Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities in NYC (April 11-13)

28518_BAMkids2014_cat_Images_613x463 — “The Cat Who Went To Heaven” At BAM Fisher

HOT OFF THE BLOG

*As the kids gear up for some time off, check out our guide to spring break happenings at places like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. There’s plenty to keep little ones occupied! CLICK HERE!

*Also, Easter is just around the corner. Here’s our roundup of the best egg hunts, bunny pictures, and pre-parade fanfare taking place throughout the five boroughs. CLICK HERE!

WEEKEND PLANNER

STARTING FRIDAY

*Kids ages 4 to 8 are invited to a special class at Karma Kids Yoga. Poses are followed by storytelling, foot rubs, and milk and cookies. Wear your pajamas! (Friday)

*Enjoy a free live performance by students from the Bronx’s Hyde Leadership Charter School band in the Sony Plaza Atrium. Listen to the beat! (Friday)

*Join a mini Easter egg hunt and participate in a spring-inspired craft-making class at Tribeca’s Torly Kid shop. Happy holidays! (Friday)

STARTING SATURDAY

*Adapted from the award-winning children’s book by Elizabeth Coatsworth, “The Cat Who Went To Heaven” is a beautiful play at BAM Fisher featuring bunraku, shadow puppetry, and jazz music. Enjoy the show! (Saturday and Sunday)

*At the 11-day Makers’ Festival at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, kids can meet scientists, engineers, and artists in a series of workshops celebrating STEM education. Learn lots! (Saturday through April 22)

*Stop by the New York Transit Museum for an original musical called “Sharin’ a Ride,” which tells the tale of public transportation. Sing along! (Saturday and Sunday)

*It’s Boy Scout Day at the Intrepid Museum—educators will lead little ones through a slew of cool aviation and space-related activities. Go Boy Scouts! (Saturday)

*Proceeds from the Prospect Heights Craft Fair fund arts programs at the neighborhood’s public elementary school, P.S. 9. Browse an array of handcrafted treasures and munch on delectable treats from local eateries. Have a blast! (Saturday)

*Help the Alliance at Lefferts Historic House prep a potato plant plot at Prospect Park and then plant a seed of your own to take home. Get planting! (Saturday)

*The Wave Hill Garden has scheduled a nature walk for the whole family. See blooming flowers, birds, and garden animals as you stroll. Head outdoors! (Saturday)

STARTING SUNDAY

*Come to the American Museum of Natural History to learn about aquatic poisons and the medicinal benefits that the ocean can provide in a unique program. Explore the ocean! (Sunday)

*Check out Baby Loves Disco, an innovative dance party perfect for children at the kid-proofed nightclub Le Poisson Rouge. Boogie down! (Sunday)

*The annual Easter egg hunt takes place at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum. Search for eggs, do arts and crafts, enjoy light refreshments, and snap photos with the Easter bunny. Strike a pose! (Sunday)

*Shira Kline and friends tell the story of the Exodus through song for Passover at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Honor traditions! (Sunday)

*It’s a picture book bonanza at Books of Wonder, where young readers can meet and greet beloved children’s book authors, including Marc Brown and Sharon Robinson. Say hello! (Sunday)

Click here for our full calendar of events!

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School&rsquo;s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.

Academics West

Academics West is an accredited high-support college preparatory school designed to meet the academic and social-emotional goals of its students. Our unique model allows for each student to benefit from a customized educational experience to ensure they are acquiring the skills necessary to navigate their post-secondary lives whether they attend college or pursue another path to future success. Students can select different tracks to construct the most beneficial program to suit their needs and goals. Unlike conventional education, this innovative model enables students to prepare for an ever-changing world that requires young people to have advanced executive functioning, interpersonal and leadership skills to become independent and resilient adults. &nbsp;

The Music Institute of Long Island

Established in 1990, the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. Long Island&rsquo;s foremost musical academies, its instrumental programs include violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone and voice classes. MILI has been voted # 1 BEST MUSIC SCHOOL Consistently.&nbsp; They teach the Traditional, Suzuki, and ABRSM methods. Students participate in All-National, All-Eastern, All-State, youth orchestras, and score highly in NYSSMA and Royal Academy Music Festivals. First prize winners of competitions earn solos at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras. MILI offers Fall/Spring semesters plus Summer Sessions. Semesters include 15-17 weeks of private lessons, solo recitals with a final GALA Concert featuring chamber music. About the Directors: Carol &amp; Geri Kushner: The sisters are violinists, violists, chamber coaches &amp; performers. They believe in instilling the love of music, &nbsp;fostering proficiency, success, confidence &amp; believe all MILI students achieve success. Degrees BM, MM (+), K-12 certifications, attended Manhattan School of Music, Queens College &amp; Stonybrook University.They have been adjunct professors at Syracuse University, Aaron Copland School of Music Pre-College &amp; Five Towns Colleges, Stonybrook University &amp; have taught in L.I. public schools.