Sara F

Latest posts by Sara F

6 New Birthday Spots in NYC for Your Kid's Next Party

Submitted by Sara F on Thu, 01/25/2018 - 4:33pm

Every year, your kid's birthday arrives even faster, right? It seems like you just had her last party! But here you are again, and you need some new ideas.

Good news! So many great new spots have opened in NYC in the last year, so you're about to be the coolest parent party planner. Whether your kid wants to make art, roll in a ball pit, dress up her dolls, play with dogs, or just bounce up and down for an hour, there's a new place for everyone. Read on for six new kid party spots that have opened in the last year.

Find more party spots and entertainers in our NYC Party Directory.

Build an Indoor Obstacle Course for Kids in 7 Easy Steps

Submitted by Sara F on Mon, 10/16/2017 - 10:22am

When beautiful fall days turn into gray, wintry ones that get dark at 4pm, you need ideas of things to do indoors, including sneaky exercise games for the kids. Or, why not build an obstacle course for your kids? They'll love the challenge of having to complete each task, and you'll love the energy it can burn off and time it will keep them occupied. The best part? You can build this one with things you already have around the house. So read on for our guide to building your own in seven easy steps.

Brooklyn Leaf-Peeping with Kids: Top Streets for Fall Foliage

Submitted by Sara F on Tue, 10/03/2017 - 11:06am

When fall arrives in the tristate area, serious leaf-peepers tend to head upstate. But when you have little kids, the idea of packing them into the car, with all the snacks, for a long drive through traffic, to try to point out clusters of colors in the distance, is often less than appealing. What if we told you that you don't even have to leave Brooklyn to see some genuinely beautiful fall foliage? The reds, oranges, yellows, and purples of maple trees, oak trees, and more are right here. You just have to know where to look.

A safe bet to find those stunning fall colors will always be your local park or garden, such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (the Japanese garden is typically gorgeous at this time of year). But for a FREE neighborhood walk, consider these blocks in Brooklyn for family walk. We've even pointed out top spots to stop for a break along the way.

Brooklyn's City Point and DeKalb Market: Best Kid Eats and Shops

Submitted by Sara F on Thu, 09/21/2017 - 5:02pm

The City Point complex, Brooklyn’s new shopping center downtown, has so much to offer families. Parents will appreciate the Target and Trader Joe’s, and the whole family will enjoy the sleek new movie theater and vast DeKalb Market Hall with delicious offerings from dozens of vendors. And this ain’t no ordinary food court—you won’t find stale bagels and bland Chinese food here. Instead, think fried chicken on a stick and make-your-own cake pops.

Find our favorite picks below and return often for updated offerings there and around the neighborhood. Before you know it, you'll be raising certified Brooklyn foodies.

Family Restaurants Near Barclays Center for Post-Show Kid Eats

Submitted by Sara F on Wed, 09/06/2017 - 11:40am

When you’re heading to an event at the Barclays Center with the kids, you have one of two options: Get in quickly and fill them up with sometimes-pricey, always dependable vendor food, or... plan ahead and leave time to hit one of the kid-friendly restaurants in the neighborhood after the show, concert, or game. Opened in 2012, it's home to the Brooklyn Nets, New York Islanders, and often hosts the circus, headliners like Katy Perry, and Disney on Ice.

Fort Greene has recently turned into a foodie destination, bringing in all sorts of specialty food shops (Doughnut Plant, anyone?), food halls, and myriad culinary hot spots, from southern barbecue to custom ramen. So take advantage of the trip and the area: Grab your kids and grab a table at our favorite places around the arena.

Pete the Cat Comes to Life in Free Off-Broadway Musical

Submitted by Sara F on Thu, 07/27/2017 - 10:35am

Kids love music. And most of them love Pete the Cat. And pretty much every parent adores any FREE city activities. So my family was very excited to see the skateboard-riding, guitar-playing feline from the popular picture books come to life onstage in this year’s show by Theatreworks USA as part of its FREE summer series.

The 45-minute musical, recommended for ages 5-8, is nonstop action, with lively singing and dancing throughout, and plenty of funny jokes and scenes guaranteed to make kids laugh.

Best Events for Preschoolers in NYC This Summer – Mostly Free!

Submitted by Sara F on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 5:00pm

Summer may be the best time to have a preschooler in New York City. Yes, the days are longer, but there is so much to do! From free concerts and festivals to swimming, sand-sculpting, and star-gazing, not a week goes by without outings and activities that will truly make lasting summer memories.

With this list of our best picks for summer events with your preschooler, you’ll find yourself wanting to stay in town to take advantage of it all. Best of all? It's almost all FREE.

Check out our Summer Fun Guide for NYC Kids for more to do for every age in every borough.

Brooklyn Has a Unicorn Store Full of Rainbow Horns and Magic

Submitted by Sara F on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 4:00pm

Imagine a magical wonderland where your child can pretend to be a mythical creature, hunt for hidden messages on the walls, gaze into a magic talking mirror, and throw rainbow confetti into the air just because.

This place doesn’t just exist in your 4-year-old’s dreams. It opened this month on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, on the border of Park Slope and Prospect Heights.