The Culture Club

Meet the Artist Saturdays: “Hip Hop
Shakespeare” at Lincoln Center
On Saturday, January 8th, families can introduce their children to the
magical world of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet and more with the January
installment of Lincoln Center’s popular kids program Meet The Artist Saturdays: “Hip Hop
Shakespeare.” The workshop will feature a performance from The Point of Entry
Theater Company, who will re-mix Shakespeare’s classic works with a modern hip
hop beat and catchy raps that will have families clutching their sides with
laughter—and learning a thing or two! The show is free, appropriate for kids
ages 5 and up and begins at 11 a.m. 70
Lincoln Center Plaza, 212-875-5456; lincolncenter.org/atrium.

“Brain: The Inside Story” Exhibition at the American Museum of Natural
History
Families can learn about the inner workings of the human brain at a fascinating
new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Kids can see a
three-pound preserved brain, walk through a tunnel of firing neurons and
challenge themselves to brain-teaser games. The exhibit, which is divided into
seven categories like “Your Emotional Brain,” “Your Thinking Brain” and “Your
Changing Brain,” also introduces the latest findings in neuroscience and
showcases new technologies that researchers use to study the brain and treat conditions
such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
1 West 79th Street, 212-769-5100; amnh.org.(Photo credit: AMNH/ D.Finnin)

Grandparent/Grandchild Program at the New York Police Museum
Dedicated to preserving the history of the New York Police Department, the New
York Police Museum
boasts tons of hands-on educational exhibits for kids. Beginning on January
11th, the museum will debut its new Grandparent/Grandchild Program, in which
guests can come to the museum on Tuesday afternoons for activity play in the
Junior Officer Discovery Zone, an interactive exhibit that allows kids to
operate a police car, learn codes that actual policemen use, and make crime
scene observations. Admission is $5 for grandparents and grandchildren under 5;
registration is not required. 100 Old
Slip, 212-480-3100; nycpolicemuseum.org.

“Raising Citizens:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival” at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Families can celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. day all weekend at CMOM with
the museum’s fun-filled and inspiring “Make a Difference Medal” workshop.
Children will learn about Dr. King and his legacy, discuss the role they can
play in making a difference in the world, and make a medal that shows their
promise to make a positive change in their communities. For children ages 5 and
up; workshops take place at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
and 4 p.m. from January 15-17. 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223; cmom.org.

“Alice In Wonderland” at Puppetworks
From January 15th to April 17th, the Brooklyn
marionette masters at Puppetworks will present Lewis Carroll’s famous adventure
“Alice In Wonderland” with the help of intricately crafted puppets and a
gorgeous set. The puppet production will feature much of the novel’s colorful
imagery—such as the Mad Hatter’s tea party and the disappearing Cheshire
cat—and is recommended for children ages 3 and up. Tickets are $7 for children,
$8 for adults. 338
Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-965-3391; puppetworks.org. (Photo: TA Smith)

“Who Is Louis
Armstrong?” at Jazz At Lincoln Center
On January 29th, Jazz at Lincoln
Center’s popular Jazz for Young
People program will bring the music and charm of Louis Armstrong to music
lovers of all ages. Led by trumpeter Sean Jones, this workshop and concert will
teach guests why Satchmo is known as “the first genius of jazz” and showcase
his irrepressible charm, wit and talent. Rose Theater, 33 West 60th
Street; 212-258-9800; jalc.org.

“Sculpting the Himalayas” Family Workshop at the Rubin Museum
Families can build and move mountains every Saturday throughout
the month of February at the Rubin Museum’s
workshop “Sculpting the Himalayas.” Children ages 6 and
up and a parent will take inspiration from the museum’s galleries to build
snow-capped Himalayas, rivers, shrines and symbols from clay, fabric and mixed
media. Workshops take place at 2 p.m.
150 West 17th Street; 212-620-5000; rmanyc.org. Photo: (Joanne Chan)

 “Picturing People”
Family Workshop at the Whitney Museum
Say cheese! On select Saturdays in February, families can take part in the Whitney
Museum’s “Picturing People”
workshop, in which museum guests will explore pictures
of individuals in various media and learn the fundamentals behind portraits,
posing and profiles. Workshop admission is $10 per family and includes museum
admission; pre-registration is required. 945 Madison Avenue, 212-570-3600; whitney.org.

Milkshake Concert at Symphony Space
On February 5^th, Grammy nominated and mom-run kiddie rock group
Milkshake, who plays tunes inspired by everyone from Rodgers and Hammerstein to
The White Stripes, will hit the stage at Symphony Space’s Just Kidding Series.
Fronted by singer Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehl—whose music for adults
has been featured in movies and primetime television—will charm adults and kids
alike with their endearing lyrics and authentic rock n’ roll spirit. Tickets
range from $13-$27; the show begins at 11 a.m.
Peter J. Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway at
95th Street; symphonyspace.org.

The Haitian Children’s Day Celebration at
the Children’s Museum of the Arts
Introduce your children to the art and culture of Haiti
by attending the Children’s Museum of the Arts and the Caribbean Cultural
Center African Diaspora Institute’s Haitian Children’s Day Event on February
5th. Families will be able to enjoy interactive workshops inspired by Haitian
and folk art, live musical and dance performances and more. Festivities take
place between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. 182 Lafayette Street, 212-941-9198; cmany.org.

Cinderella
at the New York Theatre Ballet
Introduce your child to the magic
of dance with the New York Theatre Ballet’s “Once Upon A Ballet” spring
performances, all of which are geared toward children ages 3-12. On February
12th and 13th, the NYTB will present Donald Mahler’s beautifully imagined
production of Cinderella, complete with a dancing clock, wacky stepsisters and
a charming prince. Performances are Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for children and $40 for adults. 55 East
59th Street, 212-679-0401; nytb.org.

Kids Week 2010 at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Escape the late winter blues with a
week of hands-on fun at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum’s Kids Week. From February 19th-27th, the
Intrepid invites families to enjoy a host of special, kid-focused programming,
including interactive exhibits in the Exploreum Hall, different hands-on
activities every day of the week (like the Intrepid’s spectacular flight
simulators), special guest performances and more. Pier 86, 12th
Avenue and 46th
Street, 877-957-SHIP;
intrepidmuseum.org.

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock at the
DR2 Theatre
Beginning
February 26, families can experience the newest musical journey from Gustafer
Yellowgold—the curious yellow sun creature that has captured the hearts of
adults and kids alike—when he takes the stage at the DR2 Theatre. Gustafer’s
“Infinity Sock” is a multi-media show that is part pop rock concert, part
animated movie that tells the story of Gustafer’s search for the longest sock
in the universe. The show runs through April 2nd on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 103 East 15th Street; gustaferyellowgold.com.

Carnegie Hall’s “Family Sing”
On Sunday, February 27th, make musical memories at Carnegie Hall’s Family
Sing with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, where kids will be able
to experience first-hand what it’s like to be part of the choir. Before the
event, families can check out Carnegie Hall’s website for sheet music and
audience clips to help them learn the songs. The performance itself, which will
be led by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, will include pre-concert
activities and warm-ups led by members of the ensemble. Performance begins at 1 p.m.; tickets range from $9-$15. Zankel Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue, 212-903-9600; carnegiehall.org. Photo: Stephanie Berger.

