Lia's blog

Whether you dream of outdoing the Cake Boss for your child's next birthday or just want to bake some homemade sweets, there are stores all over the city with cool supplies. If you're ready to move beyond basic techniques, many locations also offer classes on how to ice cakes, make buttercream flowers, work with fondant, and more, though most are geared toward adults and older children. Little ones will still love wandering the aisles and checking out unusual cake toppers, baking tins shaped like their favorite cartoon characters, and sprinkles in every color of the rainbow. And just in case they start begging for their own classes, we included two places that have them specifically for smaller children.

Whether you live in the neighborhood or find yourself in need of a meal after a visit to Prospect Park, Park Slope has plenty of family-friendly restaurants to choose from. So our month-long series on the Slope wouldn't be complete without a roundup of our favorite places to eat with kids in the nabe.

As Mommy Poppins' resident foodie and a Park Slope mom to boot, I've tried many of the local restaurants. But when it comes to eating with kids, these ten are my favorite. From high-end hot dogs to a gastropub with highchairs to excellent salads and sandwiches, here are my top kid-friendly restaurants in Park Slope.

While searching for indoor fun this winter, I found the perfect place—for my kids, and me. A place that feels more like a good friend's cool apartment than a play space thanks to a minimalist and modern decor, good music (Smashing Pumpkins and Kings of Leon on my visits), and huge windows that let in a ton of natural light and provide a nice reminder of the cold weather outside. Opened in September 2010 by the down-to-earth and enviably hip couple Wade Groom and Katja Douedari, Play is a place I'd happily hang out at all winter, for these reasons, and many more.

Keeping kids happy when it’s freezing outside isn’t easy. To get through winter last year, my son and I spent a lot of time at a drop-in center in Park Slope. He’s too old for it now, so I’m always searching for new indoor playspaces. I heard about The Gym Park in Greenpoint. We’ve been twice already and he loves it. We drove both times we visited and street parking was a cinch. For those coming by subway, the G train at Greenpoint Ave is a few blocks away. Here is what else you'll find if you go. 

I love taking my kids to see live theater, but since they're both under five, there aren't a whole lot of shows that are appropriate for them (or, more to the point, that engage them). But every season, the New Victory Theater presents a few productions that are specifically aimed at preschoolers. That's why I jumped at the chance to see White, a short, low-key show for 2- to 5-year-olds.

Presented in the New Victory's intimate New 42nd Street Studios, the show follows Cotton and Wrinkle, two characters who lovingly care for their all-white world and work hard to keep it completely color-free. The guys sweep the white floors with white brooms, sleep in a white teepee, wear all white clothes and catch white eggs from the sky. But one day, a red egg appears, and suddenly Cotton and Wrinkle realize what they're missing.