"Listen To Your Mother": A Great Way to Celebrate Mother's Day

Submitted by Shari Simpson on

As New Jersey editor, I am very excited to tell you about something that I'm doing--in New York City. If you're looking for a wonderful and unusual way to spend Mother's Day, consider coming out to the "Listen To Your Mother" reading series at Symphony Space! Showcasing moving, socially relevant and hilarious stories about motherhood from moms, non-moms and even a couple of dudes, "Listen To Your Mother" will be a memory-making end to the day that honors mothers everywhere. (Which means New Jersey, too, as there are five NJ writer/performers in the show!) Read on for all the exciting details about this Mommy Poppins-sponsored show.

Crown Heights with Kids: Top 25 Things to Do for NYC Families

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Originally developed in the early 20th century as an upscale residential neighborhood before it fell on hard times, Crown Heights, Brooklyn is in the midst of a revival. It's no surprise really. The area boasts top cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; the northeastern section of Prospect Park, which includes the zoo; and lots of lovely buildings, especially near its main thoroughfare, Eastern Parkway (which, like Prospect Park, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux).

While Crown Heights was emblematic of New York City's racial tensions in the '60s through '90s, today its diversity is one of the things attracting new residents. Though the neighborhood is still primarily made up of Afro-Caribbeans and Hasidic Jews, families of all ethnic backgrounds are moving into townhouses and joining the active Crown Heights Parents Yahoo Group, new shops and restaurants are opening up, and local organizations are working hard to keep everyone happy. Stark contrasts remain, with pretty rows of historic houses giving way to vacant tenements on some blocks. But overall it's a vibrant area, especially around Labor Day weekend when Crown Heights hosts one of the biggest and most colorful festivals in the city: The West Indian Labor Day Carnival and Parade, which celebrates Caribbean culture with incredible costumes, performances and two processions, one for adults, the other specifically for children.

Throughout May, we'll be taking an in-depth look at everything Crown Heights has to offer families, including our favorite spots to eat, play and experience. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are Washington to Howard Avenues, between Atlantic Avenue and Empire Boulevard (which transforms into East New York Avenue at Utica Avenue). Today we kick off our coverage with our top 25 things to do with kids in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Sensory City: LIC Play Space for Kids of All Abilities

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An amazing state-of-the-art play space has opened up in Long Island City, but it's no run-of-the-mill kiddie gym. Sensory City is a sensory gym and pediatric occupational therapy practice where kids can enjoy a wide variety of stimulating stations including a swing, a ball pit, a play castle and even a zip line.

While Sensory City was specifically designed to help visitors work on their sensory, fine motor, gross motor and communication skills, children of all abilities are welcome and can benefit from the experiences the gym has to offer. My family and I recently dropped by for an open play session, and my kids had a blast. After all, who doesn't love to romp in a ball pit?

UPDATE: New owners took over this space in the summer of 2017. It is now called Theraplay.

Best Mother's Day Brunches in New London County

Submitted by Sherry Pardy on

Mother's Day now out ranks other occasions in my life to be celebrated, since motherhood is certainly my most important accomplishment to date.  Each year, I anticipate the handmade cards, coffee in bed, and few, extra moments of sleep.  But almost as much as I excitedly wait for those things, I count down the days to one of the best meals of the year: Mother's Day brunch.  We reserve a brunch outing for this one Sunday in May, and include our entire extended family, which makes it even more memorable.  Interested in toasting Mom with a mimosa or omelet made to order?  The selection of Mother's Day brunch spots in New London county is fantastic.

Splurge: CuRious Candy by Cynthia Rowley on the Upper East Side

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There's certainly no shortage of places to indulge in sweet treats on the Upper East Side, but there's always room for one more, right? Especially a sugar spot as cool and unique as CuRious Candy.

The brainchild of high-end fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, CuRious Candy occupies the second floor of her recently opened four-story boutique, and it's not the place to go if you're just looking to pick up a bag of M&M's. In a way, the candy is almost beside the point. From the intriguing entryway, adorned with brambles, foggy mirrors and giant metallic roses, to the fantastical wall mural as you head up the stairs, to the shop's design centerpiece, a white peacock perched on a leafless tree, CuRious Candy is an immersive experience. A visit here is more about experiencing the atmosphere than the actual eating.

Get Jersey Fresh at One of Hudson County’s Farmer’s Markets

Submitted by Kristen Haas on

The days are warmer, the produce is ripening and it's a great time of year to get the kids involved in choosing healthy fresh food ingredients. You may not immediately think of Hudson County as offering many options in that department; we all know it offers close proximity to NYC, museums, fabulous restaurants, but the truth is Hudson County offers 12 fantastic Farmer’s Markets, so check out our list of Hudson County Farmer’s Markets by city and get Jersey Fresh with your NJ kids and families!

This Week: Best May Events for NYC Kids, Mother's Day Brunch Ideas, May Festivals & Fairs, Free Comic Book Day

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At Mommy Poppins we don't just inspire our readers, we inspire each other! After hearing about our founder Anna's trip to the Guggenheim's Gutai exhibit with her nine-year-old, I decided to take my seven-year-old. That's her in the pic, having a blast literally leaving her mark on a piece called "Please Draw Freely." It's a thought-provoking show that prompted my daughter to start thinking about what constitutes art. Gutai closes next week, so it's your last chance to check it out and enter to win our Guggenheim giveaway.

It's a new month, which means it's time to get out your calendar. Our NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut sites all posted their May Go Lists, highlighting the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month. With spring kicking into high gear, there are lots of amazing free festivals and fairs, plus Mother's Day is on the horizon. Speaking of the holiday, in addition to our posts about fancy brunch spots and readers' restaurant picks, we came up with five unique Mother's Day brunch ideas in NYC that offer more than just a meal. Meanwhile our Boston site has three easy recipes kids can make for mom on her big day, and our Travel site has Mother's Day getaway deals.

Here's what else we covered on NYC this week:

Fun and Free Things to Do in Boston with Kids - Ben Rudnick, Food Trucks, Arts Day and More, May 4-5

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Our weekend calendar is packed with fun and free things to do in and around Boston this weekend. From the return of the Birds of Prey at the Stone Zoo and the Open Arts Day at Arsenal Center for the Arts on Saturday to the Harvard Square May Fair on Sunday, the weekend is filled with festivals and celebrations. Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for even more ideas.

What else will you find on Mommy Poppins Boston this week? We’ve rounded up some of the great learn to sail programs that are available for kids in and around Boston. And Kristin shares some tips for planning a toddler birthday party at home in Boston. Yes, you can bring a bouncy house into your living room! Mother’s Day is only a week away; you may want to consider a special meal at home (giving you plenty of time to get to The One Family Music Festival to support The One Fund!). And for families looking for more ways to volunteer and help out those in need, Tara has some insights in her family volunteering post.

Enjoy!

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