The roller rink is back on the roof of the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Empire Skate of Mind, the museum's rooftop rink named for the Empire Roller Rink that once stood a short walk away on Empire Boulevard, has reopened for the season and runs through April 11. And on Halloween, the museum on Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights is throwing an all-day party with an anime twist.

A rink with Crown Heights history

For decades, the Empire Roller Rink at 200 Empire Boulevard was where Brooklyn went to skate. It ran from the 1940s until 2007, and the museum describes it as the birthplace of roller disco, less than a mile from the museum's front door. Empire Skate of Mind is the museum's tribute to it, set up on the rooftop terrace with music and rental skates.

The rink is for families with children 3 and older. Public skating runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays through Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m., though private parties and weather can change availability on a given day.

Skating costs extra on top of museum admission: $10 with rental skates ($8 for members), or $8 for families who bring their own ($6 for members). Helmets, wrist guards and shoe covers are included. Rollerblades are not allowed. The museum says it is planning First Friday skate nights with the roller skate group 4WRD Roller Skate this season, with dates still to come.

Halloween, anime style

On Saturday, Oct. 31, the museum's Celebrate Halloween day runs from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., presented with AniTOMO Con. The program includes trick-or-treating through the museum, a costume runway, animal encounters, anime art activities and storytimes led by professional cosplayers.

More coming up

The museum's calendar also lists a Mexican folk dance workshop on Nov. 5, a Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 7 and a Diwali celebration on Nov. 12.

Hours, admission and getting there

The Brooklyn Children's Museum is at 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday. General admission is $15, and members and babies under 1 get in free. Admission is also free on Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. The nearest subway is the 3 train at Kingston Avenue.

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