New York Family December 1, 2010 by New York Family

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DECEMBER

H FOIDE OL R T A ID HE S

2010

AY S

December 2010 Established 1986

IMAN WWW.NEWYORKFAMILY.COM

On Beauty, Bowie, And Her Incredible Life Journey

NEW YORK FAMILY

Inspired Gifts Festive Fashions Philanthropist Of The Year... And Other Family Heroes

Swing into Nintendo World! Where the World Comes to Play Bring the whole family to chase, race, zoom, zip, hop, plop and fly sky high! Mario™, Luigi™, Donkey Kong™, Kirby™ and their friends agree: there's simply nowhere else like it in New York!

The ultimate family game destination in Rockefeller Center. 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY • On 48th Street between 5th & 6th Avenue. 646.459.0800 • NintendoWorldStore.com

73012A

• Your next great Mario experience— Mario™ + Yoshi™! • Launch into a new universe of gravity warping worlds. • Experience this new adventure at the Nintendo World store!

Be sure to leap into this next awesome Mario™ experience on your new Wii™ system! More Value and a great color! (Bundle also available in White)

10 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY

On 48th Street between 5th & 6th Avenue Phone: 646-459-0800

T:6.925”

T:4.7”

Let’s help the millions of children with psychiatric and learning disorders. For these kids, the correct diagnosis and treatment can mean success in school, at home and with friends. Learn more at childmind.org.

Real Science. Real Hope.

has multiplied!!

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1597 York Avenue (b/t 84th and 85th)

212-828-MATH (6284) Now open on the Upper West Side. Call now to enroll!

IN THE CI TY

Holiday Camp Spend your winter break with us! December 20-22 & 28-30 Campers spend time on the farm with animals, participate in music, art, cooking, science, nature, games, animal care, yoga and much more. Everyday a special entertainer will engage the children in fun, laughter and learning. Half Day Snowflakes Group 9:30am - 12:30pm | 3-4 years Full Day Peppermints Group 9:30am - 3:30pm | 4-5 years Full Day Gingerbreads Group 9:30am - 3:30pm | 6-8 years

Flexible registration! Details at

TheArtFarms.org

The Art Farm In The City 419 East 91st St. NY, 10128 212.410.3117 â&#x20AC;˘ The ArtFarms.org â&#x20AC;˘ info@ the artfarms.org

*Up to $10,000 is deductible from New York State taxable income for married couples filing jointly; single residents can deduct up to $5,000 annually. May be subject to recapture in certain circumstances—rollovers to another state’s plan or non-qualified withdrawals. **Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. Tax and other benefits are contingent on meeting other requirements and certain withdrawals are subject to federal, state and local taxes. Before you invest, consider whether your or the designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program.

He promises to work hard. Promise to do your part. Through all the homework, projects, and hours of practice, your child gives you his best. All this hard work will pay off when it’s time for college. Do your part to help pay for his education by opening a New York 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan. With as little as $25, you, family and friends can open and contribute to an account for your child. Contributions can qualify for a generous deduction from New York State taxable income.* Earnings grow tax deferred, and you pay no state or federal taxes on qualified withdrawals, making a 529 plan one of the most tax-efficient ways to save.** Plus, a free rewards service from Upromise® can add to your account. It’s so easy— just visit ny529directplan.com, and in about ten minutes, you’ve kept your promise.

Visit ny529directplan.com or call 1-800-608-8617

The Comptroller of the State of New York and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation are the Program Administrators and are responsible for implementing and administering the Direct Plan. Upromise Investments, Inc. and Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC serve as Program Manager and Recordkeeping and Servicing Agent, respectively, and are responsible for day-to-day operations, including effecting transactions. The Vanguard Group, Inc. serves as the Investment Manager. Vanguard Marketing Corporation markets, distributes and underwrites the Direct Plan. No guarantee: None of the State of New York, its agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Vanguard Group, Inc., Upromise Investments, Inc., nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment portfolio. New York’s 529 College Savings Program currently includes two separate 529 plans. The Direct Plan is sold directly by the Program. You may also participate in the Advisor Plan, which is sold exclusively through financial advisors and has different investment options and higher fees and expenses as well as financial advisor compensation. Upromise is a registered service mark of Upromise, Inc.

For more information about New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, obtain a Program Brochure and Tuition Savings Agreement at ny529directplan.com or by calling 1-800-608-8617. This includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information. You should read and consider them carefully before investing. © 2010 State of New York

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

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Celebrate!

Be our guest on the 5th night of the miracle of Hanukkah with the world-renowned Jewish a cappella group, Pizmon! Bring your menorah and candles and help us sow the light! Enjoy singa-long, pizza and sufganiyot. RSVP: 212-452-2310 X39.

Sunday, Dec. 5 at 4pm.

PIZMON, THE JTS /BARNARD /COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SINGERS

OrZarua

Congregation

127 E 82 St / www.OrZarua.org

A TRADITIONAL, EGALITARIAN, PARTICIPATORY CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE

NY Family Ad December 2010

Tonight belongs to...

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

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

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A few of our favorite new classes to get a jump on for next semester

December 2010

INSIDE

86 FEATURES

THE MINI SOCIAL SCENE Whether the dress code calls for trendy, traditional or something in between, there’s a style for every kid this holiday season

COLUMNS

New York Family | December 2010

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

HOLIDAY TIPSHEET

STARTING OUT How to celebrate the holiday season without spoiling your kids: tips from the two moms behind babybites (in consultation with their moms)

94 DEPARTMENTS

REAL ESTATE FORECAST Is it a buyer’s market? Experts talk about what to expect in 2011

THE GIFT OF FAB From sparkly to sweet to sensible, great finds for everyone on your list this season

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY News from New York Family: why we tweet, how to get your adorable kid on our cover, and three great giveaways

BUZZWORTHY A new Upper East Side shop caters to stylish tweens; a night light that helps kids adjust to normal sleeping schedules; customizable holiday dinner plates and more great ideas for December

A GOOD IDEA New York Times ‘Motherlode’ blogger Lisa Belkin shares her thoughts on the never-dull and ever-evolving conversation about raising kids today

Sweet dreams

Loews Regency Hotel, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, 212-759-4100. Custom dress by Valentino, jewelry by Fred Leighton, shoes by Dolce and Gabbana, all makeup by IMAN Cosmetics. Hair by Q Hardy, Makeup by Sam Fine. Photographed by Josh Lehrer (joshlehrer.com).

THOUGHT

A Jewish mother strikes a deal with the man in the red suit

Three simple and seasonal art projects to share with kids; plus, craft studios around town

EDITOR’S NOTE

THE COVER: Iman at the

106 ON SECOND

From winter wonderlands to white sand beaches, great destinations for family gatherings; plus, tips on making the most of traveling with kids

A WORLD OF GOOD From empowering teenage girls across the globe to feeding families down the street, a few notable New Yorkers share their charities of choice; plus, we profile a few charity picks of our own

HEALTH & WELLNESS A noted chef, television host and NYC mom shares her tips for staying on track this holiday season without missing any of your favorite dishes; plus, tips for meaningful dinner hours with kids

HEROES AMONG US Whether rebuilding failing schools, finding homes for foster children or leading a cutting-edge science center, this distinguished group of New Yorkers inspires us with their efforts to improve the lives of children and families

60 32

SPECIAL SPORTS SUPPLEMENT *Flip For It: Young gymnasts from across the city talk about the joys and challenges of their demanding—and exhilarating— sport (page 86) *Ask The Experts: A year’s worth of sports questions and expert answers, from how to boost your confidence before a game to whether to snowboard or ski (page 90)

THE FEARLESS FACE OF BEAUTY At 18, Iman arrived in New York and changed the fashion industry forever. Though her modeling days are behind her, the entrepreneur, television host, mom and wife remains an emblem of beauty, grace and perseverance

AHEAD OF THE CLASS

TWENTY IDEAS Our monthly round-up (times two for the holidays!) of family fun in the city

CULTURE GUIDE FOR KIDS December’s best exhibits and performances for kids

CORRECTIONS: In the home design guide in the November issue, the website for The New Traditionalists was listed incorrectly. The correct website is thenewtraditionalists.com. www.newyorkfamily.com

“An enchanting ride.” — The New York Times

Mozart

THE MAGIC FLUTE DEC 21 mat, 24, 28 mat, 29 mat, 30 mat JAN 1, 3 mat, 6 Visit metopera.org, the box office, or call 212-362-6000.

Tickets from $22. Premium orchestra seats are $109. LISTEN TO METROPOLITAN OPERA RADIO 24/7 ON

Nathan Gunn as Papageno Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

A family favorite! The Met’s spectacular production by JULIE TAYMOR, the director of The Lion King, returns in its abridged, Englishlanguage version for the holidays.

editor And co-publisher eric Messinger emessinger @ manhattanmedia.com Art director Mitchell Hoffman mhoffman @ manhattanmedia.com deputY editor Katie Main kmain @ manhattanmedia.com stYle director Joy Sherwood jsherwood @ manhattanmedia.com deputY Art director Jessica Balaschak jbalaschak@ manhattanmedia.com production MAnAGer Mark Stinson mstinson @ manhattanmedia.com deputY production MAnAGer Heather Mulcahey hmulcahey @ manhattanmedia.com photo editor Andrew Schwartz aschwartz@ manhattanmedia.com senior editor darcy newell dnewell@manhattanmedia.com contributinG photoGrAphers daniel S. Burnstein, Suzanne Cohen, Heidi Green, thaddeus Harden, Jennifer Lee, Josh Lehrer, Sarah Merians contributinG Writers Janet Allon, Leah Black, Cristina dimen, Mary diPalermo, Amanda Ferris, Katie Garton, tiffanie Green, Rachael Horowitz, Meredith Lopez, Megan Maxson, elizabeth Frankel Reed, Lisa Rogal, Molly Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Meara Sheehan, Jessica Shyba, Amy Spiro, erika thormahlen, Lauren Wetzel Group publisher Alex Schweitzer 212-284-9735, aschweitzer @ manhattanmedia.com publisher John Hurley 212-268-3086, jhurley @ manhattanmedia.com AssociAte publisher Mary Ann Oklesson maoklesson @ manhattanmedia.com senior Account MAnAGer Gina Waldman gwaldman @ manhattanmedia.com AssistAnt to the publisher Marissa Broxmeyer mbroxmeyer @ manhattanmedia.com circulAtion Joe Bendik jbendik@ manhattanmedia.com AdvertisinG coordinAtor Jennie Valenti jvalenti @ manhattanmedia.com business MAnAGer Shawn Scott sscott@ manhattanmedia.com Accounts MAnAGer Kathy Pollyea kpollyea @ manhattanmedia.com MAnHAttAn MediA president/ceo tom Allon tallon @ manhattanmedia.com cFo/coo Joanne Harras jharras @ manhattanmedia.com FoundinG publisher Barbara Witt MArketinG director tom Kelly tkelly @ manhattanmedia.com events MAnAGer Stephanie Musso smusso @ manhattanmedia.com

new York Family is a division of Manhattan Media, publishers of Avenue magazine, our town, West side spirit, new York press, Mitzvah Magazine, the capitol, city hall, city Arts, chelsea clinton news, the Westsider and the blackboard Awards. ÂŠ 2010 Manhattan Media, llc | 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, new York, nY 10016 | t: 212.268.8600 | f: 212.268.0577 www.manhattanmedia.com

New York Family | December 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

edit â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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H FOIDE OL R T A ID HE S AY S

NOTE December 2010 Established 1986

Sweet Dreaming

ucked in the compilation of our best sports-related advice to parents and children from the past year (on page 90) is a charming and helpful idea for calming oneself. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m paraphrasing here (the full version is better), but basically Dr. Jay Granat, a psychotherapist and founder of Stayinthezone.com, advises kids to take a few minutes of quiet time before going to sleep to contemplate moments in their lives when they felt proud and comfortable and happy. He recommends that they then call upon these positive memories and their relaxing associations the next time their anxiety threatens to hamper them in sports. Good advice, yes? Positive thinking married with a bit of perspective. As I embark on this letter, it comes to mind because, for one thing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice I should heed right now. At the end of another cycle of the magazine, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ex-

IMAN On Beauty, Bowie, And Her Incredible Life Journey

hausted, yet I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want my present mindset to color how I feel about an Inspired Gifts issue of the magaFestive Fashions zine that I know is Philanthropist Of The Year... And Other Family Heroes full of good stuff. The more important reason though, is that it resonates with me as a parent: how do we live in the positive? How do we keep perspective? How do we balance the inevitable frustrations, anxieties and exhaustion, the overwhelmingness of it all, with the joy, the fun and the love? Maybe this little exercise in sweet dreaming, taken literally or metaphorically, will helpâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and just in time for the holidays. We went a little holiday crazy in this issue, with stories on gifts, fashions, activities, crafts, meals, charities and local heroesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but the nice thing is that

they all deliver on their own terms. So does a delightful personal essay by one of our writers about being Jewish and having to navigate the omniscient Man in the Red Suit this time of year. In that spirit, I have some thanks to give. A magazine is the sum of its parts, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very lucky to work with a bunch of people who do their part really well: John, Mary Ann and Gina; Mitch, Jessie and Mark; Joy, Katie and Darcy; our contributing writers and photographers; and the rest of the Manhattan Media gang. I thank you all for the good work and good company. And now that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve thought my positive thoughts, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to take a nap. Happy Holidays,

ERIC MESSINGER emessinger@manhattanmedia.com

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New York Family | December 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

Inspiring Learning, Exceeding Expectations.

Nursery open for 3 year olds in January 2011. Call 212.600.2010 for information or visit wclacademy.org.

World Class Learning Academy, New York instills a love of learning and discovery in every student at an early age. Our international school fosters close parent partnerships, has exceptionally well-trained teachers, high academic standards, and a true desire to help all students flourish and grow. You’ll not only see the difference in our school, but more importantly, your child. Contact us today for more information. 44 East 2nd Street • New York, New York 10003 • 212.600.2010 www.wclacademy.org • info@wclacademy.org

Welcome to the Family UPCOMING EVENTS Is Your Kid A Cover Cutie? Why let Iman have all the fun? Enter your cutie in New York Family’s Child Modeling Contest for a chance to show him or her off to the world on our April cover! The grand prize winner will also receive exclusive representation from Generation Model Management. Plus, one runner up from each age category will be part of a fashion spread in the April issue and receive a consulting interview with Generation Model Management. Finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges, which includes Patti Fleischer of General Model Management; Melissa O’Neal of Classic Kids Photography; Cozy Friedman of Cozy’s Cuts For Kids and So Cozy Hair Care; Perry and Sheri Schoor and Barry Cohen of Lester’s; and Joy Sherwood, New York Family’s style director. Visit newyorkfamily.com to learn more, complete the registration and post your child’s recent photo (there’s a $20 processing fee). Deadline to enter is December 31st.

ON THE

W E

Follow Us On Twitter: New York Family is now on Twitter! Check in throughout the day for great family events, special giveaways, news items, and more tips on family life in the city. Go to twitter.com/newyorkfamily.

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet The joy of Twitter is two-fold: it allows you to share something of yourself with people who are interested in the things you like to share, and it allows you to discover people whose writings and ramblings you enjoy—and all this is packaged (like headlines) in short succinct bites of 140 characters or less. We’ve been tweeting a lot lately, perhaps too much, but the truth is we ﬁnd it kind of fun and satisfying. We’ve discovered some of our favorite parent bloggers on Twitter, and are constantly happening upon tips about interesting articles. If you follow New York Family on Twitter, you’ll not only be privy to our tips and treats, we’ll point you to other fabulous people whose work and wisdom we enjoy following. When you’re ready to jump in, visit Twitter.com and follow us at @NewYorkFamily. And don’t forget to say hello.

New York Family | December 2010

Prizes

AND

GIVEAWAYS

This Place Is A Zoo! Celebrate the season at Central Park Zoo’s Winterfest, an annual event ﬁlled with holiday lights, theater performances and animal presentations. Watch cold weather natives like snow leopards, polar bears and penguins open holiday gifts; take in a polar-themed performance at the Wildlife Theatre; create winter crafts and indulge in holiday treats at the Dancing Crane Café. We’re offering a special prize package including a family pack of four tickets to Winterfest and four Central Park Zoo gift bags! TO WIN, write to us at newyorkfamily@ manhattanmedia.com, putting “Winterfest” in the subject line and including your contact info. Deadline: Wednesday, December 8th.

Smart Tykes Ride Smart Trikes Prolong your child’s love of one of their favorite toys with the SmartTrike Zoo Collection Tricycle, a tandem trike that grows with your child from six months to three years. This kiddie vehicle starts as a stroller complete with steering handles, safety straps, a bottle holder and play phone, and transforms into super-cool wheels for a toddler. It even sports a fun animal theme, rubber wheels for a smooth ride and a removable weather-protection canopy. We have one ladybug Smart-Trike to give away. TO WIN, write to us at newyorkfamily@ manhattanmedia.com, putting “Smart Trike” in the subject line and including your contact info. Deadline: Monday, December 13th.

A Train Show To Remember If you’ve never been to the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, this is the year to start making it a tradition! The celebrated show features a G-scale model train and 140 of New York’s landmark buildings, like Yankee Stadium and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, all constructed from plant parts like nuts, pine cones and leaves. TO WIN a four-pack of tickets to the show, write to us at newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia.com, putting “Holiday Train Show” in the subject line and including your contact info. Deadline: Monday, December 13th.

www.newyorkfamily.com

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ILLUSTRATION BY PETER FERGUSON

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U ce p X RIVEJUST 20 MIN ON Advan brON FOUNDING SPONSORS:

Victoria and Robert Zoellner Additional support has been provided by the Karen Katen Foundation.

MAJOR SPONSOR:

Alpine Associates Advisors

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

buzz

Q A G R E AT P L AT E While perusing Etsy.com for holiday treats, we stumbled upon the adorable and customizable products from Cosmic Bebe, a San

WORTHY

Francisco-based company founded by Julie

Q JOY TO

Stevenson, a mom of two, and Kimberly

THE BOOKS

ch boxes to birth announcements that creates everything from personalized lunch

There’s nothing quite like curling up

and thank-you notes. For the holiday season, we’re especially smitten with

with a good book to get kids into festive

Cosmic Bebe’s line of festive plates and bowls, all of which are BPA-free and cus-

spirits, and “Joy to the World: Christ-

tomizable to represent your family’s holiday, plus your child’s name and cartoon

mas Stories and Songs” is a wonderful

likeness. Available now, CosmicBebe.com.

Schwede, an experienced graphic designer,

holiday addition to any family’s collection. Written by award-winning

Q G O O D N I G H T,

author Tomie dePaola (who has

MOM!

penned over 200 children’s books,

Whether your child doesn’t want to go to sleep

including the Newbery Award-win-

at bedtime or wakes up at 5 a.m. determined

ning “26 Fairmount Avenue”) the

to start his day, sometimes parents need a bit

beautifully illustrated book features

of help to get their kids adapted to a normal

three of dePaola’s best-loved Christmas

sleeping schedule. Enter the Good Nite Lite, a

stories and four beloved songs. Kids will

cute and clever nightlight-turned-behavior modifica-

marvel at the illustrations of stories like

tion device that helps kids grasp the concept of night

“The Legend of the Poinsettia” and love

and day. In addition to serving as a traditional nightlight, the Good

singing along to the sweetly depicted

Nite Lite has a built-in timer, and illuminates the face of the moon while kids should

“Silent Night.” “Joy to the World” is suit-

be sleeping, and fades into a sun when it’s time for them to wake up. Good Nite

able for kids ages 4 to 8 and retails for

Lite retails for $34.95. Available now, goodnitelite.com.

$24.99. Available now, Amazon.com.

Q LITTLE SHOP OF STYLE Style reigns supreme at Style.licious, a colorful new accessories boutique THE CHECKLIST FOR

on the Upper East Side that caters to style-minded tweens and teens.

December

The shop was created by mom Norma Hafif, who after watching her daughter Shelly transition from tween to teen, realized that there was a tremendous need for a unique and affordable shop designed for budding fashionistas. Located at 2nd Avenue and 74th Street, Style.licious also

offers private birthday parties where birthday girls

RE FOR MO EAS TIPS & ID VISIT om ily.c newyorkfam

and guests can create their own jewelry, clutches, pillows, scarves and more. For more information, visit styleliciousnyc.com.

Q L O V E AT F I R S T R O C K Have an aspiring guitar hero at home? Let them practice their chords (and their superstar strut) this holiday with the new kid-sized We’re Jammin' Electric Guitar set. Great for rockers ages six and up, the set includes a junior electric guitar, 5-watt portable amplifier with headphone connection and a heavy duty, adjustable guitar strap. The guitar body is made of laminated hardwood and features a solid hardwood neck and chrome hardware, making it an authentic first foray into the world of electric guitar. The guitar retails for $169. Available now, landofnod.com.

