I’ve had a penchant for the Hudson Valley since I moved to New York. There’s a peaceful aura there that you don’t get it living in or near NYC, and it’s got a bohemian vibe.  The combination can be quite radical when you’re no country bumpkin like myself.

Located on the Hudson River just 60 miles north of NYC, this small town has a cozy feeling that’s sprinkled with art, culture, Victorian architecture, good food, boutique shopping and the outdoors.  On a recent trip with my kids, I was thrilled to find a variety of ways to spend the day.  We found everything from a stroll on the waterfront to modern art to a concert on the river. There’s wonderful hiking and access to other great river towns like Cold Spring, Garrison and Peekskill, as well, and I plan to return several times this fall when the foliage starts to change color.

Our accommodations were totally BEACON, and when I say that, I mean it a good way. Located right on the Fishkill Creek overlooking Beacon Falls and minutes from Mount Beacon and steps away from the heart of Main Street, the Roundhouse at Beacon Falls is ideal and quite majestic.  As soon as I laid eyes on the waterfalls, my everyday feeling of chaos started to disappear and I was entranced. The hotel (pictured above) is an old gun factory housed in a series of 19th and 20th century red brick industrial buildings. It hosts 14 chic hotel rooms, two restaurants – one inside, one outside – both facing the waterfalls, a yoga studio and spa. The building was remodeled a few years ago with glass fixtures and art created by local artists, new tiles and a unique lay out for each room.

Our adjoining rooms each had a see-through shower with room for two people to bathe, King sized beds, flat screen TV’s and views of the river (unfortunately ours faced the parking lot but we could hear the waterfalls).  The hotel’s service is unusually good – I’m not sure how many kids they host on a regular basis but my kids were treated very well and when my mother requested a toothbrush, it came right away. The weekend would be the first of a lot of unique things, and the hotel was a great introduction to a town we wanted to get to know better.

Walking out of the hotel, we started our trip with a shopping stroll on Main Street.  The local shops are specialized and offer interesting and artistic finds that are unique to Beacon.  Our first stop was The Tailored Mermaid at 528 Main Street, a shop that features women’s clothing and accessories all made by hand by local designers.  My daughter and I loved looking at the dresses and jewelry.  Then we ended up at the Alps Sweet Shop at 236 Main Street. My kids were so mesmerized watching the shop owner and her team make homemade truffles, fudge, chocolate covered peppermint, chocolate covered grahams and dipping nonpareils that I actually offered their services (which the shop owner politely declined).  We wandered into a kitchen utensil shop, a few art galleries, antiques and kitschy collectibles. When they started to drag their feet, we wandered into the Beacon Creamery at 134 Main Street and had a scoop of homemade ice cream on the sidewalk, while a banjo player named Frank played legendary songs and told us about local resident Pete Seeger. The ice-cream shop owner had to have a chuckle when my son expressed his fear of having a scoop of “Killer Chocolate”.  Clearly, I have to work on this.

As the afternoon progressed, we made our way to the waterfront and got the ferry to Newburgh. Located just across the bridge, it’s a great place to dine on the river or take a stroll.  We opted to have dinner at Havana 59, just one of the many restaurants on the river with a decent children’s menu, on their riverfront patio.

When we came back to Beacon, we were in time for an evening concert on the water, a bit of acoustics. There were children playing in the Hudson River and others dancing on the grass.  Clearly they were enjoying it as much as the adults.

We topped off the day with dessert back at the Roundhouse.  The outdoor restaurant faces the rushing waters and is absolutely breathtaking.  We had coffee, tea, dessert and a glass of milk for the kids, and my daughter had her first root beer float.

It was the perfect end to a Hudson River kind of day.

The next morning we had complimentary morning coffee, tea, and muffins. Then I joined a yoga class on the 2nd floor for $20.  With the views of the Hudson River right outside the studio’s window, it was very tranquil and quite cosmic and I felt very Hudson Valley afterwards.

Then we hit Dia: Beacon, a modern art museum housed in a former Nabisco factory at 3 Beekman Street that contains a collection of the Dia Foundation of art from the 1960s to the present.  It was my pleasure to introduce my children to Andy Warhol and Sol LeWitt, Max Neuhaus and Binky Palermo in the large, wood-floored rooms that are lit almost exclusively by natural light. I was surprised at how long they sustained their attention for but the museum is arranged in such a way that they were able to take long strolls through each artist’s work and truly absorb it. It was definitely the most modern art museum they have been to, and I think the same goes for me.

Here is the low-down on a weekend in Beacon with kids:

Where to stay: The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls, 2 East Main Street, 845/765-8369, roundhousebeacon.com

When to go: All year but if you happen to be in town on the second Saturday of the month, the local arts organization hosts Second Saturdays.  Everything’s open later, and there are live music performances and other special events around.

Where to eat: Poppy’s, Homespun, The Beacon Creamery

Don’t miss: Dia: Beacon

Disclosure: I was given a complimentary visit at the Roundhouse to facilitate this and other reviews but all opinions are my own.  All meals and activities were paid for on my own.

A totally new concept for me has come into my life: Indie stationary.  Made by a company called Minted, a design-your-own stationery site, these pieces of stationary are made by designers all over the world, in 43 countries.  Minted believes that great design lives and thrives in the hands of indie designers that people may not have access to through traditional retailers. Their goal is to use technology to allow our community to discover the work of great designers from all over the world. And at the same time, create a place where designers can get exposure and build their careers.  But they just don’t sell any design, they are selective and leave it up to the consumer to choose what they feature online.  And they’re not in the slightest stuffy.  Go figure.

Here’s how it works: Minted holds monthly design challenges for stationery, invitations, calendars, and other categories and all graphic designers are invited to enter. The Minted community selects the best designs in a highly competitive process, which gives us a top selection of the freshest, finest cards in the world. Winning designers earn cash prizes, a place in the Minted collection, and commissions on all sales of their designs.

They even turn some of the designs into prints you can hang on your wall.  Check some of them out:

Another very cool thing about Minted is that it was founded by a fellow mompreneur, Mariam Naficy. She started the business when her daughter was a few months old.  She wanted a place where designers could express their vision and have the chance to sell their designs.  She wanted to give voice to consumers and use the Internet as pure a meritocracy as possible.  So, she came up with a business plan, found a partner, raised funding and voila! launched her site.

Minted’s first design challenge was held in April 2008 and was a ‘save-the-date’ card competition with 66 entries. Tens of thousands of design entries later, they have expanded their crowd-sourced assortment to birth announcements, wedding stationery, photo calendars, personal stationery, and much more.

When I received my box of cards, I was very impressed by the quality of the paper.  Minted only carries brands that use fine paper stock, rich inks, and crisp printing methods.

Minted also sells business cards, journals, gifts, party invitations, and, as mentioned above, prints.  When you explore their web site, you’ll see from the feng shui look and feel that design comes first.

Head over to Minted.com to see what it’s all about.  Get involved in their voting process and watch some great design come to life.

Instead of heading to the drug store next time to pick up my cards, I’m heading to Minted.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I have partnered with Minted to promote their product this month on The Culture Mom.

Last weekend I finally managed to visit a place I had been longing to explore: Storm King Art Center, located at Old Pleasant Hill Road in Mountainville, NY.  It’s a short ride from NYC (1-1/2 hours) and makes a day trip from the city or from other parts of the Tri-State region.  If you’re a modern art fan, you’ve probably been to the Dia in Beacon.  It’s an equally satisfying visit and we met many NYC natives up for a visit.

Storm King is a 500-acre sculpture garden that includes works from very famous sculptors and artists such as Henry Moore, Roy Lichtenstein, Mark di Suvero, Alexander Calder, David Smith, Sol LeWitt, Alexander Libermann, Louise Nevelson, Isamu Noguchi and Magdalena Abakanowicz, amongst many others.  The landscape is breath-taking and tranquil.  You can walk from masterpiece to masterpiece, or take a 35-minute shuttle ride around, complete with an audio tour (which is what we decided to do with our kids in tow as there is a lot of land to cover), and gaze at the art with mountains and fields of waving native grasses and woodlands in the foreground.

