Picks of the Week: October 1-7

It’s the start of a brand new month! To shake things up a bit, instead of featuring our favorite event picks of the week, let’s highlight a few new and returning exhibits (and a seasonal performance) happening this month and beyond. Happy October!

Wednesday, October 3-Saturday, November 3
“Hansel & Gretel’s Halloween Adventure”
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre
Various times
In this puppet production sequel to the classic fairy tale Hansel and Gretel meet an assortment of magical characters on All Hallows Eve. Tickets are $8/adult and $5/child under 12.

Saturday, October 6-Sunday, October 7
Open House New York
Various locations citywide
Times vary
Some of New York’s most stunning buildings open to the public this weekend for America’s largest architecture and design event, otherwise known as Open House New York. Don’t miss this chance to glimpse cool architecture that’s usually off-limits, with plenty of kid-friendly activities to boot.

Saturday, October 6-Tuesday, May 28
The Butterfly Conservatory
American Museum of Natural History
10 am-5:45 pm
The Butterfly Conservatory is back at the American Museum of Natural History! Over 500 of winged creatures can be found fluttering through the conservatory during this seasonal exhibition. Butterfly lovers of all ages will learn about the caterpillar transformation process and other fascinating butterfly facts.

Through Sunday, February 24
“Marvels and Monsters” and “Alt. Comics” Exhibits
Museum of Chinese in America
11 am-6 pm
MOCA’s two new exhibits focus on cultural perceptions, specifically of Asian Americans, in the American comic book world. “Marvels and Monsters” depicts the history of Asian characters in U.S. comics between 1942 and 1986, while “Alt. Comics” focuses on present-day Asian American comic book artists and their reinvention of the genre’s heroes. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Free with museum admission.

Ongoing
da Vinci Surgical Robot Exhibit
Liberty Science Center
Various times
The Liberty Science Center’s newest addition to their permanent collection, the da Vinci Surgical Robot, lets young, wannabe surgeons show off their hand-eye coordination expertise with challenging tasks and games using remote controlled robotic arms on a plasma screen. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Free with museum admission.

Treehouse Shakers

<div>Treehouse Shakers&rsquo; Branching OUT After-School program is for ages 12-14. This awarded program is for young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or are seeking to become better allies. Branching OUT centers on discovering and exploring one&rsquo;s story and identity through an intentionally artist-led format. During our community-based program, young people will explore and reflect on their own story to create a larger, more meaningful experience, while gaining self-empowerment and gathering with like-minded peers. Through the guidance of our awarded teaching artists, young people will create narratives that will be turned into podcasts, dances, songs or poetry.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Young people have the opportunity to learn new art forms, work with professional artists, while building a meaningful community.</div>

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School&rsquo;s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.</span></p>

Instituto Cervantes

<p><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">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.</span></p>