Bay Ridge

Family-friendly Bay Ridge is known for its great eats and international community. You'll find lots of amenities for the kids, delicious food and a strong community of involved parents here.

Latest news from the area

Apr 8 2013

NYC Restaurants Where Kids Can Make Their Own Food

Things to do with kids: NYC Restaurants Where Kids Can Make Their Own Food

When you have four kids like I do, eating out can be more of a chore than just staying in and cooking. A "kid-friendly" restaurant isn't going to cut it; we need a place where our brood will be truly engaged. That's why I'm always on the lookout for interactive restaurant experiences so eating out feels like a fun activity, not just another meal.

In the past, we've covered New York City restaurants where kids can play and eateries with family entertainment. But there are also a handful of local restaurants that offer make-your-own-food activities. My family has tried a few of them, and they're worth seeking out. Where else can you encourage your kids to play with their food and mean it?

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Mar 7 2013

Brooklyn Gym Parties: 14 Kids' Birthday Party Places for Jumping, Bouncing and Running Amok

Things to do with kids: Brooklyn Gym Parties: 14 Kids' Birthday Party Places for Jumping, Bouncing and Running Amok

Your kindergartner just told you he wants, no needs to invite all of his classmates to his fifth birthday party. Even in Brooklyn, the average apartment isn't going to be able to accommodate all of those kids, and assuming if you could figure out a way to get them all in there, would you really want to?

For preschoolers and young school-age kids, gym parties are an easy solution. The young guests get to run, tumble, bounce and jump around without having to worry about breaking anything or using their indoor voices, while you sit back, relax and just watch. By the end, they're so tuckered out, even the sugar rush from the cake won't get them going again.

Here are 14 Brooklyn gym party places where kids can celebrate by burning off all their excess energy. Find even more birthday ideas in our Party Guide.

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Feb 26 2013

St. Patrick's Day for NYC Kids: Parades, Celebrations and Irish Culture

Things to do with kids: St. Patrick's Day for NYC Kids: Parades, Celebrations and Irish Culture

Everyone feels at least a wee bit Irish around St. Patrick’s Day, especially here in NYC, where we have a large population of Irish folk. If your days of celebrating till you're green around the gills are a distant memory, don’t worry: There are plenty of truly kid-friendly ways to mark St. Patrick's Day throughout the month.

This year, St. Patrick's Day falls on Sunday, March 17 but the festivities begin this coming weekend with processions and parties that tend to be mellower and more family oriented than Manhattan's big parade. In addition to St. Patrick's Day parades in all five boroughs (Queens and Brooklyn actually have two each!), there are more subdued ways for families to celebrate, like step-dancing and bagpipe performances, Gaelic workshops, film festivals and a leprechaun hunt.

Here are our favorite ways to celebrate Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day with kids in New York City. Sláinte!

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Nov 26 2012

Play Days and Parties: A Cozy Indoor Play Space in Bay Ridge Brooklyn

Play Days and Parties: A Cozy Indoor Play Space in Bay Ridge Brooklyn

While we usually review brand-new NYC kid attractions, sometimes we come across a popular neighborhood mainstay we've never heard of before and we just have to share. That's why we're writing about Play Days and Parties, a small, family-run play space in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. My family and I recently moved to the area from Manhattan's Upper West Side, and with four kids at home (including a newborn and two toddlers), I've been searching for indoor places to play in our new community.

Though my search is far from over, I’m happy to report I've found at least one I can count on: Play Days and Parties. Sandwiched between a firehouse and a deli, this little known gem has a modest storefront that's easy to miss. But if you're in the area, you should definitely take the time to drop by because Play Days and Parties offers kids a variety of ways to have fun on the cold, winter days we all know are coming.

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Sep 9 2012

NYC Playgrounds for Children with Special Needs

Things to do with kids: NYC Playgrounds for Children with Special Needs

There is certainly no shortage of wonderful playgrounds and parks in New York City. And as a mom of three (soon to be four), I've explored quite a few of them in my time—some with a fine-tooth comb. But when you add a child with special needs into the mix, the selection of truly great playgrounds suddenly seems much smaller.

Happily, many NYC playgrounds meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Some also include accessible JennSwings, those big plastic swings that offer full-body positioning support for kids up to 125 pounds. But the adaptive swing doesn't appeal to my tween with special needs, so there need to be other attractions for a playground to be cool in his book.

There are literally hundreds of special needs-friendly playgrounds throughout NYC. I'm spotlighting seven of my family's personal favorites. Not only are they accessible (half the battle), they're fun for all of my kids, currently ages 1 to 11, with and without special needs. Plus I've got the scoop on how you can easily find the best playground for your own kids with special needs.

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Jun 7 2012

Karate and Tae Kwon Do Classes for NYC Kids

Things to do with kids: Karate and Tae Kwon Do Classes for NYC Kids

My husband always said he wanted our sons to know that they could take a punch and live to tell about it. To that end, martial arts classes were mandatory in our house, not just for self-defense but also to teach them self-control. (After all, enough of the latter can often stop you from needing the former.)

The two most popular martial arts disciplines for kids in New York City seem to be karate and tae kwon do. So we've rounded up some excellent classes in all five boroughs where boys and girls can get kicking.

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May 31 2012

Free Doughnuts this Friday and Our Favorite NYC Doughnut Shops

Things to do with kids: Free Doughnuts this Friday and Our Favorite NYC Doughnut Shops

Ever since I learned that a doughnut has fewer fat and calories than a muffin (as long as they stick to one), my kids have had an easier time convincing me to buy them these treats. And since Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme will be handing out FREE doughnuts this Friday, June 1 in honor of National Doughnut Day (no, I am not making that up), I'm sure we'll be indulging in a few.

But while the rest of America may run on Dunkin', in NYC we don't have to settle for mass-produced doughnuts. There are many local spots that serve delicious homemade doughnuts in a variety of exotic flavors. While we'll let the foodies argue about which NYC doughnut shops are truly the best, we've highlighted seven of our favorites. Read on for our picks and the scoop on how to snag your FREE doughnuts this Friday.

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May 24 2012

Sensory Gyms in Brooklyn: Seven Spots for Physical, Occupational and Other Sensory Therapy for Kids

Things to do with kids: Sensory Gyms in Brooklyn: Seven Spots for Physical, Occupational and Other Sensory Therapy for Kids

We've written posts about sensory activities before and while there are plenty of things your kids can do at home, sometimes you want an expert to address certain problems. That's when you need a sensory gym, those highly specialized (and awesomely fun) spaces where occupational and physical therapists help kids with various sensory issues. Children work on gross and fine motor skills, core strength, neurodevelopmental delays, balance and coordination, and sensory integration, but the activities are usually so engaging, they just think they're having a great time.

Finding a sensory gym that's a good fit for your child's specific needs can be a challenge. And once you do, snagging a great therapist and a decent time slot usually involves joining multiple wait lists (and relentlessly checking in on those wait lists) and a willingness to remain flexible about scheduling. Fortunately for Brooklyn families, the borough has a number of well-equipped sensory gyms staffed by accomplished therapists.

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