s ** t toddlers sAy
cAMp clIques marcH 2014
established 1986
newyorkfamily.com
3 AMAZING cAMp fAIr GIveAwAys page 10
Party CEnTral
Best Birthdays magical
mitzvahs the secrets of the
Best
schools the wIsdoM
of
oZ
Journey To Motherhood With Talk Show Host & Wellness Expert daphne oz
loving (a second) language
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contents
MARCH newyorkfamily.com
pg.68
pg.12
pg.16
pg.32 pg.72
FEATURES 32 | The Pregnant & Powerful Oz Talk show host and wellness maven Daphne Oz dishes on food, family, and her fabulous journey to motherhood 38 | Pick Your Party When it comes to birthday parties, there’s no place like NYC for fun and festive options for any age 49 | Mitzvah Guide 2014 From flashy fun to traditional elegance, our top picks for bar and bat mitzvah party professionals and venues are sure to delight 62 | Just Stroll With It Our guide to the best strollers of 2014
FAMILY FUN GUIDE 12 | 10 Great Events For March “Cinderella” at the Galli Theater, an aviary in watercolors, San Francisco’s Cypress String Quartet at the 92Y, and more
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New York Family | March 2014
HOME & AWAY 68 | Camp Countdown Should your child head to camp with a friend from home, or go solo to make new pals?
COLUMNS 8 | Editor’s Note The Complications 10 | Events & Offers Three camp giveaways, the scoop on the New York Baby Show, our March Camp Fair lineup, and more 16 | Scoop Arsenal’s summer soccer programs in NYC, a local and organic kids’ clothing line, a new party venue, and more 18 | Activity of the Month The best language classes in the city for children
24 | Education Journalist Amanda Ripley’s latest book shows how other countries educate their children to great success—and the problems and possibilities of an American education 30 | Parents in Profile The popular parenting website A Child Grows has new owners but the same beloved sensibility 72 | Last Word One potty-mouthed local mom braces herself for her toddler’s first f-bomb Cover Photo by Lindsay May for Classic Kids Photography On Daphne Oz: (on cover) Nanette Lepore On My Mind dress in Amethyst; Sydney Evan diamond pyramid heart studs; Masonharlie gold hexagon bangle; (above left) Lilly Pulitzer Santana sweater dress; David Aubrey gold-plated and navy beaded bracelet; her own Cartier bangles www.newyorkfamily.com
MARCH 2014 Editor and co-publishEr Eric Messinger emessinger@ manhattanmedia.com sEnior Editor Bridget Moriarity bmoriarity@ manhattanmedia.com associatE Editor Mia Weber mweber@ manhattanmedia.com art dirEctor George W. Widmer gwidmer@ manhattanmedia.com
contributing photographErs Heidi Green, Michael Jurick, Sarah Merians, Andrew Schwartz contributing WritErs Leah Black, Emanuelle Block, Anna Boisseau, Gavriella Mahpour, Emily Murphy, Iman Saad, Jodi Silberstein publishEr John Hurley For inFormation on thE baby shoW 212.268.3086, jhurley@ manhattanmedia.com associatE publishEr Mary Ann Oklesson maoklesson @ manhattanmedia.com spEcial projEcts dirEctor Alex Schweitzer aschweitzer@ manhattanmedia.com salEs assistant Erik Bliss ebliss@ manhattanmedia.com circulation Aaron Pollard apollard @ manhattanmedia.com businEss managEr Shawn Scott sscott@ manhattanmedia.com accounts managEr Kathy Pollyea kpollyea @ manhattanmedia.com
manhattan media chairman oF thE board Richard Burns chiEF ExEcutivE oFFicEr Joanne Harras dirEcEtor oF digital Dennis Rodriguez
New York Family is a division of Manhattan Media, publishers of AVENUE magazine, Mitzvah magazine, and The Blackboard Awards. Š 2014 manhattan media, llc | 72 madison avenue, 11th Floor new york, ny 10016 | t: 212.268.8600 | f: 212.268.0577 www.manhattanmedia.com
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New York Family | March 2014
www.newyorkfamily.com
ThE CompliCations In a recent New York Times profile, the writer Lorrie Moore, whose new collection of short stories, Bark, came out last month, talked about a story called Debarking in a way that echoed my more anxious feelings about being a parent and a parenting editor. “The story is in the foreground, and the politics is in the background, and to me this is just how life occurs,” she said. “Often, as a story writer, you’re told to leave that out—to focus only on the foreground and not bring the complications of the world into it because you’re going to diminish something. But, in fact, that’s the way life happens, and I don’t think it diminishes it to be realistic.” Why does this resonate with me? One reason is that I feel like my wife and I are in the midst of a still-enfolding drama about whether we’ll be able to raise our kids, ages 13 and 9, with the lifestyle they’ve grown up in so far. We are part of a fortunate, but uneasy, class who have been lucky so far but are only a job loss away from real concern. And then there’s the world beyond our world:
environmental disaster, political anarchy…when I think of all the ways our children’s future could be so much worse than their present, I can’t think about it for long. A magazine like this, of course, mostly addresses the foreground of our stories, helping you with everyday parent concerns like strollers (page 62), birthday parties (page 38), and summer camps (page 68). But I feel like Ready to pop: on set with Daphne Oz. I serve you best by also serving up the complications. And so, we have an education story that every parent should read (page 24) and a funny personal essay about a mom, a toddler, and their potty mouths (page 72). I’m also very pleased to have a cover subject like Daphne Oz, who’s a smart, vital, and lovely woman on the brink of parenthood (page 32). I love how she brings many great ideas on wellness to the world. Personally and politically, I’m all for wellness. Have A Happy March! Eric Messinger Editor, emessinger@manhattanmedia.com
try on CL A RKS K I DS
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149 W 72nd St, new york, ny Between Broadway and columbus avenues (212) 874-1004 | tiptopshoes.com SS14 Kids TipTopNYFamilyAd 6.925x4.7 FNL.indd 8 CK174 New York Family | March 2014
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www.newyorkfamily.com
Photo by Lindsay May for Classic Kids Photography
editor’s note
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events & offers THE NEW YORK BABY SHOW IS COMING! TICKETS ON SALE NOW Join us at the New York Baby Show! The family-friendly event for expectant and new parents (and their babies and toddlers) from the Tri-State area and beyond will take place on the weekend of May 17-18, 2014. Tickets go on sale March 1, 2014. Explore a mix of top products and services for maternity, baby, toddler, along with an inspiring menu of speakers and demonstrations from highly regarded experts in the world of parenting and pregnancy. Highlights also include moms’ and dads’ lounges, a toddler play area, and the original Stroller Test Track. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit newyorkbabyshow.com
Where would we be without our wonderful teachers? If your child has a special teacher, please take a minute to nominate that deserving educator for a Blackboard Award, which honors local schools and teachers of excellence— and is, moreover, a priceless way of saying thank you for everything the teacher does for their class and school community. Sponsored by New York Family magazine, the Blackboard Awards recognize local teachers from all educational sectors (public, private, charter, and parochial), and all grade-levels (nursery through high school). To tell us about a great educator in your child’s school, visit blackboardawards.com! The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2014. The Awards’ ceremony will be in early June.
TELL US ABOUT AN AMAZING PARENT-VOLUNTEER We all know them, and can’t thank them enough. They are the parent-volunteers who go above and beyond to help our children’s schools, sports teams, community groups, religious organizations, culture centers, parks, and charities. They are the everyday parent-heroes who make life a little better— and in some cases, a lot better—for other parents and children in their orbit. Please take a minute to tell us about a parentvolunteer whose efforts you admire and appreciate; let us know how their efforts have had a positive impact on your child or other children. With your help, New York Family would like to give our parentheroes some well-deserved appreciation, by honoring ten such local heroes in our June 2014 issue, and publishing a full honor roll of everyone who is nominated on our website. To nominate a special parent-volunteer, visit newyorkfamily.com and click on the Contests and Giveaways link. The deadline for nominations is April 11, 2014.
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New York Family | March 2014
READY, SET, CAMP!
Finding the right summer camp for your child is one of the most special gifts that you as a parent can give them. With all the options out there—day or sleepaway, city or countryside, single-sex or coed, specialty or general, four weeks or eight—a great way to begin your search and better understand your options is by visiting one of our upcoming Camp Fairs, which we sponsor with the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey. In March, we’ll have a fair in Morningside Heights (3/8) and in downtown Manhattan (3/9). Then, in April, we’ll have one on the Upper East Side (4/5) and on the Upper West Side (4/6). At each fair, parents can connect with more than 40 camps from 12-3pm. If you pre-register and attend one of our Camp Fairs, you will qualify to win one of three special giveaways! The first giveaway is a week-long family vacation next summer at Mount Snow in Dover, Vermont (mountsnow.com/familycamp). The second giveaway is a moms-only three-day escape with Campowerment (campowerment.com) at the Woodland Retreat in the Poconos from May 8-11, 2014. The winning mom can bring a friend and enjoy the spirit and routines of sleepaway camp. The last giveaway is an iPad from Digital Media Academy (digitalmediaacademy.org), one of the largest computer, technology and art camps in the world with NYC locations at NYU and Marymount Manhattan College. Best of luck! For Camp Fair details and to pre-register visit newyorkfamilycamps.com.
www.newyorkfamily.com
Justin Winslow
NOMINATE A GREAT TEACHER FOR A BLACKBOARD AWARD
family fun
MUSEUMS
MUSIC
THEATER
ATTRACTIONS
10
Bob Workman
Sean Young
FOOD
Great events for March Clockwise from left: Casus at new Victory theater, a puppet show at the tribeca Performing arts Center, and “We’re Going on a Bear hunt” at symphony space
By Jodi Silberstein
Make Friends With Cinderella March 1-30 [Ages 3 & Up] The Galli Theater presents the timeless fairytale “Cinderella.” Introduce your little ones to all the characters and songs you remember. Like all Galli Theater performances, this play is interactive. Children will have the chance to help guide the characters along. From $20; Weekends 2pm. 347 West 36th street, 212-731-0668, gallitheaterny.com
noW you see Me…
Get Jazzy
March 6 to august [All Ages] The Intrepid Museum is staging an exhibit all about camouflage. Why are squirrels gray and why do some bugs look like sticks? Get the answers to these questions and more, and also discover how camouflage has been adapted from the natural world into our culture. Children 3-6, $12; Children 7-17, $19; adults, $24; 10am-5pm. one intrepid square, 12th avenue & 46th street, 212-245-0072, intrepidmuseum.org
March 8 [Ages 8 months-7 years] The WeBop Jazz Academy, an earlychildhood jazz education program affiliated with Lincoln Center, is hosting a jazz party. Get up close and personal with all the jazz band instruments and watch them come to life as you sing, dance, and play right along with them on the bandstand. $20; 1pm & 3 pm. Broadway at 60th street, 212-721-6500, academy.jalc.org
continued on page 14
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New York Family | March 2014
www.newyorkfamily.com
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“America’s Best Clown” TIME Magazine
Casus FROM BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
“An hour of acrobatics and aerial stunts full of extraordinary skill and brute strength...awe-inspiring.” The Guardian
THE NEW VICTORY THEATER ®
April 4 – 20 NewVictory.org • 646.223.3010 209 W 42nd Street, just west of Broadway
®
ART: TOM SLAUGHTER, PHOTO: SEAN YOUNG
10 Great events
family fun March 8 [All Ages] Escape the wintry weather and come see the jazz violinist Regina Carter and various other jazz musicians at Carnegie Hall. Their African folk tunes will take you away on an unforgettable soulful journey. Pre-concert activities will be held an hour before the performance. from $12; 1pm. 57th Street at 7th Avenue, 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org
SweeT vS. Sour March 15 to april 27 [Ages 6-12] The book peace, love & cupcakes by Sheryl Berk and her 11-year-old daughter, Carrie Berk, has been turned into a musical at the Vital Theatre. Come and see if Meredith, the most popular girl in school, will sabotage Kylie Carson’s cupcake club. Or can Kylie and her friends save the day and, most importantly, save the cupcakes? $30; 7pm. 2162 Broadway, 212-579-0528, vitaltheatre.org
BeAr HunT! March 15 [All Ages] Adapted from the popular children’s book of the same name, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” is an interactive play at Symphony Space that takes kids along on a hands-on adventure to find a bear. The grass is swishy-swashy, the river is splishy-splashy, and the music is said to be quite catchy! children, $15, Adult, $25; 11am & 2pm. 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org
reAdy THe PuPPeTS! March 15 [Ages 3 & Up] The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is putting on a puppet show based on Leo Lionni’s exquisite caldecott honor books at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Featured are such characters as Swimmy the ingenious fish, Fredrick the poetic mouse, and an inchworm who can measure absolutely anything.
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New York Family | March 2014
Party time at the weBop Jazz Academy
You may even be inspired to create your own puppet show. $25; 1:30pm. 199 chambers Street, 212-220-1459, tribecapac.org
A LiTTLe Birdy ToLd Me March 21 to May 26 [All ages] Audubon’s Aviary: Parts Unknown is the second showing in a three-part series of exhibitions at the New-York Historical Society. “Parts Unknown” showcases preparatory watercolors by the artist John James Audubon for his print edition of the Birds of america. Bird calls and songs as well as video footage of the featured birds will be presented along with each illustration to give attendees a better idea of what Audubon experienced during his extensive field observations. children 4 and under, free; children 5-13, $6; Adults, $18; various hours. 170 central Park west at 77th Street, 212-8733400, nyhistory.org
AcroBATicS ABound March 21-23 & 28-30 [Ages 7 & Up] Australia’s new contemporary circus company, Casus, is coming to the Big Apple to bring you acrobatics like you’ve never seen them before at New Victory Theater in a show called “Knee
events
Journey To AfricA
Ayano Hisa
continued from page 12
Top: An Audubon show at the new-york Historical Society. Bottom: “cinderella” at The Galli Theater.
Deep.” Their impressive strength and amazing aerial feats will have you inching closer and closer to the edge of your seat. from $14; various times and dates. 209 west 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org
THe fAB four March 30 [Ages 6 & Up] San Francisco’s Cypress String Quartet appears at the 92Y for the first time this month. Expect a concert full of surprises thanks to the group’s habit of mixing classic quartet works with music by contemporary composers. from $18; 3pm. 1395 Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500, 92y.org
For more event picks for families, check out our Family Calendar at newyorkfamily.com/events www.newyorkfamily.com
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KEEPING PARENTS IN THE KNOW mOm FuN campowerment It’s no secret that many moms lead lives that are as stressful and overwhelming, as they are varied and interesting. Enter Campowerment—a three day weekend for escape and empowerment. The retreat incorporates the spirit and routines of sleepaway camp—the fun and the joy, the friendship and the bonding—to encourage women, many of whom are moms, to rest and relax and re-connect. Since being introduced in California a few years ago, Campowerment has been soaring in popularity among camp-loving mamas—and is now coming east, to Woodland Retreat in the Poconos from May 8-11—and we’re giving away two passes to one lucky mom! To enter to win, simply RSVP and attend one of our upcoming Camp Fairs. campowerment.com & newyorkfamilycamps.com
SPORTS Arsenal Soccer School Arsenal Soccer Schools are launching in New York on Randall’s Island (June 16-20 and June 30-July 4) and several other US locations this summer. The week-long camps—offered in both day and sleepaway options—will give sporty boys and girls ages 7-17 the chance of a lifetime to “Learn to Play the Arsenal Way.” Coached by qualified and skilled instructors, the camps will employ the same training philosophies that actual Arsenal coaches use with the legendary British “football” team across the pond. Plus, we’re giving away a spot in the first summer session to one lucky reader (visit newyorkfamily.com for more details)! playthearsenalwayusa.com
BIRTHDAy PARTIES Just Kidding Parties at Symphony Space Need a reason to celebrate? Beloved music venue Symphony Space is now playing host to birthday parties! Make your kid’s birthday a grand experience and book a Just Kidding Birthday Party for 15 or more attendees (ages two and up). The party includes tickets to a Just Kidding performance, food, beverages, an autographed CD for the birthday child, and a cool song download for guests (oh, and did we mention there’s optional access to Bar Thalia at Symphony Space for the grownups?). symphonyspace.org
FASHION
cOOl clASS
NOcH mini Though locallycrafted and ecofriendly kidswear isn’t exactly an anomaly in New York City, it’s certainly a rare sight to find an organic children’s line that’s as effortlessly sophisticated—yet still age-appropriate— as NOCH mini. Local mom and Parsons Alum Jina Jang conceived of NOCH mini (named for the essential elements of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen) after her daughter was born in 2010. Now, almost four years later, the brand—which is made from only sustainable fabrics—is launching a lovely new collection for spring that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the touch. nochdesign.com
Kids musicRound with the language Workshop For children Kids MusicRound, which offers nationally renowned music and movement programs for kids from newborn through kindergarten, is making its NYC debut in partnership with the beloved city language program the Language Workshop for Children. Kids MusicRound stresses basic musical competency and their approach follows whole-brain standards of learning. Most of all, Kids MusicRound is an excellent way to maximize a child’s early musical potential and allow for parents to begin to understand their little one’s learning style. Classes begin in March and will be offered on the Upper East and Upper West Sides. kidsmusicround-swc.com
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New York Family | March 2014
FOR mORE TIPS ON lOcAl RESOuRcES FOR FAmIlIES, cHEcK OuT NEWyORKFAmIly.cOm www.newyorkfamily.com
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activity of the month Avenues immersion Camp
From
ForeigN FAmiLiAr To
The Best Language Classes In The City For Children In a multicultural and global center like New York, learning a second— or third!—language is an increasingly common part of childhood. For toddlers and tweens alike, there are age-appropriate classes, camps, and day schools for children who want to grow up bilingual.
