COMPLIMENTARY
NOVEMBER 2018
parties Ultimate theme
FROM GENDER REVEAL REVELRY TO BIRTHDAY BASHES
theGIFTof
GIVING
RAISING EMPATHETIC KIDS IN A SELF-CENTERED SOCIETY
S
n tio c e l S IDE a ci S pe IN
Dr. Brian Cauff,
associate medical director, pediatric hematology and oncology services
Sophia, who had acute lymphoblastic leukemia
When It Matters Most
TRUST
Children need the right doctor and the right hospital. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital has every medical specialty a parent could want and the expertise every child needs. That’s why when it mattered most, Sophia’s parents trusted Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to cure her cancer. When it matters most for your child, trust the experts at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Visit JDCH.com/Sophia to learn more.
1495 NORTH PARK DRIVE WESTON, FL 33326 INFO@THERAPIES4KIDS.COM PHONE: 954-633-5507
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Light Up the Holidays LIGHT UP L AUDERDALE (GET LIT!) Thursday, November 15, 2018 • 6:00 - 8:30 pm
esplanade park • 400 sW 2nd street and along the downtown riverwalk
LIGHT UP THE BEAcH
WedNesday, November 21, 2018 • 5:30 - 8:30 pm holiday Lighting Ceremony • a1a and Las olas boulevard
LIGHT UP THE GALT
WedNesday, November 28, 2018 • 6:00 - 8:00 pm
a1a and oakland park boulevard along Ne 32nd and 33rd streets
LIGHT UP cARTER PARK
saTurday, deCember 1, 2018 • 3:00 - 7:00 pm Carter park • 1450 W. sunrise boulevard
LIGHT UP SISTRUnK
Friday, deCember 7, 2018 • 5:00 - 9:00 pm
historic sistrunk boulevard from NW 9 avenue to NW 11 avenue For complete details, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov. /playfortlauderdale
@playlauderdale
Kids Will Be Kids!
That’s Why We’re Here. BROWARD HEALTH CORAL SPRINGS ER
for Kids
Whether it’s a fall from the monkey bars or a midnight fever, Broward Health Coral Springs ER is here for you. Our ER for Kids is dedicated to handling emergencies...whenever they arise. From ER care to a specialized pediatrics unit to rehabilitation, we are dedicated to caring for kids. Specialized services include: • Child Life Program – providing emotional support during hospitalization • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – critical care for the smallest patients, all private rooms • On-site High Risk Clinic – specialized care for neonatal babies after discharge • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – advanced technology for life-saving care • Pediatric Orthopedics – emergency, preventative, and rehabilitative care • Pediatric Rehabilitation – sports medicine, physical, occupational and speech therapy
Be prepared for life's emergencies. Call 954.759.7400 to register for a free CPR class on November 1 at 6pm. 3000 Coral Hills Drive, Coral Springs BrowardHealth.org • Follow us:
For whatever life throws at you... WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!
YOUR GO-TO
For whatever life throws at you, count on the HCA East Florida Hospitals of Broward County. Our highlytrained physicians and expert emergency teams ensure patients can expect short wait times and a compassionate, comprehensive approach, all aimed at getting them and their kids healthy, quickly. To speak to a registered nurse 24/7 or for a FREE physician referral, call Consult-A-NurseÂŽ at 954-724-6349. Visit HCAEastFlorida.com for average ER wait times.
24/7 Kid-Friendly Care
contents
NOVEMBER 2018
departments 12 BROWARD & BEYOND News about the people, places and events in our community.
22 FAMILY MAN Lessons learned in teaching kids kindness.
26 HOME TECH Patience is a virtue when sharing about your family on social media.
36 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Entertaining and noteworthy things to see and do in every corner of Broward County.
38 WORDS OF WISDOM The problem with parties — who to invite?
ON THE COVER: Aurora Gomez, 6, of Miami, shown here with her sister, Annabella, 3 Photographer: Lisa Nalven Special thanks to Karen Greer Models and Talent, Hollywood and Coccadotts Cake Shop, Fort Lauderdale
features
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PICTURE PERFECT PARTY
THE GIFT OF GIVING
TODAY’S GRANDPARENTS
From gender-reveal revelry to birthday bashes, it’s all about the extreme theme.
Raising empathetic kids in a self-centered society.
Our special section devoted to informing and engaging South Florida grandparents.
| browardfamilylife.com
CELEBRITIES, ENT, GAMING TOURNAM , ANIME ICS PRO GAMERS, COM SHOWS, COSPLAY FASHION FUN! AND NON-STOP
COMPETE AGAINST CELEBRITY PRO GAMERS, TSM’S
MYTH & HAMLINZ NOV. 9-12
4 DAYS OF NON-STOP FUN 711 NW 72ND AVENUE, MIAMI
www.GamerComicExpo.com
Registrations open for playing in the tournament for a chance to win the $10,000 cash prize. Kids of all ages are eligible to compete, accompanied by parent. Guests subject to change.
Holiday Craft Show %
Town of Davie
GreenFair
3
November 17 & 18 • 9am-4pm FREE ADMISSION Handmade crafts perfect for holiday gifts Over 100 vendors, Kids Korner entertainment, food and beverages Bergeron Rodeo Grounds 4271 Davie Road 954-797-1181 www.daviefl.gov
Our mission is to enrich family life in Broward County by offering the highest quality publication and an unparalleled commitment to our readers and our community.
PUBLISHER Lisa Goodlin ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Stacey Jacques EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michelle Liem ASSISTANT EDITOR Greg Carannante ASSOCIATE EDITOR Shannon Pease-Severance SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Suzy Miguelez CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carrie B. Weeks PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Toni Kirkland • Linda Seavey DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Tom Gonzales CONTACT US: 4611 S. University Drive, #224 Davie, FL 33328 Phone (954) 424-7405 info@browardfamilylife.com
For information on where to find Broward Family Life, or to become a distributor, call 954-424-7405 or e-mail info@browardfamilylife.com Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Broward Family Life is published twelve times per year by Family Life Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout Broward County. Broward Family Life is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information we print, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. All photography and letters sent to Broward Family Life will be treated unconditionally, assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is forbidden.
Copyright 2018 by Family Life Media Group. All rights reserved.
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| browardfamilylife.com
FREE FIRST THURSDAYS
STARRY NIGHTS PRESENTED BY
FREE ART MUSEUM ADMISSION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 4 – 8 PM Children 12 and under always FREE. 2-for-1 specials in the Museum Caf , and hands-on art projects for all ages.
Tour the museum and create artworks inspired by exhibitions on view Also join us December 6 Micro and Mini Muse Supported by Fab! 954-525-5500 | nsuartmuseum.org One East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale
60th Anniversary presented by
Educational programming and initiatives at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale are supported by major funding from the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation, The Joseph & Winifred Amaturo Education Foundation, Inc., Lillian S. Wells Foundation Inc., Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation, Hudson Family Foundation, The Related Group, Beaux Arts, Community Foundation of Broward, Wells Fargo, the Wege Foundation, Charles F. and Esther M. Frye Foundation, PNC Foundation, MAI Foundation, BBX Capital Foundation and Friends of NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. Exhibitions and programs at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale are made possible in part by a challenge grant from the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation. Funding is also provided by Nova Southeastern University, Hudson Family Foundation, Conni Gordon, Wege Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward, Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. NSU Art Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Broward_Nov_01.indd 1
free
event
10/10/18 10:41 AM
SAT. NOVEMBER 10, 2018 • 11AM -3PM RAIN OR SHINE
TROPHIES FOR THE TOP 10 CARS AND DASH PLAQUES FOR THE FIRST 50 CARS.
