Hi everyone! Monday is Veterans Day so the weekend is not over yet and there is lots to do this week.
This week head out and enjoy Canstruction in Brookfield Place, Veterans Day in Prospect Park, Puppet Show: Anansi the Spider at Dyker Brooklyn Public Library, Veterans Day: Soldiers of the American Revolution at DiMenna Children’s History Museum, Brainy Bill: Plant Party at Macon Brooklyn Public Library, Little Bandits with Jeanna and Alex at Brooklyn Brainery, Afternoon Family Story Time at Seward Park NY Public Library, Barre-Babies on Board at Xtend Barre, Spanish for Babies and Toddlers at Books are Magic, Infant Language Development Class at Edamama Cute Cuts & More and Broadway Under the Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle.
Also check out the long running events like the Survival of the Slowest at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, NYC Winter Lantern Festival x WTC Pop-Up in Liberty Park, Ed Center in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Tots Drop in Center at Congregation Beth Elohim, Playdate & Mingle Time at Edamama Cute Cuts & More, Drop-in Storytimes at Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab, King of the Jungle at Brooklyn Zoo, T. rex: The Ultimate Predator exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, The Art of the Brick at New York Hall of Science, Holiday Express: All Aboard to Richard Scarry’s Busytown at New-York Historical Society and opening week of Yeti, Set, Snow! at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.
There are more events this week so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also follow us on our Facebook page for last minute news and event reminders.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and the week!
~Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday November 11th
Veterans Day: Soldiers of the American Revolution at DiMenna Children’s History Museum (UWS)
Monday November 11th 11a-4p. Free with Museum Admission. All ages. Honor America’s military heritage on Veterans Day and listen to stories about life on and off the battlefield from soldiers who served during the American Revolution. Meet reenactors from the 3rd New Jersey and the 4th Massachusetts Regiments, learn about the lives of black soldiers who served in the Continental Army, and experience an immersive theatrical event about Deborah Sampson (played by Judith Kalaora), the real-life woman who disguised her gender and fought with distinction in the Revolutionary War. Afterwards, visit the exhibition Beyond Midnight: Paul Revere for kid-friendly labels, touch objects, and a Paul Revere story corner. Special gift! Get into the Revolutionary War spirit: Kids get free quill pens all weekend from the NYHistory Store if they say the code word “PAUL REVERE” to a sales associate.
Veterans Day in Prospect Park
Monday November 11th 12n-4p. Join Prospect Park Alliance for family friendly programming on Veteran’s Day. Lawn Games 2–4p at Lefferts Historic House ($3 suggested donation). This Veteran’s Day join Prospect Park Alliance at the Lefferts Historic House for badminton, croquet, corn hole and more. Nature Exploration 12–4p at Prospect Park Audubon Center (free). Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs: Discovery Pack, 12–3p: The Prospect Park Alliance invites you to get inspired by nature with our Discovery Packs, ready-to-go kits filled with nature activities for families. Bird Nerd Game Hour, 1–2p: Learn about birds and nature in this fun, mildly competitive hour of puzzles, Bingo, card games, and more! Animal Encounter, 2–3p: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. Nature on the Go!, 3–4p: An Alliance Naturalist will lead children and families to areas near the Audubon Center, where you can learn about the nature that is all around us.
Broadway Under the Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle (UWS)
Mondays 5p until December 9th. Free. Location: 2nd Floor. Kick off the holiday season with Broadway Under the Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle! Enjoy live performances featuring the most popular shows on Broadway every Monday night starting November 11th! November 11th: Waitress, Chicago, Oklahoma!, The Lightning Thief. See the website for information on additional performances.
See all the Monday events here.
Tuesday November 12th
Tots Drop in Center at Congregation Beth Elohim (Park Slope)
Tuesdays-Fridays 915a-12p starting November 12th. Fees: Temple Member $13/child, $18 with additional sibling. Non-member $15/child, $21 with additional sibling. 10 packs also available for purchase. See website for more information. The tots drop-in center is a place for children ages 0-24 months and their parents/caregivers to explore, learn, and have fun! Drop in for play with age-appropriate toys and activities in our social hall (large indoor space). Please check the preschool calendar for holiday closures. No advanced registration required – please do drop in!
Little Bandits with Jeanna and Alex at Brooklyn Brainery (Prospect Heights)
Tuesdays 1030-1115a & 4-445p until December 17th (none 11/26). $25/class. For ages 6m-5y. Little Bandits is a weekly music class for toddlers in Brooklyn, New York, created and led by Jeanna Phillips and Alex Thrailkill to introduce young children to the joy of creating music together. Through songs, games, dances, collaborative noise-making, and only the tiniest amount of mischief, we teach that music is a joyous way to express yourself, build confidence, make friends, deepen family bonds, and explore the world around you.
