Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Rock with Santa!

Happening this Saturday, December 11, 10am – 1pm !

This Saturday Santa will be visiting us at the Children's Museum of Memphis!! Do you know what the coolest part of it is...Can you guess!? He will be arriving in a helicopter from the NORTH POLE!!

To celebrate his arrival we will have all sorts of fun activities! We will have horse and carriage rides with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa’s Workshop, plenty of crafts, Christmas Tree Lane, caroling, and a performance by the University of Memphis’ Suzuki String Program.





The event is included with museum admission and FREE for members!

CMOM Love!

Spotted: This succinct love letter to our beloved museum was found in the Art Smart Studio on Saturday. Thanks so much for your words of appreciation, Sydney! You rock, too!

NEW HOURS!!

Have you heard the good news!? Well the word out is that......




CMOM will now be OPEN 7 days a week from 9-5!


Now there will be more hours to fly the airplane, go fishing, read a story, play dress-up, shop in our grocery, climb the skyscraper, see yourself on TV, and much much more! We are so excited, and we hope you are too!

Ezra Jack Keats

If you have joined us recently for Storytime, you have probably heard an Ezra Jack Keats story. Many people are familiar with The Snowy Day, which won a 1963 Caldecott Medal. However, Keats was a prolific children’s book author, and this classic is just one of many great stories from the author. Lately, we’ve read A Letter to Amy, Peter’s Chair, Whistle for Willie, and Pet Show!.

Ezra Jack Keats was born in Brooklyn in 1911, and New York City serves as a backdrop to his stories. The stories feature children from diverse backgrounds who face timeless childhood dilemmas, like how to adjust to a new sibling (the issue at hand in Peter’s Chair.) Check out one of Ezra Jack Keats’ classics soon!

Congrats to Lena!

A very belated but highly sincere congratulations to Lena, our cashier/programming expert. She won our staff costume contest, dressed as Leftovers!

Come Hang with Spongebob and the Gang at CMOM this Saturday!!!!!

Spongebob Squarepants will be at CMOM this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving! You will get the chance to meet with Spongebob and play Fry Cook Games, try your luck in the Bikini Bottom Hula Hoop Contest and bounce in Spongebob’s Moonwalk! Lots of door prizes, fun and excitement for everyone! There will be plenty of awesome crafts like Ziplock fish bowls, Picture frames, and jelly fish! This event is included with museum admission and is FREE to members!

DONT FORGET!!! Spongebob will be here from 10AM-1PM! We cant wait to see you there!

Think Pink

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Here at The Children's Museum of Memphis, we're showing our support in a BIG way! CMOM's iconic building block letters will get a new hue for the month of October. On October 4th, museum CEO Dick Hackett started painting the letter "C" pink. We pick C to stand for Cure!!! The pink C is followed by the letters MOM. Check out these pictures of Dick Hackett getting his hands dirty and showing support fo Breast Cancer Awareness! For more infromation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month check out:

http://www.nbcam.org/about_nbcam.cfm

or

http://www.cancer.org/

25 More Things to Do at CMOM

Since everybody loves a good sequel (like The Cat in the Hat Comes Back and Knuffle Bunny, Too), here are 25 more things to do at CMOM. Enjoy!

1. Come to Tales from the Land of Gullah exhibit.
2. Count the honeybees in the Honeybee Hives.
3. Spot a Lady Gouldian Finch.
4. Hear a story and make a craft during My First Book Club (Tuesdays at 10 a.m.) and Bookworms (Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.).
5. Ride down the slide on the school bus in Playscape.
6. View currency from other countries.
7. Admire Frida Kahlo’s awesome unibrow (and mustache) in the Art Smart Studio.
8. Play art palette twister.
9. Make a souvenir penny.
10. Crack the code to the safe in the bank.
11. Count the number of animals on the Once Upon a Time quilt.
12. Guide a plane to a safe landing in the air traffic control tower.
13. Take a picture with the Dalmatian near the fire truck.
14. Play “AutoZone” bingo.
15. Make a paper tree in the Treehouse.
16. Design your dream room in the Architect’s Office at Your House, My House. And while you’re there…
17. Wear a UT hardhat (do this one at your own risk!)
18. Write a poem using the magnets on the magnet wall.
19. Find out how many whiskers a channel catfish has.
20. See an indoor rainstorm in the Rain Room.
21. Learn about the food pyramid and the importance of healthy eating in the grocery store.
22. Participate in stupendous hands-on science experiments during Pint-Sized Science (Wednesdays at 1 p.m.) and Super Science (Saturdays at 3 p.m.)
23. Put your brain to use during Family Trivia (Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m.)
24. Take silly pictures in the Photo Booth.
25. Chill out with some ice cream or a snack at the Kid’s Café.

Gifts

This past week we have received a few gifts generously donated by a local store.

Our admissions desk will be replaced in October with this lovely castle so your little ones will be able to feel like prince and princesses on entering the museum!

There has also been a new addition already added to Playscape Park. This tike sized school bus equipped with a slide, play area, and steering wheel is super fun for the little ones.

For Further Reading...

Fabulous Fine Art (Fridays at 10 a.m.) is one of my favorite programs (and hopefully those who have attended have enjoyed it as well). For all the budding artists (young and old) out there, here are some suggested books for further reading on the artists we've explored.


Georgia O’Keeffe
My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter (children)
Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Victoria Rodriguez (children)

Frida Kahlo
Frida by Jonah Winter (children)

Gustave Courbet
Gustave Courbet by Gerstle Mack (adults)

Marcel Duchamp
Duchamp: A Biography by Calvin Tomkins (adults)

Friday’s (September 17) Fabulous Fine Art will focus on Alma Thomas.

Alma Thomas
Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings (adults)

Hopefully we'll see you there!

September is Grandparents Month!

We will be offering free admission to Grandparents all Mondays in September - September 6, 13, 20 & 27 - if accompanied with a paying guest (no other discounts may be applied to this offer). We will have special grandparent programming and the grandparent will get a VIP button to wear as well.

In addition to this, the museum is also offering a new Grandparent Membership! The Grandparents Membership has all the benefits of a CMOM Membership with a few extra incentives. The membership will allow up to four people admission during each visit. Also with the purchase of this membership you will get $10 off the purchase of gift certificates/memberships. This Grandparents Membership is available now to purchase for $90. Call (901)-458-2678 with any questions regarding membership.

What a DEAL!!!

Teach your children to help others in need!

In our continued effort to collect canned goods for Memphis food banks, we are now offering 50% off admission Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays thru September 29th, 2010 if you bring in a canned good or dry good (peanut butter, dried beans, etc.). One can/good equals 50% off one admission, limit one can per person.

Link to coupon : http//www.cmom.com/sites/default/images/ACoupon.pdf

25 Things

Since our address is 2525 Central, we thought of 25 things to do at CMOM!

1. Play dress up at the Little Orpheum Theatre.
2. Sing karaoke.
3. Be a pilot in our Going Places Exhibit
4. Learn how to make a paper airplane in the Tree House.
5. Have a hula-hoop contest.
6. Shop for groceries.
7. Learn about different countries during Around the World Wednesday.
8. Curl up on a beanbag chair with a good book in the Bookatarium.
9. "Arrest" your parents and put them in the back of the police car.
10. Be a fireman or firewoman.
11. Give a weather report at CMOM-TV.
12. Star in a music video.
13. Learn about the Mississippi River at WaterWORKS.
14. Sing along with Hootin' Andy and learn about train safety.
15. Brush Pearl E. White's teeth.
16. Write a check in the bank.
17. Be a Memphis Tigers football player.
18. "Drive" a minivan in the AutoZone Garage.
19. Help build a house at Your House, My House.
20. Shoot hoops in Playscape Park.
21. Get lost while climbing up the Skyscraper.
22. Show off your dancing skills in Sir Dance-A-Lot.
23. Create a masterpiece in the Art Smart Studio.
24. Play the Hum Drum.
25. Check your blood pressure.

Back to School!

Have you had a chance to check out our Back 2 School art the past Saturdays of this month? Well if you havent be sure to check out the last Back 2 School art this Saturday at 11am!

This Fridays artist for Fine Art Friday is Gustave Courbet so dont miss this fabulous chance to show your little ones the joys of fine art, and maybe learn a little bit about an artist for yourself!

Introducing Tamara!

Meet Tamara is our new Program Specialist.

