MommyPoppins.com
MAKE YOUR DAY
Get Listed Log In Sign Up My Profile Sign out Contact
New York City
  • Anywhere
  • New York City
  • Dallas Fort Worth
  • Atlanta
  • Boston
  • Chicago
  • Houston
  • Miami South Florida
  • Philadelphia
  • Washington DC
  • Orlando
  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Connecticut
  • Long Island
  • New Jersey
  • Westchester
Calendar  
  • Events

  • Virtual

  • This Week's Picks

  • Activity Providers

  • Submit an Activity

NYC Guide  
  • News & Openings

  • NYC Baby Guide

  • NYC for Preschoolers

  • Tweens & Teens

  • Neighborhood Guides

  • Parks & Playgrounds

  • Free Activities

  • Visitors' Guide to NYC

  • Restaurants

  • NYC Moving Guide

Things To Do  
  • Crafts for Kids

  • Recipes

  • Science for Kids

  • Games & Activities

  • Outdoors

  • Online & Virtual

Camps & Classes  
  • Camps Guide

  • Classes Guide

  • Preschools & Schools Guide

  • Directory

Parties & Holidays  
  • Gift Guide

  • Birthday Parties

  • Party Providers

  • Holidays

  • Best of Spring

  • Best of Summer

  • Best of Fall

  • Best of Winter

Family Travel  
  • Day Trips

  • Family Vacations

  • Theme & Water Parks

  • Resorts & Hotels

  • Adirondacks

  • Hamptons & North Fork

  • Poconos Guide

  • Jersey Shore Guide

Get Listed Log In Sign Up My Profile Sign out Contact

HOME - New York City

Activity Calendar

Providers

Contact

Sign up for our free newsletters.
Brooklyn Bridge Park celebrates spring with a Kite Fest on Saturday, May 17. Photo by John Eng
Best Things To Do in NYC May 2025 with Kids
Mommy Poppins is set to host its first Family Travel Fest on Saturday, May 31 at the Atlantic Center.
Register for Travel Fest for a Chance to Win a Dreams Resorts & Spas Vacation!
Vinland Playground got a fresh upgrade in Bay Ridge. Photo by NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
Jaw-Dropping New Playgrounds in NYC to Explore with Kids Now
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
Strawberry picking at Bishop Farms makes for a sweet day trip.
Best Strawberry Picking Farms and Strawberry Festivals near NYC
Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim
Spring Day Trips from NYC 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
Dinosaur Safari returns to the Bronx Zoo this spring. Photo courtesy of the zoo
51 Spring Bucket List Ideas for Kids in NYC
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
100 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Brooklyn's Flying Apple offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
24 Best Kids' Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in NYC
Teens have the opportunity to explore arts careers and institutions with Whitney Museum Youth Insights Program. Photo by Diana Kim
Teens Can Apply Now for Summer Internships 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
Ultimate New York Bucket List: 100 Things To Do with Kids in NY State
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics for Families
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in NYC
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
27 Free Things To Do Indoors in NYC: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
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 Guide
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by  Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
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
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
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
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
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
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
GUIDE
Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Crafts for Kids Guide: Thousands of Craft Ideas
FIND AND BOOK ACTIVITIES
calendar icon
This Week In
New York City
Wormy Wednesday
Randall's Island - 3:00 PM Pick
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk
Atlantic Avenue - 12:00 PM
3D Flower Collage at Art on the Block
Art on the Block NYC - 3:30 PM
The New York Sewing Center
- various times
Locomotive Lawn Live in Riverside Park
Riverside Park South - 10:30 AM Pick
Celebrate AAPI Month at Brooklyn Children's Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum - 3:00 PM Pick
Nature Story Time in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park Environmental Education Center - 3:00 PM Pick
Free Bird by Christine Mott - Storytime at The Corner Bookstore
The Corner Bookstore - 4:00 PM Pick
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Backbone at Lincoln Center
Alice Tully Hall - 1:00 PM Pick
Teens Take The Met
The Metropolitan Muserum of Art - 4:00 PM Pick
Movie Nights at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards - 5:00 PM Pick
Clothing Swap + Open Play at Artful Souls and Wellness
Artful Souls and Wellness - 10:30 AM
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Featured
Submerge: NYC Marine Science Festival at Pier 84
Hudson River Park Pier 84 - 11:00 AM
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
9th Avenue - 10:00 AM Pick
Family Fun Day at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards - 11:00 AM Pick
Touch-a-Truck at PS 295
PS 295 - 11:00 AM Pick
Kite Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5 - 11:00 AM Pick
Featured
Family Concert - Dan + Claudia Zanes at the Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum - 11:30 AM
Horses & Family Fun in Central Park
Central Park - Pinebank Arch - 9:00 AM Pick
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
9th Avenue - 10:00 AM Pick
The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair
5th Avenue - 10:00 AM Pick
Sheep Shearing Festival at the Queens County Farm Museum
Queens County Farm Museum - 10:00 AM Pick
Opening Week of Life At The Limits: Nature's Superheroes at the AMNH
American Museum of Natural History - various times Pick
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Tunes & Tales for Toddlers in Teardrop Park
Teardrop Park - 3:00 PM
Tea Around Town: Pink Winter Wonderland
TopView Sightseeing Bus Stop - various times
Laser Bouce
Laser Bounce - Queens - various times
Stargazing on The High Line
The High Line - 7:30 PM Pick
Opening Week of Life At The Limits: Nature's Superheroes at the AMNH
American Museum of Natural History - various times Pick
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
After School Art Explorers: Drop-In Programs at the Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum - 2:30 PM
Tea Around Town: Pink Winter Wonderland
TopView Sightseeing Bus Stop - various times
SEE ALL ACTIVITIES
SUBMIT AN ACTIVITY +
Family Concert - Dan + Claudia Zanes at the Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum
Submerge: NYC Marine Science Festival at Pier 84
Hudson River Park Pier 84
Youth Soccer Workshop with Central Park Rangers FC
York College Soccer Field
Sign up for our free newsletters.
FOLLOW US FOR ACTIVITY PICKS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS
FaceBook Instagram Twitter Pinterest YouTube
Activity Guides
  • Beaches & Lakes
  • Best Of Lists
  • Birthday Parties
  • Boats
  • Boredom Busters
  • Camps
  • Childcare
  • Christmas/Hanukkah
  • City Guides
  • City Hacks
  • Classes & Enrichment
  • Community
  • Crafts & Recipes
  • Earth Kids
  • Easter
  • Fairs & Festivals
  • Fall Activities
  • Family Travel
  • Farms & U-Pick
  • Free Activities
  • GoList
  • Halloween
  • Holidays
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Indoor Activities
  • Museums
  • News & Openings
  • Outdoors
  • Parent Talk
  • Parks & Playgrounds
  • Play Gyms & Sports Centers
  • Pools & Spray Parks
  • Preschools & Schools
  • Restaurants
  • Shows
  • Skiing & Winter Sports
  • Special Needs
  • Special Occasions
  • Sports
  • Spring Activities
  • STEM
  • Stores & Services
  • Summer Activities
  • Theme & Water Parks
  • Trains, Dinos & Heroes
  • TV, Film & Movies
  • Virtual
  • Visitors Guide
  • Weekend Events
  • Weekend Trips
  • Winter Activities
  • Zoos & Gardens
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pin It WhatsApp

