Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 12, 1991 TAG: 9103120078
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TAMMY POOLE NEWSFUN EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
If so, you probably dread having to ask your parents for $5 to go to a movie and buy a soft drink or popcorn or for $25 for a new blouse or baseball shirt.
Or maybe your family used to go out on Saturday or Sunday, but can no longer afford to.
Instead of sulking or wishing you belonged to another family, try to make the best of the situation.
"With extra money hard to have these days, we don't go out and eat pizza on Saturday nights like we used to do," said Jason Crawford of Natural Bridge. "So we stay at home and my mom makes us pizza. Then my mom and dad play 500 rummy with me and my two older brothers. This is a lot of fun."
Most kids enjoy going to movies. While discount rates are available, many kids still cannot afford to pay $3 or so to see a movie. Check different advertisements to see if any theaters in your area have special nights where the price is less than a dollar. In Roanoke, the Terrace Theatre at Crossroads Mall has 99 cent admission and the Grandin Theatre has special showings of some movies for 95 cents.
"I like going to the movies," said Cecilia Dye of Roanoke. "It's really cheap now - only 99 cents. I like romantic movies and funny movies."
"You can watch movies on TV. They are usually good and rated so kids can watch them. You and your family can decide on a movie you all like and watch it together one night. This costs nothing and is fun to do!" said Brooke Anderson of Buchanan.
If you have a VCR, you can often rent movies for under $3. Or you can check out movies from your local library for free.
"I like to go to the library. The library card is free, and you can check out books, tapes and films.," said Kim Karnes of Christiansburg.
Many libraries have videos similar to video stores. For example, the Salem Public Library has Walt Disney tapes such as Pinocchio and Cinderella and the Kid-A-Littles series for children that can be checked out for several days. And the Roanoke County Public Library (and all of its branches) have videos that can be checked out for two days. The main branch has about 600 videos for adults and children including Disney, children's cartoons and instructional videos.
Exercise often costs little or nothing. You can play ball with your friends or family, or in some cases, even play alone. You can ride your bike, take a hike or go swimming for free.
Take up a new hobby such as sewing, and use scrap materials to make gifts for others.
Read. Not only is reading fun, it also helps improve your vocabulary and helps you do better in school.
There also are lots of things that you and your family can do together for free or for a few dollars.
\ Plays
\ "I believe in make believe," a children's play, will be performed at Mill Mountain Theatre March 22-24. The cast includes 33 Roanoke Valley and surrounding area fifth- through ninth-grade pupils. The play is about five fairy tales by Brothers Grimm including the princess who wouldn't laugh, the elves and the shoemaker, the Bremen town musicians, the seven soldiers, and Simpleton the dunce. The play was written by Carol Lynn Pearson, and is sponsored by the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley Virginia Inc. in conjunction with Mill Mountain Theatre.
Showtimes are: March 22, at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (The 7:30 performance is signed for the hearing impaired); March 23, at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; March 24, at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now by calling 342-5740. All seats are reserved. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children.
\ Mill Mountain Theatre at Center in the Square on the Roanoke City Market. Plays last for three weeks. The first week's Saturday matinee is Family Day. Groups with a member age 17 or younger are admitted for $8 per person ($9 per person if the performance is a musical). The third Saturday matinee of the performance is Youth Day. Tickets for those 17 and under are $8 ($9 for a musical).
Sometimes you can save money by purchasing a season pass or discount coupons from a business or organization. These are available for Mill Mountain Zoo and the Science Museum of Western Virginia.
\ ZOOS:
\ Blue Ridge Zoological Park on top of Mill Mountain in Roanoke has 43 species of exotic and native animals on exhibit in a 10-acre site including a Siberian tiger, red pandas, golden-lion tamarins and a bald eagle. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids under 12. The zoo family membership is $25 for a year.
\ Natural Bridge Zoo in Natural Bridge reopens on March 23. The zoo has around 60 types of animals on exhibit including tigers, bears, llamas, goats and deer. Elephant rides are available on weekends for $1.50 per person. Children can feed some of the animals. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12. A season pass is $25 per person. For more information, call 291-2420.
