New York Family December 2014 by New York Family

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Journalists Nicholas Kristof Sheryl WuDunn On The Gifts Of Giving Back

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contents

DECEMBER newyorkfamily.com pg. 16

pg. 29

pg. 10 pg. 58

pg. 36

FEATURES 36 | The Givers Journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn on the many-fold ways people are making a difference in the world and in their own lives

HOME & AWAY

22 | It’s My Party Birthday celebrations at the Craft Studio, with Little Maestros, and in Times Square

43 | Class Distinction Expert tips on how to choose a kids’ class from some of the best enrichment programs in the city

56 | Real Estate Part 2 of our roundup of NYC’s most family-friendly new buildings and classic properties

24 | Activity of the Month Young gymnasts—from some of the city’s best programs—on why the sport makes them flip out

48 | Spreading Comfort & Joy Celebrate the season of giving with some of our favorite charities—plus picks from local parents

62 | Travel Dream family vacations in London and Colorado

28 | Treats Our guide to the hottest holiday toys of the year for kids of all ages

COLUMNS

32 | Lysst Luxurious stocking stuffers for the moms and dads on your nice list

FAMILY FUN GUIDE 10 | 10 Great Events For December “Puss in Boots” by the Gotham Chamber Opera, PUSH Physical Theatre at Symphony Space, Make Music New York, and more 14 | Spirit Of The Season Our ultimate guide for a classic New York holiday—including the best trees, brightest lights, jolliest Santas, and more

New York Family | December 2014

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18 | Soul Of The City How New York living has transformed Dan Zanes’ music and life

6 | Editor’s Note Giving and getting 8 | Events & Offers An UPPAbaby travel system giveaway, the scoop on our Pinterest page, signing up for our e-newsletters, and more 20 | Scoop The latest Hello Kitty collaboration, a local nanny placement service, a new clothing store on the UES, and more

64 | The Last Word With an open heart and generous spirit, one SAHM is changing her status from stay-at-home-mother to stay-at-home-daughter Cover Photo by Sarah Merians Photography. Hair & makeup by Glamazon Beauty Cosmetics by Kim Baker. Globe from the National Geographic Store.

www.newyorkfamily.com

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kid-friendly spectacle!”

DECEMBER 2014

TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS

EDITOR AND CO-PUBLISHER Eric Messinger

Tickets from $25

emessinger@ manhattanmedia.com SENIOR EDITOR Mia Weber mweber@ manhattanmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lauren Vespoli lvespoli @ manhattanmedia.com ART DIRECTOR Holly Morrison hmorrison@manhattanmedia.com ADVERTISING DESIGNER Jen Ng jng@manhattanmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel S. Burnstein, Heidi Green, Karen Haberberg, Michael Jurick, Sarah Merians, Andrew Schwartz, Ali Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leah Black, September Broadhead, Natalie Diaz, Hillary Chura, Felicia Czochanski, Nora Fried, Sohee T:9.575”

S:9.075”

Kim, Miriam Hersh, Gavriella Mahpour PUBLISHER John Hurley FOR INFORMATION ON THE BABY SHOW 212.268.3086, jhurley@ manhattanmedia.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mary Ann Oklesson

HANSEL AND GRETEL

maoklesson @ manhattanmedia.com

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK

SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR Alex Schweitzer aschweitzer@ manhattanmedia.com SALES ASSISTANT Erik Bliss ebliss@ manhattanmedia.com CIRCULATION Aaron Pollard

SUNG IN ENGLISH DEC 18, 23 mat, 27, 30 mat JAN 1, 3 mat, 8

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALSO ON STAGE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

La Bohème, Aida, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Merry Widow, La Traviata, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

ACCOUNTS MANAGER Kathy Pollyea kpollyea @ manhattanmedia.com Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

“A holiday feast…a magical affair all around!”

apollard @ manhattanmedia.com

Manhattan Media CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Richard Burns EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Hilary Vartanian GENERAL MANAGER - OPERATIONS Shawn Scott ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN Clara Quiroga DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL Dennis Rodriguez WEB DEVELOPER Harvey Richards New York Family is a division of Manhattan Media, publishers of AVENUE magazine, and The Blackboard Awards.

metopera.org 212.362.6000 LISTEN TO METROPOLITAN OPERA RADIO 24/7 ON

New York Family | December 2014

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www.newyorkfamily.com

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Photo by Sarah Merians Photography

editor’s note

GIVING& GETTING My children are now 14 and 10, and in last few months, I feel like I’m beginning to understand how being a parent to a teenager is paradigm shift from what I’ve been doing the last 14 years. How can I put this? When they’re young, you basically call the shots. Now, my teenager, my daughter, really does need to start making a lot of her own decisions and learning how to deal with life—and my “baby,” my son, is not too far behind her. On the November night that I wrote this note, I had a very positive experience helping Elena feel less overwhelmed about a biology exam in the morning. But there have been a number of other incidents between us lately that have been less positive. Still, I’m hopeful for us: I feel like I can share my life’s experiences without suggesting that my way is the only way; and I feel like she’s beginning to figure out her own balancing act of listening to her others and learning for herself. Ironically, though, one area that I’m not proud of my record in is making a difference to others. While I am the kind of person who will give a friend in distress whatever

With two of my journalism heroes, Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof.

time and attention they need, my record of helping others whose lives are so much less fortunate than my own is thin. And now, after reading Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s new book, A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity (see page 36), I’m reminded that my lack of good works is not only a potential loss to others, but also to myself and to my children. Making a difference should be a part of growing up, and then part of being an adult. Nicholas and Sheryl can explain why better than I can, and I encourage you to consider their new book as a kind of holiday present to yourself. And here’s one more: Adam Grant’s Give And Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, another great book about the power of being a giver. Happy December! Eric Messinger Editor, emessinger@manhattanmedia.com

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events & offers

WIN A 2015 UPPABABY

TRAVEL SYSTEM TAKE OUR CHILDCARE SURVEY UPPAbaby’s VISTA stroller is a popular pick on NYC sidewalks right now, and for many good reasons. It was the only stroller named one of the most innovative products of the year by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). As the JPMA describes the stroller, its intuitive design makes it easy to fold and allows for multiple configurations, making it as maneuverable as a single stroller, and easily adaptable to your growing family. The VISTA stroller can comfortably hold two UPPAbaby MESA infant car seats, two bassinets, or two toddler seats (rear or forward-facing). To easily transport up to three children, add a PiggyBack Ride-Along board. New York Family is pleased to offer readers the chance to win a 2015 VISTA stroller and a 2015 MESA infant car seat. To enter, take our childcare survey at newyorkfamily.com in the Contests & Giveaways section.

NOMINATE A TEACHER FOR A

BLACKBOARD AWARD! Has your child been fortunate enough to learn from an exceptional teacher? Thank a special educator for making a difference by nominating him or her for a Blackboard Award, which honors local schools and teachers of excellence. Sponsored by New York Family Magazine, the Blackboard Awards recognize local teachers from all educational sectors (public, private, charter, and parochial), and allgrade levels (nursery through high school) every spring. To tell us about a great teacher in your child’s school, visit blackboardawards.com.

PIN WITH US

From holiday decoration and gift inspiration to “Inspiring Moms” and “Winter Wear For Kids,” our Pinterest boards are filled with creative ideas and cute picks for enjoying family living in the city and beyond. With more than 30 boards and 2,000 pins to browse, you’re sure to find ideas worth sharing. Check ‘em out at pinterest.com/newyorkfamily

For local family resources, weekend events, giveaways, and more, you can sign up for newsletters at newyorkfamily.com.

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FOR OUR FREE E-NEWSLETTERS

www.newyorkfamily.com

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family fun

MUSEUMS

MUSIC

Photo by Talisman Photo

THEATER

ATTRACTIONS

10 FOOD

Great Events for December Clockwise from left: Holiday Train Show, AMNH Kwanzaa Celebration, The 92Y Chanukah Festival and “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah”

By Sohee Kim

ALL ABOARD

THROUGH JANUARY 19 [All Ages] Don’t miss the annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, where miniature trains zip around the 150 iconic New York landmarks that have been re-created with nuts, bark, leaves, and plants. This year, you’ll get to see more model trains than ever before, covering a quarter mile of track! Plus, explore 250 acres of winter landscapes in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. $10-16 for kids, $20-28 for adults; various times. 2900 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx, 718-817-8700, nybg.org

MERRY MARIONETTES DECEMBER 5-14 [Age 5 and Up] Celebrate the spirit of the holiday season with the CzechoslovakAmerican Marionette Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa!” This reimagining of Charles

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Dickens’ classic will feature over 30 toy puppets by Milos Kasal, and holiday songs from all around the world! Think “A Christmas Carol,” mixed with English, Jewish, African, American, and Czech winter rituals, customs, and holiday songs. The puppets, ranging in size from 4-24 inches, will be accompanied by an “a Capella monumental” choir of Judith Barnes and Hayden DeWitt. $13-18, Fridays at 10pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 10pm, Sundays at 6pm. La MaMa E.T.C., 74A East 4th Street, 646-430-5374, lamama.org

EL GATO CON BOTAS DECEMBER 6-14 [All Ages] Catch this operatic interpretation of the classic children’s tale “Puss in Boots” performed by the Gotham Chamber Opera and featuring puppetry by the Blind Summit Theatre. This production, adapted by Xavier Montsalvatge, tells the story a loyal and charismatic

cat who promises a poor miller love and wealth. Kids will love this visually rich performance, coproduced by the Gotham Chamber Opera, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, and El Museo del Barrio, in cooperation with Tectonic Theater Project. $30-175; various times, El Museo Del Barrio, 1230 5th Avenue, 212-423-3575, guggenheim.org

PUSH THE BOUNDARIES DECEMBER 13 [All Ages] PUSH Physical Theatre is coming to Symphony Space! This innovative theater troupe specializes in acrobatic and theatrical storytelling for all ages. Their performances have been compared to a cross “between fine sculpture and the hit movie ‘The Matrix,’” as they challenge the boundaries of conventional theater with their physical, gravity-defying performances. Their exceptional continued on page 12

www.newyorkfamily.com

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10 GREAT EVENTS

family fun continued from page 10

Photo by Jocelyn Gonzalez

storytelling will take hold of audiences’ emotions and attention. $16 for kids, $26 for adults; 2pm. Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, 155 West 64th Street, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org

CHANUKAH CHEER DECEMBER 14 [All Ages] Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a Chanukah Festival hosted by the 92Y! Families will enjoy seasonal activities including menorah making, winter crafts, live entertainment, make-yourown sufganiyot, and more. In the generous spirit of the sesason, there will also be opportunities to give back to the community, with a holiday gift drive and a holiday card making session. $12-$17; 11am. The 92Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, 92y.org

JAMMING IN THE STREETS DECEMBER 21 [All Ages] A city-wide festival for music lovers, Make Music New York is a free, outdoor musical event that brings live music to New Yorkers and inspires audiences to make their own music through participatory parades throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. To join in, all you need are your own two hands. No experience in music is required, and all levels are welcome to participate. This year’s parades will include a SoHo Gamelan Walk, a “Village in the Volume” parade in Union Square, and a High Line Sound Walk. Free; various times and locations. 917-779-9709, makemusicny.org

Make Music New York

show, composed by Johnny Marks, as well as traditional holiday faves. The performance will also feature a special surprise that will spread holiday cheer to the whole family. $10-22, 3 pm. Stern Auditorium Perelman Stage, 57th Street and 7th Avenue, 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org

AMAZING ACROBATICS DECEMBER 5-JANUARY 4 [Ages 5 and Up] “Cirque Ziva” is like no circus you’ve ever seen before. The Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats will amaze and delight with their beautiful costumes, ancient Chinese music, and modern theatrical techniques. The show itself will constantly keep you in suspense as the acrobats perform heart-stopping stunts, under the direction of impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang. On December 12, children with autism or sensory sensitivity are invited to a specifically rendition of this magnificent performance. $13-36, 7pm. New Victory Theater, 229 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org

ALL THAT JAZZ DECEMBER 21 [All Ages] If your brood loves Christmas music, then this family-friendly concert at Carnegie Hall is a must. Steven Reineke will conduct the New York Pops in a 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Get into the holiday spirit by singing along to the beloved songs from the

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DECEMBER 13 [8 Months to 7 Years] WeBop wishes your family a “swinging holiday season!” Bring your little music-lovers to Lincoln Center for a

events

ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH

WeBop Family Jazz Party and spend the afternoon with Mr. Tim and the WeBop Family Band, featuring holiday jazz classics by Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Guaraldi, Duke Ellington, and more. Kids will love this jam session as they will sing, dance, and play along with the musicians! WeBop really encourages kids and families to participate in an improvisatory spirit, each contributing in their own and unique way to create a great musical piece. $20 (non-walking babies are free); 1 pm & 3 pm. Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street, 212-721-6500, jazz.org

A KWANZAA CELEBRATION DECEMBER 27 [All Ages] Savion Glover, a renowned tap dancer who debuted on Broadway at age 10 and performed on Sesame Street for four years, will be make his museum debut at American Museum of Natural History this December for the museum’s 36th annual Kwanzaa celebration. Come watch “The Tap Dance Kid” at this family-friendly Kwanzaa celebration. Plus, catch an exciting film screening introduced by a special representative of the United Nations. Free with museum admission; 12-6pm, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5100, amnh.org

For more event picks for families, check out our Family Calendar at newyorkfamily.com/events www.newyorkfamily.com

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family fun

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON Our Ultimate Guide For A Classic New York Holiday (Best Trees, Brightest Lights, Jolliest Santas & More) By Lauren Vespoli, Nora Fried, Felicia Czochanski, September Broadhead & Miriam Herst TREES From origami to 18th-Century decorations, NYC’s most notable Christmas trees boast a variety of extravagant trimmings. American Museum of Natural History: This year’s 13-foot Origami Holiday Tree is “Night at the Museum”themed, featuring origami models of characters and featured artifacts from the movie. On display Bryant Park: Tens of thousands of lights and ornaments decorate this spruce tree, which, at 50 feet tall, towers over the freeadmission 170-ft by 100-ft ice skating rink and pop-up shops. On display Dante Park at Lincoln Square: This year’s 25-foot Balsam Fir hails from West Leyden, New York, and features vintage-style silver glass glitter ornaments. On display Madison Square Park: Dating back to 1912, this is one of the oldest holiday trees in the city. The lighting ceremony will feature festive performances by Audra Rox and more. Lighting 12/9

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Decorated with smiling Neapolitan angels and chubby cherubs, this tree transports visitors back to the 18th century. Lightings occur every Friday and Saturday evening. On display Rockefeller Center: The iconic spruce is a worldwide symbol of the holidays in NYC. It features more than five miles of 30,000 environmentallyfriendly LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star. On display Washington Square Park: Catch the annual lighting of the 45-ft Christmas tree under the Washington Square Arch. Lighting 12/11

LIGHTS Bright lights, big city—these displays will add some sparkle to your season. Garabedian Family Christmas House: Don’t miss nearly 200 animated figurines grooving to holiday music in this Bronx family’s front yard.

