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

Empire State Building Debuts New and Improved Visitor Experience

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 12/04/2019 - 10:01am

Take kids on an adventure to the revamped 80th floor of the Empire State Building. Photo by Evan Joseph

In the age of gleaming skyscrapers and daring new observation decks in NYC, it's easy to forget the grand dame of them all: the Empire State Building. The art deco beauty and iconic landmark has just finished a four-year, $165 million project to reimagine and refurbish the experience for visitors to the Observation Decks, including a completely redesigned 80th floor, which opened to the public last week. Read on for a look at the breathtaking new space, plus tips for planning a visit to the Empire State Building observatory with kids.

Holiday Windows Walk 2019: Midtown's Most Brilliant Holiday Window Displays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/28/2019 - 2:00pm

The holiday windows at Saks this year feature scenes from Frozen 2. Photo by Jody Mercier

The festive fun of the holiday season is officially upon us, and New Yorkers and tourists alike know that seeing the brilliantly decorated holiday windows in Midtown's iconic stores is a Christmas-season must-do. Besides, what better way to work off some holiday treats than with a wintry stroll through Midtown to take in the sights?

If seeing the holiday window displays in NYC is part of your family's holiday traditions too, read on for our top stops during a 2019 holiday windows walk.

Disney+ Is Here and You Might Be Able to Get It For Free

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/14/2019 - 10:30am

The new streaming service from Disney launched November 12.

The internet's been buzzing this week with the debut of Disney+, the ad-free streaming service peddling all the family favorites from this entertainment giant, including movies and TV shows from its family of brands: Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox.

Read on for details on the new service, whether you're just looking to pass the time until you can catch Frozen 2 in theaters, or you're anxious to introduce the "classics" of your youth to a new generation of viewers. Some lucky Verizon subscribers can even enjoy the new Disney+ for FREE.

CAMP Store and Play Space in Flatiron Launches New Toy Lab Theme for Holidays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 8:18am

CAMP, one of our favorite NYC stores where kids can play for FREE (and one of our favorite new additions to NYC last year, period) isn't your average toy store with a play space. The entire space reinvents itself every season, making it an imaginative wonderland designed for repeat exploration.

Situated on the corner of 16th Street and Fifth Avenue, CAMP looks like a retail shop from the street—albeit one with an on-site cafe and a funky collection of merchandise, from toys and games to books and clothing. But look closer and you'll see that there's something spectacular hiding behind a secret door. Find the entrance (with the help of a super-friendly CAMP counselor) and you're in for hours of fun, and a cool indoor place to play.

CAMP has reinvented itself again, with a toy-focused theme just in time for the holiday shopping season—read on for a peek inside.

22 Ways Families Can Volunteer and Donate in NYC for the Holidays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 9:30am

Support the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation by having your child write a letter to Santa and deliver it to the mailbox in Santaland. For every letter Macy's receives, the company will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish. Photo courtesy of Macy's

During the holiday season, families gather to enjoy delicious meals, exchange gifts, and celebrate the year gone by. But for many New Yorkers, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. Volunteering is a wonderful way to help others in the community and an ideal opportunity to teach children the true spirit of the season.

We've rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly volunteering opportunities. No matter where in the tri-state area you live, the age of your children, or your family's interests, chances are there is a program that can use your help.

MoMA Reopens with Kid-Friendly Art Programs, Family Film, New Galleries

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/05/2019 - 2:20pm

The redesigned Museum of Modern Art in Midtown features more gallery space and a robust calendar of family programs.

The Museum of Modern Art, fresh off a years-long expansion and renovation, has officially re-opened, and even by NYC standards, it's a big deal. Really big: MoMA's new, flexible layout means a 30 percent increase in gallery space—that's about 165,000 square feet of art, sculpture, and exhibits. The 90 year-old New York institution has never felt more...well, modern.

While we're smitten with all the city's world-class cultural institutions, the MoMA has always been one of our favorite NYC museums to visit with kids. Read on for the scoop on what's changed, plus 10 reasons to love the new MoMA, then plan your next visit to this updated gem.

What's New in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lineup for 2019

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 11/01/2019 - 3:00pm

Snoopy makes his 40th appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as an Apollo astronaut.

With Halloween firmly in the rear-view mirror, the holiday season is officially upon us, and we're gearing up for one of our favorite turkey day traditions: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has just announced the new additions for the 2019 parade.

Read on for the details and new stars of the show, from soaring giants to gliding floats, and then start plotting your Thanksgiving parade viewing strategies, whether you're planning to watch the balloons come to life on the Wednesday night before the parade, or see the main event, which steps off at 9am on Thursday, November 28.

Disney and Saks Team up for Magical Frozen 2 Holiday Display

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 10/29/2019 - 4:07pm

Get ready for a Frozen winter wonderland coming to the Big Apple! Photo by Jody Merceir

What do you get when you combine a favorite annual holiday tradition with a bit of mysterious magic and a sure-to-be holiday blockbuster? Saks Fifth Avenue's treat for all of us this holiday season. The iconic department store is teaming up with Disney to pay homage to Frozen 2 with its holiday windows and a themed in-store experience.

Both will be unveiled on Monday, November 25, with an assist from actress (and voice of Elsa!) Idina Menzel, plus a choir, a cast of characters from Frozen 2, and more. The popular annual light show at Saks will also kick off that night. Read on for details on how to see the biggest holiday store experience to hit NYC since Macy's Santaland (or the return of FAO Schwarz).