Making art with light, and washing it down with ice cream (until Oct. 4)

Knowing how crazy my boys are about light fixtures and light switches, I took them to the Dan Flavin: Constructed Light exhibit at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts. This was both a good and bad idea. Good because M. was really engaged … bad because S. was too, and at 20 months he was simply too young to be trusted around the fragile displays. In particular, the 1984 work “untitled (to my dear bitch, Airily)” captivated them both. It’s a long row of fluorescent bulbs that ascends from the floor — you start to sense the problem already, right? — and continues out beyond the staircase that takes viewers to the lower level. It’s the kind of modern work I really love because it’s approachable; at the far end of the piece, when the light is soaring above and away from you, it does kind of feel like the artist had the last word with his ex (in whose place you happen to be standing).

Anyway, don’t repeat my mistake — go only with kids who’re old enough to stay far away from the light fixtures (including a nightmarishly easy-to-break one on the floor in the balcony). If your kids are already interested in shadows and light, it’s a great exhibit, and the staff mentioned that they’re getting many more children than usual. Although the display is not extensive, we stayed 45 minutes (which felt like an eternity to me — and to the security guys, I’m sure) and M. only agreed to leave because it was closing time. The staff really treated him like a valued visitor, even escorting him into an area that’s normally inaccessible to the public.

The Pulitzer building itself is one of those places that little kids absolutely love — but it doesn’t love them back. It echoes their joyful shouts; it’s full of glass windowpanes their little hands will smudge; and don’t even think about taking them into the courtyard and its massive sculpture, which can be damaged by touching.

This is the only exhibit I’ve been to where the dark basement hallways make perfect display spaces, but the sunlight really didn’t detract from anything except the artwork on the balcony. But there are special evening viewing hours for this exhibit (Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.) for those who’d like to see it in the dark, in addition to the normal daylight Wednesday and Saturday hours.

And while you’re in that part of town, check out the new ice cream shop, The Fountain on Locust. It’s a ways east of Grand in a beautiful rehab of an auto showroom, complete with huge art-deco wall murals that the owner, Joy Grdnic Christensen, painted herself. Lots for kids to look at while they chow down on the many flavors of Wisconsin ice cream — including M.’s new favorite, orange sherbet, as well as zanzibar chocolate, black cherry, coconut almond joy, Irish coffee and others. But the best menu item, as far as I’m concerned, is the Maxwell: hot raspberries over champagne sorbet with a whipped cream garnish. During the six years my husband and I lived in Germany, hot raspberries over vanilla ice cream became one of our all-time favorite treats, and I have to say this version, with the delicately pink sorbet, was excellent. There’s a decided European twist to the food menu, too, like the signature Polish dill pickle soup.

Because this is an ice cream shop, after all, it’d be easy to write off the menu’s claim of offering healthy food as insincere — but the soups, salads and sandwiches really do seem well thought out, especially the vegetarian offerings. One more note on the food: The chocolates that fill a small display case in the lovely wood counter are made in-house. However, because my sundae was huge, I can’t vouch for the kitchen’s execution of anything but the ice cream treats.

The staff, including the owner herself, was very gracious and friendly. Best of all, treats and drinks for one adult and two kids were about $10 — and we didn’t even try the world’s smallest hot fudge sundae, at $1.49. So many reasons to go back!

Bring on the free concert season (Mar. 3)

I’m a junkie when it comes to free music. In the winter it’s a little harder to get a fix, but I usually scout out at least one or two a month (including last weekend’s fabulous set by Gene Dobbs Bradford and the Blues Inquisition). As we head back into warm weather, I start to scan for concert notices at all my usual favorite places — parks, wineries, museums, festivals. To my surprise, I hit on a concert series happening now, in the dead of winter: the monthly Not So Quiet series at the downtown public library branch, sponsored by KDHX. It’s not at the best time for young kids — 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month — but the quality of the bands is great. Next week’s show (on Mar. 3) is by the Zydeco Crawdaddies, who’re always great live. Next month’s is particularly worth noting: Phat NoiZ, fronted by Alvin Jett. We saw them most recently at the blues festival on Laclede’s Landing in September, and their signature song is still stuck in my head (but in a good way).

If you can’t wait until April, note that Phat noiZ is playing tomorrow night at the city’s newest brewpub, Buffalo Brewing Co. in midtown (near SLU’s new arena).  It’s apparently not going to start brewing on site until this weekend (inspections and paperwork stuff) but once it’s up and running it’ll offer ales including Buffalo Gold, Buffalo Drool, Buffalo Red and, the one I’m looking to sample, Chili Beer.  Since it just opened I’m not sure about its kid-friendliness, but its arrival on the scene reminded me that I really need to do a post on great beer venues where kids are welcome … check back for that one!

But back to our main topic … the Not So Quiet series continues into the summer. At the moment I can’t imagine that I’ll ever be too warm again, but I know by July (when the artist is Folk’nBluegrass) I’ll be all too glad to see a free show in an air conditioned venue!

Stuck on duct tape (Feb. 28)

I’ve been debating whether to squeeze in one more library event this month — it seems like I’ve blogged on a lot of them lately! But in the end I couldn’t resist this chance to ask a rhetorical question: Why is duct tape such a popular material with teenagers? Years ago, when a young friend first showed off her duct tape wallet, I silently wondered how long that crazy trend would be around. Apparently, the answer is “as long as there are teenagers.”

And so, if your 12-year-old has not yet mastered the art of making wallets, iPod cases, cell phone holders, picture frames or prom dresses with duct tape, drive him or her on over to Weber Library tomorrow (Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. There he/she will be offered a choice of colors of duct tape, instructional assistance on getting started in the hobby, and snacks. The age limit runs all the way up to 18, for those who need to ramp up on the latest techniques before heading off to college, where the popularity of duct tape crafts seems to continue unabated (although judging by YouTube videos, the uses get a little more risque and require more hands to accomplish).

For information, check out the St. Louis County Library’s events page or call 314.638.2210. Registration is required but there’s no cost for the class, which is also offered at other branches periodically.

A free day with cars, trucks and things that go (Feb. 29)

The Museum of Transportation has “boy” written all over it — a collection of everything that goes in an environment where kids can romp.  Cars, planes, buses, trains … what could be better?  And on Friday, Feb. 29, it’s having a Leap Day special with free admission.  (Usually it’s $6 for adults and $5 for kids 5 to 12; kids under 4 are free all the time.)  You’ll still have to pay for the Creation Station ($1.50 per kid per hour; three admission times are scheduled in the morning) if you want to participate in those hands-on activities for preschoolers.

That’s not to say girls won’t appreciate the museum too.  But my experience lies with my boys’ and my friends’ boys, who really love the place.  It’s on Barrett Station Road in St. Louis County, and the county parks and recreation department opens it from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.   If you have questions about the Leap Day special, or any of its other events, call 314.965.6885.

Movies at the library (Feb. 28)

My book group met during last night’s Oscar ceremony, and a couple of us parents joked about our utter lack of pop-culture awareness in not recognizing any of the nominated stars, nor any of the movies, except possibly Ratatouille in the animated movie category. But I’m feeling pretty good now that it won that category — I saw it last summer when it opened … on a very hot day in a very cold theater with a 4-year-old who wouldn’t leave my lap from the scene where the little rat is washed away from his family until the credits began to roll.

But I saw it, darn it! And in a location outside my home, which makes me feel all the more cosmopolitan. If you have not yet had the pleasure, see Ratatouille this week at 4:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 2 at the Carondelet branch of the public library. Throughout the month the city libraries show a couple dozen movies, some geared at seniors, some at families. Also on the screen Thursday, across town at the Schlafly branch, is the perennial favorite Happy Feet at 7 p.m. The paper newsletter the library mails out makes it easy to find movies; online takes some digging. Family movies are found within the special kids section, under the pull-down Gateways menu. (Senior movies are listed separately.) Incidentally, the kids section is also where storytimes are listed.

The county library system doesn’t have as many public movie offerings (its screenings seem to focus on teenagers), but it does have a great series going on in the mornings this week: “Give Me Mo and Pigeon Too.” (Registration is required for the free sessions; log onto the homepage for times and branch phone numbers.) Based on works by author Mo Willems, sure to be a hit with any kid who loves Knuffle Bunny. And it’ll be a treat for kids who don’t yet know that book about a stuffed toy left in the laundromat, and the panic that ensues upon the discovery that it’s missing. I can so relate — that’s much closer to my life than the red carpet at the Oscars!

Snow day got you down? (today)

What a crazy winter! Before I take the kids sledding on the frozen slushballs from yesterday’s ice storm and the skiff of snow from today’s flurries, I thought I’d share some links to or instructions for indoor activities that I’ve found particularly useful lately.

And as long as you’re online, be sure to check out NPR’s wonderful Morning Edition story on the evolution of play — it may make you want to take a closer look at simple activities like these.

One idea, appropriately themed for today, is How to grow a borax snowflake. It may well be that I’m one of the few old-fashioned housewives out there who keeps borax handy by the washer (because I’m allergic to most other laundry-boosting products), but in case you have it on hand, this a fun project to do during the day, not overnight as the author recommends. The kids will get a kick out of checking the crystals’ progress. It takes about seven or eight hours for the snowflake to fully form.

Along those same lines, About.com’s chemistry guru has a whole list of science projects for bored kids. (Some are messy!!)

A very simple but endlessly fascinating one is to shave crayons with a vegetable peeler, collecting the pieces onto waxed paper. Let the kids arrange them as desired, then place another piece of waxed paper over the top. Dry-iron the paper to melt the wax, let it cool, and peel back the waxed paper. You can cut out shapes and hang them from string as suncatchers, if you want.

I kind of forgot about paper bag puppets until M. brought one home last week — now all the kids want to do is puppet shows behind the couch. The prefer gluing on features — yarn hair, googly eyes, etc. — but you can also simply draw on bags to make the characters.

Let your kids wander the house taking photos with an inexpensive digital camera — you may be surprised at the new perspectives they come up with on the architecture and each other! I also often let them make photocopies of everyday objects on our little HP all-in-one scanner/copier/fax. (I limit the number of copies they can make of each arrangement to save on ink!)

One of the favorite sensorial table activities from preschool is rice play, and if you happen to have a lot of rice on hand, it makes for a lot of fun, as these testimonials suggest.

And I might have already mentioned the “art projects” the kids love — collages of cut-out pictures and stickers on clear contact plastic (covered with another sheet of contact plastic so they’re impermeable). Right now S. LOVES to point to the objects and animals on his so much that we use it as a placemat to keep him at the table longer than two minutes per mealtime.

Based on the preschool version of the Operation game (if you haven’t seen this oldie but goodie, I guarantee you need to keep an eye out for it!), there’s the Feely Game, where household objects are hidden in a box or pillowcase and found by touch.

If you happen to have on hand a lot of tube-shaped pasta, you can dye it with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and a couple of drops of food coloring. Put them in a zip-top bag along with some pasta, shake until it’s colored, then spread it out on a paper plate to dry. After it’s done, string the various colored “beads” on yarn or string.

Have a great snow day, and look out for us on the sledding hill!

Chocolate chip cookies from the in-laws (anytime)

My mother-in-law doesn’t cook or bake much — and if I had raised eight kids, I wouldn’t either! But she did pass down two family favorite recipes that have a cherished place in my recipe file. One is for a Minnesota classic, wild rice hotdish. The other is for an American classic, chocolate chip cookies. In both cases, hers are among the best I’ve ever tasted.

Actually, in the case of the cookies, I don’t recall tasting hers … she was done baking by the time I got to know son #7. But every now and again my father-in-law would get the munchies for these cookies and mix up a batch with his hands (he said he hated to use electric mixers). So, if your kids are into squishing cookie dough around, I can vouch for the fact that the recipe below works extremely well when made without the use of any mixing implements other than fingers.

And because M. doesn’t like chocolate, I’m also including a link here to his favorite “chocolate” chip cookies — Blueberry, White Chocolate and Ginger Cookies. They’re very healthy (low calorie, low carb, low sodium, good for the heart, etc.) and VERY tasty. Just be sure to eat them quickly (or freeze the extras), because they tend to dry out after a couple of days.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup + 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. soda

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy, then add the egg and vanilla, beating until well blended. Combine the flour, salt and soda and add them all together; mix thoroughly. Stir in the chips and nuts, if using. Drop the batter from teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until slightly brown. For softer cookies, immediately remove them to a covered container lined with paper towels (separate the layers with waxed paper so the cookies don’t stick together). For crunchier cookies, cool them thoroughly on a wire rack before storing. Makes about three dozen.

Hit the ice (until early March)

Everyone seems to be looking for signs that winter is almost over, and I have a good one for you: Local outdoor ice skating rinks will be shutting down for the season soon — March 3 for most of them. The next 10 days are a good chance to check out one of the lesser-known rinks below (’cause you probably haven’t been to any of these except Steinberg, have you? )

• Cahokia Ice Rink, 200 Cahokia Park Drive, 618.337.9521. Public skating sessions are available certain afternoons and evenings; admission is $4 a person, with kids under 5 in for free; and YMCA members get discounts.
• Granite City Ice Rink, Wilson Park at 300 Fehling Road, 618.877.2549. Public sessions are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; admission is $4 for non-resident kids, $5 for adults.
• Florissant’s James J. Eagan Center Ice Rink, 1 Civic Center Drive, 314.921.4470. Public sessions are offered daily; non-resident kids under 5 are free, kids under 17 are $3 and those older are $4 (resident rates are lower).
• Steinberg Skating Rink, Forest Park, 314.367.7465. This granddaddy rink is open pretty much all day and evening (except Mondays) for public skating. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

Sayonara, winter (Feb. 24)

Usually I have seeds in the ground by now.  In fact, M. has been scanning our four little raised beds for signs of peas and radishes — I have to keep reminding him that we haven’t planted them yet!  I try to steer him to other new life, but even the early flowers like daffodils and snowdrops don’t seem keen to poke their stems above the topsoil.

So, instead of doing outdoor work this weekend, I’m all about getting away from winter, and Maryland Heights has me covered.  Sunday, Feb. 24, is its annual “Celebrate the World” international festival.  Africa?  India?  Mexico?  Greece? Sign me up.

The featured country is Japan, with local artistic societies sharing their knowledge of flower arranging, bonsai tree cultivation, drumming, dancing and more.  But the extensive festival will have crafts, music and dance from around the globe — just looking at the lineup of performers has me ready to shed my sweater.  And oh, the food court … Queen of Sheba’s Ethiopian food is delicious; ditto for De Palm Tree’s Jamaican food, Tango Argentina’s empanadas and Chihuahua’s Mexican fare.  If those are any indication, the rest of the food is going to be great too.

Man, Sunday seems a long time away!

The festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. at the Maryland Heights Centre, 2344 McKelvey Road.  During those five hours, they’ve squeezed in 12 different acts, from Irish dancing to blues (note that Gene Dobbs Bradford of Jazz St. Louis is headlining the blues performance at 1 p.m. — you won’t want to miss it).  Admission is free; to buy food, you’ll have to purchase and redeem tickets.

A lunar eclipse (Feb. 20)

The weather lately reminds me of the forecasts we sometimes used to hear when we lived in Germany. On days when the weather patterns had them stumped, the meteorologists would foretell “wechselhaft,” or changeable, conditions … and then I always imagined they’d go down to the nearest Gasthaus for beer and schnitzel to avoid angry phone calls. The weather reports here tend to be more specific, but whenever I hear the magic words “with periods of” I mentally substitute wechselhaft and figure no one really knows what’s going to hit us next.

It’s not the greatest forecast for viewing the lunar eclipse on Wednesday, Feb. 20. But the nice thing about lunar eclipses is that as long as you have a window facing the moon, you don’t have to go outside to enjoy them. This eclipse begins at 7:43 p.m., when the earth’s shadow gradually begins to cover the moon. It reaches a full eclipse around 9 p.m. and stays for about an hour before gradually concluding around 11 p.m.

One of the local public viewing spots is Quail Ridge Park in St. Charles County, where the parks department invites everyone to meet at the lodge around 7:30 p.m. Registration is encouraged for individuals and required for groups (636.949.7535). The park, at Interstate 70 and Highway 40/61, happens to be home to the National Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association Hall of Fame. Sometime when the weather’s less wechselhaft, you might want to stop by and play a few games at the pits the association maintains there for public use. But don’t be put off by the weather for viewing the eclipse — it’s the last one visible here until December 2010.