Birmingham Events Calendar: November 25th – December 2nd

The Holiday Season is in full swing! We’ve added a few events to our list of Santa Happenings and our Giveaways to Giftaway kicked off on Friday. We’ll have giveaways going on for the next week, make sure to check them out!

Lots of Holiday open houses happening this week as well as some Christmas Tree Lightings.

If you’re looking for a way to work off some of those Thanksgiving calories, check out the family Zumba class going on at the Homewood Library.

 

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

Monday November 26th:

Pelham Christmas Tree Lighting – Pelham Civic Complex
The City of Pelham will celebrate the start of the holiday season with our annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The Pelham High School Jazz Ensemble will begin playing at 6:15 pm to entertain guests as they arrive. The program starts at 6:30 pm with the Pelham High School Choir performing the National Anthem. Choirs from Valley Elementary, Valley Intermediate, Riverchase Middle and Pelham High Schools along with the Riverchase Middle School Band and Pelham High School Jazz Ensemble will provide holiday music for everyone to enjoy. The Pelham Fire Department Color Guard and representatives from Boy Scouts of America Troop 404, Pelham, AL will present colors.
6:30pm

Character Kids – Gardendale Public Library
A fun interactive program for kids K5, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Ms. Molly uses character development through games, stories, science, and more.
3:30pm

Toddler TalesNorth Shelby Library
A story program for children and a caregiver. Stories, songs, finger plays and crafts make up a lively program designed especially for short attention spans. Best suited for ages 19 months to 3 years. Must Register
9:30am and 10:30am

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Tuesday November 27th:

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the best part of your week with stories that make you laugh and songs that make you dance! Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For large groups, a call to 332-6619 is nice.
10:30am

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Wednesday November 28th:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Splat Says Thank You! Find out what happens when Splat tries to make his best friend feel better. There will be a craft and we will have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

Family Story Time with Mr MacNorth 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 November 29th:

Family Night Zumbatomic – Homewood Public Library
Dance Off That Turkey during our family friendly Zumbatomic dance class hosted by Miss Christina.
6pm

Hoover Christmas Tree Lighting – Hoover Municipal Building
Help add a little sparkle to the Hoover Municipal Center by attending this year’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Featuring a special performance by the Rocky Ridge Elementary Holiday Choir, the official tree lighting honors will be handled by Rocky Ridge Elementary fifth grader Tripp Wiggins. The evening’s festivities will culminate with a grand entrance of Santa on a fire truck. Pictures with Santa will be provided at no cost. Light refreshments will be served.
5pm

Hoover City Hall is located at 100 Municipal Lane across from the Hoover Public Library.

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Friday November 30th:

Om for the Holidays – Villager Yoga
Our holiday open house will feature jewelry, arts and handmade accessories from local yoga students and teachers.

Plus save on class passes and items throughout the boutique, including:
From 5 – 5:30p, get our new Monthly Unlimited pass for $75 (regular $100) or our Three Month Unlimited pass for $225 (regular $275). You must be in line by 5:30p and it’s limited to one per person.
5pm – 8pm

Pinson Christmas Tree Lighting – Triangle Park
The City is kicking off the Christmas season with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Join us at Triangle Park for hot chocolate, cookies and Christmas music performed by our school choirs. The ceremony will conclude with the Christmas Parade Grand Marshal Lighting the City Chrismas Tree.
7pm

Storytime with NeNe – Whole Foods
NeNe is back and better than ever! Join Whole Foods most Fridays’ for storyday! There will be storyboards, songs and snacks!
10am

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Saturday December 1st:

Holiday Craft Show – Southern Museum of Flight
Santa is flying into town on Saturday, December 1 and will stop off at The Southern Museum of Flight from 9:30 – 4:30 pm during our Holiday Craft Show.  The Craft show will feature homemade crafts for sale such as jewlry, pottery, woodwork, baked goods, embroidery, photography, birdhouses, clothing and more.

