FREE admission days for this week #RADicalDays

I have to highlight a few of the free venues this week as this is the final full week of free admissions and there are some great ones! You can view the complete list here.

Saturday, October 11

Frick Art & Historical Center
Free admission 10am-5pm
Experience the Frick's new Orientation Center; explore Clayton, the restored Frick family mansion, by taking free, self-guided tours; and enjoy a beautiful display of fine and decorative art at The Frick Art Museum. FREE family activities, including scavenger hunts, games, and art activities!
7227 Reynolds Street (Point Breeze)

Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Free admission: 10am-5pm
Come explore the history of life on Earth, then visit what is arguably the first museum of contemporary art in the United States, all in one dynamic destination!  Enjoy hands-on activities for kids and grown-ups, and see some of the most exciting collections of art and science anywhere on Earth.
4400 Forbes Avenue (Oakland) • carnegiemuseums.org

Pittsburgh Opera: Brown Bag Concert
Free admission Noon-1:00 PM
Free and open to the public, these one-hour concerts feature our Resident Artists and our arts partners in the George R. White Opera Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. No reservations are required; doors open at 11:30. Bring your lunch!
2425 Liberty Avenue (Strip District)

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: Ghost Stories
Free admission:  noon-1pm
Gather the whole family in the Trust Arts Education Center to hear storyteller Alison K. Babusci share her most popular program featuring spine-tingling tales as well as hauntingly funny ones.  This program will delight all ages.  Bring your PJs and a pillow if you’d like.  Recommended for ages five and older; children must be accompanied by an adult.
805/807 Liberty Ave. (Cultural District)

Squonk Opera: Pneumatica
Free admission for performances at noon, 2pm and 4pm
Pneumatica is aperformance evnet about air, made of air and pwoered by air.  The Squonkers pupmp up the volume with live original music that permeates the air, while inflatables pump up and immerse the audience. A 30-minute children's workshop on STEM technology will follow the noon performance, and a 30-minute interdisciplinary artist talkback for teens and college students interested in theatre arts will take place aft erh the 2pm performance.
Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Ave. (Oakland)

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Hazelwood: Ballet FUNdamentals
Free admission: 2 pm
Get an insider’s look at the story, dancing and magic of the upcoming Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performance of The Sleeping Beauty. Enjoy a special storytime and learn about ballet from a ballerina. Recommended for children age 3 to 11.
5006 Second Avenue (Hazelwood)

Sunday, October 12

Sen. John Heinz History Center and Western PA Sports Museum
Free admission: 10am-5pm
Relive a few classic battles at the Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.  Enjoy all six floors of this Smithsonian-affiliated museum, presenting American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection.  Feel the pride of our region by exploring the lives of Pittsburghers who have changed the world through a variety of engaging exhibitions. Performances by Allegheny Brass Band (1:30), Children’s Festival Chorus (2:30) and South Hills Chorale (3pm).  (Photo: RAD/Julie Goetz)
1212 Smallman Street (Strip District) • www.heinzhistorycenter.org

THE MATTRESS FACTORY
Free admission: 1-5pm
A contemporary art museum + experimental lab featuring site-specific installations created by artists in residence from around the world. Located in the Mexican War Streets of Pittsburgh's North Side since 1977, the Mattress Factory is hailed as the best facility for installation art in the United States. Accessibility: The Mattress Factory's facility at 500 Sampsonia Way is fully accessible; enter from free parking lot at 505 Jacksonia Street. Facilities at 516 Sampsonia Way and 1414 Monterey Street are partially accessible. Wheelchairs are available upon request at 500 Sampsonia Way.
500 Sampsonia Way (North Side)

The Andy Warhol Museum
Free admission 10am-5pm
Provocative, challenging, energizing and exploring all that art can and should be.
At The Warhol you have the chance to truly experience art. Whether you see the permanent collection, a performance, a visiting artist’s work, or just have lunch, you’ll find something to talk about, chuckle over, delight in, or ponder for days.
117 Sandusky Street (North Shore)

And mark your calendars for this final RADical Days event.....

