Play

If you are looking for a fun, creative activity for your kids in Memphis, TN, The Art Project will not disappoint! 

I have been wanting to visit The Art Project Memphis for oh, about the last four years! That is what little kids will do to you, delay your plans by a few years. Anyway, we finally got the chance to visit today and had a great time. 

It is a great little gem for those that live in the Memphis area or a fantastic place to visit if you are with kids on a vacation in Memphis. 

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

What is Art Free Play? 

The Art Project Memphis has structured classes but what I really love is the concept of art free play that they offer. The idea is simple but brilliant. 

The materials are all there: paint, stamps, glitter and more. The kids come in and create whatever they can dream up. Their slogan is to “Create Art. Leave the Mess.” and let’s be honest, could that make your mama heart any happier. Enough said. 

Where is It?

The Art Project is located in the Overton Square area. This area has been revitalized over the last few years and is one of our favorite places to go! 

We love to eat at the restaurants in Overton after a fun day at the Memphis Zoo or the Children’s Museum of Memphis. And now we will add the Art Project to our list of favorite family friendly activities in Memphis!

We love just about every restaurant in this little strip. You will also find a cute outdoor courtyard at the steps of The Art Project. There is a small stage that features musical acts in good weather, corn hole, blocks, and hula hoops to play with before you even go inside to work on your art!

What to Expect At The Art Project Memphis

 The cost is $15 per child for the art free play and totally worth it! After you pay for the free play, you can grab aprons for the kids and get started.

There are several different areas to play in with a variety of different materials. I will be honest, when we first walked in, I thought the kids might get bored. It is relatively small for a kids play place (though not at all cramped) and I wondered if there would be enough activities to keep them occupied. 

We were there with our friends so we had 4 kids ranging from 5 years old to a one year old. Let’s just say that after an hour and a half no one was ready to go! Success! 

Scribble Space Area 

The set up of The Art Project Memphis is really well thought out. The Scribble Space is to your left when you enter and is filled with 12 full size easels and probably that many smaller, toddler size easels. There is also a large table that children can share to work on projects. 

Completely surrounding this circular art space are large white bins. Inside the bins you will find literally every kind of art material that you can think of.

There are tons of paint brushes, markers, crayons, stamps, glue, scissors, Kwik Stix (the coolest no mess paint ever), glitter, fabric, tiny pieces of cut up paper for collages – you know all the things that make you cringe when thinking about sweeping them up from your rug. But you don’t have to worry about that here, your kids make the mess & the Art Project staff cleans it up.  

I think that is what I loved the most about this place. Not once did I get upset with my kids about making a mess. We try to allow them to “be kids” at home but you know, right after you mop the floor is always when an art explosion happens!

We were of course respectful of our messes at the studio, but it was nice to not stress about a little glitter hitting the floor and being able to say of course you can open that huge container of moon sand. 

Café Area

They offer several drink and snack options for kids and adults in their small café. Even awesome things like coffee and beer. I think Daddy might even join us next time with those options being available. 

In the café area, there are many tables and chairs that you can use to relax but they also each have an art focus. Some tables had things like moon sand with cars, animal figurines and rolling pins. Others had blocks or other building materials. 

Other tables had materials and a project sheet with an idea with how to use the materials. I loved that lots of the items were recycled items which really gets kids thinking on how to be creative, not to mention is sustainably smart for the environment. 

Some of the project ideas built a little flower out of wine corks and play dough tops and another used yarn and paint to create an interesting texture on the paper. 

Chalkboard

On the back wall, there is a huge chalkboard with lots of sidewalk chalk. 

Small Tables 

Along the window side of the scribble space, there are a couple of kid sized tables. On these tables we found things like play dough and cookie cutters, magna tiles, Squigz, and blocks. 

Extra Easels

There are also about 5 extra easels that are not in the Scribble Space for painting and creating. Right before we left, a birthday party arrived. First of all, I’m making note for my kid’s next birthday! Secondly, that is where my comment about the space being so well thought out comes from. 

