New York Family May 1, 2010 by New York Family

MAY 2010

May 2010 Established 1986

WWW.NEWYORKFAMILY.COM

Stay Tuned “The Real Housewives” Bethenny Frankel On Marriage, Motherhood And Life On TV

SPORTS 101

TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO SWIM, SERVE, AND SWING GUIDE

CREATIVE BIRTHDAY IDEAS NEW BOOK

NEW YORK FAMILY

Bethenny Frankel, co-star of “The Real Housewives of New York City”

INSTINCTIVE PARENTING

RIVERSIDE SOUTH UPPER WEST SIDE

A LARGER LEASE ON LIVING WELL GRACIOUS DESIGN The Ashley features two and three bedroom homes with oversized layouts, ďŹ nished-in-place oak ďŹ&#x201A;oors, four-ďŹ xture baths, high ceilings, and abundant light through expansive windows.

PEERLESS AMENITIES The 40,000 square foot LA PALESTRA Athletic Club & Spaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite sporting facilities include a 75' indoor pool, a two-level rock climbing wall, dedicated Yoga and Pilates studios, an indoor golf driving range, basketball and squash courts, a bowling alley, and a cafĂŠ. For children, there is an indoor playground designed by Kidville, NY.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE The Ashley oďŹ&#x20AC;ers elite concierge services by Abigail Michaels, on-site parking, an on-site valet, private storage units, and secure bike storage.

SPRING OCCUPANCY & BRS FROM STUDIOS & BRS ALSO AVAILABLE ON-SITE LEASING CENTER WEST RD STREET OPEN DAYS A WEEK CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

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kidville-nyfamily-full-apr10.pdf

4/21/10

3:58 PM

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stay tuned

for our new locations in Union Square and Midtown East!

*policy and terms at www.kidville.com

upper east side: C

upper west side:

466 Columbus Ave. (btwn 82nd & 83rd) NY, NY 10024 phone: 212.362.7792

163 East 84th St. (btwn 3rd & Lexington) NY, NY 10028 phone: 212.772.8435

CMY

Little Maestros @ 69th St. 344 East 69th St. (btwn 1st & 2nd) NY, NY 10021 phone: 212.772.8435

tribeca (annex):

200 Church St. (corner of Duane) NY, NY 10013 phone: 212.362.3923

midtown west:

515 West 51st St. (btwn 10th & 11th) NY, NY 10019 phone: 646.775.2797

newborn 6 years

park slope (annex):

808 Union St. (corner of 7th) Brooklyn, NY 11215 phone: 718.569.2150

www.kidville.com

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JCC

THIS MONTH AT THE

Registration for Spring/Summer programs is now open! Fall Registration opens on May 23! Free trial classes are available upon request. From sports to the arts, science to dance, and everything in between, JCC classes are unparalleled! All children ages 4 months to 18 years are welcome.

DON’T MISS THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL EVENTS: Mother and Baby Pilates 6 Weeks–Crawling Randi Stone, certified pre-and postnatal Pilates and Tupler Technique instructor, will help you lose your “mummy tummy”, enhance the integrity of your pelvic floor and natural mother-baby bond. Participants should bring a baby blanket. 7 Wednesdays, May 5—Jun 30 (except May 19 & Jun 9), 1:15—2 pm, $175/$210 KMAMPB02S0

Hunger Project Join other families to cook dinner for homeless guests at the B’nai Jeshurun Homeless Shelter. Children will help prepare healthy, fresh meals, decorate place mats, and set the table before the guests arrive. Meet at B’nai Jeshurun, 257 West 88th Street (between Broadway and West End Avenue). Tues, May 11, 5:30—7 pm, FREE FFOHPR04W0

Caring for Your Newborn Baby This fun, hands-on workshop will teach prenatal parents to find humor and joy in the care routines for new babies. Topics include questions to ask before leaving the hospital; preparing the home for the baby’s arrival; circumcision and umbilical cord care; how to handle a colicky baby; and more! Led by Andrea Syms-Brown, IBCLC, CIMI, with 20 years of experience as a newborn care specialist. Snacks will be provided. Thu, May 13, 6:30—8:30 pm, $40/$50 FPACBA01U1

Amsterdam Ave at 76th

jccmanhattan.org 646.505.5708 A beneficiary of UJA-Federation

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May 2010 volume 23, issue 12

INSIDE

74 COLUMNS

18 26

61 FEATURES

MOMS OF THE YEAR From a mommy blogger to a children’s furniture designer to the head of a non-profit that helps the homeless, these moms are balancing their passions with raising a family in the city

HITTING THE BEACH IN STYLE The hottest summer ensembles for children, from suits to sandals

THE ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY PARTY GUIDE Over 50 great ideas for throwing a memorable bash, from inspired party themes to over-the-top entertainers to where to buy the best cakes and favors

EDITOR’S NOTE A month of moms

42 46 50 98

A GOOD IDEA

The downtown family club known as Citibabes is expanding to bring the rest of the city into its orbit

TREATS Creative mother’s day gift ideas ranging from books to baubles

BUZZWORTHY Three innovative bibs designed by moms; an Upper East Side hair salon for parents and kids; creative Mother’s Day art projects, and more

OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO Five summer destinations that cater to families—including a luxurious resort with a LEGO camp

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 311 E 11: Village Green brings eco-friendly family living to the East Village; plus, this month’s three featured dream homes

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan takes a leading role in combating childhood obesity in the city and beyond

A SPECIAL PLACE

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY News from New York Family, including upcoming events, contests and giveaways, and other noteworthy happenings

STARTING OUT The author of a new book encourages parents to listen to their instincts—instead of everybody else—when it comes to raising their kids

KID CULTURE This month’s best live performances and museum exhibits for families (page 90); plus, an interview with the director of “Babies,” a new documentary that follows four newborns in different corners of the globe

ON SECOND THOUGHT The editor of Real Simple offers a tongue-in-cheek glossary of terms to illustrate the chaotic daily life of working moms

THE COVER: Bethenny Frankel from “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Hair and makeup by Sonia Rodriguez. Photographed by Sarah Merians Photography. Shot on location at Sarah Merians’ NYC studio. New York Family | May 2010

HEALTH & WELLNESS Quick and effective exercise routines for mom to do at home and in the park; plus, our favorite fitness classes around town

DEPARTMENTS

ACTIVITY OF THE MONTH Tips for teaching kids how to play summer sports, from tennis to golf to baseball

A SCRIPT OF HER OWN “The Real Housewives of New York City” co-star Bethenny Frankel talks about the ups and downs of reality TV, her recent marriage and her thoughts on beginning her life as a mom

46 www.newyorkfamily.com

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Who Will Your Child Become? At Wee Care we believe that children learn by interacting with their environment through play. Our teachers plan activities that support emerging skills and recognize individual differences. Children are encouraged to develop physically, verbally, and socially while having fun. Through praise, peer recognition and compassion, we help to build and nurture a child’s self-esteem and creativity. We demonstrate to every child who enters Wee Care that he/she is wonderful and special.

Our program consists of the following: •Music & Movement •Tennis •Art •Kinder Dance •Indoor and Outdoor Recreation •Field Trips These programs are in conjunction with our curriculum. It makes us a unique choice for your child’s education. We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have, and show you our wonderful facility. Call to schedule a tour.

Grand Opening We proudly announce the opening of our new infant/toddler suite.

Wee Care Child Care, LLC 451 East 83rd Street New York, New York 10028 212.472.4481 | Visit us at: WeeCareLLC.com

EDITOR AND CO-PUBLISHER Eric Messinger emessinger @manhattanmedia.com ART DIRECTOR Mitchell Hoffman mhoffman @manhattanmedia.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leah Black lblack@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 EDITORS Katie Main kmain @manhattanmedia.com Meira Drazin mdrazin @manhattanmedia.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel S. Burnstein, Heidi Green, Thaddeus Harden, Jennifer Lee, Josh Lehrer, Sarah Merians CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Janet Allon, Michelle Levine, Meredith Lopez, Lisa Loverro, Jennifer Maslowski, Brittany McNamara, Tanisia Morris, Lyz Pﬁster, Elisabeth Reed, Hannah Rubenstein, Molly O’Meara Sheehan, Mary Squillace, Teresa Tobat, Linda Tolkin, Lanchi Venator

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 Jane O’Donovan jodonovan @manhattanmedia.com SALES ASSISTANT Patrick O’Connor pjoconnor @manhattanmedia.com CIRCULATION John Baxter jbaxter @manhattanmedia.com Joe Bendik jbendik@manhattanmedia.com 1

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MANHATTAN MEDIA PRESIDENT/CEO Tom Allon tallon @manhattanmedia.com CFO/COO Joanne Harras jharras @manhattanmedia.com Harry’s Shoes For Kids 2315 Broadway (between 83rd and 84th St.), New York, NY

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edit ’s

NOTE

A Month Of Moms We all know how wondrous team captain) now balancing her children are, how the things they commitments to the sport with her say and do charm, excite and inspire time with her family. The city’s leading us (even if two minutes later they advocate for the homeless. A mother manage to exasperate us in equal whose brand of children’s furnishings measure). and toys is synonymous with fun, style Adults are wondrous creatures too, and functionality. Then there’s the but it’s a tougher case to make. We writer/actress who turned her life as a often feel overwhelmed, bedraggled, mom into a special one-woman show skeptical and unfriendly. We don’t and now a book, her art underpinned hear the calling of our with a message we all better angels nearly struggle with at times: Adults are enough, and we have a enjoy your time with habit of misplacing our wondrous your children. The own sense of wonder. other moms in the story creatures too, Still, when I consider equally compelling. but it’s a tougher are the spirited, interesting To read about them is women profiled in our case to make. to feel inspired. annual “Moms We Our cover Love” package, I’m reminded of the joy subject this month wasn’t quite and generosity and inspired behavior a mom yet when we interviewed that us adults are capable of, too. and photographed her, but a very What a great group. A professional pregnant Bethenny Frankel, of “Real soccer player (and former Olympic Housewives” fame, certainly had

May 2010 Established 1986

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SPORTS 101

TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO SWIM, SERVE, AND SWING GUIDE

CREATIVE BIRTHDAY IDEAS NEW BOOK

INSTINCTIVE PARENTING

Bethenny Frankel, co-star of “The Real Housewives of New York City”

motherhood on her mind (as well as the final details of her to-be-televised wedding, which happened a few days after the cover shoot). Fans of the show like Bethenny because she is candid and quick and resilient. You can see for yourself in our interview. Other treats in the issue include a new book on trusting your gut when it comes to parenting; a helpful story on getting your kids going in various sports and activities; and of course our Mother’s Day Gift Guide. I’d be wise to use it myself. Happy Mother’s Day Everyone, ERIC MESSINGER emessinger@manhattanmedia.com

Dasha Wellness is your Sanctuary in the City! We are located in the landmark “Galleria” building on E.57th between Park and Lexington. One hour of ME time will NOT effect your schedule, we promise! Time for yourself at our beautiful facility DASHA WELLNESS means taking the initiative to commit to your own well being.

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New York Family | May 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

Authentic

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The City’s Best Summer Day Camps for Tots to Teens. Camps run June 21 – September 3 • Ages 3 to 17 Years Since 1996, campers have enjoyed world-class athletic facilities, expert and caring instructors, and the most exciting sports curriculum, without ever leaving the city!

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Welcome to the Family Prizes

UPCOMING EVENTS

AND

GIVEAWAYS

CARNIVAL FOR A CAUSE:

GETTING IN:

Join New York Family as it sponsors Carnival For Kids, a fun-filled annual family event benefitting Coalition for the Homeless. The organization helps over 3,500 men, women and children in New York City every day though mobile feeding, crisis intervention, children’s programs, job training, and permanent housing. The event will take place in Central Park and features amusement park rides, carnival games, magicians, BBQ, arts and crafts, face painting, amazing raffle prizes, and more! Proceeds go to the Coalition’s Youth Service Programs, including a sleep-away camp for homeless children and an afterschool and day care program. Details: Wednesday, June 9, 5:30pm to 8pm. Victorian Gardens in Central Park. For more information: redelman@cfthomeless.org or 212-776-2056.

Smart City Kids is one of the city’s leading school admissions consultants, advising parents on nursery schools, public schools and private schools. They are offering one family a free two-hour consultation advising parents on how the process works, developing a school list and answering any other questions or concerns parents may have. To win, write to us at newyorkfamily@ manhattanmedia.com, putting “Smart City Kids” in the subject line, by Monday, May 17.

For more upcoming family events, visit newyorkfamily.com.

ON THE

W E

B Take Our Reader Survey Poll/Enter Rafﬂe For Family Weekend at The Plaza Hotel!

Dear New York Family Reader, Please visit newyorkfamily.com to take our brief reader survey. It will help us shape a magazine, website and weekly newsletter that better addresses your interests and needs. This online survey will take only a few minutes to complete. All data will be tabulated collectively. Individual answers will not be revealed in public, or shared with third parties. And check this out: For completing this survey, you will be automatically entered in a rafﬂe to win a two-night family stay at The Plaza Hotel, including luxurious accommodations in a Deluxe Rose Suite and a $100 Gift Certiﬁcate to the new Eloise Shop. Thank you in advance for your participation!

On Second Thought Also, make sure to drop by and read our newest blog, On Second Thought, featuring an ongoing dialogue among the magazine’s editors and other parents who discuss what’s on their mind when it comes to raising kids, from babies through tweens. For more parenting resources, visit newyorkfamily.com.

New York Family | May 2010

IMAGINOCEAN: We’re giving away a set of four tickets to the new musical “John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean,” an interactive undersea adventure chronicling the remarkable journey of aquatic friends Tank, Bubbles and Dorsel. To win, write to us at newyorkfamily@ manhattanmedia.com, putting “Imaginocean” in the subject line, by Monday, May 17. For more prizes and giveaways, visit newyorkfamily.com. www.newyorkfamily.com

Signing Up For Camp Is A "Breeze"

Summer Breeze Day Camp For children ages 2.6 - 5.6 years, both separated and non-separated. Outdoor activities include water play and playground. Indoor activities include gymnastics and sports in our state of the art gym, cooking, music, art and library. Our teachers are regular members of York Avenue Preschool and Gymtime Rhythm and Glues and maintain the same high standards that we expect throughout the school year. Have a fun filled summer with Summer Breeze Day Camp at York Avenue Preschool!

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For more information or to register for camp please call 212.861.7732

buzz

WORTHY

RP I C N I C IN A BAG

RB I B S T H R E E WAY S We recently came across three new bibs—all invented by moms—that each have their own unique take on keeping tots clean during feeding. The DaHugs by DaBib features a special scrunch neck that prevents leaks from spilling inside baby’s clothes, plus an absorbent terrycloth front and a waterproof back ($9.99; dabib. com); the uber-stylish, smock-like JelliBee bibs have an arms-through fit and tie-back closure that keep little ones totally clean ($18; jellibeebaby.

The next time you head to the park,

com); and the Organic Bib by Priscilla Woolworth

consider bringing Skip Hop’s new

has an extra snap-on cover you can remove when it

Central Park Outdoor Blanket + Cooler

gets wet or dirty, revealing a fresh one underneath

Bag with you. It makes everything

($36; priscillawoolworth.com). Genius!

from family picnics to play dates convenient and stylish. The bag includes an insulated area to keep snacks and

R T H E U LT I M AT E

drinks cool. It also unfolds into a 5x5

HAIR SALON

water-resistant blanket (available in

The Upper East Side is now home to a whimsical

two designs). Or, detach the ice pack

new hair salon just for families. At Carousel Cuts,

and it’s a compact messenger bag!

kids ages 3 months and up can get their hair cut

$45; skiphop.com.

while watching a favorite cartoon on a personal TV. Meanwhile, mom or dad can have their hair done, enjoy a manicure and pedicure, or get a massage. There’s also a supervised playroom; photo booth for family pictures; upstairs bistro with healthy finger food, popcorn, and Shirley Temples; and shopping area with toys, books, clothes and more.

RM A D E F O R M O M If your child is looking for Mother’s Day craft ideas beyond the usual cards (though we love those, too) these unique websites are full of imaginative proj-

May

ects: Kaboose.com, where you’ll find homemade present ideas from photo bouquets to beaded

THE CHECKLIST FOR

necklaces; Mothersdaycentral.com, which has directions for making 151 crafts, from bath salts to homemade potholders; and Crafty Crow (belladia.typepad.com/crafty_ crow), a “children’s craft collective” that rounds

Top to bottom: JelliBee; DaHugs by DaBib; Organic bib by Priscilla Woolworth.

up cool craft projects from around the web and offers year-round inspiration.

RH OT O F F T H E P R E S S E S Watch your child become a published author! At the newly opened Scribble Press shop on the Upper East Side, kids

RE FOR MO EAS D TIPS &SIIT VI

ily.com newyorkfam

can write, illustrate and see their own stories printed and bound (the finished masterpiece even includes an author photo). Little ones can also exercise their creativity by designing note cards, place mats, and calendars. And the fun doesn’t stop there—the store also offers classes, birthday parties and a summer program. Details: 1624 First Avenue, 212-288-2928, scribblepress.com.

