Giveaway: Family Four Pack to the NYC Botanical Gardens Annual Holiday Train Show

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Every December, we make an annual pilgrimage to the New York Botanical Garden's annual Holiday Train Show. It has become a special and memorable experience for all of us. When our kids were babies, their eyes popped out at all the moving trains buzzing around the room.  As toddlers, they started to chase the trains and watch the lights flashing around the room.  In recent years, now that they're ages 6 and 7, they have begun to ask about the incredible landmarks scattered through the exhibit and they’ve begun to “ooh” and “aah” the remarkable … [Read more...]

Holiday Gifts for Kids Wrap Up

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Here is a list of what I consider to be the HOT toys that are sure to be a hit this holiday season.  If you're trying to come up with some ideas for your holiday shopping for your kids without breaking the bank, here are some of the newest toys out on the shelves that I've personally tested on my kids, ages 6 and 7.  Shopping for other people, even your kids, can sometimes be frustrating, so hopefully this list will ease the experience a bit. Squinkies - Who would have known that these little miniature collectibles would be such a hit with my … [Read more...]

Passports with Purpose -All it Takes is a Village

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Two of my favorite things, travel and advocacy, come together in a wonderful annual travel blogger fundraiser, Passports with Purpose.  Last year, the group – led by Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby, Beth Whitman of Wanderlust and Lipstick, Michelle Duffy of Wandermom and Pam Mandel of Nerds Eye View - raised nearly $30,000 to build a school in Preah Vihear, a rural area in northern Cambodia. Because Passports With Purpose reached more than double their goal of $13,000, they were also able to provide the kids there with a school nurse, clean … [Read more...]

A Kid for a Day at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk

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I was very happy to be invited to a special event at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Connecticut last week called Kid for a Day. The event was in lieu of the museum's re-opening after two years of construction and a few months of closure during renovations. They are re-opening this weekend, and about twenty of us were  given a sneak peek at the museum's new wing.  The museum has always been a big part of my own children's lives, and I was eager to see all the improvements up close.  Oh, and of course I wanted to be a kid for the … [Read more...]

Hanukkah in New York City

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This is a cross-post of an article that I wrote on A Child Grows this week - check out the article. It’s hard to believe that Hanukkah is a mere two weeks away.  There is no better city in the U.S. than New York City in which to have the quintessential Hanukkah experience.  Whether it be a massive candle lighting with hundreds of other New Yorkers or a Family Day at the Jewish Museum with art, music and puppets, your child has many opportunities to celebrate and learn about the holiday outside your home.  Here are some of the offerings that … [Read more...]

When Grammy-Winning Artists Get Together and Talk About Fruits & Vegies

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I was recently sent a copy of a new CD called "Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat" to listen to and voice my thoughts about.  At first glance, I didn't comprehend the CD's significance, nor did I realize how much enjoyment was about to come in my home as a result.  I can't stress enough what an interesting, valuable CD this is.  First of all, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this CD go to the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food.  The goal of this CD is to assist with the nation's initiatives regarding nutrition and childhood … [Read more...]

Review: “Wallenberg: Musical Drama”

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This is a reprint of my review published in The Larchmont Loop today. "Wallenberg: Musical Drama Larchmont’s very own Felicia Needleman is part of the writing team behind the new musical “Wallenberg,” which is now playing at the White Plains Performing Arts Center. Her partner, Laurence Holzman, is the other half of the writing team behind the show.   The theater is launching a season of new musicals and plays to be presented in the City Center mall in downtown White Plains, and “Wallanberg” kicks off the season. It’s … [Read more...]

Review: Mrs. Warren’s Profession at the Roundabout Theater

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Mrs. Warren's Profession is a play ahead of its time.  Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1893, it dealt with prostitution and the role of women in Victorian society.  It was a bold piece of writing, one that was banned at the time  and condemned as immoral, citing its focus on prostitution and incest. Today it is looked as a powerful piece of writing, and I was eager to see its adaptation brought to life by the Roundabout Theater with two of my favorite actresses, Cherry Jones and Sally Hawkins. Cherry Jones can do no wrong in anything she does in … [Read more...]

This Week’s Cool Parenting Blog Posts

Here is what some of my friends wrote about this week: Shiny Brite: New York's China Town with Kids Mom Finds: Girls Winter Gloves/Boys Winter Gloves A Child Grows: The Annual Jazz for Young People at Jazz Series at Jazz at Lincoln Center (I wrote this!) Mom Delicious: Giveaway: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 NYC Single Mom: Best Pals Dolls by the Lennon Sisters Mom Trends: Must-Haves for the Holiday Season (by my friend Maria of http://newyorkmom.wordpress.com) … [Read more...]

Baby Got Bach at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge

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Looking for something musical to do on Sunday mornings? Bring your children to Bleecker Street  for Baby Got Bach: Classical Kids at LPR. Curated by the pianist Orli Shaham with assistance from the experts at Three Little Birds Music, the event features hands-on activities, where kids have a chance to play with real musical instruments. Then it’s on to the stage to enjoy a listening tour of great live chamber music, featuring Orli and her friends. The program is aimed toward 3 to 6 year-olds, but all ages are welcome. The preview event of … [Read more...]