Explore Wendy Park

Skip that trip to Wal-Mart today, because it's the day to explore Wendy Park at Play Until Dark @ Wendy Park, a fund-raiser to help link the park near Edgewater Park to the Towpath Trail. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., the whole family will find something fun to do -- kayaking, climbing, hiking, bike riding, music, food -- everything! Wendy park is 22 acres that run along both the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. There's kitesurfing, bird demonstrations, face painting for the little ones, rock climbing, etc. $8 to get in; $5 to park; free for kids 10 and under. www.playuntildark.org.

busy weekend ahead

Let's get right into it .... Gotta get the little one to swim practice and myself to work.

The show's not until Monday, but you'll want to get tickets today for the Jonas Brothers, a kids pop-punk band made up of a 19- , 17- and 14-year-old hitting Cleveland's House of Blues Monday with Marvelous Party Tour. Show's at 7 p.m Tickets are $20-$30. HOB is at 308 Euclid Ave. You've heard them on Radio Disney and on Disney Channel -- your kids will love to see em live.

More on other cool weekend events later ...

Poor poor Paris

All that time, no room to do anything in her tiny cell. So what does she do? She "finds" God. What I want to know is who was taking care of Tinkerbell the chihuahua? Mommy probably.

Enough of that hooha.

Take Grandpa or Grandma by the hand and head to the Aspen Grove Shelter in Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Road in Chardon, for the Grandparents in the Park program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, where you can share a picnic and some fun. Call 440-286-9516 to register and find out what food you can bring.

While you're in Geauga County, there's another place to go if thunderstorms hit. It’s all about stars and the bugs at two Geauga Park District exhibits at the Donald W. Meyer Center in Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Road in Chardon. Head to the Observatory Corner Exhibit where a coyote is kids' guide to the stars and Bug’s Life Exhibit where they can use binoculars, play a match game, create a ladybug, crawl into a giant ant hill and take home a free packet of wildflowers to plant. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. 440-286-9516.

Tonight from 6 to 10, St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake kicks off its third annual Summer Community Carnival with adult and kid rides, a casino tent, foods, midway games and a Great Lakes Brewery Beer Garden (YUM! Dollar drafts tonight and Sunday). 6-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-10 p.m. Sunday. 2256 Clague Road.

Tonight is the benefit performance and party ($25) for the 29th annual Dobama Theatre Marilyn Bianchi Playwriting Festival in the Alma Theater at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. The festival runs through Sunday. Call 216-932-6838 about tonight. Other plays will be performed by students at 7:30p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. www.dobama.org.

I say jib it!

one of our favorite sites (be careful, some of it is R-rated), jibjab.com, has the greatest video, "Star Spangled Banner," with clips of presidents forming the words to the song. It's clean, it's fun and who can resist footage of LBJ disco dancing and FDR doing the hustle?

Call today to reserve your inner tubes for a Dive-In Movie showing of the animated "Over the Hedge" at the heated Ledge Pool in the Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley Reservation in Hinckley Township. It's Friday; doors open at 8 and cartoons start at 8:30. Movie follows at 9 p.m. To float in the pool during the movie (in a tube) is $4. You can sit on a blanket or chair on the lawn for free. 330-239-2911.

Tonight at 8 at the CanalWay Center in the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation of the Metroparks in Cuyahoga Heights, Blonde Boy Grunt and the Groans will get everybody's toes tapping with their eclectic mix of styles. Bring lawn chairs. 216-206-1000.

Stay cool and out of the oncoming storm clouds today.

gonna be a hot one

Thermometers will go beyond 90 degrees today, so it would be a great day to visit one of the many area beaches, look for "sea glass" that's been polished by Lake Erie waves, dig a giant hole, build a sand castle or boogie-board your way to coolness. Try the free Headlands Beach in Mentor to the east, or Huntington Beach in Bay Village to the west.

Libraries are pretty cool this time of year. Head to the Orange branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library today at 11:30 for the Grand Slam Reading with the Cleveland Indians, during which players visit the library and read books to kids. Outfield Jason Michaels visits today. The event might be full, so call first. 216-831-4282.

The North Olmsted branch welcomes hobo Dr. D. Light for the program, "Ridin' the Rails to U.S.A. Tails" today at 2 p.m. Dr. D. Light will take the whole gang on a train ride via stories to visit animals across the country, with interactive stories, songs, puppets, and rhyme. The library's at 27403 Lorain Road. 440-777-6211.

hard restart

So it's Monday and that thought of starting another week depresses me. Sue me.

Got a little time today around noon? Head to Cleveland's own Money Museum, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Learning Center and Money Museum, that it. The newest exhibit, Money of the World Today: A Portrait of Global Society, features coins and currency from 192 countries across the world, and is on loan from the American Numismatic Association Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo. The museum is open (for free) Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 216-579-3188, or go to clevelandfed.org/learningcenter.

them ugly

yeah, sure, the neighbor's ancient pug-mix would win Ugliest Dog in the Neighborhood, but check out the Chinese crested dogs in the World's Ugliest Dog contest. YIKES! www.cnn.com has a great slide show. Just eat your breakfast AFTER viewing, though.

Before it gets hot this week, get outside. Today is the 27th Wildwood Fine Arts and Crafts Festival at the city of Mentor's Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road. It's from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be lots of artwork, but there also will be jazz and food. Admission is $2.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can check out the Summerfest put on by the Olmsted Historical Society at the Frostville Museum in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. There's games, contests, a magician, lots o' bubbles, music, food, prizes and a balloonist. All museum buildings and store will be open. The suggested donation is $1 (12 and under free).

