So, I made the big mistake of not finishing this Pick List until after my new MOMS night out last night. I was in a mom’s group 2 years ago when I had Birch and those women have become some of my best friends.  But, now that I have Willow, she needs playmates of her own age.  So, I wanted to try and meet some new moms. Despite having had mono recently, I was determined to get out, even if I went in my slippers (which I did).  I walked into the bar and was greeted by the friendliest women. All that high school nervousness of worrying no one will talk to you just melted away. In fact the mom organizer (hi Fiona!), came right up to me and asked, “Are you here for the MOMS night out?” She was carrying a beer and walking around the large table. I said, “yes, but I’m okay”, regrettably mistaking her for the waitress! Eeek! But that’s how friendly the whole setup was. I had such a great time that it reminded me to give a shout out to all the parents groups. They really are an excellent way to meet other neighborhood parents.  We list a lot of them on our Google calendar on our home page AND on our resource page here.

So, okay for the Picks! There’s a lot coming down the pike in terms of the big celebrations: Passover, Easter, Earth Day. There are some big-time events out there. There are also some really oddball events coming up too: an enormous scavenger hunt, opera for kids, a juggling show,a  family circus and an acrobatic show.  I have heard the Streb Show and the New Vic Theater shows are both really excellent.  Movie night coming up at the Lyceum is putting the old 1970’s Willy Wonka movie up on their big screen. As a Wonka Bar fanatic who always hopes to find a gold foil insert in her bar, I hope to be there.

TONIGHT I will be at the Pregnancy Panel in Williamsburg and Papa Tree will be playing as a Blue Straw Berry on Sunday at Ici Restaurant in Fort Greene. Please come by and say “hello” at either event.

**Don’t forget to check our extensive Google Calendar listings for daily events. There are OODLES of them now (thanks to volunteer moms Ruth and Asmeret!)
For EASTER EGG HUNTS, Check here. There are oodles of these too!

WILLIAMSBURG: PREGNANCY PANEL

Wednesday, April 1st: 6:30-8:30pm *I will be there- come say “hi”!
Learn what a doula is, how to build a stylish maternity wardrobe addressing your lifestyle and body transitions ,how, yoga, acupuncture, physical therapy, applied kinesiology and massage can help you through your pregnancy. Plus come see some products on everything baby and mommy. Win a baby carrier from Maclaren, customized consult with a women’s health physiotherapist, a gift set from Belli cosmetics, and a workout DVD. To read about all the guest speakers and see their websites visit their site. Stork Store 580 Manhattan Ave (btwn Driggs and Nassau). Cost of event is $10 per person Register @thepregnantnewyorker.com

WILLIAMSBURG: STREB ACROBATICS

Ongoing Each Fri, Sat, Sun March 27 – May 17: check with location for exceptions.
Elizabeth Streb and her Action Engineers once again defy gravity with their spring home season show at SLAM (Streb Lab for Action Mechanics). Catapult! includes exciting new pieces in the lineup: Artificial Gravity, with a 20-foot spinning surface that launches intrepid performers in any direction;Translation, in which performers traverse a vertical wall as if it were a horizontal dance floor; and Polar Wander, partnering performers with a sleek spinning steel eye beam – like an airborne shark! All ages show. Fri 7pm; Sat 3pm & 7pm; Sun 3pm. Adults $20; Children (12 and under) $10 http://www.strebusa.org 51 North 1st Street Brooklyn, NY 11211
(thank you to www.gocitykids.com for this listing!)

MIDTOWN: DIMITRIS FAMILY ACROBATS

March 27 – April 19
You might have seen the big spread on Page Six in the New York Post about the Dimitris….no? Well, I’ll do a summary. La Famiglia Dimitri are a Swiss family of clowns who do the circus the old-fashioned vaudeville way. They dance, do acrobatics with wires, ropes and bicycles and even juggle with water. They are accompanied by live Latin American music. The family started with the father who still performs at age 74.  I have heard the show is very good, so would be worth real look for a good event for the family.  http://newvictory.org/. Tickets are $8.75 – 35  The New Victory Theater 229 West 42nd Street  New York, NY 10036-7299

CLINTON HILL: JUGGLING SHOWS

Friday April 3, 4, 5: check below for times
You know how your kids are obsessed with balls right? And how they are obsessed with people who are a little zany? Well, here is your chance to take them to see those two obsessions in action! Juggle Fest!  NYC’s eighth annual juggling fest is full of  juggling, workshops, games, shows, prizes, special guests, a raffle, and more.http://www.jugglenyc.com Time: Fri 5pm-10:30pm (open juggling); Sat 10am-7pm (open juggling & workshops); Sun 10am-5pm (open juggling, workshops, & games); Show Sat 7:30pm
Cost: Free; Show $10
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

PROSPECT-LEFFERTS: BROOKLYN CHILDRENS MUSEUM EVENTS

I never know how to handle the Brooklyn Childrens Museum events. There are so many that go on, I feel like they need their own event page.  It usually takes me a good hour to go through and pick the ones I think have the most potential, write about them, link to them, etc. Last night I gave up!  (probably due to those couple glasses of wine I had at MOMS night)!

