Weekly Highlights in NYC #33: May 5-May 11
Mother's Day weekend, playgrounds worth exploring, spring essentials, and exciting art on view
I'm packing a picnic and dragging my family to the NYBG for their Mother's Day Celebration. The Guggenheim's Mother's Day event also looks lovely.
A few things I've covered in past weeks happening now:
Housing Works Design on a Dime (tonight, I’ll be there!)
Spring is Blooming at Rockefeller Center (this weekend)
Carnegie Hall Music Explorers (Saturday at 12 p.m.)
Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty at Kaye Playhouse (68th between Park and Lex) on Saturday, May 9 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Last weekend we took the kids to Keith Haring at the Brant Foundation, afterwards, walked over to Tompkins Square Park, and had lunch at Hanoi House (the kids loved it). Momofuku Noodle Bar and Taqueria Ramirez are also excellent options within a couple of blocks. A perfect outing.
Free Second Sunday at the Whitney: Sunday, May 10, 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. The museum is free all day. There will be art-making tied to exhibitions on view, tours, storytime, and family programming throughout the museum. Tickets are free but required and capacity is limited, so reserve in advance.
Hit up Frenchette Bakery or Pastis before or after
Family Afternoon — Fun with Raphael at The Met: Sunday, May 10, 1–4 p.m. A free, drop-in family afternoon tied to the Met's Raphael: Sublime Poetry exhibition. Hands-on art-making, gallery tours, and family portrait projects. Best for ages 3+; materials provided, no museum admission required.
Marcel Duchamp at MoMA: On view through August 22. The first U.S. retrospective of Duchamp in over 50 years, with some 300 works spanning his full career. While you’re there, don’t miss the Sculpture Garden — especially gorgeous now that the weather has turned.
Teens Take The Met: Worth flagging early if you have a teen — Friday, May 15, 4–8 p.m. The Met opens after-hours for teens only (ages 13–18 with a middle or high school ID), with drop-in art-making, performances, music, and activations from 60+ NYC cultural and community partners across the museum. Free; just show up or RSVP in advance to skip the line.
Now that the weather is warmer, we're back in the playgrounds. Central Park's are excellent — and like most NYC families, we're there on heavy rotation. It's a home away from home. 72nd Street, 76th Street, Ancient, Billy Johnson: tried, true, and wonderful. But this spring I'm making it a goal to branch out — here are the playgrounds I want to explore:
Slide Hill, Governors Island: Huge slide my kids would love, and a full-day adventure with the ferry ride. Plus, I want to check out The Yard while we’re there — looks incredible.
The Battery Playscape: My kids loved this the last time we were there. We started with a spin on the SeaGlass Carousel, and Tacombi for lunch after. Further north in Battery Park City is Teardrop Park, which looks like a gorgeous architectural experience with a “secret garden” feel.
Chelsea Waterside Playground: Might save this one for a hot day when they can be in their suits. Possibly a bribe for patience at the galleries beforehand.
Imagination Playground at Burling Slip, Seaport (different from the one in Prospect Park): Fun and interactive with blocks and parts kids can assemble. South Street Seaport feels like a hidden treasure I'd love to explore more with them.
Imagination Playground, Prospect Park: Gorgeous bronze sculptures — looks more like a forest than a playground. The Prospect Park carousel and Brooklyn Botanic Garden are nearby — would love to make a day of it.
Domino Park, Williamsburg: Always meant to make it over here. The old sugar refinery turned playground looks incredible, and Tacocina is right there for margaritas while the kids run wild.
Heckscher Playground: Yes, technically Central Park — but somehow not on our rotation. I'm reminded how great it is every spring at the Annual Playground Partners event (May 20, get your tickets!), and every year I promise myself we'll come back more often.
Anytime my kids bring sidewalk chalk to the playground, it's an instant friend-maker — and a nice lesson in sharing. We don't leave home without it. Same goes for this bubble maker—another instant crowd pleaser.
The biggest hit at the playground? A stomp rocket. My kids could play with it for hours.
My daughter has this scooter basket and gets so many compliments on it. (Bonus: she carries her own water bottle and snacks.)
Speaking of scooters, I've tried every helmet and nothing beats Woom. Secure, stays put, and zero comfort complaints.
Snacks, snacks, snacks. Don’t even get me started. Eleni’s kindly sent us some cookies that my kids have been loving. Great, delicious flavors, perfect sized snack bags, and wonderful as a special treat.
To carry it all? I LOVE my personalized L.L.Bean Boat & Tote Mini — perfect size for the essentials without being weighed down. But I've had my eye on this canvas tote that looks very chic.
Credo Beauty is having a 20% off sale (perfect for last-minute Mother's Day gifting!). Here are the products I swear by and rebuy on repeat:
Hands-down best mascara (clean, great lift)
Milk hair serum (smells excellent!)
Great floss, the free dentist stuff doesn’t compare
Deodorant that’s clean (and works!)
Salt scalp scrub (washing my hair has never been the same)
An excellent dry brush for pre-shower
Picnic season is here, and somehow I can’t find our blankets anywhere — time for something new. The contenders: YETI Lowlands blanket (priciest but best reviews, and I love anything YETI), BAGGU (the prints!), Nomadix Festival Blanket (fun, great reviews), and Oso & Me (love this brand!). Which to choose?!
Some books my kids are loving right now — and I have to admit, I think they're great too:
My kindergarten daughter: The Itty Bitty Princess Kitty series — adorable and so, so sweet.
My first-grade son: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (we have to peel him away from it).
Four-year-old son: Maisy book (so sweetly British), he’s obsessed with them.