Family Archives - Page 19 of 53

Landmarc (at the Time Warner Center)

October 9, 2012 / Cheese, Manhattan Munchies, Midtown West / 2 Comments

Landmarc at Time Warner Center - kid-friendly restaurants, New York — Cheese!

For Alec’s first Father’s Day, we wanted to try a restaurant near Central Park. Landmarc at the Time Warner Center is right on the edge of Central Park, at Columbus Circle, so it’s the perfect location if you want to dine and then stroll or play.

Landmarc features standard breakfast and brunch food, like omelettes, pancakes and egg dishes. I found them to be a bit over priced (a basic omelette starts at $18), you do get to eat lunch with a killer view of the park and Columbus Circle.

A real family restaurant, there are always lots of kids dining at Landmarc – which will be obvious as soon as you arrive and see all of the strollers parked outside. Be sure to reserve your table in advance via Open Table.

Last bite: Solid food, great view, and you’re right on Central Park!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes. Stroller parking outside the front of the restaurant (inside the Time Warner Center), or you can bring in small foldable strollers with you.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Landmarc
10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 823 6123

Hours:
Open 7 days a week from 7am-2am

Cafe Blossom: Kid-friendly Restaurants, West Village, New York

October 9, 2012 / Cheese, Manhattan Munchies, West Village / 0 comment

Cafe Blossom West Village — Beetroot and cashew nut cheese.

Delicious organic, vegan food – that even the fussiest carnivore will enjoy. Welcome to Cafe Blossom.

Alec took me to Cafe Blossom for my first Mother’s Day. It was the perfect location for a special outing – unique (and cruelty-free!) dishes, made with flair and obvious love.

I was pleasantly surprised at how baby-friendly Cafe Blossom was. They couldn’t have been more accommodating, or friendly towards us and Cheese.

Cheese loved the (healthy!) fries, while I was enamoured with every dish on the menu. Usually I only get a choice of one or two vegetarian items, so to have an entire menu of dishes that I can eat is such happiness.

Cafe Blossom take reservations – which I would strongly recommend, especially on weekends.

Last bite: If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just love delicious food, check out Cafe Blossom. Be sure to try our favourite dishes, the BLT and fruit crumble.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a small, fold up stroller or carrier.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Cafe Blossom
41 Carmine St, New York 10014
(Btwn Bedford & Bleecker St)
Phone: (646) 438 9939

Hours:
Lunch
Daily: 12pm-3:30pm
Dinner
Daily: 5pm-11pm

Balthazar: Kid-friendly Restaurants, SoHo, New York

October 8, 2012 / Cheese, Manhattan Munchies, SoHo / 4 Comments

Not only is the food at this famous establishment delicious, the staff is also more than accommodating towards babies. While we were initially trepidatious about bringing the babies to Balthazar, the staff checked our strollers and sat us down quickly.

The ever-helpful staff brought us bread for the babes to chew on, baked freshly in the Balthazar Bakery, gave kids spoons to play with (which then then spent a considerable amount of time picking up again off the floor …), and a little crayon kit to draw with.

Brunch at Balthazar means fresh bread and pastries, best ordered in the bread basked and shared with a group, and one of their delicious egg dishes.

I always order the same thing – the scrambled eggs in puff pastry with asparagus (it actually comes with mushrooms as well, but I request it without the shrooms as I’m a bad vegetarian and hate mushrooms. It’s one of Balthazar’s signature brunch dishes for a good reason – perfectly cooked eggs and asparagus in flaky puff pastry. Yum!

The only downside we experienced was that the tables are tightly packed, making it hard to squeeze in with a highchair. Get to know your neighbours well! Reservations (a few weeks in advance if possible) are recommended to avoid waiting, particularly on weekends.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes (no stairs).
Change tables: No (they do have ample bench space in the restrooms however and are more than happy for babies to changed there).
Kids’ menu: No.

Balthazar
80 Spring Street
(b’ween Broadway and Crosby)
New York, NY
Reservations: +1 (212) 965 1414

Hours:
Breakfast
Mon-Fri 7:30am-11:30am, Sat-Sun 8am-9am
(continental only)

Brunch
Sat-Sun: 9am-4pm

Lunch
Mon-Fri 12pm-5pm

Dinner & after hours
Mon-Thu 6pm-12am, Fri-Sat 6pm-1am, Sun 5:30pm-12am

Eloise’s 1st Birthday Party in NYC

September 2, 2012 / Cheese, Family, Kids, New York Life / 0 comment

For our little girl’s first birthday, we threw a party at Jane’s Carousel, Dumbo. We were blessed with a gorgeous day, with everything coming together beautifully for our little baby’s big day.

Welcome to the party! All stationary via Bekkah Little, Etsy.

