
We know that there are days when all you want to do is stick the kids in front of the TV and veg at home. However, given this week’s selection of Picks of the Week event recommendations, we strongly encourage you to change out of your comfy PJs and accompany your children to any one of these happenings. You can’t go wrong with an American Indian Pow-Wow or a Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights concert. Happy Monday!
Thursday, January 30
Stone by Stone: The Family Benefit
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
5:30 pm-8 pm
This year’s annual Family Benefit at the Met Museum will center around architecture and the influence that ancient constructions have on buildings of the modern era. Activities include a 3D digital printing presentation, a make-your-own Japanese folding screen (an essential element in Japanese architecture) workshop, a building blocks play area for ages 5 and under, dancing and dinner in the museum’s re-creation of The Temple of Dendur, and more. Tickets are $175 for adults and $85 for children. Special ticket packages are available.
Beginning Friday, January 31
Thunderbird American Indian Dance & Pow-Wow
Theater for the New City
8 pm
The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, the oldest resident Native American dance troupe in NYC, will present their annual Dance Concert and Pow-Wow beginning this Friday. Made up of members from more than 10 different Native American tribes, the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers will perform such traditional dances as the Hoop Dance, the Buffalo Dance, the Stomp Dance, and others. There will also be storytelling and Native American jewelry, crafts, and food for sale. On Saturdays, kids will have the opportunity to join the dancers after the concert for photo ops. Tickets are $10; Saturdays: children under the age of 12 will be admitted for $1 with paying adult. Weekends through Sunday, February 9.
Saturday, February 1
Family Festival: Gallop Into The New Year
Museum of Chinese in America
11 am-4 pm
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) invites families with children of all ages to its Chinese New Year’s festival, celebrating the Year of the Horse. Featured festivities include a Chinese lion dance and workshop by the United East Athletic Association, two dance sessions with the Red Silk Dancers, storytelling, a rattle drum workshop, coffee filter flower making, Chinese calligraphy practice sessions, and much more. Admission is $10 per person, free for children under the age of 2. Advance reservations are recommended.
Saturday, February 1-Sunday, February 2
Sleeping Beauty Dreams
BAM Fisher’s Fishman Space
11 am & 3 pm
Mexican puppet company Marionetas de la Esquina will perform their hour-long rendition of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale in Brooklyn this Saturday and Sunday. Ideal for ages 5 through 8, “Sleeping Beauty Dreams” combines puppetry with video backdrops to produce a witty, modern version of the beloved children’s story. Saturday’s 3 pm performance will be performed entirely in Spanish. There will be an additional two performances on Saturday, February 8. Tickets are $12.
Sunday, February 2
Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights
The JCC in Manhattan
10 am-11 am
One of the leading artists of the “kindie” musical genre, Joanie Leeds and her band the Nightlights will return to the JCC in Manhattan this Sunday for a live one-hour concert! Ages 5 and up will enjoy this special performance, packed with tunes from her five children’s albums, including songs such as “Back to School”, “All the Animals”, and “I’m A Rock Star”. Admission is $18.