Art classes for wee ones
When it rains in NYC a day at home can seem like an eternity. Wee Arts drop-in classes at Children’s Museum of the Arts is a wonderful way to spend the morning doing something that everyone will be happy about. For $22 a family, children can rotate from play dough to paint to stickers to block building. Young and engaging teachers walk around to help the children explore various materials and the program ends with a fun and upbeat session of sing-a-longs, drumming and a farewell book.
Wee-Arts DROP IN (ages 10 months to 3½ years) Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:45am-12pm.
-Dina
Music Together in the city
I started going to Music Together when my girls were 6 months old. They sat on my lap like two blobs back then and we continued to go once a week until they started pre-school. While NYC offers a million “mommy and me” type classes I found that we enjoyed Music Together the most. Its grassroots, back to basics approach is the type of class that I love. No flash, no bubble machine, just good old catchy tunes sung by a teacher, in jeans, with a guitar. Take a trial class to see which teacher you like as some are better than others. I would say that it is mainly geared for the younger set but it’s a great way to start kids out on a life long love of music and they offer classes everywhere. It also gave me a wide repertoire of kid’s songs to sing at home freeing me from the shackles of what seemed like a never ending loop of “Wheels on the bus”.
-Dina
It’s clean-up time, everybody!
First it was low-carb, then it was no-carb and now it’s all about doing a “cleanse”. We all know of someone who has done it, wants to do it or plans to do it. A juice fast can do the body good every once in a while – even if it is just for a few hours (which is about all I can manage to do). It is especially great for kicking off a new eating routine (i.e.: breaking the coffee/sugar habit) and for those of us whose meals consist mainly of discarded nuggets and pre-chewed food that your kids have flung on the floor. The juices at liquiteria are the best in the city – fresh, delicious and extremely well priced, and if you swing by to talk to one of the owners they will customize your very own cleanse. I highly recommend ‘The Grasshopper’, ‘Beets Me’ and ‘The Killer’.
-Dina
The Shoe Garden
My husband cringes every time he sees a tiny empty shoebox in the trash, knowing full well that I have just purchased something with a shelf life of approximately two months…. But heck – I ask you – is there anything cuter than a toddler shoe? I discovered The Shoe Garden a few years ago and it is still my go-to place for adorable and affordable children’s footwear. They have an amazing selection of high quality and stylish shoes for kids of all ages with a large selection of hard-to-find European brands. Like moth to flame I need to walk into the store every time I am in the neighborhood, and I usually leave with a tiny box in hand, but like I said, is there anything cuter than a toddler shoe?
-Dina
The unspeakable. A trip to New Jersey.
I kid. I am after all a New Yorker and it’s in my DNA to pick on New Jersey. Truth be told however, I find myself going there quite often with my kids on day trips. One of my very favorite go-to spots is the Liberty Science Center, which (dare I say) blows all of the kid’s museums in NYC out of the water. There are tons of things to do there and there is a separate contained Toddler play area with animal displays and all sorts of things to touch and climb on. One of our personal favorite exhibits is “My Hudson Home” which has giant tanks filled with fish and turtles and a water table with sand to scoop. It appeals to all ages beyond the toddler years and there is something for everyone to enjoy. The place is absolutely immaculate to boot and they have an incredible cafeteria with organic and healthy food for adults and children. Go early or late afternoon to avoid the school crowds and I guarantee a good time for all. Please note: bring blindfold for when you leave if you want to avoid the gift shop.
-Dina
BabyCakes
I was asked to bring a treat for a birthday party at the girls’ pre-school last year, but with all the food allergies out there these days filling that request can be downright terrifying. Ok…so let’s see….that leaves me with what options?….rice cakes? …a fistful of raisins? What “treat” on earth is going to be wheat, nut, egg and dairy free?
I then remembered BabyCakes – an adorable little shop on the Lower East Side which is, incidentally, New York’s first and finest dairy, egg and gluten free bakery! They make picture perfect cupcakes, cookies, brownies and even pie – all of which can be scarfed down guilt free. But how do they taste you ask? Delicious! And what’s better, I feel like I am beating the system somehow when my kids eat them.
-Dina
Moomah
I have been watching……waiting…..okay, technically “stalking” out this place for weeks now and as of last Monday the doors to paradise have finally flung wide open. Moomah – which dubs itself a “creative arts café” is the brainchild of Tracey Stewart, a Tribeca mother who took a delightful detour from the over-stimulating child play spaces that have been cropping up around the city to create a community space where adults would feel just as much at home as their kids. One part adult café, one part earth-conscious art/exploration space for kids – Moomah offers something for all of the senses and serves as a place where the adults don’t have to just sit awkwardly on the sidelines. From big tables for impromptu art projects to cozy couches where you can grab a light meal and read a book, the rustic-chic space offers cool activities for families to do together. (more…)
Hello from NYC!
