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 classes and range of toys, baby items and clothing that meet the needs of Brooklyn families.

The specialty toy and baby shop, which opened on Nov. 1, 2011, is owned by Carl Blake and Shelley Kramer.  The owners, who reside across the street from Prospect Park with two kids of their own, saw a need for a neighborhood kids’ store that would carry products that are BPA, PVC, Phthalate Free and non-toxic but also those that are designed by local Brooklynites. As parents in the neighborhood, they believe in community and that “if we can buy and shop local, we will.” Local Brooklyn products include: Baby DeeDee Sleep Nests (loveliest sleep sacks!), Brooklyn Rocks tee’s, Herbal Postpartum Products made by Divine Daughters, Rooware (plates, bowls, utensils designed by a PLG mom) and felt flower barrettes made by local mom, Allyson Sen.

They have stocked their store only with items that don’t require batteries. Their belief in child engineered toys means they not only carry the classics toys but stock brands like Erector, Chugginton and Thomas, Trains, Playmobil, EeBoo, Djeco, Melissa & Doug, Faber-Castell, Automoblox, Seedling, Kid-O and more.  The store is filled with some of the most sought-after brands and there is ample space for testing them. Want to try a balance bike? Or an Ergo? Feel free to lay your things down and give them a spin.  The family-friendly store is buzzing with kids and parents coming to and from classes, meeting and checking out the shelves.

In true community spirit, Play Kids have opted to keep their classes affordable and so they offer as many “drop in” classes as possible. There isn’t any fee up front and each time that the class is offered, you can come as often as you are able. With a nod to the homeschooling group, they have classes for older kids too.

They are offering some special workshops this month too:

Saturday, Feb. 4 at 5pm they are offering an “Introducing Your Child to Solid Foods” Workshop. Maya Feller MS RD will lead the workshop which will include information on how to make your own baby food, readiness of the child to eat solid food, baby food making demonstrations, and a Question and Answer segment. The workshop will run about 90min and cost $20/person or $35/adult.

For Valentine’s Day, stop in for a photo shoot and craft-making at “Make Your Own Valentines” event.  The photo session is $20/print (five additional prints will be email to you to print or send at your leisure). Make your own Valentine’s will be free.

Classes:
Kids Can Cook!, Knitting (Ages 9+), Music Together, Rock-ucation, Art Classes from Manor Arts, Mom & Baby Yoga.
Tue 10 am Drumalong with Ivan ($5/family) All Ages
Wed. 10am  Story Time with Mary Jo ($5/family) All Ages
Thur. 9:45am, 12:15pm, 1:30pm Baby Clay with Melisa ($10/child) Ages 6mo-2yrs
Thurs: 11 am Baby Clay for Big Kids ($10/child) Ages 2 years and up
Fri. 10am  Sing-a-Long with Lloyd ($5/family) All Ages
(once a month) Sun 1:30pm Improv with Ashley ($8/child*) Ages 6+
2:30pm Creative Writing with Chris ($8/child*) Ages 6+
* $4 discount if your child participates in both Improv and Creative Writing*

Details:
Play Kids
676 Flatbush Ave (between Hawthrone and Winthrop St.)
Prospect Lefferts Gardens

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Post tags: baby clay, baby store in brooklyn, baby stores in brooklyn, classes in brookly, clay class in brooklyn, clay for kids, dance classes in brooklyn, drumalong, flatbush avenue, kids can cook, kids classes in brooklyn, kids store, lefferts gardens, lloyd miller, manor arts, mom and baby yoga, music classes in brooklyn, play kids, prospect lefferts gardens, rock-ucation, singalong in brooklyn, where to buy baby carrier in brooklyn, where to buy ergo in brooklyn

My kids happily play in the sand – beach or sandbox – for hours at a time. Now that Jenn has outgrown the sand-eating phase and is almost out of the sand-throwing phase, it’s fun for all of us. I have always rolled my eyes at my friend who won’t let her daughters play in the sandbox at our local playground.  But she grew up on the beach so I dismissed her distaste for the sandbox as beach snobbery. Though maybe she is on to something.

Being city dwellers and public park users, we overlook sandboxes’ obvious problems:  cats use them as litter boxes and rats use them however they like. Sadly enough, people use them as rest rooms, ashtrays and receptacles for various unsavories:  condoms, crack vials, old Pirate’s Booty and other things we would rather our kids not touch, much less, play in. But germs are everywhere and we have lots of soap at home, I figure.

