Sydney Ng

Latest posts by Sydney Ng

Fairytale Island Opens in Bay Ridge with Ball Pit and More

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Tue, 11/07/2017 - 8:50am

Add Fairytale Island to the short list of winter (and hot day) indoor lifesavers. The brand-new play space in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, opened in late October, and it's huge. Not only that, but it offers just about every imaginable play item to keep the kids busy for hours.

When you enter Fairytale Island, you know that your child is entering an epic play zone. The main play space offers a giant ball pit, two-level Fairytale Island train, swings, crawl spaces, slides, little cars, and a trampoline—phew, hope I got it all. There are additional imaginary play and more toys set up in separate areas. Read on for our full review.

The Museum of Chinese in America: A Chinatown Gem for Kids

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Thu, 10/26/2017 - 11:46am

Kids get ready for Dragon Boat Festival by making their own craft.

New York City has a rich and diverse heritage, and the city's museums are often the keepers of this ongoing story of its people and origin tales. The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), for example, explains the Chinese immigrant story. Being multiracial, with a father from mainland China, I always felt drawn to learn more of the journey of my people, and I've visited several times.

The museum opened in 2009 and has been attracting visitors from all over the world ever since. On my most recent trip to MOCA, I was amazed at how much this beautiful and unique NYC establishment had expanded; particularly by incorporating more children focused programs.

Jump N Play Is the Latest Must-See Queens Bounce House

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Fri, 10/20/2017 - 9:50am

Queens already has more indoor bounce houses than any other NYC borough, but it just added another! Jump N Play opened this past summer in Ozone Park, a neighborhood that's also rapidly growing its list of exciting indoor play spaces.

This location, with its fire-engine-red exterior, is impossible to miss. Inside is even harder to resist. The humongous two main rooms offer one bounce house after another. My 5-year-old's jaw dropped and he went speechless for about a full 60 seconds. Read on for our review and important know-before-you-go details about this new play spot.

Eat Around the World in Astoria at Kid-Friendly Restaurants

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Fri, 10/13/2017 - 11:33am

Tierras Colombianas traditional dishes win over kids with yummy comfort food. Photo by the author

New York City has always been called a melting pot, drawing immigrants from diverse backgrounds. But beyond the name, few people are aware that the most diverse part of the world lives in one particular borough: Queens! More languages are spoken in Queens than ANYWHERE else. People from around the world are attracted to Queens and have been growing their families here for generations. And everyone knows—with culture and language, comes food.

I asked my fellow Astoria moms to name their favorite eats and I received over 50 responses! With their help, I compiled this list of tried-and-true establishments that have friendly service, approachable menus for picky eaters and kid-friendly atmospheres.

Welcome to “Eat Around the World in Astoria,” one of Queens’ most unique hodgepodge neighborhoods, with an extraordinary range of restaurants to please everyone.

12 Surprisingly Fun Places in NYC to Hang with Your Baby

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Mon, 08/14/2017 - 4:35pm

Yes, infanthood is a wonderful time, full of snuggles and milestones. But entertainment options for non-walkers and even early walkers can start to feel repetitive day after day. Once you've tried all the baby play spaces and gyms, playgrounds, and even stroller tours at museums, what's next?

The thing about New York City, is there's always something open, always something going on, and always something new to try. We've rounded up some out-of-box ideas to shake up your daily routine with your NYC kids ages 12 months and under—many of these ideas are 100% FREE things—and most will also entertain your toddlers. Each destination is loaded with sights and sounds or another cool sensory experience for little ones, plus a change of scenery for the grown-up. So read on to plan the next city adventure with your little one.

Peruse our NYC Baby Guide for more need-to-know info and cool activities for the littlest New Yorkers.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden Is Worth The Trip

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Sun, 08/06/2017 - 1:17pm

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you actually got off the Staten Island Ferry when you arrived? I know, it seems like a radical idea, but Staten Island actually has plenty for kids to do, making it well worth your while to exit on the other side. Recently, my family and I took a day trip to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. We were all pleasantly surprised that this little nook in Staten Island holds so many treasures in one location.

The DoSeum: San Antonio's Hot Spot for Kids

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Thu, 05/25/2017 - 9:33am

As a native New Yorker, San Antonio has always been a favorite destination. And the one stop we cannot miss? The DoSeum, San Antonio’s Museum for Kids.

Queens Botanical Garden: Festivals, Classes, and Family Fun

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 10:33am

Queens hosts one of the city’s largest parks, amazing beachfronts and, of course, its own botanical garden. The garden plays host to myriad family festivals and programming for kids year-round. It even offers one of the city's few "forest" or nature-based outdoor preschool programs.

It's a hike to get to if you're not right there in the Flushing neighborhood, though. So is it worth it? We've visited many times and wanted to highlight some of our favorite sights at this top NYC garden when visiting with kids.