updated: 3/31/20

Spread the Love, Not the Germs:

• Stay home!!!!
• When taking kids out for fresh air and exercise, maintain 6 feet distance from other humans you don't live with, i.e. NO PLAYDATES!!! And don't visit places where surfaces are likely to be touched by others, i.e. NO PLAYGROUNDS!!!
• Quarantine Rainbow Connection: Have your children draw a rainbow and put it in their window. Add your address here. View the map of rainbows here and look for them when out getting fresh air and exercise (while keeping proper social distancing!).
• Alt Side Parking Suspended through April 14
• Schools Closed through April 19

Local Support & Care for those in need:

• Bay Ridge Cares - offering relief and support to local areas (food shopping, running errands, dog walking, care packages, wellness checks, etc) - contact them if you know someone in need, or would like to volunteer
• Invisible Hands: free, safe deliveries for most at risk community members (sign up to volunteer or request a delivery)
• NYC DOE providing 3 free meals a day for all NYC children, available at 400 sites from M-F 7:30AM - 1:30PM. Click here for locations and hours.

Online Programs by Bay Ridge Businesses

• Bay Ridge Ballet - FREE ballet classes on their new YouTube channel
• Bay Ridge Jewish Center - will be offering Tot Shabbat and some other programs via FB live
• HY Martial Arts - free live Kung Fu classes on Facebook / Instagram, ages 5+, Tuesdays & Thursdays at 3PM. FREE but donations welcome.
• Urban Steam Lab: virtual science class held Tues & Thurs for 3 weeks (March 31 - April 16; 6 classes) for children in 3rd - 6th grades. $120 for first child, 66% discount for siblings, inclues science kit that can be picked up or delivered locally.​

FREE Online Programs (beyond Bay Ridge)

• Daily @ Various Times: Free Live Stage & Classes through KidPass
• Weekdays @ 11AM - Mornings with Papa Tom (FB Live Music Class), suggested donation $10
• Weekdays @ 11AM-1PM - Science Mom's YouTube Live "QuaranTime"​ (Science), FREE
• Weekdays @ 2 - 2:45PM (ages 8-12) - Live YT Art Class, Monster Art School with Steve Ellis
• Weekdays @ 3 - 3:45PM (ages 13+) - Live YT Art Class, Monster Art School with Steve Ellis​​
• Weekdays @ 3PM - Home Safari Facebook Lives at Cincinnati Zoo (Science), FREE
• The Buttons Band FB & IG Live music classes, Wed @ 11AM, Thurs @ 3:30PM, Sun @ 11AM
• FB Live Workouts by With Love Personal Training, FREE, various days/times
• ​Ongoing interactive homeschooling classes for various ages, organized by Emily Drabinski, the head librarian at CUNY's Graduate Center and her partner, Karen Miller, a history professor at Laguardia Community College, FREE
• List of 37+ children's musicians live online music classes
• List of children's book authors doing online readings

Local Deliveries:

• BookMark Shoppe store is closed but local deliveries receive 20% off online orders with code ADRIFB
• Bubbles & Suds -15% off laundry pickup/delivery for Bay Ridge Residents for next 2 weeks (March 16 - 30?)
• Most grocery stores will maintain their deliveries via phone, internet, or in-store. You can also try InstaCart for delivery from Costco, Aldies, Whole Foods, etc (currently need to schedule delivery a few days ahead), Fresh Direct (currently 1+ week booked out period), and Amazon Fresh (you'll need an Amazon Prime membership, get a free 30-day trial here).
• Leaky Barrel Wines & Sprits: call (718) 256-0346
• Cafes and restaurants can not allow dine-in but most are offering takeout pickup and delivery.

Other Helpful Info: COVID-19

• NY State Department of Health's COVID-19 Page
• CDC COVID-19 Page
• The Best Materials for DIY Masks​
• What "Non-Essential" vs. "Essential" businesses are and what must be closed

Other Helpful Info: Remote Learning

• NYC DOE Learn at Home Activities
• Parents Guide to Google Classroom
• Free Texas Instruments Software
• Download 300,000 free books from NYPL
• Scholastic Learn at Home Programs
• Virtual concerts, plays, and museums

Spring is here (or nearly here), along with Coronavirus, but this post isn't about that so much. Other than to say, online shopping and DIY hair and nails at home is where it's at, talk about proper social distancing, am I right!? Besides stocking up on sanitizing goods and staples for the pantry, how about stocking up on some fabulous springtime goodies to brighten your day and have you ready to take on the world in a few weeks (or months!?), after the whole "flatten the curve" strategy has hopefully worked and we're ready to go about our normal social butterfly lives again!

Disclaimer: This post includes some items that were provided in exchange for my promotion or review, but all thoughts are my own and unbiased. This post also includes many affiliate links - you won't pay more but I'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. This is how we bloggers survive, ya'll! Thank you and arigatou!!!

Arcopedico Harley Wedge Sandals
Springtime means getting your tootsies pedicured and ready to great the world. What better way than in some super cute (and comfy) sandals!? I just recieved this pair of Harley Wedge Sandals from Arcopedico and while they are MUCH higher than my typical shoes (I'm an inch taller than my husband so tend to shy away from any lift or heel), I'm absolutely in love with them and dying for the weather to warm up so I can take them out on the town! The ankle strap is actually velcro so has some good adjustability. Upper is made of their patented Lytech™ blend, and the Arne-Dry footbed makes this wedge shockingly lightweight! You can find them in black/silver, grey/white, and camel (which I chose as I currently didn't have any neutral shoes), in sizes 36 (US 5.5) - 42 (US 10.5-11).

