Black History Month 2016!

It is with great joy that we are finally in Black History Month! While I deeply believe that Black History IS American History and cannot be separated, we need this special time to fully indulge in learning about women and men who look like us and held our interests high in history. Grab the kids and spouse and make some memories! Join my family at the Charles H. Wright Museum for FREE on Sunday Feb. 13th at 1pm! Can't make it? Here are 8 other places to explore! ENJOY!

Black History Month at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit

• When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 1-29
• Where: 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit
• Cost: $8/adults, $5/seniors, $5/kids
• More: 313-494-5800, TheWright.org

February is always momentous for the Wright Museum. Open daily (including Mondays in February only), it boasts family activities at noon Saturdays. Visit Sunday Feb. 7, too, for the 5th annual Dilla Youth Day, which explores beat making and DIY Hip Hop Culture in honor of the late Detroit music producer J Dilla.

Black History Month at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn

• When: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28
• Where: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
• Cost: $21/adults, $19/seniors, $15.75/kids, free/4 and under; $6/parking
• More: 313-982-6001, TheHenryFord.org

For 20 days, the Henry Ford Museum explores different aspects of Black history, from the northern migration and the civil rights era, all the way to present-day issues. Activities will take place throughout the museum, including in the Michigan Café, which will feature African-American-inspired recipes.

African American History Day at the Detroit Historical Museum

• When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday Feb. 6
• Where: 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit
• Cost: Free (general)
• More: 313-833-1805, DetroitHistorical.org

The Detroit Historical Museum hosts their annual free day to honor Black History. In addition to make-and-take crafts lead by the Peace Baptist Church Quilters, there will also be games, readings and other giveaways. Special performances include storyteller Ivory D. Williams, The Alnur African Drum and Dance group and performances by the Detroit Association of Black Storytellers.

Oh Ananse! at PuppetART Detroit Puppet Theater and Puppet Center

• When: 2 p.m. Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 and 28 (Saturdays and Sundays); 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18
• Where: Detroit Puppet Theater, 25 E. Grand River Ave.
• Cost: $10/adults, $5/kids; $8/puppet-making workshop after the show
• More: 313-961-7777, PuppetART.org

A little spider must earn the right to spin all the stories in the world from Nyame, the sky god, in PuppetART's popular annual hip-hop-flavored take on a West African story.

Ypsilanti as an African American City at Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Location

• When: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10
• Where: 343 South Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor
• Cost: Free (general)
• More: 313-833-1805, AADL.org

Did you know Ypsilanti was Michigan’s most populous Black city by percentage between the Civil War and the 1920s? Local Historian Matt Siegfried will lead this discussion, looking at racism in the city, the rise of Jim Crow and more discussions of black life in Ypsilanti, throughout history and today. (Recommended for grades 6 and up).

The Raisin Cycle at Wayne State University in Detroit

• When: Times vary, Feb. 12-April 2
• Where: 3424 Woodward Ave. and 4743 Cass Ave., Detroit
• Cost: $15-$20
• More: 313-577-3508, DetroitRaisinCycle.com

Lead by a production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, Wayne State’s Department of Theatre and Dance will also  present productions of two other spin-off plays: Beneatha’s Place by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris. All  three plays tackle topics including race relations, urban renewal and gentrification. 

Black Girl Linguistic Play at the Power Center in Ann Arbor

• When:  8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13
• Where: 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor
• Cost: $26-$48
• More: 734-764-2538, UMS.org

Artistic director and choreographer Camille A. Brown and her dancers perform Black Girl-Linguistic Play. The performance explores Black female identity in an urban American culture.​

The Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Detroit Opera House

• When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-13, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14
• Where: 1526 Broadway St., Detroit
• Cost: $25-$89
• More: 313-237-7464, MichiganOpera.org

The iconic Dance Theatre of Harlem makes a stop in Detroit, bringing their talent from New York’s Apollo Theater in New York. The racially diverse company is well known around the world for its thrilling performances celebrating African American culture.

Super Bowl With the KIDS!

Enjoy this Sunday with your loved ones of all ages by involving them in the fun! These cute ideas will make the day even more exciting and tasty for everyone.

Touchdown Cookies

Give your team a little good luck by making these touchdown cookies from Taste of Home. Roll out butter cookie dough and cut in the shape of mouth-sized footballs. Cover each baked cookie with a cocoa-based glaze. Make the threads of each cookie football with white icing.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cream Pies

Oatmeal fan? Then craft these chocolate oatmeal cream pies from Shugary Sweets into football shapes. You’ll need one cookie as the base and another as the top. In between, whip up a filling made from marshmallow fluff. These chewy cookies will keep you energized for the whole game!

Football Cake Pops

Have you ever made cake pops before? They’re like a cake captured on the tip of a lollipop. Bake up a box of store-bought cake mix. Stir prepared frosting into the cake. Form into football shapes and place a Popsicle stick into each one. Dip the cake balls into melted candy coating. For more instructions, see all the directions and details for these football cake pops at Party City.

Grasshopper Cake

This minty grasshopper cake from Martha Stewart begins with a dense brownie-like crust with milk, sour cream, butter and a big helping of cocoa. The next layer is whipped egg whites with butter, crème de menthe and vanilla extract. Once cooked, have your kids make footballs to add as a final step. The footballs are made from Andes Crème de Menthe candies.

Cake Batter Dip Dessert Snackadium

This cake batter dip dessert snackadium from Crazy for Crust is fun to make with your kiddos! Create the “snackadium” using unrolled pizza crust. Place aluminum foil over an inverted Bundt pan, coat with baking spray and then top with the crust. Bake. Create two dips to use inside the snackadium – one using chocolate cake batter and the other with white cake mix. Serve with pretzels and cookies for dipping.

Game Day Chocolate Cake

Here’s another cheer-worthy dessert for your football fans – game day chocolate cake from the Food Network. First, make a 9-by13-inch chocolate cake. Frost with chocolate icing all around, then cover with green icing to look like the football field. Cover with football-shaped cookies and use purchased plastic goal posts to complete the look.

- Sources (Metro Parent, Taste of Home, Party City)

Valentine's Day Crafts

The Metro Parent does a great job highlighting some awesome crafts for Valentine's Day! Show the love with your child. Make it special :)

Click HERE for ideas