By Whitney C. Harris

Would you sequence your baby’s genome? It sounds like a question from some futuristic sci-fi thriller, but it’s slowly becoming a reality for present day parents according to this recent NPR feature by Rob Stein.

Whole genome sequencing–the process of uncovering the entire DNA makeup of a living creature as early as in utero–just might become the next major decision that expectant parents need to make on the journey through pregnancy, as the procedure is becoming more common and less costly.

To read the full article, please visit newyorkfamily.com.

Enlist your kids to recreate a takeout favorite right at home for a cozy afternoon of messy fun.

By Christine Wei

When I was growing up in Taiwan, dumplings were the epitome of family bonding in the kitchen. Every time the Lunar New Year rolled around, I’d gather in the kitchen with my mom and grandmother, mixing filling and wrapping little nuggets around the dining table. (Dumplings are an auspicious food at the annual New Year’s feasts.)

But dumplings also make delicious and nutritious snacks any time of the year. Wontons, the thin-skinned and triangular-shaped variety, are simple enough for even the littlest of fingers to wrap. As we enter the winter season, this hands on recipe is perfect for an indoor afternoon of messy family fun–the best kind of all.

For the complete recipe, please visit newyorkfamily.com.

Turkey Day is the time to fly to small town America, where no matter how successful you’ve become in the big city, your family will find a way to ensure you haven’t gotten too big for your britches. For your own arsenal, offer to tend bar and use these cocktail recipes to soothe the beast in everyone. You may even learn to not regret having made the trip.

1. The Granny Slammer: Grandma’s been up since 5:30 a.m. with her hand up the backside of the turkey. Hence she’s already downed half a bottle of sherry.  If she’s going to go the distance, (i.e. finish cooking your dinner) she’ll need sustenance. Solution: One large glass of water with a shot of sausage gravy on the side.

2. NFL Win-Win: Dad’s getting his annual exercise, sitting in front of the TV screaming “Run, bastard, run” to the running back on the football field. Make sure to have a chilled pony keg of Labatt’s and an I.V. hookup. Serve with Swedish fish and Cheetos. With luck, by the second half, he’ll be pacified.

3. Mother’s Little Helper: Mom doesn’t drink, so serve her a Long Island Iced tea (1 oz. of tequila, vodka, rum, gin and triple sec, splashes of lemonade and Coke, shake well.) By the time she’s complained for the eleventh time about you not being married, she’ll change the subject to “that’s sure some good iced tea, hon.” Smile and nod, smile and nod.

4. Aunt Margie’s Aneurysm:  Auntie’s been chattering incessantly about everything from her bunions to the neighbor’s thyroid, and if she doesn’t shut up soon, you’re going to drive up to Make Out Point and throw yourself off the cliff. Time to calm her down with a Bloody Brain. Make this in a travel cup with a lid. Using peach schnapps as the base, slowly pour Bailey’s Irish cream to curdle like a brain. Add a dripping of Grenedine or Tabasco for the blood. Your choice, but remember she did show you the oozing sore on her thigh.

5. Brother Joe’s Boogie Monster: Your brother hasn’t gotten off the couch since 1989. Mix one bottle Ginsing extract, one Monster energy drink, and 2 shots low quality bourbon. Serve with a smile and mention quietly that if he doesn’t rake the leaves by dinner time, you’ll blab about the blow up doll he’s got stashed under the bunk beds.

6 & 7. Nap Time Jello:  For Carter and Jackson, ages 5 and 7, who have pushed crayons in their every orifice and eaten all the wax fruit off the table centerpiece.  Make up a batch of Nyquil Jello. Serve in Dixie cups. Assume there are no ill side effects in conjunction with the turkey’s tryptophan. Watch them sleep til Saturday.

8. Uncle Mervin’s Monkey Gland: The only classic on the menu from the 1920s. Merv the Perv will enjoy the gin, O.J., grenadine and anisette concoction. Maybe tie him to the chair next to Aunt Margie. Serves him right. Then again, he has to live with her.

9. Yours Truly,  aka “I need a damn drink”:  You know very well the liquor stores in your home town only stock Frexinet and Korbel, not champagne. Buy a few bottles of each, add vodka and sit in a long, hot bath with Calgon. Dream of going home. Pass out. Repeat as needed.

10. After Dinner Digestif : Everyone gets a perky mélange of Pepto Bismal and dark rum. Just think, only 33 days ‘til Christmas! Happy Holidays.