Founded as a public nonprofit museum in 1960, the park has expanded the collection  and acquires them carefully, with attention to the interaction of sculpture within the existing landscape.  The result is a very serene experience.  The art is VERY minimalist and you do need to have a taste for this type of art, but seeing them outside with the sky as its backdrop is extraordinary.  They are spread out and located in various sections of the park.  The focus of the collection is on monumental sculptures by these famous artists.  Our favorites were “Adonai” by Alexanader Liberman, “Frog Legs” by Mark Di Suvero and the “The Three Legged Buddha” by Zhang Huan.

Storm King is a really good day out for the family.  My children were intrigued by the size, shapes and positioning of each piece.  We followed along with the map and navigated our way around the park very easily.  There’s a small indoor museum that we quickly explored before we left.  Next time I’d like to take a picnic and spend a longer time there, but our visit enabled us to experience the beauty of Storm King.

Parking is free. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for students.  They do have a cafe but you can pack a picnic.

Elisa Contemporary Art presents My Hero, a new art exhibit focusing on Superheroes in today’s contemporary art. The exhibit runs though March 31st, 2012 and the gallery will be offering workshops to introduce the work to children later this month and in March.

From the days of Greek and Roman Gods and Goddess through today’s X-Men, Dynamic Duos, Fantastic Four and many others, we are captivated by the Superhero (male and female).  Is it their superhuman strength and power?   Or their seeming selflessness to put the greater needs of others ahead of their own wants and desires?  Or the fact that they may embody and magnify a single aspect of the human potential in each of us?  They captivate, engage and inspire us in print, on the big screen, under the Broadway lights… and now in Contemporary Art.

In the latest Elisa Contemporary Art exhibit, you will see see the influences of Pop Art from the 1960’s and explore how five contemporary artists bring modern heroes to life in a whole new way.  You’ll see Superheroes including Superman, Wonder Woman and Captain America and meet some new characters.

The gallery is offering a few upcoming events that appeal to families.

Two Art Workshops for Children (age 5+).  Each workshop will be led and inspired by the work of one artist.

• Saturday, February 25^th from 1-3pm Super hero Collage paintings with Oliver Peterson  (ages 5+).
• Sunday March 25^th from 1-3pm.  Super hero in action illustrations with Jerome Walford (ages 8+).

RSVP Required.  Limited Space.

The gallery is located at 5622 Mosholu Avenue (near 256^th Street), Riverdale NY 10471.  For more information, visit the website at www.ElisaContemporaryArt.com.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to feature this information.

I’m very interested in Jewish life around the world, so on our recent visit to London when my kids and had just a few hours to do some exploring, I led them to the city’s Jewish Museum called the London Museum of Jewish Life.  Located in one of my favorite London neighborhoods, Camden, it was rather easy for us to get to from our hotel in Belsize Park in an old Victorian building.

The museum was founded in 1983 as the Museum of the Jewish East End with the aim of rescuing and preserving the disappearing heritage of London’s East End – the heartland of Jewish settlement in Britain. While the East End has remained an important focus, the Museum expanded to reflect the diverse roots and social history of Jewish people across London, including the experiences of refugees from Nazism. It also developed an acclaimed programme of Holocaust and anti-racist education.

Given the fact that I’m from New York, where we have an amazing Jewish Museum, I can honestly say I was impressed with this museum.  It’s not cheap to get in – adults cost about 7 pounds, kids 3.5 pounds, but I found it really worth it.  We started on the top floor at an exhibit I was particularly interested in called “Entertaining the Nation”.  The exhibit tells the untold story of Jewish contribution to British entertainment from Victorian music hall to the stars of today…which is pretty massive and impressive.  Jewish entertainers have brightened our lives for decades – in music, stage and screen. We are all familiar with TV and movie stars such as Peter Sellers, Sid James or Simon Amstell, as well as famous directors and writers like Mike Leigh and Harold Pinter behind the scenes, and singers from Frankie Vaughan and Alma Cogan to Marc Bolan and Amy Winehouse. But did you know that The Beatles, Rolling Stonesand Sex Pistols all had Jewish managers? Or that the classic English Ealing comedies were created by Michael Balcon, the son of Jewish immigrants?  Who knew that Mike Leigh and Sacha Baron Cohen were members of Habonim?

