UrbanBaby New York

The words “back to school” have your kids in a tizzy. But September can mean more than homework (for them) and headache (for you).

On Labor Day, head to Fort Greene for a Back to School Bash hosted by the Brooklyn Public Library and Habana Outpost. The lineup includes a DJ, face painting, eco-friendly crafts, readings and a kiddie dance party. And since the event is to encourage literacy, make sure your family signs up for a library card to kick off the school year.

Not to exclude adults, there will also be frozen drinks and Cuban snacks. Parade-goers will be hard pressed to find anything better.

When: Mon. 9/1, 12-5pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton St. (at South Portland Ave.), Brooklyn, 718-858-9500.

This weekend: Happy Labor Day!

See
Charlie Hits It Big
Author Deborah Blumenthal reads from her children’s book about a guinea pig who dreams of the big time.
When: Thurs. 8/28, 3:30pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Borders, 576 2nd Ave. (at 32nd St.), borders.com.

Go
Kiddie Kabuki
Actor Bando Hirohichiro performs story of a young merchant who takes a daring voyage through a storm to fetch oranges needed for the New Year’s Celebration. Afterwards, try hands-on dance lessons.
When: Sat. 8/30, 2-3:30pm; Ages 2-12; $12 Adults, $6 Kids (advance purchase required).
Where: NYCNDA, 107 Suffolk St. (bet. Delancy & Rivington), 2nd floor, 646-334-7426, nycnda.com.

Do
Capoeira in the Park
See DanceBrasil perform the lively Afro-Brazilian dance/martial art form, then enjoy a family dance workshop to learn the basics.
When: Sun. 8/31, 1pm-3pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Great Hill, Central Park (enter at West 106th St.), 212-860-1370, centralparknyc.org.

Shop
Books of Wonder
Get up to 50-percent off kids’ hand-picked titles.
When: Thurs.-Sun., 8/28-9/2.
Where: 18 West 18th St., 212-989-3270, booksofwonder.com.

It’s back to school, back to work and time to get back to productivity. What better way to show your kids how to help others than by getting involved with an organization or a cause yourself? The following non-profits are looking for a few good men, women and, in some cases, children too:

Children’s Aid Society Common Cents
Make a difference in the life of an underserved NYC child and his or her family by organizing a “Penny Harvest” — at your office, in your apartment building — where Pre-K through 8th grade students collect change, turn it into dollars and make decisions about how to improve their own communities.

826NYC
Become a one-on-one tutor and help a child with his or her creative and expository writing skills, storytelling abilities, filmmaking and more. Volunteers with editorial or copyediting backgrounds, as well as IT and design skills, are currently needed for weekday mornings and afternoons.

I Have a Dream
Work as a mentor, tutor, fund raiser or special events coordinator for this organization which helps at-risk kids reach their academic and career potentials.

Kids for Community
This community-based organization seeks volunteers according to age (from 5 years and under to 18), geographic area they’d like to serve and by their own interests. Volunteering opportunities exist in such as areas as Food & Hunger, Education & Literacy, Arts & Culture, Anti-Violence and more.

Learning Leaders
Work with NYC public school students, ages pre-K through high school, in reading, English as a second language, math and other subjects. Share your love of books or your financial acumen as a student plans for college and financial aid.

Make A Wish
Volunteers ages 14 to 84 are needed to help fulfill the wishes of kids with life-threatening medical conditions. You can help by being a Wish-Granting Volunteer (working directly with children), a Phone Greeter (by helping families who are visiting NYC), or a Student Intern (ages 14-18 only).

NY Foundling
Work with this non-profit social service agency to help both children and entire families. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old and there is a commitment of 2 hours per week for one year. Lend your creative talents, become a mentor, teach computer skills, show a child how to do yard work and much more.

NY Youth at Risk
Transform the chaotic life of a disadvantaged young person through consistent mentoring. You’ll help kids avoid gangs and violence and watch their school attendance rates and positive sense of family increase dramatically. Work as recruiter, part of the Production Team or pitch in on fundraising efforts.

Only Make Believe
Help make the lives of kids living with chronic illnesses a bit brighter through the magical world of theatre. Help with an OMB party at a designated hospital and put your festive skills to good use: play games, serve refreshments, provide goody bags, sew costumes or build props.

Simply put: Just do it.

With all the out-of-town trips this summer, you’ve hardly noticed that the neighborhood is changing.

Dimples Baby popped up among a strip of stores on Avenue U, with a neighborhood-appropriate selection of gear, diaper bags and toys from Netto Collection, Orbit Baby, Jeeto and Boon. Founded by two moms (and what isn’t these days?) the boutique has a special area dedicated to play, with plasma TV and imported toys to occupy the kids while you browse.

Good thing you’ll be staying in town more often.

Open Mon.-Thurs. 10:30am-5:30pm, Fri. 10:30am-1:30pm, Sun. by appointment (closed Sat.). 361 Avenue U, Brooklyn, 718-449-2229, dimplesbaby.com.

You need help, like, now. Maybe you’re pregnant and have no idea what stroller to buy. Perhaps you’re returning to work and overwhelming with finding a nanny.

