Archive for February, 2010

This weekend in NYC, spuds get substantial time on the big screen, Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could are front and center at a benefit concert plus more …

See
Little Airplane Production’s Small Potatoes
at the 12th Annual BAMkids Film Festival
Catch Small Potatoes, a short film from the award-winning Little Airplane Productions. It features animated potato characters Home Fry, Olaf, Ruby and Nate. Small Potatoes is actually a short film series, with each film showcasing a different musical style. The Small Potatoes film “Imagination (Give It a Try)” is showing this weekend. Screenings are followed by a Q&A with Little Airplane President Josh Selig. Selig is essentially “Mr. Kids’ TV;” the guy founded Little Airplane Productions (responsible for The Wonder Pets! and Oobi!) and received 10 Emmys for his writing on Sesame Street. Later you can download the Small Potatoes iPhone ebook.
When: Sat. 2/27 and Sun. 2/28 @ 10am and 12:30pm.
Where: BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn.

***For other films screening at the BAMkids Film Festival this weekend, visit bam.org. ***

Hear
Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Housing Works Benefit Concert and Sale
This Sunday, catch Grammy 2009 nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. The band possesses that magical “cross-generational appeal,” meaning you’ll actually like the music. It’s rock, R&B and shades of 70s feel-good vibes. As part of the benefit concert, Housing Works is also having a weekend blowout sale on new books, gently-used books, picture, board and pop-up books.
When: Sun. 2/28 @ 11am; $15 for adults and kids older than one. Tickets are available at housingworks.org. The book sale runs Saturday and Sunday.
Where: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby, 212-334-3324.

Or …

Check out
Dirty Sock Funtime Band
at The Jewish Museum
The Dirty Sock Funtime Band has been featured on Noggin’s Jack’s Big Music Show and fuses rock with - if you can believe it - funk, ska, R&B, hip hop, country AND … klezmer! Now that’s an accomplishment. Kids should come dressed in Purim costumes to celebrate the holiday. (We’re pretty sure Esther dressed nothing like Lady Gaga.)
When: Sun. 2/28 @ 2pm; tickets, available online at thejewishmuseum.org, are $16 for adults, $11 for kids, with slightly lower prices for museum members. (Ages 3 and up)
Where: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. (at 92nd St.), 212-423-3337

Do
The Pregnant New Yorker
Alternative Health Event
Janet Markovits, founder of The Pregnant New Yorker, and a panel of experts will give you the lowdown on prenatal massage, yoga and acupuncture, the role of a doula, nursery feng shui and tips for effectively using your pelvic muscles during labor.
When: Sat. 2/27, 1-3:30pm. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Register at thepregnantnewyorker.com.
Where: Renew Physical Therapy, 149 Madison Ave. (bet. 31st and 32nd Sts.), Suite 903.

Living in NYC, we’re what you might call hyper-dependent on services. And we’re not just talking high-end stuff such as drivers and live-in housekeepers. We can have almost anything delivered at any time of day: food, groceries, books, repaired shoes, drugs (legal, of course), etc. Then think of all the tasks the guys in your building handle: receiving packages and dry cleaning, catching mice, changing light bulbs.

Well, a new downtown event planning company can help you navigate the birthday party (mob) scene. Ella & Me organizes parties from start to finish for the eight-and-under set. They’ll “build the party” and then bring it to you, either at your home or another location. You can pick from a list of Ella & Me party themes, including colored sand art, bird feeders, splatter painting, cooking/baking, shadow box and jewelry making, or suggest your own theme. The sky’s the limit. The “me”of Ella & Me is Melissa Marra (Ella is her daughter), who’s a digital media sales professional with a penchant for party planning. She started Ella & Me in her West Village nabe after noticing a lack of party venues. Marra’s got some great ideas for off-the-beaten-path fiesta locales and has no problem traveling outside her zip code to help you and your DC celebrate his birthday.

If you build it, they (Junior’s BFFs) will come. How Field of Dreams.

Visit ellaandmenyc.com for more details and contact info.