• BUY:  $115 - $120 on Amazon (affiliate link) and arcopedicousa.com

Old Navy Rockstar Jeggings
I don't know about you, but I really miss my maternity pants. Not just that the elastic waist is super comfy, but buttons and zippers add so much bulk to your midsection! A fellow twin mom recommended Old Navy's Rockstar Jeggings to me about half a year ago, I ordered a few, and became a die hard fan. They're basically all I wear now. Oh crap, now everyone knows my secret. The fun thing is that they are actually jeans, not what you think of "jegging" material which is so fake and gross. These are jeans, that are nice and stretchy, and instead of a button and zipper they just have a tall elastic waist that smooths out your mom pooch instead of cutting into it creating a muffin top on even a skinny mom! They're flattering, comfy, and stylish. And if you time it right, you can grab them on a super sale, at the moment many styles are 30% off!

• BUY: see all Rockstar Jeggings styles here (affiliate link; regularly $34.99 - $44.99)

Boxed Semi-Perm Hair Dye
I've been dyeing my hair fun semi-permanent colors for about 2 years now. You can read more about each experiment here - I've tried several brands and colors, all wash out pretty much by 10-15 washes (teal was the exception, it lingered as a hint of green for quite some time, and if you have very light hair, bleached or otherwise treated hair you may also experience lingering as well). Here are some fun springtime colors you may want to try. These contain no bleach or ammonia, which means they are kind to your hair with absolutely zero damage! And now is the perfect chance to go for some funky hair if you've suddenly found yourself working from home due coronavirus containment policies!

Glasses & Sunglasses
I've been a huge fan of DiscountGlasses.com for a while now, even before becoming one of their Ambassadors! With a large selection of glasses and sunglasses for babies, kids, and adults starting at just $20, with virtual try on and free 365 day returns, you can't lose! I recently got their super lightweight and colorful Westend Cherry Creek glasses in Multi Blue (see below left, $20 with lenses!!), which I find not just comfortable but so cheerful! And don't forget about my Westend Bexley sunglasses (see below right, $69.95 with lenses), I mean, how fabulous are these!?!?

• Buy: on DiscountGlasses.com (affiliate link)

Colorful Silicone Necklace
I got into silicone jewelry back when I had babies and wanted fun items that the kids could chew on and yank without destroying it. Fast forward a few years, my kids are 4, 4, and 7 and these are still pretty much the only necklaces I wear! HA! And every time I go out with one on, I get a compliment. So, yes, they're marketed as teething jewelry, but anyone can and should wear them. So fun! Colorful! Durable! Chewbeads is probably the most well known brand but you can find a number of brands as well as homemade ones on Etsy.

• Buy: on Amazon (affiliate link)

Tumbler & Reusable Cups
We all know single use bottles and cups are a no no. So stop using them and make sure you have a few great reusable tumblers on hand at home, in the car, in your bag, under your stroller etc so that you're never caught out having to use a disposable one. Personally I think having really cute designs will help you stay motivated to BYO! Check some of these out:

Other great stuff and DISCOUNTS:

SPECIAL COVID-19 MESSAGE:
While there is no immediate cause for panic or mass quarantine regarding COVID-19 in South Brooklyn, we do believe practicing hand washing and social distancing to be of the utmost importance, to protect your family and the community. We will share important updates via our FB page, and you can get updates from NYC by text by messaging "COVID" to 692-692. We will continue providing our weekly kids' events roundups, but urge you to think carefully whether or not to hold or attend any indoor or outdoor group gatherings. Slowing the spread and flattening the curve of how many individuals need intensive care in the hospitals is the biggest concern here (see more on that here) - the more we limit close contact with others, the harder it is for the virus to spread (and it can be spread before symptoms are present, and by those who have it but are still going about their daily lives thinking it's just a simple cold, as is quite likely with children and otherwise healthy adults). You can find important and updates here:

• NYC Department of Health's Coronavirus Page
• NYC Department of Education's Coronavirus Page
• CDC's Coronavirus Page​​

Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of March 14 - 20, 2020!

​Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!!

​All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion).

Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup!

Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline.

Disclaimer: This post includes some affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

ONGOING:​​​​​

• March 13 - March 31: events and public programing at Brooklyn public libraries have been canceled, but for now, library branches remain open (stay updated here).
• ​​~ March 16: UPK4 Applications for children born in 2016 (more info and apply here)
• April 14-15-16: Evamarie Violin Workshops, ages 3-4 and 5-6
• ~ April 24: UPK3 Applications for children born in 2017 (more info and apply here, only available in Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 27, 29, 31, and 32 i.e. not in Bay Ridge, but anyone can apply no matter where you live)​
• ​Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Idea

SATURDAY, MARCH 14:

• FREE - Chess at 3 @ 268 36th Street @ 12:30 - 4
• FREE - Rock & Roll Playhouse: Music of Grateful Dead for Kids @ 274 36th St (Courtyard 5-6) @ 1 - 2​
• OGO New York's Fashion Night @ Best Western @ 6 - 9
• Legally Blonde @ Xaverian @ 7

SUNDAY, MARCH 15:

• Legally Blonde @ Xaverian @ 2

MONDAY, MARCH 16:

• ​​Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 17:

• ​BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 3:30 - 5​​

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:45​

THURSDAY, MARCH 19:​​

• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7

FRIDAY, MARCH 20:

• nothing on our radar

Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of March 7 - 13, 2020!

​Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!!

​All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion).

Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup!

Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline.

Disclaimer: This post includes some affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

ONGOING:​​​​​

• ​​~ March 16: UPK4 Applications for children born in 2016 (more info and apply here)
• April 14-15-16: Evamarie Violin Workshops, ages 3-4 and 5-6
• ~ April 24: UPK3 Applications for children born in 2017 (more info and apply here, only available in Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 27, 29, 31, and 32 i.e. not in Bay Ridge, but anyone can apply no matter where you live)​
• ​Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Idea

SATURDAY, MARCH 7:

• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Dyker Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 12
• SASKIA Kids Make Your Own Jewelry Class @ 67 35th St @ 11 - 12
• "Hope the Koala" Little Brushes @ Pinot's Palette @ 12 - 2
• Mobile Pet Adoption @ My Natural Pet @ 12 - 4
• FREE - Chess Workshop for Children @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 12:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ 268 36th Street @ 12:30 - 4
• FREE - Rock & Roll Playhouse: Music of Tom Petty for Kids @ 274 36th St (Courtyard 5-6) @ 1 - 2
• FREE - Team Up To Read: Making Connections @ Bay Ridge Library @ 2 - 3
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3
• FREE - Cantonese / English Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Sing 'n Schmooze on Shabbat @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 4 - 5:15
• Legally Blonde @ Xaverian @ 7

SUNDAY, MARCH 8:

• Legally Blonde @ Xaverian @ 2
• Magical Purim Bash @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 2 - 5

MONDAY, MARCH 9:

• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11​​​
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• ​Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 10:

• Alternate Side Parking Suspended (Purim)
• FREE - Toy Time! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• ​BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 3:30 - 5​​
• FREE - Chess Club @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:45
• FREE - Toy Time! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - Build With LEGO @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Dungeons & Dragons @ Dyker Library @ 4 - 5:15

THURSDAY, MARCH 12:

• Tots & Toddlers Paint @ Pinot's Palette @ 12 - 1
• FREE - Babies & Books @ Dyker Library @ 1:15 - 2
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• FREE - Dungeons and Dragons @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7

FRIDAY, MARCH 13:

• FREE - Toy Time! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 11
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Kids Create: Arts and Crafts @ Dyker Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Makerbot DIY @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4
• Parents Night Out Dropoff @ Bounce U @ 6 - 8:30
• Legally Blonde @ Xaverian @ 7

Disclaimer: Our stay and activities were provided in exchange for our honest review - all thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% unbiased!

When it comes to family vacation destinations within a 3 hour drive from New York City, your options are plentiful. We've actually reviewed many of them (see our "family friendly day trips and weekend getaways from NYC" list here), but our trip to The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark this past weekend truly blew us away. It was spectacular, non-stop fun and excitement, beautiful, just AMAZING! A must visit for any family in the Tri-State area, honestly!!! Watch our video here and read on for more about what makes The Kartrite so special!

Located in Monticello, NY, The Kartrite is just a 2 hour drive from NYC, making it the perfect weekend destination! The Kartrite hasn't even celebrated its first birthday yet, so everything is beautiful, new, and utilizing the latest technology. Take your room key for example. It's not a key or even a card. It's a wrist band!! The internal chip acts as both your room key and your water park admission! I mean, HELLO! Could they make it any easier!? At the arcade, you add activities and game tokens to your Playopolis card, and any tickets you win go back onto your card - so it's completely cash and paper free! What's more? You can get a card for each member of your family and then pool all the points to one card when checking out and "buying" your kids' prizes.

There are ski slopes and cute towns nearby, but frankly, don't even bother. We spent our entire 3 days at The Kartrite and had zero desire or need to leave the fabulous facilities. At check-in we received a list of the complimentary daily kids' activities (things like STEAM projects, sand art, marshmallow towers, daily movie night in the lobby), and they even have a 3 hour nightly"Kids' Night Out" drop-off program for $55/child. We ended up spending 10am-5:30pm Saturday at the Waterpark, 10am-2pm Sunday at Indoor Adventures area, and the rest of the time either eating or lounging in the room!

THE WATERPARK
It should go without saying, the waterpark is the main attraction. This is why people come to The Kartrite, and for good reason, it's spectacular!! Touted as New York's biggest indoor waterpark, and covered by the world’s largest texlon transparent roof (I didn't realize this and thankfully we didn't burn, but as per their website, apparently you can tan through it, so don't forget your sunscreen!), they really went above and beyond in every way, and entrance is included with your stay at The Kartrite (even on check in and check out days). To top it off, it was the most physically pleasant indoor waterpark we've been to. We've visited many where either the air or the water wasn't quite warm enough, and left you chilled and needing to leave within 2 hours. We've also experienced some where the air was so thick with chlorine that our eyes stung and lungs burned! We didn't experience any of this at The Kartrite! With the exception of the bathrooms being cold and the lunch line being long, everything else was absolutely perfect! 

