I am currently doing a short stint as the the managing contributor of CBS New York Best of Kids. (I think that I mentioned that, but I’m not sure. This year has been a blur.) Anyway, my friend Rebecca has written a very thorough piece over there called Your Guide To The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It has several helpful tips in case you want to brave the crowds and attend the parade in person.

I will be celebrating Thanksgiving at home with my husband, kids and mom (who will be in town for the week). This season makes me think about one of my favorite experiences from last year, so I’m reposting it!

10 Behind The Scenes Tidbits From Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation (2009)

Thanks to NBC, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation tonight. It rained a bit near the end, but nothing could put a damper on this special time. The participating bloggers received a special “behind the barriers” tour. It was all the more special, because one of my favorite blogging friends Isabel (and her adorable son) was a part of the group. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Anyway, this has to be one of my top 10 “work” experiences of 2009. It really was a unique opportunity, because the whole event is very controlled and secure. (i.e. one of the little boys in the crowd asked his parents, “Why do THEY get to be so close?”) In any event, this was one more thing to add to my “thankful” list. Thanks NBC.

While we were going through the two balloon inflation sites (77th and 81st Streets), we asked our guide Orlando several questions. I will be adding a slide show of all the pictures soon. Meanwhile, the 10 most interesting things that I learned tonight are below:

1. The balloons that take part in each year’s parade are a representation of the year’s popular culture. It is expected that viewers will know who/what the balloon represents on first glance. I asked if companies buy their balloons way into the parade. The answer: participating companies were either approached by OR approached Macy’s. There are costs that the outside companies cover BUT Macy’s doesn’t just accept every company that expresses an interest. The parade is family friendly, so they don’t accept any sponsors that are not kid-friendly (i.e. no alcohol, cigarette or “too adult” focused companies).

2. The balloons in the parade are tiered. Some people walk around with balloon head. Then there are small balloons. Lastly, there are giant balloons. This year’s giant balloons include 2 Spiderman balloons, Ronald McDonald, the Pillsbury Dough Boy and Sailor Mickey.

3. The giant balloons usually take 1 ½ hours to inflate while the smaller ones only take 20 minutes.

4. Sponge Bob is the only square balloon in this year’s parade. Because of the shape, it takes 600 lines to guide it. (Other rounded balloons only take 10-15 lines.)

5. Each balloon has built-in chambers. That way, if a portion of the balloon pops, the staff can fix is as necessary. Meanwhile, the balloon would still be able to fly.

8. This is the 83rd year of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It started in 1924. However, during World War II, the parade was canceled for 3 years. During those years, the rubber for the balloons was donated towards the war effort.

9. There are big numbers when it comes to the parade. Over 8,000 volunteers work to make it happen. There are 10,000 people in the parade, including 11 bands from across the country. Approximately 700,000 people come to view the Balloon Inflation from noon to 10 pm on Thanksgiving Eve and there are over 3 million people (on the street alone) for the actual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

And

10. Rosa, a Macy’s employee for 70 years, will help Robin Hall, Director of the parade, in this year’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. This year is also of special note, because it will be taking place along a new route. To find the full details of this year’s parade, please visit the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade site.

Have you ever been to the balloon inflation and/or the actual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? If so, do you recommend attending them with young kids?

I was invited to experience Flywheel, an indoor cycling studio with cycling instructor and founder Ruth Zukerman. I wasn’t able to make today’s event, but I hope to take a class soon. I did some preliminary research and it provides a workout that I think many of you (especially the spinning enthusiasts!) might enjoy too. Highlights include the following:

-Each bike has a mini-computer that displays and monitors your performance across various metrics (i.e. rpm/cadence, resistance and energy) while you ride.

-All of the bikes are configured stadium style so that everyone can see the instructor during the workout.

-Other highlights include free water, spin shoes, wi-fi, towels and lockers. They also offer specialty classes (Bikini Boot Camp, Post-Natal Classes, Specialty Music Series, etc.)

(For a more in-depth review from an indoor cycling enthusiast, you should read Well-Good NYC’s Soul Cycle vs. Flywheel: A comparison shop and spin.)

Flywheel at the JCC
Multiple locations (in NYC and Sag Harbor)
http://www.flywheelsports.com/
(212) 242-9433

Last week, I wrote about visiting City Treehouse in Chelsea while I was hosting the TrueCookPlus Blogger event. This was my first time at the space and I fell in love with it. Over the last six years, I have visited most of the major indoor playgrounds in the city and to my pleasant surprise this one was actually unique. My kids got excited before we even arrived, because I let them look at pictures of the space online before we went. It was the treehouse and water focus that grabbed them. When we were actually at the space, it was the water that they couldn’t get enough of. Reggie and I had to drag them away and Sean’s little hands were shriveled up like little prunes! Below are several pictures that I took of the space in order to give you a peek.

Front area:

The bathroom area:

(You can tell a lot about a place by looking at the bathroom. This one was very clean and nicely stocked with kid essentials.)

The play area:

One of the smaller rooms:

In any event, if you live anywhere near Chelsea, this would be a great spot to spend a hot summer day!
City Treehouse
West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011-3643
Email info@citytreehouse.com
www.citytreehouse.com

I went to a 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s Holiday Glee cocktail party on Tuesday. I’ll write more about their holiday movie offerings later in the year, but I wanted to share about the location. It was at the Kimberly. In making my plans for the summer, one of the magazines that I read was New York Magazine. In their Summer Issue, one section was about rooftop lounges and bars. Upstairs at the Kimberly (at an altitude of 360 feet) made my short list of summer places to go.

The views from this new (it just opened) 4000 square foot space are amazing. Before I visited, I checked their website and put an asterick next to the things that I wanted to see. They were the following:

*retractable glass ceilings and walls

*ambient heated floors

*newly built express elevator from the street level

*living green walls cascade down bronze panels

*a perfect view of the iconic Chrysler Building

*vintage theatrical lights and strings of incandescent bulbs that float overhead

And

*furniture carefully curated from renowned houses such as B&B Italia, Knoll and Moooi

I think that I was able to get everything but the floors (I forgot) in my short video below.

Also, while I was at the party, I enjoyed their small plate offerings (the Truffled Mac & Cheese was especially yummy). The bar was also fully equipped and I had my one familiar drink, Midori Sour. Based on the New York Magazine article, the drinks are a bit pricey – $18+. It’s just like everything else in Manhattan – you pay for the real estate/experience!) In any event, I can see myself visiting Upstairs again for a special Girls Night Out experience.

Do you have a favorite rooftop spot in the City?

We really enjoyed our time in Los Angeles. I would like to visit again with the entire family when Sean is a little older. (I think that a 5 – 6 hour flight is still a bit too much for my 3 year old.) There were a few young kids crying on the flight for the majority of the time. I was asleep so I didn’t mind, but I wouldn’t want to subject my fellow passengers to the noise/restlessness – unless it was an absolute necessity.

I really liked the people whom I met in Los Angeles. They were very welcoming and laid back. There was also a variety of interesting places to visit and experience. This trip turned out to be food and game focused, but there are plenty of other attractions that I would be interested in seeing.

As with everything, there were a couple of things that I did not like about Los Angeles also. Since I don’t especially like to drive, Los Angeles is definitely not a place that I would want to live. Driving is a necessity there because everything is so spread out. The city does have a public transportations system, but even the locals warned us against trying to use it. It doesn’t go everywhere and the waiting times can be long. (If you need a car service while visiting LA, I highly recommend Pacific Town Car Service, the car service that Xbox hired. Our driver Paul was excellent. He was prompt, friendly and helpful. He even texted me to let me know when he arrived and exactly where he was at!)

