without a king, Alegría is a world where everyone feels imbued with power —from impish court jester Fleur to the young and vital Bronx, to the aged and aristocratic Birds. Alegría is inhabited by minstrels, rogues, beggars, nobles, children and clowns, the only characters able to adapt to the changing times and the upheaval it brings. In this enigmatic, troubling world of profound changes and uncertainty, despite all the trials and tribulations, there is only one constant: the human spirit remains implacable.
Alegría features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acrobatics. Acts include the Synchro Trapeze and the high-speed, high-energy Aerial High Bars in which daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. The vibrancy of youth is alive in Power Track, a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system hidden under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists fly through the air and perform spectacular somersaults and mid-air turns, landing on bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of catchers.
HOW TO WIN TICKETS
Your chance to win a free family 4-pack of tickets to see Alegría is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! Tickets are for the premiere night, Wednesday, September 16th, at 7:30pm at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA. To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Winner must provide identification when picking up tickets at the Will Call booth the night of the show. Please only enter if you know for certain that your family will be able to attend this Wednesday night performance. Deadline is Monday, 09/07/08 @ 7pm (EST).
WIN FREE TICKETS & CD:
SUNDAY MATINEE CONCERT FOR KIDS
WITH JUSTIN ROBERTS
Justin Roberts new CD, "Pop Fly."
At the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA
SHOWTIME:
Sunday, AUGUST 23rd at 2pm
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Justin Roberts at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, plus a copy of his newest award-winning CD, Pop Fly. Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT JUSTIN ROBERTS
Bring your dancing shoes to these toe-tapping, all-ages concerts featuring 5-time Parents’ Choice GOLD award-winner. Known for catchy, unique music that keeps kids and parents coming back for more, Justin’s concerts feature a wide range of musical styles. He and the Not Ready for Naptime Players dish out intelligent and whimsically rocking music for all ages to enjoy together.
Justin and the Not Ready for Naptime Players will perform new tunes and old favorites, some of which are featured as music videos on Noggin TV. Their tunes have been featured on NBC-TV’s Today show and many other radio and television shows.
Justin celebrates the success of his newest CDs, Meltdown and Pop Fly, which both win national awards and critical acclaim. Pop Fly was selected as one of the top children’s music releases of 2008 by USA Today, Amazon.com, NPR Music and the annual Fids and Kamily Poll.
On Saturday, August 22nd, Justin Roberts will be a featured artist on the Hilltown Family Variety from9-10am on 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA (Valley Free Radio) Tune in or listen live via streaming audio at Valley Free Radio.
ABOUT THE NO NAP HAPPY HOUR CONCERT SERIES
The No Nap Happy Hour concert series will feature the kinds of bands that seem to have taken their cue from They Might Be Giants in believing that kids’ music doesn’t have to condescend or, well, suck. The Iron Horse is teaming up with WRSI radio program for kids, Spare The Rock, Spoil The Child, to present a monthly Sunday afternoon concert for kids at the Iron Horse. This Sunday matinee concert series for kids continues at the Iron Horse on Sunday, August 23rd at 2PM with Justin Roberts. Click HERE to see what’s coming up in this wonderful concert series for kids.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Justin Roberts at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, plus a copy of his newest CD, Pop Fly, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 08/19/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets for the No Nap Happy Hour concert series are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com, or by calling 413-586-8686.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Lunch Money at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT LUNCH MONEY
A perennial favorite of Bill’s Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child and Sienna’s Hilltown Family Variety Show local family radio shows, Lunch Money brings the indie-rock experience to family audiences with an energetic salute to the stuff of childhood: roller coasters, giant cookies and getting dizzy. This trio “artfully treads the line between alt-kids and just plain alternative” [Nick Jr. Family Magazine] and this year their song “It Only Takes One Night to Make a Balloon Your Friend” topped the charts on XM/Sirius children’s radio. The band delivers a high-energy show that aims to get children and their parents dancing, thinking and laughing.
will guest DJ on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child (7-9am on Valley Free Radio, 8-10am on WRSI)
and will be a featured artist on the Hilltown Family Variety (9-10am on Valley Free Radio).
ABOUT THE NO NAP HAPPY HOUR CONCERT SERIES
The No Nap Happy Hour concert series will feature the kinds of bands that seem to have taken their cue from They Might Be Giants in believing that kids’ music doesn’t have to condescend or, well, suck. The Iron Horse is teaming up with WRSI radio program for kids, Spare The Rock, Spoil The Child, to present a monthly Sunday afternoon concert for kids at the Iron Horse. This Sunday matinee concert series for kids debuts at the Iron Horse on Sunday, July 26th at 2PM with Lunch Money. Click HERE to see what’s coming up in this wonderful concert series for kids.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Lunch Money at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 07/22/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets for the No Nap Happy Hour concert series are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com, or by calling 413-586-8686.
Unforgettable, beautiful, and unlike anything seen since the heyday of Harry Houdini." - Londonmonthly.com
Victoria Chaplin’s Aurélia’s Oratorio
At the Calvin Theatre
in Northampton, MA
SHOWTIMES:
July 17th @ 7pm
July 18th @ 2pm & 7pm
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance for three different families to win 4 free tickets to see Victoria Chaplin’s internationally acclaimed theatrical creation, Aurélia’s Oratorio. A family pack of four tickets are being offered for each of the three performances. Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT AURELIA’S ORATORIO
"Fluid, sensual and stylishly surreal surprises... and topsy-turvy transformations." - The Times
Aurélia’s Oratorio, is a breathtaking and mind-bending theatrical performance that combines circus arts, physical theater, and visual illusion for the whole family. Framed within its lush red velvet curtains, the show includes music hall comedy, vaudeville, clowning, and acrobatics to create an enchanting and surreal dreamscape. In Aurelia’s captivating world, anything is possible. A kite flies a person instead of a person flying a kite. A young woman pops out of bedroom bureau drawers and puppets perform a show—for other puppets.
Show creator Victoria Chaplin has broken new ground in a comic tradition rooted in her own world-famous family. Along the way, she has developed an international reputation as a pioneer in Cirque Nouveau, a theatrical kind of circus that uses no animals or traditional clowns. In their place, Chaplin and her husband and partner Jean Baptiste Thierrée have developed a rich spectacle using theatrical settings, inventive costumes and props, and extravagant acrobatics – where audiences are invited to enter magical worlds of the imagination. This new circus form, that Chaplin has helped to pioneer during the past quarter century is what has made Quebec’s Cirque du Soleil the most popular theater in North America.
Aurélia’s Oratorio is not as huge and sprawling as Cirque du Soleil. But in its human scale, it achieves a rare intimacy and transcendence—where small moments resonate and last in our thoughts and memory. Indeed, reviewing the show for Edge Boston, critic Kilian Melloy wrote, “There’s so much going on here at every moment that Aurélia’s Oratorio is akin to living inside a glass of champagne: for an hour and a half, reality itself seems effervescent.”
RAVE REVIEWS
Aurélia’s Oratorio played for five weeks last December to sold-out houses and rave reviews at the American Repertory Theater (ART) in Cambridge, MA (see video above). Unable to fulfill the audience demand and ecstatic word-of-mouth, A.R.T. has booked a rare return engagement–another two-week run that will play after the Calvin’s Northampton date. The A.R.T. engagement was made possible when the City of Burlington, Vermont negotiated with Aurelia’s European producers to bring the troupe (and its two tons of stage gear) back to the U.S. from their tour of Europe and Russia—to perform as the keynote event representing France at Burlington’s 400th anniversary festival celebrating the 1609 lake expedition of Samuel de Champlain, the first European to visit the region. The Northampton presentation of Aurélia’s Oratorio is being made possible with support from the Burlington Festival.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see Victoria Chaplin’s Aurélia’s Oratorio is as easy as 1-2-3 (4-5-6)! To win simply:
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible.
We are offering a family 4-pack of tickets for each evening, so be sure to tell us which show you prefer to see to be eligible to win: (Friday (07/17) @ 7pm, Saturday (07/18/09) @ 2pm or 7pm.).
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw 3 winners, one winner for each scheduled performance, and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 07/15/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets for “Aurelia’s Oratorio” are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com or by calling 413-586-8686.
Putumayo Kids’ acclaimed Playground series has put out another wonderful international collection of both traditional and popular music, this time touring around Europe!
Being the home to nearly 50 countries, Europe is a diverse and culturally rich continent. With European Playground families will visit more than 15 different countries and hear 11 of the more than 30 languages spoken in Europe, taking listeners on a cross-genre musical tour around the continent.
HOME STUDY OF EUROPE
A 34-page booklet is included that features liner notes in four languages (English, Spanish, French & German), and a colorful map of Europe. Click here to download a free b/w map to use for a home study of Europe. Listen to each song on the CD and then have your kids find the country on the map and color the country in. Note that many of the countries are very close together, yet have vastly different languages and cultures.
A five page teaching guide to accompany this CD can be downloaded here. The learning objectives of this guide are:
Learn about the culture and geography of Europe
Train the students ears to listen for musical elements
Understand that music is a universal language
Gain awareness of the value of friends who are different from themselves
Experience the benefits of working together
Another great on-line resource for European studies is The European Library. This library offers free access to resources from 48 national libraries of Europe (in 20 languages!) available for anyone around the world seeking books, maps, photographs, music, videos, and other materials.
