Hi everyone,
Hope everyone is having a great week enjoying all the mid-winter break events in Brooklyn & NYC!
Some of the mid-winter break events are still ongoing this weekend like Very Very Verrazano at the New York Transit Museum, The LEGO Movie in 3D at the New York Hall of Science, Intrepid Museum’s Kids Week 2015, February School Vacation Week at Dimenna Children’s History Museum and the Culinary Kids Food Festival at the New York Botanical Garden.
The calendar is packed with Chinese Lunar New Year events like the 16th Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival, Sunset Park Lunar New Year Celebration at the Sunset Park Recreation Center, Chinese New Year Celebration at the Central Brooklyn Public Library and Lunar New Year at the Prospect Park Zoo. Also happening this weekend is a Family Concert: Vered and the Babes at The Jewish Museum, a Rolie Polie Guacamole concert at Shapeshifter Lab, Grace Drums at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, a Figure 8 Play-Date with Sid the Science Kid at The LeFrak Center at Lakeside, The Sleeping Beauty by Puppetworks, Family Storytime at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and The Okee Dokee Brothers at Symphony Space
Make sure to check out the calendar to see all the events happening this weekend in Brooklyn & NYC! Remember to like us on Facebook for last minute events and news!
Stay warm and have fun!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday February 20th
Community Cube: Mandarin Seeds at South Street Seaport
Fri Feb 20th 10a-12n. Free. Mandarin Seeds was founded in 2008 by two New York City mothers who shared the same passion about Mandarin language and early childhood education. Their vision was to create a playful Mandarin immersion environment where their children will fall in love with learning Mandarin through creative and stimulating curriculum. Today, the mission of Mandarin Seeds remain the same. Not only will the children discover the joy in learning Mandarin, we want to cultivate a lifelong passion and appreciation of the Chinese language and culture. The Howard Hughes Corporation, in partnership with FiDi Families, and sponsor New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital will add a second month due to high demand inside the Community Cube (Fulton Street, between Front and South Streets) at the South Street Seaport Mondays, Wednesday and Friday’s thru February. Children will have a chance to partake in educational music, arts, crafts and technology. See website for future events in February.
The Lions Lego Zone at the NY Public Library (midtown)
Fri Feb 20th 1030a-12n in the NYPL Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Children’s Center at 42nd St. First come first served. Free. Bring your imagination and join us for 90 minutes of fun with LEGOs! Kids and their grown-up will have a chance to show off their building skills with LEGOs provided by the Library. Blocks of various sizes will be provided for children ages 2-4 and 5-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Space is limited. Tickets will be given out on a first come, first served basis starting at 10:30 AM. Please bring along a camera to take a pictures of your creation!
Movies @ The Library: Emmanuel’s Gift at the Brooklyn Central Public Library (Grand Army Plaza)
Fri Feb 20th 330-5p. Free. Dweck Center. 80 minutes, rated G.
Narrated by Oprah Winfrey, Emmanuel’s Gift tells the powerful and passionate story of a disabled orphan, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah from Ghana, who has risen above poverty and a severe physical challenge to become a hero and inspiration to people around the world. His first stunning act of heroism was riding a bike across Ghana on one leg in order to change his country’s negative perception of the disabled. Beautifully photographed and critically acclaimed, Emmanuel’s Gift is a compelling and inspirational story of courage and determination about a man who had nothing, but gave everything and changed a nation and its people forever.
Slice Family Night at Soul Cafe of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Bay Ridge)
Fri Feb 20th doors open at 545p. Tickets only available at the door: $20 per family. Art on the Corner! Come play with Global Arts to Go teaching artist, Joy Kelly Smith! Joy will lead us in African, Native American & Caribbean Folk Tales & Sing-a-longs. SLICE FAMILY NIGHT begins with a simple, kid-friendly meal [usually pizza, veggies, snacks & juice] at 5:45 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., a 45-60 minute family-interactive, engagingly creative activity/workshop led by an artist/specialist follows. After the fun, we’ll wrap-up and clean-up — everyone helps! Everyone will be on their way home between 7:30-8:00 p.m.
For more Friday events please click here!
Saturday February 21st
The Okee Dokee Brothers at Symphony Space (UWS)
Sat Feb 21st 11a. Adults $26, Members $22, Kids $16, Members $14
This GRAMMY winning Minnesota duo remind children (and their adults) of their intrinsic ability to discover, imagine, and create through music. With witty lyrics, off-the-wall humor, strong musicianship, and a unique folk/bluegrass style, prepare for a hoe-down without leaving the city.
Grace Drums at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Sat Feb 21st 1-12p and 2-220p. For all ages. Free with museum admission.
Cultural Connections Performance: Grace Drums. Using time-honored West African percussion instruments, music and vocals from African & Caribbean cultures as its foundation, GRACE DRUMS bridges the traditional to the contemporary, adding influences in R&B & vocal improvisation. The result is vibrant original music of drum and song with universal cross-cultural appeal.
Sunset Park Lunar New Year Celebration at the Sunset Park Recreation Center
Sat Feb 21st 12n-3p. Free. Welcome the Lunar New Year at Sunset Park Recreation Center! This annual event features Chinese folk performances, martial arts demonstrations, games for children, giveaways, and the Lion Dance.
Chinese New Year Celebration at Brooklyn Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
Sat Feb 21st 1-2p. Dweck Center. Free. Chinese Theatre Works’ Four Treasure traditional performing arts variety programs present a broad cross-section of classical and folk performing arts. We are introducing scintillating and exciting segments from well-known traditional pieces including Fan Dance from Kun Opera Peony Pavilion and Double Sword Dance. Four Treasure also presents folk dance pieces representing different culture of many minority peoples of China.
Dance with Mark Morris Dance Group (Fort Greene)
Sat Feb 21st 3-4p. Free. Dance with MMDG is a free, open level dance class taught each month by Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) dancers with live piano accompaniment.. No experience is necessary: all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. For this special 3-month series, the dancers will teach excerpts of the works they will perform at BAM this Spring. This is an unique and exciting opportunity to get familiar with the dance group’s repertory before seeing it on stage April 22 – 26.. For tickets and more information about this engagement, go to mmdg.org. This month, dancers Domingo Estrada Jr. and Laurel Lynch will teach excerpts from Grand Duo, which traditionally features 14 dancers, a violin, and a piano. The Boston Globe called Grand Duo, “…one of the most viscerally charged passages in the annals of modern dance.”
For more Saturday events please click here!
Sunday February 22nd
Rolie Polie Guacamole at Shapeshifter Lab (Gowanus)
Sun Feb 22nd doors 1030a, show 11a-12n. Price: Advance tickets $13.41 age 1+ or $42.39 for family of 4, at door: $15 each. Purchase tickets here. Rolie Polie Guacamole is a rocking “kindie” band from Brooklyn, NY that has steadily grown a devoted following of children and adults over the last few years, touring US. With top picks by Boston.com, Time Out Kids NY & Chicago, & Redtri.com, their high energy, interactive shows are a mix of funk, rock, ska, and folk music mashed into original tunes about natural living, eating healthy and staying active. The band’s two latest albums won Parent’s Choice Awards, Houses Of The Moly (Silver) & Triathlon (Fun-Stuff)!
Family Concert: Vered and the Babes at The Jewish Museum (UES)
Sun Feb 22nd 1130a-1230p. Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Children 2 and up. Jewish Museum Family Members: $15 Adults; $11 Children 2 and up. For ages 7 and under. Listen to the lush melodies and playful harmonies of Vered and the Babes. Their funny and poignant music is like an upbeat soundtrack to life with little ones. Hear catchy tunes from the hit album Good Morning My Love with “warmth enough to melt the polar ice cap,” says Parents’ Choice Foundation.
Losar Family Day: Himalayan New Year Celebration! At Rubin Museum of Art
Sun Feb 22nd 12n-4p. $10 per child. Join us for an afternoon of art, crafts, food, and music to celebrate Losar, the Himalayan New Year at the Rubin Museum of Art! Watch as a master artist creates a sand mandala, contribute to a giant collaborative mandala, construct colorful butter sculptures, and sip Himalayan butter tea. Go on a family gallery tour and enjoy traditional Tibetan music performances throughout the day!
