There were so many hikes to choose from this past week; I hope you took advantage of them or walked on your own to enjoy the First Day of 2020! The final weekend of The Festival of Tradition: Festival of Trees and Lights took place at the H.H. Biddle House in Conference House Park on Saturday and Sunday. I was invited to break bread with the members of the Tottenville Historical Society afterwards. Following are photos from the event.
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The JCC Beacon Community Center at IS49 presents Adult Dance Class, taught by Hayley Rosenfeld on Wednesday 1/8 from 3-4:30 at IS49, 101 Warren St. Childcare is provided pre-K-85h Grade. Couples are welcomed! For info and/or to register, contact Michael Williams, Asst. Director at mwilliams@sijcc.com or 718-556-1565.
R.E.A.D. with Riley the Therapy Dog! on Wednesday at 4 at the Tottenville Library, 7430 Amboy Rd. Dogs can’t read, but they can be great listeners! Reading to a therapy dog is fun! Children will sign up to read for approximately 15 minutes each during the R.E.A.D. session. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 718-984-0945 or register in person. Open to children K-4th grade.
The Lego Club meets at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library, 2550 Victory Blvd. on Wednesday at 4. The library will supply Legos, while you provide imagination. All materials must stay at the library, so bring a camera to document your creations! Good for ages 8–14.
Come to the Stapleton Library, 132 Canal St. on Wednesday at 4 for Wednesday STEAMDay and have a blast exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math! Good for ages 5-11.
For children/teens experiencing any type of bullying (in-school, cyber-bullying, food allergy, etc), and parents looking for resources, come to the Anti-Bully Support Workshop on Wednesday at 4:30 at the Rossville A.M.E. Zion Church, 584 Bloomingdale Rd. All children and parents are welcome. Bring children/teens together who have lived through this experience to share stories and brainstorm on how to handle the problem. Free refreshments. Call ahead to confirm: Play It Forward NY, 646-765-6531 and/or visit: http://www.playitforwardny.com/
Join the Anime & Manga Club on Wednesday at 5 at the South Beach Library, 21-25 Robin Rd. as we watch our favorite anime, as well as discuss new and upcoming manga.
Come to Baby Storytime: Baby & Me on Thursday 1/9 at 10:15 at the Tottenville Library, 7430 Amboy Rd. for a special time to bond with your baby and meet other caregivers. We will introduce our babies to the joys of movement, books, and song, and begin to build their early learning skills. Come prepared to sit with your baby on your lap. For crawlers/pre-walkers.
Explore new technology like 3D printing, 3D pens, Hummingbird Robotics, Osmo Genius Kits, Google Chromebooks and more at the Youth Tech Club on Thursday at 3:30 at Great Kills Library, 56 Giffords Ln. Good for ages 8+.
Calling all artists! If you want to express your creativity, join Freestyle Painting on Thursday from 4-5 at the Mariners Harbor Library, 206 South Ave.No registration required.
For children/teens experiencing any type of bullying (in-school, cyber-bullying, food allergy, etc), and parents looking for resources, come to the Anti-Bully Support Workshop on Thursday at 5 at Projectivity, 1953 Richmond Terr. All children and parents are welcome. Bring children/teens together who have lived through this experience to share stories and brainstorm on how to handle the problem. Free refreshments. Call ahead to confirm: Play It Forward NY, 646-765-6531 and/or visit: http://www.playitforwardny.com/
Participate in Life:Vest:Poetry & Pizza on Friday, 1/10 at 6 for an evening of open mic and poetry slam at St. George Library, 25 Central Ave. Please feel free to bring only yourself, or any works you would like to share at this event. Refreshments will be served while supplies last.
Our YA Book Club discussions continue this winter on Friday at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 2655 Richmond Ave. Join us to explore compelling stories and characters. Our January selection is “Reverie”, a bold, alternate-reality adventure where characters are forced to examine the secret worlds they hide within themselves.
Storytime and Activities Featuring “The Return of Thelma the Unicorn” will be on Saturday 1/11 at 11 at Barnes & Noble, 2655 Richmond Ave. Thelma, the Unicorn, is reluctant to share her horn and sparkles again, but with the help of her best friend Otis, she realizes the importance of spreading love and joy no matter what people think. Activities to follow.
