‘The Adventures of a Bear Called Paddington’
Theatre Young Kids Enjoy, or TYKEs, is our very own
professional theatre for the very youngest audiences. Their premier season
continues March 5, 6, 12, and 13 with The
Adventures of a Bear Called Paddington. My British sister-in-law brought
the Paddington books (by Michael Bond) as well as stuffed animals into our
lives years ago, and my kids eat the silly little bear up.
Adventures is a
musical with audience participation (like sing-a-longs), and is set in
oversized pop-up storybook set by local artist Shawn Dunwoody. Luane Davis
Haggerty directs, music direction is by Kevin Lieb, and lighting design is by
Jennifer DeHollander.
These and all TYKEs performances take place in the
handicapped-accessible UpStage3 theater on the third floor of the Auditorium
Center downtown. Shows are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 1 p.m.
on Sundays. Tickets are $10. Get more information or tickets by calling
723-6080 or e-mailing tykes@rochester.rr.com.
— Adam Wilcox
This week for families:
The Adventures of a
Bear Called Paddington Sat-Sun, Mar 5-13. TYKEs, UpStage3, Auditorium
Theatre Center, 875 E Main St, Sat 10:30 a.m.; Sat-Sun 1 p.m. $10. 723-6080
Author Event Sat,
Mar 5. Gale “Joy” Harris-Johnson, Lady
Rainbow, Mood Makers Books, 274 N Goodman St, 2 p.m. Free.
Brighton Memorial
Library Stories for pre-K: Mondays 10 a.m.; for toddlers: Mondays 10:30
a.m.; for families: Thursdays 7 p.m. | Through Feb 25: Alice B. Wilson Literary
Awards Contest, for Brighton residents grades 6-12. | 2300 Elmwood Ave,
784-5300
Family Skate Night Fri, Mar 4. Manhattan Square Park Ice Rink, 353 Court St, 6:45-8:45 p.m. $3, $2
kids. 428-7541
Pre-School Storytime Tuesdays
11-11:30 a.m., Wednesdays 10:15-10:45 a.m. Henrietta Public Library, 455
Calkins Rd. Ages 3 and 4. 359-7092, www.hpl.org
Penfield Public
Library through Apr 30, poetry contest, grades 6-12. | Sun, Mar 6, poetry
workshop, grades 6-12, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Register. Free. | 1985 Baird Rd,
Penfield. 340-8720
Preschool Workshop Thurs,
Mar 3. art project, story, Gallery tour, ages 2 1/2-5, Memorial Art Gallery,
500 University Ave, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. $17. 473-7720 ext 3056
Purim Palooza Sun,
Mar 6. Jewish holiday family event, Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave,
1-4 p.m. Free. 461-0490
RMSC Strasenburgh
Planetarium 657 East Ave. Giant-screen film: Bears, Wed-Fri 4 p.m.; Sat 2,
4, 8 p.m.; Sun 1, 2, 4 p.m.; Pulse, A Stomp Odyssey, Sat-Sun 3 p.m. | Star
shows: Exploring Black Holes with Einstein: Sat 1 p.m.; The Sky Tonight: Sat
10:30 a.m.; I See the Sky: Sat 9:30 a.m.; $7, $6 kids | Laser shows: U2 Laser:
Sat 9 p.m.; Pink Floyd Laser, Sat 10 p.m. through February, $6-$7 | 271-1880,
www.rmsc.org
Rochester Museum and
Science Center 657 East Ave. Surprise! It’s Science, through May 2005 |
Rochester’s Frederick Douglass, through January 2006 | Live Science! demos and
theater, Sat 2, 3 (sign-interpreted), 4 p.m.; Sun 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 p.m. |
Ongoing exhibits include: AdventureZone, Carlson Inquiry Room, At the Western
Door, Try Science Around the World | Hours: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 12-5
p.m. Tix: $5-$7. 271-1880, www.rmsc.org
Seneca Park Zoo 2222
St Paul St. Hours: daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tix: $5, $4 seniors, $2 kids. 467-9453,
www.senecazoo.org
Strong Museum 1
Manhattan Square. Sat-Sun, Mar 5-6, All Aboard! | Enchanted Museum, through May
8. Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog, through May 1. | Long-term
exhibits include National Toy Hall of Fame, Can You Tell Me How To Get To
Sesame Street? and Super Kids Market. Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri 10
a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m. Tix: $7; $6 seniors, students;
$5 children. 263-2700
Sunday in Paradise Sun,
Mar 6. Family Sunday, Hawaiian music and dance, Central Library of Rochester,
115 South Ave, 2-4 p.m. Free. 428-8301
Swimming Lessons through
June 4. Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.,
Freddie Thomas Learning Center, 625 Scio St; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
5-8 p.m., James Madison School, 200 Genesee St. 428-7888
Tutoring Program through Sat, Mar 12. Ages 6-18. Monroe Junior High School, 164 Alexander St
(Saturdays, 9:15-11:15 a.m.); Frederick Douglass School, 940 Fernwood
(Saturdays, 9:15-11:15 a.m.); Adams Street Comm Center, 85 Adams St (Tues and
Thurs, 3:30-5 p.m.); North Street Comm Center, 700 North St (Tues and Thurs,
3:30-5 p.m.) Free. Info: 428-7888
Where Have All the
Insects Gone? Sat, Mar 5. Sterling Nature Center, Jensvold Rd, Sterling, 1
p.m. Free. 315-947-6143
X-Box marks the spot?
Something was wrong with Wendy’s computer. As hard as she
tried, she couldn’t install the new game she had purchased for her kids.
Confused by error messages, she sought out my advice. It was “dรฉjร vu all over
again.” The problem? We had both tried to install Electronic Arts Sims2 Special
DVD Edition on older computers.
Like many parents this Christmas, we purchased Sims2 for our
kids without a second thought. Earlier versions had run without a hitch on her
slightly old (but serviceable) Compaq and on my daughter’s Barbieยฉ computer
(don’t ask). We all failed to consider the “bracket creep” that’s been driving
the PC gaming industry.
To compete with standalone platforms (Microsoft’s X-Box,
Sony’s PS2 and Nintendo’s Game Cube), developers are concentrating on
enthusiasts who have higher-end processors and graphics adapters. For those who
seldom upgrade components, the ramping up of “minimum requirements” needed to
run today’s games can greatly shorten their computer’s effective lifespan.
Wendy blanched when told the game required a processor at
least four times faster than hers. She’s weighing her options, and wants to
purchase a new computer, but it’s not high on her list of priorities. While a
new computer would be faster and have better graphics (ooh, look at that cool
3-D screensaver), she can’t help but feel that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix
it.” It might just be cheaper (in the long run) to get an Xbox. As for me, I
built my daughter a new (beige) computer. It may not be pretty but it works
with Sims2.
— Stan Merrell
This article appears in Mar 2-8, 2005.