This ground-breaking exhibition explores the stories behind these household names through a fascinating display of costumes, props, vintage photographs, posters and hands-on objects as well as archive footage and newly commissioned films, in our 1920s inspired cinema.

It’s a really good exhibit and I loved some of the quotes on the walls like this one:

“I wasn’t baptized.  I wasn’t Bar Mitzvah’ed.  I suppose my basic religion is doing un to others as they would do to me.” – Peter Sellers

The film about British Jewish Cinema is also excellent.  Called “Playing Jewish,” it talks about how the portrayal of Jews has evolved over time, and the stereotypes that are pushed over and over again.

Then we went to to explore the other floors.  We studies the history of British Jewry on one floor.  Highlights include an evocation of a Jewish East End street, bringing to life the sights and sounds of this immigrant quarter of London; an interactive map exploring the history of Jewish settlement around the UK; and poignant displays relating to refugees from Nazism, including the 10,000 unaccompanied children who came to Britain on the Kindertransport.  There are fun and engaging activities for visitors of all ages, and my kids were no exception, include a great migration board game, Yiddish theatre karaoke and an interactive discovery table in the Living Community display.

The Judaism: A Living Faith is a small, lovely gallery that showcases the Museum’s outstanding collection of Jewish ceremonial art and explores Judaism as a living religious tradition.  With an interactive Torah display at its centre, the gallery explores Jewish religious practice and traditions in the home and synagogue, using multimedia and hands-on displays to engage visitors of all ages. Highlights include a 17th-century Venetian synagogue Ark, magnificent Torah decorations, silver Hanukah lamps and Passover plates.  While much smaller than the Jewish Museum’s Judaica collection, it was perfect for my short-attention span kids and they really enjoyed the collection, particularly the set Shabbat table.

We stepped into the Holocaust Gallery but I didn’t explain it to my children and only stayed for a short time.  I am not ready to delve into that subject, although when we were in the Jewish part of Paris, I did allude to the period.  But my kids, ages 6 and 8, are nowhere near ready for that kind of knowledge.

All in all, it was a very successful morning.  We then headed to the electric Camden market for a stroll.  And then when we went to Manchester a few days later, I insisted on going to the Manchester Jewish Museum.  But that will be info for a future post.

The museum is located at Jewish Museum Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7NB.

Disclosure: I was not given any tickets for this museum.  All expenses were out of pocket and all opinions expressed above are my own.

The exhibition features more than 120 artifacts, including drawings, storyboards, and props, and video material that illustrate Henson’s boundless creativity and innumerable accomplishments. A special addition to the exhibition at Museum of the Moving Image is a puppet of Miss Piggy from The Muppets Take Manhattan. Among other highlights are fourteen additional iconic original puppets of such characters as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Bert, and Ernie; photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work; and excerpts from Henson’s early projects and experimental films. The exhibition spans Henson’s entire career, beginning with drawings, cartoons, and posters produced during his college years in the late 1950s and concluding with objects related to the inspired imaginary worlds of his popular fantasy film The Dark Crystal (1982). Visitors will encounter materials from Henson’s best-known projects, The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie and its sequels, and Fraggle Rock, as well as objects related to his Sesame Street characters. Visitors will also learn about Sam and Friends, an early show Henson created in the 1950s, Henson’s television commercial work in the 1960s, and the segments Henson made for The Ed Sullivan Show.

The Museum has worked in close collaboration with The Jim Henson Legacy and The Jim Henson Company to organize screenings, educational programs, and special events to commemorate Henson’s 75th birthday on September 24 as well as other milestones during the period the exhibition is on view. These include screenings of Time Piece (1965), Jim Henson’s Academy Award-nominated experimental short, in the Museum’s Video Screening Amphitheater; a rare conversation with Jane Henson, co-founder of The Muppets and wife of the late Jim Henson, on September 18; a preview screening of the Sundance hit documentary Being Elmo with its subject, puppeteer and performer Kevin Clash and director Constance Marks in person on September 25; exclusive showings of compilation programs featuring hundreds of highlights and special moments from the history of the Muppets; screenings of The Muppet Movie and its sequels, The Dark Crystal, and other films, many accompanied by appearances by actors, puppeteers, designers and other close Henson collaborators.  An updated schedule through the end of September is available here.

Additional events will include an anniversary screening of a newly restored 35mm print of Labyrinth with special guests, a presentation by Jim Henson’s son Brian Henson, and other screenings and conversations in October through the end of the exhibition run in January.

Educational programs will include 30-minute guided tours of the exhibition (every Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.) and family workshops.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is organized by The Jim Henson Legacy and Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), in cooperation with the Henson Family; The Jim Henson Company; The Muppets Studio, LLC; and Sesame Workshop. The exhibition is made possible by the BIO channel. Additional support has been provided by The Jane Henson Foundation and Cheryl Henson. Support for the exhibition at Museum of the Moving Image is provided by Five Napkin Burger, The Astor Room, and Schmutter, Strull, Fleisch Inc.

The Jim Henson Legacy is a non-profit 501(C3) organization that is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Jim Henson’s contributions to the worlds of puppetry, television and motion pictures, special effects and media technology. More information at www.jimhensonlegacy.org.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history. More information atwww.sites.si.edu.

Museum of the Moving Image is the only institution in the United States that explores the art, industry, and innovation of screen culture in all its forms. Embracing topics that range from nineteenth-century optical toys to the latest Internet developments, it provides insight into every phase of the production, promotion and exhibition of moving images. Engaging an international audience of all ages, Museum of the Moving Image offers a distinctive, highly interactive core exhibition; contemporary and retrospective programs of films from around the world; public discussions with leading figures in film and television; a unique collection; inspiring education programs; stimulating changing exhibitions; and groundbreaking online projects. A major renovation and expansion completed in January 2011 doubled the size of the Museum and added two new theaters, an education center, and new galleries. More information at movingimage.us

Disclosure: I was not compensated to provide this information.

The DUMBO Arts Festival returns this year to showcase local, national and international artwork amidst the spectacular backdrop of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and the New York Cityskyline.  The multidisciplinary Festival will include visual and performance art, open studios, music and literature, family programming and more.  The Festival runs from September 23-25, 2011, in the DUMBO neighborhood ofBrooklyn, New York.

The Festival, currently in its 15^th year, will present artwork in DUMBO studios, galleries, storefronts, performances venues, parks and even on the East River.  Multimedia performances, which will include projected videos onto DUMBO’s bridges and buildings, make the DUMBO Arts Festival a “must-attend” fall event.  Visitors can meet and interact with artists working in their studios or making murals on the streets, participate in literary events and listen to music of many different genres.  The Festival will feature free programming for children of all ages.

This year, AT&T joins Two Trees Management Company as major sponsor of the DUMBO Arts Festival.  AT&T will be integrated into various aspects of the festival, including sponsoring a signature installation that will be a cornerstone of this year’s artistic programming.  Dozens of guides, with Wi-Fi-enabled tablets and spread out across DUMBO, will direct, teach and interact with festival-goers using the robust AT&T network.  The festival will include a new lounge with amenities powered by AT&T, including charging stations and AT&T Wi-Fi-enabled products featuring an interactive festival map.

Originally conceived and produced by the DUMBO Arts Center in 1997, and known as the “Art Under the Bridge Festival,” the Festival has grown and evolved with the changing neighborhood to include more artists, more disciplines and now new media.  In 2010, Two Trees took over as the main sponsor of the event and the DUMBO Arts Festival expanded its arts base with the participation of hundreds of artists, 100 studios, 50 galleries and stages and 100 programming partners.  Last year attracted more than 200,000 visitors

Festival hours are:

Friday, September 23: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Saturday, September 24: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Sunday, September 25: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

All outdoor projections are open from 6:00 PM – Midnight on all three nights.

For more information including an up-to-date list of artists and programs, visit http://dumboartsfestival.com.  To get the latest updates on artists and exhibitors, follow the festival on Facebook and Twitter (@dumboartsfest).

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post.

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The Zimmer Children’s Museum is a non-profit cultural institution located on Museum Row in Los Angeles, featuring hands-on exhibits for children 0-8 to explore BIG IDEAS in creative and inspiring settings. The Zimmer is also the only museum dedicated specifically to kids and families in Los Angeles.

An interactive space for learning, play, imagination, and exploration, our exhibits, some of which have Jewish themes, offer hours of fun and discovery.

