Toy Drive until December 21st at Still Hip for Hour Children (http://www.hourchildren.org). The toys can be used, but must be in good working condition. If you want to wrap your items that would be great! Feel free to come by anytime today through next Friday to drop off your gifts. Hour Children will be picking everything up next Friday, December 21st.

On December 21st The Metropolitan Opera will hold a FREE Open House of "Hansel and Gretel". This free event will provide a rare look behind the scenes and offer the public a chance to attend, free of charge, the final dress rehearsal of Humperdinck’s ‘Hansel and Gretel.’. Admission: Free ticketing information: 212-362-6000; http://www.metoperafamily.org/
Showtime: 10:00AM

On December 22nd dive into Watson’s Adventures Scavenger Hunt. (The morning hunt is sold out but the 1 pm is still open- as of my writing).  Run through Grand Central Terminal from 1-3 pm hunting through the Whispering Gallery, the upside-down Christmas Tree and more. Children must be accompanied by adults. $20.50.  Ages 7 and up. Register by calling 877-946-4868 or email them at [email protected]

Santa is coming to the Hamilton Dog House on East 3rd and Ft. Hamilton
Parkway on December 22 from 12 pm – 3pm. Bring your pets and/or
children for a photo with Santa.  Photos will be $5.00 and all
proceeds will go to benefit NYAnimalRescue.Org  There will be refreshments for pets and owners.

South Street Seaport has a lot of holiday activities going on- I had no idea! From November 24th to December 24th
see the Big Apple Chorus do 45-minute performances are held at 6 p.m. and 7
p.m. on Fridays and at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, with
special performances scheduled for 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve,
December 24. Santa – Scheduled appearances at the Pier 17 Atrium, 3rd floor:
from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and from Noon to 2 p.m.
and 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and Sundays from Noon to 2 p.m. Guests can
bring their own cameras for free photos with Santa. And …..
12 noon Santa Lunch – Every SATURDAY (Pier 17, Food Court/Atrium)
1 pm Santa Story Hour – Every SATURDAY (Pier 17, Food Court/Atrium)

DO check their website for special holiday hours!

Mon-Fri  you can see the Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal.  The
New York Transit Museum puts on this train show at the Museum’s annex
in the Shuttle Passage. It features "O" gauge trains running on
separate loop tracks through a holiday scene with authentic sights and
sounds (new this year). On view until Jan. 13

Daily (except Mondays) until Jan. 13th visit the Holiday Trains at the NY Botanical Gardens
in the Bronx. This is another event I have never managed to actually
do, but have always wanted to. It is free with garden admission. You
can watch the trains and trolleys chug beneath the boughs of a 30 foot
evergreen tree twinkling with lights, across bridges, through tunnels
and around NY landmark replicas and plant.  You can also participate in
the Gingerbread adventures- where kids use their senses to taste, smell
and touch the spices and other plant parts that make up a gingerbread
recipe. You can make spices, sachets, ornaments and decorate gingersnap
cookies.

Also,
Friday, Saturday AND Sunday (and, really, until January 13), is
the Crystal Winter Village at the New York Hall of Science. The Village features a giant snow globe, a motions simulator ride
across Arctic glaciers, a train display that applies the principles of
steam power, a puppet show (see site for times)  and a craft workshop
complete with table-top activities for kids of all ages.  Every Friday
through Sunday. And, for those of you looking to make a holiday card,
they have photo packages for families who want their photo in front of
the giant snow globe!  NYHall of Science info listed for the event
above.  PHOTO: This is NOT the snow globe you will see- but another giant one-
btw, the is a ballerina inside a snow globe- she performs- and yes, you
can rent the inflatable snow globe from $4500-5000. Doesn’t that sound
like a great party gag?) UPDATE: we went last weekend and
it was fun. All in all, the snowglobe is just a big piece of plastic
and my husband thought it was "cheeseville" but I thought the photos of
the kids in the globes were pretty fun. The winter village truly isn’t
much at all- just some snowflakes, the globe and an activity area. The
rest of the museum is great though. If you get there before 11 am it is
free. About 20 minutes drive from Fort Greene- less from Willamsburg.

As a holiday treat, BAM presents a double bill of classic children’s films The Red Balloon and White Mane, both newly-restored for the big screen. The Red Balloon,
winner of the Palme d’Or, follows Pascal and his shiny, bright balloon
as they chase each other through the streets of Paris. The beloved White Mane,
winner of the Cannes Grand Prix, depicts the friendship between a young
fisherman and a wild stallion as they evade ranchers determined to
capture and tame the horse.Classic Children’s Double Feature
(G)
74min
Dec 22—Jan 1 at 1pm daily
The Red Balloon (Le Ballon rouge) (1956) 34min
White Mane (Crin-blanc) (1952) 40min
Directed by Albert Lamorisse

Don’t forget "Lighting Up Nights" at the Bronx Zoo.
It goes until Jan. 8th. (Don’t keep putting off going like I
did last year- I never actually went!) Besides the half a million
twinkling lights on animals, there is storytelling, ice carving demos,
costume characters, stilt dancers and choral group performances. Check the site for details and times.

Saturday and Sunday, have breakfast with Santa and then a skate around the famous Rockefeller skating rink.
Advance reservations and payment are required. For ages 2-10 years.
Every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas Eve. Times vary, so check the website.  Children  are $50 (wow!) and  Adults are $55 (wow wow!). At 20 W. 50th Street.

A listing from www.mommypoppins.com: (thanks Mommy Poppins!)
Christmas Day Klez for Kids
December 25
On Christmas Day, the new Museum at Eldridge Street will host Klez for
Kids, a family concert and celebration featuring klezmer music,
singing, dancing and Yiddish lessons for children and parents alike.
The event will be the first family program to take place in the newly
restored National Historic Landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue on the
Lower East Side.

Tickets to Klez for Kids are $12 for adults and $8 for children and
seniors. Children two and under will be admitted for free. For more
information, call the Museum at 212.219.0888

A listing from www.mommypoppins.com: (thanks Mommy Poppins!)
Puerto Rican Parrandas
Late December
“Parrandas” is the Latin American custom of unannounced caroling.
Traditionally, carolers move from house to house receiving food and
cheer, gaining carolers with each stop, until a large procession of
singers gather together in the town plaza. El Museo del Barrio
celebrates this holiday tradition with a program of public caroling at
the Museum and a surprise visit to a community organization.

For more information: El Museo del Barrio, 212-831-7272.

A listing from www.mommypoppins.com: (thanks Mommy Poppins!)
Kwanzaa at the Museum of Natural History
December 29th
In an afternoon of song, dance, and spoken word, this festival salutes
the city spirit of Africans and African-Americans with groups from
across New York City.

Bija is having their New Years Eve Bash.

Dec 31st 2pm – 6pm. ALL AGES WELCOME (activities are appropriate for kids ages 1+). Dance music, parachute games, trampoline, bubbles, refreshments, awesome raffles and so much more!
$25.00/family
273 Columbia Street, Brooklyn NY 11231 www.bijabrooklyn.com 
Register now to guarantee a spot (they sold out last year) at 718.360.4552 or [email protected]

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