Take a trip to the gorgeous Wave Hill this weekend!

Now that the kids are out of school it’s time to keep them active. We discovered tons of outdoor activities ranging from exploring Rainbow City at the High Line to kayaking on the Hudson to experiencing the 40^th anniversary of the African Arts Festival. There is no shortage of things to do. There are also some exciting indoor activities like Target’s First Saturday’s at the Brooklyn Museum and a drop-in art program at the Noguchi Museum. Check out some of our top picks for this week!

July 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd
Fri, 11am – 11pm
Sat, 11am – 11pm
Sun, 11am -10pm
Rainbow City at the High Line
Visit the new section of The High Line for not only its  cool activities, but an art installation of zany inflatables that will make you feel like you’ve entered a whole new world. Built for adults and kids, FriendsWithYou, an arts collective, has created Rainbow City – a set of balloon forms and rooms that compete with the surrounding buildings at heights of ten to 40 feet. The 40 piece interactive installation fills a whopping 16,000 square foot outdoor space along The High Line so there’s plenty of room to explore the installation, run, picnic and sit down to enjoy the crazy bouncy world around you. Details: Runs until July 5th. The space will be open daily, free to the public. 30th St and 10th Ave in Chelsea, NYC. For additional information, please visit: http://www.aolartists.com/rainbowcity

Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4^th from 11am to 5pm
40th Annual International African Arts Festival
The International African Arts Festival is celebrating their 40th anniversary with folk art entertainment. This all ages event will also include arts and crafts vendors featuring one –of-a-kind, handcrafted jewelry, urban fashion, t-shirts, body oils, African fabrics, artifacts, paintings, sculptures and much more. There will also be delicious food options such as Caribbean, African, Latin, vegetarian, and gourmet raw food. Details: 1360 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. For additional information, please visit: http://iaafestival.org/framesetfestibal.htm

Friday, July 1^st at 7pm master class, 8 pm performance
SummerStage in the Bronx: Pasion y Arte with On Tap
Pasión y Arte is an all-female dance company will be featuring a unique flamenco performance at SummerStage in the Bronx. There will also be a pre-performance dance class at 7 pm and the event is free. Details: St. Mary’s Park, 450 St. Ann’s Avenue, (Bordered by East 149th, St. Mary’s, St. Ann’s Streets and Jackson Avenue), Bronx, NY  10454. For additional information, please visit: http://www.nyckidsarts.org/events/14106/summerstage-in-the-bronx-pasion-y-arte-with-on-tap

Saturday, July 2^nd, 2011 at 2 pm
TriBattery Pops
The TriBattery Pops is downtown NYC’s first all volunteer community band in over a century. This free event is designed for kids of all ages and makes for a gorgeous backdrop in Zuccotti Park.
Details: Zuccotti Park, 78 Liberty Street (between Broadway and Church Street) New York, NY  10006

Saturday, July 2^nd from 5 pm to 11 pm
July’s Target First Saturday
Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior
Celebrate another fun Target First Saturday with the exhibit “Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior.” This free event also includes Indian music, access to the museum, curator talks and a late-night dance party (a lot of fun if you can get sitter). For specific events, please see the schedule below. Details: The Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052. For additional information, please visit: http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/visit/first_saturdays.php

Music
5–7 pm
Falu mixes contemporary rock with classical Indian music.

Performance
6 pm
The Kathak Ensemble brings the art of Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior to life with traditional Hindu dance and storytelling. Free tickets (330) available at the Visitor Center at 5 pm

Performance
6–8 pm
Performance duo Clean Penny Service cleans dirty pennies for visitors using natural methods. This performance is in connection with the installation Skylar Fein: Black Lincoln for Dooky Chase.

Hands-on Art
6:30–8:30 pm
Discover Vishnu’s powerful avatars and sculpt one of your own. Free timed tickets (380) available at the Visitor Center at 5:30 pm

Curator Talk
7 pm
Curator of Asian Art Joan Cummins on the exhibition “Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior.” Free tickets (30) available at the Visitor Center at 6 pm

Dance Party
8–10 pm
Celebrate Independence Day with The Freedom Party NYC. DJs Cosi, Herbert Holler, and Marc Smooth spin tracks by American artists.

Music
8:30–10 pm
The RagaChitra Foundation band presents a concert of traditional Indian compositions on Vishnu.

Late Night in the Galleries
10–11 pm
All galleries open. Explore the Museum.

Saturday, July 2^nd at 8pm
Hot Summer Nights! Free Outdoor Concert Series
Brooklyn Community Wind Ensemble & Concert Band
A series of free outdoor concerts during the month of July takes place at the oceanfront bandshell of Kingsborough Community College. This week, the Community Wind Ensemble & Concert Band, conducted by Ray Wheeler, pays musical tribute to Independence Day with their ever-popular Stars and Stripes Forever Concert. Details: Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Boulevard (end of Oriental Boulevard), Brooklyn, NY  11235. For additional information, please visit: http://www.nyckidsarts.org/events/14010/hot-summer-nights-free-outdoor-concert-series

Sunday, July 3^rd from 10am −1pm
Family Art Projects at Wave Hill
Wave Hill, a 28-acre public garden and cultural center, offers free family art projects throughout the summer on Saturday and Sunday. This Sunday families will able to experience Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden and then sketch their own composition and help build a communal ecosystem. Free with admission to the grounds. Details: West 249th Street and Independence Avenue (main entrance). For additional information, please visit: http://www.wavehill.org/

Sunday, July 3^rd from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Downtown Boathouse Kayaking on the Hudson
Every Sunday through October you and your family can kayak on the Hudson. There will be instructor’s on-hand and you should wear a bathing suit or shorts (small lockers, kayaks and life vests are provided). Kids must know how to swim and be accompanied by an adult if they are under 13. Details: Riverside Park (72nd Street and the Hudson River). For additional information, please visit: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2011/07/03/summer-on-the-hudson-downtown-boathouse-kayaking-on-the-hudson

Sunday, July 3 from 11am-1pm
The Noguchi Museum’s drop-in family program
The Noguchi Museum has a fun drop-in program where families are encouraged to explore the galleries and then make art in the Education Room. This month the series is featuring a session called Sticks and Metal: Constructed Shapes, where families can explore create various shapes and structures. The program cost is $5 per family, which includes museum admission and materials.  This fee is waived for all Noguchi Museum Family Members and Cool Culture families. Details: The Noguchi Museum, 32-37 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City. For additional information, please visit: http://www.noguchi.org/programs/education/families

Sunday, July 3rd at 3:00 pm
Bronx Family Day
Featuring a lively mix of Latin and American inspired music, hip-hop dance, puppetry, storytellers, and art workshops; the entire family will be engaged and entertained at Bronx Family Day. This free all-day event includes performances by David Gonzalez, Bill Harley, Moona Luna, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and a dance performance featuring hip-hop, tap and beatboxing by Illstyle & Peace Productions. Details: St. Mary’s Park St. Mary’s Street, St. Anns Avenue, East 149 Street, Jackson Avenue. For additional information, please visit: http://cityparksfoundation.org/kids_arts.html

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