Hi loopers,
Happy Pride Month! I can’t believe it’s already June, and I’m excited for a month full of celebrations, outdoor fun, and the neighborhood energy that makes NYC feel especially alive this time of year.
Also: we hit 370 subscribers! So exciting. Thank you for being here.
Did you miss The Parent Loop x Muse Arts Giveaway? Sign up here for a chance to win three Music Together® classes for ages 0–5. The last day to enter is Sunday.
P.S. Starting June 11, stop by any NYC public library branch to pick up a free NYC Neighborhood Passport — a World Cup-themed scavenger hunt that encourages families to explore neighborhoods, cultural institutions, community events, and local organizations across the five boroughs. Collect artist-designed stamps as you go, and check the latest stamp locations before heading out.
Sending this weekend’s plans your way. As always, the events below are free unless noted, because “what should we do?” should not turn into Saturday morning stress.
Have a friend who wants to sign up? Share the link here and follow @theparentloopnyc for more
Around The Loop: Little shoutouts, local sightings, and meaningful connections from the week.
Thank you to Paul, Bryan, and Harold for coordinating volunteer efforts at Strauss Park on Saturday. My toddler and I loved watering, digging, and learning. I especially loved going back with her the next day to see what we had worked on.
Thanks to Analena for the impromptu happy hour after work on Tuesday. We talked about how lucky we feel to live in NYC — even with all the planning, schedules, kids, and logistics, the city still creates room for unexpected connection. Our calendars are full. And yet, somehow, the stars aligned. The lesson: send the last-minute text. Worst case, they can’t. Best case, you get 1.5 uninterrupted hours to actually get to know someone.
The Parent Loop Book club - round two!
The first book club group is capped at 12, but with more interest bubbling up, I’m happy to help a second group take shape. We just need an ambassador to plan and coordinate. Reply here if you love reading, chatting with neighbors, and organizing get-togethers down the block.
Friday - June 5
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-3:30pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
PlacePartner Opportunity @ South Park (W 68th St & Riverside Blvd), 9-11am, weeding and horticultural maintenance. New volunteers email here, current volunteers sign up here.
Caregiver Conversations: Parent Support Circle @ Morningside Heights Library (113th/Broadway), 10:30-11:30am. Join an informal playgroup for caregivers and children, hosted by a local doula. Also on June 12.
Kids in Motion @ Gertrude Ederle Playground (60th/Amsterdam Av), 10-6pm, all ages.
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.
Juggling class @ Bryant Park (Shuffleboard court or The Lawn), all skills welcome + equipment provided, 12-1pm, April-December.
Pete Malinverni @ Bryant Park (Upper Terrace at the base of the William Cullen Bryant Statue behind NY Public Library), 12:30-2:30pm, ragtime, stride, and jazz, all ages.
Family Board Games @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4pm, ages 3-12.
Free Book Friday: Teen Edition @ Bloomingdale Library (100th and Amsterdam Ave), 3-4:30pm, ages 13-18 years, teens will have a chance to browse from an assortment of special books and give them a new home. First come first served while supplies last.
Free (Young Adult) Book Friday: Teen Edition @ St. Agnes Library (82nd and Amsterdam Ave), 3-6pm, ages 13-18 years, teens will have a chance to browse from an assortment of special books and give them a new home. First come first served while supplies last.
Little New-Yorkers: Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution @ 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 your own Stonewall craft. The Parent Loop pick!
Crafts and Classics Club @ NY Historical Society (Lower level, 77th & CPW), 5-6, free with pay-as-you-wish-admission, all ages. Create a quilt square and listen to a read aloud of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.
NY Classical: “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” @ NY Classical Theater, 7-8:45 pm, enter at Central Park West & West 103rd Street. Tickets are $0 and up (donation), make sure to make your reservation to receive all the details. Be prepared to move with the actors (5-6 times) from scene to scene. Everyday, ends June 21.
Pop culture trivia w. Summer on the Hudson/NYC Trivia League @ Pier I (W 70th St), 7-9pm, all ages, first-come, first-served basis.
Saturday - June 6
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-3:30pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-2:00pm, all ages.
NYC Math Day Celebration @ Brookfield Place (Winter Garden), 10:30am-2:30pm, all ages.
Silly Billy Children’s Magic Show @ NY Public Library for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center), 11am-12pm, for all ages. Register here.
Juggling class @ Bryant Park (Upper Terrace or The Lawn), all skills welcome + equipment provided, 11-2pm, April-December.
Billion Oyster Project Presentation @ The Baylander’s Jungle Deck (W 125th and Marginal St), 12-2pm, all ages, first-come first-served.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 yrs.
New Classics: Matilda @ NY Public Library for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center), 1-3:30pm, for all ages. Register here.
Upper West Side Kids' Club! @ St. Agnes Library (81st and Amsterdam Ave), 2-3pm, ages 8-12.
Summer on the Hudson: Story Hour! @ 102nd street field house in Riverside park (bottom level), 3-4pm, all ages. I love this spot but note there are stairs to get down there so a little hard with strollers. Check out Ellington in the Park before or after for a snack or bite. Bring sunblock!
