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

What's Happening? Mar 20 - 26 Edition

by Jennifer Signore

March 19, 2009

THIS WEEK'S HAPPENINGS

I’ve added a couple of entries to the “Evergreen” section of the calendar—don’t forget to check them out!

FRIDAY, MARCH 20

Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day
Wear your favorite sweater to celebrate the life of Mister Rogers
Find various activities on the Web site

Mister Rogers’ Birthday at the Children’s Museum
Celebrate the life of one of Pittsburgh’s greatest neighbors
Free admission, meet Mr. McFeely, hear the PSO perform at 1:00p.m.

Dora The Explorer Live: Search for the City of Lost Toys (at the Benedum)
Meet Dora and all of her friends on this musical adventure
7:00p.m., tickets start at $15

King Tut at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Ages 6 - 10, 6:00 to 8:00p.m.
Learn about ancient Egypt and write heiroglyphics
Tuition: member $15/nonmember $25
 

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Tomato Plant Girl at the Children’s Museum
Get a sneak peak of the show by Shakespeare in the Schools and make a puppet afterwards
2:30p.m.

Kidapalooza at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Meet your favorite characters, participate in numerous activities, and get fingerprinted for safety
Adults $9, kids 3-11 $6, kids 2 and younger free; 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.

Glade Run Maple Sugar Festival in Zelienople
Learn the maple syrup process from tap to final product
Admission $5, children 12 and under free

Annual Spring Flower Show at Phipps
Opens today and runs through April 19

Dora The Explorer Live: Search for the City of Lost Toys (at the Benedum)
Meet Dora and all of her friends on this musical adventure
11:00a.m., 2:00p.m., and 5:00p.m.; tickets start at $15

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Dora The Explorer Live: Search for the City of Lost Toys (at the Benedum)
Meet Dora and all of her friends on this musical adventure
11:00a.m., 2:00p.m., and 5:00p.m.; tickets start at $15

Zippy’s Roadside Fest at the Children’s Museum
Storytelling by cartoonish Joe Wos at 1:00p.m.
Learn about the Pittsburgh signs project at 2:30p.m.
Hear Rick Sebak (of WQED fame) talk about PA’s roadside treasures at 3:00p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 23

Exploring Australia at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Ages 6 - 10, 4:30 to 6:00p.m.
Voyage down under and create Aboriginal-style art
Tuition: member $15/nonmember $25

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Willy Wonka Junior at the New Hazlett Theater
Enjoy this musical children’s classic in a vibrant stage show
7:30p.m., tickets start at $5 (save by purchasing in advance)
Show runs through Sunday, March 29

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 newest exhibit, “Tropical Forest: Headwaters of the Amazon.”

Indoor Gardening with the Kids

by Jennifer Signore

March 17, 2009

Regardless of what Phil might have seen last month, we've still got two months before we can grow our gardens outdoors.  That doesn't mean you can't teach the kids about gardening right now, though.  You just have to think outside the box.  Or, rather, inside the house.  Here are some great ways to spend some time nurturing your green thumbs.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

I know that the classic "joke gift" is a Chia Pet, but they really are a neat item for kids to grow.  Better yet, get the Chia Herb Garden, and you can eat the spoils of your labor.  Both are easy, fun ways to bring a little green indoors.  (Tip: if your house tends to be a little dry, you may have to put the Chia Pet in a plastic bag to get the seeds to sprout.) 

Avocados Anyone?

If you can get your hands on an avocado this time of year, don't toss the pit in the trash.  Instead, start a windowsill garden to sprout it.  Get four sturdy toothpicks (the round, pointy kind, not the flat ones) and poke them into the seed such that you can hang it over the top of a glass and the pit will be partially submerged.  Before you know it, roots will be peeking through the seed case.  While you won't be able to follow through to the tree stage in our climate, watching the sprouting process is a classic.

Rapid Radishes

A great plant for quick growing time is the humble radish.  They grow nicely indoors and out, and the wait for the fruits of your labor is short (in garden time).  Most garden centers already have their seeds in stock, so stop by, pick up a pack, and get growing.

Aerogardening

The newest indoor garden sensation is the Aerogarden.  I haven't used one personally, but I've heard great things from others.  You can grow herbs, salads, and a variety of other garden goodies, and your kids would probably love having a miniature indoor garden to call their own.

Go Green at Phipps

If your own indoor garden isn't growing (or even if it is) you can get a year-round botanical treat from a visit to Phipps Conservatory.  Take step back in time (the main buildings date to the Victorian era) and a leap into sunny days as you stroll the lush pathways.

Give the Gift of Pittsburgh

by Jennifer Signore

December 16, 2008

There are so many places to go and things to do around Pittsburgh, that it won't take much effort to treat your families to one of the gifts that keeps on giving--a local membership or subscription. Here are just a few to get you started: Carnegie Museums Membership A membership to the Carnegie museums gets you into not one, but FOUR great Pittsburgh museums: the  Read more...