Top Things to Do with Kids in Brooklyn - December 2011

Looking for fun and low-cost kids' events in Brooklyn? We've hand-picked the best things to do this December from our full calendar of events, including holiday shows like "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol," more holiday events for kids and families, Suzi Shelton in concert, improv puppet theater for kids and adults, and classic cartoons on the big screen.

For even more upcoming kids events in Brooklyn and the NYC area, see our full, searchable calendar of events.

Get the Massage

Kenny Wolleson is an acclaimed drummer who has played and recorded with notables such as Norah Jones and Tom Waits. He's also a composer and sonic explorer whose Wollesonic Laboratories has devised one-of-a-kind handmade instruments like something out of a Dr. Seuss story. He deploys these instruments in a "surround" format, in which audience members lie on yoga mats while performers rotate the room, playing directly (albeit very quietly) into audience's ears and enveloping the room in music. Thus lies the bedrock of Sonic Massage, a musical yet therapeutic experience.

This special concert is specifically for kids and includes a "Show and Hear" after the performance, where children will have a chance to play some of the instruments and ask questions. December 3. 1pm. All ages. $5.

Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue, Boerum Hill. 917-267-0368. www.roulette.org.

Classic Cartoons

Trends come and go, but the chase is eternal! The most famous cat and mouse team, Tom and Jerry, are back for more hilarious antics on the big screen. Enjoy a selection of restored and remastered shorts, including Academy Award nominees and winners, presented by Big Movies for Little Kids. December 5 at 4pm. $7 per person.

Cobble Hill Cinemas, 265 Court Street, Cobble Hill. 718-596-9113. www.cobblehilltheatre.com.

Alcatraz...the Cat

The Philly Improv Theater, that city's leading incubator for improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy, conceived of Friends of Alcatraz, where Alcatraz is a puppet cat who, in character, is considered "the most desirable cat in the world." Alcatraz and his friends usually deal in saucy grown-up matters, yet this performance at Brooklyn Lyceum is absolutely kid-friendly. The show is fully improvised, relying on the talents of five Philadelphia-based comics, including Kelly Vrooman (host of the PBS Kids show The Sunny Side Up). There's no telling where things might go! December 10. 3pm and 5pm; an adults-only performance is at 9pm. $10; $30 for a four-ticket package.

Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Park Slope. 718-587-4816. www.brooklynlyceum.com.

Suzi with an "i"

Suzi Shelton and her band are staples of the kids music genre and have appeared live and on CD with some of its biggest names. Kids love Shelton's bouncy pop/rock tunes, some relating to sensorial themes like being airborne ("Lift Me Up") and going really fast ("Mama's House, Daddy's House"). Shelton often includes an extended ensemble of horns and backing vocals led by her daughter and other kids, yielding a rollicking celebration of silliness and innocence. Her songs feature enough wit to keep adults interested, too. Her musical range is by turns delicate and soothing, featuring a solo acoustic guitar, and elsewhere upbeat, funkified, and rhythmical, with electronic flourishes and lots of guitars. December 11. 11:30am-12:30pm. $12.