"Weinerville Live": Marc Weiner, creator and host of Nickelodeon's half-human/half-puppet show, has taken his absurdist invention on the road. Weiner and many of his creations--including Boney the Dinosaur, Dottie the Mayor and tough-guy Socko--make a pit stop at Celebrity Theatre, 440 North 32nd Street, on Saturday, August 10. Showtime is 4 p.m. Tickets are $14, available at the scene and Dillard's. For more information, call 267-9373 or 678-2222.
safety first
Super Safety Saturday: This second annual event features entertainment, presentations and interactive programs designed to teach kids and their families how to protect their property and themselves. Special guests include Dewey, Salt River Project's walking water droplet; Vince and Larry, those star-crossed crash-test dummies from the Governor's Office on Highway Safety; and Gus and Goldie, National Pool and Spa Institute's water-safety-spouting spokesfish. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 10, in Center Court at Superstition Springs Center, 6555 East Southern in Mesa. Admission is free. For details call 396-2570.
at the concert
Tim Cain: The children's performer has recorded a number of albums--including A Day in Tim's Garden and Tim and the Trees--and won more than his share of National Parenting and Parent's Choice awards. Cain performs a free show at 1 p.m. Sunday, August 11, at Borders Books & Music, 1361 South Alma School in Mesa. For details call 833-2244.
friends in deed
Back-to-School Supplies Drive: Baptist Hospital's Wellness Connection sponsors this effort to collect much-needed materials for area learning institutions. The free event also features gratis immunizations, activities and literacy information. It's scheduled for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, August 10, at Christown Mall, 19th Avenue and Bethany Home. For details call 242-9074.
Kids' Clothes Swap Meet: Arizona Physicians IPA, the largest health-care provider in AHCCCS, hosts this event from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, August 10, at Maryvale Plaza, 51st Avenue and Indian School. Accompanied kids can trade clothes that no longer fit for "gently used" garments that do; the clothes collected at the meet go to needy children. Admission is free. For details call 274-6102.
isle contact
Tia's Royal Islanders: The troupe wraps up City of Mesa's 1996 "Summer Spotlite" series with a program of dances from Hawaii and Polynesia, including the Samoan fire dance. Three shows, all in Mesa, are planned on Wednesday, August 14: at 10 a.m. at Dobson Ranch Branch Library, 2425 South Dobson; at 12:30 p.m. in Center Court at Superstition Springs Center, 6555 East Southern; and at 7 p.m. at Mesa Public Library, 64 East First Street. Admission is free; registration is required for the Dobson Ranch show. For details call 644-2242.
among the animals
Sleepover at Wildlife World Zoo: The fourth annual chaperoned summer series continues this week. WWZ staff members escort kids in grades four through eight on a night hike through the zoo and teach them how to paint their own tee shirts. The fun starts at 7 p.m. Friday, August 9, and continues until 8 a.m. Saturday, August 10, at the facility, 165th Avenue and Northern in Litchfield Park. The next sleepover is slated for Friday, August 23. The cost is $35, $30 for members, which includes all materials, plus dinner and breakfast. Call 935-9453.
Summer Days and Nights at Phoenix Zoo: The menagerie, 455 North Galvin Parkway, in Papago Park, hosts a final "Family Night Camp" sleepover on Friday, August 9; for prices and registration details, call 273-1341, extension 7332. The educational festival "The Celebration of the Natural World" continues through September; call for details about August's entry. For general information, call 273-1341 or 273-7771.
arts and minds
"Poets and Painters": The touring exhibit of multimedia works by students at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the result of a program called "art engineering," an intensive, kid-led exploration of the art-instruction techniques of tomorrow. The installation continues through Sunday, August 18, in Young at Art Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Viewing is free. For details call 994-2787.
road trip
"Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" in Flagstaff: New Jersey artist Gary concocts giant dino sculpture out of old auto parts, and about 20 of his labors of love are displayed through Sunday, November 3, at the Museum of Northern Arizona, located three miles north of Flag on U.S. Highway 180. The entrance fee, which doesn't include admission to the museum proper, is $6, $5 for seniors, $4 for kids ages 2 to 12. For details call 1-520-774-5213.
on the big screen
"Free Family Movie Series": Valley Art Theatre, 509 South Mill in Tempe, hosts the series, which continues with screenings at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 10; and the same time Saturday, August 17. Dunston Checks In (PG) is scheduled this week. Each movie is preceded by a community-awareness presentation. Admission is free, but tickets must be picked up in advance. Call 829-6668.
"Fun Flicks for Kicks": Borders Books & Music at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, Suite 200, hosts this free, all-ages series, which continues with a screening of The Fox and the Hound (G) at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 8. Each kid receives a gratis bag of popcorn. Call 957-6660.
Summer Movie Fun 1996: The Harkins Theatres chain presents its annual youth-film fest, which concludes this week with final screenings of Jumanji (PG) on Thursday, August 8; and Friday, August 9, at Westridge Mall 6 (75th Avenue and Thomas); Bell Towne Centre 8 (Seventh Street and Bell); Paradise Valley 7 (Tatum and Cactus); and Cornerstone 6 (Rural and University in Tempe). Admission is $2. Call 517-2700.
at the museum
Arizona Museum for Youth: "Fly, Float & Locomote: Transportation in Art" features mixed-media representational works about how to get from here to there by Laurie Campbell, David Gilhooly, Jamie Maverick, Luis Jimenez, Robert McCall and others. The exhibit continues through Friday, September 13, at the museum, 35 North Robson in Mesa. Various workshops and related special events are scheduled; call 644-3690 for details. For general information, call 644-2467.
Arizona Science Center: The "TechZone 1996" exhibit features information and hands-on displays about the latest scientific innovations, from voice-recognition devices to air bags; it continues through Monday, September 2. The center is located at 147 East Adams. Call 256-9518 or 258-7250.
Mesa Southwest Museum: "Kuykendall Doll and Figure Collection," featuring about 350 of the title creations, continues through Sunday, September 29, in Community Gallery. The center is located at 53 North Macdonald. For details call 644-2230.
on the stage
Great Arizona Puppet Theater: The troupe presents performances of Rapunzel at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, August 8; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, August 9; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10; 2 p.m. Sunday, August 11; and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 14, at its theatre, 3302 North Seventh Street. The production continues through Sunday, September 8. Admission is $4.50. For details call 277-1275.
The Little Rascals: Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre presents a musical version of the old TV and movie favorite. Performances are scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 8; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 9; 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, August 11, at the theatre, 7020 East Second Street in Scottsdale. Tickets are $5. For details call 990-7646.
West Side Valley Youth Theatre, located at Tower Plaza Shopping Center, 3883 East Thomas, presents the musical, a contemporary update of Romeo and Juliet. This week's performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 8; 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 9; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, August 11. The production continues through Sunday, August 18. Admission is $6; proceeds benefit Mothers Against Gangs (MAG) and Phoenix Police Department's Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program. For details call 267-3880.