A $1 CAROUSEL RIDES A KIDS ARTS & CRAFTS A MUSIC & GIVEAWAYS
U P C O M I N G EV ENTS ART SHOW, CRAFTS, AND SHOPPING! Saturday, Nov. 17 from 11am to 2pm in the Courtyard near the Carousel FREE ADMISSION! Appreciate and purchase art from local artists displaying a wide range of works. Enjoy live music and fun for the entire family.
SW Corner of Copans Rd. & Federal Hwy. www.pompanociticentre.com
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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&beyond
BROWARD
Glow in the…Light A
kaleidoscopic exhibit debuting this month at Young At Art Museum gives new meaning to the concept of light show and new insights into the wonder of light. LightScapes, the first solo museum exhibition by Haiiileen, one of Miami’s most dynamic emerging artists, illuminates a world where colors and sounds are synchronized to give the viewer a multisensory experience. Open November 3 through April 28, 2019, the innovative show provides a STEAM learning approach with a strong emphasis on concepts such as color theory, refraction, reflection and optical illusions. The immersive exhibit also debuts three light sculptures that make participants of spectators by letting them manipulate and interact with light. In Amaziiing, visitors make their way through a colorful, translucent maze; on Aqua, they create their own light pattern on a towering grid of glowing sculptures; and lying under HaiiiMobile, they look up at a kinetic mobile of hundreds of luminous, floating shapes. Micro Lab, a hands-on fabrication lab,
invites visitors to create their own light-based experiments while learning about the properties of color and light. Entrance to LightScapes is included with paid admission to the museum: $14 per person; $12 for Broward County residents,
seniors and children over age 1; and $11 for military members and their immediate families. Young At Art Museum is located at 751 SW 121 Ave., Davie. For more information, call 954-424-0085 or visit www.YoungAtArtMuseum.org
STORYBOOK FESTIVAL’S ENCHANTED LAND Once upon a time, there was a big festival that magically brought to life the books children love to read. It was a special day just for them and their families. The children would come in costumes and march in a grand Storybook Parade. They would meet their favorite storybook characters in the Fantasy Forest, and listen to stories in the “Swappin’ Ground.” Some children would even tell stories of their own, or get creative in the arts and crafts tent. It was full day of music, dance and children’s performances — and it was all free! And guess what? It still is! As it has for 16 years, the StoryBook Festival will be held at the Southwest Regional Library in Pembroke Pines, from 10am-4:30pm Nov. 17. The theme of this year’s festival is “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” in celebration of Mary Poppins. The first 1,000 children to arrive will receive a free book. Featured performances include: • Storytellers Katie Adams and Pat Nease • Magician Brent Gregory
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• Children’s entertainers Noam Brown of the Kids Music Circle, Suzy Hammer as Pumpkin Patty and the whimsical character, Marci Poppins • Musical selections by City of Pembroke Pines Recreation & Cultural Arts, Broward Center Spotlights and Jennifer McClain • Children’s characters Bad Kitty, Word Girl, Clifford the Big Red Dog and others There will also be photo ops, virtual reality experiences, food trucks and “official” Storybook Photo Spots. The library is at 16835 Sheridan St. For information please call 954-357-7406, 954-357-7317 or 954-357-6580.
| browardfamilylife.com
Another high-profile book event with tons of activities for kids from tots to teens turns downtown Miami into a literary paradise. In its 35th year, the Miami Book Fair holds kid-conscious programming from 10am7pm on Nov. 17-18. It’s free for children up to 12 and only $5 for teens 18 and younger. Families can stroll the Children’s Alley for a variety of presentations for younger kids, such as Mr. Wembly Wordsmith’s Storytorium and hands-on activities in the pop-up fun rooms. There is also music and dancing on the Once Upon a Time Stage, as well as live presentations like theater pieces and circus acts for all ages. And for the tween/teen set, appearances by an eclectic lineup of authors — including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and The New York Times best-selling author Megan Shepherd — will engage youngsters with a chance to ask questions and get their books signed. The fair is at Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave. Adult tickets are $8. Visit www.miamibookfair.com for tickets and more information.
THE SEASON FOR GIVING For many of us, this season of giving thanks means giving back — and that often means donating food or other goods to families who may not have as much as we do. In South Florida, that could be any of over 700,000 people — 270,000 in Broward alone — who do not know where their next meal will come from, no less a Thanksgiving feast. Broward County’s 365 Food Drive makes it easy to help the hungry with donation collection boxes throughout the county at these locations: • Downtown Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale • Government Center West, One N. University Dr., Plantation • Main Courthouse, 201 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale • North Regional County Courthouse, 1600 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach • South Regional County Courthouse, 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood • West Regional County Courthouse, 100 N. Pine Island Rd., Plantation • Water and Wastewater Services, 2555 W. Copans Rd., Pompano Beach • Port Everglades, 1850 Eller Dr., Fort Lauderdale • Aviation Department, 2200 SW 45 St., Dania Beach • Broward County Main Library and all branch libraries Visit www.broward.org/fooddrive for suggestions of non-perishable donations.
Hurricane Help In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, Feeding South Florida jumped into immediate action by sending trucks filled with food, water and other supplies up to Florida’s Panhandle. The organization’s support is ongoing and donations continue to be accepted at its Main Warehouse, 2501 SW 32 Terrace, Pembroke Park. Most needed items include: • Personal-hygiene items • Instant soup mixes • Cleaning supplies • Peanut butter • Pop-top cans • Diapers For more info, call 954-518-1818 or visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org
Play, discover, laugh and enjoy CONTACT
Be Inspired
ANDREA WILLIAMS AT EXQUISITE VACATIONS INC. 305.892.3496 andrea@exquisitevacation.com www.exquisitevacationstravel.com
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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Picture Perfect
Party
SHES, A B Y A D H T IR B O T Y R L E REV FROM GENDER-REVEAL THEME E M E R T X E E H T T U O B A L IT’S AL E- SE VE RA NC E BY SH AN NO N PE AS
B
ack in the day, kids’ birthday parties were simple. The “theme”: birthday cake. The guest list: grandma, grandpa and a couple of neighborhood friends. Entertainment: pin the tale on the donkey. The menu: pizza. Voila! – instant party. Now, fast forward to today, the era of the epic party. It becomes virtually impossible to have a basic birthday party for your kids when you start searching sites like Instagram, birthday blogs and, dare we say, Pinterest. Whether you are planning a DIY party, or hiring a party planner, the options for an extremethemed birthday bash are seemingly endless.
Gender Reveal
The idea of celebrating in an ultimate way strikes early, before baby is even born. The big announcement for moms and dads determined to know whether to decorate the nursery pink or blue used to be delivered in the ultrasound room. The tech would announce: “You are having a boy. Congratulations!” Not anymore. These days it’s gender-reveal revelry. Have the sonogram results placed in a sealed envelope, pass it along to a baker, and 350 degrees and 40 minutes later, expectant parents can discover their baby’s gender by biting into a cupcake or cutting into a custom confection while surrounded by family and friends. Everyone finds out the sweet results when either blue or pink frosting seeps out. Gender-reveal piñatas, sports balls, silly string and confetti-filled balloons are some other ways to share the news. Parents-to-be can decide if they prefer to be surprised with their guests or find out the results in advance and share the news with loved ones during the celebration. Some fun ways to get guests involved are to play games like predicting the baby’s gender based on old wives tales, or giving guests a sneak peek at the sonogram and having them vote on which gender they think baby will be.
Birthday Parties
So what happens when that little guy or girl turns 1? Well, there was one California mom who gained national attention recently for her son’s first birthday bash. After seeing a resemblance between her 1-year-old and the TV host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, mom planned a Guy Fieri-flavored first birthday extravaganza for her little look-alike. Guests got to pose with Fieri-themed cut-outs and munch on “Flavortown” themed food. Of course, all this comes with a cost, but that photo with the little spiky-blonde-haired baby, sitting among a hoard of over-sized gourmet burgers, pizza and cake, is priceless. continued on page 16
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F L I P P O’S
Indoor Playground and Cafe Open every day of the week Birthday parties, open play, classes and much more!