There's an adorable toddler area with mini slides and splash zones, free life jackets for kids, a basketball pool, a great lazy river (never had to wait long to get a single or double tube to ride on), several kiddie water slides, 5 big kid / adult water slides (with minimum height of 42" or 48"), water adventure areas with a dump bucket, and even a well heated outdoor pool that you can access from inside (it was about 25*F when we went, and we were completely warm in this pool outside, until my kids splashed me and got my face and ears wet, then they started to freeze)!

There's no extra fee for their Flowrider (shown above), where you can do indoor boogie boarding, wake boarding, or surfing. Lines can get long for this because they give each rider ample time to have several tries, but it's totally worth the wait. It was my first time as well as my son's first time. After watching many people wipe out (no tears or injuries though) I was incredibly nervous but it was insanely fun!! The staff were super helpful, taking the time to explain how to do it, and if you are doing well they'll guide you from the front on learning tricks while you're still riding. It was amazing!! My son and I both were able to get up onto our knees and we saw others learning to spin the board around. So cool! You can see us in action on Flowrider in this video!

The most unique item at the waterpark is probably the Nor'easter water slide (see giant blue monstrosity above). I've never seen anything quite like it, but unfortunately we weren't able to ride it. There's a minimum height of 48" (our kids are too short), and you must have 2 or 4 riders (and I felt too shy to ask a stranger to ride with me). We did enjoy watching it though, and our 7 year old will definitely be tall enough if we go back in half a year or so! Can't wait!! 

There is a cafeteria style grill in the waterpark as well as a bar. We ended up ordering a whole pizza, for $20, which was good for our family of 5. You can put it charges on your room which makes it nice, no need to bring your wallet. There are lockers, I believe from about $15 per day, but I really recommend leaving valuables in your room and bringing a waterproof pouch for your phone so you can keep it on you for quick photos and videos. You do need to wear coverup and shoes between your room and the waterpark, but we just put ours in a bag and left them on a chair. I guess there is always a risk of theft, but it didn't feel especially risky to me.

You can also splurge by purchasing a cabana for the day, which we were treated to by The Kartrite! The regular lounge chairs really fill up quickly around the waterpark, so having a private reserved section was really nice, plus it comes stocked with fruit, snacks, beverages in a mini fridge, and your own waiter by the push of a button!! Of course our kids were most impressed with the 32" HD TV in our cabana, and I was thrilled it had an outlet to turbo charge my phone after taking a full day's worth of photos and videos it was running out of juice! We got Cabana #11 which was right in front of the kids' adventure area, we were able to sit back and relax while still having a great view of our kids. Score!!

If you're not staying at the hotel, you can purchase a Splash Pash day pass to the waterpark for $79 - $99 (children under 2 are free). Great option if you live nearby or just want to drive up for the day!

INDOOR ADVENTURES:
I actually had no idea these existed at The Kartrite. I'm used to seeing giant arcades, but this was so much more! This massive play center on the first floor consists of:

• Arcade (pay per game, most took 2-8 credits each; credits cost about $.20 - $.27 each depending on how many you buy at once)
• Mini bowling ($6) - just 3 lanes with bumpers and teeny little balls with no holes - a great intro to bowling for little kids! We did 3 players for our kids' game but it was pointless, they just didn't understand about going twice and then letting next person go. So, if yours are little, just buy one game and let them all take turns as the same player LOL!
• Ropes Course & Zipline ($12) If between 42"-48", child must be accompanied by an adult, who pays as well. My husband took my son and I was really impressed by how well my 7 year old did. I mean, this course is 1-2 stories high, I can't believe he wasn't terrified!! Some parts were rather challenging and the accompanying adult may have their work cut out for them having to assist the child. But overall they had a blast! Kinda regret not going myself!
• Rock Climbing ($7) - this was the first time rock climbing for myself, my 7 year old, and my husband. There are 3 towers, each with very different structure and technique. Very fun, and secure, you repel down which was scary at first but once you realized how slowly and safely you went down, super fun!! Heads up: I only did 2 towers (5 minutes total climbing??), and 2 days later I'm still sore!! My 7 year old did a great job but wasn't able to make it to the top buzzer on any of them, but wasn't bothered by it in the least!
• 3D (XD) Theater Ride ($7) - OK so HUGE heads up here. Don't let your kids choose which movie they see. Don't do it. Be the mean mom. Use your better judgement. Or else you may end up with a couple of traumatized 4 year olds like me (see the video for how bad it was). They had a cute cartoon one that was perfect for kids. But no. My 7 year old insisted on the "Haunted Mine" and then his sisters chimed in that they too wanted to see it. Demanded to see it. So, OK, I caved... They get 3D glasses and jump on board of a 4 person bench that looks like a roller coaster ride. Door closes. If you bought a ticket you can ride with them, but I didn't, and watched from the surveillance screen out front. It all looked good for a while. Their hair was blowing. The ride was rocking and shaking. And then Emi threw off her glasses. And then both girls started hysterically crying and screaming. The staff noticed before I did and jumped into rescue mode, thank goodness!!! After taking them out and talking to them about how it wasn't real, they calmed down and haven't had any nightmares or anything, so I think we're good. Just heed my warning... go with the cute little cartoon for your littles!!!
• Laser Tag ($12) - This was my son's 1st time playing laser tag and suffice it to say, it brings out his competitive side just like his mama's! It was really fun playing together. There was only one other team at the same time, another mom and son. I was surprised how large the arena was! Lots of hiding spaces and targets to shoot, and a staff member was walking around and monitoring the whole time (I kept trying to shoot him accidentally haha)! The vest is heavy though, my 45 pound 7 year old was just barely OK to wear it. So keep that in mind.
• Virtual Reality Game ($8) - This was our first time doing a VR game and it was HILARIOUS!!! So so so so weird, and fun, and a bit scary haha! There are a bunch of games to choose from, so you may want to pre-select before your child enters if you don't want them shooting up aliens or something like that. I did one that did have guns but the "bad guys" were kinda like big apples invading my grocery store while I was trying to check out. They have sanitizing wipes to clean the mask and controllers before and after you use them, which was a great touch!

