Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Aug. 27

Belk Theater

It’s really no wonder that wild children could become tame in the presence of Mary Poppins. She’s the perfect fictional nanny, making things come alive, flying with umbrella in hand, and more importantly, teaching children to behave and a busy working father how to love and make time for his family. Combining original stories by P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the Tony Award-winning Mary Poppins — produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh — continues its run at Belk Theater tonight.

• Film It’s already starting to get cooler outside, so embrace the outdoors while you can. Tonight during the Movies Under the Stars series, taking place outside at SouthPark Mall, you can watch Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince on the big screen for free. more...

• Art Drop by Gallery Up today for a look at its newest exhibition, Reverie. It features drawings and paintings by Rock Hill artist Harriet Marshall Goode and Finnish artist Merja Isomaa-James. more...

Saturday, Aug. 28

The Ultimate Gym

Getting down and dirty trailer-trash style has never been so easy, especially since Nasty Productions began hosting its White Trash theme parties. This year’s White Trash Party marks No. 6. Dress as redneck-like as possible to win prizes in a costume contest. Other fun in the mix includes a white trash car competition, a wet T-shirt contest, a motorcycle burnout competition, a lawn mower race and more. Trashy sounds will be provided by a DJ and bands such as The Brown Liquor Pickers, The Loose Lugnuts and, as always, the costume clad parody primers Iron Cordoba. Oh, and this is a benefit for the Police K9 Foundation, so add to the beer gut (and do some good for pooches in need of safety vests) by paying a visit to the cash bar and coming out.

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Aug. 20

Duke Energy Theatre

Murder and erotic behavior are well in tact for Queen City Theatre Company’s latest theater production, Rope. The play, directed by Glenn T. Griffin, is based off of the written work by Patrick Hamilton that was brought to the big screen by Alfred Hitchcock in 1948 and has since been revived in London. In an effort to prove their superior intelligence, two males (in an obvious homosexual relationship) kill their classmate. After putting the body in a large wooden chest — used as a buffet for food — they have a dinner party with members of the victim’s family and friends in attendance. Sounds appetizing, right? Bon appetit!

• Special Event Zombies are invading Charlotte, and you’re either with ’em or you’re not. I’d say the first option is the best choice — if you want to keep your brain. During The 4th Annual Charlotte Zombie Walk, folks dress up in their undead best to walk the streets of the Q.C. in what appears to be a spectacle like something straight outta Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. The fun starts at Phil’s Deli and Tavern Uptown with a blood drive for the Red Cross and donations for Costumes for Kids. Then it’s to the streets for the prowl. more...

• Comedy Comedian James Gregory, often referred to as the "Funniest man in America," deep-fries his humor with soulful Southern attitude. Whether he is picking fun at health nuts or environmental fanatics, he says what he thinks and it’s pretty darn funny. See him live when he performs at Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby tonight. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Aug. 13

6012 Old Pineville Road, Suite A

Slappa, a special shindig featuring live painting by artist Pesu of Japan, as well as a DJ, food and beverages is set to go down tonight.

• Nightlife And another one — a nightlife spot, that is — bites the dust! Tutto Mondo, a local lounge that’s been in operation for 12 years, has announced it’s closing shop. To celebrate before its doors are closed forever, Takeover Friday, a mobile party of vast proportions, will descend on the place tonight. Bartenders and guest DJs that have worked the lounge from past to present will be in attendance. more...

• Music MikelParis (keyboardist of O.A.R.) visits The Evening Muse tonight for a quality performance of his perfected art of guitar drumming. On tour in support of his solo recording Flow, you can expect to hear a number of jazzy rock jams during his set. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Aug. 6

The Art House

As a member of the art collective God City, local visual artist wOlly Vinyl has (over the last few years) created some of the city’s most provocative works of art. Expect this trend to continue in his latest solo show, The Lost Art Form of Artistic Artistry, which will explore “the concept of creation and creativity.” The opening reception will be held at The Art House in NoDa tonight.

