INTERVIEW WITH YOSSI RAPOPORT, OWNER OF LULLABY BABY

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With the holidays just around the corner, we thought we’d interview our good friend Yossi Rapoport, owner of Lullaby Baby.  If you are not already familiar, Lullaby Baby is the go to baby-everything store, just about a block from South Slope Pediatrics.  It’s the store you walk by and have to stop and stare at the newest, coolest, most modern and sleek strollers in the window.  It’s also the store where you’ll meet the kindest, most knowledgeable and helpful baby gear-aficionado, Yossi!  South Slope Pediatrics has partnered with Lullaby Baby on many fronts, including the store so generously donating items like strollers and car seats for local schools and charity auctions that we’ve been a part of.

SSP:  Lullaby has truly become the go-to shop in Park Slope for all baby-related product, and you are quite the baby-gear expert!  How did this store come to be, and have you always been in this business?  

The vision for Lullaby Baby came as a result of my partner Kayla Kramer’s shopping experience for her firstborn.  She felt overwhelmed by the options of baby gear available. In stores she found limited product selection and even less product knowledge. Reading product reviews online only complicated matters – what she needed was a real person who would really listen and direct her to the products that best suited her needs.  Based on the positive customer feedback we have received from our customers, I’m gratified to know that we’ve achieved this shopping experience at Lullaby Baby.  In our warm and welcoming atmosphere, parents can easily find the baby gear they need. We’ve carefully researched options to offer the best and the safest selection in a variety of price points, and we always have one out of the package so that customers can feel and try. And, believe it or not, even with this being in Brooklyn there’s enough room to cruise around our store in a double stroller.

My background was in customer service and sales. I have always been known as a people person. I truly enjoyed the transition to helping parents at this fantastic stage in their lives.

SSP:  Can you please tell me a little about the store itself, and the philosophy behind it?

When we opened our doors in 2012, we fathered the idea of a new breed of family-centric baby stores. Our modern, warm interior and the sensible practicality of the quality baby accessories we carry is a unique dedication to celebrate the life of the baby.  This ardor quickly established Lullaby Baby as the hottest destination for better baby shopping. We know to differentiate between form and function, and to suggest the products that will fit into your daily life beyond simple style and trend.

SSP:  Your store has been here several years now.   Why has the store been so successful in your opinion?  What sets Lullaby apart from other baby boutiques?

Our store success is a result of our outstanding customer service and incredible passion and knowledge of baby gear.  

SSP:  I’m not sure everyone is familiar with the extensive line of product available on lullabybaby.com, including a baby registry!  Can you please tell me a little more about that and the product offering in comparison to your 5th Avenue shop?

Our in store selection is more curated and tailored to our customer demographic. Online we have a wider selection of product. The great benefit of shopping in store is the ability to view product side by side and product recommendations.

SSP:  What are the hot new baby items for 2015?  Does anything in particular stand out?

The hottest new baby item for 2015 would have to be the Doona Stroller. It is a revolutionary new infant car seat that transforms into a stroller!

For 2016, we are most excited about the launch of the 4moms highchair. The 4moms high chair uses magnets to guide the tray into place. They also created a set of bowls, plates and utensils, which are designed to work with the 4moms high chair. The magnets in the tray top help keep these items in place, minimizing the mess.

SSP:  For those that are unfamiliar with your store, what would you like them to know about Lullaby?

We have a great selection of toys that focus on motor skill development and sensory integration.

Scratch that. For those unfamiliar with our store, we want you to know that we look forward to meeting you!

With another child on the way, I have a feeling I’ll be frequenting this shop quite a bit in the near future.  Not only is it fun to browse the newest in high quality baby product, but it’s a chance to say hi and catch up with my friend, Yossi.   Hope you have the chance to as well!

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER FAMILY EVENTS IN BROOKLYN!

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pumpkins

written by Jen #supermom

What an exciting time of year it is for the little ones and for us parents, sharing the beauty of the colorful foliage and enjoying the refreshing cool air, so much Halloween fun… and pumpkin carving!   Any excuse to eat more apple pie and have another pumpkin spiced latte.  There’s so much going on here in Brooklyn over the next month, including many spooky and silly Halloween activities to enjoy with your family!