Fly High on Indoor Swings at the Park Avenue Armory's New Interactive Exhibit

12/10/12 - By Alina Adams

About a half hour into our visit to ANN HAMILTON: the event of a thread, the brand-new interactive installation at the Park Avenue Armory, my 13-year-old son observed, "I feel like I'm trapped in modern art." My five-year-old daughter had a much less analytical reaction: "Swings!"

Indeed, there are a lot of swings in the Armory's cavernous main hall—plus hanging fabrics, fluttering pigeons and other offbeat sights. According to Hamilton, the massive multimedia piece is "made of many crossings of the near at hand and the far away." But my kids weren't concerned with its meaning; they just knew it was fun to run around and explore.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ANN HAMILTON: the event of a thread is a lot easier to experience (or look at—see my slide show above) than explain. Upon entering, we encountered two people sitting at a wooden table reading from a scroll, sometimes in synch, sometimes not. Pigeons in wooden cages fluttered around them, and they seemed to be addressing the birds. I tried to explain that the exhibit was all about connections, but my daughter's sole response as she peered into the cages was, "Poor pigeons."

The swings were a much bigger hit and without a doubt the main attraction for kids. Dozens of them hang from the ceiling in an intricate web of chains and pulleys, inviting visitors to hop on and whoosh through the air. Since the swings are broad and made out of solid wood, they are, as my son said, "not very butt friendly." They also require more than one child to get them going. When my tiny five-year-old sat on one alone, her feet didn't reach the floor and her arms couldn't span the width from chain to chain. She ended up holding on to one side while I pushed her, which made for a wild, twisted trip that almost took down a few fellow art lovers.

In the center of the hall nearly 70 feet above the ground hangs a white, billowing curtain attached to iron trusses whose constant movement makes the fabric flutter up and down. The three of us laid down directly beneath it, looking up while the readers' voices were piped through speakers hidden in paper bags tied to ropes. It was a wild experience, almost like looking at clouds. Each one of us saw something different in the undulating folds.

Our last stop was at the far end of the hall, where a woman sat writing at a desk in front of a phonograph complete with a record—but not playing any music. Soon my daughter was asking to go on the swings again. While all visitors receive a handout explaining the ideas behind the various parts of the installation. I think my son's take on it was the best. As we were leaving, he turned to me and said, "Wait a minute. I get it finally. This is a modern art playground for grown ups!"

the event of a thread is on view through Sunday, January 6, 2013 at the Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets. $12 for adults, free for children under age 10.

Places featured in this article:

Map All Locations
Close Map X
  List All Location Details

Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
Museums Kids Tweens & teens Uptown Upper East Side New York City

Featured Local Savings

Sign up for our free
newsletters.
New York City
Dallas Fort Worth
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Houston
Miami South Florida
Philadelphia
Washington DC
Orlando
Los Angeles
San Francisco Bay Area
Connecticut
Long Island
New Jersey
Westchester
MommyPoppins.com
Mommy Poppins is a family activity website that helps people find things to do with kids.
QUICK LINKS
Activities
Providers
Family Travel
CONTACT
Newsletter Subscribe
Contact
About
SITEMAP
Submit an Activity
List Your Business
Advertise with Us
© 2025 MommyPoppins. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use.
mp-prod4-v4.32.99
X
Enter for a Chance to Win
Register/Login if you don't want to see this popup.