Hi loopers,
It was so nice to get some cozy time with my toddler this past weekend — and then somehow roll straight into a very full but very good week: our school’s annual fundraiser on Monday, where we ate tacos and danced, and then our moms + friends dance party last night on International Dance Day. That was a night to remember. Thank you to the moms and friends who came out on a Wednesday, to DJMK, and the West Side Comedy Club team. What a full and joyful week it’s been so far.
Sending this weekend’s plans, plus ways to turn your outgrown into someone else’s new favorite. 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.
This is a pre-scheduled post because mama needs to rest these tootsies.
P.S. Who else is excited for The Devil Wears Prada 2?
Around The Loop: Little shoutouts, local sightings, and meaningful connections from the week.
Seeing Florence + the Machine with my sister has become a tradition, and every time, it’s just incredible. This time: witchy vibes, dark magic undertones, and the kind of full-body catharsis only Flo can deliver. Did anybody else catch a show?
Molly, an OG looper, shared that her family went fishing in Central Park because of the newsletter, and honestly, I love to hear it.
Summer on the Hudson events have kicked off - the city is coming alive!
New 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, so please use your own discretion.
Friday - May 1
Kids In Motions @ 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.
Terry Waldo's Gotham City Band @ Bryant Park, 12:30-2:30p, ragtime, stride, and jazz.
Rooted In Diversity Garden Tour @ Diversity Edible Farm Garden (E111th/Madison), 1pm, register here, all ages.
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4pm, ages 3-12.
Little New-Yorkers: The Snow Man: A True Story @ 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 (a scientists’s notebook from recycled materials).
¡Vaya! Óscar Dudamel y su Orquesta @ Lincoln Center (David Rubensteim Atrium), 7:30-9:00pm, dancing & salsa, all ages. The Parent Loop pick!
Composition Concert @ Julliard (Morse Hall, 155 W. 65th St.), 8:00pm, ages 13+.
Saturday - May 2
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-2:00pm, all ages.
Kids In Motions @ Gertrude Ederle Playground (60th/Amsterdam Av), 10-6pm, all ages.
Autism-Friendly Workshops @ NYC Ballet (Rose Building), 11am, tickets $8, for children with physical disabilities ages 4-12, contact for financial support if needed. Accompanying family members/caretakers do not need a ticket to attend.
Summer on the Hudson: Over, Under, Through @ Parkour Park (Riverside Park South; near 70th), 11am-12pm, parkour with fun drills, partner exercises, and games, all ages, every Saturday (April 12-May 17).
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 yrs.
Juggling class @ Bryant Park (Upper Terrace or The Lawn), 12-1pm, April-December, all skills welcome + equipment provided.
Jurassic Park @ Library for the Performance Arts, 1-3:30pm, register here, PG-13.
Summer on the Hudson: Story Hour! @ 102nd street field house in Riverside park (bottom level), 3-4pm, all ages. Note: I love this spot but note there are stairs to get down there. Every Saturday (May, June, August, and September). The Parent Loop pick!
Futuros: New Ideas in Composition with inti figgis-vizueta @ Lincoln Center (David Rubensteim Atrium), 7:30-9:00pm, contemporary classical concert, all ages.
Sunday - May 3
2026 Hippo Playground Spring Fair @ Hippo Park, 10am-4pm, +$23, tickets here, proceeds help fun maintenance of 15 playgrounds around Riverside Park and summer programming. Expect a crowd.
Sunday Story Time: Sakamoto's Swim Club: How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory @ 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.
Kid Fest @ Pier 57, 12-3pm, all ages, registration.
Create-athon: Monsters Everywhere! With The New York Sewing Center @ Lincoln Center, 1-4pm, kids, teens, and family art hang where you can style your own or make a Lububu plush monster. The Parent Loop pick!
Summer on the Hudson: Over, Under, Through @ Parkour Park (Riverside Park South; near 70th), 11am-12pm, all ages.
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), Sundays, 12pm & 3pm, ages 0–7.
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), Sundays, 1pm, ages 0–7.
Ongoing outdoor events
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.
Take one of the ferries and explore Governor’s Island or the Statue of Liberty. P.S. There are Fairy Tale Fun! tales this Sunday at Roosevelt Island Library, 1-1:30pm.
Conservatory Garden @ 104th/106th East Side of Central Park, 8am-dusk.
Dance Party 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.
Blooming Wonders @ Artechouse NYC (Chelsea Market), times vary, approx. 40 min, prices and times vary, +$20, ages +4, goes until May 31.
Upcoming events
Charlotte Mayerson’s overlook concerts @ 116th overlook, 2-3:30pm, all ages, May 10 & 17, and October 4, 11, 18, 2pm.
Baby & Kids Clothing Swap @ Vivvi UWS, come swap and take all the clothes (we want them gone and in great home!), May 16, all ages, The Parent Loop pick - but also biased because I’m cohosting!
Ballet Essentials with the NYC Ballet @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building, 7th floor), May 16, $30 per ticket, teens and adults, little or no dance training required.
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.
Uptown Kids – The Goonies @ AMC Lincoln Square, 11:00am, May 31, $5.
Uptown Kids: Little Kid Flicks @ AMC Lincoln Square, 11:00am, June 14, $5.
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).
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.
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.