Dream It, Build It
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids
March 1-Aug. 31
$8/adults, $3/children ages 3-18, free admission/ages 2 & under
grmuseum.org, (616) 929-1700
Hands down, Legos are a kid's favorite. If you aren't at the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the Lego exhibition, it's an automatic strike against you in the book of fun. The highly anticipated exhibit features architectural masterpieces recreated with Lego bricks by Certified Lego Professional Adam Reed Tucker. The exhibition will also include areas for museum guests to get hands on inspiration and create with bricks. "Lego is such a universal thing. So many kids know about it. They are an art form," said Kate Moore, director of marketing and public relations. Get ready to gape at 13 Lego bricked recreations of famous structures including the Empire State Building, the Jin Mao Tower, the Gateway Arch, as well as a scaled model of the Van Andel Museum Center Building (sans glue). There is also work on display from the Western Michigan Lego Train Club™, which includes a model of the museum's 1885 trolley car. Bonus: the Lego exhibit overlaps with Dinosaurs Unearthed (on display until April 27) to target a similar audience.
Cinderella Tea Party
Alpen Rose Restaurant
4 E. 8th St., Holland
March 15, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
$35 per person
etissentials.com, (616) 283-2710
Get your white gloves out and cross 'Meeting a Princess' off their bucket list with the education/entertainment of an Etissentials program. This is a time for princess apparel and a lesson in manners. Learn the art of a proper introduction (greetings and handshakes) while also getting a photo with Cinderella on her throne and nibbling on a light tea time luncheon featuring fresh fruit, assorted breads and scones, sandwiches, dessert and pink lemonade or ice tea for that fancy, extended pinky finger feeling. Recommended for ages 3 to 7 and held at the Alpen Rose Restaurant, this event also features an autograph and story time session. "We teach the true meaning of a princess," said Etissentials Director Stacy Carpin. "It's the inner beauty and using manners and grace that makes a princess."
Just ForT Fun Indoor Campout
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
11 Sheldon Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
March 14, 6-8 p.m.
$8/ages 1 and above, $6/military families, free admission/children under 1
grcm.org, (616) 235-4726
Simplicity. This means taking a blanket or sheet, adding some imagination (maybe chairs and pillows) and hiding away from the world. The indoor camp out at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum is a fun event incorporating the Fort exhibit where forts are bigger and better than ever. When it comes to fort making, "It's a castle one day, the next it's a tent and the next day it's something else entirely," says Marketing and Events Manager Adrienne Brown. "It can be whatever you want it to be." Activities usually meant for the outdoors are on the docket for the camp out and include flameless s'mores, a scavenger hunt, a constellation activity, making binoculars and more. The exhibit runs for a few months, so get in, pop a squat and remember those lazy days where proper fort construction was the most serious of issues.
Girls Rock! Grand Rapids Rock and Roll Fundraiser
Kentwood Fun Spot
14 52nd St. SE, Grand Rapids
March 2, noon-4 p.m.
$6
girlsrockgrandrapids.wordpress.com
What child hasn't wanted to play rock band? Encourage their interest in music by attending the Girls Rock! Grand Rapids Rock and Roll Fundraiser at the Kentwood Fun Spot. This is a chance for kids to roller skate, play games and watch the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls practice, scrimmage and host the event all while raising funds for Girls Rock! Grand Rapids, a not for profit group of women dedicated to empowering girls through music. Learn about the organization and get a chance to get stickers, T-shirts and tote bag merchandise. Open skaters get silly with reverse skating, a sharks-and-minnows skate game and the chance to skate along to songs performed by the Girls Rock! Grand Rapids group or songs of their choosing. More games include a cake walk, kick the can and pizza box relay race. "Kids will love to hear themselves singing during open skates," said Community Outreach member Amber Albanesi. The Girls Rock! Grand Rapids week-long camp is held in August and encourages creativity, self-esteem and includes instrument lessons, music workshops and a finale rock show.