16th Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
Sun Feb 22nd 1p. Free. Location: Begins (A) Canal Street & Mott Street, to Chatham Square at East Broadway, down East Broadway under the Manhattan Bridge, proceeding down Eldridge Street to Grand Street at Forsyth Street, ending at (B) Sara D Roosevelt Park. Let all of your friends and family know about the event and bring the whole family, friends, confetti, and lucky New Year trinkets! We wouldn’t mind if you dressed up as a goat neither! Baaa…
Figure 8 Play-Date with Sid the Science Kid at The LeFrak Center at Lakeside
Sun Feb 22nd 2-4p. Skating Admission: $8 Skate Rentals: $6 including tax. Come skate with Sid the Science Kid! As part of this special WNET Kids Club THIRTEEN character skate series, families are invited for an afternoon of fun-filled activities and excitement with their favorite PBS Character. Enjoy meet and greet on the ice and character-themed activities and arts and crafts.
For more Sunday events please click here!
All Weekend
Lunar New Year at the Prospect Park Zoo
Sat-Sun Feb 21st-22nd 12n & 230p. Free with zoo admission.
Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with our own barnyard mascots during this special weekend event. Learn about the zoo’s Year of the Sheep mascots! Also a puppet show with Chinese Theater Works will perform in our Wildlife Theater! And Pick up a scavenger hunt map and search for answers about zoo animals you might find in the lunar zodiac
Very Very Verrazano at New York Transit Museum (Downtown Brooklyn)
Fri-Sun Feb 20th-22nd 130p. For ages 5+. Free with museum admission. We’re working together to build a giant-sized model of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in our Education Center. Learn about the towers, anchorages, cables and deck that makes this suspension bridge an engineering marvel.
February School Vacation Week at Dimenna Children’s History Museum (UWS)
Fri Feb 20th–Sun Feb 22nd Free with Museum admission; All ages. The New-York Historical Society is celebrating President’s Day and Lunar New Year all week long! In honor of President’s Day, explore the Museum from top to bottom on a special Presidential Scavenger Hunt and create a silly, one-of-a-kind portrait of our founding fathers and mothers. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, stop by to hear a New Year’s story, see special dance performances, and learn all about the intricate art of Chinese paper cutting. Presidential Scavenger Hunt: Can you find the model of George Washington’s New York City home? Have you ever seen a photograph of the gloves Abraham Lincoln was wearing on the day he was assassinated? On this special scavenger hunt, families search for Presidential items and images located throughout the New-York Historical Society.
The LEGO Movie in 3D at the New York Hall of Science (Flushing)
Fri Feb 20th-Sun Feb 22nd 3-5p. $7 adults; $6 children, students and seniors, plus NYSCI admission. (Members: $3 per person; free for Family Explorer members.) Combo tickets include general admission and film and cost $20 for adults, and $15 for children, students and seniors. 101 minutes. Rated PG. An ordinary guy named Emmet is mistakenly identified as the Master Builder, the one who can save the universe. With the aid of an old mystic Vitruvius, a tough young lady named Lucy, and Batman, Emmet will fight to defeat the evil tyrant Lord Business who is bent on destroying the universe by gluing it together.
The Sleeping Beauty by Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Fri-Sun Feb 20th-22nd 1230p & 230p and Sat & Sun until March 29thp. For 4y+. Admission for a Child is $9, an Adult $10. No credit cards accepted. Reservations are suggested: 718-965-3391 (current day or advance reservations) or e-mail us: puppetworks@twcmetrobiz.com (NO same day e-mail reservations). The Sleeping Beauty – Perrault’s fairy tale adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Also playing President’s week February 16th-20th 1230p & 230p.
Family Storytime at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Crown Heights)
Sat & Sun 21st-22nd 12n-2p. In the Steinhardt Conservatory Lower Level. Adults $10 and children under 12 free. Join us for family storytime in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Kids under nine and their families will enjoy hearing stories about the magic of winter. Storytimes are drop-in style. Please park strollers outside Steinhardt Conservatory.
