We’re looking forward to this weekend: Finally, we won’t all be sweating profusely! And there’s plenty of fun to be had to boot, including shows, concerts, outdoor films and fairs.
Conserve cash by hitting up one of these free events. Times Square gets a temporary makeover Saturday when the Boy Scouts of America invade, hosting a range of outdoorsy activities. Meanwhile, Kidz Bop rocks out at Macy’s Herald Square. Sunday head to Central Park for a Bari Koral concert or to Bryant Park for a magic show. See all of our free picks for this weekend.
Saturday, catch TADA!’s The Magic Pot: Three Tales from China in Chelsea before it closes, or hop on a ferry to Staten Island where you can nosh on barbecue at a family fest. See all of our picks for Saturday.
Sunday clown around with the Cole Brothers Circus in Brooklyn or, at the risk of having bad breath all day, head to the New York Botanical Garden’s Garlic and Onion Festival in the Bronx. See all of our picks for Sunday.
Still looking for a worthwhile activity to soak up your youngster’s last days of summer? Here’s one suggestion that won’t break the bank: the City Parks Foundation is offering its second session of free golf lessons for kids beginning Monday, August 2. Kids of all skill levels, ages six to 16, can participate in the month-long program, which teaches the basics of the sport using real equipment. Classes are held in public parks and courses around the city. For more information and to sign up call 718-760-6999 or visit cityparksfoundation.org.
This fall Kidville, which already has locations all around Manhattan and Brooklyn, welcomes two new additions: one at Union Square (67 E 11th St between Broadway and University Pl, 646-330-5325, kidville.com/unionsquare), the other in Midtown West (515 W 51st St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves, 646-775-2797, kidville.com/midtownwest). Like all of the chain’s outposts, both spots will be a combo of kids’ boutique, party place, indoor gym and class hub. If you register your child for fall classes at one of the two new locations by Saturday, July 31st, you’ll receive a $50 discount. Yes, that’s tomorrow folks, so if one of these brand-spanking new Kidvilles is nearby, we suggest you move on that deal!
The brutal heat has eased up (for now), but make no mistake—it’s still summer. It’s time to start making a dent in our list of refreshing beverages: You’ll find old favorites (hiya, Tom’s Restaurant) as well as newbies (nice to meet you, Astor Bake Shop and Brooklyn Farmacy). Did we miss your kid’s favorite? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
Photo: Cinzia Reale-Castello
We just can’t stop raving about these kids! Back in May, we spent the morning with chorus teacher Gregg Breinberg and P.S. 22’s incoming fifth-grade chorus. You can read all about it here, as well as watch exclusive videos of the kids rehearsing. Want more? We have a slide show of the soon-to-be singing stars of 2010-2011.
Thanks to fashion designer Betsey Johnson’s latest endeavor, little girls can now live the Plaza life of Kay Thompson’s fictional character Eloise. Booking started yesterday for the 18th-floor suite dedicated to the hotel’s iconic troublemaker. Eloise-approved pink-and-white stripes adorn the walls, and the zebra carpet pops against the whimsical decor. To top it off, a neon “Eloise” sign hangs over the king-size bed. There’s also jars of candy, a disposable camera for striking a pose, costumes for playing dress-up and a tea set. Of course, the goodies come with a pretty hefty price tag—rates start at $995 per night. Still interested? Book a room online at the Plaza’s site.
It’s a Friday night and you want to kick back with your brood under the stars–who you gonna call? Ghostbusters, natch. This classic NYC movie plays on the big screen at Staten Island’s Coast Guard Pier and Plaza, so round up the fam and settle in for an evening of ghouls, the geeks who bust them and a giant marshmallow man. See our listing for time and location details.