For Curious Adventurers

Skip the museum and creep up your day at The Evolution Store, where those with a taste for adventure can get a glimpse of prehistoric specimens and exotic insects. Channel the likes of Indiana Jones and Allan Quatermain as you trek through this enthralling treasure trove of obscurities; no need for spelunking when you can head straight for their wide array of minerals—crystal, agate, and more. Take home a mammoth hair sample or a scorpion lollipop—or fall in love with a taxidermied friend. Surely not for the faint of heart, this shop is full of curiosities that will incite “oohs” and “aahs” galore, and may introduce you to creatures and artifacts you never knew existed. Adventure awaits at this truly astonishing SoHo store.
120 Spring Street, theevolutionstore.com

To read the full list, please visit newyorkfamily.com.

To read the full article, please visit www.newyorkfamily.com.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY
The recipe for a great weekend: birthday bashes and safari animals. Head to the final days of The Intrepid’s Kids Week.

Catch Cirque Le Jazz at the Theater for the New City for some Big Band anthems, Broadway-style dancing and aerial acrobatics.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Classic scenes from The Nutcracker plus brand new ballets will be shown at Ballet Academy East’s Studio Showing.
FRIDAY
Girls ages 8 and up can meet award-winning author Mary Casanova at The American Girl Place. Bring a book to have signed!

Screen a few unique family films at the Film Society of Lincoln Center this weekend. Those with imaginary friends of their own will love the tale of Twigson and also find out what happens when The Great Bear kidnaps Jonathan’s little sister.

SATURDAY
It’s the New Year all over again at the Rubin Museum’s Himalayan New Year celebration for families. Get ready for butter sculptures and tea, plus a collaborative mandala project.

Bring your royal wee ones to the Medieval Arts Children’s Workshop at St. John The Divine. 4′s and up will learn how to carve a block of limestone or master the art of weaving.

Recess always reigns, even on weekends. Check out Recess Monkey, a quirky pop rock trio, at Symphony Space.

Join the JCC for their Special Free Saturday spotlighting Street Arts. Events include a graffiti workshop, art from Keith Haring and a panel discussion.

No MoonSoup party is complete without music, dancing, instruments and stories.

For the full list of weekend activities for you and your family, head to NewYorkFamily.com

Tuesday, February 21
James Beard Foundation Family Chef Series With Chef Michel Nischan At CMOM
212 West 83rd Street
2 and 3pm

Chef Michel Nischan (of the Lower East Side’s The Dressing Room) will teach families creative ways to make simple meals with fresh ingredients. Tastings provided!

Wednesday, February 22
President’s Week Music And Art Camps At Church Street School
74 Warren Street

With something for every age—from rock jams to eurthymics to digital arts—kids are sure to keep busy during their week off. Contact Jason@churchstreetschool.org to register.

Thursday, February 23
Children’s Storytime at The Strand: Coretta Scott
828 Broadway
3:30-4:30pm

Honor Black History Month with a reading of the picture biography Coretta Scott and other stories that celebrate African-American history.

Salvador Dali Animal Sculptures At Children’s Museum of the Arts
103 Charlton Street
12-6pm

Sculpt your own unique creature using artist Salvador Dali’s work as inspiration.

Friday, February 24
Screening of The Great Bear at Film Society of Lincoln Center
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
2:30pm

Jonathan spends most of the summer trying to ditch his little sister. But then she gets kidnapped by a giant bear! Big brother must make his way through mythical forest creatures and a bad hunter to rescue her. Part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Fantastic Voyages Series.

For a complete listing of activities and much more, click here.

Samantha Bee has made me laugh so hard I’ve hiccupped for 23 minutes straight as I watched her flex her funny bone on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She has made me cackle to the point where I’ve forgotten what time it was as I devour the essays in her book I Know I Am, But What Are You?. And yes, I’ve snickered so fiercely reading her “Eating Over The Sink” blog on Babble.com, that I have, as we say in our abode, tooted.

Over a relaxed afternoon conversation at a chic hotel bar, Samantha confesses, shares and confides about her life and experiences in parenthood with an equal measure of wit and honesty—from working with her husband and the one thing in this world that will make her “Tiger-Mom out,” to how her boobs will look after breastfeeding for 72 months straight. Find out how this smart and hilarious mom navigates New York City with three kids—and what makes her laugh.

