Hi everyone! It feels like Spring today and looking forward to a long busy weekend here in NYC!
This weekend check out Mister John’s Music Class at Bario Neal, Winter Games in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the 24th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival, Belle at the Museum of the Moving Image, Saturday Morning Live with Tom with Children’s Museum of the Arts, Just Kidding: Sonia De Los Santos, Living History @ Home: Hercules: A Chef Enslaved by America’s First President, Presidents’ Day at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Lunar New Year Celebration at Queens Museum, Book Adventures : I am Enough by Grace Byers, Library Playdate at NY Public 58th Street Library, Outdoor Skills: Animal Tracking and Kids Week: Shelter Building for Kids in Marine Park, Film Forum Jr. Matinee at the Film Forum, Black History Month: Hip Hop Art with D. Cross, Cabin Fever Reliever ~ Paper Making Workshop at Historic Richmond Town and George Washington’s Birthday Open House at Fraunces Tavern.
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, 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport and opening weekend of Wake Up Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.
Since NYC public schools are closed next week for MidWinter recess there are extra events happening this week so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for updates.
Enjoy the long weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday February 18th
Library Playdate at NY Public 58th Street Library (Midtown East)
Fridays 1015-11a until February 25th. Free. This event will take place in person at 58th Street Library. Children ages 2-5 and their caregivers visit the library for unstructured play. This is a great time for the librarian to get to know you and your little ones while also developing socialization and early literacy skills. Patrons must wear a mask in accordance with New York State guidelines and Library protocol. Patrons not wearing a face covering will not be permitted to enter.
Wake Up, Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
Fridays-Sundays 11-1145 (doors 1030a) & 1-145p (doors 1230p) until 12/31/22. Tickets: $12 adult, $8 child. Purchase tickets here. Location: 79th Street and West Drive Central Park. Wake Up, Daisy! tells the story of Daisy, a lively little girl living in the heart of New York City in an apartment overlooking Central Park. At Daisy’s much-anticipated birthday party, she encounters three special guests, known as her “Squad-parents”, from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx who grant her the gifts of courage, knowledge, and a second chance. When an unwelcome guest shows up and casts a curse on her, Daisy’s life is forever changed. But through the support of her friends and an adventure throughout the city, Daisy’s strong self-determination and vivid imagination may be all she needs to break the curse.
Book Adventures : I am Enough by Grace Byers (virtual)
Friday February 18th 3-330p. Free. Join us on the Jamaica Bay Library’s Facebook page for a read aloud of I am Enough by Grace Byers. Watch the read aloud by Grace Byers here and enjoy an activity packet here.
Black History Month: Hip Hop Art with D. Cross (virtual)
Friday February 18th 4-5p. Free. Join multidisciplinary artist and hip-hop ambassador D. Cross as he conducts a graffiti hip-hop art workshop. This workshop will cover a brief history of hip-hop art as well as amazing demonstrations of graffiti styles and technique. This program is for kids ages 6 to 12. Parents are welcome to assist younger participants. You will need pencils, markers or colored pencils, and paper. Tune in on YouTube or on our Facebook page.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday February 19th
Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Saturday-Sunday February 19th-27th 10a-1p & 2-5p. Tickets: $13/per person (children under 1 free). Join us for a week of reflection and future-forward fun inspired by the national celebration of peoples of the African Diaspora and Black History Month. With the help of our festival curator at Àṣẹ Dance Theater Collective we look forward to presenting interactive dance performances and a Genea-Djali workshop, plus storytelling inspired by Crown Heights, a quilting workshop, local eats, and so much more! See the website for full schedule of events and to purchase timed entry tickets.
Saturday Morning Live with Tom with Children’s Museum of the Arts (virtual)
Saturday February 19th 10-11a and 3rd Saturday of the month until March 19th. Free. Reserve tickets here. Saturday Morning Live is a brand new action-packed art class for kids who love to sing, play drums, and make art — all at the same time! These 60-minute live, interactive virtual sessions are led by beloved Early Childhood Specialist Tom Burnett and specially designed for children under the age of five. All you need is your imagination, sense of discovery, and your favorite art supplies — crayons, markers, paint, stickers, and more! February 19th: Sculpture Park ~ Create three-dimensional sculptures using found objects, then arrange them to create your very own monument park.
