NYC experience gift for a 9 year old boy: GO!!

November 28, 2013 7:58 PM

I babysit a (pretty mature) just-turned-9 year old boy and would like to get him a ~$20 gift that is non-material and preferably something we can do together in Manhattan. He has two little brothers so the apartment is bursting at the seams toys and books. My first, best idea is a trip to the Superhero Supply Store in Brooklyn, which totally would be his jam, but Mom would probably prefer staying in the city, so I'd like to source some other ideas first! Something we could do after school together one day that wouldn't take more than 2 hours would be perfect. Educational and enriching are secondary to straight up fun. He's mostly an indoorsy bookwormy type whose yearly highlight is the NYCC. He does karate and loves Shake Shack (but too cold!) He's vaguely into video games. And his bday party is inviting friends over to watch Indiana Jones and eat "dirt cake". Is there anything coming up in the next month event-wise that the little dude would enjoy? Any ideas for fun experiences would be magnificent. Thank you MeFi!!!
posted by Juicy Avenger to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

I know you said he's mostly indoors-y, but can he ice skate, or is he interested in learning? Rockefeller Center is one of the "must do" kid traditions, IMHO.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:04 PM on November 28, 2013

Has he seen the Tyrannosaurus skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History? Or the other dinosaurs there?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:14 PM on November 28, 2013

Max Brenner or LA Burdick for hot chocolate? Or Transit Museum, should Brooklyn turn out to be ok?
posted by mlle valentine at 8:26 PM on November 28, 2013

Hot chocolate could also be combined with a trip to the Strand!
posted by mlle valentine at 8:29 PM on November 28, 2013

I'd check out the events coming up at Sony Wonder Tech Lab on Madison in midtown.
http://www.sonywondertechlab.com/
I know there's a make-your-own- animation workshop coming up for ages 8 and up on two upcoming dates.
It's free, but you have to reserve tickets in advance and fills up pretty fast.
if this is a NYC kid he's probably been to all the major museums, and maybe to Sony Wonder Tech Lab too, which is why I'm thinking of the specific workshops.
posted by third rail at 8:35 PM on November 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Shake Shack has indoor locations now.
posted by brujita at 9:44 PM on November 28, 2013

Take him to Forbidden Planet or Toy Tokyo, and turn him loose with a $20 bill. Both stores have so much stuff that he'll be WELL occupied trying to whittle down what he most wants to take home.
posted by D.Billy at 5:19 PM on November 29, 2013