Weekend Planner: November 16-18

NYBG Holiday Train Show -- St. Patrick's Cathedral -- by Robert Benson — Holiday Train Show at NYBG, photo by Robert Benson

The holidays are descending upon us, and the usual bevvy of winter entertainment is picking up, too. The Holiday Train Show rings in the season at NYBG, while all over the city kid concerts and theater abound. Here’s what else to look forward to this weekend:

STARTS FRIDAY

The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre gets multicultural with “The Three Bears Holiday Bash,” an interactive production that mixes song, dance, and puppetry with a variety of seasonal traditions. Jump in! (Friday-Sunday)

“What is real?” Find out at DR2 Kids Theatre‘s creative and heartwarming three-actor adaptation of the The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s a classic. (Friday-Sunday)

If you like to be in the know, don’t miss TADA! Youth Theater’s Sneak Peek revue for a glimpse of the funny, easy-to-relate-to shows in their upcoming season. Get the scoop here. (Friday-Sunday)

STARTS SATURDAY

Calling all bookworms: The Children’s Book Fair at the Brooklyn Museum is the place to meet your favorite authors and illustrators this weekend. Ready to read? (Saturday)

One of history’s most iconic musicians comes to life with the theatrical “Louis Armstrong: Jazz Ambassador” at Making Books Sing. Get jazzed! (Saturday)

Celebrate Earthly holidays with Gustafer Yellowgold, our favorite creature from the Sun, at the movie theater-turned-concert hall of Symphony Space. Here’s what will be so mind-bending about this multimedia experience. (Saturday)

The American Museum of Natural History’s tasty new “Our Global Kitchen” exhibit takes a look at food throughout history and touches upon current events in food. Yum! (Saturday-Sunday)

The Holiday Train Show is back at the New York Botanical Garden, this year with a delicious gingerbread theme. Here are the delicious workshops that await. (Saturday-Sunday).

Get your indie shopping on at the Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market in Williamsburg Park, brimming with extras like photobooth and interactive chalkboard fun. How hip. (Saturday-Sunday)

SUNDAY ONLY

Thanksgiving comes early this year with the Astrograss Thanksgiving Hoedown in LES, with sing-alongs, instrument demonstrations, and a signature dance contest. Groovy! (Sunday)

Spend the morning working on hands-on projects to benefit the local community at 92Y’s Mitzvah Day, then reward yourself by jamming at the venue’s cool “Baby Got Bach” interactive classical concert. (Sunday)

Further downtown, 92YTribeca welcomes The Suzi Shelton Bond, a catchy, funny favorite in the kindie rock scene. Who’s pumped? (Sunday)

Enjoy the last of the fall outdoors at the Central Park Zoo, which is throwing a Ladybug Release Party for ages 7-10. Yay for eco-cool. (Sunday)

Plugged in Band

<div>Plugged In is a nonprofit program that offers online programs to student&nbsp;musicians (Ages 10-18) in a non-competitive environment and provides band and individual performance opportunities in support of community and charitable causes.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Our programs include:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Rock Band Classes</div> <div>Private Music Lessons</div> <div>Summer Camp</div> <div>Digital/Audio Production</div> <div>Songwriting and Recording Workshops</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Oh and hey parents, we are now offering private music lessons and our rock band program for adults too. Reach out to us for more information.&nbsp;</div>

Speakitaly NYC

<p>SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge.</p> <p>Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts?</p> <p>Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"</p>

British Swim School - Manhattan

<p>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!</p>