So, here they are the ones coming up this weekend and next:
Blooming Babies Series: Little Sprouts Friday, April 3, 11:30am-12:30pm  Saturday, April 4, 11:30am-12:30pm  Sunday, April 5, 11:30am-12:30pm  Become a baby botanist in the Museum’s Greenhouse and Garden!  Discover what plants need in order to live and grow, decorate your own planting pot, and sow a seed you can watch sprout at home! Ages 18 months – 2 ½
World Passport Workshop Series: New Orleans Jazzy Beats! Saturday, April 4, 11:30am-12:30pm & 3-4pm  Sunday, April 5, 11:30am-12:30pm & 3-4pmJoin us for a musical tour of jazz—an eclectic music genre shaped by the diverse traditions and spirit of New Orleans. Listen to tunes, explore instruments from around the world, and make your own jazz-inspired collage to take homk Ages 5+
Science Investigators’ Club Series: The Root of the Matter  Saturday, April 4, 2-3:30pm Sunday, April 5, 2-3:30pm
Celebrate National Gardening Month in this new science program series for big kids ages 8 and up!  Visit the Museum’s Greenhouse and Garden and learn about different types of plants, see how you can create soil from composting, dissect some plants, and plant tomato seeds you can grow at home!  Pre-registration required; call (718) 735-4400 x112.  Ages 8+
Spring Break EcoFest: Think Globally, Play Locally!  Thursday, April 9-Saturday, April 18, 10:30am-4:30pm each day.  While school’s out for spring recess, come see New York City’s first “green” museum and take part in many hands-on programs celebrating the natural world and our role in it!  Daily interactive family programs during the holiday include: EcoArt, Little Sprouts, A Different Kind of Garden Party, Earth Day Art, A Raindrop’s Journey, Green Kids Grow in Brooklyn, and more! Check www.brooklynkids.org for a detailed schedule. All special programs free with Museum admission.
Can Do Wonders Series: Egg-citing Eggs  Saturday, April 11, 11:00am-12:30pm.  Families with special needs find out that eggs aren’t just for breakfast! Discover how eggs are used as symbols, see a Ukrainian psanka (painted egg) from the Museum’s collection, and explore different techniques for decorating eggs. Pre-registration required; call (718) 735-4400 x123.  All ages
Storybook Movie Time: Saturday, April 11, 11:30am-12:30pm  Sunday, April 12, 11:30am-12:30pm
Tots! Camera! Action! We’re calling all pint-sized film enthusiasts to enjoy animated films. Watch cherished children’s stories come to life on screen. Ages 2 ½ -5
An Open Book Series: Easter Bunny Stories Saturday, April 11, 11:30am-12:30pm and 3-4pm  Sunday, April 12, 11:30am-12:30pm and 3-4pm
Join us for Easter Bunny tales in the new Everett Children’s Library, see traditional holiday decorations from the Museum’s collection, and make your own little bunny to fill with treats!
Ages 6+
www.brooklynkids.org for more info.  Admission:$7.50 per person. Museum members and children under 1 free. All programs free with Museum admission.

PROSPECT HEIGHTS: CAMP FAIR

Saturday, April 4: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Representatives from a variety of summer programs and community resources will be there for you to peruse. Admission is free. Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238 For more information, please call (888) 469-5999.