ABC Languages ABC Languages is a locally- and women-owned business that has been serving New York for over 15 years. ABC provides private language instruction to children of all ages. The curriculum is designed to fit the students’ particular needs, and classes can be held at ABC’s location near Penn Station or at the student’s home. ABC also works with public and private schools throughout the city to provide top-notch afterschool programs. abclang.com Avenues Students in Avenues’ Early Learning Center and Lower School learn either Mandarin Chinese or Spanish through half-day or partial immersion. This summer, Avenues’ world language faculty are offering immersion camps for students of all abilities from grades pre-K-12. The camps will offer language instruction while incorporating summer fun and the city’s vast learning resources. avenues.org Baby Fingers At Baby Fingers, kids learn American Sign Language through songs and play. Watch in awe as your child
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New York Family | March 2014
discovers the world of language. See the research come to life, as music and sign language both aid in the development of language and literacy. Baby Fingers also offers family yoga and infant massage for overall health and development. mybabyfingers.com Bank Street The Spanish Immersion program at the Bank Street Summer Camp is unlike any other language program in New York, not only because it fully immerses campers within the language by challenging them to only speak Spanish with the counselors, but also because the program operates within the progressive philosophy and pedagogy of the Bank Street School for Children. The focus is always on the development of receptive and expressive language skills, while creating a positive educational experience through a variety of engaging and interactive activities. bankstreet.edu Bilingual Birdies Have a blast learning Spanish, Mandarin, French, Hebrew, or English with Bilingual Birdies. Think: guitar, a hip bilingual musician, and a bubble dance party—all ready to rock your
kid’s world. Bilingual Birdies promises 45 minutes of effective language fun through upbeat music, movement, and puppetry. Your adventure continues with a vocab sheet and original music CD for more educational inspiration at home. Enroll in classes or make your own in-home private session with friends now. Perfect for ages 0-5 years. bilingualbirdies.com Bilingual Buds Bilingual Buds is a Mandarin/English immersion school. Their rigorous curriculum, for students ages 2 through grade 5, is taught in a warm and supportive environment. The new Elementary Integration Program provides students who do not yet have Mandarin language skills with temporary academic support. They also offer immersion after school, summer camp, and a summer camp experience in China. bilingualbuds.com Bonjour New York A child who learns French with Bonjour New York doesn’t simply repeat sentences while sitting at a desk. He or she is engaged in an exciting immersion world. Join them for their summer camp and afterschool programs and learn French the right way. bonjourny.com continued on page 20
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Gymnas tics Parties Camps Prescho ol Enric hment Combo Classes Open P lay Music Fitness
www.jodisgym.com 244 E. 84th St. NYC • 212.772.7633
Carousel of Languages Carousel of Languages enriches the minds and spirits of young children through the discovery of a foreign language. They offer small, multi-sensory classes in Spanish, Italian, French, Mandarin, Russian, English, and Hebrew for children ages 6 months to 8 years. La Petite Ecole Educational products include alphabet posters (available on amazon.com) and a complimentary Coloring Alphabet app from iTunes! carousellanguages.com Collina Italiana Girotondo is a year-round kids’ program that offers comprehensive language learning and hands-on instruction in the arts to children from ages 2-5. In Girotondo (“Circle”) an experienced native instructor provides opportunities for kids to learn Italian through play and activities. Giardino dei Bambini is a morning drop-off playgroup at CI for kids ages 2-5. Children may join in on the fun every Tuesday and Thursday from 9am-12pm on an as-needed basis. Experienced native instructors provide multiple opportunities for kids to learn Italian through play, while learning important socialization skills. collinaitaliana.com El Taller Latino Americano Led by experienced teachers throughout the school year, El Taller, the Latin American Workshop, teaches Spanish of the Americas for children through sound and repetition in a fun and creative way that includes music, theater, art, crafts, and daily life. Each theme is accompanied by a song or art project that leads children to a better understanding of the language. tallerlatino.org French Institute Alliance Française Turn your kid’s “hello” to “bonjour!” The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) offers fun year-round French programs for toddlers, kids, and teens from beginner to native French-speakers. Explore classes for all levels, a French immersion preschool, cooking workshops, exciting summer day camps, and FIAF’s popular Family Saturdays with theater, movies, story time, arts & crafts, and more! fiaf.org German-American School The German-American-School in New York and on Long Island has a long tradition of teaching German to children: the after-school program began in l892 in Queens and now has four schools in the New Yorkmetropolitan area. The program is for children ages 4 and up; it starts with playgroup and ends with Advanced Placement German and NY-State-accredited exams. The school teaches German as a foreign language and accepts children from all ethnic backgrounds. german-american-school.org ¡HOLA! A Playgroup in Spanish ¡HOLA! A Playgroup in Spanish is a unique language
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New York Family | March 2014
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program where children learn to love Spanish because it’s taught in the most original way. HOLA!’s method and philosophy have proven to be most efficient with young age groups because HOLA! follows a natural approach to teaching in order to help develop oral skills. The program focuses on a very wide repertory of concepts to build vocabulary and to acquire the correct use of phonetics from native speakers on topics of interest in the child’s world. The classes are taught through the use of original and traditional music, movement, props, games, visuals and art. Programs run for ages 12 months through 6 years. holaplaygroup.com I’m Bilingual! I’m Bilingual! is an early childhood program in NYC that specializes in Spanish instruction for children. Their unique learning approach introduces children, ages 0-5, to the Spanish language through interactive immersion activities that incorporate music, dance, art, and movement. Children are taught by native Spanish-speaking teachers who provide authentic learning experiences for children in NYC to freely explore the Spanish language. imbilingual.com Instituto Cervantes For the past two years, enrollment in Instituto Cervantes’ Spanish courses for children and teens has doubled, making it one of their most popular programs. Taught by native Spanish-speaking instructors specialized in child education, groups are customized according to age and level of Spanish. Students learn the language through their unique Spanish immersion program, using multidisciplinary and fun activities. nyork.cervantes.es
Bilingual Buds immersion school for children
Summer Camp Now Enrolling Language learning through summer fun. Beginner through advanced levels. √ June 23 to Aug 8 (2- or 3-week sessions) √ Full Mandarin Immersion Environment √ Fun themes, hands-on activities, field trips √ Ages 2.5 to 12 Preschool | Day School After School | Summer Camp bilingualbuds.com | (212) 787-8088 175 Riverside Blvd., New York, NY 10069
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Language Workshop for Children Since 1973, the Language Workshop for Children has been offering its pioneering “Thibaut Technique” language educational classes, camps, and preschools to ages 6 months through 9 years. As Director Francois Thibaut says: “Children remember the words that make them happy,” so the LWFC’s original and language-rich songs, stories, and enriched activities are child-friendly and memorable. Their Professor Toto materials have won six major children’s educational media awards. languageworkshopforchildren.com La Petite Ecole La Petite Ecole is a French language and contemporary art preschool on the Upper West Side and in Tribeca. La Petite Ecole immerses children in French language and culture, developing their verbal, motor, social and critical thinking skills through a music and arts-integrated curriculum. Frenchspeaking educators facilitate hands-on projects, incorporating the processes of old and modern masters as well as contemporary visiting artists and performers. lpeny.com Lycée Français de New York For over 75 years, the Lycée Français de New York (LFNY) has provided a French-based bilingual education to students from 50-plus nationalities from grades pre-K-12. A private, independent school, LFNY offers a dual-language FrenchEnglish academic program that draws on the best of the French and American educational traditions. All students continued on page 22
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March 2014 | New York Family
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HOME SCHOOL Little Pim’s videos, books, flashcards, and CDs teach one of 11 foreign languages—from French, Spanish, and German to Portuguese and Chinese—to children ages 0-6 years. Their unique Entertainment Immersion Method engages children through repetition by native speakers. Each video—segmented into five-minute episodes for little ones’ attention spans and a combination of live-action and animation—teaches child-friendly vocabulary based around a theme. littlepim.com start Mandarin in grade 3. A special French immersion program is offered for pre-K students with little to no knowledge of French, and a bilingual summer camp, Camp Quartier d’Eté, is open to students, ages 2.8-11 years, from across the New York area. lfny.org Planet Han Planet Han provides a fresh approach to teaching Mandarin. They use the novel “Model.Action.Talk.” method to teach Mandarin to kids, regardless of ethnicity through their group classes, afterschool programs, and private
tutoring. They are the only program in New York which offers supplemental classes such as cooking, science, geography, acting, and art in Mandarin, in addition to their core curriculum. planethanchinese.com Tribeca Language Tribeca Language is the home of Maurice Hazan’s groundbreaking “QTalk Method,” now being used by hundreds of schools across America. With “QTalk,” students ages 2 and up are able to speak in complete sentences from the first lesson using a unique image library system. A proprietary online game practice allows parents to participate. Ten different languages,
Bilingual Birdies
group and private classes, in-home tutoring and free trial classes are available. tribecalanguage.com ZGT New York No matter your age or level, ZGT Mandarin Tutoring has what you need. They incorporate songs and games to make their toddler program fun and effective. They run four after school programs in Manhattan’s top private schools for grades 1-12 and provide private or small group sessions. Their skilled tutors are both native and non-native speakers, bringing a unique cultural perspective to all of their programs at every level. zgtnewyork.com
Un
io n is Sq NO ua W re L O oc PE a N! tio n
Upper West Side 506 Amsterdam Avenue
www.mathnasium.com 22
New York Family | March 2014
Union Square 46 E 11th Street
Upper East Side 1597 York Avenue
212-828-MATH (6284) www.newyorkfamily.com
New york family partNer
Waitlisted
No More! The Alexander Robertson School Expands Under Leadership Of Legendary NYC Educator Irwin Shlachter
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here’s good news for parents worried about being waitlisted for private Kindergarten and nursery seats. The venerable Alexander Robertson School (ARS) will be opening up a few more spaces in its incoming Kindergarten class this September, and it has also just announced that it will be expanding its K-5 grade school with the launch of a pre-K class for 4-yearolds, which is now accepting applicants for the fall. Why all this sudden activity at ARS? The well respected and much beloved Upper West Side school has appointed a new Head of School—Irwin Shlachter— who is known to many Upper West Side families as the legendary Head of the Rodeph Shalom School for over two decades and to downtown Manhattanites as the leader of the former Claremont Prep. “Expanding schools is what I do,” Shlachter, who increased enrollment at Claremont Prep tenfold and expanded The Rodeph Shalom School from a K-6 school to a nursery-8 school, explained. However, he does not foresee expanding ARS on this sort of scale.“ARS is a small school by design,” he continued. “To double its size would be to change what’s special about the school.” In addition to welcoming Shlachter as the new Head of School, ARS is also adding a few more distinguished educators to its board. Both Lydia Spinelli, the longtime Director of the Brick Church School, and Dr. Richard Soghoian, Headmaster of Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, have agreed to join the ARS School Committee. ARS’s academic programming is expanding as well. “We have just elected to be the first school in New York to offer the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Science and Technology Concepts (STC) curriculum,” Shlachter said. Beyond the STC curriculum, ARS is strong in the arts, teaches French to all grades, and has a wonderful music program. Social Studies are augmented by the highly acclaimed “History Alive” program; and the wildly popular Singapore Math curriculum rounds out the field. As Shlachter explains, a K-5 school like ARS isn’t as in
ARS first graders with their teacher, Mrs. Hughes
vogue right now with parents who prefer to send their children to independent schools that go all the way from Kindergarten to grade 12. But schools like ARS remain very popular with parents who like the idea of beginning their child’s education in a nurturing environment with strong academics that goes up to grade 5, and then making a change to a new academic environment when they understand their child’s needs much better—and when, frankly, many children are ready for a change of school. “At our school, students get to be little kids for a lot longer without the pressure of having to live-up to how older children behave,” Shlachter said. “Everything about this institution is geared towards where they are now not where they’ll be going on to college.” The Alexander Robertson School was founded in 1789 by the Scots Presbyterian Church to educate the children of farmers and “common folk” so that they could become active and engaged citizens. It has been at the same Central Park West location since the surrounding area was farmland. ARS is presently run by the Second Presbyterian Church as a nondenominational school with a strong ethical foundation that’s an integral part of its educational philosophy. For example, the children participate in a class they call “Everyday Ethics,” which includes using a well established reconciliation model to settle disagreements amongst classmates. “The children learn what it means to live in a community,” explained Tina Jackson, ARS’s Academic Dean. Reverend Leslie Merlin, Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, describes ARS as “a little gem of a school.” One need only see the school’s children at dropoff to realize its wonderfully diverse student population. “We welcome families of all ethnicities, family configurations and religious traditions,” Merlin said. For parents interested in learning more about ARS, including its new nursery school and expanding Kindergarten, visit alexanderrobertson.org or contact the admissions office at 212-663-2844 or admissions@ alexanderrobertson.org.
education
ScHoolS
THAT RocK By Following Three American High School Students Studying Abroad, Journalist Amanda Ripley Wrote An Engaging Book About How Other Countries Educate Their Children To Great Success—And The Problems And Possibilities Of An American Education By Anna Boisseau Before journalist Amanda Ripley began researching international schooling for a magazine article, she wasn’t entirely convinced that she wanted to write about the topic. “I didn’t say so out loud, but education stories seemed, well, kind of soft,” she admits in the prologue of her book, The Smartest Kids In The World: And How They Got That Way. But Ripley’s insightful book, accessible to parents and educators alike, is far from the soft journalism she feared. Though the book explores the far away school systems of Finland, South Korea, and Poland, it hits close to home with its observations on why the American education system continues to face major problems. Using American teenagers who are studying abroad in those countries as “amateur anthropologists,” Ripley explores the human element behind the much-discussed PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) results which place American students behind many
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of their developed world peers. And yet, by better understanding the successful educational approaches of other countries, it is also a book of hope to anyone seeking ideas for improving our schools—and the odds of our children succeeding in a global future. What first piqued your interest in writing a book on education? I had written a variety of stories on education in the US, and I kept coming across this research that was showing that a very small number of countries had managed to do what we had not, which was to educate virtually all their kids to high levels of thinking in math, reading, and science...and I didn’t really believe it! If it’s true, that these countries have done the seemingly impossible...how did they do it? You focused on three American high school students (Kim, Eric, and Tom) as they each spent a year studying abroad in respective countries. How did that come together? Every year there are about 30,000 teenagers who either come to the US to study or leave the US to [study] abroad, and there are organizations that help arrange those exchange programs. I reached out to some of those and asked for volunteers from the countries that I knew had compelling education stories. I was able to find students who would make good storytellers and [also] who would help me see more clearly, because I’m too old, really, to remember what high school is like… Kids [doing an international exchange] think all day long about what is different continued on page 26
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important than I had realized. Honestly, I just thought they would make the book more interesting. I didn’t realize how important it is to listen to kids and what they talk about. Kids talk about other kids... [that’s] the most powerful influence on their day-to-day attitude towards education. So that really helps you remember what it’s like to be in high school and not get swept up into things that are important but not central to real kids’ lives. [Without the kids], I wouldn’t have focused on the rigor as much as I did, or on student drive, or on parents. There were many things that I didn’t expect to be important and they were.
Photo by Brooke Bready
What do you think the pros and cons are of using a system like the PISA to compare school systems? Do you think that it is a good barometer? I did look at other tests, but I ultimately concluded that the PISA is the best measurement that we have at the moment. What I like about it is that it’s really designed to look at kid’s abilities to think for themselves, to make an argument, to solve a problem they’ve never seen before... It’s a measure of what you can do with knowledge… I [took] the PISA test [myself]... and you were graded based on the lucidity and specificity of your argument, which is how I’m judged in my actual job.
Amanda Ripley
between their host country and their home country. They have strong opinions on it, but most of the time nobody asks them. Had you already chosen to focus on the school systems of Finland, South Korea, and Poland at that point or was that more something that came along with the kids that you chose? I had [already] zeroed in on those three countries for different reasons. Finland because it’s sort of the utopia, where the kids aren’t overly fixated on testing or tutoring but they are still getting really good results. Korea because it’s the extreme manifestation of the Asian pressure cooker model where kids are fixated on test results, [are] going to tutoring, and are working incredibly hard. And then, Poland, because they had dramatically improved just in the recent past...and they had a high level of child poverty, about 16 percent... In some ways Poland was more comparable to the US, [or] at least individual states. When you first began researching your book, what were your goals and did they shift as you found out more about other education systems? [In the beginning], I was hoping I could eject out of the US debates on education. I wanted to do something totally different because when you look at international data, the debates we have seem mostly irrelevant. The main thing that changed though was that following [Kim, Eric, and Tom] turned out to be much more
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By PISA’s standards, the educational systems in South Korea and Finland have been more successful than the American one. What do you see as the biggest challenges in the American education system? What are the biggest successes of Finland and South Korea? I mean, that is the question, right? What have they got that we don’t and how can we get it? I think we’d want to borrow some things from each but there’s no exact model that’s perfect in every way for us. But, the number one lesson, overriding everything else I’m about to say, is that, it’s possible. It can be done. In places like South Korea, the student drive and parental focus on education is really the engine behind their success... and that’s something we can learn from... This is a country where on the day when the kids take the equivalent of the SATs, the stock market opens an hour late so there won’t be traffic for the kids trying to get to the testing centers. This sends a message to kids about how [important] education is. Poland has done something that we have not, which is to...delay the year at which they separate kids into vocational and university tracks until age 16...In the US we track kids differently but we do it aggressively and at a young age through things like gifted programs, honors classes, and AP classes. The next thing you know, you’re taking totally different content than the kid you sat next to in kindergarten. All around the world, that is a recipe for inequity and for inefficient education systems. So, reducing tracking, removing inequity, boosting student drive, and [also] investing most of our energy in selecting and training teachers more carefully… continued on page 28
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Instead of educating twice as many teachers as we need, at teacher colleges of widely varying selectivity and quality, it would make more sense to educate the actual number of teachers we need, select them carefully, train them rigorously, and give them the skills they need to teach higher order skills.
“We don’t want to push our kids too hard in school, we don’t want them to think that they are dumb. But there’s a difference between shaming kids and being honest with them.” It seems that, according to PISA results, math, over, say, reading or science is the subject that American students struggle with the most. Why do you think this subject poses such difficulties in the American school system? You’re right, in math we are performing below average at every socioeconomic level... There have been studies of teachers, and their math levels are [also] mediocre for the developed world. So that again goes back to [the importance of] the selection and training of teachers... We’ve gotten serious about reading and you see the results—we’re doing much better internationally in reading than in we are in math. We can do just as well in math if we take it seriously...if we teach kids that math isn’t something that you’re good or bad at. It’s a skill, like reading. If you aren’t doing well it means that you need more help and you need to work harder. One thing that you observed in your book was how parenting style can affect a kid’s school performance. Do you think American parents push their children enough? What kind of barometer should parents use to know how much pressure they should put on their children? [In] the countries with the best performing education systems, parents are not more or less involved, they’re differently involved. They’re more involved at home in education than they are at school. Both are valuable. Parents get a lot out of sports teams and PTAs and so do kids...but those things don’t lead to learning. There was a study of parents in 13 very different countries... and what they found was the more time parents spent volunteering in extracurricular activities and attending PTA meetings, the worse their kids actually performed on a test of critical thinking and reading by age 15. But, the more time parents spent reading to their kids when they were little, and talking to them as they got older...about the news of the day, about books that they’re reading, about movies they’ve seen...the better their kids were in reading at age 15, even after you control for economic background and other things. For me, as a parent of a public school child in
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D.C., this was like a breath of fresh air. It’s helped me prioritize because I don’t have a lot of free time... Now, if my kid’s school is asking me to do six things in a given week, I now rank those things based on where I can be most impactful ...which by the way, is not fundraising. As much as upper income schools in America love to fundraise, that is not typically associated with more learning. I wish it were. Something you seemed concerned with was when parents put too much pressure on their children to perform—the so called “tiger mom” mentality that was a big factor in South Korea. I think the seriousness with which South Korean parents take education is very impressive and something we could learn from. It is almost identical... to the pressure and mindset that I see among some American parents towards sports... So I don’t think American parents are any less intense, they’re just intense about different things. I think we do worry a lot...we don’t want to push our kids too hard in school, we don’t want them to think that they are dumb. But there’s a difference between shaming kids and being honest with them...[and] I think kids are capable of hearing the truth… American kids rank number one in the world for [saying] that they routinely get highest grades in math but then below average for the developed world...in actual math. So, we’re not really being honest with our kids. I think if you have that mindset of South Korean parents that you can always do better if you get more help and work harder, and you’re honest with kids, those two things together are really powerful. But one or the other alone isn’t as good. Educators and education advocates from very different perspectives have praised your new book. Is your book a testament to everyone’s interest in finding what works best or do you think that differences in personal beliefs will always lead to big divisions in our educational bureaucracy? I’d like to think that the book manages to transcend some of the usual infighting and ideology, and that’s why it has received attention from all kinds of people. But I am not so sure. It is so tempting for people to pick and choose with the international research, plucking up only the bits that validate their own world views. I tried to avoid that trap in the book— by following what the evidence and the students told me, even when it led me away from my own pet theories. But I’m not sure I always succeeded. Ironically, it’s hard to keep an open mind when so much is at stake... When it comes to education, people disagree with the best of intentions. Everyone wants to do the right thing, and righteousness results. Personally, I find that talking to students is the only thing that prevents me from getting hypnotized by the bickering of adults.
FOr mOrE EDucAtIOnAl muStrEADS, vISIt nEWyOrKFAmIly.cOm.
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parents in profile
A TorcH Is PasseD In BrooKlyN The Popular Parenting Website a child Grows Has New Owners But The Same Beloved Sensibility By Emily Murphy
Like the famous book which inspired its name, the website A Child Grows is inseparably linked to the borough of Brooklyn. Since its founding in 2006, the site has been a popular guide to family life in the borough and beyond, noted for its reliable resources and recommendations, and a passionate and personal sensibility that reflected the tastes of its founder, Karen Connell. Last January, when Connell and her family moved to Chicago, she sold A Child Grows to two Brooklyn moms—Nicole Horne and Kim Janulewicz—who, she felt, understood its special niche and would be dedicated to nurturing the website and serving its families. Friends since they first met in a “new moms” class in Park Slope, Horne and Janulewicz do indeed seem every bit as dedicated to A Child Grows as Connell was, even as they balance it against their commitments to their day jobs and their families. One year in seemed like just the right time to check in with them on lessons learned and plans of their own. How would you describe the essence of the website to someone who had never heard about it? Kim Janulewicz: A Child Grows is the largest parenting website in Brooklyn and one of the most well-known and beloved in the New York City area in general. Our mission is to be a source of information for parents, for helping them with their daily parenting concerns and also providing them with information about local services and businesses, and family-friendly events.
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Nicole Horne (left) and Kim Janulewicz
Nicole Horne: I would add that the majority of our audience is New York-based. Our audience that resides outside of Brooklyn comes to us for those general articles on big parenting topics like sleeping and eating. And our core Brooklyn audience comes to us not only for those general articles but for our local events and resources that we feature. KJ: Since one of the subjects we focus on is ecoparenting too, we also have a small concentrated audience, which is kind of funny, in Berkeley, California. Do either of you have a favorite part of the website that you love reading or contributing to? NH: The benefit of being in Brooklyn is that the parenting population is so diverse that you could bring up a topic and have an opinion on it and then hear ten other opinions about it. It’s mind-opening ... I think that’s been my most treasured moment with A Child Grows, seeing the diversity, seeing the opinions, and how parenting is just a path you have to create for yourself and there are a million different ways to do it. www.newyorkfamily.com
Tell us a little bit about your lives before taking over the website.
Speaking of events, tell us about the upcoming Brooklyn Baby and Family Expo in April.
KJ: We met at a new moms group at Boing Boing. We were one of the few moms in our group going back to work immediately after our maternity leave. That was one thing that really connected us.
KJ: There’s a big local component to our show, and that’s what we’re all about. We want the local products and services providers out there, because people want to know what’s in their backyard. They want to know where the preschools are and where the pediatrician’s offices are, where the play spaces are, and they want to learn about how to use the baby carrier and where to buy it… We also have a very strong focus on education. So we offer ongoing seminars throughout the day so that people can really take advantage of meeting with professionals who can talk to them about healthy sleep habits and best practices in parenting in general.
NH: Both Kim and I have really enjoyed our jobs and there were definitely pains going back and forth between our maternity leaves because, you know, leaving a new baby was hard... So when the opportunity came up to take over the site, we jumped on it because it combined passions of ours that we were lacking in our corporate jobs, which are kids and Brooklyn. So it was just a perfect match for us. How do you balance everything? NH: We surround ourselves with really good people. We have wonderful staff that works for A Child Grows that are supportive and creative, but also our husbands. They take an equal partnership in raising our children and keeping our house... The way Kim and I try to balance is that we’re always trying to be present in the moment. So whether that’s on a conference call or at the park with our kids or whatnot, just really being there and not thinking about the next thing that we’re doing or the next email we have to send. KJ: When we first started we were killing ourselves trying to do everything and be everything and we got to the point where we just thought: we have to slow down and we have to really think about the big picture...so there are a lot of things that we would like to do with the business, but that’s something that we’ve made peace with. That now is not the time. We’re dealing with what we can take on at the moment, and we have a great staff now. We have a great situation at home. Both of us have very reliable childcare situations, and we’ve been able to find balance in that. Are you eventually going to try to do anything different with it (in both big or small ways)? NH: We’re definitely starting to do a lot more live events. Our community is really strong and focused online, which is great, but sometimes it’s nice to meet offline. Also, the site is definitely more comprehensive in terms of “our picks” with what to do with your kids. We started a weekday picks for stay-at-home moms and dads...then we updated our calendar so you’re now able to download it from month to month. www.newyorkfamily.com
What has the struggle been like to manage an already established website, to live up to something that has set expectations? NH: I don’t think we would have taken this on if the ideology of the site weren’t in line with what our opinions were and what we thought. In that way, it was easy because the persona of the site matched our own. But there’s been a lot of pressure, we want to make sure it stays a great resource because it’s been around for six, seven years... I think that’s been the challenge, just to make sure that we live up to the old audience’s expectations and I think from the feedback that we’ve gotten, we have. What’s been most rewarding about this experience? NH: Talking to the audience members and the kudos always makes you feel good because it makes you feel like you’re doing good in the world. I’ve got to say one of the most interesting things has been all the amazing business people we’ve met in Brooklyn. Whether they’re entrepreneurs or have a start up or have a new kids play area or what not. It’s just amazing, all these people doing awesome things and it’s very community-oriented. KJ: It’s been a true inspiration for us, hearing other people’s stories, and very encouraging also, talking to people who’ve been where we are.
For morE oN A CHild GroWS, viSiT ACHildGroWS.Com.
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Talk Show Host And Wellness Maven Daphne Oz Dishes On Food, Family, And Her Fabulous Journey to Motherhood By Bridget Moriarity
A very pregnant Daphne Oz may be well into her third trimester, but when it’s time to strike a pose she’s ready to play with a bouquet of colorful oversized balloons gathered beside her. One of the co-hosts of ABC’s daytime foodie fest “The Chew,” Oz has already shot an episode on one very cold afternoon in late January, yet somehow still seems to have plenty of energy for New York Family’s cover shoot, taking place at Classic Kids Photography on the Upper East Side. When asked to leap for a photo, the 28-year-old Oz quips to the photographer: “You’ve never been pregnant before, have you?” She then gamely grabs on to a floating blue orb—and takes the leap.
Photos by Lindsay May for Classic Kids Photography. Hair by Jeanna Mirante. Makeup by Gabriella Voigt. Styled by Monica Cotto. 32
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ut don’t read too much into Oz’s choice of balloon colors. While she and her husband, John Jovanovic, are expectant and hopeful about the big new adventure that awaits them, they’ve decided to discover the sex of their first child when she or he arrives. In the meantime, they’re tending to their respective careers—he works in finance and is wrapping up his M.B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School—and getting ready for the baby. The couple has been together since meeting as undergrads at Princeton University, where Oz penned her first book, The Dorm Room Diet. As she describes it, the book chronicled her path from “a 180-lb high school senior” to “a 150-lb college sophomore,” while offering college students a practical game plan for healthy living. As things have turned out, that book was the initial foray into a career she loves—a combo of wellness and media which, of course, runs in the family, with her father being Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, the noted cardiothoracic surgeon and TV personality better know to the world as Dr. Oz. While her dad’s television career took off when he became a regular on “Oprah,” Oz’s own big break came in August 2010: while en route to the airport for her honeymoon, she received a call from a producer of “The Chew” asking her to read for the talk show’s pilot. “This show is so perfect for me and so much fun and so exactly in my wheelhouse of things I love to talk about and do,” Oz says. “But there was no guarantee that a show like this would come along and that the geniuses who made it would think to put me in it. The whole thing was just so fortuitous and serendipitous. I just got so lucky.” ABC’s hour-long daily talk show dedicated to all things food airs on weekdays at 1pm EST, and 12pm PST and CST. Oz describes it as “a party in the kitchen.” She is joined by former “Top Chef”
competitor Carla Hall, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly (of “What Not To Wear” fame), and two culinary icons: restaurateurs and “Iron Chef America” stars Mario Batali and Michael Symon. “We’re a group of wackadoo, eccentric friends, who—as Mario puts it— would never have picked each other as bunkmates because we seem so different on the surface but put us together in a room and it’s magic,” Oz says. The “magic” sure seems to be working: now in its third season, “The Chew’s” ratings have been climbing steadily since the show began. What is Oz’s role in the so-called “wackadoo” group? “I’m the person who’s there to find the healthiest way to do something without sacrificing flavor, indulgence, and fun and sexiness in our food,” she explains. No doubt viewers are charmed by Oz’s warm, funloving personality as well. As with The Dorm Room Diet, and with her second book, the 2013 New York Times bestseller, Relish: An Adventure in Food, Style, and Everyday Fun, Oz has a knack for mining her own life to inspire and advise others (see our sidebar on page 36), and this generosity for sharing shines through on the show. She’s also there to remind the professional chefs what it’s like to be a home cook with a family and a tight timeline. Not that Oz is without her own impressive credentials in food and wellness. Since graduating from Princeton she added on degrees from the Natural Gourmet Institute and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, both in the city. And then there was her childhood education. “I grew up in a very health-centric environment, so I learned a lot by osmosis,” Oz says. “But [as an adult] I wanted to expand my knowledge of alternative therapies and get a broad exposure to all continued on page 36
Daphne’s Dream Nursery: Our Cover Mom-To-Be’s Top Picks From Bellini When she set out to create the perfect nursery for her baby-to-be, Daphne Oz turned to beloved nursery furniture and décor emporium, Bellini. Bellini’s in-house interior designer, Tina Glazer, worked with Oz to create a custom design board—a complimentary service for all Bellini customers—and choose her favorite items to set the mood for a serene sanctuary for her little one. So get inspired by Oz’s faves from Bellini—all available in Bellini stores and at bellini.com.
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1. Jonathan Adler Frame, $68 2. Jonathan Adler Mirror, $1,150 3. Vanessa Crib (available in multiple colors), $895 4. Stella Dresser (available in multiple colors), $1,400 5. Trellis Baskets, from $115 6. Jonathan Adler Piggy Bank, $248
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Photos: Nancy Adler, Jennifer Lee, and Jacqueline Marks.
explore. play. grow. connect. Summer Registration Begins: April 6 for members and April 9 for nonmembers See class listings at jccmanhattan.org/familylife
sports | tumbling | gymnastics | pre-nursery | music | art | ballet aquatics | dance | science | yoga | fencing | jewish life | cooking
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The Wisdom Of Oz In her 2013 book, Relish: An Adventure in Food, Style, and Everyday Fun, Daphne Oz offers advice on how to live a happy and healthy life—she includes everything from recipes to home-decorating and relationship tips. New York Family decided to tap Oz’s savvy, so we asked her for a few pearls of wisdom on both maintaining wellness during pregnancy and dressing for a bump. Here are her thoughts in her own words.
That way, even if I could only get comfortable for six or so hours at night, I made up some time with a 30-minute—or two hour!—siesta in the afternoon. Yes, things had to fall off my to-do list to accommodate this new need for sleep. But the health of my baby was worth delaying getting back to a few emails and re-prioritizing how I spent my time efficiently.
How to Maintain Wellness During Pregnancy: Try to find a balance in your cravings. If you’re gunning for something sweet, see if the natural sugar found in an apple or other fresh fruit—or even a sweet potato—will suffice. If not, treat yourself to a small portion of whatever it is you’re really craving.
How to Dress for Pregnancy: Stay sexy. You don’t have to wear spandex all the time, but muumuus aren’t the only option either. Things that remind you of your femininity and changing shape are best. Remember, pregnancy is beauty, but it’s also pure power: you’re growing a human! So flaunt that incredible body with confidence.
Indulge for a good cause. Don’t cave for the junk that’s just going to satisfy you in the moment because it’s convenient, but is made from artificial ingredients or is a couple of days old. Treat yourself to something really fresh, decadent, and homemade! That way, you know exactly what is going into your body, and your little one’s. A plus: laziness is a huge deterrent, so if you have to make the thing you want to indulge in from scratch, chances are you won’t do it too often.
Don’t stock up on pregnancy clothes. By month five, I was happily enjoying my high-waisted, elastic band jeans, but I paired them with sweaters or blouses that I could also wear post-pregnancy. You don’t want to get too comfortable in clothes that are too large for you, or overwhelm your wardrobe with them, or you may lose the incentive to get back into fighting form post-baby. That being said, it took nine blissful months to grow your beautiful bump, so give yourself nine months to get back in shape!
Drink more water than you thought humanly possible. When pregnant, your blood volume basically doubles, plus it’s doing the filtering work of two bodies, so you want to make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water to help flush toxins away and provide plenty of fluid to move all the essential nutrients you’re eating to your baby.
Patterns on top, solids on bottom. I’m a New Yorker, so black and neutrals are often my “color” of choice, but I like to get bright and colorful for “The Chew.” I found the most flattering outfits to be the ones where I had a bright, fun pattern on top—not too busy—and then kept it sleek and simple in a muted tone or solid on bottom. I also opted for a lot of high-waisted, stretchy items, like leggings and skirts, and then I would tuck in chiffon blouses or pair them with a simple top and a cute blazer to keep the look polished, easy, and most of all, comfortable.
Sleep when you need to. It was really hard for me to get into the habit of napping, but I stopped being able to sleep well through the night, so I started making sure I’d sleep whenever my body felt it was the right time.
continued from page 34
the different ways people think about health,” she explains. “When I got my culinary degree, I started to grow this idea that food is the basis of health.” Given her passion for food and healthy living, one can’t help but wonder what Oz’s pregnancy diet looks like. “I haven’t been overly restrictive with myself—I’m actually craving a good balance of the nutritious and indulgent,” she says. Her typical menu starts off with a healthy smoothie for breakfast (think frozen fruit, almond milk or yogurt, spinach or kale, flax, and chia seeds). Then at work she’ll have some toast with almond butter or avocado, while steadily drinking a veggie-packed green juice throughout the day. Lunch is a big kale salad with avocado and lean protein, while her cravings for pizza and fried chicken tend to kick in come dinnertime. Though “The Chew” viewers have watched her waistline expand, Oz says it hasn’t made her selfconscious. If anything, just the opposite. “I’ve been eating whatever I want and wearing what I want, feeling so comfortable and powerful in my body,” she says. “It took being pregnant to show me how much unconditional love and respect I could have for my body. You’re growing a human—you’re doing a lot.” Fortunately for Oz, her pregnancy has been a charmed one except for some very light morning sickness during her first trimester. “Since month three
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on the dot I have felt totally myself and better. I have a lot of energy, my hormones have changed and I’m just cheery all the time,” she says. Oz also marvels at the fact that the baby has turned her into a morning person thanks to some well-timed kicking and a ravenous appetite. It’s a good thing that pregnancy suits Oz, because, as she proudly divulges, she’d love to have a very big family—big as in seven children. She believes that being part of a large brood (she’s one of four and her mom is one of six) was a major factor in her happiness growing up. “There’s always someone to hang out with and that to me was the most important thing I wanted to recreate once I was starting my own family,” she explains. “And it wasn’t that my husband and I were planning to be pregnant right now, but I couldn’t think of a better time.” Looking ahead to the kind of parent she’d like to be, Oz suspects she’ll take a lot of inspiration from her own parents, while doing some things a little differently. She admires her dad’s sense of playfulness. “He always wanted to play games and wanted everything to be a competition, and he thought of things in a kid-like way,” she recalls. “He made up bedtime stories every night, and when he and my mom would go traveling they’d bring home beautiful trinkets that he’d make up stories about.” Her mom, Lisa—a fellow author and TV personality— www.newyorkfamily.com
was “a strong woman” who was always encouraging her kids to push more, learn more, and “not to accept things blindly.” While Oz would love to mirror these qualities, she herself plans to be a slightly stricter parent. When her father was in residency the family didn’t eat together until 10pm or so, which left her grazing all evening long. “I want to have set meal times, because I think it’s important,” she notes. Presently, Oz lives in the city, where she’s been since her college graduation in 2008, but she’s not sure she’ll raise her family here. “It remains to be seen. My preschool teacher is still in business. She’s the reason I loved to learn,” she says. “I would love for my kids to go to that Montessori school if it’s still around when they’re at that age and that’s in New Jersey.” As are her parents, with whom Oz is as close as ever. “I talk to my mom daily and to my dad all the time about the baby and what to expect and just how I’m feeling. They are as excited as I am, they just can’t wait,” she says. Not surprisingly, one of Oz’s favorite pieces of pregnancy wisdom came from them. “The first advice my parents gave me when I got pregnant was: ‘Don’t worry,’” she says. “They know that I love to read and that I feel more comfortable when I think I have all the facts. They knew it would be my base instinct to go research everything. Their thought to me was: ‘Look, the most damaging thing you can do for this baby is to have stress hormones coursing through the blood all around it. You want to be relaxed, enjoy this process. You’ll never
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get to be pregnant for the first time ever again, so just relish the opportunity to have people around you helping you and being supportive of you and don’t worry.’” It sounds like her parents were on the mark, as Oz is the first to admit that she has a tendency to fret. “If I have one regret in life it’s all the time I’ve spent worrying,” she says. Looking ahead to being a mom, she adds, “I really want to prioritize my time and weed out all the energy pitfalls and time wasters and just enjoy my time with the people I love.” Fans of Oz needn’t worry either: she’s planning to return full-time to “The Chew” following her maternity leave. “I love that people feel like they’re part of the friendship that we all have [on the show],” she says. “Because it’s such a real show and so authentic in that way, it’s important for me to share what I struggle with in my life…and most importantly, what I’ve been able to succeed at. Success in a vacuum is not fun. If you can’t share those experiences with someone else, what’s the point?” Here’s an easy prediction: Daphne Oz fans should get ready to hear a lot about the joys and challenges of motherhood. We have no doubt she’ll deliver (pun intended).
On Daphne Oz (page 33) Nanette Lepore On My Mind dress in Amethyst; Sydney Evan diamond pyramid heart studs; Masonharlie gold hexagon bangle; (page 34) Lilly Pulitzer Santana sweater dress in True Navy; David Aubrey gold-plated and navy beaded bracelet.
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When It Comes To Birthday Parties, There’s No Place Like NYC For Fun And Festive Options For Any Age Edited by Mia Weber
Party your
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New York Family | March 2014
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egardless of what age they’re turning, it’s a given that just about every youngster
looks forward to celebrating their birthday. So why not make the day super fun and totally unique by selecting a party option from one of our fave venues that both delights your little one and their guests, but also takes some pressure off of mom and dad when it comes to the details? Our biannual guide to the best birthday parties in the city is sure to offer a festive fête for any preference! 74 th St. MAGIC: MAGIC’s gymtastic parties, for ages 2-8, are fun and a great value on the Upper East Side. The parties include activities on all of MAGIC’s Olympic equipment, plus play with the zip line, bounce house, and in-ground trampoline. The outdoor rooftop playground is available, weather permitting, Photo by Scott McDermott
as is a bright party room for food and cake. 74magic.com 92Y: 92Y’s Gymnastics Jamboree birthday party takes place in the new Gymnastics Studio in the Sky. Kids jump on a tumble track, rock-climb, swing on a zip line and trapeze, and more. The staff directs kids in age-appropriate activities and the party includes complimentary invitations, a bracelet or mini basketball for each child, a t-shirt for
Clockwise from top left: 92Y, Art Farm, Chelsea Piers, Asphalt Green
the birthday child, and two one-month gym Art Farm In The City: Art Farm’s all-inclusive
Bowlmor Lanes: Kids’ birthday parties really
Exotic Animal Party features music, art,
get rolling at Bowlmor Lanes. Party packages
American Museum of Natural History: Dive
and extended farm time with visiting exotic
include unlimited bowling, shoe rental, kid-
through 20,000 leagues of birthday fun
critters. Visiting animals include snakes,
friendly cuisine, juice and soda, a custom
in AMNH’s Millstein Hall of Ocean Life at
an alligator, and iguanas—plus kids (ages
cake or cupcakes, gift bags, and a signable
the museum’s Underwater Treasures party
4-8) can play with the resident chinchillas.
bowling pin for the birthday boy or girl.
for kids ages 4-8. Guests will spot a broad
Themed invitations, favors, food, balloons,
bowlmor.com
spectrum of sea creatures including the Hall’s
and an Art Farm t-shirt for the birthday child
ever-present Great Blue Whale! amnh.org
are all included. theartfarms.org
Applause: Applause’s Glow-In-The-Dark
Asphalt Green: Asphalt Green has a roster
of-a-kind party at Broadway Birthday
Hip-Hop Party will have guests popping and
of expert instructors to turn your child’s
Bashes. You’ll get private access to an off
locking in no time! Strobe lights, glow-in-
birthday party into an all-star event.
Broadway theater where you’ll watch the
the-dark accessories, freeze dance, dance
Choose a theme in sports, swimming, or
city’s top comedic talent create a made-up
battles, and a choreographed performance
even cooking, so Asphalt Green’s staff can
musical all about your child. Parties can be
for parents to watch make for the coolest
customize your party with age-appropriate
customized with pre-show entertainment,
party any kid, ages 5-9, could want!
activities. Available at Asphalt Green’s
karaoke, a disco dance floor, carnival treats,
applauseny.com
Upper East Side and Battery Park City
and more! broadwaybirthdaybashes.com
memberships for the host parents. 92y.org
Broadway Birthday Bashes At The Pit: Make your child a star by hosting a one-
locations. asphaltgreen.org/parties & apple seeds: Grab an instrument and
asphaltgreenbpc.org/parties
Chelsea Piers: Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers is home to the “coolest” birthday parties
celebrate at apple seeds with a “songs for seeds” birthday party. Children ages 1-5
Ballet Academy East: BAE Ballet Birthday
in NYC! Kids of all ages love skating on
can sing, dance, and play along with the
Parties kick off with a fun and creative ballet
the full-sized indoor rinks. Finish the party
interactive songs for seeds rock band. The
class with a festive birthday theme. Children
with pizza, cake, and more in the facility’s
90-minute all-inclusive birthday packages,
dance a ballet birthday story narrated by the
party rooms, conveniently located adjacent
include free play in the indoor playspace,
teacher, starring the birthday child. Dancing is
to the rinks so your guests can take full
a songs for seeds performance, food,
followed by refreshments. Parties include two
advantage of the playground on ice.
cake, and favor bags for your little ones.
teachers, a pianist, a hostess, a wand or crown,
chelseapiers.com/sr
appleseedsplay.com.
set-up, cleanup, and balloons. baenyc.com
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November 2013| New York Family
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birthday guide
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From left to right: Cozy’s Cuts For Kids, Deb’s Family Disco, DiMenna Children’s History Museum
Children’s Museum Of The Arts (CMA):
CitiGym, Citibabes offers the most fun and
at your location in NYC or the CK studio in
CMA has combined their popular animation
creative birthday parties around. Citibabes’
Brooklyn. constructionkids.com
classes with their art-filled birthday parties
Signature Party (90 minutes for 15 kids
to create “F.A.B.: Fabulous Animation Party,”
and their parents or caregivers) includes
Corbin’s Crusaders: A Corbin’s Crusaders
an innovative way for kids ages 7-14 to
a choice from a variety of themes, use of
birthday ”Party in the Park” offers the birthday
celebrate! Guests work with teaching artists
indoor play space, age-appropriate art
child a chance to play any of their favorite
to sculpt clay creatures, then learn the basics
activity, personalized cake or cupcakes, food,
sport(s) with friends and family on their special
of animation as they collaborate on a short
beverages, themed decorations, party favors,
day. The two-hour party—for ages 4-14—is run
animated movie. The party finishes with time
and more. citibabes.com
by fun, high-energy coaches that encourage all to participate regardless of skill level or age.
for food and cake and the premier of the birthday movie! cmany.org
Columbus Gym: Celebrate with gymnastics
Gyms available upon request; setup/cleanup
fun at Columbus Gym’s expansive, fully-
included. corbinscrusaders.com
Children’s Museum Of Manhattan (CMOM):
equipped facility. Kids ages 1-12 will enjoy a full
At CMOM’s PlayWork party, children ages 1-5
hour on the bars, beam, rings, and trampoline
Cozy’s Cuts For Kids: The Glamorama
can meet Alphie the talking dragon, dress
while playing games supervised by the trained
VIP Party at Cozy’s Cuts for Kids is a girl’s
up as a firefighter, and more. During the
staff. The last half hour is for food, drinks, and
birthday wish come true. Treat your little
90-minute birthday bash, little ones also take
birthday cake. columbusgymnyc.com
princess and up to seven of her friends to a day of pampering at either of Cozy’s
part in a special music and art activity before enjoying pizza and cake from Magnolia
ConstructionKids: ConstructionKids’ birthday
two NYC salons—complete with fabulous
Bakery. Goody bags include a pass for the
parties—which can be themed a variety
hairstyles, manicures, and make up (and the
child to return to CMOM for free. cmom.org
of ways—are smart, unique, and creative.
birthday girl even gets a tiara). cozycuts.com
Children ages 4-12 learn how to hammer Citibabes: From their 1,500 square-ft indoor
safely, then build their own projects to take
playground to live entertainment and
home. Children are busy for two hours, either
Have Your Cake
By Emanuelle Block
What would a birthday party be without a scrumptious cake? Luckily for birthday kiddos, NYC is home to some of the coolest cake options out there. In this city, you really can have your cake and eat it too (and in any flavor and at any budget!). Billy’s Bakery: Curious George, Eloise or any of your child’s favorite characters can be illustrated on these cakes. Billy’s has locations in Chelsea, Tribeca, and at the Plaza. Cakes (20-30 servings) $115. billysbakerynyc.com
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Francesca Cake: Colorful themes decorate delicious one- or two-tiered cakes. Cakes (20 servings) $85$140. francescacake.com Make My Cake: If your child loves Barbie, Sponge Bob, or Elmo, Make My Cake offers dozens of theme cakes— or they can create your own custom design. Cakes (20-30 servings), start at $55. makemycake.com
Cakes ‘n Shapes: Get a creative free-form cake or a photo cake with your favorite image scanned in edible frosting. All cakes are made in a peanut-free studio. Cakes (20 servings) start at $160. cakesnshapes.com
Momofuku Milk Bar: Innovative flavors like dulce de leche, mint cookies ‘n cream, or pretzel cake (with burnt honey frosting and pretzel crumbs!) will delight “foodies,” though their classic birthday cake flavor is rainbow cake crumble. Cake (20-30 servings) $90. milkbarstore.com
City Cakes: Specializing in creative fondant, these “works of art” include everything from elegant cakes to playful designs. Cakes (25 servings) start at $75. citycakesny.com
Sprinkles Cupcakes: Everyone loves cupcakes. For something different, surprise your guests with a tower of cupcakes at your little one’s birthday. Tower of cupcakes (24 servings) $95. sprinkles.com
New York Family | March 2014
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birthday guide
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Seriously Art-Rageous Parties! Gymboree The Craft Studio: The Craft Studio’s Tween Karaoke Parties are all the rage! The party host can choose between awesome activities like candy sushi, fun photo-ops, chocolate painting, nail art, and more! Karaoke DJ’d the whole time with a personalized song list of the birthday child’s requests. craftstudionyc.com Dave & Buster’s: It’s game day every day at Dave & Buster’s in Times Square. Birthday packages are available for groups of ten or more with special menus, game cards, and unlimited video game upgrades. Plus, your child scores with a D&B gift. daveandbusters.com Deb’s Family Disco: Deb’s Family Disco’s dance balls are ideal for high-energy kids who love the limelight (and fun for dancing grownups too)! Real club and disco lights thrill tots and tweens while a DJ plays dance games, kids get the mike, and dancers lead hip-hop moves. Light-up dance floor favors, musical-themed cakes, and a bar
•BIRTHDAY PARTIES •ART CLASSES •PLAY DATES •GROUP EVENTS
•GLITTER TATTOO ARTISTS •FACE PAINTERS •STORY ART!
The mobile art program that brings the fun to you!
for the grownups gets everyone in the mood. afamilydisco.com DiMenna Children’s History Museum: At DiMenna’s George Washington-themed party, President Washington guides kids on a scavenger hunt through the museum, helping them read the Inaugural Address and sign the Constitution. Washington can even create tri-corner hats for party guests! A special Washington birthday cake, inspired crafts, gift bags, and balloons complete this truly presidential experience, ideal for ages 7-10. nyhistory.org/ childrens-museum Discovery Programs: The Gymnastics Party is a Discovery Programs favorite. Open to children 4-13, guests use all events in the spacious gymnasium including balance beam, bars, trampoline and group games. Each party—there are 1.5- and 2-hour options—ends with refreshments, pizza, and cake. discoveryprograms.com FAO Schwarz: Classic birthday parties at FAO Schwarz include traditional games like limbo and the hokey pokey, plus a Toy Solider host and private time on the legendary Big Piano. Kids pick their own theme so they can be anything from royal princesses to safari explorers. fao.com The Gaga Center: Disco Gaga is the latest birthday party craze at the Gaga Center. While available at any time for kids age 5 and up, it’s a favorite of older kids for evening parties, when the lights go down and the disco ball and DJ are on. The 1.5 hour parties include private use of the Gaga Center’s 3,000-square-ft space, pizza, and cake.
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New York Family | March 2014
gagacenter.com Gymboree Play & Music: Gymbo’s Birthday Bash at Gymboree Play & Music is a personalized party experience filled with kid-friendly
www.newyorkfamily.com
activities guaranteed to be 100 percent fun! They specialize in parties for children ages 1-5. During the 90-minute party, kids are treated to music, movement games, and exploration of the playgym, all lead by an enthusiastic teacher. Enjoy post-party snacks in a separate party room. gymboreeclasses.com Gymtime Rhythm & Glues: Featuring exciting party themes and activities like Tae Kwon Do, guests are sure to get a kick out your birthday boy or girl’s special day. Parties are 90 minutes and include set-up, clean-up, and tons of gym fun. gymtime.net HiArt!: HiArt!’s Candy Sculpture Party is sure to be sweet fun. Twenty unfettered feet of candy rule as kids build or paint stupendous abstract environments made entirely of candy. Colors, scents, and flavors abound for kids ages 4 and up. Younger kids build with their parents while big kids build endlessly on their own! hiartkids.com The Horticulture Society: Let The Hort add an exciting twist to your birthday merriment. Choose from a variety of green-themed parties— including Ladybug Picnic, Wiggling Wonders, and Tiny Terrariums—and let the staff meet your child’s current natural fascination. thehort.org The JCC In Manhattan: Hip-Hop Birthday Parties at The JCC are high-energy fun and begin with an hour of hip-hop style dance class where the birthday star creates the playlist for up to 15 of their friends. Dancers then get jazzed up with costumes and props for an exciting performance for family and friends! The party package includes snacks, décor, and goody bags. jccmanhattan.org The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: If you feel the need for speed, book an action-packed birthday party at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum at Pier 86. Select from five party themes and Silver, Gold, and Platinum packages.intrepidmuseum.org Jodi’s Gym: Looking for an action-packed, fun-filled gymnastics birthday party your kids will flip over? Jodi’s Gym is the place for kids ages 1-12 to run, jump, climb, swing, bounce, and tumble to their heart’s delight! At Jodi’s, the whole place is yours! Teachers set up, serve, and clean up for you and do everything in between. jodisgym.com Karma Kids Yoga: The GLOGA Yoga Party is two hours of glow-in-thedark fun with props and pop music for up to ten children! It includes glow bracelets and necklaces, and flashy-blinky rings and accessories for the kids to wear during the party and take home afterwards. Recommended for ages 6 and up. karmakidsyoga.com Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy: UGA offers amazing birthday parties for kids 4-8. Pick from a list of activities including shadow screen play, storytelling and dramatic play, music and movement, multi-spot games, golf putting, and more. Parties one hour long, with equipment, music, prizes, and instructor provided. ktuga.com Kids At Art: At Kids at Art, the brand new art studio is yours for 1.5-2 hours for a fabulous, fun Arty Party and the most fun Karaoke & Disco parties in town! Choose from a variety of art projects or they can tailor one to your child’s interest. Their combo Art/Karaoke parties are the most popular! Included are all art supplies, professional DJs, plain paper goods, juice, balloons and a friendly, energetic staff to host your event! kidsatartnyc.com
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birthday guide
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From left to right: HiArt, KidVille Kids At Work: Kids at Work in Chelsea features a “My First Birthday” program for babies turning 12 months. The program includes a live singalong with a professional teaching artist, including guitar and instruments, plus time for food and cake. Age-appropriate party favors (for up to 13 babies and their families) are included, as are two party professionals. kidsatworknyc.com Kids In Sports: Kids in Sports offers one of the best sports birthday parties in the city! Parties can be at their place or yours. Choose from one sport, or many, and your child will have a party everyone is sure to remember. kisnyc.com Kidville: The Little Explorers Safari Adventure Party is one of Kidville’s 16 delightful party themes! Children ages 2 and up will embark on a safari exploration as guests decorate and adorn a safari hat then set off for an animal-themed gym adventure including freeze dance, obstacle courses, zip line fun, and animal puppets! kidville.com Let’s Dress Up!: Let’s Dress Up! offers five party choices on the Upper East Side, such as a Red Carpet Party, A Cupcake Party, and, of course, A Princess Party. Costumes, favors, and birthday banners delight children. letsdressupct.com Let’s Gogh Art: Get your very own backstage pass with fabulous I Wanna Rock party where the birthday child is the rock star! Karaoke, games, and rock star-worthy art projects (like decorating your own microphone, guitar, or sunglasses) are all offered. The party is customized, so it’s a perfect for kids ages 4-10! Supplies, goodies, and clean-up are included. nyletsgoghart.com The Little Gym: The team at the Little Gym leads partygoers through a gymnastics obstacle course, games, parachute, air track, and more! Kids enjoy 90 minutes of active entertainment as the venue takes care of set-up, clean-up, and everything in between. Guests receive a balloon at the end of the celebration. thelittlegym.com Little Maestros: Little Maestros is an award-winning, early-childhood educator-approved infant and toddler music program. Every birthday party includes original music, traditional kids songs, and classic party hits—performed by Broadway-quality entertainers who love kids. Options also include puppet shows, shakers, bubbles, storytime, parachute, limbo, and more! littlemaestros.com Loop of the Loom: Six to 12 weavers can take designs home after a Loop of the Loom birthday on the Upper East Side. Suggested for ages 6 and up, children make homemade weaves or felt creations under instructor guidance. loopoftheloom.com
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New York Family | March 2014
www.newyorkfamily.com
Moey’s Music Party: Moey’s Music Party birthdays specialize in princess theme parties. Moey arrives in a ball gown and passes out tiara-riffic tiaras, pom-poms, maracas, and magic wands. She and her band lead kids in sparkle-tacular interactive singing and dancing! moeysmusicparty.com My Gym: Your birthday child is the star of the party when you celebrate at My Gym! Enjoy exclusive use of a My Gym facility
From left to right: Pop Star Parties, Super Soccer Stars
while the staff leads a customized program including your child’s favorite games,
New York Hall Of Science: Your kids will love
courses, swinging, singing, and dancing!
activities, rides, songs, puppets and more!
the variety of activities involved at the Fun With
nykidsclub.com
From set-up to clean-up, My Gym provides
Science party at the New York Hall of Science!
an unforgettable experience for guests of all
Explore life-sized NASA rockets, the physics of
Pop Star Parties: The Grammy Party is Pop
ages. mygymisfun.com (Harlem), mygym.
bubbles, edible play-dough, the science behind
Star Parties’ most sought after birthday
com/uppereast83 (UES) & mygym.com/uws
magic, chemistry, mini-golf, and more! Cake,
package. Geared towards kids ages 7-14
(Lincoln Center/UWS)
goodie bags, and plenty of fun activities are
who dream of being the next Katy Perry
included. nysci.org
or Bruno Mars, kids get to rock out to two
Mystery & Mayhem: Mystery & Mayhem
songs with up to 18 friends in the recording
offers improvisational and age-appropriate
NY Kids’ Club: NY Kids’ Club Classic Gym
studio. The 1.5 hour party includes studio
dress-up mystery parties in which guests
birthday party is offered at nine locations
time, staffing, pizza and beverages, and a
ages 8-18 become suspects in a dastardly
in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Children ages
download of recorded songs for each guest.
crime. Choose from five mysterious dramas,
6 months to 12 years will enjoy an hour of
popstarparties.com
or they can theme your party around Nancy
jumping, laughing, and celebrating in the
Drew, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, or any
gym followed by a half-hour of continued
of your child’s favorite heroes or heroines.
celebration in the spacious party room. The
mysteryandmayhem.com
fun revolves around lively music, obstacle
continued on page 46
New York City’s Premier Art Studio for Children, Teens and Adults!
ArT CLASSeS ❤
ArTY PArTieS 1412 Second Avenue (Bet. 73rd & 74th St.) www.kidsatartnyc.com ❤ 212-410-9780 www.newyorkfamily.com
March 2014 | New York Family
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birthday guide
continued from page 45
SciTech Kids: SciTech Kids offers science parties that include experiments and demonstrations that are interactive, exciting, and educational for kids 4-11. Children become budding scientists as they conduct cool, experiments and enjoy incredible special effects that thrill and inform young minds! Themes include beauty and spa science, sports and velocity, mad science chemistry, and more. sci-techkids.com The Scholastic Store: A basic party at the Scholastic Store in SoHo includes a party planner, two party hosts, online invitations, a
Enchanting Entertainers By Emanuelle Block
Add an extra layer of fun to your child’s special day by bringing in some top-notch entertainment. Check out some of our fave acts! Arnie Kolodner Magic: With Harry Potter, Cinderella, Star Wars, and many other themes available—Arnie Kolodner’s theatrical magic shows enchant children of all ages. arnieparty.com The Ballooniac: Mike Gold (aka “the Ballooniac”) can twist balloons into zany creations—crazy hats, animals, and even a space alien riding a motorcycle! mikegold.com Brooklyn Balloon Co.: Founder Robert Moy can make (almost!) anything in balloons—from miniature cars to wearable butterfly wings. brooklynballooncompany.com
craft activity, music and dancing, story time, cupcakes, juice, and games! Choose from a variety of themes, including Clifford’s BIG Birthday Bash, Fabulous Fashions, Young Wizards, and more! scholastic.com/sohostore Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids: Throw a glam birthday party for your daughter at Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids. Parties take place in the Glamour Girl dressing room where partygoers get a new hairstyle, makeup application, and mini-cure. Pizza and beverages are provided. sharkeyscutsforkids.com/parties SPoRTiME Randall’s island: SPORTIME’s tennis-themed parties are bound to be your child’s most memorable birthday party ever. Parties include a private party room, court time, and a variety of exciting on court games taught by coaches from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. Whether your child is 6 or
Face Art by Melissa: Watch as your child is transformed into a pirate, tiger, butterfly, princess…or wherever their imagination takes them. faceartbymelissa.com Looney Louie: Fun for all ages, Looney Louie has entertained children with magic, juggling, music, and general “looniness” for over 20 years. looneylouie.com Max Darwin Magic: The “Amazing Max” makes objects appear out of thin air, defies the laws of physics, and surprises his audiences with mysterious feats and lots of laughs. maxdarwinmagic.com Miss Pinkie: Miss Pinkie promises to show her special rabbit to an excited audience, but he magically disappears. Funny things happen as she tries to find her beloved pet. The 45-minute show is for ages 3 and up. misspinkie.com Red Noses New York: With creative originality, “Juliet the Face Painter” uses colorful paint and sparkly glitter to paint your child’s full face, hands, or just an adorable cheek. rednosesnewyork.com Sammie & Tudie: A “power couple in the clowning world,” this duo proves that life is better when you’re laughing. The 30- or 55-minute comedy and magic show is recommended for ages 3 and up. sammieandtudie.com
16, SPORTIME can design a perfect party. sportimeny.com from the stage. TADA!’s professional teaching
Yogi Beans: Re-energize with a SPA-tacular
Super Soccer Stars: The Super Soccer Stars
artists can also teach your guests a song and
Birthday Bash at Yogi Beans! At this two-hour
package is a great way to celebrate your
dance from the show! Perfect for kids ages
party, guests experience a kids’ yoga class
child’s birthday! Led by a team of energetic
6-11. tadatheater.com
incorporating the birthday child’s chosen theme. Afterwards, kids are pampered in
coaches at one of their citywide indoor or outdoor locations, children ages 2-12 will
TLB Music: TLB Music’s newest party pack-
the spa with mani/pedis, aromatherapy,
play age-appropriate soccer activities for an
age for ages 1-6, Baseball Bash, features a
cucumber masks, and henna tattoos. The
hour before sitting down for 30 minutes of
baseball-themed music class with your child’s
party ends with a pizza picnic, complete with
refreshments. Package includes a full-size
favorite songs and instruments followed by
tie-dyed paper goods and a professional
soccer ball for every child. supersoccerstars.
indoor playtime. Kids can hang out in the
hostess. yogibeans.com
com/birthdays
clubhouse, climb the mini-rock mountain, and “cook” in the kitchen! Two Boots provides
Yorkville Youth Athletic Association: YYAA’s
Symphony Space: Make your kid’s birthday a
pizza and you can add party favors, food for
multi-sport party package at their Baseball
grand experience with a Just Kidding party at
adults, and extra playtime. tlbmusic.com
Academy is their most popular birthday party. Combining activities from baseball
Symphony Space. The party includes tickets to a Just Kidding performance (with the best
YMCA west Side: Rooftop parties, for ages
and basketball, to flag football, floor hockey,
seating in the theater), a birthday shout-out
3-6, take place on a playground on top of
dodgeball, and scooter racing creates an ex-
during the performance, a party in Bar Thalia
the West Side YMCA. If the view doesn’t
citing party for children of all ages. yyaa.org
at Symphony Space, cake and refreshments,
impress you, the slide and the spongy
and more. symphonyspace.org/justkidding
surface of the rooftop playground will. With new and safe equipment to climb on
TADA! Youth Theater: Bring your party to
in fresh, having your child’s party at the
one of TADA!’s Main Stage performances and
West Side YMCA’s rooftop playground
receive special party favors, and hear the cast
will be a unique and memorable occasion.
sing the personalized TADA! Birthday song
ymcanyc.org/westside
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New York Family | March 2014
FoR EvEN MoRE BiRThDAY PARTY vENuES, viSiT NEwYoRKFAMiLY.CoM.
www.newyorkfamily.com
mitzvah guide 2014
DETAILS, Details, DETAILS From Flashy Fun To Traditional Elegance, Our Top Picks For Bar And Bat Mitzvah Party Professionals & Venues Are Sure To Delight By Samantha Simon
W
hether you’re planning to go large or go small, formal or relaxed, there’s a lot of research to be done if you have a bar or bat mitzvah party on the horizon. We spoke to experts at the top of their game in each of the big elements of putting the event together: party planners, flowers and design, photographers, invitations, and, finally, entertainment.
THE PARTY PLANNER Planning an elaborate party in New York City can quickly become overwhelming, which is why many parents choose to hire a party planner to take care of the details. Doing so allows the planning process to be more enjoyable for the family—and is actually surprisingly cost-efficient in the end. Alysa Katz of Events Extraordinaire describes the party planning process as one that is hands-on, engaging, and customized for each individual client. “I am with them through the entire bar mitzvah—from the beginning, through the party, until the very end,” she says. So what exactly goes into the party planning process? A good party planner will be surrounded by the best people in the business and already have plenty of party-related contacts, according to Katz. At her own company, she does everything from helping clients choose music and flowers to sending out invitations and booking hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. “I am there for anything they www.newyorkfamily.com
want me to do,” Katz says. Hiring the ultimate party planner can be a challenge in itself, as it’s tricky to find the perfect person to fit your needs. When meeting with potential party planners, Katz advises, “you have to see if you click and if they’re someone who can respect your vision (but your vision also has to be reasonable).” Having specific ideas in mind from the start is definitely a plus, since there are tons of key details to consider. “Decorating a room is more important to me than anything else. If you create a beautiful atmosphere, that’s what people will talk about,” she says. And while many parents might be inclined to cut expensive lighting from their budget, Katz emphasizes that having the perfect mood lighting can make all the difference. Ambiance aside, the most significant thing to remember as you plan is to keep your child’s wishes in mind and to communicate with the boy or girl of the hour. Most kids are now choosing to forgo a traditional party theme, opting instead for soft lounge furniture without assigned seating. Katz’s proudest accomplishment yet was recreating MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants play, for a recent bar mitzvah in a gymnasium. “I worked very hard with lighting and sound people and we got it right. People were just mesmerized. It was phenomenal.” That said, you don’t want to overdo it and wind up with an excessively elaborate event—there is such a thing as
too much. Katz finds that the most common mistakes occur when parents want the party to be too over-the-top. “You simply can’t have everything,” she says. Some party planners charge a percentage of the entire cost of the party, but others, such as Katz, charge a flat fee from beginning to end. “You don’t have to use a highend, expensive party planner to do a New York party,” she says, adding that parents should do some research on their own before creating a budget. And although wanting to host the perfect event is understandable, Katz urges parents to be realistic, because “there’s no end to the amount of money that you could spend on a bar/ bat mitzvah.” Contact: eventsbyalysa@ gmail.com or call 732-299-5545 Other recommended party planners: EMRG Media: emrgmedia.com/ mitzvah, 212-254-3700; Shiraz Events: shirazevents.com, 212-255-7001
THE FLOWERS & DESIGN After booking a venue, the real creative fun begins. To achieve the room design of your dreams, it’s vital to work with a designer who understands your vision, says Jennifer Gould of Diana Gould Ltd. “I think the most important thing is that the designer listens to whatever it is that the client is interested in,” Gould says. Distinctive visions may be hard to put into words, but the right designer will know just how to bring someone’s wishes to life. “For each client who I meet with, essentially their party is custom-tailored to them. All phases of design that go into their party are unique.” Basic décor elements include floral design, room transformation, graphic design logos, and custom linen fabrics, but there are plenty of elaborate options, as well. “We have: a fabrication department where we make 3D fabricated artwork centerpieces both in Lucite and as structural photography; a furniture design department where we build furniture for events; and a lighting department,” Gould says. So what are some new and popular trends in décor? “More apparent this season is to create more of an environment for the kids as opposed to just having some lounge seating,” Gould continued on page 50
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Michael Jurik Photography
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Venue: Tribeca 360; Flowers & Design: Diana Gould Ltd.
