From storytimes to live music and more, What’s Up Weekly lays out all of the family-fun events happening each week in the Greater Austin-area.
Happening All Week
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Monday, March 9 – Friday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Exhibit is open until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.) The Ransom Center celebrates 150 years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with an exhibition for the curious and curiouser of all ages. Learn about Lewis Carroll and the real Alice who inspired his story. See one of the few surviving copies of the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Discover the rich array of personal and literary references that Carroll incorporated throughout Alice. Explore the surprising transformations of Alice and her story as they have traveled through time and across continents. Follow the White Rabbit’s path through the exhibition, have a tea party, or watch a 1933 paper filmstrip that has been carefully treated by Ransom Center conservators. The Center’s vast collections offer a new look at a story that has delighted generations and inspired artists from Salvador Dalí to Walt Disney. Read about Katey’s experience here. FREE! Harry Ransom Center, 300 W 21st St, Austin.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Baby Bloomers – 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Children ages 0-3 and their families will dive into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss with One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. They will create a crazy experiment to make fish dance, discover how their hands can make Seuss-inspired fish, explore counting and color in a slimy fish pond, and more. Foodie Kids will be in the Thinkery Kitchen Lab for a hands-on cooking demo and The Que Pastas will perform. Cost: Members $2.50 each / Non-Members $4.50 each. All people attending, regardless of age, must purchase a ticket. Purchase a ticket online as limited walk-up tickets will be available. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
Signing Storytime (Round Rock) – 10:00 a.m. Join the Baby Signing Time revolution. This class is geared toward children 0-5 years and their parents. Amy from the Signing Connection will lead this storytime that incorporates classic children’s books to help you learn basic American Sign Language signs. FREE! Kaleidoscope Toys, 110 N IH 35, Ste 375, Round Rock.
Mr. Will’s Music Class for Kids (Bee Cave) – 10:00 a.m. Mr. Will is back in action with his weekly kid’s music class. Arrive early to get a seat. FREE! Whole Foods Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave.
Storytime with Dr. Candra – 11:00 a.m. Dr. Candra will captivate your children with stories, songs, dances, and games. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Ste D-480, Austin.
Lego Lab – 3:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition Blvd, Austin.
Crafternoon – 3:30 p.m. Drop by the library and make a craft while you search for books, movies, and music. There will be paper crafts, easy sewing, and more fun projects for the whole family. The library provides the supplies; you provide the creativity. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
3-D Printer Demo (Round Rock) – 4-6:00 p.m. A local volunteer will set up a project to print in the library’s gallery area. Come and go as you like to see its progress. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Storytime and Crafts – 9:30 a.m. Kids ages 2-5 will hear a new story each week. After the book, they’ll do crafts related to the story. Parental supervision is requested. FREE! Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
Free Admission to Laguna Gloria – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE!. The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St, Austin.
Attachment Parenting Support Group: Slow Motion Cures Commotion – 10:15 a.m. Jana Bodeman will offer simple strategies for busy parents to learn how to slow down and recharge using meditation, hatha, and restorative yoga. Participants will consider ways to slow down the pace of their interactions and create more family harmony and balance. FREE for parents, grandparents and other family, caregivers, and kids. APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
We Love Numbers Storytime – 10:30 a.m. Numbers help us understand our world. They help us tell time, map our cities, keep score at our favorite games, and they even help us study outer space. This storytime will feature a reading of Counting Crows and other books about numbers and counting. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Armstrong Community Music School Storytime – 10:30 a.m. Bring your children ages 0-5 to this very special musical storytime presented by The Armstrong Community Music School. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Music with Mr. Will – 11:30 a.m. Rock out with local children’s singer, “Mr. Will” Dupuy. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy Suite D-480, Austin.
