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NY Family Brooklyn July issue

July issue of NY Family - Brooklyn

Is this weather the worst or WHAT? If you are going as bonkers as we are over here, two suggestions:

1. Check our Indoor/Rainy Day Activities and Play Spaces recommendations
2. Check the blog www.eensies.com: they always have good indoor project ideas (making their play doh recipe is high on my list for this weekend)

When the weather gets nicer, I have a whole slew of fun things for you to do with your kids. I wrote about Brooklyn summer fun in my column for NY Family Magazine (Brooklyn) edition. I think some of them will be new for you and others are good reminders to do once the weather gets nice outside!

So, here is my column. Check out the whole July edition of the magazine- it is out on stands now or read it online. (I loved reading about the founders of Hootenanny- a cool class center and community space).

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Every night the bedtime melody in our house is “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. Even in the winter, we are singing and anticipating the summer. And, here it is! To our family, that means going on new excursions, perusing flea markets, and sitting on stoops. Here is a list of some of my favorite summer activities combined with ones on my “To Do” list.

Go Fish: If you ask Brooklyn natives where to go fishing, Sheepshead Bay will be their answer every time. There are 10 piers on the “fish strip” of Emmons Avenue alone. You can either be spontaneous and just head down and hop on a fishing boat for an early morning trip, or, if you like to plan ahead, I understand that the Brooklyn VI is a good bet. It is one of New York’s largest fishing boats and can hold up to 150 people. In the summer, you can catch blues or striped bass. It isn’t cheap though: adults are $55 and children under 12 are $40, which does include your bait, but not your rod ($5). For more info: brooklynvifishing.com.

Catch A Game: The Brooklyn Cyclones baseball games are a favorite kids’ activity. The general consensus among families is that this rite of passage is best for children ages 2.5 years and up. One of the most fun (and possibly contentious) games might be the charity match between the NYPD and the FDNY on Friday, July 24th at 6:45 p.m. It is a great opportunity for your kids to meet the heroes they so often wave to as they race by. Grab a seat in the bleachers ($8) and cheer your loudest. For more info: brooklyncyclones.com.

Take A Dip: As we approach summer, the pool chatter on the Brooklyn Yahoo groups begins. When do the pools open? (June 27) Which are the best for babies? (Both Commodore Barry and Douglass-Degraw have wading pools; PS 20’s playground pool has a great mini-pool that requires an adult to accompany a child.) Which are the biggest and best? (First vote goes to the Red Hook pool and second place to Sunset Park pool). Don’t forget there are a lot of rules about New York City pools though: no shoes, no strollers, no floaties, and for others, you need your own padlock. For a list of all Brooklyn public pools, including where you can take free swimming lessons, visit my site: achildgrowsinbrooklyn.com/2009/04/24/brooklyns-swimming-pools.

Visit A Sprinkler Park: If you aren’t up for a full pool visit, you can always take a dip in the sprinklers at the city parks around Brooklyn. I polled my readers about their favorite “sprinkler parks” and here are a few highlights:

Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO (brooklynbridgepark.org): “There is the huge pirate ship to run around. The pirate sandbox, the sprinklers, and the tire swings are also available. It has great views of Manhattan and the bridges and so much to do! We love it at any time of the year, but summer with the sandbox and sprinklers is the best.”—Debbie

Manhattan Beach near Coney Island (nycgovparks.org):
“We love the Manhattan Beach Park, especially in the summer. It is a beautiful park right on the beach. You can take turns going on the swings and through the sprinklers and then go build sand castles on the beach and dip your toes in the ocean.” —Courtney

Dimattina Playground in Brooklyn Heights (nycgovparks.org): “There is equipment for little and big kids, sprinklers in the summer and it’s way less crowded than Carroll Park!” —Janine

South Oxford Tennis Club in Fort Greene (nycgovparks.org):
“My 8-year-old can skateboard, use the climbing equipment, kick a soccer ball around the turf area, or ride his bike. They also have a beautiful sprinkler system that the kids control. The water shoots out of these tall flower sculpture-like things. There are benches with shade which are great for hanging out.” —Chris

Hit The Gym: Sometimes it is just too hot to be outdoors, and you need a break. Head to Ms. J’s gymnastics in Williamsburg for some climbing, jumping and rolling. This loft-sized gym has an easygoing feel with pint-sized tables for snacks and chilling while watching your kids spin. You can register for Family Fun Hours (running 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays) or sign up for summer camp at a minimum of two days per week (your choice of days) starting July 6th. After a round at the gym, we head to the Mexican restaurant Bonita, only three blocks away. The fish tacos are just the right size for little foodies. For more info: msjsgym.com and bonitanyc.com.

Tee It Up: One sport that you don’t hear much about in Brooklyn is golf. Yet, we have one of the best golf courses for kids. If your child is between the ages of 7 and 17, you can sign him up for free lessons at the brand new CityParks Junior Golf Center. Participants learn to putt, chip and drive. With a six-hole golf course and a covered driving range, your child could be on his way to the Masters! It’s located next to the Dyker Beach public golf course in Bay Ridge, which means you might even be able to get a few drives in yourself. For more info: cityparksfoundation.org.

Resource Box
If you are looking for additional adventures this summer, I love the following:

*“City Weekends” by Alison Lowenstein. If you want to escape to Chinatown or Little Italy or, more ambitiously, Long Island, Alison’s book has a list of “must dos” at each destination. Not everything is kid-friendly, but a lot of the trips are.

*Brooklyn Based. Sign up for their e-mail newsletter at brooklynbased.net. Great writers find unusual and “hot” cultural activities for you in Brooklyn.

*Offmanhattan.com. The site features trips in and out of the borough that only use public transportation.

Related Articles:

• Outdoor Activities
• Playgrounds/Parks
• Brooklyn Swimming Pools
• What To Do Today and All Week
• Our Visit To the NY Transit Museum
• Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company (it isn’t what you think!)

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