From storytimes to live music and more, What’s Up Weekly lays out all of the family-fun events happening during the week in the Greater Austin-area.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Baby Bloomers – 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The sun shines brightly for inspiration as little ones ages 0-3 and their families explore the color yellow. Participants will create sun catchers, splash around with rubber duckies, practice their ABCs, build with lemonade dough, and create their very own bumble bees. Kristin Henn of Move Your Tale will entertain guests with interactive, creative movement-inspired storytelling. Cost: Members $2.50 each / Non-Members $4.50 each. All people attending, regardless of age, must purchase a ticket. Purchase a ticket online as limited walk-up tickets will be available. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
Artificial Intelligence Open House (RSVP) – 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) will be holding a public open house as part of their annual research conference. The public is invited to come and see a small sample of the latest work in Artificial Intelligence, including robotics, game-playing programs, and much more. FREE but RSVP is requested here. Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Story Time in the Garden: Dinosaurs in the Ferns – 10 a.m. Hear a story about dinosaur survival amid the cycads and mariposa plants in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, search for ancient gar swimming in the pond where the Ornithomimus sculpture listens for predators, sing dinosaur songs, and play dinosaur match up. FREE with Garden admission ($1-$3; kids under 3 are FREE). Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Signing Storytime (Round Rock) – 10:00 a.m. Join the Baby Signing Time revolution. This class is geared toward children 0-5 years and their parents. Amy from the Signing Connection will lead this storytime that incorporates classic children’s books to help you learn basic American Sign Language signs. FREE! Kaleidoscope Toys, 110 N IH 35, Ste 375, Round Rock.
Mr. Will’s Music Class for Kids (Bee Cave) – 10:00 a.m. Mr. Will is back in action with his weekly kid’s music class. Arrive early to get a seat. FREE! Whole Foods Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave.
Storytime with Dr. Candra – 11:00 a.m. Dr. Candra will captivate your children with stories, songs, dances, and games. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Ste D-480, Austin.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 3:30 p.m. Bawk! It’s an elephant! It’s an umbrella! No, it’s a … chicken?! Join Literature LIVE! to see how the chickens in this coop make room for a giant new friend in a less-than-traditional puppet show production of Austin author Keith Graves’ wonderful book Chicken Big. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Spicewood Springs Branch, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin.
Night Crafters (18+) – 6-7:30 p.m. Are you a knitter? Do you wish you were a knitter? Then this program is for you. Expert crafters will teach you how to cast-on, knit, and perl. Knitting needles (size 7) and beautiful yarn will be provided. Feel free to bring your own if you want. Adults only, please. FREE! APL – Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St, Austin.
Daddy and Me Evening Storytime -7:00 p.m. Young ones and their favorite guys are invited to this special storytime. Dads, grandpas, other extraordinary men and their kids will read, sing, craft, and laugh—all while developing important literacy skills and having fun. Children of all ages are welcome. FREE! APL – Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Rd, Austin.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Storytime and Crafts – 9:30 a.m. Kids ages 2-5 will hear a new story each week. After the book, they’ll do crafts related to the story. Parental supervision is requested. FREE! Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
Free Admission to Laguna Gloria – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE! Read about Heidi’s experience at Laguna Gloria here. The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St, Austin.
Snowy, Snowy Storytime -10:30 a.m. Yearn for wonderful wintry weather with a storytime celebrating the beautiful, blanketing allure of fresh snow. Share the classic The Snowy Day and other stories and make paper snowflakes to take home. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Music with Mr. Will – 11:30 a.m. Rock out with local children’s singer, “Mr. Will” Dupuy. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy Suite D-480, Austin.
Crafternoon – 1:30 p.m. (Homeschool Edition) and at 4:00 p.m. Drop by the library and make a craft while you search for books, movies, and music. There will be paper crafts, easy sewing, and more fun projects for the whole family. The library provides the supplies; you provide the creativity. FREE! APL – Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St, Austin.
