The Kindie Capital

Elena Moon Park and Friends' "Rabbit Days and Dumplings" — Elena Moon Park and Friends’ “Rabbit Days and Dumplings”

Editor’s Note: For more tips on theater in New York City, see our 2014 Guide to Theater & Live Performance and “Let’s Make A Deal“

Kindie music is hotter than ever, and many of its best representatives call New York City home. Here, we take a look at some of the many kindie stars based in the five boroughs.

AudraRox: You can hire AudraRox for birthday parties, where you can jam out with fun songs everyone will love. Or look out for her regular performances in New York City. audrarox.com

Bari Koral Family Rock Band: Koral’s music can be found in yoga classes for children and preschool classrooms. Her pop music has earned her a spot on Sirius radio and won her awards. Recently she released her fourth album, “The Apple Tree & The Honey Bee.” barikoral.com

Dan Zanes: Bringing people together through music is Zanes’ mission. Zanes focuses on creating his own songs and bringing old ones back to life. danzanes.com

Elena Moon Park: “Rabbit Days and Dumplings” is the debut solo album for Elena Moon Park and her band. In this album you will hear English along with native languages mixed in. The songs come from China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to create a twist on kindie music. rabbitdays.com

Hot Peas ‘N Butter: This band takes their different backgrounds and cultures and morphs them into music. Their Latin, Carib- bean, folk, and rock music have been featured on Nickelodeon and Noggin. Partnered with St.Jude Children’s Hospital, they help bring the joy of music to children. You can hear the band on XM radio or go to one of their shows in New York City and the Tri-State area. hotpeasnbutter.com

Paper Bag Players The Itty Biddies: This trio will take your family on a journey through music. Their backgrounds in music help create songs that will leave you singing. You can listen to their music on their blog or see them perform in the New York City area. ittybiddies.virb.com

Joanie Leeds: Leeds has released five CDs and is now working on creating new music. She performs at concerts, classrooms, and birthday parties. joanieleeds.com

The Laurie Berkner Band: Berkner started as a preschool music teacher recording songs in her living room. After her first re- lease, she founded a record label, Two Tomatoes Records. From there she went on to release more records. Her music reaches out to not only children, but adults as well. laurieberkner.com

Miss Nina: Miss Nina has combined her passion for singing and dancing and her love for reading together creating an energetic environment whenever she is around! Recently, she has created “book songs” that put books to music. You can find her per- forming at children sing-alongs, bookstores, and other events in New York City or you can watch her weekly sing-along videos on her blog. mymissnina.com

mr.Ray: After touring and performing with musicians such as Bruce Springsteen and Meatloaf, mr.Ray started focusing on kindie music. His songs are fun—some about friendships, others about dinosaurs—but they also relate to bigger issues, such as bullying. You can find mr.Ray performing weekly in the Tri-State area. mrray.com

The Pop Ups: Music comes alive at The Pop Ups’ shows. Using cardboard cut-outs, puppets, and sets their audience is always in for a treat. Their music brings joy to children of all ages, and they can be found creating new songs and shows in a Brooklyn garage. thepopups.com

Suzi Shelton: Being a mother of two, Shelton loves to sing and dance around children. She recently released her third album, “Smile In My Hear.” Her style of music is upbeat and folksy. You can find Shelton and her new songs on her monthly webcast. Shelton and her band perform around the Tri-State area and in New York City. suzishelton.com

Vered Music: Studying music therapy has taught Vered Benhorin, Vered Music’s founder, that music can bring out emotions and can impact the body physically and mentally. You can find her performing in New York, Los Angeles, and Colorado, or book her for a birthday party. veredmusic.com

Willie DeVargas: Growing up in New York City, DeVargas was exposed to a variety of different types of music. DeVargas is a nursery school music teacher (and recent Blackboard Award- winner). Working with children has encouraged him to create an upcoming fall album that coincides with a children’s book that he is working on. DeVargas can be found playing at local hospitals and public libraries and is also available for birthday parties. williedevargas.wordpress.com

