FAMILY brooklyn botanic garden Brooklyn’s lovely Botanic Garden offers free admission to ...

Brooklyn's lovely Botanic Garden offers free admission to visitors entering before noon on Saturdays, always free for those 16 & under & Tuesdays are free all day. & "Blooming Lights" lights up the Garden with holiday displays, entertainment & refreshments [Weds.-Sun. 5:30-9, through 1/2, $5, $2 child./s.c.]; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave. (Eastern Pkwy.), 718-623-7200; Weds.-Fri. & Tues. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 10-6.

 

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 & birthday parties. On Wednesday, artist Linda St. John leads angel-making & angel cake-eating workshop (5-7). Sunday, learn to make & play drums with Schlomo, "the music man" Pestcoe (2-4); 182 Lafayette St. (betw. Broome & Grand Sts.), 274-0986; Weds. 12-7, Thurs.-Sun., 12-5, $5, s.c. & kids under 1 are free.

 

BECOME A FOSTER PARENT

Call 1-800-4-KIDS-27 for information.

 

NY BOTANICAL GARDENS

"A Victorian Holiday" celebrates the holidays with a 30-foot glowing tree, miniature trains, caroling & holiday puppet show. Watch bunnies skate & ice fish at "City Bunnies' Winter Wonderland" [through 1/9]; NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8773; noon-5, free w/grounds adm., free after 4.

 

Activities

AIRPLANE ADVENTURE

Explore the Demoiselle & Blackbird planes & learn how to create your own flying machine; Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, W. 42nd St. (12th Ave.), 957-7055; Sat. 12-2, free w/mus. adm.

 

HOLIDAY FUN

Learn how 18th-century families crafted practical items for the home during today's "Design a Scented Angel Workshop" at Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl St. (Broad St.), 425-1778; Sat. 12-3:30, $2.50, $1 st./s.c.

 

ORNAMENT MAKING WORKSHOP

Make decorations for your home from things found in nature; Dana Discovery Center, Harlem Meer in Central Park, 110th St. (5th Ave.), 860-1370; Sat. at 1, free.

 

RAP WRITERS & PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP

Free seminar on rap music at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 870-6784; Fri. 7-9 p.m. [through 12/17].

 

REEL TO REAL

Monthly weekend series for families feat. films & live performances. Today, "Clown Alley" tour with the New York Goofs & screening of fantasy film Lucy at the Circus; Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. (B'way), 875-5370; Sun. at 11:30 & 2, $12, $6 child. 4-14.

 

rock climbing classes

Offered by Central Park Conservancy, free for ages 9 & up?learn rope management, anchor set-up, knot tying & more; North Meadow Recreation Center, 97th St. (midpark), 348-4867, res. req.; Weds. 3:30-5:30, free [through 12/22].

 

SATURDAYS ALIVE!

"Books Alive!" feat. Roz Abrams from WABC (12-1), "Jewelry Making" workshop with artist Ayanna Spears (12:30-2:30), learn how glass is made during "Urban Glass Tour" (12:30-2:30) & "Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimy" with puppeteer Preston Foerder (3-4); Arts Connection, 120 W. 46th St. (betw. 6th Ave. & B'way), 302-7433 ext.1440; Sat., $2-$6.

 

WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR TEENS

Learn how to generate ideas & explore different writing styles with filmmaker K. Wise during today's "Casting Your Net" workshop (Thurs. 4-6), Adam Nadler's "Writing & Producing the Screenplay" (Mon. 4-6) & Marcelle Karp's "Making the Zine" (Mon. 4-6)?ages 13 & up; Writer's Voice at the West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. (Central Pk. W.), 875-4124; free [through 12/16].

 

Things to See & Hear

ARTIME

Every Saturday Sensation artist, Rachel Whiteread leads 90-minute gallery tour, discussion & activities in Chelsea; meet at Luhring Augustine, 531 W. 24th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.) 718-797-1573, res. req.; 11 a.m., $20 per child & adult, $5 each add. child. [through 12/18].

 

BIG APPLE CIRCUS

Returns to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, B'way (64th St.), 307-4100 or 800-922-3772; call for times, $15-$60 [through 1/9].

 

DANCES BY VERY YOUNG CHOREOGRAPHERS

Dances for children by children at the Bessie Schonberg Theater, 219 W. 19th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 924-0077; Sat. & Sun. at 3, $12, $8 kids.

 

HOLIDAY PUPPET THEATER

Ralph Lee pres. The Little Engine That Could at NY Botanical Garden; 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700; Sat. & Sun. at 1, 2 & 3, $2 [through 1/2].

 

HOLIDAY READING

Gregory St. John reads Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, followed by a reception at 5:30; Merchant's House Museum, 29 E. 4th St. (Lafayette St.), 777-1089; Sun. at 4, $15.

 

HOLIDAY STORYTELLING

Eleni Constantelos tells tales of gifts & giving at Dahesh Museum, 601 5th Ave. (betw. 48th & 49th Sts.), 759-0606; Sat. at 2:30-3:30, free w/mus. adm.

 

KID'S CULTURE

"New York's 50 Best Museums for Cool Parents & Their Kids" discussed with Vivienne Shaffer from Lefferts Homestead Historic House Children's Museum, Deborah Schwartz from the Brooklyn Museum of Art & Mark Watson from the New York Transit Museum, during BMA's "First Saturdays" series; Park Slope Barnes & Noble, 267 7th Ave. (6th St.), 718-832-9066; 7:30, free.

 

LOS TRES CERDITOS (THE THREE LITTLE PIGS)

New LES puppet & children's theater for Latino children; SEA @ Los Kabayitos Puppet & Children's Theater, 107 Suffolk St., 2nd Fl. (betw. Rivington & Delancey Sts.), 260-4080 ext.14, Sat. at 3:30, Sun. at 2, $8, $6 kids.

 

MISS MAJESTY'S LOLLIPOP PLAYHOUSE

Santa & the Snow Queen (1:30) & The Three Bears' First Chanukah (3:30); Grove St. Playhouse, 39 Grove St. (betw. Bleecker & Hudson Sts.), rsvp 741-6436; Sat. & Sun., $8.50 [through 1/2].

 

RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

Radio City Rockettes, dancers & Santa Claus continue to entertain families during a 90 minute production incl. "Parades of the Wooden Soldiers" & "The Living Nativity;" Madison Square Garden, 2 Penn Plaza (34th St.), 465-MSG1, call for schedule, $29-$77 [through 1/2].

 

RUMPLE WHO?

Musical adaptation of Rumplestilskin; Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 675-6677; Sat. & Sun. at 1, $7 [through 1/22].

 

SONY WONDER

Sony hosts holiday activities for families. This week, screening of the original Frosty the Snowman; Sony Plaza, 550 Madison Ave. (55th St.), 883-8100; Sat. & Sun. at 2, free.

 

WISEACRE FARM

Marianna Loosemore directs production about Clifford the Pig's birthday; Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 675-6677; Sat. & Sun. at 11 a.m., $7 [through 1/22].

 

Holiday Events & Fairs

CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL & MARCH

International Human Rights Day helps end child labor & sweatshop abuse?live music, giant puppets, customs & march at 6; meet at 57th St. (betw. 5th & Madison Aves.), 242-3002; 5, free.

 

HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Holiday gifts, games, crafts, jewelry & bake shop, benefits Weekday School; Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 870-6784 or 870-6743; Sat. 10-3, $1.