Hi everyone! Last February weekend is here and it is a busy one so get ready to have fun in NYC!
This weekend check out Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Governors Island Ice Sculpture Show, The Beauty of Ballet at Queens Theatre, The Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl, Outdoor Skills: Fire Building in Fort Greene Park, Greenlight Bookstore Virtual Story Time with George O’Connor, Introduction to Birdwatching Walks in Prospect Park, Winter Tree ID in Owl’s Head Park , Bangladeshi Fish Curry Cooking Class, Sunday Story Time @ Home: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters, Birding: Hawk Watch in Tompkins Square Park, Kids Week: Nature Scavenger Hunt in Prospect Park and Belle at the Museum of the Moving Image.
Also check out long running events like Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, Governors Island Winter Village Ice Skating Rink,Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks, 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport, Wake Up Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and the last weekend for “A Wonderful, Awful Idea”: Animating the Grinch Who Stole Christmas at Museum of the Moving Image and Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection at New-York Historical Society.
These are just some of the weekends events so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for updates.
Have a wonderful weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday February 25th
Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Friday-Sunday February 25th-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.
Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Friday February 2th 1230p & 230p and 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.
Kids Week: Nature Scavenger Hunt in Prospect Park
Friday February 25th 1-2p. Free. Location: Picnic House. 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 mid-winter recess. With programs led by our Urban Park Rangers, kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a fun nature scavenger hunt! There are additional Kids Week events in NYC parks so check the website to see all the events.
Belle at the Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria)
Friday February 25th at 3p (English dub). 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).Review the safety protocols before your visit.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday February 26th
Introduction to Birdwatching Walks in Prospect Park
Saturdays 10a-12n until June 11th. Free. Location: Audubon Center. Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks, this introductory walk is for you! Every Saturday join a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club on an introductory walk to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons. All levels are welcome and walks will begin at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. No registration necessary. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
Greenlight Bookstore Story Time: George O’Connor (virtual)
Saturday February 26th 1130a. Free. Live via Zoom. Register here. George O’Connor presents Olympians: Dionysos. For the final volume of the New York Times-bestselling Olympians graphic novel series, author and artist George O’Connor focuses on Dionysos, the last Olympian, the god of wine and madness, and maybe—just maybe—a new type of God. From the perspective of Hestia, goddess of hearth and home, we witness the rise of Dionysos, from his birth to a mortal mother, to his discovery of wine, his battles with madness and his conquering of death itself, culminating, finally, in his ascent to Olympus and Godhood. Journey with us back to ancient Greece at this special virtual Story Time!
Birding: Hawk Watch in Tompkins Square Park
Saturday February 26th 1-2p. Free. Location: Avenue A and St. Marks Place. New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. We offer birding programs throughout the year. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we recommend bringing binoculars.
Outdoor Skills: Fire Building in Fort Greene Park
Saturday February 26th 1-2p. Free. Location: Fort Greene Park Visitor Center. Fire is a useful resource when needed, but there are also safety precautions that we must take when building one. Join the Urban Park Rangers as we practice the art of fire building!
Governors Island Ice Sculpture Show
Saturday February 26th 2-5p. Free to attend. Fees for the ferry. See website for details. The Trust for Governors Island and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council are proud to present the inaugural Governors Island Ice Sculpture Show! Join us at the Winter Village in Colonels Row on February 26 for an exciting afternoon of live ice carving from skilled ice artists starting at 2pm. Make sure to get there early for performances from Ice Theatre of New York at 1:30pm. Stick around, enjoy everything the Winter Village has to offer (including warm drinks from Little Eva’s), and help us choose the winner at the end of the event.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday February 27th
The Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl (Williamsburg)
Sunday February 27th doors 11a, show 12n and on various Sundays until April 24th. 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 27th: New Orleans Funk & Soul for Kids
Winter Tree ID in Owl’s Head Park (Bay Ridge)
Sunday February 27th 11a-12n. Free. Location: 68th Street and Colonial Road. Trees have a special place in our environment. Join us for a hike of Owl’s Head Park in search of different tree species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the changing season.
Sunday Story Time @ Home: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters (virtual)
Sunday February 27th 1130a. Free. For ages: 3–6 years. Register here. Welcome to Black History Month, Little New-Yorkers! Learn about and celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history! In honor of Presidents’ Day this week, read a book written by our 44th president, Barack Obama. In this story, with illustrations by Loren Long, Obama talks about amazing Americans in history and tells his daughters that they are, and will be, just as amazing. After the book, create our own letters to people who are important to us!
Bangladeshi Fish Curry Cooking Class (virtual)
Sunday February 27th 12n-1p. Fee: $10 per household. Ages: Adults and Family. Register here. APEC is happy to welcome back Biny for this live streaming cooking lesson. In the comfort of your kitchen enjoy a fun, hands on class that will take place via Zoom and celebrates Bangladeshi Fish Curry. You will be cooking this dish Biny’s favorite way – light, bright, brothy and deeply flavorful. Use your favorite white fish! It is easy to make and doesn’t require any unusual or hard-to-find spices. You’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor you can get in such a short cooking time. When you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation with zoom link to the class and an email with the ingredient list. Recipe will serve four. Funds raised from this workshop will go towards our animal ambassador care.
The Beauty of Ballet at Queens Theatre
Sunday February 27th 1p & 330p. Free. Reservations strongly recommended by phone only. Seating is first come, first serve. Appropriate for ages 4 and up. Have you ever wondered how ballerinas dance on their toes? Or how dancers turn without getting dizzy? Learn the answers to those questions and more during this family-friendly performance featuring excerpts from famous ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Advanced students from the School of American Ballet and faculty member Katrina Killian offer a sneak peek inside the classroom to see how students train to become professional ballet dancers. Guests of all ages are even invited to learn a few steps right from their seats! This hour-long presentation is an enchanting introduction to the art of classical ballet. Call the Queens Theatre Box Office at 718.760.0064 for reservations. Open Tuesday-Friday 12pm-6pm.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
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.
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 until April 3rd. 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.