SXSWedu Education Expo (RSVP) – 2-8:00 p.m. Celebrate the Central Texas community’s hunger and passion for lifelong learning, from cradle to career and beyond. For learners of all ages, the Education Expo provides hands-on, interactive exhibits in six pavilions designed to assist attendees in navigating the event: College Pavilion, Employer Pavilion, STEM Pavilion hosted by MAES, Continuing & Informal Education Pavilion, Music & Arts Pavilion, and Health & Wellness Pavilion. Prominent speakers will engage attendees within each pavilion, speaking on topics ranging from STEM education and college planning to informal education and local school initiatives. RSVP here. FREE! Austin Convention Center, 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
Lego Lab – 3:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Circus Chickendog – 4:00 p.m. Puppets, juggling, circus dogs, and more fun “fur” the whole family. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Discovery! Mad Science – 4:30 p.m. The Discovery hands on program explores all sorts of different topics, including science, literature, technology, and more. This week, kids in 3rd grade through middle school can observe some exciting science tricks with special guest Mad Science. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Bright Light Social Hour In-Store Performance – 5:00 p.m. FREE! Waterloo Records, 600A N Lamar, Austin.
Chew and Chat with Sarah Beth Durst (Round Rock) – 6:15-7:30 p.m. Best-selling YA author Sarah Beth Durst will chat via Skype with tweens and teens about her books and her writing process. The Skype visit will begin promptly at 6:30 pm. Eat some pizza while enjoying the discussion, which will conclude with a question and answer session.FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Family Movie Night: Mr. Peabody and Sherman – 6:30 p.m. The time-travelling adventures of an advanced canine and his adopted son, as they endeavor to fix a time rift they created. Rated PG. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Whole Foods Kids Club – 9:00 a.m. Join Tina for a great story and crafts for the kids. FREE! Whole Foods Arbor Trails, 4301 W William Cannon, Austin.
Elephant & Piggie Storytime – 10:30 a.m. This special storytime will feature one of BookPeople’s favorite literary animal duos: Elephant & Piggie. A pair of very talented storytellers will perform three Elephant & Piggie stories – it’s going to be a laugh riot. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
ARTSreach: Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads – 11:00 a.m. Drywater Gulch has a toad problem. Not the hop-down-your-britches, croaking-all-night toad kind of problem. The thievin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, steal-your-gold never-say-thank-you outlaw toad kind of problem. Then hope rides into town. Sheriff Ryan might only be seven years old, and he might not know much about shooting and roping, but he knows a lot about dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs. And it turns out that knowing a thing or two about paleontology can come in handy when it comes to hoodwinking and rounding up a few no-good bandits. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Story Time with CJ the Explorer – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy the play zone before and after the reading. FREE! All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
Family Movie: Big Hero 6 (Round Rock) – 2:30 p.m. When a criminal plot threatens the hi-tech metropolis of San Fransokyo, brilliant young robotics whiz Hiro Hamada leaps into action with his tech-savvy friends and his robot companion Baymax. Rated PG. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show + Meet the Author – 3:30 p.m. Bawk! It’s an elephant! It’s an umbrella! No, it’s a … chicken?! Join Literature LIVE! to see how the chickens in this coop make room for a giant new friend in a less-than-traditional puppet show production of Austin author Keith Graves’ wonderful book Chicken Big. This special performance will feature a meet and greet with the author. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Rd, Austin.
Lego Lab – 3:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St, Austin.
Community Night – 4-8:00 p.m. At the Thinkery, science and families play side by side. Every Wednesday the museum stays open late for families to discover new ideas and learn together. Cost: Admission is by donation only, with a suggested $1 donation. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
Everything Art- 5:00 p.m. Explore different art techniques and art media using Caldecott Winning titles and other awesomely illustrated children’s books. FREE! APL – Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd, Austin.
Krispy Kreme Family Night – 6-8:00 p.m. Kids can decorate one FREE doughnut each, plus enjoy crafts, balloons, paper hats, coloring sheets and more. Krispy Kreme, 701 E Stassney Ln and 12586 Research Blvd, Austin.
Texas Radio Live: Larry Monroe Memorial – 6-8:00 p.m. Texas Radio Live brings you the very best Texas music with performances from Texas musicians. This week, Butch & Rory Hancock, Jimmie Dale & Colin Gilmore, Two Tons of Steel, Tex Thomas, Guy Forsythe, Van Wilks, Bill Carter & Gabe Rhodes, Eve & The Exiles, Tish Hinojosa, and The Leroi Brothers perform. FREE, but donations to support the KDRP Radio Mission are appreciated. Guero’s Oak Garden, 1412 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Music on Main Street (Round Rock) – 6-8:00 p.m. The Thrift Set Orchestra performs jazz. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and the entire family. Visit the variety of dining options on Main Street or pack a picnic basket to enjoy the evening of fun and music. Food vendors will be on site. FREE! Main Street Plaza, 221 E Main St, Round Rock.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Free Admission to The Blanton – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FREE! Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E MLK Jr Blvd, Austin.
