OWTK Anniversary Contests - Winners to be announced on June 1, 2007

I will draw the winners and post them tomorrow, Friday June 1.

Until then..

Three Days Before

I never got a chance to write about it, but we THREE had a great day in center city Philly on Friday. We caught the Free @ Noon performance of Hoots & Hellmouth at World Cafe Live. I worked with singer/guitarist Sean Hoots and bassist Tim Celfo back in my days running MindWalk Records. They were both in The Gilroys, whose self-titled CD I released eight years ago. Hey, (shameless plug) that Gilroys CD is still available for sale on my MindWalk Records site and on iTunes, as well as via every other digital music service.

H&H's star is certainly on the rise. I had to stand in line during an official Meet & Greet to say hello. How weird. H&H blend an Old Crow Medicine Show/Church tent revival sound to create a foot stomping good time show. Their debut CD is available now on the Drexel University student run Mad Dragon Records.

From there, we went crosstown to the other river and had lunch at Dave and Busters (think: adult Chucky Cheese's). We had a gift card from two years ago and opted for the free lunch instead of a quality meal in town. Good financial decision but the food sucked royally. There are too many great restaurants in Philadelphia to settle for that kind of garbage. We went there primarily to let our girl play games and to save the dollars. Our company had their Holiday party at D&B's two years ago and we both still had a zillion credits on the never-expiring game cards from that event. We racked up enough points/tickets to score a full size Cookie Monster stuffed animal, a poddle purse and a couple other trinkets. Again, all free (so, if you are keeping score at home that was a free concert, free lunch and free games - a great day so far!) The finale was to be gelato at Capogiro's on 20th (not free). We had just ordered some gear from my Cafe Press store, World's Fair, and she was going to be rockin' this Tee Shirt for her special treat - but by the time I crossed town (again) she was asleep, exhausted from a full morning and early afternoon. It didn't help that I requested a stop at AKA music where I picked up The National "Boxer" CD, along with the new efforts from Dinosaur Jr. and The Sea and Cake. If I did not spend that 10 minutes in there, she may have still been awake for gelato. Oops.

We opted to let her sleep and wind our way back towards home, in rush hour traffic by this point. We stopped at a great ice cream shoppe called Handel's for a little bowl of Chocolate Rasberry Truffle. She loved it but did throw a mini-fit at first when she was told that we ditched Philly while she snoored away and were going for ice cream instead. Gotta love a discriminating palette.

I hope your holiday weekend was lovely. I am typing this as my new little girl sleeps on Mommy's (also asleep) shoulder. Absolutely adorable.

Oh, one more thing before I go...Today is the last day to enter all the Anniversary Contests! Get your entries in before 11:59pm Eastern Time for your chance to win cool stuff from The Pokey Pup, Gustafer Yellowgold, World's Fair (where you too get own an I Love Gelato shirt or one of thousands of other neat items), Can Do Kid and Putumayo Kids. Just scroll down from here and you will see them all.

Thanks for all the well wishes over the past 24 hours. We appreciate the love.

...and then there were four

We met our new little girl this morning. After a 95mph, midnight sprint on the PA Turnpike and Blue Route, my wife delivered at 1:08am - a cool 40 minutes after we arrived at the hospital.

8 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 1/2 inches tall. Mom and daughter are going quite well.

...and away we go...

Happy Memorial Day!

During the Party

In the midst of the week-long OWTK Online Anniversary Party, my wife and I have been faced with a bit of a conundrum regarding the not-yet-happened birth of our 2nd child. On Friday afternoon, while our daughter was at my parent’s house, we had what we believed would be our final doctor’s appointment. We schedule the appointment in the office down the road a bit from the delivering hospital, for during this appointment the doctor, the same woman who delivered our girl over three years ago, was to “kick-start” the process by stripping my wife (not as interesting I as my over-active mind imagined), because she was already 5cm dilated. It was suggested that we “stay close”. Those were easy enough orders to follow as this town is one of the gems of the Delaware Valley. We two walked up and down this Main Line ‘burb of Philly, left some money in the coffers of the wonderful independent toy and hardware stores that line the main drag and sat down to a decent meal. A stopwatch hung glamorously around my big lady’s neck the whole evening while the contractions got as frequent as every three minutes, but never progressed or intensified from there.

