A Child Grows Event Picks

Posted by Karen on 4/15/09 • Categorized as Events

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earthday Sorry to those of you who subscribe. Yesterday, you got some of the below event listings in your email. I am having technical difficulties- that is technical difficulty in keeping dates. I thought yesterday was today. I think I am overly anxious about Tax Day this year. At any rate, there are so many Earth Day events you can take your pick- do you want to make recyclable art, do some plantings, study alternative fuel, see a great band? All of these options are available to you! There are also some ongoing great exhibits to see, and a great resale of clothes and kids’ gear put on by the Manhattan Twins Club.

PROSPECT PARK: AMAZING NEW YORK RACE

Wednesday, April 15: at your own pace?
This is one of the more intriguing events out there. Imagine: Amazing New York Race – part scavenger hunt, part obstacle course and ALL NEW YORK. A series of clues leads you and your baby around Prospect Park performing physical and mental challenges along the way. A great way for new mothers to meet other new mothers. I think this sounds like a good basis for a new reality tv show. David Nicholas of Longview Photography will be on hand at the end of the race to take photos of you and your baby. The winning team receives a photo package including (1) 8×10, (1) 5×7, (2) 4×6 and 10 wallets. To see some of David’s work, please visit www.baby.longviewphotoinc.com. The Race takes two hours. Please wear comfortable shoes. You should have a digital camera or camera phone. Go to www.pogoevents.com for more information.$35 registration

MANHATTAN: GREEN APPLE FESTIVAL

Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 19
Activities take place in parks, beaches, schools and forests. Actions will focus on climate change solutions like tree planting, energy efficiency retrofits, water protection, urban gardens and forest restoration. Produced with the participation of leading environmental organizations, along with city parks and recreation departments, the activities address current challenges and will help get important work done. Suitable for individuals of all ages, including children and families Lots of fun activities to choose from! For full details go to their site.

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.
Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton St Brooklyn, NY 11217 718-858-9500 Schedule is at www.ecoeatery.com

PROSPECT-LEFFERTS: KIDS’ CONSTRUCTION DAY

Saturday, April 18: 11-4 pm
Skanska, the construction and development company that built the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s new facility will introduce visitors to construction concepts, showcase eco-responsible building practices, and highlight what it took to build the new Museum. All Skanska Day programs are free with Museum admission. Throughout the day girls and boys can try on construction boots, glasses, and hats; attempt to build the sturdiest bridge from toothpicks and marshmallows; ask the Skanska employees who worked on the Museum about their jobs or about green buildings; decorate their own hardhat to take home, visit the new Building Brainstorm exhibit on architecture, design, and construction. www.brooklynkids.org for more info. Admission:$7.50 per person. Museum members and children under 1 free. All programs free with Museum admission.

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS: RESCHEDULED EGG HUNT!

Saturday, April 18: 10 am
The Brooklyn Heights Playground Committee has rescheduled the egg hunt that was rained out last weekend. Hooray! More scavenging! Please check website for updates.www.bhplaygrounds.org

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-LEFFERTS: BROOKLYN BOTANICAL GARDENS

April 4 to May 10
The cherry blossoms are blooming. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s 220 plus trees bloom in stages- so you are sure to catch a gorgeous display through May 10th. Save the dates of May 2 and 3 for the weekend-long Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival, which celebrates Japanese culture and arts with over 60 performances.

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

DUMBO: BROOKLYN BLOGFEST

Thursday, May 7: 7 pm
Okay, so this may not be a “real” family event, but it will be a fun night to meet your Brooklyn bloggers, talk about your own blog or be inspired to blog! Believe it or not, Brooklyn is the bloggiest place in America. The Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest will be at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO. In addition to a WHY WE BLOG panel, this year Brooklyn Blogfest introduces BLOGS-OF-A-FEATHER, special small-group sessions, where you can meet with bloggers who share your interests. (I will be there on a parent bloggers panel with Melissa of HipSlopeMama.
powerHouse Arena 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Admission: $10
Brooklyn Blogfest after-party
Galapagos Art Space 16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (right across the street from powerHouse Arena) Cash Bar

BOCOCA: BI-LINGUAL CREATIVE MOVMENT

Friday, April 24th
If you don’t know about BAX Family Fridays, you should tune into it. They have a playspace (tunnels, tents, playhouses, a parachute, big and small balls, scarves, hoops and more) from 9:30am – 11:00am and then usually a live event at the same time. This Friday, it is Bi-Lingual Creative Movement with Marion Ramirez. It is best for children ages 1-4 with their parents or caregiver= 9:30am-11:30am. There will also be a storyteller, singer or dance teacher from 10:30am-11:00am. Admission: $20 per family. Brooklyn Arts Exchange 421 5th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 For more information: www.bax.org

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS: BREASTFEEDING 101

Monday, April 27th, 6:30-8:00 PM
I went to a La Leche League meeting when I was pregnant so that I could learn about nursing. I soon realized that it wasn’t necessarily going to be a piece of cake. For some women it is super easy, for me it wasn’t. What’s good about this seminar is that you can get a sneak peek into what it’s all about. Two breastfeeding experts: (1) lactation consultant Andrea Syms-Brown, IBCLC, RLC, CIMI, of baby in the family, who has over 20 years experience supporting breastfeeding mothers and their babies, and (2) Andi Silverman, author of “Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding,” a practical and light-hearted handbook for new moms, and The Mama Knows Breast blog will be there for you.
At NY Kids Club, 182 Henry Street, Brooklyn Heights. $25 in advance; $30 at the door (cash or check only at the door). Raffle prizes too of a Mico Cosi infant carseat, Quinny Buzz stroller, Family Portrait Session with Wink Photography. rsvp to chana@babybitesbrooklyn.com

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

CLINTON HILL: DISCIPLINE SEMINAR

Wednesday, April 22: 6:30-8 pm
A workshop entitled, “Stop The Tantrums (Effective Discipline) “is being taught by teacher Gayle Benno. She will cover everything from issues around sleep, cognitive development, discipline techniques and more. This is meant for parents of 0-5 year olds. Reserve a seat by calling 646-287-6861. The workshop is getting coverage in the New York Times “The Local” Fort Greene/Clinton Hill blog . At 970 Kent Avenue (playroom). The cost is $20 (per family). Babysitting available: $5 (suggested donation)
www.brooklynparenting.blogspot.com

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

PROSPECT-LEFFERTS: EARTH DAY WEEKEND FAMILY FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26: 10am – 5 pm
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum will debut a new tradition, an Earth Day Weekend family festival called Celebrate Earth! www.brooklynkids.org for more info. Admission:$7.50 per person. Museum members and children under 1 free. All programs free with Museum admission.

FORT GREENE: BAM KOODS BOOK BRUNCH

Saturday, April 25: 11:30am—2pm
The author behind the Newbery Honor Award-winning Ella Enchanted, The Wish, and the Princess Tales series, Gail Carson Levine, comes to BAM for the annual BAMfamily Book Brunch. Levine’s spellbinding children’s and ‘tween fiction has enraptured young readers. After a buffet of kid-friendly foods and drinks accompanied by live music, Gail Carson Levine will read from and discuss Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly—the hit how-to for young writers—and the adventure novella Dave at Night, which has been recognized as an ALA Notable Children’s Book and ALA Best Book for Young Adults. The event will conclude with an audience Q&A and a book signing. Recommended age level: 8 to 12 years. At BAMcafé

MANHATTAN: TWINS CLUB TAG SALE

Tuesday, April 28 at 6 pm
I have heard this tag sale is FIERCE (as Tyra Banks would say). Don’t be late or you may only get seconds (oh, I couldn’t resist the pun!). Pick up such great items as double strollers, matching outfits (no, not really) and lots and lots of clothes. Go to Saint Bartholomew’s Community House. For more details go to their Facebook event.