Shopping

We’ve all heard the ubiquitous proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, the same can be said of having a baby, especially in NYC where there is a service to help with nearly every aspect of pregnancy and new parenthood (including a meal delivery service for breastfeeding women). Maternity wear designer Rosie Pope is that village.

The British designer already gives us clothes that are so chic and streamlined, you’ll want to have them taken in to wear post-pregnancy. Now this bubbly overachiever you can’t help but like - Pope was accepted into Edinburgh Medical School, trained as a dancer at Alvin Ailey, modeled extensively and studied neuroscience at Columbia - is extending her brand and opening the doors to MomPrep. MomPrep, housed in a studio two blocks from Pope’s UES boutique, is the ultimate pregnancy/new mom center. MP offers both private and group classes, including A-Z of Childbirth (a comprehensive labor and delivery primer), Parenting 101 (baby care basics), Baby & Infant CPR, Pre-natal Yoga, Pre-natal Pilates plus a lactation class with the cheeky name Got Jublies? The Sweet Dreams sleep seminar and Baby & Me Yoga Play Date with Rosie and her little guy are also on offer. (The medical-related courses are all taught by l&d nurses.)

Pope says her goal is to have a “lifestyle brand for your entire pregnancy … one-stop shopping for your 40 weeks of pregnancy” so you won’t have to run all over town. She recalls being pregnant and taking a Lamaze class “in the psych ward of a hospital. I had to keep going to the bathroom, and then they would have to keep buzzing me back in” to the classroom because of the tight security.

The best thing about MomPrep? No ERB required.

MomPrep classes begin next week. Visit rosiepopematernity.com and scroll down for a full list of offerings.

*MomPrep, 1316 Mad. Ave. Call 212-608-2036 (Rosie Pope Maternity) for pricing and scheduling.

*Rosie Pope Maternity, 1265 Mad. Ave. (bet. 90th and 91st Sts.)

Living in the present is fine once June rolls around and you’ve got shortened, summer Friday workdays, weekends at the beach and plenty of park time. But at the height of cabin fever season, in NY’s overheated buildings, you could use a mental pick-me-up. So focus on the positive. Look what’s coming to a neighborhood near you later this year:

Scribble Press
For when Junior is over Build-A-Bear and ready for a loftier pursuit. She can become a published author by creating a book at Scribble Press. Kids can make board books, softcover books, notepads and day planners. A fitting activity for the nation’s publishing capital. scribblepress.com.

Shake Shack
Shack attack. Madison Square Park’s institution is getting some siblings, in addition to the one on the UWS. ShackBurgers, cheddar fries and the Shack’s frozen custard shakes will soon be available on the UES on 86th Street, on Prince Street in Nolita, the Theater District … and Kuwait City, Kuwait. Okay, that last one isn’t exactly accessible by subway, but we thought it was worth mentioning. shakeshack.com.

Silly Souls
Speaking our minds is what we’re all about in NY. Our kids are no different. And now the company known for emblazoning irreverent, humorous phrases - “Bald and the Beautiful,” “Organic Pest In-side,” “No Hair Day” - on onesies and other garb for the gaga set is opening its first stand-alone store. Silly Souls will sell bibs, booties, bodysuits (aka onesies) big sister and big brother presents, socks and much more at its new store coming this March to Limelight Marketplace in the Flatiron District. Got sass? sillysouls.com.

Launch dates TBD. Stay tuned. Our promise: They’ll open well before the Second Avenue subway does.

Some monkey business (sans Tiger), some pirate action (unfortunately, sans Johnny Depp), some shopping and some giving. This weekend in NYC …

Give
K.I.D.S. and the Haiti Relief Effort
Earlier this week, we gave you a list of organizations and companies, both national and local, many with connections to the baby/kid/maternity world, trying to raise money for victims of the Haiti quake. Here’s another: KIDS. The acronym stands for Kids in Distressed Situations and is a New York-based charity that’s been in Haiti since 1995. KIDS has collected 20 containers of NEW products (worth a total of $2 million) - apparel, shoes, baby supplies, water and underwear - from corporate giants, including Jockey, Toys “R” Us, Gerber Childrenswear and UGG Australia. Some of the donations are already en route to Haiti. (KIDS has been cleared to ship through the port Cap-Haitien on Haiti’s north coast plus deliver two containers a day through the Port-au-Prince airport.) KIDS is looking for monetary contributions to cover the cost of shipping plus additional corporate donations. For every $10 donation, the charity can send $100 worth of products. Visit kidsdonations.org/haiti. Individuals can also donate NEW items via KIDS. Note: Socks and underwear are in high demand.

