Hi loopers,
Thank goodness it’s finally Thursday. Good luck to everyone deep in Maycember, that chaotic, end-of-school-year stretch when the calendar somehow has 17 things on it and everyone still needs clean socks. Thank you to Molly for introducing me to the term - every year I’m learning more about parenting, mostly from other parents on the block!
Sending this weekend’s plans (so many favorite picks!), plus ways to turn your outgrown into someone else’s new favorite. Shout out to my sister who’s hosting a Eurovision viewing party - anybody else watching?
As always, the events below are free unless noted. Because ‘what should we do?’ should not turn into Saturday morning stress.
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Around The Loop: Little shoutouts, local sightings, and meaningful connections from the week.
Had such a lovely Saturday with my toddler and I’s date with Sam and Isabella, then the whole fam for brunch where we ran into two other school parents. Followed by a rainy visit to the Natural History Museum with tía Tori and uncle Ed.
Celebrated Mother’s Day with some “me” time and social time with friends - including brunch in Brooklyn Heights, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, and exploring Seaport.
Baby & Kids Clothing Swap @ Vivvi x Little Swaps x The Parent Loop
Wow, we’re officially at capacity (40 moms + kids!), with a growing waitlist. I’m so excited to see so many parents signed up to turn their outgrown baby and kid favorites into someone else’s down the block. Kids are welcome, and Vivvi will have activities for little ones ages 0 to 4. Stroller parking is limited, so baby wearing is encouraged if possible.
Can’t attend the swap? You can still drop off items at Vivvi UWS, 666 W End Ave, today and Friday from 10am to 12pm. Day-of drop-off is also welcome. Please bring items folded neatly, organized by size, and in good condition.
We can’t wait to see you Saturday! Sign up here to join the waitlist.
Friday - May 15
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.
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. Every Friday in May.
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.
Todd Robbins @ Bryant Park (Upper Terrace at the base of the William Cullen Bryant Statue behind NY Public Library), 12:30-2:30pm, ragtime, piano concert, all ages.
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4pm, ages 3-12.
Little New-Yorkers: Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist @ 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 shark craft.
College and Career Pathways: Virtual 1:1 Counseling Sessions @ online (Bloomingdale Library), 4-4:30pm and 4:30-5pm, register for 4 pm here and 4:40pm here, teens in grades 7-12.
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.
Minty Fresh Circus @ Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall), 7pm, pay-what-you-wish, ages 5+.
Saturday - May 16
Kids In Motion @ Gertrude Ederle Playground (60th/Amsterdam Av), 8am-4pm, all ages.
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.
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-2:00pm, all ages.
Baby & Kids Clothing Swap @ Vivvi UWS, 10am-12pm, all ages, come swap and take all the clothes (we want them gone and in great home!), registration required. Co-hosted by yours truly with Little Swaps and Vivvi!
Summer on the Hudson: Locomotive Open House @ Locomotive Lawn (Riverside Park South, near 62nd St), 10am-1pm, all ages. Renovated locomotive!
It's My Park at West 88th Street Trees @ West 88th St Tree Project (59 West 88th St and CPW), 10am-1pm. Volunteer to plant beautiful flowers, remove litter from tree beds, and cleaning the park, all ages. The Parent Loop pick!
Sandsational 2026 @ different locations and registration required (Neufeld Playground at 76th St, Tot Lot 110th St, Tot Lot 116th St), 10am-1pm, all ages. Help freshen up the sand at your playground! Bring a reusable water bottle, sturdy closed-toe shoes, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty. The Parent Loop pick!
Spring Family Day @ Backyard at Hudson Yards, 11-4pm, registration here. There will be dancing, a magic show, face painting and more!
Annual Kite Festival @ Brooklyn Bridge Park, 11:00am-3pm, all ages. Bring your kite and enjoy live music, crafts, game, and activities. The Parent Loop pick!
Family Fun Day @ Frederick Douglass Playground (100th and 102nd St), 12-3pm. Fun afternoon of crafts, inflatables, music, jumbo games, an obstacle course, and more, all ages.
In Motion Workshops @ New York City Ballet (Samuel B & Samuel David Rose Building, 7th floor; 65th St and Broadway/Amsterdam), 12:30pm, ages 8-12, tickets are $16 and require by adults and kids.
Children’s Workshops @ New York City Ballet (Samuel B & Samuel David Rose Building, 7th floor; 65th St and Broadway/Amsterdam), 12:30pm, ages 5-7, tickets are $16 and require by adults and kids. Also May 30.
Minty Fresh Circus @ Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall), 2pm (ASL, audio description, relaxed performance) and 7pm, pay-what-you-wish, ages 5+.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 yrs.
Beatles Concert Sing-a-long w/ Strawberry Feels Duo @ Straus Park (106th and Broadway), 1-2:30pm. You may have already seen them bringing the joy through song at the 103rd station on Fridays. The Parent Loop pick!
Sunday - May 17
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.
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, last Saturday of the series.
Free Soccer Festival @ Frederick Douglass Playground (100th and 102nd St), 11am-2pm, all ages. Registration required. Enjoy a day filled with fun, teamwork, and friendly competition for all ages and skill levels. Meet new friends, celebrate different cultures, and show off your team spirit. The Parent Loop pick!
Sunday Story Time: Journey to the Stars @ 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 rocket ship craft.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Sunday Family Fun Day @ NY Historical Society (Lower level, 77th & CPW), 11:30am-2pm, all ages, Inc. with museum ticket (see prices above). Hello song, silly dance/game, story time, and a craft. The Parent Loop pick!
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), Sundays, 12pm & 3pm, ages 0–7.
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), Sundays, 1pm, ages 0–7.
Summer on the Hudson: Sun Gaze Sundays @ Pier I (riverside Park South & W 70th St), 1-4pm. Use solar-filtered telescope to sun gaze.
Charlotte Mayerson’s overlook concerts: Latin Jazz with the Bloomingdale School of Music @ 116th overlook, 2-3:30pm, all ages, 2-3:30pm.
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
Storm King Art Center @ Hudson Valley, ongoing events for kids and families, children 0-4 free, ages 5 and up +$15.
Blooming Wonders @ Artechouse NYC (Chelsea Market), times vary, approx. 40 min, prices and times vary, +$20, ages +4, goes until May 31.
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.
Cooney 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).
Take one of the ferries and explore Governor’s Island or the Statue of Liberty.
Conservatory Garden @ 104th/106th East Side of Central Park, 8am-dusk.
Upcoming events
Children’s Workshops @ New York City Ballet (Samuel B & Samuel David Rose Building, 7th floor; 65th St and Broadway/Amsterdam), May 30, 12:30pm, ages 5-7, tickets are $16 and require by adults and kids.
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.
Create-athons: DIY Automata Workshop @ Lincoln Center (Clark Studio Theater), May 24, 1 pm, all ages.
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).
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!
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.