SIN Entertainment
EarthQuest: Take
`The Toxicus Challenge'

uffering from fireworks be more energy efficient. In the tion Zone, which recreates a gas sta-
burnout? Unwilling to do the kitchen, they learn what happens tion. Through an interactive video
grilling? Don't let the red and when a refrigerator door is opened and game, visitors can find out about al-
white make you blue. Instead, how to pack a less-wasteful lunch. In ternative fuels and how to create less
visit EarthQuest, the new exhibit at the bathroom, see how water can be pollution by using a wrench.
The Recycling Zone features a sort-
the Cranbrook Institute of Science conserved in "Toilet Talk," "Shower
aimed at educating kids about the en- Power"-and "Sink or Swim." The back ing activity and explains how glass,
yard displays facts about fertilizers, plastic, paper, aluminum and alloys
vironment in a fun and easy way.
are recycled into other materials.
Based on the updated "3 Rs" — re- pesticides and yards.
The adventure concludes with the
The third stop is the Shopping Zone,
duce, reuse and recycle — EarthQuest
is designed as an interactive video where exhibit-goers are educated End Zone, where kids play the "Toxi-
game. As visitors enter the exhibit, about packaging, content and recy- cus Challenge." In a laser-game bat-
they are greeted by the robot J.D. cling through scanning the bar codes tle, they must decide whether to
reduce, reuse or recycle identified land-
(Junkyard Dog), the friendly mascot of various items in a mini-mart.
This is followed by the Transporta- fill items in order to defeat Toxicus.
who enlists their help to defeat the evil
PHOTO BY DANIEL LIPPITT
Toxicus, the "monster of
waste." The only way to do
this is by gathering inte-
gral information in five
zones: Neighborhood,
Home, Shopping, Trans-
portation and Recycling:
Each of these settings con-
tain several examples of
real-life environmental
problems and suggestions
on how to solve them.
The Neighborhood Zone
depicts a suburban street
on garbage day. See-
through trash bins teach
children what items can be
recycled in their own
homes. Visitors can also
feel the weight of garbage
produced by an individual
in a day or week in "Wear
Your Waste," which allows
them to try on clear vests
filled with trash.
Next, visitors move on to
the Home Zone, the interi-
or of a house. This zone il- In the Shopping Zone, Jacob Freeman, 41/2, and Hannah Blume, 5, decide which items to reduce, reuse or
lustrates how a house can recycle.

Family Train Ride

All aboard for an hour-long
train trip through marshlands
and a Wooded Bird Sanctuary.
Plus, a puppet show. Coe Rail-
road 840 N. Pontiac Trail,
Walled Lake. (810) 960-9440.

I

k Sun., 1 & 2:30 p.m.

Mexicantown
Mercado

Spend a summer day at this
open-air market with fresh
produce, unique import
items, crafts and specialty
foods. Bagley at 21st, Detroit.
(313) 842-0450.
•

Sun.,.12-6 p.m.

Overture to Glory

The 1940 Yiddish musi-
cal/drama with English sub-
titles. Sinai's Program for
Holocaust Survivors, Fam-
flies and Friends. (810) 356-
6668.

Sun., 7:30 p.m.,
Maple-Drake JCC;
Mon., 12:45 p.m.,
jPM JCC

The learning continues in the
EarthLab, an activities center and re-
source room for all ages. Visitors ob-
serve firsthand how live worms
compost garbage into soil and how bod-
ies of water become contaminated. A
library, multimedia computer pro-
grams, puzzles and games are also
available.
"We wanted to expand this infor-
mation on an adult level without ex-
cluding the kids," said Melissa
Pletcher, coordinator of EarthQuest
events and the EarthLab. ❑

— Mara Reirzstein

e The EarthQuest exhibit runs
through Labor Day at the Cran-
brook fnstitute of Science. Free dri-
ly programs. Hours are 10 a.m-5
p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10
p.m g#.4
Friday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m.
Sund,4Y2Aldiiiigaion is $7 for adults
$4 for children 3-17 and senior cit-
izens, and free for children under
3. An Eco-Art Workshop will be
held 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, July
20. Fee: $6 for members, $8 for non
members. Register at (810) 645
3233. An Environmental Magic and
Game.Show hosted by Doug Scheer
will be held at 1 and 3 pm. Satur-
day, July 20, and at 2 and 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 21. Free with muse-
um admission. For other upcoming
EarthQuest events, check the JN
Entertainment calendar. Call (810)
645-3200. 1221 North Woodward
Ave. in Bloomfield Hills.

Quentin Tarantino
Month

WRIF presents Monday Night at
the Movies at the State Theatre
for a buck. Tarantino's flick du
jour is True Romance with Chris-
tian Slater, Patricia Arquette and
Dennis Hopper. 2111 Woodward,
Detroit.

Mon., 9 p.m.

Henry Feinberg

When not offering a "Fein"
harmonica show, the piano
man is performing at the
Rochester Chop House, 306
Main Rochester. (810) 651-
2266.

Wed.-Sat.,
7-11 p.m.