Long known for its high-spirited energy and lively entertainment, the Fantasy gala has been a fund-raising staple for the museum since 1982. On this 26th Anniversary of the event, Lied Discovery Children's Museum paraded a smaller carbon footprint with Fantasy 2008: A Green Gala on Saturday, October 4th in the elegant Grand Ballroom at MGM MIRAGE Hotel & Casino. The Museum honored NV Energy with its 2008 Great Friend to Kids Award, which was accepted by Michael Yackira, President & CEO.

Approximately 500 guests were present at Fantasy 2008: A Green Gala. This event netted $86,000 in support of the museum and its services to families and children. And, in a great swell of generosity by its guests, Lied Discovery Children's Museum was able to raise $27,000 in support of its YouthWorks program! This program is designed to encourage low income teenagers to graduate from high school and consistently reports 100% graduation rate. Lied Discovery Children's Museum is nationally recognized for its programs and exhibits in the arts, sciences and humanities. 2008 marks the museum's 16th year winning Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best of Las Vegas" award!

Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities. Since 1990, the Children's Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.

Lied Discovery Children's Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101 and is open Tuesday - Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday Noon-5pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children 1 through 17 years of age, seniors and military families. Children under one are free. For more information call (702) 382-KIDS or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.

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Month-long Festivities with Arts, Crafts and much more! 

Las Vegas (September 30, 2008) -- Starting October 11th through November 7th, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum will create and exhibit several ofrendas (altars) as part of its participation in the festivities of Los Días de los Muertos, or the Days of the Dead.  A little somber?  Not at all!   Each weekend during October 11^th through November 7th, we will be celebrating this event with many arts and crafts projects and much more!

Los Días de los Muertos offers an annual opportunity for families to recollect and celebrate the memories of relatives and friends through weeks of special preparations.  For this special reunion, family and friends prepare gravesites and altars (ofrendas) with colorful cloths, streamers, candles, flowers, photographs, richly decorated pan de muertos (bread of the dead), skull-shaped sugar-sweets, and paper mâché skeletons.

“This holiday is traditionally a private family remembrance with public aspects at a broader community level, and our Museum is proud to be the “community living room” for which individuals and families can come, observe, learn and participate in these rich traditions,” said the Director of Education and Programs, Tifferney White.

 Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities.  Imagine a place where you can step into a hurricane, make a bubble as tall as yourself, participate in a chemistry show, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon!  Since 1990, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.  

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tue.- Fri. from 9 am to 4 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm and Sun. Noon – 5 pm.  Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families.  Children under one are free.  For more information call (702) 382-KIDS(5437) or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.

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Long known for its high-spirited energy and lively entertainment, the Fantasy gala has been a fund-raising staple for the museum since 1982. On this 26th Anniversary of the event, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum will be parading a smaller carbon footprint with Fantasy 2008: A Green Gala on Saturday, October 4th at 6:30 pm in the elegant Grand Ballroom at The Mirage. The Museum is honoring Sierra Pacific Resources with its Great Friend to Kids Award, which will be presented to Michael Yackira, President and CEO of Sierra Pacific Resources.

Over 500 guests are expected to attend the event, which opens with a silent auction of unique items generously donated by Vegas entertainers, local businesses and national artists. This, along with eclectic entertainment, the ever popular Live Auction, and back by popular demand, The Baby Booty Paddle Raffle, Fantasy 2008: A Green Gala is not to be missed!

"Ever since 1982 Lied Discovery Children's Museum has sponsored "The Fantasy Gala" as its major fundraiser. Our Gala is different because we raise money for programs and exhibits, but we also have fun. The entire Board of Trustees put their heart and soul into making it a success." - Judy Kropid, Fantasy Gala Co-chair and Board Secretary. Fantasy 2008 Master of Ceremonies, Gary Waddell states, "The thing I like the best about the Lied Children's Museum is that, unlike other museums, this one says 'touch'. The kids get a real hands-on learning experience they'll always remember."

Funds raised at the gala are used to support the museum’s general operations. Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is nationally recognized for its programs and exhibits in the arts, sciences and humanities. 2008 also marks the museum’s 16th consecutive year winning Las Vegas Review-Journal’s "Best of Las Vegas" award!

