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THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO DO! The events below are taken from our current print edition and we know your family will find something you're sure to enjoy!
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Wednesday | February 1
Art n Facts Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Ct., Buffalo, 6pm to 7pm, $20 (discount for Museum members). Let the Museum’s collection of Niagara Frontier artifacts inspire your creativity. Make a Valentine based on images and icons of days goneby. Visit www.bechs.org for details or call 873-9644.
StoryTime Elma Public Library, 1860 Bowen Rd., Elma, 6:30pm, FREE. This special time for story-lovers in kindergarten to third grade is all about “Puppy Love.” Hear stories about dogs, play doggy games, and make a canine craft. Registration is required. Visit the library or call 652-2719.
Saturday | February 4
Frosty Fun Festival Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, 10am to 2pm, $5 per person (Buffalo Museum of Science members save 10%). Celebrate winter in WNY with or without snow! Weather permitting, take a snowshoe hike or sculpt an animal in snow. Learn how to track animals and how animals adapt to the season. Inside the cabin, make wintry crafts, enjoy hot beverages and snacks. Preregistration is encouraged. Call 896-5200 ext. 338 or visit www.sciencebuff.org.
Parent Member Training Workshop Early Childhood Center (People, Inc.), 3131 Sheridan Dr. (Northtown Plaza), Amherst, 9:30am to 2pm. This New York State Education Department training prepares Parent Members on the Committees on Preschool and School Age Special Education by helping them understand the special education process and their role. Presented by the Parent Network of WNY and registration is required. Call 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org.
Open Art Studio Park School, 4625 Harlem Rd. (Kimball Hall), Snyder, 9am to 11am, FREE. Students in grades 5 through 12 will learn sculpting, ceramics and other art techniques from Park’s art instructor, Dave O’Malley. These sessions continue Feb. 11 and 18. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 839-1242. Visit www.theparkschool.org.
Winter Wood Carving Class Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., N. Tonawanda, 9am to Noon for beginners and 1pm to 4pm for intermediate/advanced students. Woodcarving could be a lost American art form, but the experts at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum are determined to continue this important tradition. Learn the basics of woodcarving from a master carver in four sessions (Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25). The sessions are open to adults or children age 12 and older; mornings are reserved for people with no or limited experience in woodcarving. Registration is required; $90 per person includes a tool kit and materials. In the afternoon, intermediate and advanced students may hone their skills and learn new techniques. All classes are in a series and may not be taken individually. Class size is limited. Registration and prepayment required. Call 693-1885. See details at www.carrouselmuseum.org.
Sunday | February 5
African American Storytelling Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Ct., Buffalo, 2pm, FREE with regular Museum admission. Noted storyteller Sharon Holley tells traditional tales in honor of Black History Month. Details at www.bechs.org or call 873-9644.
Monday | February 6
Toddler Book Club National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 10:30am (repeats at 11:30am and 12:30pm), FREE with Museum admission. Young booklovers will enjoy these charming readings of classic children’s stories. This month’s theme is “Love is in the air.” The series repeats every Monday in February. Visit www.museumofplay.org or call 585-263-2700 for more information.
Family Play Group Williamsville Public Library, 5571 Main St., Williamsville, 10:30am, FREE. Sometimes it’s fun to just play… no structure, no rules, just giggles and games. Call 632-6176 for information.
Wednesday | February 8
Miss Nancy’s Preschool Story Hour Central Library, 1 Lafayette Sq., Buffalo, 10:30am, FREE. For 2 to 5 year olds with their favorite adult, this weekly (through March 14) story time also includes crafts, songs and games. Follow the happy noise to the West Room on the first floor. Groups of 6 or more, please register by calling 858-7192. See www.buffalolib.org for more activities for kids at Central Library and neighborhood branches, too.
Family Play Time Audubon Public Library, 350 John James Audubon Pkwy., Amherst, 10:30am, FREE. Toddlers with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver will have fun with stories and imaginative toys and games. Call 689-4922 for details.
Thursday | February 9
After School Escape Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 4:30pm, FREE. This one-hour program features a different outdoor activity for kids from kindergarten to grade 5, Feb. 9, 16 and 23. No need to register. Visit www.dec.ny.gov/education for details or call 683-5959.
Saturday | February 11
Do It Yourself Valentine’s Day Craft Central Library, 1 Lafayette Sq., Buffalo, 1pm to 2pm, FREE. Great for children and families. Stop by the Children’s area and make Valentine cards and crafts. All materials will be provided. Registration is not required; more info is online at www.buffalolib.org or call 858-8900.
Flower Crafts With Seeds and Nuts Audubon Public Library, 350 John James Audubon Pkwy., Amherst, 1pm, FREE. Members of the Smallwood Garden Club help 6 to 12 year olds create flowers from objects found in nature, just in time for Valentine’s Day giving. Call 689-4922 to register.