The other thing that I didn’t especially like about Los Angeles is that it appeared to be very segregated – by class more than race – but a little of both. Dont’ get me wrong…New York City is segregated in certain ways also (i.e. the school systems). The difference (to me) is that because we are on an island with limited space, we are all on top of each other. For instance: in New York, there are million dollar condos on one block and right around the corner from that is the “projects” (housing for the poor). Because Los Angeles is so spread out geographically, it is very clear simply by driving down the streets where the “haves” and “have nots” lived. Also, people tend to be in little ethnic pockets like Little Japan, Chinatown, etc. (i.e. As we were riding in a cab, the driver mentioned, “Oh, that’s Jewish Hollywood…” – huh?!) Once again, it’s not that NYC doesn’t have similar ethnic pockets. It’s simply an issue of space. New York has Chinatown, but it is right around the corner from Little Italy that is around the corner from (fill in the blank). I think the fundamental difference is that in New York everything and everyone (of various economic classes/races/ethnic backgrounds/etc.) is right around the corner. In Los Angeles, they are not around the corner…they are a car ride away. It seems that unless you are very deliberate, it would be easier to surround yourself and your family with people who are just like you. Since I thrive on diversity, I don’t think that I would like that lifestly. That’s just my initial observation though…I was only there for three days. (I could be totally worng. It would not be the first – or the last – time!)

In any event, I really liked Los Angeles overall. I guess that I feel the same way about it as some of my Los Angeles friends feel about New York City….it’s a great place to visit, but I can’t see myself living there. There is no place like home…especially when “home” is New York City

If you live in and/or are familiar with Los Angeles, tell me…are my initial impressions wrong?

Several of the bloggers and vloggers who were attending the world premiere of Project Natal met up at a nearby “pub”, The Lab Gastropub beforehand. The especially fun part was that I was able to meet several local Los Angeles area moms who blog (@daytrippingmom @peachhead and @mintcool) at the happy hour. It was especially great to catch up with cute, sweet Caryn (@rockinmama), whom I met at General Mills last year when she was pregnant. Anyway, you all probably know that pubs/bars are not really my “thing”. However, I will meet up with friends for an occasional Midori Sour, so I can appreciate good ones. This one qualifies as such.

Close to the University of Southern California, The Lab has a friendly vibe. Everyone seemed to enjoy their drinks and the appetizers were tasty. If you are someone who likes to watch television/sports games with your friends at bars, you will love this place. There are several wall-mounted televisions. If I’m not mistaken, I think that they even have a television or two for outside viewing. One thing that I notice about Los Angeles residents is that they are loyal to their LA Lakers home team. As such, I “begged” my husband to behave. He was rooting for the Boston Celtics simply because they were playing against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant. (As for me, I could care less who was playing. I would rather play basketball than watch it. In fact, I actually enjoy watching the women’s basketball teams better than the men’s teams!) Just in case you’re visiting LA and need some nice bar/pub options, here’s a glimpse of The Lab Gastropub:

Disclosure: Thanks to Xbox 360 for sponsoring my Los Angeles trip to the launch of Project Natal/Kinect.

As you all know, I love tea places. (Have you checked out my “Favorite Tea Places in NYC” over at goby.com?) When, I found out that I would have some free time on Sunday afternoon, I checked to see some of the top tea places in Los Angeles. Fortunately, I was able to score a reservation for afternoon tea at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Rendezvous Court. I’m so glad that I did.

The Rendezvous Court is in the beautiful lobby area of The Biltmore. It was refreshing to see how super attentive the waiters were. For instance, my husband made the mistake of re-filling his tea cup. The waiter rushed over and jokingly said, “No one touches my tea”. (In other words, he was the one who makes sure that cups are filled/needs are met.) A girl can get used to this type of service…I wanted to bring the waiter home in my suitcase! Most importantly, the food was tasty and plentiful. The salmon tea sandwiches and the scones with their homemade Devonshire cream were especially good. Many people think that afternoon tea is not filling, but it is. Reggie and I were so full from the sandwiches and scones, that we were too full to eat the pastry tier. See a glimpse for yourself:

On Sunday morning, a friend of ours took us to Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles before church. There are several different ones, but we went to the Hollywood one. I can sum up our food in a word: “yum”! I ordered the fried chicken wings and waffles. Since I had read that the waffles run on the soggy side, I asked for them to be prepared crispy…that made them the exact right texture. The truth is that the waffles were not anything special…a waffle is a waffle. The chicken was excellent though. It was seasoned so well that my husband couldn’t even stop talking about it. (He is harder to impress than I am.) Their lemonade tea was also especially good.

