Hi everyone! I hope everyone is adjusting to going back to school and ready for a fun and maybe snowy weekend!
This weekend check out the MulchFest Chipping Day and Open Hours at the Environmental Education Center in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Three Friends of Winter Tour in Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Film Forum Jr. Matinee at the Film Forum, Second Saturdays Trailwork Party + Bike Share at Highbridge Bike Park, The Muppets at the Museum of the Moving Image, Hip-House Dance Fitness in in St. John’s Recreation Center,Little New-Yorkers @ Home: Tito Puente: Mambo King, Virtual Little Movers! with NY Public Library, The Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl, little Lola’s Weekly Virtual Preschool and Reading into History @ Home: Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It.
Also check out long running events like The 3 Wishes and 3 Little Lambs at Puppetworks, Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History, Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, “A Wonderful, Awful Idea”: Animating the Grinch Who Stole Christmas at Museum of the Moving Image, Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection at New-York Historical Society and Governors Island Winter Village & Ice Skating Rink.
These are just some of the weekend events so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for updates.
Have a wonderful time this weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday January 7th
Virtual Little Movers! with NY Public Library
Friday January 7th 1030-1130a. Free. Register here. Join us to hear stories, sing songs, and get those wiggles out as you help your active child build important early learning skills. Discover ways to promote early literacy at home and meet other caregivers in the neighborhood. Best for new walkers, toddlers/or children at this developmental stage.
little Lola’s Weekly Virtual Preschool
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 1030-1115a until April 1st. $15/class. For ages 1.5-6y. Register here. We will engage in story-time, manipulatives, art, music and more while getting them accustomed to transitions between activities. Our learners will build confidence and independence through their participation in daily tasks. Please note that this class is Spanish bilingual.
Governors Island Winter Village & Ice Skating Rink
Rink hours: Friday 12n-5p, Saturday-Sunday 10a-5p. Rink admission: $11, skate rental $8. The Governors Island Winter Village, in Colonels Row, features fun activities and winter vibes for visitors of all ages! The Village includes a 5,000-square-foot ice skating rink open Fridays-Sundays and daily attractions and activities including more than a dozen lawn games, fire pits, sled and bike rentals, twinkling holiday light displays and delicious cold-weather food and drinks.
Little New-Yorkers @ Home: Tito Puente: Mambo King (virtual)
Friday January 7th 330-4p and every Tuesday & Friday 330p. Free. For ages 3-6y. Join us via Zoom for story time and crafts! Each class includes a special Little New-Yorkers hello song, silly dances and songs, a story. January 7th: Our first book is Tito Puente: Mambo King, a bilingual picture book by Monica Brown with illustrations by Rafael López. Before he could walk, Tito Puente began making music at home in Harlem, right here in New York City. Tito lived a life full of music and went on to win five Grammy Awards. Follow along with the story and with Tito’s rumba beat, and then create your own Mambo King crown! See the theme of the week and register on the website here.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday January 8th
Second Saturdays Trailwork Party + Bike Share at Highbridge Bike Park
Saturday January 8th 10a-3p. Free. Register here. Dig, then ride with us on NYCMTB’s monthly welcome days at Highbridge Park in Manhattan! Bring your friends and family for a day of fun in the woods and learn what it takes to build, maintain, and ride the most progressive urban bike park in America! There will be light trail maintenance tasks for all ages from 10:00 a.m. to noon. All participants, NYCMTB members, or anyone with logged volunteer hours, receive a free 20-minute clinic and a guided ride throughout the trails from 12:30 p.m to 3:00 p.m. Bikes and helmets provided!
MulchFest Chipping Day 2022 in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday January 8th 10a-2p. Free. After the holiday season, come turn your Christmas tree into useable garden mulch! Beginning December 26th, you can drop your tree off to be mulched at Fulton Ferry Landing, near the Pier 5 soccer fields, or the Fruit Tree Sitting Area on Columbia Heights. Please make sure your tree is clean and free of any decorations, lights, tulle, tinsel, garlands, ornaments, popcorn, etc. Also checck out Open Hours at the Environmental Education Center Saturdays 1-5p.
The 3 Wishes and 3 Little Lambs at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Starting Saturday January 8th. Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until January 16th & Monday January 17th 1230p & 230p. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 2 and up. The 3 Wishes a double-feature with 3 Little Lambs (a reimagining of The 3 Little Pigs) adapted for Hand Puppets by Nicolas Coppola. Call for reservations: 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com. Masks required to protect the unvaccinated (especially children). New York City requires you to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Puppetworks. Those 12 years of age and older must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Masks are required.
