Free Play January 18 and 19: Lunar New Year celebrations, Treehouse Shakers, Inflatable Sculpture, more

1/16/09 - By Anna Fader
The weather is going to suck this weekend so start strategizing now. Stay in? Or try one of these fun events? You may also want to check our Indoor Activity Guide for additional indoor ideas. Here's the best of this weekend, including a very cool and fun art exhibit tonight only in Williamsburg.

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INFLATABLE SCULPTURE
FRIDAY, January 16th, 6 to 9 pm
RSVP events@3rdward.com

Brooklyn's first exclusively air-filled art show! A one-night exhibition of towering sculptures that by morning will fit into the pocket of even your skinniest jeans.   Featuring the work of students from 3rd Ward's Inflatable Sculpture Class, Instructor Partick Flibotte, his former students from University of Miami, and Billie Grace Lynn. Live Music from DJ Tanner, complimentary drinks & a crash course in Inflatable Sculpture building. 3rd Ward is located at 195 Morgan Ave., at the corner of Stagg St., in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Baby Loves Disco
Sunday, January 18th 12p-3p at Le Poisson Rouge

Baby Loves Disco is a family friendly dance party at Le Poisson Rouge monthly with music both parents and kids can get their groove on to, as well as healthy snacks, juice boxes, egg shakers, a bubble machine and more. apple seeds will be hanging out at the disco starting in January with some great activities and face painting for the kiddies. Did we mention the cash bar for the parents? Hop onto www.babylovesdisco.com for tix info. Hope to see you there!

Treehouse Shakers
Brooklyn Arts Exchange - 421 5th Ave at 8th Street
January 18, 11-12

Come and enjoy the rhythmic adventures of Animal Rhythms: Two African Folktales: The Day It Rained and Jackal and Hare, have been rewritten for this lively family dance-play. Through the use of body drumming, modern dance and storytelling, Animal Rhythms follows several animals as they learn about sharing, working and friendship.

The humorous animals journey through their stories in bright African costumes and enchanting animal headdresses created by Kate Cusack. Emily Bunning's Afro-influenced movement beats to live African drumming by Roderick Jackson and an original music score by Mark Sopchak.

Tickets:$15 for general public

Reservation Info: (212) 715-1914/contactus@treehouseshakers.com

Two great Lunar New Year Celebrations:

Lunar New Year Festival
Children's Museum of the Arts
182 Lafayette St, SoHo
Sunday, January 18, 12-5pm
$10 per person

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Museum of Chinese in America and the Children's Museum of the Arts. A special lion dance performance sponsored by MOCA and performed by Columbia University's Lion Dance Troupe will begin at 12:30pm, followed by a fun and interactive lion dance workshop.  Children will hear all about the lion dance ritual and learn a few moves so that they can try lion dancing for themselves!  Drop-in arts and crafts sponsored by the Children's Museum of the Arts will be available until 5pm.  Suggested for children ages 18 months to 12 years.

Japanese New Year's Fair
14th St Y
344 East 14th St, East Village
Sunday, January 18, 1-5pm
$15 Adult, $10 Children

Enjoy traditional Japanese New Year activities like rice cake pounding, a samurai sword performance, and karate demonstration, Japanese drumming and calligraphy, plus food, crafts, games and more fun activities.

We'll be posting more Lunar New Year Events shortly so stay tuned.

See more events for this weekend and beyond in our event calendar.