Hi everyone! I hope the weekend was fun and you are ready for another fun week here in NYC!
This week head out and enjoy Science Baby at DeKalb Brooklyn Public Library, Transit Tots-Celebrating Elizabeth Jennings Graham at NY Transit Museum, La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños at Sunset Park Brooklyn Public Library, Toddler Time with Miss Cindy at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, Tots Yoga: Walkers thru 3 + adult at Bend & Bloom, Moosiki Ones/Twos Music Class at Busy Bodies Brooklyn, Jesse Jams at Raising Astoria, Movies Under the Stars: Akeelah and the Bee at St. John’s Recreation Center, Let’s Mek Music with Scott Klopfenstein at Mekelburg’s, Toddler Yoga at Park Slope Brooklyn Public Library, Storytelling thru Art at Private Picassos and a Sock Puppet Party! at Grand Central NY Public Library.
Also check out the long running events like Free Admission Winter Weekdays at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Ed Center in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Drop-in Storytimes at Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab, 18th Annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal, T. rex: The Ultimate Predator exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, Wavefield, Variation O at Seaport Square, the Industry City Ice Rink, Holiday Express: All Aboard to Richard Scarry’s Busytown at New-York Historical Society, Playdate & Mingle Time at Edamama Cute Cuts & More and the last few days of Survival of the Slowest at Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
There are more events going 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.
Have a fabulous time this week!
~Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday February 3rd
Tots Yoga: Walkers thru 3 + adult at Bend & Bloom (Park Slope/Gowanus)
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 10-1045a. $24 one child + one adult, $10 for each additional family member. Class packs also available. Your babe will celebrate the wonders of mobility, communication, and independent exploration with you in this joyful class. Animated animal poses and imaginative games help toddlers to recognize (and eventually repeat!) patterns and tap their budding creativity. Our tot-centric poses improve motor coordination, cognitive development, and socialization while kids learn about the wonders of their body. For walkers up to 3 and a parent or caregiver. Please make reservations under your child’s name. If you’re bringing an extra family member, please call the studio after purchasing your Additional Family Drop-In to reserve that person’s spot.
Let’s Mek Music with Scott Klopfenstein at Mekelburg’s (Clinton Hill)
Mondays 10-1045a. $10/family. Class packs available. Join us for our children’s music series with the one and only Scott Klopfenstein! Come with your itty bitty people and watch as Scott hypnotizes them with his music genius.
Toddler Yoga at Park Slope Brooklyn Public Library
Mondays 1115a-12n in February (none 2/17). Free. Join Kelly Brennan for some fun on the yoga mat! Toddlers will explore yoga poses and breathing in a playful way through adventures, stories, games, and songs. This class is designed for toddlers 18 mos. to 3 years. We kindly ask that caregivers are attentive and quiet during the class. Caregivers are invited to participate as well! Class size will be limited to 20 participants. Online registration is required to attend this class. Registration opens 48 hours in advance. Register here.
See all the Monday events here.
Tuesday February 4th
Toddler Time with Miss Cindy at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church (Windsor Terrace)
Tuesdays 1030-1130a until June 9th (no session 2/11, 2/18, 4/14 & 4/21). Free. A closed Windsor Terrace Library isn’t going to stop Miss Cindy’s Toddler Time! Please use the side entrance of the Church of the Holy Apostles. Strollers must be left outside, in the gated area. Please note that since we are guests, we’ll need your help keeping these locations tidy!
Jesse Jams at Raising Astoria
Tuesdays 330-415p until April 28th (none on Feb 18th). $17 drop in (cash only). Jesse Jams has been jamming with NYC families for over a decade. As a musician and pediatric occupational therapist she blends her passion for music with a keen understanding of early childhood development to deliver music and movement classes that target important skills like active listening, body awareness and coordination, while simultaneously facilitating peer socialization
Storytelling thru Art at Private Picassos (Park Slope)
Tuesdays 330-415p until March 17th (none 2/18). For ages 8-12y. $28 drop in. Storytelling through Art! Kids explore the connection between storytelling and visual art in this unique class. We’ll learn about contemporary artists who tell vivid stories in their artwork and explore different mediums and materials to tell our own real and imaginary tales. Bookmaking, self portraits, comics and multi-media art will be explored!
See all the Tuesday events here.
Wednesday February 5th
Moosiki Ones/Twos Music Class at Busy Bodies Brooklyn (Clinton Hill)
Wednesdays 10-1045a until April 1st (no class 2/19). $25/drop in. Here comes treble – these kids are ready to bop it like a tot! This class for 1 and 2 year olds allows children to explore the room while exploring music at the same time! Students in this class are typically walking, jumping, and talking. Moosiki Kids classes are 45 minute interactive “grownup-and-me” style music classes for adults and children. Moosiki Kids blends traditional musical learning with a more relaxed, rock-and-roll style, having fun while actually learning musical terms and playing musical instruments of our own. Of course we need to mix it up by using a parachute, puppets, and other various props, all the while incorporating music in every exercise. Our number one goal is to have fun, and by doing so, learn musically at the same time!
