Hi everyone!
The first full week of summer break for my kids and lots of children in NYC this week! Our list includes lots of watermelon, friends & fun!
There are many new events starting up this week like Summer on the Hudson: Children’s Performance Series at Pier 1, Sandbox Music, Puppets and Dance in Central Park and Bessies’s Big Shot at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre. Also happening this week Kiddie Summer Craft at Boulevard Books and Cafe, Magic Mondays at South Street Seaport and the New York Philharmonic Concert in Prospect Park!
There are even more fun events on the calendar so check it out for all the things going on in Brooklyn & New York City this summer! Please remember to check with the venue to see if there are any cancellations or schedule changes. If you know of an event you can submit it to our calendar via this link. A Child Grows is on Facebook so like us for last minute events and news!
Happy Summer!
Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday July 7th
Kids Yoga with Jen at LARK (Flatbush/Prospect Park South)
Mondays 10-1035a. For kids 2-6y old with parent/caregiver. Drop in $15. Register by emailing: emailing gamm57@aol.com
Jen’s BIO: After beginning her yoga practice 8 years ago during her pregnancy, Jen found yoga to be key in her sense of well-being, enabling her to feel calm and prepared for one of life’s many challenges. After working for over 5 years teaching and assisting children in educational settings she has combined her love of yoga and children to share the many benefits that she herself has experienced through yoga. Jen lives in Prospect Lefferts Garden with her son and husband and is very excited to enrich childrens’ lives with yoga through music, games, imagination and creative play. She believes that the every child can benefit immensely from yoga and have a blast while doing so. She is certified to teach yoga to children through Karma Kids Yoga. Jen also speaks Italian and is looking forward to sharing some new words with our yoginis.
Find & Seek at the Red Hook Public Library
Mondays & Fridays July 7th-July 18th 1030a-12n. $20 per child. Ages: We welcome the youngest book lovers, babies and toddlers, up to children who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall. This is a class for children and their caregivers (not a drop-off).
Our workshops provide one hour filled to the brim with the following activities: 1. Storytelling, 2. Puppetry, 3. Imaginative Play, 4. Materials Exploration and Making. We focus on books, of course, as we are in a library! But we also bring into the storytelling mix our own special hybrid approach of facilitated play and materials exploration.
Magic Mondays at South Street Seaport
Mondays this summer 1230p-230p. Free.
Every Monday this summer, Magic Brian and his team will be on our Front/Row Stage (11 Fulton Street) from 12:30 to 2:30pm. This event is free and open to the public. Magic Brian’s internationally award winning show has been performed in festivals around the world for the last 10 years. It is a family friendly, high-energy, and interactive comedy show with plenty of surprises.
For more Monday events please click here!
Tuesday July 8th
Sandbox: Dance at Central Park (various playgrounds)
Starts Tuesday, July 8th 11a-12n. Occurring every Monday and Tuesday thereafter, through August 12th. Free.
Shake it out! Take a break from the swings to learn new dance moves as musician Michael Wimberly plays live djembe beats can really move your feet to! Co-presented with the Museum for African Art. FREE! Tuesday July 8th playground location is the Diana Ross Playground (W81st). See website for full schedule.
Robot Workshop: A Summer Reading Event at Brooklyn Public Library Carroll Gardens
Tuesdays 130-230p. Free.
Earn your robot stamps in our gameboard by attending our weekly workshops!
NYMF Performance: The Calico Buffalo at Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center
Tue July 8th 4p & 8p, Sat July 12th 1p. Tickets $25. Running time: 2 hours.
When the first-born son to the chief of all buffalo arrives covered with the markings of a calico kitten, the chief, his son, and the entire buffalo nation are catapulted into the adventure of a lifetime. THE CALICO BUFFALO is a compelling theatrical experience. From the first musical moment, Grammy Award-winning composer Peter Stopschinski lets us know we are in for one wonder-filled ride.
For more fun Tuesday events click here!
Wednesday July 9th
Brooklyn Doodles: Summer Session Art & Play at JACK (Clinton Hill)
Wed 1030-1130a starting July 9th-August 13th. Drop in $22/each class or can sign register for all classes: $130. For ages 2-4y.
Your budding preschooler will enjoy a fun open play when they arrive followed by a circle time hello and story. It all comes together at the end with a fun art project. Children are encouraged to work independently. Please contact Danielle at bkdoodles@gmail.com for more info and to register.
Kiddie Summer Craft at Boulevard Books and Cafe (Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights)
Wed July 9th at 11am. Event fee: $15. Call 718-680-5881 to RSVP with a $5 deposit.
