11 upcoming events · 3 local studios
Manhattan's East Village has been drawing young families for years, and it's easy to see why once you spend a weekend morning there. Tompkins Square Park anchors daily life, with a dedicated toddler playground on the east side of the park featuring baby swings, a sandpit, and a small play structure sized for little legs. The park is fenced and gated, so a 2-year-old can't easily wander. When the weather turns, The Rainbow is an indoor play space right in the neighborhood, built specifically for babies through age 7, with open play, classes, and no cleanup when you leave. For storytime and free programming, the Tompkins Square Branch of the New York Public Library is a solid option. The 6 train stops at Astor Place on the neighborhood's western edge, and the L is a short walk up to 14th Street, so you can get in and out of the neighborhood fairly easily. That said, subway elevators are hit or miss around here, so most parents push strollers on the street rather than going underground. Peridance Center brings structured movement classes to the mix, alongside Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band for the music crowd.