Editor’s Note: February 2013 Issue

I’m all for anniversaries. My 15th wedding anniversary is in June and I’m sure my wife and I will use it as an excuse to do something festive and personal. I’m lucky to have so much in my life to toast—and that not only includes my wife and two children and friends, but also this magazine, my co-workers, and you, our readers. To celebrate and honor New York Family’s 25th anniversary year, my colleagues and I have aimed to create a special issue that, in its own way, feels festive and personal. I hope you enjoy it.

The big stretch limo in this celebratory issue is our Then & Now story, in which we look at 25 aspects of parenting in the city, from strollers to preschools to birthday parties to real estate, to see how each has evolved over time. Like me, I’m sure you’ll appreciate some of the changes—and bemoan others.

We also pulled together some of our favorite quotes from cover subjects in recent years. It’s a feast of humility and insight and excitement from Julianne Moore, Samantha Bee, Soledad O’Brien, and many more.

The other part of the 25th anniversary package is written by me with the hope that some of you will welcome it as a kind of gift: my recommendation of 25 city childhood experiences I wish for your little ones to have.

An issue doesn’t go by without me wanting to give a special shout out to all my colleagues, but for the 25th anniversary package I want to give an extra special thanks to our Deputy Editor Whitney Harris, whose high standards, superior skills, and endearing personality are pure treasure.

Where does New York Family go from here? Right now, we not only produce the print magazine and some wonderful big events (such as The New York Baby Show, Camp Fairs, and the Blackboard Awards), but we’re also rocking it every day on NewYorkFamily.com with all sorts of good info and inspiration on raising kids and enjoying life in the city. I have no idea what the next 25 years may bring, but I can tell you that I love this magazine and I look forward to serving up great ideas for you every day for many years to come.

Happy February,

Eric Messinger

Editor

[email protected]

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New Settlement Community Center

<p>Offering a host of healthy, fun and exciting programs for children ages 6 months and up, including ballet and hi-hop dance with Alvin Ailey, group and private swimm classes, mixed martial arts, youth technology, piano, violin and guitar lessons, and more.</p>

Speakitaly NYC

<p>SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.  Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress. </p> <p>Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge.</p> <p>Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City… Who doesn’t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history & in the arts?</p> <p>Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor’s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"</p>

The Ailey School – First Steps and Bounding Boys

<blockquote style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <div dir="ltr"> <div class="m_-3740164643787738207m_4977048992707393770WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0070c0;">At The Ailey School, FIRST STEPS offers a structured creative movement curriculum that allows girls (ages 3-6) and boys (age 3), to develop body awareness and control and learn the basics of dance technique. BOUNDING BOYS (ages 4-6) provides a more athletic experience, and an energetic approach to teaching dance skills.</span></p> </div> </div> </blockquote>