HOW TO WIN:
Your chance to win a free copy of the new Putumayo Kids Presents: European PlaygroundCD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their full name and town/state) and contact the winner via email. So be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL in the email field of the comment box (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, June 17th, 2009, @ 7pm (EST).
To the Eric Carle Museum
Birthday Bash and Children’s Book Festival
With Elizabeth Mitchell in Concert!
Elizabeth Mitchell, a perennial favorite of the Hilltown Family Variety Show, will be performing at the Eric Carle Museum’s Birthday Bash and Children’s Book Festival this Saturday, June 13th @ 10am, in Amherst, MA. The festival is from 10am-5pm.
The museum as offered Hilltown Families four free family passes for the event (2 adults and up to 4 children) . Here’s your chance to win passes to meet many great illustrators and see Elizabeth Mitchell in concert!
THE EVENT
Birthday Bash and Children’s Book Festival
with Western Massachusetts Illustrators’ Guild
June 13, 2009
10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Elizabeth Mitchell concert is at 10am)
Celebrate, connect and create!
In honor of Eric Carle’s 80th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the Western Massachusetts Illustrators’ Guild (WMIG), The Carle is hosting a day filled with book-signings, readings, and demonstrations by WMIG artists, hands-on activities in the Art Studio, and special performances by Smithsonian Folkways Children’s music recording artist Elizabeth Mitchell. Complimenting the art in the galleries will be an exhibit of original art by some of New England’s favorite illustrators as well as an art sale, silent auction, and raffle. Click here for more information.
This event sponsored by FamilyFun magazine and The Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Participating artists include:
David Costello www.davidhydecostello.com
Diane deGroat www.dianedegroat.com
Elizabeth Finney
Linda Graves www.lindagravesartist.com
John Steven Gurney www.author-illustr-source.com/johnstevengurney.htm
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL in the email field of the comment box (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Thursday (06/11/09) @ 7pm (EST).
FREE TICKETS & CD
Patty Larkin at the Iron Horse
Northampton, MA
Saturday, June 6th, 2009 @ 7pm
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in Northampton, MA for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
This week we are pleased to offer a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to see musician Patty Larkinperform at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, on Saturday, June 6th, at 7 pm. Brooke Brown-Saracino will open. Suggested dinner seating time is at 5:30 pm. (Click here to see their menu)
Win the tickets and invite other parents to come with you for a night out on the town. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 06/03/09 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
UPDATE (05/29/09): FREE CD TOO!
The friendly folks from Patty Larkin’s office are offering a free copy of Patty’s newest CD, Watch the Sky, Read more about her newest CD below.
PATTY LARKIN
Patty Larkin is a rare combination of talents, redefining the boundaries of folk-urban pop music for more than 20 years with her inventive guitar wizardry, vocals and uncompromising lyrics. Over her 10 CD history, she has honed a reputation as a “musician’s musician”, working with some of the brightest talents in American music.
Long a favorite with critics, Patty is that unique level of artistic sophistication – one that her audiences have come to appreciate and her new fans will love. Acoustic Guitar hails, “her soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her “evocative vocals, and subtle sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and “drop-dead brilliant” (Performing Songwriter).
Patty Larkin has achieved a personal best with her newest release, Watch the Sky. The ever evolving artist has continued to search for a new voice, a fresh palate. Watch the Sky. Watch Patty Larkin.
PATTY’S NEWEST CD: WATCH THE SKY
Patty Larkin's newest CD: Watch the Sky
Patty Larkinhas always prided herself in her creative approach to music. With Watch the Sky, Larkin has created a one of a kind release that she wrote, produced, engineered and edited. Larkin wrote and recorded much of the material as it came to her, assembling tracks and sounds as she went. The result is a raw, intimate gorgeous sound that is all her own. Here Larkin has experimented with a kaleidoscope of sounds, from her “slapsteel” guitar (lap steel detuned, played with drumstick and hand) to the “baribow,” an organic take on a string section, played on electric baritone guitar with a child’s violin bow. Things take off with a hip hop tinged piece, sung in the voice of a ghost walking the house with a wailing electric blues guitar part, to intimate acoustic guitar with orchestral underpinnings and vocals in the style of Nick Drake. The concept of combining acoustic instruments with modern technology has always intrigued Larkin, and she accomplishes this feat gracefully on Watch the Sky.
HOW TO WIN:
Your chance to win this free 4-pack of tickets and a free CD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL in the email field of the comment box (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is 06/03/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets are available here. And CD’s are available here.
Treasury of 25 Storybook Classic:
Dinosaurs, Trucks, Monsters and more!
DVD 4-Disc Collection
Scholastic/Weston Woods debuts two new DVD collections in their Storybook Treasures series this month, aimed to appeal to both boys and girls:
Treasury of 25 Storybook Classics: Dinosaurs, Trucks, Monsters… and More!
Treasury of 25 Storybook Classics: Fairytales, Magic… and More!
Each collection includes 4-discs of carefully crafted productions that stay true to the original text and illustrations.
This series is an absolute favorite of my family and can be a wonderful way for kids to see their favorite award-winning storybooks come to life. Each story includes a read-along function which highlights words as they’re read, encouraging early readers to follow along and discover the fun of reading.
THIS WEEKS CONTEST
This week we are offering the Treasury of 25 Storybook Classics: Dinosaurs, Trucks, Monsters… and More! collection, featuring the following DVD’s:
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?… and more dinosaur tales
I Stink!… and more stories on wheels
Pete’s a Pizza… and more great stories about kids!
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Stories feature celebrity narration by Chevy Chase, Anthony Edwards, Michael McKean, and many more
Be sure to check back with us for more opportunities to win great family entertainment! Next week we will be offering the second collection in this series, Treasury of 25 Storybook Classics: Fairytales, Magic… and More! win great family entertainment!
HOW TO WIN:
Your chance to win this free DVD collection is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL in email field of the comment box (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is 06/03/09 @ 7pm (EST).
Congratulations to Laura Mazza of Florence, MA on winning two free tickets to see the Pioneer Valley Symphony (PVS) featuring Grammy winning storyteller, Bill Harley and Peter and the Wolf in Greenfield, MA at the Greenfield High School Auditorium on Saturday, March 28th, at 7 pm, courtesy of PVS.
Two more tickets are being awarded to Helen Kahn, also of Florence, MA who was the second name to be selected from our random drawing.
And congratulations to Victoria Worth of Ashfield, MA who won a copy of Bill Harley’s DVD, Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live, which won the 2009 GRAMMY AWARD for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
Thanks to PVS for offering tickets and to everyone for posting a comment to enter to win. Be sure to check back for upcoming promotions and giveaways … or better yet, subscribe to our newsfeed and local listserv and don’t miss our next media contest/giveaway!
Special Family Performance
with the Pioneer Valley Symphony featuring
2009 Grammy Storyteller BILL HARLEY
and Peter and the Wolf
Greenfield High School Auditorium in Greenfield, MA
On Saturday, March 28th, 2009 @ 7pm
We are pleased to offer four free tickets to see the Pioneer Valley Symphony (PVS) featuring Grammy winning storyteller, Bill Harley and Peter and the Wolfin Greenfield, MA at the Greenfield High School Auditorium on Saturday, March 28th, at 7 pm, courtesy of PVS. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, 03/25/09 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
This PVS Special Family Performance line-up will includes:
JOHN WILLIAMS – Harry Potter Symphonic Suite
BILL HARLEY – There’s a Pea on My Plate
BILL HARLEY & PAUL PHILLIPS - Come On Out and Play
SERGEI PROKOFIEV – Peter and the Wolf (narrated by Bill Harley)
BILL HARLEY – You’re In Trouble
BILL HARLEY
Two copies of the DVD, Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live, which won the 2009 GRAMMY AWARD for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, will be offered too.
Bill Harley uses song and story to paint a vibrant picture of growing up, parenting and family life. Poignant and hilarious, his work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill is also a regular commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered and featured on PBS. Harley’s newest recording, a live performance CD set and DVD, Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live won the 2009 GRAMMY AWARD for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, and has been the featured storyteller on Hilltown Family Variety Show numerous times! Click HERE to see videos of Bill’s live performances.
Bill Harley will be narrating Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf at the PVS Special Family Performance. Sergei Prokofiev was a great twentieth century Russian composer. He composed a number of pieces for young listeners and performers. The director of the Moscow Children’s Musical Theater asked him to compose something for them to perform and they decided to have a story about a child and a group of animals, in which each animal would be given a theme using a different instrument of the orchestra so that the audience would learn how the instruments look and sound.
Prokofiev wrote the story of Peter and the Wolf, becoming one of his best-loved and most popular orchestra work for children.
Minnesota Orchestra has put together a 52-page curriculum to accompany Peter and the Wolf.
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner(s) from those who leave a comment (along with their full name and town/state) and post the results below.
We have up to four free tickets to offer, so be sure to include how many tickets you would like to win.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
The winner will be contacted with details on how to retrieve tickets via email upon the close of the contest.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 03/25/09 @ 7pm (EST).
Two runner ups will receive a copy of Bill Harley’s DVD, Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live which won the 2009 GRAMMY AWARD for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets are available here.
Congratulations to Laine Romero-Alston of Northampton, MA on winning a set of 4 tickets to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque D’Or at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA this Sunday, March 1st, 2009 @ 4pm. Thanks to Deanna Scarfe and my daughter for being our random drawers. If you didn’t win tickets and you still really really really want to go, contact the nice folks over at IHEG to purchase yours. Click here to find out how.
Thanks IHEG for offering tickets and to everyone for posting a comment to enter to win. It was great hearing from so many families in the area! Be sure to check back for upcoming promotions and giveaways … or better yet, subscribe to our newsfeed and local listserv and don’t miss our next media contest!
The Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque D’Or
@
The Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA
On Sunday, March 1st, 2009 @ 4pm
The Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque D’Or at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on March 1st, 2009
We are pleased to offer four free tickets to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque D’Or performed live in Northampton, MA at the Calvin Theater on Sunday, March 1st, at 4 pm, courtesy of Iron Horse Entertainment. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, 02/25/09 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
The ancient art of Chinese Acrobatics is an old and long running tradition that began in China well over two thousand years ago. Over its long and rich history it has developed as one of the most popular art forms among the Chinese people.
The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time honored tradition that began more than twenty-five centuries ago. The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today. The reputation of the company is solidly rooted in a commitment to the highest of production values and an attention to artistic details that is unparalleled in the art form.
VIDEO & STUDY GUIDE
View the promo video below to get a sample of their performance, and click here to download a 20-page study guide put together by the University of California for teachers, parents and homeschooling families.
HISTORY OF CHINESE ACROBATICS
While many historical records provide evidence for the development of Chinese acrobatics as far back as the Xia Dynasty (4000 years ago), it is most commonly held that the art form did not become wildly popular until approximately 2,500 years ago when it began to capture the attention of the country’s powerful emperors.
During the Warring States Period (475 BC – 221 BC) acrobatics in China began to evolve from the working lives of its people. Instruments of labor, such as tridents and wicker rings, and articles of daily use such as tables, chairs, jars, plates and bowls began to be used as performance props. This unorganized form of entertainment and leisure eventually evolved into a form of performance that became recognizable to the Chinese people.
During the Han Dynasty (221 BC – 220 AD) these rudimentary acts of acrobatics developed into the “Hundred Plays”. More contents and varieties were quick to develop. Musical accompaniment was soon added to the performance as interest in the art form grew among the emperors. During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD) the number of acrobats greatly increased as the skills of each individual performer slowly began to become much more precise and amazing.
Since these early times, acrobatics have evolved into many forms of performances including dance, opera, martial arts, and sports. However, the impact of Chinese acrobatics goes far beyond the boundaries of performance as it has served an important role in the cultural exchange between China and Western nations including the United States. The citizens of China continue to present their acrobatic art for the world today, as it portrays the hard working nature of their people and sets forth an example of the rich traditions of Chinese culture.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win tickets to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque D’Or is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner(s) from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and post the results below.
We have up to four free tickets to offer, so be sure to include how many tickets you would like to win.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
The winner will be contacted with details on how to retrieve tickets via email upon the close of the contest.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 02/25/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets are available here.
FREE TICKETS
For The Family to See
The Harmonica Pocket
Live at Mass MoCA in North Adams, MA
January 24th, 2009 @ 1pm
We are pleased to offer four free tickets to see The Harmonica Pocket perform live in North Adams, MA at Mass MoCA on Saturday, January 24, at 1 PM in Club B-10.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The Harmonica Pocket’s live children’s show aims to get families singing and moving in their seats. The shows promote literacy by making reading fun and bringing books to life by setting the texts to original music. As their favorite animals and insects dance with them, children are exposed to lessons in science, history, and arts. The group also introduces non-western instruments such as the Australian didgeridoo and the mbira, a thumb piano from Zimbabwe.
REVIEWS
The School Library Journalcomments, “Harmonica Pocket defies classification and should be commended for experimenting with non-western musical traditions and mixing it up with western practice.”
Commonsense Media raves, “This album is a nearly perfect example of tasteful, adult standards of excellence applied to music meant for kids.”
Hilltown Familliesreview: “SOLAR POWERED & WORLDLY! I love the ecological awareness behind both the production of Ladybug One and the lyrics of the songs. This truly “green” recording was produced off the grid at their solar-powered studios on Marrowstone Island, Washington. That impressed me. What impresses my daughter is their songs about bugs, including fireflies, bumblebees, spiders and ladybugs. But it’s not just that the songs are about insects and spiders that makes it the most appealing, it’s their creative exploration of each song that leaves me wanting more. Their songs are truly unique, blending world-music with Americana, and quirky fun with serious issues. The blend of acoustic instruments played on Ladybug One gives the album a rich tapestry of unique sounds, including the didgeridoo, mbira, ukelele, harmonica, jaw harp, music saw, Japanese gong, sitar, tabla and even a hula hoop! The educational opportunities (cultural, ecology, science) a parent could take with this album are multifold! Ladybug One is a new favorite of mine! Visit them on-line at www.harmonicapocket.com and sample a few of their tunes.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win tickets to see The Harmonica Pocket is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner(s) from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and post the results below.