Frozen Sing Along – 4:00 p.m. Watch and sing along with Frozen. Popcorn will be served. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Discovery! Make a Snowglobe – 4:30 p.m. The Discovery hands on program explores all sorts of different topics, including science, literature, technology, and more. This week, kids in 3rd grade through middle school will create their own little snow globes. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Pajama Storytime – 6:30 p.m. Feel free to wear pajamas to this family evening storytime featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Children of all ages welcome. Seating is limited at all programs. Please arrive a few minutes early to gain entrance. FREE! APL – Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr, Austin.
Pajama Storytime – 6:30 p.m. Kids of all ages, get comfy in your favorite pajamas, grab your sleepy toy, and come for the best bedtime stories ever. Milk and snacks provided. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Kids Yoga (RSVP) – 9:00 a.m. Little Turtle Yoga will host a 30-minute children’s yoga class for ages 3-5. FREE but registration is required here. Northwest Rec Center, 2913 Northland Dr, Austin.
Whole Foods Kids Club – 9:00 a.m. Join Tina for a great story and crafts for the kids. FREE! Whole Foods Arbor Trails, 4301 W William Cannon, Austin.
Whole Foods Storytime – 9:30 a.m. Enjoy a story reading, an activity, and a snack. All ages are welcome and parents can participate, too. FREE! Whole Foods Mezzanine, 525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Itty Bitty Playtime & Yoga – 10:00 a.m. Itty Bitty Playtime & Yoga is a playful, educational, and relaxing time for babies and toddlers up to 18 months. Learn new ways to connect with your with your baby through movement, stretching and song. Complimentary juice and coffee served. FREE! Millie & Mox, 5145 North FM 620, Ste B110, Austin.
Teddy Bear Clinic (Round Rock) – 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Children are invited to help their stuffed animals get a check-up at a Teddy Bear Clinic featuring Scott & White healthcare professionals. All ages are welcome. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Puppet Show Storytime – 10:30 a.m. BookPeople’s practically perfect and positively preposterous puppeteers will perform a fabulous rendition of No Tooth, No Quarter. Don’t be late for this super silly and wonderful performance. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Story Time with CJ the Explorer – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy the play zone before and after the reading. FREE! All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
Community Night – 4-8:00 p.m. At the Thinkery, science and families play side by side. Every Wednesday the Museum stays open late for families to discover new ideas and learn together. Cost: Admission is by donation only, with a suggested $1 donation. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
INSIGHTS: Jesus Moroles – 6-8:00 p.m. Artist Jesús Moroles, who worked extensively with sculptor Luis Jiménez and assisted him in the making of the vibrant, 24-foot long polychrome fiberglass artwork Sodbuster, San Isidro, will detail his experiences and share insight into Jiménez’s process and the time they spent together. FREE but space is limited. Please RSVP: volunteer@umlaufsculpture.org. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd, Austin.
Krispy Kreme Family Night – 6-8:00 p.m. Kids can decorate one FREE doughnut each, plus enjoy crafts, balloons, paper hats, coloring sheets and more. Krispy Kreme, 701 E Stassney Ln and 12586 Research Blvd, Austin.
Texas Radio Live – 6-8:00 p.m. Texas Radio Live brings you the very best Texas music with performances from Texas musicians. This week, hear The Blue Bonnets and Johnny Goudie perform. FREE, but donations to support the KDRP Radio Mission are appreciated. Read about Catherine’s experience here. Guero’s Oak Garden, 1412 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Free Admission to The Blanton – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FREE! Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E MLK Jr Blvd, Austin.
Hola, Hola! – 10:30 a.m. Ann Benson, expert in bilingual education, will teach you how to effectively use books as a tool to teach your child Spanish. Each parent will learn to read a Spanish book to their child and take it home for Spanish reinforcement. For parents and their children ages 0-5. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
CPC Thursday Noonday Concert – Noon. Take a 30-minute lunchtime break to hear a FREE concert by the Texas State Trombone Choir. Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E 8th St, Austin.
Music with Mr. Will (Cedar Park) – 12:15 p.m. Mr. Will is starting a new weekly residency at Sharkey’s every Thursday. This will be great for all of the NW Austin-area kiddos who aren’t able to travel down south every week for his other shows. FREE! Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, 11066 Pecan Park Blvd, Ste D415, Cedar Park.
