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New York

Big Gay Ice Cream: Kid-Friendly West Village, NY

October 18, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, West Village / 0 comment

Before I was introduced to the Big Gay Ice Cream, my experience with soft serve was limited to McDonald’s. I’ve never liked it, and was hesitant to try what I’ve always viewed to be ice cream’s second-rate cousin. I’m happy to admit I was wrong when it comes to Big Gay.

Owners have created a cult following in New York City for a very good reason. Their soft-serve is developed in collaboration with Ronnybrook Farm Dairy and includes fun and creative ice creams like the Salty Pimp (my personal favourite, which includes injections of caramel and sprinklings of salt, and then dipped in chocolate).

Big Gay in the West Village is my favorite outpost to visit. They have a large seating area and we’ve always found a table, even on their busiest days. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere quirky and fun, and the ice creams are just amazing. What more could you ask for?

Last bite: A unique spin on old-school soft-serve is a winner with all age groups.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Big Gay Ice Cream Shop West Village
61 Grove Street
(at Seventh Avenue South)
New York NY 10014
Prices $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-12am, Sat-Sun 12pm-12am
Get directions

Where To Eat And Play In Brisbane With Kids

September 14, 2014 / Australia, New York Food, Queensland, Singapore, Sydney Food, Travel / 6 Comments

While I spent a lot of my childhood summers on the Gold Coast, I’d never visited Brisbane. Absolutely no reason why, other than that the opportunity hadn’t presented itself until recently. After a blogging conference on the Gold Coast, I stopped through Brisbane on the way back to Sydney and spent two days exploring the best that Brisbane has to offer families. If you’re planning a trip to the Sunshine state, you could easily spend a couple of days enjoying Brisbane with the kids. Here are my tips on a fun family holiday in Brisbane: Eat and play at Gasworks Plaza
Book a table at Buzz for lunch right next to the gasring. You’ll enjoy the delicious food (the quinoa salad was divine) and gorgeous interiors by local designer Anna Spiro of Black & Spiro, and the kids can run off steam in the adjoining park.

After lunch, take a stroll down to the nearby riverbank. Kids can bike or scoot along the river, and will enjoy the street art and statue of Gloria the sheep, a tribute to the Teneriffe wool stores that lined the river in the early 1900s.
76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead

Shop at Growing World, Emporium
This gorgeous children’s store is filled with educational toys and books from all around the world.
1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley

Rock out at the Brisbane Powerhouse
The redeveloped powerhouse is a centre for art and culture. Check out the (often free) events for families, or just drop by on a Sunday to experience live music and markets (the pop-up Suitcase Rummage markets are on once a month).

Kids can roam inside the powerhouse, spot some cool graffiti art and dance to indie-pop and rock bands. Make a day of it by enjoying an early dinner or glass of wine at Bar Alto. Grab a balcony table overlooking the river while babies are napping and older kids are playing with your iPhone or colouring in.
119 Lamington St, New Farm

Run wild at New Farm Park
Set the kids free in 18 hectares of gardens and open green space. The attached New Farm Park playground is a local family favourite with fortress-like constructions winding through huge fig trees.

No-fuss family dinner at Eat Street Markets
The perfect dinner option for families with no pressure for kids to sit down and behave. 60 industrial shipping containers have been converted into mini shops and restaurants. Choose your meal from local food vendors (Italian, Mexican, potato rings on sticks, sweet potatoes fries and much, much more is on offer) then camp out on astroturf covered giant blocks to enjoy live music while the sun goes down.
Macarthur Avenue, Hamilton

Book a free city tour with Brisbane Greeters
Our tour guide, AnneMarie White, was a local expert who showed us the best places to eat and shop in the James Street district with and without kids. A remarkable woman with a background in broadcasting, it was a pleasure to learn about Brisbane through her own experiences.

Chic shopping and dining at James St
Leave the kids with Dad for an hour or two while you check out local Australian designers and boutiques. Sass + Bide, Camilla, Zimmermann and more await your credit card.

Feeling peckish? Harvey’s Bar and Bistro is a great breakfast and lunch choice with or without kids.

If you’ve got a serious sweet tooth like I do, be sure to pick up a treat from the iconic Joceyln’s Provisions. While you’re deciding which delicious cake to order, poke your head inside their kitchen to see the pastry chefs hard at work.

Play time: South Bank Parklands
As well as being the cultural centre of Brisbane, the South Bank is filled with family-focussed entertainment.

Get arty at the QAGOMA
The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is a top choice for adults and children. Most of the gallery is free entry, including the Children’s Art Centre. Their current major exhibition, “Harvest” (open till Sept 21) celebrates food in art and includes interactive features for older children, as well as kid-friendly art such as large sculptures and a Shangai supermarket installation.

