Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed the first week of 2012 and you’re ready to put your resolutions into practice. As always, this year, we’re resolving to bring you the best listings for the entire family! Are you ready to celebrate January with fun activities? We thought so! This will be the last weekend to see The Big Apple Circus’ Dream Big performance at Lincoln Center. Check out our review below — it’s a splendid performance and a terrific way to kick off the first weekend in the new year. Before you toss out your Christmas tree, stop! Don’t! Instead, help grow our beautiful borough by participating in a treecycle, aka MulchFest 2012. We’ve got a comprehensive list of MulchFests happening around town so that you can take part in the action. Remember Clifford the Big Red Dog? Of course you do! If you’ve got a Clifford fan in your home, you’ll certainly want to check out the musical performance on Sunday afternoon. Be sure to visit the music listings and calendar for even more events.
ONGOING
Friday, January 6th – Sunday, January 8th: various times
The Big Apple Circus: Dream Big
The Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center is back again and we loved it! Grandma Clown (the emcee) is hilarious as she guides you through the Big Apple’s acts and set changes. The thread of the show’s theme, “Dream Big,” begins with a little girl who appears to have been plucked from the audience. She proclaims her desires to be a trapeze performer, which by the end of the show, she does become. Apparently, dreaming big does work! Fabulous international circus artists perform under an intimate tent with varying acts from acrobats to clowns. People seemed to especially respond to the animals, which include horses, dogs, and a porcupine. The acrobats were particularly enthralling to watch as they were jumping around as a human pyramid. The kids were doing acrobatics in their seats during the intermission. This is probably because they could totally relate it to their own experiences on the monkeybars. The show is perfect for ages 2.5 years and up. Both our children were totally engaged by it, and honestly, we were too. Runs Oct 20 – Jan 8.
Details: Tickets start at $15, children under 3 years are free on the lap of a paid adult.
Friday, January 6th – Sunday, January 8th: various times
Rumplestiltskin from the Netherlands
In this artful and eerie rendition of the fairy tale known to Dutch children as Niemand Weet, Niemand Weet… (Nobody Knows, Nobody Knows…), live music, storytelling and drama intertwine to turn this classic story into an enthralling, contemporary play. Recommended for ages 8 to adult
Details: January 6 – 8 Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 2pm and 7pm, Sunday at 12pm and 5pm The Duke on 42nd Street Tickets: Theater-goers who buy tickets for three or more New Vic shows qualify for free Membership benefits, including up to 35-percent savings with tickets as low as $9. Full-price tickets for individual productions are as low as $14 each. To purchase tickets online, visit NewVictory.org, and to purchase by phone, call 646-223-3010. The New Victory Theater box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm.
Friday, January 6th – Sunday, January 15th at 3pm or 7pm
Company XIV’s Snow White at the Bond Street Theatre
Company XIV presents the critically acclaimed Snow White. Choreographed and directed by Austin McCormick, this performance blends opera, circus, dance, theater, projection and design that will surely delight the entire family. (Please note: the show will not run December 23rd – December 25th).
Details: The Bond Street Theatre. 303 Bond Street. $35 for adults; $30 for children 17 and younger.
Friday, January 6th — Sunday, January 22th
Math Midway at Liberty Science Center
This fabulous exhibit makes math fun for all ages from babies all the way up to adults. Try a square-wheeled bicycle, hang out with magnetic monkeys, or check out mind-bending mirrors. This show debuted at the World Science Festival Fair in Washington Square in 2009, and even in its smaller capacity there, it dazzled visitors. This interactive exhibit is fabulous fun worth a trip to New Jersey for – stay for an Imax show or one of the other permanent exhibits. The exhibit runs through January 22, 2012. It’s highly recommended.
Details: Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard. Jersey City, NJ 07305
Friday, January 6th – Saturday March 31st from 10am – 5pm
Secrets of Circles Exhibit at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
There’s no doubt about it, circles are everywhere! The “Secrets of Circles” exhibit at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum features 18 different interactive activities that explore the nature of this simple, but amazing shape. From building mechanical contraptions to using a compass to draw awesome glow-in-the-dark circles, this fun exhibit provides a great way for math and science to come to life. This is going to be a crowd-pleaser, for sure, and will definitely give new meaning to “the wheels on the bus go round and round.”