This weekend in NYC, Super Sabado, musical produce, a carnaval and a carnival …

Go
La Vida es un Carnaval!
El Museo del Barrio’s Super Sabado
Check out the recently revamped El Museo del Barrio sans admission as part of its Target Free Third Saturdays program. The exhibit “Nexus New York: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis,” closing at the end of the month, showcases innovative Caribbean and Latin American artists who lived in NYC before World War II and influenced the American avant-garde. Super Sabado family activities include mask and jester hat making, a book reading, gallery tours, a photo station and the “Sounds of Carnaval” performance at 4pm. The concert features the Candombe Jazz Project, playing Candombe, which is a drum-based musical style from Uruguay, and the Capoeira Arts Dance group performing high-energy Afro-Brazilian dance.
When: Sat. 2/20, 11am-8:30pm; free. Visit elmuseo.org for specific events and times. (All ages)
When: El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave. @ 104th St., 212-831-7272.

See
Tribeca Cinemas Kids Club
As part of “feisty females” day, the Kids Club is airing Abby in Wonderland featuring Sesame Street’s Abby Cadabby, the pink, furry fairy-in-training.
When: Sat. 2/20 @ 10:30am; tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids. Tickets available at tribecafilm.com. (Ages 3 and up)
Where: Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick St., 212-941-0041.

Hear
The Fuzzy Lemons
This citrus family rock band does it all: reggae, funk, folk, pop, ska, surf rock and more. The group will be performing at Knitting Factory Brooklyn. (As many of you know, the original Knitting Factory was a defining force on the downtown music scene … and maybe in your pre-baby, pre-married world.)
When: Sat. 2/20 @ 11am; $10 per child and adults accompanying children are free. Tickets available at knittingfactory.com.
Where: Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 361 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn.

Do
Purim Family Carnival
Head to the JCC on the UWS for a few hours of carnival games and treats. Holiday costumes encouraged.
When: Sun., 2/21, 10am-1pm; $13 for members, $15 for non-members. Kids under one are free. (All ages)
Where: The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. @ 76th St. jccmanhattan.org.

Photo Credit: Joaquin Torres-Garcia, Fourteenth Street (Calle Catorce), 1920, Collection of CDS Gallery, NY, copyright 2009 ARS, New York, VEGAP, Madrid. On view at El Museo del Barrio through 2/28.

As parents of urban babies, we’re all about the latest, greatest and most cutting edge for every aspect of our lives - fashion, baby gear, PDAs, etc. But sometimes the “new, new thing” is ancient history, a sort of hyper retro chic if you will.

Enter salt spas.

The Ancient Greeks, including “the father of medicine,” Hippocrates, were well aware of the therapeutic value of salt. And in the 1800s, Eastern Europeans suffering from respiratory problems would seek relief in salt caves. Now the salt spa, wildly popular in Europe and Israel, has come stateside, specifically to Chelsea. Ron Rofe, whose family has three salt spas in Israel, has just opened Halo/Air Salt Rooms on West 22nd Street. The spa is for both adults AND kids. Each salt room, a carefully controlled “microclimate,” is built with salt mined from Ukranian salt caves 300 meters below ground. A salt aerosol is pumped into the rooms. This “halotherapy” can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with allergies and hay fever, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus problems and even the common cold. That’s because salt has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Halotherapy is also a sort of urban pollution detox and can clean harmful airborne particles from your airways

The kids’ salt room is really just a salt-ified playroom with inviting mini-me mod furniture and toys. The adult rooms feature leather lounge chairs, flat-screen TVs and music so you can catch up on some much-needed R&R during your salt therapy. Serenity now.

Rofe plans to open salt spas on the UES and UWS, Brooklyn and Jersey. Now that’s a saline solution.

Halo/Air Salt Rooms, 133 W. 22nd St., bet. Sixth and Seventh Aves., 646-666-0554. haloair.com.

This weekend in New York: Uglydolls, hearts and swords. Plus half a million firecrackers for Chinese New Year. The sparks should be flying this Valentine’s Day/Presidents’ Day weekend in the city.