Basically, you purchase each activity and/or credits, they all go onto your Playopolis card and you scan it for each game or activity. You can buy packages as well, which reduces individual costs. I highly recommend this, so you just go out and have a huge fun day rather them deliberating over individual costs. Just splurge and treat your kids, and yourself!! For example, the "Voyage Pick Four" ($50) package includes 80 arcade credits and you chose 4 of the following: ​Climbing Wall, XD Theater, Bowling, Laser Tag, Virtual Reality, Rope Course. Family members can share a card too, in case you want each kid to do 2 of those activities.

DINING OPTIONS:
There were several restaurants to choose from and we honestly enjoyed every meal (well, "enjoyed" may be debatable since dining with 3 overtired cranky kids is always a struggle), but the food, service, and atmospheres were great! The kids' menus seemed to be the same at each restaurant though, so not as much variety, but if you have non-picky kids they could share items off of the adult menu perhaps. Then again we have pretty picky eaters. We ate at Bixby's Derby the first night, which had an upscale yet cozy vibe with huge tall-backed booths (besides looking really cool, I think they do well to absorb noise)! We ate at Harvey's Wallbanger the second night for dinner and the third day for lunch. It's very casual American bar/grille type atmosphere, with some booths and many high tables (I was nervous but our kids didn't fall out, thankfully). They all have crayons and coloring placemats with fun activities like dots and boxes and tic tac toe to keep everyone occupied without screens - hooray! For both breakfasts we got the buffet at Eat. Eat. Eat which was delicious!! A huge variety of food from pastries to omelet station, waffles, bacon, you name it, and 3 and under eats free there!

ACCOMMODATIONS:
The rooms are definitely in tune with the stylishly modern design of the rest of the hotel. They have 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites. We got the "Two Bedroom Grand Corner Suite" which has an 8 guest max occupancy and at 966 square feet it's actually bigger than our own home in Brooklyn, which had its first open house while we were staying at The Kartrite!! The kids got the bedroom with 2 queens (the twins cuddled up in one), and us grownups took the master bedroom with a King and attached bathroom. The living room featured a his and her sink bathroom, sofa bed, Keurig, mini fridge, and balcony. I've seen some suites with bunk beds, too! So definitely search for the set up that'll work best for your family! On our first night, the kids took forever to settle down, not going to sleep until after 9pm, and were up from about 4:30am due to excitement. It was a disaster!!! The next night was much better after an exhausting day at the waterpark, and they slept til 6:30am without waking us up!! Hooray for 2 bedrooms and a living room, plenty of space and doors to block out sound!! Rates very greatly by type of room and day / season, but I've seen as low as $127/night for a family of 4 (don't forget, that includes waterpark passes for every day including check in day and check out day)!!

I'm not even sure who will be making it down here to the end of the post. I'm thinking most of you have already clicked over to The Kartrite's website to book your vacation!! But in case you're still here, thank you for sticking it out til the end!! Would love to hear your thoughts on The Kartrite - have you been there before? Planning to go? Have another family-friendly vacation destination we should review!?!? Comment below and we will love you foreverrrrrrr!!!

Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of February 29 - March 6, 2020!

​Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!!

​All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion).

Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup!

Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline.

Disclaimer: This post includes some affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

ONGOING:​​​​​

• ​~ March 4: Apply to be a CEC 20 (Community Education Council District 20) Member
• ​~ March 16: UPK4 Applications for children born in 2016 (more info and apply here)
• April 14-15-16: Evamarie Violin Workshops, ages 3-4 and 5-6
• ~ April 24: UPK3 Applications for children born in 2017 (more info and apply here, only available in Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 27, 29, 31, and 32 i.e. not in Bay Ridge, but anyone can apply no matter where you live)​
• ​Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Idea

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29:

• Bay Ridge Cares' Pancake Breakfast @ St. Mary's @ 10 - 12:30
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• FREE - Chess Workshop for Children @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 12:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ 268 36th Street @ 12:30 - 4
• FREE - Rock & Roll Playhouse: Broadway Rock for Kids @ 274 36th St (Courtyard 5-6) @ 1 - 2
• FREE - Team Up To Read: Story Mapping @ Bay Ridge Library @ 2 - 3
• Changing Seasons Yoga: Mindfulness & Stress Management for Teens @ Omn Vibe Yoga @ 2 - 4
• FREE - Cantonese / English Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 4

SUNDAY, MARCH 1:

• ​Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​​
• FREE - Sunset Park Kids' Cinema Club: Frozen 2 @ 268 36th St @ 10:30 - 1:30
• Lunar New Year Celebration @ 1601 80th St @ 11 - 2:30

MONDAY, MARCH 2:

• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11​​​
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• ​Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4

TUESDAY, MARCH 3:

