Families: Celebrate Dad with storytime, trips to the zoo

It's Father's Day weekend, and in honor of dear old dad, several venues have special activities planned:

-- Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5150 O St., holds a Father's Day storytime at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. There will be stories about dads, and then time for kids to make a special present for their own dads.

-- The Lincoln Children's Zoo offers dads free admission and free train rides on Sunday. The zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo ofters all dads $1 off the price of admission on Sunday.

-- Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum hosts Family Fun Day 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. There will be music, performances and art making. Free. The Joslyn is at 2200 Dodge St. For more information visit www.joslyn.org .

Sunday is also the monthly "Sunday with a Scientist" program at the University of Nebraska State Museum, Morrill Hall, 14th and Vine streets.

The program runs 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. This month's theme is "Engineering Better Heart Health." It will be led by Linxia Gu, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering; Mark James, a science teacher for Lincoln Public Schools; staff from the Nebraska Heart Institute; and graduate students.

The scientists will explain how they are working to save lives using engineering technology known as tissue mechanics. Advances in tissue mechanics can help prevent and treat cardiovascular problems.

The afternoon will include hands-on activities and lessons about common heart issues, including hardening and narrowing of the arteries. A heart simulator, stent and heart valve device will be available to demonstrate blood flow and what happens when that flow is interrupted.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children (5-18) and $10 for families (up to two adults and children). There is an additional charge for planetarium shows.

Coming up next week:

-- Tuesday's "Hour at the Museum" at the Nebraska History Museum, 15th and P streets, features Paul Globe's book "Star Boy." The free drop-in event starts at 10 a.m. and includes stories, games, activities and a look at special segments of the museum.

-- Kids Rule Summer Film Series kicks off at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday with the showing of "Rango" at Lincoln's Grand and SouthPointe theaters. Tickets are $2 each.

-- "Species Survival Plan: Meet the Roo," is the theme for Wild Wednesday at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Special events run 5 to 8 p.m.

Family Life -The Last Brickmaker In America | Family Life Movies ...

Family Life : The Last Brickmaker In America Description

Academy award winner SIDNEY POITIER delivers a heartwarming performance as a skilled craftsman fighting for quality and tradition in this critically praised feature. Henry, a warm and honest man, has worked in his family brickyard for 57 years. From dusk to dawn every day but Sunday, every week of the year, he has proudly put his blood and sweat into creating red clay bricks. But now, in a time when automation rules in America and following the recent passing of his beloved wife, Cobb’s pas Read More …

The Last Brickmaker in America, starring Sidney Poitier, is a great family movie. Poitier gives a strong performance as Henry Cobb, an elderly gentleman suffering from the recent loss of his wife and ready to give up his brick making business. He meets Danny, a troubled 13 year old, and the two click. As Danny helps Henry make bricks and Henry helps Danny realize what is important in life, they both change.

This is one of those movies that make you feel good, and makes you wish problems in life could always have such happy endings. I highly recommend this movie for everyone who likes good family films. You won’t be disappointed.

Poitier has been a favorite of mine ever since I saw him in his Academy Award winning performance in Lilies of the Field in 1963. I felt that I really got to know him when I read his autobiography, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah’s Book Club) and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about Poitier.

This is a great film on many levels, from family-appeal to African-American studies. Produced by Paramount Pictures and Nasser Entertainment as a CBS-TV prime-time movie, LAST BRICKMAKER far exceeds the production standards of most releases and virtually all other TV movies. Other notable performances are delivered by Piper Laurie and Bernie Casey. Check it out!

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