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

NYC Museums Open Doors for Free on Inauguration Day

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 01/19/2017 - 1:30pm

As the country swears in a new president Friday, January 20, a number of New York City museums are opening up their doors for FREE. Many others will host American- or historical-themed events, or even protest sign making at one.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that in a city where residents overwhelmingly voted against President-elect Donald Trump, that NYC is in less of a celebratory mood than a reflective or even defiant one. Protests continue, including the Women's March on NYC, this Saturday. But the museums' outreach, a sort of taking in of those looking for camaraderie on Inauguration Day, is a welcome touch.

And in the spirit of making lemonade out of lemons, we've rounded up 11 ways to commiserate your Inauguration Day away. Whether you spend it taking in one of the city's cultural institutions FREE of charge, or in the company of like-minded friends we wish you the best on what still strikes us as a truly surreal day.

Governors Island Will Open a Month Early in 2017

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 01/18/2017 - 1:00pm

Governors Island, long one of our favorite summer spots, will open to the public on Monday, May 1 this year, nearly a full month ahead of its usual schedule. Typically it opens for the season on Memorial Day weekend.

The earlier opening isn't just for weekends, either. Ferries will shuttle New Yorkers to the massive park seven days a week, from May 1 through October 1, offering access to the brand-new playgrounds it debuted last year, art, and cool festivals like Figment. Suddenly we know what we're doing for Mother's Day 2017!

STEM Camps and Classes for Robotics, Coding, and Engineering Fun

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 12/15/2016 - 10:00am

It's no secret that today's kids will need a robust education in STEM subjects to thrive in an economy exploding with science and technology careers. Both in and outside of schools, educators and parents are looking for ways to provide more science, technology, engineering, and math studies for children. There are many programs out there, but which ones really teach the skills that kids need? We checked out a Sylvan Learning EDGE class to see what Sylvan Learning, long-known for tutoring and test prep programs, offers with its Sylvan EDGE STEM programs.

Sylvan EDGE offers six week programs for kids from grades 1 to 6 in Robotics for Kids, Engineering, Coding for Kids, Math EDGE, plus Sylvan EDGE Camps. My 10-year-old son tried out a Robotics for Kids class, and it definitely stood apart from many of the other STEM activities we’ve tried.

Soho Restaurants for Family Eats While Shopping

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/08/2016 - 10:30am

With the holidays upon us, the NYC shopping season is in full swing. If your travels take you to one of the city's top shopping meccas, Soho, you're bound to need a break and a bite to eat. Like the neighborhood residents, the food options are diverse, offering everything from pizza to rice pudding and crepes to the ever-popular Cronut. It's also home to three of our favorite cups of hot chocolate in Manhattan.

So whether you're searching for a sit-down meal or just a sweet treat, here are the most kid-friendly dining spots in Soho and its surrounding areas. Don't forget, you can find more great NYC eats in our Kid Restaurant Guide.

25 Staycation Ideas for the November School Holidays in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 11/04/2016 - 2:00pm

Every time I look at my calendar lately, it seems like my kids are spending more time with me than they are in the classroom, and November in NYC seems to be particularly peppered with days off. Between Election Day, Veterans Day, and the pair of school holidays that make up Thanksgiving break, we've got plenty of time to kill. If you're not heading out of town to celebrate with family and friends, you might be searching for some staycation ideas for you and the kids.

Fear not, though we've already given you a slew of must-do activities to enjoy all month long, here are 25 more ideas for entertaining your brood in New York City on November's school holidays. Find more school holiday fun in our daily Event Calendar.

NYC Holiday Train Show Will Debut Brooklyn Landmarks for 2016

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/28/2016 - 10:30am

With November upon us, so too are some magnificent holiday traditions. In the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden team is busy behind the scenes getting ready to open the 25th anniversary edition of its beloved Holiday Train Show. Opening day is Saturday, November 19.

Gertrude Ederle Playground Opens in NYC on Upper West Side

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/21/2016 - 11:30am

I've paid my dues at New York City's playgrounds after a decade of parenting in this city. My family has visited our share of parks and even ranked our favorites, but we're always looking for our next big adventure. With kids ages 3, 7, and 10, it's no easy task to find a playground where all three are entertained, but our recent visit to the newly opened Gertrude Ederle Playground on West 59th Street was an all-around hit.

25 Ways to Play Princess in New York City

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 09/23/2016 - 4:00pm

If you have daughters, you know it is hard to shield them from the cotton-candy pink frocks, tulle-filled tutus, sparkly wands, and gleaming tiaras of princesses for long. Of course, many kids, not just the girls, are captivated by the swirl of a princess dress or a blinking fairy wand.

With two daughters at home, we have a closet of dress-up flocks, bins of teeny, tiny princess figurines, and shelves chock-a-block full of Disney DVDs. Playing princess is a constant state of being around here. Sometimes my princesses frolic at home; other times we enjoy a night on the town. But no matter where our princess adventures take us, we always have fun.

So, from my princesses to yours, here are 25 ways to experience NYC in royal style.