Things to Do: April 2009 Archives

MOMarama is now on Twitter! If you're a fan, it's at PEcom_moms. I'm a newby to Twitter so if you have fun suggestions, please share!

The Cesar Chavez Perris Library is inviting the public to enjoy a free Family Music event with the UCR Gluck Fellows group, the Collegium Musicum, Saturday, May 2, at 3 p.m.

The program, "Pastime with Good Company: Early Music from the British Isles" will include pieces by court composers such as Tye, Dowland, Holborne, Byrd and Weelkes.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

The Collegium Musicum group demonstrates a lute used to perform early French music.

In addition to songs, dances and consort music from Renaissance England, the group will give demonstrations on an array of historical instruments, including lutes, viols, recorders, flutes, guitar, percussion and even crumhorns.

Where: Perris Library, 163 E. San Jacinto, Perris
When: 3 p.m., Saturday, May 3
Cost: Free
Information: 951-657-2358

Share your ideas for cheap family fun here.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

Families are invited to join singer and storyteller Karen Wilson in the family event "Going to Granma's" Wednesday, April 29, at 4 p.m. at the Temecula Public Library.

Wilson will take visitors on an imaginary trip to Granma's house using song and storytelling. During the trip, kids will begin with breakfast in the city and then take a bus ride. They'll arrive in the country for a walk through a field of animals and hugs at Granma's house and then head back to the city again.

This event is part of the series of spring cultural events the Riverside County Library System is hosting, said Arlene Cano, coordinator.

Temecula Public Library
Where: 30600 Pauba Road, Temecula
When: 4 p.m., April 29
Cost: Free
Information: 951-693-8900

Share your ideas for cheap family fun here.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

Captain Carl and his mobile tide pool are coming back to the Riverside Metropolitan Museum for the last First Sunday event of the season.

Families visiting downtown Riverside Sunday, May 3, will be able to visit with sea creatures such as starfish, sea squirt and urchins while learning about how climate changes are affecting our fragile ecosystem.

The event, which will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public. Call 951-826-5273 or visit www.riversideca.gov/museum for more information.

In addition to the Metropolitan Museum, several other downtown organizations will host free First Sunday activities for families. First Sundays will begin again in October with free activities downtown on the first Sunday of each month.

Share your ideas for cheap family fun here.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

Guided Discoveries in Claremont has several adventure camps in the area including AstroCamp Summer Mission - Explorer, AstroCamp Summer Mission - Voyager, Tallship Cruising Aboard SSV Tole Mour, Catalina Sea Camp and Catalina Junior Sea Camp. Call 800-645-1423 for information on any of the camps or visit www.guideddiscoveries.org

AstroCamps are located at 26800 Saunders Meadow Rd., Idyllwild. Campers will participate in hands-on science education, scavenger hunts, a carnival dance and more.

AstroCamp Summer Mission - Explorer
Ages 8-14
Dates: June 13-19; June 20-26; June 27-July 3
Cost: $900

AstroCamp Summer Mission - Voyager
Ages 10-16
Dates: July 5-17; July 19-31
Cost: $1,800

The Catalina Sea Camp is located on Catalina Island. Campers can scuba dive, snorkel, kayak, bike and more during three weeks of camp.

Catalina Sea Camp
Ages 12-17
Dates: July 5-24; July 26-Aug. 14
Cost: $3,500

Junior Sea Camp members can snorkel, sale, learn marine science, hike and more during their week-long visit.

Junior Sea Camp
Ages 8-12
Dates: June 13-19; June 20-26; June 27-July 3
Cost: $1,250

Tole Mour campers will be learn the ins and outs of sailing the tallship and engage in a "Challenge Sail" on their last day.

Tallship Cruising Aboard SSV Tole Mour

1 Week Cruises - Ages 10-16
Dates: June 20-26; June 27-July 3; July 5-11
Cost: $1,400

2 Week Cruise - Ages 13-18
Dates: July 12-24
Cost: $2,600

3 Week Cruise - Ages 13-18
Dates: July 26-August 14
Cost: $3,500

Share your ideas for summer camp here.

For more summer camp ideas go here.

For the kids who want to improve skill sets in their favorite sports, Big Bear Sports Ranch offers instruction in a camp-style atmosphere. There's Tennis, Golf, Multi Recreational, Brazil Soccer, UK International Soccer, Irish Soccer, Wake & Ski, Track-Cross Country.

