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 November 16 - 22, 2019!

​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.

ONGOING:

• BUY TICKETS NOW for our Ba(b)y Ridge MamaCon, Sunday, November 17 @ 11AM - 2PM, "From Bumps to Babies in Bay Ridge", the first event of its kind here in Bay Ridge! Expert panelists, great vendors, amazing giveaways, and new mama friends! Get 50% off tickets with code "halfoff"​
• Sponsor a Family - Operation Gobbler Giving
• Sign up as a Bay Ridge Cares' Thanksgiving Dinner Volunteer (children welcome)
• ~Nov 23, Saturdays 8am-3pm: ​Bay Ridge Greenmarket @ Walgreen's Parking Lot (9408 3rd Ave)
• ~Nov 24, Sundays 9am-4pm: Bensonhurst Greenmarket @ Milestone Park (18th Ave, 81-82nd St)
• Contact Bay Ridge Cares if you know of someone housebound or alone in need of a Thanksgiving Meal, or sign up to donate or deliver meals and desserts
• ~Dec 5 - Register for Fort Hamilton Holiday Market & Tree Lighting (free, on Dec 6)
• ~Dec 14: Toys for Tots collection at buy buy BABY 
• (July 29 until further notice): Play Days and Playdates will be closed except for Thursday Mommy & Me while owner recovers from surgery.
• Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Idea

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16:

• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 10:30
• Children's Origami @ 51 35th St @ 10 - 11 ($15)
• FREE - Saturday Storytime! @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:45
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Dyker Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Sunset Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Thanksgiving Party @ buy buy BABY @ 11 - 1
• FREE - E-Waste Recycling & Doc Shredding @ St. Anselm @ 11 - 1
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 11 - 1​
• "Llamaste" Little Brushes ($38) @ Pinot's Palette @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• ​​FREE - Family DJ Dance Party - Music of Bob Marley for Kids @ IC Courtyard 5/6 @ 1 - 2
• Yoga & Mindfulness Taster for Teens @ Omn Vibe Yoga Studio @ 1 - 2
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ 237 36th St @ 1 - 5
• FREE - Little Scientists @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Build with Duplo @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - "The Young Tribesman" by Paul Broderick Storytime @ Bookmark Shoppe @ 2 - 3
• ​FREE - Magician in Residence @ 237 36th St @ 2 - 4
• FREE - Uptown Rock Painting Party at Cocoa Grinder Gold (9302 4th) @ 2 - 4
• FREE - Arabic Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Saturday Storytime: Cantonese Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Build with Lego @ Sunset Park Library @ 3 - 4
• Open Lab (5+) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 4:30 - 7
• Elf the Musical @ Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater @ 8

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17:

• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​
• Ba(b)y Ridge MamaCon (pre-purchased tix required) @ Lutheran Elementary School @ 11 - 2
• Family Yoga Class @ Bay Ridge Yoga @ 11:30
• FREE - Project K!d: Seasonal Crafting @ 850 3rd / 237 36th St @ 1 - 4
• Elf the Musical @ Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater @ 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18:

• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11​​
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Cantonese Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4
• FREE - Lecture on Myopia (Nearsightedness) & Pediatric Eye Health @ CP Eye Institute @ 6 - 7:30

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19:

• FREE - StoryPlay @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 & 11
• ​​Lavender Blues ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10:30​
• FREE - Project K!d: Seasonal Crafting @ 850 3rd / 237 36th St @ 12 - 2
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Read and Play @ Sunset Park Library @ 1 - 1:45
• FREE - Teen Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center) @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Juan Tica @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - DIY for Teens @ McKinely Park Library @ 4 - 5 
• FREE - After School Stories @ Sunset Park Library @ 4:30 - 5:30
• FREE - Loss & Infertility Roundtable @ Il Centro @ 6:30 - 8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:40​
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 11:15 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Teen Lounge @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:45
• FREE - Build with LEGO @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Teen Anime Club @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FHHS Theater Production: Arsenic & Old Lace @ Fort Hamilton High School @ 4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21:

• Mommy & Me with Miss Darlene @ Play Days & Parties @ 10 - 12​​​
• Zumbini Trial Class ($20) @ Bay Ridge Yoga @ 11:30 - 12:15
• FREE - Friends-Giving @ Fort Hamilton Senior Rec Center @ 12 - 3
• FREE - Babies & Books @ Dyker Library @ 1:15 - 2
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4
• FREE - Kids Create @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Kids Create: Arts and Crafts @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ McKinley Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Dungeons and Dragons @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Reinaldo Duran Trujillo @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7
• FHHS Theater Production: Arsenic & Old Lace @ Fort Hamilton High School @ 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22:

• FREE - 普通話故事時間 Mandarin Chinese Storytime @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• FREE - StoryPlay 11am @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:45
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - First Five Years Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Kids Create @ Dyker Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Karaoke for Kids @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Game On! @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Tot Shabbat @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 5:30 - 6:30
• FHHS Theater Production: Arsenic & Old Lace @ Fort Hamilton High School @ 7
• Elf the Musical @ Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater @ 8

Searching for a family-friendly vacation spot that was relatively midway between our home in NYC and my sister's home in Montreal, I stumbled upon Greek Peak Mountain Resort in upstate New York, near Cortland. After scoping out their indoor water park and outdoor adventure center online, I knew it would be amazing! I reached out and they were kind enough to provide our accommodation and activities free of charge in exchange for this review, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased!

To get the best feel of Greek Peak, be sure to watch our full YouTube video which features highlights from the hotel and our time there, including the moment my sister's family arrived and totally surprised my son who had no idea they would be coming down to meet us! It was such a beautiful tear-filled moment!!!

The drive wasn't bad, it was about 3.5 hours from Brooklyn. You actually drive through the Poconos, which is the more typical mountainous region New Yorkers escape to, but it was worth the extra time on the road to explore a new area! It was a bit further trek from Montreal, I think it took them about 4.5 hours. Knowing we'd booked the huge Cedar River Suite (with 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a living room and full kitchen), we stopped at Walmart to stock up on breakfast, lunch, and snack supplies to save money and sanity. As a family with 3 young children, we find eating out to not be so much of a luxury anymore as it is a very stressful experience most of the time, so being able to have a relaxing breakfast and lunch in the room really makes it an enjoyable home-away-from-home experience in my opinion!! Now cooking dinner is another thing altogether, that's a hard pass for me on vacations, so we always dine out (covered further down in the review).