New York Family | May 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

3lbFamilynyaugout.ai

7/20/09

4:19:16 PM

Activity

of Month

How To Get Your Child Going In Popular Summer Sports ow that summer is here, parents and kids will be heading outside to do everything from ride bikes to play catch. But if your child is tackling one of these sports for the first time, how do you ensure you’re teaching them the right skills while also having a good time? We asked experts for advice on how to teach children the basics of baseball, tennis, bike riding, golf and swimming.

Coaching Your Child

Baseball The only gear you need to teach a beginner how to play ball? A ball and a glove, according to Coach Raymond De La Cruz, co-founder and head coach of On Deck. The best thing for parents to do at first is simply play catch. There’s no need for grounders or fly balls—just a direct throw to the chest. “Teach your child to be the tree and not the tree branch,” suggests De La Cruz. In other words, a player should catch the ball in front of their body, not with an arm sticking out to the side like a branch. Parents should also keep in mind that it is important to pick one skill to work on and focus on that. “If you are working with your child on keeping your head down while hitting the ball, don’t worry if he misses every time as long as he keeps his head down,” explains De La Cruz. And while batting cages are good to use during the winter months, they should not be used throughout baseball season. It is more beneficial

New York Family | May 2010

to go out and throw the ball to your child to hit, as a batting cage cannot simulate a live pitch. —Brittany McNamara

Tennis “If a child is going to pick up the game and do well, they have to learn proper tehcnique so they don’t pick up bad habits,” says Michael Filipek, head pro and junior development director at Sutton East Tennis Club. Before your child begins practicing their ground strokes, they should learn the ready position: facing forward with shoulders parallel to the net and knees bent as both hands are gripping the racquet. Next, teach your child the main types of tennis shots: forehand, backhand, and volley. Filipek recommends getting a basket of balls and tossing them to your child one at a time “so they can hit one after the other at their own pace.” Once your child has gotten the hang of hitting the ball, toss the ball to your child with your racquet at a slow speed and practice hitting the ball back and forth. Remember, there’s no need to play as if you and your child are competing at Wimbledon. Instead, avoid all the rules and regulations of tennis, such as scoring, and just focus on the basics, like making

sure your child is using the right form, practicing hand-eye coordination, and running back and forth, even if they aren’t able to hit the ball back to you when you serve it. If your child likes competition, simple point-by-point scoring will do, but it’s best to avoid games centered around winning and losing, says Michael Sarro, a program coordinator and tennis instructor at BumbleBee Tennis. “The important thing is that your child is having fun. The goal is to get them to develop a love for the game.” —Tanisia Morris

Bike Riding Ready to teach your kid to ride a bike? First, take notice of your child’s developmental level, suggests Rich Conroy, a cycling instructor and manager of the education program at Bike New York. If your child has a decent sense of balance, they’re probably ready. (Most kids learn between the ages of 5 and 9.) www.newyorkfamily.com

swing is showing her how to hold the club correctly. There are several options, but the easiest for children is the 10-finger grip. If you’re not familiar with it, go online and looking up some how-to videos before heading out—most are just a few minutes long and will give you enough background information to teach your child. Kids also tend to move around a lot, so when they’re practicing their swing, make sure there is not a lot of movement when they are hitting the ball. A great way to make golf fun and teach aiming skills at the same time is by playing mini-golf. “The kid won’t really even know that they are practicing aiming,” said Renz. He also says that kids don’t worry if they miss the ball, so parents shouldn’t either. There’s no need to correct your child on every swing. Renz explains, “It’s all about positive reinforcement. You don’t want to be hard on the kids.” —Brittany McNamara

Swimming Asphalt Green First, you need to choose the right bike; a child should be able to stand over the bike’s frame. Next, your child should practice balancing on the bike. Conroy suggests removing the training wheels and pedals, and lowering the seat so the child’s feet rest flat on the ground. While sitting on the seat, your child should walk the bike forward with his feet. Eventually, he will start to lift his feet and glide. Then, put the pedals back on and have your child do the same thing. But this time he should take his feet off the ground, put them on the pedals and begin riding! Once your child can pedal, he should learn to turn and stop using the pedals and brakes—don’t let him get into the habit of using shoes to stop. Finally, teach your child the safety rules of the road. Explain to your child how stop signs operate and how to look for traffic. Your child will learn a lot from example, so go on a ride together and reiterate the rules, commending him for his smart bicycling behavior. —Shani R. Friedman

Golf One of the most important aspects of teaching your kids to play golf is making sure they have the right club. “What I always see parents do wrong is cut down their clubs for their kids,” says Allan Renz, a teaching professional at the Golf Academy at Chelsea Piers. For little ones, Renz suggests purchasing equipment from Snag Golf (snaggolf. com), which offers clubs light enough for children to use comfortably. The first step in teaching your child the art of the

New York Family | May 2010

Think your tot is ready to take her splish-splash from the bath tub to the pool? Although it’s tempting to go it alone, experts recommend you first enroll your child in swimming lessons with a certified swim instructor. Here’s one reason why: Most

“The important thing is that your child is having fun. The goal is to get them to develop a love for the game.” children have a fear of water, and if the lessons are not facilitated by a professional who knows how to introduce kids to the pool, they can easily be traumatized by the experience. “Open bodies of water such as the ocean and even the pool are not controlled environments, so there’s always a danger of drowning,” says Paul Weiss, the senior program director at Manhattan’s Asphalt Green. When you are ready to hit the water with your child one-on-one, keep safety precautions in mind. Supervision is key and rescue equipment should always be close by, including first aid kits and life jackets. Parents should begin by reviewing some of the basic swimming skills that their child is already learning such as breathing, balancing, kicking, floating and treading water. Locomotive skills such as strokes and glides and underwater activities should come after. —Tanisia Morris www.newyorkfamily.com

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One School, Many Learners Opening This Fall, The WORLD CLASS LEARNING ACADEMY NEW YORK Uses An Internationally Renowned Curriculum To Help Each Student Reach Their Full Potential

very parent wants their child to be excited about learning, to wake up each morning eager to go to school. But most educational establishments still revolve around traditional teaching methods that simply do not meet the needs of every student. Children all have very different learning styles and process information differently; some may require extra help along the way, while others may simply need extending and challenging to maximize their full potential. The traditional methods of teaching to the class don’t give chil-

New York Family | May 2010

dren the individualized attention they deserve. Even those who generally do well in a typical classroom setting may not necessarily have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The good news is that, increasingly, schools are offering more personalized and differentiated curriculums that address each child’s unique learning style and abilities. And if there’s one leader in this field, it’s the World Class Learning Group (WCL Group). Known for building highly-regarded schools, the WCL Group is now opening its first school in the city this fall for children ages 3 to 11 years-old—the World Class Learning Academy New York, located in the heart of the Lower East Side. “As a group, we are extraordinarily passionate about learning,” says Emma Northey, Head of Primary Learning at the British School of Boston, one of The World Class Learning Academy New York’s sister schools. “We believe very strongly that one size does not fit all, and therefore in order for a child to learn and succeed, they need to have a program that is tailored to them and enables them to learn as an individual and not as a whole class.” What makes the WCL Group’s ethos and approach stand apart from other schools is that this belief is embedded in something quite tangible: the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Created and developed 25 years ago by a branch of the WCL Group called Fieldwork Education, the IPC is taught at all of the WCL Group schools, including the British Schools of America, based in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC (the New York school will be the latest addition). The IPC is now taught in 900 private schools around the world. “[People are] very taken by the focus on the learning, quality of the work, and how far ahead the [IPC] schools are compared to other schools both locally and abroad,” says Ann McPhee, Vice President of U.S. Operations and Director of Education for the WCL Group. Graduates of the WCL Group www.newyorkfamily.com

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schools—and children who have benefitted from learning through the IPC curriculum—regularly go on to Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Princeton, and top-tier colleges internationally like Oxford and Cambridge. And with the opening of the new school in New York, says Northey, families in the five boroughs will be able to experience what so many schools are talking about worldwide. “The World Class Learning Academy New York has been able to hand-pick curriculums that will best meet the needs of the students. We believe that these curriculums are the IPC and the Primary Framework for Literacy and Mathematics from the UK National Curriculum,” says Northey. So what does the IPC look like? For one thing, you won’t typically see a teacher standing in front of a classroom lecturing a group of students at large. At the World Class Learning Academy New York, educators will adapt the resources or media they are using so that every child is able to access the curriculum. Additionally, teachers cater to each child’s ability level, so that in any given classroom, while working on the same learning objective, some students are working at a beginning level while others are working at a more advanced level. And students play an active role in deciding how they learn best. “For instance, if a child is presenting their knowledge or skill to their classmates, they may be more comfortable presenting it through a Power Point presentation, through role play or perhaps presenting through the media of written or art form,” says Northey. Classroom activities are also very hands-on, so that students have the opportunity to really “live” the curriculum. “Children need to understand that they themselves can become scientists, historians, mathematicians, without just reading about it in a book or having someone say, ‘If you mix these two chemicals together, this is what happens,’” says Northey. “We believe that a child does need to become a scientist to understand science. www.newyorkfamily.com

All too often teachers will assume that because they have imparted the knowledge, therefore the student has learned. It just doesn’t work like that.” Ultimately, says Northey, “The IPC was written to give children ownership over their own learning, a clearer understanding of how they best learn and equip them with the knowledge and skills they will need for an everevolving world. We believe that children who learn this way will be better prepared for later life.”

“Any school can say they want that for their students, but realistically, are they equipping the students with these skills? Our curriculum and our group ethos has all of these attributes underpinning and embedded in all we do as a school.” While the IPC alone may be enough to draw many families to the World Class Learning Academy New York, the school’s sense of warmth, personality and mission are also sure to add to its appeal. For as much as

A rendering of the rooftop at the World Class Learning Academy New York.

Something else that makes the IPC distinct: its focus on globalized learning. Its goal is to teach students understanding, respect, and knowledge of other opinions, cultures and beliefs from their immediate environment as well as from around the world. And because the IPC is respected around the globe, the WCL Group schools automatically attract an international population. Which means that students at the World Class Learning Academy New York will no doubt have the benefits of an education that has a broader, worldwide view. It makes the school a compelling choice for students who will go on to work and live in a very international, everchanging, 21st century world. “In this world, children are going to need to develop the personal attributes that we teach through the IPC, namely to be adaptable, to be resilient, to communicate well, to be cooperative, to have respect, to show morality, to have an ever-enquiring mind and to be thoughtful,” says Northey.

it offers a global education, it will also reflect its home city and take advantage of it. Teachers will use the city as a classroom, drawing on its art, culture and history to enhance the learning that takes place inside school walls. For families looking for a school for this fall or in the coming years, World Class Learning Academy New York most definitely provides a unique option. Families get the best of both worlds: the energy, new facilities and a fresh approach that come with a new school combined with the impressive track record of the WCL Group. “We are very aware that there are a lot of good schools in New York,” says Northey. “But we think that we can offer something very unique and different. We will given children amazing opportunities and experiences to help them develop into life-long learners.” To learn more about the World Class Learning Academy New York, visit wclgroup.com. May 2010 | New York Family

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Shape Shifters Looking For Inspiration? Check Out These Quick Workouts Moms Can Do At Home Or In The Park

The Hot List Looking for the perfect fitness class? Try one of these programs geared toward moms. EQUINOX’S FIT N’ FUN WITH BABY. Moms can enjoy fun and functional exercises that include their little ones (infants to 1 year old), like squats and presses. Classes are open to members and non-members (RSVP required). Throughout May. Exclusively at their location at 74 Street at 2nd Avenue, 212-249-3917, equinox.com. EXHALE MIND BODY SPA’S CORE FUSION CARDIO. Designed for new moms with limited time, Core Fusion Cardio packs cardio, toning, balance, flexibility and endurance into a one-hour class. Various locations in Manhattan, 212-249-3000, exhalespa.com. FITNOTIC’S BABY BOOT CAMP. This popular post-natal program—for new moms with baby in tow—whips you back into shape. Baby can be in a stroller, in a carrier, in mom’s arms, or on a soft mat on the ground. Classes are held in Ripley Grier Dance Studios on the Upper West Side and in Central Park. fitnotic.com. PHYSIQUE 57. Their signature class, which shares the same name as the studio and is available for various skill levels, lasts 57 minutes and uses weights and the ballet barre to strengthen and lengthen muscles and create lean bodies. Various locations in Manhattan, 212-399-0570, physique57.com.

PILATES AT DASHA WELLNESS. Dasha can customize any exercise regime for you, but we especially like their pre-natal ﬁtness program. Highly experienced trainers lead you though workouts suitable for the ﬁrst, second and third trimesters, with an emphasis on a healthy pregnancy and ultimately a reduced labor time! 115 East 57th Street, Suite 520, 212-755-5500, dashawellness.com. YOGAWORKS’S HAPPY HOUR YOGA. New moms who need a little push throughout the day can practice asana and pranayama yoga techniques that rejuvenate the body while clearing the mind. Exclusively at YogaWork’s Midtown location. 160 East 56 Street, 212935-9642, beyoga.com.

New York Family | May 2010

AT-HOME WORKOUT These three simple moves from Joshua Margolis, founder of Mind Over Matter Health & Fitness, require no exercise equipment. Sit-Up/Sit-Down Squat. Stand with your feet hip to shoulder-width apart, over a low chair or couch. Bend your knees until your butt taps the chair/couch below you, then stand up straight. Remember, you don’t want to fully sit down. In fact, pretend you’re sitting on a cactus. The moment you tap your butt, you should stand straight back up. Repeat 12 to 15 times. This exercise targets glutes, quads, and hamstrings. Wall Push-Ups. Stand about three feet away from the wall, both hands and feet hip to shoulder width apart. Lean forward until your palms touch the wall. Keep your palms firmly planted on the wall and bend and lower your elbows to 90 degrees. For added efficiency, stand on your tip-toes; you’ll get a calf workout in the process. Repeat 12 to 15 times. This exercise targets chest and triceps. Super Moms. Let’s face it, you’re a super mom, so act like it! Lay on your belly on the floor, arms and legs fully extended. Lift and lower opposite arm with opposite leg, only about six to eight inches. Repeat 12 to 15 times on each side. This exercise targets glutes and lower back.

PARK WORKOUT Elisabeth Halfpapp, co-founder of the Core Fusion program at Exhale Mind Body Spa, recommends the following exercises for when you’re at the park or playground. Thighs. “It’s great to build muscle density in your thighs—the Fitnotic’s Baby Boot Camp in action. largest muscles in your body—because the more muscle density you have, the more calories you’ll burn all day long,” Halfpapp says. While standing up, hold onto a bench, stroller or other support and practice leg lifts: straighten your leg in front of you so it’s almost parallel to the ground and lift up and down. Do 10 reps. Then, extend your leg once more and pulse up and down a few times. Butt. Leg lifts make a great butt workout, too, Halfpapp points out—just extend your leg diagonally backward instead of to the front. Or, for a less conspicuous but equally effective exercise, practice squeezing and holding your buttocks. “Do it while pushing your child on the swings, or even while having a conversation with another parent!” Halfpapp says. Abs. “Say you’re having a picnic or playing in the sandbox—you can work your abdomen by doing what we call a ‘curl,’” Halfpapp says. While in a sitting position, bend your legs and put your feet on the ground. Keeping your hands near your outer thighs, roll your head and shoulders upward until you are in a “C” position—like a crunch. Hold for several seconds, then release. G www.newyorkfamily.com

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A New Parenting Book Offers Some Refreshing Advice: Stop Listening To Others When It Comes To Raising Your Kids—And Start Listening To Yourself

Trusting Your Gut

f “necessity is the mother of invention,” then it was out of necessity that prompted young mother, Ada Calhoun, to write her book, “Instinctive Parenting.” While pregnant, Calhoun, founding editor-inchief of Babble.com, prepared herself for motherhood by buying and reading various books on parenting. Rather than finding reassuring information to guide her forward, what she read made her more “neurotic and confused.” There was an overwhelming amount of information, with experts proffering conflicting advice on the ‘right’ way to raise kids. What this soon-to-be mom was looking for were messages and stories about parenting that were reassuring and illustrated the joys and challenges of being a parent in a non-judgmental way. Two years after the birth of her son, Oliver, Ms. Calhoun wrote “Instinctive Parenting” to share her personal journey as a parent, guided by instinct and love. There are seemingly so many right and wrong ways to parent touted by books and online sources. Yet your book advises to simply listen to your gut. It seems too obvious, but a lot of

New York Family | March 2010

parents have forgotten or have never known how to do this. Why do you think that is? I think parents are in the pursuit of what’s best for their kids so they seek out as much information as possible to accomplish that goal. They just want to know all the options, and it is natural to get overloaded and overwhelmed. But it distracts you from using your gut, which can be stressful for the parents and the children. Do you think previous generations of parents were more instinctive? Is this a recent trend that parents feel so overwhelmed

and conﬂicted in deciding what’s best for their child? Our Baby Boomer parents before us tended to be more hands off. We are the generation of ‘latch key’ children, watching our parents approach their parenting roles with more relaxed standards. They were more apt to smoke and take a drink around us. They wanted to encourage independence, freedom and self-reliance earlier. As a generation, they probably left us alone a lot more. It could have been a result of the fact that their parents were stricter with their upbringing. As a reaction to that, the pendulum is swinging back the other way, with Generation X parents wanting to be more hands on and more active in our children’s lives. In this pursuit, we open ourselves up to wanting to follow or find the “right” method or the “right” approach to help create the perfect childhood for our children. So finding ourselves conflicted actually came from a good place. In the book you say that kids need 3 simple things: food, shelter, and love. That’s such a refreshing message. Do you ﬁnd that thinking of parenting in those terms makes it less stressful? I find that focusing on these simple things helps me remember what’s important to me— www.newyorkfamily.com

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raising a fulfulled child and a good citizen of the world. In remembering that your children need you to love them and to keep them safe makes everything else seem unimportant. I find that following your gut and blocking out the “do it this way” or “don’t do it this way” approach help you focus on the basics. We just have to remember they are children and not projects. On the other hand, some people might say that approach is too simplistic. How would you respond to them? This book is about my personal journey to find a parenting approach that worked for me. It is about focusing on the most important things, finding what works for you as a parent and about not letting the pressure and opinions overwhelm you. How does today’s culture of “over-parenting” negatively affect our kids, us as parents and our relationship with our partners/spouses? I think it leads to a lot of stress for everyone: parents, children and couples alike. It is hard to relax and be “I think parents are focused on nurturing in the pursuit of your family. The what’s best for their stress can also cause kids so they seek out or increase tension between couples. We as much information lose the ability to as possible to enjoy our roles. accomplish that goal.

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New York Family | March 2010

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Can you give know all the options, an example of the and it is natural to kind of behavior that your book is get overloaded and trying to reverse— overwhelmed.” the obsessive parenting you encourage people to step back from? Judgmental behavior. Being so obsessive makes us quick to judge— ourselves, our children and even our partners when we feel that one of us has not done everything “just so.” We extend this judgmental attitude to other parents as well. This is divisive behavior for all of us. I would like to see us bring back a sense of community and trust. We all need each other to succeed. What is the best reaction you have gotten from readers of your book? A family member, whom I was not close to, approached me to confess that up to recently, she did not enjoy being a mother to her young child. She found it stressful. After reading my book, she said she changed her outlook and behavior and that made a big difference. That was a great compliment. What are the top 3 messages from the book that you would want people to remember? Relax. Realize that there are an infinite number of ways to raise happy children. Remember to enjoy each other. G www.newyorkfamily.com

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New York Family | May 2010

10 years, we’ve continued to work in health, early childhood education and the arts. Recently, people in the medical community have begun looking for programs and approaches to stemming the obesity tide that are both scientifically accurate and effective. So we began to work with the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. They have approved us to, with their cooperation, develop and test the first anti-obesity curriculum for families with young children.

What are the different components of the anti-obesity initiative? Andy: We have the health program in the Bronx (and we’ll do another pilot there and also one in New Orleans), and the free programs we do here at the museum. Around June 2011, we’ll open a new exhibit about health. This is a long-term initiative. We’ll publish the curriculum and the exhibit will be replicated nationally. The NIH will receive the research from the health program and it has the potential to impact public policy. www.newyorkfamily.com

Andrew Schwartz

Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition!) program for kids ages 8-13 for early childhood audiences, and pilot test the curriculum in the Bronx and New CMOM president Andy Ackerman and Bronx health Orleans. Next summer, the museum educator Eduardo Quezada will open a new exhibit based on the museum may sound like an We Can! program. unlikely place from which to New York Family recently spoke launch a campaign against with Ackerman, along with Eduardo childhood obesity. But in Quezada, one of CMOM’s Bronx many ways, the Children’s health educators, to find out more Museum of Manhattan about the initiative. is the perfect place: “We Tell me about CMOM’s work combating know kids, but more than that, we know families,” says CMOM president childhood obesity and encouraging healthy Andy Ackerman. “We bring this lifestyles. Andy: For a long time we’ve been combination of cutting-edge science doing early childhood work with delivered through the arts.” families. Around 1998-1999, we noticed Earlier this year, The National that too many of the children coming Institutes of Health (NIH)—the nation’s primary agency for supporting into the museum seemed overweight, and this was before childhood obesity medical research—partnered with was showing up on the radar screen as CMOM to create and test an antiobesity curriculum for young children. a national crisis. So in 2000, we opened an exhibit called “Body Odyssey,” which Drawing on its two decades of work was about taking control of who you with families, CMOM is working to are to address those issues. Over the last adapt the NIH’s We Can! (Ways to

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Can you give an example of one of your free health programs? Andy: One of our workshops is about portion control. We pop three bags of popcorn and we put one bag in a large bowl, one bag in a mediumsized bowl, and one bag in a small bowl. We ask the kids which one has the most popcorn. They always say it’s the one that looks full—the small one. So the message to the parents is, “Put your popcorn in a smaller bowl.”

Tell me about the health exhibit slated to open in June 2011. Andy: It’s going to be a totally immersive experience, exploring what happens inside your brain when you make decisions, learning to navigate through all the external stimuli around us that try to seduce us to eat bad things. It will have people laughing and learning at the same time.

Eduardo, can you tell me about the Bronx health program? Eduardo: It’s a program for both

kids and parents at three different community centers in the Bronx. We combine the health message with what CMOM is famous for—the singing, the art activities—and we bring a healthy snack. We give out handouts with tips on how to implement what we’ve learned, including recipes and songs they can sing.

city. We bring programs to where the need is and find the financial support to make them free.

“Within these four walls, we’re creating a place that’s a safe haven, where kids can ﬁnd their own way.”

Tell me about some of CMOM’s other off-site programs. Eduardo: I go to the Bronx three times a week and I visit Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and bring art and literacy to the kids. We have a weekly shelter program for homeless families and kids. The moms can speak with a social worker and we do art activities, circle time. We visit libraries in the city, in the Bronx and Brooklyn. We bring the museum to the community. Andy: Each year we operate in 45 to 50 different sites throughout the

Andy, this year you’re celebrating 20 years of being at CMOM’s helm. Looking back over your career here, what are you most proud of? Andy: When we have responded to kids in crisis. We did it after 9/11. We did it in New Orleans. We do it at the hospital with kids with cancer. We do it in the Bronx in communities living in poverty. And here at the museum, within these four walls, we’re creating a place that’s a safe haven, not only physically, but emotionally, psychologically, educationally, where kids can find their own way. G

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he elevator doors slide open and you are enveloped in laughter and light. You step out and enter a large room filled with sunshine streaming through tall glass windows. To your right is a row of parked strollers; in front of you, booths and low round tables are surrounded by child-sized lime green chairs. Parents and caretakers stand at a café holding infants and ordering turkey meatballs and spinach squares. Children place shoes in small cubbies before entering a rainbow play area filled with slides and rope climbs, while down the hall, parents run on treadmills in a state-of-the-art fitness center. You have entered Citibabes, a membershipbased club in Soho for families of all shapes and sizes: “For we parents and wee children,” as the motto reads. Citibabes is “the ultimate resource for modern parents and families,” says founder Tracey Frost. Much more than its physical locations (it also has an outpost in Scarsdale), Citibabes is a “a community that watches children

A CLUB For EVERYONE

Citibabes founder Tracey Frost with daughters Natasha, 5; and Chloe, 2. 46

New York Family | May 2010

grow up and develop” from infancy. And it’s expanding. What began as a meeting place for parents and children has become a hub of activities, events and entertainment both material and virtual. Its offerings now include a variety of educational classes and workshops, charity events, a weekly Citiscoop newsletter, Citibabes maga-

zine, camps, a vacation destination partnership with luxury hotel chain Parrot Cay, and “Citibabes-To-Go” services like tailored birthday parties and Susie’s Supper Club delivery. Soon, the club will launch a network of blogs, as well as a series of online “How-To” videos featuring cooking demos and other projects for parents and kids to www.newyorkfamily.com

Andrew Schwartz

After Cultivating A Loyal and Enthusiastic Following, Citibabes Has Plans To Bring The Rest Of The City Into Its Orbit

she calls “a community aspect to families” that was lacking, despite the crowdedness of the city. Drawing on her background in finance, Frost developed a comprehensive business plan. In November of 2005, Citibabes’ doors opened; today, the club claims 700 members between its two locations—a number that is growing every day. Although Citibabes offers families everything from treadmills to tomato soup, Frost maintains that the club’s real focus is on education, beginning with prenatal classes for expecting mothers. Babies as young as three months can take part in classes like Baby Rockers and Baby Beats; 12-18-month-olds can enroll in Music Makers and French for Tots. All classes emphasize socialization, motor skill development, and spatial knowledge: what Frost calls the “building blocks” of the education program. Once a child reaches 18 months, she is eligible for Citischool: a pre-

ings are unique and varied, including Kids in Space, Myth Makers, Under the Big Top, Abracadabra and more. In addition, children can choose to enroll in music classes that rely on the innovative Suzuki method. The program even offers an after-school alternative called CitiBoys: classes that are tailored specifically to recent research detailing differences in the ways boys and girls acquire literacy skills.

“The children’s programs are incredibly innovative,” Frost says. “We’re constantly pushing the envelope…it’s very New York.”

Above, tots frolic under a starry parachute. Below, Citischool students take part in some hands-on learning.

do together. And while no plans have been confirmed, Citibabes has its eye on an Upper East Side location. Frost began Citibabes after moving from Sydney to New York 15 years ago, meeting her husband, and giving birth to her daughter Natasha in 2005. Living in an apartment in Tribeca, she explains she was “intrigued by how people were having kids without any extended family support network” in the city, and wanted to provide what www.newyorkfamily.com

school beginning with Citischool Jr. and continuing up to age five. Citischool is an arts-based, experiential program whose philosophy falls somewhere between traditional and progressive theories of education. “The children’s programs are incredibly innovative,” Frost says. “We’re constantly pushing the envelope…it’s very New York. We like to consider it cutting-edge; we’re constantly reinventing ourselves.” Current class offer-

Citibabes clubs are not just for children, but for parents and caretakers as well. In addition to a café that offers kid and grown-up food, there are adult offerings such as parenting seminars, cocktail parties, trunk shows, Pilates, yoga, spinning, personal training sessions and a gym. Parents can also take advantage of the two-hour free babysitting service to work out, or even leave the club and run errands or meet friends for lunch. Nannies have a go-to rainy-day destination, and kids always have a fun place to play and learn. Gently placing his 20-month-old daughter, Samantha, in her stroller, father of three Matt Wadley talks about the benefits of being a Citibabes member: “In New York City, you need a space that’s not your apartment to take your kids to before they reach school age. It’s a one-stop place for parents and nannies.” Caroline Forsling, mother of two small boys, agrees. She comes to the club to eat in the café, work out and watch her sons play. The boys are also enrolled in the preschool program. “It’s a community,” she says. And one that will continue to expand and grow. Frost’s hope for the club is that more families will come to love Citibabes as much as she does. “I’ve met so many friends and learned so much,” she says. “I can’t imagine my life without it.” G Citibabes, 52 Mercer Street, 3rd Floor, 1-800-697-0107, citibabes.com. May 2010 | New York Family

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ditor’s Picks More Summer Vacations That Cater Exclusively To Families

If Paradise Were Designed By Kids, It Would Probably Look A Lot Like Atlantis BY LISA LOVERRO

ith the addition of an all-new, 8,000 square foot Atlantis Kids Adventure Club and a partnership with LEGO, there’s more reason than ever to pack up the family and head down to Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas this year (atlantis.com). This summer Atlantis, along with their LEGO partners, will host fantasy camps for young builders along with a host of other special events. The camps, running during the month of July, will give kids ages 3 to 12 a chance to work with a LEGO master builder. The sessions will take place from July 12 to 16, 2010, July 19-23, 2010, and July 26-30, 2010 with a cost per session of $425 per child. Let your little ones’ creativity take over as they experience hands-on, team building challenges along with games to keep them occupied for hours on end. (Sound appealing?). The “campers” can also explore the new stateof-the-art kids’ club featuring a performance center, arts and crafts center and a computer room complete with 13 iMac stations that would make any adult a bit envious! There’s even a secret room reserved only for kids (no adults allowed—ever!). The camp program also includes a swim with the dolphins, Atlantis Speedway sessions, daily lunch and an all-camper ice cream social and pizza and “coketail” party. Of course, there’s more to Atlantis than just the new Kids Adventure Club. During the 5-day camp session, there’ll be plenty of time to explore the 171 acres of non-stop activity. Experience the Aquaventure Water Park with a tube ride down the lazy river and the ominous, 60 foot vertical water slide known as “Leap of Faith,” or relax on the beach “grownup style” while the kids work on their LEGO masterpieces! The official ambassador to the new Adventure Kids’ Club, Frankie Jonas, the youngest of the Jonas Brothers, was on hand this past January for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the impressive club, providing an extra treat for all the kids in attendance. G

New York Family | May 2010

Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Florida. This sprawling family fun park in Orlando includes a “Lagoon Pool” equipped with a four-story twisty slide, a “Slide Tower” complete with climbing nets and water jets, basketball courts, a kids’ play area and mini golf. There’s even a “4D Experience” arena, where you can “feel the wind, water, bubbles and slime transport you to a multidimensional high-tech adventure.” While the tweens are at the arcade or getting pampered at the spa, mom and dad can relax by the pool or sneak a run down the slide. Don’t forget to book a breakfast with your favorite characters at Nicktoons Café! (nickhotel.com) Sesame Place, Pennsylvania. Frolic among all your favorite characters at this classic amusement park, which includes a whole section devoted to the ever-popular Elmo. Attractions include Cookie Mountain, Ernie’s Bed Bounce, Big Bird’s Rambling River, the Rubber Ducky Pond and Ernie’s Waterworks. Splash around before catching Elmo’s World Live!, which incorporates audience participation into this show featuring the furry red puppet. (sesameplace.com) Epic Summer, Colorado. This summer Vail Resorts is offering families an all-inclusive, guided Rocky Mountains experience called Epic Summer. Parents and kids can go white water rafting and horseback riding, enjoy scenic gondola rides, have cowboy dinners around the campﬁre, and pan for gold—among other outdoorsy activities. Families are paired up with a knowledgeable guide who provides an insider’s perspective on the best the region has to offer. Guests can choose a four- or seven-day trip. (epicsummer.com) Point Sebago Resort, Maine. Located on the shores of Southern Maine’s largest lake, this sprawling resort gives families the option to stay in private cottages or vacation homes. Half- and full-day summer camp programs run by enthusiastic counselors are available, with children’s activities ranging from kayak races to tennis to bocce ball. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy the renowned 18-hole championship golf course. There’s also plenty of family bonding opportunities, including family bingo, family double dare, and campﬁres. (pointsebago.com)

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Tiffany & Co. Filigree Hearts 18K rose gold pendant with 24” chain: $1200 Sterling silver pendant with 18” chain: $200 Sterling silver & 18K rose gold with 24” chain: $650 tiffany.com

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Or Surprise Her With A Stunning Token Of Appreciation

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May 2010 | New York Family

New York Family Partner Proﬁle

Admissions

101

What Every Parent Applying To Nursery School Or Private School In New York City Should Know websites or calling the schools. The best practice is to get them back to the school in September, the sooner the better.

Where (And When) To Begin?

The first step is to start thinking about the kind of educational environment you want for your child. Your thinking may change in time, but it’s helpful to use the process as an exploration of your educational priorities and family values. Schools want children and families who will fit in well in their community. So it’s going to be important for you to sincerely articulate what you’re looking for in a school.

When Does The Process Begin? If you plan to apply to schools in the fall (for the following year), then you need to do your research now, during spring and summer.

Applications Follow the application’s instructions in a straightforward way. If you feel it’s necessary to say more about your child than the space allows, that’s okay, but don’t go overboard either in word count or ego. Schools are basically looking for a feel for the child’s personality and interests, and how well you know your child.

School Philosophies and School Tours Schools commonly use words like “traditional” or “progressive” to describe their academic philosophy and school environment. Still, keep in mind that most schools are a mix of philosophies, practices and traditions, and the best way to get to know a school is by taking a tour and getting a feel for its atmosphere and practices in person.

Interviews Homework There are several excellent places with which to begin your reading and research. First, give serious consideration to joining the Parents League (parentsleague.org; 212-737-7385). They offer orientation workshops as well as general support in the course of your admissions journey. Another good source of information are the two tomes by Victoria Goldman, “The Manhattan Directory of Private Nursery Schools” and “The Manhattan Family Guide to Private Schools and Selective Public Schools.” Visit school websites, of course. On the personal level, the best advice is usually from parents whose children are at a school now.

Mark Your Calendar The Tuesday after Labor Day is the day when many nursery schools give out applications. Prepare for that day beforehand by coming up with a priority list, and figuring out which schools give out applications via their website and which ones you have to call. Start calling and downloading early on Tuesday. For private ongoing schools (as in kindergarten and up), you typically can get their applications over the summer by either visiting their

New York Family | May 2010

Take the parent interviews as seriously as you would a job interview, dressing and acting accordingly, which includes shutting off all electronic gadgetry before you arrive at the interview. Come prepared to talk about your child and family with a few revealing anecdotes that evoke your affection for and understanding of your child. And be ready to talk about why you think this school in particular would be a good match for your child, and have a few good questions ready. Many nursery schools conduct child interviews in the form of a kind of playgroup, where teachers can interact with and observe your child. Just let it play out without prodding your child to perform in any way. For older kids going on private school interviews, give them a sense of what to expect but don’t try to coach them. Let them be themselves.