This is our 2nd Craft Class of the summer and we may even have some pop-up classes throughout! Kids ages 2-7 are welcome to join us for a fun class that begins with a read-aloud and sing-along and goes to our fun crafting and painting sessions! Snacks will be served, too!
NY Philharmonic Concert in Prospect Park
Wed July 9th 8p. Free.
Enter at Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West at 9th Street or Bartel-Pritchard Circle at the intersection of Prospect Park West, Prospect Park Southwest, and 15th Street. Go early to get yourself a good spot, but remember: the closer you sit, the more your fellow music lovers will expect your children to be proportionately quiet. Program to include R. Strauss: Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Smetana: Vyšehrad from Má vlast, Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy.
For more fun Wednesday events click here!
Thursday July 10th
“The Little Yogi Hour” Free Demo at Edamama Cute Cuts & More (Williamsburg)
Thursday July 10th (also Fri July 11th-Sat July 12th) approximately 10a-1130a. Free.
For Ages 4-6y. Hi Parents, We are introducing long-waited “The Little Yogi Hour” at Edamama for your little ones! Reserve your spot for the Free Demo Class! RSVP to edamamacutecutsnmore@gmail.com. Up to 10 kids per class. First come first served. Shorter than a regular hour, our 40 minute yoga class is an active, fun filled, joyous practice. We will learn asanas (poses), breathing, and mindfulness, through movement, songs, and games. Children will work on building physical co-ordination and balance, but also take time to explore concepts like self awareness, concentration, kindness, and friendship. About our lovely yoga teacher: Smitha Piedilato – Smitha is a Brooklyn based yoga teacher, artist and designer. Growing up in India yoga has always been a part of her life. She started a regular asana practice around 2004, initially for general well being, then for fitness and mental clarity. She believes that the benefits of yoga touch all aspects of living. And that yoga gives people of all ages practical techniques for learning, movement, and mindfulness. Smitha is 500 hour certified through goodyoga in Brooklyn, where she teaches weekly adult classes. She received her childrens yoga training at Om-schooled with Sarah Herrington.
Summer on the Hudson: Children’s Performance Series at Pier 1 Riverside Park South (UWS)
Thursdays July 10th 1030a-1130a until August 14th. West 70th Street at the Hudson River. Free.
Enjoy music, storytelling & theater for young audiences up to age 7. Wear sunscreen! Stroller parking in designated area is mandatory. July 10th: Zinghoppers
Syfy: Movies with a View at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1
Thursdays July 10th-August 28th. Free. Music at 6 p & movie at sunset.
Another season of Brooklyn Bridge Park’s movie series takes place this summer on Thursdays at Pier 1′s Harbor View lawn. Each screening consists of a movie, a short film curated by BAMcinématek, DJs to kick off the evening and bike valet parking provided by Transportation Alternatives. Lawn capacity is limited, so arrive early for the best seats. July 10: Duck Soup (1933) 68 minutes comedy/musical.
For more fun Thursday events click here!
Ongoing
Free Summer Kids Film Series at Chelsea Cinema
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10a now until August 20th. Seating starts at 9a. Free.
Absolutely Free Admission! Seating limited to theater capacity; tickets issued on a first come-first served basis. Films and schedules subject to change without notice. July 8th and 9th Walking With Dinosaurs
$1 Movies at NYC various locations
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10a from July 1st – August 27th.
Family fun movies playing on Tuesdays & Wednesdays for the summertime. Admission to these movies during the Summer Movie Express is only $1. Tickets must be purchased at the theater and all movies start at 10:00 am. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute. Search for a theater in your area to see where the Summer Movie Express is playing. NYC locations: Regal Atlas Park Stadium 8 in Glendale NY, UA Kaufman Astoria Cinemas 14 & RPX inAstoria NY, UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX in Brooklyn NY. July 8th & 9th: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 & The Pirates: Band of Misfits
NYMF Performance: Rescue Rue at Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center
Tue July 8th 8p, Thu July 10th 5p, Fri July 11th 1p, Sat July 19th 12n, Sun July 20th 1p. Tickets $25. 1 hour with no intermission.
When a little dog named Rue wishes for a “Happily Ever After” from her Fairy Dogmother, she soon embarks on an emotional journey of self-discovery and belonging. Kicked out of her home, Rue meets new friends and enemies alike on the street and at the pound before finding her “Furever” home in NYC and realizing life is really about finding your happy beginnings, not endings! Based on a true adoption story, this family-friendly pop musical is told by a colorful cast of puppets and people. Fun for all ages!
