Family picks

Garden of Eatin'

Ten years ago, Canstruction first opened in Raleigh featuring giant sculptures made entirely out of canned and packaged foods.

The competition first took place on the floor of Exploris, and is now at Marbles Kids Museum, which took over the building in downtown Raleigh in 2007.

And since 1999, the event has donated more than 230,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Canstruction also is held in other cities across North America.

Marbles hopes to add to that number with this year's Canstruction, featuring giant versions of items found in the garden or on the farm that might be entirely made out of cereal boxes or cans of peas, for instance.

They're calling it the Garden of Eatin'. The exhibit and events around it focus on healthy activities and nutrition for kids and families.

Marbles will feature a handful of events in the next week to mark the exhibit.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, visitors can watch as about eight local design teams assemble their masterpieces from a tractor to fruits and vegetables.

The exhibit opens to the public on Jan. 13.

And Marbles will celebrate the opening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 17, with a day of special activities.

At the so-called Can Opener, kids can get dressed up in "fruity fashions" and join a parade, there's a game to learn about the food groups and a tin can garden where kids can plant edible plants in a tin can and take them home. There will be food-themed storytimes. And from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can get their faces painted.

A panel of local judges will decide who win the top prizes, but visitors also will be able to cast ballots on Jan. 17.

The Canstruction Awards will be announced between 2 p.m .and 3 p.m., Jan. 17.

Donations of canned goods will be accepted through the run of the exhibit, which ends Feb. 22. On Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, visitors can bring in five canned food items and receive one free admission to the museum.

Canstruction normally is later in the year, but museum leaders say they know that this time of year traditionally is a slow time for the food bank. They hope to fill up its shelves.

"I'm hoping we get so many we can't handle it," says Deidre Albert of Marbles. "Right after the holiday season, we know the food bank is depleted. It's a great opportunity for us to give back to the community."

WHAT: Canstruction and the Garden of Eatin' at Marbles Kids Museum

WHERE: Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh

WHEN: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, watch as design teams create giant-sized structures made of cans and packaged foods. See the exhibit for the first time Jan. 13.

And celebrate the opening of Canstruction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 17, during a day of activities.

WHO GOES: All ages

For more information: Go to http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org

Go to http://www.TriangleMom2Mom.com for a full list of family-friendly activities this weekend and the weeks to come.

Other highlights

The second annual Birdapalooza! is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, at the Museum of Life and Science, 433 Murray Ave., Durham. The event features Birdman Dave, who will talk about the birds of the Amazon Rainforest. Other events include Hawk Talk, where visitors can meet Misha, the museum's Red-Tailed Hawk. Reserve your space for one of the programs with Birdman Dave. The event is free with admission, though a fee is required for Birdman Dave programs. Go to www.ncmls.org/visit/events/birdapalooza for more information.

Learn about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a presentation from Bright Star Children's Theatre. The group will present two 50-minute productions about King and the civil rights movement on Jan. 13. A 10:30 a.m. performance is for children and their chaperones and teachers. A 7 p.m. performance is for families and the general public. The performance is at the St. Joseph's Performance Hall at Hayti Heritage Center in Durham. Go to www.hayti.org for details and ticket information.