3868 N. University Dr., Sunrise
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Party continued from page 15 Then there is the celebrity scene in which moms like Kim Kardashian and sister Kourtney opt for all things glitter and glitz for their girls. Their recent unicorn-themed combo bash for their kiddos is said to have included unicorn horn headbands, rainbow robes and a selection of sparkly, hand-crafted baked goods that looked more like works of art than edibles. Some local families have certainly proven that they too can keep up. Teresa Blumberg with Blumberg Events in Plantation offers full-service event production nationwide for those seeking that “wow” factor. Blumberg plans high-end weddings and other functions, including teen parties and bat and bar mitzvahs with prices starting in the thousands and soaring into the six-figure range. “There is no such thing as a general budget,” she says. “It all depends on who the client is and what their vision is and desires are for their celebration.” For teen parties, she takes the kids’ personal interests and transforms them into a breathtaking scene. Blumberg’s portfolio includes extravagant sportstheme parties for both boys and girls. For a 13-year-old boy and basketball buff, Blumberg transformed a space at Gallery of Amazing Things in Dania Beach into a half-basketball court complete with a hoop, bleachers, backdrop mural with players and fans, and food stations resembling concession stands with servers dressed as referees. And for a female fan’s bat mitzvah, Blumberg converted The Bath Club on Miami Beach into a chic, neon-pink space featuring towering basketball-filled centerpieces, themed food stations and detailed decor for the birthday girl and 350 guests.
Themes
Jennifer Wilson, owner of All About Entertainment in Pembroke Pines, said some of the current party trends for pint-sized birthday boys and girls are unicorns, mermaids, club the themes, candy, emojis and dinosaurs. Wilson and her staff assist with every
detail, from linen, chair and prop rentals to activities and entertainment. Parties these days, says Wilson, are “micro-themed.” “The activities are detailed,” she explains. “It’s not just decorating a cupcake. If it’s a unicorn theme, we have horns, ears and eyes that get put on the cupcake.” The same holds true for other types of parties they create. Those who are having a dino-themed day have the option of a paleontologist show or a dinosaur bones dig (with the dirt delivered). Having a ballerina or princess party? Chairs can be wrapped and tied with tulle, feathers and ribbons galore for a dainty effect. If you’re clowning around with a circus theme, then a big-top-style tent and circus performers might be the perfect pick for you. Elaborate dessert tables as backdrops are also popular right now, as are oversized thrones for the guest or guests of honor, Wilson says, adding there are ways to achieve these stunning settings without busting the budget. “They want those big cake and dessert tables with themed props,” she says. “Rental gives them that look for a fraction of the cost.”
Cindy Soto with Sweet Servings Events in Lake Worth specializes in candy and dessert stations, edible party favors and décor. In the business since 1999, she says party trends have certainly changed, but one thing remains the same. “Cakes are always the center of attraction,” she says. Some of Soto’s clients have chosen to use
birthday cakes more like décor, displaying them as a focal point as guests enter the home. Some, she says, add cascading balloon backdrops and specialty tablecloths to make their cake display pop. Every client’s wishes and celebration is unique, she adds, but they all share a common goal. “As long as they are satisfied and happy at the end, then that’s a memory forever.”
®
EN P O NOW
Join us as a fantasy world of pirate adventure comes to life with games, stories, shows and even live pirates!
980 macarthur causeway, miami, fl 33132 · 305.373.KIDS(5437) · miamichildrensmuseum.org November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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For All Your Party Needs Amusements • Tents • Catering & more
JANUARY 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH 9AM–3PM
PASSPORT TO THE WORLD WINTER ARTS CAMP Destination: The North Pole
Tents for all Occasions Company picnics, carnivals, fundraisers Birthday parties, weddings and much more...
Children will have 3 fun-filled days exploring: Dance! Film! Song! and Food!
Ages 5+
Cost: $175
www.universalrentalsandevents.com
954-580-0400 Ask about our latest stage production of
“The Decendants”
as well as our Holiday Shows Superstar Productions Provides Family Stage Entertainment for: • Birthday Parties • Special Events • Holiday Events • Corporate Events • City Events • Promotions
www.Floridasuperstarproductions.com superstarproductions@comcast.net • (954) 389-1137 18
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| browardfamilylife.com
2495 East Commercial Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 p. 954.491.1591 yellofl.com
Winter Camp in Boca, Coconut Creek, and Plantation A FUN enrichment program that teaches kids basic engineering skills thru “hands-on” robot assembly, computer programming and teamwork.
Engineering Skills for Kids! Learn to Build and Code Robots For dates and times visit our website!
®
•Birthday Parties & Special Events Ongoing Afterschool & Saturday Programs STEAM Electives K-12 954-816-3346•www.BrightAndSmart.com
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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The Gift of RAISING EMPATHETIC KIDS IN A SELF-CENTERED SOCIETY BY SHANNON DEAN
W
e live in the age of the selfie. It is socially acceptable to believe that we are the center of our own worlds. Societal messages tell us that our worth is tied not only to material possessions but also to the superficial approval and envy that we obtain
good to do the right thing, so it’s easier for them to say no to the wrong things. Since their personal worth is affirmed by their kindness toward others, they don’t need to search for worth in material possessions or in poor choices. Volunteering as a family can provide important quality
from social media “friends,” who sometimes barely know us. Ironically, experts tell us that the acceptance and achievement we crave can actually come from helping others instead of focusing solely on ourselves. Since one key factor for future success is empathy, our children may be better-served by cultivating a giving spirit instead of chasing recognition or developing an individual “brand.” Michele Borba, who wrote Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me-World, says that “the ability to empathize affects our kids’ future health, wealth, authentic happiness, relationship satisfaction, and the ability to bounce back from diversity.” So with empathy being so vital, how do we encourage our children to identify with causes larger than themselves? Experts say that not only is this task not as difficult as we might think, it can also be an enjoyable experience that offers the elusive family time that we all want.
family time while uniting members toward a common goal. Away from video games, social media and television, families come to know and appreciate each other in new and valuable ways. Children who volunteer with their families are twice as likely to volunteer as an adult and to pass it on to their own children. Mary Thoele, author of Family Serve: Volunteer Opportunities for Families, says that “volunteering is one of the ‘loudest’ actions you can take to show children what it truly means to be a contributing member of a community. By role-modeling this type of behavior, caregivers are beginning a tradition of compassion that can be passed on from one generation to the next.”
CHILDREN ARE BORN TO CARE Children are born hard-wired with the spirit of giving. That’s apparent in the toddler who weeps at the sight of an upset playmate, the preschooler who offers his teddy bear to a sick sibling, or the school-aged child who grabs a sponge when mom is washing the car. Yet, as they grow, children receive society’s not so subtle message that it’s sometimes unsafe or unwise to care. Fortunately, families are paramount in encouraging the behaviors that foster empathy. Research shows that caregivers who openly express warmth and compassion raise more empathic children. This process begins at birth and is often intuitive. Routinely giving a patient, timely and consistent response to an infant’s cries or to a toddler’s skinned knee gives that child the message that helping others is important. Once a child is secure that the world is a safe and loving place, it’s easier for him to develop empathy. Experts say that often the first opportunity for a child to help others is in his own home, so they recommend assigning household responsibility. “Children need jobs,” says popular author and pediatrician Dr. William Sears. “Once a child learns a sense of responsibility for the household, a sense of responsibility to society will come naturally in the next stage of development.”
others is easier than you may think. The key, she says, is to take
KIDS WHO HELP OTHERS HELP THEMSELVES Children who reach out to others enjoy an increased sense of well-being, self-worth and optimism. Helping others builds up a child’s defense system against temptation and stress. Kids learn that it feels
Developing their innate giving spirit will arm a child
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| browardfamilylife.com
FITTING GIVING INTO BUSY SCHEDULES Jenny Friedman, author of The Busy Family’s Guide To Volunteering: Doing Good Together, says that finding time to help a careful look at your current activities and then find ways to incorporate volunteering into those events. For example, families who already enjoy crafts can make get well cards or toys. Supplies for a neighbor in need can be gathered while running your own errands. Families who are animal lovers may enjoy fostering an animal for deployed military personnel. Experts suggest starting small, with a one-time commitment that requires no further obligation. If all family members enjoy the small experience and want to repeat the process, consider adding on, but always be conscious of over-committing. Studies show that when giving to others becomes too large of a commitment or an obligation, the potential benefits are lost. It’s much easier and more comfortable to increase your commitment if you find that you have more time than to have to cut back and feel guilty because you’ve taken on too much. Teaching children to care and to offer their time, their talents and their aid to others is a win-win situation. with skills that will defend him against the world’s stresses and will benefit him and future generations of your family for years to come.
