WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — This past week has brought snowfall and near record-low temperatures to New York City. If you’re feeling a touch of cabin fever, get out of the house this weekend for these Uptown events. Not only are they easy to get to, they are also easy on the wallet.
Saturday, Jan. 10
► Recycle your Christmas Tree at MulchFest. The program, which is held at parks citywide, turns your old tree into mulch that will nourish other plantings. Uptown drop-off locations include J. Hood Wright Park, Bennett Park and Inwood Hill Park. People can leave trees at any time. On Saturday at Inwood Hill Park, volunteers will be serving hot cider from the Inwood Greenmarket for anyone who drops off a tree between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
► Families can warm up at the Fort Washington Library with the Bilingual Birdies. This performance troupe incorporates live music, dance and theater games into a program that helps children learn a second language. Saturday’s event will introduce kids to the Spanish vocabulary related to the winter season. Instruments will be provided so that families can join in with the music. The free show begins at noon at 535 W. 179th St. and is open to children of all ages.
► Create a lantern to light up the long winter nights. This family-friendly workshop at the Morris-Jumel Mansion at 65 Jumel Terrace will show participants how to puncture and stylize paint cans to create their own functional objects of art. The event, which is free with the $5 admission to the museum, runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested should reserve space by calling 212-923-8008.
Sunday, Jan. 11
► Help the community at Mitzvah Day, a day of social action projects coordinated by Beth Am, the People’s Temple, the Hebrew Tabernacle and the Uptown Church. Participants will meet at social hall of the Hebrew Tabernacle at 551 Fort Washington Ave. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The group will assemble personal care kits for homeless people, make brown-bag lunches to donate to Inwood’s Love Kitchen and write get well cards for children at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Organizers ask that participants bring travel-sized toiletries to donate to the personal care kits. Email BethAmWaHI@gmail.com for information.
► Dominican-born artist Jose Morillo’s work will be on display at Word Up Community Bookshop at 2113 Amsterdam Ave. beginning this Sunday. Morillo’s colorful paintings depict everyday life in the Dominican Republic. Morillo is particularly drawn to religious iconography and moments of spiritual import. The exhibit kicks off with a gallery opening reception from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Morillo will be on hand to discuss his work.
► Classic NYC Movies at the Palace is back, with three films lined up for early 2015. The series kicks off this Sunday at the United Palace Theater at 4140 Broadway with a showing of "Moonstruck." The classic 1980s comedy stars Cher as a Brooklyn girl who falls for her fiance’s younger brother, played by Nicholas Cage. Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia take on supporting roles in Cher’s close-knit, but dysfunctional Italian-American family. The free event begins at 5 p.m. with a conversation between Lou Lumenick, the New York Post’s chief film critic, and Farran Smith Nehme, known for her film-centric blog, Self-Styled Siren.
