OK, I should have known not to post right before going to the downtown Schenectady library.  I always find more good stuff on the bulletin boards there.

So, there was an activity that screamed out, “Katie!!!”  Someone’s organizing a “skate in” at Central Park in Schenectady from 1-3 pm on Saturday, Jan. 16th. This is because the City of Schenectady has decided not to clear the ice for skaters since not enough people skate, anyway.  Well, personally, I sort of understand where they’re coming from, because not too many people skate there, and of course practically every municipality is in a fiscal crunch.  But the skate in appears to be partly a “we’ll show them” move and partly a “let’s do it ourselves & build community” sort of event.   People are asked to bring their own shovels to help clear.  According to the note, they are attempting to get the Schenectady PTO to help by providing free ice-skates, but of course you can also slide on your boots.  Anyway,  I am so there! This includes so many elements of my favorite things:

• ice skating, which my girls love
• embracing winter, which I try to do
• getting the kids involved in something political
• building community
• using our fabulous Dakota Sno-Blade

Now watch, this will be the one day ever that my girls are not in the mood to skate.  We’ll see.  .   .  .

If you simply don’t want to do this, you can take in a free Young Person’s Concert–14-year-old George Lee will be playing the piano at Niskayuna Library at 2 pm on Saturday.  It’s not on their website, but I checked and double checked, so it’s on.

Finally, if you were wondering, like I was, about any big, official observances of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, wonder no more.  There’s a ginormous observance followed by a “Beloved Community March” in downtown Albany.  You might recall from the last post that there’s also an MLK craft going on at the library downtown.  The New York State Museum will also be open.  The Albany Institute of History & Art and the Albany Art Room, alas, are always closed on Monday.  (I am not linking to everything here. . . do you resent me?  Feeling a little lazy–they’re all on the links page).

That’s right:  a 3-day weekend.  I’d gathered these activities together and then waited so that I could call and ask if kids were invited to polka dance at the Polish Community Center. The woman on the phone seemed so confused by the question that I must conclude that no one younger than, say, 62 ever shows up to polka.   As a Pole I can vouch for it:  those old folks can really move!  But you and your kids should probably find something else to do.  Here are some suggestions:

Saturday

There’s a Jam & Sing Thing, which is a weekend-long celebration of traditional music.   There’s a lot going on, but this schedule shows the most kid-oriented activities: they’re in purple in the nursery.  It’s $35 for a family if they want to go for Saturday only (there are a variety of possible ticketing configurations, but with the schedule as it is, this is what you’re most likely to want).  Also, the website is careful to say that if you’re a family, no matter how many kids you have or how old everyone is, you count as one family.  So if you’ve got 5 kids and grandma & grandpa in town, you are looking at a bargain.

At the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology, they’ve got a program at 1 pm on Tracking. It’s for kids 4 & older, preregistration required, $2 for non-members.

It’s Family Fun Weekend at the New York State Museum. The theme for this weekend is Hudson River Valley History, and it’s a free drop-in program from 1-4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday from 2-3 pm, it’s make your own sundaes at the student center.  That part is $2 for non-members.

Logan Studios in Clifton Park is having an Open House from 2-6 pm.

Sunday

At the Hyde Museum, you can drop in between 1-3 pm to take a tour designed for families followed by an art-making session.

There’s Weekend Music at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 1:30-3:30 pm, and they’re making Valentines for Troops at 2 pm.

At the main branch of the Albany public library, they’re having an Un-Birthday Party from 2-3 pm. Call ahead to sign up.

Monday

All day at the main branch of the Albany public library, kids can make an “I Have a Dream” Mobile Craft.

The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Troy will have special programs all day. If you decide to go, notice that there’s a school-aged kids’ program at 1 pm that you have to pre-register and pay for.

The Troy Public Library‘s holding a program called Amazing Animation for kids 8 and up at 2 pm.

There’s a program called City by Design at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 10-11:30 am. This is designed for kids 5 and up, but you need to sign up as you come into the museum.

The Schenectady Museum has special activities from 12-3:30 pm as well as special MLK Day planetarium shows.

The Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library is holding a Beads Galore activity at 11 am as a drop-in activity. It’s designed for school-aged kids.

Towne Bowling Academy has a Family Rock ‘n Bowl from 12-3 pm.  It’s $10/person.