Things to Do: September 2009 Archives

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert is about to be transformed. On Saturday, October 10, the hummingbird and butterfly exhibit in the Marian Miner Cook Pavilion will have its seasonal opening.

Visitors can mingle among over 30 species of butterflies and several species of hummingbirds inside the large screened area that houses the exhibit. Visitors Saturday will also see the newly hatched butterflies released into their new habitat.

The Living Desert is a conservation center, zoo and botanical garden area.

Admission is $2. For more information on the Butterfly and Hummingbird Exhibit call 760-346-5694 ext. 2000 or visit www.livingdesert.org.

The Riverside Metropolitan Museum will host its fifth annual Chinese Moon Festival at the Heritage House on Saturday, October 3 from 6-8 p.m. The free community event will feature activities that celebrate the traditional harvest festival in the Chinese culture.

Each year, the Moon Festival is celebrated on the 15th lunar day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. It is traditionally a family holiday much like Thanksgiving. Families gather to watch the full moon rise and enjoy pastries called "moon cakes," which will be available for purchase during the festival.

Activities will include Chinese storytelling, calligraphy, tangram puzzles, chopstick training, cooking demonstrations and traditional music. There will also be high-powered telescopes available so visitors can get a closer look at the full moon.

Some artifacts and photos of Riverside's Chinatown from the museum's collection will be on display. In addition, the exhibit "Chinese Treasures From the Time of Emperors" is currently on display at the museum.

"It includes items from the museum, from the Edward-Dean Museum and from private collectors," said Danielle Leland, associate curator of education. There's also an area dedicated to the Chinese settlers who came to Riverside in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Moon Festival is done in partnership with the San Diego Huaxia Chinese School, Riverside Campus, Riverside Astronomical Society, storyteller Barbara Wong, Riverside Metropolitan Museum Associates, the Center for Acupuncture and the UC Riverside Chinese Student Association.

Chinese Moon Festival
Where: Riverside Metropolitan Museum's Historic Heritage House, 8193 Magnolia Ave., Riverside
When: 6-8 p.m., Saturday
Cost: Free
Information: 951-826-5273, www.riversideca.gov/museum

The annual Special Rodeo at the Southern California Fair is coming up at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds on Sunday, Oct. 11. The event will feature rodeo type activities for children with disabilities.

The 2009 Farmers Daughters Contestants and 4H and FFA exhibitors will be on hand to help with the event. Activities will include barrel racing, mock calf roping, mock bull rides and much more.

Sponsored in part by CR&R, the rodeo is open to the first 20 contestants that pre-register.

The Southern California Fair runs Oct. 10-18, with the Special Rodeo falling on Oct. 11. For more information visit www.socalfair.com or call 951-657-4221.

What: Southern California Fair
Where: Lake Perris Fairgrounds, 18700 Lake Perris Dr., Perris
When: Oct. 10-18
Information: www.socalfair.com or 951-657-4221

Martha Green, owner of The Eating Room and Doughlectibles in Redlands, will host a cooking school as part of the event "Food, Fashion & Fun with Martha Green and Friends" on Monday, Oct. 5.

Put together by members of the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild, the event will take place at the Wong Kerlee Conference Center at 11175 Campus St., on the Loma Linda University Medical Center campus. Proceeds will benefit the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

In addition to Green's cooking school, the event will include dinner, a fashion show and a boutique sale. Inland police officers, firemen and others will serve dinner.

Proceeds from the event will benefit patients on the Cardiothoracic Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Children's Hospital.

"The Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild and Martha Green are tremendous supporters of our children and their families here at Children's Hospital, said Zareh Sarrafian, Administrator for Children's Hospital. "We are truly grateful to them."

Boutique shopping will go on from 4 to 5:30 p.m.. The cooking demonstration, dinner and fashio show are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m.

What: "Food, Fashion & Fun With Martha Green and Friends"
Where: Wong Kerlee Conference Center, 11175 Campus St., Loma Linda
When: 4-8 p.m. Oct. 5
Tickets: $75 (general admission), $100 (premier seating)
Information: 909-558-3154

By MAURA AMMENHEUSER
Special to The Press-Enterprise

If your kid loved the movie "A Bug's Life," he'll love this, too.

The Western Center for Archeology & Paleontology will open a new exhibit Saturday devoted to all the creepy crawly critters found right in your yard.

"Backyard Monsters" is a traveling exhibit full of giant (6- to 8-foot) animatronics insects, including a tarantula, wasp, caterpillar, monarch butterfly and more. The exhibit also includes displays of actual bugs and interactive activities that teach children how insects eat and see and more.

"Backyard Monsters" is presented by San Bernardino animatronics company Garner Holt Productions Inc. Though it's a local company, this will be the first time the Western Center hosts this exhibit, as it's traveled the world already, said Paul Bailey, the Western Center's education coordinator.

It's aimed at "the young and the young at heart," but is especially appropriate for grade-schoolers, said Paul Bailey, the Western Center's education coordinator.

"Everybody's seen an ant. Everybody's seen a spider," Bailey said. "But have they really had the opportunity to understand how those animals live on a daily basis?"

While the prospect of enormous, moving bugs might sound downright terrifying to some tykes, Bailey said "it's going to be well lit, and the intent is (to show) things kids see in real life." It's not meant to feel like a theme-park thrill attraction built to scare.

The Western Center is hosting "Backyard Monsters" because "it ties in with the broader scope of where we're going as a natural history museum for the region," Bailey said. The museum wants to offer educational programs touching on subjects beyond archeology and paleontology, he said.

Allow at least 45 minutes to tour.

'Backyard Monsters'
When: Saturday through Jan. 3
Where: 2345 Searl Parkway, Hemet
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Admission: $8 for those 13 and older; $6.50 for students age 13 to 22 and for seniors older than 61; and $6 for kids age 5 to 12. Free for ages 4 and younger; and active military.

Sylvan Learning Center has some tips for parents who want to create a home environment conducive to homework and learning.

"Sometimes parents think helping their child complete their homework, or even doing their child's homework for him will help him achieve better grades in school," said Taylor Hammond, director of education at the Hemet Sylvan Learning. "Often, it's just the opposite, creating a situation where children have not learned the concepts they are later tested on in the classroom."

Hammond says a simple way to help a child with homework is to create the right atmosphere at home. Understanding a child's personal style will help parents make an individualized environment.

Here are the tips:

1. Set Goals. Help your child set attainable goals for each class and help her identify what will need to be done to reach each goal. For example, to get an A in American History he or she will need to turn in all her homework, participate in class, etc.

2. Know Your Child. There are visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) and haptic (doing) learners. If you help your child work within his or her personal style, the work will be more effective. To determine your child's primary learning style, visit http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/learning-tools/learning-styles.cfm.

3. Create a Homework Zone. Set up an area in your home for studying, complete with a dictionary, paper and pens. Make sure the area is free from potential distractions and that study tools are at your child's fingertips to keep him or her focused on homework.

4. Develop class files. Develop a color-coded file for each child's classes. Make separate tabs for homework assignments, exams and projects, so your child can refer back to class materials when studying for comprehensive tests.

5. Set weekly milestones. For big projects or exams, get a large calendar for your child's desk area and help him set short timelines to ensure projects and studying aren't left until the night before. Celebrate with your child when each milestone is met.

Source: Sylvan Learning

Want to meet the minds behind books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the Max and Ruby series? Children's book authors Laura Numeroff and Rosemary Wells are two of several authors and illustrators scheduled to appear at the third annual Children's Literacy/Literature Conference at The Mission Inn Saturday, Sept. 26.

Created and sponsored by Redlands-based The Frugal Frigate, A Children's Bookstore, the conference will include the author appearances, a full day of workshops, a Mexican buffet luncheon, a special appearance by Jim Gilbert of KVCR's series "Cartoon Factory," and live music from a jazz trio.

"It's a magical day," said Brad Hundman, owner of The Frugal Frigate.

In addition to Numeroff and Wells, special appearances by children's book authors will include:

• Marla Frazee, author of A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Walk On, Roller Coaster and illustrator of Seven Silly Eaters, Harriet You Drive Me Wild and more.


• Diane Adams, author of Zoom, I Can Do It Myself and more.
  
• Julie Mammano, author and illustrator of Rhinos Who Rescue, Rhinos Who Surf and more.


• Adam Rex, author of Psst!, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Tree Ring Circus and more.


• Mac Barnett, author of Guess Again, Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem and more.


• Alex Beard, author and illustrator of The Jungle Grapevine.

The event is sponsored by Amulet Books, Penguin, Peachtree Publishers, Provident Bank, Eerdmans Publishing Company, and Simon & Shuster.

Reservations are required. Contact The Frugal Frigate at 909-793-0740 for more information.

Children's Literacy/Literature Conference
Where: Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside
When: Saturday, Sept. 26
Cost: $149.99
Reservations: 909-793-0740
Information: www.frugalfrigate.com

Calico Ghost Town will celebrate its past days of glory with its annual Calico Days Celebration October 9-11. This 43rd year of historical recreation will include costumes, contests, a parade, stagecoach rides and more.

In the early 1880s people came from near and far to make their fortunes mining silver at the 500 Calico mines. Over the next decade about $86 million in silver was gleaned from Calico's 500 mines. By 1892 the value of silver had plummeted and the town suffered. Then borax mining - another contributor to the town's fortune - was relocated to death valley. By 1907, Calico was a ghost town.

