Community Corner
Grab & Go Kids Planner: Feb. 12-13
Your guide to local kid-friendly activities offered this weekend.
In this week’s planner, you will find a little something for everyone. We have all sorts of events like concerts, crafts, stage performances and puppet shows. Many of them are free! Take some time out of your weekend to try one with your family.
HIT THE LANES
Where: RVC Lanes, 100 Maple Ave., Rockville Centre.
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What: Two hours of bowling plus shoe rental for the entire family.
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 from 3-6 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 13 from 9 p.m. to midnight.
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Why go: Enjoy some friendly competition among your family or teach your young ones how to bowl. Ask about the Family Fun Pack available on weekends (Click here for a $5 off coupon) and the Early Bird specials on Sundays.
Cost: Varies, call 516-678-3010
LIVE MUSIC FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Where: West Hempstead Library
What: Free concert to celebrate Black History Month
When: Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.
Why go: Something Positive, Inc., is an African Caribbean performing arts organization. They will be enlightening the attendees by featuring multimedia performing arts; a unique blend of theater, storytelling, poetry, music and dance.
Cost: Free
GET FUNKY AND FOLKSY
Where: Long Beach Library
What: Free concerts celebrating, “Folk 2 Funk Festival”
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 13
Why go: The library and Artists in Partnership present a fun and music filled weekend of performances. The schedule is:
Saturday, Feb. 12:
2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Benoir & Dreamer Cult
3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. — Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans
8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. —Bethany Yarrow a & Rufus Cappadocia
Sunday, Feb. 13:
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Breakaway Duo
2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Christine Solimeno
3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. — F&G Blues Band with Edlene Hart
Cost: Free
SONGS & STORIES
Where: Long Island Children’s Museum
What: Story Songs with Debbie and Friends
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Why go: Parents and kids join in this interactive “variety show,” which includes a diverse array of styles including rock, pop, country, reggae and even some show tunes. You’ll become the Big Bad Wolf and blow the house down, fix Rosie's wrong rhymes, test your skills with the Simon Sez Song and share a special moment with your loved ones singing, "Love Is a Family."
Age: 3 and up
Cost: $4 with museum admission ($3 LICM members), $8 theater only. Those under a year old are free.
JOIN THE SPIDER STAMPEDE
Where: Long Island Children’s Museum
What: “The Parade – A Stampede of Stories about Ananse the Trickster Spider”
When: Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.
Why go: Come meet author KP Kojo from Ghana as he reads his latest book, “The Parade – A Stampede of Stories about Ananse, the Trickster Spider.” For centuries, Ananse stories have been used in Ghana and the Caribbean to entertain children and teach them good behavior, and with their vibrant sense of fun and cunning, these stories are sure to have enduring appeal.
Ages: 5 and up.
Cost: Free with museum admission.
"THE PEANUTS" PERFORM
Where: Merrick Theater and Center for the Arts, 2222 Hewlett Ave., Merrick (www.merricktheatreandcenterforthearts.com)
What: Live performance of “Peanuts”
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
Why go: Both children and parents alike will delight in seeing the beloved characters of Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and the rest of the gang brought to life on stage in this live performance.
Cost: $9
WINTERFEST: PAINTING, CRAFTS & SCIENCE
Where: Levittown Hall, 201 Levittown Pkwy. (Phone 637-0320 or 796-3392)
What: Levittown Community Council’s 10th Annual Winter Fest
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Why go: Winter Fest is a free community event that provides activities and entertainment for families in addition to exposure to community organizations and services. Free raffles for prizes are held throughout the day for adults. Children are entertained with a wide variety of free arts and crafts, face painting, temporary tattoos. Also the amazing Steve the Scientist will be on-hand to dazzle and educate.
Cost: Free
PUPPET SHOWS
Where: Tilles Center (www.tillescenter.org/event.cfm?id=582)
What: Children’s performance of “Caps for Sale” and “Three Billy Goats Gruff”
When: Sunday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Why go: On two 24-foot wide playboards and a 10-foot tall canopy of trees, puppets act out the familiar story of the cap salesman who fell asleep under a tree and woke up without his wares. Afterward, three increasingly large billy-goats attempt to cross a bridge in defiance of an obnoxious ogre!
Cost: Tickets are $22 or $14 each.
Special Note: Family Workshop times: 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.
Participants will help tell these classic tales by performing parts of the stories. Children will also make a puppet to take home! Each workshop is approximately 45 minutes and recommended for children ages 3 and up. Light refreshments are served after the workshop. Tickets are $5 and are only available to ticket buyers of the accompanying show. To purchase tickets, call 516-299-3100. Workshops are limited to 30 total participants and sell out quickly.
ANIMAL ART
Where: Nassau County Museum of Art (www.nassaumuseum.com)
What: Let's Have a Bite! A Banquet of Beastly Rhymes by Robert L. Forbes, Drawings by Ronald Searle
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 13
Why go: This exhibition of original drawings from Forbes' imaginative rhymes and Searle's fanciful illustrations are here to delight young visitors to the Art Space for Children. It features whimsical animal characters, among them the baboon, Baker Betty; the somewhat nasty-tempered koala, Lala; and the rattler, Rory.
Cost: $5, $4 (members free)
VALENTINE'S CRAFT
Where: Michael’s Craft Store, 1280 Corporate Dr.,Westbury (www.michaels.com)
What: Valentine’s Day Frame Craft
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. - noon.
Why go: Want a special place to display a photo of your Valentine? Come to Michael’s Craft Store and make an adorable heart-themed frame.
Age: 3 and up
Cost: Free with purchase of frame.
CREATE A V-DAY CARD
Where: Michael’s Craft Store, 1280 Corporate Dr., Westbury
What: Valentine’s Day Card
When: Sunday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Why go: Create unique greeting cards for the special Valentines in your life. This is a free event while supplies last.
Ages: 3 and up
Cost: Free
ICE SKATING
Where: Grant Park Ice Skating Rink (www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Parks/wheretogo/active/grant.html)
What: Open ice skating for the entire family.
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 13
Why go: Since Malverne Mel predicted that spring is right around the corner, take advantage of the winter wonderland on ice skates while you still can!
Cost: Resident adults $7, resident children $5; Non-resident adults pay $14 and children $10; Skate rentals are $5.
PARK SKIING
Where: Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead (phone: 516-766-1029)
What: Cross Country Skiing
When: Saturday Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 13
Why go: Bring your cross country gear and explore beautiful Hempstead Lake Park.
Cost: Free
ROLL INTO HOT SKATES
Where: Hot Skates, 14 Merrick Rd., Lynbrook
What: Open skating
When: See schedule for skating sessions on their Web site.
Why go: Bring some old school entertainment back into your life with a roller skating adventure right in our neighboring community of Lynbrook.
Cost: Afternoon Session $10; Friday & Saturday night admission $11; Sunday night admission is $15.
SLEEPING BEAUTY LIVE
Where: Plaza Theatrical Productions, Bellmore Theatre, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore (516-599-6870)
What: Production of “Sleeping Beauty”
When: Saturday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m.
Why go: See a live performance of a much loved fairytale.
Cost: $10/ticket
