Why limit game night to small boards and the confines of your home? Move beyond the kitchen table and head to a restaurant, a brewery or even the local library for the next family game night (make that, family date night!). Challenge the family to a new game or super-size a family favorite with an oversized board. Scroll on for the best places to team up for a day (or night) of family fun. Game on!
Labyrinth Games & Puzzles
Labyrinth Games & Puzzles offers the largest selection of board games and puzzles in the DMV. From beginners to experts, ages 1-100, there is sure to be a game here that everyone will love. Looking to add a new game to the weekly rotation? You can demo many of the games before you buy them. This store also hosts an Open Board Game Night from 6-10 p.m. every Thurs.
Twinpanzee Brewing Co.
Bring your crew to this Sterling establishment for some beer and board games. Twinpanzee offers games for all ages, including Candy Land, Operation, Chutes and Ladders, Trouble, Sorry!, Clue and more. There is also a Nintendo Entertainment System with over 30 games to challenge your loved ones with. Kids 16 & under are treated to free chips and juice. Want to break out of tabletop competitions? Try one of the brewery’s family-friendly kart racing events.
10 Executive Dr.
Sterling, VA
703-791-9363
Online: twinpanzee.com
photo: Board Room DC
The Board Room DC Do you dream of playing a board game without fighting over whose turn it is or who goes first?If so, The Board Room DC is calling. In addition to 21 draft lines, a rotating list of wines, and a full cocktail menu, this DC bar has an open cabinet with more than 30 board games.From Sorry to Scrabble, Battleship to Clue, they’ve got just about any game you want to play. Stop in, order a drink, and remember how much you love board games.
1737 Connecticut Ave. NW
Dupont Circle
202-518-7666
Online: boardroomdc.com
Game Day at Capitol View Library
You can count on good ol’ fashioned fun every Sat. at 2 p.m. at the Capitol View Library. Play a family game of Monopoly, Connect Four or chess at the library’s weekly Game Day event. Don’t forget to make an afternoon of it by browsing the stacks before you leave.
5001 Central Ave SE
Capitol View
202-645-0755
Online: dclibrary.org
photo: H Street Country Club
H Street Country Club Thing beyond just tabletop games. Less traditional country club and more bar/restaurant, the H Street Country Club offers a 9-hole DC-themed mini golf course, Skeeball, and Giant Jenga. Enjoy drinks while you golf, a meal between Skeeball games, or just hang out and take in the activity.
The Wharf
During warm weather months, head to The Wharf’s Transit Pier for oversized fun. Test your spelling skills with Scrabble, create team building with a game of Connect Four or try not to topple the life-sized Jenga. Games are free and available on a first come, first served basis.
Worth-The-Drive: The Crossroads
Dubbed a tabletop tavern., The Crossroads is a library of (almost) every game imaginable. There are over 1,400 games—all free to use by paying customers. The kids menu (aptly titled Hungry Hippos) features fan favorites like pizza, chicken tenders, mini cheeseburgers and more.
9412 Main St
Manassas, VA
571-364-8885
Online: ttoptav.com
—Meghan Yudes Meyers, Wendy Miller and Tricia Mirchandani
When your kids need a break from the same old park routine, take your family game night on the road to one of these cool, retro spots around the Bay Area. From pinball museums to one-of-a-kind indoor miniature golf courses, to board game cafes, there are plenty of places celebrating the entertainments of yesterday. Introduce your kids to some old-timey fun and indulge yourself in a bit of nostalgia.
SPIN
Kate Loweth
This spot near SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Gardens is the place to go when you want to up your table tennis game in style. SPIN is definitely not your mom's garage—it is a funky industrial space with rad graffiti art from Stikki Peaches on the walls and old-school jams playing. Open from noon until late, kids are welcome at SPIN until 9 p.m. when it goes 21+. You reserve table time in 30-minute increments and there's a menu full of shareable plates and cocktails to go along with your game.
Choose one of the two tables in their newly-opened patio area and you'll have your own space to lounge, eat and play. Don't miss new additions to the summer menu like the triple-stack of Cuban sliders and the matcha-dipped strawberries for dessert. Kids will also love the Hop Pop Chicken and Margherita Flatbread. Check their calendar for upcoming family-friendly events.
690 Folsom St. San Francisco, CA Online: wearespin.com
The Detour
Detour
This super-rad spot on Market Street in the Castro recently launched family hours from noon-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and we are all about it! There are loads of retro arcade games, pinball, skee-ball and other family favorites. You can also snag a board game like Scrabble and Connect 4 if that's more your speed. Grab a meal there from their small bites (definitely go for the cinnamon and sugar popcorn), burgers, pizza and everyone's favorite root beer float. They also have a full bar for the grown ups.
