Weekend Planner: March 16-18

Contributor: Meghan Gearino

Great for young birds 4 to 8 years old—the New Victory Theater’s premiere
of the musical Lucky Duck brims with themes
of self-confidence and acceptance. (Tip: Don’t miss the ticket giveaway!)

The fourth annual Focus 2012 exhibition on the Upper West Side spotlights a wide array
of children’s artwork, through mediums like animation and photography.

Check out the ha-ha-hilarious family clown show, That Beautiful Laugh, at La MaMa featuring
comedy and live music.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Celebrate the cherry blossom season at the American Museum of Natural History’s
Japan Fest. Festive activities include flower-arranging, origami and shadow
puppet performances.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

ST. PATTY’S PICK: Skip to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum this weekend for the Luck O’ the
Green fest. Lads and lasses ages 2.5 to 5 years old can learn all about Irish
traditions through food and crafts.

Make your way to where
the wild things are at the Children’s Museum of the Arts for the opening weekend of Misaki
Kawai’s Love From Mt. Pom Pom. Paintings,
sculpture and animation create the world of Mt. Pom Pom, where animals roam
free.

Find out what happens to StinkyKid Britt when
she gets a huge wad of gum stuck in her hair at the Vital Theatre’s hilarious
new musical, Stinky Kids.

SATURDAY

Strand Books is hosting a real “paige-turner!” This Saturday features
a reading by Laura Lee Gulledge from her book Page by Paige, and will also include a self-portrait arts and crafts
session.

ST. PATTY’S PICK: March up Fifth Avenue for the annual NYC St.
Patrick’s Day Parade. The hoopla begins at 44th Street and winds down at 86th Street. (Tip: It starts at 11am sharp, so be sure get there early to snag a great view!)

Cook with iCarly star Reed Alexander at Williams Sonoma in Columbus Circle. Learn how to make
healthy and scrumptious food like turkey burgers and strawberry coconut
kewlers.

Two classics in one
afternoon:
Head to Symphony Space for a 3D glow-in-the-dark puppet performance of both The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare, featuring
classical and contemporary tunes.

ST. PATTY’S PICK: Get creative with the
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Projects include
shamrock collages, rainbow mobiles and painting a mural.

SUNDAY

Put on your dancing shoes and head to Le Poisson Rouge for Baby Loves Disco—one
big afternoon dance party for the entire family (especially ages 0-5) to enjoy.
Yes, there will be bubbles.

We love storytime at The Dimenna
Children’s History Museum. This Sunday, you’ll
hear Marchita: A Nineteenth-Century
American Girl, the true tale of an African-American girl born free and
raised right here in NYC during the 1800s.

Head out to Streits
Matzo Factory on the Lower East Side for Passover Palooza featuring the Mama Doni Band.
Hear great music, chow on some matzo and even tour the factory to discover how
matzos are made.

Get real ridiculous with The Jimmies at the
world release of their newest CD, Practically
Ridiculous. 92YTribeca is throwing them a gleeful party with plenty of
dancing!

Attend The Paper Bag
Players’
performance of Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! at
the Jewish Museum where you’ll meet a paper bag dragon and dancing broom.

Marvel at the graceful efforts of The Peridance Youth Ensemble at their Spring
Choreographers Showcase. Proceeds will benefit various after school programs
like University Settlement and Free Arts NYC.

For
even more events and activities this weekend and beyond, check out our Family Calendar.

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