January 5
Yee-Haw, Cowboy!
[All Ages]
Get ready to be lassoed in and “heel-toe” dance your way through 92Y’s Family Country Dance with live traditional American music. The dance card will include circle, line, square, and reel dancing. And in case you build up an appetite, everyone can bring a dish for the vegetarian potluck supper. Don’t forget your cowboy boots!
Children free, adults $15; 5:30-8:30pm, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, 92y.org
January 11 & 18
Get Dolled Up
[Ages 8+]
The time has come for American Girl’s big annual bash, the Girl of the Year 2013 Celebration, featuring the exclusive new character Saige. This star of the hour promotes change through art and imagination, and NYC girls can come out with their dolls to enjoy crafts, a Saige-themed table, and a dinner in the American Girl Cafeteria in her honor. Reservations required.
$33; 7:30pm. 609 Fifth Avenue, 212-371-2220, americangirl.com
January 12
Great Balls Of Fire!
[Ages 8+]
The hilarious yet daring stunt show KamiKaze Fireflies Performance is a two-man circus extravaganza filled with juggling, stilt walking, and fire breathing. Whether you’re 6 or 60, these Californian acrobatic performers have crazy jokes and airborne turns guaranteed to make you giggle and gasp. Who says the West Coast is all bad?
Children $15 (members $13), adults $25 (members $21), 11am and 2pm. 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org
January 18-27
From The Land Before Time
[Ages 6+]
All the way from Sydney, Australia, the life-like dinosaur puppet show of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo animates relics reminiscent of “Jurassic Park” characters onstage. The impressively convincing puppets take three to six months to construct and are sure to excite and educate any little paleontologist at the New Victory Theater. Audiences can meet the dinosaurs after the show, so be sure to bring the camera!
From $14 (members $9); times vary. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org
January 18-20
A Need For Speed
[All Ages]
Engines will be roaring at the Javits Convention Center when the International Motorcycle Show comes to NYC. In addition to the hundreds of sports bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, and more, the show boasts kid-specific programming like pedal-less bicycles for obstacle courses, motorcycles for climbing and photographs, as well as a Wall of Death stunt show.
Free for 5 & under, from $8 for 5+; times vary. 655 West 34th Street, 212-542-1990, motorcycleshows.com
January 19-February 16
Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
[Ages 3+]
The TADA! Youth Theater cast will be performing a theater adaptation of The Little Moon Theater, a children’s fairytale classic by Irene Haas. A travelling group of actors meets all types of characters on the journey, including a magical fairy godmother. Get ready for music, dancing, and a story that engages the imagination.
Children from $8, adults from $20; times vary. 15 West 28th Street, 212-252-1619, tadatheater.com
January 19-21
Good Ole’ Aluminum Chrome
[Ages 2 & Up]
Get ready to roll at Liberty Science Center’s Retro Science: Duct Tape Mania workshop. Families work together using two rolls of duct tape to complete various challenges, like constructing an article of clothing, creating a leg splint, waterproofing a broken dish, and sticking a family member (maybe a pesky brother?) to the wall.
Free for children under 2, children 2-12 and seniors $12.50, adults $16.50; museum admission included; 11am-3pm. 222 Jersey City Boulevard, New Jersey, 201-200-1000; lsc.org
International Motorcycle Show
January 19-March 3
From The Underground Railroad To The Subway
[Ages 7+]
Based on Jacqueline Woodson’s book, Show Way, the Vital Theatre audience follows a family of women through different generations on an amazing journey from slavery to the civil rights movement to modern-day New York. See how this special group keeps track of their roots by passing a quilt down as “show ways” for their daughters.
From $29.50; 11am and 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 2162 Broadway, 212-579-0528; vitaltheatre.org
January 20
Do The Mambo
[Ages 5+]
Get ready for a fantastically cultural and musical experience at Carnegie Hall Family Concert, Mambo Mania. Along with an 18-piece orchestra, Puerto Rican percussionist Eguie Castrillo, and singer Gilberto Santa Rosa will encourage the whole family to dance to the sweet sounds of the Caribbean.
From $9; 2pm. 881 Seventh Avenue, 212-262-0319, carnegiehall.org
January 21
“I Have A Dream”
[All Ages]
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a series of events to celebrate diversity in our community. Events include an arts & crafts session to build a “Friends in My Neighborhood” collage, a special reading of civil rights icon Ruby Bridges’ book Through My Eyes, and a extraordinary and inspirational performance by the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir.
Times and prices vary. 212 West 83rd Street; 212-721-1223; cmom.org
