Our Night at the Museum

This weekend, I had an unparalleled experience.  I spent the night with my son at the American Museum of Natural History.  It was extraordinary.  I became a kid all over again and by the looks of things, I wasn’t the only adult whose inner child was brought to life by the magic of the AMNH.  There was something about the whole experience that was enchanting, and whether you were 7 or 77, there is no doubt that you felt like you were transported into Neverland.  I don’t even have a bucket list, but if I did, this would have been up there at the top.  I never realized how special it would be to wander through the over a century old, empty halls of a museum, by flashlight, in pajamas, after midnight.  I’d like to meet the mastermind who came up with the idea of “A Night at the Museum “ and thank him/her personally, because honestly, it was perfect.  The program is such a hit, that it is no wonder that they even have a version for adults without children.  It’s pretty amazing that the museum offers people the occasion to really be part of this institution in such a meaningful way.   As a result of attending this event, my son and I will have this kind of awesome memory that will go down there with some of the best.

The museum is an utterly special place, on so many levels.  If you have never been inside the  American Museum of Natural History, I highly recommend that you go.  The museum has a unique and awe inspiring character.  In 1993 it inspired author Milan Trenc to write the children’s book A Night at the Museum.  Then in 2006 the Hollywood movie by the same name captured the hearts of children and adults everywhere.  When you enter the museum, you can imagine why.  It has an almost cinematographic feeling to it. As you move through the halls the history of our world seems to take on a life which is all its own.  Being in the museum by day, when sunlight fills some halls and the of chatter crowds of people can be heard in each gallery, it is the way you would expect to experience a famous museum.  Now, imagine the lights lowered, the crowd diminishes and you are in your night clothes, with a flashlight in hand.  Wandering past each exhibit, you are drawn in.  You become part of the magic.  It is an extraordinary experience.

In the days leading up to our “sleepover,” I was buzzing with excitement.  I felt as if I was about to embark on an adventure to the Galápagos or Easter Island, or some other adventurous destination.  When the day arrived our bags were packed with a sleeping bag, flashlight, pillow, and toothbrush.

We arrived at the museum a little before 6pm and were directed to the check-in counter.  There were groups of children with teachers and parents and kids grasping teddy bears.  We were handed an agenda, and before we knew it someone was guiding us past the Rose Center for Earth & Space to the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.  She was just as excited as we were.  She reminded me of a cruise counselor and it all seemed as if we were about to embark on an ocean-liner across the Atlantic.  Within no time we spread our sleeping bags over our cots and marked our territory with stuffed animals and pillows.  We tucked our backpacks beneath our beds and were off.  Filled with great excitement we entered the butterfly exhibit.  We journeyed about the museums awesome exhibitions, past dinosaurs, other fossils, and Native American artifacts.  Then we gathered in a theater and watched an animal show with live pythons, alligators, hawks, and owls.  After that, we hurried down to the cafeteria where we made friends with other hungry visitors.  When evening snack was over, my son posed for pictures next to a bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt, and then we tiptoed past totem polls in the The Hall of Northwest Coast Indians.  Then we caught the late showing of  MacGillivray Freeman 3D movie, National Parks Adventure .  Heading back to our spot under the whale was great.  This was our little place for the night.  Excitement was high on the scale.  Girls and boys queued up with parents and group leaders at the bathroom.  There, they changed into pajamas and brushed there teeth.  At this point, the museum really felt like home.  Story time was perfect.  Images from the book A Night at the Museum were projected on a movie screen and one of the hosts read the story aloud.  It brought out the kid in me.  Next to me, parents shared smiles as if to say, “it feels great to be a kid again, doesn’t it?”  We all felt the magic.  The lights in the great hall lowered and children shined their flashlights across the great whale.  Voices started to lower.  The ceiling showed images of the surface of the sea that swayed above us.  It really felt like being under the ocean in the midst of a tremendous sea mammal.  I thought to myself, this is the largest room that I have ever fallen asleep in, and I have never gone to bed in a room with so many people.  There was something magical about it.  As our time to unwind came to its end and all flashlights were put away, even the faintest whispers subsided to silence.

I fell into a dream of ancient civilizations and prehistoric creatures.  I slept deeply and peacefully.  When the lights came up the next morning at 7 the room filled with the cheerful voices of children and all of us headed back to the cafeteria for breakfast.  We said goodbye to friends we had made and found a shortcut back to the whale.  There, we packed up all of our belongings. We headed out the main exit onto Central Park West and it had just finished drizzling.  It was really amazing that for one night of our lives the  American Museum of Natural History was our home.  I don’t think I will ever see the museum the same way again.  It has a deeper more sentimental value to me.  My son said that he had the best time ever and he expressed how much he loves the museum.  I was really grateful.  Grateful that NYC has such a marvelous museum, grateful that someone had the genius idea to create a sleepover program, grateful that it was done phenomenally well, and more than all, grateful that my son and I had an opportunity to take part in it all.

