Face the Music, an ensemble of 20 classically-trained musicians ranging from sixth to twelfth grade dedicated to performing today’s most compelling and creative new music, will be presented by Simone Dinnerstein’s PS 321 Neighborhood Concerts in a concert called “Beating Down the Doors” on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7pm at PS 321 (180 7th Avenue, Brooklyn) in Park Slope. The performance is open to the public and raises funds for the school’s Parent Teacher Association.

The centerpiece of the concert is the world premiere of Liquid Timepieces by composer and PS 321 faculty member Joseph C. Philllips, Jr. Commissioned for Face the Music by Simone Dinnerstein and PS 321 Neighborhood Concerts, Mr. Phillips’ piece is cinematic in its intensity and expansive sound. The teen members of Face the Music will also present four of their favorite works: Graham Fitkin’s sax-heavy Mesh (1992); Marcelo Zarvos’ foot-stomping “Memory” from Nepomuk’s Dances (2002); Nico Muhly’s stop-and-start How About Now (2006); and Jacob TV’s Lipstick (1998), with a playback mix based on clips from American talk shows. Face the Music’s young players will talk to the audience between pieces and take questions at the end of the concert, making this an excellent opportunity for families with children.

Of his new piece, Liquid Timepieces, Mr. Phillips says, “The years 2010 and 2011 are the 50th anniversaries of Gustav Mahler’s birth (1850) and death (1911). I wanted to celebrate these ‘Jubilee Years’ by writing a work that honors the profound influence Mahler’s music has had on my musical thinking. Liquid Timepieces is my homage to Mahler, but despite some subtle references to his Symphony No. 1, No. 3, and No. 9, it is not meant to sound like his music. Rather, I hope to create a similar resonance to the protean spirit of life and the world that permeates his works.”

Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7pm
PS 321 Auditorium | 180 7th Avenue | Brooklyn, NY Tickets: $15 available at www.ps321.org after March 14 For more information, visit: http://kaufman-center.org/special-music-school/face- the-music.

About Face the Music: Face the Music is an ensemble of astonishingly talented teenagers performing works by today’s most compelling and creative new music composers. In residence at Kaufman Center, Face the Music breaks the boundaries of classical music education and performance, featuring today’s music presented by the emerging artistic voices of tomorrow.

Founded by Kaufman Center’s Special Music School Music Director Jenny Undercofler and composer Huang Ruo, Face the Music provides an unparalleled performance and education experience for the next generation of musical leaders. The group burst onto the scene in 2005, performing works by such new-music mainstays Michael Gordon, Phil Kline, and John Adams.

Since their debut, Face the Music has played throughout New York City at venues such as Le Poisson Rouge, The Queens Museum of Art, Roulette, and El Museo del Barrio. The ensemble also performed at the opening of Apple’s new West 67th Street location, on the live broadcast opening of WNYC’s Greene Space, and gave the U.S. premiere performance of Gérard Grisey’s Manifestations in Kaufman’s Merkin Concert Hall.

Face the Music’s mission is to engage talented teenage musicians from across the city to represent a diverse range of backgrounds and talents. The performers are primarily students or alumni of Kaufman Center’s own Special Music School, the only public school in New York City that integrates pre-conservatory musical training with academic education.

Other concert dates:

March 21, 2010 – Hudson View Gardens, 2 pm
116 Pinehurst Ave., NYC, hudsonviewgardens.com
Works by Marcelo Zarvos, Miguel del Aguila, Paul Desenne, Nico Muhly and JacobTV

May 9, 2010 – Look and Listen Festival, location TBA, 3 pm
Works by Marcelo Zarvos and Dan Visconti

May 12, 2010 – Brooklyn Lyceum, 8 pm
4th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn
Works by Joe Phillips, Nico Muhly, Graham Fitkin and Paul Desenne

May 27, 2010 – Merkin Concert Hall Upper Lobby, 6:30 pm
Works by Nico Muhly, Paul Desenne and Joe Phillips. Pre-concert performance before the SIGNAL ensemble’s gives the world premiere of a new work by Muhly and American premiere of Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s The Corridor in Merkin Hall.

Photo credit: Kaufman Center via Flick’r Photo Share

Massages and Martini’s, how decadent can it get? Body By Brooklyn is a traditional European Bath House but with a twist. Located in Historic Clinton Hill (my neighborhood yahoo) on the ground floor of a converted chocolate factory. I have gone to this fabulous spa many times over the last two years, by myself, with a group of mummy friends.Recently I treated myself to The Park Avenue($215 per person) a 60 minute deep tissue massage,60 minute calming facial, a gourmet lunch and of course a yummy martini.

