Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Visit Governors Island this weekend for the New York Transit Museum's Vintage Bus Bash; Photo by James Giovan via govisland.com. — Visit Governors Island this weekend for the New York Transit Museum’s Vintage Bus Bash; Photo by James Giovan via govisland.com.

As we begin the second week of July, head out for some summer fun at these rollicking event picks. Two dazzling dance options, a fabulous Frida Kahlo festival, a very vintage bus bash, and a fantastic Bastille Day celebration await you. Enjoy!

Beginning Thursday, July 9

Victory Dance
New Victory Theater
7pm
Don’t miss the first of the New Victory Theater’s “Victory Dance 2015” series. The New Vic has curated an amazing line-up of dance performances to introduce young audiences to New York City’s rich dance scene. While free performances will be offered at summer programs and schools, three ticketed evening performances on July 9, 16, and 23 at the New Victory Theater will be open to the public. This Thursday’s performance features Darrah Carr Dance, Zvidance, and the Urban Bush Women. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Tickets are $10.

Saturday, July 11

Midsummer Night Swing: LC Kids Dance
Damrosch Park
2:30pm
This Saturday, put on your dancing shoes and head to Damrosch Park for the LC Kids Dance. Part of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing Festival, Dancing Classroom instructors will teach children dance steps to the Salsa, Swing, Tango, and Merengue. Then families can enjoy a performance from the Dancing Classrooms Youth Company. No previous dance experience required. Recommended for ages 6-10. This event is free.

Saturday, July 11-Sunday, July 12

¡Viva La Frida!
New York Botanical Garden
10am-6pm
Celebrate the life of artist Frida Kahlo this weekend at the New York Botanical Garden during ¡Viva La Frida! This two-day festival will feature a flower crown making workshop, an art procession of paper mâché butterflies by Bronx artist Lucrecia Novoa, and live dance and music performances from Calpulli Danza Mexicana and Mariachi Flor de Toloache. Plus, on Saturday, stick around for the Frida Look-Alike Contest (children and men are welcome to enter)! Free with garden admission.

Vintage Bus Bash
Governors Island
11am-4pm
The New York Transit Museum’s Vintage Bus Bash on Governors Island provides the perfect opportunity to introduce children to vintage city buses. This two-day fest will feature four of the museum’s buses from the ’40s and ’50s, including the first air-conditioned bus in the nation–bus 2969–the same model that Jackie Gleason’s character, Ralph Kramden, drove in The Honeymooners, and more. This event is free.

Sunday, July 12

Bastille Day On 60th Street
60th Street (between Fifth and Lexington Avenues)
12pm-5pm
Celebrate Bastille Day at New York City’s ultimate street fair in honor of the French Independence Day holiday, presented by the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)! You won’t want to miss the champagne tastings, free film screenings, and a chance to win a free trip to Paris at this fun-filled Francophone afternoon. Admission is free; tickets for wine, cheese, cocktails, and beer tastings are $25.

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.

Elf the Musical

They'll sing loud for all to hear. You can bring the Christmas cheer. Start decking the halls, people &ndash; it's Elf The Musical! After a decade away, the beloved holiday classic is back on Broadway for a strictly limited run. Whether you&rsquo;re searching for the perfect stocking stuffer or a festive outing for the whole family, this family-friendly show is packed with joy, laughter, and snow-covered magic. A musical comedy adaptation of the hit 2003 film, Elf The Musical follows Buddy the orphan who, after being raised by elves at the North Pole, embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and help the people he meets rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. Academy Award&reg; nominee Sean Astin ("Lord of the Rings") is Santa Claus alongside Tony Award&reg; nominee Grey Henson as Buddy, Drama Desk Award nominee Ashley Brown as Emily, and rising star Kayla Davion as Jovie. Plus, keep an eye out for social media celebrity Kalen Allen &ndash; known for his appearances on "The Ellen Show" &ndash; as the hilarious store manager. Called &ldquo;a slickly irresistible and fizzily enjoyable confection of a show&rdquo; (Time Out), this holly-jolly hit is one you won't want to miss. Through January 4 only!

Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy

The Morgan Library &amp; Museum will present a major exhibition devoted to the life and career of its inaugural director, Belle da Costa Greene (1879&ndash;1950). Widely recognized as an authority on illuminated manuscripts and deeply respected as a cultural heritage executive, Greene was one of the most prominent librarians in American history. The exhibition will trace Greene&rsquo;s storied life, from her roots in a predominantly Black community in Washington, D.C., to her distinguished career at the helm of one of the world&rsquo;s great research libraries. Through extraordinary objects―from medieval manuscripts and rare printed books to archival records and portraits―the exhibition will demonstrate the confidence and savvy Greene brought to her roles as librarian, scholar, curator, and cultural executive, and honor her enduring legacy.