Details: 145 Brooklyn Avenue
Friday, January 6th – Sunday, February 26th: various times
The Berenstain Bears LIVE!
We are so excited about the “beary” good show that will be held at the Marjorie S. Dean Little Theatre! In The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, our favorite Bear Country citizens come to life on the Off-Broadway stage. In addition to teaching life lessons during the show, there will be a mini dance party and face painting afterwards. It’s going to be “bear”mazing! We have all seen it a couple of times and it’s super cute for the kids.
Details: Marjorie S. Dean Little Theatre. 10 West 64th Street and Central Park West. Tickets start at $34.95. 866.811.4111.
Friday, January 6th – Tuesday, January 31st: various times
Polar Express 4D at Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and New York Aquarium
The amazing Polar Express is making stops this Holiday Season at the Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Aquarium. It is sure to be a great time and will play at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium until January 2, 2012, and the Central Park Zoo through January 31, 2012.
Details: 718.220.5100
Friday, January 6th — Tuesday, January 31st: various times
ElectriCity: Powering New York’s Rails Exhibit
Your kids will love this highly interactive exhibit at The New York Transit Museum. Who are we kidding?! You’ll love the exhibit too! Originally designed by the Liberty Science Museum, this exhibit allows kids to touch, feel, and see for themselves how the subways and buses work. Hands-on activities will have the little ones capturing light with a solar panel and operating a model train with a hand-cranked motor.
Details: Boerum Place and Schermerhorn St. Phone: 718.694.1600. Click here to visit the website.
Friday, January 6th — March 10: various times
Magic! The Amazing Max and The Box of Interesting Things
Magician Max Darwin makes objects appear out of thin air, as the laws of physics are defied, and miracles are performed inches from spectators’ faces. This isn’t a show that you ask, “How did he do that?” It’s not that Max doesn’t do great tricks, he does. It’s that the show is so focused on the hijinks of Hamlet the mind-reading pig and the silliness of coins appearing out of every bodily orifice, that the audience doesn’t have time to focus on the head-scratching things Max performs. The magic is just the sideshow to a very entertaining and engaging performance. Our full review is here.
Details: The Amazing Max and The Box of Interesting Things, in an open-ended Off-Broadway run. Manhattan Movement & Arts Center 248 W. 60th Street, NYC (between Amsterdam and West End Avenues)
Performances: Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30pm. No performances on the following dates: Saturday, December 10; Sunday, December 25; Sunday, January 1. Special mid-week holiday performances have been added at 11am on the following dates: Monday, December 19; Wednesday, December 21; Friday, December 23; Tuesday, December 27; Monday, January 2; and Wednesday, January 4.
Tickets: The Amazing Max is performed at the MMAC Theater located in the Magic Carpet Rides (VIP seating) $49.50, regular general admission tickets $29.50. Tickets are available at www.telecharge.com or by phone at 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250.
ALL WEEKEND
Saturday, January 7th — Sunday, January 8th from 10:00am — 2:00pm
MulchFest 2012: Various Locations
Don’t throw away your holiday tree! Bring it to a MulchFest so that it can be turned into an environment-friendly cover for our local parks. Last year, close to 17,000 Christmas trees citywide were recylced. Let’s top that number this year. You can help in two ways — (1) Bring your tree to a chipping location and walk away with your very own bag of welch, or (2) Leave your tree at a drop-off site and it’ll be recycled for you. Please remember to remove all lights and decorations from your tree first.