Take littlies to the children’s exhibition, “Pattern Bandits” (open until Nov 2), where they can explore a world of colour, shape and pattern in a completely hands-on environment. The free exhibition features craft activities that can be taken home or left to be put on display. Kids will particularly love the kaleidoscope corridor where they can see their own faces turned into bright patterns.
Stanley Place, Cultural Precinct, South Bank

Segway Tours with X-wing
Older kids will love seeing Brisbane’s South Bank on a mini-segway. Zoom along the river bank with a helpful guide to tell you all about Brisbane.

Get a bird’s-eye view
Take a spin on the Wheel of Brisbane for a panoramic view of the city.

Streets Beach
This man-made beach with white sand and lifesavers is a summer oasis on the Brisbane river shore. It’s perfect for families, with shallow lagoons, sprinklers and crystal clear water.

Stop for a bite at South Bank Surf Club
After a swim at Streets Beach, stroll the the nearby Surf Club for a relaxed fish and chips.
30aa Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank

Sweet Treats at Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar
Brisbane’s first dessert and cocktail bar offers build your own fro-yo, ice cream and a range of other sugar-coma inducing desserts.
2/179 Grey Street, South Bank

Essex: Where Brunch Includes 3 Cocktails; LES, New York

September 7, 2014 / Lower East Side, Manhattan Munchies, New York Food / 2 Comments

When wanting to book a large table in NYC, your options are limited. For a friend’s birthday with a party of nine, we tried out Essex, a restaurant on the Lower East side with a modern, chic design, lots of natural light and a great value-for-money brunch menu.

The brunch menu is a fixed price, $23.95 for your entree plus three bloody marys, screwdrivers or mimosas. They’re quite liberal with the drinks, particularly mimosas, and several members of our party think they actually ended up with four each. The drinks aren’t super strong, which is good when you’re drinking that many cocktails at noon …

We were seated at our table even though we were waiting on the last two guests. The restaurant quickly filled up — clearly word has gotten around that this is a good brunch bet.

While there wasn’t a kids’ menu, we ordered sides off the menu for Missy E (French Fries and Fresh Fruit) straight away while everyone else decided on their order. Her dishes arrived quickly — two generous servings which we helped her with.

Our party ordered a variety of dishes: Challah French Toast (bananas foster sauce, fresh fruit), Baked Eggs (crisp black forest ham, roasted peppers, shitake mushrooms, Monterey jack), Omelet (spinach, tomato, sheep’s milk cheese with mixed green salad and home fries), Short Rib Hash (two eggs any style, duck fat potatoes), Grilled Shrimp & Avocado Salad (poached egg, baby spinach, pico de gallo).

The meals were all a great portion size, with generous amounts of fresh ingredients. My omelet was delicious, filled with tasty cheese and tomatoes, and slightly spicy home fries. The French toast “tastes better than it looks!”, and the baked eggs xxxx.

Our server wove in and out of diners with a large jug of mimosas, topping up glasses as soon as they were empty.

Last bite: A great brunch spot for large groups, especially those wanting mimosas with their eggs.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes (folding strollers are best).
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Essex
120 Essex St,
New York, NY
Phone: (212) 533 9616
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sun 10am-6pm
Get Directions
Reservations

Chocolate Chunk Pancakes at Clinton St. Baking Company, LES, New York

September 7, 2014 / Lower East Side, Manhattan Munchies, New York Food / 0 comment

When you want good pancakes in New York City, it’s a well-known fact that you head to Clinton St. Baking Company. The bakery and restaurant was opened in 2001 by husband and wife team Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman, with a mission to make the best baked goods in the city, hand-mixed in small batches.

Fast forward to 2014 and the once tiny bakery is now a bustling restaurant, with their pancakes awarded the title of “the best in the city” (twice!) by New York Magazine. Clinton St. Baking Co. is such a popular breakfast and lunch spot that if you turn up for brunch on a weekend, you’ll often find yourself facing an up to TWO HOUR wait. They have the waiting system down to a fine art, and even have a page on their site devoted to “the wait“.

Don’t let this dissuade you from going, however. To avoid a wait on weekends, your best bet is to arrive by 8:30am and put in your name for the first seating at 9am. To avoid a long wait in general, visit during the week or at night when the waits are shorter, if at all. Don’t worry — they serve breakfast during the dinner hour. We visited on a weekday at 8am. The restaurant was full by 8:30am, but the wait outside was pretty short, with most diners not having to wait too long for a table. If you find yourself waiting for a table, the surrounding streets have some really cool graffiti/street art that’s worth checking out.

Since Alec had to get to work, we ordered and ate as quickly as we could. I ordered the Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter (choice of wild Maine blueberry, banana walnut, or chocolate chunk pancakes, $14) and Alec ordered the Southern Breakfast (two eggs any style, sugar-cured bacon, cheese grits, and fried green tomatoes, $14). We also ordered a side of sourdough toast for Missy E ($2), which arrived with Vermont butter and the most amazing raspberry conserves I’ve ever tasted. As well as the toast, E shared my pancakes when they arrived — the novelty of chocolate for breakfast was just too exciting for her to handle.

My pancakes were fantastic. I chose chocolate chunks, and my three big fluffy pancakes were absolutely chockfull of the chocolate. The pancakes were warm and the butter atop them was slightly melting. I really enjoyed their warm maple butter instead of maple syrup as it wasn’t anywhere near as sickeningly sweet. Alec’s southern breakfast was a bit on the dry side — he would have preferred some kind of sauce to go with it. He did, however, thoroughly enjoy the cheese grits and fried green tomatoes — both novelties to an Aussie.

So are they the best pancakes in New York? I’m afraid I can’t say as I don’t really eat pancakes often enough to be able to rank them! I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed mine and would absolutely go back for more.

Last bite: How can you resist trying some of NYC’s best pancakes? Be prepared for the wait and you’ll enjoy a really great breakfast.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Clinton St Baking Co & Restaurant
4 Clinton St.
New York, NY
Phone: (646) 602 6263
Prices: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, 4pm-5pm (pastries/ coffee to go only), dinner 6pm to 11pm; Sat 8am-9am (pastry & coffee to go only), 9am-4pm, dinner 6pm-11pm; Sun 8am-9am (pastry & coffee to go only), 9am-6pm.
Get Directions

Top 5 Sweet Spots on the Upper East Side

September 7, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, Upper East Side / 0 comment

When your sweet tooth is a-calling, the Upper East Side is the place to go. Within a few blocks of each other lies a cornucopia of sugary heavens. How’s a sleep-deprived mom to choose?

Dylan’s Candy Bar
Created in 2001 by Dylan Lauren (of the Ralph Lauren family) Dylan’s Candy Bar is the place to go for a serious sugar high. Choose from 7,000 candy treats in the store, then lounge upstairs in a cupcake booth at the Candy Cafe to enjoy lunch or a snack, and perhaps a candy cocktail.
1011 3rd Ave, New York, NY

Baked By Melissa
These mini cupcakes were made with tiny hands in mind! At $1 for each little cupcake, it’s the perfect sized treat when you don’t want the day to get too sugary. Our favorite flavor is the Choc Chip Pancake (totally breakfast food, right?).
784 Lexington Avenue at 61st Street New York NY

Two Little Red Hens
How can you pass up what’s often called the best red velvet cupcake in the city? The cupcakes come in regular and mini sizes, so you can sample several if you’re not set on one flavor.
1652 2nd Ave, New York, NY

Sprinkles Cupcakes
If you’re on the go, grab your cupcake from the Sprinkles ATM out the front. We prefer to sit down inside to enjoy our cupcakes – the cupcake-inspired interior and ottomans are a huge hit with kids. Know before you go: Check out their rotating seasonal menu so you visit on the day when your favorite flavors are being served.
780 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

IT’SUGAR
This candy chain store recently opened its doors on the Upper East Side. IT’SUGAR focuses on the fun of candy, from giant 5LB Hershey bars to the World’s Largest Gummy Bear (they recommend sharing this cub, and so do we!)
1542 3rd Ave New York NY
IT’SUGAR Image via Jia J. Yelp.com

This article first appeared on MommyNearest.com.

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NYC Neighborhood Guide: DUMBO

September 7, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, DUMBO, New York, New York Food / 1 Comment

Take a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge into Dumbo, to enjoy cobblestones, carousels and cake.

Not to be missed: Jane’s Carousel
Built in 1922, the carousel has been recently restored and is now an iconic part of the Dumbo waterfront. Open year-round, taking a ride is a must-do for every visitor to NYC.
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dock St, Brooklyn, NY

Best cake: One Girl Cookies
This delicious cafe serves the cookies they are named for, plus whoopie pies and their famous layer cakes. Ask for a slice of the daily cake (anything with dulce de leche is particularly delicious).
33 Main St, Brooklyn, NY

Best slice: Juliana’s Pizza
Skip the lines at Grimaldi’s next door and instead sit down for piping hot mozzarella courtesy of the Grimaldi family. You read that right, the Grimaldi family own and run this pizzeria.
19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY

Best grab-and-go: Little Muenster
Delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Take one and eat it in nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park.
145 Front St, Brooklyn, NY

Best way to run out the energy: Brooklyn Bridge Park
This 85-acre park stretches along the waterfront, filled with cycling paths, playgrounds, bbqs and breathtaking views of Manhattan.

Best kids’ clothes: Egg Baby
Drop by this cute boutique for some adorable outfits designed by Susan Lazar.
72 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY

Best kids’ store: Half Pint Citizens
Focusing on innovative and environmentally-friendly toys and gear for kids.
41 Washington St, Brooklyn, NY

Best croissant: Almondine
Almondine has recently re-opened after being destroyed in the 2012 Hurricane. They are the go-to spot for croissants and French pastries in Brooklyn. 85 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Best hot chocolate: Jacques Torres
The hot chocolate at Jacques Torres is like liquid gold. Heavy, rich and decadent.
66 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

This article first appeared on MommyNearest.

A Day With Kids At The MoMA

September 7, 2014 / Eat & Explore, Museums & Galleries, New York Food / 0 comment

It can seem like a big undertaking to take little ones to the MoMA. With its small rooms and quiet atmosphere, it can feel like a daunting prospect. However, the MoMA loves kids — just keep strollers and toddlers several feet from the art works and you’ll be fine. Use our guide below to enjoy showing your tiny tot or older child the beautiful of modern art.

Sculpture Garden
This is your best bet with a baby or toddler. Stroll them around the exhibits you want to see (I’d suggest choosing only one exhibit per visit), then release them in the sculpture garden to play.

Bonus tip: The sculpture garden is free to visit on its own every morning from 9-10:30am. After that time you’ll need to buy a ticket, so get in early if you want to do a test run with just a little bit of culture before taking on the entire museum.

Family Programs
The MoMA offers programs for children ages 4 – 14 and their parents and caregivers. All programs are free.

Family Gallery Talks
For ages four and up. These tours are a fun and creative way for children to interact with art.

Gallery Guides
Pick up a free art card or printed guide (you can download the guide here in advance) with activities, questions and ideas for looking at art in the MoMA.

MoMA Audio for Kids
The MoMA has special kid-friendly audio guides.

Hands-on Workshops
Kids ages 4 – 14 learn about ideas and techniques in modern and contemporary art in these free workshops.

Family Films
The MoMA hosts free screenings of family films every month. They tend to show unusual films you might otherwise never see (no Disney here!)

MoMA Art Labs
Adults and kids can experiment, play, and create art in this interactive space. Explore tools, techniques and ideas about art in a family-friendly environment.

MoMA Art Lab App
Live too far from the MoMA to make a visit in person? Download the MoMA Art Lab app (suitable for ages seven and up) and your kids can enjoy creating artworks such as a shape poem, sound composition or group drawing.

Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd St. btwn 5th & 6th Ave.

This article was first published on MommyNearest.

A Mediterranean "Snack" in SoHo: Snack Restaurant, New York

September 7, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, SoHo / 0 comment

Feeling like some hearty Greek food while shopping in SoHo? We love taking refuge from a cold day to eat up and stay warm at Snack. A tiny doorway leads to a small restaurant. Be prepared to squish in (umbrella strollers only, carriers preferred!). The staff are welcoming to young diners, and gave us the coveted front window seat, which is great for allowing little ones to occupy themselves by watching the passersby.

We ordered food to share: Hummus ($7.50), Pita Bread ($1.50), Spanakopitakia ($5), Tiropitakia ($5) the Soup of The Day, which was Lentil ($8.50), and a sandwich ($10). It was WAY too much food for two adults and one toddler. It was, however, all absolutely delicious and very filling (plus, you can easily take hummus home for leftovers).

After lunch, we dropped by the nearby Vesuvio Playground (at Spring and Thompson Streets) to let Missy E run her hummus and pita bread off. It’s a huge playground, best suited for slightly older kids.

Last Bite: Mediterranean food that’s tasty and filling, tucked away like a delicious secret you’ll want to keep to yourself.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a stroller that folds.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Snack SoHo
105 Thompson Street (between Prince and Spring streets)
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 925-1040
Prices: $$
Hours: Sun 12pm-9pm, Mon-Wed 12pm-10pm, Thurs-Sat 12pm-11pm
Get Directions

A Perfect Day In Prospect Park, Brooklyn

August 25, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Prospect Heights / 0 comment

Prospect Park is an oasis of lush greenery for Brooklyn families. The park opened in 1866, and is 585-acres in size, containing Brooklyn’s only lake, a zoo (Prospect Park Zoo) and a carousel. Prospect Park makes for a great center piece to a fun family day out, and we’re here to give you the perfect itinerary.

Breakfast: Bergen Bagels
This tiny bagel shop makes fantastic bagels, fresh with a thick layer of cream cheese. Grab one to go as you’re walking up Flatbush towards the park.
Bergen Bagels: 473 Bergen St, Brooklyn

Morning Activity: Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo opens at 10am. Hit up the sea lions first (daily feedings at 11:30am, 2pm and 4pm), then the barnyard animals to feed some goats and sheep, and check out if there are any new baby animals. Save the nature trail for the very end to wear everyone out before lunch.
Prospect Park Zoo: 450 Flatbush Ave, New York

Quick Pre-Lunch Activity: Prospect Park Carousel
As you’re exiting the zoo, take a spin on the carousel, newly re-opened for the season. The carousel was carved in 1912, and is one of only 12 remaining carousels created by master carousel creator Charles Carmel.
Prospect Park Carousel: Willink Entrance, Prospect Park

Franny's: kid-friendly restaurants, Prospect Heights, New York, via brunchwithmybaby.com — Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella, $16

Lunch: Franny’s
Exit the park and take a two-block walk down Flatbush to Franny’s, a pizza restaurant committed to sustainable agriculture. All of the vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy, and fish are largely sourced from local and/or organic producers, while all the meats at franny’s are from sustainable sources, containing no hormones or antibiotics. The pizzas are absolutely delicious. Order a no-frills Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella and either eat in, or walk back to the park and enjoy your pie while sitting in the sun.
Franny’s: 348 Flatbush Ave, New York

Afternoon Activity: Play In Prospect Park
Right inside the entrance to the park is a huge field, where on any given day you’ll find families playing ball sports and chasing small toddlers. Bring a ball to kick around or stroll around the path to enjoy the natural beauty of the park.

Afternoon Treat: Ample Hills Creamery
A trip to Prospect Park isn’t complete without ice cream, and it doesn’t get any better than a cone of salted caramel or sweet cream and cookies from Ample Hills. The ice cream is made in small batches, using fresh, local, all-natural milk, cream and eggs from local farms. The portions are generous and reasonably priced (kids $2.75, single $4.36). Order a single cone and choose two flavors.
Ample Hills Creamery: 623 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn

This article was first published on mommynearest.com.

Artisanal Chocolate & Exquisite Tea: MarieBelle Cacao Bar and Tea Parlor in SoHo, New York

August 18, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, SoHo / 0 comment

What started as a small collection of rare and delicate chocolates and confectionary in 2000 is now a thriving high-end chocolate bar, tea parlor and retail store. MarieBelle‘s creator, Maribel, grew up around cocoa fields in Honduras, which inspired in her a passion for chocolate. Maribel is both a chef and designer — each skill on display in her beautiful tea parlor and store — from the exquisite chocolate pieces on display in the store, to the rich European-inspired styling of the salon. With glittering crystal lights, antique furnishings and deep brown and gold panelling in the parlor, a trip to MarieBelle is a delight to all the senses.

Entering from the street, we walked through the retail store to the cafe in the back for a sit-down tea service. Friendly staff greeted our party, which included one rowdy toddler (bull, meet china shop!). Our waitperson clearly liked children, and made us feel extremely welcome despite our pint-sized companion constantly wriggling in and out of her fancy chair. Luckily, we came for quick treats (rather than a tea service), and there are few things that keep my toddler sitting still like an iced chocolate drink. Chocolate is the speciality here, and when ordering a hot or ice chocolate, you can choose from various chocolate flavors.

Since I have a mild palate, I went with the classic Ice Chocolate (you can also choose flavors like Aztec or Spicy, as seen in the photo below). Alec ordered a simple tea, which arrived in a beautiful silver tea set, and we ordered a madeline for E (her favorite treat) and a caramel crème brulee to share. As you would expect from a speciality tea and chocolate cafe, everything was delicious. The ice chocolate was not too sweet, and the crème brulee was a twist on the traditional kind, with a caramel base and crème on top. Before leaving the cafe, be sure to wander through the retail store and take home a few chocolates for later. While some of the MarieBelle chocolates are sold in speciality stores elsewhere, some of the creations are only available from the store in SoHo.

Last Bite: Bring little chocolate-lovers for an especially sweet outing.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal — bring an umbrella stroller or carrier.
Easy access: No. There are a few steep steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

MarieBelle
484 Broome St.
New York, NY
Phone: (212) 925 6999
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-7pm, Fri-Sun 11am-8pm
Get Directions