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Benjamin-Emile Le Hay

By Jennifer Wright 3/15 4:32pm

Role Models

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In Praise of the Princess

I’ve worn Dior, McQueen and Prada, but no piece of clothing has made me as happy as the princess dress I had when I was five. My dress originated as a Halloween costume, but very quickly metamorphosed into something I wore every single day. I wore it to greet the postman. I wore it wherever we went on the weekends. I did not wear it to school, but I did change into it immediately when I came home, whereupon I attempted to host tea.

Aside from the requisite puffed sleeves and sparkly fabric you might expect, I don’t remember the precise design. But I remember the way it made me feel: I felt important. I felt confident. I felt like I could sing to animals and they would harmonize. If I could find something at Bergdorf’s that made me feel that way I’d spend my whole salary on it. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 6/05/12 9:37am

Scooter Star

DJ Kai Song

Eight Year Old DJ Kai Song Shuts Down LES

Skies were blue and the sun was out midday this past Sunday as Scooter trekked over to Lower East Side Business Improvement District’s DayLife street party. Orchard Street was closed to traffic, making way for retrofitted pushcarts with local merchandise. Boutique storefronts poured into the streets, as did dozens of delicious food vendors including Sons of Essex, Mission Chinese, Blue Ribbon Sushi, and The Meatball Shop.

Nearly 10,000 people were estimated to have enjoyed the food, outdoor games (ping pong, urban croquet, badminton, etc.) and music. One bite sized individual that attracted quite a crowd, was eight year old DJ Kai Song. He spun remixes of Gotye and Rihanna outside LES spot Tammany Hall. Scooter caught up with him after his set. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 5/31/12 8:17am

Save the Date

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Great Gathering of Chefs Fights Childhood Hunger with Family-Friendly Tasting

The 8th Annual Great Gathering of Chefs to benefit Action Against Hunger will take place Tuesday June 5th at The Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan. The family-friendly evening will also celebrate the release of cookbook Street Eats by food photographer Alan “Battman” Batt.

The book features recipes and culinary words of wisdom from renowned chefs including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Daniel Boulud, David Burke and Emeril Lagasse and reality stars Matt Corbett and “Iron Chef” Marc Forgione. One hundred copies will be signed by a lineup of celebrity chefs present at the benefit, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support Action Against Hunger initiatives that work to save the lives of malnourished children around the world. Read More

By Karol Markowicz 5/30/12 3:25pm

Technology

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Yes, Your Fellow Parents Are Googling You!

Many New Yorkers spend the first part of their lives perfecting their “I don’t care” attitudes. The light is red? I still walk, I don’t care. The guy is peeing on the corner?  Just don’t come near me and I don’t care. You don’t like me?  I really don’t care.

But the protective urge kicks in when you have your first child, and completely takes over all previous nonchalance. You want to give your baby everything and it’s horrifying to imagine that you might somehow stand in their way.

Or, your online history might. Whether it’s getting along with your new mommy friends or getting into preschool, the past that a parent might want to keep secret can easily come up in their search results. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 5/29/12 3:09pm

Scooter Pick of the Week

Ralph Lauren Celebrates The Publication Of "The Hamptons: Food, Family and History" By Ricky Lauren

Ricky Lauren Whips Up Scrumptious Family-Friendly Eats with New Cookbook

When Ricky Lauren releases a Hamptons-themed cookbook, you better believe billionaires and celebs show up. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Martha Stewart, Joe Scarborough, David Lauren and wife Lauren Bush Lauren and Charlie Rose invaded the palatial and lavish Ralph Lauren flagship boutique on Madison Avenue on Tuesday, May 22 for the launch. Co-hosting hubby Ralph Lauren was there to show his support, while Ms. Lauren signed copies of the hardback, The Hamptons: Food, Family and History.

Ms. Lauren based the book on her love of fine food and the memories of raising her family out East in The Hamptons. It’s a glossy brimming with family fun recipes ideal for summer meals, both intricate and low-key. There are dozens of dishes targeted towards kids, but that won’t leave grownups disappointed either. The coffee table book is available officially at the Ralph Lauren boutique or online ($40). Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 9:55pm

Scooter Weekend

Governor’s Island Park during the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. (GETTY)

Top Three Memorial Weekend Events for the Family

Governor’s Island Park during the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. (GETTY)

The Intrepid for Fleet Week

Our military’s finest (or rowdiest) invade New York’s shores for Fleet Week (May 23-28). It’s not just about bars and people watching, there is fun for the family too! Climb aboard Intrepid’s Pier 86 for special performances, tall ship tours, movies and even the infamous military Tug of War. Expect added merriment this year since it’s the Intrepid’s 30th Anniversary. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 5/24/12 5:01pm

Profile

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Womenswear Designer Son Jung Wan Talks About City Parenting and a Life in Fashion

Son Jung Wan creates chic, feminine designs for bold urbane women, available on racks in over 40 high-end boutiques worldwide. We tracked down this busy fashion maven, the proud mother of 13-year-old David Kim, to explore how she balances parenting a teenager with a crazy workload and travel schedule that has her bouncing between Seoul and New York City (and sometimes Paris). We also wanted to know where she and David spend time in the city. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 5/24/12 12:28pm

Scooter Pick of the Week

Image courtesy of American Museum of Natural History

Hazel Davies and American Museum of Natural History’s “The Exquisite Butterfly Companion” Box Set

It’s nearly summer! Flowers have bloomed and baby birds have hatched. But it’s also the time of year when many butterflies lay their eggs or caterpillars begin to hatch from winter.

Hazel Davies, Manager of Living Exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, has published a stunning tome, The Exquisite Butterfly Companion ($14.95) that focuses on all things Lepidoptera. The special box set includes a thorough field guide featuring scientific and informative details about nearly 100 species of butterfly and moth. For the artistic bug in your young learner, there is an envelope with 100 rich images of the each genus specified in the book. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 5/23/12 3:54pm

Scooter Star

Jessica Marty, 7th grader at West Side Collaborative Middle School, flanked by her teacher Novella Bailey to the left and Erika Rauer, NYC Opera's Director of School Programs.

Meet Jessica Marty, West Side Collaborative Middle School 7th Grader-turned-Opera Prima Donna

New York City Opera held its summer gala at Central Park’s Boathouse on May 16 with a special performance by Deborah Voigt and Tony-winner Ted Sperling. Patrons such as Anna Wintour and Sue Carey helped to raise funds for NYCO’s educational programming, which brings its version of opera to New York City’s classrooms.  Kids participate firsthand in special renditions of the high-quality art, enabling them the rare opportunity to expand upon their cultural side.

Despite harsh budget cuts at many city schools, NYC Opera Education worked with 5,000 students in over 40 schools across the five boroughs as well as Westchester, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut in 2010-11. The gala served as a major fundraiser to involve schools that may not be able to afford participation.

Scooter spoke with West Side Collaborative 7th grader Jessica Marty to learn more about her experience with NYC Opera Education. She starred as Violetta in her school’s production of La Traviata. Read More

By Abe Sauer 5/21/12 4:27pm

Health

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When The Baby Falls, The Web Is Little Help

My 10-month-old daughter’s head hitting the floor was not something I saw. I heard it. The room was pitch black when she slipped off the bed’s edge – which to her might as well have been the edge of the world.

The flat clunk of skin-padded bone against rock was unmistakable in the room’s wee-hour silence. That was a head hitting a floor. A little head. A big, hard floor.

Then the crying started. Read More