Middle Village

Queens Party Places: 23 Top Spots for Kids' Birthdays

Submitted by Kelly O on Tue, 03/27/2018 - 11:30am

We've profiled cool NYC party places in the past, but there are so many awesome birthday spots in good old Queens alone that it deserves a post of its own.

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

Laser Bounce Opens Indoor Amusement Park and Arcade in Queens

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Fri, 03/23/2018 - 11:08am

With the popularity of Netflix’s Stranger Things and nerd-comeback, I’m excited to see a resurgence in my childhood favorite hangout: the arcade. There are plenty across NYC, serving up everything from skee-ball to racing games, but we’re happy to introduce Queens’ latest addition.

Laser Bounce joined The Shops at Atlas Park, in Glendale, in February 2018. This is the second Laser Bounce location in the area; the original is located in Levittown, Long Island.

The Best Playgrounds in Queens

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Thu, 05/25/2017 - 3:45pm

Although every pocket and corner of Queens has a neighborhood playground (we frequent Playground Thirty-Five multiple times a week), we’ve taken the time to scout the cream of the crop for NYC kids. From Astoria to the Rockaways, with rope spider webs to kid-sized Ferris wheels, these parks offer clean, safe equipment with innovative and fun details that go beyond the metallic jungle gyms of the past.

Looking to make more of a splash? Check out our roundup on top water playgrounds in Queens, or find more playgrounds across the five boroughs in our NYC Parks & Playgrounds guide.

Pop-Up Collaborative Art Studio Opens for Kids in Queens

Submitted by Rachel Sokol on Wed, 03/08/2017 - 10:30am

Inside a 4,000-square-foot studio at the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale, Queens, Frank Kiernan, a father of two, recently opened a pop-up printmaking workshop for kids. An extension of his professional printing business, LittlePulp, preview workshops were held recently for kids as young as 4. Each 2.5-hour session led by Kiernan and assistants focused on collaborative art, teamwork and, of course, printmaking. Read on to learn more, and if you're looking for more Queens kids' play spaces, we've rounded up the top ones.

7 NYC Arcades for Kid Video Game Birthday Parties

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Fri, 02/10/2017 - 10:30am

Arcades are an ideal place to celebrate a kid's birthday. Blinking lights, spinning wheels, ringing bells, and mechanical jingles give arcades a festive atmosphere, and the assortment of amusements offers something for everyone. If you have a rare child who isn't a video-game enthusiast, these gaming parlors usually offer air hockey, skee-ball, and basketball games; some even have laser tag. These kid-pleasing party spots are full service, so hosts only have to provide a cake or cupcakes. Many offer games that award tickets redeemable for prizes to fill a goody bag.

Our list of seven arcades for kid birthday parties features spots in every New York City borough, from Manhattan to Staten Island, plus a mobile arcade that comes to you. Read on for all the details.

Looking for more birthday party ideas? Check out our NYC Party Guide or directory of birthday fun suppliers.

STEM-Inspired Play Space Opens in Queens

Submitted by Rachel Sokol on Tue, 10/27/2015 - 11:00am

A techie-inspired play space that just opened in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens is offering everything from tumble and mommy and me classes for toddlers to coding and fashion design classes for older kids.

With everything kids love—from padded play areas for infants and preschoolers and robotics and Legos for their older siblings and teens, iPlayTek promises immersive and inspiring fun for all ages, especially at a time when many parents are on the lookout for new ways to incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) into activities and outings.

Queens Dance Classes for Kids: Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop

Submitted by Kelly O on Mon, 07/13/2015 - 10:00am

Hey Queens parents: Do you have a kid who's pleading for dance lessons but you dread the thought of schlepping to Manhattan or Brooklyn? That was my worry when my preschooler started begging for ballet. But after doing a little research and talking to many of my fellow Queens moms, I was happy to discover that I don't need to leave the borough to find quality dance studios for children. Bonus: Dance classes in Queens tend to be significantly less expensive than their Manhattan and even Brooklyn counterparts, and many offer scholarships or sliding-scale tuition for those who qualify.

Some Queens dance studios are local favorites that have been serving their communities for years, like Landrum in Whitestone and Heavenly Bodies Dance Studio in Ozone Park. Others, like Astoria's Sol Dance Center, are part of the wave of new kid-friendly businesses opening up throughout the borough. And if you have a dance-loving boy, don't worry: Most of these programs offer classes for boys, including ballet and hip-hop.

Here are 12 Queens dance studios offering classes for kids and teens who are serious about ballet, tap, modern and other dance styles. You can find other enriching programs in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

Kids Haircuts in Queens: Children's Salons for Boys and Girls

Submitted by Natalie Altieri on Tue, 07/01/2014 - 1:00pm

As the mom of a very active toddler, I know how hard it is to get him to sit still. He barely does it to eat or sleep, so the chances of me getting him to stop moving for 15 minutes so he can get a decent haircut are slim to none. Even though our local Supercuts is cheap and kid-friendly, they're not going to cut it for my son—literally.

Luckily, we don't need to trek into Manhattan or Brooklyn to find a great place for kids' cuts. Queens has six fabulous haircutting salons that don't just welcome families, they specifically cater to children.