Hi loopers,
300 subscribers, wow! It feels really special to connect with so many local parents each week, and I’m so grateful you’re here. Thank you for helping grow The Parent Loop into such a thoughtful, neighborly community.
To celebrate, I’m excited to share the winner of The Parent Loop + Muse Arts giveaway for three free Music Together® classes: congratulations, Rebecca! Your gift certificate is in your inbox and I can’t wait to hear about your experience. P.S. Loopers who weren’t selected, keep an eye out… there may be more where that came from!
There are so many great events happening this weekend, and with the weather getting nicer, the city is really coming alive. As always, the events below are free unless noted, because ‘what should we do?’ should not turn into Saturday morning stress. Follow @theparentloopnyc on Instagram for more.
New UWS and Morningside WhatsApp community
You can now join the WhatsApp group for UWS and Morningside parents. It’s a local space for neighbors helping neighbors, sharing tips, recommendations, swaps, and community finds. There are channels for new moms, moms of toddlers, stay-at-home parents, swaps, daycare recs, and more, so you can join the conversations that fit your stage of parenting. Want to add one? Just let me know.
Want to join the UWS/Morningside parent WhatsApp? Hit reply or DM me with your neighborhood and I’ll send the link.
One note: this is a peer community group. The Parent Loop is not responsible or liable for transactions, exchanges, or recommendations shared by members, so please use your own discretion.
Let’s go, moms!: A moms + friends dance party
Wed, April 29 | 7–10 pm
West Side Comedy Club (right below Playa Betty’s, 75th/Amsterdam)
A fun night out that ends early enough to survive the next morning? We’re in. 40 moms are signed up to dance, sing, shake it out, and have an actually-fun night with neighborhood moms and friends.
And yes, we know you’re tired. Deeply. Spiritually. Maybe since 4:47 am. But trust us on this one.
Only 4 early bird tickets are left, and you can still enter to win 2 tickets through Friday, April 17 at midnight. Your ticket also includes a chance to win:
TULA gift card ($320)
Little Swaps gift card ($100)
Sabrias Brows ($120 for eyebrow shaping)
Bondd Pilates (2 classes)
and more
Partners, husbands, significant others, this is your moment.
Handle bedtime. Cover the morning shift. Bring coffee. Send mom out for a fun, local night that doubles as an excellent Mother’s Day gift. Win win.
Around The Loop: Little shoutouts, local sightings, and meaningful connections from the week.
Stephanie (Morning Meetings) and I were out handing out flyers for moms+friends dance party andI ran into two moms from my original mom group. It had been a minute, and it made me so happy. Looking forward to coffee this Friday, Juelle! It was also great to meet
Mery, from Las Tías Bakehouse, makes beautiful cakes for children’s birthdays (among other baked goods!) and as a thank you for sharing with you all, she surprised me with a delicious banana, almond flour cake. So lucky!
New product spotlight: AVA If you're the one holding every detail of managing your family and household in your head, you're not alone. AVA handles the daily admin, coordination, and planning of family life so you get back your time without anything slipping through the cracks. Less mental load, more presence. Launching this June. Join the waitlist here and get early access!
Friday - April 17
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-5pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, all ages, check the alerts page before going.
Caregiver Conversations: Parent Support Circle with a local doula @ Morningside Heights Library, 10:30-11:30am.
Conservatory Garden @ 104th/106th East Side of Central Park, 8am-dusk.
Coloring for Babies and Toddlers @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 10:30-11:00am, ages 0-5.
Family Storytime @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 11-11:45am, ages 0-5.
Open Playtime @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 11am-12:00pm, ages 0 months-5 years.
Urban Stages: Spoken Word: Be the Voice of Your Community @ Bloomingdale Library, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 13-18.
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4:00pm, ages 3-12.
College and Career Pathways: Virtual one-on-one counseling sessions, @ Bloomingdale Library (online), times vary, registration required, ages grades 7-12.
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center. First day of one of my absolute favorite events. Every year, they welcome kids, teens and adults, for dynamic series of programming, designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. Events include dance performances, art installations, hands-on-art activities, tours, theatrical performances, and much more. The Parent Loop pick!
Little New-Yorkers: A Voice for the Everglades: Marjory Stoneman Douglas @ NY Historical Society (Lower level, 77th & CPW), 3:30-4:30pm, ages 3-6. Inc. with museum ticket (adults $24, ages 5-13 $6, ages 0-4 free; family membership $160). Includes a special hello song, silly dances, games, book reading, and a craft (this week: your own Everglades animal from recycled materials!).The Parent Loop pick - my toddler loves these activities!
Crafts and Classics Club @ NY Historical Society (Lower level, 77th & CPW), 5-6pm, all ages. Inc. with museum ticket (see details above). Craft is sewing appliqué quilt squares and a read aloud of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.
Saturday - April 18
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center, times and performances vary.
Conservatory Garden @ 104th/106th East Side of Central Park, 8am-dusk.
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-5pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
Annual Tulip Festival @ West Side Community Garden (89th/Columbus), 10am-6pm, also April 19 and 25-26.
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-2:00pm, all ages.
Family Day: Spring Fest @ Carnegie Hall (Resnick Education Wing), 12-4pm, ages 3-10, free, first-come, first-served. Includes: a storytime sing-along, beat making, lullula music presents (The Birds), coloring station, instrument build and play, sound meditation, and a quiet zone/family care room.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 yrs.
