Get Out and Play - April 28-May 2

Checking out the lake at Lindenwood Nature Preseve.

Rain, rain, go away.  Or start off the week with some indoor play, and hope that the clouds part before the Tincaps first pitch on Friday.

Monday -Celebrate the extra hour many Fort Wayne families are finding with their kids, now that we're done making up for snow days.  Stop by the Georgetown Library branch for a game of BINGO for Books with the whole family.  6600 E State Blvd.

Tuesday - Tot Tuesday at Roller Dome North.  Preschoolers have the run of the rink.  Kid friendly music is playing, and tots can bring along their own (clean) riding toys to scoot around the floor.  $4 admission for kids 6 and under, includes skate rental.  For an extra $3 you can add on lunch & 4 tokens.  Parents can come along for free, adult skate rental is $2.  444 W Coliseum Blvd.

Wednesday - Get a cup of coffee at Fortezza, downtown's newest coffee shop.  The shop features Fort Wayne's first Modbar, an espresso brewing system that hides all the machinery under the table.  Modbars were invented and are manufactured here in Fort Wayne, and now we can see one at work.  819 S Calhoun Street.

Thursday – Lindenwood Nature Preserve opens today!  Even if the weather is still wet, I just might put the boys in boots and take them over.  It's centrally located, but you feel like you're out in the woods--and the network of short trails are a good length for short legs.  Open 9am-6pm, 600 Lindenwood Ave.

Friday - The Tincaps know how to throw a good theme night, and tonight's Family Game Night should be a hit.  7:05, tickets start at $5.

Weekend Fun in the Fort - April 26-27

New exhibits and special events are happening at the Botanical Conservatory and the Art Museum.  Earth Day celebrations are happening around town.  Big trucks are revving up at Ivy Tech.  And, of course, spring is finally here, because the Zoo is opening.

There's no way any one family could check out all that is happening this weekend.  So let's start sharing some photos on Instagram with the hashtag #playfortwayne.  (If you'd rather not share your kids' faces then take some pictures of the venues, the projects, the food, or anything else that shows off all of the great activities for kids in our city.)

Saturday, April 26
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opens for the season.  Brave the crowds to get a look at the improvements in the Australian Outback and welcome some of the new additions born into the Zoo's family this year. 9am-5pm.  Adults $14, children 2-18 $9, under 2 free.

Children's Book Character Fair at the University of St. Francis - The Cat in the Hat, Nate the Great, and Junie B. Jones (among others) will all be reading and leading activities.  9-10:30am, $5 per family, USF Performing Arts Center, 431 W Berry.

Touch at Truck at Ivy Tech - Get your little truck-lover up close to all sorts of vehicles, from firetrucks to smart cars.  Coliseum East Parking Lot, 10am-noon, free. 

Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company presents "The Little Mermaid."  Introduce children to the ballet through a short (about 30 minutes) familiar tale, presented by the Fort Wayne Ballet's youngest performers. All ages welcome, tickets $10, call 260-422-4226 to reserve.  Performances at the Fort Wayne Ballet studios, 300 E Main Street, at 10am and 11:30am.  Please bring a blanket to sit on.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art - Check out the Classic Bike Showcase presented by the Hoosier Antique and Classical Bicycle Club.  Then stroll through the new "Rims and Fins: The Golden Age of American Bicycles" (through June 29).  If your kids are fascinated by how bodies work, or get a giggle out of gooey body parts, make sure to walk through the playful (and not too disgusting) "Biological Canvas" exhibit.  After all that looking, spend some hands-on time in the FWMoA's new Early Learning Center where you can draw on the walls, experiment with building materials, and watch videos of artists at work.  Today is Dollar Day, so admission is just $1 each. Classic Bike Showcase begins at 11, museum open from 10am-6pm.

Family Garden Close Up: Tropical Temperatures - Each Month the Botanical Conservatory hosts activities for families and their young children.  This month learn about the plants and animals that live in the hot humid environment of a tropical rainforest.

The Butterfly Effect opens today, too!  11am-1pm.  Included in regular admission, $5 for adults, $3 for kids, ages 2 and under free.  1100 S Calhoun Street.

13^th Pennsylvania Drill 1776-1782 at the Historic Old Fort. 10am-4pm, donations accepted.

Phil Pops Series: Cirque Mechanics - Arial acrobatics, moving machinery, and our local Phil musicians.  Matinee tickets are 25% off, and kids matinee tickets are 50% off.  2pm and 8pm.


April Flowers at the Main Library - On the last Saturday of each month, the library has special activities for children of all ages and their grown-ups.  This month come and plant and craft flowers.  2pm, Main Library.

Sunday, April 27
Earth Day Fort Wayne at Eagle Marsh - Displays and activities from local nature and conservation groups, educational activities, hawks and owls from Soarin' Hawk Raptor Rescue, a farmers' market and more. 1-5pm.  6801 Engle Road.

Party for the Planet at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo - Celebrate Earth Day with special activities from noon - 3, free with zoo admission.  Adults $14, children 2-18 $9, under 2 free.

Wine and Canvas Family Paint – Kids and parents are invited to paint "Flower Dance" together.  Ages 10 and up, 3-6pm, $25 per person

Fort Wayne Museum of Art is free on Sundays.  So if you didn't make it over there yesterday, you can check out all the fun from yesterday (minus the Bike Showcase) for free.  Noon-5pm.

Get Out and Play - April 21-25

Monday – Check out Fort Wayne’s first Little Free Library at Washington Elementary School.  The library is facing busy Washington Street, and there’s plenty of street parking in the surrounding blocks.  Take a book, leave a book.  Then stroll over to Moody Park, just three blocks away, to read your story and climb on the playground.

Tuesday - Tuesday is forecast to be the coolest day of the week, but you can't spend Earth Day inside!  Take a brisk walk with the stroller along the paved outdoor pathways at Salomon Farm, then let the kids out to visit the animals often out near the barn.

Wednesday - Travel to Banh Mi Barista for a Vietnamese lunch.  The casual counter-service makes this sandwich shop a win for dining alone with kids.  Make sure to save room to sample their variety of familiar and not-so-familiar sweet treats (bubble tea, ice cream, and more).

Thursday -Have you played at the "My Plate" exhibit at Science Central yet?  Learn about healthy eating by digging in a garden, serving up food in a restaurant, dancing through a computer game quiz, and more.  There's lots of room for hands-on free play in this exhibit developed by Purdue.  Ages 3+ $8, 0-2 free, 10am-4pm.   (And while you're there, make your reservations for the last Half-Pint Science session of the school year, Wet and Wild Science, Tuesday, May 6 from 10:00-11:30.  $12 for one preschooler and one adult, reservations required one week in advance.)

Friday – With the budding gardens and plenty of baby ducks and geese, spring is our favorite time to walk around Lakeside Park.  It's always a struggle pulling Toby away from the rolling slide, but he always enjoys the walk around the lake and gardens once we get moving.

Weekend Fun in the Fort - April 19-20

Toby on a hike at the Adopt a Tree celebration several years ago.

Play in the woods at ACRES Adopt a Tree celebration, hunt for eggs (for yourself or your pup), and take your pick of sporting events to watch in the evening.  All of this weekend's activities are on Saturday, as many local attractions are closed for Easter.

Saturday, April 19

Fort Wayne Farmers Market at Parkview Field.  9am-1pm.

24th Annual Adopt a Tree -- Enjoy a variety of events for children and adults: make a bluebird house or suet feeder, look at pond water under a microscope, and adopt a northern white cedar, chinkapin oak, or red maple tree. Entertainment will be fiddle and dulcimer music and caricature drawings. 10-3, Wing Haven Nature Preserve 180 W 400 N, Angola

"The Nut Job" at the Woodburn branch library.  Bring the family to watch this free PG rated cartoon and share some snacks.  11am-12:30pm.

Science Fun at the Botanical Conservatory – April Flowers.  45 minute long program for ages 5 and up.  At 11 and 1.  Included in regular admission, $5 for adults, $3 for kids, ages 2 and under free.

April Showers at the Main Library - Kids 6 and under are invited to learn about clouds and rain. 2:00-2:30pm, in the Main Library’s Early Learning Center.

The Tincaps play at 5:05 on Saturday, the Mad Ants play in their semifinals at 7:30 on Saturday, and the Derby Girls double header starts at 6:00.

Easter Events
Start your Easter celebrations on Saturday with these events around town:

Easter Fun at Jefferson Pointe - Free photos with the Easter Bunny, face painting, petting zoo, and more.  Noon-4pm, near the fountain.

Easter Bone Hunt -  Why do chickens get all the fun?  Let your (leashed) dog search out treat-filled eggs, play games, and get pictures with the Easter Bunny.  $10 per dog, proceeds benefit Animal Care & Control.  Registration at noon, the hunt begins at 1:30.  Franke Park, 3411 Sherman Road.

Easter Egg Hunt at Level 13 Church, 10:30am.  8840 St. Joe Road.

Easter Egg Hunt at Triple Pointe Church, 10am.  Hickory Center Elementary School, 3606 Baird Road.

Get Out and Play - April 14-18

Monday -  After a beautiful weekend, I was all set to recommend some parks.  But when the weather turns on our plans, well, that's when I break down and head to a fast-food joint with a playground.  We've been meaning to check out the McDonalds at E State and Coliseum.  Where do you head on days like these?

Tuesday - Hope for clear skies and wake up early, early, early to see a total eclipse of the moon!  The show begins at 1:59 am and ends at 5:32 am, the moon will be fully blocked from 3:08 am until 4:23 am.  If our weather doesn't cooperate (or if you sleep through it) you can watch the eclipse online from the Griffith Observatory in California.  This is the first of four full lunar eclipses in a row.  The others will happen October 8 of this year, and April 4 and September 28 of 2015.

Wednesday - Short Hikes for Short Legs: Swimmers and Wigglers - Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn to meet some wigglers inside, then search for more on a hike to the pond.  For kids 3-5 and their adults.  9-10:30am, free.

Thursday - Every Thursday morning there are free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at the Dupont, Georgetown, Shawnee, Tecumseh and Aboite branches.  Click here for ages and times.

Friday – Get a hopping start on Easter weekend with Easter in the Park at the Botanical Conservatory.  Egg hunts, crafts, snacks, live animals, and pictures with the Easter Bunny.  $5 for adults, $3 for kids, ages 2 and under are free.

Weekend Fun in the Fort - April 12-13

Yes, there is the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale this weekend.  But unless you've trained your kids to help carry your haul, how about trying out one of these family-friendly outings instead?

Saturday, April 12
Historic Old Fort reenactment “An Early Modern Muster of Arms (1580-1610)”. 10am-5pm, donations accepted. 

Grand Opening of the Maker Lab at Georgetown Library - The Georgetown branch now has a Maker Lab, with the equipment and instructions needed for sewing, 3D printing, Adobe Creative Suite, Arduino electronics, Vinyl cutting and more.  Bring the family to check it out and enjoy demonstrations and refreshments.  12:30-2pm.  6600 E State Blvd.

Family Fun Hike: Pond Dipping at Eagle Marsh - Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn. At this hike, kids can get right into our ponds’ edges dipping and looking for the swimmers and wigglers that live there. Bring boots or they can borrow ours.  1-2:30pm.  6801 Engle Road (scroll down on link for map).

Lego Club at the Main Library.  Meet in the Globe Room to sift through buckets and buckets of lego bricks.  2-3:30pm.

Komets vs. Toledo Walleyes.  This is your last chance to catch the comets this season!  7:30, Memorial Coliseum.

Sunday, April 13
Old Crown Brass Band (from Fort Wayne) hosts the Stavanger Brass Band (from Norway) in a joint concert.  4pm, free.  Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 2417 Getz Road.

Festival of Hymns at Plymouth Congregational UCC.  Favorite hymns, performed by chorus, handbell choir, brass, organ and timpani.  Free, donations accepted.  2:00pm.  501 W Berry Street.

Blooming Artwork Downtown

The spring weather got us out for a walk downtown today.  And while we didn't see many flowers blooming yet, there is plenty of other color popping up around Fort Wayne this week.

First, there's the new sculpture "New Bloom" at Parkview Park.  The piece was installed earlier this week, and the crew was still hooking up the electronics and fixing up the grounds around it.  The sculpture was created in memory of the artist's husband, and in honor of the spirit of new life, beauty and emerging creativity that characterizes our city.  When it's complete, the 25 foot metal iris will light up and night, and will be surrounded by live irises.  "New Bloom" gets it's official dedication on April 26.

Today the sculpture was surrounded by machinery, which was a hit with the boys.  Our viewing also gave us an excuse to take our first lap of the season around Parkview field.  The park is open daily, whenever there isn't a game, and it's a popular lunchtime walk for folks who work downtown.  Toby tried out some seats, ran around the concourse, climbed up and down the terrace steps, and took advantage of the bathrooms.  In short, it's like going to a game--except there's no begging for concessions and there's no lingering guilt for not actually watching the game you paid to see.

From the field we headed toward Pint & Slice 816 (at 816 Calhoun Street) for a slice of pizza.  Outside, Toby chased the mural on the side of the building.  The artist, Nosego, also has work on display right now in the Biological Canvas exhibit at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

As an added treat, we caught crews installing the first of IPFW's Sculpture With Purpose bike racks.  Remember the Mastodons that celebrated IPFW's 40th birthday?  For their 50th they're coordinating the creation of 50 bike rack/sculptures around town.  The majority will be downtown or on IPFW's campus, with a few scattered elsewhere in the city.  They'll all be up by May 17 for Kickstart - a celebration of bikes, art, and music.  As an added bonus, anything that is sturdy enough to hold a bike is probably sturdy enough to hold a 5-year-old boy.  Not that I'm encouraging that sort of thing.  But really, could you resist climbing into this piggy bank?

Get Out and Play - April 7-11

Monday – Take a bite out of a book at Ivy Tech’s Edible Book Festival.  Check out the edible sculptures inspired by their creators' favorite books.  Past entries have included a mix of adult and children’s literature, so there’s something for everyone.  View entries – noon-1, taste entries 1-2.  Free and open to the public.  Located in the hallways of Ivy Tech’s Student Life Center, 3701 Dean Drive.

Tuesday – Listen to a story and draw your favorite part at My Mini Museum at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.  10:30-11:15am, Ages 8 and under, $7 per child + museum admission for adult and child.  E-mail boren@fwmoa.org at least one day before the program to make your reservation.

Wednesday – Letter J Play Day at the Main Library.  Stop in the Early Learning Center anytime today to check out rhymes, games, and crafts about the letter J.  The ELC is located in the Children's area of the library, just past the information desk.  For the kids' safety the door is locked, so ask a librarian to let you in.  Ages birth-6, 9am-8pm.

Thursday – Spring has finally arrived, so get outside!  Follow a trail, poke in the lake, and play on the playground at Fox Island County Park.  $2 per person, age 7 and under free.  7324 Yohne Road.

Friday - Concordia Seminary’s playground is a favorite space for mild days.  (We love playing here, but there’s no shade, so in the summer it’s less inviting.)  The equipment here is great for a variety of ages—Toby loved the enclosed steps when he was learning to walk, and there’s a more challenging climbing wall for the older kids. 6600 N Clinton.  Enter the Seminary grounds and follow Martin Luther Drive until it comes to a T.  Take a left, and then a quick right into the parking lot.  You'll see the playground from the far right corner of the parking lot.

Weekend Fun in the Fort April 4-6

I admit, this picture is from last year.  Have you seen any
daffodils peaking up yet? 

Truthfully?  The one-time events around the Fort aren't all that plentiful this weekend.  Don't worry, as the month goes on and the weather improves, that'll change.  (The last weekend in April is packed!)  Until then, help me out a little.  Leave some comments about what you're going to be up to this weekend, and give us all some inspiration to get out and play.

Friday, April 4

7:30 – Catch the last Mad Ants game of the season.  Memorial Coliseum.

Saturday, April 5

Fort Wayne's Farmers Market - If the weather is pleasant, some of the vendors should start moving outdoors soon.  That makes for less crowding around the tables, and more room for kids to move around and explore.  Parkview Field, 9am-1pm.

Guess Whoooo is coming to theLibrary? - Have a hoot with owl stories, a craft, and a visit from a live owl.  Dupont Library, 10:30am, ages 3-8.

The Pigeon Needs a Bath Storytime – Celebrate the release of Mo Willem’s latest Pigeon book with storytime and a craft at Barns & Noble.  Glenbrook Mall location, 11:00am.

Saturday Night Stargazing - Tonight is the first chance of the season to look up with the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society.  Too cloudy for stars tonight?  The Astronomical Society offers observing nights every Saturday from tonight through November.  Jefferson Township Park (map), begins 1 hour after sunset and runs for 2 hours. (Tonight sunset is at 7:25, so the stargazing runs from 8:25-10:25.)

Sunday, April 6

Farrelly/Markiewicz Jazz Quartet -- Take in a free jazz concert for all ages.  More information, and links to sample of the quartet's music here.  Main Library, 2-3pm.

Carnival of the Animals - An animal theme links the stories and musical pieces in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic's family concert.  Children's activities before the performance include crafts, juggling, a performance by the Youth Concert Orchestra Chamber Ensemble, and an "instrument playground" where kids are encouraged to touch and try the instruments they'll hear in the concert.  Activities begin at 1pm, concert at 2pm.  Auer Performance Hall at IPFW.  Adults $17, children $7.

All Weekend
The Tincaps are playing at 7:05 Friday, 5:05 Saturday and 3:05 Sunday.  With several days and times to choose from, you'll have a hard time blaming the weather or the kids' nap schedules for missing out on the fun of opening weekend.

High Places, Hidden Spaces at the Botanical Conservatory

The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is a familiar favorite, familiar enough that we usually save our trips there until a $1 Night comes around.  I'd heard good things about the special exhibit they have going there right now, though, and it's ending in just a few weeks.  So when the snow started falling again last week we decided that an afternoon of spring was worth paying full priced admission.

No visit to the Botanical is complete without hearing the "Trees" song 15 times.

After playing in the preschool area just past the entrance (the activities and books there change monthly, and April will focus on "Eyes") the gardens greeted us with trunks full of dress-up clothes.  Toby isn't much for dressing up, but other preschoolers there put a lot of effort into their outfits.  And a family of teenagers picked through the costumes and treated us all to some Monty Python reenactments.

Max's favorite Hidden Space -- the corner of infinite babies.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is a climbing structure, with hidden windows for peaking and a bridge that looks out over the gardens.  But, as the title suggests, what really captivated Toby was searching out nearly a dozen other little spaces, each with their own simple activities.  I started snapping pictures of the fun we found in each--but I thought better of posting all the spoilers here.  This trip was all about exploring, and wondering what was in a tunnel or under a canopy or up some stairs.

Part of the fun was searching for the tools and props, and figuring out how to put them to work.

The Botanical Conservatory is always pretty kid-friendly--there's lots of space to toddle or dart around, and a handful of permanent children's exhibits.  After an initial scan of the exhibit ("Mom, look at this over here!") we took a quick jog through the Rainforest and Desert garden rooms.  There's a waterfall to sneak under, fish to count, stairs to run up and down, hidden animal sculptures to find, and an earthworm's tunnel to crawl through & slide down (always good for a few dozen laps).

But then we settled back in the High Places Hidden Spaces exhibit for some deeper, imaginative play.  Max enjoyed some sensory play in the fountain, the sand, and the mirrors, while Toby immersed himself in some scenario with a few other kids.  We stayed for an hour and a half, and Toby would have happily played longer if Max's nap time wasn't approaching.

Can you find where the sandbox is hiding?

Dollar Nights are the 1st Thursday of each month (spring schedule here) -- so if the weather keeps you away from the Tincaps this Thursday (April 3) you can have some indoor fun here.  Admission is just $1 for everyone over 2, from 5-8pm.  But if you're anxious for some more spring over this break, this is an exhibit worth the Botanical's regular rates - $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and babies 2 and under are free.  Open Sundays noon-4pm and Tues-Saturday from 10am-5pm, with extended hours until 8pm every Thursday.  High Places, Hidden Spaces runs through April 20.