Archive for October, 2008

Did you know that the Village Halloween Parade is the country’s largest Halloween celebration? NYC sure loves its glitz and ghoulishness. If you’re headed to any of the city’s many spooky events, keep in mind these safety tips from the FDNY:

Pumpkin Pointers: Do not use open flame candles in jack-o-lanterns. Commercially available battery lights are much safer and do not pose a fire hazard. Parents should never let their children carve a pumpkin unsupervised.

Costume Drama: Costumes should be flame retardant and fit properly, rather than loose or baggy. Children should wear white, reflective clothing, or use reflective tape and carry either a flashlight or glow stick. Encourage children to wear face paint as opposed to a mask. Face paint should be non-toxic and meet FDA standards. If mask is worn, make sure that the eye, mouth and nose openings are large enough to ensure adequate breathing and full range of vision. Ensure that all props are made of material that is flexible and nonrealistic looking.

Trick-or-Treating Tips: Children should always travel in a group. Use the buddy system, and make sure you have at least one buddy with you the entire evening. When crossing the street look both ways: Do not cross in between cars, and always use the sidewalk. When you return home, examine and discard all candies that are not factory sealed or wrapped by the candy manufacturer. Never eat homemade or unwrapped treats.

Have safe and happy Halloween!

This weekend: In a word, Halloween! Don’t forget the costume.

Face Painting at Gumbo
Let the kids add sparkle to their costume with some dynamic detailing.
When: Fri. 10/31, 3:30-4:30; $5-$8.
Where: 493 Atlantic Ave. (bet. Nevins & Third), Brooklyn, 718-855-7808.

Monster Mash Halloween
Fill the halls of the newly reopened Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a party with music, live performances and fun activities.
When: Fri. 10/31, 5-8pm.
Where: 145 Brooklyn Ave. (at St. Marks Ave.), Brooklyn, brooklynkids.org.

Witches Walk
Flying Squirrel hosts the second annual Williamsburg parade past kid-friendly businesses for treats and ending at Mamalu for a Halloween Bash at 6pm. Stop by Flying Squirrel beforehand (2-4:30pm) to have a Halloween photo taken by children’s photographer Rachel Elkind.
When: Fri. 10/31, 4:30pm.
Where: 96 North St., Brooklyn, 718-218-7775, flyingsquirrelbaby.com.

Halloween at Stuy Town
The family-friendly fun includes a horse-drawn hayride, spooky games, and of course, candy.
When: Fri. 10/31, 4-6pm; Free.
Where: Stuyvesant Town Oval, 16th & 18th St. and Ave. A & B, 212-598-5296.

Discovery Programs Giant Halloween Party
This event for babies and preschoolers features juggling, sing-alongs, crafts and organic baby treats.
When: Fri. 10/31, 1-3pm; $10.
Where: 251 West 100th St. (at West End Ave.), 212-749-8717, discoveryprograms.com.

Safe Trick or Treat
The Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale invites kids to collect treats from local retailers.
When: Fri. 10/31, 3-6pm; Age 12 and under.
Where: 8000 Cooper Ave. at 80th St., Queens, theshopsatatlaspark.com.

Halloween at CMOM
Don your costume and enjoy snacks, art activities and live music from Princess Katie and Racer Steve.
When: Fri. 10/31, 5-8pm; All ages; Free.
Where: The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd St. (between Broadway & Amsterdam), 212-721-1223, cmom.org.

Halloween Party at the Rock Center Rink
This all-day costume party on ice includes a winner for best costume in each skate session.
When: Fri. 10/31, 8:30am-12am.
Where: The Rink at Rockefeller Center, 5th Ave. bet. 49th & 50th St.

You finally figured out how to wear a baby carrier — now imagine buckling and tying it over a big winter parka. And the thought of hustling around town with your jacket hanging open sends chills down your spine. Back to square one.

P-sling New York’s Mama Down Coat actually incorporates your gear to keep both Mom and baby warm. Designed to be worn with a baby carrier, the lightweight hooded down coat (with a removable faux fur hood) comes with a zippered panel to make extra space for an infant. When you’re flying solo, detach the panel and wear it as a regular coat.

It’s what you’ll need to weather the storm.

Available at 69 West Houston St., 212-253-0630, pslingnewyork.com.

Your neighborhood boutique, once reliable for last-minute gifts, has become a total snooze fest. What happened to that great corner store that made you want to buy things you totally do not need but suddenly must have?

