“F” is for Free and Frugal Family Fun: Things to do the Week of Feb. 13

STORY TIME
Family Storytime at the Hennepin County Libraries (recurring) FREE!
Augsburg Park Library: Tuesdays, Feb. 7-28 at 10:30 a.m.
Oxboro Library: Mondays, Feb. 6, Feb 13 & Feb. 27 at10:30 a.m.
Penn Lake Library: Tuesdays, Feb 7-28 at 10:30 a.m.
Southdale Library: Tuesdays, Feb 7–28, 7 PM and Wednesdays, Feb 8-29 at 10:30 a.m.

Other Library Events

Teen Grab Bag at Augsburg Library: Thursday, Feb. 16 at 3:30 p.m.; Grades 6-12. Come see what cool things you can work on. Will it be paperback wallets, graphic stationery or something equally awesome?

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
Monday – Feb. 13 at 11 a.m., Burnsville, Preschool (recurring)
Monday – Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., Eagan (recurring)
Wednesday – Feb. 15 at 11 a.m., Edina, Being Friends (recurring)
Thursday – Feb. 16 at 10 a.m., Highland Park, St. Paul, Toddler story time (recurring)
Friday – Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., Highland Park, St. Paul, PJRama story time (recurring)
Friday - Feb. 16 at 11 a.m., Edina, Clifford - after stories, Clifford will join us!

Creative Kidstuff Story Time, Thursdays at 10 a.m. at all stores  (recurring) FREE!

Creative Kidstuff Toddler Play Time at the West End St. Louis Park and Wayzata stores (Wednesdays at 10 a.m.) 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!

Toddler Tuesday: Dancercise Kids, Mall of America Rotunda, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Join Tessa for a fun Valentine’s Day at Toddler Tuesdays! Get those hearts pumping with a song called “My Heart” about our favorite muscle and tap your feet to a sweet love song called “It’s Puppy Love!” (Park in East parking ramp and enter through East entrance). FREE!

DeGrassi Cast Appearance and Screening, Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m., Mall of America Rotunda, The Patio, Great Room, Join select cast members from TeenNick’s smash hit series “Degrassi” at a special signing. Degrassi: New Beginnings premieres on TeenNick Monday, Feb. 20 at 9 p.m., but fans have a chance to see it first. The screening, hosted by TeenNick and KDWB, will feature a screening party, free swag and a special Q&A with the cast. Degrassi airs every Friday at 9 p.m., only on TeenNick. The Degrassi cast members scheduled to appear at this event are: Luke Bilyk (Drew), Aislinn Paul (Clare), Melinda Shankar (Alli) and Jahmil French (Dave).

Real Pirates Exhibition, Science Museum of Minnesota, Saturday, Feb. 18 though Monday, Sept. 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.

Minnehaha Park Family Nature Quest, Saturday Feb. 18 from 10-11:30 a.m., $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents - It's time for a winter quest! Bring the family out to Minnehaha Park where you will be able to hike, explore, and follow the clues placed throughout the park to unlock the secrets of the park and find a hidden treasure. After the quest is completed, stick around to spend some time in the park while enjoying some warm and delicious treats!

MOVIES & THEATRE
Mars Needs Moms, Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m., Free Family Flicks at the Mall of America, first-come, first-served as seating is limited to the theatre capacity. FREE!

Almost to Freedom at the Stepping Stone Theatre in St. Paul, now through Feb. 26, great for grades 2-8. Children and seniors $11, adults $14.  Visit Macaroni Kids Edina  for a chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets

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

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

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.

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.

COOKING
Williams-Sonoma demonstrations at the Galleria in Edina. Call 952-285-1338 for more information. FREE!
Feb. 13: Easy-to-Use Decorating Tools

Feb. 15: noon to 1 p.m.; How to Stir-Fry
Feb. 16: 11 a.m.; Creating Colorful Plates
Feb. 17: 11 a.m.; Healthy Options: Baby Food - Fresh and Fast
Feb. 18: 11 a.m.; Breakfast for Dinner!
Feb. 18: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Coffee Workshop with Nespresso
Feb. 19: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Coffee Workshop with Nespresso
Feb. 19: noon to 1 p.m.; technique Class: Knife Skills, bring your favorite knife, and we will be happy to sharpen it for you. Please note: Limit 1 knife per customer. Class size is limited, registration is required, call 952-285-1338.  Participants enjoy 10% savings on select same-day store purchases.

SPORTS
Richfield Youth Baseball Registration, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6:30-9 p.m. at Richfield  Community Center

Family Gym Time, Monday, Feb. 13 and Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Edina Community Center, 10 a.m. to 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 Richfield Patch.

Support and our local students!

Girls Varsity Basketball
Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.; North High School at RHS
Feb 17 at 7 p.m.; Mahtomedi at RHS

Boys Varsity Basketball
Feb 14 at 7 p.m.; away at South St. Paul
Feb 15 at 7 p.m.; away at St. Paul Johnson
Feb 17 at 7 p.m.; away at Mahtomedi

Boy’s Varsity Hockey
Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.; away at Mahtomedi
Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.; away at Simley
Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m.; St. Louis Park at

Varsity Wrestling
Feb. 18: Sections; TBD

Home & Patio Show, Thursday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 19 at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Hours: Thurs-Fri: 12-9 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $9 for adults, $2.50 for children ages 6-12 years, children under 5 are FREE!

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” 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 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 e-mail them to meganmmc@yahoo.com