What: The Atlanta Opera’s Rabbit Tales World Premiere
Where: The Wren’s Nest, 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 404-881-8801
When: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, 11 am – 2:30 pm
Cost: Free and open to the public

Join The Atlanta Opera for a fun filled day to celebrate the world premiere of their first-ever opera commission Rabbit Tales. Family-friendly activities from 11 am – 1 pm  include storytelling, Wren’s Nest museum tours, craft activities and face painting. At 1 pm be enchanted with the world premiere performance of The Atlanta Opera’s first-ever opera commission, Rabbit Tales, on the outdoor stage in teh natural grass amphitheatre. Stick around after the performance for a talk-back session with the composer, librettist, director and designer. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy your picnic or snack on the lawn!

What: Burn the Floor
Where: Fox Theatre
When: March 22 – 27, 2011
Cost: Tickets start at $13 Through Ticketmaster or the Fox Box Office

If you’re a “Dancing with the Stars” or “So You Think You Can Dance” fan, you might want to check out the Broadway show Burn the Floor next week at the Fox Theatre. Several “So You Think You Can Dance” and even an “American Idol” alum are in the cast.

The show is a dance spectacular showcasing every form of dance from the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston to the Cha-Cha, Salsa and even the Waltz.

Want to win one of two pairs of Tickets to see Burn the Floor on either Tues., March 22 or Wed., March 23? If so, leave a comment below letting me know your favorite dance. We’ll announce the winner on Monday.

Want an extra shot at winning:
Twitter: Follow @suerodman and tweet me your favorite dance.
Facebook: “Like” Field Trips with Sue and leave a comment on the wall letting us know you want to win (and your favorite dance).

You can also enter to win tickets to Burn the Floor at My Busy Children.

What: Nuclear Cowboyz Freestyle Motocross Extravaganza
Where: Philips Arena
When: Sat., Feb. 5, 2011, 7:30 pm
Cost: $20, $30, $40 $100 VIP (tickets $2 more day of show)
Specials: $10 kids tickets or $15 tickets (from Atlanta on the Cheap)
Note: prices do not include handling fees

My boys couldn’t get enough of the Winter X-Games on ESPN last weekend. They also love the summer games. If you or your kids are Summer X fans, then you’ll love Nuclear Cowboyz, a freestyle motocross extravaganza that features some of the biggest names in the Summer X-Games.

The show is the story of two motorcycle tribes in a post-apocalyptic world fighting for world supremacy. The kids don’t care about that though, it’s the gravity defying aeriel feats of the riders mixed with the awesome light and pyrotechnic show. They even light a rider on fire and have him flip through the air! There’s really no show like it.

How to win Tickets to Nuclear Cowboyz:
Leave a comment below and let me know why you’d like to win tickets
Follow @suerodman on Twitter and tweet: I want to see @NuclearCowboyz @philipsarena Sat. Feb. 5! cc: @suerodman
Like Field Trips with Sue on Facebook and let us know why you want to win tickets.

I’ll pick a winner pretty quick on this one, so make sure to enter right away.

Photo by Joan Marcus, 2010

What: West Side Story
When: January 25 – 31, 2011
Where: Fox Theatre
Cost: Prices start at $18. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or at the Fox Theatre box office.

West Side Story is the modern musical adaption of Romeo and Juliet that debuted on Broadway in 1957.  Interestingly, the setting was to take place on New York’s Lower East Side with tensions flaring between Jews and Catholics during the Passover and Easter holidays.  The original setting left the authors uninspired and the project was put on hold.  Years later, when Arthur Laurents proposed changing the basis of conflict from religion to race, the show gained creative momentum and West Side Story was born.

Joan Marcus, 2010

This should be a great production. The latest album version won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest. I recognize some of the songs and didn’t realize they were from this show including: “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty,” and “Somewhere.”

Field Trips with Sue is giving away two tickets to see this show on opening night, Tues., Jan. 25. Here’s how to win, each item is a new entry.

How You Can Win Tickets
Subscribe to Field Trips with Sue by email (and be sure to follow-up and verify your subscription)
Leave a comment: Let me know you’d like to win by leaving a comment below.
Like Field Trips with Sue on Facebook: Post something on the wall about West Side Story
Follow @suerodman on Twitter: Tweet - See West Side Story @theFoxTheatre 1.25 – 1.31 @suerodman has a giveaway on Field Trips w/Sue 
Email: Invite two friends to subscribe to Field Trips with Sue and join our Facebook community. cc: sue(at)fieldtripswithsue.com on the emails.

What: Yo Gabba Gabba! Live There’s a Party in My City!
Where: Fox Theatre
When: Sat., Oct. 23 and Sun., Oct. 24, 2010 at 2 pm and 5 pm
Cost: Tickets start at $28 (+fees) Or you can win tickets here to the 5 pm show on Oct. 23

The popular Nick Jr. show, Yo Gabba Gabbba  is coming to Atlanta as a live performance Oct. 23 and 24. On Oct. 24, Grammy Winner Zac Brown will join DJ Lance Rock and the rest of the Gabba Gang. Other special guests include a surprise Dancey Dance guest, and Hip-Hop legend Biz Markie who shows kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day.”

