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.

An amazing state-of-the-art play space has opened up in Long Island City, but it's no run-of-the-mill kiddie gym. Sensory City is a sensory gym and pediatric occupational therapy practice where kids can enjoy a wide variety of stimulating stations including a swing, a ball pit, a play castle and even a zip line.

While Sensory City was specifically designed to help visitors work on their sensory, fine motor, gross motor and communication skills, children of all abilities are welcome and can benefit from the experiences the gym has to offer. My family and I recently dropped by for an open play session, and my kids had a blast. After all, who doesn't love to romp in a ball pit?

UPDATE: New owners took over this space in the summer of 2017. It is now called Theraplay.

There's certainly no shortage of places to indulge in sweet treats on the Upper East Side, but there's always room for one more, right? Especially a sugar spot as cool and unique as CuRious Candy.

The brainchild of high-end fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, CuRious Candy occupies the second floor of her recently opened four-story boutique, and it's not the place to go if you're just looking to pick up a bag of M&M's. In a way, the candy is almost beside the point. From the intriguing entryway, adorned with brambles, foggy mirrors and giant metallic roses, to the fantastical wall mural as you head up the stairs, to the shop's design centerpiece, a white peacock perched on a leafless tree, CuRious Candy is an immersive experience. A visit here is more about experiencing the atmosphere than the actual eating.

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.