Palouse Discovery Science Center (Pullman, WA)

When I moved here I was pleasantly surprised that Pullman has its own children’s science museum:  The Palouse Discovery Science Center.  It is the type of facility you would think you could not find in a small town.  Yet another positive thing about Pullman!

From its website:

“The Palouse Discovery Science Center (PDSC) promotes science, math, and technology literacy through educational programs, exhibits, teaching collections, and activities emphasizing hands-on learning.

Experience a full spectrum of programs that include live science demonstrations, hands-on lessons, films, lectures, classes, field trips, summer camps, laboratory experiences, teacher workshops, science birthdays, and outreach services. The center has a wonderful science store, the Curiosity Shop, filled with cool science toys, party favors, and gifts. Stop by and see for yourself what science is all about.”

The PDSC has age appropriate areas and activities for all ages of young kids.

It is a wonderful place to spend a snowy day (or a hot one) and it is a great place to have a birthday party.

It has family friendly bathrooms, a place to nurse a baby, and a place to have sit and have a snack (but no food available for purchase).

It also has a nice gift shop that carries science-oriented kid’s items.

The website :

http://www.palousescience.org/

The PDSC is open Tuesday 10am to 5pm, and Wednesday-Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm.

Admission:
$6 for Adults (12 to 54)
$5 for Seniors (55 and over)
$4 for Children (2 to 12)
Children under 2 are free
Seniors are free on Friday

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Pullman Page Turners (Book Club): Grown-Up Time

One of my favorite non-kid activities is book club.  I am in the Pullman Page Turners, sponsored by the Neill Public Library.  Once a month we meet at a member’s home to discuss a book, drink wine and socialize.

For information, see the Pullman Page Turners page on the library website:

http://www.neill-lib.org/Departments/Library/DrawOnePage.aspx?PageID=777

Neill Public Library also hosts another book club, The Grand Avenue Book Club.  I have not attended that one, but its reading list looks similar to the Pullman Page Turners.  Their meetings are held in the library.

The library website has a GAB page:

http://www.neill-lib.org/Departments/Library/DrawOnePage.aspx?PageID=1146

and they have their own site/blog:

http://grandavenuebookclub.wetpaint.com/

Brused Books (Pullman, Washington)

Cavernous Interior of Brused Books

I love used bookstores, and used books.  I like hunting for something great, and coming across good bargains.  I like books that have already been loved (hopefully) or that are just in need of the right reader to appreciate them (me?).  This is why I was happy when I moved to Pullman and discovered it has a used bookstore, Brused Books.

Brused Books has an explosion of books of every type.  The best approach to Brused, like any used bookstore, is to come ready to browse.

Brimming with Books

Brused is also a great place to take your kids because it has a separate area for children’s books.  If your kid likes books, you can unleash him in the kid area and let him choose a few for himself – for about the cost of a sandwich.

Children's Book Room at Brused Books

Brused also has a selection of fair trade gifts (sorry, I did not get a picture because I started feeling sheepish about the photo-taking).

I am sure they also buy books, but I have not sold any there.  Maybe next time I move!

Brused Books

235 E Main St

Pullman, WA 99163

(509) 334-7898

Monday–Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.

http://personal.palouse.net/brused/

Charles R. Conner Museum (WSU)

A Cougar... Probably the only way we'll see one!

I took the boys to the Conner Museum on the Washington State University campus this morning.  Very worthwhile!

The Conner Museum has lots of dead stuff.  The variety is impressive (though make no mistake, this is a small collection) and the displays and collection are high quality.

The history (from the website):

“Conner Museum traces its beginnings back to 1894, when Charles R. Conner, president of the Board of Regents, persuaded the state of Washington to donate its exhibits from the Chicago World’s Fair to the fledgling Washington Agricultural College. Those first exhibits were a mixture of several disciplines including anthropology, geology, biology and, of course, agriculture. Over time and through the influence of successive curators, the museum’s theme gradually narrowed and focused on vertebrate animals. Today the museum’s exhibits display over 700 mounts of birds and mammals and the scientific collection used by researchers houses over 65,000 specimens.”

One of the coolest things about the museum is the table of stuff the kids can touch.  We took full advantage of this!

The museum is located on the first floor of Abelson Hall, in a few different rooms (just follow the signs).  It is open seven days a week from 8 AM to 5 PM, except on holidays or other times when the buildings on campus are closed. Admission is FREE, but the museum could really use donations, so drop some money in the donation box if you can.  There is no specific parking lot.  We parked at a meter in front of Daggy Hall on College.  It was $1.50 for an hour. I was afraid parking was going to be a pain, but it wasn’t.

From there, it was a short walk to Abelson.  The boys had a great time running up the stairs.

Abelson Hall

We also saw the famous Bryan clock tower and took the obligatory photo.

Bryan Clock Tower

Finally, on the way back to the car, we stopped at every mound of snow (leftover and totally icy) that we could see.  I only mention this because the boys would have been happy doing this for hours, and it was great because there are no cars to worry about- maybe when we get bored this winter we can wander around campus kicking at snowpiles?

WSU Museum of Art and CUB (Compton Union Building)

Today was cloudy and we did not have a lot of time for an adventure.  Perfect day for a visit to the WSU Museum of Art and the CUB (Compton Union Building).

The Museum of Art is located in the Fine Arts Building directly across from Martin Stadium.  As you would expect, it is small, which means you can get a dose of art without having to set aside a lot of time.  For my visit with my boys, it meant I could give them a little bit of the museum/gallery experience without wearing their patience too thin.  (Even so, I was very glad I brought a stroller, because one of my wild things had to be restrained from touching the art.)