• Film Tonight at Regal Park Terrace there will be a film screening of Restrepo – an award-winning documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Journalists Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger put themselves in the shoes of soldiers by tagging along to the remote Korengal, Afghanistan. more...

• Art Move over, Santa. Local artist (and tattooist at Anything's Possible in Mooresville) Elf is bringing his canvassed goodies to Baku Gallery in NoDa. His exhibit, Elf’s One-Man Art Show, features a range of styles, including portraits, abstract pieces and fantasy works. more...

Saturday, Aug. 7

Visulite Theatre

During Big Mammas House of Burlesque’s latest show — this time around, called “Heroes versus Villains” — at Visulite Theatre, you can expect an environment like something straight outta a graphic novel. Considering the skimpy attire that most good/wicked females are featured wearing in comics, I’m sure this is going to be one sexy shindig, with no supernatural powers needed.

• Art Black Sheep and Twenty-Two Gallery are collaborating for a funky new exhibit titled Let the Good Times Roll — and its opening reception is tonight. Featuring custom-decorated skateboards from a variety of underground artists, the exhibit is also raising money for Letthegoodtimesroll.org, which is described as a “grassroots organization dedicated to raising awareness concerning the need for legal, noninvasive places to skateboard in Charlotte, North Carolina.” more...

• Film NoDa is ever changing, and this evening Back in the Day History Committee for Historic North Charlotte Neighborhood Association wants to reflect on that thought exactly. The 1996 documentary NoDa: The Evolution of North Charlotte’s Historic Art District (produced and directed by Jerry Kirk and funded by Jack Burke) will be screened at The Evening Muse. more...

Sunday, Aug. 8

McGlohon Theatre

Emotions (especially the bad ones) can be dangerous sometimes. Road rage is the perfect example, but since that was before William Shakespeare’s time, he stuck with the pure perils of jealousy and prejudices in his Othello. Collaborative Arts’ Charlotte Shakespeare Festival continues this evening with indoor showings of the tragedy at McGlohon Theatre.

• Music Local musician Dylan Gilbert is set to perform at Snug Harbor tonight with his new backing band The Over Easy Breakfast Machine. Expect to hear some tunes from his latest CD, Pangaea. Performing with Lucky Five, The Have and the Have Nots and Linus van Pelt. more...

• Theater Author Cormac McCarthy is an expert at penning thought-provoking themes to paper. Though, he’s better known for his novels — No Country For Old Men, All the Pretty Horses, The Road, Blood Meridian, among others — McCarthy has also dabbled in play writing. This resulted in The Sunset Ltd., which 3M Productions is bringing to the stage Duke Energy Theatre today. The play revolves around two characters — the suicidal “White” and the redeemed ex-convict “Black” — who debate the meaning of life and the existence of God. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, July 30

Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall

Davidson Community Players is going British for Noises Off. The play follows a quirky theater company in Great Britain. Audiences see the play from two sides: that of the audience and that of an insider, seeing the real behind-the-scenes drama.

• Comedy Amos’ Southend becomes a funny zone tonight, during the Southend Comedy Show. The event is hosted by Bill “TheThrill” Cleveland and will feature guest comedians Greg Martinez, Mike Buczek, Oletha Cuevas and Jonathan Dunn. Come prepared to laugh. more...

• Food For Thai food, including Tom Yum Kung soup, curries, noodles and Pad Thai, as well as other Asian choices, visit Blue Thai Basil in Blakeney. Try the delicious signature duck dish. more...

Saturday, July 31

Dharma Lounge

Argentinean songstress Natalia Clavier is no stranger to the mic — she’s been singing for years, but gained fame in 2008 when her debut album Nectar marked the first ever release by a solo female artist in record label ESL’s history. Clavier breezes into Dharma Lounge tonight to perform a mix of fresh flowing Latin-electronica-fusion. DJ Nat Eichler will spin tunes before and after the performance.

