ML Interest Tag: exhibition

Incredible LEGO Creations You Won’t Believe Are Real

by Abigail Matsumoto

LEGO lovers know that the sky’s the limit when it comes to building—you can bring any idea to life with those bricks. We’ve rounded up some seriously cool LEGO creations that will have your jaw on the floor, from feats of architecture like the US Capitol to artistic pieces that belong in a museum. Just read on to see what all the fuss is about.

US Capitol

LEGOLAND California

At LEGOLAND California, you’ll find lots of jaw-dropping creations made by master builders. This replica of the US Capitol in Washington D.C. is one of our favorites, complete with a marching band and tourists milling around in front of the building.

Santa Claus

LEGOLAND California

Another gem from LEGOLAND California, you can get up close and personal with Santa and his reindeer during the holiday season. There’s enough room in the sleigh for a memorable photo op.

Brick Builder Waterfall

LEGO

This eye-popping creation can be found at the newly opened LEGO House in Billund, Denmark. The waterfall crashes down into a play area that’s filled with LEGO bricks for visitors to build with. Ahem, excuse us while we book our flights to Denmark.

Dinosaur

LEGO

In LEGO House’s Masterpiece Gallery, you’ll find amazing creations like this one by expert builders. This ferocious dino is just one piece from the gallery’s rotating collection.

Tree of Creativity

LEGO

The Tree of Creativity is the centerpiece of LEGO House, and for a good reason—it’s 50 feet tall and packed with intricate details and fun surprises. Made from more than six million LEGO bricks, this piece is wow-worthy from every angle.

Michelangelo's David

Leon via flickr

Who said you can’t make real art with LEGO bricks? This recreation of Michelangelo’s David sculpture, from the Art of the Brick exhibition in London, is a masterpiece in its own right.

Cherry Pie

Bill Ward via flickr

How funny is this little LEGO cherry pie? Bill Ward created it in celebration of Pi Day, and it (almost) looks good enough to eat.

Giant Wasp

Scott McLeod via flickr

Spotted at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa, this giant wasp is seriously impressive (and a little intimidating). At least no one needs to worry about being stung!

Kids on a Bench

acklee via flickr

This cool sculpture was created for the opening of a new LEGO Store in Edmonton, Canada. We love how it captures the movement of two siblings—spilled ice cream and all.

Lush Jungle

Ian Roberts via flickr

This intricate jungle landscape was on display at BrickCon 2014. With a wooden bridge, hidden pools and a rickety tree house, this creation holds enough details to tell an entire story.

Ironman Hulkbuster vs. Hulk

Heather Paul via flickr

This one's for all the little Avengers fanatics! At Comic-Con 2015, folks got to see an amazing LEGO recreation of the big fight between the Hulk and Ironman’s Hulkbuster armor. It took Master Builders 575 hours to design and build the Hulkbuster, using 78,083 bricks, with another 200 hours and 22,560 bricks to create Mr. “Smash” himself.

Beatles

Simon Q via flickr

The Art of the Brick LEGO exhibition is a can’t miss for LEGO-lovers, and this particular sculpture is ob-la-di ob-la-da amazing. When the exhibition arrived in the UK, visitors were treated to a special section dedicated to British culture—including a life-size model of the Fab Four, crafted by Nathan Sawaya.

Mount Rushmore

Rob Young via flickr

We’d like to think the founding fathers would be fully on board with this tribute. If you ever decide to take your LEGO touring to international levels, don’t miss out on the UK’s LEGOLAND Windsor, where an American monument gets the full building block treatment. It’s the largest model in the park, with a whopping 1.5 million LEGO bricks.

X-Wing Starfighter

Pascal via flickr

Raise your lightsaber if you’re a wannabe Jedi! Star Wars fans and Wookiees alike will be amazed by this out-of-this-world, full-scale X-Wing Fighter, the largest LEGO model in history. At 11 feet tall with a 44-foot wingspan, it’s 42 times the size of the commercial LEGO set you can build at home and was created to promote the animated series The Yoda Chronicles. Super impressive, it is.

Yankee Stadium

Eric via flickr

Take me out to the miniature ballgame, take me out to the crowd! At the 2014 New Jersey Brickfair, people got a chance to see a whole other side of the Yankee Stadium, thanks to LEGO pro Sean Kenney. It was made over the course of three years, with the help of a Manhattan grade schooler, and it even features over 1,700 "microscale people."