Luckily, popular online shop Fred Flare just opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Greenpoint. The design team’s irreverent stationery, home decor and accessories are not to be missed: Think chocolate milk cups that moo, cowboy and unicorn-themed bandages, scented pencils and everything else adorable (like limited-edition sweaters from a streetwear label in Barcelona) for anyone with a sense of humor. This will be the go-to spot for stocking up on quirky, inexpensive holiday presents for your hard-to-shop for tween niece and hipster babysitter.

You’ll be glad you branched out.

131 Meserole Ave. (at Leonard St.), Brooklyn, 718-349-1257, fredflare.com.

Maybe it’s Chef Boulud’s influence on Gotham diners, but Daniel is now the city’s most popular baby name.

The just-released list of New York City’s most popular baby names of 2007 reveals the upset, with Isabella, Sophia and Daniel knocking Ashley and Michael out of first place (both now in third). The top 10 is:

Girls: Isabella/Sophia (tied), Emily, Ashley, Sarah, Kayla, Mia, Olivia, Samantha, Rachel, Madison.

Boys: Daniel, Jayden, Michael, Matthew, Justin, Joshua, David, Anthony, Christopher, Joseph.

Check out the list for other trends: Celebs like Rhianna, Keira and even little Suri have made an impact, while the rarest names out there include Miracle, Achilles and Orion.

Visit nyc.gov.

Boo! Halloween is just around the corner. Kick off the freaky festivities with some ghoulishly good fun around the city. Below are some best bets — costumes are encouraged.

Basement of Blood
Older kids may want to brave this eco-friendly haunted house: Ghoulish scenes made from everyday garbage were created by high-school students from Brooklyn’s Green School.
When: Fri.-Sun., 10/24-10/26; Fri. 4-8pm, Sat. & Sun 2-7pm; Free.
Where: Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton St. at South Portland, Brooklyn, habanaworks.org.

Spooky Celebration at Alexander Doll Company
Trick-or-treat for candy and see the store’s new Halloween doll.
When: Sat. 10/25, 9am-5pm (raffle drawings at 11am and 3pm).
Where: 615 West 131st St., 6th floor, 212-283-5900.

Spooky at Belvedere
Tour the spook-ified Belvedere Castle, then bring a warm blanket to the plaza for a screening of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
When: Sat. 10/25, 4-8pm (movie at 6:30pm); All ages; Free.
Where: Central Park, mid-park at 79th St., 212-772-0210.

Citibabes Halloween Spooktacular
Get in the spirit with face painting, pumpkin painting and a costume parade.
When: Sun. 10/26, 10am-5pm; $50 (members free).
Where: Citibabes, 447 Broadway (bet. Broome & Grand), 212-334-5540, citibabes.com.

Pumpkin Patch at Stuy Town
Pick and paint a pumpkin to be displayed in the Stuyvesant Town Oval.
When: Sun. 10/16, 11am-2pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Between 16th & 18th St. and Ave. A & B, 212-598-5296.

Halloween Hoorah
Play in the pumpkin patch, learn how chocolate treats are made and join in the parade at the New York Botanical Garden.
When: Sun. 10/26, parade at 12pm, 2pm & 4pm; Free with admission.
Where: Bronx River Pkwy at Fordham Road, Bronx, 718-817-8716, nybg.org.

Puppetry Arts Haunted Halloween Carnival
Take part in a slew of games and activities, from puppet making to shooting hoops. And don’t forget to jump around in the bounce house.
When: Sat. 10/25, 12-5pm; $1-$3 per activity.
Where: The Recreation Center of The Children’s School of Park Slope, 1st St. (bet. 4th & 3rd Ave.), Brooklyn, 718-768-3703, puppetryarts.org.

Rockstume Party
Dress as your fave rocker or create your own for Kidrockers’ live show.
When: Sun. 10/26, 1-2:30pm; Ages 3-13; $15.
Where: Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleeker (bet. Sullivan & Thompson), kidrockersusa.com.

Wine, Spirits & Candy Tasting
Kids can sample five candy favorites, while adults can learn why Twizzlers pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon.
When: Sun. 10/26, 2-5pm; Free.
Where: Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit, 5 West 19th St. at 5th Ave., 212-929-2323.

