This Weekend: The NY Philharmonic presents Fun at the Phil: Sleepover at the Museum

Already thinking ahead to the weekend? Me, too! If introducing your children to classical music sounds appealing, consider The New York Philharmonic's family benefit, Fun at the Phil: Sleepover at the Museum, this Saturday, March 7th at 11am. Combining classical music and an epic story time all in one, the orchestra, conducted by Ankush Kumar Bahl, will perform Saint-Saens's The Carnival of the Animals while narrator Jamie Bernstein reads aloud Karen LeFrak's Sleepover at the Museum. Simultaneously, David Bucs' illustrations will be projected on a giant screen above. Bernstein is a professional narrator, filmmaker, broadcaster and music lover (like her father, Leonard). The event honors LeFrak, who is a Vice Chair of the Philharmonic Board of Directors, as well as an author and composer.

The one hour concert at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center is intended for children ages 6-12 and ticket information can be found here. Individual tickets are available for just the performance (from $16-35). If buying a table, the price goes up quite a bit, but that includes lunch afterwards with costumed characters on the Grand Promenade. Those ticket prices can be found here. All proceeds will go towards the Philharmonic's education programs.

Not your average Saturday morning, which I love! See you there?

The Big Apple Circus is Back!

After a year-long hiatus, the Big Apple Circus is back at Lincoln Center, celebrating its 40th anniversary. We were lucky enough to attend one of their first performances, and WOW, all I can say is this show never disappoints -- each artist, from jugglers to roller skaters, trapeze artists and tight rope walkers (and more!) are just SO amazing. With a live orchestra to boot!

We first saw the Big Apple Circus a couple years ago, and while a few of the acts are the same (though do you ever tire of seeing a poodle jumping through a hoop?), there were plenty of new performances, too. A duo from South America BLEW ME AWAY with their roller skating act (V loved that one especially since she got roller skates for her birthday) and Nick Wallenda, known for incredible feats on the high wire, closes out the show along with his family. The circus guarantees plenty of "pearl-clutching," crazy fun moments in a space that's intimate enough to allow everyone a great view of the action.

performance photos by Maike Schulz

Catch the Big Apple Circus daily between now and January 7th. In an effort to make sure everyone has a chance to experience the circus, there are also autism-friendly and "Circus of the Senses" performances for those who are hearing and visually impaired. I also wanted to mention that after the show, we ran into a friend of Millie's from school who uses a wheelchair, and his mother said she was very impressed with the access & ease she was able to enter/exit & get around the space. Kudos!

Fun day at the circus with friends!

Disclosure: I was provided with press passes to attend a performance of the Big Apple Circus. All opinions are my own.