New York Family | December 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

So Happy To Be In Mommy & Me

Gymtime is the savvy parent's resource for recreational and educational activities for children ages 6 months to 18 years old. We offer: ■ MOMMY & ME CLASSES ■ RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS ■ COMPETITIVE TEAM GYMNASTICS ■ SPORTS & FITNESS ■ TAE KWON DO ■ COOKING, ART & MUSIC CLASSES ■ COMBO CLASSES ■ BIRTHDAY PARTIES

£xÓäÊ9 À Ê Ûi Õi]Ê iÜÊ9 À ]Ê 9Ê£ääÓnÊUÊÓ£Ó°nÈ£°ÇÇÎÓ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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EDUCATION & PHILANTHROPY

The

Of The Year

elly Posner Gerstenhaber often has children on her mind—and not just her own four cuties, Alexander, Joshua, Dylan and Mikaela. Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber lives, works and gives in ways that have a notably positive impact on the lives of children. For the past six years, she has been the Founding Chairwoman of the Board and proud champion of Turnaround for Children, whose school-change model has won over teachers, principals, parents, children and key education policymakers and philanthropists across the country with its extraordinary success at transforming some of the most challenged elementary and middle schools. On another important education front, Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber is one of the founders of the Speyer Legacy School, the city’s first independent school for the gifted, now in its second year, which is emerging as a groundbreaking model for the education of advanced learners—the kind of kids who have the potential to one day become our leading scientists, thinkers, artists, politicians and CEOs. These two innovative initiatives come on top of her “day job” as the Director of the Center for Suicide Risk Assessment at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. Among her notable achievements, the FDA commissioned Dr. Posner Gerstenhaber to establish methods for suicide assessment that are now required by most drug development programs. In a front page story, The New York Times characterized this as “one of the most profound changes of the past 16 years to regulations governing drug development.” Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber has been honored by New York magazine (which cited her as one of the city’s most influential people) and the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University (which named her its most influential graduate in the last 50 years). These days she works with organizations as far-ranging as the U.S. Army

Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber with sons Joshua and Alexander and New York City public schools, and has even addressed the leaders of the European Union on how to tackle depression and suicide. For her leadership with both Turnaround For Children and The Speyer Legacy School—and with a nod to her monumental work on the treatment of depression and the prevention of suicide—we honor Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber as our Education Philanthropist Of The Year. Of all the good causes and organizations one can support, why have you decided to put so much of yourself into Turnaround For Children? In Turnaround, I saw unparalleled potential to make a difference, to really help kids who need it the most. Turnaround has a very intuitive model. If you want to transform a struggling school you have to address the learning environment, student support issues (including the need for mental health services), and family engagement—all at once. If you just pay attention to one of

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EDUCATION & PHILANTHROPY

The

Education Philanthropist Her Leadership And Support Have Nurtured Two Very Different But Signiﬁcant Innovations In Education. One Is A Transformative Approach To Revitalizing Failing Public Schools. The Other Is A Ground-Breaking School For The Gifted. What Do They Have In Common? Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber—And Her Belief That Great Schools Are The Building Blocks Of Opportunity For All Children And Provide The Foundation For A Prosperous Society. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber often has children on her mind— and not just her own four cuties, Alexander, Joshua, Dylan and Mikaela. Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber lives, works and gives in ways that have a notably positive impact on the lives of children. For the past six years, she has been the Founding Chairwoman of the Board and proud champion of Turnaround for Children, whose school-change model has won over teachers, principals, parents, children and key education policymakers and philanthropists across the country with its extraordinary success at transforming some of the most challenged elementary and middle schools. On another important education front, Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber is one of the founders of the Speyer Legacy School, the city’s first independent school for the gifted, now in its second year, which is emerging as a groundbreaking model for the education of advanced learners—the kind of kids who have the potential to one day become our leading scientists, thinkers, artists, politicians and CEOs. These two innovative initiatives come on top of her “day job” as the Director of the Center for Suicide Risk Assessment at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. Among her notable achievements, the FDA commissioned Dr. Posner Gerstenhaber to establish methods for suicide assessment that are now required by most drug development programs. In a front page story, The New York Times characterized this as “one of the most profound changes of the past 16 years to regulations governing drug development.” Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber has been honored by New York magazine (which cited her as one of the city’s most influential people) and the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University (which named her its most influential graduate in the last 50 years). These days she works with organizations as far-ranging as the U.S. Army and New York City public

Of The Year

Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber with sons Joshua and Alexander schools, and has even addressed the leaders of the European Union on how to tackle depression and suicide. For her leadership with both Turnaround For Children and The Speyer Legacy School—and with a nod to her monumental work on the treatment of depression and the prevention of suicide— we honor Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber as our Education Philanthropist Of The Year. Of all the good causes and organizations one can support, why have you decided to put so much of yourself into Turnaround For Children? In Turnaround, I saw unparalleled potential to make a difference, to really help

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kids who need it the most. Turnaround has a very intuitive model. If you want to transform a struggling school you have to address the learning environment, student support issues (including the need for mental health services), and family engagement—all at once. If you just pay attention to one of those things, all of the other systemic problems will minimize the effectiveness of your one initiative. This approach is transforming schools where everything else has failed. And when you think about what it means to transform failing schools in terms of the influence on graduation rates, incarceration rates, and ultimately on poverty and society, the impact of this work is profound. And even more profound because it’s replicable: It can be put into effect by any low-performing school around the country. Turnaround is frequently referred to as “the missing link” in the education reform debate, and I think that’s right. With Turnaround, you have a practical and proven approach for transforming failing schools that keeps them within the public system, as opposed to shutting them down and looking just to charter schools for answers. Does Turnaround have the support of the Department of Education? And what else does it need—presumably more money? Without sounding presumptuous, I can say that Schools Chancellor Joel Klein is one of our biggest fans and supporters. He points out that education is the biggest crisis our nation faces—and he has called the work of Turnaround “groundbreaking,” and has said that he thinks that hundreds of New York City schools could benefit from our approach! Former Turnaround board member U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, with whom we worked extensively on his Children Exposed to Violence Initiative, has been another passionate supporter. The good news lately is that Turnaround is also gaining serious attention and support from other important policymakers in Washington and across the country. We’ve also been fortunate to garner support from the kinds of major institutional and philanthropic funders who have access to the work of the most promising educational efforts around the country. Their support is invaluable, but of course we need more. The schools have the ability to pay for a very small portion of the program out of their budget. Speaking of which, I heard you had a great inaugural beneﬁt last year. It was amazing. We honored Chancellor Klein along with New York State Chancellor Merryl Tisch and journalist Perri Peltz—all three of whom have been vocal supporters of Turnarond. We raised more than $1.1 million. How does it feel to be one of the honorees at the upcoming beneﬁt on April 28 at the Plaza? It’s a huge honor. We’re going to be announcing the other honorees shortly and they are truly special figures in the world of education. So first of all I feel humbled and honored to be in their company. What can I say? I believe so deeply in Turnaround’s potential to make a massive difference in the lives of kids who are stuck in failing schools. This is one of the great honors of my life.

Your other big commitment in education is to The Speyer Legacy School, the city’s ﬁrst independent school for the gifted, which opened in September of 2009. How did that come about? When my oldest son was at Hollingworth Preschool, which is a school for advanced learners at Teachers College at Columbia, it was such a positive experience that it really awakened me to how the focus and expertise of a school can make a big difference in the education of a advanced learner. But launching Speyer, like any school, was a huge challenge that required the time and dedication of educators and parents. Speyer seems like such a radical departure from your work with Turnaround. Or is there a connection? There is. Every child—regardless of the circumstances they are born into—deserves an appropriate education designed to allow that child to maximize his or her potential. Turnaround focuses on children in the most disadvantaged circumstances and gives them a chance at a great education and a hopeful future. Likewise, Speyer recognizes that advanced learners are more likely to reach their potential if they are engaged early on in purposeful and challenging work and allowed to progress without ceilings. Is there a shortage of gifted programs? A big shortage. I’m familiar with the landscape because two of my sons attend Hunter College Elementary School, one of the city’s top gifted programs. But Hunter can only accept 50 students each year. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other kids who are qualified. There should be a Hunter—or a Speyer—for them too. Last year, by the way, the heads of school at Speyer and Hunter launched a joint program to share a beautiful 50-acre farm in Westchester, which became the cornerstone of an innovative health and nutrition curriculum, allowing the kids to do hands-on cultivation, and study subjects like environmental science and ecological responsibility. Hunter has taken it a step farther by improving its school lunch program as part of its Healthy Hunter initiative, which integrates work on the farm. In fact, both the Speyer and Hunter programs (which include some “farm to table” lunches at Hunter) were showcased on LunchNYC, a TV series on NYC Life (the city’s cable network), which features cutting-edge school lunch and health education initiatives. Opportunities like this remind me of the profound and heartbreaking lessons in Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers,” which is about the nature of success. The lesson is that “giftedness” in a child is just potential. If it’s not nurtured, then it becomes the tragedy of a wasted opportunity. To be the adults they have the potential to be, kids need the right support along the way. In that way, a Turnaround school and the Speyer School have a very similar mission. The profile of Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber first appeared in New York Family magazine. This reprint, along with the features on the Speyer Legacy School and Turnaround for Children, is sponsored by New York Family as part of our special holiday initiative to highlight worthy charities and causes.

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EDUCATION & PHILANTHROPY

MINDS ON

Outstanding School for Gifted Education at the Blackboard Awards (blackboardawards.com) last month. Here, Coulianos, Speyer’s head of school, and Kogan, Speyer’s executive director, discuss their vision.

You’ve both been working with gifted children at the preschool level for many years. Why start a school for K-8 now? Connie: There are so many children in the city who would benefit from this kind of specialized education, so once it became evident that there was also support for such a school—we call them the “founding families”— it awakened our With Its Nurturing Ethos, Experienced Leadership And Focus On own willingness to make it a reality. Helping Advanced Learners Of All Backgrounds Reach Their Full When we started discussing the idea for the school, our leadership team Potential, The Speyer Legacy School Has Become One Of The was reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Most Highly-Regarded Independent Schools In New York City “Outliers.” One of its most memorable sections offered heartbreaking or over 20 years, Conevidence of how having a high nie Williams CouliaIQ and the potential for accomnos and Dr. Esther plishment is only realized when Kogan have worked in the academic opportunity and the field of gifted education— support of the community exist. Coulianos most recently as the We’re trying to provide that kind director and master teacher of opportunity and support. at Hollingworth Preschool There should be more of it. As at Teachers College, Columillustration, I’ll point out that in bia University, and Kogan on 2008 the NYC public school sysHollingworth’s admissions tem tested and identified more committee and as creator and than 14,000 kindergartners as director of the early childadvanced, but they are compethood program at Adelphi Uniing for far fewer spots—in fact, versity. Recognizing the need fewer than half of the 99th perfor schools focused on gifted centile was fortunate enough to children after preschool, the secure a space! This is an extraortwo women, teaming up with dinary gap of advanced learners a group of dedicated parents As part of studying immigration and commerce in not getting the education they Manhattan in the 1800’s, Speyer first graders dressed and educators, created The the part on Tenement Day—along with creating physi- need and deserve. Speyer Legacy School, the city’s cal models of their businesses of choice and correspondfirst independent school solely ing business plans. Given the potential of your focused on gifted education. students, do you feel like As supporters like former NYC Schools important for them as individuals but you’re helping to nurture children Deputy Chancellor Judith Rizzo de- also critical for our country’s future.” who are likely to one day be leadscribe it, a school like Speyer—by adOpening its doors in September of ers and ground-breakers in their dressing the needs of advanced learn- 2009, Speyer now has two classes in various ﬁelds and pursuits? Coners—also addresses a looming societal kindergarten through third grade, and nie: Absolutely! The danger of wasted challenge. “Too few of our youngsters plans to extend these offerings through potential is a tragedy not only for the are learning at the highest levels,” Riz- to the eighth grade. For a new school, child who languishes without approzo says. “To compete successfully in a Speyer has piqued the interest of par- priate educational opportunities; it is a global economy, students need to excel ents from all over the city as well as national tragedy in terms of lost leaderacademically, socially and culturally— the greater educational community, ship and innovation for the future of all which is the promise of Speyer. This is which included receiving the award for citizens. Gifted children hold both per-

FIRE

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sonal and societal promise we cannot afford to squander through inattention to their unique need for challenge and rigor. Central to our mission is a commitment to keep the fire alive to sustain our students through a lifetime of personal fulfillment and service to society. What’s the connection between your school and the original Speyer School that was founded in 1936 and has since closed? Connie: We have both a direct and indirect connection. First, we have a direct connection through Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, one of the members of our founding board whose children are grandchildren of one of the original Speyer Scholars, who attended P.S. 500 (known as the Speyer School) in the 1930s. And like the original school, our philosophy is that our students have needs that fall outside what is generally addressed in a typical classroom. Our curriculum addresses those needs and it is based on the work of P.S. 500’s groundbreaking leader, Dr. Leta Hollingworth, revitalized and reimagined for the 21st century. There’s a special and telling coincidence here worth sharing. In “Outliers,” to illustrate how the right educational setting can make all the difference in the life of an advanced learner, the book juxtaposes two case studies: one of a truly brilliant man (with a 200-plus IQ) who never had any kind of intellectual nurturing and basically ended up as an underachieving bouncer for much of his life; and the other, one of Dr. Hollingworth’s original students at the Speyer School, who went on to become one of the most renowned mathematicians in the world and helped give birth to the first computer. The inspiring connection for us is that the success story, the man who went on to achieve all these great things and give so much to society, happens to be Kelly’s father-in-law. It makes us feel like all our kids have that potential and we’re helping them on their way. How do parents know if their children would be a good ﬁt for your school? What makes an advanced learner? Connie: Gifted children have what we call a rage to master, an intensity and passion for learning. One of

our kindergarten students last year said, “I can’t stop now. My mind’s on fire!”— and I think that perfectly captures it. Advanced development can be evident in many different areas. In some cases it’s verbal—having a conversation with a child on a level that far exceeds what you would expect. In other cases it can be interpersonal—a child who has the ability to relate to, and empathize with, people on a very sophisticated level. It can also be spatial—children doing incredible buildings or artwork. Do advanced learners face any unique challenges you’ll be addressing? Connie: Yes, one typical challenge is perfectionism. Children with high abilities have pretty high expectations of themselves and will often be reluctant to attempt to do anything they can’t do perfectly. Esther: Advanced learners can also develop unevenly. A kindergarten child who can read at a fifth or sixth grade level may not be socially or emotionally prepared for the content of books directed at an older child. That can be confusing or frightening for the advanced reader. What will the curriculum at the Speyer Legacy School look like? Connie: We start with a core curriculum of literacy, math (The Singapore Math Method), history, humanities and science. We have a special health and nutrition curriculum as well as instruction in art, music, chess, Spanish and even fencing from adjuncts who are experts in their respective fields. With this population, my experience is that they master facts and concepts very quickly and are then keen on discussing the meaning behind what they’re learning. We want to hit that tendency to inquire head-on by including them in the conversation. Through these conversations, we develop advanced critical thinking skills—analysis, logic, originality. For example, we are using the Full Option Science System (FOSS) as the basis for our science curriculum. Not only do we focus on the content, we examine and explore the structure and organization of the materials and how they are presented for study. In addition, part of the philosophy we want

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to communicate is that we’re looking to educate the mind, the body and the heart of each child who attends Speyer. One of the ways we do this is by giving the students the opportunity to support an orphanage in Kenya. In addition to learning about a culture across the globe, the students actually develop meaningful relationships with the children living in the orphanage. What is your application process like? Connie: We include some of the same components of most independent schools. We carefully consider input from parents, teachers, and observations from our own on-site assessment to compile an extensive profile of each candidate. We view the results of standardized tests as only one source of information to be considered in conjunction with information from other sources. Our timeline for notification this year will be in sync with traditional private school admissions. Esther: We also make a concerted effort to welcome children from different backgrounds. One of the most special aspects of the school is that the student body is as diverse as the city itself, ethnically and financially. More than 50% of our families receive some financial aid. Being a new school, how do you get parents to take a leap of faith and come on board? Connie: We find that parents of advanced learners realize that their children may need a more accelerated and individualized education. Many of them are also persuaded, as we are, that their children are more likely to thrive among true peers. Fortunately, our enrollment expanded from 26 to 63 in one year, so, if anything, it looks like there is strong interest out there for this kind of school—and probably for more of its kind.

INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT SPEYER? For more information on The Speyer Legacy School and to obtain admissions materials, call 212-581-4000 or visit speyerlegacyschool.org. The school is presently accepting applications for next September’s kindergarten with very limited availability for 1-4 spaces. December 2010 | New York Family

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EDUCATION & PHILANTHROPY

The

Effect: The Missing Piece of the Education Reform Puzzle An Innovative School-Change Model Has Helped Some Of The Most Challenged Public Schools In The City Become Centers of Achievement, Learning And Hope.

How Does Turnaround Do It?

nly three years ago, P.S. 32 was one of the worst-performing schools in the South Bronx. Today, it is widely recognized as the area’s model grade school. How did P.S. 32 undergo such a positive transformation in such a short period of time? The short answer is that it partnered with an inspiring organization known as Turnaround for Children. If you care about the quality, success and future of public education in New York City and everywhere—indeed, if you care about our nation’s ability to produce a workforce that can compete with the educated masses of other countries—you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Turnaround for Children, which specializes in helping the most challenged schools transform themselves into thriving educational environments where there are universally high expectations for student achievement and development. In doing so, Turnaround closes the achievement gap and fosters true hope in its students, families, schools and communities. Here, Turnaround’s founder, Dr. Pamela Cantor, explains how it works.

There are many educational programs aimed at improving distressed schools. What makes Turnaround different? And more effective? Turnaround’s mission is to fulfill the promise of public education by supporting the development of highly effective public schools that foster in every student the academic, social and emotional competencies needed for success in school and in life. This is the band of schools for which no other model has achieved significant traction, schools that are plagued by all the issues that reside in the poor urban communities that surround them. In Turnaround’s experience, turning a dysfunctional school into a calm, engaging and effective place for learning is only possible if you find a way to address the adversity that students and teachers face each day. So the Turnaround model integrates social and behavioral support—not just academic support—into the learning environment. How much does the program cost, and how is it funded? Turnaround’s intervention costs about $500 per child. Schools pay part of the cost; other public sources like the City Council contribute and the rest comes

New York Family | December 2010

from philanthropic institutional or individual donations. We have benefited from the generosity of funders like Robin Hood, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Tiger Foundation, the Starr Foundation, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, CityBridge Foundation, the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, and many others. Some wonderful news on this front is that we recently became part of the New Profit portfolio, a venture philanthropy fund that helped to launch organizations like Teach for America, and New Leaders for New Schools! How many schools are you working in now, and where do you go from here? In 2010-11, Turnaround moved beyond its initial New York City base with expansion to Washington, DC, and Orange, NJ. Currently, Turnaround is partnering with 24 schools in Harlem, the Bronx, Washington and Orange. In total, Turnaround has worked with more than 60 elementary, middle and high schools, and because of our record, our reputation is growing among education policy makers across the country. Not only has former Turnaround board member U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder been a passionate supporter, but last summer, I had the honor of being one of five national presenters at the Aspen Institute’s Congressional Education Program, which is an important annual gathering of Congressional leaders invested in education policy. That, in turn, opened up more working relationships with congressional leaders in education reform and other policy makers. The positive buzz on Turnaround is also getting out to a more general audience. They just posted an interview with me on the “Waiting For Superman” website [waitingforsuperman.com], which promotes effective initiatives like ours. Some perspective: There are literally thousands of public schools concentrated primarily in high-poverty urban communities that are failing to achieve even the most basic educational goals. At the same time, because of programs like Turnaround, there’s an emerging expectation among educators that real success, not just incremental change, is possible at a great number of these www.newyorkfamily.com

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schools. So this is an extraordinary time of promise for transforming lowperforming schools into successful learning environments. In the coming years, I expect that Turnaround increasingly will be a national organization, working in strategic partnerships with school districts and other organizations committed to serious reform. What kind of support do you offer? Turnaround’s model transforms schools from the inside out. Led by three problem-solving teams focused on behavior, academics and school climate, the school staff learns to reach students who had been “slipping through the cracks” and also create a positive culture that fosters achievement for all students. Turnaround helps schools establish systems of support for the neediest students, create linkages to community services, and gives school staff the knowledge and skills to create successful classroom environments. As a result of the Turnaround intervention, schools have dramatically reduced the number of police reported incidents and suspensions, improved teacher attendance and retention, and established the foundations necessary for breakthrough academic achievement. In terms that a non-educator could understand, can you elaborate on the kinds of systems you help put in place? All schools are run by systems, but they’re usually invisible. In any successful school, there are systems for safety, systems for supporting your faculty, systems for involving parents in the school—all kinds of systems. In our schools, the first system we put in place brings services and attention to the kids whose disruptive behavior is having a large negative effect on the school—in fact, often “bringing the school to its knees.” We ask the principal to tell us about the kids who are essentially running the negative culture in the school. The principal usually doesn’t have to think for more than two seconds to name the kids. As part of the program, schools agree to hire a full-time clinical social worker whom we supervise and train. Together we develop a Student Intervention Team where we de-

strategies for working with kids who learn differently, enhancing reading and math skills and moving the school toward enhanced forms of instruction including differentiated instruction and project-based learning.

Turnaround’s Pamela Cantor with Chancellor Joel Klein and Uma Thurman at the inaugural benefit. sign specific plans with the staff to bring targeted help to these students. And the moment that those kids begin to get real help—when you see a kid who has been the leader of all of the negative stuff in a school become a student, and when you see that student’s parents become positive members of a school community— they are often your best ambassadors. When you accomplish this in the first year, this lever is very powerful in promoting culture change in the school going forward. Turnaround and our partner schools are able to restore a positive climate for teaching and learning within the first year. What’s the next step? As you begin to see calmer classrooms and more time spent on academic tasks, you are able to go after the real mission of schools, which is instructional efficacy for the teachers and academic and personal gains for the kids. We do an enormous amount of staff development, much of which we have created and some we discover “off the shelf ” for the teachers, tuning up their classroom skills by introducing them to good

How long does it take for all these changes to take hold, and for a chaotic school to be a very different kind of place? It’s not a quick fix. In our experience, it typically takes three years and sometimes more for schools to be set on a successful and sustainable path. Often, at the end of the third year, a school will choose to begin working with other partner organizations that are focused on new areas for growth often in academics, technology and youth development. These higher order activities can’t take root in buildings that are chaotic, but they can by the second or third year in a Turnaround school. What makes a school sustainable? How do you ensure that the changes you’ve put in place will last? A sustainable school means that the knowledge, systems and resources in the building are embedded in so many people that if any one person left, the building would be fine. So, when a child comes from the community and happens to be a highly disruptive kid in kindergarten, he or she is coming into a healthy, safe, developed culture where a teacher will know what to do for that child from the very beginning. Each adult in the building believes he or she is responsible for the success and well-being of each child. In this type of setting, there are many leaders, many strong teachers, and one child would not be able to disrupt the learning of others. That’s a sustainable school.