I was talking to a new friend at church later in the day and she informed me that I had tasted Roscoe’s “wrong”. Some locals eat the meal by wrapping the waffle around the fried chicken and dipping the combination into the syrup. That way, they get both the sweet and salty flavor in one bite. I’ll try that the next time…

We had some free time on Saturday evening, so my husband and I wanted to go to a special “pre-Anniversary” dinner. (Our eighth wedding anniversary is on June 15th…yay!) I asked some of the locals for romantic dinner suggestions. Crustacean in Beverly Hills was a top pick, but they were booked until 10 PM that night. No. To our surprise, The Ivy restaurant had an opening for 7 PM that night, so that is where we went.

Eating at The Ivy was a wonderful experience. The setting wasn’t especially romantic, but that was alright. The guidebooks had made us a little hesitant. The Ivy is a place where a lot of celebrities and “industry people” dine, so we had read that a.) it’s hard for everyday people to get a reservation and b.) that diners were not treated well unless they were celebrities. Then, I had my own doubts. Often, the food at big name restaurants that I have visited in the past is overrated and/or the portions are so small that I am hungry afterwards. I am happy to report that the Ivy was nothing like what we read nor what I thought. Maybe we were lucky, but we were able to get a reservation for the same night. The service was excellent (our waiter Jonte was perfectly attentive). The food was delicious – especially the crabcake appetizer and the shrimp dish that my husband ordered. The portions were so generous that we couldn’t even eat everything!

I don’t have any pictures of the actual restaurant and food…my husband asked me not to take any. He was right…it would have looked a little tacky. However, I had to get some type of visual memory…so I took photos of the bathroom. (I wasn’t bothering anyone there and you can kind of get a feel for the restaurant by looking at the wallpaper!)

Our hotel room at The Kyoto Grand Hotel was dim and peaceful. (I could have opened the windows if I wanted more light, but I liked the serene vibe.) I’ll let you take a glimpse for yourself. I just wish that you could feel the bed. If was one of – if not THE – most comfortable hotel beds that I have ever slept on.

On Saturday evening when we arrived, I met up with some of the other bloggers and vloggers at the Kyoto Grand Hotel’s Rendezvous Lounge. I really liked that Xbox was smart and brought a variety of different bloggers and vloggers to the launch of Project Natal/Kinect. It was a great mix of people. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) was the only other mom/blogger that I personally knew beforehand. For me, it was just interesting to see how Kinect will appeal to a variety of audiences in different ways. For instance, initially I didn’t understand why a beauty vlogger would be interested in covering this event until Melissa mentioned that she has two different video channels – one is focused on beauty and the other is more lifestyle focused. She would talk more about this on her lifestyle channel, because it is something that her (predominately) female viewers would be interested in learning about both for themselves and/or their significant others. That makes perfect sense. As a mom, my view is a little different from her take. (I shared my initial thoughts back in February on this post.) There were also some hardcore gamers there. Their audience has just been waiting for this new technology. There was something for all of us to report back to our core readers. Kinect really is an evolution in gaming. It’s new, unique and it looks like it will be a lot of fun. Who wouldn’t want to learn more about this?! In any event, you can see my photos of the room, my gift bag (I loved the Sprinkles cupcakes…yum!) and the lounge below:

Disclosure: Thanks to Xbox 360 for sponsoring my Los Angeles trip to the launch of Project Natal/Kinect.