Brooklyn has many things for families and kids to do, and during the spring and summer New York City has thousands of kid- and family-friendly activities that include arts and crafts, museum exhibitions, concerts, sports, nature walks in local parks, and many other outdoor activities. Here are some of today's activities in Brooklyn, from gardening to sports meets!
The Witch's Children - Old Stone House
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Performed by Piper Theatre Students, ages 11-16, under the guidance of professional directors and actors. This original tale tells the story of Nest doesn't want to be the Witch's son as he sets about to discover who he really is in this fantasy adventure.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again - Old Stone House
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Performed by Piper Theatre students, ages 11-16, under the guidance of professional directors and actors. Inspector Jacques Clouseau, blissfully unaware, fights for his life and for the future of all mankind in the most bizarre and dangerous caper.
The Starlings: Shakespeare Scenes - Old Stone House
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Under the guidance of professional directors and actors, the youngest group of Piper Education students will perform scenes from Shakespeare's plays.
Art Works - Brooklyn Children's Museum
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Children, ages 5 and under, visit the Totally Tots Art Studio and see what activity is in store for your young Picasso.
Teen Time - Brooklyn Public Library Gerritsen Beach branch
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Teens hang out and enjoy books, games and music.
Celebrate Brooklyn: The Swell Season & The Low Anthem - Prospect Park Bandshell
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Glen Hansard, of the great Irish band The Frames, and classically trained Czech pianist and singer Marketa Irglova perform.
Lawn Chair Theater: Finding Nemo - Salt Marsh Nature Center
July 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and relax outdoors before settling down to an evening of Pixar magic.
Last Day of the Myrtle Avenue El: Photographs by Theresa King - New York Transit Museum
Through July 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
A personal exhibition by photographer Theresa King that captures a nostalgic moment in time and the essence of riding on wood-elevated cars.
Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey - The Jewish Museum
Through August 01, 2010 - Manhattan
This exhibition delves into the remarkable lives and works of Curious George's creators, Margret and H. A. Rey, and features nearly 80 original drawings and preparatory dummies for the Curious George books. Visitors can also examine the parallels between the obstacles the Reys faced and these drawings, which may have saved their lives.
Barbie® Collector 'Dolls of the World' Exhibit - The Peopling of America Center
Through August 15, 2010 - Ellis Island
The Barbie® Collector Dolls of the World collection celebrates countries, cultures, and fashions from across the globe. The exhibit, which celebrates the collection's 30th anniversary, will feature the Vitrine of Dolls, a display of the most recognized dolls from each country. Visitors can read fun, interesting facts about each doll and country and locate their heritage through Barbie®. The exhibit also includes a Wall of Dolls Retrospective, featuring a display of images from the collection that highlights Barbie® doll's cultural evolution through the years.
Mary Poppins - New Amsterdam Theatre
Through September 05, 2010 - Manhattan
See the magical Broadway version of the classic film.
The Lion King - Minskoff Theatre
Through September 05, 2010 - Manhattan
See the Tony-award winning show based on Disney's classic story.
Exhibition: Children of Hangzhou - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through September 05, 2010 - Brooklyn
Exhibit-goers visit a real family in Hangzhou, a Chinese city, and experience the impact of modernization on the lives of the girls and boys in a family that bridges old traditions and new ways of life. Inside recreated models of an apartment, pagoda, open-air market, classroom, and rice field, and shopping mall, visitors try hands-on activities and participate in the lives of the local children as they go about their daily play, school life, and work in today's China. Runs through September 5.
The Coney Island Illuscination! - Coney Island Beach
Through September 06, 2010 - Brooklyn
Ringling Bros. weaves intrigue, marvel and fun as children of all ages follow "Illuscinator" David DaVinci through outlandish, heart-racing transformations including suspending himself by his feet, and attempting to escape from a straitjacket, all while directly above a pack of exotic lions. Opens today and runs through September 6.
Exhibition: Capturing the Spirit of the Book - Brooklyn Public Library Central branch
Through September 10, 2010 - Brooklyn
Artist Sandra Jackman's books relate to literature, fantasy, comic books, science fiction, war and politics in this summer-long exhibition.
Special Exhibition: 'Kiki Smith: Sojourn' - Brooklyn Museum
Through September 12, 2010 - Brooklyn
This family-friendly exhibition presents an installation by Kiki Smith that explores the ideas of creative inspiration and the cycle of life in relation to women artists. The exhibit will draw from a variety of work by the artist in a range of media, including drawing, cast objects, unique sculpture, painting, and photography.
Andy Warhol: The Last Decade Exhibition - Brooklyn Museum
Through September 12, 2010 - Brooklyn
This is the first United States museum exhibition of the late works of American artist Andy Warhol(1928-1987) and the first major Warhol survey in New York since the 1989 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Nearly fifty paintings on view reveal the artist's vitality, energy, and spirit of experimentation. Runs June 18 through September 12, 2010.
Exhibition: 25 Years of Arts for Transit - New York Transit Museum
Through October 11, 2010 - Brooklyn
Since 1986 Arts for Transit has created over 200 projects for the stations and facilities of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, with another 50 currently in production. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Arts for Transit, the museum presents an exhibition that examines the art, artists, and impact of this varied body of work. Runs through October 11, 2010.
Tugboat and Waterfront Scenes Exhibition - Waterfront Museum
Through October 30, 2010 - Brooklyn
This exhibit features large images and encaustic paintings by New York artist Rich Samuelson. Selected works depict tugboats and other aspects of the life of New York City's great harbor and its Brooklyn and Manhattan neighborhoods. Runs through October 30.
Tibetan Portrait exhibit - Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
Through December 05, 2010 - Staten Island
Photographic portraits of Tibetan people by renowned contemporary artist Phil Borges are featured. Families can view interactive displays focusing on aspects of traditional Tibetan culture, including a map of Tibet’s changing borders, a moveable display of Himalayan Mountains, audio recordings of mantra chanting, and a hands-on display of Tibetan prayer wheels.
- Park Slope Farmers Market
Through December 05, 2010 - Brooklyn
This season's market features new products like: grass fed beef from Kiernan Farm, certified organic produce from St. Petersburg's Family Farm, healthy Finnish pastries from Northern Rye, handmade quiche from Yona's Gourmet Delights, produce from Phillip's Farm, pesto from Buddhapesto, gourmet marinated vegetables from Dolce Nonna, and much more. Market is open every Sunday through December 5, 2010.
After-School Book Club - Historic Richmond Town
Through December 29, 2010 - Staten Island
Students in grades 4-7 meet on Wednesdays in the Historical Museum to read and discuss selected books covering major periods in history. The collections and historic buildings of Historic Richmond Town will enhance the readers' experience of the time periods.
The Story Museum - Historic Richmond Town
Through December 30, 2010 - Staten Island
Preschool-aged children up to age 5 can step inside a world filled with the magic of stories, crafts, music, dancing, and singing. Takes place in the Historical Museum. Call for reservations: 718-351-1611, ext. 280.
Permanent Exhibit: Night Shift - Prospect Park Zoo
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
Visitors meet the night shift at Prospect Park Zoo during the day. A group of nocturnal critters has joined the animals featured in the Amazing Animals section of the zoo including an African brush tailed, South American prehensile, and a small group of Rodrigues fruit bats.
Permanent Exhibition: Totally Tots - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
Children 5 and under enter a whimsical world where kids are in charge. They can splash in the stream, put on a play, build bridges with blocks, create a collage, make music, and more.
Permanent Exhibition: Collections Central - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
Children can discover treasures from the Museum's collection and find out the stories they have to tell. They can pilot a boat down the Amazon, reconstruct a shattered bowl like an archeologist, discover patterns in objects, and use touch alone to identify mystery objects.
Permanent Exhibition: Neighborhood Nature - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
Take a trek through natural habitats found in the midst of the city, from woodland fields to ocean tide pools. See what a fish sees inside a pond, harvest play vegetables in the community garden, meet live reptiles, and discover who lives under an oceanside dock.
Permanent Exhibition: World Brooklyn - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
Stroll down a street in Brooklyn...and journey around the globe. Kids can design a carnival costume for the West Indian Day Parade, make a pizza in an Italian restaurant, ring up groceries at an international grocery, and dance in the Chinese New Year parade.
Exhibit: The Triborough Bridge: Robert Moses and the Automobile Age - New York Transit Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
This exhibition focuses on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, built to connect three boroughs and accommodate New York's burgeoning auto traffic. Kid-friendly pictures and diagrams explain the operation and maintenance of bridges to the littlest engineers. Information and artifacts in the exhibition highlight RFK's election as New York Senator and his 1968 campaign for President.
Guest Cars - New York Transit Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
Guest cars highlight vintage and current vehicles that are not part of the museum's permanent exhibit. Included are the Long Island Rail Road vintage caboose, on loan from the National Railway Historical Society, and a pair of cars from one of the last money trains.
The Mummy Chamber - Brooklyn Museum
Through December 31, 2010 - Brooklyn
This long-term installation of more than 170 objects from the Brooklyn Museum's world-famous holdings of ancient Egyptian material explores the complex rituals related to the practice of mummification and the Egyptian belief that the body must be preserved in order to ensure eternal life. On view are the mummy of the Mayor of Thebes, Pa-seba-khai-en-ipet; the mummy of Hor, encased in an elaborately painted cartonnage; and a twenty-four-foot-long Book of the Dead scroll. Exhibit opens May 7.
Permanent Exhibition: Neighborhood Nature - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through May 31, 2011 - Brooklyn
Kids take a trek through natural habitats found in the midst of the city, from woodland fields to ocean tide pools. See what a fish sees inside a pond, harvest play vegetables in the community garden, meet live reptiles, and discover who lives under an oceanside dock.
Body Parts: Ancient Egyptian Fragments and Amulets - Brooklyn Museum
Through October 02, 2011 - Brooklyn
Features 35 objects that represent individual body parts in ancient Egyptian art from the Brooklyn Museum's collection, many of which will be displayed for the first time.