Visitors are encouraged to dress in period costume for Calico Days. There will be prizes for the best dressed. An interactive mining camp will demonstrate how miners and their families lived and ate at the turn of the 19th century.

In recollection of the days when miners used burros to transport silver ore down the hill to the claims office, Calico Days will have a burro run contest on both Saturday and Sunday.

The whole family can participate in the Miner's Triathlon this year now that there's a Juniors category for children ages 6 to 18. Grownups compete with boulder lifting, muck raking and arm wrestling. The kids get a plank walk, cow lassoing and a hoop and stick roll.

Western movies will be shown under the stars at Calico's Silver Bowl Saturday evening.

Calico Days
Where: Calico Ghost Town, 10 miles north of Barstow, Exit I-15 at Ghost Town Rd.
When: Oct. 9-11
Admission: $10 adults; $5 children ages 6-15; $5 military adults; $3 military kids ages 6-15; free, children 5 & under
Information: 800-862-2542 or www.calicotown.com

Weekly Family Dining Review: We're looking for places that are kid friendly, have good prices and healthy menus. Here is the rundown on our IHOP experience:

When I mentioned we were going to IHOP for dinner, the kids thought we were going to some sort of bunny-themed restaurant. We had a long discussion about acronyms and eventually they got that we were talking International House of Pancakes, not hopscotch or Thumper.

Sticking with the budget-friendly theme of our past several family restaurant excursions, I chose IHOP because most of the franchises have Kids Eat Free specials several nights each week.

Sure enough, we found one that offered one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.

As soon as we were seated, our server swooped in with the colorable kids menus and crayon packets (bless those), and we were soon filling in the crossword puzzles and creating the first-ever hot pink and baby blue space shuttle while perusing the menu options.

IHOP's Just for Kids menu includes many of the usual suspects like grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken strips, macaroni and cheese and cheeseburgers. But there also are some not-so-usual choices for kids craving breakfast for dinner or healthier alternatives.

There's the signature Rooty Jr., which includes a scrambled egg, bacon, sausage and a fruit-topped buttermilk pancake with whipped topping. There's also the cheese omelet, silver-dollar pancakes, a fresh fruit dish, a create-a-face pancake and the Jr. Fish entrée. Most meals include a fresh fruit side dish.

Both kids chose chicken strips with a fresh fruit dish. I went with strawberry-and-banana topped pancakes, eggs, bacon and hash browns. And then, of course, we shared.
The pancakes were up to their usual IHOP standard of tastiness, and the kids polished off the fruit and crispy chicken strips in no time -- a sure sign that they were well-received.

I'd like to point out how much I appreciate restaurants like IHOP that serve the kids' drinks in cups with lids and straws. Those always make for a meal with a lot less cringing and "watch-your-drink" reminders from Mom.

After finishing, we walked out with full tummies and a wallet lighter by less than $20, including the tip. The good food, inexpensive price and easy-going family atmosphere left me with an extra hop in my step. Maybe the kids were right about the name after all.

IHOP
Contact your local franchise for information about ongoing specials like the Kids Eat Free Ppromotion. For information about locations, hours and more visit www.ihop.com.

The new season of First Sundays at the Riverside Art Museum will kick off October 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. The monthly free family event will include performances by Andean music group Kusisqa and visiting kids will make the Peruvian-themed craft, Golden Inca Magnets.

Science enrichment provider Mad Science will be there as well teaching kids to make paper helicopters.

For more information visit www.riversideartmuseum.org or call 951-684-7111.

The San Bernardino County Museum's education division will host the family fun day, "Geology Rocks!" Saturday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors can classify rock specimens, create a building that stands up to an earthquake and start their own earthquake preparedness kit.

"Lots of people collect rocks," said Karen Saffle, museum educator. "We'll show how scientists organize their collections and begin the process of identification."

Families will be able to sort and classify rock specimens and put together a tectonic plates puzzle.

"We want our visitors to have fun while they learn," said Jolene Redvale, curator of education. "These activities are designed so there is something for everyone."

Visitors will learn what causes earthquakes and what building styles will best survive a "table shake." All participants will receive a copy of "Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country," a booklet detailing what people can do to secure their space to limit earthquake damage, and what items to gather for survival in the event of a major quake.

The family fun day activities will also preview facts for the Great California ShakeOut, a statewide drill that will occur at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, October 15.

"The museum will be a major hub for the ShakeOut event, and this Geology Rocks! family fun day will help everyone get prepared, including guidelines for creating personal, home and office preparedness kits," said Kathleen Springer, senior curator of geological sciences.