Daily schedules for the camper will includes a morning camp meeting, breakfast and cabin cleaning before the first 3-hour session of sports training and recreation. Then comes lunch and more training, competitions and activities. Kids rest in the afternoon before dinner and the evenings will include movies, game shows, the alpine slide, skate night and dancing.

Pricing ranges from $550/week to $895/week. For more information visit www.bigbearsportsranch.com or call 909-585-3133.

Share your ideas for summer camp here.

For more summer camp ideas go here.

The Los Angeles and San Bernardino County 4-H Summer Camp program at historic Camp Seeley in Crestline will host all kinds of traditional camp activities. It's open to boys and girls ages 8 through 19.

For $275 for the week, campers can hike, craft, play sports, swim, fish, play games and more. The cost covers room and board for six nights and seven days. In the evenings there's a camp fire circle, singing of traditional camp songs and different entertainment for each night.

Past evening programs have included team games, carnival nights, talent shows, haunted walks and movie nights. This year's special events will include a live owl presentation and bottle rocketry.

Camp dates are June 21-27. Visit www.4hsummercamp.com or call 213-210-2630 for more information.

Share your ideas for summer camp fun here.

For more summer camp fun go here.

I'm a little book-obsessed. OK, it's maybe more than a little. I always have books stashed in every location - throughout the house, in the car, at the office...

What if I have five minutes of downtime and there's no book handy? I'm always prepared for that eventuality. But this can be an expensive habit. Lately I've been hitting the used book stores in town to save money. Most offer a book exchange discount, or are at least less expensive pricing than buying new.

I came across an interesting site that offers a unique solution for this - www.bookswim.com. It's basically Netflix for books. They have different levels of membership that allow users to rent several books each month and then sign up for new books to be delivered when the others are returned.

Since both my kids are turning out to be similarly bookworm-ish, I was happy to see a very large children's section, as well as everything else from fiction to cookbooks. What a great idea!

I came across a very cool informational resource for moms - the Web site www.mamapedia.com. It's an informational resource pool for Moms on a wide variety of topics - everything from potty training to weight loss to teen curfew.

There's no registration required or cost involved. It's a community forum where moms can ask questions and other moms share their advice. So, for the mom's who might have an embarrassing question, or an issue they are wrestling with at 1 a.m., there's a place to go with answers or ideas from other people who know where she's coming from.

Jo Frost of ABC's "Supernanny" will be at Downtown Disney in front of the AMC Theaters at the Disneyland Resort April 25 and 26 from 12-4 p.m. to share parenting tips while the show's casting team meets families interested in being on the upcoming fifth season.

Producers are looking for families with unique interests, parents who have both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances, teen moms, parents with kids who are bullies, culturally diverse parents and blended families where both sides are seeking help.

Interested parents can apply at www.supernanny.com or e-mail at supernanny@shedmediaus.com. Call 877-626-6984 for more information.

With its nature center and miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, the Hidden Valley Wildlife area is a close and inexpensive destination for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, said Ronald Baxter, natural resource manager for the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District.

The 1,500-acre park, nestled among the hills of southwest Riverside, has woods, scrubs, wildflowers and wildlife ranging from bobcats and gray fox to meadowlarks and turkey vultures.

"It's kind of the forgotten park," said Ronald Baxter, natural resource manager for the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District. "It's a great place to hike, picnic and bird watch."

Mark Zaleski/The Press-Enterprise

Jackson Elementary School first grade students check out their magnifying glasses before exploring the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area in Riverside.

Surrounding and including portions of the Santa Ana River, the park lies in Riverside just east of Norco. The park is maintained in a cooperative arraignment between the park district, the California Department of Fish and Game and the City of Riverside.

Park interpreter Margie Valdez said the nature center offers tours during the week that include hikes, crafts and games. Saturdays have family programs with such activities as bird walks. Mammals that inhabit the park include coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, possum, ground squirrels, cotton tail rabbit, gopher, long tailed weasels and the gray fox.

There are also more than 80 species of birds, including great blue heron, great egret, red tailed hawks, turkey vultures, northern harrier, kestrels, small birds such as meadow larks, western blue birds and migratory birds such as Canadian geese and white
pelicans.

