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

See New York City in a New Way with a Family Scavenger Hunt

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 06/23/2016 - 11:00am

My husband, who prides himself on his gift-giving, had quite a surprise for me this Mother's Day. While I had plans to meet close friends in Battery Park City, those plans were derailed when he made our family of five—toddler included—follow him to a bar in Midtown. My mood went from perplexed to pleasantly surprised when I learned the reason: He had booked a scavenger hunt for the day.

Splash Around at the Children's Museum's New Water Exhibit

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 06/13/2016 - 10:30am

The Children's Museum of Manhattan debuted a brand-new water play station, Dynamic H₂O, just in time for the summer heat. The interactive exhibit is the second new addition for the Upper West Side children's hot spot this year. Earlier it added the well thought-out Muslim culture exhibit, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

The new Dynamic H₂0 exhibit seriously upped the wet fun factor in the Sussman Environmental Center behind the museum, where it added 800 square feet of outdoor exhibits to the area previously occupied by City Splash. The old City Splash table still stands, but is dwarfed by the new exhibit's 16-foot, custom-made water table and accompanying displays. These new tools focus on the importance of water to a healthy life and on water's journey from the Catskills to our city faucets.

8 New Birthday Party Spots for NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 03/06/2016 - 4:30pm

There's little that makes me sweat more than planning a birthday party for one of my kids.

One August, after I finished the exhausting task of throwing a DIY-birthday party for my 5-year-old, my 8½-year-old said, "Well, great, now that that's over, we can start planning my party." And so it goes that, as a mom of three kids in New York City, party planning seems to be a perpetual state of being. And whether you have one or three kids, or however many, it's easy to lose your sanity planning the perfect bash.

We've round up eight recently opened birthday spots around NYC for when that at-home, more budget-friendly fete isn't in the cards. So in the interest of surviving to celebrate many more birthdays, we're sharing these cool spots with you from STEM-centered parties, where kids can learn and have fun, to foodie adventures and active play spots.

Check out our Party Guide for more ideas like DJs who will host a karaoke bash.

Children's Museum Debuts Exhibit Dedicated to Muslim Culture

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/25/2016 - 4:00pm

The Children's Museum of Manhattan has long been my go-to spot for maximum tot fun, but when it comes to learning about art, architecture and other cultures, we usually headed elsewhere. The newly-opened America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibit will change that.

Opened last week, the 3,000-square-foot exhibit takes up the entirety of the museum's first-floor exhibition space and provides a colorful, immersive window into Muslim cultures across the world. The exhibit has been extended through January 2018 and is the fourth in the museum's Global Exhibition Series, which previously highlighted the cultures of Ancient Greece, China and Japan. Read on for the scoop on this vibrant new exhibit.

See the Totally Revamped Nintendo NYC Store in Midtown

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 02/24/2016 - 11:00am

After witnessing several big-name kid stores shutter Midtown locations, we were happy to learn that Nintendo NYC took a different approach. The gaming paradise overhauled its flagship Rockefeller Center location over the last month, reopening on Friday, February 19 with lots of fun new interactive features, ensuring its place on our list of favorite indoor places to play for years to come.

The two-story, 10,000-square-foot Rockefeller shop also displayed a new name, going from Nintendo World to Nintendo New York, or Nintendo NYC for short. We visited on opening weekend (despite the epic lines!), and it's definitely a spot to add to the NYC must-visit list for gamers and nostalgia fans. Read on for the details like a 15-foot gaming screen, a display of Game Boys from years past and even a sneak peek at the latest Zelda.

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.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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