The minute you walk in you are greeted and given a tour of the facilities, very modern, clean and serene. Body By Brooklyn is coed and offers wonderful specials for couples. I was told by the manager that for the month of February they will be offering “couples night” on Sunday’s. Their massage and facial rooms are serene, perfect lighting and makes you feel relaxed instantly as you enter. My 60 minute deep tissue massage was one of the best I have ever had. Full use of the wet lounge (Turkish Steam room,Swedish and Russian saunas,Jacuzzi,Cold Plunge, Fireside Lounge) are included with a booked treatment. You can also get a one day pass for $44.

One of the major highlights besides the amazing massages and facials is their full service bar  with the most delicious cocktails( a must is the chocolate martini).

A must mention is that Body By Brooklyn has a Private Luxury Suite for that romantic evening with your special one. A private suite with a jacuzzi,steam room,plasma screen television. Complimentary bottle of champagne,appetizers and Butler service is included. Priced at $200 for the first hour, $100 for every additional hour.

I truly enjoyed my visit to Body By Brooklyn. I totally recommend for a special day with your girlfriends, or a romantic day with your loved one. You  can  never go wrong with a Massage and a Martini.

I am super excited to be part of this wonderful NYMetropolista family. To be given the opportunity to share with you any new, exciting, off the beaten path places,activities I come across on my many adventures with my family throughout New York City

I am a little late with this review with just three more dates left I strongly suggest it is a must see for the whole family.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (LIVE) Accompanied by a jazz trio who performs the soundtrack composed by Vince Guaraldi, who  is on this classic animated television show. Performed live at this pretty cool venue in Brooklyn called the Brooklyn Lyceum. This production is in its second year at this venue. Having spent my entire childhood in Trinidad and Tobago one of my fondest memories was watching with my cousins A Charlie Brown Christmas. When I read about this live performance of this great classic I knew I had to take my 4 year old son Jaden and husband Joe to see this show. We arrived at the Brooklyn Lyceum and out first impression of the venue was it looked very industrial and organic in nature. Once we were escorted upstairs to where the show was performed we were wowed by how they created the set in a magical sort of way. It is a bit cold so dress warmly and there are heating lamps set up strategically around the seating. To us it just lent to the whole experience of being outside with Charlie Brown and his crew. The set was re-created as perfect as possible to the cartoon and before the show started Jaden got to walk around and tour the stage.

“Pig Brooch Theatre Company, Inc. was founded in May 2004 when their original play Happy Mundanes was accepted into the New York International Fringe Festival 2004. After a successful run, the company teamed up with Dustin Helmer’s Kiek in de KökPlayers to create and produce Love Is in the Air, a lost 1920s silent film presented by a company of Estonian clowns. Love Is in the Air was produced at the 2005 Fringe Festival before touring to Hamilton College in the spring of 2006 as part of a fundraiser for a new multi-million dollar theatre facility. The immensely talented performers from this production come from all areas of the New York theatre scene, from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, to Broadway, to the Metropolitan Opera House, to every rock and roll music venue in the city.A Charlie Brown Christmas is a tradition at the Penn State Theatre program that has finally arrived in Brooklyn. The actors all share a deep love for this holiday favorite and have worked extremely hard to match the exact physicality of the cartoon characters from Charlie Brown Christmas Special”

Joe and I were amazed at how the actors performed the entire Charlie Brown Christmas verbatim, down to the characteristics of the cartoon characters. The live music by the jazz trio performing all the Vince Guaraldi classics made it so magical for us adults  and brought back such warm and “Christmasy” feelings inside. Jaden as well as all the other kids that were there laughed throughout the entire show which was a perfect 40 minutes from start to finish.

I loved this show so much I am contemplating going back again this weekend with some friends. A perfect holiday classic A Charlie Brown Christmas for the young and the young at heart.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES:
Fri Dec 18 – 7pm
Sat Dec 19 – 2pm and 7pm
Sun Dec 20 – 2pm and 7pm

All tickets are $10 and available at: BrooklynLyceum.com

A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Children’s Aid Society

Location: Brooklyn Lyceum   227 4th Avenue in Park Slope.   R train at Union Street. 718.857.4816.

