Fun Things to Do in Atlanta: the High Museum

One of my very favorite places to take the boys is the High Museum of Art. In part, it's a sentimental attachment: I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up, roaming what was then a basement children's museum dedicated to exploration of the five senses (there was a strawberry smell that reminded me of ice cream!). What I didn't realize at the time, of course, was that I was absorbing appreciation for art as a normal part of life for people of all ages--taking for granted that one always makes a point of engaging and considering culture. Jim and I want very much for our kids to have that same experience, and so, as often as we can, we hit up the High's Toddler Thursdays. 

Last Thursday it was just me and Little Brother, so I had one free hand for a camera and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to capture him in the beautiful light of the museum's many windows. Designed by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the building itself is an architectural marvel, and the boys (and I) love exploring its intricacies--particularly the long, spiraling ramp that goes up to the main galleries in the Stent Wing. Running from the ground floor to the fourth level and back can blow enough boy energy for the entire morning!

On Toddler Thursdays, we arrive at the museum at about 10:30 AM and spend our first chunk of time in the Greene Family Learning Gallery. My boys particularly enjoy the life-size Tetris blocks (that's my reference--not theirs!) and the marker easels, and I appreciate that every activity references some aspect of the art in the museum. Not that I do a good job of teaching them about those associations...but in theory, I could:). 

A little before lunchtime, we head to one of the galleries, where museum staff are camped out in front of the week's featured piece, reading a (loosely) related children's book to the kids. The museum offers a handout full of appropriate questions to help your kids engage with the piece (like, "how many orange items can you find?" or "why do you think the woman is looking at her watch?"). Talking through the questions usually takes us about one full minute, and then we head downstairs to do an on-theme art project of our own.

Last week, they had the kids making six page books using collage (Little Brother was all about the glue stick). In the past, we've used finger-paints, made hats out of kraft paper, and painted paper lanterns with watercolors. I think they do a good job of keeping the projects open-ended and encouraging the kids to explore a variety of mediums. My boys spend about ten minutes in the art room, then we lose interest and are off to eat our packed lunch.

Very fortunately for us, midday on Thursday also happens to be the time when Atlanta's food trucks converge upon Midtown, right in the Woodruff Art Center's front yard (the Woodruff Art Center houses the High, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the city's Alliance Theatre), so we've made a habit of capping off our adventure at the Westside Creamery truck with a scoop of gloriously rich, artisanal ice cream. If you go, try the Milk and Honey ice cream and the Watermelon Basil sorbet. You'll thank me--I promise. Here's a peek at the street food scene--you can't tell from my position, but there were at least twelve trucks there (Atlanta is so cool, isn't it?).

Being brave with only my one child and averse to the rates in the parking lot, we wrapped up last Thursday's date with a walk to our street parking spot in gorgeous Ansley Park. And met these lions on the way.

When you have the time and attention to look at the world through the eyes of a two year old, it's so much fun, isn't it? As we walked away, he looked back and shouted, "Bye bye lion! Nice meet you!" Sweet boy.

I'm hoping that Little Brother and I will be consistent about going to the High most Thursdays this year.  Maybe we'll see you there?

Happy Thursday!