Culinary Kids Food Festival at the New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Mon Feb 16th-Sun Feb 22nd 10a-3p. Included in any All-Garden Pass. Programming is geared for children ages 4–12. As part of the Garden’s Edible Academy initiative, join NYBG and Carla Hall for a family-friendly, weeklong festival celebrating the relationships among plants, farms, and your favorite foods. ABC’s The Chew co-host, NYBG Edible Academy Committee Member, and celebrity chef Carla Hall will make a very special appearance on Monday, February 16, to host a live cooking demonstration. Explore the activity stations and the tropical treats in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with a kitchen notebook, and join Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden staff in the Conservatory Tent for ongoing Activity Stations and Culinary Workshops that take place at 11 a.m., 12, and 2 p.m. (first-come, first-served registration). Daily Cooking Demonstrations feature special guests preparing their appetizing kid-friendly recipes at 1 p.m.
Intrepid Museum’s Kids Week 2015 (Midtown West)
Fri Feb 20th & Sat Feb 21st 10a-5p. Kids Week activities, including planetarium presentations and special Tour Guide Talks, are free with general admission. Regular Museum activities such as Guided Tours and simulator rides require an additional fee. Take off for Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum! Kids Week is six days of fun-filled activities, hands-on engineering workshops, live shows and much more, all exploring FLIGHT. From the science of aviation to sustaining life in outer space, every day offers unique opportunities for discovery. Kids can learn how to grow food in space, create their own telescopes and master the physics of flight while making a perfect paper airplane. Families can learn about the stars in our pop-up planetarium, watch exciting science demonstrations or brace for a breathtaking display with live birds of prey. Each day features special guests and award-winning children’s book authors. Come investigate, tinker, play and imagine a soaring future!
CAMBUYÓN at The New Victory Theater (Times Square)
Fri Feb 20th-Sun Feb 22nd 12n & 5p. For ages 6+. Member tickets $10-$25 and full price tickets start at $15. Performance: 60 minutes with no intermission. When it comes to making instruments out of everyday objects, anything goes for the charismatic cast of CAMBUYÓN. Wooden crates, recycled glass bottles and even a small matchbox find new life in the hands and feet of this energetic ensemble. Through body percussion, tap dance, hip hop and drumming, these performers trade robust beats and cultural cadences to form unique rhythms with African, Irish, Spanish and American influences. Part dance, part music and every part exuberant, CAMBUYÓN makes the ordinary extraordinary.
Fancy Nancy The Musical at Vital Theatre Company (UWS)
Saturdays & Sundays 130p until May 5th. Tickets $30-$40. For ages 2-7y. More shows during midwinter break in February. See website for details. Fancy Nancy returns in Vital Theatre’s hit adaptation of “The Mermaid Ballet.” Nancy and her friends are going to be performing in their very first show, “Deep Sea Dances.” When another girl wins the coveted role of the mermaid, Nancy is stuck playing a dreary, dull tree. Can Nancy bring fancy flair to her role, even though it isn’t the one she wanted?
Jack and the Beanstalk at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
Tue–Fri 1030a & 12p, Wed 1030a, 12p & 230p and Sat & Sun 1p until June 26th. Tickets are $7/children and $10/adults. Based on the classic English fairytale, this fresh retelling of the Swedish Cottage original production takes Jack on an enchanting adventure up a magical beanstalk. In this starry new world, Jack encounters the notorious Giant, Milford, whose thieving ways have brought misfortune upon Jack and his mother. Determined to make life better for his family, Jack, with help from friends old and new, risks his life to take back what the Giant stole.
13th Annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal (Midtown East)
Now until February 22nd. M–F: 8a–8p, Saturday and Sunday: 10a–6p. (extended hours November 22n-December 24th – see website for details. Location: Shuttle Passage adjacent to the Station Master’s Office. Free. Lionel trains once again will capture hearts and imaginations at the Transit Museum where Metro-North, New York Central and subway trains depart from a miniature GCT. The Museum’s store and booth at the Holiday Gift Fair offer great gifts for your holiday shopping!
For a full calendar of events please click here!