ALEXANDRA GIZELA, FOUNDER CABBAGES & KINGS, NEW YORK
Alexandra Gizela is one of these moms that impresses you from the start. Not only does she run by herself a gorgeous kids clothing brand Cabbages and Kings, but she also takes care of her kids full time! We sat down at the adorable cozy café, Maman in Tribeca and had a chance to see her do it all. She brought along her two youngest and manage to care for them, eat and answer our questions all at once. The born and bred New Yorker found her way to the fashion industry at the age of eight when she started modeling the Ford Modelling Agency. She became a fashion designer out of necessity when her first daughter was born and started Cabbages and Kings to give more visibility to her whimsical creations. She shares with us her favorite family friendly spots in Manhattan.
IN NEW YORK WITH ALEXANDRA GIZELA
Eating out with her kids. Wonjo in Korea-town. It's a Korean BBQ spot that is just delicious. The kids love the endless amounts of mini plates that come out as appetizers/accompaniments as well as watching their food grill at the table before their little eyes.
Eataly in the Flatiron district is an awesome spot. It is a marketplace as well as a restaurant of many kinds. Positioned next to the corresponding market section Eataly offers everything from seafood, pizza/pasta, to purely vegetables...it's a great place where you can eat and get your grocery shopping done at the same time!Joe's Shanghai on Pell Street in Chinatown for their delicious soup dumplings (crab and pork is our favorite). Kids get a kick out of the shared tables if you are not with a large party.Grabbing a snack with her kids. For a sweet treat I love Davey's Ice Cream in the East Village. The flavors are mostly seasonal but the unusual concoctions are loved by kids and adults alike. My favorite is the sweet cream sweet corn in the summer time, soooo delicious!For a special delight and a spectacle, Black Tap is a great spot. Their candy milkshakes get an A++++ on presentation, the kids absolutely love it. Get there before 12 or the wait will be uncomfortably long.Shopping for her kids. Trico Fields, My Little Sunshine, and Les Petits Chapelais are all amazing shops that have a beautifully curated collection of childrens clothing and accessoriesAn outdoor activity with her kids. The Billy Johnson Playground in Central Park is one of my favorite outdoor spots to take the kids. It has an amazing "rock slide" and is nearby Conservatory Water (where you rent motorized sailboats) the Alice in Wonderland Statue and the Central Park Zoo. You can literally spend all day in this area and want to come back for more the next day.An indoor activity with her kids. Loop of the Loom on the Upper East Side is our favorite place to go. There is a children's size loom and an abundance of gorgeous materials for the kids (or adults) to use in making a beautiful wall hanging, rug or curtain! Once they get the hang of it they can be there for hours working on their piece.A cultural activity with her kids. Any of the many museums in the city is fabulous for children. I take them on a weekly basis. We revolve through: The CMA in Tribeca (free on Thursdays from 4-6 PM), The Metropolitan Museum (also has a free kids program on Thursday afternoons), the Guggenheim (children love to ascend and descend the spiral ramp core of the museum), the new Whitney museum...