KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a teenager, a math teacher I respected told me that there are two kinds of people: Those who make pizza, and those who grab as many slices as they can. "At the end of the day," he said, "you want to be someone who has made more pizza than she eats." He said this to me at the perfect time, when I was just forming my ideas about who I was and was going
to become. I decided I wanted always to be on the positive side of the pizza-making equation, so I started thinking about how to use the time I have here on Earth to make as much pizza as I possibly could. Over the years, I found that the key to success in this long-term goal is to tune my mental radar to the very near future, to stay in control of my time rather than giving it away to an algorithm that serves endless empty calories: How best do I use the next five
minutes, the next half hour, the next day? It all adds up. Even young kids can add value to the world, especially if they watch their parents doing it. New Year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, especially when they're overly specific. But resolving to be on the positive side of the pizza-making equation is straightforward. For some easy recipes for quick wins, check out my quick-read article 12 Starter Ideas for Pizza on Earth. Then look up from your phone, scan your world, and you'll find all the ingredients you need. Here's to a delicious 2026!
—Debra Ross, publisher
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Start your weekend with Morning Yoga—open to all levels, with the first Saturday of each month tailored specifically for beginners. This grounding and energizing practice helps set the tone for the day ahead.
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Explore the Arboretum under the glow of the full moon during these special after-hours events that invite visitors to explore astronomy and the natural world. During the winter months, snowshoes are available to rent so visitors can explore winter trails and find the best moon-viewing spots before warming up around a bonfire and roasting a marshmallow. Beverages will be available for guests to purchase. Please note these events are held rain or shine!
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Winter is coming…and The Fair on 4 in turning into a full-blown Winter Wonderland! Join us for a limited-time pop-up experience filled with festive décor, sparkling photo ops, and a specialty menu of winter cocktails and seasonal bites. Whether you’re here for a night out, a family adventure, or a cozy drink under the lights, this is your destination for all things merry and bright.
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Bring Your Kids!, a very very ridiculous comedy variety show for kids and their grown-ups, returns to Cadenza Music!
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Members of the Minnesota Boychoir return for their annual Winter Concert — performed twice at 1pm and 3:30pm. These concerts are free and open to the public.
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Night Trains® season is a special Holidays tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. Night Trains runs from October 2025 through February 2026 with additional bonus nights noted below. What is Night Trains? The museum’s collection of model trains of all scales and toy trains of yesteryear come alive throughout the Museum (Sorry, no real trains to board and ride on!). Night Trains Season magic begins as the lights are turned down and the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of operating vintage passenger trains. The make believe towns are buried in snow and holiday decorations are set up all over the towns. Uniquely decorated trains will run on the layouts and special holiday-only layouts will also be on display.
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The winter solstice marks the shortest day of sunlight in our hemisphere—after December 21, the days begin to get longer again! Take heart and celebrate the season with the Bell Museum. We have lots of activities for you! Take a Winter Walk through Minnesota Journeys with our gallery scavenger hunt. Learn how the greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm at our Climate Cart — even during the shortest days of sunlight! Explore fascinating plants and the relationships that sustain them in the temporary exhibit Curious Allies. Learn about winter constellations in the planetarium when you see Minnesota Night Skies. Want to dive into the season with music and sound? See our award-winning planetarium show Secrets from a Forest, then explore the science of sound when you try making and learning about sound waves at a gallery cart in the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Horizon Hall. Come learn and play with us!
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Drop in to hang out and make cool stuff at FunLab! Featuring crafts, science experiments, engineering projects, video games, and more. This program is designed for ages 7-11.
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Unleash your inner street artist! Kids go big in this extreme art class, painting vibrant graffiti right on the walls. They'll learn graffiti techniques, explore their imagination, and create bold, colorful masterpieces during this creative adventure! YES! they really do get to paint on the walls! Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with protective gear, but wear clothes that can handle some colorful chaos.
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We’re celebrating our sixth year of the GLOW Holiday Festival in Minnesota! Featuring over a million lights, the Enchanted Forest, Vixen’s Zip Line, and Giant Slide, GLOW is a must-see experience. The elves have been busy gussying up the place with new exhibits to make sure your holidays are shiny & bright.
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- FunLab - Saint Paul Public Library - George Latimer Central Library, 90 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102, Friday, January 2, 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Mill City Farmers Market
- 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Saturday, January 3, 2026, 10am-1pm
- Sundays at Landmark:
Minnesota Boychoir - Landmark Center, Sunday, January 4, 2026, 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM
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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
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2025's winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator,
and Top STEM Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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