BOOKS

HELLO, GOODBYE

The author of the classic young-adult novel “The Phantom Tollbooth,” Norton Juster, signs his new picture book, “The Hello, Goodbye Window” (Michael Di Capua Books). Illustrator Chris Raschka joins him for an art demonstration. Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Bank Street Bookstore, 610 W. 112th St. at Broadway, 212-678-1654, free.

SOUTHERN COMFORT

Dorothy Carter reads from her children’s book “Grandma’s General Store” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). The picture book follows a black brother and sister living in Florida with their grandmother during the Great Depression. Saturday, 2 p.m., Hue-Man Bookstore, 2319 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 125th Street, 212-665-7400, free.

FILM

PEOPLE POWER

The “Rattle and Reel” program, which welcomes caregivers and babies, screens “Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela” (2004), an account of an Indian religious festival that the filmmakers say is the largest gathering of people in history, more than 70 million strong. Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. doors open, 11 a.m. show, Landmark Sunshine Theater, 143 E. Houston St., between Eldridge and Forsyth streets, 212-330-8182, $10.25 general, $6.75 members, free for babies.

REAL REELS

The second series in the Museum of Modern Art’s high-school film program “Friday Night at the Movies” begins this week. “Keeping It Real” explores how documentary filmmakers’ own life stories influence their work. After each screening, students discuss the film with MoMA educators and film curators. Up first is “When We Were Kings” (1996), Leon Gast’s documentary about the “rumble in the jungle,” the 1974 heavyweight boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali (Friday). At the next event, filmmakers Albert Maysles and Susan Froemke are on hand to discuss their 2001 documentary “LaLee’s Kin: The Legacy of Cotton” (Friday, May 6). Complimentary pizza is served at each screening. All screenings: 4-8 p.m., Museum of Modern Art, Titus 2 Theater, 11 W. 53 St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-708-9828, free, admission is first come, first served. Note: High school students only.

FOOD & DRINK

CONE ZONE

Ben & Jerry’s presents “Free Cone Day,” with complimentary scoops for all. Last year the stores gave away more than 1 million cones worldwide – that’s about 125 tons of ice cream. Tomorrow, noon-8 p.m., free. Please go to www.benjerry.com for list of five participating Manhattan locations.

MUSIC

BEHIND THE CURTAINS

Before a matinee performance of Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West,” the New York City Opera offers families with children ages 6 to 12 a chance to meet the singers and take a behind-the-scenes look at opera performance and production. The opera is about a schoolteacher and saloonkeeper in a Gold Rush mining camp who falls in love with a bandit. Saturday, noon workshop, 1:30 p.m. performance, New York State Theater, West 63rd Street and Broadway, 212-870-5630, $5 workshop, $32-$105 performance.

PICNIC

LUNCH LEAGUE The parenting group Divalysscious Moms organizes a spring picnic in the park for mothers and children. Guests dine on a catered lunch and “Raymond the Music Man” provides tunes. Paloma Sendrey Photography offers short photography sessions during the picnic ($175,www.bigapplebabies.com). Babysitters are on hand, so mothers can take some time to relax on their own. Wednesday, noon-3 p.m., Central Park Upper Meadow, Strawberry Fields, enter at 72nd Street and Central Park West, RSVP@divalyssciousmoms.com for reservations, $35 for mother and child. Note: The rain date is Thursday.

SCHOOLS

BEFORE PRESCHOOL

The Parents League of New York presents a forum about preschool admissions. Panelists include representatives from Battery Park Nursery, Caedmon School, Central Synagogue Nursery School, and First Presbyterian Church Nursery School. They discuss preparing children for preschool, choosing a school, and navigating the application process. Tomorrow, 6-7:30 p.m., Ethical Culture Fieldston School, 33 Central Park West at 63rd Street, 212-737-7385 for reservations, free.

SCIENCE

CLEANING HOUSE

A technology festival sponsored by vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson makes chores seem fun, if only for a day. New Yorkers of all ages are invited to tour an interactive exhibit inside an enormous round tent, with lessons on vacuum-centric topics such as G-force, microbiology, and cyclones. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, www.dyson.com, free.

SPORTS

STADIUM SCENE

A new Olympic-size stadium – but not that stadium – opens with a ribbon-cutting this weekend. Several thousand high school and college athletes gather at the brand-new Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island for opening day, which coincides with the invitational New York Relays. Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin re-enacts Jesse Owens’s historic 100-meter dash during the opening ceremony, which also features appearances by Mayor Bloomberg, donor Carl Icahn, and the New York City Parks Commissioner, Adrian Benepe . Saturday, noon-1 p.m. ceremony, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. track meet, Icahn Stadium, Randall’s Island Park, Great Lawn, East River below the Triborough Bridge, 212-830-7722, free. Please go to www.risf.org for more information and directions. Ferry service is available from Manhattan’s East Side.

STORIES

OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALES

Storyteller Marilyn Berg Iarusso relates two of Hans Christian Andersen’s earliest children’s stories, “The Tinderbox” and “The Real Princess.” The program is part of “The Leather Outlasts the Gilding: A Celebration for the 200th Birthday of Hans Christian Andersen.” Tomorrow, 4 p.m., New York Public Library, Fort Washington Branch, 535 W. 179th St. at Audubon Avenue, 212-927-3533, free.

THEATER

SHORT SHAKESPE ARE

Actors perform excerpts from “A Mini Comedy of Errors” and “A Mini Midsummer Night’s Dream” at a book-signing by the author of “Classics 4 Kids” (Puck Press), Morna Murphy Martell. The new collection includes six child-friendly theater pieces. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 212-595-6859, free.

HELLO, WORLD

The Shadow Box Theatre uses music, dance, and puppetry in “The Earth & Me,” an Earth Day story for children. Tomorrow and Wednesday, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Fashion Institute of Technology, Seventh Avenue at 27th Street, 212-724-0677, $9.

SMALL TOWN

Inside Broadway’s new 50-minute version of the 1944 musical “On the Town,” complete with contemporary dialogue and musical arrangements, is intended to appeal to children. Saturdays, April 23 and May 7, 10:30 a.m., Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St., between Hudson and Bleecker streets, 212-279-4200, $15.