Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

8 Easy Mug Cake Recipes to Make with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/02/2021 - 2:26pm

Older kids can even make these mug cakes on their own.

My coffee cups are getting a workout between my insatiable need for coffee, these easy hot chocolate bombs, and our family's newest cooking obsession: mug cakes.

Mug cakes are the perfect, low-mess solution for your sweet tooth and easy enough for tweens and teens to make on their own. There's no hot oven; instead, you can have a personal-sized treat ready to enjoy in mere minutes with the help of your microwave.

Read on for eight easy mug cake recipes to make with kids and find more kitchen inspiration in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids.

Record-Breaking Roller Coaster Coming to Six Flags New Jersey

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 02/01/2021 - 7:00am

Towering 13 stories tall, Jersey Devil Coaster riders soar single file at speeds of up to 58 mph.

Summer thrill-seekers take note: Six Flags Great Adventure is adding an epic new ride to its collection for the 2021 season. The record-breaking Jersey Devil Coaster has topped off at the Jackson, New Jersey, park and should be ready for riders during the 2021 season.

The roller coaster is the tallest, longest, and fastest single-rail coaster in the world.

STEM Matters Opens Registration For 1-Day Spring Break Programs

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 01/26/2021 - 4:51pm

Enjoy an Adventures in Aviation program at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum as part of the STEM Matters program. Photo courtesy of the Museum

New York City's uber-popular STEM Matters Program returns for spring break 2021, but big changes are in store. Unlike the week-long drop-off program of years past, if you want your child to participate this spring, you'll have to join them. The programs, dubbed Discovery Days, run for single-day sessions at top cultural institutions. Participants are treated to an hour-long, educator-led, hands-on discovery program and enjoy gratis admission for the rest of the day.

The programs, which are open to public, charter, and home school students, run for single-day sessions during the New York City public school spring break, which lasts from Monday, March 29-Friday, April 2, 2021. Read on for more info on the program and how to apply.

Prismatica Lights Broadway With Rainbow-Filled Public Art Display

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 01/13/2021 - 9:55am

Prismatica brings 25 rotating, rainbow-hued prisms to the Garment District.

If you thought the end of the holiday season meant the end of stunning light shows, think again. The Garment District has unveiled a whimsical, rainbow-filled, kaleidoscope of colors with its latest public art installation, Prismatica.

The immersive art display is the latest piece of public art to light up Midtown and follows last year's playful, illuminated seesaws in the neighborhood, bringing a little bit of sparkle to New Yorkers.

14 Family-Friendly NYC Openings We're Anticipating in 2021

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 4:49pm

The Moynihan Train Hall is worth a visit even if you're not dashing to catch a train for its art and architecture. Photo by the author

After a year of closures, COVID, and being cooped up inside, we could all use a little hope on the horizon. So it is, we bring you our annual list of the most anticipated kid-friendly openings for 2021.

While some picks are making a repeat appearance, we're sharing them again in the spirit of silver linings and excitement for the year ahead.

Kid-Friendly NYC Businesses That Closed in 2020: Toy Stores, Play Spaces, and More

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 01/04/2021 - 10:27am

Gulliver's Gate, the Times Square attraction showcasing major cities in miniature form, closed in 2020.

It's no secret 2020 took its toll on New York City. From weary parents to homebound school children, the pandemic has left its mark on us all. As we turn the page to the new year, we want to take a moment to share some appreciation for the family-friendly NYC businesses that closed in 2020. These spots are pandemic victims in their own right, ranging from play spaces to bookstores and family-friendly eateries and boutiques who all helped make our lives a little simpler, and their loss is one we'll likely feel for years to come.

The New York City People and Places Who Saved Our Sanity in 2020

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 12/31/2020 - 10:49am

Even in a pandemic, we found plenty of reasons to love New York City.

With 2021 just hours away, I'm sure I'm not the only one ready to kick the dumpster fire of 2020 to the curb, but in the spirit of optimism and silver linings, I'll be doing so with a grateful heart. Twenty-twenty tested us in ways we couldn't previously imagine, but it also brought out our best in many ways, and now that we're almost through it, let's take a little time to offer some gratitude to the New York City people and places who saved our sanity in this crazy, never-ending, groundhog day type of a year.

So, join me in raising your glass to these (lucky!) 13 New York City characters and the hope on the horizon.

5 Fun Mocktail Recipes for Kids Celebrations

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 12/29/2020 - 9:10am

Three cheers for boozy whipped coffee (and frozen hot chocolate for them).

We're re-releasing our list of the top mocktails for kids just in time to celebrate 2021 and say bye-bye and good riddance to 2020! We love the inclusivity of mocktails. Now kids, pregnant mamas, and teetotalers can safely get in on the cocktail countdown fun.

From pink-hued sangria (with Shirley Temples) to mojitos (and minty limeade), we have five yummy cocktail-mocktail pairings for parents and kids to enjoy together.

Find more creative ways to celebrate New Year's Eve at home with these 12 kid-friendly activities.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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