New York Family January 1, 2011 by New York Family

JANUARY

FU IN N T GU E ID R E

2011

January 2011 Established 1986

ELISABETH HASSELBECK WWW.NEWYORKFAMILY.COM

The Candid Co-Host of ‘The View’ Tells All . . . About Being An NYC Mom of Three!

NEW YORK FAMILY

SCHOOL BREAK GETAWAYS | CLASSES KIDS LOVE | RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS

The Mandell School is proud to announce the opening of

The Mandell School in Seoul, Korea January 2011

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DEPARTMENTS

INSIDE

News from New York Family, including contests and giveaways, great events for families this winter and an introduction to our contributors to newyorkfamily.com

January 2011

FEATURES

WINTER FUN GUIDE From tackling the slopes to taking tea to enjoying nature, there’s plenty of fun to be had in the city this winter

RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS Four New York City moms take on their New Years’ resolutions, from menu planning to home organization

COLUMNS

TIME FOR CLASS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

STARTING OUT Wondering how best to space out your kids by age? Here are a few factors to consider

GROWING UP Despite what they might think, chores are good for kids! How to inspire children to help out around the house

A GOOD IDEA Meet the three journalists behind the show “Moms and the City”

HOUSE CALLS A look inside Skip Hop founders Ellen and Michael Diamant’s chic downtown haven

ON SECOND THOUGHT

An adoptive mother-to-be reflects on her journey to parenthood

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! From eco-vacations to cities worth seeing, great destinations for school break travel

CAMP COUNTDOWN Seven questions to ask yourself before sending your child to camp

JOY OF SHOPPING Perfect-for-winter beauty and skincare buys

A SPECIAL PLACE Scribble Press, the city’s only make-your-own book activity center, is helping to ignite a love of writing in even the smallest scribes

THE COVER:

New York Family | January 2011

IT’S MY PARTY Birthday fun at the American Museum of Natural History, Bowlmor Lanes and Taste Buds

Expert tips to keep your family moving and motivated through the winter months

Getting to know you…

A guide to the city’s most inspired offerings for winter— from mommy & me to tween

Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Gold Paillette Brigitte Dress by Milly (millyny. com/shop). Jewelry by Kelly Gerber at me.n.u (1042 Lexington Avenue, kellygerber.com). Hair by Rosa Amoedo. Makeup by Rebecca Borman. Photographed by Thaddeus Harden (thaddeusharden.com). Shot on location at The Empire Hotel.

EDITOR’S NOTE

BUZZWORTHY An enchanting and affordable e-boutique for kids; an artful way to immortalize your child’s prized possessions; adorable ecofriendly dinnerware and more great ideas for January

THE CULTURE CLUB 25 magical museum exhibits, workshops, parties and performances to share with your family this winter; plus, an interview with actress Teri Polo of “Little Fockers”

THE VIEW FROM HERE Emmy-winning talk show cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck chats about raising three small children in the city, her role on “The View” and keeping it all together (most of the time)

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

TEN IDEAS Our monthly round-up of family fun in the city

CORRECTIONS: In the classes guide in the December issue, the name and website for Karma Kids Yoga (karmakidsyoga.com) was listed incorrectly.

www.newyorkfamily.com

dePArTMenTs

inside

News from New York Family, including contests and giveaways, great events for families this winter and an introduction to our contributors to newyorkfamily.com

January 2011

FeATUres

wiNTer FuN Guide From tackling the slopes to taking tea to enjoying nature, there’s plenty of fun to be had in the city this winter

resoluTioN soluTioNs Four New York City moms take on their New Years’ resolutions, from menu planning to home organization

42 CoLUMns

12 22

Time For Class

24 28 30 36

A guide to the city’s most inspired offerings for winter— from mommy & me to tween

34 The Cover:

New York Family | January 2011

ediTor’s NoTe

Getting to know you…

healTh & wellNess

buzzworThY An enchanting and affordable e-boutique for kids; an artful way to immortalize your child’s prized possessions; adorable ecofriendly dinnerware and more great ideas for January

iT’s mY parTY Birthday fun at the American Museum of Natural History, Bowlmor Lanes and Taste Buds

Expert tips to keep your family moving and motivated through the winter months

The CulTure Club 25 magical museum exhibits, workshops, parties and performances to share with your family this winter; plus, an interview with actress Teri Polo of “Little Fockers”

The View From here Emmy-winning talk show cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck chats about raising three small children in the city, her role on “The View” and keeping it all together (most of the time)

welCome To The FamilY

40 90

sTarTiNG ouT Wondering how best to space out your kids by age? Here are a few factors to consider

GrowiNG up Despite what they might think, chores are good for kids! How to inspire children to help out around the house

a Good idea Meet the three journalists behind the show “Moms and the City”

80 70

From eco-vacations to cities worth seeing, great destinations for school break travel

a speCial plaCe Scribble Press, the city’s only make-your-own book activity center, is helping to ignite a love of writing in even the smallest scribes

house Calls A look inside Skip Hop founders Ellen and Michael Diamant’s chic downtown haven

oN seCoNd ThouGhT An adoptive mother-to-be reflects on her journey to parenthood

Camp CouNTdowN Seven questions to ask yourself before sending your child to camp

JoY oF shoppiNG Perfect-for-winter beauty and skincare buys

oh, The plaCes You’ll Go!

TeN ideas Our monthly round-up of family fun in the city

CorreCTions: In the classes guide in the December issue, the name and website for Karma Kids Yoga (karmakidsyoga.com) was listed incorrectly. www.newyorkfamily.com

Inspiring Learning, Exceeding Expectations.

At World Class Learning Academy, New York, children take an active role in their learning, supported and mentored by exceptionally well-qualified teachers trained in the UK. As a result, they perform well beyond expectations for their age – most of our students are learning to read and discovering foreign languages by the age of three. Being the only school in New York to offer the International Primary Curriculum, our school is unique in many other ways as well. We instill a love of learning and encourage independent enquiry, WCLA personalizes learning for each child to help them attain their goals, and we are a truly international school that promotes a culture of international awareness and celebration, just to name a few. Contact us today for more information. You’ll not only see the difference in our school, but more importantly, your child. 44 East 2nd Street • New York, New York 10003 • 212.600.2010 www.wclacademy.org • info@wclacademy.org

WCLA POD Ad for NY Family Mag.indd 1

12/21/10 2:50 PM

EDITOR AND CO-PUBLISHER Eric Messinger emessinger @ manhattanmedia.com ART DIRECTOR Mitchell Hoffman mhoffman @ manhattanmedia.com DEPUTY EDITOR Katie Main kmain @ manhattanmedia.com STYLE DIRECTOR Joy Sherwood jsherwood @ manhattanmedia.com DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Jessica Balaschak jbalaschak@ manhattanmedia.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Mark Stinson mstinson @ manhattanmedia.com DEPUTY PRODUCTION MANAGER Heather Mulcahey hmulcahey @ manhattanmedia.com PHOTO EDITOR Andrew Schwartz aschwartz@ manhattanmedia.com SENIOR EDITOR Darcy Newell dnewell@manhattanmedia.com

Enriching young minds through the beauty of foreign language!

One-hour classes Infants, Toddlers and Young Children 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday

Immersion Drop-off Program Three hours of language immersion and play Children 2 to 4 years of age

After School Program Beginner & Advanced Levels Elementary and Middle-school years 3pm & 4pm Monday through Friday

Call today!

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel S. Burnstein, Suzanne Cohen, Heidi Green, Thaddeus Harden, Jennifer Lee, Josh Lehrer, Sarah Merians CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Janet Allon, Leah Black, Heather Chaet, Cristina Dimen, Amanda Ferris, Katie Garton, Tiffanie Green, Jean Halloran, Rachael Horowitz, Michelle Levine, Molly O’Meara Sheehan, Jessica Shyba, Amy Spiro, Erika Thormahlen, Jill Valente, Lauren Wetzel GROUP PUBLISHER Alex Schweitzer 212-284-9735, aschweitzer @ manhattanmedia.com PUBLISHER John Hurley 212-268-3086, jhurley @ manhattanmedia.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mary Ann Oklesson maoklesson @ manhattanmedia.com SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Gina Waldman gwaldman @ manhattanmedia.com ASSISTANT to the PUBLISHER Marissa Broxmeyer mbroxmeyer @ manhattanmedia.com CIRCULATION Joe Bendik jbendik@ manhattanmedia.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jennie Valenti jvalenti @ manhattanmedia.com BUSINESS MANAGER Shawn Scott sscott@manhattanmedia.com ACCOUNTS MANAGER Kathy Pollyea kpollyea @ manhattanmedia.com MANHATTAN MEDIA PRESIDENT/CEO Tom Allon tallon @ manhattanmedia.com CFO/COO Joanne Harras jharras @ manhattanmedia.com FOUNDING PUBLISHER Barbara Witt MARKETING DIRECTOR Tom Kelly tkelly @ manhattanmedia.com EVENTS MANAGER Stephanie Musso smusso @ manhattanmedia.com

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212.501.8524

New York Family is a division of Manhattan Media, publishers of AVENUE magazine, Our Town, West Side Spirit, New York Press, Mitzvah Magazine, The Capitol, City Hall, City Arts, Chelsea Clinton News, The Westsider and The Blackboard Awards. © 2010 Manhattan Media, LLC | 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016 | t: 212.268.8600 | f: 212.268.0577 www.manhattanmedia.com

New York Family | January 2011

www.newyorkfamily.com

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edit ’s

NOTE January 2011 Established 1986

Getting To Know You…

FU IN N T GU E ID R E

arents learn most of their craft from hands-on experience, but it can helpful to compare notes with others. It can illuminate, reaffirm, comfort, connect—so many good things. In that spirit, I’m delighted that this month’s cover interview with Elisabeth Hasselbeck reads as a case of two mom friends chatting with each other after an exhausting day. I’m going to venture to say it’s one of our best cover interviews ever. Why? Because you can tell that Elisabeth—despite being one of the daily co-hosts of “The View” and having other big career commitments as well—is fully immersed as a mom. She walks the walk and talks with a discerning specificity that I’m sure you’ll relate to, whether the topic is running on four hours of sleep or getting a healthy dinner on the table. In her public journey, from being

products to a story about keeping your family fit and active in winter. And I’m especially fond of our article on New Year’s resolutions, featuring four local parents who each agreed to take on persistent challenges like home organizing and connecting with your partner. If that one doesn’t inspire you, maybe, in very different ways, our stories on family financial planning and family travel will. Finally, a shout out to Ellen and Michael Diamant of Skip Hop, and to Denise Albert, Melissa Gerstein and Raina Seitel Gittlin of the show “Moms and The City”—for showing how parenting can impact work in wonderful ways!

ELISABETH HASSELBECK The Candid Co-Host of ‘The View’ Tells All . . . About Being An NYC Mom of Three!

one of the youngest contestants on “Survivor” to being “The View” host known for her politically conservative views, Elisabeth has been in the public eye for much of her adult life. Still, parent to parent, I think a lot of people will read the interview and feel like they’re just getting to know her—and glad of it. I thank her for going on this adventure with us. I’m writing this note on a December day that feels like a January day because of the gray and cold, but at least the weather makes me feel like we did a good job in our planning for a motherlode of winter-themed stories. Not only is there our Winter Fun Guide (with helpful lists of skating rinks, hot chocolate oases, nature fun and more), but we also have everything from a “Cold Remedies” spread of beauty

SCHOOL BREAK GETAWAYS | CLASSES KIDS LOVE | RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS

Happy January, ERIC MESSINGER emessinger@manhattanmedia.com

Ü ÌiÀÊV i>À> Vi Li} ÃÊ > Õ>ÀÞÊÓ

New York Family | January 2011

www.newyorkfamily.com

Spring Into Action at the 92nd Street Y Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got classes, lessons and leagues for kids of all ages. s Gymnastics s Tiny & Junior Tumblers s Swimming s Basketball s Private Coaching s Pee Wee Tennis s KidSports s Teen Fitness Classes s Personal Training

Enroll today! Register at www.92Y.org/MayCenter or call 212.415.5500. 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street An agency of UJA-Federation

Welcome to the Family UPCOMING EVENTS Beneﬁting Boo oks

JULIE STAPEN

We’re proud to be a media sponsor for what promises to be a very special event, the New York Public Library’s Family Beneﬁt on Sunday, January 23rd. The beneﬁt, which will take place in the spectacular Astor Hall of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at the 42nd Street library branch, is themed “Patience and Fortitude’s New York Adventure,” and takes inspiration from beloved children’s books that are set in New York City. The event, which is co-hosted by New York celebrity parents like Sarah Jessica Parker and Amanda Peet, will boast tons of activities for kids, including literature-inspired crafts, readings with acclaimed authors, music, food and more. Best of all, the proceeds of the event support the New York Public Library’s programs and materials throughout its 87 branches in the city. To purchase tickets to the event and for more information, please call Isabel Yordan at 212-930-0548.

ON THE

W E

New York Family is now on Facebook! Check in throughout the day for great family events, special giveaways, news items, and more tips on family life in the city.

the e moth herhood liist This month, we’re happy to introduce readers to one of the latest additions to New York Family, blogger Heather Chaet and her hilarious new blog, “the motherhood list.” In the blog, Heather, an Upper West Side mom of a three-year-old daughter, deals with the travails, stresses and joys of motherhood the best way she knows how—by making to-do lists! From helping her daughter overcome her fear of airplane bathrooms to sharing last-minute gift ideas you can ﬁnd at Duane Reade, themotherhoodlist is an honest and hilarious tribute to the mayhem of motherhood. Check it all out at newyorkfamily.com.

New York Family | January 2011

Prizes

AND

GIVEAWAYS

Win A Five-Day Trip To Smuggler’s Notch! Smuggler’s Notch Resort is an action-packed wintery oasis for families, featuring awardwinning children’s programs, three big mountains and over 1,000 acres of terrain. Located in Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont, the resort also boasts fine dining, indoor amusements like indoor pools, arts and craft workshops and nightly entertainment like theatrical shows and musical performances. We’re giving away a five-night, five-day vacation for one reader family of four, which includes five days of lift tickets, twobedroom lodging in one of the resort’s condos and access to tons of family-focused activities. TO WIN, write to us at newyorkfamily@ manhattanmedia.com, putting “Smuggler’s Notch” in the subject line, and tell us why your family would love to win this vacation. Please include contact information. Deadline: Monday, January 24.

A Peach Perfect Stroller! To celebrate the grand debut of our Joy of Shopping blog and newsletter, we’re also giving away a stroller from the award-winning British company iCandy, which is known for its innovate, functional and stylish products that keep both your baby’s development and health in mind. What’s more, iCandy’s newest stroller, The Peach, combines the company’s babycentric design aesthetic with the ease and convenience needed by busy moms on the go. Lightweight, easily foldable and convertible (babies can face forward or backwards, and the stroller can also convert into a double if your family grows), The Peach is a perfect marriage of style and functionality. To win, sign up for the Joy of Shopping blog and newsletter before writing to us at joyofshopping@ manhattanmedia.com, telling us why you’d like to win and including your contact information. Deadline: Monday, January 24.

www.newyorkfamily.com

January 2011 | New York Family

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For more information and a full list of classes for your child visit: www.gymtime.net.

buzz

Q TOY MEETS WORLD If you’re starting to worry about what will happen when your child’s beloved ratty teddy

WORTHY

bear or beat-up toy finally bites the dust, consider immortalizing his prized possession

Q FROZEN

with a Custom Toy Portrait by artist Jennifer Maher. For $60-130 (depending on the

F L AVO R S

desired size of the painting) Maher, a mom

In an ideal world, when presented

of a three-year-old daughter who resides

with a piece of fruit and a bowl of ice

in upstate New York, will turn your child’s

cream, kids would go for the fruit—and

favorite playmate into a lasting piece of art, which can be completed in only two

now they just might, with the debut

weeks and can be created with the actual object or simply a photograph. These

of Simply Peeled, a new Upper East

affordable, beautiful creations make great decorations for a nursery or an inspired

Side sorbet outpost that offers kids

gift. For more information, visit customtoyportrait.com.

an all-natural and delicious frozen snack. Simply Peeled calls its tasty

Q DABBLE IN DAPPLE

concoction “Fruizo,” which is a blend

Devised by two moms searching for safe cleaning products to use on their babies’

of filtered water, real fruit and a touch

bottles, cups and dishes, Dapple is a line of organic cleaning products that is free of

of organic cane sugar that kids can top

preservatives, parabens, pthalates, dyes and synthetic fragrances. Created with the

with healthful treats like organic cereals

help of numerous pediatricians and green chemists, the line features such family

and natural peanut butter. Plus, Fruizo

necessities as bottle and dish liquids, toy and surface cleaners, travel-sized cleaning

is 100% natural and free of dairy, fat,

products and a handy Clean-Up Kit that includes numerous products in an easily

sodium, cholesterol, glutens

storable case. For more information, visit dapple-

and all eight major allergens.

baby.com.

Simply Peeled is located at

Q SMILE FOR

1371 Third Avenue. For more information, visit

THE PLANET

simplypeeled.com.

For kid-friendly and earth-friendly bowls and dishes, look no further than Smiling Planet, a charming new line of dishware made of sustainable, recycled

THE CHECKLIST FOR

January RE FOR MO EAS ID & S IP T VISIT

ily.com newyorkfam

and organic materials. Created by husband and wife team Olivia Haviland and Freddy Deane, the line combines Haviland’s 150-year-old family history of making fine porcelain and Deane’s whimsical artwork and stories. The result is an eye-catching line of baby-safe, eco-friendly products with designs like whales and bunches of balloons and written messages about peace, diversity and respect for the environment. Smiling Planet products are available at Whole Foods stores and online at smilingplanet.net.

Q AN ENCHANTING E-BOUTIQUE It’s often difficult to find high-quality, stylish children’s clothing without a big price tag, which is why we love the newly launched e-boutique Deerling.com. The site, which was created when the East Village boutique Sons + Daughters closed in 2009, boasts Sons + Daughters, Deerling.com’s offerings include European brands like Ewers and Claesen and an all-organic line from Go Go Baby. Best of all, every item of clothing on the site is under $50, and new shoppers can use the coupon code “DEERME10” for a 10% discount from their first order. Learn more at Deerling.com.

New York Family | January 2011

Catherine Orchard

a great collection of clothes, toys and furniture. Started by three former co-workers at

www.newyorkfamily.com

ction • ert Instru p x E • s ie Facilit Authentic

The Best Sports Classes, Hands Down. With 10 different sports and over 300 classes a week, the Field House offers Manhattan’s best sports programs for children of all ages.

The Field House at

Little Athletes (12 months – 5 years)

SPRING SEMESTER STARTS JANUARY 24TH

NEW

AT THE FIELD HOUSE

Soccer | Dance | Micro-Sports | Tee-Ball Flip-N-Kick | Flip-N-Twirl

Chelsea Shears Hair Salon for Kids CP Building Blocks (18 months – 5 years) Enrichment program for children with developmental needs.

Celebrate Your Birthday at Chelsea Piers Sports | Ice Skating | Golf | Bowling | Toddler Play

www.chelseapiers.com/birthday

ram Best Prog

23rd St. & Hudson River Park 212.336.6520 www.chelseapiers.com/fh ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE.

IT’S MY

Becky Reinhold hosts a culinary celebration for her 8th birthday at Taste Buds. 1. The

birthday girl is a baker for the day. 2. Becky’s sister Ellie leans in as the birthday girl makes a wish. 3. Becky’s guests make their own delicious creations. 4. Dad looks on as Becky ices her cupcake.

Photos by Daniel S. Burnstein (danielsburnstein.com)

4 Harper Lapin hosts her 4th birthday party at Bowlmor Carnival. 1. The carnival atmosphere wins big smiles from the birthday girl and Dad. 2. Harper strikes a pose with her caricature. 3. Crumbs cupcakes complete the celebration. 4. Harper’s little brother gets a kiss from mom.

Photos by Heidi Green (heidigreen.com)

New York Family | January 2011

Zack Cohen hosts his 6th birthday party at the American Museum of Natural History. 1. The birthday boy takes in the action at the safari. 2. Zack plays around with a new friend—a stuffed elephant! 3. The newly-crowned 6-year-old gets ready to make a wish. 4. Zack and his guests grin for the camera.

Photos by Heidi Green (heidigreen.com) www.newyorkfamily.com

“If I Knew Then What I Know Now…” Negotiating The College Application And Admission Process Can Be A Complex And Anxiety-Ridden Experience. The College Advisory Network, A New NYC-Based Counseling Service, Helps Ease The Way.

sk any parent of a high school student what keeps them up at night, and chances are getting in to the “right” college will be at the top. Financing a college education may not be far behind. The average total cost to attend a private college or university in 2010 is more than $35,600 per year. Nor does it inspire confidence to know that the number of applications is at an all-time high, and the rate of acceptances to top schools is dropping. What’s a parent to do? The first place to turn is to your child’s high school guidance counselor, but often that person is too overtaxed to give individual students the attention they need. There’s the do-it-yourself method, which involves countless hours of poring through an endless inventory of online resources and “how to” books, a healthy dose of nagging (from you) and foot-dragging (from your child). But books and blogs don’t know the one critical element that matters most—your child. Enter The College Advisory Network, a joint venture between Manhattan Media, the publishers of New York Family, and Smart City Kids, New York’s premier admissions counseling service for students entering nursery school through high school. “We know there are thousands of families struggling with college applications and the admission process,” said Roxana Reid, president of Smart City Kids and The College Advisory Network. “Our aim was to put together a network of the very best advisors,

counselors and college admission experts to help in every specific area.” Addressing The Needs And Goals Of Each Student. As Reid explains, it’s the College Advisory Network’s method of differentiating the true needs of a student that makes it more effective than other college guidance services. “For each and every student who comes through our door, we assign the very best advisor to work one-onone, and provide a program that is specifically tailored to the accomplishments and unique qualities of each student,” she said. “We also provide counseling for special needs students, athletes, musicians and actors, and offer consultations on applications for engineering and architecture majors.

process as early as freshman year, and continue with individualized programs through senior year. Each program is specially designed to address critical issues in each year of high school, including course selection, summer activities, jobs during the school year and in the summer, extracurricular activities, leadership, community service, developing relationships with teachers, managing standardized tests, and improving writing skills. For juniors and seniors, attention is devoted to preparing for college visits, setting up and excelling in on-campus interviews, developing a portfolio for presentation to admission officers as well as department heads, and financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans, etc.). Reflecting on her own son’s college application experience, Ms. Reid wistfully remarks that she wishes she had known at the outset everything she knows now. “It’s a remarkable, wonderful journey, filled with anxiety, hope and unimaginable ups and downs,” she says. “Our goal is to make the journey less stressful, and the outcome a total success. Every student we counsel will receive the experience and expertise of the best advisors in the field. And we’ll be with them, every step of the way, right up to that happy day when they receive their acceptance letters.”

“We assign the very best advisor to provide a program that is tailored to the accomplishments and unique qualities of each student.”

“All in all, we are the first and only resource that combines the best in college application counseling with the most prestigious counselors in the field,” Reid concludes. The College Advisory Network utilizes the experienced counsel of a network of college advisors, including faculty from top private schools and public high schools as well as specialists from universities, college and prep schools throughout the East Coast. Attention at every grade level, for every type of student. The College Advisory Network can help prepare your student for the college application

New York Family | January 2011

For info on The College Advisory Network or to sign up for an upcoming college application and admission seminar, visit thecollegeadvisorynetwork.com, or call at 212-996ICAN (4226). www.newyorkfamily.com

New York Family Partner Profile

health & wellness BY CristiNa DimeN

An Indoor Sport For Everyone The Climbing Wall in CenTral Park: The North Meadow Recreation Center (mid-Park at 97th Street) features indoor climbing walls for adults and children over the age of eight. The walls are supervised during working hours. For more info, call 212-3484867, ext 14.

Chelsea Piers: Featuring a health club, day spa, climbing wall, bowling alley, skating rink, batting cages, basketball courts, indoor lacrosse, soccer fields and more, this complex of four Hudson River Piers is the place to be when it’s too cold to play outside. (chelseapiers.com.) suTTon easT Tennis: Located under the 59th Street Bridge, Sutton East’s red clay tennis courts are open every day from September through April. Court time can be reserved on an hourly basis—just be sure to book one week in advance. (suttoneasttennis.com.)

boWling: For a classic family outing, head to one of the city’s great bowling alleys. We love 300 New York at Chelsea Piers (chelseapiers.com/300NY. htm), the glow-in-the-dark lanes at Bowlmor (bowlmor.com) and the karaoke theme night at Harlem Lanes (harlemlanes.com).

aviaTor sPorTs and reCreaTion: This Brooklyn center offers a wide selection of youth clinics, skating sessions and a fitness center. Popular sports include gymnastics, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, figure skating, and volleyball. (aviatorsports.com.) —Theodora Guliadis

New York Family | January 2011

Warm Up To

Winter Fitness Health Experts Share Easy Tips To Get Your Family Moving And Motivated This Season

ith freezing temperatures, blustery winds and plenty of snow and sleet, it’s no wonder New Yorkers tend to hibernate during winter. Still, it’s important to keep active during the cold months to avoid weight gain and unhealthy levels of inactivity. To get kids motivated, fitness experts recommend adopting practical and creative strategies, ranging from parent-and-child fitness classes to simply exploring a new neighborhood.

Do It Together Winter fitness is especially important for children, says Lisa Sanguiliano, senior director of healthy lifestyles at the YMCA of Greater New York, who says kids need “20 to 30 minutes of sustained exercise, five times a week.” However, these routines can be broken down into shorter sessions throughout the day, and parents can even get kids moving in the morning by having them march in place while they brush their teeth and get ready for school. Shannon Pollack, co-founder and director of operations at Dasha Wellness, suggests beginning the day with a family stretch. Sanguiliano also recommends that parents create an open discussion about fitness with their children, and ask for their ideas for outings at the dinner table. “Use a calendar to chart out opportunities within everyone’s schedules,” she suggests. After dinner, families can do modified sit-ups, yoga poses, hula hoops or jumping jacks during commercial breaks, or have a living

room dance party! For younger children, Sanguiliano suggests creating obstacle courses in the apartment by using movable furniture, toys and other gear.

Enjoy The Great Outdoors Don’t let the dropping temperatures keep you from exploring the city! Bundle your family in layers (Jarrod Jordan, director at Chelsea Piers Bluestreak, recommends tighterfitting, winter-proof clothing like ski or bike gear) and combine a brisk walk with some window shopping. Another easy activity is simply venturing beyond your neighborhood. “Walk 10 blocks east or west of where you live,” suggests Pollack. She also recommends planning a day trip to visit a park in a borough you don’t know well. Cathe Thompson, group fitness manager at Equinox, also encourages activity-based play dates, such as ice skating in Bryant Park, a day trip to Woodbury Commons or bike riding in Central Park.

Indoor Sports Sign up for parent-and-child classes or sport-specific training at your local gym or activity center. Or, families can head to the gym together, and parents can alternate playing with the kids at the basketball court or swimming pool while the other parent takes a yoga or Zumba class, says Thompson. Finally, Pollack encourages families to keep their approach to fitness positive and fun. “Parents should adopt and maintain a healthy outlook and a ‘can do’ attitude,” she says. G www.newyorkfamily.com

‫ ה‬ h & WELLNESS BY CRISTINA DIMEN

An Indoor Sport For Everyone THE CLIMBING WALL IN CENTRAL PARK: The North Meadow Recreation Center (mid-Park at 97th Street) features indoor climbing walls for adults and children over the age of eight. The walls are supervised during working hours. For more info, call 212-3484867, ext 14.

CHELSEA PIERS: Featuring a health club, day spa, climbing wall, bowling alley, skating rink, batting cages, basketball courts, indoor lacrosse, soccer ﬁelds and more, this complex of four Hudson River Piers is the place to be when it’s too cold to play outside. (chelseapiers.com.) SUTTON EAST TENNIS: Located under the 59th Street Bridge, Sutton East’s red clay tennis courts are open every day from September through April. Court time can be reserved on an hourly basis—just be sure to book one week in advance. (suttoneasttennis.com.)

BOWLING: For a classic family outing, head to one of the city’s great bowling alleys. We love 300 New York at Chelsea Piers (chelseapiers.com/300NY. htm), the glow-in-the-dark lanes at Bowlmor (bowlmor.com) and the karaoke theme night at Harlem Lanes (harlemlanes.com).

AVIATOR SPORTS AND RECREATION: This Brooklyn center offers a wide selection of youth clinics, skating sessions and a ﬁtness center. Popular sports include gymnastics, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, ﬁgure skating, and volleyball. (aviatorsports.com.) —Theodora Guliadis

New York Family | January 2011

Warm Up To

Winter Fitness Health Experts Share Easy Tips To Get Your Family Moving And Motivated This Season ith freezing temperatures, blustery winds and plenty of snow and sleet, it’s no wonder New Yorkers tend to hibernate during winter. Still, it’s important to keep active during the cold months to avoid weight gain and unhealthy levels of inactivity. To get kids motivated, fitness experts recommend adopting practical and creative strategies, ranging from parent-and-child fitness classes to simply exploring a new neighborhood.

room dance party! For younger children, Sanguiliano suggests creating obstacle courses in the apartment by using movable furniture, toys and other gear.

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starting O U T BY AMY SPIRO

Wondering How Close In Age To Have Your Kids? While There’s No “Magic” Spread, Here Are Some Important Factors To Consider

SPACING OUT

any parents carefully consider the number of months or years between each of their children. Others choose to play it by ear. Still others find their plans upended by surprise pregnancies or multiples. Regardless, moms and dads tend to have lots of questions when it comes to spacing out kids: Will having them close in age cause excessive bickering? Will having them farther apart mean they won’t become close friends? Can we handle having multiple small children at once? If I wait several more years, will my age cause complications? Can we afford another child right now? Do we have enough space? The answers will vary from family to family. “Forming a family and deciding how to space children out is a very personal matter,” says Dr. Susan Klugman, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Montefiore Medical Center. But when considering timing and children, medical professionals recommend first taking into account the health of both mother and baby. Klugman points out, for example, that “there is a higher incidence of preterm labor” among moms who conceive within a few months after giving birth, and recommends women wait a full

New York Family | January 2011

year before becoming pregnant again, “just to allow your body to heal.” Once a mother becomes pregnant again, Klugman advises she stop breastfeeding. “When you’re nursing, you can get uterine contractions, so there is an increased risk of miscarriage,” says Klugman, who also heads the Division of Reproductive Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A 2006 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, entitled “Birth Spacing and Risk of Adverse Perinatal Outcomes,” concluded that the ideal time for conceiving a subsequent child is between 18 and 59 months after birth. Excessively short or long inter-pregnancy intervals, the study found, came with increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Cathy Jo Cress, parenting and family lecturer and co-author of “Mom Loves You Best,” a new book on sibling relationships, maintains that parents’ emotional readiness is also a crucial factor. “Spacing depends upon what the parent can bring to each individual child,” Cress says. “A mother and father need to think about the amount of emotional support they can give the subsequent child.” What’s more, “sibling rivalry happens pretty much with all very close siblings,” Cress points out, and even parents of children three to

four years apart will agree that sibling rivalry is simply an unavoidable part of most families’ lives. To mitigate it, Cress recommends parents “encourage positive activities that siblings can do together,” and shower equal amounts of love and attention on each child. Judy Capano, a mom living in Manhattan, was happy to have her two oldest children close together. Her first, a daughter, is now 10 and a half, while her son is nine: a 17-month difference. “I have observed a lot of my friends and sisters having children that were two and a half years apart, and that’s a very difficult split,” Capano says. “What happens is you have a two-yearold, and you’re chasing them around when you’re pregnant, and then you have an infant.” Capano’s daughter was just eight months old when she became pregnant again, and “she was only just starting to get moving.” Now that they’re older, Capano says the two children get along for the most part, but sometimes the short age difference causes a little friction. “It’s a little too close for my daughter sometimes,” Capano says. “She’s doing something and he wants to do it just at the same time.” But both her older children adore her youngest son, now five. “It’s a nice spread; there is enough space that he’s

www.newyorkfamily.com

not in their stuff,â&#x20AC;? she says. When her youngest son was born, her older son was three and a half. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was out of the stroller, he was completely toilet-trained, he was more independent, so I really just had one baby then,â&#x20AC;? Capatano says. Parents have children five or more years apart for any number of reasons, both planned and unplanned. Some couples want to avoid the stress of having multiple small children in the house. Some suffer miscarriages that prolong the age difference between children. Some divorce and remarry over a number of years. Some simply choose to enjoy extended periods of time with the child or children they currently have. Like having children close in age, choosing to space out children five or more years apart has its own predictable effects on the family dynamic, Cress says. Sometimes siblings with several years between them will each be treated as â&#x20AC;&#x153;single children,â&#x20AC;? enjoying plenty of attention from parents at all stages of their development. Parents may want to encourage siblings who are spaced farther apart to build a strong relationship by participating in activities together, as â&#x20AC;&#x153;many times they will fall into this category of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;listless siblings,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; where they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of contact.â&#x20AC;? While siblings with a significant age gap can become estranged as adults, Cress notes that her own two grown daughters, who have an 11-year age gap, â&#x20AC;&#x153;are thick as thieves.â&#x20AC;?

Whatever your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age differences, plan regular activities for the whole family. Hold family meetings, and expect all family members to pitch in when it comes to household chores. For Randi Jacoby, an Upper East Side mom and pediatric speech pathologist, having her two sons six years apart has been a dream. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have a very close relationship,â&#x20AC;? says Jacoby of her children, now ages 16 and 10. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My younger son idolizes my older son, and my older son adores his younger brother.â&#x20AC;? Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, their distance in years means that â&#x20AC;&#x153;thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no competition and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no rivalry.â&#x20AC;? Though her oldest was only six years old when his brother was born, their relationship evolved over time into one of care and affection, and now â&#x20AC;&#x153;heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost a surrogate father at times.â&#x20AC;? Whatever your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age differences, Cress encourages parents to plan regular activities for the whole family. Hold family meetings, and expect all family members to pitch in when it comes to household chores. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about making a team,â&#x20AC;? Cress says, regardless of how young or old each member may be. Ultimately, having children is always a leap of faith, and your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique personalities and needs will influence your family dynamic just as much, if not more, than how far apart in age they are. And whether your children are one or 10 years apart, Cress says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You just learn how to spread out the loveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and limited energyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you have.â&#x20AC;? G www.newyorkfamily.com

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January 2011 | New York Family

Growing U P

Chores Without

Wars

Kids Can Do A Lot Around The House—And They Should

BY IreNe DarIa

magine this: Your five- or six-year-old makes his bed and puts away his pajamas every morning. In the evening he sets the table and feeds the dog. At the end of a play date, he cleans up the mess that has spread across his room. And during the weekend, he may even vacuum the living room. Does having your child help you around the house sound like an impossible dream? It isn’t. Really. Parenting experts unanimously agree that five- and six-year-old kids could—and should—be assigned regular chores. “When kids are younger they can only do partial chores and a parent almost always has to help them,” says parent educator Susan Turben, Ph.D. “Five- and six-year-olds can do significant chores, like vacuuming a room, and they can do the whole thing.” “When children turn five they are more focused and have a longer attention span than they had when they were younger,” says Virginia Stowe, founder and director of the Parenting Resource Center in New York City. “They are more adept with their hands and have arrived at a good balance between what they would like to do and what they are capable of doing so that completing chores will be less frustrating for them.” The benefits of having your kids do chores have been well documented. Contributing to the running of the household “helps children feel competent and that helps them develop a strong sense of self esteem,” says Stowe. “It makes them have a sense of being important

New York Family | January 2011

within their family.” Being responsible for accomplishing tasks at home will also help your kids do better in school later on. “Research shows that kids who don’t try as hard as they could in school are more likely to have been raised in families where they didn’t have to do things at home for their families,” says Stowe. “They believed someone would always step in and do it for them.” Another reason chores help kids do better in school is because they “teach kids that sometimes they have to do something even if they don’t want to and that translates into getting homework done and completing assignments on time,” says Vicki Carr, director of children’s programs at the University of Cincinnati’s Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center. Keep in mind that your child’s chores should involve taking care of his or her room and belongings as well as general household chores, like dusting or setting the table. The latter “set www.newyorkfamily.com

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the whole atmosphere for what the expectations are of being part of a family. That helps create a ‘we’ vs. an ‘I’ environment,” says Carr. Here’s how to get your child started: 1. Make a list of all the chores your child can do (see box). Then let him pick three or four that appeal to him most. “We all like to have some choice in what we do,” says Stowe. “If you let your kids choose the things they like best you will have more cooperation.” 2. Do not link regular chores to his allowance if he gets one. “Regular jobs around the house should never be paid for,” says Turben. “They should be considered part of living in a home.” “The best way to motivate your child is to tell him that by doing chores he is saving you time, so that you’ll have more time to do something fun with him, such as play a game or read,” says Stowe. “Time spent together ought to be the reward.” 3. Rather than telling your child he

So make sure you’ve taught your child the skills she needs to do her chores—that she can easily open and close the boxes her toys get stored in, for instance, or that she knows exactly where to put the dishes when she carries them into the kitchen. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with doing some chores together since that can be a nice way to spend oneon-one time together and get things done. The Kimberly family devotes every Saturday morning to chores. And while their two older kids do their chores on their own, five-year-old Hannah prefers to clean the bathroom mirrors while her mother does the sinks. “Frankly it’s a lot more fun for her if we do it together,” says her mom, Elizabeth. “She needs that motivation and partnership. But every day she makes her bed and sets the table by herself, too.” “You may have to wean your child away from doing her chores with you,” Stowe recommends. “Say, ‘For now you need to have me here. In a couple of weeks we’ll try it “Research shows that kids me in the other room who don’t try as hard as they with and you’ll call me if you could in school are more get stuck. And don’t worry, likely to have been raised in we’ll have time together for other things.’ That way families where they didn’t they’re reassured they’re have to do things at home not losing out on time spent with you.” for their families.” 5. “I’m too busy” or “I did a good or bad job, describe exactly don’t feel like it.” That’s what fivewhat your child accomplished, says year-old Mallory Merryman says Stowe. every time her mother, Betsy Jordan, She recommends saying something asks her to help with the laundry or like, “You put everything in the right clean up her room. spot and the napkins are folded well.” In this situation it’s best to empaOf course, getting your kids to thize with your child and say, “I know take on regular responsibilities may you don’t feel like it but the job has not be all smooth sailing. Here are to be done anyway,” says Carr. “If you the most common hurdles parents don’t acknowledge their feelings they’ll face and how to handle them. You tend to get into a power struggle with know you’ve hit a rough spot when you and yell things like, ‘I’m not going your kids say: to do it,’ or ‘Nobody understands me,’ 4. “Mommy, you have to help me.” or ‘I hate this.’” If your child refuses to clean up her If they still won’t do it, “give them room or set the table unless you’re consequences related to the chore,” right there doing it with her, she may says Stowe. “If they don’t put their just want to spend more time with clothes in the hamper they won’t get you, says Stowe. Or she may be afraid washed. If they don’t put their toys she won’t do it right. away they won’t be allowed to play

New York Family | January 2011

What Your Child Can Do Around the House (Beginning At Five or Six) EvEryday chorEs

• Set the table • Feed the dog or cat • Place dirty clothes in the hamper • Make their beds • Put away their shoes and clean clothes • Scrape food off the plates and into the garbage • Put the dishes in the dishwasher • Empty the bathroom garbage into a larger garbage can • Put their books and toys away • Separate the recyclables

oncE a wEEk chorEs

• Sweep up or vacuum in one or two rooms • Water some plants • Help sort and fold the laundry • Help clean their room • Stack all the magazines and newspapers for recycling

with them the next day.” 6. “I forgot.” “Up until the age of 8 or 9 kids have to be reminded constantly of most things,” says Turben. She recommends posting a chart with pictures of what they have to do on the refrigerator or on their bedroom door. Even with a chart, it’s still perfectly normal for kids to forget every so often. It’s not a reason to give up and do it yourself, even though it may be faster and easier if you did. In the long run it’s better for your children—and you—if you just remind them whenever they need reminding and then get out of there and let them do their own thing, says Turben. “Help them only if they really, really need it.” G This stor y originally ran in the Ju n e 2 0 0 6 i s s u e o f Ne w Yo r k Fa m i l y. www.newyorkfamily.com

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BY ERIKA THORMAHLEN

The Three Sassy Women Of ‘Moms And The City’ Use Their Adventures In Motherhood As The Raw Material For a Hit Show, Blog And Newspaper Column—As If They Weren’t Multitasking Enough Already

Denise Albert, Raina Seitel Gittlin and Melissa Gerstein on the set of their show.

Mom! W

hen first meeting the women of the weekly television program “Moms and the City,” it’s hard not to be swept up by their beauty and brains, a telegenic combination of shiny hair and sharp wits. The dynamic trio consists of three longtime, award-winning journalists—Denise Albert, a mom of two who has interviewed everyone from Michael Jordan to Paula Jones and most recently served as the president of David Blaine’s production company; Melissa Gerstein, a mom of three who has interviewed notable individuals like Mariah Carey and Steven Spielberg and closely followed President George Bush during the 2000 Presidential election; and Raina Seitel Gittlin, a mom of one and an Emmy-award winning journalist who has garnered accolades for both her coverage of September 11th and an expose on underage drinking. Together, the women make up the witty and ever-provocative voices behind the multi-platform brand “Moms and the City,” which reaches NYC parents through television, print and web. It all began when Albert and Gittlin, who worked together at “Good Morning America,” met Gerstein, a producer contributing to CBNC, CNN and MSNBC. The three women, who were each in the midst of motherhood’s various stages from pregnancy to kindergarten admissions, found they had much in common, including a belief that a candid discussion about raising kids in New York City was missing in the media.

New York Family | January 2011

“There was nothing out there that really spoke honestly to moms,” explains Gittlin, who was pregnant at the time with her now threeyear-old son. “We all worked together and had the same idea but had different experiences after we had kids,” Albert says. “I couldn’t wait to go back to work, but I found it very hard to keep doing what I was doing and being a mom the way that I wanted to be a mom. We basically all thought something was missing.” Nor were the new responsibilities and extra hours of raising kids fitting neatly into the roundthe-clock demands of television news anymore. “My head wasn’t in Baghdad and breaking news anymore, it was in motherhood,” says Gerstein. It was then, in October of 2009, that the three began contributing first-person pieces for Metro, taking turns writing about topics about which they felt strongly as working parents and women. Their reliably provocative commentary caught the attention of NBC New York’s David Ushery, a reporter and host of “The Debrief,” a fast-paced news show covering buzz-worthy issues. Soon, Ushery was booking them on the program; by their fourth appearance, their sass and savvy had earned them praise and laughs in the control room, and they were asked to shoot a pilot, which was completed in April of 2010. The show debuted only four months later in July. These days, “Moms and the City and a Dad www.newyorkfamily.com

Photo: Andrew Schwartz, Wardrobe Stylist: Sara Cooper, Jewelry by Jo Nayor, Hair by Christo Salon.

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Named David” (Ushery now chimes in with his own paternal perspective) airs weekly segments on WNBC and a half hour show on Nonstop channels in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington D.C. and is scheduled to expand with the network’s introduction to the California and Miami markets this month. In the meantime, their blog’s move from Metro to the New York Daily News, along with their current billing as celebrity content providers to BabyCenter.com, have launched them into that rarified stratosphere of a multi-platform brand. But despite their sudden success, you won’t find a team of publicists networking for their exposure behind the scenes. Albert—an award-winning producer who has worked for broadcaster Deborah Norville and the daughter of legendary sportscaster, Marv Albert—reveals the DIY nature of their enterprise, saying, “It’s really just the three of us doing everything.” The call to entrepreneurship has brought to light the women’s individual talents: “Melissa books everything, Raina is our expert writer and I’m more of a manager,” Albert says. What’s more, the moms don’t always agree on how things should be done. But it’s that kind of light-hearted dissent—and confidence in their respective opinions—that has proven to be the moms’ secret ingredient that keeps viewers and readers tuning in. “We all have very different perspectives, which is why this works,” Albert says.

“It speaks to the universal experience of motherhood,” Gittlin agrees. “We all have a common goal, but we might have different opinions and ways of doing things.” During no other segment are their opinions debated more intensely than their top-of-the-show version of “hot topics,” during which the moms tackle parenting matters from breastfeeding to bullying. The switch from reporting the news to commenting on it, however, has taken some getting used to. “I love asking questions and I love the curiosity of our business as journalists,” says Gittlin. “So to turn the spotlight on myself and reveal my innermost personal feelings about, for example, the societal pressures of maybe having only one child and how does that make me feel, has been rather challenging.” What’s more, the moms are quick to point out they don’t claim to be experts on any one subject. For that, they call on a weekly guest psychologist or educator during “The Bottom Line,” a kind of professional wrap-up of the discussion. Other favorite show segments include “Mamarazzi,” when the moms go one-on-one with celebrities about motherhood. From Julianne Moore and Denise Richards to Tori Spelling and Iman, the intention of these interviews, Albert says, is to meet the mom, not just the starlet. “We might say, ‘Do you really love being pregnant? Do you feel guilty when you go to work?’