Even if you are there during a birthday party, you still have access to all of the materials. Those big, white bins surrounding Scribble Space can be accessed from either side so you can just keep on creating even if the inside of Scribble Space is reserved. 

What You Will Love At The Art Project Memphis 

The Size of the Studio

Although at first I thought the size might be a negative, it wasn’t and let me tell you why! First of all, they have so many things for kids to create with, there is no boredom involved. Like I said, we had 4 kids and not one complained the entire time. Is that even possible? 

The smaller size also helped me not to feel exhausted when I left. Have you ever been somewhere like Chuck E. Cheese and you leave feeling like you just ran a marathon while dodging baseballs? And when you are chasing a toddler, those wide open spaces can be daunting. 

I loved that I could sit in the chair in the café area and literally see the entire facility give or take. 

No Mess

Ok, so I may have mentioned this once or twice or 72 times so far but seriously, no mess! Your kids can pretty much do whatever within reason and not here the word no. 

Not only will you not be sweeping up glitter, but you don’t even have to pick up a box of crayons and put them away. Nada. 

Staff 

While I was there, there were several employees and one of the owners. They were all so friendly and accommodating. 

Right when we left, my little one fell outside and cut his hand on the concrete. I went back inside and they gave me a bandaid and even offered me Neosporin! 

I also heard another mom asking for a room to nurse her baby, and guess what, they had a room for that. 

Everything was so clean (despite the dried paint on everything –  but hey it is an art place and that just adds to the colorful decor).

Café 

Although I didn’t try anything from the café, I loved the convenience of it being available. You know how it is, it never fails that you get somewhere and your kid is thirsty or hungry. And you forgot a snack. I know I can’t be the only one?

If you are in Midtown Memphis and looking for an inexpensive way to spend an afternoon creating art with your kids, give the Art Project Memphis a try. I think you will love it. 

If you are headed to the Children’s Museum of Memphis, here are 7 tips that you need to know before you go in order to have the best time with your kids. 

We love the Children’s Museum of Memphis! It is a great space to interact with your kids in an educational environment. Kids will be entertained and worn out by the end of your visit. And worn out kids mean good nap times! 

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Where Is CMOM? 

The museum is located in the Midtown area which is offers lots of Memphis culture and fun. Many of our favorite kid friendly Memphis activities are nearby like the Memphis Zoo, The Pink Palace Museum, and The Art Project.

Not to mention tons of awesome family friendly restaurants in Overton Square and Cooper Young areas. Another good option is a quick brunch at Brother Juniper’s in the University of Memphis area before a day of play!

These neighborhoods are near the museum and you can get to most of these places in just 5-7 minutes. 

The museum is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. Be sure to check the website for special holiday closings. 

The Address:

2525 Central Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104

The Exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Memphis

As members of this museum, we usually try to go every month or so. The exhibits don’t really change at the museum but even so, my kids always have a blast and are never bored. 

During a visit, we typically stay about two hours. My kids could stay longer but since we are members, I don’t usually push it. If you planned accordingly, you could definitely spend several hours playing indoors and out. 

Here are some of our favorite exhibits. Don’t forget to look around the museum for other activities outside of the main exhibits. There are lots of free play areas with things like legos, magna tiles and even a giant weaving loom. 

Kroger Grocery Store

A real grocery store setup made for little ones. 

I went to the CMOM as a kid and my favorite memory there was the grocery store. And my kids find equal joy in it 30 ish years later! There are kid size grocery carts and tons of food to select. Even my one year old loves to shop for things like milk, fresh fruit and oatmeal.

I love the touches that make it feel like a real shopping experience for the kids. There is a “fresh” flowers section, a meat counter, plenty of canned goods, cleaning supplies, milk and produce. 

After the kids fill up their carts, they head to the check out counter where they become the cashier. My one year old just loves to push buttons and hear the noises on the real cash register.

The older kids will have fun scanning barcodes and getting the real receipt that prints at the end. Don’t forget that you will need to put the items you “bought” back on the shelf after you are done, so shop for the evening not the month!

Smiles, Inc

The Smiles exhibit is all about dental health. It is one of the smaller and older areas of the museum but my kids always want to run in and brush the patient’s teeth. 

There are really big tooth brushes, teeth models and even some lab coats to practice their dentistry skills.

 Campground 

This area is adjacent to the Smiles exhibit and features a pretty cool rock wall. It is perfect for an adventurous 4 year old and up. 

If you have kids of varying ages, this area will probably be a favorite. My toddler can climb through the tunnel or go down the slide while big sis is climbing the rock wall. And there is a park bench which comes in handy if you need a break while the kids play. 

Mississippi River 

The main attraction here is the fishing! There are tons of plastic fish and boats that float down the river for your kids to catch with small poles or nets. 

It is tons of fun trying to catch a fish (and it is harder than you might think!). There is also a small aquarium with some real fish and you can learn to tie a couple of rope knots. 

Going Places 

Memphis is known for music, BBQ and of course, FedEx! Right around the corner from the mighty Mississippi, you will see a huge portion of a FedEx plane in the middle of the museum

This is another area of the museum that if great for a broad range of kids. Go up to the second floor to see an air traffic control area, the cockpit of the plane and then slide down the slide. 

The bottom level has a conveyer belt that allows kids to place boxes on the belt and manually hoist them up to a processing center. They then come falling down the chute. It may not sound that amazing but there are always kids wanting to play with this!

4 & Under

If you have little ones, definitely check out the four and under room. You will find lots of age appropriate ride on toys, a lite brite wall, a mini version of the American Airways pneumatic air tube, and a playground structure with a slide. 

The second side of the 4 & under room features a tree house climbing structure, a school bus, and a book nook. My daughter just turned 5 and she still enjoys some time in this area while her little brother plays. We have also never had any trouble getting her in (even though she is slightly over age). 

There is also a bathroom in this play area. It has changing areas, a regular toilet and a tiny kid size toilet and urinal. I normally wouldn’t talk about a bathroom on a post that is about the children’s museum but I’m telling you we go once a visit.

I don’t know what it is about those kid size toilets that my kid loves. So if your kids love to check out every public bathroom they see, now you know about this one! (It is clean too so that is a plus)

Bank 

Since my kiddos are younger, we don’t usually spend a ton of time at the bank exhibit. But you can do some fun things like writing checks, make coin rubbings and use a banking tube. 

American Airways Pneumatic Tube

This intricate tube system is a pretty cool experiment in aerodynamics. The kids push colorful scarves and pom pom balls into the tubes and watch them travel through the clear tubes before coming out at the other side. 

This picture is from the smaller tube that is in the preschool area but there is a larger one that you will see right when you walk into the museum. 

Garage

My little princess doesn’t usually want to spend a lot of time at this spot but it is pretty interesting none the less. You will find a gas pump and a race track for toy cars.

Your child can play like they are a mechanic and look under the hood or pretend to change a tire. 

There is also a race track and toy cars where kids can test speed. 

Skyscraper 

This is another one that was around in my childhood (but they have renovated it since then! The kids can have fun climbing up through the maze and then they exit through a set of stairs adjacent to the exhibit. 

I’m not sure if this one has an age on it but I would say that 3-4 is probably the youngest to go up. Otherwise you might end up having to climb through to rescue a stuck little one! 

Hollywood Role Play 

Costumes, a stage and karaoke are the stars of this show. When the kids get on stage, they can choose a kid friendly song to perform. 

The best part about this play area is that directly across the stage is a big tv that projects the kids on stage. The kids love seeing themselves on stage singing and dancing!

There are also several rows of seats for the parents to watch the show. When my son was a tiny baby, I would use this time to feed him while my daughter played. 