Gallery 1 View (Photography is prohibited, as I was told after I took this!)

The exhibitions change about every three months, and have seemed varied and impressive (though this is the first time I have made a visit).  OK, this is not MOMA, but it is very enjoyable! It is also free!

Sculpture in Front of Museum

After the museum, we crossed the wide sidewalk and went to the CUB.

Walking to the CUB (CUB in the distance)

I intended to take the boys to Starbucks, which is located in the bookstore.  However, the line was too long (as it notoriously is).

So we changed plans and went to the food court.

CUB Food Court

We ended up getting juice and zucchini bread at Carlita’s, which had basically the same kind of stuff as Starbucks would have had.  The zucchini bread was made by the WSU Dining Services, and was very good.  Also, at $1.19, I would bet it cost a lot less than it would have at Starbucks.

The CUB food court also has a Villa, a Panda Express (with sushi) and a Subway.  Standard food court fare.  The seating area is nice and light and was not too crowded (though we were there before the lunch rush).

Getting there was really easy.  The place to park is at Smith Center, which has a sign on Stadium Way.  You have to pay, but it was only around $3 for our visit.  I think there might be validation available if you spend over a certain amount, and I think there is a promotion now where you can park for free after 5 pm. You take the elevator up the sidewalk level.  Both the CUB and the Museum also have handicap buttons on the doors, so it is not a struggle to get through with a stroller.  I did not check on changing tables, but there are bathrooms readily available in both buildings.

All in all, I think our adventure took about an hour and a half and cost a grand total of around $6.  Well worth it to beat cabin fever and do something a little different.

Useful websites:

Museum of Art

http://museum.wsu.edu/index.html

CUB

http://cub.wsu.edu/

WSU Parking Info

http://www.parking.wsu.edu/

WSU Campus Map

http://www.campusmap.wsu.edu/campus-map/FULL/index.html

Uniontown/Sage Baking Company/Dahmen Barn

Uniontown Co-Op (grain, peas and lentils), serving the area since 1916

We finally stopped in Uniontown, after two years of driving through.  It is a little gem of a town.

Sage Baking Company, Uniontown

This morning we had scones and galettes at the Sage Baking Company. (111 S. Montgomery, (509) 229-3716.)  They were excellent.

Hungry Boys at the Pastry Counter

Breakfast Pastries

Interior, Sage Baking Company

No bad choices!

Interior, Sage Baking Company

The Sage Baking Company is located in the 110 year old Jacobs’ Building that was renovated by the Uniontown Community Development Association.

Sage Baking Company in the Jacobs' Building

The bakery produces craftsman breads, scones and pastries for area retailers and restaurants.  The café in the bakery is open on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 3 with soups and sandwiches for lunch.  It is family friendly – not too quiet, and it has plenty of choices kids will like.  I did not check to see about high chairs and changing tables (we are finally done with those!!)  It is also inexpensive (four pastries and one coffee came to $11.)

T, enjoying his breakfast

Sweets

Outdoor eating area, Sage Baking Company

Uniontown itself is a charming place.  It was founded in 1860 and has served as a commercial, manufacturing, transportation, social and farming center. According to the Uniontown website (http://www.uniontown.us/about.html) there are 499 residents within the immediate Uniontown area.

Uniontown's combination Fire Station, Town Hall and Library

Eleanor's, which is supposed to have good burgers

There are a number of antique shops there.

Uniontown is home to St. Boniface Catholic Church, which was built beginning in 1888. It was the first consecrated Catholic Church in the state of Washington.

St. Boniface Catholic Church (center)

The building on the right in the above photo is now the Churchyard Inn, a B&B. It was originally constructed in 1905 as a parish house, and in 1913 was converted to a convent.  After being vacant many years, it was renovated in 1995 and turned into the bed and breakfast inn.  (http://www.churchyardinn.com/)

The Churchyard Inn

This town is so cute! I plan to make the Sage Baking Company a regular ritual, if I can remember to get there on Fridays and Saturdays.

Barn mural, Uniontown

Another major feature of Uniontown is the Dahmen Barn with its often photographed (wagon?) wheel fence.

Dahmen Barn with Wagon Wheel Fence

Wheel Fence

It is home to Artisans at the Dahmen Barn, an art space in a barn that was renovated in 2004-2006.

Flower wagon, Dahmen Barn

There was some beautiful art to see (though we saw it quickly, as I was nervous the boys would try to touch things, and in this sense it may not be for little kids – at least not my kids!).  I was not permitted to take photos of the art (naturally) but it is definitely worth browsing, especially if you like Palouse/Washington-oriented art.

Entrance, Artisans at Dahmen Barn

From the website (http://www.artisanbarn.org/):  “Attractions include a gift shop featuring art, fine crafts and products from the Palouse, artisans at work in their studio spaces who will share their creative process with visitors, a monthly art exhibition, and regularly scheduled classes and performance events.”

Dahmen Barn gift shop

The upstairs of the Barn has galleries and an open space where dances and concerts are held.

Second floor, Dahmen Barn

Upstairs windows, Dahmen Barn

Four big events are held at the barn each year: A demonstration day in April, a tea and fashion show in July, a Harvest Festival in September and a Holiday Gala with gifts galore in December. We were there October 1st and there was a pumpkin patch taking place on Saturdays.  In addition to the big events, there are also a number of regularly scheduled concerts/dances and art-related activities.  Check the website for more info.

The Dahmen Barn sign you see on highway 195: when going from Pullman toward Lewiston, it is on the right, about 10-15 minutes from Pullman

One last Dahmen Barn image