Yeti, Set, Snow! at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
Tuesdays-Fridays 1030a & 1130a and Saturdays-Sundays 1p starting November 12th and ongoing at various times until February 23, 2020. See website for the full schedule. Tickets: $12 adult, $8 child. An original story and production from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Yet, Set, Snow! is the story of a young girl named Widget, and her friend, Twig, who encounter a yeti named Pascetti on the first snow day of the winter season. Pascetti, who lives on a mountain top nearby, dislikes the snow. Through songs and snow day activities, Pascetti discovers not only that snow can be fun but also the value of friendship.
See all the Tuesday events here.
Wednesday November 13th
Infant Language Development Class at Edamama Cute Cuts & More (Williamsburg)
Wednesday November 13th 930-1015a. $25/drop in. Great New Class Kicks Off On Nov 13th! Ages 6-12 months. ABC Speech was created to help our little ones’ language flourish! They focus on strengthening the knowledge of caregivers to enhance their children’s language and learning outcomes. Classes will be run by speech and language pathologists (and fellow moms!) and will incorporate evidence-based approaches including books, songs, and play to jump start vocabulary development, verbal expression, language comprehension, cognition, and social interaction. Caregivers will be taught fun and effective strategies to best support language and learning throughout the first years of life.
Puppet Show: Anansi the Spider at Dyker Brooklyn Public Library
Wednesday November 13th 1030-1130a. Free. Join us for a celebration of West African and Caribbean folktales with a special performance of Anansi the Spider. This is part of the “1619: 400 Years Later” series. This year the 400th year since enslaved Africans were brought to North America is being commemorated across the United States.
Afternoon Family Story Time at Seward Park NY Public Library (Lower East Side)
Wednesdays 330-430p until November 27th. Free. Join us for songs, rhymes, and favorite read-aloud books as we show you that storytime is fun for the whole family. For young children of all ages, best for those ages 0-8. Ideal for caregivers with multiple-aged children.
See all the Wednesday events here.
Thursday November 14th
Spanish for Babies and Toddlers at Books are Magic (Cobble Hill)
Thursdays 1030-1115a until December 26th (none 11/28). $15/drop in. Toc Toc Spanish is a fun mix of story time, sing-along, dancing, games and puppet show. It’s the perfect opportunity to expose your little one to a second language right when the “language learning window” opens. Don’t worry if you are not a Spanish speaker, parents and caregivers can even learn Spanish with their child! Ages 6 mo – 3 yrs (adult participation required)
Barre-Babies on Board at XTEND BARRE (Brooklyn Heights)
Thursday November 14th 115p. First class $20. Bring you baby to the barre for a challenging, postnatal-friendly, and impossibly cute mommy & me class. BYO baby carrier; max baby weight is 18-20 pounds.
Brainy Bill: Plant Party at Macon Brooklyn Public Library
Thursday November 14th 4-5p. Free. Kids ages 6-12 are encouraged to come and check out the life cycle of living things by exploring plants from seed to…bug-eating mouth!? Edutainer Brainy Bill will guide you into the world of plants–make some close up observations of roots, create photosynthesis art using ultraviolet flashlights, observe some plants with bizarre adaptations like fuzziness, carnivorousness, and being ticklish, and wrap it up with a take-home germination necklace that uses colorful water orbs and body heat to sprout a new plant!
See all the Thursday events here.
Ongoing Events
Canstruction 2019 in Brookfield Place (Battery Park City)
Daily 10a-8p until Thursday November 21st. Free to attend. There is no admission fee to enter Canstruction, but we ask that all our visitors bring a full can of healthy food (or several) to donate to City Harvest. There is a large collection bin next to the Information Desk located on the second level. An extraordinary annual design competition and the most unique food charity in the world, Canstruction challenges teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to build sculptures made entirely out of unopened cans of food. The large-scale structures are placed on display and later donated to City Harvest for distribution to those in need. Note: It is best to enter through the doors at 230 Vesey Street where you will see the first of the structures.
Survival of the Slowest at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Ongoing until February 2nd 2020. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10a-5p, Thursday 10a-6p & Saturday-Sunday 10a-7p. Free with Museum admission. Meet Roger the sloth! He has two toes, lives in Central America, and is visiting Brooklyn with his friends. Learn about how slow animals survive and thrive in our fast-paced world at BCM’s newest exhibit. Survival of the Slowest features 19 distinct habitats with live animals, including Roger the two-toed sloth, a blood python, a roughneck monitor lizard, and many more. Each day this exhibit will offer up-close experiences with slow and small species that survive and thrive in a world where large, strong, and fast animals are often at the top of the food chain. Survival of the Slowest prompts families to appreciate the different evolutionary paths of these incredible creatures, and showcases the value of deliberation in our fast-paced city. While exploring Survival of the Slowest, young visitors will explore concepts of biology and evolutionary science. Live animal presentations are offered throughout the day to educate, entertain, and most importantly, connect visitors with wildlife and nature.
