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Coney Island

Details: Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles; Category: Summer Fun

PSP member, blog writer and photographer Amber Ceffalio visited the aquarium & Coney Island last weekend, still an ideal outing for young ones.

Coney Island was feared destroyed after Superstorm Sandy. But, in defiance of the storm surge, seaside businesses created the Alliance of Coney Island to support local residents and enterprises. Coney Island is stronger than ever offering family-friendly attractions for everyone from toddlers to tweens.

One of the first projects the Alliance completed was the elevated restrooms lining the boardwalk.

Make Memories with Mermaids and Movies:

Open summer by dressing up as a mythical sea creature and marching in the Mermaid Parade (June 22nd, Surf Ave). The Mermaid Parade was created in 1983 by artists to celebrate the seaside neighborhood. It’s reportedly grown into the largest parade in America with 750,000 visitors last year. The future of the Mermaid Parade was briefly in doubt but thankfully, funding came through and this weekend the celebration begins at 1:00 pm.

Flicks on the Beach will inflate a 40-foot screen each Monday through the summer transforming the beach at West 10th Street into an outdoor theater. The first movie, Little Fugitive, is July 1st at 7:30 pm.

Attractions to Experience:

Though parts of the New York Aquarium are still being rebuilt, but it has enough attractions open--state of the art aquatheater for sea lion performances, fish tanks, outdoor marine wildlife--to keep little ears and eyes engaged. The Aquarium is continuing to host birthday parties and summer camps.

Family-owned Deno’s Kiddie Park opens at 11:00 am each day, an hour earlier than than the section for older riders. The accident-free, owner built, landmarked Wonder Wheel has been scrubbed and painted and is fully operational. The Wonder Wheel is safe for all ages.

Luna Park, which includes the iconic Cyclone Rollercoaster, added new rides and restaurants this year. June 21st at 9:30 pm, Luna Park will ceremoniously light the Parachute Jump.

Nurture a love for baseball by taking the family to the Brooklyn Cyclones. Baseball at the Cyclones is more affordable (from $9), easier to access (D, F, Q, N), and more interactive (promo schedule) than baseball at the major league stadiums. Every Friday and Saturday night home game, fireworks will be held post-game.

Time to Eat:

There are a plethora of eateries the length of the boardwalk including the so called birthplace of the hot dog, Nathans. Nathans annual hot dog eating contest will be July 4th at noon. Totonno’s is back and baking world famous pizzas. If you love pizza, stop by Grimaldi’s Surf Ave location; there is little to no line. For a sitdown restaurant, try Gargioulo’s, a Coney Island mainstain since 1907. As evidence that Coney Island truly is a family-friendly, Applebees recently opened with a 4,300 gallon fish tank.

Take the Q, B, D or N to the end of the line and enjoy a day at Coney Island.

aquarium photo 1

Click Read More to see more photos!

Nanny Survey 2013: Please Give us your help!

Details: Parent Category: Advice - Childcare and Education; Category: Nanny 101

THE 2013 NANNY SURVEY: We need your input!

Your help keeps the PSP "Hiring a Nanny" resources up-to-date for parents!
Do you have a regular nanny? If so, PLEASE fill out the PSP survey (It will take you less than 14 minutes!)

Click HERE to take the Survey

WHY HELP? The Nanny Survey provides reliable data on pay rates and responsibilities for Nannies that helps ALL parents in Brooklyn in the process of hiring. This information will be shared with the Brooklyn community to help families make accurate and thoughtful decisions about employing a nanny.

Your answers are confidential and your name will in no way be associated with our data.

PLEASE FORWARD the link below to anyone you know who employs a Nanny!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2013NannySurvey

Thanks in advance for your participation,

The Park Slope Parents Nanny Survey Team

Mothering & Daughtering Workshop July 19 - 21, 2013

Details: Parent Category: About PSP; Category: Events

Build a Lifetime Mother-Daughter Bond

July 19-21 @ BAX, 421 5th Avenue, in Park Slope

Through ritual, storytelling, art, and exercises in communication, this special workshop will help:

+ Gain tools that build bridges and keep those bridges strong through the teen years.

+ Address issues of motherhood, mentoring, trusting your intuition, and developing your emotional intelligence.

+ See your daughters learn to share their vision and express their feelings.

DETAILS:

Friday, July 19^th (7pm- 9pm)

Saturday July 20^th (9:15 am-12:30pm; 2:30-5pm)

Sunday July 21^st (9: 15am-12:30pm)

Registration: $550 per mother-daughter (ages 9-12) team. Registration closes June 15th and spaces are limited. Register via PayPal : http://www.motheringanddaughtering.com/workshops.php

TOP 10 Things to Think About When Moving

Details: Parent Category: Home Life; Category: Moving

Moving can be a stressful time. But if you take steps to familiarize yourself with the way it is regulated and what rights and responsibilities you have, you'll likely have a much smoother move. Here are some things to think about as you prepare for your move.

Join us for the Spring Fling on May 4

Details: Category: News

Show your love for the Old Stone House & Washington Park! We’re celebrating the first anniversary of the playground and gardens with a Spring Fling. There will be music, face painting, a cake walk raffle, a mask making workshop and the lovely Puppeteers Cooperative Rites of Spring performance and parade. From 5:30 – 10 pm join us for a DANCE PARTY fundraiser on the turf field with DJ Chowtime – $10 for big fun all around.

Celebrate Neighbor Day on April 27!

Details: Parent Category: About PSP; Category: Events

image via Good's Neighbor Day website

When: April 27, 2013

Where: EVERYWHERE

We here at PSP LOVE this idea! Our community is great, wonderful and fabulous, but knowing the people who live above, below beside us and down the street makes it even better. Maybe take them some cookies, quinoa, or just say HI.