Connections The best letter of recommendation is from someone who knows your family and is also a well-regarded member of the school, either as a board member, or a parent.

A Family Fit How do you know when a school is right? You’ll enjoy what you see and feel on tours. You’ll like your conversation with the school head or admissions officer. You’ll like what the school says about itself. You’ll just know. And when you do, let them know. Letters that use the words “first choice” are discouraged, but letters (or phone calls) that indicate a strong preference for the school are welcome. Good luck! www.newyorkfamily.com

New York Family Partner Proﬁle

a pioneer in early childhood education. Families who love The Mandell School think of it as combining the best of traditional and progressive approaches. Mandell offers rigorous academics, but it is also deeply committed to the emotional growth of its students and the cultivation of their community responsibility and global awareness. For the K-through-8 division, those high academic standards are enacted in small classes (capped at 20 students) and an integrated curriculum, which means different subjects can overlap and connect with each other in meaningful ways. “If you integrate all of the disciplines, from music and art, to math and science, to history and the environment, and you keep classes small, you really are able to give each child exactly what they need at the level they’re at. It’s quite remarkable,” says Rowe.

New Facilities

The

Mandell Opportunity

With Its Traditions Of Academic Excellence And Citizenship, The Mandell School Appeals To A Broad Array Of City Families Looking For A Nursery School Or A K-Through-8 School—Or Both Where (And When) To Begin? As you begin your research, you’ll quickly learn that Mandell, which originally opened its doors on the Upper West Side in 1939, is not only one of the city’s most popular nursery schools, it has also quickly established itself as one of the city’s hot “new” private schools since launching its grade school division three years ago. To give you a sense of Mandell’s high regard, it’s one of the few schools in the city which Victoria Goldman, author of “The Manhattan Directory of Private Nursery Schools,” has designated a “Baby Ivy.” To date, the grade school has already phased in kindergarten through second grade, and the pilot year for middle school begins this fall with the introduction of 5th and 6th grade classes.

School History & Philosophy Mandell is anchored by its rich family history. Its Head of School, Gabriella Rowe, is the granddaughter of its founder, Max Mandell, www.newyorkfamily.com

This September will mark the completion of Mandell’s physical transformation, with the opening of its two remarkable state-of-the-art school buildings on 98th Street and Columbus Avenue. Spanning 62,000 feet, the facilities will include an 11,000-square-foot library and media center, a professional black box theater, and a full-size gymnasium. Between the two new buildings (which will house Mandell’s ongoing school) and its other sterling building on 96th and Columbus (which will house the nursery school), Mandell’s facilities are among the best in the private school world.

Ensuring Your Child’s Future As good a school as it is, Mandell is a practical choice. At a time when there aren’t nearly enough spots among the city’s best private schools, and the city’s best neighborhood public schools are overcrowded, a spot at Mandell ensures your child a great education. Think of it this way: If you have a young child attending Mandell’s early education division, he or she is automatically guaranteed a place in the ongoing K-through-8 school. At the same time, if you eventually want to look at other schools as well, Mandell has a top track record for placing students in the city’s other great private schools.

For More Information If you’re interested in learning more about Mandell, the best place to begin is on its robust website (mandellschool.org). If you have any immediate questions about the school or admissions, it’s always best to call and ask for the admissions office (212-222-2925). May 2010 | New York Family

A Script Of

HER OWN After Seasons Of Singleness, “The Real Housewives Of New York City” Co-Star Bethenny Frankel Is About To Embrace A New Reality: Balancing Her Successful And Varied Career With Marriage And A New Baby

B Y M A RY D I PA L E R M O

Photos by Sarah Merians Photography

New York Family | May 2010

f you’d like a lengthy and relaxed sit-down chat with Bethenny Frankel of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City,” you’d be best served not to schedule it six days before her wedding. Because on this day, just minutes after an hour-long photo shoot for this magazine’s cover, Bethenny is facing a dizzying list of “todo” items, both personal and professional. Over the course of the next few months, she will marry her fiancé, Jason Hoppy, give birth to their first child (she’s due in June), release a new book, introduce a fitness video, launch a skincare line, and star in her second Bravo TV reality series, “Bethenny’s Getting Married?” which trails her current life with Hoppy (including scenes from their wedding) and will premiere this summer. And you thought your second-grader was overscheduled? This is a woman who is clearly passionate about her life, her future, and the many opportunities within reach. Combine that with her wit and acerbic take on the people around her, and it’s easy to see why Bethenny has long been a fan favorite on the “The Real Housewives,” now in its third season. Here, she dishes on everything from her relationships with the other women on the show (including whether we’ll see her and Jill Zarin make up), her blossoming career, and her impending motherhood.

www.newyorkfamily.com

Tell me a bit about your background—what was your path to “The Real Housewives of NYC”? I was at [a] polo [match] in the Hamptons and I was approached by one of the girls who is now on the show saying they were looking for a mom who was married. I said I was none of those things and she pulled a producer over— it was called “Manhattan Moms” at the time—and I subsequently was offered the show. I turned it down for two months thinking it would ruin my career. Why, because it was reality TV? Because I had already done “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” and because it was called “Manhattan Moms” and there was no precedent set. I thought it would be a bunch of women acting, you know, drunk and stupid, which is, in fact, often the case. And [I thought] it would just be a train wreck. What ﬁnally changed your mind? That it’s Bravo and they have a very educated, sophisticated audience that is affluent. They actually buy. And I had a brand, SkinnyGirl Margarita. I had my book that I had just written. I was just starting to work with Pepperidge Farm and Health magazine. So I figured I could really use it to my advantage right away. It was a fifty-fifty shot for me. It would either change my life in one direction or the other. But the upside was huge. In terms of this show, how real is “reality” television? What, if anything, is scripted? It’s not scripted at all. Circumstances are sometimes, you know, arranged. They’ll say “We’d like to get you guys together.” But what’s said is really said. How do they keep the drama going? It’s six women! How do you explain the popularity of the show? People are voyeurs, and I think that truth is stranger than fiction. And I think if men watch it, it makes them feel better about their own lives because they realize how crazy women are. They feel better about their own wife, for example. It brings up a lot of things all of us go through, just more heightened. Up until now, you weren’t a housewife, you weren’t a mom, yet you’re the one people seem to talk about and respond to most. How do you explain that? I probably have a bigger arc in my story. I was in another relationship, and then it didn’t work out. People were rooting for me. And now I have a fiancé and I’m finally getting “what I want.” And can you have it all? It’s a question a lot of people ask themselves. It’s not so traditional to be getting pregnant at 39 and then getting married. It’s the reason why “Sex and the City” was successful; it just shows women in their thirties in a different, more liberated way.

www.newyorkfamily.com

May 2010 | New York Family

Do you think the show portrays women and female friendships fairly? Unfortunately, I do. I just think it’s more exacerbated. People gossip and talk about each other and don’t always say what they want to their face. In this situation it’s more like truth serum and you say it to someone’s face. And then when you say it to someone’s face, you’re a mean girl; if you say it behind their back, you’re mean. You can’t win for losing. How do you feel about the “cattiness” factor and the constant ﬁghting? It’s brutal. It definitely feels embarrassing on some levels. It’s not really me; I’m not really the girly-girl. I’m not the one who goes out for SkinnyGirl Margaritas with five different women on a Thursday night. I’m not really that into Girls’ Night. It does represent a lot of women; it doesn’t really represent me, necessarily, in terms of the whole entire show. It’s been three seasons and I’m glad I have my own show now. It can wear you down.

It’s not so traditional to be getting pregnant at 39 and then getting married. It’s the reason why “Sex and the City” was successful; it just shows women in their thirties in a different, more liberated way.

Will we get to see you and Jill Zarin make up this season? You both seem sad apart. You will not. At one point on “The Real Housewives,” one of the women referred to you as the “underdog.” Yet, you were a ﬁnalist on “The Apprentice,” you’re a best-selling author…you don’t seem like much of an underdog. How did you react to that classiﬁcation? It was just a projection of women thinking everyone wants to have what they have. That I should want the marriages and the kids they wanted. And I didn’t really necessarily want them. How and when did you and Jason meet? We met in a nightclub called Tenjune and we met on November 18, 2008. How quickly did you know he was “the one”? Not quickly, no. We had different backgrounds and we met at a club. So, it took me a long time. He seems like a willing participant on the show. Did he ever have any concerns about appearing? He is embarrassed by “The Housewives” and he does have concerns about being on the show. He is not nervous about appearing on my show because it supports me and us and our future. How does he feel about having his relationship so out there? He feels mixed about it. There are a lot of wonderful things; there are some good things that come of it and some of it, you know… We were walking down the

New York Family | May 2010

street yesterday and there were paparazzi, and he said: “Is this what our life is going to be?” We spend a lot of time alone and in bed and just watching TV. He knows that for me, it’s work and then down time. I don’t want to go to hip places unless I have to for work.

Do you have any worries about having your relationship being exposed? We have a pretty solid relationship. And the good news is that this all started happening to me while I was with him. It wasn’t like he came into this relationship and I already had exploded. We met and he went through it with me. He knows who I really am. He gets where it started. He gets where we are. It’s an evolution. In previous seasons, you made no secret about wanting children. How excited were you to learn you were expecting? I was, first of all, freaked out, immediately, instantly. We were sort of not trying, but trying. We were not being careful, because we knew my age and it would probably take a long time. So, I got pregnant right away, and it was just a little alarming. It was exciting, but it sounded like something you’d watch on a television show—not “The Housewives”—it just felt like an out-of-body experience. I went through many phases; emotion, fear, anxiety. What are we going to do about getting married? Are we getting married sooner because of the baby? It just brought up a lot. The first three months were really emotional; and then I was flying the second trimester, you know, really loving it; and now in the third trimester, I’m exhausted. I do so much. I was on a 21-day book tour in 12 cities, I’m writing my third book which is due the same day as my wedding. It’s ridiculous; it’s absurd what I’m doing. But, it is what it is. How has the pregnancy been for you? I think it’s been pretty good. I feel great. You’ve made a name and a brand for yourself as the “skinny girl.” What are your reactions to the body changes pregnancy brings? It’s kind of fun, because I

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Though many know Frankel as the straight-talking, no-nonsense reality TV star on “The Real Housewives of New York City,” off the air she ﬁlls many other roles. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, Frankel is most passionate about promoting healthy living. She’s written two books: “Naturally Thin: Unleash Your Skinnygirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting,” which was on the New York Times bestsellers list for 18 weeks, and “The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life,” released last year. This year she expanded her “Skinnygirl” brand with the Skinnygirl Margarita, a bottled, 100-calorie per serving cocktail mixed with clear tequila, a hint of agave nectar, fresh lime juice and a splash of Triple Sec (visit skinnygirlcocktails.com for info on where to buy). And May marks the release of her new workout video, “Body By Bethenny,” in which she’s joined by celebrity instructor Kristin McGee for a 55-minute yoga and strength-training program that focuses on toning abs, thighs, glutes and arms (and even includes a “5-Minute Booty Blast”). For more information on Frankel’s life and business ventures, visit bethenny.com.

appreciate comedy, and so it’s comical for your boobs to be resting on your stomach, and that your butt is spreading, and all that stuff. I don’t have any tremendous anxiety about it. Are you concerned about the post-pregnancy you? Physically? No, that will come back, it’s fine. Do you know the baby’s sex? No, I had a dream last night it was a girl, but I don’t know. Are you looking forward to motherhood? I really am. I’m now getting excited. It’s all happening as it should. Now it’s starting to become real. Anything you’re not looking forward to? Being neurotic…being neurotic about safety and leaving the baby with someone, just being a worry wart. How do you plan to balance motherhood and your career? I don’t know. The same way I am now. Luckily most of the seeds that I’ve planted are grown now—my fitness video is coming out in May, my skincare line is coming out in September. I can rest on it a little bit. Not rest, but I could do different things. What have you learned about motherhood from the other housewives on the show? I’ve learned nothing; I don’t pay attention to anything anyone else is doing. I’ve

New York Family | May 2010

never met the perfect-perfect person, who’s had the perfect parents. I’m playing my own game. Anyone whose parenting skills you hope not to emulate? There’s a little of all of them that I like; and there’s a little bit that I don’t. You don’t know if it’s genetics or the environment. You’ve no idea. The truth is, I’m pretty well-adjusted and I had no parenting. I think LuAnn’s kids are really disciplined and really well mannered, and do I think that’s necessarily a reflection on her? I don’t know. In some cases, I thought Kelly was crazy and her kids seem normal. I don’t know. Ramona can sort of be the crazy one on the show, but she must be a great mother, because her daughter Avery is really well-adjusted. What were your own parents like? How do you hope to be the same or different from them when it comes to parenting? I don’t hope to be the same as my own parents. I had zero parenting—dysfunctional, toxic. From eating disorders to alcoholism to abuse to instability to gambling to nothing. I once heard a line: The only thing worse than having no parents was having my parents. What’s next for you both short- and long-term? I just want my relationship to be successful. I want to be a calm mother who is communicative. And I hope all the seeds that I’ve planted mean that I can focus more on that. G www.newyorkfamily.com

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TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2010 6PM RECEPTION t 7PM DINNER t 8PM CONCERT Table Seating by Candlelight in Front of the Stage Raindate: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 THE SUMMERSTAGE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION raises funds to support City Parks Foundation’s free performing arts programming. The largest festival of its kind, CityParks SummerStage presents free, professionally produced, music, dance and theater in 41 parks across all ﬁve boroughs of New York City. Each year we produce over 200 programs featuring emerging and established artists, reaching more than 260,000 New Yorkers.

Go to www.CityParksFoundation.org for complete, up-to-date artist listing For more information contact Jill Rothstein at 212-360-8170 or JRothstein@CityParksFoundation.org.

Spotlight On

Mom From A Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Furniture Designer To An Inspired Parenting Blogger To The Head Of The Coalition For The Homeless, These 9 Moms Are Balancing Their Passions With Their Lives As Parents

May 2010 | New York Family

Moms

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a place where parents and children can learn together. After decades of being a mom, Ngozi still cherishes the role she plays in the lives of her three grown children. “I love seeing their joy, I love seeing their faces, I love so much about it,” she says. Ngozi takes pride in the way she sees her sons—the fathers of her four grandchildren—interact with their kids. “My sons are the best fathers and husbands. They try to comb hair, they give baths, they eat with their families, they are very engaged and very loving,” she says. “For me, that’s the joy—watching them share the gift of kindness with their children, my grandchildren.” —Brittany McNamara

Christie Rampone

Georgina Ngozi

Georgina Ngozi,

President, Brooklyn Children’s Museum Mother of Kwaku, 36; Khlid, 30 and Maya, 26 Grandmother of Eva, 6; Nora, 1; Samara, 1; and Kyiona Ayo, 1 month Georgina Ngozi always knew she wanted to be a mom. As a teenager growing up in Brooklyn, she envisioned herself living on a farm with a husband and a dozen children (six boys and six girls, she says). Today, Ngozi has three grown children and four grandchildren, and as president of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, she has an entire borough of kids to look after. After a long career in children’s advocacy and education that took her from New York to Michigan; Washington, D.C.; Texas and South Carolina, Ngozi returned to her hometown last fall to take the helm at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. When not raising funds and awareness for the museum, Ngozi spends her time advocating for children’s causes. She also encourages her staff to remember that, no matter what they have on their agenda, the museum exists for the children it seeks to educate and enrich. “One of the first things I asked the staff to do was, in their day, find a child to say hello to, find a child to compliment, find a child to encourage,” Ngozi says. While visiting the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, you’re likely to see Ngozi in the lobby, talking to visitors. And don’t be surprised if you spot her in Prospect Park on the weekend, stopping families and asking them to be her guest for a day at the museum. She wants people to know that it’s

New York Family | May 2010

Andrew Schwartz

Professional Soccer Player Mother of Rylie, 5, and Reece, 2 months The transition from having one child to becoming a mom of two is challenging enough on its own. Add in competing in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league and you’d scare off most—but not Christie Rampone. As an Olympic gold medalist, captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and leader of New Jersey’s Sky Blue FC soccer team, Rampone is used to juggling a lot at once. Which is why she was able to lead her Sky Blue FC team to victory in the WPS championships while she was three months pregnant. “I never had a second thought. I had the OK from my doctor, and I was in top shape,” Rampone says. So how is she handling motherhood the second time around? “I was stressed more the first time,” reflects Rampone. “Now I go with the flow. I hate the saying, but it is what it is. When the child needs something, you give it to them. When I’m training, I focus on that.” When New York Family caught up with Rampone, she was enjoying a gorgeous spring day with her girls—Rylie, 5,

