FLYING GREEN BANANAS

AVAILABLE: 03.30.07 to 04.05.07 (click to buy)

POP’S PICK: After pizza and some bubbly juice, were off to Meet The Robinsons. Then on Saturday we’ll be driving on the Sabbath to go play hide-the-Matzoh. It’ll probably be a really long walk for Elijah. And on Sunday grandpa and I might go check out the dargs at the Macy’s Petacular.

FRIDAY
DaddyDowntime
Meet the Robinsons (G); Nationwide
Lewis is a boy genius with a love of gizmos and gadgets and an undying hope of finding the family he never knew. But Lewis’ journey is about to take him to a place even he couldn’t have imagined, a place where the impossible no longer exists: the future. When Lewis encounters a mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson, he’s in for the time-travel of his life and will be whisked off to meet a family unlike any other–the sublimely fun and futuristic Robinsons–who will help him to discover a series of amazing and heartfelt secrets about his own limitless potential. But his incredible trip will also bring him into conflict with a villain who gives evil a bad name: the bungling Bowler Hat Guy, who steals Lewis’ only way home.

SATURDAY
TONYKids
Spring awakening
To help celebrate the change of seasons, Prospect Park is hosting a full day of family events this Saturday. Start the day off by watching the Prospect Park Little League parade.
Sat 31 10am–5pm. Prospect Park, Flatbush Ave at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn (718-965-8999, prospectpark.org). Subway: F to 15th St–Prospect Park; Q, Franklin St S to Prospect Park; 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza. FREE

UrbanBaby
Spring Fling
Join the season’s annual eggstravaganza, complete with an uptown egg hunt in the park.
When: Sat., 3/31 (rain date 4/1), 11am-1pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Carl Schurz Park, East End Ave. and East 87th St., carlschurzparknyc.org.

SUNDAY
UrbanBaby
Matzah Ball
Celebrate Passover with holiday-themed arts and activities, and treats like a chocolate fountain.
When: Sun., 4/1, 11am-1pm; All ages; $10.
Where: 14th St. Y, 344 East 14th St., 212-780-0800, 14StreetY.org.

DaddyDowntime
ERNIE & NEAL
Sunday, April 1st, 11am-1pm
Willy Bee’s Music-and- Brunch series
302 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211, 718-599-3499
Ernie and Neal take the Willy Bee stage (or should I say “floor”) with their high-energy, fun-lovin’ family music. Typical of a show is the entire audience, young and old alike, dancing in and out of their seats as Ernie & Neal explore many different genres of music like rock, reggae, ska, jazz, folk, bluegrass and more. Check them out at www.ernieandneal.com

UrbanBaby
Princess Katie & Racer Steve
The musical duo celebrates the release of their new CD with a cool April Fool’s Day kids’ rock concert.
When: Sun., 4/1, 1:30pm; All ages; Free (reservations recommended).
Where: The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. (bet. Stanton & Rivington), 212-533-735, livingroomny.com.

DaddyDowntime
D’ya like dargs?
Macy’s Petacular Fair
Sunday, April 1 from 11 am - 3 pm
Broadway between 34th and 36th Streets
Macy’s Petacular Fair is the ultimate in family fun and our one-of-a-kind tribute to pets large and small! Don’t miss the big event, our Pets on Parade Bonnet/Costume Competition with celebrity guest judges. Register your cat, dog, bird, hamster or other domestic pet from 11 am to 2:15 pm and they’ll hit the runway in this hilarious fashion show!

MONDAY
TONYKids
Pig pen
If your kids have become vegetarians and vocal arachnid-rights activists since seeing Charlotte’s Web, spend this spring break at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. Every weekday from Monday, April 2 to Tuesday, April 10, the museum is hosting a Book-to-Screen Workshop that shows how a story makes the transition from prose to film.
Mon 2–Fri 6, Mon 9–Tue 10; workshop at 1pm, screening at 2pm. 35th Ave at 36th St, Astoria, Queens (718-784-0077, movingimage.us). Subway: G, R, V to Steinway St; N, W to 36th Ave. Free with admission. Admission $10, seniors and college students $7.50, children ages 5–18 $5, under 5 free.