World’s Largest Menorah at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza: This menorah stands at a whopping 32 feet tall. Lightings every night of Hanukkah are accompanied by live music and latkes for all. 12/16-23 Santa’s Corner in Bayside, Queens: At the intersection of 166th Street and 23rd Avenue in Queens you’ll find thousands of glittering lights amidst other lit lawn figures, and a glass display case filled with moving toys. Winter Garden: Check out 100,000 twinkling lights strung across a grove of 45-ft tall palm trees, against a backdrop of One World Trade Center and Lower Manhattan skyline.

DEPARMENT STORE WINDOWS Nothing says Christmas in New York like these lavish window wonderlands.

Barneys: Have a “BAZ DAZZLED” holiday! Director and costume designer power couple Baz Luhrmann and Dyker Heights, Brooklyn: Catherine Martin designed Made famous by the PBS these fantastical scenes, documentary “Dyker Lights,” featuring everything from this neighborhood display has been wowing locals and tourists woodland creatures to ice alike for over 20 years, featuring skaters.

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motorized displays and toy soldiers 30 feet tall.

Bergdorf Goodman: Bergdorf wishes you an “Inspired” holiday with its “The Arts”–titled windows, celebrating creativity from literature—depicted by a crimson library—to music, represented by a “modern boogie-woogie bugle girl.” Bloomingdale’s: Bloomies goes high-tech with interactive windows featuring games and opportunities to interact with the retailer's social media channels. Henri Bendel: Visit Bendel’s enchanted garden—this magical vintage landscape is filled with sparkling accessories, evergreen Cyprus trees, cobblestones, fountains, and Louise the Elephant. Macy’s: These "Santa's Journey to the Stars"-themed windows trace the adventuresof a boy's imaginary space journey with St. Nick, showcasing planet-scapes, custom-designed toys, and an interactive game. Saks Fifth Avenue: Saks transforms 5th Avenue into “An Enchanted Experience,” with a first-of-a-kind show complete with video projections, LEDs, continued on page 16

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continued from page 14

and strobe lights depicting the glamorous Art Deco style of the 1920s.

SANTAS Cruise, dine, or take a selfie with Old St. Nick—here’s hoping you made the nice list! ABC Carpet and Home: Take a photo with Santa amidst the store’s cozy yet ethereal décor. Weekends through 12/21 Macy’s Santaland: You’ll be transported to the North Pole as you visit with St. Nick in this 13,000-square-ft holiday wonderland, complete with elves and puppets.Ongoing The Plaza Hotel: Little ones can sip tea and nibble mini sandwiches as they hear Santa tell a story, and get their photos taken with the Big Man in Red at this Rawther Fancy Tea. 12/3-19 Ridge Hill, Westchester: Join Shrek and his friends on an unforgettable adventure to find Santa in the North Pole in this immersive holiday hunt. Through 12/24 Rockefeller Center Cafe: Enjoy a sweet breakfast with Santa at one of the city’s most festive locations, followed by a jolly skating performance by him and his elves. Through 12/24 ZEPHYR Cruise Circle Line: Cruise on the Hudson with Santa, and enjoy interactive games, a DJ, and dancing. 12/13 & 12/20

HOLIDAY MARKETS Perusing these festive markets for one-of-a-kind toys and trinkets will get you in the holiday mood. Artists & Fleas, Williamsburg: Hip families can check out the recent holiday expansion of this art and flea market, and be serenaded with acoustic sets by local bands on select weekends throughout the month. Weekends through 12/28 Brooklyn Flea Winter Flea + Holiday Market: Browse more than 100 vendors indoors for a special antique or vintage gift in a new 30,000-squareft space in Crown Heights. Through March

Bryant Park: Visit more than 125 boutique-like vendors for unique gift inspiration, for everyone from mom and dad to the family cat. Through 1/4 Columbus Circle: Situated at Central Park’s Southwest corner, this picturesque market boasts more than 100 vendors selling everything from artisan chocolates to hand-crafted wooden puzzles. Through 12/24 Grand Central Terminal: New York’s longest-running indoor holiday market welcomes 22 new artists and businesses among its 76 vendors this year. Through 12/24 Union Square: Featuring a variety of unique items, from stylish pet accessories to bespoke crafts, this holiday classic attracts more than 1 million visitors each year. Through 12/24

ICE SKATING Skip the line (and the tourists) at Rockefeller Center and get some quality ice time at one of these other city rinks. Chelsea Piers: Enjoy twin rinks with beautiful views of the Hudson River—plus helmet rentals for parental peace of mind. LeFrak Center at Lakeside: Choose between two 16,000-square-ft rinks—one covered and one open—or skate over the ice bridge between them, against the gorgeous backdrop of Prospect Park Lake. The Rink at Brookfield Place: This 7,503-square-ft rink is bigger than Rockefeller Center’s, and looks in on the Winter Garden's holiday lights. The Standard, High Line: Enjoy this stylish skating atmosphere, where you can sip on white hot chocolate and nibble on doughnuts and waffles. South Street Seaport: Get in the holiday spirit at this downtown rink, which hosts carolers every weekend through December. Trump-Wollman Rink: This Central Park rink limits each skating session to 28 participants, so there’s plenty of ice to go around.

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Clockwise, from top left: AMNH Origami Tree, New York Theatre Ballet's "Nutcracker," a 2013 Bergdorf window, ABC Carpet & Home's Santa

“NUTCRACKER” SHOWS Renditions abound of this classic holiday ballet. This season, catch the Sugar Plum Fairy at one of these enchanting shows. Brighton Ballet Theater: This Russian Ballet School production, featuring over 80 young dancers, takes Tchaikovsky’s classic back to its roots. 12/20 Colonial Nutcracker: Created especially for ages 5-10, this historical production at the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts sets the story in Yorktown during the Revolutionary War. 12/14 The Kinckerbocker Suite: This show by the Manhattan Youth Ballet and Manhattan Movement & Arts Center takes place in NYC, featuring the Statue of Liberty, 5th Avenue shoppers, and Central Park. 12/12-14 & 12/19-21 New York City Ballet: The richness of Balanchine’s classic rendition will transport you to a land of sweets and keep the little ones rapt. Through 1/3 New York Theatre Ballet: This Nutcracker will be in the city for just one weekend this year—catch Keith Michael’s inventive choreography. 12/19-21 Puppetworks: "The Nutcracker" is accompanied

by Anderson’s “Steadfast Tin Soldier” at this annual Puppetworks performance, perfect for ages 3 and up. 12/26-30

CAROLS Here we come a-caroling— bundle up and take the family out for a festive sing-a-long. Gramercy Park: This gated park opens its doors to the public on Christmas Eve for caroling beside its tree. 12/24 St. Bartholomew’s: Enjoy evening caroling on the steps of this iconic Midtown church. 12/15 St. John the Divine: This annual Christmas Concert features Bach’s “Gloria in Excelcis Deo” alongside a capella motets and beloved carols. 12/13 St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Sing along to traditional and contemporary carols performed by the cathedral’s own choir and other local choruses. 12/18 West Village: Join the West Village Chorale for their 40th annual festive caroling walk through the Village’s historic streets. 12/20 Washington Square: The Rob Susman Brass Quartet will accompany carolers under the Arch this Christmas Eve. Songbooks provided. 12/24

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family fun

SOUL

OF THE CITY How New York Living Has Transformed Dan Zanes’ Music & Life By Eric Messinger After starting as a lark at parks and schools in Brooklyn, Dan Zanes & Friends would come to set the standard for what family music could be. In addition to the Grammywinning album, “Catch That Train!” Zanes’ many albums are distinguished by their mix of re-energized folk classics and original folksy songs, as well as explorations into everything from Latino music in the 2008 album “Nueva York!” to nautically inspired tunes in 2004’s “Sea Music.” This past July, he released a greatest hits album, “Get Loose And Get Together: The Best of Dan Zanes,” and on the eve of his annual holiday show at City Winery on December 8, we couldn’t think of a better time to catch up with him at his home in Brooklyn. What was putting a greatest hits album together like for you? It was nice to look back and it seemed like a good time to stop and take stock of things… I felt like it was just right. Not because I consider myself any big genius, but because I have always worked with such great people… None of us really knew what we were doing in terms of making allages music, but [we were] just trying to update what the [Smithsonian] Folk records did for me when I was a kid. Was that always the plan? Yeah… I just thought, this is the 21st century, we need to make records that sound like the city. Tell us about a song on the greatest hits album that is notably special to you. The song “Hello” is the only original song from the first record. The thing about it that’s cool for me is that it’s three chords over and over again, which I do a lot, but it’s also got Barbara Brousal on there. When I started doing family music, I was playing with a couple dudes who I met at the playground… And then—and this is a turning point in my whole life—I was talking to this friend of mine…about playing at PS 29. And I was like: “Yeah man, it was beautiful… there was such diversity, and we’re playing songs from a few different traditions.” And he said:

New York Family | December 2014

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Dan Zanes with some young fans.

“So you have three white guys playing the music, how do you think the girls in the audience related to that?” And I had no idea what he was talking about, because I had been playing rock-and-roll my whole life, so a collection of white dudes was all I knew… [But then] I was like: “Wow, he really is right about that…I’m not even playing with women.” Then I ran into Barbara Brousal…and I asked her to join the band… We’ve gotten to the point now where it’s always a multiracial group of men and women. It’s important to me that kids in the audience can look on stage and see themselves. You go down many channels to explore different kinds of music—from sea music to Latino music. Do you still intend to cycle back through more family albums now and then? I keep thinking I’m making records that are really good family records. [But] they keep getting put in other categories… What I’ve realized in the last two years is that they’re really not children’s records, because I’ve been doing this early childhood music education program with the Brooklyn Conservatory, and I see now how important simplicity is for children to really latch onto things. Simple music is good. And my music isn’t always as simple. I think the next thing I want to do is make a record that’s for children and teachers. Part of you must be, in a sense, thrilled. You were a rocker and you found an enormously fruitful way to be a musician. That’s the thing that’s so crazy. God’s imagination is so much bigger than my own because my plans that I had for myself in retrospect were so limited—[which was] just keep making pop records and hopefully make some money one day from it all. I had no idea I could make music that would connect with a broader audience, and that I could actually feel like a part of the human race… My own script was pretty paltry compared to what ended up happening.

FOR MORE OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH DAN ZANES AND INFO ON HIS 12/8 SHOW AT CITY WINERY, VISIT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM www.newyorkfamily.com

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Colder weather is coming. Keep your kids warm with physical activity. Nothing takes ta the chill oﬀ a cold day like a little friendly competition and a bunch of running around. And of course, working the body also helps keep the brain in shape. Yorkville oﬀers more than a dozen programs for kids pre-K through 12th grade. Regi Register today — that polar vortex should be getting here anytime now.

yyaa.org

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scoop

KEEPING PARENTS IN THE KNOW

BOOK Little Humans of New York Brandon Stanton, the photographer and creator of the blog and bestselling book Humans of New York, has recently released a companion children’s book called Little Humans of New York. This new book is full of portraits of young New Yorkers, each accompanied by a fun story about what makes them special. “Over the past four years, there have been hundreds of kids’ portraits on HONY, and they’ve always been one of the most unique and popular parts of the blog,” Stanton says. “It was only natural to put them together, especially in a way that makes HONY accessible to a young audience.” We couldn’t agree more! humansofnewyork.com

PRE- & POST-NATAL HATCH Cravings at MOUTH.com HATCH, the chic “before, during, and after pregnancy” fashion brand has partnered up with MOUTH, the Brooklyn-based online purveyor of artisan food, drinks and tasty gifts, to provide mamas-to-be with delicious and healthy snacks to satisfy their pregnancy cravings! The collection includes gifts catered towards both expectant and new moms. There are four different types of tasty options: Pregnancy Survival Kit and Cravings Every Month Subscription (both of which include classic craving foods like pickles), New Baby Taster (which features yummy snacks appropriate for baby), and Back in the Saddle (everything new moms need to celebrate—including some tasty libation options). mouth.com/collections/hatch

CHILDCARE Crisford & Co. Having trouble finding the perfect nanny for your family? Crisford & Co., a nanny placement service launched this past spring by childcare specialist and yoga instructor Deb Crisford, is your one-stop childcare shop! Instead of finding the best nanny for each family through the database, Crisford & Co. takes an alternative approach, beginning with an in-home consultation and undertaking all the legwork upfront to ensure that successful placements are made. All Crisford & Co. nannies are interviewed and thoroughly background-checked before the placement, and placements only take two weeks. Crisford & Co. also offers a wide range of wellness services, including pre- and post-natal yoga, Pilates, nutritionists, lactation consultants, personal trainers, and more. crisfordandco.com

SHOPPING ADRIAN EAST ADRIAN EAST, a Bronxville staple for the chicest of children’s clothes, has now expanded into a brand new location on the Upper East Side. As with its sister location, the Madison Ave store specializes in top-quality clothing (at affordable prices) for babies and kids (boys up to age 12 and girls to 16). The clothing lines carried include Tartine et Chocolat, Chloe, Scotch Shrunk, and Little Giraffe. This upscale boutique caters both to traditional aesthetics as well as to fashionforward and trendy looks—making it the perfect spot to stock up on special occasion looks for the holiday season. ADRIANEAST.com

New York Family | December 2014

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SWEETS Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary Collection from Dylan’s Candy Bar In honor of Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary this year, the iconic NYC sweets brand Dylan’s Candy Bar recently launched an adorable limited collection of candies and accessories featuring everyone’s favorite feline. Continuing its unique mission of merging fashion, art, and pop culture with candy, Dylan’s Candy Bar’s Hello Kitty collection features colorful lollipops, sugar cookies, and candy bars (think fun flavors like “Vanilla Cupcake”), along with stylish tote bags and confection-flavored lip balm (a perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays). All items will be available at Dylan’s Candy Bar stores, select Sanrio stores, and online. dylanscandybar.com & sanrio.com

FOR MORE TIPS ON LOCAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, CHECK OUT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM www.newyorkfamily.com

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birthdays

IT’S MY PARTY

Sydney Garfield turns 13 and celebrates with a Times Square adventure. 1. Birthday girl Sydney shows that “S” is for sparkles (á la her perfect party dress). 2. Sydney’s entourage smiles for the camera aboard their super-cool party bus to Times Square. 3. This b-day crew is ready for a Broadway show and a fun dinner out on the town. Photos by Heidi Green Photography (heidigreen.com)

Piper Lipton turns 6 at The Craft Studio with Dave’s Cast of Characters. 1. Piper (all dressed up in purple) and her pal “let it go” with a “Frozen” sing-along. 2. A super-cool treat by Creative Cakes is fit for a snow queen! 3. The birthday girl’s big brother plays limbo with Elsa. Photos by Heidi Green Photography (heidigreen.com)

Brandon Massari turns 1 at 202 East with Little Maestros. 1. Birthday boy Brandon claps along to some Little Maestros tunes with mom and dad. 2. Someone looks like he’s enjoying his Little Blue Truck-themed cake! 3. Celebrity guest Elmo made an appearance to get the party started! Photos by Heidi Green Photography (heidigreen.com)

LOOKING FOR PICTURE-PERFECT BIRTHDAY VENUES? VISIT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM/BIRTHDAY-PARTIES 22

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www.newyorkfamily.com

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New York City’s Premier Art Studio for Children, Teens and Adults!

