Hi loopers,
Just getting back to normal life after the flu and a work trip to Seattle and today I’m grateful for direct flights because we have our first book club on How Toddlers Thrive by Dr. Tovah Klein tonight! Looking forward to chatting with some of you. A key takeaway so far: we do not need to keep our kids happy all the time, it’s more how we help them navigate the “unhappy” times to help set them up for success.
Some great activities this weekend. Per usual, all events below are free unless otherwise noted. Follow @theparentloopnyc on Instagram for some quick updates, especially if event times change or something new pops up.
Friday - Jan 16
Coloring for Babies and Toddlers @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 10:30-11:00am, ages 0-5.
Family Storytime @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 11:00-11:45am, ages 0-5.
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4:00pm, ages 3-12.
Picture me: My 2026 vision board @ Morningside Heights Library (113th & Broadway), 3:30-5pm, all ages.
Open Playtime @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 11am-12:00pm, ages 0 months-5 years and families.
Benevolence @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building), pay-what-you-wish, 7-8:30pm, ages +10.
Saturday - Jan 17
Musical Explorers Family @ Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall, 7th Av & W 57th St.), interactive concerts about American freedom songs, the Puerto Rican bomba and plena and Indian classical music, 12pm and 3pm, $20, ages 4-8. The Parent Loop pick!
Teen Advisory Group (Creative Projects) @ Bloomingdale Library, 10-12pm, ages 13-18.
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-2:00pm, all ages.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 years.
Upper West Side Kids’ Club! @ St. Agnes (82nd & Amsterdam Av), 10:30-11:00am, ages 8-12.
Birdie @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building), pay-what-you-wish, 2-3:05pm and 7-8:05pm, ages +10.
Benevolence @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building), pay-what-you-wish, 3:30-5pm (with post-show talk) and 8:30-10pm, ages +10.
The Mom Dance Party - Moms Feelin’ Themselves @ The Bowery Electric, Jan 17, 7-10 pm, $35, ages 21+. A The Parent Loop pick, see you there!
Sunday - Jan 18
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), 12pm & 3pm.
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), 1pm, ages 0–7.
Birdie @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building), pay-what-you-wish, 2-3:05pm, ages +10.
Benevolence @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building), pay-what-you-wish, 3:30-5pm, ages +10.
Winter outdoor activities
Bumper cars on ice @ Bryant Park (10 min ride), ages 6 and up, prices vary, through Jan 22.
Ice skating:
@ Wollman Rink (Central Park, near east 63rd). Prices vary and tickets required, ends in March.
@ Bryant Park Winter Village. Prices vary and tickets required but free if you bring your own skates.
@ Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center, Central Park north end. They have paid classes available for tots and up. Prices vary.
Indoor recurring neighborhood favorites
Hands-on-activities @ American Museum of Natural History, NYC residents pay-what-you-wish.
Discovery Room: 0-12, open daily except Tues, check exact times. The Parent Loop favorite!
Climate Learning Lab: ages 8 and up, select Sat and Sun
Human Origins Learning Lab: ages 8 and up, Sat and Sun
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 - I love their basement reading nook), Barnes and Noble (@82nd st). Consider pairing the AMNH with a visit to The Strand - they’re right next to each other!
Upcoming hot tickets
Mommy & Me: Wicked: For Good @ AMC Lincoln Square 13, Thurs, Jan 22, 11 am (20% off right now). Enjoy this show where your babies can coo or cry. Shout out to Arielle for sharing this hot tip!
Children's Access Workshops w. the NYC Ballet @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building, 7th floor). Jan 24 and 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.
Magnet Theatre's BOUNCED @ Lincoln Center (Clark Studio Theater), Jan 23-25, ages +4, pay-what-you-wish. Jan 25 is a relaxed performance!
Sonic Saturday: Sounds of Space @ Lincoln Center (David Rubenstein Atrium), Feb 7, ages +5, first come first serve or reserve free tickets Monday before event at noon.
Family Saturdays @ New York City Ballet (David Koch Theater, Lincoln Center), A Timeless Tale on Feb 21 + The Comedy of Coppélia on May 30, price varies +$29, ages +5. Tickets are required for infants, children, and adults.
25th Flamenco Festival @ Ballet Hispánico, grades 3-12, Feb 26-Mar 1 and Mar 5-8, $45.
Recurring classes
Mommy & Me Pilates @ Bondd Pilates (66 E 85th St), Fridays 9:30 am and Sundays 10:30 am, $35. First class is free. A welcoming space for postpartum and expecting moms to move safely, bring their babies and build friendships. Stay after class to connect, chat, and meet other moms.
The Loop Edit: Capsule dressing for kids, made for city life
Curated, secondhand, and designed to simplify what comes next
Last week, I kicked off a series on rethinking kids’ clothes in New York. This week’s focus: capsule dressing, fewer pieces, thoughtfully chosen.
One I recently tried is Carousel, founded by Jessica Grenata, which offers curated, pre-loved clothing bundles for babies and young kids. The appeal is simple: take the guesswork out of what to buy next, while still keeping things fun and intentional.
Jessica generously gifted me a box to test out, and the setup was refreshingly quick. You start by choosing size, gender, and climate, which immediately felt right for New York’s very real seasonal swings. From there, you answer a short style quiz, which I filled out together with my toddler.
This was my favorite part. The quiz is framed less like an order form and more like creative guidance. You choose a few styles you’re open to, like casual, playful, preppy, sporty, vintage, or dressy, along with categories such as layers, one-pieces, pajamas, or swim, and whether you’re open to pieces from the next size up.
Your answers act as Jessica’s muse for a one-of-a-kind box, and that structure is what makes it work. The whole process took under ten minutes and felt genuinely fun, not transactional. You’re not hunting for specific items or scrolling endlessly. You’re setting parameters and letting someone else do the sourcing, which is often the most time-consuming part of secondhand shopping.
Even the packaging reinforces the point. The box is simple cardboard, sealed with a bright, playful sticker, and clearly labeled to note that the box, sticker, and mailing label are all curbside recyclable. It’s a small detail, but one that makes the sustainability piece feel thoughtful and real, not aspirational.
This is just one example of how we can rethink kids’ clothes in the city. Less accumulation, more circulation. Fewer one-off purchases, more systems that work with small spaces, fast growth, and limited time.
I’ll be sharing photos from the unboxing on @theparentloopnyc on Instagram this weekend, now that my post-flu cough has finally settled, and featuring the interview with Jessica in our next newsletter.
Stay tuned,
Jessie
Calling all parents, collaborators, and local businesses!
Have a space, service, or product for families and want to reach UWS parents in a thoughtful, community-first way? The Parent Loop partners with local businesses to spotlight services, classes, host events, review products, and offer limited sponsored placements that genuinely help parents. If you’re interested in collaborating or advertising, just reply to this email — I’d love to explore what makes sense together.
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.