For Families

$29 for $60 “Very Important Bear” Ticket to The Berenstain Bears LIVE!

by Kimberly on October 23, 2012


$29 for $60 V.I.B. (Very Important Bear) Ticket to The Berenstain Bears LIVE! with Preferred Seating and Set of Bear Ears

I remember reading the Berenstain Bears children books back when I was a little girl. I enjoyed them then and my sons enjoy the books now. As a parent, I especially appreciate the fact that they usually teach great character lessons in a “non-preachy” way. That is why today’s pick is a deal from the 55-minute musical The Berenstain Bears LIVE!, which brings those classic bears to life on stage. For the discounted price, you will get one V.I.B. (Very Important Bear) ticket to The Berenstain Bears LIVE! that is playing at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center for select dates in October, November, and December. The plot of the musical revolves around helping Brother Bear deal with school trouble; teaching Sister Bear to make new friends and encouraging the whole bear family to eat healthier. Your V.I.B. (child) will get to sit on the “Grassy Knoll” (at the foot of the stage), receive bear ears to wear during the show and attend a post-show dance party with face painting and photos with the Bears.

{Post image courtesy of my affiliate partner, Living Social}

0 comments

Family Activity: Decorative Beach Cake Recipe

by Kimberly on July 19, 2012

I am not an especially “crafty mama”, but I can follow simple instructions. Recently, Bianca from ScribbleShop.com, a new online resource for purchasing arts and crafts supplies at competitive prices, reached out to me to see if we could work together on something. Since readers are often seeking different activities to engage with their kids when they visit this site, I suggested that she send over an easy to follow family craft. (In addition to selling supplies, ScribbleShop.com also offers craft inspiration, tutorials, printable worksheets and coloring pages.) I must admit that I was impressed when she came back with an edible activity. If you have any beach themed outings or parties planned, then you will definitely want to bookmark this post. Enjoy!
_________________________

Are you looking for a summer treat that is fun to make and offers a great presentation? Then try our Beach Cake! Made with layers of yummy Nilla Wafers, Vanilla and Lemon Pudding and cake, this treat is sure to offer a fun surprise to any summer event!

This dessert is great for parties, super tasty and the kids will love to help decorate the pail and make the cake and eat it too!

To make the decorative pail, you will need:

- A Tin Pail

- Colorful Felt

- Rhinestones

- Pearl Stickers

- Tacky Glue

For the cake, you will need:

- 1 box of Vanilla Instant Pudding

- 1 box of Lemon Instant Pudding*

- ½ a box of Nilla Wafers

- 1 box of your favorite vanilla cake mix

- 1 snack size bag of Swedish Fish

- Chocolate Melts in White and Chocolate

- Candy Molds in Seashell Shapes

* You can use 1 box of each flavor, or 2 boxes of one of the flavors

(You can purchase all of the creative supplies here at Scribbleshop.com!)

To start, first clean the inside and outside of the pail.

Get creative with the felt and cut out underwater shapes- coral, fish, starfish, etc.

Glue on the shapes using Tacky Glue.

Add additional embellishments with rhinestones and pearl stickers.

Allow glue to dry for a few hours or overnight.

For the cake: (This is where things get fun!)

Prepare your ingredients

Mash up the Nilla Wafers in a bowl. You want it mashed up to look like sand, but in a separate bowl, mash a few chunkier pieces. You will need to use about half a box to make the Nilla Wafer “sand”.

Make the Instant Pudding (and try not to eat it yet).

Mix up and bake the cake in a 9 x 11” pan. You will only use about half the cake.

Once the cake is cooled, slice it up into 1 x 2” cubes.

Place a thin layer of mashed wafers into the bottom of the pail. Mix up the “sand” piece with the chunks.

On top of the sand layer, place one layer of cake-cubes.

Cover these two layers with a thick layer of pudding. (It’s your choice regarding which flavor to use first).

Again, layer with “sand” and then cake.

Cover these layers with the other flavor of pudding.

Repeat these steps as necessary. The last layer at the brim of the pail should be pudding. If you fall a little short, it’s okay to add a little extra pudding.

Once you’ve laid the last layer of pudding, completely cover this layer with the fine-mashed, “sand”–like wafers…no chunks this time.

Place your cake into the fridge for at least 1 hour.

While the cake is in the fridge, make the chocolate shells.

Melt each of the chocolate flavors/colors in separate bowls. It is best to do this at 15-second intervals. Remove the bowl from the microwave, stir and place in the microwave until the chocolate runs smooth.

Pour melted chocolate into a plastic pastry bag (or a Ziploc bag and snip the end of one corner).

Repeat these steps for each of the chocolates colors.

Using the Pastry bag, fill the candy molds to make your shells.

