Weekend Planner: December 14-16

PR_40_Jahre_14_200dpi_15cm — Mummenschanz at the NYU Skirball Center

The holidays are in full swing in NYC! Our highlights for this weekend below is just a very, very tiny slice of the pie, so we also wanted to point you to our NYC Family Guide 2012. The holiday planner includes everything from delicious gingerbread workshops and creative “Nutcracker” adaptations to great Hanukkah celebrations and the best spots for meeting (and eating with) Santa–plus great holiday trees and windows and our big toy and grown-up gift guides. Happy Holidays!

STARTS FRIDAY

Deck the halls with…pistachio shells? The Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibit at The Arsenal is all about non-traditional materials. (Friday)

Mummenschanz, a mime show of another kind, is back at the NYU Skirball Center for illuminated adventures. Surreal! (Friday-Sunday)

The Nutcracker gets a New York twist (think 5th Ave shoppers and Rockefeller angels) with Manhattan Youth Ballet’s “The Knickerbocker Suites.” This week only! (Friday-Sunday)

Celebrate Hello Kitty’s upcoming book release with Betsey Johnson at Openhouse Gallery’s three-day festival. Get the feline scoop here. (Friday-Sunday)

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is as popular as ever with yummy Gingerbread Adventures and more! (Friday-Sunday) And for the train fanatic, New-York Historical Society’s Historic Trains and Toys Weekend brings treasure hunts, story time, and more to the locomotive fore. (Saturday-Sunday)

You can’t go wrong with ogres, monsters, and a fly-swatting ninja in Axis Theatre’s “Seven in One Blow.” Even better: proceeds go to charity. (Friday-Sunday)

STARTS SATURDAY

Citibabes’ Winter Wonderland Party is back and better than ever with crafts, a photo booth, a book fair, shows, and treats. Party on! (Saturday)

The JCC in Manhattan will be hoppin’ with Moey’s Music Party for Shabbat, presenting classic Hanukkah hits alongside Moey’s party tunes. And don’t forget the giveaway. (Saturday)

Crafts, West African dance moves, and Latin American sing-alongs–what’s not to love at El Museo del Barrio’s Super Holiday! Fest? (Saturday)

Get up close and personal with pumas, coyotes, red pandas, and more Queens and Prospect Park Zoos’ Presents to the Animals breakfast. For more critterly fun, The Art Farm in the City hosts weekend feedings year-round, too! (Saturday-Sunday)

The brand new Museum of Mathematics is opening its doors this weekend with interactive games and activities. Ready for fun learning? (Saturday-Sunday)

SUNDAY ONLY

The littlest of musicians can rock it out at the interactive, hour-long songs for seeds Winter Concert on the UWS. More details right here. (Sunday)

Get your groove on with Suzi Shelton, The Gumdrops, and Mil’s Trills for a kindie rockin’ time. Show of those moves! (Sunday)

One Ring Zero, the Brooklyn “quirk rock” band, celebrates Hanukkah with klezmer, theremin, and brass tunes, plus dreidel spinning and cookie decorating. All at 14th Street Y. (Sunday)

BONUS TIPS

Calling all interfaith families: How do you combine different celebrations of all faiths? 92Y helps families find a balance at its “The December Dilemma” talk this coming Monday.

Namaste! Yogi Beans and ivivva athletica are celebrating wellness in a Healthy Kids Holiday Extravaganza, also on Monday, with a day of yoga, arts & crafts, dance, food, and shopping.

British Swim School - Manhattan

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!

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.

Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy

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.