Where did your profits from all those RC toy purchases go? To this guy:

“As Chief Executive Officer of Tyco International, Dennis Kozlowski became famous for spending $6,000 on a shower curtain and throwing a $2 million Roman toga birthday party for his wife. Today, Kozlowski is serving a prison sentence that could last 25 years, convicted of stealing more than $100 million from the company. In an exclusive interview with Morley Safer, Kozlowski speaks for the first time.” - 60Minutes

In the current issue of Deli magazine they feature a band called Made Out of Babies.

“Easily one of the most captivating outfits to emerge from the underground NYC heavy rock scene, guitarist Bunny and drummer Matt from the female-fronted quartet Made Out of Babies took some time out in between their European jaunt in support of COWARD to correspond via email about their unique sound and vision, and just how they wound up with one of the most jarring names in rock.

Mike SOS: How did you come up with the band name?

BUNNY: It was some joke between our drummer Matt and his sister, something to do with some lotion being tested on babies and he said he thought it was made out of babies. We got together to play a party for Julie’s sister’s birthday. We practiced for a week, wrote three songs, learned a Butthole Surfers song, and went to play the show. When they asked us what our name was to put on the sign for the show, it was the first thing that came to mind.” - the Deli magazine

Yeah, but what to they sound like? Well, not exactly what I had thought. The song featured is called Mr. Prison Shanks and sounds a bit like Garbage on heavy metal anabolic steroids. You can learn more about the band at their webiste.

“Hip-hop blogs yesterday were buzzing about the alleged attack on Lil Henchman [a 14-year-old] - and speculating about the prospect of revenge.

Police sources told The Post that cops are on alert for any retaliation against Yayo and his pals.” - NYPost

“Time out!” This discipline method is a great, non-punitive way to shape behavior. The key is knowing how and when to use the technique. Six strategies for making the most of time-outs:

Understand what a time-out is — and isn’t. If you don’t think of a time-out as punishment, neither will your child, and that’s as it should be.

Time the time-out. When it’s called for, impose a time-out swiftly — as immediately after the transgression as possible.

Choose the right place. Find a time-out spot removed from the activity that set your preschooler off, but within earshot (a bottom step or a chair in a nearby room, say).

Be consistent. Decide — when you’re not angry yourself — what actions merit a time-out. If you use time-out too often, you’ll dilute its effectiveness, so save it for the tougher problems — aggressive acts such as biting, hitting, and throwing toys, or open defiance.

Follow up. When your preschooler’s time-out is over, address the transgression that put her there in the first place.

Give your child plenty of time-in, too. Just as time-outs discourage bad behavior, “time-ins” reinforce good behavior.

(from ParentCenter)

“A much-anticipated report from the largest and longest-running study of American child care has found that keeping a preschooler in a day care center for a year or more increased the likelihood that the child would become disruptive in class — and that the effect persisted through the sixth grade.

The effect was slight, and well within the normal range for healthy children, the researchers found. And as expected, parents’ guidance and their genes had by far the strongest influence on how children behaved.” - NYTimes

“For years my kids and I have been making claymation episodes, doll- and figure-animations, paper cutout sequences, and fun time-lapse movies with our family handy-cam. With mixed results. Although fun, our primitive method of simply blinking the on-button has always been less than satisfactory. Our brain-dead way creates three problems for an animation: 1) the interval is too long (jerky movement), 2) you can’t see what motion should be next, and 3) you can’t edit out goofs when you make a boo-boo — which is 100% certain.

It was with great joy that we discovered software that solves all three problems. iStopMotion is a one of those offerings.” - GeekDad (via PS)

“I’ve been doing Lyla’s hair since she has had enough hair to do, receiving my first lessons from my wife and subjecting Lyla to my continued training by my sister, mother-in-law and other female relatives. Combing and brushing and, most important, braiding her hair seemed another way to help out and participate in the joys of having a daughter.

But Lyla’s locks have given me a closer glimpse into the angst, not to mention politics, that is black women’s hair. Sure, I have ridden the highs and lows of my wife’s hair-care odyssey. Go natural? Braids? Relaxer? A weave? Cut it all off? She has tried almost everything and been stressed about it all along the way. Does having a relaxer to straighten natural kinks bow to white society’s notion of good hair? Do free-form ’fros and braids with fake hair extensions look “professional” enough?” - NYTimes

POP’S PICK: What is going on? Two Fridays in a row and babyless? But after our music/art/dance/dildo ‘experience’ with Anne Liv Young, there is no way we can top last Friday (”I just couldn’t get over that fact that she was obviously pregnant”, says Big Mama). On Monday we head to the Slope to see Madeline.

