Mission to Mars Event Tomorrow…Are You Coming?

It’s almost here!

If you haven’t made plans to attend either of our Mission to Mars events on October 11, 2014, you’ll be missing out on an amazing opportunity to learn more about our space program, and all of the work and exploration we’ve been doing on the planet of Mars.

We’ve talked about how beneficial these types of programs are for kids, and to show you, we invite you to bring the entire family out for our Mission to Mars Family Fun Day. This part of our event kicks off at 10:00am this Saturday morning. All kids are invited to come wearing the best costumes, because we’ll be having a costume contest. There are also many other activities for kids to enjoy. They can get their faces painted, they’ll be able to meet a few Martians (and maybe even ask all those burning questions about Mars they’ve been dying to ask), and we’ll also have a scavenger hunt in the museum. This is definitely an event unlike any other, and your kids will have a blast.

They won’t even realize they’re learning!

After you have lunch at Sweet-n-Saucy, here in our Wings Cafe, you’ll want to finish up the fun and head home to prepare for the evening’s Gala (adults only). Joe Cavallaro and his Dixieland Jazz Band will be providing the music for the event, and there will be beer and wine tasting from local vendors. Sweet-n-Saucy has cooked up a delicious meal for the evening, and Shoshanna Cole from Cornell University will be on hand to discuss our last 10 Years on Mars.

This is such an important event for the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, but it’s also important for the kids in our region. We love being able to provide them with STEM educational programs, and your support will help to keep those programs going.

We hope you’ll join us for an incredible weekend as we do our part to explore Mars and support STEM youth education in the Big Flats, Corning, Elmira and Horseheads area.

To make your reservations for our Gala, please click here. We’ll see you tomorrow!

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Maybe There’s No Life on Mars Right Now…

Everyone loves a good comedian, and Louis C.K. is one of the hottest ones going right now. Yesterday, he went on a Twitter rant about Mars, and there’s actually quite a bit of truth in what he was saying. Actually, that’s what makes comedy funny, right? Still, let’s take a closer look at what he had to say in reference to what we know about the red planet today.

“It really feels like Mars used to be a here that got globally warmed by some very us-y people-things.”

“What was left turned into here and our moon…and later we’ll use our moon to go back.”

While scientists don’t really know very much about Mars prior to 1970, they do know that there’s evidence that Mars once had water. In 1996, NASA geologist David McKay took a closer look at a Martian meteorite that landed on Earth. Along with his researchers, McKay discovered what looked to be fossilized microbes. Could it be a sign that Mars once had some form of life? That debate is ongoing, and right now scientists believe we don’t have enough evidence to support the theory. Still…

NASA’s Curiosity is still roaming the planet of Mars, looking for any tell-tale signs of ancient life on the surface.

What about the “us-y people things” Louis referred to? Could it be possible that life on earth actually originated from Mars? That’s a pretty far-reaching theory, but it’s not one that isn’t in the backs of the minds of certain scientists. In fact, a biochemist by the name of Steven Brenner has stated that an element named molybdenum wasn’t present in its life-constructing form when life first appeared on Earth, billions of years ago. However, it was present on Mars. He said, “It’s only when molybdenum becomes highly oxidized that it is able to influence how early life formed,” he said in a statement at the time. “This form of molybdenum couldn’t have been available on Earth at the time life first began, because 3 billion years ago, the surface of the Earth had very little oxygen, but Mars did.”

Louis C.K.’s rant was worth a chuckle for sure, and he touched on some things that have a real basis in modern-day science. But what’s the truth behind it all?

If you’re curious, you’ll want to join us this Saturday October 11, 2014. We’re going to dive deep into what we know about Mars at our Mission to Mars Gala in the evening. In the morning, we’ll host an event for kids that will include lots of fun events, and spark their curiosity about what our Mars rover is doing on the red planet right now!

Click here to make your reservations for our Gala, and make sure you bring the family out for Mission to Mars in the morning. This is going to be a great weekend at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Make sure you don’t miss out!

 

 

 

Is Your Child Struggling in School? We’d Like to Help…

 

When the school year started, you had high hopes for your son or daughter. Surely, after a summer spent relaxing and having fun, your child would be more than ready to hit the books come September. Right?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. Kids can easily get frustrated in school, especially when they’re not given the hands-on tools they need to become interested in what they’re learning. The good news is that Sweet-n-Saucy, in partnership with the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Big Flats, NY wants to help. We’d like to invite you and your family to join us this coming Saturday for a Mission to Mars.

