The sky was overcast and the grass was moist, but that didn’t get in the way of fun at Sports Day on Saturday. It was a perfect day for baseball, soccer, learn to row, Knucklebones and our first ever Swimming Olympics. In the latter sport, kids competed in noodle races, kickboard relays, and like rigorous competition.

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Many thanks to our partners and to all the coaches who made this event special: Cambridge Central Little League, Cambridge Youth Soccer, Riverside Boat Club, Knucklebones & DCR. And great thanks to our sponsors: Sanofi, Forest City, MIT, the Charles River Conservancy and Knucklebones. We couldn’t have done it without them! Working together, we’re making Magazine Beach a nicer park…

Earlier in the day, we were moving the Chi.  Tai Chi classes every Saturday until Aug. 15 at 9:30am.

Sports Day & Tai Chi are ON Today at Magazine Beach. See you at the Park! Parents, take note, for Swimming Olympics (5-6pm), you’ve got to be there, at the pool, for your children to participate. ALSO, if you child is 7 or under, you must be IN THE WATER for the kickboard and noodle races WITH THEM. So bring your swimsuits! For more details about Sports Day, click on Events.

Sunday, the String Quintet of the N. E. Philharmonic performed Dvorak’s String Quintet, Opus 77

Magazine Beach was in full swing this past weekend with Tai Chi on Saturday, the swimming pool at capacity, Riverside Boat Club’s big regatta–the Cromwell Cup, and a concert by the New England Philharmonic.

The river breeze and shade keeps you cool and what a delight it is to hear the sounds of birds, bugs, and children running and cycling around the park.

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This morning Jamie Pittel brought stories and singing to the park. Nature Detectives (birds!) returns tomorrow. And don’t forget about Sports Day–including Swimming Olympics–this Saturday from 3-6pm!

I’m a Little Teapot…

Many thanks to Sanofi, Forest City, MIT and the Charles River Conservancy for sponsoring all of this activity!

TAI CHI: Our first session of Tai Chi begins Saturday at 9:30am. Huan’s Tai Chi Studio brings this ancient Chinese discipline of meditative movement to the park: July 11, 18 & 25 & August 1, 8 & 15. Learn how to “Brush the Peacock’s Tail,” and do the “White Crane” and “Playing Pipa” forms, among others. Gather under the trees on the park side of the pedestrian footbridge (at the foot of Magazine Street). Rain location: Huan’s Tai Chi Studio, 7 Temple St. Donations welcome.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERT: On Sunday (July 12), the New England Philharmonic String Quintet will bring Dvorak’s String Quintet Op.77 to the park at 2pm. Meet under the trees on the park side of the pedestrian footbridge. Bring chairs or blankets to sit on and something cool to drink. FREE! (Note: Rain location is LBJ apartments at 150 Erie Street.)

The NE String Quintet, made up of string section principals of the NE Philharmonic, is committed to bringing classical music to young audiences. They have previously performed at the Boston Children’s Museum. Musician Lisa Pettipew will provide an animated narrative, including an introduction of the string family. This work differs from Dvorak’s other two string quintets (the apprentice work of 1861 and the mature E flat masterpiece written in America in 1893) in that the composer dispenses with a second viola, instead placing a double bass line beneath that of the single cello.

See you at the park! Click on Events above to see our complete list of summer programs!

This morning naturalists from Mass Audubon Habitat led us on a bug hunt at the park. We discovered where bugs live–under rocks, in the grass, and climbing up trees–and delighted in the many varieties we found. Next Tuesday (July 14), we’ll be looking for birds at the park, and on July 21st, flowers. 10am. Free!

This program is for 3-6 year olds, accompanied by an adult. Max: 25 children. Meet under the trees on the park side of the pedestrian footbridge at the foot of Magazine Street & Memorial Drive. We’ll be beside the balloons!

Note: This Sunday (July 12) at 2pm, the New England Philharmonic will bring a Family Friendly Concert to the park. And next Monday (July 13) at 10am, a Youth Librarian at the Central Square Library will return to the park to lead Stories and Singing. Again, meet just beside the pedestrian footbridge.  Stories and Singing will happen July 13 & 27 and August 10 & 24. Free!

Among those there were the Green and Dedmon family and White, Cabral and Ramos families of Cambridge… It was lovely, cool and festive. Lots of pool action, too!

With Amanda Gazin’s stories and singing at the park Monday, we kicked off our summer programs for little ones. Amanda and Jamie, Youth Service Librarians at the Central Square Library, will be back five more Monday mornings at 10am. Mass Audubon will bring Nature Detectives to the park starting next Tuesday at 10am. July 7 will focus on Bugs; July 14 on Birds; and July 21 on Flowers. July 12th the New England Philharmonic String Quintet performs a family-friendly concert, with meet the strings. July 31st will be Sports Day at Magazine Beach and on August 4th the Little Red Wagon Theater brings The Princess, The Pauper and Other Stories to the park. For more information, click on Events above.

The swimming pool is now open, too, each day from 11am-7pm. Head to Magazine Beach this summer for fun, relaxation and a cool, refreshing dip.

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About 100 turned up last night to Salsa along the Charles. While rain seemed imminent, we danced the evening away with DJ Rob Suave, MetaMovements, and Salsa dancers from all over the world–including Cambridgeport! It was joyful and fun and a delight to spend the evening at the powder magazine. No wonder the teenagers love it. To see our lesson and the dancers in motion, look at Werner Grundl of Videosphere’s 8-minute video right here.

Thank you MetaMovements! Thank you Werner. Thank you for the generator, Home Depot. And many thanks to Whole Foods and Snowy Joey’s for bringing their food trucks!

Every painting begins with just one stroke…

And then another…

The Beginning of Something Else as Well: Just One Stroke

Look for Robinson Greig’s Just One Stroke at the park this summer. Thanks to Artist & Craftsman Supply, we’ll have you painting at the park.

Metamovements will lead us in our first Salsa Party at Magazine Beach Park this Saturday, June 20th, 6-8pm (rain date: June 21). Free salsa instruction and social dancing. All are welcome. Bring a picnic. Foodtrucks! Gather beside the Powder Magazine (the granite-block building) for an evening of dancing along the river and under the big, open sky. Free!

There will be limited parking, so please walk, bicycle or take public transportation to the park at 668 Memorial Drive, at the foot of Magazine Street, and across from Micro Center Plaza. The park is a 10-minute walk from the Central Square T stop (red line) and the BU Central Station (green line, D line). You can also take the 47 bus there.

This will be our first event of the 2015 Summer Season. Click on Events above, to learn more about Tai Chi, Stories & Singing, Nature Walks, Concerts, Sports Day, Theater and Bread & Puppet–all coming to the park. Many thanks to this year’s sponsors: Sanofi, Forest City, MIT, Cambridge Arts, the Charles River Conservancy, the Riverside Boat Club, DCR, Knucklebones, and Artist & Craftsman Supply. We couldn’t do this without you!

Salsa Party Saturday, June 20th!
Put on your dancing shoes and join us as we salsa along the river, under the stars! Metamovements will lead us in our first Salsa Dance Party at Magazine Beach next Saturday, June 20th, 6-8pm. (Rain date: Sunday, June 21). It’s FREE. Free lessons. Foodtrucks! Fun! Looking forward to seeing you at Magazine Beach this summer. Yes, finally, it’s summer at the beach–Magazine Beach!