"As the seasons progress there's always a different assemblage of birds," Baxter said. "The area's habitats include willows, cottonwoods, sycamores and some upper areas support coastal sage scrub.

The park is open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The hours will extend to 7 p.m. after Memorial Day through the summer season. The nature center is open to the public Saturdays and by appointment Monday through Friday.

HIDDEN VALLEY WILDLIFE AREA
Where: 11401 Arlington Ave., Riverside
Hours: The park is open 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily; The Nature Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment only Monday-Friday
Cost: $4 per vehicle
Information: 951-785-7452, www.hiddenvalleynaturecenter.org

UPCOMING EVENTS
Bird Walk
An experienced bird walker will guide visitors on a walk along the river bottom while identifying birds.
When: 8-11:30 a.m. April 25
Cost: $2 per person

Duck Daze
Family fun activities such as hayrides, crafts, games, live animal presentations, nature walks and more.
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., May 16
Cost: $4 per person

Share your ideas for cheap family fun here.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

For all you Twitter fans, MOMarama is now on Twitter! Look for PEcom_moms to follow Inland Mom happenings.

Several youth art classes are about to begin at the Riverside Art Museum. If you have a little artist in training, here are the details:

Riverside Art Museum
3425 Mission Inn Ave.
951-684-7111
www.riversideartmuseum.org

C10 Mommy & Me and Daddy Too!
Ages 3 to 10
When: 9:30-10:30a.m. Saturdays, April 18 to May 23
What: Children and accompanying adults get to create fabulous works of art including drawings, paintings and paper sculpture in a fun, creative, stress-free atmosphere. All supplies are provided.
Cost: $75 ($67.50 for Museum members) for one child and accompanying adult participant. Add $15 for each additional participant.
Instructor: RAM staff

C11 Mixed Media
Ages 7-12
When: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays, April 18-May 23
What: This class is intended to give students the opportunity to express themselves with a variety of art experiences including drawing, painting, clay and sculpture. All supplies will be provided.
Cost: $87 (Museum members)
Instructor: RAM staff

C6 Fun with Clay
Ages 6-10
When: 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, April 22-May 27
What: Learn to make a variety of objects, toys and pots. Learn coil and slab techniques using air dry clay. Work with a ceramic artist and learn the ins and outs of creating hand built objects.
Cost: $87 ($78.30 Museum members)
Instructor: Melissa Culley

Contact Youth Education Curator Pamela Atkinson for more information.

Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer, Moreno Valley and Redlands native, were this week's dismissed dancers on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

The couple had the lowest scores from the judges several weeks running.

Steve-O, who was open throughout the show about his substance recovery program, said he felt good about the challenges he met - including an on-set injury - without drugs.

"I met a lot of challenges, I made a lot of mistakes and the fans kept me around long enough to learn from it all," he said. "It's forced me to grow as a person and for that I'm very grateful."

Seven celebs remain in the competition including rapper Lil Kim; rodeo champ Ty Murray; former football star Lawrence Taylor; olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson; country singer Chuck Wicks; "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft; and actor Gilles Marini.

With a little advance planning you can take the family to many different museums in the area for free. Most offer free admission one day each month and many times, there are family activities planned on that day. So here's the scoop on the freebies:

First Sundays
Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Metropolitan Museum and San Bernardino County Museum all offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month. Sometimes it's just free admission, other times the Sunday coincides with a Family Fun Day that includes crafts, games or other activities.
RAM, 3425 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside 909-684-7111
Riverside Metropolitan, 3580 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside 951-826-5273
SB County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands 909-307-2669

First Tuesday
The Page Museum (La Brea Tar Pits) and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County are both free on the first Tuesday of every month.
Page Museum, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 323-934-7243
Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles 213-763-3466

Second Tuesday
The Autry National Center of the American West and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art are both free on the second Tuesday of every month.
Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles 323-667-2000
LA County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 323-857-6000

First Thursday
The Huntington Library in San Marino is also free the first Thursday of every month if tickets are ordered at www.huntington.org or by calling 800-838-3006.
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino 626-405-2100

Anytime
Head to the California Science Center in Los Angeles anytime for
free, although donations are encouraged.
700 State Dr., Los Angeles 323-724-3223

Share your ideas for cheap family fun here.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

The Lake Elsinore Outlet offers free kid-friendly activities every Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Suite 106. There are two more April Friday's and then a new group of activities are planned for May. Here's the lowdown:

April 17
Children can grow their creativity with a flowerpot and flower recipe card holder craft.
April 24
Get them saving with a piggy bank craft.
May 1
Celebrate Mother's Day by making a foam flowers bouquet.
May 15
Polynesian dancers will perform and then children get to participate in a lei craft.
May 22
Children can learn about safari animals and have a chance to visit some unique safari animals up close.
May 29
Children can participate in a bird house mobile craft.