Hope Lake Lodge is beautiful. A modern rustic lodge vibe, very clean and new feeling or at least very well maintained. Our suite slept 10 with an independent bedroom and bathroom on each side of the living room / kitchen room, so each of our families had our own space that we could escape to for a quieter bedtime routine or getting ready for the pool. But our kids could sneak out into the living room to play in the morning while the parents slept. All without leaving the suite! That was pretty sweet, wink wink! Not only did we have a fully equipped kitchen with fridge, microwave, stove/oven, and dishwasher, but it also came stocked with not-your-average-minibar! We're talking a huge basket of candy, sodas in the fridge, and check out the Greek Peak wine, champaign, and vodka bottle in the picture below! Of course, anything opened is added to your bill, but we couldn't help but pop open a bottle of wine, which was perfection, and at just $25, totally fairly priced!

The lobby was gorgeous! They were actually preparing for a wedding in the lobby when we arrived, that's how stunning it is! They do a lot of weddings at Greek Peak, I'm sure you can imagine, whether indoors or outdoors or even on the top of a mountain, they have people tying the knot all over! Speaking of mountaintops, that's where we headed first!! The Adventure Center is across the street from Hope Lake Lodge (they recommended driving but you could definitely walk) and features lots of seasonal and year-round activities. We hit it at an odd time because summer activities (zip line, eurobungee, high ropes course, bounce house, and slide) were closed and snow tubing winter activity wasn't open yet. Zipline is year round. As is the Mountain Coaster, which is the one we decided to try.

Kids must be a minimum of 3 years old AND 38" tall to ride. Kids between 38-54" must ride with an adult. So, had we gone just my family of 5 we would only have been able to send one parent and child at a time which would have kinda stunk. Luckily, with my sister's family, their son was old enough to go by himself which left us with one adult per child, hooray!! And the Mountain Coaster guys, is FUN FUN FUN and scary but mostly FUN!!! It's a little go cart looking thing, on rails, and you ride it to the top of the mountain and then it releases you and you end up going about 30 miles per hour down the mountain, twists and turns, crazy fast and absolutely thrilling. Don't miss this part of our video guys!!! My son filmed one time forward so you can get the feeling that you are riding along, and my niece filmed another time to show our screaming faces LOL! It is cold though, so bundle up!!!

After screaming our lungs out on the Mountain Coaster, we headed back to the hotel for dinner at Acorn Lodge. The menu and list of specials had some really great options, including Elk burger and kielbasa & pierogi! Kids menu with crayons and coloring as well, which is always welcome! 

After a great night's sleep (it was really quiet and the beds were cozy), we woke up refreshed and ready for a full day at Cascades Indoor Waterpark, which was just down the hall from our suite!! Unless you buy a special package, these passes are not included in your stay. And people not staying at the resort can buy day passes as well. Kids under 24 months are free and rates vary but they have some great specials, for example Tuesdays are BOGO! 

The waterpark is kept at 84 degrees year round, so it was nice and warm (not quite as warm once wet but better than most other indoor water parks we've been to!). The wave pool was probably my favorite attraction, I haven't been to one in over a decade and it was the first time for my kids. Emi loved jumping in the waves, and Kenzo and Mia loved riding the waves in the water tubes. The water slides were also really great, they had 4 big ones but my girls were too short for those and could only go on the little ones in the baby and toddler areas. My son was not tall enough to ride alone but could ride the double one, which was great fun to do together! 

They also had a little pool with basketball hoops in it, an indoor/outdoor jacuzzi but you had to be 6 years old to go in that. And they had a heated pool that you could access from inside. I tried it. Once. The trick is not to do it with wet hair or face, and keep the rest of your body below the water. Then you'll survive. Ha! Seriously though, my kids couldn't get enough of it! It was kind of surreal, being in the pool and seeing the ski slopes and your breath in the air. Brrrr!!!

There was a fast food type of cafe in the pool area, but your wristbands are good all day so we chose to dry off and have lunch back in our room, and we went back for more fun after lunch. Our final activity at the hotel before heading home was a quick trip to the Bear Foot Den, which is their children's center. They have drop-off babysitting by appointment (for a fee), but during their open hours anyone can stop by to play. They had a toy house and kitchen, dolls, and toys for little ones. Board games, Wii, and movies for older kids or teens. Really something for everyone, and a great space for families to come spend some time together!

I can't get over what a good time we had at Greek Peak. It was so great to see my sister's family and let the kids have cousin time, and even greater to be able to do it all at such a wonderful resort! Making unforgettable memories with family, that is what vacation is all about, and Greek Peak is where to do it!!! Whether you go for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in winter, or go in summer to hike and lay out on their lake's white sandy beach, you will have an amazing time!! To read more about Greek Peak or book your next vacation, head to greekpeak.net!

Go here for our list of family-friendly day trips and getaways from NYC!

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 November 9 - 15, 2019!

​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.

ONGOING:

• BUY TICKETS NOW for our Ba(b)y Ridge MamaCon, Sunday, November 17 @ 11AM - 2PM, "From Bumps to Babies in Bay Ridge", the first event of its kind here in Bay Ridge! Expert panelists, great vendors, amazing giveaways, and new mama friends! Get 50% off tickets with code "halfoff"
• ~ Nov 12: Request for Gifted & Talented Testing (children born in 2012-2015) by November 12 here (learn more here, note dates are from last year but info is the same)
• ~ Nov 15: Grandma's Love Thanksgiving Food Drive
• Sponsor a Family - Operation Gobbler Giving
• Sign up as a Bay Ridge Cares' Thanksgiving Dinner Volunteer (children welcome)
• ~Nov 23, Saturdays 8am-3pm: ​Bay Ridge Greenmarket @ Walgreen's Parking Lot (9408 3rd Ave)
• ~Nov 24, Sundays 9am-4pm: Bensonhurst Greenmarket @ Milestone Park (18th Ave, 81-82nd St)
• ~Dec 5 - Register for Fort Hamilton Holiday Market & Tree Lighting (free, on Dec 6)
• (July 29 until further notice): Play Days and Playdates will be closed except for Thursday Mommy & Me while owner recovers from surgery.
• Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Ideas

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9:

• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 10:30
• Children's Origami @ 51 35th St @ 10 - 11 ($15)
• FREE - Saturday Storytime! @ Sunset Park @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:45
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Sunset Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Dyker Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - WonderSpark Puppets @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 11 - 1​
• Mobile Pet Adoption @ My Natural Pet @ 12 - 4
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• ​​FREE - Family DJ Dance Party - Music of The Beatles for Kids @ IC Courtyard 5/6 @ 1 - 2
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ 237 36th St @ 1 - 5
• FREE - Little Scientists @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Build with Duplo @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• ​FREE - Magician in Residence @ 237 36th St @ 2 - 4
• FREE - Arabic Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Build with Lego @ Sunset Park Library @ 3 - 4
• ​"Winter Sloth" Family Day Paint @ Pinot's Palette @ 4 - 6
• Open Lab (5+) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 4:30 - 7

