Hi everyone!
The calendar has a mix of fun summer events for everyone so you should be able to beat the heat indoors or have some outdoor fun!
For indoor fun you can check out Chess for Kids at the Brooklyn Public Bay Ridge Library, Yellow Sneaker Puppet Sing-Along at Tea Lounge and Stomp, Clap & Sing with Monkey Monkey Music at Brooklyn Public Central Library! For outdoor fun you can see The Karate Kid at the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, Spaceballs at the 6th Annual Summer Movie Series at the Intrepid Museum, Mandarin with Wednesdays with Bilingual Birdies at South Street Seaport and Children’s Basketball at Rockefeller Park!
That is just some of the 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. Don’t forget A Child Grows is on Facebook so like us for last minute events and news!
Happy Summer!
Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday August 4th
Chess for Kids at the Brooklyn Public Bay Ridge Library
Mondays in August 230-330p. For kids 8+. Free.
Have fun playing chess with your friends with the help of a chess expert! Beginners and experts are welcome.
Children’s Basketball at Rockefeller Park (Battery Park City)
Mondays, now until Oct 27th, 330-430p for children 5-6y & 430-530p for children 7y & Up. Free. No sessions: 9/1, 10/13.
Basketball with adjustable-height hoops or kids of all sizes, plus fun drills to improve skills. Close-toed shoes required. Location: North end of Battery Park City, west of River Terrace.
HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival (Midtown West)
Monday August 4th. Free.
The lawn opens at 5p for blankets and picnicking. Film begins at sunset typically between 8 & 9p. Monday August 4th: The Karate Kid
For more Monday events please click here!
Tuesday August 5th
SummerStage Kids Presents: Beatz Science at Dr Martin Luther King Jr Park
Tuesday Aug 5th 1030a-1130a. Free.
Camille Gainer, aka Beatz Science, is a native New Yorker with a rich career poised with artistic ability and versatility. She began playing drums and other instruments such as guitar, violin and piano at the age of 11. She then went on to study with master drummer Michael Carvin, who she credits with opening her up to all styles of playing and most notably being aware of the feeling and language of different styles and her sight-reading prowess. Her diligence and perseverance earned her a full scholarship at Brooklyn’s Long Island University, where she got to study with other greats such as Keith Copeland. Camille has gone on to work with such luminous artist as Roy Ayers, Roberta Flack, M.C. Shan Les Nubians, Cyndi Lauper, Alicia Keys, Wayne Brady and countless others.
Stomp, Clap & Sing with Monkey Monkey Music at Brooklyn Public Central Library
Tuesday August 5th 11a-12n at the Dweck Center. Free.
Get ready to play air guitar, jump high, go innie and outie, count the odds, pop the bubbles, stroll in the garden and do the “macaroni” with Monkey Monkey Music.
Sea Life Storytime with the NY Aquarium at Brooklyn Public Clinton Hill Library
Tue Aug 5th 230-330p. Free.
Listen to sea life stories with the mascot for the Aquarium! Play the aquarium guessing game and win special surprises! Take your photo with the walrus (please bring your own camera) . To see a list of all the branches with Sea Life Storytime check the website.
For more fun Tuesday events click here!
Wednesday August 6th
Yellow Sneaker Puppet Sing-Along at Tea Lounge (Park Slope)
Wednesdays at 10a. $5 per family.
A Yellow Sneaker Sing-Along is a 45 minute interactive singalong with puppets and guitar, combining original songs, oldies, and traditional children’s music. Sing, clap, dance, and shake your sillies out! Geared towards kids age 0-5 and their families
Wednesdays with Bilingual Birdies at South Street Seaport
Wednesdays at 130p & 230p. This event is free and open to the public.
Every Wednesday this summer, join Bilingual Birdies at the Seaport on our Front/Row Stage at 1:30pm and 2:30pm. Bilingual Birdies is a foreign language program for kids that will teach Mandarin in August through live music, movement, dance, puppetry, and theatre-based games.
Boogie Woogie Wednesdays at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Wednesday Aug 6th 5-8p and Every Wednesday to August 27th. Free.