• Festival You don’t have to be a fan of sushi to attend the Bon Odori Festival at The Atrium today. In its 26th year, the event presents a variety of Japanese culture and entertainment that’s not fishy, including dance and drum performances, a martial art exhibition, a tea ceremony, arts and crafts. There will also be door prizes and a raffle. more...

• Film The Main Library’s summer film series “The Bad and the Beautiful: 8 films by Vincente Minnelli” continues today with a free screening of Bells Are Ringing. Actress Judy Holliday — who picked up a Tony Award for her role in the original Broadway production — plays a switchboard operator who makes her own fun by taking on multiple identities when talking to clients. Though this was Holliday’s last appearance on the big screen, it marked a ringing finale to her career in cinema. more...

Sunday, Aug. 1

Theatre Charlotte

Choreographer Martha Connerton’s contemporary dance company Kinetic Works is swinging onto the stage for its Summer Dance 2010 performance. Titled “Black, White and Blues,” the show is choreographed by Connerton and Duane Cyrus (former dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Martha Graham Dance Company). The repertory will include “A Seat in History,” based on impressions of the Greensboro civil rights sit-ins; “High and Lonesome,” dedicated to bluesman Jimmy Reed and “21 Intrusions,” backed by the music of composer Elliot Carter.

• Special Event Event-wise, you can’t get much more global than Pura Vida Worldly Arts’ latest shindig World Party: Potluck + International Danceathon. Aimed at getting the community together to appreciate a cultural fusion of music, dance and food, folks attending are encouraged to bring an international dish to share. more...

• Festival Head to Plaza Fiesta Carolinas for the Peruvian Independence Festival today. The daylong cultural celebration features Peruvian food, music by Live Latin Fuzion and dancing by Contigo Peru. Oh, and admission is free, which is cause for a fiesta in itself. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, July 23

The Great American Trailer Park

Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

Trash is sizzling in Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte’s musical, The Great American Trailer Park. Set in Florida’s Armadillo Acres trailer park, this comedy fuses an entertaining dose of drama and vulgarity. When a stripper moves in and disturbs an already disturbed agoraphobic neighbor (who’s obsessed with Dr. Phil) and her hubby, it’s time to lay down the law ... redneck style. This could get ugly, don’t y’all think?

• Comedy Those seeking laughter should roll into Prevue Music Hall tonight for another one of Charlotte Comedy Theater’s improv showdowns. Be prepared to get involved too, as the show feeds off of audience participation. more...

• Theater Join local actors this evening in NoDa (on N. Davidson Street, between Solstice Tavern and Salvador Deli) for a performance of Can Lady Liberty Save the Day? — a short play by Glenn Hutchinson, expressing concern about the new Arizona immigration law and the possibility of similar legislation spreading to NC. more...

Saturday, July 24

Charlotte Caribbean Festival and Parade

Uptown Charlotte

Island life sweeps into the Q.C. during the Charlotte Caribbean Festival and Parade. Obviously the sand and sea are lacking, but the event does aim at touching on other forms of the Caribbean lifestyle. It includes a parade, family activities, live music (including steel pan), limbo, arts and crafts and authentic Caribbean food.

• Music Live music leaves the traditional confines of concert halls and clubs in Charlotte to take the “stage” at some of the city’s most frequented hair boutiques as part of The Barbershop and Salon Tour. Organized by the Q.C.-based firm Y2 Management, the tour will showcase up-and-coming local artists — such as the award-winning poet Bluz and R&B/hip-hop vocalist Quill, among others. The fun starts today at No Grease (Uptown); show up to get yourself a cut and a concert. more...

• Music House music fans unite at Dharma Lounge tonight as Chicago native DJ Colette spins. This blonde-haired songstress— known for singing over her mixes — offers up a twist to the average modern dance music plays. more...

Sunday, July 25

Sweeney Todd: The School Edition

Theatre Charlotte

So, how 'bout a shave? Theatre Charlotte's Student Theatre Guild presents a performance of Sweeney Todd: The School Edition today. Based on Hugh Wheeler's book and Stephen Sondheim's musical, this thriller follows a barbaric barber (Sweeney) who returns to 19th century London for revenge against a judge who ruined his life. When Sweeney meets the thrifty pie shop owner (Mrs. Lovett), they create success through crime and take the town by storm with meat pies.