Sunday | February 12
Free Family Film Series Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo, 2pm (doors open at 1pm), FREE. This month’s feature, “The Never Ending Story,” is an imaginative adventure and is a good reminder that everyone needs a hero and a friend. Tickets are available one week prior at any Wegmans location in Erie or Niagara County. See the rest of the film series schedule at www.sheas.org or
call 847-1410.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. President’s Day Winter Carnival Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Crt., Buffalo, 1pm to 4pm, Museum admission plus $5 for special activities. There’s plenty of winter fun, inside and out, including Museum tours. Learn more at www.bechs.org or call 873-9644 for details.
Monday | February 13
Little Tykes Snowshoe Stroll Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, 10am to 2pm, $6 for an adult with a child, $3 for an additional child with the same adult (Buffalo Museum of Science members save 10%). Our littlest hikers love wearing bear-claw youth snowshoes and exploring Tifft’s urban nature trails. This session is best for kids 3 to 5 years old with an adult. This event is weather permitting and registration is required. Call 896-5200 ext. 338. See www.sciencebuff.org for other events and activities.
Tuesday | February 14
Lunch Bunch Storytime Clearfield Branch Library, 770 Hopkins Rd., Williamsville, 11:30am, FREE. For kids 3 to 5 years old with a parent or caregiver, pack a lunch and come ready to enjoy stories and toys. Call for registration information and details, 688-4955.
Wednesday | February 15
Functional Behavior Assessment Parent Network of WNY, 1000 Main St. Buffalo, 6pm to 8pm. Does a child’s behavior create problems in the classroom? Functional Behavior Assessments are part of the special education process that examines specific student behaviors and what that form of communication means. Participants will learn about the process, behavior plans and goals that can be built into a children’s individualized plan. Registration is required. Call 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org.
Thursday | February 16
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Activity Audubon Public Library, 350 John James Audubon Pkwy., Amherst, 4pm, FREE. This After School Special, inspired by Greg of wimpy kid fame, features reading, games and crafts. Call 689-4922 to register.
Understanding Special Education workshop Mullen Elementary School, 130 Syracuse St., Tonawanda, 7pm to 9pm. Participants will learn advocacy skills, the steps in the special education process, and what to expect at meetings of the Committee on Special Education. Registration required. Call 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org.
Saturday | February 18
WinterFest Burchfield Nature and Art Center, 2001 Union Rd., West Seneca,10am to 7pm, FREE admission. Enjoy all the fun of winter. Take a horse-drawn carriage through the park that inspired Charles Burchfield’s beautiful watercolor paintings. See woodcarvers and ice sculptors and make your own creation in a Snowman building contest. Shop for handmade specialties from local vendors, artists, and craftspeople. Visit www.burchfieldnac.org or call 677-4843 for details.
LEGO Club Riverside Library, 820 Tonawanda St., Buffalo, 1pm to 3pm, FREE. Calling Lego-loving kids from 6 to 12 years old, have fun building and creating your own structures. Registration is required. Call 875-0562.
Tuesday | February 21
Warm Up with Sunshine Bear Clearfield Branch Library, 770 Hopkins Rd., Williamsville, 1pm, FREE. Kids 6 and older will love reading Care Bear stories and playing silly games. Register by calling 688-4955.
Thursday | February 23
Outdoor Adventure Club: Winter Adaptation Walk Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 10am, $4 per person for snowshoe rental (half-price for Friends of Reinstein members). Search for animals who have adapted to cold winter temps. Registration required. Call 683-5959 or visit www.dec.ny.gov education for information.
Friday | February 24
CSI: The Experience Final Friday Date Night If you feel your child is a little too young for CSI: The Experience, come to the Buffalo Museum of Science’s Final Friday Date Night when the museum is open until 9pm. BMS is offering a drop-off program from 7pm to 8:30 for kids aged 4-10 so parents can enjoy the exhibit. Adults are required to purchace admission to CSI: The Experience and general admission is required for children participating in the drop-off program. Due to limited availability, pre-registration is encouraged at 896-5200 x338. More details at www.sciencebuff.org.
Saturday | February 25
Learn to Snowshoe Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 10:30am, $4 per person for snowshoe rental (half-price for Friends of Reinstein members). Kids from 5 to 8 years old will learn how to use snowshoes on this guided walk. Registration required. Call 683-5959.
Journey to Mars: Science Saturday Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester, FREE with Museum admission. Hands-on experiments and lively demonstrations led by scientists teach valuable lessons while having fun. Learn the science behind rockets and how building flying model rockets is a cool hobby. Visit www.rmsc.org for details.
Tuesday | February 28
Evening Snowshoe Walk Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 6pm, $4 per person for snowshoe rental (half-price for Friends of Reinstein members). Enjoy the crisp, cold beauty of a winter’s night on this guided walk. It’s a fun family night. Call 683-5959 to register.
Ongoing Events:
Be My Valentine!