Halloween Pumpkin Sail
Bring your own pre-decorated pumpkin to sail across the Harlem Meer. Central Park’s annual event includes crafts, storytelling and live music.
When: Sun. 10/26, 4-7pm (sail at 6:30pm), All ages, Free.
Where: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th St. bet. 5th & Lenox Ave., 212-860-1370.

Clifford the Big Red Dog’s Spooktacular Halloween Party
Kids can make their own spider cupcake, design a Halloween mask and get the chills listening to a scary story time.
When: Sun. 10/26, 6-7pm; $10.
Where: The Scholastic Store, 557 Broadway (bet. Prince & Spring), scholastic.com.

This weekend: Got Halloween on the brain? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s roundup of events.

Go
National Chemistry Week
Join scientists from the American Chemical Society for fun hands-on demos. Learn how Gatorade is made, play with balls of goo and meet the Mets mascot.
When: Sat. 10/25, 10am-4pm; Free with museum admission.
Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 11th St., Queens, 718-699-0005, nyscience.org.

Visit
Rachel’s Homemade World
Kids can learn how to be more creative and socially conscious through this interactive show filled with crafts and audience sing-alongs.
When: Sat. 10/25, 3pm; $10/Adults, $7/Kids.
Where: Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main St. (at Water St.), Brooklyn, galapagosartspace.com.

See
The Selfish Giant
Literally Alive Children’s Theatre presents Oscar Wilde’s fairytale with music, dance, storytelling and puppetry.
When: Sat. & Sun., 10/25-10/26, 11am (pre-show workshop at 10am); All ages; $25.
Where: The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St. (bet. 3rd & Bleeker), 212-352-3101, literallyalive.com.

Hear
The Jimmies
Enjoy a morning of sugary pop songs from this NYC kids’ band at the new 92nd Y Tribeca.
When: Sun. 10/26, 11am; $15.
Where: 200 Hudson St. at Canal, 212-601-1000, 92ytribeca.org.

Eat
Cupcakes for a Cause
Indulge in guilt-free sweets from local bakeries, including Amy’s Bread and Crumbs, to raise funds for CancerCare for Kids.
When: Through Sun. 10/26.
Where: Participating bakeries available at cupcakesforacause.org.

Shop
Children’s French Book Fair
Choose handpicked books for kids of all ages.
When: Sat. 10/25, 10am-5pm
Where: The Language and Laughter Studio, 139 Nevins St. at Bergen, Brooklyn, 718-853-2965.

Now that there’s a Loehmann’s and Magnolia in the ‘hood, you don’t plan on ever leaving the UWS.

Even better news: Shake Shack, Danny Meyer’s Madison Square Park burger stand with infamously long lines, has expanded uptown. The glass-enclosed sidewalk cafe opened earlier this week across from AMNH with all the original favorites, from frozen custard to hot dogs. Plus, a downstairs “Rec Room” seats about 40 peeps for a private party (imagine a burger-themed birthday). Hours are not yet set in stone, but it’ll soon get going seven days a week from 11am to 11pm.

Get there before the downtown crowd migrates.

366 Columbus Ave. at 77th St., shakeshack.com.

The word “privacy” is used loosely in NYC. Accustomed to zero personal space, you don’t mind breastfeeding in public — you just wish there was more than 3 inches between your hungry infant and the table of four to your left (as do they).

For optimal discretion, the Lila Bean nursing cover protects you from flashing a stranger and cocoons a baby from the hoi polloi, but allows you to maintain eye contact. Fabrics named after your favorite nabes (Clinton Hill floral, Soho swirls) are designed — by a Brooklyn mom, nonetheless — to fold into a carrying pouch, and double as a cover for a front carrier, car seat or stroller.

Do not disturb.

Available at lilabean.net.

Your favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations, hardy har har. But you’ve made a firm decision: Less Kittichai, more kitchen table. If only you knew how to whip up something…edible. Organic and delicious would be ideal.

Rosaberry will show you how to prepare yummy, nutritious meals in your own home. Whether it’s developing a repertoire of weeknight dinners or preparing homemade baby and toddler food, founder Jenna Helwig will work with your family’s needs and preferences. The culinary school grad and mother of a toddler uses fresh, local ingredients to teach the basics of organic apple-apricot puree and the tricks to getting kids to try, say, tofu.

Plus, Roseberry does all the shopping and cleanup while you eat and enjoy — which makes staying home so much less of a chore.

Visit rosaberry.com.