Joelle Garguilo, mom of two and Emmy-winning reporter, on her love for small businesses, why you should give your dreams a chance and why there really is no place like New York
Our bucket list guide to getting the most out of the season
RE GISTER BEFORE APRIL 20 TH & S AV E 10%
Registration is now open for all YMCA Summer Day Camps at dozens of convenient locations throughout all five boroughs. We’ve got camps for every child, including traditional camp and specialty camps offering everything from sports to STEAM! Swimming is available at most camps, and we’ll work with each camper to strengthen their swimming ability during their time at camp.
WHY YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMPS?
• Talented and experienced staff
• Amazing and uplifting camp spirit
• Make new friends and build self-esteem
• Instructional swim lessons
All branches that host summer day camp are hosting open houses from 10 AM – 12 PM on APRIL 20 and MAY 11.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT YMCANYC.ORG/CAMP
Usdan invites young artists ages 5 to 18 to immerse themselves in art making, nature, and fun this summer on our wooded Long Island campus.
Summer 2024 offerings include 4- and 8-week arts programs for students ages 5 to 18 and 1-week recreational programs for students ages 7 to 14. Bus transportation is available from Long Island and New York City to our day camp in Wheatley Heights.
Scan to learn more.
Jewelry
Winter finally showed up in New York, and while we still have chilly days ahead of us, March is a season of transition where warmer temperatures take us out of hibernation, and the city starts to bloom.
Warmer weather means summer will soon be here (really, remember when we were just talking about Back to School?!). We have a helpful list of Summer Camps(page 14) worth checking out for the kids!
Did someome say Dragon Fruit Mojito? If you are looking for a warm destination trip, check out our guide to Belize (page 38), where pristine beaches and rich cultural experiences make for a perfect family or solo vacation.
This month, it is International Women’s
Day on March 8th. We celebrate women every day, and in the spirit of transitions, we have a helpful piece (page 36) on Career Pivots and making changes, small or big.
Speaking of career shifts, our cover mom for March, Joelle Garguilo (page 42), WABC’s new Entertainment Reporter and mom of two, started her journey as an Emmy-Winning reporter with a wish she would whisper to herself her dream to work in television while working as an accountant. Joelle also shares about parenting her two daughters, supporting local businesses, and why you should give your dreams a chance.
Donna
Share your feedback and ideas about family life in New York!
Email us at editorial@newyorkfamily.com and tag us at #newyorkfamily
PUBLISHER: Clifford Luster
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Donna Duarte-Ladd
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Erin Brof
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR:
Stacie Goldberg
DEPUTY EDITOR: Jeannine Cintron
DIGITAL EDITOR: Kaitlyn Riggio
EVENTS MANAGER: Shara Levine
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Shara Levine
PARTNERSHIP MANAGERS:
Lauren Alperin, Lauren Anchin, Joan Bergman, Mary Cassidy, Suzanne Cirigliano, Chris Cunnington, Lori Falco, Shelli Goldberg-Peck, LynnMarie Hanley, Lisa Herlihy, Nicole Miller, Janine Mulé, Nina Spiegelman, Gwen Tomaselli
MARKETING & STRATEGY DIRECTOR:
Rosalia Bobé
MARKETING & EVENTS ASSISTANT:
Ashley Rivera
SALES & MARKETING ASSISTANT:
Elana Cantor
MARKETING ASSISTANT: Tilejah Gilead
MEDIA SALES ASSISTANT:
Anastasia Aktipis
ART DIRECTOR: Leah Mitch
WEB DEVELOPER: Sylvan Migdal
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:
Arthur Arutyunov, Connie Sulsenti
EDITORS AT LARGE:
Serena Norr, Cris Pearlstein
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
Jana Beauchamp, Mia Salas
CONTACT INFORMATION
ADVERTISING: (718) 260-4554
Advertising@NewYorkFamily.com
CIRCULATION: (718) 260-8336
Tina@NewYorkFamily.com
ADDRESS:
New York Family Media/Schneps Media
1 MetroTech Center North, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201
PRESIDENT: Victoria Schneps-Yunis
CEO: Joshua Schneps
COO: Clifford Luster
New York Family has been awarded the PMA Gold Award for for Overall Design and Bronze for Website General Excellence. New
In this day and age, the internet is pretty inescapable. Kids are starting to go online at younger and younger ages. With this in mind, staying safe on the internet is more important than ever.
The idea of letting kids go on the internet can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially when the internet is so huge and there’s so much out of our control. But there are ways to make surfing the web safer for kids and steps you can take as a parent to make the experience safer.
Here are some tips for parents to help their kids stay safe online.
In your house, you’re the internet service provider for your young children. When your children are first starting to use the internet, set guidelines for what sites or programs they’re allowed to use, when they’re allowed to be online and who they’re allowed to connect with.
This can (and should) become more flexible as they get older, but it’s good to have a framework when young children are first starting to go online.
It’s a good idea to vet websites and apps before your young children use them. Establish an expectation that young children ask permission before visiting a website or downloading an app and then review them before giving them permission.
Many app stores, like Apple’s App Store or Google Play, have the ability to passwordprotect app downloading. This can add an extra layer of security to make sure you can review apps before your kids download them.
Limits on screen time can be beneficial for everyone: children, teens and adults. Many devices come equipped with features that track and limit screen time.
Encourage your kids to have fun with
activities that don’t involve a screen, and try to phrase screens out before bedtime every night. And lead by example by encouraging family time that doesn’t revolve around a screen.
Have conversations with your kids about what they’re doing and who they’re communicating with online, and keep these conversations going as your kids get older.
If you establish this open communication now, your kids will be more likely to come to you for help later if they need help with a situation online.
A simple way to monitor internet use for young children is to set up the family computer in the living room or another common space. But if your child has a tablet of their own, this can get more complicated.
Depending on the age of the child, you can establish rules about where they’re allowed to use the tablet. There are also apps you can install to monitor the tablet’s usage. While these rules will ease as your kids get older, it’s a good idea to monitor their internet use when they’re young.
Learn about the parental controls available on different apps, web browsers and devices. Turn on options like SafeSearch on Google to limit what search results get kicked back to your child, or teach them about child-friendly search engines like Swiggle or Kids-search.
Look into options like YouTube Kids, which offer more contained environments. Save your child’s favorite websites to the favorites tab so they can navigate to them on their own. While not foolproof, using these controls can make the internet a little more contained for your kids.
As your children get old enough to have their own passwords, teach them about the importance of keeping their passwords secure.
Explain to them why passwords are important tools against identity theft and that they shouldn’t be shared with anyone, even someone who you think is your best friend. Try to avoid saving passwords to devices when possible.
When your child gets old enough to have their own social media accounts, help them make them to ensure they’re set up for a safe experience. Have your children use privacy settings, and add your children as friends from your own profile. Occasionally take a look at your kid’s friend’s list to make sure they aren’t being added by strangers.
Teach your children to not post personal information online, like their full name, age, birthday, phone number, where they live and more.
And this is a good rule to follow as an adult, too. Lead by example by checking to make sure the things you post online don’t contain any identifying information.
It’s important to remember that the internet is forever, and that anything posted can’t be truly erased. Children and teens need to be taught to be smart about the information and images they post online.
And this is also true for parents who post pictures of their children online regularly. Stay in control of your digital footprint by only sharing things online with people you know and trust, and teach your children to do the same.
Helpful resource kidshealth.org/en/parents/ net-safety
We all are experincing higher grocery bills, kids’ clothing costs have increased, many essential cost of living expenses continue to go up. With inflation still increasing and not many families receiving pay raises to cover the cost of living, many parents wonder if a new federal child tax credit may return. The tax relief you may be hearing about is similar to the one from 2021 that helped struggling families across the country, and it might return, maybe, if a new bipartisan proposal comes to life. For many families, this will provide some much-needed financial assistance. Here’s what parents need to know.
The proposal is a joint Democrat and Republican effort (yes, you heard that right ) to help lower-income families, but it also includes support for businesses. At press time the bill was passed by the US House of Representetives. The next step would be for the Senate to pass the bill. If it goes into law, it would revive the child tax credit from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, according to The Economic Times.
Here are some highlights of the plan, which is called the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, according to a press release from the U.S. Senate:
• Supports working families with an enhanced child tax credit
• Expands innovation and competitiveness with economic policies like research and development expensing
• Rebuild communities struck by disasters with tax relief
• Enhances the low-income housing tax credit
• Eliminates fraud and waste by ending the Employee Retention Tax Credit program
“American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs,” Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, (R-MO), said. “We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that’s costing taxpayers billions in fraud.”
The proposed tax credit most likely won’t be exactly like the original. But there are elements to the plan that will help lowerincome families.
First, the deal would expand access to child tax credit. There would be phased increases to the refundable portion of the child tax credit for 2023, 2024 and 2025. There would be no penalties for larger families (thus ensuring the credit phase-in is applied fairly to families with multiple children).
Under current law, the maximum refundable child tax credit is limited to
$1,600 per child for 2023. This proposed deal would increase the maximum refundable amount per child to $1,800 in tax year 2023, $1,900 in tax year 2024, and $2,000 in tax year 2025.
The plan also details that there would be flexibility for taxpayers. They could use either current or prior-year income to calculate the child tax credit in 2024 or 2025.
The credit would also be adjusted for inflation starting in 2024.
“Sixteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said.
For more information, visit senate finance website, which provides technical information about the plan.
A dditional reporting by Donna DuarteLadd
At IDEAL, we believe that differentiated learning is the key to academic excellence. We offer a supportive environment where all children are valued and celebrated.
www.theidealschool.org/open-houses
3/8 Lower School (Grades K-5)
3/15 Upper School (Grades 6-12)
It’s no secret that having kids can change the dynamic of a relationship between couples. Even the most in-love partners and couples with the healthiest of dynamics are likely to hit bumps in the road when children are added to the equation.
Parents, and especially new parents, can find themsleves with a loss of a connection. In the hustle and bustle of raising kids, it can be harder to find time for your partner. But there are ways to get that spark back.
We sat down with Matt Lundquist, LCSW, psychotherapist with Tribeca Therapy, about how parents can tend do and rekindle the spark in their relationship while caring for their kids.
It’s not uncommon for “the spark” to go out between a couple, especially after they welcome a child and become parents. What causes this to happen?
A lot can cause this. It’s important to remember that love relationships in the way we tend to organize them are really several relationships.
In a partnership with children, they’re relationships of love, friendship and sex but also cohabitation, financial partnership and parenting.
As relationships add facets–dating leads to cohabitation and financial partnership, and children–there are more roles to navigate in and around.
What are some signs that the spark has gone out between spouses?
It’s one of those things that is obvious once it’s pointed out. In the busyness of kids and work there is a lot to distract us from noticing something that doesn’t feel good to admit.
Often the “metric” is sexual connection, but some couples still have sex regularly but with less enjoyment or accompanied by less of other kinds of romance and connection. Or couples may find it harder to connect sexually and yet have a spark in other areas.
The question of spark is subjective and, in practice, each person in the relationship ought to reflect on whether they feel satisfied and excited.
How can parents reignite the spark in their relationship after they have children?
I often talk to parents–or those in a relationship that’s evolved after time and life changes–about needing to rethink the fuel source.
