Mommy FTW

Hi all – I had two bits of Fort Greene / Clinton Hill news I wanted to share.

First – I was at Story Time yesterday at the Clinton Hill Library and it seems that the usual woman has moved libraries and is gone for good.  They have  a stand in named Steve (I think) and he didn’t give the impression that he was going to be the permanent person in charge.  He seemed a little awkward, but everything worked out fine.  I saw another mom who was at the later session and she said Steve told her class that they might not have the funding to keep Story Time going for more than 6 weeks.  I hope this isn’t true!  It’s such an amazing resource in the neighborhood.  Yesterday there was quite a crowd!

Lots of strollers yesterday at Clinton Hill Library

Secondly, I also went to the Pratt Post Office on Myrtle to get the mail from my P.O. Box.  I wasn’t sure what to expect since they quietly and quickly announced their closing.  There was a truck outside that was selling stamps (no money orders, according to the postal worker).

Get your stamps here....

They were also letting people in to use the APC machine and drop items in the big box in the foyer.  I was also allowed to walk into the actual post office and pick up my mail.  The postal worker said they decided to keep it like this until actual construction begins.  Sounds reasonable to me!  After that, she said, who knows.   Yikes….  She recommended that people with P.O. Boxes check their mail daily for now.

Pardon this little bit of non baby related news -

With very little fanfare (except some blog posts on Clinton Hill Blog and the Local) the Pratt Post Office is closing temporarily.  I hadn’t been able to find out much about what was going on, so I went to the post office this afternoon (located on Myrtle near Hall) to try and find out more.  There was a sign posted with the following info:

Effective Monday March 1, 2010
Pratt Station Post Office Will Be Closed Temporarily
Due to Emergency Repairs Needed to Fix
Infrastructure Problems Within the Station.

Mobile Units Will Be in Front of Pratt Station Post
Office starting Monday, March 1, 2010

-Pratt Station PO Box customers will be able to pick up their mail at the Mobile Units
-Carriers will be delivering mail from the Metro Station Post Office (47 Debevoise St; Brooklyn NY 11206)
-If customers need to hold mail – submit completed Hold Mail Cards to the Mobile Unit Retail Clerks
-Renovations will take approximately 8 to 12 weeks to complete or longer

Thank you for your cooperation during this time.

USPS Brooklyn post office

The sign!

Usually when Cameron and I go out for lunch we end up at 67 Burger.  I can’t deny that we both LOVE their food!  Plus the staff is always so friendly.  But mom and baby can not live on sweet potato fries and burgers alone, so I was in search of somewhere new.  Celia, mom to Claire and fellow Brooklyn blogger (check out her site, Chic Squirt) recommended that I try Il Porto (37 Washington Ave Brooklyn, NY).  I admit my husband and I order pizza delivery from there all the time, but I had never actually been to the restaurant.

Under the BQE and to Il Porto we go!

So, Cameron and I ventured over there one afternoon to check out the scene.  They had plenty of room for my stroller, and also had a few high chairs.  The wait staff was very friendly and made Cameron and I feel welcome.  I ordered the gnocchi right away (per Celia’s recommendation).  I also got some bread for Cameron to snack on.  The pasta came quickly – and it was SO good!  Cameron was suspicious at first (as always) but once he saw me enjoying it, he gave it a try.  Success!

Cameron waits for his gnocchi. Also pictured Skip Hop Plate

So Fort Greene and Clinton Hill mommies (and daddies) if you are looking for something yummy for lunch, try Il Porto – and try the gnocchi – it’s perfect finger food for baby, and mighty tasty for you!

Want more info on Il Porto?  Check out this Lunchtime with Tillie review from Clinton Hill Blog.

I just wanted to spread the word about an upcoming mom’s night out that was posted on Parents Around the Hill (PATH).

