family fun - january 2009

Picks of the Month

It’s a good month to take the family to the Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St. Parents and older children will find “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” a unique journey into the past. And throughout the museum family members of all ages will find something to enjoy, including a show at the Humphrey IMAX or Daniel Soref Planetarium.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO

10001 W. Bluemound Road. Just 10 minutes from downtown Milwaukee at Highway 45 and Interstate 94. Open 365 days a year. Ph. (414) 256-5412 or www.milwaukeezoo.org.

It’s always a good time to visit the Milwaukee County Zoo, one of the premier zoological parks in the country.

- Family free day is Jan. 3 with free admission from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

- The Fantastic Forest of Holiday Trees, all decorated by children, continues on display through Jan. 5. 256-5412

BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

929 E. Wisconsin Ave. Ph. 414-291-0888 Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. www.bbcmkids.org

Programs include:

• Tot Time, ages 1 to 3 with parent or caregiver, 10:30 a.m. Tuedays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Toddlers will enjoy sing-alongs, finger-play, stories, and art experiences. Adults learn how these experiences impact early childhood development.
  
  
  
• Pre-School Pop-in, ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Pre-schoolers participate in music, movement and visual art activities that encourage early reading and introduce beginning math concepts. Adults learn about age-appropriate activities that stimulate a child's development.

Special events:

Neighborhood Night Jan. 15 means free admission from 5-8 p.m.

Normally closed on Mondays, the museum is open Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities.

THE MUSEUM CENTER
800 W. Wells St.

Includes Milwaukee Public Museum, one of the world's best natural history museums (Ph. 278-2700); and the Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater 414-319-IMAX. www.mpm.edu

TITANIC: THE ARTIFACT EXHIBITION continues through May 25, 2009. Authentic artifacts and room-recreations tell the story of the 2,228 passengers aboard the Titanic during her ill-fated maiden voyage. Learn haunting tales of lives abruptly ended or forever altered when the Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912.

THE HEBIOR Mammoth, a specimen with great significance to the state of Wisconsin, is now on display. Found less than 30 miles from Milwaukee in Kenosha County, the mammoth is among a group of important findes that help date the early presence of humans in North America.

Special events:

The Museum’s Celebrations of Culture focuses on Asian cultures this month. Programs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 9 and 10 feature music, artifacts and crafts.

The Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater in the Museum Center, the only IMAX theater in the state, doubles as a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.

Current IMAX shows:

• "Mysteries of the Great Lakes," which takes viewers through the greatest freshwater system in the world (through March 19, 2009)
  
  
• "Ghosts of the Abyss" in which Academy Award winning director and storyteller James Cameron journeys back to the legendary wreck of the Titanic (through June 11, 2009)
  
  
• "Santa vs. the Snowman, an animated IMAX holiday favorite (through Jan. 4).

The Daniel M. Soref Planetarium in the IMAX currently is offering three shows:

• "Rock Stars 2," a thrill ride for music lovers of all ages, showing through June 11, 2009
  
  
• "Night of the Titanic," a tale of how human error and natural disaster sank the "unsinkable" ship, showing through June 11.
  
  
• "Mystery of the Christmas Star," which seeks to discover which ancient star was involved in the Christmas story, showing through Jan. 4.

Call 414-319-4629 for IMAX planetarium show times and reservations.

DISCOVERY WORLD at PIER WISCONSIN

500 N. Harbor Dr. 765-9966. The newest addition to Milwaukee’s world-class lineup of museums and visitor attractions is the home of the 19th century re-creation of a Great Lakes sailing vessel, the Denis Sullivan. Until the ship is returns for the summer season, the Discovery World Museum offers saltwater and fresh water aquariums, interactive exhibits created by several of the city’s leading corporations and the HIVE, a virtual-reality chamber that puts visitors into 30 simulated environments.. Open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun. www.discoveryworld.org.

Milwaukee’s popular Segway tours have moved to Discovery World. See KeyMilwaukee.com tours for all the details.

New exhibits at Discovery World:

• "Les Paul's House of Sound," a tribute to the famed Wisconsin guitarist Les Paul.

• Briggs & Stratton's "Milwaukee Muscle" exhibit, which allows visitors to design a vehicle of the future

•"Energy & Ingenuity: Harnessing the Power of You" developed by the Wisconsin Energy Foundation

MISCELLANEOUS FUN

COMEDYSPORTZ at 420 S. 1st St. continues to provide improvisational comedy suitable for the whole family. Shows every week 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.  Also 10 p.m. Friday amateur (18+) stand up session. Call 272-8888 for show times and reservations or visit www.comedysportz.com. Be sure to use our KeyMilwaukee.com coupon for extra savings.

MILWAUKEE HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL, through Jan. 4; Downtown Milwaukee. Cathedral Square Park, N. Jefferson and E. Wells St.; Pere Marquette Park, W. State and Old World 3rd St.; Zeidler Union Square, W. Michigan St. between 3rd and 4th St. Jingle Bus to displays operates Thurs.-Sun., 6-9 p.m. The last Jingle Bus departs at approximately 8:20 p.m. Catch the Jingle Bus for $1 at the NEW location at the Plankinton Arcade in the Shops of Grand Avenue. 220-4700.

M&I HOLIDAY SHOW, through Jan. 5; Display in the lobby of the bank at 770 N. Water St. includes 50 stuffed animals.

A GRAND AVENUE CHRISTMAS, through Jan. 11; Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave., is transformed for the holidays in keeping with its Victorian heritage. 931-0808.

FAMILY TIME IN THE GALLERIES, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr., hosts special 1p.m. experiences for families. 224-3200

THE BFG, Jan. 10, 11: Marquette University's Department of Performing Arts' Theatre for Youth presents Roald Dahl's famous children's novel about the Big Friendly Giant at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11 in the Tony & Lucile Weasler Auditorium, 1506 W. Wisconsin Ave. Call the theater box office at 288-7504 for tickets.

CHINESE NEW YAR CELEBRATION, Jan. 14; Spend the day exploring Chinese culture at the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes), 524 S. Layton Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 649-9800.

WITNESS, Jan. 23-Feb. 22; First Stage Children’s Theater presents story of a small Vermont town facing turmoil. Most appreciated by children 10 and up, teens and adults. 273-7206.

BREWERS ON DEC, Jan. 24; Special event at the Midwest Airlines Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., features autograph sessions with Milwaukee Brewers, photo stations, clinics and opportunities to buy the latest Brewers merchandise.

KINDERKONZERT, Jan. 25; Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs for the kids at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. 2 p.m. 273-7206.

GREAT LAKES PET EXPO, Jan. 31; See the latest in pet products, along with pets ready for adoption at the Expo Center of Wisconsin State Fair Park, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.