Visit www.lakeelsinore.outlet.com for more details.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

I'll be compiling summer camp suggestions from all over the Inland region, but there's a lot out there.

I'm finding anything from art, sports and science day camps at area art centers and museums to waterski, rock climbing and music camps in local mountains.

If you have a cool summer camp idea for kids, share it here. Please include contact information so interested families can get all the details.

For more summer camp ideas go here.

I'll be adding regular blog entries with budget-friendly family activity ideas, but there's a lot out there.

Museums are offering free admission days, libraries are hosting free family fun activities and shopping destinations are hosting family craft, music or game days to name just a few things to do for the families looking for fun on a budget.

If you have an idea for an inexpensive family activity, share it here.

For more cheap fun ideas go here.

This summer's day camp activities at the San Bernardino County Museum will offer activities for little ones and the big kids with old fashioned play and animal friends.

Grandma's Attic
Ages 4-7
This is a special mini-summer day camp for our mini-friends with their special adult. Each parent, grandparent or responsible adult may bring up to three children ages 4-7 to Grandma's Attic and play alongside them.

It takes families back to a simpler time when kids made their own fun and imaginations ruled. The imaginary attic will have old-fashioned toys and games. Build a fort from boxes, make a pinwheel, play dress up, etc.

When: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., June 29-July 1
Cost: $75 per child for non-members; $65 per child for members, free for accompanying adults
Register: Deadline is June 19 at 4 p.m.
Information: 909-307-2669, ext. 256, www.sbcountymuseum.org

Animals Around Us
Ages 7-12
This camp focuses on the diversity of animal life in our urban environment. Which animals like living with humans and which ones avoid us? Which make good pets and which don't? Campers will get to meet some local animal residents up close and observe others from a distance. On Friday afternoon the campers' families will be invited to attend a "Celebration of Animals" from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to meet and hear about some of their child's favorite new friends.

Session 1: July 6-10 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Session 3: July 20-24, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Cost: $155 (non-members), $135 (museum members) per week

Playing with History
Ages 7-12
Step into the past and play with history to find out what life was like long ago. Learn about the first people who lived here and the Spanish and American settlers who expanded into this area. Find out how your grandparents lived in the 20th century. Throw a spear, make a broom, beat a rug, make a real adobe brick, learn to dance the "Charleston" and more. At the end of each week campers' families will join for a "Historic Celebration."

Session 2: July 13-17, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Session 4: July 27-31, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Cost: $155 (non-members), $135 (museum members) per week

For more summer camp ideas go here.

Looking for some variety in your summer camps? Check out My Learning Studio in Riverside, where day camps range from building rockets to making toe rings and getting a pedicure.

My Learning Studio
17072 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside
www.mylearningstudio.com
951-789-5402

Space Cadettes
July 6-10
Make your own solar system, edible martians and explore the planets in this camp. Find out if Pluto is really a planet and how many moons Saturn has. Build a rocket that will be launched on the last day at camp.

Exploring Eruptions & Reactions
July 20-24
Explore chemical reactions and the why and how volcanos erupt. Build your own volcano and rocket to be erupted and launched on the final day of camp. This is the MOST POPULAR camp, so register early.

How the Body Works
Part I July 13-17
Part II August 3-7
Learn about how the body works through taste, touch, creation, painting and more.

Jus' for Girls
August 10-14
Bring out your inner girly girl with a week of facials, manicures, pedicurese and making bath salts. You'll also make toe rings, bracelets, charms and friendship pins, in addition to new friends.

For more summer camp ideas go here.

Summer camp time is just around the corner so I'll be posting camp suggestions on a regular basis. Here's the first of many in the Inland region:

Summer Egyptian Art Workshop For Kids
Where: Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum, CSUSB, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino
Who: 6th grade students (ages 11-12)
When: July 27-30, 2009. Two sessions: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. & 3-6 p.m.
Cost: $60.00 ($50.00 for Friends of the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum, CSUSB Alumni Association members, and CSUSB's faculty and staff)
Contact: Tiffany Talavera at (909) 537-3374 or email ttalaver@csusb.edu

Each year the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum organizes the Summer Egyptian Art Workshop for Kids. This popular, week-long, after-school program draws students from neighboring communities throughout San Bernardino County.

The workshop is conducted during the months of July or August and includes many hands-on activities as well as educational lectures and special tours of the art museum's extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities.

Participating students learn about Egyptian history, culture and art. Led by trained docents, children participate in a variety of art projects including staged-archeological digs, molding clay figurines and making beads out of authentic ancient Egyptian molds. In the process of learning about Egypt through art, students also learn basic art concepts and vocabulary that are then applied to each of their hands-on projects.

The Museum, in partnership with the Art Education program at CSUSB, collaborates with art educators from local schools to create the workshop curriculum. The hard work, dedication and creative imagination of all the participants result in a fun learning environment, which opens an entirely new world of art to the young minds.

For more summer camp ideas go here.

"O, The Oprah Magazine" and "Seventeen" magazine recently partnered up for a survey that investigated communication between mothers and daughters. The findings showed that having the sex talk before daughters become sexually active can make a difference.

"It can be awkward for mothers to talk to their teenage daughters about sex," said Susan Reed, "O, The Oprah Magazine" editor in chief. "We learned that mothers - nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of whom didn't have The Talk with their own mothers before their first time - seem to be open to talking with their daughters, they just need the right communication tools to be heard."

Behavior finding in the study were:

• 78 percent of the girls surveyed who are no longer virgins say they've had sex without using a condom, and 65 percent of them admitted they lied about or hid it from their mothers.


• 56 percent of the girls who are no longer virgins say they've had sex without any form of birth control and 66 percent have kept it a secret from their mothers.


• 30 percent of the 15 to 18 year olds in the survey have had oral sex.

• 60 percent of the girls that participated in the study said talking to their mothers affected their decisions about sex.


• 26 percent said talking with their mothers has made them practice (or plan to practice) safe sex. The same number said it made them wait (or plan to wait) longer to have it.


• 18 percent said The Talk made them use (or plan to use) hormonal birth control.

The May issues of "Seventeen" and "O, The Oprah Magazine" are both already out on newsstands.

The Sex Talk Survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive for both magazines between January 5 and 15 among 1,122 girls ages 15 to 22 and 1,098 mothers who have daughters ages 15-22.

Michaels - one of my favorite stores to get lost in - has a new series of free family activities day.

These Family Fun Events, titled "The Knack," are meant to help kids explore their creativities with projects and crafts designed just for kids. All 1,000 plus Michaels stores are participating. So here's the details for April:

The Knack - Science
When: 1-3 p.m., April 11
What: Kids can learn to think like a scientist with hands-on demo science experiments.

The Knack - Spring
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., April 18
What: Kids can make spring critters out of fun shapes. Critters go home with their creators.

Share your ideas for inexpensive things to do at www.PE.com/cheapseats.

For more cheap family fun go here.

In tonight's "Dancing With the Stars," we got a triple hitter of Inland local talent with Moreno Valley native and "Dancing" cast member Lacey Schwimmer, a performance by her brother Benji Schwimmer, winner of the 2006 season of "So You Think You Can Dance," and Riverside area resident Etta James, with a special performance of "At Last."

Steve-O and Lacey - despite sitting at the bottom of the judging pool yet again - got a "you're safe" pass early on in the evening, much to their mutual surprise if their expressions were any indication.

Bottom tier couples this week?
David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson, Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska. Dance off time.

In the end, it was David and Kym with the lowest combined scores up through and including this week 5 episode. Poor David, he looks really sad.

Parents are looking for ways to stretch a buck even farther these days. Southern California's libraries, museums and other organizations are increasingly happy to oblige, offering free or inexpensive family programs and activities.

On Sunday, families converged on downtown Riverside for the monthly First Sunday activities. Each month from October through May seven area organizations offer an afternoon of free activities such as crafts, music, workshops and more.

