Consider your weekend with the kids sorted!
Blast Off! is a weekly newsletter of worthwhile events, tips and hidden gems curated for NYC families.
“It’s free. It’s amazing, and your weekends with your child/children will be changed for the better.”
— NYC Dad
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September 5-6 Edition
Did summer go by so fast you missed one of the Upstate county fairs? Head to the West Side County Fair in Riverside Park South on Sunday, plus where to canoe and fish in NYC for a fun wrap up to summer.
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What’s in the weekly newsletter?
Meet the chickens who summer in the city
Each June, a group of chickens arrive from Upstate New York for a summer sojourn at M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden on the Lower East Side. Read all about them and stay tuned for updates on Hello Chickens! which was postponed due to last weekend’s storm in Know Your City.
20+ Summer Adventures
If you know where to look, summer adventures await in the five boroughs of New York and day trips not too far away. 20+ Summer Adventures is curated for Blast Off! Supporters and available when you subscribe through Patreon.
Pride mural at The Whitney, ladybug release party, Big City Fishing & more free things this weekend
Help create the Pride mural at Second Sundays at The Whitney, a ladybug release party at a community garden, Big City Fishing in Hudson River Park and lots more free things to do this weekend. Free edition drops on Friday →
The Yard is Open for Self-Directed Kid Play
Most junkyards say, “Keep Out.” The adventure playground on Governors Island, which opens for the season on March 28, screams come right in. Read an updated profile of the special place that puts kids in charge of their play in Know Your City.
Giddy Up!
For Blast Off! Supporters Giddy Up! is your heads up for interesting and worthwhile events that go fast (family museum programs, stargazing in Williamsburg, lottery dates for FREE overnight camping in NYC parks) and more.
Blast Off! gets a NYT mention
Check out the Culture Diary from 2025. n+1 publisher Mark Krotov details the cultural adventures he and his daughter share with some help from Blast Off! The piece has brought more attention (and subscribers) to the newsletter and our mission to be a trusted resource, exhausted parents can rely on.
a weekly newsletter for NYC families