Bessies’s Big Shot at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
M-Sun July 7th-August 24th M-F 1030a and 12p,Wed 1030a, 12p, & 230p Sat-Sun 1p. Tickets: $7 children under 12y & $10 all others. For all ages.
Based on the famed PuppetMobile show of the same name, this popular production makes its Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre debut! Directed by Bruce Cannon and co-written by Douglas Strich, Alexander Bartenieff and Bruce Cannon, this version of the beloved show will feature several new puppets in addition to new and extended scenes. It’s a bird … it’s a plane … no … it’s Bessie the cow! CPF’s original production, Bessie’s Big Shot, follows Bessie the cow’s dream of joining the circus. Can she lift more than Ziegfried, the strongest man in the world? Fly on a trapeze high above the crowd? Train Munson the Monkey? This variety show cheers Bessie on as she attempts the impossible and searches for her special talents.
Summer Hours at Jane’s Carousel (DUMBO)
Now until September 28th. Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays) 11a-7p.
Tickets are $2.
Children age 3 and younger and those under 42” tall may ride free if accompanied by a paying adult. Multiple Ticket Discount: 12 Tickets – $20.00
Sandbox: Puppets at Central Park (various playgrounds)
Starts Tuesday July 8th 2-3p. Occurring every Mon, Tue, Wed & Thu thereafter, through July 24th. Free.
Come on a fantastic journey to the land of folk and fairy tales to meet Ant and Grasshopper, Cat and Mouse, Little Red Hen and many more characters brought to life by Wonder Spark Puppets. See website for full schedule.
Sandbox: Music at Central Park (various playgrounds)
Starts Wednesday July 9th. Occurring every Wed, Thu & Fri thereafter, through August 15th. Free.
March along to live music, learn about rhythms and melodies, and play percussion instruments with professional musicians from one of NYC’s premier brass quintets, Central Park Brass. See website for full schedule.
CMA: Hudson River Outpost at Pier 25 (Tribeca)
Every Tuesday & Thursday from July 1st-August 28th 1-4p for ages 1-12y. Free. *Workshops are weather dependent. Please check the website for daily updates or give us a call at (212) 274-0986. At Pier 25 at N. Moore St.
Make art along the waterfront in Hudson River Park! CMA is bringing a wide variety of free hands-on art making to Pier 25 throughout July and August in partnership with the Hudson River Park Trust. Each week will include activities for 1-12 year olds, including an individual mixed media project and a larger-scale collaborative project inspired by the unique waterfront.
New York Classical Theatre: As You Like It in Battery Park (Financial District)
Tuesday July 1st-Sun July 27th (except Mondays) 7-9p. Meet in front of Castle Clinton. Free.
Celebrating Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday and our 15th Anniversary Season. New York Classical Theatre’s production of: AS YOU LIKE IT! Directed by Stephen Burdman. The show is completely FREE! No tickets or reservations required! As You Like It tells the tale of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved female characters, Rosalind (Rin Allen), and the object of her affection, Orlando (Ian Antal). Exiled to the Forest of Arden, the two become entangled in a beguiling game of love, lust, and mistaken identity. Gender roles, nature, and politics are confused in a play that exuberantly upends the traditional rules of romance.
Summer Water Play at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside
M-Sun now until September 1 (Labor Day) 10a-7p. Free
Starting Memorial Day, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside will transform its uncovered rink into the Park’s largest water play area for children. Free to the public, the water feature includes 41 jets that form clear streams of water that dance across the surface, so children can play while keeping cool on a hot summer day. At night, the fountains will be lit up for a spectacular display.
Summer Safety Event at the Jewish Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Tue July 1st- Sat Aug 30th. Monday – Thursday: 10a-4p & Sundays: 10a-530p. $13 General Museum Admission (ages 2+) includes all activities. Second annual safety event for kids this summer! Featuring a number of safety themed exhibits including a sun smart challenge and hydration activities. Children will have the opportunity to meet and be photographed with “community heroes – safety personnel” including policemen, fire fighters, and others (Sundays only). Drive through “Safety City”, a mini-city road course complete with traffic lights, pedestrian crosswalks and typical high street attractions along the “road”. Children will have to practice safe street behaviors both as drivers on pedal go-carts and as pedestrians, in order to be awarded a “Safety City” license.
