It looks to be a beautiful weekend, if a bit hot. Here are some ideas...

Maybe it's because we're tennis fans, but we're excited about Family Fun Day (left) at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in D.C., with clinics and the chance to watch pros like Mardy Fish, James Blake, and Gael Monfils (Andy Roddick had to pull out because of an injury), along with a bouncy house, face-painting, games, and more. 

Also, Saturday is the opening celebration for a great new kids' play center called Charm City Kids Club, which will host all kinds of classes and birthday parties. Lisa and Mikel from Milkshake will play at the opening, and there will be trail-mix making with Whole Foods, and smoothie-making with Happy Family. Sounds awesome. 

Also, on both Saturday and Sunday is the "Aquatic Adaptations" edition of the Maryland Zoo's Walk on the Wild Side programs. Also on both days, the Walter's Art Museum's free Come Sail Away series, in which families find items in the museum related to the sea and complete a project based on them, is focused on "Creatures From the Deep."

For the current (July) issue of the magazine, I wrote a story about recent developments around the Inner Harbor geared toward the needs and desires of the growing number of families living downtown. The violence over the 4th of July weekend, which included the stabbing of a 26-year-old man outside McCormick and Schmick's on Pier 6 and the shooting (in the leg) of a 4-year-old boy who was watching the fireworks with his parents at Light and Pratt Street, are a reminder that the work is not done and Baltimore has a while to go before it can declare itself thoroughly "family-friendly."

As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows, I am a major booster of Baltimore. I grew up in the county and, after an extended sojourn in Yankee country, we moved back to Baltimore City three years ago and have only grown to appreciate it more and more. I really believe it's a wonderful place to raise a family, with seemingly endless resources, events, and—most importantly—wonderful families, neighborhoods, and educators who have made improving this city their life's work.

In fact, I sometimes get so caught up in the exciting—and seemingly accelerating—developments I chronicle and in debunking peoples' The Wire-influenced stereotypes about Baltimore that I can sometimes forget that Baltimore still has a fairly high crime rate. I still contend that Baltimore is as safe as any other major city—safer than many—and that it's a wonderful place for families to explore, but this is a reminder that we can't take safety for granted.

Perhaps this weekend's events are on my mind because they hit a little too close to home. We spent a good chunk of yesterday at the Harbor, playing at the Sondheim fountain (my boys, in Batman and red shorts, are pictured) and seeing Jason Moffett and Milkshake, as previewed on Friday. We thought about sticking around for fireworks but opted to pack it in and head home. When I saw the news this morning, I couldn't help but be grateful that we did. Of course, these were very isolated incidents over a weekend that saw thousands of people come through the harbor and have a great time. But, as a parent, it's hard not to think of the worst case scenario.

I heard second-hand someone saying that as a result of these incidents, they weren't taking their family to Artscape. How unfortunate it is that incidents like these inevitably set back the progress that so many people and neighborhoods have made. So many people—both out-of-towners and locals—already have negative stereotypes about Baltimore City and these incidents only serve to reinforce them.

I can honestly say that in our three years of exploring Baltimore City as a family, from Artscape, Honfest, and the African-American Festival to the International Festival, Lexington Market, and Flowermart, we have never felt unsafe, never had anything but positive interactions with the people we met. It helps that we have an early bedtime. I hope that this incident, at the very least, doesn't discourage parents from taking their kids to this city's many and varied neighborhoods and events. 

As for night events, I have to admit that I will think long and hard about taking my kids to outdoor public events, where things have the potential to get (or feel) out of control. We take our kids on the light rail to night O's games and events at 1st Mariner Arena, and we'll continue to, but probably just a bit more nervously. Because until a four-year-old can be 100% safe watching the fireworks with his parents, there is still more work to be done.

Dad's choice this weekend...

This may sound more like mom's choice, but Family Art Day at the newly re-opened Cylburn Arboretum in Mt. Washington is a great chance to explore the glorious grounds. At the event, which runs from 10 to 3, the Walters Art Museum's education department will be doing art projects with the kids and a naturalist will lead nature walks at 10:30 and 1. After each walk, kids will be able to help create a mural. Kooper's Chowhound and IcedGems Creations will be on hand to supply your picnic lunch.

Also Saturday, check out the Kids Creativity Workshop at Greenspring Station, with a free music class sponsored by Charm City Kids Club, cupcake creation with Chesapeake Cupcake, and learning about herbs and spices with Urban Farming, all free.

The Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company Carnival started on Wednesday and runs through next Saturday. It's always a blast. Stop by one evening for a cotton candy and a tilt-a-whirl—not necessarily in that order.

Sunday is, of course, the big day for us dads. Clark's Elioak Farm—always a great family trip—is offering free hayrides to all fathers and grandfathers, along with their usual attractions, including the petting zoo, the pine tree maze, the enchanted forrest, etc. There's also free admission for dad at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo, which has awesome safari rides. And kids ages 6-12 visiting the Reginald F. Lewis Museum can build a toolbox for their dad (pictured) on the big day (they call it a "storage container" for the dads—like me—who wouldn't really know what to do with tools anyway).

Of course, there are always the perrenially great-for-kids activities, including the Walters, which, besides the great, often kid-friendly exhibits, has a fantastic play area on the lower level with lots of dress up stuff, puppets, puzzles, and an art room where there are facilitators to help you and are kids make great projects and bonus: FREE; Also, the Marlyland Science Center ($3 off admission before noon on Saturdays, plus the weekly egg-drop contest), Port Discovery Children's Museum, The Zoo, two Storyville locations (we LOVE Storyville), The American Visionary Art Museum (also with kid-friendly exhibits, and the treehouse/sculpture out back), the various nature centers and conservancies (Oregon Ridge, Irvine, Howard County), and—of course!— the Aquarium.

Have fun! And happy father's day!

It's pool and beach season, which means you can get used to seeing members of the French Legion splashing around the kiddie pool for a while. Or perhaps you'll see some hazmat-suited tykers building sand castles?

I don't want to offend anybody here, and I certainly take skin cancer very seriously, applying sunscreen early and often to my boys, but I think it's possible to go overboard, with the long sleeves and draped hats. Sometimes, as my kids cruise the pool in nothing but their sagging trunks, I feel a like a child abuser.