Celebrate Pride Month In June At The Staten Island Children's Museum

The Staten Island Children's Museum will show its pride with a month of special programs celebrating LGBTQI family members, friends and neighbors all during June!

It's time for "food puns" during June's ShopRite Kidz Cook Sessions. You can't play with your food, but you can play with a food name: John Waters "melon" pizzas! Harvey Milk "shakes!" "Roux" Paul cheddar cheese sauce! Jodie "bananas" Foster cupcakes! Cook and enjoy fun foods inspired by these proud LGBTQI icons. Sessions are at 3:00 & 4:00 pm on Friday, June 1, 8, 22 and 29.

The Weekend Art Studio in June will let young artists create works inspired by pop artist and activist Keith Haring. The Studio is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Learn the science behind "Prisms, Light & Rainbows" during Con Edison Second Saturday Science! on June 9 from Noon - 1:00 pm.

On Saturday, June 16, the Pride celebrations continue with "Drag Queen Story Time" at the Children's Museum as part of "The Big Picnic" at Snug Harbor! Hear a story and enjoy a picnic on the Meadow. Visit www.snug-harbor.org for event times and details.

But wait...there's more! Check out these June programs, too!

· Thursday, June 7 - come and meet our high school interns and watch out for STEAM-themed pop-up programs throughout the Museum from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. NYC public schools are closed today; the Museum opens at 10:00 am.

· Sunday, June 10 - get ready for Father's Day in the "Prize Winning Poppas" art workshop. Create a special trophy and award Dad for being great! The workshop is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

· Friday, June 15 - is a Cool School Holiday sponsored by the Staten Island Rotary Foundation, with FREE admission for all from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

On this day, the Children's Museum will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, with special ShopRite Kidz Cook sessions at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 & 4:00 pm. On the menu: mujadara, made with lentils, rice pilaf and caramelized onions.

· Sunday, June 24 - Fiesta con Calpulli! The Calpulli dance company will perform traditional Mexican dances in the Meadow outside of the Children's Museum at 2:00 pm.

Please note that the Museum will be closed on Monday, June 11; New York City public schools are also closed on this day.

"Our pride will be on display all month long," said Dina Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Children's Museum. "We welcome all communities and are proud to share these special and diverse programs with our young visitors."

The Staten Island Children's Museum is located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm during the school year; 10:00 am to 5:00 pm weekends, summers and most public school holidays. For more information, call 718-273-2060, email info@sichildrensmuseum.org, or visit our website, www.sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operation is made possible, in part, with public funds provided through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the Staten Island delegation to the NYC Council. Significant operating support is also provided by the NYS Council on the Arts, Corporations, Foundations, the Trustees and Members.