Labeling kids' gear: it's a parenting chore that just needs to get done. As kids prepare for a new school year or camp season, we need to label every article of clothing, towel, backpack, lunchbox, thermos, and every other bit of gear that will travel along to summer camp, to school, or to daycare—in the hopes that when it inevitably gets lost, it will find its way home to you. Nothing's going to make this job of labeling camp clothes, baby bottles, or school supplies fun, but we've rounded up the whole range of different ways you can label your kids' stuff, from swimsuits to water bottles and sippy cups, with beautifully embroidered personalized labels to fun, custom name tags with cute, colorful designs, to ones you can make at home.

Here are a few the best name labels for kids' and baby gear that we've found, and yes, most all offer dishwasher-safe, easy peel-and-stick options!

Check out our Back-to-School Guide or our local summer camp guide for more ideas!

Great outdoor dining is a lovely way to savor these first sun-filled days of spring, and it makes the dog days of summer in the city tolerable, at least in my book. An hour sitting on a shady patio, sipping a cold drink, steels me for the rest of the week. Even as the pandemic eases, outdoor dining is still the safest way to go when you want to eat out.

Of course, eating out with kids is never as simple as that, so we’ve selected not just sublime outdoor dining spots but ones with enough room to roam. Hopefully, these family-friendly Manhattan restaurants with patios, backyards, and more outdoor dining setups, ranging from the Battery up to Inwood, make you forget you live in a yard-less New York City apartment.

Find more kid-friendly restaurant suggestions in our Guide to Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC.

There are few more delightful ways to celebrate the arrival of spring than by viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms in New York City. In Japan, cherry blossom viewing is taken to almost religious heights. Blooming flowers are carefully watched, enjoyed, and celebrated. Traditional Sakura Hanami parties feature eating, drinking, and music.

Although many of the annual cherry blossom festivals in NYC are on hold again in 2022, there are many places to enjoy these gorgeous blossoms this April and even deeper into the spring season. Here are the best places to see cherry blossoms in New York City this spring. Find more seasonal happenings in our Spring Fun Guide.