Weekly Wrap Up: Free and Cheap Summer Camps, Focus on Harlem, Drop-in NYC Play Spaces

3/8/12 - By Raven Snook

This week we updated our post about drop-in play spaces in Manhattan, but one fun romping spot was missing: Moomah. That's because the Tribeca mainstay is closing at the end of this month. That's my daughter in the photo painting a birdhouse last weekend. When I told her that was probably the last time we'd eat/craft/play there, she cried. If you're a fan, definitely put a final visit to Moomah on your March to-do list.

Another important thing to do this month? Sign up for summer camp. Our Camp Guide has been updated for the season, including our popular post about free and cheap summer camps. One of the programs we spotlight, the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp, which costs $500 for the entire summer, is holding its online lottery this weekend. So you'll want to read our article to find out how to vie for a spot.

NYC's neighborhood of the month is Harlem, while Long Island will be focusing on the best things to do with kids in Oyster Bay. Meanwhile, our Connecticut folks have compiled an awesome list of 110 things to do with kids in CT before they grow up... broken down by season!

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New York City

We kicked off the week with a visit to the newly renovated Minetta Playground in Greenwich Village. As you can see from our slide show, it's got some pretty cool equipment.

Since Harlem is our neighborhood of the month, we compiled a list of the top 50 things to do in the area with kids.

Looking for a cool place for a kid's birthday bash? We reviewed two fabulous party spots this week: bakery Sprinkles Cupcakes in Midtown East and play space Kids Playhouse in Astoria.

Our free and cheap summer camps post has been updated, and includes info about this weekend's NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp online lottery.

We also overhauled our roundup of drop-in indoor play spaces in Manhattan.

We took a trip down to the City of Brotherly Love to check out the Philadelphia International Flower Show. This year's display celebrates the tropical flora of Hawaii and as you can see from our slide show, it's a breathtaking sight.

Our monthly series of special needs posts continued with a look at playgroups and other ways to help special children socialize.

Best bets for the weekend include early St. Patrick's Day fun, a circus show starring local kids and family art workshops at the Whitney Museum.

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