The Art of Monet

The art museum currently has a temporary exhibit featuring the work of Claude Monet. It’s been a very popular event, selling out nearly every day. I bought tickets a few months ago so Marina and I could check it out.

We arrived at the Museum a bit early, so we checked out the Treasures of British Art exhibit. Marina especially like the portraits of royalty.

When it was our turn to go into the exhibit, we were excited. It was very crowded, but we managed to weave our way around the people to see all the paintings on display. Marina was very interested in them. We looked at the colors used and painting techniques. Overall we were very impressed by what we saw.

After we finished going through, we checked out the activity center called “Paint.” Marina tried out a few of the crafts including painting with shaving cream. By the time she finished her art, we were both tired and ready to have dinner.

Christmas at the Aquarium

This morning we had reservations for Breakfast With Santa at the aquarium. So we had to get an early start. Marina decided to wear her mermaid scales dress. Ainsley wore the same dress as last night. Fortunately we didn’t run into much traffic and we arrived right on time.

We met more friends for breakfast. We had a bit of a wait for our table and when we were finally seated we were very disappointed with our table. It was a booth that was too crowded for all of us and we couldn’t see the tank at all. We asked for another table but were told they didn’t have one. So breakfast wasn’t as fun as we hoped. Santa came by our table when we asked, so we got a couple for photos.

After breakfast, some of us decided to go through the aquarium. We’ve been many times, but we all still enjoy it. One of the tigers was pacing around and the stingrays were friendly in the touch pool. After we went through once, we decided to go back and see the mermaid show.

We hung around for the mermaid meet and greet, then we headed for home.

The Science of Pixar

Marina had the day off from school, so we went to the nature and science museum. We had tickets to see the Science of Pixar exhibit. We arrived a bit early, so we checked out the other temporary exhibit – Beyond Human Limits. This one contained examples of extreme sports. The activities included a paragliding simulation, copying a cat’s movements and a Ninja obstacle course. Marina enjoyed trying these activities.

We had a little time before our Pixar entry, so we wandered through the animal dioramas, we especially liked the African animals.

When it was our time to enter the Pixar exhibit, we got in line. It started with a short video explaining the process of making a Pixar film. Then we entered the exhibit. It contained many activities which demonstrated the many steps it takes to make the movies. Since the exhibit wasn’t too crowded, Marina got a chance to try most of them. She also enjoyed posing with the life size models of the Pixar characters.

Leonardo da Vinci

This afternoon we decided to venture out to the natural history museum. They currently have two temporary exhibitions that we have not seen yet. We were fortunate to find a parking spot quickly. We bought tickets for the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit. Marina was concerned that it would be boring. We had a few minutes before we could go in, so we wandered around the third floor dioramas until it was time.

When it was time for us to go into the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit we found many models built from of his famous drawings. Marina liked the ones that she was able to try out. Among recreations of da Vinci’s paintings was a drawing station. She was happy to try it out. She was so focused she didn’t notice two costumed actors drawing around her. As it turned out, she didn’t like the da Vinci method.

We went to watch a multi media presentation which turned out to be very long. Marina was bored by it so she left to look at other things. She wasn’t particularly interested in the close study of the Mona Lisa at the end either, but she was fairly patient as I went through it all.

Once we finished the da Vinci exhibit, we went to the Five Senses in the hall next door. Marina had seen this one before and she was excited to see it again. Through this exhibit we saw how the senses work for humans and other creatures. Marina particularly liked the room that confused the sense of balance. At the end of the Five Senses was a demonstration with red jellybeans about taste.  Marina was quite happy to try that as well.

After seeing the temporary exhibits, we decided to go home.

May the Fourth Be With You

May 4 is Star Wars Day. Marina and I decided to celebrate by going to the event at the air and space museum. Marina wore her Rey costume and I dressed as Qi’ra. When we arrived there was a line to get in. We passed the time by talked to the two young men in line behind us.

When we finally got in, we immediately saw Darth Vader, so we got photos with him. We saw that certain numbers on the wristbands were able to get in the X-Wing Fighter. It turned out mine was one of them, but the time was later in the day. Marina was excited about that.

We wandered around looking at the booths and taking pictures with cosplayers. We went on a bounty hunter scavenger hunt which was fun. Marina also got into the cockpits of some of the planes.

When we were ready to leave, we asked if we could go into the X-Wing early. Since there wasn’t much of a line, we were able to do it quickly. The two men we met in the line saw we got into the X-Wing and I could tell they really wanted to do it as well. So we asked they be able to join us and they were able to get into it as well.