Terry Pierson/The Press-Enterprise

Bubble boy Thomas Rollins, 4 of Riverside, center puts his arm into a bubble made by Sue Boyles of Riverside, left at First Congregational Church of Riverside.

Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Metropolitan Museum, Riverside Public Library, UCR California Museum of Photography, UCR Sweeney Art Gallery, the Mission Inn, the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council and the First Congregational Church participate each month in these activities, as well as other events geared toward families.

The San Bernardino County Museum also has free admission on the first Sunday of each month, sometimes coupled with family day events. The Biane Library in Rancho Cucamonga offers free weekly preschool and family story time activities in addition to other free events such as its upcoming Arts and Literature Family Fun Night April 17.

Two Temecula libraries host free weekly children's programs such as the upcoming "The Earth Is In Our Hands" Environmental Magic Show April 15 at the Temecula Public Library and Crafty Kids April 20 at the Grace Mellman Library.

The final Riverside First Sunday activities will fall on May 3 and then it will begin again in October.

"Captain Carl and His Mobile Tide Pool will be at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum on that day," said Marilyn Morris, coordinator for First Sundays at the Library. "When he comes, that's always the biggest day of the year. We'll have 500 people."

Each organization will have other activities for children and teens throughout the summer, including summer reading programs and summer camps. First Sundays will return October 4.

Venture outside Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for more budget-friendly family activities. The Autry National Center of the American West is free on the second Tuesday of every month. The Huntington Library in San Marino is also free the first Thursday of every month if tickets are ordered at www.huntington.org or by calling 800-838-3006.

Admission is free to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on the second Tuesday of each month and next door, the Page Museum is free on the first Tuesday of each month.

Head to the California Science Center in Los Angeles anytime for free, although donations are encouraged. Then round off the day with a trip to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Exposition Park on the first Tuesday of the month for one last freebie.

First Sundays
Where: Downtown Riverside, Mission Inn Ave.
When: First Sunday of each month from October through May
Hours: 1-4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: www.inlandarts/com/event/detail/37503

After sitting at the bottom of the judges scoreboard with solid 5s in last week's episode of "Dancing With the Stars," Moreno Valley native Lacey Schwimmer and her partner Steve-O performed a sweet, but slightly strange waltz ... dressed as mimes.

Len Goodman said: "I'm always being negative about you - don't get overexcited - but it was your best dance."

Bruno Tonioli said: "You're timing was on tonight. There's still more to do, but it was a step in the right direction."

Carrie Ann Inaba said: "The only problem - if you are back next week - work on your posture."

Scores? Carie Anne 6, Len 6, Bruno 6. Best scores for the couple so far.

Tune in tomorrow night to see if our local stays in her dancing shoes.

Moreno Valley toddler Isabella Vertti, 2, is a finalist in the online Pull-Ups Potty Dance contest. Videos were submitted by parents and a panel of judges has narrowed it down to the top 10 finalists.

Little Isabella is known as "Princess Isabella" in the contest. Look for Isabella wearing all pink and a ballet tutu, dancing on top of her toy box to spot her in the video at www.DoThePottyDance.com.

Isabella began the potty training process just a couple months ago, said Alexandra Vertti, Isabella's mom.

Fans can vote once each day at www.DoThePottyDance.com until 4/25/09. The winner will be announced online on 4/30/09.

Prom season is upon us and for many families, the cost might be a tough sell this year. But some schools and students are gearing up for the challenge with creative solutions.

Nichole Griffith already did her shopping for her Murrieta Valley High School prom, scheduled for May 2 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. She hit a Windsor Fashions clearance rack and snagged a prom dress for $14.99 (original price $149.90). The matching shoes were a $1 thrift store find.

Ed Crisostomo/The Press-Enterprise

Murrieta resident Nichole Griffith, 18,tries on her new prom dress purchased off a sales rack at Windsor Fashions.

"I went to a local thrift store and it just happened to be all shoes for $1 day," Griffith said. "The dress didn't look good on the rack, but after you took it off the hanger it was so nice. My last prom dress ... sophomore year ... was $60, still pretty good. It was on sale too."

After sharing her good deals with friends, many others decided to head for the sales racks, hoping for similar finds.

Rosalyn Anderson, a teacher at John W. North High School in Riverside has her own yearly prom tradition. She drives a group of students to the Jessica McClintock Outlet in Montclair to search for prom deals.