2200A Market St. San Francisco, CA Online: detoursf.com
The Escape Game
The Escape Game
Families with older kids will love this new spot in the Financial District where you can challenge your teamwork skills in a one-hour escape room. The Playground and The Heist are recommended for groups with kids and you can even team up with another family to work together. The Playground allows for up to 12 players and 8 can participate in The Heist. There's nothing that gets the adrenaline going like a race against the clock! We tried out The Playground with a group of 11-year olds and it was a major hit—they loved the school theme, brain-teasing puzzles and skills that everyone brought to the game. Highly recommended!
Right in the bustle of trendy Mission Bay within Parklab Gardens, Stagecoach Greens is a first of its kind and a true San Francisco labor of love. Their top-notch props, all made by local SF artists, will take you through our amazing city’s boom-and-bust history that has shaped it into what it is today. From the Barbary Coast Saloon to the Chinatown Gate, everyone will enjoy the detailed renditions of San Francisco neighborhoods and iconic landmarks. McCovey Cove, Sutro Tower and a comical face off between the Transamerica building and Salesforce Tower while Coit Tower keeps time are favorites. Read all about it here.
This Jack London Square spot offers loads of different options for families looking for a good time. Reserve a bocce ball court outside with views of the Bay, or snag a lane inside for some bowling. There's also a large arcade where you can try your luck at the latest arcade for a chance to win some prizes. The outdoor seating is perfect for families and there's even a small climbing structure next door for the kiddies. The expansive food and beverage menu provides lots of kid-friendly options.
Inside Madame Tussaud's in Fisherman's Wharf, you'll find this super fun escape room that is perfect for family team building if you have older kids. Bring your group of 4-8 jail breakers for this challenging but not scary one-hour escape room experience where you try and crack the code to escape the most infamous prison in the world.
This pop-up immersive virtual reality experience with a Star Wars theme is a fun activity for families with older kids (ages 10+). Your Mission: Recover Imperial intelligence vital to the rebellion’s survival. Disguised as stormtroopers, you and your crew will be transported to the molten planet of Mustafar. Grab your blaster, solve puzzles and fight giant lava monsters to fulfill your team's orders.
Westfield San Francisco Centre 865 Market St. San Francisco, CA Online: thevoid.com
Free Gold Watch
Anita Chu
No, there are no gold watches here, but what you’ll find instead is a treasure trove of classic pinball and arcade games. This hidden-away gem is actually a print shop owned by an avid pinball machine fan. Most of the space is taken up by over 50 pinball games, many of them vintage. Don’t miss the domed hockey game in the back, or the arcade cabinet that plays over 500 video games, including Shinobi and Super Mario Bros.
1767 Waller St. San Francisco, CA 415-876-4444 Online:freegoldwatch.com
Subpar Mini Golf
Anita Chu
The indoor miniature golf course with the best views in San Francisco. Located at one end of Ghirardelli Square, it looks out over the San Francisco Bay toward Alcatraz. The golf course itself is a tribute to San Francisco, with every hole modeled after a famous city landmark, from Lombard Street to the Golden Gate Bridge. See if you recognize them all. There’s also a Subpar in Alameda that has an electric car track too!
900 North Point St. #F-201 (in Ghirardelli Square) San Francisco, CA 415-761-1706
This mini arcade in the Japantown Mall has some hard-to-find Japanese arcade games, such as Dance Dance Revolution, taiko drumming, and pachinko. The claw machines also offer some really cute plushie prizes. After you get your gaming fix, go across to Sophie’s Crepes for a snack, and then Kinokuniya to check out their book and toy selection.
1737 Post St. Ste 323 (In the Japantown Mall) San Francisco, CA 510-501-6546 Online: japancentersf.com
This extensive modern arcade features tons of 3D/4D-style ride simulators, lots of interactive games good for younger kids and old school skee ball and air hockey tables. Best of all, it’s in Tanforan Mall, so you might even be able to get a little shopping done while the kiddies are entertained. Tanforan has a surprising number of other play options too, including a bounce house center and playland for younger toddlers, so it’s a good option to check out with your whole family.
1150 El Camino Real Ste 345 (In Tanforan Mall) San Bruno, CA 650-837-9404 Online:gamaride.net
This museum houses an incredible collection of over 90 pinball machines, some dating back to the 1940s. The best part is all of these machines are playable, making this one of the most fun and interactive museums you could take your kiddies to. Admission fee gives you unlimited play on all the machines all day, no extra quarters needed, which is an incredible deal.
