SENSATIONAL SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 1-30: Did you know that Staten Island is a treasure trove of minerals, many resulting from a fender bender between two continents about 450 million years ago? True. The FIRE AND ICE exhibit of fascinating NYC geological facts at the Staten Island Museum will rock your world. For more information go to www.statenislandmuseum.org

SEPTEMBER 1-30, 11 AM-3:30 PM: Cool down while learning wild facts about water at the Children's Museum of Manhattan's outdoor CITY SPLASH. There are boats to race, water wheels to operate and waterpaints, among other marvelous moist activities (don't go on a rainy day, though). The Children's Museum is located in The Tisch Building at 212 W. 83rd Street in Manhattan.

SEPTEMBER 2-3, 10:30 AM: The Liberty Science Center is about to close for a 21-st century facelift and its goodbye weekend is going to be a scream. Come to the sneak peek of EAT AND BE EATEN, featuring live predatory animals and lots of high-definition images of cute furry animals eating . . . other cute furry animals. Aaaaaa! The exhibit won’t officially open until November when the Science Center moves to its temporary offsite lodgings in Riverside – so you will be able to spend weeks telling your friends all about it. Liberty Science Center, Sky Stage, Environment Floor, 251 Phillip Street, New Jersey.

SEPTEMBER 3, 12:30-6 PM: Hoist the main sail! Batten the hatches! Check out marine life while gliding by the banks of Manhattan! Yes, it’s all possible if you climb aboard the Pioneer, an 1885 schooner at the South Street Seaport, on the afternoon of September 3. Simply call 212 748 8786 for reservations and have $35 on hand for each adult and $25 for each child. South Street Seaport, Visitors Center on Pier 16.

SEPTEMBER 7, 14, 21, 28, 3:30-5 PM: If you’re between 9 and 11 and are anywhere near Prospect Park on Wednesday afternoons, you can join the GREEN TEAM! Simply drop by the Audubon Center and get ready to learn about the natural wonders of your amazing neighborhood park. Cost to you: nothing. The Audubon Center is located just inside the Lincoln Road/Ocean Ave. entrance to the Park.

SEPTEMBER 17, 12-5 PM: You might not know it living in the city, but September is harvest time. What does that mean? Come to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s HARVEST FAIR and find out! There will be music, food, antique tractors, films (not a traditional part of the harvest – but a good way to get a glimpse of what harvest time is like outside of Brooklyn), and an old-fashioned countrified tattoo parlor. Okay, that’s not traditionally part of the harvest either. For more information about this and other activities at the garden, go to http://www.bbg.org/vis2/eventcalendar.html#harvest