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Eco-Wheels 2014

Posted on by Angie

Alabama’s only green and alternative vehicle show, Eco-Wheels, returns to Railroad Park this Sunday, May 4th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The 2nd annual family-friendly event is presented by My Green Birmingham, and will feature the latest trends in alternative transportation including hybrids, natural gas and electric vehicles, bicycles, Segways and more.

Eco-Wheels is a free event, offering something fun for every age. Browse a wide variety of more than a dozen featured cars and other alternative forms of transportation, visit with local industry experts and learn about everything from the basics of greener transportation to the growing range of related benefits. Enjoy music, food and the beautiful natural surroundings of Railroad Park.

Eco-Wheels will also have plenty of fun for children including a Design Your Car coloring contest from Toyota and a free lunch from My Green Birmingham for the first 50 children to attend (12 and under). Vouchers for the lunch, which includes a hot dog, chips and drink from George’s Boxcar Cafe, can be found at the My Green Birmingham display table.

Other Eco-Wheels features include:

  • Enter to win $500 from Toyota towards a road trip, plus a Prius V loan for one week
  • Register to win a custom made “Cruiser” bike from Redemptive Cycles
  • See electric cars built by UAB and Parker High School students for the Electrathon competition
  • Music from a DJ live on the plaza from 12-3 p.m.
  • Food, beer and wine available from George’s Boxcar Cafe
  • Other giveaways, activities and more!

Participating Eco-Wheel sponsors include Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toyota, Serra Chevrolet, Fiat of Birmingham, Green Garage, Commute Smart, Alabama Partners for Clean Air, Segway, Redemptive Cycles, Alabama Power (bringing Tesla), and Phoenix Energy.


The 2014 Eco-Wheels will be located on the 17th Street Plaza of Railroad Park. For more information, check out Eco-Wheels details at My Green Birmingham. (http://mygreenbirmingham.com/event/eco-wheels-a-green-vehicle-expo/)

Date: May 4, 2014
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Website: http://mygreenbirmingham.com/

 

52 New Things 2014, Week 17

Posted on by Angie

Tornadoes and bad weather didn’t stop us from trying something new this week. In fact for Kristen, it was her new thing..

Angie-
I’m a huge fan of the Publix BOGO items, it usually determines what goes in my kids lunch that week. They recently had cheez-its on special so I bought our standard scrabble cheez-it and decided to try the Cheex-It Grooves, Sharp White Cheddar. They were meh. Didn’t knock my socks off but they were ok. Think I’ll stick with the regular or the Zings.

Kristen-
My new thing for the week is handling the tornado situation with no co-pilot (my husband was out of town). I’m continually amazed by you single parents – that mess was H-A-R-D!

Shirley-
Michael Angelo’s Frozen Chicken Piccata. I’m extremely picky when it comes to frozen dinners, not usually a fan. Trust me on this one, it will pass even the toughest food critic/in-law test 🙂 It’s really that good.

What have you done that was new?

Event of the Week: Raising Boys and Girls, presented by St. Vincents Health Systems

Posted on by Angie

 

Last week we mentioned the first of two sessions of a Parenting Conference being hosted by St. Vincent’s Health Systems

The second session to this amazing Parenting Conference is Raising Boys and Girls and will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. This discussion focuses on deepening parents’ understanding of the hearts, minds and spirits of both boys and girls. Because this seminar will be broken down into specific ages – kids (covering birth-elementary) and teens (covering adolescence) – parents will be able to gain effective strategies for all child rearing stages.

“There is no doubt about it – parenting is a tough job,” said Madonna Nichols, Administrative Director of Women’s Service, “St. Vincent’s is offering this class free to the community because we want as many Birmingham area moms and dads as possible to have the chance to be encouraged, plus glean tips, strategies and confidence to parent intentionally, and parent well.”

Make sure to register for both parts of this conference. You can get more information on the first session, Intentional Parenting by visiting our post here.

