Independent Bookstore Day

April 14, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Saturday, April 27th is Independent Bookstore Day. Not an official holiday by any means but it might as well be at our house. We love independent bookstores. Both of our girls almost always have a book close by.

Lucky for us Minnesota has several bookstores for us to browse and find unique books. If you get near Red Wing, stop by Fair Trade Books as they usually have the Midwest Indie Bookstore Map. The map is a way for you to explore bookstores all over the state on your own time, not just on Saturday. There are likley other bookstores offering the map as well.

For some extra fun on Independent Bookstore Day you can pick up a passport at any of the 18 participating 18 metro bookstores. A chance to check out a store or two you may have not heard of, win some prizes, find some great books and do some exploring. You can find out more information here.

Filed Under: Events

Urban Expedition at Landmark Center in St. Paul – Learn About the World!

April 13, 2019 by Laura W Leave a Comment

Just a heads up – the next and final Urban Expedition event is coming up soon (Sunday, April 14th)!

Kids and adults can learn about the world this Sunday (and four other Sundays this winter and spring) with Landmark Center’s Urban Expedition program! This is the 15th year of this popular program in St. Paul which provides authentic cultural experiences that include music, dance, crafts and traditions from different destination countries.

This year’s series will highlight the following countries on these dates:

Puerto Rico: Sunday, January 13

Palestine: Sunday, February 10

Romania: Sunday, March 3

Great Britain: Sunday, March 31

Vietnam: Sunday, April 14

These programs run from 1 – 3 pm on each of these days and are FREE and open to the public. Children and adults will receive a travel “passport” that will be stamped for each country in the series.

Landmark Center is located at 75 West 5th Street facing Rice Park and next to the Ordway and The Saint Paul Hotel. Parking is available on the street as well as in nearby Lawson, Science Museum and RiverCentre Ramps.

Filed Under: Events, St. Paul

Family Art Sundays at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts (Fridley)

April 13, 2019 by Laura W Leave a Comment

I have a few kids who definitely have an artistic bent…they’re always drawing or painting. I love it as I am sooooooo not artistic but I want to encourage it in them. Can you relate?

Let your kids (and yourself!) explore their artistic side with free Family Art Sundays at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts in Fridley. On select Sundays throughout the year, you can visit the Center, go on an art scavenger hunt, and enjoy art together, all for FREE.

Upcoming Sundays in 2019 are as follows:

April 14, 1-3 pm | Flower Power
In April we will create 3D art by making tissue paper flowers and painting the flower pots. We will explore the principles of sculpture and the idea of gestalt. You can make it as beautiful or as crazy as you like (think Little Shop of Horrors).
June 9, 1-3 pm | Nature Transformed
We will explore the genre of landscape in art and look at how nature is transforming as we enter into summer. We will observe the gardens around the art center and park as inspiration.
August 11, 1-3 pm | Full Spectrum
Abstraction is what this month is all about. Weather permitting we will be out on the lawn practicing abstract painting. So get ready to paint it like Jackson Pollock. Wear clothes that can get messy to this event.
October 13, 1-3 pm | ARTober
On the spookiest day of the spookiest month, we will explore the genre of portraiture in art. Stop by and get creative as we make an old world MONSTER portrait. Also! Don’t forget to vote for the People’s Choice Award during our Member Exhibition.
December 8, 1-3 pm | Winter Wonderland
Stop by and shop the galleries during our Holiday Gift mART. We will be making collaged snowglobes and other wonderland items just in time to share with your family during the holidays.

Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts is located at 6666 East River Road in Fridley.

Filed Under: Events, freebies, Kids

Sensory Friendly Sunday at the Bakken Museum

April 13, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

The Bakken Museum is one of our favorite places to visit. It’s a wonderful place filled with science, fun and learning. Plus the building that it’s located in quite unique and not like most museums. It’s a big old historic mansion and it’s tucked into a mostly residential neighborhood.

Occasionally the Museum hosts a Sensory Friendly Sunday event, the next one is tomorrow (April 14). If you can’t make it tomorrow, the next Sensory Friendly Sunday will be May 12th.

