Fools Company's NY School for Performing Arts seeks NYC residents ages 16-21 looking to develop their creative & communication skills; 423 W. 46th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 307-6000; Thurs. 4:30-6:30, free [through 9/00].
CELEBRATE MAKING ART
The Children's Museum of the Arts annual family fundraiser feat. music & art workshops with a silent auction, all proceeds benefit their educational programs; Children's Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette St. (betw. Broome & Grand Sts.), 274-0986; Fri. 5-8, $50, $25 chilld.
the NY Botanical Garden
"Children's Gardening Program," reg. to tend plants, flowers & herbs?718-817-8157 for info [Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 1-6]; Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden is now open, highlights incl. sunflower house, bean tunnel & pumpkin patch; "Prelude to Spring: The Winter Flower Show" showcases beautiful plants, shrubbery & trees [through 4/23]; "Early Bloomers: Spring Bulbs" hands-on exhibit [through 4/23]; Bronx Arts Ensemble Spring Chamber Music Concert [Sun. at 3]; NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 or www.nybg.org Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 10-6, $2-$7.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD GALA
Eleventh annual family gathering honors it's donors with silent auction & restaurant booth; The Pierre, 2 E. 61st St. (5th Ave.), 274-7260; Mon. at 7, $500-$1500.
PROSPECT PARK
Learn to clean, card & weave wool during Annual Linsey-Woolsy Weekend at Lefferts Homestead Children's Historic House [Sat. & Sun. 1-4, 718-965-6505 for info.]. UniverSoul Circus opens this weekend [$9-$25, 800-316-7439 for info. & times, through 5/7]. While you're there experience a ride on the 1912 carousel or check out the Fleece Festival at the zoo [Sat. 12-4:40, 718-399-7339]; Flatbush Ave. (Empire Blvd.), 718-965-8951; call for more info.
Activities
DREAM ON!
Explore imaginary worlds in paintings then create a collage?for ages 5-10; Museum of Modern Art, Education Center, 18 W. 54th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 708-9400; Sat. 10-12, $20 per family.
FAMILY ART PROJECT
Weekly series. This week, become a flower for the day during "Daffy for Daffodils" workshop at Kerlin Learning Center at Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St. (Indep. Ave.), Bronx, 718-549-3200; Sat. & Sun. 1-4, free w/grounds adm.
GALLERY TALKS
The Jewish Museum hosts talks for children every Sunday at 2:30?recommended for ages 5 & up, limited to 25 participants; 1109 5th Ave. (92nd St.), 423-3225; Sun. at 2:30, free w/mus. adm. [through 5/28].
NATURE WORKSHOPS
"Nocturnal Inhabitants or the North Woods" (Thurs. at 7:30 p.m.), "Catch & Release Fishing" (Sat. 1-3) & "Birds of Prey" (Sat. 1-2) workshops with Central Park Conservancy; Dana Discovery Center, Harlem Meer in Central Park, 110th St. (5th Ave.), 860-1370, 860-1370 & 772-0210, respectively, reg. req.; free.
RAP WRITERS & performance WORKSHOP
Free seminar for teens on the history & business of rap music; Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 870-6784; Fri. 7-9 p.m. [through 6/23].
rock climbing classes
Offered by Central Park Conservancy, free for ages 9 & up?learn rope management, anchor set-up, knot tying & more; North Meadow Recreation Center, 97th St. (midpark), 348-4867, res. req.; Tues. at 3:30, free [through 4/27].
SAVE OUR GARDENS
Giant puppet- & costume-making workshop, part of Rites of Spring: Procession to Save Our Gardens series at Earth Celebrations, 638 E. 6th St., 3rd Fl. (betw. Aves. B & C), 777-7969; Sat. 1:30-4:30, free [through 5/13].
SUNDAY SCIENCE SPECTACULAR!
Monthly science workshop is Forensics?become a detective & solve a mystery using fingerprints, photos & microscope; 92nd St. Y sponsors, 996-1100 for res. & location; Sun. 10-12, $35/adult & 1 child., $10/additional person.
