So we are all wondering what is going to happen tonight with the weather. Will we get snow? Will schools be open? Meanwhile another weekend is almost here.
The first weekend in 2014 is going to be fun! If we do get snow and have a snow day it sounds like it might be too cold for sledding for little ones but good news the children events like the Friday Singalong! are back at Greenlight Bookstore now that the holidays are over! We also have the Asian American Festival at the Children’s Museum of the Arts and starting this weekend and in January on weekends The New York Transit Museum will have Subway Safari and for more train fun you can check out All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™ at The New York Botanical Garden!
Also this is the last chance to go see Mother Africa at The New Victory Theater and also ending this weekend is Cirkopolis: Cirque Eloize at NYU Skirball Center and Angelina Ballerina: The Very Merry Holiday Musical at Vital Theatre Company! Christmas is over but the 12 days of Christmas are still going on so we have The Three Kings Parade in Williamsburg and Meet the Holiday: Three Kings Day Celebration at Brooklyn Children’s Museum! First Saturday of the month means it is time for the free event Sing Back, Brooklyn! With Lloyd H. Miller at the Brooklyn Historical Society and this month The Deedle Deedle Dees will be there too!
Make sure to read the list below and look at the calendar for a events and also sing-a-longs, drop in yoga & art classes available this weekend! Since it is a new year we are working hard to make sure the event calendar is current and if you have an event or a drop in class that you would like to have included on our calendar you can use the form on this link to submit it to us! Also you can like us on Facebook for last minute events and news!
Stay warm and safe & have a great weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday January 3rd
Playgroup: Baby and Caregiver Meetup at Caribou Baby (Greenpoint)
Fridays 1215-215p. $5/family. Reserve your spot here.
Bring your lil’ one to hang out and meet other babies while you get a chance to relax, sip some free hot tea, listen to some music, and connect with other parents and caregivers. This is an informal and unstructured playgroup for babies, newborn to 18 months, and a nice warm space to play when it’s cold outside.
Friday Singalong! at Greenlight Bookstore (Fort Greene)
Resumes January 3! 2:30 PM (Every Friday). Free. For babies & toddlers.
Join us in the kids section for 40 minutes of favorite songs and stories for the littlest book lovers, led by Greenlight bookseller Jarrod and his trusty guitar.
Free Yoga Storytime at Karma Kids Yoga (West Village)
Fridays 3p. Free. StoryTime comes alive with puppets, songs, and yoga poses. Suggested for kids up to age 6.
Open Play at Brooklyn Robot Foundry (Gowanus)
Friday Jan 3rd 3:30-5:30 pm. $10 hour plus materials fee. For ages 5-9y.
It is an open ended activity time for your kids and is a great opportunity for you to drop your kids off while you exercise, shop or have a coffee date with a friend! Your kids will have a great time building robot obstacle courses, crafting robots out of clay and found objects, creating marble runs, making giant Lego creations and much more. It is similar to “choice time” at school. The kids will have a blast and you will get to have some time on your own.
For more Friday events please click here!
Saturday January 4th
Subway Safari: The Sleepy Subway at NY Transit Museum (Downtown Brooklyn)
Saturday January 4th 1130a-1215p. For Ages 2+. Free with paid admission. Many animals sleep deeply in caves or tunnels underground during winter to keep warm and safe. Subway trains also need to rest in their depots, to recharge and get ready for their work in New York City’s busy subway system. Each session of this Saturday morning series of stories and games focuses on a sleepy animal that sometimes acts very much like the subway!
2014 Spring Youth Classes OPEN HOUSE at BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange (Park Slope)
Saturday, January 4, 2014 1-4pm
SAMPLE FREE DANCE, MOVEMENT and THEATER CLASSES, at a nationally acclaimed youth arts education center, right here in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Join the families of the BAX community. Meet the BAX faculty and administrative staff and register for spring classes. See website for schedule of classes. NOTE: Open house pre-registration is strongly encouraged due to participation volume.