The Wild Center

The Wild Center, nestled within the breathtaking landscape of New York's Adirondack Park, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. As visitors approach the Center, they are greeted by the Adirondack Mountains towering in the distance, setting the stage for an immersive adventure. Upon entering the 34,000-square-foot exhibit hall, guests are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery. Interactive exhibits like Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions invite exploration, allowing visitors to delve into the rich biodiversity of the Adirondack region. The indoor experience also includes an opportunity to soar on Birdly--a one-of-a-kind VR experience. Also, get up close with an animal ambassador during one of many live animal encounters throughout the day. In addition to its indoor exhibits and programs, the Wild Center also boasts 115-acres of extensive outdoor amenities. One of the highlights in the award-winning Wild Walk. Visitors walk up a trail of bridges to the treetops of the Adirondack forest, 40 feet off the ground. Along the way, interactive exhibits provide insights into the flora and fauna that call the Adirondacks home, from songbirds to black bears. The rest of the campus features more ways to explore. Check out Patrick Dougherty&rsquo;s Stickwork sculpture, an all natural installation of woven sticks that will spark your imagination and nostalgia. Immerse yourself in Forest Music, take a naturalist-lead canoe trip, or get your roll on with Raquette River Roll, a brand-new, oversized, all-natural ball run experience opening in June 2024.

Explore MetroWest Boston

<h1>Turn Whining into Winning in MetroWest Boston</h1> From beer gardens to corn mazes, state parks to beautiful art, MetroWest Boston is a great destination for a weekend trip! Enjoy <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/get-outside/?imgoing-place=hopkinton-state-park-61a91acef30b531a665ab64d">Hopkinton State Park</a>&rsquo;s gorgeous foliage while kayaking on the lake or hiking, mountain biking, or snowshoeing on the amazing trails. In the evening, catch a play, musical, concert, art exhibition, dance performance, or immersive theatrical event at <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=hopkinton-center-for-the-arts-63c03d7e0d792d753263b4d1">Hopkinton Center for the Arts</a>. Get a great night&rsquo;s sleep at one of the region&rsquo;s hotels, such as <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=the-verve-hotel-boston-natick-tapestry-collection-by-hilton-61aa4790f30b531a666119e4">The VERVE</a>, with its fun and funky pop art d&eacute;cor, or <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=aloft-framingham-6216279ccc891d1d0862c8c2">Aloft</a> with their pool tables and lobby games. In the morning, visit the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=danforth-art-school-61a8e11cf30b531a66592d90">Danforth Art Museum</a>, a jewel box housing 3,500+ artworks from three centuries, including groundbreaking sculptures depicting the African and African American experience by Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller. Cross the street to the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=framingham-history-center-61a8e11cf30b531a66592d92">Framingham History Center</a> to explore their new multilingual exhibit that traces the city&rsquo;s immigration story, from those fleeing the 1690s Salem Witch trials, to the Irish and Italian influx in the 1800-1900s, to the current migration of Brazilians. &ldquo;Framingham&rsquo;s Collective Journeys&rdquo; includes oral histories, interactives, and artifacts. No visit to Framingham is complete without stopping at legendary <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/eat/?imgoing-place=jacks-abby-craft-lagers-61a8e11cf30b531a66592da0">Jack&rsquo;s Abby Craft Lagers</a>, one of 17 breweries in MetroWest, where you can enjoy a flight with a schnitzel sandwich or their famous Framinghamburger. Afterwards, spend a few hours at <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/activities/?imgoing-place=level99-64a8389c51f92a351a6a3f06">Level99</a> testing each other with 50+ mental and physical escape rooms and challenges. The next day, tour the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=longfellows-wayside-inn-61aa7aa3f30b531a66621f57">Wayside Inn</a>. The oldest inn in America&rsquo;s 100-acre property includes the Old Barn, now a farm stand with displays of antique farming tools, the historic Grist Mill, and beautiful grounds containing the Longfellow Memorial Garden, the Redstone Schoolhouse from the poem &ldquo;Mary Had a Little Lamb&rdquo;, the Martha-Mary Chapel, and Josephine's Pond for fishing. Stay for a delicious gourmet meal in their historic dining room. Spend the afternoon at the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=american-heritage-museum-61a92852f30b531a665b17bf">American Heritage Museum</a>. Start your tour in the depths of a WWI trench listening to a nurse&rsquo;s first-hand account from the Western Front while bombs explode above you and the floor begins to shake. This extraordinary museum features one-of-a-kind historic aircraft, tanks, cars and rare relics from the Revolutionary War to today, in immersive exhibits and living history events. Afterwards, wander the charming shops and boutiques of downtown Hudson. <h3>MetroWest Boston offers these and many other attractions, activities and events for the whole family!</h3>

