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Birmingham Events Calendar: July 21st – July 28th

Posted on by Angie

Summer Reading Finales are starting at some of the local libraries! Finish up those reading logs!

The Birmingham Barons are at Regions field for a lengthy home stand and the Barnes and Noble Summit will be hosting a LEGO Architecture Event.

ET and The Sound of Music will be playing at the Historic Alabama Theatre, if you’ve never seen this Birmingham Treasure, take the kids down and enjoy a matinee!

 

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

Sunday July 21st

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
3pm

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Monday July 22nd:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Hot movie popcorn, drinks, & fun for the family.
3pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
7:05pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
The Day the Crayons Quit Storytime, featuring art activities and fun with NOOK!
11am

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 23rd:

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30, 1:30 and 6:30

The Puppet Guy – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Rock through the ages and rock to the beat in this toe-tapping musical revue featuring puppets, original songs, and of course, dinosaurs.
10:30am

Tuesday Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse are thrown into a feature film, with the twosome trying to help an orphan girl who is being berated and exploited by a greedy guardian. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Farmer Jason – Homewood Library
This award-winning Children’s music artist will have everyone dancing!
10:30am

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

Family Tours with Art – Birmingham Museum of Art
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

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

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Wednesday July 24th:

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

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30 & 1:30

Ronald McDonald – Springville Road LIbrary
Come see one of the world’s most famous clowns perform a super cool magic show!
10am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
LeapFrog makes practicing reading skills so much fun with Scout, a lovable talking and singing puppy! Children ages 6 months to 3 years are invited to Read with Me Scout, a fun interactive Storytime where Scout will share his favorite camping story.
11am

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Thursday July 25th:

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

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30, & 1:30

Farm Stands on the Railroad – Railroad Park
Are you looking for a good place to buy fresh produce during the week?  If so, stop by Railroad Park.  Farm House of Homewood and Grow Alabama will be on-site every Thursday evening!
4pm – 7:30pm

Thursday Morning Movie & Popcorn -Emmet O’ Neal Library
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world. (Rated PG)
10:30am

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Friday July 26th:

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

LEGO Architecture Event – Barnes and Noble Summit
We’re joining with Lego to host the first-ever event for Lego Architecture Studio. Adults and teenagers will have the opportunity to discuss design inspiration, learn about scale, modules and repetition in architecture, and build from what they learn.
7pm

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Saturday July 27th:

Community and Culture Day – McWane Science Center
Join us in celebrating the diverse cultures and communities from across the Birmingham area. Enjoy performances by local artist, dancers, storytellers, musicians and much more!
Museum hours: 10am-6pm. Event begins at 2pm.

ET – Alabama Theatre
A meek and alienated little boy finds a stranded extraterrestrial. He has to find the courage to defy the authorities to help the alien return to its home planet. 115 min.

The movie will begin at 2 pm, with doors opening one hour before showtime. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will perform before each movie. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door and through Ticketmaster.

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

Keep it Simple Silly – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Join us for this monthly mini program. Each month we will explore a different nature theme or focus on a particular animal. Perfect for families. Program is approximately 45 minutes.
1pm

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! Celebrate with Pinwheels! // Get in the summer spirit and make your own pinwheel!
11am

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
Pete the Cat has four buttons — no — four groovy buttons! Come see why Pete is the coolest cat around — he never loses his cool!
11am

Thames and Kosmos Rubber Band Cars – Barnes and Noble Summit
Kids ages 7 and up, buckle your seatbelts! We’re going on a learning journey with Thames and Kosmos, creators of fabulous science kits. Learn fun physics facts while building and playing with rubber-band driven race cars.
12pm

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Sunday July 28th:

The Sound of Music – Alabama Theatre
A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower. 174 min.

The movie will begin at 2 pm, with doors opening one hour before showtime. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will perform before each movie. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door and through Ticketmaster.

