From 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9 come to Richardson Nature Center in Hyland Park Reserve, Bloomington, to learn about “Nature Discoveries: May Flowers.”

Enjoy several activity stations that help you and your child explore the colorful world of flowers. Put together flower puzzles, use a magnifying lens to look closely at a flower, match flower shapes, create your own flower and explore the outdoors. Dress for indoor and outdoor activities.

A walking tour of Shakopee’s Catholic Cemetery is planned for noon Thursday, May 29. Participants should meet at the cemetery, located between Clay and Adams streets on West 10th Avenue (across the street from the Women’s Prison).

Reviewed by Richard Crawford

"Married Alive!," the latest offering at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ Fireside Stage, is a close cousin to the hit "I Do! I Do!," the longest running show on the Chanhassen stage. It also contains some of the same humor captured in another Chanhassen forerunner, "Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical."

While some of the themes are familiar, there is plenty of humor to be had in this musical comedy.

The 10th annual Summer Theater Workshop will be held at the Prior Lake High auditorium, 7575 150th St., Savage from June 9 to 13. 

Students entering grades seven through nine will meet from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on those dates. Students entering grades three through six will meet from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

The Summer Theater Workshop costs $45 per student. Scholarships are available.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

New York author Charles Leerhsen spent two years digging up information for his soon-to-be-released book about Dan Patch.

Was there a nugget of information that even he was shocked to find about the famous pacer, who turned 112 years old on April 29? Many books have been written about Dan Patch, but Leerhsen wanted to tell the complete story in “Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America.”

The Savage Arts Council will be sponsoring two juried art competitions – one for adults and another for youths – in conjunction with Dan Patch Days.

Winners of the Dan Patch Days Art Competition Show (for adults) will be announced June 14 and the display will open June 21, the weekend of Dan Patch Days.

Native American youth from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community present “Young Native Pride,” a free event which celebrates Native American culture, traditions, and spirituality through song and dance on Friday, May 2 in the auditorium at Shakopee Senior High School, 100 17th Ave., W.

Dan Patch American Legion Post #643, 12375 Princeton Ave., in downtown Savage, will have an old-fashioned smelt fry on Saturday, April 19.

Serving begins at 2 p.m. for “all you can eat” smelt with baked beans and Cole slaw. Serving will continue until 125 pounds of smelt is gone. The price is $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Legion.

The Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), 125 Minnesota Valley Electric Drive, in Jordan will host its biannual all-you-can-eat shrimp dinner on Friday, April 18 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The public is invited to meet four authors whose books are finalists in the Children’s Book category of the 2008 Minnesota Book Awards on Saturday, April 5 at 1p.m. at the Savage Branch Library, 13090 Alabama Ave.