7960657279?profile=originalThe giant spinning tops in downtown West Palm Beach can be ridden, pushed,

pulled or simply used as a bench for an outdoor lunch break.

Photo by VMA studios

7960657467?profile=original(L-R) Sofia Giddings, 6, Riley Melvin, 6, and Paris Woolley, 7 — students at

Trinity Lutheran School summer camp in Delray Beach — enjoy a colorful top

The activity was organized and sponsored by the nonprofit Taste History Culinary Tours

and led by Lori Durante, who described the field trip as ‘old-fashioned fun and play filled with education.᾿

Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine  

    Ask any kid: Spinning around and making yourself dizzy is big fun.  
    Starting this summer, the city of West Palm Beach is offering parents a little help in the game.  
    Los Trompos, an interactive artwork with 20 larger-than-life-size spinning tops, is decorating the great lawn at the West Palm Beach waterfront.  
    The colorful structures can be pushed, pulled, ridden, spun, or simply used as a bench for an al fresco lunch break. Each top has a bench, a central pole and a cover or canopy. Long strands of colorful cords wrap and weave the tops to the bottoms. Each one is a little different.  
    Los Trompos is the work of contemporary Mexican designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena, two artists who believe art isn’t art until it’s seen or experienced or reacted to by someone else. Their focus isn’t on the art but how the people interact with it.
The designers also built a social message into the artwork. To truly experience the spinning part, you need help. Friend or stranger, young or old, at least two people are needed to spin a top.

    Mary Pinak, West Palm Beach’s community events manager for the last 26 years, says her favorite part of this exhibition is that it’s multicultural. “I love seeing all ages and all demographics playing together,” she said.  
    Los Trompos is also unique because the city purchased the exhibition and owns the 20 giant tops. It cost about $74,000 plus shipping (which was expensive). It was paid for by the city’s Art in Public Places department.  
    “Now we have an asset,” Pinak said. The city could rent it to another municipality, keep it intact where it is, remove all or part, scatter the tops throughout the city or even sell it.  
    The art installation is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  
    Pinak says the waterfront is a prime place to visit on our hot summer days (or evenings) because there is so much to do: Play on the tops, then cool off in the fountains, play a round or two of mini-golf and hit Sloan’s for ice cream.  
    “That’s pretty much a perfect day.”
    Want to add an educational component?   
    Make a day of your visit to Los Trompos in West Palm Beach.
    Include one of these one-of-a-kind venues, which are also in the city:
    South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s Grossology exhibit.
    It runs through Oct. 10 and it’s all about “The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body.”
    This exhibit educates kids ages 6 to 14 about the gross stuff the body does using exploratory labs, puzzles and games. There is a great play area for younger kids, too.  
    On July 23, the Science Center will host the E4 Life: Green, Health & Wellness Expo, an opportunity to learn about green, healthy living, environmental conservation and the sustainable initiatives that need your support.  
    The center is at 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach.  
    Admission: $15 adults, $11 ages 3 to 12, $13 for age 60 and older. Free for members and children younger than 3.
    Info: 832-1988; sfsciencecenter.com.

Safari Nights at the zoo
    As the sun sets, the zoo comes alive. Animals venture out of the cool, shady spots where they weather the heat and humidity of a South Florida day to eat and drink and maybe even take a little bath.
    From now through August, the Palm Beach Zoo will stay open late on Fridays so you can visit when it’s a little cooler and the animals are a little more active.  
    Safari Nights are held from 4:15 to 9 p.m., and each Friday has its own theme with a different family-friendly activity to match. Your Safari Night also features roving animal encounters, keeper talks and training sessions, interactive fountain play, kids games and eco-craft stations, live music and DJ dance parties, plus giveaways and dinner specials at the Tropics Café.
    July’s themes are Dinosaur (July 8), Pajama (July 15), Party for the Planet (July 22), and Winter in July (July 29). Costumes are encouraged.  
    The Palm Beach Zoo is at 1301 Summit Blvd., in West Palm Beach.  
    Admission: $16.50 adults, $12.50 age 3-12, free for younger than age 3 and members.  
    Info: Call 547-9453 or visit www.palmbeachzoo.org.

If You Go
    Los Trompos — The Spinning Tops
    Where: West Palm Beach waterfront, 101 N. Flagler Drive
    When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until Aug. 28. Admission: Free.
    Info: 822-1515; wpb.org

    Glow FORE It mini-golf
    When: Noon to 10 p.m.
    What: Mini-golf with glow-in-the-dark balls and obstacles.
    Cost: $2.50 per round.  

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