Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in pittsburgh, PA

Last Chance to Visit the Three Rivers Arts Festival!

by Jennifer Signore

June 12, 2009

If you haven't been to the 2009 Three Rivers Arts Festival, there is still time.  Limited time.  The festival runs through this coming Sunday, and the rain seems to be lifting, so why not take the family out for some great art in the city?

The Arts Festival really does have something for everyone.  The music collection is amazingly diverse, and the artists' styles range from reggae to blues to folk to rock. Coming up this weekend are the Battle of the Bands winners on Saturday and to close out the festival, some fabulous reggae rhythms to get your soul moving.  The collection of art shows within the festival is staggering, and visiting all of them would keep you busy for a very long day.  I plan to check out the Artists in Action: Quilting exhibit, because I'm one of those crazy ladies that likes to cut up fabric and sew it back together again.  And since you'll have the kids along, be sure to visit some of the kids events at the Arts Festival.  Mr. McFeely will be there with a puppet show (Speedy delivery!) full of characters from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, or you can check out Shark Hats & Sidewalk Chalk for your own budding artists (speaking of which, the photo in that link is from the Fifth Avenue side of WQED studios, and it looks really cool in person-and hopefully the recent rains didn't wash it away). 

If you want to take a piece of art home with you, explore the artists' market.  There, you'll find booth after booth of wonderfully talented individuals displaying their wares and their talents (many of them will continue to work on-site).  This is a great place to teach the kids about different artistic forms.  Ask the artists about their techniques, their inspirations, how long it takes to make a piece, and so forth.  I bet the kids will jump in with a bunch of questions of their own, too.

And, of course, you'll find the usual Pittsburgh festival foods-gyros, funnel cakes, corn dogs-true, they are not the most healthy choices for the kids, but when a festival happens only once a year, it's ok to indulge a little. 

So get thee to the festival for a sensory extravaganza!

What's Happening? May 29 to June 5 Edition

by Jennifer Signore

May 29, 2009

THIS WEEK'S HAPPENINGS

This week, I have tried to capture some events that are one of a kind, so the calendar might seem a bit brief.  Don't forget that there are also lots of fun explorations at our venues in the "evergreen" section below!

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Touch-a-Truck
Does your child love big trucks and construction equipment?  Then make sure to head over to Touch-a-Truck at 15^th and Smallman in the Strip District and get a chance to explore trucks of all shapes and sizes.  The event runs from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. and the $5 admission benefits the Junior League of Pittsburgh.

Open House at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture
Take a look at the new August Wilson Center building and celebrate the art, culture, and history of African Americans and people of African descent worldwide.   This event runs from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Beyond Bikes Day at the Kingsley Association
Kick off National Bicycle Month with a bike safety check and guided tours throughout the day.  The event starts at noon and is sponsored by Venture Outdoors, a non-profit seeking to make the outdoors an integral part of life in Pittsburgh.  For more information, call (412) 255-0564.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

Solar Concert Series at the Children's Museum
The summer sun will power the sound system at this green concert series held on Wednesdays at 12:15p.m. in front of the Children's Museum.  Concerts will be held weekly from June through August, so you can surely catch more than one this season!  This week's concert features Todd Burge.

Don't forget that the Three Rivers Arts Festival opens this week on Friday, June 5 and runs through Sunday, June 14!

EVERGREEN EVENTS

Children's Museum
There's always something happening at the Children's Museum.  Check out their calendar for the month for a great activity to share with the kids.  Don't forget that they have classes for kids every day.  Most are included with museum admission; check the Website for details.

Carnegie Museum of Art
CMOA has a variety of classes for all ages.  Every weekend from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., check out the ARTventures: Drop-in Family Art-Making.  You can pick up a gallery search and to explore together and then make your own masterpiece at an art station.  And don't forget about the recurring Gallery Play Dates for Preschoolers.Carnegie Museum of Natural History
CMNH has a great collection of activities for museum visitors.  On weekends, you can augment your explorations with the Discovery Carts, located throughout the museum (Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.).  Or, take a trek downstairs to the Discovery Room, which is open daily (check Web for exact hours).  Here, you can touch and explore the displays and materials or check out a Museum Bag to take with you as you visit other museum displays. 

