History Lesson
Weekend Roundup March 20-22
March 19, 2009
Let's assume for a second you will not be spending all weekend in front of the TV watching college basketball (go Spartans!!), because you have a life and a child or two or three, and preschoolers frequently don't see the appeal of immersing themselves in what, to my money, is the greatest sports weekend of the year.
So, my friends, here are some ideas to get you away from the TV and our of the house on what promises to be a lovely, springy weekend.
On Friday, the Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve In Rochester is hosting a family campfire. You can enjoy campfire songs and even make a glow in the dark t-shirt.
The Michigan Opera Theater stages Brundibar, a children's opera on Saturday. It's an allegory about giving hope to children in a seemingly hopeless time. The subject matter seems a little heavy for the youngest kids, but the music sounds lovely.
Looking for something a little lighter? The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts is presenting Flat Stanley on Sunday --- and seats for the 4 pm show are only $10 adults and $5 children.
Or, you know, you could just teach your children about the finer points of the pick and roll.
Read more...
Weekend Roundup: Theater, Music, and Stories
February 13, 2009
It may be the dead of winter, but there is so much happening this weekend you'd think we were in the thick of summertime! Here's a quick roundup of some of the goings-on:
Read more...Delving into African-American History
February 09, 2009
I have been remiss, dear readers, with our new posting schedule in not doing more about Black History Month. Detroit, of course, is a majority black city and so we are more immersed in black history than maybe other places are. But in this remarkable year where an African-American was elected president for the first time, it bears a little more reflection on how we got here and what work remains to be done.
Read more...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...
Watch History in the Making Where History Lives
January 19, 2009
Can you imagine a better place to watch history in the making than among the historical artifacts at Henry Ford Museum? I can't, which is why I thought it was awfully cool that the museum is broadcasting the inauguration festivities for Barack Obama tomorrow. There will be projections TVs positioned thoughout the museum, and plenty of opportunity to reflect before and after on the Read more...
Tuesday Top Five: Membership Gifts
December 16, 2008
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that keep on giving all year. I know memberships and such are some of my favorite gifts to give -- and get! We all have so much stuff cluttering up our houses, and a chance to do something fun for free is a lot more valueable to me than yet another thing I have to care for, get batteries for, wash or trip over. Here are some of the better ones: Read more...
Tuesday Top Five: Holiday Parties for Little Ones
December 09, 2008
This is such a special time of year, not least of which is because the merriment really lasts all month. There are so many great things to do with your little one, and almost all events are geared for young children. Check some of these out, and enjoy the magic! Take a ride on the Polar Express -- especially since Chris Van Allsburg, author of the Christmas classic, calls Michigan Read more...
Tuesday Top Five: Haunt Hunting
October 28, 2008
Do you believe in ghosts? I want to, but I must say I have never seen one or had "that feeling" that people describe when they see them. My house backs up to a cemetery, even, and nary a ghost. When we bought the house we joked about the deciding factor being whether or not we heard the wailing of ghouls in the backyard during our only night showing (we didn't). And we had one rockin' Read more...
We the (Big and Little) People
October 27, 2008
Did you notice this is an election year? Hee hee. Funny story from my house -- we were watching something on Nickelodeon one day, and as I was fast forwarding past commercials there was one for the " Kids Pick the President " show, in which both Obama and McCain appeared. Huh, I thought, we've been talking about elections and she probably has some idea of what's going on from our Read more...
Trick or Treating with Trees or Time Travel in Troy
October 23, 2008
With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, this weekend is really the crescendo of fun, daytime, little-kid friendly Halloween activities. I talked about a lot of them in Tuesday's post, but I'll be discussing a few others today and tomorrow so you can take your pick. Troy will be hopping this weekend, with two Halloween-themed events that bring something beyond the usual. At the Read more...
Imagining A Time Gone By
October 02, 2008
?Our theme at Being Savvy this month is nurturing imagination -- helping children access the rich ground of fantasy that exists inside their head. Imagination stimulates creativity, helps children process their growing awareness of the world around them, and oh yes, it's just plain fun for them and for us. Of course, for some of us that love of pretending never stopped. And for many of Read more...
Digging For Your Roots
September 24, 2008
Preschoolers are just learning about families beyond the people who live with them and care for them every day -- that (if they are lucky) those nice people who spoil them and love them to pieces are actually their parents' parents, and part of their family just like you or their brothers and sisters. If you're lucky enough to have your own grandparents still around as well, they can get an even Read more...