Saturday, February 4 is a Zooper Saturday at the Buffalo Zoological Gardens, 300 Parkside Ave. in Buffalo. From 11am to 3pm, the Zoo is hosting a Family Valentine’s Day celebration. Visitors will make their own Valentine cards and other craft projects. Animal demonstrations and enrichments activities remind us why we love our Zoo and the animals that live there. Activities are free with Zoo admission.
Behold the flightless love birds: penguins! The Aquarium of Niagara presents Penguin Romance: Love on the Rocks on Thursday, February 9 from 6pm to 8pm (doors open at 6:45pm). An adult-only event, experts will discuss penguin courtship habits, how to identify different types of penguins, and penguin relationships, which are just are complex and exciting as human relationships. Seating is limited and admission is $15 per couple or $10 per person. Call 285-3575 to register.
Queen of Hearts Tea Party at Tops Cooking School, Saturday, February 11, 10-11:30am (Amherst & West Seneca locations), for little chefs ages 3-6, with a parent, is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. You’ll be treated like a queen, (or princess), complete with mini teacups and tea sandwiches. Wear your party dress if you’d like! The menu includes Hearts of Flutter Sandwiches, Cheshire Cat Fruit Smiles, White Rabbit Veggie Nibbles w/ Homemade Dip, Queen of Hearts Cherry Tarts, Pretend Tea. $13 per child accompanied by one adult; additional adult $5 on space available basis. Pre-registration is recommended 5 days in advance. Call 716-517-3006.
Of course, when it comes to family fun, nothing says “I love you” like a special day together, sharing stories, and making something special. The North Tonawanda Public Library, 505 Meadow Dr., is hosting Valentine’s Day Craft Day on Saturday, February 11 from 10am to 4pm. Kids are invited in with their parents to make a sweetheart animal. There’s no cost and no registration required: just come in and make a craft and a memory.
Night Lights Returns to Botanical Gardens
The stately elegance of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a popular destination for families
year round. Whether you’re coming for a “make it, take it” class, or to explore the Children’s Garden, or just to wander around under the historic Lord and Burnham designed glass dome, there’s always something new to see. Starting February 1, you’ll see the Gardens in a whole new light when “NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens” opens for its second year.
NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens is a colorful light show that completely transforms the Gardens into something even more spectacular. Elaborate lighting designs inspired by nature accentuate the beauty of the plant collection and play off the glass domes and water features throughout the Gardens. Some lightscapes are also interactive and are accompanied by sound, too. Brilliantly theatrical while still true to the Gardens’ natural beauty, NIGHT LIGHTS is a dramatic study in color, shadows, and illumination.
New this year is a sculpture installation by Buffalo artist Zach Boehler. These works will add dimension and interest against the stunning botanical backdrop.
Local musicians will also perform: Lazlo Hollyfeld on Feb. 3; John & Mary on Feb. 10; and the Gahu Drum Ensemble on Feb. 17, each beginning at 8pm.
NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens runs Wednesday through Saturday nights until Feb. 18, from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 6pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3; Botanical Gardens members receive a discount.
For more information, call 827-1584 or visit
www.buffalogardens.com.
February Break Week Means Family Fun February 20 - 24
Whether you’re cuddled up inside or exploring some winter fun, there’s plenty of fun activities during mid-February. Here are a few suggestions:
At the Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. in Buffalo, everyone is just Wild About Winter Discovery Camp, Tuesday through Thursday, February 21-23, from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Young naturalists (ages 5 to 8) will explore nature in winter and what animals do during this season. Discovery Camp is $100 per day camper (Buffalo Museum of Science members save 10%) and includes a daily snack. Campers should bring a lunch each day in a reusable container. There’s an additional fee for late pick up, too. Registration is required with payment by February 14. Call 896-5200 ext. 201 or visit www.sciencebuff.org to learn about other programs, too.
It’s “Around Town” at the Explore & More Children’s Museum, 300 Gleed Ave. in East Aurora. Monday through Thursday, from 11am to 3pm, there’s an new idea to discover through hands-on activities for the entire family. Monday is the day to Eat Locally with a focus on bread. Visitors will form and bake their own roll and experiment with toppings and dippings to make every bun unique. Wednesday is Construction Fun day when an architect and construction worker visit to talk about their work and the special tools they use in their work. Firefighters and police stop by in uniform, too. Thursday is the day for healthy people and pets. Keeping active, eating good foods, and visiting the doctor and dentist (and vet!) keep everyone in good shape. Visitors will learn about Taking Care of Our Pets when a veterinarian and a trained therapy dog come to visit. Learn more about Explore & More’s exhibits and programs by visiting www.exploreandmore.org or call 655-3131.
Discovery Camp at the Buffalo Museum of Science examines Nanotechnology, Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm. Developed for curious minds from 5 to 12 years old, this camp explores the microscopic world of individual atoms and molecules to build computers, create dirt
repellent cloth, and shock-resistant armor. It’s not just science fiction! The cost is $190 per child (Members save 10%) and registration is required by February 10. Visit www.sciencebuff.org or call Betsy at 896-5200 ext. 345.
