Smarty Scoop on Weekend Activities: 2/05-2/07

Happy Wednesday Smarties. Hope that you all enjoyed the snow last weekend, my family sure did. I do think that they should make an adult sled with padding, for those who forget that we are not 9 years old!! There is a little bit of everything to enjoy this weekend from celebrating the Chinese New Year to Family Wii gaming. Fun, fun, fun. If you have older children, “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” has been getting rave reviews and my son told me all about it above the usual, “Yeah, it was good”. Hope you have a very Smarty Weekend, get out and enjoy.

Birthday Blessings for Homeless Children/ Family Fun Friday
All Monkey Joe’s locations, 10215 University City Blvd.; 601 Polk St., Pineville; 10101 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews; 3924 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia.
February 5, 10:00am-8:00pm
Enjoy 50 percent off admission, giveaways, and $2 pizza slices, nachos and pretzels. Twenty percent of admissions and concessions for the day go to Birthday Blessings, a nonprofit that celebrates the lives of homeless children. Cost is $5 per child.

The World Aloft-1908: The Year the Airplane Went Public
NC Transportation Museum – Spencer, NC
February 5-7, Fri.-Sat., 9:00am-5:00pm; Sun., 1:00pm-4:00pm
See a full-size, 21-foot-long replica of the Wright Flyer, period artifacts, models and pieces of the original Wright Flyer on display at the N.C. Transportation Museum. “The World Aloft” celebrates May 14, 1908 as the day the Wright Brothers were first observed by credible witnesses as the official pioneers of flight. Artifacts never before seen by the public also are on display, including a 1907 Ford Model R, a “boneshaker” bicycle, period furniture, shoes and hats, toys and musical instruments. Children can enjoy interactive displays, with a chance to create their own cartoon drawing of Wilbur and Orville Wright and the Wright Flyer. A telegraph machine allows kids to tell the world about the first powered flight. All ages. Cost is free.

Your House, My House
ImaginOn
On going exhibit, regular hours
Journey into the homes of people around the world, through a traveling exhibition created by the Children’s Museum of Memphis. Explore how landscape, climate, resources, culture and lifestyle determine the way a house functions and what it looks like. Three model homes: a Mongolian herder’s ger, an m’bure from the tropics of Fiji and a stilt house from a Malaysian fishing village are featured. Hands-on activities throughout the gallery will encourage visitors to design their own houses, construct houses of different materials and compare and contrast houses from different parts of the world. Cost is free.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
ImaginOn
Various dates and times, check website
Peter Hatcher’s life sure seems complicated for a 9-year-old. One of his biggest problems is dealing with his impossible little brother Fudge. Based on the best-selling book by perennial favorite author Judy Blume, “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” is a hilarious portrait of family life guaranteed to entertain the whole family. Recommended for elementary and middle school students. Cost is $18-$24.

Paint Your Own Pottery for Valentine’s Day
Morrison Family YMCA Ballantyne
February 6, 10:30am-12:00pm
The theme of February’s art day is “Paint Your Own Pottery for Valentine’s Day.” Participants can paint their own themed Valentine’s Day plate, and create a special box from wet clay that can hold jewelry, cards, etc. Finished projects will make great Valentine’s Day presents. For more info. e-mail morrisonarts@ymcacharlotte.org. Cost is 20/facility members, $35/program members.

Back of the Big House
Historic Latta Plantation
February 6, 10:00am-4:00pm
Learn about life for those enslaved on a 19th century N.C. cotton plantation. Local interpreters will introduce you to Suky, Peter and others who lived at Latta Plantation through first-person interpretation and living history. Visitors can also make a free rosemary herb bracelet to keep. Cost is $6 adults, $5 students, free 5 and under.

Family Wii Gaming
Matthews Library
February 6, 10:00am
Play video and board games that are fun for parents and kids alike. No registration required, come and go between 10am and noon. Grades K-5 and families. Cost is free.

Salamander Saunter
Reedy Creek Nature Preserve
February 6, 10:30am-noon, ages 16 and older; 2-3:30pm, ages 16 and younger
Slippery, slimy salamanders are a mysterious and elusive forest creature. The winter rains have triggered their mating season. We will explore the salamanders’ life history before heading out to the trails. Participants must be able to hike 1 to 2 miles on uneven terrain. Space is limited, registration required. Call 704-336-7600 or register online.

Our Backyard Friend: Gray Squirrels
Reedy Creek Nature Center
February 6, 4:00pm-5:00pm
It’s that time of the year, the gray squirrels are having their first litters. Discover what makes these mammals so special in this exciting presentation.

Chinese New Year Festival
The Peaceful Dragon
February 6, 11:00am-3:00pm
Annual Chinese New Year Festival that is fun for the entire family. Festival will include ceremonial Lion Dancing and Dragon Dancing, exciting demonstrations and performances of Chinese martial arts and health arts including kung fu, tai chi, acupuncture, yoga and Asian dance. In addition, a Children’s Carnival with fun and exciting games for kids is scheduled, along with ongoing raffle drawings for assorted prizes.

Have a Heart Celebration
Community Arts Project, Cornelius Arts Center
February 6, 10:00am-2:00 pm
Get ready for some Valentine making FUN for the whole family…It’s time for CAP’s annual Have A Heart Celebration! This is event is a great tradition at CAP and we hope you, your friends and your family will mark your calendars now and plan to join us! There will be lots of stations of valentine-themed art projects and plenty of envelopes so that you can create a valentine for every special person on your list! There are art projects appropriate for all ages so there is something for everyone. This is a FREE event and open to the public so invite all your friends to come along! It’s a great time to see the CAP studio and learn more about our offerings. As every year, we will be accepting donations for our non-profit and a portion of all donations will be given to the Buddy Kemp Caring House, a cancer support center in Charlotte, in loving memory of our director, teacher and friend Kim Calvert.