I had my first outing to the NEW Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia (or as my friend's child calls it- the "Please Touch Me" Museum). I have to admit, I was skeptical that I would not like it as much as the old one. Why? Because I am a sucker for nostalgia and I detest most change... especially when the change is from something cool, old-school, simple, and reminiscent of my childhood into something techie, new-fangled, swanky and modern. Like, I became very upset when they remade Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (despite my undying love for Johnny Depp), How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Horton Hears a Who. I cringed when they revamped the VW Bug, and I really had a problem with the newly animated Tinkerbell... she is NOT the beloved Tink of Peter Pan and I just cannot get past it! Let's not even TALK about the "Sit and Spin" needing batteries! The fun was that you'd spin yourself around until you vomited a little in your mouth and then your Mom let you drink a little flat Cola to ease your nausea. Hel-lo! No batteries necessary for that kind of fun people!
My fears of the Please Touch Museum loosing its "look" and its charm were appeased upon entry into its magnificent new home. Holy Mackerel... the building is breathtaking and worth a trip to see in and of itself. The Museum had many of the old features (the Septa bus, psychedelic Alice In Wonderland area, the retro toys on display, the supermarket) mixed in with other cool new areas and features... a Hospital, a McDonald's, a Shoe Store, a "Make Your Own Flying Device and Test it Out" room. I can actually say this IS much better than the original!
Of course, no family weekend excursion can be complete without injury and missing children. At the "Play MacDonald's" my 13 month old decided to fall off a play stool face first onto a quite REAL floor and split her top lip. I guess she heard the call: "Please Touch the Floor With Face" and obliged. During this drama, the other 4 kids take off to the next "play stores" unbeknowst to me, my sister and brother-in-law as we are busy checking the baby's mouth for possible loose teeth. We were nicely reprimanded by a staff person about staying with our children. I guess she thought that an 8 year old girl wasn't in a position to be escorting two 4 year olds and a 3 year old around a crowded museum... even if the 8 year old IS a street-wise Punky Brewster with Sketcher boots laced up to her knees. Seriously, those boots could cause damage to any kidnappers' shins.
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3 comments:
Did you go the science center today? I was amazed how well my 8 year old son (w/ autism) did! He loved it. We also love the Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill and the much smaller but closerby Monmouth Museum. Haven't tried this philly destination yet but its on the list :)
Been wanting to test out the waters at the "new" Please touch. You have given me the incentive....but I might bring back up incase I lose the kids, lol.
hello kittie,
LOVE the discovery museum for the child with autism. actually i did NOT bring my 13 year old (afflicted with autism) to the museum... would have been an ugly scene with my 1,2, and 3 year old also. i dont care HOW many adults were there with me, someone would have drown, gotten lost, or broken a priceless object... as it was, we had a split lip and a missing child... and got yelled at my a museum staffer. LOL!
ps, love your bonbon gazette !!
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