"F" is for Free and Frugal Family Fun: Things to do the Week of Jan. 31- Feb. 5

STORY TIME
Mark your calendars! 's Family Story Time (and all other library programs within the Hennepin County Library system) will start again next week.

Wild Rumpus Tail Time

FREE story time Mondays at 10:30 a.m. The Wild Rumpus also has a program for book clubs. Register your book club and receive 20 percent off.

Barnes and Noble Story Time - all FREE events
Mondays - Burnsville, Preschool at 11 a.m. (recurring);
Mondays - Eagan at 10 a.m. (recurring);
Thursdays - Highland Park, St. Paul, Toddler story time at 10 a.m. (recurring);
Fridays – Highland Park, St. Paul, PJRama story time at 7 p.m. (recurring).

NATURE EVENTS

–  Winter Catalog

Storybook Hike: Stranger in the Woods

• Enjoy a hike along Wood Lake’s trails with story book stops along the way that tell the story Stranger in the Woods, by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick. Make your own “stranger” and discover what animals might visit by looking at photos from our wildlife camera.

When: Sunday, Feb. 5, 1-2:30 p.m. or 3-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $3/person, free for FOWL members.
Contact Information: Call 612-861-9365 for more information

Three Rivers Park District calendar of events also offers a wide variety of fun activities and events for all ages including preschoolers.  They also have Free Family Fun Days.

WINTER CELEBRATION

St. Paul Winter Carnival (Jan. 26 through Feb. 5) starts this week!

• More information can be found on the Winter Carnival website including the events calendar.

THEATRE & MOVIES

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Bloomington Theater and Art Center now through Sunday, Feb. 12. Cost is $28 adults, $25 senior, $25 student, and $12 student.

Llama Llama Red Pajama at Stages Theatre Company now through Sunday, Feb. 12.

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

Mr. Popper's Penguins  Family Flicks at the Mall of America on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. Free, first-come, first-served as seating is limited to the theatre capacity. FREE!

Omnifest at the Science Museum now through Friday, Feb. 17.
Five films-One amazing theater. Omnifest 2012 brings you five new films showing daily in our Omnitheater. Movies are: Journey Into Amazing Caves, Amazon, Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, Search for the Great Sharks, and Wolves.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Heartfelt – 4306 Upton Avenue South, Linden Hills.  Call 612.877.8090 for more information. 

Crayon Heart Sun Catcher - its fun to make wax crayon shavings. We will sprinkle our savings on wax paper, fold it over and press with a warm iron. Cut into a heart shape and with a string for hanging, these hearts make a pretty sun catcher.  Ages 4 and up. No need to register in advance. FREE!

SPORTS

Support the Spartans and our local students! Get the scoop first.

Spartans

Boy's Varsity Basketball
Jan. 31 - North High School at Richfield at 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 - Saint Thomas Academy at Richfield at7 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Henry Sibley at Richfield at 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 - Hill-Murray School at Hill-Murray at 7 p.m.

Girl's Varsity Basketball
Jan. 31 - North High School at North at 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 - South St. Paul at South St. Paul at 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Simley at Simley at 7 p.m.

Girl's Varsity Gymnastics
Feb. 2 - South St. Paul at Richfield at 6:30 p.m.

Boy's Varsity Hockey
Feb. 2 - Hill Murray at Richfield at 7:15 p.m.

Nordic Ski Varsity
Feb. 7 - TBD at Battle Creek Park, time TBD.

Varsity Wrestling
Feb. 2 - Orono High School at Orono at 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 - Conference Championships at Tartan High School at 10 a.m.

Women in Sport Careers, Celebrating 40 Years of Title IX

• An event celebrating women in sport careers; engage, network, and share with others who are in sport careers, as well as with those looking to have a career in sports. The FREE event features food, a free gift, an address by keynote speaker Merrily Dean Baker - former Athletic Director of Gopher Women's Athletics - and then breakout sessions of 10 areas of sport careers.  Everyone invited and FREE!  No registration required.  For more information, call 612.624.3563, http://www.gophersports.com/.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.

Where: Williams Arena, Minneapolis.

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

Richfield Historical Society website
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” house don’t look alike any more.

Minnesota on the Map – showing until March 10th, 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 – class catalog
Eden Prairie Art Center
Edina Art Center - class catalog
Hennepin History Museum - $5 adults, $1 seniors and all under 18 years, free for members, closed on Mondays
Hopkins Art Center - class catalog
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 on fun things to do around town. alphabetadventures.wordpress.com.