Something miraculous happened over winter. Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park, opened to the public on a suitably arctic day, too cold for most New Yorkers to check it out.
We had a chance to take a look soon after it opened, and fell in love with the sweet little toddler play area, perfect for kids Cheese’s age (she’s currently 19 months old).
New playground at Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park.
As well as the little toddler area, there is a playground for slightly older kids, with a spiders web to climb.
Not a bad view. Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The new pier also features a 200,000 square feet sporting field and a picnic peninsula with tables, grills and umbrellas for some much needed shade come summer.
What to eat: After Memorial Day weekend, Prospect Heights’ Ample Hills Creamery will be serving crazy flavours like Maple Baon and Ooey Goey Butter Cake at the pier. You’ll also be able to walk to Pier 6 next door and grab a slice of pizza from Fornino, who are opening up for the season. Enough of this cold already, bring on the summer!
With an unseasonably warm forecast, we head down to DUMBO for lunch at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Since we’ve been craving sunshine for months, we decided to pick up a sandwich at Foragers City Grocer and head on down to the park to eat and let the Cheese run free.
Foragers have a great range of locally-sourced breads, groceries and snacks, as well sandwich and smoothie bars. While you can perch on stools and eat in, we prefer to take everything to go.
The area of Brooklyn Bridge Park directly under the Manhattan Bridge has possibly the best views of both bridges and Manhattan that you’ll see anywhere. It also has a huge grassy area, so bring a ball for the kids to kick around, or a blanket to sit on. The pirate playground that sits in this area of the park was severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy – we were thrilled to see that it has been repaired and is due to re-open next month.
Brie and Granny Smith apple with watercress on a baguette.Cheese runs amok.
With the weather so cold and foul, I planned a lunch with friends at Smorgas Chef @ Scandinavia House purely because they also have a playroom in the building, and because they take reservations for brunch. Smorgas is known for its Scandinavian food, which makes most people think of meatballs. Being vegetarian, obviously meatballs are out for us – thankfully their brunch menu is full of traditional brunchy fare that everyone will like, including picky toddlers.
Are you sure I like waffles?Tree in the middle of the dining room.Multitasking.
On arriving, we were met by a friendly hostess who immediately offered us a high chair and kids menu with crayons, and directed us to the stroller parking area. Immediate score! Between the waffles we ordered for the Cheese off the kid’s menu and the crayons, our cheesy little friend was having a ball.
Our server was a bit slow to take our order – and we had some really annoying screw ups with my order in the kitchen. Take note – do not try and make changes to any items on the menu, or you’ll be sorry! Also, if you’re a vegetarian, check your dish carefully for meat as you eat it.
Waffles – glorious.
The food was pretty good – the Cheese loved her waffles (which came with a little milk box).
Stroller and high chair parking.
After lunch we made our way to the Heimbold Family Children’s Playing and Learning Center upstairs. It was a pretty cute little area – lots of engaging things for kids to play with, like a slide, train table, play kitchen and mushroom house. It was also completely packed with parents and kids, so it wasn’t the best experience – toddlers all wanting to play with the same toys … cue all kinds of excitement!
Upstairs in the play space.Moomin!
Would we be back? Probably not to the restaurant, unless we wanted to go to the play space again. When the weather is nasty out, it’s definitely a really good option for a Saturday afternoon.
Highchairs: Yes. Stokke of course! Stroller storage: Lots – bring your giant stroller if needs be. Easy access: Yes. They have elevator access. Change tables: Yes – although you have to get the elevator down to the floor below to use the restrooms, which is a bit odd. Kids’ menu: Yes. Baby-friendly rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Blizzard Nemo (ha!) hit New York yesterday. It was pretty crazy being out in it – like icicles prickling my face. Today the blizzard had passed and the city was covered in a glorious foot of snow. Yay! We head over to Fort Greene park to give Eloise her first real taste of snow. She really loved it – she couldn’t get enough of sitting on the ground and trying to grab it in her little mits.
Snow baby!Go, baby, go!Snow dog!With Daddy.Family!Beautiful.Snow baby.Happy husband.Loving the snow.So pretty.Love!Stroller did NOT work well in snow.
I don’t blog as much as I should about the amazing things I get to do living in New York. Here are a few fun things I’ve been up to recently.
Seeing the world premiere of Les Miserables with Beck, followed by a Q&A with the cast, including Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried.
Cast from Les Miserables
Christmas decorations are up! Loving this beautiful tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eloise also loved the museum – she has reached an age where she notices everything around her and is so curious about everything she sees.
Met Christmas Tree
Saw the NYC ballet perform the Nutcracker with my friend Alexis at the Lincoln Center.
Ballet poses!
Hanging out with a special visitor! It was wonderful to see Beverly after almost three years, and meet Hunter and Carter.
It’s us! With kids!
Eloise’s first time in snow!
It’s colddddddd!
Had a wonderful time at the So You Think You Can Dance live tour with Dan and Sue.
Yes, I think I can dance!
Watched the US Olympic gymnastics team perform live in a showcase at the new Barclay Center in Brooklyn.
The ladies on the rings.
Lived through Hurricane Sandy.
Damage near our home.
And managed to celebrate Halloween straight afterwards.
This year I am especially thankful for my wonderful husband, my amazing, beautiful daughter, my loving parents, and both old and new friends. I’m thankful for mine, Alec’s and Eloise’s good health, and for our situation in life that enables us to live in New York, in a lovely apartment, and for me to take care of Eloise full-time while she’s so small.
It’s hard to focus on the big picture when the day-to-day gripes set in. I’m taking a moment today to really feel thankful for how lucky I truly am.
This year I am especially thankful for my wonderful husband, my amazing, beautiful daughter, my loving parents, and both old and new friends.
I’m thankful for mine, Alec’s and Eloise’s good health, and for our situation in life that enables us to live in New York, in a lovely apartment, and for me to take care of Eloise full-time while she’s so small. It’s hard to focus on the big picture when the day-to-day gripes set in. I’m taking a moment today to really feel thankful for how lucky I truly am.
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.
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.
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.
