New amenities for families have recently opened or are coming soon to our neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Our overview includes a new skate park in Red Hook, a STEM makerspace at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, new locations for Gotham Gymnastics in Gowanus and My Gym in Downtown Brooklyn, preschools opening for the new school year, and so much more!
STEM Makerspace @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum | Crown Heights | NOW OPEN
Brooklyn Children’s Museum has a new natural science-inspired makerspace, called Nature’s Engineers. The space is designed for children to learn from nature and engage in hands-on STEM activities. Nature’s Engineers features a rich array of specimens from the museum’s natural science collection, including fossils, bird’s nests, and live animals such as tarantulas, colorful isopods, and native garter snakes. The makerspace offers a variety of rotating programs for families and school groups, and features monthly project with themed activities. In August & September, visitors will be making their own fossils inspired by BCM’s collection of fossils. The space is open Thursdays from 2:30–4:30pm during the Museum’s Amazon Free Hours, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am–4:30pm. Entry to Nature’s Engineers is included with general admission. Learn more here!
Le Meraviglie Art | New Location in Brooklyn Heights | NOW OPEN
Le Meraviglie Art, a visual arts and culinary arts studio for young children, added a second location this summer at 67 Atlantic Avenue, not far from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. Le Meraviglie inaugurated their new studio this summer with a camp program, offering young artists more space and closer proximity to outdoor art activities in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Check out Le Meraviglie’s programming here, including classes, school holiday camps, parties, and more.
The Painted Pot | New Location in Park Slope | NOW OPEN
The Painted Pot, which was previously located on 7th Avenue, has moved to a new location at 188 5th Avenue in Park Slope. The studio is open from 10am to 9pm Mondays through Saturdays, and closes at 7pm on Sundays. You can walk-in for activities including pottery painting, clay projects, and acrylic painting. The Painted Pot also offers an array of classes and camps for kids and teens. They also offer birthday parties, to-go kits for art projects at home, and more. Learn more here!
Sephora City Point | New Location in Downtown Brooklyn | NOW OPEN
The new Sephora location at City Point is now open! The store offers a a wide selection of skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrances, including Sephora’s own private label. Open Monday through Saturday, 10am-8pm, and Sundays 11am-8pm.
Alamo Drafthouse City Point | Renovation of Downtown Brooklyn Location | NOW OPEN
Alamo Drafthouse’s location in City Point, the chain’s top-grossing location, has just completed a renovation to add five new screens, with 256 additional seats. The new auditorium are complete with leather reclining seats, eat-in swivel tables, plus new state-of-the-art projectors. Food and drink is delivered directly to your seat athlete Alamo, and kids menus are available. The Alamo has plenty of kid-friendly screenings, and on Tuesdays the theater has its Alamo for All program for young families, where the lights are turned up and sound is turned down for infants, young children, and those with special needs. Click here to learn more about the theater and see upcoming showtimes.
Skate Park @ Harold Ickes Playground | Red Hook | NOW OPEN
In July, a new 11,800 square foot skate and BMX park was unveiled at Harold Ickes Playground in Red Hook, complete with a climbing boulder, parkour space, game tables, and more. Previously, the site was an underused asphalt softball field. In addition to skating ramps, it also has the first ever bike repair station and air pumps installed in a Brooklyn park, plus newly planted trees, water bottle fillers, chess and checker tables, and benches. Visit the new skate park at Van Brunt Street & Hamilton Avenue.
Xanadu Roller Arts | Bushwick | NOW OPEN
Xanadu is a 16,000-square-foot roller disco that opened this June in Bushwick. While most of the venue’s events are 21+, kids are welcome to join for Xanadu’s All Ages Skate Sessions every Saturday from 12-5:30pm. Skate rentals are available for kids, with the smallest size Y1. Bring the whole family to enjoy skating, the amazing concessions stand (try the hummus plate, popcorn, or Frito pie), great music, and more fun! Look for “Dreamland Disco Brunch” on Xanadu’s calendar, or purchase tickets day-of at the door.
