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
William Barret Travis “Victory or Death Letter” on Display – Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. One day into the bombardment of the Alamo, the 26-year-old commander of the makeshift fortress, William Barret Travis, addressed a letter “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the world.” Dated February 24th, 1836, “The Travis Letter” has become the single most revered and studied document in Texas history. The iconic letter will be on display for 12 days, through March 6, 2015, symbolically representing the lengthy siege fought by the defenders of the Alamo. FREE! Texas State Library & Archives Commission HQ, 1201 Brazos St, Austin.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 6 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 2, 2015
Memorial Service for the Veterans of the Texas Revolution – 9:00 a.m. Members of Celebrate Texas and the Texian Legacy Association welcome the public to attend their annual memorial service. Dr. Jesus F. de la Teja from Texas State University will be the guest speaker. Reenactors in period dress will fire a musket volley to honor the Great State of Texas and the men and women who made her so. FREE! Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota St, Austin.
Baby Bloomers – 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Baby Bloomers is an opportunity for children ages 0-3 and their families to experience the Thinkery together in an environment focused on early learners. Guided activities like Storytime, Sing-a-longs, and Little Explorers Lab time are designed to engage our youngest visitors in fun learning and investigation. 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.
Texas Independence Day Celebration in the Capitol Rotunda – Noon. FREE! Texas Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave, Austin.
Texas Independence Day Celebration – 1-4:00 p.m. FREE! Brush Square Park, 411 E 5th St, Austin.
ADA 25th Birthday Family Fun Fest (RSVP) – 3:30-5:30 p.m. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 25 this year. Celebrate during the Family Fun Festival and explore the ADA “Road to Freedom” Legacy Tour Bus, a “rolling history museum” that is traveling the country. There will be food, live music, a small animal petting zoo, face painting, games for the kids, and more. FREE! RSVP is requested here. Disability Rights Texas, 2222 W Braker Ln, Austin.
Dr. Seuss Storytime & Birthday Party – 6:00 p.m. Enjoy a special dual language storytime, followed by a party for Dr. Seuss’s birthday with snacks, games, crafts and more. FREE! APL – University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln, Austin.
Sound in Sculpture – 6:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. This is the premiere performance of compositions by UT students inspired by sculptures on loan to Bass Concert Hall through the Landmarks public art collection. Students from the Butler School of Music will perform original works next to the sculptures that inspired them as the audience moves throughout the Bass Concert Hall lobby. FREE! Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin.
Evening Storytime (Round Rock) – 6:30 p.m. This pajama-friendly reading activity is a fun combination of books, fingerplays, songs, and a short film for preschool children ages 3 to 6. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Read Across America Day – 7:00 p.m. Join this special event celebrating Read Across America Day. Participate in storytime and activities featuring Dr. Seuss favorites Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. FREE! Barnes & Noble Arboretum, Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley, Barnes & Noble La Frontera (Round Rock) and Barnes & Noble Lakeline (Cedar Park).
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
IHOP National Pancake Day – IHOP restaurants across the country will celebrate National Pancake Day by giving away free short stacks of buttermilk pancakes. No purchase is necessary and each member of your party can order a free short stack – even the kids. There is a limit of one free short stack (3 pancakes) per guest. The offer is valid at participating restaurants for dine-in only while supplies last and is not valid with any other offer, special coupon or discount. FREE but in return for the pancakes, guests will be asked to consider leaving a donation for local charities. Give your local IHOP a call to confirm hours and details of their participation.
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! Read about Heidi’s experience at Laguna Gloria here. The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St, Austin.
French Legation Museum Children’s Storytime – 10:00 a.m. Gather on the French Legation Museum grounds for Children’s Story Time–an exciting 30 minutes of reading and play. Feel free to bring snacks, blankets, and your imagination. FREE! French Legation Museum, 802 San Marcos St, Austin.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 10:15 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. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St, Austin.