Giving
HOW TO BEGIN CHARITY AT HOME CREATING FOR OTHERS Kids usually enjoy making crafts, designing cards or writing letters. Many organizations are actively seeking families to provide lovingly crafted items, handwritten letters, heartfelt drawings and cards. Most even offer easy step-by-step instructions. Typically, families complete the items and mail them to the organization, which in turn distributes them where they are needed. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Make a Hospitalized Child Smile: This site allows families to make handmade cards for distribution to hospitalized kids. More than 100,000 children have received cards from all over the world. Although families can use their own creativity to make the cards, the site offers many helpful suggestions. www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com Provide Comfort to Children Facing Challenges: Project Linus provides handmade blankets to children who are ill, traumatized or who might benefit from the security of a comfort item. They offer many easy, “no sew� patterns. Although adults may need to cut the fabric for younger children, kids of all ages can choose the fabric and tie off the edges. www.projectlinus.org Give Words of Encouragement and Gratitude to Our Military and FirstResponders: Organizations like Operation Gratitude encourage families to send cards, drawings and letters for the military, veterans and first-responders. The cards are added to care packages, and many of the recipients say that handwritten items are the most cherished part of the package. www.operationgratitude.com
BECOME A SPONSOR FAMILY Your family might consider sponsoring a less fortunate family, child or animal during the holidays, in emergencies or year-round. Adopt a Family: The Box Project matches sponsor families to families in need. Families regularly mail household and school supplies, clothing or other needed items. www.boxproject.org Sponsor a Child: Many organizations can match sponsor families with a child in poverty. Families provide monetary support, school supplies and letters. One example: www.children.org Foster a Pet for Someone Deployed or Hospitalized: Organizations like Pact for Families and Dogs on Deployment match foster families to care for dogs whose owner is deployed or hospitalized. www.pactforanimals.org www.dogsondeployment.org
FAMILY man
Teaching Kids Kindness A FATHER LEARNS SOME LESSONS OF HIS OWN ALONG THE WAY BY GREGORY KEER
I
t was a simple gesture. At the third-quarter break of a soccer game that his squad was losing, my youngest son heard his teammate announce he might not be able to play because of an injured ankle. Without skipping a beat, my boy went to his backpack, pulled out an ankle brace and handed it to his teammate. “Try this,” he said. “It works for me.” It was not a big deal for my son to do this. It was just something that occurred to him in the moment. But he did smile a little as he watched this kid he had only met recently put on the brace. Later, when I made mention that what he had done was especially kind, he rolled his eyes. “Dad, please. It’s not a big deal.” In uncharacteristic fashion for me, I backed off and let it be. It didn’t matter what I thought about it. What mattered was that my son voluntarily did something compassionate. And he felt good about it for his own sake.
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Sure, I take some credit for my kid’s kindness. As one half of a hard-working parenting team, I have been teaching my sons to share their toys, pick up a friend when they fall off the swing, give up lunch food for someone without much in their own bag, write thank-you notes, and call a friend when he’s sick. I have also done this with a relentlessness that rivals a dog that won’t let go of a treasured bone. You might say (my kids certainly do) I nag the heck out of my children in counseling them about giving to others. I nitpick them about all sorts of things in what I often falsely perceive as attentive parenting. “Why do you always tell me to help Cammie with her homework,” my middle child once asked when I overheard him tell his friend he was too busy to stay on the phone to explain the English assignment. “You should do it because it’s the nice thing to do,” I replied flatly. “But she never helps me,” he said. “She’s so competitive about grades.” That was a good point, but not the one I wanted to make. “So you be the better person,” I said. “Think about it this way: The love you take is equal to the love you make.” “That’s a stupid thing to say! Stop telling me what to do!” he yelled, then stomped to his room. Undeterred, I followed him and kept cajoling, shouting and
reprimanding him about being selfish and rude. Eventually, my wife interceded and sent me to my own room. Two hours later, of his own volition and behind a closed door, my son called Cammie back and assisted her with the homework. As always seems to be the case, the lessons of parenting cut two ways. There’s the direction that supports my touting the benefits of giving to others because it’s the right thing to do. And that giving will have a karmic impact that will come back to my kids via the kindness of those who see them as loving humans. But the other cut, perhaps the deeper one, is about learning to trust my kids’ character decisions. Teaching them is one thing, but hounding them is another. It’s vital for me to allow my children the space to make their own decisions about giving to others. In this way, they can take pride in their actions as opposed to relying on me for approval. If I’m the reason they do the right thing, then how will they develop their own moral compass? As a case in point, I offer the example of my eldest child, who endured 18 years of being pestered about giving. As the quietest of my three boys, he seldom protested my badgering, but also ignored a lot of my advice. Or so I thought. In a speech to the entire school, a friend of my son’s spoke of the kindness my boy had shown in being one of the few this friend could speak to when the friend was deeply depressed. I was in the audience to hear that, and it took my breath away to know how my son acted without me around to guide him. With the November holiday here to remind us of the power of thanksgiving, it seems appropriate for me to express my own gratitude. To my sons, although I complain vigorously that they rarely thank me for all of my care and counsel, I offer my thanks for the giving people they are. For their own sake — and for the sake of so many others. Gregory Keer is a father of three boys, teacher, and award-winning columnist. He also is the founder of www.familymanonline.com, where he shares more of his tales of the highs and lows of being a dad.
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Features 15 new exhibits including a Splash Pad, Physics Forest, Dinosaur Trail, Gem Panning Station, and more. SFScienceCenter.org · (561) 832-1988
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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17th Annual
Saturday, November 17 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Southwest Regional Library 16835 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 954-357-6733
Calling all Hollywood Veterans & Active Service Members Hollywood’s Mayor and City Commissioners will celebrate veterans and their families at the
City of Hollywood’s
VETERANS DAY BARBECUE Sunday, November 11 • 12 pm - 3 pm TY Park • Corporate Pavilion #12 3300 North Park Road, Hollywood
Military ID must be presented for Free Barbecue & Park Entrance Advance reservations recommended. Event fills quickly. To RSVP, call 954.921.3404 Traditional Barbecue Fare • Banner Plane Flyover Veterans Recognition Ceremony • Military Map of Service www.hollywoodfl.org • 954.921.3404 24
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| browardfamilylife.com
EVENTS
Bites-N-Sips
DO WN TO
L SP RIN GS WN CO RA
Friday, November 16 • 6-10 p.m. City Hall • 9500 W. Sample Rd. Relax on the lawn with your chairs and blankets for music, cocktails and 15+ food trucks!
Holiday Fun at City Hall!
Downtown in December ©WARNER BROS.
CO R A L SPRINGS H O L I D A Y E X P R E S S
PA R A D E
Saturday, December 1 • 5-9 p.m. 9500 W. Sample Rd. • Free admission Train Rides • Music • Tree Lighting • Snow The Polar Express on a huge outdoor screen!
