Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Puppetkabob's "The Snowflake Man" will be performed this Saturday at Symphony Space! Photo via symphonyspace.org. — Puppetkabob’s “The Snowflake Man” will be performed this Saturday at Symphony Space! Photo via symphonyspace.org.

Welcome to another holiday edition of Picks of the Week! On our radar this week are a couple of festive holiday concerts, a seasonal puppet performance, and two Hanukkah events in honor of the Festival of Lights. Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 14-Sunday, December 18

Jazz at Lincoln Center: Big Band Holidays
The Rose Theater
Wednesday-Saturday: 8pm; Sunday: 2pm
Jazz up your holiday season with a performance by legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The band will perform classic holiday tunes from its Big Band Holidays album as well as new arrangements of “Silver Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Guest vocalist Catherine Russell will also join the musicians for some of her favorite songs. Tickets start at $65.50.

Saturday, December 17

Puppetkabob: “The Snowflake Man”
Symphony Space
11am & 2pm
Performed by Sarah Frechette and her award-winning puppet company, “The Snowflake Man” is sure to be a holiday treat. Stop in and enjoy a puppet show based on the true story of a scientist-farmer who became the first person in the world to capture a photo of a snowflake. Take a trip back to the 1920s, and see the entire story unfold at Symphony Space. Tickets are $17.

Sunday, December 18

Hanukkah Family Day
The Jewish Museum
12-4pm
The Jewish Museum is throwing a jam-packed day of Hanukkah fun for ages 3 and up. Make hand-printed Hanukkah cards to send out to family and friends, create fantastic and innovative dreidels, and jam out with Shira Kline as she performs a musical re-enactment of the Hanukkah story. Plus explore the museum with spotlight tours and printed family guides. Free with museum admission.

Hanukkah Playhouse
Merkin Concert Hall
1pm
Usher in the eight days of Hanukkah during Sean Hartley’s special music/comedy celebration. With audience participation games, songs, stories, and sing-alongs, the Hanukkah Playhouse at Merkin Concert Hall teaches all there is to know about this special holiday. Show up early and enjoy a Hanukkah book fair, food, music, and storytelling in the lobby. Tickets are $20.

Carnegie Hall Family Holiday Concert: The New York Pops
Carnegie Hall
3pm
Steve Reineke will lead the New York Pops’ family holiday concert as the orchestra plays a musical tribute to “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Bring the entire crew to this joyful event and celebrate the holiday season! Tickets start at $10.

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Saf-T-Swim

For over 35 years, Saf-T-Swim Swim School has been teaching lifesaving swimming skills throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and now Little Neck. The school is proud to be Long Island's #1 swim school and a leader in water safety education. With swim programs for infants as young as 4 months, beginners, and advanced swimmers, Saf-T-Swim offers swimming programs for every age and skill level. Discover why generations of Long Islanders have trusted Saf-T-Swim time and time again with equipping their little ones the essential skill of swimming. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Penguin Coding School

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Penguin Coding School believes that <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">anyone can code<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The most compelling motivation for learning to code is that it enables building something kids can call their own. What makes this approach "worth it" for the kids is that at the end of the road, they see that their code actually does things in the real world. Not in some playpen, but in the real Internet where anyone can access it.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Programs:<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Penguin Coding School <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">provides comprehensive coding education to kids ages 5-18. In-person &amp; Online classes are available in Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, Python, Javascript, Java, Robotics, and Mobile Apps. Their small class size, award winning teachers and age-appropriate curriculum ensure every child will learn coding with a smile. Penguin Coding has in-person classes and summer camps in Cobble Hill and Park Slope, as well as three Massachusetts locations. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Trial Classes:&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up for our award-winning<a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://penguincodingschool.com/freetrial?utm_campaign=FreeTrials&amp;utm_source=NYF&amp;utm_medium=Directory"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">free trial classes</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They offer a 60 minute free trial class in Scratch, Python, Roblox, Java, Robotics and much more! Appropriate for absolute beginners as well as those with some experience (trial classes are used to place students in the right level).

The Little Gym of Bay Ridge- Bensonhurst

At The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurt, we specialize in unique, educational classes that revolve around active play. We give children a safe and inspiring space to direct their energy, build confidence, and develop key skills. Explore the range of classes we offer at The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst to find the one that&rsquo;s just right for your child.&nbsp;