Victorians

Fiid Williams via flickr

You might just leave your heart in this LEGOLAND version of San Francisco. If you visit LEGOLAND California, keep an eye out for SF’s famous Victorian Houses. They’re part of a whole San Francisco-scape that includes cable cars, Pier 39 and even the sounds of sea lions.

Bison

Scott McLeod via flickr

Have you herd about these LEGO bison? A few years ago, they were some of 27 amazing LEGO sculptures created by Sean Kenney and a team as part of the touring Nature Connects LEGO exhibit. They started off at Iowa’s Reiman Gardens and will be moving around the country for the next few years, so don’t miss ‘em!

Statue of Liberty

ccho via flickr

Created by Nathan Sawaya and featured in The Art of the Brick exhibition, this Lady Liberty is more than just a still statue. We love how dynamic this LEGO sculpture is—clearly, it was made with a lot of heart.

T-Rex

Simon Q via flickr

How terrific is this T-Rex? It’s yet another highlight of The Art of the Brick exhibition and clocks in at 80,000 LEGO pieces and a 20-foot length. Ol’ Rex also took an entire summer to build, each bone pieced together bit by bit. Talk about a LEGO creation for the history books!

Batman and Gang

Loren Javier via flickr

Holy building blocks, Batman! These life-size LEGO sculptures of the Joker, Batman and Robin were spotted back at the 2013 Comic-Con, which is always chock-full of LEGO reveals and displays.

Eiffel Tower

Jared via flickr

Sin City meets the Sunshine State! Located in LEGOLAND Florida, this Eiffel Tower stands tall at an impressive 13 feet. But instead of a Parisian influence, it's actually part of a LEGO recreation of the Vegas strip that also includes the MGM Grand, the Venetian, and even the iconic balloon sign.

M.C. Escher's "Impossible Staircase"

Andrew Lipson

The creator of this LEGO build, Andrew Lipson, truly got into the topsy-turvy spirit of M.C. Escher's famous Relativity drawing. You can get a glimpse of how this crazy 3D version was constructed by clicking here.

The Star Wars Organ

Lorenz Lnggrtnr

Hoth, Tatooine, Endor and the Death Star are all represented on this musical masterpiece. When the organ is turned, the carefully placed bricks touch mechanical sensors and the iconic Star Wars theme is played. Find out more here.

Woody & Buzz

Pop Culture Geek via Flickr

How do you take a LEGO creation to infinity and beyond? Make it a tribute to one of the best Pixar duos around. The movie versions of these pals may be tiny toys, but in LEGO stores across America, they get the extra-large treatment (Yet another reason to make a trip to your closest LEGO source ...).

Brickley the Sea Serpent

daryl_mitchell via Flickr

Brickley the smiley sea serpent has appeared at many LEGO Stores around the world. Sometimes he's found winding his way in and out of rooms, and until a few years ago, he hung out in the waters of Disney World. He's made of over 170,000 blocks and even inspired a fun mini version.

— Abigail Matsumoto & Susie Foresman

 

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Under Cover: Inside Ideas To Check Out Now

by Mimi O'Connor

Sure, it felt like summer a week ago, but colder, wetter (perhaps even snowy?) weather is on its way. When seeking shelter from the storms, consider one of these spots for a kid-friendly diversion that doesn’t involve a screen (at least in the traditional sense).

photo: Canstruction/Brookfield Place

Canstruction 2016 at Brookfield Place
The amazing, unconventional canned-food-sculptural-competition-for-good that is Canstruction returns to Brookfield Place on November 3. Teams of architects, engineers, and contractors and the students they mentor spend weeks planning elaborate, large-scale structures made entirely out of unopened cans of food — and then have one night to build them.

The sculptures are on display for two weeks, and then all food is donated to City Harvest. (You can bring along some cans to donate, too; last year, the event yielded 80,000 pounds of food!) The Society for Design Administration competition is juried by a panel of professional designers, architects and culinary professionals, giving top honors in categories such as Most Cans, Best Structural Integrity and Best Use of Labels. (You can vote too, for Audience Favorite.)