The festivities will kick off on Saturday morning at 10am right here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. We have plenty of fun activities planned for your kids, including a scavenger hunt, our flight simulator and a costume contest. Around noon, feel free to take a break and visit Sweet-n-Saucy in our Wings Cafe for lunch. After you’ve had your fill, you can get right back to the fun.

In the evening, we’re hosting a Mission to Mars Gala (adults only) featuring some terrific live music, beer and wine tasting and a delicious meal. The proceeds from this fantastic weekend will help to support STEM youth educational programs for the kids in our region.

These STEM programs are hands-on activities that really get kids involved in science, technology, engineering and math. Once kids become involved in STEM programs, they often form a love for these subjects, and many of them go on to pursue a career in one of these fields.

Perhaps your child is struggling in school right now, but that doesn’t have to continue for the entire school year. STEM youth education programs are a great way to hit the “reset” button as far as how your child feels about school. It all starts with a Mission to Mars on Saturday, October 11, 2014.

Won’t you join us?

The Benefits of STEM Youth Education Programs

Perhaps you’ve been seeing all of our posts on Twitter and Facebook about our upcoming Mission to Mars event, and you can’t help but wonder, just how important are STEM youth educational programs?  just how important are STEM youth educational programs? We thought we’d take a few minutes to just explain the types of programs that are offered at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, and why they’re so beneficial for kids.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. These programs offer hands-on educational opportunities to kids that really engage them in what they’re learning about. The Wings of Eagles offers several Robotics programs that kids enjoy.

Why is STEM Beneficial?

STEM programs do a world of good for kids in a variety of ways. Thanks to the fact that kids have so much access  to television and mobile devices, many of them have lost interest in the wonderful world of science and math. STEM programs take their fascination with technology to an entirely different level by demonstrating for them how everything they love really works. It also gives them tools for practical application. Our Mission to Mars program is going to provide lots of great information about the Mars rover, Curiosity, which we know is going to ignite some curiosity within their minds as well.

Studies have shown that kids who participate in STEM programs actually do much better in science and math than kids who never have the opportunity. In that way, STEM programs are really an important investment in our country’s future. It’s also been proven that kids who participate in these types of programs have a better chance of graduating from high school and going on to pursue higher education and a career in a related field. We’re training up our next scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and astronauts.

We hope you’ll join us on October 11, 2014 as we bring the mystery of Mars to life for our area’s children during our Mission to Mars Family Fun Day event. In the evening at 6pm, we’ll be hosting a Mission to Mars Gala (adults only) where you’ll get the opportunity to hear from a Cornell Research Scientist and expert regarding the important work NASA is doing on Mars.

Please click here to make your reservations for our Gala. We’ll see you on the 11th!

One Class Has a Unique Take on the Mars Driver’s License

Can you imagine what it would be like to drive a car on the planet Mars? With 38% less gravity than we have on Earth, it’s sure to be a challenge.

One teacher in the State of Washington had an idea to commission her students to come up with a Mars Driver’s License, and they rose to challenge. You can read all about it by clicking here, but we’ll give you the details.

First, the class talked about what life would be like on Mars, and how one would go about driving a vehicle on such treacherous terrain. They studied the current driver’s license for the State of Washington, and they took the various components from that license in order to design their own Mars license.

Of course, they had to take the project even further by contacting Mike Lowry, Washington’s governor. They wanted to know if he would be willing to sign their license, and his answer was an emphatic “Yes!” The class was thrilled, and the project grew even more. They ended up having a school-wide assembly where they performed a reenactment of what it would really be like to drive on Mars.

Once the license was completed, the students were so proud of the work they had done. Some high-ranking state officials had taken notice of their project, and to top it off, their driver’s license became the only piece of student artwork to have a prominent place in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum.

This is an excellent example of what kids can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to dream big. On October 11, 2014, you will have an opportunity to do your part to promote STEM youth educational programs here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Whether you bring your family out to our Mission to Mars Family Fun Day, or you return in the evening to attend our Gala, not only will you have a wonderful time, but you will become an important part of furthering the educational opportunities presented to our youth.

We hope you will join us! Please click here to register today!

Kids Want to Know: What is Life Really Like on Mars?

Kids often wonder what life would really be like on another planet. Mars is our next door neighbor, so it really can’t be all that different, can it?

Actually, if you were to travel to Mars by car (kind of like how you travel to your grandparents’ house) it would take nine months! That’s a long car ride! Also, the gravitational pull on Mars is much different than it is here on Earth – about 38% different. That means you would be much lighter on Mars.

Still, Mars does seem like a fun place to visit. After all, you’d have to wear a spacesuit because you can’t breathe the air on Mars. It’s made up of mostly carbon dioxide, which is the gas you breathe out here on Earth. A spacesuit with oxygen would be necessary for you to even be on Mars for any period of time because you would also need to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there’s any way for life as we know it to exist on Mars. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep learning about it, and it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t keep exploring it. Scientists have learned a great deal of information about not only Mars, but also about the entire solar system just by having robots explore the rocky terrain of the red planet.

If you’d like to learn more about Mars, you’ll want to ask your parents to bring you to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center on October 11, 2014. There are going to be plenty of activities for you to do, including flying in a flight simulator, a scavenger hunt, and meeting real Martians. If space is something you’d like to learn more about, this is a great time to do it. You can get so many of your questions answered, and you can find out more information about possibly exploring the solar system yourself one day.

We’ll see you in October!

Join Us for a Mission to Mars, Right Here in Big Flats!

Who among us hasn’t wanted to travel to space at one point or another? Whether you wanted to be an astronaut as a child or you have always been interested in what lies beyond the stars, the universe we live in is fascinating! Here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, we’re offering you a chance to experience it like you never have before, and this event is sure to be a lot of fun for the entire family!

Mission to Mars takes place on October 11, 2014, right here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. The event kicks off at 10:00 am with lots of activities for the kids to enjoy. Your kids will love:

• Meeting LIVE Martians!
• Embarking on a museum scavenger hunt
• Seeing the AMAZING mars exhibits
• Traveling to Mars in a flight simulator

We’ll also be hosting a costume contest and we’ll have face painting. You’ll even get to see a demonstration of the new Earn Your Mars Driver’s License program.

The fun will go until 2:00 pm, which gives you plenty of time to see and do everything. Make sure you grab lunch at Sweet-N-Saucy and spend some time in the gift shop for some souvenirs to remember this incredible event.

Mission to Mars Evening Gala

Once the fun of the afternoon is over, make sure you come back at 6:00 pm to take part in our Mission to Mars Evening Gala. This adults-only event features beer and wine tasting from some of the best local breweries and businesses. Joe Cavallaro and his Dixieland Jazz Band will be on hand to provide the music, and Shoshanna Cole, a Mars Research Scientist at Cornell University will offer a presentation on Mars that you will not want to miss. Of course, Sweet-N-Saucy will be delighting your taste buds with a meal that you won’t want to miss.

This event is so important to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, but it’s important for you too! 

The proceeds for all ticket sales will fund STEM based youth education programs at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Your generosity allows us to preserve history and inspire today’s youth to strive to fulfill the space exploration goals for the future.

Be sure to make your reservations right away to reserve your place at the gala.Click here for reservations.

We will see you on October 11!

3 Reasons To Choose Sweet-N-Saucy To Host Your Baby Shower

Baby showers are so much fun, aren’t they?

Baby showers are a wonderful opportunity to get together with close friends and family to celebrate the arrival of a new baby. If you’re working on planning a baby shower for someone close to you, you want everything to be perfect. The decorations have to be just right, and the food has to be great too.

Here at Sweet-N-Saucy, we love baby showers, and we’d love to help you plan one for that someone special in your life. We’ve put together three good reasons to have your friend or family member’s baby shower right here at Sweet-N-Saucy.

1. We provide a comfortable, cozy atmosphere

Yes, we’re located in the Wings of Eagles Discover Center in Big Flats, NY, but we love creating that cozy atmosphere you’re looking for. We have plenty of room, so your party can be as large or as small as you need it to be. The Wings of Eagles many displays also sets the stage for the perfect theme if the new mom is expecting a little boy! Not to mention, because we’re in Big Flats, we’re very conveniently located, no matter where you’re coming from – Elmira, Horseheads, Corning…we’re just a short drive away.

2. The food is amazing

We don’t mind bragging about our food because we know that it’s the best in the area. We will sit down with you and create a menu that will cater to everyone’s tastes. With so many choices, and such a huge variety, you won’t have any trouble planning the menu. Once that’s done, you can leave the rest up to us.

3. Our track record speaks for itself

When you’re choosing a caterer for any event, whether it is a baby shower, wedding reception, or another big event, you want to work with someone who has a proven track record in the industry. Here at Sweet-N-Saucy, we’ve been providing catering services to the Elmira area and beyond for almost 20 years, and we’re still going strong!

A baby shower is such a precious event for a new mom. We’d love to help you make it truly memorable for her, and for her friends and family as well. If you’d like more information about how we can help you put on a great baby shower, please contact us today!

*Image courtesy of Stuart Miles, http://www.freedigitalphotos.net*

Sweet-N-Saucy Is A Great Place For Birthday Parties – Anywhere In The Elmira Area!

Winter is certainly upon us, and with temperatures and wind chills dipping well below zero at times, we hope you and your family are staying nice and warm!

Winter can be a tough season for kids. They long to go out and play in the snow, but because of the low temperatures, it’s not always safe to send them out – even if they’re dressed in their warmest clothes and snowsuits. For many families, planning birthday parties during the winter months, or taking their kids to their friends’ parties are great ways to beat those cold weather blues. If you or someone you love has a birthday coming up soon, and you’re in the Elmira, Horseheads, Corning, or Big Flats area we would love to help you celebrate their special day in style!

Let Us Handle The Work

Perhaps in your family birthday parties have always been pretty much the same. You bake a cake, you order a few pizzas, and you invite your kids’ friends to come over for a few hours for some fun. Having a birthday party sure is an awful lot of hard work, isn’t it? Not only does it take a lot of time to plan and pull of a party, but people don’t always like to stick around to help with the job of cleaning up afterwards, do they? In fact, sometimes your entire family can disappear, leaving you to deal with the mess!

A Sweet Celebration

When you choose Sweet-N-Saucy and the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center for your next birthday party, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find. We’ll prepare a delicious menu that the kids at the party are going to just love. You’ll be able to get your fill too, because you won’t have to worry about running around after them, picking up the mess. Also, there’s nothing like a Sweet-N-Saucy birthday cake to help you celebrate that special day the right way.

The Wings of Eagles Discovery Center is a great place for birthday parties too, because the center itself comes with built-in entertainment for the kids – the airplanes! They just love looking at the amazing airplanes, and you’ll love that they’re entertained from beginning to the end.

Recently, we had the opportunity to host a birthday party here, and a few special pals came along for the festivities (and the cake!)

The kids had a blast! Of course, when it’s all over, there’s nothing for you to do except…go home! That’s right! We’ll happily clean up the mess, and you’re free to enjoy the rest of your child’s birthday in relaxation.

We would love to talk to you about how we can help make your kids’ birthdays extra special this year. For more information, or to start planning your next big party, contact us today!

Happy New Year From Sweet-N-Saucy!

What a great year it’s been for all of us, here at Sweet-N-Saucy!

Some of our customers who haven’t visited us in a while might not be aware that we changed locations this year. We are now located at the Wings of Eagles Discover Center, right here in Big Flats, NY. This has been a great experience, and we love being a part of everything the Wings of Eagles has to offer. We’re looking forward to some great events during the coming year, and we’re excited to partner with them in everything they have planned.

If you haven’t visited the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in a while, now is a great time to do so. This makes a great day trip for families, especially while the kids have off from school for a few more days. They will love looking at all of the huge airplanes that are on display, and you may even awaken the historian that lies within them as they learn about the history behind some of these amazing airplanes. Make sure you visit the gift shop before you leave, so you can take home some beautiful mementos to help you remember the day you spent here together.

Also, before you leave, make sure you stop on over to Sweet-N-Saucy and say hello! Sweet-N-Saucy is the perfect place to end a morning or afternoon spent enjoying the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. There’s no doubt that everyone will be pretty hungry, and ready for some delicious food. Why get in your vehicle and drive to a fast food restaurant that’s going to give you terrible service, and probably get your order wrong? We’re right here, and we’d love to have you join us for one of our delicious sandwiches and a cup of soup. Of course, you’ll always get a chocolate chip cookie to finish your meal, and that’s something that your kids are going to love!

As we bid goodbye to 2013, we are filled with fond memories, which you have given us, as our customers. We’re eager to get started in the New Year, and we hope that you’ll join us as we continue to grow.

For more information on our catering services, contact us! To enjoy a delicious lunch, stop on by!