"Yesterday I took six girls," Anderson said. "Three of the six bought dresses, one dress was $40 ... the other two $15 and $25. I also ask friends to let me have any of their prom dresses hanging in closets collecting dust to donate them to me and then I spread the word that I have dresses available in my classroom for anyone interested."

San Bernardino High School also has a program for prom and other formal occasions.

"Each year our cheer coach and prom teacher advisor seeks dresses from the staff, graduates and community members for clean and gently worn formal dresses," said Sandra Rodriquez. "We also work with a seamstress located across the street from our school. She makes custom dresses at extremely low prices."

This year San Bernardino High School's prom will be at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. It was booked about a year in advance.

"For the last two years we have offered packages that include prom tickets, cap and gown; and other senior activities," Rodriguez said. "We encourage our families to utilize the payment plans ... we offer plans that will spread the costs over a school year.

"Although times are not favorable, going to prom for many students is a rite of passage. For many, it will be their first date or their first formal event. Our families want to make sure that their children have a great memory of this special event ... I know that our school communities and business partners will work together to ensure a spectacular night for our kids."

If you have ideas/suggestions for creating a great prom on a tight budget, please share here!

Riverside Youth Theatre is seeking talented young performers for its Summer Youth Theatre Festival.

Youth from first-grade level to 20 years of age are encouraged to audition for the musical shows "Mulan Jr." and "On Broadway Now."

"Mulan Jr." is a stage adaptation of Disney's animated film that tells the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a male soldier to prevent family disgrace and ends up saving imperial China form the Huns. The score includes favorites like "Reflection," "Honor to Us All" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You." Sixty students from first through eighth grades will be cast.

"On Broadway Now" is a revue featuring music from recent musicals on Broadway, including "Grease," "Jersey Boys," "Legally Blonde," "Mary Poppins," and "The Little Mermaid." Sixty teen-agers from grade sent though to 20 years of age will be cast.

Vocal auditions will be April 23 at 3 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church, 3624 Arlington Ave., in Riverside. Hopefuls should plan to sing one minute of a show tune.

Information: www.RiversideYouthTheatre.org or call (951) 756-4240.

Know of something that will cost you nothing or next to it in the Inland area?

Go tell the world at www.PE.com/cheapseats.

You might need to create an account so you can post it, but it's pretty painless.

This is new, but I'm already seeing some great activities including a knitting workshop, a basic bike maintenance class for the cyclers out there and a ticket deal for the USS Midway Museum.

Visit the site to post your idea, or to look for an inexpensive outing.

PBS show Curiosity Quest aired the first of 13 new episodes in its second season of "Curiosity Quest Goes Green" March 30. This episode will repeat Friday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. Each week host Joel Greene will go on "green" quests dedicated to earth-friendly practices, exploring environmental innovations.

The television program, aimed at elementary and middle-school students, will highlight topics such as how electronics are recycled, how trash can become energy and how milk jugs are transformed into kids toys.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

"Curiosity Quest" host Joel Greene visits an exotic animal rescue facility in the new season of "Curiosity Quest Goes Green."

For each show, Greene selects a viewer submitted question or quest request and follows up. The 30 minute weekly episodes will run through June 22.

Some of the quest destinations will include Patagonia Clothing Manufacturer, an exotic animal rescue facility and a water treatment facility.

Episodes air Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on KVCR, Inland Empire channel 24, 25 or 26, repeating Friday at 6:30 p.m. In the Coachella Valley, "Curiosity Quest" airs Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on KVCR cable channel 9 and on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on KVCR-2 satellite channel 18.

For more information go to www.curiosityquest.org

We're all looking for free fun for the kids these days.

From the folks at Travel Zoo:

Take the kids aboard the exciting USS Midway Museum with this special: Get a FREE youth ticket (Reg. $9) with every adult ticket (Reg. $17) purchased.

The historic aircraft carrier is home to incredible 20th-century history: It's 47-year history stretches from World War II to Desert Storm.

Be sure to make your way up to the Midway's flight deck, which showcases dozens of restored planes and offers fantastic views of San Diego's harbor. For flight enthusiasts and daredevils, test your "Top Gun" skills aboard one of several flight simulators (additional fees apply).

Located alongside Navy Pier on the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego, the USS Midway Museum is also in a fantastic location for harbor strolls.

**Note: You can only get this deal online.