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Children's Museum of Tacoma BlogName That Metal Man!The Museum's Metal Urge Inspired Contest  Our visitors have created metal sculptures, used metallic fibers and danced the robot! Now will you help us with our final Metal Urge inspired project?
We'd love the Metal Man standing guard over Becka's Studio to have a name! Read more → Playing Under the Stars Success!Team Tadpole Retires Happy to Help Support Free Museum Access  Congratulations to the Museum! Their event on Saturday raised $96,000 to keep the Museum and its programs open and affordable to all in our community!
Read more → TadpoleReady for Its New Home  Yeah! Today's the big day for the Tadpole to meet its new owners. Can't wait!
Getting Ready for the Big Day!Who-Ha's and Naming Rights  We'll brave the rain this morning to make sure we get our punch list hammered out and gather the last of our who-ha's.
What's a who-ha? Our "technical" term for all the fun stuff - loose bits - to play with on the boat. They just make the make-believe on the boat even more fun. Oh, and of course, the Official Sign Painter (aka my mom) will unveil the boat's name. Look forward to seeing it here first - tomorrow! Testing, TestingEven our friends like it!  Our kids have been running over every inch of this playhouse for weeks. The real test was having over friends who hadn't invested a month of weekends in building the boat. Would they like? You bet!
Read more → Step Back to Get AheadThe Crew Tires  Doesn't look like much progress to report on - and feels like even less since the roof's wing walls were up at one point in the weekend. A design change (much for the better, trust us) meant a step backward to get ahead.
This is fun, right!?! Up on the Housetop!The Playhouse Gets a Roof  Great progress was made this weekend: roof supports are up, the steering wheel secured and the decking laid.
Thank goodness for the sunny days and the time and talent of my dad (pictured on the top deck) and Perry. After a long weekend of handling reclaimed materials, we've dubbed this the S.S. Splinter... River Raft Playhouse UpdateJust because it's sunny!  The long weekend's sunny forecast should be perfect for building! Read more →
Tasty DecisionsCreating a delicious meal for Playing Under the Stars  One of the best parts of my job is working with Mark Gaimster from Il Fiasco on an awesome menu for the Museum's annual Playing Under the Stars.
This year Mark and executive chef Dan Hutchinson are totally outdoing themselves. Read more → Slowly, Slowly, SlowlyJust like Eric Carle's sloth!  Playhouse construction continues, but slowly. Read more →
In Which Team Playhouse Makes a ListLooking for Good Boat Adventure Stories  We want to include some good boating adventure books with our Playing Under the Stars playhouse. Some thoughts? Read more →
Building ContinuesRain can't stop us!  Despite the fact that it's pouring rain - oh, and Easter Sunday - we continue to build! Read more →
Playhouse MaterialsDumpster Diving with the Whole Fam!  Today the whole family piled into the Subaru and struck out for the tide flats in search of good playhouse materials. Read more →
River Raft Playhouse ModelSubject to Change (of course!)  After much discussion, here's our 2009 Playhouse model. Read more →
Playhouse MaterialsReduce, Reuse, Recycle - and call in favors!  So, I gave my Dad plans for a playhouse. What resulted?
A months-long project! It consumed our entire family (2.5 year old included), encompased many friends, and drew on materials gathered from Portland to Alaska. Once again, we're calling on the collective and varied talents (and materials) of our friends and family to build a playhouse for the Children's Museum of Tacoma's Playing Under the Stars event. Can you help? Read more → Team PlayhouseWe're Back!  A few years ago I had the bright idea to channel my recently retired Dad's creative energies away from items for his grandson (my home!). I gave him plans for a playhouse.
What resulted was a months-long project that included our entire family (2.5 year old included) and many friends. Oh, and we created a pretty cute playhouse, too! It's two years later, and we're back. What will we do this time? Read more → Summer Camp MemoriesWishing I were five again...  The summer camp registrations have been pouring in and we are excitedly preparing for a summer full of silly science, messy art, language explorations, and of course, cooking! Made me think back to my summers as a kid taking sewing lessons (my mom made me take them), swimming, picnics, and playing with friends at the park. What are some of your favorite summer memories? Read more →Membership MadnessBuy One, Get One Free!  We have your budget in mind! Beginning today through April 5th, we are offering a Buy One, Get One Free membership special. Split a membership with a friend or give one away to a lucky family! Read more →Mark Your Calendars!Playing Under the Stars is Coming Soon...  Playing Under the Stars is the Museum's signature summer soiree and should be on everyone's calendar!
This year's event is planned for Saturday, June 20th from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm in Theatre Square park across from the Museum. You'll want to join us for a lavish summer supper, to peek inside the one of a kind playhouses and playful surprises. Show Off Your Gingerbread House Did you attend the Children's Museum of Tacoma's Gingerbread Jamboree?
McDermott Brings Soar AliveAuthor Reads to Donors  Friday night the Museum hosted a 'thank you' event for donors to the Soar Into Story and Becka's Studio exhibit spaces. Gerald McDermott attended and brought the story of Raven to life with his reading.
It was great to see kids - and adults - having fun in the space! Power of Play LunchKids Learn When Having Fun  "Our kids learn really well when they're having fun," said Governor Gregoire at the Children's Museum of Tacoma's annual Power of Play Lunch on September 17, 2008.
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