• Music Athens-based psychedelic rock act Dead Confederate stops in at Visulite Theatre for a performance tonight. You can expect to hear some new tunes from the bands upcoming disc Sugar. With Deer Tick. more...

• Food This weekend is your last chance to savor a three-course meal for $30 at participating upscale restaurants in Charlotte and the surrounding area during Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week. Don’t miss out on this tasty opportunity. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, July 16

Pecha Kucha

Dharma Lounge

You’ve probably heard of the Japanese-started Pecha Kucha by now. But just in case you haven’t, I’ll fill you in. A kind of artsy shindig for folks to show and tell — 20 slides for 20 seconds on a big screen — it’s bound to get your creative juices flowing. See for yourself during Pecha Kucha Vol. 6 at Dharma Lounge tonight.

• Festival This year’s Charlotte Black Gay Pride Festival, themed “Engage, Enlighten & Empower,” will feature loads of things to keep you entertained, including workshops, forums, pool parties, spoken word, music and other cool events around town. more...

• Music Though Billy Corgan is the only remaining member of Smashing Pumpkins, he’s handpicked a crew of musicians for his current tour — which makes a stop in Charlotte tonight to rock The Fillmore. With Kill Hannah and Bad City. more...

Saturday, July 17

Real Women Have Curves

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre

Playwright Josefina Lopez is the mastermind behind Real Women Have Curves. This inspirational play — which won a Humanitas Prize in 2002, was turned into a film, picked up by HBO, and snagged an Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival — follows the story of a traditional Latino family. Upon graduating high school, Ana is faced with a heavy-duty dilemma. She’s torn between the expectations of her family to work in a dress factory and her own longing to receive a higher education.

• Art Jerald Melberg Gallery’s newest exhibition Lost in Line, Found in Form isn’t a test, although some of the art in it — which is subject to plenty of thought — does slightly resemble inkblots in a Rorschach test. The exhibition features more than 30 works by Robert Motherwell. Motherwell was part of a group of artists known as the New York School of Abstract Expressionists — which also included popular painter Jackson Pollack. more...

• Food I’d imagine a dinner fit for a queen to be flashy, eccentric, and above all, delicious. But seeing as I’m a mere commoner, I’ll never truly know. Queens Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week is the closest I’ll come. In this culinary extravaganza 88 upscale restaurants in Charlotte and the surrounding area offer prix fixe, three-course (or more) dinners for $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity). Since this is a savings from what a meal like this would usually cost, you don’t have to worry about getting Prince Charming to spring for the date. more...

Sunday, July 18

Belly Oasis Mid-East Dance Concert

CPCC’s Pease Auditorium

Belly dancing is an art form that takes practice, from the training of muscles to the learning of special techniques. This evening, members of Yasmine’s School of Mid-East Dance and members of Magic Hips will perform group and solo shows during Belly Oasis Mid-East Dance Concert. The two-hour long showcase features demonstrations of different styles of belly dancing, including those originating from the Middle East and adapted by the Western world.

• Food A new restaurant serving French cuisine, Georges Brasserie dishes out a menu full of delights, including trout amandine, beef bourguignon, onion soup gratinee and cassoulets. more...

• Theater CPCC’s Summer Theatre has been busy at work. Already bringing plays like Into The Woods and A Year With Frog & Toad to the stage, it continues with The Drowsy Chaperone. This parody of a 1920s Broadway musical comes to life as an obsessive (and lonely) Broadway fan listens to a recording of his favorite musical and lets his imagination take a run for the wild. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, July 9

ThomThom (if that bird won’t sing)

Duke Energy Theatre

Machine Theatre’s ThomThom (if that bird won’t sing) is a musical derived from the imagination of Matt Cosper and directed by Barney Baggett with songs composed by Jon Lindsay. This black comedy follows two lost souls trying to find their way through a dark forest that’s full of scariness — take, for instance, the crazed gang of idiotic murderous wizards — and adventure.