From Good:

"It’s crazy how few of us know our neighbors: their names, their phone numbers, what they’re about. The explosion of online "social" networking has only made it easier to avoid face-to-face contact in the real world. What might we be missing? Collaborators, friends, emergency contacts, sugar? What does this mean for society? As Harvey Milk said, "If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild our neighborhoods." So, let's do something about it. On April 27, we invite you to celebrate Neighborday. Whether it's as simple as summoning the courage to ask the guy in apartment 3B what is name is…again, or as ambitious as coordinating a full-fledged block party replete with a mariachi band, bouncy castle, and street hockey tournament… Click "DO IT," and we'll give you everything you need to make it happen. For more Neighboring inspiration, follow along at good.is/neighboring."

Together Tuesdays: Valentine's Day: Love Yourself

Details: Parent Category: PSP Blog; Category: Uncategorized

Today is Valentine's Day-- the day that we express our undying love to our partners and let people know they are important. While it's ALWAYS important to say you care, I really want to focus on LOVING YOURSELF and not losing your whole self in someone (or something) else. This is especially true when we become parents (and, okay, mothers in particular) because our identity becomes so attached to this wonderful little creature that depends on us for survival and love.

Think of the you that you were 5, 10, 15 years ago. How were you different? How was that former you more fun? What made that former you tick? When we become a mother/ father and partner/spouse what comes with it are brand new roles, expectations, pressures and responsibilities. You can think of it as wearing a new "hat" ( cue Dog Go's famous, "Do you like my hat?" sequence). For some (okay, many) of us, the role of being a parent takes over and dominates, with some of the other hats we used to wear collecting dust in the corner. We may still feel those other hats tugging at us to wear them, but the more dominant hats prevail. So the "loves to paint," "loves to listen to sappy music," "loves to go to the batting cages" gets pushed behind sick kids, preschool/middle school applications, getting that project for work done, etc. By being happier with yourself, the residual effect is that you're a better parent and spouse.

So do the Valentine's Day thing today--show your love and get some chocolate (some for you and some for them). Then, as you wake up tomorrow, though, think about the YOU outside of being a parent or spouse. Figure out if you may be forgetting parts of you that excite and invigorate your soul. What you love about you. I love the (arguably) sappy music of Josh Groban who has a new album out. My Valentine's Day present to myself is buying it, playing it when no one is around, and fully enjoying it as ME!

Coming full circle to the "together" part of "Together Tuesdays", if you are still looking for a great Valentine's Day present, ignite your partner's dusty passions by giving them the freedom to do something that was important to their old self. Buy two tickets to a ____ (concert, game, play, golf course, etc.) that you don't necessarily want to go to but you know your partner will. Have them bring a friend so they won't be thinking, "I know s/he isn't that into this." Give him/her the freedom, for just a while, to escape the confines of their current responsibilities (their hats) and just BE.

"You Raise Me Up" (yep, back to Josh) is a great song and in my mind a CALL TO ACTION. Figure out what you can do to help your partner love themselves. And raise yourself up while you're at it.

Susan Fox, Ph. D.

Founder, Park Slope Parents

Photo Credit: Theo Wargo

for Getty/iHeart Radio

SMALL BUSINESS SHMOOZEFEST 2013

Details: Parent Category: About PSP; Category: Events

Calling all small business owners and people starting entrepreneurial endeavors.

Come to a networking night at The Old Stone House. Talk about your business and collaborative needs, new business ventures and ideas, and share resources that will help you work smarter and be more successful.

When: Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM

Where: The Old Stone House

336 3rd Street Brooklyn (at 5th Ave), NY 11215
http://theoldstonehouse.org/
Brooklyn, NY 11215

HERE IS HOW THINGS WILL WORK:

When you come in you'll be given a number.
At 6:45PM, ONE-minute introductions will begin. (We'll need to be brief as these will be timed. Go over too long and you will be dinged!)
After everyone's finished (around 7:25), we can spend the next hour making connections, giving out cards to folks we want to meet with and requesting cards of people we'd like to work with in the future.

And, most importantly - NETWORKING. We will have until 8:30 (and for the rest of eternity) to schmooze, peruse, cruise, and choose.

Real quotes from real people about the PSP CAN Shmoozefests:

"The Shmoozefest was my FAVORITE - I'd love to attend another one!"
"I CONNECTED with a graphic designer at the fall shmoozefest who hooked me up with an editor, and I got an assignment from that editor"
"I ENJOYED the networking event at [the Old Stone House] as a great way to meet people in the neighborhood and make connections."
"The networking events are GREAT."

END RESULT? PRICELESS. A set of business cards of people who can help you pursue job possibilities, collaborations, and partnerships.

COST: $15 for members (open to non-members $20!)

Is my son being abused. What YOU Should Do

Details: Parent Category: Advice - Parenting - General; Category: Safety

Is my son being abused. What YOU Should Do

Hey All,

Last week someone wrote about suspected abuse possibly occurring at a local daycare. I have talked to many of you who were worried for the children but also wondering, "What IS the right answer about what to do?" We've checked with our team of professionals (thanks to Safe Horizons, Dr. Gordon and Dr. Gold) and here is their advice...

COMMUNITY REMINDERS: FLU

Details: Parent Category: Advice - Parenting - General; Category: Health Tips

You've all probably heard the warnings about the flu going around.We had questions about getting vaccines this week on our list. As a community we can do a lot to keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy so we're posting these neighborly reminders!

COMMUNITY REMINDERS