Destination Playground: Hester Street Playground

Katy's picture Submitted by Katy on

As we mentioned in our weekly wrap up on Friday, we'll be spotlighting one NYC neighborhood a month in a series of posts. That way we can really explore an area, and let families know about all of its kid-friendly attractions. We decided to start with Chinatown because it's such a fascinating and vibrant place. Last week, one of our bloggers took her family on a walking tour of the nabe. Today, we're taking a closer look at the Hester Street Playground, which is the premier play spot in the area.

My husband grew up in Chinatown in the '80s, and he remembers when the spot was a rundown mess of a park. (In fact, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe once said that it "might have been the worst playground in the City of New York.") Thanks to last summer's $5 million renovation, it's now a state-of-the-art Destination Playground for local kids and visitors.

Flying Monsters in 3-D at the California Science Center IMAX Theater

Roberta B's picture Submitted by Roberta B on

What self-respecting kid wouldn’t want to see a movie called Flying Monsters in 3-D?

The California Science Center reminds us once again how lucky we are to have the California Science Center, with the arrival of David Attenborough’s IMAXsterpiece, Flying Monsters. It was almost too easy answering my son’s “What are we doing today?” with the hero-making reply, “We’re going to see a 3-D movie called Flying Monsters.” I confess, though, I harbored a small doubt; what if he felt conned when he discovered that this impressive sounding title was in fact a cover for a documentary film narrated by some old English guy?

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs: A Hilarious Musical for Families

Raven Snook's picture Submitted by Raven Snook on

We really love the shows put on by Atlantic for Kids. That's because they tend to be as much fun for parents as they are for children. I saw lots of adults cracking up at the theater troupe's latest family musical, a stage adaptation of author Jon Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith's twisted take on The Three Little Pigs. In their version of the old tale, the Big Bad Wolf just has a big bad cold that leads to the swines' untimely demise. To say more would give too much away.

Even though the The Three Little Pigs is usually thought of as a story for very young children, this show isn't for preschoolers. Officially aimed at kids ages 5 to 12, I actually think it's best for tweens and up. It's very campy, and you need a wide frame of reference to get most of the jokes. Even though my six-year-old really enjoyed the show—she insisted we buy the book afterward—I definitely laughed a lot more than she did.

“Math Midway” at Liberty Science Center

Submitted by Shari Simpson on

I know that for some people, mathematics is the supreme beauty of the universe; let me just say that I am not one of these people. However, the new carnival-themed “Math Midway” exhibit at Liberty Science Center came very close to making me a believer. Colorful, marvelously interactive and just plain fun, Math Midway will appeal to all ages, with different levels of appreciation and comprehension.

Weekly Wrap Up: Bronx Zoo Boo at the Zoo Giveaway, Other Halloween Happenings, Chinatown

Raven Snook's picture Submitted by Raven Snook on

We've crossed a few more Halloween updates off our to-do list. If you look at our Halloween Fun Guide, you'll see we now have info on this year's haunted happenings in Westchester, parties and events in Fairfield, Connecticut and a wonderful post about the Bronx Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, which includes a giveaway: four sets of family four-packs to the animal spot. You've got to hurry: We're picking the winners this Monday so enter right away.

Of course Halloween isn't the only game in town. We also updated our post about Columbus Day weekend getaways and staycations just in time for the three-day break, and we took a family walking tour of Chinatown. It's the first in series of posts we are doing on the neighborhood this month.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our brand-new sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

Dialog in the Dark: See NYC in a Whole New Way at This Interactive Installation

Anna Fader's picture Submitted by Anna Fader on

Have you ever wondered how the blind are able to make their way around this crazy city we live in? Some days, navigating NYC with perfect vision is tough! Dialog in the Dark, a new exhibit at the South Street Seaport, invites visitors to experience New York City from the point of view (so to speak) of the blind and visually impaired.

When you enter the interactive installation Dialog in the Dark, you're given a white cane to help you find your way and then the lights are turned out—from this point on you're in complete darkness as you're led through several replicas of NYC environments. Each area has its own smells, sounds and things to feel. Part of the fun is figuring out where you are, so I won't give too much away, but I will give you a sense of what it's like.

Fun & Free Things to Do This Weekend with LA Kids: Kites, Cool Science, and World Records, Oct 8 - 9

Submitted by Toby B on

It’s one for the record books… make that two! This week Southern Californians have the chance to participate in two different world record attempts. First up: Read for the Record. The Santa Monica Public Library joins with book lovers around the world in an attempt to create the largest shared reading experience. This year’s book is Llama Llama Red Pajama, and it’s a real page turner, filled with lots of llama drama. 

The Little Prince at the New Victory Theater: The Classic Tale is Reinvented for NYC Kids

Stephanie Ogozalek's picture Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on

Last weekend, the New Victory Theater kicked off its new season with a show we've really been looking forward to: Bristol Riverside Theatre's beautiful stage adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved children’s novella The Little Prince. This popular tale about a mysterious, planet-hopping boy who comes to Earth and meets a stranded pilot has been adapted many times (including a really trippy 1974 live-action movie musical). But this evocative interpretation really stands out due to its combination of modern technology and Bunraku (Japanese-style) puppetry.

The hour-long show is true to the book, but streamlined a bit. The Aviator (Leonard C. Haas) comes across the Little Prince (a puppet skillfully manipulated by Eileen Cella) and answers his barrage of questions. The royal boy reminisces about his life back home, shares stories of his animal encounters, helps the pilot find water and finally sacrifices himself so his soul can return to his planet. It's abstract and complicated stuff, just like the original story.

The Little Prince has haunted me since I was a child. I shared the book with my son (who's only six) and while he enjoyed it, he took it at face value, but there's a deeper meaning. Yes, at times it seems like the mad rantings of a man hallucinating in the desert, but it also contains amazing insights about love, friendship and human nature. So there's a lot here for both kids and parents to enjoy.

Pages