Robosaurus: The auto-munching, true-life Transformer puts in an appearance at Phoenix Boys & Girls Herbert Kieckhefer Club, 548 West Southern, from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, June 21, as a prelude to its "performance" on Saturday, June 22, at the Ford Motor Company Jets Versus Funny Cars Extravaganza (see Pic Hits). Call 268-0200.
show and tale
"Urban Contemporary Tales": Fatimah Halim tells original stories about growing up in the inner city in this educational program for kids ages 7 to 12. It starts at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at Phoenix Central Library, 1221 North Central. Admission is free, but registration is required; call 262-6625.
good sports
Grand Canyon State Games: (Opening ceremonies Thursday, June 20; competition Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June 23.) See Pic Hits.
Wet and Wild Water Day: The event, featuring tube and raft relays, a balloon toss, sandcastle building and more, is slated for noon to 4 p.m. Friday, June 21, at Chaparral Pool, 8000 East Jackrabbit in Scottsdale. Admission is free. For details call 994-2414.
arts and minds
"East Meets West: Chinese Brush Painting": A painting session and a slide show comparing and contrasting Oriental and Western art are on the agenda at this event for those ages 8 to 13. Free sessions are scheduled at 2 and 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Cholla Branch Library, 10050 North Metro Parkway East. For details call 534-3770.
"Mexican Arts": Children age 5 and up learn about how the arts developed in the land to our south in this hands-on program, scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at Palo Verde Branch Library, 4402 North 51st Avenue. Admission is free. Call 262-6805.
"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. Call 994-2787.
"Rhythm and Reading Express": Jamie Showers hosts sing-along songs and play-along games for kids 6 and up at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at Glendale Public Library, 5959 West Brown. Admission is free. Call 930-3537.
"Snazzy Snapshots": Mimi Hershey hosts this free photography session for those ages 12 to 18. It's slated for 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at Mesa Public Library, 64 East First Street. Participants should provide their own cameras and film. Registration is required; call 644-2736.
"Summer Solstice": This mixed-media exhibition of works by students at the Art Ventures studio for kids continues Thursday, June 20; and Friday, June 21, at Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Viewing is free. Call 965-5377.
road trip
Family Saguaro Harvest and Campout in Tucson: The wonderful Arizona/Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney, hosts this sleepover and re-creation of a traditional Tohono O'odham desert harvest. Before falling asleep 'neath the stars, kids and their parents will gather cactus fruit and prepare it over an open fire, creating a tasty concoction called "saguaro syrup." The event begins on Saturday, June 22, and concludes Sunday, June 23. For prices and required preregistration, call 1-520-883-2702.
at the concert
Mary Hollan's Pocketful of Miracles: The vocalist/keyboard player performs original songs and Disney tunes at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, in the Program Room at Tempe Public Library, 3500 South Rural. Admission is free. For details call 350-5522; the TDD number for the hearing-impaired is 350-5050.
"Howl With the Wolves": Southwest Brass performs at this all-ages, multimedia affair, scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, June 24, in the auditorium at Glendale Public Library, 5959 West Brown. Admission is free. Call 930-3537.
Keith Johnson and Island Magic: The group performs an educational show for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Mesa Public Library, 64 East First Street. Admission is free. For details call 644-2705.
on the big screen
"Float-In" Flicks: City of Tempe hosts the 1996 edition of this always-fun series, which features simultaneous viewing of movies and swimming in the cool pool at Kiwanis Park Recreation Center, 6111 South All-America Way. The monthly series continues with a screening of Tom and Huck (PG) at 8 p.m. Friday, June 21; open swimming precedes at 6:30. Admission is $4, $2 for kids ages 3 to 17. Raft or tube rental, required for those who want to get wet, is an additional $3. Call 350-5201; the TDD number for the hearing-impaired is 350-5050.
"Fun Flicks for Kicks": Borders Books & Music at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, Suite 200, hosts this free, all-ages summer series, which continues with a screening of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (PG) at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 20. Each kid receives a gratis bag of popcorn. Call 957-6660.
