Dive Into Back-to-School Season With These Family-Friendly Activities in the Neighborhood
With the long, lazy days of summer coming to an end, the hectic back-to-school season is officially upon us. And at Give Me Astoria, we know that this time of year can be stressful. That is why we’ve rounded up the best family-friendly activities in the neighborhood this month to help you and your family get through the back-to-school transition. Whether you’re looking for the best ways to spend a Saturday afternoon with your kids, an extracurricular activity for the fall, or a way to squeeze a little more fun into the school week, here are some activities and events that should definitely go on your calendar.
Celebrate Jim Henson’s 90th Birthday at MoMI
Image via Museum of the Moving Image
The ongoing Jim Henson exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image is consistently one of the best family-friendly attractions in Astoria, but they are taking things up a notch this September. In honor of Henson’s 90th birthday, the museum is hosting a four-day celebration from September 24th through September 27th. MoMI has packed in a genuinely huge slate of programming: marathon screenings of The Muppet Show‘s best episodes, a Henson Fan Art station in the Fox Amphitheater, a puppet-making Puppet Prom, a “Swa(m)p Meet” collectibles marketplace, live music in the courtyard, and a costume contest. One particularly fun option is the Sing-Along & Stroll-Along with Heather Henson, a 90-minute offsite musical walking tour through the New York City places connected to Jim and Jane Henson. Tickets for the tour are limited, but most of the events at the museum itself are free.
Museum of the Moving Image — 36-01 35th Ave, Astoria, NY 11106
Story Time for Parents & Caregivers at Astoria Bookshop
Image via Instagram (@astoriabookshop)
Astoria Bookshop’s monthly “Story Time” for Parents & Caregivers is a daytime series for adults where babies and toddlers are encouraged to come along. The September edition features writer Jason Diamond, author of the novel Kaplan’s Plot and contributor to New York magazine’s Parenting. Diamond will read from a selection of his work, as well as a classic children’s book for the young ones in the audience. Toys will also be provided to keep the kids occupied while the adults enjoy some literature and conversation. Between the readings, discussions will be led by local author and parent Nicole Haroutunian. This is an excellent opportunity for parents with young kids to get out of the house for a bit and get some much-needed time with other adults.
Astoria Bookshop — 36-19 30th St, Astoria, NY 11106
After-School Clubs at QED
Image via QED (qedastoria.com)
Astoria’s beloved indie arts venue, QED, isn’t just a space for grown-up comedy shows. It’s also home to a great deal of kids’ programming, including their fall after-school classes, which are about to start up. The After School Theater Club, recommended for grades 4–8, meets Mondays from 3:30 to 5 p.m., with students writing and performing an original play from scratch, building to a December showcase. Running alongside it is the Arts & Crafts Club, where kids create a new project every week and cap the semester with their very own art show. Both are affordably priced, community-driven, and creative ways to build a weekly after-school routine without traveling out of the neighborhood.
QED Astoria — 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105
The Rolling Library’s Free Book Fair at 31st Ave Open Street
Nothing says “back to school” quite like restocking the bookshelf. And with Rolling Library, Astoria’s free bookstore run by volunteers at Astoria Food Pantry, families can bulk up their fall reading for free. You can find them at 31st Ave Open Street on Sunday, September 6th, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Hundreds of free books, spanning all genres and reading ages, will be available to take home. With Open Street providing family-friendly fun every weekend, this is the perfect low-key Sunday stop for you and your family this fall.
Astoria Food Pantry — 25-82 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11103
Kids in Motion at Astoria Heights Playground
Image via NYC Gov Parks (nycgovparks.com)
For the days when you just need the kids to run around outside for a few hours, NYC Parks’ Kids in Motion program has you covered, completely for free. A Parks staffer leads hours of organized sports, games, fitness activities, and board games. Kids in Motion is coming to the Astoria Heights Playground in our neighborhood on Saturday, September 26th. It’s a drop-in program with no registration required, so there’s no pressure to stay the whole time; just show up anytime between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and let your kids join in on the fun.
Explore Art at The Noguchi Museum
Image via Noguchi Museum (noguchi.org)
A trip to The Noguchi Museum can be an easy way to sneak a little art education into a family outing without making it feel like another day in the classroom. The museum’s sculpture-filled galleries and garden offer plenty to explore, and children under 12 are admitted free. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with free admission on the first Friday of each month. It is the perfect venue for a family outing, as the museum regularly offers kid-friendly programming, including hands-on art-making and workshops designed specifically for young children.