says. “I also see more collections of glassware, vases, and floating candles. There are more streamlined florals that are a little bit more architectural in style—less traditionally lush.” Gould also notes that pervasive themes aren’t as big of a deal anymore. “It’s been more about bringing in reflections about the bar or bat mitzvah child, which I like to do in a photographic way, as opposed to making a very themed centerpiece,” she says. The décor gives guests an opportunity to experience the bar or bat mitzvah child’s likes and interests, and incorporating his or her personality as Gould likes to do not only has more meaning but also leads to a more unique party. For example, Gould recently designed a tent party for a foodie bar mitzvah boy that had concession stands ranging from a lobster shack to a pizza creation station. “It was really amazing and effective,” she says. Some parents bring in furniture or games on their own to save money, but Gould advises against it. “I would say in every situation, furniture has come in dirty or ripped. It has not been placed properly, and it doesn’t become a cohesive part of the décor element—which is so critical,” she says. “Your most cost-effective solution is to use the venue’s rounds and do a linen. You can step it up by renting maybe half rectangular tables, and then do a custom linen on that table.” No matter how you decide to design the room, all that matters is that you’re satisfied with the outcome. “It’s the first thing that you see, and it’s what you’re seeing all night long. It’s such an important part of the event,” Gould points out. Contact: dianagouldltd.com or call 212-629-6993
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Other recommended florists: Blooming Affairs: bloomingaffairs. com, 212-262-0004; MCnino Designs: mcninodesigns.com, 781-383-2424; Michael George: michaelgeorgeflowers. com, 212-883-0304
THE PHOTOGRAPHER Finding the right photographer to capture every moment of your child’s bar or bat mitzvah is a time-consuming but worthwhile task. Although the event itself may fly by quickly, your special memories—and photos—will last a lifetime. Event photographer Michael Jurick is a pro when it comes to documenting all aspects of the rite of passage, even starting months before the big day. “Typically we’ll do a pre-shoot with the family so that there’s a comfort level there,” Jurick says. Those photos typically end up being featured in the sign-in book and other elements of the party. “It’s an opportunity to create heirloom-quality photographs of the bar or bat mitzvah boy or girl in a moment of time looking their absolute best,” he says. “We can also use those images to blow up in the room and use them as art and decoration.” When choosing a theme for the photo shoot, creativity is highly encouraged. “I recently did a ‘Saturday Night Live’ shoot with the iconiclooking imagery that reflects the host of the show idea,” Jurick says. Fun themes may be exciting, but Jurick is often proudest of images that are taken inside the synagogue. “New York City has some of the grandest and most beautiful sanctuaries in the country. Capturing those hundreds of years of architecture with the boy or girl is amazing,” he says. Prior to the event, Jurick likes to meet with his client’s party planner
or designer in order to understand the physical parameters of the space, the flow of the night’s events, and the overall décor. “I study [everything] so that my team and I are where we need to be at all times. There’s just so much going on, and you don’t want to miss anything,” he notes. The pre-party research goes further. “The most important thing to me is getting a list of the key family members so that I can make a schematic of all of the people and combinations for family portraits beforehand. I really take my time with that to make sure that I get everybody,” Jurick says. “And the room has to look gorgeous, so I take my time to photograph it when nobody’s in it.” To find the right photographer, you’ll want to ask around for recommendations and do a bit of research on your own. “A referral is key. Look at their website for fresh content on their blog, which indicates that they’re doing cutting-edge things,” Jurick says. Ultimately, “The most important thing is how comfortable you feel with the photographer when you meet them.” Comparing a photographer’s price range to your budget is also important, of course. To save money, Jurick suggests forgoing professional photography during the Kiddush lunch. “That’s a few hours of photography money and time—it’s a logical place to kind of scale back.” About ten percent of your total budget will go toward photography, Jurick estimates, but the one-time cost provides you with something truly special. After all, “A photographer creates those lasting memories—the pictures you’ll have forever.” Contact: jurick.net or call 917-544-1871 Other recommended photographers: Gruber Photographers: gruberphotographers.com, 212-2629777; Sarah Merians Photography & Video: sarahmerians.com, 212-633-0502
THE INVITATIONS The invitation sets the tone for the fabulous event to follow, so it’s important to get it right. After all, that pretty piece of paper is giving your guests a sneak peek of what to expect in a few months. Nanette Marks, continued on page 52
www.newyorkfamily.com
Rebecca Weiss Photography
ESPACE OFFERS ITS CLIENTS SOPHISTICATION, VERSATILITY AND EXPERIENCED COMMITTMENT TO CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT
635 WEST 42ND STREET BETWEEN 11TH AND 12TH AVENUES NEW YORK CITY 212-967-7003 www.espaceny.com info@espaceny.com
founder of Notes by Nanette, is an expert on the creative design process for bar and bat mitzvah invitations. During an initial meeting with parents, Marks tries to understand their goals and make sure that everyone is on the same page. “I get an idea of what the party is like and how the invitation is going to reflect that,” she says. Early on, they discuss quantity as well as price range. “There’s definitely something for every budget.” As far as trends go, shifting away from the large rectangular invitations that were popular for so many years, kids and parents alike are now opting for square-shaped or circular invitations made from thick cardstock. The modern look frequently features fluorescent colors and left- or right-justified lowercase text. Other popular design choices for unique and understated invitations include blind embossing, letter pressing, and colorful edge painting. While most parents go into the process with a specific look already in mind, the possible design combinations are virtually countless. “A lot of times people will collect invitations to show me—and then they end up walking out with something completely different,” Marks says. Two of her most memorable creations came from parents who really chose to think outside the box; one of the resulting invitations was made of white Lucite, the other from stainless steel. While those were certainly unique designs, Marks’ proudest accomplishment to date remains her daughter’s glitterbacked invitation with a handmade soft pink and gold liner, which she describes as “simple and elegant with an element of fun.” And when should you order your cards? Between three and four months before the event, at the latest, though Marks says that six months would be ideal. “You want to send them out to guests about eight weeks before, so work backwards from there,” she advises. Typically, after placing your order, it takes about a month to receive the cards. The most common error is failing to order enough invitations. To avoid this pitfall, Marks suggests over-ordering in anticipation of a changing guest list. This often saves money in the end, because the higher the initial quantity, the less each invitation costs. You can also prevent potential last-minute issues by using a printer that will be
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flexible with proofs; Marks herself works with about eight different vendors who her clients can choose from. Some budget-friendly tips: Include the party information on the main invitation, provided that it doesn’t clutter the card with too much text. Also, you can choose a less elaborate liner and a more affordable thank you note, both of which garner much less attention than the invitation itself. While a typical order of 150 invitations is likely to run you around $1,000, “everything varies with quantity,” Marks says. Contact: notesbynanette. com or call 646-262-1596 Other recommended invitation services: Alpine Creative Group: alpinecreativegroup.com, 212-989-4198; Love Laura Gifts: lovelauragifts.com, 212-744-0754
ENTERTAINMENT When planning your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, there are countless options for fun-filled entertainment. From music choices to sideshow activities, making the right selections can completely enhance the atmosphere of the event. Marc Jason, the owner of Total Entertainment, has some advice for parents on how to throw a memorable party that isn’t too over-the-top. To really get the party started, dance-worthy music is a must. Before the DJ starts spinning tracks, spice up the cocktail hour with a novelty group or even an electric violinist. And when it comes to choosing the perfect emcee, Jason says, “you want someone who knows how to be a chameleon who can complement the whole family’s personality.” In addition to live performers, the most popular activities offered by entertainment companies include interactive concepts such as photo booths and virtual reality machines. Social media integration is also hot right now, allowing guests to immediately post photos online and print images at an Instagram-style station at the party. One notably delicious trend brings food-inspired kiosks—featuring some of the best treats that the city has to offer—straight to the sidelines of the dance floor. Total Entertainment often collaborates with popular brands, such as 16 Handles, to do this. “I think it’s
Sarah Merians Photography
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Eventi
exciting—if something’s hot on the street and people like it, it’s great to have it at their parties,” Jason says. In addition to impressive food kiosks, DJ booths are now far from simple. “It’s like you’re building a nightclub on the dance floor,” Jason says. Your child’s interests can be incorporated into the interactive atmosphere in cool ways, too—from recreating Venice Beach segway tracks to building Sephora beauty product bars, Total Entertainment tailors its offerings for each individual party. Detailed examples from past events, including filmed footage from prior parties, are important to note when choosing an entertainment company. “You want to feel comfortable and see that the owner of the company is engaging and quick to come up with ideas once you tell them some of the things that you want,” Jason says. In terms of your budget, “sometimes it’s worth spending a little more to know that operationally things are going to click and happen at the right time,” Jason says. Organization is key, and quality definitely trumps quantity. If you want music and dancing to be the main focus, then you shouldn’t have too many games competing with that. “Figure out what’s really important. What are the wants versus the needs?” Jason says. And to keep the entertainment selection budget-friendly, certain activities can be combined. For instance, an airbrush station can create sweatshirts, which then double as personalized party favors for the attendees. Contact: totalentertainment. com or call 201-894-0055 Other recommended entertainment providers: Levy Lighting: levylighting. com, 212-925-4640; Pure Energy: pureenergyentertainment.net, 732-536-3688; Shine Events: shineevents.com, 845-535-3100 www.newyorkfamily.com
mitzvah guide 2014
Mitzvah
MAGIC From Flashy Fun To Traditional Elegance, Our Top Picks For Where By SimonBar Or Bat Mitzvah ToSamantha Host Your Celebration Are Sure To Delight
N
ew York City has no shortage of fantastic venues perfect for celebrating a young person’s coming of age. While our list of ultimate party venues is as varied as it is comprehensive, one current of commonality runs through them all: each one promises a distinct affair to remember—regardless of what kind of tone you want to set.
LET’S EAT Apella Event Space, at Alexandria Center at 450 East 29th Street, can hold up to 300 guests for a cocktail reception, 250 seated theater style, and various other setups for smaller events. All food and beverage is exclusively catered by Tom Colicchio’s restaurant Riverpark and sandwich shop ‘wichcraft. Contact: 212-706-4100 or events@apella.com Benjamin Steakhouse prides itself on providing perfectly choreographed events. So allow their expertise in service and cuisine to ensure that your family’s special day is complete success. From beautifully marbled cuts of dry-aged beef and delicious seafood to unbeatable charm and service, Benjamin Steakhouse is a great way to set the scene for a festive dining and celebratory experience for groups from 15-200 people. Contact: 212-297-9177 or events@benjaminsteakhouse.com Guastavino’s window-filled building under the Queensboro bridge at 409 East 59th Street was named for the distinctive terra cotta tiles adorning its
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New York Family | March 2014
arches and vaults. The look is classic New York—these are the same tiles that are in the subway stations and Grand Central Terminal. Contact: 212980-2711, guastavinos.com Opia Restaurant at 130 East 57th Street in Midtown has adjoining rooms which means you can host from 14 to 300 people for a sit-down dinner with dancing, or just serve drinks and passed appetizers. Price per person varies depending on menu and number of guests. Contact: Jimena, 212-6888448 or jimena@opiarestaurant.com The Sea Fire Grill boasts chic and inviting décor, impressive menu options, and excellent service—all of which contribute to a sophisticated, memorable, and flawless event. A myriad of spaces are suited for parties of 10-150. Located at 158 East 48th Street. Contact: 212-935-3785 or events@theseafiregrill.com
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Arena at 135 West 41st Street in Bryant Park has New York’s largest programmable L.E.D. lighting system and is home to some of Fashion Week’s swankiest affairs. Great for budding fashionistas to celebrate their milestone. Contact: Gina La Rochelle or Anthony Coppers, 212-278-0988 x103 or events@arenanyc.net Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theatre is great for bar or bat mitzvahs. This unique theatrical experience is a form of entertainment
Lucky Strike Lanes
like nothing else, guaranteed to be an outing that your group will never forget. Party packages—which include discounted tickets, the name of the mitzvah child on the L.E.D. screen, and a merchandise item for each guest— are available for groups of 10 and up. Located on Lafayette Street between 4th and Astor. Contact: 212-260-8993 Columbus 72 has remained one of the city’s perennial nightclubs for the past 40 years, and the space at 246 Columbus Avenue recently underwent its first huge renovation. Featuring two dance floors, two lounges, and upholstered lounge furniture, the venue offers a state-of-the-art sound system and six large flat-screen TVs to liven up the scene of any party. Contact: 212769-1492 or events@c72nyc.com Hudson Terrace at 621 West 46th Street is a turn-of-the-century upscale nightclub. Overlooking the Hudson River, this midtown Manhattan landmark can host up to 400 guests in one of its party spaces, which include an oldworld salon, an outdoor garden terrace, and an open-air retractable rooftop garden lounge. Contact: 212-315-9400 or info@hudsonterracenyc.com Melrose Ballroom, located at 36-08 33rd Street, Astoria, has a large three-floor venue that can seat up to 1,000 people. The first floor ballroom seats around 700 and the second floor mezzanine seats another 100, with the lounge on the third floor also available for use. Catering options are available through the Melrose Ballroom. Contact: 718-255-6921 or info@melroseballroom.com continued on page 56
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Michael Jurick Photography
The Craft Studio (and its prime UES location) can now be rented out for mitzvah parties with a fun and creative feel. The venue has disco balls and high ceilings, and can be transformed to suit any theme, with plenty of space for additional furniture, tables, and decor. Plus, there’s a huge menu of craft stations to select from and space for up to 75 people. Contact: Lindsay Peers, 212-831-6626 or craftstudio@ verizon.net
eSpace
Tenjune occupies a former garage in the Meatpacking District. This subterranean lounge oozes urban cool with zebra-prints, a horseshoeshaped dance floor and a bar covered in leather. Located at 26 Little West 12th Street. Contact: 646-624-2410 or events@emmgrouping.com
LOFTY IDEAS The Glasshouses at 545 West 25th Street offer a blank canvas of windowed walls. Choose from a room with 11- or 14-ft ceilings; the starting price to rent either space is $7,500, and both hold 150 people for seated dinners or 200 for cocktail receptions. Contact: Yumi Han, 212-242-7800 x19 or yumi@theglasshouses.com eSpace at 635 West 42nd is a clean, modern space just steps from Times Square that can hold up to 600 guests for a seated dinner. Teens will be thrilled to discover the wireless Internet access with which they can post realtime updates of the evening. Contact: 212-967-7003 or espaceny.com The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers at Pier 60 is a waterfront space that can hold 160 to 900 guests for a cocktail reception and 350 for dinner with dancing. Floor-to-ceiling windows have sweeping views of the Hudson and the lights of New Jersey. An outdoor patio makes this a perfect spot for a warm weather cocktail hour. Contact: Meredith Barsky, 212-336-6146 or barskm@chelseapiers.com Tribeca 360 provides breathtaking panoramic views of Manhattan in
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over 30,000 square feet of space. In addition to offering views of the scenic cityscape for miles, the minimalistic décor of the architecturally designed venue is highly versatile. To top it off, a 3,000-ft hickory wood dance floor can be enjoyed by up to 700 people at 10 Desbrosses Street. Contact: 212-6252600 or inquiries@apogeeevents.com
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center at 431 East Main Street in Riverhead will take your guests on a private journey through the ruins of the Lost City of Atlantis. The adventure continues in your choice of aquatic-themed rooms. Kids and adults alike will marvel at the petting tanks and shark exhibits. Contact: Johanna Zucaro, 631-208-9200 x220 or jzucaro@amwny.com Hard Rock Café at 1501 Broadway is ideal for a party that really rocks. Every room in the venue is filled with music memorabilia, and you can rent the café’s indoor/outdoor space overlooking Times Square. Contact: John Pasquale, 212-991-1287 or john_ pasquale@hardrock.com Deb’s Family Disco at Club Arena at 135 West 41st Street, Bryant Park, is a colorful space known for catering to families. They offer a club, catering, DJ, dancers, performance artists, as well as photography and food, so you can focus on the important stuff, like what to wear. Contact: 212-586-7425 or familydisco.com
New York Hall of Science at 47-01 111th Street, Queens, offers an out-of-thisworld setting. Holding your affair in their North Wing gives your guests an opportunity to explore outer space, dance with the stars, and even check out the interactive exhibits. Contact: Jennifer Brunjes, 718-699-0005 x371 or jbrunjes@nysci.org Providence at 311 West 57th Street has a 13,500-square-ft space featuring three levels and four bars to cater to any preferences and tastes. Formerly a church and studio where Sinatra, Hendrix, Streisand, and Stevie Wonder recorded their music, this space provides for a grand party. Features include a state-ofthe-art sound system, intelligent lighting, plasma displays, and projections screens, all designed to add personalized special effects to the party. Contact:212-505-7400 or metronomenyc.com World Yacht Destiny at Pier 81 features a dance floor, walk-up bar, and dining configurations at which guests can enjoy food from some of the tri-state area’s best kosher caterers. The ship is ideal for medium-sized groups and has a relaxed lounge deck that provides the perfect spot for dancing under the night sky. Located on the Hudson River at West 41st Street, the yacht hosts up to 250 people. Contact: 212-630-8100
LET THE GAMES BEING SPiN New York, which is partly owned by Susan Sarandon, takes ping pong out of the suburban basement and transports it to a sleek and hip setting. Now imagine that setting transformed in a mitzvah party for kids, with all the dancing and hoopla, plus something else continued on page 58
www.newyorkfamily.com
Slam Dunk Mitzvah Celebrations
Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine
is the Perfect venue for your child’s Mitzvah Celebrations Conveniently located at
485 Tenth Avenue (Between 37th & 38th Streets) Manhattan
Easy parking for your guests
Contact: Walter Rauscher
212-206-8806
continued from page 56
that you can’t get anywhere else: lots of ping pong fun and games. Contact: 212-982-8802 or info@spinyc.com USTA Tennis Center’s President’s Dining & Lounge overlooks Arthur Ashe Stadium, giving tennis fans the wow factor. Located in Flushing Meadow Park, the stadium is home to the U.S. Open and the largest outdoor tennis-only venue in the world. Up to 300 guests can be entertained with dinner and dancing. Prices start at $11,000 to rent the space. Contact: Jennifer Matthews, 718-595-2420 or matthews@usta.com
Wine and Dine, brought to you by former New York Knicks star Clyde Frazier, is a perfect spot for basketballloving bar and bat mitzvah kids. This 10,000-square-ft restaurant, located at 485 10th Avenue, features a free-throw court in addition to the typical dining room and bar and lounge spaces. 42 TV screens, a nine-screen video wall, and treats by a Latin-focused culinary team rounds out the entertainment offerings. Contact: Walter Rauscher, 212-842-1110 or rauscherw@ arkrestaurants.com
JP Teutonico
Yankee Stadium at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx is a dream come true for baseball aficionados. The Legends Suite Club extends from home plate down each baseline for unparalleled views of the ball field. Or try the Great Moments room, which is adorned with images of historic plays in Yankees history. Contact: 646-977-8400 or events@ yankees.com
Bowlmor Lanes
Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine
Dave & Buster’s at 234 West 42nd Street, 3rd Floor. Everyone can let their inner child out at this 31,500-square-ft gaming venue. D&B can hold parties for as few as ten or as many as 1,200 guests. Contact: Benjamin Maddy, 646-495-2011 or benjamin_maddy@ daveandbusters.com Lucky Strike Lanes at 624-660 West 42nd Street. They’ll have fun to spare at Lucky Strike Lanes. Hold your party in the main bowling area or rent the ultra-private Luxe room for fetes up to 200 people. Contact: Matt Miller, 646-829-0180
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Bowlmor Lanes Union Square/ Greenwich Village Country Club at 110 University Place is the only indoor spot in New York where you can play mini golf, bocce ball, bowl, drink, and hit the dance floor all in one night. Contact: 212-255-8188 or bowlmor.com
CHIC CHOICES Angel Orensanz Foundation at 172 Norfolk Street was built in 1849 and is the oldest surviving synagogue building in New York. They don’t build them like this anymore—the interior was
designed to resemble Paris’ Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the sanctuary was designed to resemble the Sistine Chapel. It can hold up to 250 for a sit-down dinner with a dance floor (for 300 guests, add $500). The price ranges from $15,800-17,800 Monday through Thursday and $19,800-21,800 Friday through Sunday. Catering not included. Contact: Maria Neri, 212-5297194 or orensanzevents@aol.com Broad Street Ballroom at 41 Broad Street retains all the elegance from its original use as a banking hall. The 5,700-square-ft ballroom is wrapped in a 220-ft mural chronicling the history of commerce by sea. Features include a state-of-the-art AV system perfect for showing a photo montage and seating for up to 300 guests. Contact: 646-624-2524 x360 or raquel@ broadstreetballroom.com Bryant Park Grill at 25 West 40th Street is situated behind the New York Public Library and overlooks Bryant Park with an attractive, modern interior. The space can hold up to 150 guests for an evening of dinner and dancing. Contact: Walter Rauscher, 212-206-8815 x106 or rauscherw@ arkrestaurants.com The Edison Ballroom, the former Times Square Supper Club, retains its Art Deco style in a space that can hold up to 600 people. Use their kitchen staff or bring in your own. Prices range from $100-180 per person. Contact: Sean Campbell, 212-201-7650 or sean@ edisonballroom.com Eventi offers a sleek and chic setting in a scene-defining neighborhood located continued on page 60
www.newyorkfamily.com
Photo: David Plakke Media
COUNTRY DAY CAMP
National Academy School Summer Art Camps Week-long, full-day art camps Art and drama for ages 6-10 Painting and drawing for ages 10-13 Art portfolio for high school students
Register now! Summer camps start June 9 NATIONAL ACADEMY SCHOOL www.nationalacademy.org
in the city
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since 1971
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JUNE 30th – AUG 21st
FREE Winter Family Festival Sat, 1/11/14 Call 212.316.7530 for tour & brochure Visit www.actprograms.org
We’re with you for the
“Mazel Tov”moments of life It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. Hold it at The Garrison or the Highlands Country Club, and make it even more memorable with incomparable Hudson River views, impeccable service, and inspired cuisine. Our special events staff works with you, one-on-one, from beginning to end. Let us set the stage for your perfect day.