Living History: 18th century Street Food @ NY Historical Society (Lower Level, 77th&CPW), 11:30am-1pm, all ages, Registration required.
Sunday - April 19
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center, times and performances vary.
Conservatory Garden @ 104th/106th East Side of Central Park, 8am-dusk.
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-5pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
Annual Tulip Festival @ West Side Community Garden (89th/Columbus), 10am-6pm, also April 25-26.
Summer on the Hudson: Over, Under, Through @ Parkour Park in Riverside Park South, 11:00-12:00pm.
Sunday Story Time: A Visit from Five Stories author Ellen Weinstein @ NY Historical Society (Lower level, 77th & CPW), 11:30am-12:30pm, ages 3-6. Inc. with museum ticket (see prices above). Hello song, silly dance/game, story time, and a craft.
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), 12pm & 3pm, ages 0–7.
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), 1pm, ages 0–7.
Upcoming hot events
Ballet Essentials with the NYC Ballet @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building, 7th floor), April 20 and May 16, $30 per ticket, teens and adults, little or no dance training required.
Morning Meeting x Carousel: Kids Clothes, Sustainability + Toy Swap, Wed, April 22, 9:30am, babies, kids (and dads) welcome, cost per adult is $10. Bring a gently used toy and leave with something new-to-you. 2 spots left! The Parent Loop pick. Love a good swap!
6th Annual “Go Fly a Kite over Babylon” @ Overlook Beach (6416 North Babylon), April 25, 10am-5pm, free parking, 1 hr-sh drive from the city.
Let’s go, moms! @ West Side Comedy Club (75th & Broadway), Wed, April 29, 7-10 pm, $45. Celebrate Mother’s Day a little differently this year. Get your tickets here.
Children's Access Workshops w. the NYC Ballet @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building, 7th floor). May 2, for children with physical disabilities. Only kids participating need a ticket, $8 per ticket and you can contact for financial support if needed, ages 4-12.
Kid Fest @ Pier 57, May 3, 12-3pm, all ages.
2026 Hippo Playground Spring Fair @ Hippo Park, +23, 10am-4pm, proceeds help fun maintenance of 15 playgrounds around Riverside Park and summer programming. Expect crowds. The Parent Loop pick!
Family Saturdays @ New York City Ballet (David Koch Theater, Lincoln Center), The Comedy of Coppélia on May 30, price varies +$29, ages +5. Tickets are required for infants, children, and adults.
Ongoing spring events
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center. First day of one of my absolute favorite events. Every year, they welcome kids, teens and adults, for dynamic series of programming, designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. Events include dance performances, art installations, hands-on-art activities, tours, theatrical performances, and much more. The Parent Loop pick!
Blooming Wonders @ Artechouse NYC (Chelsea Market), times vary, approx. 40 min, prices and times vary, +$20, ages +4, goes until May 31.
The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle @ New York Botanical Garden, until April 26, ticket prices vary.
Take the ferry and explore Governor’s Island.
Dance with @taliacp @ Bryant Park, 6-8pm April 29-May 14. 4/29 salsa clásica, 4/30 Motown, funk and R&B, 5/6 Brazilian Samba, bossa nova, and forró, 5/7 swing dance and rock n roll, 5/3 bachata tradicional/contemporánea, and 5/14 cuban salsa festival.
Activities led by moms
Mommy & Me Pilates @ Bondd Pilates (66 E 85th St). First class is free, then $35. Fridays 9:30 am and Sundays 10:30 am.
@fridaysweprance.nyc, 6:30 am, 96th and CPW, women+, ages 18 and up.
Morning Meeting: Fitness and Connection. First class free, then $28. Check out the times and locations in the google form.
Indoor favorites for rainy days
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre @ 81st and CPW, in Central Park, tickets +$12 for ages 2 and up, for ages 3-7, various times.
The Met’s 81st studio @ The Met (on the bottom floor; a state-of-the-art space), stroller parking, 10am-5pm, ages 3-11.
Hands-on-activities (Discovery Room ages 0-12,Climate Learning Lab ages 8+, Human Origins Learning Lab ages 8+) @ American Museum of Natural History, NYC residents pay-what-you-wish. Note: The Discovery is moving from a first-come, first-serve to a registration-based approach so make sure to sign up when you get to the museum.
Libraries are open Friday and Saturdays, closed Sundays: Bloomingdale Library (99th st), Riverside Library (66th st), St. Agnes Library (81st st), Columbus Library (51st st).
Bookstores, times vary: Book Culture (@112th, @114th), The Strand (81st & 82nd on Columbus), Barnes and Noble (@82nd st).
I’m always looking for great partners. If your business would like to sponsor the dance party, contribute to a swap, or be part of a future The Parent Loop event, just reply here and let’s grab coffee!
Because “What should we do?” doesn’t need to be stressful.
The Parent Loop
Disclaimer: Event details, dates, and links are subject to change — please check with venues before heading out. Some product links may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share items we genuinely use and love. The Parent Loop and its admins are not responsible for member posts, recommendations, transactions, services or arrangements made through the Whatsapp groups. Participations is voluntary, and each member is responsible for their own decisions, screening, and interactions.