Unami: Food and Art Festival Saturday, April 12th Roulette, 20 Greene St. I love digging up cool events that haven't been promoted through the traditional kid media (and I'll never reveal my sources). Unami is a new festival celebrating artists who use food as their medium. This weekend, as part of the festival, there will be two "Paint with Your Food" kid workshops led by Chef Einav Gefen of the Institute for Culinary Education and artist Judith Levin. Here's the workshop description:

During this two-hour workshop Gefen and Levin will engage the children in activities designed to suggest new approaches to food. The object of the workshop is to create consumable works of art, combining and presenting a variety of food products in new and exciting ways while maintaining their primary purpose: eating! The workshop utilizes the multi-sensory properties of food, encouraging children to interact with the materials on all levels: touching, smelling and tasting. By using examples from a variety of artistic media and then introducing the children to the materials Gefen and Levin will encourage them to think of food in new ways, highlighting the power of food as a readily available creative tool for self-expression. The workshop serves a double function: introducing new food stuffs and encouraging children to try them by approaching them from a new angle, while suggesting to children that art is everywhere and is an integral part of our daily life.

There are two sessions, one for 6-9 year olds and one for 10-14 year olds. From the website, I don't see the workshop for the younger kids listed so I am wondering if it might be sold out (I found this too late to call). If anyone looks into it please leave a comment and let us know. At any rate, the workshop is $30 (not free, but fabulous). Check out the festival site for more info: unamifestival.com Free Lunch Money Concert Saturday, April 12, 2008, 3:30 p.m. The New York Public Library - Donnell 20 West 53rd St FREE Lunch Money will bring their sunny indie-pop children's music to the Donnell Central Children's Room of the New York Public Library. Kids Play Time with Melissa Errico April 12th, 1-4 pm Bloomingdales (59th and Lex) FREE Melissa Errico, a fellow NYC mom, has just put out her first kids' album, Lullabies and Wildflowers, a collection of lullabies. On Saturday she will be singing songs from her album at Bloomies. In addition there will be an interactive bubble show, crafts, snacks, face painting, and more. Stay tuned for our interview with Melissa next week. YMCA Healthy Kids Day Saturday, April 12 Your Local YMCA FREE All 20 New York City branches will offer their own host of fun-filled activities designed to show kids and parents how they can improve their physical well-being. A sampling of activities at the branches includes family yoga and freeze dance games at the Harlem branch, lacrosse and classes for parents on family exercises at the Staten Island South Shore Branch, nutrition workshops and a double dutch competitions at the Greenpoint branch and family obstacle courses and healthy options taste testing at the North Brooklyn branch. Kids and parents will also enjoy music, clowns, balloons, face-painting and more. Find out what's happening at your local branch at www.ymcanyc.org At the events they will also be giving out the Healthy Family Home and Free Starter Kits. This is a 30 page booklet with all kinds of activities and ideas to help kids and families kind of do an audit of how healthy their home is suggestions for simple do-able things for getting healthier. After Saturday, you'll be able to download a PDF of the kit at www.healthyfamilyhome.org. I got a preview copy and it seemed like something that might be fun to do with the kids. One last reason to go: get info on YMCA summer camps and programs. Free Family Yoga Saturday April 12, 10am Synagogue for The Arts 49 White Street, Tribeca FREE Join Karma Kids Yoga and the Synagogue For the Arts for a Free Family Yoga class! This is Yoga fun for the whole family! Partner poses are emphasized in this animated yoga class. All ages welcome. Free to all. Yoga mats are provided. Families are welcome to stay for Tot Shabbat at 10:30, a fun experience with songs and stories for the kids. Children's Carnival April 12, 13, 19, 20, 11am-6pm Queens County Farm Museum, directions $9 per person includes all rides A carnival in the apple orchard with carnival rides, midway games, food, hayrides, a petting zoo and a Magic Show, Height restrictions apply for all rides. The Music Man Saturday, April 12 The Village Light Opera Guild FIT/Haft Auditorium, 227 West 27th Street, 212-352-3101 I don't usually write about stuff like this, but my daughter absolutely loves "The Music Man." In fact I think it rivals High School Musical in her mind. If you want to give it a try with your kids, The Village Light Opera will perform "The Music Man" with a special kids' matinee, where kids can meet the cast and tour the set.