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10:

• Flea Market @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9 - 4
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​
• FREE - Fall Foliage Walk @ Owls Head Park @ 1 - 2:30
• FREE - Open House @ Beyond Dance @ 2 - 5 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11:

• Veterans' Day! Alt Side Parking Suspended, Schools Closed, Free meals & drinks for veterans at select locations today!
• Day Camp @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 8 - 6
• Cancelled - Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11​
• FREE - WonderSpark Puppets @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12:

• FREE - Shore Road Park (97th St) Dog Run Visioning Session @ 7 - 10:30 
• FREE - StoryPlay 10am @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 10:45
• ​​Lavender Blues ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10:30​
• FREE - StoryPlay 11am @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:45
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Read and Play @ Sunset Park Library @ 1 - 1:45
• FREE - Teen Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center) @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Juan Tica @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - DIY for Teens @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - After School Stories @ Sunset Park Library @ 4:30 - 5:30

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:40​
• FREE - Toy Time @ Bay Ridge Library @ 10 - 12
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Puppet Show: Anansi the Spider @ Dyker Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 11:15 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time  @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños  @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Teen Lounge @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:45
• FREE - Build with LEGO @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14:

• Mommy & Me with Miss Darlene @ Play Days & Parties @ 10 - 12​​
• FREE - Babies & Books @ Dyker Library @ 1:15 - 2
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ McKinley Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Dungeons and Dragons @ Bay Ridge Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Reinaldo Duran Trujillo @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15:

• FREE - 普通話故事時間 Mandarin Chinese Storytime @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• FREE - StoryPlay 11am @ Bay Ridge Library @ 11 - 11:45
• FREE - First Five Years Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Game On! @ Bay Ridge Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Kids Create @ Dyker Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Game On! @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Parents Night Out Drop Off @ Bounce U @ 6 - 8:30
• Elf the Musical @ Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater @ 8

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 November 2 - 8, 2019!

​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.

ONGOING:

• BUY TICKETS NOW for our Ba(b)y Ridge MamaCon, Sunday, November 17 @ 11AM - 2PM, "From Bumps to Babies in Bay Ridge", the first event of its kind here in Bay Ridge! Expert panelists, great vendors, amazing giveaways, and new mama friends!
• ~ Nov 6: Our $450 value jackpot Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway
• ~ Nov 12: Request for Gifted & Talented Testing (children born in 2012-2015) by November 12 here (learn more here, note dates are from last year but info is the same)
• ~ Nov 15: Grandma's Love Thanksgiving Food Drive
• ~Nov 23, Saturdays 8am-3pm: ​Bay Ridge Greenmarket @ Walgreen's Parking Lot (9408 3rd Ave)
• ~Nov 24, Sundays 9am-4pm: Bensonhurst Greenmarket @ Milestone Park (18th Ave, 81-82nd St)
• (July 29 until further notice): Play Days and Playdates will be closed except for Thursday Mommy & Me while owner recovers from surgery.
• Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaway Ideas​

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2:

• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 10:30
• FREE - Coloring Fun! @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 11
• FREE - Baby & Kids Clothing Swap @ Union Church of Bay Ridge @ 10 - 2
• FREE - Saturday Storytime! @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Dyker Library @ 11 - 12
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 11 - 1​
• "Huggable Owl" Little Brushes @ Pinot's Palette @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• ​​FREE - Family DJ Dance Party - Music of Led Zeppelin for Kids @ IC Courtyard 5-6 @ doors 12:30,​​ show 1 - 2​
• FREE - Dia de los Muertos celebration at your library: Music, and dance by Son Pecadores @ Sunset Park Library @ 2 - 3
• FREE - Arabic Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Saturday Storytime: Cantonese Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Sing 'n Schmooze on Shabbat @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 4 - 5:15
• Open Lab (5+) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 4:30 - 7

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3:

• NYC Marathon!! Coming through Bay Ridge mostly on 4th Ave, see map for details
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​
• Tinkergarten Fall Lantern Walk (Wait List Only) @ Owl's Head Park @ 4:30 - 5:30

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4:

• Bay Ridge Library branch opens again!!!
• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11
• FREE - Cantonese Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12​
• FREE - Brooklyn Elementary Admissions Event (PreK3, UPK, K, G&T) @ PS 24 (427 38th St) @ 6:30 - 8:30

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5:

• Election Day (But you can vote early, more info here) - Public Schools Closed, Alternate Side Parking Suspended
• Day Camp @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 8 - 3
• ​Lavender Blues ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10:30​
• FREE - Read and Play @ Sunset Park Library @ 1 - 1:45
• BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center) @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Teen Manga Club @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - After School Stories @ Sunset Park Library @ 4:30 - 5:30
• FREE - LES Junior High Open House (for 4th & 5th grade families) @ Lutheran Elementary School @ 6 - 8
• FREE - Bay Ridge Catholic Info Night @ St. Anselm Academy @ 7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:40
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 11:15 - 12
• FREE - La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Teen Lounge @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:45
• FREE - Book Adventures @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7:

• Mommy & Me with Miss Darlene @ Play Days & Parties @ 10 - 12​​
• FREE - Read for the Record: Thank You, Omu! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 11:30
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ McKinley Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Reinaldo Duran Trujillo @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8:

• FREE - Discovery Table @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 11
• FREE - 普通話故事時間 Mandarin Chinese Storytime @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• FREE - First Five Years Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Kids Create @ Dyker Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Game On! @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Bay Ridge Rock Painting Party @ Cocoa Grinder (Bay Ridge Ave) @ 5 - 7

We're back with another great group giveaway for families!! This one is featuring some of the best Holiday (or birthday) Gifts this year for babies, big kids, and adults - welcome to our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway!! One lucky winner will receive the entire jackpot, valued at $450!! Read on for more info about each prize, and enter to win in the Rafflecopter app at the bottom. Good luck and Happy Holidays to all!!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the giveaway brands, and includes affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll earn a small commission from purchases made.

THE PRIZES!!!

SHINESTY THEMED OUTFIT
Shinesty has some of the boldest themed clothing you will ever see. You'll be able to dress up in suits, jumpsuits, dresses, bathing suits and pajamas in honor of Christmas, Hannukah, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, you name it! They have TONS of options for men and women, and have a small selection of family coordinating items (even including items for your fur babies), which is where my true heart lies. Did you see our unboxing and hilarious "fashion show" in our coordinating snowflake outfits last year?! If you loved that, just you wait, we'll be doing it again in a new family set very soon - stay tuned for that!! Our grand prize winner will receive 1 Shinesty Christmas Themed Suit, Dress, or Pajama, in their choice of size (child or adult) and style, pending availability.

