10/17/09 A Celebration of Daylight with Richard Lewis @ Poets House

October 17, at 11:00am

Poets House

10 River Terrace

New York, NY 10282

(212) 431-7920

Cost: Free

For ages 4–10

Richard Lewis and members of the Touchstone Theatre Ensemble perform And So It Was Day, a retelling of an ancient Hawaiian chant about the emergence of life on earth and its bountiful first day. Kids use poems and artwork to create a book of days that celebrates the music and magic of daylight.

http://poetshouse.org/librarychild.htm

Note from BigAppleMommy: Poets House has just relocated to a beautiful new space in Battery Park City. Spacious and relaxing with a friendly staff, it is a great spot to visit. The Children’s Room at Poets House is happily accepting donations of kids books for the kids room. They will have a Grand Opening of the Children’s Room in April of 2010, at which time they will begin to roll out regular hours and more children’s programs, featuring celebrated poets, artists and illustrators.

After the reading, take the kids to the huge playground directly across the street at Rockefeller Park. If you walk north, there is a zany sculpture park called “The Real World” with art by Tom Otterness—kids LOVE these sculptures of silly little people and animals. The walk going south along the river to Battery Park is very scenic and relaxing. Another great (and free) place to visit about a mile away is the National Museum of the American Indian (http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=visitor&second=ny) or take a ride on the Staten Island ferry (http://www.siferry.com/). The free Connections bus can take you to these locations (http://www.downtownny.com/?sid=19).

10/9/09–11/1/09 Madison Square Mark’t Opens Today: Eat! Shop! Enjoy!

Madison Square Park

Mad Sq Mark’t: Fifth Avenue from 23rd Street to 25th Street, NYC

Food Square: 24th Street between Fifth Avenue & Broadway

Subway: R,W,6, F, V (N on weekends) to 23rd Street

With the launch of Mad. Sq. Mark’t this Friday, Madison Square Park is a new destination for an intriguing array of local, handmade and eco-friendly items!
Mad. Sq. Mark’t shoppers can browse through a unique mix of home furnishings, jewelry, pottery, clothing, candles, beauty products, games, pet items, and recycled goods.

The open air market, presented for the first time this year by The Madison Square Park Conservancy, will also feature Food Square at Worth Square.

At Food Square, Mad. Sq. Mark’t visitors can purchase cider donuts, farm-fresh apples, pumpkins and other seasonal produce from Breezy Hill Orchard, take-away meals from area favorites Cabrito, Fatty Crab, Hill Country Barbecue Market, Suzette, Viking Danish Cuisine and Wafels & Dinges. While at Food Square visitors can also ward off the chill of Fall with hot cocoa from Ben & Jerry’s.

Make a day of the Mark’t by pairing your visit with these FREE attractions at Madison Square Park:

• An opening weekend double-bill concert with the Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band and Lindsay Mac (Oct. 10 at 3pm).

• Fall Kids Fest (Oct. 17 from 10:30am–1:30pm) featuring a costume parade, pumpkin carving, live musical performances, face painting and other Halloween inspired fun.

• Mad. Sq. Trapezoids and scheduled performances by artist Bill Beirne as The Vigilant Groundsman and the dramatic large-scale sculpture series Markers by artist Mel Kendrick.

• An award winning playground, a dog-run popular with both pooches and pup-owners, picturesque seasonal plantings and fall foliage.

https://www.madisonsquarepark.org/programs/default.aspx

10/10/09 K–12 Education Expo @ Fashion Institute of Technology

Saturday, October 10 from 11am–3pm

Fashion Institute of Technology

Reeves Great Hall
28th St (betwen Seventh and Eighth Aves) 
Chelsea, NYC

Subway: #1 to 28th St

Cost: Free

For all ages

Families can explore arts, dance and theater programs, tutoring help, after-school classes, workshops and other resources for kids.

http://www.linkeducation.org

10/10/09 + 10/11/09 The Crane Wife: Dance Performance @ Pier 66 (26–27 St)

October 10 + 11, Sat. + Sun. at 1pm, 3pm

Pier 66

Hudson River (between 26th and 27th Sts)
Chelsea, NYC

(212) 627-2020

Cost: Free

For ages 6 and up

In The Crane Wife, choreographer Caron Eule and composer, jazz violinist and erhu player Meg Okura collaborate in this modernization of an ancient Japanese fable.

http://www.ceuledance.org

****

This is the basic story from wikipedia.org:

The Crane Wife is an old Japanese tale. While there are many variations of the tale, a common version is that a poor man finds an injured crane on his doorstep (or outside with an arrow in it), takes it in and nurses it back to health. After he releases the crane, a woman appears at his doorstep with whom he falls in love and marries. Because they need money, his wife offers to weave wondrous clothes out of silk that they can sell at the market, but only if he agrees never to watch her making them. They begin to sell them and live a comfortable life, but he soon makes her weave them more and more. Oblivious to his wife’s diminishing health, his greed increases. He eventually peeks in to see what she is doing to make the silk she weaves so desirable. He is shocked to discover that at the loom is a crane plucking feathers from her own body and weaving them into the loom. The crane, seeing him, flies away and never returns.