Dr. Seuss Storytime – 10:30 a.m. The Cat in the Hat then exclaimed, “Dr. Seuss is 111!” Without Dr. Seuss none of us would have ever marveled at a Truffula Tree, dodged a tweetle beetle puddle battle, or even heard a Who. To celebrate over 100 years with cats in hats and foxes in socks(es), BookPeople is hosting a Seusstastical storytime. Please don your most impressive hat and join the festivities. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Chinese Bilingual Storytime (Round Rock) – 10:30 a.m. This program, geared for ages 3 and up, celebrates Chinese culture with stories, fingerplays, and songs in both English and Mandarin. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Mommy and Me Yoga – 11:00 a.m. Come have fun and get strong with mommy. This first FREE class kicks off a weekly series. All ages welcome. Toybrary, 7817 Rockwood Ln, #101, Austin.
ADA 25th Anniversary Texas Trailblazer Event (RSVP) – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will turn 25 this year and a big anniversary deserves a big celebration. The ADA “Road to Freedom” Legacy Tour Bus will be outside for viewing and inside, DRTx and several other organizations will host a free luncheon that includes special guest speaker Lex Frieden, a Texan and one of the main authors of the legislation. The event includes a unique vintage photography exhibit by Tom Olin depicting memorable scenes from the disability rights movement. The event will also honor Texas Trailblazers–past, present, and future–who’ve played key roles in the creation, passage, and advancement of the ADA. The event is FREE but please RSVP here to receive a box lunch. Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N Congress Ave, 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.
Homeschool Gaming Group (Cedar Park) – 1:30-3:00 p.m. Homeschoolers ages 7+ are invited to get together and game. Play Minecraft, Roblox, World of Warcraft, and more. The library will provide an Xbox, Wii U, and some laptops, but participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops, tablets, and devices as well. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Book Club for Littles – 3:30 p.m. This new book club is exclusively for beginning readers ages 4-8. The group will choose an E Fic book for the day. The librarian will begin reading the book, then pass it to a child who wants to read aloud. After everyone who wants a turn to read gets one, and the book is finished, the group will discuss the story. Snacks provided. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Storysign Storytime – 4:00 p.m. Sign language storytime for deaf and hearing families of all ages. All ages are welcome to enjoy stories, songs, plus a craft activity. FREE! APL – Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center Dr, Austin.
Discovery! Board Games – 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 play board games with their friends. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
LEGO Mini Model Build – 5:00 p.m. Learn how to build a cool LEGO Mini Robot and take it home – for FREE! One per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. Quantities are limited to approximately 250 per store and offer is good while supplies last only. Arrive early if possible as there will be a line. LEGO Store, Barton Creek Square, 2901 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin.
Lego Lab – 5:00 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 – Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd, Austin.
Family Laughter Yoga – 6:30 p.m. During this fun and invigorating session adults and children will laugh, clap, play, breathe deeply, and stretch their bodies gently. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Community Cinema: The Homestretch – 7-9:00 p.m. Join the Austin Public Library and local PBS affiliate KLRU-TV for Community Cinema, a series screening films from the PBS series Independent Lens. After the film, lively discussions bring citizens and organizations together to encourage dialogue and action around important and timely social issues. In The Homestretch, three homeless teens brave Chicago winters, high school pressures, and life on the streets to build a brighter future. Against all odds, they recover from a life of abandonment to create new, surprising definitions of home. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Wednesday, March 4, 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.
Ms. Staci Storytime – 10:30 a.m. Ms. Staci will read some of her favorite stories and sing some of your favorite songs. Kids, don’t forget your dancing shoes. 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 – Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition Blvd, 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.
Lego Lab – 3:00 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 – Southeast Branch, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd, Austin.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 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. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave, Austin.
Construction Zone - 3:30 p.m. Hear a story and build stuff. Recommended for ages 5-10. FREE! APL – Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe 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.
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 – 6-8:00 p.m. Texas Radio Live brings you the very best Texas music with performances from Texas musicians. This week, hear Christine Albert and The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. FREE, but donations to support the KDRP Radio Mission are appreciated. Read about Catherine’s experience here. Guero’s Oak Garden, 1412 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Music on Main Street (Round Rock) – 6-8:00 p.m. Kicking off the 2015 Muisc on Main Street series will be the La Mona Loca. 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! Prete Main Street Plaza, 221 E Main St, Round Rock.
