Space Club Fort Greene — Attraction in New York

i am routinely baffled by the struggle that businesses have to cater to the schedules of families. how is it that THE museum in Brooklyn that is made for children, doesn't open until 10am in the morning? by that time we have had 3 breakfasts, changed clothes at least twice (around 8:30 just this morning my almost-4 year old daughter insisted that she put on a dress and wear her bathing suit on top of it), and have cleaned up and taken back out almost every toy in the house.

enter: space club! advertised (by clean yellow lettering on a white sign out front) as being open 365 days a year, from 8am to 7pm. that's better even than many of the coffee shops in my neighborhood, many of which don't open until 8:30 or 9. do we not even deserve professional coffee any earlier, when we're up dealing with so much of our children's nonsense starting probably by 6 or 7? (some much earlier!) i genuinely don't understand it.

anyway, space club -- a fine establishment to take your kids to early in the morning (with your home-brewed coffee?) because you're all itching to get out of the house as soon as possible.

the perks of this new location in fort greene range from the bead pit and the aesthetic of a wall lined with colorful string, to the dark, large, pillow-filled room in the basement with two massive screens playing peaceful underwater scenes -- a great place to sit and read while your child goes crazy. during the 20 minutes we spent today at the bead pit, i blended into the crowd of milling-about parents aimlessly scrolling on their phones, and observed one, who sat in the middle of the pit searching for one particular bead amongst millions, like Horton does after the bird drops the clover in a field full of clovers.

watch your step, i also imagine a cartoon-like scene when someone inevitably flies up into the air and lands on their behind when walking around the sides, on the carpet of beads that have been thrown out of the pit. (also maybe serves as a bit of a foot massage though?)

lastly, i must say that i do love how well this place caters to neurodivergent young ones--built specifically for them in particular even maybe? the colors, the sensory exploration, the physical outlets, everything.

small smidges of room for improvement -- in the depths of winter, some of the floors are a little cold (no i do not imagine that floor heaters are in their budget! but maybe carpeting?), sometimes i found myself wondering why there isn't music, even if it's low, and -- i bet they'd do great with a really nice coffee/pastry shop built in! (there is a snack corner and i actually don't know what they serve there, if anything, but chatgpt just told me that they plan to launch an in-house...

Regretfully giving a one star. I loved the space when I visited it with my son for the first time and so I decided to host his birthday party here. The party didn’t even happen yet, but I am already full of regrets. My initial email with the questions regarding the party (after I already booked and paid in full!) HAS NEVER BEEN RESPONDED TO! There is no phone number to reach people responsible for the parties. An automated email was sent to me a week before the party, where Johnny introduced himself and let me know that I can ask him any questions. I did respond with a single question. No, I didn’t get a response until I tried a phone number attached to the email signature next day. My question was finally answered over the phone. After that I wrote another email regarding party decorations drop off. There is still no response. When I tried the same phone number, no one picked up, and when they called me back they said it’s the wrong number for the party team and that I should email them instead (which I did, but there is no response!). Furthermore, apparently the venue is out of socks and I found out about it by chance - just because I saw it on instagram. The funny part is that it says on the bill that I paid that socks are included! However, no one bothered to notify me that there will be no socks provided for my party and obviously no refunds. When I asked this question - there was no apology or concern on spaceclub part. They just said “we will let them go bare feet”, which in my mind is disgusting. I had to rush and order my own socks for the event! I also wrote to instagram chat and complained that no one is responding to my question from party team via email and there is no phone number and that I’m disappointed. Message read - no response! Wow! I have been hosting my kids birthdays at various playgrounds and venues in NYC and I have NEVER encountered such unprofessionalism. If it wasn’t too late I would take my business elsewhere! Honestly, regret booking! They are providing absolutely nothing except for an empty party room and still managed to fail with...

This past weekend, we had the absolute joy of attending a birthday party at Space Club Fort Greene, and it was an out-of-this-world experience! From the moment we walked in, the vibrant atmosphere practically bubbled with fun and excitement. The playground itself is a kid's dream come true. There were so many engaging activities, from climbing structures that seemed to reach for the stars to slides that elicited squeals of pure delight. Every corner offered a new adventure, keeping the little ones thoroughly entertained and active. The birthday child and all their friends were beaming with happiness, running around with endless energy and huge smiles. What truly stood out was how well-maintained and clean everything was, which as a parent, brings a lot of peace of mind. The staff were also incredibly friendly and helpful, making sure everyone had a fantastic time. It was clear they prioritize creating a safe and joyful environment for all the kids. If you're looking for a place where your child can unleash their energy, explore, and simply have an incredible amount of fun, Space Club Fort Greene is absolutely it. We left with tired but very happy kids, and memories filled with laughter and joy. We can't recommend it enough for a birthday party or just a...