ARTech: A Pop-Up Maker and Play Space for NYC Kids

ARTech: Adventures in Art + Technology is a new STEAM-inspired pop-up activity center in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. After a visit with three experts (my kids, ages 13, 9, and 7), I can assert it's definitely a cool, if temporary, addition to the neighborhood, where kids can explore, create, tinker, and play for FREE.

Science- and technology-inspired fun is in high demand, as evidenced by the opening of several new maker spaces last year alone, including Geek Forest and Skill Mill NYC, plus new offerings in science and robotics. Sponsored by the Meatpacking Business Improvement District, ARTech taps into that enthusiasm with programming designed by two established NYC institutions—the New York Hall of Science and the Children's Museum of the Arts—and it definitely deserves its spot on our March GoList.

We've got the scoop on what to expect, when to visit, and how to reserve your spot at ARTech before this pop-up bids adieu at the end of April.

Rock Out to a New Alice in Wonderland Musical

Lewis Carroll's trippy adventures of Alice in Wonderland have been adapted a lot. But often the magic of his nonsensical world gets buried under special effects and heavy-handed attempts at poignancy. Not so in Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, a new family musical playing in NYC this March that retains the most celebrated vignettes from Carroll's books while adding catchy songs and a relatable story line about a tween anxious to come of age.

Produced by Atlantic for Kids, the family theater arm of the renowned Atlantic Theater Company, this 75-minute show invites audiences of all ages to experience a familiar tale from a fresh musical perspective.

St. Patrick's Day Fun at Houston's Family Friendly Breweries

The craft beer scene in Houston is as rich and varied as the city itself, and in addition to serving up good beer, many local breweries cater to families by offering a relaxed environment for kids to run around while parents hang out. While the focus in March is typically on Rodeo and Spring Break, there's another holiday that deserves celebrating, too: St. Patrick's Day! And what better way to celebrate than supporting your local beer masters. We rounded up several breweries around town that are opening their doors with festive cheer on St. Patrick's Day this year, so you can relax with a good beer, enjoy games and contests for the family, and fill up on delicious local fare from favorite food trucks around town. 

Put Myths To The Test At MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibit

You don’t have to be a fan of the hit Discovery Channel show MythBusters to love the new exhibit at Liberty Science Center. Like the television show, the exhibit is fun, exciting, educational and, yes, a bit wacky. The 100% interactive MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibit lets visitors become MythBusters to confirm or deny myths as they test them out for themselves in exhibits that will have them running, swinging and dodging bullets. Don’t miss this super fun exhibit. Educational fun: Confirmed!

Pop-Up Collaborative Art Studio Opens for Kids in Queens

Inside a 4,000-square-foot studio at the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale, Queens, Frank Kiernan, a father of two, recently opened a pop-up printmaking workshop for kids. An extension of his professional printing business, LittlePulp, preview workshops were held recently for kids as young as 4. Each 2.5-hour session led by Kiernan and assistants focused on collaborative art, teamwork and, of course, printmaking. Read on to learn more, and if you're looking for more Queens kids' play spaces, we've rounded up the top ones. 

Prenatal Pain Relief: Top Spots for Moms-to-Be in Philadelphia

Whether you just found out you are expecting, or you're in the home stretch, your body is probably finding 100 new ways to express pain and discomfort. Not to mention all the stresses of what you need to do when baby arrives. Is your car seat installed correctly? Do you have everything you need for a new baby? What about birth plan and delivery? Between the stress and the growing belly, it's no wonder you might be feeling out of sorts. Which means, of course, that it is time to pamper yourself! Whether you are experiencing regular pain, nausea, or just need a few moments of pampering, prenatal services such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and even massage can make a world of difference! Although a trip to the spa sounds great right about now, not all practitioners are trained to handle the particular needs of prenatal patients, so to ease at least one of your worries, we have a round up of the top spots to book for your aches and pains!

Tea and Treats at Flushing's Rose House with Queens Kids

Flushing has many unsung treasures, but one of the neighborhood’s best-kept secrets is Rose House inside the Queens Crossing Mall. Queens residents no longer have to travel into Manhattan and battle the crowds for a fancy afternoon tea and treats date with their little ones. Families can enjoy a tower of sweets, a warm cup of brisk black tea, and classical music inside this colonial-inspired teahouse.

The Wackiest Art Exhibit in NYC Is Free

This winter NYC is spoiled with incredible art, and now we've stumbled upon another fully immersive exhibit that's totally wacky and totally fun to see with kids. Toiletpaper Paradise presented by Visionaire at the Cadillac House in Soho, takes its cue from the "wild aesthetic" of Toiletpaper magazine, according to organizers.

Visitors can explore multiple areas set up like an apartment (bedroom, kitchen, and so on), and all bedecked in psychedelic colors and outfitted with offbeat props that are sure to thrill kids and adults alike.

Read on to see more photos and hear more about this cool and totally FREE installation that's only open until Wednesday, April 12.

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