Uptown NYC Neighborhood Guide

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!

Have you (or your kids) always dreamed of seeing a giant photo of your face in Times Square? Thanks to the Inside Out public art project, you don't need to become famous for that wish to come true. Through Friday, May 10, this innovative photo booth truck parked near the TKTS Booth will be spitting out huge, one-of-a-kind, black-and-white portraits of anyone willing to wait on line for FREE. And although you are allowed to keep your poster, the artists behind the installation encourage participants to have their portraits plastered on the Times Square pedestrian plazas instead. After all, that's the whole point of the Inside Out Project.

I went to Times Square to check out this public art installation in person to see if it was as cool as it sounded. And it totally is. However, there are some important things to know before you go, especially if you're bringing kids. Read on to find out the best time to go to avoid the crowds, how you can make a group reservation and what the Inside Out Project is all about.

As a musician turned stay-at-home-mom, I've made sure that music plays a major part in my children's lives. But that's been a bit of a challenge with my oldest son, who was born with multiple disabilities, including severe sensory issues. He cried at the sound of applause at concerts, ran and hid whenever he heard the "Happy Birthday" song (you can imagine how well that played out during school) and screamed at me to "Stop singing with the radio! You're hurting my ears!" Bruised ego aside, it killed me that my son wasn't able to experience and love music the way the rest of my family did, but there didn't seem to be anything I, or a team of therapists for that matter, could do about it.

When we moved to New York City, I was thrilled to find so many special needs-friendly activities, and quickly signed my son up for adaptive baseball, soccer and basketball. And, since I refused to let go of my dream of turning him on to music, I decided to give Daniel's Music Foundation a try.

During our initial interview, I explained my son's anxiety with music in general, but the staff didn't seem fazed. His first day of classes went well, and while I waited to pick him up, I heard the teacher announce a birthday. I froze, waiting for the meltdown. Nothing. I peeked anxiously inside. My son was sitting next to a helper, calmly waiting for the next song. It was a miracle! And the progress didn't stop there. Six months later, he stood on stage for the first time in his life and performed in the DMF holiday show. As the end of the song neared, he began to cry in anticipation of the applause. DMF cofounder Mike Trush hopped up on stage and helped my son stay up there through the clapping. Four years later, my son now performs with a proud grin on his face, even during the applause.

While DMF has earned a permanent place in our schedule and my heart, I'm happy to tell you that there are many New York City programs that give children with special needs the chance to learn an instrument or how to sing, and to perform on stage—in front of strangers no less. Here are some of our favorites: