What I did on my summer vacation

This summer, my wife Giovanna and I wanted to make sure we kept our 5-year-old son Matthew active, excited and happy during his vacation. And while we were able to go to Pennsylvania for a visit to Sesame Place with a few friends, we spent most of July and August right here in Queens — particularly in Astoria — and, as a result, our summer was terrific.

We went to the movie theater at Kaufman Studios on a couple of occasions to see “Cars 2” and “The Smurfs” (and I got to catch the movie I was waiting months to see, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”). Not too far from the theater is the American Museum of the Moving Image, and we had a wonderful time there, seeing various props from classic films — and Matthew and me dancing goofily in front of the museum’s camera.

Astoria Park had so much to offer this summer. Our whole family was able to see a beautiful fireworks show — and a breathtaking view of the sun as it descended behind Manhattan skyscrapers across the East River. A July carnival was also a nice treat. Rides, cotton candy, and the House of Mirrors made for a fun-filled evening that was only about a 10-minute walk from our front door.

Preschool ended in June, but Matthew’s education certainly didn’t come to a halt during the months that followed. He began soccer lessons at that park, and at the Astoria Sports Complex, Matthew — equipped with goggles and a swim cap for the first time — began to learn how to swim.

We bought an inexpensive, but just-the-right-size swimming pool at, of all places, Rite Aid, and the backyard of the Trotta home became a tiny resort. Matthew had several play dates with friends, and the pool was the perfect way to conquer the heat — the hot and humid air took a backseat to the fun that was had by all.

If we didn’t have our own, going to the Astoria Pool would not have been a terrible option. In fact, the Daily News named it the best public pool in the entire city. The July 31 article complimented “the largest pool in the biggest city in America,” for its cleanliness, exciting mushroom fountains for kids, and gorgeous views.

Then there were the good, old-fashioned moments that we shared — including waiting for the birds to swoop down and eat the white bread that we threw on top of the garage, and running to the corner to buy a chocolate ice cream cone with sprinkles from Mister Softee before he drove away. It really exemplified how those little things can mean so much to a little boy (and took me back to my childhood).

Believe it or not, it was even a treat for Matthew to walk with Mommy to the laundromat and help her, by throwing the clothes into the machines and dropping the quarters in to get things started. And, yes, I journeyed to the laundromat with my mom, too.

Other small, simple “trips” added to the enjoyment Giovanna and I got out of watching how much Matthew was enjoying his summer, such as a ride on the N train from Astoria to Manhattan, or a visit to Chuck E. Cheese on Northern Boulevard.

Don’t get me wrong, seeing Big Bird and Elmo in person, flying down a water slide on a giant tube, and watching a colorful parade at Sesame Place were great. And, yes, a cruise to Bermuda would have been super, too. But in tough economic times like these, there were plenty of things to do in our own backyard. Especially when that backyard is Astoria, Queens.