Mythic Meal (JJ Byrne Playground): A pancake breakfast fundraiser for JJ Byrne Playground.   Come as your favorite character, swap costumes, get your face painted and make banners for the Halloween parade!  They will also be doing a winter gear drive so bring any coats, boots, sweaters, etc to this great event!  $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Saturday October 17th, 10am-12pm.  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2336394?utm_source=+%40OSH%3A+Forage+Walk%3B+Pancake+Breakfast%3B+Permaculture+Fest!&utm_campaign=August+1&utm_medium=email

Harvest Festival (Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park): Come and celebrate the fall season with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy at Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park!  The 5th Annual Harvest Festival will have free fun activities for the whole family, including arts & crafts, storytelling, volleyball and musical performances.  Saturday, October 24th from 10:30am-1pm. http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events/harvest-festival

Ghouls  & Gourds (Brooklyn Botanical Gardens):  Kids showcase their costumes along giant puppets in a parade with live music by Terry Dames Science Music Roadshow!  Kids under 12 are free, adults $15.  Saturday October 24th from 12-5:30pm. http://www.bbg.org/visit/event/ghouls_gourds_2015#schedule

Boo at the Zoo (Prospect Park Zoo):  Don’t miss this annual Halloween event.  Watch the baboons play with pumpkins, meet a Wildlife Witch, make a spider craft…and more!  Join in a Halloween parade at the end of each day, and snap a photo with the costumed creatures along the way.  Saturday and Sunday, October 24th and 25th. http://prospectparkzoo.com/events/71

Monster Mash (Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Crown Heights): Calling all ghosts and goblins, come dressed to impress as the museum celebrates Halloween!  Join up for a spooky good time, complete with a performance by Mariachi Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino and a ghoulish glowing dance party.  Saturday, October 31st from 10am-5pm.    http://www.brooklynkids.org/calendar/2015/10/31/monster-mash

6th Annual Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade (1205 Surf Ave, Coney Island): You and your family are officially invited to the 6th Annual Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade and Costume Contest. This year’s kid-friendly event promises to be better than ever with free entertainment, giveaways, and trick-or-treating!  Open to all children under 15 with great prizes for contest winners. Registration begins at 10am with the costume contest taking place at 12pm. Hand-made Coney Island themed costumes are encouraged.  Saturday, October 31st at 10am.  http://coneyislandfunguide.com/Events/6th-Annual-Coney-Island-Childrens-Halloween-Parade_10_24_2015-4200.htm

Halloween Party (Rollerskating Rink at Lefrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park):  Your halloween costume looks even better on skates!   Listen to Halloween music, play games and win prizes and enjoy a costume contest.  Saturday, October 31st from 12-6pm.  http://lakesidebrooklyn.com/events/halloween-party/

BAMboo! (Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM):  Put on your devilish dancing shoes and kick off trick-or-treating right at this free outdoor Halloween block party featuring family-friendly music and mischief.  Featuring Abby the DJ, candy giveaways, bouncy house, carnival games, costume contest and arts & crafts!  Free.  Saturday, October 31st from 2-5pm.  All ages!http://www.bam.org/kids/2015/bamboo

Park Slope Halloween Parade (14th St and 7th Ave):  If you’re marching, join for the line up on 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue.  The parade concludes at the Old Stone House in JJ Byrne Playground with a gathering and dancing with the parade bands!  Saturday, October 31st from 6:30-8:30pm.    Details forthcoming at:  http://parkslopeciviccouncil.org/event/halloween-parade-2/

Sol y Canto (Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM):  This pan-Latin musical ensemble, led by artist-educators Rosi and Brian Amador, presents bilingual concurs that are as instructive as they are engaging.  Geared towards families working to build kids’ Spanish proficiency as well as those that speak mostly Spanish at home, Sol y Canto’s interactive fiestas invite young audiences to dance, sing and learn to the beat!   Tickets are $10 each. Saturday, November 7th at 2pm.  Ages 2-5. http://www.bam.org/kids/2015/sol-y-canto

9th Annual Children’s Book Fair (Brooklyn Museum, 1st Floor):  Showcasing your favorite Brooklyn authors and illustrators, this free event features storybooks, picture books, graphic novels and art activities for all ages.  Saturday November 14th from 12-4pm.  For a detailed schedule of readings, go to:  https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/calendar/event/ninth_annual_childrens_book_fair/

Hope everyone enjoys a BOO-ti-fully safe and fun Halloween!!!

INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE BLOCK, FOUNDER OF TYLES.CO

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Photo by Lindsey Turner (Lindsey Victoria Photography: https://www.facebook.com/LindseyVictoriaPhotography/timeline)

A few weeks ago I came to South Slope Pediatrics’ offices for a meeting with Matteo, and he showed me around the new lower level of offices.  Bright and cheery, the space is beautifully laid out and decorated (as the entry level is)!  Immediately what I noticed was an accent wall…this amazing repeat-pattern of wallpaper in bright pops of color.  Then again in the kitchen as a backsplash…another modern and funky design.  Matteo proceeded to tell me all about his good friend, Nicole Block, and the product line she designs, Tyles.  Not only is she an innovative, smart and driven entrepreneur, she is a mom of 2 and patient of Dr. Cao’s!  

SSP:  How did you get inspired to start Tyles and what is your background?

First and foremost, I’m an artist. I am an illustrator by training — I graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in illustration. Since then, I’ve been doing graphic design and illustration in tandem, and finally started working for myself some years ago. I own and run The Nic Studio, which specializes in stationery, graphic design, and illustration.

My family moved into our apartment 3 years ago, which needed some renovations. When we finally finished the kitchen a year later, our backsplash was still bare. We were hosting family and friends at our home for our son’s 1st birthday, and I just wanted the kitchen *finished* by then! But we had run out of time, and funds, for tiling. I tried to find a temporary solution that would look great and would also come off without ruining the walls, but I couldn’t find anything that suit the bill. At 2am, an idea came to me (because all great ideas come to you at 2am). I drew out a pattern that resembled Moroccan mosaic tile, and then contacted a vinyl printer to ask if we could make it into a cut-vinyl backsplash for the kitchen. Within a week I had the backsplash pattern in my hands. When it was up, it looked so great that I posted a how-to and sent it over to Apartment Therapy, who ran it on their site. When I realized how many people loved the project and needed this as an option, I decided to make it into a product. And so Tyles was born!

SSP:   What exactly are Tyles, and how/where are they made?

Tyles are a completely unique vinyl product designed in the spirit of tiles. They are not faux tiles, they aren’t meant to fool anyone — they’re a versatile, removable alternative to tile or wallpaper. I hand-draw every pattern myself, mostly inspired by Moroccan and traditional tile design, as well as otherwise mundane elements such as utensils or plates. It’s very important to me that the patterns have maximum visual impact. I want them to be original, I want them to feel stylish and upscale, and I want them to transform a space. After the patterns are complete, I convert the drawings to vector files and choose the colorways. And then I send them off to my production team in California.  

Tyles are a cut vinyl product. It’s the same material that most wall decals are made from, but they are assembled in a very different way. Because it’s important that they are in a size and shape that is easy to handle and easy to apply, Tyles are cut and then assembled by hand onto individual 8×8″ square sheets. It’s actually quite a laborious process, so I’m grateful to have found a production team that’s able to make them for me. That was very hard to find!

SSP:   Your designs can truly transform and re-energize a space.  I LOVE how they look in South Slope Pediatrics’ new lower level.  What are the most popular uses for these Tyles – is it a particular room or tending to a particular need?

Thank you! I love how they look at South Slope Pediatrics too!
Like in the staff space at SSP, Tyles were originally intended for use on a kitchen backsplash. It’s an area that’s so very lacking in beautiful, temporary, removable options that can still withstand grease, dirt, and cleaning. A few of my patterns are clearly geared towards use in the kitchen or another food-centric space, like a dining room. But when I made the original sets, i heard from several people that they would love Tyles for other rooms, such as bathrooms, entryways, bedrooms… really, any space where someone might want to change their style and environment, but may not want to — or be able to — commit to a long-term option. Of course, renters and business-owners are natural clients, but there are plenty of homeowners like myself who would want a designer temporary option.

SSP:  How easy are these Tyles to apply (and how does one remove)?

They are super easy to apply! Each one comes in an 8×8″ square, and most are divided by “grout” lines into a pattern of four 4″ squares. Almost everything you need comes in the package — twelve 8”x8” Tyles, instructions, a plastic smoother for application, and a small test sample of the vinyl material so that you can make sure it sticks to your walls. As long as you have a smooth, clean surface, Tyles should stick without an issue — though, if your walls are painted, please make sure that the paint had been able to cure for at least 2 weeks before applying Tyles. The only other things you will need for application are blue painter’s tape to line up the Tyles, and scissors to cut the Tyles for tough areas, like in corners or around outlets.

To remove them, simply pull the vinyl up at the corners. They’re easy to remove, and don’t damage your walls — which is key! If you have any trouble pulling up the vinyl, simply use a hairdryer on hot for a minute or so, and that will loosen up the adhesive so that they pull up without issue.

SSP:  I understand that they are temporary.  How long should one expect the Tyles to last?

With proper care, they should last at least 3 years, if not more. I can tell you that the original Tyles have been up in my kitchen for just about 2 years, and they still look great.

SSP:  Do you have a few designs that are top sellers, and can you share those with us and why you think they perform so strongly?

The same pattern that SSP chose for their staff kitchen, Renovated Souk, is currently my best seller. I think the colors and the impact of the pattern make it very popular. It’s cheery, feels a bit exotic, and just brings life to the space.

Citrus Plates and Marbled Starburst are also big sellers. I think they have broad appeal and work for a number of different home furnishing styles. But my personal favorite is the Utensils Cascade pattern. It’s just so much fun! It’s a little 70s, it’s a little bold, it’s more than a bit tongue-in-cheek… I just think it’s fun.

(see all Tyles patterns here:  http://tyles.co/collections/tyles-patterns)

SSP:  What do you hear most from clients as feedback?

Just how quickly it changes their space. The reaction is immediate. It takes very little time and effort, and even very little product, to make a huge impact.

SSP:  Where does one purchase these?  

Right now, they’re available exclusively online. You can shop directly from the website,http://tyles.co. They can also be found on amazon.com.

SSP:  I understand you are part of a contest on Martha Stewart!  How does one learn more and vote for Tyles?

Yes!!!! I’m very proud to say that Tyles is a 2015 Martha Stewart American Made finalist! The American Made contest recognizes businesses that cares about well-designed goods being made in America. Voting is currently underway for the Audience Choice Award, and I need your vote! You can vote up to 6 times a day. Just go to my finalist page at:  thttp://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/104192/design/tyles-by-the-nic-studio

SSP:  What is the future for Tyles?  Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your company?

Oh boy… I don’t know. I’m just really excited to be making a new and totally unique product that’s really useful for people! And I’m doubly-excited that I can get to draw these, by hand, and that my drawings translate into this final product. I would love to grow Tyles as much as I can — make a lot more patterns, maybe employ a few people, and continue to make a difference in someone’s home or professional space. There aren’t a lot of options out there that cater to life as we know it in NYC — there are a lot of people who are lifelong renters, who move a lot, or who lease an office/storefront, and they deserve a space they can be happy in and proud of. I’m glad to provide a means to that end. =)

I personally could always find a reason to spice up and rejuvenate my apartment.  I get so bored looking at the same thing, day in and day out, every day.  Until now my solution has always been “buy new throw pillows for the couch”!  Not a big investment, can be temporary and a way to introduce a new color or add energy into a room.  Tyles seems to deliver the same thing but with a much larger punch.  A new accent wall, a new backsplash, a new decoration for your (until now) uninspiring work space!  For us NY’ers, especially renters, this is a super exciting new option.  I know I personally cannot wait to see how I can introduce Tyles into our home!

http://tyles.co/