Last week, I took the 2 train up to 96th Street to attend a blogger get-together at Symphony Space. I was there to find out more about the organization’s family and educational programs and to watch a mind blowing stair tap dancing performance by Andrew Nemr.
The first presenter was Amy Wilson, an author, blogger, and Symphony Space board member, who spoke about how wonderful it was to walk with her family over to Symphony Space every Saturday at 11:00 am for their Just Kidding series. She described how it was not only conveniently located but user-friendly. She gets help stowing her stroller and assorted kid gear, and then settles in to enjoy an amazing music, dance, or theater performance that leaves her family inspired and energized.
As she spoke, I realized that the more she told us about the diversity of artists and wonderful experiences her family had each Saturday, the more my brow furrowed. As she continued on, gushing about meeting Judy Blume at a Thalia Kids’ Book Club event, I realized I had been seized by the jealousy of the outer borough dweller. I love the Upper West Side and my kids are now old enough that hopping on the train and heading into the big city can be a nice adventure for all of us. But the idea of having a weekly series of great artistic programming for families in Brooklyn which could become a family routine and not just an occasional adventure, would be incredible.
And what would the barriers be to making this a reality?
Space?
Money?
Staffing?
I think Brooklyn families would be very supportive of a program like this, particularly if it was of as high of quality and varied as the series at Symphony Space. Both in terms of attendance and fundraising, I think Brooklyn could to it! I believe that if we start talking to the major cultural institutions in Brooklyn like BAM, the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, we could make this happen. Until then, make a point to take the 2 up to 96th and enjoy!
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Our music reviewer and listings editor, Charles Mister is part of the dynamic duo Fati & Charles, called Abbasubi. They perform songs for children in Spanish from their original CD, El Baile del Sombrero. Fati, originally from Argentina & Charles, a native of Brooklyn, live in Midwood, Brooklyn with their two children who they are raising bilingually and who were the inspiration for the CD.