Activities

This weekend in NYC - how Curious George really saved the day, Sid the Science Kid and jazz, baby! Just remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday for Daylight Savings Time.

Hear
Putumayo Kids Jazz Playground Concert
A great antidote to cringe-inducing children’s music. The Putumayo Kids’ Jazz Playground Concert Tour hits NYC this weekend. The Jazz Playground album is the first jazz album for the family from Putumayo Kids, a children’s music label dedicated to introducing kids to music from around the world. This Saturday’s show at the Scholastic store features Oran Etkin performing a selection of international jazz songs. (The Israeli-born Etkin has earned high praise from The New York Times’ jazz critic Ben Ratliff.) True family entertainment.
When: Sat. 3/13 at 11am and 1pm. Free but reservations are required. Call 212-389-3800 to reserve spots. (All ages)
Where: The Scholastic Store’s auditorium, 557 B’way (bet. Prince and Spring Sts.). Stroller entrance at 130 Mercer St.)

See
“Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey”
The Jewish Museum
Illustrator H.A. Rey and his wife, Margret, an author and artist, brought Curious George to America 70 years ago. This exhibit chronicles the Reys’ incredible back story: their dramatic escape from the Nazis, their subsequent survival and the creation of the world’s most famous monkey. The Jewish Museum’s exhibition opening Sunday features nearly 80 original drawings and watercolors; many of the works are on display for the first time. The exhibition also includes an interactive, touch-screen timeline, preparatory dummy books, a reading room and H.A.’s journals detailing the Reys’ journey to freedom.
When: Opens Sun. 3/14; free with the price of admission.
Where: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St., 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.

Go
Sid the Science Kid Family Day
New York Hall of Science
Come meet Sid, the star of the PBS KIDS show. “Super fab lab investigations,” a meet-and-greet with Sid and special screenings of the show are all part of the day’s events.
When: Sat. 3/13 (and Sun. 3/21). Super fab lab investigations run from 10am-5pm. The meet-and-greet with Sid is from 10am-4pm, and the Sid screenings are at 11:30am, 2 and 3pm. Free with the price of admission. Tickets available at the museum and 48 hours in advance at nysci.org.
Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Queens, 718-699-0005.

Do
New York Theatre Ballet’s Cinderella
Known for its family dance programs in an intimate setting, NYTB presents the beloved story of Cinders and her socially-challenged step-sisters.
When: Sat. 3/13 and Sun. 3/14, 11am, 1 and 3:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. (Ages 3 and up)
Where: French Institute/Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St. (bet. Park and Mad. Aves.)

Check out
New York Family’s Camp Fairs
It’s not too late to learn about summer camp options. New York Family magazine is hosting more camp fairs this weekend. Directors from more than 40 camps - day camps and sleepaway camps - will be on hand. (Camps are for kids ages 3-13.)
When: Sat. 3/13, noon to 3pm, on the UES and Sun. 3/14, 2-5pm) on the UWS. Free.
Where: UES - Lycee Francais de New York, 505 E. 75th St. and York Ave.
UWS - Rodeph Sholom Middle School, 168 W. 79th St. (bet. Columbus and Amsterdam Aves.)

Remember: the clocks!

Let’s take stock of what we know about Curious George: He’s a monkey of few (no) words. His inquisitiveness gets him into trouble. He’s friends with the man in the yellow hat who has no name. And millions of moms are incredibly thankful for the easy-on-the-eye Jack Johnson who sings the theme song in the movie. What you might not realize is that Curious George’s creators have their own incredible back story, and that’s the focus of a new exhibit opening this Sunday at The Jewish Museum.

“Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey” chronicles the Reys’ dramatic escape from the Nazis, their subsequent survival and the creation of the world’s most famous monkey. Illustrator H.A. and his wife, Margret, an author and illustrator, were both born to Jewish families in Germany. They lived together in Paris from 1936-1940 and fled on their bicycles with their drawings just hours before the Nazis entered the city. Turns out, those illustrations, including some of a curious monkey then named Fifi, were key to their survival. Perhaps that’s why a common theme of the Curious George stories is how George saves the day after a narrow escape. And George is often seen with his bicycle. The Reys arrived in New York after a four-month journey through Europe and Brazil.

The Jewish Museum’s upcoming exhibition features nearly 80 original drawings and watercolors; many of the works are on display for the first time. The exhibition also includes an interactive, touch-screen timeline, preparatory dummy books, a reading room and H.A.’s journals detailing their journey to freedom.

It would seem that the non-speaking Curious George has a lot to say.

“Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey” begins Sun. 3/14 at The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St., 212-423-3200. Check thejewishmsueum.org for museum hours.

