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

The Met Brings a Touch of Disney Magic to its Galleries in New Exhibition

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 12/10/2021 - 10:32am

Towers from famed Disney princess castles? No, 18th-century vases by French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet.

See pop culture in a whole new light at a brand new exhibition at The Met. New York City's largest art museum turns its critical eye toward an unusual subject, honoring the iconic work of Walt Disney in a first-of-its-kind installation titled Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts. The exhibit provides a stunning juxtaposition of the old and new, merging treasures from the museum's collection with a trove of works from the Disney brand as well as the Disney family collection.

Read on for more details on the exhibit and find more kid-friendly installations in our Guide to Museums in NYC.

Santa in the City: 25 Awesome Santa Activities for NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 12/06/2021 - 6:41pm

Head to The Plaza for a classic holiday tea, and a memorable visit with the season's biggest celebrity. Photo by author

Christmas in New York is nothing short of magical. From fabulous holiday windows to dozens of tree lightings, spectacular seasonal shows, and multiple iterations of The Nutcracker, New York is the place to be during the holiday season. The biggest star of all is, of course, Santa Claus himself. And as it turns out, the man of the hour is pretty busy in NYC in the days leading up to Christmas. There are plenty of spots to take a photo with Santa or even have a special meal with Mr. Claus, plus dozens more ways to share a special holiday moment with the big guy in the big city, from ice skating with Santa to gawking at the zaniest parade of Santas.

So grab a hot cocoa and read on for 25 awesome Santa-in-the-city experiences to enjoy before he takes flight from the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Take Visitors on an After-Dark Safari This Season

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/30/2021 - 12:24pm

Walk past stunning lanterns and through tunnels of light at the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights.

The Bronx Zoo's glittering Holiday Lights have returned for another season of winter magic. While most of the zoo animals huddled in hibernation or winter holding, the zoo's grounds come to life this season with a series of sparkling, larger-than-life lantern safaris and plenty more seasonal thrills that makes this a fun destination on a cold winter's night.

If you can't make it to the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, consider a visit to one of these other seasonal light shows in city limits, and find more holiday fun in our Guide to the Holidays in NYC.

Best Holiday Train Shows in NYC for Kids: NYBG Train Show and Beyond

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/18/2021 - 5:04pm

New York’s favorite holiday tradition, featuring an enchanting display of more than 175 famous local landmarks is back at NYBG. Photo courtesy of NYBG

Trains are a way of life for most New Yorkers, but there's something particularly special about the little engines and cabooses that take center stage during the holiday season. The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show is one of the best things to do with kids in New York City during the Christmas season, with electric model trains whizzing by more than 175 NYC landmarks made out of acorns, twigs, bark, berries, leaves, and other botanical bits and pieces. My family and I make it a point to go every year—it's truly a quintessential New York holiday experience. There's a reason it's on our list of the top 100 things to do with kids in NYC.

But, the big NYBG display isn't the only holiday train show in town. Read on for more details on all the Christmas train shows the city has to offer this season (including the Botanical Garden's big spectacle). And for an extra special holiday treat, take the kids on a full-size Christmas train ride with these nearby Polar Express and Santa trains.

Revitalized Wollman Rink Reopens in Central Park Promising More Access for All New Yorkers

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/18/2021 - 10:00am

Skaters young and old were happy to be back on the ice at the revamped Wollman Rink.

Wollman Rink, the iconic ice skating rink on Central Park's south end reopened to the public this week with a brand new operating team and mission to make the rink a welcoming destination for all New Yorkers.

Read on for details about what to expect at the beloved skating rink, one of our favorite outdoor skating rinks in NYC.

4 Reasons Winnie the Pooh Is a Perfect Reintroduction to Live Theater

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/04/2021 - 10:04am

Winnie the Pooh and friends take the stage—in puppet form—in a charming new adaptation at Theatre Row. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for Murphy Made

Access to great, kid-friendly theater is one of the perks of raising kids in NYC. And while the industry has been slow to come back from the pandemic, I recently brought my 8-year-old to see the new Winnie the Pooh adaptation playing at Theatre Row, and it turned out to be just the right outing for our return to live entertainment.

Read on for our take on the show and four reasons it's a great first show, whether you're a long-time theater lover or introducing your kids to the stage for the first time.

Check Out This Retro-Fitted Pier on the East River

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/02/2021 - 10:31am

The retro-fitted Waterside Pier is the perfect spot for New Yorkers to take a stroll, have a picnic, or bask in the East Side’s scenic views.

In an annual rite of summer passage, NYC Parks has been revamping local swimming pools through its Cool Pools program and has now turned its brightly colored paintbrushes toward a new medium. New Wave Pier recently debuted on the East River Esplanade, giving a bright, new life to an underutilized public space.

Do You Have What it Takes to Tackle City Climb NYC's Newest Sky-High Attraction?

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/29/2021 - 12:03pm

Visitors ages 13+ can tackle City Climb, the highest outdoor skyscraper climbing course in the world, at Edge New York beginning Tuesday, November 9.

New Yorkers are pretty fearless, and one local attraction is aiming to capitalize on that, debuting a brand new, heart-stopping attraction. City Climb, from the team behind Edge, Hudson Yards' eye-popping observation deck allows visitors to climb to the precipice of 30 Hudson Yards before peering out over the building's facade in a thrilling, gravity-defying, open-air attraction, with nothing but 1,200+ feet of open-air between you and the ground below.

Think you—or your teen—has what it takes to conquer City Climb? Read on for all the terrifying details.