Chris Mohney's Reviews of My Son’s TV Shows: A Toddler's Dad Adjusts To His New Video Diet
Family Togetherness With A Chance Of Meatballs
For One Girl, The Waldorf Lobby Was Heaven On Earth
The happiest I ever was when I was a child was at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Now, I don’t think a hotel is supposed to be the happiest place in anyone’s childhood. Unless you are the heroine in a Kay Thompson story, in which case I wandered into the wrong hotel. I think I should be able to fudge my happiest childhood memory a bit, and say that I was happiest at F.A.O. Schwartz or in Central Park—though I don’t recall spending much time at either of those places.
But I can go back to the first time I walked into the Waldorf. I was 4, accompanying my parents, who were in New York for the Canadian Society Ball. (We lived in Chicago.) As soon as we walked into the lobby my nanny said, “Well, this is heaven.” Because I was 4, I took her literally. I was sitting on a chair by the H. Stern jewelry shop, and there was a necklace in the window that was a rainbow of gemstones. In the lobby was a flower arrangement I still remember as the largest and most perfect I have ever seen. Someone mentioned that there was never a night when there was not a party in the ballroom. Read More
Boys Who Like Boys… And Raise Girls
It is 6:30 in the evening in the Dolby-Frist household, and twins Violet and Julia are getting ready for bed. In their matching blue and green pajamas, toddling next to their matching cribs, the girls seem uncharacteristically poised for 16 months – at least until Drew Frist explains that their crayons had recently been switched for Etch-a-Sketches. (“They wouldn’t stop trying to eat the crayons.”) More positively, Tom Dolby remarks that the girls are at a stage where they seem to really enjoy putting their toys away, which perhaps accounts for the room’s neatness. [See the slideshow of their home, to the left.]
The bedroom’s whimsy and sophistication speak to the creativity of their two dads. The intricately carved wooden animal heads and collection of books are a nod to the family’s literary inclinations and taste for travel. The group only recently returned from visiting Tom’s family in Germany. Tom proudly notes how incredibly well the girls held up – even over the long European dinners.
When not busy caring for their daughters, traveling and decorating their new Gramercy Park apartment, Tom and Drew are immersed in the world of writing and technology. Tom is author of the popular Secret Society series of books, something of a cross between Gossip Girl and A Secret History targeted towards a young adult audience. He also co-edited the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys that inspired the popular Sundance show of the same name. And he’s branching into film – his screenplay is being turned into a film called Last Weekend. Tom will co-direct with Tom Williams; filming is slated to begin this summer in California. Read More
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation Marks 30 Years of Fighting Childhood Cancers with Spring Gala
On Tuesday, May 8 the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation hosted its annual benefit to raise funds for childhood cancer research and celebrate 30 years of fighting the devastating illnesses. The foundation has generated over $25 million dollars towards innovative research for state-of-the-art treatment for childhood cancers, blood disorders and immunological diseases. Survival rates have risen from approximately 20% to 80% for those diagnosed with pediatric cancers.
The evening commenced with a benefactors’ dinner at The Modern, followed by a large reception at The Museum of Modern Art. Guests enjoyed free range of MoMA’s fifth floor permanent collection, cocktails and hors d’oeuvre made by Creative Edge Designs. Read More
A Very Gaga Workout For Kids On The Upper East Side
“A lot of times, kids get into a sport where parents have expectations. Here, it’s just a game,” said Alissa Schmelkin, co-founder of the newly opened Gaga Center on the Upper East Side. “You don’t have to live up to standards.”
Gaga may be “just a game.” But played in octagonal pens – though rules can vary, the basic aim is to avoid getting hit below the knee – it offers a high-energy workout that kids seem to love, building endurance and flexibility, according to general manager Avi Gordon.
The Gaga Center – the only such venue in Manhattan – offers coed groups for kids under 7 and for 7- to 10-year-olds. The game – the ball is soft – is well suited toward the littler kids, though their games often devolve into simple passing of the ball. Read More
Scooter Star Celia Babini Talks About Her Pediatric Cancer Charity Work
Meet Celia Babini, Bonnie Young’s 11 year old daughter, a Scooter star in her own right, who single handedly raised over $11,000 for Solving Kids’ Cancer. The organization works to find, fund and manage clinical trials and scientific programs to rapidly develop the most effective treatments and cures for childhood cancers.
Ms. Babini Read More
Town Celebrates Take Your Son/Daughter to Work Day with Flare!
If you missed it — and in certain places you couldn’t — yesterday marked “Take Your Son/Daughter (or loved one) to Work Day!” Scooter dropped by Town Residential’s Flatiron, where the firm hosted a morning of fun and entertainment for staff and their families. (Another event at Town’s Upper East Side office took place later Thursday afternoon.) Town had curated a variety of special activities to help kids of all ages learn more about what their parents or guardians do, along with the opportunity to explore their workplace. Read More
An 8-Year-Old’s Tour of New York’s Contemporary Art Scene
At age 3, Sophie Neale wrote “Baby’s First Blog” (“blob,” she called it then) for much-missed Cookie magazine. Her efforts caught the eye of Time’s James Poniewozik, who proposed she be signed to a book deal to write about growing up in public. While not yet ready to pen her memoirs, Sophie (now 8 years old) takes us on a tour of lower Manhattan art galleries as only a child can. Read More