• Shop all Shinesty items here (affiliate link)

LOVE TO DREAM SWADDLE or SLEEP SUIT
​With 3 stages of swaddles and sleep suits, Love to Dream will help your baby sleep sounder from birth through 2 years of age! Their Stage 1: SWADDLE UP™ is a multi-award winning hip-healthy breakout-proof zip-up swaddle that allows your baby to sleep in a more natural ARMS UP™ position, and comes in 3 sizes for babies 5 - 19 pounds. Their Stage 2: Transitional products come in SWADDLE UP™ 50/50 Transition Bag or SWADDLE UP™ Transition 5-in-1 suit, good for babies 3 - 12 months of age. Their Stage 3: Independent Sleep items include short sleeve, long sleeve, and sleeveless legged LOVE TO DREAM SLEEP SUIT™ in sizes 6-12 months and 12-24 months, good for sleep or on the go. These sleep suits allow children more mobility and easier transition between car, crib & stroller than traditional sleep sacks, feature 2-in-1 feet so they can be used uncovered or covered with grip pads, and come in 3 different TOGs (weights/warmth): 0.2, 1.0 and 2.5. Our grand prize winner will receive 1 Love to Dream product, in their size and style of choice, a $29.99 - $59.99 value!

• Shop on lovetodream.com or ​Amazon (affiliate link).

ONECKLACKE PERSONALIZED JEWELRY
If you're looking for a unique piece of jewelry, you can't go wrong with oNecklace, with TONS of necklaces, bracelets, and rings in sterling silver, 24k gold plating, and rose gold plating. All items can be personalized, and I'm especially in love with their line for mothers (you can see the tri-color heart necklace here I got with my 3 children's names on it), but they also have collections for kids, couples, men, and more. Our grand prize winner will receive a $50 gift card to oNecklace, which is enough for many items, or can be used toward a larger ticket item (or items).

SIMPLAY3 CARRY & GO TRACK TABLE
A national parenting product award winner, the Carry & Go Track Table by Simplay3  flips for double sided fun - race track on one side and train tracks on the other, with fun decals included! Recommended for ages 3+, it weighs just 6.5 pounds and is made of durable plastic with an easy carry side handle. Made in the USA and compact for easy storage, this portable toy will bring endless fun for boys and girls alike! Our grand prize winner will receive 1, a $39.99 value. The Carry & Go Track Table is a part of the Carry & Go line that includes the Carry & Go Garage, Carry & Go Farm, and the Carry & Go Castle. One of Simplay3's bestselling gifts is the Young Explorers Adventure Climber,  an indoor or outdoor playset that is easy to maneuver through doorways and is also a Parent's Choice Award winner. 

• Shop Simply3 toys on Amazon (affiliate link).

Build A Bot
With the STEM learning toy Build A Bot by Relevant Play, children ages 4+ can build and personalize their very own pet robot! Our grand prize winner will receive a Build A Bot of their choice (Unicorn, Kitten, or Dalmation), which comes with over 20 pieces and stickers. Each pet makes fun sounds and moves when you clap, and you can even come up with a unique hybrid pet as parts are interchangeable with other Build A Bot pets!

• Buy on Amazon (affiliate link), $29.99

TREEMENDOUS ORNAMENT DECORATOR
From the makers of The EggMazing Easter Egg Decorator (if you missed our demo, check it out here!!), comes The Treemendous - a fun and crafty machine allowing you to easily decorate your own incredibly unique (Christmas tree or other) ornaments!! Simply snap their plastic ornaments into the machine, pop in 4 AA batteries, switch it on and hold the marker down as the ornament spins underneath! So satisfying, and they come out beautifully, no art skills required! Trust me, even our 4 year olds' turned out brilliantly! Our grand prize winner will receive one Treemendous Ornament Decorator. Be sure to check out our demo video below to see how fun and easy it is!

• Shop for EggMazing and Treemendous on Amazon (affiliate link), $29.99 

MINI ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD
When your tot has outgrown their 4-keyed toddler "piano" but isn't quite ready for the real deal, the BigFun Electronic Mini Keyboard by M Sanmersen is the perfect next step!! Featuring 37 mini keys, 4 percussion, 11 Demos, 8 Rhythms, and 4 animal sounds, kids will have a blast not just playing around but actually learning to play piano! It runs on AA batteries or USB cord (cord included, plug and batteries not), is lightweight and only 17" wide, so it's very portable - great for at home or even in the car or stroller wagon! Recommended for ages 3+, our grand prize winner will receive 1!

• Buy on Amazon (affiliate link), $28.99

PLUS-PLUS HOLIDAY PLAYSET BUNDLE
If you've got children ages 5 - 12 who are into building and constructing, then they will love Plus-Plus! Just one simple shape brings you endless possibilities and hours of fun - creating colorful flat mosaics or extravagant 3D structures!! A perfect STEM toy to develop fine motor skills, focus and patience - as well as design, imagination and creativity! Plus-Plus has open ended sets as well as themed ones, like the Apollo 11 Edition we unboxed and demo'd on YouTube a few months ago (watch it here)! Our grand prize winner will receive Plus-Plus Holiday Playset Bundle, which includes 1 North Pole Baseplate Builder, 1 Elf Tube, and 1 Christmas Tree Tube.

• Shop for Plus-Plus items on their website or Amazon (affiliate link), $24.99

GAMES BY BICYCLE SHUFFLE GRAND PRIX
Shuffle Grand Prix is a Racing Card Game where "drivers" battle in a fast-paced, strategic challenge to out-distance the competition, for 2-4 players for ages 13+, brought to you by Games by Bicycle. With just the right amount of strategy, intense graphics and action to amuse and engage, Shuffle Grand Prix is a family-friendly game that appeals to the competitive side of us all. It’s also a great gateway into light strategy games! Our grand prize winner will receive 1 Shuffle Grand Prix Set.

• Buy on Games by Bicycle's website and Amazon (affiliate link), $24.99

OLLYBALL
Invented by parents in need of a ball their kids could play with in the house without breaking everything, Ollyball was voted "Rookie of the Year" in The Toy Association's 2019 Toy of the Year Awards! Designed for full-speed, full-force indoor play, Ollyball weighs less than an ounce and absorbs shock through a patented KrunchCOR® construction, and you can even color it in with crayons and markers! Our grand prize winner will receive one Ollyball.

