The temperatures are dropping but the activities are not! We've noticed that there are many bumps cooking at Philly Parent Circle and we hope to meet some of you in person at the Expectant Parent's Boot Camp at Please Touch this Saturday. And if we don't see you there, perhaps we'll catch you, your kids and our favorite monkey, Curious George at the zoo. This weekend we say goodbye to the Year of the Rabbit and hello to the powerful Year of the Dragon, so read below on ways to enjoy this cultural experience. Enjoy the week!

Weekend Spotlight:

This weekend meet Curious George at the Philadelphia zoo. Join him for a special story time, craft activities, and lots of other monkey business in the Treehouse from 10 am – 2 pm. Event is free with admission and runs Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, get ready for baby with the Please Touch Museum’s Expectant Baby Boot Camp. This day for expectant parents includes healthy living tips, baby proofing advice and even communication tools for the most sleep deprived couple, preparing you for the most exciting time in your lives! Boot camp runs 10 am – 1 pm, cost is $50 pp or $90 per couple. 

Saturday, January 21st:

Join Pottery Barn Kids for National Geographic Little Explorers. Participate in hands-on activities, quizzes, songs and more. This week, learn about bugs! Children 3 and over will receive a badge every time they participate in a Little Explorers program. Event begins at 10 am and is free. Pre-registration is highly recommended. Make a homemade bird feeder at Tyler Arboretum. Help birds survive the winter by creating bird feeders made from natural materials. Then, take your feeder home and watch your feathered friends fly in for a great meal. Program begins at 10 am, cost is $8 for non-members. Make your own colorful handmade ceramic mug perfect for cocoa at Main Line Art Center. Learn how to hand build mugs out of clay using a variety of basic techniques. The next week, meet to colorfully decorate with glaze. Return after Feb. 4 to pick up finished work. Cost is $85 for non-members, creating begins at 10 am. Nurture in Ardmore hosts their Mom-Me meetup. This hour-long, monthly mom meetup is a chance for mothers to talk about their exhaustion, mommy guilt and tension. Discuss coping strategies using humor and letting the group take the discussion wherever it leads. Cost is $12 pp, meetup begins at 10:30 am. Peanut Butter & Jams welcomes Lolly Hopwood and the Let’s Play Today Bunch to World Café Live. These interactive concerts for families showcase the best live music with an educational twist each Saturday morning. Cost is $7 - $10, show begins at 11: 30 am.  Check out the wonders of the night sky by stargazing at Riverbend Environmental Education Center. Learn about the phases of the moon & try identifying some winter constellations. Cost is $15 per family, pre-registration is required. Gazing runs from 6 – 8 pm.

Sunday, January 22nd:

Join The Main Line Chinese Culture Center for its annual Chinese New Year Community Gala at the Great Valley High School in Malvern. Attended by hundreds of families from all cultural backgrounds, the Gala is the largest suburban celebration of its kind in the region, featuring entertainment, cultural games, prizes, and refreshments. Event is free and runs from 1 – 5 pm. Continue the Year of the Dragon celebrations with a trip to Chinatown. The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. hosts their first flower market from 10 – 4 pm at 10^th and Vine. Or, take a tour of Chinatown with Chef Joseph Poon. Visit a Chinese herbal medicine shop, a fortune cookie factory, a fish market, place of worship and more.  Then enjoy a full lunch. Walking tour begins at 10:30 am, cost is $30 - $50. Get the scoop on poop and tracks at Rolling Hill Park in Gladwyne. Learn how to identify tricky tracks, and tune your eyes to detect the subtle signs of the feathered and furred animals that live around us. Practice animal gaits, examine skulls and pelts, and giggle over animal droppings. Cost is $15 per family for non-members, program runs from 9:00 – 11 am. Take a trip to the Australia desert at The Garden State Discovery Museum. Vets from the Animal & Bird Healthcare Center and Hospital in Cherry Hill will be on hand with some of their scaly friends. Cost is $11 per person.

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