Things to Do in Danbury

Public and private tours of NYC's top pizzerias by bus and on foot.

As the year Y2010K dawns, fear and ambiguity aren’t limited to wondering what happened at the party last night. But only one man knows for certain what the new decade holds—and his name is Joshua the Psychic. His predictions are certainties, his present is the future, his sight is foresight, and, for unrelated reasons, his sourdough is pumpernickel. For $45, you’ll get access to his intangible abilities for 45 minutes, a $90 value. You can get your reading either over the phone or in person at his Upper West Side abode.

Think of the moments in life where being an excellent dancer could open doors for you. If you had the skills taught at The Ailey Extension, home of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, you could show them off in a variety of social contexts to your great benefit:

Sprawled throughout 8,000 square feet, Fun Factor of Middlebury's indoor inflatable playground, free WiFi, and fleet of arcade games regale children and adults alike. As youngsters bounce atop the facility's soft recreational equipment, grownups can supervise, join in the merrymaking, or talk reason to the screens of arcade games in an attempt to score their kin prizes. A cache of preschool-appropriate toys keeps littler ones entertained, and staff members can shepherd toddlers into a special play area suited to their size.

Fun Factor of Middlebury also bolsters rambunctious revelry with classes and day camps and frequently hosts staffed birthday parties, local fundraisers, and regional Duck, Duck, Goose championships in two party rooms. Though the facility welcomes guests of all ages, most activities are geared to children aged 1–12 years old.

At Village Center for the Arts, director Sharon Kaufman and co-owner Jayson Roberts lead art classes that span the creative spectrum, layering in lessons that detail their respective specializations. Kaufman, a teacher for 19 years, uses the pottery wheel to shape most of her work, and Roberts excels in the art of wood building. To help maintain positive energy, the duo carefully selects teachers and staff members who can communicate artistic concepts in fun, engaging ways that don't require actual engagements or wedding DJ contracts.

The center's art classes, camps, and open studio hours put students in the same space as the painting and sculpting experts. And the studio itself—a large colonial house capped with a classical pediment—provides guests with the comforts of working in a home-like setting without home-like limitations of owning only one Bob Ross DVD or having plenty of face paint but only one grandmother.

My Gym, which currently has more than 200 international locations, was founded more than 20 years ago as a structured place for children to safely play, acquire new skills, and romp off a sugar buzz. Tots as young as 6 weeks can take a month or two of weekly classes, all designed to incorporate the latest physiological, psychological, and meteorological research. One-hour Waddlers sessions for babies and parents introduce tots aged 14–22 months to mobility, agility, and social skills as they build block towers and participate in puppet shows. Other classes include Tiny Tykes, a class for parents and babies that focuses on movement, as well as Mighty Mites and Whiz Kids, classes for more independently mobile children aimed at mastering motor skills to build strength, balance, and agility.

For older kids, independent gym classes such as Champions and Cardionastics build self-esteem, fitness skills, and muscles for future speed-texting showdowns. My Gym's energetic instructors are experts at using music, dance, and gymnastics to develop youngsters' strength while stimulating their giggle-plexes—carving out a place for creativity and face-to-face engagement in the face of technological temptations and giant robotic faces.