• Buy on ​Amazon (affiliate link), $14.99

MAD MATTR QUANTUM PACK
A super soft, non-toxic, gluten/casein/wheat-free building compound for ages 3+, Mad Mattr by Relevant Play easily molds and shapes into endless creations, inspiring open-ended play. "Shape it, build it, stretch it, watch it flow!" Easy to clean up and never dries out, it's great for developing fine motor skills and is wonderful for sensory play! Our grand prize winner will receive one 10oz resealable pack of Mad Mattr Jewel Tone Quantum Pack in their choice of color (Rocket Red, Green Dream, Blue Wonder, Purple Paradise, or Flamingo Pink), a $12.99 value.

• Shop all Mad Mattr compounds and accessories (like brick maker and unicorn mold) on Amazon (affiliate link).

HOYLE GAMES
Our grand prize winner will receive 2 great games from Hoyle!

Seal Squad™ helps kids learn to work together and overcome obstacles while using simple strategy and decision-making skills. For 2-4 players ages 6-8, it contains 1 game mat, 56 mini cards, 2 dice, and 5 chips.

• Buy on their website or Amazon (affiliate link), $5.99

Great at teaching kids ages 4-6 how to add and subtract by fives and tens, Piggy Bank is easy to learn and lots of fun! It comes with 18 cards, 18 coins, and 1 instruction sheet. It's a Mom's Choice Awards Gold Recipient and Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award Winner!!

• ​Buy on their website or Amazon (affiliate link), $5.99

COILZ CUP
A brand new tactile collectible and game, Coilz by Relevant Play is definitely an out of the box kind of game! Our grand prize winner will receive one Coilz Cup, which includes 6 collectible Coilz, a bocce ball, distance marker, two friction pads, and two backboards - with instructions and a collector’s card. For ages 5+, you and your children can enjoy more than 10 challenging Coilz games with the Coilz Cup, a $9.99 value.

• Shop for Coilz toys on Amazon (affiliate link).

LISTEN. LOVE. REPEAT. BY AGAIN AGAIN
Listen. Love. Repeat is the debut family album by Again Again, a duo of LA-based musicians and moms on a quest to blend fun with cultural consciousness for kids! Just released on October 18, it's a lively listen packed with progressive life lessons for today's kids. Our grand prize winner will receive their choice of CD or digital download.

• Buy on Amazon (affiliate link).

So there you have it - what an amazing prize pack, am I right!? Something for every member of your family, and maybe even a few gifts to pass on to friends and relatives!! Enter to win in the Rafflecopter app below - remember, you only need to comment (and click in the app that you did so) to enter the giveaway, BUT each additional action you take will earn you more chances to win, and some actions can be done daily!! Giveaway open to US residents ages 18+. Good luck!!

As a mommy blogger in South Brooklyn with 3 small kids and an often traveling husband, attending influencer events is a rarity for me, but one I always move mountains to attend is MomTrends' Moms' Night Out aka #MTNightOut! This was their 4th one and I'm excited to share with you what a fun night we had learning about the latest from Parents Magazine, Clorox, and Dove - basically, brands every mom needs in her life! Read on to see the unique activities they had us doing (spoiler: I made a snow globe, and my own perfume!?!? what!!!)

This blog post is sponsored by MomTrends, Parents Magazine, Clorox and Dove and contains affiliate links - we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking some links.

BABY DOVE
Jump in a blow up bathtub fully dressed!? Sure, why not - anything for the Gram, am I right!? But first, I got to play with WikkiStix, which we always bring for our kids to play with when we go out to eat; and also make GREAT non-candy Halloween or Birthday Party Goodie Bag treats FYI. Used the WikkiStix to decorate my very own bath caddy, which included Baby Dove Tip to Toe Babywash (affiliate link), of course!

​Did you know babies are born with a living protective layer of microflora on their skin, known as their microbiome? Unique to each baby, the microbiome works to maintain skin’s health while also helping with skin’s natural protection and nourishment. Baby Dove is uniquely made with prebiotic moisture and 100% skin-natural nutrients to gently nourish your baby’s delicate microbiome! A moisturizing, hypoallergenic baby wash made free from dyes, parabens, phthalates, & sulfates, this one by Dove is a great tear-free baby body wash and shampoo that’s suitable for newborns through big kids!

CLOROX® DISINFECTING WIPES

We've been big fans of Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes for years now - they always save my sanity, helping me quickly disinfect countertops after cooking, and of course everything from door knobs to light switches to remote controls when someone has anything from the common cold to strep throat! In our small Brooklyn home, the kitchen table is where we spend a good part of our family life - eating meals, doing homework, and of course, arts and crafts galore! There's nothing like cleaning it down with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, knowing it's free of food, glitter, glue, and germs, and ready for us to start a new project! I also distributed plenty of tubs to my 3 kids' teachers with their back to school supplies! They kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, and remove common allergens around your home - if you ask me, you can never have enough Clorox Wipes!

​At Moms' Night Out, Clorox helped me keep it clean while constructing my very first ever DIY Snow Globe!!! We picked out cute little creatures, glued them onto the base, waited for them to dry, then added glycerin and glittery snow and water to the globe, and secured it all together. Et voila - wintery wonderland of my very own!! With a Christmas Baby, my mind is all aflutter of how fun it'd be to do Snow Globes as an activity (and take home prize instead of traditional goodie bag) at his next birthday party!!

PARENTS MAGAZINE

Whether you subscribe to their magazine or just catch their articles online, Parents Magazine is a great source for all things pregnancy, birth, babies, and parenting! At Moms' Night Out, we got to meet their brand new Editor in Chief, as well as the editors of their Food department and Parents Latina!  We got to take part in 2 fun activities related to recent features in their magazine. We got to create our own scents with Julianne of Alchemologie (above), who ​teaches workshops in natural perfume blending, and provides perfume consultations, private classes, and fragrance parties at her shop, at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and at your choice of venue. It was a truly unique experience, and a bit overwhelming, since I don't wear perfume or know the first thing about the mixing of scents! Basically, we had to choose 2 from each of the 3 groupings she had, and I ended up choosing: Labdanum, Peru Balsam, Damask Rose, Jasmine, Rosewood, and Grapefruit. I named it US Japan Fam, of course, and it came out smelling quite lovely!

We also had the chance to create some adorable and yummy snacks that were featured in the magazine's Halloween edition, you can see a full list of their Spooky Halloween Snacks and Treats here - be sure to tag us on social (@usjapanfam) if you make some!!!

Such a fun night, and so happy to share it with all of you!! Let me know what you thought, or share your favorite goodie bag or party food ideas below!!

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 October 26 - November 1, 2019!

​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.