“Mischief” at the New Victory Theater
From March 18th to 27th, families can join the New Victory Theater for the U.S.
premiere of “Mischief,” an award-winning family production hailing from Great
Britain that will mesmerize adults and
children alike. Hailed as “a whimsical and hugely inventive encounter with
movement, music and mood” by The Scotland Herald, the production is a colorful
musical playland featuring foam noodles grooving to an eclectic array of live
tunes. The performance is appropriate for kids ages 4 to 8; tickets range between
$18-$38. 209
West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010; newvictory.org. Photo: Patrick Baldwin

“BYOK (Bring Your Own Kid)” Series at 92 Y Tribeca
Every Sunday, the 92 Y Tribeca introduces families to some of
the coolest kids music around with the weekly concert series BYOK (Bring Your
Own Kid). On February 27^th, rocker Randy Kaplan will take the stage
for a morning of musical storytelling (complete with covers of favorites from
Hank Williams and Bob Dylan); on March 27^th, Erin Lee and the Up
Past Bedtime Band will play their beloved and award-winning kid rock that’s
influenced by everything from country to punk. Concerts begin at 11 a.m.; tickets are $15, children under 2 are
free. 200
Hudson Street, 212-601-1000; 92y.org.

Poppy Seed Purim at the Kaufman Center
The Kaufman Center’s
Poppy Seed Players have taught lessons and traditions of Jewish culture to
children for 21 seasons! On March 20th, families can enjoy a musical
re-enactment of Purim with the fun-filled production “A Poppy Seed Purim,” a
light-hearted re-telling of the Biblical story of how Queen Esther saved the
Jews of Shushan complete with vibrant characters, humor and a catchy melodic
score. Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West
67th Street, 212-501-3303; kaufman-center.org.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar And Other Eric Carle Favorites” at the
Skirball Center
As part of its Big Red Chair family series, the Skirball Center at NYU
presents a theatrical re-imagining of three of Eric Carle’s beloved children’s
stories, including the tale about the famously hungry caterpillar who eats his
way through an assortment of treats before his metamorphosis into a butterfly.
The performance will take place on April 2nd at 10
a.m. and is appropriate for children ages 2 and up. 566 LaGuardia Place, skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

“Room on the Broom” at
BMCC Tribeca
BMCC
Tribeca offers a wide variety of family-friendly theatrical programming. On
April 16th, the Performing Arts Center showcases a musical adaptation of the
bestselling book “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The
performance will tell the story of a witch and her cat and the characters they
meet throughout their journey—and whether or not the duo will have enough room
on their broom to save everyone from a hungry dragon. Experience the tale of a
witch and her cat and the characters they meet in their journeys. 199 Chambers Street, 212-220-1459; tribecapac.org.

“World Passport
Workshop: Tip Your Hat Off to Seuss!” at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Oh, the places you’ll go! Celebrate the magic of Dr. Seuss at the Brooklyn
Children’s Museum’s special celebration of the beloved author’s birthday on
March 5th and 6th. In this workshop, children can explore the
ways Dr. Seuss used words to stretch his readers’ imaginations, hear their
favorite Seuss stories, make a Seuss-inspired hat and even compose their own
Seussical poems. 145 Brooklyn Avenue, 718-735-4400; brooklynkids.org.

“Up, Up And Away With The Woodwinds” At
The Little Orchestra Society
The Little Orchestra Society’s popular Lolipops kids concerts invite
families to discover new musical genres in a relaxed and fun-filled setting. On
April 2nd and 3rd, families can check out “Up, Up And Away with the Woodwinds,”
a musical adventure that will take children experience the musical culture of
China, Holland, Africa and Brazil and introduce them to composers like Mozart
and Tchaikovsky. Performances are intended for children ages 3 to 5 and take
place on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68^th
Street
between Park and Lexington Avenues, 212-971-9500; littleorchestra.org.

Barnyard Easter Egg
Hunt at the Queens County Farm Museum
The city’s only working historical farm, the Queens
County Farm Museum
hosts frequent events and workshops for kids of all ages throughout the year.
On April 23rd, families can hop over to the annual Barnyard Easter Egg Hunt,
where kids can do the “bunny hop,” participate in an egg toss, visit with the
farm animals, take a hay ride and much more. 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, 718-347-3276; queensfarm.org.

–Amanda Ferris, Katie Garton, Tiffanie Green, Rachael Horowitz and Amy Spiro