Activities and accommodations will include:

Lowered volume on interactive exhibits
Dimmed lights throughout the museum
Additional sensory-aware signage throughout the museum
Noise-dampening headphones
Music therapy

More information about Sensory Friendly Sunday’s at The Bakken:

Sensory Friendly Sundays allow people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences to have an enjoyable and interactive learning experience in a comfortable and accepting environment. Events will include modified programming for diverse sensory needs and specialized staff training.

The Bakken Museum’s Sensory Friendly Program has been developed in consultation with the The Autism Society of Minnesota. The museum will continue be open to the general public from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

All activities are free with museum admission:
Adults: $10
Seniors: $8
Young People 13–24: $8
Children 4–12: $5
Children 3 and under: Free
Members: Free

Free parking is available both in the museum’s lot on Zenith Avenue South, and on West 36th Street.

Additional information to plan your trip can be found at thebakken.org/accessibility.

Filed Under: Attractions, Events, Minneapolis

Free Family Day at Minneapolis Institute of Art: Art in Bloom – Sunday, April 14th

April 12, 2019 by Laura W Leave a Comment

Swing by the Minneapolis Institute of Art the second Sunday of every month for Family Day at Mia, a FREE day of fun at the museum designed for the young and the young-at-heart. This Sunday’s theme is Art in Bloom with activities taking place from 11 am – 5 pm on Sunday, April 14th.

Wake up and smell the flowers! Enjoy a colorful day of floral-themed activities throughout the galleries and studios. Presented in partnership with the Friends of the Institute.

This special Art in Bloom Family Day will take inspiration from the children’s book Dragons Love Tacos written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.

Storytelling at 11AM, 11:45AM, and 12:30PM. Crafts and sidewalk chalk art ongoing all day!

Join talented Twin Cities actors as they tell the tale of dragons cooking, eating, and hosting taco parties. Get your picture taken at a dragon taco party. Make your own dragon headband at the craft table using craft papers, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, fresh flowers, and more.

Filed Under: Attractions, Events, Kids

Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion in Walnut Grove

April 12, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Did you grow up watching Little House on the Prairie? It was one of my favorite shows! I just wanted to share that the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove MN is hosting a large TV Little House Cast Reunion this summer.

Not all of the details are out yet, so far at least 10 cast members have been announced. Little by little, names and more information continues to come out.

The dates of the event will be July 12-14. We are sharing this now so you can make plans to attend this fun event. The museum does host a pageant during the summer and if you’ve never attended that, it’s a great show. Keep checking the museum facebook page for additional information about the reunion and other events.

Some of the information that we do know so far:

Question: DO I NEED TICKETS?

Answer : You need to purchase a BRACELET for all reunion related events occurring during the day, both Friday & Saturday. The bracelet allows you to obtain autographs from the cast members appearing in Walnut Grove. The cast members will also be selling their individual photos for you to purchase separately to have autographed. You will be allowed to bring up to 2 items through the line, per trip, to have autographed. In other words, if you have 4 items, you will be asked to get back in line after your first two items have been signed. Price of the bracelet has not been determined as of now, it is planned that there will be a daily bracelet and a weekend bracelet.

Keep watching the Museum’s Facebook page for more information.

Filed Under: Attractions, Events, travel

Animal Open House in Eden Prairie – Saturday, April 13th

April 11, 2019 by Laura W Leave a Comment

The 30th Annual Animal Open House at Eden Prairie’s Outdoor Center will take place this Saturday, April 13th from 1 – 4 pm. Admission is free, although they do accept donations at the door. Animal shows will take place at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm.

See reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds; explore nature trails and learning stations; look at the sun through a solar telescope at the Staring Lake Observatory.

Filed Under: Events

Doors Open Minneapolis

April 11, 2019 by Kristi 1 Comment

The city of Minneapolis will be opening up their doors to the public during the weekend of May 18-19. A chance to check out buildings in the City of Minneapolis that are architecturally, culturally, or socially significant. The Doors Open event is free and gives everyone the rare opportunity to see areas and buildings we might not normally see.

