BrooklynParent JUNE 2017
NYMETROPARENTS.COM
Unexpected Ways to
Have Fun This Summer Plus: Top Beaches and Amusement Parks
Sick in Summertime Childhood ailments to watch out for this season
c
Last Call for the
2017 Kids Cover Contest See your child here
HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
SU CA MM M E P' R 17
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SWIMMING | ROBOTICS | DANCE | FENCING | ZIP LINE ROCK CLIMBING | THEATHER | PAINTING ON CANVAS & MORE
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
S.T.E.A.M.
Summer Camp
SUMMER FUN WITH REAL-WORLD PREP
The Learnatory AT THE BIBLE SPEAKS ACADEMY
June 29th – August 11th
• Chemistry of Making Candy • Xbox Game Design • Personal Spa Science • Video Game Design & Animation • Robotics & Smart Devices • Mobile App Development • Minecraft Coding & 3D Game Design
OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, May 31st, 6 pm - 8 pm FREE Introductory S.T.E.A.M. Classes for Grades K – 8
Animation! Coding! Spa Science! RSVP 347-787-0435
All Students MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian!
5205 Foster Avenue • Brooklyn, New York www.thelearnatory.org • (347) 787-0435 BrooklynParent
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NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions
Contents
June 2017 ››
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Features
19 Unexpected Summer Fun Unique, unusual, and off-the-beaten-path things to do in NYC
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30 The Summertime Health Blues How to avoid—or beat—six childhood ailments that commonly strike during the warmer months 52 Grilling with Chef John Stage Tips for cooking on the barbecue from a grill master—just in time for a Father’s Day feast 54 It’s Never Too Early to Prevent Drug Abuse With changing laws and attitudes about recreational marijuana, it’s more important than ever for parents to talk to their kids about drug use.
Connections
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Family Activities CALENDAR ››
6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 Quotables 12 NYMP Q&A: Diaper Dude’s Chris Pegula talks dads’ roles in parenthood. 14 Mommybites Tip of the Month 32 Voices of the Next Generation: My family celebrates the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, which takes place in June this year— here’s why it’s so special to me 66 Voices: How we, a gay couple with two adopted sons, raised our kids during changing times
Fun & Activities
14 Last Chance to Enter the Cover Contest 16 Humor: Happy Father’s Day to the Fellas! 34 Outing: Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey 37 Family Activities Calendar 50 Where-To Guide: Beaches 51 Where-To Guide: Amusement Parks
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Original photo by PhotoOp NYC (photoopnyc.com) Clothing provided by Appaman (appaman.com)
Directories 56 63 63 64 64 65
Camp #SnapShots Party Central Professional Services Meet the Health Care Professional Open Houses Advertisers’ Index
››
ON THE COVER ›› 14 Last Call for the 2017 Kids Cover Contest 19 Unexpected Ways to Have Fun This Summer facebook.com/nymetroparents
30 Sick in Summertime
@NYMetroParents
50 Beaches
51 Amusement Parks
Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!
Last Spots Going Fast!
BrooklynParent
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JUNE 2017 • Vol.13 • No.11
NYMetroParents Publications EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens
EDITOR’S NOTE
SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Jamie McGillian (Westchester); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Emma Steven (Manhattan); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Sabrina Sooknanan
Hidden Gems, Happy Days D
ADVERTISING SALES
Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239 Jessica Leonhardt, Jeunesse Jackson, Linda Pierce
id you know you can see wild parakeets in Brooklyn? Visit a museum housed in an old freight elevator in Manhattan? Play on a former landfill on Staten Island? We at NYMetroParents pride ourselves on knowing all about how to have fun with kids around New York City, but to kick off summer, we decided to dig deeper. So Katelin Walling took on the challenging assignment of uncovering our region’s hidden gems—and found many exciting options we hadn’t known before. See her round-up of the best unexpected ways to have fun this summer (p. 19), and then get out and start exploring! Unfortunately, we all sometimes have to cancel fun plans to run our children to the doctor—their illnesses, ailments, and injuries certainly don’t take the summer off. That’s not unusual, as I learned from Stacey Pfeffer’s report on children’s summertime health issues (p. 30). From Coxsackie virus to athlete’s foot to lice, we offer advice on how to prevent summertime ailments, and failing that, how to treat them. June marks the end of our Kids Cover Contest, so make sure to enter your child before it’s too late! Submissions close June 9. Head to nymetroparents.com/cover and follow the directions there to upload a photo and enter the contest. Ten finalists will participate in a professional photo shoot, and any of them may appear on upcoming magazine covers. Two grand-prize winners will be guaranteed cover spots and will win awesome prizes—a family vacation at Kalahari water park or a Barbizon modeling scholarship. And once you’ve entered, don’t forget to get your friends and family to vote! The Fan Favorite—the child with the most votes—will be one of the 10 finalists (the others are chosen by our editors) and will win tickets to Sesame Place. There is so much to celebrate in June! Summer officially starts, graduations take place, and we’ll salute Dad on Father’s Day. If you’re planning a barbecue as part of your celebration, make sure to check out our tips—and recipes—for grilling meals everyone will love (p. 52). Plus, in our Voices column, dads Rod Howe and Mark Pedersen—who met and fell in love more than 30 years ago and are grandparents today—look back on parenting their sons during an era of changing attitudes about gay parents (p. 66). Muslims also are celebrating one of their biggest holidays of the year, Eid al-Fitr (which falls on different dates every year but in 2017 is in June); 12-year-old Farah Husain, a student at Manhattan’s Trinity School, shows us how she and her family celebrate this joyous festival (p. 32). If you have a unique personal story to tell about life as a parent, we want to hear from you: Submit essays (600800 words) to NYMPWriter@davlermedia.com. Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there, and wishing all the best to our region’s graduates! Michael Kress Editorial Director, NYMetroParents
Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Ellen Klein Westchester Parent 914-397-0200 Nini DeLuca, Manager Merrill Sugarman, Mary Wender Brooklyn Parent 718-878-4860 Phyllis Crupi, Ellen Klein, Selene Rodriguez Rockland Parent 845-848-8021 Cara Roteman, Jim Russo Long Island Parent, Nassau 516-883-4543 Joan Bergman, Manager, Dani Pollack Long Island Parent, Suffolk 631-472-5437 Lisa Herlihy, Karen Shapiro To Advertise: nympads@davlermedia.com DIR. OF OPERATIONS -- EVENTS: Rebecca Stolcz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Ray Winn OPERATIONS COORDINATORS: Ray C. Guédez, Leonard Porter DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC: Heather Gambaro ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Erin Jordan
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR | PUBLISHING MANAGEMENT: Anthony Diaz DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Robert Reynolds DIRECTOR | DIGITAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Sara Wentworth
ACCOUNTING
CONTROLLER: David Friedman
ADMINISTRATION
CREDIT MANAGER: Elizabeth Teagarden CREDIT ASSISTANTS: Rosa Meinhofer, Diedra Smith EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: Barbara Byrd
Davler Media Group CEO: David L. Miller General Manager: Thomas K. Hanlon 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239
nymetroparents.com davlermedia.com nybarbatmitzvah.com
Keep in Touch: nymetroparents.com editor@nymetroparents.com
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
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BIG APPLE PARENT, QUEENS PARENT, WESTCHESTER PARENT BROOKLYN PARENT, ROCKLAND PARENT, BERGEN PARENT, and LONG ISLAND PARENT are published monthly by Davler Media Group, LLC Copyright © 2017, Davler Media Group, LLC No part of contents may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39
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BrooklynParent
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nymetroparents.com/np-bp
Courtesy My Gym Park Slope
NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS
Children’s Fitness Center to Open in Park Slope
My Gym Park Slope will cater to children ages 6 weeks to 10 years.
Courtesy The Learnatory
Who: My Gym Park Slope What’s New: The children’s fitness center, which is slated to open in early June. My Gym is dedicated to helping children develop physical, cognitive, and emotional skills. My Gym Park Slope will offer structured, weekly classes that will incorporate fitness workouts, gymnastics, music, games, and a wide variety of activities to get children moving in an allinclusive environment. The age-appropriate classes, for ages 6 weeks to 10 years, will be tailored to meet the needs of children as they grow. Birthday party packages will also be available. Want More Info: 367 5th Ave., Park Slope; 718-788-2200; mygym.com/parkslope
The Learnatory Launches STEAM Summer Camp Who: The Learnatory What’s New: A STEAM Summer Camp for children entering first through ninth grades. From June 29-Aug. 11, The Learnatory will teaching children enrolled in its summer camp about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math) through a variety of projectbased classes and activities. Hands-on classes include Creating Virtual Reality, Personal Spa Science, The Chemistry of Making Candy, and Video Game Design and Animation. Personalized tutoring and recreational activities, such as badminton and dance, will also be offered during the camp, which will be hosted by The Bible Speaks Church. The Learnatory is offering supplemental grants through May 31. Want More Info: The Bible Speaks Church: 5205 Foster Ave., East Flatbush; The Learnatory: 347-787-0435; thelearnatory.org
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
The Learnatory’s STEAM Summer Camp will offer classes such as Personal Spa Science and Sci-Fi Slime and Investigations.
at Barnes & Noble this Summer MUST-READS for YOUNG READERS
Favorite Paperbacks
BUY 2, GET THE 3RD FREE* Selection may vary. Ask a bookseller for details. Offer ends 9/4/17.
IN STORES Offer ends 9/4/17.
Keep Skills Sharp this Summer with
Award-Winning Summer Bridge Activities®
ONLY $10 EACH Originally priced $14.99. Offer ends 7/31/17.
Barnes & Noble Classics
POPULAR PICKS for SUMMER READING
YOUR CHOICE $5 EACH** Barnes & Noble Classics paperback editions only. Offer ends 9/4/17.
IN STORES
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program KIDS EARN A
Offer ends 9/4/17.
FREE BOOK Ask a bookseller for details. Offer ends 9/5/17.
All offers subject to availability, while supplies last. *Lowest-priced qualifying paperback in the transaction shall be free. **Excludes titles priced $4.95 or less. Excludes digital editions.
Visit your local store or shop BN.com for these savings and much more. BrooklynParent
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UOTABLES I was watching Finding Nemo with Marlowe the other day, and there was an exchange between Dory and Nemo’s father that I hadn’t ever paid close attention to before. Nemo’s father tells Dory, anxiously, “But I told him I’d never let anything happen to him!” Dory replies, “But then nothing would ever happen to him.” And there it is. Letting go is hard, but wishing for a full, vibrant, messy, beautiful life for both of my children is a lot louder than my fear. I can guarantee I will never stop trying to fight for that. —Eva Amurri Martino, in a post entitled “Parenting a Rainbow Baby,” on her blog HappilyEvaAfter.com
in an instagram Nothing beats the big smiles of a few hours well spent in a playground. (Posted by @dadarocks, aka Adam Cohen, who blogs at dadarocks.com)
WRITE IT DOWN….TOGETHER
in an instagram I love this photo. It was taken right after a very serious conversation where I explained that it’s time to stop eating her boogers.....at least in public #loosingbattle She’s really struggling with this mandate. (Posted by @mochamommy_nyc, aka Nia Lawrence, who blogs at mochamommyinthecity.com)
“You also never know how much a kind glance or a few words can mean to a mom. Several years ago, we were in a restaurant and desperate to subdue Max, who was wailing loudly. Finally, we distracted him with a video. I felt drained and sad. A mom at another table caught my eye. “You OK?” she mouthed. And that was exactly the comfort I needed.” —Ellen Seidman, in a post entitled “Stop the Special Needs Mom Shaming,” on her blog LoveThatMax.com
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
“If you want to know what’s going on in your child’s head, you need to discuss things beyond, ‘How was school today?’ When you journal together, you can write about things like: ‘What is my biggest dream?’ and ‘What was my recent mistake and what have I learned from it?’ These are important conversational questions that are not typically asked at the dinner table.” —Stamford, CT, mom Alexandra Eidens in an article entitled “Why You Should Start Journaling With Your Child.” Read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/journal.
MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: CELEBRATE DAD: Tips for making Father’s Day extra special (nymetroparents.com/fathers-day) DAY TRIP: Visit Hyde Park, home of President Franklin Roosevelt (nymetroparents.com/hyde-park). ACTIVITY QUIZ: Plan the perfect day for your family (nymetroparents.com/activity-quiz). FREE ADVICE: Download a helpful parenting guide at nymetroparents.com/freebies.
BrooklynParent 11
NYMP Q&A
You Got It, Dude! C
››
By Bethany Braun-Silva
Lois A. Jackson, D.D.S., P.C. and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry 505 LaGuardia Place, New York • 212.995.8888 16 Court Street, Suite 2211, Brooklyn • 718.855.8833
hris Pegula is the founder of Diaper Dude, a brand of diaper bags and accessories for dads. His second book, Diaper Dude: The Ultimate Dad’s Guide to Surviving the First Two Years was recently published.
Why did you want to write a book for dads about parenthood? I felt that if there was something geared toward men it would help them feel more secure and confident in wanting to be prepared. Both of my books were written about approaching parenthood from a more emotional point of view and preparing men emotionally for the journey ahead. I give tips on how to not lose your identity when you become a parent; you throw yourself into this parenting world but it’s still important to nurture yourself and your relationships. There are plenty of books that tell you how a baby or pregnancy is developing, but I didn’t feel there was something that addressed the emotional things that men go through or how to be there for their partner or how to feel secure enough as a father for the first time or how to put on that dad role and still maintain your individual role as the person that you were. How have dads’ roles evolved? They have changed dramatically, and I felt that when I became a parent myself. I thought, “Why wouldn’t more dads want to be more involved?” So many women have gone back into the workforce after having children and solidified their positions as more powerful and financially stable then their counterparts, so there are more stay-at-home dads today. It’s exciting and tremendous to see that shift happening. What was the most challenging thing for you in your children’s early years? I have so much love for my children that it was almost to a fault. The love can confuse and alter your decisions as a parent; you just want to do anything and everything for your children. But I feel like being able to be strong with your discipline and set boundaries and establish your role as a parent is important so that you can set an example for what you expect from your children. It was challenging for me because I was kind of a pushover. My wife would be the first to say, “You need to be more stringent as a dad.”
Summer School in New York August 7-18 rising juniors and seniors can get a unique taste of the British college experience while attending classes in the New York metro area. 12
June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
What are some ways dads can feel more involved? Having something that gives you confidence is so important and a great way for dad to get more involved in parenting. That’s where the ideas of the diaper bags came from. It helped to establish the connection that dads belong. Pregnancy can be especially difficult to connect to your baby because, after all, it’s growing inside of your partner. She’s experiencing everything and everyone is falling over her and congratulating her, and until you actually hold that baby in your arms, it can be very difficult to feel connected. I think products for dad that get him involved absolutely give him the feeling that he has a purpose and that he can be involved early on.
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Join us for an info session/walking tour!