See
Uncle Pirate
The name Wilson conjures up images of the beat-up volleyball Tom Hanks’ character “befriended” in Castaway. But in the Vital Theatre Company’s show Uncle Pirate, Wilson is just a regular fourth-grade boy who one day discovers his uncle is a real pirate. And so the adventures - and Wilson’s quest to survive the school year - begin with all the requisite pirate paraphernalia: hats with skull & crossbones images, eye patches, swords, etc.
When: Saturdays and Sundays through 2/28, at 11am and 1pm. Tickets available at 212-579-0528 and online at vitaltheatre.org.$25 per ticket.
Where: Vital Theatre Co., 2162 B’way, at 76th St.

Hear
FunkeyMonkeys Concert
The FunkeyMonkeys, helmed by Dora the Explorer composer Josh Sitron, are back. Check out their show entitled “The FunkeyMonkeys’ Sing, Dance & Underpants Variety Show on the UWS, which is running for eight consecutive Sundays. Each week is a slightly different performance, with a rotating cast of opera singers, musicians and dancers.
When: Eight consecutive Sundays, starting this weekend on 1/24 and running through 3/14. Shows are at 2:30pm and 4:30pm. Tickets, $15 each, available at funkeymonkeys.com.
Where: The Triad Theater, 158 W. 72nd St. (near B’way).

Watch
Sammie & Tudie
These mainstays on the NYC birthday party circuit are performing this Saturday at Theater Ten Ten. Sammie and Tudie are clowns (not scary) who perform comedy bits, tell stories, do magic and create museum-worthy balloon sculptures.
When: Sat. 1/23 at 11am (also 2/20, 2/27 & 3/6). Tickets available at 212-288-3246, x300; $20 per ticket. (Ages 3 and up. Children under two will not be admitted.)
Where: Theater Ten Ten, 1010 Park Ave., bet. 84th and 85th Sts. (at Park Avenue Christian Church).

Shop
Bump Brooklyn
Get up to 50% off fall/winter merchandise at this hip maternity store located in the heart of Brooklyn’s “baby district.” The store will donate 10% of this weekend’s sales to Save the Children and the Haiti relief effort.
When: Starting 1/22. Weekend hrs.: Fri. & Sat., 11am-7pm and Sun., noon-6pm. bumpbrooklyn.com.
Where: Bump Brooklyn, 464 Bergen St. (between 5th and Flatbush Aves.) 718-638-1960.

Belly Dance Maternity
Clothes originally priced $50-$350 are now going for $10-$50, even designer denim. Brands include Olian Maternity, Paige Maternity Jeans, NOM, Japanese Weekend, Liz Lange Michael Stars Maternity and more.
****CASH ONLY****
When: Sat. 1/23, 9am-3pm
Where: Belly Dance Maternity, 548 Hudson St. (between Charles and Perry Sts.), 212-645-3640, bellydancematernity.com.

Many of the city’s vacant storefronts are getting a second “lease” on retail life. A plethora of pop-up boutiques have been springing up all over the city. Despondent landlords are only too happy to have these seasonal clients. And for us, the more shopping options, the merrier.

Below is a list of pop-ups for you and Junior:

25 Park - This luxury e-tailer goes brick-and-mortar on the UES, in an area that may as well be dubbed “pop-up alley.” (Within a block of 25 Park, you’ve got Alice + Olivia, including their adorable kids’ line, taking up residence at Scoop. Across the street, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) store has taken over a portion of Kate’s Paperie.) 25 Park carries a well-edited mix of eclectic designers and household names, including Antik Batik, Devi Kroell, Elizabeth and James, Gryphon plus many more. For kids, the theme is boho chic. The store offers Leaves of Grass, Delfina Kids, Lemlem and lots and lots of Calypso. And then you have statement pieces for your mini-me in the form of fabulous, fluffy fur vests.
1301 Third Ave. (at 74th St.). Open thru 1/5, M-Sun., 11am-6pm.

Jade’s Toy Box & ZABA Boutique - Head down to Tribeca to check out eco-friendly, educational toys sans any commercial characters emblazoned on them. Jade’s Toy Box offers “Concept Boxes” which group toys by a theme and have adorable names such as Moody Foodie, Daily Grind and The New Yorker. ZABA’s motto is “Simplicity is Best” and that sensibility is reflected in the high-end clothing lines, toys, gear and accessories they carry.
25 N. Moore St. (at Varick), 917-349-5107. M-Sat., 10am-7pm and Sun., 11am-5pm plus Christmas Eve Day from 10am-2pm.

