Hi everyone! February is a busy month with the Olympics, Super Bowl, Black History Month & Valentine’s Day so get ready to have a fun weekend!
This weekend check out The 24th Annual BAMkids Film Festival, the Kissing Booth Fundraiser at Alley Pond Environmental Center, Virtual Events for Youth & Families: Harriet Tubman, Herself, Grab and Go Crafts: Valentine Wreath and Book Giveaway at Greenpoint Brooklyn Public Library, Mozart for Munchkins: Valentine’s Jam! at Hudson Yards, Black History Month: Seneca Village in Central Park, Birding: Winter Birds in Canarsie Park, Stories of Heroes: Famous African American Athletes with NYPL. Len Cabral presents Stories for a Winter’s Day at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art, Laurie Berkner’s Valentine’s Party, Cabin Fever Reliever ~ Paper Making Workshop at Historic Richmond Town, Family Art Project: Love for Woodland Friends at Wave Hill and The Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl.
Also check out long running events like REFLEX: Unravelling 4,000 Years Of Juggling at Theater Mitu580, 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, Governors Island Winter Village Ice Skating Rink,Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks and 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport.
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 great time this weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday February 11th
The 24th Annual BAMkids Film Festival (virtual)
Virtual until February 13th. For ages 3-11. Virtual: Full Festival Pass: Pay what you wish: $30; $45; $60, Single Programs: Pay what you wish: $5; $10; $15, $20. See the website for all the details. Snuggle up on the sofa at home to join the 24th annual BAMkids Film Festival. BAM is screening short films from around the globe that encourage kids to embrace their dreams, follow their hearts, and let their imaginations soar. Plus, BAM has got a great lineup of free activities—including dance and circus performances, creative workshops, and the Young Filmmakers Showcase—offered online.
Kissing Booth Fundraiser at Alley Pond Environmental Center
Friday February 11th 12n & 3p and various times through Monday February 14th. See website for details. For all ages. $5 per participant. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by showing your love for your favorite APEC animal ambassador! Participants will get to choose one animal to blow a kiss to and receive a polaroid of the kiss. All who sign up will also receive a chocolate kiss and be entered into a raffle for a sweet Valentine’s Day prize. Come support APEC during this lovely time of year! Masks must be worn by all adults and children, 2 and up, for the entire program. Proof of vaccination is required for anyone 5 and up in order to enter our building. A matching ID will also be required for anyone 18 and up. Spots are limited.
Stories of Heroes: Famous African American Athletes with NYPL (virtual)
Friday February 11th 2-230p. Free. Join us for a read aloud of books about inspirational African American Athletes: Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, and Michael Jordan. for children ages 4-6. You must register with your email address in order to receive the link to participate.
Grab and Go Crafts: Valentine Wreath and Book Giveaway at Greenpoint Brooklyn Public Library
Friday February 11th 3-5p. Free. Kids and their families can pick up their bag of craft materials, along with a free book, at the Greenpoint Library information desk. One per child, while supplies last. Check the website for information on other Grab and Go events at other BPL branches.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday February 12th
Family Art Project: Love for Woodland Friends at Wave Hill
Saturday-Sunday February 12th 13th 10a-1p. Free with admission. As we look ahead to Valentine’s Day, take a cue from the ways that woodland animals care for their families. Celebrate the ways we care for each other by creating woodland-creature sock puppets/. Give your puppet as a heartwarming gift, or keep it to remind you of our local woodland friends. This program takes place indoors in the Kerlin Learning Center located in Wave Hill House. See the website for information on the Covid-19 protocols.
1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until February 27th. Free. The permanently-moored 1885 tall ship Wavertree is open to the public for FREE on Saturdays and Sundays, with timed entry, at Pier 16 (Fulton and South Streets). Guided tours depart hourly and last approximately 30 minutes. Advance reservations are recommended. Guided tours include access to the main deck and quarter deck. Learn how people worked and lived aboard a 19th century cargo sailing vessel, from the captain to the ship’s officers, cooks, and crew. Then visit the cargo hold and stand atop the viewing platform where you can take in the massive main cargo area. Proof of vaccine required for all guests over age 5. Masks required.