You can make solid colored shells, but if you would like to make decorative shells, here are a few tips:

  • Fill only parts of the mold with one color and add another layer on top to fill the mold to fill the specific designs of the mold.
  • Sprinkle lines of one color into the mold going straight across from left to write. Completely fill the mold with another color. Using a toothpick, drag lines into the mold going from top to bottom. This will gently blend the colors to make a unique tapered design.

Once all the molds are filled, place the molds into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes have passed, remove the molds from the fridge, turn the candy mold upside down over a plate and very gently twist and bend the mold. The shell candy pieces will simply pop out onto the plate.

When you are ready for your dessert, remove the cake from the fridge and put a sand shovel into the top of the cake. Decorate the top of the cake with the chocolate shells and Swedish Fish. Present your cake and enjoy!

If you like this post, please consider…

-Following Mom in the City on Twitter
-Liking Mom in the City on Facebook
-Signing up for Mom in the City’s FREE weekly email newsletter

0 comments

Southern Kid-Friendly Summer Recipes: Smoked Chicken Sliders

by Kimberly on June 13, 2012

While I was at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party this past weekend, I went to see Southern Living Test Kitchen Chef Norman King demo one of his favorite kid-friendly summer recipes. My kids tasted samples of his Smoked Chicken Sliders and they both enjoyed them. (That is no small feat since the chicken was covered with chow chow, a medley of vegetables.)

Mr. King shared that sliders make the perfect summer meals for kids because they are really easy to make and perfectly sized for little hands. To make the smoked chicken sliders, you just place the chow chow and shredded smoked chicken on slider buns and enjoy. I have included both recipes below. (If you don’t have access to a smoker, don’t worry about it. The chicken recipe works really well in apartment ovens too.)

Smoked Chicken
(Recipe courtesy of Southern Living Test Kitchen Chef Norman King’s demo at 2012 Big Apple Barbecue)

Ingredients:

-Paul’s Chicken Rub
(Rub ingredients courtesy of Southern Living July 2005, used with permission)

  • 1 cup Greek seasoning
  • 1/4 cup garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup paprika
  • 3 tablespoons dried oregano

-1 (5 to 5 ½-pound) whole chicken

Directions:

  1. Combine all of the ingredients that are included in the dry rub together. (If there is any left over, store it in an airtight container.)
  2. Heavily season the chicken with the dry rub.
  3. Wrap the chicken in plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for 6 hours (or overnight).
  4. When you are read to cook the chicken, pull it out of the refrigerator an hour beforehand.
  5. If using a smoker, smoke the chicken for 3 to 4 hours (or use these Southern Living smoked chicken instructions.)
    OR
    If you live in a city apartment (like me!), place the chicken in a roasting pan and roast at 375 degrees for one hour. It will come out moist, juicy and flavorful.

*Cooking Tip: If you want more of a smoky flavor, then add smoked paprika to the chicken.


Chowchow
(Recipe courtesy of Southern Living JUNE 2012, used with permission)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chopped fresh cabbage
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 3/4 cup chopped green tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon pickling salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)

Preparation

  1. Stir together cabbage, onion, green tomatoes, chopped green and red bell peppers, and pickling salt. Cover and chill 2 to 8 hours. Transfer mixture to a Dutch oven. Stir in sugar, vinegar, 1/4 cup water, mustard seeds, celery seeds, turmeric, and, if desired, dried crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium, and simmer 3 minutes. Cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Stir in jalapeño pepper, if desired. Cover and chill 1 to 8 hours before serving.

{These recipes were cross-posted from Foodie City Mom.}

If you like this post, please consider…
-Following Mom in the City on Twitter
-Liking Mom in the City on Facebook
-Signing up for Mom in the City’s FREE weekly email newsletter

1 comment

8 Things To Do With The Kids This Week (6/11/12 – 6/17/12)

by Kimberly on June 11, 2012

There are a lot of great events going on in NYC this week. We are a family that loves museums, so I am especially excited about the Museum Mile Festival that is taking place this week. (FYI: I have not forgotten about the dads. I love dads! On Thursday, I am actually posting a separate listing of Father’s Day events that are being held around the city.) Enjoy!

1. ART. WRITE. NOW 2012 National Exhibition
(June 1st – June 15th)

Sheila C. Johnson Design Center
66 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011

This national exhibition is a perfect opportunity to inspire the talented young artists and writers in your family. More than 500 pieces of art and writing from teens (grades 7 through 12) will be featured. All of the talented young students (including 54 from the tri-state area) received recognition in this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The entire family is sure to be inspired by the teens’ visual and literary works of wonder. Film, animation, 2D and 3D artworks, e-readers, videogames and video greetings will all be represented in this FREE exhibit. For more details, please visit www.artandwriting.org/AWNNYC.