Sugar cookies in the shape of ballet slippers from SugarFairies, Etsy. Photos of Eloise taken each month and assembled in a row.

Strawberry lemonade cupcakes from Betty Bakery, Brooklyn. Ballerina toppers from Annie’s General Store. Tutu cake toppers from JeanKnee, Etsy.

Vanilla cake with dulce de leche filling and pink vanilla buttercream, from One Girl Cookies, Brooklyn. Ballet slippers and sign from Crumby Art, Etsy.

Tutu!

Eloise’s headband by Devon Evenson, Etsy.

With birthday buddy, Clementine.

Lunch was bagels from Mocha Bagels, Brooklyn.

Carousel ride!

Cutting the cake.

Cupcake face plant.

With Daddy.

Happy birthday to our dearest love. We love you more and more every day, little Cheese.

Photography by Raquel Frechette.

Eloise’s 1st Birthday Party

September 2, 2012 / Cheese, Family, Kids, New York Life, USA / 0 comment

For our little girl’s first birthday, we threw a party at Jane’s Carousel, Dumbo. We were blessed with a gorgeous day, with everything coming together beautifully for our little baby’s big day.

Welcome to the party! All stationary via Bekkah Little, Etsy.

Sugar cookies in the shape of ballet slippers from SugarFairies, Etsy. Photos of Eloise taken each month and assembled in a row.

Strawberry lemonade cupcakes from Betty Bakery, Brooklyn. Ballerina toppers from Annie’s General Store. Tutu cake toppers from JeanKnee, Etsy.

Vanilla cake with dulce de leche filling and pink vanilla buttercream, from One Girl Cookies, Brooklyn. Ballet slippers and sign from Crumby Art, Etsy.

Tutu!

Eloise’s headband by Devon Evenson, Etsy.

With birthday buddy, Clementine.

Lunch was bagels from Mocha Bagels, Brooklyn.

Carousel ride!

Cutting the cake.

Cupcake face plant.

With Daddy.

Happy birthday to our dearest love. We love you more and more every day, little Cheese.

Photography by Raquel Frechette.

My 33rd Birthday in NYC

August 26, 2012 / Family, New York Life / 1 Comment

Birthday number 33! I can’t believe it. Alec was so great and made a huge effort to give me a wonderful birthday. Unfortunately, both he and Eloise were suffering with a stomach virus, so it ended up being a low key day.

We started with my fave sandwiches and ice tea from Via Quadronne, followed by a stroll through Central Park. We dropped into the Plaza Hotel, and then went shopping at Tiffany & Co.

Hi Eloise! The Plaza Hotel.

Tiffany!

Rockefeller Plaza.

A week later Alec and I were able to go out for dinner, to A Voce in Columbus Circle. It was delicious! I had an amazing pasta dish, cocktail and wine, and a delish dessert. Add into that wonderful company, and it was a really great night out.

My dear friend Alexis was super lovely and took me to lunch at Gramercy Park Hotel for a birthday lunch too. The babies caused havoc, but we had a wonderful lunch just the same.

Eloise’s 1st Birthday

August 20, 2012 / Cheese, Family, Kids, New York Life, USA / 0 comment

A huge occasion – our little Cheese’s first birthday! I’m finding it hard to come to terms with my little baby turning into a toddler.

To celebrate the day, we had lunch at Artisanal, followed by present opening and a cake smash.

Eloise – Month 11 – 12

August 19, 2012 / Cheese, Kids / 0 comment

My little baby is now 1, and no longer a baby. I can’t call her a toddler yet, I still think of her as my little, tiny baby.

What a big month we’ve had, finishing with her first birthday. She was sick for a few weeks, with her first stomach flu as well as a nasty cold.

We had a lot of fun though, and ate at delicious places like Public, Balthazar, Gramercy Park Hotel, Brooklyn Farmacy, Artisanal, One Girl Cookie.

We also went swimming at the YMCA where Eloise loved being in the water after some initial hesitation.

Our dear friend Lisa Maher visited us this month from Sydney. Together we went to Governor’s Island to see the jazz festival and Central Park.

Developmental

First steps! Eloise started to let go and take solo steps – 3 or 4 at a time. She is more confident cruising around the furniture, using the the walker or holding onto our hands. She charges across the floor while holding onto our hands in particular.
New sounds: Eloise is making new noises (like nanana) and high pitched shrieking.
Following directions: Eloise is getting really great at understanding what we’re saying. She does things like comes when we call her, stops when we say no.
She also shakes her head emphatically for no, nods for yes, points at things she wants very clearly, even the door when she wants to go out. She loves looking at pictures and points to people, so we tell her who everyone is in the photos.
So curious. She loves looking at everything, pointing at things that she wants to know more about.
Waving at everyone. She’s so friendly and social.
Clapping when she’s happy.
Babbling happily in gibberish.
Giving us hugs! So great.
Bouncing up and down to music.

