182 Lafayette near Grand StreetOne time use, each pass gets in 5 people, adult and child. Great for a summer recess activity!But heed us: NO ART MESS IN YOUR HOUSE. Now, that said, founded in 1988, this cozy local split-level institution is largely participatory. Kids sit under a loft for a craftsy project or continue to the back workroom for messier creations with paint and glue. Educational arts professionals supervise all kinds of activities in a variety of disciplines via casual classes and more structured workshops. For younger children: Try the classes by Tom Burnett who is fab and mixes in song with art. Two computer terminals allow older kids to experiment with multimedia. Oh, and that ball pond. A room with giant colorful balls to run in. Better than candy.

www.Cmany.org