Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Philadelphia, PA

What's Up This Weekend?

by Cecily Kellogg

May 20, 2009

Wondering what to do this weekend? Here's a list of events that might interest you and your family. Check them out!

All Weekend, Various Times:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Zing Zang Zoom. At the Wachovia Spectrum in South Philadelphia. If you like circuses, well, this one is the best. Enjoy!

New Hope Celebrates Pride. Enjoy a variety of events throughout the weekend as New Hope celebrates its diversity. New Hope, PA.

Friday & Saturday:

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This musical is fun for the whole family. Support local theater and enjoy the show! Haddonfield Plays and Players, 957 East Atlantic Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ.

Saturday:

mr. Ray at the World Cafe Live. This week's offering at this great music series for kids looks spectacular! 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA.

Ten Great Family-Friendly Restaurants in Philadelphia

by Cecily Kellogg

May 05, 2009

Wondering where you can take that rambunctious toddler out to eat? Every now and again (ahem), I find my sink too full of dirty dishes and my desire to be waited on so overwhelming that I simply MUST eat out. Since I prefer to visit small, locally owned restaurants, this can be a challenge with a small child. Other diners might not love the sound of chopsticks hitting the bottom of the plate while your kid plays the "drums" waiting for the food to arrive, particularly at  small ten table spot. Through trail and error, here are my favorite places locally where no one will glare at you for having a loud kid at the table.

1. Vietnam Cafe. This spot is tiny now, but is destined to move into the space abandoned by Abbracio's shortly (July, they've told us) so they will have lots of room soon. But even now it's a great spot, and if you get there at the right time you can grab the front table which will minimize your exposure to other diners. Best spring rolls in town (I prefer fried, but the veggie ones are good too). Also, this is the second spot connected to Chinatown's Vietnam Restaurant.

2. Vientiane Café. Right around the corner from the first spot, this Laotian restaurant has the very best curry I've ever had (particularly the Panang Curry). In nice weather, they have outdoor tables which are great for young kids, plus the whole block is full of nooks and crannys that can be fun to explore as you await your meal.

3. LeBus in Manayunk. This spot has some of the best bread around and offers a great selection of wines and beers as well as delicious meals. One of the only spots in Manayunk (in my opinon) you won't get the skunk eyes for having a small child with you.

4.  Marathon on the Square. This local chain offers a perfect lunch spot when you're in the city, and my daughter absolutely LOVES their mac & cheese (it's a bit pricey, though, for a kid's dish). I've had luck at several branches of this restaurant with one exception -- their West Philly location at 40th & Walnut was NOT kid friendly in any way. Very bad experience. 

5. Johnny Manañas. (no website, but here is their info: 201 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19129 (215) 843-0499). Located in the heart of East Falls, this Mexican Restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining. My daughter loves this place; it's so bright and colorful, and they are all very tolerant of kids. On weekend nights, though, it becomes a bit of a drinking spot, so eat early.

6. Melrose Diner (also no website: located at 1501 Snyder Avenue, Philly, 215-467-6644). One of Philly's very best diners. "Everyone who knows, goes to Melrose!" Get the fries with gravy. Really.

7. Trolley Car Diner. Best diner in Mt. Airy/Germantown! Awesome breakfast. But expect to wait for a table on the weekend for breakfast. If you go during the summer months for lunch or dinner, you can also grab ice cream too! Great fun spot.

8. Tiffin. This Indian spot in Mt. Airy is divine. I especially recommend the peanut yogurt sauce.... yummy. Small spot, though, make a reservation. They were wonderfully tolerant of my daughter for such a small space.

9. Hildago Restaurant. This spot is so completely unassuming, located in Primos/Aston area in Delaware County, that you'd be likely to just drive by and ignore it. This would be a huge mistake. One of the only spots you can get AUTHENTIC Mexican food in the Philadelphia area; and if you go on the weekend, the server/owner will SING. She's AMAZING. Sometimes her children will sing with her (they are also servers, and the husband is the chef -- a real family spot). I recommend the chorizo nachos, but put out of your head all those bar nachos you get everywhere. These are completely different.

10. Sagami Japanese Restaurant (no website: 37 West Crescent Boulevard, Collingswood, NJ 08108, 856-854-9773). This tiny spot, often crowded!, offers some of the best, reasonably priced sushi available in the area. I ate here often after getting tattooed nearby (hey, I'm that kind of mom) and it was always full of kids (if your kid doesn't like sushi, no worries -- they have tempura too). Delish.

Coping With A Picky Toddler While Eating Out

by Cecily Kellogg

May 04, 2009

Yesterday, my daughter stole a piece of cheese from another kid and ate it. It was one of those sticks of string cheese; I was so excited, I went to the store and bought more, and yes, she ate another one!

Maybe this seems like a normal thing for you, but my kid doesn't like any protein source that isn't battered and called "chicken nuggets." She seems to be willing to subsist entirely on crackers, with occasional sips of milk or juice. Getting her to try new foods, or to eat out with us at some restaurant that doesn't serve chicken nuggets, has been a nightmare. We've learned a few tips, however.

If we go out for Asian food (which with us tends to not be Chinese, but rather Thai, Vietnamese, or Japanese), she will happily eat friend tofu -- provided it comes with a sweet (not savory) dipping sauce. There is something about the fried tofu that must be very chicken-nugget like. She also happily eats rice; if she's given her own bowl she will contentedly devour the rice by herself. The only problem we find is that at Asian restaurants -- and only Asian restaurants -- she has a very hard time sitting still. We've solved this problem by ordering, and then either my husband or I takes her outside and lets her run around until the food comes. If that fails (or the weather is bad) I have downloaded (bad mommy warning) a bunch of games for her onto my iPhone, and if THAT fails, I'll go to YouTube with the iPhone and let her watch cartoons. Hey, what can I say, we like to eat out.

If we eat Mexican, we try to eat at the fast-casual type places where we get the food quickly. She will eat either rice and beans (on a good day) or a cheese quesadilla (on a bad day).

If we go to a family-style chain, of course there is plenty for her to do. They give her crayons, there are televisions blaring in every corner, and they offer a very kid-friendly menu. As an added bonus, no one glares at you for having a child making noise in a restaurant (I know that's not just a Philly thing, but MAN. It is so annoying). We prefer to eat at small local places, though, and not chains, whenever possible (tomorrow I'll post a list of my favorite family-friendly non-chain restaurants). 

How do you cope with restaurants and your kid's eating issues?