\ MUSEUMS
\ Science Museum of Western Virginia at Center in the Square on the City Market. The museum has exhibits on fish and reptiles, as well as scientific displays on everything from lighting to optical illusions. Admission is $4 for adults and $2.50 for children 17 and under. Shows in the Hopkins Planetarium are an additional $1.75. Admission is free every second Friday of the month from 3:30 until 8 p.m. A family membership is good for a year for $40, which includes admission to exhibits and planetarium shows and shop discounts.
\ Roanoke Museum of Fine Arts at Center in the Square on the City Market. "We were children just like you" is on display at Center in the Square on the City Market through March 31. Free admission.
\ Roanoke Valley History Museum at Center in the Square on the City Market. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids ages 12 and under. Free admission on the third Friday of every month from 3 to 5 p.m.
\ Harrison Museum of African American Culture. Through March 24, the museum has on exhibit a collection of painting and graphic designs - African Ambiance by Brenda Mveng. Students who are interested in 4-H can also visit the museum to find out more about it on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free.
\ Virginia Museum of Transportation, 303 Norfolk Ave. S.W. Admission is $2 ages 13-18 and $1.75 ages for 3-12. A soap box derby display lasts through March.
\ Virginia Tech Branch of the Museum of Natural History, 428 N. Main St., Blacksburg. Current exhibits include mammals of North America and a Virginia wildlife photo exhibit. Public lectures and other free events for families also are available. Admission is free.
\ Museum of Geological Sciences, 2061 Derring Hall at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. Displays include fossils, minerals and a seismograph. Admission is free. For more information, call (703) 231-6521 or 231-6029.
\ Wilderness Road Regional Museum, Newbern (Pulaski County). Exit 32 off I-81. Exhibits include a collection of Indian artifacts, a stage coach building, a house fixed up like slaves' quarters, a loom, and an international doll collection. Admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children in tour groups. For more information, call 674-4835.
\ Bedford City/County Museum, 201 E. Main St., Bedford. A current exhibit is on the "Otters" - the history of Bedford County High School Football from 1921-1963. Admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for students. For more information call 586-4520.
\ Booker T. Washington National Monument: Va. 122 in Franklin County adjacent to Smith Mountain Lake. Admission is free for kids under 17 and $1 for ages 17-61. For more information, call (703) 721-2094.
\ Botetourt County Historical Museum, Fincastle. Antique furniture and portraits by early 19th-century painters. Open Sundays, May through October.
\ Andrew Johnston House Museum & Research Center, 208 N. Main St., Pearisburg. Has the oldest brick house in Giles County with original furniture. Free admission.
\ Blue Ridge Farm Museum, Ferrum. A living-history German farm with costumed interpreters reproduces life and architecture common to the area in the 1800s. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Open May 11 through August 11.
\ ARTS
\ Brown Bag Arts is a free lunchtime performance at noon on Fridays throughout the summer held at the Crestar Plaza in downtown Roanoke. Sponsored by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. Entertainment includes music, singing, theater performances, dance and some storytelling. Bring a bag lunch.
\ MISCELLANEOUS
\ American Women's Show this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Roanoke Civic Center. Admission for adults is $3.50. Children under 12 get in free. There are 150 displays including demonstrations on fashion and entertainment and cooking stages.
\ Roanoke city will celebrate youth week from April 21 to -28. Several free activities are in the planning stages. For more information, contact the Office on Youth 981-2349.
\ Easter egg hunt on Saturday for ages 3-12. The hunt will be held at area parks beginning at 10 a.m. Sponsored by First Virginia Bank-Southwest, the Roanoke City and County Departments of Parks and Recreation, and Q-99 FM.
\ Area Department of Parks and Recreation offices offer a wide variety of youth activities ranging from sports to arts and crafts to educational and afterschool programs. Contact your local department for more information.
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by CNB