Definitely the most original miniature golf course around, each of the 14 holes is themed after a part of San Francisco, from the Mission to the Bay. There are Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, interactive elements and decorations everywhere you like. It’s an amazingly detailed fantasyland you’ll love exploring as much as your kiddos. There’s also a separate game room with skee ball and other arcade games and a full service upstairs restaurant. A great place for a party or date night too.
1096 S Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 415-341-1080 Online:urbanputt.com
If you’re missing the arcades of your childhood, you’ll be thrilled to find High Score Arcade. Owners Shawn and Meg have built an amazing collection of 80s arcade games that may bring a nostalgia-filled tear to your eye. The perfect place to introduce your kid to the favorite games of your childhood, from Pac-Man to Donkey Kong to Tron. $6 an hour for unlimited play on the machines, so no need to bring your quarters.
Tired of Chutes and Ladders? The Game Parlour has a collection of over 800 board games, from old to new. You won’t run out of games to keep your kiddies entertained and challenged. $5 cover lets you stay and play as long as you want; since there’s no time limit, try arriving earlier on weekends before it fills up. The Game Parlour also offers food and drink—don’t miss their mochi waffles!
Campo di Bocce captures la dolce vita of Italy in a classic Italian restaurant setting complete with covered bocce courts. It’s a great option for a meal out with the kids: enjoy some playing time with the littles, then sit down to pasta and pizza. The staff will give you a quick lesson on how to play but most kids pick up the basics very quickly.
This spot combines high-end pub fare with vintage nostalgia and houses it inside an old bank in downtown Campbell. The walls are lined with arcade games and pinball machines with a four-player Pac-Man table game in the corner. You can also pull out a board game from dozens of options. The menu had BBQ pork sliders as well as more eclectic fare like the ahi shoyu poke salad.
400 E. Campbell Ave. Campbell, CA Online: thelvlup.com
We know: the kids just got back in school. And now they’re out again! (For the Jewish holidays, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veterans Day…) If you need some coverage, a school holiday camp is a lifesaver. We’ve rounded up single day camps offering all kinds of fun, including cooking, climbing, playing, crafting, tinkering and more! Treat the kids (and yourself) to one!
Cook with The Dynamite Shop
The Dynamite Shop
At this Park Slope kids cooking spot, try Cake Camp on 9/30, Pasta Camp on 10/1, and Food Science Camp on 10/9. Cost is $150 for 9-2:30 p.m., and camps are for kids ages eight and up.
This upper east side spot boasts that it offers the “best art classes for kids in Manhattan," and it holds half-day workshops on Columbus Day and Veterans Day. Campers get to exercise their creative juices through projects such as mask-making, puppet creation and papier mache. Camps are for kids ages four-and-a-half and up, run from 9 a.m. to Noon, and cost $95 a day.
1412 2nd Ave. Upper East Side 646-832-4886 Online: kidsatartnyc.com
Hang with Wildlife at the Queens Zoo
WCS
The Queens Zoo is another place that holds camp every single school holiday. Camps are for kids pre-k (age four) to second grade, and third to fifth grade. Themes include "What's the buzz about?" (learning about birds, bees bats and other pollinators); Caring for Wildlife, and Election Day's "Vote for Wildlife", dedicated to advocating for animals. Camps run from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., and are $100/day for non-members, and $80/day for members.
53-51 111th St. Corona, Queens 718-271-1500 Online: queenszoo.com
Get Swinging at Court 16
Court 16
Court 16, which has locations in Gowanus and Long Island City, is a members-only club, but it's open to non-members for camps when school is out. Designed for kids ages four through 12 tennis day camps are designed to help kids build confidence through tennis games in small groups, and develop social fluency with fun off-court activities as well. Full day camps run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are $145; half-day camps are 9 a.m. to Noon, and are $115.
526 Baltic St. Gowanus 718-875-5550 Online: court16.com
Court 16 LIC Long Island City 718-875-5550 Online: court16.com
Code, Build, Play at Robofun
DavidSacha/Robofun
This uptown tech spot offers classes in robotics, coding, circuitry and Minecraft, and you can register for either a half or full-day option on any of the upcoming days off from school. Robofun's project-based curriculum ensures that your child will have fun while also "leading their learning" in the STEM realm. Camps are $85 for a half-day (9 a.m. - Noon), $170 for the full day, and early drop off or extended day (to 5 p.m.) is offered for an additional $20.