We’re going a little bit deeper and asking them about the same things we’re writing and talking about,” Albert says. Another of the show’s segments, “Moms in Charge,” profiles notable mothers in business. Beneath the catchy names like “Mompreneurs” and “Role Momels,” each portrait, Albert says, speaks to the show’s belief that “every mom has a story.” Since their debut, in fact, their no-holds-barred honesty has cranked up the criticism on blogs and message boards. (Case in point: Albert’s New York Daily News editorial on so-called “Mommy Rage”—a piece, she explains, that was simply about “common courtesy.”) But the moms see controversy as an opportunity to spark a conversation. “I imagine some people probably don’t like all of us because we do have strong opinions, and that’s okay, because I think the most important thing is that people are talking about it, and if they can relate to even a snippet of what one of us said, I think we’re doing our job,” says Albert. And for this energetic threesome, the conversation comes easily, making it apparent why this talkative trio has—and deserves—its own show. “We are business partners, we are best friends, we are sisters,” Albert says. “We could talk forever.” P For more infor mat ion v isit m o m s a n d t h e c i t y. n e t .

FROM LEFT: Raina Seitel Gittlin and her son; Denise Albert with husband Jordan and sons Jaron and Jaylan; Melissa Gerstein with husband Anthony and children Elias, Sydney Rose and Lily.

New York Family | January 2011

www.newyorkfamily.com

   

       

          NYFamilyad1_11.pdf

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New York Family | January 2011

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For more information go to page 79 January 2011 | New York Family

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BY RACHAEL HOROWITZ

At left: Anna Barber, co-founder of Scribble Press. Above: Two young patrons collaborate on an art project at Scribble Press.

New York Family | January 2011

It Starts With A The City’s Only Make-Your-Own-Book Activity Center Is Helping To Ignite A Love of Writing In Even The Smallest Scribes The conversation eventually led Pollack to share her vision of a store where kids could publish their own books, a place that would inspire creativity and foster a love of writing. “I come from a book-loving, publishing family—my father is an editor, my mother is a literary agent and my sister is a writer,” Barber says. “So when I heard Darcy’s idea, it was like getting struck by lightning, it was one of those moments.” Just hours after

meeting, Pollack and Barber decided to become business partners. “I was seven months pregnant at the time, so when we got off the plane my husband sort of looked at me skeptically and asked, ‘Do you really think you are going to start a company with someone you just met on a plane?’” Barber says with a laugh. “Which, of course, only made me more determined to actually see it happen!” After their initial meeting, Barber www.newyorkfamily.com

Andrew Schwartz

ome of us get our best ideas in our sleep, in the shower or on the subway. The idea to open Scribble Press, a colorful, doit-yourself-bookmaking shop with locations on the Upper East and Upper West Sides as well as in Los Angeles, came to life in an unexpected place—on a flight across the country. It all began when Darcy Pollack and Anna Barber, two literature-loving moms, happened to sit next to each other on a flight in 2006. “The conversation began when I commented on the book that [Darcy] was reading, and we discovered that we had a lot in common,” says Barber, a mom of two sons and two stepdaughters and a trained lawyer who had worked in internet marketing, consulting and corporate law. “We both lived in L.A, we were both mothers, we both loved books, and we went to the same college. By the end of the flight, we exchanged our whole life stories,” Barber says. Pollack, also a mother of two, holds an MBA and had worked in investment banking and the entertainment industry.

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and Pollack worked diligently to make their vision come to life, researching different technologies, finding equipment suppliers and reaching out to other parents for support. In 2008, their hard work paid off when Scribble Press opened its first storefront in Los Angeles, a brightly-colored creative oasis as alluring to kids as a candy shop—and much better for them, too. Barber, a native New Yorker, knew that Scribble Press would be a tremendous asset to New York City families as well. “I always wanted to [bring Scribble Press] to New York,” she says. “Families here care a lot about education and the arts, and everyone in New York is looking for something to do with their children.” Fueled by Barber and Pollack’s passion and the enthusiasm and support from New York City parents and friends, Scribble Press subsequently opened its Upper East Side location in April of 2010, followed by its Upper West Side outpost this past November. But regardless of what side of the city your child is scribbling in, the process of getting started is easy and inviting. When kids enter the shop, they begin by choosing the format in which they want to present their work, selecting from hard and soft-cover book templates, notebooks, calendars, greeting cards, bookmarks, placemats and more. The projects range in price from $17 for a lined notebook with the child’s design on the cover to $40 for a calendar filled with a year’s worth of drawings. Plus, while older children pen their stories, kids ages 2 and up can have fun with a simple drawing project. After they choose their projects, guests can grab a wooden caddy and head over to the vast marker wall to grab as many colors as they like before setting up shop at a large drafting table. If kids need more inspiration along the way, there are stencils, idea cards and fill-in-the-blank “cueprints” on each table, with prompts like “I Love My Mom” and “All About Me.” “We want to provide as many tools and opportunities as possible to get kids to roll up their sleeves and be creative,” Barber said. What’s more,

New York Family | January 2011

children are encouraged to take their time on their creations. “We want kids to feel like they can take as long as they want to work on their projects, and [for parents] not to be concerned that they have spend a lot of money each time they visit.” After children finish their masterpiece, the books are whisked off to the production studio, where they are scanned, printed and bound into a professional-looking finished product—all in about 30 minutes. “It was important to us that children be able to leave the same day with their book,” Barber says. “We think a big part of the magic is being able to see your work transformed instantly into something permanent— there’s nothing like feeling like your work has become indelible,” she says. “The idea of thinking of yourself as a writer is so tied up with seeing your work in print.” In addition to drop-in sessions, Scribble Press also offers a variety of classes for children of all ages, from simple art classes for toddlers to more advanced courses—like vocabulary building and creative writing—for tweens and teens. What’s more, Scribble Press’ unique birthday parties have also been a huge hit with city families. “I think people like the idea that there’s a creative and literary birthday party option,” Barber says, “and that all the children get to go home with the book that they created.” Barber hopes that parents see the unique opportunities that Scribble Press has to offer in nurturing children’s creativity and helping them find their voice. “We see our objective as inspiring kids and giving them the tools they need to be creative, and the finished product is really personal,” says Barber. “When a kid comes in here and writes a story called ‘Deepa The Magical Ninja’—who rescues a lost cucumber from the sunken forest—you just couldn’t make that up!” G Scribble Press is located at 1 6 2 4 F i r s t Av e n u e ( b e t w e e n 84th and 85th streets) and 2 1 5 W. 8 4 t h S t r e e t ( a t B r o a d way). For more information, visit scribblepress.com.

Scribbling At Home There are many small things parents can do at home to open up the world of storytelling for their kids. Here are a few ideas from Scribble Press co-founder Anna Barber. MAKE UP STORIES FOR THEM. There’s nothing more exciting for a child than the words “Once upon a time…” spoken by mom or dad. You don’t have to be great at making up stories—you can borrow liberally from classics, movies and books you’ve read recently. USE BOOKS YOU’VE READ TOGETHER AS A STARTING POINT. You can also borrow the structure of a favorite picture book and add your own personal details. This shows kids that it’s okay to copy (all writers start out by copying), and gives them an easy way to structure their own stories. KEEP A ONE-LINE JOURNAL WITH YOUR CHILD. She can write (or dictate to you) one sentence a day about something that happened. This is easy to do and has the added beneﬁt of creating a great keepsake. I like to use an old-fashioned composition book with wide lines for this. This can be a part of your bedtime routine. MAKE “BOOKS” OUT OF CONSTRUCTION PAPER. Take three pieces of copier paper and a colored piece of construction paper for the cover, fold in half, and staple. It’s very tempting to create a book when presented with the empty pages. You can paste a photo of your child on the back and write a little author bio every time they create a book. MAKE A LIBRARY OF THEIR WORK. If you put all the books your child makes in school and at home on the same shelf, they’ll have a real sense of accomplishment, and also be able to see their progress.

For more ways to inspire your kids to love writing, visit the Scribble Press blog (scribblepress. wordpress.com). Happy scribbling!

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Michael and Ellen Diamant with their son, Spencer (and dog, Charlie), at home.

ichael and Ellen Diamant, the founders of NYCbased baby product company Skip Hop, might just be the personification of synergy. In creating a family, a business and a home together, the couple works seamlessly, their respective talents weaving together to create a sum larger than the parts. Native New Yorkers, Michael and Ellen met through friends and have now been married for over 15 years. In a classic case of creativity meets enterprise, the marriage has brought forth not only a son and a business, but an intriguing sense of design that infuses the products they create, the home they live in, and even the way their business is run. It’s a design philosophy based on aesthetic and simplicity, but powered by acute functionality. Perhaps this is most evident in the products Skip Hop has become so renowned for. Today’s new parents may not realize this, but not too long ago the baby gear market was dominated by banal licensed cartoon characters, anemic pastels, gingham, ducks and bunnies. If you were lucky you could maybe, just maybe, find a plain black diaper bag. These were the choices that Ellen faced when outfitting her home and life for the arrival of the couple’s now 10-year-old son, Spencer. Her search left her with baby products that were aesthetically unappealing and lacking in functionality. “In New York City, your stroller is like your car, you’re pushing it around and around,” she says. “I wanted a nice diaper bag that I could hang on a stroller and then take

New York Family | January 2011

With Their Popular Line Of Baby Products, Ellen And Michael Diamant Have Brought Modern Style And Function To Countless Families. Is It Any Wonder That Their Downtown Home Manages At Once To Be Chic, Comfortable and Impeccably Designed? By Melissa Breyer inside with me if I wanted to.” She even considered having a custom bag made. But here’s where creativity-meets-business enters the picture: while other parents settled for inferior designs or struggled with their own adaptations, Ellen and Michael sketched out designs, found a manufacturer and brought the beautiful, functional Duo Diaper Bag to market. Fast-forward seven years and the Skip Hop line includes everything from toddler backpacks and toys to essential gear and bedding. The products are sold worldwide, and show up on the arms of Madonna, Jennifer Garner and other high-profile parents. It’s really no surprise that this was the course of events. Prior to founding Skip Hop, Ellen had worked as an art director and had her own graphic design studio; Michael had started two Internet businesses. The timing seemed perfect, even if neither of them knew the first thing about making products. “We came into the business knowing nothing about manufacturing,” Michael says. “Sometimes knowing nothing lets you believe you can do anything.” Today, terms like supply chain and injection molding roll off his www.newyorkfamily.com

www.newyorkfamily.com

PHOTOS BY DYLAN CHANDLER

tongue like nursery rhymes. After the success of the Duo Diaper Bag, Skip Hop’s focus became evaluating tried-and-true baby gear essentials and reinventing them by eliminating the extraneous, increasing functionality and making everything lovely to look at. As these themes began to shape their company, the couple decided it was time to bring this design philosophy home, right into their living environment. “Our company is geared to the urban parent, to make things beautiful, to work with the urban environment, to save space, to minimize and simplify,” Ellen explains. “It was time to bring that home.” So in 2008, they made a rather startling move. They bought a brand-new apartment, packed every last bit of furnishings in their old apartment into storage, and started over from scratch. Seeking out a “more minimalist, Zen environment than their eclectic” Upper West Side prewar apartment, they decided on a 1600-square foot apartment downtown. After looking at brownstones and fixer-upper lofts, they purchased their

current space, sight-unseen. The building boasted a developer with a sterling reputation and renowned architecture firm FXFOWLE, and the space offered Ellen and Michael a blank canvas in which to realize their new vision. Working with mid-century loving twin-sister designers Joan and Jayne Michaels of 2Michaels Interior Design, Ellen sought out a balance of simple contemporary design, but with vintage pieces. Vintage furniture curator Larry Weinberg was also consulted, and the result of the combined efforts is a space that is at once elegant and peaceful, but oozes comfort. And (no surprise here), it’s exquisitely functional. Upon entering the space, the first thing a parent might wonder is: where is all of the stuff? Well, much of it is squirreled away in the storage space (which they have yet to visit after two years) but what is left is tucked away through clever design. All media has been digitized to alleviate the endless shelves of books, CDs and DVDs. Beautiful custom heater covers were designed to hide the heaters, as well as cords, plugs and wires. Everything has a place, and it’s mostly hidden. “We wanted to make things go away,” Ellen says. The living room plays host to an elegant side console—a stunning, LEFT: Argentine furniture marble-topped, 1950’s horizontal fildesigner Roberto Gil created a custom wall ing cabinet by Knoll. The couch, from unit for Spencer’s room. Dune, is a stealth number which conBELOW: The den verts to become an ersatz chaise or daycombines elegance and bed, like the sexiest La-Z-Boy in town. simplicity with practicality It’s as if everything has a secret identity: and comfort. slick beauty on one hand, purposeful practicality on the other. The den, for lack of a better word, is a dreamy chocolate brown that you just want to melt into. It’s where the television lives, and where son Spencer likes to hang out with his friends. It is as comfortable a room as one can imagine, without sacrificing an iota of elegance. So how does the Diamants’ design aesthetic translate into a kid’s room? The answer is Argentine furniture designer Roberto Gil. After consulting with Spencer, Gil built a wall unit perfectly suited to his needs. Properly scaled and supremely functional, it makes an exuberant collection of plastic toys look like a museum installation, and is intended to grow with Spencer through the years. As Ellen explains, Skip Hop “really thinks about how parents and kids live; we don’t just spit out products,” and the same can be said for the Diamants’ home. They’re like a mom and pop shop gone gracefully big time, continuing to run their now international-scale business with particular attention to detail, thoughtfulness and focus. What’s more, their work and home lives flow into one another, and their love for both design and family life is everywhere, from each new Skip Hop product to the sofa in their living room. “We are all-in-one,” Michael says. “You don’t find a lot of that anymore.” G January 2011 | New York Family

THE

VIEW FROM HERE Emmy-Winning Talk Show Co-Host Elisabeth Hasselbeck Dishes On Speaking Her Mind On National TV, Parenting Three Small Children In The City And Keeping It All Together (Most Of The Time) BY HEATHER CHAET Photography by Thaddeus Harden Shot on location at the Empire Hotel

LISABETH HASSELBECK AND I CONDUCTED OUR INTERVIEW IN BED.

Seriously. Picture it: two working moms, who can barely find nine minutes to shower, trying to schedule a time to talk uninterrupted. What did we come up with? 8:30 on a Monday night. So, Elisabeth sat on her bed and I sat on mine, both of us collapsed after a day of trekking the kids to school, attending work meetings, struggling to get a decent dinner on the table, and, finally, at last, getting the kids to sleep. Ensconced in our respective bedrooms, we talked about everything from Hasselbeckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new gluten-free health bars to sleeping in a sports bra (to increase the odds of a morning workout, of course).

New York Family | January 2011

www.newyorkfamily.com

ThE

ViEw From hErE Emmy-Winning Talk Show Co-Host Elisabeth Hasselbeck Dishes On Speaking Her Mind On National TV, Parenting Three Small Children In The City And Keeping It All Together (Most Of The Time) By HeatHer CHaet Photography by thaddeus Harden

Shot on location at the Empire Hotel

hasselbeck and i conducted our interview in bed. Seriously. Picture it: two working moms, who can barely find nine minutes to shower, trying to schedule a time to talk uninterrupted. What did we come up with? 8:30 on a Monday night. So, Elisabeth sat on her bed and I sat on mine, both of us collapsed after a day of trekking the kids to school, attending work meetings, struggling to get a decent dinner on the table, and, finally, at last, getting the kids to sleep. Ensconced in our respective bedrooms, we talked about everything from Hasselbeckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new gluten-free health bars to sleeping in a sports bra (to increase the odds of a morning workout, of course). lisabeth

New York Family | January 2011

www.newyorkfamily.com

It felt like a typical way to catch up with one of your mommy friends. Wait, you say you wouldn’t describe Elisabeth Hasselbeck as a typical mommy friend? Your typical mommy friend isn’t a former contestant on “Survivor,” a clothing designer for QVC, a best-selling author, a family and lifestyle contributor on “Good Morning America” or, oh yeah, an Emmy-winning co-host on that little show called “The View”? Okay, maybe she’s not at all typical, but after about thirty-seven seconds of talking with her, you realize she is honest, funny, smart and totally self-aware, and you want her to be your not-atall-typical mommy friend. During our pillow talk, Elisabeth Hasselbeck shattered popular misconceptions about herself, shamelessly admitted some not-so-great mommy moments, and shared her own “view” on raising a family in New York City. From “The View” to your clothing line to “Good Morning America” and everything in between, you are the definition of a working mom—you live in the city, you’re raising three kids 5 and under (Grace, 5; Taylor, 3; and Isaiah, 17 months). How do you juggle it all? Juggle is a good word. Thankfully, I have the best teammate and that’s my husband [Tim Hasselbeck, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback]. We have bizarre schedules that allow at least one of us to be with the kids most of the time, and we have great sitters. Our challenge is finding time for ourselves as a couple. We say, “Yes, we’ll do that Friday!” and come Friday, we are exhausted. I think the key is not sleeping, to be perfectly honest [laughs]. I’ve sort of learned to manage about four days of minimal sleep, and then I am pretty cranky and tired and give in by the fifth or sixth day. I don’t think that’s completely healthy and I don’t advise it. Tell me about being on “Good Morning America.” It is a great way to communicate with parents in a non-controversial or political way. I love tackling the topics and love just being able to give the information and not necessarily my opinion. I also manage three small businesses; it’s not easy. I think I do a decent job, but come Saturday and Sunday, I barely function. Do you have a typical day? Funny enough, the days are typical. It goes like this: my 17-month-old Isaiah tends to start waking up about 3 a.m. At 6 a.m., I have two cute faces at my bed—Taylor isn’t quite ready to get up, but willing to do whatever Grace does. I turn the TV on and let them watch a show while I come www.newyorkfamily.com

January 2011 | New York Family

From Surviving The Australian Outback To Reporting On Parenting Issues,

A LOOK AT ELISABETH HASSELBECK’S TV CAREER So what do you do? Steak. Meatballs. A lot of protein and I throw some pasta in there for the kids, but a lot of it is gluten-free. We like to play and hang out before or after dinner and most of the time, we’ll get everybody bathed by about 7:30, and they’re in bed by 8. I say, on some days, bathing is overrated. Tonight, I just had everyone stand in the shower in order of height, and I have one of those shower heads that come down on the coil. I literally squirted soap on all three and hosed them down. Six eyeballs were on me, looking at me like, “Mom, does this count?” While you and Tim are certainly in the public eye, New Yorkers are used to seeing celebrities around. Have you found living in the city gives you enough anonymity to go out and about

New York Family | January 2011

without being bothered? We are pretty low-key. Shake Shack is about as exciting as it gets for this household. Especially with three kids in the city, you can barely get three across on the sidewalk. My personal challenge is finding places where I can fit my stroller through the door. I don’t think we are the type of people who define who we are by what we do professionally and that helps us a lot. We have a great community here of young parents and parents of schoolaged kids who are all in the same boat, and it really doesn’t matter if you are on Wall Street, you’re driving a truck, or you are a stay-at-home mom. Your kids are your focus. I think [New York-

2001 Survivor: The Australian Outback Elisabeth Filarski takes a leave from her career as a shoe designer for Puma to compete in the second season of the popular reality show, ﬁnishing in an impressive fourth place.

I think it’s great when we can show our daughters that we stand up for our beliefs but also teach them how valuable other people’s thoughts are. I was driving with Grace and she looked out of the window and saw a female construction worker. She screamed, “Mommy! That’s a girl construction worker!” She was so excited. I saw this face on her that clicked, “I could do that!” I think conservative women get a really bad rap for not being about equality, feminism, women’s rights. I sat on a Title IX committee in college to make sure women were equally represented on the field and in funding. It has always been a mission of mine

2002 The Look for Less Post-Suvivor, Elisabeth teams up with the Style Network to help women achieve a high-fashion look on a budget.

ers] understand that there is more to a person than just what they do and are pretty savvy to the fact that there’s a lot going on with everyone.

to let my daughter really explore and find out for herself that you can pretty much do anything you want to—as long as it is legal [laughs].

You have said in other interviews that you don’t define yourself as a conservative, but you live in a fairly liberal city and are known for your conservative views. How does that translate in your everyday life and being a mom? I’ve had a few moments where someone thought they had me figured out, and once they see me with the kids, they have a moment where they say, “Oh, I guess she’s just like any other mom— she’s just as bad at that as I am!” It’s gotten a lot better in the past few years. Most of my friends are liberals. My best friends, my closest family, they don’t have to have my politics. Fortunately and unfortunately, it is my job to disclose what I think. I always say it is just my opinion—you don’t have to have it.

Obviously “The View” wouldn’t be “The View” if everyone had the same view. How is the dynamic off-camera? Off-camera, it is so fun and friendly, it provides quite a contrast to when we are at the table. It’s really come to a point where we are such good friends and know each other so well that we can “go there.” We have these wild debates that are so full of passion and life and we push one another’s buttons, because we know each other that well. I work with a handful of the funniest women ever—so sharp, so brave. I am laughing all morning. And I sit next to Barbara Walters, who is the most incredible person at the job, and I’d argue that to the grave. It is such a gift as a mom to be www.newyorkfamily.com

The Look for Less: The Style Network

to. We have breakfast and read a little something in the morning. I take both Grace and Taylor to school and then I screech into work about 9:01. I’m there until about noon and then I run home, play with the boys, get them down for a nap. Any sort of afternoon meeting is done while the boys are sleeping. I get Grace from school, we do any afterschool activities, and then, all of a sudden, 4 p.m. sneaks up on me and I’m trying to get some sort of dinner microwaved or made. It is a challenge in our house—Isaiah doesn’t like anything, I have celiac disease, Grace and Taylor are typical kids, and my husband’s hungry.

able to have those talks. I really love going in there. There’ve been times when I haven’t, but right now is a time where I do. I just feel more fulfilled as a person because I get to have those conversations. What are three things that readers would find surprising about you? First, bananas are my favorite thing to buy in NYC. Five for a dollar, and once, I even found them six for a dollar! To be able to hand over a dollar and get five of something back, I love that. Second, I probably have the Metropolitan Museum memorized.