Artwork credit:

H.A. Rey, final illustration for “This is George. He lived in Africa,” published in The Original Curious George (1998), France 1939-40. H.A. & Margaret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Mississippi. Curious George, and characters, created by Margret and H.A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcrout Publishing Company. Copyright 2009 by HMH.

H.A. Rey, unpublished drawing, United States, C. 19502-1960s. H.A. & Margaret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Mississippi.

This weekend in NYC, think Squamata; the snakes and lizards are back on Central Park West. Beach Fossils or Bizet? You can hear both. Or check out a special seminar for parents dedicated to the cloth (as opposed to disposables).

Hear
Kidrockers Concert: Beach Fossils & Bottle Up and Go
Definitely not your typical kids’ music. In fact, it’s adult music made kid-friendly. Kidrockers concert organizers pluck artists from the heart of the indie music scene to introduce to families. The Beach Fossils play contemporary, guitar-driven pop reminiscent of the Beach Boys. Bottle Up and Go is a blues stompin’ duo.
When: Sun. 3/7, 1-2:30pm; $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets available at brownpapertickets.com. Kids must be accompanied by an adult and vice versa.
Where: The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. (bet. Stanton & Rivington Sts.)

The Little Orchestra Society presents
A Musical Toy Store
In this Lolli-Pops Concert, kids will learn how spinning tops, rocking horses, bouncing balls and other toys inspired composers to write the music featured in the program. Prokofiev, Bizet, Schumann and Haydn all get the magic Little Orchestra treatment.
When: Sat. 3/6 at 10:30m and noon and Sun. 3/7 at 1 and 2:30pm; tickets are $12 and $40 and are available at littleorchestra.org.
Where: Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, East 68th St. (bet. Park and Lex. Aves. located on the North side of E. 68th St.)

See
Lizards & Snakes: Alive!
American Museum of Natural History
The lizard and snakes are returning for a six-month stint at the American Museum of Natural History. More than 60 of these live creatures will be on display at AMNH in exquisitely prepared habitats. The exhibit also includes interactive stations, fossils and video.
When: Sat. 3/6 through Mon. 9/6; free with the price of admission.
Where: The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St. Visit amnh.org for museum hours, admission prices and online ticketing. 212-769-5100.

Do
Cloth Diapering Seminar
Madison Rose Maternity
Cloth diapers are making a comeback as more and more of us go the eco-friendly route. But that little, nondescript piece of cloth can be intimidating. This seminar will go over the different types of cloth diaper options and how to care for them. Skeptics welcome.
When: Sun. 3/7 at 10:30am; $15. Must pay in advance to reserve spot. Call 347-689-3365 or e-mail info@madisonrosematernity.com.
Where: Madison Rose Maternity, 313 Court St., Carroll Gardens.

Photo Credit: Copyright D.Finnin/AMNH

We’ve all heard the ubiquitous proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, the same can be said of having a baby, especially in NYC where there is a service to help with nearly every aspect of pregnancy and new parenthood (including a meal delivery service for breastfeeding women). Maternity wear designer Rosie Pope is that village.

The British designer already gives us clothes that are so chic and streamlined, you’ll want to have them taken in to wear post-pregnancy. Now this bubbly overachiever you can’t help but like - Pope was accepted into Edinburgh Medical School, trained as a dancer at Alvin Ailey, modeled extensively and studied neuroscience at Columbia - is extending her brand and opening the doors to MomPrep. MomPrep, housed in a studio two blocks from Pope’s UES boutique, is the ultimate pregnancy/new mom center. MP offers both private and group classes, including A-Z of Childbirth (a comprehensive labor and delivery primer), Parenting 101 (baby care basics), Baby & Infant CPR, Pre-natal Yoga, Pre-natal Pilates plus a lactation class with the cheeky name Got Jublies? The Sweet Dreams sleep seminar and Baby & Me Yoga Play Date with Rosie and her little guy are also on offer. (The medical-related courses are all taught by l&d nurses.)

Pope says her goal is to have a “lifestyle brand for your entire pregnancy … one-stop shopping for your 40 weeks of pregnancy” so you won’t have to run all over town. She recalls being pregnant and taking a Lamaze class “in the psych ward of a hospital. I had to keep going to the bathroom, and then they would have to keep buzzing me back in” to the classroom because of the tight security.

The best thing about MomPrep? No ERB required.

MomPrep classes begin next week. Visit rosiepopematernity.com and scroll down for a full list of offerings.

*MomPrep, 1316 Mad. Ave. Call 212-608-2036 (Rosie Pope Maternity) for pricing and scheduling.

*Rosie Pope Maternity, 1265 Mad. Ave. (bet. 90th and 91st Sts.)

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.

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.)