The conference is FREE to attend and Parents can register by contacting Dial-A-Nurse at 205.939.7878.

To learn more about the conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/635858209821732/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/271940676299950/ .

Popular authors from DayStar Counseling Ministries will be in Birmingham to share practical parenting strategies. To view a preview of Raising Boys and Girls click here.

Birmingham Events Calendar: April 27th – May 4th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

It looks like it’s going to be a rough weather week here in Birmingham but there are still plenty of events to keep you busy between the storms.

The Birmingham Barons have a long home stretch, plenty of storytimes, and lots of fun happening at Railroad Park!

Sunday April 27th:

Bargain Carousel – Former JC Penny Century Plaza
 join the JLB for the 23rd Bargain Carousel, our “1000-family garage sale”!  Through member donations, Bargain Carousel provides shoppers with quality items, many of life’s necessities, at very affordable prices.  In return, proceeds are returned directly to the Birmingham community through the Community Projects the JLB supports.
• Free admission
• All merchandise is ½ off
1pm – 5pm

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Monday April 28th:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
This Egg-stra special Tot Time is sure to put a spring in your step! Geared for 2 to 4 years olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
9:30am or 11am

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Tuesday April 29th:

Family Tours, Musical Moments – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Dance through the Museum searching for Musical Moment!

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday April 30th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile Baybears
7:05pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble
Dog wants to play – now! Who can he find who will play? Will you?
11am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday May 1st:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile Baybears
7:05pm

Storytime Live! Hoover Public Library
Stories, songs, poetry, puppetry and more for ages 3 and up. Groups must register.
10:30am

PJ Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Wear your pajamas to this storytime! Kids of all ages can enjoy stories, finger plays, songs, and a bedtime snack.
6:30pm

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

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Friday May 2nd

Special Event, Hands-On Learning, Children’s Event – Barnes and Noble
Join us for Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar 45th Anniversary Celebration. Reading and color-in crown activity. Hands-On Learning coloring fun for ages 4 and up. Space is limited. Ask any bookseller how to sign up.
10am

Relax By the Tracks – Railroad Park
Relax by the Tracks is back for a 3rd season at Railroad Park! Join us for free music from Jasper Coal and Terry Ohms. Food and drinks are available for puchase at George’s Boxcar Cafe. Leave work behind… Relax by the Tracks!

Barons home games begin at 7:05pm after every Relax by the Tracks event.
5pm – 7pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile Baybears
7:05pm

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Saturday May 3rd:

CahabaQue BBQ Cook Off – Cahaba Brewing Company
Sample great tasting barbeque, enjoy live entertainment, Cahaba Brewing’s finest local craft beer. and vote for your favorite cook team to win the coveted “People’s Choice Award”. This event is for the whole family, and there will be a bounce house for children to enjoy.

  • $20 per person over 21. Ticket includes taste samples from each team, 1 pint of Cahaba Brewing Co.’s craft beer and entertainment all afternoon.
  • $15 per person under 21. Ticket includes taste samples from each team and entertainment all afternoon.
  • $5 per person 12 & under Ticket includes unlimited Bounce House access, taste samples from each team and entertainment all afternoon
  • FREE for children 6 & under

12pm – 5pm

Trussville City Fest – Trussville Mall
Trussville City Fest (formerly Dog Daze) is a fun, family event in historic downtown Trussville. This annual event is going on 34 years now. This year’s festival will be a one day event.

Admission is $5 per person, children 2 and under are FREE. Once inside the gate, all activities are FREE! This is a great price for a fun-filled, family friendly day.

Don’t miss the fun!
11am – 9pm ending with a Fireworks show

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile Baybears
6:30pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we read the magical story Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly written by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser.
11am

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Sunday May 4th:

ECO – Wheels – Railroad Park
Eco-Wheels, Alabama’s only green and alternative vehicle show, returns to Birmingham this spring! This year’s event will feature the latest trends in alternative transportation including, hybrids, natural gas and electric vehicles, as well as bicycles.

The 2nd annual Eco-Wheels will host several local industry experts and dealers to share insight about everything from the basics of greener transportation, to the most current news about the alternative market’s growing technology trends.

Eco-Wheels is a family-friendly event and FREE to the public! In addition to providing a full showcase of greener, alternative transportation options, visitors can enjoy free children’s activities and live music, as well as a range of food, beer & wine available for purchase from George’s Boxcar Cafe.
10am – 5pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile Baybears
3pm


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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, Titans of the Ice Age

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things 2014, Week 16

Posted on by Angie

Quick and easy new things for this week!

Angie –
I kept getting emails from Starbucks about the new Vanilla Macchiato they’re offering now. I occasionally will stray from my usual and get a Caramel Macchiato so I decided to give this one a try, iced. It was delish! Not delish enough to make me forgot my Iced White Mocha, but yummy enough to add into the rotation when I want to mix things up a bit!

Kristen-
My new thing was taking 3 kids to Ikea by myself. Don’t.

What did you do that was new this week?

 

Multiplicity: Managing Multiples

Posted on by Angie

When you first find out that you’re having multiples and the shock wears off, one of the first things that crosses your mind is logistics. Sure you had plenty of room in your car for an extra carseat, an extra bedroom in your home, a single stroller that you used with your first child that you were hoping to get another use out of…. And once you work out the logistics and buy the mini van you swore you’d never…  you get into a groove and start realizing that there are some small things that make a BIG difference when it comes to managing your multiples.

First up: The right stroller. I don’t care how much you work out, carrying two carseats all the time does not make good sense. It may give you the biceps you’ve always wanted but let’s remember logistics. What I loved was my double stroller frame that held both infant car seats

Next: A system for telling your multiples apart. This is especially useful for when you look back on baby pictures of your identical girls 5 years from now. Knowing that Baby A was always dressed in pink, and Baby B was always in purple will help you sound like you know what you’re talking about when they ask who is who in their baby pictures. Trust me on this, no matter how much you think you can tell them apart because you’re their mother – in 5 years the pictures will confuse you. Stick a bow in their hair.

2 of everything: You may think that a good strategy is to double your inventory of toys and games by buying each one something different, but I’m here to tell you, No. It does not work that way. As much as it hurts to buy 2+ of everything, in the long run it will save you hours of tantrums, fighting and a trip back to the store to buy another one anyway.

A Handy Notepad: Whether it’s left on your kitchen counter or stuck to your fridge, having a notepad easily accessible is a must. It’s great for keeping track of feedings when they’re young, adding essentials for your next grocery trip or even leaving your spouse a threatening loving note regarding the dishes in the sink or the piles of laundry you waded through on the way to your note pad.

Coffee (or caffienation of any kind): For serious. Stock pile your K-Cups, or since you’ve probably outgrown your house with the birth of your multiples.. strongly consider adding “Near a Coffee Shop” to your list of non-negotiables when you start your home search.

Communication: Instead of just yelling ‘HELP!’ at your bewildered and probably more rested than you husband, be specific in what you need him to do at that time. Research shows that a Mom’s stress level is directly related to how much perceived help she’s getting from her partner.

Are you a Mom of Multiples? What items did you find helpful in managing your life with twins or more?

Special Event: Intentional Parenting Conference

Posted on by Angie

Don’t miss out on this special event being hosted by St. Vincent’s Health Systems!

Moms and dads will tell you: Parenting is one of the most rewarding – and most challenging – responsibilities. Yet often, the journey can produce more questions than answers.

For example, how do you parent with intentionality? How do you discover and encourage your child’s unique identity? What are the stages of development and how can you parent through these stages with purpose and hope instead of fear and guilt?

