March 23, 2007
The Little Apple
 Kidville, The Children's Museum, Central Park. With so many places to take your wee ones on the Upper East and West sides, it's enough to make even the most devoted downtown parent contemplate a move north.
Luckily apple seeds, a new kids' club and play space for newborns to 5-year-olds, opened at the crossroads of Chelsea and the Flatiron district. Created by two moms of twins who bemoaned the lack of clean, child-friendly play spaces in their otherwise groovy ‘hood, it's convenient for those south of 34th Street.
The centerpiece of the club is a 2,500 square-foot, NYC-themed indoor playground. Divided into three zones – Construction City, The Neighborhood and The Park – it features nine permanent exhibits including a deli, taxi and apartment building, plus a sports arena equipped with mats, balls and basketball nets and a protected area for apple seeds' tiniest seedlings.
While the playground is reserved for members only, apple seeds' boutique (stocked with cool clothes, toys, books and nursery artwork by brands like Appaman, Paulina Quintana and Pastel Toys), a soon-to-open café and classes are open to the public. Budding Beethovens and Beatles can choose between Little Maestros and Music Together classes, while Martha Stewarts-in-training can test their kitchen skills in Cooking Monsters. Art, yoga, a slew of informative seminars for parents and a full menu of themed birthdays parties round out the offerings.
Good thing you didn't call Corcoran – it's better to let the fun come to you.
Open Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat.-Sun. 10am-4pm, 10 West 25th St., 212-792-7590, appleseedsny.com.
|
