Are We There Yet?: Science, Sand, Circus and Sales

My 7-year-old daughter's pediatrician just advised us to avoid bubble baths for a while. I explained to him that her baths don't start out as bubble baths, in that I don't dump three capfuls of Mr. Bubble under running water. No, her baths turn into soapy affairs because I buy her cheap shampoo to do experiments with in the tub. It's pretty amazing what the child can come up with with a bottle of V05, a couple cups, an old bulb syringe from when she was a baby, an ice cube tray and some rubber bands.

 

"She's going to be a scientist!" her doctor said in amazement as I shared this with him.

Quite possibly, which is why I am thrilled to have an opportunity to let her experiments take shape someplace other than my bathroom. On Friday, July 12, the Berkshire Museum is hosting "WeeMuse: Night of Science" from 5 to 7 p.m. This free event, presented in partnership with TD Charitable Foundation, the Transition Team of Pittsfield and Sabic Innovative Plastics, will fill the museum with "Wacky, mystifying and fun science experiments," according to the museum's website. Kids can spend the evening walking on water, snacking on liquid nitrogen ice cream, making glow-in-the-dark slime, creating their own hover craft and more family-friendly experiments. Visit berkshiremuseum.org for details.

 

There is, of course, another event on Friday that allows kids to experiment, albeit with a different medium -- sand. That's right, it's time for the annual Eagle Street Beach event. Originated by artist Eric Rudd in 1999, the event will run from 3:30 to 6:30 and features more than 250,000 pounds of sand, donated by Specialty Minerals and delivered by the city, spread curb-to-curb down the entire length of Eagle Street in downtown North Adams. (The rain date is next Friday, July 19, so check the forecast and iBerkshires for updates, as the city will not run the event if there is a threat of rain, because really, who wants an Eagle Street mud party?) After the beach party the fourth annual Mexican Fiesta will follow at 7 p.m. I have to admit I liked this event better when it was a two-hour Wednesday afternoon affair just for kids, but either way, youngsters of all ages seem to have a good time sculpting and creating and competing.

 

If you're looking for some weekend entertainment for the kids, the Dalton Lions Club is having its annual circus fundraiser on Saturday and Sunday, July 13 and 14, at the American Legion Field on Route 9 in Dalton. The event features the Kelly Miller Circus, which has been around since 1938 and is the country's second-largest big top show. (That big top, FYI, has a seating capacity of 1,100 and is made of waterproof vinyl. The tent is 120 feet by 120 feet and is 40 feet high and is supported by more than a quarter of a mile of heavy gauge aluminum tubing as well as several miles of rope, steel cable and chain. Who knew?)

 

The circus is a fundraiser, so it's for a good cause, but if you have any concerns about the welfare of the animals, check out Kelly Miller's website, http://kellymillercircus.com/. There is some good information that may put your mind at ease and allow you to support the wonderful work the Lions Club does while giving the kids a thrill. Shows are 2 and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Advance tickets are available prior to circus day at Big Y World Class Markets, the Dalton General Store, the Dalton CRA, Greenridge Variety, Val's Variety and Harry's Supermarket.

 

One more fundraiser (well, OK, two!) to mention: library book sales! There are two this weekend -- the Berkshire Atheneum in Pittsfield and the Stockbridge Library. Bring the kids and let them browse the children's sections while you stock up on some summer novels that you will find time to read -- honest! The Pittsfield sale is inside the library on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Stockbridge sale is under the big tent out front on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. I hit as many of these sales as I possibly can, hoping to find a John Irving book I haven't read yet but usually settling for a Dean Koontz or two or some of those soft-back British novels that I enjoy. These are two great sales, and keep a look out for the Lenox Library's sale in August. Happy reading!

 

Berkshire County native Rebecca Dravis of Williamstown is a former journalist who now works for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. She can be reached at rdravis@verizon.net.