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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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Connect to Win: McWane Science Center Membership

Posted on by Angie

We had so much giving away passes a couple of weeks ago, we decided we would up the ante and give away something even bigger! a 1 Year Family Membership to the McWane Science Center!

But you’re going to have to work for it and put your social media outlets to good use!

We will draw one winner from the comments on this post. After you complete each requirement, you will need to come back and leave a comment here letting us know you did it.

To Enter:

1. Leave a Comment On This Post letting us know how much you want it. (1 Per Person, per day)

2. Once we post this on Facebook, share that post with your Facebook friends by clicking the share button on that Facebook Thread. (Come back here and let us know you did, 1 Per person)

3. Tweet this:  “BirminghamMommy is giving away a McWane Membership, connect to win!  http://ow.ly/n87xE ”  (Come back here and let us know that you did, 1 per person)

4. Follow us on Pinterest (Come back here and let us know you did, 1 per person)

5. Follow us on Instagram (Come back here and let us know you did, 1 per person)

Giveaway will run through Wednesday July, 24th at 6pm. Winner will be notified via email and announced on our facebook page.

 

 

Pinspired Side Dish: Mexican Sour Cream Rice

Posted on by Angie
From A Taste of Home Cooking

We love Mexican food and eat it way too much. Usually we have tacos or burritos, but never really a side dish. Which is exactly what Pinterest was invented… to provide yummy side dishes! This was delicious, and you can adjust the hotness level as needed. As prepared, it has a nice kick but wasn’t too much.

AND, as a bonus, try the recipe that’s included with the recipe for BBQ Quesadillas. It looks divine!

From A Taste of Home Cooking:

Mexican Sour Cream Rice Slightly modified from …and a cookie for dessert

1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth 1 cup sour cream
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
salt and ground black pepper to taste
In a large pot, bring the rice and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.
In the pot with the cooked rice, mix the sour cream, green chile peppers, 1 cup pepper Jack cheese, corn, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, and top with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

Follow us on Pinterest for more of our fun finds!

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 14th – July 21st

Posted on by Angie

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month today at Homewood Public Library with Sundeas. Looks like the libraries will be full of fun all week and Barnes and Noble Summit has lots of special events planned from storytimes to LEGOs.

Member Alliance Day is back on Saturday, giving you the chance to check out some of the best that Birmingham has to offer.

If you’re looking for Summer Movies, you still have time! See what’s playing here.

Have a great week!!

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

Sunday July 14th

National Ice Cream SunDay – Homewood Public Library
Summer Readers come celebrate National Ice Cream Day with us! It’s never too late to sign up and join the fun!
2pm – 5pm

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Monday July 15th:

We Dig Construction – Hoover Public Library
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
10:30am

Legosauraus Max _ Hoover Public Library
Take your Lego skills to the max and design paleo creations.
Grades 1-3. Registration required
6:30pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 16th:

Tuesday Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
The story of the legendary outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor is portrayed with woodland creatures. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Animal Tales: Reptile Scales and Tails
If it’s cold-blooded and scaly, you can learn about it and see it live with Animal Tales.
10:30am

The Big Dig Family Carnivnal Night – Avondale Library
For all readers who have read many stories this summer and earned a summer reading certificate, your summer of digging is over! Join us for a night of games, prizes, and lots of fun. 24-hour advance registration required.
6pm

Maynard Magic and Music – Homewood Public Library
Maynard is the funny bird— Steve is the great magician!
10:30am

A Wonderful World of Tales – Hoover Public Library
Folktales and songs from around the world are creatively presented in this multi-cultural performance. A mischievous Leprechaun and a lively woodland fairy are the guides on this fun-filled and educational journey.
10:30, 1:30 and 6:30

Family Tours with Bart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

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

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Wednesday July 17th:

We Dig Magic – Larry Moore
Oh the places you’ll go, the stories you’ll hear, and the magic you’ll see when Larry Moore is near. Join Magic Man Larry for a program filled with stories and tricks that are bound to leave you wanting Moore.
10am

