Hi loopers,
Thank you to those who made it to the Clothing Swap on Nov. 22, even in the rain! The leftover clothing has been picked up by All of Us Clothing. If you’re looking to donate more items, you can check out this list. And if you’d like to gift a toy to children living in shelters in NYC, the Coalition for the Homeless toy drive runs until Dec. 14.
This weekend’s guide includes a few special holiday picks that run through December, a holiday gift guide, and TPL’s book selection for our first book club in January. And since many of us are juggling school closures around the holidays, keep an eye out for our upcoming extended guide with easy activities to help fill those long days. All activities are free unless otherwise noted.
Friday
Family Storytime @ St Agnes Library (82nd & Amsterdam Av; 51st & 10th Av), 10:30-11:00am, ages 0-5. SOLD OUT. Registration for next Friday is required and opens each Monday.
Coloring for Babies and Toddlers @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 10:30-11:00am, ages 0-12
Open Playtime @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 11am-12pm, all ages
Family Storytime @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 11-11:45am, ages 0-5
Holiday Book Exchange @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 3-4pm, all ages. Bring 3 used books in good condition to share with others and take home up to 3 books per child each week.
Free Book Friday: Teen Edition @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 3-4:30pm, teens.
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4:30pm, ages 0-12.
Saturday
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10-2:00pm.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 years.
Songs of the Season @ Lincoln Center (Clark Studio Theater), 1-2pm, all ages. A joyful, community sing-along of hymns and carols led by members of the New York Philharmonic and The Unsung Collective. The Parent Loop pick!
Bronx Little Italy’s annual Christmas tree lighting @ Arthur Av, 4-6pm, all ages.
Sunday
Havurah's Annual Hanukkah Market @ Congregation Rodeph Shalom (7 W 83rd St). 40+ artists, brands, and plenty of latkes. Advanced registration required here.
I’ll be forever grateful to Sholom Sprouts for my mom group and all their lovely parents/kids activities. On Sat, I’ll be at Singin’ Swingin’ into Chanukah with Grandparents and Special Friends (ages 0-4). See you there? Register here.
Check out the activities in the neighborhood favorites and holiday-themed sections for plenty of ideas!
Recurring neighborhood favorites
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), Fri, 10:30am & Sun 1pm, ages 0–7.
Coloring for Babies and Toddlers @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), Fri, 10:30-11:00am, ages 0-12
Open Playtime @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), Fri, 11am-12pm, all ages
Family Storytime @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), Fri, 11-11:45am, ages 0-5
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), Fri, 3-4:30pm, ages 0-12.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), Sat, 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 years.
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), Sun, 12pm & 3pm. Stroller parking is upstairs and it’s so cozy down there. Tip: If storytime hasn’t started, ask a staff member. They’re lovely about reading (they read three books to us last week!) but they may not start if no one is there.
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
Climate Learning Lab: ages 8 and up, select Sat and Sun
Human Origins Learning Lab: ages 8 and up, Sat and Sun
Holiday-themed activities - be prepared for some crowds!
Rodeph Sholom Celebrates Chanukah 2025 @ Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Fri, Dec. 12, 4:15 PM -7:45 PM, members free, nonmember adults $18 and children free. Another The Parent Loop pick!
Reminder that Santa Con is Dec. 13, from Midtown to the East Village. I’ll probably avoid being in those areas with our toddler.
Gingerbread NYC - The Great Borough Bake-Off 2025 @ The Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Av.), 10am-6pm, all ages. A miniature gingerbread cityscape crafted by bakers from all five boroughs.
Holiday train show @ Grand Central (NY Transit Museum Gallery & Store in the Shuttle Passage), Nov 13-Feb, M-F 10am-7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-6pm. Pair it with the Holiday Fair in Vanderbuilt Hall.
Holiday lightscape @ Brooklyn Botanical Garden, prices vary and tickets required.
Holiday train show @ Bronx Botanical Garden, prices vary.
Ice skating:
Ice skating @ Wollman Rink (Central Park, near east 63rd). Prices vary and tickets required.
Ice skating and winter village @ Bryant Park. Prices vary and tickets required but free if you bring your own skates.
NYC holiday markets: Grand Holiday Bazaar UWS (Dec 7, 14, 21), Winter Village at Bryant Park, The Church of Sweden Holiday Market (Midtown), Holiday Bazaar Pop Up at Grand Central on Dec. 16-18 (from the makers of the Grand Bazaar Market!), Chinatown Holiday Market, Urbanspace Union Square Holiday Market, and more. Remember to check exact dates, times, and if tickets are required.
Christmas trees throughout the city: Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, Madison Square Park, Tavern on the Green (Central Park), Seaport’s Holiday Tree, New York Stock Exchange Tree, Lotte New York Palace Tree, Harlem Meer (Central Park). Note: Expect some crowds.
Holiday Your Way Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show @ 611 5th Avenue, 5- 11:00 pm. You can also pay to go to the Top of the Rock and see it from there.
The Loop Edit
Quick update for the 34 (!) of you who read The childcare shuffle: nannies, sitters, and backup plans: I ended up landing on two babysitters and have a playdate with one on the calendar for this weekend. I also got five more responses from candidates on Handshake — I’d definitely use that method again to find someone.
The next post I’m sharing is a “gift guide” but it’s curated based on our toddler, Addie’s, all time favorite toys from ages 0-2 that fit our NYC, minimalist, space-impacted lifestyle. The list includes a boardgame with a banana, a board book about NYC, and go-to travel toys. I also added what we’re gifting grandparents this year. These have saved our trips to upstate, Houston, Asheville, Mexico, and Europe (so far!). If you’re shopping for little ones in your circle, consider this a shortcut to the hits.
Have something you want to write about? Submit your posts — I’m always looking for voices from around the neighborhood.
The Parent Loop Bookclub
Our first TPL book club pick is How Toddlers Thrive: What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success by Dr. Tovah P. Klein PhD, who directs the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development. It’s a research-backed, practical guide to understanding the toddler mind and supporting resilience, empathy, and self-regulation in ages 2–5. Exact date and details to come, but we will get together somewhere on the UWS in mid- January so you can start reading now!
Because good stuff really shouldn’t sit in a closet. See you around the neighborhood! - Jessie
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.