Visitors will gain real-life experience of refugee children around the globe

LAS VEGAS — A traveling exhibit lifting up the plight of the world’s refugees. The exhibit will offer an inspiring learning experience for school-age children and people of all ages on human rights and the lives of millions of refugee children who have been uprooted from their homes in various regions throughout the world. This exhibit was developed by Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and the exhibition’s national launch will begin in Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibit opens Saturday, June 14th, at Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and will be exhibited through December, 2008.

This hands-on exhibit, “Torn from Home: My Life as a Refugee,” will give children an opportunity to gain a real-life experience of approximately 9 million displaced children in the world. It features six exhibit areas: Home, Losing Home, Registration, Refugee Camp, Medical Clinic and Going Home.

The Home exhibit features representative homes of children before they became refugees from countries such as Congo, Columbia, and Afghanistan. The Losing Home exhibit includes interactive video units and a display case addressing the questions: What is a refugee? Where are we going? What will happen to me and my family? What can we take with us? A large world map will highlight refugee crises in sheer numbers and showcases a gallery of portraits, artwork, and written words by refugee children.

The Registration exhibit offers an immersive look into the registration and food distribution process in a refugee camp. Visitors will be invited to identify with a real refugee by donning a registration bracelet and assuming the role of a refugee via an ID card. The Refugee Camp exhibit explores how individual families live within a camp and looks at how basic needs of shelter, water, bathrooms, hygiene are addressed in a camp. Visitors will be challenged to build their own shelter using few materials.

Visitors will also gain insight into the dangerous health conditions experienced by many refugees in the Medical Clinic exhibit. Children will see firsthand the great challenges faced by refugee children in accessing health care services, and will be able to compare their weight and height to refugee children.

Since education is of critical importance to all children, particularly refugee children, the School exhibit will feature an earthen school setting reflecting the limited resources available within a refugee camp. An interactive maze will help visitors understand the difficulties faced by many refugee children in attending school.

In the Going Home exhibit, visitors will learn about what happens to refugees after they leave the refugee camp, including repatriation, resettlement, and other outcomes. An interactive video kiosk will encourage visitors to share their reflections about the exhibit. A resource center will allow visitors to learn more about aid organizations working with displaced populations.

The exhibit opens in Las Vegas on June 14, 2008, and will then travel to other children’s museum around the United States. This exhibit is sponsored by Pamela and Pierre Omidyar.

Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities. Imagine a place where you can step into a hurricane, make a bubble as tall as yourself, participate in a chemistry show, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon! Since 1990, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tue. - Fri. from 9 am to 4 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm and Sun. Noon – 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families. Children under one are free. For more information call (702) 382-KIDS(5437) or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.

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To add authentication to this exciting event, the Thai Cultural Association will display a picture of the present King to the temple, decorated with flowers, the official presentation of the flag, and a performance the traditional Salutation dance for the King. To assist with learning more about the native attire, there will also be a display of a collection of dolls wearing costumes from different areas of Thailand throughout history.

Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities. Imagine a place where you can step into a hurricane, make a bubble as tall as yourself, participate in a chemistry show, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon! Since 1990, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tue.- Fri. from 9 am to 4 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm and Sun. Noon – 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families. Children under one are free. For more information call (702) 382-KIDS(5437) or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.

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Follow Alice, the White Rabbit and their Wonderland friends to the Main Stage of Fashion Show Mall where you’ll experience lavish tables bursting with magical color and delicious teas and accompaniments.  This magical event will feature a children’s fashion show comprised of outfits generously donated by Macy’s, a tea party and entertainment by Alice and her Wonderland friends… Plus an electrifying raffle of unique items for children of all ages! 

All proceeds from the Mad Hatter Tea Party & Fashion Show will go to Lied Discovery Children’s Museum’s programs and operations.  Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is Southern Nevada’s only children’s museum, serving over two-million residents and visitors.   As such, the children’s museum provides invaluable educational services to the community in the arts, sciences and humanities. 

Tickets and tables are available as well as modeling opportunities.  Please contact Helen Boyack, Community Affairs Director (702-382-3445 ext. 116) for additional information.

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Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities.  Imagine a place where you can generate your own electricity, make a bubble as tall as yourself, make your own ice cream, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon.  Since 1990, the Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshop. 