Gotham Gymnastics | New Location in Gowanus | Opening August 15
Gotham Gymnastics offers top-tier coaching, classes, and camps for athletes of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. They gymnastics studio is opening up a new location (316 Douglass Street) adjacent to their original location at 315 Douglass Street in Gowanus. The brand new 11,000-square-foot gym includes state-of-the-art equipment including vaults, bars, beams, full-size spring floors, foam pits, in-ground trampolines, TumbleTraks, ropes, rings, climbing walls, and more. Gotham offers classes, camps, drop-ins, and parties; learn more about programming and pricing here. And don’t miss out on Gotham 316’s grand opening on Thursday, August 15, from 5-7pm, with free open gym, raffles, giveaways, and a bounce house. Register your free open gym time here; 18 months – 18 years are welcome; 18 months – 3 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.
Brooklyn Dance Conservatory | New Location in Gowanus | Opening August 24
Brooklyn Dance Conservatory is moving to a new location at 497 Carroll Street and will open for drop-in, trial, and placement classes this month. The studio is in an elevator-equipped building and features 10-foot windows with tall ceilings, creating a bright environment flooded with natural light. The studio space also has sprung flooring and 8 foot mirrors. Brooklyn Dance Conservatory offers classes starting at age 1, and students may continue on with ballet, hip-hop, modern dance, jazz and tap dance, all the way up to training on a pre-professional level. Mark your calendar for the studio’s Grand Opening event on Saturday, August 24 with a preview of the space and FREE trial classes from 10:15am to 1:45pm; register here. The 2024/25 performance program will begin in October 2024. Registration is now open for the upcoming school year and classes; sign up here!
QC NY Spa | Governors Island | Renovated Gardens NOW OPEN + New Building Opening September 2024
QC New York is a day spa situated across three historic Army Barrack buildings on Governors Island, overlooking New York Harbor. The spa’s outdoor gardens have just been renovated, and in September, the spa will open Building 111 and a new restaurant called Casa QC bistro. Building 111 will have sensory saunas, waterfalls, a salt room, an ice room, and a relaxation room with water beds.The bistro will have 142 seats and will serve food, as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. The spa’s indoor amenities already include Vichy showers, saunas, infrared beds, and more than a dozen relaxation rooms. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor pools, cabanas, and sunbeds. The spa is open all year round. A 5-hour stay at QC NY starts at $124, and Sunset Entrance from 5-10pm starts at $98. All admission pricing can be found here, and guests can book directly here. The spa also continues to offer their One for Two wellness deal for your birthday. Come with a paying companion during your birthday month and receive one free entry (out of the two). This special birthday offer applies Monday through Friday. Learn about more new amenities on Governors Island here!
Private Picassos | New Location in Clinton Hill | Opening September 10
The art studio Private Picassos, based in Park Slope, is opening its second location in Clinton Hill, at 293 Grand Avenue. This new 2,000 square foot studio with a back yard will feature all of the popular programming offered at the Park Slope studio, but in a much larger space. They will offer drop-in art making 6 days a week, weekly classes for kids 1.5-10 years, art playgroups for babies 12-18 months, birthday parties and more! There will also be a special reading nook for kids to take an art break, space for grown-ups to relax comfortably, and a new retail section with goodies for kids of all ages. The official opening date will be Tuesday, September 10, but Private Picassos is throwing a Grand Opening Party on Sunday, September 8, from 11am-1pm. There will be free palette painting for all ages, and all art making projects will be available for purchase. You can also spin the prize wheel to win Day Passes, Birthday Parties, Classes and Camp Days!
My Gym City Point | Downtown Brooklyn | Opening September 9
My Gym is opening its third Brooklyn location on the mezzanine level of City Point this September. The 4,800 square foot gym will offer variety of classes, camps, and birthday party experiences for ages 3 months through 10 years. My Gym is offering a Pre-Opening Special, just $49 for the first month of membership; learn more here!
Domino Park Expansion | Williamsburg | Opening September 2024
As a part of their redevelopment of the Williamsburg waterfront, Two Trees has also been working to create new plazas and green spaces in Domino Park. These new park spaces, slated to open in early September, include an amphitheater that can accommodate more than 1,000 people for events like farmers’ markets, summer movie nights, winter ice skating, arts and cultural performances, and more. New restrooms will also be available in the park.