Through the power of play, children will learn about human values such as respect for others, helping those in need, generosity, and creativity. We also offer children’s classes, family programs, and field trips to deepen the experience.

The Zimmer Children’s Museum has graciously provided information about their upcoming summer family activities.  If you live in Los Angeles, or plan on being in the area, and are looking for some interesting offerings for children, do keep these in mind:

Sunday Family Programs: Zimmer Children’s Museum July 2011

All Sunday drop-in programs run from 3:00-4:00pm and are free (in addition to the entrance fee).  Entrance fee is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 2 and over.  Children under 2 are free and Grandparents are free on Tuesdays.  Zimmer Children’s Museum is located on the lobby level of the Goldsmith Jewish Federation Building, 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90048.  Sunday hours are 12:30pm-5:00pm.  Please check our website at http://www.zimmermuseum.org or call (323) 761-8984 for further information. You can also “like” us on Facebook or “follow” us on Twitter!

July 3, 2011

4th of July Sparklers – It’s July 4th weekend, and we’re celebrating our Independence Day with friendly fireworks!  Join us as we create hand-wand sparklers that are just as colorful and sparkly as real fireworks, but much more friendly for the environment!

BIG IDEA: Identity, Taking Care of Planet Earth

July 10, 2011

Whoo-WhOoot-Whistles! - Whoo-WhOoot!  Help, Help!  Do you know all the ways that whistles are used?  They were first used as a way to call for help.  Now they are also used by boats and trains, in sporting games and music concerts.  Some are loud and alarming, others are soft and soothing.  Decorate your own whistles so you can make music or call for help when you need it!

BIG IDEA: Aid and Rescue

July 17, 2011

Creepy Crawly Critters - Some critters might seem creepy, but they are actually very important to our environment.  Insects like caterpillars and bees help plants get the nutrients they need to grow.  So instead of squishing them, we need to share this idea with everyone in town.  Make your own critters and share them with your neighbors!

BIG IDEA: Taking Care of Planet Earth, Community Responsibility

July 24, 2011

CARE-planes! - On this day in 1897, Amelia Earhart was born.  She was the first woman pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and she cared a lot about flying and helping other woman enter the field of aviation.  To honor her legacy and what she cared about, we’ll be making fun and colorful CARE-planes!

BIG IDEA: Identity & Diversity, Compassion

July 31, 2011
Sand, Sun and FUN! - It’s the end of July, but it’s not the end of summer.  With such great weather, it is our responsibility to gather our family and friends to enjoy our summer! We’ll be doing that by putting together our two favorite things: sand and sun!  Join us as we put together our own sand-filled sun-shaped keychains!

BIG IDEA:  Community Responsibility

Always Free at the Zimmer:

Puppet Story Play-A-Long!
Tuesdays@11am & Wednesdays@3pm, in Bubbie’s Bookstore.
It’s time for you and your puppet friends to be part of the action! Led by museum staff, the audience becomes puppeteers helping to bring a story to life.

Open Art Studio
Tuesdays@3pm & Wednesdays@11am, in the art room.
Each week, our studio welcomes young artists to participate in a new project. Drop in anytime the studio is open to create entirely original masterpieces!

Storytime!
Thursdays@11am, in Bubbie’s Bookstore.
The Zimmer is committed to BIG IDEAS that promote global citizenship and creating a better world. Join us for classic and contemporary children’s stories that help us learn about ourselves and others and how we can make our world a better place.

Games on the Lawn
Thursdays@3pm, in the Community Park.
Join us in our community park for fun and fabulous lawn games every Thursday afternoon. Whether you’re into a game of horseshoes or lawn bowling, our “greenspace” is the perfect place to play together!

Sing-A-Long
Fridays@11am, in the Mann Theater.
This free treat is sure to get your little ones laughing and singing a long with all your favorite classic children’s songs!

Freeze Dance!
Fridays@1pm, in THE WHOLE MUSEUM!
Every Friday afternoon, the whole museum transforms into a dance party! We like to move it, move it. And we’re pretty sure you do, too. Join us as we boogie down!

Classes for kids:

Messy Masterpieces- Tuesdays,  June 14 – August 2
This class is FULL!