La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños at Sunset Park Brooklyn Public Library
Wednesdays 130-230p in February. Free. Cuentos, Juegos, canciones, rimas y actividades divertidas para los pequeños de 1- 5 años. Programa bilingüe en español e inglés. Stories, games, songs, fingerplay, rhymes, and fun activities for Children ages 1-5 years old. Bilingual Spanish/ English.
Sock Puppet Party! at Grand Central NY Public Library
Wednesday February 5th 4p. Free. For ages 5-12y. Join us as we turn ordinary socks into creative, wacky puppets with their own personalities! Buttons, yarn, sewing materials, and socks will be provided (patrons may also bring their own socks). After creating our puppets, we will practice puppetry using writing and drama exercises.
See all the Wednesday events here.
Thursday February 6th
Transit Tots-Celebrating Elizabeth Jennings Graham at NY Transit Museum (Downtown Brooklyn)
Thursdays 1015-1115 in February (none on Feb 20th). Free with admission. Ages 2-5 and accompanying adults. Join each week for transit-themed stories and hands-on activities for the youngest transportation fans.
Science Baby at DeKalb Brooklyn Public Library (Bushwick)
Thursdays 11a-12n until March 26th. Free. For 0-3y. Join us at the library for this special series for babies and toddlers exploring STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! Science Baby is a creative science program for 0-3 year olds led by teaching artist Emma Gordon. The heart of Science Baby is exploring the wonder of science through story, repetition and play. We explore gravity, motion, magnets, chemical reactions, light, water, bubbles, sound and more!
Movies Under the Stars: Akeelah and the Bee at St. John’s Recreation Center (Crown Heights)
Thursday February 6th 638-830p. Free. Join NYC Parks and New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for this free family film! Akeelah and the Bee: This 2006 family drama stars Keke Palmer as Akeelah a young girl from South Central Los Angeles, with a talent for spelling and a desire to compete in the National Spelling Bee. Despite her mother’s objections, Akeelah doesn’t give up on her goal. This wonderful film also stars Laurence Fishburne (Black-ish) and Angela Bassett (9-1-1). Know Before You Go: This movie will take place indoors. Arrive before 6:30 pm to get your spot for the movie.
See all the Thursday events here.
Ongoing Events
Free Admission Winter Weekdays at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Tuesdays-Fridays 10a-430p until February 28th. Closed Mondays (but open on Presidents’ Day 2/17). Free admission winter weekdays! Last admission into the Garden is 30 minutes before closing time.
18th Annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal (Midtown East)
Ongoing until February 23rd 2020. Free. Hours: Monday–Friday 8a–8p, Saturday and Sunday: 11a–6p. Closed for special events and major holidays. Every holiday season, the New York Transit Museum’s Grand Central Gallery plays host to a city within a city with the display of a miniature electric railroad running over, through, and beneath some of New York’s most magnificent landmarks. Celebrating its 18th year of operation, this beloved annual holiday exhibit features model trains traveling along a 34’ long, two-level, “O” gauge model train layout. This year’s exhibit is set against a mural designed by cartoonist Julia Wertz. Departing from a miniature replica of Grand Central Terminal, the Transit Museum’s collection of Lionel trains including Metro-North, Polar Express, and vintage subway train sets will dazzle the eyes of children and adults alike as they make their way past New York landmarks and on to the North Pole! Note that strollers are not permitted in the Gallery & Store. Additionally, Grand Central Terminal does not permit unattended strollers. Please consider leaving your strollers at home. See website for directions to event.
The Industry City Ice Rink (Sunset Park)
Wednesdays-Thursdays 4-8p, Fridays 11a-8p, Saturdays 10a-8p and Sundays 10a-5p. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under, with skate rentals costing $9. Tickets can be purchased on site at IC Ice Rink in courtyard 5/6. The Industry City Ice Rink opens November 30 and welcomes guests to join for an iconic winter experience every Wednesday to Sunday with ice skating theme parties on Fridays + Saturdays. The rink is outside and uncovered, so dress appropriately for an enjoyable and comfortable skate. If you come at a popular time and there’s a line, there are plenty of other activities to fill your time while you wait. Pop into our game room, browse + shop The Makers Guild, hang by the fire pit or grab a drink inside any of our brewers and distillers. See website for all the details.
Ed Center in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-5p and also Saturdays and Sundays from 1–5p. Location: Pier 1. 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!
Wavefield, Variation O at Seaport Square
Daily 10a-9p until March 31st. Free. Location: next to Pier 17. Head down to Seaport Square this month and get ready to play on Wave-Field, Variation O, a series of interactive, glowing seesaws designed to bring people together and light up the night.
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.
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.
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.
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.