Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.
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Indoor attractions are making a comeback in New Jersey, with loosening restrictions making way for more ways to play inside, from our favorite restaurants to a few play spaces, movie theaters, and our famous mega mall, American Dream.
Read on for more details on the indoor attractions now open or opening soon in New Jersey.
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Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade is facing some major changes in 2020. In this age of social distancing, gone is the crowd-drawing 2.5-mile parade route, replaced instead by a made-for-TV spectacle that aims to capture the magic of this annual holiday tradition, while eliminating in-person spectators and reducing the number of performers.
While the parade won't make its annual march through the city streets, where it can draw 3 million spectators to city sidewalks, television spectators can expect to see many of its usual trappings and trimmings on display, including the larger-than-life balloons, over-the-top floats, and big-name performers. Some performances are set to be filmed in advance, though the majority of the production still goes on live on Thanksgiving morning.
The changes were announced following Mayor Bill de Blasio's assertion that the parade would go "virtual" in 2020 during his daily press briefing on Monday, September 14.
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School is upon us, but the 2020-21 school year is anything but ordinary. Whether your district is doing remote learning, a hybrid model, or you've created a homeschooling pod, it's likely you're going to need a little more support than normal.
Luckily, community organizations, small businesses, and local entrepreneurs are here to help, filling the void left by extraordinarily challenging school schedules. We've rounded up a handful of spots offering support for hybrid and remote learners, plus organizations willing to provide a little programming for your pod.
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If you've got a child in public school, you live by the school calendar. The 2020-21 school year has already been off to a surprising start, with last week's announcement that the first day of school has been pushed back. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2020-2021 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.
Of course, we've been reminded over and over again that this school year will be one unlike any other, so the dates may not be as set in stone as in years past, but at least parents have a framework now.
These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school—or away from their remote learning device—during the 2020-2021 school year.
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Daring New Yorkers have a brand new observation deck to take in sweeping city views: Edge had a short-lived debut way back in March, before shutting down with the rest of the city, but the attraction in Hudson Yards has reopened and is ready to welcome visitors.
Even before its debut, the highest open-air observation deck in the Western Hemisphere made its mark on the city skyline. One glance at the towering skyscrapers of the new neighborhood, and you can't miss it—it's the triangular platform jutting out 100 stories high from 30 Hudson Yards.
Read on for details on our visit to the new attraction, and learn what sets it apart from the city's other sky-high observation decks at the Empire State Building, One World Observatory, and Top of the Rock.
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Labor Day weekend is nearly upon us, and the milestone typically marks the end of the beach season in the tri-state area, but from the Jersey Shore to the sands of Long Island and Westchester County, area beaches are extending their seasons, giving visitors a chance to enjoy a little more sun and surf.
Read on for the details on which family-friendly beaches are welcoming visitors into September.
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New York City has pushed back the start date for its public school children to Wednesday, September 16, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. The move is part of an agreement between the city and the UFT, which had long been pushing for enhanced safety protocols before schools reopened, even threatening legal action and laying the groundwork for a strike if its safety concerns weren't addressed.
In-person instruction will not begin until Monday, September 21, meaning all students will start with remote learning.
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After a nearly six-month hiatus, New York City's world-class museums are reopening to the public. So, if you've been missing your dose of local culture, anxiously awaiting your chance to mark The Met's 150th anniversary, or really want to reacquaint yourself with the newly renovated MoMA, the time has come to explore these cultural gems once again.