• Art RedSky Gallery's latest exhibition is devoted to ceramics. The show features a combination of sculptural and studio ceramics by six talented artists — Donna Craven, Kim Ellington, Carol Gentithes, Fred Johnston, Matt Kelleher and Emily Reason. Stop in this evening for the opening reception, from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. more...

• Film Watch a free outdoor film screening of The Blind Side and enjoy free popcorn and prizes at Freedom Park this evening. more...

Saturday, July 10

Recess Fest

Plaza Midwood

What person in their right mind didn’t love recess? A time to relax the brain from work and play with friends, recess was and always will equate to ultimate fun — which is probably how local Zach Reader came up with the idea for Recess Fest. This event — aimed at getting folks out to enjoy a day of music, art, film and socializing — will be held at a variety of locations around the Plaza Midwood neighborhood.

• Comedy Funny Bone Improv hosts its Post Fireworks Show tonight at Matthews Hampton Inn. An array of improv firework zingers and humor that will “light up the sky and rain down laughs” are said to be in store. more...

• Sports Prepare for roller derby action as the Charlotte Roller Girls All-Stars take on the Wilmington-based Cape Fear Roller Girls at Grady Cole Center tonight. more...

Sunday, July 11

Gaga for Dada

Theatre Charlotte

No, Time Out Youth’s Gaga for Dada does not mean you have to sit in a corner and it has nothing to do with babies, despite what you may be thinking. Instead, the soiree — being held at Theatre Charlotte — gives you the chance to have a fun-filled evening that features a number of performances starring local theater luminaries. In addition, a cash bar and giveaways (including an iPad) are in store. Proceeds benefit Time Out Youth, a organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths in Charlotte and the surrounding area.

• Festival Thanks to the French American Chamber of Commerce, you don’t have to be in France to celebrate Bastille Day. The 10th annual Bastille Day Festival — which commemorates the invasion of the Bastille jail in Paris in 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution — will have food, games, fencing demonstrations, jugglers, prizes and more. more...

• Party Just because it’s nearly the end of the weekend, doesn’t mean you have to stay in. Sundress Sundays at Loft 1523 will feature signature drinks and R&B, soul and jazz sounds by DJ Justice. That’s reason enough to go out. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, July 2

Aotearoa: Land of the Long White Cloud

Green Rice Gallery

Green Rice Gallery’s new exhibition Aotearoa: Land of the Long White Cloud – featuring a colorful showcase of acrylic paintings by Jay Thompson, who was inspired by a backpacking trip across the New Zealand – opens with a reception tonight.

• Benefit Tonight at Closet Nightclub, folks are encouraged to dress in their nighttime best for Positive Pajama Party. And though comfy clothes and zzz’s go hand in hand, don’t even think about falling asleep. There will be enough entertainment to keep you wide-awake, including a performance by comedian Dave Martin and more. Proceeds from the event are for a good cause and benefit Artists And Angels Against Aids/HIV outreach programs. more...

• Party Kick off the Independence Day festivities with Red, White & Bam at The Scorpio. There will be a fabulous divas show, featuring a sexiest patriotic underwear contest and free cookout. more...

Saturday, July 3

The Bad and the Beautiful

ImaginOn’s Wachovia Playhouse

The Bad and the Beautiful: 8 Films by Vincente Minnelli continues Saturday with a screening of 1952’s The Bad and the Beautiful, with Kirk Douglas heading a terrific cast (including Lana Turner, Dick Powell and the great Gloria Grahame) in this absorbing tale about a ruthless Hollywood producer. The picture went 5-for-6 at the Academy Awards (only Best Actor nominee Douglas lost out), with its major victories going to Best Supporting Actress (Grahame) and Best Screenplay.

• Festival Spend your Fourth of July at the US National Whitewater Center during its two-day festival. It includes activities for the whole family, live music from Acoustic Syndicate, Eric Lindel and Simplified, and a fireworks display. more...