Christie Rampone

Moms

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Christie Rampone

Georgina Ngozi

Georgina Ngozi,

New York Family | May 2010

Andrew Schwartz

Christie Rampone

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and Reece, 2 months—in their Manasquan, N.J. backyard. The outdoors is Rampone’s favorite place to be. She grew up in Point Pleasant, N.J., and her family was always extremely active. “My dad went to college for baseball, and it was an athletic household, but nothing was ever pushed. We all love to compete,” Rampone says. That spirit served her well. Rampone started soccer at age 5 and played at the recreational level until around 10, when she became more serious and joined travel teams. She also played field hockey, ran track, and played basketball. In fact it was basketball, not soccer, for which Rampone went to Monmouth University on a full scholarship. “I was very lucky,” Rampone says. “I never had to decide. Club sports now are very demanding, and I don’t agree with making kids decide so young what sport they want to focus on. Look at me: soccer wasn’t my first sport, and now I made a career out of it.” Rampone continues, “I want Rylie to try different things and do what she likes; there’s no rush to get her into a competitive situation.” It’s the same healthy attitude Rampone encourages amongst the kids who attend the Christie Rampone & K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital Girls Soccer Camp, where second through eighth graders learn a lot about soccer— but also have a lot of fun. “I love to give back to the community and interact with the kids,” Rampone says. With so many accomplishments already under her belt, what else is Rampone looking forward to? “Right now, I am focused on picking up training again and playing with Sky Blue this summer. There’s the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Summer Olympics … but even if it all goes away, becoming a mom has made my career so much more rewarding. It puts things in perspective. I love my time on the field, and I love my time with the kids.” — Michelle Levine

Mary Brosnahan

Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless Mother of Quinn, 7 Troubled by the homelessness in her NYC neighborhood, Mary Brosnahan reached out. As she spoke with each individual, she learned that many had difficulty finding a place to clean up so that they could go to work, while others suffered from mental illness and lacked resources or support. “I started to get a sense of the complexity of the issue,” Brosnahan says. “I realized this was what I wanted to focus on.” Today, Brosnahan serves as executive director of The Coalition for the Homeless, the nation’s oldest organization helping homeless individuals and families. While most people know the Coalition for their advocacy, it also operates service programs that affect the lives of 3,500 homeless people daily, and feeds 1,000 each night. Each night there are 39,000 people in the shelter system—including 10,000 families and 16,000 children. In addition to providing shelter and securing permanent housing, the Coalition provides

New York Family | May 2010

Mary Brosnahan a walk-in crisis center, job training for homeless mothers, and Camp Homeward Bound, a summer sleep away camp for homeless children. Brosnahan admits that while burnout is a reality in this field, she is encouraged by each individual and policy success. “We’re trying to go out of business solving this problem,” she says. And when she spends time at Camp Homeward Bound, she is delighted to see the campers finally having an “opportunity to just be children.” Becoming a mother to her son Quinn, now seven, had a profound effect on the way Brosnahan approached her work. Suddenly, she says, she felt a special empathy for the homeless mothers and children she encountered. Despite the suffering she sees each day, Brosnahan takes joy in the role she plays in the lives of homeless families, as well as her role as mom to Quinn. After all, she says, children are “magical creatures…they keep us looking at life with fresh eyes.” —Lora Heller

Carnival Night For Kids Families are invited to the Coalition’s Carnival Night for Kids, Wednesday, June 9, from 5:30-8 p.m. in Central Park’s Victorian Gardens. All proceeds beneﬁt the Coalition’s Youth Service Programs, including Camp Homeward Bound. For more information, call 212-776-2056 or visit coalitionforthehomeless.org. —LH

May 2009 | New York Family

Mary Brosnahan

New York Family | May 2010

May 2009 | New York Family

Mary Brosnahan

New York Family | May 2010

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Sophie Demenge Co-Founder, Oeuf

Daniel S. Burnstein

Mother of Mae, 8 and Marius, 5 1/2 French-born Sophie Demenge blazed an unusual path to starting a family and a furniture business in Brooklyn. After studying philosophy at the Sorbonne, she felt that “the way university works in France doesn’t let you blossom into what you are supposed to be.” So she moved to San Francisco, where she studied art, took trapeze classes at a circus school, and discovered a passion for industrial design, which led her to enroll at New York’s Pratt Institute. In New York, Demenge met Michael Ryan, an established furniture designer, at a party. Within weeks, Demenge says, she and Ryan were living together, and soon after she graduated from Pratt, they founded R+D Design, a home furnishing line. When daughter Mae was born in 2002, Demenge was searching for simple, stylish and non-toxic nursery furnishings—but to no avail. So, drawing on their design backgrounds, she and Ryan created their own crib and clothes for Mae. That same year, they founded a new company, Oeuf, out of their Park Slope apartment to fill the gap they saw in the market. Today, the brand is known for its thoughtful, functional and high-quality modern children’s design, from cribs to toys. As Demenge’s family has grown—today eight-year-old Mae has a five-and-a-half-year-old brother, Marius—Oeuf also has expanded to offer a bed for older children, a bookshelf and clothes up to size eight. “My husband is now working on a bunk bed” for Mae and Marius, says Demenge, “because it just makes sense.” And just as Demenge and Ryan once sought “steel with the perfect give” for a baby lounger that would allow their daughter to bounce herself at her own rhythm, the couple now solicits Mae’s thoughts on colors for photo shoots. Everything Oeuf produces, says Demenge, is “with the use of the child in mind.” Oeuf also stands out for its commitment to “doing the right thing,” according to Demenge, whether in the form of ecologically sensitive manufacturing or donating some of its profits to help victims of Haiti’s earthquake. Oeuf ’s partnership with the Bolivian women who knit their woolens has been especially rewarding for Demenge. In 2002, Oeuf contracted with four women; today, some 190 full-time knitters have income from Oeuf that gives their families better prospects. Her children, says Demenge, “inspire me to be the best I can be.”

New York Family | May 2010

Sophie Demenge Demenge credits her parents with raising her to follow her passions. “That’s something I want to pass on to my kids,” she says, and smiles as she talks about the fundraising Mae did for a nearby soup kitchen for her sixth birthday. “She has experienced how good it feels to give. It is part of who she is now.” —Molly O’Meara Sheehan

Amy Wilson

Actress and Author Mother of Connor, 7; Seamus, 5; Maggie, 2 Like most parents, actress Amy Wilson felt pressure to do “the right thing” for her three children, now seven, five, and two-and-a-half years old. Then, during a preschool interview, she had an epiphany: “It hit me like a ton of bricks that I was not enjoying parenting my children,” she says. When asked what she did for fun with her children, Wilson blanked. “I was naming stuff that I did because I thought it was right for them, but I couldn’t say that I really enjoyed any of it. It was all stuff I did because I thought I ought to.” That, Wilson says, is when she told herself, “I gotta stop living this way!” The simple enjoyment of being a parent, of taking pleasure in doing things with your children on their own terms, is a message Wilson says mothers need to hear. It is the over-arching message of her one-woman play, “Mother Load,” which has enjoyed a successful off-Broadway run and national tour since 2007. Described by The New York Times as “like ‘Annie Hall’ wearing a nursing bra,” the show is at once funny and confessional, covering everything from organic baby food to self-important lactation consultants

Moms

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Sophie Demenge Co-Founder, Oeuf

Daniel S. Burnstein

New York Family | May 2010

Amy Wilson

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Amy Wilson and confronting the impossible standards and guilt faced by modern-day moms. Inspired by the reception “Mother Load” received, Wilson translated that same message into her new book, “When Did I Get Like This? The Screamer, the Worrier, the Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget-Buyer, and Other Mothers I Swore I’d Never Be,” a funny and insightful memoir which hit shelves last month. “I had to get back in touch with enjoying parenting, instead of being stressed about doing it well,” Wilson says. So what does Wilson actually enjoy doing with her children? Going to Symphony Space! “It’s always good,” she says. “You can count on showing up and the kids are going to have a good time.” She also reads Harry Potter with her oldest son, and makes time to help her two-year old daughter brush her dolly’s hair. Setting aside the Blackberry and other distractions of modern life is important, she says. “They just need a couple of minutes of your undivided attention.” Wilson also wants moms to know that it’s OK to take time out for yourself. For her, that sometimes means leaving her youngest with a babysitter in order to write. “I carry around such guilt for that, but I also know that when I see my daughter later I’ll feel so creatively fulfilled and I will be a much more patient and loving parent for her,” she says. It’s a necessary juggling act that allows her to spend time with her children while balancing her growing career. “Not that I’m so evolved and never stress and never yell,” she admits. “I’m still crazy every day! But I am trying to become a calmer and more present parent and not worry about all that nonsense that just gets in the way.” —Meredith Lopez

New York Family | May 2010

Laura Doss

New York Family | May 2010

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Meet Three Women Whose Websites And iPhone Apps Make City Life Easier (And More Fun) For Families Jennifer Lesser

What is your biggest joy as a mom? Knowing that my kids need me and love me unconditionally. Sometimes I’m like, “Oh my God, can’t they need someone else?” But no matter how you look, what you’re doing, the kind of day you had, they want Mommy in the end, no matter what. And that is a great feeling.

What do you think is unique about CityMommy? The benefit of CityMommy is that it is an online community for the most part, so people can go on our message board and feel that they’re not so alone. It’s great for working moms who can’t necessarily attend events, it’s great for moms that are stuck inside with their kids and are about to pull their hair out and want some adult contact, and it’s great for moms that can get out and enjoy events but just need a resource guide. What feedback have you gotten from moms who use the site? I’ve heard from moms who have found a babysitter or a shared babysitter situation through using City Mommy. I’ve also tried to bring in a lot of support for parents whose children have special needs, because I think there are a lot of moms in the community who just don’t know where to find it.

New York Family | May 2010

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

Director of Operations, CityMommy NYC (nyc.citymommy.com) Mother of Reese and Carly, 4 When Jennifer Lesser was living in New Jersey with three-month old twins, a website called CityMommy became her lifeline for easing into life as a new mom. “I had no help, and I was very isolated. At that time, CityMommy had launched its North Jersey site, so it was [how I met] other people, found events, etc.,” she recalls. So, when she and her husband moved to the city, she decided to launch a branch of CityMommy in New York to help other moms also navigating the joys and challenges of parenthood.

Jennifer Lesser What did you do before starting CityMommy? Originally I taught elementary school in Florida. When I was teaching, I was young and thinking, “I don’t have the patience for this, I won’t want my own kids if I keep doing this.” I kept trying to find my way. I worked for Tiffany’s, I worked for a mortgage company. Then eventually I decided to move to New York, where I started working in technology project management. Has being a mom inspired your career? It definitely has inspired me to want to continue working. Which is funny because I used to want to be a stay-at-home mom. But I’m enjoying it now. It gives me new things to do, new people to meet. I believe that’s made me a better parent because it’s made me a lot happier.

What is your favorite parenting advice to give new moms? Keep in mind that you’re allowed to have feelings that are all over the place because there are hormonal changes and a lot to adjust to. On a positive note, try to enjoy every minute and just take it one day at a time. — Elisabeth Frankel Reed

Lara Paul Founder, iKidNY (ikidny.com) Mother of Caleb, 20 months As a new New York City mom, Lara Paul found it difficult to locate kid-friendly places around the city, whether it was a nearby changing table or an indoor play space. One day she was watching the “There’s An App For That” iPhone commercial and wondered if she might be able to create an iPhone App that made navigating the city easier for parents. After some intensive research and a lot of work, she founded iKidNY, a massive database of over 2,000 kid-friendly locations in the Big Apple. How did you ﬁnd all the locations that are now part of iKidNY? I ran around the city and hired moms to help me in my quest because it’s not information that’s really acces-

Moms

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Meet Three Women Whose Websites And iPhone Apps Make City Life Easier (And More Fun) For Families Jennifer Lesser

New York Family | May 2010

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SUMMER DAY CAMP June 28th through July 30th, 2010

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Lara Paul sible on the internet. [After] about six months [I] created a database which included parks, playgrounds, kidfriendly restaurants, subway stations that have elevators, changing tables, indoor play spaces—everything that parents really need. What are the biggest challenges of your job? Just keeping the app up-to-date so that it’s current and reliable. It’s just me right now. So just finding time to do everything [is a challenge]. It really is a full-time job.

What are the biggest joys of motherhood? Just spending time with my little boy. Watching him laugh and discover everything. Experiencing life through his eyes. Hearing him say “I love you” for the first time. How are you different from or similar to your own mom? I think I’m more similar than I thought I would be. My mom was also a working mom. She was an opera singer so she had a very flexible schedule. Every day was different. I think it’s the same with me.

New York Family | May 2010

How often do you blog and how do you decide what you’ll blog about? I try to do three blog posts per week but I’m kind of guided by the whole, “If you don’t have something to say, don’t say it” mantra. So I don’t feel the need to put up a post every day.

What do you think are the keys to raising happy kids with good values? Spending time with them is the most important thing. Just undivided time where it’s just you and them doing things—playing, reading, it doesn’t matter.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the city with your daughter? There are so many free or inexpensive things to do. And they’re not your Joe-average experiences. We love to bike ride. We absolutely love to go to art programs. Animals are also really big…my daughter loves animals. We prefer to find the slightly obscure things to do.

What is your favorite parenting advice to give to new moms? Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just remember that it’s a learning experience for everybody. Do the best you can and remember that you’re appreciated. And what you’re doing is valuable.

Sam Chapnick Founder, KidCity.com When journalist Sam Chapnick became a mom, she wanted to give her daughter more than books and toys— she wanted to give her experiences. She turned to websites listing activities for families in the city, but she found herself disappointed; the sites seemed overwhelmed with advertisements, and often the information was not specific to her interests. So Chapnick founded Kid City (her daughter came up with the name), a website featuring activity guides, travel tips and lesser-known “kid-centric” things to do for families in NYC. Why do you think that it is important for parents to spend time with their children in the city? The best things in life are not things; they’re experiences. I really believe that spending time with your child is the single most important investment that you can make in their self-esteem. Instead of worrying so much about making a lot of money so you can buy your kids the greatest things, it’s really important that you do things with your child that give them that fundamental sense of trust in the world and in themselves.

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

How do you balance your work responsibilities with being the mom that you want to be? Balancing for me is really about being organized. I am able to take my son along a lot of the time, which is great. But when I’m doing computer work, I try to keep it separate so my time with him is my time with him, and my time at work is my time at work.

Has being a mom made you appreciate your own parents? Definitely. It really makes you not take them for granted. It’s amazing, everything that they go through to raise you. My parents live in New York City so it’s really nice. They get to see Caleb a lot.

Sam Chapnick What do you enjoy about running Kid City? The freedom to be able to serve my readers without being bound by sponsors or advertisers or a commercial need to get something out in a certain way because I have been paid to do it. What are your goals for Kid City? My ultimate goal is to see families benefiting from having been on the site. I am not looking to outnumber the other websites out there in terms of numbers of visitors; I want to remain targeted and focused. So my real goal is to continue to be respected without having to buy people’s loyalty. —Tanisia Morris

JENNIFER LEE PHOTOGRAPHY

New York Family | May 2010

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

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Babes

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Left to right on clothesline: Papo d’Anjo shorts; Kiwi striped one-piece bathing suit; Papo d’Anjo orange board short; Papo d’Anjo pink and green one-piece bathing suit; 77kids by American Eagle board short; Ralph Lauren bikini bottom.

New York Family | May 2010

Left to right on kids: Michael is wearing a Ralph Lauren board short and white canvas boat shoes; Parker is wearing a Shoshanna white eyelet cover-up with a Kiwi pink seashell bikini, Pazitos Just Jasmine turquoise sandals and Lilies & Roses headband and bracelets.

www.newyorkfamily.com

Shoes, top left to top right: Havaianas in white/black; Merrell white & gray Casey; Sperry Top-Sider in navy plaid; Ralph Lauren white boat shoes; Havaianas in red/black; and Havaianas in yellow/ black. Michael is wearing a Kiwi board short in a brown print.

PHOTOS

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CLASSIC KIDS PHOTOGRAPHY

May 2010 | New York Family

Beach

Babes

Left to right on clothesline: Papo dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anjo pink striped one-piece; Papo dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anjo green velour short; Mini Boden Circle one-piece; Ralph Lauren pink/green bikini.

New York Family | May 2010

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Applause NY

PARTY

CENTRAL Looking For A Special Twist For Your Child’s Birthday? Check Out These Fun And Inspired Party Themes Offered At Venues Throughout The City MAZES, RACES & MORE: Blend free play and organized activities at the 92nd Street Y’s GymMaze Craze party, which features a spiral tunnel slide, two ball pools, a rope swing and more. Preschoolers driven by speed will love Chelsea Piers’ Ultimate Tykes Challenge, which includes relay races with tricycles, potato sacks and scooters.

City. In addition to the animals normally there, children will get to meet ducks, a sheep, chickens, turkeys and a goat from the farm in the Hamptons. You can also get the full farm experience at the Queens County Farm Museum, where children can partake in an animal feeding, a farmyard tour and tractor drawn hayride!

