14th Street Y344 E. 14th St., 212-780-0800 x 221, www.14StreetY.org: MOMS CRACKING UP, Come laugh with other moms, make new friends and see some of New York’s finest comedians with your baby. Mon., May 14 at1:30pm. $15, $12 members.
Battery Park City Neighbors AssociationBPC Community Room, W. Thames behind Gristedes: Community Playdate Looking for a place for your child to run around? Need to tire your child out? Want a little social interaction? Join neighborhood moms and their children for a neighborhood playdate. Bring a toy or two to share with the group. Organized by BPCNA. Every Thursday thru May 31 from 10am – noon. Free.
Battery Park City Parks Conservancy212-267-9700, www.bpcparks.org: SUNSET SINGING CIRCLE, Join singers/guitarists Terre Roche and Marian Wilson for an evening of folk songs, rounds and chants. Novice and experienced singers of all ages are welcome. Fri., May 11 & 18 and June 1, 8, 15 & 29 from 7-8:30pm. Wagner Park. Free. STORIES FOR ALL AGES, Therese Folkes Plair performs “Emmo, the Talking Fish” and other stories from rivers near and far. Sat., May 12 at 11am. Rector Park West. Free. FAMILY SWING DANCE, Swing dancing was born in Harlem in the early 1930s. All ages and experience levels are welcome to dance to the sounds of the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra as dancers from Dance Manhattan guide you through the steps. Sat., May 12 from 6:30-8pm. Esplanade Plaza. Free. BASH THE TRASH, Turn trash into musical instruments and then get a chance to perform. Sat., May 19 from 11:30am-3pm. Robert, Jr. Wagner Park. ART PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT CLASS, Middle and high school students wanting to attend specialized art high schools and colleges work with artist/educator Miki Iwamura to develop a strong portfolio of work to present with their application. 2 sessions: Mon. – Thurs., July 9 – Aug. 2, 16 classes, $450; also 8 Saturdays, Sept. 8 – Nov. 3, $270. All classes are from 10am-1pm. The Verdesian, 211 North End Avenue. Financial aid is available. TEEN MARINE ADVENTURE, Young people entering 6th, 7th & 8th grades explore the Hudson River Estuary from the BPC shores in this 3-week, 15-session program. Learn how human activity affects the Hudson River, play games, create art projects and more. Meets Mon- Fri., July 9 – 27 from 10am – 2pm. Rockefeller Park. $500. Pre-registration is required.
Children’s Museum of the Arts182 Lafayette St., 212-274-0986, www.cmany.org: SUMMER ART COLONY, Children ages 6-12 work with professional artists and learn how to truly create. One and two week classes available in a variety of themes, including Ceramics, Animation, Comics, Pinhole Photography, Claymation, Puppetry, Drawing, Textiles and more. Students will visit a museum or gallery and will exhibit their own works in an art show. July 9 – Aug. 31. Classes are Mon. – Fri.; from 10am – 4pm with supervised playtime available before and after. $500-$1000.
Church Street School for Music & Art74 Warren St.: FACULTY CONCERT, Come celebrate Mother’s Day with a free jazz & classical music concert for the whole family. Sun., May 13 at 3pm. TASTE OF TRIBECA, Open art throughout the day in the kid’s Zone at Duane Park at Hudson. Working to raise funds for P.S. 234 & P.S. 150. Sat., May 19 from 11:30am-3pm.
The Community Center at Stuyvesant High School345 Chambers St., 636-358-6880, www.ccshs.org: CPR TRAINING, The most comprehensive Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation course offered by the American Red Cross. Through lectures, videos and hands-on training, participants learn to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies, increasing their chances of saving a life. Participants also learn how to use an automated external defibrillator. No prerequisites. Sat., May 19 from 1:30 – 8:30pm. $120. Minimum age is 14.
Downtown Day CampLocated at P.S. 234212-766-1104, www.DowntownDayCamp.com: SUMMER DAY CAMP, Students in grades K-6 can spend the summer learning to swim, using computers, playing ball outdoors, taking part in art activities, dancing and more. Transportation is available at various locations below 23rd Street. 4 sessions available. June 28-Aug. 17; June 28-Aug. 10; June 28-July 20; July 23-Aug. 17.