Thinkery at the Library – 3:30-5:30 p.m. Youth can create electric circuits, learn simple coding, and participate in fun physics activities. Recommended for ages 8-14. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Explorers Club (Cedar Park) – 3:30 p.m. Each Thursday, kids in grades K-5 meet to explore a set of rotating programs. This week, it’s Lego Lab. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Family Movie Matinee: How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 4:00 p.m. When Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Rated PG. FREE! APL – Cepeda Branch, 651 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Nuevo Tango by Austin Piazzolla Quintet. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Bluegrass by The Lost Pines. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 7:00 p.m. Bawk! It’s an elephant! It’s an umbrella! No, it’s a … chicken?! Join Literature LIVE! to see how the chickens in this coop make room for a giant new friend in a less-than-traditional puppet show production of Austin author Keith Graves’ wonderful book Chicken Big. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile (18+) (RSVP) – 8:00 p.m. Present Company will absurdly bend the space-time continuum and invite you to ponder the definition of creativity, the surreal nature of existence, and the meaning of life (no big deal), while challenging you to not wet your pants from sheer joy and laughter, during their performance of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile. They will also attempt to cross-pollinate, diversify, and strengthen the bonds within Austin’s arts communities by featuring live music and an exhibit of local painters, curated for the event. FREE, with a suggested $25 donation to support the artists that make this possible. Museum of Human Achievement, address will be revealed after you RSVP here.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Yoga Story Time (RSVP) – 9:30 a.m. Join in a Story Time Yoga adventure where participants will stretch, read, and breathe. All ages are welcome. RSVP requested here. FREE! The Little Yoga House, 1211 Parkway, Austin.
Fun Fridays – 10:00 a.m. Sing! Dance! Play! Fun Fridays are a fun musical and entertainment hour featuring local Austin musicians. Complimentary refreshments will be served. FREE! Millie & Mox, 5145 North FM 620, Ste B110, Austin.
Story Time with Princess CJ – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy the play zone before and after the reading. FREE! All Things Kids @The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
MezcladaGirl Opening Reception – 6:00 p.m. MezcladaGirl is a photography exhibit generated in Latinitas’ 12 afterschool programs and teen workshops focused on empowering Latina girls and teens using media and technology. MezcladaGirl represents the diversity of what it is to be Latina in Austin. Enjoy hot chocolate, snacks, and insight into the lens of Latinas and other girls of color in Austin. Childcare provided. FREE! Women’s Community Center of Central Texas, 1704 San Antonio St, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. All-female acoustic trio The Carper Family Band play Americana and Bluegrass tunes. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. French Jazz by Rendez Vous. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Head for the Hill’s: Free Music Fridays – 7-9:00 p.m. Hill’s Cafe is excited to announce the return of a live, local music series to the historic Hill’s stage. This week, Mayeux & Broussard perform. A special backyard menu will be available for purchase. Family-friendly and FREE! Hill’s Cafe, 4700 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile (18+) (RSVP) – 8:00 p.m. Present Company will absurdly bend the space-time continuum and invite you to ponder the definition of creativity, the surreal nature of existence, and the meaning of life (no big deal), while challenging you to not wet your pants from sheer joy and laughter, during their performance of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile. They will also attempt to cross-pollinate, diversify, and strengthen the bonds within Austin’s arts communities by featuring live music and an exhibit of local painters, curated for the event. FREE, with a suggested $25 donation to support the artists that make this possible. Museum of Human Achievement, address will be revealed after you RSVP here.
In her life before kids, Emily held jobs as a zookeeper, a middle school teacher, and a tour bus driver in the wilds of Montana–not one of which prepared her for the adventures of motherhood. Now she’s living the good life in Austin with her husband, two sons and a Great Dane. When she’s not off gallivanting with her boys, you might find Emily baking up a mean batch of cupcakes, recalling obscure 80s song lyrics, or dreaming of peace and quiet.
