Kids like Museums, too. Some Museums like Strollers.

Those who live here don't need to conjure up the image of lots of strollers. Just go down to 5th Avenue any weekend day or weekday afternoon, and you'll see all sizes, colors, and styles rolling about. Sunset Park's stroller parade doesn't get as much press as our friendly neighbor to the northeast-ish because it's not as cool to poke fun at and deride people who aren't perceived as privileged. In fact, I think the stroller-mom-hating that used to be pervasive seems to have waned. That, or I have just stopped paying attention because it's so repetitive, silly, and boring.

Anyway, Mommy Poppins, the Manhattan-centric parenting site, has a useful list of museums around NYC that allow, limit, and/or shun strollers. It's not a Sunset Park link, admittedly, but since there are tons of kids in the area (and always have been), I figured some people might appreciate the information.

My advice: choose off-hours to bring your kids. No matter how polite or deferential you attempt to be (and with kids in a museum that doesn't have the word children or natural in the name begs parents to be polite in the extreme), children will be annoying to SOMEone. (So will many other people, but that's a different issue.) That's not to say we shouldn't bring off-spring to museums; that's part of what makes NYC so amazing for children. But be real and be fair to other patrons. A crowded museum isn't fun no matter who you are with or without. Isn't MoMA horrific on the weekends? Ugh.

Even the under-patronized Brooklyn Museum is best when it first opens, especially on the weekends. The American floor is great, what with the historical houses and comfy seating. One of my favorite paintings is The Shepherdess of Rolleboise, by Daniel Ridgway Knight. On one trip to the Brooklyn Museum (when The Dinner Party first arrived as a temporary installation) with my students, a group came running up to me very excitedly. They babbled on about how there was a painting of me in the museum. Sure enough, a light-skinned brunette shepherdess with her hair in a bun was enough to be me. I was flattered. Especially because of the fashion sense portrayed. LOVE the layers.

Next up, a list of 5th Avenue stores that allow, limit, and/or shun strollers. ;)

Mommy Poppins encourages us to eat locally

With farmer's market season coming (the Sunset Park FM starts in July!), a lot of us start to think more about vegetables that don't come frozen or in a can. And we look forward to fruit with FLAVOR!

The closest CSA (community supported agriculture) to Sunset Park is the Greenwood Heights CSA. Unlike Urban Organics, you pick up your food every week for part of the year. I believe half-shares are also available if every other week is enough for you. The fruits and veggies come from Hearty Roots Community Farm in Tivoli, NY. The main couple behind the farm was featured in the NYT Style section not too long ago. They are Brooklyn transplants who now provide Brooklyn with fresh veggies. Gotta love that.

Here's a quickie guide to what to buy organic or not, and how to try to reduce your impact on the environment. The Mommy Poppins site did a great job of breaking down the main areas. It's also got some handy resources. Not everything must be organic to be acceptable (and it will certainly help your money holder of choice to stay a little bulky). Mmmmmmm. Enjoy!