Meet at Grace Church (254 Hicks St) June 3rd & June 17th at 11:00am We have great indoor facilities located at St. Francis College & Grace Church! BrooklynParent 13
PhotoOp
Last Chance to Enter the Cover Contest
››
H
undreds of local parents have already entered the 2017 Kids Cover Contest, hoping for a chance to see their child or teen on our magazine cover. Are you one of them? If not, what are you waiting for? The contest is open to kids ages 2-16 and closes June 9. This year, 10 finalists will participate in a professional photo shoot: Nine of them are chosen by our editors and the 10th is the Fan Favorite—the child with the most votes. So once you’ve entered, be sure to spread the word for your friends and families to vote! Our editors will choose two grand-prize winners from among the finalists, and both will be featured on upcoming covers of the magazine. One will also win a photo shoot from Barbizon and a one-year scholarship to Barbizon Modeling and Acting School, while the other will get a free two-night stay at Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos, the largest indoor
The finalists from last year’s Kids Cover Contest
water park in the U.S. The Fan Favorite will get four free tickets to Sesame Place, and all finalists have a chance to be on future covers. To enter, go to nymetroparents.com/cover. You’ll be asked to upload a photo of your child and you can add a caption, if you like. We’ll ask for your child’s name and age and for some information on how to contact you if your child is a finalist.
MOMMYBITES TIP OF THE MONTH
Create a Nanny Guidebook
››
Our friends at Mommybites are offering a monthly tip to help parents who employ—or are considering hiring—nannies. “Provide your nanny with a written ‘guidebook’ containing summaries of your family’s schedule, routines, and preferences. Make sure she has appropriate contact information. Does she know what to do in an emergency? Does she have allergy information? Jot down where she can find favorite snacks or treasured loveys in the event of a potential meltdown. Give her a neighborhood map and a list of age-appropriate activities that she can take the children to during the day. Leave a list of playdate contacts. Any information that you can provide to help her adjust to life in your ‘town’ will go a long way toward making her feel more capable in her new job.”
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Mommybites’ mom-generated nanny board and babysitting boards have been some of the most popular child-care sites in New York City for more than 10 years! See more at mommybites.com
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
BrooklynParent 15
© 2016 Alison Wong
HUMOR
Happy Father’s Day to the Fellas! Alison Wong is the writer and illustrator of New Mom Comics: The First Year, which offers a humorous and relatable take on the wild journey of parenting. “Daddy’s first Father’s Day! Having a little one makes you love your husband in a whole new way and more!” Wong writes in her book. Anyone celebrating Father’s Day this June will appreciate Wong’s illustration on what makes dads so great. Alison Wong is an illustrator, product designer, and innovation consultant. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and son. Visit newmomcomics.com for more.
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please Call 718-951-YPDC (9732) or Email admin@ypdcbrooklyn.camp. Enroll Online For Our Early Bird Rates:
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than Brooklyn.
BrooklynParent 17
Call For A June 26- to Aug. 4, 2017 Personal Tour Any Time!
LeifEricsonDaySchool 18
June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
37 things to do in New York City that are unique, unusual, and off the beaten path
Katelin Walling
D E T C E P UNEX Fu n r e m m Su By Katelin Walling
W
e live near (what is arguably) the greatest city in the United States, with its dozens of museums and cultural institutions, landmarks, and historical sites. Yet, sometimes it can feel like you visit those kid-friendly locations too often already, and the thought of schlepping the kids there for the nth time is draining. Let’s face it: You and your kids are bored—itching for a new adventure. Now what? We scoured the city and created a scavenger hunt of 37 unique, unusual, or off-the-beaten-path things to do, see, or explore with your kids. If you post photos of your adventures on Instagram, make sure you tag us @NYMetroParents, and let us know if you find anything we should add to our list! continued on next page ››
The Fearless Girl statue will remain facing the Charging Bull in the Financial District of Manhattan through February 2018.
Each year Randall’s Island Urban Farm purchases 10 chicks to raise in the garden.
Steve Baldwin
Courtesy Randall’s Island Park Alliance
At Brooklyn Cat Café, run by Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, families can play and hang out with adoptable cats.
Courtesy Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition Inc.
Giacomo Francia, courtesy the artists
Pinkie, a talking parrot from Pet Resources in the Bronx, is drawn by students at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, on March 8 as part of Lenka Clayton and Jon Rubin: ...circle through New York.
Several wild monk parakeets (aka Quaker Parrots) mob a bird feeder in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Hang with Animals without Going to the Zoo Get a hug from a golden retriever.
Go on a safari in Midwood.
If you’re walking around Chelsea in Manhattan, and you see a dog giving hugs, go ahead; stop and see if you can get a hug, too. Louboutina, or as her fans call her Loubie, became a social media sensation earlier this year for clinging to the legs of passersby. As with all dogs, make sure you ask her owner if it’s okay to get some puppy lovin’.
A Wild Parrot Safari, that is. Wild monk parakeets live near the Brooklyn College campus, and multiple sources have confirmed that they either escaped or were released from JFK airport, likely in the late 1960s, according to Steve Baldwin, who leads the tours. Participants gather at Brooklyn College, at the intersection of Hillel Place and Campus Road, and will be led on a tour to see and learn about the parrots. Summer tours are scheduled for Saturdays, June 3, July 1, and Aug. 12. Visit brooklynparrots.com to learn more and to RSVP for a tour date.
Hang out with adoptable kitties. Love felines but can’t have one due to an allergy in the family or a strict landlord? Head to 1 of 3 cat cafés in New York City, where you can enjoy snacks, play with cats, or cuddle with the adoptable felines while you read a book: Koneko Cat Café and Meow Parlour, both located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, or Brooklyn Cat Café, located in Brooklyn Heights. Reservations are not needed but strongly recommended to guarantee time with the kitties. Visit nymetroparents.com/cat-cafes for information about what you’ll find at each location.
Become one with a brood. Every year the folks at Randall’s Island Urban Farm purchase 10 chicks and raise them in the garden. You can hang out with the chickens during Urban Farm Exploration Days on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-5pm, through Oct. 14. Visit randallsisland.org for more information.
See all the animals mentioned in the Torah. You can see every beast, great and small, named in the Hebrew Bible in taxidermy form at Torah Animal World, located at 1601 41st St., Borough Park (torahanimalworld.com). Exhibits include Animals of the Torah, Birds of the Torah, and Animals of the Tefillah (prayer).
Spot the red-eared sliders in Central Park. I used to think the lake at the Loeb Boathouse was Turtle Pond, until I took the time to wander around Central Park and found myself near Belvedere Castle. That’s where Turtle Pond, a smaller, more secluded pond, is located (mid-park, between 79th and 80th streets). The man-made pond is home to five species of turtles, the easiest of which to identify is the red-eared slider—it has small red spots near its ears. See how many you and your kids can find.
DESTINATION MARKETPLACE
Courtesy @governor_max
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Do you still need to find a summer camp? ResouRces ARticles
Talk to a parrot. Pinkie, a salmon-crested cockatoo from Pet Resources in the Bronx, will spend June at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, July at St. Philips Church in Harlem, Manhattan, and will return home in August, as part of …circle through New York, a unique project of circulating things commissioned as part of Guggenheim Social Practice. For more information about the project, and what Pinkie will be doing at each location, visit circlethroughnewyork.com.
Say “Hi” to Max on Governors Island. Governors Island (govisland.com) used to have a problem with too many goose droppings on the lawns—until Max, a border collie, was hired in 2015. Max’s job on the island, apart from being an official greeter, is to herd and discourage geese from hanging out to ensure the enjoyment and safety of guests. Jim Reed, the director of park and public space for Governors Island, adopted Max from the Mid Atlantic Border Collie Rescue Program in Maryland. Visitors are encouraged to take pictures, and are allowed to say hi if Max is not actively herding. continued on next page ››
Find everything you need, faster at
BrooklynParent 21
Nina LoSchiavo
NYC Parks
Originally built in the mid-19th century as part of the Croton Aqueduct system, High Bridge opened in 2015 as a pedestrian walkway.
Activities for the Adventurous Explore the Gowanus Canal. Join the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club (gowanuscanal.org) for a self-guided canoe trip of the Gowanus Canal during walkup canoeing. The canoe trips aim to raise awareness of harbor issues, and you may even see such wildlife as ducks, herons, horseshoe crabs, fiddler crabs, and jellyfish. Walk-up canoeing is held Wednesdays, 6-8pm, May-September, and Saturdays, 1-5pm, June-October. Canoeing and equipment use is free, though donations are accepted, and no reservation is needed. Meet the club at the 2nd Street Launch Site: 165 2nd St., Gowanus.
Let your kids play in a junkyard. No, not an actual junkyard! This summer, Governors Island (govisland.com) will again be home to play:groundNYC, a junkyard playground that gives young adventurers the opportunity to work with tools and building materials to explore physical, social, and emotional problem solving. Don’t
Pia Peterson ©2017
Children participating in canoeing with the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club must have a waiver signed by a parent.
Courtesy the Trust for Governors Island
Located at 61 Hester Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan, this mural was painted by Jessica Blowers as part of the 100 Gates Project.
The junkyard area of play:groundNYC on Governors Island, for kids only, is filled with materials and tools such as nails, hammers, saws, wood, tires, and fabric for children to create and play.
worry, though, trained staff provides support to help children construct and create. Play:groundNYC is free and open to the public through Oct. 1, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-3pm.
Bike, scoot, or walk across NYC’s oldest bridge. Built in the mid-19th century as a part of the Croton Aqueduct system, which carried water from the Croton River in Westchester to Manhattan, High Bridge is now a pedestrian walkway that connects Washington Heights in Manhattan and Highbridge in the Bronx. It’s accessible in Manhattan via a staircase in Highbridge Park (West 172nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue) or a ramp at 167th Street and Edgecombe Avenue; and in the Bronx at University Avenue and 170th Street, or a ramp north of there.
Whisper secrets to each other in Central Park. While most of us know about the Whispering Gallery in Grand Central Station, a lesser-known place to whisper
to each other is at the Charles B. Stover Bench—colloquially known as the “Whisper Bench” because if you whisper into one corner, your voice travels to the other side—in the Shakespeare Garden in Central Park (located on the west side between 79th and 80th streets).
Go on an art walk. In an effort to deter graffiti artists and beautify the Lower East Side, the 100 Gates Project—started by local artist and pro skateboarder Billy Rohan in 2014—connects local artists with businesses to collaborate on original murals that are painted on the roll-down security gates of those businesses. Over two years the project installed 100 gates throughout the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and currently has plans to expand to Harlem and Staten Island. Visit 100gates.nyc for more information and to find a map of the participating businesses.
Get your fortune told. A 1907 Cleveland Grandma, who sits in a wooden booth at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island has been
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predicting fortunes for almost 100 years. When her booth first opened, predictions were 1 cent, but due to inflation, they now cost a whopping 50 cents. Visit wonderwheel.com for more information about Deno’s.
Zip through the air in Glendale, Queens. Families can zipline, rock climb, or air jump at Zip Jump Climb, stationed at The Shops at Atlas Park (8000 Cooper Ave., Glendale, Queens), for just $10 each, but only through July 9. Visit zipjumpclimb.com to reserve your adventure. continued on next page ››
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Courtesy Black Tap
Katelin Walling
Hippo Ballerina will leave Manhattan’s Lincoln Center July 31
Katelin Walling
Black Tap milkshakes are piled high with goodies; pictured are Sweet N’ Salty, Cotton Candy, and The Cookie Shake.
Susan Gardner has been affixing items to her brownstone since just after 9/11 to create this amazing mural in Boerum Hill.
Do It for the ’Gram
Stand with Fearless Girl
Snap a photo of the sunset.
The Fearless Girl statue appeared suddenly in Manhattan’s Financial District for International Women’s Day and immediately became a symbol of female strength and confidence. Snap a pic of your own fierce females posing with Fearless Girl this summer, if you haven’t already. While there has been controversy surrounding Fearless Girl (because of a plaque that used to be at her feet, and backlash from the artist of the Charging Bull), she is sticking around through February 2018, according to NY Daily News.
#DanceWithHippoBallerina
Indulge in over-the-top milkshakes.
But not just any sunset. Unique to Manhattan, Manhattanhenge— when the sunset is perfectly aligned with the grid of the streets in Manhattan—will occur twice this summer. If you miss the May 30 (8:12pm) sunset, mark your calendars for July 12 at 8:20pm. The best streets to get breath-taking photos are 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th, according to famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D. Just make sure to be as far east as possible, while having a clear sightline west, and be in position 30 minutes before the above times. The installation of artist Bjorn Skaarup’s bronze statue has been dancing outside Lincoln Center since February, and will remain until July 31. Jeté over to Dante Park (at 64th Street and Broadway) on the Upper West Side of Manhattan to ’gram your tiny dancers before she disappears.
Milkshakes have taken over Instagram. No, not your classic milkshakes—we’re talking indulgent, over-the-top, work-of-art milkshakes from Buns Bar, located in Chelsea, Manhattan, and Black Tap, located in Soho, Manhattan. We won’t try to describe these treats with words—we’ll let the pictures do the talking.
Katelin Walling
Eat cereal out of a shoebox.
Enjoy a bowl of the traditional breakfast meal for lunch at KITH Treats, a cereal “bar” at which you can order up a combination of your favorite cereals (there are 23 different cereals to choose from) with choice toppings, or choose one of the specials. Plus, you choose how you eat it: in a commuter cup, a shoebox, or as a custom ice cream flavor or milkshake. KITH Treats is located within KITH Brooklyn (233 Flatbush Ave., Boerum Hill), a clothing store founded by Queens native Ronnie Fieg.
Revel in the beauty of the mosaic house.
The Flat White, Cinnamon Toast Crunch with toffee crunch and almond milk, served in a shoebox at KITH Treats in Boerum Hill
Katelin Walling
Stop by and see what treasures you can find affixed to the façade of a Brooklyn Brownstone. Susan Gardner, creator and inhabitant of the mosaic house, began affixing items to her brownstone after 9/11 because she didn’t want to be alone in her studio, she says in a Moonshot Productions New Yorkers video. The house is located at 108 Wyckoff St., Boerum Hill.
Visit a locksmith.
Even if you don’t need keys made, you’ll want to stop by Greenwich Locksmiths to see an amazing key mosaic on the shop’s façade. Owner Philip Mortillaro, who started locksmithing in 1964 and opened this location in 1980, says he had always wanted to make a chair out of keys, and when that was accomplished, he started on his door and then moved onto the building itself. Greenwich Locksmiths is located at 56 Seventh Ave. S., West Village, Manhattan.
Courtesy Buns Bar
Philip Mortillaro, owner of Greenwich Locksmiths welded the key mosaic on the façade of his shop, as well as the chair sitting out front, and the inside of the door.
Call on the Ghostbusters!
Buns Bar adds artistic flair to its milkshakes by decorating the mug with frosting, cookies, cereals, and candies.
Well, actually, the firehouse that was used as the Ghostbusters’ home base in the 1984 movie. Hook and Ladder No. 8, located at 14 N. Moore St., Tribeca, Manhattan, was used for the exterior shots of Ghostbusters HQ, and the logo sign used in the movies still hangs in the station today. This is a working firehouse, so be prepared to move quickly if the firefighters are called into action. continued on next page ››
Courtesy Randall’s Island Park Alliance NYC Parks
Families can learn about agriculture during Urban Farm Exploration Days on Randall’s Island.
Explore Nature Explore the Urban Farm on Randall’s Island.
