Plan Ahead: Free Arts NYC Benefit on September 30!

We all know there are a million ways to give back and support organizations that are dedicated to investing in the needs of under-served children. But if I may, I'd like to introduce one more. Free Arts NYC empowers NYC youth, many of whom are living in shelters, through art and mentoring programs that develop their creativity, confidence and skills to succeed. The organization has positively impacted over 32,000 children and families and will only continue, thanks in part to community support like Kidsfest 2018, which takes place on Sunday, September 30th from 10-2pm at Sotheby's.

Hosted by the hilarious and lovely Jill Kargman (who else is bummed that Odd Mom Out won't be coming back for a 4th season?!), event proceeds will benefit the amazing work of Free Arts NYC. It promises to be a super fun event for the whole family, and an awesome way to give back at the same time.

If setting your kids loose in an incredible venue, surrounded by Pony Cycle pony rides, Big Apple Circus entertainment, face painting, hair braiding, screen printing, art activities run by local artists and museums (the list goes ON and ON) sounds the least bit appealing - well, you've come to the right place.

Ticket info can be found HERE and we'll see you on Sunday, September 30th. Here's to making sure the arts are available to EVERY child in NYC.

Looking forward! 🎨🎨

Plan Your Calendar: Meatpacking District Harvest Fest on 10/28

Harvest Fest 2017, sponsored by the Meatpacking District, is happening again this year on Saturday, October 28th at Hudson River Park. The artisanal market & fair brings together the best of the Meatpacking District's family-friendly goods & services for a day filled with art, music & activities.

The event will offer a host of activities ranging from a family yoga class w/ Love Child to arts-n-crafts, including creating your own trick-or-treat bags w/ Chelsea Market Baskets, "shadow dancing" with performers from The Joyce Theater & a virtual reality booth with Samsung 837. While the event is free to the public, vendors like Ample Hills Creamery & Megu will be on hand with food items for purchase. 4-legged friends won't be disappointed, either -- a costume contest, gourmet treats & photo opportunities are planned for them as well!

Check out a few pics from last year's Fest, and hope to see you there!
(registration for Harvest Fest is appreciated).

The Thanksgiving Day Parade with Pirate's Booty

There are few annual events more quintessentially "fall in NYC" than the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My first year in the city (16 years ago, crazy as that seems), I worked the parade as a Page at CBS News. But like millions of others, I've watched it on TV ever since. This year, we graciously attended as guests of Pirate's Booty. Despite the early hour (we were in our seats along Central Park West by 7:30am), it was a such a fantastic experience to be at the parade again and see all the action live -- this time with a husband and children in tow.

Thanks to Pirate's Booty for our tickets -- this was such a natural fit as the girls LOVE this snack, and it's easy for me to give them guilt-free (their snack bag size is perfect for the subway ride home from school). This is the 3rd time Pirate's Booty has participated in this celebrated tradition (90 years old and going strong!), and its "Treasure Hunt" float, helmed by Crunchy the Parrot, was one of the hits of the parade.

Check out a few pictures (thanks, Husband!) for a peek of the morning's events. So much fun!

Disclosure: Thanks to Pirate's Booty for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

A Pumpkin Patch Day Trip with Enterprise Car Share

This post is sponsored by Enterprise Car Share. Thanks for supporting Baby Meets City!

I look forward to many things about fall, and a day out of the city for pumpkin picking and taking in nature's changing colors is at the top of the list. And while we do own a car, it's quite old and not exactly reliable for longer drives, so I was more than happy to learn about an easy replacement for the day: Enterprise's new Car Share program, which is available here in NYC and other cities around the country (including my hometown of Charleston, SC)!

The process for using Car Share is quick and easy. After becoming a member online (you'll need to submit a photo & your driver's license), you'll then receive a card in the mail with a unique member ID number. Download the Car Share app to scan available cars in your zip code, and book using the app -- it only takes a few moments! When you arrive at a garage to pick up your car, as I did, just swipe your membership card over a sticker on the drivers' side windshield. The door will unlock and your keys will be inside.

Vehicles are parked in designated spots all around the city, giving you 24/7 access. Should you need a car at 3am, you can find one! And reservations can be as short as 1 hour or up to 7 days. Enterprise Car Share is determined to make the ability to enjoy a day out of the city or a quick trip to the grocery store as easy as possible.

What a gorgeous fall day, and it was made SO much easier by the use of Enterprise Car Share. And guess what? Exciting news. Enterprise would like to offer Baby Meets City readers a special promo. With this link, you can sign up for the Car Share program for $0, get your first year membership for $0 and receive $20 in driving credits. And remember, you don't have to save Car Share for roaming around the countryside. It's great for grabbing groceries (we love the parking lot at Fairway on 125th Street!), a cool furniture find on Craigslist or picking up a friend from the airport.

While you mull over the convenience of 4 wheels, here's a few more pics from the pumpkin patch...

Disclosure: I was compensated for this review. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Celebrating the First Day of Fall with Ocean Spray®

I've partnered with Ocean Spray® to celebrate their Cranberry Classroom in NYC. Thank you for supporting Baby Meets City! 

On the first day of fall, the girls and I waded into a 1500 square foot cranberry bog in the midst of Rockefeller Center®. Yes, really! We were there to celebrate the bicentennial of the first cultivated cranberry harvest with multi-generational Ocean Spray® cranberry growers and their families. We had a blast on this not-so-typical Thursday afternoon, which was as educational as it was entertaining.

In addition to truly getting a "hands on" experience in the bog (Millie had a blast raking those cranberries!), we ventured through 3 other activity stations in the #CranberryClassroom, which had been open to visitors from 12-4pm that day. 

In the first station, the girls learned a few facts that I found interesting, including this gem: did you know that cranberries are one of just three native fruits cultivated in North America? The other two are the blueberry and Concord grape, for the record. No wonder we eat so many on Thanksgiving!

Next, we planted our own cranberry vine, and got to take one home to see what happens! The girls have high hopes for these little plants (keep your fingers crossed).

Before we hopped into the bog (which was naturally the major highlight of the afternoon), we also checked out a virtual cranberry harvest experience -- fascinating! The girls put on headphones and looked into a viewfinder with an iPhone inside. The video inside was just beautiful, complete with music and a feeling of really being there, even as we stood in the middle of Rockefeller Center®. In fact, if you want to check it out yourself, head to The Most Beautiful Harvest for your own fully immersive, 360 degree experience. The site was designed to celebrate the beauty of the cranberry harvest (from fruit to bottle), and I highly recommend it!

Not surprisingly, our afternoon at the #CranberryClassroom has us inspired to try a few new cranberry recipes this fall, and all year long, in fact. I'm excited to have found this recipe from The Kitchn for Yogurt Covered Cranberries. Looks like a delicious snack, right?

Photo credit: The Kitchn

As you're pulling together lunches, snacks, desserts (you name it!), remember America's favorite fruit. I so appreciated being able to connect with Ocean Spray® in celebration of the first day of fall, and really feel like I understand the history and heritage behind the cranberry, and the American farmers that are passionate about what they grow and are able to share with all of us. 

Disclosure: Thank you to Ocean Spray® for sponsoring this blog post. All opinions are my own.

Celebrating Roald Dahl's 100th Birthday at Wave Hill

We spent the first weekend of fall at Wave Hill, celebrating what would have been Roald Dahl's 100th birthday. Since we just finished reading James and The Giant Peach with the girls recently, heading to the Bronx for James-themed activities (including a special arts-n-crafts project, storytelling and bug demonstration) seemed like a perfect fit. And what a fun day it was!

This was our first visit to one of NYC's treasured gems, and I have no doubt we'll be returning soon. As you can see from these pics, the grounds and gardens bordering the Hudson River are just GORGEOUS. After we finished the kids' programming, we got a snack at the cafe and spent the rest of our time exploring... don't you want to come for a visit, too?

Loving my new infinity scarf from J.Jill! The girls' cute outfits (Millie's shirt & pants & Vivian's dress & shoes)
are from Garnet Hill. Love their stylish duds for kids!

Insider tip: If you arrive between 9am-12pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Wave Hill is FREE (though you still have to pay for parking, which is $8). If you're coming via mass transit, see here.

My Own Affair to Remember (No, Not Like That...)

Hope everyone enjoyed a long, lazy Thanksgiving holiday weekend filled with yummy food & lots of gratitude. And maybe a few discounts that were too good to pass up, too.

Ours started on a bit of a romantic note (!), as this year marks another 5 years since Husband proposed on Thanksgiving Eve on top of the Empire State Building. Call it cheesy, I don't care. As many already know, I grew up wanting to move to New York City, & a lot of that has to do with the glitz & glam I embraced while watching movies like Singing in The Rain, Easter Parade & Affair to Remember as a little girl. And don't even get me started on long-time favorite, Sleepless in Seattle.

Why yes, I will marry you!

The Empire State Building was one of the first places I visited after moving here a few months post-college, & it remains one of my favorite symbols for the crazy // exhilarating // frustrating // dynamic place we call home. Knowing this about me, Husband picked the perfect place to pop the question.

5 years & 1 baby later...

Somewhere along the way, we thought it might be fun to mark the occasion, so decided we should head back every 5 years for a visit. In short, a lot cheaper than renewing our wedding vows with a stunning view to boot.

10 years & 2 lovable & rambunctious children later...

It was unseasonably mild on Wednesday, & the lines to go up were practically nonexistent. We marked another 5 years with ease & a quick kiss while we blew the runny noses of our children & yelled at them to stop running into people. Needless to say, a lot has changed in 10 years...

Luckily, I wouldn't change a thing.