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

Radio City Music Hall: Five Reasons to Visit (and Love) the Classic NYC Theater

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 12/13/2019 - 11:50am

Radio City Music Hall in Midtown NYC has a timeless appeal and a packed calendar of kid-friendly entertainment.

Few things are as quintessentially holidays in New York City as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes (and live camels!). While the leggy precision dancers clad in Swarovski crystal leotards are scene-stealers, perhaps the biggest star of the show is the grand old dame of a theater that serves as its home base. Whether you're in town for only a short time, or making your annual trek to the Spectacular, here are five things to love about Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center, and why the art deco masterpiece is worth a visit well beyond Christmastime.

10 Tips for Visiting NYC From Local Parents

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 12/06/2019 - 10:19am

Central Park offers a respite from the busy streets of Manhattan.

New York City makes a magical vacation spot for families year round. From its world-class cultural institutions to the bright lights of Broadway, towering skyscrapers, history-steeped, old cobblestone streets, and well-known landmarks, there's plenty to entertain your family whether you're here for a day, a week...or even longer.

While a vacation in the concrete jungle can be an action-packed experience, it can also be a challenge. Read on for our parent-tested tips to make a New York City family vacation one to remember.

Empire State Building Debuts New and Improved Visitor Experience

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 12/04/2019 - 10:01am

Take kids on an adventure to the revamped 80th floor of the Empire State Building. Photo by Evan Joseph

In the age of gleaming skyscrapers and daring new observation decks in NYC, it's easy to forget the grand dame of them all: the Empire State Building. The art deco beauty and iconic landmark has just finished a four-year, $165 million project to reimagine and refurbish the experience for visitors to the Observation Decks, including a completely redesigned 80th floor, which opened to the public last week. Read on for a look at the breathtaking new space, plus tips for planning a visit to the Empire State Building observatory with kids.

Holiday Windows Walk 2019: Midtown's Most Brilliant Holiday Window Displays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/28/2019 - 2:00pm

The holiday windows at Saks this year feature scenes from Frozen 2. Photo by Jody Mercier

The festive fun of the holiday season is officially upon us, and New Yorkers and tourists alike know that seeing the brilliantly decorated holiday windows in Midtown's iconic stores is a Christmas-season must-do. Besides, what better way to work off some holiday treats than with a wintry stroll through Midtown to take in the sights?

If seeing the holiday window displays in NYC is part of your family's holiday traditions too, read on for our top stops during a 2019 holiday windows walk.

Disney+ Is Here and You Might Be Able to Get It For Free

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/14/2019 - 10:30am

The new streaming service from Disney launched November 12.

The internet's been buzzing this week with the debut of Disney+, the ad-free streaming service peddling all the family favorites from this entertainment giant, including movies and TV shows from its family of brands: Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox.

Read on for details on the new service, whether you're just looking to pass the time until you can catch Frozen 2 in theaters, or you're anxious to introduce the "classics" of your youth to a new generation of viewers. Some lucky Verizon subscribers can even enjoy the new Disney+ for FREE.

CAMP Store and Play Space in Flatiron Launches New Toy Lab Theme for Holidays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 8:18am

CAMP, one of our favorite NYC stores where kids can play for FREE (and one of our favorite new additions to NYC last year, period) isn't your average toy store with a play space. The entire space reinvents itself every season, making it an imaginative wonderland designed for repeat exploration.

Situated on the corner of 16th Street and Fifth Avenue, CAMP looks like a retail shop from the street—albeit one with an on-site cafe and a funky collection of merchandise, from toys and games to books and clothing. But look closer and you'll see that there's something spectacular hiding behind a secret door. Find the entrance (with the help of a super-friendly CAMP counselor) and you're in for hours of fun, and a cool indoor place to play.

CAMP has reinvented itself again, with a toy-focused theme just in time for the holiday shopping season—read on for a peek inside.

22 Ways Families Can Volunteer and Donate in NYC for the Holidays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 9:30am

Support the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation by having your child write a letter to Santa and deliver it to the mailbox in Santaland. For every letter Macy's receives, the company will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish. Photo courtesy of Macy's

During the holiday season, families gather to enjoy delicious meals, exchange gifts, and celebrate the year gone by. But for many New Yorkers, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. Volunteering is a wonderful way to help others in the community and an ideal opportunity to teach children the true spirit of the season.

We've rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly volunteering opportunities. No matter where in the tri-state area you live, the age of your children, or your family's interests, chances are there is a program that can use your help.

What's New in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lineup for 2019

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 11/01/2019 - 3:00pm

Snoopy makes his 40th appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as an Apollo astronaut.

With Halloween firmly in the rear-view mirror, the holiday season is officially upon us, and we're gearing up for one of our favorite turkey day traditions: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has just announced the new additions for the 2019 parade.

Read on for the details and new stars of the show, from soaring giants to gliding floats, and then start plotting your Thanksgiving parade viewing strategies, whether you're planning to watch the balloons come to life on the Wednesday night before the parade, or see the main event, which steps off at 9am on Thursday, November 28.

Jody Mercier

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