Winter Escapades in NYC: Giveaway! by Robin Gorman Newman

Last December, when we stayed in the city during winter school break, we had mounds of snow, ice and slush to contend with. This time, fortunately, the streets were clear, and we stayed for two nights with our good friend Alli.

We bunked at our favorite hotel, the comfy, artsy Roger Smith Hotel (details below) on 47th and Lexington, and enjoyed despite a painful knee injury I recently sustained. We had originally planned a three night stay, but cut it short due to my discomfort  (Motrin, Arnica and a knee brace helped somewhat).  I toughed it out since I didn't want to disappoint Seth, otherwise I would have cancelled.  The Roger Smith stay included a delicious, generous full American breakfast at Lily's in the hotel, and Seth adored their steak and eggs, especially after sampling it and eating off of Alli's plate.

Day 1 included: A cab ride to TJ Maxx on 57th and 8th, my favorite TJ in the Big Apple.  Just can't resist! Seth waited anxiously for our visit to TOYS R US in Times Square, where Alli bought him a Playmobil Ambulance for Hanukkah.  Following that and dinner, we went on THE RIDE (details below.)  Always a total fun experience, we highly recommend it as a cool way to experience the city when you need to rest your feet....and in my case, perfect, given my injured knee.

Day 2 - SCOTT'S PIZZA TOURS, BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP

If you love pizza but always wanted to know more about its background, check out the pizza tours offered by Scott Wiener, a highly enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide and pizza guru. We signed up for the Greenwich Village Pizza Walk.  We sampled three very different kinds of pizza, and learned about the history and evolution of pizza...including insight into everything from making mozzarella to gluten to oven temperature to crust texture to toppings, etc.  Luckily there was plenty of sitting time at restaurants and local parks where we listened to Scott tell us about his love of pizza, etc.

We started out, on a cold day, in the Village and wound up in Soho.  After, we cabbed it uptown to squeeze in a visit to the always fun and jam-packed Build-A-Bear Workshop on 46trh Street and Fifth Avenue.Visit to Build-A-Bear Workshop details below......

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the company currently operates more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores worldwide, including company owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR® space - with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world.

We had a great time. Seth made a Yellow Lab named Goldy, and fell immediately in love. There is something for everyone here. And, the cutest, cleverest accessories and clothing for the wide array of stuffed animals you can make and see come to life.

Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/buildabear to stay abreast of the most current promotions and receive exclusive offers.

NOTE: BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP IS GIVING AWAY A $10 GIFT CARD. TO ENTER, POST A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG, AND THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM AND NOTIFIED BY EMAIL.  BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND INDICATE THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP.

ROGER SMITH HOTEL
Unique for combining a sincere hospitality experience in the presence of thought-provoking art, the Roger Smith Hotel of NYC is a boutique hotel with accommodations that evoke the warmth, mood, and comfort of a guest room in a special friend's home. Artwork, potted plants, and book collections are distinct touches uncommonly seen in a New York City but found in the Roger Smith Hotel. Each of their spacious 130 rooms and suites are individually decorated in classical New England designs.The Roger Smith Hotel Accommodations and Lodging in NY.

The Roger Smith Hotel offers a wide variety of hotel room accommodations and lodging, perfect for any NY traveler. Whether you are a single person traveling on business, a couple enjoying a romantic getaway, or a vacationing family visiting New York City, you will feel comfortable and welcome.

Not only is the Roger Smith Hotel located in the center of New York City's most dynamic hotel district, but it is also only minutes from classic landmarks such as Grand Central Station, The United Nations Headquarters, and the Chrysler building, all within a five block radius. Another few blocks away but still within walking distance, you'll find the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, and  famous museums.  Follow the hotel at http://www.Facebook.com/rogersmithhotel and http://www.twitter.com/rshotel.

THE RIDE
THE RIDE, is loads of interactive fun and a unique experience....chockful of jokes, singing, doing the wave, sightseeing and more.

THE RIDE’s specially-designed custom vehicles are the tallest allowed by federal law on city streets. The bus is fitted with stadium-style seating that orients riders sideways to look through massive windows, and two on-board hosts banter comedically as they travel through the streets of midtown Manhattan, commenting on New York’s history and its iconic sites and structures, and giving insider secrets about the city – all while incorporating actors and performers along the route who interact with the vehicle and its passengers. External speakers and exterior lighting allow the on-board hosts to make everyone on the street part of the experience. Surprises show up all along the route, featuring sites from the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal to Times Square and Columbus Circle.

A full schedule for THE RIDE is available at experiencetheride.com. Tickets are on sale now, available three ways: online at experiencetheride.com; by phone at (866) 299-9682; and in person at THE RIDE Box office located at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets. Join them on Facebook to get the latest news. http://www.facebook.com/ExperienceTheRide.

NYC is truly one of the greatest cities in the world, and it's so easy to take it for granted if you live here, but there's much to enjoy if you take the time to explore and scope it out!




Note: Thanks to THE RIDE, and  BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP for providing promotional visits.

Our NYC Adventure by Robin Gorman Newman

                                                           (Rockefeller Center)

What a fabulous holiday week we had.

Originally, when I knew that Seth would be off from school for over a week, I cringed.  We didn't have any particular plans (many of his friends went away, so play dates weren't an option), and in light of the impending snow storm, getting around via car wasn't going to be easy.

So, I came up with the idea of spending two nights in NYC.  I spent days making calls and combing the web for room availability at a half way decent price.  Just when I thought things were not meant to be, I turned up a comfortable Jr. Suite at the hip and welcoming Roger Smith Hotel (a good choice.....would love to stay again one day) on 48th and Lexington, and our plans started falling into place.  That was until I came down with a bad cold, and NY got hit with one of the worst blizzards in years.  I debated what to do, but the room was non-refundable, and we were so psyched to be in Manhattan, that we went for it....and it turned out to be a great decision.

My sister, who lives in the city, met us upon arrival at the hotel, and we later hooked up with my good friend Alli who also spent the two nights with us....crashing on the queen pullout sofa bed with Seth.  Marc joined us for dinner and slept in the room, but was otherwise working.

I've stayed in the city before, though it has been some time.  Seth had not as yet stayed in the city.  And, Alli, used to live in the city years ago, but hadn't stayed recently.

It proved to be an adventure for all of us.  We covered a huge amount of territory, and thankfully had good boots that helped do the trick.  Manhattan was indeed a mess.  Mounds and mounds of snow.  Flooding on street corners covered in slush up to your ankles.  Crowds of people from all over who flocked there for both the holiday and new year. 

Despite the challenges, there was an energy that was contagious, and it felt good.

(Inside THE RIDE bus with host Jackie)

The first day, we headed over the Rockefeller Center to see the tree and ice skating.  Then took in the Nintendo and Lego stores, at Seth's request.  We had not bad fast food Indian for lunch in the area and wandered over to Bryant Park.  Had never seen their ice skating rink before (quite beautiful...and free), and the outdoor (heated) shops were still open from the holidays, and lots of fun to peruse.  Seth adored Times Square and all the touristy shops selling NYPD and FDNY merchandise...his favorite.  And, there were loads of fire trucks and police cars around in general, due to the messy and congested state of the city, and Seth got a kick out of all the commotion.  At 6PM, we took THE RIDE, and it was loads of interactive fun and a unique experience....chockful of jokes, singing, doing the wave, sightseeing and more.

THE RIDE’s specially-designed custom vehicles are the tallest allowed by federal law on city streets. The bus is fitted with stadium-style seating that orients riders sidways to look through massive windows, and two on-board hosts banter comedically as they travel through the streets of midtown Manhattan, commenting on New York’s history and its iconic sites and structures, and giving insider secrets about the city – all while incorporating actors and performers along the route who interact with the vehicle and its passengers. External speakers and exterior lighting allow the on-board hosts to make everyone on the street part of the experience. Surprises show up all along the route, featuring sites from the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal to Times Square and Columbus Circle.

A full schedule for THE RIDE is available at experiencetheride.com. Tickets are on sale now, available three ways: online at experiencetheride.com; by phone at (866) 299-9682; and in person at THE RIDE Box office located at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets. To save $5/ticket, use the code RCGD when ordering.

Our dinner spot after THE RIDE was the nearby Havana Central.  Good, well-priced Cuban food. 

(Seth outside Pee Herman on Broadway)

Day #2 - We ate at our new favorite local coffee shop/restaurant Raffles (the best grilled turkey/swiss), hit Daffy's for some quick discount shopping, popped into the campy Pop Tarts World store on 42nd Street and swung over to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre to see Pee Herman on Broadway.  Total fun!  Pee Wee is a hoot.  You either love him or find him annoying...but I get a kick out of him....as do many, clearly.  He had tons of groupies, and the audience was just as many, if not more adults, than kids.  The set was detailed and vibrant, and the show was well put together.  It was Seth's first Broadway experience, and I was excited to share it with him.  We then paraded up Fifth Avenue to check out all the illuminated holiday store windows (Sak's was a standout) , swung down 57th Street (saw the huge hanging Swarovski crystal), hit Borders and Bloomingdale's, and met Marc for Greek food. at Avra (pricey, but good, if even just for appetizers).

        (Seth creating at Scribble Press)

Day #3 - Brunch again at Raffles, then the subway up to 86th Street.  Shopped around, and had lunch at the trendy Shake Shack.  Alli said the burger was very good.  I enjoyed something called Concrete.....dense blended frozen chocolate custard packed with brownie chunks.  And, Seth liked his chocolate shake.  Shopped briefly around upscale Madison Avenue, then hit Scribble Press, the "make-your-own-book" store on the upper east side.  Scribble Press is fun for adults and kids. There are two NYC locations and one in CA.  They host workshops, parties, and you can just drop in and create a book that gets printed/bound on the spot (allow 1/2 hour for that, and be conscious of closing time).  They also sell some unique, affordable gift items, including an at-home book creating kit.  Definitely worth a visit.

Hated to see our city sojourn come to an end.  It taught me that you don't have to travel far to have fun.  You can find it, or even create it, in your own backyard, if you take the time.  Folks have asked me how I knew what to do in the city.  It's not hard to find out.  One source I like a lot is the magazine TIME OUT NY KIDS. I'm an avid subscriber, and often their ads feature discount offers, so a good monthly publication to read.

I look forward to future stays in the city with Seth, and we're considering tackling downtown during his February school break.  There are more Manhattan adventures for the taking, and I'm grateful for the quality time we get to spend when he's off from school.

Too Sweet for Our Own Good -- by Jamie

I don’t have many vices: I’ve never smoked. I rarely drink. And I certainly don’t take drugs. I also eat very healthfully, and exercise 5-6 days a week. However, I do adore candy. Not chocolate, and nothing fancy—just crappy, commercial, sugar-infused treats! Show me a package of Swedish Fish, and I’ll inhale it. Bring me a bag of jelly beans and I won’t stop at just a handful. Things like Mike and Ikes, Tootsie Pops, Chuckles, candy corn, and even Dots are all fair game. When it comes to sugar, just a little can set me off on a calorie-laden binge. So, generally, I try to avoid it.

It has always been my intention to have my daughter, Jayda, eat as healthfully as I do. From the moment she started consuming solid foods, she became a fan of Greek yogurt, all kinds of fresh fruit, and mostly healthy treats—as I offered her homemade zucchini/carrot bread in lieu of cupcakes, and Fig Newtons instead of Oreos. I didn’t even introduce her to ice cream until she was almost two: Jayda adored yogurt with smashed berries in it so much, I figured she didn’t need strawberry ice cream in her life. But my, oh my, how things have changed!

Jayda got her first taste of a candy-like treat when she received a packet of chewy fruit snacks (made with real fruit juice, as the label touted!) at a party. She adored them, and inhaled the entire bag. Soon after, she was treated to a gummi bear at a friend’s house, and noticed the similarity—it was yummy! At the time, we were embarking on potty training, so I decided to use a gummi bear as a reward every time Jayda peed on the potty. Then, my mother added her leftover M&M’s to the bag. Soon, my smart little toddler was using the potty once for a gummi bear, and then running back to the bathroom not 10 minutes later to pee again (for an M&M this time, of course). I’d created a monster.

When Halloween rolled around, it brought with it memories of my blissful childhood candy binges. Thus, as I dug into my own bag of candy corn, I decided to let Jayda create her own wonderful memories of my favorite holiday. While we went trick or treating, I let my candy-fanatic-in-training have full control of her candy until bedtime, and she grazed through her bag of treats with my blessings. But when she woke up the next day asking for Halloween again—and tantrumed when I told her Halloween was over—I knew I had a problem. As a compromise, I doled out bits of her left-over treats when she used the potty: A piece of a Kit-Kat for one bathroom visit, a mini-Snickers for another. But as I looked at my child’s chocolate-smeared face one morning, I had to admit Jayda was consuming waaaaaay too much candy.

That’s when I decided to implement a reward chart: Every time Jayda uses the potty, she earns a sticker. After she fills a row on the chart with six stickers, she can reach into a fancy bag I created and choose a treat. The bag is filled with everything from makeup to sparkly barrettes to a Tootsie Pop and a small bag of M&Ms. In no time, Jayda was earning stickers and selecting candy from the bag. Just candy…and always candy. Even the lip gloss she’d long coveted has been brushed aside every time Jayda gets her hands on “the bag.” And when Jayda has a candy craving, and realizes she doesn’t have enough stickers on her chart to warrant some, she cries…and cries.

My daughter has been fully potty trained since Thanksgiving. She even made it into the city this week on the Long Island Railroad, and spent the day with me perusing store windows, checking out the tree, and watching the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center—happily using bathrooms wherever we went. She also made it through a trip to FAO Schwartz without asking me to buy her a single thing—except when we walked by the candy section of the store. She didn’t mind leaving FAO without a new toy, but she did want a big, swirly lollypop—and she wanted it badly.

The holidays are nearly over, and with the New Year, comes resolutions. This year, I’m resolving to get rid of Jayda’s reward chart—and the candy. Of course I’ll allow Jayda to have a lollypop now and then, or even a bag of M&Ms once a week. But her dose of daily candy has got to stop. Because no matter how I try to sugar-coat it, Jayda is her mother’s daughter…and she’s becoming a candy addict, too. And now it’s this addict’s job to teach Jayda a lesson in moderation. Maybe we’ll both learn something together!