FAMILY-FRIENDLY NEW YORK
Looking for a way to entertain your kids? Set your sights on The Shops at Columbus Circle, where the temperature is always mild (set at a pleasant 73 to 74 degrees), it’s light and bright thanks to the 150-foot-high panoramic windows, and there are great indoor ideas to entertain kids of all ages. It’s the perfect way to replace screen time with some “me time.”
Get Those Babies Swinging
With WeBop, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s early-childhood program, babies and little ones are invited to sing, clap, and dance along to the jazz greats. There are single sessions throughout the week aimed at hipsters (8-16 months old) all the way up to syncopators (4-5 years old), plus family jazz parties and even an eight-week series of classes if you really want to get into the groove.
The Perfect Tea Party
There’s nothing more quintessentially British than afternoon tea — and it’s always a hit with kids. After all, what child wouldn’t love all those perfect little pint-size treats piled high on a tiered stand? At Bluebird London, the classic afternoon tea features a range of festive delights, including scones with strawberry jam and homemade clotted cream, savory sandwiches, and more. The tea is available every day from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Junior Cooking Classes
Start training young chefs early at Williams-Sonoma. Hidden in the back of the store is one of New York’s best-kept secrets: a test kitchen where you can book private cooking classes for kids, from a Pastry Party, where junior chefs shape palmiers filled with chocolate ganache and make whipped cream from scratch, to a Pizza Party, where they can learn the art of the perfect pie.
Beauty Makeovers
Is your young lady obsessed with beauty videos on YouTube? Pull her away from her cellphone and set her up with a real-life tutorial that she’ll love at Sephora. There are plenty of beauty classes that you can book for a small fee, from Brow-Shaping Basics to Contouring Made Easy. Or just walk in and sign up for a free Personalized Skin Consultation, which any girl will love.
Mom and Dad Time
Want a little time off? Equinox has a kids club, so you can leave the little ones in good care while you’re working up a sweat on the high-tech equipment or taking a swim in the indoor pool. With art lessons, obstacle courses, tumbling, and plenty of inspired programming, it’s a pint-sized haven of well-being for ages 3 months to 7 years.