The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. For more information call 909-307-2669 or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

If you love country music and you're looking for an activity for the family this weekend, check out the Wagon Wheel Country Music Festival at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore.
The festival starts on Friday and runs through Sunday, with a mix of homegrown acts as well as Nashville stars including Jason Aldean, Travis Tritt, Phil Vassar, Mark Chesnutt, Jamie O'Neal, and the Country Rat Pack with Tracy Byrd, Tracy Lawrence and Richie McDonald.

There's a kid's area for the little ones to play and with a general admission ticket or a premium ticket for an adult, a child under 10 years old gets in for free.

Here are the details:
Wagon Wheel Country Music Festival
When: Sept. 18-20
Where: The Diamond, 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore
Admission: General admission is $55 for a one-day pass, $99 for a two-day pass and $140 for a three-day pass. Premium field seating is $95 for a one-day pass, $175 for a two-day pass and $250 for a three-day pass. VIP tickets are $150 for a one-day pass, $285 for a two-day pass and $395 for a three day pass. RV Camping passes are $95 for Sept. 18-Sept. 21and tent camping is $35 for the weekend. Kids under 10 years old are admitted free with one paid admission to the festival in general admission and premium field areas only.
Information: 951-656-0862
On the Web: www.wagonwheelfestival.com

Disney's D23 Expo went on at the Anaheim Convention Center over the weekend and Disney fans got the low-down on Disneyland news, upcoming movies like Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides and Toy Story 3, and details about the new season of shows like Wizards of Waverly Place.

I've got a couple little fans of Wizards of Waverly Place, so we'll definitely be tuning in when things get rolling on October 9.

Here are a few facts about what's on the horizon for the show: Justin (David Henrie) will graduate from wizards school and take up monster hunting (this can't go well). Since Harper (Jennifer Stone) is now on the up and up about her friend's wizardly ways, she'll have a larger role. And Max (Jake T. Austin) will keep learning more spells and getting ready for the wizard competition.

The cast, which included Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone and Maria Canals-Barrera (David DeLuise was absent due to a broken collarbone), was warmly welcomed at the expo where they shared some behind-the-scene experiences and re-enacted their acceptance of the Emmy award they recently won for Outstanding Children's Program.

See a photo gallery of the Moreno Valley High School class of 1979 reunion here.

High school reunions have a whole new dimension these days. For decades, organizers have traditionally spent months trying to track alumni down, sending invitations via the U.S. Postal Service.

But all that changed with the rising popularity of the Internet and social networking sites like Facebook.com and Classmates.com. While it might seem like these sites could make class reunions obsolete -- since many people are reuniting on their own -- the reality is they make it easier to share reunion plans and keep classmates connected after the gathering.

Local youth chamber orchestra Symphonie Jeunesse will perform at the annual Redlands Chamber Music Society fundraiser Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. The 22-member string chamber orchestra is made up of middle and high school students from Redlands, San Bernardino, Highland, Colton and Corona.

Michele Brosseau-Tracchia, a cellist, San Bernardino School District music educator and founding board member of the Redlands Chamber Music Society will conduct the concert.

"The young musicians are thrilled to have the opportunity to perform for a performing arts organization as well regarded as the Redlands Chamber Music Society," said Wendy Polley, a parent of three teenage musicians and an administrator for the two-year old orchestra.

The orchestra will accompany the narration of a poem, "Sibelius," which was written by Redlands Chamber Board Member Michael Arnold.

"Our mission is to encourage and educate the next generation to actively participate as performers and listeners," said Mark Braunstein, executive director of the Redlands Chamber Music Society. "Our collaboration with many groups this year such as Symphonie Jeunesse is just another step forward in accomplishing this goal."

Where: The home of Mark and Ellen Braunstein, 521 S. Center St., Redlands
When: 4 p.m., Sept. 20
Tickets: Open to the public, donations are encouraged

Musicians Workshop in Temecula is looking for families interested in being on the next season of the television show "World's Strictest Parents."

A casting producer for the show that airs on CMT and MTV recently contacted the organization in search of families willing to take in teens with adolescent problems to give them a new perspective on their family and to help them turn around poor attitudes.

If you are interested or can recommend a good family, contact Musicians Workshop at 951-678-2517 or visit www.theworldsstrictestparents.com.

Temecula Children's Museum Pennypickle's Workshop is celebrating winning Nickelodeon's Parents' Pick Award with free admission Sunday, Sept. 6 from noon to 5 p.m.

The museum "engages kids with secret passageways, puzzles, machines and whimsical gizmos, and makes them feel like insiders in the world of science, encouraging them to explore their inner inventors," said Drew Kristofik, site director of ParentsConnect, a national Web site run by Nickelodeon. "It's an unusual and innovative idea for a museum. We wish there was something like it in every city."

For more information on the museum or about the upcoming celebration call 951-308-6376 or visit www.pennypickles.org.