Holiday Parade
Wednesday, December 12 • 7 p.m. Along Sample Road from Coral Springs Drive to City Hall
Bands, floats and local entries will bring holiday cheer to Sample Road!
Visit CoralSprings.org/events for updates and more fun things to do!
The Nurtury Montessori at Riverland • Montessori Certified Infant/Toddler and Primary Teachers • Infant program (6 wks old – 18 mos. old) • Toddler program (18 mos old – 3 yrs old) • Primary Program (3 yrs to 6 yrs old) • Spanish Lessons & Music Movement • Infant Massage & Baby Sign Language
For oPEN ENroLLMENT CALL
954-587-2285
www.thenurtury-montessori.com info@thenurtury-montessori.com
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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HOME tech
Postpone the Post PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE WHEN SHARING ABOUT FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY KATHRYN STREETER
A
s social-media mamas, we want to be remembered. Often emotional, zesty personal anecdotes are the best way to connect with our friends online and drive a post’s popularity. But when it comes to sharing about our significant other and children, the line of decency can often be blurry. My personal habits on sharing family-related content start with timing. I allow time to pass before I post about an experience that directly involves either my husband or children. Looking back on an experience affords many advantages. Waiting to share publicly helps me to more completely understand and process what happened in the first place. When I have a family-related post idea, I’ll write a rough draft, revisiting it as my thoughts mature and clarify.
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Mulling is a very good thing; at the very least it keeps me honest about my culpability in a personal family anecdote I’m considering sharing. For starters, it gets me thinking: What is my motivation for sharing? Waiting to release personal content enables me to discover the real message and the deeper meaning of an experience. Instead of offering my friends and followers a trite personal anecdote that makes them laugh or roll their eyes with me, I’m now able to hand them a meatier blog post with a coherent message. I once wrote a story on potty-training my son. My first attempts amounted to yet another tale of a frustrated parent. Perhaps it was funny but it wasn’t original. As time passed, I realized the main take-away from the story centered on my insecurities and pride, not my son’s poor aim. Sharing a personal experience before I come to terms with what I’ve learned will rob me of the chance to craft the best possible post, one which will offer lasting impact. For me, emotional settlement needs to happen to write from a grounded posture. When I’m simmering with emotion from an argument with my kids or husband, this isn’t the optimal time to write.
When I’m hurt or angry, my word choices, phrases and story are more likely to resemble a vanity project. I’m the center of attention, desiring empathy or applause. Because I’m still smarting, I have zero perspective. But if given time, a flippant post can morph into a deeply felt story. Time yields a better product. Most importantly, waiting provides cover for my marriage and children. No amount of post popularity is worth bringing injury to those I love best. Everything online is forever available to my husband and kids. Even when my kids were young and unplugged, I didn’t write about their maniacal moments not only because the passing of time allows for a truer story but because I didn’t want to unintentionally cause future shame. Today my teenagers — and their friends — have access to anything I’ve ever posted about them. Had I shared carelessly, there would be no taking things back. Apologies would ring false; relational damage would be tough to repair. Today as ever, writing about humiliating experiences for a cheap laugh is at odds with everything I’m trying to do as a parent. From tot to teen, my kids have always deserved to be treated like I’d like to be treated: with respect. Building a strong relationship with my husband and kids is like a major construction project — the effort and time is immense. I am unwilling to destabilize this structure with insensitive oversharing. Finally, my family knows that before I post anything that mentions them, I’ll have them review it. If my husband feels I’ve crossed a line and waded into our personal life as a couple, my work is to rewrite in a way that honors him and ultimately, us. In the previously mentioned potty-training story posted recently, my now-teenage son read it and laughed. However, he would have felt deeply humiliated had I posted it a few years earlier, even if the point of the story wasn’t his bathroom drama. The by-product of this practice is that it’s brought my husband and kids into my social-media life. And my conscience is clear. Kathryn Streeter is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications such as The Washington Post as well as on social media. She believes in posting no blog before its time.
On display now through April 21, 2019
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HURRY! All entries due by November 15, 2018 Enter online at SouthFloridaFamilyLife.com
SPECIAL SECTION
DATING THE ONLINE
GAME The Dos and Don’ts of Clicking Your Way to Romance Over 50 BY GREG CARANNANTE
Y
ou’ve just turned 60, you’ve been married for half those years and you’ve suddenly found yourself single. Or maybe you’ve been divorced or widowed for years now — or never married at all — and you feel that the time to move on has finally arrived. Whatever the reason, you’d like to meet some new people, and you’re just not sure how that happens in this day and age — especially at your age. Since the last time you were on a real date, there’ve been some some seriously staggering changes in the world of courtship. For one, that word isn’t even used anymore. Instead, you’ve heard some new ones, like “swipe right,” “hookup” and “booty-call.” You’re not quite sure about all that. You’d just like to meet someone and hopefully date your way into a relationship. But depending on where you live and how your days are spent, the idea of diving back into the dating pool may be more than a little daunting. Who do you know, where do you go and how do you go about it? What’s a single senior to do? The first thing may be to realize that you’re not alone. Singles, who represent more than half of all U.S. residents, now outnumber married adults — and 35 million of them are over 50. But while there are still plenty of opportunities to meet someone in the real world, for many seniors, the virtual world has become a viable option. Arguably nothing has reshaped the dating scene like online dating — and over-50 is its largest growing segment, according to Bela Gandhi, president and founder of the Smart Dating Academy. Two-thirds of the company’s clients are 50 to 78 years old, and much of its dating-coaching services focus on optimizing their online-dating profiles and photos. “The great benefit to being over 50 is we have a lot of experience,” says Gandhi, who the Huffington Post has called “The Fairy Godmother of Dating.”
DATING ADVICE FROM THE MATCHMAKER
“We know ourselves well and we know who we want and we know who we don’t want. We’re not anxious about marriage and kids. And we’ve got time to look for Mr. or Mrs. Right.” SWIPE RIGHT FOR ROMANCE Looking online for Mr. or Mrs. Right begins with choosing the right dating website, which could possibly be as bewildering as trying to find the right partner. Dozens of sites are available and several of them — such as OurTime, Just Senior Singles and SilverSingles — are geared to older daters. (See sidebar on page 32 for other websites.) Before committing to a site, it’s important to understand what each site offers compared to what you are looking for as a single senior. For instance, some sites specialize in carefully made matches, while others have extensive search tools to more personally involve you in the matchmaking process. While some sites like Mingle2 are free, most are subscription-based. For example, the online-dating grandaddy, Match.com, offers rates ranging from $9.95 per month for a 24-month subscription to $59.95 for one month. Be aware that some online matchmakers offer free services that are essentially designed to entice you into paying. They might let you check out profiles of people to whom they’ve matched you, but you won’t be able to contact those matches unless you upgrade to a subscription. But subscription sites generally offer better service and results than the freebies. And many also offer mobile apps so you can keep connected on the go. Once you’ve settled on a site, the degree of difficulty in getting started is to some extent up to you. You’ll usually be guided through the process of uploading photos of yourself and creating a profile — your age, where you live, your interests, the kind of match you’re looking for, etc. Let’s just say that some profiles reflect a lot more time and effort than others. continued on page 32
Professional matchmaker Bela Gandhi describes the Smart Dating Academy, which she started nine years ago, as like a personal trainer for dating. Here she shares some of her secrets for successful online and in-person dating. • Keep your profile positive, specific and fresh. Include zero negativity and nothing sexual, and show — don’t tell. Refresh your profile every week. • Photos determine 90 percent of your success. Use five to six high-resolution photos of yourself, both headshots and bodyshots. Look at the camera and dress well. Appear happy, approachable. “You’ve got to step up your game to be competitive,” Gandhi says. • Don’t lie about your age (or anything) in your online profile. “Starting anything with a lie is bad karma,” she says. “Would you want to date anyone who starts with a lie?” • Beware of online scammers — they tend to prey on singles over 50. Look for red flags like bad grammar and punctuation, speaking about God to throw you off the scent and trying to switch the conversation to personal email ASAP — then you’re on your own. • Be proactive — send five messages per day. “You’re looking for a needle in a haystack.” • Good emails begin with reading the recipient’s profile to find something to connect on, and end with a question to get a conversation started. And absolutely don’t cut and paste a generic email. • After five to 10 messages, ask to chat by phone. Say something like, “It would be great to put a voice to a name.” If someone doesn’t want to chat on the phone, they may not be serious about dating. Phone calls can also help you screen-out “crazies” or negative people. • During phone chats, smile so your tone and energy goes up. Be positive and sincerely interested in the other person. Practice sound bites so you’re prepared to talk about the good stuff. • On a first date, focus on the other person. “Make your date feel like a million bucks,” Gandhi says. “If you’re totally invested in the person in front of you, you can’t think about your own anxieties. It stops the monkey chatter in your brain. The best way to get someone to like you is to like them first.” • On the first few dates, don’t discuss the past in detail — if you must, keep it positive — and don’t get into health issues either. “People need to earn your story,” she says. “Giving people pieces of yourself on a timely basis is perfectly legitimate in the dating world.” • Date more than one person at a time. “Think about your dating life as you would a horse race.” • Don’t have sex with someone until you trust them. “We have a term called ‘sexclusivity,’’’ Gandhi says. “That means don’t have sex until you’re in a committed relationship — which is usually no earlier than three months and anywhere from 10 to 20 dates with the same person. Sex clouds your objectivity. Hold that off till later so you can objectively judge this person as being good for you or not good for you. Be patient.”
