FREE Native American Hand Drum Making Workshop!

Want to learn a little about Native American culture and make a 14" hand drum to take home with you? Next Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Dr. Margaret Noori, Director of the Comprehensive Studies Program & Lecturer in the Native American Studies Program at the University of Michigan will be leading a free event that includes lunch! Families are encouraged to register quickly however since attendance is limited.

To register,contact Jaimee Marsh at jaimeem@umich.edu or or (734) 763-9044.

Native American Hand Drum Workshop
1443 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor
November 5

Weekend Events Round-up: October 21-23

Looking at the family calendar I KNOW that fall is in full-swing - Between weekend soccer games, Halloween Parties and many other events I am exhausted just thinking about plans for the weekend!  That won't stop us from getting out and about. it's nice to be blessed too with a bevvy of events and activities for the kids.

So what's happening in Ann Arbor for kids this weekend? There is certainly plenty listed on the Ann Arbor Halloween event list or simply take a look at the weekend event planner for details on some great (and often free) activities happening around town.

Friday, October 21:

• Want to introduce your toddler to arts and crafts without making a mess around your own home? Town Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor) is having a My First Scissor Activity 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Kids as young as 4 years old can practice fine motor skills on simple paper patterns and use the glue stick and wiggly eyes to turn these clever cut-outs into abstract art or amazing animals. 
• Children and families are welcome for tea and petits fours served by real-life fairies at the Crazy Wisdom Bookstore (114 S. Main St., Ann Arbor) at 1:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $11 although babies 18 months and under are free. Reservations are suggested for this event.
• Halloween Hullabaloo with Saline Parks & Recreation 5:30-8:00 p.m.
• Monster Mash Bash at Ypsilanti Township Parks & Recreation 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Love to make little cakes, specifically cupcakes? Then stop by the Ann Arbor District Library Malletts Creek (3090 E. Eisenhower Pky., Ann Arbor) from 7:00-8:30 p.m. to see if your decorating skills are good enough make the grade. Judges will pick favorites in different age categories and we all get to eat them when we're done! This free teen event is a must for your teens in 4th grade and older.

Saturday, October 22:

• Take a trip down the tracks at the Southern Michigan Railroad annual Fall Color Tour.
• Free fall movies at the Quality 16 at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, this week is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
• Sensory Sensitive Cinemas at Rave Ann Arbor (4100 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti) at 10:00 a.m.
• Take in the beautiful fall color while enjoying a guided nature hike through Scio Woods Preserve 10:00 a.m. - Noon. This is a free event for the family.
• Head over to the Matthei Botanical Gardens for a Halloween Spooktacular for some fun with pumpkins 10:00 a.m. -noon.
• Get crafts by decorating a Halloween shirt at Michaels 10:00 a.m. - noon.
• Moms, dads and even the kids will enjoy making a mess elsewhere during the Pumpkin Painting Party at Learning Express Ann Arbor (2465 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor) - Be sure to sign-up ahead of time for 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. the cost is only $3 for materials.
• Celebrate National Teen Read Week’s Picture This by going on a photography scavenger hunt for historic architectural features in downtown Ypsilanti with the Ypsilanti District Library (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti) Pair up with other teens for the hunt but bring your own digital camera, phone and USB cable, or reserve a camera by calling the Youth Desk at 482-4110 ext. 1390.
• Dress warmly and head out for spooktacular fun during Belleville Denton Cemetary (3rd and Main St., Belleville) tour. Learn about the Belleville area's first families including Civil War heroes, revel in cemetery architecture and take home your very own gravestone rubbing. Tours will depart every 30 minutes. Tickets for adults are $8, and children from the ages of 5 through 12 years old are $5. Children under the age of 5 receive free admission.  
• Transform yourself into a fierce Pirate by creating a one-of-a-kind eye patch at tree Town Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd.,  Ann Arbor) 2:00-5:00 p.m. for only $1.
• Ann Arbor Mom Facebook Fans got a sneak peek at weekend events when learning about the Toys R Us (3725 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor) Beyblade Tournament from 2:00-4:00 p.m. earlier in the week.

Sunday, October 23:

• Free fall movies at the Quality 16 at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
• It should be nice enough to enjoy Halloween Fun at Hudson Mills at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.
• Has your daughter begged for some of cool bottle cap jewelry? She can make her own at Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor) 2:00-5:00 p.m. for only $1.

Wild Swan Theatre Children's Entertainment

The 2011-2012 Wild Swan Theatre season opens this week with an engaging collection of favorite children’s storybook titles including “Three Billy Goat’s Gruff,” “Reynard the Fox” and “The Three Little Pigs”.  In true Wild Swan style, three performers and a musician create all the magic inherent in these timeless stories making this first time theater experience unforgettable. October 20-23, 2011.

I love that families can enjoy time spent together viewing a theatrical experience with live actors on a real stage for reasonable prices. Individual tickets start as low as $8/children and $12/adult and can be purchased online from the Wild Swan Theatre or over the phone at 734.995.0530.

The rest of the season looks to be just as entertaining for audiences of all ages.

December 8-11, 2011 the Wild Swan Theater brings Little Women, adapted by Wild Swan Co-Artistic Director Hilary Cohen, to the stage. The March sisters, Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth, are growing up in Civil War-era New England. When their beloved mother Marmee must leave them to visit their ailing father at the front, the sisters must face life together.                 

January 26-18, 2012, audiences will find a delightful, humorous collection of African tales during Under the African Sky. Colorful costumes, masks, and traditional music will delight and teach our littlest fans, with lots of opportunities for audience participation!                                                                 

In honor of Black History Month, February 7-8, the Wild Swan proudly presents Leslie McCurdy in her one-person show, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman. On a bare stage with only a trunk of costumes, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman uses Harriet's own words in telling the story of her life from her earliest experiences as a slave, through her working on the underground railroad to her continued commitment to others in her later years. 

March 14-18, 2012, enjoy Shipwrecked! about a Detroit family of three--mom, dad, and 12 year old son--who carry cargo on the Great Lakes for their livelihood. They set sail on Lake Huron through "Shipwreck Alley" with a load of Christmas trees from the Upper Peninsula only to be battered by one of the fierce November storms that have over the years imperiled thousands of ships on the Great Lakes.

March 22-24, 2012 preschool aged children through second grade will be delighted by Strega Nona, a story that satisfies with laughter and fun. Strega Nona has a magical pasta pot which only she can control. Come see what silliness ensues when Big Anthony does not listen to her, causing the streets of their small village to fill with pasta.

May 3-6, 2012, Check out The Cricket in Times Square. Based on the heartwarming classic, this is a delightful tale of life in New York City in the 1930's. It is told through the eyes of Mario, who works at his family's newsstand in the subway station under Times Square and three improbable friends, a cat, a mouse and a cricket, who bring music and wonder into the lives of thousands of commuters.                                              

Free DSO Halloween Concert

Want to take the kids to enjoy the DSO for free? On October 29, (4) free tickets can be yours to the Halloween performance at the Max Fisher Center.

The first performance of the day at 10:00 a.m., Rock O’Ween,  featured the four Metro Detroit moms of Candy Band to bring you a spooktacular treat. Nursery rhymes will never be the same again! Come and listen as they play children’s songs with a rock twist.

At 11:00 a.m., families can enjoy the Thrills & Chills Young People’s Concert featuring Frank Oden. Bring your little ghosts and hobgoblins for some symphonic entertainment, scary tunes and traditional music for the whole family. Poet and actor Frank Olden will accompany the orchestra with poetry readings befitting Halloween as he takes the stage in his finest, scariest costumery.

During the event, the kids can even check out  a live bat display courtesy of the Organization for Bat Conservation at Cranbrook Institute of Science. All of this can be yours free!

DSO Halloween Concert
October 29, 2011
Max M. Fisher Music Center
3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit MI

To reserve your FREE ticket be sure to head to the DSO Halloween website.

All Aboard for Fall Color Tours Aboard the Southern Michigan Railroad

The Southern Michigan Railroad fall color
tours are a popular excursion for families.

On Saturdays, October 15 until Sunday, October 30 families can hop aboard the Southern Michigan Railroad  (806 S. Evans St., Tecumseh) for the sights, colors and taste of fall. Travel into the countryside for a first hand look at the changing colors and season during one of the annual "Fall Color Tour" trips start starting today and on any Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday through October 30.

Reservations are requested for the popular 2+ hour train excursions that leave Tecumseh at 11:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, with an extra 4:00 p.m. train ride on Saturdays and Sundays. For an added bonus, families can enjoy a countryside stopover for complimentary cider and donuts!  

Tickets are $15 per adult, with seniors 65 years and older at $12, or children ages 2-12 years reduced to $9. Payment is in the form of cash or check only and will be collected by the ticket agent on the caboose at the train yard. For more information call 517.456.7677.     

Theatre for Young Audiences at Performance Network

Performance Network's 2011-2012 Saturday Series for Young Audiences will have plenty of great entertainment opportunities for the entire family. On select Saturday's throughout the season, at 1:00 p.m., families can enjoy a real theatrical experience with live actors on a real stage!
Tickets are priced at $7 for children and $10 for adults available online at The Performance Network, over the phone at 734.663.0681, or in person at the box office (120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor). Family memberships can also be purchased for $95.

The Performance Network has a new Family Membership for the season. For $95 families get free family entry into select Saturday performance, discounts on children’s acting classes and private performances as well as professional season ticket discounts.

2011-12 Performance Dates:

October 15 - “The Fisherman and His Wife”
November 19 - “Fabliscious”
December 17 - “Jamie and Jordan”
January 21, 2012 - “Wolverine Will”
February 18, 2012 - “The Fisherman and His Wife”
March 17, 2012 - “Fabliscious”
April 28, 2012 - “Jamie and Jordan”
May 19, 2012 - “Wolverine Will”

Performance Network rolls out the Saturday Series for Young Audiences, a once-monthly program to satisfy the littlest theatre-goers in the community. Produced by the Children’s Theatre Network, the Saturday Series matinees offer a variety of musicals and plays for pre-K through sixth grade. Featured subject matters include healthy eating, Michigan history, Aesop’s Fables and a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, all neatly packed into 50 minute presentations. Each show is followed by a milk and cookies reception.

The 2011-2012 season also marks the introduction of the Performance Network Family Membership. This tax-deductible membership is available for $95 and includes perks such as free family entry into any Saturday Series performance, discounts on children’s acting classes and private performances as well as professional season ticket discounts.

Weekend Events Round-up: October 14-16

Whether you are taking a leisurely fall color  drive or attending one of
the many storytime events in Ann Arbor, there  is always plenty to do!

How is your calendar shaping up for the month? For us it seems like the next two weekends are chocked FULL of events, activities, sports or Halloween parties! can't a girl get a break?! Of course I can, when it snows!!! I just don't want snow in October.

Regardless there's not much that will stop us from attending all that Ann Arbor has to offer, we'll squeeze it in somehow. So check out the many activities that are happening in Ann Arbor for kids this weekend.


Friday, October 14:

• Kinderconcert at the Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. where the little ones will be learning about the viola and piano. Dance and hear stories all under the guise of educational enrichment for the preschool set!  
• The teen gathering at the Ypsilanti District Library (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti) is a great way to kick back, play some games and meet some new friends. From 6:0-8:30 p.m., teens in grades 6-12 can stop by to play Wii, Playstation II, board games, Magic, and Yu-Gi-Oh or watch anime and movies.  

Saturday, October 15:

• Take a trip down the tracks at the Southern Michigan Railroad during their annual Fall Color Tours starting today through October 30. More details posted shortly!
• Free fall movies at the Quality 16 at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, this week is Mr. Popper's Penguins.
• Free Kinderconcert at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter) for ages 6 and under at 10:00 a.m.
• At 11:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m., stop by the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) for a free 20-minute interactive demonstration exploring how fossils are created. This short program offers something for all ages – exciting information about fossils and fun, hands-on exploration of fossils.
• Today is the start of the Performance Network Series for Young Audiences. At 1:00 p.m. kids ages pre-K through 6th grade can check out a performance of the “The Fisherman and His Wife” a musical based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
• Paper Bag Trees, Gargoyles and Salt Ghosts at the Ypsilanti District Library - October 15, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
• Kids, strike a pose in a trick photo and get copies of your photos to take home with you during the Trick Photography session at the Ypsilanti District Library (8975 MacArthur Blvd., Superior Township) 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 16:

• Free fall movies at the Quality 16 at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
• Huron River Trick or Treat Canoe Paddle - October 16, noon-4:00 p.m.
• The other day I wrote about several harvest celebrations happening in Ypsilanti's Depot Town (noon-5:00 p.m.) or at Parker Mill (1:00-5:00 p.m.) for families interested in a little history or hands-on activities!
• Not Just for Kids series: 'Tales as Tall as the Sky' at Michigan Theater (603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor) at 1:30 p.m. Enjoy a tall-tale that encourages interest in books and reading. Tickets start at $9/show.
• Bring the entire family to dance at Pittsfield Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor). Enjoy live music by David West and Donna Baird, followed by light refreshments. 2:00-4:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for the family.

Harvest Celebrations Around Town This Weekend

This weekend there are a couple note-worthy free events that celebrate the harvest season. that are appropriate for the entire family.

On Sunday, October 16, from 1:00-5:00 p.m., families can experience a harvest at Parker Mill (4650 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor). Learn about how the grist operated or even try your hand at shelling corn. Families will also learn about wild nut harvesting and be able to taste several varieties of apples. Guided tours are given at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Pack a picnic and enjoy the event, then walk a few of the trails for a beautiful afternoon of education, celebration and enjoyment!

Ypsilanti's Harvest Festival is sure to
provide plenty of free entertainment
for the entire family. 

For another take on harvest-time fun, Ypsilanti's Depot Town (E. Cross St. and N. River St., Ypsilanti) is also playing host to a Harvest Festival from noon-5:00 p.m.

Families can revisit the past in historic depot town while enjoying a flea market, live entertainment, pumpkin carving, kids entertainment and Tow Mater from Cars!

• - Depot Town Flea Market 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• - Magic Show noon - 2:00 p.m.
• - Howl-O-Een Hound Doggie Costume Contest 2:00 p.m. check in
• - Live music, face painting and pumpkin carving happening all day.

Whichever free event your family visits will provide a great weekend get-away during the beautiful autumn weather!

50% Discount at The Blast Corn Maze

Get a 50% discout for a hayride and visit to Blast Corn Maze!

When we say you're going to be lost in a field of maize, you might think it's just another Saturday at the Big House. This might be football season, but it's also the season for friends, family, and getting lost among giant stalks of corn. Today families can receive a 50% discount to the Blast Corn Maze (6175 Daly Rd., Dexter)!

For $9, you'll enjoy a fantastic fall hayride for two in addition to the Blast Corn Maze or pay $18 for four to enjoy a hayride and admission to the maze. Located just north of the Huron River, Blast boasts a ten-acre field with more than 3.5 miles of trails. In addition to the hayride, pony rides are available from 2:00-6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through October.

Enjoy fall fun for the whole family with a deal that's more a-maze-ing than watching Denard rush for the Maize and Blue!

DEAL: Take the Family On A Hayride, Straw Bale Maze and Get A Pumpkin for $8

Enjoy the beauty of Lodi Farms with today's Real Deal.  The package allows families of any size to savor the gentle beauty of fall without all the hype, goblins, scary music, and strolling zombies—bring your family to Lodi Farms Nursery (2880 South Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor) for an adventure where the emphasis is on HARVEST...NOT haunted! The tractor-pulled hayride wagon takes you thru the nursery, past a farm with horses (if they’re out) and up to the straw maze and pumpkins. Don’t forget your camera!  When you’re done playing in the maze, and have selected the very best pumpkin, take the hayride back to the greenhouse. Feel free to stroll through Lodi Farms’ 5 acres of trees, shrubs and perennials, (all at great fall sale prices), and finish your fall decorations with mums, corn shocks, straw bales...and maybe more pumpkins too! While you’re there, you might even find a friendly cat or five saying hello! (and “pet me please?”) The family size is only limited by your sense of fairness; one(1) pumpkin is included, but you’re always welcome to buy more!  Our pumpkins are $5 each.      