Take heart: the answers are not as out of reach as some parents may think. Popular authors from DayStar Counseling Ministries are coming to Birmingham to share practical parenting strategies at a conference hosted by St. Vincent’s Health System’s on Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3, at the Bruno Conference Center.

The conference is open to the public and is provided free to the community.

There will be two seminar topics covering “Intentional Parenting” and “Raising Boys and Girls,” the titles and topics of two award-winning books written by Melissa Trevathan, Sissy Goff and David Thomas, St. Vincent’s guest conference speakers.

“There is no doubt about it – parenting is a tough job,” said Madonna Nichols, Administrative Director of Women’s Service, “St. Vincent’s is offering this class free to the community because we want as many Birmingham area moms and dads as possible to have the chance to be encouraged, plus glean tips, strategies and confidence to parent intentionally, and parent well.”

The first of 2 seminars, “Intentional Parenting,” begins at 6:30 p.m. on May 2 and ends at 8:30 p.m. This session will offer participants insight on how today’s parents are changing.

Parents can register by contacting Dial-A-Nurse at 205.939.7878.

To learn more about the conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/635858209821732/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/271940676299950/ .

To view a preview of Raising Boys and Girls click here.

 

Road Trip Giveaway! The Georgia Aquarium

Posted on by Angie

Last month BirminghamMommy.com was invited over to Atlanta for a Parent Blogger Expo and we made lots of new friends from many of the Atlanta Area Attractions, including The Georgia Aquarium!

After the Expo the Georgia Aquarium reached out to us about working together on a giveaway and letting our readers know what’s happening at the Aquarium, so the fine folks there brought us over for a visit and my family had an amazing time exploring the underwater world!

 

The Georgia Aquarium is a fantastic place to get up close to some amazing sea life. From Beluga Whales, to Sea Turtles and Sharks. There is plenty there for everyone.

Most of the exhibits include at least one massive viewing window full of gorgeous fish.  Benches are scattered around these areas, and allow you to sit and get lost in the peacefulness of it all. Our girls loved being able to stand up against the big windows and watch the stingrays and whales swim by.

 

 

The touch tanks were easily one of the most popular features there and with our girls. They were excited when we ran across our first one almost immediately, and we had a hard time reminding them that there was a lot more to see.

The playful otters were another hit with my kids because they were so active, rolling around and jumping in and out of the water.

We explored the ins and outs of the Aquarium which is divided into 5 exhibits, Tropical Diver, Georgia Explorer, Ocean Voyager, River Scout, and Coldwater Quest in about 3 hours before heading over to the AT&T Dolphin Tales show.

We were advised to arrive 30 minutes prior to our showtime, I would suggest about 45 minutes if you want good seats. Avoid the front rows unless you want to be in the splash zone!

My kids were mesmerized by the dolphins and the tale of the good dolphins versus the evil sea monsters, and were literally sitting on the edge of their seats the entire time. I think one now wants to “Ride Dolphins when she grows up.” The show lasts about 30 minutes and is worth the extra time and expense.

As you think about what you’ll be doing this summer and start working on your Summer Bucket List make sure to add The Georgia Aquarium. It’s a quick trip over to Atlanta and is perfect for a day trip or an overnighter.

To get your kids ready and excited about your visit to the aquarium, visit the Georgia Aquarium web site and print some free coloring sheets, s word search and crossword puzzles. This will give them something to do in the car on the way over.

Now to the Giveaway!! The Georgia Aquarium is offering up 4 Total Tickets to one BirminghamMommy.com reader. The ticket includes: Access to all of the Aquariums public exhibits, shows and galleries. You’ll get admission to 6 permanent galleries, the AT&T Dolphin Tales Show, the animated Deepo’s undersea 3D wondershow theater and admission to the changing exhibits, when available.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment here telling us what part of the Aquarium you would most like to see:

2. Copy and paste this on your Facebook Page:

“@BirminghamMommy is giving away Tickets to the Georgia Aquarium http://ow.ly/vZsnp ”

Come back here and let us know you did.