Tamara is a Memphis native who received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Be sure to say hello when you see her around the museum. You can catch her during the week at Super Sing-a-Long (Tuesday afternoons at 1pm), Around the World (Wednesdays at 3:30), R&R Storytime (Wednesdays at noon), Fabulous Fine Art (Fridays at 10am), Saturday Art (Saturdays at 11am), Okie Dokie Karaoke (Saturdays at 1pm), Celebrate CMOM (Saturdays at 2pm through the end of August), and Super Science (Saturdays at 3pm).

Potato People!

Here are some of our creations from last weeks bookworms!

Some great potato creators!

Two very pretty potatoes.

Our friends from Silver Springs, MD made these awesome potatoes and left them with us to display!

Thanks guys!

Be a Bookworms regular!

To all of our regulars who come to the musuem, and even our first timers. Do you know exactally what Bookworms is all about!? It is one of our all ages art programs, and sure to be fun for the whole family. Bookworms happens every week on Thursday afternoon at 3:30. Bookworms consists of storytime+a craft so it is a 2 for 1 deal! We gather at the Little Orpheum Stage and read a book, and after that the whole group heads over to the Art Smart Studio and we make a craft about the book.

Bookworms of the past:

We read Do you do a Didgeridoo?>and we made paper towel roll Didgeridoos.

We read Danny, the Angry Lion > and we made lion masks.

We read Carry Me> and made rag dolls.

We read James in the House of Aunt Prudence > and we made Rat King crowns.

Next week, July 22nd we will be reading Flight of the DODO and making parachutes to drop from the plane! You really don't want to miss it! So fit us into your CMOM schedules.

See y'all at Bookworms!

Hot July

Wow has Memphis been super hot for the past few weeks! It feels like it is already August and its just July 1st. CMOM has definitely been the cool place to play during the summer heat. Don't forget to check out our daily programs listed on the main page of our website > www.cmom.com It will let you know when and what is happening at CMOM. Once you are here just listen for the announcement to know the location of the program.

This months Saturday art will be centered around the heat. Our " July Hot Art" programs will be every Saturday morning at 11am. So be here to make some really hot crafts.

DON'T FORGET! We are still collecting cans to teach children to help others in need. When you bring in a can of food you get a dollar off the price of admission (limit one can per person).

Stay cool and come play at CMOM!

April Showers bring May flowers

Hey all, lots of new and exciting things have been happening at the Children's Museum of Memphis lately! Did you know we have 2 new flat screen TVs in The Little Orpheum!? Not only will you get to see the words to your favorite songs during Super Sing Along (Tuesdays at 1:00pm) and Okie Dokie Karaoke (Fridays at 3:30), but you will also get to dance along with different videos from around the world and see yourself on the TVs! It is super fun for all ages, you can probably catch me up there dancing in my free time!

With a new month brings new Saturday art projects, during the month of May with will have May flower art! Maybe we will even make a ship! get it, the Mayflower? Anyways, we will be making crafts to do with flowers, and they will all be super fun..and flowery!

Bookworm planning and CMOM Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza

So Here goes my first Blog entry.

I couldn't be happier with my new position in the programming department. I have mainly been working on the Bookworm program that happens Thursdays at 3:30. So far we have read Spoon, and made our very own Spoon to show how special being a spoon can really be. We have also read Eggbert: the Slightly Cracked Egg, and made slightly cracked eggs painted as Eggbert would approve. (being a fabulous egg artist and all...) This week we are reading Leonardo, the Terrible Monster, and we will be making MONSTER CARDS!(decorated with all sorts of not so scary things, because hey...Leonardo is a terrible monster.

Also don't miss our Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza!

ITS THIS SATURDAY!

We are all getting pumped about the Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza that is happening THIS SATURDAY!

Saturday, April 3, 10am-1pm
Have fun with the Easter Bunny on the museum's front lawn during the Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza! Children play bunny games, hunt for prize eggs, decorate Easter crafts, eat sno-cones and popcorn, jump in the moon bounce, and get their photos made with the Easter Bunny at this “eggs-tra” special event. There will also be a special egg hunt for the parents/adults to enjoy and win prizes! Advance tickets are $5 for museum members and $7 for non-members. Tickets at the door are $10 per person. Admission to the museum is NOT included in the event price. Space is limited – advance reservations are encouraged. For details and tickets, call 901-458-2678.

Buy your tickets today! You don't want to be the only one in the neighborhood without them!

Introducing....Lena!

Hey Everyone,

CMOM has a new program specialist. Well she's not really new. You might have seen her at admissions. She's now going to be helping the program department a few days a week. If you see her, welcome her to the programs family!

