Flushing

I admit it: Mini golf is one of those things I endure for the sake of my son. I never enjoyed it as a kid and I don’t love it as an adult, but my kid could play every day. I know that for many families, mini golf is a quintessential warm weather activity that they look forward to every year. And spring is definitely a great season to play before the summer humidity kicks in.

While there are plenty of courses on Long Island and in New Jersey , you don't need to head out of town for putt-putt golf. There are currently a dozen places to play mini golf right here in New York City (including one indoor course), complete with spinning windmills, bridges, water features, you know, the works. Even the course at Pier 25 in Hudson River Park, which was closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, has reopened.

Find out where else you can play mini golf in NYC. See you on the green!

Recently, all the news about high-stakes testing and changes to the Common Core Standards has made me feel like NYC public schools are moving even further away from arts and creative learning and turning into what my father called "conformity factories." Luckily in New York City, innovative, cutting-edge learning is just a subway ride away.

Right now, one of the coolest things to do with NYC kids is to visit a makerspace where they can get hands-on experience with 3D printing, video game design, animation, Arduino electronics, digital music and more. Makerspaces are popping up all over NYC. Some allow you to drop in and try out avant-garde technology, others offer workshops, classes or summer camp programs designed specifically for kids.

Our kids are living in an age when they have the tools to bring their ideas to life like never before. My daughter created the necklace shown in our gallery at a local makerspace in under an hour, no major investment or factory needed. She has since started a blog for her jewelry designs and even has her own Etsy store.

Who knows what kinds of creativity and innovation this new technology will lead to? Today's young inventors will certainly lead the way. In the meantime, 3D printing is like having a factory at your fingertips, conformity be gone.

I'm sure this list will change as the makerspace movement continues to grow, but here are some of the coolest maker programs for kids in NYC right now.

Back in 2010, we posted our first roundup of cool Queens party places, including favorites like Astoria Sports Complex and the Queens Zoo. But there are so many other awesome birthday spots in the borough—including a few that recently opened like Astoria's Kids Playhouse and Oliloli Studio in Forest Hills—that we decided to do a second post with 10 more options.

These Queens birthday party places cater to all kinds of kids, from active to artsy to animal lovers. And as a Queens mom with two children myself, I've been to many of these spots personally. You can find additional birthday inspiration in our Party Guide.