More troubling is the label on most play sand sold in California, “known …to cause cancer.” I should note that the exact same sand is sold across the country but only California’s Proposition 65 requires the cancer warning to be on the package. The warning is compelling, and scary. The label warns of crystalline silica, the dust of which can cause fatal lung conditions with long-term exposure.

My understanding is that crystalline silica dust in play sand is unlikely as the particles are larger and we are not breathing them in. The documented cases are in industrial settings, where the sand is ground or hammered, resulting in lots of breathable dust over extended periods. There are not conclusive studies on children’s exposure, which definitely begs that more attention be paid.

The sand fight is contentious, as are most disputes regarding the possible safety of our kids. Some resolutely believe we are “sissifying” our kids and are afraid of everything, the “we played in sand as kids and we’re just fine” team. Others are just as staunch in their beliefs that we need to avoid all potentially dangerous situations, regardless of the actual risk.  I tend to walk the middle, and I liked these suggestions to help avert potential silica dust exposure in play sand, which is available everywhere — at toy stores, Home Depot, Lowes, WalMart – 50 lbs for $4.

Of course, there are options if you would like to further control your children’s exposure to crystalline silica-containing sand. Remember, of course, that city parks and playgrounds are using “plain old sand,” though I haven’t heard back from them regarding what kind.

If you have few hundred dollars, you can buy silica free sand, which is crystalline silica dust-free. (I wish I knew if a simple hose could make hardware store variety play sand dust-free as well.) It’s $60 for 50 lbs, shipping included.

If you don’t have any nut allergies, some people recommend crushed walnut shells, which is available at the pet store. It’s 9.99 for 7lbs.

Pea gravel, (tiny pebbles), widely available at gardening and hardware stores, is another way to avoid the whole problem, though you can’t make a sand castle with it. You can, however dig and pour. This seems to be a choking hazard, so perhaps is not best for kids who put everything in their mouths.

And if you were thinking you would sneak some from the beach, know that beach sand is silica, too, though the fine dust would have been washed away by the water. Aside from the questionable legality of such a maneuver, this study shows that beach sand is full of contaminants from birds, sewage and urban run-off.

What to do?  Like everything else, all we can do:  learn what we can and decide what works best for our families.

Do your kids play in the sandbox in the park? And what do you use, if you’re lucky enough to have space for a sandbox or sand table at home?

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Post tags: kids sand, pea gravel, play sand, safety of sand, sand for sandbox, sandbox, silica, silica free sand

For the past few years, Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, also known as Dr. Toy, has issued a list of the year’s top green toys and children’s products.   Dr. Toy acknowledges in a press release that these green products represent just “a small number among all the choices of play products available, but we need to start somewhere. “  I like the idea that every little bit helps, because otherwise the struggle to be green can seem too ominous.  These toys can help families try to stay on the green side.

We broke the list down into age groups (which conveniently match the ages of my kids) – and this week we’ll tell you about what made the list for babies, 12 months and under. You can also find toys for toddlers and bigger kids on her website.

Good Earth Girl Ballerina by Hosung New York
Age Range:  Birth – 5 years
Price  25.00

This smiling rag doll is made of unbleached, unprocessed cotton and colored with low-impact, non-toxic plant and mineral dyes. The ballerina is stuffed with recycled fiber and packaged in a gift box made with recycled materials.  I particularly like the company’s Jane Goodall collection!

Rubbablox Building Blocks by Rubbabu Inc.
Age Range:  3months – 5 years
Price  49.95

I think 9 blocks and 14 connectors for $50 sounds a little pricey, but these blocks look great for the baby I’m about to have. Apparently these are so soft that they won’t hurt even if baby (or his tired mother) falls on them.  Made out of the sap of rubber trees, they are very eco-friendly as the sap can be collected from the same tree for 25 years.

Sprig Conestacker by Sprig Toys, Inc.
Age Range:  6 – 18 months
Price  14.99

This is reminiscent of the stacker we all grew up with, except these are made
of “Sprigwood,” a composite of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic, so part of this toy is made from a renewable resource.  Unlike the plastic version we once knew, Sprig’s Conestacker uses an average of 20% less energy when it is molded. And in spite of the bright colors, no paint is used in this product as the Sprigwood is dyed (non-toxic dyes, of course) during production.

Wee Can Too Edible Finger Paint by Wee Can Too Edible Art Supply
Age Range:  6 months – 5 years
Price  35.00

You gotta’ love a product made by a mom! These finger paints are made with infant-safe, edible, mostly organic ingredients and are available in 5 vibrant, organic colors.  The company’s founder sought out safer art supplies for her young daughter and when she could find only “non-toxic” paint, she made her own, edible version. Dr. Toy notes that these are nutritious and pleasant tasting, which seems to me to be a little confusing for the kids, since I imagine we would ultimately prefer out toddlers not eat paint. That being said, I fondly remember finger painting with chocolate pudding when I was in pre-school, though that was clearly not paint.

Jill Austin

********
Once employed in tv production, Jill Austin now uses those management skills to boss around her husband, son, daughter and dog, with minimal success. When she’s not turning daily life into a production, Jill is a free-lance writer, a middle-of-the-pack triathlete and an optimist. She blogs at lamemom.

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Post tags: best green toys for babies, best organic paints, green toys, organic building blocks, organic doll, organic paint for kids, organic toys for children, stacking toys for babies

While we have some fabulous consignment shops in Brooklyn, sometimes it’s fun to go to an event where you swap and buy used items from parents you see and meet. One of the most famous tag sales for parents is the Manhattan Twins Club sale. Why is it famous? For its stock on double strollers, cribs, duplicate clothing and everything a parent of a twin might need. Don’t think that only parents of twins can go- parents of singletons can find everything they need too. This Tag Sale has double everything- you can pick and choose just what you need for your single babe too!

If you can’t make the trip to Manhattan, then you might check out Monk’s Trunk Children’s Consignment Store. For one week starting tomorrow (Sunday, May 22), a great bulk of new toys at their store will be 40% off. This includes toys from Melissa & Doug, Ambi, Mudpuppy, Westminster, Alex, and Battat. We’re talking bath toys, robo-dogs, dolls (magnetic and paper), bionic hamsters, flying pigs, wooden puzzles, toy horns, shrinky dinks and more! If you’ve got birthday parties coming up, now is your chance to load up.

Monk's Trunk will be selling these Mudpuppy Play Houses (3 varieties of "My House", "Monsters" and "School House" are all on sale for $6.)

Details:
Manhattan Twins Club Spring Sale
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Most Precious Blood Church
on Baxter just before Canal Manhattan, NY 10001
There are a few tables left to sell baby items- so join us as a seller. Please fill out the online survey and a member will contact you.
At the end of the sale, you will have the opportunity to either sell unsold items to a thrift store vendor or leave the merchandise at the church and the MTC will donate the items to www.BabyBuggy.org or www.RoomToGrow.org. Please note: all proceeds will be given to the Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Foundation.
Details:
Monk’s Trunk Children’s Consignment Memorial Day Toy Sale
23 Hawthorne Street
Just off of Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens ( http://bit.ly/MONKMAP)
(718) 398-9324
http://www.monkstrunk.com
http://www.facebook.com/monkstrunk

HOURS:
Sunday: 1 pm to 6 pm
Monday: 10 am to 6 pm [closed on Memorial Day]
Tuesday: closed – by appointment
Wednesday: closed – by appointment
Thursday: 10 am to 6 pm
Friday: 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm
Note: They will be closed on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30).

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Birthday season is about to begin and that means finding gifts that are just right for that birthday girl or boy.  In celebration, we are going to be posting award-winning toys over the next few weeks. This week we are featuring some nominees for the Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY), as presented by the Toy Industry Association. You will notice that most of the ones they have chosen are plastic and can be bought at the big box stores and online. We will be sure to counter that with next week’s feature of “The Dr. Toy Green Awards” for green toys.  However, all of the ones we show you will be award winners, so at the very least, you know you got a “winning gift.”

Playskool Alphie by Hasbro, was among a handful of toys nominated for ” Educational Toy of the Year”. Some of us may remember the original Alphie from the 1980s, but this little Alphie robot is new and very much improved. Alphie encourages preschoolers to learn the alphabet and helps kids with rhyming, counting, color and shape recognition, animal names and much more. The only complaint among parents is that the lesson cards are not durable and may wear out so you’ll have to watch your little ones with them.
Age: Ages 3 years and over.
Price: Playskool Alphie can be ordered for $31.99 at Amazon.  Alphie can also be found at other large retailers, including Target, and online.

