Public Art & Free Pop-ups
See art you can touch, climb and sometimes taste at NYC’s many site-specific art installations in parks, galleries, libraries and stores, all free.
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List of Events
Tuesday, January 1
Caffe Storico
Feast on antipasti, artisanal pastas and paninis at Caffe Storico, a classy yet kid-friendly eatery within the engaging New-York Historical Society.
10th Annual Welling Court Mural Project
Walk though multiple blocks of 100+ murals by artists from around the corner and around the world, providing new arrays of visual experiences that change how people interact with their environment. Mural map available online.
Saturday, September 14
Just Kidding
See top-notch family-friendly music, theatre, dance and more from local and international companies. Sing along with Grammy-award winning kiddie rockers, see charming puppet shows or watch diverse dance forms in an intimate, welcoming venue on select Saturdays. Save 20% on full price tickets when you buy 5 or more shows. Upcoming Just Kidding Shows
The New Victory Theater
See extraordinary productions of theater, dance, circus, opera and music from around the world in a grand yet welcoming theater in the heart fo the theater district with complimentary conveniences like lockers, stroller parking and booster seats. All shows feature engaging pre-show activities and photo ops with the cast. Age recommendations vary by show, from short interactive experiences for babies to though-provoking theater teens. The staff is super friendly and special-needs sensitive Deep discounts and free exchanges when you purchase…
Mozart for Munchkins
Experience classical music in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. All ages (even babies) can crawl, squeal, and dance while everyone enjoys outstanding works performed by exceptional musicians. Concerts feature different instruments and themes from a woodwind musical storytime to a jiving jazz trio all over town on most weekends and some weekdays. Includes interaction with musicians throughout the concert and trying instruments after. Discount packages available. Upcoming Mozart for Munchkins Concerts
Tuesday, October 1
Eataly NYC Downtown
The downtown outpost of Italian marketplace Eataly is focused on bread, but you can also find delizioso pizza, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, pasta, rotisserie chicken, chocolate, gelato and weekend kids cooking classes.
Venchi Chocolate and Gelato
Find a vast selection of bon bons and bars from historic Italian chocolatier plus gelato in a a variety of chocolate and other delicious flavors. Make it even yummier with creamy base of Suprema chocolate spread or a cone dipped in seasonal sprinkles like granules of Piedmont Hazelnuts, Nougatine, Chocaviar or Raspberry. Some seating in the back surrounded by a chocolate waterfall wall or enjoy it in nearby Union Square.
Stick With Me Sweets Bonbons
Gorgeous bonbons in an array of colors and artisanal flavors taste as good as they look in this small Nolita chocolate shop.
Cones
Argentinean-style small-batch ice cream and sorbet comes in traditional and adventurous flavors including sweet potato with brie cheese, yerba mate and the popular sweet corn with cinnamon.
Saturday, October 19
Little Orchestra Society
The hilarious Professor Treblemaker hosts a lively introduction to various composers with dancers, young musicians, video and short pieces of music performed by the excellent Little Orchestra Society. Includes audience participation during the show and pre-concert activities in the lobby. A favorite of our family. Save and get backstage invites with 2 or 4 concert subscriptions. Upcoming Little Orchestra Society Shows
Friday, November 1
Uptown GRANDSCALE Mural Project
Uptown artists transformed three blocks of fencing located adjacent to the 125th Street Metro-North station into a canvas for murals that support and uplift the community.
Color Factory Circle Game
Interact with colorful dots by following painted prompts such as ‘leap up’ and ‘reach for the sun.’ Right outside the Children’s Museum of the Arts, which has a jelly bean dispenser (bring quarters) encouraging more color exploration. Both can be found on the Color Factory’s neighborhood exploration map, availble for free at 251 Spring Street.
Dubuffet Sculpture
An office tower plaza features a dynamic Jean Dubuffet sculpture and a peaceful Noguchi rock garden fountain.
Hive
Watch rainbow lights dance across hexagonal honeycomb shapes on the ceiling of the Bleecker Street Station in a light installation by Leo Villareal.
Mural Outside Fluevog
Colorful florals decorate the wall outside a shoe store with fun funky shoes. A poster with a shoe telling us to ‘Choose Love’ might lead to philosophical questions about the emotional ability of footwear.
WTC Street Murals
Street artists from around the world vibrantly transformed the streets surrounding 3 World Trade Center with fun, colorful murals, bringing love and joy to a place of mourning.
Vandal Gummy at 4WTC
Wonder at how a giant gummy bear ended up in a prison mugshot, gripping an identity placard in between his gelatin paws in this lobby installation by WhIsBe.
Eataly Chocolate & Gelato
Shop by weight from bins of colorful Venchi bon-bons or pick up some artisanal chocolate made in Italy with raw ingredients in a variety of shapes and textures according to traditional recipes, from smooth spread to crunchy bars to elegant cigars. Or sample some of the best gelato in the city in a range of flavors.
Pier 25 Playground
The longest pier in Hudson River Park hosts an awesome playground with eight different water features (including some very unpredictable fountains), rock climbing walls, swings, monkey bars, a big sandbox, geodesic-dome-shaped climbing net and more. Also explore a 18-hole miniature golf course, a snack bar, sand volleyball courts, berthing areas for historic ships and a large artificial turf lawn.
Levain Bakery UES
Everything is baked on-site throughout the day at the UES outpost of legendary bakery, from an array of rustic breads to the world-famous six-ounce chocolate chip walnut cookie. We are constantly debating the merits of these versus the equally giant dark chocolate peanut butter chip cookies, and the whole wheat walnut raisin rolls are also yummy (and a little healthier). Off-the-menu ice cream sandwich - two three-ounce cookies surrounding vanilla ice cream from Ample Hills - available on occasion, follow…
Norma’s
Availble-all-day breakfast at this nautical-themed kid-friendly hotel lobby restaurant are over-the-top and pricey - there's even a $2000 ' Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata' with caviar. Creative sweet and savory dishes in the $30+ range include Super Cheesy French Toast with caramelized onions and applewood smoked bacon, a 'Waz-Za' waffle with fruit inside and outside and crackly brûlée top, and Artychoked Eggs Benedict with truffle porcini sauce (and an artichoke heart instead of en english muffin).
Noglu
Everything is 100% gluten-free and organic at this cozy French import featuring gourmet meals, pastries and coffee. The menu changes with the seasons but you can always find classic signature dishes such as burgers (classic or vegetarian) and quiches. First floor is take-away counter service, the second floor is casual sit-down table service.
Heavenly Rest Stop
Enjoy excellent pastries, sandwiches, salads and breakfast dishes plus Melbourne-style coffee) nestled among the limestone arches of what was once a side chapel of a 1929 art-deco church, or pick up provisions for a Central Park picnic.
Chelsea Waterside Park Play Area
The newly designed play area features a giant, multi-colored, one-of-a-kind, Robinia wood pipefish plus water features incorporating limestone cattle head sculptures reclaimed from historic meatpacking district business New York Butchers’ Dressed Meat Company.
Heckscher Playground
Central Park's largest playground features a shaded area with swings and slides, a large, maze-like climber, lots of water features with tunnels, ramps and slides plus giant rocks to climb (and a bathroom). Face painters, musicians and giant bubble makers often congregate at the entrance. Closes at dusk.