The Language & Laughter Studio Preschool | New Location in Clinton Hill | Opening September 2024
The Language & Laughter Studio Preschool in Boerum Hill is opening a second location this September in Clinton Hill, at 475 Clermont Avenue. Like the first location, the Clinton Hill branch will offer a French immersion program for ages 1 to 5, and all teachers are native speakers. Students are not required to have prior exposure to the French language to attend. After-school programming, which will include creative art and play-based activities, will be offered for elementary-aged students. The school will also function as a Francophone cultural center, and will host workshops, performances, and more community events. Learn more about the preschool, enrichment programs, and the school’s commitment to social justice issues here. To learn about more preschools and daycares in our neighborhoods, download the Brooklyn Bridge Parents comprehensive Preschool Guide here.
Congregation Beth Elohim’s New Preschool Location | Prospect Heights | Opening September 2024
The Early Childhood Center at Congregation Beth Elohim, now in its 47th year in Park Slope, is thrilled to be opening a second location, in Prospect Heights—a brand new, state-of-the-art space steps from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum, and Prospect Park. Congregation Beth Elohim offers an inclusive and comprehensive preschool program emphasizing the social, emotional, and physical development of kids ages 2-5. At both locations, families will find a play-based curriculum, flexible schedule options, outdoor exploration, music, creative movement, and art, as well as an accessible and relevant approach to Judaism. The preschool also offers a Dual Language Program in English and Hebrew. Note: All religious backgrounds are welcome at ECC! To learn more and schedule a tour, email [email protected]. To learn about more preschools and daycares in our neighborhoods, download the Brooklyn Bridge Parents comprehensive Preschool Guide here.
German School Brooklyn’s Preschool Program for 3s and 4s | Crown Heights | Opening September 2024
German School Brooklyn is excited to launch a Preschool for 3s and 4s this September! Tailored to meet the developmental needs of children aged 3 to 5 years old, the preschool promotes the principles of Montessori education while fostering a language-rich environment in both German and English. GSB Preschool offers 4 and 5 day options, as well as extended day care. To learn more about the program, click here. Reach out to [email protected] with questions about enrollment. To learn about more preschools and daycares in our neighborhoods, download the Brooklyn Bridge Parents comprehensive Preschool Guide here.
PS 482 Albee Square Montessori | Downtown Brooklyn | Opening September 2024
PS 482 is the first and only public Montessori school in NYC! The school will be governed the Chancellor’s Regulations and expectations like all NYC public schools; however, they will follow a Montessori approach. This fall, they are opening only with pre-K and kindergarten classes and will eventually go up to 5th grade, growing one grade every year. The goal is to have mixed-aged classrooms so entering Kindergarten and Pre-K children will be together in one of their 4 classes. The school has a small rooftop outdoor play space as well an indoor gymnatorium where children will engage in gross motor activity. Located in a new high-rise building, PS 482 is also located right next to the new public park Abolitionist Place. The school is un-zoned and gives priority to District 13 families, but will accept out of district applications if seats available. 45% of seats are set aside for low-income families. To attend a virtual open house session, click here. There are still seats available for Kindergarten and Pre-K for the 2024-25 school year.
PS 456 – The Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers | Downtown Brooklyn | Opening September 2024
A brand new borough-wide public elementary school focusing on project-based learning and Spanish English dual language education is opening in Downtown Brooklyn this fall. Located at the new mixed-use development at 489 State Street, PS 456 will open in September with one 3K class, one Pre-K class, and four Kindergarten classes, growing by one grade a year up to 5th Grade. The school has an elevated outdoor play area (pictured below) and a bilingual Spanish option for Kindergarten students. They will also offer an after-school program until 5:30pm. The first class for 2024-25 is now at capacity, but families can add themselves to the wait list. Watch a virtual open house here. In-person Open Houses will begin in late October 2024. PS 456 accepts borough-wide admissions from all Brooklyn school districts including District 13 and 15. Priority is given to low-income families, with 50% of seats set aside. Find out more here, and through the school’s website.
Updated: August 19, 2024. Main Image: Nature’s Engineers STEM Makerspace at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
