First Robotics Competition (4/52012-4/7/2012)

Posted on by
2
FIRST Robotics Competition by North Charleston , used under the CC-BY-SA license_resized

FIRST Robotics Competition

Every year in Spring, high school students around the world are in full-on geek mode as they prepare for the FIRST Robotics Competition. FIRST is a non-profit that encourages kids interest in science and technology.

This weekend hosts the regional finals at Dorton Arena. Building, programming and controlling the robots is decidedly stuff for high school kids, but watching the competition is fun for the entire family. WRAL has a video from last year’s event.

FIRST Robotics Competition by North Charleston, used under the  CC-BY-SA license. (This photo is from last year’s event in Charleston SC.)

First Friday (Fri 4/6/12)

Posted on by
Reply
Karolina Sobecka, Sniff. Courtesy of the artist.

Karolina Sobecka, Sniff. Courtesy of the artist. (Currently on Display at CAM Raleigh.)

First Friday is always a good idea to expose to the kids to some art and downtown happenings. Born Digital (including the digital dog pictured on the left) is still up at CAM, I wrote a review about it last week. There is a high school art project on display at VAE, that could be interesting: Students from Garner High School created an art project in one of those movable storage container (PODS) and it is sitting outside VAE in a parking space. (Upcoming First Fridays will feature different schools in the same space.) The main highlights are two events that are probably too close together time-wise to catch both:

First, Invisible is doing a performance at CAM at 7:30p. I’ve seen the Greensboro-based group once live in concert, and it is mesmerizing for the young and old. My best description would be ‘steam punk synthesizers’. Think an old piano triggering little hammers that bang on found objects. Amazing to see and hear. They will perform The New Obsolete. (Below is a video of an older project.)

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/18959055]

Second, Morning Times is hosting the Morning Times Market (many artists, including Johnny Swank who I like), and the Pickle Mamas will be “fire hooping” with the Raleigh Drum Circle. It is schedule at 8pm, so you probably have to make up your mind: Warehouse District or Salisbury and Hargett. Either way, the kids will enjoy it. (No rain expected, but dress warm enough the be outside.)

Monster Jam (4/6/12-4/7/12)

Posted on by
Reply

If Barbie is not your thing, then how about Monster Jam! Who hasn’t seen the giant trucks smashing old junk cars in a dirt-filled arena. (And who hasn’t phantasized about having one when someone has just cut into traffic in front of them.) Did you know that Grave Digger, the most iconic of the Monster Trucks is from North Carolina? And is celebrating its 30th anniversary? Perhaps not the most spiritual and peaceful way to spend Easter Saturday – but at least you’ll know who crushed the eggs, I mean cars.  Cheapest seats+parking for one adult/one child: $40. PNC Arena. Tickets and details here.

Monster Truck Grave Digger by Tammy Powers, used under CC-BY-SA license

The image above is by Tammy Powers, obtained from Wikimedia Commons.

Barbie Bash (4/7/12)

Posted on by
1

Love her or hate her, Barbie is here to stay and does not get tired. In this latest installment she is a successful surfer and mermaid. The movie is rated appropriate for age 5 and up at Common Sense Media, in my view by far the best movie rating website for kids & media. Read their review for details.

After seeing the movie at 10 in the IMAX, stay for the Barbie Bash where you and your child can make “surfer fashions” and “wearable mermaid accessories”.

Review of Vet School Open House 2012

Posted on by
Reply

On 3/31/2012 we went to the Open House of the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State University that I wrote about earlier. The event was very, very well organized, and I would say it is interesting for anyone 18 months old or older, and we will keep this on our radar for the coming years.

Our 2-year-old liked that his teddy bear with an old and nasty burn wound did finally receive proper medical treatment. He also enjoyed seeing the mares with their 6-week old foals, and observing how a cow gets milked.

I found it surprising that he recognized many of the skeletons on display throughout the building. Horse, Lion, Cat, Giraffe, were all studied with great interest. The only one that left him puzzled was the elephant; I wonder if that is because the trunk was not visible. (No bones about it!).

But the parents also got to see many interesting sights, some of them still lingering long after dinner: A documentary about animal parasites was shown while we waited for the teddy bear surgery, and I saw way too much of it. Some animal got spayed in the glass-walled OR, but I didn’t look closely enough to see if it was a cat or a dog. And yes, I went to see the fistulated steer. By my self. And only from far.

If you missed it, come back next year. We will, knowing that other displays will become age-appropriate and a return visit will not be boring. Original post here.

Hula Hoop @ NOFO (3/31/12)

Posted on by
2

This just in: Yesterday, I came across a Hula Hooping event at NOFO, the store/restaurant at Five Points, but I could not find enough information on NOFO’s website to feature it. Thankfully, a Daddy Weekly subscriber just notified me about that very event, so here goes a quick add-on to this Saturday’s busy roster: If you’re not into frogs and cows, head north to NOFO for lunch, fun and a Hula Hooping contest! Dolly Dozier, a local children’s book author is there and signs her new book “Peggy Noodle Hula Hoop Queen“. From 11a-2p. NoFo @ The Pig.

