Stores

For our final Dumbo post this month, we're sharing our favorite stores for kids in the area. Considering Dumbo's reputation as an artsy neighborhood, it's no surprise that its shops sell unique, often handmade items.

While lots of Dumbo businesses are aimed at adults, like funky art galleries, furniture shops and high-end boutiques, the small nabe boasts a fair number of kids' stores. From clothing to candy, books to baby necessities, here are 10 great places for families to shop in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

We continue our month-long focus on Harlem with a look at shopping with kids in the neighborhood. The main thoroughfares like 125th and 145th Streets are filled with popular chains like Children's Place, H&M and Old Navy. But, as befits the vibrant and diverse area, you can also find more eclectic stores on the side streets and avenues.

Although independent Harlem shops aren't taking off quite like the restaurant scene, there are still several gems, each with a unique story and history. Here are our top kid-friendly stores for families to hit in Harlem.

A kids pool party is certainly not a new birthday party idea, but they are a sure-fire hit with kids, and you can rent out the pool at your nearest Y pretty reasonably (as NYC kid parties go). I always like to do home parties, however. It's not that I'm cheap (well, yeah, maybe a little), but I am also a homebody and a control freak. I like to do everything myself and have it happen under my roof (or on my roof). So pool parties are out, right? Oh, I may be a cheap, homebody, control freak, but I'm no quitter. So, here's how to throw an awesome urban pool party whether you have a pool or not. If you have any kind of outdoor space (roof, terrace, garden, sidewalk in front of your apartment...) you can do this party with a kiddie pool, or even two. Think creatively. Maybe you could even do it in the playground or park. If you don't have outdoor space you can always do your pool party at a public pool. A pool party can be a great, low-stress party. You don't need to hire entertainment and once the kids get going, the adults can just sit back and chill while the kids have a blast in the water.

If you want to make your kid's birthday a little extra special, don't just buy them a cool toy, let them make it themselves. Give the gift of creativity, self confidence and not to mention, an amazing memory this year by providing them with the special experience of building their own toy. Kids can pretend to be mad scientists by building a one-of-a-kind walking, talking robot. Or they can channel their inner Jim Henson and make their very own Muppet. Little kids can stitch up the stuffed animal friend of their dreams or visit a café where arts and crafts are on the menu. 

This Fall we did an at home beading party for my daughter and I found this to be one of the most fun, versatile, inexpensive and easy to organize birthday party ideas we have ever done. A beading birthday party is a great idea for girls from preschool age to teens and it's a great idea for NYC kids because it's easy to do even in a small apartment and in New York we have easy access to all the wholesale beading stores where you can pick up all kinds of fun beads.