Tuesday Top Three: Fish Fish Fishy Fish Fish
August 19, 2008
For a place that is on a river and in a state surrounded by water, we are not exactly drowning in places to see fish around here. There's Exotic Aquarium, a very cool and retro-looking store on the northwest side of Detroit. They have daily specials, tropical and freshwater fish, bowls, decorations, filters, and tanks and most importantly for people like me who have inadvertently done some bad Read more...
Escaping the Cruise II: Back in Time
August 14, 2008
You want to really escape the cruise? How about going back in time? The Renaissance Festival starts this weekend, and my is it fun for little ones. There's a whole children's village area, with a playscape, puppet shows, petting zoo, and so much more. Much of the food, while historically questionable, is kid friendly, and while some of the stage shows are not (Ded Bob, anybody?) the festival Read more...
In The Garden at Home and Away
July 30, 2008
As I have written about before, I love garden activities with my kids. Well, just my daughter so far, my son is just discovering he has toes, but preschoolers love digging in the dirt, watering plants, and especially eating the results. We haven't done a lot this year since I gave myself a one-year break from gardening what with the three-year-old and the infant, but my daughter got the bug Read more...
History and Stories in Flint
July 18, 2008
Want to hear a good story? Well, then you're in luck this weekend, if you're interested in taking a road trip up to Flint. The Michigan Storytellers Festival starts today and runs through tomorrow. It's sponsored by the Flint Public Library. The event features performances and workshops with LaRon Williams, Mokoto, and Waddie Mitchell, with local storytellers performing at 5:30 pm each day. Read more...
Tuesday Top Five: Getting to Know Local Landmarks
June 24, 2008
What better time to get to know Detroit than during this (so far glorious) summer? Of course, there are the many fun events that can drag even the most homebody-ish of families out for a good time. But did you know that many of Detroit's most intriguing venues offer tours? Of course there are the public attractions you might expect, but many unexpected venues offer peeks behind the scenes. One Read more...
Wacky Pirate Wednesdays at the Science Center
June 18, 2008
So, you want to be a pirate, do ya? Well, do ya, matey? If you do, the Detroit Science Center is the place to be Wednesdays through the summer. Their current "big" exhibit is called "SHIPWRECK: Pirates and Treasure." You can learn about the science behind hunting shipwrecks and the treasure that often goes down with the ship. It's recommended for older kids, but there are things younger kids Read more...
Grandparent Outings: Talking History
June 16, 2008
If you're lucky enough to have parents who live nearby or who visit frequently enough it sometimes seems that they do you get to witness the wonder of that special, besotted sort of love grandparent feel for their grandkids. We're lucky enough to live a few miles away from my parents, and the relationship between them and my children is one of the joys of my life (added perk free babysitting!). Read more...
Motor Muster: Father's Day Nirvana for Car Guys
June 13, 2008
A Fathers Day tradition at least for the gearhead dads out there returns to The Henry Ford this weekend for the annual Motor Muster on Saturday and Sunday. The classic car show will feature vehicles from the 1930s to the 1970s, with a couple of special events planned to honor the centennial of both the Ford Model and of General Motors. Motor Muster will honor the 100th anniversary of the Model Read more...
Keep learning going all summer with free museum visits
June 12, 2008
For many kids around here, school's out this week, if it's not already. If you're not selling a kidney to get your child into their preschool's summer program, you're likely getting a little nervous about finding things to do that will be fun, enriching and won't break the bank. Lovely reader Lisa reminded me about the Museum Adventure Pass , sponsored by Macy's. This awesome program lets you Read more...
History Lessons: Historic Fort Wayne
May 21, 2008
Believe it or not, Detroit's place in history did not begin with the Model T. In the early history of the United States, Detroit, with its proximity to British Canada, played a strategic role. If you've got a kid who loves to play "Army" or even dress in camouflage, a visit to a real live fort could be an interesting way to expose them to local history. While any traces of its colonial past Read more...
5 Fun Ways to Enjoy Belle Isle
May 13, 2008
Belle Isle is one of Detroit's jewels and, despite the city's not keeping it up as well as they ought, it's an incredibly lovely place to explore with million-dollar views of Windsor, the downtown skyline, and the river. It was actually designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park. Here are five things to see and do while you're there: 1) Historical Markers Read more...
More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in detroit
Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle
Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune
Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues
Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors
Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun
A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories
Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites
Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet
The Most Fun in Life Is Free!
The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots
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