Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

10 NYC National Parks and Monuments for Junior Rangers

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 02/07/2016 - 11:54am

In my world, summer generally means a visit to Grammy and Papa's rustic, woodsy Colorado cabin. While I love raising my kids in NYC, with all of the museums, parks and culture it has to offer, I also enjoy escaping from the urban jungle so we can explore the great outdoors.

One fun and educational way to do that is the national Junior Rangers Program, which we discovered last summer in Colorado. My kids received different activity books—geared toward their respective ages—to read and complete with the promise that, once they were done, they could meet with a Park Ranger, discuss what they'd learned and be sworn in as Junior Rangers complete with badges.

Although my children became Junior Rangers far from the Big Apple in Rocky Mountain National Park, NYC kids can do it at 10 sites right here in and around Manhattan.

Voilà Chocolat: A Sweet Outing for NYC Families

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 12/18/2015 - 10:00am

This post is sponsored by Voilà Chocolat, but the opinions are solely of the author.

'Tis the season for over-the-top sweets, special treats and incredible holiday outings. Voilà Chocolat combines all three in one fun activity that is sure to make lasting memories.

At this Upper West Side confectionery, adults and kids can have a blast making their own high-end chocolates to take home and eat or give away as gifts. My family and I enjoyed a spectacularly sweet afternoon recently making truffles and chocolate lollipops. It was an over-the-top success that will be a highlight of our holiday memories this year.

Target Debuts Pop-Up Holiday Play Zone and Shop in Chelsea

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 12/08/2015 - 2:00pm

Target lovers take note: The retail giant is opening a 16,000-square-foot pop-up store and indoor play zone for kids in Chelsea this holiday season, saving New Yorkers the schlep to the Bronx, Brooklyn or East Harlem for those last-minute shopping needs.

"Target Wonderland" officially opens to the public on Wednesday, December 9, but we got a sneak peek.

Macy's New Balloons Take Flight Before Thanksgiving Day Parade

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/12/2015 - 10:00am

The countdown to Thanksgiving is in full swing and that means the NYC Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is looming large on the horizon. We've already given you our insider tips for where to watch the parade and how to manage the crowds at the balloon inflation, but now we're sharing a sneak peek of four of the giant balloons set to join the 89th annual parade on Thursday, November 26, for the very first time—or the first time in a number of years.

Macy's held a test flight Sunday in the Citi Field parking lot so new additions could get a few steps under their wings before the big parade day. Read on to meet the cast of (new) characters.

East 72nd Central Park Playground Reopens After Eight-Month Renovation

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 10/29/2015 - 4:00pm

The East 72nd Street playground in Central Park reopened this month, welcoming kids with slides, swings, a redesigned sandbox and climbing structures after an eight-month rehab. The Central Park Conservancy has undertaken a massive playground renovation project with a lofty goal of upgrading all 21 of the park's perimeter playgrounds.

The playground debuted in 1936! It underwent renovations in 1969 and again in 2000. The current project was more of a facelift than a total overhaul, with improvements focused on increasing accessibility and updating safety standards. We couldn't wait to have a look—and the many happy, romping kids seem to have given their seal of approval.

11 Mets-Themed Kid Activities for World Series Week

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 10/26/2015 - 11:00am

The New York Mets are headed to the World Series for the first time in 15 years, and much of the city is getting ready to cheer for these often NYC underdogs, sports fan or not. Even if the kids can't stay up for the first pitch (8pm, Tuesday, October 27), there are plenty of ways they can get into baseball spirit and paint the town orange and blue in anticipation of these Queens players bringing back a championship for the first time since 1986.

To mark the occasion, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz will host a pep rally for the public on Monday, October 26—the day before the team squares off with Kansas City in Game 1 of the World Series.

The MTA is pulling out its "Train of Many Colors" to provide special World Series service. Fans (or train buffs!) can catch the train from the Hudson Yards Station at 6:30pm Saturday and Sunday nights. The 11 cars on the train were all built between 1948 and 1964.

Read on for more information on the rally and other fun ways to celebrate the World Series with kids in tow.

Super League's Minecraft League: STEM Learning in a Movie Theater

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/02/2015 - 6:00am

Leagues of kids playing Minecraft in movie theaters all over the country? We're thrilled to share our cool new sponsor's unique program! Inspiring kids in STEM subjects is a topic on lots of parental minds (you may even have a tab open to the free coding apps you've been meaning to download), but much of this learning seems to be a solo affair. Super League Gaming takes Minecraft enrichment to a whole new level, bringing kids together to play the mega-popular computer game on big screens at movie theaters nationwide.

Sugar Hill Children's Museum Opens in Harlem

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 4:00pm

New York City just gained a brand-new children's museum. Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling opens to the public on Saturday, October 3 with a FREE kickoff party that includes music, face painting and of course stories and art-making. The museum aims to serve the youngest New Yorkers with a target audience of 3 to 8 years old.

As a Harlem resident, I was especially excited about this new space and, after getting a sneak peek, I'm delighted to welcome it to the nabe.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

Pages