By Karen Bloom
An outing to the movies (if you haven't exhausted the family film opportunities by now) or the ice skating rink, are always handy forms of family entertainment. As is a visit to Manhattan, always fun to experience when the city is glittering in holiday splendor. Beyond those obvious choices, there's much to do throughout Long Island, both close to home and around the area. Here are some suggestions for holiday fun:
Long Island Children's Museum
Always a good resource for children's activities, LICM has a number of programs of special interest during this period.
n
"Circle Of Light" - Be it Christmas, Kwanza or Chanukah, light is a symbol common to all these celebrations. Everyone is invited to LICM, Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22-23, 2-3:30 p.m.; also Friday, Dec. 26, to make wax candles to bring light home to advent wreaths, menorahs or kinaras, and to learn how other families celebrate their winter holidays in song and story. "Circle of Light" is part of LICM's "Investigating Our Heritage" series.
n
"Fish Tales" - LICM educator Aimee Fromick takes participants (ages 4 and up) on an imaginary fishing trip on Long Island's waterways, Friday, Dec. 26, 1 and 3 p.m. Catch a fish (figuratively), observe a real fish dissection, and finally eat the fish (literally). This unique event touches on the Long Island fishing industry, comparative anatomy, the habits of fish, and more.
n
"Messy Saturdays and Messy Sundays" - This new pre-school program is all about feeling! Messy Saturdays and Messy Sundays, is offered weekends, 3-5 p.m., encouraging toddlers to experience enjoyable tactile experiences by plunging up to their elbows in materials of various textures. They'll pull and fluff and mold and stretch substances like goop, "guts" (just water, borax and glue) shaving cream and, for the less adventurous, play dough. Make a mess and leave the clean-up to LICM staff!"Because we are so aware of the need for special places to visit with children during holidays," said Director Bonnie Dixon, "LICM, which is usually closed Mondays and Tuesdays, will be open Monday, Dec. 22 and 29 and Tuesday, Dec. 23 and 30.""We've planned several special mid-week holiday workshops, some wonderful holiday-related professional entertainment on weekends in the LICM theater, and we're continuing to run our regularly scheduled tot programs on the Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and weekends during holiday weeks," Dixon noted. "For the convenience of parents, everything is listed on www.licm.org." Pre-registration is required and all programs are free with museum admission. The Long Island Children's Museum is at 11 Davis Ave., Garden City (off Chas. Lindbergh Blvd.). For information and reservations, call (516) 224-5844.
Science Museum
Of Long Island
The Science Museum offers hands-on programs for children from nursery school through high school. Open daily, the museum features a wide range of after-school programs, weekend events and special holiday workshops. The museum presents a holiday recess program, beginning Monday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 2. Two 1 1/2 hour sessions are provided for three age groups: Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 and Grades 3-5. A special Nursery drop-off program is also available. Topics for Kindergarteners include "Kooky Chemistry," "Explore Your Senses," "Boneless Bodies," "Top This" (The Physics Of All Things That Spin), "Sandwich Geology," and "Science Magic." Grades 1-2 can take part in "Catch A Rising Star," "Microscope Mania," "Measure Your Way Thru The Kitchen," All A Glow," "Scales and Tails," and "Bridge Building." Grades 3-5 can learn about "Mystery Powders," "Physics Of Toys," "Natural Disasters," "Outdoor Survival," 'Chemical Concoctions," and "First Flight." Nursery-age children participate in "Rocky Road," "Now You See Them," "A Shock Or Two," "Slimy Science," "Making Things Bigger," and "Boats Float."There is also a special New Year's Eve day candlemaking workshop, Wednesday, Dec. 31, for grades K-2 and 3-5. During this hands-on program, children learn about the art of candlemaking and create candles to take home.Pre-registration is required for all programs. The museum is located on a 36-acre site on Leeds Pond Preserve, 1526 N. Plandome Rd., Plandome. For further information, call (516) 627-9400 or www.smli.org.
The Long Island Puppet Theater
Puppet shows and tours are presented at the Long Island Puppet Theater. The current schedule includes: "The Adventures of Pinocchio," Saturdays and Sundays, 10:45 a.m., 1:45 and 4 p.m.; "The Three Little Pigs," Fridays and Tuesdays," 1:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The Theater is located 10 Heitz Pl., Hicksville. For further information, contact (516) 932-5469.
Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
Do some holiday stargazing at Long Island's planetarium. The current schedule includes: "A Trip To The Planets," "Star Of Wonder" and "Eclipse." The Vanderbilt Museum is also worth a stop, decorated for the holidays. It's at 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport. For further information, contact (631) 854-5568.
Holiday Theater
There's a vast selection of special holiday performances to choose from:
n
Long Island Cultural Arts Studios offers a full schedule including, "Alice In Wonderland," Nine Candles For David, "The Toys That Missed Christmas," and "The Santa Show." The theater is at 48 Atlantic Ave., Lynbrook. For show times and reservations, contact (516) 599-1982.
n
Cinderella's Christmas, a fairytale with audience participation, is performed by the Arena Players, at the Vanderbilt Museum's Carriage House Theatre, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport, and the Second Stage Theater, 294 Rte. 109, East Farmingdale. For information/reservations, contact (516) 293-0674.
n
Frosty The Snowman, the classic holiday story turned into a musical, is being staged at BroadHollow Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave. For information/reservations, contact (631) 581-2700.
n
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, a show based on the holiday favorite, is performed both by Airport Playhouse, 218 Knickerbocker Rd., Bohemia, and BroadHollow Theatre Company's Bayway Arts Center, 265 E. Main St., East Islip. For schedule/reservations, contact Airport Playhouse at (631) 581-2700) or BroadHollow Theatre Company at (631) 581-2700.
n
A Year Without Santa Claus, is presented by Cultural Arts Playhouse, 174 Old Bethpage Rd., Old Bethpage. For information/reservations, contact (516) 694-3330.