That's Mandarin

That's Mandarin is one of the oldest Chinese language schools in China. With a unique approach to language learning and our own in-house teaching methodologies; we aim to be not only the most experienced, but also one of the best Mandarin schools in China! We focus on providing the smoothest service and the best teaching experience to all our students; no matter whether they are studying Chinese online with our innovative online language learning system or at one of our Chinese language schools in China. Founded in 2005, That&rsquo;s Mandarin has been delivering excellence in Chinese teaching for over 15 years to more than 30,000 students of different nationalities. We now have schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen with plans to open more locations in more cities soon.&nbsp; &nbsp; COURSE INFO&nbsp; Learn Chinese online and enjoy private online classes with our professional native Chinese teachers anytime, anywhere. Our Online Chinese Course is perfect for students abroad who want to learn Chinese remotely. Besides, online Chinese classes are also a great opportunity for those who don&rsquo;t have enough time to come to our Mandarin school. By using That&rsquo;s Mandarin special learning platform, you can have online Mandarin classes with our teachers anytime and anywhere.&nbsp; &nbsp; We Offer：&nbsp; &bull; Standard Chinese Course&nbsp; &bull; HSK Preparation Course&nbsp; &bull; Chinese Course for Kids&nbsp; &bull; Chinese Course for Corporate Clients&nbsp; &nbsp; All lessons are private Chinese classes with certified native Chinese teachers with 24/7 access to our online system.&nbsp; For every new student we offer a free trial lesson with us.&nbsp; &nbsp; Online Classes Content:&nbsp; &nbsp; REAL-LIFE PRACTICE&nbsp; &bull; Communication skills&nbsp; &bull; Speaking practice&nbsp; &bull; Real-life situations&nbsp; &bull; Modern Chinese expressions&nbsp; &nbsp; LANGUAGE LEARNING&nbsp; &bull; HSK Vocabulary&nbsp; &bull; Daily Vocabulary&nbsp; &bull; Useful Grammar&nbsp; &bull; Set Phrases&nbsp; &bull; Slang &amp; Idioms&nbsp; &nbsp; CULTURAL ELEMENTS&nbsp; &bull; Chinese culture&nbsp; &bull; Natural wonders&nbsp; &bull; Famous sights&nbsp; &bull; Festivals &amp; traditions&nbsp; &bull; Classic literature, opera &amp; art&nbsp; &nbsp; HEATED DISCUSSIONS&nbsp; &bull; Discovering interesting topics&nbsp; &bull; Discussing global topics&nbsp; &bull; Social phenomena&nbsp; &bull; Cultural differences&nbsp; &nbsp; How&nbsp;much?&nbsp; The price starts at $24. &nbsp; When?&nbsp; The schedule depends on your availability as the course is fully customized.&nbsp; &nbsp; Where?&nbsp; We use our in-house digital platform NihaoCafe to help you connect with your teacher, review class notes, and schedule classes.&nbsp; &bull; Online Chinese Class content and teacher&rsquo;s notes automatically get recorded into the system, so it&rsquo;s easy to review your classes&nbsp; &bull; There&rsquo;s a huge teaching resource database, so you can prepare for your future online Chinese classes in advance&nbsp; &bull; There is an online course arrangement system that manages your booked Chinese classes &ndash; to guarantee that wherever you are, you and your teachers can stay informed about the online Mandarin class schedule and changes&nbsp; &bull; Teachers can also add their own courseware including webpages, PowerPoint presentations, videos, etc. into the system anytime&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; Our professional IT team is online 24 hours a day, ready to solve any unexpected issues&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CONTACT: &nbsp; Website: https://www.thatsmandarin.com&nbsp; Email: info@thatsmandarin.com&nbsp; &nbsp; Phone: +86 10 8448 9799&nbsp;