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Wednesday, January 22
imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Explore Native scientific discoveries and inventions so ingenious many continue to affect the modern world in a family-friendly, interactive space. Solve puzzles, perform experiments, and play state-of-the-art computer simulations.
New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
Marvel at model trains zipping around stunning New York landmark replicas made of plant parts such as nuts, bark, and leaves, and enjoy hands-on holiday fun for the entire family (most of it in the climate-controlled indoors).
LeFrak Center Ice Skating
Enjoy ice skating, figure skating, curling, hockey and broomball in a covered rink in Prospect Park. Rental skates are brand-new this year. Olympic figure-skating athletes Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov direct the Sports Programs for Lakeside's growing Skate School. Learn-to-Skate and Learn-to-Play-Hockey classes availble for all ages. Light fare and drinks available at rinkside Bluestone Cafe.
The World of Anna Sui
See approximately one-hundred looks from the Anna Sui’s archive, featuring the twelve quirky archetypes that are staples of the Sui aesthetic. Wide-ranging materials and inspirations include papier-mâché mannequin heads; army surplus jackets; Japanese hankies qipao dresses and Minnie Mouse. Share what head-to-toe stories you find referencing the worlds of cowgirls, grunge girls, hippie chicks, hula girls, Mods, pirate rock stars, Pre-Raphaelite maidens, and surfer nomads. Get insight into her process; step inside her imagination and watch it unfold. Make sure…
Storytime and Singalong for Kids
Join Amy Virginia Buchanan for reading, singing, and dancing. Appropriate for kids 3 and under and their caretakers.
JR: Chronicles
See bold, futuristic looks of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s in a survey of Pierre Cardin’s decades-long career at the forefront of fashion invention. Explore an immersive environment inspired by Cardin’s unique atelier designs, showrooms, and homes containing over 170 objects drawn from legendary couturie atelier and archive, including historical and contemporary haute couture, prêt-à-porter, trademark accessories, “couture” furniture, lighting, fashion sketches, personal photographs, and excerpts from television, documentaries, and feature films.
House of SHOWFIELDS
Experiential retail store SHOWFIELDS hosts an an immersive theatre experience that bridges art and retail. Find a hidden slide, then touch smell, eat, and test products and artwork led by actors with a story. Also play 20+ different board games, from Candyland to Jenga, on the second floor.
Memory Palaces: Inside the Collection of Audrey B. Heckler
Explore more than one hundred and sixty intriguing 'memory palaces,' visualizations used to organize and recall stores of information in an ever-expanding mental landscape, by seventy self-taught artists. Look at paintings, sculptures quilts and other pieces represent mysterious, complex, and visually stunning universes presented with secondary sources (artist statements, oral histories, interviews, and museum archives).
Cutting Edges: Nordic Concrete Art from the Erling Neby Collection
See bold, colorful paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Noridc "concrete" artists featuring pure form and color based on mathematical principles. Also check out the charming gift shop with Scandinavian toys, treats and decor. Warning, you may want to redesign all your living spaces after spending time in this amazing building.
Lunar New Year Red Envelope Coloring
Make and decorate red envelopes, traditionally exchanged on Lunar New Year and other holidays with money tucked inside them, on the Oculus floor.
The Rink
Eat, dink and skate at a winter dreamscape under the High Line with rainbow trees and a small street-side ice rink. Free penguin skate aids for small beginners and furry blankets for spectators. Easy and fun, though we were warned to watch out for drunk skaters if we come back at night :) Cozy up rinkside with seasonal favorites including mulled wine, tomato soup + grilled cheese, and kid-friendly macaroni & cheese, burgers, hot cocoa, sweet treats and s'mores.
New York Boat Show
Boat lovers can admire luxury motor yachts, sport fishers, sailboats and more watercrafts, plus see antique engines, build a toy boat and other maritime activities.
American Museum of Natural History Discovery Room
Explore artifacts and specimens, hang-out inside a giant tree, put together puzzles, build a dinosaur fossil and conduct scientific experiments in an enclosed hands-on space. Free timed tickets are available at the Discovery Room entrance (first floor by West 77th Street).
