Stay-at-Home Dads Group

Are you a stay-at-home dad wanting to communicate with others? Are you looking for playmates for your child?

What if I were to tell you that you could have that right in our own neighborhood?

Hello, I’m Van Sias. You might know me from such Clinton Hill Blog postings as “Lunchtime With Tillie: Castro’s” and “Lunchtime With Tillie: Anima.” Well, today I’m here to tell you about an exciting project I started a few months ago: the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Stay-at-Home Dads Group!

Twice a week, a group of dads meet at various playgrounds in the neighborhood. There, we chat, watch our kids play and develop friendships: both the dads and the children. And despite the name of the group, it’s open to dads throughout the borough.

When it’s raining out, we meet between a couple of restaurants in the neighborhood that have proven to be kid-friendly. We also discuss possible get-together opportunities and this week marks our first big one:

Dads’ Night Out!

Thursday, Sept. 3, from 8 p.m. until whenever, we’ll meet at the Rope on Myrtle Avenue between Vanderbilt and Clinton for drinks. And if you’re hungry, there are menus at the bar to order from local restaurants. Best thing about this night is you don’t have to be a stay-at-home dad to come out; all new pops are welcome! I saw the moms had a regular “moms night out & off,” so I had to borrow the idea!

The dads group meets at 12 on Mondays at Underwood Park on Lafayette and Washington (rain location: Square Root Café on Myrtle and Classon) and Thursdays at noon at the playground on the corner of Carlton and Dekalb (rain location: Catherine’s Caffe, the next block over).

So, stay-at-home dads, come on out to one of the meetings: If you see a little group of guys hanging out with their kids, that’s probably us! Hope to see you out!