We made a final sweep around the museum before heading out. As we did we ran into Kylo Ren. Marina was happy to get a photo with him.

The Art of Dior

We had tickets to see the Christian Dior exhibit at the art museum this evening. Marina and her friend got all dressed up but then ultimately decided to wear the clothes they wore to school.

We decided to leave early to deal with rush hour traffic. It also had started to snow. As we drove the snow got heavier and it took us twice as long to get there as usual. Fortunately we arrived just in time to go into the exhibit.

Both girls loved the fancy dresses in the Dior exhibit. They agreed on some but also had their own favorites. We spent the most time in the last room that had dresses inspired by countries around the world.

After we finished seeing the Dior exhibit, we went into the interactive area. They had activities for print art. Both tried each types. They seemed to enjoy the activities and were happy with their finished products.

Once their artwork was finished, we decided to leave. It was late. Unfortunately, due to the snow, the drive home was worse than the drive there. It took nearly 90 minutes for us to get back the house. Both girls were dozing off the entire time. When we finally arrived at home, we had about eight inches of snow to walk through!

Cuba!

We haven’t been to the nature and science museum in a while. They currently have an exhibit about Cuba. Marina had already seen it but I hadn’t, so we decided to see it today.

When we arrived at the museum we were able to find a parking place right away. So we went right in and went to the third floor to see the Cuba exhibit. It wasn’t a large exhibit but it had many interesting items on display. We saw a vintage car as well as tobacco drying. Marina’s favorite part was the underwater coral reef.

After we finished the Cuba exhibit, Marina wanted to go to health exhibit. It was fairly crowded so she just wandered through at first. She saw that a show about Optical Illusions was coming up. So we sat down to watch it. The show was really fun and Marina befriended the host. After it was over she even got to wear the actress’ hat!

The last place Marina wanted to visit was the space exhibit. What she really wanted to visit was the Virtual Arcade. We got in line to try the Jurassic Sea ride. After a bit of a wait it was our turn. The ride was fairly intense and I could hear Marina’s reactions throughout. After the ride we decided to go home.

Mindbender Mansion

Marina is on Fall Break this week. We made plans to go to the nature and science museum today. However, she asked if she could hang out with her boyfriend instead. I suggested that he join us at the museum. Marina loved that idea!

We picked her boyfriend up at his house shortly after lunch. Then we headed to the museum. We found a parking space up front right away. Once inside, we went to the third floor to see the temporary exhibit Mindbender Mansion. It was a series of puzzles arranged in “rooms.” They were pretty tough and the three of us worked together to solve as many as we could.

Once we went through most of the rooms, we moved on to the dinosaur exhibit. He hasn’t been to the museum for a long time, so he took his time looking at everything. Marina was very patient with him as he read the signs.

Next, Marina wanted to go through the space exhibit. There weren’t many people there, so they were able do whatever they wanted to. They played a game about the birth and death of stars, docked Space Shuttle models, looked through telescopes and experimented with the heat sensing equipment.

Before we left, we looked at the mineral hall. He seemed to enjoy looking at all the displays. Of course, Marina liked all the jewels and gold. After we looked at the minerals the Museum was getting ready to close. It was time to go home.

Opera Adventures

The summer is winding down and another of our traditions is to attend the family matinee performance at the opera. Marina and I were especially excited this year because the opera being performed was The Magic Flute, one we both love. I signed us up for the Opera Adventures before the opera. So we left this morning for the drive to the mountains. It was a beautiful day and the drive through the mountains was gorgeous.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the staff, who recognized us from the previous three years. The first part of the day was a trip to a history museum. We had gone there three years ago for our first time in Central City and it was interesting to go again. We looked over the displays of life in Central City in the 1800’s. After we went through the museum, Marina tried panning for gold outside. She even helped some younger kids find gold as well,

We went to the opera patio for lunch as we always do. Marina ate a bit of everything. At the end of our lunch, another family joined us and we talked with them for a while until it was time to rejoin the group for afternoon activities.

We met everyone in the stables where there were some activities for kids. When they handed out plastic flutes, Marina didn’t get one. Apparently, she’s no longer a kid! She didn’t seem to mind. Then we heard from an actor who plays Sorastro in the regular production of the opera. He sang for us as well.