ONGOING:

• BUY TICKETS NOW for our Ba(b)y Ridge MamaCon, Sunday, November 17 @ 11AM - 2PM, "From Bumps to Babies in Bay Ridge", the first event of its kind here in Bay Ridge! Expert panelists, great vendors, amazing giveaways, and new mama friends!
• October 30 - November 6, don't miss our Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway!! 
• Request for Gifted & Talented Testing (children born in 2012-2015) by November 12 here (learn more here, note dates are from last year but info is the same)
• July 29 until further notice (a few weeks) - Play Days and Playdates will be closed except for Thursday Mommy & Me while owner recovers from surgery.
• Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaways​
• ​Bay Ridge Library closed through October, re-opening Nov 4 @ 10 AM
• ​(Saturdays 8am-3pm ~Nov 23) ​Bay Ridge Greenmarket @ Walgreen's Parking Lot (9408 3rd Ave)
• (Sundays 9am-4pm ~Nov 24) Bensonhurst Greenmarket @ Milestone Park (18th Ave, 81-82nd St)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26:

• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 10:30
• Zumbini Trial Class @ Play Days and Parties @ 10 - 10:45
• FREE - Kids' Halloween Parade @ Beyond at Liberty View & Industry City @ 10 - 4
• FREE - Saturday Storytime! @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Sunset Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Dyker Library @ 11 - 12
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 11 - 1
• FREE - Kids Create: Writing @ Sunset Park Library @ 12 - 1
• "Glowing Jolly Jack-O-Lanterns" Little Brushes @ Pinot's Palette @ 12 - 2
• FREE - NIA's 5th Annual Spooktacular @ 6614 11th Ave @ 12 - 4
• FREE - Oktoberfest @ Industry City 268 36th St @ 12 - 6
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• ​​FREE - Family DJ Dance Party - Music of Elvis for Kids Halloween Spooktacular @ IC Courtyard 5-6 @ doors 12:30,​​ show 1 - 2​
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ Industry City @ 1 - 5
• FREE - Little Scientists @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Build with Duplo @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• Halloween Costume Dance Party (pre-payment required) @ St. Anselm @ 2 - 5 PM
• FREE - Arabic Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Saturday Storytime: Cantonese Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Build with Lego @ Sunset Park Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Sunset Park Rock & Shell Painting Fall Event @ Irish Haven Bar @ 3 - 6
• FREE - Christ Central Costume Party @ Beyond Dance @ 5 - 7
• USL Hallow-STEAM Party @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 5 - 8
• Jeff Samaha Theater Products' 50 Years Anniversary Concert & Retrospective @ FDR High School Theater @ 8

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27:

• Alt Side Parking Suspended (Diwali)
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​
• Painting & Pizza Party @ Art Fun Studio @ 12 - 2​
• Jeff Samaha Theater Products' 50 Years Anniversary Concert & Retrospective @ FDR High School Theater @ 3
• Halloween Bash (ages 4mos - 3 years) @ The Little Gym @ 3 - 4:30
• Halloween Bash (ages 3 - 12 years) @ The Little Gym @ 4:30 - 6

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28:

• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10 - 11
• FREE - Cantonese Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12​
• FREE - Kids Tech Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• Spooky Cookie Pizza Bounce @ Bounce U @ 5:15 - 6:45

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29:

• ​Lavender Blues ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10:30
• BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center) @ 3:30 - 5
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Read and Play @ Sunset Park Library @ 1 - 1:45
• FREE - Teen Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• FREE - DIY for Teens @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - After School Stories @ Sunset Park Library @ 4:30 - 5:30
• Kids Halloween Party @ UNO Pizzeria @ 5 - 7 
• Icky Sticky Freaky Pizza @ Bounce U @ 5:15 - 6:45
• FREE - Brooklyn Elementary Admissions Event (3-K, pre-K, kindergarten, and Gifted & Talented) @ PS 133 William Butler (610 Baltic Street) @ 6:30 - 8:30

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:40
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 11:15 - 12
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Movies @ the Library: Hocus Pocus @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 4:15
• FREE - Teen Anime Club @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Library Lab @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Pumpkins Poses & Pumpkins @ Omn Vibe Yoga @ 4:30 - 5:30
• Spooktacular Costume Bounce @ Bounce U @ 5:15 - 6:45
• FREE - Brooklyn Elementary Admissions Event (3-K, pre-K, kindergarten, and Gifted & Talented) @ PS 69 (6302 9th Ave) @ 6:30 - 8:30

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31:

• Happy Halloween!!! Best Spots for Trick or Treating: 
  • Shops along 3rd Avenue
  • Shops along 13th Avenue
  • 78th Street between Colonial & Narrows (pedestrians only) 
• Mommy & Me with Miss Darlene @ Play Days & Parties @ 10 - 12​​
• Halloween Celebrations @ Blue Agave (3PM: Balloon and Candy Giveaway; 4PM: Complimentary Face Painting (For Seated Customers Only); 6PM: DJ Ricky Ricardo and Our Adult Costume Contest
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ McKinley Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Reinaldo Duran Trujillo @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Bay Ridge Halloween Festival @ 4 - 8 @ Owl's Head Park
• FREE - Dyker Frights Live Actors @ 4 - 8 (weather permitting) @ 79th Street between 11th - 12th Avenues
• Kids Halloween Party @ Catrina's @ 4:30 - 8:30
• FREE - Family Gaming Night @ Sunset Park Library @ 5:30 - 7
• Halloween Kids Extravaganza @ 6 - 8 @ Irina's Kingdom ($30)
• FREE - 74th and 3rd (west side) - amazing interactive scary decorations (afternoon/evening)
• Canceled - Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1:

• Alt Side Parking Suspended (All Saints Day)
• FREE - Discovery Table @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 11
• FREE - 普通話故事時間 Mandarin Chinese Storytime @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11:30
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - First Five Years Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Game On! @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Parents Night Out Dropoff @ Bounce U @ 6 - 8:30

When it comes to family and event photography, the number of options out there can be overwhelming! There are large chains, independent studios, freelancers, hobbyists. There are a lot of things to consider, here's my personal check list:

What to consider when hiring a photographer:

• Prices - These vary greatly depending on expertise, equipment, and deliverables. Prices can seem high but you have to take into consideration the time required by the photographer not just to take the photos but all the work that goes into editing them, not to mention they have to cover any overhead -  studio rent, photo props, equipment, advertising, etc!
• Deliverables - Are digitals included? Can you print yourself or only through them?
• Retouching - To what extent will they retouch your photos? Just lighting/coloring or little things like that flyaway hair and baby's booboo? I remember my son's cake smash session - we walked 45 minutes in the snow to the home studio in Dyker Heights, and I had the WORST crease on my forehead from my winter hat. But the photographer was more than happy to photo shop it out of our family photos, for no extra fee, now that's service!!)
• Location - Will it be in their studio, your home, at your event, or a location of your choosing (park, etc)? Do they have a travel fee?
• Specialty - It's not really advisable to ask someone who typically does magazine editorial photos to do your newborn baby shoot (mistake we made with our 1st baby, since it was a friend doing it for free - they had no newborn experience and did NOT know all very important tricks with shooting newborns and dealing with hormonal stressed out nervous wreck postpartum mommies)
• Experience & Equipment - Generally speaking, the less experience the cheaper they'll be, and the less techy equipment they'll have (not quite as spectacular a camera, maybe no lighting), but most often you get what you pay for. That's not to say you can't find a diamond in the rough, a truly talented hobbyist who will give you a good deal and produce spectacular photos.