Also playing at the Brooklyn Lyceum which I have not seen so unable to review:

“Just in time for the holidays!  Mainspring Collective and The Brooklyn Lyceum present the first installment of their new children’stheater series, Monster Literature, written and conceived by Daniel John Kelley. The first episode, ‘Twas the Night Before…MONSTERS!’ offers a new twist on an old classic when an evil wizard threatens to destroy the holiday spirit by changing the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ by unleashing his army of silly monsters.  Young heroine Benjy Bleeglehorn (along with her dashing sidekick, Bravo Kirkwood) must battle this army of misguided monsters with their wit and compassion in order to restore the poem and rediscover the spirit of the holidays.  ‘Twas the Night Before…MONSTERS,  featuring original music and video elements, is original holiday fun for the whole family. Join us for some monstrous fun at the Brooklyn Lyceum as we kick off this new ongoing series! Official Monster Literature website: MonsterLiterature.com”

Showtimes and Specifics:
Sat Dec 19 – 12 and 3:30pm
Sun Dec 20 – 12 and 3:30pm

Running time: 30 minutes.  For ages:  Pre-K – 5yrs, and adults too!
All Tickets $5/each or $15/four.

Music Adventures at the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music (58 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn) is a dynamic, innovative program that incorporates the physical and rhythmic aspects of music to start children on the path to not only learning music, but also to experience the fun and joy that music can bring into their lives. Celebrating 25 years with its 2009-2010 season, Music Adventures encourages creative expression through music, dance, and fun.

Although nestled in the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn, Music Adventures is a nationally-recognized program. Lillian Yaross, former president of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, stated that this program “reflected a serious commitment to music education for the young children as an exciting and challenging experience” and that it is “one of the best programs I had seen in the U.S.”

Music Adventures is unique among music and movement programs for young children. Each entertaining and educational class is limited in size and many are team-taught by two professionals: a music specialist trained in the Orff and Dalcroze Eurhythmics methods, as well as a movement and dance specialist.

Established in 1984, Music Adventures is an Orff Schulwerk based program (created by composer Carl Orff in the 1920s) and is led by Ric Frank. In addition to being the Division Director of Music Adventures for the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music (a position he has held since 1988), Ric is also an award-winning musician and composer for stage and screen. In fact, he can be heard with his New Orleans brass band during the “wild rumpus” scene in Where The Wild Things Are. “While Music Adventures is designed for serious musical education, we teach with a sense of humor and make learning music fun,” he says.

The program begins with children as young as 18 months, helping them to develop musical awareness by responding to music with gestures, props, percussion instruments, and movement. As the students get older, the curriculum grows and challenges their musical development. In fact, Music Adventures is the first step in a lifelong journey with music, and that voyage can continue at the Conservatory in any number of ways, including lessons, classes, and ensembles. Kids can build on what they learn in Music Adventures without leaving the Conservatory, which was established in 1897. “With the wide variety of lessons and classes we offer, starting with Music Adventures and beyond, families can stay in one place and enjoy a lifetime of rich and varied music education,” said Aaron Felder, Executive Director of the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music. “As a parent, I know how valuable that kind of continuity can be to a child’s education and development.”

Music Adventures at the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music offers rolling enrollment throughout the semester. To audit a class, or for more information including tuition costs and class schedules, call (718) 622-3300.

We took advantage of the last days of summer and had an excursion to the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn. We drove from Hoboken, but it’s easy to get there on the subway from Manhattan.  The aquarium is in several separate buildings and is best enjoyed – especially with very young children – in warmer weather.

There is a large saltwater display just inside the entrance where we waited to meet our friends and my two kids – ages 2 and 4 – were so content to watch the fish in this large display that when our friends arrived it was difficult to pry them away!

In order to enjoy a large venue like the aquarium with young children (or any children, I suppose!) you need to stay flexible and move at their pace.  When my kids wanted to linger and watch the tank with the large animals like sea turtles and sharks, my friend and I made ourselves comfortable on the surrounding benches and waited until they were ready to move on.  When my kids got impatient with the small fish that were not as interesting to them, we picked up the speed and moved on.

Unfortunately the outdoor animals – walruses, seals, otters and penguins – were not very active on the day of our visit.  We were, however, lucky enough to see the divers entering the penguin tank to do some maintenance work and my children enjoyed that immensely!