I have to admit, I haven’t seen this show and I have absolutely no idea what beat boxing is, so if you know, please tell me. Nothing like a show aimed at preschoolers to make you feel old and out-of-touch.

Although I may be stuck in the stone age, I know there are lots of Field Trips with Sue readers who would LOVE to see Yo Gabba Gabba! If you’re one of them and you’d like to win a family four pack, leave a comment below and tell me about the Dancey Dance guest or how you beat box or maybe just what is beat boxing? Remember these tickets are for the Sat. Oct. 23 5 pm show only.

Want extra chances to win?
Twitter: follow @suerodman and tweet “Yo Gabba Gabba is in town! For details or a chance to win tickets see @suerodman”
Facebook: “like” Field Trips with Sue and leave a comment on the wall. Again, tell me about Dancey Dance or the beat box thing.

We’ll announce the winners on Tues. Oct. 12

What: Nickelodeon’s Storytime Live! Stage Show
Where: Fabulous Fox Theatre
When: June 11 – 13, 2010
Cost: Prices start at $12, Win tickets here!

Last fall we went to the Nickelodeon Hotel in Orlando. The boys loved meeting Dora, The Wonder Pets and their friends at the character breakfast. Now you can see Dora and her friends at the Storytime Live! stage show at the Fox Theatre. Order your tickets through ticketmaster today!

Want to win tickets? Leave a comment below with your full name. We’ll pick one winner of a family four pack on Wed. evening – so check back.

Want an extra chance to win? “Like” Field Trips with Sue on Facebook and leave a comment on this entry.

Want a third chance? Follow @suerodman and tweet “@suerodman, I want to see Storybook Live! @foxtheatre”

First, the winners of our Center for Puppetry Arts tickets are Jennifer H and Natalie. Congratulations! Send me your full name and address and we’ll have the tickets mailed to you.

This morning I spent some time with Jeff Quattrocchi , aka The SwampMaster on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. Jeff has risen to fame because of a YouTube video of an alligator eating his arm. I knew Jeff way back when (about two years ago) when he did an alligator show at the Illinois State Fair in DuQuion. Ok, so I didn’t know him, but I saw his show. How weird to meet him now. He was a very nice, normal, (well except for the wrestling alligator part) guy. His show was quite good too, so if you get a chance to see it, by all means, do.

So here is what we discussed this morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. As always, you can view the Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS’ website.

FREE Outdoor Movies
Flips & Flapjacks
Mr. Greggy’s Silly Circus and Family Movie at the Plaza Theatre (look for this post next week)

All-Comers Track Meet
Center for Puppetry Arts Passport to Summer Kick-Off (we’re giving away tickets next week too!)
Storytime Live! at the Fox Theatre (look for a ticket giveaway in the next week)
Summer Activity List (This is a link to one list. Next week we’ll have another)

Field Trips with Sue is excited to introduce you to another great family blog and local blogger. Jenni Hilton is the author of Forsyth County, GA for Families, a blog about things to do with kids in the northern Atlanta suburb of Forsyth County. The following is an excerpt from a recent post. Thanks Jenni for sharing.

By Jenni Hilton, Forsyth County, GA for Families
I was a working mom until about a week ago and now am transitioning to a stay at home mom. It is an odd but exciting feeling to be able to stay home with my daughters for the summer. So now I am planning on things to do that are low or no-cost in North Atlanta.

I will share the places I find and hope it helps you add to your summer adventures. I live in Forsyth County, GA so this will focus on this area for the most part. I will also update this as I go. Happy trails!

Forsyth County Parks – we are fortunate to have a wealth of parks available for our leisure. Here is a list with plenty of resources. Central Park is a favorite hangout.Poole’s Mill has a wonderful creek and shady playground.

Movies 400 – free summer movies on Tuesday and Thursdays at 10:00 am. The concession stand offers a special size $1.00 Popcorn and $1.00 Soda for these showings only. Join us this summer for free movies. Bring a can of food to support our can food drive and receive a free popcorn! (Free Family Film Festival Size only, Limit One Per Customer)

Forsyth County Public Library – activities, puppet shows and a calendar for story time keep the library a fresh fun place to go. Plus checking out books keeps our reading library replenished at no cost!

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center- Autrey Mill, located in Alpharetta, has miles of walking trails, a Heritage Village with original buildings and artifacts from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, animal exhibits and replicas of Native American dwellings. All activities on the grounds are free.
9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek, GA 30022.

Chattahoochee Nature Center – walking trails and educational sessions with a low cost admission is fun for the whole family.

Wills Park Wacky World and Disc Golf is a 110-acre park featuring baseball fields, a disc golf course, lighted tennis courts, picnic pavilions, walking trails and two large playgrounds, including “Wacky World,” a unique kingdom that kids rave about. Situated at the edge of the park is the Alpharetta city pool, which has a diving well with three boards, a shaded kiddie, shaded and open deck areas and a concession stand.

Suwanee Town Center Park and Playtown Suwanee – a little bit further away but adventure awaits with an interactive fountain, lots of greenspace and a great playground.