We went home and waited. ‘Tis Wednesday morning and we are still waiting. With the perfect set-up weekend – our daughter snug and secure at my parents - now in the rear view mirror, the Doc offered to induce yesterday morning, when she would be on duty. The plans were laid. Wake at 6am, call the hospital to verify bed availability and if a green light is given, drop off daughter at accommodating neighbor until Pop pop arrives to sweep her away. We backed out. It just didn’t feel right. We are not a couple who makes decisions with the convenience of the options being at the forefront yet we found ourselves measuring the birth of a child by the such factors of: preferred doctor on duty, pre-traffic time of day, availability of neighbor and grandparents for kid-coverage and our doula still in town before a scheduled Memorial Day vacation (which would land us a back-up we have never met).

At the end of the day, we figured that if our very in-womb-active 2nd child is not yet ready to met us then we would not force the issue merely out of convenience. We are still 4 days from the original due date, just hanging tight and waiting to greet our new little girl.

*****REMEMBER THAT YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO ENTER THE FIVE OWTK ANNIVERSARY PARTY CONTESTS: THE POKEY PUP CONTEST , THE GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD CONTEST , THE WORLD'S FAIR CONTEST , THE CAN DO KID CONTEST and THE PUTUMAYO KIDS CONTEST*****

Out With The Kids 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #5 (Putuyamo Kids "Animal Playground")

We have come to the 5th and final OWTK Anniversary Party Contest. Remember that entries will still be accepted until 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on Tuesday May 29th 2007 for all 5 contests. Links to the individual contest posts are below. Thanks for reading along and participating!

OWTK 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #5

The Prize - A three CD gift pack from Putumayo Kids. The lucky winner will receive the new Animal Playground disc, along with the wonderful New Orleans Playground and French Playground CDs (a $45 value!!!! - as they say on infomercials).

The Instructions - Click Here and find the name of the Water Taxi we used while in Paris last year. And then read the OWTK review of Animal Playground (below) to find out what one-name artist (it's not Cher) is headlining the big summer tour to support the Animal Playground release.
Email the answers (with OWTK Contest #5 in the subject line) to: OutWithTheKids@comcast.net before 11:59pm ET on Tuesday May 29th 2007. Don't worry about your email address, OWTK will never share it with anyone.

The Details - One winner will be selected at random on the last day of May. The lucky winner will receive the brand new Putumayo Kids Animal Playground CD along with the Putumayo Kids New Orleans and French Playground records. Your music package will arrive directly from Putumayo Kids.

*****REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN STILL ENTER THE PREVIOUS FOUR OWTK ANNIVERSARY PARTY CONTESTS: THE POKEY PUP CONTEST , THE GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD CONTEST , AND THE WORLD'S FAIR CONTEST FROM LAST WEEK & THE CAN DO KID CONTEST FROM YESTERDAY*****

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Putumayo Kids’ Animal Playground “Playful Tracks from Around the World”

In 1983’s Strawberry Shortcake Housewarming Surprise, the leading lady’s Strawberry Land neighbors throw her a party to celebrate her new home. As a special surprise, they invite all the new friends (and their aptly-named pets) Strawberry Shortcake met during her recent globetrotting adventure. At the end of the movie, Strawberry gleefully sings “We’re having a party, an international party”. The Putumayo Kids’ “Animal Playground” disc (officially released today, May 22nd 2007) could have been the soundtrack for that party. Not because the baker’s dozen worth of kid-friendly tracks sounds dated by two decades (not at all), but because what this disc represents is the ultimate kids’ party if there were no oceans or geopolitical ties separating us.

In short, this collection of thirteen animal-inspired tunes is remarkable. I also make the connection to the famous redhead for another reason, because like those classic shows, this record is a slower paced affair then most modern children’s entertainment. No one track will floor you, with the notable exception of The Be Good Tanya’s delightful “The Littlest Birds” but that is for sheer beauty, not bombastic theatrics, yet the sum of “Animal Playground’s” parts is as pleasant a grouping of playful songs as you will ever hear.

A compilation is a difficult thing to make cohesive. By nature, design and definition they are the exact opposite, but Putumayo manages to do the impossible – make a compilation record, one which marries American folk with African rhythm and just about everything in between – feel unified. Helping bridge the cultural and stylistic gaps is the animal theme running through the album. Every kid loves animals and some of the most beloved creatures are covered here – birds, snakes, bears, monkeys, eagles, dinosaurs and more. The centralized theme makes this record feel warm, tight and familiar.