Lionel Electric Trains - This iconic company has a temporary home in 30 Rock. It’s the first-ever retail location for the 109-year-old Lionel. This store offers accessories and collectibles in addition to its toy trains. Top-sellers, such as The Polar Express G-Gauge, The Pennsylvania Flyer Freight Train and the new Beatles Box Cars, are all available here.
30 Rockefeller Center, 50th St. (bet. 5th and 6th Aves.) Open thru 1/5, M-F, 10am-9pm and Sat. & Sun., 11am-7pm.

(RED) - This is the one instance where retailers want to see red. The flagship Gap store in midtown is housing a (RED) boutique that stocks not just its own brand but gifts from (RED) corporate partners - Apple, Converse, Girl Skateboard, Hallmark, Emporio Armani, etc. For women and baby girls, there’s a Stella McCartney t-shirt. (RED) is also selling special Bugaboo strollers and a diaper bag. Every (RED) purchase contributes to the fight against AIDS in Africa.
Gap, 680 Fifth Ave. (at 54th), 212-977-7023. Thru 1/3.

Black Friday is just a bad scene. Cyber Monday and Internet shopping are a much more civilized way to go if you know what you’re looking for. But if you’re clueless about what to get your darling MIL or your DD’s preschool teacher, you could spend hours wondering aimlessly around the Web. Although you wouldn’t call yourself “high maintenance,” a little assistance in your pursuit of presents would be nice.

Enter Love, Laura Gifts. Run by two NYC moms who have been best friends since they were nine, this company knows a thing or two about service. They can do the thinking and the tedious legwork for you. Present goddesses Laura Theodoros and Jodi Zgodny seem to have an endless supply of cool, not-seen-everywhere tchotchkes, stationery products and accessories. They can put a monogram on just about anything, including clogs (must-have!), cosmetic bags, canvas totes, playing cards, magnets, even wrapping paper. They carry peace sign headbands; “hair button” elastics adorned with chic animal prints and other materials of the moment; a mom’s life organizer (”All-in-One Folio”) that could put your BlackBerry to shame; baby products galore; and an unrivaled stash of quality party favors.

You can schedule an appointment to meet Zgodny or Theodoros at one of their two UES offices or check out their site, although they stock and have access to far more than what is shown online. Take advantage of their concierge services. Let them know which people you need to buy presents for (and what occasion - holiday, baby, etc.) what your price range is, and then they’ll work their magic. Which is exactly what they did for one U.S. solider who was stationed in Iraq (a self-proclaimed “typical bachelor” who knew nothing about selecting gifts) and used their services regularly.

So don’t feel guilty. Love, Laura Gifts isn’t just for ladies who lunch.

Visit lovelauragifts.com.

Two weeks until Black Friday and the start of the holiday shopping season. And this year, despite all of the empty storefronts throughout the city, we’ve got a number of new children’s boutiques helping to prop up the local real estate market. Here are some of our faves to keep in mind after turkey day:

Lemonade
Former preschool teacher Maggie Eigen brings us a store that will quench your thirst for kids’ duds that are stylish without being too trendy. Chase ‘N’ Sky Hawaii, L.A. Made, Hiho Batik, Kule and Oeuf are some of the lines this cozy, little Lexington Avenue store carries. Lemonade’s well-edited collection is perfect for everything from playdates to preschool interviews. Eigen also stocks a nice selection of accessories for newborns on up (note to self: check out the burp cloths). For the zip code, Lemonade’s prices are pretty sweet.
Lemonade, 1038 Lex. Ave. (at 74th St.) 212-585-4371

Crewcuts
With clothes featuring a modern, preppy aesthetic, J. Crew Junior should feel right at home on the UES. The 2200-square foot Madison Avenue store has all the understated, polished staples we’ve come to expect from Crewcuts plus a whole lot more. The Dressed-Up corner is a treasure trove of formal party dresses for those getting ready to hit the holiday party circuit.
Crewcuts on Madison, 1200 Madison Ave. (at 87th St.) 212-348-9803, jcrew.com.

Baby CZ
Carolina Zapf recently launched her first brick-and-mortar store to showcase her classic lines for babies and kids, including the luxury two-ply cashmere pieces for which she is known. Now you, too, can get in on the act; Zapf has just started a line of cashmere sweaters for women.
Baby CZ, 820 Madison Ave. (bet. 68th & 69th) 212-288-8030, babycz.com.