Go
Valentine’s Day Uglydoll Signing at FAO Schwarz
Check out the newest Uglydoll - Mynus - and meet Uglydoll creator David Horvath. Horvath will be signing Mynus UDs as well as Coldy Holdy Ice Bats and limited-edition “Love Story” Wages. This special Wage doll has a tag that tells the romantic tale of the creation of the UD line. (Horvath used to send letters to his wife-to-be with drawings of Wage.)
When: Valentine’s Day, Sun. 2/14, noon-1:30pm; free. (All ages)
Where: FAO Schwarz, 767 Fifth Ave. @ 58th St., 212-644-9400

See
25th Annual NY Sword Dance Festival
It’s an ancient winter celebration featuring fast-paced rapper swords and long-sword dancing. Adapted from English and European customs, “linked” or “hilt and point” sword dancing is characterized by dancers connecting via their “swords” to form a circle and then other more complex figures.
When: Sat. 2/13 @ 1:30pm and 3pm; free with museum admission. (Ages 3 and up)
Where: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. @ 103rd St., 212-534-1672, x3395, mcny.org.

Do
Baby Loves Disco
5th Annual Valentine’s Day Disco Ball
Bust the move with the whole brood at BLD’s annual heart-day disco ball at the West Village’s Le Poisson Rouge. Contests, healthy snacks, giveaways and daddy-daughter dancing are all part of the afternoon festivities.
When: Sun. 2/14, noon-3pm; Tickets available at babylovesdisco.com, $15 per ticket in advance, $18 at the door. Non-walking babies are free. (Ages 0-7)
Where: Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St.

Celebrate
Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival
Ward off evil spirits for the Year of the Tiger with firecrackers - 500,000 of them (detonated by professionals)! The day’s events also include cultural performances by traditional and contemporary Asian-American singers and dancers plus a dozen lion, unicorn and dragon dance troupes parading through Chinatown.
When: Sun. 2/14, 11am-3pm; free. (All ages)
Where: Columbus Park (boxed in by Baxter, Mulberry, Bayard and Worth Sts.)

Chipn’etzel. It sounds like something out of a Seinfeld episode. Remember the scene where Jerry and Janeane Garofolo do the bit about “brunch” and question why there’s no comparable combo meal for lunch and dinner, like a “lupper” or “linner?”

The Sara Snacker Chipn’etzel is a potato chip and pretzel cookie. It’s a multi-tasking snack that can satiate your cravings for something sweet and salty. The cookies come drizzled in dark or white chocolate or dusted with sugar. They taste a little like a butter cookie but have more kick. The Sara in the company’s name is Sara Leand, a former TV producer who created and executive produced shows for E!, Lifetime and TLC. The Sara Snacker company was actually born in Leand’s college dorm room; she would sell her cookies and treats all over campus. The New York-based Leand brought the company out of hibernation after the birth of her daughter, Lily. Chipn’etzels are available at a number of food retailers in the New York area, including Zabar’s, Gourmet Garage and Amish Market.

Snack on.

For a full list of retail locations, or to buy online, visit sarasnacker.com.

This weekend in NYC, a winter wonderland even if the blizzard skips our zip codes, a book reading with Reverend Al Sharpton, screenings at the junior version of the Tribeca Film Festival plus a jam session with Moey. Then glam it up on Monday with a free makeover.

Do
Winter Jam NYC
Check out NYC’s annual winter sports festival in Central Park, which includes snowboarding and skiing lessons, snowshoeing, a NY Rangers’ slap shot booth and bounce house, the Lake Placid Snow Field (perfect for snowmen building and sledding) and acrobatic performances. The Parks Department’s partner, Olympic Regional Development Authority, blows snow for the entire week leading up to the event to guarantee you’ll have enough of the white stuff.
When: Sat. 2/6, 11am-4pm; free.
Where: The Bandshell area at Central Park (Enter at 72nd St.).

See
Tribeca Cinemas Kids Club
The Tribeca Film Festival team curates this family series. This weekend, Kids Club is showing Anansi, two Jamaican folktales featuring a hip spider and set to rhythmic West Indies tunes, plus An Indian in the Cupboard. Those attending Anansi are encouraged to bring a percussive instrument (homemade is fine) for the drum circle activity scheduled along with the screening.
When: Sat., 2/6. Anansi @ 10:30am. Indian in the Cupboard @1:30pm. Tickets available at tribecafilm.com and the day of the events at the Tribeca Cinemas box office (address below) from 9am-2pm.
Where: Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick St. at Laight St., one block below Canal.

