Happy holidays!

We are finding so many fun things to do in Montclair with the kids out of school. I take them to New York Sports Club just about every day because they love the nursery, and when I’m off work, I actually have time to exercise. Nothing like working those abs before reaching for pie.

Tonight, we’ll go to church services. We attend The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair (see photo, left). There, we honor all of the major religions, and we’re free to believe what we choose. It’s a wonderful liberal community, like much of the rest of Montclair. Here are three Christmas Eve services going on around town.

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We–and at least 10 other bundled up souls–braved the 25-degree weather just now to hear Parents Who Rock sing holiday songs on Church Street next to the Montclair town tree. Three awesome guys–local parents who rock–sang Jingle Bells and other favorites to promote the new PWR CD called let ‘em play. The CDs are $10, and they’re available all over town at Just Kidding Around, Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats, Semplice and other stores.

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Right around noon today, Bloomfield Ave. became a dead-stop mess heading toward Verona. We sat in traffic from Park St. to Montclair Kimberly Academy High School (we live across the street) for one hour. My three kids ages three and under were tired, hungry and they wanted to play. Plus, I couldn’t get the car DVD to work.

Other than that small snafu, we’re having a great snow day. We ate nachos, made hot tea with honey, and of course we went outside to play. Did anyone go sledding? What did you do today?

Saturday, December 20

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Still need some kids’ gifts? In an effort to Shop Local Montclair, get children’s gifts at our stores: Minnow, Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats, Just Kidding Around, Baby Boom, Dolls in the Attic, Over the Moon, Lili, Meili and Beau and Little Shoebox.

Two have special kids’ sales Thursday, Dec. 18.

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I heard a rumor that the Starbucks on Bloomfield Ave. is closing on Dec. 31. I overheard this news while at the Starbucks on the corner of S. Park and Church streets.

Even though I live right next to the Bloomfield Ave. store, I never go there. The space is weird, crowded, and filled with strange people who ask me inappropriate questions. I prefer the Starbucks at 40 S. Park St. It’s a total scene. The place becomes Mommy Central after school drop offs, and I’ve made at least 3 close friends there. I also run in after working out at New York Sports Club. This Starbucks doesn’t mind my kids when school is closed, or when I just need to get out of the house. (That’s them, right.)

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our wonderful locally owned coffee shops in Montclair Center. Cafe Eclectic, 444 Bloomfield Ave., is great for bringing my laptop (free WiFi) and for their grown-up atmosphere. I also really like the way the coffee tastes at Bean’s Choice at 42 Church St.

What’s your favorite local coffee shop?

Today, MontclairKids is proud to be part of the New Jersey campaign to blog out hunger.

New Jersey food pantries are starving for food, and we just can’t let this bank fail.

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I’m still tired from last weekend. It started with the Montclair tree lighting. Then we went on to find Santa in 4 local places. Also, there were more than seven Montclair sample & holiday sales.

This weekend’s actvities are more reasonable–and just as fun. I’ll be out looking for free clothes and really cool shows. We’re definitely going to the Oldies Cabaret Benefit Sunday at Luna Stage (see photo, left). Thank you to Luna for the perfect activity for me, my kids and my parents who are in from out of town.

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Did you see the mayor turn on the lights of Montclair’s holiday tree last Friday night? The scene was festive, crowded, and Church Street Kitchen provided free hot chocolate. Santa arrived on a fire truck. It was all cute and standard stuff for our downtown Montclair Christmas tree.

It was fun.

But even more fun is a complaint on the Montclair Watercooler Yahoo Group today.

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