Courtesy Maria Viljoen
Families can ride their bikes around Freshkills Park on Staten Island during Discovery Day on June 4.
Home to Icahn Stadium and the site of Governor’s Ball music festival, Randall’s Island (randallsisland.org) is also home to an urban farm. Families can experience and learn about agriculture at the 40,000-square-foot environmentally sustainable garden and outdoor classroom during Urban Farm Exploration Days on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-5pm, through Oct. 14.
Get a taste of the Adirondack Mountains in Manhattan.
Explore the North Woods of Central Park—one of the most secluded areas of the park—where the landscape isn’t manicured (located on the west side, between 101st and 110th streets). The highlight of the 90-acre section of the park is the man-made waterfalls— contrary to TLC’s advice, these are ones you definitely should chase.
Get your green thumb a little dirty.
A young forager on one of Marie Viljoen’s walks picked some dandelions, which are good for digestion, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Bushwick City Farms is a community farm that relies on donations and help from volunteers of all ages to run. So if you want to work in a garden but don’t have the space for your own, you can stop by on Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30pm to dusk, to help with and learn about composting, animal care,
transplanting, weeding, garden cleanup, spreading wood chips, and other garden tasks. There are also opportunities to donate items and time in other ways. Bushwick City Farms is located at Lewis Avenue and Stockton Street, Bushwick. Visit bushwickcityfarm.wordpress.com for more information.
Go on a foraging walk.
Did you know you can find edible plants in NYC’s parks? “Wildman” Steve Brill and Marie Viljoen offer foraging walks in various parks in the city to point out which plants—most of which are often thought of as weeds and destroyed—can be used in everyday cooking. Visit wildmanstevebrill.com or 66squarefeet. blogspot.com for more information and to sign up for a walk.
Play on an old landfill on Staten Island.
Freshkills Park is a new park being built over NYC’s former primary landfill on Staten Island. Opening in phases from the outside in, the park currently offers programs and events to learn about and explore currently closed sections of the landfill-to-park project. Events include Discovery Day on June 4, a bike tour on June 10, and kayak tours for ages 16 and older on June 18 and July 16 and 30. Visit freshkillspark.org for more information.
Courtesy Bushwick City Farms
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Visit the largest rooftop soil farm in the city.
Brooklyn Grange’s Flagship farm hosts open houses on Saturdays (May 20-Oct. 21, 11am-4pm), but families should be sure to visit May 20, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, or Sept. 16 for Family Farm Day, when City Growers, an educational nonprofit that connects urban communities with agriculture, food, and environment, hosts free family-friendly workshops and children’s activities geared toward children ages 2 and older at Brooklyn Grange. Family Farm Day activities vary, and are typically announced via City Growers’ social media—Instagram and Twitter: CityGrowersNYC; Facebook: City Growers. The flagship farm is located on the roof of 37-18 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, Queens. Visit brooklyngrangefarm.com to learn more.
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Get a taste of the Adirondack Mountains in the North Woods of Central Park in Manhattan.
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The Long Island City location of Brooklyn Grange hosts Family Farm Day, run by City Growers, the third Saturday of each growing-season month.
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Katelin Walling
Jonathan Blanc/The New York Public Library
The original stuffed animals that inspired the stories of Winnie-the-Pooh are housed at the New York Public Library in Midtown, Manhattan.
Courtesy Paul Klein
Courtesy Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery is the oldest knishery in the U.S.
The City Island Land Ferry is free on the first Friday of the month, April-December.
Catch a ride to City Island in the Bronx. See real gold bricks at Federal Reserve Bank of New York (cropped)
Uniquely New York Check out one of Manhattan’s smallest museums.
Housed in a former freight elevator, Mmuseumm’s exhibitions aim to engage, educate, and inform the public in a unique cultural approach to looking at the current world. The tiny museum is located at 4 Cortlandt Alley in Chinatown, Manhattan, and the 2017 season opened May 11.
See a lot of gold.
Tour the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, located in Lower Manhattan, where you’ll learn about the role of the New York Fed and the Federal Reserve System through displays and interactive exhibits, as well as the U.S. economy and how money is made. Plus, you’ll descend into the Fed’s Gold Vault to see the gold bricks housed there. Unfortunately visitors can’t take pictures. Visit newyorkfed.org to reserve a free tour; children must be 16 and older.
Ride the subway through an abandoned stop.
There are two ways you can see the restored City Hall station on the 6 subway line in Manhattan: be a member of the New York Transit Museum and sign up for tour tickets quickly, or stay on the downtown 6 train as it turns around through City Hall station to head uptown. Look out the windows on the right side of the train as you’re facing the direction the train is moving (and make sure you double check with the subway attendant that it’s okay with them for you to stay on the train).
Adventure to City Island, which is reminiscent of a small fishing village, via the City Island Land Ferry. Ride the 6 train to the Pelham Bay Park station, and on the first Friday of the month (April-December) from 5:30-9:30pm, you can hitch a ride on the shuttle for free. While there, you can play at the Ambrosini Field playground, enjoy dinner, stop by Lickety Split Ice Cream for dessert, and watch the sun set before taking the land ferry back to Pelham Bay Park station.
See the stuffed animals that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. The original stuffed animals of Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and T-I-double Guh-Errr are housed in the New York Public Library’s Children’s Center at 42nd Street (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 476 Fifth Ave., Midtown, Manhattan). While you’re there with your little book lovers, check out a few books or participate in a story time.
Watch a giant chess match.
A larger-than-life chessboard is affixed to the north wall of 212 E. 48th St., Midtown East, Manhattan. Each Wednesday at 12pm, one piece is moved using a cherry picker, in a recreation of some of history’s greatest matches. You can learn more about the current match by visiting the concierge in the building’s lobby.
Enjoy a knish.
And not just any knish. Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery, established in 1910 and located at 137 E. Houston St., Lower East Side, Manhattan, is the oldest knish bakery in the United States. And, man, are they delish!
Learn how pianos are made.
Participate in a Steinway & Sons Factory Tour and learn what goes into making a piano by going through the working factory in Astoria, Queens. Tours are free, and children younger than 16 are not allowed on the tours. Tours are offered Tuesdays, 9:30am-12pm, SeptemberJune. While tours are completely booked through December 2017, you can email tours@steinway.com to be placed on a waiting list for this year’s tours.
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BrooklynParent 29
The Summertime Health Blues ›› How to avoid—or beat—childhood ailments that commonly strike during the summer months By Stacey Pfeffer
L
ike most parents, I am overjoyed when winter is over. This winter my house was a revolving door of germs with flu, strep, and pneumonia running rampant and causing my kids to miss way too many school days. When the warm weather approaches, I look forward to fewer trips to the pediatrician and hope my kids will have a fun-filled and illness-free summer. Yet there are some common childhood ailments that are actually more prevalent during the summer months. I spoke with area health experts to learn about the most common health problems for kids during the summer and what you can do to prevent them, or failing that, treat them effectively.
Coxsackie Virus
Dubbed the “summer flu,” Coxsackie virus is an enterovirus that lives in the gastrointestinal tract and can be spread through swimming pools. It is most common in young children and is highly contagious. Symptoms can include fever, sore throat, crankiness, and a rash that occurs on the hands, feet, and mouth. The virus is spread through nose and mouth secretions or from contact with the feces of an infected child, so thorough hand washing after diaper changes is key. All shared toys or objects should be cleaned since the virus can live on surfaces. Jay Berger, M.D., a Long Island pediatrician and the associate chairman of pediatrics of ProHEALTH Care, has seen his fair share of summertime Coxsackie cases. The virus often “masquerades as strep,” he says. “Unfortunately Coxsackie usually gets worse before it gets better,” Dr. Berger adds. “The patient might have higher temperatures or more blisters may appear before they start to feel better.” Sometimes young children with Coxsackie avoid solid food because it is too painful to eat, so it’s essential to ensure your child remains well hydrated with cold drinks. Avoid acidic or 30
June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
tangy foods, which can aggravate mouth sores. Dr. Berger prefers Motrin for Coxsackie because it is anti-inflammatory, helping with pain and discomfort. He also suggests parents make a concoction of equal parts Maalox and Benadryl for their older children who can swish it around in their mouths and then spit it out. “This can really help heal the lesions in the mouth and alleviate discomfort,” Dr. Berger says. The rash and blisters can remain visible for several days, so parents often are confused about when the virus is no longer contagious. A good rule of thumb is when your child is fever free and has no visibly oozing blisters, she can return to camp or other summer activities.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Rash
Searing temperatures during the dog days of summer can take a toll on young children who play outdoors for hours. Children are more prone than adults to heat exhaustion because a child’s body surface area makes up a much greater proportion of his overall weight than an adult’s. “Babies are also more likely to get heat exhaustion because they can’t self-regulate like older children. They are depending on adults to give them drinks or remove them from a sunny spot,” Dr. Berger says. Heat exhaustion occurs when children become dehydrated. Early signs can include lack of energy, fatigue, thirst, and dry lips and/or tongue. We’ve all heard that children should drink regularly before they get thirsty to avoid dehydration, but kids don’t really get thirsty until they’ve lost 2 percent of their body weight as sweat—so be sure to be giving them water regularly. If you suspect your child is suffering from heat exhaustion, get her into the shade or air conditioning. Make sure he is drinking water and eating salty pretzels or bananas to help replenish electrolytes.
Heat rash looks like tiny red dots or pimples on the skin. It tends to happen in hot, humid weather, and babies are most likely to get it. “Heat rash is actually a blockage of sweat glands,” Dr. Berger says. It can cause itching and discomfort in children. Most cases of heat rash go away after three or four days. Try to keep your child’s skin cool and dry and avoid overdressing her. Hydrocortisone cream can help alleviate the symptoms. If the heat rash is accompanied by a fever, contact your doctor.
Lice
Ask any lice removal specialist about his busiest week in business, and chances are he will say it is the week when kids return from sleepaway camp. In fact, many parents make a beeline to lice removal specialists for screening before their kids even step foot in their house. “I think that camps are a breeding ground for head lice and I think the reason is the close proximity of kids to each other, less supervision, sharing of towels, brushes, etc.,” says Anna Krosche, founder and owner of The Lice Lady of Westchester. “It really only takes one kid to have lice and then before you know it the whole bunk has it.” Children should be reminded not to share brushes, towels, or hair ties. Girls should keep their hair up and in a braid or tight bun to minimize exposure. Krosche suggests daily use of a lice-repellant spray with lemongrass, peppermint, lavender, or rosemary oils, which are lice-resistant. Krosche also recommends using an enzyme shampoo, which works well because the bugs themselves are made out of enzymes, so they can’t develop a resistance to it. “Some lice have actually become resistant to OTC [over-the-counter] shampoos such as Rid or Nix,” she says. When Krosche and her team treat a client, they will use a conditioner and combing solution, and she suggests combing the hair out in all four directions with a special nit-picking comb. “Nits are only on one side of an individual’s hair, so that’s why it’s important to comb it in all four directions.” Krosche and her team then blow dry the hair and do another lice check. “Parents should follow up with a comb-out each day for a week and then come back for a re-check after seven days. It is important to do daily comb-outs because if the lice lay eggs, it takes about three days for it to grow big enough to be removed with a comb-out,” she says.
Plantar Warts & Athlete’s Foot
Most kids love running barefoot in the summer, but this carefree attitude puts them at higher risk for plantar warts and athlete’s foot. “A wart is a virus, and a viral particle is tiny. The body is generally wellequipped to prevent warts, but the second there’s an opening through small cuts is when you can have trouble,” says Ari Rubinstein, M.D., a podiatrist at Lower Westchester Foot and Ankle. Dr. Rubinstein sees a large influx of kids with plantar warts during the summer. Warts are treated through several methods, including strong acid medicines, freezing (cyrotherapy), or laser treatments. Most cases can be treated with an excision and applying salicylic acid. “Several treatments might be needed though to fully eliminate the warts,” Dr. Rubinstein says. Athlete’s foot is a fungal skin infection that causes itching, redness, and burning between the toes. The infection thrives in moist, warm environments such as communal locker rooms and public showers. “Although there are several OTC products for it, a prescription product might be more effective and help speed up the healing process with a difficult case,” Dr. Rubinstein says. It’s also great to remind kids that flip-flops are their friends and can help prevent warts and athlete’s foot.
Sunburn
Parents need to be vigilant with sunscreen application and look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that offers both UVA and UVB protection, advises Julie Karen, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan and an assistant clinical professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. UVA and UVB refer to two kinds of harmful rays, ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B. “Both types of rays contribute to skin cancer, but a broad-spectrum sunscreen has to protect proportionately against both UVA and UVB rays,” she says. In fact, if a child has five or more sunburns in his lifetime, the risk for melanoma is doubled. With so many sunscreen options available, it can be difficult for parents to choose one. Dr. Karen prefers sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because, she says, “the benefits are manifold. They are not just physical blockers but they are also better tolerated for children with sensitive skin.” If your child is going to the pool or beach, opt for a water-resistant formula that is less susceptible to degradation from water exposure. Other helpful tips are to apply the sunscreen 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and then reapply every two hours, or sooner if your child is excessively perspiring or swimming. Keep the sunscreen in a temperate environment and check the expiration date on the bottle. “No one uses nearly enough sunscreen,” Dr. Karen says. “Always use more than you think you could possibly need and spend time rubbing it in.” She recommends complete sun avoidance for infants 6 months and younger. Children younger than 1 have particularly sensitive skin and should avoid the sun during peak hours (10am–4pm). Besides seeking shade and limiting sun exposure, children should also wear a broad-brimmed hat and clothing such as rash guards with ultraviolet protection factor. “Parents need to understand that sunscreens aren’t perfect,” Dr. Karen says. “They are not intended for you to wear and stay all day out in the sun. They are meant for the necessary exposure to the sun that comes with living a healthy, active lifestyle.” If your child still gets sunburned, a cool bath can help lower the skin’s temperature and then a gentle moisturizer should be applied to hydrate the skin. If your child has a high fever with the sunburn or your infant gets sunburned, call your pediatrician.
Swimmer’s Ear
Children are susceptible to swimmer’s ear because their small ear canals can easily trap moisture. “Moisture is a key ingredient for swimmer’s ear, so parents need to keep their children’s ears dry after swimming,” says Joey Bernstein, M.D., chief of the division of pediatric otolaryngology at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in Manhattan. Chlorinated pools are actually less of a risk factor for swimmer’s ear than swimming in lakes or rivers where bacteria counts are higher. Dabbing your ears with a towel is a good first step in keeping your child’s ears dry. Blow dryers on a low setting about a foot away from the ear can also help keep moisture out. “If simple things like this don’t work, some kids may need to wear ear plugs, but that’s rarely necessary,” Dr. Bernstein says. If you suspect your child has swimmer’s ear, it is important to treat it early, before the infection escalates and the pain becomes severe. Minor discomfort and itching are early signs of an infection. At-home treatments can help acidify the ear canal—meaning, make it a more acidic environment—which helps prevent bacteria from growing, while also helping dry the ear as much as possible. A 1-to-1 solution of white vinegar, an acidifier, and rubbing alcohol, a drying solution, can help. If this doesn’t work, pay a visit to your doctor, who can prescribe antibiotic eardrops. Stacey Pfeffer is a writer based in Chappaqua.
BrooklynParent 31
Courtesy Sahar Husain
VOICES of the Next Generation
The Magic of Eid ››
My family celebrates the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, which takes place in June this year—here’s why it’s so special to me By Farah Husain
T
he sound of laughter echoed through the house as people bustled about, and the faint, delicate twinkling of glass bangles filled the apartment. This day was special, and the weather happened to be absolutely gorgeous. It was warm and the sun was beaming down onto New York City with a few wisps of pink-tinged clouds drifting lazily across the horizon. A couple of birds let out a few clear, sweet notes as if to announce that it was Eid. My parents, brother, grandfather, and some visiting cousins all sat around the table, cheerfully chatting as they ate the feast my mom had prepared. I noticed a few family members were missing, but they soon joined the merriment not too long after I did. I seated myself in between my younger brother and my cousin, Zoha. We all ate our fill. Once my mom was satisfied everyone was full, she started shooing us away to get ready. I put on a white kameez with gold embroidery and small, white, pearly beads over cotton straight pants with silvery-gold trimming. I had styled my long dark hair into loose, silky curls. Zoha sat next to me with her knees crossed wearing a dark green and light pink kameez over black leggings and natural makeup. The male members of my family were dressed in plain shalwar kameez in various shades of blue and black. My aunt and mom emerged from their rooms in outfits similar to Zoha’s and mine. Theirs finished with a necklace and high heels. Then everyone left for the Eid prayer except for the two older women, who stayed back to prepare the food for later. As our cab neared the mosque, I could see a throng of people surging through the big gates while calling out Eid greetings and hugging each other. On our way in, we stopped by the donation boxes and my dad paid fitr, which is money the mosque passes on to the poor. Fitr is mandatory because it helps us remember those who have less than us. The head of the family (in my case, my dad) has to give the appropriate amount for all family members, including our caregiver; Eid prayer is not accepted unless you pay fitr before praying.
Farah (in red clothes and glasses) is joined by her brother and cousins for a family photo on Eid.
After dropping the cash into the box, the women separated from the men as we all headed to our allocated sections. I could barely hold on to Zoha as we squeezed through the crowd to get to the prayer area. Women sporting their own cultural clothing in all sorts of colors were talking to each other while young children either clung to their mother’s clothes or happily played with one another. While we waited, we compared the intricate henna designs on our hands until the imam’s voice filled the room through giant speakers. He started off with the call to prayer, the adhan, and then started the actual prayer. Everyone stood up, shoulder to shoulder, all different skin colors, all different ages, but all equal in the eyes of God. Prayer ended with great scrambling as everyone tried to reach their shoes and get out of the way before they got swept up into the tide of people. When we returned home, we were met by the delicious smells of the food my aunt and mom had made in honor of Eid. After sampling some of these delicious dishes, we visited a few friends and stuffed ourselves with many more yummy treats. We exchanged gifts and greetings as we chatted about what we planned to do with the money we had received from elders throughout the day, and we snapped some pictures to preserve the memory of this Eid. We finally headed back home to unwind after a long day of visiting and fun. Zoha and I decided to finish a movie we had started watching the previous night and before long the rest of the cousins had joined us too. I sat on the bed sandwiched between Zoha and another one of my cousins, Areeb, with everyone else sprawled on the floor. Looking around, I smiled. To me, this is the magic of Eid: a time to share my joy and excitement with family and friends; a time to celebrate with others, no matter where they’re from or how old they are; a time to bring people together and spread happiness. Happy Eid!
Farah Husain, 12, attends the Trinity School in Manhattan. She enjoys horseback riding, tennis, and soccer, and plays the violin. She also volunteers with the organization Muslim Volunteers for NY.
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
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OUTINGS: Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey
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Where Education and Inspiration Take Flight 1
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© 2016 by the Aviation Hall of Fame of NJ
See real-life aircraft, learn about aerospace pioneers, and enjoy interactive exhibits in Teterboro, NJ. ›› By Caitlin Berens
1 Popular among younger visitors but appealing to all, guests can sit in an ejection seat from a B-52 bomber. 2 Visitors can board the cabin of an authentic Martin 202 airliner from the 1950s in the museum’s courtyard—it’s said to be the last one left in the world. 3 “Little Cut Up” is an airplane assembled from actual “cut-up” airplane parts. Children are encouraged to sit in the cockpit and make the control surfaces move on the wings and tail. 4 Learn more about the astronauts, aviators, and more who made an impact on New Jersey’s aerospace industry inside the Aviation Hall of Fame. 5 The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey has 10 aircraft on display inside and outdoors.
H
ave you ever wanted to climb into the cockpit of an airplane? At the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey you can do just that—and more. Founded in 1976, the Teterboro, NJ-based aviation museum offers a wealth of history, artifacts, artwork, and aircraft spanning “from early balloons to the space age,” says Shea Oakley, the executive director of the museum. The museum’s collections focus on the historic events and technological advances by New Jersey’s air and space pioneers over more than 200 years. The two-level museum has 10 aircraft on display (inside and outdoors), thousands of artifacts to view, more than 400 aircraft models, and interactive exhibits.
Think Like a Pilot
The museum offers a host of interactive exhibits, including a hot-air balloon basket that guests can carefully climb into and an ejection seat from a B-52 bomber that guests can sit in. A favorite among young visitors is “Little Cut Up,” an airplane assembled from actual “cut-up” aircraft parts. Kids are encouraged to sit in the cockpit of the aircraft and make the control surfaces move on the wings and 34
June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
tail, just like a pilot would. The museum’s custom-built Fundamentals of Flight interactive aerodynamics exhibit provides hands-on opportunities for guests to experience the principles of flight.
exclusively for Scout troops—to the public in the future (for groups of 15 or more). It also hosts tours for school groups.
Get In the Cockpit
Though you can board two of the museum’s aircraft year-round (“Little Cut Up” and The Aviation Hall of Fame contains bronze an authentic Martin 202 airliner outside), plaques and information about the aerospace Open Cockpit Weekend is worth marking on the calendar. Held six weekends pioneers inducted from 1973 to present throughout the year, including June 17-18, who have made an impact on the New it allows guests to sit in the cockpit of most Jersey aerospace industry. Inductees include of the aircrafts on display at the museum. former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin as well as identical twins Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly, The annual Wings and Wheels Expo, Sept. 23-24 at Essex County Airport in Fairfield, both retired NASA astronauts and the only NJ, will have several aircraft, vintage military twins who have ever traveled to space (All vehicles, and show cars on display. three were born in The Garden State!).
Honoring Aerospace Pioneers
Inspiring the Next Generation
In addition to preserving the history of New Jersey aviation, the museum is also dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation of aerospace pioneers. Through the Dare to Fly Program kids learn about aerodynamics by designing, building, and flying balsa wood gliders. The museum hopes to open its Night at the Museum program—currently offered
Want to Go?
Address: 400 Fred Wehran Road, Teterboro, NJ Directions: Approximately a 1-hour, 15-minute drive from Park Slope Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm Admission: $8; $6 seniors and kids. Groups of 10 or more: $7; $5 seniors and kids. Open Cockpit Day: $10; $8 seniors and kids. For more information: 201-288-6344 or njahof.org
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BAKSHI LAW C. Lara Bakshi
Special Needs Attorney & Special Education Specialist
critique, Limits imagines a world in which we soar over the borders that separate us—if we can only keep each other from collapsing. WHY WE LOVE IT: This acrobatic exploration examines an EU in flux and is set to an eclectic live score. WANT TO GO? $30 and up. 718-636-4100. bam.org.
Party on Wheels
WHEN: Sunday, June 11, 9-11am WHERE: New York Transit Museum, 99 Schermerhorn St., Downtown Brooklyn AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Bring the family to enjoy exclusive early access, breakfast and birthday cake, crafts and dancing, conductor cab photos, face painting, model trains, and rides on the museum’s 100-year-old Lo-V subway cars from the museum platform to HoytSchermerhorn Station and back. WHY WE LOVE IT: All proceeds benefit the museum! WANT TO GO? $40 and up. 718-694-1600. nytransitmuseum.org/partyonwheels.
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ACTIVITIES
Celebrate Brooklyn! Annual Family Concert FREE
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WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 3pm WHERE: Prospect Park Bandshell, 9th Street and Prospect Park West, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: For this year’s popular children’s concert, Lisa Loeb will bring an afternoon of fun-loving, sing-along-able numbers, joined by the Brooklyn-based orchestra The Knights. WHY WE LOVE IT: Bring a blanket and buy a delicious picnic meal at this annual family-friendly event. WANT TO GO? bricartsmedia.org.
The Mermaid Parade
WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 1pm WHERE: Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk, West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, Coney Island AGES: All WHAT: A celebration of ancient mythology and honky-tonk rituals of the seaside, the parade showcases more than 1,500 creative individuals from all over the five boroughs and beyond, opening the summer with incredible art, entrepreneurial spirit, and community pride. It is free to attend, but there is a fee to march. WHY WE LOVE IT: You can register for the family-friendly section of the parade with moderate noise and no nudity. WANT TO GO? $35; $20 for children younger than 12. 718-965-8993. coneyisland.com. ››
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Open year-round, Rolling admission Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
The 12th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party
WHEN: June 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Governors Island, ferries leave from various locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, see website for details, New York Harbor AGES: All WHAT: The Jazz Age Lawn Party, now entering its 12th year, is New York City’s original prohibition-era inspired gathering. Fans come together to discover music and zeitgeist of the 1920s and 1930s, frolic in their flapper dresses and glad rags, and enjoy sophisticated bites and vintageinspired cocktails in a romantic, playful setting. WHY WE LOVE IT: The event features Kidland, a children’s area with carnival games and prizes for junior gents and Flapperettes. WANT TO GO? $55 and up; free for children younger than 12. 212-4402200. jazzagelawnparty.com.
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Get advance notice on activities, participate inABC group Childdiscussions Center Child Care and Preschool fornotices. children ages 2 - 5 years and receive special Full Day, Half Day Programs & Drop-off Care Available 109 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint - Brooklyn, NY (718) 389-9004 • www.abcchildcenter.com
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Family Fun Day FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 1-4pm WHERE: Conference House Museum, 7455 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: An invaluable relic in America’s history, the Conference House was the site of a 1776 peace conference which attempted to end the Revolutionary War. WANT TO GO? 718-869-6327. conferencehouse.org.
WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome. World Science Festival 2017: The Great Fish Count FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 3, see website for schedule WHERE: Various locations, see website for addresses, Brooklyn and Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Strap on a pair of waders, cast a net, and see what type of marine life you can find in the New York waterways. Led by top ecologists and biologists, the Great Fish Count gives participants of all ages the chance to discover the underwater world in their own backyard. WANT TO GO? worldsciencefestival.com.
Summer Reading Kickoff FREE
WHEN: Thursday, June 8, 10:30am-3pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Summer Reading at Brooklyn Public Library kicks off with free, fun activities and entertainment on the plaza. This year, the plaza will be transformed into a maker space with projects for all ages. WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.
LGBTQ Teen Night FREE
WHEN: Friday, June 9, 5-7:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Planned by LGBTQ teens for LGBTQ teens and their allies, this free evening is filled with art, friends, food, and fun. June’s LGBTQ Teen Night explores gender and sexuality in the collection and special exhibitions, including A Woman’s Afterlife: Gender Transformation in Ancient Egypt. WANT TO GO? 718-501-6000. brooklynmuseum.org.
NYSoM Superhero Carnival 2017 FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 2-6pm WHERE: Raymond Bush Playground, Monroe Street between Throop Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard, Bedford-Stuyvesant AGES: All WHAT: Come celebrate summer with a day of fun including superhero games, activities and prizes, cooking demonstrations, fresh food and artisans market, face painting and tattoos, arts and crafts, classic carnival games and snacks, photo booth, and guest appearances by Marvel & DC heroes and villains. WANT TO GO? nysomgroup.org. 40
May 2017 | nymetroparents.com
SMARTY PANTS Songs For Extraordinary People
WHEN: Through June 3: Saturdays, 4pm WHERE: Barbès, 376 9th St., Park Slope AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Author and composer Michael Hearst, along with his fivepiece band, presents this highly geeky A/V presentation of some of the most fascinating individuals in the world every first Saturday of the month. WANT TO GO? $10 suggested donation. 347-422-0248. barbesbrooklyn.com.
Brooklyn Open FREE
WHEN: Through June 5: Mondays, 5pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Teens enjoy an open mic event during which poets, spoken work artists, emcees, scholars, and activists share their powerful and important voices, run by youth for youth, with youth DJs, youth hosts, and a monthly featured poet. WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.
Aleph Bet Ship Exhibit
WHEN: Through June 15: Monday-Thursday and Sunday, 1-3pm WHERE: Jewish Children’s Museum, 792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Discover and explore the Hebrew alphabet through an interactive and hands-on experience. WANT TO GO? $13. 718-907-8833. jcm.museum.
Book Worms FREE
WHEN: Through June 23: Tuesday-Friday, 2:30-3:30pm WHERE: Walker Park, 88 Delafield Ave., Staten Island AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Book Worms is a program for children to share and develop their love for reading. Children will be able to develop and advance their literacy skills through a variety of fun and educational literacy games, activities, and library trips. WANT TO GO? 718-816-6192. nycgovparks.org.
Carnival & Science Spectacular
WHEN: June 3 and 24, Saturdays, 1-5pm WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Experience the fun of carnival rides and games, a mad scientist show, robotics demonstrations, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities, and live animals. WANT TO GO? $8; free for children younger than 1. 718-273-2060. sichildrensmuseum.org.
Summer Reading Storytime FREE
WHEN: June 7-Aug. 2, Wednesdays, 11am WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Granite Terrace behind Pier 3, Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Enjoy storytime with librarians from the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, who read fun stories from their summer reading list and more. WANT TO GO? 718-624-4719. brooklynbridgepark.org.
Drones: Is the Sky the Limit?
WHEN: Through Sept. 1: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New York Harbor, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This large-scale exhibition will reveal the history of drone technology, from its modern-day origins in World War I and its military development to its current applications in solving complex humanitarian challenges. WANT TO GO? $33; $31 seniors; $24 children ages 2-12; free for children 4 and younger. 877-957-7447. intrepidmuseum.org.
Picturing Female Robots and Androids
WHEN: Through Sept. 3: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: View images of female robots, mannequins, and dolls in films, television, video games, and more. This exhibit, curated by Julie Wosk, is based on her recent book My Fair Ladies: Female Robots, Androids, and Other Artificial Eves. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Library Lab: Coding FREE
WHEN: Through Dec. 20: Wednesdays, 4pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Explore science, technology, engineering, and math concepts with fun, free activities that will spark curiosity through hands-on experiments. WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.
Train Operators Workshop
WHEN: Through Dec. 23: Saturday-Sunday, 3:30-4:30pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Drop by the Computer Lab to take control of a NYC Subway car and operate it over virtual miles of track in this realistic game. WANT TO GO? $7; $5 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-694-1792. nytransitmuseum.org.
