Totally Texas -- Santa's tiny village is big in Richardson

Santa’s Village

411 W. Arapaho Road

Richardson, Texas

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For the past month, my grandkids have been watching Santa’s Village rise on the lawn behind the Richardson city library along Arapaho Road. Santa's Village is a tiny town of brightly colored, kid-sized houses. And for three weekends each December, Santa is in residence.

This year he arrives at 6 p.m. Saturday, December 7, in time to light the town’s holiday tree, staying till 9 p.m. He returns to Richardson December 8, December 12-15, and 19-22.

As of fifteen minutes before this posting, anticipated wintry weather has not caused Richardson to cancel the opening, but if conditions are icy Saturday, cancellations will be posted at 972-744-4301, option 4, and at www.cor.net/santasvillage/.

No matter what the weather, the line to see Santa for pictures and gift requests always winds the length of the village, so best arrive well before the opening. The civic center parking lot fills early, as do the post office and bank lots across the street. Please ask before parking in front of neighboring businesses!

Besides Santa, the village is inhabited by costumed characters ready to chat and pose for pictures with children--maybe even with adults if they ask nicely! Children may leave letters for Santa at the village post office, get a height and weight check-up at the teddy bear hospital, a cookie from the bakery, view the kid-friendly window displays, listen to seasonal music performances, and more.

During daylight hours, when Santa is away, the village is still open for strolling and picture taking. Admission is free, sponsored by Richardson’s Park and Recreation Department.

UPDATE, Friday p.m.:  The city of Richardson reports activities at Santa's Village this weekend are cancelled.  Save those wish lists for next week!

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Need some indoor activities while the weather’s coldest? The Bookmarks branch of the Dallas Public Library inside NorthPark (Northwest Highway and Central Expressway in Dallas) is one of my family’s favorites. I know, shopping malls get crazy in December, but Bookmarks is surprisingly laid back, and one of the few Dallas library branches open on Sundays and Mondays. Comfy chairs, kid-friendly computers, books and magazines even a parent can enjoy. For a schedule of activities, see
http://dallaslibrary2.org/branch/bookmarks/php/.

Totally Texas -- A library designed for kids

Bookmarks

Dallas NorthPark Center

8687 North Central Expressway (Central at Northwest Highway)

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As I write this, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and temperatures hover near 60 degrees F. It won’t last long. And the boys must get at least an hour daily of serious rowdy time or they’re not fit to live with. What’s our choice when winter weather turns playgrounds into mud pits? You guessed it -- we head for a shopping mall.

Our mall of choice is NorthPark. It has not only stuff kids were never intended to play on, but do, but also Bookmarks, the only library branch in Dallas designed just for kids. Because when the boys work off their extra energy, there’s nothing they like better than curling up with a good book. Or a computer. Maybe even a craft project. All of which are on tap at Bookmarks.

Designed for children up to age 12, the storefront library offers internet computers, story telling, puzzles, crafts and other activities for youngsters and their caretakers. Oh, and it has books you can check out with your Dallas library card.

The boys love the story book murals like the one illustrating this post. And they love the computers, loaded with games accessible even to nonreaders. They needed only a little adult help on our most recent visit to master Bookmarks’ new touch screens.

The computers are only for kids. And Bookmarks is not daycare -- you must stay to supervise your children. But with comfortable chairs, magazines and Wi-Fi, library visitors of all ages can coexist happily.

Bookmarks is one of only three Dallas library branches open on Monday, which makes it a go-to for Monday school holidays. It’s closed Tuesdays but otherwise open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sundays (noon to 5 p.m.).

It’s located on NorthPark’s first level, between Nordstrom and Macy’s. Restrooms and a drinking fountain are across the hall. Only a few steps away is the mall’s outdoor sculpture garden, with grassy lawns to run and tumble on whenever the sun does decide to come out.

For a complete schedule of Bookmarks’ activities for children, see www.dallaslibrary2.org/brach/bookmarks/php/.

(Next Friday -- if it’s midwinter, it must be time for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Hope the weather cooperates. If not, that’s what covered arenas are for.)

Totally Texas -- Bookmark this

My daughter promised her just turned five-year-old twins we’d better go by Bookmarks in NorthPark Center in Dallas.  The boys are crazy about the kid-friendly computer programs in the Dallas Public Library’s branch inside the shopping mall, a branch designed for children up to age twelve.  But she didn’t think they’d be able to sit still long enough to take advantage of the craft project the library hosted.  But when the librarian set out a table stocked enticingly with arrays of construction paper, crayons and markers – not to mention stamping pens, kid-safe scissors, and googly glue-on eyes -- even the bossier twin surrendered his mouse.

My daughter is still amazed that there are parents and caretakers of small children in North Texas who don’t know about this little powerhouse of a library.  It’s only a few feet from CenterPark, the central plot of grass, gardens and art with space for kids to play.  And just across a corridor from family-friendly restrooms.  (Do I need to tell anybody with small ones in tow how great that is?)  If you get lost in the maze of stores, find Ad Astra (the piece of art that looks like an immense orange tinker toy) and look south to find the corridor labeled with Bookmarks’ name.

Since the library is in NorthPark, a development of art collector Raymond Nasher, it wouldn’t be complete without art.  The twins love following nursery rhymes and fairy tales through the murals on Bookmarks’ walls.  And there are adult-sized chairs and magazines available even for people older than twelve.  Bring the kids and stay awhile.

Bookmarks is closed Tuesdays but open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon until five.  Special activities include music, story telling and crafts.  This Wednesday, March 23, at 10:30 a.m. storyteller Hazel Sandlin presents “Irish Fairy Tales for the Fairly Young” and traditional Irish tunes.  For more information about upcoming events see http://dallaslibrary2.org/branch/bookmarks.php  And feel free to pass along your own special places for the young or young at heart.