ML Interest Tag: flush

Bunny Hop to These 18 Lunar New Year Events in NYC

by Yuliya Geikhman

Ring in the year of the black water rabbit with these 2023 kid-friendly Chinese New Year events, filled with festivals, firecrackers, and family fun

Every year, the streets of NYC come alive with dancing lions and dragons, firecrackers, and music. The occasion? Lunar New Year! The day is an important part of Chinese and other Asian cultures, marking a new year based on the lunar calendar complete with festivities, celebrations, and gift-giving. This year, the festival falls on Jan. 22, when we bid farewell to the year of the tiger and usher in the year of the rabbit. Traditionally, each year corresponds to an animal in the Chinese Zodiac and an element. This year will be the year of the black water rabbit (the water element is associated with the color black), a combination that means 2023 will be a year of prosperity, rest, reflection, and, most of all, hope. There are many ways to join the celebration around NYC, from festivals and parades to workshops and themed crafts. So gather the family and hop on over to one of these family-friendly NYC Lunar New Year events!

Do Not Miss: The Annual Chinatown Parade

Chinese New Year Parade and Festival in Chinatown

Hit the streets for the biggest Lunar New Year celebration: the annual parade and festival in Chinatown! As with every year, you can expect music, performances, firecrackers, dancing dragons, intricate costumes and more. The parade will make its way from Mott and Canal to Chatham Square, then head to East Broadway, finally ending up on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The park is usually decked out in themed decorations reflecting the element and animal of the year, and packed full of revelers. Note that this event gets very loud and crowded!

Price: Free

Sun., Feb. 12
Chinatown
Online: chineseparade.com

Manhattan Events to Celebrate Lunar New Year

2023 Chinese New Year Festival at the China Institute

The China Institute rings in the new year with an afternoon of performances and workshops! Visit the Institute to participate in workshops themed around Chinese culture, music, food, and arts. The event kicks off with a Lion Dance and culminates in a Kun Opera performance. Plus, attendees get to take a close look at the makeup and costume used in the Opera before the show begins.

Price: $15

Sun., Jan. 8, 1-4 p.m.
100 Washington St.
Financial District
Online: chinainstitute.org

Lunar New Year Celebration at P.S. 150

For the first time ever, P.S. 150 (a.k.a. the Tribeca Learning Center) will be holding a Lunar New Year event for the community. The party will be open to everyone and include raffles and giveaways, traditional Chinese performances (including a Lion Dance!), candy art, bilingual Mandarin-English read- and sing-alongs, a tasting menu from local restaurants, calligraphy workshops, arts and crafts, and so much more.

Price: $28.16 per ticket, free for kids under 3

Sun., Jan. 8, 12-3 p.m.
P.S. 150 Tribeca Learning Center
28-42 Trinity Place
Financial District
Online: eventbrite.com

Picturesque Pagodas at the Skyscraper Museum

In this free workshop (recommended for ages 7-12), you'll learn about Poy Gum Lee, the Chinese-American architect who popularized a building style that can still be seen both in China and NYC's Chinatown. Lee's style, called "Chinese Art Deco," can be found in the pagodas you see around Chinatown, which rose to popularity in the 1950s. Kids will get to build and decorate their own pagoda crafts inspired by traditional Chinese architecture.

Price: Free

Sat., Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m.
Skyscraper Museum
39 Battery Pl.
Financial District
Online: skyscraper.org

Lunar New Year Festival: The Year of the Rabbit at The Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is uniting culture with art in a Lunar New Year festival. While the full schedule isn't up yet (keep an eye on the website for information in English, Korean, simplified Chinese, and Spanish), you can expect to see performances, interactive activities, and workshops for the whole family, led by artists.

Price: Free with admission

Sat., Jan. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave.
Upper East Side
Online: metmuseum.org

Lunar New Year Family Festival at MOCA NYC

The Museum of Chinese in America has an impressive lineup of events scheduled for their Lunar New Year celebration. The day is chock-full of performances and demonstrations, including a Lion Dance performed yb the United East Athletics Association, a noodle pulling and candy making demonstration, and more. The younger kids in your family will enjoy the interactive dance- and music-enhanced storytime with Ya Ya Preschool, which will explore the legend of the Nian monster (in English and Mandarin) and explain why red decorations are traditionally put up for Lunar New Year.

