Comedy juggling at the Martha Washington Library

"Fun with Jonathan Austin" was today's fun, family program at the Martha Washington branch of the Fairfax County Public Library. Austin performed comedy, juggling, and magic for a happy group of kids and their moms. The act started with juggling. The kids were immediately impressed with his ability to balance a club on his chin, merely a preview of events to come. He moved quickly from juggling to simple magic tricks and riding a six foot unicycle while keeping up a continuous, self-deprecating patter that kept the moms equally as engaged as their kids. Austin picked several kids from the audience to act as his assistants, thrilling them with the opportunity to shine on stage. The  act was well-suited to the audience, which ranged from two to nine year olds. Many thanks the Friends of the George Mason Regional Library for sponsoring the event.

Rocknoceros jams at the Kingstowne Library

Popular children's rock group Rocknoceros was the featured act at the Kingstowne branch of the Fairfax County Public Library this afternoon, playing to a packed house.  The set showcased tunes such as "Washing My Hands," "The Finger Counting Song," and crowd favorite "Virginia". Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie enthusiastically exhorted the audience to get up and dance, a request with which many were happy to oblige. The 45-minute set moved quickly through both ballads and dance tunes. All of the audience pronounced themselves quite satisfied at the end, and several parents purchased CDs.

My kids are 8 and (almost) 5 years old, and they were at the higher end of the audience's age range. About 1/3 of the kids appeared to be over four years old with the remaining solidly between one and two. Given that Rocknoceros's play list includes songs about potty training and nappin' time, this should not have been a surprise. They both enjoyed it, and they weren't the oldest kids in the room; however, the show was definitely aimed at a younger audience. Thumbs up to the library for making a good, free music experience available.

Rocknoceros's appearance was sponsored by the Friends of the George Mason Regional Library. They are  bringing a series of family programs to libraries across the region. See the Events page of the Fairfax County Public Library for a schedule. These programs are all free to library patrons, though advance registration is required. As the Kingstowne librarian pointed out today, everyone attending needs to register--including the caregiver.