Start your day at the
6th & B Community Garden (6th St at Ave B, 6bgarden.org), once home to the
Tower of Toys sculpture featured in the original Broadway run of
Rent. Though the piece was dismantled a few years ago, the quiet corner lot is still an urban oasis: Children can meander through the 17,000 square feet of greenery, following winding paths past koi fish and a turtle pond, or take a breather in the garden’s wooden gazebo. Right next door is the equally idyllic
Creative Little Garden (E 6th St between Aves A and B,creativelittlegarden.org), where tots can search out a dollhouse-sized Eden complete with miniature buildings, walkways and plants.
Next up:
Dinosaur Hill (306 E 9th St between First and Second Aves; 212-473-5850,dinosaurhill.com). The mom-and-pop toy store specializes in whimsical handmade items; little ones will find everything from musical instruments and marionettes to alphabet blocks in a dozen languages. For a cool souvenir, pick up a pair of Peruvian finger puppets located near the back of the store ($4 apiece).
Ready to refuel? Make your final stop Veniero’s pastry shop
(342 E 11th St between First and Second Aves; 212-674-7070, venierospastry.com), a neighborhood institution since 1894. Kids will salivate just waiting in line along the glass case packed with cannolis, eclairs, napoleons and fruit tarts. Satisfy rumbling tummies with half a dozen mini-pastries—a steal at three for $4.25.
The breakdown
Entertainment $8
Food $8.50
Total $16.50
SOURCE CREDITS: By Stephanie Abrahams, TIME OUT KIDS
Playdate: Chelsea Market NYC
Home to more than 30 cafés and shops, Chelsea Market is the perfect place to keep little ones entertained on dreary winter days. Start at the Ninth Avenue entrance to the block-long building (75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts). There kids can check out walls lined with tins and photographs that pay homage to the space’s early days—the building housed the Nabisco factory in the early 20th century. (Young foodies will be intrigued to learn that the Oreo was invented here in 1912.) As you make your way down the long, tunnel-like corridor, point out quirky architectural details like the original factory floors and the winding, exposed-brick walls. Stop at the waterfall in the center of the market; kids can throw in a coin as they watch the water magically change color (read: illuminated lights).
Playdate: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Start with a free tour of The Harbor Defense Museum (enter at Fort Hamilton Pkwy and 101st St; 718-630-4349, harbordefensemuseum.com) on Fort Hamilton. The U.S. military base dates back to 1776, but it’s still in use today (parents: Be sure to bring a valid ID with you). Kids get a peek into the city’s military history—yes, there was a Battle of Brooklyn—by checking out uniforms and artillery from the Revolutionary War through World War II. Don’t miss the 19th-century canon: Educators are on hand to teach visitors how to load and fire it.