Kids' activities coming up in the area

February 22, 2007 12:35 am

Future engineers will solve fun challenges Saturday at Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum. wewinter.jpg.jpg

Saturday's 'Winter Sky--Bare Trees' workshop at Gari Melchers Home and Studio will have young artists, ages 8 to 15, using the structure of trees to create art. See the listing above for details.

TODAY

Hip-Hop Hype with Gayle Danley, Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters, 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. Students in grades seven through 12 get tips on writing great hip-hop lyrics. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Registration required for most library programs. 540/372-1144, librarypoint.org.

TOMORROW

Youth Manners and Etiquette Class, Tea Tyme and What Nots, 907 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. Ages 4 to 14 will be served tea or another beverage. Reservations required. 4-4:30 p.m. $5. Runs again Tuesday. 540/368-0675.

SATURDAY Winter Sky--Bare Trees, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth. Ages 8 to 15 will use the structure of trees to create art. 12:30-2 p.m. $25. 540/654-1851, garimelchers.org.

The Adventure of Stuart Little, Riverside Center Dinner Theater, 95 Riverside Parkway, Stafford. Children's Lunch 'n' Show production of E.B. White's tale of a young New Yorker who has the shy manners of a mouse. Lunch 1:15 p.m., show 2-3 p.m. $14. Through March 10. 540/370-4300.

Please Touch, Stratford Hall, State Route 214, Montross. Hands-on exploration of Colonial tools and objects, plus traditional African-American storytelling and songs. Noon-4 p.m. Free with admission. 804/493-8038.

Storytime , Borders bookstore, Central Park. Stories vary with age. 10 a.m. 540/785-6171.

Middle School Madness, Spotsylvania YMCA, 5700 Smith Road, Chancellor. A movie, basketball, Ping-Pong, swimming, pizza and raffles. 7:30-10 p.m. Permission slips available at the door. 540/ 371-9622.

Pretty in Pink Princess Charm Class , Tea Tyme and What Nots, 907 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. Children 4 and older learn basic table manners with proper utensils. Dress up and bring your doll. Groups also welcome. Reservations required. 10-10:45 a.m. $10, includes food and drink. 540/ 368-0675.

Engineering Day: Use one finger to lift a 50-pound sandbag, learn to ride a Segway, race a bowling ball against a playground ball, and travel back in time to examine the John Smith Shallop; activities start at noon, 804/864-1407; The Charles Drew Story dramatically portrays the life of a brilliant black physician, a pioneer in the area of blood transfusions (recommended for ages 10 and up), 3 p.m., $8, runs Saturday and Sunday through March 4. Events take place at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond. 804/ 355-2001, smv.org.

SUNDAY The Great Egg Drop Contest, middle and high school students from Virginia schools compete to see whose egg container is light, yet strong enough to prevent an egg from cracking when dropped 20 feet, 2 p.m.; Bridge Building Competition, see which ice-cream-stick bridge can hold the most weight before it breaks, registration begins at 1 p.m., awards presented at 4:15 p.m. Both events are part of Careers in Engineering Day at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Rich-mond. 800/659-1727, smv.org.

TUESDAY

Fit Tots, Stafford County Parks & Recreation, Falls Run Industrial Park (off U.S. 17), Falmouth. Activities to help children, ages 3 to 5, develop concentration, relaxation, imagination and self-esteem. 10-10:45 a.m. $20 county resident, $25 non-resident. Registration required. Runs Tuesdays, through March 20. 540/373-8192.

WEDNESDAY

Kid Karaoke , Heavenly Bodies Holistic Center, 754 Warrenton Road, Suite 111, Stafford. Bring your own CDs for singing and dancing. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. 540/371-6343.

Toddler Time, stories, music and movement activities for ages 18 months to 3 years, 9:45 a.m.; Storytime, stories, action rhymes, music and crafts for ages 3 to 6, 10:30 a.m. Both events take place at Orange County Library, Madison Road, Orange. 540/661-5445.

UPCOMING

The Doodlebops Live, George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Tickets now on sale for this live-action series that focuses on three candy-colored, fun-loving characters in a rock band. April 21, 12:30 p.m. Tickets available at Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting ticketmaster.com, or by calling 703/573-7328.

ONGOING

Amazing Music Studio, Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond. Create a sound-and-light disco, dance on a giant piano, play an invisible harp. Runs through May 6. Included with museum admission. 800/ 659-1727, smv.org.