Price: Free

Sat., Jan. 21, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
The Museum of Chinese in America
215 Centre St.
Little Italy
Online: mocanyc.org

Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit at the Children's Museum of Manhattan

Celebrate Lunar New Year all week long through CMOM's special events. Kids can get their creativity flowing as they use puppets and elements of design to make crafts themed around the celebration and the water rabbit. Plus, they'll explore what the rabbit symbolizes: peace, calm, and hope!

Price: Free with admission

Sat., Jan. 21-Sun., Jan. 29
CMOM
212 West 83rd St.
Upper West Side
Online: cmom.org

Christ Chapel Chamber Series: Chinese New Year at Riverside Church

Hear how Eastern cultures influenced Western music through a performance by Singaporean musician and composer Phoon Yu and his chamber ensemble. The concert will feature pieces celebrating the new year as well as the musical intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.

Price: Free

Sun., Jan. 22, 2 p.m.
Christ Chapel
490 Riverside Drive
Morningside Heights
Online: trcnyc.org

 

Brooklyn Events to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year Plants Tour at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Learn about the Asian fruits and plants associated with the Lunar New Year with this free guided tour. The tour will take you through the Steinhardt Conservatory, showcasing citrus plants, bamboo, quince, and more. Plus, the tour will be held in English and Cantonese!

Price: Free with admission

Sat., Jan. 21, 1-2 p.m.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Meet at the Steinhardt Conservatory
1010 Washington Ave.
Prospect Park
Online: bbg.org

Lunar New Year at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

This day-long event will introduce young kids to the culture and celebrations of the Lunar New Year. Learn about new year traditions with live music, stories, and hands-on calligraphy workshops. Head to the museum's rooftop to catch a lion dance parade, performed by the Chinatown Community Young Lions.

Price: Free with admission

Sat., Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave.
Crown Heights
Online: brooklynkids.org

Lunar Zoo Year at the Prospect Park Zoo

Every day in February, Prospect Park Zoo will be teaching visitors about rabbits, the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, and how the WIldlife Conservation Society is working toward saving wildlife around the world (and what you can do to help). The zoo's website will also have a free, self-guided scavenger hunt that anyone can participate in, to learn all about rabbits.

Price: Free with admission

Every day in February
450 Flatbush Ave.
Prospect Park
Online: prospectparkzoo.com

 

Queens Events to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Rabbit-themed Weekend Programs at Alley Pond

Little ones will love meeting the bunny ambassadors of Alley Pond at the two rabbit-themed events they're holding in honor of this year's Zodiac animal. In Bouncing Bunnies, toddlers will read a book about a rabbit and make a take-home craft. In Animal Tales, they'll read "It's Not Easy Being a Bunny" by Marilyn Sadler then head outside for a walk and to look for rabbit tacks. Both events will also feature opportunities to see and pet some of Alley Pond's resident rabbits!

Price: $20-24 per child (with one adult)

Sat., Jan. 21 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Sat., Jan. 21 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Alley Pond
224-65 76th Ave.
Oakland Gardens
Online: alleypond.org

Year of the Rabbit Parade and Festival at Tangram

If you're a parade fanatic and want to experience two Lunar New Year parades in NYC this year—or if the Manhattan Chinatown parade is just a bit much for you and the fam—the Flushing parade may be just the thing for you. The parade will include music, performances, and dancing as it winds its way down from 37th to Queens Crossing (for full parade route, click through to the Eventbrite listing). Following the outdoor marching, head inside for more festivities at the shopping center and food court, Tangram.

Price: Free

Sat., Jan. 21, parade begins at 11 a.m., Tangram event is 1-3 p.m.
Tangram
133-33 39th Ave.
Flushing
Online: eventbrite.com

Lunar New Year Celebration at the Queens Museum

The Queens Museum welcomes the New York Chinese Cultural Center for a full afternoon of fun. Be wowed by Kung-Fu demonstrations, watch Lion Dances, learn the basics of calligraphy, and make your own Chinese lanterns. Workshops cater to both kids an adults, making this a great choice for the whole family.