I’m exited for this event, it’s on a weekend so it means that more people can attend. Secondly I really enjoy architecture and history. Some of the buildings that will be open for the event include:

Hewing Hotel
Manhole Entrance – City of Minneapolis Public Works Surface Water and Sewers Division
Kingman Studios at Case Beer Warehouse
IDS Center
Hennepin Island Powerhouse
JB Hudson Jewelers
K&K Metal Recycling
Minneapolis City Hall & Hennepin County Courthouse
PLUS sooo many more
**If you are local and are interested in volunteering for this fabulous event, click here for more information. This is something that needs to be decided on in April**

The list is long and fascinating. I want to visit ALL of them and hope this event can be an annual thing or maybe even twice a year. There are so many great places to visit and just not sure a weekend is long enough to try to fit them all in. We are sharing this early so you plan accordingly. It’s probably a good idea to make a list of your top places and make sure to visit those first in case they don’t do this again.

A few more details and the How and Why this event is taking place:

Doors Open Minneapolis is your chance to explore the buildings that tell our city’s story. From theaters to business hubs, sacred spaces to private clubs, sports complexes to engineering wonders, historical gems to not-even-open-yet buildings, Doors Open Minneapolis will give visitors a FREE behind-the-scenes look at over 100 exciting venues. We’re hoping to enrich experiences by presenting meaningful conversations with many of the people who make these venues the marvels that they are.

Filed Under: Attractions, Events, Minneapolis

Spring Into Pahl’s Open House

April 9, 2019 by Kristi Leave a Comment

It might not look like spring and it might not feel like spring, but it is. This Saturday April 13th you can Spring Into Pahl’s Open House, a chance to smell fresh flowers and if nothing else pretend there’s not snow on the ground. Pahl’s is located in Apple Valley and a favorite for our kids, they almost always have free popcorn.

Pahl’s Market Spring Open House

Saturday, April 13th 9am – 5pm

Come and celebrate Spring’s arrival with a fun-filled day of cheerful seminars, blooming greenhouse tours and super savings!
Enjoy 20% OFF almost everything at Pahl’s during our Spring Open House!
(excludes gift cards, landscape services, bulk material and delivery charges)

Filed Under: Events, Great Deals

Robot Day at The Works Museum – Saturday, April 13th

April 8, 2019 by Laura W Leave a Comment

Robots are something fun for all ages….it doesn’t matter if you like watching them or making them! The Works Museum in Bloomington is celebrating National Robotics Week with their annual Robot Day on Saturday, April 13th from 9 am – 4 pm. There’s sure to be something fun for everyone!

If you register in advance it’s $9 for everyone older than 2; otherwise, it’s $12 at the door.

About Robot Day at The Works Museum

Every April, The Works Museum participates in National Robotics Week with a special day of robotics fun. Kids and families interact with robots of all shapes and sizes, as well as meet the engineers and students who build, program, and compete with their robots.

Learn about how robots are used to teach, do science, and complete tasks with kid-friendly demos. Some of the robots can even be maneuvered by the kids! With over a dozen activities and demonstrations, this special family STEM day is the perfect opportunity to explore together.

Ready to plan your day? Here are a few tips from experienced Robot Day families:

Come early. Robot Day starts at 9 am (before our normal open hours). This is a great time to have fast access to presenters.
Bring cash or a check if you plan to lunch at Robot Day. Papa John’s Pizza will sell pizza over lunch (and donate 20% of proceeds back to The Works Museum). This is a great opportunity to take an onsite lunch break, but they don’t take credit cards. Or pack your own lunch or snacks to eat in our lunch room.
Save money by purchasing your admission in advance ($9 per person over age 2) or consider a family membership. Members receive free admission to Robot Day and a membership pays for itself in just 2 visits for a family of 4.
Consider bringing your teen too. While The Works Museum focuses on programs for kids ages 5-12, Robot Day is great for anyone ages 4 and up (including our adult guests!)
Go at your own pace. All activities are open for the whole event, but you don’t have to do them all. See what inspires your young engineer and stay as long as you like at those activities.

Filed Under: Events, Kids