10/12/09–10/18/09 Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa Special

Escape through the Red Door...

with this twice a year opportunity to receive a full service spa experience for only $50

Choose from 3 Red Door favorites:

Spa Week Stress Melter Ritual

This 50 minute version of our signature service includes exfoliation, aroma therapeutic body wrap and a relaxing scalp massage to melt stress and rebalance spirit.

Spa Week Facial

Our popular facial uses specially-selected Elizabeth Arden products to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate your skin for a look that is healthy and renewed.

Spa Week Pedicure

A signature service that includes an exfoliating cream and sugar scrub, neck and shoulder relief treatment, therapeutic pressure-point massage and a warm paraffin to seal in moisture and soften feet.

Spa Week appointments cannot be booked online, please call the spa directly.

Red Door Spa has 23 participating locations in: Connecticut * Florida * Maryland * New Jersey * New York * Rhode Island * Texas * Virginia * Washington, D.C.

Please Note: Spa Week gift cards are not redeemable at Red Door Spa locations. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts including Corporate Employee Privilege Program.

866.RED.DOOR

reddoorspas.com

10/12/09–10/18/09 Spa Week: Throughout the US and in Canada

What are the Spa Week Events?

Spa Week is a bi-annual event that takes place across North America and Canada where participating spas offer full-service treatments for $50 each.

When does Spa Week take place?

The Spa Week Event takes place each spring and fall.

The Fall 2009 Spa Week Event takes place:

September 14-20: Arizona, Los Angeles, Nevada, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle.

October 12-18: Denver, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Boston, Detroit, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Virginia Beach and Toronto, Canada.

When Can I book my Spa Week appointment?

A month before each event, SpaWeek.com goes live with the participating spas and the $50 treatments being offered. It is at this time that you can book your appointments.

How do I book a Spa Week appointment?

To book a Spa Week appointment, follow these steps:

Step 1: Select your state or province from the Spa Directory.

Step 2: New to SpaWeek.com? Join the view the spa listings. Already a member? Login with your email address.

Step 3: Browse through the participating spas and the treatments being offered.

Step 4: Call the spa directly to book your appointment.

http://www.spaweek.com/content/learn

October 10-12, 17-18, 24-25 + Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Boo at the Zoo: Special Offer* @ The Bronx Zoo

Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society

Bronx River Pkwy (at Fordham Rd) 
Fordham, Bronx

(718) 367-1010

Travel: Metro-North Harlem line local to Fordham, then take the BxM11 bus to the zoo 

Celebrate a New York Halloween tradition! October weekends are packed with activities, including wildlife magic shows, pumpkin carving demonstrations, and haunted hayrides. Join us for the first ever Haunted Safari and be part of the journey to Save the Species. Best of all, come visit with our bats, cats, and creepiest critters.

*Special Offer: A child age 3 to 12 years old wearing a wildlife costume will receive a free General Admission ticket when accompanied by an adult purchasing any full-priced adult admission ticket.  Limit one free child per paying adult.

Activities

Haunted Safari
Embark on an adventure to help locate a lost species. Your journey takes you through a bat cave, the belly of a snake, and a rainforest swamp.
Time: 11am–4pm

Musical Performances
Join Annie and the Natural Wonder band for animal-themed tunes!
Time: 11am, 1pm, & 3pm

Wildlife Theater: It’s A Wonderful Niche
Join the Wildlife Theater Players for puppetry, song, and interactive fun. Our story follows a young bat on his journey to discover his value and importance. (Note: no live animals in these shows.)
Times: 10:45 a., 11:30 am, 12:15 pm, 1pm, 1:45 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:15 pm & 4 pm

Hay Maze
Let yourself get lost at the zoo!
Time: 11am–4pm

Treat Stations 
Special locations around the park will help sweeten your visit today.
Time: 11am–4pm

Scarecrow Adventure Hayride
Load up for a spook-tacular ride! Join us for an exclusive animated tour full of family-friendly surprises. Tour starts at Fountain Circle.
Time: 11am–4:30pm
Fee: $3 per person

Pumpkin-carving Demonstrations
Watch an expert carve amazing animal shapes!
Time: 11:30am–3:30pm

Animal-themed Magic Shows 
Enjoy a Boo at the Zoo family tradition.
Time: Noon, 2pm & 4pm

Scrap Kins Recycled Mask-making 
Turn trash into treasure! Scrap Kins artists will help you build a one-of-a-kind wildlife mask from recycled materials.
Times: 11:45am, 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 2:45pm & 3:45pm