One common source of excitement early in a relationship is its newness, and even the drama of pursuit (Ester Perel wrote about this in Mating in Captivity). When that inevitably fades couples need to find new sources of excitement for one another.
The possibilities for what these sources can be are endless but one area is longevity and parenting itself–finding joy and connection in the partnership of raising children, seeing if a spark can be generated from the excitement of succeeding and parenting’s challenges, in the shared wins and even in the shared experience of struggle.
Children require a lot of time and attention, especially when they’re young. How can spouses find time for each other when there are children in the mix?
This is the endless creative question of parents, especially parents of young children (and made all the more challenging in the confined spaces we often occupy when raising children in New York City).
My first comment is to encourage parents to relate to this as ordinary: while logistics aren’t sexy, they are necessary. Laundry rooms during naptime may be a good option; working from home and timing a lunch break (while kids are at daycare or school).
How does self-care play into keeping up the spark with a spouse?
We might think of the spark as a kind of self care in and of itself. Time for oneself and investing in breaks and alone time, in doing things that feel good is great; but it’s also important to remember that in healthy, equitable relationships, investing in the relationship is part of self care.
If you’ve ever been a camper, counselor, worked at a camp, or knew someone who did, you know there’s something special about the anticipation of summer camp. Many live 10 months for two, waiting for the minute they can fling off their school backpacks and run full speed ahead toward their summer home. Sleepaway evenings are spent around a campfire. Day camp afternoons are filled with special activities and snack-time galore. There’s canteen and cabin nights, swimming and sports competitions, whimsical adventure and waterfront fun.
Ask those of us who went to camp (no matter how long ago it was) and you’ll find smiles, friendships cultivated, and words to songs that we can sing at a moment’s notice. We can tell you about our beloved counselors, reminisce about a shared past, and recall our fondest camp memories. We went to camp, our lives have been enriched, and we want others to share the same experience. There’s wisdom in summer camp and it seems that it’s not until we leave that we realize the weight of so many of its gifts.
Today, there are lessons from camp I use every day. There were, of course, the tangible lessons, such as learning to swim and clearing your plate from the table, but the most important lessons may be the ones you can’t see.
Spending time with people from different places provides a time to share stories and hear various ways of life. At camp, kids learn that if there is an unfair practice somewhere (whether it’s how the captains for a team are picked or that a friend might struggle with a difficult home life), the way to make a difference is to listen, get involved, and act with a kind heart.
In my Counselor-In-Training program, we did many activities that continue to apply to life
today. One was an exercise in giving directions. While some had to write directions, others had to draw a map. It showed us how people view things, learn, and deliver information differently.
Whether it’s day or sleepaway, camp showcases fun and inclusivity for all. Regardless of the activity or role, kids quickly learn there is a vital place for everyone. There are the experts at storytelling, acting, geocaching, swimming, arts and crafts, sports, and ropes courses, and others who are able to have their firsts in these experiences. There are cooks and maintenance workers, nurses and swim staff, directors and CITs, bus drivers and office staff, and campers and counselors from every walk of life—and everyone plays a vital role in making camp the special space it is. Knowing she is valued and that she matters is something your child takes with her when the camp gates close at the end of the summer.
At camp, I met counselors from Camp
America (a camp counselor exchange program) whose accents and histories were different from mine. My friends and fellow campers all had different religions and came from varying socio-economic backgrounds. Whether listening to stories around the fire or having snack time chats with counselors, the message gets across: Each upbringing is different and each struggle or triumph should be valued equally.
Whether he’s laughing at a friend’s story, finding his feet in a new choreographed move, working his lungs in the talent show, or staring at the lake dreaming of what’s to come, camp offers your child the magic of creativity, wonder, and imagination. With much needed downtime away from the stressors of school and the pull of screens, parts of the brain awaken that foster the artist and dreamer in him.
Camp helps kids find themselves. She’s away from home, but cared for, fed, and provided
with a safe space. Little by little, she takes her first steps at independence. With each summer, the scary becomes less so and her confidence builds. Cultivating your child’s independence in a safe environment at an early age leads to strong personal development and continued growth.
Whatever it was that seems different, terrifying, or impossible is achievable at camp. I learned to swim at camp and later became a lifeguard and aquatics director. I was petrified of spiders and have subsequently gone bush camping in subSaharan Africa and the Australian Outback. Leaving home for camp was difficult the first time, but it made going away to college that much easier. He’ll learn that although experiences may be filled with nervous anticipation at the start, what he gets when he reaches the other side of that fear is priceless.
My three closest friends (from camp) and I are each incredibly different. In our youth, we were an equitation lover, a farm fanatic, a waterfront fiend, and a fan of arts and crafts, and we rarely chose the same activities. There were four different religious beliefs, four different hometowns, varied socio-economic backgrounds, unique style senses, each with a different conglomeration of immediate family, and yet, 30 years later we’re still on each other’s speed dials.
Camp is ghost stories and campfires, beach days and arts and crafts, free swim and nature hikes and sea glass hunting and searching for shooting stars. Without the need for high tech screens, the camp experience reminds kids that it’s the simple things that matter most.
At camp, as in life, kindness matters. Campers learn lessons of working as a team, sharing kindness, and trying to lift others up on a regular basis. The overall message of treating others as you’d like to be treated flows through the day’s activities from cabin chores to sharing the last bits of chocolate for a s’more.
Day camps have snack time and many sleep-
away camps have canteen or time to relax, recuperate, and rejuvenate. This translates years later to a community of people who know they need to listen to their bodies, take a break at times, and care for themselves.
Staff members believe in campers and often propel them to believe in themselves. Knowing someone believes in him at a young age stays with a child—it’s what he will grab onto as an adult when things get tough. People believing in you so fiercely makes you believe in yourself.
I learned to silkscreen, went on my first hike, took my first horseback ride, and took a fearful plunge off of a 10-foot boulder into open water—all for my first time at camp. Knowing there is always someone there to encourage her to take the plunge, hold her hand, and catch her if she falls (literally and figuratively) makes the anticipation of trying new things easier. Later in life, being scared but plunging ahead anyway takes many different forms. Whether it’s starting a new school, a first job, learning to drive, or going away to college, those lessons from camp stay with her—always.
He might be the best at finding bugs along the nature trail. She might love to build things, create stories, or solve problems. He might be the best listener, give the best hugs, or love to help others find their smile. Camp provides outlets for all to find their talents, embrace them, and continue to thrive.
Sometimes at camp it rains for a week straight. Here she learns she can be miserable, sulk in her cabin, and be negative about the weather. Or she can learn to dance in the rain, find the joy of splashing in puddles and playing in the mud, and listen to the soothing sounds of the water as it hits the leaves. Life is what you make of it—be mindful, turn the negatives into positives, and always leave the place you’re in a little better than how you found it.
At camp, I met people who were different from me, which helped shape my perspective of the world and my place in it. For two weeks each summer there were kids living in foster
care in New York City who came to camp. For many, it was their first time to see a large body of water or to work on a farm. For those two weeks we all had a fabulous time at camp—just like any other two-week session. Camp allowed relationships to grow, people’s stories were shared, and we learned that people most certainly do change people.
I’ve officially been borrowing my best friend’s clothes since the age of 12. Flip flops made their rounds and whatever sweatshirt one could grab in the morning became yours for the day. We shared hair dryers, stories, canteen money, visiting day treats, memories, and experiences. Sometimes sharing meant your bed when a friend had a nightmare. Sometimes sharing meant your family when someone else’s wasn’t around. Sometimes sharing meant your experiences to put someone else at ease. Camp showcases that sharing is necessary, teaching us to build bridges, not walls.
The only failure at camp is in not trying. Putting your best foot forward, jumping in, and trying your best is one of the hallmarks of camp. New campers learn there is no harm in coming in second, not getting the lead in the camp skit, or missing the goal. This lesson transfers through the decades, keeping camp’s positive attitude afloat in all of us.
Whether it’s sleepaway camp or day camp, each day kids return to their cabins or homes dirty and tired after an energetic day. Inspired by nature’s ability to flip a mind switch, lower blood pressure, and change our perspective, kids who go to camp turn into adults who appreciate the magic of nature.
Friendships forged at sleepaway camp are some of the best I know. Camp teaches kids to meet new people and get to know one another. Counselors from 20 years ago continued to be my mentors for years after camp, and today we share travel advice and are willing to meet up all over the world. My best friends from camp have been a part of my story for more than 30 years. We’ve been there for the happy and the sad, both around the corner and across the globe. Today we may utilize social media and technology to communicate, but these friendships stand the test of time.
Basis Independent
Manhattan
795 Columbus Ave. (Lower School)
929-810-4824
556 West 22nd St. (Upper School)
929-456-5186
basisindependent.com/nyc
Get ready for an epic summer filled with unforgettable memories!
The opportunities and options are endless: day camps, sports camps, specialty camps, virtual academic camps, and more. Explore their program offerings today and secure your camper’s spot; space is limited, but the fun is unlimited!
Camp Lee Mar
450 Route 590, Lackawaxen, PA
Winter: 215-658-1708
Summer: 570-685-7188 leemar.com
A private, seven-week
residential summer program incorporating strong academic and speech programs with traditional camp activities. A structured environment allows campers to feel comfortable and secure. Careful study is made of parent input, school (IEPs), camper interview, etc., so the interests and needs of each child can be determined for suitable grouping prior arrival.
Camp Lee Mar focuses on improving the daily living, social, and life skills of their campers, while giving them the happiest summer of their lives!
Day Camp In The Park
6 Kendall Drive, New City, Rockland 845-638-2515
dcitp.com
dcitp1979@gmail.com
DCITP is a premier day camp in Rockland County is celebrating their 45th summer! Located on a
magnificent 500+ acre campus, complete with swimming in a crystal clear 4-mile lake or an in-ground heated pool. They are ACA certified and led by teachers, have a diverse program for all interests, and include door-to-door A/C transportation in Rockland, Westchester, Manhattan, Bergen and Orange. Daily Red Cross Swim Instruction and gorgeous natural forest setting for activities!
Launch Math + Science Centers
Two UWS locations in Manhattan
212-600-1010 launchmath.com info@launchmath.com
Launch Math + Science
Centers offers exciting and educational one-week STEM summer camps for kids in K-7th grade (5-12 years old). With a
4:1 camper-to-staff ratio, children at Launch’s exciting specialty summer programs explore the adventures of archaeology, discover the details of robotics, reveal the wonders of chemical reactions – and that’s just the beginning. Each week is jam-packed with hands-on STEM projects and fun camp activities. Register by March 31st to receive $200 off every camp after the first.
Mannes Prep Summer Programs
55 West 13th Street
646-909-3855
event.newschool.edu/ performingartssummer mannesprep@newschool.edu
Unleash your musical potential at Mannes Prep this summer! Music at Mannes, a Grades 3-6 summer intensive, invites young pianists and instrumental students the opportunity to develop
Get ready for an epic summer filled with hands-on activities where your child can explore new skills, have a blast, and make new friends.
MANNES PREP
SUMMER 2024
JULY 29-AUGUST 8
MANNES PREP
FALL 2024
MUSIC AT MANNES: GRADES 3-6
SMALL ENSEMBLE INTENSIVE: GRADES 7-12
SATURDAYS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AGES 4-18
PRE-PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL TRAINING IN A WARM AND SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE
LEARN MORE
www.newschool.edu/mannes/prep/ mannesprep@newschool.edu
LEARN. CREATE. COLLABORATE.