Summer on the Hudson: Silent Disco @ Pier I (W 70th St), 6-10pm, all ages. Line opens at 5:40 pm, headphone supplies are limited, first-come, first-served basis, and there may be a wait. The Parent Loop pick!
NY Classical: “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” @ NY Classical Theater, 7-8:45 pm, enter at Central Park West & West 103rd Street. Tickets are $0 and up (donation), make sure to make your reservation to receive all the details. Be prepared to move with the actors (5-6 times) from scene to scene. Everyday through June 21.
Sunday - June 7
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-3:30pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
Tri-State Chess Tournament @ Bryant Park (Fountain Terrace, 41st Street and Sixth Avenue), 10 am, All levels, beginner to champion, pre-K – 12 welcome (adults included in the Under 1800 section), registration with a fee is required ($69 and up).
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), Sundays, 12pm & 3pm, ages 0–7.
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), Sundays, 1pm, ages 0–7.
Sunday Story Time: Unstoppable: How Bayard Rustin Organized the 1963 March on Washington @ 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 rainbow sun catcher craft.
Sun Gaze Sundays w. Amateur Astronomer Association @ Pier I (W 70th St), 1-4pm, first-come, first-served basis, all ages. The Parent Loop pick!
Let’s Dance! w. Piel Canela Dance and Music School and DJ Ray Colon @ Pier I (W 70th St), 6-9:30pm, all ages. Learn salsa, bachata, and more.
Concert 4: Oriente Lopez — Musical traditions of Cuba @ Westside Community Garden (89th and Columbus), 6 pm, all ages. Seating is limited so get there early. The Parent Loop pick!
UWS and Morningside WhatsApp community
Reminder: If you want to join the UWS/Morningside parents’ WhatsApp, just 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. Please use your own discretion.
Ongoing events
Boating, make sure to confirm holiday hours! Usually first-come, first-served; free unless noted otherwise:
Manhattan Community Boathouse @ Pier 96 at W 56th St, Saturdays and Sundays, May 23–Oct 11, 1-6pm
Downtown Boathouse @ Pier 26 in Tribeca, Saturdays and Sundays 10:00am-4:30pm
Central Park Boathouse @ Central Park at E 72nd St), $30/hour rental
Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse @ between Piers 1 and 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Wednesdays + Thursdays 5-7pm, Saturdays 10am-3pm, kids and family paddle Sundays 12-2:30pm through August. And you can volunteer. Or learn how to play kayak polo. Yes, it’s free! More info for ages and specifics; limited walk-ins and reservations open 2 weeks in advance here.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood @ The Bronx Zoo, end Sept. 7, ages 2 and under free, ages 3 and up +28, prices vary.
Storm King Art Center @ Hudson Valley, ongoing events for kids and families, children 0-4 free, ages 5 and up +$15.
Brooklyn Cyclones game @ Maimonides Park (Brooklyn), $16-61, times/dates vary, all ages. Don’t forget to hit up the Original Nathan’s Famous nearby. Check out the know before you go here for more info and make sure it’s not an away game.
Coney Island @ Brooklyn (1208 Surf Av); Check out the museum, the shows, and Luna Park (exact times/dates vary; no fee to access the amusement park but rides/attractions prices vary $49-$90).
Always check the NYC Ferry schedule (New York City Ferry Service) before you go, especially on weekends.
From the East 90th Street landing by Carl Schurz Park, families can take the Astoria Route or the Rockaway-Soundview Route for an easy ride with skyline views.
From Pier 11/Wall Street, you can connect to Governors Island on summer weekends and holidays, or take the South Brooklyn Route to Atlantic Ave/BBP Pier 6 for Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Water Lab playground.
Conservatory Garden @ 104th/106th East Side of Central Park, 8am-dusk.
Romeo & Juliet’s @ Shakespeare in the Park, ticket info is here.
Upcoming summer activities
Concerts in the Parks @ Central Park (Great Lawn), Wed, June 10, 8pm, all ages.
First World Cup game is June 11 (Mexico vs. South Africa; where are we watching it?) and NYC has a lot of fun plans! Don’t forget to grab your NYC Neighborhood Passport starting June 11.
The Longest Table @ W 103rd, all ages, 5-7pm, register here, Sun, June 14. Everyone is invited to sit down, bring a dish, share a meal, and get to know the people in the community. The Parent Loop pick!
Uptown Kids: Little Kid Flicks @ AMC Lincoln Square, 11:00am, Sun, June 14, $5.
Start thinking about 4th of July in NYC and the 250 year celebration!
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-served 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).
Because parenting is better when we share the good stuff.
The Parent Loop
I’m always looking for great sponsors and partners. If your business would like to sponsor or connect with parents, contribute to a swap, or be part of a future The Parent Loop event, just reply here and let’s grab coffee!
Disclaimer: Event details, dates, prices, 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 WhatsApp groups. Participation is voluntary, and each member is responsible for their own decisions, screening, and interactions.