Playtimes at Norman & Jules (Park Slope)
M-W 10a-12n, M-F 115p-315p and Sat & Sun 930-1130a. $12/first child, additional child $6. Package 10 for $108.
Our backyard is intended for ages 6m to 6y. We do not offer drop-offs. Caregivers must be with their children at all times.
Sensory Room Family Hours at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Tue-Sun July 1st-August 31st 2p-445p. Free with museum admission. Space is limited; availability on first come, first served basis.
Over, under, swing, and rock as you explore our newest space at BCM. Unlock doors on our Sensory Snake or relax and read on our fluff chair mountain This is an inclusive space that engages children of all abilities. This room provides a welcoming environment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Summer Art in the Park in Riverside Park (Morningside Heights)
M-F June 16th-August 22nd 10a-12n (excluding July 4th) 10a-12n. Free. At the Hippo Playground located at Riverside Drive & West 91st Street. For all ages. This popular summertime favorite will return to Hippo Playground this summer. Please join us each weekday for this enriching art program. The class will take place at the picnic tables in the playground. In the event of rain, the program will be held in the park house.
Victorian Garden at Wollman Rink (Central Park)
Everyday until Sun Sep 7th various times and admission & ride prices varies by day. See website. Enter park from 59th St. and 6th Avenue.
Victorian Gardens is a traditional family amusement park featuring one-of-a-kind handcrafted rides, games of chance, classic concessions, face painting and live entertainment.
Summer Meals at Brooklyn Public Library (various branches)
M-F now until August 295h 115-2p. Free. Some branches are closed on Monday See website for branches and days.
New York City’s annual Summer Meals Program, run by the New York City Department of Education and funded by the federal government, provides free meals to children and teens ages 18 and younger regardless of New York City residency. Free lunches will be served at the following 25 Brooklyn Public Library branches, Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted, from Friday, June 27 to Friday, August 29. Lunches are served from 1:15pm to 2:00pm in the libraries’ meeting rooms.
July is Harry Potter Month! at The Scholastic Store (SOHO)
Tue July 1st-Thursday July 31st 1-4p. Free. For ages 8+.
In honor of Harry Potter’s birthday (July 31), The Scholastic Store is dedicating the entire month of July to Harry Potter! Stop by between 1pm-4pm EVERY DAY to participate in events, including Creature Feature Sundays, Muggle Mondays, Trivia Tuesdays, Wizard-Craft Wednesdays, Three Broomsticks Thursdays, Fun Fact Fridays, and House Party Saturdays. Plus, for every Harry Potter book purchased at The Store in July, we’ll donate a copy to The Pajama Program.
Free Summer Kids Concerts at Madison Square Park (Flatiron)
Tue & Thu until August 7th 1030a. Free.
Madison Square Park Conservancy is thrilled to present its 12th season of Mad. Sq. Kids, a series of free outdoor performances for children and their families that takes place rain or shine in the Park. July 8th Dog on Fleas & July 10th JazzReach presents Ellington!. See website for full line up.
Art in the Park in Madison Square Park (Flatiron)
Tue-Sat 10a & 2p until October 17th. Free.
You can find Annie in the Police Officer Moira Ann Smith Playground, presenting fun and creative art activities. All Mad. Sq. Kids activities are free and open to the public! Drop by the playground and say hi to Annie. See the website for the art activity of the day.
Explore! in Madison Square Park (Flatiron)
Tue, Thu & Sat 10a-1230p until October 16th. Free.
The Mad. Sq. Kids: Explore! program lets you and your little ones learn about the park first hand by using fun, self-guided worksheets. Go on a scavenger hunt! Learn about local flora and fauna! Get to know our park monuments! Join our playground activities assistant in the Police Officer Moira Ann Smith playground to learn about today’s featured activities. See the website for the daily activities. *Adult supervision is required for all EXPLORE! activities.
Preschool Play at Wagner Park (Battery Park City)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, now until Oct 29th, 2014 10am-12noon. Free.
Join other toddlers, parents and caregivers for interactive play on a grassy lawn. Toys, books, and play equipment provided. No sessions 10/14. Location just north of Historic Battery Park, off Battery Place.
Brooklyn Block Laboratory at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Ongoing until August 31st 10a-5p. Free with museum admission.
Brooklyn Block Laboratory is a new 1,000 sq. ft. pop-up activity area that provides engaging hands-on learning experiences through block play. Children and families design and experiment with different building blocks, creating imaginative structures, stacking, sorting, and talking. Utilizing a curated selection of wood, foam, and magnetic blocks, families and teachers examine how children interact and speak during the building process.