The Muppets at the Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria)
Saturday January 8th 1230p & Friday January 14th 3p. Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / discounted for MoMI members ($7–$11). Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. Review safety protocols before your visit. It’s been just over ten years since the Muppets returned to the big screen with the story of their fictional return to the small screen. As the movie begins, Gary (Segel) and his Muppet-like brother Walter take a trip to Hollywood with Gary’s sweetheart Mary (Adams) and soon find themselves on a mission to reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways. Will they get everyone together in time for a telethon to save The Muppet Theatre from evil oil man Tex Richman (Cooper)? This was the first Muppet movie to win an Academy Award, with composer Bret McKenzie taking home the prize for Best Original Song for “Man or Muppet.” Introduced by Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin.
Three Friends of Winter Tour in Snug Harbor Cultural Center (Staten Island)
Saturday January 8th 1-230p. General admission: $10, Student/Senior: $8, Snug Harbor Member: $8. Purchase tickets here. Location Details: Meet at Cottage E, the entrance to the NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden. Discover why the pine, bamboo, and plum–the “three friends of winter”– are so deeply valued in Chinese culture. In the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden and culturally, the Three Friends of Winter are grouped together because they flourish during that season, representing the ideal characteristics of the scholar, embodying the Confucian virtues of endurance, modesty, and fortitude. Dress warmly. Masks required.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday January 9th
The Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl
Sundays doors 11a, show 12n until February 27th. Tickets: $12. Purchase tickets here. The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. See you at the show! This concert for kids and families shares the music of the artist named above with a new generation of music lovers, but is not associated with or endorsed by the artist. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. The Rock and Roll Playhouse knows that little ears are sensitive, so we turn down the volume at our shows. January 9th Elvis for Kids & More. See the website for information on future shows.
Hip-House Dance Fitness in in St. John’s Recreation Center
Sundays 11a-12n in January. Free. Register here. Hip-House is an upbeat dance aerobics workout that fuses Old School Hip-Hop and House vibes to improve cardio fitness and tone the body. Registration is required. Proof of vaccination is required to attend Shape Up NYC classes at this site. Please wear a mask, and stay home if you’re sick. Starting December 27th, New Yorkers aged 12 and older will be required to show proof of two vaccine doses, instead of one, except for those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Film Forum Jr. Matinee at the Film Forum (Lower East Side)
Sundays at 11a until March 20th. TICKETS $11.00, $9.00 for members. Advance tickets on sale at the box office and online. Most programs appropriate for ages 5 and up. Classics For Kids and Their Families! All patrons must be fully vaccinated with proof and are required to wear a mask at all times. 1/9 THE CANTERVILLE GHOST: (1944, Jules Dassin) 1634, and Laughton becomes the eponymous spirit when walled in by his father for cowardice; 1943, and tiny lady of the manor Margaret O’Brien realizes occupying GI Robert Young is a Canterville, but can she and the ghost save him from the curse of cowardice? 35mm. Approx. 105 min.
Reading into History @ Home: Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It (virtual)
Sunday January 9th 2-3p. Free. Register here. For ages 9-12y. This winter, read Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It and follow the story of three members of the Little family. In monologue style, Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B. bring to life the journey of their family from sharecropping in the 1920s through the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Join us online to ask New York Times best-selling author Andrea Davis Pinkney your questions about the book. Look at related historical sources, ask questions, and dive deep into the rich and moving story of the Little family.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
The Rink at Brooklyn Commons (Downtown Brooklyn)
Daily until February 27th. Hours: Monday-Thursday 2-8p, Friday 2-9p, Saturday 10a-9p & Sunday 10a-7p. $15 public skating admission, $5 skate rental. Situated in Brooklyn Commons Park, residents, families, professionals and tourists alike can enjoy a festive winter skating experience in Downtown Brooklyn! The Rink features an outdoor skating rink and offers daily public skating as well as upscale ice skating programs for men, women, and children.
Sharks at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Museum hours Wednesday-Sunday 10a-530p. Included in General Admission+One. See website for all the details.The new exhibition Sharks features dozens of life-sized models ranging from 33 feet to 5.5 inches long, fossils from the Museum’s collections, touch-free interactive exhibits that challenge visitors to hunt like a hammerhead, and more for visitors of all ages. Older than dinosaurs—and more threatened than threatening—sharks are spectacular, surprising, and often misunderstood. Discover the incredible diversity of this ancient and fascinating group of fishes. Note: In accordance with the New York City vaccine requirement, you must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the Museum.
