I Have a Baby and Ten Dollars... Now What?

I am beginning this column by making a statement. It's controversial and I know I will probably get some hate mail, but I don't care. I'm taking a stand.

I will not post any tips about Christmas related activities until after Thanksgiving.

I'm not going to do it.

Christmas before turkey isn't a part of my world and I refuse to be a helper in evil that is Christmas decorations going up the day after Halloween. Send me holiday tips like crazy, go nuts, I want them all! I just won't be helping delicious corn pudding and pumpkin pie take a backseat to animatronic elves.

There, soapbox put away. Moving on...

The Academy of Natural Sciences is playing host to four unique and interesting (for the older set, think 10 and up) speakers, beginning this Thursday, November 12th at 6 p.m. Got a kid into bugs and looking for other bug enthusiasts? Well, that's gross. But you're not alone, Dr. Daniel Otte, the world's foremost authority on orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), has got your number and he's callin' you out. Dr. Otte will be receiving the Joseph Leidy Medal and giving a presentation on his world travels and entomological expeditions beginning at 6 p.m. Admission to this big bug meet up is free, as is entrance to "An Evening with Polar Explorer Lonnie Dupre" on the 17th. Mr. Dupre will be recounting his most recent trek to the North Pole; I encourage you to bring your early Santa letters just in case he has an "in." Advanced registration is required for the polar lecture but can been done pretty simply online. For more information on these and other two lectures in the series check out the Academy's website.

Its also a great week at the Franklin Institute for freebies and next-to-freebies. The 12th sees November's foray into the "Night Skies" program in the Joel N. Bloom Observatory. Free for members and five bucks for everyone else, chief astronomer and professional smartypants Derrick Pitts will answer all your star based queries. Also this week at the Franklin is Target Community Night, with the IMAX, 3-D Theater, Giant Heart, and well, everything else, open to the public for free. It's more than worth trying to venture out on a family field trip during the week. Beginning at 5 p.m., registration at the door is required but super easy and the free fun lasts until 8 p.m.

This Friday sees the Philadelphia International Art Expo opening at the Liacouras Center. Focusing on African American art, there will be, of course, art for viewing and buying but there will also be workshops, comedy shows, poetry contests, live music, and even a book fair. You can find the complete schedule here. Admission is just $10.00 for adults and kids 12 and under are free. The Expo runs the entire weekend, Friday to Sunday, opening each day at 10 A.M. and running until 10 p.m. (except for Sunday, when it closes at 7 p.m.)

Brilliant children's author Kate DiCamillo, the genius behind The Tale of Despereaux, will be at the Central Library this Saturday, the 14th, performing a live reading of her new book The Magician's Elephant at 2 p.m. She'll also be on hand to sign copies of her books and perhaps chat about how creepy the people looked in the movie based on her famous tome. Admission is, of course, free as it is the library.

The World Cafe Live continues their weekend series for kids (awesomely entitled Peanut Butter and Jams) with Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band. Doors open at 11 and while they say the show begins at 11:30 a.m., lets be realistic. It's going to start around noon, so plan naps accordingly. While I can't speak to the quality of Pullara's music nor I can I speak to the coolness of his beans, I can say that World Cafe Live is an awesome venue for children's concerts. To read more about my recent experience at the Café last week at the Ralph World's concert, click here. Tickets are still available and will run you between $7 – 10. To buy tickets check out the website, or, if you want to save a couple bucks, buy them at the box office early and receive a 20% discount on all your adult sized tickets.

The Colonial Theatre is pulling double duty this week with a family friendly screening of Matilda on Saturday the 14th at 2pm, and Baby Night (this week they're showing The Informant!) on Monday the 16th. Never been to a baby night? Then you, my friend, have never lived. Imagine a place where you never have to worry that your child is making too much noise, never have to be concerned that your baby will start to cry and ruin everyone else's mediocre time. Tickets for each event range from $4 – 7 and are even less if you're a member. Visit the website for a complete schedule of these and other happenings at the Colonial.

The SMITH The Kids' Play Place in the Park, ultimate kids' park/playground/freakin' awesome good time, is hosting a Pre-Thanksgiving celebration for little ones five and under. With themed crafts, activities, and, well, the huge giant playhouse and super slide, fight back against the early Christmas scourge and celebrate the RIGHT holiday. The one based on stuffing your face until your pants burst! The day kicks off at 10 a.m. and lasts until 1 p.m.; drop in anytime. Best part—admission is free, and for more information visit their website.

Artists for Animals is hosting a vegan cooking class for kids on Saturday at noon. Chef Rachel Klein of Miss Rachel's Pantry will teach kids will make their own delicious non-yummy-animal based lunch and get to make a holiday art project with Zipora Schulz (the artist in Artist for Animals). Aimed at children ages 3 to 12, the cost is pretty low, just 5 bucks per child—but advanced registration is required. It can be done by phone (215.620.2130) or through email (lisa@publiceyephilly.org). They ask that you include a name, email address, cell phone number, and number of people planning to attend in the body the email.

Plays and Players is holding a parent/child storytelling workshop at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for kids five and up. Now, pay attention, this is one you need to stay for, no dropping the kids off and escaping into a latte for an hour or so. Using theater games, props, and costume pieces to inspire creativity, you and your children with explore the oldest form of theater, oral storytelling. Everyone planning on participating needs to wear comfortable clothes and sneaks and advanced registration is required. You can do so online or over the phone (800.595.4849). While it'll cost you ten dollars a head at the door, pre-registration drops the fee down to $8.00.

That wraps me up for the week. Thanks so much to all of you sending in tips, keep them coming! If you have a tip (or gripe or funny story or maybe just a neat youtube video) send them to me at amym@phillyist.com. Help a mother out.