Want to Make a Difference? Come to Grand Central on June 30th and Support a Great Cause!

Show your support for international not-for-profit Dress for Success by joining actress and singer Vanessa Williams and Allergan, Inc., the maker of BOTOX Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxic Type A), as they launch the "BOTOX Cosmetic: Express Success" charitable education campaign.

When: Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Time: 11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Where: Grand Central Terminal,
Vanderbilt Hall
New York City
(Park Avenue at 42nd Street)

In honor of working women, Allergan is donating $250,000 to support Dress for Success in its efforts to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women express success in the workplace and in life.

The campaign will kick off with a Rack Relay Race on June 30th and we invite you and your friends to support the cause by bringing donations of nearly new professional attire, while having fun running the races during your lunch break.

Get involved at ExpressSuccessCampaign.com

As an added bonus, DSW, the Discount Shoe Warehouse, is offering a 1-day only shopping coupon to all registered racers, and a $100 gift card to the winning team!

A great cause with great benefits! Come on out to support! Hope to see you there!!!

In NYC and looking to "Kid Around" (with the kids) this Summer?

(Single Mom with Acting Goals here.)
Ready for the Summer? Here's a "survival guide" of free and cheap events, from concerts & movie-screenings to square dancing and roller-skating to keep your little one's busy this Summer:

The Bronx:

Celebration Congo! At the Bronx Zoo: Meet Gorillas Pattycake, Zuri & Hali as part of the 10th anniversary of the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit. Also enjoy special Wildlife Theater performances, African dance & drum performances & traditional African storytelling. In addition, remember that every Wednesday is a pay-what-you-wish-day. (Tomorrow and Sat.; also June 26-27 & July 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18. 10am-5pm; $14-$18. Fordham Rd & Bronx River Pkwy www.bronxzoo.com)

Fun & Movies in Pelham Bay Park: Join in free bike lessons, arts and crafts, storytelling and much more at Family Day from noon to 3pm. Then stick around for one-night only screening of "ET: The Extra Terrestrial" from 8 to 10. Sit back on the great lawn of the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum & grab a bag of Reese's Pieces for this Steven Speilberg classic (Sat., July 11; free. Hutchinson River Pkwy & Bruckner Expressway, 718-885-1461)

Queens:

Rock 'N' Skate: Strap on a pair of wheels of wheels & head out to this annual skate clinic. Whether you can make figure eights or barely stand up, there's equipment on loan to all ages & plenty of music to keep you grooving. Best of all-you'll have Rockaway Beach as your backdrop. (Thurs., June 14, and Weds., Aug. 12, 6-9pm; free. Rockaway Beach Skating Rink. 108th St & Shore Front Pkwy., www.nycgovparks.org)

Queens County Farm Museum: The borough's own 47-acre working far, features orchards, hayrides, herb gardens & livestock just blocks from the Q46 bus. It also hosts events like this summer's Thunderbird American Indian Mid-Summer pow Wow: July 24-46, 40 Indian nations will come together for a dance competition on the orchard grounds. Visitors can also take in Native American art, crafts, jewelry and food. (Open daily from 10am-5pm. Free admission, but Pow Wow is $4-$15. 73-50 Little Neck Parkway; take the E or F train to the Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike station & then the Q46 to the Little Neck Parkway stop; www.queensfarm.org)

Manhattan:

Swing-A-Ring Nights: Ever wanted to run away to the circus? Well, here's your chance to learn the tricks. On Saturday nights, kids can learn activities like juggling, ring-swinging, unicycling and more at Riverside Park. (June 27 & July 11 & 25, Aug. 8 & 22. 5pm; free. Hudson Beach & 105th St., www.riversideparkfund.org)

MidSummer Night Swing Kids Day: Jump, jive & wail at this event hosted by Lincoln Center. Kids learn swing, ballroom and tango steps from "Mad Hot Ballroom" teacher Rodney Lopez at Damrosch Park. (Sat., July 18, 3:30pm; $5. 62nd St b/w Columbus & Amsterdam Aves. www.lincolncenter.org)

Staten Island:

Nature Story Theater: Who doesn't like a good puppet show? This event, held at Clay Pit Pond's new Interpretive Center, offers fun for the whole family. Enjoy the antics of the Clay Pit Puppets, whose shows deliver both entertainment & education. (sat., June 27, 2:30pm; free, but registration required. 2351 Veterans Road W., 718-967-1976)

Pizza Tour with Staten Island New York: Enjoy a slice & soda from Staten Island's best pizzerias, including Denino's, Jimmy Max & Lee's. B/w meals, visit local sites such as the College of Staten Island & the Staten Island Zoo. Attendees also get a SINY Tour T-shirt. Reservations must be made two weeks in advance. (Saturdays, 11am-3pm; $40. Starts at the Staten Island Ferry terminal; 347-273-1257)

Brooklyn:

Mermaids of the Deep: Head to the New York Aquarium for this year's summer kickoff. Your kids can learn legends about life under the sea, with music, games and aquatic arts & crafts to satisfy their appetites for fun. (This Sat. & Sun., noon-4pm; $9-$13, Surf Ave & W.Eighth St 718-265-3474)

Coney Island Boom-A-Ring: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is back in town, & it's brought all the high-flying excitement you've come to expect from the circus. Bring the kids to Coney Island for summer fun under the big top. (Through Mon, Sept. 7. Various times; $10-$65. 2015 Boardwalk West 201-507-8900)

Brooklyn Botanical Garden: Don't miss June's Plant Part-y, July's Buggin' Out or August's Water Wonders. Kids can learn about the wide world of nature, from the creepy-crawlies to the rambling rivers. These weekly workshops are free with the price of admission. (Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Various times; $4-$8 900 Washington Ave & Eastern Pkwy.; www.bbg.org)

Happy Family Planning & Have a Great Summer!
(I'll be back at another time with more thoughts and ideas!)

Looking for Things to do with your Child(ren) in NYC?

Check out Mommy Poppins. It's the place to go to find Indoor activities (such as museums, movies, etc.), Birthday Party ideas, a Camp and Summer Program Guide, Classes, Preschools, and the New York City Pregnancy and Baby Guide.

With this site, you should potentially never be at a loss for finding something to do with your child(ren) in NYC again! (But if you want other options, you can check out my husband's post on Great Things to Do with Your Kids in New York City.) Check out these sites and find something fun to do with your child(ren) today!!!

It's June and the Weather is Great in NYC! It's the Perfect time to Visit!!!

It's that time of year again. The month of June is usually the perfect time to come visit NYC. Here are just a few reasons why:

• It's when the weather starts to get very beautiful (warm but not too hot).
• School is (generally) still in session so the streets aren't overcrowded just yet.
• There are many outdoor events to attend.

Check out this article to learn about just a few of the things that you can do this month in NYC:

June 2009 Events & Attractions in New York City.

Come visit the 'Big Apple' Soon! Maybe we'll spot each other on the street! :-)

Just a Little Hello from Our Newest Contributing Author: Single Mom with Acting Goals!!!

My sister, Modern Day NYC Mom, has asked me to contribute to her blog so let me tell you a little bit about myself and what I may have to offer.

• I am a single mom of two teenage girls, 18 & 13 so I know all about the struggles it takes to raise them. My 18 y/o is heading off to college so together we can discuss the tedious process of picking and applying to colleges, the various forms we need to fill out for financial aid & helping them pick a major.

• I can give you ideas on fun things to do now that the weather is getting warmer. We can discuss good nightspots and things to do just for a little "me" time.
  

• Both of my daughters are interested in the entertainment field. My 18y/o, Samantha (who will later mostly be referred to as Sami) is going to be taking up creative writing in college as she wants to one day write her own screen play. My 13y/o, Danielle (who will later mostly be referred to as Danie), is an aspiring actress and singer and believe me when I say, she is absolutely unafraid to "ham" it up!

• I, myself, am an aspiring actress and have to juggle trying to get the training I need to get that career off the ground with my family life and my day job.

I hope you are interested in taking my journey with me, this "Single Mom with Acting Goals" life. I will be more than happy to share my insights, my thoughts and my ideas. So, let's get to know one another. Have a great day!

My Memorial Weekend Activies: Mini-Reviews on Forest Park, The Newlyweds, Terminator Salvation and Schneider's Children's Hospital vs. Maimonides

This past weekend, I did 4 things of note and I'd like to share them with you.

I...

1. went to a BBQ at Forest Park,
2. saw The Newlyweds at American Theater of Actors,
3. watched Terminator Salvation on the Big Screen and
4. took my sick baby boy to Scneider's Children's Hospital.

Were these activities worth my time? Keep reading and I'll tell you...

1. The BBQ at Forest Park was pleasant. It took place near the park's Bandshell. As far as BBQs go, it was pretty typical. The location though? Forest Park is immense. It has the Biggest Oak Woods in Queens. There are a lot of hidden treasures within NYC and this park is one of them. Check out the Visitors Guide if you're interested in learning more. I personally plan on spending more time in this park during the summer. As I do, you will receive
updates on the activities that I choose to participate in.

2. The Newlyweds was very funny!!! Watching it felt like watching a sitcom, or better yet, a sketch comedy show. See it for yourself and you'll see what I mean! The play itself isn't exactly Broadway caliber but it's off-broadway so it needn't be!!! All that matters is that it was quite enjoyable. Definitely worth the measly $25 that it costs.

3. How'd I feel about Terminator Salvation? Well, first off, I'm usually not a big fan of action movies. But there is something about the Terminator Series that captures my interest. The original Terminator is a classic; T2: Judgement Day (which probably draws up the most childhood memories for me) wasn't a bad sequel; Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was pretty horrible--it's only saving grace was the fact that it was the last time Arnold Schwarzenegger could feasibly star in another of these movies. The ex-body-builder was getting up there in age.
Terminator Salvation is very cool. Christian Bale is a great choice as the adult John Connor. The movie has some nice twists and turns and some excellent throwbacks. For fans of the Terminator Series, this movie is definitely a must-see.

4. Schneider's Children's Hospital is the name of the separate children's ward of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital. My husband I chose to take our son there because of their reputation as a very good children's hospital. When our baby boy first got sick, we took him to Maimonides Infants and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn, which is the children's section of Maimonides Medical Center.
The level of care received at both hospitals felt pretty equal. We waited 3 hours at Maimonides on a typical Friday. We waited 2 1/2 hours on Memorial Day at Schneider's. So, in regards to wait time, Schneider's wins out.
Neither of the hospitals did much more than tell us to keep giving the baby Tylenol and/or Motrin. If we receive any amazing care at any particular hospital, we'll let you know. If asked, I would recommend either for your sick child. The level of care was not bad at all.

So, that was my busy weekend. At least I considered every activity worth it!!! How was yours?

Coming to NYC for Memorial Day Weekend (and/or the weekend after)? Go see "The Newlyweds"

Planning a trip down to NYC during the next two weekends? Looking to see a top-notch play for an everyday price?

Check out The Newlyweds. It's starring my Improv teacher, Giselle Rodriguez. (She's the pretty woman in the picture.) She is an awesome person, great teacher and a wonderful actress.

Why not show some love for the off-broadway shows, people? They are often just as good (if not better). And in this economy, the prices are so much better!!!

Hope to "see you there"!!!