Hot summer fun for cool kids

JUNIOR GOURMET CLUB

Bill Summerville, co-owner of La Belle Vie, hosts a dining club for parents who want to introduce their children to fine dining. Each month he takes the group to a different high-end restaurant, where they enjoy kiddie cocktails and a multi-course meal. The next one is July 29 at Heartland Restaurant (cost is about $30 per person).

Suggested by: Dena Alspach, associate publisher for Tiger Oak Publications and mother of West, 7 (who has his own food blog), and Calder, 3.

Mommy says: "It's a hot ticket. The last one was held at Azia. The food was exactly the same food that you would get there on any other night -- it wasn't dumbed down for them. It was almost like a little class. [West] always says he wants to be a professional food taster."

Call 612-874-6440 to get on the e-mail list.

STARGAZING

During the school year, the Astronomy Department at the University of Minnesota opens its telescopes for weekly public viewings. The series continues in the summer, but at parks around the Twin Cities. The free program is called Universe in the Park and starts June 26.

Suggested by: Eric Fawcett, drummer for the Hopefuls and father of Jackson, 7; Lewis, 5, and Cecilia, 1.

Daddy says: "I'm a big astronomy geek. Recently, the moon and Jupiter were close together, and I took them outside to see it. It would be fun to raise little amateur astronomers."

www.Astro.umn.edu/outreach/uitp/

FIRST SATURDAYS AT WALKER ART CENTER

On the first Saturday of each month, the Walker features a full day of family fun in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The next one, July 4, has live music by buzz artists Haley Bonar and M.anifest, plus a hula-hoop workshop and an art-bike contest. Admission is free.

Suggested by: Ini Iyamba, owner of Ivy women's boutique and father of Embriah, who is almost 3.

Daddy says: "One of my customers told me about it. Exposing kids to the arts and having it outside is a great combination."

1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-375-7600. walkerart.org

ST. PAUL SAINTS

When you catch a game at Midway Stadium, you can expect to see a lot more than just baseball. General admission tickets start at $5.

Suggested by: Stephanie Wilbur Ash, writer and performer for Electric Arc Radio and mother of Charlie, 7, and Christian, 8.

Mommy says: "Saints games are like Burning Man meets baseball. My kids love to interact with the guerrilla theater happening there. Last week their dad took them to hang out with all the Star Trek lookalikes."

1771 Energy Park Dr., St. Paul. 651-644-6659. SaintsBaseball.com

HOT COMICS & COLLECTIBLES

New Hope store is full of comics, gaming cards and action figures.

Suggested by: Zannie K., B96 radio personality and father of Quinten, 10, and Keanu, 16.

Daddy says: "I've been a comic-book fan since I was a baby. I have, like, 3,700 titles. It just never crossed my mind that it was something [Quinten] would get into. But he did. He gets one-of-a-kind titles, like the Barack and Michelle Obama comics."

3532 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope. 1-866-545-9305. hotcomicsmn.com

BUNNY CLOGS

Bunny Clogs is the pseudonym that Honeydogs/Hookers & Blow rocker Adam Levy uses for his children's music project, which released an album earlier this year. He describes it as "Shel Silverstein meets Prince."

Suggested by: Todd Smith, owner of Nomad World Pub and father of Leah, 6, and Dana, 3.

Daddy says: "It seems like a lot of the older musicians who have kids are doing kid projects now. All the songs are kid-friendly. [During a recent show] all the kids went up to the front and danced around -- but not like a mosh pit."

Myspace.com/BunnyClogs

HMONG ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Every summer, the Center for Hmong Arts & Talent puts on this one-day event in the Western Sculpture Park in St. Paul. The Aug. 22 fest celebrates the art, music and food of the Twin Cities' large Hmong population.

Suggested by: Toki Wright, rapper and instructor at McNally Smith College of Music, and father of Asata, 8.

Daddy says: "It's good to expose her to other cultures. It's about being respectful and getting to know other people outside of what she's accustomed to. I've been two or three times." AboutCHAT.org

NORTHEAST ARTS DISTRICT

The old factories and warehouses of northeast Minneapolis are home to hundreds of artists who open their studios to the public on the first Thursday of every month. Admission is free.

Suggested by: Jarret Oulman, owner of the 331 Club and 501 Club and father of Fergus, 4, and Gunnar, 1.