What’s on tap for 2011? I have gluten-free products I’ve been working on for two years coming out called NOGII. They are high-protein, all-natural, glutenfree bars that should be available on Amazon.com in January. This has been a real pet project; they are so good and I can’t wait. I am working on one for kids that’s gluten-free, nut-free, all-natural and suitable for all kids on the autism spectrum, kids with learning disabilities and ADHD. With the NOGII bars, I designed the formula. I designed the packaging. I love the behind-the-scenes stuff. I will have fitness apparel coming

nighttime is our biggest fear, because [we don’t know] when they might get up. But I’ll take it, because when those nights come when we are waiting for them to come home, I am going to be a mess. What’s the hardest question you’ve had to answer from your kids so far? My daughter said to me, “Mommy, if God is so big, how is he in my heart?” Of course, these questions come at 8:05 at night, when I am nearly asleep myself. That bedtime talk is so precious, but this was one time that I thought, “I don’t

2009-present 2003-present The View Beating out Carnie Wilson and Rachel Campos of the Real World San Francisco, Elisabeth wins a seat as a co-host of the daytime talk show, where she makes a name for herself as the outspoken conservative voice on the panel. In 2009, she and her co-hosts win the Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

The View: ABC/Lou Rocco; Good Morning America: ABC/Donna Svennevik

I could work there and direct people to every artist. We go there all of the time with the kids. We dot-dot-dot like George Seurat and paint hay like Claude Monet. Third, I am super-messy and not organized. If not for Tim, I probably would be on an episode of “Hoarders.” Everybody thinks I am super buttoned-up and, of course, I seem that way because I have someone doing my hair and makeup every single day and have clothes that are there. But I am a walking disaster. I want to be Type A, everyone thinks I am Type A, and I feel pressure to be Type A, but I’m really not. I missed the first day of school with Grace in her second year of preschool. I got an email from one of the teachers saying, “Hi. Just checking to make sure Grace is coming to school this year.” Seriously, who forgets the first day of school? www.newyorkfamily.com

QVC While keeping her post at The View, Elisabeth returns to her design roots with a collection of fashionable yet affordable separates for Dialogue.

out in Fall 2011. I’m busy with a lot of side projects that are really the guts of what I like to do. “The View” is exceptional because it allows us to be who we are and for all of these other things to happen. Truth be told, none of those opportunities would be there without it. And for the first time in six years, I’m not making a baby! I’ll be working on growing kids instead of growing them in me right now. Are you done? I think we’re done. Done would be a good word for us [laughs]. We are complete, I’ll say that. We look at Isaiah and I say, “Oh, my little grand finale, there you are!” We are physically in the trenches right now. When you have lots of kids in the house, chances are one of them is getting up, someone has a cough, or someone lost their binky. The bigger they get, the worries may become greater. Right now,

2010-present Good Morning America Proving her adeptness at multi-tasking, Elisabeth becomes a correspondent for Good Morning America, contributing stories on family and parenting issues.

know if I am capable of answering that in a way that it needs to be answered right now.” What did you tell her? I said God has the ability to be both big and small and that no place is too small and no place is too big. Seemed to satisfy her—she rolled over and went to sleep. Do you think you’ll always live in New York City? I think it is a magnetic city. There is something that allows those with the ability to work really hard the chance to be a good parent and feel like you are connected. I love the fact that I am no more than 10 minutes away from my kids at all times; call me a helicopter parent, but I like that. I never thought I would ever live in NYC, but there is something that keeps us here. We’ve been here a long time, it’s an incredible home, and the kids love it. For now, this works for us. G January 2011 | New York Family

WINTER Fun Guide

2011

Hitting The Ice

Great City Skating Rinks The Polar Rink at the American Museum of Natural History overlooks the Rose Center for Earth and Space and features a 17-foot-tall polar bear decorated with twinkling lights around which kids can pirouette. 79th Street at Columbus Avenue, 212-769-5100, amnh.org. With ice hockey, a skating school, public skating, and one of the most picturesque settings in the city, Wollman Rink in Central Park has long been a favorite of New York City families. Enter at 59th Street and 6th Avenue, 212-439-6900, wollmanskatingrink.com. Lasker Rink, a twin rink facility tucked away in the north end of Central Park, offers a youth hockey league, ice skating school, and public ice skating. Enter at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue, 917-4923856, wollmanskatingrink.com/ main_lasker.htm. There’s free admission to skating at The Pond at Bryant Park, and individual and group lessons are available too. Between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues, 866-221-5157, bryantpark.org. Everyone should hit The Rink at Rockefeller Center at least once! Skating lessons and public skating are offered. 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, 212-3327654, patinagroup.com/east/ iceRink/. Everyone from beginners to advanced skaters can glide about the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, which has youth hockey, ﬁgure skating, general skating and more. Pier 61, 23rd Street and the Hudson River, 212-336-6100, chelseapiers.com. City Ice Pavilion in Long Island City, a relatively new addition to the skating scene, is an NHL-style dome with an ice skating school, ice hockey training, and free public skating. 47-32 32nd Place, Long Island City, 718-706-6667, cityicepavilion.com. —Leah Black

It’s Cold Out There.

Enjoy It! From Tackling The Slopes To Taking Tea, There’s Plenty Of Fun To Be Had In The City (And Beyond) In Winter

Hot Cocoa Havens

Where To Get A Steaming Cup Of Something Sweet And Chocolate-y City Bakery There’s nothing quite like a homemade marshmallow ﬂoating in a giant mug of hot chocolate. City Bakery’s rich, thick hot cocoa is sure to satisfy any chocaholic. Pair it with the bakery’s famed pretzel croissant for the best sweet and savory combination around. $7. The City Bakery, 3 West 18th Street, thecitybakery. com. Dylan’s Candy Bar & Café Located on the store’s third level, Dylan’s café offers six varieties of over-the-top hot chocolate, including “Birthday Party” (which comes with whipped cream, sprinkles and a slice of cake), and “Perfectly Peanut Butter” (complete with peanut butter cups, chips, sauce and whipped cream). $7. Dylan’s Candy Bar and Café, 1011 Third Avenue, 646-7350078, dylanscandybar.com. Jacques Torres There’s a reason Jacques Torres is known as “Mr. Chocolate.” Kids can try the classic thick and creamy hot chocolate (and add ﬂavorings like peanut butter, orange or caramel), while adults can try the “wicked” version, made with allspice, cinnamon, chipotle and ancho chilis. $3.25-$6.50. Various locations, mrchocolate.com. La Maison du Chocolat Step inside this store and be

New York Family | January 2011

transported to the streets of Paris (if only until you drain your cup). Choose from two varieties: the Guayaquil, a silky smooth dark chocolate drink, and the Caracas, a special blend of full-boded cocoa beans. $8. Various locations, lamaisonduchocolat.com.

Max Brenner Max Brenner’s signature hot chocolate is served in a specially-designed “hug mug” (the better to warm your hands with, of course!). Choose from dark, milk and white chocolate varieties, with the option of mixing in your own ﬂavors: raspberry, coconut, cinnamon, mint, hazelnut or banana. $5.25. Max Brenner, 841 Broadway, maxbrenner.com. The Chocolate Room A cup of hot cocoa enjoyed at a table in this cozy café is a perfect way to spend a chilly afternoon or evening. Children will adore the classic hot cocoa, and adults can try specialties like Café Lou (half coffee, half bittersweet hot chocolate), or Café Torino (bittersweet hot chocolate with a shot of espresso). $4.50. Locations in Park Slope and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, thechocolateroombrooklyn.com.

MarieBelle’s Cacao Bar and Tea Salon This specialty chocolatier pulls no punches when it comes to hot chocolate: five different varieties, each with the option of “European style” (made with water) or “American style” (made with milk). The mocha is made with finely ground coffee powder and 60% cacao, while the spicy version is flavored with chipotle, ancho chiles, nutmeg and cinnamon. Hot chocolate ranges from $6-$9. MarieBelle’s, 484 Broome Street, mariebelle.com.

Nunu Chocolates Enjoy a shaved hot chocolate and feel good about the world at Nunu; the cocoa beans used at this specialty store come from a sustainable, family-run farm in eastern Colombia. Take a seat at one of the wooden farmhouse tables—if you’re lucky, you might see chocolatier Justine Pringle creating her delectable treats in the kitchen! $4-5. Nunu Chocolates, 529 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, nunuchocolates.com. —Amy Spiro

www.newyorkfamily.com

Ski Time

Nearby Ski Resorts Your Family Will Love Thunder Ridge, NY: It’s just 75 minutes from New York City and features 30 trails of varying difﬁculty levels. Three-hour lessons for children ages 5-12 are offered on weekends and holidays. If you don’t have a car, ride the MetroNorth Railroad—on Saturdays and Sundays through March, enjoy free shuttle service between the Patterson train station and the slopes. Patterson, New York, 845878-4100, thunderridgeski.com. Hunter Mountain, NY: With 240 skiable acres, eleven lifts, 55 trails and nine snow-tubing chutes, this resort is an exciting and not-too-far-away option. Programs are available for children 4-17 in skiing and snowboarding, and daycare is available for children 6 months through 6 years. Hunter, NY, 800-486-8376 ext. 2200, huntermtn.com. Kissing Bridge, NY: Head to Western New York for a chance to ski this 700-acre, 36-slope, nine-lift ski spot. Parents can enroll children in a two-hour instructional program (a hot cocoa break is included!). The resort also boasts a downhill tubing park, several restaurants and plenty of nearby bed and breakfasts. Glenwood, NY, 716-592-4963, kbski.com. Holiday Valley, NY: Just one hour away from Buffalo and Lake Erie, this resort is a ski-loving family’s dream. The Burton Learn to Ride Center offers lessons for children and adults. The resort offers tubing, mountain biking, a spa and a chance to learn the history of the areas Seneca Native Americans.

Belleayre Mountain, NY: Located in the Catskills just 2.5 hours outside of New York, this resort offers eight lifts and 55 trails, glades and parks. A full-day instructional program is offered for children 4-12. Workshops and clinics are also available for children and adults to hone their skiing, snowboarding and even cross-counSmuggler’s Notch Resort try skills. Visitors over at neighboring Ski Big Bear can also enjoy the at Masthope Mountain. Hawley, lodging, dining and attractions of Pennsylvania, 1-800-WOODLOCH, the nearby Catskills. Highmount, woodloch.com. NY, 845-254-5600, belleayre.com. Whiteface, NY: Rated the #1 ski resort in the Northeast by the readers of SKI Magazine, this resort encompasses the slopes used at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Adventure-loving families can try the Gold Medal Games Family Edition—participants can ski, bobsled, curl and speed skate among other Olympic activities. Lake Placid, NY, 518 946 2223, whiteface.com.

Ski Butternut, MA: Beginners on these Berkshire slopes can breathe easy. Three trails are designated Slow Zones, where speedy skiing is prohibited. Novices ages 4-12 can receive full- and half-day instruction on weekends and holidays. For longer-term vacations, mid-week ski-and-stay packages are a steal. Great Barrington, Massachusetts, 413-528-2000, skibutternut.com.

Woodloch Resort, PA: Sitting on 1,000 acres in the heart of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Woodloch is a four-season retreat. A few of the many winter activities guests enjoy are snow tubing, ice skating, and snowmobiling. Purchase a Woodloch VIP pass for quicker access to the 18 trails

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, MA: This popular Berkshires resort boasts top-rated instructional programs, like SkiWee for children 4-6 and Explorers for kids ages 7-12 (there’s even a program for three-year-olds!). Little ones 6 months and older can enjoy indoor play in the Cub’s Den playroom while parents take to the slopes. Hancock, Massachusetts,

All Natural Enjoying Nature In The

game of checkers or a craft workshop. (centralparknyc.org)

City—Despite The Cold

Garden Variety The city’s public gardens may be quieter when it’s cold, but there’s still plenty to explore at these natural oases in winter. Visit the bucolic Wave Hill to take part in a family Art Project, like “Collage The Colors of Winter” happening January 8-9 (wavehill.org). Kids can become honorary engineers when Thomas the Tank Engine visits the New York Botanical Garden from January 1-9 (nybg. org). The Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a February Break Discovery

Central Park Perk The city’s backyard actually boasts a special feature in winter—with no leaves on the trees, visitors get a one-of-a-kind of view all the way through the park! When you’re done park-gazing, take refuge from the cold at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, which hosts daily marionette shows that bring traditional fairy tales to life. Or stop by the Chess and Checkers House for an old-fashioned www.newyorkfamily.com kfamil m

413-738-5500, jiminypeak.com.

Ellicottville, NY, 716-699-2345, holidayvalley.com.

Week; families can drop by the conservatories at any time during workshop hours to be transported to the world’s deserts and rainforests, and kids can pot up a plant to bring home (bbg.org). Spectacular Stargazing While the nights may be frigid, astronomically-inclined families will ﬁnd plenty to look up and wonder at in winter—it’s considered the best time of year for stargazing! At Central Park’s Belvedere Castle, visitors can study the stars with the help of a vast collection of telescopes (located mid-park at 79th Street;

Smuggler’s Notch Resort, VT: Cruise any one of this awardwinning ski spot’s three mountains, then trek over to the FunZone, a kid-friendly recreation center complete with an indoor playground and a minigolf course. Condominiums come equipped with kitchens, internet access and in-unit or nearby laundry facilities. Free lift tickets for kids 5 and under. Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont, 1-800-419-4615, smuggs.com. Stowe Mountain Resort, VT: This all-inclusive ski lodge is a place to be pampered. Dine in at one of its distinctive restaurants. Indulge in star treatment at The Spa. Stay in one of 139 customdesigned rooms at the Stowe Mountain Lodge, or opt for more private accomodations at the cozy Inn at the Mountain. Also available are a variety of townhome rentals perfect for families. On the mountains, kids three and older can strengthen their skills in full-day ski instruction programs. Stowe, Vermont, 1-800-253-4754, stowe.com. Okemo, VT: Head to Vermont to experience one of the best ski resorts in the Northeast. Featuring slopeside lodging (free for kids), free skiing and riding for children under six, a daycare center for children and private lessons for those as young as two, this resort is truly family-friendly. Okemo even offers Young Adult slopes for teens and a special Kids Night Out that indulges children in pizza parties, movies and fun activities while parents enjoy the slopes solo. Ludlow, VT, 802-228-4041, okemo.com. —Tiffanie Green and Annie Young for more info call 212-772-0210). Alley Pond Environmental Center in Queens offers an astronomy program hosted by renowned scientist Mark Freilich; families can choose from three two-hour Saturday sessions: January 15, February 12 and March 19 (alleypond.com). Can’t stand the cold but still want to see some stars? Head to the American Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium to catch the mesmerizing space show “Journey to the Stars” (amnh.org). —Katie Garton and Theodora Guliadis January 2011 | New York Family

Ski Time

All Natural Enjoying Nature In The

game of checkers or a craft workshop. (centralparknyc.org)

City—Despite The Cold

413-738-5500, jiminypeak.com.

Ellicottville, NY, 716-699-2345, holidayvalley.com.

WINTER Fun Guide

2011

The Great Indoors

Where To Stay Warm And Have Fun With Kids American Museum of Natural History Discovery Room: The Discovery Room at the American Museum of Natural History is specially designed for kids ages 5-12 as an interactive gateway to the wonders of the museum. Hunt for animals in a two-story African tree, assemble a life-size dinosaur skeleton and track earthquakes around the world. Kids will have so much fun they’ll forget how much they’re learning. Central Park West at 79th Street, amnh.org. FAO Schwarz: The magical FAO Schwarz will leave even the most technology-laden child clamoring for some old-fashioned play time. The newborn doll nursery, muppet workshop, FAO “Schweetz” shop and the Madame Alexander doll factory will provide hours of entertainment for kids of all ages. 767 Fifth Avenue, fao.com. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!: The Ripley’s “odditorium” will simultaneously enchant, gross out and amaze your children. Tour the shrunken heads exhibit, examine a six-legged cow, see a lock of Elvis Presley’s hair and run through the laser maze. Kids and parents alike will ﬁnd plenty of oddities

A Spot Of Tea The Best Children’s Teas In The City Waldorf=Astoria: On Saturday afternoons, kids can dress in their best and head down to the Waldorf=Astoria to sample warm scones, ﬁnger sandwiches and pastries and sip caffeine-free peach, chocolate-mint or apricot tea. Children learn about tea traditions and etiquette, and a pianist and singer provides live accompaniment! 301 Park Avenue, 212-355-3000, waldorfnewyork.com. The Carlyle Hotel: Calling all

New York Family | January 2011

to gawk at! 234 West 42nd Street, ripleysnewyork.com. World of Disney Store: After a year-long absence, the Disney Store is back in Times Square, featuring your children’s favorite characters and gifts. A full-sized princess castle, customizable cars and music videos will keep kids of all ages enthralled for hours. 1540 Broadway, disneystore. com. Scandinavia House: Go on a whimsical adventure in the Swedish countryside! Every Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., families can head to ScanScandinavia House dinavia House to explore the Heimlich Family Children’s city. With an extensive children’s Center, with its books, toys, stosection and regular events for rytelling and regular workshops. toddlers and children, this literary Kids will love the interactive space will have your little ones storybook installation “A Child’s asking to go back to the library Adventure in the Swedish Counevery day. 10 Jersey Street, nypl. tryside,” with colorful murals org/locations/mulberry-street. and interactive activities. 58 Park Avenue, scandinaviahouse.org. Soho Scholastic Store: Little readers will be in book heaven at the Chelsea Piers Little Athletes Scholastic store in Soho. Hop Exploration Center: With ball pits, inside a life-sized version of the tunnels and slides, the toddler Magic School Bus, play in Clifplay center enables kids ages ford’s dog house, work on craft 6 months to 4 years to get their projects and hear stories. Pick move on as they crawl, roll, jump up your favorite books on the way and explore. 23rd Street at the out and let literary fun continue at Hudson River, chelseapiers.com home. 557 Broadway, scholastic. com/sohostore. Mulberry Street Library: Located at the site of a former chocolate facThe Winter Garden at the World tory, this branch of the New York Financial Center: The World FinanPublic Library is a perfect stop cial Center’s Winter Garden—an on your stroller treks around the Madeline fans! The Carlyle Hotel hosts a Madeline-themed afternoon tea at Bemelmans Bar, complete with a three-tiered tray of treats and Madelinethemed tunes! Every Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12:30p.m., 35 East 76th Street, 212-744-1600, thecarlyle.com. The Plaza Hotel: The Plaza’s Palm Court provides the perfect backdrop for afternoon tea with the hotel’s most famous ﬁctional resident: Eloise! Kids can enjoy sandwiches, scones and pastries and either pink lemonade or peppermint iced tea. Afterwards, check out the new Eloise Boutique, where you can shop to your heart’s content. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., 5th Avenue at Central Park South, 888-850-

0909, theplaza.com. Russian Tea Room: Children will love sampling teas like raspberry zinger, lotus green and chamomile; choosing from a carousel of sandwiches like grilled trio of cheeses, miniature BLT’s and classic tuna ﬁsh; and ﬁnishing off the experience with mouth-watering desserts like warm scones, red velvet cupcakes and chocolate mousse. Open Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on the weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, 150 West 57th Street, 212-5817100, russiantearoomnyc.com. American Girl Café: As if the shopping experience at this girl-pleasing emporium isn’t exciting enough, girls can

enormous glass atrium overlooking New York Harbor that’s filled with shops and restaurants—is a great place to while away a winter afternoon, with shops like Boomerang Toys, the children’s boutique Aminah et les amis and much more. Hungry? Grab a bite to eat at Au Bon Pain or Columbus Bakery. The Winter Garden also hosts the popular year-round Arts & Events program of free festivals, exhibits and performances! 220 Vesey Street, 212-417-7000; worldfinancialcenter.com. Brooklyn Boulders: Located in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood, this indoor climbing gym—the largest in the city—offers kids the opportunity to challenge themselves on a rock climbing wall—and even scale a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge! 575 Degraw Street, Brooklyn, brooklynboulders.com. NYC Paintball and LazerTag: Just a short trip from Manhattan on the 7 train, this Long Island City attraction is NYC’s only indoor paintball facility, offering 27,000 sq. feet of climate-controlled playing fields. Families even have the option of skipping the mess and going digital with a game of paintball lazertag. 47-11 Dam Street, Queens, 718-361-8337, newyorkcitypaintball.com.

—Amy Spiro and Amanda Ferris head up to the third ﬂoor for afternoon tea with their dolls. Choose from a selection of treats both sweet and savory, and have fun pouring tea into tiny cups for your doll companions! 4 p.m. daily, 609 Fifth Avenue at 50th Street, 877-2475223, americangirl.com. Alice’s Tea Cup: This whimsical wonderland of a café is totally devoted to tea. Pop in for a simple and delicious afternoon tea with scones, or make it a lunch date with the “Mad Hatter,” which includes a pot of tea, two scones, sandwiches and dessert. Available all day, locations on the Upper West and Upper East Sides, alicesteacup.com. —Amanda Ferris

www.newyorkfamily.com

To M T Make ake Ti Time For D Date ate Night With My Hubby By Heather Chaet

My husband Jason and I don’t follow the Post-Kid Marriage Golden Rule; we don’t have date nights. So for my New Year’s resolution, I vowed to kick our tired selves into romance gear and plan three out-of-the-box date nights. DATE #1: When we first started dating we bonded over our love of modern art, so we trekked to the MoMA’s Abstract Expressionist New York exhibit. I rediscovered my love of Franz Kline, he reconfirmed his love of Mark Rothko, and we saw a performance piece where a hole was made in a grand piano and a pianist plays upside down and backwards while standing in the hole. It was a fantastic morning, and we’ve decided to take our daughter Tessa next weekend— she’s a Jackson Pollock fan. DATE #2: Our mission on this date was not to plan. We went out to dinner and—cue the dramatic pause—we didn’t make reservations or bring crayons. On a whim, we stopped by a favorite of ours, Ocean Grill, and after only a five-minute wait, we nabbed a cozy table in its first-come, first-serve bar area, where we’ve never

Heather Chaet and her husband, Jason

New York Family | January 2011

We W eA Asked sk ked F Four ou ur New York City Moms To Tackle Their New Years’ Resolutions… That Was The Easy Part eaten before (and where we never could with Tessa in tow). One word: yummilicious.

Th Thursday hursd sday d and d get get to o Long IIsland sla land forr dinner with my mother-in law, things are going pretty well. But I like the idea of setting a realistic goal, and this year I’d like to get my home more organized, so I called in an expert— organized Maeve Richmond, a professional organizer and the founder of Get Your House in Order. I was relieved to find Maeve warm and approachable. After touring my apartment, she outlined her five organizational concepts. “I’m not a rules person—I want these concepts to enable you to make your own decisions,” she said. This was a different approach then I had seen before; it wasn’t the militant “Keep, Donate, Give Away” mantra. Instead, she focused on giving items

DATE #3: The music was pumping as we entered Make Meaning, an Upper West Side craft studio, at about 9 p.m. (it’s open ‘til 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and you can BYOB until the shop gets its liquor license). We talked about PH OT making each other a O BY AN DR mug. Then we saw the EW SC HW cats. Tessa loves cats. AR TZ Jean Halloran-Monaco (left) and So together we painted professional organizer Maeve Richmond Sassy The Cat. Jason is not a crafty guy, so I took the artistic lead, but our Associate Creativity Expert was a specific place to live and giving me uber-encouraging to Jason, bringtime to think about what they mean ing him special detail brushes and to me. Instead of overwhelming fulladmiring his work. Once we started or half-day meetings, Maeve prefers polka-dotting Sassy, Jason said, “You to work in two-hour sessions, so we know, this is really fun.” focused on a small space that particularly unnerved me—my bedroom To Get My House Organized desk. Our organization session was very Once And For All focused. When I was about to get up By Jean Halloran-Monaco and put crayons in the bin in the kids’ New Year’s resolutions often seem room, Maeve stopped me, saying that leaving the room would be a distractoo lofty and ambitious to me. Let’s tion. After grouping similar items face it, if I can remember to quiz (change, pens, crafts, my husbands’ my first grader on her spelling every www.newyorkfamily.com

AR HW

Jill Valente and her daughter, Addison

stuff) we came across $140 worth of unexpired gift certificates. We also found a 2007 calendar in a dusty Filofax and hard disks I used a decade ago. The funniest discovery was a book about organization buried under a pile. Organizing my desk may not seem like a monumental change, but I gained a clean, functional and aesthetically pleasing place to work, in addition to Maeve’s great tips that will help me tackle the rest of my house.