Chick-Fil-A finds a home at CMOM

Chick-fil-a has moved into The Children's Museum of Memphis' Kids Cafe!

Every Monday-Saturday you can enjoy some delicous Chick-fil-a food from 11am-2pm! YUM! Right now you can get Chicken sandwiches, salads and their famous Chicken Nuggets! The menu will expand soon to bring more great treats to your mouth! We'll also be offering Chick-fil-a birthday packages as well as packages for school groups! Hope to see you in the Kids Cafe gobbling some chicken!

ohhhh la la! It's Cirque du CMOM

Everyone is asking!

Are you coming to Cirque?

The Children's Museum of Memphis' biggest fundraiser also happenes to be the most fun!

Cirque du CMOM is sure to be a blast in 2010!

This year's theme is:

Spectacular! Spectacular! C'est Magnifique!
A Parisian Extravaganza
Celebrating 20 Wild and Wonderful Years of CMOM

Need the details for the best party in town?

It's Saturday, February 6, 2010. Doors open at 7:30pm! The dress is festive tres chic attire! Top hats, Boas and the like are encouraged!

Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
-Fabulous French cuisine by Chef Cullen Kent of Cafe Society
-Stupendous Open Bar
-Fantastique BIG Toy Auction
-Twirl and Swirl to the tunes of "The Plaintiffs"
-Featuring les femmes fatales Dina Martin & Jenny Vergos
-Lyra performance, jugglers, dancers, flame throwers & more!

Need an invitation? Get one here: http://cmom.com/sites/default/images/2010Invitation.pdf

Make sure you RSVP:
http://cmom.com/sites/default/images/2010ResponseCard.pdf

Don't be caught in the cold. Come to the Children's Museum of Memphis for the hottest party!

Here are some highlights from last years Cirque du CMOM

Feel the love generation...

More great news!

CMOM is proud to announce that your generous donations given at the front entrance this past weekend have allowed us to contribute another $1800 to Save the Children Haiti Relief Fund! Thanks - You guys are the BEST!

THANK YOU!

We've always known our CMOM visitors are the best, but now you guys have given us another reason to brag about you...thanks to your visits this past weekend ($1 for every admission price sold went towards this effort), we were able to send nearly $2,000 to God's Littlest Angels Orphanage (http://glahaiti.org) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti! With a nursery, a toddler house, and a new orphanage complex on the way, this organization has been dedicated to taking care of Haitian children since 1994. CMOM has a special connection with GLA, too...one of our previous employees is in the process of adopting a little boy from the orphanage. Your contributions will help provide little Wadson and other children in need with food, shelter, and other everyday necessities. So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Some of the sweet children from the God's Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti.

"...and the world will be as one..."

This week, after one of the worst earthquakes in recent history, the world has joined together to support the people of Haiti...and CMOM wants to help, too. That's why we've dedicated this holiday weekend to a special "Helping Hands for Haiti: Children Helping Children" program. A portion of every admission sold will go to the relief effort. There will also be special jars at the admissions desk where kids can learn the virtures of charity and helping others by donating coins from home. Plus, we'll have a special card-making session Saturday afternoon for kids to express their support in a creative way. So bring your mini-philanthropists this Saturday, Sunday and Monday and make a difference!

Pictures from New Year's at Noon!

We always have fun here at CMOM, but New Year's at Noon was a TOTAL BLAST!



We got the morning started off right with a magic show...everyone loved it!

There were crafts galore (hey, that's my back!).

I think I was just as excited about the "Junkanoo" theme as the kids!

Busy, busy, busy!

Man, look at that crowd! Everyone lined up for the countdown.


Here's my favorite HR guy ever, Cliff- he and I got to stand on the top ledges to throw out prizes at the strike of noon.



We had a special all-girls guest band-- The Hot Pink Paper Clips -- to end the day...they were awesome!

"I Have a Dream..."

Join us for

Martin Luther King, Jr's

Birthday Celebration!

Monday, January 18

10am-2pm

In 1963, Dr. King's revolutionary "I Have a Dream" speech inspired our country by reminding us that the U.S.A. was founded on the basis of freedom. Come help us celebrate this hero with our annual MLK birthday party. With face painting, arts & crafts, games, and our own "peace quilt," this is sure to be a party to remember!