Warhol Museum
The Warhol is an eclectic place with lots of bold patterns and bright colors that should appeal to the kids.  Check out Good Fridays.  While they are not necessarily geared toward the kids, admission is half price, and it's a great way to burn off some steam at the end of the week.  On Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m., check out the Weekend Factory, where everyone in the family can get hands-on with an art project, usually including a silkscreen on paper.

Carnegie Science Center
There's always something happening at the Carnegie Science Center.  Nurture your kids' curiosity at one of the many science exploration areas, see a demonstration, or just watch the miniature railroad go by.  No matter how you spend your day, it will be a trip worth taking.

Phipps Conservatory
Take a stroll back in time as you meander through lush gardens and picturesque vignettes.  Learn all about plants in 17 distinct botanical areas.  Check out the exhibit, "Tropical Forest: Headwaters of the Amazon" as well as the latest addition, "Life in the Garden: Frabel Glass at Phipps."

Great Ways to Enjoy an Outdoor Show in Pittsburgh

by Jennifer Signore

May 19, 2009

Now that warmer weather is approaching, I wanted to share some great ways to enjoy being outdoors *and* enjoy a show all at the same time.  Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities really do have a lovely collection of outdoor events for the summer.  Here is a sampling of what you'll find this year.

Cinema al Fresco

Citiparks Cinema in the Park
Starting in June, the City of Pittsburgh hosts movie nights at various Citiparks venues, including Schenley Park (Flagstaff Hill on Sundays and Wednesdays), West End (Elliott Overlook on Tuesdays), East Liberty (Beatty Street behind the library on Mondays), Brookline Memorial Park (Oakridge Street on Thursdays), Arsenal Park (Lawrenceville on Fridays), Grandview Park (Mt. Washington on Saturdays), and Riverview Park (Observatory Hill on Saturdays).  All movies start at dusk and are free.  For information, call 412-937-3039.

Drive-in Movies
All things old are new again, so why not re-live your own childhood by taking the kids to see a drive-in movie?  There aren't many of these theaters left, but you can find one in Moon Township and another in Mt. Pleasant (south of Pittsburgh).  These theaters are showing first-run movies for less than you'll pay at the indoor theater, and you can either enjoy them from your car or on lawn chairs and blankets.    

Concerts Galore and More

Allegheny County Summer Concert Series
Every year, the county sponsors a concert series at various locations, with most events taking place at South Park, North Park, Hartwood Acres.  Various other venues take a turn, so be sure to check the schedule.  This year's lineup includes the River City Brass Band, Joe Grushecky, the Pittsburgh Opera, and the Tonight Show's Kevin Eubanks just to name a few.  You will notice that the link above also includes other county parks events, like plays at the South Park Theater, which has a children's series (and tickets for the children's series are only $2!).     

First Fridays at the Frick
On the first Friday of June, July, August, and September, pack yourself a picnic dinner, grab a blanket and the family, and head over to the grounds of Clayton (the Frick mansion) for a relaxing evening of great music.   The whole family is welcome, and suggested admission is a donation of $5 per adult.  If you take the kids, I would suggest you set up your picnic on the Lexington Avenue side of the stage (to the right as you face the stage).  You will see a line of trees and shrubs to the side of the mansion as well as other families in the vicinity.  We jokingly call it the "children's section."  You won't be able to see the stage from here, but the music will still be loud and clear.  Plus, the kids can run about without disturbing anyone as there is a large grassy area just beyond the trees.  

Three Rivers Arts Festival
June 5 - 14, 2009
The Arts Festival will be here again before you know it, so grab your umbrella!  For those new to the Pittsburgh area, our running joke is that we get our worst rain of the summer during the Arts Festival.  But do not let the perceived threat of rain stop you!  The Arts Festival has such an amazing collection of artists, musicians, and performers that you really shouldn't miss attending at least once.  I would recommend using public transport if possible, especially on the weekends to eliminate a parking headache.

