See the mechanical masterpiece Zephyr courtesy of Cirque Mechanics when it opens at the New Victory this weekend. Photo by Paris Photographics/courtesy of the theater
Circus Fun, Macy's Flower Show, and More Things To Do this Weekend in New York City
Dress in your Sunday best for an Easter brunch and Easter Bunny pictures at Stella 34. Photo by Jody Mercier
Meet the Easter Bunny at Easter Brunches in New York City Area
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
The Macy's Flower Show,
27 Best Things To Do in NYC March 2023 with Kids
Pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny at the Queens County Farm Museum's annual Barnyard Egg Hunt. Photo courtesy of the museum
Where To Take Easter Bunny Pictures in NYC
Chelsea Piers Camps offer a variety of programs from preschool camps to elite training, where children are able to pursue their passions and fuel their athletic potential. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers
Best Winter and Spring Break Camps for NYC Kids and Teens
Enjoy a wild visit to the Philadelphia Zoo during a weekend getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. Photo courtesy of the zoo
13 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim
28 Spring Day Trips from the New York City Metro Area for Families
NYC school kids head back to school on Thursday, September 8, 2022, according to the newly released NYC public school calendar. Photo by Al De Ingeniis
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2022-2023
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
We've got the ideas for the best kids' birthday parties in New York City
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Ravenswood Playground's renovations include a spectacular new play structure fit for royalty.
New NYC Playgrounds We Can't Wait to Visit
DOROT's Manhattan Teen Internship Program pairs teens with older adults in need of companionship and aid.
Teens Can Apply Now for Summer Internships in NYC
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Lola and Tots offers is a drop-in play as well as membership-based childcare with co-working benefits.
19 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
GUIDE
Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones in NYC
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
22 Free Indoor Places To Play in NYC
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
& Juliet turns Shakespeare's classic tale on its head with plenty of girl power. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy
Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Find the NYC neighborhood that fits your family.
GUIDE
Moving Guide: Top NYC Neighborhoods for Families
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Introduce your preschooler to art in a laid back way at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, which is stunning in any season. Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Things To Do With Preschoolers in NYC Before They Turn 5
Kids will love the indoor faux camp out at The Peninsula.
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Hunting down pop-up public art displays is one of our favorite free things to do in NYC. Zaq Landsberg's Reclining Liberty is on display in Morningside Park through April 2022.
100 Free Things To Do in NYC With Kids
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
Top Attractions in NYC: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
The internet is full of coding programs for kids, but which are the best? We tested them all. Photo courtesy of Kodable
Best Free Coding for Kids Websites and Apps (And Worth-it Paid Ones)
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects for Creative At-Home Fun
GUIDE
News & Openings in NYC
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
64 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids
GUIDE
Spring Fun Guide for NYC Kids

Crown Heights with Kids: Top 25 Things to Do for NYC Families

5/6/13 - By Sarah G

Originally developed in the early 20th century as an upscale residential neighborhood before it fell on hard times, Crown Heights, Brooklyn is in the midst of a revival. It's no surprise really. The area boasts top cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; the northeastern section of Prospect Park, which includes the zoo; and lots of lovely buildings, especially near its main thoroughfare, Eastern Parkway (which, like Prospect Park, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux).

While Crown Heights was emblematic of New York City's racial tensions in the '60s through '90s, today its diversity is one of the things attracting new residents. Though the neighborhood is still primarily made up of Afro-Caribbeans and Hasidic Jews, families of all ethnic backgrounds are moving into townhouses and joining the active Crown Heights Parents Yahoo Group, new shops and restaurants are opening up, and local organizations are working hard to keep everyone happy. Stark contrasts remain, with pretty rows of historic houses giving way to vacant tenements on some blocks. But overall it's a vibrant area, especially around Labor Day weekend when Crown Heights hosts one of the biggest and most colorful festivals in the city: The West Indian Labor Day Carnival and Parade, which celebrates Caribbean culture with incredible costumes, performances and two processions, one for adults, the other specifically for children.

Throughout May, we'll be taking an in-depth look at everything Crown Heights has to offer families, including our favorite spots to eat, play and experience. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are Washington to Howard Avenues, between Atlantic Avenue and Empire Boulevard (which transforms into East New York Avenue at Utica Avenue). Today we kick off our coverage with our top 25 things to do with kids in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

  1. Take an international trip around the block in the interactive World Brooklyn or explore one of the other hands-on installations at the Brooklyn Children's Museum
  2. Get up close and personal with the residents of the Prospect Park Zoo at the recently renovated Discovery Center
  3. Chow down on delicious Neapolitan pizza at Barboncino
  4. Explore a historic 19th-century African-American community at the Weeksville Heritage Center, which is opening its new 19,000-square-foot Education and Cultural Arts Building in summer 2013
  5. Browse locally made, eco-friendly and fair-trade clothing, accessories and gifts at the Owl and Thistle General Store, which also offers family sewing classes
  6. Drop in to the Brooklyn Yoga Collective for Young Yogis, a free hour-long session for children ages 6 to 12
  7. Learn about Jewish history and culture through fun interactive activities like mini golf at the Jewish Children's Museum
  8. Grab a bagel and schmear at beloved local coffee shop The Pulp & The Bean
  9. This store closed in August 2014 Peruse cute clothes and supplies for children 6 and under at Stork, which also hosts occasional kids' events
  10. Shoot hoops and master the monkey bars at Brower Park
  11. Enjoy a burger and a shake (made with Blue Marble ice cream!) at Dutch Boy Burger
  12. Join parent cooperative play space The Stomping Ground for inexpensive classes and a living room away from home
  13. Sample amazing Caribbean treats at Royal Bakery and Roti House
  14. Catch family films about life in the neighborhood at the annual Crown Heights Film Festival, which takes place in October
  15. Stroll through the northeastern section of Prospect Park, which includes Lefferts Historic House, the carousel and the aforementioned zoo
  16. Stop in for tea and a cupcake at the adorable Lily & Fig Fine Cakes & Confections
  17. Get your hands dirty at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, which offers kids' classes and lots of seasonal events like the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival and Ghouls & Gourds around Halloween
  18. See what's happening at LaunchPad, a community center that offers lots of art and academic programs for local kids like Reading Stars Book Club
  19. Hit the Brooklyn Museum the first Saturday of every month for its free First Saturdays activities or, if you have tots, try a hands-on Sunday morning Arty Facts session
  20. Bite into a sinful grilled cheese sandwich at Glady's
  21. Wander through the 17-acre Lincoln Terrace / Arthur S. Somers Park, which boasts baseball fields, basketball courts, a playground and the Lincoln Terrace Tennis Program for kids
  22. Drop in for story play, arts and crafts, or chess time at the Crown Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library
  23. Grab a healthy salad, soup or wrap at Bella Greens
  24. Skip the super-crowded West Indian Labor Day Carnival and Parade and hit the much mellower Children’s Parade the Saturday before
  25. Check out eclectic and offbeat art exhibits at Five Myles Gallery


See all of our posts about exploring Crown Heights, Brooklyn with kids.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS