Kids Stuff

Written by Sally Sanders
Thursday, 25 April 2013 00:00

A selection of events planned for youngsters and their families — see other calendar listings for more comprehensive coverage of area performances and activities.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Fiona, an original children’s ballet, performed by the dance program at the Darien Arts Center, Sat., April 27, at 11 and 2; Sun., April 28, at noon; tickets $10; 2 Renshaw Rd., Darien; info., 203-655-8683 or arts.darien.org.

Dance Across China!, family entertainment by students of Grace Reddy’s Tang Yun Dance School, Sun., May 12, 2:30 p.m., tickets $15;  Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge; 203-438-5795 or ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Silvermine School of Art’s Art Materials & Equipment Tag Sale Fundraiser, Sat., April 27, 10-5; wide assortment of materials, books, tools; Silvermine School of Art Auditorium, 1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan; info., 203-966-6668 x2 or silvermineart.org.

Westport Electric Vehicle Rally, Sat. April 27, reg. at 9 a.m. at the Eastbound Saugatuck Train Station; Time-Speed-Distance Rally, 40-mile event with est. 20 unique cars; “Pit Stop” at Fairfield Earth Day celebration at Warde High School, rally concluding events from 1 to 3 at the train station; info., westportelectriccarclub.com.

Tilly Foster Farm Museum Spring Fling!, Sat., April 27, 10-3; sheep shearing, exhibits and demos., face painting, bounce house, pony rides and hay rides, music; sugg. $5 parking feee; 100 Rte. 312, Brewster, N.Y.; info., 845-363-6623 or tillyfosterfarm.org.

Westport Mini Maker Faire, Sat., April 27, 10-4; family-friendly festival showcasing science, arts, engineering, technology, crafts and music; Westport Library, 20 Jesup Rd., 203-227-4177 or westportlibrary.org.

Wilton Library’s Annual Gigantic Book Sale Fundraiser: , Sat., April 27, 7-9 a.m., Early Buying $15 adm. fee; Sat., 9-5, free adm.; Sun., April 28, 12-5; Mon., April 29, 10-5, books half-price; Tues., April 30, 10-2, $5/bag; more than 70,000 items, sorted into more than 50 categories; silent auction on Saturday and Sunday; 137 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton Center; 203-762-3950 or wiltonlibrary.org.

Art Saturday, presented by Greenwich Arts Council, Sat., April 27, 2-4 p.m., workshop for youngsters in grades 3-5; led by Gail and Ken Resen, with focus on “Visual Illusions”; 299 Greenwich Ave.,reg. by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; info., 203-862-6750.

What If Mozart Played Guitar Hero? by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s “Hard Rock” String Quartet, Sun., April 28, 1 p.m.; tickets $18, $15/children;  Quick Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Rd.; 1-877-ARTS-396 or quickcenter.com.

Ridgefield Bandjam 2013, Sun., April 28, 4 p.m., middle and high school finalist bands; tickets $20, $15;  Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge; 203-438-5795 or ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Theatre Fairfield: Arabian Nights, April 24-28, Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m.; tickets $12, $6/srs., Wien Black Box Theatre, Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University; 1-877-ARTS-396 or quickcenter.com.

WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts: Alice in Wonderland, Sat.-Sun., April 27-28, at 3 and 7 p.m., Berkshire Theatre in Berkshire Hall, Midtown Campus, 181 White St., Danbury; res., 203-837-8732 or visit wcsu.edu/tickets.

Fairfield County Children’s Choir, program for youth in grades 4-12 with treble voices; beginning April 13, may register for an audition beginning April 13; call 203-414-4292; auditions at Fairfield Woods Middle School, Fairfield; info., singfccc.org.

NATURE

New Canaan Nature Center, 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, 203-966-9577; satellite site for NY Botanical Garden programs (800-322-6924); buildings open Mon.-Sat., 9-4 (closed major holidays);  Saturday Explorers Club, 2 Sat./month for ages 6 and up and families, 1:30-2:45; First Saturdays, 1st Sat. of the month, free guided activities for visitors, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Free Live Animal Presentations, Sat. at 3, lasting 15-20 min., dif. animal each week.

