Michael Gagne said rainy days are best for hanging out with his children at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale.

``We love the playland inside, the bubbles, the exhibits. It's all wonderful,'' said Gagne of Fort Lauderdale.

But on Sept. 20, with blue skies overhead, Gagne and sons Joshuah, 3, and Yulian, 2, passed up dinosaurs, rocket ships and robots to sit in the museum's IMAX theater for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Opening weekend for the animated 3-D movie about a young science nerd who invents a machine that rains food brought a flood of parents and children inside for two yummy days, where it poured free spaghetti and meatballs (courtesy of Davie's Buca di Beppo) and cupcakes.

``What an added bonus -- lunch and a movie, too,'' said Josefina Diaz of Lauderdale Lakes, who brought her son Derek Carter, 10, and his friend Marco Secole, 11.

Diaz said she made the day more delicious by letting the boys eat their cupcakes first. But they did not get away scot-free.

``The kids came to see a movie but they can't be at a museum without learning,'' Diaz said.

The film is showing through Oct. 15.

October will bring two more special events:

• Aviation Station Phase 2: An expansion of the museum's aviation exhibit, featuring hands-on cockpit simulators, a wind tunnel and cutaways of real jet engines, will open Oct. 10-11.

• The sixth annual Ladybug Release: Thousands of ladybugs will be set free into the museum garden Oct. 23-25. Other activities will include an up-close look at creepy crawlies, a treat of edible bugs and a craft lesson.

The museum is at 401 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale. For more information, call 954-467-6637 or 954-463-4629 for the theater.

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