Picks Of The Week: July 11-13

banner_image__webopfamjazz_byelizabethleitzell_1350 — WeBop Family Jazz Party

This weekend has some particularly special events, including the annual City of Water Day, Bastille Day on 60th Street, and Manhattanhenge, a stunning view of the sunset in New York. Take a nostalgic ride to Coney Island with the New York Transit Museum or participate in a WeBop family jazz party. Finally, don’t miss the chance to learn origami and special crafts at the Japan’s Star Festival!

Friday, July 11 & Saturday, July 12

Manhattanhenge
Hayden Planetarium
7pm
All Ages
Coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of Hayden Planetarium, “Manhattanhenge” refers to an annual event where the sun sets perfectly on the East- and West-numbered streets. This Friday and Saturday, the spectacular phenomenon can best be seen at 14th, 34th, 57th, and 79th Streets. Join the Hayden Planetarium for a special lecture before the sun sets! $15

Saturday, July 12

Coney Island Nostalgia Train Ride
New York Transit Museum
11am-5pm
All Ages
Head to the beach during this nostalgia-themed train ride to Coney Island! The New York Transit Museum is hosting a wonderful ride on R1/9 cars from the 1930s. The above- and below-ground journey will last 2 hours and end in an afternoon at the beloved beachside amusement park. Adults $50, Children $25

City of Water Day
Governors Island and Other Locations
All Day
All Ages
In celebration of the water that surrounds us and brings us together, the City of Water Day is a day-long, free event that the whole family will enjoy. The festival will be chock full of live music, food, and activities like on-the-water labs, a children’s activities fair, free boat tours, and much more! Free

WeBop Family Jazz Party
Jazz at Lincoln Center
1pm and 3pm
Recommended 8 months-7 years
Mr. Tim and the WeBop family band are honoring Louis Armstrong’s iconic Hot Five recordings during this family jazz party. Little music lovers will learn all about this legendary jazz and historical figure while singing, stomping, and strutting along. $20, non-walking babies are free

Sunday, July 13

Bastille Day
60th Street between Lexington and 5th Avenue
12pm-5pm
All Ages
Grab les enfants and head to Bastille Day on 60th Street this Sunday! This charming event commemorates France’s own Independence Day with a taste of culture, including live music and French cuisine. Hosted by the French Institute Alliance Française, the annual street fair also offers a famous prize drawing, artisanal crafts, and the Kid’s Corner, with arts and crafts, face painting, and more! Free

Japan’s Star Festival: Storytelling, Origami, and Tanabata Decorations
Japan Society
2pm
Recommended 3-10 years
Learn all about Japan’s famous Tanabata legends, Hikoboshi and Orihime, though storytelling and crafts. Part of the Tanabata tradition, guests will make paper ornaments, tanzaku (thin paper strips to write wishes on), and can decorate bamboo branches. $12, Children under 2 are free

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp offers five daily rotating activities such as swimming, ice skating gymnastics, rock climbing, parkour, indoor/outdoor turf, and courts plus more in its ample 175,000 sq. ft. facility and 35-acre outdoor area. Aviator Summer Camp also offers off-site and on-site field trips such as a day at Green Meadows Farm, Launch Trampoline Park, and a Brooklyn Cyclones game. The summer camp runs from 9 am-5 pm with early drop off and late stay available. Bus transportation is also available throughout Brooklyn. Lunch and an afternoon snack are included. Sign up by February 28th to receive up to $300 off camp with early bird discounts.

Adventuring Portal

<a name="m_-1473885667065203258__Hlk72147528"></a>Adventuring Portal runs Dungeons and Dragons (D&amp;D) games for kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have created a safe online space for tweens and teens to learn and play D&amp;D. Our D&amp;D Summer Camp session are a one-week experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Monday &ndash; Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Each day will be 3 hours of gaming (with 2 breaks build in).&nbsp;&nbsp;15 total gaming hours for $180.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you have played with us before, you are entitled to 10% off.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Need your kids, nieces or nephews, grand kids or neighbor&rsquo;s kids to be occupied for a bit so you can get work done &amp; take care of your to-do list? Maybe your tween or teen is still a bit isolated and craves connection with their peers? Whether your teen/tween has played D&amp;D before or is brand-new to the experience, this safe space brings players together to have fun and solve problems as a team in ways few other online opportunities do. All our games focus on experiential learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our players leave knowing all the basic game play as well as experiencing: teamwork, bravery, compassion, generosity, negotiation, improvisation, gamer etiquette, strategy, critical thinking, problem solving, cartography and probability - all through online D&amp;D adventuring! We are an inclusive organization and welcome gamers who are LGBTQIA+ and those on any spectrum.&nbsp; All girls&rsquo; groups available.&nbsp; I am a parent, a certified elementary school and middle school math teacher and last summer in the midst of the mess started&nbsp;Adventuring Portal, an&nbsp;online Dungeons &amp; Dragons&nbsp;business&nbsp;for kids. There are so many benefits to playing D&amp;D and I hope you will consider us as a great way for your child to safely socialize, grow as people and have a great time.

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.