New York Family’s December 2013 Issue

Our December cover girl Betsy Brandt; photo by Michael Jurick; on Betsy Brandt: Shoshanna dress, Stephanie Kantis gold cuff bracelet; location: The JCC in Manhattan

Features

Breaking Fab
Rising star, mother of two, and New York newcomer Betsy Brandt makes an elegant transition from “Breaking Bad” to sitcom sweetheart on “The Michael J. Fox Show”

The Gift Of Giving Back
Celebrate both the true spirit of the holiday season as well as the core of New York City’s sense of community with some of our favorite local, family-centric charities

Got Class?
A sneak peek into the varied enrichment offerings coming this winter, from arts and music to sports and dance

Family Fun Guide

10 Great Events For December
Pirate School, “A Christmas Story,” “Peter & the Wolf,” and more

The Ultimate Checklist For A Classic NYC Holiday
A guide to the best tress, Santas, lights, “Nutcracker” shows, window displays, and seasonal shopping locales

The Center Of It All
New York City’s premier hub for the performing arts, Lincoln Center, is many children’s first introduction to opera, ballet, jazz, and—of course—the circus

Home & Away

Travel
Sweet ski escapes near NYC, plus our editor’s picks for fab family winter break resorts

Quality Time
Add creative flair to a holiday crafting staple—paper snowflakes—with our step-by-step tips

Columns

Editor’s Note
Hands Off, Hands On

Events & Offers
A 74th St. MAGIC giveaway, New York Family’s upcoming Camp Fairs, and the scoop on the ultimate moms’ night out

Scoop
Cute clothes from Cabbages & Kings NY, the latest in LEGO news, a memory-keeping app for parents, and more

Lysst
Great gifts—both luxurious and understated—for grownups (because the holidays aren’t only about the kids)

Treats
The most fun and festive toys of the year for all the little sugar plums on your nice list

Parent In Profile
After years of supporting parents of multiples in both local and national organizations, NYC mom Natalie Diaz has written a book about everything she’s learned

Activity Of The Month
Young NYC gymnasts from a variety of gyms and programs give us their tips on sticking it

The Last Word
A local mom remembers her twins’ first Christmas in the NICU

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Looking for something to do with the kids in New York City that is fun, exciting, and educational? The Intrepid Museum offers family-friendly activities and programs all year long that keep children engaged, entertained, and curious about history and science. Fun rain or shine, the Museum offers both indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits and activities. With so many things to do and see, you&rsquo;ll never hear &ldquo;I&rsquo;m bored,&rdquo; when you climb aboard Intrepid. A non-profit, educational institution featuring the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world&rsquo;s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine.

Polaris Productions Theater Camp

Kids will learn, rehearse, and perform the wonderful Maurice Sendak and Carole King musical, Really Rosie. For 10 weekdays, campers will take part in physical and vocal warm-ups and learn choreography, staging, and vocal parts. They&rsquo;ll develop skills in acting, singing, character development, and more. This camp will ignite your child&rsquo;s imagination and passion for performing, build their self-esteem, and help them form lasting friendships. They&rsquo;ll have fun! At camp&rsquo;s end, the kids will perform Really Rosie for family members and friends. Kids of all levels of experience, ages 8 through 13, are welcome to join.

Chickenshed NYC

Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed&rsquo;s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen. Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.