Mommy Poppins Contest Entry

Mommy Poppins is having a great giveaway!  They are giving away a box of toys from Toys "R" Us worth $242!  So go and sign up for a try to win!

http://mommypoppins.com/family/the-hottest-toys-r-from-toys-r-us

Thanks Mommy Poppins for all you do!  We appreciate you!

Louis Armstrong House

Louis Armstrong "What a wonderful World" for your listening pleasure as you read.

Louis Armstrong House Link
Age appropriate:  9+, unless your little one is a jazz lover
Cost:  We went for free on the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live
Time: About 1 hour-ish to walk through the whole museum
Photography: Not allowed in the house portion

This had to be one of my most favorite museums in all of NYC, if not my favorite.  It was not about all the places Mr. Armstrong played or all the famous people he met or even all the fans he had (though we all know he is legend).

This museum was about his family life.  It was about his amazing wife Lucille Wilson and Louis' life with her. It was about his love of music and how he devoured it and how he recorded everything (what a gift to the world!). He even recorded himself eating dinner with his wife.

Source--in their den 1970

It was about how Lucille Wilson Armstrong planned on getting a bigger home and hoped that the Corona, Queens one would be a starter home, but Louis loved the neighborhood so much (even though it changed a lot over and over) that they didn't want to move. It was how they wanted a house of the future. It was about their relationship with each other, their neighborhood, their home and even  to God.  Lucille was a devout Catholic and she had her own little special space set up with a little place to ponder, read, pray, knit and sew.

Source

Many of the neighbors would come and sit on the front steps just to chat.  The neighbors protected the house from any vandalism throughout the years for the loving memory they have of the Armstrongs.  H, our tour guide, said that when Mr. Armstrong sang "It's a Wonderful World" he said that he pictured the faces of the neighbor children.

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When inside the home, you can almost picture that the Armstrongs had just stepped out for a few minutes to get you a drink of water and you can hear them chatting to each other.  It's like you could sit and have a conversation with them, but you don't even have the desire to talk, you just want to watch and listen.  They laugh and tenderly correct each other in front of you and you can't help but smile and hope that someday your relationship with your dear one will be like that.  You can almost hear the doorbell ringing and the neighbor kids coming to ask of Louis could come play. . . almost.

The rooms were not roped off, except for two, they had a special rug they asked visitors to step on. It was difficult for my children not to want to touch everything, and they were watchful and kind. My dear husband, a great jazz musician, held my 4-year-old through the entire museum. I think I had a huge excited smile on my face the whole way through, because it gave me a whole new respect for the Armstrongs and just made me feel happy.

Go! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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If you're reading this and you can't go but you'd like to see photos of the inside, just do an image search--there are many photos of the inside on the internet or click on the source links of the photos above. I couldn't find photos of the prayer nook.

NYC Fire Museum

The New York City Fire Museum is a wonderful, educational museum.  Not only does this gem offer a child-friendly fire simulation, but it houses hundreds of FDNY antiques it has been gathering since 1934.  

My personal favorite antique was a sign that read "Faithful and Fearless."  (I would really like that in my home some day).

You and your crew can try on the fireman's gear--all the way to the breathing mask and oxygen tank.

There were several beautiful fire engines, that may just make your child want to go and save souls from fires.

There were some mannequins completely dressed in fireman's gear so children know not to be scared of them. If children see them during a fire, they should follow the guy in the gear.

Before you go into the simulation they will have you watch a movie from Allstate. This movie was shown in schools in NYC and I think they showed it in schools when I was a kid.  It has some catchy music and succeeds in getting everyone excited about fire safety. If you'd like to use it in a family night or something you can find part one and part two.

Once in the simulation you will go into a faux-apartment into the faux-bedroom when faux-smoke will stream in through the door. They'll show the fire dangers, which in normal light appear harmless, but when the ultraviolet light it on you see all the dangers.

The volunteer fireman will talk you and your children through the process of escaping your home on fire.  A child will feel the door to see if it is hot or cold. If the door/handle is cold they will go out the door, if it were hot they would go out the window.  Then they open the door carefully. The room will be full of faux-smoke and the children will lead the way crawling and feeling along the wall to the exit out of the apartment. . . the description may not sound thrilling but the children will feel empowered knowing exactly what to do.

My four-year-old, after going to the museum ran into the kitchen and with gusto exclaimed, "Mom, if you catch on fire; stop, drop and roll." He proceeded to show me what to do in the next room.  It was a proud, validating moment.

The museum is not pay-what-you-wish and not free, except for once a year on September 11, to honor their fallen friends.  The museum is free to NYNJPA, DSNY, FDNY and NYPD and their family members, and to those that have the Cool Culture Pass as well as to active service members during the summer (part of the Blue Star Museums program). Visit their website: nycfiremuseum.org for more information.

This reminds me. . . I need to move my fire alarm further from the bathroom.

American Museum of Natural History

What to bring:  snacks, money for extra stuff at the store (like astronaut food), and a camera.

What to see: Everything you can--it is all amazing! My children always want to see the dinosaurs and the whale.

Extras: Try the food in the cafeteria, it's reasonably priced and pretty tasty.

Our favorite spot:  The Hall of Minerals is sometimes quiet (if you need a moment to breathe).  If you can, see the Easter Island Head, it is a great photo op. :)

To do before you go: rewatch Night at the Museum.  My kidlets loved telling me things they saw from the movie in the actual museum (though most of it has been redesigned for the storytelling part of the movie).

Little known fact:  they have a FREE toddler story time in the Discovery Room--with a theme from the museum. Afterward they take the children to see certain parts of the museum relating to the story they read.  My children adored this and they have activities in the room for children to take part in--digging for dinosaur bones; hats from different regions; etc.  Also, it is pay what you wish all the time. Thank you AMNH people!

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Spring Break Addendum

Oh the beauty of the cherry blossoms after winter; the excitement that is felt when one sees a lot of fish vying for a really weird thing they think is food; the anticipation of a picnic on green grass--when little is to be found; and the joy of being with good friends enjoying the amazing beauty to be found in Brooklyn, NY.

Come with me and you'll see into my New York City

Plans in the works:

Roosevelt Island Tram/Red bus ride/Dylan's Candy Bar
Luna Park
Met Museum--especially some exciting exhibits
The Moxie Spot
China Town (dumpling tasting)
Museum of Modern Art
Madison Square Park
Firehouse Museum
Governor's Island
FAO Schwarz
Toy's R Us Ferris Wheel
Skippy Jon Jones
NY Botanic Garden


Eek! I'm so excited. I will be posting some of the other fun things we did! :) Life is so fun when you live in the Big Apple.

I'm not going to give you the details of when we will be going where, but if you want to come or meet us some place, feel free to leave a comment (they are private and I will only publish them if you wish them to be public).

M

Connecticut Sweeps Entry

New Inspiration-- Mille Fiori Favoriti.    This woman loves New York and her blog is amazing, complete with photos and words that warm my heart.  http://millefiorifavoriti.blogspot.com/2012/06/consider-connecticut-vacation-1000-gift.html