We Dig Hoola Hoopla – Avondale Library
Did you know that hula hoops make the digging-est dance partners? Be a member of the hula hooping craze as you listen to some tunes and learn how to move and groove with your hoop. The library is a circle of fun when the hoops are here. 24-hour advance registration required.
2pm

A Wonderful World of Tales – Hoover Public Library
Folktales and songs from around the world are creatively presented in this multi-cultural performance. A mischievous Leprechaun and a lively woodland fairy are the guides on this fun-filled and educational journey.
10:30 and 1:30

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Pete the Cat has four buttons — no — four groovy buttons! Come see why Pete is the coolest cat around — he never loses his cool!
11am

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Thursday July 18th:

A Wonderful World of Tales – Hoover Public Library
Folktales and songs from around the world are creatively presented in this multi-cultural performance. A mischievous Leprechaun and a lively woodland fairy are the guides on this fun-filled and educational journey.
10:30 and 1:30

Thursday Morning Movie & Popcorn -Emmet O’ Neal Library
Parents and grandparents disagree in a most hilarious fashion on how to raise the next generation of children. (Rated PG)
10:30am

Magician Russell Davis Brings The Magic of Reading – Vestavia Hills Library
Magician Russell Davis brings The Magic of Reading! Mr. Davis is a new performer for us but comes highly recommended from libraries in South Alabama.

As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at Liberty Park for a 3:00 pm show.

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
7:05pm

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Friday July 19th:

Water and Melon Day – Homewood Public Library
It was so much fun, we have to do it again! The Homewood Fire Department will supply the water and we will serve up watermelon! Dress for water play; towels, flip flops and sunscreen highly recommended.
10:30am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
7:05pm

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Saturday July 20th:

International Festival – Birmingham Zoo
Join the Zoo in commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. Come see the progression the Zoo has made throughout the years and take in an experience that is rich in culture with a focus on historical moments at the Zoo and all over the world
highlighting Japan, India and South Africa. Enjoy special entertainment, taste unique food, experience a Wildlife Show, see an animal greeting and more! All these fun-filled activities are included with the price of admission.
9am – 7pm

Member Alliance Day 2013
As a way of saying thanks to current members and supporters of arts and culture in the Birmingham region, area organizations have planned a special members-only day of free admission and family-friendly activities. One valid membership card and/or postcard invitation admits 2 adults and up to 4 children into absolutely any and every participating venue all day long. Plus, enjoy special Member Day activities and performances throughout the day. For more information and a complete list of events. Visit our post here.

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! Celebrate with Pinwheels! // Get in the summer spirit and make your own pinwheel!
11am

Bart’s Book – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy.

This month, Bart has selected Kerry Madden-Lunsford and Lucy Madden-Lunsford’s Nothing Fancy about Kathryn and Charlie.
11am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
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
Pete the Cat has four buttons — no — four groovy buttons! Come see why Pete is the coolest cat around — he never loses his cool!
11am

Thames and Kosmos Rubber Band Cars – Barnes and Noble Summit
Kids ages 7 and up, buckle your seatbelts! We’re going on a learning journey with Thames and Kosmos, creators of fabulous science kits. Learn fun physics facts while building and playing with rubber-band driven race cars.
12pm

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Sunday July 21st:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Member Alliance Day 2013

Posted on by Angie

As a way of saying thanks to current members and supporters of arts and culture in the Birmingham region, area organizations have planned a special members-only day of free admission and family-friendly activities. One valid membership card and/or postcard invitation admits 2 adults and up to 4 children into absolutely any and every participating venue all day long. Plus, enjoy special Member Day activities and performances throughout the day,

With 18 wonderfully varied groups of performers, museums, and historical landmarks participating in Member Day, it’s one of the best ways to experience the incredible talents and unforgettable experiences offered by our region’s arts and cultural organizations—all in one day!