2672 Broadway, Loft A 212-245-0444 Upper West Side Online: robofun.org
Climb High at Brooklyn Boulders
Brooklyn Boulders
Adventure Days at Brooklyn Boulders Gowanus are a out more than just scaling the walls. Climbing, team-building exercises and S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) activities keep kids busy and engaged. Camps run from 9 a.m to 3:30pm, with the option of Extended Day for $20/climber—and there's complimentary early drop-off starting at 8:30 a.m.!) Cost is $139/day, Brooklyn Boulders and snack included. (In Queens? There's a location there, too!)
Kick in the Pool and On the Field at Asphalt Green
Asphalt Green
Asphalt Green brings its popular summer day camp model to school break and holiday camps. These mini-camps incorporate various swim, sports, fitness, and recreational activities to keep kids active, learning, and engaged all day. Mini-camps are for kids ages 4 to 12, and children are split into coed age groups with a low counselor-to-camper ratio. Camps run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with early drop-off and late pickup options available for an extra fee. The cost is $150 per day.
Brooklyn Bricks does LEGO fun outside, weather permitting, with a move indoors to local church if needed. The theme for 9/30 and 10/1 is "Castles" ( with a focus on towers and turrets), and 10/9 is dedicated to "Fun Fair," with rollercoasters, big wheels and other rides. Camps run from 9 a.m. -3 p.m., ($90) with an extended day option until 5 p.m. ($120) Register here.
Drop-in for creative play in a variety of mediums any time at one of Playday's locations (Long Island City or Gramercy Park), or do a half-day or full-day or creative play. If school's out, they're open. Playday is for kids ages five to 12, and you get a 50 percent sibling discount. Cost is $36/hour, $75/half-day and $150 for a full day. (Read our story on Playday here!)
PLAYDAY LIC 5-37 51st Ave Long Island City Online: playday.com
PLAYDAY Gramercy Park 122 East 25th St. Gramercy Park
Parkour with The Movement Creative at Astor Place
The Movement Creative
Does your kid have a lot of energy? Get them to a parkour camp with The Movement Creative, where they'll run, roll, vault, crawl, and leap for hours. Maybe that will tire them out. (A little.) Camps are from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. and are $150.
Don't need a whole day of coverage? Check out Day Off School Mini Camps at The Craft Studio, in Tribeca or on the Upper East Side. At these "mini parties", artists get lunch, craft, and play games. Camps are for kids ages four to nine, and run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and are $140. (You can also drop in for an hour if you want; rate is $37/hour.) For older kids ages eight and up, try the Tween Drop off from 2 - 4 p.m. These sessions are for more advanced artists who are ready to dive deeper and develop their skills with more techniques and mediums, working with the latest art project trends.
Despite its name, The Brooklyn Robot Foundry's reach extends beyond the borough, with locations in Tribeca and on the Upper East Side, in addition its Boerum Hill and South Slope storefronts. Full-day camps for kids K through fourth grade have campers learning basic mechanical engineering and electrical principles while creating two super-fun robots. (Both go home at the end of the day.) The Robot Foundry's approach to engineering encourages students' imagination and artistry in the building process. Got a returning camper? Repeat students in third to fifth grades can choose to enroll in the Robot Inventors program, in which they'll design and build their very own robot creations. Camps run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with option to extend until 6 p.m.; cost is $120-$200, depending on location.
Kids get a full day at Long Island City fitness facility Gantry Kids & Teens. Activities include free play, organized game time, and a field trip. Past destinations have included the Museum of Moving Images, Domino Park, the American Museum of Natural History, biking on Governors Island and even ice skating. Camps are small in size with a minimum coach to kids ratio of 1:6.; the camps are best for ages 5-11, although younger children may be able to attend. Cost is $138, and pickup is between 5 and 6 pm. at no extra charge!
Gantry Kids & Teens 10-19 46th Rd. Long Island City 917-426-4650 Online: gantrykids.com
The Gaines family’s newest member made a swift and early debut into the world this weekend. While fans are fawning over the adorable Instagram pics many are also asking why did Chip and Joanna Gaines name their baby Crew?
Crew Gaines is the fifth baby for the couple, who already have two boys named Drake and Duke and two girls named Ella Rose and Emmie Kay. When Chip and Joanna revealed that they were, in fact, having a boy, many fans (including us!) assumed that they would stay in line with their naming tradition and give their youngest son a name starting with the letter “D”. Much to the world’s surprise, however, the couple went with an entirely different naming scheme.
While Crew might be outside the box for the family, considering that the addition gives them a full team of pint-sized demo assistants, it’s a pretty perfect fit. Even proud papa, Chip, made a nod to the team-building aspect of the name when he made the birth announcement tweeting, “the Gaines crew is now one stronger.”
Of course, nicknames often take over and baby Crew has already earned an adorable one from his mom, who shared the latest pic of her little “cuddle bug” on Instagram.
While Crew certainly has a classic ring to it, according to Nameberry it’s actually a fairly new entry into the baby name game. It first broke the top 1,000 boy names in the US in 2010 and has been steadily climbing ever since. We predict it will soon be as popular as farmhouse sinks and shiplap.
Red Tricycle is a digital media company that fuels the parenting universe with daily inspiration for family fun. This vibrant and fast-growing start-up is focused on offering clarity and solutions for moms, who are the primary decision makers for over $5 trillion a year in consumer spending.
We work on innovative native, digital and social campaigns for clients like Smuckers, Disney, Nintendo, Microsoft, Amazon and more.
About the Position
Red Tricycle is looking for a full-time, remote Digital Sales Trafficker to work closely with the Ad Ops and Sales Teams to execute flawless advertising campaigns. We’re looking for someone eager to jumpstart a career in digital media with fantastic communication skills, strong excel experience, as well as solid analytics chops. Organization is your middle name and you never let anything fall through the cracks. You’ll be helping us execute, optimize and measure client ad campaigns for Red Tricycle and manage the day-to-day relationships with key clients.
Because the entire Red Tricycle team is pretty small, there’s opportunity for a lot of meaningful collaboration with editorial, product, sales and ops departments. As a part of the Ad Operations Team you will be the liaison from the internal team and the client and will need to juggle dozens of requests, emails and meetings at one time.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Collecting assets from local clients in a timely manner in order to have the campaign go live on time.
Communicating flawlessly with local clients via email and sometimes by phone.
Account manage local clients so the campaign meets the delivery and performance requirements.
Once campaigns (national and local) wrap, creating a report on excel with all metrics filled in.
Willing to learn DFP best practices, naming conventions, and other processes
Trafficking all campaigns on DFP including banners, wallpaper (custom) unit and all mobile units with either static images and a URL or double-click/InRed IAS tags.
Daily campaign monitoring and optimizing campaign performance within DFP to ensure that campaigns deliver in full
Updating Red Tricycle’s benchmarks for newsletters, banners, custom posts and social so it’s accurate and reflective of the success of the company
Creating, communicating and meeting deadlines both internally and externally
Communicating any issues with under-delivery, and review of final end of campaign reporting.
Manage the approval of all creative assets, which includes routing and obtaining approvals from the appropriate people.
Updating and maintaining new and existing sales and product materials.
About You
If this all sounds exciting to you, you should come work with us. Here are some statements that should apply to you:
You are self-motivated and enjoy taking ownership of projects.
You feel comfortable doing things, even when no one is telling you exactly what to do.
You can execute with flexibility and speed.
You enjoy being part of small team, and understand your critical role in helping other team members and making the organization successful.
Your understand and thrive in the speed, chaos & vibrancy of a start-up environment.
You are solution-oriented and enjoy figuring out how to make things happen.
You are very detailed oriented and never met a deadline you couldn’t meet.
You have a track record of maintaining great relationships with large clients.
You already knowledge quite a bit about digital media, but are excited to dive in and learn more as the industry continues to innovate.
You are comfortable working and communicating with a remote team, building relationships using digital communication tools (including Slack) and over the phone.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or related fields strongly preferred
1-2 years experience with digital ad trafficking preferred
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into meaningful action items
Strong administrative skills preferred including Microsoft Suite, Slack, Google Drive
If interested, please send cover letter and resume to jobs@tinybeans.go-vip.net.
The tween years can be difficult for a number of reasons. You’re in between life stages, not quite a child but not yet a teenager. And planning a birthday party can be, well, interesting! You’ve outgrown the bouncy house phase but you’re not quite at the pizza and a movie alone phase. Not to worry! The DMV is filled with entertaining and exciting options for that in between party point!
Photo: Escape Room Live
Escape Room Live The “Escape” experiences are all the rage worldwide and the DMV is definitely not being left behind! Escape Room Live has three DMV locations (Georgetown, Glover Park and Alexandria) and they are all the rage. Players work in teams to solve puzzles and brainteasers in order to “escape” the room in which they’re trapped — before time runs out. Room themes include favorites like “Titanic,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Sherlock Holmes.” They offer a variety of party packages and it’s a great team-building activity which is key in the tween years!
Ultrazone LaserTag Who doesn’t love laser tag?! At Ultrazone, your tween can step into a high-techlaser tag venture where individuality is limited only by their imagination! Their goal will be to avoid lasers, and strategize with friends as theyvie for high scores and stardom! Ultrazone offers state of the art laser tag games, arcade games and birthday parties that are out of this world! Party packages include party room, host, pizza, soft drinks, arcade tokens and goodie bags. So, strap on a vest and step into the labyrinth where you will become completely immersed in another world!