ArT CLASSeS ❤

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3 Daniel S. Burnstein

Karen Haberberg Photography

Daniel S. Burnstein

activity of the month

Andrew Schwartz

HEAD OVER HEELS 2 1. 74TH STREET MAGIC “I love doing cartwheels and handstands into backbends and roundoffs.” -Orly Gallo, 7 2. 92Y “Try hard and don’t be afraid to do something that you think you can’t do. If you fall, just get right back up and don’t get sad or mad if you mess up.” -Alexandra Bobrow, 8 3. ASPHALT GREEN “My favorite thing would be all my

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Young City Gymnasts On Why The Sport Makes Them Flip Out Edited by Lauren Vespoli • Photos by Daniel S. Burnstein, Karen Haberberg Photography & Andrew Schwartz

friends, and the trampoline. I have gotten really close with my friends over the years, because we spend so much time together and have been on the team with each other for three years. I really like the trampoline because, if I go high enough, it feels like I’m flying and it is truly amazing.” -Kate Kaplin, 13 4. BOUNCE & FLIP “My favorite thing about practicing gymnastics is I get to perform skills like bounders, front handsprings, cartwheels, and front tucks.” -Dorian Vaughn, 10

5. CHELSEA PIERS “I’d like to compete in gymnastics for as long as I’m in school and see how far I can get, and hopefully get to the elite level. Maybe I’ll even be a coach someday.” -Emory Smith, 11 6. COLUMBUS GYM “[Gymnastics] makes me stronger and teaches me to push harder to achieve difficult things. I learned how to focus and be more concentrated. “ -Andrea Ottomani, 7

www.newyorkfamily.com

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Daniel S. Burnstein

8. GYMTIME RHYTHM & GLUES “I love Gymtime because of the people… I have met so many nice teammates and coaches. At the meets I went to this past season, I had so much time to bond with

other girls on the team and we have all gotten to know each other very well.” -Sophie Ingber, 11 9. JODI’S GYM “It’s an individual sport, which to me means that you can focus more on your own individual skills and strengths without the added stress of competing directly against other kids, like in other sports I play such as tennis and basketball.” -Micki T., 10

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7. DISCOVERY PROGRAMS “Once I start practicing I never want to stop, and when I accomplish something I feel so good about myself and [I] want to do it over and over.” -Sadie Nipon, 10

Daniel S. Burnstein

Andrew Schwartz

continued on page 26 www.newyorkfamily.com

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December 2014 | New York Family

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10. NY KIDS CLUB, 89TH STREET “My favorite thing about gymnastics is that there is something for everyone—there are different apparatuses, and you can make your routine artistic and unique.” -Alice Newman, 11

to qualify to Nationals and HOPES [division], and then qualify to a Junior National Team.” -Hannah and Emma Loyim, 11

11. NYC ELITE “Our goals for this year are

WHERE TO

TUMBLE

IN NYC

Daniel S. Burnstein

continued from page 25

STARTING OUT Many of these venues also have classes for older kids, but not competitive teams. 74th Street MAGIC, 74magic.com Columbus Gym, columbusgymnyc.com The Little Gym, thelittlegym.com NY Kids Club, nykidsclub.com My Gym, mygymisfun.com

Daniel S. Burnstein

GETTING SERIOUS Many of these programs also offer classes for younger kids and novices. 92Y, 92y.org Asphalt Green, asphaltgreen.org Chelsea Piers, chelseapiers.com Discovery Programs, discoveryprograms.com Gymtime Rhythm & Glues, gymtime.net Jodi’s Gym, jodisgym.com NYC Elite Gymnastics, nycelite.com Sokol, sokolnewyork.org

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Let your inner rainbow shine!

Bring the zen home with our new CD, Come Play Yoga!, Mom’s Choice Awards Winner, available at CDbaby.com, Amazon, selected tracks on iTunes and now playing on Pandora. 26

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER

WHERE ALL BABIES ARE

STARS: THE MANDELL SCHOOL’S NEW

“MY GROWN-UP & ME” PROGRAM By Whitney Harris

A young Baby Stars student is all smiles.

Housed in locations on the Upper West Side (K-8 and preschool), Lincoln Square (preschool), and the West Village (preschool), The Mandell School has been a highly respected place of learning in NYC for 75 years. Perhaps best known for its combination of progressive and traditional teaching styles, the school recently welcomed a new seven-week “my grown-up and me” class this Ocotber, called Baby Stars. Program founder Edith Peisach established Baby Stars in Colombia, South America, before launching it in Miami, where she’s been implementing the program for the past 14 years. “My decision to focus on babies stemmed from a breakthrough discovery revealing that 90 percent of the human brain develops during the first three years of life. I wanted to make a positive and meaningful impact on early education,” she says. “I was inspired by my passion to share this unique program with New Yorkers—people who really care and understand the importance of their children’s education.” As a renowned developmental education expert with 20 years of experience, Peisach has combined her knowledge as an educator with postgraduate research in neurobiological sensory integration and kinesiology to establish an interactive, multi-sensory experience for parent and child. Giving participants the opportunity to bond while playing and learning, Baby Stars offers age-appropriate activities that help develop cognitive skills and physical abilities, including fine and gross motor skills in infants ages 3-18 months. “There’s nothing out there like it! It’s truly purposeful. In addition to social and emotional interaction, we’re teaching skills that, once learned, are lifelong abilities,” gushes Sarah Seitz, head teacher at The Mandell School’s program. “It stimulates all of the children’s senses,” she continues. In fact, Baby Stars is all about making important connections in the brain through physical stimulations. Each class is divided into three components. For the first section, Wake Up Workshop, little ones develop hand-eye coordination, visual perception, and visual memory. To develop eye tracking skills, for instance, parents will hold a tube close to their baby’s face and slide rings across it from side to side so that the child’s eyes follow. Eventually, the child may start moving her head with her eyes too. These skills aid with learning how to read in the future.

During the second section, Connection Station, children use their five senses to learn about their environment, including colors, shapes, animals, and foods, as teachers and caregivers introduce concepts through explicit stimulation. “Making these connections is how children eventually learn how to talk,” Peisach says. For the third section, Movement Studio, children are able to experience various textures, like shaving cream or oatmeal, to engage their tactile receptors. These activities work on various physical skills like coordination and balance. While the emphasis at Baby Stars is certainly on development, there is also a strong focus on fun. It’s as much about cognitive advancement as it is about emotional and social well-being. Playful exercises take place in different parts of the room and feature original education tools and accompanying music to promote the ability to focus, alongside rhythm and language acquisition. What also makes Baby Stars unique is its foundation in research while targeting both brain and body. The curriculum is specifically designed to improve attention and knowledge in addition to motor skills, and the hour-long class allows enough time to integrate disciplines. Still, babies are given plenty of opportunities to explore and be curious. Given that well-meaning parents often do things for their infants that they’re fully capable of doing themselves, adults will walk away with a better understanding of how to play with their children, and when to step back. They also leave each session with written instructions to continue the work done in Baby Stars at their homes. “Children who attend our program excel when compared to other children the same age who did not attend a stimulation program,” Peisach explains. “If you discover any delays when they’re very young, you can take care of it soon. That’s the magic of early education.” Magic indeed.

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Baby Stars classes will be offered at all three Pre-School locations beginning in January. Registration for the winter session will open in November. Parents are welcome to experience the fall program on the Upper West Side through December. To learn more about The Mandell School, visit mandellschool.org/baby-stars.

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Welcome to Toyland treats

1 2

Our Editorial Elves Have Made Their List (And Checked It Twice) Of The Hottest Holiday Toys For 2014 6

By Jodi Silberstein Regardless of how your family celebrates during the winter season, it’s hard to deny that kids of all ages get a special, inimitable sense of joy from receiving gifts from loved ones (we mean…from Santa) over the holidays. Because we know that most parents are busy keeping an eye on the naughty-or-nice factor, we’ve created a list of the top toys for kids of all ages and interests that’s sure to make holiday shopping a breeze!

For Newborns 1. Wanderlust New York City Organic Playmat: It’s never too early to start discovering Manhattan’s many neighborhoods. Made out of organic cotton and hemp canvas, this playmat by Ella Lou is perfect for a newborn’s tummy time. $92, shopellalou.com 2. Little O Plush Toy: Made with the same luxurious fabric as their famous blankets, Little Giraffe’s cuddly owl is the kind of gift a newborn will come to cherish. Polka Dots are available in pink or blue. $45, littlegiraffe.com 3. Musical Pull Toys: Pull toys are always a great addition to a new baby’s collection, and these trinkets from Serena and Lily are soft and melodic! Choose between a little lamb or a whimsical mushroom. $228, serenaandlily.com 4. Organic Edward Music Mobile: Meet Edward! This little guy, made of 100 percent organic cotton and polyester filling by Danish company Ferm, is sure to lull your newborn baby to sleep. Keep him in the crib or bring him along in the stroller. Available from local Brooklyn toy store Norman and Jules. $46, normanandjules.com 5. Farm Plush Blocks & Stackers: With built-in rattles, these soft (not to mention adorable!) blocks (which come as a set

New York Family | December 2014

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5 of five) by Pottery Barn Kids are a stackable delight for any curious little baby. Or, try their animal-shaped stacker plush toys as a great companion toy. $34-39, potterybarnkids.com

For 0-3 Years 6. Little Friends Fox: This snuggly Fox Friend is handmade by Dsenyo—a Fair Trade women’s cooperative—in Malawi, Africa. With its fun printed fabric, it makes a gift for infants to grow with and love for years to come. $24, dsenyo.com 7. Eco Push Toy Whale: Made out of bamboo and available locally at baby gear staple the Pink Olive, this whale on wheels is as fun as it is beautiful. The wheels glide smoothly on any surface, making for hours of fun all over the home. Perfect for ages 18 months to 3 years. $36, pinkolive.com 8. Pirates and Mermaid Rattles: With two pirates and their boat, a mermaid, and her shark friend, this Maileg rattle, available from My Sweet Muffin, set will make playtime fun and enchanting. Each rattle is sold separately or as a fivepiece set. $18 each, $88 for set; mysweetmuffin.com 9. Nautical Blocks: Each of these 26 wooden blocks by Uncle Goose includes a letter of the alphabet, its maritime signal flag, its morse code, its semaphore, and its NATO phonetic alphabet word. Who says stacking blacks can’t be www.newyorkfamily.com

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educational? Appropriate for ages 2 and up. $48, unclegoose.com 10. Lamby Plush Toy: This ultra-soft lamb, by Apple Park and available from Rodale’s, is 100 percent organic, non-toxic, and sure to become your baby’s go-to cuddle buddy. It also arrives on a swing in eco-friendly packaging. $48, rodales.com 11. Click Clack Hedgehog: Skip Hop’s (a beloved NYC company) Click Clack Hedgehog is filled with colorful rattle beads and surrounded by soft teethers. Little ones will be busy developing motor skills while trying to find the hidden mirror. $10, skiphop.com

For 3-5 Years 12. Classic Movie Viewer: There’s a reason this toy has been on the market for over 40 years. From Fisher-Price Classic Toys, for ages 3 and up, this toy is kid-tested, nostalgia approved—plus it helps with learning letters and numbers! $24.99, thebridgedirect.com 13. Plush Record Player: Yes, records are making a comeback and this fun YesterGear plush toy from Land of Nod is the perfect introduction for your little one. Play pretend and jam out to some favorite tracks or bring back a few retro hits. $34, landofnod.com www.newyorkfamily.com

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14. Ukulele for Toddlers: Made from sustainable material, this eco-friendly ukulele is a great gift for any young music enthusiast. Start a collection of instruments or add to an already eclectic assortment. You can pick one up at the Metropolitan Opera gift shop right here in NYC. $38, metoperashop.org 15. Julius Jr. Rock N’Playhouse: With lights and sounds on each floor, there is so much to do and explore with Paul Frank’s classic monkey cartoon character. Slide Julius Jr. down the slide and into the rocket ship for an out-of-this-world playtime experience. Made by Fisher-Price for ages 3-5. $39.99, fisher-price.com 16. Paris Shadow Puppets: Will the sleepwalker wake up on top of the Eiffel Tower? Does the musician catch the thief? The number of stories is endless with this 11-piece shadow puppet set by Moulin Roty, available from My Sweet Muffin. Turn on a lamp and let the fun begin! $21, mysweetmuffin.com 17. LEGO Fire and Rescue Team: This easy-to-build LEGO set is great for youngsters who love to build and learn about firefighting. Little ones will love helping put forest fires out with Dusty, Blade Ranger, and Drip from Disney’s “Planes: Fire and Rescue.” $29.99, shop.lego.com continued on page 30

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For 5-8 Years

18. Roominate Chateau: This battery-powered mansion allows kids to build and design their very own dream house in a variety of configurations. Spinning windmills, carousels, and lamps are just some of what this 131-piece set has to offer to budding engineers and architects. $49.99, roominatetoy.com 19. Create a Portrait: With this wooden 42-piece set, kids will have fun mixing, matching, and putting together hundreds of different faces. Create a work of art, then wipe the slate clean and begin again. Pick one up locally at the Cooper Hewitt Museum! $89, shop.cooperhewitt.org 20. DohVinci Anywhere Art Studio Easel & Storage Case Set: Get those creative juices flowing anywhere, anytime! This Hasbro art set with three-dimensional features will help to create some truly unique pieces. This set is great for ages 6 and up. $16.99, hasbrotoyshop.com 21. Babo Snowman: Babo, one of the classic Ugly Dolls, has gone undercover this season to find out why people fuss so much over snowmen. Befriend this little guy and help him figure it out. Make Babo the first of a collection of Ugly Dolls or a wonderful addition. $20, uglydolls.com 22. Kidizoom Smartwatch: Not only does this watch—the latest in kid-friendly gadgets from V-Tech—tell time, but kids will also be able to take photos and video, record sounds, and play mini learning games. There are tons of colors and displays to choose from. $59.99, vtechkids.com 23. LeapPad3 Tablet: Brand new from the kids’ tech experts at LeapFrog, this five-inch touch-screen stunner is the brand’s highest-performing kid-safe tablet ever. Plus, 4GB of memory, top-of-the-line camera and video functionality, and access to tons of LeapFrog learning games make it a must for ages 3-9. $99.99, leapfrog.com