It is a Boogie Woogie Wednesday! Sponsored in part by Staten Island Academy, the Museum re-opens for free beginning at 5p offers a free snack at 6p, and the dancing begins at 7p. After a few minutes of instruction, everyone is invited to get up and boogie! Families are encouraged to pack a picnic dinner, and dine under the tent on the Meadow—what a wonderful way to tuck some quality family time into your family’s busy schedule! August is American Month, with artists presenting traditional American dancing. August 6-Broadway Style
For more fun Wednesday events click here!
Thursday August 7th
Summer on the Hudson: Children’s Performance Series at Pier 1 Riverside Park South (UWS)
Thursdays 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. August 7: The Pop Ups
Summer Science Club at the Brooklyn Public Central Library (Prospect Heights)
Thursday Aug 7th 230-330p. Free. In the Youth Wing. For ages 6-12y.
Have fun doing a science activity at the library. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
6th Annual Summer Movie Series at the Intrepid Museum (west side)
Thu August 7th 730p. Free. Movie: Spaceballs
oin the Intrepid Museum for its 6th annual Summer Movie Series and enjoy a FREE feature film under the stars on the flight deck! Bring your lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Doors open at 7:30pm and the film begins at sunset, weather permitting. Space is limited. Seating is on a first come first serve basis, and there is no admission after 8:30pm.
For more fun Thursday events click here!
Ongoing
Theatreworks USA Presents: The Lightning Thief at Lucille Lortel Theatre (West Village)
Performances Monday July 21-Friday August 22nd at various times (no shows on Sat) See website for full schedule. Free. For ages 7y+
Let Theatreworks take you into a world with gods, monsters, and heroes! The Lightning Thief is a new musical adapted from the book, “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief”, by Rick Riordan. With the rights provided by Twentieth Century Fox, and through a special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Theatreworks is excited to bring this new musical adaptation to children and families in New York, with book by Joe Tracz and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, choreographed by Sam Pinkleton and directed by Stephen Brackett. The Lightning Thief features Percy Jackson, the 12-year-old son of Poseidon, who gets pulled into an unfamiliar, mythological world full of treacherous encounters and challenges thrust upon him by the Greek Gods. Percy struggles with dyslexia and ADHD, coming to terms with a father he has never known, and solving the mystery of Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt, alongside his two best friends Grover and Annabeth. Since this is a free event please read the information on the website about how to get tickets.
Sandbox: Stories at Central Park (various playgrounds)
Starts Monday 28th 2-3p. Occurring every Mon, Tue, Wed & Thu thereafter, through August 14th. Free.
Be part of fun and fantastic stories told by Brennen Lowery and go on an adventure of the imagination! See website for full schedule.
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. August 5th & 6th: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
KIDS Events for Everyone at Seward Park Volleyball Court (Lower East Side)
Tuesdays & Thursdays until July 31st 10-1130a. Free.
Tuesdays: Zumba and Capoeira for Kids. Join the Manny Cantor Fitness team for an action-packed, musical and fun drop in dance class. Thursdays: Summer Sidewalks in the Park. Dance, create chalk murals and pop bubbles with your neighbors under the sun.
$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. August 5th & 6th: Kung Fu Panda 2 & Madagascar 3
Bessies’s Big Shot at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
M-Sun now until 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.
Unsung & Heroes at Tada! Youth Theater (Chelsea, Midtown West)
Tues-Sat at various times now until August 1st. Tickets $8-$25. See website for details.
Unsung (part-one) is a world-premiere dance theater piece about the most daring thing for every kid: coming of age. Part two is Heroes, a new musical based on the play by Tom Keegan and Davidson Lloyd. When the sun disappears, a group of kids learns what it means and what it takes to be brave.
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: Dance at Central Park (various playgrounds)
Occurring every Monday and Tuesday 11a-12n 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.
Sandbox: Music at Central Park (various playgrounds)
Occurring every Wed, Thu & Fri through August 15th 11a-12n. 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 now until 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.
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-Sun various times see website for all the details. $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. August 5th The Okee Dokee Brothers & August 7th Tim and the Space Cadets. 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.
To see all the events click here for the calendar!