IC Ice Rink at Industry City
Hours: Thursdays 4-8p, Fridays 12n-8p, Saturdays 11a-8p & Sundays 11a-6p. Tickets: $12 per person, with skate rentals costing $10 per person. Purchase tickets here. Courtyard 5/6. IC Ice Rink welcomes all to come for an iconic winter experience. The rink is uncovered and outside, so dress appropriately for an enjoyable and comfortable skate.
Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park
Hours for covered rink: Monday-Thursday 9a-430p, Friday 9a-7p, Saturday 1-9p, Sunday 1-430p. Open air rink hours: 9a-7p, Friday-Saturday 9a-9p & Sunday 9a-7p. Admission rates: $8 weekday per person, $12 weekend per person. Reserve your desired 90-minute skate session for access to one of our two available ice rinks online now and guarantee your ice time. Skate rentals are available at an additional cost or feel free to bring your own skates. Purchase online today as capacity is limited. To help our young skaters, helpful Skate Aids are available and can be rented in advance or on the day of your visit, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserve open air rink tickets here and covered rink tickets here.
“A Wonderful, Awful Idea”: Animating the Grinch Who Stole Christmas at Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria)
Ongoing until February 27th. Museum hours: Fridays 2-8p, Saturdays-Sundays 12n-6p. Included with Museum admission. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a made-for-television short by legendary animation director Chuck Jones, based on the 1957 book by Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss). First aired by CBS in 1966, this 24-minute animated story of a grouchy curmudgeon who tries to ruin Christmas has become an enduring holiday classic. The sketches, animation cels, and backgrounds on exhibit—40 selections from the extensive private collection of Bill Heeter and Kristi Correa—illustrate Jones’s approach to adapting Geisel’s story for the screen. In contrast to the book’s black, white, and red palette, Jones unleashed a riotous array of vivid colors to depict the story’s settings and characters. The film showcases Jones’s unparalleled character animation and comic timing, creating an utterly believable, villainous—but ultimately redeemed—Grinch that became the standard for all subsequent adaptations. See the website for information on Covid 19 protocols.
Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
On exhibit until January 17th. Location: Grand Gallery, first floor. Free with Museum admission. Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays with timed entry tickets are available 10a-4p (museum closes 530p). The Origami Holiday Tree returns to view November 24, 2021 (closed 12/25). The theme of this year’s 13-foot tree is Gems of the Museum, featuring 50 specially created gold-colored models in recognition of the “golden anniversary” 50th Origami Tree and this Museum tradition, which started in the 1970s. Among the more than 1,000 origami pieces decorating the tree will be models of dazzling specimens from the new Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, “jaw-some” pieces inspired by the new special exhibition Sharks, and those depicting iconic Museum exhibits like the Blue Whale, Titanosaur, and Tyrannosaurus rex. In accordance with the New York City vaccine requirement, you must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the Museum. See the website for all the information.
Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection at New-York Historical Society (UWS)
On exhibit until February 27th. Museum hours: Wednesdays-Thursdays 11a-5p, Fridays 11a-8p and Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p. Free with Museum admission. This year Holiday Express goes to the amusement park! Joining a selection of toy trains, figurines, and miniature models from the renowned Jerni Collection, this year’s festive display includes never-before-seen toy rides. Visitors can marvel at a miniature Ferris wheel, carousel, blimp ride, and roller coaster.The carnival toys on display recall the colossal machines that have fascinated and delighted the American public for decades, like the Ferris wheel, which was introduced in the U.S. at Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, and early American roller coasters, like the ones introduced at Coney Island in 1884. New York’s favorite amusement ground was also the site of one of the United States’ first carousels, a musical merry-go-round appointed with colorful mechanical horses. The display also includes a variety of toy train stations dating from the turn of the 20th century to the World War II era, showcasing the evolving designs of American and European toymakers. As part of New York City’s Key to NYC program, all visitors to New York City museums ages 12 and over are required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. For more details, go to the FAQ page. Note: the Museum will close 3p on 12/31 and be closed 1/1.
Ice Skating at Winter Village in Bryant Park
Open daily until March 6th. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8a-10p, Friday-Sunday and holidays 8a-1130p. Winter Village at Bryant Park is Manhattan’s winter wonderland. Enjoy New York City’s only free admission ice skating rink, the Holiday Shops, and rinkside eats and drinks at The Lodge by Prime Video. Reserve timed entry tickets here.