Jody Mercier

When asked to illustrate her dream job as a first grader, Jody drew a picture of a mom with one kid on each hip and another clinging to her leg. All these years later, that is her reality, raising three kids in New York City. Since that gig only pays in hugs and kisses, she has spent her professional career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting topics. She's currently the regional editor overseeing the Mommy Poppins NYC, New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester sites and can be reached at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody Mercier

13 Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in NYC: Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, and More

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 11/04/2022 - 12:45pm

The Industry City Ice Rink welcomes visitors for an enchanting winter experience.

New York City's outdoor ice skating rinks are ready for a new season, and we've rounded up our favorite outdoor ice skating rinks in NYC. Whether you want to take a twirl on some long-running classics, like the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink and the always-free Bryant Park rink, or explore new favorites like Governors Island's Winter Village and the rooftop ArtRink at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, our list of family-friendly outdoor ice skating rinks in NYC continues to grow.

Read on for our top picks for outdoor ice skating rinks for beginners and experienced skaters alike. And, if it ever gets too cold to glide outside, you can always hit one of NYC's indoor ice skating rinks.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2022: Where to Watch, What's New

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/01/2022 - 4:00pm

Classics, like the Pillsbury Doughboy, and newbies alike take flight in the 96th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2022.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 96th anniversary this November, taking over the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 24, 2022, exhilarating the city with its boisterous marching bands, extravagant floats, and giant balloon characters.

If you're planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with kids (and millions of others!), read on for the most up-to-date information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, best viewing locations, and other highlights. Looking for what time and where to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2022 on TV instead? Read on for that, too. You'll find more holiday inspiration in our Thanksgiving Fun Guide.

Enthusiastic paradegoers know the family fun actually begins the day before as the trademark giant balloons receive their annual helium injections—in fact, it's included in our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NYC. Check out our in-depth Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade inflation post for an overview of the Wednesday night festivities.

American Christmas in Mount Vernon Opens Santa's Village to Visitors

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/01/2022 - 11:05am

Strike a pose with the stunning decorations in Santa's Village at American Christmas in Mount Vernon.

There's no doubt New York City is one of our favorite Christmas towns and if you've ever wondered where it gets its holiday lights and spectacular decorations, we've got the scoop: American Christmas in Mount Vernon supplies much of NYC's magical Christmas decor and holiday lights. This local business is a veritable Christmas wonderland, with large-scale holiday decorations hanging from the rafters of its 100,000-square-foot workshop. There's so much Christmas cheer here, it's built its own Santa's Village, and we've got some sweet news: American Christmas is opening up its workshop and showroom to visitors, creating a Christmas village walk-through that's a picture-perfect holiday outing.

Read on for a sneak peek into American Christmas, and bookmark our Guide to Christmas and Holiday Activities for all our top picks for holiday happenings, brilliant light displays, and must-do fun.

Best Things To Do on Halloween in NYC with Kids: Halloween Events on October 31

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 10/24/2022 - 4:33pm

Join the Halloween party at Bryant Park to enjoy eerie magic tricks, face painting, arts & crafts, and spooky stories. Photo by Angelito Jusay

Few holidays rival the scope and spectacle of Halloween in NYC, and while we've already told you about tons of fun things to do in NYC on Halloween, consider this your must-do guide to the big day. Our NYC Halloween Fun Guide overflows with Halloween parades, FREE Halloween events, and we've even spilled the beans on the best trick-or-treating spots in each of the five boroughs.

The countdown to Halloween is officially on. Some things are certain: The trick-or-treating in Tribeca will be packed with amazing costumes. The Jackson Heights Halloween Parade will be as big as ever, and the BAMboo! block party and Myrtle Monster Mash are going to rock Brooklyn.

Whatever you decide to do on Monday, October 31, arrive early and expect crowds. For the best ways to plan an epic Halloween night with your NYC kids, scroll on. Most of our picks are FREE or inexpensive.

50 Things To Do in Midtown Manhattan with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 11:56am

A family-friendly Broadway show is one of our favorite things to do in Midtown Manhattan with kids. Photo by the author

Whether you're a visitor, a commuter, or a local, it's hard to avoid the action-packed things to do in Midtown Manhattan. Bordered by 59th Street on the northern end and 34th Street to the south, encompassing Times Square and Rockefeller Center, and extending from river to river, Midtown Manhattan has an expansive personality that matches its footprint.

Between the towering office buildings and the tourist traps on seemingly every street corner, it might seem hard to uncover worthwhile, family-friendly things to do in Midtown Manhattan, but take note: This neighborhood is loaded with entertainment, art, attractions, and activities.

We've done the legwork and rounded up 50 fun things to do in Midtown Manhattan with kids in tow. Bookmark our NYC Neighborhood Guide for more fun places to explore.

The Best Halloween Parades in New York City for Kids in 2022

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/14/2022 - 10:00am

Get in costume to strut your stuff at the annual Bronx Halloween Parade. Photo courtesy of the parade organizers

There's nothing quite like a neighborhood Halloween parade in NYC. While older kids may want to venture out to the iconic Village Halloween Parade on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, it can be pretty scary—it's always insanely crowded and loud, and many of the costumes are risque, gory, or in poor taste. If your children aren't up for that big Hallow-baloo, there are plenty of smaller, kid-friendly NYC neighborhood Halloween parades in 2022 spread across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, including the mega Jackson Heights Halloween Parade, the famed Park Slope march, and the Hippo Playground Halloween Parade and Bleecker Playground fest for little ones.

Our list of 30+ top NYC Halloween parade picks even includes pet parades and costume contests that allow dogs to line up in fantastic outfits on the Upper East Side, Fort Greene, Long Island City, and more!

Read on for the best 2022 Halloween parades in New York City for families to watch or march in. If you don't live in a great trick-or-treating neighborhood, these Halloween parades are a wonderful way to hunt for candy in another neighborhood. Find more Halloween 2022 fun in our New York City Halloween Fun Guide, which includes our picks for the best FREE Halloween events in NYC.

Encanto's Casita Comes to Life at CAMP Fifth Avenue

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 10/13/2022 - 10:20am

See Isabella's flower-filled wonderland in real-life at the new Disney Encanto x CAMP experience at the Flatiron location.

We don't talk about Bruno, but we do have to talk about the Disney Encanto x CAMP mashup that's taken over the store's flagship Fifth Avenue location. This paid experience invites visitors behind the Magic Door and into the Casita making you an unofficial member of the Madrigal family! Sound enticing? Book your tickets here!

Read on for a glimpse into the magical Disney Encanto x CAMP world and find more indoor places to play in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones in NYC.

Visiting the Sloomoo Institute: Soho's Museum of Slime Produces Ooey-Gooey Fun

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 10/11/2022 - 4:56pm

Stretch, mold, squish, and play with slime to your hearts content at the Sloomoo Institute in Soho.

If the ooey-gooey-slime craze has crept into your life, and you've been known to celebrate a discount deal on a gallon of Elmer's Glue, Soho's Sloomoo Institute is a must-visit. From its DIY slime bar, whose products far outpace our favorite make-at-home slime recipes, to its Nickelodeon-style sliming at Sloomoo Falls, the Sloomoo Institute is a slime lover's paradise and an over-the-top sensory experience that left my daughters begging for more slime time.