Bundle
A Soho boutique where the clothes won’t cost you a bundle. Boutique owner and former Wall Streeter Allison McCullough stocks chic brands, including Acoustic, Neige and Velvet & Tweed, that don’t give off that been-there-done-that vibe. Be sure to ask about Bundle’s concierge service.
Bundle, 128 Thompson (bet. Prince & Houston), 212-982-9465, bundlenyc.com.

Lipstick (as well as the Lipstick Index “economic indicator”) is getting some tough competition this recession. Apparently our retail therapy these days is all about expensive perfumes and shoes, a hell of a lot of shoes according to a recent New York Times article. Since we’re widening the playing field when it comes to pick-me-up purchases, we may as well look at other options.

Enter Pip-squeak Chapeau Etc. The Brooklyn-based apparel collection - think chunky knit hats, scarves and baby booties - now has its first stand-alone store. Not only can you snatch up these pieces at Barney’s and ABC Carpet and Home but also on Franklin Street in Greenpoint. For Pip-squeak Chapeau designer Sveta Dresher, folk chic is not an oxymoron. Dresher hails from Moscow (and was trained as a geologist and veterinary nurse!). She’s got a knack for achieving an ethnically-infused, effortless aesthetic in her line. Her warm weather headgear for both kids and women is some of the most stylish around. (You won’t even mind getting hat head.) Dresher’s collection, crafted from 100% natural materials, including cotton, alpaca and bamboo, also features wrap tops, loose-fitting tunics and a must-have tie skirt.

In addition to clothing, the Brooklyn store offers home textiles plus jewelry, ceramics (check out the waffles set) and paintings from local designers. Everything is handmade in Brooklyn by local artisans.

Support the local economy.

Pip-squeak Chapeau Etc., 99 Franklin St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 718-302-2302, pip-squeakchapeau.com.

Rock out with They Might Be Giants and a giant whale. Shop for a cause. Check out the latest and greatest in all things baby. Get your dill on. And visit the mother of all street fairs in Brooklyn.

Shop
Moms Shop
Think pink. Shop pink. Divalysscious Moms, along with Cookie Magazine and the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, launch the 10th Annual Madison Avenue Pink Ribbon Project with Moms Shop in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Children’s stores on Madison, including Cozy Cuts for Kids, Baby CZ and Petit Bateau, will open early and have entertainment for your brood so you can get some power shopping done. Sammie and Tudie, the Funky Divas and Broadway Babies are just a few of the acts lined up. Each participating retailer along the avenue will choose a “pink item” from its collection. Ten percent of the proceeds from the pink item sales will be donated to breast cancer organizations.
When: Sat., 10/3, 9am-12pm; free kids’ activities.
Where: Madison Ave. from 57th St. to 87th St., momsshop.com.

Shop (Again)
The Baby Show NYC
Check out the latest in baby products and services at this show which celebrates pregnancy and new motherhood. Visit the show’s nursery design showroom and the stroller test-drive track. Seminars at the show will cover subjects including cord blood banks, doulas, pelvic health and greening for baby.
When: Sat., 10/3 from 11am-7pm and Sun. 10/4 from 10a-6pm. Register online at thebabshownyc.com, $20 for a one-day ticket, $30 for a two-day ticket. $30 for a one-day ticket and $40 for a two-day ticket at the door.
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St. (bet. 6th and 7th Aves.).

Hear
They Might Be Giants
at The American Museum of Natural History
TMBG at the AMNH. Grammy-winning rockers John Flansburgh and John Linnell perform songs from their latest album, Here Comes Science, as part of the museum’s “Sunday under the Whale” series. What better way to learn about the elements in the periodic table, our solar system and photosynthesis.
When: Sun.10/4, 11am and 2pm. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Lines will begin forming in the Hall of Biodiversity starting at 10:15 for the morning show and at 1:30 for the afternoon performance. Free with the price of museum admission.
Where: Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., 212-769-5100, amnh.org.

Taste
Ninth Annual NYC Pickle Day
Set in the heart of the old Pickle District of the Lower East Side, this festival pays tribute to a quintessential old NY food. Sample pickles from around the world and around the corner. Kids can partake in pickle arts and crafts, face painting and more. Exhibits and illustrations detail the science of pickling.
When: Sun., 10/4, 11am-4:30pm; free.
Where: Parking lot on Broome St. bet. Essex and Ludlow, nyfoodmuseum.org.