Admission is FREE with a canned food donation benefiting The Foundry Rescue Mission and Recovery Center or $5 without a donation.

So come see Santa, Shop and Support The Foundry.  It’s a great way to feel good about the holiday season.

Storytime on the Mountain – Ruffner Mountain
Nature inspires creativity in children by engaging a full range of the senses. Join Ms. Jerri in the Treehouse for a fall themed story and craft.  Each family will receive a copy of the book read thanks to Target.
10am

Jingle Bells, Lots of Elves – Hoover Public Library
Do you have what it takes to be one of Santa’s elves?  We’ll put you through the rigorous training regime of the North Pole’s infamous toymakers.  Call 444-7833, registration going on now.
10:30am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine! Thru December 15th
7am – Noon

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
It’s holiday time, and Llama Llama can’t wait for Christmas. How many more days again? When will it ever get here? It’s Mama Llama to the rescue in the warmhearted, true-to-life holiday drama!
11am

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Sunday December 2nd:

Holiday Open House – Springville Road Library
Join us for an afternoon of holiday crafts and fun for all! Vote for your favorite tablescape and see who wins!
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: The Last Reef, Santa and the Snowman, Rocky Mountain Express

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog
Join Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, and all their friends in the Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™ exhibit! Featuring the people and places of the beloved children’s book and PBS Kids television series, this new interactive exhibit brings Clifford’s home on Birdwell Island to life with playful activities and enchanting environments for early learners to explore.

Winter Wonderland

Snow is in the forecast at McWane Science Center this year with the return of the Winter Wonderland exhbit. This magical holiday experience gives families a chance to learn about the science of the season together as they play in the snow, go ice fishing, and watch toy trains zip around the tracks.

Winter Wonderland offers something for everyone in the family to enjoy together. Inside the snow room, children can make snow angels, build snow castles and more. Children can catch fish through the ice in the ice fishing area.

Guests can even sled down the giant slide between the third and second floors in the museum or try the zip line.

Families also have a chance to see toy trains of every shape and size zipping around the tracks in the Magic of Model Trains area. This year children will be able to become conductors at one of the new stations and also see several new additions to the train sets.

Winter Wonderland Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday  10 AM – 5 PM
Saturday  10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday   12 PM – 6 PM

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.

Giveaways to Giftaway: Snowed in Sleepover at McWane

Thanks to our pals over at Royal Cup, sponsors of the the Winter Wonderland at the McWance Science Center, we have some passes to the Snow In Sleepover up for grabs!

Spend the night playing in the Winter Wonderland exhibit and the train exhibit. This snowy celebration is fun for all ages. Event includes dinner, breakfast, late night snack, Santa vs. the Snowman in IMAX , and all activities.

* Reservations are required, should you win these passes, it is your responsibility to call and reserve your spots.

We have Four 4-packs to giveaway!

To Enter:

1. Leave a Comment here letting us know you want the tickets

2. Head over to the Royal Cup Facebook page and thank them for the tickets. (Come back here and let us know you did)

3. Share this post on your Facebook Page. (Come back here and let us know that you did)

Giveaway will end on Monday, November 26th at 6pm.  We will draw a total of 4 winners and tickets will be mailed. The sleep over will take place at the McWane Science Center on December 14th. Please do not enter if you know you will not be able to attend.

31 Days of Elf on the Shelf Fun

It seems like last year there was an Elf on the Shelf Creativity Explosion, my facebook feed was filled with all of these crazy creative things that my Mommy peers were doing with their Elf, all while mine pretty much just sat on his shelf forgetting to even move most nights. So, if you’re like me, not super creative but would like to step it up a notch, here are 31 things you can do with your Elf that will make you feel like a parenting rock star.

* Please note that we are strongly opposed to Elves making messes that you will have to clean up, these are quick, easy and take very little effort.

1. Zip Line. This does not have to include an obstacle course or anything resembling Mission Impossible. Some fishing line across the room will suffice.