For more great ideas for families in Forsyth County, go to Jenni’s post on Free and Cheap things to do in Forsyth, Ga.

What: Center for Puppetry Arts, Passport to Puppetry
When: Kick-off event is Sat. June 5, 2010, 12 – 2 pm, but the event goes all summer
Where: Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. Atlanta
Cost: Passport program is free, puppet show and create a puppet workshop is $16
Win tickets here!

If you’ve never been to the Center for Puppetry Arts, you should make a point to go this summer. As an added bonus, the Center is offering a “Passport to Summer” program. See three or more shows and win prizes including finger puppets, museum gift shop gift certificates, free guided museum tours and free show tickets. See all six summer shows and get all the prizes plus a photo with a real puppeteer!

This Sat., June 5, the Center is kicking off the program with Rita’s Italian Ice. From 12 – 2 pm guests can enjoy free samples of Rita’s Italian Ice, pick up their passport and see the puppet show Stellaluna. All puppet shows include free admission to the museum exhibits and a Create-A-Puppet-Workshop where kids can make a puppet of their own to take home. If you can’t stay for the workshop, ask for a Create-A-Puppet To-Go kit.

Showtimes on June 5 for Stellaluna are 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. The show runs through June 6. Other shows this summer include:
June 8 – 20 – The Lion, the Mouse & other Aesop’s Fables
June 22 – July 3 – Hansel & Gretel
July 6 – 18 – Billy Goat’s Gruff & other Stuff
July 20 – Aug. 1 – Everybody Loves Pirates
Aug. 6 – Sept. 12 – Rumpelstiltskin

Want to win tickets to see a Center for Puppetry Arts show? Leave a comment below and let us know what you have planned for this summer. We’ll choose four winners to receive a family four pack good through the season. We’ll announce two winners on Thursday evening and then two more next week.

Want an extra shot at winning? Follow @suerodman on twitter and tweet the following: @suerodman, Can’t wait to see the puppets @ctrpuppetryarts.

You can also follow up on Facebook. Leave a comment under this post on the Field Trips with Sue Facebook page and you’ll get a third shot at winning.

What: Meet and Greet with Dora the Explorer
When: Sat. May 15 – Tues. May 19, 2010
Where: See below
Cost: Free with admission to the attractions (Win tickets to an exclusive Meet and Greet, see info below!)

If you’ve got toddlers and preschoolers, you know all about Dora. I bet you’re singing the song right now, D-d-d-d-Dora… Well, Dora is coming to town with the rest of her Nickelodeon friends in the new stage show Storytime Live! at the Fox Theatre from June 11 – 13.

Dora is doing a bit of advance work and her appearances are listed below. However, we’ve got a GREAT opportunity for one lucky family to participate in an invitation only Meet & Greet with Dora at Gwinnett Place Mall from 5 – 6 pm tomorrow (Friday, May 14, 2010). If you would like to win the tickets, just leave a comment below and check back tomorrow afternoon when we’ll announce the winner.
Want an extra shot at winning? Tweet: I want to win tickets to see Dora from @suerodman of Field Trips with Sue #ftws.

Good luck! If you don’t win, here is the appearance schedule for Dora the Explorer.  Unless otherwise noted, Dora will be available for autographs, photos and—of course—hugs!

Saturday, May 15
Georgia Aquarium Meet & Greet – 12 p.m.
Dora will mix and mingle with little ones visiting her aquatic friends at the world’s largest aquarium.  Meet & Greet is included with admission.  To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.

ALIVE! Expo at Georgia World Congress Center – 2 p.m.
This two-day event focuses on the benefits of natural products and green living.  Dora will make a special appearance in the Kids Eco Fitness Center alongside members of the Atlanta Falcons.  Event entry for children under 16 is free, and adult ticket information can be found at www.aliveexpo.com.  Discount tickets are available with a donation of two or more non-perishable food items and promo code:  DORA.

Sunday, May 16
Atlanta Braves vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field – 11:45 a.m. (Game at 1:35 p.m.)
Dora will be in Fan Plaza before the game to meet little sports fans and help cheer on the Atlanta Braves as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Families are also invited to stop by at 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for storytime with Dora.  Visit www.braves.com for ticket information.

Monday, May 17
Música y Baile and Cuentos! at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum – 2 p.m.
Dora will participate in two popular children’s programs.  Kids will move and groove at 2 p.m. during the educational Latin rhythms program, Música y Baile.  At 3 p.m. Dora will participate in a reading during Cuentos!, a bilingual story time.  Both events are included with museum admission.  Learn more at www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
**Dora will have limited availability between the two programs for photos.

Wednesday, May 19
Children’s Storybook Time at Atlanta Botanical Garden – 10:30 a.m.
Dora will lead an exciting literary adventure on the great lawn.  This event is included with garden admission.  To learn more, visit www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

Tickets for Storytime Live! are on sale now. Pricing starts at $12. Tickets can be purchased through authorized ticket sellers at The Fox Theatre Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-982-2787.  Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. For more information, visit www.nicklivetour.com.