Ribbit! 13th Annual Frog Fest (3/31/12)

Posted on by
Reply

 

Note: This was written in 2012. In 2013, the event is on Apr-5 from 11-3p.

I continue to be amazed about some of the more outlandish “Annual xyz events” I come across. This one looks promising though, for a couple of reasons: First, if an event has lasted for 13 years, it must be good. Second, I’ve had Crowder District Park on my list-of-parks-to-visit for a while, and this will be a good reason to do so.

The event promises educational activities for the whole family centered around frogs and clean water. Hours are from 11am – 3pm and ‘food is available for purchase’, whatever that means. (Hot dogs and snow cones, I guess!)

The park is a 25 min drive south of downtown, at 4709 Ten-Ten Road in Apex.

Ribbit!

NC State Vet School Open House (3/31/12)

Posted on by
2

Note: This post is about the 2012 event. For the 2013 Open House, see this new post.
This will be the highlight of the weekend, in my opinion. The College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State University holds an open house event that showcases the new addition, the “Terry Center”. Based on the program, the Vet School went out of their way to make this interesting for everybody from the 2-year-old cow aficionado to the seasoned professor of veterinary medicine.

There is too much to see for one day – here are my recommendations:

For the little ones:

  • Gentle cow herding demo at 11a and 2p.
  • Teddy Bear Suture Clinic. Yup. Bring in Mr. Bear if he has received a bit too much love, and he will get taken care of.
  • New born foal. The website shows a foal that is not more than a few days old. I wonder how they timed the birth for the open house!
  • Milk a cow. Not a milk-filled glove that you see at other “milk a cow” demonstration. This is a real, life-size, actual cow. (These days, with all the regulations for farms, this is a rare opportunity.)
  • Visit a goat. If you go to vet school, you’ll learn to call a goat a “small ruminant”. But they are still cute.

Not for the little ones: (Perhaps you can leave the kids with mom (or dad) for a bit and go have a quick look at some exciting stuff that may be a bit too much for little eyes and brains…)

  • Ok, I had to first look up what that is: They have a fistulated steer (click at your own risk!) Gross. Fascinating. Eek. Wow!
  • Live surgery demo of spaying/neutering a dog.
  • Cardiology, Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology. Big words, small animals. The Vet school has it all.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is out by the fairgrounds, off Hillsborough street. View their excellent Open House website before you go.

Born Digital @ CAM & Toys @ History Museum (3/2012)

Posted on by
1

Born Digital @ CAM, 1/28-4/30

Born Digital is a feature exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum and is on display during February, March and April 2012. This is partially an ‘interactive exhibit’, and visiting with a young art lover requires close supervision; I recommend 1 adult : 1 child so that it is enjoyable for everybody. (You, the child, and other visitors.)

Daniel Rozin, Snow Mirror, 2006. Courtesy of the artist and bitforms gallery, New York.

Daniel Rozin, Snow Mirror, 2006, silk, projector, video
camera, custom software, computer. Edition of 6, 1 AP.
Courtesy of the artist and bitforms gallery, New York.

There are several pieces than can appeal to a very young child, and I’d like to mention two of them. Snow Mirror by Daniel Rozin creates a mirror image of the observer, but only if you are still for a few seconds – every movement translates only into blurred snow. My son liked how his ghost-like mirror image appeared out of nothing, and I was impressed that he recognized himself despite the grainy image.

Scenocosme : Gregory Lasserre & Anais met den Ancxt, Akousmaflore, 2011. Courtesy of the artists.

Scenocosme : Gregory Lasserre & Anais met den Ancxt, Akousmaflore, 2011,
Sensitive and interactive musical plants. Courtesy of the artists.

Another piece that is suitable for closely watched little fingers is Akousmaflore by Scenocosme (Gregory Lasserre & Anaïs met den Ancxt). Plants that are connected to a built-in music system react to touch and play a more or less excited bird sounds. It feels like you’re touching a tree, and somebody high above starts fussing at you. We both had a good time with this.

Toys, Toys and more Toys! @ NC Museum of History, until 4/15

Do you want to show your children what you played with when you were little, but you no longer own a Rubik’s cube? Are you curious what your parents played with when they were little? Check out the exhibit about toys old and new at the history museum.

This exhibit has been there quite a while, but it will end in two weeks so use your chance and go see it! This facebook album gives you some impressions.

Awww, a raccoon! (3/24/2012)

Posted on by
Reply

I know you’re not going to say that, but your child will! Besides the quirky events on the fairgrounds and the Mythbusters show, this is perhaps a quieter, more regular way to spend Saturday morning with your child. These classes take place at the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary. An age-appropriate book, an ‘investigative stroll’ and finally a crafts project all related to the topic. This Saturday, you and your little one (age 3-5) will learn about the cute little raccoons that inhabit our parks, streets and backyards.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! If you’re planning to go, you should sign up as soon as possible this afternoon (course code 56377). If you haven’t used the somewhat cumbersome sign -up system, well, good luck. (The first time is complicated, but after that it quite easy to do online.) As of this writing, spots were still available.

The picture is Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 2 by Darkone used under the CC-BY-SA license and found on the Wikimedia Commons.