As I mentioned, The Be Good Tanya’s “The Littlest Birds” is a stellar track. It has not yet, however, struck my little girl’s fancy – despite it’s similarity with her favorite Elizabeth Mitchell tune, “Little Bird”. Her most requested cut is Asheba’s wonderful take on “No More Monkey’s” (for which there is also a video included on the CD). Asheba, coincidentally enough, is the centerpiece of a big summer tour in support of “Animal Playground”. The 27-date trek started in San Diego last week and concludes on the East Coast on June 23rd. Check here for a full list of dates and here to sample each track.

Like any good, slightly complex album, “Animal Playground” will most likely take some time to coalesce, and may require a few spins to fully appreciate. But when it comes together for you and your gang, the whole family will be singing along to Old MacDonald in Italian, wishing you had a dinosaur for a friend, feeling empathatic for snakes and htting the high notes whilst enjoying the impeccable Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s rendition of “Mbube”.

Enter the contest to win this terrific CD (plus two more Putumayo Kids releases!) or just go out and but it right now - it's that good.

Out With The Kids 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #4 (Can Do Kids)

I hope your weekend was swell. Thanks to all those who have entered the first three contests so far. Remember, you have until Tuesday May 29th to throw your name into the hat for cool stuff from The Pokey Pup, Gustafer Yellowgold and World's Fair.

Todays contest is a little different. For starters, you do not need to click around the archives to find answers. Today, you are afforded the comfort of staying right here and settling in to read the second interview in OWTK's history.

So what happens when the president of Annie's Organics leaves her post to persue a venture that promotes a Can Do attitude and self-confidence in young people? A wonderful new company is born from a children's book and goes on to produce delicious and healthy chocolate energy bars for young folks (and their parents). We had the priviledge of spending a few moments with Deb Luster, the woman and mom at the head of the Can Do Kid Company, Community and Movement, and picked her brain about the state of the American family, the major issues facing children today and the body image epidemic that our young woman (and young boys and parents) have to battle through in order to raise happy, healthy and bold young ladies.

OWTK 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #4

The Prize - A Can Do Kid Fun Pack containing a case of 15 Can Do Kid Nutrition Bars (your choice of flavors - Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Crunch or a mixture of both) and the I Can Do Anything kids book

The Instructions - Read through the interview below and discover what Deb Luster feels is the "greatest threat" to families. Then email the answer (with OWTK Contest #4 in the subject line) to: OutWithTheKids@comcast.net before 11:59pm ET on Tuesday May 29th 2007. Don't worry about your email address, OWTK will never share it with anyone.

The Details - One winner will be selected at random on the last day of May. The lucky winner will be asked what flavor of Can Do Kid bars should be included in the case of 15. The winner's Can Do Kid Fun Pack will arrive at their doorstep.
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Can Do Kid, Inc. - The OWTK Interview

OWTK: Please tell our readers a bit about the Can Do Kid mission and what impact your organization is having on the youth of today and on the modern American family.

Deb Luster (Founder and President of Can Do Kid, Inc.): Our mission at Can Do Kid is to inspire kids to know that they can do anything they put their minds to. My family and I launched Can Do Kid back in November 2004 with our first book called, I Can Do Anything! The book features a diverse neighborhood of kids and their unique families. We explore with them as they live life and learn to say the words, “I Can” instead of “I Can’t”, instilling the “Can Do” philosophy.

The company has grown with the help of my sister, sister-in-law and two good friends, all Moms, (except for one) who helped us launch our next Can Do Kid products – two flavors of all-natural nutrition & energy bars, specifically formulated with kids in mind. We hope that through our products, kids will constantly be reminded that they CAN and not that they CAN’T achieve whatever they want to.

OWTK: Do you see your company as one piece of a larger puzzle that represents a paradigm shift in the way we parent our kids?

DL: Sure – there are lots of wonderful companies out there that are trying to have a positive impact on families. We are fortunate here at Can Do Kid that so many parts of our extended family can be involved. I think it really helps cement all of our relationships and having a common goal in mind to present positive messaging to our kids and all kids, is a goal we can all stand behind. We’d love it if families, and companies, got behind that message, not just for us, but for their own benefit as a family.

OWTK: How can Can Do Kid nutrition bars serve as a gateway to a lifestyle change and help to create an open channel of discussion between parent and child about health, physical fitness and whole/organic vs. processed/fast foods?

