Hi everyone! It was hot last week and now it is even hotter! There are lot of virtual events to enjoy and beat the heat!
This week check out Summer Reading: Stories From Latin America, MAD Reads with the Museum of Arts and Design, Manga Drawing Workshop with Misako Rocks, Summer on the Hudson: Virtual Children’s Performance Series, PJ Library Digital Resources, Hudson River Park: Live from the Field, Brooklyn Public Library Virtual Storytimes, Turn up the Love Summer Concert Series, WonderSpark Puppets- Fox Fables with NYPL and Creatively Wild Art Studio: Creative Playtime for Toddlers with DM & BLU. If you are heading out check out a Collective Play Ground Playdate in Prospect Park, Free Comic Book Day Summer and Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island.
There are more events on the calendar so check it to see everything going on. Also follow us on our Facebook page for updates.
Stay safe & cool & enjoy the week!
~Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday July 20th
Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island
Mondays-Fridays 10a-12n. Free. Blazing Saddles offers bikes, surreys, pedal cars, scooters and more for rental. Free Bike Mornings allow visitors to borrow a bike from Blazing Saddles for free for up to one hour every weekday between 10 AM and noon. Come visit Blazing Saddles at the north end of Colonels Row and bike the Island! This year you need a reservation for the ferry. See the website for all the details.
Summer Reading: Stories From Latin America
Monday July 20th 11a-12n. Free. This collection of stories involves sneaky characters who use wit and humor to trick their often bigger and scarier opponents. View the broadcast on Flor Bromley’s Facebook page at 11a.
See all the Monday events here.
Tuesday July 2st
MAD Reads with the Museum of Arts and Design
Tuesday-Wednesday July 21st-22nd 1030a-1115a. Free. This program is intended for children ages 4-10. RSVP here for July 21st & here for July 22nd. Based on a popular MAD program, this 45-minute online workshop will be facilitated by a MAD educator and bring a picture book to life through interactive story time, visual exploration, and artmaking. Join us for a reading and discussion of Faith Ringgold’s beloved picture book Tar Beach. Then, create your very own story quilt based on a personal memory using paints, fabric, markers, and paper in a hands-on making workshop. Photos of finished artworks will be joined into a digital quilt collage after the session.
WonderSpark Puppets- Fox Fables with NYPL
Tuesday July 21st 11a. Free. What makes you – YOU? Fox Fables is a combination of several Aesop’s Fables, inspired by the works of the 12th century storyteller Rabbi Berechiah ha-Nakdan.The story is about a fox who loses his precious tail and with it his identity. He tries to be several other animals instead – with hilarious results – before realizing the moral lesson of this ancient fable. Themes in this tale include self-worth, anti-bullying, test taking, and the five senses. The program will be held virtually here.
See all the Tuesday events here
Wednesday July 22nd
Free Comic Book Day Summer
Wednesdays until September 9th. Free Comic Book Day, the comic book industry’s largest annual promotional event, is traditionally scheduled to take place the first Saturday in May each year. However, the impact and spread of COVID-19 prevented the event from being celebrated at its normal time this year. Now, the beloved event has been rescheduled and reworked to take place throughout July and early September in order to accommodate social-distancing and store capacity regulations across the country, effectively making it Free Comic Book Summer! comic shops will receive five to six Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) titles in their weekly shipments during each week of the promotional window. Release of these titles may vary from shop to shop, as retailers are encouraged to release the books as they see fit for their unique circumstances. Retailers may release one free title a day, may make all of that week’s free titles available at once, or any other plan that works for them. Free Comic Book Summer is designed to be flexible and customizable so retailers and fans can get the most out the event. See the website for comic book store locations and all the event details.
Summer Reading: Manga Drawing Workshop with Misako Rocks!
Wednesday July 22nd 2-3p. Free. Workshop is appropriate for students aged 9-17. Register for the Zoom broadcast here. Learn how to draw Manga! Misako Rocks! takes you step-by-step through her process of drawing characters, manga-style!
See all the Wednesday events here.
Thursday July 23rd
Summer on the Hudson: Children’s Performance Series
Thursday July 23rd 1030a. Free. Music, storytelling, and theatre for young audiences up to age 7 online! July 23rd – City Parks Foundation presents Puppeteers from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre / Little Red’s Hood. See the website for the details.
Hudson River Park: Live from the Field
Thursdays 2-3p until October 29th. Free. Tune in live with HRPK’s River Project to enjoy virtual programs and connect with the Park’s Estuarine Sanctuary. Science programming for everyone! HRPK scientists are conducting research throughout the park and we want you to join in! Tune in live as we study environmental DNA, analyze microplastics, sample fish populations, and more. Sign up here.
See all the Thursday events here.
