Around Des Moines

Sunday, May 11th, is Mother’s Day. You can celebrate with a brunch at the Botanical Center (909 Robert D. Ray Drive). Cost is $21.95 for adults and $10.95 for children 10 and younger. There will be seatings at 10:00 a.m. and at 1:00 p.m. with reservations required (515-323-6289). If your mother enjoys the Botanical Center but does not care for brunch, she can enjoy the scenery for free when accompanied by a child. Regular adult admission is $4.

If your mother is the type of person who thinks the best way to celebrate is to have fun with the young children, Second Saturday events will be held at the Art Center. Each month on the second Saturday, the Art Center (near 45th and Grand) offers activities for children accompanied by an adult from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Sessions are free but limited space means reservations are required (515-271-0328). The May 10th program will be on spring flowers for children ages 5-10.

If your mother is elderly or otherwise prefers driving around in a car than doing outside activities, lilacs are blooming around town. It should be a good weekend to visit Ewing Park’s lilac arboretum on the city’s southeast side. Over 300 varieties of crab apples are blooming in the Arie den Boer Arboretum on the eastern side of Water Works Park.

For children who like to cook (and clean up the mess), makings of a meal might be found at the first farmers’ market on Saturday along Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines. Thursday, May 8th, is the second week for the Valley Junction market.

Louis Sachar’s Holes is playing at the Des Moines Playhouse (831 42nd Street) on Friday (7:00 p.m.), Saturday (1:00 p.m.), and Sunday (1:00 and 4:00 p.m.). Adult tickets are $15. It’s good entertainment for both young and old. The Viking Theatre’s (2811 East 14th Street, at Grandview College) performance of The Sunshine Boys ends on May 11th. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm. and Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available through IowaTix.

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, the Drake Trombone Choir will give a free concert at 8:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall of the Harmon Fine Arts Center (25th and Carpenter). David Vining, a professor of trombone at Northern Arizona University is the featured guest.

Friday, May 9th, is the final night in the spring series of astronomy nights at the Drake Municipal Observatory. The topic this week is the future of stars. The event is free and begins at 8:00 p.m. at the observatory in Waveland Park.

On Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the State Historical Society Building (600 East Locust) is a celebration of Tet. This event in honor of the Vietnamese New Year will feature dancing dragons, food demonstrations, and more. It is free and family-oriented.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com.