Cabin Fever Reliever ~ Paper Making Workshop at Historic Richmond Town (Staten Island)
Saturday-Sunday February 19th-20th 11a, 12n, 2p & 3p. 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.
Just Kidding: Sonia De Los Santos (virtual)
Saturday February 19th 11a. Free. Sign up to receive event reminders and the link to watch. Travel to Mexico and beyond with Latin Grammy nominee Sonia De Los Santos in this beautiful bilingual concert of songs about hope, home, and gratitude.
Winter Games in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday February 19th 1-4p. Free. Location: Main Street. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Winter Games are upon us on Saturday, February 19 from 1-4pm! Join us for free-flowing family activities, a chance to get your body moving, and an opportunity to enjoy the winter along the beautiful waterfront. The winter games will kick-off at 1pm with lawn games, relay races, and other activities! At 2pm, Chelsea Piers Fitness will host a free winter warmup dance class. Throughout the day, kids can also design their own medals at our crafts station, play with bubbles with Park Slope Parents, or take a photo with our winter games backdrop. Want to take part in a more socially distant activity? Kids who complete the Family Scavenger Hunt will receive one free regular hot chocolate from Ample Hills! Ample Hills will be on site with their special winter hot chocolate flavors and fresh coffee for sale.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday February 20th
Mister John’s Music Class at Bario Neal (Williamsburg) [sponsored]
Sunday-Monday February 20th-21st 10a. Cost: $25 per child (with/including a caregiver). Register here. These classes are for children birth to 3yo. Mister John’s Music is thrilled to be adding more 2022 dates in Williamsburg! Originally located in Philadelphia, MJM serves hundreds of families every week through their award-winning and highly-praised music education programs for babies, kids and adults. With artists of the week such as Alicia Keys or Journey and regular features such as drag queen story time and interactive music videos, this is not your typical children’s programming. Each class is jam-packed with surprises for both adults and children, with underlying messages promoting creativity, inclusivity and kindness, all delivered through a celebration of music. Now, he’s offering these classes to a Brooklyn audience! All attendees 3yo and older are required to wear a mask (2yo’s are encouraged but not required). Click here for our Covid policies and procedures.
Outdoor Skills: Animal Tracking in Marine Park
Sunday February 20th 11a-12n. Free. Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center. Head to Marine Park and join the Urban Park Rangers to search for animal tracks. Learn how to identify tracks and understand the behavior of animals who call the park their home.
Film Forum Jr. Matinee at the Film Forum (Lower East Side)
Sundays at 11a until March 20th. TICKETS $11, $9 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! Those 12 years of age and older must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Children 11 years of age and younger are required to wear a mask while at Film Forum. 2/20 Charles Lane’s SIDEWALK STORIES: On a wintry Greenwich Village street (Sixth Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets — steps away from Film Forum), street portrait artist Charles Lane (the writer/director himself) battles a bullying, giant fellow artist, strokes businesswoman Sandye Wilson’s cheek a little more than needed to get those proportions right, then gets stuck with adorable tot Nicole Alysia (Lane’s real-life two-year-old daughter) — all in black and white silence… and without the use of a single intertitle. An homage to Chaplin’s THE KID (and other movies) set in a then-tough Village environment (Lane squats in a wreck slated for demolition) and clearly capturing the plight of the homeless, SIDEWALK STORIES retains a magical sense of the fable.
24th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
Sunday February 20th 12n-4p. Free. Celebrate the year of the tiger with Better Chinatown USA at this annual celebration of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown! Please note: the parade starts at 1p. Parade route: Mott and Canal to Chatham Square to East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets towards Grand Street next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Festival & Booths: 12n-4p at Kimlau Square
Lunar New Year Celebration at Queens Museum
Sunday February 20th 1-4p. All visitors must reserve a free timed entry ticket prior to visiting the Queens Museum. Please join us to celebrate Lunar New Year 2022 as the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC) returns to Queens Museum with its signature program. Together we will be celebrating the year of the Tiger with folk dances, Lion Dance, and traditional arts & crafts. The event will showcase a 45-minute performance program featuring professional artists and students of NYCCC’s School of the Arts, as well as a hands-on Chinese calligraphy workshop for kids and adults. The Queens Museum’s education programs will offer a family art-making workshop, as well as a dedicated adult program offered in English, Spanish and Mandarin by the New New Yorkers program.
