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New York Today: Offbeat Playgrounds New York Today: Offbeat Playgrounds
(35 minutes later)
Updated, 6:45 a.m.
Good morning on this cloudy Tuesday.Good morning on this cloudy Tuesday.
If you hear a bit of joyful shrieking this afternoon, don’t be alarmed.If you hear a bit of joyful shrieking this afternoon, don’t be alarmed.
School lets out for summer today — at least, for more than a million public school students in the city (and animals, too).School lets out for summer today — at least, for more than a million public school students in the city (and animals, too).
Parents looking for things for their children to do in the hot summer months should consider our city’s nearly 1,000 playgrounds.Parents looking for things for their children to do in the hot summer months should consider our city’s nearly 1,000 playgrounds.
Here are a few offbeat places to play:Here are a few offbeat places to play:
• Children can grasp the laws of physics firsthand with wind pipes, fog machines and a gigantic seesaw at the Science Playground at the New York Hall of Science in Queens.• Children can grasp the laws of physics firsthand with wind pipes, fog machines and a gigantic seesaw at the Science Playground at the New York Hall of Science in Queens.
• Or scale the large spider web at the newly opened Dome Playground in Borough Park, Brooklyn.• Or scale the large spider web at the newly opened Dome Playground in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
• Cool off with fountains, water gushers and buckets at the Chelsea Waterside and Pier 51 playgrounds.• Cool off with fountains, water gushers and buckets at the Chelsea Waterside and Pier 51 playgrounds.
• For creative play with large building blocks, take your youngsters to the Imagination Playground at the South Street Seaport.• For creative play with large building blocks, take your youngsters to the Imagination Playground at the South Street Seaport.
• Or for a more rugged free-play experience, try Play:ground on Governors Island.• Or for a more rugged free-play experience, try Play:ground on Governors Island.
Tools, loose wood, blocks and tires are available for children to use as they please.Tools, loose wood, blocks and tires are available for children to use as they please.
(Sorry, no parents allowed in this part of the playground.)(Sorry, no parents allowed in this part of the playground.)
Instead, the park is staffed with “playworkers” who “encourage risk taking and assess hazards,” said Jackie Katz, one of the park’s founders.Instead, the park is staffed with “playworkers” who “encourage risk taking and assess hazards,” said Jackie Katz, one of the park’s founders.
Since opening in May, one child got a splinter working with wood, and another hit his finger with a hammer. “But he was totally O.K.,” Ms. Katz said.Since opening in May, one child got a splinter working with wood, and another hit his finger with a hammer. “But he was totally O.K.,” Ms. Katz said.
“It’s summertime,” she added. “Kids should be free to let their guard down and play outside until the streetlights come on or your big brother takes you home.”“It’s summertime,” she added. “Kids should be free to let their guard down and play outside until the streetlights come on or your big brother takes you home.”
Here’s what else is happening:Here’s what else is happening:
If you’re hitting the playground with the little ones today, try to do it early.If you’re hitting the playground with the little ones today, try to do it early.
We’ll have a hazy, overcast morning, with thunderstorms and rain expected to roll in later this afternoon and evening.We’ll have a hazy, overcast morning, with thunderstorms and rain expected to roll in later this afternoon and evening.
But enjoy today’s 70-something degree weather while it lasts: We’re back in the sizzling 80s the rest of the week.But enjoy today’s 70-something degree weather while it lasts: We’re back in the sizzling 80s the rest of the week.