Children ages 4-7 will enjoy Penguins are Cool–Workshop and Movie on Saturday from 11-12 at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. Learn about penguins and make a cool pom-pom penguin companion to take home. Afterwards, join us for a popular penguin movie. Fee: $5 or $3 for Greenbelt Conservancy Members. Registration required. Call 718-351-3450 or email naturecenter@sigreenbelt.org
The Mariners Harbor Library at 206 South Ave. will host Sensory Playdate on Saturday from 11:15-12:30. Parents and caregivers are invited to join us for our playdate workshop for children ages 2-5 while they explore the fives senses through hands-on activities. Registration required; call 212-621-0690. Light refreshments to be provided. Dress in play clothes!
Enjoy your freedom to explore the world of iPads, Surface Pros and laptops as you play fun educational games, research, read e-books, and surf through apps, etc. at Tech Zone on Saturday from 1-2 at the Mariners Harbor Library, 206 South Ave.Space is limited, first come first served!
The Urban Park Rangers are well versed in outdoor lore. Learn tips and tricks that will enhance your knowledge of the natural world, and might just save your life at Outdoor Skills: Orienteering on Saturday from 1–2:30. This program focuses on navigation, including compass usage and map reading. Meet at Forest Ave. and Silver Lake Park Rd. in Silver Lake Park. For info, call 718-967-3542.
Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful surroundings while working on the NYC Compost Project demonstration site during Turn & Learn Compost Work in Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terr. on Saturday from 1–3. Bring a water bottle, wear closed-toed shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. If you help us make compost, you can take compost. Please bring your own container. (Please note: This is a volunteer event and not a pick-up event. You must volunteer at the work day to receive compost. Supplies may be limited.) Registration is strongly recommended. Registration is requested; visit: https://snug-harbor.org/compost/
Join Barnes & Noble, 2655 Richmond Ave. as you explore the newest addition to the exciting “Escape This Bookstore!” series on Saturday at 2. Decide your destiny by solving puzzles and riddles to pass each challenge and get to the next adventure! Good for ages 8-12.
Participate in Winter Book Discussions featuring “The Plague” by Albert Camus at Everything Goes Book Café, 208 Bay St. on Saturday at 2. A haunting tale of human resilience in the face of unrelieved horror, Camus' novel about a bubonic plague ravaging the people of a North African coastal town is a classic of twentieth-century literature.
Attend African American Mariners: Unsung Strivers on Saturday at 2 at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3201 Amboy Rd. (about a block south of Clarke Ave), featuring Duane Felton and co-hosted by Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries and Noble Maritime Collection. Staten Island OutLOUD’s series continues on historian Nathaniel Philbrick’s “In the Heart of the Sea”. In this event, we will explore the lives and work of the African-American sailors who were on the crew of the whale ship Essex. We will also examine the broader history of African-Americans at sea in the 19th century. This event will take place indoors, in the cemetery’s reception areas and conference room; but you’re also invited to view the cemetery grounds during your visit. Good for all ages.
The Art Lab’s 17th Annual Open Show and Opening Reception takes place on Saturday from 2-4 at the Art Lab, 1000 Richmond Terr., Ste. 10. This is an Open Call to all visual artists! There is no theme; bring us 2 pieces of art, be it painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, etc. $25 for 2 pieces, drop offs 1/5-8. Let’s make this our best yet! The show continues through 2/16.
Hike with your canine companion in the winter wonderland that is the Greenbelt during Dog Hike on Sunday, 1/12 from 9:30–10:30. Enjoy the Nature Center Trail on this moderately paced 45-60 minute hike through the woods to make new friends. Greenbelt Nature Center in Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave. at Brielle Ave. Registration is required; call 718-351-3450 or email naturecenter@sigreenbelt.org
Join the Urban Park Rangers during Birding: Winter Waterfowl on Sunday from 11–12:30 beginning at the Comfort station in Willowbrook Park, near Eton Pl. and Richmond Ave. The Rangers offer birding programs throughout the year and offer unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring field guides and binoculars or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
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