Submitted by Kay on
[UPDATED: December 1, 2012]
We continue our focus on Park Slope this month with a look at toy stores in the nabe.
Considering how many families live in the area (mine included), it's no surprise that there are lots of shops selling toys. We've rounded up our favorite places to pick up playthings, from well-known boutiques like Little Things Toy Store to unusual spots where you can find fun knickknacks.
Submitted by Anna Fader on
Rock climbing is becoming an increasingly popular activity. Climbing walls are sprouting up all over New York City the way roller rinks did back in the '70s—no dark, unused corner is safe.
If your kids are post-preschool, they've probably already scaled one of the many climbing walls around town at a birthday party or during a class or event. Maybe you've even given it a try yourself. I've enjoyed rock climbing with my kids at several local spots, but none of them can compare to the experience we had at Brooklyn Boulders Family Hours this past weekend.
Read on to see a photo gallery of our visit and to find out more about this awesome rock climbing spot.
Submitted by Roberta B on
Anyone who's ever gone hunting for fairies knows that it can help a lot to have a guide. Not only is A Faery Hunt Theater at our service; the sprightly sprite experts are taking their popular fairy ensemble indoors to Studio City's Whitefire Theater - where, presumably, the fairies will be easier to hunt. The new show, Auntie Angelica Root's Fairy Garden, opens on January 22nd, and one lucky Mommy Poppins family is going to see the show for free! Read on to find out how to score four free tickets to the January 22nd performance.
Submitted by Raven Snook on
Happy Three Kings Day! (And here you thought the holidays were over.) Friday marks Epiphany, and there are many celebrations around town, including El Museo del Barrio's annual Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem, pictured at left. Last year, my husband and I escorted our daughter's entire kindergarten class to the event, and it was a blast.
Since it's a new month, we're focusing on a new NYC neighborhood: Park Slope. This week, we shared our top 50 things to do with kids in the Slope, as well as 13 fun indoor play spots. Look for lots of other Park Slope posts in the weeks to come.
And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our sites in Boston and Los Angeles.
Submitted by Dara Stewart on
The holidays are over, the kids are back to school…everything is back to normal. Except now they're bored, suffering from postholiday letdown. How can you keep them entertained? We've got you covered. Disney on Ice is in town, the Long Island Children's Museum is opening a new exhibit and is presenting a fun performance in its theater, plus there are a couple of children's productions being put on around the Island.
Submitted by Kay on
Let’s be honest: when the weather turns cold, rainy, or just plain unpredictable, entertaining kids indoors in Park Slope can feel harder than it should be. Apartments are small, cabin fever is real, and sometimes you need to get out of the house without committing to a full-day outing or spending a ton of money. The good news? Park Slope is packed with indoor play areas for children, many of which are hidden in plain sight, catering to different ages, energy levels, and moods.
We've created a curated mix of kids' play spaces in Park Slope that local parents actually rely on: drop-in playrooms, libraries, bookstores, creative spaces, and low-key indoor activity centers that make kids feel welcome. Some are perfect for toddlers just learning to explore, others are better for preschoolers and older kids who need to burn energy or engage their imaginations. A few are even free, which always earns bonus points. Whether you’re squeezing in an hour between naps, dodging bad weather, or just looking for fresh kids' activities indoors in Park Slope, these are the spots worth knowing about and returning to again and again.
Submitted by Toby B on
Happy 2012 everyone! We hope you rang in the New Year with all the frivolity and caution thrown to the wind that the night deserves, and maybe even made it through to midnight (don’t worry; East Coast time counts). Now it’s time to get back on track, tidy up your messes, and follow through on your resolutions.
If one of your resolutions was to recycle more, we can help you off to a good start. Mommy Poppins has the low-down on Christmas tree recycling options throughout Los Angeles!
We now return to our regularly scheduled program of classes, shows and festivals to keep your kiddies occupied and amused. Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend.
Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on
Wow! It sure has been a cold week! Don't let the cold keep you from getting out and doing something fun with the kids this weekend. I'm resuming my summer camp search after it was interrupted by holiday preparations last month. To help you get started we did a post about a few great summer camps in Fairfield County. If you have a favorite summer camp you'd like us to share with our readers please comment on our facebook page or shoot me an email. In need of some new and delicious slow cooker, soup and stews recipes? Enjoy, complements of Sarah at our MP NJ site.
Now for the weekend fun! You can still check the Festival of Lighthouses Display at the Maritime Museum. This exhibit places 24 lighthouses throughout the aquarium through Jan. 16. At the New Canaan Nature Center you can learn how to do some winter animal tracking. Go old school and learn about and decorate your own Rubik's Cube at Stepping Stones Museum. For those Sherlock Holmes fans it's Junior Detective Day at Greenwich Historical Society and don't miss out on the Victorian Tea Party at Gunn Memorial Library and Museum. Read on for some more fun activities and stay warm this wintry weekend!