Want to experience all benefits of Member Day but not already a member/season ticket holder of one of the participating organizations? It’s NOT too late! Become a member/season ticket holder of a participating Member Day 2013 cultural organization on or before July 20 and get Member Day postcard which will serve as your access ticket on this special day.

MEMBER DAY SCHEDULE – JULY 20, 2013
Special Performances and Activities will be available at the following attractions:

10:00 am – 5:00 pm  Birmingham History Center special exhibition, 1963
LOCATION: Birmingham Museum of Art

10:00  – 10:45 am  Birmingham Museum of Art activity
LOCATION: Railroad Park

10:30 – 11:15 am  Alabama Ballet performance
LOCATION: Birmingham History Center

11:00 – 11:40 am  Red Mountain Theatre Company performs selections from 42nd Street and Beauty and the Beast Jr.
LOCATION: McWane Science Center

11:30 am – 12:15 pm ETC improv troupe presents Vulcan’s Underpants
LOCATION: Vulcan Park & Museum

12:00 – 12:45 pm  Embellishments Handbell Ensemble performance
LOCATION: Birmingham Botanical Gardens

12:30 – 1:15 pm  Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival’s Children’s Short Film Festival
LOCATION: Birmingham Public Library

1:00 – 1:45 pm  McWane Science Center presents RACE: Are We So Different? activity
LOCATION: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

1:30 – 2:15 pm  Birmingham Children’s Theatre performance
LOCATION: Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

2:00 – 2:45 pm  Srollworks performance
LOCATION: Southern Museum of Flight

2:30 – 3:15 pm  Birmingham Botanical Gardens activity
LOCATION: Barbers Vintage Motorsports Museum

 

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS (click link for membership info)

Alabama Ballet • Alabama Sports Hall of Fame • Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum • Birmingham Children’s Theatre • Birmingham Botanical Garden • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • Birmingham History Center • Birmingham Museum of Art • Birmingham Public Library • Cultural Alliance/Birmingham365.org • Embellishments Handbell Ensemble • Extemporaneous Theatre Company • McWane Science Center • Railroad Park • Red Mountain Theatre Company • Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Central Alabama • Sidewalk Film Festival • Southern Museum of Flight • Vulcan Park And Museum

 

Event of the Week: McWane Rocks!

Posted on by Angie

Happy Birthday McWane!!

Join the McWane Science Center for a ROCKin’ 15th birthday party that you won’t want to miss. Travis Taylor, star of Nat Geo’s hit show, Rocket City Rednecks, will be on hand bringing his unique style of southern charm and technology with live demonstrations on the plaza that are guaranteed to excite and engage. From “rock” climbing walls, “rock” ‘n’ roll music and “rock” candy this party will definitely “rock” your world.

BIRTHDAY SPECIALS
On July 13th, in honor of McWane’s 15th birthday, we are offering:
$15 OFF ALL McWane Science Center memberships
$15 for 1 Adventure Hall/IMAX Combo Ticket

Fifteen years ago the dream of a community-wide initiative to build a better Birmingham for our children came to fruition.  On July 11th, 1998, McWane Center opened its doors for the very first time.

Today, that dream is a reality far exceeding the wildest of those expectations.  McWane Science Center, Birmingham’s world-class interactive museum, is actively engaged in our mission to change lives through science and wonder every day.

Thousands of families and school children venture through the doors of McWane Science Center every week.  Each is met with a unique, unforgettable opportunity to see, to hear, to touch and to learn the world of science in an exciting and fun way.

Today, McWane Science Center features four floors of hands-on, learning experiences including exhibits, aquariums, live science shows, camps, classes, teacher-training workshops and outreaches to both schools and community libraries throughout the state. It also includes Alabama’s largest movie screen in the John W. Woods IMAX® Dome Theater.

And, over the last fifteen years, McWane Science Center has used our community’s greatest assets to create new, exciting permanent exhibits  for kids of all ages including Just Mice Size, Newsroom Studio, Challenger Learning Center, Dinosaurs of Alabama, Sea Monsters of Alabama, Itty Bitty Magic City, NatureScope, Science On A Sphere and the Shark & Ray Touch Tank.