DL: Hopefully kids and parents will realize that there are healthier and tastier all-natural food options out there for them. We support a number of events that promote wellness for families and children and we hope that while families are enjoying themselves together, they can feel good about giving their child a Can Do Kid bar as well as feel good about the message we are trying to promote.

OWTK: What do you feel is the most dangerous threat to young people today? Processed foods (fast food culture), sedentary life (video games/TV), or parents’ general lack of involvement/knowledge about the impact of both issues?

DL: These are all equally important threats to young people today, but I think the greatest threat is the lack of communication among families. It would be great to have families create specific “family time” where they all decide on an activity to do together, be that a hike, a family workout, all doing karaoke together, sharing a meal or even watching a movie together. The key is that the “family time” be intentional and deliberate so that all members feel a part and hopefully feel comfortable communicating with each other. The “fast food” culture has rolled over into all aspects of our lives, not just food products, and has created a false sense of urgency around life. We get caught up in the rat race of accomplishing things, instead of just enjoying life. It would be great, especially with family, if we could focus and be present when we are with each other.

OWTK: Increasingly, both girls and boys are being fed an unhealthy and unrealistic interpretation of what a young woman should look/act like. How concerned are you about body image when it comes to raising happy and healthy young people? What can Can Do Kid, the company and the community, do to stem this tide, allowing young girls to be filled with self-respect, self-confidence and a healthy view of themselves as women?

DL: You are right on track with this one and having two young girls myself, aged 9 and 11, I am very concerned about the whole body image and self awareness that takes place in girls at a young age and what they compare themselves to on TV. This is exactly what prompted us to write our second book, due out soon, called, I am Happy Just the Way I Am. We present kids of all shapes and sizes being OK with however they are and that beauty and grace all come from the inside and not the outside. We hope it will help kids to see the beauty in themselves and each other. Also, as a company, we support programs like, Girls on the Run and LOLA – Living Our Lives Actively that encourage kids to be active and build self-confidence through sports and community.

Out With The Kids 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #3 (World's Fair Cafe)

OWTK 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #3

The Prize - A $50 credit to use at the World's Fair Cafe online tee shirt and gift shop. My World's Fair shop stocks roughly 500 designs and over 20,000 products. Cool stuff for kids and adults (now featuring maternity shirts!) - here are just a handful of examples:

The Instructions - This one is really easy: Click here and find out what special design I created for Breast Cancer Awareness month last year. I am looking for the phrase used on the products. Then email the answer (with OWTK Contest #3 in the subject line) to: OutWithTheKids@comcast.net before 11:59pm ET on Tuesday May 29th 2007. Don't worry about your email address, OWTK will never share it with anyone.

The Details - One winner will be selected at random on the last day of May. The lucky winner will be prompted to peruse the World's Fair online tee shirt and gift shop, then email me with your wishlist (because Cafe Press, the site's host, does not yet offer gift certificates). Your order will arrive at your doorstep.

*****REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN STILL ENTER THE POKEY PUP CONTEST FROM WEDNESDAY AND THE GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD CONTEST FROM YESTERDAY*****

Out With The Kids 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #2 (Gustafer Yellowgold)

OWTK 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #2

The Prize - One Gustafer Yellowgold Kids Gift Bundle - which includes (1) Kids T-shirt, (1) Gustafer plush toy, (1) refrigerator magnet, (2) temporary tattoos and (1) sticker!

The (easy) Instructions - Click here to find out what Gustafer's favorite pastime is and then here to discover what new tune was added to the Little Monster reissue/packaging of the Gustafer DVD. Email the answers (with OWTK Contest #2 in the subject line) to: OutWithTheKids@comcast.net before 11:59pm ET on Tuesday May 29th 2007. Don't worry about your email address, OWTK will never share it with anyone.

The Details - One winner will be selected at random on the last day of May. The lucky winner's Gustafer Yellowgold Kids Gift Bundle will be delivered directly to their doorstep.

Buy the amazing Gustafer Yellowgold Wide Wild World DVD/CD Combo now, exclusively at Barnes and Nobl and bn.com.

See the band perform the Gustafer storybook live!

REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN STILL ENTER THE POKEY PUP CONTEST FROM YESTERDAY - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

Out With The Kids 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #1 (The Pokey Pup)

Out With The Kids turns 1 today. In blog years, that may make the site a teenager, I am not sure. To celebrate, I want to reward you, the faithful OWTK reader, with a handful of freebies, contests and giveaways. Over the past 12 months I have been introduced to and kept in contact with numerous quality individuals, fellow bloggers and wonderful companies providing great books, music, films and foods to young people and their parents. I thank each you for reading, supporting and sticking with Out With The Kids over the past year. Here's hoping we continue to enjoy each others company over the next 12 months.

With that said, I am introducing the first contest (yes, you have to do a little work for this stuff!)

OWTK 1 Year Anniversary Party - Contest #1

The Prize - One $25 Gift Certificate to The Pokey Pup (http://www.thepokeypup.com)
The Pokey Pup is the web's premier destination for cool family friendly music, books and movies. Think of it as the hip, kiddie version of Amazon.com

The Instructions - Click here and find the first two "loud" and first two "soft" songs ever suggested on Out With The Kids. Then email the answers (with OWTK Contest #1 in the subject line) to: OutWithTheKids@comcast.net before 11:59pm ET on Tuesday May 29th 2007.

The Details - One winner will be selected at random on the last day of May. The lucky winner's gift certificate to The Pokey Pup will be delivered directly to their email inbox.

Thanks for playing, good luck and stop back again tomorrow for another chance to win more free swag!

Saturday, on a delay

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. I am three days behind.

We had a terrific Saturday late-morning/early afternoon. The three of us were in Philly for the Gustafer Yellowgold show at World Cafe Live and then spent a couple quality hours in the beautiful new Franklin Square Park at 7th and Arch St. - riding the carousel, doing sand art and walking through a really cool sand sculpture version of Egypt (must have been in conjunction with the King Tut thingy at the Art Museum).

Here are some pictures, working backwards.

The skyline behind the Sphinx-esque sculpture looked much more striking and visually interesting in person than it does in photo form.










My daughter filling up a plastic duck necklace with a rainbow of colors. This was a free craft table specially for Mother's Day weekend.











And, of course, Morgan Taylor and band performing Gustafer Yellowgold. They played the entire new DVD (including Rocket Shoes) with the exception of Mint Green Bee - which naturally is what I was most excited to see and hear. It is my fave GY tune.

The band is now selling 10" plush Gustafer dolls. Very cute. I have no pics of him, but lil' Gusty rode the carousel and the swing set all afternoon. He is also the new #1 snuggle-mate at bedtime.

*****OWTK Anniversary Contest #1 begins tomorrow!*****

Sausage Race

Gotta love the Milwaukee Brewers and their traditional sausage races during home game at Miller Park. This weekend, I visited You Tube and let my girl watch a couple of these hilarious races. Check this one out with your kids. No way they don't find these races hysterical. Turns out they keep standings for the races on the official website of Klements Sausage Race. Currently, Hot Dog has a 4 game lead on Sweet Italian.


Later that night, she was running around in circles under the sprinkler in the backyard pretending to be the hot dog as Mom called the action from the sideline. Funny Stuff.

The OWTK 1 Year Anniversary Party starts Wednesday, May 16th! Stop back for (easy to win) contests and really good (I think) prizes.

Prizes, Prizes, Prizes

Next week marks the 1 year anniversary of Out With The Kids. I will be pulling out some of my favorite posts from the archive and also attempting to administer some giveaways and prizes for you, the loyal OWTK reader. More info coming soon.

In other news, my daughter has just 1 week left in her current school. She will be staying home with Mom, her new baby sister (once born) and Dad (taking some vacation only since FMLA screws Dads) for a good long time before heading off to summer day camp. We are extremely excited about the chance to have her at home, bonding (hopefully) with her sister and, in general, doing the non-daycare thing for a spell. In other good news, I was able to swing a flexible schedule at work - allowing me to be at home every other Friday (so, working 9 out of the 10 days each pay period). An extra two days each month to be more of a Dad than an employee is something I wanted back (I had this schedule when she was first born) for some time.

Gustafer Yellowgold - The OWTK Interview

Morgan Taylor, the man who brings Gustafer Yellowgold to life on stage, DVD and CD recently spent a few minutes with OWTK talking about the kids' music scene, how he got started writing tunes for younger ears, and what he thinks of the current "boom" in childrens' music & media options. He also gives OWTK a sneak-peek of the next Gustafer Yellowgold release.

