Rose Sala

Rose Gordon Sala is a mom to three but also a longtime editor and journalist. She's covered all the capital 'P' subjects, including pets, politics, PR, and parenting. She's written for MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, the New York Post, and Mom.com.

Latest posts by Rose

Postpartum Support Resources for New Moms in New York City

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 10/16/2018 - 9:30am

In those final sleepless nights before your baby is born, you might lie awake thinking about what to put in your hospital bag, who will watch the dog...or, heck, whether you really love the name you picked. But the arrival of that baby brings on a whole new onslaught of questions.

Is he getting enough milk? Why won’t she sleep more than 45 minutes at a time? He cries so much….is it an allergy? When will I get this under control? Where can I find a mellow mommy and me class? WTF is that stabbing pain in my pelvis? And once the wave of eager visitors subsides, and you and/or your partner heads back to work, the questions tend to stack up. Who to ask? Where to find help?

Lucky for you, we NYC Mommy Poppins moms have a few babies between the lot of us (we’re not going to say just how many). We've compiled a list of resources that have been helpful to us over the years, from postpartum therapy and lactation consultants to parent support groups. And don’t forget to peruse our Baby and Pregnancy Guide for more NYC resources. Hang in there: It does get easier. Especially if you know where to get a little help.

The Gerber Baby Photo Search Is Happening Now on Instagram

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 9:08am

Last year's Gerber Baby winner is all smiles for the camera. Photo courtesy Gerber

Think your kid is the cutest? Well, baby food maker Gerber just opened its annual Gerber Baby photo contest, so it’s time to take your best shot.

Parents can enter newborns to children up to age 4 in the photo search contest that selects a child ambassador for the brand. Simply post a photo of your cutie to Instagram with the hashtag #GerberPhotoSearch2018 between October 1 and October 20 to join in the fun. Remember to make your profile public, so Gerber can see your photo.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Plans to Install a Permanent Outdoor Pool

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 11:04am

A permanent pool is coming to Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights. Rendering courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park is getting a new, outdoor public pool—eventually. After years of the public enjoying what was supposed to be a temporary pop-up pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the park has launched a fundraising campaign to fund the construction and operation of a permanent pool.

While the new pool won't be in the same spot as the pop-up pool, swimmers will still enjoy Manhattan skyline views from its location in Squibb Park, a portion of Brooklyn Bridge Park just above Pier 1 that sits in Brooklyn Heights at the entrance to the bouncy Squibb Bridge, which connects the promenade to the park. The construction of the new pool is expected to cost between $10-$15 million, according to park organizers. Admission will be FREE, as with the current pool.

Fans of the current pop-up pool may be wondering what this means for swimming in Brooklyn Bridge Park while the new pool is being constructed. The news is mixed.

Cheap Outdoor Toys and Outdoor Games for Kids

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 06/02/2018 - 1:05pm

Run through the tunnel to get their energy out! Photo courtesy Melissa and Doug

These outdoor games and toys keep kids running, crawling, jumping, and more. Whether trying to keep them entertained at the beach, the backyard, or just at the park, parents everywhere know that an engaging outdoor toy for toddlers to teens can be the perfect antidote to the inevitable "We’re bored" summer refrain with which we’re all so familiar.

Unfortunately, just walking into your nearest retailer and grabbing the most interesting looking outdoor game off the shelf doesn’t always work out. It could end up overly complicated, not age-appropriate, break upon contact—or even worse: not hold their attention! So we at Mommy Poppins rounded up our favorite summer toys for kids from over the years, including water games, and even tested out new ones, to bring you this list of more than a dozen, inexpensive options to play with your kids this summer.

The Grove Resort Orlando (and Water Park) Is a Worthy Disney Alternative

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 05/19/2018 - 2:24pm

The new Orlando resort has gorgeous pools. Photo courtesy of the resort

When planning a family vacation to Orlando, Florida, you and the kids might have just one destination on the brain: Disney. But actually, as we’ve pointed out before, there’s more to Orlando than theme parks, including plenty of family resorts from which to choose.

If you’re looking off-park for a hotel, consider The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. The 106-acre resort is just a few miles down the road from the entrance to Walt Disney World, but sits on a pretty tract of land set back from the major highways in a natural marsh and wooded landscape. It has all the favorite perks of a great family resort, including suites for housing extended family, pools, on-site restaurants, a spa, activities for kids, and even a water park.

We just returned from a long weekend at the resort and are happy to share our review.

NYC Will Ban Cars in Central Park By This Summer

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Fri, 04/20/2018 - 3:30pm

Fewer cars means more space for bikes! Photo courtesy NYC Parks

Everyone's favorite NYC green space is giving cars the boot for good. Car traffic will be barred from the last of Central Park's "loop drives" as of June 27, 2018, according to the office of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Although the park is mostly off-limits to cars, the new rule closes additional roads and frees up more pedestrian and biking space.

Weekend Fun: Chinatown Parade, Superheroes, Film Fest, Teknopolis Opens

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Wed, 02/21/2018 - 3:41pm

It's here! The Lunar New Year Parade in Manhattan's Chinatown happens Sunday. Photo by Walter W Lodarczyk for NYCGo

This coming weekend closes out NYC kids' February school break. We're also celebrating Purim in the city and the final Lunar New Year fun, including the massive parade in Chinatown.

Kids can also stay busy indoors at great theater from Marvel Universe Live to Addy & Uno, a sweet story about disability and kindness. Tots might enjoy Babywild, a hands-on theater experience or a FREE Pinocchio show (both playing in Brooklyn). Big kids have probably already scored their tickets to this year's Teknopolis, a digital, hands-on art installation featuring VR and more at BAM that opens this weekend! Catch shorts, documentaries, and more indie movies for kids as The New York International Children's Film Festival kicks off this weekend, too.

Celebrate the magic and birthday of Dr. Seuss with this FREE bookstore fete in Tribeca, or watch magic tricks at the Broadway Comedy Club's family show.

Find more fun in our Top 50 Things to Do Indoors in NYC List, or check out the daily NYC event calendar for the perfect family outing.

Hottest New NYC Destinations for Kids That Opened in 2017

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 12/28/2017 - 3:00pm

As we close out the year, we're looking back at all the wonderful new cool kid attractions we gained in New York City in 2017. There was massive new development in the Midtown area, with two big family destinations added to Times Square, Gulliver's Gate and National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odysessy, and a completely revamped American Girl store at Rockefeller Center.

We gained new Broadway shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Anastasia, and even a new museum downtown, Choco-Story New York: The Chocolate Museum and Experience. Outdoor destinations weren't neglected either. The city tripled its number of zip lines with additions on Governors Island and at the Bronx Zoo, and continued to revamp neighborhood playgrounds, bringing new or improved romping spots to a number of favorite parks.

A handful of new play spaces opened in Brooklyn, Queens, and on Roosevelt Island. Read on to catch up on all these exciting new offerings, and Happy New Year to you and your family!