Best local kids' recording 2000 | Wheeeeeeeeee: Songs & Stories for Kids by Front Range Artists | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
Navigation
Support Us
Search

Best local kids' recording

Wheeeeeeeeee: Songs & Stories for Kids by Front Range Artists

The project of music-school director Sue Schnitzer, a mother, musician and music educator who's led hundreds of toddlers through the ropes of finding their rhythms early, Wheeeeeeeeee: Songs & Stories for Kids by Front Range Artists has a little bit of everything, including some of the bigger names in the local kids'-music industry. Contributions from such talents as Lois LaFond, Bonnie Phipps and Liz Blackburn & Sean Masterson intermingle with lesser-known cuts, but every centimeter of the CD is a gem, from Cindy Wilkinson's whimsical "Jumping Beans" to Blackburn and Masterson's "Ya Gotta Have a Mustache." It's guaranteed to get kids -- and maybe you, too -- up and dancing.

Best local kids' recording

Wheeeeeeeeee: Songs & Stories for Kids by Front Range Artists

The project of music-school director Sue Schnitzer, a mother, musician and music educator who's led hundreds of toddlers through the ropes of finding their rhythms early, Wheeeeeeeeee: Songs & Stories for Kids by Front Range Artists has a little bit of everything, including some of the bigger names in the local kids'-music industry. Contributions from such talents as Lois LaFond, Bonnie Phipps and Liz Blackburn & Sean Masterson intermingle with lesser-known cuts, but every centimeter of the CD is a gem, from Cindy Wilkinson's whimsical "Jumping Beans" to Blackburn and Masterson's "Ya Gotta Have a Mustache." It's guaranteed to get kids -- and maybe you, too -- up and dancing.

Best place to curl up with a Harry Potter book

Children's Library, Denver Central Library

The Adirondack chairs in the children's wing of the Denver Public Library, designed by Michael Graves and constructed of sturdy curly maple, are ample enough for two small readers or one adult plus one in-lap guest. Surrounded by a cozy world of books -- not to mention views of Civic Center Park and that horse-on-a-big-chair whatzit -- this is the perfect place for childish or grown-up contemplation.

Best place to curl up with a Harry Potter book

Children's Library, Denver Central Library

The Adirondack chairs in the children's wing of the Denver Public Library, designed by Michael Graves and constructed of sturdy curly maple, are ample enough for two small readers or one adult plus one in-lap guest. Surrounded by a cozy world of books -- not to mention views of Civic Center Park and that horse-on-a-big-chair whatzit -- this is the perfect place for childish or grown-up contemplation.

Best scientific Web site for kids

Web Weather for Kids www.ucar.edu/40th/webweather

At places like UCAR in Boulder, there's nothing mindless or even casual about talking about the weather. UCAR researchers are dead serious, in fact, when it comes to the climatological vagaries of living in the world, and they've put together a dandy, prize-winning, kid-tested weather Web site for young 'uns. Log on to Web Weather for Kids and follow the dancing raindrop -- it'll lead you to all kinds of information and related experiments on weather phenomena. It's a great way to engage a young mind on, well, a rainy day.

Best scientific Web site for kids

Web Weather for Kids www.ucar.edu/40th/webweather

At places like UCAR in Boulder, there's nothing mindless or even casual about talking about the weather. UCAR researchers are dead serious, in fact, when it comes to the climatological vagaries of living in the world, and they've put together a dandy, prize-winning, kid-tested weather Web site for young 'uns. Log on to Web Weather for Kids and follow the dancing raindrop -- it'll lead you to all kinds of information and related experiments on weather phenomena. It's a great way to engage a young mind on, well, a rainy day.

Best artsy kids' site

www.wackykids.org

You can't keep a nine-year-old away from the Internet forever, but you can steer the little surfer in a good direction: At www.wackykids.org, she'll find nothing but good, clean fun -- all with the added attraction of being painlessly educational. Featuring four clickable areas of interest that draw content from museum collections -- The World of Japan's Samurai Warrior, Maya Rainforest Dwellers, Northwest Coast Indian Carving and Fancy and Fun Chairs -- the site offers various activities centered around each, including a reading list, interactive exploration of the subject and print-out craft projects. And next time your kid visits the museum in person, she'll recognize a few friends, to boot.

Best artsy kids' site

www.wackykids.org

You can't keep a nine-year-old away from the Internet forever, but you can steer the little surfer in a good direction: At www.wackykids.org, she'll find nothing but good, clean fun -- all with the added attraction of being painlessly educational. Featuring four clickable areas of interest that draw content from museum collections -- The World of Japan's Samurai Warrior, Maya Rainforest Dwellers, Northwest Coast Indian Carving and Fancy and Fun Chairs -- the site offers various activities centered around each, including a reading list, interactive exploration of the subject and print-out craft projects. And next time your kid visits the museum in person, she'll recognize a few friends, to boot.

Best new public art (since June 1999)

"Full Fathom Five" by Tim Prentice

Those kooky visionaries Bill and Judy Petersen-Fleming didn't need to put up a glitzy building for their new-age-style aquarium, Colorado's Ocean Journey, but they did, hiring the specially created architectural firm Odyssea, which put forward a design by the able Ron Mason of Denver's Anderson Mason Dale. Nor did the creators of the private facility need to put in a public-art component, but again, they did. And that's laudable, as is the art they selected (not a single bronze dolphin!). Instead, everything inside and out is abstract and as up-to-date as the glittering building itself. All of the art is good, but the multi-part installation "Full Fathom Five" is great. Created by Connecticut artist Tim Prentice, the wall- and ceiling-hung installations, made of shiny steel tubes and aluminum sheeting, match perfectly the futuristic mood of the architecture while referring to the sea: Made up of hundreds of tiny squares of metal, the sculptures move gently, like swimming fish. Colorado's Ocean Journey has had some trouble with credibility in its first year, but although animal activists -- and the institution's own volunteers -- may be carping, there's nothing but praise for the art that's on display.

Readers' choice: "Ground Beef," Burns Park

Best new public art (since June 1999)

"Full Fathom Five" by Tim Prentice

Those kooky visionaries Bill and Judy Petersen-Fleming didn't need to put up a glitzy building for their new-age-style aquarium, Colorado's Ocean Journey, but they did, hiring the specially created architectural firm Odyssea, which put forward a design by the able Ron Mason of Denver's Anderson Mason Dale. Nor did the creators of the private facility need to put in a public-art component, but again, they did. And that's laudable, as is the art they selected (not a single bronze dolphin!). Instead, everything inside and out is abstract and as up-to-date as the glittering building itself. All of the art is good, but the multi-part installation "Full Fathom Five" is great. Created by Connecticut artist Tim Prentice, the wall- and ceiling-hung installations, made of shiny steel tubes and aluminum sheeting, match perfectly the futuristic mood of the architecture while referring to the sea: Made up of hundreds of tiny squares of metal, the sculptures move gently, like swimming fish. Colorado's Ocean Journey has had some trouble with credibility in its first year, but although animal activists -- and the institution's own volunteers -- may be carping, there's nothing but praise for the art that's on display.

Readers' choice: "Ground Beef," Burns Park

Best Of Denver®

Best Of

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy Westword may earn a portion of sales from products & services purchased through links on our site from our affiliate partners. ©2024 Denver Westword, LLC. All rights reserved.
Do Not Sell or Share My Information
Powered By Foundation