Daddy says: "It's not your same old boring kid stuff. The buildings themselves are interesting. They think it's cool because there's a lot of weird stuff. Riding the freight elevator [in the Thorp Building] is probably their favorite part."

1500 NE. Jackson St., Mpls. 612-363-5612. NortheastMinneapolisArtsDistrict.com

QUIET ON THE SET SHORT FILM CONTEST

Is your child a budding filmmaker? The Metropolitan Library Service Agency is taking entries for its short-film competition, which encourages movie lovers (young and old) to make a 5-minute film using their local library as the setting. Entries are due July 15.

Suggested by: Isabelle and Phil Harder, wardrobe designer and filmmaker, respectively, and parents of Otto, 12.

Mommy says: "He came up with an idea immediately. It's an adventure film about a book that can take him places. He's made other films. But if you would ask him, he would say he's more of a visual artist than a media artist. He's very creative."

Melsa.org/QuietOnTheSet or call Sally Lederer at 651-645-5731, ext. 102.

CAPONI ART PARK

This suburban art park offers "Family Fun Tuesdays" every week from 10 to 11 a.m. The free showcase features music, dancing, puppets and more.

Suggested by: Don Eitel, managing director of Mu Performing Arts; father of Erik, 4, and Noah, 2.

Daddy says: "The programming is very diverse. One week it might be puppets, another it might be Mu Daiko playing drums. The first week of this summer is Russian dancing."

1205 Diffley Rd., Eagan. 651-454-9412. CaponiArtPark.org

ROCK CLIMBING

Kids love to climb, so why not teach them to do it for real? There are indoor walls at the REI, Vertical Endeavors and Midwest Mountaineering stores, an outdoor wall at Baker Park Reserve in Maple Plain and natural climbing areas northeast of the Twin Cities at Interstate State Park near Taylors Falls, Minn., and east of the metro area at Willow River State Park near Hudson, Wis.

Suggested by: Jack Trash, DJ and promoter behind Sound in Motion and father of Mikai, 4.

Daddy says: "We're not a TV family. We spend a lot of time in state parks. Kids like climbing stuff, period. You obviously have to be a little more careful."

rei.com/stores/15verticalendeavors.commidwestmtn.comthreeriversparkdistrict.org/recreation/climbing_wall.cfm

MINNESOTA VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

This refuge includes a vast area of wetlands and trails for biking, fishing, walking and even horseback riding.

Suggested by: Gavin Lawrence, actor (currently in "Pure Confidence" in New York) and father of Jabari, 11, and Teja, 10.

Daddy says: "We create imaginary adventures. They'll either become different animals -- raptors or T. rexes or some strange bird. It's really kind of improvisational. The kids have really vivid imaginations."

3815 E. American Blvd., Bloomington. 952-854-5900. fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley/

ARTCAR PARADE

The Artcar Parade is fun for both entries and onlookers. There are plenty of events this summer where you can either show off your car or see these crazy concoctions. But the big event is a July 25 parade around Lake Harriet.

Suggested by: Aldo Moroni, artist and father of six, including 11-year-old twins Giovanni Battista and Michel Angelo.

Daddy says: "It's not something where the parent is dragging the kids to the event. It's very inclusive. We've had three art cars. Some of them are very elaborate. I've got a van right now that needs a paint job."

ArtcarParade.com or 612-871-4444

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

If you think theater is stuffy, you haven't experienced the Bard in fresh air. The Cromulent Shakespeare Company produces free shows around the Twin Cities, while Shakespeare & Company ($12 for adults, free for kids 12 and younger) is anchored in White Bear Lake.

Suggested by: Shawn Judge and Steve Yoakam, actors and parents of Senait, 13.

Mommy says: "You can bring food and have a picnic. It's kind of grown-up, and that's why I think she's into it."

CromulentShakespeare.orgShakespeareAndCompany.org

LEBANON HILLS PARK

As the largest park in the Dakota County system (2,000 acres), it offers trails, beaches and summer programs.

Suggested by: Maya Santamaria, owner of the El Nuevo Rodeo nightclub and mother of Nicolas Enrique, 11, and Citlali, 2.

Mommy says: "This is my hangout with my kids. There is a nice natural pond with lots of fish, frogs and turtles. My son loves playing with them. They have a lot of canoeing, too. And there is a single-moms night."

860 Cliff Rd., Eagan. 651-554-6530. www.co.dakota.mn.us