Holiday Express: All Aboard to Richard Scarry’s Busytown at New-York Historical Society (UWS)
Ongoing until February 23rd 2020. Museum hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10a-6p, Friday 10a-8p, Saturday 10a-6p & Sunday 11a-5p. Free with Museum admission. Holiday Express returns to New-York Historical this holiday season, reimagined to celebrate the 100th birthday of Busytown author and illustrator Richard Scarry. The installation showcases artwork and graphics of Scarry’s characters (like Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm!) from publisher Penguin Random House alongside Jerni Collection toys. Children and adults can also experience dynamic displays exploring the workings of the railroad, the services it provides, and the jobs required to keep people and goods moving.
NYC Winter Lantern Festival x WTC Pop-Up in Liberty Park (Financial District)
Ongoing 6a-11p until November 16th. Free Kick off the holiday season with a special preview of the 2019 NYC Winter Lantern Festival at the World Trade Center. The spectacular lantern display features 12 hand-crafted zodiac animals from the Lunar Calendar, each with their own special meaning. Take a stroll with your family and friends through Liberty Park and enjoy the festive glow of lights.
The Art of the Brick at New York Hall of Science
Daily through January 26th. General hours ~ Monday–Friday: 930a-5p and Saturday–Sunday: 10a-6p. Entry to the exhibition costs $7 per person, plus NYSCI admission. Experience The Art of the Brick, the world’s largest display of LEGO® art! Artist Nathan Sawaya created more than 100 pieces for this exhibition using only LEGO bricks. The collection features original pieces, as well as re-imagined versions of some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces. More than one million LEGO bricks were used to create Sawaya’s sculptures. See the website for all the event details.
Playdate & Mingle Time at Edamama Cute Cuts & More (Williamsburg)
Daily 130-3p. Cash only: $15 per munchkin. Sibling is $25 (two children). Adults are free! Spots are available on a first come, first serve basis. Invite your friends. While munchkins are rolling around and socializing you can take a breather with your friends! Our space is the most children and family friendly hang out space in the hood. Play dates are an informal and unstructured social events for munchkins 0 to 3 yrs old and their tribe.
King of the Jungle at Brooklyn Zoo (Williamsburg)
Mondays-Fridays 4-5p. $25/drop-in. Class packs also available. For ages 5-10y. King of the Jungle is a good intro class to our space. It combines two or more skills that we teach in our space and put it into one classes. The skills that are taught during our King of the Jungle classes are Parkour, Ninja Warrior, Trampoline, and Tumbling. (Class may vary depending on instructor)
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator at American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Daily 10a-545p until August 9th 2020. Timed entry only. Gallery 3, third floor. General Admission + One tickets: Adult $28 / Child (2-12) $16.50 / Senior & Student $22.50. Free for members. How did T. rex evolve to become the most fearsome carnivore of the Mesozoic? T. rex: The Ultimate Predator will introduce you to the entire tyrannosaur superfamily and reveal the amazing story of the most iconic dinosaur in the world through stunning life-sized models, fossils and casts, engaging interactives, and an immersive multiplayer virtual reality experience developed exclusively for this exhibition. Warning: you may never think of T. rex the same way again.
Drop-in Storytimes at Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab (Park Slope)
Mondays 1130a, 1230p & 3p, Tuesdays 1030a, Wednesdays 1130a & 1230p, Thursdays 1030a & 1130a & Fridays 1130a & 1230p. No sign-up or registration is needed for Storytimes. Weekday Storytimes with our staff are $10 per family, with further discounted Read-y passes available for sale in our bookshop. See website for information.
Under 5s Drop In Class at the Children’s Museum of the Arts (SoHo)
Monday-Friday 1045a-12n. $30 per family (total of 5), CMA members $15 per family. Music time! Story time! Art time! Join CMA’s stART teaching artists for an art-filled drop-in session when the museum is closed for general hours. Parent and/or caregivers are required to join and we encourage family collaboration throughout the class. No sign up required. Want to stay longer? General admission is just $6 per family after drop-in.
Ed Center in Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1
Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-5p and also Saturdays and Sundays from 1–5p. Free. The Ed Center is open for free, drop-in hours three afternoons a week! Get to know Brooklyn Bridge Park with our 250 gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, a 10’ scale model of Brooklyn Bridge Park, crafts, a reading corner, and much more!