'F' is for Free and Frugal Family Fun: Things to do the Week of Feb. 26

SUMMER PLANNING
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STORY TIME
Family Storytime at the Hennepin County Libraries (recurring) FREE!
Augsburg Park Library, Tuesdays, Feb. 7-28 at 10:30 AM
Oxboro Library, Mondays, Feb. 6, Feb 13 & Feb. 27, 10:30 AM
Penn Lake Library, Tuesdays, Feb. 7-28 at 10:30 AM
Southdale Library,  Tuesdays, Feb. 7–28, 7 PM and Wednesdays, Feb. 8-29, 10:30 AM

Wild Rumpus Tail Time – Mondays at 10:30 a.m. The Wild Rumpus also has a program for book clubs. Register your book club and receive 20% off. (recurring) FREE!

Barnes and Noble Story Time – all FREE events
Mondays – Feb. 27, 11 AM, Burnsville, Preschool (recurring)
Mondays – Feb. 27, 10 AM, Eagan (recurring)
Wednesdays – Feb. 29, 11 AM, Edina, Olivia (recurring)
Thursdays – March 1, 10 AM, Highland Park, St. Paul, Toddler story time (recurring)
Friday – March 2, 11 AM, The Lorax, Edina
Fridays – March 2, 7 PM, Highland Park, St. Paul, PJRama story time (recurring)

Creative Kidstuff Story Time, Thursdays at 10 AM at all stores  (recurring) FREE!

Creative Kidstuff Toddler Play Time at the West End St. Louis Park and Wayzata stores (Wednesdays at 10 AM) is hosting a weekly Play Time for toddlers and parents in our inviting playroom, stocked full of toys and activities that toddlers will love. We’ll prepare the room and plan the activities, set up and clean up! Your only job is to play. FREE!

MALL of AMERICA EVENTS

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax Appearance, Sun, Feb. 26, 12 – 3:30 PM, Sears Court. Bring your camera for a special meet & greet with DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX! The Lorax will be appearing on the hour for half an hour.  FREE!

Toddler Tuesday, Funshine Bear, Tue, Feb 28, 10-10:30 and 11-11:30 AM, Mall of America Sears Court, This fun-loving bear has traveled far to Toddler Tuesdays® to spend a morning with us! Join us for a “Care Bears” episode, a fun craft and meet Funshine Bear from 10 – 10:30 a.m. and 11 – 11:30 a.m. Please note: if necessary, the meet and greet line may close prior to 11:30 a.m. to accommodate those already in line. FREE!

Kutless Concert, Tue, Feb 28, 7 PM, Mall of America Rotunda, join Kutless on the release date of their latest CD, "Believer!"  Be one of the first 300 fans to receive a wristband that gets you a picture with the band members.  FREE!

Innerstar University™ Keepsake Box Craft, Wed, Feb 29, 4 PM, American Girl store at Mall of America, your girl can decorate a sweet little box to store her My American Girl® doll’s charms and other treasures. During this craft event, she’ll decorate tiny notes with encouraging words about being brave, strong, kind, and loyal. The notes fit right inside the box for safekeeping. FREE!

McKenna "Take the Challenge" Scavenger Hunt, Wed, Feb 29, 5-7 PM and Sat, Mar 3, 2 PM, American Girl store, Mall of America, for girls ages 8 and up, your girl will go on a scavenger hunt throughout the store, taking fast and fun challenges to stretch her skills along the way. Plus, she’ll get a free American Girl poster at the end! FREE!

Ramona and Beezus, Sat, Mar 3, 10 AM, Free Family Flicks at the Mall of America, first-come, first-served, as seating is limited to the theater capacity. FREE!

14th Annual Juvenile Arthritis March (JAM), Sat, Mar 3, 7-9:30 AM, Mall of America Sears Court and North Garden. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the walk begins at 8:15 a.m. JAM is an event to raise funds and create awareness to fight juvenile arthritis. JAM includes fun, entertainment, a health fair and a presentation of scholarships to Camp M.A.S.H. Register today at JAM2012.kintera.org or call 651.229.5371.

State Lottery Million $$ Match Party, Sun, Mar 4, noon - 3 PM, Rotunda, the Minnesota State Lottery introduces Million $$ Match -- the new scratch game where you could instantly win up to $1 MILLION!  Come early and stay to play all afternoon. You’ll enjoy free gift with purchase offers, audience games and prize drawings.

EXHIBITS & THEATRE EVENTS
89.3 The Current - Rock the Cradle, Sun, Feb 26, 11 AM - 5 PM, Children's Theatre Company/Minneapolis Institute of Arts. A FREE! day of fun for kids and their grown-ups to enjoy music, art, books, puppetry and theater.

