Fall listings for kids

Cooler days and longer nights mean it’s not easy to let kids run off
energy outdoors.  Metro’s guide to the best activities for children and
families in NYC this fall.

Theater

Fairy Tales for Children by Galli Theater
Oct. 1 to Dec. 25, Every Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m., National Comedy Theater
347 W. 36th St., Adults $20, Children $15
www.gallitheaterny.com
Let your children experience an enchanting weekend at Galli Theater, watching delightful and popular fairy tales come to life. Written by award-winning playwright Johannes Galli, these adaptations of fairy tales are performed by a cast of humorous and exciting actors, who will engage the children to come on stage and interact with them — certainly not your typical kind of theatrical performance! Galli Theater will be presenting the story of Rapunzel in October, followed by Hansel and Gretel in November, before wrapping up with Snow White in December.

The Story Pirates
Oct. 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, 2537 Broadway 95th St., Adults $20, Children $13
www.symphonyspace.org
By using stories created by children, the Story Pirates bring to life mini musicals and sketches about everything and anything. Past stories and songs include that of superhero babies, disposable rain ponchos and many more. 

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark
Ongoing
Foxwoods Theatre
213 W. 42th St., $65-$150
www.ticketmaster.com
Your kids will not allow you to miss this comic book-based Broadway musical dubbed as “a spectacular for all ages.” Since its official opening night in June, the rock musical has been a success at the box office as locals and tourists alike flock to the theater to see Spidey in high-flying action, backed by music and lyrics written by Bono and The Edge.

Food

The Russian Tea Room’s Children’s Tea
Ongoing, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., The Russian Tea Room,
150 W. 57th St., $35
www.russiantearoomnyc.com
Pamper your little ones with the sweet and delightful treats served daily at The Russian Treat Room. Tons of goodies — including hot chocolate, chocolate mousses, cupcakes and scones — await your children. They can choose from a carousel tea tray and a wide selection of decaffeinated teas.

Arts & Culture

The World’s Largest Dinosaurs
Through Jan. 12,
American  Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, $25
www.amnh.org
Being the ferocious and majestic creatures that they are, dinosaurs have always fascinated the modern men who rule the world 65 million years since the reptiles’ extinction. This year, AMNH brings them back to life — and not just any dinosaurs, but the largest of them all. Be prepared for a great family outing as everyone will embark on a most magical journey to learn about how the lives of these gigantic creatures.

openhousenewyork
Weekend Family Festival
Oct. 15 & 16, noon to 4 p.m., The Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
www.ohny.org
Bring the kids out to The Center for Architecture as the center celebrates America’s largest architect and design event. A weekend of fun awaits your family, as many hands-on activities are made available, including creating architectural centerpieces and making stained glass windows.

Make Art (In) Public
Oct. 1 to March 31,
Children’s Museum of The Arts, 103 Charlton St.
www.cmany.org
The Children’s Museum of The Arts New York (CMANY) will be moving to its new location on Oct. 1, and this exhibition will serve as the inaugural show that not only celebrates the museum’s relocation but of its role as a contributor to the cultural fabric of the city. This exhibition will feature artwork by Keith Haring, Swoon, Remed and many more — all of whom have affect positive change within the communities they work in.

Secret of Circles
Through March 4, 2012,
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn
www.brooklynkids.org
The exhibition will feature more than 18 highly interactive exhibits created especially to inspire children to question, investigate and explore math, science and the engineering of circles. It’s a 200-square-foot exhibition designed to inspire both kids and adults.    

DiMenna Children’s History Museum
Nov. 11, New York Historical Society, Museum and Library, 170 Central Park West, Adults $15, Children 7-13 $5,
Children under 7 enter free
www.nyhistory.org/childrens-museum
After renovations, the NYC Historical Society is re-opening with a children’s history museum on the lower level. Children will be able to explore and learn about democratic process, have a look into a historical viewfinder and even deliver a presidential address. A children’s history library will also open, so books, maps and manuscripts can be explored.