WILLIAMSBURG: GYMNASTICS FOR KIDS- NIGHT OUT FOR YOU

Saturday, April 4: 6 – 9pm
Ms. Js Gym is starting their first “Kids night out”. We joined this gym and think it is really fun. It is easily accessible too as it is on Kent Ave. While you get to go out on this Kids Night Out, your kids get to jump on the trampoline, tumble, do bars and beams and run around in general. Pizza will be served. The cost is $30 per child, but the price lowers with increased enrollment, so get all your friends together. For more info visit http://www.msjsgym.com/kidsnightout

BRONX: MANSION EGG HUNT

Saturday, April 4: 10:30-1 pm
Doesn’t this sound so elegant? Sounds like a movie set to me: hunt for eggs in the mansion’s garden, have your pic taken with the Easter Bunny for a mere $3 or dabble in some arts and crafts.  Ahh, life of the rich! You can also take a tour of the mansion  ($5 for adults; $3 for children and seniors). Bring your own basket! Advance registration is requested; children must be accompanied by an adult. Rain date is April 5.
718.885.1461.  Ages: 3-12.    Children $15; Adults free
info@bpmm.org
http://www.bar… sionmuseum.org
Bartow-Pell Mansion 895 Shore Road   Bronx, NY 10464
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

CENTRAL PARK: 20,000 EGG HUNT

Saturday, April 4: 11- 1 pm
Yes, it is hard to believe that those hens have been working overtime for this egg hunt.  There are so many egg hunts over the course of the 2 hours of this event that they stock over 20,000 eggs! It all sounds civil with two age groups (birth to three and four and up). Characters from the church’s new enrichment program are also on hand. It is all sponsored by the Gallery Church. There will also be Easter egg decorating, games, free snacks, and photo ops with the Easter Bunny.  Meet in Central Park on the Great Hill (West 106th Street). All free.
888.237.3353 info@gallerychurch.com
http://www.gallerychurch.com
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

QUEENS: OPERA FOR KIDS

Saturday, April 4: 2 pm
I  am totally in love with opera- but it took me until I was 22 years to get there. I am hoping my kids won’t take so long. Here is a way to gently introduce them to the art: members of CPSM’s Opera Workshop will perform an operatic extravaganza tailored just for kids, complete with fabulous music, colorful costumes, and original scenery. Order tickets in advance. 718.793.8080.  Ages: 6-12 Time: 2pm Cost: $12 http://www.kupferbergcenter.org
65-30 Kissena Boulevard
Flushing, NY 11367
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

STATEN ISLAND: EGG HUNT

Saturday, April 4: 1:30 pm
Historic Richmond Town’s annual Easter celebration includes an egg hunt, egg basket decorating, and a visit from the Easter bunny. Each child is asked to bring along an egg carton; all other craft materials and supplies are provided. Light refreshments are served. Bring a camera and make sure to reserve in advance. 718.351.1611 http://www.his… chmondtown.org Ages: 3-18 Cost: Adults $3; Children $8
Historic Richmond Town
441 Clarke Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10306
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

PROSPECT HEIGHTS: ROLIE POLIE GUACAMOLE

Saturday, April 4: 1pm
Rolie Polie Guacamole, a local Brooklyn based kids band is putting on a free show at the Brooklyn Public Library. Featuring: Frank Gallo, Andrew Tuzhilin, Jean Rohe and Ivan Goodman.
Brooklyn Public Library 1 Grand Army Plz # 1 Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 230-2100

PARK SLOPE: BABY LOVES DISCO

Saturday, April 4: 2-5 pm
Celebrate Earth Day at Baby Loves Disco- disco it up and make Eco-friendly t-shirts (and enter yours in a contest). DJ: The Rub MC: MC Tah Ages: 6 months to 7 years. They have a full spread of healthy snacks and juice boxes, stroller parking, a changing station and chill-out area with books and kid-friendly activities, hula hoops, rhythm instruments, swirly scarves, giveaways and services for parents and kids. Venue: Southpaw – 125 Fifth Avenue (in Park Slope) Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 230-0236 www.spsounds.com. Tickets: $12 online advance purchase, $15 at the door. Price is for each walking human. Buy tickets online at www.babylovesdisco.com. Tickets always sell fast, so buy yours first.

STATEN ISLAND: EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Saturday, April 4: 12- 4 pm
Families are invited to welcome spring with an egg hunt, meet the bunny, bounce on a bouncy ride, make art, dance, and more at the Museum’s annual celebration. To read one mom’s review of the Staten Island Children’s Museum see here.
718.273.2060
info@statenislandkids.org
http://www.statenislandkids.org
Time: 12n-4pm
Cost: Free with paid admission
Staten Island Children’s Museum
1000 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

FORT GREENE: BLUE STRAW BERRIES

Sunday, April 5: 10-12 pm
Okay, so I am little biased about this one. Papa Tree and cohorts, Nicky Haimo and Jeff Newell, perform at Ici Restaurant the first Sunday of every month. They are the Blue Straw Berries.  If you haven’t been to this lovely restaurant, then this is a great way to see it and its private room without paying the big bucks.  The trio will swing you, rock you and make you laugh with their folksy, European sounding melodies. I get to hear them frequently and I love their music.  Ici has some pastries, fresh squeezed oj and other sundries for sale. You can chill out with other adults while your kids run around in the front room. I would suggest not bringing strollers if you can manage as they don’t have much room for them. $5 per person (infants are no charge of course!).I think it has to be the cheapest music event going on- like ever! 246 Dekalb Restaurant at Vanderbilt.