When: Thursday, Feb 25th from 8-11

Where: Chez Lola which is at 387 Myrtle Ave (next to the gas station on Vanderbuilt)

Please RSVP to: Tracy Joerss tamcdonagh AT yahoo DOT com

Members of Parents Around the Hill can see more on the Events Page.

I know hard it is to get moms to commit and organize everyone – so please do RSVP if you think you might go!  You know you deserve a night out, and a cocktail or two, so secure yourself a babysitter or husband type, and I’ll see you there!

FYI for those of you who don’t know Parents Around the Hill is a ning (s0cial networking type-site) that brings together families from Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bed-Stuy.  If you want to learn more about them before joining the ning, you can check out their public site at ParentsAroundtheHill.com

I am so fortunate to know a lot of moms who share with me their ideas and advice.  This post is based in their experiences, as well as information gained from the Fort Greene Babies Yahoo Group and Parents Around the Hill (PATH).  I haven’t checked out all these places myself – so I can’t speak to every one of them personally – but my mom friends haven’t steered me wrong yet.  The reason I have decided to post about them before being able to check them all out is I am guessing that a lot of you are starting to feel a little desperate with all this snow and cold weather – I know I am!  So here are some ideas of places to take your baby in the Fort Greene / Clinton Hill area:

The Booklyn Flea – The Flea has moved indoors for the winter months.  It’s new home is at One Hanson Place on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.  The Flea is on the main floor and lower level.  According to one mom, the lower level has food options, and the upper level is where the sales go on.  She said the lower level is a great place to take kids and let them roam around, and that there is space for strollers.  So if you are looking for a weekend activity – check out the indoor Flea!

Story time at Greenlight Bookstore – Greenlight Bookstore is located at 686 Fulton Street and has a free story time on Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM.  Check it out for more weekend fun.

Playgroup at Brooklyn Junior – Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon there is a free playgroup at Brooklyn Junior (150 Clinton Ave – corner of Myrtle) from 3:15-6.  Please email info@brooklynjunior.com if you would like to go.  Children of all ages are welcome.

The Clinton Hill Library – Not only does Clinton Hill Library (380 Washington Ave) have a great and free Reading for Babies program on Tuesdays at 10:45 and 11:30, but I’ve also been told it’s a great place to take your kid to let them roam around even when no scheduled activities are going on.

Chuck E Cheese – Now this one, I never would have thought of!  Last Thursday a few of us were hanging out at Der Schwarze Kölner and one of the moms said that she had just been at Chuck E Cheese with her baby (he is an early walker).  She said that it was her nanny who had originally suggested it, and although she was skeptical – it turned out to be a great place for him to roam around, and it was free (since they aren’t playing any games).  Chuck E. Cheese is located in the Atlantic Terminal Mall.

Der Schwarze Kölner aka the Beer Garden – As I mentioned above I’ve been going to the Beer Garden (710 Fulton Street) with Cameron and some other moms + babies.  It is a great winter option – and they are so welcoming and nice!  Read more about Der Schwarze Kölner at this other post I wrote a few days ago.

If you have other ideas to share, please leave a comment!

UPDATE:  Sadly this printable coupon for Triple Paste no longer is active, but a nice representative emailed me and said that my readers were more than welcome to call them at 1800-533-7546 and request some coupons!

I’ve sung the praises of Triple Paste in the past – but one of the only downsides of this diaper rash eliminator is the price tag.  Well, here’s a link to a printable coupon for $1 off!

Click for your Triple Paste Printable Coupon!

FYI – moms have asked me where they can find Triple Paste in Fort Greene – the Walgreens on Myrtle has some.  Pick up a jar and keep it around in case diaper rash rears its ugly head in your house.

I consider myself a frugal person – I had no problem shelling out for Cameron’s Patagonia baby puff rider jacket because I knew he would wear it every day.  But buying an entire snow suit seemed excessive.  Afterall, would he really need it?  Well, yesterday I was wishing I had some waterproof bottoms for him after our first sledding trip in Fort Greene Park.  I mulled it over while Cam was taking his nap, and came up with a solution for our afternoon outing : I put him in a garbage bag from the waist down.  Not the most attractive solution – but it worked!  His jacket and mittens kept him dry up top, and the bag covered the rest!