I am thrilled to be writing about all the great things going on in New York City for kids (and parents!) right now. As a child who grew up here in the ’70s I can attest to the fact that New York has come a long long way and is as livable and kid-friendly as ever.
While my memories of being young in the city were filled with good times, I also live with flashbacks of being scalded on hot metal slides and living in fear of getting poked with a hypodermic needle in the sandbox. True…my twin girls still have to contend with the grit of city living but they also have amazing indoor play spaces on cold rainy days, classes to take for every interest imaginable and kid-friendly places to eat.
Every day something new crops up and I love exploring the off-the-beaten-path things to do, eat and explore. I’m excited to share what I have found with you!
-Dina
Dina in New York
A common question we receive at Babyccino is ‘why don’t you have a New York contributor?’. It seems we have many readers living in New York or hoping to travel there who are looking for tips for where to go and what to do in the city. New York City is an obvious choice, and I suppose it was just a matter of finding the perfect person for the job.
Drum roll please… We are excited to introduce Dina — a native New Yorker and former Wall Street banker turned writer turned mom (of twins)! Dina is cute, she’s funny, and her enthusiasm and love of NYC is infectious. I met with her a few weeks ago while she was on holiday in London, and the way she described having kids in NYC had me nearly packing my bags to move there!
Dina is the perfect person to fill us in on all that her city has to offer, and we are thrilled to welcome her as a regular contributor on Babyccino… finally!
-Courtney
Sweet William
Brooklyn-based children’s boutique, Sweet William, is the kind of shop I can’t resist! It has one of the most carefully selected and unique collections of children’s clothing, toys and accessories. The collection of independent designers ranges from those you probably already know to brands you surely don’t… like designer, Angela Devine, who hand-makes all of her clothes out of her studio/home in Montana. (How cool is that?) I have a couple of her beautiful button-down henley tops for my boys, and they are most definitely my favorite pieces in their closet. (They’re currently on sale, so check them out!)
Other designers include Makie, Tuss, Talc, Finger in the Nose, Mini Rodini, and the list goes on. There’s also a lovely selection of children’s shoes, toys and furniture.
You know you’re in good hands here — the owner, Bronagh Staley, is the former fashion editor of Cookie magazine. With expertise like that, you can’t go wrong!
-Courtney
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• How much is a push worth?• Having babies: the UK way
• Rock-a-bye baby…
• A little baby: public property?
• The magic of Witch Hazel
A Walk in New York
I picked up A Walk in New York
But what is so fantastic about the book, apart from the really cool illustrations, is that it’s written from a little boy’s perspective and offers the sort of observations only a child could make. Like… how the top of the Empire State Building is 320 metres closer to the moon, and how the hot dogs smell delicious, and how there’s a store called Macy’s where you can buy anything from a dustbin to a diamond, etc.
“A Walk in New York” is a story about a father and son who take a stroll through the city starting at Grand Central Station and finishing at the Hudson River. In addition to the charming narrative of the little boy, you can read loads of different facts and interesting trivia about the city (even I learned a thing or two!).
This wonderful ‘guide’ to NYC is the first book (of hopefully many!) for London illustrator, Salvatore Rubbino. (Can you smell a series, anyone??)
-Courtney
Kristin
We’ve been thinking about spicing things up a bit… keeping our readers interested… giving them even more info and ideas, etc. We’ve decided to add a new voice on Babyccino – a guest writer who will add to our conversations, share more stories, and keep us up to speed on another big city. We wanted someone hip, stylish, fun, smart and well-traveled. We wanted a New York insider to fill us in on everything her city has to offer!
And… we found her!! Kristin is a New York City mom who has spent the last 17 years in the fashion business with a long stint as design director for Gap Kids. She has traveled all over the world for her job, searching for creative inspiration and ideas. She lives in the trendy lower east side of Manhattan with her two-year-old son and her psychotherapist husband (can you imagine how interesting her dinner conversations are??). Kristin is a pro in fashion and style, she’s an expert on what to do and where to go in NYC, and she’ll be sharing her tips with us here on Babyccino.
So… without further ado: We welcome Kristin, who will be our new voice on Babyccino, and our host for this weekend!
