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CalendaR
FEBRUARY CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
FEBRUARY 3
Mothers & More Buffalo Chapter, Elderwood at Glenwood Village, 5271 Main St., Williamsville, 7pm. All interested welcome to attend, meeting focus on Healthy Cooking. Call 706-1509 for info.
Say Cheese!, Elma Public Library, 1860 Bowen Rd., Elma, 6:30-7:30pm. Story time for children grades K-3 features “cheesy” read-alouds, games and craft. Register in person or call 652-2719.
FEBRUARY 4
Wee Explorers: Let’s Play With Light and Shadows, Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy., Buffalo, 10:30am-12pm or 1-2:30pm. Ages 3-4 with caregiver explore light and how it works. Admission: members $5 and $12 non-members per adult/child. Pre-registration required. Call 896-5200, ext. 338.
Coping with Daily Stress and Frustration, Parent Network of WNY, 1000 Main St., Buffalo, 10am-12pm. Workshop to help identify causes of stress and offer positive ways to cope with frustration. Call 332-4170 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org for info and registration.
FEBRUARY 5
Chinese New Year, Tops Cooking School, 3980 Maple Rd., Amherst & 355 Orchard Park Rd., West Seneca, 6-8:30pm. Food fest for Aspiring Chefs ages 11-15, includes Spring Rolls, Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir-Fry and more. $20. Call 515-2000 (Amherst), 517-3006 (West Seneca) to register.
Afternoon Explorers: Snug in the Snow, Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, 2 sessions/month, 2/5 &19 or 2/12 &26, 3:30-5pm. Bundle up to explore ways animals and plants are able to cope with the wintry weather, for ages 5-7 with caregiver. $10/members & $24/non-members. Pre-registration required. Call Meghan at 896-5200, ext. 342 for info and registration.
FEBRUARY 6
“Parent Talk” makes its debut on WECK 1230AM from 8-9am with Linda O’Connor, WNY Family’s “Tweens & Teens” columnist as host every Saturday morning. Topic: “Kids, Money & Allowances.”
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, Theatre of Youth, Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St., Buffalo, also 2/7, 13, 14 at 2pm. Call 884-4400 or visit www.theatreofyouth.org for info/tickets.
WNED Kid Fest, WNED Studios, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo, 12-5pm and 2/7, 12-4pm.
Event features live performances, character meet & greets, games, crafts, activities and more. Admission: $10/adult, $7/child. Call (888) 202-2859 or visit www.wned.org for info.
FEBRUARY 7
Family Funday at The Gallery: Words of Art, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 1:30pm. Art inspired stories, project using words and art, special exhibition Fletcher Benton: The Alphabet. Recommended for ages 12 and under. FREE with gallery admission. Call 882-8700 or visit www.albrightknox.org.
FEBRUARY 9
MOMS Club of Lockport, Donald O. Nixon Resource Center, 301 Michigan St., Lockport, 10am. Monthly meeting, stay-at-home mothers and their children welcome. Contact Debbie at (585) 798-9070 or datompkins8@verizon.net.
FEBRUARY 10
MOMS Club of Wheatfield/North Tonawanda, monthly social, 9:15am. All moms and children welcome. Contact Pam at 731-5483 or wntmomsclub@yahoo.com for info.
La Leche League of Amherst, Family Chiropractic, 4017 Harlem Rd., Amherst, 7pm. Meeting for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Call Cindy at 308-4843 or Barb at 604-2117 for info.
FEBRUARY 12
MOMS Club of Amherst-South, monthly social, 10am. Contact Eliza at 634-0816 or SouthAmherstMomsClub@gmail.com.
FEBRUARY 13
Frosty Feathers, Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 10:30am. Join in a search for winter resident birds and be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count. FREE, registration required. Call 683-5959.
Be My Valentine, Tops Cooking School, 3980 Maple Rd., Amherst & 355 Orchard Park Rd., West Seneca, 10-11:30am. Little Chefs ages 3-6 with parent will prepare and enjoy Heart Shaped Mini Turkey Burgers, Crispy Carrot Fries, Heart Spun Cocoa and more. $13. Call 515-2000 (Amherst), 517-3006 (West Seneca) to register.
“Parent Talk” on WECK 1230AM from 8-9am with Linda O’Connor, WNY Family’s “Tweens & Teens” columnist as host. Topic: “Kids, Cars & Safety”
Puppet Making Workshop, Kenan Center, 433 Locust St., Lockport, 1pm. Create a puppet with found materials and imagination, led by master puppeteer, Matthias Kuchta.
$12 adults, $6 children, pre-registration required. Call 433-2617. See calendar box item for Rumpelstilskin performance with Matthias Kuchta this evening.
Winter Wonders Sleepover, Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, 6:30pm – 2/14 at 8:30am. Event for families with kids ages 5 & up features pizza, snacks, night hike, snow art, continental breakfast and more. $28/person, pre-registration required. Call 896-5200, ext. 338.
FEBRUARY 14
National Engineering Week Kick-Off, Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy., Buffalo, 1-4pm. Come and learn about robotics, polymers, automotive engineering and more. Activities facilitated by UB’s engineering club members. FREE with paid museum admission. Call 896-5200 or visit www.sciencebuff.org for info.
