NEA Kids' Directory

FREE! MARCH 2018

www.kidsdirectory.com/nea

IN EVERY ISSUE:

Fun Events page 7 Dine on a Dime page 8 1

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A NOTE from the Publisher Welcome to the March issue of NEA Kids’ Directory, the newest addition to the Occasions Publishing Group family of publications.

NEA Kids’ Directory has many features that make it a valuable resource for parents, teachers, grandparents, and childcare professionals – anyone who is involved with children. It is compact in size, making it a handy resource to keep in your purse or car. In addition, it offers valuable coupons for use at kid-friendly businesses and includes a calendar of events so you know what’s going on across Northeast Arkansas each month. You’ll even find a convenient dining guide inside that lists restaurants offering free or discounted kids meals!

Our goal each month is to help inform our readers of the many opportunities, events, products and services available for families in Northeast Arkansas.

Please remember to support the businesses that advertise in this publication each month and tell them that you saw their ad in NEA Kids’ Directory. If you are interested in advertising in NEA Kids’ Directory, please call us at 931-0012.

Audrey Poff, Publisher & Editor

Meet Our Cover Kid!

Samuel Gomez Parent: Iraida Gomez photo by Melissa Donner

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Fun Events

march March 1-31

March 13 and 27

March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31

March 16

Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center invites you to Feeding Frenzy every Tuesday through Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Learn more about the center’s residents and their feeding habits.

Info: crowleysridge.org.

Science and engineering go hand-in-hand during Tink Tank, held every other Tuesday at the ASU Museum, located adjacent to the Dean B. Ellis Library, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Info: astate.edu/ museum or 972-2074.

Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic will be at the First National Bank Arena at 6 p.m. Tickets: ticketmaster.com.

Join Barnes & Noble for Storytime Adventures in the kids’ department each Saturday to read both new and classic stories plus sing fun-filled songs, 11:30 a.m. Info: 336-2543.

March 17

Kindermusik of Jonesboro will host It’s Your Lucky Day Playdate from 10:30-11:15 a.m. , $20 per child for ages birth - 7. Info: 761-6570 or kmusikofjonesboro.com.

Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center introduces one of its resident creatures every Saturday at 10 a.m. during Creature Feature.

Info: crowleysridge.org.

March 24

March 3

“Sherlock Gnomes” will be the feature at Sensory Saturday hosted by The Center for Exceptional Families where the lights are up and children are allowed to move about as needed. Tickets are $6 per person, Jonesboro Hollywood Malco, 9:30 a.m. Info: 336-2786 or thecenterforexceptionalfamilies.org.

The St. Bernards Women’s Council will host Stories in the Forest from 3-4 p.m. at the Fun Forest inside The Mall at Turtle Creek. Info: St. Bernard's Healthline, 207-7300.

March 10

Complete a 100-meter swim, 3-mile bike and 1-mile run in the Kids Indoor Triathlon, two age divisions 6-10 and 11-14. Register online at racesonline.com/events/st-bernards-healthwellness-indoor-triathalon, St. Bernards Health and Wellness, 11 a.m. Info: 207-7700.

March 29

Open Arms Support Group for families with Autism meets the last Tuesday of each month at Jumping Jellybeans, 906 East Matthews in Jonesboro, 6-7 p.m. Info: Autism Association of NEA at 336-2786.

If you would like your event included in our monthly calendar, email details to Cody at cmoore@jonesborooccasions.com 7

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Dine on a Dime Your Guide to Where Kids Eat FREE!

To have YOUR restaurant featured in this listing, email cmoore@jonesborooccasions.com

Let’s Go Out to Eat!

Monday Bliss Cupcakes Kids 10 and under get a free mini cupcake or frosting shot with the purchase of a regular cupcake. (10 a.m.-9 p.m.)

Thursday Front Page Café 1 free kid’s meal with purchase of adult meal after 4 p.m.

TaMolly’s Kids eat for $1.99 from the kids’ menu (nights only).

Friday Schlotzsky’s Deli Free kid’s meal with purchase of an adult meal from 4 p.m. until close.

