family fun - february 2010

Picks of the Month

Milwaukee is a great sports town and there’s no better time to take youngsters or the whole family to a game. The new-look Milwaukee Bucks provide great basketball action. The Milwaukee Admirals offer non-stop hockey action and the Milwaukee Wave shows how soccer should be played. All three professional teams offer discounts to almost every game. The best in college basketball also is available as Marquette and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee play the last of their regular-season games. See KeyMilwaukee.com’s sports page for schedules.

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 at the zoo is Feb. 6

The Samson Stomp & Romp Jan. 17 includes 5K competitive run, 2-mile fun run/walk, one-mile romp for children and ¼-mile mini-romp for children., Register at www.milwaukeezoo.org

Watch two of the most enjoyable residents of the zoo, Amur (Siberian) tiger cubs Tula and Nuri who were born last July. Check out this video.

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 Feb. 18 means free admission from 5-8 p.m.

The annual Valentine Ice Cream Social is set for Feb. 13, 1-4 p.m.
390-5437.

The Museum opens on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 15. Families can learn about Presidents and the Presidential Seal, then design their own seal in the Artist’s Studio. Special story time at 2 p.m.

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

Special exhibits:

The Puelicher Butterfly Wing allows visitors to stroll through a lush, tropical garden filled with butterflies, some willing to pause on fingers.

“Cabinets of Curiosity,” themed in honor of the museum’s 125th anniversary, illustrates the vast scope of museum holdings.

The third-floor Arctic Exhibit is the location for the “Call of the Wild” presentation Feb. 5, with storytelling, hands-on activities. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

“Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible: Ancient Artifacts, Timeless Treasures” opened in January and will continue through June 6. This only-in-Milwaukee exhibit will be of special interest to young adults.

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 and upcoming IMAX shows:

“WILD OCEAN” (through March 18): Explores the interplay between man and the endangered ocean ecosystem, an epic struggle for survival where animals collide with the most voracious sea predator, mankind.

“MUMMIES: SECRETS OF THE PHARAOHS,” thru June 10; Part historic journey and part forensic adventure, follow researchers and explorers as they piece together the archaeological and genetic clues of Egyptian mummies.

Current and upcoming shows at the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium in the IMAX :

"GALILEO: THE POWER OF THE TELESCOPE" (through March 18). The Soref Planetarium original production tells Galileo's personal and powerful story, exploring how his discoveries displaced long-held views about the universe. Narrated by Dava Sobel, author of the award-winning biography "Galileo's Daughter."

“SECRETS OF THE DEAD SEA,” thru June 10; Ancient scrolls chronicle the passage of time by motions of the sun and moon, while rock and sand preserve a living record of a place as timeless as the star patterns above.

ROMANCING THE STARS, Feb. 12, 13 & 14 ONLY.

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.

A special weekend program, "Tesla Lives," provides electrifying performances that look into the genius of Nicola Tesla.

Continuing exhibits at Discovery World:

"City of Freshwater" focuses on Milwaukee’s leadership role in use of its water resources.

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

Briggs & Stratton's "Milwaukee Muscle" exhibit 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.

THE THIEF LORD, through Feb. 14; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. From the author of Inkheart comes an amazing tale of adventure and intrigue. Orphans Prosper and Bo flee to Venice, joining a group of children led by the mysterious "Thief Lord." Presented by First Stage Children’s Theater. Most appreciated by adults, teens and young people ages eight and up. 273-7206.

WESTWARD HO – MODEL RAILROAD SHOW, through March 14; Mitchell Park Horticultural Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. Small and miniature plants create the landscape for g-scale trains. Special exhibits and demonstrations, with train hobbyists on hand to answer questions. 649-9830.

DISNEY ON ICE, Feb. 4-7; U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. hosts the touring “Princess Classics” show. 800-745-3000.

STORY TIMES IN THE GALLERIES, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27 at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr., introduce kids to art. 10:30 a.m.

GREAT LAKES PET EXPO, Feb. 6; The Wisconsin Expo Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park hosts the newest pet products, a large interactive reptile exhibit and entertainment showcasing pets. Hundreds of animals are available for adoption. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 840-7411.

CEDARBURG WINTER FESTIVAL, Feb. 13-14; Historic Cedarburg. Presents 36th annual event. With the theme, “Romancing the Snow,” the festival includes an ice-carving contest, parade, barrel-racing, dog weight pull, bed-racing on Cedar Creek and ice skating on Mill Pond. 888-894-4001.

TRIPOLI SHRINE CIRCUS, Feb. 25-28; U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. 800-745-3000.