Canstruction
Nov. 3-Nov. 16
10 a.m. – 8 p.m., daily
Tickets: Free
Brookfield Place, Street and Lobby Level
230 Vesey St.
Battery Park City
Online: artsbrookfield.com

photo: Jonathan Dorado

Philippe Parreno: My Room Is Another Fish Bowl at The Brooklyn Museum
French artist Philippe Parreno’s “My Room Is Another Fish Bowl” is described as “a delightful, participatory work of art that encourages audiences to contemplate the passage of time and shifting patterns of light and atmospheric conditions.” (It’s also really cool.)

Currently installed in the glass-fronted pavilion of the Brooklyn Museum, the work comprises approximately 150 colorful, fish-shaped Mylar balloons that float a various heights. The fish gently move through the enclosed space in response to both human interaction and climatic changes. Technically, you don’t even have to enter the museum to see the work, but for sporty types especially, we recommend heading inside to take in “Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History 1843 to the Present, which runs through Jan. 8 2017. Note: To keep the Parreno work safe during certain programs and events, this exhibition may not be on view at all times, so call ahead to be sure it’s up and floating!

Through Nov. 20
Tickets: $16/adults; free/ages 19 and under
Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Fl.
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Pkwy.
Crown Heights
718-638-8500
Online: brooklynmuseum.org

photo: New Museum

Pipilotti Rist: Pixel Forest at The New Museum
The New Museum just opened the first New York survey of the work of Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist. A pioneer of video art and multimedia installations, Rist’s mesmerizing works envelop viewers in sensual, vibrantly-colored kaleidoscopic projections that mix nature and technology. The immersive exhibit occupies the three main floors of the museum, and invites visitors to sit (and lie) back and take in the truly stunning views.

Through Jan. 15, 2017
Tickets: $16/adults; free/ages 15-18, free with adult/ages 14 and under
235 Bowery
877-500-1932
Online: newmuseum.org

photo: The Jewish Museum/Will Ragozzino/SocialShutterbug.com

Take Me (I’m Yours) at The Jewish Museum
When visiting a museum with the kids, you may spend a fair amount of time saying, “Don’t touch!” “Take Me (I’m Yours)” at The Jewish Museum not only invites visitors to touch the art on display, it’s OK to take a bit of the show home.

Based on an exhibition mounted in London in 1995, this show features works by more than 40 artists from different generations and from all over the world, working in media ranging from clothes to metal to candy. (The red, white and blue “carpet” in that photo above? Individually-wrapped piece of candy, of which there is an “endless supply.”)

A meditation on art world convention, consumerism, the role of museums and act of sharing in Jewish life, Take Me I’m Yours includes work from Yoko Ono, Uri Aran, Christian Boltanski, Rachel Rose, Tino Sehgal and many more.

Take Me (I’m Yours)
Through Feb. 5, 2017
Tickets: $15/adults, free/visitors 18 and under
The Jewish Museum
Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street
Upper West Side
212-423-3337
Online: thejewishmuseum.org

What’s your next rainy day destination? Share it in the comments!

— Mimi O’Connor

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Please Touch! The New Digital Exhibit that Will Blow Their Minds

by Erin Feher

What do you get when you cross a celebrated international art gallery with 400 Japanese technology artists and set them loose in a sprawling former Telsa dealership in Silicon Valley? You get Living Digital Space and Future Parks, a eye-popping, mind-expanding exhibition that skips the velvet ropes and instead encourages visitors to interact with the art and with each other. Read on to find out why the new teamLab exhibition at Pace Gallery in Menlo Park is a must-visit for families.

A Digital Playground for All Ages
Chase hundreds of butterflies around the room, watch as digital flowers respond to human touch and even play a futuristic game of hopscotch in a babbling river. This new exhibition, which opened February 6, includes 20 immersive digital installations, many of which were created specifically for children. The 20,000-square-foot gallery, which is housed in the former Tesla dealership, was given a moody makeover for this show: the walls, ceilings and floors were all painted black, creating the perfect canvas for the multi-sensory light show.

 

Hundreds of nearly invisible projectors and motion detectors fill every room, allowing the ever-changing art works to respond to visitors’ movements and touch, thanks to complex algorithms developed by the artists. The technological wizardry is on full display in the family sections, where kids are encouraged to design digital cities, bring ancient characters to life with a touch of their hands and set their own artistic creations loose in a digital sea.