The Noguchi Museum — 9-01 33rd Rd, Astoria, NY 11106
Socrates Sculpture Park’s Field Guide
Image via NYC Gov Parks (nycgovparks.com)
At Socrates Sculpture Park, families can learn about art and nature at the same time with Field Guide, the park’s free, hands-on education program. Taking place on the third Saturday of every month, including September 19th, Field Guide combines art-making and ecology, with activities using natural materials found in and around the park. Past workshops have covered everything from planting and drawing to sound recording, storytelling, flora identification and bookmaking. The program is open to all ages and skill levels, and while it is free, pre-registration is required. And even when there isn’t a workshop scheduled, the park is worth a visit. Open every day from 9:00 a.m. to sunset, Socrates is a great family destination on a nice September day.
32-01 Vernon Blvd, Astoria, NY 11106
Knock Down Some Pins at Bowl360
Image via Facebook (@Bowl360Astoria)
When the family needs to get out of the house for a bit, Bowl360 is one of the best options in the neighborhood. This 28-lane bowling alley, complete with an on-site arcade, is perfect for after-school fun or a rainy weekend activity. With televisions lining the walls and a full bar and kitchen, it’ll be easy to find yourself spending an entire afternoon at Bowl360. If you have any fall birthdays or events coming up, the bowling alley also hosts parties, fundraisers, and school events.
Bowl 360 Astoria — 19-45 49th St, Astoria, NY 11105
Get Active at Gym-Azing
Image via Instagram (@gymazingg)
For kids who have trouble sitting still after a full day of school, Gym-Azing has plenty of ways to burn off that extra energy. The Astoria children’s fitness center offers classes ranging from ballet, hip-hop and breakdancing to urban tumbling and jiu-jitsu. Its current schedule includes creative movement classes for children as young as 15 months, creative jazz for ages 5–7, and so much more. An establishment for the whole family, though, Gym-Azing also offers classes for adults, such as Pilates and yoga. There are also several different birthday packages to choose from. This establishment was the vision of a local Astorian, Tina Mavelis-Charalambous, who wanted to provide a safe, clean, nurturing, and welcoming facility for families in the neighborhood. After one visit, you’ll see that she made that dream a reality with Gym-Azing.
Gym-Azing — 27-14 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105
Play All Day at Gaming City
Image via Instagram (@gamingcityusa)
For the older kids—or parents who are still kids at heart—Gaming City offers a decidedly more high-tech afternoon. The local arcade combines traditional arcade games with augmented-reality and interactive experiences, including Dancing Grid, Photon Sport, Lava Leap, Eye in the Sky, claw machines, and other dynamic reality games. Gaming City bills itself as a family arcade and prides itself on offering an affordable, safe, and inclusive experience for all to enjoy. So purchase one of their “Family Fun” passes and bring the whole gang. You won’t be disappointed.
Gaming City — 36-10 31st St, Astoria, NY 11106
The Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens’ Back-to-School Bash
Image via BGCQueens (bgcqueens.org)
The Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens will be helping families get ready for the new school year with their annual “Back-to-School Bash” on Saturday, September 12th. The event will take place at P.S. 112Q Dutch Kills, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Alongside the distribution of free backpacks and school supplies, there will be a ton of family-friendly activities. From carnival games to face painting, live music, raffles, and more, there will be so much for the whole family to enjoy while they embrace the start of a new educational journey. This is truly a way to spend a fun afternoon with your family in a community-minded environment. It’s the kind of event that makes Astoria such a special place to live.
Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens — 21-12 30th Rd, Astoria, NY 11102.
Fall Art Classes at Art House Astoria
Ever since it was founded by Jane and Micah Burgess in 2009, Art House Astoria has been an invaluable community resource. The nonprofit organization dedicates itself to providing exceptional and affordable visual and performing arts education to children of all ages in the neighborhood. With a new season approaching, now is the perfect time to get your kids involved. Art House’s Fall class schedule begins on September 12th and runs through January 31st. With weekly art, music, and theater classes available, there is something for every kid with an artistic spirit. Parents also have the option of choosing between private lessons, group classes, and speciality classes. Don’t miss out! And be sure to familiarize yourself with Art House’s calendar to stay in-the-know on all of their wonderful upcoming events.
Art House Astoria — 23-35 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106
Live Music at Culture Lab LIC
Image via Culture Lab (culturelablic.org)
As summer winds down, Culture Lab LIC’s outdoor programming is still going strong. Live in the Lot, the free weekend concert series on the venue’s outdoor stage, and Sunset Jazz, a free indoor jazz set every Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the gallery, both continue into September. For parents with young kids, the Lot has a track record of slipping family-friendly surprises into the lineup, from pop-up markets to the occasional toddler dance party. It’s a low-key, no-ticket-required way to close out the weekend with live music and a change of scenery in Long Island City.
Culture Lab LIC — 5-25 46th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