Price: Free with admission

Sun., Jan. 29, 1-4 p.m.
Queens Museum
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Online: queensmuseum.org

Miffy Presents Lunar New Year at Queens Botanical Garden

The adorable Dutch bunny Miffy invites you out to the Queens Botanical Garden to celebrate the year of the rabbit! The garden celebration will include Lion Dances, Zodiac-inspired crafts, storytimes, "lucky plant" sales, demonstrations, and more. While advance registration is recommended, walk-ins are also fine.

Price: $5 suggested donation

Sat., Jan. 28, 12-4 p.m.
Queens Botanical Garden
43-50 Main St.
Flushing
Online: queensbotanical.org

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company: Year of the Black Water Rabbit at Kupferberg Center and NJPAC

This breathtaking performance is a dance and music tribute to Lunar New Year. The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company welcomes the new year through colorful costumes, as well as dances and music featuring a fusion of American and Asian styles and cultures. See dragons, peacocks, acrobats, ribbon dances, bamboo instruments, a hip-hop take on traditional Lion Dances, and more.

Price: $27-$35 per ticket

Sat., Jan. 21, Sun., Jan. 22, 2 p.m.
Victoria Theater
Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Stage
1 Center Street
Newark, NJ
Online: njpac.org

Price: $15

Sun., Feb. 5, 3 p.m.
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
Colden Auditorium
153-49 Reeves Ave.
Flushing
Online: kupferbergcenter.org

Bronx Events to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Family Art Project: Fan for Lunar New Year at Wave Hill

In this Family Art Project, families will learn about the role and significance of rabbits in the Chinese Zodiac and culture. Then, get hands-on by putting together and decorating a very special fan, inspired by rabbits and other animals on the Zodiac.

Price: Free with admission

Sat., Jan. 21 and Sun., Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Wave Hill
4900 Independence Ave.
Riverdale
Online: wavehill.org (Sat) and wavehill.org (Sun)

More Places to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Library Workshops and Events

Libraries throughout the city's boroughs have a whole collection of free events planned for Lunar New Year, intended to educate and entertain. The lineup includes exciting scavenger hunts, themed crafting sessions, cultural games and read-alongs, origami paper crafts, and more. Check the events page for more events being added every day!

Various times and locations
Online: Brooklyn, Manhattan and the other boroughs

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Petal Pushers: Where to See Spring Flowers in NYC

by Mimi O'Connor

Spring has sprung in NYC, and that means the city is soon going to be full of flowers. From cherry trees in Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, to displays of daffodils, tulips and more at parks in every borough, Mother Nature is giving us lots of reasons to get out of the house with kids and soak up some sun. Read on to find out where, and when to catch the best spring flowers in bloom in NYC.

Manhattan

Central Park

Samuel Stone Pixabay

Central Park's massive size and diverse topography provides a wide variety of places to see flowers in bloom. 

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Bridle Path: In early and mid-April you'll find a stunning display of cherry trees in bloom along the reservoir. Enter at 90th and Fifth at the Engineers' Gate and walk north. 

Pilgrim Hill: Popular with sledders in winter, this spot at E. 72nd and Fifth is also a prime place to see Yoshino cherry trees in bloom in mid-April. 

Swedish Cottage (Marionette Theater): This famous venue is charming any time of year, but in April and May, when the surrounding landscape is dotted tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs, it looks straight out of a fairy tale. Find it on the Park's west side near 79th Street.

Cherry Hill: A gentle slope named for the trees that bloom delicate white and pink flowers Cherry Hill overlooks the park's lake. It's mid-park at 72nd Street. 

If you're looking for something specific, check out the Central Park Conservancy's Bloom & Tree Guide, which you can search by plant, type, month and more. 

Riverside Park

Janet Lombardo

This large park along the west side of Manhattan runs from 72nd Street up to 158th Street, and you can find lots of fabulous displays at various points. Check out:

Sakura Park at 122nd St: Named for the cherry trees you'll find in bloom here, usually in mid-April

83rd Street: near Mt. Tom and Warsaw Ghetto Memorial

91st Street, at the Promenade: The Garden People’s Garden is a community garden that has been maintained by volunteers for decades And if you keep walking north, you’ll come up to Crabapple Grove, which has gorgeous blossoms in the spring)

 

Hudson River Park

Max Guliani for Hudson River Park

Spanning 550 acres along the west side of Manhattan (from the northern end of Battery Park City to W. 59th Street in Hell's Kitchen), Hudson River Park offers four miles of waterside recreation. 