WILLIAMSBURG: BABYWEARING AND CLOTH DIAPERING

Sunday, April 5: 2-4 pm
One of our Experts, Megan Davidson, will be teaching you the myriad ways you can wear your baby. Megan can help try all her carriers, or show you how to wear the one you have. Come to meet other parents too! She will also do a workshop on cloth diapering after that.  She is a fantastic resource, which is why I recruited her to be on this blog. I highly recommend this workshop.  To register for workshop send an e-mail to brooklyndoula@gmail.com as space is limited.  Stork Store — 580 Manhattan Ave — Brooklyn, NY 11222 — (718) 360-1732

MANHATTAN: HAGGADAH REPOUSSE

Sunday, April 5: 2-4 pm
Repousse you say? I knew you would be impressed and intrigued by that.  You can make your own embossed aluminum book cover to beautify your Haggadah or another treasured book. Using metal tooling techniques, participants make raised designs in the decorative repousse style common in silver Judaica to create a finished product. Bring a book along for measuring! All done at the Yeshiva University Museum. Free with paid admission. 212.294.8330 http://www.yumuseum.org Ages: 6-18
15 W. 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
(listing info courtesy of the event-full www.gocitykids.com- thanks!)

CENTRAL PARK: RUN FOR THE PARKS

Sunday, April 5: 8 am for adults, 9 am for kids
How better to teach your kids the benefit of exercise than running with them? This annual race “Run For the Parks” is a 4 mile race and Kids Race with a post-race reception with food, music and activities for everyone.  More than 8,000 adults and 400 kids register. Registration is still open at New York Road Runners. The race starts at Central Park’s East Drive just south of 72nd Street and heads north onto the 102nd Street Transverse.

CHELSEA: PASSOVER PREP

Sunday, April 5: 2-5 pm
Create Seder plates and design Matzah boxes. Decorate Elijah cups and illustrate the story of Passover at the Children’s Galleries for Jewish Culture
515 West 20th Street, Suite 4E
New York, NY 10011
212-924-4500
20th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues – Trains: C, E to 23rd Street or 1 to 18th Street or L to 14th Street. Buses: M11, M23, M14
Admission: $8.00 per person, includes admission to exhibition and arts and crafts projects.
Strollers cannot be accommodated
Open April and May: Sundays 2-5pm, Mondays 3-6pm, and various weekdays. Check website for details.

PARK SLOPE: KIDS BOOKS AND COOKBOOKS SWAP

Saturday, April 11: 11- 1 pm

Bring your gently used kids books and cookbooks to the Brooklyn Lyceum and swap them for other used books.  For each book, you will  receive one swap ticket which can be redeemed for  another book at the swap.  We recommend that books be dropped off at the Brooklyn Lyceum in advance of the swap.  Books can be dropped off  beginning Monday, April 6th.  Books that are left over at the swap will be donated to charity. Swap attendees will receive a coupon for one FREE adult ticket to the puppet show “How the Elephant Got Its Trunk,” also scheduled on the same day. (See BELOW)  FREE

PARK SLOPE: PUPPET SHOW

Saturday, April 11: 2 pm

How the Elephant Got Its Trunk (for all ages)-    a puppet show by  Talking Hands Theatre,  a New York-based company.   Here is the plot: The elephant’s child is always asking questions. One day he wants to know what the crocodile eats for dinner, but neither his aunt ostrich, his cousin hippo, or his uncle monkey will tell him. So he goes down to the banks of the Great, Grey-Green Greasy Limpopo River to find out from the crocodile himself, and the reward for his curiosity turns out to be a blessing in disguise. It is based on the story by Rudyard Kipling and set in Africa, this show is accompanied by live African percussion.  Tickets: $10   Children under 2 are free.
Tickets can be purchased online at brooklynlyceum.com/kids or at the door the day of the show.

