family fun - june 2009

Picks of the Month

More than 1,000 birds from the Australian outback are at the Milwaukee County Zoo this summer in the “Wings from Down Under” exhibit, sponsored by Lowe’s. Visitors are encouraged to go “face to feather” with the birds and even feed them in this special exhibit, which will be at the zoo until Sept. 7. See our feature this month for all the details.

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.

Scouting is celebrated June 6-7 at the Zoo.

Father’s Day activities are planned for June 21.

The first Sunset Zoofari of the season, with extended hours, music and fun, is set for June 24.

A "Party for the Planet" May 16 &17 celebrates all things green. The zoo will come alive with the sights and sounds of conservation, including animal talks and hands-on demonstrations.

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:

ON Mother's Day, May 10, moms receive free admission. Kids can create cards and a paper wrist corsage or bracelet for that special person.

Neighborhood Night June 18 means free admission from 5-8 p.m.

Father’s Day, June 21, means free admission for dads.

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 events:

Programs and special events are scheduled throughout 2009, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the museum’s opening in 1884. A special anniversary party is set for June 13, with a scavenger hunt and other activities planned.

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.

Starting this month is the IMAX Film Festival, featuring five classic films shown here in the past. The Museum is offering a five-film punch card for $20 after the films open June 12. For the deeply discounted price, visitors can see five of the six available films or one film five times, but they must see five by Sept. 30.

Current and upcoming IMAX shows:

"Ghosts of the Abyss" (through Oct. 1); Academy Award winning director and storyteller James Cameron journeys back to the wreck of the Titanic.

"Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure” (through Oct. 1); Extraordinary marine reptiles of the dinosaur age are brought to life in a remarkable journey into the relatively unexplored world of “other” dinosaurs, those reptiles that lived beneath the water.

“Ring of Fire” (opening June 12; Feel the earth tremble and witness nature’s fireworks -- the magnificent eruption of volcanoes. This film puts you on the crater’s edge, ducking ash and dodging hot magma.

“The Living Sea,” (opening June 12); Celebrate the beauty and power of the ocean in an exploration of our relationship with this complex and fragile environment. The film uses beautiful images of unspoiled waters.

“Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon” (opening June 12); Between 1969 and 1972, seven spacecraft traveled nearly a quarter-million miles through space, providing a select group of highly trained individuals the chance to step out and explore the Earth’s closest neighbor in the solar system.

"Everest" (opening June 12); The account of the 1996 Everest Film Expedition, a dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy, The film takes audiences across creaking icefalls and gaping chasms on the way to the top of Mount Everest.

”NASCAR” (opening June 12); A must-see for sports fans, NASCAR is a ride through America’s most popular auto racing circuit, complete with the sights, sounds and thrills of NASCAR.

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

"Night of the Titanic," a tale of how human error and natural disaster sank the "unsinkable" ship (through June 11).

"Rock Star 2,” a cosmic light show featuring rock selections from the late ‘60s through the early ‘90s (through June 11).

"Astronaut” answers the question of what it takes to become an astronaut and gives a first-hand look at the lives of the men and women who travel through space through Oct. 1).

“Ice Worlds” (opening June 12) travels to the Arctic and Antarctic to examine the ecosystems that live and thrive in those regions. It also travels beyond Earth to see how ice shapes the landscapes and the natural systems on other planets and moons. The film finishes with “The Pluto Story,” a look at the popular ex-planet produced by the Milwaukee Public Museum.

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.

The Denis Sullivan returns in June 6, with the official homecoming set for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 7. Activities planned all day.

"Tesla Lives," electrifying performancesî that look into the genius of Nicola Tesla, are open to the public on weekends.

Continuing exhibits at Discovery World:

"City of Freshwater" focuses on Milwaukeeís leadership role in use of its water resources.

"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

PLAY BALL! See KeyMilwaukee.com sports for theMilwaukee Brewer schedule and take the whole family to a game.

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 HIGHLAND GAMES, June 6; Shifted this year to Hart Park in the Village of Wauwatosa, this family events includes demonstrations of axe throwing and longbow, a children’s athletic area, dancing and piping competition, falconry and sheepdog demos and other activities for kids of all ages. 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

MILLER LIGHT RIDE FOR THE ARTS, June 7; One of the nation’s largest recreational bike rides starts at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., and runs along the lakefront. Start times vary according to the length of the ride. Finish line party at the Summerfest grounds. 276-7433.

GATHERING OF WATERS FESTIVAL, June 13; Lakeshore State Park, just off the Lake Michigan shoreline at the Summerfest grounds, plans a full day of outdoor activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

POLISH FEST, June 19-21; The first lakefront ethnic festival of the year at the Summerfest grounds offers music, dancing, food and fun for the whole family. See KeyMilwaukee.com cover feature for all the details.

GIRO d’ GRAFTON, June 20; Downtown Grafton. Third annual day and evening of professional bicycle racing concludes with Twilight Criterium. In addition to races beginning at 1 p.m., the event includes street and family entertainment in the Paramount Plaza. Pre-race party in Paramount Plaza, also with free entertainment, Friday evening, June 19. 262-377-1650.

BIG BANG FIREWORKS, June 25; Summerfest grounds. Annual pyrotechnic display marking the start of the world’s largest outdoor musical festival. Scheduled to start approximately 9:30 p.m.

SUMMERFEST, June 25-July 5; Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) on the lakefront. 42nd edition of the world’s largest outdoor music festival features musical entertainment on 11 different stages, sampling of the area’s restaurants, comedians, children’s play area, daily demonstrations and activities, shopping and more. 800-273-3378.

DOWNER PRO CLASSIC BIKE RACE, June 27; Downer Avenue on Milwaukee’s near north side. A full day of professional bicycle racing, food and music. Included will be a Belgian beer festival and a marketplace. Part of the Midwest Cycling Series.

CEDARBURG STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, June 27-28; Historic Cedarburg, I-43 North, Exit 89, west on Highway C, right at Washington Ave. to the Historic District. 23rd annual celebration. 800-894-4001, 262-377-9610.