About the Artists…All 400 of Them
teamLab is a Japanese artists’ collective made up of “ultra-technologists” who seek to navigate the confluence of art, technology, design and the natural world. Pace Art + Technology is the first to bring this exhibition to the US, after a highly successful run in Tokyo.  Every experience in Future Parks is the result of a complex algorithms that both mimics and riffs off nature. Digital butterflies scurry in response to human touch, flower petals fall of the blossom if shaded for too long and cities in constant motion morph as children move colorful building blocks from one place to another.

And unlike the solitary video game experience, each environment was designed to encourage collaboration with other visitors. A huge vibrant seascape teems with sea life designed by visitors big and small: After coloring in analog fish and squid with good old Crayolas, each drawing is scanned and “set loose” inside the sea, where it will stay through out the remainder of the exhibition.

Download Instructions
Living Digital Space and Future Parks at Pace Art + Technology in Menlo Park opened on February 6 with a celebratory Community Day that was attended by some of tech’s biggest and brightest families (the Zuckerburgs were there with little Max, among others).

It runs through July 1, and tickets are already going fast, as it’s proving to be a social media sensation on par with LACMA’s The Rain Room. The gallery is open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. and you can get your tickets here. Kids 2 and under are free, and there are also student and senior discount available.

Pace Art + Technology
300 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, Ca
When: Feb. 6–July 1, 2015
Cost: $20/adult; $15/students and seniors with ID; $10/children 3-13; FREE/2 and under
Tickets: eventbrite.com/e/teamlab

Have you experienced the Future Parks exhibit? Tell us about it in the comments below! 

-Erin Feher

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The JANM—A Hidden Treasure

by LeTania Kirkland Smith

If your family hasn’t been to Little Tokyo for a while (or ever—gasp!) we’re about to give you the best reason to go. The whole neighborhood is full of sights, sounds and great bites, and the perfect place to begin is the Japanese American National Museum.  This hidden gem has wonderful cultural exhibits, fantastic family festivals and sights and sounds that entrance tots.

zollieatjanm
photo: LeTania Kirkland

Learn Something New
Whether your kids know very little about Japanese American culture or they have a budding interest in the country that invented sushi, this is a perfect place to begin their journey. JANM hosts both permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as Free Family Fun days to bring to life the interesting, fun and sometimes grounding aspects of Japanese American history and culture.

little tokyo
photo: LeTania Kirkland

Before you even make it into the museum, your explorers are bound to be drawn in by the OOMO (One Of Many One) Cube. Imagine a giant Rubik’s cube composed of a variety of human faces. The point is diversity rather than uniformity and it’s the perfect and downright fun way to begin your walk through the museum.

COMMON GROUND 20140611 004
photo: Japanese American National Museum

The Must Sees
Though the museum hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions, you can check out Common Ground: The Heart of Community any time. This exhibition contains hundreds of documents and objects related to the Japanese American experience from the early immigration years to World War II internment camps to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. The kids can take in early images of Japanese families on their journey to the U.S. as well as photos and vintage signs from the businesses some families would go on to establish. This exhibition is full of the glory and struggle that are part and parcel of the immigrant experience. But take note that the exhibit isn’t all lighthearted. There are images of the World War II internment camps (created to imprison Japanese Americans after the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941) as well as items recovered from the actual sites. Though the littles may not understand entirely, it is a great learning opportunity for the entire family.

bigrobot
photo: LeTania Kirkland

Pop Culture and Beyond
Move from heavy history to happy pop! The JANM experience is multi-faceted and its temporary exhibitions are a great way to experience that. From tattoos to Hello Kitty and food to baseball, the museum works to cover it all. Now until January 24 you can catch an exhibit that’s a huge hit with kids: the Big Robot Biennale 4. The exhibition covers the Big Robot brand that started as nothing more than a handmade zine and became so much more. Big Robot has since become a brand in and of itself that covers pop art, skateboarding, comics, graphic art and vinyl toys. Your aficionados can take in the art and even try their hand at their own inside of the gallery.

