Weekend Listings: July 21st & July 22nd

Learn the history of Governors Island by exploring forts and Victorian houses with the Center for Architecture Foundation. Family of four $20.

Watch everyday beach sand be molded into intricate sculptures at the Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest and Unity Day Celebration. FREE 

Visit the New Museum Block Party to learn about the history of LES poets and develop art inspired by the exhibition "Ghosts in the Machine"  in Sara D. Roosevelt Park, then embark on family-friendly exhibit tours at the museum itself. FREE

Watch live poetry, music and dance performances and participate in break-dance or salsa workshops at El Museo del Barrio's Super Sábado! Block Party. FREE

Kids can create their own "I Love New York" mobile to hang in their apartment at the Children's Museum of Manhattan's latest NYC Design Studio. Free with museum admission.

Learn about the East River waterfront by taking a family-friendly walking tour and exploring the new exhibition "Reimagining the Waterfront: Manhattan's East River Esplanade" at the Museum of the City of New York. FREE

Kids can take in all kinds of carnival rides and enjoy free refreshments, food and prizes at Brooklyn's Crown Heights Kids Day. FREE

Create art inspired by Yayoi Kusama's exhibit at the Whitney Museum's Family Fun: It's a Pile Up! workshop. $10 per family (includes museum admission).

Sail past some of the city's prettiest birds (herons, to be exact) on the Jamaica Bay version of the NYC Audubon EcoCruise. $60, children ages 3 to 12 $50.

Tweens can construct collages using personal mementos and recycled materials in a workshop led by Ashley Lucas at the Film Biz Prop Shop. $15.

Learn to play exotic instruments like the Australian didgeridoo and the West African gyil or take dance lessons from the Jamal Jackson Dance Company at Mil's Trills 2nd Annual Summer Bash at Littlefield. $15, kids under 4 free.

Brunch with Latin flair while listening to music from Baby Loves Salsa (led by Jose Conde) and indulging in the special kids' menu at Soho's Ideya. Prices vary according to the menu.

Meet NASA astronauts, get an up-close look at the Enterprise and tour space-themed exhibits at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's SpaceFest. Free with museum admission.

Explore the relationship between art and technology throughout history at the New Museum of Contemporary Art's latest exhibition, "Ghosts in the Machine" Free with museum admission.

Take in the artwork of influential Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in a new retrospective at the Whitney Museum. Free with museum admission.

Kids can learn about dragon boats on Saturday and tinker with cool science demonstrations on Sunday at the New York Hall of Science's Maker Weekend. Free with museum admission.

Watch the autobiographical story of puppeteer Yeung Fai, from his world travels to the history of his family in 20-century China, in Hand Stories at the Lincoln Center Festival. $50 and up.

Budding theatergoers can check out two family-friendly musicals (The Grunch and Vote: The Musical) at the Children's Musical Theater Festival, hosted by the Baruch Performing Arts Center. $12. 

Go on a thrill ride across the NYC harbor on the Shark, Circle Line Downtown's prized speedboat. $24, kids ages 3 to 12 $17; minimum height requirement 40''.

Learn about the history behind NYC's bridges, and implement the technology to design your own super-strong bridge, at the New York Transit Museum. Free with museum admission.

SOURCE: Time Out Kids 2012