Real Pirates Exhibition, Science Museum of Minnesota, Sat. Feb 18 - Mon, Sep 3. Don your pirate hat and climb aboard a recreation of a pirate ship. Learn to tie knots, hoist a pirate flag and explore what life was like on a real pirate ship. See more than 200 artifacts from North America’s only authenticated pirate shipwreck.MOVIES & THEATRE

Harold and the Purple Crayon at the Children’s Theatre, Tuesday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, March 4.

Disney on Ice - Dare to Dream, Wed, Feb 29-Sun, Mar 4, Target Center, ticket prices range from $10-$65, order tickets from Ticketmaster.

NATURE EVENTS
Wood Lake Nature Center,  Minneapolis Parks and Recreation and Three Rivers Park District offer a wide variety of fun activities and events for all ages including preschoolers.  Three Rivers also has Free Family Fun Days.

Preschool Drop-Off: Kits & Cubs: Touch, Tue, Feb 28, 1-3 PM, Richardson Nature Center, children aged 4-5 years, $10 per child.  Explore touch, make a craft and enjoy a snack brought from home. Reservations required. Make reservations here or call 763.694.7676 for more information or to reserve a spot.

COOKING & HOME
Williams-Sonoma demonstrations at the Galleria in Edina. Call 952.285.1338 for more information. FREE!
Sun, Feb. 26, 11 AM – 4 PM, Coffee Workshop with Nespresso
Sun, Feb. 26, 11 AM – 12 noon, Technique Class: Fresh, Fast & Easy Pasta. Class size is limited, registration is required, call 952. 285. 1338.  Participants enjoy 10% savings on select same-day store purchases.
Mon, Feb. 27, Loving Leftover Pasta, 11 AM
Tues, Feb. 28, Creative Coffee Drinks, 11 AM
Wed, Feb. 29, Juicing: Slow vs. Fast, 11 AM

In Search of a Better Night's Sleep, Sat, March 3, 10 AM. Gabberts, what to consider when buying a mattress, FREE!

Kids Workshop, Fri, March 2, 9 AM - 12 noon. Home Depot, kids will learn to build their very own race car while learning tool safety. FREE!

SPORTS
Family Gym Time, Tue, Feb. 27 and Thu, Mar 1 at the Edina Community Center, 10 AM – 12 noon. Gym time is an interactive time with your children. This facility will give you and your pre-schoolers a chance to dance, run, wiggle and play. The Edina Family Center provides the environment and age appropriate equipment, and you provide the snacks and supervision. No registration required. Cost is $3 for First Child, $5 Maximum. Annual pass $80.

Find Richfield Sports and Recreation events at the Patch.

Support Richfield High School Spartans and our local students!

Boys Varsity Basketball
Mon, Feb. 27, 7:00 PM, Simley at RHS
Wed, Feb. 29, 7:00 PM, Academy of Holy Angels at RHS
Fri, March 2, 7:00 PM, away at North High School

RICHFIELD RESOURCES
Richfield Bloomington Community Education catalog
Richfield Recreation catalog
Richfield Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks locations and hours
Richfield Ice Arena website

Richfield Historical Society
Tours of the Bartholomew House (usually Wednesdays 12-8 p.m. and Saturdays 12-4 p.m.)
This 150 year old house has witnessed Richfield’s change from an agricultural community, to a truck-farm town, to one of the earliest and fastest growing suburbs.

Richfield: House & Home, now showing until August 2012.
This main gallery exhibit takes a closer look at the “lookalike” houses of Richfield. We see our local Cape Cods, Ramblers, and other suburban houses every day. This fun and interactive exhibit will let us explore what makes a rambler a rambler, why Cape Cods came back into fashion, and why those “lookalike” houses don’t look alike any more.

Minnesota on the Map, showing until March 10, 2012. Calling all map lovers!
This traveling exhibit from the Minnesota Historical Society makes a stop in our library gallery for a short time only. See how our state has been represented in maps from past to present and take a look at some of the gems in Richfield Historical Society’s great map collection.

ADDITIONAL ARTS & HISTORY RESOURCES
Bloomington Art Center Classes
Eden Prairie Art Center - Class Schedule
Edina Art Center - Class Schedule
Hennepin History Museum – $5 adults, $1 seniors and all under 18 years, free for members, closed on Mondays
Hopkins Art Center – Class Schedule
Joann Fabric – Edina store class schedule
Michael’s – Richfield store class schedule, Bloomington store class schedule
Minneapolis Institute of Arts – FREE daily admission, closed on Mondays

Visit Alphabet Adventures for more family fun at home and around town. Please share FREE and FRUGAL FAMILY FUN ideas in the comment section or email them to meganmmc@yahoo.com