The Toy Museum of New York

The Toy Museum of New York is based in downtown Brooklyn, and offers workshops, performances and webinars.

The Toy Museum, which opened in 1999, has entertained and educated over 100,000 students. The museum is an educational institute chartered by The University of the State of NY Education Department, a NYC Department of Education Vendor and a registered charity.

The museum offers a traveling educational outreach program that visits schools and provides workshops for children, adults and seniors.

After 20 years of educating about the history of toys, The Toy Museum of NY is producing a new children’s television show. The pilot episode launched in February and features classic toys, new toys and their inventors.

The Brooklyn Bird Club

The Brooklyn Bird Club has been active for more than 100 years! Originally founded in 1906 by Dr. Edward Vietor, the club aims to “promote conservation and birdwatching in Brooklyn and beyond.”

The Brooklyn Bird Club hosts spring and fall early morning bird walks and organizes birding trips within the tri-state area. They present lectures on a variety of topics including bird song, nature photography and warbler identification.

A focus on conservation—how to maintain a natural environment within an urban setting—is a priority for The Brooklyn Bird Club.

Upcoming events include “Gulls Galore.” Together with Prospect Park Alliance, this is an opportunity to explore the park’s nature trails and discover the different species of gulls in the park.

Exercising at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

For all of you who want to exercise but don’t want to join a gym, here’s an easy solution:

You can join the New York Road Runners on their free Tuesday night Open Runs! Participants meet on the path south of Fornino at Pier 6 at 6:45pm. The run, which is a 5K, begins at 7:00 pm.

The runs are open to all ages and running levels. Strollers and dogs on leashes are also welcome. The flexibility of these runs means that you can exercise in a fun, free and low-pressure environment.

Jane's Carousel

Visit Jane’s Carousel-- a beautiful, antique carousel in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Jane’s Carousel is a true antique. Originally built in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the carousel features 48 carved horses. The carousel was originally part of the Idora Park amusement park in Ohio. When the park closed in 1948, the carousel was purchased by Jane and David Walentas.

After 27 years of renovations, the carousel was donated by Jane Walentas as a gift to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. The carousel is housed in a glass pavilion that was designed by the Pritzker-winning architect Jean Nouvel.

The carousel costs $2 a ride and is free for children under the age of 3 who are accompanied by a paying adult.

The carousel is also a great place to host a birthday party, a photo shoot or even a wedding.

The Ed Center at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre waterfront park that stretches 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline.

The park features a variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors. The Ed Center, part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, is a wonderful place to visit with young children. Open four afternoons a week, the Ed Center is free to visit. 

Hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5pm.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park has a 250-gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, a model of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and a reading corner. Special activities include crafts and themes related to the environment and nature.

Visiting The NY Transit Museum

Have you visited the New York Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn?

It’s a wonderful museum for visitors of all ages. Current exhibits include:

17th Annual Holiday Train Show—This train show includes a miniature model of Grand Central Station and miniature subway train sets.

Ticket to Ride is an exhibit that showcases the different tickets, tokens, and passes that were used to pay travel expenses.

Underground Heroes: NY Transit in Comics, an exhibit that explores how NY’s transit system has been featured in comic books.

Special activities are often available, including vintage holiday rides on the Nostalgia Train.

For younger children, there are a variety of hands-on activities in the Discovery Room, making the New York Transit Museum a wonderful place to visit, learn, and explore! 

Brooklyn Children's Museum

Looking for an educational, indoor activity?

Visiting the Brooklyn Children's Museum will help you keep your kids entertained with a variety of hands-on activities.

The children's museum offers a sensory room, a color lab and a large variety of interactive exhibits. Fun and learning are combined in this wonderful museum.

Keep in mind that the Brooklyn Children's Museum is closed on Mondays and offers free admission ("pay what you wish") every Thursday from 2 to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 4 to 7 pm.

Enjoy the museum this winter!