10 Great Events For April 2013

By Sothea Shreck Posted on April 1, 2013

McGraw-Hill Carnegie Kids (The Itty Biddies) -- Photo by Caroline Voagen Nelson

April 5-13
Comic Fans Unite
[Ages 7 And Up]
For those who love comics and alien invasions, look no further than “The Intergalactic Nemesis” at The New Victory Theater for your next adventure. Here you’ll meet heroes like Molly Sloan, a gutsy reporter, and creeps like Mysterion the Magnificent, a villain obsessed with world domination. Voiced by three intrepid actors joining forces to create a world of on-stage action, the play takes families on a journey to save Earth from evil space monsters. From $14 (members $9); times vary between 12pm and 7pm. 646-223-3010, 209 West 42nd Street, newvictory.org

April 7
Where Reading And Fun Meet
[Ages 7-12]
Pseudonymous Bosch’s newest creation, Write This Book, is brought to life by The Story Pirates through interactive, one-of-a-kind stage readings at Symphony Space Theater. With help from the audience, The Story Pirates choose adventures that Bosch must face as he writes his own book. This event is sure to be full of family fun and may inspire young writers with active imaginations. $15 general admission, $12 members; 1pm. 212-864-5400, 2537 Broadway, symphonyspace.org

April 13
A Musical Journey
[Ages 3-6]
Gather the little ones for an exciting performance by the Itty Biddies at the Brooklyn Public Library. As part of the McGraw-Hill CarnegieKids series, the three-woman band will take listeners on a musical journey from the plains of the African desert to the subway tunnels of Manhattan with impressive vocals backed by cheerful ukulele and bass tunes. Free; 1pm. 718-230-2100, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, carnegiehall.org

Intergalactic Nemesis at New Victory Theater; photo by The Robot Planet
April 17-19

Just For Parents
[Adults]
Join child development experts at the 2013 Young Child Expo & Conference at the Hotel Pennsylvania for everything you need to know about youth development. This three-day panel unites leaders and professionals—from doctors to professors to the CEO of Sesame Workshop—in providing parents with advice on topics like education, behavior, play, and special needs. From $115; 7am-4:30pm. 212-736-5000, 401 Seventh Avenue, youngchildexpo.com

April 21
Earth Day Fun
[Ages 5 And Up]
Celebrate Earth Day early this year at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Kids can learn about Earth’s history by exploring fossils with local science teacher Cynthia Toledo. They’ll create their own models of Earth and can even hide fossils inside while showing off their new knowledge of our planet’s beginnings. Free for under 12 months and members; children and adults $11, seniors $7; 2pm & 3:30pm. 212-721-1223, 212 West 83rd Street, cmom.org

April 21 to May 12
Monster, Schmonster
[Ages 4-8]
Making Books Sing, a non-profit that promotes child literacy through theater fun, presents their biggest production yet: “Wanda’s Monster The Musical.” Based on the children’s novel Wanda’s Monster, the heartwarming musical teaches children the value of friendship as Granny encourages Wanda to make friends with the Monster living in her closet. With original songs written by kindie rock goddess Laurie Berkner. (Preview show on April 19.) Children $15, adults $20; times vary between 10:30am and 5pm. 646-250-1178, 311 West 43rd Street, makingbookssing.org

Sakura Matsuri Festival at Brooklyn Botanical Garden; photo by Make Ratliff

April 26 & 27
A Reimagined Classic
[All Ages]
Relive the magic of Disney’s “Fantasia” at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Featuring animations from both the 1940 and 2000 films, “Fantasia” will be accompanied by Little Orchestra Society’s live ensemble, creating an enhanced musical experience for the audience. Three performances will be offered, so don’t miss out! From $15, times vary between 11am and 7:30pm. 212-971-9500, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, littleorchestra.org

April 26-28
Drums, Songs & More
[Ages 1-12]
Love music? Celebrate it at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2013 KindieFest! While the panels are geared toward professionals and adults, the public concert on April 28 is just for families. Everyone will love rocking out and learning valuable life lessons with the likes of The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, The Terrible Twos, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, The Alphabet Rockers, and more. Don’t miss the chance to see all of your fave artists all in one place! Concert $12, conference $110; concert 12pm, conference 10am. 718-636-4100, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, bam.org

April 27
Ready, Set, Run
[All Ages]
Help raise money to protect endangered elephants in Wildlife Conservation Society’s 5k Family Fun Run at the Bronx Zoo. In addition to all-day access to the zoo, participating children will receive a free WCS t-shirt and a host of other prizes depending on how much is raised. Children 3-15 and seniors $35, adults $35; 8:45am. 718-367-1010, 2300 South Boulevard, Bronx, wcs.org

April 27 & 28
Getting Cultural
[All Ages]
Get cultural at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s Sakura Matsuri Festival, a two-day celebration of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Join musicians, dancers, and teachers as they demonstrate dance, music, art, and more through interactive workshops and performances. Kids will love Japanese fashions, puzzles, and folk dancing, while adults can enjoy tea ceremonies, Samurai sword fighting, and Bonsai demonstrations. Free for ages 12 and under and members, students & seniors $15, adults $20; 10am-6pm. 718-623-7200, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, bbg.org

About the Author

Collina Italiana - Italian Language and Cultural Center

Italian Fun for Kids and Teens! Learning a new language isn&rsquo;t just fun&mdash;it&rsquo;s also great for the brain! Did you know that it can help develop essential skills for life? Studies show that learning a second language at a young age can improve problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening abilities, while boosting memory, focus, and multitasking skills. Children who are fluent in multiple languages also demonstrate increased creativity and mental flexibility. At Collina Italiana, we make learning fun with stories, games, activities, and conversation. Each class blends art, storytelling, singing, and dancing to keep kids engaged. For older children, our classes focus on grammar and vocabulary, providing the tools they need to learn and practice Italian in a small group setting, all while having fun with a variety of resources. Kids love exploring the stories behind our cultural traditions, adding a rich, hands-on experience to their language learning journey. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND® New York Resort

Monstrous Family fun returns with Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND&reg; New York Resort! &nbsp; The signature children&rsquo;s Halloween event kicks off October 3rd&nbsp;when the Park transforms into a bewitching party filled with candy, seasonal shows, and Halloween themed LEGO characters. The event runs on all operating dates in October, with all festivities included in general admission. Meet LEGO Monster characters like Spider Lady and Wacky Witch and make your way to the treat stations around the Park. Don&rsquo;t forget your costumes! &nbsp; New for 2024: Monster Party Nights at LEGOLAND New York Hotel! Book a Brick-or-Treat overnight package in October to enjoy extra sweet Halloween-themed fun after a day in the Park. Hotel guests will have the opportunity to eat breakfast with a Monster, participate in themed crafts and LEGO builds, rock out at the Monster Dance Party each night, and more! &nbsp; AWESOME AWAITS at LEGOLAND&reg; New York Resort, the ultimate LEGO&reg; theme park destination, for kids ages two through twelve and their families. Ride, climb, and build your way through seven LEGO themed lands. &nbsp;

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.