Swimming • Rooftop Playground Arts & Crafts • Yoga • Dance & Movement • Free Play • Sports
Ages 2–6: June 3–August 9
Come visit us! Schedule a tour: info-camp@stbarts.org
their skills and expand their musical interests through instrumental and choral ensembles. Mannes Prep Small Ensemble Intensive offers students Grades 7-12 the opportunity to engage in intensive chamber music rehearsals and participate in ensembles and workshops with renowned guest artists. Programs run July 29 –August 9, 2024.
50 South Fairview Ave. 631-668-1100
golfchannelacademykelleybrooke.com/summer-juniorgolf-program-2
myounkman@me.com
This summer camp is offered 4 days per week (Monday-Friday) at Montauk Downs Golf Course. This is a FUN golf camp designed to introduce the game to newer golfers and to develop fundamentals for intermediate players.
Unlike other camps with high school counselors as instructors, professional instruction from LPGA and PGA professionals is given. Morning Sessions (9am12pm), Afternoon Sessions (1pm-4pm) Age Groups5-10.
Montessori International Summer Day Camp
347 East 55th Street, Sutton Place
Manhattan, New York 10022 212-223-4630
montessorischoolny.com
info@montessorischoolny.com
This summer, Montessori is excited to offer campers a unique blend of summer activities and academics! Children participate in artsand-crafts, tennis, martial arts, yoga, dance, chess and gymnastics, plus handson science explorations and field trips to NYC’s world-renowned museums and cultural destinations. Since camp is staffed by
their year-round teachers, children can also continue with academics, to prepare for admission to gifted programs, or for a head start on the upcoming year.
Play On! Studios
263 West 86th Street, NY, NY 10024
347-709-4149
playonstudios.com info@playonstudios.com
Play On! Studios offers theater day camps on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won’t soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games! Sign up for 1 week or more - there’s a new show every session! Grades K-9.
Rella’s Spielhaus Summer Camp
50 West 97th Street, suite 1-D willkommen@rellasspielhaus. com
646-837-6777
www.rellasspielhaus.com
Rella’s Spielhaus Summer Camp is New York’s premier German Day Camp and runs for 9 weeks between June 24th and Aug. 30th. Daily Schedule: 9am - 3pm, Early Drop-Off and After Care available. Kids 1-12yrs are invited to enroll week-byweek. Each week features a different, fun topic. Be it “Fussball”, “Mozart” oder “Feuerwehr”, the children will be immersed in singing, playing, arts & crafts, all tailored to their age group and level of German proficiency.
Summer at St. Bart’s 109 East 50th St. 212-378-0203
www.leemar.com 215-658-1708
Camp Lee Mar is a 6 ½ week, private, residential summer program for campers ages 7-21. Our programming offers a unique learning experience that combines traditional camp activities with strong academics, activities of daily living, and speech and social skills development.
Only a short drive from New York City and Philadelphia, Camp Lee Mar is nestled in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Year after year, both staff and campers return from around the world to spend their summers at CLM.
If you are interested in learning more about Camp Lee Mar you can either call us at 215-658-1708 during the winter or at 570-685-7188 during the summer.
Email us at Ari@leemar.com
stbarts.org/grow/summercamp/ info-camp@stbarts.org
Summer at St. Bart’s offers something for everyone ages two through six! Every day campers ages three to six learn how to swim onsite in an indoor heated pool! All campers, ages two through six, participate in a variety of activities which include sports in the full-sized gymnasium, outdoor play on the rooftop, arts and crafts, dance, yoga, and free play in the classroom.
Soccer Stars Summer Camps
606 Columbus Ave.
212-877-7171
soccerstars.com info@soccerstars.com
Soccer Stars & Pro Soccer
Kids are Long Island’s #1 youth soccer program. With 24 years of experience under their cleats, Soccer Stars have positively
impacted over one million kids nationwide by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in their weekly classes & camps. Soccer Stars help children improve their soccer skills, develop self-confidence & physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, & hone socialization skills. Their highly trained coaches & early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kidto-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention & can grow at their own pace.
Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts
185 Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights
631-643-7900
usdan.org/nyfamily questions@usdan.org
Surrounded by 140 acres of natural beauty, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts is the perfect place for
children to joyfully express their creativity. They offer 1, 4, and 8-week day camp programs for students ages 5 to 18. Classes are taught by exceptional educators and professional artists in music, art, theater, creative writing, chess, and more. Bus transportation is available from Long Island and NYC to our woodland campus in Wheatley Heights.
139 West 91st Street New York City, NY 10024 212-932-6849
trinityschoolnyc.org/ourprograms/summer-camp seth.goldberg@ trinityschoolnyc.org
The Trinity Discovery Day Camp provides an opportunity for campers to be kids again. Campers get to engage with each other while swimming, playing tennis, chess, golf and much more. Campers will have
pool parties on Fridays and of course, ices everyday!
Lunch will not be provided. Come join us for a fantastic summer!
YMCA of Greater New York Summer Day Camps
20+ Locations Across All 5 Boroughs in NYC 212-630-9720
ymcanyc.org/camp rho@ymcanyc.org
100+ Camps. 20+ Locations. 100+ Years of Camp Magic. Best. Summer. Ever. The YMCA of Greater NY is gearing up to help kids create lifelong memories and friendships at Summer Camp in 2024! Through the Y’s day camps and specialty camps in all five boroughs, families can trust the Y to give their kids a fun, enriching, highquality camp experience this summer — out of the house and learning new skills. Register today and save!
•
Asignificant advantage of living in New York is that we have fantastic school resources. One education choice for New York students that continues to grow is Charter Schools. What is a Charter school, and how do they work?
Charter schools are independently-operated public schools accountable for advancing student achievement. This combination of freedom and accountability allows charter teachers to adapt their classrooms based on their students’ needs while pushing for high academic achievement.
New York City’s 274 charter schools are independent of the New York City Department of Education, but they can be closed if they don’t meet certain student achievement standards.
Charter schools offer students opportunities for academic success that are an excellant education source for children.
Prospective Charter school parents can find programs that are specialized for students. Among them, 51 schools have enforced programs specifically designed for students with Autism or have a student body where more than 25% of students have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for Special Education.
And while public and private take the lead in dual language immersion programs Charter schools are starting to add thse programs to ther schools. Currently there are 9 schools that boast dual language programs. The same goes for adding more Pre-k classes to Charter Schools , currently there are a a total of 34 charter schools with pre-K programs.
A common myth is that as New York’s charter schools succeed, the city’s traditional public schools fail as a result. A 2018 study by the Manhattan Institute concluded that “compe-
tition from New York City charter schools has either no effect or a positive effect,” on the city’s traditional public schools.
In fact, district schools have improved significantly as charter schools have spread throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Funding for district schools has also increased as the student population at charter schools has increased over the years.
Charter teachers adapt their classrooms and teaching methods to the current needs of their students. This freedom in the curriculum, teaching style, school missions and policies resembles that of private schools, enabling charter schools to provide the very best approach to academics that fits their students. Though teachers have flexibility, charter schools are held accountable for high academic achievement levels.
Charter School is a Lottery System
New York City’s charter schools admit students through a lottery system; they cannot select their students. This process gives students from all backgrounds and education levels an equal opportunity to attend and achieve academic success at charter schools.
Charter Students have had Access to Great Schooling. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York, charter schools
across the five boroughs immediately transitioned to remote learning that adapted to the students in each classrooms’ needs.
75% of New York’s charter schools had created a remote learning procedure before the March 2020 lockdown. Charter students only had to wait an average of three days to begin remote learning after in-person learning was closed.
Both charter students and teachers had the tools to continue learning and teaching from home. 80% of New York charter schools provided students with devices for remote learning before schools were closed and 98% of New York’s charter school teachers had the technology to conduct remote instruction.
Charter schools have been able to keep students accountable and maintain a high level of learning despite COVID-19 and its ramifications on education. 85% of New York’s charter schools continued to introduce new learning content to students through the pandemic and charter schools were three times more likely to take attendance during remote classes compared to traditional schools.
Charter schools also expanded nonacademic programs such as social-emotional counseling and family outreach during the pandemic. 75% of charter teachers increased their office hours during remote learning and 91% of charter teachers increased their time spent on communication with families during the pandemic.
My son’s name, “Ness,” means “miracle.” He’s six and a half. His existence, like that of many Jews alive today, is miraculous. And I know that sounds like hyperbole. But when you look at my family line, it’s clear.
My maternal grandparents survived the Holocaust. How? I’ll never know. Their stories of survival, having each lost their mothers to the war, was something they kept inside their entire lives.. In the nearly 100 years of each of their lives, they couldn’t ever utter their own stories. My father is a Yom Kippur War veteran who lost his best friends and first cousin fighting for Israel. He narrowly survived. When I say my life and my children’s lives are miracles, I mean it. The other miracle is that my son is steadfast in his Judaism, even though I often waver.
Ness is proud of his name. And his Judaism. He’s proud of his Sabba, my father, who speaks English with a thick Israeli accent. He is proud to celebrate Chanuka instead of Christmas. He has always been that way. He never seemed to struggle with
religion the way I did and the way I still do today. (A very Jewish thing indeed. The very name “Israel” means to struggle with God.) I wish I had his conviction.
As a toddler, my son used to play with a small Israeli flag. Waving it and dancing. I don’t know where he got it, but it was his favorite toy. In May 2021, amidst ongoing fighting between Gaza and Israel, he sweetly tried to bring it into his Montessori preschool. I didn’t realize it before but when the pink-haired school teacher opened the door to greet us, I panicked. A week earlier this teacher felt like my people — progressive, liberal, wildly creative. And now, with the rise of blatant antisemitism on my beloved Left, this pink-haired young teacher could be someone who hates me, a Jewish woman of Israeli descent. So, I ripped the flag out of his little hand. He cried, and I joked, “the Jewish people have been through worse!” I was afraid for him, my then four-year-old.
At the time, during this flare-up in Israel, I was seeing on social media (where I do much of my work) what the world really thought of us: “colonizers,” “baby killers,” “evil Zionists,” etc., etc. etc. I just didn’t want
my little boy associated with any of that. How would they treat him in school if they believed his family to be the absolute worst of society?
That year, we went to the craft store Michael’s to get art supplies. They had a Star of David Wreath, and Ness begged me to buy it. I did. His enthusiasm was so cute! But when he asked me to put it up on the front door of our apartment, I drew the line. I had to do this for our safety.
Nessy’s affinity for Judaism, Hebrew, and Israel has remained strong even when my own faith has wavered. In fact, his Hebrew school teacher confided in me, saying we may have a Rabbi on our hands. I think he may be right. The boy’s got charm and an understanding of life like he’s been here before. But most of all, he has Jewish Pride.
I picked him up from school the other day. He goes to public school now. He pointed to a painting he made in class. A Chanukia (8 candles and the Shamash) with four Stars of David in the background. I asked him why he made it. “Because we’re Jewish!” he said as two assistant teachers passed wearing Kafiyas. The naches (a Yiddish word that means a special brand of heart-clenching Jewish pride and joy). And slight panic. I was raised on the stories of the Holocaust. I knew all about Chanoch, my father’s 19-year-old cousin who
died in his arms in the Yom Kippur War. The television stayed on for weeks when Rabin was assassinated. There is enough Jewish trauma to last lifetimes. I know that Ness will find this out for himself in time. And when he does, it will be a shock either way, won’t it? I’m 39 years old and I still can’t wrap my head around antisemitism. It just doesn’t make sense, despite the fact that I know very well that it exists. There are parents, I know, who tell their kids early and often that people don’t like Jews. And they are so smart, and I envy their ease in that conversation. But for me, I’ll wait to break the news, which I know could take his innocence from him. For now, Ness is working on his foundation. His core. He is rooted in the love of his culture, and I’m just not ready to rip the flag out of his hand again.
One practical bit of advice I can relay is that I don’t allow Ness to wear his Star of David necklace anymore. The one my dad gave him. Or the necklace with his name in Hebrew. I’m not with him all day, so I can’t protect him from the crazies. And I haven’t told him why. I know some parenting experts
I’ll let him know that his love and pride, and joy in being Jewish is the important thing.
might scoff at that but I’m not regulated enough around this issue to convey a sense of calm and safety. When I do I’ll let him know that antisemitism is a “them” problem. A sickness, like any deep-seated hate, that is not his riddle to solve. I’ll let him know that his love and pride, and joy in being Jewish is the important thing. And that he has in spades.
In the Vedas, the ancient Indian texts, I learned about something called “valid inquiry.” The teaching suggests not sharing precious knowledge until an individual expresses “valid inquiry,” meaning they’re ready, willing, and able to receive the download. In the case of antisemitism and my young children, I’d add, “is it necessary?” When they see cop cars outside of the synagogue, do they ask questions about our
safety? No. We live in New York City. Cop cars don’t phase them. Ok. Well, what if they see antisemitic graffiti, and I’m visibly upset? Well then, perhaps it’s time to have an ageappropriate chat.
For the non-Jewish reader: first, thank you for your care in reading. You may not know the cellular feeling of having been hunted down like prey for thousands of years. Likely you do not. I do though. It isn’t present for me all the time. It turns on when I hear Hamas leaders tell the world of their mission to rid the world of Jews. And it’ll turn on for my kids when they learn of the Holocaust in their fifth-grade public school class. This is how epigenetics work. Epigenetics is the study of inherited trauma as well as inherited resilience. So I have a few years to marinate in the joys of Judaism with Ness. And since I know he is with safe adults at all times at school or camp, I’ll let him be blissfully ignorant. So that his brain and body can feel as safe in the world as humanly possible. That, I believe, will set him up for success in life. Not the awareness of threat but the solid sense of safety.
There’s no place in the world quite like New York City, and RISE NY celebrates everything that makes the city unique.
Whether you’re a parent looking for an educated, fun experience, a tourist visiting the city for the first time, or you’ve been living in New York for your whole life, this immersive three-part adventure will make you fall in love with New York City all over again.
Your family’s journey begins inside a replica of New York’s inaugural City Hall subway station. The kids will love riding on New York’s first-ever subway back in 1904 and learning all about New York City’s history.
In a documentary film narrated by Jeff Goldblum, visitors will be taken through the past 100-plus years and see how New York City’s culture has grown and developed over time.
History buffs will love hearing about the evolution of the iconic New York City skyline, Broadway, historical landmarks and more.
But that’s not where the story stops. After enjoying the immersive documentary, you and the kids will next work your way through a series of museum-style galleries covering the city’s history through the lens of seven influential categories: finance, skyline, television and radio, fashion, music, film and Broadway.
Wall Street is a cornerstone for the American economy, which means finance is a staple of New York City history.
Artifacts, including a check signed by Alexander Hamilton and a replica of the New York Stock Exchange bell, bring history to life and show how the city grew to become a powerhouse in the world of finance.
New York City has been featured in radio and television since the beginning of the media. See iconic pieces from shows like Friends, Seinfeld, Sesame Street, and Saturday Night Live and learn about how the history of the city and history of film and television go hand in hand.
Watch clips of some of the city’s most famous moments on the silver screen in RISE NY’s film museum, created in partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival.
And nothing says New York City quite like Broadway. See slices from five musicals that have made their mark on the Great White Way: Hamilton, Aladdin, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and The Lion King.
Finish off your RISE NY experience with a bird’s eye view of the city unlike anything you’ve witnessed before. Rise, one of New York City’s newest attractions, is sure to be the most thrilling part of your visit.
This virtual reality flight simulator will take you through a year of New York in one day.
The immersive experience will take you 30 above the skyline and through landmarks and cultural moments, like the Statue of Liberty, the 4th of July Fireworks on the East River and, of course, the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square.
The ride is reminiscent of the Soarin’ attractions in Disney World and Disneyland, and it’s sure to charm even life-long New Yorkers.
RISE NY is the perfect experience for visitors young and old. There’s no shortage of immersive and engaging experiences throughout the museum.
Kids and adults alike will love seeing their favorite music, movies and television shows in a new context. And even the biggest New York history buff will walk out knowing something they didn’t know before.
Add RISE NY to your New York City bucket list for this season.
RISE NY, 160 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036, riseny.co, Tickets: Child Ages 3-12, $35; 13 + $39; VIP Tickets $57
Broker Sales Associate of Coldwell Banker and Westfield expert Frank D. Isoldi shares that families looking to move in this area will find a range of choices, from charming Cape Cod homes to stately traditional Colonials, whimsical storybook Tudors to majestic Victorians, and even modern new constructions making this an exceptional choice for families.
Amazing Opportunity
852 Boulevard, Westfield, NJ
4 Bedrooms | 2.2 Baths | $899,900
This home is located on one of Westfield’s most quintessential streets.
It offers four floors of living space, hardwood floors, living room with fireplace, a cozy enclosed porch with exposed brick wall and a private 3rd floor bedroom.
The spacious, level backyard is perfect for entertaining and recreation.
Conveniently located to schools,
parks, NYC transportation and awardwinning downtown Westfield, this is an amazing opportunity to create your dream home!
The annual Orchid Show is a regular staple in the New York Botanical Garden’s events line up. This year, the show’s 21st installment, titled The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion, is a celebration of all things orchid through the lens of fashion.
Visitors will be able to see meticulouslydesigned installations featuring orchids and other plants by three rising design stars who have all been inspired by nature.
A journey through this year’s Orchid Show starts in the Haupt Conservatory’s Palms of the World Gallery, where visitors will be greeted with an installation of floral dresses designed by Olivia Cheng, the designer and founder of fashion label Dauphinette.
In front of a wall of orchids, plants and mirrors, mannequins stand decorated in Cheng’s dramatically designed and delicately crafted plant-based outfits made from living material.
The designs showcase Cheng’s gravitation towards “underappreciated and unconventional materials,” which she says is a common theme in her work.
This opening scene sets the stage for the whole exhibition and kicks off the orchiddotted journey through the Conservatory’s
Lowland and Upland Rain Forest Galleries.
Here, visitors will get a glimpse of the NYBG’s diverse and robust collection of orchids and learn about what goes into conserving and caring for the blooms.
You’ll make your way into the Seasonal Exhibition Galleries to an installation by botanical artist FLWR PSTL a.k.a Kristen Alpaugh, featuring figures adorned in “literal threads of [her] childhood,” Alpaugh says.
You’re greeted first with a royal figure that Alpaugh described as The Regina, adorned in a monumental cape made from a variety of pink and purple orchids and accented by mini ferns.
The captivating image is an apt introduction to the delightful creations from FLWR PSTL’s imagination encompassed in the installation. Other points of interest include a water lily hoop skirt fountain and thigh-high floral boots.
The final gallery features runway vignettes by Hillary Taymour, founder and designer of Collina Strada. The designs are created from upcycled materials, such as a fabric made from salvaged rose plants. Plants clothes AI-inspired creature mannequins to bring the exhibition to a charming close.
For visitors looking to take their Orchid Show experience to the next level, there
plenty of opportunities offered by NYBG during the show’s run.
There will be a number of on-site activations and ongoing public programs, including “Orchid Basics” Q&A sessions, orchid expert meet and greets, sensory tables in the Conservation and more. These experiences will provide new and exciting changes to learn about and engage with orchids. Keep an eye out on the NYBG’s calendar for these events!
The NYBG Shop will have top quality orchids, everything from exotic specimens for orchid connoisseurs to easy-to-grow varieties for beginners, available for purchase.
The Orchid Show fun continues into the night as well. On select dates, adults 21 and older can experience the exhibition through Orchid Nights. See an evening viewing of the exhibition, enjoy live music and performances and dine on cocktails and light bites available for purchase at seasonal bars.
Performances by the Iconic International House of Miyake Mugler will transport Orchid Night visitors to a ballroom culture scene with movement and fashion.
Don’t miss this unique intersection of florals, fashion and culture! The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion will be on view until April 21 st.
Spring brings a little step to us New Yorkers. It is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, such as strolling on one of our majestic bridges, heading indoors, and visiting one of New York’s iconic cultural institutions. The best part is you can mix it up with some of the many free things New York has to offer. Happy Spring!
1. Stroll through the New York Botanical Garden’s outdoor grounds and collections, including the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. On Wednesdays, there is *Free* admission all day for NY residents -nonresidents can obtain gratis admission from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (on Wednesdays.)
2. Head to Goshen, NY, and enjoy the Spring season of Legoland New York, a Certified Autism Center since last year.
3. Head to Long Island City MoMA PS1’s where you’ll find exhibitions, performances, events, and more. Admission is FREE for all New York residents. For visitors: $10 for adults, FREE for kids 16 and younger, and $5 for seniors and students.
4. Enjoy exhibitions, immersive experiences, and more at the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation- part of the American Museum of Natural History and part of your admission. Some exhibitions cost extrawe recommend reserving tickets in advance.
5. Speaking of AMNH, swing by The Secret World of Elephants exhibit! It’s all about the different elephant species and their relatives, and they tell their whole story with life-size models, videos, graphics, and a bunch of other cool stuff
6. Enjoy Long Island’s Vanderbilt Museum in Long Island and enjoy the estate exploring the Memorial Wing, Habitat Wing, Nursery Wing, and Hall of Fishes.
7. Travel to The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park with a gorgeous view of the Hudson River. You’ll be captivated by medieval art, renaissance Europe, and more at this beautiful museum.
8. Check out the Cherry Blossoms throughout the city in spots such as Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Riverside Park, Central Park, and the famous New York Botanical Garden Cherry Blossoms trees.
9. If looking for stunning NYC views -the Edge NYC has the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Located at Hudson Yards, make time to shop around or eat some delicious foods before or after you get your panoramic views in
10. Walk over to Gansevoort Street and Washington Street and enjoy a free Highline tour. Visit the site for days and hours.
11. Climb the giant sturgeons at the Pier 26 Science Playground, a brand new 4,000-square-foot marine science-focused play area in Hudson River Park.
12. Rainy afternoon? Stop by one of NYC’s cat cafes to meet some friendly felines while you wait for the clouds to pass. Popular spots include The Meow Parlor on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and the Brooklyn Cat Cafe near Brooklyn Bridge Park.
13. Jump on a ferry for the full New York experience and head to Brooklyn Bridge Park -don’t forget to visit Jane’s Carousel, have a picnic, and take a selfie with the bridge as a background.
14. Head to Coney Island for a wild day! See live sharks at the New York Aquarium and stop to
ride the Cyclone on your way home.
15. Tour real Naval ships and meet our country’s Armed Forces members during Fleet Week, which kicks off just before Memorial Day Weekend.
16. Travel to the islands! And by “islands,” we mean Roosevelt Island, Governors Island, and Little Island. Have a barbeque at Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island, visit The Yard for unique unstructured play on Governors Island, and see the flowers in bloom on Little Island.
16. Go for a stroll on Gansevoort Peninsula, Manhattan’s very first public beachfront! The largest standalone recreational space in Hudson River Park just opened in October 2023, so New Yorkers will finally have the opportunity to explore it this spring.
17. Walk through the streets of DUMBO and discover the diverse art. From the famed DUMBO Walls to the stained glass Watertower sculpture on top of 20 Jay Street, there is something to discover at almost every turn.
18. Catch a ballgame! The Mets home opener is set for March 28, and the first home game for the Yankees is April 5. Minor league games are easier on the wallet; the Brooklyn Cyclones’ and the Staten Island FerryHawks’ also start the season in April.
19. Enjoy one of the unique carousels in New York of fiberglass fish illuminated with colorchanging LED light fixtures. The SeaGlass carousel is at the Battery Conservancy, located at the park’s southern end.
20. Go wild at the Bronx Zoo when you visit with animals from around the world! Plus, take in unparalleled views of the park when you add the Nature Trek to your visit filled with wooden bridges and tunnels to cross.
21. Whether you live near or make a day trip of it, head to Shadmoor State Park in Montauk, which features a vast ocean, hiking trails, and birdwatching. Pack a picnic and enjoy.
22. Spend the day at Far Rockaway Beach and enjoy the boardwalk; bring your skater (and safety gear)- enjoy the 15,700 square feet concrete park of stairs, rails, ledges, and more.
23. Visit waterfalls in Central -there are five in total, and you can find them in the Ravine, the stream valley section of the North Woods.
24. Plan a staycation at the TWA Hotel, whether you grab something to eat before or after a flight or stay a night or a few; this hotel is truly a New York adventure perfect for families.
25. Visit the TheSeaport NYC and spend the day at The Imagination Playground New York City Police Museum, hop on a NY Water Taxi, pack a picnic, and head over to Governor’s Island; the list is endless on all there is to do at this fun spot.
Longing to move but standing in place, I see you. At the crossroads of the wrong direction and the one you don’t currently know, it is easy to remain right there. If you are stuck in a job that feels like work, wander with me for a moment. I can see the way forward because I have been at this intersection before. In my career journey, I transitioned from stifled lawyer to burnt-out ad woman to passionless pandemic parent to today’s emerging artist and writer because I learned to be brave, talk to people, and try things.
And I am not special. According to Pew Research, 53% of employed U.S. adults who quit their job in 2021 changed their occupation or field of work. In that year,
47 million Americans quit their jobs — an unprecedented mass exit from the workforce sparked by Covid-19. While resignations have slowed since their peak in 2022, the current workforce continues to demand work-life balance and fulfillment from employment. As companies grapple with incentivizing employees to return to the office five days per week, the work-from-home lifestyle gives colleagues the freedom to grow side hustles into self-supporting businesses. It is easier for hustlers with a clear passion point and target market to cut the cord from corporate America. However, for many, the nagging desire for change is the only identifiable message from the voice of intuition. Without a clear destination, we linger.
Trapped in the wrong direction? Be bold and ask for help
Connecting to people with jobs I admired
helped me to understand my options and how to get there. In my current exploration, one such advisor is Dara Astmann. A Westchester-based career coach, Astmann helps clients from around the country evaluate what works best for their families while discovering their own fulfillment needs. Astmann understands because her career story is a lesson in navigating the circuitous route of a modern career. After 20+ years in advertising media and sales at Viacom (now ParamountGlobal), Astmann made a slow and deliberate shift to coaching to embrace her excitement for helping friends and colleagues navigate career shifts.
For clients who long to make a big leap, lead with realism
“Many clients think they need to leave immediately, but it helps to find your way when you are still at your job.” Astmann
encourages clients to work with their companies to create what they desire, helping them position themselves for part-time or job-sharing roles as they transition to what comes next. In Astmann’s experience, clients sometimes think they want a big change, but “after learning how to ask for the flexibility they need, they realize they don’t need a huge change to feel satisfied.” Not everyone needs to make a career pivot.
Still longing for an identity shift?
Take baby steps
In my own career and Astmann’s, success is the sum of the small steps you take every day. As Astmann puts it, “The point is not to pick a path, but to identify potential paths.” She advises clients to “take one step forward to learn more about each option.” Talk to someone. Research online. Take free classes. Call it a project or an experiment. It will feel a little bit less scary.
Surrender to the story as it unfolds
For writer and marketing consultant Serena Norr, career development comes with hustle
“Many clients think they need to leave immediately, but it helps to find your way when you are still at your job.”
and flow. As a college student in the early 2000s, Norr’s interests oscillated from writing to acting to elementary education. Her first editorial positions at Time Out New York and Playbill prove prescient today while building her reputation as a playwright. In the twenty years between then and now, Norr learned how to hustle, building a freelance writing and marketing career, starting her own soup blog and raising three young girls. Like many career shifters, Covid-19 opened the door to rediscover old dreams. Balancing work, the demands of her young family, and Zoom Theater, Norr churned out inventive plays featuring characters that are equally quirky and deep. Unconnected to the New York
theater scene, Norr carved a name for herself by entering her plays into contests and saying yes to the opportunities that come from it. When asked what her best advice for career shifters is, Norr’s answer is twofold: “1) say yes, and 2) keep all the channels open. Even if you are in your corporate job, keep doing your art. Do it for the joy of it and have blind faith.”
At her suggestion of joy and faith as a guide, I say, “Amen.” In my own nonlinear route from law to writing, I continue onward because of the joy I feel for creative work and my faith that my words might propel even just one person forward in a search for passion and purpose.
To that end, if you feel a stir in your heart that you need a change, acknowledge it. If you feel lost without a sense of excitement or passion, play and experiment. When you find yourself stuck, take one small action that deviates from your usual routine. If you get scared or lose your way, begin again when you feel the call. It is OK to pause or fall on your face–as long as you get back up and keep trying.
is now part of
NYC is covered in a blanket of snow as I type this, and I can’t believe it was only a month ago I was in a Caribbean paradise.
If all of my vacations consisted of sipping cocktails and working on my tan somewhere beachy and sunny, I’d be happy as a clam. But I have kids, so those vacations are few and far between. As much as I love a relaxing Caribbean Island vacay (like my time in Aruba and in St Lucia), there’s more than just beaches to explore in Belize – although there are plenty of those too.
When I book family trips, I’m looking for adventurous and exciting activities that will ensure the words “I’m bored” never cross the lips of my easily-distracted children, while still offering some much-needed downtime for tired parents.
The awesome thing about Belize is that it can do both! Relax by the most crystalline seawater you’ve ever seen one day, then grab a snorkel and explore the extensive barrier reefs below the surface the next. Navigate rocky terrain on a rugged rainforest walk, then immerse yourself in the tranquility of flowing waterfalls at the culmination of your hike. Unlike some of my Caribbean vacations, Belize offers a healthy mix of Island-style living and eco-friendly lodge life.
The Central American country – which geographically-challenged folks like myself didn’t realize is NOT an island nation – is bordered by Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea. On one side lies white sands and turquoise waters; on the other you’ll find tropical rainforests and jungles laden with wildlife. An average annual temperature of 84°F, rarely falling below 60°F, allows for outdoor adventures all year round.
Many Belizeans are descendants of immigrants, making the country a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. Their mixed ancestry is reflected in everything from the variety of food you eat to the friendliness of the people you meet. The country’s population is a mere 400,000, and boasts
a unique blend of Maya, Mestizo, Kriol (Belizean Creole), Garifuna, East Indian, Mennonite, Arab and Chinese people.
I spent six unforgettable days in Belize and each one was a new experience filled with incredible adventures. I zipped from one side of the country to the other, encountering a variety of cultures and people, and enjoying new escapades with each arguably different but decidedly amazing day.
Belize has hotels for every budget. There are some absolutely stunning hotels that are more affordable than you might think, ones that offer up the kind of luxury you might be craving after an exhausting day of outdoor activities.
I obviously didn’t stay at all of them – if only I had the time! - but I can personally recommend these, all of which come highly regarded by the Belize Tourism Board. Each property is equipped with welcoming staff, jaw-dropping views, and upscale rooms that are spacious, modern and brimming with amenities.
These hotels are all great for families, but each one would also make for an unforgettable couples getaway, honeymoon or anniversary celebration.
Best Hotels for Families in Belize
Almond Beach Resort is one of the most family-friendly options, with its private beachfront casitas and large family suites, and close proximity to activities. As an extension of the beautiful Jaguar Reef Lodge, a member of the prestigious Belize Collection, guests have access to additional luxuries. Like my kids, they’re big on barefoot living; when you’re that close to the shore, there’s no need for shoes anyway!
A stay at Hidden Valley Inn Wilderness Lodge is a unique experience you likely won’t find anywhere else in Belize. The luxurious eco-resort sits on 7200 acres of private forest reserve, offering breathtaking panoramic views of nature and boasting over 90 miles
of hiking and biking trails - including kid-friendly ones. There are friendly and knowledgeable guides to lead you on your explorations of the property, or to come find you if you take a wrong turn somewhere.
The San Ignacio Resort is centrally situated on a 17-acre private estate and just five minutes away from the cultural hub of San Ignacio Town. The 27-room resort features an on-site tour company to help with booking all of your family’s adventures, along with the top family-friendly activity in town, the Green Iguana Conservation Project (more on that later).
Ray Caye Private Island Resort is just what the name indicates: a private island. In fact, their tagline is “Imagine the Caribbean before it got crowded.” With nearly a mile of private shoreline and a limited number of guests at any time, this resort offers the Island experience without any interruptions. Plus, you couldn’t get better views if you were actually IN the ocean.
In keeping with the privacy theme, Naia Resort is nestled within a private 200-acre
reserve on the Placencia Peninsula and features peaceful, secluded beach houses that are literally steps from the Caribbean. Placencia is easily one of the most beautiful spots in Belize.
As much as I thoroughly enjoyed each hotel I checked into throughout my trip, I was too tired to do more than rest my head at the end of each day. If you’re planning out your activity calendar for your trip, here are some of the most exciting things to do in Belize –with or without kids!
At 185 miles long - spanning the entire length of the country, The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world and has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The ecosystems it helps sustain create many of the nation’s most beautiful sights.
For scuba divers, Belize is a bucket list destination. But you can explore the
underwater beauty of Belize with just a snorkel! There are hundreds of snorkeling spots along the Belize Barrier Reef. Just a quick peek below the surface reveals a flurry of vibrant colors and activity, where you’ll find hard and soft corals, sponges, and over 500 species of fish and marine life.
You don’t have to be a pro at snorkeling to enjoy these views, either; there are guides for every level, even beginners. Life vests are always available and excursions begin right at the shoreline.
I highly recommend booking a guided Island Hopping tour so you can spend a whole day exploring Belize’s lively and breathtakingly beautiful undersea world from several stunning locations along the coast. Prepare to be exhausted afterward, but it’ll be worth it – I promise!
The Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is exactly what its name implies: a great blue hole. But this is no regular hole. Located approximately 43 miles off the coast of Belize City in Lighthouse
Reef, this circular marvel spans nearly 1,000 feet wide and over 400 feet deep. Its deep blue color is a stark contrast to the shallow corals and crystalline water surrounding it.
Essentially, the Great Blue Hole is a giant sinkhole that was formed thousands of years ago, when it was still dry land, eventually covered by the Caribbean Sea and later made famous by Jacques Cousteaou himself. It is the largest geological formation of its kind in the world. Experienced divers travel from all over to explore its mysterious vertical depths.
This is a must-see, one-of-a-kind experience, so come prepared with something to keep kids occupied so you don’t miss any of it. It might take your breath away but your kids are likely to be less wowed (think: mom why are we flying over a random circle in the middle of the ocean?). Plus, you have to board a small plane to view it, so kids (who aren’t fascinated by planes) might find it all a little anticlimactic.
Ancient Mayan Ruins
Archaeologists believe that Belize was at one
time the center of the ancient Maya world. It is often referred to as the “Heart of the Maya,” boasting the largest number of Maya sites in Central America. Among the most famous are Caracol, Xunantunich, Altun Ha, La Milpa, and Lamanai – all of which are open to the public for exploration.
The largest of the Maya ruins is Caracol, where you can climb the towering ancient temples overlooking the Chiquibul forest reserve. Listen closely for the howler monkeys; I’m still not over that sound!
Before you cross any kind of hiking or site-seeing off your list because your kids will be bored, look into other ways to explore the vast Mayan culture and history in Belize. Families can book guided tubing, canoeing and horseback riding tours through the lush forests, limestone caves, natural pools and stunning waterfalls found at these sites.
I may be a writer, but it’s difficult to accurately explain the magnificence of these places. Just know that I was making my Instagram followers more envious with each picture I shared. Even on a rainy day, the views are unmatched.
For a particularly family-friendly retreat, try your hand at pottery making like the Mayans did thousands of years ago. Located in the Cayo District of Western Belize, the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative is a non-profit organization formed by nine Mayan women whose mission is to “support and empower women and youths through preserving culture and traditional arts and crafts.” The group also offers Mayan cooking classes.
For thrill-seekers (or perhaps aerial-view enthusiasts), ziplining in Belize involves soaring freely over rainforests and even unexplored Maya archeological sites.
The Bocawina Rainforest boasts one of the longest ziplines in Central America, with 14 platforms, nine runs – the longest at 2,300 feet – and over two miles of tree time. Of course there are ziplines for those who seek slightly fewer thrills (like children, for example).
Belize is famous for its abundance of tropical wildlife. Jaguars roam the jungles and both natives and visitors alike clamor to catch a glimpse of one; they are more active at night and wouldn’t be likely to go near a human, so sightings are rare but not unheard of. I
wasn’t fortunate enough to spot one, but my tour guide easily coaxed a tarantula from the ground at one point, so I was kind of all set on the wild animal encounters at that point anyway. My teenage son was very jealous he missed meeting my new arachnid buddy.
Marine and wildlife conservation is taken seriously in Belize, where there is a small population of people but a vast wilderness and almost 200 miles of barrier reef along the coastline to protect. Families can learn about these efforts in educational and engaging ways.
The Belize Zoo was started in 1983 to provide a home for a collection of wild animals which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests. Forty years later, the “backyard zoo” has become a world-renowned wildlife education center where visitors connect with the animals. Visitors can meet furry and feathered friends indigenous to Belize, like tapirs, ocelots, pumas, coatimundis, and harpy eagles.
The Belize Zoo is the first nature destination in Belize that is fully accessible to visitors with physical disabilities.
Since 1996, the San Ignacio Resort Hotel has been at the forefront of conservation efforts for the threatened Green Iguana. Today, the property offers visitors an exciting, interactive experience to learn how vital these amazing reptiles are to the ecosystem and get a firsthand look at the process of incubation, hatching, rearing, and releasing of the species. You can even “Adopt an Iguana,” with proceeds providing scholarships for local children. This exhibit is a popular one for kids!
Belize is home to over 500 avian species, including some that are rarely found elsewhere. In an effort to develop the bird tourism market, which helps to protect endangered species like Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Yellow-headed Amazon, the Belize Audubon Society has trained over 50 locals to be bird guides in areas with critical forest habitats. They offer sample birding itineraries or you can book a guided excursion with a tour company.
The Keel Billed Toucan is the national bird of Belize. If you keep your eyes peeled and a pair of binoculars handy, you’re likely to spot one of these bright yellow-billed birds during your trip. I did!
Belize’s unique blend of ethnicities and cultures is highly reflected in its food scene. You’ll find a mixture of what might seem like Caribbean, Mexican and African inspired eats on your dining adventures; more accurately, Belizean fare is a blend of Creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mestizo, East Indian and British cuisine.
You’ll be served rice and beans on the side of most dishes, though it will be made differently depending on the cultural influence. You’ll also find a bottle of Marie Sharp’s on every table; the famous habanero sauce is made and manufactured from farm to factory all in Belize! Trust me, it’s good stuff. I snagged a few bottles at the airport before I left.
What you won’t find in Belize is any fast food. There are no American franchises in Belize, so the kids are going to have to find something beside chicken nuggets on the menu. My suggestion? Satisfy those cravings with some of Belize’s delicious street food.
I indulged in an afternoon walking food tour of San Ignacio, Western Belize’s eco-tourism hub where small restaurants and street vendors serve up traditional tasty eats. I sampled salbutes, garnaches, panades, fresh ceviche, meat pies, fry jacks – which you’ll also find on most breakfast and dessert menus – and even some high-quality domestic rum made from locally sourced sugar cane.
Fine, I admit it. I rode a golf cart. Who could walk after all that eating?
Another thing you won’t find much of is dairy in Belize. As someone who lives and dies by my cream-filled morning coffee, I wasn’t thrilled about that. Not the end of the world, but also not the best start to my morning. Just a heads up for my fellow java heads!
The ancient Mayans believed chocolate to be a gift from the gods and were known to consume it often and in a variety of ways. A large amount of cocoa is produced in Belize today, and some even refer to the nation as the “Cradle of Chocolate.”
This is why interactive chocolate-making tours are a popular tourist activity in Belize today. Visitors participate in the process of making hot chocolate, from cacao to cup, then indulge in the sweet fruits – or beans – of their labor.
Here’s a few things to consider when booking a trip to Belize.
Connections are only fun when you’re dating. Thankfully, you can easily catch a direct flight from NYC to Belize. When you’re traveling with kids, in particular, direct flights are a must. For those of you who love JetBlue as much as I do (oh hello, extra leg room and free wifi!), you can now fly directly from NYC to Belize (JFK to BZE). In fact, I was proud to be aboard JetBlue’s very first flight to Belize!
From BZE, connections can be made to various destinations within Belize, including
Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Corozal, Dangriga, Big Creek, Placencia, San Ignacio, Corozal and Punta Gorda.
In order to enjoy everything this beautiful country has to offer, you’ll need to explore different parts of it. This means you will probably be taking at least one or two domestic flights, which are typically single engine planes that can hold up to 14 passengers.
If you’re the motion sickness type, sit as close to the front as possible. The same goes with any excursion you’ll be driven to via car, as the roads in parts of Belize are not fully developed and make for a bumpy ride.
In certain areas, particularly the city, you’ll see more golf carts than cars. It’s easy to hail a golf cart to get to your destination –and it seems both residents and tourists travel via golf carts regularly.
Be cautious about drinking the water in Belize. Like many countries in Central America, tap water may not be safe for consumption due to the potential for contamination. Of course, most hotels will offer guests plenty of bottled water and the tap water is filtered. Many businesses in Belize have rain cisterns for filtering water. I was told it was safe for ice in your drink, teeth-brushing, showering, making coffee, etc. To be safe, check with the staff at your hotel before taking a drink from the tap.
Luckily for those of us who aren’t great at
math, the exchange rate in Belize doesn’t require a calculator. Two Belizean dollars equal one US dollar ($2 BZD = $1 USD) so conversion is as simple as dividing in half. Most places show prices in both USD and BZD.
Most businesses accept US dollars, so you don’t need to change currency upon your arrival. Just be sure to bring some extra cash for tips, souvenirs, snacks, etc. I didn’t come across many ATMs dispensing American money in Belize.
English is the official language of Belize, making it the sole Central American country where English is the primary language spoken. However, the majority of Belizeans regularly communicate in Kriol (Belizean Creole). Other languages spoken include Garifuna, Mandarin, Spanish and Maya.
As you’d likely suspect, Belize’s climate is tropical. Temperatures rarely fall below 60°F during winter months (November to March); in the summer (May to September) they linger around 86°F. Water temperatures are warm enough for swimming year round.
Humidity is consistently around 85 percent, so you can probably leave the hair dryer home. It’ll leave room in the suitcase for all the Marie Sharp’s hot sauce you’re taking home.
The best time of year to visit Belize is during the dry season, between January and May, when there is significantly lower rainfall than the rest of the year. When it does rain, it is usually in mild, short bursts.
June through December is Belize’s wet season, when parts of the country receive up to 150 inches of rain and Caribbean storms usually pass through in late afternoons.
Hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October, and while hurricanes don’t often make landfall in Belize, the damage can be bad when they do. Travel insurance is highly recommended if you’re booking during hurricane season.
Belize’s beaches, jungles and rainforests are rife with insects, particularly pests like sand flies and mosquitoes that leave behind itchy bites. Come prepared with plenty of insect repellent and remember to reapply frequently when outdoors, particularly during the wet season.
For more information about Belize, visit travelbelize.org.
Mom of 2 and Emmy-Winning reporter Joelle Garguilo, has covered every inch of New York City—everything from the Met Gala and film premieres to small businesses and the people and stories behind them. Read on to learn about her journey from accountant to entertainment reporter, and the weeknight dinner hack we can all relate to.
BY CRIS PEARLSTEINOver the course of a week countless DMs were exchanged and many texts were sent between two moms trying to schedule one uninterrupted hourlong conversation. First, there was work to contend with: I was commuting to the city 4 days in a row when I am usually remote, flexibility suddenly out the window. Then there was sickness because, well, kids. Her daughter came down with something first, then the stomach bug that seemed to attack the entire city made its way to my house. Finally, we landed on a Friday night. After kid bedtime. In our sweats. Does this sound familiar? If you’re a parent, I’m going to guess yes. For Joelle Garguilo, Emmy-Award winning and WABC’s new Entertainment Reporter, finding pockets of time that work with her non-traditional schedule is not only par for the course, but something she’s gotten very, very good at. “It’s what moms do best,” she told me. “We just figure out a way.” I don’t know about you but I’ve never heard truer words spoken.
In our conversation Joelle says things I feel deep in my bones as a mom of 2 myself. Things like, “The juggle is real” and “You make it work, however you make it work”, because isn’t that what we’re all doing, all the time? She embraces the chaos and imperfection, and talking to her on that Friday night at the end of a long week was like venting to one of my mom friends.
Full disclosure: I’ve known Joelle since before we had kids, before we were married, back when she was still an accountant dreaming of being a broadcast journalist. I watched from the sidelines as she became a mom and then an on-air reporter, and was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to ask her simply…How ? How did she do it? How did she know it was the right path for her? And how does she do it all now? This interview was part work, part personal catch-up sesh, but it’s chock full of everything that will make Joelle feel
like your mom friend, too.
CP: So first things first, tell me about your family.
JG: My babies? My girls are everything to me. That’s it. They’re everything to me. They’re so funny. I was such a shy child, very shy. I was so quiet to the point my mom brought me to the doctor because that’s how quiet I was. I didn’t speak. I’m definitely making up for lost time now. So when I look at my girls, and they’re so vivacious and spunky, and just…they’re funny. I have these two funny little ladies. Gianna is eight, Vivi is five. And they say and do things every day that just makes my jaw go on the floor and laugh. And I love it. We are a crazy, wild bunch and I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s a lot of chaos, a lot of chaos.
CP: How long have you been married to your husband?
JG: Oh, gosh, Chris and I have been together for 100 years. We met in college. And we got married in 2009. We got married the same year I started working in media. We were planning our wedding, he worked for Lehman Brothers, and we all know what happened there. I was working for New Line Cinema doing finance after coming from KPMG doing accounting. My company shut down on the east coast. So here we were, like planning this wedding, this 400-person crazy thing. But it all worked out.
CP: I want to cover your career change. Because first of all, it’s like going from one end of the spectrum to the total opposite end. And also, having sort of seen it happen, I feel like you willed it into existence. It was just sheer will. So, how did you know working in accounting and finance was not for you? Was there a specific moment you remember where you were like, I gotta get the hell out of here ?
JG: You want to know something? I feel like everybody around me used to tell me…I remember
Photo by Yumi Matsuo
auditing these Fortune 500 companies and some of the CEOs or CFOs would call me and be like, Is this really for you ? And I would do a good job, but they would all say, Really? You want to be an accountant ? I loved numbers. I was great at math as a child. Also, I think growing up, sometimes you want to pursue a career that makes your parents proud, right?
So I just always thought with accounting I’d always have a job. And I was great at math. So I majored in accounting, but then I switched my degree, and I actually graduated with a degree in finance and marketing. Then I went back to school to finish my accounting degree. I got a job offer at KPMG then I went to New Line Cinema. And when I was there, I’m telling you, I’m a worker, I am someone who will do the work, do the work, do the work, but I always had this thing in the back of my head where I wanted to pursue a career in TV.
Ever since I was little, I would whisper it. I remember the Today Show when I was working in accounting; they did this call out for the next anchor.
CP: I remember.
JG: I did a video submission for it while I was working in accounting. I forget about these things, it’s so funny that you asked that. I always would whisper it and I remember when they were closing the New York office of New Line Cinema my boss took me out to lunch. She said to me, What do you want to do ? I was getting job offers at other places to do finance. I said, I really want to pursue a career in TV.
CP: How old were you at this point?
JG: Oh my gosh, I was 27.
CP: That’s young in the grand scheme of things, but when you’re…
JG: I had a full-fledged career! I was already established. And up until that point, anybody who I told I want to be on TV said how few people make it. Because also the landscape was very different back then. Nobody had really encouraged it, except my mom encouraged it for sure. But she was the first one who said, I think you should do it and I think you’d be great . So I decided since I got a severance package I’m going to take classes, and I’m going to learn how to do this TV stuff. So I took a class at NYU, I took a program at the New York Film Academy, and I learned everything. You know, the in-front-of-the-camera stuff was always fun and it came naturally to me, but I had no idea how to shoot a camera. I had no idea how to edit. I didn’t know how to produce. And you learned all that in these classes. And I had a great teacher who would become a mentor and a friend.
I wound up getting a job interview while I was finishing up school and I had to pick between taking the last part of the CPA exam—I had three parts passed—or going on this job interview to get my start in TV. I went on the job interview and I got the job.
“Some stories are meant to be shared. You never know who needs to hear your story, who might be inspired by your story, even.”
And so I started my career, making cell phone videos before people were even using iPhones. I was in first thing in the morning shooting, I would do my regular shift, and then I would stay late and edit. I worked my buns off. And then from there I got noticed. They started taking my packages on this one show, then this other show, then I opened up a New York show, then I did a national show. And honestly it’s been a dream. It’s been a dream ever since.
CP: That’s amazing. What advice do you have for someone who is currently in a job or profession that they’re unsure about?
JG: That’s a great question. I think that if there is a dream that you have, you owe it to yourself to try. You owe it to yourself to try, right? What would you tell your friend? What would you tell your kids? You would tell them to try. Because I think when I was starting, I had the courage of someone who shouldn’t have had the courage, right? I was like, I can do this. I thought I was going to be like the main anchor of a national show where people have worked like 30 years to get to that point. I was like, Put me in coach ! Maybe a little bit of delusion.
Sometimes I have to remind myself of that girl because we forget. We forget as we get older and life happens, you have responsibilities, you have kids, you have rent or you have a mortgage. I think you have to be smart in having your bases covered there, but if there is something that you are passionate about, you owe yourself to at least try. It’s better to fail than not try. So often we have these things that we dream of, and if you believe in yourself, I’m telling you, you can do it. Also, something that I have learned over the years in this industry is that closed mouths don’t get fed.
CP: I think that’s great advice. And I love “closed mouths don’t get fed.”
JG: I learned that from a former colleague of mine and you know what? I’ve been practicing that now and it is unbelievable. Sometimes you just need to ask. Maybe it’s something at your job that you want, a promotion maybe. Just ask. Especially as women, we forget it’s okay to ask.
CP: I love that. What drew you to broadcast journalism?
JG: I love every single thing about what I get to do. I love it. I love people. I love connecting. Even just walking throughout New York City. When you’re walking the streets of New York City, you see a store,
you go in, and I guarantee there’s a story waiting for you in that store. I guarantee it. I see every single day.
One day I saw someone and said, I love your jewelry. She said her friend made it. I was like, Tell me about her. She’s this awesome chick who has a studio in Red Hook where she makes custom jewelry— Katherine Lincoln Jewelry. Her husband makes custom bikes in the same studio and their kids are just playing around, there with them. All this from just complimenting somebody’s necklace, right?
There are stories on every single corner. Like Grandma’s Place , a multicultural book and toy shop on a quiet street in Harlem. I walked in one day and turns out this woman who owns it, Grandma Dawn, is like the grandmother to the neighborhood. She’s got such a deep history and a deep connection to Harlem, to books, to the children. If you just walked by you would think it’s just a book and toy shop, but no, this woman means so much to this neighborhood. And I get to do stories on people like that.
But even the celebrity interviews, you can ask somebody a question, sure, but when you can have a conversation and connect on a deeper level…and I get to do that for work? It’s crazy to me. I say it a lot but I feel like I have a VIP pass to the best of the city and the best of humanity.
CP: I feel like you’re drawn to stories and to storytelling. And what better place to do that than New York City.
JG: There’s no better place.
CP: Your love of New York is so palpable, and so is your love of the small businesses that make up the city. How did you first get into the small business beat to begin with?
JG: I have no idea. I cover entertainment, film, TV, Broadway—and also small businesses. I think from just being a New Yorker, really. Because once you hear these stories, you can’t help but share them. If you have an outlet, social media, or TV, how do you not tell these stories? Some stories are meant to be shared. You never know who needs to hear your story, who might be inspired by your story, even. There’s this vintage shop on 25th Street called TTH Vintage . You go in and you think it’s just a vintage shop, but this particular store serves to help the homeless community. The owner has helped thousands and thousands of homeless women and children in New York City. But if you just walk on by, it’s just a store.
CP: But you stopped, you didn’t just walk on by. I feel like it’s because you stop to talk to people, and you listen.
JG: I don’t know if my girls are old enough to understand it yet, but I’ve had a part in saving a bunch of small businesses and that means a lot to me. I brought them to some of these stores, but I don’t think that they fully grasp it. To them it’s just like, this
woman who has a candy shop is giving us free candy. But I think they’ll remember it. I’ll be proud one day when they understand it.
CP: Why do you think small businesses are such an important part of the fabric of the city?
JG: They are the city. Small businesses are the heartbeat of New York City. When you’re walking around Brooklyn, what makes it so charming is that almost every single business is a small business. There’s something about the people, you connect with people on a different level. I feel like New York City would not be the same without them.
CP: I could not agree more. Okay, let’s talk about what you always say: The juggle is real . You have two young daughters plus a very demanding job that does
not have a set schedule. What are some of the ways you make it work?
JG: I feel like people are always like, You do it all . But I think that we need to stop saying that because there’s no such thing. When you’re at work, you’re gonna be thinking you should be with your kids. When you’re with your kids, you might be thinking about everything else you have to do. There is no such thing as doing it all, but I do believe I’m doing my best. Let’s just do our best. That’s it, whatever that is for you. And let’s not compare ourselves to one another because you don’t know what anybody else’s situation is. So for me, I really try to do drop-off. Mornings are chaos in my apartment, but I still I love them. It’s very important for me to bring my girls to school, it sets the tone for their whole day.
CP: So your non-negotiable is drop-off.
JG: I try, but I can’t do it all the time. My little one, she’s so attached. People must think I’m insane because I have to dance for her. It’s a whole thing, I drop her off and then I have to follow her into school doing a crazy dance but it makes her smile. She goes in and she has the best day ever. Sometimes if I have an assignment during the day and then something at night, during the break I come pick them up. And we do make the weekends count.
CP: Are you pretty much off on the weekends?
JG: It depends; a lot of movie junkets take place over the weekend. But for the most part, yes, I have off during the weekends. When I’m with them, I make the time count. I’m in their classrooms all the time; that’s what moms do better than anybody: we figure it out, we figure out a way. And I have figured out something that works for my crazy lifestyle. But nobody would ever say that I’m not a present mother. And nobody would ever say that I’m not a present worker. So, I have figured out how to make the juggle work for me right now.
CP: I couldn’t agree with you more about not saying we can do it all because I think that sets women up for failure. I know that something’s gotta give in life. For me the weeks when I’m killing it at work, maybe my daughter is watching more TV. Or on days when I’m killing it as a mom, I know that I had to order takeout. So what are some of the things that fall through the cracks for you?
JG: Listen, I’m gonna say three words: breakfast for dinner.
CP: I think a lot of women can relate to that response.
JG: There’s no shame in the breakfast for dinner game because they’re getting protein, they’re getting their carbs, they’re getting their fruit. And you know what? It’s quick and they love it. I would love to say that I cook every night, but not even close. We all have to give ourselves grace. Growing up, most of us had
a parent who didn’t work. It’s not like that anymore, right? So you make it work, however you can make it work.
CP: It’s so real.
JG: What are you going to do? You can’t do it all, you will go crazy trying to do it all. It’s fine if you have takeout a couple of nights a week. It’s fine if you do breakfast for dinner. The most important thing for me with my girls is that they know they are loved. As long as my kids know they’re loved we’re good. Even when I have to work late, I make it a point to sneak into their beds at night. I want them to feel loved. Period. No matter how much I’m working, how much I’m not working, as long as they feel like Mommy’s here we’re good.
CP: Everything else will just fall into place. It doesn’t really matter.