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For Ages 8-12

24. Monster Sewing Workshop: Learn how to sew and make a new friend while doing it. Appropriate for ages 8 and up, this kit by Geek & Co. is a great snow-day project. There are plenty of fabrics and materials to choose from to make your little monster personal and unique. $24.95, thamesandkosmos.com 25. Tamagotchi Friend: It’s official: Tamagotchis are back and ready to party like its 1999! Bandai’s new Tamagotchi Friends are interactive and rely on you to take care of them. A new feature of this toy allows you to “bump” with other Tamagotchi Friends—while you can also send texts and gifts and even go on virtural playdates. Appropriate for ages 6 and up. $19.99, toysrus.com 26. WowWee MiP: MiP, short for Mobile Inverted Pendulum, is a fully interactive robot with an inquisitive and responsive personality. It is controlled by hand movements, can dance along to songs from your iTunes library, and even balance multiple objects at once. $99.99, wowwee.com 27. Jenga Boom: This classic game from Hasbro just got turned up a notch. Pick out the perfect piece before the time runs out or else…boom! The last person to put a piece on top wins— and it’s a great pick for upcoming family game nights. $16.99, hasbrotoyshop.com 28. Party Pop Scooter: This latest addition to the Razor scooter collection is a party on wheels! Step on the deck to activate the bright lights, and kids will be able to kick-power their way through the neighborhood in high-tech style. $54.99, razor.com 29. SpongeBob SquarePants Headphones: These SpongeBob headphones by Griffin bring everyone’s fave sea sponge up to the surface and ready to rock. Lightweight with an over-the-ear design, they feature Patrick on the headphone jack, neodymium dynamic microdrivers, and a classic stereo-mini plug. $24.99, griffintechnology.com www.newyorkfamily.com

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MAGIC Classes Winter Semester begins January 5th Spring Semester begins April 13th Register for both and SAVE! Call us today at 212.737.2989 or visit our re-launched website www.74magic.com Under the red canopy 510 East 74th Street NYC

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lysst

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THE

stocking

Photo by Kate Lacey Photo

SHOPPER

Some of the best gifts come in small packages—so this holiday season, stuff the stockings of the fab grown-ups in your life with ultra-luxe sweets, treats & trinkets By Lyss Stern 7

for moms Stocking: Animal Tree Large Stocking by Coral & Tusk. $74, coralandtusk.com 1. Follow Your Arrow: American-made in Rhode Island by the prince of prep Kiel James Patrick, the beautifully-braided Aspen Ridge Osprey bracelet offers up festive holiday colors that are classic enough to sport all year. Plus, the demure brass arrow closure makes for a fun and whimsical detail. $40, kieljamespatrick.com

6 salt, dark chocolate letters, white chocolate peppermints filled with chocolate caramel and sea salt, and milk chocolate sweeties filled with peanut butter candy. $70, maggielouiseconfections.com

3. Chic & Compact: Estée Lauder’s Dazzling Bow Compact is a gift every time she opens it! With its gorgeous golden color and sparkling crystal bow, it’s the perfect purse accessory for holiday parties…or to add some sparkle to everyday 2. Sweet Treat: Give the mom touchups. The compact in your life something sweet also comes filled with Estée and stylish from Maggie Louise Lauder’s lovely Lucidity Confections. This handcrafted Translucent Pressed Powder. Chocolate Charm Box contains $250, saks.com milk chocolate gingerbread men, white chocolate gumballs 4. Alluring Aroma: Give mom filled with caramel and sea what’s sure to become her

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new favorite scent: Aerin’s Iris Meadow. Packaged in a stunning bottle, Iris Meadow features crisp green notes infused with lush florals and energy-filled woods. Mandarin, blackcurrant, and Egyptian jasmine round out this feminine fragrance. $110, aerin.com 5. Tea Time: What’s better than a steaming cup of tea on a chilly winter morning? A cup of Flying Bird Botanicals’ Organic Wellness Tea, that’s what! Each flavor is not only delicious, but also promotes wellbeing. The herbal Bluebird Morning option is perfect for moms— it supports circulation and helps keep the mind focused. $12-$13, rodales.com

6. Travel in Style: Comfort is key for holiday travel. C.Wonder’s plaid travel set, complete with a sleep mask and slippers packaged in a coordinating tote, will make any mom’s getaway plans all the cozier. $58, cwonder.com 7. All That Glitters: A bejeweled ring is the perfect holiday trinket for any stylish mama—not only does the star detail on this Yellow Gold and Solitaire Diamond Star Set Ring by Manon (and available from Love Adorned in SoHo), it’s also the perfect mix of dainty and deluxe. $640, loveadorned.com continued on page 34

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for dads Stocking: Peek-A-Tree Large Stocking by Coral & Tusk. $74, coralandtusk.com

1. All Wrapped Up: From ice-skating to checking out decorations on 5th Avenue, outdoor adventures are sure to be part of every dad’s holiday season. GANT’s wool-viscose blend patchwork scarf will keep him cozy on those days and when he’s heading to work or running errands. $165, gant.com

3. Time Of His life: The dad in your life will be on time—and sporting up-to-the-minute style— with Michael Kors’ sleek JetMaster watch. Great for the office or for the weekend, this silvertone stainless steel timepiece features threehand movement and chronograph sub dials. Bezel and red accents add Yuletide-worthy pop. $395, michaelkors.com

2. Festive & Fragrant: Jo Malone’s new Wood Sage & Sea Salt cologne is as much a gift to the giver as it is to the recipient. The masculine and earthy scent has notes of ambrette seeds, sea salt, and sage, which all combine into a fragrance that evokes the outdoors. $60-120, jomalone.com

4. Dig In: Foodie dads will love taste-testing everything out of locallybased MOUTH’s Holiday Indie gift collection. Filled with the best from indie purveyors, it has everything from savory to sweet, including Brooklyn-based Butter &

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Scotch’s hot toddy caramel popcorn, Rustic Bakery’s savory cheese coins, and Sutter Buttes’ fig and olive tapenade. $50, mouth.com

Not only does it give a beard a subtle shape, it’s made from all essential oils so it won’t dry out skin. $28.90, store. kaufmann-mercantile.com

5. Knock His Socks On: Boring, generic socks need not apply! Paul Smith’s cotton blend three-pack is anything but, featuring socks with eye-catching prints and bold colors that make an understated fashion statement when those pant legs rise. $70, mrporter.com

7. Cheers to That: Help dad unwind and toast to a great year (and an even better one to come) with Izola’s Thirst Aid Kit! The kit includes a 5 oz. stainless steel flask (with a cheeky inscription), travel cup, flask funnel, and zipper pouch. $74.99, izola.com

6. Mountain Man: From hipster dads to rugged ones, beards certainly seem to be en vogue this winter! This 1 oz. flask of Burroughs Beard Oil is a great gift to help tame your fave papa’s facial hair.

LYSS STERN is the founder of DivaLysscious Moms (divamoms.com) and coauthor of If You Give A Mom A Martini: 100 Ways To Find 10 Blissful Minutes For Yourself. She is also an Upper East Side mom of three.

www.newyorkfamily.com

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THE

GIV VERS S Journalists Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn On The Many Ways People Are Making Meaningful Differences In The World And In Their Own Lives By Eric Messinger Photos by Sarah Merians Photography Hair & Makeup by Glamazon Beauty Cosmetics by Kim Baker

s journalists, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have won a Pulitzer Prize covering the Tiananmen Square protest for the New York Times in 1990, and more recently co-authored the bestseller, Half The Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity For Women Worldwide,, which makes a persuasive case for the importance of educating and empowering girls and women around the world. More personally, as husband and wife, they’ve collaborated on three children—two college-age sons and a daughter in high school. Currently, Kristof is an op-ed columnist at the Times,, and WuDunn, who moved into business management at the Times and then into banking, is a managing director at a boutique investment bank. But they still share a passion for reporting—particularly practical solutions to societal problems— and following the success of Half The Sky,, they have a new book, A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity. The book, which will be the subject of a PBS series next month, addresses the changing nature of charity itself and what it means to give back. Journalists typically shudder at the idea that their work has humanitarian value, and yet, in the work of Kristof and WuDunn, I’m inspired by just those kinds of qualities: Idealism, bravery, and above all, a deep and generous spirit toward others.

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After reading the book, I started to think more seriously about what making a difference means to me individually and as a parent. And that’s the essential goal, correct? To inspire that kind of reaction? Sheryl WuDunn: Well there are two parts to it. [The book] focuses on bridging the inequality gap and how, to really change peoples’ lives, you have to spread opportunity. The second part is really about how you can make a difference and how you leave a legacy for your life. You’re only on earth for a short period of time and you want to really think about how you make your mark in this world. When you start thinking about it, there are many ways to do it and the process actually is very empowering. Tell me about how the “path” to this new book appeared? Nicholas Kristof: In part, it was after we wrote Half The Sky—we were thrilled by the reaction… And then we would talk to groups about it and lecture about it, and people would ask a couple kinds of questions. One was: “Well what about the situation here in the US?” And the other was: “So what can I do?” And both are pretty good questions and we wanted to address them. Obviously there are a lot of reasons to try to improve [conditions] in Haiti or Tanzania…but we also have really stubborn and horrendous poverty here in the US, and we don’t want to prioritize other countries over the situation here. And I think there is this real yearning on the part of people to try to find some way to have an impact—both because it provides a sense of purpose and also I think, in many cases, [people] want to model good behavior to their kids. Was there a moment where you connected the dots in your work and thought: “Ah this is a big story, this is another book!” NK: I guess for me it wasn’t so much a moment. One of the things that really began growing on me was that there’s a real body of evidence now emerging about what works, what doesn’t work, and at what cost. In a way that was not true 10-20 years ago… I think the other thing that grew on us was the rewards themselves, and the selfish pleasures of altruism—and the degree to which this wasn’t just some adage...but it’s actually modern neuroscience... Neuroscience is proving what the Bible has long preached: It is more blessed to give than to receive. SW: It was a journey into this area of: “What does it mean to help others?” The research even took us back to Darwin. First we thought: “Oh my goodness, survival of the fittest is totally unlike what we were all taught.” But it turns out that Darwin actually believed in survival of the kind. He really did recognize that to survive, you need to cooperate and help others and you can’t be the lone wolf. The lone wolf will die. The only way a species survives is if they work together and cooperate… So I thought that was very, very interesting because it just turns out that historically, and also biologically, we are actually born with the capacity to help others. Somehow society just kind of strips us of that. What is the research telling us about the connection between giving back and personal fulfillment and well-being? NK: In an odd way, altruism turns out to be a self-

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ish pleasure. We’re hardwired to derive pleasure and health benefits when we help others around us—presumably because in evolutionary times that gave our caveman clan an advantage over rival tribes. So there’s a deep yearning for purpose, for fulfillment, for making a difference—and there are also people who are desperately needy and could so benefit from that help. But there aren’t a lot of bridges between those with extra resources and those with not enough. We thought that with A Path Appears we could build such a bridge. The evidence of benefits include one Harvard study that found that pro-social activity is more correlated to longevity than low cholesterol is… And we participated ourselves in a brain scan study that found that pleasure centers in the brain light up as much when you give money away as when you get it. One of the messages that weaves itself in and out of the book was this idea that there are opportunities for anyone to give what they can on any level. SW: That’s exactly it. We’re not asking anybody to quit their jobs and go off to India. That is just not what we’re trying to say. We’re not doing that—what we’re doing is suggesting that you can incorporate these small acts of kindness into your daily life. If you actually really think about what would be effective, I mean it’s not just anything, because you don’t want to do it just for your own selfishness—you really want to try and give effectively as well. But there are many ways, based on your skill set, to deploy your skills. So for us, we thought writing was something we could use to actually help contribute. I think most people would be surprised to know that those with higher incomes give a smaller percentage than those with lower incomes. I thought of that as evidence that giving is sort of an intrinsic part of the soul. NK: There is this paradox that in America where the poorest 20 percent give a higher fraction of their income to charity than the wealthiest 20 percent and it’s not that the affluent are intrinsically less empathetic, less compassionate, less good than the poor. Rather, it’s that if you are affluent in America today, you essentially are insulated. You live in a nice neighborhood, you don’t have a lot of particularly needy friends. Well if you’re poor in America today, then every day you encounter people who are in need and when you encounter those needs, you respond. So one of the challenges is something of an empathy gap today between those who most have the resources but don’t directly encounter the needs in front of them. You make a point that the empathy gap is a factor in why you recommend making hands-on giving a part of daily life. NK: I think one of the gifts we can give our kids, in terms of education, is not just the classroom education, but some exposure to how the other half lives. Whether that’s the other half at home or abroad. It sometimes feels kind of like tokenism though, doesn’t it? SW: But you know what? That exposure is really important, because if they didn’t get that exposure at all they continued on page 40 www.newyorkfamily.com

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years ago. I think it was a really powerful experience for them… Their vacations have probably been a lot different from their classmates’. So while you’re reporting, what are they doing? NK: They’re just coming along for all the interviews… I think it has given them a measure of perspective about just how lucky they are. On one of those trips we interviewed a mom who was dying of AIDS, whose husband had already died, and she tried to give us her child who was the same age as my son. She didn’t know what was going to happen to the child when she died, and that left a powerful impression on all of us. How did you respond? This kind of thing happens, to a certain extent, not infrequently when you travel, correct? NK: In that case I said: “We can’t take your child. Even if I wanted to I couldn’t take the child out of the country.” And I think the kids have kind of been woken up by some of it. I took my son to Sudan and South Sudan, and we saw a kid with AIDS who was dying from a lack of health care... I think this gives them a better perspective about how lucky they are that they won the lottery at birth. Tell me a little bit about the joys and challenges of being a parent to kids in their early 20s and at 17. SW: They’re growing up, and they have independent ideas now, so you can talk to them like adults now… It’s wonderful and it’s very pleasurable, but the downside is that they can talk back to you, so that’s always a struggle. NK: The boys in particular spent years in which they’d do little more than grunt to us, and then they flowered into these amazing human beings, and unfortunately that was exactly the moment they were heading off to college.