Dine. Stay. Celebrate. Discover 845-424-3604 • thegarrison.com
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The Garrison offers private rooms with natural light. The elegant interior design by Tony Chi is purposely classic and neutral, flexible to fit any theme. Located just an hour north of NYC, The Garrison is easy for your guests to reach on your family’s big day. Creative cuisine from Chef Vin Mocarski’s kitchen is tailored to your event. There’s room for playfulness, like retro dessert stations featuring homemade versions of Twinkies and Oreos. Contact: 845-424-3604 X15 or info@thegarrison.com Harmonie Club at 4 East 60th Street is the second oldest social club in New York City, dating back to 1852. Its posh Beaux Arts design outside and traditional wood paneling inside make this locale a classic choice. Contact: 212-355-7400 Home Studios is a conveniently located loft in the heart of Manhattan. With 14-ft ceilings and maple floors, the 4,000-square-ft space at 873 Broadway offers classically simple furniture, in addition to an elegant ambiance and access to top caterers for privately hosted parties. Contact: 212-475-4663 or info@ homestudiosinc.com The Liberty Theater at 233 West 41st Street in Times Square was originally built in 1904 and for many years was home to some of New York’s finest theatrical productions before undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation in 2007. It’s now a restaurant and event space that can accommodate parties of almost any scale. Contact: William Curran, 212-9971015 or wcurran@tshgrp.com The Penthouse Lounge at 230 Fifth embraces modernist décor from the 1940s with beveled peach mirrors and antique couches and cocktail tables crafted by famed artisans. The spacious 8,000-square-ft venue can seat up to 600 guests and boasts
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New York Family | March 2014
Clay & Co.
at 851 Avenue of the Americas. Popular features include the Big Screen Plaza, a giant multimedia art screen, to display footage or branded logos, distinctive catering, a large veranda terrace, a sit-down dinner for 250, and much more. Contact: Lisa Benoit, lisa.benoit@ eventihotel.com
Edison Ballroom
panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline from its perch between 26th and 27th Streets. Contact: 212-7254300 or susie@230-fifth.com Slate has the ultimate lounge vibe, brimming with comfortable oversized plush chairs and sleek sofas. Resembling a large living room, the highly social atmosphere features a wall-to-wall line of 12-ft doors that lead to a VIP lounge and the Studio dining area. The 16,000-squareft venue at 54 West 21st Street accommodates various party sizes, and the staff kindly offers to honor special requests. Contact: 212-9890096 or info@slate-ny.com Stage 6, Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 15 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, is located in a major movie production studio. The modern ballroom has walls of paned glass offering dramatic views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges, and the Empire State Building. The venue can hold 150-600 people for dinner and dancing. All catering must be done through Abigail Kirsch Productions with prices ranging from $150-250 per person. Contact: 718-237-1919 or steinerstudios.com Union Square Ballroom combines understated modernism with chic warmth. The venue located at 27 Union Square West offers state-ofthe-art sound and light technology, vaulted acoustic ceilings, and recessed perimeter floor lighting. Seating up to 400 guests, the “blank palette” design of the room allows for creative décor
and room design. Contact: 212-6451802 or unionsquareballroom.com W New York Union Square is an innovatively re-mixed space that is home to a 2,300-square-ft Great Room. With ceilings that are 23 feet high and opulent turn-of-the-century décor, the room at 201 Park Avenue South still boasts detailing from the original 1911 Guardian Life Beaux-Arts building and can accommodate up to 200 people. Contact: 212-253-9119
A GOOD DEAL 202 East can host up to 120 guests on the second floor of a two-story townhouse on the Upper East Side. Located on East 77th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, the space’s discreet appearance allows for a great deal of privacy. The refined décor features light gray, gold, and turquoise color motifs that create a soft environment, further enhanced by wallmounted candles, adjustable lighting levels, and high vaulted ceilings. Food is not provided at the venue and must be catered from elsewhere. Contact: Doug Russell, 212-861-4330 or russell@202east.com DOROT, Inc., at 171 West 85th Street, offers the Susan Resnick Fisher Auditorium, a beautifully renovated party space that holds up to 60 people and is available on evenings, weekends and some holidays. Add a DJ, some pizza, and you’re all set. Perfect for a kids-only dance party. The room rental charge is a bargain at $200 an hour. Contact: Judith Logan, 917-441-3753 or jlogan@dorotusa.org www.newyorkfamily.com
ELEVENTH ANNUAL
APRIL 23–25, 2014 The New Yorker Hotel
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS DR. ROBERT C. PIANTA
(Fordham Award Recipient) Dean, Novartis Professor of Education, & Founding Director of the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia
DR. SERENA WIEDER Clinical Director Profectum Foundation Co-Developer of the DIR®/ Floortime™ Model
DR. AMI KLIN Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Professor & Chief; Director of the Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University School of Medicine
DR. EDWARD M. HALLOWELL Child and Adult Psychiatrist NY Times bestselling author, world renowned speaker, and leading authority in the field of ADHD; Founder of The Hallowell Centers in Boston & New York City
DR. CATHERINE LORD Director for the Center for Autism & the Developing Brain Weill Cornell Medical College NY Presbyterian Hospital
GREAT SPEAKERS. GREAT LEARNING. HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN & GROW OVERVIEW
Over 100 Speakers More than 80 Conference Sessions Full and Half-day Workshops 40 Exhibitors & Over 1,200 Attendees expected TOPICS
ADHD Autism Essentials Behavior Management Bullying Developmental Discipline Early Literacy
The Young Child Expo & Conference will provide early childhood professionals and parents the latest information about early childhood development, services, resources, and products to help all children reach their full potential. In one unique event, this conference integrates learning about a wide variety of important topics affecting typically developing children as well as those with special needs, including autism.
To register go to:
www.YoungChildExpo.com
MICHELLE GIELAN
or call 212-787-9700, ext. 333
Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research
REGISTER BEFORE MARCH 26, 2014 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS
Emotional Intelligence Educational Policy Music and Learning Play Social Skills Development Speech Language Issues . . . and many more
GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Presented by
l l O r T S T S Ju f 2014 O s r e ll o r t S t s The Be Our Guide To Edited by Mia
Weber
F
inding a stroller that’s right for you and your child can be a confusing task, given the variety of attributes and amenities that many strollers now feature. While it can be a difficult decision, the ultimate factors should always be safety, comfort, mobility, and a harmony with your personal budget. To help you distinguish between the wheel deal and models that just aren’t for you, we’re proud to present our annual guide to the best strollers of the year—prepare to rock ‘n stroll!
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2 1 1. 4moms Origami 4moms’ high-tech Origami stroller power-folds at the touch of a button and features a built-in generator that charges both the stroller’s electronic features and your cell phone as you walk. With daytime running lights, pathway lights for low-light conditions, sensors that detect when a child’s in the seat (so it’ll never fold by accident), and a handlebar LCD that shows the temperature, speed, and distance traveled, the Origami is the Starship Enterprise of stroller models. $849.99, 4moms.com
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2. Baby Jogger F.I.T. Perfect for easing back into your workout routine post-partum, Baby Jogger’s F.I.T. jogging stroller is an easy addition to any mom’s exercise regimen. Suitable for both everyday walking and intense running, this lightweight stroller carries up to 75 lbs and features 16-inch wheels ideal for long strides and rough terrain. Complete with a sun canopy with peeka-boo window, quick-fold technology, and a lifetime warranty, the F.I.T. is sure to bring out your inner athlete. $299.99, babyjogger.com
New York Family | March 2014
3. BABYZEN YOYO This super-compact stroller is the first in the world that, when folded, is totally compliant with the size recommendation for airplane carry-on baggage. This convenient feature, coupled with four-wheel suspension, an exclusive soft-drive system, a reclining backrest, and a variety of color options, make the YOYO a must for families on the go. Suitable for babies starting at 6 months. $469, saksfifthavenue.com 4. BOB Motion As the name suggests, BOB’s Motion stroller is perfect for parents who are on-the-go. After 15 years of focusing efforts on jogger strollers, BOB’s first-ever four-wheel Motion stroller
is a compact, lightweight, and durable alternative with plenty of storage space. With a one-hand, quick-fold frame that locks automatically, this stroller can be easily assembled or collapsed while you’re on the move. The pneumatic tires and rugged suspension system allow for smooth maneuvering on bumpy terrain, and the comfortable, infinite recline seat with a five-point harness is sure to keep your little one safe and sound. $349.99, bobgear.com 5. Britax Affinity The versatile Britax Affinity stroller—launching at the beginning of this month—combines fashion and function for a look that’s supremely sleek and modern. Parents www.newyorkfamily.com
t I h t I W 5 7 6
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9 8 can select from 18 different fabric and frame combinations to build a premium, custom stroller unique to their family. With Britax’s notable safety and design standards and cool color packs (each of which includes a canopy, shoulder and buckle pads, a basket liner, and a machine-washable padded seat liner) like “cactus green” and “fossil brown” this is definitely a fashion-forward stroller. Frame, $599.99; Color packs, $99.99 each; britaxusa.com/affinity 6. Bugaboo Donkey For the best in versatility, check out the Bugaboo Donkey. This stroller has the ability to convert from a mono, with flexible luggage www.newyorkfamily.com
options, to a duo ideal for children of different ages to a twin for kids of the same age, and back again. The ever-changing stroller will be available in trendy colors for this spring, including ice blue and soft pink. The fresh and vibrant tones will brighten up the equipment while the highest quality fabrics and new extendable sun canopy will keep the hues at their best and provide ample weather protection for your precious travelers. From $1,269, bugaboo.com 7. Bumbleride Indie 4 The Bumbleride four-wheel all-terrain Indie 4 is designed for modern parents who need a stroller equipped for city life and weekend adventures. The Indie 4’s easy maneuverability and
compactable frame and are perfect for the urban parent, but its pneumatic tires and all-wheel suspension also make for simple transitions to more rugged environments. The Bumbleride Indie 4 also features a roomy seat that is appropriate for infants and as well as toddlers, and a generous storage area— plus it comes bundled with Bumbleride’s Infant Carrycot. As with all other Bumbleride products, the Indie 4 is made eco-consciously. $599, bumbleride.com 8. Chicco Activ3 Stroller The new Chicco Activ3
Stroller is dual mode (it works as a travel system and as a stroller) and is safe and stable, offering full suspension with two settings. Go soft for walking or rigid for running. Plus, the stroller has a hand-activated parking break, an adjustable five-point safety harness, several folding configurations, a large canopy with tinted peek-a-boo windows, a removable parent tray and cup holders, and more. $299, chiccousa.com 9. Combi Catalyst This three-in-one modular stroller has the versatility to function as a complete travel system, a bassinet continued on page 64
March 2014 | New York Family
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stroller, and a toddler stroller. The infant car seat adapter is included and works with Combi’s Shuttle infant car seat and those of other major brands. The reversible seat has a weight capacity of 50 lbs. The unit’s other key features include an oversized canopy, durable polyurethane wheels, one-hand adjusting, a large storage basket, and all-wheel suspension in an easy fold model. $379.99, combiusa.com
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10. CYBEX Onyx The versatile CYBEX Onyx stroller works equally well for your infant or for your 50lb toddler. The latest model comes in a splashy chili pepper red and maintains all its wellloved features: four-position recline, rear-wheel suspension, a one-pull harness, and a super big canopy. And when combined with the CYBEX’s Aton or Aton 2 Infant Car Seat, you have a fantastic travel system. $260, cybex-online.com=
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11. Evenflo SmartFold Travel System One second and one hand is all it takes to fold up the durable and lightweight SmartFold Travel System by Evenflo, which includes a multi-position reclining seat, a large storage basket, a parent drink holder, a full canopy with a peek-a-boo window, as well as front swivel locking wheels. Plus, the stroller self-stands when folded, so no bending is necessary. You also get Evenflo’s Embrace 35 LX Infant Car Seat, for 4-35 lb babies. $149, evenflo.com
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12. Graco Aire3 Click Connect Travel System A two-for-one deal, Graco’s Aire3 Click Connect Travel System includes a lightweight stroller and the best-selling Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat. The stroller has a sleek three-wheeled design with cup-holders and a multi-position seat for growing children, plus it comes with a reverse-facing car seat when bought as a travel system. Stroller, $229.99; Travel System, $349.99; gracobaby.com
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13. Inglesina All-Terrain Quad Stroller Inglesina’s brand-new AllTerrain Quad Stroller is ideal for the rough sidewalks of New York City. Equipped with large ball-bearing wheels and shock absorbers, your baby won’t feel a thing while riding over uneven pavement. A one-
handed folding mechanism will compact the carrier for perfect storage in even the smallest of apartments. The quad also comes with a reversible, four-position seat for the most comfortable experience, and a roomy bassinet is an available option for newborns. $599, inglesina.us 14. Jané Trider Extreme Jané’s Trider Extreme has large diameter front wheels, which make maneuvering a dream. Recommended for age 4 months up to when a baby weighs 40 lbs, the stroller features a long length suspension stroke and adjustable shock absorbers for maximum comfort. Additionally, the equipment can double as a high chair at the dinner table because of the adjustable hammock height, and is compatible with various car seats. $790, jane-usa.com 15. Joovy Qool Get your groove on with Joovy’s Qool stroller, which has 20 style variations for you to choose from (plus ten fun colors and two different frames). With a cantilever four-wheel suspension system, your baby will stroll smoothly from point A to point B. An adjustable handlebar allows parents of all heights to comfortably use the stroller, while the fully padded and reversible seat also comes with leg support for your little one. $549, joovy.com 16. Kinderwagon Tandem Umbrella Kinderwagon’s Tandem Umbrella stroller is lightweight, narrow, and easily collapsible for city parents who need a stroller suitable for their growing families. The front seat is suitable for children from 6 months up to 50 lbs, with a two-position recline and leg rest. The rear seat is suitable for little ones from 3 months and can recline to 130 degrees. Features include onetouch double brakes, a removable canopy with two viewing windows, a rain cover, and a removable cup holder. $299.99, kinderwagon.com 17. Lilly Gold Sit ‘n’ Stroll Lilly Gold’s Sit ‘n’ Stroll has five different useful configurations, from car seat to fully functional stroller to FAA-certified flight seat, to a perfect dining booster buddy, this versatile carrier makes traveling with your tiny continued on page 66
www.newyorkfamily.com
Come Play Yoga at Karma Kids Yoga! est. 1986
c
Enrich your child’s day with music, art, gym & play! “Mommy & Me” Pre-School Prep Age appropriate classes for babes, tots, and 2’s.
Mini-camp begins May 27th 424 West End Ave. @ 81st 212.877.7614 | poppyseedprenursery.com
Karma Kids
we let the dogs out c Yoga for Babies
Dance!
Our unique and fun approach to dance focuses on building physical strength and flexibility, focus and attention, body awareness, confidence and self-esteem, and a love for dance! Karma Kids Dance classes will help kids become more confident movers and dancers at any age, whether they want to dance forever or just for fun.
19th ANNUAL
Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Families Community Yoga CircusYoga Prenatal Yoga Free Story Time Yoga Yoga Birthday Parties Special Events Teacher Training
Karma Kids Yoga 104 West 14th Street Peace-In Studio 102 West 14th Street karmakidsyoga.com | (646)638-1444
SATURDAY
MAY 3
2014
SWIM AT THE FREE MEET! ASPHALT GREEN AQUACENTER • 1750 YORK AVENUE
(91 ST STREET)
SWIMMERS | 6–12 years Dive off the blocks and race 25 yards in our Olympic pool! Everyone is a winner and will receive: • finisher medal • the big swim ® swimming cap • souvenir t - shirt REGISTER ONLINE by April 23, 2014: ASPHALTGREEN.ORG/BIGSWIM
NY Family_FEB 2014_6.925x4.7_halfpgAD2.indd 1
2/7/14 11:30 AM
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tot a breeze. The Sit ‘n’ Stroll is ideal for newborn babies up to when they weigh 40 lbs and can become both a forwardfacing and reverse-facing car seat. $329.99, lillygold.com
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18. Maclaren Quest As with all Maclaren buggies, the Quest features a lightweight and compact umbrellafold design, which makes it ideal for city parents who may have limited storage space. The Quest is appropriate for children from birth through the toddler years. With an easy-to-adjust seat (with four positions), and Infant System with cocooning head and foot barrier, a large waterproof hood with viewing window and storage pocket, a five-point harness, and more, the Quest is truly a renaissance stroller. $270, shopmaclarenbaby.com
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19. Mamas and Papas Armadillo Light, practical, and no-nonsense, this stroller (its name is inspired by the robust yet sturdy animal) has a large, lie-flat seat and adjustable leg rest designed to give baby wiggle room and added comfort during nap time. Its compact size nonetheless features everything parents might want including a large shopping basket, easy carry handle, peek-a-boo window, XL removable hood canopy, puncture resistant tires, rear brake, and an automatic lock when the stroller is folded. Car seat compatible with the Aton, Maxi Cosi Cabrio Fix, Max Cosi Pebble, and Chicco Key Fit 30, it also comes in a wide range of cool colors. $279.99, us.mamasandpapas.com
New York Family | March 2014
20. Mountain Buggy nano The Mountain Buggy nano is the ultimate travel companion, as it promises convenience, longevity, maneuverability, and first class safety standards. A stylish and innovative travel buggy, the nano features premium quality and refined style. Weighing in at a mere 13 lbs, the nano also has the ability to fold into its own custom-made travel bag (to fit into overhead bins on airplanes and trains), as well as built-in car seat adapters that work without any additional accessories. $199.99, mountainbuggy.com 21. Orbit Baby G3 The brand new Orbit Baby G3 product line offers parents the most customizable premium
stroller and car seat system on the market. Orbit Baby is a complete child travel system, from stroller to car seat and beyond. With an emphasis on advanced safety and engineering, Orbit Baby is continually recognized for its innovation, ergonomic design and environmentally friendly focus. Its unique features including 360 rotation, true one-handed stroller fold and certified green fabrics have made this system a top choice for parents. The mixable G3 product line allows parents to customize their stroller system with car seats, stroller seats, bassinets, rockers, and storage options, and to convert their single stroller to a double. From $660, orbitbaby.com 22. Peg-Perégo Book Plus Peg-Perégo’s Book Plus stroller is reversible and practical, enabling a transition from newborn to toddler with one stroller. The seat adjusts to several different positions, including a flat position for newborns, and can convert to a travel system by attaching the Primo Viaggio SIP 30-30 infant car seat. The Book Plus is easy to use and maneuver, featuring a one-piece handle, “easy drive” wheels, and a compact, easy close. $499.99, pegperego.com 23. phil&teds smart lux The new smart lux stroller by phil&ted’s promises to be a luxury stroller on air. A luxurious and compact single stroller, the smart lux has a sleek, urban design that rolls confidently over cobblestones and pavements. With airfilled rear wheels and front wheel suspension, the smart lux offers uncompromised all-terrain maneuverability in a modern stroller, providing the most comfortable ride for your child. Additionally, the smart lux comes complete with a modular convertible main seat (with lay-flat, parent-facing, and forwardfacing modes all in one seat) and offers 21 riding options to grow with your child from birth to 4 years or 44 lbs. $399.99, philandteds.com 24. Quinny Buzz Xtra The Quinny Buzz Xtra is the next generation of the popular Quinny Buzz stroller. The recently launched model features a new canopy design that provides more coverage, as well as a flip-out visor, air-filled tires, a www.newyorkfamily.com
roomier shopping basket, and an adjustable parent handle. Additionally, the Buzz Xtra has a reversible seat, multiple position recline options, and is compatible with Quinny Tukk Foldable Carrier and Maxi-Cosi Infant car seats (adapters included). $595, quinny.com 25. Safety 1st Lift LX Travel System Stroller Safety 1st’s handy stroller takes an innovative onestep-fold system and brings it together with their bestselling OnBoard 35 infant car seat. Snazzy features include a convenient QuickClick system for secure car seat attachment and side impact protection as well as LATCH for easy installation. The travel stroller can accommodate children up to 50 lbs. $239.99, safety1st. djgusa.com 26. Schwinn Turismo A single swivel wheel jogger, the Schwinn Turismo offers uncompromising safety standards and a great comfortable ride aided by a rubberized, adjustable, and slip-resistant handle. With an exposed spring suspension, the stroller is compatible with many top infant car seats. Some extra perks include cup holders for parents and children and a built-in MP3 speaker to keep everyone entertained. $189.99, schwinnbikes.com 27. Snugli Stroller The sleek, black, aluminumframed Snugli Sroller can be paired with Snugli Style Sets in funky colors with geometric, camouflage, and quilted patterns, enabling parents to customize their stroller’s look. The reversible and fully adjustable stroller can accommodate a variety of infant car seats by Snugli and other brands. For convenience, it features an oversized storage basket and a one-touch brake. $449.99 (stroller), $49.99 (set), snugli.com 28. Stokke Scoot The Stokke Scoot stroller is unique in both design sensibility, as well as functionality. With four versatile seat positions the stroller provides both comfort and protection for the child. The Stokke Scoot is ideal for families with newborns on the go as they navigate busy streets, narrow www.newyorkfamily.com
spaces, and public transit. Designed to grow with your child, the Scoot is the prime compact stroller. $499.99, stokke.com 29. Summer Infant Fuze The all-aluminum Summer Infant Fuze stroller is lightweight, modular, and versatile—a practical option for city parents seeking a less weighty stroller and a smoother ride. Featuring reclining, forward, and rear-facing seats, plus a compact fold even with the seat attached, the newest Fuze is decked out in a cool mod pattern and includes a universal car seat adapter. Try it with the compatible Prodigy Infant car seat with Smartscreen technology that takes the guesswork out of the installation. $299.99, summerinfant.com
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30. UPPAbaby VISTA Part sports car, part SUV, this smart stroller system accommodates newborns up to 50 lbs and grows with your family by converting into an inline double if needed. The easy-to-handle model is a smooth rider with shockabsorption and suspension. It has a reversible seat and a simple one-step fold, with or without a car seat attached. It works with UPPAbaby’s MESA car seat as well as other leading brands. The model comes with a bassinet and toddler seat, an extra large storage basket, and an extendable SPF 50+ sunshade. $729.99, uppababy.com 31. urbini Hummingbird The world’s lightest stroller is the unique urbini Hummingbird, weighing in at just under 7 lbs. However, with a five-point safety harness, reinforced frame, and comfort covers, the skinny stroller doesn’t sacrifice protection for its lightness. The equipment also includes a foam padded handle, storage basket, and swivel arm. The Hummingbird comes in four cool colors, including raspberry, lime, peacock, and classic black. $99.99, walmart.com
For more bAby geAr gUIdeS, VISIT newyorkFAmILy.com.
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home&away
The FrieNd
camp countdown New York YMCA Camp
QuesTioN Should A Child Go To Sleepaway Camp With A Buddy? By Jess Michaels When choosing a sleepaway camp for the first time, many parents contemplate whether or not they should send their child to camp with a friend. While going to camp with a friend works for many campers, it can backfire as well, complicating both the camp experience and the friendship. Parents should keep the following ideas and scenarios in mind when weighing the decision. As parents search for the perfect camp for their child, many of their friends and family are likely to be strong advocates for the camps their children attend and will be eager to share information. This can be a great way to gather information—but the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, (ACA) cautions against choosing a camp solely based on where their child’s friends or cousins go. Parents need to do their own research. Parents also should make sure the camp’s philosophy complements their own parenting style. In broad strokes, some parents look for a camp that develops self-esteem through team sports and healthy rivalry, while others look for cooperative group learning and non-competitive activities. Keeping this in mind, we gathered some additional reasons for going to camp alone, followed by equally good reasons for attending with a friend. Worried your child won’t make friends at camp if he or she doesn’t go with a friend? You really needn’t be. Camp is a community where children tend to bond quickly by sharing in the activities and traditions of the camp. Moreover, the staff at any wellrun camp is adept at helping kids find their comfort zone and establish friendships with other children. In research by the ACA, 96 percent of campers say that camp helped them make new friends and 69 percent of parents say their child remains in contact with those friends. With that being said, camps ensure that children who are going without friends for the first time will
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not be alone. Even before camp begins, many camps host a pre-camp event for first-time campers, which is a good way for children to meet other campers and can relieve any worry they may have about going to camp by themselves. “We sent our daughter to a camp where she knew of children that went there, but she didn’t go with a friend,” says Rebecca Tayne, a Manhattan parent. “The camp does a lot to help campers make new friends. They hosted a new camper orientation a month before camp, where she met a lot of girls and she was able to request they be in the same bunk.” Keep in mind that if a camp doesn’t offer this type of event, your child will still make friends easily beginning with the bus ride to camp. Going to camp is a wonderful growth experience for all children, but for those who go without a pal specifically, it lets them know that they can meet new friends and be independent. “My husband and I felt that we didn’t want to saddle [our daughter] with pre-existing dynamics before she even got there. Having a friend could hamper her ability to branch out and make new friends,” Tayne adds. Exactly. Camp is a place where children can reinvent themselves. Your child has gone to school with the same children for years and may be thought of at home as the athletic child or the shy child. At camp, your child can be whomever he or she chooses to be, which is harder to do when your child is at camp with a friend who knows the roles from home. Lori Hertz, the mother of two boys from Long Island, sent her children to two different camps. Her oldest son is independent and went to camp without a friend, but her younger son wanted to go to camp with his cousin. However, right before camp started, the cousin decided not to go, and her son had to decide whether or not to go alone. “I said to my son continued on page 70
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summer2014
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Central Park (UWS) • Downtown (LES) • Traditional Day Camp for kids ages 5-11 • Early Start Imagination Camp for pre-K kids ages 3-5 • Teen Travel for emerging teens ages 12-14 • 8:30am-5:30pm with extended hours available • Beautiful outdoor facilities & ample air-conditioned indoor space • Sports, Visual & Performing Arts, Outdoor Adventure & Red Cross Swim Instruction • Hot Lunch & Transportation available • Low Ratios with Mature Staff • Flexible enrollment for 2-8 weeks Meet us & SAVE when you attend an INFO SESSION! Central Park | March 5, 2014 Downtown | March 27, 2014 To RSVP call or visit us today
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continued from page 68
that if he wants to go to camp, he should go and not let the fact that his cousin isn’t going ruin his summer,” Hertz says. “He ended up going and having a great summer.” There are also plenty of compelling reasons to send your kid to camp with a buddy. Sending your child to camp with a friend could bolster their comfort and their confidence. They’ll feel like they have a friend to count on from the very beginning of camp. “Camp is an amazing experience where children create new lifelong friendships, develop confidence and independence, and have the opportunity to spread their wings and be whoever they want to be,” says Paul Schorey, director of Chestnut Lake, a coed resident camp in Beach Lake, PA. “Often times, attending camp with a friend from home provides the necessary comfort and confidence for a child to go to camp in the first place.” Just keep in mind that you also run the risk of having two home-friends who drift apart while at camp. If your child wants to go to camp with a friend, or you feel more comfortable sending your child with someone, have a conversation with the camp director and let him or her know that these children are friends from home. Andy Lilientha, owner and director of Camp Winnebago, a boy’s resident camp in Fayette, ME, advises parents to be cautious and prepared. “Parents should be prepared for them to be in different cabins and possibly assigned to different groups. Usually, there is ample time for friends to see each other during the course of the day, and being placed in different groups allows campers the opportunity to establish a broader network of friends rather than encourage children to naturally cling to what is familiar and more comforting—and perhaps not as beneficial,” he says. Adam Baker, owner and director of Camp Equinunk and Camp Blue Ridge, brother-sister resident camps in Equinunk, PA, takes a similarly balanced approach. “A camper’s experience at sleepaway camp is defined by a collection of experiences that foster the development of their character, morality, and independence—almost all of which happen through the relationships they develop,” he says. “Much of this growth occurs in new situations with new friends. While attending sleepaway camp with a close friend from home creates a comfort, attending with a few friends may dilute the very experiences we hope for our children to have.” Whether your child goes to camp with a friend or goes alone, camp is a wonderful way for him or her to form new, long-lasting friendships and to become part of a caring community. And, in many cases, camp friendships—whether they began on campgrounds or began at home—will last well beyond the final days of summer. To learn more abouT choosing The righT camp for your child, visiT newyorkfamilycamps.com.
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Camp Birch Hill your home away from home
Located In Lakes Region Of New Hampshire
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the last word
Out Of the MOuths OF BaBes One Potty-Mouthed Local Mom Braces Herself For Her Toddler’s First F-Bomb
Ever since she learned to speak, I’ve wondered when my daughter would drop her first F-bomb. She’s three now, so I figured it had to be right around the corner. But when?! What if Trixie swore at school and I got one of those dreaded phone calls from her teacher? Or on the playground, or the bus, or at Starbucks? The possibilities were endless and, to be perfectly honest, my husband and I have never made a huge effort to censor ourselves around Trixie. Instead, we’ve chosen to view our expletives as impassioned adjectives rather than hateful gibes. At the risk of sounding uncouth, it was fun to see if we could get away with it around a baby. How long could our wild ways last?! That said, I’ve always tried to keep my swearing to the confines of our cozy home, where “It’s a bunch of bull sh*t that toddler music classes are so expensive,” and “F*ck going to the playground, it’s too damn cold!” So, having established that I have a questionable moral compass, I’ve been keeping an ear perked. Listening. Waiting for the fateful day. And as the holidays approached last year, my worst fear was that Trixie would swear in front of her grandparents—my prim British in-laws. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to keep my own language clean around them, but children are ticking time bombs. Considering Trixie has no qualms telling perfect strangers about her daddy’s huge penis, what’s to say she wouldn’t stop an obscenity from slipping in front of Grandma and Granddad, shocking them and sending me into a spiral of shame? But…she didn’t. Lucky for me Trixie kept it PG in the UK and waited until she was back in New York with her other set of grandparents. Phew. You see, potty-mouth runs in my blood. My parents don’t curse like truckers or anything, but I did grow up in an expletive-friendly zone, where it was always okay to curse if and when you saw the need. It was empowering. I liked growing up with that kind of freedom while some of my friends had strict parents who might ground them if they uttered
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even a mild profanity. So, just after Christmas when we’d returned from England and were spending a few days with my parents, I happened to overhear Trixie and my mom playing in the living room while I chopped veggies in the kitchen. The two of them were on the floor playing with a stack of bean bags in all different shapes and colors. After a minute, Trixie looked around, mild frustration clouding her porcelain face. “Baba,” she said, turning to my mother. “Where’s the f*cking pink one?” Uh… I had to turn around and cover my mouth before Trixie could see me giggle, but my cucumber-cool mom just said: “Hmm, I don’t know where the pink one is. Let’s look for it.” Later, we laughed like crazy, but at the time it was all about the poker face. Experts say: “Don’t react, don’t react, don’t react,” and they’re right. Kids swear in order to test the waters and ignoring it allows them to (hopefully) lose interest. Now, maybe I should have had a word with Trixie about this later. Set some guidelines…but, eh, I decided not to. I wasn’t sure if drawing attention to it would make it better or worse. So I let it lie, and it went away. Yes, it’s been a few weeks now and miraculously my daughter is back to her PG ways. As a New Year’s resolution I have decided to make a more concerted effort to watch my mouth, and Trixie’s been nothing but “aw shucks” and her new favorite: “snakes!” Of course, I’m still waiting for the day when it’s my turn to host the playdate and Trixie tells one of her buddies to give her her f*cking Barbie back… But I think I’ll cross that f*cking bridge when I come to it. Alex RichARds is a writer and artist living in Brooklyn with her husband, toddler Trixie, and two disinterested cats. Read more from her at newyorkfamily.com/blogs. www.newyorkfamily.com
Illustration by OHARA Hale, cargocollective.com
By Alex Richards
In Partne rship With: