Best of 2013: Best places and things to do in NYC for families

The Museum at Eldridge Street, the historic 1887 synagogue on the Lower East Side that took on a second identity as a museum in 2007 after a 20-year renovation, offers some of the most engaging history lessons for young families in the city, and it’s no wonder: 
In its heyday the socially conscious congregation welcomed new immigrants with open arms, helping out with food, apartment hunting and even loans. Its popular Preservation Detectives series uses guide-led scavenger hunts, hands-on workshops (think holiday-themed challah and chocolate making) and family walking tours to illuminate aspects of American Jewish history and the fascinating evolution of the neighborhood (second Sunday of the month at 11am; $15 per family). On tap this fall: a Thanksgivukuh Celebration, which fetes this year’s overlap of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. 212-219-0888, eldridgestreet.org.—Lee Magill

BAMkids’ annual Film Festival has long been the hot ticket for Brooklyn’s littlest movie buffs, but in 2013 the multiarts cultural hub launched a blockbuster lineup for all ages and interests. Théâtre Tout à Trac’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland used mind-bending sets, masks and puppetry to usher in the new year, while the Pilobolus for Kids workshop saw tweens choreograph and perform their own athletic-dance works. The popular music festival KindieFest also came to BAM for the first time. This fall, families can look forward to the Saturday movie matinee series, which launched in September, and the WeBop Family Jazz Party. Next year promises to be world-class, too, with the Swedish Pantomimteatern company presenting Charlie’s Kid, their take on Chaplin’s classic The Kid, and marionettes performing Sleeping Beauty Dreams—in Spanish. Looks like it’s time for a family meeting to sync calendars. 718-636-4100, bam.org.—Clare Lambe

Kids can see stories realized onstage at this theater, which transforms children’s books into theatrical productions. This season’s lineup included a dramatization of Eileen Spinelli’s Wanda’s Monster (with music by kiddie star Laurie Berkner) and a cost-free touring production of the eco-themed puppet show My City Park. Next up this fall: Ballerina Swan, based on the picture book by former prima ballerina Allegra Kent. The nonprofit’s goal is to promote literacy through the arts, motivating even the most reluctant readers to get their hands on the book they’ve just seen magically come to life. 212-573-8791, makingbookssing.org.—Lindsey Garland

Let’s face it—museum expansions don’t exactly make for exciting headlines. But the transformation of the Queens Museum of Art into the new Queens Museum is, well, another story. Not only has the institution doubled its exhibition space to 100,000 square feet by moving into the area occupied for decades by an ice-skating rink, but 
it’s also changed its identity from a museum for art to a culturally minded center for all things Queens. Stop by with the kids to explore the work of puppet theater guru Peter Schumann, an exhibit devoted to the edifice’s World’s Fair history, a never-before-seen scale model of NYC’s watershed system (built by the WPA in the 1930s) and the beloved Panorama of the City of New York, which will continue to give kids and their parents an unparalleled sense of how mammoth, intricate and utterly unique their home city really is. (718-592-9700, queensmuseum.org).—LM

Yes, we loved the “King Tut” and “Terra-Cotta Warriors” shows at Discovery Times Square, the large-scale exhibition hall that set up shop in the former home of the New York Times in 2009. But this year especially, the midtown spot has turned its eye to the youngest museumgoers, offering a reprisal of its Harry Potter show as well as new exhibitions like “The Art of the Brick,” a show of Lego works by artist Nathan Sawaya, and “Shipwreck! Pirates and Treasure,” spotlighting artifacts from actual shipwrecks (both are up through Jan 5). Not all of its current shows are kid-oriented (“Body Worlds: Pulse” is an iteration of the South Street Seaport’s “Bodies”: most definitely not for young ones), but enough are that we can’t wait to see what’s coming in 2014. 866-987-9692, discoverytsx.com.—Lee Magill

Picture this: It’s a warm summer day and you’ve been to that shadeless playground near your apartment (you know the one) more times than you can count. Or how about when it’s too cold to go outside in the winter, even though cabin fever has reached epic proportions? This sprawling auto body shop–turned–beer garden has 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, plenty of seating and a three-lane bocce ball court. Don’t let the 60 tap lines serving 24 craft beers fool you. Kids really are welcome (daily before 7pm)—we promise! Over the past year, Greenwood Park has successfully built a stroller-friendly rep for kid-tailored holiday events and concerts, and a daily comfort food option for the whole family. 718-499-7999, greenwoodparkbk.com.—Brian Braiker

It’s not every day that kids are encouraged (yes, encouraged) to play with their food in public, but waiters at the three city locations of Goodfella’s do just that. At the pizza parlors, little ones who order a personal-sized pizza off the children’s menu ($5 plus $.75 for toppings) get to create their own mini pie at their table. They’re given homemade semolina dough (there’s a gluten-free dough option for kids with allergies), mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and toppings—choose from standards like mushrooms, onions and broccoli, as well as specialty items like artichoke hearts, meatballs and grilled chicken. Pizzaiolos-in-training roll the dough, place it in a tinfoil dish and get creative with the toppings. Their masterpieces are then baked in one of Goodfella’s brick ovens. Parents can enjoy appetizers (think eggplant rollatini, fried calamari and stuffed mushrooms) while their kids are hard at work. 144 Orchard St at Rivington St (212-432-3200, goodfellasusa.com); 391 Second Ave between 22nd and 23rd Sts (212-545-8500); 1817 Victory Blvd at Raymond Ave, Staten Island (718-815-8500).—Rory Halperin

The fact that inspiration for this shop came from its then pregnant co-owner’s midnight food cravings explains a lot: Here, your family will find kooky combos like chorizo caramel swirl and a spicy lime-tarragon sorbet made the old-fashioned way. Milk, which is locally sourced and pasteurized in-house, is infused with flavor even before the freezing process begins—just the way pastry chef Sam Mason (formerly of wd~50) likes it. Steer kids to the maple bacon pecan or aromatic strawberry lavender sorbet, or splurge for the to-die-for cornbread sundae, topped with blueberry compote, maple syrup and bacon-scented whipped cream. 347-599-0556, oddfellowsnyc.com.—Rebecca Jennings

Owner and East Williamsburg resident Liza Dare quit her job as a commercial casting director to open Cute Attack, her first children’s store, after seeing the influx of families moving into the Brooklyn nabe over the past five years. Her cozy shop hawks unique threads (for kids ages zero to five) and toys from local and independent brands such as Kate Quinn Organics and the House of Brooklyn Rascals. Parents (and those looking for cool baby gift ideas) will ooh and ahh over Prefresh "Totally Local"–emblazoned tees ($42), Zuzii hats with faux-fur pompoms ($30), Lululuvs circle scarves ($40) and Le Top faux-leather jackets ($59). There are also a plethora of creative gifts, including Estella NYC MetroCard-shaped rattles ($16) and Tattly temporary tattoos made of vegetable-based ink ($5), to choose from. Keep an eye on Dare’s website, as upcoming music and story hours for local kids are in the works. 347-889-6555, cuteattackkids.com.—Elizabeth Denton

Brunch at Union Square’s Brother Jimmy’s may conjure up images of twentysomethings devouring omelettes and drinking Bloody Marys after a night out on the town, but this year brought a new set of younger patrons to the BBQ restaurant. Founded by husband-and-wife team Christopher and Victoria Anderson, the Brunch Baby, Brunch series offers a casual environment on select weekend afternoons for families to unwind and enjoy tasty eats, prizes and even a live DJ spinning kid tunes (there’s also a padded dance floor for little movers and shakers). Even better, children under 12 eat free. Various weekends (facebook.com/brunchbabybrunch).—Rory Halperin

We know you’ve heard all about the cronut, the hybrid croissant-donut that took NYC by storm over the summer and continues to cause a line to form each morning along Spring Street. What you may not know is that the baker himself, Dominique Ansel, has created a charming spot for breakfast that alone is worth the trip to Soho—even if the cronuts have sold out for the day. You and your kids can watch the staff at work; enjoy Parisian-inspired creations; take a seat at a table outside, in the patio, or indoors; and count your lucky stars you found this place without being led on by fads. 212-219-2773, dominiqueansel.com.—Lee Magill

We just found another reason to visit the High Line—not that we actually needed one. The popular comfort food restaurant Bubby’s recently opened a second city location (their Dumbo restaurant closed last fall, though their Tribeca spot lives on)  near the entrance to the elevated train tracks and the future Whitney Museum. Open 22 hours a day (perfect for parents whose little ones are still learning to sleep through the night), the eatery offers its signature eats, plus some exclusives. Kids can enjoy homemade egg creams and malteds from the old-fashioned soda fountain, while families can also use the restaurant’s takeout window to pick up treats pre–High Line walk or picnic. 212-206-6200, bubbys.com.—Rory Halperin

The homemade slabs of marshmallow-laced crispy rice treats two young brothers hawked at a charity bake sale elicited such nostalgia-inducing raves, it led their entrepreneurial parents to spawn a dessert den devoted entirely to the gooey snack. Jennifer and Chris Russell, former owners of the now-shuttered Moomba and TanDa restaurants, partnered with their erstwhile pastry chef, Wendy Israel, to open Treat House on the Upper West Side. Here, tykes and adults alike are enchanted by the urban tree-house setting, perching on tree stump stools to bite into the sweet, toothsome squares ($2.25 each) swirled with gourmet flavors like cool chocolate-mint, S’mores and sea salt–flecked caramel. Early risers can settle in for a less-indulgent breakfast of Stumptown coffee and brown rice bars studded with oats and flax. 212-799-7779, treathouse.com.—Alia Akkam

Families flocked to Williamsburg more than ever this year—a fact that helped this hot spot for the under-six crowd win 47.1% of the vote. (Billyburg neighbor and newcomer Twinkle came in second place!) Run by two area moms who used to work in the fashion industry, the rock & roll–themed play space’s indoor playground sports a replica of a 1970s VW bus and a Rolling Stones–inspired tongue slide. Adding to Frolic’s buzz factor are their cool music classes and camp programs (think Woodstock Week, Jetsetter World Tour and Beatlemania). 718-388-3100, frolicplayspace.com.—Rory Halperin

Runners-up: •apple seeds •Citibabes •Kidville •Twinkle

A number of our favorite city institutions double as party venues, but few offer as truly memorable an experience as the Intrepid (the space received 26.4% of the vote). A few steps away from the West Side Highway, lucky little partygoers explore restored aircraft on the flight deck, climb into the cockpit of a helicopter, learn about the ship’s history during a scavenger hunt, buckle up for a 4-D space-themed ride and, of course, celebrate the festive occasion with lunch and cake. We’re also pretty sure that accompanying adults are just as blown away by the vessel’s bashes as the birthday kid himself. 646-381-5010, intrepidmuseum.org.—Rory Halperin

Runners-up: •Alice’s Tea Cup •American Girl Place •Chelsea Piers • The JCC in Manhattan

Since the launch of their free—yes, free!—outdoor summer concert series in 2003, Madison Square Park, which received 28% of the vote, has hosted shows by some of the biggest names in the children’s music industry. This past summer was no exception: Families converged on the Flatiron green space on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between June and August for performances by musicians like the Deedle Deedle Dees, Recess Monkey, and Shine and the Moonbeams. City families also enjoyed the park’s summer art installation, Red, Yellow and Blue—the Orly Genger sculpture made entirely of hand-knitted nautical rope. madisonsquarepark.org.—Rory Halperin

Runners-up: •Carnegie Kids •Hip Tot Music Fest •Jewish Museum •Just Kidding at Symphony Space

Sunny weather, tons of free outdoor activities and some serious star power are just a few of the reasons why city families love (pun intended!) the US Open’s annual kid-friendly kickoff dedicated to the late tennis legend—the fest received 38.2% of the vote. After testing their skills on the court and watching the pros practice, those lucky enough to nab tickets to the special stadium show (prices start at $10, but they sell out quickly!) head inside for a performance that always boasts major up-and-comers: This year, fans were treated to Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone and even a speech by First Lady Michelle Obama. Late August. 718-760-6200, arthurashekidsday.com.—Rebecca Jennings

Runners-up: •Dumbo Arts Festival •Figment •Museum Mile •Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair

Not every town has a children’s museum, so the fact that NYC has five is itself pretty impressive. Manhattan is home to three, and they’re spread out enough to attract a loyal local following. Yet in Brooklyn, the centrally situated Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the only kids’ institution with a general focus (unlike its dynamic but niche neighbor, the Jewish Children’s Museum), which likely contributed to its win (40.8% of the vote). That’s not the whole story, however. It also won because of its rich history (founded in 1899, it’s the world’s oldest children’s museum) and deep ties to the communities it serves, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Park Slope among them. History-minded events, neighborhood outreach and a recent $80 million renovation have earned it the kind of devotion our readers love to reward. 718-735-4400, brooklynkids.org.—Lee Magill

Runners-up: •Children’s Museum of the Arts •Children’s Museum of Manhattan •DiMenna Children’s History Museum •Jewish Children’s Museum

There’s a reason why nearly every city family (and celebrity parent!) we talk to cites the AMNH as their all-time favorite city museum—at what other NYC spot can kids get up close and personal with dinosaur bones, stand under a 94-foot-long blue whale model and stare in amazement at a planetarium show. Walking away with a whopping 59.5% of the vote, the museum also hosted a slew of special and recurring exhibits in 2013—young visitors crawled through a life-size replica of a blue whale heart at “Whales: Giants of the Deep” and shared quarters with 500 live tropical butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory. While tourists may place the iconic spot at the top of their must-see list (and rightfully so!), the Upper West Side institution truly belongs to the kids of New York City. 212-769-5100, amnh.org.—Rory Halperin

Runners-up: •Metropolitan Museum of Art •Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) •Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) •Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Every one of the contenders in this category is a favorite of ours for one reason or another: Who doesn’t love being surrounded by the green bounty of botanical gardens, giddily swirling on an amusement-park ride or observing the beauty of the animals we share the planet with? Only the winner offers all of these experiences and more, and that’s the Bronx Zoo, which won with more than half of the vote (51.8%). A whopping 265 acres of parkland and habitats provide the nature immersion; its Wild Asia Monorail gives passengers a unique aerial view of Asian elephants and Bengali tigers; and nearly 650 species of animals make the zoo a spot that city families never grow tired of exploring. 718-220-5100, bronxzoo.org.—Lee Magill

Runners-up: •Brooklyn Botanic Garden •Luna Park •New York Aquarium •New York Botanical Garden

Projects at this (now nationwide) mini-chain on the Upper West and Upper East Sides really run the gamut—visiting kids can dapple in everything from ceramics and candle making to cake decorating and soap making. The all-ages DIY studio’s diverse—and creative—offerings no doubt helped it capture 28.1% of the vote in our poll. Three years after UES dad Daniel Nissanoff founded the space, Make Meaning now has outposts in four states. They also recently introduced an all-inclusive pricing system, meaning young crafters can use as much material as they desire for a specific project without racking up a bill—a plus for kids and parents alike. 1501 Third Ave between 84th and 85th Sts (212-744-0011, makemeaning.com); 329 Columbus Ave between 75th and 76th Sts (212-362-0350).—Rebecca Jennings

Runners-up: •Craft Studio •Hiho Batik •Oliloli •Painted Pot

Chelsea’s Books of Wonder (37.6% of the vote), founded in 1980, is the only bookstore in the city devoted exclusively to children’s books. Its expertly curated inventory, weekly storytimes, constant stream of noteworthy authors and illustrators stopping by for signings and readings (recent guests have included artist-author William Wegman and actor-author John Lithgow), and themed parties gathering together like-minded kid-lit creators are just a few of the reasons why this is one bookstore in the city that’s here to stay. 212-989-3270, booksofwonder.com.—Lee Magill

Runners-up: •Bank Street Bookstore •Greenlight Bookstore •McNally Jackson •powerHouse Arena/powerHouse on 8th

As every New Yorker knows, green spaces are every bit as vital to the city as the iconic architecture they’re surrounded by. Still, we’re pretty sure Olmsted and Vaux would be shocked to realize that their park in the middle of Manhattan is today the city’s biggest and most beloved attraction, period. Choice playgrounds (Heckscher, Billy Johnson, Ancient Playground), historic attractions like the zoo, and Olmsted and Vaux masterpieces like Belvedere Castle make it the ne plus ultra of family-friendly city parks, to be sure. But it won this category (48.6% of the vote) most of all because it still achieves its creators’ vision as a lush oasis in a crowded city that belongs to everyone. centralparknyc.org.—Lee Magill

Runners-up: •Brooklyn Bridge Park •Flushing Meadows–Corona Park •Hudson River Park •Prospect Park