ON SCREEN Superhero Movie NIght FREE
WHEN: Friday, June 2, 8pm WHERE: Ocean Breeze Park, 625 Father Capodanno Blvd., Staten Island AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Ocean Breeze will be hosting Superhero Movie Night on the second floor of the Athletic Complex. WANT TO GO? 718-351-7923. nycgovparks.org.
KidsFilmFest
WHEN: Saturday, June 3, see website for schedule WHERE: Made in NY Media Center, 30 John St., DUMBO AGES: All WHAT: Part of the Brooklyn Film Festival, this annual event is dedicated to kids films. Films are tailored for children of all ages and the line-up consists of numerous short animation, live-action, and documentary films. WANT TO GO? $15; free for children 12 and younger. 646-234-5080. kidsfilmfest.org.
‘Journey to Space’ 3-D Movie
WHEN: Through June 30: Monday-Friday, 12pm and 3pm; SaturdaySunday, 1pm and 4pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: Moviegoers will learn about the important role of the International Space Station, uncover what NASA and the space community are working on, and discover the challenges they face to carry out bold missions such as capturing asteroids and landing astronauts on Mars. WANT TO GO? $6; $5 children with admission: $15; $12 children, students, and seniors. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Outdoor Movie Night FREE
WHEN: Through Aug. 20: Sundays, 8:30pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Field 81, Randall’s Island AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Catch outdoor movies surrounded by great views from Randall’s Island every other Sunday. Watch Aladdin on June 11 and Zootopia on June 25. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.
‘Humpback Whales’
WHEN: Through Sept. 14: daily, 10:30am-4:30pm WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Set in the spectacular waters of Alaska, Hawaii, and the remote islands of Tonga, this ocean adventure offers audiences an up-close look at how these whales communicate, sing, feed, play, and care for their young. WANT TO GO? $27; $17 seniors and students; $16 children ages 2-12. 212-769-5100. amnh.org. ›› BrooklynParent 41
AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Join the Prospect Park Alliance for the start of the spring season at Lefferts Historic House, and help them plant their first crop of the season by spreading flax seed and watering the garden. WANT TO GO? $3 suggested donation. 718-789-2822. nycgovparks.org.
Kids Nature Hike FREE
THE GREAT OUTDOORS World Science Festival 2017: Saturday Night Lights: Stargazing FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 3, 7-11pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 1, Old Fulton and Water streets, DUMBO AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Step up to a telescope for an up-close look at the moon, Jupiter, and beyond. Then, take part in UP! Umbrella Project, a participatory experience using an LED-lighted umbrella to create your own exploding stars and constellations. WANT TO GO? 212-348-1400. worldsciencefestival.com.
Exhibition: Wilderness Camp
WHEN: Through June 4: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; Thursday, 10am-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: This indoor experience brings the great outdoors to family audiences through role-play and the exploration of nature. Kids and their caregivers will learn about different ways of creating shelters, plants that provide food and building materials, and techniques that transform natural materials into functional, everyday objects. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.
Family Discovery Weekends
WHEN: Through June 4: Saturdays, 10:30am-12:30pm; Sundays, 1-3pm WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Experiment, learn, and play together in the Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s meadow, woodland, and marsh habitats and in the vegetable garden encourage families to explore nature together. Create a nature-based craft, artwork, or invention with Discovery Garden docents. WANT TO GO? $15; free for children younger than 12. 718-6237200. bbg.org.
Flax to Linen
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 2-4pm WHERE: Lefferts Historic House, Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard, Flatbush 42
May 2017 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 11am-12:30pm WHERE: Goodhue Park, 304 Prospect Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Park rangers connect children with nature to encourage active exploration of the natural world. A free Urban Park Ranger program is the perfect addition to your family’s weekend. WANT TO GO? 718-967-3542. nycgovparks.org.
Tree Identification for Families
WHEN: Wednesday, June 7, 6:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 1, Old Fulton and Water streets, DUMBO AGES: All WHAT: Join Christina Tobitsch, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Environmental Educator, on a tree walk fit for the entire family. WANT TO GO? $5. 212-348-1400. brooklynbridgepark.org.
Summer Fun for the Wee Ones: 2- to 4-Year-Olds FREE
WHEN: June 15-22, Thursdays, 10-11:45pm WHERE: Greenbelt Nature Center, Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave., Staten Island AGES: 2-4, adult WHAT: Join a fun-filled child-and-caregiver adventure with stories, nature exploration, and sprinklers. Registration required and weather permitting. WANT TO GO? 718-351-3450. nycgovparks.org.
Swale, A Floating Food Forest FREE
WHEN: Through June 30: Thursday-Sunday, 12-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 6, Atlantic Avenue and Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Built from recycled materials and set atop a 130-by-40-foot barge, Swale was created to highlight the function of food as a public resource in cities, and to show that recycled materials can be made into productive and aesthetically pleasing structures. WANT TO GO? 718-222-9939. brooklynbridgepark.org.
Free Family Day FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 1-4pm WHERE: The Wyckoff House Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Canarsie AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy engaging, kid-friendly tours, hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, and more. If the weather’s nice, bring a picnic and enjoy our grounds before or after your visit to the house. WANT TO GO? 718-629-5400. wyckoffmuseum.org.
It’s My Park Days 2017 FREE
WHEN: Through Aug. 24: Saturdays, see website for times WHERE: Various parks, see website for addresses, New York AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Volunteers will participate in a citywide effort to care for our green spaces with brooms, shovels, rakes, and trash grabbers during It’s My Park projects. WANT TO GO? nycgovparks.org.
MINI
MUSICIANS Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert: Sbongiseni Duma
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 2-3pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: When singer, songwriter, dancer, and choreographer Sbongiseni Duma takes the stage, he transports audience members to South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17; free with registration. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
The Rock and Roll Playhouse Presents: Michael Jackson Dance Party with DJ Cochon De Lait WHEN: Sunday, June 11, 12:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg AGES: 3-8 WHAT: This 60-minute workshop focuses on specific eras, artists, and genres of music. During each fun-filled class, children will explore live music, movement, and collaborative creativity. WANT TO GO? $10. 646-560-0060. brooklynbowl.com.
Fab Friday Kids’ Concert: Shake, Rattle & Roll FREE
WHEN: Friday, June 16, 10-11am WHERE: Putnam Triangle Plaza, Fulton Street and Grand Avenue, Clinton Hill AGES: 3-5 WHAT: A parent-child, folkloric drumming program with Roman Diaz Ogduardo as the master conga player. Join the fun on the plaza as Ogduardo transports you to Cuba with rhythmic songs and storytelling. WANT TO GO? fabfulton.org.
balloon animals, and more. This year’s lineup includes Jah Pan, steel drum and calypso musicians, Shira & Friends, Rolie Polie Guacamole,The Burdetsky Family Circus, and Astrograss. WANT TO GO? 212-889-0808. downtownbrooklyn.com.
Live at the Archway Series FREE
WHEN: Through Sept. 28: Thursdays, 6pm WHERE: Archway under the Manhattan Bridge, Pearl and Water streets, DUMBO AGES: All WHAT: This concert series showcases the best of DUMBO and Brooklyn talent, presenting a range of music and performance genres. WANT TO GO? dumbo.is.
Neighborhood Family Concerts FREE
WHEN: Through Dec. 23: Saturdays, 4pm WHERE: Bargemusic, 334 Furman St., Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Walk across the gangplank of a renovated coffee barge for a familyfriendly performance, including a Q-and-A session with the musicians. WANT TO GO? 718-624-4924. bargemusic.org.
Sing-Alongs
WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Monday-Friday, 10:30am WHERE: The Dean Street, 755 Dean St., Prospect Heights AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: These weekday sing-alongs feature a different favorite local musician each day, including Rolie Polie Guacamole and the Dirty Sock Funtime Band. WANT TO GO? $8 per family. 718-783-3326. deanstreetbrooklyn.com. ››
New York Philharmonic: Concert in the Park FREE
WHEN: Friday, June 16, 8pm WHERE: Prospect Park, Long Meadow Ball Fields, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: The concert will feature Brooklyn-based musicians performing an opening act, presented as part of the Philharmonic’s Share the Stage program and in celebration of the park’s 150th anniversary. WANT TO GO? 212-875-5656. prospectpark.org.
Make Music NY Presents: Porch Stomp FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 17, see website for schedule WHERE: Governors Island, Nolan Park, ferries leave from various locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, see website for details, New York Harbor AGES: All WHAT: Porch Stomp invites more than 60 bands, artists, and performing arts organizations to utilize the historic porches of Nolan Park as a pulpit for performance and education, highlighting artistry ranging from traditional folk to old-time, blues, roots, bluegrass, and Americana. WANT TO GO? 212-440-2200. govisland.com.
BK Block Parties FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 11am WHERE: Albee Square, Fulton Mall, Fulton and Bond streets, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: This annual BK Block Party features live music, face painting, BrooklynParent 43
The 29th Annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition FREE WHEN: Through June 18: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 12-6pm WHERE: Gallery at BRIC House, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: BRIC presents the 29th annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition, showcasing the works of students who participated in BRIC’s school-based residency programs that bring contemporary artists and their studio practices into the classroom. WANT TO GO? 718-683-5600. bricartsmedia.org.
CRAFTY KIDS A Year with Children 2017
WHEN: Through June 4: Sunday-Wednesday and Friday, 10am-5:45pm; Saturday, 10am-7:45pm WHERE: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: This annual exhibition and arts program showcases artworks by students in second-sixth grades who participated in the Guggenheim’s artist-in-residence program in New York City public elementary schools. Each of the five boroughs is represented by more than 100 creative and imaginative works. WANT TO GO? $25; $18 students and seniors ages 65 and older with ID; free for children 12 and younger. 212-423-3587. guggenheim.org.
Animal Travels
WHEN: June 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30-2:15pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: 3-17 WHAT: Learn about different animals that power travels around the world and create a ‘zoo train’ book to help us remember the fleet with feet. WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children ages 2-17. 718-694-1792. nytransitmuseum.org.
Art in Action FREE
WHEN: Through June 23: Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday, 3:30-4:30pm WHERE: Walker Park, 88 Delafield Ave., Staten Island AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Art in Action is a program in which children will be given the opportunity to develop their creativity and personal expression through a variety of fun and educational arts and crafts projects. WANT TO GO? 718-816-6192. nycgovparks.org.
Flax Harvest
WHEN: June 24-25, Saturday-Sunday, 2-4pm WHERE: Lefferts Historic House, Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard, Flatbush AGES: All WHAT: Learn how flax is processed into linen and try on some reproduction clothes for a fun photo-op in our farm wagon. WANT TO GO? $3 suggested donation. 718-789-2822. nycgovparks.org.
HOLIDAY FUN Chancellor’s Day in Prospect Park FREE
WHEN: Thursday, June 8, 12-4pm WHERE: Prospect Park Audubon Center, Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue, Prospect Park AGES: All WHAT: Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation. See website for schedule. WANT TO GO? 718-965-8951. prospectpark.org.
Father’s Day Focus Tour
WHEN: Through June 5: Mondays, 3:45-4:45pm WHERE: Tot Town, 636 Classon Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-5 WHAT: In this class, young toddlers will be encouraged to apply what they see, hear, smell, and touch in their daily lives to their individual masterpieces. WANT TO GO? $18. 347-533-6440. tottownny.com.
WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 1-5pm WHERE: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Hear the pound of the hammer, smell the sweetness of wood shavings, enjoy the tapping of tin and feel the strength of character and community. Discover the variety of tools used by fathers to make a living in New York and build the towns that became the cities we know today. WANT TO GO? $8; $6 seniors and students; $5 children ages 4-11. 718351-1611. historicrichmondtown.org.
Family Day FREE
Free Ice Pops
Busy Learners Creative Art Class
WHEN: Saturday, June 10, 12-3pm WHERE: Gallery at BRIC House, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: Join some of BRIC’s Teaching Artists for an imaginative adventure in art-making. The program is taking place in conjunction with The 29th Annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition. WANT TO GO? 718-683-5600. bricartsmedia.org. 44
May 2017 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 11am-5pm WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the last day of school with free ice pops (while supplies last). WANT TO GO? $8; free for children younger than 1. 718-273-2060. sichildrensmuseum.org.
MOVERS & SHAKERS Community Dance Class FREE
WHEN: Monday, June 5, 6:30-8pm WHERE: BRIC House Ballroom, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: All ages and skill levels are welcome to join this community dance class taught by Ronald K. Brown and members of his company, Evidence, A Dance Company, which blends traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. WANT TO GO? 718-683-5600. bricartsmedia.org.
The Great Randall’s Island Treasure Hunt FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 10, 10am-2pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Field 62-63, Randall’s Island AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Learn to use a map and compass and search for treasure. Have fun at this event for kids and adults. There will also be arts, crafts, and refreshments. WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.
Brooklyn Cyclones Opening Night
WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 7pm WHERE: MCU Park, 1904 Surf Ave., Coney Island AGES: All WHAT: Watch the Brooklyn Cyclones—in the team’s first home game of the season—take on the Staten Island Yankees. Fireworks follow the game. WANT TO GO? $10-$17. 718-372-5596. brooklyncyclones.com.
Soccer Training Camp FREE
WHEN: Through June 23: Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: Walker Park, 88 Delafield Ave., Staten Island AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will be able to participate in a variety of physical exercises while learning the basic fundamentals of soccer. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-816-6192. nycgovparks.org.
AGES: All WHAT: Glide along the water while kayaking with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse at the Pier 2 floating dock. Children younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All levels are welcome and no experience is necessary. WANT TO GO? 718-802-0603. brooklynbridgepark.org.
Big and Little Skills Academy Basketball Clinics FREE
WHEN: Through Aug. 27: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-7pm; Sundays, 12-2pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2, Clark and Furman streets, Brooklyn Heights AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Join Big and Little Skills Academy for dynamic youth basketball clinics on Pier 2 that include either yoga to enhance flexibility or flag football for agility training. WANT TO GO? 718-222-9939. brooklynbridgepark.org.
New York Road Runners Open Run FREE
WHEN: Through Dec. 27: Tuesdays, 7pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 6, Atlantic Avenue and Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Open Run is a community-based initiative that empowers local volunteers to bring free weekly runs to local neighborhood parks all over NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers, and courses are usually between 2½-3 miles. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, and dogs. WANT TO GO? 718-222-9939. brooklynbridgepark.org.
SPARK by Brooklyn Children’s Museum
WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Tuesday and Friday-Sunday, 1-5pm; Wednesday, 1-3pm; Thursday, 1-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, 1 John St., DUMBO AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: SPARK is a new art and play space located in Brooklyn Bridge Park and features an outpost of the popular Brooklyn Block Lab exhibit, as well as daily art and design workshops, music classes, birthday parties, and more. WANT TO GO? $15; free on Thursdays. 718-624-4719. brooklynkids.org. ››
Little Movers
WHEN: Through June 26: Mondays, 12-12:45pm WHERE: Tot Town, 636 Classon Ave., Crown Heights AGES: Newborn to 2 WHAT: In these fun and practical classes, you will learn techniques for nurturing your baby’s development and sense of self through touch, movement, facial expression, rhythm, and song. WANT TO GO? $25 drop-in. 347-533-6440. tottownny.com.