Sing Back, Brooklyn! With Lloyd H. Miller & The Deedle Deedle Dees at Brooklyn Historical Society (Brooklyn Heights)
Saturday, January 4th 3-4p. Ages 5-10y. Free. Reserve tickets here.
A monthly sing-a-long event for the whole family featuring songs, stories, skits, movies, and more. Brooklyn Historical Society is excited to welcome Lloyd’s entire band, The Deedle Deedle Dees, to this January’s Sing, Back Brooklyn! The theme is “The History of Brooklyn According to the Deedle Deedle Dees,” so you are sure to learn silly, fun, and interesting facts about Brooklyn that you never knew!
A Very DINO Day! at the Scholastic Store (SoHo)
Sat Jan 4th 3p. For ages 5y & up. Free.
Kick off the New Year by traveling back to prehistoric times at The Store for a dinosaur adventure! Stomp and Roar along as we listen to some of our favorite story time books, then explore The Store as we hunt for dinosaurs, fossils, and more.
For more Saturday events please click here!
Sunday January 5th
Three Kings Day in Brooklyn (Williamsburg)
Sun Jan 5th 1p. Free. The annual Three Kings Day Parade, complete with the kings, their camels and thousands of spectators, is coming to Williamsburg. Also known as the feast of the Epiphany, Three Kings Day commemorates the visit of the three wise kings to the Christ child. The parade will kick off at 1 p.m. at Meeker and Graham avenues – complete with kings, donkeys, floats, music and hundreds of costumed marchers.
Mother Africa at The New Victory Theater (Times Square)
Last day to see Mother Africa. Sun Jan 5th 12n & 5p See website for schedule. Tickets $17-$55. For Ages 5+. 100 minutes including one intermission. Rich in rhythm and robust in song, MOTHER AFRICA’s acrobats, musicians and dancers light up the stage in a powerful performance of stunning African artistry. Featuring stilt walkers from Tanzania, jugglers from Ethiopia and a renowned contortionist from Kenya, modern circus arts meld with joyful dance and music among a marvel of traditional masks. Exuberant afro-beats radiate from the stage with every strike of the infectious djembe and strum of the mbira, while bazin and kitenge fabrics swirl in a spectacle of color. Merry and bright, this is one holiday party you won’t want to miss!
Family Drop-in Art Workshop at The Jewish Museum (UES)
Sunday, January 5, 2014, 1 – 4pm. Free with Museum Admission. Age 3 and up.
Paint, draw, sculpt, or craft a work of art inspired by exhibitions on view with different themes each week.
Baby Wearing Workshop at Brooklyn Public Central Library (Prospect Heights)
Sunday Jan 5th 130-230p. Free.
Learn about options for carrying your baby to be mobile and get things done around the house or around town. Bring your carrier, and try different carriers, wraps and knapsacks as well as different carries (front-carry, back-carry, hip-carry, tandem-wear, toddler-wear, newborn-wear). Workshop is hosted by Babywearers NYC (FaceBook) leader Sarah Longwell-Stevens and member Evonne Cho.
For more Sunday events please click here!
All Weekend
Asian American Festival at the Children’s Museum of the Arts (South Village)
Sat & Sun January 4th-5th & also January 11th-12th 10AM-5PM and are free with general admission.
To celebrate the diversity of New York City, Children’s Museum of the Arts presents their sixth annual series of Multicultural Festivals that celebrate the artistic and cultural traditions of different communities. The festival will feature live music, dance, theater and storytelling performances, and workshops that Asian American cultures. There will also be temporary exhibits of relevant art and artifacts from each community. See website for full festival schedule.
Meet the Holiday: Three Kings Day Celebration! at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Sat Jan 4th & Sun Jan 5th 230p. For 5y and under. Included with paid admission.
Discover the holiday of the Three Kings Day and learn its cultural connection. Create a jeweled crown to take home.
Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show at the Javits Center (Midtown West)
Friday January 3rd 12p-9p, Saturday January 4th 10a-9p, Sunday January 5th 10a-6p. Adults (16 and older): $15.00. 15 and younger: FREE when accompanied by an adult. Resolve to have a New Year filled with on-water adventures at the 2014 Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show. The northeast’s premier boating event takes place January 1-5 at the Javits Center, bringing lifelong boaters and enthusiastic dreamers the newest and best in luxury motor yachts, sport fishers, performance boats, sailboats, and thousands of marine accessories. Beyond delivering a shopping paradise for boaters, the world’s first and longest-running boat show is the perfect destination for families and out-of-towners looking to ring in the New Year on a boat. Beat the chill with indoor thrills –Meet Captain Dave Carraro from National Geographic’s hit series Wicked Tuna & Take a Walk on the Wild Side with Gator Handling – Watch the Swampmaster, expert handler Jeff Quattrocchi, catch an 8-foot, 200-lb alligator with his bare hands during daily educational shows; plus get up close with a baby gator. See website for more details.
Cirkopolis: Cirque Eloize at NYU Skirball Center For The Performing Arts (Greenwich Village)
Various dates/times until January 5th. See website for schedule. 1 HR 20, no intermission. Tickets $40-80.
Save BIG on a FAMILY FOUR PACK. Get 4 Orchestra seats($49 a piece) or 4 Parterre seats ($39 a piece) on performances from December 18-27.
Bursts of color pierce a grey industrialized landscape and awaken one office worker who finds himself propelled on a journey of circus, dance, acrobatics and theater — finding real connections through his fantasies in an isolating factory-city.
One man’s imagination transforms piles of papers, looming towers, and giant gears into a vibrant, romantic, and lavish cityscape. He is joined by twelve eclectic and mysterious characters rebelling against monotony in a wildly energetic show that twists and turns between acrobatic prowess, heartrending poetry, and irresistible humor. The multi-disciplinary talents of these twelve performers will be on full display in several advanced acrobatic disciplines, including diabolo, rope, teeterboard, Cyr wheel and contortion. Guided by striking projections that add dizzying dimensions to pivoting set pieces, performers and spectators will slip between dream and reality in an uninterrupted stream of music, images, drawings and mind-bending acrobatics.
All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™ at The New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Now until January 26th at various times. See website for schedule. Included with All-Garden Pass admission.
Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a new fun-filled, sing-along, mini performance adventure by helping them decorate the station in time for the big Sodor surprise party before the guest of honor arrives! Bring your camera to have a photo-op with Thomas and capture the special day!
The Shell-Shocked Nut at La MaMa Ellen Stewart Theatre (East Village)
Friday January 3 – Sunday January 5, 2014. Friday Jan 3rd 7p and Saturday & Sunday Jan 4th & 5th at 3p.
An Alternative Adaptation of The Nutcracker, set in the East Village, inspired by true stories. Performed by 25 youth performers (age 4-19) from East Village Dance Project, and a group of professional performers, including Dante Brown|Warehouse Dance, Project in Motion, and a host of East Village luminaries and guest artists. The premiere is very loosely based on E.T. Hoffman’s Nutcracker, set in the East Village, with the urban theme of Post traumatic stress and the joy of being alive. Two main characters: — A War Vet and an elementary school student –travel the familiar streets and locations in the Tompkins Square Park area and meet characters of all sorts.
Sat & Sun Jan 4th & 5th 330p . General tickets $39.50.
Angelina and her friends are planning an absolutely positively spectacular holiday dance pageant – the best in all of Mouseland! When a mix-up prevents the pageant from going on, Angelina and her friends must use their creativity to save the show. By working together, Angelina, Alice, Gracie, AZ, Marco and Angelina’s little sister, Polly, discover the true spirit of the holidays. It’s not about things you receive, but the holiday cheer you share. With dancing, singing and festivities, this heart-warming musical is perfect for everyone’s holiday season! Based on the characters created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig, Angelina Ballerina spins, leaps and has fun regularly on PBS.
Transit Mysteries at NY Transit Museum (Downtown Brooklyn)
Sat & Sun Jan 4th & 5th 130p. For all ages. Free with paid admission. Be a transit detective! Check out our mystery relics – all related to New York transportation – and uncover some fun history!
