I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Jamaica Plain recommendations come from my rad friend Casey, who writes about her city adventures with her wife and daughter over at Life with Roozle. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Jamaica Plain, Casey!

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1. Arnold Arboretum. Dog walks. Bike rides. Hikes. Sledding. A view of the July 4th fireworks. Arnold Arboretum has it all. Not only is the Arboretum easy to get to (accessible by both the Orange Line and has loads of parking), once inside, you feel like you've stepped out of the city and into a magical green space.

2. The Dogwood Cafe. The Dogwood is a staple in Forest Hills. When I first moved to JP 11 years ago the pizzas were square and named after trees -- perfect for our big roommate meetings, as we had a lot of roommates in a large Victorian house overlooking the nearby Forest Hills Cemetery. Now, the pizzas are circles, but still named after trees. We've exchanged our late nights of beer and baseball and pizza at the bar for my daughter's favorite giant $3 pancake at brunch and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

3. Fazenda Coffee Roasters. There are two things I love most in the world (besides my family, of course): writing and coffee. Fazenda is a coffee shop and bakery in Forest Hills that brings my two loves together. Well, my three loves often too, as it's one of my daughter's favorite spots as well. At Fazenda, the wifi is strong (and never shuts off!), the tables are big enough to work, but not too big that any space is wasted. People stay for hours drinking coffee and writing or reading or working, but the turnover is always just fast enough to never have to wait long for a table. Sandwiches are tasty and the lattes are perfect. It's my favorite.

4. Salmagundi. You might not know you needed a hat. Or a fancy bow tie. Or all the fancy things. But when you enter Salmagundi, you become aware of all your needs. You suddenly need a lot more fancy in your life.

5. City Feed and Supply. Do you need a fair trade latte and a few groceries? Look no further! City Feed is the place to be! Local produce, Equal Exchange coffee, Batch ice cream, amazing sandwiches (including my favorite, the Farmer's Lunch), and now even beer and wine make City Feed a one stop local shop.

6. Bikes Not Bombs. JP is known for being progressive, hipsterish, and full of families. And what do all progressive hipster families need? A refurbished bike from Bikes Not Bombs! My family has a bit of a bike hoarding problem, thanks to BNB. Bikes Not Bombs rules as a non-profit, of course, but is also a bike retail shop, and the best place in JP to stop in to get that sidewalk sale bike you picked up for your kid all fixed up with purple grips. I'm speaking from experience here.

7. Southwest Corridor. The Southwest Corridor is a bike path that runs all the way through JP. It splits in several places with walking sides too, great for jogging or walking. We love to playground hop our way through on our bikes as there are six playgrounds along the Corridor.

8. The Brewery. The Sam Adams brewery is a staple in JP. Boston invented awesome. And beer. Or we can pretend. The brewery building isn't just beer, though. Ula Cafe, Bella Luna, Mike's Fitness, Tony Williams Dance Studio, and the Sam Adams Brewery are just a few of the great spots in the Brewery building. Parking is a bit of a disaster, but the ramp out front is my 5-year-old's most favorite place in all of JP.

9. Hatched. Hatched is JP's own eco-friendly children's shop. They carry cloth diapering supplies, wooden baby toys and books, and the most adorable children's clothes ever.

10. Vee Vee. No neighborhood is complete without a perfect date night spot. Vee Vee is it. For our date nights, I tend to be a vegan-leaning wine drinker and my wife enjoys oysters, steak, and seltzer. Vee Vee is perfect for both of us. We both leave happy every time. Especially since we stopped trying to share dessert. You definitely each need your own here.

Do you have other Jamaica Plain gems you love? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you want to pen a Local Gems guest post, contact Christine at editor@bostonmamas.com to check on availability.

Image credits: all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages

Today, Hillary from Mass Audubon shares a helpful baby bird season primer:

Now is the time of year that migratory breeding birds have returned from the south to nest, and each bird has a unique nesting technique. For example, robins fill their sometimes eye-level nests with bright blue eggs. Bluebirds prefer a “cavity” (i.e., a hole in a tree or box). Killdeer camouflage their nests on the ground in gravel areas near soccer fields (so keep an eye out!). Baltimore orioles create a delicate, hanging nest that somehow manages to support several eggs at a time.

Baby birds have a tough road ahead of them. They have to eat, grow, and learn how to fly while keeping an eye out for predators, including other birds and mammals. Even well meaning people can make things harder for a baby bird’s survival by prematurely intervening.

So how do you know when to intervene in what looks like an injured or orphaned baby bird? The first step is to determine what stage the bird is in. This time of year, a baby bird falls into one of three categories:

1. Hatchling. A hatchling hasn’t yet opened its eyes and may have wisps of down on its body. It’s definitely not ready to leave the nest.

Photo by Wendy Barrett for Mass Audubon

2. Nestling. A nestling is older than a hatchling. Its eyes are open, and its wing feathers may look like tubes because they’ve yet to break through their protective sheaths. Nestlings are also not ready to leave the nest.

