Kids Guide | New Jersey's Guide to activities, places and events for children, teens and families

Welcome to New Jersey's Guide to
Places and Events for Children, Teens & Families
--Online and In Print for Over 15 Years--

The Winter/Spring Kids' Guide featuring the new 2010 Camp and School Guide is NOW AVAILABLE at libraries, stores, schools, professional and real estate offices throughout northcentral New Jersey. To receive a copy by mail, send $3.50 for one issue or $9 for 3 consecutive issues to Kids' Guide, Box 892, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.

Scroll down the Index at left to discover thousands of places to go and things to do for kids, teens and adults. Below the "Let's Go" categories, find local activities and services including classes, sports, parent info, health and family services, shopping, family restaurants and the 2010 Camp and School Guides.

See HOT PICKS below for new events and listings received after publication and use the convenient links to access the websites of Kids' Guide listings for the most up-to-date information on exhibitions, events and activities. Email entries for HOT PICKS to kids@kidsguide.com.

Be sure to check out NEW TRAVEL DEALS and VACATION IDEAS under FAMILY TRAVEL (new deals will be posted soon)!

Hot Picks
Updates to the Kids' Guide Calendar & Highlights from the Winter/Spring Kids' Guide

Recent Openings | New Events | Ongoing Events | Open for Registration | Stops On The Road

RECENT OPENINGS

Now OpenNew Please Touch Museum
Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, 215-963-0667. Afer an $88 million restoration, the Please Touch Museum opened in the last major building remaining from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The new museum offers a huge array of interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for little ones and their families. Six new exhibits, a toy sculpture, a collection of Philadelphia Childhood Treasures, and a 100-year-old Dentzel Carousel join together with Memorial Hall's rich history and architecture to create a unique family destination that resembles a majestic storybook castle.

Newark Fire Museum, 1784 One-Room Schoolhouse, Japanese Galleries
Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, 973-596-6550. Housed in the Ward Carriage House in the Alice & Leonard Dreyfuss Memorial Garden, the Newark Fire Museum's exhibit, Fire Escapes: Danger & Survival, provides children and their families with the key knowledge they need to survive a fire in their home. Visitors pass through a facade replicating a burned-out house, enter various "rooms" with video presentations, and experience a controlled mock fire drill. Kids can climb in the cab of an actual Newark Fire Department truck and try on bunker gear in a fireman's locker room.
The 1784 one-room schoolhouse, the oldest in Newark, has been fully restored and rededicated.
From Meiji to Modern: Japanese Art Goes Global, 19th to 21st Centuries, new installation in the Japanese Galleries, showcases an array of Japanese art drawn from the Museum's own permanent collection of the arts of Asia, a collection consisting of more than 30,000 objects.

28 Feb-April 11George Segal Everyman: Sculpture, Paintings & Drawings
Monmouth Museum, On the Brookdale Community College Campus, Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, 732-747-2266. Exhibition offers a diverse overview ofthe late artist's career, and features his signature life-size plaster-cast sculptures, as well as portrait and still-life paintings and drawings.

6 March-September 6
Lizards & Snakes: Alive!
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. Returning exhibition showcases more than 60 live lizards and snakes from five continents.

27 April-August 1Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., New York, 212-535-7710. Landmark exhibition is the first to focus exclusively on works by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) in the Museum's collection. It features 150 works, including the Museum's complete holdings of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics by Picasso--never before seen in their entirety--as well as a selection of the artist's prints.

Thru May 31The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. This annual favorite exhibition features up to 500 live, free-flying tropical butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The butterflies are housed in a vivarium that approximates their natural habitat and includes live flowering plants that serve as nectar sources.

Thru Aug 15Traveling the Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. at 79th St. 212-769-5100. Exhibition brings to life one of the greatest trading routes in human history, showcasing the goods, cultures and technologies from four representative cities: Xi'an, China's Tang Dynasty capital; Turfan, a verdant oasis and trading outpost; Samarkand, home of prosperous merchants who thrived on the caravan trad; and Baghdad, a fertile hub of commerce and scholarship that became the intellectual center of the era. .

NEW EVENTS

13-21 FebKids Week 2010 at Intrepid
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86 (on the Hudson River) at W. 46th St. & 12th Ave., New York, 2877-957-SHIP. 10am-5pm. From special guests and activities to flight simulators and multimedia technology, every day during Kids Week features entertaining, interactive activities from local organizations and venues. Free raffles and giveaways, hands-on crafts, science and space demonstrations, chances to win a free week at Camp Intrepid 2010.

17-24 FebLost in Yonkers Family Week at the Theatre
Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Dr., Millburn, 973-376-4343. Considered by many to be Neil Simon's masterpiece, this coming of age tale will take you from laughter to tears and back again. Children's tickets are half off during Family Week.

18 FebBlack History MonthCharcoal Workshop with Artist Oscar Peterson
Express Yourself Studios, 1912 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973-763-5256. 7-9pm. African-American artist and Millburn resident Oscar Peterson facilitates a special charcoal class as part of the Studio's Cocktails and Canvas Workshop. Participants will create a still-life drawing with charcoal. Call to register or register online.

18-21 FebNJ Flower & Garden Show
NJ Convention & Expo Center, 97 Sunfield Ave. at Raritan Center, Edison. Thurs. 1-9., Fri. 10-9., Sat 10-9. Adults $14, 12-17 $6., under 11 free. Annual flower, garden & outdoor living show. Display gardens with thousands of blooming plants and flowers.

21 FebMommy & Me Craft & Tea
Express Yourself Studios, 1912 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973-289-4934. 10:30 & 11:45am. Tea Time & Tiaras presents tea time, dress up, arts and crafts, storytime and take home princess favor for ages 3-6. $20 for parent & child, reservations required.

Annual Kids Can! Expo
Convention Hall, Beach Dr., Cape May, 609-898-8848. 10-4. Hands-on science, nature crafts, music, live animals,

Annual Family Purim Carnival
Shimon & Sara Birnbaum JCC, 775 Talamini Rd., Bridgewater, 908-725-6994 x201. 1-4pm. Family fun, games, prizes, pony rides, dj and inflatables. Wear your costume. Tickets on sale for games.

25 Feb
Black History MonthAfrican Mask Workshop
Express Yourself Studios, 1912 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973-763-5256. 6-8pm. As part of the Studio's Pizza & Pottery Workshop, children ages 5-12 will participate in a pottery project creating an African mask that they will embellish with pain. Hand building techniques such as slab, pinch and sculpture will be covered. Call to register or register online.

27 FebMaple Sugar Celebration
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, 908-273-8787. Identify a maple tree and make syrup. Games, crafts, taste tests. Call to register.

MCSSIHL Championship Games
Mennen Sports Arena, 161 E. Hanover Ave., Morris Twp., 973-326-7651. 2:30, 5:00 & 7:30. Mennen, Halvorsen & Haas/Charette Cup Finals. Admission.

Bound to Serve
Morristown National Historical Park, Washington's Headquarters Museum, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, 973-539-2016 x210. 1, 2, 3 & 4pm. Come discover the variety of ways Blacks contributed to the 1779-80 winter encampment.

27-28 Feb
Circus Science
Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, 973-596-6550. 10am-5pm. Adults $10, children 12 & under and seniors $6. Museum admission free for Newark residents and Museum members with valid ID. Participate in hands-on activities and discover the amazing science that makes circus performances famous. Activities (10:30-4:30) free with museum admission: balancing clowns, balloon art, face painting, paint with centrifugal force, treasure hunt, try tightrope/trapeze equipment, learn juggling techniques, plate spinning. Museum admission includes choice of one clown or magic performance. Clowns at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30pm. Magic shows at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30pm. Presented by the Newark Museum in collaboration with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey The Greatest Show on Earth.

28 Feb
The Mountain Top School Purim Carnival
Mountain Top School, 104 Mt. Horeb Rd., Warren, 732-748-9800. 1-4pm. Admission $12 per child. Games, prizes, crafts, raffles, bounce house, fish and fun. Bagels, baked goods, fruit and carnival treats will be sold. Please donate a non-perishable food item for a local shelter and receive one free raffle ticket.

1-31 MarchFamily Week at the Theatre and The Stages Festival
New Jersey Theatres statewide, 800-THE-ARTS. Backstage tours, workshops, classes and free theatre performances for children at theatres throughout the state. Consult website for participating theatres and events.

3-7 MarchBarnum's Funundrum!
Prudential Center, Newark, 800-745-3000. The new Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey circus comes to town. Buy tickets online, at ticketmaster retail locations, arena box office or call 800-745-3000. Ticket prices start at $15. Come one hour early to meet the animals and performers at the all access pre-show, included free with ticket.