Do
35th Annual Atlantic Antic Street Festival
When it comes to music and food choices, you’ll have a lot on Atlantic Avenue this Sunday. Ten live musical stages will feature everything from rock and R&B to kids’ music and belly-dancing. Treats from around the globe, including baklava and funnel cake, plus all of your favorite street fair fare will be on offer. Face painting, pony and inflatable rides are also part of the day’s festivities running through the heart of brownstone Brooklyn.
When: Sun., 10/4, 10am-6pm; free.
Where: Atlantic Ave. from Hicks St. in Brooklyn Heights to Fourth Ave. in Boerum Hill, atlanticave.org.

It may be the unofficial end of summer, but lemonade season has gotten an extension in NYC thanks to a new children’s boutique.

Lemonade has just filled one of the numerous vacant storefronts and opened on the UES. The store’s well-edited selection is sure to quench your thirst for stylish but streamlined clothes (that are likely to get some mileage beyond this season) for your DCs. With easy cotton leggings, skirts and two-toned dresses plus floral blouses and knitwear, Lemonade has items suitable for everything from playdates to preschool interviews. Speaking of which, Lemonade owner and mom Maggie Eigen is a former former nursery school teacher. She describes her stock as “not too conservative and not too glitzy” and carries brands including Chase ‘n’ Sky Hawaii, L.A. Made, Hiho Batik and Oeuf. For boys, there’s also Appaman - the “street cred” line inspired by pop culture and named after the designer’s childhood toy ape. And if that sounds too wild for Junior, Lemonade also offers tamer Kule polo shirts and cords. Overall standout items: Kule’s off-white and pink tweed shorts for girls, Oeuf’s dark gray knit dress with black heart pockets, Oeuf’s Bat Boy hat, days of the week barrettes and the burp cloths listing the day’s meals.

Unlike some of the other shops in the nabe, most of Lemonade’s apparel (ages 0-8) and accessories are priced at recession-friendly levels. So even if this economy has given you lemons, you can still make lemonade.

Lemonade, 1038 Lex. Ave. (at 74th St.),212-585-4371.

Got a hankering for this summer favorite? Check out a delicious lemonade recipe at our sister site chow.com.

Countdown to Labor Day …

Hear
The Metropolitan Opera’s Summer HD Festival
The Met’s Summer HD FestivalStarting this Saturday for 10 consecutive nights, The Metropolitcan Opera will present award-winning productions from its popular “The Met: Live in HD” series. Each opera will be shown on a giant screen in front of the opera house at Lincoln Center. Watch the stars under the stars; the productions feature opera greats, including Renee Fleming and Juan Diego Florez. Donizetti’s comic opera La Fille du Regiment will be shown on Saturday, Romeo and Juliette on Sunday.
When: Sat. 8/29 - Mon. 9/7. Nightly performances begin between 7:30 and 8pm; free tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis (3,000 seats available). Visit metoperafamily.org for exact times and schedule.
Where: In front of the Metropolitan Opera house at Lincoln Ctr.

Go
Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day
There are few events more New York than the NYC Marathon, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the U.S. Open. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day kicks off the Open with a day of interactive games, tennis clinics and musical entertainment.
Unfortunately, the big afternoon concert with Jordin Sparks is already sold out.
When: Sat. 8/29, 9:30am-1pm; free.
Where: USTA Billie Jean King Nat’l Tennis Center, Flushing Queens, usopen.org.

Do
NYC Adventures
The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and Backpacker magazine turn Central Park into an urban adventure playground. Trampoline performances, kayaking, yoga clinics, rock-climbing walls, a bike helmet giveaway and obstacle courses are all on tap.
When: Sat. 8/29, noon-4pm; free.
Where: Central Park Bandshell. Enter 72nd St from either side of Park, nycgovparks.org.

Dance
Let’s Dance Brooklyn!
This Fort Greene dance studio is hosting an open house on Sunday. It’s an opportunity to meet LDB instructors and for kids to trial a free dance class.
When: Sun. 8/30, Open House, 11am-2pm; Toddler & Parent Dance (ages 15 mos.-3yrs), 11:30am and 12:15pm; Creative Ballet (ages 3.5-5yrs.), 1pm; free.
Where: Let’s Dance Brooklyn, 138 S. Oxford St., Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Shop
Still Hip’s Bag Sale
The funky Clinton Hill resale boutique is getting ready to “purge” its summer and overstocked gear fall and winter inventory. Buy a bag for $15 or $18 and then go search sale bins and tables for kids’ clothing, maternity wear, toys and gear. Still Hip carries brands such as Zutano, Oilily, Hanna Andersson and Cadeau.
When: Sun. 8/30, noon-3pm (or until supplies last!
Where: Still Hip, 238 Grand Ave. (near Clifton), Brooklyn, 718-398-0008, stillhipbrooklyn.com.