Prospect Park Carousel Summer Hours
July 3rd-Sept 1st Thu–Sun: 12n–6p. $2 per ride, $9 for a book of 5 tickets.
Kick off spring with a ride on the Park’s beautiful 102 year-old carousel. Located in the Park’s “Children’s Corner,” the Carousel features 51 magnificently carved horses, a lion, a giraffe, a deer, and two dragon-pulled chariots. Carved in 1912 by Charles Carmel, one of the foremost carousel designers of the time, and restored by the Prospect Park Alliance in 1990, the Carousel promises that classic summertime amusement will be available for generations of fun. In addition, the Prospect Park Carousel is one of the few in the world that is wheelchair accessible.
Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Now until January 4, 2015 10a-545p. Free with General Admission Plus One
In the new exhibition Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs, rare fossils, life-size models, and hands-on interactives bring these ancient animals to life. Step back in time to see pterosaurs, including giants such as Tropeognathus mesembrinus,with a wingspan of more than 25 feet, and find out how they moved on land and in the air. Get a first-hand look at the rare pterosaur fossils that have helped paleontologists learn all that we know about these animals. In a virtual flight lab, use your body to pilot a pterosaur over a prehistoric landscape. Encounter the exceptional creatures that flew in the age of dinosaurs.
Dinosaur Safari: Mysteries Revealed at the Bronx Zoo
On going until November 4th 10a-5p. Admission included in total experience ticket price.
Dinosaur Safari: Mysteries Revealed! Nine new dinosaur species have been added this year including the deinonychus, prodohadros, stegosaurus, and edmontonia. Returning for the Dinosaur Safari: Mysteries Revealed, the ever-popular 40-foot long tyrannosaurus rex will send chills up the spines of Bronx Zoo adventurers. At the end of the experience, there is a field site that includes a fossil dig for children; a Tyrannosaurus rex photo-op; a paleontologist’s tent that includes a fossil museum; and an interactive robotic dinosaur that illustrates how the animatronics work.
Le Carrousel in Bryant Park (midtown)
Now until October. M-Sun 11a-8p. One ride: $3. Parents assisting children unable to ride solo will not be charged. Discount cards: buy a discounted card and enjoy 10 rides for $15.
Le Carrousel in Bryant Park, specially created to complement the park’s French classical style, is an homage to both European and American traditions. Its fourteen delightful animals, replicas of classic carousel creatures, revolve to the sounds of French cabaret music. The rounding boards, inspired by Bryant Park’s elegant baroque-style torchères along 40th Street, blend into the leafy canopy of the park’s plane trees.
Play Space Summer Schedule at Juguemos a Cantar South Slope
Mon-Fri June 23rd-August 29th 330-5p. $10 per visit / Sibling $2 per visit. Play passes also available.
Drop in play space. Ongoing activities during playtime. Thu 4p Sing with Ale.
Play Space Summer Schedule at Juguemos a Cantar North Slope
M-F 9a-12n now until August 29th. $10 per visit / Sibling $2 per visit. Play passes also available.
Drop in play space with activities: Mon: Let’s Paint Tue: 1030a Story Time, Wed: 9a-12p Arts & Crafts, Thu: 1030a sing with Ale, Fri 1030a Drum Circle.
Free Storytime at the Scholastic Store (SOHO)
Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays at 11a for all ages. Join The Scholastic Storyteller for readings of all-time favorite children’s books or new releases from Scholastic! Perfect for babies and toddlers, these stories will spark imagination and fun in your budding bookworm. Stroller Entrance: 130 Mercer Street.
Open Play at The Learning Garden (Prospect Heights)
Mondays-Fridays 11a-6p. For 0-4y. Daily pass $12. Pass packages also available.
Our popular Open Play program is a time that offers a social learning environment for your children (ages 0-4) to grow and learn through creative play. With our space changing and growing every week, your little explorer will have lots to discover. Materials and activities are provided to engage you and your child while sparking their imagination.
Sing Along & Open Play at Creative Arts Studio (Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill)
Monday-Thursday 1-230p. Drop-In Parent/caregiver supervised with an ArtsCetera staffer on hand. $10 per session. Experts say our children are not getting enough unstructured play time, which they report is essential for healthy development. Here’s a great way to add more free play time to your child’s lif in a safe, welcoming environment. Some sessions include a short Sing Along segment to add to the fun. Creative play for all ages from infants up to 5 years. Toys, coloring, lego table, puzzles, reading corner.
To see all the events click here for the calendar!