Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY

 Today is David's big day to go see all the fish he wants to see at the Newport Aquarium.  This aquarium is situated on the Ohio River, and therefore has a lot of exhibits on freshwater fish and creatures common in the Midwest.  David and Jonathan went around with their notebooks and pencils listing and drawing fish and creatures.  This aquarium as has 4 or 5 instances where you can walk under the fish.  You really the underside of fish that almost no one gets to see, and you can really get a sense of the sheer size of some of the larger aquatic creatures.  There were also a couple of albino American alligators and a pond of baby alligators, which is common in the American south.  One tank has a palm size cuttlefish that can change color and texture in a flash, and the boys have recently just watched an episode on PBS about how cephalopods do that.  The exhibits were informative without being overwhelming.

In the afternoon, after a lunch at Findlay Market, we stumbled into the Cincinnati Public Library.  It turns out that this library has a "Makers Space."  Anyone with an Ohio library card can come in and use high end equipment and software such as 3D printers, laser cutters, large format vinyl printers, digital sewing machines, book binding machines for free or at the cost of the paper and ink.  Someone was using the vinyl cutter to make signs for her campaign to run for a seat in the local school district.  Another woman was making laser cut wood plaques for selling on Etsy.  This is a boon for all students and creative types in the area.  I am actually kind of jealous that people here have access to all of this with their tax dollars.  As a souvenir, the boys made buttons with a button maker to take home.