May 2012 - The Culture Mom

31May

Basic Family Fun at 1000 Acres Ranch Resort

If you're looking for a truly unique and relatively inexpensive adventure this summer for you and your family, look no further than 1000 Acres Ranch Resort. Located on the banks of the Hudson River just over 200 miles from NYC, in the heart of the Adirondacks, this 70 year old resort is bringing back the traditional dude ranch and staying faithful to who they are. For my kids, who have never experienced a real cow boy, never experienced horse back riding, never experienced a real bonfire, there was much to fall in love with at this simple, but Read More

31May

Peru to the World Expo

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Are you like me, looking for ways to introduce your children to different cultures - food, language, history and more? Here's an opportunity to expand your children's knowledge of the country of Peru. The first annual Peru to the World Expo will make its debut in the U.S. in June 2012 and will feature a Peruvian gastronomic fair with star chefs, an international food and beverage seminar and an investment forum. The fair will take place at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey on Friday, June 15th from 2-8PM; Saturday, June 16th from Read More

25May

Thinking About Etan Patz, the Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children and My Own Kids

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As I write, I'm lying in bed with my 9 year-old daughter. We're staying in a B&B in the Adirondacks. We spent today experiencing a number of firsts for both my kids. It was the first time they'd ever been for a ride in a canoe. It was the first time they'd ever ridden in a tractor. It was even the first time they'd ever eaten chicken parmesan. I spent the day watching their faces. Faces of curiosity and bewilderment. Faces of happiness and excitement. My son was literally jumping for joy after his ride on the tractor. Suddenly a trip that Read More

24May

My Thoughts on Miss Representation: Be the Change

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When I first heard about the film Miss Representation, I knew it would be right up my alley, but for some reason it sat on my DVR for a few months after appearing on OWN. It wasn't that I didn't want to watch it, it was that I could not find the time to watch it (story of my life). So, when I heard about an event in the city featuring both a showing and a talk back with Catherine Connors as moderator, I found myself immediately booking a ticket online with fervent anticipation of the evening. Both a feminist and a pop culture junkie, I knew this was a Read More

23May

FIAF presents Bon Voyage Workshop at the Jacadi Madison Avenue Boutique

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The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)

As a member of a multi-cultural family and a travel writer, I get excited about introducing children to other cultures. When my kids were young, we traveled over-seas often and I was able to introduce them to different languages, food, and more. Still, to this day (well, they are not so old), we congregate with many foreign families and I make a conscious effort to expand their global horizons daily. That is why this event threw itself out at me as something worth promoting. It involves travel, music, language and more. The French Institute Read More

21May

Review: Rapture, Blister, Burn – A Feminist, Moving Theatrical Experience

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When I ventured into the city for a Sunday night performance of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN at Playwright Horizons after a long, exhausting weekend full of work & personal obligations, domesticity and exhaustion, I had no idea that I was headed exactly where I needed to be. As soon as the curtain went up, there was a certain vibe that generated on the stage both from the actors, the set and music, and when they started to speak the words off the brilliant script by Gina Gionfriddo, I was mesmorized for the next two hours. The script deals with issues of Read More

18May

Travel to Exotic Lands (without leaving NYC) at the Bronx Zoo This Weekend

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The Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium have been staple institutions for families both in New York and tourists alike for more than 100 years and I am proud to announce my Ambassadorship! We have been longtime members and visitors, and it's a place that we cherish as a family. I'll be reporting on special events here and offering discounts and other deals to get into the zoo here, so stay tuned. Here's what coming up this weekend. Travel to exotic lands (without leaving New York!) where kids can enjoy, dance, and play to the beat of this urban music Read More

18May

Review: What to Expect When You’re Expecting

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When I was pregnant, I glanced at What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff. It wasn't until I had my first child that I really delved into the details of raising one. It was on-the-job training. Of course, I was interested in what was going on inside my body, but other than that, I wanted parenthood to be a surprise. Pregnancy had taken me by surprise, when I found myself with child only after trying for six weeks (though I was exceedingly happy), and I remember the raging hormones and gradual changes in my life very well. The Read More

16May

Feel Guilty About Giving Kids Your iPad? Consider This New Reader and NYC event!

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A friend of mine told me recently that they felt guilty about letting her daughter use her ipad. Why? She didn’t feel like it was being used in an “educational” way. So, it’s pretty cool that there is a new interactive reader where your kid is doing something educational and you are actually getting educated at the same time too! The new Ruckus Reader aims to stand apart by helping to evaluate how a child is doing while reading and then emails parents a progress report. It’s kind of like a report card: once a week it highlights highlights where the Read More