• FREE - Toy Time! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• ​BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 3:30 - 5​
• FREE - Chess Club @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:45
• FREE - Toy Time! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - Teen Lounge @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4:30
• FREE - Build With LEGO @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4

THURSDAY, MARCH 5:

• FREE - Babies & Books @ Dyker Library @ 1:15 - 2
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• FREE - Dungeons and Dragons @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7

FRIDAY, MARCH 6:

• FREE - Read Across Brooklyn: The Doorbell Rang @ Dyker Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• FREE - Read Across Brooklyn Storytime! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:30
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Kids Create: Arts and Crafts @ Dyker Library @ 3 - 4
• Legally Blonde @ Xaverian @ 7

Moms, I think we can all agree that we love our kids more than life itself. We'd be lost without them. They're everything! But... sometimes... we need a break. Am I right?! A break from the monotony, from the pressure to be doing everything for everyone, from the whining and fighting. Basically, from being a mom. Needing a break doesn't make you a bad mom. I would argue in fact that taking a break actually can make you a better mom!

This break can come in the form of an hour at the gym, a mani pedi at the salon, or a kid-free lunch with some friends. Maybe you already do this regularly, maybe not, but if you're ready to take it to the next level, taking a full day and night away (or a full weekend, or gasp, a whole week!?), you might just find yourself fully recharged and ready to embrace those kids and your many duties at 100% again. Not just that, but getting away and out of your typical setting can give you a real chance to reconnect with yourself, to remember who you are beyond "mom", "wife", "domestic engineer". Remember when you actually had interests and hobbies, before they were taken over by your duties of meal planner, butt wiper, laundry doer, and booboo kisser. It's time to find and nurture those interests again! Let this blog post serve as your inspiration and motivation, a little nudge to treat yourself and plan your own mom getaway!!

I became a mother just over 7 years ago. It took me 5 years to take my first night away. I know... crazy! Our twins had just turned 2 years old, my husband was alwaysssss working, and I was so overwhelmed and stressed out. I had a mini breakdown (mommy tantrum??), got some amazing advice from my twin mom squad on Facebook (love them!!) and decided to heed that advice by booking a night away!! I went solo, to Atlantic City (weird destination, I know, but Tropicana hosted me and it was amazing - read about that trip and watch the video here).

Fast forward 2 more years and I was more than ready to do this again. Except this time, I didn't want to go alone. I wanted a relaxing but FUN momcation!!! So I reached out to the oh-so-amazing Crystal Springs Resort, because we had visited as a family over the summer and luuuuuurved it (see that blog review & video here), but I was itching to go back without kids! They offered to comp my stay again, in exchange for me covering my wonderful momcation! I invited one of my best mom friends, Rhianon of Brooklyn Boy Mom (together we have SEVEN CHILDREN!!! Me 3 and Rhi 4). See how much fun we had in this video and keep reading for more details!!

Why Crystal Springs for your Momcation?

LOCATION: Just a 90 minute drive from NYC, you'll find yourself in the beautiful northwestern New Jersey foothills at Crystal Springs Resort! It's not a bad drive either - I hadn't driven in over 6 years and was terrified but totally did it - easy peasy!! The hotel and grounds are simply beautiful (no wonder they host countless weddings, reunions, and conventions year round!).

ACTIVITIES:

• Indoor pools (the Biosphere is my favorite with its fabulously tropical Instagrammable vibes and water slide)
• Outdoor pools (heated in winter and you can swim out to them from inside)​

• 2 award-winning spas (one is ranked #1 in New Jersey and in the top 30 in the country!)
• Golf - not my thing but you do you!
• Free shuttle to nearby ski / snow tubing slopes at Mountain Creek - this free shuttle also connects Crystal Springs' two main areas of Grand Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel, both with great pools, dining, spa, etc! Make sure you visit both!!
• Daily activities (some free, some for a fee) like sip & paint, mixology class, cupcake making, goat or puppy yoga (YES! puppy yoga featuring rescued chihauhau puppies up for adoption see this video for all the cuteness!), cupcake making, wine tasting with their sommelier, marshmallow roasting, evening entertainment and a ton of summer outdoor activities on site or nearby like kayaking, horseback riding, zip lining, etc.

• Wine Cellar and free tour (daily @ 3pm) - with a $10million collection (45,000 bottles of wine) set in a beautiful stone cellar, it's a must see - one of the top wine collections in the world!!

ACCOMODATIONS:
​Both times I've stayed at Crystal Springs Grand Cascades Lodge, we've been provided with a Suite, which I highly recommend. Having a full kitchen and living room is so nice and makes lounging around and being lazy at your home away from home a terrific option! Go out to one of their many restaurants when you want, or order pizza or make your own meals when feeling lazy. We stopped at a grocery store on the way up so that we'd have stuff for breakfast and snacks and what not. Our Suite had 1 king bed room, 1 huge bathroom (with L'Occitane toiletries - niiiiiice!!!), a pull out sofa in the living room, a fire place, a balcony, washer and dryer, and a full kitchen (well, minus a microwave - oops, we had to take our popcorn home!!)

DINING:
They have many options to choose from, whether looking for quick and casual or fine dining for a special occasion. Between the visit with my family and this more recent momcation trip, I've eaten at every one of their restaurants except for their seasonal farm-to-table al fresco Chef's Garden (I'll be back next summer for that one, to be sure!!) and they're all outstanding! You can't go wrong!