SPLISH SPLASH: There’s nothing like a little splish-splash to get your tot’s party off to a fun start. Enjoy an hour of pool time followed by two hours of “dry time” for cake and birthday presents at the 14 Street Y. The Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center is home to a 25yard pool that can be rented for parties (arrangements can be made for pool games and activities), as well as a private party room where kids can continue the festivities once they’ve dried off!

MOVE AND GROOVE: It’s like two parties in one with Gymtime Rhythm & Glues Gym Party! Spend one hour having a ball with coachled activities and free play in the gym, then change tunes and groove to DJ music while playing games like freeze and limbo. A special visit from Gymtime’s Mr. Bananas is included!

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES: Housed in a 1930’s subway station, The New York Transit Museum’s train-themed party provides

New York Family | May 2010

Jodi’s Gym little transit lovers with guided tours of its memorabilia, including vintage collections of subway cars. Looking for a more musical experience? Head to Three Little Birds, where kids learn songs about transportation and imitate the sounds vehicles make using musical instruments.

at the American Museum of Natural History! The birthday child and guests learn how paleontologists use evidence to unveil the secrets of these extinct creatures, then explore the Dinosaur Hall and see dinosaurs “pop” to life in the 3D art collection.

A PREHISTORIC PARTY: Throw a Dinosaur Discovery Party

FARM FUN: Experience the Farm Animal Party at Art Farm in the

BALLERINA BASH: At Ballet Academy East, the birthday child and friends can enjoy a personalized ballet class with an instructor, pianist and party host. After the lesson, guests will dance a ballet story told by the teacher and enjoy some refreshments. www.newyorkfamily.com

Chelsea Piers

New York Hall of Science

AMERICAN IDOL: Throw your child an American Idol party at Citibabes! Guests can participate in dance contests, sing their favorite songs and enjoy their own personal Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell or Randy Jackson. A face painter or balloon artist will also join in on the fun! UP, UP, AND AWAY!: Has your child ever tried a zipline? They can as part of the Gymnastics Party at My Gym, which also features games, activities, and songs. Kids also have the chance to soar through the air with the Gymtastic! Party at 74th St. MAGIC, which includes rides on the venue’s exclusive filing swing, on top of plenty of fun in their fully equipped gym or baby gym and the use of the party room or rooftop playground. ROLL N’ BOWL: Kids can compete to stay out of the gutter while they battle each other in a birthday bowling game. From choosing the perfect bowling shoes, to enjoying snacks and drinks, to hopefully rolling a strike, it’s a full afternoon of fun! Great places to host parties include Harlem Lanes, Lucky Strike and Bowlmor Lanes. AN ARTSY AFFAIR: Kids can try their hand at weaving with a Saori Weaving Party at Loop Of The Loom, choosing from a wall filled with over 500 colors of spool. Or, tap into your inner diva with the Rock Star party at Craft Studio, where you can decorate superstar sunglasses and a pop star microphone with glitter paint, sequins, gems, jewels and sparkles—topped off with a celebrity-inspired hair piece. Looking for something artistic and edible? Try the Candy Sculpture Party offered by Hi Art!—kids use candy, frosting and other materials to build a sweet masterpiece to take home! TEA PARTY: Kids will feel all grown up with a tea party at Alice’s Tea Cup. The elegant menu includes scones, assorted sandwiches, chocolate mousse and chocolate milk or a tisane tea. Consider hiring an “Alice” face painter to round out the affair! www.newyorkfamily.com

TOYS & DOLLS: If your child loves American Girl Place, a special day at their New York store is the ultimate present! Parties include a sitdown meal, doll tiara for each guest, a table game, a take-home craft and much more. If it’s robots, not dolls, your child loves, head to Robot Galaxy, where guests can hop aboard a “spaceship,” design their own robot, then activate it! Or, how about stuffing, stitching and dressing your own stuffed animal from scratch with a Build-A-Bear party? DATE ON SKATES: Put on a pair of skates and show off your skills on the rink—or learn a few new moves from an on-site instructor. If you’re looking to host an ice-skating party, City Ice Pavilion hosts them yearround. Or, during the winter, try The Rink at Rockefeller Center or Wollman Skating Rink. GET PAMPERED: Treat your birthday girl and friends to a full makeover at Cozy’s Cuts For Kids with the Glamorama Birthday Party, which includes hair-dos, makeup and manicures—plus music and an art project! Or, stick to the fingers and toes at Dashing Diva, where guests get pampered with a manicure and pedicure. The Yoga Spa Party at Karma Kids Yoga includes yoga moves accompanied by aromatherapy and hand and foot massages. Guests can even get henna tattoos, island-style hair braiding, nail polishing and more! MINI GOLF GAME: Host a game of mini golf at the new Rocket Park Mini Golf course located outdoors at the New York Hall of Science. Parties also include access to the museum’s over 450 interactive exhibits, as well as demonstrations, handson activities and much more. PRINCESS PARTY: Don royal court-dresses, shoes, jewelry, tiaras, wands, glitter nail polish, fairy dust, eye shadow, jewels, and more with the Happy Birthday Princess Party at Let’s Dress Up! The day even includes a birthday tea served under crystal chandeliers. Or, add a little music to the mix with a Princess party by Moey’s Music Party. Guests love Moey’s sparkly pink dress and even get their own boas, tiaras and

slap bracelets to wear while enjoying Moey’s one-of-a-kind songs! TOYING AROUND: Looking for an iconic party venue? At FAO Schwarz, families can rent the entire store if they like—though taking over a portion of the store or using the party room is also an option. Customize your own party theme with the help of the staff. LEARN AND EXPLORE: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s renowned Playworks exhibit, a unique, hands-on learning environment for kids, is also the site of their PlayWorks-themed birthday party. Guests can become a firefighter, “cook” a meal in the Little Apple Deli, construct a tall building, create a birthday masterpiece on the gigantic art wall and much more. ROCK N’ ROLL: How about a personal birthday concert? The songs for seeds celebration at apple seeds features a live band (guitar, keys and drums) that kids can rock out to— plus, the birthday child and friends get their own kid-sized instruments to try out! Or, have a dance party with Applause NY and put together your own playlist for live musicians to perform. Puppets and bubbles are included! Kids can also rock out to Little Maestros, who sing and play guitar, piano and drums. Songs range from traditional kids songs to classic party tunes (or request your own). They even break out puppets, bubbles, parachutes, and more fun activities. MOVIE MAKING FUN: Kids can tap into their inner filmmaker with the Animation Celebration at Children’s Museum of the Arts. Participants learn the basics of claymation and then collaborate on a short animation movie that brings their creativity to life. PIZZA PARTY: Kids can mix, measure, and stir up their own whole wheat pizzas—learning about the cooking process along the way—with the Pizza Party Extravaganza at Cupcake Kids! Later, they’ll eat their creations followed by delicious cupcakes they decorate themselves (and take home a personalized apron to boot.) With

74th St. MAGIC Mini Chef NYC’s Pizza Party at Dos Caminos, birthday guests mold pizza dough into fun shapes, then enjoy a magic show while it bakes in the oven. CALLING CLIFFORD FANS: The Scholastic Store offers up Clifford’s BIG Birthday Bash, featuring a special storytime and craft project. The finale is truly BIG—when Clifford stops by for photos, music and dancing, cupcakes and cuddling! TENNIS TIME: At SPORTIME at Randall’s Island, tennis pros lead kids in fun and games on the courts (outdoor courts and picnic tables are available in summer), followed by a pizza party in a private room. Is table tennis more your child’s speed? Check out Spin, which specializes in ping pong and has plenty of tables to play on! ZOO ADVENTURE: The Central Park Zoo offers a theater-themed party that also features a live animal encounter—perfect for kids who’ve been vying to get up close and personal with the zoo’s inhabitants! Or, choose your own animal theme at the Bronx Zoo, which offers parties that combine fun activities, arts and crafts, visits to exhibits and live animal guests in the party room! PASS, KICK, SCORE!: Opt for the Platinum Ball Party with Super Soccer Stars for some action-packed time on the field. The party includes at least two coaches who oversee activities from warm-up exercises to games to a mini-World Cup tournament. Food and cake follows, and each child leaves with a Super Soccer Stars soccer ball to continue the fun at home. PUPPET PARTY: Head to Central Park’s Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater to celebrate your child’s birthday with a one-hour performance of their latest show! After taking in the marionettes, kids can enjoy food, cake and games in the theater’s party room. TRICKS AND EXPERIMENTS: Want to explore the unknown? At Fantasma Magic, the birthday child is “levitated” into the air as part of a magic comedy show. For a more sciMay 2010 | New York Family

What’s A Birthday Party Without Sammie and Tudie! “The Cutest Couple In Clowning and Creators of The Comedy Magic Circus!” the best kids show! Balloons & facepainting! Other performers available too!

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Party Toppers Special Add-Ons For Your Child’s Big Day ENTERTAINERS Whether you’re hosting a party at your home, a special venue, or outdoors in a park, entertainers bring the party with them. In New York, there’s lots of talent to choose from. Just a few notable entertainers we love: Jack Ryan, aka “THE HOOP WIZARD,” who delights kids with his amazing basketball tricks (hoopwizard.com); RoByn Thompson of NYC FACE ART, who transforms kids’ faces into works of art (nycfaceart.com); JOSH BECKERMAN, a magician and comedian specializing in everything from card tricks to jokes (joshbeckerman.com); SAMMIE AND TUDIE, a pair of clowns who entertain with magic, storytelling, balloons and face-painting (imaginationplayhouse. com); MIYACHI MASTERS, expert bean bag handlers who wow kids with their fancy juggling moves (myachi.com); MARK Z-MAN, a painter, cartoonist and illustrator who creates one-of-a-kind caricatures (markzman.com); MADELINE THE MAGICIAN, who has performed for J.K. Rowling and does everything from balloon sculpting to sing-alongs to levitating kids in midair (madeleinethemagician.com); and SNAKES-N-SCALES, which brings kids up close and personal with everything from snakes to lizards (snakes-n-scales.com).

CAKES BabyCakes. Creates all-natural and organic cupcakes as well as vegan and allergen-free baked goods. 248 Broome Street, 212-6775047, babycakesnyc.com.

Buttercup Bake Shop. Old-fashioned American cakes, pies, cookies and cupcakes as well as kosher desserts. 973 2nd Avenue, 212-350-4144; 141 West 72nd Street, 212-787-3800; buttercupbakeshop.com. Confetti Cakes. Former Polo Ralph Lauren designer Elisa Strauss bakes one-of-a-kind, customized cakes serving 50 or more people. 102 West 87th Street, 212-877-9580, confetticakes.com. Crumbs Bake Shop. Choose from more than 50 varieties of cupcakes or order a specialized cake. Various locations, 212-355-7800, crumbs.com. The Food Emporium. Makes large sheetcakes in a variety of flavors for a great value. Various locations, thefoodemporium.com. Tribeca Treats. With a focus on “intensely flavored edibles,” this bakeshop turns out made-to-order cakes in a variety of flavors. 94 Reade Street, 212-571-0500, tribecatreats. com.

PARTY FAVORS & ACCESSORIES Crystal Party Supplies. This mega-store provides costumers with personalized balloons, cartoon-character decorations (Scooby-Doo and SpongeBob SquarePants are popular) as well as invitations and ribbons. 4306 Broadway, 212-543-9463. Dinosaur Hill. Everything offered here is entirely handmade, including a wide variety of marbles, monster finger puppets, whistles

and activity books. 306 East 9th Street, 212-473-5850, dinosaurhill.com Dylan’s Candy Bar. This colorful shop serves up an eclectic mix of candy, ranging from kosher marshmallow twists to their signature chocolate bars in flavors like S’mores and toffee crunch. 1011 Third Avenue, 646735-0078, dylanscandybar.com. E.A.T. Gifts. A myriad of novelty items and party favors—from “singing” candles to magic kits—fill the store’s shelves. 1062 Madison Avenue, 212-861-2544. Economy Candy. Since 1937, this mom and pop store has been dishing out affordable candy in bulk and also stocks classic treats like kosher Jordan almonds and chocolate Necco wafers. 108 Rivington Street, 1-800352-4544, economycandy.com. Party City. This national chain offers party decorations and favors catering to a myriad of themes, from a jukebox shaped piñata for a ‘50s get-together to a Hibiscus flower hair clip for a luau shin dig. 38 West 14th St, 212-271-7310, partycity.com. Pearl River Market. Amongst the vast selection of assorted household Chinese goods also lies exotic party favors and accessories like hand fans, parasols, bamboo picks and takeout boxes. 477 Broadway, 212-431-4700, pearlriver.com Pylones. Established in 1985, Pylones stocks eccentric and eclectic knick-knacks—think fish pens, painted hairbrushes and jump ropes with animal-shaped handles. Various locations, pylones.com. The Children’s General Store. Here you’ll find glitzy toys, like felt stickers and princess tiaras, as well as the simple stuff like bubbles. 168 East 91st Street, 212-426-4479.

HEIDI GREEN

own party and theme? Try the JCC of Manhattan. It provides the party space while you bring the creativity! Slate is another great space, which has its own party planner to help you customize the perfect bash.

Kidville entific approach, team up with Mad Science, which hosts birthday parties featuring hands-on experiments like tornado tubes, indoor fireworks and chemical reactions that produce light! PLAYSPACE PARTY: With a forest-themed play area, an interactive water adventure space called Splash!, and a soft play room, there’s plenty of fun to be had with a Playtime Party at City Treehouse! Or, move the party outside at the

New York Family | May 2010

West Side YMCA, where kids can play on the venue’s new rooftop playground as part of the Roof Top Party, replete with a slide and spongy surface. The McBurney YMCA hosts an Indoor Playground Party, with time spent in the gym playing with the bouncy castle, gymnastic mats, a balance beam, tunnels and obstacle course. CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN AFFAIR: Looking for a great all-around venue where you can customize your

GAMES GALORE: Host a Coney-Island style carnival for your child replete with a basketball toss, fish pong, concession stands, snow cones and more at Carnival, a whimsical space above Bowlmor Lanes. Looking for the ultimate arcade experience? Head to Dave & Buster’s for Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Dance Dance Revolution and more!

martial arts studios. Tiger Shulmann’s Karate, West Side Taekwondo and East Side Tae Kwon Do are all excellent options. SEARCH PARTY: Kids and adults work together during Watson Adventures’ Museum of Natural Hysteria Scavenger Hunt. The hunt takes place in the American Museum of Natural History and gives partygoers the chance to take on a monster squid, a hidden gorilla, a crouching cannibal and more while answering questions and sorting out clues.

BRING ON THE MUSIC: Sing, play kid-size instruments, explore the sounds of the orchestra, and have lots of musical fun with a birthday party at Hands On! Singing “Happy Birthday” never sounded so good! MARTIAL ARTS FUN: Kick, punch, chop and reflect your way through the big day with a birthday party at one of the city’s leading

Three Little Birds www.newyorkfamily.com

KIDS KNOCK THINGS OVER. WE SET THEM UP AGAIN. KIDS KNOCK THINGS OVER. WE SET THEM UP AGAIN. KIDS KNOCK THINGS OVER. WE SET THEM UP AGAIN. TALK ABOUT A

arent’s DREAM BIRTHDAY PARTY. pMOM’S

300newyork.com • In the Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex • 212.835.2695

MELISSA GLASGOW

THE VENUES

New York Transit Museum AMAZING ATHLETES: With the Sports Party at Asphalt Green, partygoers have the chance to partake in a sports bonanza, honing their skills in soccer, basketball, softball, flag football and more all in one day! Or, host an Ultimate Sports Party at Kidville, which includes games, relay races and other challenges. Want a more focused sports celebration? Celebrate with Kids In Sports and chose two to three sports to focus on from among baseball, basketball, flag football, floor hockey and soccer. Or, add some drama to the day and host a Sports Games party with DramaZone, which casts your child as the star of the show with a highenergy extravaganza. SWEET SPOTS: A dessert destination is a delectable place to host a party. Magnolia Bakery on the Upper West Side and Sweetie Pie Restaurant in the West Village both have private rooms where you can host your affair, customizing everything from the menu to the entertainment to the favors! DINING OUT: Throwing a bash at one of the city’s restaurants allows you to customize your party while

Gymtime Rhythm & Glues

New York Family | May 2010

14TH STREET Y, 344 East 14th Street, 212-780-0800, 14streety.org. 74TH ST. MAGIC, 510 East 74th Street, 212-737-2989, 74magic.com. 92ND STREET Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500, 92y.org. ALICE’S TEA CUP, various locations, 212-734-4832, alicesteacup.com. AMERICAN GIRL PLACE, 609 Fifth Avenue at 49th Street, 877-247-5223, americangirl.com. AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 79th Street and Central Park West, 212-288-7112, partymakers.com. APPLAUSE NY various locations, 212-717-0703, applauseny.com. APPLE SEEDS, 10 West 25th Street, 212792-7590 ext. 208, 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. BALLET ACADEMY EAST, 1651 Third Avenue, 212-410-9140, balletacademyeast.com. BIG DADDY’S, 1596 Second Avenue, 212-388-0513, bigdaddysnyc.com. BOWLMOR LANES, 110 University Place, 212-255-8188, bowlmor.com. BRONX ZOO, 2300 Southern Boulevard, 718-367-1010, bronxzoo.com. BUILD-A-BEAR, 565 Fifth Avenue 212-871-7080, buildabear.com. CARNIVAL, 110 University Place, 212-255-8188, carnivalnyc.com. CENTRAL PARK ZOO, East Side between 62nd and 63rd streets, 212-439-6500, centralparkzoo.com. CHELSEA PIERS, West 23rd Street and the Hudson River, 212-336-6518, chelseapiers.com. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN, 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom.org. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS, 182 Lafayette Street, 212-274-0986, cmany.org. CITIBABES, 477 Broadway, 3rd Floor, 212-334-5440, citibabes.com. CITY ICE PAVILION, 47-32 32nd Place, Long Island City, 718-706-6667, cityicepavilion.com. CITY TREEHOUSE, 129A West 20th Street, 212-255-2050, citytreehouse.com. COZY’S CUTS FOR KIDS, various locations, 1-866-COZYCARE, cozyscutsforkids.com. CUPCAKE KIDS, 150 West 10th Street, 646-789-5554, cupcakekids.com. DASHING DIVA, 149 Third Avenue, 212-228-9999, dashingdiva.com.