Coming Soon: The New Children's Hospital

by Jennifer Signore

March 23, 2009

This week and next at the Savvy Source, we'll be talking about getting the kids out and about-especially now that spring is here.  Unfortunately, for some families, kids running about translates into a trip to the emergency room.  While I truly hope that you don't find yourself in that situation, I wanted to let you know that the new Children's Hospital campus will be opening officially on May 2, 2009.  So, in another two months, any needs you might have at Children's will need to happen in Lawrenceville.

The new campus was designed, in part, to address a number of issues that could not be addressed at the old campus due to the age and construction of the building.  The ultimate focus of Children's is to transform the lives of the young people it serves, and the new campus demonstrates their commitment to this goal. 

The massive 10-acre campus in the heart of Lawrenceville includes the main hospital area, offices for faculty members, research facilities, family housing, and three parking garages.  If you want some more of the nitty gritty, check out the fact sheet.  One element that I am happiest with is the fact that all patient rooms are private and include furnishings for parents to stay the night with their child.  My son was an inpatient for four days when he was a year old, and while the hospital staff was amazing (truly-I gave them a glowing review on a post-release phone survey), the shared room was a nightmare and the sleeper chair was not conducive to, well, sleeping.  So, while I hope we don't have to take advantage of the private rooms for our kids, it's awesome knowing that they are there.

Other elements that make me happy are the environmental consciousness of the entire campus.  The green elements that have been incorporated will make the area trees smile.  Another perk is that the hospital is designed as a quiet building.  When you are trying to heal patients in the middle of an urban landscape, you want to eliminate as much of the outside sound as possible.  That's a given.  What has also happened with the design is that individual patient rooms have been "quieted down."  Monitors don't produce audible beeping and noise and, while it isn't necessarily a noise issue, much of the patient monitoring can be done remotely either from the nurse's station or from observation windows at the patient rooms.  

If you want to check out the campus for yourself, you can take the virtual tour.  Or, if you're like me, and want to see the building in person, you can sign up for a community preview on Sunday, April 5.  One-hour, self-guided tours will take place between the hours of 11:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. (the last tour leaves at 3:30p.m.  The tour is free and open to all, but to reduce congestion, you are required to register in advance for a specific time and you will need to show your printed registration at the door.

See you there!

The Horse at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

by Jennifer Signore

March 16, 2009

On a recent trip to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, we visited the new exhibit, The Horse, which will be on display through May 24.  This multimedia exhibit covers so many aspects of the horse that you're sure to find something that reigns you in (so punny).  My kids enjoyed the dioramas and "What is it?" displays that slide to reveal information about a horse-related object.  Soon after you enter the exhibit, you come to a large screen with an animated cross section of a horse-the animal in the video eats some grass and you then watch the grass as it passes all the way through (and out) of the digestive system.  I thought it was pretty interesting, and kids are often fascinated with poop, so it might just keep their attention for a while.

Other displays include a hose-drawn fire engine, a large terra cotta horse, and horse-themed toys.  There are a couple of other horse video displays in the exhibit.  One that my kids sat and watched for a while featured horses in New York City-police horses and then some therapeutic horses at a stable right in the middle of the city.  I've been to NYC a few times and have to admit I never thought I could find a stable on one of those busy streets.  In Central Park, maybe, but not in the concrete jungle.  Oh, and the touch screen exhibits on horse types and colors were also a huge hit.  (Actually, the new touch screens throughout the museum have been a big draw for my kids-kudos to the museum staff for the installation.)

If you want to see a real Equustravaganza (scroll down a bit on the link for the full list of activities), come to the museum on Saturday, March 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and learn about things like shoeing, grooming, and tack; visit with a real horse; talk with competitive riders; and try on riding equipment.  All activities are included with museum admission.

What's Happening? Mar 6 - 12 Edition

by Jennifer Signore

March 05, 2009

THIS WEEK'S HAPPENINGS

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

Disney on Ice at the Mellon Arena
Catch your favorite Disney characters live!
10:30a.m. and 7:00p.m.

