Taking less that 20 seconds, an 11-story building on Governors Island was turned into a pile of dust and rubble at the weekend. The building previously housed 165 members of the US Coast Guard and has been knocked down in order to make way for 30 acres of new park and public spaces. 
This week sees the launch of the New York Public Library's Summer Reading Program, aimed at getting kids interested in reading over the holidays. 
This summer, from June 1st through June 16th, the Sing for Hope Pianos return to the streets of NYC. This is one of New York City’s most vibrant public art installations with 88 artist-designed pianos (one for each key on a piano) being placed in parks and public spaces throughout the 5 boroughs for all to enjoy. 
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The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo’s Dinosaur Safari opens to the public on Saturday, May 25. The exhibit includes more than 20 life-like animatronic dinosaurs up to 40 feet long which snarl, roar and spit. 
Here at New York Loves Kids, we have been lucky enough to catch up with Mario the Magician. Mario performs his magic shows to children in NYC, and his current show is Mario The Magician And His Suitcase Machine.
With Mario’s slapstick humor and handcrafted props, his show is definitely one for the whole family to enjoy, and the latest addition to his show, Marcel the Mechanical Monkey, will certainly keep your little ones engaged. He loves getting the kids involved in the show and his old-school, retro style makes him stand out from the magician crowd!
He is performing this Saturday (May 18) at the Metropolitan Room (34 W 22nd St NYC) at 11.30am.
See here for tickets, or call 212.206.0440 (advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.) 
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NEW LIVE ANIMAL EXHIBIT COMING TO AMNH
Brilliant orange, bright blue, dazzling red—frogs come in an astonishing array of colors. This vivid assortment of hues hints at the remarkable diversity that exists among the frog species inhabiting the globe. From lush rainforests to parched deserts, frogs are found in nearly every environment on Earth, and their survival strategies range from surprising to bizarre. 
Dinosaur Safari is coming to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo beginning, Saturday, May 25, Memorial Day weekend. The new attraction will include a ride through the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods with more than two-dozen animatronic dinosaurs up to 40 feet long which move, snarl, roar and spit. 