Our Adventure Begins!

Museum's entrance, the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda

The 94-foot-long blue whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life 

Our Cozy Spots

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall

The Hall of Northwest Coast Indians

Antique tiles of the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians 

The Hall of Biodiversity

Zzzzz, bedtime

Cherry Blossom Time in New York!

It is that time of year again.  The cherry blossoms will be in bloom in New York.  If you are in the City, head over to Central Park to catch a look at these beautiful flowers at their peak.  Head over to 72nd Street mid-park and see fields of these great blooms.  You can also check them out around the west side of the Jackie Onassis Reservoir.  The best blossoms come out at the end of April.  Pack a picnic and a set of watercolors for your child.  Let them indulge in the colorful scenery.  Too bad they are only in blossom once a year!

Dinosaurs Among Us

Coming soon to the American Museum of Natural History:

Dinosaurs Among Us will feature ancient, rarely seen fossils, and life-like models, including a 23-foot-long feathered tyrannosaur (Yutyrannus huali) and a small four-winged dromeosaur (Anchiornis huxleyi)with a 22-inch wingspan and vivid, patterned plumage. Visitors will encounter a tiny dinosaur whose sleeping posture precisely echoes that of a living bird, an extinct-dinosaur nest containing remains of the adult that guarded the hatchlings, and the fossil cast of a relative of Triceratops that had simple feathers on its body.

The exhibition, which comes on the heels of the unveiling of a 122-foot-long titanosaur cast on permanent display in the Museum’s Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Orientation Center, is part of a series of events, public programs, exhibitions, and digital offerings highlighting dramatic developments in paleontology.

Dinosaurs Among Usis curated by Mark Norell, Macaulay Curator in the Division of Paleontology and the division’s chair. The exhibition will be open to the public from Monday, March 21, 2016, to January 2, 2017. Members will be able to preview the exhibition on Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20.

The Museum gratefully acknowledges theRichard and Karen LeFrak Exhibition and Education Fund.

The exhibition will also discuss some interesting facts:

• Alligators and crocodiles are birds’ closest living relatives
•  The eggs of some oviraptorosaurs were blue-green. Today’s birds are the only living animals to have colored eggshells; crocs and alligators, and other reptiles and mammals all have white eggs.
•  Some extinct dinosaurs made nests and brooded their young in a manner very like that of some living birds.
• Despite the expression “bird brain,” birds have very large brains for their body size—6 to 11 times bigger than those of equivalent-sized reptiles. Some non-bird theropod dinosaurs had this brain inflation in the cerebrum, or the “thinking” part of the brain, suggesting they were probably capable of advanced learned behavior. Many living birds are adept learners.
• Birds have hollow bones and most scientists assumed this trait evolved along with flight. But recent discoveries of hollow bones of large, flightless dinosaurs like Allosaurus, indicate that like many other bird characteristics, hollow bones appear early in the dinosaur family tree. 

• Visit their website to learn more about this and other exciting exhibitions:
• http://www.amnh.org

Paris for Children

Paris is a remarkable place for children.  I made the trip with my son shortly after his first birthday.  It was just the two of us, and we had a wonderful time.    In this article, I will share with you some great tips to make your visit as hassle free as can be, and I will tell you about some of the best places to take your little one once there.  Bon voyage!

Tips when traveling:

Get your child ready for the time change at least two weeks prior to your departure.  Gradually adjust their bedtime, so that when they make the trip, they can get into a good sleep habit as soon as possible.

Once you arrive, establish meal times, nap and bedtimes.  A routine will help your child to acclimate to his new surroundings.

Pick up a copy of Pariscope and Fusac to find out about events, films and other things that may be of interest to you and your child.

If you are traveling with an infant or toddler, a good stroller is imperative.  You will do a great deal of walking, so opt for a collapsible stroller that is sturdy, light weight, reclines, has good wheels that can handle uneven pavement and cobblestone.  Europe is known for manufacturing some of the best strollers on the market.  If your plan is to purchase one there, be prepared to spend beaucoup bucks.  Bringing one from home is your best option, however there are babysitting services that rent strollers and cribs. 

Babysitting Services
Should the need arise, there are several babysitting services in Paris.
Ababa, 8 avenue du Maine 75015 Paris, tel: 33 (0)1 45 49 46 46

Babysitting Service, 18, rue Tronchet 75008 Paris tel: 33 (0)1 46 37 51 24

Allo! Service Maman, 58, avenue Wagram 75017 Paris, tel : 33 (0)1 42 67 99 37

Kid Service, 159, rue de Rome, 75017 Paris, tel: 33 (0)1 47 66 00 52

Accommodations

Think outside the box on where to stay.  Although Paris offers some quality hotels, families often benefit from the amenities of renting an apartment for their stay.  Prices are often comparable, and staying in an apartment with a full kitchen ( http://inthemarais.com/ ),  is more homey for children and adults, and gives you a better feel for French life.  

Essentials

Need necessities such as diapers, crayons, or baby food?  Look for the local Monoprix.  This is a great department store for all your needs.

Know some french phrases before your arrival, at the very least, Parlez vous Anglais? (Do you speak english?), and merci (thank you), go a long way.

The following pharmacies are open 24 hours:  Pharmacie des Champs, 84 avenue des Champs Elysées 75008 Paris, tel : 01 45 62 02 41, Metro Georges V;  Pharmacie Européenne, Place de Clichy 75009 Paris, tel : 01 48 74 65 18, Metro Place de Clichy.  There are two English speaking hospitals in Paris:  Hopital Americain,  63 bd Victor Hugo 92 Neuilly, tel: 01 46 41 25 25, Hopital Franco Britannique, 3 rue Barbes 92 Levallois Perret, tel: 01 46 39 22 22.

Places to visit:

The Luxembourg Gardens, not far from Saint Sulplice in the 6th district, offers children numerous activities.  The Jeux Verts is a large playground with structures to climb, swing and slide on.  There is an admission charge.  Many of the activities are best for school age children, but your toddler will enjoy the train and the lively atmosphere.  Also at the Luxembourg Gardens is a carousel, where children can play a game with rings that dates back generations.  There are pony rides, tennis courts, puppet shows, and much more.

If weather permits, the sculpture garden, at the Rodin Museum is a relaxing way to spend a nice afternoon.  Sit on a bench admiring the art, while keeping an eye on your little one as he/she enjoys playing in the enclosed garden.  "Garden only," tickets are sold for 1 euro, museum entrance is sold separately.

The Louvre Museum, offers tours and workshops for children 4 and up. 

The Centre Pompidou is an exciting place both inside and out.  Jugglers, musicians, fire-eaters, and other street acts are on display outside the museum.  There is a large plaza lined with cafes and fun shops for kids outside the museum.  There you will also find the Fountaine Stravinsky.  Get a seat at one of the cafe's opposite the fountain and your little one will be entertained while you savor a cafe' au lait.  At this link, you will find a brief view of the fountain, filmed by a French  Youtuber:  http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=W6kxMqawPy0

Take a Batobus boat ride on the River Siene.  For just 12 Euro (6 for children under 16), you will sail past the Eiffel Tower, St. Germain-des-Pres, Jardin des Plantes, The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Notre-Dame, Hotel de Ville, and the Champs-Elysees.  It may be too late to take your children on the boat after dark, but if you are able to do so, they will enjoy a dramatic view of the buildings alongside the river.  On these evening trips, the boat shines light upon all that it passes and casts shadows on the architecture.

In the summer, your kids will love Paris Plage.  The sandy faux beach along the Seine offers lounge chairs, umbrellas, diaper changing stations equiped with diapers and wipes (found at Georges Pompidou Way and Quai de Seine).  There are various activities for children of all ages, that are put on by the city.  These include art classes, story time, a splash pool, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and trampolining.  

There are numerous other outdoor activities that your child will enjoy.  For example, Aquaboulevard, is a heated water park.  In the 1st district, you will find Jardin d'enfants des Halles, which has six adventure worlds for children 7 to 11.  Parc de la Villette offers a Music Museum, themed gardens for children, a bike path, pony rides and workshops for kids.  Parc Floral de Paris has a park with over 60 games for kids.   For an escape from the city environment, Le Ferme de Paris in the 12th district has a working farm with animals and fields.

Puppet shows are offered at parks throughout the city.  This is an entertaining way to introduce your children to the French language.   There are puppet theaters at the Jardin d'Acclimatation - Bois de Boulogne, Champ-de-Mars, Jardin des Champs Elysées, Parc des Buttes-Chaumon, and Parc Georges Brassens.  Show times and days vary.  So plan in advance.

Sail a miniature boat with your child at the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens.  You can rent toy boats from food stands in the park.

For your older children who want to do something weird and out of the ordinary, there are two underground tours that you can consider.  The Musée des Egouts de Paris (Museum of the Sewers of Paris), at
Pont de l'Alma, facing 93 Quai d'Orsay, in the 7th district, will take you on a 500 yard journey through the sewers of Paris.  There are also the Catacombs of Paris, located at 1, avenue of Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, in the 14th district.  I would not suggest taking young children on either of these tours.  

Yes, there is Euro Disney just outside of Paris.  I avoided visiting this theme park with my child, because in my opinion, there is much more that Paris has to offer.  If your stay in Paris is extended, or you may never be in vicinity of a Disney park and it is a place you have always wished to visit, then make the trip.  Otherwise take advantage of Paris's many other gems.