Cabin Fever Reliever ~ Paper Making Workshop at Historic Richmond Town (Staten Island)
Saturday-Sunday February 12th-13th 11a, 1230p & 2p. Tickets are $10 per person. Purchase tickets here. Paper is at the heart of the human experience. It is hard to imagine where the written word would be without it! In this workshop, learn about this ancient practice and make your own paper out of recycled materials. These workshops will be held in the PS 28 building ground floor Education Center at the Historic Richmond Town main village campus. This workshop is suited for visitors aged 8 and up. Each workshop is an hour in length. There are additional workshops February 19th-20th at 11a, 12n, 2p & 3p. See website for all the details.
Len Cabral presents Stories for a Winter’s Day at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art
Saturday February 12th 11a & 1p. Free with Museum admission. Admission: $7 adults, $4 youth 9-17, seniors and students, Free for children 0-8. Come join Storyteller Len Cabral and hear Stories of Ice and Snow, Old Man Winter, Ice Skating and the Bear that Stole the Moon.
Events for Youth & Families: Harriet Tubman, Herself (virtual)
Saturday February 13th 1-2p. Free. An entertaining and educational one-woman show based on the life and times of Harriet Tubman. Harriet’s harrowing and dangerous life unfolds as she tells the moving story of how she brought hundreds of slaves – and her own family – to freedom during the Civil War. Actress Christine Dixon tells the story of Tubman’s life in this dramatic one-woman performance. The story was originally adapted and directed by Morna Murphy Martell from the 1868 book by Sarah Bradford, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. The show includes original and reinterpreted music from period spirituals. Presented by Sundog Theater. This pre-recorded program will air on the Sundog Theatre YouTube channel.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday February 13th
Birding: Winter Birds in Canarsie Park
Sunday February 13th 10-11a. Free. Location: East 88th Street and Seaview Avenue. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see migratory winter birds. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Please bring your own binoculars.
The Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl (Williamsburg)
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! February 13th Paul McCartney & Wings for Kids + More: Valentine’s Day Party
Mozart for Munchkins: Valentine’s Jam! at Hudson Yards
Sunday February 13th 1130a-1215p. Free. Register here. Location: Level 4 in front of H&M. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with some jazzy delights and a chance to meet the violin/fiddle, ukulele, melodica, percussion and more! This unique program playfully explores Spanish and English music and song through classics, sing-alongs, and more!
Laurie Berkner’s Valentine’s Party 2022! (virtual)
Sunday February 13th 12n & 5p. Ticket: $20 per family, $10 need based. Purchase tickets here. Join Laurie Berkner for an 80+min LIVE interactive, virtual performance (plus pre-show!) for the whole family! Sing, dance, & play games through your device with Laurie as she performs fan favorites and Valentine’s songs, interacts with you through the screen, & brings in a few surprises – from her house to yours! Your ticket gives you access to BOTH shows (12p & 5pET) and helps the LBB team continue operations while we can’t tour! You can purchase a meet & greet add-on above. Group rates available, email katie@twotomatoes.com to inquire. Thanks so much for understanding!
Black History Month: Seneca Village in Central Park
Sunday February 13th 1-2p. Free. Location: 81st Street and Central Park West. Celebrate Black History Month with the Urban Park Rangers. Learn about the lives of Seneca Village’s residents in the 1800s and the community’s place in pre-Central Park.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
REFLEX: Unravelling 4,000 Years Of Juggling at Theater Mitu580 (Gowanus) [sponsored]
Friday February 11th 5p, Saturday February 12th 1p, 4p & 7p, Sunday February 13th 10a, 1p & 4p and ongoing various times until February 19th. See website for the schedule. Tickets: $40 plus fee. This winter, Hideaway Circus presents the world premiere of REFLEX, a new show from the mind of the master juggler and visual artist Jay Gilligan. Based on a series stories about gravity and stunning juggling sequences featuring Jay’s unique inventions, props, and robots, REFLEX is a one of kind theatrical experience. Discover secrets of a timeless craft, be mesmerized by visual music, and moved by the artistry of object manipulation. This astonishing international creative collaboration is playing until to February 19th, 2022 at theater space Mitu580. The final week of performances will also be available for live online streaming.
Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until April 3rd (and Monday February 21st 1230p & 230p). Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 3 and up. Beauty & the Beast, the French Fantasy with a “live” Beast adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. 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.
Governors Island Winter Village Ice Skating Rink
Rink hours: Fridays 12n-5p, Saturdays-Sundays 10a-5p through February. Rink admission: $11, skate rental $8. Admission is free Fridays (walk up only). Purchase advance tickets here. 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.
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.
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.
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.