Sunday, November 9

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Free admission: 9am-5pm (gates close at 4pm)
Combine learning, fun and exploration!  Thousands of wild animals, including sea lions, leopards, elephants, polar bears, giraffes and penguins, representing every continent offer a stunning view of our world.  Sponsored by PPG Industries. Performances by Pittsburgh CLO Mini-Stars (12:30pm) and Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra (3:30pm).  Please note: the Zoo entrance is next to major construction on Butler Street at the Highland Park Bridge - delays are possible if construction continues past October.  Check back here as the date gets closer for updated information.
One Wild Place (Highland Park) • pittsburghzoo.org

RADical Days is an annual event celebrating the assets with free admission, musical and dance performances and family activities offered by arts and culture organizations, parks and recreation, and sports and regional attractions that are funded by RAD. The year, RAD and its funded assets are celebrating 20 RADical Days, beginning on September 24th and concluding on November 9th.   Join the email alert list for RADical Days 2014, or get text message alerts on your mobile device, by texting RAD to 79797; message and data rates may apply.  You can also follow RAD and RADical Days announcements on Facebook.

Ticket Giveaway: Heinz History Center

The Heinz History Center will be hosting a new family program this Sunday, October 5: Italian Heritage Day.

 (Photo courtesy of the Heinz History Center)

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Activities will be tailored for multi-generational families to enjoy together and include preparing traditional Italian American foods, learning basic Italian vocabulary, playing bocce, and experiencing Old World farming, all while enjoying the sounds of a roaming accordionist. There will also be an Italian American bazaar with vendors, live entertainment, and information tables about local Italian heritage groups.

 

This is great way for families to spend time together, especially since admission for all children age 17 and under will be FREE this day only! (Admission to the History Center for ages 6-17 is usually $6. 5 & under is always free.)

 

There are many exhibits that kids can enjoy throughout the museum!
 

Discovery Place features a hands-on labratory for families to learn about 250 years of Pittsburgh history and culture. Three stations depict the lives of children who grew up in Western Pennsylvania, including a touch-screen, interactive trivia game called "Get to the Point" that challenges visitors to use their new found knowledge of Pittsburgh innovations. Kids can "go to work" as an apprentice in a beauty salon or climb through a steel mill.

 

Kidsburgh is an fun, interactive, two-tier playplace for the history fans of tomorrow. Children will enjoy serving up Isaly's "ice cream" at their own play deli and milking a full-scale fiberglass "mooing" cow above Reymer's Old-Fashioned Deli.
An interactive model of Pittsburgh allows kids to design their own city of Pittsburgh using models of buildings, boats, and sports stadiums. When they're done, kids can zoom down a 12-foot spiral slide, nicknamed the "Liberty Tube."

They also recently started a program called Daniel Tiger’s Pittsburgh History Tour, designed for children ages 2-5 years old. If you ask at admissions, you can borrow a free family backpack. The backpacks are full of hands-on activities, including games, stories, crafts, and toys for imaginative play. Plus, they have adorable Daniel Tiger puppets inside!

GIVEAWAY:
We have a ticket giveaway for 2 tickets for Italian Heritage Day this Sunday, October 5th. (17 & under is free!) Tickets will be held under your name at the admissions desk. Please only enter if you are able to attend this Sunday! Go here to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway   

Senator John Heinz History Center

1212 Smallman St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412-454-6458

www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.

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Adults: $15
Senior Citizens (62+): $13
Retired & Active Duty Military: $6
Students with a valid school ID: $6
Children ages 6-17: $6
Children ages 5 and under: Free
History Center Members: Free

Momtourage Top 5 / September 28 - October 4

Looking for something fun to do throughout the week in #Pittsburgh?

Here are my Top 5 suggestions for the week!