Tuesday Fazoli’s Kids 12 and under eat for $.99 with adult meal from 5-8 p.m.

Saturday Dixie Café Kids eat for $1.99 plus get a free sundae with adult meal purchase from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Pizza Hut Free kid’s buffet with adult buffet purchase.

Qdoba Mexican Eats $1.75 kids’ meals with the purchase of an adult entrée

Pizza Inn Free kids’ buffet with adult buffet purchase (nights only).

Sunday Slim Chickens 1 free kid’s meal per adult entrée purchase.

Ruby Tuesday 1 free kid’s entree per adult entree (starting at 5 p.m.)

BA Burrito Free kids meal with purchase of adult entree

Wednesday IHOP Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée from 4-10 p.m.

Qdoba Mexican Eats $1.75 kids’ meals with the purchase of an adult entrée Sully’s Kids 10 and under eat free with paying adult

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W

e recently asked our readers to weigh in on the best that Northeast Arkansas has to offer for kids, parents and families. From their favorite family-friendly restaurant to the best place for after-school care, our readers have made their favorites known and the votes have been counted.

Congratulations to the winners of our third annual NEA Kids’ Directory Best Choice Awards for Kids and Families. It is an honor to showcase these individuals, businesses, events and venues that are favorites among families in Northeast Arkansas.

And the Winners Are… Best Family Friendly Restaurant Winner: Chick-fil-A Finalists: Newk’s Eatery and Lost Pizza Co.

Best Frozen Yogurt Winner: Local Culture Frozen Yogurt Finalist: Swirlz Frozen Yogurt

Best Burger Winner: TJ’s Burgers Finalists: Five Guys and JTown’s Grill

Best Cupcakes Winner: Bliss Cupcake Cafe Finalists: Gigi’s Cupcakes and Fancy Flour Bakery

Best Breakfast Winner: Fat City Finalists: The Parsonage 322 and Eggcellent Café

Best Birthday Cake Winner: Jeny’s Cakery Finalists: Fancy Flour Bakery and Goad a la Mode

Best Fast Food Winner: Chick-fil-A Finalists: Tacos 4 Life and Slim Chickens

Best Cookies Winner: Cookies-N-More Finalists: Great American Cookie and Bliss Cupcake Cafe

Best Pizza Winner: Upper Crust Pizza Company Finalists: Lost Pizza Co. and Pizza Chef

Best Daycare Center Winner: Look What I Can Do Learning Center Finalists: Discovery Island and Little Heroes

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Custard Winner: Andy’s Frozen Custard Finalists: Baskin Robbins and Dairy Queen

Best Mother’s Day Out Winner: Central Baptist Church Finalists: First Baptist Church Jonesboro and Little Heroes 9

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Best Private School Winner: Ridgefield Christian School Finalists: Blessed Sacrament Catholic School and The Delta School (Wilson) Best Public School District Winner: Jonesboro Public Schools Finalists: Brookland Public Schools and Valley View Public Schools Best Pre School Winner: Jonesboro Pre K Finalists: Valley View and Look What I Can Do Learning Center Best Elementary School Winner: Brookland Elementary Finalists: Valley View Elementary and International Studies Magnet School (Jonesboro Public Schools) Best Summer Care Program Winner: Cane Academy Finalists: Camp Raider and Valley View Excel Best After School Program Winner: Cane Academy Finalists: Camp Raider and Brookland Bearcats Best Tutoring Service Winner: The Learning Center of Jonesboro Finalists: The Apple Group and City Youth Best Movie Theater Winner: Malco Hollywood Cinema Finalist: Cinema 8 Paragould Best Kids Party Venue Winner: HiJinx Finalists: Ultimate Air and RPM Athletics Best Kids Party Rentals Winner: Grandslam Finalists: SpaceWalk and R&R Amusement Best Public Park Winner: Craighead Forest Park Finalists: Miracle League Field and Joe Mac Campbell Park

