Fools Company's NY School for Performing Arts seeks NYC residents ages 16-21 looking to develop their creative & communication skills; 423 W. 46th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212-307-6000; Thurs. 4:30-6:30, free [through 9/00].
children's museum of the arts
Museum feat. daily activities & exhibitions incl. children's art shows & art studio, interactive computer art station, creative playroom, actor's studio, costume shop, community group workshops, after-school art programs, summer art camps & birthday parties. This week's highlights: "Tie-Dying" workshop, Sat. at 1; 182 Lafayette St. (betw. Broome & Grand Sts.), 212-274-0986; Weds. 12-7, Thurs.-Sun., 12-5, $5, s.c. & kids under 1 are free.
the NY Botanical Garden
Spring Flower Exhibition & Nancy Bryan Luce Herb Garden now in bloom. Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden feat. sunflower house, bean tunnel & pumpkin patch. Everett Children's Adventure Garden with "Family Garden" activities every Tues.; NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 or www.nybg.org; Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 10-6, $2-$7.
Activities
american craft museum summer 2000
"Summer Festival" with workshops based on exhibitions in museum; American Craft Museum, 40 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-956-3535; Weds., Thurs. & Tues. at 11, free w/mus. adm. [through 8/31].
animals as architects
Interactive games teach kids how & why specific animals build their homes; Everett Children's Adventure Garden at NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 for days & times; free [through 8/31].
BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
"Grow Wild Wednesdays" plant activities plus a pizza garden, Weds.; "Magic Mondays" weekly program merge scientific theory with practice for activities like make your own ice cream, Mon. at 2:30; "Together Thursdays," sing-a-longs & street games about Manhattan, Thurs.; "Free Friday Family Fun" series. This week: "The Exhilarations" with a capella r&b, Fri. at 6:30; Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. (St. Marks Ave.), 718-735-4400; 6:30, free.
cool off!
Bring kids down for reflection garden, petting zoo, flower garden & teeny-tiny train as part of NY Botanical Garden's "Cool Off!" July event where they're sure to get wet; NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 or www.nybg.org; Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 1-6, call for price.
family art projects
Create your own rose colored glasses at "Shades of Summer" workshop at Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St. (Indep. Ave.), Bronx, 718-549-3200; Sat. & Sun. 1-4, free w/grounds adm.
FUNBO YOUR AIBO
Kids can decorate this "robopet" with their own designs; Sony Plaza, 550 Madison Ave. (55th St.), 212-883-8100; Sat. & Sun., free.
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 11/30].
MET family programs
"Ends of the Earth" gallery tour & film (Weds.-Fri. & Tues. at 11); "Hello Met!" discussion & sketching workshop (Weds.-Fri. & Tues. at 2); This week's Family Lecture: "Hercules" (Fri. at 6); El Primer Contacto con El Arte film introduces Spanish speaking families to museum; Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-570-3932; free w/mus. adm.
PLAYDAY
Day of dance, music & puppets for kids, part of Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival; Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. (B'way), 212-875-5370; Sat. 2-6, free.
summer train show
Ride on miniature train through miniature forest & village feat. models of Laura Ingalls Wilder's little house on the prairie, Edgar Allan Poe's Bronx cottage & more; Everett Children's Adventure Garden at NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 for days & times; free [through 8/31].
Sunday summer adventures
Program introduces kids to galleries followed by art-making workshops; Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-570-3932; Sun. at 11, free w/mus. adm. [through 8/20].
tales of the temple
Learn about construction of the Temple on Tisha B'Av with this storytelling & architecture workshop; Yeshiva University Museum, 2520 Amsterdam Ave. (185th St.), 212-960-5390; Sun. at 2:30, free with admission.
YOUTH OPEN CLIMBING
Attempt new indoor climbing wall sponsored by Central Park Conservatory; North Meadow Recreation Center, Central Park (midpark at 97th St.), 212-348-4867; Sun. at 11, free.
Things to See & Hear
the adventures of rocky & bullwinkle & friends
Watch originals. Even that kid who hangs out with the dog who's really a professor will be there. This week: Box Top Robbery; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (5th Ave.), 212-621-6600 for more info [through 9/17].
AAH-POOTEE
This Eskimo word for snow is also a children's play about a runaway in a magical world; Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 212-870-6784 for days & times; $12-$18 [through 8/5].
arts in the parks
This week: Phillip Jennings offers: "Magic With A Touch Of Soul"; Van Cortlandt Park, Woodlawn Playground, B'way (Moshlou Ave.), 718-430-1890; Fri., call for time, free.
battery bookworms
Cecilia Carson narrates classics like Froggie Went A Courting & The Tooth Fairy Is Broke plus free breakfast; World Financial Center Winter Garden, Performance Circle on Grand Staircase, West St. (betw. Liberty & Vesey Sts.), 212-945-2600; Sat. at 11, free.
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.
the confino family apartment
Take tour through space based on immigrant family's first home in 1916. Actress plays teenage Victoria Confino & answers questions; Lower East Side Tenement Museum, 90 Orchard St. (Broome St.), 212-431-0233; Sat. & Sun. at 12, 1, 2 & 3, $6-$8.
hans christian andersen
Storytelling at the Hans Christian Andersen statue is an annual event, loved by New Yorkers of all ages, feat. professional storytellers reciting a different tale each week from around the world; Hans Christian Andersen Statue, 72nd St. (5th Ave.), 212-260-3674; Sat. at 11 a.m., free [through 9/30].
MAYA THE BEE
Jazz puppet play for tikes 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.
TALES ON TUESDAYS
Read by Larry Litman from children's dept. of local bookstore; Carl Schurz Playground, E. 84th St. (East End Ave.), 212-459-4455; Tues. at 4, free.
SANDBOX STORIES
Bards tell stories & sings songs about Central Park for kids ages 3-8; Central Park, 212-860-1370 for info [through 8/3].
STORYTELLING SURPRISES FROM JAPAN
Nancy Libow reads for all ages; Carl Schurz Park Playground, E. 84th St. (E. End Ave.), 212-459-4455; Weds.-Sun. 11-7, free [through 9/00].
STORIES & ART
Christine Campbell explores "Magic In Egypt" by recounting traditional myths; Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Pkwy (Washington Ave.), Bklyn., 718-728-8927; Sat. at 4, 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 child.
unwanted: the ugly duckling
Follow adventures of Ted & his gorgeous sister as they brave hunters, the Olympics & more. Plus hands-on workshop prior to each show; YWCA, 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.), RSVP 212-866-5170 for days & times; $15.
USO VARIETY SHOW
It ain't Marilyn, but they have entertained troops in Saudi Arabia, Jordan , Egypt & Kuwait; Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, W. 42nd St. (12th Ave.), 212-245-0072 for times; Sat. & Sun., free w/mus. adm. [through 8/31].
WISEACRE FARM & RUMPLE WHO?
A birthday on the farm & an old classic at Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-675-6677 for times; Sat. & Sun., $7.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
See classic that has been wowing 'em since 1900; Theater at 219 Sullivan St. (betw. Bleecker & W. 3rd Sts.), 718-965-3391; Sun. at 1:30 & 3:30, $7, $5 kids [through 8/20].