Hi everyone,
Ah break is almost here! NYC public school children have two more days of school and we have Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa all happening this week!
This week you can head out and have fun in Bryant Park at Santa’s Corner, check out the jTot Chanukah Sensory Experience, catch Shadow Box Theatre’s Big Annie at PS 3 The Bedford Village School, make a wintery garland at during Let’s Celebrate Christmas! at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, dance at Funkytown Playground’s Holiday Sing-a-Long Bash at First Baptist Church and watch Artists in Action at the Jewish Children’s Museum.
Also happening is Christmas Eve at Washington Square Park, Cirque Zíva at the New Victory Theater, Oran Etkin’s Timbalooloo at The Jewish Museum and winter break events at the New York Transit Museum like Hands on Transit, Fantastic Tunnels and Transit Mysteries!
Be sure to check the calendar to see all the holiday and winter break events going in Brooklyn & NYC this week. Remember to like us on Facebook for last minute news and events!
Enjoy the holidays and have a great week!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday December 22nd
Shadow Box Theatre Presents: Big Annie at PS 3 The Bedford Village School (Bedford Stuyvesant)
Mon-Tue Dec 22nd-23rd at 1030a. For individual tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door. Big Annie is a Creole flatboat captain and larger-than-life heroine. With her amazing strength, and the help of her animal friends, she pulls a boatload of toys through a terrible storm one Christmas Eve long ago. Three-dimensional puppets and the magic of our shadow screen create a captivating performance. The music in the show captures the sound of New Orleans jazz and the power of the American work song. With the work song “Heave Ho! Pull the boat, Big Annie,” the children will be enthusiastically singing along to help Big Annie weather the storm and get the toys to the children! The show opens with a joyous Holiday Sing-Along celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings day.
Funkytown Playground Holiday Sing-a-Long Bash at First Baptist Church (UWS)
Mon Dec 22nd 1230p-130p. Advance on-line sale $15 one adult/one child. Siblings $5 each. $20 at the door. Order advance tickets here.
Join the Funkytown Playground in some holiday cheer with their soulful songs and catchy melodies both kids and adults love!
Santa’s Corner at Bryant Park
Mon Dec 22nd-Wed Dec 24th 1-4p. Free.
Santa visits Bryant Park! Join Santa and his helpers for a parade through Winter Village. Then take a photo with Santa at Santa’s Corner. 1:00pm – 1:45pm: Santa parade with Christmas carolers. 1:45pm – 4:00pm: Free photos at Santa’s Corner
Back to School Bash 2014 at Habana Outpost (Fort Greene)
Mon Sep 1st 11a-3p. Free.
Bring the kids out for one last day of summer fun at Fort Greene’s favorite family eco-eatery! This year, there will be free glitter tattoos, stilt walkers, arts & crafts and much, much more!
West Indian American Day Carnival Parade
Mon Sep 1st 11a-6p. Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue to Flatbush Ext.
Come experience the crown jewel of NY Caribbean Carnival week featuring costume bands, masqueraders, moko jumbies, floats, delicious Caribbean cuisine and much more.
Labor Day In Prospect Park
Mon Sep 1st 12n-6p. Free. Celebrate Labor Day in Prospect Park. Learn what it takes to become a naturalist! In addition to enjoying the Audubon’s exhibits and animal displays, take part in the Blooming Naturalist at 1p, Nature on the Go at 2p and Animal Encounter at 3p at the Audubon Center! Also happening Lefferts Historic House: Race Around the Farm Yard 2-4p ($3 suggested admission) Enjoy potato sack races, spoon races, stilts and other old-fashioned family fun and Prospect Park Carousel from 12n–6p. ($2 per ride, $9 for a book of 5 tickets). Enjoy a ride on the historic 1912 Carousel, which features 51 magnificently carved horses, a lion, a giraffe, a deer and two dragon-pulled chariots. See the website for more details.
– See more at: http://www.achildgrows.com/?p=52221&preview=true#sthash.LVIlmQW0.dpuf
Pop Up Pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Mon Sep 1st 10a-6p for 45 minute sessions. Last Day for all NYC pools! Free.