MulchFest Chipping Locations:
Prospect Park — Third Street at Prospect Park West
Prospect Park Circle — Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest
The Amazing Garden — Columbia Street at Carroll Street
Brower Park — Brooklyn Avenue at Prospect Place
Cobble Hill Park — Verandah Place and Clinton Street
Fort Greene Park — Washington Park and Willoughby Avenue
Marine Park — Avenue U and East 33rd Street
McCarren Park — Driggs Avenue and Lorimer Street
MulchFest Drop-Off Only Locations:
Green-Wood Cemetery — 25th Street and 4th Avenue
Lincoln Terrace Park — Buffalo Avenue bet East New York Ave and Eastern Parkway
Maria Hernandez Park — Knickerbocker Avenue and Suydam Street
McGolrick Park — Monitor Street and Driggs Avenue
Prospect Heights Community Garden — 252 — 256 St. Marks Avenue
Sunset Park — 44th Street and 6th Avenue
Saturday, January 7th — Sunday, January 29th: 2pm and 4pm
The Piccolini Trio in Circus In A Trunk
A trio of clowns arrive Canal Park Playhouse excited to see a circus show… that never happens. Bummer, right? Not quite. The trio then decide to perform the show themselves, pulling together a funny performance out of an antique trunk. The Piccolini Trio combine contemporary and classic European style clowning for a performance replete with music, acrobatics, physical comedy, juggling, pantomine, and poetic whimsy. My son and I will be heading out to see the performance and we are pretty psyched! I’m sure it’ll be an amazing show!
Details: Canal Park Playhouse. 508 Canal Street between Greenwich and West Street. Tickets: $20 (a pre or post-show Pre Fixe brunch is available for an additional $8 in advance and $10 at the door). For tickets or more information, call OvationTix at 1-866-811-4111 or visit their website.
Saturday, January 7th — Sunday, January 29th: 11am
The Little Rascals
Head over to the Canal Park Playhouse to see Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals! This was a hit this fall and we’re sure that it’ll be just as good, if not better. Enjoy the exuberant shenanigans of Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla, Froggie and the rest of the gang screened in the Canal Park Playhouse theater.
Details: Canal Park Playhouse. 508 Canal Street between Greenwich and West Street. Tickets: $9. (a Pre Fixe brunch is available before or after the screenings for an additional $8 in advance or $10 at the door. For tickets or more information, call OvationTix at 1-866-811-4111 or visit www.canalparkplayhouse.com.
FRIDAY JANUARY 6TH
Friday, January 6th from 10:30am — 12pm
The 35th Annual Three Kings Day Parade
Okay. I know that this is one long commute for many of us, but seriously, who can resist a good parade? And one that includes camels, music, colorful puppets, dancing, and floats? This is always a fun parade where the entire family can learn about Three Kings Day through the streets of El Barrio. The posession begins at 106th and Madison and continues up to 115th and Park. Did I mention there are going to be camels? Camels!
Details: FREE for all. 106th Street and Madison Avenue
Friday, January 6th from 11:00am – 12:00pm
Frolic! Play Space Soft Opening
This new cutting-edge play space officially opens on Monday for tours but you can get in early if you sign up online for annual membership or you can got in and sign up immediately and begin playing asap! Want to play tomorrow? Sign up right away and check out their 5,000 sq ft children’s indoor play space and enrichment center located on the waterfront in Williamsburg. It’s a rock ‘n’ roll play space for the urban “under six” crowd and their parents with VW bus and coffee lounge.
Details: Annual membership packages start at $69 per month and include the entire immediate family plus caregiver(s). There is no additional cost for more than one child. Final days to receive their pre-opening offer of $100 off first year membership ends January 9th. Sign up online with a $100 down payment at: http://www.frolicplayspace.com/membership.html. The space is inside The Edge, Williamsburg 34 North 6th Street Brooklyn, NY 11249 (between Kent Avenue and the East River)
Friday, January 6th from 11:00am – 12:00pm
Yoga Stars Free Class
Besides being a Lululemon clothes groupie (hey, I can go from pjs to daywear and no one knows the difference!), I also love their whole attitude of sharing. Their local stores often host free yoga classes and seminars and it’s all in the name of good karma. This Friday, Lululemon in Brooklyn is spreading the good vibes around with a free Yoga Stars class. The event is not listed on their event calendar, but I got word that it really is happening! Yoga Stars, created by the team at Super Soccer Stars, is a new developmental yoga program for students aged infant to teen.
Details: Ages 2-3 Lululemon in Brooklyn, 472 Bergen Street at Flatbush Avenue RSVP for free – 212.787.9642
Friday, December 16th at 6:15pm
Family Movie Night at The Moxie Spot
Still stumped on how to enjoy Family Friday Nights after a long week? Head on over to The Moxie Spot, a family-friendly restaurant and play space for a fun Friday night film screening. Kids will eat for free when you purchase an entrée from the dinner special after 5:30pm. Now that what we call “family friendly.”
Details: The short feature begins at 6:15pm. The longer feature begins at 6:45pm. 81-83 Atlantic Avenue (at Hicks Street). 718.923.9710
SATURDAY JANUARY 7TH
Saturday, January 7th from 10am — 4pm
FREE Activities with Bija Kids Yoga
Don’t let the cold temps give you a case of cabin fever! Head on over to Bija Kids Yoga for a day of FREE offerings, 10% off all class registrations, birthday party bookings, birth classes, and more!
Schedule of Events:
10am – Mommy and Baby Yoga with Kristen
10:45am – Buddhist Parenting Q&A with Jonathan Kaplan
10:45am – Rhythm and Rhyming with Jan Benson
11:30am – Storytime Yoga with Talia
12pm – Spanish Song and Dance with Musica Para Mi
1pm – Yoga Games and Parachute Fun with Lauren
2pm – Preschool Alternative Q&A with Lauren
2:30pm – Movement for Labor and Delivery with Kristen
3pm – Kirtan with Nina, Ambika and Friends
Details: Bija Kids Yoga. 900 Fulton Street between Waverly and Washington Avenue. For more information, call 718.4834795 or visit their website.
Saturday, January 7th at 11am
Kids Story Time at Greenlight Bookstore
Grab the kiddies and head to Saturday Story Time, which typically features Authors and Illustrators of picture books and/or neighborhood performers reading stories. At times, there may even be crafts! A totally entertaining Saturday morning? We think so!
Details: Geared towards kids ages 3 – 8 years. Open to the public, but on a first come, first served basis. 686 Fulton Street (at South Portland). Phone: 718. 246. 0200. Website: http://greenlightbookstore.com/storytime
Saturday, January 7th at 2:30pm
Art Works at The Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Grad your little ones and visit the Totally Tots area to see what’s in store for your budding Picasso!
Details: 145 Brooklyn Avenue. 718. 735.4400. Ages 5 and under.
Saturday, January 7th at 3:00pm
Bedtime Book Pajama Party at Scholastic Store
Bedtime woes, be gone! Well, at least that would be the hope after this fun event. The Soho Scholastic Store is throwing a pajama party to celebrate bedtime. You and your little one can enjoy a special sandman storytime where a new release called Things I Love About Bedtime will be featured. You can also make printed-pajama portraits and introduce it at the stuffed animal show-and-tell.
Details: FREE for all. 557 Broadway. Phone: 212.343.6166
Saturday, January 7th: 12:30pm and 2pm
Steadfast Tin Soilder at Puppetworks
The holidays may be over, but you still have a chance to check out this show that’s been adapted for Marionettes.
Details: Ages 3 and up. 338 Sixth Avenue. Tickets — $7 for children; $8 for adults. Phone: 718.965.3391
Saturday, January 7th: 12:30pm and 2pm
Nutcracker Sweets at Puppetworks
The holidays may be over, but you still have a chance to check out this show that’s been adapted for Marionettes.
Details: Ages 3 and up. 338 Sixth Avenue. Tickets — $7 for children; $8 for adults. Phone: 718.965.3391
Saturday, January 7th: 10 am
Sleep S.O.S. for Families
In this free 60-minute interactive workshop with Mommywise founder, Natalie Nevares, and family psychologist Dr. Meredith Singer, they will discuss the fundamental, underlying reasons families with babies and toddlers don’t sleep, how you can get more rest, and feel better as a family. They will focus on internal factors that might be preventing you from getting the sleep you need (i.e. fears and emotions) and external factors (i.e. apartment layout or normal sleep transitions), they will trouble-shoot your family’s sleep woes, and help get you back on track!