Food

The girl loves to eat! She loves things like goats cheese, milkshakes, fruit, goldfish crackers, grilled cheese sandwiches. I have cut out the midday breastfeed, replacing it with more food and cows milk.
She really loves anything we’re eating and drinking, and loves to drink out of my giant Camelbak.
Wants to feed herself. Doesn’t like being spoon fed very often anymore.

Sleep
We had some sleep regression while Eloise was teething or sick, but generally she has settled into a routine where she sleeps from 6:30 or 7pm till around 5:45 – 6:45am.

Lessons from Eloise

July 20, 2012 / Cheese, Kids / 0 comment

My baby girl is 11 months old tomorrow. I’m spinning out at how fast the time has gone. Are we really almost at her first birthday? I really can’t believe it.

Every day, Eloise is turning more and more into a kid and leaving the last remnants of her babyhood in her wake. She is a high speed, full throttle baby. Constantly watching, reaching, trying to work out what’s going on around her.

When people tell you your life will change when you have a baby, it’s a gross understatement. It’s more like my life was reborn. Not only in obvious ways (sleep deprivation! a new constant companion! body changes that are way too personal for a blog!) but in fundamental ways that I could never have imagined.

1. I’m more patient than I was before – by a long shot. Having always been someone who wants everything to happen right away, Eloise has definitely helped me to slow down and accept that somethings take longer than I’d like to happen – and even to appreciate this.

2. Unconditional love. I thought I had known it before, but the way I feel about Eloise has been with a depth of love I didn’t think possible. Just thinking about things potentially happening to her sends my heart racing. The idea of her growing up and leaving me makes my eyes tear up.

3. Tolerance of others. I’m also a very intolerant person when it comes to other people, but thanks to Eloise that has also improved a lot. It’s much easier to understand now how hard everyone’s life may be, and I really try to be as kind as possible to everyone, even rude people on the subway. Everyone has their own daily struggles and I’m trying to give nasty-ass people the benefit of the doubt that the day they’re hideous is a day they’re finding too hard to cope with.

I’m not only looking at my baby, but also at myself, as a work in progress. I hope that as I try to teach her about life, she continues to teach me about how to live it as a kinder, gentler, better person.

Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Eloise – Month 10 – 11

July 20, 2012 / Cheese, Kids, New York Life / 0 comment

Our little girl is growing up so fast. She’s becoming more and more like a toddler, and less like a baby every day. I’m so proud of her growth and development, but also a little wistful already for the baby we don’t have for much longer. I’m so happy to see such great qualities in Eloise already. She’s fearless, curious and generous.

We’ve been out and about a lot this month! Cousin Sara came to visit, so we’ve been siteseeing all over the city – such as the Empire State Building, Alice’s Tea Cup, Central Park, FAO. We also went to fun things with Alec while he was on paternity leave, like the Bronx Botanical Gardens. We finished up the end of the month with two stroller tours, of the Guggenheim and Whitney.

Developmental

Standing with confidence now! Lets go of surfaces and balances on her feet.
Cruising around the room using furniture to balance on.
Dismounts easily from standing onto her cushy rear.
Takes steps on the walker or if we’re holding her hands.
Pulls herself up on our legs, the appliances, furniture, everything.
Dancing! Bops to music.
Nods her head for yes and shakes it for no.
New words: “up” and “yeah”.
Reaches to be picked up on command.
Understands “no”.
Comes when she’s called.
Hand-eye co-ordination getting really good. Can pick up things like single peas with her thumb and forefinger and put them in her mouth.
Very chatty. Doesn’t make any sense yet, but is very serious about telling us things and nodding her head vigorously.
Managed to get a block shape into the correct hole in the box.
Teething, but no teeth broken through yet.
Much more affectionate. Lots of hugs.

Food

Eating really well. Three solid meals a day, plus snacks in between. Prefers large chunks that she can hold and gnaw on. Typical meal for the day: Breakfast: plain, full-fat yoghurt, half a banana. Snack: Half a banana. Lunch: Usually when we’re out, so a puree pack of baby food, plus bits of whatever I’m eating. Snack: rock melon, watermelon, cheese. Dinner: Leftovers from food I’ve cooked for myself and Alec, like pasta, steamed vegetables, baked vegetables, veggie burger patty.
Getting much better at drinking water from a cup and water bottle.

Sleep

We completed sleep training with success. Eloise started sleeping from 7pm – 6:30-7:30am. AMAZING. We had a few nights where she woke at 6am, or at 10:30pm, but for the most part, it seems like our sleep issues have been solved.
Naps: Down to two naps a day. One at around 8:30-9am for anywhere from 1 – 2 hours, and 12:30pm for about 45mins to an hour a half.

Empire State Building.