Best Public Swimming Pool Winner: Paragould Water Park Finalists: Jonesboro Aquatic Center and Manila Water Park Best Family Practice Clinic Winner: Family Physicians Finalists: Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic and The Children’s Clinic Best Pediatric Clinic Winner: The Children’s Clinic Finalists: Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic and Apache Drive Children’s Clinic Best Child Therapy Provider Winner: CME Inc Finalists: Creative Kids and Families, Inc. Best Dental Clinic for Kids Winner: Jonesboro Pediatric Dental (Dr. Summer Tyson) Finalists: Hilltop Family Dental and Fergus Spades Dental Care Best Orthodontic Clinic Winner: Fergus Orthodontics Finalists: Weaver Orthodontics and Westrock Orthodontics Best Eyecare for Kids Winner: Elite Eye Care Finalists: Vision Care Center and Southern Eye Associates Best Eye Wear for Kids Winner: Elite Eye Care Finalists: Vision Care Center and LensMasters Best After Hours Emergency Clinic Winner: NEA Baptist Urgent Care (Woodsprings Drive) Finalists: St Bernards FirstCare (Red Wolf) and St Bernards FirstCare (Parker Road) Best Hospital Winner: St Bernards Medical Center Finalists: NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and Arkansas Methodist Medical Center (Paragould) Best Pharmacy Winner: Soo’s Drug Store Finalists: Woodsprings Pharmacy and Parker Road Specialty Pharmacy 10

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Best Counseling Center Winner: Families, Inc. Finalists: Life Strategies and Better Life Counseling

Best Children’s Costume Store Winner: Golden Grotto Finalists: Spirit and The Sensory Shop

Best Family Practice Law Winner: OMG Law Firm Finalists: Bartels Law Firm and Oldham Law Firm

Best Children’s Party Supply Store Winner: Golden Grotto Finalists: Hobby Lobby and Target

Best Hair Care for Kids Winner: Great Clips Finalists: Hair, Inc (Paragould) and Beautiful You Salon & Spa

Best Sporting Goods Store for Kids Winner: Academy Sports and Outdoors Finalists: Play It Again Sports and Hibbett Sports

Best Infant/Child Photographer Winner: Melissa Donner Photography Finalists: Amy Reeves Photography and Amy Long Photography Best Family Photographer Winner: Melissa Donner Photography Finalists: Amy Reeves Photography and Amy Long Photography Best Book Store Winner: Barnes & Noble Finalists: Lifeway Christian and Craighead County Library Best Music Store (Instruments) Winner: Back Beat Music Finalists: All Star Music and All American Music Best Children’s Clothing Winner: Noah Finalists: Dillard’s and The Children’s Place Best Children’s Consignment Store Winner: Ragamuffins Finalists: Plato’s Closet and Abilities Unlimited Best Children’s Consignment Sale Winner: Rhea Lana’s Finalist: Popsicle Kids Best Children’s Shoe Store Winner: Kiddly Toes Finalists: Dillard’s and Shoe Carnival

Best Toy Store Winner: The Sensory Shop Finalists: Target and WalMart Best Art School for Kids Winner: Foundation of Arts Finalists: Jonesboro School of Art and Charlotte Jones Art Best Cheerleading Facility Winner: RPM Athletics Finalists: Cheers Unlimited and Jonesboro Gymnastics Academy Best Dance Studio Winner: Christie McNeill Dance Studio Finalists: Erin’s Dance Academy and Foundation of Arts Best Gymnastics Facility Winner: Jonesboro Gymnastics Academy Finalists: Cheers Unlimited and RPM Athletics Best Karate/Martial Arts Program Winner: Joey Perry Martial Arts Finalists: Lee’s Karate and ATA Victory Best Music Instruction for Kids Winner: Back Beat Music Finalists: Kindermusik and All Star Music Best Sports Training for Kids Winner: RPM Athletics Finalists: Cheers Unlimited and Elite Training Best Swim Instruction for Kids Winner: JETS Finalists: St Bernards Health & Wellness and Yaya’s School of Fishies 11

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