THE ANNUAL BENEFIT Turnaround for Children’s Inaugural Benefit Dinner last April brought in over $1.1 million to support its partnerships with public schools, a remarkable show of support for the first-time benefit, which honored New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, and journalist Perri Peltz. The event’s Dinner Chairs were Simone and David Levinson, and Judi Sorensen-Flom and Joseph Flom, and the Co-Chairs included Cristina Greeven Cuomo and others. Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered the keynote address. Please Note: The second annual Benefit Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, 2011 at the Plaza Hotel, honoring Turnaround’s founding chairperson Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, and other education luminaries to be announced shortly. For more info, visit Turnaround’s website (turnaroundusa.org), or call 646-786-6200.

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What are your kids doing this summer?

e h t d n i F ! p m a c t c perfe

New York Family magazine and the ACA-NY are back with the 7th Annual Camp Fairs Series! Through December and January,throughout NewYork City,meet over 40 different camp directors from local DAY CAMPS and SLEEPAWAY CAMPS from all over.Great for children ages 3 to 17!

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Photo: Julie Larsen Maher @ WCS

our animals are provided with food for their families. shouldn’t all new Yorkers be so fortunate? OUR ANIMALS HAVE FOOD, SHELTER AND TOYS FOR THEIR YOUNG. BUT MANY NEW YORKERS CAN’T AFFORD THESE SIMPLE NECESSITIES. THAT’S WHY THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY IS HELPING TO COLLECT FOOD AND TOYS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. FOR EVERY NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY OR GROCERY BAG FILLED WITH 10 OR MORE PACKAGED FOOD ITEMS,* WE WILL PROVIDE ONE FREE GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET TO THE BRONX ZOO—LIMIT 4 PER FAMILY, VALID 1/01/2011 THROUGH 6/30/2011.

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Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

DON’T MISS AMAZING ICE SCULPTURES, CLYDESDALE HORSE AND CARRIAGE RIDES, CHORAL PERFORMANCES AND MORE, THIS DECEMBER AT THE BRONX ZOO. VISIT BRONXZOO.COM FOR DETAILS. Disclaimer: ONE general admission ticket to the Bronx Zoo will be provided for a donation of one new, unwrapped toy OR for every 10 food items at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo or Queens Zoo. ONE general admission ticket to the New York Aquarium will be provided for a donation of one new, unwrapped toy OR for every 10 food items at the New York Aquarium. Limit of four tickets per family, valid 01/01/11 through 06/30/11. Food items must be canned, packaged and/or nonperishable foods –perishable items are not permitted. All WCS decisions final. For details on donation food items go to wcs.org/foodandtoydrive. Promotion available from 11/22/10 –12/31/10. May not be combined with any other offer.

Laurie David On Taking Back The Family Table

Have A

BY AMY SPIRO

Healthy Holiday A Noted Chef, Television Host And NYC Mom To Three Hungry Boys Shares Her Tips For Staying On Track This Holiday Season— Without Missing Any Of Your Favorite Dishes platter of pigs in a blanket. A second helping of green bean casserole. For many, celebrating the holidays is synonymous with multi-course dinners, parties and endless amounts of holiday sweets, making it difficult for health-conscious eaters to stay on track. To help, Lucinda Scala Quinn, author of “Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys,” executive food director of Martha Stewart Living, host of the “Mad Hungry” cooking show and mom to three boys, offers some guidelines for a lighter—yet equally as delicious—December.

Even health-conscious eaters want to enjoy their favorite holiday dishes. What are your suggestions for making classic recipes more nutritious? I like to use non-fat, thick Greek yogurt wherever sour cream is called for. Most of the time you can’t tell the difference, because it’s really that acidic tang that you like in sour cream, and you get that with yogurt. You can even substitute non-fat yogurt for sour cream in your baking. I’m also a huge fan of roasted vegetables in place of creamy casseroles—if you slice cauliflower very thin, add olive oil, salt and pepper and roast it at a high temperature, you’ll have a beautiful golden cauliflower—it’s healthful and easy. Instead of candied yams, which have a lot of butter and sugar, I cut sweet potatoes into wedges, toss with spices and bake them to bring out the natural caramelization. Instead of a green bean casserole, I do a flavorful ginger garlic green bean. You’re a busy NYC working mom—how do you feed your family every night without resorting to takeout? I’m a big planner, and

New York Family | December 2010

Any cookbook can teach you how to make dinner, but only one will tell you how to get your whole family around the table! In “The Family Dinner,” Laurie David—an environmental activist and the producer of the Academy Award-winning ﬁlm “An Inconvenient Truth”— shares ideas for meaningful dinner hours with kids, complete with conversation starters, table games and 75 kid-approved recipes. “With sitting down comes conversation,” David says, “and if you’re doing that, you’re ahead of the game.” Even for busy parents who might fall back on takeout or pizza, David suggests, “don’t serve it in plastic containers—serve it in bowls or have a picnic on the ﬂoor. Do things that don’t take a lot of time, but that will make your meal memorable.” The book features delicious, easy recipes (such as chicken piccata with crispy smashed potatoes and maple-glazed salmon with edamame succotash) as well as ideas to get kids involved in cooking and nutrition. Divided into chapters like “Meatless Mondays” and “Kids In The Kitchen,” the book is sure to have an inspired solution to every family’s dinner table dilemma. ($29.99, Amazon.com.) —A.S.

I have to be, because ordering Chinese takeout for my family is an $80 bill. I don’t necessarily plan down to the meals, but on Sundays we go shopping [for the week]. I know that I’m going to have a meat night, a chicken night, a bean night, a pasta night. I also try to stay one step ahead. Sometimes before I go to work I’ll put the chicken in the marinade, slice the broccoli and wash the potatoes, so when I get home, it’s all ready. One of your mottoes is “never be caught without bacon”—which doesn’t quite speak to healthy eating. Can you enjoy your bacon as well? Of course! I’ll take two or three strips of bacon, dice them finely and sauté it with a little onion—it’s a good base for adding collard greens, cabbage or Swiss chard. Or you can add a bit of diced bacon and onion in a tomato sauce—it gives a bit of smoky flavor. It’s just moderation—I don’t eat bacon every day, maybe a couple times a month, and then sometimes as a flavoring for vegetables. F o r m o r e o f L u c i n d a’s c u l i n a r y i n s p i r a tion and delicious holiday recipes, v isit n e w y o r k f a m i l y. c o m . www.newyorkfamily.com

‫ ה‬ h & WELLNESS

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All Together Now There’s Nothing Quite Like Christmas and New Year’s For Bringing The Whole Family Together. If You Haven’t Already Made Your Plans, Here Are Some Special FamilyFriendly Destinations To Consider Editor’s Picks

Curtain Bluff (Antigua, West Indies). This memorable family-run Caribbean resort (a top pick in the Conde Nast Traveler Reader Choice Awards) attracts many of same family guests year after year, delighted by the solicitude, facilities and pervasive family-friendly vibe. Plus, their inclusive package is a bargain on the luxury end. (curtainbluff.com) Keystone (Keystone, Colorado). Part of the distinguished Vail Resort chain, Keystone is a family ski mecca on the value end, with activities like a glow stick parade down the mountain, and disco Whiteface Lodge tubing—not to mention the world’s largest snow fort! The chain has just introduced a cool mobile app (EpicMix) to enhance the on-mountain experience. (keystoneresort.com) Hershey (Hershey, Pennsylvania). The legendary amusement park and allaround sweet spot pulls out the stops around the holidays, transforming into a holiday village with rides, Santa and his nine live reindeer, entertainment, games and shops—and two breathtaking light shows. (christmasinhershey.com) Woodloch (Hawley, Pennsylvania). Its sprawling beauty and full range of winter fun—including a special family package offered in conjunction with nearby Big Bear Mountain—makes Woodloch one of the “Best Snow Resorts” for families in the country, an honor bestowed last year by Parents magazine! (woodloch.com)

ExPErt Picks From Carol Cain (NYCitymama.com): Whiteface Lodge (Lake Placid, New York). Built in the spirit of legendary Adirondack resorts of yore, Whiteface, which just opened in June 2005, is no mere “lodge” but a gorgeous, rustic, amenity-rich oasis. A five-and-a-half hour drive from the city, Whiteface is a favorite among snow-loving families who can’t get enough of Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain, one of the best ski mountains in the state. Other amenities and activities include a 56-seat movie theater, well-stocked game room, a two-lane bowling alley, and an on-site ice rink. The Natural Museum of The Adirondacks is also worth a visit. (thewhitefacelodge.com)

New York Family | December 2010

In The Name of Peace And Fun For Everyone In the Family, Here Are A Few Tips By Kimberly Wilson Wetty •Where age-appropriate, every family member should get a vote on the type of vacation and on one activity they each really want to do. •Even though you’re on vacation, try to roughly adhere to naptime and bedtime schedules. •Try to include a few activities, especially sight-seeing, during which all ages can be on the same page. •Do your research and take advantage of age-based services, ranging from prepared diaper bags and chaperoned meals to organized tween and teen activities. •Finally, embrace the idea that you can plan a vacation with a kid-friendly vibe that doesn’t just cater exclusively to children. Nowadays, hotels, resorts and cruise lines are all offering fun for couples and their offspring alike. Really! Kimberly Wilson Wetty is a New York mom and co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel (valeriewilsontravel.com), one of the largest family-managed travel consulting firms in the country. She’ll be a regular contributor to New York Family’s travel coverage.

From Meryl Pearlstein (travelandfoodnotes.com): Riviera Maya (Mexico). With direct flights from New York to Cancun, Riviera Maya has beautiful beaches, massive resorts, and a dose of Mayan history within driving distance. Chichen Itza and Tulum will bring out the spiritual as you contemplate Mayan civilization and the wonders of pyramid architecture. Stay at Grand Velas, a brilliant all-inclusive resort close to Playa del Carmen, with eight restaurants, an amazing spa with treatments for the entire family, non-stop supervised kids’ activities, eco-education and one-on-one butlers. (grandvelas.com) G www.newyorkfamily.com

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HOLIDAY SHEET

tip

BY AMY SPIRO

Three Simple And Seasonal Art Projects To Share With Kids ith the weather turning chilly and the holidays drawing near, now is a perfect time to curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and make something with your kids. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or a simple snow day, these crafts are sure to keep the whole family engaged; plus, each one can be adapted for different ages.

Hand-Painted Gift Bags From Michaels (michaels.com)

A lovely, handmade way to dress up your holiday gifts! The smallest hands can help make a cute Christmas tree, and older kids can freestyle their own designs—Santa, a menorah or dreidel, even a special note from the gift-giver. Recommended for ages 3-8. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Plain white paper gift bags, acrylic paint in green, brown and yellow. INSTRUCTIONS: Lightly outline a tree shape on the bag in pencil. Fingerpaint the tree, trunk and star design onto the bag, making sure to clean hands between colors. Then add a border. Let dry, and repeat on the other side.

Magnet Menorah

From Jugglingfrogs.com Repurpose those ubiquitous takeout and locksmith magnets, or purchase magnetic sheets from a craft or ofﬁce supply store. Cut them into strips to create a fun and interactive Hanukkah menorah.

New York Family | December 2010

COZY Crafting WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Magnets, scissors, acrylic paint, glue, glitter. INSTRUCTIONS: Cut the magnets into nine strips, each about ½ inch wide and 3 inches long. Then cut out nine ﬂame shapes. Paint the strips in a variety of colors, and decorate as desired. Spread the ﬂames with glue and cover with glitter. Let dry. Arrange on the fridge or other magnetic surface.

Light Bulb Ornaments

From Spacecraft (spacecraftbrooklyn.com) These fun and funky ornaments are a great way to re-use what would otherwise end up in the trash. Customize them with your family’s names, polka dots, snowmen, stripes, or snowflakes. Recommended for ages 5-10. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Lightbulbs, acrylic or glass paint, rhinestones, glue, felt, ribbon or wire. INSTRUCTIONS: Paint the lightbulbs and let dry. Paint additional words or decorations after the first coat has dried. Glue on rhinestones or sequins. Cut out a piece of felt the size of the lightbulb fitting. Make a loop using the wire or ribbon, then poke a hole in the felt for it to fit through. Glue the ribbon or wire to the tip of the lightbulb, and glue the felt to cover the fitting. Let dry.

CRAFTS

About Town

Feel like going out to do your holiday crafting? The city offers plenty of warm and cozy spots to curl up and great creative. Color Me Mine. This paintyour-own-pottery studio offers over 400 different pieces—just pick your object and paint it, and then it’s glazed and ﬁred. Ceramics end up dishwasher safe and non-toxic. 116 Franklin Street, tribeca.colormemine.com. The Craft Studio. This long-standing craft emporium is well-known for its inspiring space—Brooke Shields and Tori Spelling even bring their little ones here. Offers a great walk-in craft collection as well as seasonal craft workshops. 1657 Third Avenue, craftstudionyc.com. Make Meaning. This brand-new art emporium offers endless crafting possibilities: ceramics, jewelry, glass, candles, soap, paper and even food. 329 Columbus Avenue (there’s also a mini-store at FAO Schwarz), makemeaning.com. Moomah. There’s no chance of overstimulation at this soothing Tribeca cafe and art space—it’s a place where kids and their parents can enjoy creating things inspired by nature (and enjoy a cappuccino or grilled cheese in the process). 161 Hudson Street, moomah.com. —Katie Garton

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starting O U T BY LAURA DEUTSCH AND HEATHER OUIDA

Ask A Kid What His Favorite Part Of The Holidays Is And He’s Sure To Answer “Presents!” But When Does Generosity Become Overindulgence?

Enough Already! Editor’s note: One of the questions most often asked by parents during the holidays is, when it comes to shopping for our kids, when is enough, enough? Here, Laura Deutsch and Heather Ouida of babybites—an educational and social group for new moms and moms-to-be—tackle the question of materialism and modern parenting.

or many families, December is associated with shopping, presents, parties, presents, food, presents, glitter, presents, religion, and of course, presents. The question of “How much is too much?” comes up a lot in our community of moms at babybites. As moms of young children ourselves, we turned to our own mothers—financial advisor Dahlia Peyser and parenting coach Dr. Karen Rancourt—for some sage advice on celebrating the season without spoiling our kids.

New York Family | December 2010

How can I be generous with my kids without being overindulgent? Dahlia Peyser: I see no harm in enjoying the commercial aspects of the season. Problems arise when the consumer is purchasing for personal needs inconsistent with a healthy relationship to money: “I want my kids to feel cared for,” “I don’t want my child to be jealous of others,” “I want to give my child everything I didn’t get when I was growing up.” Most problems arise when the children absorb the parents’ conflicted attitude and begin to use spending and accumulating as a weapon. How can I effectively deal with my child saying, “I want…?” Karen Rancourt: Keep a running list of all these I-want items for your child and each time she says, “I want…” say, “Let’s add it to your gift

wish list and then we can consider it as a birthday or holiday gift.” Then, when gift-giving time is on the horizon, you can prioritize the wish list with your child. When grandparents and others ask what they can get for your child, reference his or her gift wish list. Keeping a gift wish list for your child has several benefits: it helps him learn deferred gratification, it cuts down on disappointments, it eliminates the exchange frenzy and it helps gift givers feel that they’re giving something that is truly of value or interest to the child. How can I encourage relatives not to overindulge my children? K.R.: Your child’s gift givers typically think of purchasing something material, but including on the wish list events and experiences as gifts can be incredibly enriching and valuable. Think how excited your child will be to learn that as a gift, Grandma and www.newyorkfamily.com

Grandpa are taking her to the circus, or for art lessons at the museum, or to rent a boat in Central Park, or to see a Broadway musical. How can I emphasize graciousness and gratitude when receiving gifts? K.R.: Prior to your son’s opening his presents, review with him the cardinal rule of accepting gifts: “Even if you are disappointed, always look at the gift giver and say, ‘Thank you!’” You can also help your child be a gracious gift receiver by handing him each gift to be opened, making sure he opens each card and either reads it himself or has it read to him. What are some things I can do to encourage my children to want to be “gift givers” rather than just “gift receivers”? K.R.: All kids can benefit from being provided opportunities to be the gift giver. Here’s an example: “Daddy’s birthday is coming up—what can we do to make it a special day for him?” is a very different question from, “What can we buy him?” Even if your child is too young to offer much in the way of ideas, you sharing your ideas helps build the right foundation: “We can make Daddy his favorite breakfast, we can buy him that new golf club, we can make him a birthday hat that says he’s the best daddy in the world,” and the list goes on. How can I teach my children the importance of charitable giving? D.P.: Carve out a special time during which everyone contributes some money into a container, and pick an organization who will receive the money. When the children are young, they should be given a quarter or a dollar. As they start receiving an allowance, the contribution should be made using their own funds. Associate this act of giving with a weekly event, such as prior to Sabbath meal, attending church or going out for Sunday dinner, so as to maintain a consistent ritual. How I can be a good role model for giving and receiving gifts? K.R.: Being a good model means that as the predictably ugly tchotchke from your aunt arrives every December, all your child sees from you is your appreciation. If you want to emphasize that spending time together is a valuable gift, tell your child that going to the zoo and having lunch together is what you really want for your gift. Make sure your child receives a thank-you note from you about the special time you had together. And of course when parents expect their children to act generously, they must exhibit their own dedication to a cause beyond their own home.

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December 2010 | New York Family

a g d

IDEA

BY ERIKA THORMAHLEN

NY Times ‘Motherlode’ Blogger Lisa Belkin On The Never-Dull And Ever-Evolving Conversation About Raising Kids Today

How did you become the New York Times’ parenting blogger? My children are so amused that anybody thinks that I am an expert at parenting. I have worked at the New York Times for 25 some-odd years. They published a cover story of mine about two years ago on equally-shared parenting and asked if I wanted to blog about that. There was a real interest in talking about parenting. So, now I do. Do you like the blog format? I love the interactivity. I think it’s the best way to talk about this subject, because who are the experts but other parents? I can’t imagine just doing it as a oneway conversation.

New York Family | December 2010

NY Times ‘Motherlode’ blogger Lisa Belkin.

All The

MUSE

That’s Fit To Print Where do you find topics to write about? I write from my life some, although my children do put limits on that. Some of it comes off the news. A lot of it comes from readers. My inbox is filled every day with people who say, “What do I do about this? Will you talk about that?”

Which topics seem to resonate most with readers today? There’s real tension between people with kids and people without kids. I’m surprised at how many of my readers don’t have children and feel like the world is being taken over by children. Time comes up a lot; just how to physically www.newyorkfamily.com

Photo by Andrew Schwartz

t can be tough for today’s parents to hear their own voices above the prattle of advice and opinion from the pediatrician’s office to the playground. For over 10 years, though, one voice—that of journalist, author and XM Radio host Lisa Belkin—has grown a steady following among parents (and nonparents) alike, first through her “Life’s Work” column at the New York Times, and now as the author of “Motherlode,” the Times’ parenting blog. A wife and mother herself, Belkin feels her best posts are the ones that let readers do the talking. Judging from the comments section, she’s doing a pretty good job.

fit everything into the day. Also, just what is responsible parenting nowadays. That’s a constant topic. Have you figured those issues out for yourself? Nope! I think it’s day to day. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve rethought a lot of my expectations or assumptions, but I certainly haven’t figured it out. I don’t claim to be an expert; I don’t claim to have the answers. The beauty is I start a conversation and hundreds of people jump in and start talking to each other. In there somewhere is an answer. How do you handle reader criticism (of yourself or other readers) in the comments section? Interestingly, my readers don’t beat up on me; they beat up on each other. I moderate the comments, but for the most part I actually think the conversation on this blog is of a somewhat higher level than you read in a lot of other places and I’m proud of my readers for that. What other blogs or publications do you read? I read everything! I make the daily rounds of 50 blogs and websites. I have Google alerts on everything. I read endless newspapers. Fortunately, it’s a subject I’m really interested in, so reading everything doesn’t seem like work. What do you love most about your job as Motherlode blogger? I really like the interaction. It’s like the game where you say a sentence and then the person next to you adds a sentence and you’re telling a story. I start a conversation and then I watch all these people add things. How old are your children now? They’re old! Evan is 19; he is a sophomore in college. Alex is 16; he’s a junior in high school. How is parenting older children different from younger ones? Interestingly, there is a lot more advice out there for younger children. With older children what you are beginning to do is let them go, and that’s not what any of the parenting books

New York Family | December 2010

“I think blogging is the best way to talk about parenting, because who are the experts but other parents?” teach you how to do. I’m finding it emotionally challenging and intellectually intriguing. You’ve talked and written about how your children won’t “friend” you on Facebook. Are you okay with that or do you secretly wish they’d hit “accept”? It’s worse than that— they’ve actually blocked me! For them Facebook is their living room. They wouldn’t have me come and sit in the living room when they talk to all their friends for the evening either. I also know that they are (Facebook) friends with my sister-in-law, cousins and various other family friends, so there are people there who would let me know if they’re really doing the things that parents spend all of their time worrying that their kids are doing. What’s your take on how “plugged-in” kids are today? I’m pretty sure that when the telephone was invented there were parents who were lamenting the end of civilized society, but pulling your hair out doesn’t make it go away. I think that my kids know more about the world than I ever knew at their age. It’s at their fingertips, literally. Does your family read your blog? Yes, mostly to make sure I haven’t said anything embarrassing about them. There was a wonderful moment when I dropped Evan off at college and I wrote what is one of my favorite posts

about “How to Send a Son to College.” I moderate all the comments and at the end I read one that says—I’m paraphrasing here—“I’m sure your son will do great because he has had a great mother who has really prepared him for the world.” It was Evan, my son. Do your sons have veto power over what ends up in your writing? Yes, they absolutely do. The post that I just told you about I sent to Evan to read before I posted it. My husband has veto power, too. They rarely veto because I know where the lines are in the first place. You once said in an interview, “Parenting is the only relationship that’s successful if it ends.” Once your children become adults, will you still write about parenting issues? It never ends…my mother will tell you it never ends! The intensity certainly ends, the responsibility, the being in charge, all of that ends. There is interesting stuff to say about the transition to being the parent of an adult. That’s the next chapter. For the couple expecting their first child who may feel a bit daunted by the road ahead, what’s your advice? Have fun and it gets better once you start getting some sleep—that’s the first thing I tell people. You’ll figure out your way. The one thing you don’t want to do is be looking over your shoulder to check whether that’s the way that everyone else approves of. Over the years, has your opinion of the phrase “having it all” changed? I no longer think that “all” means to be the highest, wealthiest, most famous or most powerful. I think “all” means a feeling of basic satisfaction and sanity. You’re never going to have a hundred percent of all the factors for your life; it’s mathematically impossible. So, yes, I’ve changed my view of what having it all is because I’ve changed the definition of what “all” is. F For more from Lisa B e lkin, v isit the Motherlode Blog at parenting.blogs.nytimes.com. www.newyorkfamily.com

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REAL ESTATE

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A Buyer’s Market? Given The Record Low Interest Rates, Will The New Year Be The Right Time To Buy, Or Will Tightening Credit Lead To More Families Renting? Here, Industry Experts Talk About What To Expect in 2011 BY CELENE MCDERMOTT

1280 Fifth Avenue

s we head into a new and traditionally busy time of year for the real estate market, families are wondering, has the market recovered? Industry experts caution that stringent underwriting rules and a lack of inventory are making it difficult for some families to qualify for a mortgage and obtain housing in the most desirable neighborhoods. But for those who qualify, there’s good news: low interest rates are making 2011 a great time to buy. The overall mood is that the market has stabilized, according to Sofia Song, head of research at StreetEasy.com. And while homes are selling at prices about 10-15 percent down from their peak levels in early 2008, it allows families to obtain housing at a discounted price. The next six months, she predicts, will be the peak season for real estate,

New York Family | December 2010

particularly for families. “No one knows how long interest rates are going to be so low. We might not see these record rates,” Deanna Kory, senior vice president of The Corcoran Group, points out. Lisa Lippman, senior vice president and director of Brown Harris Stevens, adds, “Where people see the prices as decent…they buy, and quickly. No one is willing to ‘overpay’ or pay 2007 prices, but they are willing to pay 2005/2006 prices.” The next six months offer a lot of hope for sellers as well, as the demand for larger, family-style apartments will help keep prices competitive. “Three bedrooms accounted for nearly 25 percent of the sales in the third quarter of this year, on both the Upper East and Upper West Sides,” says Diane Ramirez, president of Halstead Property. “Through 2011, I anticipate that we will continue to have low interest rates, and combined with value pricing and low inventory, it www.newyorkfamily.com

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REAL ESTATE

FORECAST will be a great time to sell and to buy.” One area of the market expected to do particularly well in 2011 is the luxury market—over $7 million. End-of-year bonuses are expected to drive purchases in the new year. “Wall Street is very much alive with real estate and real estate is very much alive with Wall Street; the relationship goes hand-in-hand,” Frances Katzen, executive vice president of Prudential Douglas Elliman, explains. Property values on larger, multi-bedroom apartments may spike somewhat, she predicts, because less inventory will be available. In fact, the inventory on three bedrooms or more in 2011 will be so low and the demand so strong that industry leaders advise families who are buying to be patient. “We’re going to see a bit of demand that can’t be satisfied,” Kory admits, particularly in the prime Upper West and Upper East Side neighborhoods. Lippman agrees. “I think we can expect the usual shortage of three and four bedroom homes; especially in the $2 to $4 million range,” she says, though she notes that they are easier to find if families can spend over $4 million. For families who really need the extra space, real estate

Glenwood. “The only advantage of buying is long-term appreciation. And in the last three to four years, there was no appreciation,” he points out. One of the main factors influencing the decision to rent or buy is the current economy and state of credit. “It’s still difficult to get financing right now,” says Song. “While it’s not impossible, families whose finances and background are less than perfect should expect to pay a higher interest rate or more points. Right now, lenders are not just looking at your credit worthiness.” There are factors that a family can’t control, she says, such as the building’s risk or whether or not the purchase is a primary or secondary home. “The two issues in defining the housing market are employment and the state of credit. What’s missing from the equation is underwriting, and it’s as tight as can be,” says Jonathan Miller, president and CEO of Miller Samuel Inc, Real Estate Appraisals & Consultants. “Lenders are looking at a housing market that has gone through tremendous gyration. There are future layoffs, very high unemployment, probably more increases in real estate taxes, and NYC budget shortfalls.” As a result, fewer people are qualifying under new guidelines, and it is affecting sales, according to Katzen. “Buyers are penalized now if they are not buying a primary residence, or if their tax returns are showing very strong earnings, but their month-to-month earnings are not as much as their bonuses….it’s not in the best interest of [people living] in New York City.” But Peter Grabel, private mortgage banker with Luxury Mortgage Corporation, notes that banks are now counting bonuses as income and credit score requirements are becoming a bit looser. “The pendulum swung on the conservative side, but it has loosened,” he says. And the good news is that financing is readily available. “For those who can afford it, they will find that prices are discounted a bit. That $4 million place would now be $3 million. There is certainly a 20 percent softening that I am hearing,” he says. Other industry leaders are also optimistic about The Ashley buyers. “If you are well-qualified and putting down brokers suggest nearby neighborhoods like Yorkville, Kips at least 60 to 70 percent and the building in which you Bay, Beekman, Columbus Circle and above West 96th are buying has no issues, you have lots of good options,” Street, including Harlem from 115th-125th Streets. And Lippman says. while the two-bedroom market still remains strong, Kory On the sales side, “the best case scenario is moving sidesays that if a family is set on a particular neighborhood and ways,” according to Miller. “If we don’t see unemployment needs three bedrooms or more, they are prepared to wait or and credit ease, it’s hard to imagine price raises.” But Katzen will consider renting. says that there is always about a 5-10 year bounce back. “I And in this economy, renting can be an attractive option think New York has an historical pattern that indicates that for families, especially for those who are worried about [property values] will hold,” she says. job stability and don’t plan on living in the city that long. And Kory believes that people feel that New York is a “It only makes sense to buy if you envision staying in your good place to invest their money. “It’s proven to be relahome for a minimum of five years. Otherwise, you will tively stable if you think about where the prices are versus not have stayed long enough to cover the closing costs of before,” she says. “The market is not down as much as the purchasing your home,” says Song. stock market. For many people, it’s proven to be a better Rentals in the city will remain stronger in the next few investment. In general terms, people are feeling optimistic years, according to Gary Jacob, executive vice president of about real estate.” b

New York Family | December 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

isa Lippman, Senior Vice President and Director, was the #1 broker at Brown Harris Stevens in 2009. With 13 years of experience selling real estate, Lisa specializes in the sale of high end cooperatives, condominiums and townhomes throughout Manhattan. As is clear from her record, even in tough times, Lisa manages to both sell and find homes for her clients. Prior to becoming a real estate broker, Lisa spent several years as a lawyer practicing litigation at two prestigious law firms. She graduated from The University of Pennsylvania in 1986 and earned her law degree from Cardozo in 1990. Lisaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal background affords her a keen understanding of the negotiation process as well as the complexities needed to complete the deal. A New York City resident for 24 years, Lisa offers impeccable knowledge of the market as it applies across all neighborhoods. She has lived downtown, on the Upper East Side, and has now resided on the Upper West Side for the past 14 years. Additionally, as the mother of three children, Lisa is personally involved in the decisions all buyers face in choosing a neighborhood and a home. Lisa takes pride in being a straight-forward, intelligent and honest broker. She understands the individual needs of each client, as well as their comfort with the purchase and/or sale process. Her listening talents, combined with her unbeatable memory, work ethic and negotiation skills, allow her to service her buyers and sellers most effectively. Lisa is also active in the New York community, including the UJA and her childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school. All of this enables her to offer a well-rounded approach to navigating the New York real estate landscape, bringing to life the nuances and charms that the City and its real estate market have to offer.

www.brownharrisstevens.com/lisalippman www.brownharrisstevens.com

Into The

Future

With A Stellar College Admissions Counseling Program Focused On Making A Match That’s Right For Each Student, York PreP Sets Up Its Students To Be As Happy And Successful In College As They Are Now

Jayme Stewart (right) consults with a student on college admissions planning.

othing strikes fear into the hearts of parents and teenagers quite like the words “college admissions.” In a city where many people begin planning their children’s higher education from birth, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed when that all-important year of SATs, essays, and interviews rolls around. While prospective students work on vocabulary and personal statements, parents worry whether they’ve prepared their children for success—both during the admissions process and into their college careers. But how should one define success in college admissions? At York Prep, a 6th to 12th grade private school on the Upper West Side, the answer is not about a university’s rank but about where the student will flourish. Founded by Ronald and Jayme Stewart over forty years ago, York Prep is known for, among other achievements, its stellar college guidance program. Headed

by Jayme Stewart, who is something of a legend on the college admissions scene, York’s college prep begins gently in sixth grade, with SAT vocabulary and math integrated into core curriculum. Then, instead of pushing an agenda of “Ivy League or bust” like many NYC prep schools, York focuses on finding the right college match for each student—and keeping the process as stress-free as possible for kids and parents. It’s a philosophy that’s very much in sync with the school’s overall approach to education, which encompasses a commitment to nurturing, challenging and guiding all students, whatever their specific strengths and weaknesses as learners and individuals. “I am organized in such a way as to take the stress off the family,” explains Stewart, whose basic counseling philosophies are expressed in her seminal guidebook, “How To Get Into the College of Your Choice.” “If I said to you, ‘I want you to play a tennis match,’ and I take away all the lines and you go out

New York Family | December 2010

there and you’re hitting the ball back and forth, how do you know if you’re winning or losing? Kids like to know where the lines are. I give them the lines.” At York, the lines take the form of regular one-on-one college guidance starting in January of a student’s junior year. Though parents of ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders attend group information sessions, Stewart’s philosophy is that “the child is the client; the child needs to grow up. I don’t usually see parents [for individual meetings] because parents muddy the water.” Stewart’s method teaches students to independently make decisions about their lives, further preparing them for what lies ahead. “The application process [at York] gets you independent a little quicker and you learn how to talk about yourself and present yourself on your own instead of relying on someone else,” says David Bailen, a 2008 York graduate and current NYU film school junior. Bailen’s experience is that of many York students: he applied early decision and was accepted to the school of his choice. In the class of 2010, 75 percent applied early decision and 89 percent were accepted. The stress on early decision stems from York’s successful prepping of stuwww.newyorkfamily.com

New York Family Partner Profile

dents for college admissions season. By junior year, York students have had classes infused with SAT prep, demanding course loads in core subjects, and two class meetings with their parents and Stewart on the college admissions process. “Junior year I start what I call serious college guidance,” says Stewart. “I sit for up to three hours with each student.” Here they create the “long list” of colleges: approximately twenty schools for the student to research before senior year. Combined with the long list meeting is what Stewart refers to as “Junior College Class.” Beginning second semester of junior year, students take an entire course on the common application and admis- Assisted by his teacher, a York Prep student sions essay. Stewart and her associ- completes a college application. ate, Janet Rooney, review each student’s work and give them suggestions unrealistic list of schools. Stewart infor improvement. sists on two “safety” schools, “otherwise “They would make sure everything I can’t go to sleep at night,” three “midwas said in the best, most concise way ranges,” and three to four “reaches.” [and] filled out properly,” explains As students begin applying, Stewart Bailen. “They would edit the essays like maintains vigorous communication an English teacher would.” with the seniors. Her trademark “nag Having an edited common applica- letters”—weekly reminder notes about tion and a list of schools by the end of upcoming deadlines—are one way she junior year not only prepares students keeps students on task and parents infor applications, but helps them look formed. to the future. Last year’s junior class improved their grades by twenty-five percent, an achievement Stewart attributes to early emphasis on college admissions. Preemptive guidance also means that students “have the whole summer between junior and senior year to shop [for their college],” says Stewart. When they return In addition, Stewart puts personal senior year they narrow their list, either reminder notes in student mailboxes to one early decision school or about when necessary and encourages them eight regular decision applications. to stop by with questions. “The college “The three parts of college guidance guidance at York wasn’t just important are selecting the list, doing the applica- in terms of applying to schools,” says tion and deciding,” explains Stewart. Joanlee Lebron, a 2010 York graduate “Selecting the list is the complicated and Williams College freshman, whose part.” Each senior meets with Stewart at father passed away during her junior the beginning of the year to finalize his year. “They were a great personal supor her list. This is where Stewart’s blunt, port that I had.” Lebron checked in honest counseling guards against disas- after every college interview to discuss ter. “I negotiate reasonably, but I also the pros and cons. “[Ms. Stewart and try to keep the parents in the realm,” Ms. Rooney] were very easy to talk to,” she says of families who insist on an she says. “They were so encouraging

In the class of 2010, 75 percent applied early decision and 89 percent were accepted.

www.newyorkfamily.com

and genuine. It wasn’t about making a name for York. It was about making a name for [me].” Lebron’s observation gets to the heart of college guidance at York. Stewart and her husband have no agenda for their students other than to make a good match. And what’s a good match? According to Stewart, it’s a school that’s a good fit both academically and socially. “You don’t want to pick a school where you’re going to struggle from start to finish and never feel good about yourself. Nor do you want to pick a school that’s so below your potential that you always feel like you should have gone somewhere else.” As for big or small, Stewart tends to steer her students to smaller colleges because she feels that’s where they are more likely to get attention and support, but she recognizes that for the right kid a big school, with all its offerings, may be a better choice. When a student eventually arrives at their first choice, Stewart performs another important service: she phones the school. “I’ll try to do everything I can,” says Stewart. “I am truly a PR agent at heart.” But Stewart may be selling herself short with this label; York’s support for students goes beyond PR maneuvering. Bailen, the NYU student, remembers how Stewart met with his twin brother, a student at Trinity struggling to make his college decision. “She wanted to help me on the whole,” says Bailen. Lebron’s experience was equally personal. “I felt so supported by everyone at York,” she says. “It’s literally a family. Honestly, I would not be where I am without them.” Stewart may be a self-proclaimed “bad cop,” but it is clear that she cares deeply for the students at York. “My parting words to kids who are nervous are ‘I’m not going anywhere,’” she says. With such a successful track record, York Prep won’t be going anywhere either—but its students will be! December 2010 | New York Family

New York Family Partner Profile

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Donate new and gently-used strollers, high chairs, bassinets and other baby gear. Visit babybuggy.org for more information on how to donate.

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Room to Grow Dedicated to providing support for babies in poverty, Room To Grow accepts donations of baby items at its ofﬁce and at locations around the city. Or, you can arrange for a pick-up. For more info, call 212-620-7800 or visit roomtogrow.org. TODAY Show 17th Annual Holiday Toy and Gift Drive Through December 23, families can drop off toys and gifts at 30 Rockefeller Center during the 8 a.m. hour of the Today Show, or any time at the NBC Experience Store. Donations will be distributed to 200 non-proﬁt organizations across the country. Drop off your contribution during the show, and it might just be collected by a celebrity dressed as Santa! For more info, call 212-664-7508.

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Donate new, unwrapped toys to this charity that has become synonymous with the holiday season. Visit the website for drop-off locations throughout the city, or to make an online contribution. For more info, call 718338-9695 or visit toysfortotsnyc.org. —Kate Willard

Limited Edition Holiday Lip Gloss and Shimmer Four classic shades with four brand new colors Stila $25; sephora.com

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New York Family | December 2010

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New York Family | December 2010

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Left to Right Complete look by Baby CZ Shoes by Naturino Velvet Blazer and Alligator Belt by Peter Elliot Blue Oxford and Trouser by Papo Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Anjo Shoes by Naturino Dress by Ralph Lauren Bow by Rachel Weissman Shoes by Naturino

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Credits Children from Epiphany Community Nursery School. Shot on location at The Dillon, 425 West 53rd Street. (dillon53.com) Hair by Carousel Cuts (Carouselcuts.com) Styled by Joy Sherwood

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FEARLESS FACE OF BEAUTY

At 18, Iman Arrived In New York And Changed The Fashion Industry Forever. Today, As An Entrepreneur, Star Of A New Reality Show, Wife To David Bowie And Mother To Two ‘Fierce And Independent’ Daughters, She Remains As Iconic As Ever

BY MARY DIPALERMO Photography by JOSH LEHRER

New York Family | December 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

TO CALL IMAN AN ICON IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. In an industry now teeming with supermodels, Iman was and still is an original, a game-changer and an innovator. A native of Somalia, she left her country at 18 to pursue an opportunity she didn’t quite comprehend, never expecting her arrival in the United States to leave the fashion industry—and society’s perception of beauty—forever altered. Now, after gracing every prestigious magazine’s cover, posing for photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Helmut Newton and serving as a muse to some of the industry’s most respected designers (such as Yves Saint-Laurent, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein), Iman’s legacy in the modeling world remains indelible long after her final runway strut in 1989, when she retired from the industry to focus on other ventures, such as her wildly popular makeup brand, books and HSN clothing lines. As Iman evolves from model to actor to business mogul to newly-appointed reality star (she currently hosts Bravo’s “The Fashion Show” alongside designer and longtime friend Isaac Mizrahi), the 55-yearold stunner remains fearless and self-assured. The two constants in her life, however, are the roles she takes most seriously: those of devoted and protective mom to her two daughters—Zulekha Haywood, 31 and Alexandria Zahra Jones, 10—and wife to her husband of 20 years, musician (and fellow icon) David Bowie. Still radiant at 55, Iman has a grounded approach to life, work, family and love. You and your siblings were born and raised in Somalia. What was your childhood like? Kind of normal. I have two brothers and a sister. My father was a teacher when I was very young and my mom was studying to become a nurse. I would say we were a poor family—but not so poor that I really knew what poverty was. We never had a lack of food and we always had shelter over our heads. My parents say now that they went to bed hungry—they just did their best to protect their children. Did you travel as family? Yes, my father was very politically active and became an ambassador. I remember going to school in the Sudan as a child. Later, when my father was moved to Saudi Arabia, education for girls was kind of non-existent, so I lived at a boarding school in Egypt and finished my high school there. Is that where you were “discovered”? No, in 1969 there was a revolution—a military coup—in Somalia and all the embassies were closed. My mom became fearful for my father’s life and decided we were going to flee the country. She put us in a van in the middle of the night, and we crossed by foot to Kenya and became refugees. My parents moved on to Tanzania and they settled there, but my siblings and I stayed in Kenya to go to school. I was living in a camp and working translating tourism brochures, since I spoke English, French and Italian, and going at the same time to The University of Nairobi. www.newyorkfamily.com

One day on my way to university, a photographer by the name of Peter Beard stopped me on the street and asked me if I had ever been photographed. I thought he was trying to pick me up. I kept walking and paid him no attention. He kept talking to me about the business of modeling. I’d never heard of it; I’d never seen fashion magazines, I’d never worn makeup or heels. And then he said the magical words—he said, “I’ll pay you if you pose for me.” That was my first contract. Did you realize that was your moment? No, he took the pictures and went back to America and I thought that was the end of that. Three months later I got a call from a woman named Wilhelmina, the owner of Wilhelmina Models, who she said she’d like me to come to America to model. Mind you, I wasn’t even 18 years old. In my country, and especially in Kenya, you aren’t allowed to leave the country without the permission of your parents before 18. I had no passport, so I had to forge everything. I had to lie about my age because my parents would have never let me go. What an adventurous spirit you have! I think it is, first of all, that Somalis are inherently nomads. It wasn’t something that was foreign to me, to move. It wasn’t foreign to me not to be with my parents, because I went to boarding schools. Also, it was the spirit of the refugee, so to speak. I had nothing to lose. You became a beauty icon shortly after you started working. Do you think your arrival on the modeling scene affected society’s notions of what is beautiful? Oh, absolutely. When I came [to the United States], I was aware of the politics of beauty. I could see it around me, how people treated a black model versus a white model. I’ll give you an example from my first job in America, for American Vogue. I had never worn makeup in my life; I had no concept. There was a makeup artist and there was another model on the job, a Caucasian model. The makeup artist asked me, “Did you bring your own foundation?” I had no idea what he was talking about. What was foundation? Why ask me and not her? I could see there was something at odds there. I’d heard the term “the girl next door” so many times that I kept asking, “What does it mean?” Of course, it means blonde and blue-eyed. No one ever said that me and the girls like me were like “the girl next door.” We were “exotic” and “sexy,” but not beautiful. It was a revelation and a jolt when Peter Beard said I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. How did you go from being a style icon to a business mogul? I stopped modeling in 1989 because I wanted to start my second act in life. I had done everything I could do in my career, and it was time to move on before it moved away from me. I was going to start being taken seriously as an executive in business, I needed to divorce myself from this career. So I decided literally overnight that I was going to stop modeling, and no one took me seriously. But I have not stepped a foot at a fashion show since 1989. I wanted to December 2010 | New York Family

leave at the height of my career, and that’s when I left. Do you think it was the voice of that makeup artist that encouraged you to start your own cosmetics line, IMAN Cosmetics? He planted the seed in my head, but it really came to fruition after I left the modeling industry. I had created my own foundation as a model, and I saw a need for it in the real world. I started my cosmetics company in 1994, and after that I was approached by The Home Shopping Network. I wanted to create something that I would use as a mom, as a CEO and as a wife. What drew you to “The Fashion Show”? Bravo had approached me with other projects, most of which didn’t seem authentic to me. When this project came about, the plus for me was Isaac [Mizrahi], because I have known him for 20 years. He’s a friend and a designer who I admire. Bravo [then] reformatted to show to have the element of creating fashion shows. Designers are not islands, they collaborate, and this show demonstrates the creative part of it, the agony of it, and the passion. Designers live and breathe fashion, and that’s what drew me in. How do you like live action versus still photography? I’ve never worked this hard in my entire life! And hi-def is no friend to a woman who’s 55! But we’re very proud of the show and the final product. Tell me about your children. How are they different? How are they alike? There’s a big difference in age. [Zulekha] is 31 and [Alexandria] is 10. They’re alike; they are both soft, kind and courteous, but at the same time fierce. They are very independent.

How do you keep your children grounded? I have always taught my daughters that they are not an extension of me, they are their own people. Especially Lexi, because she has a dad and mom who are known. I have protected and sheltered my kids from paparazzi; I don’t take them to any public events. When I’m with my kids, I’m with my kids. I’m not “Iman,” I’m Mom. You and your husband, David Bowie, seem to be one of the most solid couples in the celebrity world. What makes your marriage work? It’s separating public from private. I’ve never had anybody photograph my apartment. We rarely New York Family | December 2010

A longtime supporter of numerous international causes that support women and children in crisis, Iman is particularly passionate about RAISE Hope for Congo, an organization that is working to draw attention to—and stop—the catastrophic effects of the country’s ongoing civil war, which include a multi-million dollar trade in conflict minerals (many of which are used in our electronics), hunger, rape and sexual violence. “This constant civil war has been going on forever,” Iman says, “and the women and girls are the ones who truly suffer.” The statistics are staggering; the conflict has caused over five million deaths, and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped in the past decade. The organization, which was founded in 2007 by Africa experts Gayle Smith and John Prendergast, seeks to build a longterm and powerful constituency of activists who work for the protection and empowerment of Congolese women and girls. There are numerous ways to support the cause, including purchasing conflict-free electronics, urging your school or workplace to do the same, and helping spread the word about the situation in the Congo. For more information, visit raisehopeforcongo.org. —Katie Garton

pose for magazines together—in the 20 years we’ve been together, maybe [we’ve done so] once or twice. We don’t push the Mr. and Mrs. thing. He’s David to me, he’s not Bowie, and that’s what makes everything normal.

“I have lived a life of have and have not; at one time my father was an ambassador and I went to school chauffeur-driven, and later I ended up a refugee.”

What’s one piece of parenting wisdom you know now that you wish you had known the ﬁrst time around? That quality time should not be underestimated. When I had my first daughter, I was very young, in my early twenties. I was at the height of my career and I was traveling a lot. So I regret not being around as much as I would have liked. Quality time is really important. I’ve applied that my second time around—we all work around her schedule!

Iman Raises Hope For Congo

I read once that you said you married your husband because “he’s just plain silly.” Oh, yes, he has a great sense of humor and he always makes me laugh. And he’s curious and connected to everything—he’s a painter, he’s a sculptor, he’s a writer.

You’re known for your involvement with numerous charities, particularly those that aid women and children. What inspires you to become involved in these projects? I have always believed that to whom much is given, much is required of. I have lived a life of have and have not; at one time my father was an ambassador and I went to school chauffeur-driven, and [later] I ended up a refugee. I’ll never forget that the people who helped me were the non-government organizations in Kenya. Those were the people who got me to my school, got me money from the government, helped me get situated as a refugee and as a kid. I’ve never forgotten that, and that’s what moved me to want to help children and women. What do you love about the city? This is a city that you can literally make your own. At any given time there’s something happening. There are the galleries, the museums, the parks. Then there are the mixtures of people. I’ve lived here for 30 years; I’ve never lived anywhere else since I left Kenya. I’ve traveled, but I’ve always come back to New York. It’s my favorite city. www.newyorkfamily.com

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Daniel S. Burnstein

LOCAL HEROES 2010

Poul Jensen

Heroes Among Us

Whether Rebuilding Failing Schools, Finding Homes For Foster Children Or Leading A Cutting-Edge Science Center, This Distinguished Group Of New Yorkers Inspires Us With Their Efforts To Improve The Lives Of Children And Families Photography by Daniel S. Burnstein and Andrew Schwartz

New York Family | December 2010

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Securing Bright Futures For Children In Foster Care Poul Jensen, President and CEO, Graham Windham

Andrew Schwartz

Poul Jensen’s first experience with the heartache often wrought by the foster care system came at the age of 10, when he had to say goodbye to his two young foster brothers. “I had no memory of life before them—when they left I lost my only brothers and was left with my sisters,” Jensen says with mock disdain, then resumes a more serious tone. “I was traumatized by that, so foster care was always in my head.” This experience—combined with Jensen’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, during which he saw children display incredible strength in the face of adversity—inspired him to pursue a career improving the lives of children in foster care. (In fact, Jensen’s first job in the field was with the very organization that had placed his younger brothers with his family.) Today, Jensen is president and CEO of Graham Windham (graham-windham.org), a 204-year-old organization providing services for foster children and families in the New York City area. Family permanency is the goal for each and every child the agency serves. “Our job is to get them back to their families, or if that is not possible, adopted into a new family, or if that is not possible, connected to someone who is willing to be that anchor, that sanctuary, no matter what, throughout their childhood and deep into adulthood,” Jensen says. Graham Windham’s services include early childhood development programs; family and community support like health care, after-school programs and preventive services; family permanency planning (foster care, adoption and post-adoption services); and The Graham School, a residential school and treatment center in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY for at-risk students in the foster care system. As a private non-profit, Graham Windham has to work hard to finance its extensive programming. “Government doesn’t fund service excellence—at best, it provides good enough services,” Jensen says. “It takes extra money to provide superior services.” Poverty, domestic violence, mental illness and neglect are all challenges common to Graham Windham’s families, and all of these challenges can be exacerbated by growing unemployment and a tightening of funding to social services and non-profits. But the organization does not attempt to affect change alone. “We very much believe in a public/private partnership, so we work very closely with the city’s administration to try to change the way we do foster care and adoption here in the city,” Jensen says. www.newyorkfamily.com

Sarah Kurita, Kamie Lightburn and Jill Ross Going forward, Jensen’s goals for Graham Windham remain the same: continue to improve services and secure brighter futures for more children. “Permanency can be a very steep climb,” he says. “Achieving it takes everything we’ve got.” —Tiffanie Green

Caring For The City’s Cherished Playgrounds

Kamie Lightburn, Sarah Kurita and Jill Ross, Central Park Playground Captains If you visit one of Central Park’s playgrounds on the third Saturday of the month during spring or fall, you’ll likely receive a smile and a brochure from a “Playground Captain.” A subcommittee of the Playground Partners (a program of the Central Park Conservancy’s Women’s Committee), the Playground Captains—made up of 28 city moms—work to keep the park’s playgrounds clean and safe. December 2010 | New York Family

Operating tables at 10 participating playgrounds each month, the women spend the day meeting families, distributing information and advocating for the upkeep of the park’s treasured outdoor play spaces. While at the playground, the women provide snacks for kids and coffee for parents, along with sidewalk chalk and other kids’ activities. They also provide information on the park’s many fun and educational events, says captain Kamie Lightburn, who also serves as chairman of the Playground Partners. Although most families tend to frequent the playground closest to their home, the women “hand out maps showing the locations of all 21 playgrounds in Central Park” for those who might want to venture farther, adds Jill Ross, co-chairman of the Playground Captains. The captains also inform park goers of program funding needs. “Most people who use the park daily don’t know that 85 percent of its annual budget comes from the private sector,” Lightburn says. Events like the yearly Playground Party raise money to maintain each of the park’s playgrounds. Ultimately, adds captain Sarah Kurita, “Our goal is to generate as much support as possible for the playgrounds from the families we interact with there.” Kurita joined the program because she felt that it enabled her to “give back to something that has been an essential component of our choice to raise our family here.” In addition, working at their neighborhood playgrounds enables the women to see familiar faces and meet new families on a regular basis. It fosters a sense of community ownership and teaches their children the value of philanthropy, Kurita explains, especially when their kids get to work alongside them, distributing information or passing out treats: “[My kids] get really excited when I tell them it’s a Playground Captains Saturday!” For more information about the Playground Captains, visit centralparknyc.org. —Cristina Dimen

Rebuilding Failing Schools

Dr. Pamela Cantor, Founder and CEO, Turnaround For Children Dr. Pamela Cantor had been a child psychiatrist focusing on child trauma for nearly 20 years when, following 9/11, she was asked to collaborate with the NYC Board of Education to create the Partnership for the Recovery of New York City Public Schools. During that time, Cantor was involved in a large-scale study of the effects of the tragedy on the city’s schoolchildren. What the study found was surprising: “A lot of the trauma actually didn’t even have to do with 9/11, but had much more to do with the effects of poverty

New York Family | December 2010

Daniel S. Burnstein

LOCAL HEROES 2010

Dr. Pamela Cantor in children’s lives,” Cantor says. “When we began to work in schools in high-poverty neighborhoods, you could see the intersection between the adversity of poverty and the effect on children’s ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach.” It was within this high-poverty public school environment that Cantor and her team developed a unique model for taking broken, failing schools and turning them into healthy, functional places to learn. Today, Cantor’s nationally-recognized non-profit, Turnaround For Children, has successfully partnered with 55 high-poverty schools and is now in the process of expanding to school districts in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Recognizing that most struggling schools suffer from a negative culture often defined by the intense needs of a small percentage of children, Turnaround employs a three-stage model to rebuild failing schools. The first stage is “systems”—the creation of problem-solving teams who work to meet the needs of students who are struggling academically, behaviorally and who are having a negative effect on overall school culture. The second stage, “services,” involves installing a social worker in the building and partnering with local mental health partners to insure that necessary support is in place for kids who need it. The third and final stage is “skills”—through professional development, Turnaround gives faculty and teachers a new “toolkit” with which to handle the challenges they face. These new “tools” include better control over www.newyorkfamily.com

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LOCAL HEROES 2010 classrooms, the ability to quickly identify children who are struggling, and the ability to give “differentiated instruction,” or teaching to a wide range of ability levels in one classroom. Ultimately, Cantor hopes the Turnaround model “can emerge as standard practice in high-poverty schools” across the country. Until then, she’ll continue partnering with as many failing schools as possible to help them achieve health and vibrancy. “We define success as a school that is filled with adults who know where the kids are coming from, understand what they need in the classroom, and where every child feels the effects of being in a healthy, vibrant educational community,” she says. “For us it truly is not losing any child, not leaving any child untouched by the opportunity of a really great education.” —Jessica Shyba

Cultivating A Love Of Science In Learners Of All Ages Dr. Emlyn Koster, President and CEO, Liberty Science Center

Dr. Emlyn Koster has lived a learned life. Having conducted research in the Gobi Desert and the badlands of Western Canada, headed the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Alberta, Canada and revamped the Ontario Science Centre, Koster’s expansive career has been devoted to sharing science with others. And yet all of his experience has prepared him for one of his greatest and fondest challenges: serving as CEO and president of Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City, New Jersey, a post he has held for the past 14 years. “My days are long and no two are ever alike,” Koster says. It’s a demanding role, but Koster, who was born in Egypt and raised in England, has experience on his side, as well as a passion for promoting science education. As the U.S. produces fewer science professionals than many other nations, Koster believes it’s essential to find innovative ways to introduce children to science. “We have somewhat of a crisis of education in this country,” Koster says. “U.S. high school students are ranking between 20th and 30th on international scales in science test scores. Families would do well to introduce their children to the maximum amount of science, especially in this region, as we have a particularly high dependence on careers in technology. We need to create a solid workforce in science and technology, which is one of the big dimensions of Liberty Science Center.” Of course, the museum has plenty to offer to all kids, even those who may not grow up to be scientists. In addition to the nation’s largest IMAX Dome theater, LSC boasts hundreds of hands-on exhibits, including a 20-foot wind tunnel, giant models of skyscrapers around the world, an 18-foot-high balance beam and giant fish tanks—not to

New York Family | December 2010

Dr. Emlyn Koster mention the center’s latest attraction, “Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age,” featuring more than 100 rare fossils and tons of hands-on activities for kids. “It’s a unique and exciting place for families,” says Koster. “There’s always fascinating things to see, to learn, to do and to touch.” The most visited museum in New Jersey and recently ranked fourth in “Parents Magazine’s” list of U.S. science centers, LSC is accessible from the city in minutes by ferries and path trains. LSC is always expanding its tangible offerings for families, but Koster has other goals in mind for the museum’s future, too. “I want to create a sense of lifelong learning in those who visit,” he says. “I would love for the children who have had such a great time here to [one day] bring their own children.” —Tiffanie Green

Sharing And Celebrating Chinese American History

S. Alice Mong, Director of the Museum of Chinese In America S. Alice Mong has always loved museums. Mong, who was born in Taiwan before moving to the United States with her family, vividly remembers her first museum experience—a trip to the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan when she was a young girl. These days, the former executive director of Committee of 100—a national www.newyorkfamily.com

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group dedicated to aiding both the Chinese American community and United States-China relations—and the current director of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) even goes as far as to call herself “a museum geek,” and admits that museums are always the first places she visits when exploring a new city. “Every time I go to a museum I learn something,” Mong says. “It’s a place of continuous discovery.” Under Mong’s direction, MOCA has seen numerous changes, which include re-focusing the institution from a museum about Chinatown to one about Chinese American history. “It’s an unknown chapter of American history,” Mong says. “I wish I had this when I was growing up as a Chinese American.” What’s more, the museum’s re-focus also included a more tangible expansion—the museum recently relocated from a 2,000 square foot space on Mulberry Street to a 14,000 square foot space on Centre Street. Mong believes that both changes have helped to keep the museum interesting and relevant to the New York City community. “The museum is a place for families to learn about the dynamic history of 150 years of Chinese in America,” Mong says. “We don’t just focus on the past, we also focus on the future.” This broad focus seems to be working, as Mong says she frequently sees several generations exploring the museum together—and not only Chinese Americans, but New Yorkers of other backgrounds, too. “People [leave the museum] knowing how similar our story is to the general immigrant experience,” she says. What’s more, the museum’s many family programs bring generations together to learn through performances, readings, games and art projects. Mong hopes that visiting MOCA will inspire children of all nationalities to want to know more about their family’s history and heritage: “I would hope all kids leave this museum asking questions about where they came from, and proudly.” —Tiffanie Green

Sharing And Protecting The Wonders Of Nature

Andrew Haight, Manager of the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden at the New York Botanical Garden Andrew Haight’s journey to his current position at the New York Botanical Garden was a bit like the winding paths found throughout the garden itself. Haight’s interest in the garden was piqued after serving as a volunteer during his sophomore year at Fordham University, so he stayed for an internship in the educational programs department. After he graduated, a second internship turned into a part-time job, followed by a full-time position shortly after. “I came in expecting to get some volunteer hours, and it became quite

New York Family | December 2010

Andrew Schwartz

LOCAL HEROES 2010

S. Alice Mong an exciting place for me to be,” says Haight, who now serves as the manager of the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Created in 1998, the Adventure Garden hosts programs for children between the ages of 2 and 12 that provide hands-on experience with both nature and science in a beautiful setting. Yet what makes the garden most unique is that instead of lectures or classes, children learn through a series of activity stations (which can range from leaf rubbing to owl pellet dissection to a fruit seed hunt), and activities are led by 13- to 18-year-olds in the Teenage Explainer Program. “It’s a very cool dynamic between young children and adolescents,” Haight says. “They learn together. The adolescents know the content, but they’re learning how to be public speakers, how to conduct themselves professionally and how to provide customer service, and that’s happening at the same time as the children are learning and having an adventure,” he says. Haight believes that exposure to a place like the Adventure Garden is particularly important for children raised in the city. “It has a special role, because not only does it provide access to real nature, but it also provides that access in a maybe more constructive way than another outdoor setting would, because it allows children to see the excitewww.newyorkfamily.com

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LOCAL HEROES 2010 ment behind the outdoors, and why it’s important for them to take care of the environment.” Haight’s clear passion for nature, and for the New York Botanical Garden, is something that he hopes will rub off on its young visitors. “I hope that [kids] come here and have an experience that lets them feel like they can question the world around them, and that helps them feel more comfortable in searching for that answer.” —Elisabeth Frankel Reed

Caring For Families With High-Risk Pregnancies

Dr. Mary D’Alton and Dr. Lynn Simpson, Thain Center for Prenatal Pediatrics, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center After years of delivering babies into the world, Dr. Mary D’Alton and Dr. Lynn Simpson of Columbia University are helping to bring a unique prenatal pediatric center to life. By early next year, they will be treating women with complicated pregnancies at the new Carmen and John Thain Center for Prenatal Pediatrics in the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. It’s the first center of its kind in the New York area, and one of only a handful nationwide. Dr. Simpson, the center’s medical director, explains that women who have serious problems with their pregnancy— such as a fetus with a heart defect or twins who require in

Andrew Schwartz

Andrew Haight

New York Family | December 2010

Dr. Lynn Simpson and Dr. Mary D’Alton utero surgery to separate their circulatory systems—need specialists from many branches of medicine. “Rather than making 12 different appointments with 12 different doctors to get all the information about their case,” Simpson says, at the Thain Center, “they are seen in one place in one day, and all the specialists come to them.” Dr. D’Alton, the director of the hospital’s OB/GYN service and a director of the new center, says that collaborating with the Thains to turn her vision of optimal care into reality was “as good as it gets.” Since 2004, she and her colleagues had been seeing patients with high-risk pregnancies in a few shared rooms within New York-Presbyterian’s ultrasound unit. In this busy hallway, women often learned their unborn babies were in trouble while overhearing shrieks of joy from families with normal pregnancies. Their doctors trekked to the other end of the medical campus for a room big enough to consult with each other. The new space, in contrast, is a calm sanctuary, with Hudson River views, light streaming through opaque glass walls, private exam and treatment rooms, and spacious conference rooms. “This allows us to focus on what we’re doing,” says Dr. Simpson, “and it allows the patients to focus on what we’re saying.” These two doctors seem thrilled by this latest chapter in their long partnership (Dr. Simpson sought a fellowship in Boston nearly two decades ago to train with Dr. D’Alton). “The field of obstetrics is rewarding,” says Dr. Simpson, “But I think it’s even more rewarding when you’re looking at high-risk pregnancies.” Dr. D’Alton says: “I feel that if you can optimize the outcome for a child you deliver, you have perhaps the biggest impact on society.” —Molly O’Meara Sheehan

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New York Family Pick

Only Make Believe Through her volunteer work in hospitals, Dena Hammerstein saw the powerful effect the theater had on children suffering from chronic illnesses. But bringing children from the hospital to Broadway shows wasn’t always possible. “I thought, why not try to bring these shows to the kids?” says Hammerstein—and that’s how Only Make Believe was born. Founded in 1999 in honor of Hammerstein’s late husband James Hammerstein (son of theater legend Oscar Hammerstein), Only Make Believe continues to bring the magic of Broadway to children in hospitals across the city. The organization began its work at a single site at the Rusk Institute’s Pediatric Unit at NYU Langone Medical Center, and has since grown to 40 hospitals throughout the five boroughs. “We work with as many populations as we can,” Hammerstein says. During the six-week program, professional actors (who come bearing a trunk full of colorful props and costumes) perform original, interactive interpretations of classic stories like “Sleeping Beauty” or “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” During the final session, the children take on the roles of the characters they’ve come to know. “Our teams of actors really get to know the children they’re working with, and the children get to know the actors,” Hammerstein says. “You’ll find even really shy kids, by the end of six weeks, they’re the first on stage putting on the costumes, joining in songs, playing parts.” At the end of the program, the trunk is left in the pediatric unit to encourage imaginative play. Only Make Believe aims to be in 50 hospitals by the end of 2012, and is planning its expansion into other states and, eventually, other countries. Hammerstein said the organization’s goal is “to bring as much joy to underprivileged and sick children as possible.” “Every child, for the hour we’re with them, can forget that they’re in a hospital having any kind of procedure,” Hammerstein says. “They’re just allowed to be children and not patients.” —Rachael Horowitz

WORLD

GOOD

From Empowering Teenage Girls Across The Globe To Feeding Families Down The Street, A Few Notable New Yorkers Share Their Charities Of Choice— We Think You’ll Be Inspired 74

New York Family | December 2010

Nigel Barker

Fashion Photographer and judge, “America’s Next Top Model” I’m passionate about Girl Up, a campaign by the United Nations Foundation, whose mission is to improve the lives of adolescent girls in the developing world. In the US, girls are guaranteed the same rights as boys, but in many developing countries, girls don’t get to go to school, become leaders or just be girls. Girl Up empowers American teens to realize that together they can help ensure that every girl, no matter where she is born, is educated, healthy, safe, counted and positioned to be among the next generation of leaders. (girlup.org)

Sarah Beatty Founder, Green Depot

I’m supporting the Green Schools Alliance, a global network of “schools guiding schools” working together to solve environmental threats and climate change. Started by a school community in NYC, the alliance has rapidly grown to include a network of private and public schools in 37 states and 10 counwww.newyorkfamily.com

tries—reaching nearly two million students. The GSA is a powerful example of our kids (and schools) serving as the leaders for our sustainable future—that’s inspiring and humbling. (greenschoolsalliance.org)

Ada Calhoun

Author, “Instinctive Parenting” Founded in 2008 by a handful of NYC-based writers, ReadThis is devoted to promoting access to books and a love of reading. The group has enlisted more than 600 volunteers and sent many thousands of books to public schools without libraries, pediatric hospitals and homeless shelters. I love that the group has no overhead and chooses grassroots projects that make an immediate impact on kids’ lives. (readthisbook.us)

Rose Caiola

Founder and Artistic Director, Manhattan Youth Ballet and Manhattan Movement and Arts Center Throughout my childhood I was exposed to the wonderful mission of Save The Children as a result of my mother’s devotion to the organization and its work for children around the world, and especially in third world countries. My mother and I have “sponsored” many children through STC over the years, and we’re able to see the results of our support through personal letters from each child detailing how our efforts affected their lives and provided them opportunities they otherwise would never have had. (savethechildren.org)

Elisha Cooper Author, “Farm”

I’m a New Yorker, but my favorite charity is an environmental group in Maine. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust protects land from development, keeping a favorite place of mine beautiful and wild. I’ve been going up to these lakes since I was a child, and now I take my daughters. But mostly I go to Maine in my mind. Especially now, when it’s cold and gray with wind whipping our concrete streets. It’s a particularly New York trait: living here but dreaming of other places. Giving to Maine makes my New York better. (rlht.org) www.newyorkfamily.com

Sophie Demenge

Bruce Feiler

I like the charity C.H.I.P.S. (Park Slope Christian Help) because it’s real, tangible, literally around the corner and it helps people everyday. The Park Slope Food Coop provides a lot of the fresh food for its soup kitchen, my children’s school, Berkeley Carroll, organizes a coat drive every winter, all the preschoolers get to visit and bring homemade pies for Thanksgiving— everyone has an opportunity to get involved. It’s important to me that helping and being part of a community is built-in from an early age. (chipsonline.org)

