Cool Culture: Dead or Alive Show at the Museum of Arts and Design

I knew this was going to be a cool show before we checked it out in person, but we were truly unprepared for the total awesomeness of the entire exhibit which has a WOW factor that’s off the charts.  The basic premise of the show is about taking recycled “dead” plant and animal matter and making it newly “alive” as art.  Take, for instance, Billie Grace Lynn’s freakin’ fantastic working “Mad Cow Motorcycle” made up of the bones of an entire cow. Then there’s Fabian Pena’s anatomical art that’s pretty swell in and of itself but will knock your socks off when closer inspection reveals it’s entirely fabricated from cockroach wings. And talking about the eeeewwww factor, you’ve got Alastair Mackie’s fabric woven from mouse fur recovered from owl poop.  That’s just the tip of the iceberg! Read on to get the goods on this exciting exhibition.
 

PlayDate May 17: School News, Picnic Invitation, Free Juno Baby DVDs, Leave Your Kids at at the Park Day and More

Lots of good tidbits for you this week. We're co-hosting a Hebrew National Picnic this weekend and you're invited. Learn more about that, how to get a free Juno Baby DVD, and lots of interesting news about NYC public schools. Plus, i put together a little slideshow from this past weekend's Taste of Tribeca school fundraiser. It was a great event this year with delicious food, fun activities and great weather. If you'd like to see what it's like, watch the video and then don't miss it next year!

NJ Weekend Events May 14-16: FREE Fun: Wacky "Senior" Proms,Wildflowers, Chili Cook-Offs, Classic Cars, Artists & Astronauts!

What a wild weekend we have for you! Kick it off tonight with a "Senior" prom in honor of Grandparents day (you KNOW you still have that off-the-shoulder, teal Merry-Go-Round dress stashed somewhere), then calm down with a kid-friendly stroll through the wildflowers and woods at New Jersey State Botanical Gardens.  Not ready to slow down just yet?  Speed off to the Classic Car show at High Point State Park, then head your family in that fast car down to Toms River for some burnin' hot chili (note: PACK A JUICEBOX) and childish fun!  But wait, there's more!  Visit Village life, pass into the planetarium and turn paper into Tibetan art.  By the end of this weekend, your kids'll be wishing THEY had a curfew for fun! 


Week in Review: Taste of Tribeca, Family Camping, Kid-Friendly Brooklyn, Strawberry Picking and More

Photo of the week: Brendan Fraser came to the hospital to premier his new movie, Furry Vengeance with the kids at the Cornell pediatrics unit. He actually sat through the whole thing with them, which was really quite an act of charity considering how sick he must be of seeing his butt getting kicked by animals over and over...and over...again. Good man!

Here's what you might have missed on the blog this week:

Fun and Free Family Events for New York City Kids: May 15 - May 16, 2010

It is time to start planning your weekend and you have come to the right place,  we have the scoop on a ton of free and inexpensive events and activities going on in every corner of the city. Families can hit the annual Ninth Avenue Food Festival or one of the many other street festivals taking place this weekend. Or get crafty with enriching art projects at The Armory, The Jewish Museum, Flushing Town Hall or The Center for Architecture.  

You can also get outside this weekend, May is Bike Month here in New York City and there are lots of rides, events and even "how to ride" classes planned for kids and adults. The parks rangers are also offering some organized fishing, hiking and birding events in the parks.  Or take your kids to a fun field day on Randall's Island at the NY Road Runners Youth Jamboree.

If you are looking for a deal, Saturday is Super Science Day at New York Hall of Science with extra special programming like games and prizes, but, best of all – kids get in free with an adult admission. 

Read on and get planning. Have a great weekend no matter what you decide to do.

Kid Shows: Story Pirates Act Out Stories Kids Write Themselves

It's no secret that pirates are fond of dapper duds—frilly shirts, satin sashes, gold hoop earrings. And when it comes to playing dress up, the Striking Viking Story Pirates have the best stash in town. Rastafarian headdress, smoking jackets, leopard loin cloths and more are tucked away backstage, making each show feel like a great big game of pretend all hopped up on apple juice and pixie sticks.

Weekend Round-up of LI Family Events: May 15th - 16th

While we may not be experiencing typical May weather, we can still make the most of it this weekend with various family-friendly events.  There is a cartooning workshop for those budding cartoonists taking place at the Main Street Petite Gallery.  At the Long Island Science Center, children can climb inside a giant bird house.  If the weather improves, then there are also outdoor events scheduled such as the Mozart Festival at Old Westbury Gardens.

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