Hear
Moey’s Music Party
92YTribeca
Catch Moey’s Music Party concert this Sunday. Moey, a popular mainstay on the city’s tot rocker circuit, is Melissa Levis, an award-winning Off-Broadway songwriter. This Sunday, kids can jam to Moey’s original tunes, including “NY City Kid,” (with accompanying movements where kids pretend to hail a cab or wave like a doorman).
When: Sun. 2/7 at 11am; $15 per person and babies are free. Tickets available at 92y.org.
Where: 92YTribeca Mainstage, 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St.

Go
Black History Month & Chinese New Year
Celebrations at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The museum is offering so many activities that you could spend the entire weekend here. The museum launches a new series called W.O.R.D. Up! (Words of Real Distinction) with a book reading by Reverend Al Sharpton on Saturday. Other goings on: Chinese New Year arts ‘n’ crafts; a performance with Pre-K and K students featuring traditional Tibetan tambourine dance and New Year’s songs in Cantonese and Mandarin; and circle time with Chinese New Year stories from around the world.
When: Sat. 2/6 and Sun. 2/7; free with museum admission.
*Reverend Al Sharpton’s W.O.R.D. Up! reading requires a special admission ticket. Tickets are on sale now at the admissions desk. Visit brooklynkids.org for event times.
Where: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn, 718-735-4400.

Shop
Fit2BMom Trunk Show at
Madison Rose Maternity
Get 50% off Fit2BMom merchandise, sophisticated, innovative maternity activewear, and meet the designer.
When: Sat. 2/6, noon-6pm.
Where: Madison Rose, 313 Court St., Carroll Gardens, 347-689-3365, madisonrosematernity.com.

Enjoy
Free Laura Geller Mini-Makeover Night
with Divalysscious Moms & The Nanny Diaries Authors
All for you. Celebrate being a gorgeous mom! Grab a cocktail (or two) on Monday night and get a complimentary mini makeover from makeup guru Laura Geller. Join Divalysscious Moms for a girls’ night out with Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, co-authors of The Nanny Diaries and the recently published Nanny Returns. The event is free, but if you spend more than $100 at The Laura Geller Makeup Studio, you’ll receive a signed copy of Nanny Returns. As James Blunt says, “You’re beautiful.”
When: Mon. 2/8, 4-9pm; free. RSVP to rsvp@laurageller.com or by calling 212-570-1280. Limited capacity so reserve your appointment time ASAP.
Where: The Laura Geller Makeup Studio, 1044 Lex.(bet. 74th and 75th Sts.)

Imagine a screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel at Cannes or Sundance. Not exactly a likely scenario. But the Squeakquel and other films of similar caliber are part of your world because they’re part of Junior’s. Newsflash: You can do better. Much better.

Check out the New York International Children’s Film Festival. Tickets just went on sale for the festival, which runs from February 26th through March 21st. You can catch the best of indie kids’ films from around the globe. Typically, the NYICFF flicks score big on all fab four fronts; they’re intelligent, creative, entertaining and have cross-generational appeal. An antidote to the formulaic. Bonus: Kids who attend the screenings for the shorts get to vote on the films! Winners are announced on March 14th. Below are some of the movies being screened for the five-and-under set:

Eleanor’s Secret (France) - Characters from classic fairytales come alive to help little Nate learn to read in this 76-minute animated French film.

Shorts for Tots - The best of short films and animation from around the world for kids ages 3-6. Includes Japan’s Mr. Shape, the United States’ Electric Car, Sweden’s Booo and Animals plus lots more.

Turtle: The Incredible Journey (UK/Austria) - Think nature footage “on par with Planet Earth and March of the Penguins.” Follow the 6,000-mile journey of a single loggerhead turtle from the Florida Coast.

The screenings sell out, so motivate now.

For tickets, a complete list of screenings and showtimes, visit gkids.com.