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Queens Park Shed: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Randwick, Sydney

January 21, 2015 / Randwick, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

One of our recent cycling adventures brought us to the Queens Park Shed cafe. Originally a women’s change shed, it eventually became a disused sports storage shed, until Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust engaged Trippas White Group to turn it into a community space and cafe. The Shed is a popular cafe with families in particular, due to its location next to a large playground.

The inside is spacious and filled with large benches or cosy nooks. There is also seating outside, perfect for parking strollers.

The Shed offers little diners cute print outs such as this Ariel page, and crayons, as well as babyccinos served at the perfect temperature (and with a marshmallow, of course).

Alec and I both chose the Avocado Toast (avocado toast, free range poached eggs,
vine ripened tomato, goat’s cheese, $17). While we were impressed with the fast service, the meal itself was on the average side, due to a lack of seasoning. The cafe’s location was so great however, that we will be back to try it again and hopefully get a better dish.

The Shed runs a few programs for kids, such as Kids Eat Free on Thursdays from 5pm, and the Kids Power Hour, Monday – Friday 2:30-4pm, for a filling after school snack.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Queens Park Shed
31 Darley Rd,
Randwick NSW 2031
Phone: (02) 9380 9350
Prices: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, Sat & Sun 8am-4pm
Get Directions

Darling Quarter Playground + Lindt Cafe

November 5, 2014 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Outdoor Play, Playgrounds, Sydney, Sydney Food, Sydney Life / 3 Comments

The sparkly new Darling Quarter playground is one of the most amazing playgrounds I’ve ever seen. Ever. I remember visiting the area when I was a kid and it was a bit of a waste land. After a huge renovation of the entire Darling Quarter area, Darling Harbour is now a fun destination for local families to enjoy year-round. The playground is the big feature that families will love. With a huge water play area, climbing ropes for big and little kids, swings, slides, and a flying fox, there’s enough to entertain (and wear out) kids of all ages for an entire day.

Water scoop: turn the wheel, get wet!

Lots of shade over rest and play areas.

An Archimedes water screw!

Three-metre high giant slide and supanova wheel.

Sand diggers!

3D ring swing.

10-metre high octanet.

Baby ropes.

21-metre long flying fox.

Little E spotted a carousel and so we took a spin. $4 per person to ride. Adults can accompany 3-year-olds for free as long as they are standing beside them and not on a horse.

After playing it was time for lunch. Just around the corner is the Lindt Cafe, where I have indulged in many a chocolate shake over the years.

While you’re waiting on your order, stock up on Lindt balls and and bars. The cafe also serves cakes, chocolates and ice cream, making it pure chocolate heaven.

For a light lunch, the cafe is perfect with its location and menu. I ordered the milk chocolate shake, a vegetarian quiche and sourdough toast for Missy E. Alec ordered a roast beef sandwich. The order took a while to arrive, so we entertained E in the meantime by giving her a Lindt ball.

On a lovely day, sitting in the outdoor area is really a relaxing experience. The cafe sits on the waterfront in Cockle Bay, giving it a gorgeous view.

Our last stop in Darling Harbour is the fountain area. These fountains have been here for as long as I remember. When I was a kid I loved playing in them, so I thought E might as well. The big water arcs are a favourite with kids of now two generations, who dance in and out of them trying to get wet just enough to cool down, but not so much as to get soaked. Ahh memories!

Darling Quarter Playground
1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney
Bathrooms: Several very clean bathrooms with change facilities.
Picnic tables: No
Shade cover: Partial (not over the water area)
Cafe: Yes
Skatepark: No
Off-street parking: No (Use the Darling Quarter Wilson car park)
Children’s playground: Yes
Water features: Yes
Get Directions

Lindt Cafe
104-105 Cockle Bay Wharf
Darling Harbour, Sydney
Phone: (02) 9267 8064
Hours: Sun-Thur 10am-10pm Fri & Sat 10am-12am

Highchairs: Not that I saw.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Sydney Park + Cycling Center: A Tricycle Built For One

August 25, 2014 / Alexandria, Eastern Suburbs, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

A new favourite weekend location for us is Sydney Park in St Peters. This 40-hectare park contains large expanses of grass perfect for kicking a ball around, landscaped gardens, rolling hills (great for sliding down on cardboard boxes – not kidding!), pathways for strolling or running and wetlands home to native birds. The park is also super dog-friendly, so on any given day you’ll see many many many dogs rolling, running and snuffling with abandon. Our two favourite areas of the park are the huge playground and The Sydney Park Cycling Centre.

The playground is particularly great as it as it has tactile equipment for kids of all ages. A large, fenced in sandpit is fun for babies as well as older kids, plus swings, slides, a strung bridge and rope climbing web make for a one-of-a-kind playground that will keep children entertained for hours.

On the edge of the playground sits Sydney Park Kiosk, a great spot to refuel. Undercover seating is available. Bathrooms including change tables are next to the kiosk and playground.

The Sydney Park Cycling Centre is a short walk from the playground. The cycling centre is a unique area designed to help families teach their kids about cycling and road safety. Kids can test out their wheels undercover on a large asphalt surface, and then try the “road” – a circuit set up with traffic lights, lanes and pedestrian crossings. Perfect for teaching kids the basics about road safety before taking them for the real deal.

The Cycling Centre runs a free Parent & Child Clinic every Saturday to teach pre-schoolers to ride balance bikes. The sessions are staffed by experienced professional instructors who give advice and provide equipment to help kids get pedalling safely on two wheels.

The Parent & Child Clinic is open every Saturday from 11am. Helmets and balance bikes are provided free for kids taking part. No need to book. Sydney Park Sydney Park Rd, St Peters NSW Get Directions

Amoretti’s Plough And Harrow Park: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, South-West Sydney

May 19, 2014 / Abbotsbury, South West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Situated in the Western Sydney Parklands Plough and Harrow Park East, Amoretti’s is a great location for families to eat good food while also being able to entertain the kids.

Amoretti’s takes reservations and is used to handling large groups, which is one of the reasons we head there one early weekend morning with a large group of friends and kids ranging from a few weeks old to almost 5.

The weekend breakfast menu offers lots of variety, from Yoghurt and Fruit to French Toast and Egg dishes. All of the food is fresh and flavorsome. The eggs dishes in particular are a huge hit.

Right next to the restaurant is a waterway with a platform where kids can feed the ducks (BYO bread), which is great on mornings like ours, where we had to wait a bit longer than the kids could handle for our food to arrive. A large playground with equipment for all ages is around the other side of the restaurant, which is also good for running out energy either before or after your meal.

Last Bite: A good breakfast or lunch location for families with active kids.

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

Amoretti’s
Western Sydney Parklands, Plough & Harrow Park
745-899 Elizabeth Drive,
Cecil Hills NSW 2176
Phone: 02 8786 1777
Prices: $$$
Hours: Thurs-Sun Lunch 12pm-3pm, Dinner 6pm-10pm Sat & Sun Breakfast 8am-11am
Get Directions

Mother's Day Traditions to Inspire You

May 6, 2014 / New York Food / 0 comment

Rejoice! It is almost Mother’s Day! The Brunch With My Baby team hopes that you’ll be spoiled rotten by your family, and get to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones.

Haven’t decided on where to go yet? We asked some of our favorite blogger friends for their Mother’s Day plans to give you some last-minute ideas.

Kristin Strange of My Strange Family
This year I will be celebrating my 4th Mothers Day. Every year, my Mother’s Day is divided between “me” time and “family” time. We always have a nice brunch at The Harrison restaurant in Tribeca (which we originally picked because it is my son’s name). After brunch we make our way tonearby Washington Market Park for some running-out-the-crazies and slide time. During nap-time on Mother’s Day, I usually sneak out of the house and have a nice spa afternoon at the Langham Place Spa in Midtown. It is a perfect mix of activities for a perfect day of celebrating me as a mom. (The photo is from last year at Washington Market Park, when Kristin was 8+ months pregnant!)

#mothersday #traditions via brunchwithmybaby.com

Allison Cooper of Project Motherhood
For our family, Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day!) have become days that we always spend together as a family, but the rule is that my husband and son are in charge of planning something they know I will enjoy (we do the same for Father’s Day, but with me as the planner). Last year, we spent a wonderfully sunny day at Prospect Park Zoo, which we love because it’s so intimate and friendly. We also do small gifts, which is always fun to look forward to. As my son gets older, many of the gifts become homemade treasures that I value more than anything!

An Interview with #Brianne Manz from #strollerinthecity - brunchwithmybaby.com

Brianne Manz of Stroller In The City

My absolutely favorite thing to do in NYC on Mothers Day is to go to a wonderful brunch with my family! It’s so important to me to spend the day with my 3 children and husband. This year we are actually heading to Langham Place for a fun, family-friendly sing along. I think the kids (and us parents) will have an absolute blast!

Jory Lieber of Teeny Tiny Foodie
For Mother’s Day, I like to go out for a nice meal with my husband and daughter and enjoy time outside if the weather permits. The restaurants we like (with the perk of outdoor seating) are Du Jour Bakery and Stone Park Cafe. However, I also like to celebrate by taking a little time for myself and getting a manicure and pedicure too! We love the JJ Byrne Playground in Park Slope for outdoor fun, and we also like to go to the Prospect Park Zoo or just for a neighborhood walk.

#mothersday #traditions from @foodballfoodandmotherhood via brunchwithmybaby.com

Stephanie Barnhart of Football Food and Motherhood
It’s become tradition for us to go to Freeport in Long Island for Mother’s Day — they have the nautical mile which is lined with outdoor ocean/seafood restaurants. You can sit outside on the harbor and have a cold beer and fresh seafood. This year however, we are opting against it since Maximo is so wild and will probably fall off the dock. Stay tuned to see how that plays out! Typically we eat at Otto’s Sea Grill or Rachel’s Waterside Grill. (Check out Stephanie and Maximo last Mother’s Day at Freeport in the pic above!). The Freeport area was significantly damaged during 2012’s hurricane and only re-opened late last year, so the businesses would love your support!

#mothersday #traditions to inspire you via brunchwithmybaby.com

Serena Norr, Managing Editor of Momtrends and The Shopping Mama
With all of the busyness in my life, I love Mother’s Day as a time to spend time with family. Since I grew up in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, we usually go there to meet my mom and my sister for an early dinner and to visit to the local parks afterward. I also love waking up to the sweet and precious handmade cards that my girls usually make me. There is nothing better (to me) on Mother’s Day then the simplicity of shutting off, eating great food and being with my family.

If these ideas don’t inspire you, here are some of our fave restaurant and outing picks:

Lunch at DUMBO’s Superfine and something sweet from Jacques Torres

Fancy SoHo lunch at Mercer Kitchen

People-watching while dining al fresco at Isabella’s on the Upper West Side

A walk around Union Square and lunch at the Blue Water Grill

Playing in Washington Market and brunch at Sarabeth’s

A day trip to Blue Hill Farm

Touring the gardens at The Cloisters and lunch at New Leaf Restaurant

Enjoy!!!

The New Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park; Brooklyn, New York, Playgrounds

March 25, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Brooklyn Heights, Cheese, New York, New York Life, Outdoor Play / 3 Comments

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!

Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Joralemon St,
New York, NY