I must confess that the main thrust of PS1’s weekly Warm Up is really the music, which your kiddos might indeed enjoy as well.  Each Saturday there’s a different lineup of live performances as well as cutting-edge DJ’s tunes with sounds running the gamut from off-beat pop to disco to experimental and beyond.  Consider it icing on the cake if you’ve come for the water play and sand.  What I can add is that thankfully. at least when we attended, the sound level was just fine, no ear-splitting decibel levels to send us running for the hills (or the 7 train).  The music doesn’t start until 3pm so you can enjoy a full hour of fun water-and-sand play in relative peace and quiet (and snag a hammock for a bit before squatters settle in) if you arrive when the event opens at 2pm.  If the music’s not your bag, you can always head into the museum as entry to all exhibits is included in the price of admission and there’s always something fun to view inside.
 
PS1, if you’re not familiar, is MOMA’s edgier sister museum taking greater risks with newer and younger artists and far less conventional material.  There’s some fun multi-dimensional art on view now; we especially enjoyed an installation made using brightly colored wig hair and also dug walking on an entire floor made up of baseball bats.  Some cool short films are also worth a gander . One called Grayscale features people dressed as giant bulldog clips, office supplies and, most improbably, a giraffe.  On the 3rd floor Tommy Hartung’s B-Roll struck our fancy with animated “real” objects (lab rats, odd junk) and a live goldfish tank featuring his own pet koi.  And yippee, kids can wear their bathing suits in the museum (we did!).
 
Honestly, there aren’t usually a lot of opps for mom and/or pop to kick back and enjoy a beer and some real (not kiddie) music while junior and juniorette splash and goof around just a few feet away, so the PS1 Warm Up is definitely an exceptional chance for grown-ups to chill out while the kids cool off.
 
TIPS: Children should come wearing their bathing suits as there is no convenient place to change. Do bring flip flops or crocs as the gravel between play areas is hard on little tootsies.  I’d also recommend bringing your own sand toys so you can take full advantage of the olympic sized sand box.
 
You can pack your own snacks (nobody will bother you about it) but know that food is also available outside (basic burgers, beverages, etc.) as well as inside in the little café, which on Warm-Up Saturdays skips savories and instead sells tempting desserts, awesome homemade sorbets, and a good variety of drinkables including real lemonade.
 
PS1 Warm Up
22-25 Jackson Ave at 46th Ave., Long Island City
 
Every Saturday through September 4th, 2010. From 2pm-9pm. Kids are free, Adults $15. All L.I.C. residents free with proof of address. Cash only. Ticket also includes museum admission.