To Help My Toddler Give Up Her Paci… By Jill Valente

In November my family and I celebrated our daughter Addison’s second birthday. It was a great party, but looming over the celebration was the reality that I had to get rid of Addy’s pacifier when she turned two on the recommendation of our pediatrician. A few weeks earlier I began mentioning that “paci” was going to have to go “bye bye” soon. We planned to throw it down the garbage shoot, and we discussed it daily. Then, during one of our conversations, Addy said, “Garbage shoot, now!” So we grabbed the pacifier and down the shoot it went. The day went on as usual until naptime, when she asked for her paci, and things took a turn for the worse. She started sobbing, muttering, “We can’t buy any more pacis!” as tears ran down her face. After an hour of hyperventilating, I popped an extra pacifier in her mouth and she was out like a light. When she woke up, she said, “Paci come back!”—to which I agreed. With my original plan foiled, I met with Soho Parenting’s Jean Kunhardt, M.A., who said something that surprised me. At two years old, Jean said, www.newyorkfamily.com

O OT

the chef, culinary instructor and visionary behind Rosaberry (rosaberry. com), who came to my kitchen and set me on a path to simplifying my family’s dinners. After describing a typical evening meal in my home, we discussed food preferences and dietary restrictions. A few days before our meeting, Jenna suggested three recipes and gave me a shopping list. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had most ingredients on hand, which is one of the best tips Jenna has—keep a well-stocked pantry and freezer. Having a recipe repertoire and knowing what items you use frequently allows you to shop efficiently and be prepared. Another useful idea: find at least

Addy wasn’t ready to have the pacifier taken away; she maintained that there is so much going on in the life of a two-year-old that changing a part of her routine can be very detrimental. Addy’s pacifier is a treasured item; I would never throw out her teddy bear or blanket, and I realized that a paci should be treated the same way. Here are a few of Jean’s other helpful tips that I’m sure will help me when the time is right. Do try and take away the pacifier before their first birthday, otherwise wait until your child is 3 or 4. Don’t throw it away; putting it in the trash or garbage shoot ES M JA CY N can be traumatizing. Do NA BY O give it away; explain that OT H P the new baby across the Michelle Levine (right)) and chef Jenna Helwig street needs her pacione half-hour during the week to fier. Don’t destroy it—poke holes in it focus on upcoming meals. Plan for or make it taste bad. Do eulogize the weeks or days at a time—the goal is to pacifier; make a keepsake book or a broaden everyone’s culinary horizons necklace out of the pacifier handles. while incorporating foods everyone To Make A Dinner My Whole will eat into each dinner. One strategy I was particularly Family Will Enjoy interested in implementing was the By Michelle Levine make-ahead meal. Jenna’s CrowdPleasing Chili was the perfect solution. What’s for dinner? It’s the dreaded question, but it’s not even my husband She assured me that the chili froze well and wouldn’t be too intimidating for and children who ask it. Why should me to prepare. Jenna’s flavorful recipe they, when I prepare separate meals immediately put my doubts to rest, for each of them on many nights? and her encouragement inspired me to Wanting to stop the short-order-cook make another batch the day after her syndrome, I resolved to plan weekday visit. A perfect wintertime meal, the meals ahead of time and insist that chili is finally something all four of us whatever I make is what’s for dinner. So I sought the advice of Jenna Helwig, can agree on for dinner. v

For more on these moms’ resolutions and solutions, visit newyorkfamily.com January 2011 | New York Family

Winter - Spring MAGIC Classes begin January 31st Register prior to January 15th and enter to win a FREE Deluxe Birthday Party at MAGIC ($850 value) Come Join the Fun! Call us today at 212.737.2989 or visit us at www.74magic.com

Join us on Facebook Follow us. on Twitter Under the red canopy at 510 East 74th Street (off York Avenue) NYC 212.737.2989 www.74magic.com

GET FIT

Make Meaning

Time For

Class A Guide To The City’s Most Inspired Offerings —From Mommy & Me To Tween

ooking for the perfect class for your child this semester? From prim and proper ballerinas to adventure-craving rock climbers, the city offers something for everyone (at every age, too!). Here’s a list of what we consider to be the coolest kids’ classes around, whether traditional or outof-the-box (Mini Namastar Yoga, anyone?).

Get your game on with Generation D, an individualized fitness program for kids at Dasha Wellness that trains children to make healthy choices and teaches the fundamentals of fitness. Classes will also improve kids’ athletic skills, like hand-eye coordination, agility and balance, while instilling a lasting dedication to healthy eating, fitness and mental and physical health. Programs are customized according to the child’s strengths, weaknesses, interests and goals; kids can choose from everything from Pilates and yoga to golf, soccer and baseball. (dashawellness.com)

STRETCH IT OUT

Yogi Beans’ Mommy & Me class for moms and toddlers ages 2-4 incorporates games and poses that actively engage both parent and child. Animated breathing exercises, partner poses, and other interactive activities help to develop toddlers’ physical coordination and verbal communication skills. No previous yoga experience required. (yogibeans.com)

FLAUNT IT WITH FLAMENCO

At Hola! A Playgroup In Spanish, kids can learn basic flamenco rhythms through clapping “palmas,” “braceo” (arm movement), “marcaje” (body coordination) and “taconeo” (footwork) for beginners. Students also learn to appreciate the diverse musical styles found in traditional flamenco and classic Spanish music. (holaplaygroup.com)

CULTURED KIDS

ArtKids cultural tours for kids enable students to visit a different city museum, art gallery or auction house weekly and participate in hands-on learning projects related to the exhibition. Kids can also roam the galleries of the Met with special ArtKids iPod tours that can be downloaded from the ArtKids website. (artmuseny.com)

PLAY AND LEARN AT POPPYSEED

Kidville Italian, the preschools immerse children 2 to 4 years old in a new language and build early childhood skills. Teachers develop pre-reading, pre-math, and socialization abilities through LWFC materials, LWFC methods, stories, music, play, puzzles and more. (languageworkshopforchildren.com)

ACT LIKE AN ANIMAL

At the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s “Acting and Animals” class, children 3-4 years old can roar like a lion, waddle like a penguin and jump like a kangaroo while learning about animals and their habitats. Students will make masks, puppets and backdrops all while investigating animals and their behavior. (cmom.org)

PREP FOR PRESCHOOL

NYC Elite Gymnastics offers preschoolers the opportunity to learn gymnastics, arts and crafts, dance and games designed to advance their motor development and coordination, all with highly qualified early development teachers. Need to run an errand or want to enjoy a relaxing morning? A drop-off option is available! (nycelite.com)

HAVE AN ANIMAL ENCOUNTER

Go on an animal adventure with the Art Farm in the City—kids will jump with the frogs, hop with the bunnies and learn about a new animal. Beginning with music and dancing and incorporating crafts, structured play and story time, this class culminates with a highlyanticipated visit from the “Animal of the Week.” (theartfarms.org)

Poppyseed Pre-Nursery’s classes for toddlers and two’s meet two to three times a week, providing enrichment through music, art and play. Participation by a parent or caregiver, and frequency of contact add to each child’s sense of security and self-confidence.

PICK UP A SECOND LANGUAGE—AT PRESCHOOL

Columbus Preschool and Gym www.newyorkfamily.com

Parents who want to give their preschooler a bilingual education will want to consider the preschool programs offered by The Language Workshop for Children. Available in French, Spanish, Chinese and

The Craft Studio January 2011 | New York Family

GET FIT

Make Meaning

Time For

Class A Guide To The City’s Most Inspired Offerings —From Mommy & Me To Tween

STRETCH IT OUT

FLAUNT IT WITH FLAMENCO

CULTURED KIDS

PLAY AND LEARN AT POPPYSEED

ACT LIKE AN ANIMAL

PREP FOR PRESCHOOL

HAVE AN ANIMAL ENCOUNTER

PICK UP A SECOND LANGUAGE—AT PRESCHOOL

Columbus Preschool and Gym www.newyorkfamily.com

Parents who want to give their preschooler a bilingual education will want to consider the preschool programs offered by The Language Workshop for Children. Available in French, Spanish, Chinese and

The Craft Studio January 2011 | New York Family

At The Early Ear, highly-skilled and educated music teachers and pianists work together to introduce the magical world of music to children. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, kids engage in sing-alongs, movement, musical games and stories and imitate their teacher in making music ensembles with friends. (theearlyear.com)

TAKE A PRIVATE PIANO LESSON Don’t have time to schlep across the city for a music class? Piano Teacher USA brings the joy and tradition of piano right into students’ homes through a program that combines historical and popular methods and styles specifically tailored to each student. (pianoteacherusa.com)

GET CRAFTY

February is “I Heart Crafts Month” at The Craft Studio, and families are welcome to drop by for a host of lovey-dovey scheduled workshops—think chocolate lollipop-making, handmade valentines and more! Check their website for workshop dates and times. (craftstudionyc.com)

TWIRL LIKE A TOT

The Pre-Ballet Class at Ballet Academy East introduces little ones to the fundamentals of ballet in a joyful, positive and creative environment. Students develop a foundation for future traditional ballet training as well as a love for movement and music. (baenyc.com)

SAY “OHM”

Karma Kids Yoga, New York’s only yoga studio dedicated just to children, offers Baby Yoga, Toddler Yoga, Kids Yoga, Teen Yoga, BendiGirl Yoga, CircusYoga, Family Yoga, StoryTime Yoga and Prenatal Yoga classes, as well as special events like Pajama Yoga, Butterfly Yoga and Yoga Mat Painting. Yoga birthday parties, too! Come Play Yoga! (karmakidsyoga.com)

RACKET AROUND ON RANDALL’S ISLAND

The QuickStart Tennis program for 2 to 5-year-olds at SPORTIME Randall’s Island/Manhattan is an exciting format for learning tennis, where kids get to play right away! Utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions, and modified scoring, QuickStart provides an optimum learning environment for young children. Adult private and group tennis lessons are offered at the same time, and a complimentary nursery is open for siblings. (sportimeny. com/manhattan)

New York Family | January 2011

gardens, rain sticks, bird feeders, bark baskets, mobiles, twig furniture, sculptures and feather jewelry. (jccmanhattan.org)

GO DANCING

Parents and children can learn together at The Joffrey Ballet School’s Dance With Me, a program for children as young as two with a parent or caregiver as a dance buddy. Classes help build fine and gross motor skills, develop basic understanding of music and rhythm and create an environment for children to explore movement through creativity and imagination. This January and February, Joffrey is allowing parents to register for a month at a time for the spring semester. (joffreyballetschool.com)

LEARN TO SWING

Jodi’s Gym

Taught by an Epiphany Community Nursery School teacher, 74th St. MAGIC’s small group Emergent Reading class for children ages 4-5 encourages literacy skills in preparation for kindergarten. A variety of interesting activities will develop skills like letter recognition, story comprehension and sequencing using both phonics and whole language techniques. (74magic.com)

BUILD IT AND BREAK IT (AND FIX IT)

Grab your hard hats—it’s time to get to work! At apple seeds’ “build it! break it! fix it!” construction class for kids ages 2.5-3.5, little ones can learn the basics of building and fixing through projects like laying bricks, planting gardens, tiling floors, painting walls and more! (appleseedsnyc.com)

During Scribble Press’ creative writing class “Comic Conundrums: Uncovering the Nefarious Villain,” available for students in grades 2-3 as well as grades 4-6, young writers will turn the typical comic tale upside down, focusing their story development around the history of their villain. Students will learn what it takes to create a memorable bad guy (or girl), and take home their own comic book at the end of the semester. (scribblepress.com)

At Jazz at Lincoln Center’s WeBop classes, parents and kids learn the ABC’s of jazz! Discover the instruments of a swinging jazz band, including piano, bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone and trombone. Each week students will be joined by a special guest musician. (jalc.org/webop)

ACT YOUR AGE

The Atlantic Acting School’s after-school “Performance and Playwriting” class for kids in grades 4-6 introduces kids to the world of acting and playwriting through fundamental exercises, bringing together the elements of storytelling and performance with a final performance written, directed by and starring the young group. (atlanticactingschool.org)

LEARN TO READ

CREATE A KILLER BAD GUY

Three Little Birds

Karma Kids Yoga

TODD SHAPERA

MAKE MUSIC LIKE MOZART

SWIM FOR IT

Chelsea Piers

MAKE SOME FAMILY MUSIC

At Gymboree Play & Music’s “Family Music” class—one of their innovative “Family Classes” designed to bring together parents, grandparents and siblings of different ages—the whole family can get musical with the help of instruments, song, dance, games and more, while building a solid foundation of musical skills. Great for children ages 6 months-5 years along with the whole family! (gymboreeclasses.com)

MAKE ART OUT OF NATURE

At the JCC in Manhattan’s “EcoArt For Kids” class, kids ages 4-10 will play, create and experiment with nature through projects that use organic and recycled materials. Projects will include making kites, wind socks, desert

Asphalt Green’s “Intro to Swimming” class is a gentle introduction to swimming for any child who is anxious or brand new to the water. Instructors introduce submersions, bubbles, streamlines and proper arm movement while helping to build confidence. (asphaltgreen.org)

SING AND PLAY

Get the best of both worlds with Applause New York City’s Music & Sports Combo class for children ages 2-4! Start off with a Broadway Babies music class followed by snack and storytime. After the break, your child will move onto their sports class provided by On Deck NY. (applauseny.com)

HIT THE GYM

With the completion of their state-of-the-art, expanded gym, Gymtime Rhythm & Glues now offers continuous gymnastics training and advanced, recreational and competitive team programs. Highly trained USA certified coaches, Olympic equipment and an emphasis on teamwork, self discipline, dedication and www.newyorkfamily.com

NEW YORK CITY

o f R o c k ‘ n ’ R o l l B a b i e s , B ro a d w a y B a b i e s & S u p e r s t a r s e m o H

Babies & Preschoolers

Kids

Tweens & Teens

Enroll Now for Winter/Spring • Classes Begin Jan. 22! 184 East 76th St. New York, NY 10021

(212) 717-0703

Call Us Today! applauseny.com

class engages toddlers through stories, ball play, block exploration, art and sensory play, and the finale: wiggling with one of Kidville’s own rockin’ musicians! A predictable, structured routine lets little ones gain confidence about transitions and knowing what happens next, all while having fun and making friends. (kidville.com)

STAR IN AN AFTERSCHOOL MUSICAL

Applause New York City leadership make for a superior gymnastics training experience. (gymtime.net)

BUMP, SET, SPIKE

Big City Volleyball’s Youth Volleyball Classes are designed to help boys and girls between the ages of 10-16 learn the fundamentals of volleyball, with two hours of drills in setting, passing, overhand serving and hitting, all in a fun and friendly environment. (bigcityvolleyball. com)

TAP IT OUT

The School at Steps’ “Pre-Dance/ Pre-Tap” class for kids ages 4-6 introduces body coordination and rhythmic awareness, opening a path to each student’s creativity and imagination. Pre-Dance/PreTap classes are part of the Young Dancer Program that includes Little Steps (ages 2-4) and Isadora Duncan (ages 4-6). (stepsnyc.com)

MAKE SOMETHING METAL

At the 92nd Street Y’s “Metalwork and Jewelry” class for kids age 8-10, students will design and create jewelry and small objects in brass, nickel and copper. They’ll learn basic metalsmithing techniques including sawing, piercing, forming, finishing, chainmaking and cold-connection. (92y. org)

GET LOST IN THE LIBRARY

This semester, music lovers at Three Little Birds will join lovable character Lola on a literary journey throughout the library, exploring book after book through music! Some of the books they’ll read: “This Jazz Man,” “There’s No Place Like Space,” “Dinosaurumpus,” “My First 100 Machines” and “The Wizard of Oz.” The musical repertoire will include classical hits by great composers, children’s songs everyone knows and loves, and contemporary popular music! (tlbmusic.com)

DO YOUR OWN STUNT WORK

Chelsea Piers’ new Stunts & Skills class for kids ages 9-13 is a high-

New York Family | January 2011

intensity class combining tumbling, trampoline, stunting and tricking. Ideal for children in search of a fun and exciting physical challenge, the class is taught by stuntmen and gymnastics experts. Snowboarders, cyclists and in-line skaters welcome! (chelseapiers.com)

Asphalt Green

MAKE IT AND MEAN IT

MAKE MATH FUN

The Upper West Side’s new craft studio Make Meaning offers a varied menu of projects (soap, glass, ceramics, jewelry, candles and paper) in a fun, colorful setting. They offer both walk-in and class options—check their website for their current schedule. (makemeaning.com)

Through tutoring and enrichment programs, Mathnasium (which recently opened a location on the Upper West Side) helps students in grades Pre-K through 12 build a solid math foundation while developing confidence and a love for math. Students receive both homework guidance and a customized program that fills in skill gaps and builds fluency with numbers. (mathnasium.com)

MOVE AND GROOVE WITH MOEY

STRETCH WITH THE STARS 92nd Street Y

Every day’s a party with Moey’s Music Party at Jodi’s Gym! Led by pink-wearing kiddie crooner Moey, each class introduces children to instruments, dress up, songs, dances, puppets, phonics, and fun related to a weekly party theme. Classes are for mixed ages, from infants to preschoolers, and perfect for siblings. (jodisgym.com)

During Citibabes’ imaginative “Mini Namastar Yoga” class, children receive instruction in age-appropriate yoga poses in a dimmed room as the cosmos gently drift upon the ceiling (thanks to a dreamy laser star machine!). (citibabes.com)

SAY “TADA!”

TADA! Youth Theater’s classes involve singing, choreography and theater games and always end with a performance. The T.O.T.S. (Theater On Their Scale) class introduces little ones and their caregivers to the joys of theater. (tadatheater.com)

PLAN A PLAYDATE

Join ABC Do-Re-Me for Musical Playdate, a class for parents and children led by a guitar-playing music teacher. The class weaves together an eclectic variety of traditional, folk, world and popular music with storytelling, dance, games and exposure to real musical instruments to create a unique fun musical experience. (abcdoreme.com)

The “Preschool/Afterschool Musical” class at New York Kids Club introduces the basics of stage performance with costumes, props, musical theater sing-a-longs and choreography. Available for ages 3-5, 5-7 and 8-12. (nykidsclub. com)

TAKE TINY STEPS On Deck

Two-year-olds will love Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Tiny Steps creative movement program, in which instructors lead children

BE A WATER BABY

SwimJim classes are a fun way to learn swimming and water safety before summer. Children will learn basic and advanced swimming skills in a friendly, loving environment where they feel safe and at-ease, and parents will feel more comfortable when their children are in or near water. (swimjim.com)

BE A KID

So many ways to play! Kidville’s “Run, Wiggle, Paint and Giggle”

Taste Buds www.newyorkfamily.com

Training the dancers of tomorrow

• Follows NY State Educational Standards

• Small, structured classrooms with a multi-sensory and multi-disciplinary approach to learning

• Students have challenges in the areas of language, auditory processing, attention, sensory integration, learning disabilities and executive functioning. For applications and to schedule a tour, please contact Linda Gardner at 212-867-9594 or lgardner@aaronschool.org

Providin g 29 yrs. of Fun, Frie nds, & Fitnes s to NY Kids!

At any age…Express yourself

Photo: Rosalie O’Connor

• Special Ed program for students with average to above average cognitive ability

a division of STEPS on Broadway 2121 Broadway @ 74th St., New York, NY 10023 212 874-3678 • www.stepsnyc.com

Non-Competitive Gymnastics for kids 3-12 yrs, Teeny Tumblers (6-11 mos), Mighty Muscle Movers (gym 12-35 mos), Rockin' Rollers (gym+music 12-35 mos), Tumbling Tots (gym 3-5 yrs), Fun-Tastic Gymnastics (K-5th gr), Totally Tumbling (1-4th gr), Tiny Dancers (3-5 yrs), Hip Hop Hooray! (1-4th gr), Playgroups, Open Play Time, Jammin' at Jodi's, Krazy Kool Creations, Jodi's To Go, Summer Camps, Holiday Camps, Motion Evolution. . . our new comprehensive fitness program, Great New Perks For Members and the

Best Birthday Parties Ever!

244 E. 84th St. NYC • 212.772.7633 • www.jodisgym.com • 25 Hubbels Dr. Mt. Kisco • 914.244.8811

Zumba

Winter-Spring Semester begins January 31st

Co umbus ym

FABULOUS GYMNASTICS BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

Birthday parties start at only $450. Use promo code: COLGYM

Established in 1988, Columbus Gym is the largest and longest running gym program on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Our state-of-the-art 3000 square foot gymnasium features every piece of equipment imaginable for superb classes and birthday parties. Our birthday parties consist of gymnastics (bars, beam, rings, pommel horse and trampoline) along with games, music, cake and much more! We invite your child to join us for a FREE TRIAL CLASS while you enjoy our family-friendly waiting area with full view of your child’s excitement.

Gymnastics

CLASSES AGES 6 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS

212-721-0090 • 606 Columbus Avenue (89th & 90th Sts.) • www.columbusgymnyc.com

Free Demonstration Classes!

Poppyseed Pre-Nursery Enrich your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day with Music, Art, Gym and Play!

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, March 13 424 West End Ave. @ 81st | 212.877.7614

Music, Art & Dance at

SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

92Y SCHOOL OF THE ARTS does more than help children express their creativity. Our classes give them an opportunity to expand their minds, strengthen their bodies and build self-confidence. Our faculty of professional artists provide fun and challenging experiences that develop skills your children can take from the studio into their classrooms.

NEW STUDENTS ENROLL BY JAN 31 AND SAVE 20%!*

Mention code N1 at the Box Office or call 212.415.5500. Visit WWW.92Y.ORG/SOA for class information. Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street

*SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY. NOT REDEEMABLE ONLINE; DOES NOT APPLY TO PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS. An agency of UJA-Federation

CLASSES FAR AFIELD A Few Off-The-Beaten Path Offerings To Consider EN GARDE!