June Family Day Shoji 2 6-13-2015 (16)
photo: Japanese American National Museum

Family Days
If you’re worried your littles ones won’t stay engaged on a regular day at the museum, visit JANM during one of their free monthly family festivals. (Yes, free!) Every second Saturday the museum opens up with family activities (bounce houses sometimes included), art activities and performances. Don’t miss it; these are our favorite days and ways to introduce kids to the museum.  After one visit to a family day, they’ll declare this their favorite museum in town.

boyinlittletokyo
photo: LeTania Kirkland

The Entire Experience
While you’re in Little Tokyo, take it all in. Just off the museum lobby is the Chado Tea Room where you and the kids can have a traditional tea time with a beautiful selection of teas, fingers sandwiches, pastries and the whole bit. If that sounds too delicate for your hungry crew, there are great restaurants near JANM on 1st Street. Daikokuya Ramen (if you’re willing to wait a bit to be seated) serves up tasty hot and cold soups. Just a few doors down is Suehiro Cafe, which serves up great Japanese dishes at a great price. Cross the street to the Little Tokyo Plaza and visit the shops full of Japanese trinkets, or pop into Yamazaki Bakery for a traditional Japanese pastry or Cafe Dulce for a less traditional donut (from green tea to bacon donuts, it’s all here). There is a full day of exploring available in Little Tokyo. Seize the opportunity.

Tokumasa Shoji Family Day (98)
photo: Japanese American National Museum

Admission (And Free Days) and Parking
Admission for adults is $9. Kids 6-18 are just $5. Littles 5 and under are free. If you still have the energy on a Thursday evening, general admission to JANM is free every third Thursday from 5-8 p.m. There is metered street parking and lots of lots all around Little Tokyo. If you’re planning on spending several hours, it pays to park in a lot; those downtown meters add up. Also, the museum is just across the street from the Little Tokyo/Arts District stop along the Gold Line. Plus, if you show your TAP card at the museum you’ll receive $2 off admission. Be green and save money on the Gold Line!

hellokitty
photo: LeTania Kirkland

Japanese American National Museum
100 North Central Ave.
Little Tokyo
213-625-0414
Online: janm.org

What’s your favorite little known museum that’s great for kids?  Let us know your secret spots in the comments below!

—LeTania Kirkland

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Join Other Expectant & New Parents at Seattle Babyfest

by Jacqui Boland

 

Seattle Babyfest is an intimate treat for expectant & new parents seeking the best, most innovative, eco-friendly and luxurious baby products and services on the market.

This full-day expo runs on Saturday, November 7 from 11:00am – 4:00pm at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 301 Mercer St, Seattle WA and  bring together many of the best companies in the baby industry and place them all in one intimate location for consumers, retailers and the media.

This is not your mass expo. In addition to the expo, this ‘Super Saturday’ will include educational workshops on a variety of topics, celebrity guest appearances, The Big Baby Shower featuring games, exclusive prizes, and VIP experience offering guests early admission, a sweet swag bag and a day of pampering.

The Premium Couple Pass includes a Gift Bag valued over $300 with products & services from sponsors including Moby Wrap Baby Carrier!

Limited quantities, reserve your tix today!

 

 

 

 

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Just Opened: The Broad Museum’s Broad Appeal to Kids

by Jennifer O'Brien

The most anticipated addition to LA’s vibrant art scene in years, The Broad contemporary art museum finally opened its doors to the public on September 20. And boy, is it worth a trip downtown with your budding artistic babes! With so much to explore (over 2,000 works), we’ve got the skinny on what to check out first, as well as exhibition highlights small-pints should not miss.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

Upon entering the lobby, glorious natural daylight streams in through The Broad’s honeycomb-like exterior structure. Nearby, a gift shop offers a groovy selection of items celebrating the work of Broad collection artists.  Your kids will want to make this their first stop, but we suggest swinging by there on your way out. Your absolute first priority when you’re with small fry is to check out Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room–The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away. This must-see installation only accommodates one visitor at a time for 45 seconds each. (However, if you’re bringing kiddos, one parent may accompany each child.) Once inside, visitors are treated to a mirror-lined chamber filled with a mind-blowing LED light display that makes you feel as if you’ve been transported to the Milky Way. It is by far the museum’s most popular stop at the moment, so we highly suggest putting your phone number into the kiosk located outside the exhibit to reserve a space. You will receive a text 10 minutes before you need to come back for your turn.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

Next, take the escalator to the main exhibition galleries on the third floor. (The steep 105-ft. escalator ride feels as if you’re ascending into a heavenly tunnel and will be a treat in and of itself for tikes.) Once you arrive at the top, be sure to download The Broad’s free mobile app which offers enhanced content about The Broad collection, as well as self-guided audio tours, including a family tour for kids called “Looking with Levar,” which is narrated by award-winning actor LeVar Burton.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

The third floor galleries feature prominent works from the 1950s through 1990s by some of the most inventive artists of our time, including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Cindy Sherman and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Kids will especially dig the playful artworks of Jeff Koons and the over-sized Robert Therrien piece, Under the Table, that lends a definite “Alice in Wonderland” vibe.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

Once you’ve finished exploring the third floor, take the cylindrical glass elevator back down to the first level where you’ll find the collection’s most recent artwork, almost all dating from 2000 to present day. These include The Visitors by Ragnar Kjartansso—a 360 degree, nine-screen video projection that surrounds the viewer with images of the artist and his musician pals performing in different rooms of a historic mansion; a good opportunity (ahem, painless way) to expose your kids to performance art. Also on this floor, little ones will love Takashi Murakami’s colorful works including his pieces, ln the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow and DOB in the Strange Forest (Blue DOB).

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

All in all, The Broad is a fairly easy outing with antsy tots in tow, taking only about an hour to an hour and a half to get a good look at pretty much everything. Plus, the size, scale, interactive and toy-like nature of much of the art will have kids re-thinking what art is, and how much fun an art museum can be.

If all this culture has worked up an appetite, the museum’s Otium restaurant, helmed by chef Timothy Hollingsworth (of Napa’s French Laundry fame), is scheduled to open in October on The Broad’s public plaza.  In the meantime, since you’ve paid for parking, we recommend you take the short walk over to Grand Central Market, where you can all sample from the amazing offerings and every member of the family can get exactly what they like.  Parents won’t want to miss Wexler’s Deli and kids (ok, and parents) adore McConnell’s Ice Cream.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

About: The museum was founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad and houses the most prominent holdings of postwar and contemporary art worldwide with over 2,000 works of art from the world’s top contemporary masters.

Hours: Open Tues. & Wed. from 11a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs. & Fri. from 11 a.m.-8p.m.; Sat. from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  The museum is closed Mon.

Tickets: General admission is always free. Advanced online reservations are encouraged (especially during busy opening months), but are not required. Advanced timed tickets have entry times every half hour.

Parking: Parking is available in The Broad parking garage, which you enter on 2nd St. between Hope St. and Grand Ave. Parking for visitors with validation runs $12 for 3 hours on weekdays, weeknights after 5 p.m. and all day on weekends. Alternative parking is available at the California Plaza garage (entrance off Olive St.) for $8 with validation from The Broad.

Strollers: Single-wide, standard baby strollers are permitted at all times, except on escalators. Double-wide and jogging strollers are not allowed.

The Broad
221 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles 90012
213-232-6200
Online: thebroad.org

What was your family’s favorite part of visiting The Broad? We’d love to know in the comment section below!

—Jennifer O’Brien

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Up and Out: Adoption and War are Remembered in the Presidio

by Emily Myers

Head to the Presidio Officers’ Club for an emotional tribute to the children airlifted out of war-torn Vietnam to the US in 1975, as well as those who pulled it off. Operation Babylift: Perspectives and Legacies is part of the seasonally changing exhibits hosted in the Presidio Heritage Hall. This exhibit runs through the end of 2015 and will be especially poignant to families, and will surely spark conversation and questions for those old enough to grasp the larger concepts.

Photo Credit: Charity Vargas for the Presidio Trust
A Calming VIbe

A mellow soundtrack plays as you enter the exhibition, and it seemed to have a calming effect on even the most boisterous child. In the far corner a video shows moving interviews with people involved in the Presidio’s history. The combination of music and conversation seems to slow the kids down—we even saw some curled up on the plush seating watching the video about the area’s unique history. Next, meander between the partition walls and discover the extraordinary story of Operation Babylift. The exhibition coincides with the 40th anniversary of a dramatic airlift that removed more than 2,000 Vietnamese children from their war-torn country to be adopted by American families as Saigon fell. Foreign-run orphanages and adoption agencies spurred these efforts, with hundreds of children passing through the Presidio on their journey to new lives in the US.

Photo Credit: Charity Vargas for the Presidio Trus

Unanswered Questions
The exhibition doesn’t shy away from the controversy of the airlifts. One wall is dedicated to a timeline of events, including images of the war and newspaper articles raising questions about whether Operation Babylift was ethical or even legal.  Was it a political ploy to ease the guilt of what had happened in Vietnam or an act of philanthropy when faced with children in crisis? These are the questions raised. The exhibition doesn’t promise answers but asks how dialogue might deepen our common understanding of events, of history and of each other.

Photo Credit: Charity Vargas for the Presidio Trus

Start a Conversation
With dialogue the theme, it makes sense that a central display is dedicated to conversations between some of the Vietnamese adoptees and the volunteers who got them out, gave medical aid or processed them to new homes. Five thousand volunteers helped with the operation, some risking their careers to be involved. Handheld audio sets (always a winner with the kids) give access to these moving conversations, touching on larger issues of history, identity and parental love.

Photo Credit: Charity Vargas for the Presidio Trus

Good to Know
While some of this might be a bit much for the little ones, combine it with a Sunday picnic at Off The Grid or some Mexican fare at newly opened Arguello for a well-rounded day out. Even better, drop in for imaginative (and free) craft-making offered every weekend just down the corridor and tag team to get a look at this exhibition—it will not disappoint.

Date/Time
Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Dec. 31. Closed Mondays

Cost
Free

Location
Presidio Officers’ Club
50 Moraga Ave.
San Francisco, Ca
415-561-4400
Online: presidioofficersclub.com

Getting there
Paid parking is available. Or take the free PresidiGo Downtown Shuttle to the Presidio.
It runs 7 days a week with regular pick ups from the Transbay Terminal, Embarcadero BART, and Van Ness/Union.

Do you have a perspective on Operation Babylift? Let us know in the comments below.

—Emily Myers

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Unravel the Past at the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit

by Erica Groten

Got a little Indiana Jones at home?  If your budding archaeologist likes to bury toys in the backyard and use a toothbrush to remove the dirt, the California Science Center’s newest exhibit is for you. From now until September 7, 2015 selections from the Qumran dig, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, pottery, and coins, are available for viewing. Step back in history with this trip to Exposition Park.

photo credit: Genevieve via flickr

Strolling To The Scrolls
Currently, this exhibit is the hottest ticket in town, so plan on long wait-times (even with a ticketed entry) to enter the exhibit during weekends and holidays. The long lines also extend to the actual exhibit with people jockeying for position to read the informational screens on the displayed items. Which leads us to Insider Tip #1: Go on a weekday!  If that’s not possible, try and get the first timed tickets of the day, when there’s less chance of a back-up inside the exhibit.

photo credit:  Jim the Photographer via flickr

After a quick and interesting introduction, you’ll be directed to enter the exhibit. Don’t miss the display of these tiny pottery faces, which kids can try making at home with clay!

photo credit: Jim the Photographer via flickr

This Roman bath includes a seat, which is an instant visual hit with the kiddos. Not to mention the parents. Insider Tip #2: Keep an eye on the little ones. Some of the displayed items, like this, are perfect height for wandering hands and bodies.

photo credit: Jim the Photographer via flickr

The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in jars similar to the one displayed.

photo credit: Ken and Nyetta via flickr

Finally: the Dead Sea Scrolls! At last you arrive at a large circular table. The user-friendly display allows for amazing viewing. Some pieces of the scroll are hard to read but don’t despair, each piece is translated, in a section to the right of the actual scroll, and next to the translation is an enlarged picture of the actual scroll being viewed. Insider Tip #3:  Don’t be intimated by the crowds and take your time to read the informational material. Also, bring reading glasses if you need ’em, the room is dimly-lit.

But Wait, There’s More
So you completed your quest, and saw the scrolls.  But you’re not done! Head to the 10 Commandments section, in a corner nook by the Dead Sea Scrolls, and let little darlings push buttons that aren’t yours. This interactive demonstration speaks the commandment of the pushed button, and at the same time displays the piece of scroll where it is written. It’s a great set up for a Charlton Heston movie night, later on.

After you are buttoned out, make your way to the final section: Masada. A replica of the Jerusalem Western Wall appears to the right along with paper and pens. Pretend you are in Israel and leave a written note in a section of the wall. When the show closes, all notes will be collected by the Israel Antiquities Authority and delivered to Jerusalem. This section also hosts a live camera feed of the actual Western Wall.

Outside the exhibit an interactive section greets you. Try your hand at reassembling potsherds or be a scribe and practice Hebrew writing.

Wallets beware! The only way out is through the gift shop.

Post-Scrolls
Inside Tip #4: Don’t miss the IMAX movie, Jerusalem 3D, for a huge dose of eye candy.  For kids that  were bored by the pottery and papyrus, a 3D movie experience proves far more accessible.  And for kids that dug the exhibit, this reinforces all that they learned.

Still want more? Make it a day event and hit Endeavor and the ecosystems exhibits. The aquarium and touch ponds located on the 2nd floor are some of the favorite areas at the museum for kids of all ages.

The Parent 411
Ages: Open to everyone, but geared for kids ages 8 & up. While there are interesting bits for kids of all ages, toddlers and preschoolers will have a tough time keeping little hands to themselves and will be bored quickly, making the exhibit an exercise in herding, rather than learning, for parents.

Parking: Parking costs $10 per car, or choose the Metro Expo Line at the Expo Park/USC station. The Science Center is an easy walk (0.2 miles).

Potties: Potties abound throughout the Science Center and many offer diaper changing station.

Tickets & Cost: Tickets for this exhibit are required and can be purchased through the California Science Center’s website. Prices range from $12.75-$19.75 for the exhibition alone, or $16.25-$26 for the exhibition / IMAX movie combo.  Discounts are available for members.

Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through September 7, 2015.

Eats: Casual dining is located on the first floor. Choose from grilled items, fresh fruit, and salads. Plenty of seating, inside and outside, to choose from.  Or bring a picnic and dine al fresco in the Rose Garden.

California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Blvd.
Exposition Park
Phone: 323-724-3623
Online: californiasciencecenter.org

Have you been to see the Dead Sea Scrolls? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

—Erica Groten

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Party Like it’s 1915: The Return of the World’s Fair!

by Erin Feher

One hundred years ago this month, San Francisco was buzzing with the biggest event in its history. The Panama Pacific International Exhibition featured new inventions, animals, daredevils, art and dozens of beautiful palaces and gardens built just for the event. Well, one hundred is one heck of a birthday, so this weekend SF is throwing the party of the century to celebrate—and everyone is invited!

Photo: PPIE100

A Party at The Palace
This Saturday, February 21, the celebration kicks off at noon with Community Day at the Palace of Fine Arts—one of the few remaining structures built for the original fair. At this free event little makers will love exploring the Palace, which will be transformed into the Innovation Hangar for the run of the fair. It will be filled with new inventions and prototypes from the world’s most innovative companies, and hands-on educational activities and exhibitions from your favorite museums, including the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Smithsonian and the Tech Museum. Also under the dome will be the exhibition “City Rising: San Francisco and the 1915 World’s Fair,” which tells the story of the original event through historical photos, stories and other memorabilia, so the whole family can brush up on the SF history.

Photo: Ed Uthman via Flickr

Back to The Future
Everyone who’s anyone will be at the party, including some special guests from way, way back—Buffalo Bill Cody, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Michael H De Young, and aviator Art Smith. The littles will love seeing an original 1915 Ford Model T, and they will even have a chance to sit in a Wells Fargo stagecoach and get old timey photographs taken. If firetrucks are their thing, don’t miss the trio of original 100-year-old fire engines on display from the last Exposition.

Photo: Kowit Phothisan

Uke Gotta See This
There will be no shortage of entertainment, including performances by the Academy Of Hawaiian Arts, Emeryville Taiko, Nemenzo Polynesian Dance Company and San Francisco Opera. But the big show starts at 3 p.m., when hundreds of Ukulele players will gather under the dome for the Uke-a-Thon. Got a uke yourself? Bring it along and join in the symphony, which will be led by famous ukulele players from around the world. Why the ukulele you ask? The mini string instrument was introduced to America at the 1915 World’s Fair, and, well, the rest is history.

Photo: Courtesy of nps.org

After Dark
Once the sun sets, guests will be transported back to 1915. The grounds will be set aglow with thousands of twinkling lights, and you can even enjoy an outdoor film. Designers tried to replicate the look and feel of an evening at the fair a century ago, and after a day of looking back in history, you might just start to feel like it’s actually 1915. Stroll through the picturesque park from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday (or you can come for an early sneak peak on Friday evening) to take best advantage of the light show.

Good to Know: The Celebration continues all year long. Check the PPIE100 website or follow them on Facebook to see what other awesome events they have planned for the rest of the year.

PPIE100 Community Day
Saturday, February 21
Noon-10 p.m.
Palace of Fine Arts
3301 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-563-6504
Online: PPIE100.org

—Erin Feher

How much do you know about the 1915 World’s Fair? Will you attend the anniversary celebration?

 

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