2. “Snowball” fight using marshmallows and various other characters that might be out of their storage boxes for the holidays. Snowmen, Santa, bring out some Smurfs, Barbies and Action Figures if you need to.

3. Build a fort or igloo with big marshmallows and hide your elf there. Have little marshmallows located around as “snowballs” Or just use a Picture frame to hide behind.

4. Have him/her eating a bowl of cereal

5. Sporty Elf. Dress him up and have him rooting for your favorite sports team.

6. Horseback riding. Easily done with American Girl Doll Horses..

7. Play board game with stuffed animal friends or action figures

8. Write an amazing letter of all the wonderful qualities your Elf has witnessed in your child.

9. Use your exercise equipment for an Elf Workout. Run on treadmill, sit on bike..

10.  Make a super hero out of your elf. Give him a cape or cut out a superman logo and pin on him. Have him swinging from a ceiling fan or chandelier.

11. Re-create a scene from one of your child’s favorite movies using your current toys and stuffed loveies. Think Toy Story, Lion King..

12. Elf Planking. It’s all the rage, even the Elves are getting in on the fun!

13. Cruisin’ in the Barbie Car (Dumptruck, racecar…. )

14. Poker Night. Have your Elf sitting playing cards with Barbie or your Action Figures. Throw out some poker chips if you have them

15. If your Elf isn’t much of a gambler have him set up with a game of solitare.

16. Gamer Elf. Let Elf fire up the Wii.

17. Locked Out Elf. Have your Elf positioned outside of one of your windows or glass door looking in. Note: It might be helpful to leave a little trail of cheerios or maybe even take the time to cut out a few tiny elf foot prints and have them leading to the door. Otherwise you might spend all morning looking for him.

18. Playing dress up in Moms Jewelry.

19. Find an extra Toothbrush and have your Elf brushing his teeth sitting on the bathroom counter

20. Put your Elf in the cookie jar and have some half eaten cookies around. (I don’t consider this a mess, just a chance to eat some cookies)

21. Have your Elf make your childs lunch and/or send a note.

22. Emailing Santa from your computer

23. Drive in movie with Barbie or other similar sized toy. Have them in your RC or Barbie car watching your flatscreen

24. Coloring in your Child’s favorite coloring book.

25. A “Bubble” bath in a bathroom sink with mini marshmallows

26. Riding your Christmas Train

27. Texting or Talking on an old cellphone. If you have 2 old/play phones, have another character somewhere else in your house on the other end of the “conversation.”

28.Hiding in a plant

29. Reading a book

30. Use tiny instruments to make your Elf a rock star. Have him performing a concert for his adoring friends.

31. Fishing.

Have a cute idea to share? We would love to hear about it.

 

 

Find Santa Around Birmingham

Santa has already started setting up shop around Birmingham, we know how busy Moms can be so take advantage of this run down to beat the last minute Holiday Rush!

Pictures at the Mall

Colonial Brookwood Village

November 16th – December 24th

Santa’s hours are Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 8 PM
Santa takes a breaksfrom 1:30-2:15 and 5-5:30 daily

Sunday 12pm-6pm
Santa takes a break from 3-3:30pm
Photo packages start at $12.99

Riverchase Galleria

November 9th – December 24th

Free Hugs, Free Smiles, Free Wishes and of course Free HO HO HOs!

Santa has made his way from the North Pole and is ready to greet children of all ages. Holiday photo packages are also available.

Please note: Santa will be taking breaks throughout the day to feed the reindeer and check on toy production at the North Pole.

The Summit Shopping Center
Photos with Santa
November 23 – December 24

Meet Santa between Gus Mayer and Belk and get a professional photo. Nov. 23rd: 9-11am, noon-4pm, 5-9pm; Nov. 24th: 10am – 11am  & noon-4pm; Nov. 25th: 1-5pm; Nov. 28h – Dec. 23rd: Wednesdays – Fridays: 2-7pm, Saturdays: noon-4pm, Sundays: 1-5pm; Dec. 24th: 9am-5pm

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops

Thru December 24th

FREE Crafts:
Monday – Friday from 5:00 – 7:00
Saturday – Sunday from 12:00 – 5:00
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve Craft hours 3:00 – 5:00

FREE Picture made with Santa:
Monday – Friday, Hours of photos from November 11th to December 8th
Monday – Friday 3:00 – 8:00
Saturday 10:00 – 8:00
Sunday 12:00 – 5:00
*Thanksgiving Day photo hours 10:00 – 5:00
*Black Friday (Nov.23) photo hours 10:00 – 8:00

Hours of Photos December 9th – December 24th
Monday – Friday 10:00 – 8:00
Saturday 10:00 – 8:00
Sunday 10:00 – 5:00
Christmas Eve photo hours 10:00 – 5:00

FREE ACTIVITIES include driving remote controlled trucks, racing slot cars, controlling a battery powered train, shooting arcades, and carousel rides.

Santa Saturdays at Marvin’s

Free Photos with Santa – December 1st, 8th,  and 15th and 22nd. 10am – 2pm

Free Pics with Santa at 2nd  & Charles
Saturday 1st, 8th and 15th. 10am – 2pm

Pancakes with Santa at the Birmingham Museum of Art
Join Bart and his friends for a Rockin’ Rockwell Pancake Extravaganza. Local boy scouts join the festivities and serve you and your family pancakes hot off the griddle. Free and open to all, first come first served.

After breakfast, join in the fun with holiday scavenger hunts, crafts, singing, storytelling, and more! Our special guest, SANTA CLAUS, will be around all morning for photos and to hear your holiday gift wishes! Make gingerbread houses at the special Saturday Studio for Families class and enjoy extended hours for Bart’s Art Cart.
8am

Breakfast with Santa

McWane Science Center

Breakfast in Santa’s Workshop
Date:
December 8 & 22
Times: 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Cost: $20 Adults, $15 Kids (Members get $5 OFF)

Bring your little elves to have breakfast in Santa’s Workshop. Make holiday crafts, have breakfast together, explore the Winter Wonderland exhibit and visit with Santa! Be sure to bring your camera!

Reservations are required. Call (205) 714-8414 or click HERE for tickets.

Breakfast with Santa at the Birmingham Zoo
December 8, 15 & 22
8am | 9:15am | 10:30am
Admission: Members – $14 for adults, $9 for children
Non-members – $19 for adults, $15 for children

Make your reservations now for this popular holiday event! Breakfast with Santa takes place in the Zoo’s Kudzoo Cafe and features a delicious breakfast (pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and juice or milk) followed by a visit from Ole Saint Nick himself. Parents may take their own pictures, and each child will receive a special treat. Call 205.879.0409 to make your reservations today.

The Santa Special at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Musuem

November 23 – December 18, 2011

Santa rides the train with you! Start your own family holiday tradition with a Christmas train ride. Tell Santa what you would like for Christmas and bring your camera for photos. Every child will receive a Christmas gift!

Please note: children who have not yet celebrated their second birthday are free, but you must reserve an INFANT ticket for them. Children under the age of two must be seated on your lap.

Click here to reserve your seat!

Know of a Santa Happening we didn’t cover on our list? Let us know!

Birmingham Events Calendar: Thanksgiving Week 2012

It’s Thanksgiving week and the calendar is a little light and different this week. We hope you all have a wonderful week spending time with your family and friends.

The big Winter Wonderland Exhibit opens up at the McWane Science Center on Friday, so if you’re trying to avoid the black Friday crowds this will be a great activity that will keep you far away from the malls!

It’s also Iron Bowl week — War Eagle and Roll Tide!

Thanksgiving Storytime:

Wednesday, November 23rd

Story Feast – Hoover Public Library
We won’t be having our regular Tiny Tot Tales or After Lunch Bunch. Instead, Miss Laura and Miss Katie Jane are hosting one BIG Thanksgiving storytime for all ages!
10:30am

Opening Friday!