Friday July 24th
Collective Play Ground Playdate in Prospect Park
Fridays 930-1015a in July. All classes are offered on a sliding scale based on household income – less than $60K, $60K-$100K, above $100K: $15, $20, $25 per class. Socially distanced classes MAX 5 children. Children who are developmentally 8 mos – 2.5 yrs. Fill out the Adult-Child Playdate registration form here. Adult-child playdates are led by a trained Montessori educator. We will sing, play, move + read. Learn with Montessori-inspired materials you can easily recreate. Sparking ideas for learning through play at home with repurposed materials. Siblings welcome. Individual play kits will be provided for each family with materials selected based on your child’s age. Please bring your own blanket! Park location to be shared with registration confirmation.
Turn up the Love Summer Concert Series
Fridays 10a until August 7th. Free. Life is Good Playmakers and Jammin with You are proud to present the Turn up the Love Summer Concert series. Every Friday at 10 AM EST we will feature a different kids musician for FREE to rock out with your family, spreading peace, love, and unity. The concert is accessible via virtual, interactive link (pre-registration required). Register here. We will also stream via Facebook: Jammin with You and Music Class Pass. This music concert is ideal for families with children ages 1-9. 7/24: Josh and The Jamtones ~ Josh and his intrepid band, the Jamtones have played hundreds of shows across the U.S., and shared the stage with Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Yo Gabba Gabba, The Wiggles, Fresh Beat Band and the Roots!
See all the Friday events here.
Daily Events
Brooklyn Public Library Vitural Storytimes
Daily usually at 11a & 2p. Free. Sometimes the storytimes are on the Brooklyn Public Library Family facebook page and othertimes they are on a specific branch facebook page. See the website for all the details.
Creatively Wild Art Studio: Creative Playtime for Toddlers with DM & BLU
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9-945a until August 31st. $20/class (class packages also available). Suitable for Toddlers ages 22 months- 3.5 yrs. Our fun, engaging summer online playtime class for Toddlers is hosted by our very own DM (our creative director /owner) and will include an awesome art project, a story & a sing-song! Brought to you in the comfort of your own home during these challenging times. This is a 45 minute immersive adventure & the perfect way to keep your tiny one engaged & inspired. Art nurtures each child’s development and helps them make creative choices, gain confidence, develop fine motor skills. We will set a cool art project every morning, you will be amazed at what your little one can create! For all online classes you will need to purchase your own Art Supplies. See the website for the details. NOTE: This is an Online Art Class that meets virtually
The Hopalong Andrew Show
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10a until August 27th. $10 Suggested Minimum. Back in the saddle! This is the first time I’ve ever tried something like this… a retro-tinged, 1-man variety show from my apartment. Flavorpill Critic’s Pick: “A camp-heavy combination of Mr. Rogers meets Bob Ross… Hopalong Andrew might be just weird enough for folks to tune in.” VENMO @HopalongAndrew (code, if needed, 5283) or PAYPAL hopalongandrew@gmail.com. See the website for all the details.
PJ Library Digital Resources
Monday-Friday storytimes & craft-alongs at 11a, 1p & 4p (eastern) and virtual field trips 12n eastern everyday. See website for details.
Bilingual Birdies Zoom Classes
Tuesdays 5p (Spanish), Wednesdays 11 (Mandarin), Thursdays 11a (Spanish), Fridays 11a (French). Pricing: Weekly: $15 per week of unlimited access to classes, Monthly: $40 per month of unlimited access to classes, Semester: $120 for an entire four months of unlimited access to classes. Experience the bilingual magic from home with virtual classes for kids up to age 6! Learn & practice languages at home through singing, dancing, and puppetry! Interactive 30-minute classes will be held live by our top bilingual teaching musicians who will enchant your child while they increase their vocabulary and celebrate diversity! Sign up and receive a “Mini Birdkit” (fun class materials) in the mail and enjoy unlimited classes in Spanish, French, and Mandarin. See the website here.
Jumpin’ Jams: Summer Online Music Class
Wednesdays-Fridays 945-1030a until August 14th. $17/drop in class. For ages 3m-6y. This is a LIVE online, interactive version of our hoppin’ music classes! You can login thru Zoom (we’ll send you the link, once registered) and join the fun! We will go on a musical train ride, get down and boogie, and check out different instruments while jamming along with fun, age appropriate music. Many of the movement based songs are designed to reinforce early language development and an understanding of the world around them. Come jam with us! Register here for Wednesdays, here for Thursdays & here for Fridays. See the website for information on classes on other days/times.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan at Home
Activities in a daily email newsletter. Free. While the Museum is closed, our CMOM educators are still working to fill your child’s day with engaging interactive activity. CMOM can still be a part of your day through videos, sing-a-longs, games and so much more for you to do together with your family at home! Sign up for emails here (go all the way down the page on the right hand side for email sign up). From slime-making, dance parties and being transported to Japan with a recipe for sushi, to making animal puppets from recycled materials around the house, creating a bedtime routine and storytimes, “CMOM at Home” is sure to delight. Each day of the week will feature a different theme: Magical Monday, Move & Grove Tuesday, Our World Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, Feel Good Friday, Storytime Saturday and Surprise Sunday.