“Up close, his curly brown hair is shaggy and long, tufting delicately out over his ears, but he’s hardly shy or clingy. Instead, he’s bold and gregarious: He immediately jumps out of his stroller to meet me. Nothing about Joseph seems notably feminine, until he holds up a doll dressed in a bright pink dress. “See my Barbie?” he says, proudly.” - TheVillageVoice

“Turn those pieces into a more enduring favorite with the help of Friends with a Fish. The service is the brainchild of photographer Juliette Conroy, who after realizing she didn’t have time to sew her kids’ clothing into a quilt, took pictures of them instead. The result? A series of beautifully abstract, color-intense photos.” - DailyCandy

Available by e-mail order (orders@friendswithafish.com). For more information, go to friendswithafish.com. Or just do it yourself.

“WASHINGTON, June 18 — China manufactured every one of the 24 kinds of toys recalled for safety reasons in the United States so far this year, including the enormously popular Thomas & Friends wooden train sets, a record that is causing alarm among consumer advocates, parents and regulators.” - NYTimes

Podcasts from the farce side of parenting, The Prattle of the Playground. Launching July 1st. Preview the website here.

PREVIEW FEATURES
The Prattle Podcasts: In Episode #1 ‘Cobra-Kai-Yay Mother…’ preschoolers learn how to defend themselves under the tutelage of instructor Cory Damage.

Mr. Isaac’s Neighborhood: A dad reads odd bedtime stories to his son over a fun soundscape. The first series features readings from the Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg.

Cooking with Cavedad: Our resident cavedad proves that not all men are kitchenologically impaired with monthly recipes and tips.

MORE COMING
Seuss Raps: Who says hip-hop is all bad? Listen to a budding rapper rhyme through a few tongue-twisting kids favorites.

As-Yet-Unnamed: Illustrated podcast stories for kids.

“TSA has banned most fluids at airport security checkpoints for nearly a year because of concern about possible liquid explosives.

“I was distraught. I opened my son’s sippy cup. I twisted off the top. I wanted to drink the water. It spilled out,” Emmerson said Saturday.

Emmerson said an officer threatened to arrest her after the water spilled, telling her she was “endangering the public.” She said there was no place to dump the water near the security area, and that she was worried when her son started wandering away from her.” - USAToday

When is it good to ‘throw up’ your kids on a wall? When you’re illustration/graf dad Ward Jenkins.

“It’s been about two years since I last painted one of my characters on a wall. Two years in graffiti-time is like two lifetimes. I’ve been missing it. Why such a long sabbatical? Life. Life just moves on, as some things become more important to me than others. I don’t mind that, actually. I’ll be the first to admit to other graffiti writers that graffiti is not my lifestyle, and I’ve received nothing but love from them for being honest. Graffiti takes time away from the family, and I value my family more than anything. I’m not trying to be something that I’m not, and other writers pick up on that, and give me respect.” - Ward

Friday, Jun 15 Saturday, Jun 16 Sunday, June 17

POP’S PICK: You couldn’t ask for a better forecast. Tonight mom’s off to boogie with her teacher friends and Sonny and I will be partying with a friend celebrating her 31st. Then on Saturday we think we might brave the Summer Stage crowds for a little post-punk.

FRIDAY
DaddyDowntime
Affordable Art
AAF is the place for new and established collectors to discover and buy paintings, drawings, sculptures, video, photography and limited edition prints from distinguished galleries, all priced from $100 - $10,000. This year the Fair will host more than 60 galleries with approximately a quarter of the exhibitors from Europe, Canada and South America.
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, New York City
When: Friday, June 15; 12pm-8pm // Saturday, June 16; 12pm-8pm // Sunday, June 17; 12pm-5pm
Admission: General Admission $15/day // Students and Seniors $10/day // Group discount rates $8/day // Children under 12 FREE
Father’s get in free when they arrive with their children on Father’s Day, June 17th
http://www.aafnyc.com/

TONYKids
It’s a Jungle Out There
You didn’t move out of the city when you had kids because you wanted them exposed to different cultures, so hop to it this weekend and take the kids to see the Putumayo Kids Animal Playground Tour.

Fri 15 at 11.30am. The Tisch Building, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St between Amsterdam and Broadway (212.721.1223, cmom.org). Subway: 1 to 86th St. Free with museum admission.

ALSO Sat 16 at 11am. Bank Street Books, 610 West 112th St at Broadway (212.678.1654, bankstreet.edu). Subway: 1 to 110th St. $5–$8. // Sat 16 at 3pm. American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West at 79th St (212.769.5200, amnh.org). Subway: B, C to 81st St–Museum of Natural History. Free with museum admission // Sun 17 at 1pm. Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd between 182nd St and Garden St (718. 220.5100, wcs.org). Subway: 2, 5 to East Tremont Ave–West Farms Sq. Free with park admission.

SATURDAY
UrbanBaby
Oh Say Can You Sea
Head to the South Street Seaport tomorrow for a festive and patriotic day filled with fun. Children’s Day is a tradition that’s about more than world-class performances and first-rate fireworks.
When: Sat., 6/16, 12-5pm festival, 8pm Brooklyn Philharmonic, 9:30pm fireworks; All ages; Free.
Where: South Street Seaport, childrensdaynyc.com.

UncleRock
Clearwater Festival Family Stage
It is with great pleasure that I let you all know that I’ll be at the Clearwater Festival this weekend, at Croton-On-Hudson in Westchester County, just north of NYC. Children under 12 get in FREE. The brainchild of folk legend Pete Seeger, The Clearwater Festival is produced by the nonprofit, member-supported, environmental organization, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. to raise funds and consciousness on the plight of the river and the earth. All proceeds go directly to support Clearwater’s environmental research, education and advocacy to help preserve and protect the Hudson River and its tributaries, as well as communities in the river valley. The festival has been running for three decades, and it has been instrumental in cleaning up the Hudson, bringing it back from the brink of disaster.
Saturday June 16th, 3 PM
Sunday June 17th, 5 PM
http://www.clearwater.org/revival/index.html

FlavorPill
Television w/ Apples in Stereo and Dragons of Zynth
when: Sat 6.16 (3pm)
where: Central Park SummerStage (Rumsey Field, 5th Ave @ 69th St, 212.360.2777) map
price: FREE
Few probably thought that Television would outlast the club that gave the band its start, CBGB’s. And yet, 30 years after the release of punk-hall-of-fame-worthy Marquee Moon, Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd are still packin’ them in, while CB’s owner, Hilly, has packed up and shipped out to Vegas.
http://www.summerstage.org/index1.aspx?BD=19724

DailyCandy
Giraffe Path: Hike the Heights
What: Six hundred kids from the Harlem and Wash Heights area install 100 long-neck sculptures throughout parks in northern Manhattan.
Why: Take the walk and you won’t have to strain your own (neck).
When: Sat., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Map online at caw4kids.org.

TONYKids
Who’s your daddy?
A storyteller reads Annabel Tellis’s self-explanatory fantasy tale, If My Dad Were a Dog. Afterward, any kid with a pop more Homo sapiens than canine can decorate a cardboard version of that classic Father’s Day gift, a tie. It’s a bit cliché, but it sure beats a choke collar. All ages.
Sat 16 at 3pm. Scholastic Store, 557 Broadway between Prince and Spring Sts (212-343-6166, scholastic.com). Subway: D, F to Broadway–Lafayette St; N, R to Prince St. FREE.

UrbanBaby
Rubik’s Revolution
“High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens and her father help launch the electronic version of the iconic Rubik’s Cube at Toys “R” Us Times Square. Kids and fathers can test their speed, smarts and dexterity during in-store contests and activities.
When: Sat., 6/16, 1-4pm.
Where: 1514 Broadway (at 44th St), Level Three.

FlavorPill
Renegade Craft Fair
Sat 6.16 & Sun 6.17 (11am-6pm) McCarren Park Pool (Lorimer St btwn Bayard St & Driggs Ave, Greenpoint)
Your mission, should you choose to accept it: explore the fiercest adornments, doodads, and zines the city has to offer. One-hundred-fifty vendors pack the Pool for two days to expand your chest of fashion weaponry.
http://www.renegadecraft.com/

DaddyDowntime
Kidstock
Children’s Liberation Daycare Center
Date: June 16, 2007
Hours: 12-5pm
Ages: All ages.
Price: $5 pp or $15 per family
Address:
150 First Avenue - 212-260-0470
between Ninth and Tenth Street
New York , NY
http://www.volunteernyc.org/org/4704107.html
Description: The Children’s Liberation Daycare Center in the East Village is once again hosting Kidstock, an annual music festival!

UrbanBaby
Summer Dance Party
In honor of Father’s Day, hear Opus Ditty and Jazzamatazz do pop, rock, country and storytelling at a beach-themed fest at the Bowery Poetry club. Enjoy games, dancing and singing.
When: Sun., 6/17, 12pm (doors open at 11:30am); $15.
Where: 308 Bowery, 212-614-0505, bowerypoetry.com.

SUNDAY
WillyBee’s
If you want to do something extra special I encourage you to stop by this Sunday and catch…
Michael Leyden’s Acoustic Corral
June 17th, from 11am-1pm
302 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211, 718-599-3499
In addition to completing several solo CD’s with a Rock & Roll/Country flavor, Michael was inspired by his three boys to write the children’s CD’s, “Where Are Your Piggies?” and “Gabdern Chicken.”

DailyCandy
EarthBox Day
What: Dads who want to make a difference can bring the kids to the park for garden demos and techniques for growing sustainable food on a small scale.
Why: Time to take your junk out of the box.
When: Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Union Square Park, 14th St., b/t Broadway & University Pl.

UrbanBaby
Basketball Clinic
At this annual Father’s Day event at Morningside Park, dads and kids can shoot hoops together, learn some new skills and enjoy a children’s activity corner.
When: Sun., 6/17, 11am-6pm (children’s activity corner open 12-2pm); Ages 3+; Free.
Where: 118th St. and Morningside Ave., morningsidepark.org.

“PALATINE, Ill. - An elementary school science teacher in this Chicago suburb doesn’t have to turn on the news for an update on NASA’s space mission. She just turns on her video baby monitor.

Since Sunday, one of the two channels on Natalie Meilinger’s baby monitor has been picking up black-and-white video from inside the space shuttle Atlantis. The other still lets her keep an eye on her baby.” - Y!News

“About 1.5 million wooden vehicles, buildings and other train-set parts for young children are being recalled, the CPSC said in a statement. The toys were sold in the United States from January 2005 through June 2007, the statement said.

Lead is toxic and can pose a serious health risk to young children who often put objects in their mouths. Children under 6 are most at risk.” - Y!News

Now I’m kinda happy that kid wouldn’t share with my son…

Hey ladies,

Does your hubby like seafood? Has he been eating more Red Lobster than you-know-what? Want to renew his interest in all things you? Here’s a solution: Get this sexy set of lingerie complete with crawdads printed all over it. Send Junior off to the sitter. Get dressed in the outfit, lay on the dinning table really still and wait for him to get home. Thank me later.

“As the scientists who study male germ cells will readily attest, sperm are some of the most extraordinary cells of the body, a triumph of efficient packaging, sleek design and superspecialization. Human sperm are extremely compact, and they’ve been stripped of a normal cell’s protein-making machinery; but when cast into the forbidding environment of the female reproductive tract, they will learn on the job and change their search strategies and swim strokes as needed.” - NYTimes

While Upstate recently my son decided he was bored and wanted to play a game… he chose darts. Now a traditional game of darts may seem dangerous with the pointy metal missiles one has to aim and toss at the cork bulls-eye, but the particular game my son laid eyes on was of the magnetic variety.

We took it out, hung it on the side of the cabin and I watched as he had a blasting tossing and missing and tossing again. It was a moment that deserved a couple of cold pints.