Park of the Week: Have you visited the Lozziwurm yet? Although it is not a typical park, it is a top stop for kids! They love following the tunnels and peeking through the holes throughout the structure (also helps parents be able to spot their little ones.) The Lozziwurm sits outside the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, but the gate facing the street is unlocked during museum hours for anyone to visit for FREE. M/Wed-Sat/10am-5pm, Sun/12-5pm. CLOSED TUESDAYS. 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 412.622.3131

Fall Fun: Simmons Farm. Most of the fall festivals are happening on the weekends, but Simmons Farm is open every day! $13.50/ person includes a hayride, any size pumpkin, an apple and all the daily activities. ($10.50 / per person if you don't get a pumpkin.) Kids under 33 inches are FREE, but do have to pay for their pumpkin. Daily Fall activities include hayrides, pumpkin picking, 100 foot slide, a real fire truck with a slide, 4 acre corn maze challenge, 1 acre corn & hay maze, and a petting zoo. If you go on the weekend, there is also a butterfly house, apple sling shot, pumpkin carving, pony rides, food vendors & more! 170 Simmons Rd, McMurray PA 15317. 724-941-1490
Hours: 9am - 7pm Monday-Saturday /  9am - 6pm Sunday.

Indoor Play Space: The Seesaw Center is re-open for the season! The Seesaw Center is a nonprofit indoor play center for children of all abilities, from infancy through kindergarten age. Daily rate is $5/child. Memberships also available. Open M-F, 9:30am - 1pm, closed Sat/Sun. 935 Pine Ave., Castle Shannon, PA 15234. 412-953-6161.

Friday Night Fun: Un-Spooky Night Hike with The Outdoor Classroom. Friday, October 3rd, 8-10pm. Offered only in October under half and full moons is the UN-Spooky Hikes for scout groups and families. Explore the dark forests and the night. Because they do not set out to scare you, these hikes are fun for all ages and are held under the light of the moon! Pre-registration is required and only a limited number of people are taken each night so register early. General public night is Oct. 3, but you can call for private programs for 10 or more.  Hike take place at Boyce Mayview Park located in Upper St. Clair. $8 child / $6 adults. Go here to register.

Weekend Event: FREE admission at the National Aviary. Saturday, October 4th, 10am-4pm. (Courtesy of RADical Days.) Discover more than 150 amazing bird species from around the world under one roof on Pittsburgh's Northside. Get nose-to-beak with a colony of African penguins; admire free-flying birds in the tropical rainforest; meet Wookie, the two-toed sloth; and explore the newest exhibit Canary's Call, home to six Malayan Flying Foxes. 700 Arch Street, Allegheny Commons West (North Side)

Enjoy fun in #Pittsburgh this week!
#momtouragetop5

Top 5 / September 21-27

Looking for fun ideas to do this week? Each week I showcase Pittsburgh venues to help remind us of all the great kid-friendly options in #Pittsburgh!
Here is my Top 5 list for the week - most of these family-friendly venues are open every day which make them flexible for scheduling day, evening or weekend visits!

Museum Fun: The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is currently running a special - buy an adult admission and get a child's admission free! A great deal - see full details for that promotion here. (Ends 9/30)

Free Fun: One of our favorite free things to do in the city is to pack a picnic and head to the fountain at Point State Park. We love the free open space which gives kids plenty of room to run or play with balls. Head down in the evening or weekends for better parking options or add to the excitement and take the T which stops just a few blocks over from the park. (Kids 5 & under ride free, age 6-11 are half-price.)

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For the Sports Fan: Free Admission for tours at PNC Park, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 10am-3pm (TOURS ONLY) Courtesy of RADical Days which begin this week! Go here to learn more about free admissions during RADical Days.

Park of the Week: Anderson Playground at Schenley Park is a city favorite! Lots of great features for kids as well as covered picnic tables and great trails which are perfect for hiking or using the jogging stroller. The medieval castle-like play environment includes ladders, turrets, and slides surrounded by a landscaped moat of uneven timber rounds, evergreens, and perennials. Brontosaurus paw prints cast from the fossil collection of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History help lead children from one play area to the next.

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Weekend Family Event: Hartwood Acres Hay Day, Saturday, Sept. 27, 11am-4pm. Also free, courtesy of RADical Days, includes hay rides, pumpkin patch, arts & crafts, petting zoo, bounce house, Halloween puppet show + more!
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Enjoy fun in #Pittsburgh this week!
#momtouragetop5