JG: It doesn’t. You think about holidays or these different things that we stress so much about, but you know what? Your kids will remember that silly thing that you did on the way to school. The dance party you had before you went to bed. That’s what they remember. Not the little details that weren’t perfect; they don’t remember that. They don’t. So I embrace the imperfection. Perfect is boring, we don’t do perfect. I tried that when I was younger, it didn’t work out for me. I always tell Gianna, my oldest, Mommy might be all over the place sometimes, but we always get it together. We’re those last minute ones with the Halloween costumes, but it’s always good. Vivi just had the 100th day of school. The night before I took out the hot glue gun and we did the little 100 with candy and she was so happy.
CP: March 8th is International Women’s Day and I just want to give you an opportunity to talk about the role that women have played in your life.
JG: My mom is my biggest cheerleader, period. From the very beginning, she was always like, You need to go after this, you need to do it . And shout out to my awesome sisters.
And I don’t have any living grandparents anymore but my Nana Mary would call me after she would see me on TV. And then my other grandmother who lived in Pennsylvania, whenever I would do a national hit, she’d always be watching and tell all of her friends. I’ve had the greatest support system of women in my life.
And then, professionally, all of my mentors have been women. I think back in my industry, there used to be this theory that there can only be one, but I always lead with supporting other women, and I will always bring them up with me, and that is contagious. It’s so cool to see the ripple effect that has, whether it’s your intern, or whether it’s one of your younger staff, when you show them the way and you treat them right, then when they go up the ranks that’s how they hopefully lead. And it’s awesome. Nothing is better than women
“The most important thing for me with my girls is that they know they are loved. No matter how much I’m working, how much I’m not working, as long as they feel like Mommy’s here we’re good.”
supporting women.
CP: So you have these two little girls. What lessons do you hope to have them absorb when it comes to being women?
JG: Well, every morning, we say, I am smart, I am beautiful, and I can accomplish anything I want . I’ve been doing that since G was little. And it’s important. I want them to be confident. I wasn’t a confident kid at all. I’m finding my confidence as a woman. The biggest thing that I want to impart on them is to be kind. I always say good things come to those who hustle and are kind. It’s so much better when we’re lifting each other up.
CP: How was it for you to be behind the camera for this cover? To be the interviewee, not the interviewer?
JG: It throws you out of your comfort zone. As a reporter and producer, you are the one who controls everything. I just feel bad for you because I know I’m a great interviewer, but I am a terrible interview. I don’t know how to answer questions in a short way.
CP: To me the most important thing about an interview is that the true voice of the person comes through. I want each person’s personality to shine because every cover is so different. Because every woman is so different. Because every family is different.
JG: I really try to keep it real because I think, especially now with social media and my job, you see me on the red carpet and in the studio doing these fabulous things. But people have to understand that social media is the highlight reel. It’s Insta versus reality, and I will show you that on a daily basis. Reality is a mess on a lot of days, and I think as much as we show the polished stuff, you gotta show the mess too. That’s really what keeps you grounded. We’re all just out here doing our best. So just treat people kind. My dad was always like that, you know? We always just treat people kind no matter what.
CP: I feel like that’s the real test.
JG: That’s the real test. It just goes back to treat people good. That’s it. You don’t know what anybody has going on at home. Sometimes it’s just a smile, a smile can brighten up someone’s day.
Girls in Science and Engineering Day
WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 11 am – 3 pm
WHERE: Intrepid Museum, Pier 86, W 46th St., Hell’s Kitchen
AGES: 5 and up
WHAT: Celebrate women, girls and youth involved in STEM with hands-on experiences, exciting demonstrations and captivating discussions.
WANT TO GO?: Free. intrepidmuseum.org
Música
WHEN: March 9-17, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am, Sundays, 3 pm; Saturday, March 9, 3 pm.
WHERE: The New Victory Theater, 209 W 42nd St., Midtown
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate Women’s History Month with Latin Grammy nominee Sonia De Los Santos at this upbeat and uplifting bilingual concert!
WANT TO GO?: $28. newvictory.org
Family Purim Concert
WHEN: Sunday, March 10, 10:30 am
WHERE: The 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., Upper East Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Wear your favorite costume and celebrate the holiday with singing, dancing, guest performances, and more!
WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $36. 92ny.org
The Paper Bag Players: It’s a Marvelous Paper Bag World
WHEN: Sunday, March 10, 2 – 3 pm
WHERE: The Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Ave., Upper East Side
AGES: 3 – 9
WHAT: This hilarious show features hilarious stories, freewheeling dances, lovable characters, whimsical music, and audience participation.
WANT TO GO?: $15-$25. kayeplayhouse.showare.com
Color Factory’s Colors in Bloom
WHEN: Daily through May 14, 10 am – 6 pm.
WHERE: Color Factory New York, 251 Spring St., Soho
AGES: All
WHAT: Leave those winter blues behind to stroll through a picture perfect Central Park
Confetti room, go on a scavenger hunt, slide into a ball pit, take vibrant photos, and more.
WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $38. colorfactory.co
NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 11 am
WHERE: Begins at Fifth Avenue at East 44th Street and ends at East 79th Street.
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate Irish culture and pride at the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world.
WANT TO GO?: Free.
nycstpatricksparade.org
2nd Annual Downtown Holi Celebration
WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 3:30 – 7 pm
WHERE: PS 150, 28 Trinity Place, Downtown Manhattan
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate this festive holiday with dancing, Indian food, music, crafts, performances by South Asian artists, and tons of color powder!
WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $35. humanitix.com
The Peking Acrobats
WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 7 pm
WHERE: BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St., Tribeca
AGES: All
WHAT: You’ll be amazed by daring maneuvers, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, gymnastics, and more!
WANT TO GO?: $50. tribecapac.org
Be An Engineer, Just Like Rosie Revere!
WHEN: Friday, March 23, 10:30 – 11:30 am
WHERE: The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Pl., Battery Park City
AGES: 3 and older
WHAT: Enjoy a reading of Andrea Beaty’s Rosie Revere, Engineer, learn about the role of engineers, then use your own creative minds to use everyday materials to build tall structures!
WANT TO GO?: Free. skyscraper.org
NYSoM Easter Eggstravaganza 2024
WHEN: Saturday, March 30, 1 – 5 pm
WHERE: Sherman Creek, 3725 10th Avenue, Inwood
AGES: 12 and younger
WHAT: Hope on over for an Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Activity Village, a visit from the Easter Bunny and friends, and much more.
WANT TO GO?: Free. nysomgroup.org
The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion
WHEN: Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm, through April 21.
WHERE: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Belmont
AGES: All
WHAT: Catch the bold new designs of New York’s rising stars of the stitch at this fashion-inspired celebration of all things orchids.
WANT TO GO?: $15-$35. (718) 817–8700, nybg.org
National Girls & Women in Sports Day: She’s on Point
WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 12 – 3 pm
WHERE: Kwame Ture Recreation Center, 1527 Jesup Avenue, Highbridge
AGES: All
WHAT: Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Month with fitness programs, sports clinics in soccer, basketball, volleyball, group games, arts and crafts and much more!
WANT TO GO?: Free. nycgovparks.org
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
WHEN: March 23-30, Saturdays, 10 am – 2 pm
WHERE: Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park
AGES: All
WHAT: Bring your own basket to hunt for chocolate filled eggs, make a spring-inspired craft, and have photos taken with the Easter Bunny.
WANT TO GO?: $15. (718) 885–1461, bartowpellmansionmuseum.org
The Rock And Roll Playhouse Plays The Music Of Billy Joel + More
WHEN: Sunday, March 3, 12 – 1 pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg
AGES: 10 and younger
WHAT: This is the Time to introduce your little ones to the sounds of Billy Joel at this concert for kids.
WANT TO GO?: $16. brooklynbowl.com
Spring First Discoveries
WHEN: March 13-June 14, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.
WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Crown Heights
AGES: 0 - 4
WHAT: Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special activity stations designed for early learners.
WANT TO GO?: $12-$18; free for children younger than 12.
bbg.org
HERstory with Flor Bromley
WHEN: Thursday, March 21, 3 –3:45 pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Crown Heights
AGES: 12 and under
WHAT: Celebrate Women’s History Month with this special performance by bilingual musician, Flor Bromley!
WANT TO GO?: Free. (718) 735–4400, brooklynkids.org
Once Upon a Zoo – Había una vez un zoológico
WHEN: Friday, March 8, 5 – 8 pm
WHERE: Queens Zoo, 53-51
111th St., Corona
AGES: 2 and older
WHAT: Explore the captivating world of animals through fairy tales , experience up-close encounters, create your own craft mask, and more.
WANT TO GO?: 430; $24 members. queenszoo.com
Giraffes Can’t Dance – The Musical
WHEN: Sunday, March 10, 1 – 2 pm & 4 – 5 pm.
WHERE: Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave South, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Corona
AGES: 3 – 8
WHAT: This heartwarming performance featuring puppets, African rhythm, and lots of dancing, shows us that our differences are what make us special.
WANT TO GO?: $20. queenstheatre.org
WFUV Garden Party
WHEN: Saturday, March 23, 12 – 4 pm
WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing
AGES: All
WHAT: Take a break from the winter doldrums with a music-filled garden party featuring family-friendly DJ’s and performances, crafts, a storytime, and more.
WANT TO GO?: Free. queensbotanical.org
There are many famous views across the country, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sedona, Arizona., Las Vegas, Nevada, and more. And we may (ok, we are ) be biased when we declare the most famous and favorite view is New York City. While the city never sleeps, it also has no shortage of unique spots to enjoy scenic views. The path to enjoy this view became a game changer when Edge, located at 30 Hudson Yards, opened an extraordinary outdoor experience where locals and tourists can view the heart of Gotham’s skyline.
The triangular-shaped sky deck is a heightened 1,131 feet above the ground. The sky deck is on the 100th floor, offering a 360-degree cityscape scenery. There is also an exhilarating glass floor where you can peak a view below.
Kids are welcome and will be awed by seeing New York from this perspective. Make an
educational game with the kids and have them spot the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and more. Keep them close as you would when strolling through a cultural spot like a museum; this space is pretty open (obviously, it is an open-air deck!) and is designed to enjoy the views, stroll about, or sit while taking it all in.
The views are spectacular even on rainy days, and visitors will always be enthralled. But if you want to go at the least crowded time, first thing in the morning may be your best bet. Yes , this spot is very Instagramable, but you may be tucking your phone away and soaking in the gorgeous views as this view is stunning.
For those adventure seekers above Edge, the experience continues with City Climb - a rousing experience that takes you to new heights. It’s the world’s highest external building climb on the sky deck. You can scale
the exterior of a towering supertall building over 1,200 feet tall. Once you reach the top, you can lean out from the outdoor platform for an unforgettable experience. (Note there is an age and height requirement for kids over age 13, check website for information.)
The beauty of Edge is that it isn’t a one-off spot; it is a place you can enjoy as much as you wish, as they now offer an annual pass that offers year-round access.
This pass is perfect for locals and visitors who want to experience this iconic skyline as part of their daily routine. The annual pass includes a digital membership card, flexible entry times, a 10% discount at Edge’s retail stores, and even 2-for-1 City Climb tickets –so you can bring a friend along for free. You’ll also get access to special events throughout the year.
Keeping to the theme of space with a view, visit the delicious Peak restaurant, where you can feast on local and the highest-grade seafood and meats. Located on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards.
30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 edgenyc.com