Family Yoga at the Children's Museum (every Friday)
12:15 to 12:45 p.m., free tea afterwards for participants

March Unblurred on Penn Avenue
Check out the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative First Fridays Unblurred arts and music event
Various locations along Penn Ave, 6:00p.m. to 2:00a.m.

Let's Dress David at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Ages 6 - 10, 4:30 to 6:00p.m.
Create a wardrobe of your design for Michelangelo's David
Tuition: member $15/nonmember $25

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Disney on Ice at the Mellon Arena
Catch your favorite Disney characters live!
11:00a.m., 3:00p.m., and 7:00p.m.

Dr. Seuss Day at the Children's Museum
Enjoy stories and activities to celebrate Dr. Seuss from noon to 3:00p.m.
A free Dr. Seuss book for each child while supplies last.

Saturday Light Brigade at the Children's Museum
See and hear a live broadcast of this show from 10:00a.m. to noon

Scratch Art at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Ages 4 - 6, 10:00 to 11:30a.m.
Learn how to make scratch art!
Tuition: member $15/nonmember $25

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Disney on Ice at the Mellon Arena
Catch your favorite Disney characters live!
1:00p.m. and 5:00p.m.

We're Holden Puppets at the Children's Museum
Shows at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00p.m.
Plus, make your own puppets between shows!

Charter Day at Old Economy Village
Celebrate the 328^th anniversary of the creation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Free admission, noon - 5:00p.m.

Circulo Juvenil de Cultura Mini Film Festival
CMU University Center
Ages 6-12, 2:00p.m.
412-268-1895

North Suburban Symphonic Band: Into the Woods
Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3:00p.m.
Tickets $8, children under 10 free
412-366-1983

TUESDAY, MARCH 10

Gallery Play Dates for Preschoolers at the Carnegie Museum of Art
Building Blocks:  explore the basics of architecture
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; additional cost = $20 members/$24 nonmembers per adult-child pair
Call for reservations:  412-622-3288

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

Raising Picasso Workshop at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Ages 4 - 6, 4:30 to 6:00p.m.
Two Wednesdays, March 11 and 18
Create works of art inspired by the masters
Tuition: member $25/nonmember $40

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

Printmaking for Kids at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Ages 6 - 10, 4:30 to 6:00p.m.
Discover the art of printmaking!
Tuition: member $15/nonmember $25

EVERGREEN EVENTS

Children's Museum
There's always something happening at the Children's Museum.  Check out their calendar for the month for a great activity to share with the kids.  Don't forget that they have classes for kids every day.  Most are included with museum admission; check the Website for details.

Carnegie Museum of Art
CMOA has a variety of classes for all ages.  Every weekend from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., check out the ARTventures: Drop-in Family Art-Making.  You can pick up a gallery search and to explore together and then make your own masterpiece at an art station.  And don't forget about the recurring Gallery Play Dates for Preschoolers.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History
CMNH has a great collection of activities for museum visitors.  On weekends, you can augment your explorations with the Discovery Carts, located throughout the museum (Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.).  Or, take a trek downstairs to the Discovery Room, which is open daily (check Web for exact hours).  Here, you can touch and explore the displays and materials or check out a Museum Bag to take with you as you visit other museum displays. 

Warhol Museum
The Warhol is an eclectic place with lots of bold patterns and bright colors that should appeal to the kids.  Check out Good Fridays.  While they are not necessarily geared toward the kids, admission is half price, and it's a great way to burn off some steam at the end of the week.  On Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m., check out the Weekend Factory, where everyone in the family can get hands-on with an art project, usually including a silkscreen on paper.

Carnegie Science Center
Check out the daily calendar for a list of what's happening at the science center.    

