| A Note From New York Family's Editor |
The Case For Uncles: I grew up as an only child, with this interesting twist: I had grandparents as well as an uncle, aunt and two older cousins who lived in the same apartment building in Brighton Beach as my mom and I, so I had easy access to all the familial comfort and craziness a boy could ever ask for. Last weekend, near Mt. Snow in Vermont, a bunch of us in the extended family gathered for a few days, and something very wonderful and unexpected happened: My four-year-old son and his 54-year-old uncle Marc became the best of buddies--couldn't get enough of each other. These days Marc lives in Newton, Mass., a father and husband, and a successful architect. He was there with me in Brighton Beach, and our bond--how shall I say this?--is deep with love and support and disagreement. But seeing him with Adam, I remembered: Whatever ups and downs my mom had with her mom and her sister, she always gave me an open door to the rest of the family. That was a very good policy. -- Eric Messinger (emessinger@manhattanmedia.com) |
| Parenting Tip |
| Moooooooooooo: City kids grow up hearing and seeing and talking a lot about farms and farm animals through songs, TV shows, movies, and books (one favorite: the classic, "The Cow That Went Oink"), but there's nothing like exposing them to the real thing, is there? So here's the question: is it too late to plan a little road trip (or bus or train) to one of New York State's summer mega-fairs, the Dutchess County Fair, which runs from August 19-24? If it is too late, we recommend a family visit to the Queens County Farm Museum anytime, but especially for their annual Queens County Fair on September 20 and 21. Mark your calendar--it's wonderful. |
| Joy's Shopping Tips |
Lunch Box Revisited: Some of your little ones will be headed off to preschool this year and in some cases you will need to provide them with lunch. I'm always in search of a great lunch bag and Pottery Barn Kids has developed three great styles to fit your needs. There's a retro version, a roll top, and of course, the classic. All have phthalate-free insulation and a water-resistant exterior. They are offered in solid colors or polka dot patterns in pink or blue. $19 and up; 1311 Second Avenue, 212-879-4746, www.potterybarnkids.com.
Belly Rock: For expectant moms who love to dress with an eye towards a rocker look, MamaSan Maternity Apparel is perfect. The line is divided into three categories: tops, dresses, and skirts. The appliqués of skulls and crossbones are what give the clothing its gothic look. Prices start at $35; www.mamasanmaternity.com.
Olympic Must-Have: Young Chinese are showing support for their country with a new fashion item- the "I Heart China" t-shirt. It has five yellow stars on a red heart recalling the national flag. Other styles have five interlocking hearts recalling the Olympic rings, the white-on- red Beijing Olympic logo within a heart, and red maps of China with slogans such as "Go and One China, One Family." Different websites offer different styles, and the shirts are sure to be worn by everyone who is coming back home from the Games. You can find a variety of shirts at: www.cafepress.com.
*Joy Sherwood is the Style Director of New York Family. She can be reached at jsherwood@manhattanmedia.com.
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| Activity Tips* |
Lincoln Center Family Day: The streets and sidewalks around Lincoln Center become a fun, lively and free stage during its Out of Doors Family Day celebration on August 16. Check out Puppet Pageant: Evangeline, Evil and Dancing in the Street (in which an entire city block of cars, buildings, cats, and dogs go for a walk!); Fraulein Maria, a hip-hop twist on The Sound of Music; and an interactive dance performance by Step Afrika. Details: Damrosch Park (Southwest corner of Lincoln Center Plaza, 62nd Street near Amsterdam Avenue); performances begin at 2 pm; www.lincolncenter.org.
Free Movies: A couple of the city's beloved outdoor movie venues have some wonderful family flicks coming up, so bring the kids, spread a picnic blanket, and enjoy Superman (the first one with Christopher Reeve), at Bryant Park on August 18 (movie starts at sunset), and August Rush at the Central Park Film Festival's Family Day on August 23 (film starts at 8 pm). Adults looking for a more romantic movie night (i.e. no kids) should check out the festival's full schedule, and also consider Thursday night movies at Brooklyn Bridge Park, including Cabaret on August 14 (at 8 pm). Details: Bryant Park: 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue, www.bryantpark.org; Central Park: Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street, www.centralparknyc.org/filmfestival; Brooklyn Bridge Park: www.brooklynbridgepark.org.
Free Streets: Pedestrians rule on August 16 and August 23, when the city's "Summer Streets" initiative creates an enormous car-free zone stretching from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park from 7 am to 1pm. Note: there are many activities planned specifically for children, including bike races, jump rope, hop scotch, and four-square games. Details: 212-488-6556, www.nyc.gov/summerstreets.
*Activity Tips are from New York Family and GoCityKids.com. |
| The Week's Bonus Tips |
Science Barge: At this sustainable floating farm and environmental education center, children can experience how renewable energy can support food production like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce (which are grown with zero net carbon emissions, zero chemical pesticides, and zero runoff). Details: Created by the nonprofit environmental organization, New York Sun Works, the Barge is now docked at Pier I (70th Street and the Hudson River), and is open for free public tours on Tuesday through Friday afternoons at 4 pm, and on weekends at several times. 212-757 7560, www.nysunworks.org.
The Inside Scoop on Nursery Admissions (Downtown Edition): As the nursery school admissions season begins, New York Family magazine and Citibabes have put together an admissions panel with a special focus on downtown. It features Claudine Zamor of Beginnings Nursery School; Sharon Shorofsky Mack of the Jewish Community Project; Dana Haddad of Claremont Preparatory School; Ayala Marcktell of Tribeca Community School; and Patti Wollman Summers of Smart City Kids. Plus, CZ Zuckerman, of Citibabes, will discuss pre-school alternative programs. Details: Wednesday, September 10, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Citibabes, at 477 Broadway, 3rd Floor (between Broome and Grand). $50 per person. For more info and to register: visit www.newyorkfamily.com. Register now! Anyone who registers for the admissions seminar will also be eligible to participate in Citibabes' Trial Week, from September 8 to 14, in which interested parents can enroll their child for free in classes as well as enjoy the club's gym, café and indoor playground. For more details on Trial Week, write to RSVP@citibabes.com. |
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