OWTK: Congratulations on the recent release of the DVD/CD on Little Monster - How did the relationship with Little Monster come about? Where you actively shopping the self-released DVD to labels?

Morgan Taylor: It was more organic - like through a friend of a friend, it ended up in the hands of the Little Monster folks. They immediately "got it" and wanted to talk turkey.

OWTK: Now, let’s go backwards a bit. How did you find yourself writing kids’ songs and where did the idea for a yellow fella from the sun originate?

MT: It was almost by accident that it all fell together. I had some "misfit" songs and also a cartoon character that I had no idea where to use him. It started as some picture-books, and then we crossed paths with an animator and it quickly turned into a DVD and a live show. They didn't start as kid's songs, I have always had a side to my writing that was more cartoon-y, and so those were the tunes that naturally fit with the project. The idea for a character from the Sun literally came about because I had written a song called "I'm From The Sun".

OWTK: What drew you to the children’s genre? Do you feel you have a better chance of “making a living” in this arena as opposed to the very crowded indie/rock-n-roll space?

MT: I guess I was drawn to the children's genre because it's the most obvious place to market some funny songs with cartoon illustrations. It's really that cut and dry. I never had an epiphany to enter the kid's music market, but since I've ended up here naturally, it feels very right for someone like me, with the desire to make people laugh and play music with humor. It only seems more realistic for me to make a living now doing this, I feel like all of a sudden since I've added cartoons to my music, people are taking notice. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about that!

OWTK: It would seem that, increasingly, much of the mainstream media aimed at the younger demographic (The Wiggles, most any blockbuster animated feature film, etc) exists primarily to sell related, “official” merchandise. What impact do you feel this trend is having on the way children view art, music and film going forward?

MT: I have no problem with marketing, merchandising and all that, as long as the thing it's supporting is cool. I do think kids are being over-stimulated and bombarded. I guess we were too when we were little, but somehow every generation feels the next one isn't getting substance. Somehow TV didn't seem as manic and A.D.D. inspiring back then as today's does. I'd like to think perhaps Gustafer is a mellower refuge for people who feel attacked by today kid's stuff.

OWTK: What kind of impact do you think the current boom or renaissance, if you will, in children’s music is having/will have on the youth of today?

MT: I think the "boom" you're talking about is only in quantity. Most of it isn't filling any void that existed and it's another example of today's people in general having way more choices for entertainment than we seemed to have growing up. There are also a bunch of different ways to be exposed to stuff now too. And for me I mean growing up from 1975-1985.

OWTK: When are we going to be fortunate enough to receive additional Gustafer Yellowgold DVD/CDs? Please give the readers of Out With The Kids a sneak preview of some of the adventures or characters we might expect to see in future releases.

MT: The 2nd Gustafer DVD/CD is already near completion. Here are some sneak-peeks at some song titles:

Pinecone Lovely (about Gustafer's favorite food)

The Bluebird Tree (Where Gus goes to think)

Punching Cheese (the counterpart to I Jump On Cake)

Aye Aphid (a new number for Asparagus the Dragon)

The Mustard Slugs (Evan, Kevin, Bevan and Paul)

and at least 4 more.

I can't wait for folks to see the next batch. It's way more detailed. I had a blast making it.

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OWTK will be seeing Morgan and his band at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia this coming Saturday morning, 5/12/07.

Pics and a review next week.

Catch the band on tour this Spring/Summer.

Visit Gustafer Yellowgold official website.

Quickie Thoughts at the End of the Week

• World's Fair, my tee shirt and gift shop, was recently able to donate $108.50 to Susan Komen for the Cure. The donation was for sales of my breast cancer survivor/fighter gear (specifically the I Fight Like A Girl and One Tough Chick lines) during the 4th quarter 2006. I will be calculating 1st quarter 2007 shortly - the donation amount should be similar, if not better! Needless to say, I am very excited about the chance to give back to such a worthy cause. Thanks to all those who picked up one of these items!
• Speaking of exciting, Farmer's Market season officially opens tomorrow! We three are ready to resume our Saturday morning routine of playground, grower's market and then soft pretzel store.
• My interview with Morgan Taylor, band leader & creator of Gustafer Yellowgold, will be posted on Out With The Kids this coming Monday, 5/7/07. It is the first interview in OWTK history, but certainly not the last. In fact, coming up later this month will be an interview with Deb Luster, founder and president of the wonderful kids' nutrition/energy bar company Can Do Kid.