Halloween Spooktacular at Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Dress up in your best costume and have a scary good time at the Halloween Spooktacular at Matthaei Boatical Gardens, October 22, 10:00 a.m. - noon! Paint pumpkins and gourds, scoop out pumpkins for pumpkin seed treats, make paper masks and decorations, and finish up with cookies and roasted pumpkin seeds!

The event is $7 per child. To register call 734.647.7600 or register online.

Weekend Events Round-up: October 7-9

The near 80-degree days are going to help many Ann Arbor area families fill their weekend planner with many of the great local events. Enjoy the Tecumseh's Appleumpkin Festival and Westfest, free movies, the free child ID event and several harvest celebrations. The weekend would be an excellent time to visit local cider mills with kids too!

Saturday, October 8:

• Free fall movies at the Quality 16 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, this week is Judy Moody.
• Tecumseh's 18th Annual Appleumpkin Festival is this weekend with plenty of free family events and activities. Face painting, crafts, bouncers and a free scarecrow making event!
• Free Child Identification Program is being sponsored where families can get a free ID kit for their children. Gte a disc with information that would be helopful if your child should ever go missing. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Kids can Build A Scarecrow at workshop at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens today at 10:00 a.m. for $7. Straw, string, pillowcases for faces, paint, and the wooden frame material are provided, the kids just need to bring clothing, hats, and gloves.
• The crazy pumpkin event, a free make-it take-it craft event at Michael's Crafts (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor) is happening Saturday 1:00-3:00 p.m. for kids ages 3+. Design an extreme craft pumpkin with purchase of pumpkin.

Sunday, October 9:

• Free fall movies at the Quality 16 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
• Tecumseh's 18th Annual Appleumpkin Festival.
• Free Child Identification Program today 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Pioneer Day at Waterloo Farm Museum allows familiy a glimps of a by-gone era where the entire family had to prep the fall harvest. Try your hand at crafts or preparing food or see the animals on the farm. noon - 5:00 p.m.
• Mack Pool Splash Days allows families to splash during a fun family swimming session with prizes and fun for all. 1:00-3:00 p.m.
• Kids ages 3+ will go batty when making their own paper bat during a free event at Michael's Crafts. 1:00-3:00 p.m.
• Fall Fest is back at the Historic Hack House (775 County St., Milan) from noon - 5:00 p.m. Check out antique farm machines, old cars, farm animals, and good food. There will also be crafts, demonstrations, antique clothing, photos, and a display of toys that kids played with a century ago.

$90 Portrait Package for Only $18: Great Holiday Photo Package

Today's Groupon for JCPenney Portrait Studios is a great deal for parents - Get a $90 portrait package for $18! In addition the sitting fees waived plus get an additional 40% off portrait purchases, redeemable at any jcpenney portraits location. The package includes:

• Five traditional-colored portrait sheets, available as one 10"x13", one 8x10", two 5"x7"s, four 3.5"x5"s, or 8 wallets (each sheet can be a different pose)
• Standard sitting fees for all subjects in the photo shoot are waived
• 40% off additional portrait purchases

JCPenny Portrait Studio Locations Locally:

Briarwood Mall
500 Briarwood Circle
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-665-4238


Canton Square
43690 Ford Rd.
Canton, MI 48187
(734) 416-3985

Fairlane Town Center
18900 Michigan Ave.
Dearborn, MI 48126
(313) 593-1271

Southland Shopping Center
23000 Eureka Rd.
Taylor, MI 48180
(734) 287-9350


Waterside Marketplace
50753 Waterside Dr.
Chesterfield, MI 48051
(586) 949-5919

Oakland Mall
700 W 14 Mile Rd.
Troy, MI 48083
(248) 585-2960

Westland Shopping Center
35000 W Warren Rd.
Westland, MI 48185
(734) 422-6330

Lakeside Shopping Center
14300 Lakeside Cir.
Sterling Heights, MI 48313
(586) 247-0351

