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

Line-Free NYC: 20 Things To Do and Enjoy in NYC Right Now

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 09/25/2020 - 3:45pm

Times Square is more quiet than normal, but still filled with lively billboards and plenty of attractions.

If you've trekked through Times Square lately, you likely saw as many pigeons as pedestrians. For the first time in decades, the city is deserted. Locals can enjoy all the usual tourist spots without waiting in line. Bollards are waiting to restrict lines of visitors for crowds who haven't shown up and social distancing markers on the sidewalk are barely scuffed. And the scene replays itself at tourist hotspots and beloved local institutions all across town. In short, it's a little slice of paradise for New Yorkers weary of dodging slow-walking tourists and selfie snappers.

The city streets are quiet when compared to pre-pandemic times. Office workers are still mainly working from home, and tourists are steering clear. This is all good news for intrepid New Yorkers, who are ready to explore again after months of making the best of stay-at-home orders. Museums are reopening, and Times Square mega shops are debuting. So, if you're ready to get out, the city is your playground. With flexible work arrangements and hybrid school schedules, now is the perfect time to play tourists in our hometown.

So, book those timed-entry tickets, skip the lines that usually run blocks long, and step out to visit a favorite museum, support a local business, and show New York City some love with these 20 things to do before the rest of the world discovers NYC is back.

Krispy Kreme Debuts Times Square Mega Shop

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 09/22/2020 - 4:00pm

Krispy Kreme brings its trademark glazed doughnuts to the crossroads of the world.

The city that never sleeps has a sweet new way to fuel its 24-hour appetite: The long-anticipated Krispy Kreme flagship debuted in Times Square last week. The shop brings with it the hope of a "hot-now" doughnut at any time, day or night, plus stadium-style seating where visitors can (eventually) enjoy a front-row view of the doughnut-making magic.

Read on for all the details on this new family-friendly Times Square attraction.

NYC Delays Start of In-Person Learning For Most Students Yet Again

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 10:58am

New York City is now taking a phased-in approach to hybrid learning.

New York City has changed its return to school plans yet again, delaying a return to in-person learning for most children. The city now plans to phase-in its hybrid learning plan. Hybrid learners were scheduled to return to classrooms beginning Monday, September 21.

Early education students in the DOE's 3K and pre-K programs, plus those in District 75 schools who have opted for hybrid learning, still return to the classroom beginning on that date. Students in elementary and K-8 schools return to buildings Tuesday, September 29, while those in middle and high schools, secondary schools, and transfer and adult education centers do not return until Thursday, October 1.

Boo at the Zoo Returns to Bronx Zoo for 2020 Halloween Season

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 9:04am

Boo at the Zoo is a fun, safe, and festive way for kids to celebrate Halloween. Photo by Ally Noel

Mask up and grab your costumes because Boo at the Zoo returns to the Bronx Zoo this October, bringing with it plenty of Halloween fun for New York City kids.

The event officially kicks off Thursday, October 1, but the required timed-entry tickets are already on sale. Read on for more details on one of our annual favorites that gives us hope Halloween isn't canceled here.

Indoor Attractions Reopen for Family-Friendly Fun in New Jersey

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 09/14/2020 - 4:00pm

Get ready for the long-awaited re-opening of American Dream! Photo courtesy of American Dream

Indoor attractions are making a comeback in New Jersey, with loosening restrictions making way for more ways to play inside, from our favorite restaurants to a few play spaces, movie theaters, and our famous mega mall, American Dream.

Read on for more details on the indoor attractions now open or opening soon in New Jersey.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Faces Big Changes in 2020

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 09/14/2020 - 12:43pm

Expect to see plenty of Herald Square backgrounds as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stages a made-for-TV special solely around its flagship store. Photo by Kent Miller Studios/courtesy of Macy's

Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade is facing some major changes in 2020. In this age of social distancing, gone is the crowd-drawing 2.5-mile parade route, replaced instead by a made-for-TV spectacle that aims to capture the magic of this annual holiday tradition, while eliminating in-person spectators and reducing the number of performers.

While the parade won't make its annual march through the city streets, where it can draw 3 million spectators to city sidewalks, television spectators can expect to see many of its usual trappings and trimmings on display, including the larger-than-life balloons, over-the-top floats, and big-name performers. Some performances are set to be filmed in advance, though the majority of the production still goes on live on Thanksgiving morning.

The changes were announced following Mayor Bill de Blasio's assertion that the parade would go "virtual" in 2020 during his daily press briefing on Monday, September 14.

Support for Hybrid Learners and Homeschool Pods on Long Island in Fall 2020

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 09/10/2020 - 2:55pm

Fish Academy provides a safe learning environment and aquarium educators who provide support. Photo courtesy of the aquarium

School is upon us, but the 2020-21 school year is anything but ordinary. Whether your district is doing remote learning, a hybrid model, or you've created a homeschooling pod, it's likely you're going to need a little more support than normal.

Luckily, community organizations, small businesses, and local entrepreneurs are here to help, filling the void left by extraordinarily challenging school schedules. We've rounded up a handful of spots offering support for hybrid and remote learners, plus organizations willing to provide a little programming for your pod.

Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2020-2021

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 09/07/2020 - 9:33am

The NYC DOE has finally announced its schedule for the 2020-21 school year.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the school calendar. The 2020-21 school year has already been off to a surprising start, with last week's announcement that the first day of school has been pushed back. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2020-2021 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Of course, we've been reminded over and over again that this school year will be one unlike any other, so the dates may not be as set in stone as in years past, but at least parents have a framework now.

These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school—or away from their remote learning device—during the 2020-2021 school year.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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