FYI – the Patagonia winter sale is back on – with discounts of up to 50% off.  This includes baby stuff.  Cameron has both the Puff Rider Jacket and the Baby Capilene which I am thinking about buying again for next year!

I am pretty sensitive about bringing Cameron to a bar… after all, there are plenty of people who aren’t on board with the idea, and I don’t want to be one of “those moms” who are getting dirty looks from across the room… but so many moms had told me that Der Schwarze Kölner (710 Fulton Street, Fort Greene/Brooklyn) was really child friendly, and my bi weekly playgroup needed a place to go.  So last Thursday afternoon, that’s where we ended up.  And thank goodness we did!

Beers for the moms

Snack time for the babies

We descended upon Der Schwarze Kölner at 4, just as they opened.  As I walked in, the place smelled of just being cleaned, and was totally empty.  The wait staff was extremely welcoming, and gave my group a big area in the corner.  There was plenty of area of stroller parking.  I brought a few toys for the kids to play with, and so did the other moms.  The moms had beers, the babies had brats (Cameron practically housed an entire one by himself) and some cheddar bunnies.  It was a total success!  I have to admit I’m not 100% on board for taking Cameron out to a bar in the evening (besides, it’s way past his bedtime) but in the afternoon when no one else is there?  I don’t see the harm in taking advantage of a great, clean space… while the moms can hang out, and the babies have fun too.

As I have mentioned, Cameron and I were in DC this week visiting the grandparents, going swimming, and having a great time!  I had decided that instead of driving we would try taking Amtrak from Penn Station.

I did some research both on Parents Around the Hill and via the Fort Greene Babies yahoo group before the trip.  The neighborhood moms left me fairly assured that it wouldn’t be too bad when I got to the station.  I was still nervous!  I took the Q from Dekalb Ave to 34th Street Herald Square for the sake of elevators, and then made my way towards Penn Station on foot above ground.

The entrance to Penn Station that has the down escalator is at 31st St and 8th Ave.  I thought the diagram of the building posted on the wall said there was an elevator here, but I didn’t see it, so I went down they short escalator with Cam.  (Yes, I know, you’re not supposed to do this).

Once we got down to the main area I started looking around for a red cap, who I had been told would be able to help me out.  I didn’t see anyone, so I walked over to the Amtrak Customer Service desk (not the ticket counters) and a friendly man told me what track my train would be leaving from and that there was an elevator over by the police desk.  Indeed there was.

I got in – the choices were a little confusing.  I went down to “TL” – Track Level, I figured.  When when the doors opened I found that I was stuck in between the tracks, and not at the right number.  Apparently I was supposed to go to “LL” where you can move to any of the tracks and then take a different elevator down.  I went back up to “LL,” found my track, then took another elevator down to “TL.”

Cameron relaxes in his PJ's

Since I had gotten to the train early there were plenty of places to sit.  I found Cameron and I a section of 4 seats (2 and 2 facing each other).  It was perfect – there was lots of room for him, and for all our stuff.  Overall, getting to the train was pretty easy!  Stay tuned for more updates on the trip to DC, and the train trip back to New York.

Cameron loves to swing.  So yesterday while we were out and about in the afternoon we stopped at Camel Park (at the corner of Carlton and Dekalb in Fort Greene) for an impromptu ride on the swings – but they were all wet from the morning’s rain storms.  Usually I have a cloth with me for dealing with such occasions, but I hadn’t planned ahead this time.  I thought to myself… what do I have with me that is absorbent?  Duh, a diaper!

Mom Genius At Work!

Swinging Happily

So next time you are out and you need something to dry off a wet swing, try using a diaper.  It worked like a charm!