Arts

Glendale youth theater travels to Narnia

Nearly three dozen actors ages 6 to 16 are hoping Valley families will join their travels to the fictional land of Narnia created by C.S....

Free family event explores the fine art of yarn

Today the ASU Art Museum on Arizona State University's Tempe campus presents a free "First Saturdays for Families" event filled with oodles of yarn...

Before there were comedy clubs

Before there were comedy clubs, there was William Shakespeare -- whose play "Twelfth Night" is among the world's funniest fare. Families worried that seeing...

Fun with Arizona SciTech Festival planning

What do cat scat, catapults and crayons have in common? All were present during yesterday's kickoff conference for the 2014 Arizona SciTech Festival, which...

Families invited to a day filled with teddy bears

Although our two college-age daughters have their own apartments now, some remnants of earlier childhood days remain -- including a fondness for teddy bears...

An unexpected finale

Every time the curtain fell on one of my daughter Claire’s choir concerts, I turned to my husband Eric and exclaimed (through tears), “That...

Theater etiquette: Bad manners spoil the experience

It’s hard to blame a baby for crying during a music, theater or dance performance. But there’s no excuse for adults, who tend to...

Funding for arts and culture field trips

Act One Foundation brings arts to underserved Arizona students Last fall, 90 students from Yavapai Elementary School spent a morning at the Desert Botanical Garden...

The Pearson family: A shared passion for the arts

Andrea and Steve Pearson of Gilbert are not professional musicians or renowned artists. They have not spent countless years studying music theory or interpretive...

MARK DIX: The challenges of childhood music lessons

Phoenix Symphony violist Mark Dix talks about the challenges of childhood music lessons, shifting gears when a child loses interest and what daughter Naomi...

Railroad park embraces a cartoonist’s legacy

Families that have enjoyed hot fudge sundaes and other treats inside the Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale have spotted plenty of "The Family Circus" cartoons...

Film explores family wounds and healing

Far more children than we realize are wobbling atop a fence, ready to fall to one side or the other with just the slightest...

Musical imagines Cinderella in Manhattan

Walls inside a performance space at Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale are covered with all things NYC nowadays, from the Statue of Liberty to the...

Behind the scenes of Childsplay’s “Robin Hood”

Six actors engaged in serious sword and fist fights inside the rehearsal hall at Childsplay's Tempe campus yesterday, getting ready for next month's opening...

Fall festivals celebrate art, music & more!

The beautiful layer of clouds hanging over the Valley yesterday morning served as a blissful reminder that cooler days are on their way. When...

Fun art classes for family members of all ages

The day I dropped by Scottsdale Artists' School to observe a recent art class, it was clear that the kids making art were having fun....

PARTY ARTICLES

Money Lessons from Birthday Parties

Teaching Kids the Value of Gifts & Gratitude Between the cake, balloons, and wrapping paper tornado, birthday parties are often all about fun, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to teach kids early lessons...

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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