CraftBoston Is Back!

CRAFTBOSTON will open to the public March 27-29 with 200 contemporary craft artists, a lecture series, an artist mentor program, and of course, amazing art, including stained glass by DayTripper friend Dan Maher.

Saddle Up for a Birthday Party!

Winter? Schminter! We're bundling up and heading out next week to celebrate my daughter's 9th birthday party at Sweet Meadow Farm in Sherborn (where she and her friend Anna blissfully attended camp last summer). At the farm, owner Patty Michaud starts birthday parties at the barn and kids get to work with ponies, then tack up the horses. Weather permitting, each guest gets to ride and feed the horses. Then everyone heads up to the pet store at the Michauds' house, where they can observe and handle the guinea pigs, kittens, birds, and other small animals. Finally, guests go upstairs at the farmhouse for a small party which includes a Sweet Meadow gift for the birthday girl. It's a bit pricey at about $30 per guest, but we are huge fans of Sweet Meadow and the party is a reward for other achievements. (Grownup Alert: Sweet Meadow is also near the Natick Mall if you want to drop off!) When we return to Lillian's, there will be a movie and "campout" in a tent in the living room. Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream on Saturday morning. Wahoo!

Easy! Fast! Sublime! You Saw It On TV!

Sometimes, you never know where a day trip's going to take you. My son and I stumbled upon the Home Show at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center the other day, and ended up spending an absolutely sublime afternoon, four straight hours of wandering up to friendly vendors desperate for human contact (the convention center was nearly deserted) and happy to answer in endless detail my son's hilarious questions about how boiler condensors are engineered, and happy to listen to his stories about Zammy, our darling dog. And then it was topped off by winning a gadget (A Handy Dandy Super Sized Space Saving Space Saver Storage Bag!) at Dr. Gadget’s presentation and crowned with a cup of clam chowder on a table of crystal and china at Anthony’s Pier Four. The most amazing day trips can start out as accidents like this one. We’d go again if we could (still pining for a Miracle Mop, or maybe an Easy! Fast! Simple! You Saw It On TV! Sushi Maker!). Contributed by Robin Schoenthaler , Day Tripper Diva extraordinaire and co-author of The Compleat Day Tripper: Metro Boston Edition

---

Click here for a $2 Subscriber Rebate on the Book!

It's Not Your Grandma's Trampoline!

Bread and circuses, American-style? Maybe, but who knew furniture shopping could be so thrilling!? Just inside the massive Jordan's Furniture building in Reading is the Trapeze School of NY - Beantown. This is a real, live double trapeze that has enough show lighting, music, and action to take you over the big top and beyond, to the ice cream stand, restaurants, Duck Tour arcade games, IMAX theater, and many more activities in this amazing indoor complex. Classes can be pricey, but there are party discounts and individual swing packages range from $10-$25. Ages 6 and up. To reach TSNY, take exit 39 off 128, just north of I-93, Tel. 781-942-7800; or email.