Special Animal Enrichment Activities
11:15am: Birds of Prey Aviary 
2pm.:  World of Reptiles
2:15pm:  Carter Giraffe Bldg
3:30pm:  Monkey House

Safety Tips & Giveaways
On October 25, FedEx and Safe Kids USA remind families how to keep kids safe on Halloween. FedEx and Safe Kids USA will provide reflective giveaways and safety tips for parents and drivers. For more information on child pedestrian safety, please visit www.usa.safekids.org/wtw.

http://www.bronxzoo.com/boo/bz/

10/10/09, 10/11/09, 10/12/09, 10/18/09, 10/19/09, 10/24/09, 10/25/09, 10/31/09, 11/1/09 

10/10/09 + 10/11/09 OpenHouseNewYork: Family Festival @ Center for Architecture Foundation

Saturday + Sunday, October 10 + 11 from 11am to 3pm

Center for Architecture Foundation
536 LaGuardia Place

New York, NY 10012

(212) 358-6135

Cost: Free

For ages 5–13

Families are invited to the 7th Annual openhousenewyork Weekend Family Festival at the Center for Architecture.  Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm to enjoy family-friendly activities offered by the Center for Architecture Foundation, openhousenewyork and other participating OHNY sites, such as South Street Seaport, SOlar One, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and more. RSVP requested at: http://www.nycharities.org/beta/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=475

This event is free thanks to funding from the NEA. In partnership with openhousenewyork.

http://www.cfafoundation.org

10/10/09 + 10/11/09 openhousenewyork: Explore Architecture + Design in NYC!

What’s inside that enormous skyscraper? Who built it? What’s it like to get a birds-eye view from its top? How did you get around before the subway? Who made the tunnels? What’s it like to get a worm’s eye view from the city streets? Does a green roof have to be green?

OHNY kids! events answer these questions and many, many more with tours, workshops and family-friendly sites during the Annual openhousnewyork Weekend. Join us with your family and friends to look, learn, draw, and explore New York City’s hidden places and spaces.

http://www.ohny.org/weekend/

10/5/09–10/15/09 Discover Queens Restaurant Week

Dine and discover the diverse culinary offerings in Queens during the 14 day restaurant week. Discover Queens Restaurant Week offers patrons the opportunity to visit participating restaurants and dine from special menus at a prix-fixe price of $25.

From October 5th–15th (Monday through Thursday) enjoy Greek in Astoria, French in LIC, Italian in Bayside and Asian in Flushing with restaurants participating from all over the borough.

The launch for Discover Queens Restaurant Week takes place on September 29th with Borough President Helen Marshall welcoming restaurants to Queens Borough Hall Plaza to meet with the press and offer samples of their prix-fixe menus.

For participating restaurants, go to: http://www.discoverqueens.info/dq/things-to-do/dining/Restaurant_Week/

Make your reservations by calling each restaurant or use OPEN TABLE.

Win a gift certificate to a participating restaurant! 

Email the names of your three favorite restaurants and why for a chance to receive a gift certificate to one of our Queens Restaurants.

http://www.discoverqueens.info/dq/about/contact/

Top Ten Reasons to Discover Queens

1. One is for home to the largest model of the city in the world—The Panorama of New York City located in Queens Museum of Art.

2. Two is for the 2.3 million Queens residents representing all parts of the world who speak your language and welcome you to their neighborhood.

3. Three is for over 300 years of history that you can experience by visiting our historic homes and sites.

4. Four as in 42 miles of subway lines to get you from here to there.

5. Five is for the Uni-five; New York Hall of Science, Queens Botanical Garden, Queens Museum of Art, Queens Theatre in the Park, Queens Wildlife Center, located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

6. Six as in your choice of 63 neighborhood branches of Queens Borough Public Library for getting information on the topics of your choice.

7. Seven is for over 7,000 acres of parks for you to explore from beach to bay to a forest of oak, hickory and pine.

8. Eight as in “I ate food from around the world by spending a day in Queens!”

9. Nine for the 9 Mets Players on the field at CitiField.

10. Ten for the 10 miles of sun, sand and surf awaiting you in the Rockaways.

10/4/09 Ninth Annual NYC International Pickle Day @ Lower East Side

Sunday, October 4 from 11:30am to 5:30pm

The Lower East Side area of NYC

Located in the parking lot at Essex and Broome Streets

Subway: D to Grand St; F to Delancey; J, M, Z to Essex.

Valet bicycle parking by Transportation Alternatives.

Cost: Free

For all ages

Free samples of pickles from around the world and around the corner. Exhibitions! Demonstrations! Theater! Music! This year, come in costume!!!

For more info, contact:

NY Food Museum

www.nyfoodmuseum.org * (212) 966-0191 * nyfoodmuse@gmail.com

Lower East Side Business Improvement District

www.lowereastsideny.com * (212) 226-9010 * info@lowereastsideny.com