Eat Sleep Play
Nov. 11, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St., $11, Infants enter free
www.cmom.org/eatsleepplay
This November CMOM is launching an extremely interactive exhibit designed to help families develop a healthier lifestyle by physically exploring life-size parts of the human body. Explore the decision center — a massive head full of games — experience a crawl through a giant digestive system and catch a few Z’s in the sleep centre. The exhibit is suitable for all ages and available during museum hours.

Red Bird Reef Painting
Oct. 1,
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Adults $7,
Children 3-17 $5,
Children under 3 enter free
www.carrollgardens.patch.com
Kids will learn about recycling and express their artistic talent through painting their own underwater creation of the Red Bird subway cars that created an artificial reef in the Atlantic. The activity is aimed at children ages 4 and older, but there’s a range of other activities for younger age groups during the week.  

Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration
Nov. 19 to Aug. 12, 2012, Every Saturday, American Museum of Natural      History, Central Park West at 79th Street
www.amnh.org
Launching this fall is AMNH’s new Beyond Planet Earth attraction. The exhibition will feature a full-size recreation of a lunar habitat, interactive computer activities and a model elevator reaching space. Also, kids can learn about current robotic missions that are under way, venturing deeper into the world’s solar system. 

Outdoors

Creepy Crawly Halloween
Oct. 29 and 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Audubon Center, Prospect Park, free
www.prospectpark.org
This Halloween, head over to Prospect Park for a fun-filled holiday! On Saturday, check out the park’s Halloween Haunted Walk and Carnival that is sure to bring your family a few good laughs. Return to the park on Sunday and come face to face with some of the crawling creatures that give you the creeps.

Madison Square Park Kids Fall Fest
Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Madison Square Park, Madison Avenue and 23rd Street, free
www.madisonsquarepark.org
Kids are invited to kick off the fall season at the 2011 Kids Fall Fest where there will be live music, arts and crafts, face painting, games and snacks available. The Halloween spirit will be in full force with pumpkin-picking and a chance for kids to parade around the park in their costumes in a march led by Big Apple Circus Clown.   

Mad. Sq. Kids: Explore!
Through Oct. 15,
Tuesdays to Saturdays,
Madison Square Park,
Madison Ave. and 23rd St., free
www.madisonsquarepark.org
Madison Square Garden is offering you and your children the opportunity to explore and get creative in the park. Join in on Art in the Park activities or use a self-guided worksheet to go on a scavenger hunt where you can learn about the local flora and fauna and park monuments firsthand. Art in the Park holds a morning session from 10 a.m. and an afternoon session from 2 p.m., each running different activities.  

MCS Farm Festival
Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., E. 96th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues, free
www.manhattancountryschool.org
The Manhattan Country school is set to bring the country to New York with some arts and crafts, old-fashion rides and entertainment — as well as a delicious array of ethnic cuisine and fresh produce from Roxbury. The Farm Festival is an admission-free annual tradition suited for ages 3 and up.

Moey’s Music Party Family Concert
Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
334 Amsterdam Ave., $16
www.jccmanhattan.org
New York City’s No. 1 Mommy Rocker, Melissa Levis — more commonly known to young families as Moey — is taking her band, Moey’s Music Party, to the stage. Her rock performance is guaranteed to bring tons of joy and laughter to your young ones through an hour of song and dance, boas and pom-poms.

Zarkana
Through Oct. 8,
Radio City Music Hall,
1260 Ave. of the Americas, $52-$300
www.cirquedusoleil.com
When a rock opera meets an acrobatic circus, the result of that artistic fusion is often magical. And that’s true of Zarkana (a blending of the words “bizarre” and “arcana”). Presented by Cirque du Soleil and directed by Francois Girard, this arena show captivates and charms audiences with its elaborate set, innovative costumes and acrobatic performances that are nothing short of extraordinary and spectacular.