Engine House 18 

Here you will fine a real fire truck, police car and police motorcycle. Kids love to climb inside and pretend to drive these rescue vehicles. The radios inside have real sounds of calls that you would here on a police or fire scanner. 

Grand Carousel 

And grand it is. This is by far one of our favorite things to do at the museum. There is just something magical about a big carousel and this beautifully restored 1909 Dentzel carousel makes for a grand display at the Children’s Museum of Memphis. 

You can read the full history on the carousel but the short version is that it started it’s journey  in Chicago in 1909. In 1923, it moved to Memphis and has remained although it has been in storage for the last few years. At the end of 2017, the restored all horse carousel was brought into the museum!

This carousel is only one of four or five Dentzel all horse carousels left in existence! So enjoy a little piece of history as you spin around on that sparkling horse. 

Little Planter’s Pasture

Plant a pretend vegetable garden, collect your chicken’s eggs and milk your cow. Yes, the cow really releases “milk” when the kids pull on the utters. 

Doodlebug Studio

A daily craft is featured in this room. There is an attendant at the door that will give you a set of supplies and some brief instructions. 

The crafts are usually simple enough that a toddler can participate with some assistance or an older child can do the craft with more detail and independence. 

Little Fixin’s Kitchen

Forget those plastic kid kitchens, this play area will put those to shame! It is a real kitchen scaled down to kid size proportions. Kids will have fun making meals in the life like appliances in this spot. 

Time Square

There is not a lot to this exhibit. It is a small walk thru room that is dark except for multi colored lights and a disco ball! We don’t spend a ton of time here but we do usually visit it for a quick dance party. 

Outdoor Exhibits

The outdoor space of the Children’s Museum of Memphis has been completely revitalized in the last couple of years and it is really great. 

Splash Pad

The seasonally open splash pad is tons of fun! There are lots of ways for the kids to have fun and splash around. It is a fairly large splash pad and even though the parent seating area can get crowded, the splash pad never seems overly trafficked.

The splash pad does have a few areas of shade but it is not overly shaded. Be sure to pack sunscreen and hats to keep your kids safe in the hot Memphis sun.

They also sell snow cones for $1 that make for a refreshing treat after all that playing (Bring cash). 

Dino Dig

Next to the splash pad is the dinosaur themed sand area. Pretend to search for dino bones, sift through the sand or build a castle. I don’t know what it is about sand, but kids love it. 

This area is also seasonal and open Memorial Day – Labor Day.

Playground

The outdoor playground is a fun spot all year round and features a couple of cool things that I have not seen at other playgrounds before. 

The self propelled zip line is very cool. It has a large seat that you buckle the child into. Gently push the seat to propel them down the zip line. There is a bumper at the bottom stops the ride and pushes them back up to the top. It is really unique and fun.

4 years is probably the ideal age for the zip line but mine did it at three and enjoyed it. 

A double see-saw and a merry go round that you can spin your children in are also fun activities. You will also find a traditional playground with slides and monkey bars. 

Bankshot Basketball

We have never actually played basketball (remember the Princess, she isn’t really into b-ball ) but it looks so cool. There are 19 goals and it is brightly colored and whimsical looking. Definitely not your typical basketball court.

7 Children’s Museum of Memphis Tips to Make Your Visit Great

1. The carousel runs every quarter hour. Unless the museum is overly crowded for a special event, there is not usually a long line and everyone makes it on. 
2. The museum does have a café area with tables and a vending machine. However, unlike other children’s museums that we have been to there is not any type of hot food prepared on site. You are allowed to bring your own food or even use a service like Uber Eats to deliver food that you can eat on site. 
3. If it is splash pad season, arrive right when the museum opens. Have the kids wear there swim suits under their clothes so that you can go straight out to the splash pad. This is important because you will get a seat (they have big Adirondack chairs but there are often more people than chairs later in the day) and you will beat the blaring sun (there is not much shade once 11 or 12 hits). By the time your kids are tired of the splash pad, it will be getting more crowded outside. Change clothes and go inside, and you will practically have the inside museum to yourself! 
4. Avoid the dates with special events if you are just wanting to spend time in the museum. The events can be fun but they increase the crowd pretty dramatically and make it more difficult to really interact with the exhibits.  
5. Don’t skip the Doodlebug Studio. Everyday they have a new craft where you will be given brief instructions and a set of supplies for your child. The craft can usually be finished in 10 or 15 minutes. I find that it gives a little break from the high stimulation that some of the other exhibits provide and gives us all time to regroup (and prevent meltdowns). 
6. Don’t go on during a University of Memphis football game. The museum is basically in the backyard of the Liberty Bowl Stadium. There will be lots of traffic surrounding this area if there is a game so you may wish to avoid it during that time. 
7. If you are from out of town and are a member of a children’s museum in your area, check to see if your museum is part of the ACM reciprocal program. If it is, you will get 50% off your admission at the Children’s Museum of Memphis!

Membership to CMOM

Here at Protecting Your Pennies, we are always looking to save a few dollars! In number 7 of our top tips, saving money with the reciprocal program was mentioned. 

But if you are local to the Memphis area, you may want to consider a museum membership! We have been members for several years and really enjoy it. 

Is a Membership Worth It? 

I think so! Look at it like this, a trip for four (Mom, Dad & two kids) will cost you $64 for the museum and parking. You will also pay $3 a person if you want to ride the carousel and $5 extra per person if you want to do the seasonal splash pad. So you could be looking at a total of $96 if you do everything. 

A family of four membership is $165 for the year and includes unlimited visits to the museum, splash pad, and carousel. So you only have to go 1.7 times to make the membership worth it! We go at least 9-10 times a year with our membership so I average a cost of <$20 a visit. 

If the membership is an expense that is too great, think about asking for it as a Christmas gift from family. I know several sets of grandparents that give the family a membership as a gift. That is such a great idea as opposed to a toy that may end up sitting in a corner. 

If you have visited the Children’s Museum of Memphis, what are your favorite activities?

If you find yourself around the University of Memphis area and need a yummy breakfast, Brother Juniper’s is the place! You will find the massive open face omelets that they are known for piled high with delicious and unique toppings. 

I can’t believe that I grew up in Memphis and I had never tried this place until today! Let me tell you, I have been missing out and you have too if you haven’t tried Brother Juniper’s breakfast! And since Frommer’s recently named Memphis as one of the Best Places to Visit in 2019, I am going to be reviewing more fun things to do in my hometown!

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Location of Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Restaurant

The location could not be better if you are visiting for a Tiger’s game or visiting your child at college. It is just a short walk from campus if you are at the University. Or even if you are visiting Memphis and staying Downtown, you are only a 20 minute Uber ride away from a delicious local breakfast experience.

This part of the University area has been revitalized in the last couple of years and offers a pretty cool scene.  You will find some newer, upscale restaurants like Char and some long time Memphis favorites like Garibaldi’s Pizza. Some other neighbors to Brother Juniper’s is The 901 Scoop to try out the rolled ice cream trend or the Tiger bookstore to get yourself outfitted in Tiger blue. 

So now that you know the area you are going to, the actual Brother Juniper’s breakfast that you want is located at 3519 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN 38111. 

Hours of Operation : 

Monday :  Closed 

Tuesday – Friday : 6:30a – 1:00p

Saturday : 7:00a – 12:30p 

Sunday : 8:00a – 1:00p 

Brother Juniper’s Atmosphere

There is a small outdoor area out front but it was super cold today so we entered into the old house right away. We were promptly greeted by a friendly hostess. Since it was a Saturday morning, we were expecting a little wait but were pretty pleased that it was only about a 10-15 minute wait. There are also two fairly large bar seating areas if you don’t mind sitting there as opposed to a table to avoid the wait. 

We were quickly called back to our table by the hostess. And in true southern, Memphis style “follow me ya’ll” is probably what you will hear. In the dining room, you will find a diverse crowd of people ranging from families with young kids, couples and college kids. 

The main sitting area has a warm, family feel. I always love restaurants that are in old homes because it just gives it that quaint feel that you want when you are about to eat a big stack of pancakes and a hot mug of coffee. 

On the table, you will find a laminated menu with the extensive offerings. The large menu is printed front and back, completely filled with every breakfast option you can probably think of. There is sure to be something to please your belly!

Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Review

Right when we sat down at our table, our server came to take our drink order. I was really excited about this because while we were waiting, I had been scoping out a big chalkboard that detailed all of their specialty lattes. I love a sweet coffee treat.  

Coffee

My husband takes his coffee black so there isn’t much to talk about there but he did say that it was a good cup of coffee. (I wouldn’t touch a cup of black coffee with a ten foot pole. Give me ALL the sugar.) I chose the Juniper Latte. It is an espresso with caramel and topped with whipped cream. The caramel was prominent and delicious.

It was one of my favorite parts of our Brother Juniper’s breakfast experience. If you love good coffee, you know a lot of times the coffee at a breakfast diner tastes like burned motor oil but that was not the case here! My hubby even tried it, his exact comment was “that tastes like candy!” 

Savory Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Entrees

There were so many options, I had a really hard time choosing what I wanted. Thankfully, I did know that I wanted to try some type of eggs benedict so that narrowed down my choices a bit. 

The gravy benedict was the option that I chose featuring a southern, fluffy biscuit topped with chopped sausage, tomatoes, green onions and two over medium eggs. But here is the kicker. It is topped with hollandaise sauce and white gravy. I love biscuits and gravy and adding in the hollandaise just elevates it to the next delicious level. 

My husband went with one of the Brother Juniper’s breakfast specialties, the open face omelets. The Hungry Tiger is a three egg open faced omelet featuring tomatoes, green onions, bacon, ham, sausage, feta, cheddar, mozzarella and swiss. Basically every breakfast item you can think of piled on top of an omelet. 

Omelets are not usually my personal favorite but I love trying things so in my mouth it went! I really enjoyed this for two reasons. Piling all the toppings on top made it taste less eggy to me which is why I don’t love omelets in the first place. The open face omelet style was a nice twist on the original and is something that Brother Juniper’s states is unique on their menu. The other thing that really made this choice stand out was the feta. I don’t know why more places don’t use feta at breakfast because it is delish! 

Sweet Breakfast Options

I will literally not go to a breakfast restaurant if they don’t have good sweet options. My idea of a perfect breakfast is a little savory and a big sweet something on my plate. And I don’t want just a pancake! I want some delicious bakery dessert stuffed into my french toast or pancakes. 

Brother Juniper’s did not disappoint. I wanted to sub my home fries that came with my meal for a Cinnamon Roll pancake but our server let me know that was not an option. We decided to just order one pancake as a side to try it. The one pancake is huge! Both of my kids could have shared that as their main meal and been full with leftovers. 

The cinnamon roll pancake does not just make an impression for the size. The cinnamon sugar and cream cheese icing will leave you feeling like you had an amazing dessert for your early morning meal. We added a teeny tiny bit of syrup to our pancake but it really needed nothing. 

And that Monte Cristo on the menu is calling my name for next time. 

Side Dishes

The two main sides offered are the home fries or cheese grits. The home fries are diced potatoes that are well seasoned with savory spices and lightly fried. A quick dip in ketchup and these started disappearing quickly.

But the table favorite was definitely the cheesy grits! The grits were full of cheese which is important because why call them cheese grits if they are not going to be swimming in ooey gooey goodness? And the consistency was perfectly creamy and just what I think of when imagining some good southern grits. 

Overall, we really enjoyed both the food and experience at Brother Juniper’s. Do you have a favorite Memphis breakfast or brunch place to eat?