2. Museum Mile Festival
(June 12th from 6pm to 9pm)

Multiple locations
Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 105th Streets
New York, NY

If your kids can stay up a bit late, then you definitely will not want to miss this mile-long celebration. That’s right…23 car-free blocks in Manhattan! Ten of New York City’s (and the country’s) top museums will offer FREE admission to the public on this night. The block party spills over into the streets too, because there will be music, entertainment art and activities for kids in the streets. For more information, please visit museummilefestival.org.

3. Caribbean: Crossroads of the World
(June 12th to January 6th of 2013)

Multiple locations

The diversity of people that live in NYC is one of the greatest aspects of raising kids here. That is why this exhibit which is a collaborative effort between El Museo del Barrio, the Queens Museum of Art and The Studio Museum in Harlem is such an important project. After more than seven years of research, visits to the Caribbean and such, this exhibit was formed to showcase the region in an amazing way. Various aspects of the resulting work will be presented at the three museums along with special programs and events. While each museum has its own admission price, The Studio Museum in Harlem offers free admission every Sunday from noon to 6pm. Children under 12 are also free at El Museo del Barrio, so only the accompanying adults would need to pay the (reasonable) admission fees. You can find the full details at caribbeancrossroads.org.

4. Seniors and the City Stories of Our New York
(June 15th from 7pm to 8:30pm)

Lenox Hill Senior Center
619 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 308-1959

Activities that help the young and the elderly to connect are special. That is why this FREE kid-friendly performance piece is a top pick. Created and performed by members of the Lenox Hill Senior Center, the song, dance, comedy, and oral histories show will connect modern day NYC kids with the New York City of the past. That is wonderful! To learn more about the performance, please visit http://www.lmcc.net.

5. High Line Live! Step to the High Line Workshop and Performance
(Workshop: June 16th from 3pm to 4pm; Showcase: June 16th from 4pm to 5pm)


14th Street Passage
On the High Line at West 14th Street
New York, NY

Enjoy the last day of a FREE four-day celebration of stepping. (In case you don’t know what that is…”Stepping is an energetic and precise form of group movement that uses a mixture of spoken word, footsteps, and handclaps to transform the participants’ bodies into rhythmic instruments. The history of stepping is rooted in the competitive schoolyard song and dance rituals of historically African American fraternities and sororities.”) Anyway, step teams from around New York City will be performing in a showcase. Before that treat, Stomp the Yard star/stepping expert Seye Charles will teach stepping basics to attendees of all ages and experience levels. Learn more at www.thehighline.org.

6. Hunts Point Fish Parade and Summer Festival
(June 16th from 10:30am to 5pm)

For more details, please visit www.thepoint.org/fishparade.

7. Atlantic Ave Extravaganza
(June 16th from 1pm to 5pm)

For more details, please visit atlanticavenuebid.wordpress.com.

8. Go Fish
(June 16th from 10am – 2pm)

Robert F Wagner Junior Park
Just north of Historic Battery Park, off Battery Place
New York, NY 10280

Enjoy this special Juneteenth “Go Fish” with the entire family. In addition to the catch-and-release fishing, there will be bird watching and a live musical performance at this FREE event. For the full details, please visit bpcparks.org.

{Post images courtesy of their respective websites.}

If you like this post, please consider…
-Following Mom in the City on Twitter
-Liking Mom in the City on Facebook
-Signing up for Mom in the City’s FREE weekly email newsletter

0 comments

FREE Summer Activities for Kids in NYC: Libraries

by Kimberly on June 7, 2012

Several libraries are holding their Summer Reading Kickoffs today. Libraries are great places to read with your children and to attend special activities and events. Many branches offer free story hours, arts and crafts, workshops, films and (most importantly!) the opportunity to borrow books.

Brooklyn Public Library
You can find profiles, services, programs, events and exhibitions, news, etc. on their site.

Brooklyn also has a First 5 Years site for parents of children (birth through age five) where you can learn how to share books with the youngest of kids and find out about BPL programs and services.

New York Public Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) consists of five central libraries and 80 branch libraries located in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. The site has a “Classes, Programs & Exhibitions” section that keeps you up to date on the latest happenings at the various member libraries. The New York Public Library also publishes a monthly “Events” booklet that lists citywide activities and programs and is available at each branch.

Kids Section
The NYPL has a special “On-Lion for Kids” site that has Summer Reading 2012 book list recommendations, games, library event picks and more.

Queens Public Library
This site shares information about the libraries that fall within the Queens library system. Book picks, events and other library services are featured. There are also a variety of highlighted events for families and kids.

Do you and your kids have a favorite local library?

{Post image courtesy of the New York Public Library.}

If you like this post, please consider…
-Following Mom in the City on Twitter
-Liking Mom in the City on Facebook
-Signing up for Mom in the City’s FREE weekly email newsletter

0 comments

← Previous Entries