Alina Adams

Alina Adams - NYC Writer

Alina was born in the former Soviet Union, spent her teen years in San Francisco, and came to New York City to work for ABC Daytime and ABC Sports. She spent her pre-marriage/pre-kid years as a figure-skating researcher and producer for the U.S. and World Championships, the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and various professional shows.

After learning that international travel and resentful toddlers don’t mix, she switched to PGP Productions and its soap operas As the World Turns and Guiding Light, where she wrote New York Times best-selling tie-in books and developed interactive properties like AnotherWorldToday.com.

The birth of her third child (and the process of enrolling her two older kids into NYC schools—a full-time job in itself!) convinced Alina that she was not, in fact, Superwoman, and prompted her to leave TV and turn to writing books, including romance novels (Counterpoint: An Interactive Family Saga, When a Man Loves a Woman), figure-skating mysteries (Murder on Ice, On Thin Ice) and nonfiction (Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments).

In addition to contributing to Mommy Poppins, Alina blogs for Jewish parenting site Kveller.com and is in the process of turning her previously published backlist into enhanced e-books with multimedia features like audio, video and more. Follow her exhaustive and exhausting efforts to become a Mommy Media Mogul (is that a thing? If it isn’t, it really should be) at AlinaAdams.com and on Google+

Latest posts by Alina

Skill Mill NYC Opens Maker Spot on UWS with Laser Cutter

Submitted by Alina Adams on Tue, 09/27/2016 - 11:00am

It seems maker spaces are popping up all over New York City this fall. We just profiled a new spot on the Upper East Side, and now there's a new STEM center the Upper West Side. The just opened Skill Mill NYC, though, expects to appeal to a slightly older demographic and more advanced set of makers—middle school kids, teens, and adults—in part because of its heavy-duty and very cool tools. Remember how Tim Allen on Home Improvement always asked for “More power?” At Skill Mill NYC, you're gonna get more power. A massive laser cutter will let students handle wood, leather, cardboard, and other significant materials for big projects, plus there's a 3D printer and other sophisticated design options and tools.

Read on for the scoop on NYC's latest state-of-the-art maker space, and for more high-tech fun, be sure to check out our STEM Guide.

SciTech Kids Opens UES Maker Space

Submitted by Alina Adams on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 11:00am

After four years of running classes, birthday parties, and summer camps out of a variety of locations in New York City, SciTech Kids finally has opened permanent maker space for kids and grown-ups.

SciTech's new home on East 81st Street celebrated its grand opening on September 17, 2016. With City Council member Ben Kallos on hand to help cut the ribbon, founder Kim Magloire—a biologist, epidemiologist, science coordinator for NYU Polytechnic's Science Summer Research Program, and a mom—welcomed families to its assortment of tech stations.

Family-Friendly Restaurants Near NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art

Submitted by Alina Adams on Mon, 08/15/2016 - 3:40pm

Whether you live in NYC or are just visiting, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is probably on your list of places to explore with kids. In addition to its engaging exhibits, the Met is known for its top-notch family programs and drop-in art-making opportunities for all ages.

Of course, all that walking, looking and sketching makes you tired and hungry. While the Met is located on the kid-friendly Upper East Side, many of the nearby restaurants are better suited to date night than a casual family meal. That's why we've rounded up a dozen spots within walking distance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that welcome families.

5 Ways to Decide Which NYC Pre-K Is Right for Your Child

Submitted by Alina Adams on Thu, 06/16/2016 - 4:00pm

New York City's universal pre-kindergarten plan is a boon for parents in many ways, offering FREE education a bit earlier to all of the city's 4-year-olds. But it can also make picking a school that much trickier.

NYC parents must apply for spots at their preferred schools, often going on multiple tours, sitting on wait-lists, and then wading through multiple decision rounds to accept or reject offers. (We hear middle school selection is even more fun, by the way.) Last year wait-lists and assignments were fluid through August, so parents might even still have time to consider the right fit for their 4-year-olds for this fall, or get a jump start on next year. After all, those applying for private preschool for 2017 need to start the touring process in September, so there is no better time than summer to narrow down what you’re looking for.

We wanted to help parents stay sane through this process, and possibly even make your decision a bit clearer. Read on for five key considerations in determining which pre-K is right for you and your child.

Still sorting through options? Check out our NYC Preschool Guide and Listings for pre-K and nursery options.

Brooklyn Robot Foundry Opens on Upper East Side

Submitted by Alina Adams on Mon, 06/06/2016 - 12:00pm

Brooklyn Robot Foundry opened on the Upper East Side, following a grand-opening celebration that began June 2 and marked the STEM and makerspace's third New York City location. It already offers its robot-making and engineering classes for kids in Brooklyn at its flagship Gowanus location and also in Tribeca.

The UES spot on Second Avenue is offering drop-off one-day classes this summer, after-school sessions in June, and a summer camp that begins July 11. Bookings for child and adult birthday parties are being accepted, too.

We stopped in to check out the new space just before opening. Read on for what we saw—and what my daughter built.

Geek Forest Robot Shop and Maker Space Opens in Williamsburg

Submitted by Alina Adams on Fri, 04/01/2016 - 10:30am

Forget the Enchanted Forest and even Sherwood Forest. Now, there’s Geek Forest, a hybrid electronics retail store and maker space, and it’s located—where else?—in Brooklyn.

Founded late last year as a pop-up, Geek Forest is celebrating its move to a new, permanent space in Williamsburg with a grand-opening on Saturday, April 2. Founder Carmen Sutton envisioned a retail and educational space similar to Maker Faire, welcoming all those who want to invent, create and learn (and then buy the stuff to do so). As a parent with an interest in the tech field, Sutton believed her neighborhood could benefit from a year-round STEM site for kids and worked diligently to make it happen.

Spring classes began on March 28. In advance of the grand opening, we got a sneak preview (and playtime).

Say Hello to Zaniac, Manhattan's New After-School STEM Center

Submitted by Alina Adams on Sun, 02/07/2016 - 4:00pm

As TV's Grease Live might croon, “STEM is the word!” From the president to the mayor right down to the schools, everyone wants to get kids, especially girls and children of color, excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

And now New York City has one more STEM play and classes spot for kids. Zaniac, which has outlets around the country, including in Greenwich and Westport, Connecticut, recently opened its first STEM-focused, after-school and camp center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

Go Back to the Future of Tech with 'Silicon City'

Submitted by Alina Adams on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 10:30am

While some tweens are hardwired to think in zeros and ones and are ready for advanced instruction in computer science, others are leery of the whole thing. I have one of each.

Luckily, both my enthusiastic coder and my reluctant techie found something to enjoy at the New-York Historical Society’s exhibit Silicon City: Computer History Made in New York, on view through April 17 where kids can see early computers, typewriters, phones and even try out classic video games like Space Invaders. Read on for what to expect from this uptown STEM art exhibit where drop-in coding classes are also on tap.