The other day, Auntie Sha-Sha left her sneakers at our house; this was a major event for Laurel. She wanted to know all about why the shoes were there, what we could put in them, and how fast Sharon could run when she was in them (answer: pretty fast). Ultimately, she wanted a pair just like them.
Laurel’s been in need of more weather appropriate footwear (she’s still been roaming around in her fall kicks) so we decided to check out the New Balance Factory Store this past weekend.
This store is definitely worth a visit. The infant/toddler section is smaller than the kid, women, and men sections (there were about 8 different infant/toddler shoe styles to choose from), but Laurel loved the sneakers she picked out and they apparently fit great (I have never seen her jump around in a store like that before…). They also were a mere $14.99.
New Balance Factory Store, 40 Life Street, Allston, Tel: 877-623-7867
The other day, Auntie Sha-Sha left her sneakers at our house; this was a major event for Laurel. She wanted to know all about why the shoes were there, what we could put in them, and how fast Sharon could run when she was in them (answer: pretty fast). Ultimately, she wanted a pair just like them.
Laurel’s been in need of more weather appropriate footwear (she’s still been roaming around in her fall kicks) so we decided to check out the New Balance Factory Store this past weekend.
This store is definitely worth a visit. The infant/toddler section is smaller than the kid, women, and men sections (there were about 8 different infant/toddler shoe styles to choose from), but Laurel loved the sneakers she picked out and they apparently fit great (I have never seen her jump around in a store like that before…). They also were a mere $14.99.
New Balance Factory Store, 40 Life Street, Allston, Tel: 877-623-7867
It’s embarrassing how many days of the week I say, “OK, today, no sweets!” And yesterday, mere hours after patting myself on the back for exercising will power against the pull of the local bakery, I was going berserk over a treat Jon brought home from Faneuil Hall: a cream puff from Beard Papa’s.
Bizarre business identity aside, these cream puffs are spectacular. When given a range of options, I typically don’t share Jon’s penchant for all things choux, but the delicate crispness of Beard Papa’s puff pastry, coupled with the smooth, fresh whipped cream custard knocked out my existing cream puff skepticism (based on the sickly sweet artificial filling and rubbery pastry of cream puffs in days past).
Beard Papa’s is known for its cream puffs (made in small batches on the premises using natural ingredients and no preservatives), and also offers other dessert treats. They currently have locations in Asia, Australia, and the US, with more international locations apparently on the way.
Beard Papa’s, 1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston; Tel: 617-570-9070
Okay, so this is an odd, ringing endorsement: Maxima Gift Center is so fabulous that it makes my daughter poop. Seriously.
As devoted readers know, I am a scientist by training and while these days I work more on intuition, my empirical persona can’t help but be impressed by repeated trials and consistent results.
So here’s what has happened the last five out of five times I have visited Maxima with Laurel. We arrive with her in the stroller. She strains against the straps and demands “Out! Mommy!” once we cross the entry. She bolts for the children’s section (resplendent with cool toys, stuffed animals, baby accessories, and her beloved, beloved books) and darts around excitedly (apparently too excitedly...), no doubt wondering how on earth such a place could be possible. I keep an eye on her while desperately straining to take in the stylish collection of bags, jewelry, body products, stationery, pottery, and other gifts that are just out of my reach.
And then, within 5 minutes, she poops. Like clockwork.
Maxima’s cool collection of regular retail and handcrafted gifts is better reflected in their physical stores (Waltham & Arlington) than online. Just be sure to bring your diaper bag when you visit.
Generally it seems a reasonable rule of thumb to not have reason to cry before 9am, but this morning there was no helping the tears at the Horizons for Homeless Children Annual Women’s Breakfast in Boston. At this remarkable event, 1,000 women gathered to learn about homelessness in Massachusetts. We heard compelling, moving stories from women who – with children in tow – battled back from homelessness to become thriving members of their communities, and learned about the impact of giving back from a woman who volunteers as a Playspace Activity Leader.
Horizons’ approach to battling the numbers surrounding homeless children (10,000 children in Massachusetts per year; 500,000 nationally) is impressive in its’ multi-dimensional structure. Not only does Horizons’ give children a safe and happy space in which they can learn, play, and develop (through community children’s centers in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury that offer full-time care so parents can work, and through building of playspaces in local shelters across Massachusetts), but they also provide much-needed support to parents, whether it be informational – by helping parents learn how to be involved in the growth and development of their children, as well as how to access education and job training resources – or emotional, through listening ears and open hearts free of judgment.