In this era of austerity, we’ve become used to small steps and incremental progress. But this year, a major event transpired with the debut of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a breathtaking pasture of kid nirvana on the most expensive waterfront property in the world. It might be nice to think our tax dollars paid for it, but that’s not quite true. All of the programming—the barge pool, the movies with a view, the outdoor children’s art afternoons—is funded by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Forget the stroller wars

Co-founder and designer, Oeuf

New York Times columnist and author, “The Council of Dads”

New York Family Pick

Coalition For The Homeless Most New Yorkers know the Coalition for the Homeless as the long-standing non-profit that provides housing, emergency food, job training and more to thousands of homeless men, women and children throughout the city. What many don’t realize is that the coalition serves hundreds of homeless children through its two Youth Services programs, the afterschool program Bound For Success and the summer sleepaway Camp Homeward Bound. Bound For Success, the coalition’s afterschool program, is based in a downtown family shelter operated by the city’s Department of Homeless Services and serves up to 30 children at a time. The five-day-a-week programs are available to children ages 5 to 13. While there, students receive homework help and a snack, then take part in fun activities like a visual arts and music program, computer time and poetry writing. They hold celebrations for holidays and birthdays and, when funding allows, take trips to Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, the Big Apple Circus and even Sesame Place. When the school year ends, the afterschool program turns into a seven-week summer day camp. Angie Caraballo, who heads the Bound For Success program, says that giving the children somewhere to go after school draws them out of their shell at a vulnerable time when their future is unpredictable. “We give them a safe place to come to,” explains Caraballo. “If we weren’t there, they’d have no place to go and they wouldn’t have people to go to.” Camp Homeward Bound, the coalition’s summer sleepaway camp, hosts 300 homeless and formerly homeless children ages 7 to 15 at its campus set on Lake Kanawauke in Harriman State Park. Camp director Beverly McEntarfer describes Camp Homeward Bound as a respite for the children from the stresses of poverty. “This is a place where they can be kids again…they can relax,” McEntarfer says, adding that going to camp also lets kids experience things they otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to try. The camp also has a strong educational base. Among other activities, Camp Homeward Bound offers classes in computer literacy, cooking and nutrition, music, swimming, kayaking and photography. “It’s really a place where they can get excited about learning,” McEntarfer says. Parents report that their kids come back more excited about life, better able to handle conflict and more engaged in family life. What’s more, many older kids want to return as camp counselors, and McEntarfer hopes that the coalition can overcome financial hurdles to provide a team leadership program that will allow more kids to do just that. —Megan Maxson December 2010 | New York Family

New York Family Pick

The Joyful Heart Foundation While playing Detective Olivia Benson on “Law And Order: Special Victims Unit,” a character that is impacted by sexual abuse in both her personal and professional lives, actress Mariska Hargitay learned some startling statistics about sexual crime; most significantly, that one in three women will be physically or sexually abused in her lifetime. Deeply moved by the stories she portrayed, Hargitay immersed herself in the cause, becoming involved in the crisis community and joining boards of advocacy organizations. And as the show became increasingly popular, Hargitay began to receive an outpouring of fan mail that moved her to take an even more active role. “She was getting emails and mail by the thousands, mostly from survivors who were disclosing their stories of abuse,” says Maile Zambuto, executive director of The Joyful Heart Foundation. “She thought the show led her to this path to help people find their voice and courage, and to be a bridge for [victims] to heal and reclaim their lives.” In 2004, Hargitay founded The Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing care and support for women and children who are victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse. “There is a dedication to mind, body and spirit healing,” Zambuto says. [It’s about] moving beyond survivorship to a life of reclaiming a joyful heart and finding joy in your life.” Based in New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii, the organization treats sexual abuse from all perspectives, offering programs and retreats for survivors and the innovative Healing for Healers program, which provides an emotional outlet for caregivers of abuse survivors. Perhaps most significantly, the organization also does extensive work to publicize and ameliorate the backlog of “rape kits”— collections of physical evidence that can be used to prosecute perpetrators of sexual abuse. It’s estimated that 180,000 rape kits completed in the United States each year sit untested in warehouses and police departments, leaving victims of rape feeling forgotten and keeping the perpetrators of these crimes un-prosecuted. “We’re going to end the backlog,” says Sarah Tofte, the foundation’s director of advocacy and strategic partnerships. “We’re going to work until it’s ended. It’s a long haul; we need to change the way we talk about these issues. We want to get advocacy groups to come together as a community.” “Our real vision is to create a different sort of community that has a new level of awareness, and one that responds to sexual and family violence,” Zambuto says. “That community includes changes to our law enforcement, prevention work and education [about sexual abuse] done in schools, and for the general public to embrace survivors and create a safe community.” —Tiffanie Green

of Park Slope; here’s an organization giving peace a chance with a yearround outdoor block party. (brooklynbridgepark.org)

Renee Flax

Director, Camper Placement Services, American Camp Association, New York SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Provide An Edge) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide the summer camp experience to children in need. The children who attend SCOPE camps are from New York City and must attend public schools,

New York Family | December 2010

and through the organization, are able to attend wonderful camps for several weeks, where they can enjoy all the benefits of the outdoors. Thousands of children have been able to share in this wonderful experience since 1992. (scope-ny.org)

Vicki Glembocki

Author, “The Second Nine Months” I watched my friend Becky Fawcett struggle and fail, again and again, to get pregnant. I watched how the adoption process tore through her bank accounts. And I watched her face

turn into pure light when she brought home her adopted son. As a result, Becky and her husband Kipp founded HelpUsAdopt.org, a nonprofit that helps defray the costs of adoption for people all over the country. Helping people who want to become parents—it’s the best gift I give all year. (helpusadopt.org)

Alison Lowenstein Author, “City Baby Brooklyn”

The charity I love to support is the Rosa Vera Fund. While working in Bolivia in 2003, Dr. Jonathan Lee-Melk had a patient, Rosa Vera, an elevenyear-old who needed surgery but was unable to afford it. To raise money for her surgery, he called upon friends and family for help. The charity which was created to raise funds for her surgery now helps provide preventative medicine, medical and/or social interventions to impoverished children in Bolivia, as well as trains locals to become community healthcare workers and awards educational scholarships to select health workers. (rosaverafund. org)

Cortney and Robert Novogratz

Owners, Sixx Design and stars, “9 By Design” Our favorite charity right now is Glassybaby, which was created in 1998 by Lee Rhodes, a cancer survivor. Glassybaby describes the actual product they sell as a small, colored, glass cup, candleholder or vase. But the light of a candle coming through each Glassybaby generates more; it gives warmth to a cold day; it’s a calm token of peace in the busy world. What’s more, 10% from the sale of each designated color will be donated to different national organizations to support cancer care and research, as well as Conservation International and The Martha Stewart Center for Living. (glassybaby.com)

Kevin Sheekey

Head of Government Relations and Communications for Bloomberg L.P. and former Deputy Mayor of New York City Since Government can’t do it all, my favorite charity is the Mayor’s www.newyorkfamily.com

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Fund to Advance New York City. It’s an essential vehicle for foundations, corporations and individuals to contribute to public programs and enhance the city’s ability to serve its residents. From planting trees as part of MillionTreesNYC to addressing domestic violence at the Family Justice Center, it touches every part of the city. Finally, with fundraising and administrative expenses of only 0.7 percent, it gives over 90 percent of what it collects directly to great work. (nycgov.fund)

Morgan Taylor

Children’s Musician and creator of Gustafer Yellowgold Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is a charity inspired by the movie of the same name. Through donations and grants, it offers different programs that help schools and/or young children who wouldn’t normally have access to musical instruments. I was motivated at a young age to pursue music, and now see how easy it is to take for granted the access to the tools I needed to reach my potential. Now other less fortunate kids can find a way. (mhopus.org)

Gabriella Rowe

Head of School, The Mandell School I believe that charity is giving not only time or money, but a piece of yourself. Airline Ambassadors International (which provides humanitarian aid to families in under-privileged communities worldwide) has changed my life by giving my family and The Mandell School the opportunity to personally deliver and administer aid to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. I was able to make a direct impact on the lives of the people I met in the Dominican Republic, and the friendships made there have lasted well beyond our first visit. (airlineamb.org)

Amy Wilson

Author, “When Did I Get Like This?” and star, “Mother Load” One of my favorite charities is The Fresh Air Fund, which gives inner-city kids the chance to experience summer and the outdoors at sleepaway camps or by visiting with host families.

New York Family | December 2010

I was not an inner-city kid, but my first summer away from home, at 16, changed my life. Kids who have never played in a yard or swum in a lake can truly have their lives transformed by this experience. We are looking forward to next summer, when we plan to become a host family for the first time—and maybe have our lives transformed, as well. (freshair.org)

Pamela Weinberg Author, “City Baby New York”

Dorot is a wonderful organization dedicated to helping the elderly in the city and beyond. They have a location on the Upper West Side where many of the programs are held, but what is truly special about Dorot is that for seniors who can’t reach them, they reach the seniors. My son was looking for a meaningful project for his bar mitzvah, and through Dorot’s visitor program, we developed a beautiful re-

lationship with a senior, Maria. Dorot not only addresses the basic needs of the elderly like food, housing and wellness, but they bring generations together to visit and learn from one another. (Dorotusa.org)

Alexandra Zissu

Green Living Expert and author, “The Conscious Kitchen” My current favorite New Yorkbased advocacy group is Slow Food NYC. Education is the key to conscious eating, and Slow Food has education at its core; the goal (for 20 years now) is to educate the community about the importance of rebuilding and sustaining a connection with good food and the culture that surrounds it. Slow Food NYC also connects eaters with farmers, working to ensure that everyone has access to good, real food, not just people who can afford it. (slowfoodnyc.org)

New York Family Pick

GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) Founded in 1999, GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) remains New York State’s only organization designed to empower young women (ages 12-21) who have become victims of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. Today, the former grassroots organization runs an outreach program, peer groups, workshops and more, with a staff of 22 full-time and 13 part-time employees. “The majority of our staff are survivors, and it’s important for these girls to have people who understand—it’s critical that they see positive role models,” says executive director Rachel Lloyd, herself a survivor of sexual exploitation. “There’s a transformational relationship between girls and staff; this sort of relationship-building is key. We teach them to take this awful thing and use it as a way to give girls who have previously been silenced a voice. There’s nothing stronger than that sense of voice.” Lloyd says that it’s important to understand that despite each young woman’s circumstances, in many ways she remains a typical teenager with hopes and dreams like everyone else. “We have to change the negative perceptions of women in the sex industry and see them as victims,” she says. “We also need to talk to boys, to change the mentality of those who are growing up in this culture and do more preventative work. [We need to] recognize the issues that make girls vulnerable, which tie into poverty, race, gender and class, and give them just as many opportunities as their more affluent sisters.” Recently, recognition and support from celebrities like Beyonce have helped GEMS become more visible. Last year, the organization was able to serve 340 girls, and that number is on track to increase this year. Lloyd’s goals for the future of GEMS are to continue growing and reaching more young women, and to raise awareness about domestic sex trafficking. Those interested in becoming involved can do so by donating to GEMS, organizing a GEMS workshop at their local high school or college, or even hosting a screening of the documentary film “Very Young Girls,” which follows the stories of adolescent girls trapped in the commercial sex industry in New York City. For more information, visit gems-girls.org. — Amanda Ferris www.newyorkfamily.com

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Gymboree Play & Music

AHEAD

Class Of The

The City’s Children’s Venues And Enrichment Centers Will Soon Be Rolling Out Their Exciting Offerings For Next Semester. Whether You Have A Tot Or A Tween, Here Are A Few Worth Getting A Jump On

ith a few weeks left before the festive chaos of the holidays, now is the perfect time to start planning your family’s New Year, which for many families includes selecting extra-curricular classes for their kids from the city’s vast and diverse offerings. Whether your children want to practice their ﬁrst chords, reﬁne their ballet steps, learn a new language or perfect their yoga poses, the great news is—there’s a class for that!

74TH ST. MAGIC Want to give your kids an opportunity to practice their math and reading skills? Children entering kindergarten in September 2011 can check out 74th Street MAGIC’s new Emergent Math and Emergent Reading small group classes. Taught by Epiphany Community Nursery School teachers, the classes are designed to enhance children’s pre-school experience and help them prepare for next fall. (74magic.com)

New York Family | December 2010

92ND STREET Y Designed for kids ages 10-13 with a background in vocals, guitar, keyboard, bass or drums, the 92nd Street Y’s new class “Rock Shop” teaches young musicians about the evolution of rock n’ roll. During the 14-week course, kids will learn songs by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Oasis and more, and get the chance to perform in a live concert setting. (92y.org)

THE AILEY EXTENSION Toe-tapping two-year-olds will love the Ailey Extension’s “Tiny Steps” creative movement program. Led by instructors from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the class allows children and their caregivers to learn the basics of musicality, rhythm and dance, while also developing body awareness, control and creativity through a series of playful dance exercises. (alvinailey.org)

APPLAUSE NEW YORK CITY

Kick & Play as the “best music class of 2010,” apple seeds’ “songs for seeds” is a rockin’ class that encourages kids to sing, play instruments, dance and learn about new cultures. The apple seeds’ band creates nursery rhymes through art, performs magic tricks to practice counting, spins the animal wheel and more. (appleseedsnyc.com)

ART FARM IN THE CITY Animal-loving families can check out the Art Farm In The City’s “Rock, Smocks and Animals” class, the only mommy-and-me class that lets kids interact with live animals. Classes include music and dancing, art projects and storytelling, and of course, hands-on interaction with the star of the show, “The Animal Of The Week!” The class isn’t over until kids meet all of the farm’s animals in the indoor petting zoo. (theartfarms.org)

BALLET ACADEMY EAST In Ballet Academy East’s modern dance classes, children will have the opportunity to freely express themselves and explore their own dance improvisations. Each joyful and creative class is accompanied by a live percussionist. (balletacademyeast.com)

BIG CITY VOLLEYBALL Big City Volleyball’s Winter Youth Volleyball Classes are designed to help boys and girls between the ages of 9-16 learn the fundamentals of volleyball, with two hours of drills in setting, passing,

Applause’s “Broadway Babies” class is the original, top-rated Broadway music mommy-andme class. Each week, a different Broadway musical sets the stage for this energetic, educational and unique experience. Taught by Broadway professionals, Broadway Babies uses props, costumes, toys and musical instruments to develop your child’s imagination, musical and rhyming skills. (applause.com)

APPLE SEEDS Heralded by New York Magazine

Ballet Academy East www.newyorkfamily.com

Rosalie O’Conner

Victoria Jackson

Art Farm in the City

WINTER/SPRING CLASSES & PARTIES Y HOLIDA CAMPS

Providin

g Fun, Frie f n & Fitnes ds, s to NY Kids !

29 yrs. o

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

Best Birthday Parties Ever!

244 E. 84th St. NYC 212.772.7633 •

www.jodisgym.com • 25 Hubbels Dr. Mt. Kisco 914.244.8811

NEW TO THE FIELD GENERATION D AT DASHA WELLNESS Dasha Wellness, a popular health sanctuary for adults that offers everything from massage therapy and acupuncture to personal training, recently unveiled Generation D, a unique wellness and fitness program custom-designed for kids ages 5 and up. Created by a team of experienced coaches, recreational therapists and trainers, Generation D aims to boost self-esteem and give children an opportunity to try different activities, sports and exercises in 4 to 8 week sessions. Dasha Wellness, The Galleria, 115 East 57th Street, 212-7555500, dashawellness.com.

CITIBABES @ EQUINOX Busy parents know the importance of multi-tasking, which is why we think the partnership between Citibabes and Equinox fitness clubs is a great idea. Beginning in January, Equinox fitness will offer childcare led by Citibabes at its 92nd Street location. While parents enjoy their workout, children ages 3 months to 9 years can safely engage with their peers, learn, create, dance and play under the supervision of instructors certified in CPR and trained in the Citibabes teaching philosophy, which emphasizes self-expression and socialization. Equinox, 2465 Broadway (at 92nd Street), 212-799-1818, equinox.com, citibabes.com.

JCC Manhattan basketball, floor hockey, soccer, volleyball and lacrosse in a fun and supportive environment. The program places an emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and communication. (kisnyc.com)

KIDVILLE

The Max Cure Foundation—a non-profit organization that benefits pediatric cancer research—will debut the “Be Brave Athletics” program this January, a six-week fitness program designed for kids ages 2-5 at the Sports Club/LA on the Upper East Side. Inspired by now seven-year-old NYC kid Max Plotkin (who was diagnosed with a rare form of B-cell Lymphoma at age 4) Be Brave Athletics allows kids to develop fundamental sports skills, coordination and a positive attitude, all while having fun. What’s more, parents of kids up to 4 years old can also look forward to the Max Cure’s “Be Brave Adventures,” an interactive and fun-filled storytelling and movement session that is set to take place at Kidville in January. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds of both programs will benefit pediatric cancer research through the foundation. For more information, visit maxcurefoundation.org.

Joffrey Ballet read stories and more. Vibrant physical activities with colorful dramatic routines allow each child to explore their own imagination! (jccmanhattan.org)

KARMA KIDS overhand serving and hitting, all in a fun and friendly environment. (bigcityvolleyball.com)

COLLINA ITALIANA Collina Italiana’s “Giardino dei Bambini” is a morning drop-off playgroup for kids ages 2-5, in which experienced instructors provide multiple opportunities for kids to learn Italian through play. The program offers language learning through games, activities, songs, dance, theater and more. (collinaitaliana.com)

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

GYMBOREE PLAY & MUSIC Gymboree Play & Music’s “School Skills” preschool alternative mixes

New York Family | December 2010

academics, socialization and physical play, giving children ages 2-4 the tools to master abstract thinking and personal and social skills. Leapfrog technology supports language, plus science and discovery, music, art, reading and physical exercise. (gymboreeclasses.com)

INSTITUTO CERVANTES At Instituto Cervantes, kids ages 4-6 and 7-10 will learn Spanish and develop their communication skills through games, songs, multimedia and arts and crafts. Designed for kids with or without a Spanish-speaking background, the multi-cultural course includes materials from both Spain and Latin America. (nuevayork.cervantes.es)

JCC IN MANHATTAN Kids can get energized in the JCC Manhattan’s “Let’s Go! Creative Exercise” class, which approaches exercise from a fun-filled, multiarts perspective. Kids will listen to upbeat music, play movement and drama games, draw pictures,

Karma Kids’ CircusYoga blends the consciousness of yoga with the celebration of circus. The class, intended for children 6 and up, fosters connection, play and communication through Circus Skills, Group Games, Acrobatics, Flying Partner Yoga, Tightwire and Balance Pipe, and Creative Movement. CircusYoga principles include courage, trust, collaboration, deep listening, community and celebration. (karmakids.com)

James Culp

BE BRAVE ATHLETICS AND BE BRAVE ADVENTURES

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

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

THE SCHOOL AT STEPS The School at Steps, a division of Steps On Broadway, introduces the

KICK & PLAY Kick & Play is a fun-filled movement program for toddlers 12-24 months and their parents or caregivers. Designed by the creators of Super Soccer Stars, Kick & Play utilizes music, puppets, interactive play and basic soccer elements in a carefully-designed curriculum that provides individualized attention to children according to their various developmental needs. (kickandplay.com)

KIDS IN SPORTS Kids In Sports offers programs for kids ages 1-12 in which they can learn the fundamentals of baseball,

Applause New York City www.newyorkfamily.com

At any age…Express yourself Dance for ages 2-18 Training the dancers of tomorrow

Ballet • Jazz • Hip Hip • Horton Based Modern Technique • Tap • Theater Dance • Partnering • Repertory 212-874-3678 • www.stepsnyc.com • theschool@stepsnyc.com

a division of STEPS ON BROADWAY 2121 BROADWAY @74

photos: P. Goode, R. O’Connor, E. Patino

ST., NY, NY 10023 • PH: 212 874-2410 • www.stepsnyc.com

THE VENUES Horton Technique to young dancers ages 9-18. Created by Lester Horton, this technique creates strong, lean and flexible dancers, and the class allows dancers to explore traditional and contemporary styles of choreography. Classes are accompanied by live percussionists and include warm-up, floor work and progressions. (stepsnyc.com)

work with students to develop skills, self-confidence and teamwork in a fun, non-competitive environment. Positive reinforcement and low child-to-coach ratios ensure that students improve soccer skills through warm-ups, drills and games, all while having endless fun! (supersoccerstars.com)

SPORTIME SHERIDAN FENCING Give your child an edge at Sheridan Fencing Academy, home to some of the nation’s top-ranked fencers. The emphasis is on fun—kids 4 and up literally jump through hoops!—to engage both body and mind. Give fencing a whirl with a free trial class at Sheridan Fencing’s newly opened East Side location. (sheridanfencing.com)

The QuickStart Tennis program for 2- to 5-year-olds at SPORTIME Randall’s Island/Manhattan is an exciting format for learning tennis, where kids get to play right away! Utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions, and modified scoring, QuickStart provides an optimum learning environment for young children. (sportimeny.com/manhattan)

SOKOL

SWIMJIM

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

The experts at SwimJim believe that swimming is a fun and healthy lifesaving skill that all children should learn. In the SwimKid program— intended for beginners ages 3 and up—children begin gaining comfort in the water while learning breath control, buoyancy and beginning dives. (swimjim.com)

SUPER SOCCER STARS Get the ball rolling with NYC’s most popular soccer development program for ages 2 and up. Coaches

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

YOGI BEANS

74th St. Magic

Yogi Beans is an energetic and transformative yoga-for-kids program, stretching from age 6 weeks all the way to tweens. For the youngest of “beans,” check out the “Me & My Parent” classes, a wonderful way to establish a unique bond with your child through gentle yoga stretches, songs and games. (yogibeans.com)

MULTI-SERVICE

LANGUAGE

92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, 212415-5500, 92Y.org. apple seeds, 10 West 25th Street, 212-7927590, appleseedsnyc.com. Art Farm in the City, 419 East 91st Street, 212-410-3117, theartfarms.org. Asphalt Green, 555 East 90th Street, 212369-8890, asphaltgreen.org. Blue School, 432 Lafayette, Mezzanine, 646602-7066, theblueschool.org. Chelsea Piers, 23rd Street & the Hudson River, 212-336-6666, chelseapiers.com. Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom.org. Citibabes, 52 Mercer Street, 3rd Floor, 212334-5440, citibabes.com. Discovery Programs, 251 West 100th Street, 212-749-8717, discoveryprograms.com. Gymboree Play & Music, Various locations in Manhattan, 877-496-5327, gymboreeclasses. com. Gymtime Rhythm & Glues, 1520 York Avenue, 212-861-7732, gymtime.net. The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue, 646-505-4444, jccmanhattan.org. Kidville, Various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, 212-772-8435, kidville.com. Let’s Dress Up, 345 East 85th Street, 212879-0956, uppereast.com/lets-dress-up Poppyseed Pre-Nursery, 424 West End Avenue, 212-877-7614. 74th St. MAGIC, 510 East 74th Street, 212737-2989, 74magic.com.

Carousel of Languages, 385 West End Avenue, 212-508-8524, italianfortoddlers.com. Collina Italiana, 135 East 96th Street, 212427-7770, collinaitaliana.com. ¡HOLA! A Playgroup in Spanish, Various locations in Manhattan, 917-648-5006, holaplaygroup.com. Instituto Cervantes, 211 East 49th Street, 212-308-7720 ext. 3., newyorkcervantes.es. Language Workshop for Children, Various locations in Manhattan, 212-396-0830, languageworkshopforchildren.com.

ART ArtKids, 646-678-4497, artmuseny.com. Children’s Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette Street, 212-274-0986, cmany.org. The Craft Studio, 1657 Third Avenue, 212831-6626, craftstudionyc.com. Kids At Art, 431 East 73rd Street, 212410,9780, kidsatartnyc.com Little Shop Of Crafts, 711 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-531-2723; 431 East 73rd Street, 212-717-6636, littleshopny.com Loop of the Loom, 227 East 87th Street, 212-722-2686, loopoftheloom.com. Make Meaning, 329 Columbus Avenue, 212362-0350, makemeaning.com. Metropolitan Moms, 212-206-7272, metropolitanmoms.com. Scribble Press, 1624 First Avenue, 212-2882928, scribblepress.com.

COOKING Taste Buds, 109 West 27th Street, 212-2422248, tastebudscook.com

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

Emily Cannarella

GYMNASTICS

The Ailey Extension New York Family | December 2010

Columbus Gym, 606 Columbus Avenue, 212721-0090, columbusgymnyc.com Jodi’s Gym, 244 East 84th Street, 212-7727633, jodisgym.com. My Gym, 250 East 60th Street, 212-4219496; 22 West 66th Street, 212-724-3400; my-gym.com. NYC Elite Gymnastics, 421 East 91st Street, 212-289-8737; 100 Avenue of the Americas, 212-334-3628, nycelite.com. Sokol New York, 420 East 71st Street, 212861-8206, sokolnewyork.org.

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE ABC Do-Re-ME!, Multiple locations in Manhattan, 646-434-1419, abcdoreme.com. Applause New York City, Home of Rock-nRoll Babies, Broadway Babies and Superstars, 184 East 76th Street, 212-717-0703, applauseny.com. Atlantic Acting School, 76 Ninth Avenue, 212-691-5919, atlanticactingschool.org. The Diller-Quaile School of Music, 24 East 95th Street, 212-369-1484, diller-quaile.org. The Early Ear, 48 West 68th Street; 110 West 96th Street; 353 East 78th Street, 212-8777125, theearlyear.com. Eastside Westside Music Together, 102 West 75th Street, 212-496-1242, eswsmusictogether.com. Jazz at Lincoln Center, 33 West 60th Street, 212-258-9800, jalc.org. TADA!, 15 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor, 212252-1619, tadatheater.com. Three Little Birds Music, 266 East 78th Street, 212-744-0404, tlbmusic.com.

SPORTS & ADVENTURE Big City Volleyball, Multiple locations in Manhattan, 212-288-4240, bigcityvolleyball.com. Brooklyn Boulders, 575 Degraw St, Brooklyn, 347-834-9066, brooklynboulders.com. Generation D at Dasha Wellness, 115 East 57th Street, 212-755-5500, dashawellness.com. Kick & Play, More than 150 locations throughout the Tri-State area, 212-877-5425, supersoccerstars.com Kids In Sports, Various locations in Manhattan, 212-744-4900, kisnyc.com. Sheridan Fencing Academy, 2035 2nd Avenue, 212.831.0764, sheridanfencing.com SPORTIME at Randall’s Island, One Randall’s Island, 212-427-6150, sportimeny. com/randallsisland. Wollman Skating Rink, Central Park at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue, 212-439-6900, wollmanskatingrink.com.

SOCCER Soccer By Coach Fher, 917-650-3008, coachfher.com. Super Soccer Stars, More than 150 locations throughout the Tri-State area, 212-877-7171, supersoccerstars.com.

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

TUTORING EBL Coaching, 17 East 89th Street, 646-3429380, eblcoaching.com Mathnasium, 1597 York Avenue, 506 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-828-6284, mathnasium. com/manhattan.

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

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Special Sports SUPPLEMENT JON GOMPRECHT, 9

Asphalt Green What do you like best about doing gymnastics? Maybe the activities because we have, I think, one event every 30 minutes. So, how many per day? Maybe three or four events a day. Four if it’s a good day, but some days we only do two or one.

What do you think about while you’re doing an event? Well, on the pommel horse I think about how to do it. Like where should I put my hands, because that’s the most important thing. Why do you like going to Asphalt Green? The coaches are nice. They tell us how to improve. And I like the other kids.

Are the other kids competitive or do you guys play around a lot? Well, we play around a lot.

FLIPFor It

BY KATIE GARTON

Young Gymnasts From Across The City Talk About The Highs And Lows Of Their Demanding Sport—From Soaring Thrills To Intense Physical Challenges

he word gymnastics may conjure images of athletes flipping and flying in pursuit of Olympic glory, but there’s more to the sport than cool tricks and shiny medals. In fact, studies show that participating in gymnastics improves brain function and social interaction. “In addition to the physical benefits, gymnastics boosts confidence and self-esteem in children,” says Jodi Levine, owner of Jodi’s Gym on the Upper East Side. “Gymnastics classes improve children’s focus, listening skills, goal-setting skills, social interaction and cognitive development.” With all these benefits, why not see what the big deal about gymnastics is? We spoke with six young gymnasts about the joys and challenges of this demanding—and exhilarating—sport.

T 86

New York Family | December 2010

HANNAH PORTES, 12

Gymtime Rhythm & Glues What do you like most about doing gymnastics? It’s just really fun and it’s a beautiful and graceful sport. When you’re running, you can run as fast as you want, and when you’re doing flips it feels kind of like you’re flying. What exactly goes into doing a ﬂoor routine? Half of the floor routine is prancing and dancing, and the other half is real gymnastics. We actually just got a new gym so we now have a spring floor, which is a bit bouncier than a normal floor.

What’s the best music to use while you’re doing the ﬂoor? For practicing it’s nice to have fast and upbeat music. If you need a lot of power to do a trick and you start off really slow, then the trick isn’t as good as it could be. For me it’s helpful if I have music.

Do you have a lot of fun with the other kids, or is it really competitive? It’s really fun. And actually there’s two

INDIA DOBBIE, 10

NYC Elite Why do you like doing gymnastics? Cause it’s a fun and interesting sport. And there’s a lot of nice friends there.

kinds of teams: one for competing and one for normal practice. I’m on the competitive team with four other girls and then the recreational team is a lot of girls. Have you gone to a lot of competitions? Well we just started this year. We’re practicing to get our routines perfect now. But I think we’ll be competing probably by next year.

What is it like to do the vault? It’s really different from floor and stuff. The first year going over the table, sometimes it’s hard and sometimes you mess up, but I just try to go over and I have to be confident that I can do it.

What are you practicing on the vault right now? I try to do a front hand spring onto the vault table. And I’m not going over the table with it yet, but we practice doing roundoffs onto mats and that’s really fun.

Why do you like going to NYC Elite? Because the coaches are really nice. We have this thing called “Big Sisters,” and they’re really nice and really supportive and they help a lot.

Photos: Jon Gomprecht, Andrew Mattson and Mathilde Van-Dooselaere by Andrew Schwartz; Hannah Portes, India Dobbie and Gabriella Selitto by Daniel S. Burnstein. December 2010 | New York Family

ANDREW MATTSON, 11

Chelsea Piers What do you like most about gymnastics? I get to do

MATHILDE VAN-DOOSELAERE, 10

Jodi’s Gym What’s it like doing the balance beam? It’s fun and I like it a lot actually.

different types of tricks. Gymnastics isn’t a really common sport, like football, but that’s what I like about it—it’s different. What’s your favorite event? The parallel bars. When I started I actually wasn’t the greatest on there, but eventually I got better moves, so that’s why I like it now. What are your favorite moves to do on the bars? I like doing a press handstand, swing handstand and a fly tip. How strong would you say you are? I’d say I’m in between medium and like really super strong.

Is it hard? It’s kind of hard to stay on and to keep yourself balanced while you’re doing things, but it feels good when you’ve accomplished something.

What do you think about while you’re doing your balance beam routine? I think I can do it. My teachers push me to do it, but they don’t push too hard and they help me a lot. How do they help you? They spot you, and when they think you can do it alone they let you try it. But they’re always there helping you. Why do you like doing gymnastics? Well, you get to move your body and you get to let go.

GABRIELLA SELITTO, 10

Columbus Gym What’s your favorite thing to do on the uneven bars? A backward circle.

What’s a backward circle? That’s where we do a couple of casts, and then we do a really big cast and then we flip. What’s a cast? We’re on the bar and our arms have to be straight, and we fling and then we push away or do a trick. Why do you like going to Columbus Gym? I like the coaches there and I’ve made a lot of friends. And I like showing what I’ve learned in gymnastics to my friends at school. 88

New York Family | December 2010

Special Sports SUPPLEMENT

Ask The

EXPERTS or more than a year now, children (with the likely encouragement and help of their parents) have been writing to New York Family Sports with all sorts of interesting questions. Looking to the year ahead, we’ve gathered a sampling for your easy reference, but also to inspire more questions. Bring them on. (See sidebar for where to send them.)

“Right before I step on the court I get cotton mouth, my knees start shaking and I’m frightened to get the ball. What can I do to boost my conﬁdence before the game starts?” —Alan, Upper West Side “Every week I get calls from athletes who feel that they are lacking in self-confidence. There are many ways to help athletes, young and adult, to believe in themselves and in their physical abilities. Bedtime is a great time of the day to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Here is a simple technique: Before you go to sleep tonight, make a list of seven times in your life when you felt very comfortable and good about yourself. You can include a good grade, a great game, an award you won, succeeding at something that was difficult or working hard to master a task or to finish a difficult project. One of my patients loved to remind himself of how he felt when he learned

New York Family | December 2010

A Year’s Worth of Sports Wisdom Addressing Questions And Concerns From Parents And Children

to surf. As you prepare for sleep, spend a minute revisiting each of these experiences and accomplishments. When you are done, just let yourself relax, have a good night of sleep and maybe dream about some of your positive accomplishments. Do this for three weeks. Stacking your positive memories like this on a daily basis can help you to build your confidence. The next time you go out on the field or on the court, carry some of these thoughts with you and see if you start to feel more relaxed, confident and focused with this new frame of mind.” —Jay P. Granat, Ph.D., psychotherapist and the founder of StayInTheZone.com

“We’ve had our kids in organized sports since they were 5. They play in top leagues. But, after all that, why do most kids drop out of sports?” —Jay and Linda, parents, Upper East Side “The simplest answer is painfully obvious: because they aren’t having fun. The more important question is this: What changes at the start of adolescence, and why is this a crucial transition period for the young athlete? As they progress into and through adolescence, teens discover the ability to make choices, engage in more complex social relationships, and start asking fundamental ‘Who am I?’ questions. For the emerging adolescent, who they associate with (and who they aspire to associate with) is a

critical element of the definition of self. Sport can often insulate them from negative peer influence, but involvement in sport can also suffer as a result of these influences, particularly if the teen’s connection to athletics is compromised by obsessive parental involvement, weak motivation, lack of connection to their teammate/competitor social group, unsatisfactory experiences in practice or competition, and lack of strong coach/mentor relationships. If these emotional and intellectual challenges weren’t enough, children get taller, stronger, faster, and develop new agilities as they progress through adolescence. Their aptitudes for one sport or another may change, and they often rediscover themselves as athletes just as they are discovering new elements of personality and inclination. How do you keep kids involved in sports as they progress through adolescence? Keep it fun. Let them choose the activities they like. All too often adults will make choices for young athletes with the justification that they are doing what needs to be done for the child to be successful. If it isn’t fun, rewarding, and socially satisfying, young teens won’t want to do it. That said, parents shouldn’t merely check out. Teens still need strong coach/mentors and involved (but not obsessive) parents to steer them through the challenges of maturation rate, social isolation/ confusion and the process of selfdefinition.” —Paul Weiss, Ph.D, Senior Program Director at Asphalt Green (asphaltgreen.org)

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Special Sports SUPPLEMENT “A lot of coaches say I’m at the age where I have to choose one sport and only play that sport from now on. But I like a lot of sports. What should I do?” —Alex, Tribeca “One of the great things about being a child is that you can explore many different activities and experiences. This is also true for sports. I know some children who have such a strong passion for a single sport that they are satisfied focusing their efforts on that sport. The risk of focusing heavily on one sport at an early age, however, is that some children may burn out and lose interest while they are missing out on other athletic opportunities and experiences. I believe at your age you should expose yourself to as many sports as possible for two reasons. First, you never know what other sports you might like unless you try them. Second, playing multiple sports allows you to develop a variety of muscle groups, which is important to your physical development. It is considerably more difficult to develop those muscles when you are older. Every so often you should ask yourself, “Why do I play sports?” The following three answers should be among your reasons; 1) to have fun, 2) to get better at it and 3) to be with friends. You will only get to be a child once.” —Jeffrey Bernstein, founder and director of Simply Sports (simplysports.net)

“People often say ‘swimming is the best exercise.’ So, is it?” —Penny, West Village “Many coaches consider it the best exercise for fitness purposes because there is much less impact than, for example, with running. But I have two cautions when asked ‘What’s the best exercise?’ The first is that swimming requires a pool and NYC pools are not easy to get to. My second caution, and this is more serious, is that swimming is a very technical activity.

New York Family | December 2010

By that I mean swimming without the proper technique will be very stressful and will not produce the fitness benefits you are looking for. If your swimming technique is good—meaning if you can relax and swim for 20 to 30 minutes without fatigue—then swimming is a great exercise. I will also say that the best fitness program is one that involves more than one sport. You should supplement swimming with a strength activity and a weight-bearing activity. One more thing: the truly best exercise activity is the one you will do regularly.” —Neil Cook is Head Multi-Sport Coach at Asphalt Green (asphaltgreen.org)

“Field time in New York City is tough to come by. What little things can I do with a soccer ball inside my room to help my game?” —Dina, Stuyvesant Town “First of all, you should have two soccer balls, sizes 5 and 1. The size 1 ball is handy to have around and great to improve technique. The following drills are great for coordination and ball control: *Tap on the ball with both feet using the sole of the foot. *Pass the ball from foot to foot using the inside part. Bend your knee a little and try to keep the ball in front of you. *Using the right foot only, push the ball forward softly, and pull it back using the sole of the foot. Also try with your left foot. When you feel comfortable with both feet, do a combination drill (right and left). *Push the ball sideways with the outside of your right foot, then using the inside of the right foot pass the ball to the left foot. With your left foot do the same. *You can also always look for more drills online; do a Google search or watch a training video on dailymotion.com.” —Gustavo Palomino, director of coaching for Downtown United Soccer Club & Gotham Girls FC (dusc.net)

“My parents are huge skiers. Every winter we go on a ski vacation. I want to snowboard. They say it’s too dangerous. Really? Which is more dangerous, snowboarding or skiing?” —Peyton, Battery Park City “Snow sports share many inherent risks and the incidence rate of injury is comparable, but there are different vulnerabilities. Snowboarding is a hybrid sport inspired by skiing, surfing and skateboarding. Snowboarders have a higher percentage of upper extremity injuries, while skiers have a higher percentage of lower extremity injuries. Because a snowboard necessitates both feet being fixed to the same object, a snowboarder will have a tendency to fall directly forward or backward, exposing the wrists, face, head and tailbone to injury. Skiers tend to fall to their sides, exposing them to injuries to the hip, knee and shoulder. It is imperative that, while enjoying snowboarding, you are conscious of your own ability. Keep in mind that just because you are a good skier, you may be a novice on a snowboard. Take a lesson from a qualified instructor. One of the most important skills snowboarding instructors will teach is how to fall correctly, thereby avoiding the most common situations that lead to injuries. To ensure safety, purchase the proper equipment such as a good helmet, wrist guards and possibly a tailbone pad. Finally, it would be wise to perform specific conditioning and workout routines so to not only perform better and prevent fatigue, but to help reduce the risk of injury on the slopes.” —Kim Caspare, founder of Body Architects, NYC

Have A Question For A Sports Expert? If so, write us at newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia.com. Please put “sports question” in the subject line.

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ANIMAL INSTINCTS [All Ages] Everyone needs presents during the holidays, especially the animals at the zoo! The Prospect Park Zoo invites families each Saturday and Sunday in December to the zoo’s grounds for “Presents to the Animals” at which Hamadryas baboons, red pandas, meerkats and more will open their very own wrapped boxes filled with tasty treats. The spectacle is free with zoo admission; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Prospect Park, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, 718-965-8900, prospectpark.org.

Throughout December

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM [Ages 2-3 and 4-7] Throughout December, the Brooklyn Museum offers hands-on programming geared toward the little ones. In the month-long program “Meet the Museum,” parents and toddlers can sing, explore the galleries and make art every Thursday at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, kids ages 4-7 and their parents can enjoy the 90-minute class “Arty Facts,” whose theme for the month of December is “Hieroglyphs and Hippos.” In the class, kids can investigate the museum’s Egyptian art collection, partake in activities and create their own art. Arty Facts meets Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; $10 per family plus museum admission. Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, 718-638-5000, brooklynmuseum.org.

Throughout December

ROCKIN’ ROCKETTES [All Ages] throughout

For more than 75 years, Radio City has dazzled audiences with its Christmas Spectacular, featuring the eye-popping kicks of the Rockettes, the

DECEMBER 12th

“Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” the “Living Nativity,” and of course, Santa Claus flying high above the audience in his sleigh. Times vary by day; tickets from $45-$105. Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue of the Americas, 212-3071000, radiocity.com.

Throughout December

JOIN THE LOVE TRAIN [All Ages] Experience the holidays in New York like never before—in all its model sized glory with the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden. Kids will be amazed to watch model trains puff along 140 landmark buildings, including Yankee Stadium and St. Paul’s Cathedral—constructed entirely of natural materials. After checking out the train’s half-mile track, families can grab a cup of hot chocolate, decorate gingersnap cookies, explore the gingerbread house neighborhood and roam the rest of the gardens. The train is open Tuesday—

DECEMBER 11th-12th DECEMBER 9th-12th

20 Great Ideas for December By parentsconnect.com and newyorkfamily.com

New York Family | December 2010

www.newyorkfamily.com

NUTCRACKER PHOTO BY ROSALIE O’CONNOR; WAVEHILL PHOTO BY JOSHUA BRIGHT

for Kids Culture Guide

Weekends In December

Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults; $15 for children and include access to the entire grounds. New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Blvd., Bronx, 718817-8700, nybg.org.

Throughout December

A TIMELESS CLASSIC [Ages 5+] Introduce your children to the spectacular show that has been at the heart of the New York City holiday experience since 1954. The New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s much-loved “The Nutcracker” is a glittering performance that will warm even the coldest of toes, complete with marching toy soldiers, mischievous mice and waltzing snowflakes. Tickets from $40-$225; times vary. David H. Koch Theatre, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212-870-5570, nycballet.com.

Weekends in December

A ONE-HORSE OPEN SLEIGH [Ages 3+]

December 1-8

EIGHT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS [All Ages] Families can stop by every night or just once for the 92nd Street Y’s menorah lighting ceremony, which will feature a live performance of traditional Hanukkah songs from children’s singer Karina Zilberman, dancing and of course, the celebratory lighting of the menorah. Chocolate gelt will be handed out as a sweet ending to the celebration. Festivities begin each night at 4:30 p.m. 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500, 92y.org.

December 4

FAMILY FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER [All Ages] Enjoy a festive lunch before choosing between two cultural classics at this year’s Family Festival Fundraiser for Lincoln Center. The kid-friend-

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 26th-30th TA SMITH

The Bronx Zoo’s beloved Clydesdale horses Ranger, Jesse and Monty are taking guests on festive wagon rides on weekends throughout December! The Clydesdales enjoy long walks with their keepers, being brushed, and the occasional sweet treat. Rides pick up on Astor Court. Ongoing each weekend, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; $5 per person plus zoo admission. Bronx Zoo, Fordham Road and Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, 718-220-6854, bronxzoo.com.

ly buffet lunch will feature musicians, jugglers, crafts and games in the newly-redesigned Alice Tully Hall. After lunch take your whole family to either George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” (see details above!) at the David H. Koch Theater, or “The Ages of Music—Baroque,” a Young Peoples Concert at the New York Philharmonic. Proceeds from the event support Lincoln Center’s diverse programming. The luncheon is at 12 p.m. followed by performances at 2 p.m. Tickets begin at $275. Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway, 212-875-5444, lincolncenter.org.

ADVENTURES IN APPLESAUCE [Ages 4-11]

December 4

The Kaufman Center’s Merkin Concert Hall kicks off this season’s series of musical revues about Jewish culture with the annual show “Latkes And Applesauce.” Featuring work from some of New York’s funniest writers and including elements like a Hanukkah version of “A Christmas Carol,” a Harry Potter skit, a parody of “American Idol” and more, the show is a joyous holiday celebration not to be missed. Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, 212-501-3340, kaufman-center.org.