See all the Sunday events here.
Monday February 21st
Presidents’ Day at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Crown Heights)
Monday February 21st 10a-430p (last entry 4p). Admission: $18 adult, $12 student, children under 12 free. Free Community tickets are also available. Book tickets here. Note: Some indoor spaces are closed for your safety. All visitors aged 5 and over are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter indoor areas, except for restrooms. Specialty gardens, including the Conservatory, Discovery Garden, Rose Garden, and portions of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and Native Flora Garden, begin to close 30 minutes before closing time.
Living History @ Home: Hercules: A Chef Enslaved by America’s First President (virtual)
Monday February 21st 12n. Free. For all ages. Register here. Do you want to meet people from history? Join us online via Zoom and meet famous leaders, activists, soldiers, and craftspeople from the past portrayed by historical interpreters from the present! Join Ramin Ganeshram, culinary historian and author of The General‘s Cook, to learn about Chef Hercules Posey, who was the first chef in a U.S. presidential household. An acclaimed chef with a great palate, Chef Hercules remained enslaved by George Washington until he liberated himself on Washington’s 65th birthday, February 22, 1797. Join us to learn about the skills Chef Hercules used and the challenges he faced. Cook along with us as we make an 18th-century-inspired treat: chocolate-cherry brownies, live from the Morris-Jumel Mansion! See the website for recipe details.
Kids Week: Shelter Building for Kids in Marine Park
Monday February 21st 1-2p. Free. Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center. Even when school’s out, our parks are still the city’s natural classroom! Bring your kids to parks throughout the city for Kids Week during midwinter recess. With programs led by our Urban Park Rangers, kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. Learn basic shelter building skills to keep you safe in wilderness. There are Kids Week events all over NYC all week. See the website for more events.
Belle at the Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria)
Monday-Thursday February 21st-24th at 1p & Friday February at 3p. Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17). Purchase tickets here. Recommended for ages 8+. In Japanese with English subtitles. With Kaho Nakamura, Kenjiro Tsuda, Takeru Satoh. With his latest feature Belle, Academy Award–nominated director Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, Summer Wars, Wolf Children) creates a new kind of fairy tale in this story of a tormented high-school student named Suzu who becomes a towering pink-haired singer named Belle, her avatar in a massive virtual world called U. What at first seems like an escape into fantasy is complicated when this beauty develops a profound connection to a dragon-like beast hounded by digital vigilantes. To create the intricate world of U, Hosoda worked with British architect Eric Wong, and invited Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, of the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, to contribute backgrounds; the stunningly realized character of Belle was designed by veteran Disney animator Jin Kim (Hercules, Tangled). Rated PG. Please note: The English dub will be shown on February 21, 23, and 25. The rest of the screenings are the original Japanese language presentation with English subtitles. Review the safety protocols before your visit.
See all the Monday events here.
All Weekend
REFLEX: Unravelling 4,000 Years Of Juggling at Theater Mitu580 (Gowanus) [sponsored]
Friday February 18th 5p & 8p, Saturday February 19th 1p, 4p & 7p. Tickets: $40 plus fee. 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 (tickets $20 plus fee).
Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until April 3rd. 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. Note: additional performances Monday February 21st and Thursday-Friday February 24th-25th 1230p & 230p.
George Washington’s Birthday Open House at Fraunces Tavern® Museum (Financial District)
Saturday-Sunday February 19th-20th 12n-5p. $1 admission. Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday at Fraunces Tavern Museum! New York City set the stage for many of George Washington’s trials and triumphs. This tour explores the role New York had in shaping Washington’s public career, from young militia colonel to seasoned general. Within New York City, Washington suffered his greatest military defeat, created a spy-ring which laid the groundwork for today’s intelligence community, and established precedents as the first President of the United States. Learn about these crucial events which helped to define Washington’s extraordinary career of political leadership and service! There is a Special Guided Tour Saturday 1p & 3p. Advanced registration is suggested, as space is limited.
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.
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.
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.