5-6 March
Shakespeare LIVE!
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. at Lancaster Rd., Madison, 973-408-5600. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Shakespeare LIVE! company will perform special family performances of their 60-minute versions of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Adults $12, children under 18 free in celebration of Family Week at the Theatre.

6 March
13th Annual USA Memory Championship: The Olympics of the Mind
Con Edison Grand Auditorium, 4 Irving Place (14th St.), New York, 201-573-0300 or visit website. 9am-5pm. Free admission for spectators. Contestants: ages 22 and up, $25 to register; ages 12-21, free. Register by February 26 at website. "Mental athletes" from around the country compete in brain-breaking events including the memorization of: a string of 500 random digits, two decks of shuffled cards, 99 names and faces, an unpublished poem with all its punctuation and more. The winner will represent the United States at the World Memory Championships in China in November 2010. First 100 spectators receive an iCue Memory App for the iPhone, courtesy of sponsor Concentric Sky.

7 MarchTenafly Nature Center 7th Annual Dinner & Silent Auction
Clinton Inn, 145 Dean Dr., Tenafly, 201-568-6093. Funds raised at the dinner help the nature center further its mission and continue to reach the community with programs centered on the natural world. Tickets are $75 per person, $600 for a table of 8. Call or visit website to make a reservation.

Maple Sugaring
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, 201-568-6093. 12:30-1:30 and 2-3pm. Learn how to identify a maple tree. Discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the gathering of sap over the centuries. Check the tapped trees and boil down the sap to make fresh warm maple syrup. Dress warmly, program will be both in and outdoors. Program intended for children and adults. Pre-registration requested; children under 2 are free (no strollers). Register for a 3:30 nature walk after these programs. Nonmembers $10, members $5.

10-14 MarchBarnum's Funundrum!
Izod Center, East Rutherford, 800-745-3000. The new Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey circus comes to town. Buy tickets online, at ticketmaster retail locations, arena box office or call 800-745-3000. Ticket prices start at $15. Come one hour early to meet the animals and performers at the all access pre-show, included free with ticket.

12-14 MarchSugarloaf Crafts Festival
Garden State Exhibit Center, Somerset. Showcase of works by more than 275 artists from across the country including pottery, sculpture, glass, home dcor, furniture and home accessories, leather, fiber and wearables, fine art and photography.

14 MarchMaple Sugaring
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, 201-568-6093. 12:30-1:30 and 2-3pm. Learn how to identify a maple tree. Discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the gathering of sap over the centuries. Check the tapped trees and boil down the sap to make fresh warm maple syrup. Dress warmly, program will be both in and outdoors. Program intended for children and adults. Pre-registration requested; children under 2 are free (no strollers). Nonmembers $10, members $5.
Family Nature Walk
3:30-4:30pm. Non members $5 per person, membesr free. Enjoy the season with a guilded stroll with an Environmental Educator. Program intended for adults and children of all ages. In case of inclement weather, the program is cancelled. Pre-registration is not required but requested; children under 2 are free (no strollers please).

Sons of Saint Patrick
Morristown National Historical Park, Washington's Headquarters Museum, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, 973-539-2016 x210. 1 & 3 pm. Learn about the role of the Irish in the American Revolution and the 1780 St. Patrick's Day celebration that took place in Jockey Hollow. Subject to cancellation due to lack of staffing or inclement weather. Please call to confirm.

17-21 MarchBarnum's Funundrum!
Nassau Colliseum, Uniondale, New York, 800-745-3000. The new Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey circus comes to town. Buy tickets online, at ticketmaster retail locations, arena box office or call 800-745-3000. Ticket prices start at $15. Come one hour early to meet the animals and performers at the all access pre-show, included free with ticket.

19-20 March
Kids Stuff Consignment Sale
Casano Community Center, 314 Chestnut Ave., Roselle Park, 908-561-1751. The Mothers Center of Central New Jersey will hold its semi-annual kids stuff consignment sale on Friday from 7:30-9pm and Saturday 9am-12pm followed by a half-price sale on Saturday from 1-3pm. The sale features gently used spring and summer clothing in sizes from newborn to children's 12. Other merchandise will include children's toys, videos and books, sports equipment and bikes, and strollers and other baby equipment. If you are interested in consigning your unwanted children's clothes or toys, visit website or leave a detailed message at 908-561-1751. Proceeds of the sale benefit the Mother's Center of Central New Jersey, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization providing friendship, education, outreach, and support for all parents across central New Jersey. Cash only, no strollers admitted.

