FAMILY Activities FREE GYMNASTICS Every Friday night middle & high-school ...
FREE GYMNASTICS
Every Friday night middle & high-school students ages 12-19 are invited to attend free gymnastics classes at McBurney YMCA Chelsea Center, 122 W. 17th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-643-9013; register at 6.
HP INVENTOR CENTER
Exhibit lets kids learn about & discuss some of USA's prominent inventors & construct their own gadgets; Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St. (betw. B'way & Amsterdam Ave.), 212-721-1223; Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 10-5, free w/mus. adm. [through 12/30].
FREE FAMILY PORTRAITS
Artist Olga Horvat takes free photos of adults & children, bring your favorite toy for photo fun at 457 W. 57th St., #1704 (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212 247-7459, Sat 12-3 [through 12/31].
KIDS & THE GREAT AMERICAN SONG BOOK
Exploration of America's popular music feat. B'way performers & live band; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-996-1100; Sun. at 3, $18.
NYC TEENS
CitiKids Coalition hosts evening of discussion & exploration of various youth issues; The CitiKids Foundations, 57 Leonard St. (betw. Church St. & W. B'way), 212-925-3320; 6, free.
SATURDAYS ALIVE!
Family art workshops incl. books, bangles & beads workshop, jewelry making & the multi-cultural holiday show; Arts Connection, 120 W. 46th St. (betw. 6th Ave. & B'way), 212-302-7433; Sat., workshops at 12:30, performance at 3, $2-$6.
WALKING TOUR AMBLE THROUGH THE RAMBLE
Venture into beautiful wooded paradise, right in the city; Henry Luce Observatory, Belvedere Castle, Central Park, 97th St. (midpark), 212-348-4867 reg. req.; 11, free.
Things to See & Hear
CELEBRATE CHANUKAH W/MUSIC
Israeli violinist Miri Ben-Ari performs w/jazz quartet, a musical experience for the whole family plus "Geo Zoom," interactive exhibition w/educational activities, which teaches kids about geography of themselves & others; Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. (St. Marks Ave.), Bklyn., 718-735-4400; Sun. 10-5 [through 3/2001].
CHILDREN'S SCULPTURE GARDEN
One-hundred & twenty bronze miniatures surround 40-ft. high peace fountain; Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (112th St.), 212-932-7347 for days & times; free.
CHRISTMAS TRAIN SHOW
One-thousand feet of track runs around miniature New York scene w/thirty foot Christmas tree in the center. Plus the inside of the greenhouse becomes a family holiday spectacular; NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700; Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 10-6, $8, $4 st./s.c./kids 6-16.
HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
Celebrate the holidays w/a 24-foot tree lighting & decorating party in the park; Dana Discovery Center, Harlem Meer in Central Park, 110th St. (5th Ave.), 212-860-1370, reg. req.; decorating at 4:30, lighting at 6.
FAMILY ART PROJECT
Discover & collect beads from nature, create holiday gifts from found objects w/artist Rocio Cabello; Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St. (Indep. Ave.), Bronx, 718-549-3200, ext.308, res. req.; Sat. & Sun. 1-4 free w/grounds adm.
GALLERY TALKS
The Museum of Modern Art feat. guided walks & discussion. This week, "Don't Eat It: Food or Art?"; 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves), 212-708-9400; sign-in at 9:45 a.m., $5 per family
MAYA THE BEE
Jazz puppet play for tykes 3-9 based on German book about bee who runs away from hive; Salon Theater, 45 Bleecker St. (Lafayette St.), 212-539-6644; Sat. at 11, $7-$15.
SEAWORTHY SATURDAYS
"Journey to Outer-space," explore space travel from the 1960's to present w/film & demonstrations; Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, W. 42nd St. (12th Ave.), 212-245-0072; Sat. at 12, free w/mus. adm.
THE TEDDYBEARBAITERS
Improv group takes Brecht's theories & makes them a reality for your children in attempt at extreme interactive theater; Waterloo Bridge Theater, 203 W. 38th St., 5th fl. (7th Ave.), 212-330-8879; Sun. at 11, $7, $3 kids.
WISEACRE FARM & RUMPLE WHO?
A birthday on the farm & a classic at Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-675-6677; Sat. & Sun. at 1, $7.