Archive for November, 2008

This weekend: Happy Thanksgiving! If even the thought of the parade has you running for cover, check out some low-key kiddie fun.

Hear
Robin Greenstein and Friends
As part of CMOM’s Freedom’s Feast Festival, sing feel-good American songs to celebrate the country’s traditions and heritage.
When: Sat. 11/29, 2pm & 3pm; Free with museum admission.
Where: Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St. (bet. Broadway & Amsterdam), 212-721-1223, cmom.org.

Visit
Seaport Chorus Tree
The city’s first major tree lighting of the season features caroling by the Big Apple Chorus and appearances by The Big Apple Circus clowns. Put in your requests to Santa now.
When: Fri. 11/28, 6pm; All ages; Free.
Where: South Street Seaport, Fulton St. bet. South St. & Water St., thenewseaport.com.

See
Azur & Azmar
Enjoy the children’s film about reunited brothers, at Symphony Space.
When: Sat. 11/29, 11am & 1pm, $11/Adults, $9/Kids.
Where: 2537 Broadway at 95th St., 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org.

Go
Peter Pan & Adventures in Neverland
See the new musical production in Central Park. This retelling of the children’s classic features an original score and hand-crafted marionettes.
When: Fri. 11/28-Sun. 11/30, 11am & 1pm; $8/Adults, $5/Kids (reservations required).
Where: The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, 79th St. & the West Drive, 212-988-9093, cityparksfoundation.org.

Holiday stress does not exactly help your anti-wrinkle plight. Just the thought of crowded toy stores (tourists!), tempting gingerbread cookies (calories!) and upcoming family functions (in-laws!) is enough to induce major frown lines.

Before you kick into high gear, take advantage of Smoothmed’s walk-in Botox boutique. Founded by two plastic surgeons who noticed their waiting rooms were filled with patients seeking fillers, the on-the-go approach takes clients on a walk-in basis. All treatments are administered by physicians who specialize in Botox facial sculpture, and the goal is to get you out in less than 30 minutes.

This Friday, Smoothmed is extending store hours from 9am to 7pm, plus offering 50-percent off its skincare products (try the NYC-friendly City Clean and Urban Defense). Don’t forget to smile.

Open Tues.-Sun. 11am-7pm. 111 East 59th St. (bet. Park & Lexington), 212-371-7666.

No matter how hard the Upper East Side tries, it just can’t seem to catch up to downtown nabes when it comes to being hip and cutting edge. Too many ladies who lunch. Too sterile.

To boost uptown’s rep, Tribeca kids’ clothing fave Bu and the Duck opened an outpost in 10028. Nestled off the beaten path on 84th Street, this charming store (think exposed brick walls and antique toys) is stocked with its signature striped and plaid shirts, intricately crafted Peruvian sweaters, immaculately tailored blazers and skirts, and tissue-thin silk dresses perfect for holiday photo ops. It’s no wonder Bu and the Duck duds keep gracing the pages of Vogue. Designer/owner (artisan!) Susan Rose Lane says her clothes are a throwback to 1930s America and the Great Depression, a time when people were “actually creative” because they had to work with what little they had.

Sound familiar?

Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 12-5pm. 316 East 84th St (bet. 1st & 2nd Ave.), 212-794-0721, buandtheduck.com.

This weekend, the American Museum of Natural History officially opens its first-ever ice skating rink. The new Polar Rink, made from synthetic ice, centers around a 17-foot-tall polar bear made of openwork stainless steel and adorned with seasonal pine boughs and twinkling lights. After skating, visitors can head to the glassed-in North Galleria for hot chocolate and snacks — or explore the museum. The skating rink, which holds up to 200 people per 45-minute session, will be open through February.

In celebration of the rink’s debut, ice dance company The Ice Theatre of New York will perform during a special ceremony tomorrow at 11am. Artistic director Moira North advises first-time skaters to wear a long-sleeved shirt, sweater, long underwear, long pants, jacket, gloves and thin socks to optimize those triple axels (or at least, to pad your fall).

When: Sat. 11/22 through 2/28/09. Open Sun.-Thurs. 12-8pm, Fri.-Sat. & holidays 11am-11pm. $10/Adults, $9/Students, $8/Kids (includes skate rental and 45-minute session).
Where: AMNH, Weston Entrance on Columbus Ave. & 79th St., 212-769-5200, amnh.org.

This weekend: Be crafty.

Hear
Kidrockers Fall Rockstival
Enjoy a rock show from Locksley, and activities like Ringo toss (toss a bean bag into a life-size picture of Ringo Starr), pin the pick on the guitar, bobbing for Apple iPod, and rock-and-roll face painting.
When: Sun. 11/23, 1-3pm; Ages 3-13; $15.
Where: 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St. at Canal, kidrockersusa.com.

Do
Thanksgiving Dinner Placemat
Little ones can express thanks with watercolors and paint a placemat for turkey day.
When: Sat.-Sun., 11/22-11/23, 10-11:30am & 2:30-3:45pm; Ages 4 & under; Free with museum admission.
Where: CMOM, The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd St. (bet. Broadway & Amsterdam), 212-721-1234, cmom.org.

Thanksgiving Crafts in the Park
Stop by Central Park’s Chess & Checkers House to create seasonal arts and crafts.
When: Thurs. 11/20, 12-3pm; Ages 3+; Free.
Where: Mid-Park at 64th Street, 212-794-4064.

My Giant Paper Flowers
Children’s boutique Babylicious hosts a craft day to make paper flowers.
When: Sun. 11/23, 11am-1pm; Ages 3+; $10.
Where: 51 Hudson St., 212-406-7440, babyliciousnyc.com.

See
Horton Hears a Who
The Dr. Seuss character is this year’s Macy’s Official Holiday Ambassador. Stop by for a reading of the classic children’s book,
photo ops with the Mayor of Whoville and an activity center with holiday-themed arts and crafts.
When: Sun. 11/23, 1:30-4pm
Where: Herald Square Macy’s East at 34th St., 7th floor kids’ department, macys.com.

Shop
Family Book Fair
Goddard Riverside Community Center’s Annual New York Book Fair fundraiser offers new children’s books, plus best-sellers, CDs, DVDs, calendars and other holiday gift items, at a discount. Fancy Nancy author Jane O’Connor will read and sign books at 2pm on Saturday.
When: Sat. 11/22, 10am-6pm & Sun. 11/23, 11am-5pm.
Where: 593 Columbus Ave. at 88th St., 212-873-6600, goddard.org.

Give
Food Drive
The West Side YMCA hosts its annual food drive to benefit City Harvest. Drop off non-perishable food items in the lobby.
When: Through Fri. 11/21.
Where: 5 West 63rd St. (bet. Broadway & Central Park West), 212-875-4101, ymcanyc.org.

You’re not exactly the DIY type, but having an interior designer customize your dream nursery is the last thing on your mind — or in your budget.

But before you hop the shuttle to IKEA, consider this deal: Blue Bench in Tribeca is offering a $100 child’s room design consultation (down from $500) that includes recommendations on the floor plan, fabric, bedding, paint, floors and windows. Plus, all resulting orders of movie set-worthy furniture are 20-percent off. Learning how to maximize closet space, work with a tricky layout or choose pieces that will transition with your child may be worth the initial investment.

And hey, no one needs to know you had a little help.

159 Duane St., 212-267-1500, bluebenchnyc.com.

Far be it from you to pooh-pooh baby gifts. You’re more than happy to celebrate a friend’s good fortune with just the right shower present, but it would be nice to find perfection for less than a C-note.

Luckily, new Soho children’s boutique Bundle has the goal of NYC-chic clothes and great gifts (no mass-market, I-see-it-everywhere stuff) that are actually affordable. While you won’t find bargains a la Old Navy, brands like Luxe Baby, Pediped, Tea Collection, Neige, Splendid Littles and Kicky Pants evoke ooohs and aaahs without making you gasp at the price — think cuddly baby blankies, cute dresses and cool kiddie accessories.

And it won’t cost a bundle.

Open Mon.-Thurs. 11am-7pm, Fri. 11am-8pm, Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun. 12-6pm. 128 Thompson (between Prince & Houston), 212-982-9465, bundlenyc.com.

History buffs, take note: The USS Intrepid was first launched in 1943 during World War II, then aided in NASA spacecraft recovery and later served in Vietnam. Luckily, this piece of history landed in NYC in 1982, and is once again open to the public.

After two years on renovations, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is back — and better than ever. Beyond the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier, the new complex features an extensive aircraft collection including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world. Guests can check out areas of the ship that have never been open to visitors before, as well as interactive educational stations and a state-of-the-art pier.

To infinity and beyond.

Open Tues.-Sun., 10am-5pm. Pier 86 (12th Ave. & 46th St.), 212-245-0072, intrepidmuseum.org.

A is for Alice in Wonderland statue, B is for bike messenger, C is for Canal Street.

Learning letters is easy when you’re constantly stimulated by NYC’s surroundings. Robin Segal’s new book, ABC in the City, uses the alphabet plus photos of local happenings to guide kids through the modern urban landscape. Tomorrow, the author and artist (and former transportation policy consultant) will be reading from and signing copies of her book at Blue Ribbon General Store in Boerum Hill.

Soon they’ll know their ABCs.

When: Sat. 11/15, 3:30-5pm.
Where: Blue Ribbon General Store, 365 State St. at Bond, Brooklyn, 718-522-9848, blueribbongeneralstore.net.

This weekend: Get hip to the jive.

Go
Candy Cane Rockettes
Madame Alexander reveals its new dolls based on the Rockettes. The world-famous precision dance troupe will be on hand to autograph the dolls.
When: Thurs. 11/13, 11am-1pm.
Where: FAO Schwarz, 767 Fifth Ave. at 58th St., fao.com.

Hear
Elizabeth Mitchell
The singer does soothing, kid-friendly versions of everything from Woody Guthrie to the Velvet Underground.
When: Sat. 11/15, 11am; $25 Adults, $17 Kids.
Where: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St., 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org.

Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine
Electro-pop — and an actual bubble machine — hip enough for kids and parents (who may recognize Robert Schneider from his band, The Apples in Stereo).
When: Sun. 11/16, 11am; $15.
Where: 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St., 212-601-1000, 92y.org.

Visit
Jukebox Radio
Puppets help fuse musical genres such as pop, folk, rocksteady, jazz and Russian folk, inspired by the exhibition Chagall and the Artists of the Russian Jewish Theater.
When: Sun. 11/16, 1pm & 2:30pm; All ages; Free with museum admission.
Where: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St., 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.

Do
Who is Thelonious Monk?
Wynton Marsalis hosts Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People concert.
When: Sat. 11/15, 1pm & 3pm; Ages 6+; $12, $20 & $28.
Where: Broadway at 60th St., 212-721-6500, jalc.org.

Shop
Trick or Treat Candy Drive
Bring leftover unopened Halloween candy to donate to kids in need of a treat.
When: Through Fri. 11/14.
Where: Babylicious, 51 Hudson St., 212-406-7440.