20 MarchSpring Family Campfire
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, 201-568-6093. 6:30-8pm. Nonmembers $10, members $5. Families will gather round the campfire to learn about seasonal changes, listen to stories, and roast marshmallows for s'mores. If the weather is inclement the campfire will be moved to the fireplace in the pavilion or an indoor program will be substituted. Program is intended for adults and families with children 5 years and older. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Women's Roles in the Eighteenth Century
Morristown National Historical Park, Washington's Headquarters Museum, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, 973-539-2016 x210. 1, 2, 3 & 4pm. Explore some of the roles women played during the American Revolution through an exploration of the museum galleries. Subject to cancellation due to lack of staffing or inclement weather. Please call to confirm.

21 MarchTempe Wick: Truth & Legend
Morristown National Historical Park, Wick House, Jockey Hollow, Morristown, 973-543-4030. 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30pm. Did Tempe Wick really hide a horse in the Wick House? Hear the legend and find out the truth as you look for potential hiding spots in the Wick House. Subject to cancellation due to lack of staffing or inclement weather. Please call to confirm.

25-4 March 25-April 4Barnum's Funundrum!
Madison Square Garden, New York, 800-745-3000. The new Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey circus comes to town. Buy tickets online, at ticketmaster retail locations, arena box office or call 800-745-3000. Ticket prices start at $15. Come one hour early to meet the animals and performers at the all access pre-show, included free with ticket.

27-28 March
Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center Annual Open House
605 Pequest Rd., Oxford, 908-637-4125. 10am-4pm. Celebrate the beginning of trout season and spring at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center. Kids between the ages of 8 and 16 can try their hand at trout fishing two weeks before the season opens in the Fishing Education Pond. Expert instruction is provided by staff, Wildlife Conservation Corps volunteers and volunteers from Trout Unlimited. Kids under 8 can try catching a trout in the "Kiddie FishingTank." Equipment supplied. Other activities include beginner archery and shotgun ranges, expert archery course in the woods (experts bring own equpiment, ongoing fly tying demonstrations, wildlife artists, carvers and taxidermists, exhibits, fishing flea market, and food vendors. Visitors can also take a self-guided tour of the hatchery.

18 AprTeddy Bear Tea
Monmouth Museum, On the Brookdale Community College Campus, Lincroft, 732-747-2266. 2-4pm. All children ages 3-8, parents, grandparents and your favorite furry friends are invited to A Teddy Bear Tea Party. The afternoon will include dancing, a Teddy Bear Parade led by a famous bear, gourmet trats and a Teddy Bear Boutique. Special guest Laurajane Wikoff, Monmouth County's Ms. Manners, will present a lesson on manners, etiquette and polite conversation. Tickets are $35 per person for member adults and $25 for children; non-members-$40 per person for adults, $30 for children. Proceeds benefit educational programs at the Monmouth Museum. Call for reservations.

24 AprRutgers Day
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 732-932-7823. 0am-4pm. People of all ages are welcome to attend Rutgers Day. It's a chance to get a glimpse of exciting things happening at New Jersey's state university. There will be free performances, tours, exhibits, hands-on activities, lectures, demonstrations and more. The event will take place rain or shine on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus. For more information, visit the website or call 732-932-7823.

ONGOING EVENTS

Thru MayFamily Programs at MOMA
Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St., New York, 212-708-9805 or email familyprograms@moma.org. Weekend family programs begin in the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, 4 W. 54th St. Ticketing takes place at the Cullman Building reception desk. Programs include Tours for Fours for ages 4 and adult companions; A Closer Look for Kids for ages 5-10 and their adult companions; Family Films; and Films for Tweens. Consult website for details or email familyprograms@moma.org. To be informed of registration and program news, families can sign up for the Family Programs E-News at www.moma.org/enews.

Star Shows & Laser Concerts
Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd., North Branch, 908-231-8805. $5 per person per show. $9 per person for two shows in one day. Reservations recommended.

Thru Feb 27Maple Sugaring
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twp., 973-635-6629. 2pm Sundays in Jan. & Saturdays in Feb. $3. Learn about maple sugaring through a guided walk and taste test. All ages, group programs available.

