Summer Camp at El Pequeno Artista

Winter still has another month left, but parents will need to start thinking about summer camps very soon. Hard to believe! El Pequeno Artista, on 20th Street and 5th Avenue, just sent out its bi-lingual summer camp information. The program runs a full eight weeks, but single weeks are also an option. Check it out below, or visit their website. (Their Friday kids' movies are still going on...5:15 PM, every Friday.)

the information from EPA follows:

Saludos!

Registrations are open for El Pequeno Artista's Bilingual Summer Program 2009, for children aged 4 to 7. Our carefully designed immersion environment will allow your child - those fluent Spanish language speakers and those are just beginning to learn - to practice every discipline included in our year-round curriculum. Let them be immersed in the Arts en Espanol!

Our curriculum will include Soccer (new this year!), Swimming (with a licensed swimming instructor!), Dance, Arts, Cooking, Percussion and Excursions - the ideal artistic environment to immerse your children in a second language! All our indoor activities are in our air-conditioned studio. Our staff is fully bilingual, professional and experienced in creating the safest, and most fun and educational environment for children in this age range. Our space is temporarily partitioned to accommodate the different activities that take place during camp days.

Registration will be open until April 20th, and payment for the camp is due upon registration. If you are interested in our Program, please reply to this email. We'll send you a registration form, which you can mail or hand-deliver along with your payment by the above-mentioned date. Registration for single weeks is available. Priority for enrollment will be given through April 1st to students currently registered in any workshop at El pequeno artista. After April 1st, students will be admitted to the Summer Program on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Bear in mind that our unique Summer Program has not raised prices this year!

It also operates through the end of the season, when most other programs will be finished!

Camp ages 4 - 7

July 6^th through August 28^th (8 weeks) 9 am to 3 pm $3840

Each separate week is $500

Registration fee $25

Camp includes morning snack. Lunch and extra snacks must be provided by parents. After-camp extended day care is available for a separate fee, for 2 students minimum. Also, if enough students request it, we'll arrange for pick up and drop off services at 2 locations in Brooklyn, for an extra nominal fee.

Wall-E is the Friday Movie at El Pequeno Artista (again)

The last Friday Movie was cancelled due to snow, so here's your chance to see Wall-E at El Pequeno Artista.

from the email:

Our December presentation got canceled due to the snowstorm.
So, here it is THIS Friday:

WALL.E

on a big screen, old fashion projector

Friday 5:15 pm
$6 / person

Juice box included for children
Bring your own snacks and eat while you watch!
--
EL PEQUENO ARTISTA
249 20th St. @ 5th Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.elpequenoartista.com
T: 718.965.1406

Ellis Opens in South(est) Slope - or is it Greenwood Heights?

Or maybe it's Sunset Park? Well, it's within a pleasant enough walk or a quick bus ride from Sunset, so it counts. Besides, they invited us to a sampling of food and drink. You KNOW that deserves a looksee - and tasting.

Although Ellis just opened officially, it has had its doors open to the community for a month or so. It already has several reviews on Yelp.com. It seems like Ellis wants to become a true hangout in the neighborhood. Its calendar features Sunday's "Cheap Wings and Football" and Tuesdays advertise "Canned Beer and Pub Quiz Night." Can't beat that with a stick. Their Mondays sound especially enticing to a cheapskate like me: "Recession Special" - $8 buys you chili & bread with a Rolling Rock on the side. If the chili is any good, it rivals Steinhof's $6 Goulasch.

So the night they had various "press" over for dinner, they served a variety of their Southwestern fare. A highlight was the Rattlesnake skewer in a citrus and garlic marinade. Vanessa, the BViB correspondent who went to the dinner, said it was "surprisingly tasty" and it reminded her of a cut of excellent steak. It was bony, however, and the chef explained that this rattlesnake was from Florida, not Texas, so it was smaller and therefore not de-boned. Ellis usually serves Texas rattlesnake, which is de-boned, but the hurricane had affected the rattlesnake farms. The white bean soup with bacon was also good, and the catfish was tasty as well. The one dinner disappointment for Vanessa was the chicken (a sampling of chipotle, cilantro lime pesto, and red pepper). She described it as mediocre. However, the Sopapilla (Navajo fry bread) with honey and powdered sugar was "phenomenal." Worth a trip in itself!

Drink-wise, Vanessa tried the jalapeno caipirinha and a berry margarita. She warns that they pack a punch - which is exactly where most people want their cocktails to be. Vanessa also gushed that the service was excellent, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Southwest artwork decorates the walls, and together with the dark wood, it makes for a traditional, comfortable eating bar venue.

Vanessa and her husband had a fantastic time and truly enjoyed the food and drinks. She also said that she would definitely return and recommend Ellis to people she likes. Always a good sign.

Brunch has been postponed for a month or so, and high chairs have been promised in about the same amount of time. These are things I love. Is there anything better than a Southwestern brunch with a high-chair?
This is the rattlesnake, and the photo at the top of the post is the sweet and salty fry bread. Both were favorites the night Vanessa went. Photos courtesy of Ellis.