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tuesday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m.  Summer hours are:  Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon – 5:00 p.m. from June 1^st through Labor Day.  Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families.  Children under one are free.  For more information, call (702) 382-KIDS (5437) for daily information on scheduled activities, or visit the museum Website: www.ldcm.org.

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“Springtime is great for gelato. The warm weather is perfect inspiration for frozen treat,” said Ronnie Lee, CEO. “We are very proud to partner with a great organization like Lied Discovery Children’s Museum to help celebrate the season, children, and the opening of The District location.”

Gelato Café imports many of its products and equipment directly from Italy to stay true to the authentic gelatoria (gelato parlor) experience. The cabinetries at Gelato Café are all imported from Pesaro, Italy along with the gelato display cases. Italian oil paintings line the walls and Italian glass lights hang over head. The Green Valley location is one of two and is located near the roundabout in The District II, which is on the north side of Green Valley Parkway across from The District. The other location on the Strip in front of the Fashion Show Mall opened on Valentines Day 2008.

 About Lied Discovery Children’s Museum:Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities.  Imagine a place where you can step into a hurricane, make a bubble as tall as yourself, participate in a chemistry show, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon!  Since 1990, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops. Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tue.- Fri. from 9 am to 4 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm and Sun. Noon – 5 pm.  Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families.  Children under one are free. For more information call (702) 382-KIDS(5437) or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org. 

About Gelato Café:The first Gelato Café launched in Nevada during the first quarter of 2004.  “Gelato Café” is a registered trademark licensed by ExTZ, Inc. Gelato Café distinguishes itself by providing a premium micro-produced gelato product that maintains authentic Italian ice cream standards. Gelato Café was created and developed by Ronnie F. Lee who has expanded the business to multiple locations within the first two years of operation. Gelato Café is located at “The District” at 120 South Green Valley Pkwy Ste. 174, Henderson, NV, 89012 and in front of the “Fashion Show Mall” at 3200 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas, NV. Gelato Café will cater events and offers business expansion opportunities to partners worldwide. For more information visit www.gelatocafe.net or call 702-216-0175. 

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LAS VEGAS – star7 launched a completely overhauled Web site for Lied Discovery Children’s Museum last week to great reviews.

“It was time to get up to speed with our Web site,” LDCM Executive Director Linda Quinn said. “The new site allows us to convey more information in a manner that is easier to find. On top of that, it’s now a more pleasant experience to visit.”

The site (www.ldcm.org) was designed to bring the most relevant information to the forefront so that navigation can be as simple as possible. After surveying the museum’s members, it was determined the most common reasons for visiting the Web site were to get directions, plan a visit, and/or plan a birthday party.

“We put the three most common search queries front and center on the home page,” Quinn said. “We wanted the site to be an extension of our physical museum. Making things easy to find and intuitive is just another part of the overall experience.”

The site was also built with an easy-to-operate “back end” that provides the museum with the ability to manage and administer the content of the site with almost no training or Web experience whatsoever.

“It’s incredible to be able to make changes to the site without having to call someone or involve IT,” LDCM Marketing Director Lynn Osmera said. “I can make a change by myself in a matter of seconds. Keeping the site up to date now will be an absolute snap and save the Museum money, by not requiring outside consulting or help.”

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"Cool Moves" features fourteen fun, interactive exhibits that allow visitors to discover the beauty of motion all around us. At the "Dancing Wall" exhibit, visitors are encouraged to create a light and sound show by "dancing" in front of a wall that contains multiple lights and speakers that are triggered by motion detectors. See animals swim, fly, jump, and crawl in the most bizarre and breathtaking ways at the "Animals in Motion" exhibit. A computer kiosk allows the visitor to control the speed of videos for different animal motions, including those of frogs, owls, otters, cheetahs, kangaroos, hummingbirds, snakes, and dolphins. Visitors can create their own piece of art, zoom a strange car down a track and more!

"Cool Moves! Artistry of Motion" was developed by the Science Center in Ithaca, N.Y. and the Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester, N.Y. as part of the TEAMS II (Traveling Exhibits at Museums of Science) collaborative, and was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

The exhibition will be on display at Lied Discovery Children’s Museum through May 11, 2008.

Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities.  Imagine a place where you can step into a hurricane, make a bubble as tall as yourself, participate in a chemistry show, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon!  Since 1990, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tue.- Fri. from 9 am to 4 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm and Sun. Noon – 5 pm.  Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families.  Children under one are free.  For more information call (702) 382-KIDS(5437) or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.

Over 600 guests attended the event, which opened with a silent auction of enticing items donated by the business community. The auction closed when go-go dancers welcomed guests in a retro 60’s dance routine while escorting guests to their tables.  The menu featured salad with a basil marjoram vinaigrette, pan roasted filet mignon, sautéed sea bass, pesto mashed potatoes, bouquetierre of root vegetables, and cirque du chocolat dessert duo, chocolate cream hazelnut feuilletine and toasted marshmallow carmelized tangerine crème brulee on cookie crust. During dinner, guests were entertained by the Joey Doucette dancers, local band Harbor Lights and a special surprise visit by some of the cast from Cirque du Soleil’s “LOVE”.  The cast handed daisies out to all of the elegant ladies in attendance and it added another enjoyable piece to the evening’s exciting festivities.

Auctioneer extraordinaire, Christian Kolberg, presented the live auction items: a customized, luxury golf cart, a trip for two to Chicago donated by the Great Friends honorees, Victor Onufrieff and Laurel Andrew, with airline tickets provided by US Airways , a ride in a multi-million dollar Jet helicopter provided by John Ritter, a Hawaiian Vacation package including airline tickets provided by US Airways. The bidding really got exciting when Hollywood producer and Las Vegas native, Anthony Zuiker announced on the spot that he was personally donating a “Day to Die For”, which included an opportunity for 4 to visit the sets of CSI, CSI:Miami and CSI:New York all in one day, with meet and greets and a walk-on appearance on CSI:New York!

Gary Waddell and Paula Francis, KLAS TV 8 news anchors, introduced Linda Quinn, Executive Director of the museum, who acknowledged the museum’s donors for their support and generosity. Hilary Westrom, last year’s Great Friend to Kid’s award winner, provided an insiders look on the careers and accomplishments of this year’s winners: Victor Onufrieff and Laurel Andrew. The Great Friend to Kids award is a local version of a national award presented by the Association of Children’s Museums.

Fantasy 2007 co-chairs were Judy Cebulko and Judy Kropid. Funds raised at the gala are used to support the museum’s general operations.  Now in its 17th year, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is nationally recognized for its programs and exhibits in the arts, sciences and humanities.

Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities.  Imagine a place where you can generate your own electricity, make a bubble as tall as yourself, witness hurricane force winds, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon!  Since 1990, the Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101 and is open Tuesday - Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 10am–5pm and Sunday Noon–5pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children 1 through 17 years of age, seniors and military families.  Children under one are free.  For more information call (702) 382-KIDS or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.

Los Días de los Muertos offers an annual opportunity for families to recollect and celebrate the memories of relatives and friends through weeks of special preparations.  For this special reunion, family and friends prepare gravesites and altars (ofrendas) with colorful cloths, streamers, candles, flowers, photographs, richly decorated pan de muertos (bread of the dead), skull-shaped sugar-sweets, and paper mâché skeletons.

“This holiday is traditionally a private family remembrance with public aspects at a broader community level, and our Museum is proud to be the “community living room” for which individuals and families can come, observe, learn and participate in these rich traditions,” said Museum spokesperson Lynn Osmera.  

Located in the heart of downtown, Lied Discovery Children's Museum is a private non-profit organization designed to provide vibrant and engaging experiences that ignite a love of lifelong learning for children and their families in the arts, sciences and humanities.  Imagine a place where you can step into a hurricane, make a bubble as tall as yourself, participate in a chemistry show, dress up and take part in a stage play – all in one afternoon!  Since 1990, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has been offering interactive learning adventures through hands-on exhibitions, multicultural performances, and creative art and science workshops.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and is open Tue.- Fri. from 9 am to 4 pm, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm and Sun. Noon – 5 pm.  Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families.  Children under one are free.  For more information call (702) 382-KIDS(5437) or visit the Museum website: www.ldcm.org.