Manhattan Children’s Theatre52 White St., bet Broadway & Church, 212-352-3101, www.theatermania.com: MISS NELSON HAS A FIELD DAY, The Tornados haven’t won a game all year. That is until coach Swamp takes the field. With her strict rules and strategic discipline, the players will finally get a taste of victory. Presented by Manhattan Children’s Theatre. Thru May 20, Sat. & Sun. at 12 & 2pm. $15. Ages 4+. LITTLE TALES – DANISH TALES, A theatrical series for pre-school aged children with stories based on folk tales from around the world. Performances incorporate puppetry, live action and audience participation. Thru May 24; Tues., Wed. & Thurs. at 11am. $10. 2 free performances on Sat., June 9 at 11am & 3pm.
Museums of Lower ManhattanWeekends and vacations are a great time to treat your family to the Museums of Lower Manhattan. Visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage, The Skyscraper Museum, Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island Immigration Museum, Castle Clinton National Monument, National Museum of the American Indian, Museum of American Finance, Fraunces Tavern Museum, The New York City Police Museum, Federal Hall National Memorial, South Street Seaport Museum, Museum of Chinese in the Americas, Eldridge Street Project, Lower East Side Tenement Museum and The New York City Fire Museum. Enjoy hands-on exhibits, films, guided tours, arts & crafts and more. For a schedule of events and locations, visit the “Just for Kids” link at www.MuseumsOfLowerManhattan.org.
Roulette20 Greene St., bet Canal & Grand Sts, 212-219-8242, www.roulette.org: CHILDREN’S CONCERT, Duo Prism presents an eclectic, participatory concert for children in pre-school through 3rd grade. Take a journey through the creative possibilities of instruments. Sat., May 12 from 2-3pm. $5. Reservations suggested.
Rubin Museum of Art150 W. 17th St., 212-620-5000 x 344, www.rmanyc.org: PAINT WATERFALL, Illustrate your thoughts and ideas by flinging, pouring and dripping paint on a large, collaborative paper mural. Sat., May 12 from 2-3:30pm. THE ART OF RECYCLING OR RECYCLED ART, Learn about works of art in “The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama,” made from recycled materials and then mix and match everyday materials to create your own masterpiece. Sat., May 19 from 2-3:30pm. Adults are free with museum admission, children are free. Make reservations at least 24-hours in advance.
The Skyscraper Museum39 Battery Place, www.skyscraper.org: MEET THE ARCHITECT, Meet architect Scott Duncan of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill who was part of the team that designed The Skyscraper Museum. Children will talk with Scott about his career and then work on a hands-on craft project to design their own building. Sat., May 12 from 10:30—11:30am. STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, Explore how architects turn everyday objects into extraordinary treasures. Make a beautiful stained glass window out of tissue paper and decorate the sidewalks with skyscraper designs. Sat., May 19 from 10:30am – noon. Ages 6 and up. ARCHIKIDS, Working alongside architect Yves Roger, children ages 9-13 explore skyscraper architecture and create a hands-on building project, which they will be able to bring home. As they learn and work, children are surrounded by images, vintage film and models of actual skyscrapers of the past, present and future. Sat., June 9 from 10am – Noon.
Soho Playhouse15 Vandam St., bet Varick St. & 6th Ave., 212-691-1555, www.sohoplayhouse.com: PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL, Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. This eventually lands her in the doctor’s office with a case of Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe. In the end, only Pinkalicious can get herself out of this predicament. Sat. & Sun. at noon. $25. Ages 3-12. Open run.
South Street Seaport Museumwww.southstseaport.org: SHIPS FROM A-Z, Come learn about ships of all shapes and sizes, and explore the famous tall ship Peking using the alphabet as your guide. Sun., May 13 from 1-4pm. Tall ship Peking at Pier 16. SALT, Salt helps to preserve, purify and sustain life on land and at sea. It has sparked wars and created fortunes and it adds flavor to every meal. Come explore the scientific and historic contributions of salt and create your own salty treasure to bring home. Sat., May 19 from 1-4pm. Tall ship Peking at Pier 16. READING BETWEEN THE BRICKS, Take a walk back in time through the Seaport’s landmark historic district and discover the role buildings play in revealing the ABC’s of history. Sun., May 20 from 1-4pm. 12 Fulton St. FLY YOUR FLAGS, It’s Fleet Week! Come aboard the tall ship Peking and learn about signal flags, the universal nautical alphabet. Create a signal flag message of your own and share it with your friends. Sun., May 27 from 1-4pm. Tall ship Peking at Pier 16. SEW LIKE A SAILOR, Sailors had to learn skills like cooking and sewing. Create a ditty bag, a small bag made by sailors to hold thread, needles, tape and other important items. Sat., June 2 from 1-4pm. Tall ship Peking at Pier 16.