Darien Nature Center, 120 Brookside Rd.; free adm. Mon.-Fri., 9-4; Sat., 9-1; 203-655-7459: Ongoing exhibits. Lions, Livestock & Living Walls: An Artistic Study of Community & Conservation in Tanzania, April 12-26.

Devil’s Den/Lucius Pond Ordway Preserve, a Nature Conservancy property, 33 Pent Rd., Weston; open dawn to dusk to passive recreation; 20 miles of trails; info., concerns, 860-455-0716; natureconservancy.org.

Woodcock Nature Center, 56 Deer Run Rd., Wilton; center open 9:30-5, Tues.-Sat., two-plus miles of trails open daily, dawn to dusk; reg. in advance for programs, 203-762-7280; www.woodcocknature center.org.  Where the Wild Things Run 5K Train Run and Kids’ Fun Run, May 5.

Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, 10 N. Water St., adm. $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for youth (13-17) and seniors, $12.95 for children 3-12; open 10-5 daily (till 6, July and August); info., 203-852-0700, ext. 2206: Toy Boat Workshop on Saturdays and Sundays (daily during July and August) between 11 and 3, 20-min. workshop, $5/child, no res. required. Africa: The Desert to the Sea; seal feedings at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 and 3:45 p.m. daily; Meerkats, special exhibit, through Labor Day, 2013. Marine Life Study Cruises, resuming April 27, departing at 1 on Sat. April 27-June 29, all passengers must be min. 42” tall, $20.50/person, call for res.

* IMAX Theater at the Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St., Norwalk; daytime films, $9.50/adults, $8.50/srs., $7/2-12; Hollywood films, $11.50, $10.50, $9.50;  info., 203-852-0700 or maritimeaquarium.org: The Last Reef, daily at 11 and 2, through June 20; Sharks, daily at 1 and 3 p.m. through June 20; Born to Be Wild, daily at noon and 4 Mon.-Thur. and at noon Fri.-Sun., through June 20. 

Stepping Stones Museum, 303 West Ave., Norwalk; adm. $12/adults and children (under 1, free), $10/srs.; Early Childhood  Classes for ages 6 mon.-6 yrs. and After School Adventures for grades 3-12, reg. online; other ongoing events; steppingstonesmuseum.org or call 203-899-0606.

Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Rd., call for program res., 203-869-5272 or greenwich.audubon.org; program fees: $5/adults, $3/children, srs. (incl. adm. to Center & Grounds); trails open dawn to dusk weekends; Kimberlin Nature Center open daily, 9-5; nature store open Tues.-Sat., 9-5. Morning Bird Walks: Sat., 7-8:45 a.m. at Main Sanctuary, April 6-27, May 11-25; Wed., 7-8:30 a.m. at Fairchild Garden, May 1-22. Springtime Sunset and Moonlight Walk, Thur., April 25, 7:45-9:15 p.m., ages 7 & up, space limited, res. required; Bluebird and Tree Swallow Nestbox Happenings, Sat., April 27, 2-3:30 p.m.

Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford; 203-322-1646 or www.stamfordmuseum.org: Sunday Explorers, noon to 4 (Sept. 9-Nov. 25, no class Oct. 21);  Heckscher Farm, daily, 9-5 (Animal Embassy open Tues.-Sun., 10-2); Nature’s Playground, daily 9-5; Bendel Mansion (main building), Mon.-Sat., 9-5, Sun., 11-5.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, 10 Woodside Lane, Westport; open Mon.-Sat., 9-5, Sun., 1-4 (closed major holidays); adm. $7/adults, $5/ages 1-12 & srs.; free adm. to trails and property, daily 7 a.m.-dusk; interactive nature museum, live wildlife, family program on Sat.; 203-227-7253; earthplace.org.

The Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport; 203-372-3521; Tues.-Sat., 10-5, Sun., 12-5; museum and planetarium, $9.50 adults, $8 children, seniors, students, free under 2: daily planetarium shows (The Little Star That Could, for ages 8 and younger; Dawn of the Space Age, for ages 8 and older), Challenger Learning Center, call for schedule; many interactive exhibits. 

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport; adm. $12/adults, $10/children 3-11 and seniors, free for children under 3; open daily 9 to 4; 203-394-6565, www.beardsleyzoo.org.  Pet Awareness and Adoption Day, Sat., April 27, noon to 3; Zoos Go Blue, Sun., April 28, 9-4.

Planetarium Shows and Sky Viewings, at the West. Conn. State U. Westside campus planetarium and observatory, 47 Lake Ave. Ext., Danbury; free, donations accepted; info., updates, 203-837-8672: April 20, show, 7:30-8:30 p.m., viewing, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

* Wolf Conservation Center, South Salem, N.Y.; pre-reg. required for events at nywolf.org Pack Chat for Kids, Sun., April 28, 11 a.m., Sun., May 5, 11 a.m., Sat., May 11, 11 a.m., $13/adults, $11/children under 12; Wolves of North America, Sat., April 27, 11 a.m., $13/adults, $11/children under 12; Evening Howl for “Pups” of All Ages!, Sat., April 27, 6:30 p.m., Sat., May 4, Sat., May 11, 6:30 p.m., for families, $16/adults, $13/children under 12;   Full Moon Wolf Walk, Thur., April 25, 7:30 p.m., $20/person; Yellowstone: A Ranger’s Perspective, Sat., May 11, 3 p.m., $15/person; Throw Mama to the Wolves, Sun., May 12, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., $13/adults, $11/children under 12; Sketching Safari for people 13 years and older, Sun.,, May 26, 9-noon, $60/person, with artist Alison Nicholls; Summer Wolf Camp for Kids!, grades 2-3, Tues.-Fri., 10-noon, July 9-12 and Aug. 13-16; grades 4-6, Tues.-Fri., 9-noon, June 25-28, July 16-19, July 30-Aug. 2, Aug. 20-23, see website for registration info.

Tilly Foster Farm, Rte. 312, Brewster, N.Y.; open to visits daily 10-4; farm store open Fri.-Sun., 10-4; info., 845-279-4474 or visit tillyfosterfarm.org.

MUSEUMS, Etc.

The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, open Tues.-Sun., 12-5 (also Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Presidents’ Day and Good Friday); historic $10/adults and $5/srs.; free adm. for full-time teachers and students in grades K-12, and for active-service military families; free for all on Tuesdays;  Family Drop-In Hours, third weekend of every month in the Education Center, free w/gen. adm.  Extreme Draw On! annual program celebrating drawing, begins March 24 (exhibit Extreme Drawing also opens March 24): Family Day, Sat., May 4, 1-5 p.m., hands-on activities with multiple artists incl. reps. from the Maurice Sendak Foundation Fellowship, performance by Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance.

Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main St., Ridgefield; 203-438-5485: tour hours, Wed., Sat., and Sun., 1-4, last tour at 3:30 (closed Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas);  special exhibits in the Cass Gilbert Dining Room; adults/$5, srs., under 12/$3.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd., Wilton, 203-834-1896 or www.nps.gov/wefa: grounds open daily dawn to dusk; Burlingham House Visitor Ctr., Wed.-Sun., 9-5; call for info. on tours. Admin. offices open Mon.-Fri., 9-5; info., incl. current program and tour sched., call or visit Web site.

Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road (Route 7), 203-762-7257: period rooms in the Betts-Sturges-Blackmar House, gift shop;  Tues.-Fri., 10-4:30, Sat., 1-4, 2nd & 4th Sun., 1-4, adm. $5; period rooms in the Betts-Sturges-Blackmar House, gift shop, Tues.-Fri., 10-4, Sat., 1-4.

Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave.; 203-222-7070 or westportartscenter.org: gallery hours are Mon. to Sat., 10-5, Sun., 12-4;   info. and tickets, 203-222-7070: 2013 Summer Camps, for ages  up to 12, reg. now open.

New Canaan Historical Society, 13 Oenoke Ridge; 203-966-1776 or visit nchistory.org.

Silvermine Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan; 203-966-9700 or silvermineart.org: Summer Art Camp, July 9-Aug. 23, children may participate in one or more weeks, grouped by age (5-8, 9-12, 12-15); reg. began March 21.

Bruce Museum, One Museum Dr., Greenwich; brucemuseum.org or 203-869-0376: Eggs-Hibition: Unscrambling Their History, all aspects of eggs from creation myths to Fabergé, March 23-Oct. 20. Docent-led Museum Exhibition Tours, Fri., 12:30, free w/ museum adm.   After-School Art Classes, Thur., April 25-June 13, 3:45-5 p.m., ages 9-12, w/Kathie Milligan, $375/student.

Greenwich Historical Society, Bush-Holley Historic Site, 39 Strickland Rd., Cos Cob; open Fri.-Sun., 12-4 (docent-led tours at 1, 2 and 3);  203-869-6899, ext. 10 or www.hstg.org; adm. to gallery, visitor ctr. & house museum, $10/adults, $8/srs. and students, under 6 free (half-price on opening day); group tours at $7/person avail. on public and non-public days; library and archives open Wed.-Thur., 10-4; adm. offices open Mon.-Fri., 9-5; gallery hours Wed.-Sun., 12-4.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St., Danbury; 203-778-8337; danbury.org/drm: adm. $6/adults, $5/srs., students, $4/children (3-12); open Wed.-Sat., 10-4, Sun., 12-4.

Fairfield Museum and History Center,  behind the old Town Hall; open Mon.-Fri., 10-4 (Thur. till 6); Sat.-Sun., 12-4; research library closed Mon.; adults, $5, students w/ ID, $3, children 5 and under, free; info., www.fairfieldhs.org or 203-259-1598.

Barnum Museum, 820 Main Street, Bridgeport; 203-331-1104 x100 or visit barnum-museum.org: Recovery in Action, Thur.-Fri., 11-3, free adm.,  enter through double doors at rear of historic building.

Katonah Museum of Art, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, N.Y., 914-232-9555: Target Picture Story Saturdays, Sat. at 10:30, with guest readers, free; See-and-Do Art Activities, ages 3 and up (accomp. by an adult), Sat. at 1, Sun. at 1:30, free. Beyond the Bed: The American Quilt Evolution, Feb. 24-June 16, curated by Jean Burks, sr. curator at the Shelburne Museum; In the Project Gallery: Quilt Lab, visitors may make a Log Cabin block for community quilts; In the Learning Center, Ann Jonas: The Quilt; In the Sculpture Garden: Andrea Lilienthal: Ladders, opening April 21; On the South Lawn: Paul Chaleff, large sculptural tiles, opening April 21; In the Foyer: Tiny Quilts, six-inch-square quilts, by memers of the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild, for sale ($75).

Military Museum of Southern New England, 125 Park Ave., Danbury; 203-790-9277; www.usmilitarymuseum.org: more than 30 armored vehicles; massive collection of military artifacts; Story of the 10th Mountain Division; Life-size dioramas with major military vehicles; The World in Flames, story of World War II 1939-1945; The War in the Pacific, expanded exhibit; large gift shop; summer hours, Tues.-Sat., 10-5; Sun., 12-5; winter hours (Dec. 1-March 31), Fri.-Sun. only; adults $6, active duty military, children and srs. $4; under 5, free.

John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Rte. 22, Katonah, N.Y.; 914-232-5651 or www.johnjayhomestead.org: guided tours offered Tues.-Sat., 10-4; Sun., 11-4; $7/adults, $5/srs., students, free up to age 12.