We all went outside in time to hear the Usher Song. This year we were even supplied with the sheet music! Then we went inside to watch the show. This performance had a bit of a 1920’s circus theme and three boys in a bit of a narrator role. As always, our favorite parts were the arias by The Queen of the Night.

After the performance, the performers playing Tamino, Pamina, the Queen of the Night, Papageno and Sarastro came out in their costumes. Marina happily had her picture taken with each one before we headed home.

The Dead Sea Scrolls

Marina and I have been interested in seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the museum of nature and science since they announced it last year. I was hoping if we waited a few months we might avoid crowds, however, this exhibit has been so popular that was not an option. I took the day off today so we could check it out.

We had trouble finding parking, so we had to park pretty far away and walk to the Museum. Fortunately we made it there in time for our scheduled entrance.

As we entered, we were told the story of how the scrolls were found and saw jars similar of different eras. Also on display was one of the actual jars where the scrolls had been found. As we filed into the exhibit, we took a good look at that jar.

Since there were so many people, we had to wait in a series of lines to see everything. We started off by seeing various artifacts from Jerusalem through the ages. Marina was especially interested in the jewelry and coins. We both noticed that the older the coins were, the smaller they got.

Next we saw many examples for pottery and architecture. I was surprised at how interesting Marina found the pottery. We spent a while looking at some of the ruins from the temple in Jerusalem. There was even one block we could touch.

Marina liked the mosaics on display and listened to me talk about the ossuaries or bone boxes. When we finally got to see some of the scroll fragments, she looked at them as well as the translations. Waiting in line was tough for her, so she would leave to look at something else and then rejoin me later. After we went through everything, we looked at the gift shop.

Marina wanted to looked through the space exhibit, particularly a new virtual reality experience. There was an added cost for it, but I could see how badly she wanted to try it, so I agreed to get tickets for both of us to try it. We had a short wait before it was our turn.

The experience turned out to be a spacewalk on the International Space Station. We flew from part to part which different elements exploded and were damaged. It was quite a thrilling ride. Marina loved it!

After the ride we decided to go home. It was a long walk to the car on a hot afternoon.

Star Wars Celebration

Marina has been very interested in Star Wars the past few years. So we wanted to check out the Star Wars at the Hanger event. Marina decided to wear her Rey costume from the most recent movie.

We wanted to leave early, but we didn’t arrive as early as we’d hoped. There was a huge line to get into the museum, but it moved quickly and we made it inside after a short wait.

The centerpiece of the museum is a large model of an X-Wing fighter. We were fortunate to receive a spot to get in it for pictures. Marian was very excited. We got into that line first. It took a while to get checked in and then we had to get into another line for our turn. Fortunately, we got friendly with the families around us and we took turns checking out other exhibits while we waited. When it was finally her turn she thought the experience was “really cool!”

Of course, Marina wanted her picture taken with as many cosplayers as possible. So we got photos with Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, stormtroopers, bounty hunters, a Sandperson with a Bantha, a Jawa and Sith Lords. A few people even wanted their picture with her. I was really excited to see Muppets characters in Star Wars costumes and insisted we get photos with them.

Marina posed for photos in front of two green screens and made some crafts. We bought barbecue “porg” sandwiches for lunch. We decided to try out one of the simulators since there wasn’t much of a wait. After that, we headed home.

Steerage Supper

This week was the anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Titanic. To mark the occasion, the Molly Brown House museum had a Titanic Steerage Shindig. I thought it sounded like fun and Marina was interested as well. We invited Mr. Chuck and Miss Judy to go with us.

We arrived early at the Museum and wandered through the gift shop until it was time to check in. We were labeled as English passengers, since they were the first to board. The second group were the Irish, who were picked up at the second port before the voyage to New York.

We started by hearing about third class boarding from a volunteer playing Violet Jessup. She told us about the exams third class passengers went through before boarding and on arrival at Ellis Island. Then we went inside where another third class passenger told us about the accommodations and meals on the Titanic for steerage passengers.
We got a chance to look around the house. Marina and I definitely smelled cigars in JJ Brown’s room – something we had been told happens from time to time.

We went to the third floor for dinner. We ate roast beef, potatoes, turnips, carrots and green beans. Marina didn’t like the vegetables but the ate the meat and potatoes. She did like the plum cake we had for dessert.

After dinner, we went to the basement, which was set up with information about the Titanic. A group of musicians were playing Irish music. Partway through, several women started dancing. Marina joined them. After about half an hour of music, the musicians moved upstairs but Marina was ready to go. So we went home.