We've been thrilled with the handful of local Bay Ridge area photographers we've used over the years. We haven't stuck with 1, as most families do, simply because I usually barter a photoshoot in exchange for doing a review and promotion for them. And it's nice to try out different ones so I can recommend them on a personal level! But it's been a couple of years since our last professional shoot so I was excited when a local mom approached me about promoting her husband's photography partnership with another local photographer!

StarPhoto BayRidge are a team of skilled photographers who specialize in Family and Event Photography. Memories and milestones are truly special and photographs can preserve treasured moments for the years to come. StarPhoto is the combined talents of Beto Ramos and Scott Olsen. Both are long time Bay Ridge residents with many years of photography experience. ​

We met at a coffee shop go over my preferences on style and location. I said we're more silly than lovey dovey; I wanted some action shots but also some nice portrait style ones, and was fine in any location. They chose a nearby park and then I began working on the hardest part of photo session prep: the wardrobe!! I didn't want to be matchy matchy, all in white tees and jeans let's say, but I wanted us to coordinate. OMG that's hard guys!! But I'm happy with my choices.

Scott and Beto were incredibly easy to work with!! They were on time, brought their cameras and lighting. Had helpful suggestions for poses and different locations. Really important here - they were PATIENT!!! With 3 small kids who just wanted to run around and play, it's so hard, but Scott and Beto were remarkably calm and just waited for us to be ready! We never felt rushed or that they were getting impatient. Some shots just simply didn't work timing wise and they knew when to give up and try something else - trying to get 3 kids to hold hands and jump simultaneously while smiling at the camera just didn't work, for example, but we still got a fun shot (see below, my "behind the scenes" shot followed by the final perfectly imperfect shot LOL!

Beto specializes in digital photography and studio lighting, and is an expert at PhotoShop and retouching photos. Our photos came out so brilliant, the colors and lighting are perfect, I'm just in love! You can see Beto's portraits gallery here - they are simply stunning! If you're looking for headshots for LinkedIn or a modeling career, he's your guy! Don't forget to follow Beto on Instagram!

​Scott is an experienced digital shooter who happens to have a passion for old fashioned film photography. Scott shoots, and develops, everything from 35 millimeter to medium and large format as well as wet plate photography which has been around since 1851. “Wet Plate” is a special process that results in an image on a metal plate or glass. It's ready to see in minutes and after drying and varnishing it will last for centuries. Examples of his work with film and wet plate can be found on Instagram, and you can see some black and whites he shot of us on film here:

We had a great shoot with Beto and Scott and I'm in love with the photos they provided us with! But now my dilemma is... which ones do I print??

Which one(s) would you do in a huge frame or canvas?! HELP ME DECIDE, please!!!

I highly recommend StarPhoto Bay Ridge for your next family photo shoot or event, AND, get excited because I have a discount for you!!!

DISCOUNT:
Get 25% off a 1 hour digital photography session with StarPhoto Bay Ridge, which includes at least 10 retouched images in high resolution format which can be downloaded from SmugMug. Regularly $200, you pay just $150. Just book by 10/31/2019 and mention this blog post!!

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 October 19 - 25, 2019!

​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.

ONGOING:

• BUY TICKETS NOW for our Ba(b)y Ridge MamaCon, Sunday, November 17 @ 11AM - 2PM, "From Bumps to Babies in Bay Ridge", the first event of its kind here in Bay Ridge! Expert panelists, great vendors, amazing giveaways, and new mama friends!
• Request for Gifted & Talented Testing (children born in 2012-2015) by November 12 here (learn more here, note dates are from last year but info is the same)
• July 29 until further notice (a few weeks) - Play Days and Playdates will be closed except for Thursday Mommy & Me while owner recovers from surgery.
• Family Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaways​
• ​Bay Ridge Library closed through October (estimate)
• ​(Saturdays 8am-3pm ~Nov 23) ​Bay Ridge Greenmarket @ Walgreen's Parking Lot (9408 3rd Ave)
• (Sundays 9am-4pm ~Nov 24) Bensonhurst Greenmarket @ Milestone Park (18th Ave, 81-82nd St)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19:

• FREE - IKEA Family Statue of Liberty Scenic Harbor Boat Tour
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ McKinley Park Library @ 10 - 10:30
• FREE - Saturday Storytime! @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Sunset Park Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Dyker Library @ 11 - 12
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 11 - 1
• FREE - Family Movie: Goosebumps & Goosebumps 2 @ McKinley Park Library @ 11:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Kids Create: Writing @ Sunset Park Library @ 12 - 1
• "Arr Bandit" Little Brushes @ Pinot's Palette @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Grand Opening @ My Natural Pet @ 12 - 3
• FREE - Volunteer Community Clean-Up @ 86th & Shore @ 12 - 4
• PETCO Mobile Adoption @ 241 37th St @ 12 - 4
• FREE - Saturday Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 12:30 - 1
• ​​FREE - Family DJ Dance Party - Music of ABBA for Kids @ IC Courtyard 5-6 @ 12:30​​ - 2​
• Halloween Paw-ty Costume Contest @ 34 34th St @ 1 - 5
• FREE - Chess at 3 @ Industry City @ 1 - 5
• FREE - Little Scientists @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Build with Duplo @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - New Parent Social (with Senator Gounardes & Councilman Brannan) @ Cebu @ 2 - 4
• FREE - Arabic Storytime @ Dyker Library @ 2:30 - 3:30
• FREE - Saturday Storytime: Cantonese Storytime @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Build with Lego @ Sunset Park Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Sing 'n Schmooze on Shabbat! @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 4 - 5:15
• FREE - Bay Ridge Rocks Paint Night Pot Luck @ Christ Church @ 4 - 7
• Hope for the Warriors Hero's Benefit @ The Wicked Monk @ 4 - 10
• Open Lab (5+) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 4:30 - 7
• Monster Mash Parents Survival Night Out Drop Off @ The Little Gym @ 5 - 8
• FREE - Movies Under the Stars: Shazam @ Dyker Beach Park @ 6:15 - 8:15
• FREE - Movies Under the Stars Shocktoberfest: The Visit @ John Paul Jones Park @ 7 - 8:30