Above: Sheryl and Nicholas take the news into their own hands!

would be even more insulated. Those tokens add up over time and there will be one time, perhaps, where it does sink in. There will be memories as well and I think that’s really important. NK: And even with service projects, which have become very fashionable in the upper middle class neighborhoods, there’s still a strong cynical element to them in that kids use them to dress up their college applications and to show how passionate they are. But I also think that even if [kids] entered into it for their own cynical motivations, [service projects] may well expose these kids to a different world... One of the dangers of modern life is to other-ize people. To other-ize people on the basis of income gaps, on the basis of skin color, on the basis of religion, and it’s very easy to other-ize people if you can’t put an individual face on [them]. To the extent that we can cut away at stereotypes and create individual categories, I think it reduces the tendency to other-ize people in ways that are often unfair and harmful to society. You have two sons and a daughter—ages 22, 20, and 17. Having both traveled a lot over the years, how did your children fit into that? NK: We’ve dragged the kids through Honduras, Zimbabwe, China many times, though Iran—I took two of my kids on a long road trip through Iran a couple

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Did you both always have a giving streak from the way you we’re raised or did that come later? NK: My parents were givers and my mom is still very much a giver. I think I absorbed a lot from them. SW: I think it was more later on. My family is full of doctors, so they’ve always been helping cure people. My brother’s a doctor and on my mother’s side of the family we have like…27 doctors. So they’ve always been like: “How do you help cure people? How do you help people get well?” But I think that what we write about in A Path Appears did come much later. As we also learn more about what makes a difference and how to do this, [we see] that it’s something you should fold into your life starting as of now, rather than wait just towards the end of your life when you’ve retired and have the time to give. What’s it like to work together? NK: People always ask: “How do we manage to write books together and stay married?” The truth is that if you can raise three kids together and survive that, a book is a piece of cake, because at the end of the day you can put a manuscript to bed at night and it stays asleep; the book doesn’t play you off each other. If you screw up, the stakes are lower—in general the book is a lot easier of a joint project. Eric Messinger is the editor of New York Family. www.newyorkfamily.com

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Let’s Gogh Art

CLASS

DISTINCTION Expert Tips On How To Choose A Kids’ Class From Some Of The Best Enrichment Programs In The City Edited by Mia Weber With the coming of the New Year, many families are starting to look ahead to mid-winter and spring enrichment classes for their children. While we offer a very comprehensive classes guide twice a year (in September and January—so be sure to tune in next month), we wanted to take the opportunity now to ask the founders, owners, and directors of some stellar enrichment and activity programs for their advice on how to choose a class that’s a great fit for your child. From tips on playing to your child’s strengths to important questions to ask, these pearls of wisdom are sure to help you in your search for the perfect program. 74th St. MAGIC: “An important piece of a preschool enrichment program is the ability to foster individual development while teaching boundaries, routine, and sequencing. I always tell parents to look at the children’s art projects. If each child’s work looks unique but overall it’s cohesive, then the teachers are probably on the mark encouraging creativity within structure.” –Julie Wolf, Director, 74magic.com Advantage Tennis Clubs: “With all of the specialty classes that are available for young children, how do you select the best one for your child? Three words: Try something new. Since you may

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have already tried an art, craft, or music experience for your child, consider a movement class that educates your child’s body as well as their mind. Developing your child’s love for movement can last a lifetime as your child grows and feels comfortable about new physical challenges. Select a movement class that allows you or a caregiver to learn and move together. Remember: Try something new!” –Jonathan Lipsit, Tennis Education Director, advantagetennisclubs.com The Art Farm in the City: “When you’re picking a class for your child, know what you want to get out of it before you start exploring your options. Do you want them to gain socialization skills, [learn] how to function in a group setting, and interacting with their peers? Do you want them to be building their gross motor skills and getting their energy out during a gym class? Or expanding their small motor skills in an art class? Also, put them in programs they enjoy and want to be a part of—not always what their friends are doing.” –Valentina Van Hise, Director, theartfarms.org Asphalt Green: “You live in New York, so the opportunities available to your children are unlimited. The hours in the day are limited, so you’ll need to make some choices. But don’t sweat it! You’re not making a lifetime commitment. Add activities slowly, and whatever your child does, praise their progress and their effort.” –Jeff Ward, Chief Programs Officer, asphaltgreen.org Atlantic Acting School: “As a parent, I look for early enrichment programs that are both structured and imaginative, and provide an opportunity for my children to meet kids from other schools. Acting classes, in particular, give kids the chance to expend energy before they get home at night as it is a highly creative outlet. I also look for programs in which my kids can progress through various class levels so they can build upon what they’ve previously learned. Of course, most importantly, the class needs to be fun in order to capture the attention of our energetic youth.” –Mary McCann, Executive Director, atlanticactingschool.org Broadway Dance Center: “Most reputable programs for young dancers will have a fair refund policy or allow families to do a trial class. For my program, we give students five weeks to make sure the program is a good fit and to receive a pro-rated refund if necessary.” –Allie Beach, Director, Children and Teen Program, broadwaydancecenter.com Chelsea Piers: “Finding a facility where kids can advance through different levels of a sport as they grow can make all the difference in the overall class experience. A familiar environment, combined with a consistent group of coaches, ensures that kids feel comfortable and parents can relax knowing their child is safe. At the Field House, our classes are designed to introduce young athletes to the fundamentals of a sport and provide a path that allows each child to advance to higher levels at their own pace.” –Debbie Gleicher, General Manager, the Field House at Chelsea Piers, chelseapiers.com/fh The Craft Studio: “I notice that parents tend to sign their kids up for classes that their school friends sign up for—always together as one big group. While there are tons of positives to kids being around the same core friends, I think there’s something to be said continued on page 44

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for having your child explore an interest that their friends may not be into. Besides the benefit of expanding their social circle, it also might give kids a chance to thrive in an activity they might have missed out on if their ‘group’ didn’t choose it…I have seen rambunctious boys thrive and excel in a sit-down art class and girly ballerinas go nuts in a science and construction class.” –Lindsey Peers, Owner, craftstudionyc.com EBL Coaching: “Follow your child’s interests! One of the best ways to foster learning and build upon a skill set is to delve into your child’s interests. If she likes art, sign her up for an enrichment class where she learns techniques and has creative freedom. If she likes building things and is curious about numbers, why not sign her up for a math enrichment program? If he shows an interest in cooking or music, run with those skills and find a class that best suits his interest and is age-appropriate. Just be sure to reinforce whatever is done during the classes at home, and that the activity is fun for your child!” –Emily Levy, Founder, eblcoaching.com The JCC in Manhattan: “Choosing activities for our kids is about finding a place and space for them to grow, explore, and connect to themselves and others. I could choose a gymnastics class with the shiniest equipment that boasts about how they will turn my child into the next Olympian, or I can choose a gymnastics class with a teacher who will get to know my child, help her develop new skills, and build her confidence while also teaching her the value of being part of a group… Find a place that is teaching values and not just skills, and you’ll find an experience that’s truly enriching.” –Mara Braunfeld, Director of the Burt and Sandra Wasserman Center for Families, jccmanhattan.org Jodi’s Gym: “Parents should ask the following questions when selecting a safe and healthy and age-appropriate gymnastics program: What are the qualifications of the teachers? Are they USAG safety- and CPR-certified and background checked? What is the experience of the program manager or director? There needs to be someone to set protocol who has extensive background, knowledge, and expertise in this particular sport. What is the curriculum—are there lesson plans? Are children working within their abilities? How carefully are students supervised—can teachers see all students in their groups at all times? How much time is spent waiting in lines or sitting (this should be minimal)? How is the gym set up? Are there always multiple staff members present in case of emergency? And finally, is the safety and wellness of all students top priority at all times?” –Jodi Levine, Founder, jodisgym.com Karma Kids Yoga: “When considering classes and activities for your child, take a moment to reflect on the whole child— what motivates your child? In what types of situations are they most comfortable and relaxed? Then consider activities that will support your child emotionally, physically, socially, and academically. In choosing a class or activity, think about how your child will benefit. What will they get out of the experience? Also, take into consideration the time of day of the activity and the energy level of your child at that time. Choose activities that are engaging and that your child is excited to participate in.” – Shari Vilchez-Blatt, Founder and Director, karmakidsyoga.com Kids at Art: “Look for a class that will be both educational and fun for your child. It’s not school, so they should totally enjoy it…

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Clockwise from left: TLB Music, Atlantic Acting, and 74th St. MAGIC.

It’s great to pick a class for you and your child to do together, but make sure it’s something that you love to do as well.” –Wendy Miller, Founder, kidsatartnyc.com Let’s Gogh Art: “When I look for classes for my kids, my main criteria first is: ‘What do I think my children would enjoy and gain something from, even if it’s just a new friend.’ Then I think: ‘Have I heard good things from friends about a particular place or class? Have I seen kids come out of an art class with substantial looking projects? Do they have ample staff for the amount of kids they register, etc.?’ At the end of the day though, kids are easy to please, so as long as they’re in a safe and lively environment with a fun and caring staff, you can’t go wrong!” –Deanna Magenheim, Chief Creativity Officer, nyletsgoghart.com SciTech Kids: “When choosing a program, select one that sparks your child’s imagination. Studies show that young children today do not spend enough time playing and tinkering. Select one class that encourages them to use their hands and think ‘out of the box.’ You’ll be surprised by the ideas that pop out of their imagination. Even the most resistant child will enjoy getting their hands dirty with Play-Doh to fulfill their creative impulses.” –Kim Magloire, President, sci-techkids.com TADA! Youth Theater: “It’s beneficial for parents to look for arts-based programs that allow children opportunities to explore their creative, social, and intellectual selves within a safe and playful space. This type of class nurtures the whole child.” –Rod Christensen, Director of Education, tadatheater.com “For my kids, we try to see what might be missing in their experience or grow an under-utilized part of their personality. My older daughter is a natural performer, so in addition to TADA! classes in musical theater, we signed her up for soccer to gain more experience working in a team and being more aggressive.” –Amy Fiore, Managing Director, tadatheater.com TLB Music: “Outside of the classroom, look for a venue with friendly and attentive staff that makes you feel at home, and look for a clean and safe environment for little ones. Other important factors to consider when choosing a class are flexible enrollment options and a liberal make-up policy to accommodate nap changes and sickness.” –Katia Asthalter & Carina Zimmerman, Co-Founders, tlbmusic.com

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF

ALEXANDER ROBERTSON F Photos by Marcus Photography

or much of the year, we have explored how and why the Alexander Robertson School (Pre-K-5) is a school of choice among families who like small, independent schools with strong academics and a diverse and committed parent community. But sometimes it’s nice and helpful just to let a photo (or a few) tell the story. Please accept this photo essay of a day in the life at ARS as not only a holiday card, but also an invitation to discover ARS in person. Visit alexanderrobertson.org for more info, or contact the admissions office at 212-663-2844. Happy Holidays!

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THE

FEEDING PROJECT From Practical Strategies To Asserting Your Rights, Here’s A Guide To Going Back To Work While Breast Feeding

By Jaime Rochelle Herndon The benefits of breastfeeding—for both moms and babies— are well documented, but a significant number of women do not breastfeed for the recommended amount of time. According to the 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breastfeeding Report Card, 79 percent of babies are initially breastfed, but that number steadily decreases by the time the baby is 3 months old, and drops even further by the age of 6 months. This is in contrast to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and after the introduction of other foods and fluids at that point, continuing breastfeeding for as long as mom and baby are comfortable. Taking public health guidelines into consideration, breastfeeding becomes not a lifestyle or political choice, but an important decision of health and medicine. When breastfeeding moms go back to work after maternity leave, they face a decision: To pump or not to pump? Nearly two-thirds of women are employed during their pregnancy, and approximately 70 percent take time off from work for maternity leave. While the average maternity leave is about ten weeks, 16 percent of women take only one to four weeks. According to the 2014 Lansinoh Global Breastfeeding Survey,

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83 percent of women working full-time outside the home pump or plan to; and 80 percent of women working part-time outside the home do the same. Among women that stay at home, 74 percent pump or plan to. “The bottom line remains essentially the same: Going back to work has an adverse effect on breastfeeding—this is universal,” says Julia Beck, the founder of Forty Weeks, a consulting firm focused on the needs of pregnant women and moms. “At present in the US, returning to work as a breastfeeding mother requires conviction, creativity, support, and planning. It absolutely requires the support of an employer.” In March of 2010, the “Break Time for Nursing Mothers” law went into effect. Under this law, workplaces are required to provide women with adequate time to breastfeed and a clean, private space that is not a bathroom for them to pump in until the baby turns 1. Though the law has been around for several years, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made it more concrete and visible. In addition, companies that compensate employees for break times are required to do so for the time spent breastfeeding as well (typically, women pump about three times during an eight hour workday, for about 15 minutes at a time).

HOW DO I TALK WITH MY EMPLOYER? Returning to work after having a baby and deciding to pump can be nerve-wracking, but there are ways to help make the transition easier. “The first thing that a woman will need is an understanding by her employer of her plans to return to the workplace and continue to breastfeed,” says Shari Criso, a registered nurse, certified nurse midwife, and International Board Certified lactation consultant. “By communicating this clearly and early, www.newyorkfamily.com

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prior to the first day back at work, and also explaining what it is that she will need from her employer, returning to work and pumping can be a seamless transition.” Gina Ciagne, a certified lactation counselor from Lansinoh, adds that talking to your company’s human resources team and finding out before going on maternity leave if there’s a designated pumping space—and discussing what it is you will need upon returning to work—can be helpful. Discuss the company policies on breastfeeding at work before taking leave, and go over any concerns or expectations you may have with your employer. If both of you are transparent and open, this makes misunderstandings less likely. From a business perspective, making it easier for women to pump at work benefits both female employees and the company. “Companies that provide lactation support programs have a great return on investment, saving almost $3 for every $1 spent,” Criso says. “There is lower turn-over in these companies. Retention rates for employees of companies with lactation support programs is 94 percent, while the national average is 59 percent. Absenteeism is three times lower in breastfeeding moms as compared to formula-feeding moms, due to the lower illness rates in those breastfed babies. Which translates into lower health care costs, between $331-475 per infant, as well as improved morale, job satisfaction, and productivity.”