Since we couldn't go to their 4-star Restaurant Latour last time (no kids under age 12 allowed), I wanted to make sure to check it out this time (reservations recommended, so plan ahead). Boy oh boy am I glad we did!! Their head Sommelier led the wine tour we took at 3pm, so we were even more excited to head over that evening and request the wine pairing menu ($55) with our 4-course meal ($115) . They also have 7-course, but despite each course being fairly small, we were stuffed by the end of our 2 hour dining experience!!

​I'd never done a wine pairing before, and basically know nothing about wine. I actually hadn't a clue that wine choice can either make or break a food. Making the wrong pairing is comparable to drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth - yuck! The sommelier will choose the perfect wine for each of your courses (guests choose courses independently, the table doesn't have to agree), coming over to the table personally to explain about the wine and pour it for you. It was such an incredibly luxurious treat for me, who is more of a 2 slices of pizza and a hard seltzer once a month kinda gal. Because I'm not used to this kind of gourmet dining, I have to be honest that the menu was a wee bit intimidating, but our waitress was the sweetest thing and helped make us feel at ease while handling all of our many questions! 

I'm sure the menu options change frequently, but for an idea of what to expect, here's what I ordered and the wines they paired for me (everything tasted as amazing as it looked!!!!):

Course 1: Roasted Crones (gnoccheti, fermented garlic, sunchoke) with Grgich Hills (Fume Blanc, Napa Valley California 2016).

Course 2: Venison (creamed turnip, preserved wild berries, juniper) with Cascina Fontan (Barbera d'Abla, Pieomonte Italy 2017). This was my first time having venison, and you never know what you're going to get with "gamey" meat, but it was absolutely delicious! To my unsophisticated palette it was like an extremely soft and delicious piece of steak.

Course 3: Rohan Duck (chestnut, persimmon, black seed vinaigrette) with Stokes' Ghost (Petite Sirah, Monterey County California, 2015). Talk about a piece of art, how about this plate!?

Course 4: Chocolate Ganache (coffee, buckwheat crumble, hazlenut), with l'Abricot wine and a platter of Turkish Delight! Yum. Just, omg, yum.

Oh, and we can't forget the most amazing and visually pleasing bread basket everrrrrr!!!! Hello activated charcoal bread, like, what!? So neat (and soft and yummy!!), with spreads like beet and garlic - ohmahgerrrrrd y'all!!!!!

We ended up doing 3 days and 2 nights at Crystal Springs on this most amazing Momcation. We stayed up "late" (still asleep before midnight), slept soundly without being pulled out of bed in the middle of the night to escort a little one to the bathroom, binged Netflix in bed, ate amazing food without hearing our kids whine about how disgusting it is, lounged poolside, sweat it out in the sauna and jacuzzi, cuddled with rescue puppies while kinda doing yoga but really just wanting to play with puppies, and even did our first TikTok ha!!!

Arrived home to a shockingly neat and tidy and quiet household - so impressed that my husband got laundry done and got the kids to clean up before I came home!! The kids were so cuddly and sweet, didn't throw a single tantrum for a whole hour after I arrived hahahaha!!! Seriously though, I feel so friggin' refreshed and ready to be the best mom I can be!!!! But I also can't wait to go on my next momcation...

So, are you inspired to book your own Momcation yet!?!? You really can't beat Crystal Springs for the destination - no matter what you're looking for, you'll find it there! They have really fun packages too such as "Robes & Rose Girlfriends Getaway", "Mom's Midweek Spa Day" and more! So get on it - gather some friends and get you on a mom getaway!! Be sure to check back in to let me know how it went (better yet, shoot me an email and maybe I can join)!!!

Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of February 22 - 28, 2020!

​Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!!

​All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion).

Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup!

Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline.

Disclaimer: This post includes some affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

ONGOING:​​​​​

• Feb 14-15-16: Evamarie Violin Workshops, ages 3-4 and 5-6
• ​~ March 4: Apply to be a CEC 20 (Community Education Council District 20) Member
• ​~ March 16: UPK4 Applications for children born in 2016 (more info and apply here)
• ~ April 24: UPK3 Applications for children born in 2017 (more info and apply here, only available in Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 27, 29, 31, and 32 i.e. not in Bay Ridge, but anyone can apply no matter where you live)​
• ​Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Idea

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22:

• FREE - Ice Fishing Game run by Olaf the Snowman (part of Embrace Winter Festival) @ Scandinavian East Coast Museum @ 10:45 - 11:45
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:30
• FREE - Crafts @ Owl's Head Park (part of Embrace Winter Festival) @ 12 - 4
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• FREE - Chess Workshop for Children @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 12:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ 268 36th Street @ 12:30 - 4
• FREE - Rock & Roll Playhouse: Mardi Gras Celebration @ 274 36th St (Courtyard 5-6) @ 1 - 2
• FREE - Team Up To Read: Mind Movies @ Bay Ridge Library @ 2 - 3
• FREE - Regina Opera Concert @ Vesuvio @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 3:30

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23:

• ​Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​​
• FREE - Sunset Park Kids' Cinema Club: Missing Link @ 268 36th St @ 10:30 - 1:30

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24:

• Midwinter Recess Over! Back to School!!
• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11​​​
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• ​Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Wand Making With Rana! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25:

• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• ​BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26:

• Alt Side Parking Suspended (Ash Wednesday)
• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:45
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - Teen Lounge @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Build with LEGO @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27:

• Zumbini @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Babies & Books @ Dyker Library @ 1:15 - 2
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• FREE - Dungeons and Dragons @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28:

• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Kids Create: Arts and Crafts @ Dyker Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Game On! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• Parents Night Out Dropoff @ Bounce U @ 6 - 8:30

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Mabel's Labels and includes some affiliate links (we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking), but all thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased.