It’s difficult for me to resist facts and figures; I felt encouraged by the idea that modest gifts of $50 or $100 could go so far ($50 = art supplies for a classroom for one month; $100 = 17 lbs of Legos, 37 lbs of Play-Doh, or 30 lbs of puzzles for shelter playspace programs). In addition to donations, there are many other ways to help, such as donating goods or services, becoming a Playspace Activity Leader (2 hour per week commitment), or event hosting.
A local mama wrote in to pass along word about Boston Cares’ Frosty’s Friends Program, a winter holiday gift-giving program through which volunteers give gifts to kids from Greater Boston’s emergency shelters, community centers, low-income housing programs, educational programs, and day care centers. This local mama and her husband have participated in the Frosty’s Friends Program for about five years (even before becoming parents); sometimes the requests are as heart-wrenchingly simple as asking for physical warmth in the form of a winter coat.
Click here to download the Frosty’s Friends application (due October 16, 2006). You will receive a hand-written letter from a child requesting a small gift (between $20-30 value). All you need to do is purchase the gift, and send it directly to the child’s agency.
The next time you are preparing to purge baby/kid stuff from your home, consider donating to Cradles to Crayons, an organization committed to providing poor and homeless children from Massachusetts (infancy to age 12) with everyday clothes, gear, toys, and school supplies.
Last year alone, Cradles to Crayons provided 25,000 local children with high-quality goods to keep them warm, safe at home, and ready to learn at school. Find out about the different ways you can help their cause, and the types of items accepted for donation.
As I’ve written earlier, when relocating with kids – and all of their associated gear – it’s time to hire professional movers. For our recent move we used Careful Carriers. This small operation was the least expensive of several companies I called, and they were top notch. Personally, the moving team was considerate, polite and friendly; professionally, they were punctual, efficient, and freakishly strong (I can barely heft one crate of books, much less 3 crates on my back). The team also was incredibly sweet towards our babe, who was – understandably – slightly freaked about the sight of these dudes walking out of the house with all of our stuff. Laurel especially warmed to the mover who helped her dad put the crib together in the new house.
Careful Carriers offers local and long distance residential/commercial moves. Tel: 781-641-0376.
Infants are limited to nonverbal communication; no wonder they respond so well to massage and signing. Sheryl White, owner of Baby Kneads, is an established infant massage and signing teacher serving the Metro West and Boston area. Sheryl offers tutelage in a number of formats: out of her home in Southborough, through private consultations in client’s homes, with teachers at day care centers, through free programs at libraries and family networks, and at Isis Maternity ($40.00 for signing and $25.00 for massage; 10% discount for members) and WarmLines ($25.00 for members; $35.00 for non-members for infant massage).
Click here to contact Baby Kneads about public programs and individual consultation.
Venezuelan cuisine isn’t abundant in the Boston area, but it hardly matters with La Casa De Pedro on the block. During lunch and dinner, you’ll likely see chef-owner Pedro Alarcon welcoming guests, directing staff, and ensuring that patrons are enjoying their authentically and flavorfully prepared meals.
La Casa De Pedro offers a bright yet warm dining room with an open kitchen concept, and an enclosed courtyard out back. You’ll do well starting with the crispy, piping hot empanadas (filled corn turnovers) and ending with the superb coconut flan; whatever you choose in between those courses surely will not disappoint.
La Casa De Pedro, 51 Main Street, Watertown, Tel: 617-923-8025
Isn't it marvelous that play = learning for little ones? If you need a change of scenery from your current toys, space, and recycling bin (location of some of our babe's most fascinating finds), check out the Play Academy in Medford. Highly recommended by a Boston area mama, the Play Academy was founded and developed by a mother of two. Weekly classes (ages 3 months and up) are designed to stimulate cognitive, social and emotional development; you can register for sessions in blocks of 10 ($140), 15 ($195), or 20 ($240) weeks. Play Academy also hosts birthday parties.
Play Academy, 25 Riverside Avenue, Medford; Tel: 1-781-738-PLAY
As a music and brain scientist, the innateness of music appeared irrefutable when I saw my babe flap her arms to music (before she could walk), squat/bounce on her chubby haunches at her piano (during the cruising phase), and collectively rock out with her toddler friends at day care (think hoedown meets toddler mosh pit).
So why not keep feeding that natural creative spirit? Music Together offers music making programs for babes (infants – kindergarteners) and their caregivers. And it’s okay if you lost your musical mojo sometime en route to adulthood. The trained professionals will help you discover fun ways to be musical with your babe.
Use Music Together's class locator to check nationwide and international offerings. Among the many locations across Massachusetts, I've heard great things about Music Together of Cambridge & Brookline (also offering classes in Boston & Charlestown). In addition to your set of nine 45-minute classes ($195; sibling discount = $90; babes under 1 year old are free with registered sibling), fees include musical goodies (e.g., CDs, songbook, activities), a handbook on developmental music research, and, if desired, an assessment of your child’s music development.