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DATING
continued from page 31
Once your profile is published, you can search for potential matches and peruse the profiles of those recommended for you. Swipe left if you’re not interested, swipe right if you are. Or, if someone really sparks your interest, send a message. You’ll also be able to check out those who have “winked” at you. After that, online dating proceeds pretty much like the dating you’re accustomed to — with a few recommendations specific to seniors. CAST YOUR NET OUT WIDE Because online sites require you to state how old you are, age-related dynamics can make or break a match right off the bat. “But age is just a number,” says Gandhi of the Smart Dating Academy. She advises against age discrimination in dating — particularly when it comes to seniors. “Don’t get so hung up on that number,” she says. “Look at what the person looks like, what they sound like. Every single person that I talk to in the dating world will tell me: ‘I’m a 63-year-old but I’m a very young 63. I look 10 to 15 years younger than I am. I’m very active, I work out and I want someone who can keep up with me. I don’t want someone old.’ “You never know, love is going to come to you in an unexpected package — and maybe that’s age. Be empathic. The way you want people to look at you, look at them as well.” Age is not the only potential senior dating deal-breaker. “You’re gonna see a wide swath of people that are either retired, semi-retired or not yet retired,” Gandhi says. “My advice to you is to keep your mind open and cast your net out wide. If you’re semi-retired, be open to people who are active professionally or people who are totally retired. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into thinking, ‘Well, if I’m still working I need to be with someone else who’s also working.’ Maybe you can be with someone who’s semi-retired and who loves the activities you’re doing in your profession — they’ve been there and done that and they’ll provide a good yin to your yang.” The same goes for the make-or-break categories of separated, divorced, widowed or never married. “Give people across all of these quadrants a chance,” she says. “There’s a lot more variety because we’ve been around the block. I’ve seen amazing stories that happen to people that have been married four times, and divorced three times and lost a spouse and go back at it again. There’s great people with every label out there. Try to look at the person for who they are, not what that label is.”
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| browardfamilylife.com
SENIOR DATING SITES Seniors can be found on most dating sites, but some, like those below, specifically target the more mature date-seeker. www.ourtime.com www.datingforseniors.com www.seniorsoulmates.com
www.zoosk.com
www.justseniorsingles.com
www.loveagain.com
www.seniorfriendfinder.com www.seniormatch.com www.sixtiesconnect.com For reviews of these and other dating websites, visit www.top10seniordatingsites.com/reviews
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REMEMBER when
The Beatlemania Bomb HOW ONE NIGHT IN 1964 CHANGED THE WAY WE LISTEN TO MUSIC TODAY BY GREG CARANNANTE
R
emember when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show? Music was so much simpler then. You either listened to the radio, vinyl 45s and albums or maybe reel-to-reel tapes. Music was all-analog, non-digital and nowhere near as splintered, pervasive or influential as it is today. Back then, music knew its place. But on Feb. 9, 1964, our first live look at the Fab Four started a chain reaction that changed all that. On that Sunday night, as Paul McCartney shook his mop top and began to sing — “Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you” — it was as if a pop cultural bomb landed on America. The next morning, boys across the country went to school with their hair
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combed down. Like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and countless other future musicians, they soon learned how to play guitars and formed bands. It became a reallive teenage renaissance. I was one of those teenagers who, like many of my friends, signed up for guitar lessons. However, guitar stardom was not my destiny, which I soon realized at my first recital. As my duet partner and I began to play, the music emitting from my acoustic instrument sounded distorted, muffled in a way it had never been before. I stopped playing, the eyes of my partner and the audience burning into me. Panicked, unsure of the problem or what to do about it, I took it from the top. The distortion was still there! Bewildered and embarrassed, I could only mime my way through the rest of the song and let my co-star play us home. Of course, backstage after my “performance,” as I tried to determine the source of the noise, it became clear as a bell. The culprit was the right sleeve of my sport coat, which was rubbing up against the strings as I strummed. I’d never played wearing a sport coat before, and I never played wearing a sport coat — or
| browardfamilylife.com
anything else — afterwards either. I hung up the guitar the next day and canceled my lessons. I’m guessing something like that never happened to George Harrison. Back to my point: After the guitarist and his Beatle buddies landed in America, music was never the same again. We experienced the kind of all-consuming explosion that has never happened since and — the way things are going — probably never will. Why? Because music was never the same again. It would be hard to appreciate Beatlemania’s blast radius unless you were around when it hit — because it hit just about all of us at once. Almost half of American households and nearly one-third of the population tuned in to watch that Sunday night nearly 55 years ago. Almost as many came back a week later when the lads took the tiny stage at The Deauville on Miami Beach for a Sullivan show encore. The only live TV musical spectacles that have come close to grabbing that big an audience share are Super Bowl halftime shows, but most of those viewers are really only there for the game. The reverberations of those appearances
galvanized pop music into a national preoccupation and a commercial behemoth, elevating it from mere entertainment to spheres of social influence, personal identity and even college curricula. A Beatles reunion, even if it could happen now, might not capture as much of the country’s consciousness as their debut did. How could it? Ironically, the Beatles bomb itself made that virtually impossible. Its own aftershocks ultimately fractured the musical landscape into what seems like a million genres. Today, listeners’ tastes and allegiances are simply fragmented into too many factions to come together over one phenomenon. Look at it this way: While there were only two-fifths fewer people in the country in 1964 than there are today, there are about 20 times more styles of music — assuming a generous pre-Beatles estimate of 100 different genres, like doo-wop or bebop. That’s according to Every Noise at Once, a website that’s identified 2,041(!) micro-genres of popular music — like bubble trance or cinematic dubstep. You can check it out on everynoise.com and even click on any genre to hear a sample. Plus, there are countless more ways to
listen to all those genres now: thousands of websites, video streaming platforms like YouTube, subscription services like Spotify or Pandora, and hundreds of internet radio, satellite and TV music stations — none of which were available in 1964. By now you may have guessed that, despite my guitar fiasco, I’m kind of into music. It’s probably my mother’s doing. When I was only 8, she took me out of school early one afternoon and dragged me to a Frank Sinatra matinee concert. I was the only youngster in a Manhattan theater full of swooning, stomping, screeching women, and watching my mom turn into a screaming bobby-soxer at the skinny crooner’s every twitch must have had a life-altering psychological effect. Thanks, Mom. Today I probably spend twice as much time listening to music — though, much of it in the background — as does the average American, who listens for over four hours a day, according to Edison Research. And still, I’ve never felt so completely out of touch as I do now. Trying to navigate 21st century popular music is a little like strolling down the supermarket cereal aisle with its dizzying variety of snap, crackle,
pop — except that there aren’t dozens of new cereals to choose from every month and a dozen different ways to eat them. I try to keep up, and I used to be able to. For a time after that Sunday night in 1964, it was actually possible to listen to most of the new music. Now, I scroll through the dozens of weekly releases in my Apple Music app, and I’m lucky if I’ve even heard of a few of them. One of those that does ring familiar, though, is 76-year-old Paul McCartney’s new album, Egypt Station, amazingly his first to top the charts in over 36 years. So … maybe not everything has changed. But sometimes such proliferation has me wondering if maybe there isn’t too much music these days. We certainly don’t need all of it, do we? And anyway, shouldn’t we be focusing on more pressing matters? Besides, who can listen to even a fraction of it? I know I can’t — for one thing, I spend too much time just trying to decide what to listen to. Do I feel like hearing gothic Americana? Electroacoustic improvisation? Contemporary post-bop? Oh, forget it, I’ll just watch some TV. Hmmm, let’s see what’s on. Uh-oh.
