Things to Do in Huntington

Muses flit among Riebe's Artist Materials Inc's bouquets of brushes and kaleidoscopic sprays of pastels, whispering lore accumulated during the shop's 89 years in business. Managers Bob Riebe and Bryan Di Bartolomeo pilot artists of all levels through a sprawling prairie littered with gear including drawing tables, easels, and brushes. After spotting acrylic paints from brands such as Golden Artist Colors, Inc. and Liquitex, rainbows rush off to change outfits, stomping past an armory of clay-modeling tools and drafting templates.

Inside Kangaroo Kids Inflatable Party Center’s winding obstacle course, tykes race through inflatable tunnels and ricochet like excited electrons on the bounce floor. Nearby, toddlers putter in play cars and slide down soft, foam slides. The divided floors ensure a safe play space for kids of all ages and sizes. But Kangaroo Kids’ emphasis on safety goes beyond structure: a staff member outlines rules for safe conduct and the dangers of bringing pet porcupines to the bounce house. Then, once kids take to the floor, they remain under the staff’s watchful eyes at all times.

At Kids U, upbeat instructors camouflage learning as playtime. They invite youngsters and parents into a kid-size gym that jump starts imagination with vibrant colors and a multitiered PlayQuad. The 17-foot playground spans 2,000 square feet of indoor space, where children explore tunnels and soar in swings. At classes, teachers inject freestyle play with structure while still allowing for creativity. The small, laid-back sessions cover subjects that range from gymnastics to cooking and building with LEGOs, all while interweaving themes such as teamwork and motor skills. The instructors pioneer similar subjects in three-hour day camps, molded around the Summer Olympics. Kids U's parties combine the fun center's two signature styles of recreation—freestyle fun in the PlayQuad and ordered activities—according to chosen themes, which, like concepts kicked around for the White House Correspondents' dinner, include Rock Star and Pajama Party.

[[m:####Lumière Ballet

Svetlana Caton-Noble and Venti Petrov's mission is to promote cultural awareness through performances that combine the traditional European legacy of dance with contemporary American influences. When not sparking audiences' sensory centers with beautiful renditions of The Nutcracker, Coppélia, or Danses D'Automne, co-directors and instructors Svetlana and Venti can be found teaching students of all ages and experience levels how to properly imitate swans without attracting the attention of avid bird hunters. Their nonprofit dance company also brings Dance as a Second Language programs to the community's public schools.:m]]

Grand Master Yeon Hwan Park draws from experience gained while earning a ninth-degree black belt as he focuses students’ bodies and minds. At YH Park Taekwondo, he and a skilled team train pupils from beginner to black belt in the art of tae kwon do, a Korean martial art that teaches the duality of inner harmony and physical defense using fluid movements of the fists and foot fists.

Grand Master Park learned his skills in his native Korea, where he became the undefeated national tae kwon do champion from 1971 to 1975. He also served as vice president of the United States Taekwondo Union and coach of the U.S. Olympic and Pan American team. In addition to his practical mastery of the sport, Park has published 12 books on its theory, including Tae Kwon Do: My Life and Philosophy and Tae Kwon Don’t, How to Avoid Conquering the World.

There are two ways to improve your appearance and mood at Prism Wellness: sit down in a salon chair, or stand up in a yoga pose. The salon’s expertise ranges from cuts and coloring to Liscio thermal straightening and extensions. Over in the yoga studio, classes held seven days a week cultivate inner calm and balance, leaving patrons feeling as put together as a one-piece jigsaw puzzle.