We're not new fans of Mabel's Labels over here - we've been using and loving their waterproof washable labels on our kids' water bottles for a while now and they're awesome!! Which is why I'm so excited to collaborate with them on a review of some of their other products - we're talking shoe labels that help kids learn left and right shoes, silicone ID bracelets in case your kids get lost, silicone bands for bottles, and emergency labels for lost items, medical alerts, and more!! Watch my unboxing demo video below, keep reading for more info, and don't forget to enter to win some Mabel's Labels goodies in my $280 Value Fab Feb Kids Giveaway here!!

Little Kid School Combo
This variety pack of labels is perfect for the toddler and little kid set, including 122 extra-durable, washable, dishwasher/laundry/microwave-safe labels and 2 tags. That's 40 small rectangle labels, 70 clothing labels, 6 sets of shoe labels, and 2 mini tags for $42.95. ​Perfect for backpacks, clothes, lunch containers, shoes, toys and more. Everything is totally customizable - you choose the first and last name (or as I do, just the last name for items that are shared between your kids), font, and image! My absolute favorite item from this pack is the shoe labels - it splits the image in half and you stick it to the inner sole of your child's shoes, so when they place them down they can quickly understand which is the left and right shoe - BRILLIANT!!! And adorable! If you want to purchase outside of the combo, you can find the Preschool Shoe Labels here (12 sets for $21).

Silicone Bottle Bands
Sold in packs: 2 for $9.99, 3 for $13.50, and 4 for $17 - these personalized silicone bottle bands are dishwasher, microwave, and sterilizer safe and a great way to label items temporarily. A great hack for daycares and parents of several kids who share bottles and drinkware, as my 3 kiddos do! They're designed to fit snugly, and you can see they fit our Contigo bottles great (these are the widest bottles I've come across, and it's not easy to get the bands on and off of these, which is actually good because my kids definitely won't be able to pull them off and play with them). You can customize image and color so kids who can't read yet will be able to easily find their bottle or cup.

Emergency Contact Labels
Including 2 large labels, 2 medium labels, 8 small labels, and 2 metal tags, these brand new emergency contact labels are a great way to label key information such as medical concerns, emergency contacts and medications. Coming in bright colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or black) they are attention grabbing and extremely durable, waterproof, and great for car seats, bikes, medical devices and sports equipment. Get the whole set for just $19.99.

Silicone ID Bracelets
As a mom who is always outnumbered by kids, with or without my husband, I love love LOVE these silicone ID bracelets for when we venture out of our comfort zone into crowded areas such as amusement park, zoo, or while traveling! Customize with name and phone number and never worry about whether or not your child correctly remembers your telephone number again! Get 1 bracelet for $10, 2 for $16, or 3 for $21 and choose from 3 sizes: 2-4 years, 5-8 years, and 9+ years.

Such amazing products, am I right!? Don't forget to enter to win some goodies from Mabel's Labels in my $280 value giveaway here, and you can shop for all of Mabel's Labels products here!

Disclaimer: We were provided free tickets in exchange for this review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased!

I should preface this by stating that I'm not a huge sports fan, and especially not one of ball sports. So when I tell you how much fun I had at Harlem Globetrotters today, it really means something! It wasn't just about sports, it was more like 50% sport and 50% family-friendly exciting performance. So I don't know if I should even call it a game? It was a game involved... there were 2 teams. It was definitely rigged, but I couldn't quite figure out if it was 100% choreographed or not. No matter, it was really fun either way!

The basketball skills were just insane. Beyond the typical players you would expect, they also had a woman player, who they announced was a brand new mom, as well as a player who was under 5' tall! There were lots of fun tricks like spinning balls on fingers and suuuuuuuuuuper long shots. I was expecting all of that, growing up with Harlem Globetrotters on TV and all that. What I hadn't expected was how funny it was!! Lots of joking around and slapstick humor between the players and between the players and referees. At one point they were giving each other huge wedgies and one player ripped the underwear off of the ref, which were prop underwear and big enough to fit a large bear, cue player running around waving them like a giant flag (see below left image).

Perhaps my favorite part was when they started playing the opening song to Lion King, and all the players walked up into the stadium. One found a baby and held him up, Baby Simba style, omg so stinkin' cute!!!!! Sorry for the blurry image (below right) but i was maxed out on my camera zoom!!

My kids are a bit too young (4, 4, and 7), mixed with the fact that they have zero sports experience or interest, so they were into it about 70% of the time and then would drift off, beg for a tablet, or start climbing their seats, but that never lasted too long because there would be something super exciting happen that would pull their attention right back in.

All in all it was a really fun day out with the family! I highly recommend catching Harlem Globetrotters when they come to your neck of the woods! They're currently on their "Pushing the Limits" World Tour and you can save SAVE 25% for ALL Harlem Globetrotters Games with promo code FUNFAM!! You can view their full schedule here - they'll be playing throughout the US, Canada, and even several countries in Europe!!