We are excited to expand upon these with the opening of the Birmingham Children’s Museum At McWane Science Center, which will soon begin construction on Level 2.

In celebration of 15 amazing years, the museum invites you to join the celebration.  All summer long, visitors can explore their favorite exhibits, experience this summer’s traveling exhibit, RACE: Are We So Different?, and watch blockbuster movies in the IMAX® Dome Theater including Star Trek Into Darkness.

Parenting with a PhD: The Bucket List

Posted on by Angie

By: Kristen Berthiaume

The Bucket List: It’s Not Just for Summer Anymore!

If you’re one if those “on the ball” kinda moms, you’ve probably made a Summer Bucket List (add link to Bham Mommy article – maybe it’s from last year?) with your kids. The list is most likely bright and colorful, and posted prominently in your playroom or kitchen. Knowing some of you, it’s probably laminated. And surely you’re well on your way to completing the list before school starts back. I have a partial list saved on my phone. I think I saved it…

But, eventually, I’d like to get my act together and make the list. Why? Because there are several advantages to making (and following through – that part’s sort of key) such a list. First, if you and the kids are spending a lot of time together during the summer, the Bucket List motivates you all to do something other than watch TV in the A/C. Second, it provides you a go-to for fun projects and opportunities to get out of the house when you’re stir crazy. Third, the list gives you a chance to find out what your child hopes to get out of his summer experience and to manage any expectations that are unreasonable. (Note to my children: I don’t care how many times you suggest it, we’re not traveling to see where they “filmed” Madagascar this summer). Finally, the list provides the whole family with a chance to reflect back on the experiences, hopefully with accompanying pictures.

In thinking about the pros to creating a Summer Bucket List, it occurred to me that there are lots of other experiences with your kids that could be enhanced by the Bucket List (I know, I know – more work for you but you can always skip laminating). For example, consider your child’s birthday party. Certain people I know have gone to great lengths to plan a super fun party for their daughter only to have said daughter announce after the fact that it wasn’t fun. At all. I don’t relish the idea of handing over party planning to a six-year-old any more than you do (fairy princess/bouncy house/superhero/sleepover/gymnastics/ice cream party, anyone?) but the Bucket List could provide a quick, contained way to get your child’s feedback on how to make an experience fun for her.

Start by brainstorming all the possible elements that you or your child might want to include – write down everything, no matter how improbable. Now, narrow down the suggestions to what’s doable and affordable. Find out what’s really essential for your child to have in order for her to enjoy the event (e.g., her friend Mollie; yellow balloons; strawberry cupcakes, etc.) and what should definitely be avoided (e.g., the kid in her class who spits; too-loud music; clowns). Keep the final list short: 4-5 items, max. Post it, refer to it, and reflect back after the fact. Did you do everything you’d planned to? Did the event go as your child hoped it would? What could have made it better so you’ll know for next time?

Consider Bucket Listing for trips, play dates, Christmas break, etc. The more you practice, the quicker you’ll get at using these lists to identify important elements and manage your child’s expectations. Be sure to use this technique only as long as it helps you feel organized and reduces chaos and stress. Stop if it becomes more of a hassle.

Want to expand this idea even further? Keep a dry erase board on the car for on-the-go Mini Bucket Lists. Heading to Target (a.k.a. Meltdown Central)? Jot down your expectations for your child’s behavior like: “You’ll stay where I can see you” and “We won’t buy any toys” – and his expectations like: “We’ll play ‘I Spy’ while we walk around” and “I’ll get a pack of gum from the check-out isle.” (Of course, if he can’t get gum from the check out isle, correct that assumption and don’t write it on the list). Check in during the trip to see how well everyone’s following the list and make adjustments – to the list or to your behavior – if needed. Whether you ever actually print out that list or not – Happy Summer!

