Picks of the Week: January 7-13

KamiKazi Fireflies; photo by TEngland on flickr

With the holiday season officially at an end, a lull in events for families might be expected, but we have good news for all you activity seekers out there! Upon further investigation, we discovered a few hidden gems in the world of citywide happenings. Take a look!

Friday, January 11

American Girl’s Girl of the Year Celebration
American Girl Store
7:30 pm
Girls ages 8 and up are invited to grab their favorite American Girl doll and head over to the American Girl store to celebrate the arrival of their newest doll, Saige. Her love of art and horseback riding will serve as inspiration for the evening’s crafts. Guests will also be treated to dinner in the store’s cafe. Reservations are required. Fee is $33 per person.

Saturday, January 12

KamiKaze Fireflies
Symphony Space
11am and 2pm
The KamiKaze Fireflies, an L.A. based circus duo, will be performing acrobatic stunts and death-defying feats at Symphony Space. All ages will not soon forget this one-of-a-kind show, infused with the pair’s trademark humor. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids.

Saturday, January 12-Sunday, January 13

MulchFest 2013
Various parks
10 am-2 pm
Still have your Christmas tree at home? Have it recycled into mulch for your backyard or garden! The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation invite all to participate in MulchFest 2013. Simply bring your tree to one of the many designated parks in the city, including Central Park and Riverside Park, and watch as it is transformed into wood chips that you can take home or leave for city to use to beautify the parks. Free.

Dance Workshop - Long Island

<p dir="ltr">Nestled in the heart of Lynbrook Village, 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 the Dance Workshop!</p> <p dir="ltr">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!</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b50ede03-7fff-ec65-8962-b3be9135d2e8"></span></p>

Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy

<p>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.</p>

Cucu's PlayHouse

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">Interactive, live-streaming music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers!<br />Join us every day from Monday through Saturday at 1:30 pm EST to sing, dance and play together while learning Spanish from your home.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">This class is part of a Spanish Immersion Program where your child will be introduced to basic concepts like the animals, colors, numbers and letters. All of these through the universal language of Music. Each session is fun, interactive and engaging.<br />A selection of Children Songs in Spanish guides the class from start to finish. Activities are related to the lyrics, in order to familiarize the children with the words and their meanings. Some of the songs encourage the children to dance. Nilda uses puppets, musical instruments, and props to teach children basic vocabulary through action and interaction, rather than through translation.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><br />The classes are streamed on Zoom's webinar platform. Participants (children, parents, nannies) are able to join the video from their homes and interact with us in real-time, it is a fun and engaging experience.</div>