APP

Broadway Gets Ducky

The award-winning A Duck In New York City picture book has finally hit the iPad in all its singing and dancing glory. This wildly entertaining tale tells the story of a small town prairie duck with big dreams of dancing on Broadway. He arrives in NYC only to have his confidence shaken by a series of challenges. But self-esteem is restored through his relationship with truck driver Big Betty. The little quacker’s trials and triumphs are entertaining for children and parents alike as jazz music amplifies the adventure. Read the text yourself, have the book read to you or play the story as an animated film. For more information, visit itunes.apple.com.

DRINK

Hot Chocolate Fest

February 1st marks the beginning of the 19th Annual Hot Chocolate Festival at City Bakery in Chelsea! The month offers up to 28 unique flavors starting with Banana Peel Hot Chocolate and ending with a Surprise Finale Hot Chocolate. In between, you can treat yourself to tastes like Bourbon (for the days when your cocoa needs a little extra kick). And City Bakery is unique in that none of its chocolatey creations are made from mixes, powders or concentrates. Each cup of hot goodness is created from pure melted chocolate bars to ensure a truly magical taste. And did we mention homemade marshmallows? For more information on the festival and a complete list of the flavors, visit thecitybakery.com.

ACTIVITY

Black History For Families

Celebrate Black History Month with dancing, museum visits and a walking tour in the city. Kids 5 and under can blast off to outer space and learn about Mae Jamison, the first African American female astronaut. Find out how she lived and worked in space. Tuesday, February 21, 11:30am and 2:30pm, Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Or put on your dancing shoes for Family Swing Dancing lessons at the Morris-Jumel Mansion. The event is free, but advance registration is required. Tuesday, February 21, 11am-12pm. And finally, teens will enjoy celebrating African American history by learning about Harlem on a Big Onion Walking Tour. See the sites associated with Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois, the Harlem Renaissance and much more. February 4, 1pm; February 17, 1pm; February 26, 11am. For more information on these events and others, see our Family Calendar at newyorkfamily.com/events.

MUSIC

A Sweet CD And Concert

The Bari Koral Family Rock Band is gearing up to release its sophomore album Anna And The Cupcakes. This funky follow-up to the band’s award-winning debut, Rock and Roll Garden, is sure to delight fans of all ages. Led by acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter Bari Koral, this 10-song CD ranges in style from blues to pop and even has some country tracks thrown in. If you want to be the first to score this new CD, check out their performance on Sunday, February 12 at the Rockefeller University Caspary Auditorium where free cupcakes are promised to all CD purchasers! For more information, visit barikoral.com.

SERVICE

Eco-Friendly Diaper Delivery

For city families weighing the pros and cons of disposable diapers, diaperkind has come to the rescue. A full service diaper laundering facility serving all five boroughs, diaperkind offers parents a convenient option that’s also environmentally conscious. The way it works is simple: a clean batch of diapers is delivered to your door at the beginning of each week in a waterproof laundry bag that doubles as a diaper pail liner. Toss dirtied diapers into the hamper bags to be picked up at the end of each week. All for a flat fee! And diaperkind uses plant-derived detergent to simplify your life and clear your conscience. For more information, visit diaperkind.com.

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