FRIDAY
DailyCandy
Maurice Fulton
What: Saving endangered dance floors with soulful remixes of Alice Smith and Hot Chip.
Why: Biggering the music, bettering the beats, boasting the bestest of lyrical treats.
When: Fri., 10 p.m.-4 a.m.
Where: APT, 419 W. 13th St., b/t Washington & Ninth Ave. (212-414-4245).

SATURDAY
DaddyDowntime (via email)
TOXIC MUFFIN & Tiny Masters of Today
*****not a performer over the age of 13
Saturday March 24th @ 4:30 pm
@ Jalopy 315 Columbia $5 cover
http://www.jalopy.biz
You have know idea how talented & cool these kids are!!
The Tiny Masters are practically super-stars -
They just played @ South by Southwest & are headed to the UK for a tour!!
TOXIC MUFFIN is so proud to be rockin’ with their neighborhood buddies!!!

TONYKids
Justin time
Widely referred to as the Paul Simon of the recess-set, Justin Roberts makes kids and parents laugh with his knowing lyrics and catchy guitar riffs.
Sat 24 at 11am, 2pm. Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St (212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org). Subway: 1, 2, 3 to 96th St. $6-$19.

DailyCandy
BubbleBath
What: Blow soapy suds with random NYers as part of a design student’s thesis.
Why: Bubblers are blowing and bubbling nonstop, rainbow windows of wands — they go pop, pop, pop.
When: Sat., noon-3 p.m. (Rain date: Sun., noon-3 p.m.)
Where: Union Square South Plz.

UrbanBaby
Milkshake
The high-energy rock band tears up the stage with tunes from their award-winning CD. Kids will keep on rocking to dance-along songs and playful percussive style.
When: Sat., 3/24, 1:30pm; Ages 3+; $25.
Where: Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St., 212-220-1460, tribecapac.org.

TONYKids
Say cheese!
In conjunction with its current photo exhibitions—Lorna Simpson and Gordon Matta-Clark—this month’s family tour will get close up with the art of photography (the museum offers regular interactive gallery tours and hands-on activities whose themes change monthly).
Sat 24 10:30–11:30am. Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave at 75th St (212-570-3633; family programs 212-671-5300; whitney.org). Subway: 6 to 77th St. $10 per family; member families $8. No advance ticket purchase is necessary. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the program begins.

SUNDAY
DaddyDowntime (via email)
PARK SLOPE PARENTS COMPILATION CD RELEASE PARTY
Sunday March 25th @ 4 pm $10 adults $5 kids @ SouthPaw
AudraRox joins LOTS of kid bands
such as Music for Aardvarks, Astrograss, Randy Kaplan,
Suzi Shelton, Dan Schorr, Courtney Kaiser &
tickets are selling quick!!
go to http://www.audrarox.com & click the “what’s new” to link for tickets!

UrbanBaby
Go, Dog Go!
See big, little, blue and red dogs drive, dance and swim in a circus-inspired production based on P.D. Eastman’s popular children’s book.
When: Sat.-Sun., 3/24-3/25, 12pm & 2pm; Ages 2-9; $15.
Where: Manhattan Children’s Theatre, 52 White St., 212-352-3101, manhattanchildrenstheatre.org.

TONYKids
Ninjas or pirates?
If an actor’s performance is described by a critic as plastic, it’s one of the worst reviews a show can possibly get. Not the case for the New York-based avant-garde theater company The Tiny Ninjas where all of the performers are, in fact, tiny plastic ninja figurines.
Sun 25 noon–1:30pm. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston Sts (212-614-0505, bowerypoetryclub; tinyninjatheater.com). Subway: D, F to Broadway–Lafayette St; 6 to Bleecker St. $8.

UrbanBaby
Family Jam
Tony Corsano and his band (favorites of the 14th St. Y) perform a musical concert full of family fun.
When: Sun., 3/25, 11am; Ages 0-7; $12.
Where: The Mazer Theater at the Educational Alliance, 197 East Broadway, 212-780-2300, edalliance.org.