3. Head over to the Georgia Aquarium Facebook page and show them a little love for the giveaway.

That’s 3 chances to win, per person!! Giveaway will end Thursday, April 24th at Noon!

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: April 20th – April 27th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!


Spring time in Birmingham means festivals, and many of these revolve around one of our favorite things.. Food! The Gumbo Gala and the Food Truck Round up are just 2 of the many happening here this weekend.

Junior League of Birmingham will be hosting their annual Bargain Carousel, if you love yard sales, you’ll love this! The Barons are home the first half of the week and the McWane Science Center is hosting a Weatherfest!

Have a great week!

Sunday April 20th:

Happy Easter!

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Tennessee
5pm

Family Fun and Fitness Day – Orr Park
Organized activities feature games for children, bikes, health related vendors and more.
2-4 pm.

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Monday April 21st:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Tennessee
11:30am

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join us for a cool movie and some hot popcorn!
3:30pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
This Egg-stra special Tot Time is sure to put a spring in your step! Geared for 2 to 4 years olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
9:30am or 11am

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Tuesday April 22nd:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Tennessee
7:05pm

Party with Mario and Friends – Hoover Public Library
Come play Mario Party and Mario Kart on the Wii and make Mario related crafts and eat fun snacks. Registration begins April 1. Grades 4-8
6:30pm

Family Tours, Musical Moments – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Dance through the Museum searching for Musical Moment!

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday April 23rd:

LEGO Club – Springville Road Library
Come build with us! Legos provided.
4pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Tennessee
11am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday April 24th:

Junior League of Birmingham Bargain Bash – Former JC Penny, Century Plaza Mall
join the Junior League of Birmingham for exclusive access to the merchandise that will be sold at Bargain Carousel.  Enjoy fabulous food and treats, tasty beverages, incredible auction items, terrific shopping at bargain prices, at Bargain Bash 2014! There is something for everyone, so make sure you don’t miss out on the best party of the year!
Bargain Bash Tickets: Will be on sale online at www.bargaincarousel.net
• All tickets include early access to the best merchandise, silent auction and live auction, food, drinks and entertainment.
• All merchandise is double the sticker price.
• $40 ticket: Entrance at 6 p.m.
• $30 ticket: Entrance at 7 p.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Ants and aardvarks and rainbows, oh my! Join us for It’s an Orange Aardvark! Storytime. Fun activities follow.
11am

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

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Friday April 25th:

Gardendale Magnolia Festival – Gardendale Civic Center
Celebrate spring at the award-winning Gardendale Magnolia Festival with over 150 arts/crafts/business vendors including home and garden special section, large midway carnival, classic car show, 3 stages of live entertainment, pooch parade, Little Miss GMF pageant, bungy jump, fishing tank, silent auction, free art classes for kids, and cookie eating contest. You’ll find restaurant quality food as well as festival favorites at our food court including Greek gyros, fried catfish, fried oreos, boiled peanuts, BBQ ribs/smoked sausage, teriyaki chicken on a stick, roasted corn, kettle corn, Italian ice, etc.

Don’t miss this total family experience!
5pm – 9pm

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Saturday April 26th:

Episcopal Place Gumbo Gala – Sloss Furnaces
40 gumbo cook teams will cook and serve gumbo and compete for 14 events in Professional and Back Yard Cooks categories. Up to 2,500 people are expected to enjoy the Gulf Coast vibe around the spray pond at Sloss Furnaces as they sample gumbo, listen to live music by Rollin’ in the Hay, browse through arts, crafts and food booths, and enjoy family and children’s entertainment. Gumbo judges will include local and regional chefs and food experts.
$12 in advance
$15 at the gate
kids 12 and under FREE
11am – 2pm

