family fun - april 2010

Picks of the Month

“Take me out to the ballgame” really means something in Milwaukee this month. The Bucks are NBA playoff bound, the Brewers open the baseball season, the Admirals close the hockey season and prepare for the playoffs and the Milwaukee Iron open the Arena Football League season. Get all the dates for a great family outing on KeyMilwaukee.com’s sports page. And check the team Websites for money-saving special deals.

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.

Egg Day is April 3 at the zoo. Activities include bubblologist, hands-on crafts and more.

Family Free Day at the zoo is April 10.

The Girl Scout Safari is set for April 17. Scouts can visit the animal collection, enjoy self-guided tours and earn a merit badge.

Plan ahead for Mother’s Day at the zoo May 9. All moms receive free admission.

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:

Grand opening of The Animal Hospital, the newest “trading place” business, is set for 10:30 a.m. April 2.

Special spring break programs April 5-9. 390-5437.

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

•Be sure to visit Kohl’s Healthy Kids: It’s Your Move, the newest exhibit area of the Museum, and learn vital health information.

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.

“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:

“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.

“UNDER THE SEA,” through Sept. 30; Encounter some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea.

“AVATAR,” through May 2; The 2-D version of the feature film.

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

“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.

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.

Special April programs:

A “Night at the Aquarium” is set for April 2 from 5-9 p.m. at the Reiman Aquarium. Included is a 7 p.m. movie feature, “Finding Nemo.”

“Air & Water Week” will be celebrated from 9 a.m.-5p.m. April 5-9. Activities include the chance to take off and land an airplane in a simulator, explore the inside of a Boeing passenger jet in The Hive, and take a guided tour through the universe in the GeoDome Theater, a fully enclosed, inflatable dome. Water activities may include Milwaukee Fire Department Fireboat demonstrations and search and rescue demonstrations by the United States Coast Guard.

CSI fans will be treated to a Tuesday Teach-in on Forensic Science for Mystery Readers and Watchers” from 6:30-8 p.m. April 6 in the Pilot House. Call 765-8625 to register.

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.

KOHL’S ART GENERATION GALLERY, April 3-11; Normally open only on Sundays at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr., this gallery has expanded hours during spring break. This special gallery which involves children in hands-on, creative art experiences is free with museum admission. And children under 12 are always free at the Art Museum.

46TH ANNUAL COIN SHOW, April 9-10; If you like to collect coins, you’ll love this annual show at the Wyndham Airport Hotel, 4747 S. Howell Ave. Dealers offer coins, paper money and stamps from 1-6 p.m. Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 384-7966.

ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, April 9-26; The Todd Wehr Theater of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. First Stage Children’s Theater presents this work based on the book by Judith Viorst. Most appreciated by teens and children ages 3 and up. 273-7206.

NATURE OF DOGS, April 10-June 12; The Waukesha County Museum, 101 W. Main St., Waukesha, exhibits the work of fine art photographer Mary Ludington, seeking to capture the true nature of “man’s best friend.” Sixty photos capture the particular personalities of the different breeds. 262-521-2859.

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY PRESENTS BUGS BUNNY ON BROADWAY, April 17-18; Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave. 8 p.m. Sat. and 2:30 p.m. Sun. 286-3663.

METROPARENTS’ KIDS FEST & BABY EXPO, April 17-18; Wisconsin State Fair Park’s Expo Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave.. is the site of this annual program for parents and kids.

STORYTIME LIVE! April 30-May 1; The Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave., hosts the Nickelodeon crew with favorite preschool pals. 800-745,3000.