Stork, a custom baby planning service, is giving the inside scoop in a series of free seminars. Get the 411 on baby gear must-haves, how to hire a nany and the basics of going green. Instead of trial and error or taking advice from friends (who don’t even have kids!) let the experts do the talking.

The first session is tonight: Talk about immediate gratification.

When: Mon. 8/25, 7:30pm; Tues. 8/26, 1pm; Mon. 9/22, 7:30pm. Free; RSVP at 212-353-1947 or info@maternalfitness.com.
Where: Spabebe, 108 East 16th St., 4th floor, storkplan.com.

Your daughter loves tennis primarily for the cute outfits. Mommy loves it primarily for Roger Federer. But this Saturday presents a chance for both of you to focus on your serves and spend quality time on the court.

The annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day opens the U.S. Open tomorrow. Hop a subway to Queens, and hit up the free festival on the grounds where the Open takes place. Catch demos by the biggest names on the court, try new techniques at clinics, test your skill in games, and enjoy standard summer-festival fare like face-painting and hair-braiding (a sure favorite among future Venuses and Serenas). Stars of their caliber are even known to hold court during Kids’ Day, signing autographs and posing for photos.

Later in the afternoon, stick around to watch pros practice, or head inside to catch the giant, televised stadium show. This year’s lineup features tween favorites like Demi Lovato and Menudo (yes, they still exist); it’ll sell out fast, so buy tickets in advance at ticketmaster.com. And the big names in the tennis game will make appearances.

Better bust out your cutest tennis outfit.

When: Sat., 8/23, 9:30am-4pm (activities until 1pm); $10-$20 General Admission, Activities free.
Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Grounds, Flushing Meadows, Queens, usopen.org.

This weekend: Savor the summer.

Hear
John Flynn
Sing along with the award-winning entertainer to songs like “My Brother Ricky’s for Sale.”
When: Thurs. 8/21, 10:30am; All ages; Free.
Where: Madison Square Park, Oval Lawn, 212-538-6667, madisonsquarepark.org.

Go
Tuckaberry’s Family Picnic
Face painting, games, juggling and prizes are on tap for a fun day in Prospect Park.
When: Sun. 8/24, 1pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Prospect Park, picnic ground near Picnic House, 5th St. & Prospect Park West, tuckaberry.com.

See
August Rush
Central Park’s film festival presents this modern-day Manhattan musical fairy tale. The choir from the movie will perform live before the screening.
When: Sat. 8/23, 8pm (gates open at 6pm); All ages; Free.
Where: Rumsey Playfield (enter at 5th Ave. & 69th St.), centralparknyc.org.

Visit
Summer Streets
No cars allowed: Take part in the block party, people watching and anything else that strikes your family’s fancy.
When: Sat. 8/23, 7am-1pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Park Ave., Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park (see map for details), nyc.gov.

UrbanBaby’s comprehensive list of local NYC photographers is available here. Check out the list and decide who’s best to capture your belly and your baby on film. And tell us: Who’s your fave?

Unwilling to have the same pram as the rest of the city’s stroller-pushing pedestrians, you want the latest buggy in babyland.

Maclaren’s Soho store is introducing its newest limited edition line featuring the designs of Mina Perhonen, the house headed by forward-thinking Japanese designer Akira Minagawa. The stroller is based on Maclaren’s popular Quest, and boasts a signature butterfly embellished print in navy and white for boys, and fuchsia and turquoise for girls (inspired by the Perhonen’s Finnish nomenclature).

Get it now, while you still have a leg up on your friends in Fort Lee.

Open Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 12-6pm. 150 Wooster St. (bet. Houston & Prince), 212-677-2700, maclarenbaby.com.

Hot Shots! Part Deux: More NYC photographers to help you strike a pose.

Mary Jane Farnsworth
Although she’s shot rocks stars like Stone Temple Pilots, Mary Jane says nothing compares to working with children. This photog is all about fun, candid shots — a baby chomping on a large piece of watermelon, a naked infant snoozing atop a huge dog. She works mostly on location to capture kids enjoying themselves in their natural settings. Online proofs are available, and she’ll travel within an hour of NYC for no extra charge.

Thomas Roemischer
This Park Slope photog likes working on location — the beach, the park, at home — so his subjects are relaxed and comfortable. That tranquility is easy to spot in his images of tots mugging for the camera. Check out Roemischer’s Baby Steps package of four photo sessions over a baby’s first year (including an optional maternity shoot).

Jennifer Mitchell
Having photographed political heavyweights like Bill Clinton and John McCain, as well as celeb power couples Brangelina and TomKat, Mitchell brings a journalist’s eye to her work. All photos are shot on location as Mitchell tries to capture each child’s personality. Prices include an edited and Photoshopped disc.

Image Singuliere
French-born Virginie Blachere is an established wedding photographer whose work has graced the pages of numerous bridal magazines. It’s only natural she’d branch out into the next stage of a couple’s life together: babies (namely, their tushes). Parents of multiples take note: She seems to have the Anne Geddes ability to get three babies to stay still long enough to snap a group derriere shot.

Audrey Lee
Lee captures the natural wonderment of children exploring their environment — a little girl at the water fountain, a boy getting ready to fish. Her work features some interesting angles and intimate close-ups. Clients who book maternity and baby shoots together receive a discount.