Night Crafters – 6-8:30 p.m. Learn how to make a rich variety of fun, functional, seasonal, and holiday-related crafts. Recommended for ages 17 and up. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Start a Lorax Garden – 6:30 p.m. Plant seeds and take home vegetable plants for your garden. FREE! APL – University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln, Austin.
Thursday, March 5, 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.
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 – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Free Noon Concert – Noon. Take a 30-minute lunchtime break to hear a violin concert by Jessica Mathaes, concertmaster of Austin Symphony Orchestra. FREE! Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E 8th 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 Crafty Kids. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Making Literacy Accessible: StorySign Storytime – 4:00 p.m. This storytime will feature an American Sign Language storyteller, signed and vocal songs and fingerplays, and a craft activity. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Starry Nights at Girlstart (RSVP) – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Girlstart’s Mini-Planetarium is a unique space for families to explore astronomy. March’s Starry Night will feature Lunar presentation. All ages welcome. FREE but RSVP is required here. Girlstart, 1400 W Anderson Lane, Austin.
Movie Night: Big Hero 6 (Pflugerville) – 6:00 p.m. Enjoy a FREE screening of Big Hero 6. Snacks and drinks will be provided while they last. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Rated PG. Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W Pflugerville St, Pflugerville.
Upcycle This! – 6-8:00 p.m. Drop-in for this fun crafting workshop. Bring something to work on or participate in this month’s upcycled craft. All supplies provided, just bring your imagination. FREE! Recycled Reads, 5335 Burnet Rd, 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 6, 2015
Cowboy Breakfast – 6:00 a.m. This super-sized Texas breakfast kicks off the Fair and Rodeo. Enjoy pancakes, authentic chuck wagon biscuits, and more. Featuring western-themed entertainment, live music, and two-stepping lessons, the Cowboy Breakfast is fun for all ages. FREE! The Long Center, 701 West Riverside Dr, 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.
Fun Fridays – 10:00 a.m. Sing! Dance! Play! Fun Fridays are a fun musical and entertainment hour featuring local Austin musicians. Complimentary refreshments will be served. FREE! Millie & Mox, 5145 North FM 620, Ste B110, 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.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 2:00 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. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr, Austin.
Lego Lab – 4:00 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 – North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave, Austin.
Zilker Backyard Jam – 5:30-9:00 p.m. This is family event will feature live music from the nuclear chicken wings, Electric Milk, Bouldin Bobkats, and The Blacklands. There will be food vendors, face painting, and more. This is BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket) and BYOP (Bring Your own Picnic) event, but food will be available for purchase from Rockin’ Tomato and Flavorlicious. FREE but donations are welcomed for Zilker Elementary’s awesome Music Department. Zilker Elementary Cafeteria, 1900 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin.
First Friday Block Party – 6-9:00 p.m. Spend some quality time with friends and neighbors during this evening of samples, music, drinks, and charity. 1% of all sales will benefit the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas. On top of that, save 10% on local Texas produce and feel great about shopping local. Entertainment provided by Untouched Poetry, plus drinks, food, chair massages, and books. FREE! in.gredients, 2610 Manor Road, Austin.
Amreeka Film Screening – 7:00 p.m. Cannes award-winning film about a proud Palestinian Christian mother and her teenage son in a small Indiana town. Opening remarks by Dr. Susan Mays, LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. Free popcorn. Additional food and beverage available for purchase. FREE! Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin.
First-Friday Film Series: DamNation – 7:00 p.m. This award-winning and powerful film odyssey across America explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers spring back to life, giving salmon and other wild fish the right of return to primeval spawning grounds after decades without access. DamNation’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature. A post-film Q&A will occur with Mike Thompson, veteran sales representative at Patagonia; Jennifer Walker, water resources coordinator at Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter; Madison Jechow, former associate general counsel at LCRA. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the film starts at 7 pm. FREE! Wildflower Church, 1314 E Oltorf St, Austin.
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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