Picks of the Week: January 6-12

Photo by USCPSC, courtesy of John Reid/Cleveland Browns via flickr

Now that we’ve had our first (and hopefully the season’s last) giant snowstorm, let’s look ahead to this week’s events. Parents will be pleased to note that all of the upcoming selections will be held indoors, where Mother Nature can’t wreak havoc. Take your pick from an NFL exhibit, a new IMAX film, a fest dedicated to all things yucky, and more. Happy Monday!

Beginning Wednesday, January 8

You Make the Call: Learn to be an NFL Official
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
10 am-5 pm
Ever wondered how those NFL refs make crucial calls during nail-biting games? Now you can learn what it takes to be an NFL official at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. This coming Wednesday, in honor of Super Bowl XLVIII, the museum, in conjunction with the National Football League, will open its newest exhibit, You Make the Call. Through the end of February, kids will be treated to clinics, installations, and more dedicated to the importance of youth sports in today’s day and age. Visitors will also get to experience Play60, the NFL’s fitness program for children. Free with museum admission.

Beginning Friday, January 10

IMAX: Mysteries of the Unseen World
American Museum of Natural History
Various times
Calling all science and nature lovers! The American Museum of Natural History invites all to view their latest IMAX film, Mysteries of the Unseen World. Through the power of time-lapse photography, nanotechnology, and electron microscopy, audiences will witness phenomena previously unseen to the naked human eye. Get up close and personal with creatures like aphids and cat fleas for an understanding of how utterly complex and fascinating our world is when magnified. Will be shown in 2D and 3D digital. Free with a “General Admission Plus One” ticket.

Saturday, January 11

DiNO-Light
Symphony Space
11 am & 2 pm
Dinosaurs will once again roam the earth during DiNO-Light, a Corbain Visual Arts & Dance and Lightwire Theater production featuring 3D, glow-in-the-dark wire puppets and props. This dialogue-free performance gets an added shot of adrenaline from its pop and orchestral music which enhance its original story. Please note: Young children may be wary of the dark theater. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids.

Saturday, January 11-Sunday, January 12

IckyFest 2014
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
10 am
Head over to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum this weekend for IckyFest 2014. All ages will get a kick out of the ooey gooey, creepy crawly and just plain gross activities that the museum has in store. There will be a bug petting zoo, a carnivorous plants demo, an ocean creatures presentation, a make-your-own slime workshop, and musical performances from Shake, Rattle & Roll and The Trummytones. Free with museum admission.

Sunday, January 12

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College
2 pm
Families with children ages 4 and up are invited to the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts for their production of Alexander the the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. As you may have surmised from the title, Alexander is having a rotten day; one that includes a dessert-less lunch and a face-off with dreaded lima beans for dinner! Based on the best-selling children’s book by Judith Viorst, this musical will please anyone who has ever had a less-than-perfect day. Tickets are $7.

Play On! Studios

Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games! Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun! Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we&rsquo;ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us. &nbsp;

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

Dance Workshop - NY

Nestled in the heart of the UES, Dance Workshop is a community-focused studio committed to dance education in a loving and safe environment. Dance Workshop offers Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro for ages 2+. They also offer a Pre-Professional Company track for dancers interested in taking their technique to the next level. Trial classes may be scheduled with the studio at the start of the season. Dance with Dance Workshop! MaryAnn Grasso founded Dance Workshop in 1979. Her daughter Nanci later joined her at the helm and in 2016 established Dance Workshop on the Upper East Side of NYC. MaryAnn and Nanci have devoted their lives to dance education, community and the development of children; raising dancers and sound human beings alike. Dance Workshop has seen thousands of dancers pass through the doors. They believe dance has the power to elevate and change lives!