Third Annual Food Truck Round Up – Colonial Brookwood Village
Appetites from around the area are about to be treated to a food fest like none other, all for the sake of charity. The Third Annual Protective Life Food Truck Roundup, benefitting PreSchool Partners is set to serve up some of Birmingham’s best cuisine in the upper parking lot of Macy’s at Colonial Brookwood Village.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and are available online at www.preschool-partners.org. Admission gets you four tokens redeemable for food at any of the trucks and at beverage stations. Coca-cola products will be served FREE. Additional tokens will be available for purchase; kids 10 and under get in free.
11am – 3pm

Earth Day at the Gardens – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Growing Community Roots will continue The Gardens’ 50th anniversary celebration.

Alabama’s longest continuously-running Earth Day event, Earth Day at The Gardens, is slated for Saturday, April 26. Over 40 earth-friendly exhibitors will have booths displaying family friendly activities and information. Dozens of local and regional organizations focused on issues such as conservation, energy efficiency and clean air will fill the Formal Garden, the lawn in front of the Conservatory, with fun-filled, family-focused activities.
11am – 4pm

Fox 6 Weather Fest – McWane Science Center
Weather enthusiasts of all ages are invited for a unique chance to meet meteorologists from FOX6 and check out high tech weather equipment on the plaza.  PLUS: Tornado Alley will be shown in IMAX at a special price of $5.00 during this event.

Gardendale Magnolia Festival – Gardendale Civic Center
Celebrate spring at the award-winning Gardendale Magnolia Festival with over 150 arts/crafts/business vendors including home and garden special section, large midway carnival, classic car show, 3 stages of live entertainment, pooch parade, Little Miss GMF pageant, bungy jump, fishing tank, silent auction, free art classes for kids, and cookie eating contest. You’ll find restaurant quality food as well as festival favorites at our food court including Greek gyros, fried catfish, fried oreos, boiled peanuts, BBQ ribs/smoked sausage, teriyaki chicken on a stick, roasted corn, kettle corn, Italian ice, etc.

Don’t miss this total family experience!
10am -5pm

Bargain Carousel – Former JC Penny Century Plaza
join the JLB for the 23rd Bargain Carousel, our “1000-family garage sale”!  Through member donations, Bargain Carousel provides shoppers with quality items, many of life’s necessities, at very affordable prices.  In return, proceeds are returned directly to the Birmingham community through the Community Projects the JLB supports.
Tickets: $10 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. and $5 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Tickets will be sold on Friday, April 25 from 3 – 7 p.m. at Entrance 2 of the Century Plaza Mall and at the door on Saturday.
• There will be a limit of 4 tickets per person on Friday.

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart! We will create Woven Wonders!
11am – 1pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Maisy will be visiting for Storytime! In her honor, we will read Maisy Grows a Garden. Bring your camera!
11am

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Sunday April 27th:

Bargain Carousel – Former JC Penny Century Plaza
 join the JLB for the 23rd Bargain Carousel, our “1000-family garage sale”!  Through member donations, Bargain Carousel provides shoppers with quality items, many of life’s necessities, at very affordable prices.  In return, proceeds are returned directly to the Birmingham community through the Community Projects the JLB supports.
• Free admission
• All merchandise is ½ off
1pm – 5pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, Titans of the Ice Age

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things 2014, Week 15

Posted on by Angie

A little caught off guard with the new things this week for some reason!! But here’s what’s new!

Angie-
I suck when it comes to taking care of my skin. What’s worse is now that I’m getting older, I know I need to. But old habits are hard to break. If I can make it simple, it might happen.. So, I’m a fan of these make up remover wipes and I came across a brand at target that I’m currently in love with. It’s these Yes To Cucumbers Face Cleanser Wipes. Their super convenient, smell yummy and are so refreshing. So if you’re lazy like me, pick some up! I think you’ll like them!

Kristen-
My new thing for this week is a New (to me) car! Here’s to no longer squishing three car seats in a single row!

What did you do that was new this week?

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