We have up to four free tickets to offer, so be sure to include how many tickets you would like to win.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
The winner will be contacted with details on how to retrieve tickets via email upon the close of the contest.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 01/21/09 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win you should still go! Tickets for The Harmonica Pocket are $6 per person and are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office located off Marshall Street in North Adams from 11 A.M. until 5 P.M. (closed Tuesdays). Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org.
DISCOVER MASS MOCA
MASS MoCA, the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the United States, is located off Marshall Street in North Adams on a 13-acre campus of renovated 19th-century factory buildings. MASS MoCA is an independent 501C3 whose operations and programming are funded through admissions and commercial lease revenue, corporate and foundation grants, and individual philanthropy. Except for an initial construction grant from the Commonwealth, and occasional competitive state and federal grants for specific programs, MASS MoCA is not government-funded.
This week's media giveaway: Jewish Holiday Music & Cookbook
Upcoming Events
We are very fortunate here in Western Mass to have a variety of holiday traditions that are celebrated with and in our community. For instance, The PJ Library is sponsoring several free events, welcoming the community to celebrate and discover Hanukkah.
On Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 from 4-5pm, children 4-8 years old can “Shake, Rattle & Read: Moving to the Rhythm of Hanukkah” at Spirit of the Heart in Northampton, MA. This is a free program that will be lead by Hilltown Families mother, Nancy Rothenberg. RSVP 413-585-1661
There will be an open to all Family Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, December 21st from 3:30-5:30pm at Beit Ahavah in Florence, MA with a music program for all ages with Felicia Sloin, followed by latke factory, dreidl contests and other fun and games. It is a vegetarian, nut-free potluck. BYOM – bring your own menorah!
The Forbes Library in Northampton, MA will be offering free Hanukkah stories, treats and crafts in the children’s department for children of all ages. On Monday, December 22nd, 2008 from 3:30-4pm, they will be reading The Runaway Latkes, and on Friday, December 26th from 10:30-11am, they will be reading Where is Baby’s Dreidel? More info call 413-587-1010
What is the PJ Library?
The PJ Library™ program (www.pjlibrary.org) sends Jewish-content books and music, free-of-charge on a monthly basis to children from age six months to ages five, six or seven years depending on the community. It was created by The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (www.hgf.org), which is the majority funder. The PJ Library is co-funded in partnership with local philanthropists in the over 120 American regions in which it operates. Contact The PJ Library for programming details judi@hgf.org or call 413-439-1993.
THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY: Jewish Music & Cook Book
Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen – I have an extra copy of Joan Nathan’s The Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen that I wanted to offer. This is a great recipe book for any family to have, including not only recipes but also activities and lessons. It is a great resource for families who wish to explore Jewish culture, folklore and history through cooking.
Nathan’s book The back cover reads, “Seventy child-friendly recipes and cooking activities from around the world will draw the entire family into the spirit and fun of preparing Jewish holiday celebrations. Covering the ten majoyr holidays, each of the activities has a different focus – such as Eastern Europe, biblical Israel, contemporary America – and together they present a vast array of foods, flavors, and ideas. The recipes are old and new, traditional and novel – everything from jamantashen to pretzel bagels, chicken soup with matzah balls to matzah pizza, fruit kugel to Persian pomegranate punch.”
ShirLaLa Chanukah!- Shira Kline sent us a promotional CD that we wanted to feature, ShirLaLa Chanukah!, one of three in her ShirLaLa Holiday Series. We loved it!
She calls her music “Outrageously Hip Jewish Kiddie Rock.” On ShirLaLa Chanukah! you can join Shira for a lively storytelling of Judah Maccabee and the Chanukah miracle, followed by spirited and dynamic holiday music in many styles: Traditional, Middle Eastern, Latino, Yiddish, Jazzy Lounge, Rock-n-roll, and Hip Hop! You’ll find this CD interactive and engaging. The songs are fun with catchy lyrics. It’s a great addition to holiday season music collection. www.ShirLaLa.com
Get Wild & Crazy This Chanukah – Doni Zasloff Thomas is Mama Doni, a talented and hip mother of two young children who has been immersed in Jewish life and music her whole life. In celebration of Chanukah, Mama Doni has released a debut CD, I Love Herring (& other Fish Shticks for Kids). Like Shira’s CD, this too includes many styles of songs, including reggae, folk, country, klezmer and bluegrass (she calls it ‘Jewgrass’). She has a new EP, “I Love Chanukah,” available as a free download this month at www.mamadoni.com.
Your chance to win this new CD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner(s) from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and post the results below.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
The winner(s) must respond with their mailing address within one month.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 12/17/08 @ 7pm (EST).
We’re big fans of Dog on Fleas and are very excited to have received their newest CD, Beautiful World. Added bonus … They will be doing a live concert this Saturday (11/22/08) at 2pm at the Northampton Community Music Center … grab the kids and go!
They were in our area this summer and Dean & John were Guest DJ’s on HFVS. We’ll be airing that show again this Saturday in case you missed it this summer, so tune in to 103.3FM from 9-10am. You can hear what was their world premiere of “It’s a Ruse.”
THIS WEEKS CONTEST
Win a copy of Dog on Fleas brand-spanking new CD, Beautiful World. It is an adventurous album, with it’s own beautiful world view, that will give you joy, hope, some new dance moves, and songs that will stick in your head for the next 10 years. Musical saws, piccolo, trombone, saxes, Udu drums, and Moog keyboards augment the drums, bass, guitar, and spirited vocals of the band.
Beautiful World is a change in directions in some ways, and also a continuation of the Fleas’ ever-expanding world. The title song and “Birds of a Feather” come from Dean and John’s old band, the For Sale by Owner Orchestra. That band was very theatrical and experimental, with all 10 members playing toys, instruments they didn’t know how to play, and non-instruments. For Sale by Owner members Melissa Wood and Otto Kentrol make guest appearances on Beautiful World. The Fleas also enlist Frances England to sing on the CD’s final song, “Babies,” a love song to all the babies of the world. Beautiful World is really, really full of love, in many forms. “Lima Bean,” sung by the one and only Lorette Velvette (and with Uncle Rock too), is a love story about a lima bean and her friend Slug. “I Love Your Accent” features friends of the Fleas from all over the world. “Water Planet” is sung by aliens expressing their love for our watery planet. In fact, most of the songs are full of love, if you just dig in to find it.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win this new CD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 11/26/08 @ 7pm (EST).
(Editors Note: We’ve reposted this contest due to error with our comment box. The deadline has been extended for this one and the comment box is fixed. Good luck!)
THIS WEEKS CONTEST
This week we are offering two Scholastic DVD’s released this year:
Chrysanthemum … And More Mouse Mayhem
Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type … And More Amusing Animal Tales
I’ve gushed in the past about how much I like this series, and here is another opportunity on HilltownFamilies.org to add these DVD’s to your families collection of quality entertainment. Each of these offer a Read-Along function, an excellent tool for encouraging reading in your kids.
Chrysanthemum … And More Mouse Mayhem
Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect – until the kids at school make fun of her (kids can be so cruel!). It takes a special friend to change her classmates’ minds in this classic by author/illustrator Kevin Henkes and narrated by Meryl Streep. Five other humorous tales, including two Spanish read-along stories, are included.
Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type … And More Amusing Animal Tales
Cows that type? Hens on strike? How can Farmer Brown run his farm with no milk and no eggs? Find out in the lead story narrated by Randy Travis and adapted from the Caldecott Honor Book by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Six other amusing animal tales are featured on this moo-riffic DVD!
Fore more info on Scholastic Storybook Treasures, visit www.newkideo.com.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win these two DVD’s from the sereis is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 10/15/08 @ 7pm (EST).
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Libby Maxey of Conway, MA
on winning Shelly Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre (DVD: 7-Disc Collection) via random drawing (click here to read more). Thanks for participating and please email us your mailing address (hilltownfamilies@gmail.com).
The Nields: Rock All Day: Rock All Night(Double CD)
THIS WEEKS CONTEST
The Nields New Double CD for Families
The second family album from Nerissa & Katryna Nields in two years!
Nerissa and Katryna Nields (www.nields.com) had so much material – some new originals, others updated classics – for their new family CD, that they recoreded enough songs to fill two CDs. Rock All Day is up tempo, for dancing, dinner making and car trips. Rock All Night is a lullaby CD, perfect for playing in a nursery for a going-to-bed concert. Sisters (and two hilltown mothers) Nerissa & Katryna have been hosting “HooteNanny,” a music class in Northampton, MA, for young children since 2006, so many of these songs have been road tested by the most discriminating of audiences.
HF Contributing writer Bill Childs writes, “Your kids (and perhaps you) will love to go to sleep to the second disc, and the carpool will love singing along to the first.”
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win this double CD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 09/24/08 @ 7pm (EST).
Shelly Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre (DVD: 7-Disc Collection)
Shelly Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre 7-Disc (DVD) Collection
THIS WEEKS CONTEST
My family has always enjoyed Shelly Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre videos. The award-winning series originally broadcast on Showtime with twenty-six classic fairy tales (from the Brothers Grimm to Hans Christian Andersen) that featured Oscar, Tony and Emmy-winning talent. This star-powered, critically acclaimed series is an unparalleled treasury of every child’s best-loved tales of enchantment, adventure and wonder, and a video collection that I always feel comfortable sharing with my daughter.
We loved seeing Robin William as the Frog Prince, Billy Crystal as one of the Three Little Pigs; Bernadette Peters and Christopher Reeve as Sleeping Beauty and the Prince Charming; Carrie Fisher as Thumbelina; and a host of additional talent and classic stories.
Until now we’ve only been able to watch these performances on video and there are many we have missed, including the long lost “Grimm Party” episode. This month the complete collection will be release as a 7-disc-collection by Koch Vision. When I heard this I was THRILLED! They sent us a copy to review and offer as part of our weekly giveaway . We were delighted to find that the set also includes a lavish 112-page illustrated storybook and 3-in-1 card game.
I could gush on and on about this series. I just think it is great, wholesome entertainment for the entire family via classic fairy tales and talented directors and actors. It’s an excellent way to introduce your children to quality theatre, acting and traditional stories.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win this complete 7-disc collection is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 09/17/08 @ 7pm (EST).
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Cheryl Free of Fort Wayne, IN
Deb O. of Whately, MA
Carla Pullum of Palmdale, CA
Suzanne Vachet of Indianapolis, IN
on winning a copy of Bill Harley’s new DVD (click here to read more). They will receive a copy of Yes to Running. Thanks for participating and please email us your mailing address (hilltownfamilies@gmail.com).
Congratulations to Tom Adams of Williamsburg, MA on winning a family 4-pack to see Saltimbanco. Tom and his family will receive four tickets to see the Premiere Night performance on September 3rd at 7:30pm at the Mullins Center at UMass in Amherst, MA.
We had an amazing local response to this week’s contest! It was a pleasure to be able to offer tickets to such an amazing performance.
Check back with us every week for your chance to win music, DVD’s, books and tickets to local performances.
We’re very excited to be able to offer a family 4-pack to see Saltimbanco, the very first “classic” Cirque du Soleil touring show to be presented in Amherst at the Mullins Center from September 3 to 7 inclusively. – Tickets range from $40 to $95 for adult and $32 to $76 for children (12 years old & under). Here’s your chance to win 4 free tickets to see this amazing show on the premiere night, September 3rd at 7:30pm.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Saltimbanco—from the Italian “saltare in banco,” which literally means “to jump on a bench”—explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.
Saltimbanco belongs to the emblematic style of Cirque du Soleil – a signature Cirque du Soleil show with a style that borrows from theatre, dance and music and where spectacular costumes, lighting and make-up take pride of place. The current cast of 49 artists, 15 of whom were part of the show’s original big top tour, hails from Canada and 20 other countries.
Saltimbanco is a characteristic Cirque du Soleil show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show’s eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.
Full of colour, amusement and amazement, Saltimbanco is a fun show for the whole family to enjoy, a great outing for everyone!
HOW TO WIN TICKETS
Your chance to win a free family 4-pack to Saltimbanco is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! Tickets are for Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:30pm at the Mullins Center in Amherst. To win simply
POST A COMMENT BELOW and be sure to tell us your
NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE)PLEASE include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who leave a comment (along with their name and town/state) and contact the winner via email, so be sure to leave an
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Winner must provide identification when picking up tickets at the Will Call booth the night of the show. Please only enter if you know for certain that your family will be able to attend the performance. Deadline is Sunday, 08/31/08 @ 7pm (EST).
"If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children." - Mahatma Gandhi
Welcome to Hilltown Families, a grassroots communication network for families with grade school children living in Western Mass, established in 2005 by hilltown mother and long time activist Sienna Wildfield.
HF welcomes writings that reflect the positive work and educational efforts activists, families, teachers, and artists work towards and accomplish and how that affects, supports and empowers our families.
GRENDEL BOOKS, ABAA/ILAB
Local, independent book store selling out-of-print and used quality books for over 20 years.
Hilltown Families welcomes individuals and businesses to become a sponsor. Email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com to inquire how you can support the work of Hilltown Families by becoming a sponsor.
Hilltown Families and 
Scholastic/Weston Woods debuts two new DVD collections in their Storybook Treasures series this month, aimed to appeal to both boys and girls:
While many historical records provide evidence for the development of Chinese acrobatics as far back as the Xia Dynasty (4000 years ago), it is most commonly held that the art form did not become wildly popular until approximately 2,500 years ago when it began to capture the attention of the country’s powerful emperors.
Since these early times, acrobatics have evolved into many forms of performances including dance, opera, martial arts, and sports. However, the impact of Chinese acrobatics goes far beyond the boundaries of performance as it has served an important role in the cultural exchange between China and Western nations including the United States. The citizens of China continue to present their acrobatic art for the world today, as it portrays the hard working nature of their people and sets forth an example of the rich traditions of Chinese culture.