Requiring speed, agility, flexibility and focus, fencing is a great option for a child looking for a competitive sport that’s just a little bit different. Sheridan Fencing Academy offers classes for kids ages 4 and up designed to engage both mind and body. Not sure if fencing is for your child? Let him or her try a free trial class (sheridanfencing.com)!

apple seeds and their caregivers through playful dance exercises that help children develop body awareness, control and creativity. (alvinailey.org)

JOIN THE CIRCUS

What kid doesn’t dream of flying through the air with the greatest of ease? At Trapeze School NY, kids six and older who are interested in circus arts can take classes in trapeze, trampoline, aerial conditioning and more (trapezeschool.com).

DO THE WEAVE

Weaving studio Loop of the Loom’s Fiber Arts Kids Class introduces children ages 7-14 to the art of Saori, a type of weaving that emphasizes free expression and results in one-of-a-kind pieces. The class encourages the development of children’s manipulative skills through felting, spinning and sewing. (loopoftheloom.com)

BULL’S EYE Joffrey Ballet School

ANIMATION CREATIONS

At the class “Animation with Joe Vena” at the Children’s Museum of the Arts, kids ages 6-12 can explore the moving image through a variety of 2D and 3D animation techniques. Students experiment with claymation, found-object animation, pixilation, cut-outs, and more. (cmany.org)

BAILAMOS!

Anyone who’s seen the documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom” knows salsa isn’t just for adults—kids love it,

STRIKE UP THE BAND

Classes offered by infant and toddler music program Little Maestros feature four live musicians who play guitar, piano and drums at every session! Besides a varied repertoire of fun songs, classes engage little ones with musical storytimes, imaginative play, language development activities, puppet shows and more. Classes are offered at Kidville locations throughout the city. (littlemaestros.com)

GET RHYTHM

Sokol New York’s “Rhythmic Gymnastics” class for kids ages 6-7 combines sport and art to promote grace of movement, muscular flexibility and strength as well as good posture. Participants learn tumbling, dance moves, leaps, turns and traveling steps as well as manipulation of the hand apparatus (hoops, balls and ribbons) and choreographed dances to music. (sokolnewyork.org)

SAY IT IN SPANISH

Spanish language school Instituto Cervantes offers The Children’s Theater Workshop,

New York Family | January 2011

Children fascinated by the heroic outlaw Robin Hood or the bowand-arrow-wielding elf Legolas from “Lord of the Rings” will jump at the chance to try their hand at archery. The Queens Archery Range and ProShop specializes in introducing the “art of the bow and arrow” to young and old alike (archerynyc.com).

74th St. MAGIC which develops social skills and confidence in a fun, creative environment, encouraging each child’s imagination and improving Spanish skills. (newyork. cervantes.es)

TELL STORIES THROUGH SONG

The Diller-Quaile School of Music’s “Giving Voice To Stories” class for two-year-olds explores visually engaging storybooks through song, movement and play. Percussion instruments, stuffed animals, puppets, and props enhance the story experience, using music to help build vocabulary and teach communication skills. (dillerquaile.org)

BKB Kids League, an after-school instructional course for beginners involving stretching, climbing games, roped climbing and slacklining. (brooklynboulders.com)

PLAY SEVERAL SPORTS

Kids In Sports’ multi-sport classes are designed for all age levels. Classes teach the fundamentals of baseball, basketball, floor hockey, football, soccer and volleyball, and also include a fitness and cooperative games session. Sportspecific skills are taught in small and

too! NY Salsa Baby offers a salsa program for kids 7-17 years old; students learn routines incorporating Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, salsa, mambo, cha cha and more (nysalsababy.com). Brooklyn studio La Casa de Salsa offers a variety of children’s salsa classes throughout the week (lacasadesalsa.com).

CHECKMATE

Chess teaches kids strategy, patience, discipline and much more. Chess NYC offers in-home lessons, after-school programs, camps and tournaments for children four and older. (chessnyc.com) Plus, Kidville and Mathnasium have teamed up to offer a class for four- and five-year-olds that teaches chess concepts through art, music, dance—even a giant chess board (kidville.com)!

SKATER DUDES (AND DUDETTES)

Most don’t think of skateboarding when they hear “afterschool enrichment,” but why not? Skateboarding encourages physical activity, develops social skills, and teaches balance, endurance and even courage! Skateboarding School offers beginner, intermediate and advanced courses at locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens (skateboardingschool. big groups, with games eventually being played at the appropriate age levels. (kisnyc.com)

GO BILINGUAL

The first school of its kind in the greater New York area, Bilingual Buds offers a Mandarin immersion preschool and kindergarten, as well as Mommy & Me for ages 1-4 and after school for ages 5-10. Their summer camp program takes place in Manhattan and Beijing, China. (bilingualbudsnyc.com)

CLIMB THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE Brooklyn Boulders offers kids the opportunity to challenge themselves on the rock climbing wall—and even scale a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge! Kids ages 5-10 will love Brooklyn Boulders’

Dasha Wellness www.newyorkfamily.com

WINTER MUSICAL THEATER CLASSES AND CAMPS! Plus: week-long camps during school breaks for grades 1-3 and 4-8

jANUARY 15 through

on sale now:

april 9

an original family musical

one day Workshop on MLK day Jan 17!

hop into the big easy!

rabbit sense jan 21 - Feb 20

for tickets: www.tadatheater.com

The Best in Baseball Training!

WINTER/SPRING 2 01 Baseball Classes for 2-10 yrs.

January 24 - May 22 Baseball instruction for 2-5 yrs. Indoor Baseball League Personal Lessons Afterschool Baseball Program Private Group Training Travel Program

(212) 717-0703 • (646) 808-4926 • OnDeckNY.com

ork ew Y by N azine g a M

Cooking Classes

Special Events

Come warm up in our kids kitchen!

Creative movement and music classes for 2-year-olds with Kay Wylie Jacobs, Ph.D. SPRING 2011: MARCH 10–MAY 22 SUMMER 2011: JUNE 5–JULY 31

For information on classes for children 3 or older, please visit www.TheAileySchool.edu or call 212-405-9143.

405 WEST 55 TH STREET AT 9 TH AVENUE

Learn to Play, Play to Learn With diverse programs for children and their parents, Wonderplay lets you discover your child as your child discovers the world. Join us for classes and workshops such as Hands-On Science!, WonderDance™, KidSports, Art Smarts, Shababa Bakery, The Music Room, New Parent Get-Togethers and so much more.

Order online and save 50% on service fees at www.92Y.org/Wonderplay or call 212.415.5500 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street ı An agency of UJA-Federation

BE A KID AT ART

Gymboree Play & Music Kids at Art

GET SUPER AT SOCCER

Super Soccer Stars’ Advanced Skill Development Clinics for kids ages 6-9 include a three-hour intensive and friendly game play. Students develop skills, selfconfidence and teamwork in a fun, non-competitive environment. Positive reinforcement and low child-to-coach ratios ensure that students improve soccer skills through warm-ups, drills and games. (supersoccerstars.com)

SAY “BELLISSIMO!”

At Italian language school Collina Italiana, toddlers can learn basic Italian words and phrases through songs, games, dance, film and arts and crafts. Classes are also available for elementary and middle-school kids. (collinaitaliana.com)

MAKE MUSIC LIKE A BIG KID

At Eastside Westside Music Together’s “Big Kids Family Music” class, children ages 5-6 and their accompanying adults participate in game songs, folk dances, jam sessions, dramatic play and more. Children develop interests and skills in singing, dancing, improvising, playing instruments and taking dramatic roles, while parents will learn how to support their children as they grow musically. (eswsmusictogether. com)

HIT THE ICE

At Wollman Rink’s “Snow Plow Sam” class for first time skaters ages 5-6, kids learn basic balance, proper falling and getting up, beginning forward skating and two foot glides. Students work on forward marching with speed, simple turns, beginning backward skating and stops. (wollmanskatingrink.com)

BE A HERO

Spring like Spiderman and bound like Batman at Discovery Programs’ Action Hero Dance class, designed for pre-school boys with a sense of rhythm who love to move! Students incorporate dynamic movements into high energy and fun routines. (discoveryprograms.com)

BUNDLE UP

At My Gym’s “Little Bundles” class, babies begin their first visual, audial and spatial exploration

New York Family | January 2011

while parents are guided through a program designed to carefully introduce music and movement through baby exercises, songs, dances, infant-safe rides, unique swings, and other Parent & Me adventures. Each week, parents participate in a dialogue about their children’s development and leave with informative handouts. (my-gym.com)

ROC YOUR SOCS OFF

Founded by former pro soccer player James Christie, SocRoc’s soccer classes encourage kids to be physically active, gain confidence and learn social skills while having fun. Students learn soccer skills and develop strength, flexibility, endurance and posture. (jcsocroc.com)

KICK & PLAY

A fun-filled movement program for toddlers emphasizing the development of gross motor skills and coordination, Kick & Play’s classes for toddlers ages 12-24 months actively involve parents and caregivers. Designed by the creators of Super Soccer Stars, Kick & Play generates a stimulating, playful environment in which children receive individual attention. (kickandplay.com)

FLIP FOR IT Super Soccer Stars

JCC in Manhattan

MAKE SOMETHING TASTY

Kids have been learning to measure, sift, mix, knead, zest and more with Taste Buds (formerly Cupcake Kids!) for years, and now the popular cooking program has a kitchen to call its own at 109 West 27th Street. Regular classes like Mommy & Me and After School are offered, along with cooking classes for virtually every holiday. (tastebudscook.com)

Columbus Preschool & Gym offers gymnastics training for children ages six months through 12 years in 3,000 sq. foot gymnasium (the largest on the Upper West Side). Dedicated coaches and a full range of state-of-the-art equipment (including a trampoline) ensure a superb gymnastics training experience for each child. (columbusgymnyc.com)

BERLITZ

RIDE THE CAROUSEL

Offering morning and afternoon classes in Italian, French, Spanish and Mandarin, Carousel of Languages bases its teaching methods on early childhood learning standards. Each class is taught by a native foreign language instructor. Check out their Extended Immersion Program, a 3-hour drop-off class focusing on cultural and music exploration. (italianfortoddlers.com)

Kids At Art offers classes that engage children in projects that focus on the basics of the visual arts and encourage inventiveness and imagination. Students are encouraged to explore different art mediums and develop their own area of artistic interest. (kidsatart. nyc.com)

Language-learning program Berlitz offers programs and camps for kids that immerse children in a new language through age-appropriate curriculum and activities and individual attention from native-speaking teachers. Parents can save $50 when they register by March 15 for the Berlitz Kids Summer Camp! Classes and camps take place at Berlitz’ Rockefeller Center location. (berlitz.us)

CRAFT A LITTLE SOMETHING

Gymtime Rhythm & Glues

Popular city craft space Little Shop of Crafts—which offers walk-in projects in everything from pottery to beading to mosaics—hosts after school art programs for children ages 2-15 at both its East Side and West Side locations. Programs are run by Kids At Art and Arts In Action. (littleshopny.com)

SLAM DUNK

Popular basketball program dribbl offers expert training that’s focused on teamwork, fundamentals and sportsmanship. The original dribbl program aims to develop and refine fundamental basketball skills such as shooting, passing, footwork and ball-handling. Children ages 3 through pre-K can participate in the dribbl jr. program, now available at Kidville. (dribbl.com)

The School at Steps

Alvin Ailey www.newyorkfamily.com

Come Play Yoga at Karma Kids Yoga! Yoga for Babies Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Families NEW BendiGirl Yoga CircusYoga Prenatal Yoga Free Story Time Yoga Yoga Birthday Parties Special Events Teacher Training Taming the lions. Bring the zen home with our new CD, Come Play Yoga!, Mom’s Choice Awards Winner, available at CDbaby.com, Amazon, selected tracks on iTunes and now playing on Pandora. Winner of The Gold Mom’s Choice Award for Children’s Music Visit our website to learn about the benefits of yoga for children, our Class Descriptions, Special Events, other locations around NYC and Brooklyn, Children’s Yoga Teacher Training, and Yoga Birthday Party information. KARMA KIDS YOGA 104 West 14th Street, NYC (646)638-1444 downdog@karmakidsyoga.com karmakidsyoga.com

Voted “Best Kids Yoga” by TimeOut NY Kids and New York Magazine.

E n r o l l i n g n ow !

THE VENUES MULTI-SERVICE

DANCE

92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500, 92Y.org. apple seeds, 10 West 25th Street, 212-792-7590, appleseedsnyc.com. Art Farm in the City, 419 East 91st Street, 212-410-3117, theartfarms.org. Asphalt Green, 555 East 90th Street, 212-369-8890, asphaltgreen.org. Blue School, 432 Lafayette, Mezzanine, 646-602-7066, theblueschool.org. Chelsea Piers, 23rd Street & the Hudson River, 212-336-6666, chelseapiers.com. Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom. org. Citibabes, 52 Mercer Street, 3rd Floor, 212-334-5440, citibabes.com. Discovery Programs, 251 West 100th Street, 212-749-8717, discoveryprograms.com. Gymboree Play & Music, Various locations in Manhattan, 877-496-5327, gymboreeclasses.com. Gymtime Rhythm & Glues, 1520 York Avenue, 212-861-7732, gymtime.net. The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue, 646-505-4444, jccmanhattan.org. Kidville, Various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, 212-772-8435, kidville.com. Let’s Dress Up, 345 East 85th Street, 212-879-0956, uppereast.com/letsdress-up New York Kids Club, Various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, 212-721-4400, nykidsclub.com. Poppyseed Pre-Nursery, 424 West End Avenue at 81st Street, 212-877-7614. 74th St. MAGIC, 510 East 74th Street, 212-737-2989, 74magic.com.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 405 West 55th Street, 212-405-9000, alvinailey.org. Ballet Academy East, 1651 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor, 212-410-9140, baenyc. com. Joffrey Ballet School, 434 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, 212-254-8520, joffreyballetschool.com. The School at Steps, 2121 Broadway, 4th Floor, 212-874-3678, stepsnyc.com/school.

ART ArtKids, 646-678-4497, artmuseny.com. Children’s Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette Street, 212-274-0986, cmany.org. The Craft Studio, 1657 Third Avenue, 212-831-6626, craftstudionyc.com. Kids At Art, 431 East 73rd Street, 212410,9780, kidsatartnyc.com Little Shop Of Crafts, 711 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-531-2723; 431 East 73rd Street, 212-717-6636, littleshopny.com Loop of the Loom, 227 East 87th Street, 212-722-2686, loopoftheloom.com. Make Meaning, 329 Columbus Avenue, 212-362-0350, makemeaning.com. Metropolitan Moms, 212-206-7272, metropolitanmoms.com. Scribble Press, 1624 First Avenue, 212288-2928; 217 West 84th Street, 212362-2555, scribblepress.com.

COOKING Taste Buds, 109 West 27th Street, 212242-2248, tastebudscook.com

New York Family | January 2011

GYMNASTICS Columbus Preschool & Gym, 606 Columbus Avenue, 212-721-0090, columbusgymnyc.com Jodi’s Gym, 244 East 84th Street, 212-772-7633, jodisgym.com. My Gym, 250 East 60th Street, 212-421-9496; and 22 West 66th Street, 212-724-3400; my-gym.com. NYC Elite Gymnastics, 421 East 91st Street, 212-289-8737; 100 Avenue of the Americas, 212-334-3628, nycelite.com. Sokol New York, 420 East 71st Street, 212-861-8206, sokolnewyork.org.

LANGUAGE Berlitz, Rockefeller Center, 40 West 51st Street, 888-561-7165, berlitz.us. Bilingual Buds, 175 Riverside Boulevard, 212-787-8088, bilingualbudsnyc.com. Carousel of Languages, 385 West End Avenue, 212-508-8524, italianfortoddlers.com. Collina Italiana, 135 East 96th Street, 212-427-7770, collinaitaliana.com. ¡HOLA! A Playgroup in Spanish, Various locations in Manhattan, 917-648-5006, holaplaygroup.com. Instituto Cervantes, 211 East 49th Street, 212-308-7720 ext. 3., newyorkcervantes.es. Language Workshop for Children, Various locations in Manhattan, 212-396-0830, languageworkshopforchildren.com.

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE ABC Do-Re-ME!, Multiple locations in Manhattan, 646-434-1419, abcdoreme.com. Applause New York City, Home of Rock-n-Roll Babies, Broadway Babies and Superstars, 184 East 76th Street, 212-717-0703, applauseny.com. Atlantic Acting School, 76 Ninth Avenue, 212-691-5919, atlanticactingschool.org. The Diller-Quaile School of Music, 24 East 95th Street, 212-369-1484, diller-quaile.org. The Early Ear, 48 West 68th Street, 110 West 96th Street, 353 East 78th Street, 212-877-7125, earlyear.com. Eastside Westside Music Together, 102 West 75th Street, 212-496-1242, eswsmusictogether.com. Jazz at Lincoln Center, 33 West 60th Street, 212-258-9800, jalc.org.

Little Maestros, Offered at Kidville locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, 212-772-8435, littlemaestros. com. (Ages 3 months to 5 years) Piano Teacher USA, In-home lessons offered throughout the Tri-State Area, 888-222-3098, pianoteacherusa.com. (All ages) TADA!, 15 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor, 212-252-1619, tadatheater.com. Three Little Birds Music, 266 East 78th Street, 212-744-0404, tlbmusic.com.

SPORTS & ADVENTURE Big City Volleyball, Multiple locations in Manhattan, 212-288-4240, bigcityvolleyball.com. Brooklyn Boulders, 575 Degraw St, Brooklyn, 347-834-9066, brooklynboulders.com. Generation D at Dasha Wellness, 115 East 57th Street, 212-755-5500, dashawellness.com. dribbl and dribbl jr, Various locations in Manhattan, 212-717-7651, dribbl.com. Kids In Sports, Various locations in Manhattan, 212-744-4900, kisnyc.com. On Deck, Classes held at St. Jean’s Community Center (76th and 3rd) and The Great Lawn in Central Park, 646808-4926, ondeckny.com. Sheridan Fencing Academy, 2035 2nd Avenue, 212-831-0764, sheridanfencing.com. SPORTIME at Randall’s Island, One Randall’s Island, 212-427-6150, sportimeny.com/randallsisland. Wollman Skating Rink, Central Park at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue, 212-4396900, wollmanskatingrink.com.

SOCCER Kick & Play, More than 150 locations throughout the Tri-State area, 212-8775425, supersoccerstars.com Soccer By Coach Fher, 917-650-3008, coachfher.com. SocRoc, Various locations, 917-7030409, jcsocroc.com. Super Soccer Stars, More than 150 locations throughout the Tri-State area, 212-877-7171, supersoccerstars.com.

SWIMMING Swim Jim, Pool locations throughout the city, 212-749-7335, swimjim.com.

TUTORING EBL Coaching, 17 East 89th Street, 646342-9380, eblcoaching.com Mathnasium, 1597 York Avenue, 212828-6284, mathnasium.com/manhattan.

YOGA Karma Kids Yoga, 104 West 14th Street, 646-638-1444, karmakidsyoga.com. Yogi Beans, Various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, 212-787-YOGA, yogibeans.com. www.newyorkfamily.com

LA ScuoLA D’ItALIA GuGLIELMo MARcoNI 12 East 96th Street, New York, NY 10128

Pre K-12th Grade

La Scuola d’Italia is a private unique Italian/English bilingual and bicultural school reflecting the best features of the Italian and American education. Knowledge of the Italian/English language is not a pre-requisite for admission to Pre-K through 9th grade. La Scuola d’Italia is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York and by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Italy. The School is a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools.

www.lascuoladitalia.org tel. 212-369-3290 email: secretary@lascuoladitalia.org

Summer Intensive 2011 June 27 – July 29 (ages 12-15)

A 5-week training program in New York City for intermediate and advanced dancers with a minimum of three years ballet training. For more details on the Summer Intensive, e-mail: juniordivision@alvinailey.org

For summer classes open to the public (ages 12 & up) visit: AileyExtension.com The Ailey School is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance and is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.

Photo: EDUARDO PATINO, NYC

AUDITION: SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2011 11:00am

FAMILY finance

What’s The Plan? From Budgets To Wills To College Savings, A Primer On Financial Planning For Families BY MOLLY O’MEARA SHEEHAN

he joy a new baby brings to your life cannot be measured in dollars, but the claims he or she will make on your bank account can. The average U.S. family now spends $222,360 to rear a child from birth to age 18, according to an annual government survey. Even without adding college tuition, New Yorkers are likely to spend much more, given that we live in the most expensive U.S. city. As the most pressing demands children first make are on our time, it’s easy for busy, sleepdeprived new parents to put off financial planning. However, parents will probably sleep easier if they find a few hours to do these four tasks: set a budget, make a will, get adequate insurance and open savings accounts.

SET A BUDGET Coming up with a budget is the first financial

New York Family | January 2011

step any new parent should take, says Susan Hirshman, a financial advisor and author of “Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Financial Empowerment and Success.” On the surface, budget setting is an exercise in basic math; you will need to track every cent you earn and spend for at least a month. Resources like the free online service provided by Mint.com or the Quicken computer program can help you get started. At its heart, budget setting is about identifying your family’s goals for now and the future. For instance, in the next year, you might want to stop working to care for your baby, and in the next 18 years, you might want to send your children to college. Your budget www.newyorkfamily.com

will help you identify expenses that you should forgo now in order to afford things you know you’ll want later. Stacey Bradford, a personal finance journalist, describes in “The Wall Street Journal Financial Guidebook for New Parents” how hard it was to follow her own advice on keeping baby gear outlays to a minimum to save for other goals. She recalls the embarrassment that nearly silenced her when another mother asked why she didn’t have a fancier stroller, and writes: “Looking back, I wished I had said that I banked the extra $700 in my kid’s college savings fund.”

MAKE A WILL You don’t need to finish your budget before focusing on another essential item: a will. “It’s on the top of everybody’s to-do list,” says Robert Angel, a financial planner at Strategies for Wealth, “but it stays on top for years.” In fact, a recent survey by FindLaw. com found that 55% percent of U.S. adults don’t have a will. Why stop procrastinating now? “The most important thing by far is that some random judge in family court shouldn’t decide who takes care of your kids,” Angel says. Also, consider creating trusts. Trusts allow you to delay the age at which your children receive the money you leave them, and to specify how the money is to be used.

