New Store in PLG Attracts Families From All Over
by Karen on 2/02/12 | 1 Comment(s)
Parents in Prospect Lefferts Gardens have been thrilled with the addition of newcomer Play Kids to their area. Since it opened, it’s not only locals that come: parents from Ditmas Park, Prospect Heights, Park Slope and even as far away as Carroll Gardens are making the trip. What’s the draw? Their stellar lineup of unique [...]
Voila! New Foreign Language Bookstore to Open Next Week
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Though we only hear about the death of independent bookstores in the rest of the U.S., it seems like here in Brooklyn, small bookstores not only survive, but thrive. Why else would a seasoned Manhattan bookstore open a location in Cobble Hill? Idlewild Books will open this Monday, February 1st, though passers-by will note that [...]
Are you a Writer, Designer, Chef ? Small Biz Workshops!
by Karen on 1/17/12 | 0 Comment(s)
If you are the owner of a small business, or are thinking of starting a new business, there’s an amazing resource in Brooklyn for you: The Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network. It’s a small business development group that helps New Yorkers do everything from putting together business and marketing plans to figuring out how to [...]
A New Playspace Opens Today: Get In Line To Check It Out
by Karen on 1/09/12 | 3 Comment(s)
With the grand opening of Frolic! today in Williamsburg, you have even more options for indoor play this winter. Located in the new condominium building, The Edge, Frolic has the advantage of lots of space (approximately 5,000 square feet), ground floor access and ample stroller parking. The soft opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was on [...]
Deal of the Week: Genius Organizing- Totally Worth It!
by Karen on 1/05/12 | 0 Comment(s)
It’s the New Year, which means that everyone is energized about their resolutions from losing weight to streamlining their life. This week Doodle Deals is offering a way to start the New Year off right with 43% off a 2 hour in-home organizing and decluttering session. It caught my eye because it is being offered [...]
Coat Donations Desperately Needed For Infants and Children In NYC
by Karen on 12/28/11 | 4 Comment(s)
I got an email plea from New York Cares asking if I could help get the word out that they are in desperate need of coats for children and infants this winter. Can you help? Perhaps you have a snowsuit, coat or snow pants that are too small? Any gently used coat would be greatly [...]
Park Slope Farmers Market Reopens for Winter!
by Karen on 12/28/11 | 0 Comment(s)
How does fresh chutney, milled cider, farm-raised duck and locally grown kale sound to you this winter? Stop drooling and start marking your calendar for the grand “reopening” of the Park Slope Farmers Market on Sunday, January 8th. In the past, the market went indoors for the winter—sometimes leading to bewildered tracks in the snow [...]
Looking to volunteer as a family for the holidays?
by Karen on 12/21/11 | 2 Comment(s)
“Small hands can bring big changes.” It’s the perfect time of year for your kids to see how true that statement is. From making cards to holding someone’s hand, there is great potential to make a difference. We found some wonderful opportunities for your family to help out this holiday season. Stockings with Care Stockings [...]
New Place To Donate Your Items and Your Time
by Karen on 12/16/11 | 2 Comment(s)
When my son says, “I need that lego set”, I understand what he means. He feels that that toy is essential for him to have right now. But, what is truly essential to the 51% of Brooklyn kids who are living below the federal poverty level? Cribs, car seats, carriers, clothes and diapers. Many of [...]
New Daycare With Art In Mind Holding Open House
by Karen on 12/09/11 | 1 Comment(s)
Over the last five years, I have visited loads of daycares and schools for the blog, so it’s exciting when I can suggest a daycare that I think is worth looking into for your child. Sitters Studio , a well respected sitting service, has decided to expand to a brick and mortar and open a [...]
Where to see Christmas Lights in Brooklyn- Dyker Heights and beyond
by Karen on 12/06/11 | 10 Comment(s)
If you hear the words “Brooklyn” and “Christmas lights’ in the same sentence, chances are the person is talking about the Dyker Heights holiday lights. The famous holiday tradition has been on national news, TLC and featured in a dedicated PBS documentary. While this is the “grand slam” of holiday lights in Brooklyn, there are [...]
Where to Volunteer For Thanksgiving and The Holidays
by Karen on 11/21/11 | 1 Comment(s)
Here is a startling statistic from USA Today: The number of Americans attending food pantries and soup kitchens has increased by 46% over the last five years. Thanksgiving is one the occasions when those soup kitchens and food pantries get inundated with large numbers of people wanting a special meal. If you want to volunteer [...]
Where to Donate Books, Electronics and School Supplies
by Karen on 11/17/11 | 3 Comment(s)
I have found a great resource from the city on where to donate various items in NYC. Each week I will mention a few of the places to donate various item. This week it’s “where to donate books, electronic supplies and school supplies! School Supplies The Pencil Box (formerly the PENCIL Resource Bank) is an [...]
Playtime in Greenpoint: playgroup, donuts, library and lunch
by Karen on 11/15/11 | 0 Comment(s)
The family-friendly amenities in Greenpoint and Williamsburg are starting to rival those of Park Slope. The play spaces, play groups and stores that have cropped up in the last year seem to be mainly begun by design-minded mums and dads, whose stylish taste brings sophistication to kid stuff. But there are a few Greenpoint places [...]
Mathnasium: One Solution to “U.S. Teens Are Among Worst At Math”
by Karen on 11/04/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Here’s what I like to think: my kids will be in high school, take the SAT’s (those looovely tests), and do well enough on both the verbal and math components to have a choice selection of colleges to attend. Until recently, I didn’t realize that I may be dead wrong. Results from Education Next’s study [...]
Are You Paying Your Nanny Enough? (Nanny Survey Results Are Out!)
by Karen on 11/02/11 | 1 Comment(s)
Are you paying your nanny enough? According to the 2011 Park Slope Parents Nanny Survey that came out today, “nannies (in Brooklyn) are earning an average of $14.89- twice the NY minimum wage of $7.25- and are receiving an average of 11 paid days off a year”. Their findings also noted that despite the higher [...]
New Developments for Bija Kids
by Karen on 11/01/11 | 0 Comment(s)
I dropped by Bija Kids a few weeks ago to host one of our Meetups- and marveled at their new studio design with two open airy spaces that accommodate both yogis and kids. Lauren Maples, the owner of Bija Kids, mentioned that she was considering offering a drop-in playtime for the cold weather- and, she [...]
Residential Parking Permits Provide Relief?
by Karen on 11/01/11 | 0 Comment(s)
One of the only things I hate about our life in Brooklyn (and I really do mean hate)- is moving our van every 2 days. My husband is a musician so we have a van that feels like a behemoth in the Brooklyn streets. This lovely Chevy has to be reparked and reparked and reparked [...]
How Your Family Can Help Out at Occupy Wall Street
by Karen on 10/26/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Last week, the post that got the most Facebook shares on the blog was on how families could sleep over to support the effort of Occupy Wall Street. What that says to me is that you all are moved by what is going on with the movement, want to educate your kids about it and [...]
Neighborhood Responses to Crime Uptick in Brooklyn
by Karen on 10/19/11 | 0 Comment(s)
The recent horrible run of sex attacks and muggings in Brooklyn have created terror for residents all over. In response, KWT Canine Watch (K9WaTch) a mobile neighborhood watch composed of dog owners and non-dog-owners in the Kensington Windsor Terrace area, was organized to discourage crime and walk neighbors home. And, now a free self defense class [...]
Favorite Resale Shop Still Hip Is Closing
by Karen on 10/11/11 | 1 Comment(s)
We were sad to hear the news yesterday that one of our favorite Brooklyn resale shops and meetup places, Still Hip, will be closing down at the end of November. I remember the first iteration of Still Hip: during one weekend we were invited to shop in the parlor of a brownstone: fun and funky [...]
Extreme Fitness for Stressed Out Parents
by Karen on 10/10/11 | 0 Comment(s)
I thought Zumba at Mark Morris was extreme thanks to my little-t0-none workout program for 5.5 years but the new Extreme Fitness Program that kicks into high gear this week, will kick my Zumba butt. Extreme Kids & Crew, a group for children with disabilities, their siblings, parents, and friends, has debuted their Extreme Fitness [...]
Grand Opening of Kings Bay Y in Windsor Terrace
by Karen on 10/09/11 | 0 Comment(s)
If you are walk on Prospect Avenue and run across the newly opened “Kings Bay Y”, don’t be confused- you haven’t ended up in Sheepshead Bay. “Kings Bay YM-YWHA” has a new affiliate in Windsor Terrace and its full name is the “Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace“. It opened in late September and will [...]
Oy Vey! Fleisher’s Opens in Brooklyn Today
by Karen on 9/28/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Dedicated foodies in Brooklyn have had Fleisher’s Meats deliver meat to their apartments for a bit now. However, they will no longer have to pony up with a neighbor for the minimum $100 delivery. Today, Fleisher’s opens a sister shop to their famous Hudson Valley butcher shop in Park Slope. Fleisher’s is one of those [...]
Library fines? Fuhgeddaboudit!
by Karen on 9/22/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Does your family have library fines because of a little forgetfulness? If you have been afraid to come back to the library because of some hefty fines- rejoice! New York City’s three library systems are teaming up to give children and teens across the five boroughs the opportunity to eliminate their prior fines and fees [...]
