Dan Zanes Interview: The Children's Music Star Chats with One of His First Fans

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Exactly a decade ago this month, a friend told my family about a new band for kids that was playing at Chelsea restaurant The Park on Sundays. We went the following weekend with our then two-year-old Emma, and instantly became fans of Dan Zanes & Friends, which soon became a children’s music juggernaut.

The Grammy winning group plays many different genres of music (rock, folk, world, blues, even show tunes) and the songs espouse positive values like having fun, making music and caring about others. The fact that Zanes—who played in the adult rock outfit The Del Fuegos in the '80s—and his collaborators are as popular as ever after releasing 10 albums over the past 10 years speaks (sings?) volumes about their talent, tenacity and creativity.

Emma was too young to remember those early concerts (that's a photo of her at age two with Zanes!), but she grew up listening to all of the band's CDs. So she was thrilled to get the opportunity to chat with him about his career, his favorite things to do in NYC with kids and how he plans to get ready for his big free Celebrate Brooklyn concert this Saturday, July 16 in Prospect Park, where he'll play tunes from his upcoming album Little Nut Tree.

What does a 12-year-old want to know from her first musical favorite? Read on to find out.—Sara, mom to Emma the interviewer.

Your NJ Weekend July 16-17: Bastille Day, Bratwurst, Bands, Boats, Basketweaving and More–Mostly FREE!


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Music lovers and gourmands, ready yourselves for a weekend filled with more treats and tunes than you can take!  Foodies take their pick from an ice cream festival ‘down the shore; brats’n’brews in the Poconos and French fare in Frenchtown.  Music-minded folk’ll get their fix at fests featuring bluegrass-like “mountain music”; polka bands; jazz and more. There’s also outdoor love this weekend, including a City of Water Day Festival at Liberty State Park, a drop-off naturalist program, and an 1800's village to explore.  With all that’s going on, you’ll be longing for a weekend to recover from your weekend!



Weekend Round Up: Fun & Free Things To Do in CT for Kids and Families: July 15-17

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This week was a hot one and on days when it hits the 90's we like finding free and easy air-conditioned play spaces for the little ones. Check out our post on 5 Free Indoor Play Spaces in Fairfield County. If you find yourself in the NW corner of the state you can read our 20 Family Friendly Day Activities in Litchfield County. For the Weekend Round up....

Free and Fun Things to Do this Weekend for NYC Kids: Muppets, Dan Zanes, Laurie Berkner, City of Water Day, Legos July 16 - 17

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We realize that seeing the final Harry Potter film may be the main event for many families this weekend. But catch it early in the morning! Not only will you beat the crowds, you'll also have leave plenty of time to check out some of the other cool things going on this weekend, like the opening of the Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image, live concerts by Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes, water-centric festivals City of Water Day and Tug & Barge Week, and an amazing display of animals made entirely from Legos at the Bronx Zoo.

Of course, you may be looking to cool off, too, so save time to hit a beach, a pool or a water playground. And if you're looking for a little inspiration, we've compiled 42 summer outings (some in NYC, others nearby) recommended by our readers. You can find that plus a lot of other seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide.

Our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar.

Marvel at the Muppets and the Genius of Jim Henson in Queens

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It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to meet the Muppets in Astoria tonight! The recently renovated Museum of Moving Image is the last stop on a multicity tour for the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Jim Henson's Fantastic World, which opens this Saturday, July 16.

If you're as obsessed with the Muppets as I am (I am seriously counting down the days until the new movie movie opens in November), you'll love this incredible retrospective of the Muppet master's work. The coolest thing about the exhibit (aside from seeing Miss Piggy and Kermit up close!) is that it explores Henson's career beyond his signature creations. Long before he came to Sesame Street, he was an aspiring New Yorker cartoonist, an Oscar nominated experimental filmmaker and an adman with a knack for comic commercials.

While kids may not be as fascinated by the archival photos, storyboards, sketches, posters and other artifacts as parents, the exhibit is smartly designed, with a cute alcove where children can watch a montage of clips while mom and dad delve deeper. Plus, the lineup of hands-on workshops and screenings—many free with museum admission—should excite even the youngest Muppets' fans.

Summer Fun at the New York Botanical Garden for NYC Kids

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The New York Botanical Garden has long been one of my favorite places in the city. Although I enjoy sharing my beloved haunts with my 6-year-old son, we had only visited this 250-acre Bronx oasis for the annual Holiday Train Show because I worried that he just wouldn't be that into plants and flowers.

But I was so intrigued by the garden's slate of seasonal programing for kids, I decided to bring him and I'm so glad that I did. The NYBG is a fantastic destination year-round, but in summer it's a particularly vibrant place with lots of enriching activities for families. During our visit, we smelled, explored, planted, tasted, cooked and learned a lot. In fact, my son loved our outing so much, he didn't want to leave! (He's still bummed that we never made it to the Rose Garden).

Here are the best things to do at the New York Botanical Garden this summer with your kids in tow.

The Berenstain Bears Live: Good Fun for First-time Theatergoers

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I take my kindergartner to a lot of theater. (I'm not kidding when I say I think she's seen more live shows than your average adult New Yorker.) So parents are always asking me to recommend productions for little or even first-time theatergoers.

The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical is just such a show. Most kids two and up already know the characters, and even if they aren't familiar with the brand...er, I mean books, what's not to love about this tight-knit furry family? 

Although it's done on the cheap (the music is canned, the backdrop is cardboard), the production has a lot of spirit and the young performers are strong singers who keep their cloying to a minimum. The biggest kick parents will get out of the show is watching their kids have fun, but that's really the point of going, isn't it?

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