Family Activities

thurs. 1
.Buffalo Orienteering Club -
Learn and practice map and compass
skills, for all ages and abilities, runners
and hikers, 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1,
Chestnut Ridge Park Casino, 6121
Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park.
834-2922, www.buffalo-orienteering.org
fri. 2
.Japanese Children's Day -
Part of the Friday Night Pizza and Play
Nights. Children can make their own
carp kite and sample Japanese snacks,
5:30-8 p.m. Friday, May 2, Explore &
More... a children's museum, 300 Gleed
Ave., East Aurora; $. 655-5131,
www. exploreandmore. org

sat. 3
First Saturday Fly
Bring your family and come fly
with the Great Lakes Kitefliers
Society, who will be flying kites,
large and small of all different
colors, noon-4 p.m. Saturday,
May 3, Gratwick Park, Ward
and River roads, North
Tonawanda. 839-5254

fri. 2 & sat. 3
.Nights of the Vernal Bloom
- A live show that discusses the
constellations and deep-sky objects in
the spring 2008 night sky, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 2, and 3:30 p.m. Saturday,
May 3, Ferguson Planetarium, 1300
Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; $. 878-4911,
www.fergusonplanetar ium.net
.The Dawn of New Horizons
- This show illustrates the importance
of two of NASA's current probe
missions: Dawn, sent to the Asteroid
Belt, and New Horizons en route to
Pluto, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, and
2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, Ferguson
Planetarium, 1300 Elmwood Ave.,
Buffalo; $. 878-4911,
www.fergusonplanetar ium.net

sat. 3
.Young Investigators
Conference - Bring the entire
family to the Buffalo Zoo for the 2008
Young Investigators Conference, where
children and adults will do hands-on
science investigations, noon-4 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, Zoofari Courtyard of
the Buffalo Zoo, 300 Parkside Ave.,
Buffalo. Enter through the gate located
on Ring Road in Delaware Park.
.Shaking Hands and Kissing
Babies - Opening celebration of the
exhibit that looks at the evolution of
presidential campaigns, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, and continuing
through Feb. 22, 2009, the Buffalo and
Erie County Historical Society, 25
Nottingham Court at Elmwood
Avenue, Buffalo. $. 873-9644, Ext. 301,
www.bec hs.org
sat. 3 & sun. 4
.Make It For Mom - Come into
Badding Bros. Farm Market's
greenhouse and make something special
for mom on Saturday and Sunday, May
3 and 4. Choose a pot and a plant and
then plant it yourself for mom. Badding
Bros. will hold the plant for you until
you are ready to take it home. Bring the
kids and bring your camera. Plants can
be picked up any day during normal
business hours before or on Mother's
Day, Badding Bros. Farm Market,
10820 Transit Road, East Amherst.
636-7824

sun. 4
.Sunday Family Walk - Walk
through the woods as naturalists help
you seek out the natural wonders that
abound at Beaver Meadow, 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, Beaver Meadow
Audubon Center, 1610 Welch Road,
North Java; free. 1-800-377-1520,
www. buffaloaudubon. com
now-June 21
.Palette of Life - Focuses on
the colors of our world with a vibrant
collage of exhibits, collections and
activities, through June 21, the Buffalo
Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt
Parkway, Buffalo; $. 896-5200,
www.buffalomuseumof science.org
now-June 29
.First Ladies - Exhibit features
memorable letters, speeches and other
items of various First Ladies of the
Presidents of the United States,
including Martha Washington, Abigail
Adams, Mary Todd Lincoln, Eleanor
Roosevelt and others, through June 29,
The Karpeles Manuscript Library
Museum, 458 Porter Ave., Buffalo; free.
885-4139, www.karpeles.com
now-June 30
.Kwa:ne Kuhseshe ha Yu
nekuhne: Many Winters Ago...
Native American Children's Book
Illustrations. Features a selection of
some of the leading Native American
Children's book illustrators from across
the United States and Canada, bringing
to life themes of cultural, tradition,
family life and respect for nature,
through June 30, the Castellani Art
Museum, Niagara University, 5795
Lewiston Road, Lewiston; donation.
286-8201, www.niagara.edu/cam
Ongoing
.Freedom Crossing: The
Underground Railroad in
Greater Niagara - Interpretive
Center is part of the New York State
Heritage Trails, and tells the story of
the Underground Railroad in our region
through photographs, history, video and
art, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through
Saturdays, and 1-5 p.m. Sundays,
through June 30, Castellani Art
Museum of Niagara University,
Lewiston; free admission. 286-8200