Know Before You Go

Starting Nov 10, it will cost you a bit more to visit the Fort Worth Zoo. The price of adult admission is rising from $10.50 to $12; the admission cost for children and seniors is not changing. Zoo officials said this is the zoo's first price increase in more than two years. During that time, the zoo's operational and fuel expenses have gone up, making the ticket price increase necessary.

The zoo plans to continue its half-price admission on Wednesdays.

— Claudia

Art Attack!

Make plans to attend the Target First Saturdays event this weekend at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas. In addition to free admission from 10am-2pm, you and the kiddos will enjoy an art scavenger hunt, family tours, Yoga in the Garden, storytime, NasherKids Live! puppet show and more.

Your kids are sure to love hanging out in this Dallas cultural hotspot!

- Claudia

A Howling Good Time

Got a dog with a cute Halloween costume? Want to show it off? Head over to the Hackberry Creek Halloween Festival in Las Colinas at 6:30pm Oct 31 for Groom & Zoom Self-Serve Dog Wash's "Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest." Haunting hounds will compete in categories like "Most Frightening" and "Most Creative." The festival will have fun stuff for little ones of the human variety, too, with a bounce slide, face painting, a haunted tunnel, a petting zoo and more.

And leading up to the costume contest, Groom & Zoom is collecting toys and treats to donate to the Irving Humane Society. Drop off some goodies at the store, 4127 N. Story Road in Irving.

— Claudia

Thrill-Ville

The weather just took a major turn toward autumn, which means the conditions are perfect for "Tales by the Rails: Scary Stories" from 7-9pm Saturday at the Grapevine Depot. Bundle up the family and enjoy spooky stories around the campfire withttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifh the Tarrant Area Guild of Storytellers. Free hot apple cider and popcorn will warm you up a bit, but you'll still have shivers down your spine! 817/410-3123; .

— Claudia

The Power of a Smile

Does your kid have a million-dollar smile? Show it off this weekend during a casting call for Duracell's Power A Smile holiday ambassador program. Children ages 6-15 will be asked to show how excited they get powering up a new toy. Five winners will receive a trip to New York in early December, a $500 shopping spree, Duracell batteries and the chance to serve as a holiday ambassador delivering toys to local children's hospitals.

The Dallas casting call will be at the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science. The museum is open from 10am-5pm.

Kids can also enter online at www.powerasmile.com through Nov 3.

For the Birds

The Trinity River Audubon Center was officially dedicated this morning, with many Dallas dignitaries attending. The center, which is shaped like a bird, is the first major signature development for the Trinity River Corridor Project, a $2 billion city of Dallas public works project. TRAC will be an excellent spot for bird watching and other outdoor activities and will also serve as a teaching facility for thousands of area students every year.

The center's grand opening for the public is this weekend, from 10am-5pm Oct 18-19. Admission is free all weekend. It's located at 650http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif0 S. Loop 12 in Dallas. Call 214/370-9967 or visit for more information.

Gather up the family and enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

— Claudia

Grown-up Tea Party

Moms, gather up your girlfriends and make plans to attend a Harvest Tea at the Dallas Arboretum. These three-course teas are served at 2pm every Wed-Sun through Nov 23 and are open only to those ages 13 and up.

The Harvest Tea is $33.50, or you can add a glass of champagne before your tea service for $42.50. Both prices include admission, parking and gratuity. Advance reservations are recommended. Call 214/515-6610.

And while you're at the Arboretum enjoying your tea, don't forget to marvel at the beautiful fall flowers in bloom!

— Claudia

Baby Pick-Me-Up

International Babywearing Week is Nov 12-18, and Peppermint Natural Baby Boutique in Richardson is celebrating by hosting a baby sling drive. The store seeks gently used baby slings to donate to No Mother Left Behind, a group of volunteers who promote the benefits of babywearing. Drop off slings at the boutique, 1778 N. Plano Road, Suite 100, in Richardson.
Call 214/623-5080 or visit www.peppermint.com for more information.

— Claudia

Tea Time for a Good Cause

Bring your little ladies (and gents!) to Celebrity Café & Bakery's first-ever National Tea Party from 2-5pm Sun, Oct 19. Celebrity's 10 Dallas-Fort Worth locations will offer free cookies, petit fours and tea and will take donations for Kidd's Kids, a local charity that supports ill and physically challenged children. Each location will also have dress-up clothes for the little girls in attendance, and photographers will be on hand to take pictures of the fancy fun.

— Claudia