“Game of the Year” was presented to Hasbro for its Scrabble Flash Cubes.  If you know and love Scrabble, don’t be alarmed; this updated version is actually really cool. I loved it and the chunky new electronic cubes are just right for little hands too. It’s a lightweight, compact version of the old Scrabble that lets you keep track of your words and points electronically. You can play Scrabble solo too; how satisfying for those of us who can’t find Scrabble opponents! It’s ideal for family travel.
Age: 8 years and up.
Price: $24

The winner for “Educational Toy of the Year” was the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game System. Priced at around $69.95,  this is a pretty pricey device, and gets more expensive if you invest in all the extra downloadable learnings apps. However, the Leapster Explorer is considered to be a great learning system for kids. My earthiest girlfriend who has a MFA in poetry and is a stickler about anything electronic, has one for each of her children.  She swears by its and thinks it is a great educational toy. You can download e-books, videos, flash cards and the games included cover school skills, creativity and life skills.
Age: For ages 4-9.
Price: Order LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game System for $69.95 on amazon or check it out at several large retailers including Toys R Us and Target.

Here’s a nominee for “Outdoor Toy of the Year” which is a fun upgrade to those water and sand tables. Little Tikes Mudpie Kitchen is a very clever outdoor kitchen set that lets kids really dig into the dirt. The set includes a hand-crank mud mixer that pivots up and down, a working sink that uses a water reservoir and a pump button that releases water. This is all hand work- no batteries are required.
Age: 2 – 7 years
Price: Priced at $39.99.

The winner for “Outdoor Toy of the Year” went to Supersoaker Wars Shotblast Water Blaster. This is the biggest blaster of them all as it shoots water up to 25 feet. Try that on a NYC playground! It has a pump handle for quick release and a large capacity tank. When we go to our relatives in the suburbs, both adults and kids pull out their Nerf water blasters and I have to admit- engage in a totally fun soaking game.
Age: 5- ? years
Price: Priced at $29.99.

The Sing-a-ma-jigs by Mattel won the coveted “Toy of the Year” award and were also awarded Preschool Toy of the Year and Innovative Toy of the Year. These funny little creatures chatter, sing and harmonize with each other.  Here’ a secret about these little troll-like plushies: adults really groove on them. They are actually a bit addictive for us: we like to push their tummies and hear their various pitches. However, I don’t understand how to get them to harmonize or what button does what. And, if I don’t get it, you can believe my kids don’t.  I just wish there was some kind of class on how to work these Sing-a-ma-jigs somewhere. I really, really want them to harmonize and  I want to believe in the jigs, I really do.
Age: 2 – 7 years
Price: Priced at $12.99. You can buy these locally at Neerguard Pharmacy in Park Slope on 9th Street and 5th Avenue.

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Photo by Prashanth Nair©

Real Simple Magazine had 2 articles on how to clean everything from cotton to backpacks. I found them incredibly helpful. Here are both articles melded together.

Both written by Sarah Stebbins

How to Wash Cotton
Made from the fluffy fibers of the cotton plant, most cotton fabrics are preshrunk, so “you really can’t mess them up,” says Chris Allsbrooks, a textile analyst at the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, in Laurel, Maryland.
How to Wash: Machine-wash in cold or warm with all-purpose detergent.
Tip: Sun yellows it; line-dry in shade.

How to Wash Wool
Woven from the undercoats of sheep, goats, and other hairy mammals, wool is ultra-durable. But it shrinks in warm water, so take precautions.
How to Wash: Dry-clean or hand wash in cold with mild detergent. Air-dry.
Tip: Use cedar hangers to repel moths.

How to Wash Silk
Made from protein fibers produced by silkworms, this durable, luxurious fabric is treated with sizing and may have dyes that bleed.
How to Wash: Dry-clean or hand wash in cold with mild detergent. Air-dry.
Tip: Test for colorfastness.

How to Wash Rayon
Created from wood pulp treated with chemicals, cool and comfortable rayon is considered a semisynthetic fabric. When laundered, it may bleed, shrink, or lose its crispness.
How to Wash: Dry-clean or hand wash in cold with mild detergent. Air-dry.
Tip: Iron it when slightly damp.

