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

46 Best Things To Do in The Bronx with Kids: Why You Should Visit the Boogie Down

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 01/12/2023 - 12:07pm

What's better than rooting for the Yankees as the sun sets over home plate at Yankee Stadium?

When it comes to kid-friendly things to do, the Bronx may be the city's most oft-overlooked borough. After all, when is the last time you visited the Boogie Down with your kids? If you can't remember, we're here to convince you that a visit to this diverse, culturally rich hotbed of activity is in order.

The Bronx overflows with kid-friendly fun from classic kid destinations like the 100-plus-year-old Bronx Zoo to the newly opened Bronx Children's Museum, and we've rounded up 46 fun things to do in the borough. Once you've sampled the fun in the Bronx, check out our top picks for must-do's in Brooklyn, Queens, and all of NYC.

Sky Skate Elevates Winter Fun with Ice Skating Rink at Edge New York

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 01/10/2023 - 1:27pm

Skate far above the city streets at Sky Skate, now open on the 100th floor of Edge New York at Hudson Yards.

When it comes to winter sports, NYC seems to be embroiled in a game of seasonal one-upmanship. There are dueling bumper cars on ice, rooftop ice skating rinks, and even our very own skate-and-play mashup of ice skating and gaming, but Edge New York is elevating winter fun—literally. The sky-high observation deck has just introduced Sky Skate, which allows visitors to glide across the highest ice skating rink in NYC—and the entire Western Hemisphere—as the city buzzes below.

Unlike our favorite seasonal outdoor ice skating rinks, Sky Skate is indoors, so it's an all-weather activity, though you'll want to bring along the hats, scarves, and gloves so you can step outside and take in the open-air observation deck views when you're done.

Milk & Cookies Kids Spa Opens Supersized Location for Pampering, Partying, and Playtime

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 01/09/2023 - 12:29pm

Once you've been pampered, don't forget to strike a pose in the larger-than-life milk carton backdrop at Milk & Cookies Kids Spa

A spa day is always a treat in my book, but I don't usually bring my kids along for the pampering. Sometimes, though, it's nice to play a little role reversal, and that's where Milk & Cookies Kids Spa comes in. The longtime Upper East Side pamper spot recently relocated to Kips Bay, bringing all its spa treatments for Cool Gals and Cool Dudes, plus its trademark post-pampering namesake treat, and even a supersized party room and padded toddler play area.

Following a recent visit with my lucky daughters, we've got the scoop on all the fabulous fun at one of our favorite local Black-owned small businesses.

Visiting Color Factory NYC: Inside Soho's Interactive Art Museum

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 9:09am

With 500,000 balls to play with, Color Factory's ball pit provides endless play and fun.

When's the last time you dove into a ball pit filled with half a million sky-blue colored balls or sniffed your way through a color-blocked hallway punctuated by an olfactory overload while noshing on a colorful macaron? If the answer leaves you puzzled, perhaps it's time to trek to Color Factory, Soho's interactive art experience that invites exploration and play.

A one-time pop-up, Color Factory is here to stay and constantly reinventing its 20,000-square-foot space to keep the experience fresh. Following our confetti-filled visit to its Winter Colorland installation, we thought it was time to remind visitors of all the fun inside, which includes infinitely Instagrammable moments, fun lite bites, and tons of colorful displays to explore. It's a perfect spot to brighten up a cold winter's day and has earned its place in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones in NYC.

20 Family-Friendly Openings We're Looking Forward to in 2023

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 01/01/2023 - 9:15am

Disney turns 100 and there will be celebrations from coast to coast. Photo courtesy of Disneyland

New year, new things to do! As we usher in 2023, we’re looking forward to all the family-friendly openings on the horizon. From cool family travel destinations and brand new theme parks worth planning your vacation around to more local haunts closer to Mommy Poppins' home bases, we’ve checked in with our panel of local experts and put our powers of research to work to bring you this list of family-friendly openings we’re most excited for in 2023. Here's a taste: Disney, Barbie, Mario, Bert & Ernie—and if that sounds too tame for your teens, there's also a rollercoaster that features the world's largest underflip, a zero-G roll, and four inversions. My stomach underflipped just typing that.

Read on for our top picks and start plotting your family-friendly outings. I know we are! And as you're mapping out visits from coast to coast, be sure to use our Family Travel Guide which boasts the inside scoop on traveling with kids from Florida to California and all points in between.

Best of 2022 NYC Kid Edition: Top Openings, Happenings, and Other Awesome Stuff We Loved

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 12/25/2022 - 11:00am

The Stranger Things Experience popped up in Brooklyn for a spell this spring and summer letting guests come face-t0-face with demogorgons. Photo by author

When it comes to kid-friendly fun, we might be biased in our thought that NYC has it all and in 2022 the city that never sleeps sprung back to life with tons of brand-new, family-friendly openings adding destinations and attractions begging for our attention. From a brand new kid-focused museum in the Bronx to destination-worthy, story-inspired pop-ups nearby and toddler-friendly stage shows, plus fun playgrounds, parks, and pop-ups, here are our picks for the best kid-friendly openings in NYC in 2022.

Bobbie and Uber Eats Team up for New Formula Delivery Service in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 12/20/2022 - 9:15am

Scoop up your next order of Bobbie formula from the comfort of your couch thanks to the Bobbie-Uber Eats collaboration. Photo courtesy of Bobbie

When it comes to convenience, New Yorkers know a thing or two about keeping it moving and that’s why we’re super excited to hear about the new collaboration between Uber Eats and Bobbie, which brings formula on demand right to your doorstep beginning today.

Read on for more details on the partnership and find more parent-tested tips for raising tiny New Yorkers, including our baby bucket list for 20 first-year must-do’s in our NYC Baby Guide.

Family-Friendly Restaurants near Rockefeller Center

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 12/14/2022 - 10:38am

The Melt Shop offers grilled cheese and killer tots with two restaurants near Rockefeller Center. Photo by bahstoneats via Instagram

While Rockefeller Center has not traditionally been known for its dining options, the area has undergone a bit of a culinary renaissance, and this list of the best family-friendly restaurants near Rockefeller Center is proof that it now has a little something for everyone. Whether you're there over the holidays to see the famed Rockefeller tree, ice skate, check out the holiday windows, or enjoy one of the other fun experiences in this action-packed complex, you'll be able to find something for even the pickiest eater when you need to take a snack break.

Here are our top picks for family-friendly restaurants near Rockefeller Center. To find more family-friendly dining options in NYC, check out our Restaurant Guide.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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