Thru Feb 28Maple Sugaring
Somerset County Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Rd., Basking Ridge, 908-766-2489. 10, 12 & 2pm weekends. Free. Maple sugaring demonstrations conducted at the Sugar Shack, 1/2 mile hike from the EEC. Groups may schedule weekday demonstrations.

OPEN FOR REGISTRATION/TICKETS

June-JanuaryShakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 2010 Season
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, 973-408-5600. The 2010 Season features six Main Stage productions as well as a production on the Theatre's Outdoor Stage on the campus of The College of St. Elizabeth. Full season subscriptions are available.

20,27 Feb
Black History MonthAfrican American Artists Series
Express Yourself Studios, 1912 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973-763-5256. 1-2pm and 3:30-4:30pm. Enjoy a special Black History month lesson in art exploring different African-American Master Artists. This program is offered as part of Express Yourself Studio's Saturday offering and is open to children ages 5-12.. Call to register or register online.

Wednesday Tea at the Proprietary House
149 Kearny Ave., Perth Amboy, 732-826-5527. 1-4pm. Family-friendly tea is served every Wednesday, except major holidays. Tea includes tea and homemade cakes. Donation of $3.50 per person or child, add $1.50 for historical tour of the house. Children may bring their American Girl doll, any other doll or action figure. Hot cocoa can replace tea. Reservations required for groups over 6.

OngoingShakespeare LIVE! Educational Touring Company
The educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!, travels to schools and other venues throughout the tri-state region with 60-minute versions of two of Shakespeare's most popular plays--A Midsummer Night's Dream for grades 3 & up and Macbeth for grades 6 & up--and Nevermore: The Final Nightmares of Edgar Allan Poe recommended for grades 6 & up. Bookings are now being accepted for all three productions, 973-408-3980.

"J" Crew After School Program for Grades K-4
Shimon & Sara Birnbaum JCC, 775 Talamini Rd., Bridgewater. Contact Ken Kaus, "J" Crew Director, 908-725-6994 x227; KKaus@ssbjcc.org. Homework help, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, fitness programs, cooking, comuters, daily snack and more! High staff-to-child ratio. Register for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Busing available from select Bridgewater schools.

Homeschool Afternoons at Jersey City Museum
Jersey City Museum, 350 Montgomery St. at Monmouth, Jersey City, 201-413-0303. 1-3pm selected Fridays January to June. $4 per student, adults free. Reservations required. Monthly program invites homeschool families in groups of 8 or more for special tours and workshops. Each program introduces a concept that defines a moment in art and features tour, hands-on art making sessions in the museum's studio classrooms.

Robocamp & More
Storming Robots, 3322 Rt. 22W, Suite 402, Branchburg Commons, 908-595-1010. 9-4. Visit website and see the printed version of the Kids' Guide for information on workshops, Robocamps, summer programs and birthday parties.

Glassworks Adult & Youth Classes
Glassworks Studio Inc., 151 South St., Morristown, 973-656-0800. Daytime and evening classes in making glass creations begin including Lunch-n-Learn, Mommy-n-Me, Mom's Morning Out, Masters in Glass.

Preschooler & Mom-Infant Walks
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center 247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twp., 973-635-6629. Preschooler walks are 45-min. walks for preschooler with adult at various park locations. Reservations required beginning two weeks prior to date of walk. $5. Mom-Infant walks are free. Bring backpack for infant; no siblings or strollers. Call for upcoming dates.

Kids' Club
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, 9 Main St., Madison, 973-377-2982. 3:30pm. Monthly after-school program for children ages 7-11. Pre-registrationis required. Sessions are $13 for members, $15 for non-members.
Sept-Jun

Girl Scout Programs at Community Children's Museum
Community Children's Museum, 77 E. Blackwell St., Dover, 973-366-9060. Register for 12 new badge programs fro Daisies, Brownies, and Junior Girl Scouts.

STOPS ON THE ROAD

Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA, 617-495-3045. Free and open to the public. Newly renovated Great Mammal Hall, Evolution and Language of Color exhibitions. Check website for family programs.

PLEASE NOTE:
Hours, prices, exhibit and event information area subject to change.
Please call ahead or use the convenient website links to get the latest information prior to your visit.

LAST UPDATE 2/1/2010

For print advertising, web advertising, subscription and other inquiries, write or call:
Kids' Guide
PO Box 892, Murray Hill, NJ 07974-0892
e-mail: kids@kidsguide.com
phone: 908/665-0607
fax: 908/665-2052

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