2017 Plaza Swing Series FREE
WHEN: June 21-July 26, Wednesdays, 6:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: The Brooklyn Public Library hosts the Plaza Swing Series Wednesday nights this summer, featuring live swing bands and dance lessons on the plaza. Dance lessons are at 6:30, the band starts at 7pm. WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.
Kayaking FREE
WHEN: June 3-Aug. 26, Saturdays, 10am-3pm; Thursdays, 5:30-6:45pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2 Dock, Furman and Clark streets, Brooklyn Heights BrooklynParent 45
Red Hook Fest FREE
WHEN: June 9-10, Friday, 5:30-8:30pm; Saturday, 10am-7pm WHERE: Louis J. Valentino, Jr. Park & Pier, Coffey and Ferris streets, Red Hook AGES: All WHAT: The 24th Annual Red Hook Fest: We Push Forward is a free live music and dance festival on the Brooklyn waterfront. There is a community cookout and DJ dance party on Friday, and mainstage performances on Saturday. WANT TO GO? 718-643-6790. redhookfest.com.
Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival FREE
WHEN: Sunday, June 18, 12-4pm WHERE: Eldridge Street Synagogue, 12 Eldridge St., Lower East Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: This annual block party celebrates Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican culture. Enjoy klezmer, cantorial, Peking opera, bomba, and plena music; Hebrew and Chinese scribal art; yarmulke making; Chinese and Puerto Rican mask making; and, of course, kosher egg rolls, egg creams, empanadas. WANT TO GO? 212-219-0888. eldridgestreet.org.
Seventh Heaven Street Fair FREE
WHEN: Sunday, June 18, 12-6pm WHERE: 7th Avenue, from Flatbush Avenue to 16th Street, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: Hundreds of businesses, artists, musicians, and more set up shops along Seventh Avenue at this annual street fair. Enjoy arts and crafts and musical performances in front of John Jay High School, as well as an antique car display and food. WANT TO GO? shopseventh.com.
Puppetry Arts Festival of Brooklyn
FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALS Drums Along The Hudson FREE
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 11am-6pm WHERE: Inwood Hill Park, 218th Street and Indian Road, Inwood, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: This event began as a traditional powwow to celebrate NativeAmerican heritage and culture, and also to commemorate the Lenape people who first inhabited Inwood Hill Park, or Shorakapok (“edge of the water”). WANT TO GO? 212-795-1388. drumsalongthehudson.org.
Taste of Times Square
WHEN: Monday, June 5, 5-9pm WHERE: Times Square, Duffy Square, Broadway between 46th and 47th streets, Times Square, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Don’t miss this annual outdoor food and music festival organized by the Times Square Alliance. Visitors can enjoy international dishes from the district’s top restaurants and music from the city’s best street performers. WANT TO GO? Free admission; food tickets are $1 and up. timessquarenyc.org/index.aspx.
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WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 11am-3pm WHERE: Old Stone House, 344 5th Ave., Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: This annual event features puppet performances by troupes from around New York City and beyond using hand puppets, body puppets, rod puppets, and marionettes. Other activities include puppet and mask making, and face painting. WANT TO GO? free admission, $2-$5 activities. 718-768-3703. puppetryarts.org.
SeriousFun Messtival
WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 9am-3pm WHERE: Prospect Park-Breeze Hill, 450 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Park AGES: All WHAT: Join SeriousFun Children’s Network and help give kids with serious illness the fun they deserve by experiencing your own seriously fun, messy camp day. Epic activities include a 100-foot zip line, dunk tank, paint archery, SeriousFun Run, and pie face tournament. WANT TO GO? See website for prices. 212-283-4275. seriousfunmesstival.com.
The Cyclone’s 90th Birthday Celebration
WHEN: Sunday, June 25, 12pm WHERE: Luna Park, 1000 Surf Ave., Coney Island AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the iconic Cyclone roller coaster’s 90th birthday. Built in 1927, the Coney Island Cyclone has delighted generations of thrill seekers from all over the world. WANT TO GO? Free general admission; tickets required for some activities. 718-373-5862. lunaparknyc.com.
ANIMAL LOVERS FrogWatch Monthly Monitoring Sessions FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, June 7, 8-9pm WHERE: High Rock Park, 200 Nevada Ave., Staten Island AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Special monthly monitoring sessions during which nature lovers listen for the calls of local frogs. Bring a headlamp or flashlight for the night walk and monitoring. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-217-4685. sigreenbelt.org.
7th Annual Pet Day at Deno’s Wonder Wheel FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 10, 12pm WHERE: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, West 12th Street and Boardwalk, Coney Island AGES: All WHAT: Bring your pet to ride the Wonder Wheel for free when accompanied by their owner. There’s also a pet costume contest at 12pm on the Coney Island Boardwalk. WANT TO GO? 718-372-2592. wonderwheel.com.
Southern Ground Hornbill Day
WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 12-3pm WHERE: Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Ingu’s (a southern ground hornbill) third birthday with an afternoon of keeper talks, crafts, and making enrichment birthday gifts. WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children ages 3-14. 718-442-3101. statenislandzoo.org.
AGES: All WHAT: On this Urban Park Ranger-led walk, kids will discover and follow different footprints of wild animals and see where they lead. WANT TO GO? 718-869-6327. conferencehouse.org.
Meet a Work Horse
WHEN: June 24-25, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30-2:15pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Learn all about working horses and the history of the horsecar in New York and meet a working horse from Brooklyn’s Kensington Stables. WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children ages 2-17. 718-694-1792. nytransitmuseum.org.
Faces From the Southern Ocean
WHEN: June 3-Sept. 3, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: View photographs by J.J. L’Heureux featuring some of the world’s most amazing creatures. The portraits feature the faces of unique birds and mammals from Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, and its islands. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-6990005. nysci.org. ››
Bug Day
WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 12-4pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Learn about and handle a variety of bugs, and if you’re craving something more adventurous, eat some bugs at the Bug Café, where you can taste different bug-based products and learn about entomophagy, the practice of eating insects. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Kids Week Staten Island: Animal Tracks FREE
WHEN: Saturday, June 24, 11am-12:30pm WHERE: Visitor Center-Conference House Park, Hylan Boulevard and Satterlee Street, Staten Island
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Fab Friday Kids’ Concert: Moozika! FREE
WHEN: Friday, June 30, 10-11am WHERE: Putnam Triangle Plaza, Fulton Street and Grand Avenue, Clinton HIll AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Kids’ favorite, Moozika! is an interactive music experience that moves through a dynamic mix of playful all original songs by founder and teacher Jesse Goldman. WANT TO GO? fabfulton.org.
BELL 8 - A Seascape by Deirdre Towers
SHOW TIME Fab Friday Kids’ Concert: Anza’s Spanish Sing-Along FREE
WHEN: Friday, June 2, 10-11am WHERE: Putnam Triangle Plaza, Fulton Street and Grand Avenue, Clinton HIll AGES: 3-5 WHAT: In partnership with Busy Bodies Brooklyn, join the fun on the Plaza as Anza’s Spanish Sing-Along features songs, guitar, flute, animal puppets, and bubbles to make learning basic Spanish words fun, social, and engaging. WANT TO GO? fabfulton.org.
Shadow Box Theatre Presents ‘Play It Safe’
WHEN: Through June 2: Monday-Friday, see websites for times WHERE: PS 3, The Bedford Village School, 50 Jefferson Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant AGES: All WHAT: Using song, dance, puppetry, and music, Play It Safe teaches children how to navigate and be safe in traffic. Children will sing and move along with the performers as they learn to travel “With a Buddy” and “Know the Rules.” WANT TO GO? $15. 212-724-0677. shadowboxtheatre.org.
Spellbound Theatre: ‘Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, Please’
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 10-10:45am and 11:15-11:45am WHERE: Old Stone House, 336 3rd St., Park Slope AGES: 3-5 WHAT: This one-of-a-kind storytelling performance follows a lost toy, Catbear, as he travels through the tunnels of New York City on six different subway lines, looking for his owner. WANT TO GO? $15. 718-768-3195. theoldstonehouse.org.
WHEN: June 1-July 1, Thursdays, 4-8pm and Saturdays, 1-5pm WHERE: Waterfront Museum, 290 Conover St., Red Hook AGES: All WHAT: BELL 8 offers a chance to flip mental and spiritual gears, recharge, and sail off into the unknown. On June 17, worldrenowned flute player Basia Blonska, will be accompany the installation from 5-7pm. WANT TO GO? $15. 718-624-4719. waterfrontmuseum.org.
CityParks Puppetmobile: ‘Cinderella Samba’ FREE
WHEN: Through Sept. 30: See website for schedule WHERE: Various NYC parks throughout Brooklyn and Staten Island, see website for locations AGES: All WHAT: As Brazil continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of samba, the CityParks PuppetMobile will bring the magic and grandeur of Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous Carnaval festivities to neighborhood parks across the five boroughs with more than 100 free performances of Cinderella Samba. WANT TO GO? cityparksfoundation.org.
Magic at Coney
WHEN: Through Dec. 17: Sundays, 12pm WHERE: Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Ave., Coney Island AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a magical variety show highlighting a vast array of magicians and featuring illusionists, escape artists, and mentalists from around the world. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 for children 12 and younger. 718-372-5159. coneyisland.com.
‘Pirate School!’
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 2pm WHERE: Waterfront Museum, 290 Conover St., Red Hook AGES: All WHAT: Created and performed by David Engel, this solo show allows families the chance to live out their dreams of high seas adventure with eccentric props, immersive participation, antic sound effects, slapstick, magic, bubbles, puppets, and more. WANT TO GO? $18; $15 children. 718-624-4719. waterfrontmuseum.org.
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Coming up next month: JULY 1: Independence Day Celebration at Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island JULY 4: Nathan’s Famous Hotdog Eating Contest at Surf and Stillwell avenues, Coney Island JULY 15: City of Water Day on Colonels Row, Governors Island
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BrooklynParent 49
WHERE-TO GUIDE
Beaches
nymetroparents.com/where-to
››
Research by Karen Lo
Courtesy New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
It’s time to feel the sand between your toes! Pack up an umbrella, some chairs, a picnic, and a good book, and hit the beach with the kids. We’ve got all of your local sandy spots to enjoy a sunny day this summer, so why hesitate? There’s an entire ocean out there waiting for you to splash around. Want some time to relax? Have the kids compete in a sandcastle contest so you can focus on “me time” until you have to pick a winner. Note: Dates and prices are projected; call ahead or check your local beach’s website to confirm all details.
Staten Island Midland Beach and Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk 718-987-0709; nycgovparks.org/parks/ fdr-boardwalk-and-beach Hours: daily, 10am-8:30pm; boardwalk closes at dusk. Swimming allowed May 29Sept. 4, 10am-6pm. Cost: FREE Sprinklers and playground, handball and shuffleboard courts, seasonal concession stands, bathrooms, and picnic areas. Site of the annual Back to the Beach Celebration (July 22-23) with food, games, sandcastlebuilding, boardwalk vendors, live music, and fireworks. South Beach nycgovparks.org Hours: daily, 10am-6pm Cost: FREE Children’s playground, handball and shuffleboard courts, bocce courts, ball fields, and fishing pier.
Queens Coney Island boasts a 2.7-mile boardwalk and is home to the New York Aquarium and Luna Park.
Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Coney Island Boardwalk 718-946-1350; 212-639-9675 coneyislandfunguide.com nycgovparks.org; nyaquarium.com Hours: Beach and boardwalk, daily, 5am1am; lifeguards on duty May 27-Sept. 4, 10am-6pm. New York Aquarium: daily, 10am-4:30pm. Cost: Boardwalk: FREE. Luna Park: $1 per ride credit, $35 for 4-hour unlimited wristband (does not include specialty rides); Cyclone rollercoaster: $10 (must be at least 54 inches tall to ride). New York Aquarium: $11.95; free for children ages 2 and younger.
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A 2.7-mile boardwalk, New York Aquarium, Luna Park (including the Cyclone rollercoaster), eateries, and outdoor spray showers Manhattan Beach 718-646-5913 212-639-9675 nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattanbeachpark Hours: daily, sunrise to sunset; lifeguards on duty May 27-Sept. 4, 10am-6pm. Cost: Beach: FREE. Parking: $6 weekdays, $20 weekends and holidays. Boardwalk, two playgrounds, large baseball diamond, tennis, basketball, and handball courts
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk Far Rockaway to Neponsit (Beach 9th Street to Beach 149th Street; see website for entrance changes) 718-318-4000 nycgovparks.org/parks/rockawaybeach Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset; lifeguards on duty 10am-9pm. Swimming allowed Memorial Day Weekend through Sept. 4. Cost: FREE Basketball and handball courts, beach tennis, skate park, surfing, sitting areas, and playgrounds along the boardwalk and adjoining areas
Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/beaches
WHERE-TO GUIDE
nymetroparents.com/where-to
Amusement Parks
››
Research by Sabrina Sooknanan
Courtesy Luna Park
Zoom down twisty roller coasters, splash around on a water slide, and don’t forget to collect a big prize at the arcade. This summer, take your family to a local amusement park, or get out of town for a weekend of big play. Every place on our list has kid-friendly rides and attractions, and something for the grown-ups, too. Call ahead or visit the website before your day out at the amusement park, as hours, ticket prices, and attractions are subject to change.
Ride on the historic wooden Cyclone roller coaster that has been around since 1927 at Luna Park at Coney Island.
Adventurer’s Park 1824 Shore Parkway, Bensonhurst 718-975-2748 adventurerspark.com Hours: May 26-Sept. 4, check the website for hours. Price: Single ticket: $3.75; 10 tickets: $31; 30 tickets: $80; GoKarts: $8 ($12 with a passenger). Calling all adventurers! With family rides, water boats, and mini golf, this amusement park opens daily for the summer May 29. Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel 111th Street and 55th Avenue, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens
718-788-2676 fantasyforestnyc.com Hours: Through Oct. 11: daily, hours vary; check the website. Price: Single ticket: $3.50; 3 tickets: $10; 10 tickets: $30; 20 tickets: $55; 40 tickets: $100. Weekly unlimited ride wristband: $25 (valid until 4pm). One roller coaster, family rides and games, and a carousel are right in the heart of Queens. Don’t miss tons of great family-friendly performances throughout the summer as well, every weekend. The carousel was brought to Coney Island in 1964 for the World’s Fair and is the only ride left from the World’s Fair
in Queens. Don’t miss the chance to ride this historical gem. Check website for a complete schedule. Victorian Gardens Wollman Rink, Central Park, Manhattan 212-982-2229 victoriangardensnyc.com Hours: May 27-Sept. 10: Monday-Thursday, 11am-7pm; Friday, 11am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 10am8pm. Occasionally closes early for events, check the website before visiting. Price: $8.50 weekdays; $9.50
weekends and holidays; free for children shorter than 36 inches (with a paying adult). $24.50 for unlimited-ride wristbands on weekdays; $27.50 on weekends; $4 for games. Enjoy rides and games for the whole family, plus live entertainment every weekend. Soar in circles on the Kite Flyer or play the tried-andtrue Whack-A-Mole game. New attraction: Grand Prix (a fast paced jet-ski race) and teacup ride. Luna Park at Coney Island 1000 Surf Ave., Coney Island 718-373-5862 lunaparknyc.com Hours: May 23-Sept. 5: daily; hours vary. Sept. 10-Oct. 30: weekends. Check online for full details. Pricing: $1 per credit; 48 credits: $40; 75 credits: $60; and 140 credits: $100; $35 for unlimited Luna Park Ride Wristband, which includes 4 hours of unlimited rides on more than 22 rides in Luna Park. Platinum wristband includes 4 hours of unlimited rides, plus 5 extreme rides. Check online for additional deals. Mild to extreme thrill rides, games, and dining. New attraction this year: WindstarZ VR, which launched this season, has been enhanced with a virtual reality experience to make riders feel like you are actually hang gliding in a worldly environment. The ride holds 24 seats and is located next to Coney Joe.
Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/amusementparks
Courtesy Chef John Stage
FOOD & NUTRITION
Grilling with Chef
John Stage
››
Tips for cooking on the barbecue from a grill master—just in time for a Father’s Day feast By Katelin Walling; recipes by Chef John Stage
Chef John Stage, owner of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and, most recently, Flip Bird and Apizza Regionale, located in Gotham Market at The Ashland in Downtown Brooklyn
W
arm weather brings grilling season, and what better time to grill a feast than Father’s Day? But before you crank up the heat and throw some meat on the fire, you’ll want to check out these do’s and don’ts from Chef John Stage, the man behind Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, with nine locations, including Brooklyn and Manhattan, and two new restaurants located in Gotham Market at The Ashland in Brooklyn: Apizza Regionale, serving pizza made from locally sourced ingredients, and Flip Bird, serving rotisserie and fried free-range, antibiotic- and growth hormone-free chicken. So grab your tongs and wire brush, fire up the grill, and cook a feast fit for the king of your castle—maybe one of Stage’s recipes (right)?
Grilling Do’s
Clean your grill before and after cooking. Food releases more easily from a clean grill, so “while the grill is still warm, at the end of your grilling, take a wire brush to it and hit it pretty good. You don’t want all the build up from the grilling,” Stage says. “And do it again before you start [next time].”
Try fruits and veggies on the grill. Stage says any fruit or vegetable that won’t fall through the grate on the grill will work, but this time of year he especially enjoys grilled asparagus, and corn on the cob a little later in the season.
Grilling Don’ts
Manhandle the meat. Try to avoid poking the meat and flipping it too early. “If it doesn’t want to be flipped, it lets you know. If it’s sticking to the grill just leave it alone, don’t flip it. It will release on its own when it’s ready to flip,” Stage says. Buy just any meat. “I like to look for marbling,” Stage says. “I’m looking for a decent fat content.” You want to see the white flecks of fat throughout the meat, he says, which will self-baste the meat while cooking, and fat is the flavor of the meat. Lose your patience. This goes hand in hand with not manhandling the meat. Cooking on the grill takes patience, Stage says, and that’s when people flip the meat too early. “That’s the wrong approach,” he says.
Master the fire. Every grill has hot and low spots, Stage says, and you’ll want to know where they are. “There are some meats that you want to grill low and some you want to grill high. With any type of barbecue you want to go low, and you tend to go high on any type of grilled meat Use expensive cuts, especially if it’s your first time cooking on a grill. “Keep it simple,” Stage says. “Do a burger. That way if you like steaks or burgers or chops,” Stage says. “Then you want be able to screw it up, you’re not out a lot of money. That will give you a get that food from high to low to get it in a resting spot.” good understanding of how the fire and grill works.” Season your meat before grilling. Especially with a burger or Keeping all these do’s and don’ts in mind, as with anything, the steak, give it a good salt and then get a sear on it. “You want to get that crust. It’s a matter of putting the meat on the grill, getting more you practice, the better you’ll get at it. “Whether it’s a gas or that good crust, and leaving it on one side before flipping it so you charcoal grill, once you understand the nuance of it and understand the fire, get a good piece of meat, and have a little patience,” Stage do get that good sear. Then once you get that good sear, the meat says. “That’s how you get good at it.” will release from the grill,” Stage says. 52
June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
Serves 4 Ingredients For the steak: • 4 8oz. skirt steaks, trimmed • ¼ cup red rub (recipe below) • ¼ cup olive oil For the Salsa: • 1½ lbs. plum tomatoes • 2 Tbsp. olive oil • ¼ cup diced red onion • ½ tsp. minced garlic • 2 tsp. minced jalapeno • ½ cup avocado, diced • 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro • 2 tsp. lime juice • 1 tsp. kosher salt • 1 tsp. sugar • ¼ tsp. Tabasco sauce • 2 tsp. barbecue sauce For the Rub: • ¼ cup smoked paprika • ¼ cup Kosher salt • ¼ cup sugar in the raw • 2 Tbsp. dark chili powder • 1 Tbsp. granulated garlic • 1 Tbsp. granulated onion • 1½ Tbsp. black pepper • 1 tsp. cumin • 1 tsp. celery salt • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
Directions 1. Make the salsa: Fire up the
grill to medium heat. Core and split tomatoes in half lengthwise, place them in a bowl, and toss them with the oil. Grill them on both sides until charred, transfer them to a cutting board, and chop to a chunky texture. Add them back to the bowl and gently stir in the rest of the ingredients until combined. 2. Make the steaks: Mix rub ingredients together. Combine ¼ cup of rub and the olive oil in a bowl to form a paste and rub it on both sides of the steak. Preheat grill to high. Remove the steaks from the marinade and pat them dry. Grill steaks to desired temperature, let rest, and slice across the grain. 3. Serve with the Charred Tomato and Avocado Salsa.
Flip Bird’s Spatchcock: Chicken with Harissa spices
Courtesy Chef John Stage
Courtesy Chef John Stage
Red Rub Skirt Steak with Charred Tomato and Avocado Salsa
Cooked on a gas grill Chicken
Ingredients • 1 Whole Chicken, approximately 3½ lb. • 3-4 Tbsp. Harissa spices (recipe below) • 2 Tbsp. olive oil Directions 1. To Spatchcock Chicken: Using poultry shears or a sharp knife, cut down on each side of backbone/spine and remove completely. Turn chicken over and press down, flattening chicken as much as possible. 2. Coat chicken with olive oil and spices, completely cover, and let sit in refrigerator for a couple of hours. 3. For gas grill, turn on two burners to medium high and leave off one burner. This will create indirect heat. You want the internal temperature of grill to be approximitely 350-375º. Adjust burners as necessary. 4. Place chicken skin side up on the side of grill with the burner off. Close lid and cook for 50 minutes, until the thickest part of thigh reads 165º.
5. Lower heat on burners to medium-low and flip chicken skin side down onto direct heat for 5-8 minutes to crispen and tender skin. Don’t let it burn. Remove from grill, let rest, light season, and serve. Harissa spices
Ingredients • ¼ cup smoked paprika • 2 Tbsp. fine sea salt • 2 Tbsp. sugar • 1½ Tbsp. turmeric • 1½ Tbsp. cumin seed • 1½ Tbsp. fennel seed • 1½ Tbsp. granulated garlic • 1½ Tbsp. sumac • 1½ Tbsp. cinnamon • 1½ Tbsp. ground ginger • 1½ Tbsp. black pepper • 1½ Tbsp. Szechuan peppercorns Directions 1. Toast and grind cumin and fennel seed. 2. Blend all spices evenly.
Chef John Stage is the owner of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which has nine locations including Harlem and Brooklyn, and two newly opened restaurants in Gotham Market at The Ashland in Downtown Brooklyn: Flip Bird, a rotisserie and friend chicken establishment, and Apizza Regionale, which uses only locally sourced ingredients.
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Introducing tweens to new to hobbies such as hiking as a healthy way to cope with stress is one way to help prevent them from turning to drugs.
It’s Never Too Early to Prevent Drug Abuse ›› With changing laws and attitudes about recreational marijuana, it’s more important than ever for parents to talk to their kids about drug use. By Dana Klosner-Wehner
P
opular opinion on the legalization of recreational marijuana has changed dramatically in the last decade. Today, 57 percent of U.S. adults say the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 37 percent say it should be illegal. A decade ago, opinion on legalizing marijuana was nearly the reverse: 32 percent favored legalization, while 60 percent were opposed, according to a 2016 Pew Research Poll. While marijuana is still illegal federally, recreational and medical use is permitted in eight states, and medical use is allowed in more than half the country, including New York and New Jersey. “With legalization [for recreational use] comes increased availability and a decrease in the perception of harm among children and adolescents,” says Amy Goldstein, communications director of the National Family Partnership. But studies from the World Health Organization and The National Academy of Sciences show just the opposite: Marijuana can be addictive and harmful. Chances of becoming dependent on marijuana can be up to 50 percent for some users, according to Smart Approaches to Marijuana, an alliance dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy, and regular use is dangerous to the adolescent brain—in some cases linked to permanent reductions in IQ, respiratory problems, injury, psychosis, and suicide. “When people begin using marijuana as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. Marijuana’s effect on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent,” Goldstein says. But with these new state laws, kids are being inundated with messages 54
June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
that the drug is harmless—and it’s more important today than ever that parents understand the risks of marijuana when used recreationally. “There are new television commercials coming after kids and young adults,” says Sue Rusche, president and CEO of National Families in Action. She refers to the T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog having a potluck supper with thinly veiled references to pot. “There were purple cushions, marijuana vines, and other pot references,” she says. “That kind of stuff comes after kids. It’s the new tobacco industry, only worse.” Medical marijuana—which has been approved for treating symptoms of a number of diseases including cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy—is a different story: Though it remains controversial and the American Academy of Pediatrics disapproves of its use in children, it is a topic that parents should discuss with their doctor if their child suffers from one of these diseases. In states where marijuana is fully legal, there are billboards advertising where to get it. Nationally, there are websites such as weedmaps. com that tell you where you can buy pot and even have it delivered. Paraphernalia is not the only way to indulge anymore. Legalization has spurred a boom in pot “edibles.” THC concentrate is mixed into almost any type of food or drink, including candies, soda, and baked goods. Today, these edibles comprise at least half of Colorado’s marijuana market, according to a report by SAM. There are even edible recipes on the Internet. “These foods are being left around,” Rusche says. “Babies and toddlers are eating them. They are rushed to the ICU.” “Marijuana is more potent today than it was in the 1960s and ’70s
even through the ’90s,” Rusche continues. “In those days the THC levels were 1, 2, 3, 4 percent. As marijuana growers begin cross breeding the average level of THC is now 12-15 percent.” But all is not lost. “Parents have the power to help our children grow up to be healthy and drug free,” Goldstein says. And it is never too early to start.
Ages 3-6
Model a healthy relationship to drugs and alcohol. “In very young children parents want to model behaviors,” says Susan Newman, Ph.D., a social psychologist who specializes in parenting issues. “Always use drugs and alcohol moderately. You think kids aren’t watching but they are.” Take advantage of teachable moments. “There are teachable moments,” says Peggy Sapp, executive director of the National Family Partnership. “You can use gummy vitamins. You can say, ‘These taste like candy but they’re not, they’re medicine and you can only have one a day.’” Eat dinner as a family. Even at this young age getting together for meals has a positive impact on kids, Newman says. You can model listening and sharing events of your day. “There are several studies that show the more dinners you have with children, the less likely they are to try dangerous substances,” she says. “They feel supported, they get heard, and it’s a great opportunity to talk about all this.”
Elementary School
Express clear disapproval for drug use. “Marijuana use was much less prevalent among youths who perceived strong parental disapproval for trying marijuana once or twice than for those who did not,” according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. What Happens When You See Commercials and Billboards? “Help [kids] become media literate by asking questions about what they think the commercial or message are trying to tell them and why. It’s a good opportunity to ask questions about what they think they know about marijuana, what they’ve heard from their friends, who they perceive to be using it—and responding to those questions with facts, calmly and clearly,” Goldstein says. Tell your kids that even in states where marijuana is legal, it is only legal for adults of a certain age, and regulated by law the way alcohol is, until age 21. It is still considered illegal and harmful for teens and the developing teen brain, which is not fully matured until age 25, according to Josie Feliz, director of communications for the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. Talk about family values. “Discuss incidents with friends in general about anti-social behavior,” Newman says. “If some child in the neighborhood throws rocks at someone’s dog, you need to discuss values and what’s important. For example you can say, ‘In this family we value respect and not following negative examples.” Address negative behaviors. According to Joseph Lee, M.D., American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry member and expert specializing in substance abuse, there can be telltale signs and many years of behavior before a child turns to substance abuse. “A child might have behavior problems in school,” he says. “He could be telling white lies and have trouble with remorse or empathy. These issues should be addressed.”
Middle School
Know your kids’ friends. Studies show younger teens, those 13 and
older, are much more influenced by their peers. “Be aware of where your kids are and who they are with,” Newman says. “Being vigilant can pay off.” “Ask them how their friends are using and why they are,” adds Susan Weiss, Ph.D., director of the Division of Extramural Research at The National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Tell them, ‘Your friends may be taking risks with things you may not want to do.’” Team up with other adults in your kids’ lives. “Know who the parents are,” Goldstein says. “Work together with the parents of your children’s friends to set common boundaries and monitor behavior. There’s strength in numbers. By getting to know your children’s friends’ parents and joining forces, you are essentially building a safety net for your children. Plus, supporting each other during times when you feel worn out can empower you to stay focused on helping your kids grow up healthy and drug free.” Model and introduce healthy coping mechanisms and hobbies. Middle school can be a time of high stress, Goldstein says. Children go through puberty while experiencing pressure to fit in and gaining more independence. It’s important for children to be exposed to healthy ways of coping with stress, whether it’s through daily exercise, getting out in nature, yoga, meditation, or playing their favorite sport.
Teens and Young Adults
Be Available. Parents should be honest about the risk to kids, Weiss says. “But if your child is using it find out why—some are depressed, some are anxious. They are using it to solve problems. Tell them this is not a good way and there are better ways of coping.” Discuss family history and what they see in the news. Talk about family members with addictions and family members with mental illness, Weiss says. “When a celebrity or local person in the news is in trouble for marijuana or other substances, it is an opportunity for parents to take advantage of the situation and discuss it in detail,” Newman says. “You want to say something like this happened to this person and these are the dangers of using marijuana and other drugs.” Make them aware that not everyone is doing it. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 7 percent (1 out of 14) of 12- to 17-year-olds have reported using marijuana in the last month. “Sadly the misconception that everyone is doing it, which is common for teens, leads to increased use,” Goldstein says. “Many prevention organizations are aware of this and are investing in marketing campaigns, which help to reduce alcohol and drug use by educating teens about the actual use by their peers, based on surveys done in a school or community.” “You can show them a site like weedmaps.com and say, ‘Look how many sites are exploiting kids and breaking federal laws. These folks don’t care about your health, they only care about making money’,” Rusche says. Cultivate a positive family culture. It’s important that you spend quality time with your kids and have a good relationship, Goldstein says. Your kids need to know that they can trust and talk to you. “You don’t know what outside influences are going to do to your teenager,” Newman says. “The only way to combat this is by how you as a parent behave.” Dana Klosner-Wehner is a Long Islander who enjoys writing about parenting issues. Her topics are quelled from her own experiences in raising two kids.