City Harvest Gingerbread Extravaganza at Le Parker Meridien (Midtown West)
now until – Monday January 6th
Marshmallows, Gum Drops and more! Check out the Gingerbread wonderland located in the 56th Street atrium of the lobby from now until January 6th all created by local bakeries and restaurants. This year’s theme is “Quintessential New York”. Purchase one ticket for $1 through the concierge desk to vote for your favorite. Drop it in the box to be entered for a chance to win a 5 night stay at the luxurious Parker Palm Springs. All proceeds benefit City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women and children. To learn more, visit www.cityharvest.org.
Mother Africa at The New Victory Theater (Times Square)
Now until Sunday January 5, 2014 various times. See website for schedule. Tickets $17-$55. For Ages 5+. 100 minutes including one intermission.
Rich in rhythm and robust in song, MOTHER AFRICA’s acrobats, musicians and dancers light up the stage in a powerful performance of stunning African artistry. Featuring stilt walkers from Tanzania, jugglers from Ethiopia and a renowned contortionist from Kenya, modern circus arts meld with joyful dance and music among a marvel of traditional masks. Exuberant afro-beats radiate from the stage with every strike of the infectious djembe and strum of the mbira, while bazin and kitenge fabrics swirl in a spectacle of color. Merry and bright, this is one holiday party you won’t want to miss!
Holiday Train Show at The New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Now until Janury 12, 2014. Weekdays: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Weekends: 10 a.m.–7 p.m., including Friday, November 29 (day after Thanksgiving) (see website for all details on times during the holiday week)
All-Garden Pass tickets start at $20 for Adults and $10 for Kids 2-12. See prices by date.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended as tickets do sell out. Tickets are timed and sold in 15 minute increments.
Marvel at model trains zipping around New York landmark replicas made of plant parts such as nuts, bark, and leaves, and get an insider’s look at how the building replicas are constructed in The Artist’s Studio. Explore the exhibition in the warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, enjoy hands-on holiday fun for the entire family, and get your holiday shopping done too—it’s a whole day of fun! View the full list of programs and activities
Origami Holiday Tree 2013-2014 at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Now until January 12th. Grand Gallery, near the 77th Street exit on the Museum’s first floor.
An annual tradition, the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree has marked the start of the holiday season at the Museum for 40 years. The theme of this year’s tree is Wicked, Wild, and Wonderful, honoring the Museum’s new exhibition The Power of Poison. Volunteers begin folding in July to complete hundreds of creations that will be displayed on the tree. During the holiday season, volunteers will be on hand to teach visitors of all ages the art of paper folding.
Gingerbread Lane at New York Hall of Science (Flushing Meadows)
Now until January 12, 2014. Tuesday – Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm &Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Marvel at homemade gingerbread houses that are drafted, designed, baked, planned, built and decorated by chef Jon Lovitch over the course of an entire year. GingerBread Lane, a 1.5 ton, 300-square-foot village made entirely of edible gingerbread, royal icing and candy, is a contender for the Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread exhibit.
The village includes an estimated 1,900 lbs. of icing, 400 lbs. of candy, and 500 lbs. of gingerbread dough. It is comprised of 152 gingerbread houses, 65 trees, four gingerbread cable cars, five gingerbread train cars, an underground candy subway station, candy trees and sugar signage. A behind-the-scenes window gives a peek into the makings of GingerBread Lane with ovens, models and ingredients made entirely from royal icing. Five two-foot-high nutcrackers, also made of royal icing, stand guard over the exhibit. Free with NYSCI admission.
12th Annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal (Midtown East)
Now until February 23rd. M–F: 8a–8p, Saturday and Sunday: 10a–6p. (Closed for Christmas and New Year’s Day) Extended holiday hours from November 18 to December 24: M–F: 8a–8p, Saturdays: 10a–8p, Sundays: 10a–7p.
Trains are trips. Trips are adventures. This year memorable characters from Maira Kalman’s Next Stop Grand Central will be watching our Lionel trains as they zip, zap and whizz through their journey from Grand Central to the North Pole!
For a full calendar of events please click here!