10 upcoming events · 0 local studios
A tiny island in the northeast Bronx, City Island sits at the end of a single bridge and feels like a quiet coastal town that happens to be inside New York City. The island is about a mile and a half long, lined with clapboard houses, marinas, and views of Long Island Sound. It is low-key enough that strollers move at their own pace. For outdoor time with a toddler, Hawkins Park on City Island Avenue has a children's play area with a sprinkler and a dolphin sculpture kids have been climbing on for decades. Just across the bridge, Pelham Bay Park opens up into trails and wide lawns. Getting here without a car takes planning: the BX29 bus connects to the 6 train at Pelham Bay Park, adding up to roughly 45 to 55 minutes from midtown. Most families drive. Summer weekends bring crowds to the seafood spots along the main strip, so a weekday or early Saturday morning is a noticeably calmer time to visit. Studios like Luna de Papel and Mommy Poppins bring programming to the island year-round, which is part of why there are 12 events on the calendar right now.