Details: Park Slope Food Coop at 782 Union Street btw 7th and 8th. Brooklyn, NY 11215. Seating is limited to 20 families. RSVP here.
Saturday, January 7th: 9:30 am – 5 pm
Grand Opening Weekend Celebration at Cumbe Dance
Looking for a cultural event this weekend? Bring the whole family to the Cumbe Center for African dance lessons by a team of experts. There will be everything from contemporary to salsa to storytelling. Classes are available to everyone from tots to teens. The FREE classes are from 9:30 – 5:00 on Saturday and 10:45 – 4:00 on Sunday. West African, Afro-Caribbean, Samba, Salsa,, Tango, Hip Hop, Dunham, Yoga, Skekere and other drumming and more! Then, on Saturday night, they are having a dance party with the Brown Rice Family band. It’ll be your time to get your groove on while learning a cultural lesson!
Details: FREE for all. 558 Fulton Street. Visit the website by clicking here.
SUNDAY JANUARY 8TH
Sunday, January 8th at 11am
Baby Stories and Singalongs at Greenlight Bookstore
Babies and toddlers under 3 years old will be highly entertained with stories, songs, and interactive play as the children’s performers Miss Nina, Jon Samson, and Vered take turns keeping them busy.
Details: Geared toward ages 3 years and under. Open to public, but on a first come, first served basis. 686 Fulton Street (at South Portland). Phone: 718.246.0200. Website: http://greenlightbookstore.com/storytime
Sunday, January 8th at 11am at 3 pm
Stam-Pede: Percussive Dance by 7 Companies
If you are into dance, this impressive collection of companies performing various types of percussive dance, should be on your list. Travel the dance world by seeing flamenco, Irish dance, body percussion (particularly exciting for kids), tap dance and Bharata Natyam (a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu,). All of this is Stam-Pede, an afternoon of the very best in percussive dance by seven celebrated companies and one up and coming artist. Participating companies include: Chicago Tap Theatre; Darrah Carr Dance; David Parker and The Bang Group; Maya de Silva & Flamenco Revolucion; SLURP by Adam Metzger; and Parijat Desai Dance Company. In addition, the program will also feature two of tap’s rising stars: Michelle Dorrance, whose company Dorrance Dance, took home the 2011 Bessie Award for Outstanding Production, and Caleb Teicher, who also won a 2011 Bessie Award for Outstanding Individual Performance as a dancer in the production that Dorrance won her Bessie for. Gotham Arts Exchange in association with Symphony Space is hosting the family friendly afternoon.
Details: Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.symphonyspace.org or by phone at 212-864-5400. Appropriate for ages 5 and up.
Sunday, January 8th at 2pm
Clifford the Big Red Dog LIVE!
Got a Clifford fan at home?! Then you won’t want to miss this performance at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College. As Clifford’s 50th anniversary draws near, Brooklyn Center invites families to join in the fun as he and his friends from Birdwell Island — Emily Elizabeth, Cleo, and T-Bone — embark in an all new adventure in the form of a family-friendly musical!
Details: Ages 4 and up. Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts — Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College. 2/5 train to Flatbush Avenue/Brooklyn College. Tickets are $10. Visit the website to order them online, or call the box office at 718.951.4500 (groups of 15 or more, call 718.951.5000 ext. 3326).
Sunday, January 8th: 10:45- 4 pm
Grand Opening Weekend Celebration at Cumbe Dance
Looking for a cultural event this weekend? Bring the whole family to the Cumbe Center for African dance lessons by a team of experts. There will be everything from contemporary to salsa to storytelling. Classes are available to everyone from tots to teens. The FREE classes are from 9:30 – 5:00 on Saturday and 10:45 – 4:00 on Sunday. West African, Afro-Caribbean, Samba, Salsa,, Tango, Hip Hop, Dunham, Yoga, Skekere and other drumming and more! Then, on Saturday night, they are having a dance party with the Brown Rice Family band. It’ll be your time to get your groove on while learning a cultural lesson!
Details: FREE for all. 558 Fulton Street. Visit the website by clicking here.