family fun - june 2008

Picks of the Month

Visitors to Milwaukee are quick to remind residents that the Milwaukee County Zoo is a world-class zoological park. Whether you are a long-time resident or a one-day visitor, you will enjoy every minute spent at the zoo. A striking new entrance has put a fresh face on the zoo, giving staff and volunteers a place to let you know the day's activities. And it's open 365 days a year!

MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO

10001 W. Bluemound Road. Just 10 minutes from downtown Milwaukee at Highway 45 and Interstate 94. Open 365 days a year. Ph. (414) 256-5412 or www.milwaukeezoo.org.

It’s always a good time to visit the Milwaukee County Zoo, one of the premier zoological parks in the country.

Zoo Music is the theme June 6 as the zoo reopens at 6:30 p.m. Musicians stroll the grounds and a parade of the mammals is set for 7 p.m.

Conservation Weekend is set for May 31-June 1.

Celebrate Father's Day June 15 at the zoo. Dads admitted free 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The first Wednesday Sunset Zoofari June 25 finds the zoo reopening at 6 p.m. with live entertainment on the grounds.

The popular Sting Ray and Shark Reef exhibition has eturned to the zoo and continues through Sept. 7

BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

929 E. Wisconsin Ave. Ph. 414-291-0888 Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. www.bbcmkids.org

Programs include:

• Tot Time, ages 1 to 3 with parent or caregiver, 10:30 a.m. Tuedays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Toddlers will enjoy sing-alongs, finger-play, stories, and art experiences. Adults learn how these experiences impact early childhood development.
  
  
  
• Pre-School Pop-in, ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Pre-schoolers participate in music, movement and visual art activities that encourage early reading and introduce beginning math concepts. Adults learn about age-appropriate activities that stimulate a child's development.

Special events:

Open Father's Day, June 15, with free admission for Dads.

Neighborhood Night June 19 means free admission from 5-8 p.m.

Curious George: Let's Get Curious! ends June 1. Created by the Minnesota Children's Museum in partnership with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, the special exhibit introduces young children to the little monkey's world and leads visitors on a fun, interactive math, science and engineering-based adventure.

THE MUSEUM CENTER
800 W. Wells St.

Includes Milwaukee Public Museum, one of the world's best natural history museums (Ph. 278-2700); and the Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater 414-319-IMAX. www.mpm.edu

The last day for the spectacular exhibit Body Worlds: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies is June 1. The exhibit attracted more than 300,000 visitors and the museum will be open late on the final day.

"Wisconsin Archaeology: Pieces of the Puzzle" displays artifacts from the museum collections, including some from Aztalan, the state's most significant archeological site.

The Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater in the Museum Center, the only IMAX theater in the state, doubles as a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.

Current IMAX shows playing include "The Human Body," which draws on sophisticated graphics to provide a dramatic picture of the human body. "The Human Body" runs through June 12. "Grand Canyon Adventure," an exhilarating river-rafting adventure down the Colorado River, continues through Sept. 4. Mysteries of the Great Lakes," opening June 13, takes viewers through the greatest freshwater system in the world.

The Daniel M. Soref Planetarium in the IMAX currently is offering three shows: "Rock Hall of Fame," a light show plus music through Sept. 4; "Secrets of the Zodiac," a look at the celestial system and why it has been so instrumental to humans, through June 12; and "CSI: Cosmic," which looks for life in the extreme conditions here on Earth and journeys through the solar system to investigate neighboring planets for hospitable conditions, through Sept. 4. Opening June 13 is "Seven Wonders," which takes viewers back in time to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and travels through the universe to provide a glimpse of natural wonders beyond our planet.

Call 414-319-4629 for IMAX planetarium show times and reservations.

DISCOVERY WORLD at PIER WISCONSIN

500 N. Harbor Dr. 765-9966. The newest addition to Milwaukee’s world-class lineup of museums and visitor attractions is the home of the 19th century re-creation of a Great Lakes sailing vessel, the Denis Sullivan. Until the ship is returns for the summer season, the Discovery World Museum offers saltwater and fresh water aquariums, interactive exhibits created by several of the city’s leading corporations and the HIVE, a virtual-reality chamber that puts visitors into 30 simulated environments.. Open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun. www.discoveryworld.org.

Special June events:

The official homecoming ceremony for the schooner Denis Sullivan is set for 3 p.m. June 7, with live music, children's activities and facility and deck tours.

"Les Paul's House of Sound," a tribute to the famed Wisconsin guitarist Les Paul, opens June 21.

Briggs & Stratton's "Milwaukee Muscle" exhibit, which allows visitors to design a vehicle of the future, and "Energy & Ingenuity: Harnessing the Power of You" developed by the Wisconsin Energy Foundation also are scheduled to open in June.

MISCELLANEOUS FUN

COMEDYSPORTZ at 420 S. 1st St. continues to provide improvisational comedy suitable for the whole family. Shows every week 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.  Also 10 p.m. Friday amateur (18+) stand up session. Call 272-8888 for show times and reservations or visit www.comedysportz.com. Be sure to use our KeyMilwaukee.com coupon for extra savings.

RIDE FOR THE ARTS, June 1; One of the nation's largest recreational bike rides starts at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. and runs along the lakefront. Registration begins at 6 a.m. Start times vary according to length of ride (5, 15, 25, 50 or 75 miles). 414-276-7433. www.millerliteride.com.

MILWAUKEE HIGHLAND GAMES, June 7; Bagpipe bands, Scottish foods, Highland Dancing and unique athletic events in Old Heidelberg Park, Glendale.. 262-796-0807.

COMMUNITY SAILING CENTER OPEN HOUSE, June 7; Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, 1450 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. Free sailboat rides, informational tours and videos. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 277-9094.

LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL OF ARTS, June 20-22; This annual event is a family affair at the Milwaukee Art Museum grounds, 700 N. Art Museum Dr. 170 artists from throughout the U.S. display and sell their works in a variety of media. Sculpture garden, children's art activities, food and beverages. Art museum admission included with festival attendance. Noon-8 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 224-3854.

GIRO D' GRAFTON, June 21; Paramount Plazain Grafton is the site for the second annual professional bike race with free live blues music. Races start at noon and run all day with 7:30 p.m. Twilight Pro Race. Free entertainment at the plaza: 3 p.m. Blues great Bryan Lee; 5 p.m. Loose Change; 7:30 p.m. Winner of the Grafton Blues Challenge, Sue DaBaco & Wise Fools. 262-208-6288, 262-208-6237.

SUMMERFEST, June 26-July 6; Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) on the lakefront. 41st edition of the world's largest outdoor music festival features musical entertainment on 11 different stages, sampling of the area's restaurants, comedians, children's play area, daily demonstrations and activities, shopping and more. 800-273-3378.

CEDARBURG STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, June 28-29; Historic Cedarburg, I-43 North, Exit 89, west on Highway C, right at Washington Ave. to the Historic District. 22nd annual celebration includes bands, art and crafts, children's activities, strawberry foods, contests, marketplace, wine tasting and Plein Air Painters event. 800-894-4001, 262-377-9620.