How to Wash Linen
Linen, woven from fibers of the flax plant, is sometimes treated with sizing, a finish that makes it crisp. It wrinkles very easily and requires ironing.
How to Wash: Dry-clean or hand wash in cold with mild detergent. Air-dry.
Tip: Or machine-wash on gentle.

Backpacks
Wash alone in a front-loader on gentle in cold water with all-purpose detergent. Don’t wash multicolored packs; the dyes may bleed.

Cloth Purses and Tote Bags
“People put them on car and restaurant floors — they’re some of the dirtiest things we own,” says Sandra Phillips, a cleaning consultant and the author of A Clean Break (Live-Right Books, $10, www.amazon.com). Wash on delicate in warm water with all-purpose detergent. Air-dry. Don’t wash purses with sequins or other embellishments.

Laptop and iPod Cases
Wash canvas, nylon, and microfiber cases in warm water with all-purpose detergent. Air-dry. Don’t wash padded ones — they contain a foam layer that holds water and doesn’t dry well.

Ironing-Board Cover
Wash in warm water with all-purpose detergent. Air-dry.

Sleeping Bags
Wash in a front-loader — the agitator in a top-loader may rip seams — on gentle in warm water with mild detergent. (Harsher detergents can ruin the feathers in down bags.) Dry on low or no heat.

Car-Seat and High-Chair Covers
Use warm water and 1 1/2 capfuls of all-purpose detergent to get rid of the ground-in soils on cloth covers. Dry on low for 5 to 10 minutes, then air-dry.

Footwear
Wash canvas or leather sneakers (even those kids’ shoes with plastic parts) in cold water with all-purpose detergent. Place them in mesh bags to keep laces from wrapping around the agitator. Dry on low for 10 minutes, then air-dry for a day. Wash slippers with rubber soles if the care label allows it.

Oven Mitts and Sponges
Wash in hot water and all-purpose detergent. Air-dry.

Cloth Diapers
Use hot water, bleach, and mild detergent, and dry on high to help kill germs.*** SEE EXPERT COMMENT BELOW THE POST FOR BEST ADVICE

Travel Pillows
Rather than washing the pillows themselves (their padding tends to get mildewy), slip them inside pillowcases for use, then just wash the pillowcases instead.

Bath Toys
Rubber duckies sometimes need a bath, too. Use warm water and all-purpose detergent. “Throw toys in the wash with a hand towel, which will get the slime off,” says cleaning consultant Sandra Phillips.

Plastic Pool Floats
“If it can be deflated and it fits in the machine, it can be washed,” says Phillips. Use cold water, all-purpose detergent, and a hand towel (as with bath toys) to remove slime. Air-dry.

Pet Accessories
Wash pet-bed covers, collars, and leashes on gentle in cold water with all-purpose detergent in small loads but on a large-load setting to flush out dirt and hair. Tumble dry on low.

Plastic Dish Gloves
Wash on a gentle, short cycle (about four minutes) in warm water. Air-dry.

Sports Gear
Wash basketball nets and shin guards on gentle in warm water. Air-dry.

Mop Heads
Use all-purpose detergent and warm water. Air-dry.

Toys
Wash cloth toys on gentle in cold water with mild detergent; dry on low for 5 minutes, then air-dry.

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Post tags: how to clean backpack, how to clean bath toys, how to clean cloth diapers, how to clean purse, how to clean shoes, how to clean silk, how to clean sleeping bags, how to clean stuffed animal, how to clean toys, how to wash linen, how to wash rayon, how to wash silk, how to wash wook, Products

Froggy Craft By Brenda Ponnay

If you celebrate Passover then you know why frogs are important. Frogs were one of the ten plagues that Moses imposed upon the Egyptians to convince the Pharaoh to release the enslaved Jews. It took ten plagues for the Pharoah to relent. During the plague of the frogs, Moses sent hoardes of frogs from the Nile into the Egyptians homes, food and beds. They infested everything. Though the plagues were awful, Brenda Ponnay found a way to make a craft based on it that is both lovely and educational.   This project is a little more complicated than the Easter pipe cleaner puppets, but no matter how old your toddler is, they can get in on the fun along the way.  If your child can hold a paintbrush or a pencil, they can participate.

I love the way these frogs look clinging to the window with the newspaper words shining through them like real reptilian skin. And, don’t you love the patterns their bodies make?

Painting on newspaper

For the step by step directions and great photos, check the craft out here.

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Post tags: activity for passover, craft for kids passover, passover craft, passover kids craft

Spring has definitely sprung and I have put our snow boots away for good, at last! It’s time for bikes and scooters and that means protecting our kids from falls. Brooklyn has some of the worst sidewalks of all the boroughs. We do love our blue slate sidewalks, but, oh, how it heaves and cleaves. For us Brooklynites, that means serious head protection and possibly even elbow, hand and knee protection too. What brands are the best for toddlers up to “youth”? Consumer Reports came out with Kid and Toddler Bike helmet ratings to help answer that question. They tested for impact absorption, retention system, resistance to roll-off, ventilation, ease of use, and weight. Weight? Though it is given lesser value in the ratings, apparently it can lead to fatigue. Makes sense, I guess. They did not test any of those cool helmets I see zooming around Brooklyn (see PHOTO above). I would like to know how those would compare.

Let’s define what Consumer Reports mean by some of these categories first.

Impact absorption
How well a helmet can absorb the forces, thus reducing the deceleration experienced by a head, during an impact. Based on helmet performance in laboratory impact tests at various impact speeds and impact surfaces under several conditions.

Retention system
How well the retention system resists stretching, slippage or breakage when a sudden load is applied to the straps, such as what could occur during an accident.

Resistance to roll-off
Our judgment of how well a properly fitted helmet resists front to back and side to side movement to ensure that the helmet stays in place for the best protection.

The results for Youth:

Bell Trigger helmet for $35 got a rating of 65 and rated Excellent in the categories of Retention System, Ease of Use, Resistance to Roll-off. Impact Absorption was only Good. Ouch.

Schwinn Thrasher for $20 got a rating of 61 and rated the same as the Bell Trigger above, except it lost out in the weight category, which is why it has a lower rating.

The Bell Amigo for $30 got a rating of 60. It got a better rating for Impact Absorption (seems pretty key in my book), but faired less well than the others in ventilation and weight.

The results for Toddler:

Giro Me2 helmet for $30 got a rating of 63 and rated Excellent in the categories of Retention System, Resistance to Roll-off and Very Good for Impact Absorption.

Bell Boomerang for $30 got a rating of 63 and rated the same as the Giro Me2 above, except it was rate only “Very Good” in Resistance to Roll-off, but it had a better rating for Ease of Use.

The Specialized Small Fry for $40 got a rating of 53. It’s Impact Absorption was only Good, compared to Excellent of the ones above.

*******For a partial list of bike shops, go here. Though some of the smaller outfits that have moved in in the last year aren’t on this list. Feel free to add them in the Comments at the bottom of this post.

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Post tags: bell fraction helmet, bell helmet, bell kids helmet, bike helmet review, consumer reports on bike helmet, giro kids helmet, how to wear bike helmet, kids bike helmet, toddler bike helmet

Railrod Tycoon is one of the games that will be available at the club

Remember family game night when someone would pull out Yahtzee, Scrabble or dominoes? Game night wasn’t just about the game, it was about learning how to win, lose, strategize and be a member of a family.  We recently started board games with our kids and love hanging out together, stomachs pressed on the floor, discussing the rules (and bending them).

A new store is opening in Brooklyn that takes the idea of “game night” to a new level. The Brooklyn Strategist, opening January 11, 2011, is taking family game night out into the community.  Designed for adults and for kids over age 7 years, The Strategist might just become the new “hangout”. Their interactive board and card game center, cafe and social club will match partners and opponents to learn new board games or improve on their current skills.

Don’t even think about bringing your Leapster or iphone games in. They are only stocking games that require face-to-face interaction and that means good old-fashioned strategizing.  You can choose from their huge stock of card and board games including parlor/party games, adventure games, military/history, mystery and miniature games.

Afternoon Clubs will meet once a week for 12 weeks or you can try an afternoon session on for $40.  The games they list for the clubs look fascinating and intense: “Machiavelli”, “Railroad Tycoon” (pictured) and “SimCity” (the card game- the precursor to the digital one).

