This large, lush multimedia installation by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist incorporates beautiful and whimsical imagery mainly of nature projected onto the 25 ft high walls of the Museum's Marron Atrium. In the middle of the room is "sculptural seating," or a big donut ring of soft benches that are perfect for hanging out with toddlers and kids while they gaze at the constantly changing imagery. A great little pick me up for a cold winter's day, but catch it fast, this is the last weekend.

SnackTime: Across the street from the museum you may find a cart selling crepes or empanadas, a nice, cheap little meal that kids will love.

Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary
Museum of Art and Design
2 Columbus Circle
Through April 19, 2009
Adults: $20, Children under 12 free
madmuseum.org for hours and more information  

The Museum of Art and Design has a fabulous new home right in Columbus Circle. The Museum's inaugural exhibition is Second Lives, a group show of works by artists who have turned ordinary objects into works of art.

The fun of this exhibit will be watching as your children find the ordinary objects in each piece. Some will be obvious and others won't (It's up to you whether to tell them the theme of the exhibit in advance or wait and see if they figure it out). A chair made from hammer handles, a sculpture carves from phone books, stalgmite-structures made out of clear buttons, a coin-couch, will each puzzle and, hopefully, inspire kids. And, what better way to recycle!

SnackTime: Ski right across Columbus Circle to Whole Foods in the Time Warner Center.

Leandro Erlich: Swimming Pool
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Ave ( 46th Ave), LIC
October 19, 2008 - May 4, 2009
$5 suggested donation
PS1.org for hours and directions

Another exhibit that will puzzle and delight children is Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool. The piece is a full-sized, complete swimming pool with real water (you can even touch it), but beneath the water real people, clothed and breathing congregate looking back up at you. After puzzling over the phenomenon from above, kids can go below and see the trick of the pool and "get in" to "swim" in the water or do what they like for the new viewers above.

SnackTime: Find some lunch ideas here.