Summer Family Film Series 1996: The City of Tempe-sponsored series continues at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, with a screening of A Goofy Movie (G) on the southwest side of the lake at Kiwanis Park, Mill Avenue and All-America Way. The series continues through Wednesday, July 10. For details call 350-5200; the TDD number for the hearing-impaired is 350-5050.
Summer Movie Fun 1996: Harkins Theatres presents its annual youth-film fest, which continues this week with final screenings of Balto on Thursday, June 20; and Friday, June 21, 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). Babe plays Monday, June 24; and Tuesday, June 25, at Arcadia 8 (40th Street and Thomas), Bell Tower 8 (51st Avenue and Bell in Glendale), Camelview 5 (Goldwater Boulevard north of Camelback in Scottsdale) and Fiesta 5 (1520 South Longmore in Mesa). More Babe showings are scheduled Wednesday, June 26, at Arcadia 8, Bell Tower 8, Fiesta 5 and Paradise Valley 7. All flicks start at 9:45 a.m. A series pass costs $5; without it, the price is $2 per film. The silver-screen fun continues through Friday, August 9; all movies are rated G or PG. For details call the Harkins Summer Movie Fun Hot Line at 517-2700.
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, June 21, and continues until 8 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the facility, 165th Avenue and Northern in Litchfield Park. The cost is $35, $30 for members, which includes all materials, plus dinner and breakfast. For registration and other information, call 935-9453.
Summer Days and Nights at Phoenix Zoo: The menagerie, 455 North Galvin Parkway, in Papago Park, hosts "Zoolympics: The Summer Game," the latest installment in its educational festival "The Celebration of the Natural World," which continues through September. "Zoolympics" features interactive mental and physical exercises with an animal theme; it continues through Sunday, June 30. Participation is free with regular admission: $7, $6 for seniors, $3.50 for kids ages 4 to 12, gratis for younger children and members. "Sunset Safari," scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 21; and the same hours Friday, June 28, features train rides, animal encounters and entertainment. Special admission is $4, $3 for members; kids 2 and under get in free. A "Family Night Camp" sleepover is scheduled Saturday, June 22; for prices and registration details, call 273-1341, extension 7332. For general information, call 273-1341 or 273-7771.
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--wherever "there" might be--by Jamie Maverick, David Gilhooly, Laurie Campbell, 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 facility hosts a free "Summer Solstice" event, featuring water-related learning activities and "light walks" led by Bob Miller of San Francisco's Exploratorium, from 8 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, at nearby Heritage and Science Park, Seventh Street and Washington; registration is required for the walks. "Construction Junction," featuring hands-on tests of kids' scientific knowledge, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at the center, 147 East Adams; participation is free with regular admission. 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. Call 256-9518 or 258-7250.
on the stage
Great Arizona Puppet Theater: The troupe presents performances of Silly Bunny and Peter Rabbit, a musical variation on the Beatrix Potter tale, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, June 20; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, June 21; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23; and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at its theatre, 3302 North Seventh Street. The production continues through Sunday, July 14. Admission is $4.50; call 277-1275. GAPT presents a free performance of Three Billy Goats Gruff at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Program Room at Tempe Public Library, 3500 South Rural. Call 350-5522; the TDD number for the hearing-impaired is 350-5050. On Wednesday, the group performs an all-ages production titled Navaho, featuring four Native American folktales, at Dobson Ranch Branch Library, 2425 South Dobson in Mesa. Showtime is 10 a.m. Admission is free, but registration is required; call 644-2705.
The Little Mermaid: Desert Stages, Inc., presents a musical version of the Hans Christian Andersen story. This week's performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 21; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at the theatre, 8473 East McDonald in Scottsdale. The production continues through Sunday, June 30. Tickets are $6 in advance, $9 at the door. For details call 483-1664.
Little Red Snares the Wolf and Little Red and the Hoods: Valley Youth Theatre, located at Tower Plaza Shopping Center, 3883 East Thomas, presents these twin updates of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. The former won the Best Play of the Year award at London, England's Player-Playwrights competition. The latter is an audience-participation story filled with valuable lessons about how kids can protect themselves against stranger danger. This week's performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 21; 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22; and 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday, June 23. The production continues through Sunday, June 30. Admission is $4.50. For reservations and details, call 267-3880.