You’re the Most Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show, you guest star on tons of television shows and movies, you’ve written a book, you blog, you have three kids under the age of six [Piper, 6-years-old; Fletcher, 3; and Ripley, 17 months], you have good hair…how do you get it all done? Do you have a clone?
Yes—and my clone technology is about to take the world by storm. I have a science lab in my apartment… I should, for the record, say I don’t live in a one-bedroom apartment anymore. I live in a 2.5-bedroom apartment.

What is in the “point-five” room?
The point-five room is what we use as a home office, but basically, it’s just a different kind of playroom with important documents that the baby can get into. She knows our passports are in there, and she should go for them…and we are not smart enough to move our passports to higher ground.

So how do you do it all?
I really don’t think I do anything unusual. Jason is one-half of our whole, so I have a complete 50% partner in this experience. Together, we are constantly doing teamwork at all points of the day. Our work environment is so supportive about our schedule. We are very fortunate.

You and Jason Jones, fellow Daily Show correspondent, raise a family and work together. Do you ever get sick of each other?
I did notice last week, on many occasions, he did not listen to the details of what I was saying and then even when he would ask me about those details later on, and I repeated the details, he wasn’t even listening then. So, I think that he has an effective way of tuning me out when he needs private mental space. Everyone needs private mental space.

You met doing children’s theater. Who told the first joke?
Doing children’s theater is a free-for-all for jokes, so I couldn’t even tell you. The first time we really noticed each other is so nerdy. Somebody asked me what my favorite movie was of all time. I had to say that my sentimental favorite was Star Wars, and that was the first time he ever really looked at me.

You write a Babble blog called “Eating Over The Sink” with fellow Canadian funny mom/actress Allana Harkin. What seems to be the parenting topic that really riles up the blogosphere?
We didn’t realize that the topic of breastfeeding was the world’s most hot button issue. I wrote a post thinking about what shape my boobs will be once I stop breastfeeding. I’m still breastfeeding, and I was thinking about how my older daughter just turned six, so I haven’t really seen [my boobs] au natural, with no other usage in six years. I have no idea what they will look like. They could look the same. They could be ten times better…though, that’s not my impulse.

So what happened on the blog?
I was just ruminating on that topic, and it made people go ballistic. Basically, I got accused of sabotaging people who wanted to breastfeed, as the message I was putting out into the universe about breastfeeding wasn’t necessarily 100% positive. So, our retort was, “Did you not read the part where I was breastfeeding for 72 months straight?” What I do support is choice in all matters concerning your own body. The reactions [to our blog] have been very positive, and the negativity has been more interesting and slightly more amusing than horrifying, and it’s very infrequent.

To read the full interview, pick up the latest issue of New York Family, or click here. 

The famous 40-year-old family-run business opens a megastore for parents this month. 

It’s a brisk day in early January at J&R Jr. and Jason Friedman is showing his wife and kids what has kept him so busy for the past six months. The space isn’t quite finished, shelves are only partially stocked and luggage still lingers in the performance area, but a gaggle of happy children tinkering with a wooden train set hint at what it will feel like on February 13th when the ribbon is cut and the landmark store’s newest department officially opens.

Originally a part-time venture selling records out of a downtown Manhattan basement, J&R was founded in 1971 by Joe and Rachelle Friedman using the money they had received as wedding gifts. They soon combined Joe’s interest in electronics and Rachelle’s interest in music—not to mention their first initials—to create what has become the famous Manhattan music and electronics megastore. Since then, the business has grown to cover everything from guitars and home theaters to housewares. It’s also a cultural destination with intimate performances inside and free concerts every summer outside in City Hall Park, just across the street from their block-long hub.

Growing up in such a musical environment led Joe and Rachelle’s son, Jason, to develop a strong interest in music himself. “I grew up being the lucky kid to get to meet all these rock stars,” he recalls. Some of the many legends that have passed through the store include Michael Jackson, Harry Connick, Jr., Tony Bennett and Beyoncé.

During the dot-com boom, Jason decided to build a website for his parents’ store. “Everybody was saying ‘You have to get your business online,’ but nobody really knew what that meant,” he recalls. Today, JR.com makes up more than half of the company’s business.

In August 2001, Friedman left to attend business school at the University of Southern California, just weeks before September 11th. Because J&R is only a few blocks from Ground Zero, the events of that tragic day hit the company hard. Friedman made the quick decision to come home and help restart the family business.

For the complete story, please head to New York Family.