DAVE & BUSTER’S, 234 West 42nd Street, 646-495-2015, daveandbusters.com. DISCOVERY PROGRAMS, 251 West 100th Street, 212-749-8717, discoveryprograms.com. DRAMAZONE, various locations, 917-690-0789, dramazonenyc.com. EAST SIDE TAE KWON DO, 325 East 65th Street, 212-755-5982, eastsidetaekwondo.com. FANTASMA MAGIC, 421 Seventh Avenue, 2nd Floor, 212-244-3633, fantasmamagic.com. FAO SCHWARZ, 767 5th Avenue, 212-644-9400, fao.com. GYMBOREE, various locations, 877-496-5327, gymboreeclasses.com. GYMTIME RHYTHM & GLUES, 1520 York Avenue, 212-861-7732, gymtime.net. HANDS ON!, various locations, 212-628-1945, handson4music.com. HARLEM LANES, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., 212-678-2695, harlemlanes.com. HEARTLAND BREWERY, various locations, 646-366-0235, heartlandbrewery.com. HI ART!, 601 West 26th Street, Studio 1425I, 212-362-8190, hiartkids.com. JCC, 334 Amsterdam Avenue, 646-505-4444, jccmanhattan.org. JODI’S GYM, 244 East 84th Street, 212-772-7633, jodisgym.com. KARMA KIDS YOGA, 104 West 14th Street, 646-638-1444, karmakidsyoga.com. KIDS IN SPORTS, various locations, 212-744-4900, kisnyc.com. KIDVILLE, various locations, 212-362-3923, kidville.com. LET’S DRESS UP! 345 East 85th Street, 212879-0956, uppereast.com/letsdressup.html. LITTLE MAESTROS, 212-396-3977, littlemaestros.com. LOOP OF THE LOOM, 227 East 87th Street, 212-722-2686, loopoftheloom.com. LUCKY STRIKE, 624-660 West 42nd Street, 646-829-0170, bowlluckystrike.com. MAD SCIENCE, 866-948-2964, madscience.org/manhattan. MAGNOLIA BAKERY, 200 Columbus Avenue, 212-724-8101, magnoliacupcakes.com. MANHATTAN MOVEMENT AND ARTS CENTER, 248 West 60th Street, 212-787-1178, manhattanmovement.com. MANHATTAN YOUTH DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER, 120 Warren Street, 212-766-1104, manhattanyouth.org. MCBURNEY YMCA, 125 West 14th Street, 212-912-2300, ymcanyc.org. MINI CHEF NYC, various locations,

212-727-2703, minichefnyc.com. MOEY’S MUSIC PARTY, 917-680-6739, moeysmusicparty.com MY GYM, various locations, 800-4MYGYMS, my-gym.com. NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE, 47-01 111th Street, Queens, 718-699-0005, nyscience.org. NEW YORK KIDS CLUB, various locations, 212-721-4400, nykidsclub.com. NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, 718-694-1600, mta.info/mta/museum. QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM, 7350 Little Neck Parkway, 718-347-3276, queensfarm.org. ROBOT GALAXY: Toys “R” Us Times Square, 1514 Broadway, 1-800-TOYS-RUS, toysrus. com; Freehold Raceway Mall, 3710 Route 9, Freehold, NJ, 732-431-3876; Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center, West Nyack, NY, 845-353-3187; robotgalaxy.com. SLATE NY, 54 West 21st Street, 212-989-0096, slate-ny.com. SPIN NEW YORK, 48 East 23rd Street, 212-982-8802, spinyc.com. SPORTIME AT RANDALL’S ISLAND, 212-427-6150, sportimeny.com. SUPER SOCCER STARS, various locations, 212-877-7171, supersoccerstars.com. SWEDISH COTTAGE MARIONETTE THEATER, Central Park (79th Street and the West Drive), 212-988-9093, cityparksfoundation.org. SWEETIEPIE RESTAURANT, 19 Greenwich Avenue, 212-337-3333, sweetiepierestaurant.com. THE CRAFT STUDIO, 1657 Third Avenue, 212-831-6626, craftstudionyc.com. THE RINK AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets, 212-332-7654, rockefellercenter.com. THE SCHOLASTIC STORE, 557 Broadway, 212-343-6987, store.scholastic.com. THREE LITTLE BIRDS, 266 East 78th Street, 212-744-0404, tlbmusic.com. UNO CHICAGO GRILL, various locations, unos.com. TIGER SHULMANN’S KARATE, 39 West 19th Street, 212-727-0773, tsk.com. WATSON ADVENTURES SCAVENGER HUNTS, various locations, 877-9-GO-HUNT, watsonadventures.com. WEST SIDE TAEKWONDO, 700 Columbus Avenue, 212-663-3998, westsidetkd.com. WEST SIDE YMCA, 5 West 63rd Street, 212-875-4100, ymcanyc.org. WOLLMAN SKATING RINK, Central Park, 212-439-6900, wollmanskatingrink.com.

enjoying access to a full-fledged menu and party-ready space. Three restaurants in the city that have private rooms you can rent out for kids’ parties: Big Daddy’s, Heartland Brewery, and Uno Chicago Grill.

try the Jump N’ Jive Party at New York Kids Club, which includes the chance to jump on the venue’s 20foot trampoline and tackle obstacle courses.

GYM’S THE WORD: Kids run, bounce and slide to their hearts’ content at Jodi’s Gym, where action-packed parties include the use of the tunnels, a space bouncer, tumble track and more. Another great gymnastics experience is Discovery Programs, which is home to a completely padded gym, where a coach guides kids on the trampoline, rings and more as part of the Gymnastics Party package. Or,

A PERSONAL CIRCUS: Kids can create their own circus with the Under The Top party at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center. Guests fly on aerial silks, juggle, make their own pyramids and become silly clowns. Optional add-ons include cotton candy machines, candied apples, a bouncy castle, magician and more. n —Reported by Leah Black, Brittany McNamara and Teresa Tobat

www.newyorkfamily.com

State-of-the-Art Dental Spa

We want to be part of your family. tribecasmiles.com CALL 212.473.4444

44 LISPENARD STREET NY, NY 10013

IN THE

Dream Homes This Month’s Dream Building Combines Modern Sophistication With Eco-Responsible Living In The Family-Friendly East Village 311 E 11: VILLAGE GREEN

11 E 11: Village Green epitomizes its motto, “living better in every sense”: The new building offers luxurious green living surrounded by the vibrant energy of the East Village. Located on East 11th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues, 311 E 11: Village Green includes thirty-six spacious 1-bedroom, 2bedroom, and penthouse apartments, most with private outdoor space. The goal was to create serenity in the city, and to provide a sophisticated solution to the environmental concerns raised by many of today’s new constructions. “311 E 11: Village Green is targeted to be the first LEED-Gold certified building in the East Village,” says Michael Namer of Alfa Development. “It offers sustainable, healthy living…shaded by trees, and surrounded by organic stores, eateries, and farmers markets, the neighborhood provides a perfect location

for eco-responsible living.” The airy, light-filled units feature FSC Certified 4” solid white oak floors and double-insulated floor-to-ceiling windows. The kitchens are designed with sustainably engineered quartz counters, energy-efficient Bosch and Liebherr appliances, and custom cabinets from Euromobil Italia. The bathrooms combine water-conserving fixtures with crystallized glass stone walls and Persian green marble countertops. Responsible building practices and features remain first priority at 311 E 11: Village Green. “Low emission paints, sealants, coolants, and coatings will be used throughout the building,” Namer says. “Other features include built-in recycling centers in the kitchen to make recycling easy, bicycle storage and discount parking for hybrid vehicles at a nearby parking garage.” A green roof provides rainwater recovery and natural insulation and the building utilizes both wind-generated and geothermal energy. And the green living efforts benefit the health of the families as well as the planet, with environmental tobacco smoke control, low/no VOC finishes, fresh air in common areas and hallways and a state-of-the-art wellness center featuring fitness and spa facilities. Nearby, the renovated Tompkins Square Park has become a focal point of the neighborhood. Too crowded? Not to worry: “The East Village is filled with parks and playgrounds,” Namer says. —Jennifer Maslowski

New York Family | May 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

311 E 11: VILLAGE GREEN

Evan Joseph

ALSO ON THE MARKET...

190 East 72nd Street

200 West Houston Street

160 West 66th Street

This sophisticated home makes a wonderful first impression with its spacious foyer, which leads to an oversized living and dining room with wall-towall windows and amazing city views. Meanwhile, a light-filled, state-of-the-art eat-in kitchen, replete with high-end appliances and custom cabinetry, makes family dining a pleasure. Three gracious bedrooms are accessed via a private hallway, with the master bedroom featuring a marble bath with double sinks. The apartment is located inside Tower East, which has a 24-hour doorman, valet service, health club, roof deck, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playroom, bike room, storage, garage, and more amenities.

This quintessential loft-like home is located in downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossroads of Greenwich Village and SoHo and is perched in a five-story co-op with only 29 units and a lovely courtyard. A spacious entry foyer leads to an open kitchen and adjacent dining room, providing ample space for family dinners. The home also features a spacious living room with a fireplace and a washer and dryer. Parents will appreciate the master bedroom, with a private bath, two huge walk-in closets, and a wall of windows.

This spacious home offers panoramic views through oversized wrap-around windows complete with solar shades. A gracious layout includes a foyer, windowed kitchen, corner dining area, and open living room. The bedrooms boast beautiful wood floors and marble baths. The apartment is located in the only condominium residential building in the Lincoln Center complex and is equipped with a concierge, doorman, gym, swimming pool, conference center/party room and garage. Residents are two blocks from Central Park and close to a twice-weekly farmers market.

Asking Price: $2,650,000 | Maint/CC: $3,912.40 | Agents: Liora Yalof, 212-381-3322; Elizabeth Sahlman, 212-381-3293; Halstead | 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms

Asking price: $2,495,000 | Maint/CC: $3,793 | Agents: Reid Price, 212-317-3670; Wendy Maitland 212-317-3660; Brown Harris Stevens | 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Asking Price: $3,450,000 | Maint/CC: $1,279 | Agent: Jeffery Sholeen, 212-875-2821, Corcoran Group Real Estate | 4.5 Rooms, 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths

These were the prices as of April 2... www.newyorkfamily.com

May 2010 | New York Family

for Kids Culture Guide

MAY 1st-2nd

MAY

8th

May 1-2

FLOWER POWER [ALL AGES] Celebrate spring and teach your children about Japanese culture at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest annual eventâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Cherry Blossom Festival, or Sakura Matsuri. Watch the pretty pink petals fall and enjoy over 60 performances, including live music, dance and martial arts, along with manga and anime art workshops. Kids will love crafting origami blossoms, taiko drumming, participating in a flower hat parade and more! 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $15 general admission; $10 seniors/students. Children under 12 free. 1000 Washington Ave, 718-623-7200, bbg.org.

New York Family | May 2010

10 Great Ideas for May

By parentsconnect.com and newyorkfamily.com

www.newyorkfamily.com

May 1

CINEMA CELEBRATION [ALL AGES] This year, the Tribeca Film Festival’s Family Festival Street Fair features Broadway performances, arts and crafts, dancers, face painters, and more! The plaza at BMCC will host performances of WICKED and Bubble Do Beatles, while at Washington Market Park you’ll find storytellers, sand sculptors, puppeteers and more. Or visit local merchants and restaurants from the neighborhood on Greenwich Street! 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; free. Washington Market Park, Plaza at BMCC, Greenwich Street between Chambers Street and Harrison Street, tribecafilm.com.

May 7-9

DESIGNING BKLYN [ALL AGES] This year’s BKLYN Designs Expo will showcase over 40 furniture and accessory designers. This year’s theme focuses on baby and children’s furniture--there will even be an interactive kids’ lounge! On Mother’s Day, families can enjoy concerts, arts and crafts, parent-child yoga, children’s book readings and more. Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; $12 in advance and $15 at the door for adults, $10 for students over 12; free for kids under 12. St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn, bklyndesigns.com.

May 8

DANCY NANCY [AGES 5+] Head to Symphony Space for a ballet performance your city kids can relate to. Based on the children’s book by Jane O’Connor, “Fancy Nancy” tells the story of a little girl on a visit to the American Museum of Natural History, accompanied by her sister, her best friend and an unexpected canine guest! Presented by Dances Patrelle and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance. 12 noon and 2 p.m.; $10-30. Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org.

May 8

PEPPERONI POP [ALL AGES] Laughing Pizza, an Atlanta-based band comprised of mom, dad and daughter trio Billy, Lisa, and 14-year-old Emily, makes pop-inspired music that promotes love, family

MAY 9th-10th

togetherness and staying active. Catch them at the Highline Ballroom for a colorful, high-energy concert. 12 noon; $18 in advance, $20 day of show; $60 for a family 4-pack. 431 West 16th Street, 212-414-5994, highlineballroom.com.

May 9

R YOU READY TO RUN? [AGES 2-12] Kick off Mother’s Day at a run/walk in Central Park to raise money for the R Baby Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to improving pediatric emergency care. Children ages two to 12 can participate in the Kid’s Fun Run. There’s also a slew of family-friendly activities, including arts and crafts, musical performances, Nike sports tents filled with games and more. 8-11:30 a.m.; adult registration $37-40; kids’ races $6-$8. Central Park (enter through the 72nd Street Transverse from either Central Park West or 5th Avenue), 973-564-8611, rbabyrunwalk.org.

May 9

WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN [ALL AGES] Ancient Egypt comes to life during Family Day at the Times Square Discovery Exposition. View an array of fascinating artifacts from King Tut’s tomb, and enjoy face painting, mummy wrapping and guided exhibition tours. Children get to take home a King Tut memento! 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $27.50 for adults; $17.50 for children ages 4-12; free for children under 4. Family packs available for $93. 226 West 44th Street, 866987-9692, kingtutnyc.com.

May 9-10

CLASSICAL SUMMER [AGES 3-6]

MAY

9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

www.newyorkfamily.com

Got a budding classical musician on your hands? Take them to the New York Philharmonic’s final installment of this year’s Very Young People’s Concert series. The Philharmonic will perform Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons: Summer.” 12:30

p.m. and 3 p.m. on May 9; 10:30 a.m. on May 10. Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, 212-875-5656, nyphil.org.

May 9, 16, 23 & 30

TICKLED GREEN [AGES 3-9] Head to the T Salon at Chelsea Market to hear Flute Sweet and Tickletoon—aka husband and wife duo Keith Torgan and Barbara Seisel—perform a fanciful retelling of the story of Rapunzel. The story, called “Green Golly and Her Golden Flute,” is interwoven with classical pieces by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Copland and more. 11 a.m.; free. T Salon at Chelsea Market, 459 West 15th Street, 212243-0432, tsalon.com.

May 23

FETE AU SPRING [AGES 3-9] Ring in spring at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden’s Springtime Family Fete. Explore the historic building and greenery during the Signs-of-Spring Scavenger Search, learn about springtime foods and flowers while making crafts to take home, and nosh on cookies and sip lemonade in the garden. 1 p.m.; $10 adults, $5 children; reservations recommended. 421 West 61st Street, 212-838-6878, mvhm.org. To submit an event listing, please email newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia.com.

newyorkfamily.com. For more great listings,

see parentsconnect.com, the online cityguide for parents. May 2010 | New York Family

THEATER & PERFORMANCE

Culture Guide for Kids

New Victory Theater

From May 7-23, The New Victory Theater presents PaGAGnini, a musical twist on favorite classical and contemporary pieces. Hailing from Madrid, violin virtuoso Ara Malikian and his crazy trio present renditions of pieces by artists as varied as Mozart, Chopin and U2, throwing in some on-stage antics to delight kids and parents alike! Ages 6 and up. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org. —Jonah Allon

92YTRIBECA The community center’s BYOK (Bring Your Own Kid) Sunday music series invites families to enjoy some of the coolest kid-friendly music around. This month, catch Frances England (May 2), Moona Luna (May 9), David Weinstone and the Music for Aardvarks Band (May 16) and The Macaroons (May 23)! 200 Hudson Street, 212601-1000, 92ytribeca.com.