Winterland Rink
Ice skate atop The Rooftop at Pier 17 with spectacular views of the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. Skate aids available for $20 before 5 pm weekdays and 12 pm weekends and holidays. Unlimited season passes available. Discounts for residents of zip codes 10002, 10004, 10005, 10006, 10007, 10038, or 10280.
Metropolitan Museum Of Art Storytime
Look, listen, sing, and have fun with picture books; then continue your adventure with a self-guided gallery hunt in the Museum. Geared toward families with children ages 3–6, but all ages welcome. Space is limited; first come, first served.
IC Ice Rink
Ice skate in courtyard 5/6 of happening, high-design Industry City The rink is outside and uncovered, so dress appropriately. Pengion skate aids available for $10/half hour. The Frying Pan operates a Wheel House Bar just alongside the rink with hot chocolate and hot toddies.
Hello Panda Lantern Festival
This worldwide winter festival celebrates the holiday season with giant lantern displays, cultural arts and handicrafts, entertainment, food, modern art exhibits, interactive games, a holiday market, and live stage performances. Displays of light and color, handcrafted by world-class artisans. honor the traditional Chinese art of lantern-making. Over 120 lantern sets under 6 giant tentss. Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station. Paid parking lots.
Scandia New York
All ages can learn Scandinavian folk dances accompanied by live music played on fiddles, hardingfele, nyckelharpa and other instruments. Every week, dances taught include gammaldans favorites (schottis, waltz, hambo, polka), and featured polskas or other bygdedans (regional dance) variations from Sweden and Norway. Light refreshments served. A friendly community always happy to see new faces.
Thursday, January 23
Color Factory
Truly interactive colorful pop-up with fun activities and sweet treats in sixteen unique rooms designed by different artists and a giant blue ball pit. Lots of bright fun for all ages including a conveyor belt of rainbow colored macarons, a high-tech room for disco dancing, colorful drumming and a giant blue ball pit. My daughter especially enjoyed an activity where we drew each other with our eyes closed and picked the colors of each other's essences. The 1 year old we…
Bank Street Bookstore Storytime
Morning storytimes take place every day at Bank Street Bookstore, with occasional special themes and visitors.
Yeti, Set, Snow!
An original production from the historic, cozy Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre features a young girl who teaches a sweet, snow-hating yeti with a sparkly silver cat the value of snow and friendship. A fun musical with clever staging in a magical Central Park setting. Short and sweet and a good starter shows for toddlers (though my 9-year-old was also enchanted). Unassigned seating on benches in a small theater (grown-ups are encouraged to sit in the back). Stroller parking available in…
Children’s Museum of the Arts stART Studio
Join CMA’s teaching artists in a dedicated, specially-designed, safe art and play studio for children ages 1 to 5. Daily drop-in sessions feature a range of stimulating activities including music, storytime and art-making with a variety of materials and techniques. Stay and explore the Children's Museum of The Arts after for $6 more.
Big Apple Circus
Local troupe Big Apple Circus presents intimate family-friendly shows with clowns, horse-riding dogs, horizontal juggling, aerial duo, flying trapeze and more in a one-ring Big Top tent with comfortable arena style tiered seating. It's a small venue so pretty much any seat location is great, and there are fun photo ops in the lobby. Schedule varies week to week; lots of options at all times of day. Get $25 discount tickets online.
Griffins, Goblets, and Gold: A Wizarding Tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Have you seen the bust of the Voldemort look-alike at the Met? Discover connections like this in an interactive ‘wizarding’ tour in the magical Metropolitan Museum inspired by the Harry Potter books. See spaces, places and objects similar to those in the books, from part of an actual castle to depictions of mythical creatures like griffins and dragons. Includes scavenger hunts, creative activities, fun items to take home and lots of fascinating information. Explore lesser-known spaces of the vast museum…
Jam with Jamie
Join a 45-minute music class of upbeat tunes- fun children’s songs, rock n’ roll oldies, and today’s hits. The teacher comes armed with a guitar and props/instruments for the kids to use throughout the class: shakers, scarves, a parachute and more. Pre-register for a $3 discount.