Submitted by Shari Simpson on
It’s that special time of year, when we consume about 70% more sugar and butter in one month than in the rest of the eleven months combined. Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit. But you can at least conceal your high-sweets-consumption in the guise of a family affair—there are a few nice kids/family baking classes in NJ for holiday yummies. Enjoy!
Submitted by Anna Fader on
Lady Mendl's is a true Victorian tea salon in a brownstone on Irving Place near Union Square. Walk up the stoop and through the all but unmarked door for an elegant, classic five course English afternoon tea in a Victorian era brownstone parlor. Sit on couches by the fireplace or at elegantly set tables and enjoy a filling afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones with Devonshire clotted cream and jam, desserts and bottomless pots of tea from a wide selection, including several of their own blends.
There are no gimmicks here or a child's menu. The fun of Lady Mendl's is in its "grown-upness'" and authenticity. Lady Mendl's is not for pretend playing, it's a true escape into another time and place for a few hours.
Submitted by Anna Fader on
Having afternoon tea (sometimes also called high tea) can be a fun outing with kids whether you are celebrating a special occasion or looking for a memorable part of your visit to New York. The Russian Tea Room's Children's Tea offers a relatively affordable and fun way to experience this legendary restaurant right next to Carnegie Hall in Midtown.
The Russian Tea Room's Children's Tea includes a selection of hot teas or a hot chocolate that comes with both whipped cream and mini marshmallows, so, ironically, children can experience the tradition of afternoon tea without actually sipping on tea at all.
Submitted by Lia on
Giving gifts to New Yorkers can be tricky. With many people living in small spaces, no one wants more stuff -- especially families with young children. If you have a holiday party coming up and are wondering what to buy the hosts and their kids, give them something they'll really appreciate: good food. Buying local is all the rage these days, and New York City is full of top-notch artisanal treats. Adults will thank you for not showing up with yet another toy, and little ones will love digging into homemade doughnuts, hand-twisted pretzels, or a few bars of dark chocolate. Many of the foods below can be shipped around the country, so you can bring a bit of the Big Apple to Grandma in Wisconsin, too.
Submitted by heather on
Holidays are here and the last thing you need are more plastic dinosaurs or toys that need batteries. Time to re-think the gifts you give. Put a new spin on gift-giving this year and try to give non-tangible items such as lessons and special outings. Experience gifts teach your children the value of making memories. Added bonus: your holidays will be “greener” (something we all can put on our list of resolutions). You can even get your kids on board with this idea by suggesting ways they can give you experience gifts like cleaning the kitchen or a nice dinner alone.
Submitted by heather on
If you're looking for some good reading to gobble up after Thanksgiving, here are some interesting tidbits: a great site for children's book reviews, tips on scoring cheap tickets through Kids Night on Broadway, a peek at the upcoming hot kid flick, my latest children's music recommendation, thoughts on dealing with kids and money and more. Set up a plate of leftovers and kick back.
Submitted by Sharon on
Give your kids mac and cheese and they get a meal. Teach your kids to cook interesting things and hopefully they’ll make dinner when they’re teenagers. While looking through cookbooks for this round-up, I discovered that a lot of them are joint efforts between family members. It’s not surprising. I love sharing cooking tips and tricks with my food-forward 11-year-old son, and visa versa. He once pronounced a dish I’d made, salmon and vegetables in parchment, "Really good, but it would be better with capers." We tried it his way the next time. He was right. His first cookbook was one of the Roald Dahl Revolting Recipes cookbooks, and it remains a favorite to peruse and use. In that vein, we offer some additional cookbooks with an extra ingredient.
Submitted by Shari Simpson on
Yeah, you might want to just lie around and digest that turkey, but why not haul yourself and the kiddos off the couch and head out to one of the many events New Jersey is offering up this weekend. There are plenty of it’s-almost-Christmas activities, plus some great interactive museum events and my personal favorite—“The Butt Book” book signing. Can’t miss that, now can you.