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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NovemberEvents HOW TO SUBMIT CALENDAR LISTINGS
Please e-mail listing information to events@browardfamilylife.com by the 5th of the month prior to the event date. Include the name of the event, location, address, date, time, brief description, price and telephone number for the public.
FALL FESTIVALS
So You Think You Can Dance
Turkey Puppets
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2-3 & TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Celebrate the fall season by creating a cute turkey puppet with an array of colorful feathers. Included with paid museum admission of $12/Broward resident. 10am-2pm, YOUNG AT ART MUSEUM, 751 SW 121 Ave., Davie, 954-424-0085 www.youngatartmuseum.org
Fluttering Fall Days
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4
Enjoy the cooler weather, the beauty of butterflies and kids activities including crafts, face painting and a themed fall photo area. Special discounted admission of $15/adult, $10/child. Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 11am-5pm. BUTTERFLY WORLD, 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek, 954-977-4400 www.butterflyworld.com
Family Hayride & Campfire
IT’S SHOWTIME! Seussical the Musical THROUGH NOVEMBER 18
Based on the beloved books of Dr. Seuss, this theater production brings the imaginative stories to life on stage. Showtimes vary. SUSAN B. KATZ THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AT RIVER OF GRASS ARTSPARK, 17195 Sheridan St.,
Pembroke Pines, 954-437-4884 www.pptopa.com
The Grand Illusions of Rob Lake THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1
This celebrated illusionist captivates audiences with his awe-inspiring storytelling and illusions. $22.50 and up. 8pm, PARKER PLAYHOUSE, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222 www.parkerplayhouse.com
The Adams Family
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2-4
A new musical based on the original story about love, honesty and growing up in a macabre family is performed by Cardinal Gibbons High School drama students. Friday & Saturday 7:30pm, Sunday, 2pm. ROSE AND ALFRED MINIACI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd., Davie, 954-491-2900
Magic Show
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Watch the magic happen before your eyes as magician Gary Midnight mystifies the audience. Free. 1:30 & 3pm. WESTON COMMUNITY CENTER, 20200 Saddle Club Rd., Weston, 954-389-4321 www.westonfl.org
So You Think You Can Dance SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
With original performances, this stage spinoff of the TV show captivates with the season’s most popular dancers and routines. $34.50 and up.
8pm, BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222 www.browardcenter.org
Miss ARC Broward Pageant SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11
This sixth-annual pageant is designed to empower young women ages 6-17 with developmental disabilities. $15. 3pm, PARKER PLAYHOUSE, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222 www.parkerplayhouse.com
Koo Koo Kanga Roo TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
An all ages dance-a-long comedy show featuring songs such as Gobble Gobble Turkey Wobble and Bubble Wrap Rap. $17-$22.6:30pm, BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222 www.browardcenter.org
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Take a hayride around the park and roast marshmallows around a campfire to make s’mores. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. $3.50/person. 6:30-9pm. QUIET WATERS PARK, 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, 954-357-5100; T.Y. PARK, 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood, 954-357-8811 www.broward.org/parks
Upcycled Foil Pumpkin
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16-17
Recycle foil from a past art exhibition to create your own pumpkin decoration for fall. Included with paid admission of $12/Broward resident. 10am-2pm, YOUNG AT ART MUSEUM, 751 SW 121 Ave., Davie, 954-424-0085 www.youngatartmuseum.org
Thanksgiving Storytime and Craft SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Kids can enjoy a festive story and create a themed craft. 11:30am, IMPERIAL POINT LIBRARY, 5985 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, 954-357-6530 www.broward.org/library
Coppelia
Thanksgiving Craft
A timeless love story presented by Fort Lauderdale Children’s Ballet Theatre about a reclusive toymaker and an adorable doll that is believed to be real. $25. Saturday 11:30am & 3:30pm, Sunday 12:30pm. BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222 www.browardcenter.org
Kids ages 5-11 can make something creative for Turkey Day. 3-4:30pm, WESTON BRANCH LIBRARY, 4205 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston, 954-357-5420 www.broward.org/library
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17-18
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Tamarac Turkey Trot THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert
Put your running shoes on and get moving on Thanksgiving morning for the Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run. Runners receive a finisher medal. 7:30am, TAMARAC CITY HALL, 7525 NW 88 Ave., Tamarac, www.active.com
Be transported into a mystical world of wizards and magic through this captivating concert and show. $39 and up. 2pm and 8pm, ADRIENNE
Turkey Trot
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS,
1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 786-468-2000 www.arshtcenter.org
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Shed some calories before the big meal at this 5K walk/run at 7:30am, with a kids’ dash at 8:30am, CORNER OF SE FIFTH STREET AND A1A,
Fort Lauderdale, www.turkeytrotftl.com
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FAIRS, FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Storybook Festival
Noon-10pm, BROWARD COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., 954-543-1539 www.irccflorida.com
WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 4
Displays of yachts and marine accessories, plus fishing clinics for kids. VARIOUS SITES IN FORT LAUDERDALE, 800-940-7642 www.flibs.com
Santa’s Enchanted Forest OPENS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Lights, rides, food, games, entertainment and more make this holiday wonderland glow. TROPICAL PARK, corner of Bird Road and the Palmetto Expressway, Miami, 305-559-9689 www.santasenchantedforest.com
Cultural Festival
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Celebrate the community’s diversity with children’s activities, live music, multi-ethnic foods and more. Free. 4-8pm, CITY PARK, 6700 Sunset Strip, Sunrise, 954-747-4600 www.sunrisefl.gov
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
A children’s wonderland of storytelling, character appearances, live shows, crafts and more to inspire the imagination. Free. 10am-4:30pm, SOUTHWEST REGIONAL LIBRARY, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines, 954-357-6580 www.broward.org/library
Hawaiian Festival
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
A luau for all ages with Hawaiian food, games, live music, performances and more. 3-7pm, MICKEL PARK, 2675 NW Seventh Ave., Wilton Manors, www.wiltonmanors.com
North Lauderdale Winterfest SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
SwampFest Bluegrass Music Festival
Bring your mittens for an evening of snow play, games, contests, crafts, hayrides and photo opportunities. 5-9pm, JACK BRADY SPORTS COMPLEX, 701 SW 71 Ave., N. Lauderdale, 954-724-7061 www.nlauderdale.org
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Festival features a lineup of live bluegrass music and a jam tent where you can bring your own instrument and join the fun. $19.95/adult, $12.95/ages 3-11. 9am-5pm, FLAMINGO GARDENS, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd., Davie, 954-473-2955 www.flamingogardens.org
Winterfest Family Fun Day SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Celebrate the coming winter with free activities, such as Polar Express, Fair Superslide, kids town, face painting and photo opps with mascots and Santa. Plus skate on a real ice rink from the Florida Panthers (fee to skate). 10am-3pm, HUIZENGA PLAZA, 32 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-767-0686 www.winterfestparade.com
Jamaican Jerk Festival SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Festival of Lights
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Celebrate Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights at this festival featuring Bollywood and Indian folk dancing, music, art, traditional clothing, authentic cuisine, a kids’ corner and more. $12.
