Traveling to New York with kids? Here's an insider guide for what to do and where to go, tested by us and proven to be kid-friendly and cool.
Sweet William
When I buy for my kids, I usually go on-line to the Gap and such for the basics….but for the special items I always head to Brooklyn to the smaller, boutique-type children’s stores. Sweet William, in Williamsburg, is a beautiful little space with a very well edited selection of adorable, stylish clothing. Not to mention really lovely toys, accessories and furniture — all displayed in the most enticing of ways. I love places that carry lines that you can’t find elsewhere and offer something special – hard to find brands like Talc and Makie. I also think it’s a top pick for getting unique newborn gifts.
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| Things to do on a beautiful sunny day. NYC museums! | Williamsburg | Pomme |
Things to do on a beautiful sunny day. NYC museums!
So recently I had a really terrible idea. It was pouring horizontal rain, freezing cold AND the schools were all closed for spring break… and for some reason, I decided it would be a truly excellent idea to take one of my girls to the Planetarium at the Natural History Museum. The good news was that I got our tickets the night before on-line (which you should ALWAYS do if available) … the bad news is that I spent the morning in a complete state of nature with what seemed like all of human kind. Uggh!
Despite the human jigsaw puzzle, we had a great time but the whole experience served as a gentle reminder that a rainy day visit to a museum is really not such a great idea after all as chances are that every single other human being alive has the same idea. Here are some of my favorite museums in the city… (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Make Meaning — Art Space for Kids, young and old |
Billy’s Bakery. Diagnosis…Delicious
The cupcake competition in New York has swelled to epic proportions and it seems like there are cupcake pop-up shops everywhere all of a sudden. I am not sure why, as a society, we have become so obsessed with this portable baked good but who’s complaining? I am totally psyched to be able to get my hands on one in a moments notice.
Having young kids, I have sampled pretty much all of the major places in town and I am picking a landslide winner (drum roll). I really do love Billy’s Bakery the best because their cupcakes not only TASTE but LOOK home-made. They do not try too hard to be what they are not and they certainly don’t give you the attitude like some of the others. They come in pretty old-fashioned colors and strike the perfect balance with a generous heap of creamy icing supported by moist and sweet cake. (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Kaffe 1668 — The new Tribeca fix | Moomah – Coffee and Creativity | Soul Cycle |
Hudson River Park
Oftentimes, it is very easy to forget that Manhattan is actually an island — surrounded by beautiful open water views and wide promenades to stroll and cycle. I have lived here my whole life and I still do a double-take when I catch a glimpse of a boat going by or see more then a few trees in a cluster. Hudson River Park is a long expanse along the base of New York City that is getting more developed and exciting with each passing year. Starting at Chambers street and walking down to the tip of the island is a long and scenic esplanade lined with playgrounds and open lawns for picnics, people watching, and feeling a bit like you are NOT in New York City. For the kids, check out Rockefeller Playground which offers something for all ages as well as the secluded Tear Drop Park with its hidden sprinkler grottoes and giant slide into a sand pit. Also be sure to poke into the World Financial Center for a scoop of gelato or a burger from the famous PJ Clarks. At the very base is Wagner Park that has amazing views of the Statue of Liberty and on summer weekends they almost always have something going on for young kids.
(Photo from Flickr)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Landmarc | Kaffe 1668 — The new Tribeca fix | Soul Cycle |
Kaffe 1668 — The new Tribeca fix
So the very loud, stay-at-home dad that I have written about before is truly a deep and bottomless well of good information. He has been talking up this coffee place that just opened in the neighborhood saying we were all complete and total fools if we ever went anywhere else for our morning fix. As a rule of thumb I try to avoid Starbucks, if I can, to support the smaller cafés in the city (of which there might be exactly three left). Don’t get me wrong, I like Starbucks and all, but I really feel like a total loser when they make me call their small a “tall” and their large a “venti”… pisses me off every. single. time.
So the other day I made the journey over to Kaffe 1668 and seriously… stay-at-home dad was right! Kaffee makes truly amazing coffee. Each individual cup is single brewed and is presented almost like a work of art. The people there take such pride in each cup that you almost feel bad about drinking it. It is also a nice place to sit and grab a small bite as they have the most delicious little sandwhiches and pastries – all which look like they were made with the same amount of love as the coffee. Right now there is only one in the city but I sure hope more open up soon! FYI: for Tribeca peeps it’s a great pit stop before or after Soul Cycle.
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Landmarc | Soul Cycle | Billy’s Bakery. Diagnosis…Delicious |
Mayflower Inn and Spa
Since having my girls, my husband and I have only taken 3 short weekend trips away from home. Six nights. Four years. Exactly six times where I have slept past 7:30 in the morning. Now before you call me a loser… just wait… it gets even worse. Those six nights were all spent at the exact same place. A place which is less than a two-hour drive from our house!
But look – it’s not that we are afraid to leave our children with the grandparents for a few days – it’s just that we really love going here and honestly, when it comes right down to it… vacation for us at this juncture in our lives means sleeping past 7am, eating well, taking a bath without someone banging on the door, and long stretches of quiet. (more…)
Landmarc
While most of us can agree that eating out with small children usually causes nothing but indigestion, I do like to get out from time to time to give us all a break. That being said, when we do venture out, I am VERY particular about finding places that are both adult and kid friendly. Landmarc has an excellent family vibe and is a place where you don’t have to worry about eating with children – they totally get it. They have two locations, one in Tribeca and one in the Time Warner Center and they offer a very nice kids menu that is not simply chicken fingers and french fries. The best part – the desserts…. mini ice cream cones and even cotton candy! Also worth noting parents, is that they have a high quality and very inexpensive wine selection. They don’t mark-up their wines and basically serve them at cost, so have a glass or two! you deserve it….
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Moomah – Coffee and Creativity | Hudson River Park | Soul Cycle |
KISAN Concept Store
KISAN Concept Store is a nifty little place, just off the beaten path in Soho. The store is a collective of all things stylish and beautifully made offering nearly everything from interesting coffee table books and gadgets — to chic clothing/shoes — to handbags and jewelery — to stunning, mouth-agape children’s clothing. The owners literally comb the world over to find the lines they carry and it is the kind of stuff you won’t see anywhere else and can’t get anywhere else. The back of the store is wholly dedicated to higher-end children’s clothing as well as a small selection of internationally themed toys and books. They happen to carry one of my favorite European brands, Caramel Baby and Child (and ps: they just started selling on-line and will ship to the US).
I ain’t gonna lie – this is Soho and it ain’t cheap, but everything in this store is really special and it is a fabulous place to pick up unique gifts. If you are in need of a special outfit for a young boy or girl this is a great place to look.
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| The best of Soho’s children’s boutiques | Favorite children’s bookstore — Scholastic Store | Purl Soho |