The best spot of all is the “Explore the Shore” building which includes the “Alien Stingers” exhibit.  We spent a lot of time in this building enjoying the wide variety of exhibits.  My son’s favorite exhibits were simulations of waves where the water comes crashing in and you can see the effects on the soil and the fish.

Unfortunately we were there too early for the Halloween activities which are going on now through November 1.

We ended our trip with a short walk along the boardwalk at Coney Island and enjoyed ice cream cones by the water!

Photo credit: Oktaviani Marvikasari on Stock.xchng

Nobody could be more surprised than I am that I’m writing this article about the Brooklyn Book Festival as a kids destination … I am so surprised, in fact, that I went to the festival without my kids!  I wanted to go to the festival as an avid book reader and aspiring author and my husband was happy to watch the kids for the day, so I thought I had devised the perfect plan.  Then I arrived at the festival only to find that in addition to all of the wonderful stands and presentations for adults, a large portion of the festival was devoted to kids!

There was a section of the signing tables and stands dedicated to children’s authors and another dedicated to youth authors.  Part of the children’s area held craft tables for young children to occupy themselves decorating bookbags.  The other part of the children’s area had a seating area filled with cushions where kids (and their adults) could read their new purchases or watch book readings and other entertainment.

Panel discussions and readings were held at several outdoor stages.  All of these events were free, but in order to get a seat, a reserved ticket was required.  Most of the venues, however, were set up so that patrons could easily stand behind the seating area and still hear the discussion, which is perfect for parents with strollers.  I sat in on one panel discussion at an indoor venue and sat next to a couple with a two-year old in a stroller who was very well behaved during (most of) the discussion.

Beyond the wonderful array of children’s books that were available, I came across two wonderful nonprofit projects that I’d like to share with you:

• “Books For Kids” is a project sponsored by the Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice.  The mission of the project is to “promote literacy for children involved in Family Court cases in New York City.  The Books For Kids project accepts donations of virtually any type of book – particularly those for teenage clients.  There are drop-off locations in all five borroughs at the Juvenille Rights offices.  Contact information can be found in their directory.

• “Girls Write Now” is a mentoring program where high school girls with an interest in professional writing are partnered with women writers.  The pairs work together throughout the school year.  Each year, an anthology is produced and the girls participate in readings.

So, I’ve learned a valuable lesson from this experience.  Before deciding to leave the kiddos at home when attending an event like this, I need to do a bit of research to see if any kids activities will be available.  I could’ve easily alternated kid time with adult time if I had been on my own with the kids, or my husband and I could’ve taken turns with the kids if we had all been together.  You can bet that our book-loving family will all be there next year!

Photo credit: Sanja Gjenero on Stock.exchng

When we first moved to Brooklyn and were invited to a birthday party at the Prospect Park Carousel, I didn’t realize that the party would have the carousel all to itself.  The site of the kids riding the horses over and over for two hours brought back a flood of memories from my own childhood – I would ride the carousel at our local amusement park as many times as my mother and grandmother could stand.

The Prospect Park Carousel is very popular for birthday parties, and for years we forgot to book it early enough.  This year we finally managed to have our daughter’s birthday party there, and it was everything I had hoped it would be.  Birthday renters get the space for two hours, including set-up and clean-up.  A couple of six-foot tables are provided by the park; everything else you need to bring yourself.  When I wasn’t busy passing out cupcakes or making sure there were enough bagels, I got a chance to check out the carousel up-close.

According to the Prospect Park Alliance, which re-opened the renovated carousel in 1990 (it had been shuttered for seven years due to mechanical problems), it’s one of only twelve surviving carousels made by Charles Carmel, a master carver who set the standard for carousels in the early 20th century, working out of his shop in Coney Island.  It was brought to Prospect Park in 1952 to replace a carousel that had burned down.  By the time the Prospect Park Alliance undertook the carousel’s renovation in the late 80s, extensive repairs were necessary and 20 layers of paint had to be removed from the horses.

The greatest charm of the Prospect Park Carousel is the music.  It’s not the recorded crap that plays on most carousels, it’s an actual Wurlitzer Band Organ, one of those old-fashioned machines that plays several instruments.  The music gives the carousel a feel completely different from a typical mall carousel.  It transports you back in time.

The carousel’s price of $1.50 per ride doesn’t cover its operating expenses – private donations make up the difference.  Patrons can “adopt” a horse for a season, or even permanently.  The carousel runs from early April until late October, weather permitting.