All Weekend:

If I could, I would head to The Bronx Zoo as they debut a fun new event for families this weekend: Animal Tales Extravaganza, a 3 month (weekends only) festival of children’s literature. The zoo will be bringing favorite storybooks to life through theatrical performances, readings, live music, crafts and special walk-through, large scale interactive experiences. Plus, the springtime is also the best time to see the baby animals, like the new bear cubs or sea lion pups that were born at the zoo. Each weekend will feature something different and this weekend starts out with three performances daily of the Manhattan Children’s Theatre adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit. Not to mention, musical performances by Sweetbeatz (twice on Saturday) and Joannie Leeds (twice on Sunday). And it’s all FREE with zoo admission.

Another highlight this weekend: The fun folks who bring you Shakespeare on the Run in the summertime are doing Hamlet in the World Financial Center. We're actually going to check it out tonight and will give you the scoop next week, but you can see it this weekend too.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Songs from the Old School – Midtown East
Catch the musical stylings of Ivan Ulz as he performs both original and traditional children’s songs. FREE.

And also:

NYC Opera L’Étoile – Family Matinee – Upper West Side
Enjoy special pricing on this one hour matinee that includes pre and post activities just for families. The opera itself is hilarious and sung in French with English dialogue and super titles. Before the show families are invited to a concert of the NYC Opera Children’s Chorus and Interschool Orchestra of New York. Then after the opera join cast members and the orchestra for an interactive family program. Tickets range in price from $6 to $50.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Family Nature Journal Making – Upper West Side
Families with children of all ages are invited to visit the River Run playground in Riverside Park to learn how to create a nature journal with the Urban Park Rangers while exploring the park and looking for nature. FREE.

Canoeing Basics—Staten Island
Kids aged 8+ can spend the afternoon learning how to canoe and looking for birds and turtles on the lake. Don’t worry if you don’t have a canoe – everything is provided. FREE (First come first served)

Bronx Arts Ensemble Family Concert: Babar – The Bronx
You may know the story of Babar, the little elephant who grows up to become King of the Jungle, but you have never seen it like this before, performed by master mime and storyteller W.T. McRae, with lots of audience participation. FREE with garden admission. Performances are 1:00 and 3:00.

There is also:

Moey's Music Party – East Village
Presented as part of The Bowery Kids Series, kids can get really close to the action at the intimate Bowery Poetry Club and sometimes even meet the performers after the show. Since the venue is small get there early to get a good spot. $10.

Still not sure what to do this weekend? Visit our events calendar to see what else is going on around town. And if you know about something cool, you can submit your own event.

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