Get $5 off Shrine Circus Tickets, March 18-21 at the Hazel Park Raceway

My grandfather is a Shriner, so growing up my brother and I attended the Shrine Circus with some regularity, that's why I am excited to be able to offer area families the opportunity to attend the Shrine Circus when it comes to the area for $5 off ticket prices!  Yes, that's $5 off courtesy of Hungry Howie’s Pizza. 

So stop and pick up your voucher for $5 off of a ticket at any Metro-Detroit area Hungry Howie locations, or around Ann Arbor at: 2145 West Stadium and 4079 Stone School Road or in Ypsilanti at: 215 S Ford Blvd. or 2614 Washtenaw Road.

The Shrine Circus

March 18 - 21, 2010

Hazel Park Raceway

Thursday-Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. 

Sunday at 1:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $15 - $30 depending on seating

For more information call 866-922-Circus and don't forget to look for Howie (of Hungry Howie's) as the Circus Grand Marshal on March 18!

Visit Local Museums for FREE

Last year at this time, my family and I were in a much different place with both my husband and I being out of work. I was making ends meet with clients here and there, and our family was helping much of the time; however that didn't diminish my kids wanting to "do things". I was challenged to find fun and interesting things for us to do for very cheap or free. I suppose I still enjoy finding inexpensive things to do for the family, and the kids still want to "do things" so I was happy to see that the Detroit Adventure Pass was back at the Ypsilanti District Library (the passes are available at almost every local library including the Ann Arbor District Library!).


If you don't know what the Detroit Adventure Pass is presumably because you've been living under a rock for the past three years, didn't notice the opportunity or possibly because you didn't have a need for the passes then I'll tell you about them...

Now through October 24, 2010 you can adventure through a variety of Detroit area cultural institutions - For FREE. Art that inspires and engages, hands-on science that excites and educates, history and culture that brings past and present Michigan to life - all of these and more are waiting for you at your local public library. Just use your library card to receive a Museum Adventure Pass, presented by Macy’s, and get free admission to the following organizations.

LOCATIONS THAT ADMIT 4

Anton Art Center
Arts & Scraps
Automotive Hall of Fame
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
Birmingham Historical Museum & Park
Detroit Artists Market
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Grosse Pointe Historical Society
Howell Nature Center
Lorenzo Cultural Center
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)
Pewabic Pottery
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Shalom Street
The Scarab Club
Troy Museum and Historic Village
University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History
University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Wyandotte Historical Museum
Ypsilanti Historical Museum

LOCATIONS THAT ADMIT 2

Arab American National Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Cranbrook House and Gardens
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Detroit Historical Museum
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Henry Ford Estate, Fair Lane

Last year the kids especially enjoyed visiting Cranbrook and are looking forward to going again this year! Be sure to check it out and enjoy a day with the family

Something Fun For the Kids - Tapping Maple Trees to Make Maple Syrup!

It's that time of the year - Maple Syrup season...  My kids and I have made maple syrup from the sap for the past two years. We tapped 10 trees today and immediately had flow from 8 of them - Zach even drank the sap directly from the tree...

For more information on how to tap maple trees (it's VERY easy to do) check out my gardening blog and search for "Maple Syrup".

Contest: Win Free Tickets To See Justin Roberts at The Ark

On Saturday March 13, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players will be playing at The Ark and Ann Arbor families have the opportunity to win 4 tickets to see the show for free! All you need to do is comment here about your kids funniest sports stories - although you may want to listen to Justin's hit song "Pop Fly" first as inspiration! A winning family will be choosen by Wednesday March 10.

The concert begins at 11:00 a.m. at The Ark (316 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor 48104). Tickets are $12.50 and can be purchased online or at the door, for more information call 734-761-1818.

Justin Roberts is truly one of the "all-stars" of the indie family music scene. Logging thousands of miles on the road each year in the name of children's show business, Justin has won numberous national awards and recognition and a gained a devoted fan base. Justin and The Not Ready for Naptime Players dish out unexpectedly intelligent and whimsically rocking music for kids and their parents alike.

As one of the best-selling kids' independent artists, Justin Roberts should not be missed - be sure to enter to win your family passes for the show courtesy of The Ark! As readers of the Ann Arbor Mom, YOU have a foot up on entering the contest before it is published Friday at AnnArbor.com, so be sure to enter the contest early!

Cheap Eats This Weekend at Ikea

I thought this might be of interest to families on a budget but wanting to "get out". This weekend, March 5 - 7, Ikea (41640 Ford Road, Canton) is offering $1 Swedish Meatball Plates. These plates are normally $4.29 and include 10 meatballs, mashed potatoes and cream sauce. It is also good to remember parents, that Ikea also has a FREE supervised play area for the children while parents are in the store - Kids can be dropped for 1 hour at a time!

So I say take the fam for a quick bite, then take the kids downstairs to play while you wander Ikea or just grab 60-minutes of peace for yourself!