BrooklynParent 55
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Trilok Summer
PartyCentral Professional services Your local guide to entertainers, party places, activities, and other resources. BIRTHDAY GIFTS SUGAR VINES 7404 4th Ave. 718-734-2700 sugarvinesflowers.com sugarvinesflowers@gmail.com Sugar Vines sets itself apart from the traditional flower shop by bringing a fresh and unique twist to an oldfashioned practice. In addition to floral decor, we also offer balloons and plush animals to help make any child’s birthday a little more special. PARTY ENTERTAINMENT CLOWNS.COM Proudly Serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals. PARTY PLACES ART FUN STUDIO 547 92nd St. 718-680-0508 artfunstudio.com alla@artfunstudio.com Canvas and ceramic painting art studio in Brooklyn. Plan a child’s budget-friend-
ly birthday party or adult’s Sip and Paint event, check our classes or just walk in for spontaneous fun! Seventy five-star reviews on Google and Yelp. Fun and creative packages for all ages. AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENTS CENTER 3159 Flatbush Ave. 718-758-7551 aviatorsports.com/birthday-parties There are nine birthday party packages at Aviator Sports that make it easy to create a memorable birthday party for children. All parties include a private party room throughout the duration of the party, and a dedicated party host! BOUNCEU 6722 Fort Hamilton Parkway (entrance on 67th Street and 9th Avenue), Dyker Heights 347-450-5867 bounceu.com/brooklyn-ny BounceU, the premier birthday party and play experience in all of Brooklyn. We’re a 30,000-square-foot indoor recreational facility with “YUGE” inflatable play equipment. KIDS ‘N ACTION 1149 McDonald Ave. 718-377-1818 kidsnaction.com steven@kidsnaction.com Fun and thrills are what your kids will have at Kids ‘N Action. Kids never get bored enjoying our thrilling indoor roller coaster, amusing winding train, exciting go-karts, and action-filled arcade games. Parties include unlimited soft play and rides.
Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS
PEDIATRIC IMMEDIATE CARE 150 E. Sunrise Highway, Suite 105, North Lindenhurst 631-956-PEDS (7337) 1077 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 631-864-PEDS (7337) pediatricimmediatecare.com Pediatric Immediate Care is a team of hearts where kids come first. State-ofthe-art medical office equipment allows us to deliver your test results during your visit. Kid-friendly; walk-ins welcome; most insurance plans accepted. EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS STRATEGIC STAFFING WORKS Brooklyn and Long Island locations 631-649-6573 strategicstaffingworks.com strategicstaffingworks@gmail.com Offers workshops designed to help parents, family, and friends aid people with diverse abilities in their search for volunteer opportunities related to their field of college interest. LEGAL SERVICES BAKSHI LAW Offices in the Financial District, Long Island, and Westchester 917-244-6133; lawbakshi.com lara.bakshi@gmail.com Bakshi Law specializes in special education law, representing parents and children with disabilities, attending suspension hearings, CSE and resolution meetings. Our attorneys offer assistance on a sliding scale.
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SPECIAL NEEDS
BAKSHI LAW Offices in the Financial District, Long Island, and Westchester 917-244-6133 lawbakshi.com lara.bakshi@gmail.com Bakshi Law specializes in special education law, representing parents and children with disabilities, attending suspension hearings, CSE and resolution meetings. Our attorneys offer assistance on a sliding scale. LITTLE OPTICS INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside 718-468-7500 Hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured that they will feel confident. SPECIAL NEEDS EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIC STAFFING WORKS Brooklyn and Long Island locations 631-649-6573 strategicstaffingworks.com strategicstaffingworks@gmail.com Offers workshops designed to help parents, family, and friends aid people with diverse abilities in their search for employment and life-fulfilling volunteer opportunities.
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NYMETROPARENTS.COM/REGISTER BrooklynParent 63
Meet the Health Care
PROFESSIONAL
To be in this section, call 212-315-0800 or email nympads@davlermedia.com
Lois Jackson, D.D.S., P.C. and Associates 16 Court St., Suite 2211 718-855-8833 505 LaGuardia Place, Suite L4, Greenwich Village near Washington Square Park 212-995-8888; lajacksondds@aol.com
Dr. Lois Jackson is very experienced in pediatric dental care for children, adolescents, and patients with special-needs. She is the president of the New York State Association of Pediatric Dentists. To give back to the community, Dr. Jackson volunteers and supports numerous civic and cultural organizations. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Camp Brooklyn (sending children to camp), Flatbush Development Corporation, East Midwood Jewish Center, and Fisk Terrace Neighborhood Association. Dr. Jackson was a Nickelodeon Parents’ Pick for Best Dentist for two years running!
Dr. Charlot Cascya - Allergy and Asthma Care of Brooklyn 10 Plaza St. E., Suite 1E 311 Saint Nicholas Ave., Ridgewood 347-564-3211; brooklynallergydr.com
Dr. Cascya Charlot is an award-winning, Harvard Medical School-trained physician who is board-certified in pediatric and adult allergy and immunology. She is the chief of pediatric allergy at Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, and medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of Brooklyn, in Park Slope and Williamsburg. She evaluates patients for a wide variety of allergic conditions including asthma, eczema, food allergies, sinusitis, and environmental allergies. Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades including the prestigious Patients’ Choice “Most Compassionate Doctor” award in 2012 and 2013.
Pediatric Immediate Care 698 Manhattan Ave. 718-389-PEDS (7337) 150 E. Sunrise Highway, Suite 105, North Lindenhurst 631-956-PEDS (7337) 1077 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 631-864-PEDS (7337); pediatricimmediatecare.com
Pediatric Immediate Care is a team of hearts where kids come first. State-of-theart medical office equipment allows us to deliver your test results during your visit. Kid-friendly; walk-ins welcome; most insurance plans accepted. Complete pediatric and adolescent care, as well as baby, camp, school, and sports physicals. Certified urgent care recommended by Urgent Care Association of America. Thirty years of dedication to our patients. The offices are open seven days a week including holidays, 8am-11pm.
Park Slope Kids Dental Care 150 4th Ave. 718-488-0200 parkslopekidsdental.com
At Park Slope Kids Dental Care, children who are first seen for a friendly examination and cleaning are able to enjoy the dental experience and build a bond of trust with us. A customized dental plan that includes prevention, growth development, and possible treatment is created to fit your child’s specific dental needs. We are committed to giving children the best possible experiences at our office to help set them up for a lifetime of good oral health.
OPEN HOUSES 2017 ABC Child Center
109 Nassau Ave., Greenpoint 718-389-9004 abcchildcenter.com; info@abcchildcenter.com Tour the Infant and Toddler Center and the Preschool, and meet some of the wonderful staff. June 24 from 12-2pm. Balloons and refreshments will be provided. RSVP to info@ abcchildcenter.com.
The Learnatory
The Bible Speaks Church 5205 Foster Ave.
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June 2017 | nymetroparents.com
347-787-0435 thelearnatory.org dthompson@thelearnatory.org Join us for an open house on May 31 from 6-8pm.
Mill Basin Day Camp
5945 Strickland Ave. 718-251-6200 millbasindaycamp.com Please call for open house dates and times to learn more about our camp and tour the facility.
Park Slope Armory YMCA, Prospect Park YMCA
Park Slope Armory YMCA 361 15th St. 212-912-2580 ymcanyc.org/parkslopearmory Prospect Park YMCA 357 9th St. 718-768-7100 ymcanyc.org/prospectpark Day camp open houses at the Prospect Park Y and the Park Slope Armory Y: Saturday, June 10 from 10am–1pm.
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ACROBATICS / GYMNASTICS
Rab’s Country Lanes....................................................15
Fidelis Care New York....................................................7
Chelsea Piers...............................................................59
Smart Start...................................................................62
Jackson, Lois Dr.....................................................12, 64
Stage Theater School...................................................62
NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene........................16
Two by Two Childcare..................................................62
Park Slope Kids Dental Care..................................29, 64
BIRTHDAY / PARTY SERVICES Aviator Sports Recreation.............................................62 BounceU.......................................................................61
DANCE
Chelsea Piers...............................................................59
Brooklyn Music School................................................. 11
Construction Kids.........................................................61
Chelsea Piers...............................................................59
Kids N Action................................................................60
Fit4Dance.....................................................................61
My Gym - Park Slope...................................................61 CAMPS Aviator Sports Recreation.............................................62 Bible Speaks Church (The)............................................3 Brooklyn Music School................................................. 11 Camp Bed-Stuy..............................................................2 Congregation Beth Elohim............................................59 Construction Kids.........................................................61 FasTracKids Brooklyn / Staten Island..........................18 Leif Ericson Day School...............................................18 Mill Basin Day Camp......................................................5 My Gym - Park Slope...................................................61 NYC Tae Kwon Do........................................................60 Oasis Children Services...............................................13
DEVELOPMENTAL Huntington Learning Center.........................................27 EDUCATION ABC Childcare Center.................................................39
Pediatric Immediate Care.......................................35, 64 Tobacco Free NY..........................................................29 LEGAL SERVICES Bakshi Law...................................................................39 MUSIC Brooklyn Music School................................................. 11 Llingsworth Music.........................................................47
Bakshi Law...................................................................39
PERFORMING ARTS / ACTING
Barnes and Noble...........................................................9
Stage Theater School...................................................62
Brienza’s Academic Advantage....................................33 FasTracKids Brooklyn / Staten Island..........................18
PLAY SPACES
Huntington Learning Center.........................................27
BounceU.......................................................................61
King’s College London Summer Programmes.............12
Kids N Action................................................................60
Leif Ericson Day School...............................................18 Russian School of Mathematics...................................53 Two by Two Childcare..................................................62
RELIGIOUS Leif Ericson Day School...............................................18 RETAIL
Park Slope Day Camp..................................................68
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT /
Rab’s Country Lanes....................................................15
EVENTS / OUTINGS
Barnes and Noble...........................................................9
Russian School of Mathematics...................................53
BounceU.......................................................................61
Llingsworth Music.........................................................47
Smart Start...................................................................62
Kids N Action................................................................60
Trilok School ................................................................62
Land of Make Believe...................................................23
YMCA - Prospect Park..................................................62
Llingsworth Music.........................................................47
Young People’s Day Camp - Brooklyn..........................17
Rab’s Country Lanes....................................................15
CHILD CARE / DAY CARE ABC Childcare Center..................................................39 Kith & Kin......................................................................33 Smart Start...................................................................62 Two by Two Childcare..................................................62 CLASSES Brienza’s Academic Advantage....................................33 Chelsea Piers...............................................................59 Congregation Beth Elohim............................................59
Wheel Fun Rentals.......................................................23 Wild West City..............................................................21 FAMILY TRAVEL Land of Make Believe...................................................23 Wheel Fun Rentals.......................................................23 Wild West City..............................................................21 FITNESS Chelsea Piers...............................................................59
SERVICES NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene........................16 SPECIAL EVENTS Barnes and Noble...........................................................9 SPECIAL NEEDS Bakshi Law...................................................................39 Huntington Learning Center.........................................27 OHEL Children’s Home & Family.................................35 SPORTS Aviator Sports Recreation.............................................62
Mill Basin Day Camp......................................................5
Mill Basin Day Camp......................................................5
NYC Tae Kwon Do........................................................60
NYC Tae Kwon Do........................................................60
YMCA - Prospect Park..................................................62
YMCA - Prospect Park..................................................62
King’s College London Summer Programmes.............12
HEALTH
TUTORS
My Gym - Park Slope...................................................61
Allergy & Asthma Care of Brooklyn........................53, 64
Brienza’s Academic Advantage....................................33
Construction Kids.........................................................61 FasTracKids Brooklyn / Staten Island..........................18 Fit4Dance.....................................................................61
BrooklynParent 65
Rod Howe and Mark Pedersen
VOICES Three Decades and Counting ››
How we, a gay couple with two adopted sons, raised our kids during changing times By Rod Howe and Mark Pedersen
W
e met in Boston in 1986 and quickly cut to the chase. One of us indicated that he planned to adopt a child, since he had known he wanted to be a parent since the age of 12. The other shared he was HIV positive and had never thought about the possibility of parenthood. Fast forward through a brief romance, moving in together, marching in front of then-governor Michael Dukakis’ home to oppose an intolerant foster care policy, and then turning to foreign adoption options. It is now 31 years later; we have raised our two adopted sons from Cambodia and now are enjoying being grandfathers to two granddaughters. The journey in many ways is very different than the one we had envisioned, but it is ours, and we are in equal measures humbled, proud, a bit bruised, and ultimately contented. As far as we are concerned, whoever coined the phrase “Practice makes perfect” clearly was not a parent. We have made our share of mistakes—as did our parents and their parents and so on throughout history—but we haven’t been terrible parents. Sometimes it was the thing we swore we would never say to our child that we did say in the heat of the moment. Sometimes it was something of our own creation that was equally hurtful or certainly not very helpful. Sometimes it seemed like we didn’t have better options. Now that our sons are adults (ages 19 and 30) the challenges they present are vastly different from when they were younger (not surprisingly), and we are sometimes at a total loss for how to react or what to say. We try to remember the maxim that if you openly disagree with something your child is doing he will tend to cling all the more tightly to that behavior. And as parents of children from another culture, we have always had to consider whether our perspective is objectively “right” or only makes sense from the standpoint of the lens with which we see the world. Biological parents sometimes say their children are so different from themselves that they swear the child must have been switched at birth. We held no expectations that our children would look like us or act like us, and they haven’t disappointed. The world certainly has changed since we were in our 20s, especially in terms of how alternative families are perceived and
The authors’ sons when they were children, circa 2001
received. Not too long ago our teenage son introduced us to one of his friends, and she shrieked, “You have two gay dads! That’s awesome!” We were surprised that she—and everyone else in the school—didn’t already know, and we wondered if our son was somehow ashamed of our family constellation. (Weren’t we all ashamed of our parents for one reason or another at some point in our lives?) On the other hand, maybe he just did not see any need to mention it. In his last year of high school, this same young man came out to us as bisexual in the midst of a play in which he was acting. He had blocked us from a number of Facebook posts in which he had been questioning who he was, but some family members and friends had reported back to us already. Prior to this we had always been forbidden from setting foot anywhere near where he might be street dancing or acting in a play, so we knew something was up when he invited us to this performance. I’m afraid that the shock value wasn’t present on our faces as he made his announcement during the talk-back after the play. Both of our sons have felt free to experiment with who they are and are very accepting of others whose way of being in the world may not be considered the norm. They are very empathetic to those who are bullied or are somehow labeled and treated as different or other. Perhaps we haven’t done such a bad job after all.
Rod Howe is the product of a large, ever-expanding, and inclusive family from upstate New York, where he and Mark Pedersen have resided for the past 27 years. He is now the executive director of a history center after retiring from Cornell University. Pedersen, originally from the Boston area, now works for a local Unitarian Universalist congregation. Their two sons and grandchildren all live within 10 miles of each other.
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Back-to-School Resource Guide Pack a Smarter Lunch Ease the Morning Rush ✓ Advocate for Your Twins ❑ ✓ ❑ ✓ ❑
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Plus: Learning to Let Go
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Where-To Guide: Apple Picking • Outing: New York Hall of Science
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Helping Parents Make Better Decisions BrooklynParent 67