Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Canstruction 2016 will begin this week at Brookfield Place! Photo by Andrew Ross via Flickr.

Move over October! November arrives this week along with numerous family-friendly events. Haven’t made Halloween plans? Here are some of our favorite things happening all over the city this month!

Monday, October 31

Halloween Celebration
American Museum of Natural History
4-7pm
More than 30 of the American Museum of Natural History’s halls will be open for trick-or-treating plus arts and crafts for families with children of all ages. Characters including Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, and Peter Rabbit will be in attendance, as well as magicians, stilt walkers, and even performers from the Big Apple Circus! Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $14 per person.

Beginning Thursday, November 3

My First Film Fest
Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center
Various times
Join the Film Society of Lincoln Center for My First Film Fest, a new film festival for children that is designed to introduce younger audiences to the joy and wonder of movies. The program will feature 13 movie screenings, giveaways, and goodie bags. Kids will be treated to free screenings of “The Dark Crystal,” “Modern Times,” “Where the Wild Things Are,” “Steamboat Bill, Jr.,” and several international selections. Opening night will feature a sneak preview of Dreamworks’ “Trolls.” This event is free.

Canstruction
Brookfield Place
10am-6pm
Check out some awesome art and contribute to a great cause at Canstruction! Engineers, architects, students, and civilians compete to see who can build the biggest and coolest structures out of unopened cans of food. After the winners are crowned, all the food is donated to City Harvest to help feed NYC’s hungry. Previous years’ winners include a Bat-Signal—with an illuminated sky—and a bull charging out of a wall. Last year’s winner used 9,000 cans! Runs through Wednesday, November 16. This event is free; visitors are encouraged to donate at least one can of quality food in lieu of an admission fee.

Beginning Friday, November 4

“Chotto Desh”
New Victory Theater
Various times
One of Britain’s leading choreographers, Akram Kahn, is coming to the New Victory Theater this fall to perform “Chotto Desh,” his lauded autobiographical solo dance piece. Using a compelling mix of evocative dance, visuals, and sound, Khan’s piece follows his life story from the streets of Bangladesh to the stages of London. Telling this cross-cultural story and portraying the experiences of being different, “Chotto Desh” celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the modern world. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Runs weekends through Sunday, November 13. Tickets start at $16.

Saturday, November 5

World Culture Festival: Epic Stories
Metropolitan Museum of Art
12-5pm
Learn about different world cultures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this Saturday! During the museum’s World Culture Festival, all ages can listen to stories, watch live performances, and participate in artist-led workshops inspired by global stories. Festivities include a Diwali dance performance by East-West School of Dance, Cherokee and Choctaw songs performed by Martha Redbone, a comic book workshop with Women in Comics Collective, and more. Free with museum admission.

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HudsonWay Immersion School

A pioneer in language immersion since 2005. After school language classes provide a fun and effective way for preschool and elementary children to learn Mandarin or Spanish language skills through project based learning and fun, engaging themes.

Laurissa Jane Music

Laurissa Jane Music Studio is a dedicated institution that offers a solid foundation for students to explore the captivating world of music and arts. With experienced instructors, we offer private and group lessons in piano, voice, and guitar, for all ages and skill levels. We provide year-round training for renowned programs such as NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) and ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). LJMS runs an annual Summer Musical Theatre Arts Program from July-August which offers a creative environment for young individuals with a passion for acting, singing, and dancing. We are proud to serve the vibrant communities of Jamaica Queens and can also provide classes virtually. At LJMS, we firmly believe in the transformative power of the arts. Call us today!

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"