Hi everyone! I hope the weekend was fun and you are looking forward to another fun week here in NYC.
This week check out Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Jack & Friends: Stomp, Clap, & Sing with Suzi Shelton, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan Reopens, NYC Parks: Explore at Home, Amazing Animals with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Public Library Virtual Storytimes, KidsLIVE! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Anika Aldamuy Denise and Tania de Regil, Thursday Morning Art for Children in Rockefeller Park, Living History @ Home: Celebrate Halloween! with New-York Historical Society and Hudson River Park: Live from the Field.
Don’t forget to check out the long running events like Boo at the Zoo at Prospect Park Zoo, Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks, Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo, Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden, the Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium, Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island and The Nature of Color Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History.
There are more events this week so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also follow us on our Facebook page for updates.
Please wear a mask and enjoy the week!
~Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Monday October 12th
Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Monday October 12th 10-1130a, 1-230p, 330-5p. $5/per person, BCM members free. Purchase tickets here. Join us on Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s rooftop to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day through storytelling, performance, games and art-making! Participate in an interactive storytelling and Hoop dance experience by Ty Defoe (Giizhig), Oneida and Ojibwe Nations; hear stories from Taino storyteller, Bobby Gonzalez; play Loteria, family-style bingo and learn about indigenous crops in Spanish and English; create a clay animal inspired by the National Museum of the American Indian’s collection of ceramics, and explore objects from BCM’s own collection! Celebrate the Indigenous histories, cultures, and heritages on Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
Columbus Day at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
BBG is open Monday October 12th and tickets are available 1040a until 440p. Admission by advance ticket only. Tickets: $18 adults, $12 students/seniors, child under 12 free. Community tickets could also be available for free (look at the bottom of the reserve ticket list). Purchase tickets here. Note: Lily Pool Terrace is closed for repairs. Food services are closed and picnicking is not permitted. Indoor spaces, interactive exhibits, and some outdoor areas are closed for your safety. Face coverings are required. Maintain social distance. Bring your own water. See what is blooming this time of year here.
See all the Monday events here.
Tuesday October 13th
KidsLIVE! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Anika Aldamuy Denise and Tania de Regil
Tuesday October 13th 330p. Free. Join authors Anika Aldamuy Denise and Tania de Regil for a special KidsLIVE! event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Anika’s book, “Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré”, and Tania’s book, “A New Home” will be discussed between the authors and NYPL librarians! Learn about what it’s like to write books, how you can be an illustrator (demonstrated by Tania), and more! Tune in online at www.nypl.org/watchandlearn
NYC Parks: Explore at Home
Tuesdays 4-5p until November 24th. Each class is a $10 fee. Register here. Historic house museums partner on this six-week virtual series to make suncatcher designs, explore textile-making, discover chemistry in art, and more! October 13: Sew Your Own Pouch with Old Stone House. See the website for all the event details.
See all the Tuesday events here
Wednesday October 14th
Living History @ Home: Celebrate Halloween! with New-York Historical Society
Wednesdays 1-2p in October. For all ages. Free. Join us online for a three-part Living History series about Victorian costumes, fancy balls, and spooky stories. Wednesday October 14th: New Yorkers in the 19th century loved to dress up and attend fancy balls! Guests dressed to impress, wearing elaborate ball gowns and creative costumes to the lavish parties. Join historical interpreters online to learn about the Victorian era balls and explore examples of fancy dress costumes. Then, design your own Victorian-inspired costume using materials from around the house! Note: New-York Historical is now open to visitorse. The DiMenna Children’s History Museum remains temporarily closed. Register here.
Jack & Friends: Stomp, Clap, & Sing with Suzi Shelton
Wednesdays & Mondays in October 4-445p. Free. Join local family performer Suzi Shelton for a series of fun-filled musical performances. Geared for families with children ages 0-5 yrs but everyone is welcome! View the broadcast on the Park Slope Library Facebook page at 4p.
See all the Wednesday events here.
Thursday October 15th
Thursday Morning Art for Children in Rockefeller Park (Battery Park City)
Thursdays 1030-1130a until October 29th. Free. Location: River Terrace at Murray Street. Enjoy some creative art-making with your young one while spending the morning in Rockefeller Park. Participants are expected to bring their own general supplies, such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, watercolor paints (bring your own container of water), glue, and scissors. Pick up a “kit bag” with instructions for the project of the day. Program is first come, first served for up to 20 children with accompanying adults. Masks and contact information required upon arrival. Activity is self-guided. Participants must maintain six feet of physical distance between households. Also check out Thursday Afternoon Family Fun in Rockefeller Park at 3p. See website for all 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 October 16th
Amazing Animals with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Friday October 16th 10-1030a. Free. RSVP here. This program is intended for children ages 2 – 10. Whether they can regrow a tail or lift 1,000 times their weight, our animal friends at Brooklyn Children’s Museum have super powers! All animals, including humans, have unique gifts that help us to survive, grow, solve problems, and live our daily lives. In this online program, we’ll explore the science of regeneration and expert survival skills through this interactive workshop with our reptiles, insects, and spiders. Families will identify their favorite animal super power and reflect on their own superpowers!
Children’s Museum of Manhattan Reopens (UWS)
Friday October 16th various times depending on the adventure you pick. Museum will be open Wednesday-Sunday. Tickets: $15 for adult & child, $12 senior & visitor with disabilities. Infants under 1 free. All visitors must buy a timed ticket in advance. Each session will have limited capacity. Tickets are free for members. Choose from two new family adventures and come play and learn with our team. Explore curated family experiences, specially designed to your child’s interests. Each one hour and forty-five minute session will have limited capacity and includes a visit to two of the Museum’s award-winning exhibits, allowing increased space to safely explore, climb, move, and play. Choose from Playful Explorers Adventure and Superpowered Creators Adventure. See the website for all the details.
See all the Friday events here.
Ongoing 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 other times they are on a specific branch facebook page. See the website for all the details.
Boo at the Zoo at Prospect Park Zoo
Daily until October 31st. Zoo hours are: Monday-Friday 10a-5p, weekends & holidays 10a-530p. Included in Zoo admission. Timed entry tickets can be purchased here. Prospect Park Zoo is going batty every day in October with Halloween-themed educational (and fun) decorations. Download a spooky scavenger hunt and see if you can answer the clues as you wander through the zoo. Visit the tombstones of extinct animals in sea lion court and learn why extinction isn’t inevitable with your help! Our Spooky Trail will show you some of our “spooky” neighbors who come out at night. Get creative with your masks and take a photo at one of our beautiful harvest decoration areas.
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo
Thursdays-Sundays until November 1st and Monday October 12th. Zoo hours are 10a-5p. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. Reserve tickets here. Included with zoo admission. Our annual Halloween tradition is back at the Bronx Zoo. We have family-friendly activities and have taken all safety precautions for you to have a great experience. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy! See the website for all the event details.
Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
On display 10a-6p until November 1st (Tuesday to Sunday, and Monday federal holidays). Free with Garden admission. All visitors, including Members, must purchase or reserve timed-entry tickets in advance. Purchase tickets here. Discover plentiful pumpkins and hordes of gourds along the twists and turns of our Great Pumpkin Path on the Conservatory Lawn, culminating with some of the largest pumpkins in the world with the arrival of giant pumpkins on October 24. Keep an eye out for a display of whimsical scarecrows throughout the Garden as well. Note: Everyone is required to wear face coverings throughout the Garden grounds.
Biking & Boating in Prospect Park
Open daily. Hours: Boating + Biking: daily, 10a- 8p until October 12 (note: biking + boating continues on weekends only, October 13- November 1 ) See website for biking & boating rates. LeFrak Center at Lakeside will be open daily for biking, boating, with food and drink available for takeaway from the Bluestone Cafe.
Rollerskating at Lakeside in Prospect Park
Daily 12n-6p until October 12th. Pricing: $6 admission & $7 skate rentals on weekdays and $10 admission, $7 skate rentals on weekends (weekend pricing begins 4p Fridays). Roller Skating is BACK! COVID-19 safety guidelines will be followed, including mask-wearing and social distancing protocols. Skating will operate at reduced capacity. Come get moving with us at Lakeside! Lakeside’s outdoor roller skating rink provides fun for kids, tweens, and adults alike. Skate to a mix of pop hits while taking in views of Prospect Park Lake. Skate rentals are available in children and adult sizes. See website for all the details.
Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium (Coney Island)
Daily 10a-4p (park closes 5p) until October 31st. Admission included with ticket. All visitors must reserve a date-specific ticket in advance. Please check Know Before You Go for details. We have great news: The New York Aquarium is reopening on August 27! Buy tickets to see all of your favorite marine animals today and enjoy summer on Coney Island! Explore Spineless, our latest exhibit, and marvel and the jellies, octopus, and more. Come wave hello to Erie the sea lion and Murphy the Harbor Seal. Relax in Ocean Wonders: Sharks! and watch the rays, sharks, and turtles.
Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island
Mondays-Fridays 10a-12n until October 30th. 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.
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 11a (Mandarin), Thursdays 11a (Spanish), Fridays 11a (French). Pricing: Weekly: $20 per week of unlimited access to classes, Monthly: $60 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.
The Nature of Color Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays with timed entry tickets are available 10a-4p (museum closes 530p). Exhibit is open until March 8, 2021. Select a General Admission + One or General Admission + All ticket, choose date and time of entry to the Museum, then select The Nature of Color. Reserve tickets here. Our world is awash in color. Color makes the world feel vibrant and alive. But that’s not all. Color helps us make sense of the world. It contains vast amounts of information—about the natural world, and the human world. Come and explore the world of color in this immersive exhibition.
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.