A great way to beat the summer heat, the pool is 30- by 50 feet in size, and maxes out at an easy 3.5 feet deep—making it just right for families with smaller kids, too. Swimmers of all ages and levels are welcome to enter daily from 10 am to 6 pm for 45-minute sessions starting June 27. After your dip in the pool, you can relax in a lounge chair on the adjacent sandy beach. The Beach and Lizzmonade Brooklyn are open from 10 am to 11 pm. Lizzmonade Brooklyn serves fresh, artisanal lemonades that are made to order, and offers light, pool-side fare for kids and adults. After 6pm, fresh fruit sangrias, craft beer, and wine are on tap.
Back to School Bash 2014 at Habana Outpost (Fort Greene)
Mon Sep 1st 11a-3p. Free.
Bring the kids out for one last day of summer fun at Fort Greene’s favorite family eco-eatery! This year, there will be free glitter tattoos, stilt walkers, arts & crafts and much, much more!
West Indian American Day Carnival Parade
Mon Sep 1st 11a-6p. Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue to Flatbush Ext.
Come experience the crown jewel of NY Caribbean Carnival week featuring costume bands, masqueraders, moko jumbies, floats, delicious Caribbean cuisine and much more.
Labor Day In Prospect Park
Mon Sep 1st 12n-6p. Free. Celebrate Labor Day in Prospect Park. Learn what it takes to become a naturalist! In addition to enjoying the Audubon’s exhibits and animal displays, take part in the Blooming Naturalist at 1p, Nature on the Go at 2p and Animal Encounter at 3p at the Audubon Center! Also happening Lefferts Historic House: Race Around the Farm Yard 2-4p ($3 suggested admission) Enjoy potato sack races, spoon races, stilts and other old-fashioned family fun and Prospect Park Carousel from 12n–6p. ($2 per ride, $9 for a book of 5 tickets). Enjoy a ride on the historic 1912 Carousel, which features 51 magnificently carved horses, a lion, a giraffe, a deer and two dragon-pulled chariots. See the website for more details.
– See more at: http://www.achildgrows.com/?p=52221&preview=true#sthash.LVIlmQW0.dpuf
For more fun Monday events click here!
Tuesday December 23rd
jTot Chanukah Sensory Experience (Fort Greene)
Tue Dec 23rd 11a. Free. Shapes, Sounds and Tastes of the holiday. Plus trade great holiday recipes with the moms. Nannies are welcome. Email info@jtot.org for location and more info.
Meet the Holiday: Let’s Celebrate Christmas! at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Tue-Wed Dec 23rd-24th 1130a & 230p. For ages 2.5y-5y+. Free with museum admission.
Merry Christmas! Explore the traditions behind this holiday and create a wintry garland to take home.
Cirque Zíva at the New Victory Theater
Tue Dec 23rd 2p & 7p. Additional times and dates. See website. Membership discount tickets are at $36, $22, $16 and $13 (depending on seat location). Full price tickets start at $19 (subject to change). 2 hours including one intermission. For ages 5+. Time-honored traditions take on a terrific technicolor transformation in CIRQUE ZÍVA. Lauded for their unparalleled precision and dynamic design, the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats (New Vic 2005) will wow you with amazing acts, ancient artistry and a Lion Dance that will have the crowd roaring. Under the expert eyes of impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang (Drama Desk nominee), this highlight of the holiday season sparkles in a stunning spectacle of breathtaking skill and beauty
For more fun Tuesday events click here!
Wednesday December 24th
Discovery Room: Hands on Transit at the NY Transit Museum (Downtown Brooklyn)
Wed Dec 24th 1030a-12p. Also happening other dates over break. See website. Free with museum admission. For ages 2-5y.
We’re opening up the Education Center to our youngest fans to explore our favorite puzzles, books, toys and building materials!
Christmas Eve Community Carol Sing with Brass and Percussion at St. Paul’s Chapel (Wall Street)
Wed Dec 24th 1-2p. Free. Join Trinity Wall Street for a one-hour community carol singing: Once in Royal David’s City, O come all ye faithful, Wachner new version: The snow lay on the ground, 12 days of Christmas, Angels we have heard on high, Hark the herald angels, Silent night & Joy to the world
Christmas Eve at Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village)
Wed Dec 24th 5p. Free. Celebrate the holiday with carols at the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass Quartet, song leader and the revelers from all over the city will lustily sing out the familiar tunes. The words are in the songbooks distributed compliments of the Washington Square Association, but many will know them by heart. “Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men” will ring out to remind us all of the true meaning of the holidays.