Twelve Oaks Mall
27150 Novi Rd.
Novi, MI 48377
(248) 344-1099

Green Oak Village Place
9480 Village Place Blvd.
Brighton, MI 48116
(810) 229-6492

Village Lakes
300 Town Center Blvd.
White Lake Township, MI 48386
(248) 698-3156

Roseville Store
31510 Gratiot Ave.
Roseville, MI 48066
(586) 415-2887

Mom 2 Mom Sales This Weekend

This weekend there are several Mom2Mom Sales to browse near Ann Arbor. Below are the details for deal-ready shoppers!

Mom 2 Mom Sale at Saline Recreation Center (1866 Woodland Dr., Saline)
Saturday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. am-1 pm
Admission: $1 admission
87 sold out tables of gently used items for infants, babies, toddlers and kids of all ages. Clothing, toys books, baby gear, strollers and maternity clothing are also available. For information call 734.429.3502 or email sferguson@cityofsaline.org.

Mom-2-Mom Sale at Woodland Meadows Elementary (350 Woodland Dr. Saline)
Hosted by Huron Valley Parents of Multiples
Saturday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Admission: $2.
Visit the bi-annual Mom-2-Mom Sale through Huron Valley Parents of Multiples to find many great deals of used children's clothing, baby gear (strollers, high chairs and beds), toys, books and more. For more information visit the Huron Valley Parents of Multiples website.

Faith Assembly Church (894 E. Huron River,  Belleville)
Saturday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Admission: $1
For more information call 734.502.0978.

Real Moms @ Calvary Baptist Church (43065 Joy Rd., Canton)
Saturday, October 8, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Free Admission
Department style store sale on used children's clothing, toys, books and baby gear.

Tecumseh's 18th Annual Appleumpkin Festival

South of Ann Arbor families wil find another great festival celebrating fall this weekend during Tecumseh's 18th Annual Appleumpkin Festival. On October 8-9th throughout Tecumseh and at the west end of downtown families will find an Antiques Street Fair, Arts & Crafts, live entertainment, a haunted house, and FREE children's activities. Really, it's an event for the entire family with midway rides, carnival games and let's us not forget plenty of great eats!

Do you need a scarecrow for your front lawn? Well you’re in luck, you can make your very own at the Appleumpkin Festivaldowntown. That’s right, spend a little quality fun time with your family, and craft your own scarecrow, all for free! You’ll find everything you need under the Make-it-Take-it Scarecrow Tent.

New in 2011 is the expansion of the festival to the west end of Tecumseh – Appleumpkin Westfest. There will be additional general, food and activity vendors, as well as activities including inflatables, kids games and more! On Saturday we are featuring a bike show, chili cook-off and waterball tournament and Sunday will be highlighted by an antique tractor show. A free shuttle service is planned to run between downtown and the west end to assure visitors can conveniently visit both festival locations.

Astronomical Society Open House Schedule 2011-2012

For families interested in space, planets or the stars, the Angell Hall Observatory has several open house dates throughout the year. Visiting during an open houses allow families to check out the telescopes (weather pending), as well as enjoy observatory tours, presentations, and planetarium shows, rain or shine.
Open House Dates 2011

September 16th - 9:00-11:00 p.m.
September 30th - 9:00-11:00 p.m.
October 14th - 9:00-11:00 p.m.
October 28th - 8:00-10:00 p.m.
November 4th - 8:00-10:00 p.m.
November 18th - 8:00-10:00 p.m.
December 9th - 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Facilities include a 0.4 meter Ritchey-Chretien reflector in the main observatory, as well as one or two 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrains set up on the rooftop. From light-polluted Ann Arbor the best subjects for viewing are typically the planets, the moon, the constellations, and colorful binary star systems. We also can show you a few of the brighter nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies in the sky. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars and lots of questions for the undergraduates. Keep in mind that the objects we can observe depend on the time of year so there are new things to see at each open house!