MONDAY
Big Movies for Little Kids
Follow the antics of a favorite French heroine in a special screening of kiddie flick Madeline.
When: Mon., 3/26, 4pm; Ages 2-6; $6.
Where: Cobble Hill Cinemas, 265 Court Street (at Butler), 718-596-4995.

How happy I am that when those difficult questions start coming from my son I can simply direct him to a website. Yes, MTV has launched Immatury.tv, a website dedicated to body parts and bodily functions explained in a way anyone can understand, but only a tweenager could love. Kids learn through text, a movie, or even an online game.

Potty training is a tightrope woven with enforcement, praise, routine and most importantly disappointment prevention.

We were performing the parental circus stunt well, until at about twenty-months-old our son had an internal malfunction (the poop got stuck with only a little peaking out) and we realized that below us there was no safety net.

The event was traumatic for him and resulted in him being terrified of the potty. It appeared as if he determined that the potty had caused his halfsie, which wasn’t an unreasonable deduction for a toddler to make.

Soon he made it clear that he was only comfortable pooping in private while looking at his library… standing.

This went on for the next 6 months until we decided it was time to again climb that tall ladder and ready ourselves for the precarious poopy balancing act.

We went out and bought ‘big boy’ briefs and started putting them on him around his usual 6pm poop time. We bought stickers as rewards for the successful but rare occasions when the poop went straight from his butt into the potty.

These actions worked for the most part. The ‘big boy’ brief (bbb) was a different texture than the diapers and we repeatedly reminded him that wearing the bbbs came with the responsibility of telling us when it was time to go.

The bbbs worked okay if we followed him around as he did his little dance, but mostly he would start going before announcing his bowel movement. It was time to up the ante.We decided to remove his bbbs and leave him bare-bottomed once he started doing the bathroom jig. That, we thought, would force him to sit on the potty voluntarily.

Yesterday was the first time the trick worked. He resisted for as long as he could, and then ran to the potty, sat and started straining.

When done he stood up and declared, “I did it!” But I noticed that there was still a bit of unsphinctered poop still hanging from his butt. As he did his victory dance it fell to the floor and I knew that if he realized that his poop had made it anywhere but inside the potty he would have been disappointed.

So in a decisive parenting move, I slyly and swiftly picked up the bit of turd with my bare fingers and dropped it in the potty with neither him nor my wife, who is an extreme coprophobic, noticing.

I felt as accomplished as he did until he whimpered, “Look poppa, some on the floor. Some poop on the floor!”

I looked down and saw the half-turd lying on the floor between us, and then looked over and saw the half I had scooped up lying in the potty. My wife looked in, gagged, and then ran of to retrieve paper towels.

“It’s okay,” I assured him. “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.” Then I went to the sink and soaked my hand in a solution of bleach and dishwashing liquid.

“True or False?: The United States is one of only 5 countries in the world that doesn’t offer some form of paid leave to new mothers.

Don’t peek at the answer… think for a bit… Okay, we’ll tell you…

A: True. Believe it or not, the United States joins Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia, and Lesotho with the dubious distinction of being the only countries in the world that don’t have some form of paid leave for new mothers, according to a Harvard study of over 170 countries. It’s a national embarrassment, and countless American families are struggling with this issue, TELL YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.” - via MomsRising email

In today’s NY Metro there’s an article on P.S. 132, that Williamburg public school that locals (as in ex-hipster artist types turned parents) transformed in order to get their kids a decent and free education.

“’There’s a baby boom. Young families are being attracted to the neighborhood,’ said Leaness, an artist who moved to a loft here 12 years ago (from which she’s being evicted to make way for luxury condos) and PTA vice president. ‘When I first looked at the school four years ago, there was one full day pre-K class. They’re now at four full-day pre-K.’

With changes such as a yoga program and a new curriculum from Teachers College that de-emphasizes textbooks, P.S. 132 has become attractive to families moving into the area. But the school is running out of space.

According to DOE figures, the schools in this district are at roughly 65 percent capacity and the department is not looking to move P.S. 132 or M.S. 577. “We’re confident the two principals, working together with their school communities and the region, will be able share space more effectively and in a way that meets the needs of both schools,” said DOE spokesman Andrew Jacob.” - Metro