Simi Valley Library

The local library should be at the top of your to-do lists everyday, not just summer. The Simi Valley Library is chock full of free things to do, and a source of inexpensive entertainment. In Simi, there is a Summer Reading Program which includes bi/weekly entertainment and rewards for children for reading. Also, there is a "Friends of the Library" bookstore where you can get books, games, magazines for CHEAP. I picked up two board games for $2.00 yesterday, and a good book for .50 cents. I gave my daughter two quarters and she was thrilled to find something to buy. The Simi Valley Library... check it out.

Summer Reading Program 2008

(Remaining events)
Please note: most events are very popular. Plan to come at least a half hour early. Some events do "sell out".

Wed. July 2 Mad Science BugOlogy
1:00pm and 2:30pm

Tues. July 8 Maury the Amazing Magician
12:00pm and 2:00pm

Wed. July 16 Santa Barbara Zoo - Theatre Gone Wild!
12:30pm and 2:30pm

Sat. July 26 Partianimalz Petting Zoo
12:00pm-2:00pm

Wed. July 30 Treblemakers Music Workshops
1:00pm-3:00pm

Mon. Aug. 4th Magician Shaun McMaster
1:00pm-3:00pm

Tues. Aug. 12th Teen Cartooning Class, by Dave Boatman 1:00pm

Wed. Aug. 20th The Reptile Family visits the Library!
1:00pm

$2.00 Swim Rancho Simi Pool

584-4436

Recreational Public Swim

1:00-3:30pm MF

1:00pm-4:00pm SS

$2.00 per person

June 14 - August 24

3.5 feet to 15 feet

Diving Boards

Note: Sign up for a Volleyball Camp through RSSPD,

and receive a T Shirt or Pass for Free Swim all Summer!

(Check details upon registration)

$200.00 Family Swim Pass up to six members

$35.00 per individual for 20 admissions

No refunds

Films Under the Stars

Free

Rancho Simi Community Park Amphitheatre

1765 Royal Avenue

8:00pm or dusk

Bring a picnic dinner, blanket or lawn chairs, jackets.

Don't forget the wipes!

June 27 Bee Movie
July 25 Nancy Drew
August 22 Enchanted

Fairy Tales in the Park

Free, live children's theatre, donations suggested.

Performed by Gypsies in a Trunk

Rancho Simi Community Park Amphitheatre

1765 Royal Avenue

4:00pm

Saturdays

July 5 "Puck - A Midsummer's Day's Fairytale"

August 2 "Cinderella"

September 6 "The Little Mermaid"

Simi Valley Town Center

Pack a lunch and indulge in the $2.00 train ride around the mall. My nine year old son and I still love to take a swing around in the mini train. http://www.simivalleytc.com.

Kids Club Every Wednesday 10:00am-11:00am FREE
Intended for preschoolers, but all ages welcome.
Every first Wedensday, a "dragon" (the mall mascot, "Kuyum") will visit
Every third Wednesday, family entertainment. June features magic and comedy.

Monday Night Movies 8:00pm. Approx. 2 hours. Rated PG or PG-13. FREE

June 30th "Disturbia"
July 7th "Zoolander"
July 14th "Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix"
July 21st "Blades of Glory"
July 28th "11"
August 4th "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
August 11th "Grease"
August 18th "The Goonies"
Coordinated by Rancho Simi Park District. Call 805-584-4400 for more details.

Thursday Summer Concerts 6:00pm-8:00pm. FREE.
Now, until September 11th. Pop, Alternative, R&B, Latin Jazz.

Farmers' Market. Fridays 3:00pm-8:00pm. FREE.
Now, until November 1st.
Includes children's activities, a petting zoo, and more.
Call 805-643-6458 for more information.

Cold Eats on Hot Days

What was it, 100 degrees today? Who wants to cook on a day like this? Yesterday we survived by barbecuing, but we could have barbecued on our car's engine hood today.

Some cold, inexpensive suggestions for eating (at home, of course!)

*Canapes
Essentially an open faced mini sandwich. My kids loved these. Traditionally done on soft, french baquette rounds, but can be done on other breads as well.

Cream cheese, apple slice, walnut
Cream cheese, cucumber slice, roast beef
Garlic mayonnaise, lettuce leaf, ham salad
Try anything really, even PBJ!

*Crostinis
The hard version of the above. This is on crunchy bread.
If you can splurge a bit, buy mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil.
Layer them onto a crostini, and you have your caprese salad on toast.

My children didn't like the hard bread as much. They survived with the spinach dip soaking the bread a bit. In the future, I think I will try tuna salad, ham salad, any other "drippy" food to soften the bread for them.

*Fruit smoothies
Vanilla yogurt, fresh (or near death) fruit, throw in some flax seed or wheat germ so the Righteously Healthy Parent inside you is satisfied, and blend away. You can throw in some milk if it gets too thick, as it may with banana or a heavy fruit blend.

*Cold Meat and Cheese Trays

*Sandwich Wraps (or burritos disguised as wraps)

*Cold Pasta Salads

*Salad Bar, with meats like chicken or ham or turkey to give the salad some
"weight" in the tummy, (meaning the kids will sleep through the evening). Include some cheese toast as a side dish.

*Freeze some yogurt tubes

*Fun Drinks!
I found a cache of flavored syrups from last year, when I had planned to make slushies, but our slushie machine didn't work. Well, this year I made flavored non-alcoholic daquiries for my children with some crazy flavors, like Bubblegum Apple. You could of course "adultify" it, if you want.

About 2 cups crushed ice
About 1/2 cup flavoring
Blend

Stay cool, stay home!