CARNEGIE HALL On May 15, musical duo Polygraph Lounge performs a family concert in Zankel Hall. The concert features lots of improvisation, playful singing and zany instruments. 154 West 57th Street at Seventh Avenue, 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org.

New York Family | May 2010

LITERALLY ALIVE CHILDREN’S THEATER Through June, Literally Alive presents a musical spin on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, “Treasure Island.” Arts workshops precede every performance. The Players Theater, 115 MacDougal Street, 212-866-5170, literallyalive.com.

LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY The Lolli-Pops series for ages 3-5 presents “Music Tells A Story” on May 15-16. Visual artist Peter Reynolds will create original artwork as the orchestra performs Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals.” 68th Street between Park and Lexington A venues, 212-971-9500, littleorchestra.org.

MANHATTAN CHILDREN’S THEATRE This theatre features fun plays for kids of all ages, many of which are adapted from children’s books and other literature. Running through May 30 is “Stanley’s Party,” a story about a dog who finds excitement around every corner! 52 White Street, 212-226-4085, manhattanchildrenstheatre.org.

NEW VICTORY THEATER This month, New York’s blockbuster theater for kids presents “PaGAGnini” (see sidebar), as well as “The Butterfly Garden,” a glowing, interactive world of digital and botanical wonder. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org. www.newyorkfamily.com

Tonight belongs to...

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

Telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200 MAJESTIC THEATRE, 247 West 44TH Street

www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com

THEATER & PERFORMANCE

NEW YORK THEATRE BALLET This ballet company is known for its “Once Upon A Ballet” series of one-hour performances for kids. On May 15-16, the company presents “The Sleeping Beauty.” Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, 212-355-6160, nytb. org.

GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW This high-impact show features light effects, lasers and, of course, millions of bubbles, large and small, to create a dazzling production. New World Stages Theatre, 340 West 50th Street, 212-239-6200, gazillionbubbleshow.com.

FOR TWEENS

IN THE HEIGHTS This salsa- and Latin pop-infused musical is a portrait of life in Washington Heights. For tickets, call 212-307-4100 or visit ticketmaster.com. Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street.

THE 39 STEPS

SKIRBALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Culture Guide for Kids

SHOWSTOPPERS FOR KIDS FOR ALL AGES

THE LION KING

This NYU-based cultural center offers a “Big Red Chair” series of performances for families. On May 8, Skirball presents “Nobody’s Perfect,” a new family musical based on the children’s book by Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney. 566 LaGuardia Place, 212-3523101, skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

SYMPHONY SPACE On May 8, Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet presents “Fancy Nancy,” based on the popular book series. The Thalia Kids Book Club lets kids ages 9-12 interact with their favorite book authors—this month, Rick Riordan introduces his new series, “The Kane Chronicles” (May 4). 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org.

TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER On May 15, Tribeca PAC presents “Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Class Clown,” the story of a school-aged detective who sets out to crack a sticky case. 199 Chambers Street, 212-220-1460, tribecapac.org.

Disney’s blockbuster movie on Broadway is a combination of puppetry, actors, and special effects–a truly magical experience. For tickets, call 212-307-4747 or visit ticketmaster.com. Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street.

MARY POPPINS The Supernanny takes to the stage in this hit musical by Disney. For tickets, call 212307-4747 or visit ticketmaster.com. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street.

FOR AGES 8 AND UP

A fast-paced, high-energy murder mystery blending elements of Alfred Hitchcock, a spy novel, and even Monty Python. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street.

BILLY ELLIOT A funny and heart-warming musical about a boy with a dream and a talent for dance. Based on the film, with a musical score written by Elton John. For tickets, call 212-239-6200, or visit telecharge.com. Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

WICKED The Wicked Witch of the West finally commands the spotlight. For tickets, call 212-307-4100 or visit ticketmaster.com. Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street.

The longest-running show in Broadway history delivers mystery, love and heartbreak. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge. com. Majestic Theatre, 247 West 44th Street.

MAMMA MIA!

WEST SIDE STORY

There’s not much to the simple plot about a woman finding her real father as she prepares to wed, but ABBA’s tunes keep the feet tapping. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com. Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway.

The timeless story of star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, caught in the rivalry between teenage gangs in 1950s New York returns to Broadway. For tickets, call 212-307-4100 or visit ticketmaster.com. Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway.

“A highly amusing show, appealing to all ages and backgrounds. Classical music with a twist.” –The Herald (UK)

May 7 – 23

Art : Tom Slaughter, Photo: Julio Moya

Best for ages 6 to adult

NewVictory.org 646-223-3010 A NEW 42ND STREET PROJECT

THE NEW VICTORY ® THEATER

New York Family | May 2010

209 West 42nd Street, just west of Broadway

www.newyorkfamily.com

Visit our farm in the City! •Farm

Birthday Parties •Summer Camp •Special Events QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, NY 11004 718-347-3276 info@queensfarm.org queensfarm.org

“Absolutely Magical!” - Time Out New York Kids

A LIVE musical adventure

as big as the ocean!

Photos: Aaron Epstein

A magical, musical, one-of-a-kind, interactive, undersea adventure for kids of all ages! It’s jam-packed with original music ranging from swing to R&B to Big Band and it’s a blast from the first big splash to the last wave goodbye. Telecharge.c o m or 212.239.6200 340 West 50th Street, NYC ImaginOceanTheMusical.com

MUSEUMS

American Museum of Natural History At the new exhibition “Race to the End of the Earth,” families will learn about the hardships faced by explorers Roald Amundsen from Norway and Captain Robert Falcon Scott of Britain on their expedition to the South Pole in 1911-1912. Visitors can take on the role of one of the explorers as the journey is re-created around them through dioramas, pictures and artifacts from the expedition, and learn how Amundsen and Scott’s expeditions shaped modern Antarctic science. Opens May 29. 79th Street and Central Park West, 212-769-5100, amnh.org. —Jonah Allon

Culture Guide for Kids

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The AMNH’s exhaustive collections span human culture, the natural world, and the universe. Through May, families can find over 500 butterflies fl uttering in a vivarium. Opening May 29 is “Race To The End Of The Earth” (see sidebar). Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5100, amnh.org.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS This museum showcases art by children and adult artists, employing an artist-in-residence format in which teaching artists work directly with children and their families. On May 1, the museum hosts a Korean Children’s Day Art Festival; on May 14, families are invited to “Paintbrushes in Paradise: A Traditional Hawaiian Luau.” 182 Lafayette Street, 212274-0986, cmany.org.

New York Family | May 2010

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN This museum offers arts-based educational exhibits and programs in a variety of subjects, as well as extensive offsite outreach. Opening May 29 is “Toys: The Inside Story,” which explores the mechanisms inside common toys. On May 9, kids can rock out with Princess Katie and Racer Steve, then make “I Love You” collages and foot scrub for mom. 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1234, cmom.org.

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM The museum offers family-oriented tours and drop-in workshops every Sunday, and families can drop by anytime and explore the museum’s exhibitions using a free activity pack. Opening May 14 is “A Year With Children 2010,” a collection artwork by local public school students. 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street, 212-423-3500, guggenheim.org.

INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Centered on the World War II aircraft carrier Intrepid, the museum features a range of interactive exhibits. The museum offers family programs every third Saturday—join them on May 15 for “Will It Sink Or Float?” and explore the properties of salt and fresh water. Pier 86, 12th Avenue and 46th Street, 877-957-SHIP, intrepidmuseum.org.

JEWISH MUSEUM The Jewish Museum features a permanent collection of more than 28,000 objects— paintings, sculpture, photographs, archaeological artifacts, coins, ceremonial objects and more—relating to Jewish heritage and history. Join the museum on May 16 for “Curious George Family Day,” and explore the exhibition “Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margaret and H.A. Rey.” 109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org. www.newyorkfamily.com

MUSEUMS

Culture Guide for Kids

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART The Metâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendly, interactive programs help children grow an appreciation for the treasures inside this world-renowned museum. Check out the new Picasso exhibition, on view through until August 1. Opening on May 5 in the Costume Institute is â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.â&#x20AC;? As a family, explore the Metâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collections with slide show orientations, films and sketching programs. Ongoing programs include â&#x20AC;&#x153;Start With Art at the Metâ&#x20AC;? (ages 3-7), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hello, Met!â&#x20AC;? (ages 5-12) and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Look Again!â&#x20AC;? (ages 5-12). 1000 Fifth Avenue, 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.

MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM Join the Morgan on May 16 for the family concert â&#x20AC;&#x153;Julliard Plays The Morgan.â&#x20AC;? Performed by students from The Julliard Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PreCollege division, the concert will be interspersed with kid-friendly discussions about classical music. 225 Madison Avenue, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org.

NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM Dedicated to the history of urban transportation, this museum caters to children. Join the museum on May 8-9 as they celebrate Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day with some special moms from the MTA! Plus, discover the art of mosaic-making on May 22, and learn what it takes to dig an underground subway tunnel on May 29. Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, 718-694-1600, mta.info/museum.

EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO One of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading Latino cultural institutions, the museum recently reopened after extensive renovations. Join El Museo for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super Sabado!â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a free, day-long cultural celebration featuring concerts, gallery tours, workshops and moreâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;happening every third Saturday. 1230 Fifth Avenue, 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART The foremost modern art museum in the world, MoMA aims to make its collections accessible to scholars and young children alike. The museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular ongoing family programs include â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tours For Fours,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Closer Look For Kids,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tours for Tweens.â&#x20AC;? Plus, stop by the interactive â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shape Labâ&#x20AC;? to build, draw, read and explore the role shape plays in art. 11 West 53rd Street, 212-708-9400, moma.org.

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK Explores the history, present and future of the five boroughs. Through May 16, catch the exhibition â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Addamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New York,â&#x20AC;? which showcases watercolors, cartoons, pencil sketches and more from â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Yorkerâ&#x20AC;? cartoonist Charles Addams, creator of the set of macabre characters known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Addams Family.â&#x20AC;? Kids will also love â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cars, Culture, and the City,â&#x20AC;? an exploration of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s century-long relationship with the car. 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672, mcny.org.

NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE The Hall features the largest collection of hands-

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on science exhibits in New York City, and holds a variety of family programs every weekend. Kids can learn about the animals that call the Amazon home at the exhibition â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes,â&#x20AC;? opening May 8. 47-01 111th Street, Queens, 718-699-0005, nyscience.org.

RIPLEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! Kids will be amazed at the eccentricities inside this famous â&#x20AC;&#x153;odditorium,â&#x20AC;? which features 25 themed galleries displaying everything from a six-legged cow to books made from spider webs. 234 West 42nd Street, 212-398-3133, ripleysnewyork.com.

RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART Home to an extensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions, the Rubin offers programs and events for families throughout the year. Kids ages 5 and up and their families are invited to Family Workshops every Saturday. Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super Sculptures!â&#x20AC;? 150 West 17th Street, 212-6205000, rmanyc.org.

WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART The world-renowned Whitney houses a spectacular collection of 20th century American art. Through the fall, the museum offers familyfriendly programs, like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stroller Tours,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whitney Wees,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Family Funâ&#x20AC;? art workshops, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tours at Two,â&#x20AC;? for families with kids ages 6-10 and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice, Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Voiceâ&#x20AC;? for families with kids ages 8-12. 945 Madison Avenue, 1-800WHITNEY, whitney.org. G

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May 2010 | New York Family

POP CULTURE

Culture Guide for Kids

All About

“Babies” A New Documentary Chronicles The Day-To-Day Lives Of Four Newborns From Around the World BY BRITTANY MCNAMARA

the idea of following different kids from birth until their first steps. I felt this could be not only entertaining, but a kind of new experience for the viewer. he much-anticipated documentary “Babies”— which follows the day-to-day lives of four little ones living in different parts of the world— hits theaters on Mother’s Day. Here, French director Thomas Balmès talks about his inspiration for the project, the making of the film and what he learned from his subjects. How did you come up with idea to document the lives of four different babies? The original idea came from French producer and director Alain Chabat. We spent a lot of time speaking together and ended up with

How did you choose the families for the ﬁlm? I was interested in each country’s relationship to the environment and each country’s relationship to modernity. You have four stages—four families who have different relationships with these two things, from the most basic environment where there’s nothing materialistic, like in Namibia; then Mongolia, where there is a bit more; then America; and then Tokyo. Did you interact with the babies? Well, I tried to interact as little as I could. The only situation when

Plus, This Month’s Highlights In Books, Music And DVDs BOOKS

Who’s Your Daddy? Written by Diane Muldrow and Illustrated by Rick Peterson Toddlers will delight in this lift-the-flap book filled with clever rhymes and pictures that ask them to match baby animals with their respective fathers. (Available now; Golden Books) MUSIC

The Big Picture Uncle Rock’s fourth family music CD is a salute to the rockabilly singer/songwriter’s

New York Family | May 2010

musical influences—David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, the Ramones, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Billy Idol and more. (Available now; No Parking Studio) MOVIES

Racing Dreams Three kids who dream of racing for NASCAR compete in the World Karting Association’s National Series—the Little League of professional racing—in this coming-of-age documentary directed by Academy Award nominee Marshall Curry. (In theaters May 21; Hannover House) —Teresa Tobat

I would interact was when I felt something was too dangerous. Once in Mongolia, the baby was playing with some metal close to a motorbike, and I felt the motorbike would fall on him. I stopped everything and we moved away from the motorbike. Another time, I almost interfered but didn’t—it was a scene where the baby was walking between cows. Very quickly I realized that the cows were very cautious with the baby, never stepping on him. How has your view of parenthood changed since creating the ﬁlm? I realized that maybe I was a little too concerned about stimulating my kids. By watching all these different ways of behaving with babies, and watching them grow up and become such beautiful human beings, I felt maybe I should not worry so much that every single minute be filled up with activities. Maybe the quality of time you spend with them is more important than all these activities I used to have them doing. What do you hope viewers take away from the ﬁlm? This is a very open film where anybody can make up their own conclusions. I am really happy that I’ve had so many different reactions and so many different conclusions as far as what we should think and what we should understand from the film. Hopefully people will enjoy it; I think it’s a very funny and entertaining film and I tried hard to make it that way. G www.newyorkfamily.com

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NOT SO SIMPLE The Editor Of “Real Simple” Offers Up A Tongue-And-Cheek Glossary For The Working Mom Like many working moms, “Real Simple” editor Kristin van Ogtrop ﬁnds the perpetual quest for balance between work and family to be full of comedy and tragedy, triumphs and failures. In her new book, “Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms For The Half-Insane Working Mom,” van Ogtrop offers up a collection of phrases, lists, musings and essays—organized in alphabetical order—that illustrate the daily chaos that is the life of every working mom. Below are a few of her “necessary terms”:

EXISTENTIAL LETHARGY: The state you’re trapped in when you’re so overwhelmed that nothing— and I mean nothing—interests you, not even Starbucks or a York Peppermint Pattie. This state is particularly acute at the beginning of the school year, the end of the school year, and any time from November 23 to January 2, and on Halloween. GUILT CURVE: The process by which your feelings of shame and inadequacy about being a working mom grow and then diminish. In my experience, the guilt curve is a bell curve, peaking when your ﬁrst child reaches kindergarten, with a long tail that lasts until the day of your funeral. “JUST VERY AMBITIOUS”: The worst thing anyone can ever say about you. This description is simply transparent code for “a complete asshole” and “would not hesitate to throw her own mother under a bus.” In short, you never want to work with, work for, or hire someone who meets this description. And if you yourself are ever described this way—well, you’ve seriously got to work on your message.

KINGDOM OF NO: A magical land that exists only in your fantasies, where “no” is always the answer and you never feel guilty for saying it.

PERFORMANCE ANXIETY: The fear that you will show up at work one morning and realize that your mental hard drive has been erased overnight. The years of trying to remember important dates on the school calendar as well as the names of all the supporting characters in your daily work life—not to mention the gazillion passwords you have for the gazillion things in your life that can be accessed only online—will have ﬁnally taken their toll. You will be blubbering, speechless, spent, and will have to be carried out on a gurney.

QUÉ SERÁ, SERÁISM: Vital coping mechanism necessary for the health and survival of any working mother. Also known as letting things go; moving on; putting things in perspective; having your priorities straight; trusting fate; knowing things happen for a reason; not sweating the small stuff; not trying too hard. USUAL SUSPECTS: The panel of forces you must

“NO VISIBILITY ON THAT RIGHT NOW”: The most glorious corporate-bullshit-speak I have ever heard from a person of importance who didn’t want to say “I don’t know.” It was during the Q and A portion of a management presentation; when I heard it I thought, I’ve got to try that at home. However, in response to questions such as “Do we have any ice cream?” it just confuses the audience.

consider before you commit to having a full-blown working-mother existential crisis. Before you allow yourself to question your entire life and any decision you have ever made, check: hormones, sleep deprivation level, messiness of house, whining level of children, ridiculousness of colleagues. If none of these is the guilty party responsible for your unhappiness, then you may indeed have bigger problems.

Excerpted from “Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms For The Half-Insane Working Mom,” by Kristin van Ogtrop. Little, Brown and Company, April 2010.

New York Family | May 2010

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