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20:

• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 9:30 - 11​​
• FREE - WonderSpark Puppets @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12
• Pet Adoption @ 8525 3rd Ave @ 12 - 4
• Halloween Cupcake Decorating ($20) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 1 - 2
• Halloween Cupcake Decorating ($20) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 3 - 4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21:

• Alternate Side Parking Suspended (Shemini Atzereth)
• FREE - Cantonese Story Time @ McKinley Park Library @ 10:30 
• Tic Toc Spanish @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 11 - 12​
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Book Adventures: Not-So-Scary Halloween @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 4:30

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22:

• ​Alternate Side Parking Suspended (Simchas Torah)
• ​Lavender Blues ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 10:30
• **on break til 10/29** ​BYOBaby Play Date ($5) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center)
• Open Lab: Tiny Scientists (ages 2-5) @ Urban STEAM Lab @ 12 - 2
• FREE - Read and Play @ Sunset Park Library @ 1 - 1:45
• Dr. Alex & Friends Singalong ($10) @ Beyond at Liberty View @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - Teen Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 4:30
• FREE - Brooklyn Robotics League @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - DIY for Teens @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - After School Stories @ Sunset Park Library @ 4:30 - 5:30

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23:

• ​Lavender Blues ($20) @ Dimensions on Stage @ 10 - 10:40
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Dyker Library @ 10:15 & 11:15
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Babies and Books @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Toddler Time @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11:30 - 12
• FREE - La Hora Mágica de los Pequeños @ Sunset Park Library @ 1:30 - 2:30
• FREE - DIY: Arts and Craft @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• FREE - Kids Create @ McKinley Park Library @ 4 - 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24:

• Mommy & Me with Miss Darlene @ Play Days & Parties @ 10 - 12​​
• Lunch + Learn: Women's Health 411: Healthy Mom Healthy Baby @ 220 36th St @ 11:30 - 12:30
• FREE - Babies & Books @ Dyker Library @ 1:15 - 2
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Dyker Library @ 3 - 4
• FREE - Chess Workshop with Reinaldo Duran Trujillo @ Sunset Park Library @ 4 - 5
• Drop-In Karate Class for Kids & Adults ($10) @ Bay Ridge Jewish Center @ 6 - 7​

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25:

• FREE - 普通話故事時間 Mandarin Chinese Storytime @ Sunset Park Library @ 10:30 - 11
• FREE - Ready, Set, Kindergarten! @ Fort Hamilton Library @ 11 - 12
• FREE - Celebrating Italian Heritage Month with Dyker Singers @ Dyker Library @ 3:15 - 4
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ Sunset Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Teen Tech Time @ McKinley Park Library @ 3:30 - 5
• FREE - Kids Create @ Dyker Library @ 4 - 5

I grew up hearing about Medieval Times and always wanted to go, but somehow never did! So when we were offered tickets in exchange for a blog post, I jumped at the chance!! The timing was perfect, too, as our twins just had their 4th birthday a week ago, so this served as their big royal birthday celebration!

Located in Lyndhurst NJ, Medieval Times is an easy outing for NYC families with cars. I thought it was going to be all about jousting but boy oh boy was I wrong, it was so much more - a truly unique experience that includes royal drama, horses, knights, delicious food, and more! Check out our YouTube video to get a great feel of the whole experience, and read on for more details!

You can arrive up to 75 minutes before your showtime and I recommend getting there at least 30 minutes ahead as there's so much to see and experience in the huge hall before you enter the show! You can purchase drinks and there's tons of merch for sale - from princess hats and crowns to swords and lots of lighty-uppy things that the kids will go nuts over! You can also see the Queen come out and knight guests in honor of their birthdays (an up-sell option, of course!).

Everyone gets a cute paper crown with the same color as your seating block, which adds the whole excitement of cheering on or booing certain teams - my husband said this was his favorite part! My kids got really into it, too, I mean, when are they encouraged to yell loudly indoors!?

​Once we took our seats the waiter quickly came up and served us some hot tomato bisque, and it was STEAMING hot! The bowls and plates are metal, so the bowl itself ended up very hot as well, just be careful with your little ones!! Throughout the show they brought more food - delicious rotisserie chicken (vegetarian option offered), a thick sliced and salted baked potato, corn on the cob, garlic bread, and for dessert, a small ice cream cup with strawberry syrup. The quality and amount of food was fit for a king, and they have to-go bags in case you want to bag it up for later. I was worried having read that there are no utensils and thought it'd get really messy eating with our hands. But actually, it added to the whole medieval aspect of it and was fun! And, they have individual wet wipe packs for before and after, and napkins, so don't worry! Also bringing you back in time, all staff were dressed in costume, and the way the stadium was lit, at times when the main lights went out, it looked like we were all using only candle light! Very neat!

There was a kind of story that went along with the show, something about them wanting to give the winning knight to the Queen as her King, but she wasn't having that. And then one of the knights didn't want to kill another in the contest, and she let the audience decide (they cheered to kill him, as they do) and she denied the request and let him live. That's all I really got from it. My poor husband couldn't catch a word - his English isn't completely fluent and they spoke in British accents over the speakers and there was so much going on it was just hard to follow sometimes. But there was a story, if you focused!

And to my surprise, there was so much more than jousting. In fact, jousting was just a small portion at the end!! There were horses performing dressage, there was a series of non-contact fun contests the knights did on horseback, there was a hawk that flew around the stadium a few times (really cool and unexpected!!), and then, the jousting. Which was SO COOL!!! I really had no idea what to expect, but basically they jousted one or two rounds til one was knocked off, and then they fought hand to hand combat with and without weapons. And the weapons were just, whoa, MEDIEVAL!!! Don't miss that part in my video, the swords actually sparked when clashing against each other!!

We just had such a great time! I think whether you're a history buff, or have a princess-obsessed daughter, or are just looking for a unique dinner show experience with or without the kids, you can't go wrong with Medieval Times! Regular ticket prices are $64.95/adult and $36.95 per child (under 12), but they have deals occasionally (adult tickets Columbus Day weekend for example are only $40!) and offer group rates (birthday parties, school or camp trips, etc). Get more info and grab your tickets here!