HOT OFF THE BLOG
Enjoy the beauty of the summer season with our favorite cool outdoor activities in and around New York City–from parks and gardens to hikes and camping to great beach destinations. Nature Calls!
TADA! Youth Theater has a new musical out called “Heroes.” We spoke their artistic director, and author of the show, to get the inside scoop. Be a Hero!
WEEKEND PLANNER
FRIDAY
Drop by the Brooklyn Children’s Museum this Friday for its Free Friday Family Jam. All ages will enjoy building imaginative structures with Imagination Playground’s big blue blocks. Construction ahead! (Friday)
The Children’s Theatre Company at Lehman College will present the “Three Billy Goats Gruff” and “The Raggedy Ann and Andy Show” at the college’s Little Amphitheatre. For only $1, ages 5 and up can enjoy these enchanting plays written by Dante Albertie and Diana Brito. It’s show time! (Friday)
A seasonal favorite, the 36th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Mid-Summer Pow Wow will take place this weekend at the Queens County Farm Museum. Ticket holders can watch more than 40 Native American tribes demonstrate traditional tribal dances. Plus, don’t forget to check out the Pow Wow’s array of food, crafts, and jewelry. Get culturally inspired! (Friday through Sunday)
Calling all Percy Jackson fans! This Friday and Sunday, Theatreworks USA and the Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation will bring Rick Riordan’s novel The Lightning Thief to the stage. Greek gods and monsters will awe and excite during this musical for all ages. On the day of the show, tickets are available to the general public for free. Be amazed! (Friday and Sunday)
SATURDAY
Spend the day outdoors during Pier 5 Family Field Day in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Activities include potato sack and hula hoop races, soccer lessons, parachute games, and more. Wear your sneakers! (Saturday)
The Museum of the City of New York invites children of all ages to Style My Ride, a program designed to inform city-dwellers about how the city is making the streets safer for bikers and pedestrians alike. Afterwards, kids can decorate and take home their own bike helmet. Safety first! (Saturday)
It’s Family Day at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival! During this free event, visitors to the plazas of Lincoln Center will be treated to a dance workshop and party led by the teenage dance group A Batalha do Passinho. Younger dance fans will enjoy an afternoon dance session with Baby Loves Disco. Dance the day away! (Saturday)
Young animal enthusiasts will delight in what the Bronx Zoo has in store this weekend. Children’s nature show hosts Chris and Martin Kratt (aka The Kratt Brothers) will re-enact their Amazonian adventure in the zoo’s Astor Court. This 30-minute live presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A session. Answer the call of the wild! (Saturday and Sunday)
Ferry the kids over to Governors Island this Saturday and Sunday for the NYC Children’s Poetry Festival. Ages 2 through 13 are invited to share their original poems on the kids-only stage, listen to live poetry readings, and gather writing inspiration while exploring a handmade teepee village. Poets unite! (Saturday and Sunday)
SUNDAY
Rolie Polie Guacamole will be at the South Street Seaport this Sunday as part of its Kid/Around series. A family favorite, Rolie Polie Guacamole blends rock, funk, and folk music to create a unique sound that’s all their own. The band will be singing tunes about staying fit and eating right. Rock it out! (Sunday)
Join acclaimed children’s singer/songwriter Suzi Shelton in Brooklyn’s Greenwood Park for Hip Tot Family Day! During this free event, kids can sing along with Shelton, listen to author Melanie Hope Greenberg read Mermaids on Parade, and participate in beach-themed crafts with Barking Cat Studio. Have fun in the sun! (Sunday)
Listen to the music and stories of preschool music teacher Anna Padgett at the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn. Known to her students as The Good Ms. Padgett, her show will please babies, children, and parents alike. Pull up a seat! (Sunday)
