We know, we know: weekends are all about family time and the kids, but what is Father’s Day Weekend if not a chance to tweak the family fun formula in favor of dad, if just a little…
* The Ultimate Daddy Playdate: On Thursday night, Pampers With Dry Max is hosting a big fun event for dads with young children (ages 1 to 4), featuring age appropriate sports-related activities like Wii Tennis, a mini bowling lane, an arcade-like basketball shooting game, and a “baseball field,” for children to roll around and play with their dads and moms. There will be raffles, and food and beverages, too. We know this event sounds promotional, but our sense is they’re pulling out the stops and it’ll be an easy good time. Details: The Level at Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street (btwn 6th & 7th Ave), Thursday, June 17th , 5:30pm – 8:30pm
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*Dave & Busters: Visit the indoor arcade palace but give dad at least a half-hour to roam free while mom
supervises the children. Follow it with family meal around the block at Schnippers Quality Kitchen, which really does offer quality and delicious fast-food.
*Scavenger Hunt: Watson Adventures (http://watsonadventures.com/) has the glorious mission of creating scavengers hunts for a living, most of them for adults, but others that adults and older children (like seven and up) can do together at places like the Metropolitan Musuem of Art or Central Park. They are running two family hunts in the Park on Sunday called “The Secrets of Central Park.” Let dad be the team leader, okay?
*Riverhead Raceway: We don’t know NASCAR-speak well enough to give you the full low-down but we know this: on Sunday there’s a great big event that partly includes a “demolition derby,” which is a very good catharsis for anyone who lives in the city.
*The Coney Island Mermaid Parade: Campy fun for the participants, a joy for dads to ogle at. If the kids get bored, let mom take them to Nathans!
*Wave Hill Picnic: Nature is Nurture for harried parents who need to breathe a little easier and enjoy some bucolic environs for a few hours. It doesn’t get much better for a family picnic then this Riverdale oasis overlooking the Hudson. Dad gets to drink more wine, and do less chasing.
*Righteous Urban Barbecue & Golf at Chelsea Piers: There’s a lot we like about this neighborhood combination: RUB arguably has the best BBQ in the city, and the golf range at Chelsea Piers affords you the illusion of almost hitting balls into the Hudson. Dad decides which activity goes first. Dad decides whether to bring the kids. Dad decides whether to go during the day or at night, or somewhere in between.