UPPER WEST SIDE: BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT

ongoing
AMNH’s wonderful Butterfly exhibit features up to 500 live, free-flying tropical beauties from Central, South, and North America in a 1,200-square-foot vivarium, a freestanding structure aflutter with activity. Wear layers – it gets hot in there! In the Hall of Oceanic Birds. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. 212.769.5200 http://www.amnh.org. Ongoing Daily 10/11/08 – 5/25/09; check with location for exceptions. Adults $22; Seniors & Students $16:50; Children $13

(listing is courtesy of www.gocitykids.com- thank you!)

LONG ISLAND CITY: SWIMMING POOL

From now until May 2009
A swimming pool…in winter? Well, yes. Artist Leandro Erlich is showing this cool installation at PS 1 Contemporary Arts Center. I can’t fully explain it here without sounding confused- but suffice it to say- he created the illusion of people walking under water. Kids will think it is so cool. I always find that getting to the museum is super easy- and a great fun day. Not easy to find food around there though, so plan on eating in their cafe or brown bagging it. There are 2 other exhibitions there too: one on reduction art and the other by a video artist.

QUEENS: AIR FUN

ongoing through May 10
The New York Hall of Science has a cool interactive exhibition called AirPlay comes to New York. You can play with “Air Cannon”, watch air through the world’s longest vacuum cleaner hose, float model boats across a table and more. The exhibition closes May 10.

FORT GREENE: RECYCLED ART CONTEST AND EARTH DAY

Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19
Habana Outpost is reopening for the season (a small hooray from me!) and is doing it big. They will have workshops, film, kid’s corner and food to buy. I suggest the roasted corn and a mojito! They will also announce the winner of their Recycled Art Contest.  You can register your art until Friday, April 10th. At least 50% of the “art materials” must be recycled some examples would be cardboard boxes, milk cartons, plastic bags, egg cartons, etc. You can enter individual submissions or a group work. Entries must be received by Tuesday April 14th.To register, simply send your name, number of pieces being entered and contact information to info@ecoeatery.com
Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton St Brooklyn, NY 11217  718-858-9500 Schedule is at www.ecoeatery.com

PARK SLOPE: MOVIE NIGHT

Tuesday, April 14: 3 pm (Wonka) and Thursday, April 16: 3 pm (Shinbone)
CLASSIC ‘70S MOVIES FOR SPRING BREAK at the Lyceum.  Bring the kids to watch these classic movies the way they were intended to be watched — on a BIG screen. Tickets: $5   Children under 2 are free.
Tickets can be purchased online at brooklynlyceum.com/kids or at the door the day of the show.Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971): Eccentric candy man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) prompts a frenzy when he announces that five golden tickets hidden inside his candy bars will get their holders into his top-secret factory. Amidst a world of Oompa Loompas and chocolate rivers, young Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) and Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) get caught in the middle of Wonka’s secret agenda in director Mel Stuart’s Oscar-nominated fantasy based on Roald Dahl’s award-winning book.

Shinbone Alley (1971): Carol Channing, Eddie Bracken, John Carradine and Alan Reed lend their voices to this animated tale based on Mel Brooks’s Broadway musical adaptation of Don Marquis’s stories. Set in New York City, the tale follows Archy, a cockroach who’s madly in love with Mehitabel, a footloose and fancy-free cat. Archy’s on top of the world when he joins the feline fatale for adventure, but rugged alley cat Big Bill competes for Mehitabel’s affections.

WILLIAMSBURG: GO GREEN GREENPOINT

Sunday, April 19 (rain date: April 26th)
Greenpoint is lucky- they have Earth Day all wrapped up with “green” in their name. Powerhouse organizer Susan Anderson at www.townsquareinc.com is organizing yet another event.  There will be educational displays, art exhibits, research studies, alternative fuel vehicles, recycling stations, wellness demos, enviro-friendly vendors, live music, arts & crafts, yummy things to eat, a garden center, a kids center, etc.  Come to Nassau Ave and N. 15th St. for the Earth Day Celebration.

PROSPECT HEIGHTS: CHERRY ESPLANADE PHOTOS

April 24-April 28 (exact times to be scheduled individually with the photographer)

I covet Brooklyn photographer, Alice Garik’s work. Her work has been in the NYTimes and other places. She has a cool aesthetic: dreamy, a little off-kilter, sophisticated, and more. She is doing a great package deal. She will be photographing your family for a half hour, plus give you 30 4×6 proof prints (15 b&w, 15 color) and a CD with web size images for $175.  Her last event sold out- so you better act quickly! To rsvp: chana@babybitesbrooklyn.com

Related Posts:

1. A Child Grows Event Picks Additions (December 3rd, 2008)
2. A Child Grows Event Picks (November 12th, 2008)