• Music In honor of Independence Day join the Charlotte Symphony for its free “Celebrate America” concert at Symphony Park this evening. more...

Sunday, July 4

This Is It: 4th of July Shindig

The Forum

Yes, we know The Forum is officially closed, but they’re opening their doors for the This Is It: 4th of July Shindig. The special event features the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff to spin an eclectic mix of hip-hop, soul, rock and whatever else he damn-well pleases.

• Festival Red, White, and Boom is a daylong celebration that offers loads of activities, games and prizes for children (and adults), as well as food, music and fireworks — simulcast with music tracks provided by WKKT 96.9 Kat Country. more...

• Music In celebration of the 4th of July, Penguin Drive-In presents its 10th Annual Pig Pickin’ with food, cold drinks and live music from Appalucia, Parodi Kings, Truckstop Preachers, Andy the Doorbum and The Flat Tires. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, June 25

Lineage of NoDa

The Adam Ramsey Miller Gallery

You’d pretty much have to be a stranger to Charlotte if you’ve never set foot in NoDa. One of the Q.C.’s major art hubs, thriving with galleries and regularly scheduled art crawls, the district is also known to have inspired many artists to bring those very scenes to life on canvas. During a group exhibition titled Lineage of NoDa at The Adam Ramsey Miller Gallery in Concord, you can see the outcome. Artists like Ruth Ava Lyons, Mike Bozart, Raed Al-Rawi, Jerry Lee Kirk, Rebecca Jones Clark, Alex Clark and others have come together to display their NoDa-created paintings and monoprints of various styles and themes. Tonight’s opening reception will feature a performance by local artist Chris English and takes place during the Concord’s downtown Art Walk.

• Comedy Any man who describes himself as a "Man-ish boy" is someone I want to stay away from — mainly for fear of immaturity. But comedian Ralph Harris — performing at Booth Playhouse tonight — is an exception. Though his new stand-up gig is called MANish Boy, I'm willing to bet it entails laughter as opposed to well, the rolling of eyes. A former contestant on NBC's Last Comic Standing, Harris' act focuses on the early years of his life and some rather hilarious experiences encountered along his way to adulthood. Through storytelling and acting, Harris deciphers what's made him into the man he is today. more...

• Music Tonight’s Cuban concert at Pura Vida Worldly Art will feature culture-driven musicians Joe Rothenberg and Jim Brock. more...

Saturday, June 26

Marques Wyatt

Dharma Lounge

Wallflowers beware: Pioneering DJ/producer Marques Wyatt — credited for helping to bring bass-thumping house music to the West Coast — leaves his native Los Angeles to spin in the Queen City for one night. His visit is part of his Deep tour — a body-rocking event named in honor of his legendary Cali-based house-flavored party. So put on your dancing shoes and come ready to sweat.

• Music The smoother side of jazz takes the spotlight tonight at the Uptown Jazz Fest, featuring music by The Rippingtons, Norman Brown, Mike Phillips, Maysa, Alex Bugnon and more. more...

• Theater Shakespeare Carolina presents performances of Macbeth at Duke Energy Theatre tonight. This classic tale has just enough elements — lust, power, greed and magic — to keep you entertained. more...

Sunday, June 27

The Agronomist

The Light Factory

NoDa Film Festival and God City have teamed up to present a film screening of The Agronomist this afternoon at The Light Factory. The documentary highlights the life of profiling journalist and radio pioneer Jean Dominique.

• Music Love is in the air during Charlotte Symphony’s Music for Lovers concert at Symphony Park tonight. The show will feature romantic scores such as Felix Mendelssohn's wedding march for Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet overture, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's My Fair Lady and more. more...

• Special Event Discovery Place invites folks to visit its quarters for no cost during its Public Free Day today. The event comes as a celebration that concludes the museum’s 18-month renovation (which costed a whopping $31.6 million). Expect to see lots of impressive, new and interactive labs and exhibits, including Fantastic Frogs and World Alive. more...