If you end up in a long-winded game,  you can sample some of their “strategic snacks” all made from their cafe including mint-lemonade, whoopee pies and tapenads.

The Brooklyn Strategist
388 Atlantic Avenue (Ground Floor), between Hoyt and Bond
(646) 470-3556

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Post tags: afternoon activity, afternoon club, afterschool class, board and game center, brooklyn, brooklyn strategist, card shop, game shop, kids class, kids game

Tagua Natural Seed necklaces for sale at Everyday Athlete Market

While occasionally efficient, too much on-line holiday shopping can zap the holiday spirit right out of you.  So once you realize you have been staring at your laptop for hours, (yes, I mean you!) just turn it off.  Then, grab a friend, pretty up – whether that be by brushing your teeth or a putting on real outfit – and hit some of Brooklyn’s many holiday markets. You can eat and drink, mingle, see Santa, browse and buy locally, and in many cases, you will find deals on some great gifts.  What more could you want? But where, you ask? Read on for some of our picks, and let us know if there are more we should include!

Shop and Play at Everyday Athlete (December 18, 2010)
The last weekend before Christmas shop locally in the Columbia Street Waterfront District. Check out Children’s books and games, tote bags, aprons, yoga bags, whimsical hats, cosmetics and free facial demos, jewelry, and even granola at Everyday Athlete’s Holiday Market.  While parents shop, children can sing and dance with Karen and the Jitterbugs, featuring her new CD, Pancakes for Dinner. Performances at 2, 4:30 and 5 pm. Parents can get a free facial demo too. Lovely! Also enjoy cupcake decorating at the studio by Yum Cupz all afternoon. Yum Cupz is  on Union at the corner of Hicks Street.
Details: 2-6 pm at Everyday Athlete.  Everyday Athlete Studio at 136 Union Street  Brooklyn, NY 11231 Phone: 718 852 6300 info@everydayathlete.com

Yoga and Lifestyle Wear at Brooklyn Boulders (December 18, 2010)
Creem Collection will be showing their sustainability produced yoga clothing. Treehugger.com reviewed them, “The garments are made with a bamboo/organic cotton jersey blend and are designed for yoga, gym, and biking–and flattering enough for around town afterward.”
Details: from 12-8 pm at Brooklyn Boulders, 575 DeGraw St.

Artscetera Pop-Up Shop (December 18 and 19, 2010)
You will find local artisans from Etsy and beyond offering gifts, for men, women and children. Saturdays from 1-8 pm and Sundays from 11 am- 6 pm.
Details: http://www.artscetera.com/ 718 643-6817  212 Smith Street between Baltic & Butler; Cobble Hill

Artists & Fleas Holiday Bazaar (December 18th and 19th)
Artists and Fleas celebrate the holidays this year in fine festive fashion with the opening of an additional holiday market in Williamsburg. A selection of some participating vendors can be found on their site with new ones added daily. Some are in alphabetical order. Some require your patience and appetite for discover. http://artistsandfleas.com/brooklyn-holiday-bazaar
Details: North 7th Street & Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg

Gifted: A Holiday Market Presented by Brooklyn Flea + Design*Sponge (December 15th- 23rd)
Our favorite flea market becomes a holiday gift market for the next weekend and then a 9 day run! There will be 100 plus vendors on 3 floors.
Details: Skylight One Hanson  1 Hanson Place (at Ashland Pl.) in Fort Greene 11am-7pm

Brooklyn Craft Central  (December 18 & 19, 2010)
This year, this holiday market has two locations, both five minutes apart. Visitors will find lots of shopping, discounts, artisanal food, drink specials, bargain massages and music. Need a shopping break? There will also be workshops and demos by Textile Arts Center.
Details: December 18 and 19; 11a – 7pm at the Littlefield Art & Performance Center at 622 Degraw AND the Textile Arts Center at 505 Carroll Street.
Visit http://www.bkcraftcentral.com/events.html for vendors and more info.

Lyceum Holiday Craft Marketplace (December 18 & 19 , 2010)
Located where “the Slope meets the Swamp,” this market’s has more than 60 vendors scheduled. You can expect lots of food, Santa and a chance to expend some shopper’s rage in the batting cage. Then you can cool off with a lime rickey or an egg cream!
Details: December 18 and 19; 11a – 7pm at the Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue. Visit www.lyceummarkets.com for list of vendors.

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