Being Savvy: Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers and kids in Detroit, MI

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Weekend Roundup

March 12, 2009

Happy St Patrick's Day weekend! For most of us, this is hardly the partyfest it was back in our younger days. I know I'll count myself lucky if I get to have a black and tan on the day itself! But there are plenty of family friendly events this weekend to celebrate Irish heritage (and the imminent arrival of spring!)

There are not one but two parades this weekend: One Saturday at 11:30 am in downtown Royal Oak , and of course the Big One Sunday down Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood (near the old Tiger Stadium). It begins at 2 pm, and is preceded  by the Corktown Races, which include a fun run for kids. And the fabulous Ladel's Books, at Brooklyn and Bagley a few blocks off the parade route, will have great activities for kids on parade day.

Looking for something a little less Irish? At the Mt. Clemens Public Library at 11 am on Saturday, puppeteer Mariah Newborne will present "The Wizard Of Oz" in the library auditorium.


This weekend also kicks off the Marquis Theatre's production of "The Little Mermaid " running through the end of April. Shows are Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $8.50, and children under 3 are not permitted.

And now for something completely different: The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, or MOCAD , has its monthly Family Day Sunday from 1-3 pm. Children will be encouraged to make collage pieces, inspired by the current show "Black Is, Black Ain't".

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99 Things To Do Before Kindergarten

January 27, 2009

1. Go ice skating at Campus Martius 2. Do the giant slide at Belle Isle 3. Play on the playscape at Belle Isle 4. Have a picnic at Belle Isle 5. Go on a nature walk through the neighborhood 6. Have a two-park day -- go to one in the morning and one in the afternoon 7. Meet friends at Jungle Java 8. Go to storytime at Ladel's Books 9. Go to storytime at the Southfield Public Library in the space  Read more...

Tuesday Top Five: Favorite Posts of the Year

December 30, 2008

Wow, I can't believe 2008 is almost over! It quite frankly has not been the best one ever here in Detroit, but one of the highlights of my year is taking on this Savvy Source job. It's been so much fun learning more about this city I have called home for almost my entire life, and getting to know and connect with all of you. Here's a Top Five posts of the year for me -- just a simple  Read more...

Christmas Shopping the DIY Way

November 14, 2008

Hard to believe but it's almost time to start Christmas shopping -- or maybe you're one of those people who's been done for weeks, in which case I don't know if I really like you anymore. I know I am always looking for things that my family and friends will like and appreciate that aren't in every single store at the mall, but I hate to shop and have a really quite  Read more...

Tuesday Top, Um, 26: The Detroit Alphabet

November 04, 2008

A is for Avalon Bakery -- Great treats, organic ingredients, and nice people. B is for Belle Isle. C is for Comerica Park. D is for Dequindre Cut -- The new path linking downtown with the Eastern Market area. E is for Eastern Market. F is for Family Hootenanny -- Grown up local bands playing music for little kids. G is for Glancy Trains -- Little kids are fascinated by this exhibit at the  Read more...

Some Fun Playgroup Options

October 29, 2008

Are you and your kids part of a playgroup? Our playgroup days are behind us (and probably ahead of us, for the baby) but I know when we were in our baby group through our hospital it could be a problem finding things to do that were reasonably priced, fun for them and us, and not the same old thing. So I thought this offering from the Franklin Athletic Club was  Read more...

Culture Vultures Love This Weekend

October 24, 2008

How about a little culture with your candy? While this weekend is all about Halloween, there are ways to celebrate it and check out some of Detroit's best cultural institutions at the same time. If you plan it right, you could spend the whole weekend in the cultural center! The Detroit Institute of Arts is hosting a haunted/mystery tour as part of its Friday Night Live programming.  Read more...

DIY Arts and Crafts in Ferndale

September 19, 2008

My favorite current trend -- or maybe more correctly, movement-- right now is thw whole hipster crafts revivial. I love,love love that telnted people are making their own stuff, some of which is extra cute. And none of which looks super-polished or perfect, which is part of its charm. I especially like this because I love doing crafts like sewing and crocheting and so on, but I am Bad  Read more...

Art Fair Fun for Kids in Orchard Lake

July 24, 2008

If you're an art fair aficionado, don't be sad that Ann Arbor's annual blowout is over. Art fairs are popping up all over the Metro area it seems that some city in the Metro is having an art fair every weekend from May through the end of September. While some are better than others, all of them offer at least a nice way to while away a summer afternoon. Juried fairs tend to offer a better  Read more...

Art Appreciation: Customize Your DIA Visit

July 21, 2008

I've written before about how somehow, my love of and interest in art has not translated to my daughter at least not yet. For a kid whose parents spent one of their first dates at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and who spend "date nights" doing art projects, whose mom fantasizes about going back to school to get an art history degree, she's just completely immune to the many charms of a DIA  Read more...

Art Among Us: The Heidelberg Project

June 26, 2008

Dear readers, sometimes I am slow. Like, really slow. We were all asked to do a post about essential things to do with your child before they grow up, and I could only come up with seven . Completely and totally forgetting about one of the coolest, most "Detroit" things about Detroit a visit to the Heidelberg Project . For those of you who don't know, the Heidelberg Project is a nationally  Read more...

Exploring: Introducing Children to World Cultures Through Art and Music

June 04, 2008

I loathe hot weather, and it's supposed to be hot this weekend, blazing, 90-degree-ish hot. But instead of languishing in the nearest air -conditioned room I can find, I'll be moseying about the Wayne State campus area. Only one thing could get me to not only brave the heat but be excited about the prospect the Detroit Festival of the Arts . Words cannot describe the coolness of this festival,  Read more...

Budding Art Critic

June 02, 2008

Probably my favorite place in the whole city, nay, the whole metro area, is right at the corner of Woodward and Farnsworth. On one side, the gorgeously-renovated Detroit Institute of Arts , and on the other, the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. The two huge white marble sturcutures sit impressively back from the street facing each other, like two lions of knowledge and culture. Before  Read more...

The Littlest Picasso: Get Inspired by Art Supplies

May 26, 2008

All kids love making art drawing, painting and smooshing clay are all big activities in our house. But sometimes you want something beyond the typical crayons and watercolors. Here's a great chance to support your local art supply store (as someone who worked at a great one in college that is now out of business, I think this is really important)! Utrecht : With two locations, one in Royal  Read more...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in detroit

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

The Voice of Being Savvy detroit:
Amy Kuras

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