3. Fledgling. A fledgling is a young bird that is fully feathered. Its wings and tail may be short, and it may not be a great flyer, but it can walk, hop, or flutter. It has left the nest, though its parents may be nearby.

Fledgling photo by Rosemary Mosco for Mass Audubon

Hatchlings or nestlings found out of their nest may require some help getting back into their nest. Fledglings, on the other hand, are best left to fend for themselves. For a quick go-to guide, check out Mass Audubon’s Found a Bird chart. Whatever you do, please don’t try to raise a baby bird yourself (no matter how much your own child pleads). It’s illegal to have a wild bird in your possession, and unlike the fairy tales, doing this has no happy ending.

Baby killdeer photo by Richard Johnson for Mass Audubon

Baltimore oriole with nest photo by Bob Speare for Mass Audubon

Image credits: thumbnail image by Mass Audubon; all other images attributed per captions above

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! Ours was filled with tons of fun, including helping to execute a 5K (my first school committee work...such fun!) and lots of time outdoors with friends and family. I am really feeling the love and power of the village this morning! And now, it's on to a new week; enjoy this roundup of fun events via the Weekly Blueprint:

May 19: Preview the Sea Squirts aquarium program. (Boston)

May 21: Opening day for Long Hill Children’s Garden (Beverly)

May 21: Boston Harbor Islands wine release party. (Boston)

May 21: Trucks, tractors and tools! (Lincoln)

May 22: Discover the secret life of fireflies. (Hull)

May 22: Ooey, gooey story fun. (Concord)

May 23: Native animals and nature walk. (Acton)

May 23: A storytime of lost things. (Cambridge)

May 23: I’m a little tadpole. (Lincoln)

May 23: Legoland Discovery Center opens. (Somerville)

Image credit: LEGOLAND Discovery Center

May 19: Preview the Sea Squirts aquarium program. (Boston)

May 21: Opening day for Long Hill Children’s Garden (Beverly)

May 21: Boston Harbor Islands wine release party. (Boston)

May 21: Trucks, tractors and tools! (Lincoln)

May 22: Discover the secret life of fireflies. (Hull)

May 22: Ooey, gooey story fun. (Concord)

May 23: Native animals and nature walk. (Acton)

May 23: A storytime of lost things. (Cambridge)

May 23: I’m a little tadpole. (Lincoln)

May 23: Legoland Discovery Center opens. (Somerville)

Image credit: LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Hello folks, I hope you're enjoying a lovely weekend (and thank you rain, for watering all the plants and then departing to allow for lots of outdoor weekend fun!). This weekend is a perfect mix of social engagements, household projects, and a little bit of work time for me. If you're looking for some good reads/visuals, enjoy this week's Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome:

- How young is too young for a digital presence?

- 25 cities to visit in your lifetime.

- A decade of same-sex marriage began in Massachusetts.

- The best back stretches.

- A lovely sunny day.

- 50 completely unexplainable stock photos no one will ever use. OMG.

- The definitive manifesto for handling haters.

- How to style a coffee table.

- Why paternity leave is so important.

- My lovely friend Jessica has a book coming out + an amazing video that will make you cry (scroll to bottom of post).

Image credit: chocolate covered strawberry popsicles via Pinterest

OK friends, today is where I lay my dignity aside for the benefit of your gastrointestinal health. If you ever wrestle with problems with your, er, plumbing, try Smooth Move organic tea. I bought this (somewhat sheepishly) a few weeks ago at Whole Foods and without needing to go into the details, let me just say that this product is effective (typically within 12 hours). You're welcome.

Want more Friday Finds? Check out: Beyond Baby, Bella Sante HydraFacial, chair reupholstery tutorial, Mizuno Wave Prophecy, Jordana lip balm stains, LA Fresh eco-wipes, ridiculously awesome pants, parachute cord crafts, Where Is The Cake?, and Travelpro luggage

Image credit: Amazon

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're enjoying a wonderful week! Among various things, I made two creative discoveries: glam oil cloth exists and I am officially obsessed with art therapy through watercolor! Anyway, let's hope the rain holds off (or makes a limited appearance to benefit the plants) because whoo boy, I've got a 32 event monster roundup for you today -- enjoy!