For more fun Wednesday events click here!
Thursday December 25th
Artists in Action at the Jewish Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Thu Dec 25th 10a-4p. Art Week also happening Dec 25th-Jan 1st. For more information see website. Free with museum admission. Artists in Action. Watch artists create their masterpieces! Garbage Bag Sculputres by Khalil Chishti, Junk Art by Ruby Chishti, Stone Sculptures by Robin Antar, Ice Sculptures by Mark Mckenzie from Cool Way Ice!
Oran Etkin’s Timbalooloo at The Jewish Museum (UES)
Thu Dec 25th 1130a-1230p & 2-3p. Tickets: $20 Adults; $15 Children. Jewish Museum Family Members: $17 Adults; $13 Children. From the music of Africa to klezmer and jazz, Oran Etkin’s performances weave global melodies and rhythms into a gumbo of goodness. Enjoy tunes from Wake Up Clarinet! and other surprising treats in this musical world party.
Big Apple Circus Presents Metamorphosis at Lincoln Center
Thu Dec 25th 1230p & 430p. For additional dates/times please see the website. Tickets $25 – $175. ***For all shows children under three are free if they sit on the lap of a paid adult, one child per lap.*** Fly away to our magical All-New Show, METAMORPHOSIS. Be transported to a realm of enchantment and illusion, a dreamscape domain where no one sits more than 50 feet from ringside, and nothing is impossible! You will be thrilled by the Flying Trapeze, the razzle-dazzle of the Rolla-Bolla, the dynamo of the Diablo, the risky rhythms of the Risley team, the cunning conjurors of the Quick-Change, and the incredible flexible limbs of the Contortionists. See and hear the musical merriment of our featured clown and camels, horses, playful pooches and more. Come immerse yourself in the wonder, joy and astounding magic of METAMORPHOSIS!
For more fun Thursday events click here!
Ongoing
Holiday Train Show at The New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Now and until January 19th 2015. Various times and prices. See website for information.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended as tickets do sell out. Tickets are timed and sold in 15 minute increments. New York City’s Favorite Train Show: A 23-Year Tradition! A must-see New York tradition where enchanting model trains zip past popular landmarks under the twinkling glow of the magical Haupt Conservatory! Step into a city in miniature featuring more than 150 iconic buildings, all re-created with bark, leaves, and other natural materials. Marvel at G-scale trains humming along among familiar sights such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and Rockefeller Center—surprising at every turn—on a quarter-mile of track as they enliven this cherished holiday experience. The Artist’s Studio showcases how visionary artist Paul Busse and his team craft these amazing small wonders. Real trains, real landmarks, real fun—only at NYBG!
Gingerbread Lane at New York Hall of Science (Flushing Meadows)
Now until January 11th at 1p. See website for museum days/hours. Free with NYSCI admission
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 is made from only “real” edible ingredients: gingerbread, royal icing and candy. Last year’s GingerBread Lane at NYSCI was recognized as the largest gingerbread village in the world by the 2014 Guinness World Records.
13th Annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal (Midtown East)
Now until February 22nd. M–F: 8a–8p, Saturday and Sunday: 10a–6p. (extended hours November 22n-December 24th – see website for details. Location: Shuttle Passage adjacent to the Station Master’s Office. Free. Lionel trains once again will capture hearts and imaginations at the Transit Museum where Metro-North, New York Central and subway trains depart from a miniature GCT. The Museum’s store and booth at the Holiday Gift Fair offer great gifts for your holiday shopping!
Three Bears Holiday Bash at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
M-F 1030a & 12p, Wed 1030a, 12p & 1230p, Sat & Sun 1p until Dec 30th. Reservations are required. Purchase tickets here. Cost: $7/children under 12, $10/all others. Appropriate for: All Ages. The Three Bears Holiday Bash, is a variety show that celebrates the holiday season in song, dance, and puppetry. This production quickly becomes a comedy of errors when Baby Bear invites Santa to star in Mama and Papa Bear’s annual holiday show. The audience also gets to join in on the fun with a “12 days of Christmas” sing-a-long during the performance! Drawing from the stories of Hanukkah, the Night Before Christmas, and Kwanzaa, The Three Bears Holiday Bash is a great way to get into the holiday spirit!
To see all the events click here for the calendar!