Today's the last day of the Cleveland Grand Prix champs car race. Catch the excitement of the races and all kinds of great kids activities all day -- but don't forget a hat and sunscreen. Go to www.grandprixofcleveland.com for details.

glorious day!

North Korea has agreed to close one of its undoubtedly many plutonium factories, the sun is shining, so get out there and have fun.

If you live anywhere near Garrettsville, or just like a good outdoor party, head to the Garrettsville Summerfest today and tomorrow along Silver Creek downtown. There will be games, food, traditional carnival fun and a Garrettsville Idol finals for top singers, among tons of other entertainment. Check out www.garrettsvillesummerfest.com for details and hours.

Prepare your ears for the Lakewood Hometown Band Sunday at 7 p.m. in the bandshell at Lakewood Park, as part of the city's summer concerts in the park fun.

Love a good deal, and willing to take the time to look for it? The annual Walton Hills garage sale willbe today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 17833 Sagamore Road (off Northfield Road or Ohio 8) directly across from Northfield race track.

And finally, today is the Great American Backyard Campout, so get the tent out of the garage for a little airing before the big Sleepout tonight. This is your chance to take a few hours with your kids in the outdoors, with flashlights, stories, bird calls -- maybe even a campfire and some marshmallows. Go to www.backyardcampout.org for more ideas.

no twitter here

So I read a story yesterday about a mom who sends out TWO DOZEN little messages a day to hundreds of her friends and relatives and others who subscribe to the twitter.com web site. Her topics: Eating too many chocolate espresso beans, putting off her to-do list, her kids' farts. Who wants to read that drivel? Yikes, what a waste of time and brain matter.

But this is no waste -- it's a great big blog race!

Here's what's up for today in the Greater Cleveland area.
Today, Friday and Saturday are the last performances, at 8 p.m. each night, of the Straw Hat Theatre's "The Wizard of Oz." Directed by Linda Fundis of Austinburg, it's at the Ashtabula Arts Center, 2928 W. 13th St. in lovely Ashtabula. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 kids. Call 440-964-3396.

It's a big party on the other side of town in Avon Lake starting tonight with the Avon Lake Summer Carnival through Sunday at the Learwood Square Shopping Center (Lear and Walker road). The carnival goes from 5 to 11 p.m. today, and then 1 to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Kids will love the carnival rides, games, pony rides food and other stuff. Call 440-933-3129.

hard rain comin'

No better time to go to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on Wade Oval in University Circle to get a load of Animal Secrets, geared to kids ages 3-8. So many hands-on stations -- animals at a stream, a meadow, in the woods, in a cave, and in the naturalists’ tent -- that your kids will surely not want to leave. The museum's open Monday through Saturday, 10 to 5 pm; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. www.cmnh.org. Admission is $9 ($5 after 5 on Wednesdays); $7 for kids 7-18; $6 kids 3-6; free for kids age 2 and under.

happy dads day!

OK, so it's threatening rain and/or storms on a day when none of us really want it because it might get the steaks on the grill all soggy. Fear not! There's still tons of stuff do if it rains on Father's Day 2007, and tons of stuff to do outside if the clouds clear.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is making it extra-special for dads as it opens for free to all dads today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or so. If you didn't make reservations for the Father's Day brunch there today, fear not. You can still go and see all the wonderful animal fathers going about their business. www.clemetzoo.org.

This afternoon, head to the Near West Theatre, 6514 Detroit Ave. in Cleveland for “Annie Jr.” See the Summer Children's Theatre production featuring Miss Hannigan, Oliver Warbucks and the orphan gang at 3 p.m. today. Tickets are $6. 216-961-6391 or www.nearwesttheatre.org.

Feel the boom of of the cannons and smell food being cooked over an open fire during a War of 1812 Encampment from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Western Reserve Historical Society’s Shandy Hall, 6333 South Ridge Road West in Geneva. You’ll see the 89th Regiment of British Grenadiers from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, an authentic British campsite and at 1 p.m., a battle between American and British forces. There also will be arms drill, food preparation, ladies’ fashion shows, mini militias for kids and period dancing and a magician performing tricks with authentic props and equipment from 200 years ago. Admission is $5; $4 seniors and children. 440-466-3680.

what's doin now

Welcome to the very first installment of my blog about what's going on in this wonderful, crazy, town full of things to do for kids and the families who love em.

Now that the Cavs have tanked (FINALLY! I can watch "The Office" reruns without guilt), we can all get behind the U.S. Women's National Soccer team
whose members are on a two-week road trip send-off series before the World Cup. The ladies will take on the team from China Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Get tickets for the match at ussoccer.com, and at Cleveland area Ticketmaster outlets (including Kroger, Giant Eagle, and
Macy's), at the Cleveland Browns Stadium box office (Monday through
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and by phone at 216-241-5555.

Want something tomorrow morning? NASA's got the thing for the gang with
"NASA Hits" from 10 to 3 Saturday. Check out a world without hurricane tracking, heart monitors, cordless power tools, bar codes, or Nike Air shoes. Presentations will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and there are free "Picture Yourself" photos, crafts and giveaways. 216-433-9653 glennevents.grc.nasa.gov.

Now get out there and explore Cleveland.