Angell Hall is also home to a new planetarium, installed in August 2004. It projects more than 7000 stars, the sun, the moon, the planets, the milky way, and star clustes. Come see what the night sky looks like without light pollution! Planetarium shows are held during all open houses rain or shine.

For questions regarding the Angell Hall Observatory Open Houses visit the website or send messages to sas-officers@umich.edu.

Halloween Show Deal in Canton

Dr. Scream's Spook Show Revival

Four Tickets and a Souvenir DVD for a Halloween Magic Show

If you're looking for a little more hocus pocus and a little less slasher-style adventure this Halloween, today's deal is for you: Pay just $30 (regularly $75) to experience Dr. Scream's Spook Show Revival in Canton on October 14 today on Livingsocial. In addition to the Halloween magic and illusion, famalies will also get the the classic House on Haunted Hill DVD with Vincent Price, and a souvenir DVD.

So if retro rampage of magic, comedy, and mirth sound appealing, check out today's Living Social deal for 4 tickets to the Canton Halloween show! There's no smoke and mirrors -- just an amazing bargain and a howling good time.

Want more? Check out Dr. Scream's Spook Show Revival on Facebook.

Free Child Identification Program This Weekend

On Saturday October 8-9, the Ann Arbor Masonic Lodge #262 and the Golden Rule Masonic Lodge #159 will be providing a free child identification program to area residents and their families.  The program 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday, will be held at the Sears Store of Briarwood Mall (900 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor) as part of the Sears Safety Weekend Event.

Each child that goes through the process will receive a dental impression kit that can be done at home as well as a CD containing a photo, video, digital fingerprints and their vital information.  Parents or guardians of children who participate must be present and fill out a permission slip for the child to receive this service.  Children who have already received the service are encouraged to repeat the process every two years to keep the information in the completed packets current.

The Michigan Child Identification Program provides the family with everything needed for the Amber Alert System and since 2005 several thousand Michigan families have received this valuable service. The program is also considered one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Several years ago we had both kids done, however it's a great time for us to repeat doing the program for the most up-to-date information on our children. I encourage other Ann Arbor families to take advantage of this free service.

For questions or more information about the event you may call 989-466-3087 or consult the Michigan Child ID Web Site at www.michiganchildid.org.

Pioneer Day at Waterloo Farm Museum

Take your family to celebrate life on a 19th century farm with farm tours, live music, and demonstrations of crafts, trades, and traditional cooking methods of the past during  the Waterloo Historical Society Farm Day. On Sunday, October 9 from noon-5:00 p.m. at the Waterloo Farm Museum and the Dewey School Museum (13493 Waterloo Munith Rd., Grass Lake) families will be treated to demonstrations that will bring history alive!

• Demonstrations of traditional tasks like spinning, dressmaking, weaving and quilting,
• Exhibits of farm tools used for chores such as corn husking and shelling, cider pressing, and sauerkraut making.
• See how the family lived while smelling the preparations of Sunday dinner.
• Try out stilt-walking or other outdoor games.
• Musicians playing
• Horse-drawn wagon rides
• Craftspeople demonstrating and selling their wares
• Farm goods, jams, preserves, apple butter and delicious snacks and treats for sale

Think all of that will make you hungry? Don't worry, mom and dad can treat the kids to a farm cooked treat savoring some Waterloo Bean Soup! So whether your taste runs to primitive folk art, woven goods, or wildlife art, you'll find demonstrators with their wares for sale for gift giving or receiving.

Event admission is $5/adults and $2/children aged 5-12, children 5 and under receive free event admission.

Mack Pool Splash Days: Family Fun Swimming Indoors!

What can you do when the weather is turning outside but you want to spend some quality family time indoors? How about spending a day at the pool? The Mack Pool (715 Brooks St., Ann Arbor) has fun family Splash Days 1:00-3:00 p.m. the second Sunday of each month, September through May. Come for the fun and games and your family will thank you! The cost for the family activity is $4/adults, $3.50/children 4-17 and  seniors, with free admission for children 3 and under.

Splash Days 2011-2012:

September 11

October 9

November 13

December 11

January 8

February 12

March 11

April 8

May 13