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her six-year-old and newborn daughters and three-year-old son.

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 7th – July 14th

Posted on by Angie

National Ice Cream Day and a McWane Birthday Party are just a couple of things to look forward to this week!

It’s hard to believe that one of our Favorite Birmingham Attractions is turning 15! The Mcwane Science Center will have s day full of fin and specials this Saturday, make sure to check it out!

The Birmingham Barons kick off the week at home before being away until the 18th.

If you haven’t caught a Free or Discounted Movie, there’s still time. If you’re looking for some fun in the water, check out what we have to say about the Cullman Aquatic Center. It’s the best $10 you’ll spend this summer.

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

Sunday July 7th

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
VS. Mississippi Braves
3:00pm

Fourth of July at the Birmingham Zoo
In honor of this holiday, all active and retired military and their dependents can take advantage of free admission to the Zoo with proof of military I.D. from Thursday, July 4th to Sunday, July 7th.

Independence Day at The Outlet Shops of Grand River
The Outlet Shops of Grand River is celebrating Independence Day with family fun all weekend! All ages can come enjoy Amazing Animals on The Plaza at Grand River, featuring a Petting Zoo, barbecue and incredible shopping deals at participating stores. HK Exotic Petting Zoo is free to the public, with the option to purchase feeding bags for $1.
Noon – 6pm

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Monday July 8th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
VS. Mississippi Braves
7:05pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 9th:

Tuesday Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse are thrown into a feature film, with the twosome trying to help an orphan girl who is being berated and exploited by a greedy guardian. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Bubblemania: Comedy with a Drip – Hoover Public Library
An eye-popping, belly-laughing, fun-filled extravaganza in The Library Theatre! This unique program is loaded with visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music and the untamed, often unbelievable qualities and beauty of spherical liquids.
10:30, 1:30 and 6:30

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

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

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Wednesday July 10th:

Bubblemania: Comedy with a Drip – Hoover Public Library
An eye-popping, belly-laughing, fun-filled extravaganza in The Library Theatre! This unique program is loaded with visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music and the untamed, often unbelievable qualities and beauty of spherical liquids.
10:30 and 1:30

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Pete the Cat goes to the beach with his mother and brother, Bob. What do you think Pete likes to do at the beach? Join us and find out!
11am

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Thursday July 11th:

Bubblemania: Comedy with a Drip – Hoover Public Library
An eye-popping, belly-laughing, fun-filled extravaganza in The Library Theatre! This unique program is loaded with visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music and the untamed, often unbelievable qualities and beauty of spherical liquids.
10:30 and 1:30

Thursday Morning Movie & Popcorn -Emmet O’ Neal Library
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world. (Rated PG)
10:30am

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Friday July 12th:

Puppet Power – Springville Road Library
We’re going to be designing and creating our own puppets and putting on a puppet show. Call 205-226-4085 to register.
4pm

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Saturday July 13th:

McWane Rocks! Birthday Party – McWane Science Center
Join us for a ROCKin’ 15th birthday party that you won’t want to miss. Travis Taylor, star of Nat Geo’s hit show, Rocket City Rednecks, will be on hand bringing his unique style of southern charm and technology with live demonstrations on the plaza that are guaranteed to excite and engage. From “rock” climbing walls, “rock” ‘n’ roll music and “rock” candy this party will definitely “rock” your world.

BIRTHDAY SPECIALS
On July 13th, in honor of McWane’s 15th birthday, we are offering:
$15 OFF ALL McWane Science Center memberships
$15 for 1 Adventure Hall/IMAX Combo Ticket
10am – 4pm

Jurassic Library – Hoover Public Library
Welcome to a world where dinosaurs roam the aisles and rule the shelves with crafts, games and food sure to please paleontologists of all ages.

This event takes place in the Kid Zone program room.
10:30am

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! Celebrate with Pinwheels! // Get in the summer spirit and make your own pinwheel!
11am

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.