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

KTBYTE

<div><strong>Computer Science Coding Classes for Children </strong></div> <div> </div> <p>Ages 8 - 18</p> <p>Enroll today for a FREE Trial and our Summer and School Year Course Offerings!</p> <p>Differentiated and Individualized Learning with our Caring and Knowledgeable Staff!</p> <p>Offer YOUR child the competitive advantage of learning a new language and also using STEM to learn and have fun! </p> <p> </p> <div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987ktbyte-vision"> <p><strong>The KTBYTE vision</strong></p> <p>At KTBYTE, our vision is to make a high-quality Computer Science (CS) education accessible to students globally while also making CS exciting and engaging for them!</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987diffsimilar"> <p><strong>The KTBYTE Difference</strong></p> <p>KTBYTE offers a progressive Computer Science curriculum for students ages 8-18 years old. Classes range from introductory JavaBlocks™ programming to college-level courses. KTBYTE offers classes that stand out from the standard Core Curriculum for high-school students, with unique programs such as USACO prep courses, Generative Art and Design courses, and even Machine Learning courses. Our instructors are dedicated, nurturing and passionate about what they do and committed to ensuring that KTBYTE students are exposed to an unparalleled, dynamic, educational and engaging CS learning experience! Register today for a <a href="https://www.ktbyte.com/freetrial" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ktbyte.com/freetrial&source=gmail&ust=1622725037124000&usg=AFQjCNED2R673ZzKakJOtaGSycFpwW73uw">Free Trial</a> and experience the KTBYTE Difference!</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987aluminiaccomp"> <p><strong>KTBYTE Alumni Accomplishments</strong></p> <p>KTBYTE alums consistently outperform their peers in terms of their academic accomplishments. KTBYTE students ace their AP CS courses and exams and are also incredibly successful through the competitive college admissions process. KTBYTE students have been accepted to numerous Ivy League and competitive colleges and universities including but not limited to Brown, Carnegie Mellon, UChicago, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, UPenn, Princeton, Tufts, Yale, and many more!</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987shorttermbenef"> <p><strong>What Makes the KTBYTE Course Experience Unique?</strong></p> <p>At KTBYTE, all of our instructors are highly qualified and experienced, educational professionals who differentiate learning and offer KTBYTE students a multitude of opportunities for individualized instruction by spending hours each week preparing for each specialty class that they teach in order to offer a dynamic, engaging and fun educational course interaction for every KTBYTE student. Through our Virtual Machines, our instructors are able to see exactly what is on your child’s screen throughout every class, and as such are easily able to assist your child through any obstacle that may arise. At KTBYTE, our nurturing, knowledgeable and caring teaching staff anticipate and identify when a student may be struggling with a problem even before the student decides to ask a question about it.</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987whoareinstructors"> <p><strong>What Sets the KTBYTE Teaching Team Apart?</strong></p> <p>KTBYTE instructors are college and post-college working professionals with extensive backgrounds in computer science. At the highest level, our artificial intelligence classes are taught by a graduate sutdent in AI. Each of our teaching professionals is passionate about igniting a love for learning in your child by presenting Computer Science concepts in practical ways which offer the student the opportunity to see Computer Science at work in recognizable applications from daily life. Every class, regardless of level will be individualized and differentiated to ensure your child’s success!</p> </div> </div>

Monster Mini Golf

<p>Upon entering Monster Mini Golf, all perceptions of traditional mini golf will be spirited away by the indoor, 18-hole, monster-theme, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course! The locations in <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Deer Park</a>, and <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/gardencity/">Garden City, NY</a> invite guests to experience a host of family-oriented fun activities. Whether visiting for the first time or the one hundredth, mini golfers feel the excitement and adventure of playing mini golf amidst spooktacular monsters and custom, glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted artwork. While testing their skill on the fairways, lively music flows over the course from the unique “WEIRD Radio” station” and an interactive DJ entertains golfers with contests, awarding cool prizes for the wackiest reasons. While the course is challenging enough for adults, it is also quite playable for children. Monster Mini Golf is open year-round and frightfully fun for the entire family. In addition to miniature golf and thrilling arcade and redemption games, the locations offer additional attractions. <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park, NY</a> offers a Laser Maze and a Virtual Reality experience. The Garden City location offers a Laser Maze, Bowling, and a Virtual Reality Experience. Two very posh, private party rooms are also available and are perfect for any event. Monster Mini Golf looks forward to making it a monstrous success. Monster Mini Golf is indoors, ensuring that the event will always take place, regardless of the weather. It is a climate-controlled, affordable source of family entertainment. For more details please visit <a href="http://monsterminigolf.com">monsterminigolf.com</a> or find them on Facebook.</p>

HudsonWay Immersion School

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">A pioneer in language immersion since 2005. After school language classes provide a fun and effective way for preschool and elementary children to learn Mandarin or Spanish language skills through project based learning and fun, engaging themes.</span></p>