GET INSURED FOR DEATH AND DISABILITY Another key part of any parent’s financial plan is insurance. If you were to die today, do you have enough savings or an insurance policy in place for your surviving family members to live off the interest for the next 20 years? If not, figure out how much life insurance your family needs to replace your lost income. Look at the contributions of both parents when deciding whom to insure, says Helaine Olen, a journalist who is writing “The Wishing Well,” a book on the world of personal finance to be published in 2012. “Don’t think that just because you’re a stay-at-home mom, you don’t need life insurance,” says Olen. “Whether it’s childcare, www.newyorkfamily.com

housekeeping or bookkeeping, think about the services your spouse might have to hire someone to do in your absence.” Statistically, disability is more likely than death to reduce your income during your working years. The type of disability insurance you might receive through your job would likely be insufficient if a serious illness—the most common cause of disability—were to stop you from working, so investigate supplemental plans. “We have no greater asset than our ability to get out of bed in the morning and go to work,” Angel says. “You want to replace that income.” As people are now living for many decades beyond retirement, Angel also urges clients to buy long term care insurance for themselves by their 50th birthday, and to ask their own parents what their plan is if they were to, say, develop Alzheimer’s and require nursing help not covered by medical insurance. You don’t want to have to choose between caring for your mother and sending your daughter to college. Hirshman says that although people don’t want to discuss death or disability, “What you’re doing is planning so that in times of stress your family is in the best possible position. How is that depressing? That’s empowering.”

allows you not to be taxed on savings in this type of account. You will be penalized, however, if you withdraw the money for a purpose other than college. There are many different 529 plans sponsored by different states (you don’t have to live or attend school in a given state to get that plan). They all have different fees and investment options, so shop around, and also consider other types of vehicles, like the Coverdell Education Savings Account, which allows you to save not just for college, but also preschool through high school.

SAVE FOR RETIREMENT AND COLLEGE

Many such investment accounts become more conservative as your child gets older. Still, make sure a share of your savings is not tied to the stock market, and increase that percentage in the years leading up to when you will need the money, whether for tuition or retirement. Once you’ve tackled these four items—budget, will, insurance and savings—evaluate your finances at least once a year. All too often, Angel says, people miss the big picture. “Someone can have a nice investment portfolio but also be carrying credit card debt,” he says. “Most people would probably agree that the interest they are paying on their credit card is more than what they are getting in the market, but they haven’t thought about it.” G

Finally, save something monthly, even if it’s a small amount, towards goals like retirement and college. Says Olen: “The more you can make it automatic and habit-forming, the better off you’re going to be.” Financial advisers tell parents focused on college not to forget retirement. The reason: You can get loans for college, but not for retirement. Indeed, you may want to save in a way that optimizes your chances of a comfortable retirement and your child’s chances for financial aid. The government and schools don’t consider many types of retirement accounts as money that could go to tuition. As for college savings, one popular investment vehicle is the 529 plan, named for the tax code section that

“What you’re doing is planning so that in times of stress your family is in the best possible position. How is that depressing? That’s empowering.”

January 2011 | New York Family

OH, THE PLACES

you’ll go!

SCHOOL’S OUT,

Travel’s In

From Eco-Vacations To Cities Worth Seeing, Great Destinations For School Break Travel

THE ECO-VACATION Montana The wilds of Montana are the perfect place to get up close and personal with nature. As part of a program run by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, families can go on dayor week-long backpacking trips and help maintain the trails and restore campsites (thebmwf.org). Or, take an old-fashioned rail tour and enjoy rolling through breathtaking landscapes in the Rockies and Great Plains—try the Charlie Russell Chew Choo, a three-hour narrated scenic train ride (montanacharlierussellchewchoo. com). Costa Rica With its pristine beaches and tropical rainforests, Costa Rica has long been a favorite destination of nature lovers. There are plenty of ways for families to enjoy the scenery, from rainforest canopy tours to whitewater rafting to horseback riding through a national park. Be sure to visit Tortuguero National Park, known for the sea turtle nesting that takes place there every year. As for where to stay, the The Si Como No Resort Spa and Wildlife Refuge offers a family pool with a waterslide and a private wildlife refuge with a butterfly botanical garden and crocodile lagoon. Kids under six are free (sicomono.com)! South Africa Go on a South African wildlife safari and meet lions and wildebeests. At the world-renowned Kruger National Park, families can see rhinos, leopards, buffalos, African wild dogs, and learn about bush craft, animal tracking and

New York Family | January 2011

roar with the wildlife in the Animal Kingdom. Harry Potter fans will insist on a trip to nearby Universal Studios, which recently opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Choose from one of Disney’s resorts, or opt for one of the many lodging options offered throughout the Orlando area; visit orlandoinfo.com to learn more. —Amanda Ferris

Montana

game capture (krugerpark.co.za). For lodging, check out the Honeyguide Khoka Moya Camp, which offers a children’s program that lets kids to go on their own game drives and rangerled walks (honeyguidecamp.com).

THE GREAT AMERICAN EXPERIENCE VACATION The Grand Canyon, AZ The famous Grand Canyon Park hosts free ranger-led programs throughout the year, plus campfire programs and nature talks for children. Plan a family hike, stop by the Yavapai Observation Station and visit the Tusayan Museum to see how the Pueblo Native American tribe lived some 800 years ago. The nearby Grand Hotel has an indoor pool, a restaurant and saloon and nightly entertainment (grandcanyongrandhotel.com). Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL What kid doesn’t dream of going to Walt Disney World and meeting all their favorite characters? Visit Cinderella’s castle, get spooked by the ghosts of the Haunted Mansion and

THE ‘CITY TO SEE’ VACATION Philadelphia, PA Not only does Philadelphia have museums and restaurants and great city walks, but it has a bunch of “must” visits for families, including the Franklin Institute Science Museum, where you can take a stroll through the famous Giant Heart or take the Sports Challenge (a virtual reality that uses visitors’ own bodies to teach physics concepts); and the Please Touch Museum, which is chock full of exhibits perfect for kids ages 1-6, like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. And then there’s all that history to be had at places like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. For more info, visit gophila.com. Atlanta, GA Atlanta truly offers something for every member of the family. CocaCola is one of Atlanta’s claims to fame, and the World of Coca-Cola traces the beverage’s history and lets visitors sample Coca-Cola beverages from around the world. News hounds will flip for the Inside CNN Studio Tour. Little ones will love the storytime at The Wren’s Nest, which preserves the legacy of author Joel Chandler Harris www.newyorkfamily.com

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Colonial Williamsburg

and African-American folklore. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Georgia Aquarium—it’s the largest in the world and features a glass tunnel with whale sharks swimming overhead! For more info, visit atlanta.net. Chicago, IL In addition to a stunning skyline and shopping that rivals New York City, Chicago features some the world’s premiere museums. Marvel at Sue the T. Rex at The Field Museum, catch the spirit of human enterprise at the Museum of Science and Industry, experience the Touch Gallery at The Art Institute of Chicago and gawk at constellations from inside the Adler Planetarium. Spectacular views of the city (and neighboring states!) from 1,000 feet are an elevator ride away at the John Hancock Observatory; starting January 1, visitors to the Observatory can skate on the world’s highest ice rink! For more info, visit explorechicago.org. —Rachael Horowitz

THE EDUCATION VACATION Colonial Williamsburg, VA Headed back in time to Colonial Williamsburg? In addition to all the famous reenactments, the nation’s largest living history museum lets kids don period costumes, apprentice themselves to a local blacksmith, printer or tailor and even get dirty making bricks the old-fashioned way. For a place to stay, try the Williamsburg Lodge, an artfully restored hotel that oozes Southern hospitality. For more info, visit history.org. Rome, Italy With an incomparable array of beautiful and historic monuments and attractions—from the Pantheon

New York Family | January 2011

and the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps and the Piazza Navona—Rome is a perfect destination for families with kids who are a bit older (and not averse to walking). Explore the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica; throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain; take a walk through the Villa Borghese and Pincio Gardens; and eat gelato! Located near the Via Veneto, the Westin Excelsior is one of the few hotels in Rome with a pool (it’s indoors). —Rachael Horowitz

THE ‘REALLY FAR AWAY AND WORTH IT’ VACATION London, England Take a trip across the pond to the most visited city in the world: London. Take in the beautiful architecture of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben; ride the London Eye; and visit the Sea Life London Aquarium. The city is teeming with cultural and popular landmarks, like the Royal Observatory, Buckingham Palace and London Bridge. Kid-friendly museums include the Science Museum, the V&A Museum of Childhood and the National Army Museum, with its “KidZone.” Don’t forget to stop by Hamley’s, the most famous toy shop in the world. For family-friendly lodgings, check out the St. James Hotel and Club (stjamesclubandhotel.co.uk) or Premier Inn County Hall (premierinn.com). Beijing, China With its wide-open green spaces, ancient attractions and modern conveniences, Beijing is a location the whole family can enjoy. Take trips to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall; make stops at the Beijing Aquarium, the Fundazzle indoor playground and the Beijing World Park, complete with miniature recreations of world landmarks. The Five-Color Earth Craft Center will provide hours of handson fun, and Milu Park will entrance the animal lovers in your family with its endangered species sanctuary. As for where to stay, check out the RJ Brown Hotel (rjbrownhotelbeijing.cn)

An Agent’s Notes By Kimberly Wilson Wetty • I f you’re pining for sun and surf, one of my top choices is Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda (littledixbay. com). Timeless tranquility, and perfect for kids of all ages. Their Rosebuds program for children includes everything from kids’ menus to special events. • I f you’re thinking about visiting another great American city like Washington D.C. or San Francisco, I love the new family-friendly services that Park Hyatt Hotels are offering in conjunction with online baby product retailer Babies Travel Lite (babiestravellite.com). Simply put, your life just got a lot easier! • Lo oking to go abroad? The Berkeley in London, complete with indoor pool, offers a prime location for family fun (theberkeley.co.uk). I also recommend the The InterContinental De La Ville in Rome, which is right at the top of the Spanish Steps (intercontinental.com). • F or ski families, I think Utah’s newly-opened Montage Deer Valley will quickly become a new “in” ski resort (montagedeervalley.com). So dust off your suitcases and head out! Kimberly Wilson Wetty is a New York mom and co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel (valeriewilsontravel.com).

or the Lee Garden Service Apartments (lgapartment.com). Auckland, New Zealand Once you recover from the 20hour plane ride, you’ll rejoice to find yourself in this sunny, cosmopolitan New Zealand city. Auckland has more yachts per capita than any city in the world, so be sure to take a trip out of the harbor to survey the beautiful coast. The Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World are full of exotic creatures, and the Stardome Observatory will stimulate your senses in 360˚. The Sky Tower sends you 1000 feet in the air to survey the views for miles around. Families will be comfortable in the Dutchman’s Retreat in Mairangi Bay or the Bribanc Apartments. —Amy Spiro www.newyorkfamily.com

CAMP

countdown

CAMP COUNSEL SEVEN QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE SENDING YOUR CHILD TO CAMP BY RENEE FLAX

Camp Chinqueka, Mt. Tom Pond, Connecticut

o many factors go into choosing a summer camp that it’s often difficult even to know where to begin. Here, the seven most crucial camp questions parents should ask. How do I prepare my child for overnight camp? If you can, take your child to the camp ahead of time so that he or she can meet the people there and become familiar with the surroundings. Once you take away that feeling of it being a foreign experience, it makes the child feel a whole lot better. Let your child ask you questions, and be honest in your answers. If your child asks you, “What do I do if I’m homesick?”

New York Family | January 2011

telling them, “Of course you won’t be homesick!” is the wrong answer. Chances are they will be homesick, so work through it with them: “You can talk to your counselor; you can talk to someone in your bunk; you can write us a letter.” If it’s the first time your child is going away, start practicing separation. Get him or her to sleep at other people’s houses, whether it’s a grandparent, friend, or whatever. Look at your child really honestly; think about who he or she is and what he or she needs. If you want your child to be in the right bunk, with the right counselors and the right kids, you’ve got to paint an honest, accurate picture to the camp director. Don’t pretend that

your child is something that he or she is not; it’s not going to help. Should my child go to a co-ed camp or a single-sex camp? Each offers things that the other one does not. With a co-ed camp, if you have a boy and a girl in your family, you can send them to the same camp. And kids become good friends with people of the opposite sex at co-ed camps; it’s not like school, where there’s a far more rigid environment. Co-ed camps are also pretty “rah-rah” kinds of places— there’s a lot of spirit in a co-ed camp. What people tend to love about single-sex camps is that children can be themselves without feeling like they have to impress somebody of the www.newyorkfamily.com

Summer Camp

June 27 - august 12 Located in the spacious facilities of Rodeph Sholom School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, our summer camp offers a variety of enriching activities for children 2.9 to 5.10 years old.

Berlitz Kids® Summer Camp — have fun and LEARN a new language! • Small groups for children ages 4-7 and 8-11 • Multiple languages available • Native-fluent specially trained instructors • Age-appropriate curriculum and cultural activities • 3-week programs scheduled Monday – Thursday • Multiple sessions available

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Camp Awosting, Bantam Lake, Connecticut

bonding experience and the friendships that are formed and that real sense of camp community happen in a structured camp. The non-structured, or “elective,” camp, where the child chooses his or her daily activities, is terrific for the older child and for the child who is very independent and knows what he or she wants to do. But the caveat is, if it’s a child’s first time away, or if the child is somewhat clingy or needs nurturing, that can be a very overwhelming experience.

What’s the difference between a structured camp and a non-structured camp? Which type of camp is a better ﬁt for my child? A structured camp has a bunk with generally two counselors, and those two counselors are with the same kids all day long; they’re taking them from activity to activity. Everybody gets to know each other very well, which is extremely important—particularly for a first-time camper or young child. I think the

Should my child go to camp with a friend? If you can convince your child to go by himself or herself, it is the greatest gift you will give your child. When you go with a friend, you’re bringing all the baggage from home when you get off that bus. At home, I may be the shy, quiet child, but when I get off the camp bus, I am whatever I present myself to be. So many children go to camp and reinvent themselves, and they come home with so much more

opposite sex. They’re more concerned about playing sports than they are about the cute girl who happens to be on the tennis court right next to them. Girls may be 13, 14 years old, and they’re running around with hair in ponytails, no makeup—they’re not concerned about what boys are going to think. And a lot of camps are brother-sister camps, so if you have a boy and a girl, they can go to their separate camps and still get to spend time together.

Phillips Exeter Academy Summer School July 3-August 6, 2011 Five weeks of exploration and discovery.

Your Sleepaway Camp Matchmaker Finding Sleepaway Camps for Children and Teens and

Teen Connection (a Division of the Camp Connection) We offer Residential/Day programs for motivated students. You will enjoy full access to our campus with its state-of-the-art Phelps Science Center, the world’s largest secondary school library, and expansive athletic facilities. Our UPPER SCHOOL program is for students who have completed grades 9, 10, 11 or 12. ACCESS EXETER, a program of accelerated study in the arts and sciences, is open to students who have completed grades 7 or 8. For more detailed information please visit our website.

www.exeter.edu/summer 2 0 M a i n S t r e e t E x e t e r, N H 0 3 8 3 3 - 2 4 6 0 Te l 6 0 3 . 7 7 7 . 3 4 8 8 F a x 6 0 3 . 7 7 7 . 4 3 8 5 e m a i l s u m m e r @ e x e t e r. e d u

New York Family | January 2011

Offering information and advice on: Teen Travel Enrichment/College Programs Study Abroad Community Service, Language Immersion and more!!! FREE Personalized Service • No Fee • No Obligation Over 20 years experience! Representing over 500 programs!

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Not every kid wants the same kind of camp, and we want happy campers! That’s why Summer at St. Bart’s offers three options that include swim every day:

Tiny Tot’s at St. Bart’s June 6th-August 19th yearswe want 9am happy to 12:30pm Not every kid wants the same kindAgeof 3-4.5 camp, and campers! That’s why St. Bart’s is offering • Artsthatandinclude Craftsswim • Sports in our gym • Dance and Movement • Rooftop play three options every day: st – August St. Bart’s Day Camp June 8th June St Bart’s Day• Camp 6th-21August 19th Perfect for 3 1⁄2 to 8 year olds: swimming every day, sports, art or science, dance, plus a whole Age 4.5-7 years 9am to 3pm lot more on our rooftop playground! • Arts and Crafts • Sports in our gym • ndDance and Movement • Rooftop play Island Sports Camp • June 22 – August 21st • Fun with Science • Karate • Drama • Extended day options For 7 – 13 year olds who like something a little more sporty. Start the day with science, art, yoga or drama, then jet off forCamp a day of June softball, soccer, The day19th concludes back at Island Sports 27thand–tennis. August St. Bart’s withAge swimming instruction in our trips indooronce pool.a week/private bus 7-13 years • Special Adventure Camp June 22nd –Island August 21stlessons • Soccer •Field Sports• at Roosevelt • Tennis This camp is great •forUltimate 8 – 13 Frisbee year olds• who about sports art, science • Softball • Kickball Relayaren’t Racescrazy • Touch Footballbut• are andintomore… and a little adventure. This camp offers two (2) educational/recreation trips per week in and outside ofAdventure Manhattan. Also includes sports, 20th-August yoga, drama and a weekly art/science showcase. CampsomeJune 19th TWO educational/recreational Summer at St. Bart’sAge also7-13 offersyears flexible•scheduling, the Breakfast Club, Lunchtrips/week and After Camp program. To register, schedule a family convenience, more and information, contact Eileen Reddy at • Arts and tour Craftsat your • Sports in our orgymreceive • Dance Movement • Yoga (212) 378-0203, reddy@stbarts.org or• visit our •website: Drama Karatewww.stbarts.org. • Science Summer at St. Bart’s also flexible scheduling, the Breakfast Club, Lunch and After Camp programs. St.offers Bartholomew’s Church Contact Eileen Reddy at 212-378-0203, reddy@stbarts.org or Janette Coleman at coleman@stbarts.org. Park Avenue at 51st Street • www.stbarts.org • 212.378.0203 www.stbarts.org.

Join Our Circle of Friends for 8 Weeks of Summer Fun JUNE 6TH – JULY 29TH Ages: 2 ½ year old – 5 year old by June 2011 Mommy & Me - 20 months to 26 months of age by June 2011 Activities include cooking, free play, music and movement, arts and crafts, water/sensory/sprinkler play, outdoor activities, and weekly Shabbat. All campers will enjoy: Wacky Wednesdays, and a Family Picnic. Our older campers will enjoy: Field Trips, Pizza Day, a Sports Program and Specialists.

Currently Registering Contact Lindsay Bennett at 212-249-5001 or lbennett@templeisraelnyc.org Temple Israel of the City of New York 112 E 75 St. New York, NY 10021

At home, I may be the shy, quiet child, but when I get off the camp bus, I am whatever I present myself to be.

confidence. The other part of the problem is that camp is a place to make new friends, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got this friend from home, you feel pretty obligated to stick with that friend, so every time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asked to pick a buddy, you feel guilty if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pick them, and conversely, if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pick you, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so hurt. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s putting a lot of responsibility on kids as well; if I go to camp with you, and for some reason youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not happy, I feel responsible for you. If the child does go to camp with a friend from home, try to convince the two kids to not be in the same bunkâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; at least then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re forcing them to make new friends. Should I tour the camp before sending my child there? Absolutely, if you can. A lot of day camps have open houses in the spring, which gives you an opportunity to meet them, meet some of their staff, meet some of the other kids that are going there. With overnight camps, what many parents do is tour one

summer with the intention of sending their child the next summer. What is the campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy and program emphasis? In order for a camp to be a successful fit, you need to be on the same page with the camp on what you believe is a good experience. That question should always be asked of a camp director before you sign your child up. What a camp director is most proud of, what he or she is trying to accomplishâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a pat answer. That should be something that he or she feels strongly about and is very committed to. How can I be sure the camp is safe? A camp being accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA)

is a parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best evidence of a campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to safety. We are the only organization that is nationally recognized as being able to accredit camps. When a camp is accredited, that means that every three years, someone personally goes there to make sure that the camp is living up to almost 300 standards. But I still suggest to parents that they do their own homework. Make sure that you ask the camp director, How do you hire and train your staff? How are you prepared to handle an emergency situation? Who are the people that are down at the waterfront? A parent can check into a stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp guidelines, and they can also call the Better Business Bureau to see whether or not the camp has any outstanding violations. v Renee Flax is Program Services Director for the American Camp Association-New York. For more information or to speak with Renee, call 1-800-7772267 or visit aca-ny.org.

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January 2011 | New York Family

WE THREE KINGS [All Ages]

Come celebrate the Christian holiday Dia de Los Reyes, or Three Kings Day, with El Museo del Barrio’s 34th annual Three Kings Day Parade. Featuring a colorful procession through the streets of East Harlem that includes live camels, sheep and donkeys, colorful costumes, decorative floats, live music, dancing, puppet performances and more, the parade is a fun-filled tradition not to be missed. The festivities begin at 10:30 a.m.; families are strongly encouraged to dress warmly. 1230 Fifth Avenue, 212-8317272; elmuseo.org.

January 6-30

GARDEN PARTY [Ages 3-8]

Looking for a fun and creative way to get your kids moving and grooving? Families can check out “The Ohmies: Morning Wish Garden,” an interactive, one-of-a-kind musical theater experience that lets kids hop like a grasshopper, fly like a butterfly, slither like a snake and sing along to lively and original music. The performance takes children on a magical journey as they make their way to visit “Mr. Sun” and make their wish garden come to life! Performances take place Thursday through Sunday at 11 a.m. and are 55 minutes long; tickets are $36. Recommended for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers. Daryl Roth Theatre, 101 East 15th Street, 212-239-6200; theohmies.com.

January 8

AMAZING INFLATABLE FUN [All Ages]

Families can expect 10-foot cylinders, gigantic mobile inflatable props, a can-can dancing ballerina with an expanding dress and much more when the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company, a celebrated, wacky theater troupe that has performed all over the world, takes the stage at Symphony Space. Heralded by the New York Times to be “helium light and hilarious,” this interactive, fast-paced and highly imaginative performance will leave kids amazed and inspired! Tickets range from $13-27. The Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway, 212-8645400; symphonyspace.org.

January 15

A DAY OF DESIGN [Ages 7-14]

Have an aspiring scientist at home? The New York Hall of Science invites families to its Design Squad Nation Family Day, based off of

JANUARY 21st

JANUARY 8th

C. Rod Bacon

for Kids Culture Guide

January 6

Great Ideas for January

By parentsconnect.com and newyorkfamily.com

New York Family | January 2011

www.newyorkfamily.com

the hit PBS kid’s show, “Design Squad Nation.” Children and their families can create their own tabletop designs, play trivia games, check out upcoming episodes of “Design Squad Nation” and pose for photos with the show’s hosts. After the workshop, take the opportunity to explore the museum’s numerous hands-on exhibits and activities, like “Internet Arm Wrestling,” where kids can arm wrestle with museum-goers across the country, and “Ropes And Pulleys,” a 20-foot kinetic sculpture that lets users operate moving wheels and pull ropes to see how one small change can have a major effect. Family day activities take place between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. and are free with general museum admission. 47-01 111th Street, 718-6990301; nysci.org.

January 16

JANUARY 22nd & 29th

AN ARTY PARTY [Ages 4+]

On January 16th, families can join the Brooklyn Museum’s 25th anniversary celebration of two of its family programs, Arty Facts and the Gallery/ Studio Program. This fun-filled, full-day event celebrates the history of both of these influential programs, and includes a family-focused tour of the museum’s permanent collection, a memorybook art-making activity, a community sculpture project, free cupcakes and the opening reception for the Gallery/ Studio Program’s Student Exhibition. The celebration takes place between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, 718-638-5000; brooklynmuseum.org.

January 21

TIME FOR TEA [Ages 1-6]

Give your children a tea party they will always remember with a trip to the beautiful and historic Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden (one of the seven oldest buildings in Manhattan, it was constructed in 1799 as a carriage house and converted into a hotel in 1826) for its monthly story time and tea programs. Children will have a chance to see the museum’s tea party display, have a pretend tea party (complete with real cups and saucers from the museum’s collection!) and take a tour of the museum’s period rooms. Festivities are free with admission and begin at 10:30 a.m. 421 East 61st Street, 212-838-6878 x32; mvhm.org.

January 22

BRIDGE THE GAP

January 21- February 20

Families can learn about famous bridges and how they are made at a fun-filled, two hour workshop at the Center for Architecture Foundation entitled “Family Day at the Center: Building Bridges.” Children and their accompanying adults can even design and build their own model bridge to take home. Pre-registration is required. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. $20 per family of four; additional guests are $5 each. 536 LaGuardia Place, 212-358-6133; cfafoundation.org.

[All Ages]

BUNNY BUSINESS

[Ages 5-13]

January 22 and 29

WORLD TRAVELERS [Ages 3-6]

No chance of an exotic getaway this winter? No problem, just sign your children up for one of the January sessions with the World Travelers, an organization that lets kids embark on imaginary journeys around the globe through hands-on and inspiring activities. With the help of props, elaborate costumes, music and games, kids can explore the African Safari and search for baby monkeys on January 22nd, or channel the Costa Rican coast and visit a baby animal sanctuary on the 29th. Adventures will take place at the All Souls Unitarian Church; pre-registration is encouraged. Single sessions are $25. 1157 Lexington Avenue, 917-538-5049; theworldtravelers.com.

JANUARY 6th

On January 21st, the award-winning TADA! Youth Theater will debut “Rabbit Sense,” its first full-length performance of the season. The production tells the story of Kris, a bullied little boy in desperate need of some new friends, who is rescued by Brer Rabbit and his friends Brer Bear, Brer Fox, Brer Turtle and more. TADA! produces original musicals performed by kids ages 8-18 designed for family audiences. “Rabbit Sense” performances take place on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. 15 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor, 212-2521619; tadatheatre.com.

January 29

IT’S EASY BEING GREEN [Ages 6+]

The Skyscraper Museum invites families to the workshop “From Grime To Green,” where children will be able to explore the possibilities for making New York City a greener place! Kids will be able to explore contemporary and future factories in the museum’s exhibit, “Vertical Urban Factory,” before working together to come up with ways to make them healthy and sustainable. They’ll even have the opportunity to build green models of their favorite cities; after the workshop, you just might have an urban planner on your hands! Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. 39 Battery Place, 212-9681961; skyscraper.org. To submit an event listing, please email newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia.com.

NOVEMBER 20th

www.newyorkfamily.com

Carucha Meuse

TODD CHALFANT

newyorkfamily.com. For more great listings,

see parentsconnect.com,

the online city guide for parents. January 2011 | New York Family

PREVIEW

THE CULTURE

Carnegie Hall

CLUB

MAGICAL MUSEUM EXHIBITS, WORKSHOPS, PARTIES AND PERFORMANCES TO SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY THIS WINTER 82

New York Family | January 2011

“Brain: The Inside Story” Exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History

Families can learn about the inner workings of the human brain at a fascinating new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Kids can see a three-pound preserved brain, walk through a tunnel of firing neurons and challenge themselves to brain-teaser games. The exhibit, which is divided into seven categories like “Your Emotional Brain,” “Your Thinking Brain” and “Your Changing Brain,” also introduces the latest findings in neuroscience and showcases new technologies that researchers use to study the brain and treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 1 West 79th Street, 212-769-5100; amnh.org.

Meet the Artist Saturdays: “Hip Hop Shakespeare” at Lincoln Center On Saturday, January 8th, families can introduce their children to the magical world of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet and more with the January installment of Lincoln Center’s popular kids program Meet The Artist Saturdays: “Hip Hop Shakespeare.” The workshop will feature a performance from The Point of Entry Theater Company, who will re-mix Shakespeare’s classic works with a modern hip hop beat and catchy raps that will have families clutching their sides with laughter— and learning a thing or two! The show is free, appropriate for kids ages 5 and up and begins at 11 a.m. 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212-875-5456; lincolncenter.org/atrium.

“Pinkalicious” The Musical at the Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre

Pink lovers of all ages will be pleased to know that Vital Children’s Theater’s runaway hit musical

www.newyorkfamily.com

Stephanie Berger

Culture Guide for Kids

Tonight belongs to...

Broadwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most haunting love story.

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PREVIEW

Culture Guide for Kids

production “Pinkalicious” (inspired by the book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann) has found a new home at the Vineyard Dimson Theatre on East 15th Street. The hilarious one-hour show tells the tale of a little girl who loves to eat pink cupcakes so much she develops pinkititis—an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe! The show runs on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. 108 East 15th Street; 212-579-0528; pinkaliciousthemusical.com.

Grandparent/Grandchild Program at the New York Police Museum

Dedicated to preserving the history of the New York Police Department, the New York Police Museum boasts tons of hands-on educational exhibits for kids. Beginning on January 11th, the museum will debut its new Grandparent/Grandchild Program, in which guests can come to the museum on Tuesday afternoons for activity play in the Junior Officer Discovery Zone, an interactive exhibit that allows kids to operate a police car, learn codes that actual policemen use, and make crime scene observations. Admission is $5 for grandparents and grandchildren under 5; registration is not required. 100 Old Slip, 212-480-3100; nycpolicemuseum.org.

“Raising Citizens: Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival” at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Families can celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day all weekend at CMOM with the museum’s funfilled and inspiring “Make a Difference Medal” workshop. Children will learn about Dr. King and his legacy, discuss the role they can play in making a difference in the world, and make a medal that shows their promise to make a positive change in their communities. For children ages 5 and up; workshops take place at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. from January 15-17. 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223; cmom.org.

“Alice In Wonderland” at Puppetworks

From January 15th to April 17th, the Brooklyn marionette masters at Puppetworks will present Lewis Carroll’s famous adventure “Alice In Wonderland” with the help of intricately crafted puppets and a gorgeous set. The puppet production will feature much of the novel’s colorful imagery—such as the Mad Hatter’s tea party and the disappearing Cheshire cat—and is recommended for children ages 3 and up. Tickets are $7 for children, $8 for adults. 338 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-9653391; puppetworks.org.

“Who Is Louis Armstrong?” at Jazz At Lincoln Center

On January 29th, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s popular Jazz for Young People program will bring the music and charm of Louis Armstrong to music lovers of all ages. Led by trumpeter Sean Jones, this workshop and concert will teach guests why Satchmo is known as “the first genius of jazz” and showcase his irrepressible charm, wit and talent. Rose Theater, 33 West 60th Street; 212-2589800; jalc.org.

“Sculpting the Himalayas” Family Workshop at the Rubin Museum

Families can build and move mountains every Saturday throughout the month of February at the Rubin Museum’s workshop “Sculpting the Himalayas.” Children ages 6 and up and a parent will take inspiration from the museum’s galleries to build snow-capped Himalayas, rivers, shrines and symbols from clay, fabric and mixed media. Workshops take place at 2 p.m. 150 West 17th Street; 212-620-5000; rmanyc.org.

“Picturing People” Family Workshop at the Whitney Museum

Say cheese! On select Saturdays in February, families can take part in the Whitney Museum’s “Picturing People” workshop, in which museum guests will explore pictures of individuals in various media and learn the fundamentals behind portraits, posing and profiles. Workshop admission is $10 per family and includes museum admission; pre-registration is required. 945 Madison Avenue, 212-570-3600; whitney.org.

Milkshake Concert at Symphony Space

On February 5th, Grammy nominated and mom-run kiddie rock group Milkshake, who plays tunes inspired by everyone from Rodgers and Hammerstein to The White Stripes, will hit the stage at Symphony Space’s Just Kidding Series. Fronted by singer Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehl— whose music for adults has been featured in movies and primetime television—will charm adults and kids alike with their endearing lyrics and authentic rock n’ roll spirit. Tickets range from $13-$27; the show begins at 11 a.m. Peter J. Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street; symphonyspace.org.

The Haitian Children’s Day Celebration at the Children’s Museum of the Arts

Introduce your children to the art and culture of Haiti by attending the Children’s Museum of the Arts and the Carib-

New York Family | January 2011

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: New York Police Museum; Rubin Museum, photo by Joanne Chan; Vital Theater, photo by Sun Productions; New York Theater Ballet, photo by Richard Termine. www.newyorkfamily.com

“The most entertaining hour of acrobatics, juggling, magic and comedy” —The Herald Tribune

Art: Tom Slaughter Photo: Amanda Russell

NewVictory.org ®

A NEW 42ND STREET PROJECT

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Feb 11 – 27 Great for the Whole Family Recommended for everyone over the of age 4

PREVIEW

Culture Guide for Kids

bean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s Haitian Children’s Day Event on February 5th. Families will be able to enjoy interactive workshops inspired by Haitian and folk art, live musical and dance performances and more. Festivities take place between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. 182 Lafayette Street, 212-941-9198; cmany.org.

“Cinderella” at the New York Theatre Ballet

Introduce your child to the magic of dance with the New York Theatre Ballet’s “Once Upon A Ballet” spring performances, all of which are geared toward children ages 3-12. On February 12th and 13th, the NYTB will present Donald Mahler’s beautifully imagined production of Cinderella, complete with a dancing clock, wacky stepsisters and a charming prince. Performances are Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for children and $40 for adults. 55 East 59th Street, 212-679-0401; nytb.org.

New York Sword Dance Festival At the Museum of the City of New York

On February 19th, families can partake in an ancient winter celebration at the 25th annual New York Sword Dance Festival at the Museum of the City of New York. The dancers will use fast-paced rapper swords and stand in a ring, linked by their swords, as they weave complex figures to the delight and awe of kids and adults alike. The performance will combine elements of modern skill and movement with a tradition steeped in English and European customs. The performance is free with museum admission and begins at 1 p.m. 1220 5th Avenue at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672; mcny.org.

Kids Week 2010 at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Escape the late winter blues with a week of hands-on fun at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum’s Kids Week. From February 19th-27th, the Intrepid invites families to enjoy a host of special, kid-focused programming, including interactive exhibits in the Exploreum Hall, different hands-on activities every day of the week (like the Intrepid’s spectacular flight simulators), special guest performances and more. Pier 86, 12th Avenue and 46th Street, 877-957-SHIP; intrepidmuseum.org.

“Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock” at the DR2 Theatre

Beginning February 26, families can experience the newest musical journey from Gustafer Yellowgold—the curious yellow sun creature that has captured the hearts of adults and kids alike— when he takes the stage at the DR2 Theatre. Gustafer’s “Infinity Sock” is a multi-media show that is part pop rock concert, part animated movie that tells the story of Gustafer’s search for the longest sock in the universe. The show runs through April 2nd on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 103 East 15th Street; gustaferyellowgold.com.

Carnegie Hall’s “Family Sing”

On Sunday, February 27th, make musical memories at Carnegie Hall’s Family Sing with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, where kids will be able to experience first-hand what it’s like to be part of the choir. Before the event, families can check out Carnegie Hall’s website for sheet music and audio clips to help them learn the songs. The performance itself, which will be led by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, will include pre-concert activities and warm-ups led by members of the ensemble. Performance begins at 1 p.m.; tickets range from $9-$15. Zankel Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue, 212-9039600; carnegiehall.org.

“Mischief” at the New Victory Theater

From March 18th to 27th, families can join the New Victory Theater for the U.S. premiere of “Mischief,” an award-winning family production from Great Britain that will mesmerize adults and children alike. Hailed as “a whimsical and hugely inventive encounter with movement, music and mood” by The Scotland Herald, the production is a colorful musical playland featuring foam noodles grooving to an eclectic array of live tunes. The performance is appropriate for kids ages 4 to 8; tickets range between $18-$38. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010; newvictory.org.

“BYOK (Bring Your Own Kid)” Series at 92 Y Tribeca

Every Sunday, the 92 Y Tribeca introduces families to some of the coolest kids music around with the weekly concert series BYOK (Bring Your Own Kid). On February 27th, rocker Randy Kaplan will take the stage for a morning of musical storytelling (complete with covers of favorites from Hank Williams and Bob Dylan); on March 27th, Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band will play their beloved and award-winning kid rock that’s influenced by everything from country to punk. Concerts begin at 11 a.m.; tickets are $15, children under 2 are free. 200 Hudson Street, 212-601-1000; 92y.org.

New York Family | January 2011

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Puppetworks, photo by TA Smith; Tribeca Performing Arts Center; American Museum of Natural History, photo by D. Finnin; Brooklyn Children’s Museum. www.newyorkfamily.com

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band at the Jewish Museum

On March 20, families can celebrate Purim at the Jewish Museum with the annual rockin’ performance from the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, a New York City-based multinational kids band that is a frequent guest on both Noggin and Nick, Jr. At the concert, kids can enjoy carnival-like klezmer rock and dance in costume to the fun jam “ClownaHagila.” Concerts begin at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and are appropriate for children ages 3 and up. 1109 Fifth Avenue, 212-4233200; thejewishmuseum.org.

Poppy Seed Purim at the Kaufman Center

The Kaufman Center’s Poppy Seed Players have taught lessons and traditions of Jewish culture to children for 21 seasons! On March 20th, families can enjoy a musical re-enactment of Purim with the fun-filled production “A Poppy Seed Purim,” a light-hearted re-telling of the Biblical story of how Queen Esther saved the Jews of Shushan complete with vibrant characters, humor and a catchy melodic score. Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, 212-501-3303; kaufman-center.org.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar And Other Eric Carle Favorites” at the Skirball Center

As part of its Big Red Chair family series, the Skirball Center at NYU presents a theatrical reimagining of three of Eric Carle’s beloved children’s stories, including the tale about the famously hungry caterpillar who eats his way through an assortment of treats before his metamorphosis into a butterfly. The performance will take place on April 2nd at 10 a.m. and is appropriate for children ages 2 and up. 566 LaGuardia Place, skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

“Room on the Broom” at BMCC Tribeca

BMCC Tribeca offers a wide variety of family-friendly theatrical programming. On April 16th, the Performing Arts Center showcases a musical adaptation of the bestselling book “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The performance will tell the story of a witch and her cat and the characters they meet throughout their journey—and whether or not the duo will have enough room on their broom to save everyone from a hungry dragon. 199 Chambers Street, 212-220-1459; tribecapac.org.

“World Passport Workshop: Tip Your Hat Off to Seuss!” at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum Oh, the places you’ll go! Celebrate the magic of Dr. Seuss at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s special celebration of the beloved author’s birthday on March 5th and 6th. In this workshop, children can explore the ways Dr. Seuss used words to stretch his readers’ imaginations, hear their favorite Seuss stories, make a Seuss-inspired hat and even compose their own Seussical poems. 145 Brooklyn Avenue, 718-735-4400; brooklynkids.org.

“Up, Up And Away With The Woodwinds” At The Little Orchestra Society

The Little Orchestra Society’s popular Lolipops kids concerts invite families to discover new musical genres in a relaxed and fun-filled setting. On April 2nd and 3rd, families can check out “Up, Up And Away with the Woodwinds,” a musical adventure that lets children experience the musical culture of China, Holland, Africa and Brazil and introduce them to composers like Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Performances are intended for children ages 3 to 5 and take place on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues, 212-971-9500; littleorchestra.org.

Barnyard Easter Egg Hunt at the Queens County Farm Museum

The city’s only working historical farm, the Queens County Farm Museum hosts frequent events and workshops for kids of all ages throughout the year. On April 23rd, families can hop over to the annual Barnyard Easter Egg Hunt, where kids can do the “bunny hop,” participate in an egg toss, visit with the farm animals, take a hay ride and much more. 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, 718-3473276; queensfarm.org. —Amanda Ferris, Katie Garton, Tiffanie Green, Rachael Horowitz and Amy Spiro www.newyorkfamily.com

clockwise from top: New Victory Theater, photo by Patrick Baldwin; Queens County Farm Museum; Kids Week at the Intrepid; Skirball Center, photo by Carol Pratt.

January 2011 | New York Family

Meet

Mrs. Focker

On Screen, She’s Stuck In The Middle Of A Constant Comedic Battle Between Robert De Niro And Ben Stiller. Off Screen, Teri Polo Is Finding A Way To Balance A Burgeoning Acting Career With Being A Mom Of Two

udiences first met actress Teri Polo in 2000’s “Meet The Parents,” the runaway comedy about her boyfriend Greg’s (Ben Stiller) tumultuous first meeting with her father (Robert De Niro), in which Polo portrayed Pamela Byrnes, the calm foil to the over-the-top antics of the characters around her. In 2004, the gang returned for “Meet the Fockers,” and now they’re back for the third installment of the story, “Little Fockers,” which tells the tale of what happens when kids are added to the mix. We recently caught up with Polo about the joys of working with an acclaimed ensemble cast and “the loves of her life”— her eight-year-old son Griffin and her three-year-old daughter Bayley.

New York Family | January 2011

BY RACHAEL HOROWITZ

Audiences first met Pam Byrnes 10 years ago! How was she changed over the last decade? She’s gotten older. She now has twin five-year-olds, and her marriage gets put on the back burner because you focus so much on your children, and Greg and Pam learn that. I don’t think Pam has changed much—the guys are still spinning around in circles. Barbara [Streisand] and I have decided that the next movie is going to be called “Mother Fockers,” and the women will finally put their feet down and say, “We’ve had it. We’re taking over. You guys are a bunch of lunatics.” What do you love most about playing Pam? Getting to work with these people! I was in shock when I heard 11

years ago that I was going to screen test for this part. Then meeting them and working with them, they’re some of the most talented, wonderful people. I marvel at Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffman on set because with just one word they can make you laugh out loud. But at the same time, they’re just people, and it’s lovely to be in this group. Did your experience as a mother help you with this role? Oh my goodness, for sure. I was parenting while I was interacting with the two children in this movie, Colin [Baiocchi] and Daisy [Tahan], who play our kids. It was easy for me to translate something that the director needed that the kids weren’t quite getting. And [as a mother] there were moments when something was in the script and I would say, “Oh, I don’t think she would do that, she wouldn’t leave her child standing alone.” How do you balance being an actress with being a mother of two young children? You can be a working mom and have quality, special time with your children and make them feel loved and safe; it’s just a great deal of work. There must be some moments of incredible unselfishness, because they deserve and need as much love and attention and focus as you can possibly give without depleting yourself. But you have to take care of yourself, because if you’re not okay and healthy, your children can’t be. What else is on the horizon for you? I just finished shooting a movie in Anchorage, Alaska called “Beyond” with Jon Voight and Dermot Mulroney. I have a recurring role on “Law & Order: Los Angeles” playing Skeet Ulrich’s wife, so there will be more of that in the new year. Then it’s pilot season again, which is a lot of work. I would love to land a regular television job. For a mom, that’s just the bees’ knees! You have a regular schedule, and you can schedule your kids’ stuff around it. That would be my goal. G “Little Fockers” is in theaters now. For more information, visit littlefockers.net. www.newyorkfamily.com

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on second

ought

An Adoptive Mother-To-Be Reflects On Her Journey To Parenthood

waiting for a.J. By Andrea Vij

The oven is ready, but my batter looks lumpy. I poke through it with my spatula, blending the mixture until the blobs disappear. When at last I gaze into a pool of smooth chocolate, I pour the batter into a dozen muffin cups and put the pan into the oven. As the smell of chocolate swells through the air, I take comfort in knowing that I have done something concrete. Cupcakes are real—you can hold them in your hand—and today I need something like that. My little boy turns one year old today, and I’m baking cupcakes to celebrate. But as much as I’d like to turn this into a typical birthday, I can’t. Two things stand in my way. First, my son is not here to celebrate. And second, I am not yet his mother. Two years ago my husband and I decided to look into adoption. We gathered information on agencies for weeks before signing on with one. For six months after that, we collected papers for our dossier and learned about attachment disorders, child development, medical issues. A social worker wrote a summary of our parental qualifications. We filled out piles and piles of forms. Then we waited. Eleven months later, we made our first trip to Moscow. There, we finally met the baby boy who would become our son. As we played with him in the stark, uncarpeted anteroom at Orphanage No. 12, we fell hopelessly in love, marveling at his

New York Family | January 2011

easygoing, playful spirit. We promptly signed off on yet another pile of forms, this one making our request to adopt him official. We decided to name him A.J., short for Andrei James. At last, after meeting our child, it no longer mattered how much time had passed. All memory of the hours, days and months lost to waiting simply faded away. But now we’re waiting again. We had to leave our son in Moscow until the courts decide we can bring him home, and so far the courts have not acted. Until they do, we can only leaf through the stack of pictures we took in Moscow and watch our favorite video, the one where A.J. teeters across the anteroom behind his push-walker, his expression so earnest and full of concentration that we can’t help laughing in delight every time we see it.

son. My husband starts in on “Happy Birthday.” I join him and we finish the song together. The candle flickers, its happy glow reflected in the glass of the picture frame. “Make a wish,” I say, in a voice as bright as I can muster. In the silence

At last, after meeting our child, it no longer mattered how much time had passed. All memory of the hours, days and months lost to waiting simply faded away.

“ready for a cupcake?” I ask as we clear the dinner dishes. “You bet,” my husband says. I place our favorite photo of A.J. in the center of the table. Then I grab a small plate from the cupboard and place a single cupcake on it. I poke a candle into the top of the cupcake and reach for a match. My husband flips the switch as I light the candle, and there we stand in the semi-dark: two parents, one cupcake, and a snapshot of our baby

that follows, we stand arm-in-arm before the glowing candle. I think back to that day in Moscow, when our little boy toddled across the room behind his push-walker as we cheered him on. When he finally toddled into the space directly before me, I scooped him up in my arms. He grinned as I lifted him over my head and told him what a good boy he was. Together my husband and I blow out the candle, and I turn on the lights so we can eat our cupcakes. G An d r e a V i j l i v e s i n Massachusetts w ith her husband and 23-month-old son, A.J., who arrived home in Apr il 2010. Her w r iting h a s a p p e a r e d i n “A d o p t i v e Fa m i l i e s ” m a g a z i n e a n d t h e online magazine literar ymama. com, where this essay was first published. She blogs about her f a m i l y ’s a d o p t i o n e x p e r i e n c e a t littlevij.blogspot.com. www.newyorkfamily.com

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