Find out what's in bloom at any given time in the park with the Hudson River Park Conservancy's Bloom Guide, which you can find here.  

March typically brings Star Magnolias and Saucer Magnolias, and cherry trees should be blooming in early April, along with tulips. (You can see 2021's bloom timetable here.)

Online: hudsonriverpark.org

Randall's Island

Jason P. via Yelp

Another spot to catch some cherry trees in bloom is Randall's Island. The island's display is so impressive there is a Cherry Blossom Festival here, as well. (No plans for a  2021 fest though.) The cherry trees of different species start blooming in early April and continue through the month and into May. You can see a guide to the Island's cherry tree bloom here. 

Online: randallsisland.org

Brooklyn

Prospect Park

Cameron K. via Yelp

Sprawling over 600 acres, this Olmsted & Vaux urban green space includes open spaces, woodsy enclaves and waterside spots. (Not to mention lots of places to play.) 

You can see what's in bloom in Prospect Park thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance's spring bloom guide. 

Highlights include:

Grand Army Plaza: Early spring brings early-blooming cherry trees, tulips and daffodils; later you'll see Eastern redbuds, and pink, late-blooming cherry trees. 

LeFrak Center at Lakeside: Find an early spring display of bright yellow and orange Witch Hazel here. With warmer temps in April comes a profusion of white blossoms from Serviceberry, Chokeberry, Witch Alder, and Foxglove Beardtongue. Late spring brings a final act of flowering dogwoods and dewberries. 

Litchfield Villa: In front of this stately pre-Civil War era mansion on Prospect Park West, you'll find Carmen’s Garden, which features an impressive tulip display in April. May brings pink and white blossoms of crabapple and hawthorn trees, with an assist from colorful annuals. In back of the building you'll find Korean dogwood trees with cream-colored flowers. 

Long Meadow: A popular spot for lounging, sunbathing and picnicking, the Long Meadow is also home to several kids of fragrant flowering trees. At the north end, peach and white magnolia and dogwood trees bloom in early spring, and later lilacs bloom along with hanging yellowwood blooms. 

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Charm T. via Yelp

Not too far from Prospect Park is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, home to one of the biggest cherry blossom festivals in the city, which takes place in mid-April. No word on if that is happening in 2022, but hours are extended from April 15-May 15 to allow extra time to enjoy the cherry blossoms. (Want to know when the trees will bloom? It's not an exact science, but this may help. Many continue into May. For the latest on what trees have bloomed check out this bloom tracker which is updated daily.)

Early spring brings lots of other gorgeous blooms though: the garden's display of magnolia trees is gorgeous and luxurious, and you can see many, many spring bulbs here, such as daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops and tiny dutch irises. Also in April, the tulip display around the garden's central pool is striking. 

Lilacs start in April and go through June, depending on the variety. 

You can see a bloom guide for the entire year here. 

The garden is closed on Mondays. 

990 Washington Ave.
Crown Heights
718-623-7200
Online: bbg.org

Green-wood Cemetery

Amy Nieporent

Founded in 1838 and now a National Historic Landmark, Green-wood Cemetery welcomes the public seven days a week. Its 478 acres are filled with natural beauty in the form of towering trees, flowering shrubs, blooming perennials and returning bulbs. It is another place you'll find gorgeous cherry trees in bloom in April and May; look for them in the areas of Valley Water and Battle Hill. To make navigating the cemetery easier, download the Green-wood app, which includes maps and lots of info and media (video, audio) on the history, nature and art of the Landmark. 

500 25th St. 
718-210-3080
Windsor Terrace
Online: green-wood.com

Bronx

New York Botanical Garden

Katrina M. via Yelp

As one would expect, the New York Botanical Garden is a spectacular place to see spring (and summer!) blooms. (The Garden's annual Orchid Show, featuring Jeff Leatham's Kaleidoscope, is also on display until May 1.)

The Garden's impressive collection of daffodils numbers is literally the hundreds of thousands, and you can find the yellow flowers in several places here.  and don’t miss In April, Daffodil Hill is covered with them, and you'll find many antique cultivars that were planted in the early 20th century. The Rock Garden is home to tiny species of daffodils no more than three inches high, still more varieties can be found on the Daylily/Daffodil Walk, and Daffodil Valley is where the Murray Liasson Narcissus Collection is located. See how far along the daffodil bloom is with the Garden's Daffodil Tracker.

You'll find all kinds of spring-flowering trees here, including crabapple, magnolia and cherry trees, and Mother's Day is about when the NYBG Azalea Garden puts on an amazing display. (You can follow the azalea bloom with this tracker.)

The lilac collection, which blooms in early and late spring thanks to a wide variety of plants, dates to 1896 and has been a popular draw for more than a hundred years. It was expanded in 2016.

2900 Southern Blvd.
Bronx
718-817-8700
Online: nybg.org

Wave Hill Public Garden

Wave Hill

This public garden and cultural center in the Bronx has extended its hours for spring from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. It's a pleasure to visit any season, but spring highlights are tulips, magnolias, trillium and glory-of-the-snow. 

Wav Hill hosts many programs for kids and families including weekly family art projects, bird-watching, and more. 

Note that you must reserve tickets in advance to visit Wave Hill. 

Tickets: $10/adults; $6/seniors, $4/kids
4900 Independence Ave. 
Bronx
718-549-3200
Online: https://www.wavehill.org

Queens

Queens Botanical Garden

Pinky and the B. via Yelp

Spring at The Queens Botanical Garden brings blooming cherry trees on Cherry Circle, magnolias on Magnolia Path, vibrant displays of daffodils and tulips, viburnum, dogwood, eastern redbud and more. To see what's blooming when, click here.

43-50 Main St. 
Flushing
718-886-3800
Online: queensbotanical.org

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Joanna V. via Yelp

Not too far from the Queens Botanical Garden is Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the former site of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair. The park's impressive Unisphere is surrounded by scores of flowering trees throughout April, and there's lots more to explore once you've taken in the display. Check out the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Museum, the Queens Zoo, 

The Queens Museum (where you'll find the New York City Panorama); the New York Hall of Science (where you can catch a drive-in movie; the Queens Zoo, and Citi Field, home to the Mets

Grand Central Parkway & Van Wyck Expressway
Corona
718-760-6565
Online: nycgovparks.org

Staten Island

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

Nadia Z. via Yelp

This 83-acre campus on Staten Island is home to numerous cultural institutions and gardens, including The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden (NYCSG), one of two authentic classical outdoor Chinese gardens built in the United States. Built entirely with architectural elements created in Suzhou, China, the NYCSG puts on a beautiful show in spring with flowering magnolias, cherries, mahonia, jasmine, and redbud. Much of Snug Harbor is free to explore, but admission to NYCSG is $5 per person, with kids under five admitted for free. (Staten Island residents are free the first Saturday of every month.) 

Another must with kids is the Connie Gretz Secret Garden, an enclosed space with a shrub maze and three towers that resemble castle turrets. It is inspired by the book The Secret Garden and admission is $3 for kids and free for adults accompanied by a child. (It recently has only been open on Sundays.) 

Need more to explore? Check out the Staten Island Museum, the Staten Island Children’s Museum and the Noble Maritime Collection, all of which are also at Snug Harbor. 

1000 Richmond Terr. 
718-425-3504
Staten Island 
Online: snug-harbor.org

—Mimi O’Connor

RELATED STORIES:

Fresh Air Fun: The Best Spring Day Trips From NYC For Kids

Spring in Your Step: Kid-Friendly Hikes Near NYC

For the Birds: Where to Go Birding With Kids in NYC

 

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Just Opened: Queens Indoor Playground Peek-a-Booo

by Rachel Sokol

This has been a great year for new play spaces in the Q-borough—and we can add yet another one to the list! The recently-opened Peek-A-Booo (yes, with 3 Os) is an indoor playground in the heart of Flushing, Queens, and is a must-visit for kids 7 and under. There was some early buzz about this place, so we decided to see what all the fuss was about. Our verdict? When your 4-year-old sobs because they do not want to leave, it’s a good indicator about how much they enjoyed. Check out our review below!

It’s Huuuuuge! 
The 6,000 ft., ground-level Peek-A-Booo was founded by Yiejie (EJ) Wang, a Queens parent who previously operated a liquor store and really wanted to open a business that welcomed kids from all over the city—and was also a place where she could safely bring her son. Wang found the empty retail space in Flushing, and officially opened Peek-A-Booo (which has three o’s simply because, “it’s cute!”) in February.