Living in the present is fine once June rolls around and you’ve got shortened, summer Friday workdays, weekends at the beach and plenty of park time. But at the height of cabin fever season, in NY’s overheated buildings, you could use a mental pick-me-up. So focus on the positive. Look what’s coming to a neighborhood near you later this year:

Scribble Press
For when Junior is over Build-A-Bear and ready for a loftier pursuit. She can become a published author by creating a book at Scribble Press. Kids can make board books, softcover books, notepads and day planners. A fitting activity for the nation’s publishing capital. scribblepress.com.

Shake Shack
Shack attack. Madison Square Park’s institution is getting some siblings, in addition to the one on the UWS. ShackBurgers, cheddar fries and the Shack’s frozen custard shakes will soon be available on the UES on 86th Street, on Prince Street in Nolita, the Theater District … and Kuwait City, Kuwait. Okay, that last one isn’t exactly accessible by subway, but we thought it was worth mentioning. shakeshack.com.

Silly Souls
Speaking our minds is what we’re all about in NY. Our kids are no different. And now the company known for emblazoning irreverent, humorous phrases - “Bald and the Beautiful,” “Organic Pest In-side,” “No Hair Day” - on onesies and other garb for the gaga set is opening its first stand-alone store. Silly Souls will sell bibs, booties, bodysuits (aka onesies) big sister and big brother presents, socks and much more at its new store coming this March to Limelight Marketplace in the Flatiron District. Got sass? sillysouls.com.

Launch dates TBD. Stay tuned. Our promise: They’ll open well before the Second Avenue subway does.

Some monkey business (sans Tiger), some pirate action (unfortunately, sans Johnny Depp), some shopping and some giving. This weekend in NYC …

Give
K.I.D.S. and the Haiti Relief Effort
Earlier this week, we gave you a list of organizations and companies, both national and local, many with connections to the baby/kid/maternity world, trying to raise money for victims of the Haiti quake. Here’s another: KIDS. The acronym stands for Kids in Distressed Situations and is a New York-based charity that’s been in Haiti since 1995. KIDS has collected 20 containers of NEW products (worth a total of $2 million) - apparel, shoes, baby supplies, water and underwear - from corporate giants, including Jockey, Toys “R” Us, Gerber Childrenswear and UGG Australia. Some of the donations are already en route to Haiti. (KIDS has been cleared to ship through the port Cap-Haitien on Haiti’s north coast plus deliver two containers a day through the Port-au-Prince airport.) KIDS is looking for monetary contributions to cover the cost of shipping plus additional corporate donations. For every $10 donation, the charity can send $100 worth of products. Visit kidsdonations.org/haiti. Individuals can also donate NEW items via KIDS. Note: Socks and underwear are in high demand.

See
Uncle Pirate
The name Wilson conjures up images of the beat-up volleyball Tom Hanks’ character “befriended” in Castaway. But in the Vital Theatre Company’s show Uncle Pirate, Wilson is just a regular fourth-grade boy who one day discovers his uncle is a real pirate. And so the adventures - and Wilson’s quest to survive the school year - begin with all the requisite pirate paraphernalia: hats with skull & crossbones images, eye patches, swords, etc.
When: Saturdays and Sundays through 2/28, at 11am and 1pm. Tickets available at 212-579-0528 and online at vitaltheatre.org.$25 per ticket.
Where: Vital Theatre Co., 2162 B’way, at 76th St.

Hear
FunkeyMonkeys Concert
The FunkeyMonkeys, helmed by Dora the Explorer composer Josh Sitron, are back. Check out their show entitled “The FunkeyMonkeys’ Sing, Dance & Underpants Variety Show on the UWS, which is running for eight consecutive Sundays. Each week is a slightly different performance, with a rotating cast of opera singers, musicians and dancers.
When: Eight consecutive Sundays, starting this weekend on 1/24 and running through 3/14. Shows are at 2:30pm and 4:30pm. Tickets, $15 each, available at funkeymonkeys.com.
Where: The Triad Theater, 158 W. 72nd St. (near B’way).

Watch
Sammie & Tudie
These mainstays on the NYC birthday party circuit are performing this Saturday at Theater Ten Ten. Sammie and Tudie are clowns (not scary) who perform comedy bits, tell stories, do magic and create museum-worthy balloon sculptures.
When: Sat. 1/23 at 11am (also 2/20, 2/27 & 3/6). Tickets available at 212-288-3246, x300; $20 per ticket. (Ages 3 and up. Children under two will not be admitted.)
Where: Theater Ten Ten, 1010 Park Ave., bet. 84th and 85th Sts. (at Park Avenue Christian Church).

Shop
Bump Brooklyn
Get up to 50% off fall/winter merchandise at this hip maternity store located in the heart of Brooklyn’s “baby district.” The store will donate 10% of this weekend’s sales to Save the Children and the Haiti relief effort.
When: Starting 1/22. Weekend hrs.: Fri. & Sat., 11am-7pm and Sun., noon-6pm. bumpbrooklyn.com.
Where: Bump Brooklyn, 464 Bergen St. (between 5th and Flatbush Aves.) 718-638-1960.

Belly Dance Maternity
Clothes originally priced $50-$350 are now going for $10-$50, even designer denim. Brands include Olian Maternity, Paige Maternity Jeans, NOM, Japanese Weekend, Liz Lange Michael Stars Maternity and more.
****CASH ONLY****
When: Sat. 1/23, 9am-3pm
Where: Belly Dance Maternity, 548 Hudson St. (between Charles and Perry Sts.), 212-645-3640, bellydancematernity.com.

A Mars day trip, shadow dancing (unrelated to Andy Gibbs), tap dancing, MLK Day activities and Jerry Stiller. Serenity now!

Go
“Mission to Mars” on the Intrepid
Saturday an exhibit spotlighting the red planet opens at the Intrepid. Front and center: a full-scale model of a Mars Rover. On weekends, museum educators will hold interactive, multimedia demos where you get to touch Rover artifacts, a piece of solar panel and parachute material. FYI … the USS Intrepid acted as a space capsule recovery ship for Mercury 7 and Gemini 3 NASA missions.
When: Runs 1/16-6/30. Hours: M-F, 10am-5pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am-6pm. Free with admission.
Where: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, (46th St and 12th Ave.) intrepidmuseum.org.

Do
ShadowPLAY
New York Hall of Science
Experiment with colorful lights, crystal-themed shadow puppets, colored gels and tubes in this new interactive exhibition. Dancing encouraged.
When: Sat. 1/16 and Sun. 1/17, 10am-5:45pm. Free with admission. Check nysci.org for additional dates.
Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 718-699-0005.

Create
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Diversity Craft
Head to Central Park to partake in a community art project led by the staff of Belvedere Castle.
When: Sat. 1/16 (rain or shine), noon-3pm; free.
Where: Belvedere Castle, Central Park, mid-Park at 79th St. 212-772-0210, centralparknyc.org.

Make-a-Wish Balloons for MLK Day
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Kids can decorate make-a-wish birthday balloons to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The projects will then be displayed in the museum’s lobby window.
When: Sat. 1/16 and Sun. 1/17 at 1:30pm; free with museum admission. (All ages)
Where: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn, 718-735-4400, brooklynkids.org.

Dance
American Tap Dance Foundation’s Open House
Tap dancing. Gregory Hines, Gene Kelly and Savion Glover made/make it look so easy. Saturday kids can sample a class to see if they’re able to master the fancy footwork that provides such an aural and visual feast for audiences.
When: Sat. 1/16, noon-1pm; free. (Ages 3.5-18)
Where: American Tap Dance Ctr., 154 Christopher St. (bet. Greenwich and Washington Sts.)#2B, atdf.org.

Heads-up
Jerry Stiller Book Reading
Next Wednesday, funnyman Jerry Stiller reads from two selections from The PJ Library Collection to launch the PJ Library program in NYC. PJ sends out Jewish-themed books and CDs to children free of charge if the kids live in a PJ region. A fee-based subscription is available for families living outside PJ regions.
When: Wed. 1/20, 3pm; free. (All ages)
Where: JCC in Manhattan, 344 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th St., 646-505-5708.

We already know good things come in threes. Think Law & Order franchises, CSI cities, Jonas brothers (okay, minus the “bonus” Jonas), Musketeers, American Idol judges until Season 8, ingredients in a BLT. So you could say that Three, the puppet production opening today at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, has some good karma going for it.

In fact, Three is one of the most popular shows ever to run at the Swedish Cottage and debuted there back in 2004. Presented by the City Parks Foundation, Three is “an adventurous mash-up” of the classic fairytales The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The main character, the Big Bad Wolf (BBW in UB parlance), has to travel into all the abovementioned tales to change his rap and transform himself into the Big Good Wolf (BGW). But old habits are hard to break. His first attempt at switching from BBW to BGW fails miserably. With the help of the Fairy God Mice and the audience, the furry guy long associated with the ingestion of a certain grandmother, is able to redeem himself. The show was written by Emmy-nominated writer Jeff Borkin. What makes Swedish Cottage Marionette productions particularly enjoyable for the whole family is their cross-generational appeal; there’s something for you.

Showtimes: 1/12-6/25; T-F, 10:30am and noon, plus 2:30pm on Wednesdays. Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm. Call 212-988-9093 for reservations. Tickets are $5 for children and $8 for adults.

Where: The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Central Park at 79th St. and the West Drive, just south of the Delacorte Theater. cityparksfoundation.org.