1. Magic show with Rupayan Neogy. (Acton)

2. Franklin park bike and kite festival. (Boston)

3. Connect the West End of today to the West End of yesterday. (Boston)

4. EarthFest! (Boston)

5. Le Grand Continental outdoor dance extravaganza. (Boston)

6. A guide to living well from the inside out. (Boston)

7. Whale discovery day at the aquarium. (Boston)

8. Spirit-finger-knitting visiting artist workshop. (Boston)

9. An afternoon of Shaker arts and culture. (Boston)

10. Ben Rudnick Home for Little Wanderers benefit show. (Boston)

11. The 6th Boston Environmental Film Festival. (Boston)

12. It’s Pirate’s Day in Bourne me heartys. (Bourne)

13. Endangered species day at the zoo. (Boston, Stoneham)

14. PVP Brighton Spanish Immersion Preschool open house. (Brighton)

15. Father Goose’s Tales puppet show. (Brookline)

16. Free family concert featuring Vivaldi… and kazoos. (Cambridge)

17. The Parents Nursery School annual Spring Fair. (Cambridge)

18. The 6th annual Massasoit Arts Festival. (Canton)

19. Powisset Farm Spring Festival (Dover)

20. Snakes Alive! Snake hunt and live snake show. (Ipswich)

21. The historical Long Meddowe Days. (Longmeadow)

22. Brooks Elementary School Run for Education. (Medford)

23. Sample sips at the Nantucket Wine Festival. (Nantucket)

24. Touch the trucks. (Needham)

25. Yummy puddingstone geology. (Sharon)

26. Join these musicians as they make good use of The Porch. (Somerville)

27. Dancing in the Streets city-wide dance festival begins. (Somerville)

28. Wizards of Words, young writers workshop. (Wellesley)

29. Apple blossom festival. (Westford)

30. Join the Birthday Wishes Cake Walk. (West Roxbury)

31. WorldFest Woburn. (Woburn)

32. A night at the museum gala. (Worcester)

Image credit: www.thetrustees.org

Y'all, I'm having a blogiversary this year, the big ten. I even started this blog in May 2004. I got all sappy and made a big slideshow of ten years of my daughter and me and this blog over on BlogHer today. Please check it out!

Take a gander in my closet, friends, and you will see a whole lotta knits. As much as I like my fancy clothes, knits are comfy, cute, and WASHABLE -- basically, an essential part of the mom arsenal (anyone else find toddler food ground into their clothing at the end of the day?). Which is one reason why I'm thrilled to be hosting Splendid's Chestnut Hill Spring Celebration along with my dear friends Audrey McClelland and Roxanna Sarmiento.

Bring the whole family (Splendid has stylish picks for women, men, and kids!) and your friends too, Saturday, May 31 (2:30-4:30) for an afternoon of fun. The event is free, but please RSVP to rsvp_ChestnutHill@vfc.com so we can get a head count (read: procure enough treats). I can't wait to meet you!

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Arlington Center recommendations (East Arlington + Arlington Heights are forthcoming separately) come from reader Justine Uhlenbrock, a birth doula, minimalist mom of two girls, and writer who shares about motherhood, building a family legacy, and the intersection of food and family. Thanks for sharing these 11 local gems, Justine!

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Arlington is a delightfully walkable, bike-friendly town, home to lovely parks and thriving shops. Its central location, bordering no less than six towns, means you're always a quick ride to anywhere (on the roads or via the Minuteman Bike Path)! Here are my favorites in Arlington Center:

1. Blue Ribbon BBQ. As a southern girl, I can attest to the authentic taste of Blue Ribbon's delicious barbecue. Their trio platter is huge, enough for two adults to share. Our favorite meats are the pulled pork, beef brisket, and jerk chicken. All the sides are good, but I'd go for the collard greens to get the genuine Dixie experience. The restaurant also caters, and they encourage you to take free homemade pickles on your way out, y’all. Don’t mind if I do!

2. Toraya. What Toraya lacks in ambience, it makes up for with simple, well-crafted, top-notch sushi; it's some of the best north of the river.

3. Kickstand Cafe. This café spot has changed hands several times over the years and the new ownership has made great improvements to this coffee shop on the bike path. They offer a few lunch items, and I love that they use quality local ingredients when available. Their Aztec hot chocolate knocks my socks off; I mix it with coffee to tone it down and pair my concoction with a ginger-lemon or chocolate-coconut scone.

4. Derby Farm Flower & Garden. This eclectic shop creates beautiful flower arrangements and also offers a gorgeously curated collection of gifts and gardening accoutrements. When the winter doldrums strike, I pop in to imagine what could be in the spring.

5. Arlington Centered. AC is little sister to D2 in neighboring Somerville. I could wander lazily around this funky Etsy-like boutique all day, provided my kids aren't with me. It’s full of perfect, well-priced gifts for anyone on my list from babies to men.

6. Pink Dolly. This resale boutique offers clothes for kids and adults (including maternity!). They make excellent use of their limited space.

7. Wild Child. Offering an impressive and adorable range of gears, gifts, and clothing in a relatively small footprint, I love that Wild Child carries one of my much-loved brands, Tea Collection.

8. The Book Rack. Reviewed earlier on this site, The Book Rack is simply the best used bookstore around. New titles also are available, and the friendly, knowledgeable staff always can put a finger on what you’re looking for.

9. Playtime. Need craft supplies for a school project or a last minute birthday present for your kid’s friend? In operation for an astounding 70+ years, Playtime is stuffed to the gills with craft and art supplies, toys, and more.

10. Helena’s. Flummoxed about what to wear? Helena's prides itself on offering versatile separates and accessories that make it easy (and fun) to get dressed. Cheers to that!

11. Robbins Library. A brilliant historical gem, Robbins Library is the country's oldest free children's library. The reading room is also a great place to catch up on your favorite magazines!

Do you have other Arlington Center gems you love? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you want to pen a Local Gems guest post, contact Christine at editor@bostonmamas.com to check on availability.

Image credits: all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages