19 upcoming events · 2 local studios
A low-rise, tree-lined Queens neighborhood about 15 minutes from Midtown on the 7 train, Sunnyside has a grounded, residential feel that suits life with a small kid. The streets are flat and manageable with a stroller, most errands are walkable, and the commercial strips on Greenpoint Avenue and Skillman Avenue have everything you need within a few blocks. For outdoor time, Lou Lodati Playground on Skillman Avenue has climbing structures, toddler swings, a sprinkler area, and a year-round bathroom, and a seasonal farmers market sets up right outside on Saturdays. The Queens Public Library branch on Greenpoint Avenue runs drop-in storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, so rainy mornings have an easy answer. With 12 upcoming events on the calendar, there's a real mix of programming here. NYC Parks brings outdoor programming to the neighborhood, and Thalia Spanish Theatre, a longtime Sunnyside institution, adds cultural events to the rotation. On weekends the neighborhood moves at a slower pace than nearby Long Island City, which makes it easier to actually enjoy being outside with a one- to four-year-old rather than dodging crowds.