FEBRUARY 15
Dollar Day, The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo, 10am-5pm. Enjoy the beautiful Gardens for $1 admission, $1 specials in Gift Shop. Visit www.buffalogardens.com for info.
Family Days…Explore the Arts, Explore & More, 300 Gleed Ave., East Aurora, daily through 2/19, 11am-3pm. Try a different paper art each day during winter break. FREE with museum admission. Call 655-5131 or visit www.exploreandmore.org.
FEBRUARY 17
Babes in The Woods, Beaver Meadow Nature Center, 1610 Welch Rd., N.Java, 10-11:30am. Nature discovery program for kids ages 3-5 and their parents. Registration required. $5/child & adult. Call 800-377-1520 or visit www.buffaloaudubon.org.
FEBRUARY 19
MOMS Club of Cheektowaga/Lancaster, new member social, 10:30am. Contact Tara at 601-4393 or momsclubofcheektowaga@gmail.com for info.
FEBRUARY 20
Family Day at the Museum, Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Museum, 25 Nottingham Ct., Buffalo, 12-3pm. Museum tours, scavenger hunts, crafts and hands-on activities. $10/child, parents FREE. Call 873-9644 or visit www.buffalohistory.org.
Greater Buffalo Train and Toy Show, Fairgrounds Agri-Center & Expo Building, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Hamburg, 10am-5pm and 2/21, 10am-4pm. Exhibition and sale to benefit WNY Railway Historical Society. $6, children under 12 free. Contact Steve at trainshow@roadrunner.com for info.
FEBRUARY 21
FREE Family Film Series: Shrek, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo, 2pm. Tickets available approx. 10 days prior film date at Wegman’s (Erie & Niagara counties) and Shea’s Box Office on first come, first serve basis. Rated PG.
Native American Festival, Niagara Falls State Park, Prospect St., Niagara Falls, (snow date 2/28), 11am-4pm. Snow snake demonstration, storytelling, snowshoe walks and hands-on activities at the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center area. Call 282-5154 for info.
FEBRUARY 23
MOMS Club of Kenmore/Tonawanda, monthly social, 10am-12pm. Moms with children of all ages welcome. Contact Dawn at 404-2535 or ktmcinfo@yahoo.com for info.
FEBRUARY 24
MOMS Club of East Amherst/Clarence, new member social, 10am. Contact Lisa at 601-5456 or eamherstclarencemomsclub@yahoo.com for info.
FEBRUARY 25
Talking to Your Children About Cancer, Gilda’s Club WNY, 1140 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, 6-7:30pm. FREE workshop presented by Kathy Kurtz, LCSW, Noogieland Coordinator for Gilda’s Club WNY. Registration required by 2/23. Call 332-5900 to register.
FEBRUARY 26
Teen Night, Ken-Ton Family YMCA, 535 Belmont Ave., Kenmore, 7-9pm. Great food, music and dancing for 12-18 year olds. $5 advance (by 2/25), $7 at the door. Call 874-5051 for info.
FEBRUARY 27
Sesame Street Presents: The Body Tea Party, Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy., Buffalo, 1-3pm. Features craft, games, tea and cookies. $5/members, $10/non-members, includes admission to Sesame Street Presents: The Body, opening today. See calendar box item for more information.
Snow Topiaries and Bouquets, Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 10:30am. Come learn how to build a snow turtle, deer, turkey and vase for bouquets out of snow. FREE, registration required. Call 683-5959.
Kiddie Carnival, Boulevard Mall Food Court, Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, 9-11:30am. Event features characters, games, crafts, carousel ride and more. Tickets $7/child. Proceeds benefit Amherst Youth Board’s Family Room. Call 631-7218 for info.
FEBRUARY 28
Underground, Over the Moon, Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Museum, 25 Nottingham Ct., Buffalo, 2pm. Michele Costa of theatreFiguren presents performance in puppetry and mime, based on spiritual and physical courage of underground railroad leader Harriet Tubman. $6. Call 873-9644 or visit www.buffalohistory.org.
Chinese New Year: Celebrate the Year of the Tiger, Explore & More, 300 Gleed Ave., East Aurora, 12-4pm. Family fun event features sampling Chinese food, learning Chinese calligraphy and Chinese Lion Dance. FREE with museum membership or paid admission. Call 655-5131 or visit www.exploreandmore.org.
Ongoing Events: 
Kenan Center to present
Rumpelstilskin with
German Master Puppeteer:
Matthias Kuchta
?Unlike most puppeteers, Matthias Kuchta doesn’t stand silently in the background while his puppets do all the performing. In fact, Kuchta moves and maneuvers his almost life size figures like an onstage choreographer, giving them their unique personalities and voices, and fully involving the audience in the fun!
Kuchta, who is currently on an international tour, will present the classic children’s story, Rumpelstilskin, at the Kenan Center Taylor Theater, Saturday, February 13 at 7pm. Kuchta first visited the Kenan Center in 2005, mesmerizing the sold out audience with his special brand of hands-on storytelling.