McWane Science Center – Winter Wonderland Come inside the museum this holiday season and let your imagination be your guide through the family favorite – Winter Wonderland exhibit. Wonder is in the air as children explore the snow room where or try to catch fish through the ice. Brave winter wonder seekers can even sled down a giant slide between the third and second floors in the museum. Then, build an igloo out of ice blocks. Bring your family to the most magical place around….the Winter Wonderland at McWane Science Center!

While you’re there make sure to check out the Magic of Model Trains, running through the first of January.

Holiday Nibbles: Pumpkin Pie isn't just for Dessert

Photo From Gina's Recipes

It’s a classic Thanksgiving dessert, but you can make a pumpkin pie dip instead.

1 package cream cheese, softened
2 c powdered sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin pie filling
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until smooth, then add the remaining ingredients and beat well.
Cover and chill overnight.
Serve with apple slices and ginger snaps.

Do you have any not so traditional ways to serve Pumpkin Pie? Share with the class!

Savory Nibbles: Slow-cooker Hot Wing Dip

Perfect! Appetizers made in the crock pot leave you free to do other cooking, or GASP! possibly relaxing and socializing.

Throw these things in a crock pot and cook on low for 1 hour:
2 c cooked chicken (use leftovers, rotisserie chicken, or deli chunks)
1 pkg cream cheese
2 c shredded cheddar cheese- medium or sharp
1 c ranch dressing (or less… I used about 1/2 c)

After the 1 hour, serve with celery, tortilla chips, or crackers!

Birmingham Events Calendar: November 10th – November 18th

It’s a BIG week for us here at BirminghamMommy.com! We kicked off the BIG McWane Science Center Annual Membership drive today! $20 off any membership level! It’s a deal you need to take advantage of, especially this close to Christmas!

The long awaited Twilight BD2 Premiere Party and Movie is finally here! We can’t wait to see all of you ticket holders this Thursday night!

Check out the Zoo for Veteran’s Day and get ready to shop this week at The Market, hosted by the Junior League of Birmingham.

Have a great week everyone, we’re certainly looking forward to it!

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

Sunday November 11th

McWane Membership Drive Kicks Off!!
We’ll be at Starbucks in Vestavia City Center from 9am – 11am

Whistle Weekend – McWane Science Center
All aboard for the opening weekend of the Magic of Model Trains exhibit and get a free train whistle with purchase of a Combination Ticket to see the Rocky Mountain Express in IMAX® and see the Magic of Model Trains exhibit in the museum.

Riverchase Galleria Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Show
Come out for a weekend of Santa Clause and Christmas Cheer.  Riverchase Galleria will be having their annual tree lighting and we will be coordinating a Christmas Show inside the mall with vendors for you to visit with – gifts, catering ideas, bakeries, floral arrangements, and home improvements.
Noon

Homestead Hollow, Christmas in the Country
Featuring fine arts, unique, hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days- see wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.

Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride, jump in the moon walk or climb the rock wall. Kids and adults all enjoy our petting zoo. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.

Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items during show dates.
9am – 4pm

Veteran’s Day at the Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo invites families and friends to come out and join in all the fun that the Zoo has to offer this Veterans Day. In honor of this holiday, all active and retired military and their dependents can take advantage of free admission to the Zoo Sunday, November 11th and Monday, November 12th with valid military identification.
FREE for all active and retired military and their dependents.
Valid military identification is required.

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Monday November 12th:

Veteran’s Day!

McWane Membership Drive – Riverchase Galleria
Food Court area near the Starbucks 10am – Noon

Veteran’s Day at the Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo invites families and friends to come out and join in all the fun that the Zoo has to offer this Veterans Day. In honor of this holiday, all active and retired military and their dependents can take advantage of free admission to the Zoo Sunday, November 11th and Monday, November 12th with valid military identification.
FREE for all active and retired military and their dependents.
Valid military identification is required.

Character Kids – Gardendale Public Library
A fun interactive program for kids K5, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Ms. Molly uses character development through games, stories, science, and more.
3:30pm

Toddler TalesNorth Shelby Library
A story program for children and a caregiver. Stories, songs, finger plays and crafts make up a lively program designed especially for short attention spans. Best suited for ages 19 months to 3 years. Must Register
9:30am and 10:30am

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Tuesday November 13th:

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the best part of your week with stories that make you laugh and songs that make you dance! Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For large groups, a call to 332-6619 is nice.
10:30am

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Wednesday November 14th:

The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
Sneak Peek Party – Be the first to shop our unique merchants! And try your luck at our Diamonds Direct Diamond Giveaway. You will have the chance to win a one-carat diamond with the purchase of a glass of champagne. Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and a special wine tasting presented by Whole Foods and beer tasting by local breweries.
7pm – 10pm
$12 General Admission
$36 Sneak Peek Party
$10 Group Tickets
$24 Three Day Pass

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Ballerina Rosie. Come and hear about what happens when Rosie decides to go to dance school. There will be a craft and we will have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

Family Story Time with Mr MacNorth 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 November 15th:

Twilight Premiere Party and Movie – Carmike Summit
Don’t forget! You will need to stop by our Will Call table in the movie theater lobby between 5pm – 8pm to pick up your purchased tickets. The party will begin inside of auditorium 7 at 8:30pm. Movie will begin at 10pm. We will have special dinner vouchers provided by Sponsor Lime Fresh Mexican Grill. You can grab those from the Will Call table when picking up your tickets.

The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
Martie & The Market Brunch, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.:  “Food Network Star” finalist Martie Duncan will join us this year as our guest speaker at the Martie & The Market Brunch. Martie, a native of Alabama and deemed “party guru” will tell you all you need to know when it comes to planning parties for the holiday season.

The Market is a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the missions and purpose of The Junior League of Birmingham, an organization of women committed improving the lives of women and children in the Greater Birmingham Area.
9am – 9pm
$12 General Admission
$24 Martie & The Market
$10 Group Tickets
$24 Three Day Pass

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Friday November 16th:

McWane Science Center, Membership Drive!
We’ll be at Hart and Soul Coffee Shop from 10am – Noon

The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
The Market is a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the missions and purpose of The Junior League of Birmingham, an organization of women committed improving the lives of women and children in the Greater Birmingham Area.
9am – 9pm
$12 General Admission
$24 Martie & The Market
$10 Group Tickets
$12 Snaps with Santa
$24 Three Day Pass

Storytime with NeNe – Whole Foods
NeNe is back and better than ever! Join Whole Foods most Fridays’ for storyday! There will be storyboards, songs and snacks!
10am

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Saturday November 17th:

The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
Snaps with Santa,
9 a.m. until 11 a.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be our special guests at The Market on Saturday morning for Snaps with Santa. This is your opportunity to capture a photo of your children with Santa and Mrs. Claus for FREE. Don’t forget your camera … and your kids! Children 12 and under are admitted free.

The Market is a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the missions and purpose of The Junior League of Birmingham, an organization of women committed improving the lives of women and children in the Greater Birmingham Area.
9am – 9pm
$12 General Admission
$24 Martie & The Market
$10 Group Tickets
$12 Snaps with Santa
$24 Three Day Pass

Family Day – Birmingham Museum of Art
Did you know that Bart has traveled all over the world? Meet Bart and his Inuit animal friends from up north in this fun for all FREE family day! You’ll enjoy art activities, film, live animals, storytelling, drumming, Inuit treats and more! Geared for ages 5-10, but all are welcome.
11am

Cartoons and Cereal – Homewood Public Library
Fall in love with your favorite classic cartoons all over again. Cereal is available until 10:45am. *dry cereal only
10am

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for families with children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month for kids to enjoy. This month’s book is The Goat in the Rug.
11am