Terrapin Adventures Terrapin Adventures is all about building relationships through fun! They’re thang is aerial adventures with only wood, rope, and cable. Yep, just wood, rope and cable! They combine team building and thrills within the context of caring for and understanding our environment. Tweens can explore, learn about, and enjoy nature as it was meant to be. They have specialty trained Aerial Adventure Guides/Facilitators that provide your party with a safe, thrilling, and memorable experience. Different party theme/adventures are available and you can choose from Easy, Thrilling and Challenging difficulty levels.
Buzz Bakery in Ballston/Arlington Buzz will be all the buzz with tweens who love to decorate cupcakes…and eat them! The lovely, welcoming bakery near Ballston Mall offers Birthday Party packages. You can host a very small party in the back of the bakery or a bigger oneon their outside patio. Buzz offers cute cupcake and cookie decorating kits perfect if you want to go somewhere other than your house to decorate some sweets. You can even order savory snacks to nibble on.
Zazzy Peacock Studios Meet Jill Newman and you’ll understand why she chose the name Zazzy Peacock for her new studio located in the Artists & Makers 2 space in Rockville. She’s a colorful, creative soul who is full of energy and loves working with equally minded youngsters. You must be eight and up to host a party at ZPS and Jill will work with you on the materials you’d like to work with as well as what you’ll be creating. Tweens are encouraged to create a custom project! You bring food and cake but can leave decorations behind as Jill has zazzed ZPS in such fun, bright colors, you won’t need to lift a finger. She even handmade a festive birthday banner!
Encore Stage& Studio Is your tween a drama queen?! A birthday party at Encore Stage & Studio is spot-on for your actor or theatre buff. Their birthday package includes a party room rental before the theatre performance, and an exclusive backstage tour. Plus, your tweens birthday will be announced to the entire audience before the start of the show! The party room is available 90 minutes before show-time and you’re responsible for providing food and decorations. Party package cost is only $75 plus $8/seat for the show. Now, that’s a bargain! f
Kids have an innate desire to climb everything from kitchen counters to trees––and if they’re metaphorically climbing the walls at home, it’s time to give them a literal outlet. Whether your little monkey is all beginner or ready for bouldering, we’ve rounded up the best indoor rock climbing gyms in San Diego. Scroll through our slideshow to see where to scale new heights.
Grotto
Perfect for littles as young as 5, Grotto goers will learn the basics of climbing and will advance their overall technique, strength and confidence! Not only will your tiny mountaineer learn how to climb safely, they’ll take it to the next level with fun climbing games and team building exercises. This program offers low coach-to-student ratios so each climber will get one-on-one coaching as well as group coaching. Kiddos will learn the importance of stretching and training with a focus on great sportsmanship and team camaraderie!
With 200 King County parks (consisting of 28,000 acres of open space), Seattle families can find a green place to play every day of the week. And topping that list of places is Woodinville’s Cottage Lake Park. This beautiful, sprawling park is chock-full of amenities, yet still feels quaint and oh-so-out-of-the-way. If you’re ready to discover this hidden gem, grab your sand toys, pool floats and fishing poles and read on for the inside scoop.
photo: Jennifer Davis
A Lake for Everyone
Only 63 acres in size and 25 feet deep (compared to Lake Washington at over 22,000 acres and over 200 feet deep), Cottage Lake is warm and inviting, clear and clean and contains limited “growies” at the beach section. Crowded with those-who-love-to-fish in the early mornings, and teeming with swimmers and parkgoers on warm summer weekends, Cottage Lake Park is the perfect hideaway on a sunny mid-week day. If the weekend is the only time your family can visit, you’ll be happy to know there’s more than enough space to spread out. Plus, it’s safely contained and away from busy streets, so you can let the tykes run free.
photo: Jennifer Davis
Bring Your Pool Noodles!
Did you know Cottage Lake Park boasts one of the few public outdoor pools in the Seattle area? And guess what? It was recently renovated and is open to the public Mon.-Sat. (with Sunday’s available for private party rentals). The pool is only $7/person (or $5 with a YMCA membership) and offers complete aquatic fun with a water slide and 84-degree water temps. What’s even better, the kids can go from pool to lake in a matter of minutes. Psst… if you can’t make it to the pool before the season ends on September 4, put it on next summer’s must-do list.
photo: Joanne McDonald
Places to Monkey Around
While the expansive green space and, of course, the pool and actual lake are the major draws, the park also offers rugrats a newly built play structure with multiple options for climbing, swinging, bouncing and running (on safe, rubbery flooring). The play structures are located between the pool and lake and most suitable for tykes ages four and up. But there is also a small-scale climbing apparatus as well as bucket swings for tiny tots. A variety of unique rope climbing features will delight the littlest monkeys in your crew (and an actual ropes course, though not publicly accessible, is on-site for adult team-building and events). Follow the covered walkway and you’ll find a separate green space available for picnicking or running wild. Psst… this space is often used by YMCA camps during the summer months, but come fall it will be wide open for families to use.
