Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities in NYC (April 25-27)

Grooviks — The Rubik’s Cube exhibit at the Liberty Science Center

HOT OFF THE BLOG

*If your child has a teacher you really appreciate, take a minute to nominate that teacher for a Blackboard Award For Teachers. We welcome nominations for NYC teachers from all grade levels (nursery through high school) and from all systems (public, private, charter, and parochial). Click HERE to nominate a teacher!

*April 26-27, America’s largest and longest–running sustainability and green living event, is coming to NYC, Pier 94 (55th St. & West Side Highway). Bring the entire family to shop, taste, and enjoy the best in green with a special Family Zone! Get 50 percent off your tickets with the code NYFAM14. Click HERE for more info!

*A panel of successful moms will discuss the tricks to starting a company while raising a family at the 2nd Annual Mom Moguls Breakfast on May 7, hosted by Divalyssicious Moms. Click HERE for more info & special discount!

*Who’s up for a free Mother’s Day lunch? New York Family readers have a chance to attend one of three Mommybites’ Mother’s Day Luncheons, May 5-7, for free (there are 10-20 free tickets available for each event). Click HERE for an exclusive code to get your chance to attend for free!

*The school admissions process, whether for public or private school, is intimidating. Seek guidance through a series of “Life After Nursery School” workshops run by Dr. Robin Aronow. For the details, click here.

*The Hort’s 17^th annual New York Flower Show dinner dance takes place at the Pierre on Monday, April 28^th. Read all about it here.

WEEKEND PLANNER

STARTING FRIDAY

*Join the New York Children’s Theater Festival at the West Side YMCA for four new shows every weekend (think Pinocchio and Cinderella). Take a seat! (Friday to May 18)

*General Mischief Dance Theater brings an amazing show inspired by Shel Silverstein’s poems to The Connelly Theater. Prepare for wonder! (Friday to May 4)

*Celebrate Arbor Day at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park with games, activities, and crafts. Learn all about trees! (Friday)

STARTING SATURDAY

*At Jersey City’s Liberty Science Center, the “Beyond the Rubik’s Cube” exhibit will allow guests to take an in-depth peek into one of the world’s most popular toys. Play time! (Saturday to December)

*Enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms and learn about Japanese culture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden during the annual Sakura Matsuri festival. Bring a camera! (Saturday to Sunday)

*The Green Festival offers the widest selection of products and services to work green, play green, and live green. A Family Zone features puppet shows and live music. Go Green! (Saturday to Sunday)

*In New Victory’s funny, quirky show, “Fluff: A Story of Lost Toys,” join the plaid-clad family, the Ginghams, as they help lost toys find a home. Enjoy the show! (Saturday to May 4)

*At Carnegie Hall, Natalie Merchant is perfoming songs from her album “Leave Your Sleep,” which translates nursery rhymes and lullabies from 19^th– and 20^th-century poets into beautiful refrains for children. Stay awake! (Saturday)

*“Samantha Spade, Ace Detective: The Case of the Maltball Falcon” is a hilarious musical presented by TADA Theater. Solve the mystery! (Saturday to May 18)

*It’s National Poetry Month, and a special poetry festival for all ages will be held at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. Get poetic! (Saturday to Sunday)

*This year’s Tribeca Family Festival and Street Fair brings you live Broadway performances, arts and crafts, video games, film screenings, and more for free. Head downtown! (Saturday)

STARTING SUNDAY

*The cellist Steven Isserlis will introduce children to the wonders of classical composers in a family concert at 92Y. Learn something new! (Sunday)

*The talented JACK Quartet explore new territory in the classical string genre at the Brooklyn Public Library. Listen up! (Sunday)

*Meet and greet children’s book author and illustrator Todd Parr at Books of Wonder. Get his autograph! (Sunday)

*The New York Philharmonic is presenting its third show in the Very Young People’s Concert series at Merkin Concert Hall. The theme this time? Percussion. Hear the beat! (Sunday)

Click here for our full calendar of events!

Manhattan Mandarin

Manhattan Mandarin runs the Mandarin after-school programs at over 40 schools nationwide, including St. Bernard's, Chapin, Allen-Stevenson, and Buckley. Whether in schools, students' homes, in the office, online, or on our beloved China trips, our teachers and tutors have helped hundreds of students of all ages master the Mandarin language on their own unique paths to fluency. Our philosophy has always been to make private lessons and classes perfectly tailored for each individual student. We look forward to working with you. - Jamie Keyte, Founder

Atlantic Acting School

Looking for a fun and exciting theater program for kids and teens? Join us at the Atlantic. Our programs are intense, exciting and fun!

Young Actors at Strasberg

Young Actors at Strasberg&nbsp;offers a comprehensive array of acting programs for students in grades 2 &ndash;&nbsp;12. Classes provide kids and teens with a foundation in Lee Strasberg's Method Acting and the tools to succeed in the professional industry &ndash;&nbsp;all while maintaining a fun and playful environment. Programs are tailored to encompass students at all levels, from those just beginning their acting journey to Broadway veterans and professional child actors. Young Actors at Strasberg alumni include Lady Gaga, Sophia Lillis, Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Rosario Dawson! Young Actors&nbsp;Programs are available online and in-person at our New York Campus, located in Union Square. Saturday, After-School and Online classes are offered during the traditional school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and Monday through Friday day camps and intensives are held in&nbsp;July and August. About The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute: Founded in 1969 by Lee and Anna Strasberg, The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute is the only school that teaches Lee Strasberg's work in its complete and authentic form. The Institute's goal is to provide students with a craft that will help them create a reality and respond truthfully in imaginary circumstances, regardless of the style or form of material being used. LSTFI is proud to have award-winning alumni from around the world working as writers, directors, and actors in all mediums.