A celebration of authentic Jamaican traditions, featuring a jerk cook-off, cultural displays, live entertainment and kids’ fun zone. $30. 10am-10pm, MARKHAM PARK, 16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise, 754-273-9166 www.jerkfestival.com
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Free First Thursdays Starry Nights THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Enjoy free admission to exhibitions and hands-on art projects for all ages. 4–8pm, NSU ART MUSEUM FORT LAUDERDALE, One E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-262-0258, www.nsuartmuseum.org
Day of the Dead Celebration FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
A Mexican tradition, this celebration includes family activities, workshops, a craft crypt, music, Mexican and Latin American dance performances, food and an outdoor skeleton processional that includes a mariachi band, giant puppets, costumes and miniature floats. 4-10pm, VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN FORT LAUDERDALE; processional begins
at 6:30pm at Huizenga Plaza, 32 E. Las Olas Blvd., www.dayofthedeadflorida.com
Sunday Jazz Brunch SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Community gathering along Riverwalk with musical entertainment on three different stages, food, and a great family ambiance. Pets welcome. Held regularly on the first Sunday of each month. Free. 11am-2pm, ESPLANADE PARK, 400 SW Second St., Ft. Lauderdale www.fortlauderdale.gov
Twilight Tales
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Stop by for stories and fun for the whole family in honor of Veteran’s Day. 7pm, SOUTH REGIONAL/BC LIBRARY, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, 954-201-8825 www.broward.org/library
Artfull Saturday
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Experience art together as you make your own artistic creation in this monthly family workshop. $6/adult, $3/child. Space limited; reservations required. 3pm, CORAL SPRINGS MUSEUM OF ART, 2855 Coral Springs Dr., Coral Springs, 954-340-5000 www.coralspringsmuseum.org
Art in the Park SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10-11
Fine arts, entertainment on the openair stage, and arts and crafts activities for the kids. Free. Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. LIBERTY TREE PARK, 7421 NW Fifth St., Plantation, www.pjwcfl.org
Camelot Days
SATURDAYS-SUNDAYS, NOVEMBER 10-11 & 17-18
A kingdom full of musicians, artisans, eateries, knights and jesters, living chess game, rides, games, jousting and more. $15/adult, $3/child. 10am-5:30pm, T.Y. PARK, 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood, 954-357-8811 www.camelotdays.com
KEVA Grand Opening Activities SATURDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10-12
View a new permanent exhibit that focuses on three dimensions, while participating in interactive activities including a build your own bridge competition from 12:30-2:30pm, an obstacle relay from 1:30-3:30, sculptionary and more. Included with paid admission of $17/adult, $14/child. MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, 954-467-6637 www.mods.org
Light Up Lauderdale THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15
This family-friendly kickoff to the holiday season features live holiday music, train rides, kids crafts, vendors and more. 6-8:30pm, ESPLANADE PARK, 400 SW Second St. and along the downtown Riverwalk, Fort Lauderdale, www.fortlauderdale.gov
Teen Recycled Fashion Show FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Girls take to the runway to showcase original designs created by teen volunteers and fashioned from recycled and repurposed materials. Proceeds support YAA’s initiatives serving at-risk teens. $45. 7-11pm, YOUNG AT ART MUSEUM, 751 SW 121 Ave., Davie, 954-424-0085 www.youngatartmuseum.org
Every effort has been made to provide accurate information. Changes and cancellations do occur. Please double check the details before setting out on your adventure.
Holiday Craft Show and Green Fair SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17-18
Green displays, entertainment, presentations and a Kids Korner with crafts. Free. 9am-4pm, BERGERON RODEO GROUNDS, 4271 Davie Rd., Davie, 954-797-1181 www.davie-fl.gov
Fantastic Beasts Weekend SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17-18
Celebrate the release of The Crimes of Grindelwald with activities that include animal encounters, disillusionment charm making, a wizard costume contest and more. Included with admission of $17/adult, $14/child. MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE, 401 SW Second St.,
Fort Lauderdale, 954-467-6637 www.mods.org
Christmas on Las Olas TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Kick off the season at this winter wonderland featuring snow sledding, ice skating, music, fireworks and more. Free. 5-10pm, ALONG E. LAS OLAS BOULEVARD,
Fort Lauderdale, 954-258-8382 www.lasolasboulevard.com/events
WANT MORE FUN? For additional local events, check our online calendar at www.browardfamilylife.com
November 2018 | B R O W A R D F A M I LY L I F E
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WORDS of wisdom
The Problem With Parties FOR THIS MOM, INVITATIONS ARE THE HARD PART BY PAIGE WOLF
I
t’s all or nothing — that’s the philosophy I’ve tried to follow when it comes
to birthday party invitations. But with 30 kids in a class, friends from a variety of activities, and our friends’ children who’ve been bound into forced kinship with our own, it’s nearly impossible to invite everyone to a child’s birthday party. City kids in particular rarely have large backyards, and playspace parties come with hard attendance caps and lofty per-child fees. That said, the idea of only inviting a select group of children from the same social circle makes me deeply uncomfortable. I’ve been able to mostly avoid this conundrum in two ways. For my son’s fifth birthday party we did a huge blowout. We rented and decorated a local recreation center for less than $100 and had the playground mostly to ourselves. We hosted more than 30 kids — it was cheaper than a bounce gym and felt warm, inclusive, personalized and ours. His sixth birthday occurred the week after he finished preschool. We had another simple solution — no party. We spent the day at the beach and posted an open invitation for anyone inclined to join us. Two families were able to make it and the celebration was perfect. I’ve always said that in the future we could go by the rule: birthday age = number of friends. For his seventh, he could choose seven friends to go to the movies or out for pizza. But in reality, I just don’t think I could do that with a clear conscience. Like most children, my son’s idea of his “seven best friends” changes on a daily basis — sometimes hourly. More importantly, how could I not invite my best friends’ children, the ones he’s grown up with and sworn marriage to? How would I explain those Facebook photos, because even if I didn’t post them, somebody else would.
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Look, I get it. We should teach our children to have thick skins and accept that they can’t always be invited to everything. Not everyone is going to want to be their best friends, and we need to prepare them for the real world. But while the real world may pull no punches and we are all bound to be left out in various ways throughout our lifetimes, I still want to do what I can to avoid being the cause of anyone else’s hurt feelings — child or adult. When I host a party at my home, I pretty much invite everyone I know within a 10mile radius. I’d rather run out of spinach dip than run into an uninvited acquaintance at the playground. When it comes time for parties to become smaller and play dates to be capped, I will make every effort to be conscious of other people’s feelings. And I will try to enforce in my children that same kindness — maybe they can’t be invited to everything, but no one who wants to join in a game should be excluded. I haven’t yet sorted out my plan for “7.” Maybe we’ll just skip town or post an open invitation to a large public space. Or maybe I’ll eat my words, invite seven friends for cake, and feel hopelessly guilty for the next seven years. Paige Wolf is the author of Spit That Out: The Overly Informed Parent’s Guide to Raising Healthy Kids in the Age of Environmental Guilt. She has two children and, at the moment, may be stressing about a guest list.
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