10:30am-11:15am: 18 – 36 months (caregiver and child)

Let your child’s inner artist emerge! Exploring different artistic media and processes, this class it the ultimate in hands-on fun! Plus, each week, their masterpieces add to your at-home gallery! For ages 18 months-3 years.

Members: $60/series or $10 per class

Non-members: $96/series or $16* per class

Call 323-761-8984 to register.

*Includes public admission for the day.

Movers and Maestros- Thursdays, June 16 – August 4

10:30am-11:15am: 18 – 36 months (caregiver and child)

Have a little one who loves to wiggle? Join us as we sing, dance, rattle and rock our way through favorite rhymes and stories! Through creative movement, rhythm and song, your child develops essential language, physical and artistic skills! For ages 18 months-3 years.

Members: $60/series or $10 per class

Non-members: $96/ series or $16* per class

Call 323-761-8984 to register.

*Includes public admission for the day.

Summer Ceramics – Wednesdays, July 6-27 (4 weeks)

4:00pm-5:00pm:  Ages 5 years and up (child only)

Through a hands-on exploration of clay’s unique three dimensional properties, children will learn about shapes and forms while molding and decorating their own creations. (Firing will be done off site)

Members: $60/series + $20 for materials (no drop ins)
Non-members: $96/series + $20 materials (no drop ins)*
Reservations for the series guarantees your spot.
Call 323-761-8984 to register.
*Includes public admission for the day.

Disclosure: This post was not sponsored and I was not compensated for the content.

Source: www.nyc-arts.org

Gibney Dance celebrates 20 years of evocative choreography with a retrospective season at The Ailey Citigroup Theater.

Retro-ACTIVE will showcase Gina Gibney’s richly textured and intellectually challenging choreography featuring excerpts from Several Truths (2001), Time Remaining (2002), unbounded (2005), Thrown (2004), and View Partially Obstructed (2009). Curated by current company members Natsuki Arai, Andrew Avery, Courtney Drasner, Lily Ockwell and Joshua Palmer, four of these five pieces were adapted to include male dancers.

Ailey Citigroup Theater at the Joan Weill Center for Dance
The Joan Weill Center for Dance
405 West 55th Street
(at Ninth Avenue)
New York, NY 10019

Tel: (212) 405-9000
Fax: (212) 405-9004

$15.00 children, seniors, students, $20.00 general.
VIP Reserved Seating: $40

Dates
Thurs, May 12, 2011 – Sat, May 14, 2011

Hours
Thurs – Sat: 8 pm – 9 pm

The Culture Mom Disclosure: I was not compensated to print this guest post or promote this event.

This event is free with Museum admission.  Adults are asked to accompany their children.  For further information, the public may call 212.423.3337 or visit the Museum’s website.  The museum is located at 1109 5th Ave at 92nd Street.

The Maira + Matisse Family Day is made possible by New York City Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick.

MAIRA + MATISEE FAMILY DAY SCHEDULE

12:30 pm and 2 pm

CONCERTS: BASH THE TRASH

Maira Kalman’s love of music and the beauty and potential of everyday objects will be celebrated in these performances. Found objects will be used to create music in the spirit of performances by Kalman and composer Nico Muhly that used such items as egg beaters and teacups.

Bash the Trash Environmental Arts combines music and environmental awareness through performances, educational programs and social initiatives.  Whether performing with musical instruments built from trash, building artworks from found objects or consulting on environmental arts education, BTT always focuses on how the arts and science work together.  Bash the Trash currently reaches about 50,000 students, teachers and adults per year through performances, workshops, festivals, professional development sessions and other events.

12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

DROP-IN ART WORKSHOP: COLLECTED WONDER BOXES

Families can design and personalize colorful collage boxes inspired by the works of Maira Kalman and Henri Matisse.

1:00 to 3:00 pm

DROP-IN ART MAKING STATION: PAINTED WORLDS

Families can paint colorful miniature scenes with watercolor soluble crayons, using vivid color to depict a favorite room or place.

All day

SELF-GUIDED FAMILY TOURS

A specialized gallery hunt will highlight the way Henri Matisse inspired and is featured in Maira Kalman’s work.  Gallery guides will also be available for exploring Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World) as a whole.