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Sunday July 14th:

National Ice Cream SunDay – Homewood Public Library
Summer Readers come celebrate National Ice Cream Day with us! It’s never too late to sign up and join the fun!
2pm – 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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

The Best $10 You'll Spend All Summer!

Posted on by Angie

You know when we come across something we love, we have to share! We’re so excited about this discovery, we’re about to pop!

Recently a friend and BirminghamMommy Fan tipped us off to the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center. She had heard about it from a friend and suggested we go one day. I got online to do a little digging to see what might be worth the quick drive north and was intrigued by the idea of a “Mini Water Park” at a very low cost.

Here’s the deal.

For $10 per person, you can purchase a day pass that will give you access to the entire facility. (We were told this does not include childcare for non members.)

They have what they call a “Water Playground” that has 2 bigger slides, a lazy river, splash area and a small slide under a big “dump bucket” that goes off every few minutes.

They also have a large outdoor pool with diving boards if you’re into just swimming.

The layout is simple and if your kids are a bit older, can roam in the area and still be in your sights. We counted 6 lifeguards on the “playground” area with another, 2 or 3 on the outdoor pool.

The facility is nice and clean, and offers a concession stand with reasonably priced concessions like hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers and fries. A hot dog, fries and large coke cost $5.00. (There is a sign that says outside food and drink are not allowed.)

They open at 10am and have several large umbrellas for being able to set up in the shade. But you have to get there early to score those. They seem to have plenty of seating and it never got crowded enough to be uncomfortable. They also have a couple of cabanas available for rent for $125 for the day for up to 5 people. Our only issue with the cabanas was, they are located on the far side of the large outdoor pool so seeing your little ones play in the “playground” from there wouldn’t be possible.

So that’s it, our summer find! Maybe we’ll see you there because we’re definitely going to go back!

 

Don't Forget Your Fireworks Safety!

Posted on by Angie

One of the best parts of any Independence Day Celebration is the Fireworks. But when you have a house full of tiny humans you have to be extra careful that everyone stays safe!

Many people tend to think that sparklers are an easy, “kid friendly” kind of firework, but did you know that sparklers burn at more than 1000 degrees? According to ConsumerAffairs.com, “Firecrackers, rockets and sparklers account for most of the injuries we see during that period,” says Bo Kennedy, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and associate director of the Emergency Department at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Sparklers actually cause the highest number of injuries in children under 5. When a sparkler is burning, what it’s releasing is essentially molten metal. That can cause some very serious burns.”

63% of fireworks injuries involve burns and about 45% of fireworks injuries occur with children under the age of 14 – I think it’s pretty safe to say that children and fireworks don’t mix!

So as you celebrate this 4th of July, remember these tips so your family can have a safe and fun holiday!

  • Leave it to the professionals. Many cities around town will shoot fireworks off for the public to see. Our most popular display in Birmingham is Thunder on the Mountain that kicks off at 9pm from Vulcan.
  • If you choose to set fireworks off in your yard make sure:  1. that it’s legal in your area and 2. that everyone stays away from the action. You don’t have to do anything too fancy to impress the kids, putting them up on the porch or deck while you stand in the yard with a sparkler will make them happy. Remember, many fireworks injuries that happen in the United States are on kids who were watching an adult handling the igniting of the fireworks. Keeping a safe distance is imperative!
  • Keep a bucket of water or a water hose near by in case of an emergency or to extinguish any mishaps that might occur.
  • Never try to relight malfunctioned fireworks. Make sure they are properly extinguished and thrown away.
  • Getting crafty with fireworks is not a good idea, never mess around with homemade fireworks. I’m guessing this is something that even Martha Stewart would advise against.
  • Never aim fireworks at another person and make sure that all of your spectators are out of range before lighting your fireworks.

Are fireworks a staple at your Independence Day party? What tips do you have for keeping everyone safe?

For more information on fireworks safety check out this fact sheet from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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