SNOWY TREATS

December 5

[Ages 2-8]

VICTORIAN WINTER WONDERLAND

Culinary-minded kids can take refuge from the snowy streets with a holiday-themed baking class at Taste Buds (formerly Cupcake Kids!). Kids will help whip up festive snowman cupcakes and participate in every step of the process, from measuring and stirring to baking and decorating! The class is 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for kids ages 2-4 with a caregiver, and 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. for ages 5-8, drop off. $55. Taste Buds Kitchen, 109 West 27th St., 212-2422248, tastebudscook.com.

December 4

SUNNY IN DECEMBER [All Ages] This December, enjoy some family-friendly music by Elizabeth Mitchell as part of Symphony Space’s “Just Kidding” weekly performances. Mitchell, who recently released her album, “Sunny Day,” will treat guests to heartfelt songs and homespun renditions of some of your family’s favorites from Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, Gillian Welch and more. 11am, Tickets: $13-$27, Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org.

www.newyorkfamily.com

December 5

[All Ages] Celebrate the descent of the winter season at the Central Park Conservatory’s 14th annual Holiday Lighting ceremony, which will feature cookie decorating, card making, hot cocoa and Victorian-clothed live carolers, plus thousands of LED lights strung along the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, the Victorian style visitor’s center nestled on the northern shore of the Harlem Meer. Be sure to pack your camera, as kids will be able to pose for a photo with Father Christmas himself! The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues); centralparknyc.org.

December 9-12

YORKVILLE NUTRACKER [All Ages] Take a whirlwind tour across Olde New York’s most beloved landmarks in this unique rendition of the classic “The Nutcracker,” re-imagined by choreographer Francis Patrelle. Through the performance, guests can crash a holiday party at Gracie Mansion, dance in the New York Botanical Garden and ice skate in Central

December 2010 | New York Family

Park. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 12 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $45-90. Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Avenue, 212-772-4448, dancespatrelle.com.

weekends in DECEMBER

December 11

REALLY ROSEY

Get your kids into the Christmas spirit with a special reading of “The Legend of the Christmas Rose” by Kaye Lindauer, one of the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers, at the Scandinavia House. Children will be enthralled with the charming tale of a little girl named Madelon, her adventure to Bethlehem and her gift of a rose to the baby Jesus. Reading begins at 11 a.m. Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, 212-8799779, Scandinaviahouse.org.

JULIE LARSEN MAHER

[Ages 5+]

December 11-12

CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS [All Ages]

DECEMBER 5th

Kids can create both holiday crafts and memories at the Holiday Workshop Weekend at Wave Hill, the 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx. Guests will be able to create their own wrapping paper, amaryllis gift pot, natural wreath or felted soap. Admission to Wave Hill is $8 for adults and $2 for children; there are additional fees for some of the art projects. Wave Hill, 675 West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx, 718-549-3200, wavehill.org.

December 11-12

HO! HO! HOME! [All Ages]

December 11

CHRISTMAS CANDLES [Ages 6+] The historic Bartow Pell Mansion in the Bronx will be decked out in Christmas fare this season, with decorated Christmas trees inspired by children’s holiday stories glowing throughout the mansion. Families can take in tours of the property led by costumed docents, who will lead guests through various 19th century holiday traditions. Reservations are requested. 895 Shore Road Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, 718-885-1461, bartowpellmansionmuseum.org.

DECEMBER 5th

ABC Carpet & Home’s legendary Santa Claus (called by the New York Post “the most authentically snuggly Santa of all”) will be making his annual appearances this weekend at the iconic Flatiron store. After your kids get a chance to sit on Kris Kringle’s lap, take the opportunity to stroll through the rest of the expansive store— you just might find some last-minute Christmas gifts. ABC Home and Carpet, 888 Broadway, 212-473-3000, abcsanta.wordpress.com.

award-winning Pushcart Players take the stage. The beloved tale, which follows the adventures of a young boy and his animal friends, celebrates friendship, courage and the journey of growing up. The show begins at 2 p.m.; tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for children. The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue, 212-423-3200, jewishmuseum.org.

December 19

THE FAMILY THAT JAMS TOGETHER… [Ages 1-7] Your kids can feel the music at this special family drum circle and dinner party hosted by City Treehouse. Led by Brazilian percussionists and vocalists, kids can bang on a variety of percussion instruments to their heart’s content. After working up an appetite, families can tuck into a dinner of pizza, fruit, veggies and dessert. After dinner, the water table and treehouse play area will be open for kids to roam and play while parents socialize. The drumming session starts at 5 p.m., dinner is at 5:45 p.m. Admission is $30 for kids and $35 at the door. City Treehouse, 129 West 20th Street, -212-255-2050, citytreehouse.com.

December 26-30

December 12

DANCING PUPPETS

WOLF TALES

[Ages 3+]

[Ages 5+]

Puppetworks, a Park Slope puppet institution, presents a weekend of holiday productions. First, intricately crafted wooden puppets will bring Tchaikovsky’s classic tale, “Nutcracker Sweets” to life, followed by a presentation of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale. Show times vary. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children. Puppetworks, 338 Sixth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718965-3391, puppetworks.org.

On December 12th, the traditional Russian folk tale “Peter and the Wolf” gets a musical makeover at The Jewish Museum when the

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New York Family | December 2010

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THEATER & PERFORMANCE

New York Theatre Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”

92YTRIBECA

COBBLE HILL CINEMAS

The community center’s BYOK (Bring Your Own Kid) Sunday music series invites families to enjoy some of the coolest kid-friendly music around. On December 5th, families can catch a performance from acoustic, genre-blending rockers Bed Rudnick and Friends; on December 12th, the NYC based pop group Bubble will perform its famous “best of” concert of Beatles’ hits. 200 Hudson Street, 212-601-1000, 92ytribeca.com.

Every other Monday, Cobble Hill Cinemas hosts the children’s film series “Big Movies For Little Kids.” This month, parents can introduce their children to the classics with a December 6th showing of “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and a December 20th presentation of “Pippi Goes On Board.” 265 Court Street, Brooklyn, 718-5969113, cobblehilltheatre.com.

BMCC TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Literally Alive is a NYC-based children’s theater company that produces original musicals based on classic children’s literature. This month, families can check out the theater’s annual production of the holiday favorite “A Christmas Carol,” which will run through December 30th. The Player’s Theater, 115 MacDougal Street, 212-866-5170, literallyalive.com.

Starting December 12th, the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center invites families to a colorful musical based on Barbara Park’s beloved Junie B. Jones books, which will feature Junie’s lively adventures as she faces the trials and tribulations of the first grade. 199 Chambers Street, 212-220-1460, tribecapac.org.

CARNEGIE HALL Celebrate the holidays with the Whos! On December 11th, the New York Pops will perform the beloved story of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” on the Carnegie Hall Stage. The performance will feature orchestral music, singers, dancers and a chorus, plus a full narration of the story and a projection of illustrations from the original book. Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street, 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org.

New York Family | December 2010

LITERALLY ALIVE CHILDREN’S THEATER

LINCOLN CENTER On December 4th, children ages 6-12 can check out Lincoln Center’s popular “Young People’s Concerts: The Ages of Music-Baroque,” for an age-appropriate introduction to the music of legendary composers like Bach and Handel. The David Rubenstein Atrium, Broadway between 62nd and 63rd streets, 212-875-5456, lincolncenter.org.

THE METROPOLITAN OPERA The Metropolitan Opera presents Julie Taymor’s

popular, abridged version of the classic story “The Magic Flute.” Running only an hour and 40 minutes and performed in English, it’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce your family to the magic of the opera. Lincoln Center, Broadway between 62nd and 63rd streets, metoperafamily.org.

NEW VICTORY THEATER From December 3 to January 2, the New Victory Theater will host Tel Aviv’s multicultural troupe Mayumana, which will perform its high-energy, interactive music show, “Momentum.” The show, which combines elements of music, dance, drumming, acrobatics and more, has already been seen by thousands worldwide. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org.

PUPPETWORKS In true Puppetworks fashion, the classic tale of “Beauty & the Beast” is told with the help of intricately crafted marionettes, and accompanied by music from French composer Jules Massenet. Running through December 19, the show is a charming adaptation of Madame Leprince De Beaumont’s 1756 French fairy tale. Recommended for ages 4 and up. 338 Sixth Avenue at 4th Street, Brooklyn, 718-9653391, puppetworks.org.

SKIRBALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Prepare to be amazed as the revolutionary Swiss performance troupe, “Mummenschanz,” brings www.newyorkfamily.com

Richard Termine

Culture Guide for Kids

or the 26th year in a row, New York Theatre Ballet presents Keith Michael’s magical one-hour production of the classic wintertime tale, “The Nutcracker.” A perfect way to ring in the holiday season, the Once Upon A Ballet series is designed for children, though the beautiful performance will mesmerize parents, too! The ballet, which is appropriate for kids ages 3-12, has been garnering praise from critics and families alike—“LIVE! With Regis and Kelly” host Kelly Ripa recently called the series “beautiful” and “culturally rich.” Performances will be held on December 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, nytb.org. —Katie Garton

its show to the NYU-based cultural center as part of its Big Red Chair Series from December 21 to January 8. This completely non-verbal show brings imagination to the forefront as everyday items become extraordinary, and shadows and lighting are used for a dramatic and impactful effect. 566 LaGuardia Place, 212-352-3101, skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

Weill Music Institute

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY Everyone’s favorite mouse ballerina Angelina and all of her friends make the big jump from the television screen to the stage in this musical production, “Angelina Ballerina.” Angelina and the gang will hip-hop, modern dance, Irish jig and of course, ballet across the stage, and have audience members dancing in their seats. Recommended for children ages 3 to 12. 2162 Broadway at 76th Street, 4th Floor; 212-579-0528, vitaltheatre.org SHOWSTOPPERS FOR KIDS

Ticke start ats t

Family Concert

Chris Lee

$9.

FOR ALL AGES

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. For tickets, call 212-239-6200. New World Stages Theatre, 340 West 50th Street, gazillionbubbleshow.com.

JOHN TARTAGLIA’S IMAGINOCEAN A live black light puppet show chronicles the undersea adventures of aquatic friends Tank, Bubbles and Dorsel. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com. New World Stages Theatre, 340 West 50th Street.

THE LION KING 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 212-307-4747 or visit ticketmaster.com. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street.

FOR AGES 8 AND UP

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.

Join us for this one-hour, weekend afternoon concert designed for families with children ages 5–12. Be sure to arrive one hour early for fun activities—free to all ticket holders.

MAMMA MIA! 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.

FOR TWEENS

IN THE HEIGHTS

Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 1 PM Zankel Hall

Ensemble ACJW

Featuring musicians of The Academy—a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education

Explore the wide and wonderful world of music with Ensemble ACJW, which welcomes back alumni of The Academy for this concert. Tickets: $9, $15 Carnegie Hall Family Concerts are made possible, in part, by generous endowment gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Lester S. Morse Jr., and the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund.

Proud Season Sponsor

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New York Family | December 2010

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 A fast-paced, high-energy murder mystery blending elements of Alfred Hitchcock, a spy novel, and even Monty Python. For tickets, call 212-2396200 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 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.

WINTUK Experience the magic of “Wintuk” by Cirque Du Soleil at Madison Square Garden. The show weaves together thrilling acrobatics, breathtaking theatrical effects and memorable songs into an extraordinary journey to an imaginary land called Wintuk. 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, 212-307-7171, thegarden.com. www.newyorkfamily.com

ive thousand years in the making...

DaviD D H. KocH THeaT THeaTer, ea er, LincoLn cenTer eaT Jan 6–16, 2011 CenterCharge 212-721-6500 | www.DavidHKochTheater.com/events Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier Chinese dance and music company.

MUSEUMS

American Museum of Natural History

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN

The AMNH’s exhaustive collections span human culture, the natural world and the universe. This month, families can check out the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree, a 13-foot tree that has marked the start of the holiday season at the museum for over 30 years. Central Park West and 79th Street, 212-769-5100, amnh.org.

This museum offers arts-based educational exhibits and programs in a variety of subjects, as well as extensive offsite outreach. In December, check out the Nickelodeon-sponsored exhibit “Adventures with Dora and Diego,” where children will learn problem-solving, math and language skills and delve into Latin American culture. 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1234, cmom.org.

BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The first Saturday of each month, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum hosts the World Passport Workshop Series, where kids can learn about an exciting new concept that lends itself to great thematic study. On Friday December 3, kids can check out the “Blooming Babies Series: Winter Wonderland,” where they can discover the magic of the winter season and create a frosty snow globe. 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue), Brooklyn, 718-735-4402, brooklynkids.org.

EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO One of the city’s leading Latino cultural institutions, the museum offers wide-ranging exhibitions that are complemented by film, literary, visual and performing arts series, cultural celebrations, and educational programs. Every Saturday in December, families can take free gallery tours of the permanent collections led by the museum’s artist educators. 1230 Fifth Avenue, 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS

THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

The Children’s Museum of the Arts strives to extend the benefits of the arts to all children and their communities. In December, kids ages 6 and up can check out the workshop “Claymation with Joe Vena,” where they can learn about the technique of stop-motion animation and create their own short films that will be featured on the museum’s blog. 182 Lafayette Street, 212274-0986, cmany.org.

The museum offers family-oriented tours and drop-in workshops every Sunday, and families can drop by anytime and explore the museum’s exhibitions with a free activity pack. From December 1st through 8th, teens and tweens can check out “Responding to Art Through Creative Writing,” where they will be able to tour the museum’s galleries and reflect on the works of art through group conversations,

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New York Family | December 2010

sketching and creative writing exercises. 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street, 212-423-3500, guggenheim.org.

INTREPID SEA, AIR, AND SPACE MUSEUM Centered on the World War II aircraft carrier Intrepid, the museum features a range of interactive exhibits. On December 11th, families can partake in “Operation Slumber Overnights” and experience life aboard the Intrepid; kids can explore the Hangar Deck and new Exploreum, participate in a scavenger hunt, watch a movie, hear fascinating tales about the Intrepid and more. 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 for Hanukkah Family Day on December 5th, where families can craft a found object menorah, design a colorful dreidel, see a puppet show by Talking Hands Theatre and listen to holiday tunes by The Macaroons. Finish the day by exploring architect Daniel Libeskind’s unique installation of world famous Hanukkah lamps. Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, 212-423-3337; thejewishmuseum.org. www.newyorkfamily.com

AMNH/R. Mickens

Culture Guide for Kids

eep the holiday celebrations going this season with the AMNH’s annual Kwanzaa celebration on December 26th. This family-focused, all-day cultural festival, which highlights the seven principles of Kwanzaa, will feature live musical performances, traditional African dancing and spoken word. What’s more, kids can partake in Kwanzaa-inspired craft projects while parents peruse the Kwanzaa Marketplace, which will boast numerous vendors, visual artists, artisan craftspeople and representatives from various cultural institutions. Families can finish the day by sampling special Kwanzaa treats in the museum’s food court. The celebration is free with museum admission; $16 for adults, $9 for children ages 2-12. Central Park West and 79th Street, 212-769-5100, amnh.org. —Amanda Ferris

Photo: Matt Hoyle

Broadway. Family style.

★★★★ ! UPROARIOUS!”

“

–John Simon, Bloomberg News

Ticketmaster.com (877) 250 -2929 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46 St. • AddamsBroadway.com

ROCK

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART The Met’s friendly, interactive programs help children grow an appreciation for the treasures inside this world-renowned museum. On December 11th and 12th, the museum presents its winter family program “How Did They Do That?” which focuses on Roman mosaics and teaches kids how these works of art were created. 1000 Fifth Avenue, 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.

THE MORGAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

THE HOLIDAYS.

On December 5th, the Morgan Library and Museum invites families to its Winter Family Day Celebration, where guests can travel back to Victorian London and mingle with some of Dickens’s famous characters (brought to life by members of the troupe Grand Falloons), listen to live ragtime music, learn the Two Step and Cake Walk dances and much more. 225 Madison Avenue, 212-685-0008, themorgan.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. In December, check out “Take Action,” a workshop where kids ages 4 to 6 and their accompanying adults can explore the galleries and take part in art-making workshops. 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. On December 13th, families can attend the museum’s Children’s Holiday Party, where kids can meet Santa Claus, get their face painted and create beautiful, holiday-themed arts and crafts projects. 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672, mcny.org.

NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE The Hall features the largest collection of hands-on science exhibits in New York City, and holds a variety of family programs every weekend. In December, check out the hall’s hands-on Live Science Demonstrations, which range in topic from Chemistry to Living In Space. 47-01 111th Street, Queens, 718-699-0005, nyscience.org.

NEW YORK POLICE MUSEUM Photo by Joan Marcus

• PERKINS ELVIS • JERRY LEE • CASH

Dedicated to preserving the history of the New York City Police Department, the New York Police Museum boasts tons of hands-on educational exhibits for kids. This month, join the museum for its holiday party on December 4th, which will feature craft projects celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Kwanzaa and more. Families can also learn about police units around the world and try on the museum’s collection of international police service uniforms. 100 Old Slip between Walter Street and South Street, 212-480-3100, nycpm.org.

NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM Dedicated to the history of urban transportation, this museum caters to children. On December 5th, families can join the museum for the workshop “City Subway: The Birth of a Unified Transit System,” which will teach kids about the 1940 merging of three privately owned subway companies. Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, 718-6941600, mta.info/museum.

RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! Kids will be amazed at the eccentricities inside this famous “odditorium,” which features 25 themed galleries displaying everything from a six-legged cow to books made from spider webs. 234 West 42nd Street, 212-3983133, ripleysnewyork.com.

RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART THE

WIFE-TESTED, HUSBAND-APPROVED

B R O A D W AY M U S I C A L Ticketmaster.com or 877-250-2929

Nederlander Theatre, 208 West 41st St. MillionDollarQuartetLive.com 104

New York Family | December 2010

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 6 and up and their families are invited to Family Workshops every Saturday. December’s workshop theme is “Green Greetings,” where guests can create eco-friendly holiday cards with recycled and natural materials inspired by tales from the Himalayas. 150 West 17th Street, 212-620-5000, rmanyc.org.

WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART The world-renowned Whitney houses a spectacular collection of 20th century American art. Check out the family tour on December 4th and 11th “Hats Off! Clothing As Costume” for children ages 4-5 and their parents. Kids and parents will marvel at the tiny handmade sculptures featured in “Charles LeDray: workworkworkworkwork” and create stories inspired by his work. 945 Madison Avenue, 1-800-WHITNEY, whitney.org. www.newyorkfamily.com

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ought

A Jewish Mother Strikes A Deal With The Man In The Red Suit BY MEREDITH LOPEZ

Dear Santa

Holiday Season 2010 Dear Santa Claus: e have now begun the season popularly known as “the most wonderful time of the year,” when the sound of jingle bells can be heard from TV commercials, blinking lights adorn my neighbors’ homes, and every store from Sam’s Super 99-Cent Blowout to Bloomingdale’s stuffs its entryways with colorful cheap crap we’re meant to give one another as gifts. That time of year when I think I could never possibly get sick of hearing Christmas music but, by December 20th, I am. Fully. Yes, Santa. It’s your busy season. This is the time of year that to you is much like January 1 through April 15 is for accountants. What the day after Labor Day through October 30 is for costume shops. What Cinco de Mayo is for every Mexican restaurant in town. What the first 18 years of a child’s life are to new parents. As the Jewish mother to a child on the cusp of knowing who you are and what you are about, I think it’s time for you and I to open up negotiations. After all, my son’s father is not Jewish, which means you are already welcome in our home. My own mother grew up Catholic and converted to the Tribe when she was 19 years old. The idea of Santa Claus was too fun for her to deny her own children, and so it was that my brother and I were the only kids at Hebrew School with Christmas trees. Fast-forward to Park Slope in 2010. My son is not even remotely the only kid in the nabe who is half-Jewish, so my fears that he’ll be the odd kid out with the surname Lopez at Hebrew School are put to rest. In fact, it seems to me that in this little nook of Brooklyn, kids who aren’t either mixed heritage or transracially adopted are the ones who stick out. My half-Jewish, half-Cuban little boy isn’t even the most interesting mix in his playgroup! But I digress. Christmas. Let’s lay our cards on the table, shall we? I don’t know if it was sentimentality for her own childhood or what, but my mother always made sure that in our house, you got credit for all the big ticket items, while Hanukkah was celebrated with eight nights of things like pencils and socks. Maybe it was because my mom had these Hanukkah gift sacks that looked like the shoe organizer I have hanging on my closet door. They were bright blue and decorated with the requisite menorahs, dreidels and Stars of David, and had eight pockets meant to hold one toy each. Those pockets weren’t big enough to hold, say, the four-story Barbie Townhouse (with elevator) that I wanted. They were big enough to hold the eleven-colors-in-one pen I had seen at the nearby drug store, or a bag of chocolate gelt. My point is, when it came to holiday gift-giving, there was no mistaking it: Hanukkah was the holiday for sensible, practical, small gifts; and Christmas was for breathlessly-ripping-thepaper-off, squealing with delight, “Santa got my letter!” gifts. The Barbie Corvette. The Easy Bake Oven. The Snoopy Snow Cone Machine. The Star Wars C3-P0 action figure carrier. (I was equal opportunity in my toys.) In her wisdom and humility, my mother gave all the credit for the things I most wanted to you, Santa, even as she stood by and listened to me half-heartedly fake some baseline enthusiasm for the scented Strawberry Shortcake erasers she put in my Hanukkah sack. So here’s the deal, Santa. I’ll give you all the credit for the big ticket items my son will no doubt start asking for soon. All I ask in return is that you be the best Santa Claus you can be when we come visit you at Macy’s every year. No scaring my little boy. No wincing when he bounces on your lap. No shoving him off when you’ve had enough. Just chuckle and listen, and make my little boy’s every Jewish Christmas wish come true. Sincerely,

Meredith Lopez 106

New York Family | December 2010

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