TEEN EXTRAVAGANZA
Seventeen magazine hosts PacSun model search. One boy & one girl will win, runners-up receive 17 second shopping spree at Pacific Sunwear, 364 6th Ave. (Waverly Pl.), 228-2316 or www.seventeen.com; Sat. at 1, free.
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS
Meet Tim Haines, author & producer of Discovery Channel's Walking with Dinosaurs, for book singing & preview of upcoming show; FAO Schwarz, 767 5th Ave. (betw. 58th & 59th), 644-9400; Thurs. 3-5, free.
WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR TEENS
Learn how to generate ideas & explore different writing styles with filmmaker K. Wise during today's "Casting Your Net" workshop, "Writing & Producing the Screenplay" with Adam Nadler, "Making the Zine" taught by Marcelle Karp & "Slamming the Poem" instruction with Regie Cabico?ages 13 & up; Writer's Voice at the West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. (Central Pk. W.), 875-4124; call for times, free [through 5/31].
Things to See & Hear
AESOP'S FABLES
Imaginary friend helps young girl complete her book report; Vital Theater, 432 W. 42nd St., 3rd Fl. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 592-4508; Sat. at 10:30 & 12:30, $10 [through 5/6].
BALLET TECH & KIDS DANCE
Nearly 30 premieres, revivals & repertory works by kids (Kids Dance) & adults (Ballet Tech) feat. principal dancer Damian Woetzel; Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave. (19th St.), 242-0800 or www.joyce.com; Weds.-Fri. & Tues. at 8, Sat. at 2 & 8, Sun. at 12 & 4, $35, $15-$35 [through 4/23].
CHILDREN'S MUSIC "SUPERSTARS"
NY branch libraries feat. international musical acts catering to children; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (5th Ave.), 621-0636, res. req.; Sat. at 11, free, tkts. req. [through 6/1].
CITY THAT DRINKS THE MOUNTAIN SKY
Arm-of-the-Sea-Players pres. poetry, puppetry & music at De Jur Playhouse, Henry St. Settlement, 466 Grand St. (Pitt St.), rsvp 598-0400; Weds.-Fri. at 10:30 a.m., $4.
CONNECT FOR KIDS DAY
In honor of National Library Week, libraries throughout the country highlight programs available to children & families, part of "Read! Learn! Connect! @ the Library" program; 800-545-2433 ext.2148 or www.connectforkids.org for info.; Weds.-Sun. [through 4/15].
KINGDOM OF THE SUN
Play about a girl named Harold who wishes to become a knight; Manhattan Theater Source, 177 MacDougal St. (8th St.), 501-4751; mat. Sun. at 2, $7 [through 5/21].
MEET THE AUTHOR
Picture book illustrator, Amy Schwartz, exhibits slides of her work, part of children's book author/illustrator series; St. Agnes Library, 444 Amsterdam Ave. (81st St.), 221-7676; Thurs. at 4, free.
MISS MAJESTY'S LOLLIPOP PLAYHOUSE
King Authur's Enchanted Sword (1:30) & Rapunzel (3:30); Grove St. Playhouse, 39 Grove St. (betw. Bleecker & Hudson Sts.), rsvp 741-6436; Sat. & Sun., $8.50 [through 4/23].
RUMPLE WHO?
Revival of children's classic "Rumplestilskin" at Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 675-6677; Sat. & Sun. at 3, $7.
SHOOTBACK
Opening reception for photo exhibit on the slums of Nairobi, taken by Kenyan children; Staff USA, 495 B'way, 5th Fl. (betw. Broome & Spring Sts.), 925-9700 ext.117; Tues. 6-8, free [continues Weds.-Sat. & Tues. 11-6].
the TEDDYBEARBAITERS
New Theater Co. pres. improvised theater works for children; Waterloo Bridge Theater, 203 W. 38th St., 5th Fl. (7th Ave.), 330-8879; Sun. at 11, $7, $1/child. w/adult.
WISEACRE FARM
A birthday on the farm at Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 675-6677; Sat. & Sun. at 1, $7.