Super Saturday Family Event – Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Suncatchers: Come make a beautiful suncatcher for the whole family to enjoy!
All ages
11am

United Way Food Drive – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo invites the community to give back to those in need this time of year and take advantage of half-price admission. Bring a canned or non-perishable food item to the Zoo for the United Way Food Drive to receive half-price admission. Guests must bring one item per person to qualify for discounted admission.
Members FREE
Non-members: Adults $14 ($7 with a canned food item)
Children 2-12 $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)
Senior Citizens 65 years+ $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine! Thru December 15th
7am – Noon

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 for Storytime as we read If All the Animals Came Inside. Find out what happens when all the animals that live outside decide to come inside for the day. We will make something fun and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday November 18th:

United Way Food Drive – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo invites the community to give back to those in need this time of year and take advantage of half-price admission. Bring a canned or non-perishable food item to the Zoo for the United Way Food Drive to receive half-price admission. Guests must bring one item per person to qualify for discounted admission.
Members FREE
Non-members: Adults $14 ($7 with a canned food item)
Children 2-12 $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)
Senior Citizens 65 years+ $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)

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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: Rescue and The Last Reef

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog
Join Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, and all their friends in the Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™ exhibit! Featuring the people and places of the beloved children’s book and PBS Kids television series, this new interactive exhibit brings Clifford’s home on Birdwell Island to life with playful activities and enchanting environments for early learners to explore.

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.

McWane Science Center's BIG Discount 2012

BirminghamMommy.com is happy to be partnering up with the McWane Science Center for the 3rd year in a row to offer this AMAZING discount to our readers! $20 off any membership level. Good for 1 week only!!

It’s THE biggest discount you will see this year for the McWane Science Center! $20 off any Membership level!

$20 off is HUGE savings and is only effective from November 11th – 17th, 2012.  You must purchase in person from a BirminghamMommy representative, or in person at the McWane Center. If you’re currently a McWane member, you can renew for next year at this rate!  You can purchase as many of these memberships as you want as gifts! Tip: Call the grandparents, aunt and uncles and let them know this is what your kids want for Christmas. They can mark you off of their shopping list and it takes up no space in your house! A win/win for everyone.

We’re moms, we know it’s hard to get out and run errands.  To make purchasing easier, we will be set up at some offsite locations that we hope will be convenient for you. You can always purchase in person at McWane as well, just remember the coupon.. You must have it in order to get the discount. You can print the coupon HERE.

Cash, check, or credit cards accepted.  Make checks payable to McWane Science Center.

Here is our tentative schedule for offsite locations to help make signing up a little easier. Make sure to watch our Facebook for any changes or additions we might make to this schedule.

Sunday, November 11th – Starbucks Vestavia 9am – 11am

Monday, November 12th – Riverchase Galleria Food Court Area. Look for us near the Starbucks. 10am – Noon

Thursday, November 15th – Carmike Summit 5pm – 8pm

Friday, November 16th – Hart and Soul Coffee Shop in Homewood 10am – Noon

Membership Forms will also be available at the following locations:

Do it Yourself Crafts in Homewood, Sunday (the 11th) Noon – 5pm,  Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm

Instant Sign Center in Trussville – Tuesday – Friday 9am – 4pm

Kids A Million: Brookwood Village

As Moms, are always excited to learn about new places in Birmingham that offer up something for our kids. Which is why we are super happy to tell you about the newly renovated space at the Books A Million at Brookwood Village.

The new Kids A Million space takes up the second floor and caters to the tiny humans. You will get to check it all out this Saturday, November 10th at the Grand Opening Celebration.

The celebration is scheduled for 10am – 6pm and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Dr Seuss lunch bag that just might include a $200 gift card! There will be a Cat in the Hat storytime, complete with hat making. There will be Storm Troopers, Junie B Jones, LEGOS, face painting and more!

Make plans to attend this fun family friendly event.  We’ll see you there!