Insider Tip: The main parking lot on the north side of the lake, accessed via Woodinville-Duval Rd., can get crowded, but there’s a smaller spillover lot just a minute east down the road.
Have you visited Cottage Lake Park this summer? What’s your family’s favorite part? Tell us in the Comments below.
What’s happening in Queens these days? What’s not happening? If it’s your corner of the city, good for you! If it’s not, it’s time to venture to the borough of dreams for some good times, cultural enrichment delicious grub and more. See you on the 7!
BKB Adventures at Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge Just in time for spring break, the newest outpost of Brooklyn Boulders in Long Island City is hosting its popular youth BKB Adventures days. Kids ages five to 12 can enjoy a day of team-building exercises, arts and crafts and yes, all the climbing they want. Two snacks, gear and even a BKB Adventures t-shirt are included. Register in advance online.
Queens Library’s Mobile Library Celebrates National Library Week The Queens Library’s Mobile Library is on the move and traversing the borough in celebration of National Library Week and National Bookmobile Day (April 13)! The Mobile Library will make a whopping 17 stops around Queens in neighborhoods such as Bayside, Queens Village, Flushing, Corona and Jamaica in six days. Stop by to sign up for a free library card, borrow a book, and, on select stops, check out free music from violinist Shayshahn “Phearnone” MacPherson and learn the fundamentals of STEM education with bricks4kidz. See locations and time here.
April 10 – 16
Free
Various locations and times
Online: queenslibrary.org
photo: Resobox
Origami in Action and Anime, Cosplay and More Classes at Resobox Right next door to Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge you’ll find Japanese cultural center Resobox, which is dedicated to celebrating and sharing Japanese influence in the arts. The space’s recent amazing exhibit deciated to adorable crocheted beings and things “World Amigurumi” just closed, but in its place is an equally-enchanting show, “Origami in Action: A New Approach to Origami”, dedicated to next-level paper-folding. The exhibit features the work of paper engineer extraordinaire Sam Ita (author of Next Generation Paper Airplanes Kit) as well as young paper art upstarts Paul Frasco — who has decorated the Museum of Natural History’s famed origami holiday tree — and Brooklyn artist Adrienne Sack. While you’re there, consider a cool class for the kids in amigurumi and anime, and drop by for some ramen done right, matcha cheesecake or a swig of sake in the café.
Spring into the Plazas in Sunnyside Business improvement organization Sunnyside Shines is hosting its free Spring Into the Plazas program every Friday from now until June. This new weekly series takes place in the neighborhood’s Lowery and Bliss Plazas, and will include free activities, performances and workshops for all. Play a casual game of giant Connect Four or chess, take part in an arts and crafts workshop with local artist and landscape designer Cevan Castle, enjoy a Thalia Theater performance or check out the mobile library the Uni Project. Events will switch plazas each month, with May events happening in Lowery Plaza at Queens Boulevard and 40th Street, and April and June events taking place in Bliss Plaza at Queens Boulevard and 46th Street. Learn more and see a detailed schedule of events here.
LIC Flea & Food Queens’ answer to Brooklyn’s flea and food market combo is LIC Flea & Food, which opened for the season on April 9 (it runs every weekend through Oct. 30). You’ll find vintage goods (among them: old school Fisher-Price toys!), artisan creations like sweet-smelling soaps, upcycled home furnishings, and lots of yummy bites. Eats range from mini gluten free funnel cakes with heavenly toppings from A Lil’ Bit of Fun, soufflés made on demand from newcomer La Maison de Soufflé, and mac and cheese waffles served with/in a cup of tomato soup by Rib in a Cup. Plus: an all-Queens-brewed beer garden!
LIC Flea & Food
Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. through Oct 30
5-25 46th Ave.
Long Island City
Online: licflea.com
Open art play, yoga, storytime, Russian language and veggie cooking at Shastye
Opened last fall by professional artists and mom Shashta Molnar, this Astoria-based kid-friendly art space (the name of which means “happiness” in many Slavic languages) has expanded its class offerings to include painting, drawing, yoga, crafting, Russian language and vegetarian cooking from “Allergic to Salad”. Many are available daily, and you can find activities for kids ages 10 months to eight years. (They also do classes for adults.) Check out the daily schedule here.
We’ve written before about how The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City is one of NYC’s most often overlooked gems. Spring is an especially nice time to take in the museum’s peaceful garden filled with the Japanese artist’s work, and this season the museum’s 30th anniversary programming culminates with an immersive exhibit by artist Tom Sachs, the first — other than Noguchi — to create a solo show in the space. Entitled Tom Sachs: Tea Ceremony, the show takes over the museum with the artist’s irreverent-but-respectful take on chanoyu, or the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Sachs us known as the “ultimate master of cultural bricolage” (creating new things out of what’s available), and he brings this mashup sensibility to this show as well. Sachs himself will perform his take on the ritual on select dates during the run of the show, but we recommend stopping by for one of the many “Art for Tots” and “Art for Families” on weekends at the museum, which will explore themes of Sachs’ work through hands-on projects.
Tom Sachs: Tea Ceremony March 23 – July 24, 2016
9-01 33rd Road
Long Island City Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. & Sun.
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
$10/adults, free for children
718-204-7088
Online: noguchi.org
Do you have a favorite place to go with the kids in Queens? Tell us about it in the comments!
If you haven’t heard of parkour, you’ve probably already seen it in action (regrettably) in your living room. With origins in French military obstacle course training, the sport of traversing environmental obstacles by running, climbing, or leaping rapidly and efficiently is an actual thing now — not just kids acting crazy. It’s a sport, an art, and yes, kind of a philosophy — practitioners say that assessing a landscape and its obstacles on the physical plane translates to the metaphysical. (It’s heavy, dude.) Whatever: do your kids have boundless energy? Are they literally climbing the walls? Here’s where to channel all that!
photo: The Movement Creative
The Movement Creative The Movement Creative brings parkour to the people every which way, with classes for both kids and adults, after-school programs, parties and team-building events, the design and creation of parkour courses and more. Classes are scalable in intensity and complexity, so beginners are welcome — in fact, most students sign up with no prior parkour experience. Classes incorporate games as well as elements of strength and conditioning, gymnastics, weightlifting, dance and beyond.
Classes, beginning Sept 12 take place in Hamilton Fish Park on Saturdays and are available for kids ages 7-10, and those 11-13. Cost is $25/per class or $100 for five. A winter session will also be offered with dates and location to be determined. E-mail info@themovementcreative for more information.
Brooklyn Zoo Kids as young as five years old are learning parkour at this mega facility of movement in Williamsburg. (In addition to parkour, Brooklyn Zoo also offers classes such as “Ninja Warrior”, tumbling, trampoline, tricking, capoeira, contortion, monkey bars, break dance, and “King Of The Jungle”, the last of which is a parkour-based class.)
Everyday Athlete With two locations in Brownstone Brooklyn (one in Brooklyn Heights, the other in Carroll Gardens), Everyday Athlete urges students to “make the world your playground.” The studio uses a progressive and systematic curriculum (i.e. kids should learn to “walk” before they “run”) to help students understand how their body works and develop a playful and fun attitude about movement skills. EA also stresses progress and achievement based on one’s own abilities and development, not as compared to others. EA’s Ninja Parkour for kids 4 to 6 years old incorporates basic parkour techniques as well as gymnastics and tumbling, while parkour classes for those 7 to 9 and over 10 years of age focus on indoor and outdoor obstacle courses. Kids who get really good (mostly teenagers) may join the invitational class. EA offers Fall and Winter/Spring sessions with pricing starting at $700; discounts are available for full-year enrollment and drop-ins are also welcome.
STREB If you want your child’s parkour to have the imprimatur of the cultural intelligentsia, STREB is probably the choice for you. Founder Elizabeth Streb received a MacArthur “Genius” Grant in 1997, has delivered a TEDxMet talk, and is the subject of a recent New Yorker profile. She preaches and teaches “PopAction” for both kids and adults, which she describes as a fusion of dance, athletics, boxing, rodeo, the circus and Hollywood stuntwork.
STREB is where the very youngest among us can begin to explore movement, with the class “Baby Action” designed for tots 18 months to three years of age. Additional classes for kids ages 3 to 5, 5 to 7 and 7 to 10 are also offered. For kids 8 to 12 years old, Parkour Plus provides an introduction to parkour, focusing on strength, endurance, alignment, efficiency, range of motion, artistry and teamwork. Fall semester runs from September 21 to February 6.
51 N. First St.
Williamsburg
718-384-6491
Online: streb.org
Does your child take parkour? Tell us where in the comments below!