DECIDING TO PUMP: THINGS TO KNOW A woman’s milk supply isn’t fully established until about four weeks after her birth, so pumping before then isn’t recommended. The priorities during this period are to establish a connection with the baby, to recover from childbirth and get your energy back. “Breastfeeding is a learned skill—it’s natural, but it doesn’t always come naturally,” Ciagne explains. It can take time to learn how to breastfeed and get used to it, so be gentle with yourself. Feeding on demand during this time is important, because this enables the baby to let your body know how much milk it needs to supply. To make the transition to pumping easier, it’s recommended that you start pumping once a day after those first four weeks. Because the pump is different from the baby’s latching and stimulates your body in a different way, your body will need to adjust. Having an emergency supply of frozen breast milk is always helpful, so it’s a good idea to start pumping and storing milk about two weeks before returning to work. Milk should be stored in 2-oz bags because, once thawed, it can’t be reused, since bacteria can grow. It’s better to store and use small amounts until you know how much the baby will take; this way, you can stockpile some milk. Don’t be afraid that you will run out of milk if you start pumping—your body responds to the baby, so even if you recently pumped, you will have enough milk. You can even pump on one side while the baby nurses on the other, Ciagne says. Most women adjust to breastfeeding through trial and error, and some women may have difficulty. It doesn’t always come naturally, and it’s important not to beat yourself up if you have trouble. Ciagne urges women to try and pump even if they don’t breastfeed, because this way, your baby can still get breast milk and all its health benefits. Even one feeding with formula can change the way a baby sucks. The ACA mandates certain preventative health care measures for women to be covered by health insurance plans. This includes lactation support and counseling from a certified provider, as well as the cost of renting breastfeeding equipment. www.newyorkfamily.com

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Find out what your insurance covers and what you can do to maximize your benefits. When choosing a pump, take into consideration its quality, ease of use, and efficiency. “Look for portable electric breast pumps. Portability is really important, and how big the base is can affect that. Look for a pump that you can buy an extra pumping set for, which is everything but the base. This way, you can leave a pumping set at work and one at home, so you only need to transport the base and you won’t have to worry about leaving any parts at home,” Ciagne explains. “A double pump cuts down on time, and milk comes down on both sides anyway, even if your baby only nurses on one side during a session. By pumping both sides, it encourages your body to keep making milk. Maybe most importantly, choose a closed system pump. This is really important because your body temperature is 98.6, so your milk is warm when it goes into the pump. If it’s not a closed system, moisture and humidity are created in the tubing, and there’s no barrier between the nipple and tubing, so the moisture and old milk can stay in the tubes. This can create mold, and you don’t want mold spores going back and forth. If the pump doesn’t specify closed system, it’s not a closed system.” The baby also needs to adjust to being bottle-fed, and there are several things you can do to ease the transition and help make bottle feeding resemble breastfeeding as much as possible. When introducing the bottle, Ciagne suggests that someone else other than the mother feed the baby, because the baby will be used to nursing and try to latch on, and then become confused when they’re not getting the breast. There are also specific bottles and nipples specifically tested and formulated for breastfed babies, to minimize nipple confusion. The way a baby moves its jaw while at the breast is different than the way it moves its jaw and mouth with a bottle, so something as similar to the breast as possible helps the baby get used to bottle feeding. A natural wave nipple lets the baby elongate it and use the tongue to get milk, making the sucking motion nearly the same as it is at the breast. A soft and compressible nipple is important so the baby can control how much milk is drawn out, like with the breast. With a standard bottle nipple, the milk tends to gush out.

PUMPING AT WORK At work, your pumping schedule should mimic your baby’s natural feeding cycle. The amount of milk produced with pumping can be different than with your baby, and that’s okay. You can add an extra pumping session before or after work to get more milk if necessary. If you’re having trouble with getting started, it helps to hand-express for a minute, and then massage the breast while pumping, according to breastmilkcounts.com. Bring your pump collection kit, storage containers, an insulated bag, ice packs, and extra breast pads to work. Knowing your rights as a breastfeeding woman at work can help ensure that you get the time and space you need to pump and keep up your milk supply. When you’re not at work, get plenty of rest, since this helps your body stay healthy and aids in producing more milk. It is very possible to work outside the home without sacrificing breastfeeding and its health benefits—with communication, planning, and support, it can be an easier than expected transition for everyone involved.

FOR A LIST OF THE BEST BREAST PUMPS VISIT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM. December 2014 | New York Family

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CAUSES TO BELIEVE IN Find Inspiration In Our Annual List Of Favorite Charities Edited by Lauren Vespoli WATERAID AMERICA Most of us don’t think twice about using a water fountain, or washing our dishes in the sink, or living in a home with multiple bathrooms. We expect that our water is sanitary and safe to consume. However, roughly one in ten people around the world lack access to safe water, and a lack of access to clean water and toilets is the second biggest killer of children under 5 worldwide. WaterAid America is the world’s largest non-profit dedicated solely to helping people in 26 of the world’s poorest countries gain lasting access to safe drinking water, toilets, and hygiene awareness. Sarina Prabasi, WaterAid’s CEO, has 20 years of experience in international development. From her perspective, working for WaterAid America “encompasses and aids all of the major issues” that she cares most about. A mother herself, Prabasi’s heart aches for those who have lost their children to contaminated water and the issues that accompany it. “Once I had children, I [thought] about this every day. It is so difficult for moms all around the world to feel powerless to help their children survive because the resources simply are not there,” Prabasi says. Though everyone in the world needs clean and safe water in order to survive, in many of the world’s poorest countries where clean water is not readily available, bringing in the technology to sanitize it is the first step to helping people out of poverty. “In southern Ethiopia, the environment is so dry that women and children had to scratch at a dry riverbed until little bits of water would come up that they could collect,” Prabasi says. “We brought in the technology needed to surface and clean the water, which changed the lives of so many families... We also eliminated the dangerous trips to the riverbed during which many women and children were assaulted or raped. So many times people have said to us: ‘Now I don’t have to feel afraid. I don’t have to hide. I don’t have to risk harassment.’” EDITORS’ PICK

Girls Write Now

Currently, WaterAid America is in the midst of its end-of-year fundraising campaign, Child of Mine, which focuses on decreasing childhood mortality rates. “Right now, half a million children per year do not survive past the age of 5 due to a lack of sanitary water and poor hygiene,” Prabasi explains. Through the Child of Mine campaign, WaterAid America hopes to provide safe water to 100,000 children under 5. For more information, visit wateraid.org. –Felicia Czochanski

GIRLS WRITE NOW Seventeen years ago, Maya Nussbaum, the founder and executive director of Girls Write Now, was a recent college graduate with aspirations to make a change. She envisioned herself helping young girls by giving them the opportunity to share their voices and change their lives’ trajectories through writing. As a writer herself, Nussbaum knew how scary and challenging it is to be a young female writer. With Nussbaum’s desire to create a change for young women, and with the mission “to serve, to create and to make writing communal enterprise for young women,” Girls Write Now was born. Girls Write Now is New York’s first and only organization that offers writing services and mentoring programs for high school girls from various undeserved New York neighborhoods. Of the program’s mentees, 90 percent are high need, 90 percent are girls of color, and 20 percent are immigrants. In New York, only 22 percent of students graduating from high school have proficient writing skills. Girls Write Now is trying to change that EDITORS’ PICK

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S:7”

I had a broken heart. They fixed it and now I have a special heart. —Jack, age 3

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grim statistic. Since its founding in 1998, Girls Write Now has transformed the lives of 5,000 girls, all of whom have gone on to college with portfolios, scholarships, and perhaps most importantly—confidence. Each Girls Write Now mentee is paired with a mentor to guide and teach her in writing for 1-4 years until she’s ready for college or a career. Mentors commit over 10,000 hours of service annually. “Our focus is that their writing is their point of entry, with the support from mentors who are all professional writers—poets, journalists, authors and more,” Nussbaum says. Mentors are writers who are really focused on their craft, and have volunteered to share their passion to help guide young girls who may one day become influential writers. “At Girls Write Now, we provide love and support and make sure that the girls are getting everything they need to get into college and to the real world,” she adds. Apart from its foundational mentoring program, Girls Write Now offers a variety of other programs and events for mentees to further their writing skills. The CHAPTERS reading series is one of the organization’s major events, where the whole Girls Write Now community comes together to celebrate mentees’ writing. The organization also publishes Breaking Through, an annual anthology of the best stories from mentor-mentee pairs. “The Girls are inspiring with everything they do… they will become lifelong ambassadors for hope and change,” Nussbaum says. For more information, visit girlswritenow.org. –Sohee Kim

US-AFRICA CHILDREN’S FELLOWSHIP For former Brooklyn high school teacher Mark Grashow and his wife, Sheri Saltzberg, a 2003 trip to Zimbabwe became an opportunity to make a difference in African schools. Grashow had recently retired from teaching math at Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln High School, and the couple’s son had worked in Zimbabwe with an organization called Organization of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP). After attending a wedding in Zambia, Grashow and Saltzberg went to Zimbabwe to visit ORAP and also saw some local schools. EDITORS’ PICK

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“They had nothing: No books, no libraries, no textbooks, no school supplies, no sports equipment, nothing,” Grashow recalls. He remembered how back at Abraham Lincoln High School, enormous amounts of school materials were frequently discarded. “That always bothered me, the waste,” he says. At the time, ORAP was providing support to 35 schools. Upon this realization, Grashow offered to find 35 schools in the US to partner with these schools in Africa. “Within a year we found 35 schools and bought a 40-ft container—the first one was at Abraham Lincoln High School—and I started collecting,” Grashow says. That year, the couple co-founded the US-Africa Children’s Fellowship (USACF), an organization dedicated to donating school supplies and technology from US schools to schools in Africa. USACF aims to improve the quality of education for students and teachers in poor areas throughout Africa, while also educating and empowering students at US partner schools. Since April 2013, USACF has shipped 28 40-ft containers—containing supplies such as soccer balls, books, desks, bikes, blackboards, and more—to schools in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, and Botswana. Now, USACF works with 172 partner schools, providing supplies to approximately 50,000 students. In 2007, former President Bill Clinton featured Grashow and Saltzberg in his book Giving, and soon other countries in need of donations began to reach out to the couple. In addition to sending supplies, USACF has also contracted with a Zimbabwean lumber company in order to help repair school furniture, and partnered with local NYC soccer development program Super Soccer Stars, which has donated equipment and sent coaches to teach soccer and instruct teachers in coaching and running afterschool sports and activities. For USACF, ultimately the challenge isn’t getting people to donate, but securing the necessary funding to ship the boxes. However, through Grashow and Saltzberg’s hard work, USACF has become sustainable and successful. “[It’s] being able to see the impact of what you’re doing,” Grashow says. “To have 80 percent of a school passing their exams, watching kids in a soccer tournament, watching kids in a classroom that has desks and blackboard and a library. The impact is enormous.” For more information, visit thechildrensfellowship.org. –Nora Fried

THE LULU & LEO FUND In the fall of 2012, Upper West Side parents Marina and Kevin Krim were faced with an unthinkable tragedy. Their daughter Lucia (Lulu), 6, and son, Leo, 2, were found dead in their home, allegedly killed by the family’s nanny. In the memory of Lulu and Leo, the Krims founded the Lulu & Leo Fund “to share the inspiration of and hope of Lulu and Leo’s lives to a global community,” says Jennifer Goldschein, the Fund’s executive director. The Lulu & Leo Fund, which started as a Facebook page, has evolved into an organization dedicated to EDITORS’ PICK

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12 WAYS TO GIVE We asked some of our subjects featured in New York Family in the past year to share a cause they support. “Connecting Our Paths Eternally helps parents, siblings, and other family members deal with the premature loss of a child or sibling. C.O.P.E. offers ongoing emotional and therapeutic support… It’s a cause that means a lot to [us], as [Kristen] lost [her] brother Michael in junior high school.” –Kristen and Marc Glosserman, owners, Hill Country Barbecue Market copefoundation.org “The New York Women’s Foundation provides grants to organizations working with women and girls on issues of education, empowerment, economic security, anti-violence, and the rights of girls and women…their support makes a difference, and seeing that is something I love investing in.” –Fatima Shama, president of strategic development & external affairs at Maimonides Medical Center nywf.org “I grew up in New York City, and Central Park was always my favorite place to go to. Now I take my boys there! Central Park is truly for everyone and it’s really important to our family to support an organization dedicated to preserving one of this city’s treasures.” –Suzanne Johnson, board member of Central Park Conservancy Women’s Committee centralparknyc.org “Earlier this year, one of my son’s classmates passed away of a sudden and still undetermined ailment. His family has decided to try to honor his spirit by installing an adaptive zip line at the integrated preschool he was days away from graduating from [through Will’s Friends In Flight]. I can’t think of a cause closer to my family’s hearts.” –Greg Pembroke, blogger and author, Reasons My Kid is Crying willzip.com “In the past two years, the Turn 2 Foundation and I have developed a wonderful relationship with the Three Doctors Foundation. It is an organization with a mission that aligns perfectly with that of the Turn 2 Foundation: To foster leadership, academic excellence, positive behavior, and social change among young people.” –Sharlee Jeter, president, Turn 2 Foundation threedoctorsfoundation.org “Baby Buggy gets much-needed products and services to families that need them. Knowing how hard it is to be a parent, I can’t imagine what it must be like to layer on not being able to afford diapers, a breast pump for mothers…needing to work with no

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maternity leave, shelter, and so much more.” –Rosie Pope, founder, Rosie Pope Maternity babybuggy.org “HealthCorps is a non-profit our family started in 2003 to teach healthy eating, exercise, and stressmodification habits to middle- and high-schoolers… it invests in the future health of our country, and it harnesses the power of youth to spread invaluable health knowledge to their families and friends.” –Daphne Oz, co-host, “The Chew” healthcorps.org “My family supports Episcopal Social Services, a data-driven, results-proven organization that addresses the risk factors that perpetuate poverty through programs that impact families from birth to adulthood. The are the people that are helping New Yorkers that need it most.”—Matt Schneider, co-founder of the NYC Dads Group and City Dads Group essnyc.org “My husband’s family set up the Todd Ouida Children’s Foundation in honor of his brother Todd, who lost his life on 9/11. Derived from Todd’s own struggle with school anxiety, [part of] the charity’s mission is to ‘financially support psychological services and other mental health initiatives for children of families in need.’” –Heather Ouida, co-founder, Mommybites.com mybuddytodd.org “Around a year ago we started supporting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya, with our Garments for Good program. They provide a sanctuary and nursery for baby elephants and rhinos who have been orphaned. They have keepers that live with the babies 24/7 that become like parents to them.” –Jenny Cooper, head of design, crewcuts at J.Crew sheldrickwildlifetrust.org “RISE magazine is a publication where parents, youth, and others impacted by the foster care system tell their own stories—about struggle, triumph, and needed reform… I frequently use these stories in training new staff, and they are used nationwide by many in child welfare who are trying to appreciate the struggles that the families that we try and support face every day.” –Michele Cortese, deputy director at the Center for Family Representation risemagazine.org “The Blue Card, which assists over 2,000 needy Holocaust survivors annually, is an organization that is very important to me… Our new favorite tradition is to make a monetary donation to The Blue Card on the very last night of Hanukkah.” –Shoshanna Gruss, designer, Shoshanna bluecardfund.org

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promoting the healing power of creativity among children and families. “[The Lulu & Leo Fund] is driven by the conviction that creative confidence—the belief that one can effect positive change—has the power to heal, to grow, to change lives,” Goldschein says. The Fund has been running and supporting both its own and other city arts programming for just over a year. In 2014, it served more than 2,300 children through its programs. The Lulu & Leo Fund’s primary initiative is its SuperArtist program, which provides children with the tools to grow their creative confidence, in order to build stronger children, families, and communities. Twice per month, SuperArtist sends participants an email challenge, which consist of thoughtful projects or activities that families and children can complete together. Participating families are encouraged to post their work in SuperArtist’s online gallery, where other families can also provide inspiration and ideas. “We want to give parents the tools to nurture a child’s natural creativity and use it to help themselves grow as individuals, parents, and families,” Goldschein says. Ultimately, the Lulu & Leo Fund’s goal is to develop a SuperArtist curriculum that schools and other programs dedicated to building children’s creative confidence can implement. In addition to the SuperArtist program, the LuLu & Leo Fund is also dedicated to providing long-term funding to local arts and cultural organizations, such as

The Lulu & Leo Fund

the Museum of the City of New York and Free Arts NYC. Through the Lulu & Leo Fund, the Krim family has been able to celebrate the critical role that the arts played in the short lives of Lulu and Leo. “Seeing children respond so enthusiastically and creatively to our programs is a very tangible way of seeing the positive impact the Fund is having,” Goldschein says. “That’s a great counterpoint to the darkness of [the Krims’] loss.” For more information on the Lulu & Leo Fund, visit lululeofund.org. –Lauren Vespoli

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RISE A Roundup of NYC’s Most Family-Friendly New Buildings & Classic Properties— All With Multi-Bedroom Units And Amazing Kids’ Amenities (Part II)

Edited by Lauren Vespoli In our November issue, we featured 14 amazing family properties from across the city. Now, we’re proud to present the second installment of our buildings roundup. This list features properties from the Upper West Side to Brooklyn to New Jersey, many developed as a response to the rebounding economy and the growing demand for more family-friendly properties in the metropolitan area as parents decide to raise their kids in the city. We hope this list of everything from classic properties to new developments will give you a sense of the latest trends in the ever-shifting world of New York City real estate. For our complete list of properties, visit newyorkfamily.com.

EAST SIDE Halcyon | 305 East 51st Street Conveniently located in Midtown East near FDR Drive and the Lexington Avenue subway line, this elegant and refined condominium residence is a port of calm within the city. Designed by the awardwinning New York architect and interior designer, S. Russell Groves and developed by HFZ Capital Group and its equity partner, CIM Group, the 32-story building boasts a total of 123 units. Halcyon offers many unique amenities, from a cozy library with a landscaped terrace to the Movement Studio—a double-height, floor-to-ceiling windowed space used for various activities including yoga, Pilates, and spin classes. Complete with an indoor pool, sauna, and a children’s playroom, Halcyon is a sanctuary the whole family can enjoy. Prices for twobedroom units start in the $2.7 million range, while three-bedrooms command upwards of $4.7 million. halcyonny.com

WEST SIDE The Strathmore | 1890 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard An elegant uptown building, the Strathmore is just down the street from Harlem’s Carl Schurz Park, and offers gracious three- and fourbedroom apartments perfect for families. With only three apartments per floor on some levels, the Strathmore offers rare four-bedroom continued on page 58

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Halcyon

place where space and light mix with elegant materials to infuse traditional forms with unrivaled inventiveness. With an elegantly redesigned lobby, and details such as custom cerused oak cabinetry in the kitchens and mosaic marble floors in the bathrooms, 498 West End Avenue possesses a winsome richness of detail. The attended lobby has been elegantly redesigned featuring decorative wall panels in a geometric pattern, and walls and flooring in a composition of Vanillis Pearl and St. Laurent marble. Additional conveniences include a fitness room, a children’s playroom with a modular pin art wall, private storage, and bicycle storage. Construction is slated for completion in spring 2015. 498wea.com

The Orleans | 100 West 80th Street

River & Warren apartments with triple exposures allowing for stunning views and maximum sunlight. The amenities located on-site include a children’s playroom, an entertainment lounge, a swimming pool, and a squash club. The Strathmore is also pet-friendly. “With spacious, unparalleled apartments, close proximity to parks and a children’s playroom, the Strathmore is not only the perfect place to live, but the perfect place to raise a family,” says Daria Salusbury, senior vice president and head of luxury leasing for Related Companies. Four-bedrooms start at $18,995. strathmorecondos.com

The Adeline | 23 West 116th Street The Adeline, a new 83-home building in the prospering heart of Central Harlem, features expansive 1-4 bedroom homes in close proximity to three of Manhattan’s best parks, and expects some of the lowest monthly carrying charges in the city. The building pairs traditional touches with modern elements and expects a rare 421-a tax abatement. “The Adeline offers a dynamic suite of amenities and lush green spaces unlike anything else in the area,” says Peter Denby of Halstead Property Development Marketing, which is leading sales at the building. The Adeline’s green, open spaces are perfect for open-air play and relaxation, and include two levels of shared outdoor space encompassed by a central courtyard and landscaped roof deck. The full-service building is attended by a 24-hour doorman and will offer a children’s playroom, resident fitness room, and a large resident lounge as well as on-site parking available for purchase. Twobedrooms range from $1.15-1.645 million; three-bedrooms from $1.735-2.575 million. theadeline.com

498 West End Avenue Four-ninety-eight West End Avenue offers grandly proportioned 3-5 bedroom homes with interiors expertly designed by CetraRuddy Architecture. The level of imagination, artistry and workmanship at 498 West End Avenue has created a new design vernacular. The result is a

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For the first time in its 115-year history, the Orleans is offering four- and five-bedroom condominiums for purchase. Each half floor of the Upper West Side residence features direct views of Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History. The homes, which range from 2,202-2,639 square feet, boast beautiful pre-war details, open kitchens, oversized windows, sunny east and west exposures, 10-foot ceilings, decorative fireplaces, washerdryers, and more. Built in 1900 on the corner of 80th Street and Columbus Avenue, the Orleans couples old world grandeur with the conveniences of modern day life. It features a 24-hour doorman, an elegant lobby and generous halls, a resident manager, and access to all Upper West Side landmarks. Only 26 homes will be offered in this special boutique condominium. theorleansny.com

135 West 52nd Street If your family is looking for a building that embodies New York City’s contagious energy, look no further than 135 West 52nd Street. Located in the heart of Midtown just blocks from the MoMA, Central Park, and Times Square, this extravagant 47-story building is the perfect place to raise inquisitive kids. The building glimmers in the city skyline, thanks to the stunning lighting installation by renowned lighting designer, Thierry Dreyfus. Aside from the building’s location and aesthetic, the amenities and floor plans make the residences very accommodating for families. From full-floor apartments to the Central Park-themed playroom, 135 West 52nd Street has everything a family could want. Pricing for two-bedrooms starts at $3 million, and threebedrooms start at $5 million. 135w52.com

One MiMa Tower | 460 West 42nd Street One MiMA Tower offers airy Midtown West three- and four-bedroom apartments with phenomenal views. With an on-site Equinox gym, pool, and basketball court, One MiMA Tower provides plenty of amenities for active residents. In such close proximity to Bryant Park, Hudson River Park, and multiple restaurants and theaters, this location is the perfect place for families to come together. “In addition to the building’s stunning interior design, residents can expect the superior service Related is known for,” says Daria Salusbury, senior vice president and head of luxury leasing for Related Companies. “With pet-friendly apartments and a full suite of interior and exterior amenity spaces, One MiMA Tower is unlike any residential offering in the neighborhood.” Rents for two-bedroom apartments start at $13,995, and threebedrooms start at $16,250. related.com www.newyorkfamily.com

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DOWNTOWN One Union Square South Related Companies’ Union Square South occupies a prime location near Union Square Park and two private schools: Grace Church School and Friends Seminary. Families can enjoy a wide variety of restaurants, shopping and parks, as well as Union Square’s celebrated Greenmarket—right in their backyard. Entertain in one of the multiple luxury apartments featuring views of Greenwich Village, the Midtown skyline, and Union Square. Plus, children can play together on a lushly landscaped lawn within the complex or in the newly renovated playground in Union Square Park. “With Union Square right outside, residents can bring their families together with a stroll through the park, children’s playtime in the playground, or relaxing in one of Union Square South’s family-friendly amenities,” says Diana Salusbury, senior vice president and head of luxury leasing for Related Companies. Union Square South is also petfriendly, so even four-legged family members will feel right at home. An oversized three-bedroom with a private terrace starts at $16,995. related.com

The Sterling Mason | 71 Laight Street The Sterling Mason is a new luxury condominium located at 71 Laight Street in the family-friendly neighborhood of the Tribeca North Historic District. The boutique residence will feature architecture by Morris Adjmi and just 33 handcrafted residences that range from 2-5 bedrooms, with generous layouts from 2,000-4,000 square feet and beyond. A full staff is onsite, and homeowners will also enjoy a library lounge, fully-equipped fitness studio, bicycle storage, and what will be the first residential children’s playroom created in consultation with the experts at the 92Y. The 92Y Wonderplay at the Sterling Mason will promote play-based experiential learning in a specially created environment where children will come together to play, learn, explore, and have fun together. “Our goal with the Sterling Mason was to capture the essence of Tribeca, but reimagined with cutting-edge architecture and handmade craftsmanship, all in a full-service new development,” says Charles Bendit, coCEO of Taconic Investment Partners along with Paul Pariser. Current listings include a $9.95 million five-bedroom and a $10.5 million four-bedroom. thesterlingmason.com

50 West Street Overlooking the Hudson River from the tip of Manhattan, 50 West is a new 64-floor residential and retail condominium tower with an array of top-level family amenities. Time Equities Inc., the building’s developer, has commissioned Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI), one of the city’s premier progressive educational institutions, to serve as chief consultant on the design of the children’s playroom in the luxury tower. Cari Kosins, Director of Afterschool and Summer Programs with LREI, spearheaded the project, providing the development team with recommendations that offer an enriching environment that will foster educational and social growth for 50 West families. In addition to the children’s playroom, 50 West will offer amenity spaces for kids of all ages, including a library curated by Greenburger Associates with young adult literature, a theater with stadium seating, a game room, and a kids’ studio, as well as an area dedicated www.newyorkfamily.com

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388 Bridge Street solely to arts and crafts. Occupancy will begin in fall 2016. Two-bedrooms from $2.415 million; three-bedrooms from $4.24 million; four-bedrooms from $6.815 million; and penthouses from $18.63 million. 50westnyc.com

25 Broad Street Twenty-five Broad, an iconic luxury rental residence in the Financial District, is a 20-story building which includes a selection of 307 modern, yet elegant, one- and twobedroom residences. Residents at 25 Broad are offered an immense selection of services and amenities including 24-hour doorman, concierge services, a high-tech game room and lounge equipped with WiFi and a golf simulator, a children’s playroom, a private outdoor playground, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a separate yoga studio, a stunning roof deck with spectacular views of Manhattan, concierge/valet services, and storage on every floor. Twenty-five Broad is also a pet-friendly building. Monthly rents for available homes begin at $5,225 for a twobedroom. 25broadnyc.com

15 William Street 15 William might be one of the most kid-friendly and colorful buildings in the Financial District. With at least 80 acres of green space, a plethora of museums and attractions, and over 20 schools in the area, it’s no wonder families have been making the switch to this up-and-coming downtown neighborhood. This chic, 47-story building has a truly impressive list of amenities, including an indoor pool, a private outdoor children’s playground, a professional quality screening room and an indoor playroom. With a rooftop lounge and stellar views of lower Manhattan throughout the building, 15 William has something for everyone in the family. Two-bedrooms start at $1.745 million. 15williamny.com

River & Warren | 212 Warren Street Located in the northernmost part of Battery Park City, River & Warren features 1-5 bedroom residences that offer dramatic sunrise-to-sunset panoramic views of the Hudson River, as well as Rockefeller and Teardrop Parks. The residences at River & Warren have been wholly reimagined by award-winning architecture and design firm CetraRuddy as part of a joint venture between Centurion Real Estate Partners and Five Mile Capital Partners LLC. “The epicenter of Manhattan has shifted downtown, and continued on page 60 December 2014 | New York Family 59

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playroom stocked with books, board games, and other fun materials. Parents no longer have to walk blocks to take their children to the park to meet up with friends for a play date, as recreation options are just a short ride down the elevator. “Having an indoor children’s playroom and an outdoor playground is a great amenity for families with children,” says Roger Fortune, vice president of the Stahl Organization. “Because both are located adjacent to our outdoor terrace, parents can supervise their children while they barbecue or spend time with family and friends. The nearby lounge can be rented for private events like dinners and birthday parties, and can be used by older children for homework. We even offer outdoor movies when the weather allows.” 388bridge.com

One John Street Newport River & Warren is designed to take full advantage of everything new that Battery Park City and Tribeca have to offer while evoking the welcoming spirit of suburban life,” says John Tashjian of Centurion Real Estate Partners. River & Warren’s custom-crafted kitchens and baths, thoughtfully enhanced living spaces and modern amenities—including a nautically-themed children’s playroom—combine to achieve its picturesque appeal. Families will appreciate River & Warren’s proximity to numerous expansive parks that feature everything from playgrounds and beautiful gardens to public art spaces and a delightful duck pond. Prices for 2-5 bedrooms will range from $1.3-10 million. riverandwarren.com

BROOKLYN

If the unparalleled view of Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park isn’t enough, the residence interiors at One John Street are just as stunning. This 12-story, 42-unit condominium residence (to be completed in 2016) is not just unique by design and location, but by how it caters to New York families. “We live in DUMBO with our families, so we design our buildings in the neighborhood with families in mind,” says president of Alloy and developer and designer Jared Della Valle. “At One John Street, Brooklyn Bridge Park is the front yard, and that’s complemented by the incredible river and city views from every residence.” Oversized windows let in ample natural light, amplify views, and are an extension of the open, family-friendly floor plans available. On the ground level, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum will have a studio for hosting art- and culture- focused programs for young children. Three-bedrooms start at $3.5 million. onejohnst.com

Oosten | 429 Kent Avenue

NEW JERSEY

Oosten, the largest new construction project in South Williamsburg, is situated on two acres and located one block from the East River at 429 Kent Avenue. The development will add 500,000 square feet of residential space spread across a one full city block. Designed by the renowned Dutch designer Piet Boon, Oosten will comprise 216 luxury residences, and will be the only new construction development in South Williamsburg to offer five- and six-bedroom units. There will also be four penthouses, 15 townhomes, and 40,000 square feet of amenities unprecedented in the neighborhood. There will be room for families to play in the large courtyard, or on the landscaped roof with a reflecting pool and outdoor grills, and in the children’s playroom. Oosten is the first project for USbased XIN Development. Pricing starts at $1.185 million for two-bedrooms, $2.51 million for three-bedroom duplexes, $3.47 million for three-bedroom lofts, and $3.375 million for townhomes. theoosten.com

Newport | Jersey City Newport, comprised of 13 high-rise rental buildings and three condominium towers right on the Hudson River in Jersey City, is the largest mixed-use waterfront community in the United States. Just minutes from Manhattan on the PATH train, bus, or car, every high-rise building include resident’s lounges, children’s playrooms, roof decks, screening rooms and gyms. But what makes Newport City truly unique is its wide variety of amenities. From the Newport Swim and Fitness complex, to two onsite schools, New Jersey’s only uncovered ice skating rink, direct access to the Hudson Waterfront Walkway, its own yacht club and marina, and, of course, Newport Green—a 4.25-acre park that includes an urban beach on the Hudson—Newport provides its residents with a wealth of possibilities for leisure and play. Twobedroom rentals are priced from $2,505-4,140, and threebedrooms range from $3,925-4,795. newportrentalsnj.com

388 Bridge Street Three-eighty-eight Bridge Street, developed by the Stahl Organization, is downtown Brooklyn’s tallest building at 53 stories. The building’s amenity collection is tailored for residents young and old, but the developers were keen on including a full children’s playground and a children’s

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TO SEE MORE OF THE CITY’S MOST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BUILDINGS, VISIT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM.

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home&away

The launch of the Paddington Trail

The Draycott Hotel

WORLD OF WONDER: Family Fun At Two Dream Winter Travel Locales DESTINATION LONDON:

URBAN FAMILY FUN INSPIRED BY PADDINGTON BEAR By Mia Weber

Though he’s been beloved for over 50 years, Paddington Bear has been having a notably good year. Not only will the adorable teddy—who is the creation of author Michael Bond, and first appeared in the children’s novel A Bear Called Paddington—be coming to the silver screen in the feature film “Paddington” (premiering in the US January 16, 2015) starring Hugh Bonneville and Nicole Kidman, but he was also recently honored in a big way by his adopted city. The Paddington Trail, a series of 50 Paddington statues designed by British celebs (including Bonneville and Kidman, as well as Emma Watson, David Beckham and many more) launched last month. Presented by London & Partners (visitlondon.com), NSPCC, and STUDIOCANAL, the bears are placed throughout the city to mark mustsee attractions, all with a tie-back to Paddington’s story. Though the Trail officially runs only until December 30, 2014 (the bears will then be auctioned off to benefit the NSPCC and ChildLine to support child cruelty prevention) there’s still plenty of fun to be had for families planning an across-the-pond visit in 2015. So, mark your calendars for the film next month, and get inspired by one very special, marmalade-loving furry friend and the wonder of London.

STAY If your sights are set on a quaint English experience, try the charming Draycott Hotel (draycotthotel.com), which is located in the equally charming (and quite posh) Sloane Square neighborhood. The hotel recently launched a special Paddington Bear package, available through April 2015. The package includes accommodations in a family suite, a take-home Paddington Bear, a full English breakfast, afternoon tea with a mini-tea

New York Family | December 2014

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TRAVEL

Borough Market option available for children, tickets for a hop-on-hop-off bus tour of London with an official Paddington Bear guide book, and an exclusive scrapbook. Looking for sleek and modern accommodations that still boast a British sensibility? Check into the Athenaeum in the high-society ‘hood of Mayfair (athenaeumhotel.com). Not only are the rooms state-of-the-art, but the afternoon tea—currently customized with Paddington-approved treats like orange marmalade with scones—is considered to be one of the city’s very best.

EAT Paddington Bear originally made his way to London from Peru. And coincidentally (or not), the city is currently going through a very exciting—and very tasty—Peruvian culinary explosion. Peruvian cuisine is hallmarked by bright and flavorful ceviche dishes, hearty meat skewers, and refreshing desserts. For an upscale dining experience, Mayfair’s Coya Restaurant (coyarestaurant.com) subtly fuses Asian influences with traditional Peruvian fare (we loved the salmon nekkei ceviche). Plus, there’s a scrumptious kids’ menu for the little ones. For a taste of Peru that’s more lunch-time-appropriate, try Ceviche in SoHo (cevicheuk.com). The vibe is relaxed and cheery—making it perfect for a nosh stop on a busy day of sightseeing. Snack on crispy plantain chips before digging into briny ceviches, smoky skewers, and imaginative salads.

SHOP Shopping on Oxford Street is a must for any London visitor, but no department store beckons like Selfridges (selfridges.com)—in fact, Paddington author Michael Bond purchased the bear that inspired his story at Selfridges on Christmas Eve 58 years ago. If you can make it there before January 4, 2015, don’t miss the Paddington Curiosity Shop, with its display of costumes from the movie, vintage bears, and a Kate Moss-designed Paddington statue. Otherwise, take advantage of the store’s British aesthetic and multitude of departments. For an outdoor shopping adventure, head to Southwark’s Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk). This 1,000-year-old market is any foodie family’s dream—and the perfect spot to concoct the ultimate tribute to Paddington: A marmalade sandwich! Try fresh bread from Bread Ahead (breadahead.com) and sample Jill’s Natural Preserves’ (jillsnaturalpreserves.co.uk) www.newyorkfamily.com

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10 LDN MUSTS FOR FAMILIES Buckingham Palace royal.gov.uk Hamleys Toy Store hamleys.com Harrod’s harrods.com The London Eye londoneye.com Madam Tussaud’s madametussauds.com/london Platform 9 & 3/4 at King’s Cross harrypotterplatform934.com The Tate Modern tate.org.uk Thames River Cruise thames-river-cruises.co.uk The Tower of London hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon The Wizard Chambers at Georgian House georgianhousehotel.co.uk

Scenes from Vista Verde (above and inset). Dark Hunky Seville Marmalade (made especially for the Paddington Trail).

LEARN One of London’s best traits is that most museums are free! If your kids love the chase scenes from the Paddington movie, suggest the Natural History Museum (uk.naturalhistory.museum) where those parts were filmed! Of course, once you arrive at the NHM, the exhibits—from Darwin to dinosaurs to the newly-opened Treasures gallery—are sure to delight each member of the family with no cajoling needed. Other museum musts for families include the Museum of London (museumoflondon.org.uk)—a cultural goldmine featuring a “Bear Called Paddington” exhibit through January 4, 2015 and a “Sherlock Holmes” exhibit through April 12, 2015; and the House of Illustration (houseofillustration.org.uk)—which has a “Paddington: Illustrated and Animated” exhibit through January 4, 2015. For more tips on planning your trip to London, see visitlondon.com!

VISTA VERDE: A VERY UN-NEW-YORK SOJOURN IN THE WEST By Marjorie Ingall We travel underground, crammed into tubes. We go to sleep to the sounds of incessant honking and shrieking car alarms. We are careful not to step in the effluvium of frat boys on our stoop on Saturday nights. So when we arrived at Vista Verde (vistaverde.com), a luxury dude ranch near Steamboat Springs, CO, we felt as though we’d arrived on an alien planet. “Shhh,” I said to my daughters, Maxine, 9, and Josie, 12, as we stood outside the central lodge on our first evening. “You have never been anywhere this quiet in your lives.” There was snow everywhere. None of it was crusty and gray, and there was no visible dog pee. There were lanterns. We could hear our footsteps crunch and see every star in the sky. And there were horses. And friendly cats and dogs. And did I mention the horses? Vista Verde began as a hay and cattle ranch in the 1920s, and in the 1950s the owners started taking in traveling hunters and fishermen for extra income. Today, there are a few vintage buildings on the property, but almost everything is new and beautifully maintained. There’s a perfectly calibrated feeling of rustic luxury—it doesn’t feel vomitously cartoon-cowboy or cutesy-frilly. Guests stay in individual cabins with peaked wooden ceilings, private porches, and hot tubs, overlooking pastures and hillside. www.newyorkfamily.com

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When we opened the door to our cabin, Wapiti— with its two wood-burning fireplaces, vintage décor, and private kitchen—Maxine gasped: “Can we live here forever?” She also said: “I love it here so much I promise to make my bed every day!” This did not occur. I was afraid that my non-horsey, bookish family might be a bit overwhelmed by all the outdoorsy options, but I needn’t have worried. My husband immediately became buds with a fellow guest and went skiing in nearby Steamboat Springs. The kids, who had minimal horseback riding experience, fell madly in love with the whole experience. One day the kids went snow-tubing with Dan, one of the many polite and flannel-clad young staff members who cheerfully saddled horses, baled hay, fit skis, and provided beverages. Josie immediately made a friend her age and threw herself into the activity, but Max was too afraid to go down the big hill. I watched, worrying: Should I intercede? Urge her to buck up? But I held back. Max was perfectly happy just making snow a ngels; she was overjoyed when Dan let her ride down in the big plastic sled behind the snowmobile to pick up the tubers at the bottom of the hill. As Dan dragged the whole group of them back up to the top of the hill, I could hear Max squealing with joy, and I realized something: She was having a grand time, in her own way. Why did she have to sit in a tube? Other days, the kids built snow forts, had snowball fights, learned to groom their horses, had riding clinics, watched movies, and did crafts. I went riding and did yoga. You can also go hiking, backcountry skiing, and snowshoeing. In the warmer months, in addition to riding, there’s mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, rafting and kayaking, and an on-site pool. One day we went on a sleigh ride together, with hot chocolate and piles of blankets. We felt impossibly wholesome, all our city cynicism dropping away. Maxine fed icicles to one of the ranch’s lovely dogs, Rosie. Josie and I took a cooking class together with the ranch’s chef, bonding over our lousy knife skills. As a family, we had (delicious) breakfasts and lunches together; at night the kids often ate with their peers while we grownups had more sophisticated, less screechy dinners with our fellow guests. There was sweet and spicy pork barbacoa, shiitake and hedgehog mushroom risotto with parmesan crisps, and grilled salmon with mustard-horseradish aioli and kale. Some nights after dinner, we sat in our hot tub. Other nights we hung out beneath the soaring beamed ceiling of the lodge’s communal Great Room, with its rough-hewn stone fireplace, wrought-iron chandelier, and vast expanses of windows. The cowboys played guitar; we played board games, read books, and drank good wine. There were no TVs in the rooms and no electronics allowed in the dining hall. It felt like a true getaway. December 2014 | New York Family 63

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the last word

FAMILY CIRCLE

With An Open Heart & Generous Spirit, One Local Mom Is Changing Her Status From Stay-At-Home-Mother To Stay-At-Home-Daughter By Lorraine Duffy Merkl I’M OFFICIALLY CHANGING MY STATUS from stay-at-home-mother to stay-athome-daughter. It never occurred to me that as my children—Luke, 19, and Meg, 16—got older, my mother was aging too. I thought by the time Meg reached high school I’d be back to writing on-staff, going from my current freelance status of the last two decades to perhaps part-time, then full time. However, that can’t happen, as my mother needs a care-taker. I realize there are other options, but when she was a single mother in the Bronx, she always managed to take care of me; then she moved to Manhattan when Luke was to born to help me raise him, and eventually his sister. I feel that I owe it to her to act in kind. As I transition from one title to the other, I do so with gratitude to my husband Neil, who has supported four people so I could take care of two of them; allowing me to watch Luke and Meg progress in their activities like gymnastics, baseball, basketball, swimming, and acting, as well as volunteering at school when called upon. I was also able to be there to share in every triumph and comfort in any disappointments. I can’t say, though, that I never had doubts about leaving my staff job in advertising. As my children moved up in grammar school, I had moments of wondering if I was wasting my time and talents by not utilizing them on a full-time, full steam ahead basis. My friend Susan, whom I always admired for being a great mother of two, as well as a successful CEO, chastised me for not appreciating what she called “the best of both worlds:” Working from home, as well as being available for my kids. That shut me up. It’s not the first time another mother has saved me from myself. And I did my share of saving, too. I had a number of friends, besides Susan, who worked outside the home, and on days off from school, my home often looked like a small daycare center. I am grateful I was never part of the Mommy Wars that others claim still rage on today. On a personal note, I got to enjoy our Upper East Side home and neighborhood, something my husband only

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gets to do evenings and on weekends. Was being a SAHM ever boring? ‘Fraid so. That’s when I would fantasize about how I could be doing something productive if I were in office, imagining exciting projects and people running around trying to get them accomplished by deadline, a la an episode of anything ever written by Aaron Sorkin. Then I’d talk myself back to reality, where I’d remember having my share of boredom at my company, particularly during meetings that were often like a long day’s journey because of colleagues who thought their points were so brilliant that they felt the need to make them twice. There were also times when dealing with Luke, Meg, their teachers, and yes, other mommies, were frustrating and aggravating—just like at my paying job had been. No, staying home was not perfect, but it worked out perfectly for me. And quite frankly, for all my big dreams—and talk—about returning to the on-site workforce, I don’t know if I could—and not just because of the present economy. For the past two decades, I haven’t had to work in the 9-to-5 box, instead doing my assignments when I felt most motivated, whether it be 6am or 6pm; I’m self-motivated, so the thought of a boss standing over me asking: “Where are you on that assignment?” would be irritating, especially since I’ve never missed a deadline left to my own devices; and since, as long as I have my laptop, I can work anywhere, like the park. So being chained metaphorically to a desk might bring on a bout of claustrophobia. Even though per diem work can be feast or famine, I’ve done all right for myself, aka I never felt as though I got “mommy-tracked.” There was always someone who needed me to write something, and that’s still the case. That’s a good thing, since, even though the players have changed, my personal/professional work off-site situation hasn’t. So, as I go from being a stay-at-home-mother to a stay-at-home-daughter, I hope this new phase works out as well. LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL is a freelance writer in NYC and author of the novels, Fat Chick and Back to Work She Goes.

www.newyorkfamily.com

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