What a pity that my food poisoning induced “labor” precluded use of our doula (the services of which were available gratis via participation in a doula study at our hospital). As first time parents, my husband and I loved the idea of having a childbirth expert in the room to take the pressure off of Jon, and keep our multi-paged (!) birthing plan on track.
Of course, the birthing plan and doula went out the window when I had my emergency C-section. So while I am unable to provide a personal reference, a dear mama friend from Cambridge – who searched long and hard for her doula – offers high praise for the following resource:
I recently heard someone refer to Arlington as the new Cambridge. I won’t get into that argument in detail, but the fabulously yummy Za - minutes from the Cambridge/Arlington line - offers strong evidence for the case file.
Za followed the closing of Full Moon, the closing of which was a mystery given Full Moon’s seemingly steady stream of customers. Za has stepped up to the task, though, serving gourmet pizzas and salads that are suitable for both adults and kids. Kids will delight in the bright artwork and pig sculptures; the staff happily will fill up your sippy with milk, chocolate milk, or apple juice.
Za offers a regular menu (build your own and specialty pizzas, the latter of which change on occasion) as well as chalkboard specials that change more frequently and incorporate seasonal ingredients often garned from local farms. Za also recently made a smart move in developing a fine dessert menu.
The citrus infused beet, pea green, and goat cheese salad is spectacular, as is the Portobello mushroom (with roasted red pepper, caramelized onion, roasted garlic, and goat cheese) specialty pizza.
Za, 138 Mass. Ave., Arlington, Tel: 781-316-2334
For an outing equally enriching for both parents and babes, head to Barefoot Books in Cambridge, where the wide array of books, toys, artwork, and magical spaces are imbued with rich artistry and mindful, creative storytelling for all ages. Books for younger babes offer the opportunity to learn about colors, numbers, and objects in smooth, soothing color palettes; books for older kids frame entertaining stories in the context of embracing diversity and culture, multigenerational bonds, and the value of creativity. The approach to storytelling is multimodal: many books include story CDs and offer an accompanying line of music CDs, artwork, and toys; the Folkmanis Puppet Line ($9.99-$21.99) allows kids to continue storytelling, even after you are done reading the words on the page.
Founded by two mamas who started their business out of home so they could continue to be close to their children, Barefoot Books is keen on helping other parents across the globe do the same. Their Barefoot Stallholder program provides support to develop home-based businesses; they also offer the opportunity to earn money and free products by hosting Barefoot Parties.
Check out their current schedule for free events and promotions; you’ll want to make a habit of stopping in for story hour, currently Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30am.
Barefoot Books, 1771 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Tel: 617-349-1610
Pursuant to a recent post on dining out with babes, I’m writing fresh on the heels of dinner out with the babe. It was time to give her another chance. We hit Tu Y Yo in Somerville where the staff is friendly and courteous and our waitress was especially kind. When I ordered a glass of milk for the babe and was fumbling around for the sippy cup, the waitress offered to fill the cup up directly. When she returned, it was clear – from the warmth of the cup and the lack of peanut butter stains – that she had washed out the sippy cup before filling it up. I truly was touched.
The food at Tu Y Yo is terrific; I just wish I had had a chance to really enjoy it. In reality, the babe was super; she sat in the booster seat for about 15-20 minutes entertaining herself with a saltshaker. In retrospect, we probably should have used this time to walk her around and saved the saltshaker for dinner time. When the food arrived, she picked a little, but otherwise was ready to be up and toddling around. We spent the next 15 minutes trying to wolf down our food, entertain her, and keep her from petting the man sitting behind us.
Jack would’ve loved to check out Magic Beans in Brookline. The store is replete with a terrific selection of the latest cool toys and baby gear; friendly staff is available to help you test drive (and figure out how to fold and unfold) any of their impressive selection of high-end strollers. The store also offers a sizeable play area for babes.
Magic Beans, 312 Harvard Street, Brookline, 617-264-2326
When you are next looking for an outing that is a little more Zen and a little less zoo, head to the peaceful, manicured Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset every day; admission is free (although donations are welcome).
The Arboretum offers seasonal two-hour school programs for students in grades 3 to 6 that are designed to encourage the investigation of plant science. Classes are free for kids from Boston schools, $4 otherwise. One-day and multi-session horticulture, botany, and landscape-related courses are offered for adults of all levels.
Finished trolling around Faneuil Hall and the North End and need to take a load off? Then head over to the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park on Atlantic Avenue in Boston. Not only is the harbor view and landscaping a relaxing retreat for adults, but your babe will love the playground, green space, and spray fountain.
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Tel: 617-635-4505