Weekend Planner: December 14-16

Mummenschanz at the NYU Skirball Center

The holidays are in full swing in NYC! Our highlights for this weekend below is just a very, very tiny slice of the pie, so we also wanted to point you to our NYC Family Guide 2012. The holiday planner includes everything from delicious gingerbread workshops and creative “Nutcracker” adaptations to great Hanukkah celebrations and the best spots for meeting (and eating with) Santa–plus great holiday trees and windows and our big toy and grown-up gift guides. Happy Holidays!

 

STARTS FRIDAY

Deck the halls with…pistachio shells? The Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibit at The Arsenal is all about non-traditional materials. (Friday)

Mummenschanz, a mime show of another kind, is back at the NYU Skirball Center for illuminated adventures. Surreal! (Friday-Sunday)

The Nutcracker gets a New York twist (think 5th Ave shoppers and Rockefeller angels) with Manhattan Youth Ballet’s “The Knickerbocker Suites.” This week only! (Friday-Sunday)

Celebrate Hello Kitty’s upcoming book release with Betsey Johnson at Openhouse Gallery’s three-day festival. Get the feline scoop here. (Friday-Sunday)

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is as popular as ever with yummy Gingerbread Adventures and more! (Friday-Sunday) And for the train fanatic, New-York Historical Society’s Historic Trains and Toys Weekend brings treasure hunts, story time, and more to the locomotive fore. (Saturday-Sunday)

You can’t go wrong with ogres, monsters, and a fly-swatting ninja in Axis Theatre’s “Seven in One Blow.” Even better: proceeds go to charity. (Friday-Sunday)

 

STARTS SATURDAY

Citibabes’ Winter Wonderland Party is back and better than ever with crafts, a photo booth, a book fair, shows, and treats. Party on! (Saturday)

The JCC in Manhattan will be hoppin’ with Moey’s Music Party for Shabbat, presenting classic Hanukkah hits alongside Moey’s party tunes. And don’t forget the giveaway. (Saturday)

Crafts, West African dance moves, and Latin American sing-alongs–what’s not to love at El Museo del Barrio’s Super Holiday! Fest? (Saturday)

Get up close and personal with pumas, coyotes, red pandas, and more Queens and Prospect Park Zoos’ Presents to the Animals breakfast. For more critterly fun, The Art Farm in the City hosts weekend feedings year-round, too! (Saturday-Sunday)

The brand new Museum of Mathematics is opening its doors this weekend with interactive games and activities. Ready for fun learning? (Saturday-Sunday)

 

SUNDAY ONLY

The littlest of musicians can rock it out at the interactive, hour-long songs for seeds Winter Concert on the UWS. More details right here. (Sunday)

Get your groove on with Suzi Shelton, The Gumdrops, and Mil’s Trills for a kindie rockin’ time. Show of those moves! (Sunday)

One Ring Zero, the Brooklyn “quirk rock” band, celebrates Hanukkah with klezmer, theremin, and brass tunes, plus dreidel spinning and cookie decorating. All at 14th Street Y. (Sunday)

 

BONUS TIPS

Calling all interfaith families: How do you combine different celebrations of all faiths? 92Y helps families find a balance at its “The December Dilemma” talk this coming Monday.

Namaste! Yogi Beans and ivivva athletica are celebrating wellness in a Healthy Kids Holiday Extravaganza, also on Monday, with a day of yoga, arts & crafts, dance, food, and shopping.

Relevant Directory Listings

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Monster Mini Golf

<p>Upon entering Monster Mini Golf, all perceptions of traditional mini golf will be spirited away by the indoor, 18-hole, monster-theme, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course! The locations in <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Deer Park</a>, and <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/gardencity/">Garden City, NY</a> invite guests to experience a host of family-oriented fun activities. Whether visiting for the first time or the one hundredth, mini golfers feel the excitement and adventure of playing mini golf amidst spooktacular monsters and custom, glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted artwork. While testing their skill on the fairways, lively music flows over the course from the unique “WEIRD Radio” station” and an interactive DJ entertains golfers with contests, awarding cool prizes for the wackiest reasons. While the course is challenging enough for adults, it is also quite playable for children. Monster Mini Golf is open year-round and frightfully fun for the entire family. In addition to miniature golf and thrilling arcade and redemption games, the locations offer additional attractions. <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park, NY</a> offers a Laser Maze and a Virtual Reality experience. The Garden City location offers a Laser Maze, Bowling, and a Virtual Reality Experience. Two very posh, private party rooms are also available and are perfect for any event. Monster Mini Golf looks forward to making it a monstrous success. Monster Mini Golf is indoors, ensuring that the event will always take place, regardless of the weather. It is a climate-controlled, affordable source of family entertainment. For more details please visit <a href="http://monsterminigolf.com">monsterminigolf.com</a> or find them on Facebook.</p>

Play On! Studios

<p>Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games!</p> <p>Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun!</p> <p>Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show!</p> <p>During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we’ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us.</p> <p> </p>

Athletic Association of Yorkville Youths

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Serving the families and children of NYC for over 50 years with high-quality recreational activities that foster life-lessons which empower young people to succeed beyond sports. Our programs encourage positive attitudes and growth through teamwork and sportsmanship, attendance, fair play, respect, hard work, integrity and fun. Your child can participate in clinics and leagues in such sports as baseball, basketball, flag-football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, wrestling, track, and tennis. We also offer weekly dodgeball tournaments, drama and musical theater workshops, and after school programs.</span></p>