99 Things to Do With Your Kids Before They Grow Up

by Jennifer Signore

March 03, 2009

In no particular order, here are 99 things you should do with your kids before they go to kindergarten (ok, actually, it’s only 60 right now…your input welcome!):

1.  Go through the keyhole in Storybook Forest

2.  Ride the trolley in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood at Idlewild

3.  Eat warm soft pretzels at the Pretzel Shop on Carson Street

4.  Cook a meal together

5.  Visit the animals at Round Hill Park

6.  Go on a hay ride

7.  Watch a thunderstorm roll in

8.  And then splash in the puddles

9.  Get a cone at Page Dairy Mart and watch the trains

10.  Ride the rails at the Trolley Museum in Washington, PA

11.  Stop at a random playground—just because

12.  Spend a day at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum

13.  Ride the bubble-making see-saw in the nursery

14.  Make your own paper or clay sculpture

15.  And don’t forget to run the trolley in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

16.  Have dinner at Eat n Park just for the Smile Cookie

17.  See the holiday lights at Oglebay

18.  Visit Dippy the Dinosaur in Oakland

19.  Ride the carousel at Schenley Plaza

20.  Cuddle up with a book in the children’s room of the Carnegie Library

21.  Get hands-on at the Exploration Room at the Natural History Museum

22.  Dig for dinos at the Bonehunter’s Quarry

23.  See a mummy with your Mummy

24.  Pretend to be a king or queen in the commons room at the Cathedral of Learning

25.  Go to a neighborhood carnival

26.  And eat cotton candy

27.  Spend a day at Moraine State Park

28.  Find the Smiley Van at an event and decorate your own cookie

29.  Feed the fish at the Pymatuning spillway

30.  Check to see if the ducks really walk on the fish

31.  Visit Tour-Ed Coal Mine

32.  Play in the Silver Clouds room at the Warhol Museum

33.  Wish on the first star of the night

34.  Visit the cheese counter at Penn Mac in the Strip

35.  Get creative at the Weekend Factory at the Warhol

36.  Wear a sweater for Won’t You Be My Neighbor Days

37.  See a Fiddlesticks concert

38.  See the city on the back of a duck (a Ducky Tour, that is)

39.  Visit Laurel Caverns

40.  Go to a Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater performance

41.  See a baseball game at PNC Park

42.  Enjoy a day at Kiddieland at Kennywood Park

43.  And then ride the big carousel

44.  And then ride the train

45.  Now you’re ready for a funnel cake

46.  Take a river tour on the Gateway Clipper Fleet

47.  Attend the International Children’s Festival in May

48.  Go ice skating at PPG Place

49.  And catch snowflakes on your tongue

50.  Hear a story told by the Queen of Hearts

51.  Have a picnic dinner at First Fridays at the Frick

52.  Ride the incline (one or both…just do it)

53.  Have an ice cream sundae at Sarris Candies

54.  And wander the rows of chocolate delights

55.  Go to the Blue Slide Playground

56.  See the miniature railroad at the Carnegie Science Center

57.  Go to the Three Rivers Arts Festival (bring your umbrella)

58.  Check out the fish tanks at Wholey’s

59.  Go to one of many summer outdoor concerts

60.  Go on safari at Living Treasures Animal Park

Dino Hunt! Oakland

by Jennifer Signore

February 24, 2009

Now that DinoMite Days are long behind us, many of the dinosaurs created for that event were purchased by individuals or organizations and are housed in various locations around the city. Because our house is currently going through a dinosaur phase (and I suspect a lot of yours are, too), I thought I'd assemble a dino hunt for you and your little adventurers. All but one of these dinos is in the Oakland area and could be made into a walking tour if the weather cooperates. The last one is a bit farther away, but you'll build an appetite finding the first four, so it's a great final destination. Enjoy the hunt!

Dippy the Dinosaur
Installed in 1999 in honor of the 100^th anniversary of the expedition that discovered Diplodocus fossils in Wyoming, Dippy has become a Pittsburgh landmark. At 22 feet tall and 84 feet long, Dippy is a life-size replica of Diplodocus carnegii, a dinosaur named after Andrew Carnegie, the man who funded the expedition. Depending on the time of year, Dippy might be sporting a scarf (black and gold, of course!). A path leads straight to Dippy and you are welcome to touch him-always a plus with the kids! 

Alphabetasaurus
At the corner of Bellefield and Forbes, the Alphabetasaurus is a playful take on a triceratops. His bright colors and bold letters will amuse all in the preschool set. And, appropriately, he stands on the grounds of the headquarters for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Go letters!

Seymour Sparklesaurus
At the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, on the corner of Bellefield and Bayard, you will find Seymour Sparklesaurus . Sparky was decorated by children at the School for the Blind and features golden handprints from students, teachers, and sponsors along it's sides. You can also find the word "stegosaurus" spelled out in Braille using bottle caps.  

Fredosaurus Rex Friday XIII
This dinosaur created as a tribute to Fred Rogers stands outside the WQED studios on Fifth Avenue between Neville and Morewood Avenues. You won't be able to stop along Fifth to see this dino, but if you park along one of the side streets opposite his location, you can either check him out from a distance or *carefully* cross the street for an up close visit. My son sings to him every time we pass with a little song he made up to the tune of Frere Jacques (Fred-a-saur-us, Fred-a-saur-us...).

Pittsburghius Architectaurus
You've had a great day, so why not collect your just desserts. Or just eat dessert. At Eat n Park. (Get it?  Desserts?  Ok, I admit that's a bad one.)  At the entrance to the Homestead Waterfront's Eat n Park restaurant, you will find the last dino of the quest. This figure features Pittsburgh's buildings both past (left side) and present (on the right). See if the kids can figure out which side is which!  

Three Days in Pittsburgh: Day One--Soaking in the Skyline

by Jennifer Signore

February 02, 2009

Many people these days are choosing to spend their vacation time exploring their own city, rather than trekking off to a distant locale. This has been termed a "staycation" and is becoming more popular as the economy struggles. If you are planning a "trip" of this type or are trying to get some friends to visit and they keep asking, "But what can we do in Pittsburgh?" then I have a treat  Read more...

Reflecting on Pittsburgh

by Jennifer Signore

January 13, 2009

With a history in glass making, today's list of places where your child can see his/her reflection is quite appropriate for Pittsburgh.  What places do you like to visit?  Read more...

A look at school information sessions

by Jennifer Signore

January 05, 2009

Are you considering private school for your child? If so, now is the season for information sessions and open houses. Actually, it is well into the season, so you will notice that some of the schools have already had their general sessions. Fear not, but act quickly. If you are definitely interested in a school listed below but the session has passed, give them a call to see if you can  Read more...

Giving Back

by Jennifer Signore

November 27, 2008

One of the great ways to be thankful for what we have is to give to others. We can give our time, our money, or perhaps some useful goods. No matter how you give to others, it's a great model to set for your kids. Volunteering can be difficult with preschoolers as they won't be able to help at something like a Habitat for Humanity build site, for instance, and may not have the  Read more...

Best Burgh Books

by Jennifer Signore

November 25, 2008

Today's theme brings us to books that are essential for any kid growing up in Pittsburgh. Heck, maybe some adults who didn't grow up here will enjoy them, too. These are just my choices for the top five. What books would you add to the list? Pittsburgh A to Z An obvious choice for this list, Pittsburgh A to Z contains 26 great places and things around town. You can use it as  Read more...

Best Place to Raise Your Kids in Pennsylvania

by Jennifer Signore

November 11, 2008

I'll give you two guesses and a hint: it doesn't rhyme with "silly" (sorry, Cecily ). According to BusinessWeek's second annual roundup of the best places to raise your kids , evaluated state-by-state, Pittsburgh is number one in Pennsylvania (I think we knew that already, didn't we?), followed by Scranton and Levittown. The selection was based, initially, by considering towns  Read more...

The Local Lingo: A Pittsburgh Alphabet

by Jennifer Signore

November 04, 2008

Today we are all thinking "red" and "blue" but how about thinking A to Z?  Pittsburgh has a fantastic collection of people, places, and things that make us someplace special.  Let's start with a list of 26.  Read more...