KCKidsFun

Getting a little stir-crazy? It’s been a weird winter for weather here in Kansas City (three points for alliteration!)  One day it’s so freezing cold you don’t even want to get out of bed, and the next it’s nice enough to kick the kids outside to play in just a lightweight jacket. It’s hard to plan. This is why we all drive big cars with lots of storage – we need room for extra jackets, gloves, hats, water bottles and a soccer ball or two. Just in case.

Here’s some options for getting out of the house this weekend regardless of the temperature.

• Friday, January 27, 2012

  • Chinese New Year Celebration – Nelson-Atkins Museum(KCMO). 5-9 p.m. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with performances and family-friendly activities throughout the Museum! Come ready to record your memories! Dress in authentic Chinese robes, “ride” our traditional rickshaw and pose with the Empress and Emperor or next to a dragon balloon sculpture, built by San Francisco performer Kat the Acrobat.
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, presented by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre
  • The Wrestling Season, January 24 – February 19 at The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 1 (for 7th grade and up)
  • Missouri Mavericks vs. Quad City Mallards hockey, Independence Events Center
  • Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music at Sprint Center (KCMO)
  • Strega Nona, presented by Paul Mesner Puppets, 1006 E. Linwood, KCMO

• Saturday, January 28, 2012

  • Puppetry Arts Institute (Independence, MO) presents The Further Adventures of Jack’s Cow by puppeteer Anitra Steele (Two Frogs and a Turtle Puppet Co.) – Hand puppets continue the story of Jack & the Beanstalk’s cow. 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
  • Play with Clay! Saturday morning and afternoon children’s classes (ages 7-12) at Red Star Studios (January 14, 21, and 28). $75 for 3 classes. For more information, call us at 816-474-7316 or visit our website, www.redstarstudios.org
  • Kidsafe Awareness, noon-1:00pm (presented by Blue Valley Recreation) For ages 6-13. Kids develop safety awareness in a fun, friendly environment. Learn basic safety concepts and how to recognize and react to high-risk situations. Taught by a 25-year veteran of the Overland Park Police Department. Held at Blue Valley Karate.
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, presented by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre
  • The Wrestling Season, January 24 – February 19 at The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 1 (for 7th grade and up)
  • Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music at Sprint Center (KCMO)
  • Strega Nona, presented by Paul Mesner Puppets, 1006 E. Linwood, KCMO

• Sunday, January 29, 2012

  • Kansas Day Celebration at Ernie Miller Nature Park (Olathe) – 2pm to 4pm. Celebrate all things Kansas on our statehood day! Can you name the Kansas Symbols? See some of the natural symbols live and in person. Have a piece of cake for the state’s birthday and be delighted by the stories from a pioneer. Participate in fun activities for all ages during this two-hour event and even join in a rousing chorus of Home on the Range! The cost of the program to be paid at the site is $5 per person including adults. For reservations and more information call (913) 764-7759. Reservations are required.
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, presented by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre
  • The Wrestling Season, January 24 – February 19 at The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 1 (for 7th grade and up)
  • Kansas City Symphony presents Tchaikovsky Discovers America, part of the Family Series, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Kansas City, MO
  • Missouri Mavericks vs. Quad City Mallards hockey, Independence Events Center
  • Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music at Sprint Center (KCMO)
  • Strega Nona, presented by Paul Mesner Puppets, 1006 E. Linwood, KCMO

Maggie (center) with her friends at the KC Rep's Adventures of Tom Sawyer

For those who follow KCKidsFun on Facebook, you may have noticed a post I made there late last week about my nine-year-old daughter’s birthday. We made a last minute change of birthday party plans, taking a group to see The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, presented by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

The Rep sent us an invitation (and some complimentary tickets) to see The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  We supplemented the Rep’s generosity with four additional tickets to allow eight of us (six third-graders and two adults) to check out Tom Sawyer on Saturday night.

The play is being presented at UMKC’s Spencer Theatre (4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO) through February 12, 2012. (And we’ve got some more tickets, courtesy of the Rep, to give away. Details at the end of this post!). My husband and I drove the girls to UMKC on Saturday night for the 8 p.m. performance. I was a little concerned about the late hour for these little ones but they did great (definitely needed intermission refreshments though!).

The story is a familiar one, of course. Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher and all of the familiar characters from Mark Twain’s classic novel about boyhood adventures on the Mississippi River.

None of the girls who attended with us have yet read Twain’s book but I’m positive that most will now. The play was quite fun – lots and lots of physical movement from the eight actors kept their attention. There was physical comedy that they responded to well – nothing better than hearing these girls giggle. The score was nicely done – again, something that helped the girls pay attention and follow the story. And there were some scary, suspenseful moments (hello, Injun Joe) that seemed to resonate, drawing gasps and comments.

At the intermission, having sensed a little restlessness in the troops, we asked the girls if they would like to stay for the second act or head home to start the slumber party. Without skipping a beat, the immediate and unanimous response from the group was, “We have to stay! Stay! We have to find out what happens!”

Most of Saturday night’s crowd was adult with a good smattering of kids. Our group was a good mix of personalities. I can’t claim that they all followed the story perfectly. I’m quite confident that there were things in the story that missed and/or a bit over their heads. My husband and I both had to whisper answers to a few questions during the performance. But, overall, the girls enjoyed it very much. I’m not sure that kids any younger than these third-graders would be able to keep up though.

So, here’s the GIVEAWAY!

Our friends at Kansas City Repertory Theatre have generously given us a Family Pack (2 adults and 2 children) of tickets to ANY upcoming performance of Tom Sawyer to give away to one lucky winner. To enter, simply leave a comment below, telling us your favorite book as a kid! Entries accepted until Wednesday, January 25 at 9:00 p.m. CST.

Must be 18 years of age to enter and win. Only one entry per household will be considered. No substitutions or transfers. Giveaway prize is not redeemable for cash. By entering, winner consents to allow the use of his/her name for promotional purposes without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prize. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

ONE (1) winner will be randomly selected, and will receive a Family Pack of tickets (2 adult and 2 child) to any remaining 2012 performance of Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s Tom Sawyer, based on availability.

Good luck!

I’ve received several emails asking about Kansas City indoor swimming pools. There are quite a few indoor pools and community centers throughout the metro, and many offer swimming lessons year-round.

You’ll want to click around on the website and even call the individual aquatics centers to verify hours of operation and fees.

If you know of any we’ve missed, please drop a comment or send us an email and we’ll get it added to our list!

Kansas City, MO

Gregg/Klice Community Center (Kansas City, MO)

The New Southeast Community Center (Kansas City, MO)

Tony Aguirre Community Center (Kansas City, MO)

Northland

Liberty Community Center (Liberty, MO)

Gladstone Community Center (Gladstone, MO)

Park Hill Aquatic Center (Kansas City north, MO)

Platte County Community Center North (Platte City, MO)

Platte County Community Center South (Parkville, MO)

Eastern Jackson County, MO

Legacy Park Community Center (Lee’s Summit, MO)

Centennial Pool Plex (Blue Springs, MO)

CoCo Key Water Resort (eastern Jackson County, MO–KCMO) – day passes are available to the public

Henley Aquatic Center (Independence, MO)

Johnson County, KS

Matt Ross Community Center (Overland Park, KS)

Roeland Park Aquatic Center (Roeland Park, KS)

Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center (Mission, KS)

Blue Valley Recreation Aquatic Center (south Overland Park, KS)  Lap Swim for ages 16 and up.
M-F 6-8am, 8/10-12/30, 2011
M/W/F 12:30-2pm, 8/10-12/16, 2011
T/TH 11:30am-2pm, 8/11-12/15, 2011
SAT 7-9am, 8/13-12/17, 2011

Cass County, MO

Belton Community Center (Belton, MO)

Harrisonville Community Center (Harrisonville, MO)

Kansas City, KS

Great Wolf Lodge (near The Legends/Speedway)

*image:  Belton Community Center Aquatic Center