Matthias Kuchta was born in Germany in 1949. He studied history, education and Slavic languages and art history at the University of Hamburg. After teaching for several years he entered the German Institute of Puppetry in Bochem where he learned the skills from 1979 to 1982.
He is a storyteller/puppeteer who adapts classic tales that resonate with today’s children and families. In fact the parents almost forget to even look at their own children as they themselves are taken into the tale.
Almost life size cloth puppets, inspired by Matthias’ neighbors in northern Germany, and perhaps some of Fellini’s film characters, are far from the Disney/Barbie images of the televised world that our children seem to live in. His puppets’ realism touches their imagination and brings them closer to the essence of the tales.
Matthias has performed around the world with the Goethe Institute and his performances are interpreted in several languages.
Don’t miss out on this enchanting one night only performance for all ages. Tickets are $10 adults, $9 seniors and Kenan members, and $8 children. The Kenan Center is located at 433 Locust Street in Lockport. For more information call 433-2617 or visit
www.kenancenter.org.
Sesame Street Presents: THE BODY
at the Buffalo Museum of Science
Get to know what’sunder your skin at Sesame Street Presents: The Body. This amazing educational exhibition teaches children how their bodies work and how to stay healthy as they hop, jump, run and dance their way through this hands-on Sesame Street adventure!
Sesame Street Presents: The Body features four different education zones related to the human body:
Your Outsides
Children learn to identify different body parts, learn what they do, and explore the many ways they can put them to use. Exhibits include “Your Wonderful Hands,” featuring puzzles, sign language games, shadow puppets, and more; “Your Legs and Feet,” an interactive exhibit that shows what happens when you put your legs in motion; and “Use Your Head,” a play-along question and answer game show about the parts of the head.
Your Insides
This is an exploration of what goes on inside the body. Activities include “Count’s Organ Organ,” which musically teaches children about their internal organs’ locations and functions; “Digestion with Oscar,” a display that shows kids what happens to food when they eat it; and ”Oscar’s Sneeze Machine,” where children pull a lever to irritate a big nose that actually sneezes on them!
How You Work
Whether you are exercising, playing, dancing or even sleeping, your body is always hard at work. In “How You Work,” children put their bodies to the test in “Super Grover’s Obstacle Course,” a physical movement station that encourages them to crawl, jump, balance and climb; “Rosita’s Locomotion,” where children learn how the heart and different muscles work while pumping, rowing or running; and “Grover’s Dance Party,” a groovy disco where children can dance and boogie along with Grover.
Staying Healthy
Learn how eating healthy foods, staying clean, and getting plenty of physical activity as well as sleep can help the body stay healthy. Ernie and Rubber Ducky get kids started in “Rub-A-Dub Tub,” a silly game that shows them just how much fun staying clean can be. Then it’s on to “Mr. Hooper’s Store,” where children scan groceries and learn specific messages about how different healthy meals are good for their bodies, and “Baby Bear’s Mini Mart,” a toddler-sized activity area where children can stock up on a variety of healthy foods.
The Buffalo Museum of Science is located at 1020 Humboldt Parkway in Buffalo. For further information call 896-5200 or visit
www.sciencebuff.org.
Included with general admission ($8 adults 18-61, $7 seniors 62+, $6 children 2-17, students & military with ID). FREE to Museum Members and children under 2.
?Storytelling Saturdays at the Aquarium
?Don’t catch a chill! Chill out at the Aquarium of Niagara throughout February. It’s time for the annual storytellers’ visits. Beginning February 6th, a different storyteller will share a tale or two in their own special way.
The first storyteller will be Annemarie Jason, an annual Aquarium visitor, who literally pulls her tales out of her “story hat.” Her stories involve music, action, puppets and rhymes. She and the other three tellers of tales will appear in the second level Community Room at 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. each Saturday in February.
The second Saturday, the 13th, will feature a new entertainer (for the Aquarium), Mr. Beau the Clown. He has actually been clowning around for 20 some years. His real name is Pat Donohue and he’s the father of five sons. Mr. Beau’s performance includes putting his clown makeup on as he transforms himself into a clown that juggles, tells jokes, does magic and puppetry. He also makes balloon animals to be given away at the end of his shows. Donohue believes if the children see him become a clown in front of them, they won’t be afraid but rather see that he is just a funny guy dressed as a clown.
On the third Saturday, February 20th, Karima Amin will share her African and African-American stories. Her stories are always a surprise, with spontaneity the key to her storytelling.
The final story date is February 27th with The Wondermakers. The traveling troupe performs story-theater, fables and folktales.
The Aquarium of Niagara is located at 701 Whirlpool Street in Niagara Falls. Storytelling Saturdays are included with regular Aquarium admission and are open to all children accompanied by an adult. No reservations are necessary.
Aquarium members are free and regular admission rates will be in effect: Adults, $9.50; $6 for children and 3 and under free.
For more information, call 285-3575, ext. 206 or visit
www.aquariumofniagara.org. Storytelling Saturdays is sponsored by Target.
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