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 opens in Manhattan!
One of my very favorite children’s shops from Brooklyn recently opened in Nolita last month — dangerously close to where I live (uh oh). I have always admired Sweet William as it is a store that gets it just right. The space is adorable and the clothes are incredibly well edited, wearable and unique. I assure you, you will want it all. I am especially drawn to the store as a great source for newborn gifts — the teeny tiny outfits from the likes of Ketiketa and Tuss are criminal they are so cute. This is definitely a shop to visit.
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| McNally Jackson Bookstore |
Make Meaning — Art Space for Kids, young and old
Paint-a-pot… step aside. I think your days are numbered. Make Meaning recently opened its doors on the Upper West Side and they are definitely on to something! The gigantic, walk-in creativity center offers a place where parents and their kids can sit together and work side by side on a variety of creative projects — all age appropriate and stuff that you will actually use!
The space currently offers six experiences: soap crafting, candle-making, ceramics, glass, jewelry and paper and they are open to 11pm on some nights! Not only is it a perfect retreat when it’s too cold or crummy to be outside but what mother doesn’t need some downtime to just zone out and create something for themselves once in a while?
I love the look of the Soapsphere! Kids can choose the color and fragrance of their soap and then throw in a toy surprise for bath-time fun! And they serve cupcakes!
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Things to do on a beautiful sunny day. NYC museums! |
Pizza
Pizza places are everywhere in New York so picking a favorite would not only be impossible but simply immoral. There are zillions of restaurants ranging from the simple traditional New York slice to the thin-crust, brick-oven gourmet type and below are a few of my favorites (with kids AND without). I am going to keep a running list as I seek out other places in Manhattan and Brooklyn over the next few months but I would love to hear from others what the best kid-friendly pizza place is in YOUR neighborhood.
1) Lombardi’s – (Nolita) For sit down pizza with kids in the downtown area Lombardi’s is famous for their thin-crust, coal oven pizzas with all sorts of toppings. On the weekends the line will literally snake out the door so get there early.
2) For the real deal New York slice there is Joe’s Pizza (Greenwhich Village) which was a big hit back when I was in high school. Cheap, delicious, hot pizza that is so good you could eat half a pie on your own. There is no real place to sit down here but there are a few places to stand and scarf down a slice or two and there is a little park across the street with benches if you have a child in tow. It is a great place to refuel if you want to walk along Bleecker Street up into the West Village. Joe’s is packed during the lunch hours and late night but it’s always good.
3) L’il Frankies (East Village) — a good standby for an early dinner out with kids. The oven was handcrafted by a 3rd generation Neapolitan oven builder, brick by brick. It features real lava from Vesuvio and through a unique double dome design, recycles heat to reach near 900 degrees! There is a great little playground nearby as well to hit before or after (on 1st street and 1st Avenue).
4) For the adults… One of my favorites is Georgione (Soho) and although it is not a traditional pizza place, the pie here rocks. I am here at least once a week with friends scarfing one down. My other favorite for a pizza date night or dinner out with friends is Apizz — Delicious and made in front of your eyes…
Mini Munchers — NYC Restaurant Guide for kids!!
Standing ovation for this one! Standing Ovation. I have been waiting for someone to come up with an easy to use search guide of places to eat with children in New York and I am so grateful to this mom of two for doing the homework and creating Mini-Munchers. The New York restaurant scene is not all that child-friendly in general and while some neighborhoods offer better options than others, it’s nice to have a tested resource of places that you can take your clan when you need to eat out. You can easily search by neighborhood and cuisine and can view the menu on-line. The site also offers commentary on other perks and offerings for kids (like if they have changing tables, crayons and quick service!).
