Dear Crabby,
With all the construction going on, well, everywhere, my husband and I have decided to stick pretty close to home this summer. Now all we need to do is find something to keep the family entertained on a budget. Do you have any great ideas?
Thanks!
Helen Homebody
Dear Mrs. Homebody,
Ahh, yes. I had another reader recently with a conundrum similar to yours. Although I got the sense she was really trying to figure out how to keep her kids busy and out of her hair for the entire summer—ha! But I definitely feel your pain when it comes to trying to get around these days. Sheesh. Did the politicians get together and decide to fix all the roads that everyone uses on a daily basis at once?
But to answer your question… if you’re not too far from Rochester, I would suggest a couple of events. First up is the annual Movies in the Moonlight. I don’t know about you, but I rarely go to the movies, but I really wanted to see the one about the World War II POW, called Unbroken. Anyway, my son agreed to go along with me and boy did I receive sticker shock at the ticket counter! I about fell over when the teenybopper behind the glass told me that it would be $10, and then asked if I would like to upgrade my seat for an additional charge? And heaven forbid you want a snack! That’s why Movies in the Moonlight is perfect. Just grab your favorite snacks from home, a chair for everyone, and enjoy a nice evening out that doesn’t drain your bank account. As I said, I’m not a big movie guy, but this summer’s lineup sounds decent: Paddington, Jurassic Park, Big Hero 6, and The Lego Movie. If you want to a little more culture (at least that’s the line of bologna that Mrs. Crabby feeds me) try music in the park at the Rochester Municipal Park at the Bebout Band Shell. I don’t think they’ve announced their performers yet, but you can hear a variety of tunes every Thursday from 7:30 – 9 p.m. starting June 18. And you guessed it; it’s free. Now that’s my kind of entertainment. Oh! There’s one more event you should check out happening on June 24 – the Festival of the Hills at Borden Park in Rochester Hills. It’s got games, live entertainment, and one of the best firework shows around. And of course… it’s free!
Hope my ideas help your family out. I guess if nothing else you can go outside for a hike or a bike ride. Honestly, with all the construction going on, those may be your best options for transportation this summer.
Good luck!
Dear Crabby
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