Lunching with a fellow mama who had an infant in tow, I was pleasantly surprised by the baby-amenability of Grafton Street in Harvard Square. The restaurant is spacious enough to accommodate strollers (even the wide-girthed Bugaboo), the atmosphere is cool and calm, and the tables are spaced well enough such that nursing was a piece of cake. Oh yeah, and the food for the mamas was quite nice. The lunch menu offers a variety of salads, formal entrees, pizzas, and sandwiches ranging from $6.95 to $14.95.

Looking for the latest in European and American baby and children's designs in a setting so soothing that you might drift off amidst the fine linens? Then check out Lester Harry’s, an upscale boutique offering shoes, clothing, accessories, bedding, and gear for babes and a few spa items for mamas. My babe loves her bunny blanket buddy from Lester Harry’s.

Located in the Back Bay (Newbury Street) and Marblehead.

Ah, the weekend. Perhaps you had the forethought to arrange a sitter. But if that was as far as you got, and you still don’t know where you and your love monkey are heading to, check out OpenTable online reservations. This online reservation system serves restaurants across the US and internationally; plug in your search neighborhood (e.g., Back Bay) and scope out reservation availability (and descriptions, reviews, ratings, and menus where available) for multiple restaurants at a time. No more individual phone calls!

Summer is more than half over but there’s still time catch one of the noontime performances of Club Passim’s Culture for Kids concert series at the Boston Children’s Museum. Today’s (July 28) show features Roots music; the August roster includes African drumming (Aug. 4), Latin rhythms (Aug. 11), Jazz (Aug. 18), and Folk (Aug. 25). All events are free for kids (8-12 years old); a $5 donation is suggested for adults.

When you are next looking for an outing that is a little more Zen and a little less zoo, head to the peaceful, manicured Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset every day; admission is free (although donations are welcome).

The Arboretum offers seasonal two-hour school programs for students in grades 3 to 6 that are designed to encourage the investigation of plant science. Classes are free for kids from Boston schools, $4 otherwise. One-day and multi-session horticulture, botany, and landscape-related courses are offered for adults of all levels.

Ready to rock out? The 2006 Lowell Folk Festival (July 28 - 30) transforms downtown Lowell into a haven for traditional music, dance, craft demonstrations, street parades, dance parties, and delicious ethnic foods. Performances and activities are free; you just pick up the food tab.

Kids of all ages are welcome. Check out the special family activities area, or stretch out on a piece of lawn to rest and rejuvenate. Bring toys and snacks for the babe, a blanket, and plenty of water so you can save your line waiting time (and money) for the terrific food vendors.

Finished trolling around Faneuil Hall and the North End and need to take a load off? Then head over to the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park on Atlantic Avenue in Boston. Not only is the harbor view and landscaping a relaxing retreat for adults, but your babe will love the playground, green space, and spray fountain.

Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Tel: 617-635-4505

Day cares – especially those that take infants – are tough to find, but Bright Horizons offers plenty of places to look. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Bright Horizons from several mama pals. Bright Horizons is massive; they operate more than 600 child-care centers and schools across the U.S., Canada and Europe. In Massachusetts, locations that are open to the community for application include Allston, Andover, Bedford, Beverly, Boston, Boxborough, Braintree, Cambridge, Charlestown, Foxboro, Framingham, Franklin, Hingham, Lexington, Marlborough, Milton, Natick, Needham, Newburyport, North Reading, Norwell, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Quincy, Randolph, Sudbury, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, and Wellesley. Click here to narrow your search by distance from your home; check specific locations for age limits.

I love that my dad used to use the term “dog party” whenever he saw a big group of dogs playing. You’ll see that and more at the Beaver Brook Reservation (Mill Street, Belmont/Waltham). This impressive piece of land includes 59 acres of open fields, wetlands and woodlands that are open to walking, biking, and picnicking. The north section of the park includes ponds, fields, marsh, and a cascading waterfall. The south section of the park (immediately visible from Route 60) includes ball fields, a wading/spray pool, and a tot lot. There also are restrooms on site when the park is open.

During the summer the spray pool is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 4:30pm; the tot lot/reservation daily from 10am – 6pm. There is no admission fee to the reservation. Tel: 617-484-6357.