• The rise and fall of a man who climbed the rungs of the heroin market in a South Bronx neighborhood. [New York Times]• The rise and fall of a man who climbed the rungs of the heroin market in a South Bronx neighborhood. [New York Times]
• The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, an Indian tribe in Connecticut, fights for recognition — and a piece of the casino industry. [New York Times]• The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, an Indian tribe in Connecticut, fights for recognition — and a piece of the casino industry. [New York Times]
• Billy Joel and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo rolled up to Citi Field on motorcycles to raise awareness for breast cancer. [New York Times]• Billy Joel and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo rolled up to Citi Field on motorcycles to raise awareness for breast cancer. [New York Times]
• The Big Apple Circus may not have enough money to go on. [Crain’s]• The Big Apple Circus may not have enough money to go on. [Crain’s]
• A young victim of gun violence — who was shot and paralyzed three years ago — spoke at her middle school graduation. [CBS]• A young victim of gun violence — who was shot and paralyzed three years ago — spoke at her middle school graduation. [CBS]
• An intersection in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, has become something of a center for a K2 (synthetic marijuana) epidemic. [DNA Info]• An intersection in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, has become something of a center for a K2 (synthetic marijuana) epidemic. [DNA Info]
• Meet the Brooklyn teenagers whose thrash metal music went viral and led the band to a $1.7 million contract with Sony. [Brooklyn Paper]• Meet the Brooklyn teenagers whose thrash metal music went viral and led the band to a $1.7 million contract with Sony. [Brooklyn Paper]
• An 80-year-old cowboy caused a kerfuffle when he rode on horseback around Staten Island on Monday. [Staten Island Live] • An 80-year-old cowboy caused a kerfuffle when he rode on horseback to Staten Island on Monday. [Staten Island Live]
• Be wary of these panhandlers disguised as monks. [CBS]• Be wary of these panhandlers disguised as monks. [CBS]
• Two people have broken into the snow leopard and red panda areas of the Bronx Zoo. [DNA Info]• Two people have broken into the snow leopard and red panda areas of the Bronx Zoo. [DNA Info]
• Ice cream truck jingles are keeping New Yorkers up at night. [NY Post] • Ice cream truck jingles are keeping New Yorkers awake at night. [NY Post]
• Scoreboard: Nationals deport Mets, 11-4. Rangers hunt Yankees, 9-6.• Scoreboard: Nationals deport Mets, 11-4. Rangers hunt Yankees, 9-6.
• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing.• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing.
• Vote in today’s congressional primaries: You can check your voter eligibility and polling place, or call the Board of Elections at 866-VOTE-NYC.
• Dance to the rhythms of the Cuban band, Septeto Santiaguero, at Damrosch Park on the Upper West Side. 6:30 p.m. [Free]• Dance to the rhythms of the Cuban band, Septeto Santiaguero, at Damrosch Park on the Upper West Side. 6:30 p.m. [Free]
• Join Jim Downs, the author of “Stand by Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation,” for a talk about gay liberation in the 1970s at the Mid-Midtown Library. 6:30 p.m. [Free]• Join Jim Downs, the author of “Stand by Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation,” for a talk about gay liberation in the 1970s at the Mid-Midtown Library. 6:30 p.m. [Free]
• A sunset Pilates class under the Brooklyn Bridge, at the Empire Fulton Ferry in Brooklyn Bridge Park. 7 p.m. [Free]• A sunset Pilates class under the Brooklyn Bridge, at the Empire Fulton Ferry in Brooklyn Bridge Park. 7 p.m. [Free]
• An outdoor screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at the Concrete Plant Park in the Bronx. 8 p.m. [Free]• An outdoor screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at the Concrete Plant Park in the Bronx. 8 p.m. [Free]
• A wheelchair basketball tournament at the Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. 8 p.m. [NYC Parks recreation center membership is required.]• A wheelchair basketball tournament at the Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. 8 p.m. [NYC Parks recreation center membership is required.]
• Yankees host Rangers, 7:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Nationals, 7:05 p.m. (SNY).• Yankees host Rangers, 7:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Nationals, 7:05 p.m. (SNY).
• For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide.• For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide.
• Subway and PATH• Subway and PATH
• Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak• Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak
• Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.• Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.
• Alternate-side parking: in effect until July 4.• Alternate-side parking: in effect until July 4.
• Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry• Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry
• Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark• Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark
The Baby Bombers are growing up.The Baby Bombers are growing up.
After 17 years, the Staten Island Yankees, a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees, are looking for a new team name.After 17 years, the Staten Island Yankees, a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees, are looking for a new team name.
And they want your suggestions.And they want your suggestions.
You can submit your ideas until July 5 at noon, and later vote among the top six finalists.You can submit your ideas until July 5 at noon, and later vote among the top six finalists.
Our mayor’s pitch: the Captains. (You know, because of the ferry.)Our mayor’s pitch: the Captains. (You know, because of the ferry.)
Here’s hoping that things don’t get out of hand as in other online naming competitions.Here’s hoping that things don’t get out of hand as in other online naming competitions.
Case in point: Boaty McBoatface and the British competition to rename a research ship.Case in point: Boaty McBoatface and the British competition to rename a research ship.
Or the rejected winner of a competition to name a bridge in Slovakia: Chuck Norris.Or the rejected winner of a competition to name a bridge in Slovakia: Chuck Norris.
We’ll have to wait and see if our other Yankees are thrown any curveballs.We’ll have to wait and see if our other Yankees are thrown any curveballs.
New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email.New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email.
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Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter.Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter.
You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com.You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com.