Hola, Hola! – 10:30 a.m. Ann Benson, expert in bilingual education, will teach you how to effectively use books as a tool to teach your child Spanish. Each parent will learn to read a Spanish book to their child and take it home for Spanish reinforcement. For parents and their children ages 0-5. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Little Yoga – 10:30 a.m. This 30-minute class allows children ages 3-6 to experience exercise in a mellow environment. With adult participation, they will practice breathing and age appropriate stretching. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
ARTSreach: Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads – 11:00 a.m. Drywater Gulch has a toad problem. Not the hop-down-your-britches, croaking-all-night toad kind of problem. The thievin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, steal-your-gold never-say-thank-you outlaw toad kind of problem. Then hope rides into town. Sheriff Ryan might only be seven years old, and he might not know much about shooting and roping, but he knows a lot about dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs. And it turns out that knowing a thing or two about paleontology can come in handy when it comes to hoodwinking and rounding up a few no-good bandits. FREE! APL – Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr, Austin.
Free Noon Concert – Noon. Take a 30-minute lunchtime break to hear a St. Patrick’s concert by tenor Joe Haggard and pianist Vernon Moeller. FREE! Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E 8th St, Austin.
Studio Spotlight: Director’s Choice (RSVP) – Noon and 6:00 p.m. Have you ever wanted to watch a professional dance company in action? Up-close, personal, and informal Studio Spotlight events give guests a free, behind-the-scenes look at the choreography and elements of an upcoming Ballet Austin production, while it is still in the works. Dancers perform excerpts from the show while Artistic Director Stephen Mills and Associate Artistic Director Michelle Martin lead a brief lecture and Q&A. The express lunchtime session also includes an optional costume viewing and dancer-focused Q&A from 12:30-12:45 p.m. Reserve your seat for either session here. FREE! Ballet Austin, AustinVentures StudioTheater, 501 W 3rd St, Austin.
Explorers Club (Cedar Park) – 3:30 p.m. Each Thursday, kids in grades K-5 meet to explore a set of rotating programs. This week, it’s Super Science. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Thinkery at the Library – Thursday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m. Youth can create electric circuits, learn to craft with redstone in Minecraft, and participate in fun physics activities. Recommended for ages 8-14. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Lego Lab – 3:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr, Austin.
Japanese Stories – 4:00 p.m. Experience Japanese kids’ tales told in English with puppets, toys, and a lot of imagination. You’ll also learn a few phrases and sayings in Japanese. For school age and up. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Crafternoon – 4:00 p.m. Drop by the library and make a craft while you search for books, movies, and music. There will be paper crafts, easy sewing, and more fun projects for the whole family. The library provides the supplies; you provide the creativity. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Hill Country Galleria’s Wine Walk – 5-9:00 p.m. Get to know the eclectic mix of businesses in the Galleria while discovering great wines from all over the world. This event is open to everyone, so bring your friends, family, groups, or date for a fun way to spend a Thursday evening. Shopping bags filled with exclusive offers will be available to participants while supplies last. FREE! Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd, Austin.
Adult Craft Night – Metal Stamping (Pflugerville)- 6:00 p.m. Use stamps to decorate a metal necklace or key chain! Materials will be provided while supplies last. Anyone 18 and up is welcome. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W Pflugerville St, Pflugerville.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Folk and folk rock by George Palmer Macias. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Pajama Storytime – 7:00 p.m. Feel free to wear pajamas to this family storytime featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Children of all ages welcome. Seating is limited; please arrive a few minutes early to gain entrance. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Just Between Friends Consignment Event (Round Rock) – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. At a JBF event, shoppers can expect to find quality, brand-name maternity clothes, kids’ toys and fashions, costumes, books, baby gear, and more at 50–90% off retail prices. JBF even has a safety and recall specialist who ensures that all items for sale at a JBF event, including car seats, toys, and more, are up to current safety standards. Old Settlers Association, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock.
Rockin’ Dudz Consignment Event – 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Rockin’ Dudz features thousands of quality, gently-used or new kids and maternity items, from hundreds of families. Items include children and maternity clothing, shoes, toys, books, games, baby equipment, children’s furniture and more–all at 50-80% below retail.FREE! Frank Fickett Scout Conference and Event Center, 12500 N IH 35, Austin.
Yoga Story Time (RSVP) – 9:30 a.m. Join in a Story Time Yoga adventure where participants will stretch, read, and breathe. All ages are welcome. RSVP requested here. FREE! The Little Yoga House, 1211 Parkway, Austin.
SX Create – 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Doing creative and revolutionary things with new technologies embodies the spirit of the SXSW Interactive Festival, and nowhere is this more evident than the diverse mix of activities at SX Create. From 3D printing to drones to biohacking and much more, this community event showcases the disruptive solutions that are shaping our future. Participants include Girlstart, Thinkery, Dremel, Raspberry Pi, and more. FREE with Guest Pass wristbands, available in advance or onsite at the event. The Long Center Terrace, 701 West Riverside Dr, Austin.
SXSW Gaming Expo – Noon to 8:00 p.m. Drawing developers, manufacturers, and fans from all facets of the community, the Gaming Expo is the epicenter for gaming culture at SXSW. This diverse range of events combines well-loved elements of geek culture with the cross-console video game world. FREE with Guest Pass wristbands, available in advance or onsite at the event. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Story Time with Princess CJ – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy the play zone before and after the reading. FREE! All Things Kids @The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
Armstrong Community Music School Storytime – 12:30 p.m. Bring your children ages 0-5 to this very special musical storytime presented by The Armstrong Community Music School. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Play, Read, Grow! Early Literacy Training for Parents and Caregivers – Friday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m. Babies are born learning, and you can help prepare your child for success. Learn how to use play every day to get your children ready to read and prepare for their future success. FREE for parents and caregivers of children under age 5. APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Lego Lab – Friday, March 13 at 3:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Terrazas Branch, 1105 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
Mobile Food Pantry – 4-6:00 p.m. East Austin Children’s Promise, in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank, hosts one of the largest mobile food pantries in Central Texas at Southwest Key’s El Centro de Familia. ALL families are eligible to receive food available: no ID required and there are no income or zipcode guidelines. You may also get help applying for Food Stamps upon request. FREE! Southwest Key, 6002 Jain Ln, Austin.
Rock The Lot – 4-11:00 p.m. Rock the Lot for music, food, and good times. Rocking out in the shadow of the Congress Avenue bridge during SXSW weekend, performers include: Graham Wilkinson, The Peterson Brothers, Whiskey Shivers, The Crooks, and the Dirty River Boys. Food trucks and tents will be on site with food, locally brewed beer, and other beverages available for purchase.FREE entry on a first-come, first-served basis. All ages welcome. Austin American-Statesman HQ, 305 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Sarah Arenella sings jazz. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Latin rock by Billy Wilson & Friends. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
LEGENDS: A Connected Youth Event -7-9:00 p.m. Got what it takes to be the next legendary hero? Explore cosplay, crafts, gaming, and more at LEGENDS. Your adventure begins at the library. Recommended for ages 10 and up. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Head for the Hill’s: Free Music Fridays – 7-9:00 p.m. Hill’s Cafe is excited to announce the return of a live, local music series to the historic Hill’s stage. This week, Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay perform. A special backyard menu will be available for purchase. Family-friendly and FREE! Hill’s Cafe, 4700 S Congress Ave, Austin.
WCSO March Madness Concert (Round Rock) – 7:30 p.m. While the nation is into Basketball March Madness, the Orchestra’s “March Madness” concert will focus on the “March” style of music. Across the spectrum of music, listeners will be surprised by the versatility of this musical form of composition. Family friendly and FREE! First United Methodist Church, 1004 N Mays St, Round Rock.
In her life before kids, Emily held jobs as a zookeeper, a middle school teacher, and a tour bus driver in the wilds of Montana–not one of which prepared her for the adventures of motherhood. Now she’s living the good life in Austin with her husband, two sons and a Great Dane. When she’s not off gallivanting with her boys, you might find Emily baking up a mean batch of cupcakes, recalling obscure 80s song lyrics, or dreaming of peace and quiet.
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