You park your stroller to the left of the main entrance, stick your shoes in cubbies up front, and enter the very soft, padded indoor playground in just your socks. (You can purchase a pair for $2 if you or your kid forgets them.) Parents must sign a waiver for their kids, and everyone is encouraged to use hand sanitizer at the counter, before entering the space through a gate.

Overall, everything at Peek-A-Booo screams, “fun!”  The place is whimsical, inviting, and safe, with lots to do; it was constructed to meet all New York City safety standards and is also very colorful. (Wang says she wanted to make sure the various colors and overall aesthetic of the place photographed nicely when parents snapped pics of their kids having fun.)

Not One, But Two Ball Pits
The venue’s most popular attractions are its two—yes, two—huge ball-pits. The first one visitors encoutner has an interactive digital “video game” along its back wall that allows kids and parents alike to toss plastic ball-pit balls at the screen to ‘hit’ targets of creatures and emjois. Kids can also ride a purple slide into the mass of yellow, green, and orange balls.

The rear ball-pit features a central house structure in the middle that kids can climb into. There’s also a large ‘treehouse’ next to the first ball-pit with a wide slide that changes color and designs when you and your kids slide down.

Other must-dos include a trampoline with a swing, large, plastic cars to ride, and many climbing structures.

Kids can also play around in a large, closed-in sandpit complete with sand toys in its own little section. (Fancy feature: little lights make it look like little crabs and snakes are inside the sand in a fun not creepy way.)

While there’s a lot to enjoy here, Wang plans to incorporate a new play structure or set of toys every few weeks for variety.

Stay in Your Lane
For younger kids ages three and under, an area in the rear of the space has soft blocks, smaller climbing structures, mini basketball hoops, riding toys, and is also well-padded like the rest of the space.

The separation of the older kids and younger kids is a very nice touch; it prevents excited, older kids from racing around toddlers, and allows for toddlers and younger kids to have their own designated, private area to frolic. Also in the rear of Peek-A-Boo are more climbing structures and animal-shaped, car-like (solid) plastic structures to ‘ride.’

Employees walk around the venue making sure the space is clean and keeping an eye on the kids. But note: This is not a drop-off space; kids must be accompanied by an adult, and children should be seven or younger.

Party On, Kid!
Yes, they do birthdays, and the party room is located right in the center of the space. Packages range from $380 to $799 for kids 7 and under. Celebrations include playtime, food, cake, and your choice of party theme.

Note: When parties are held, either on weekdays or weekends, the space does not close down completely just for the party; instead the birthday child and their young guests are given a special bracelet and/or stamp to be ID’d. (However, just one party is held at a time.)

Basic But Important
Peek-A-Booo has two on-site bathrooms, and one has a changing table. There’s also a little section with tables and chairs for snack time, however, no food or drink is permitted near the ball-pits, climbing structures, and games.

In the future, Wang hopes to incorporate a mini cafe with coffee and teas, but for now the only food available for purchase on site are snacks, juices, and water, so if you plan on spending a few hours at Peek-A-Booo, bring along some food and expect to eat it in the designated snack section.

When we visited from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on a weekday, it was not too crowded at all, but it’s recommended you call ahead to make sure there’s space to play. especially on weekends.

The Price of Play
For now, pricing is as follows: A monthly membership is $99; Quarterly is $199, yearly is $399. “Punch cards” are also available for purchase for $200; after 10 sessions, you get 3 visits free.

There is a drop-in “all-day” fee of $25 for one child and one adult; it’s an additional $10 per adult. With the $25 all-day ticket, there’s no time limit on how long you can stay and play for the morning and/or afternoon. Hourly, it’s $15 per hour for one kid and one adult.

Cash or credit cards are accepted.

At press time, Peek-A-Booo was still new, so there is no official web site as of yet, but keep an eye on it’s Facebook page for updates and specials. (Prices and hours may adjust in the coming weeks/months.)

Currently, Peek-a-boo is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., which is nice because if your kid needs to burn off some energy after school, stop on by, it’s worth the subway ride on the 7, or the drive.

135-17 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, Queens
718-888-8866
Online: facebook.com

Have you dropped by Peek-A-Boo? Tell us what you thought in the comments!

—Rachel Sokol

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Ship Ahoy!: 9 Ways to Hop a Boat With the Kids

by rtgretchenkunz

We New Yorkers are surrounded by water, constantly going over, under and around it. But most of us — with the exception of many Staten Island commuters, of course — don’t really spend a lot of time on the water. Taking a boat ride, be it big or small, powered by wind, feet, or diesel fuel is a great way to enjoy the city with kids. Here are some of the coolest ways to go boating in NYC, for all kinds of reasons. Click through to see our seafaring picks!

For Paddle Boats and More: NYC Parks

You don’t have to go any further than one of your local parks to have a boatful of fun.  Central Park boasts the famous Loeb Boathouse on the lake, where you can rent rowboats or kayaks to paddle under your own power, or take a ride in an authentic Venetian gondola for a little bit of Italy in NYC.  In Queens and Brooklyn, Wheel Fun Rentals can get you in a pedal boat or kayak at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park, Marine Park or the World's Fair Marina.  In Staten Island, you can rent a row or paddleboat at Clove Lakes Park, and in the Bronx you can get in some free rowing on weekends at Hunts Point Riverside Park via Rocking The Boat.

Where is your favorite place to explore the seas around the Big Apple?

—Gretchen Kunz

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

21 Signs You’re a New York City Mom

by Julie Seguss

Ah, New York parenting. You can hail a cab, while folding up your stroller with one hand and carrying your toddler in the other. You can recite a list of the 10 cleanest bathrooms below 14th Street. And, you can divulge exactly what train car to ride in that will leave you off right by the escalators at your stop. Read on to discover the 21 signs you’re a New York City parent and then let us know in the comment section below which signs you identify with most!

1. You spent nearly $1,000 on your baby’s set of wheels and zero on your own.

Image: Ed Yourdon via Flickr

2. Your backyard can be measured in acres – 778 acres of Central Park, 535 acres of Prospect Park and 898 acres of Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

3. Your baby group is 50 plus moms strong, and that only includes babies born in the same month, in the same neighborhood.

Image: Joe Shalbotnik via Flickr

4. You’ve figured out how to fit a week’s worth of groceries, plus a bottle of wine, in your stroller’s basket. 

Image: Tyger_Lyllie via Flickr

5. You record sounds of sirens so you can get your kids to sleep when you’re on vacation.

Image: Tony Fischer Photography via Flickr

6. You’ve never met your kid’s best friend because he only sees her on play dates with the nanny.

Image: Colored Chalk via Flickr

7. You can weave your double jogger through a crowd of tourists with a surgeon’s precision.

Image: Ed Yourdon via Flickr

8. Your child’s social calendar is busier than yours.

Image: tom@hk via Flickr

9. Your kid is on a year-long wait list … for music class … at 6 months old.

Image: Salim Virji via Flickr

10. You dread riding the subway with your toddler because she always waves happily at the strangest characters on the train.

Image: David 23 via Flickr

11. Not only have you taken your daughter to get her hair done, but you’ve also taken her doll for an up do.

Image: Jeff Sandquist via Flickr

12. There’s more than one Atticus (or Wolfgang or Sebastian) or Pearl (or Matilda or Olive) in your child’s class.

Image: USAG-Humphreys via Flickr

13. Your two year old is a regular theater-goer.

Image: The Secret Theater

14. You bring your baby to bars and you might even nurse her while you enjoy a beer.

Image: Eoghan O Lionnain via Flickr

15. Your kid learned his ABC’s and 1, 2, 3’s by riding the subway.

Image: Mike Knell via Flickr

16. You don’t blink when you see your three year old’s “school” tuition, which could’ve put you through a semester, or year, of college.

Image: Celebration Harts via Flickr

17. Your nanny sees your kids more than you do during the week, and she even comes to their birthday parties.

Image: Ed Yourdon via Flickr

18. Picking up used toys and books off the street is a total “do.” (As long as you sanitize them before you hand them over to your kid that is.)

Image: Makelessnoise via Flickr

19. You’ve convinced your kids a ride on the bus is an actual tour of the city, just so you can keep cool during the summer.

Image: faungg via Flickr

20. You order diapers online to be delivered to your apartment.

Image: Tomas Fano via Flickr

21. Your toddler interviewed for preschools before he could say, “mama.”

Image: Juhansonin via Flickr

What did we miss? Share your “only in NYC” mom-isms in the comments below.

–Julie Seguss

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement