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FiDi Goes to the New York International Auto Show with A Girls Guide to Cars and Toyota

April 19, 2019 by Denise Courter

The New York International Auto Show was launched in 1900 (true statement!) and continues to be a draw for both local New Yorkers and visitors from far and wide. The event is open to the public and boasts four floors of showrooms, featuring some of the newest models of cars, from luxury to sport and electric vehicles as well. The hybrid autos and electric vehicles seem to be front and center for many and environmentally friendly cars are on the rise.

For the last 7 years, A Girls Guide to Cars has been hosting a diverse group of women to a VIP evening, the night before the doors officially open to the public. One of the most interesting facts to know about women and the auto industry is that women buy or influence the purchase of 85% of ALL cars, according to stats shared by the team at A Girls Guide to Cars. This is a stunning fact and an exciting one too, as we realize the significance that women have on the auto industry. Needless to say, the auto dealers, the car makers and industry leaders are welcoming women to the auto buying conversation and the New York International Auto Show is a perfect opportunity to learn, to share and to converse about the future of car design, the impact of environmental design and the continued spotlight on electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

The event is really a special chance to hear from some of the biggest names in the industry with a sneak peek at what they are creating for 2020 and beyond. And, if you are a future car buyer, this event is certainly a great chance to speak to the experts about the brands they represent and have an in-depth conversation on why a particular car is the right one for you.

The NYIAS is definitely geared towards an adult crowd, but in all honesty, cars are pretty exciting to kids. And the kids that were in attendance were so excited to sit in the driver’s seat of some of the most luxurious cars on the market and certainly in the world. So, consider bringing the entire family to this amazing showcase, wander the floors and get your cameras ready – you never know which celebrity may be in attendance!

The team behind A Girls Guide to Cars hosted a Girls Night Out, hosted by Toyota and it was a huge success. And, on a personal note, I fell in love with the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I loved the captains’ chairs, the ability to fit 7-8 people in the car, the blue tooth technology, the extra large sunroof and the pure luxury won me over. In 2018, the Toyota Highlander was named one of the “12 Best Family Cars of 2018” by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. It continues to win safety awards and rave reviews and it was great to check it out, in real life.

The New York International Auto Show is open to the public from April 19 through April 28th. Tickets are available on their website and at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Be sure to visit their website for info on ticket promotions, promos with NY Waterway ferries and more.

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Silvercar by Audi Celebrates Women’s History Month and a FiDi Promo

March 20, 2019 by Denise Courter

What better way is there to celebrate some of America’s badass females than getting your girls together for a road trip? Next-generation premium car rental app, Silvercar by Audi has put together suggested road trips to some of America’s most influential icon’s hometowns. From Oprah’s native Chicago, to the Hollywood of Marilyn Monroe, there’s endless sights to see while getting to paying homage to just how awesome women are.

Plus, they have just announced an industry first, Silvercar customers can request their rental be dropped off and picked up at home or a location of their choosing for an additional fee in select markets. Dedicated to eliminating the major pain points that consumers face when traveling, this service will leave travelers with one less thing to worry about when they’re juggling kids, heavy luggage, outdoor equipment and more.

FiDi Families Insiders: Enjoy a first-time drive 20% off code that is good until 6/1/2019. The code is FiDi20.

Oprah Winfrey- Chicago

o Celebrate Oprah’s earlier days and visit the city where she would host her famous talk show which aired for 25 seasons, from 1986 to 2011. The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history and is what made her the Queen of Media. In 2011, Winfrey launched her own TV network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Oprah is now dedicated to giving back, she has given away approximately $400 million to educational causes, including charter schools, programs that support African-American students, and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa.

Audrey Hepburn- New York City

o Visit the iconic Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue in New York City and channel your inner Audrey Hepburn, one of Hollywood’s greatest style icons and one of the world’s most successful actresses. Not only is she famous for her leading roles in Hollywood, but she also devoted much of her life to UNICEF. She contributed to the organization and worked in some of the poorest communities of Africa, South America and Asia, and was even awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Beyoncé – Houston

o What better way to honor Houston-born-and-raised, critically acclaimed, 22-time Grammy-winning artist, Beyoncé than to visit her home town? A little over a two hour drive from the Austin location will bring you to vibrant Houston. Beyoncé has sold over 100 million records worldwide as a solo artist, and a further 60 million records with Destiny’s Child, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She’s advocated for women and girls around the world through Chime for Change, an organization she founded. Her BeyGOOD initiative has already worked to help the homeless, sick children, and the unemployed, including at a pediatric hospital in Haiti. And through her Survivor Foundation, she’s supported organizations in her native Texas.

Marilyn Monroe – Los Angeles

o Her name brings beauty and sensuality, with a note of innocence, to the minds of those who hear it. Celebrate Marilyn Monroe where she dominated the age of movie stars to become one of the most famous women of the 20th century. Take a visit to the number of famed soundstages where she filmed, the landmark Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel were Marilyn lived for over two years or the TCL Chinese Theatre where Monroe put her hand and shoe prints into the Fourcourt of the Stars following her most popular films. A worldwide sensation in her lifetime, Monroe’s popularity made her much more than a star; she became an American icon.

Maya Angelou – San Francisco

o Did you know that famed author, actress and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, was also the first female and African-American Cable Car conductor in San Francisco? Take a ride through downtown San Francisco on one of the city’s iconic cable cars and experience a classic walking tour to take in all of the sights. A visit to the Purple Onion in North Beach is a must, where Angelou landed a gig as a folk singer and dancer. MoAD, The Museum of the African Dispora, showcasing the history, art, and cultural richness that resulted from the migration of Africans throughout the world is a wonderful attraction to celebrate the life of Maya Angelou and other African-American women from the Bay area.

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Nonna Beppa Italian Restaurant in SoHo Offers FREE Kids Cooking Class!

February 14, 2019 by Denise Courter

Have you ever dreamed of dining in a beautiful restaurant on a Sunday, maybe with the newspaper in hand, or a glass of vino? Even better, imagine being able to do so, while the kids are engaged in an authentic Italian culinary experience, that is free of charge? Well, FiDi Families is happy to report that the dream has become a reality. We were invited to Nonna Beppa, located at 290 Hudson Street in SoHo, for an incredible dining and chef experience that caters to the kids, but benefits the parents with a chance to unwind and watch their kids have a great time, learning about Italian cuisine, with the opportunity to taste all of the delicious food that they made.

The restaurant opened in the Summer of 2018. This gorgeous downtown destination is helmed by Chef Giancarlo Cacciatori, who goes by Chef Wendy. If you are familiar with the landscape of Italy, then you will be impressed to know that Nonna Beppa is an Emilia Romagna regional authentic Italian restaurant and the majority of the ingredients are imported from Italy. The restaurant is named after his grandmother, who is also the person who taught him how to cook the delicious food that is served daily. Our group was with Chef Tania, who was fun, patient and a wonderful teacher for our group of 8.

Kids are invited to learn and engage in pasta making, learn solid Italian cooking techniques and taste their food creations. The minimum age is 3 and the class size is usually limited to 6 to 8 participants.

We loved the entire experience and there are plenty of things to do in the immediate neighborhood, such as the FDNY Fire Museum and the Children’s Museum of Art. Make it an afternoon of fun, food, and exploring, which is the ultimate family day out!

Classes are free, with the adult dining reservation, which can be made by visiting their website HERE.

Date: Sunday, February 24th

Time: 12 pm

Location: 290 Hudson Street

Age(s): 3 and older

Cost: Free with dining reservation

FiDi Families Insiders: Kids can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the restaurant or can take it home, uncooked. The kids cooking class is offered every 2 weeks, on Sunday’s at 12 noon.

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The Rubin Museum of Art

January 30, 2019 by Teresa Wang

This is the last week for the Matti Braun interactive exhibit we enjoyed so much. It is worth the subway ride out of the neighborhood. It is on the fifth floor and children must be accompanied by adults and carefully walk across the wooden discs as it is surrounded by water, and I was told many people have fallen in. We walked slow and made it across. The kids even wanted to cross it several times, which was not a problem as there was only a few people in line at any given time.

We also loved their just released Wheel of Intentions located on the first floor. Museum goers can type in their intentions and then spin the wheel to “see” it being sent up towards the ceiling. This reminded me of the luminaries that Brookfield has during the holidays, but the kids still wanted to stay here all day. Good thing this installation just opened and will be there until January 2020.

Date: Now through February 4th

Time: 11:00 am — at least 5:00 pm (closing time varies by day)

Location: 150 West 17th St. (The Rubin Museum of Art)

Age: All ages

Cost: $19/adult, but Free during Family Sundays

FiDi Insiders: If you attend their Free Family Sundays Program Drop-in anytime between 1:00pm — 4:00pm to participate in their crafts and/or tour, you will also get free admission to the Museum!

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“My City, My Song” Family Concert at Carnegie Hall

January 22, 2019 by Teresa Wang

Want a fun way to introduce your kids to various traditional music from around the world? Carnegie Hall has a wonderful family concert called My City, My Song that welcomes kids of all ages to get out of their seats and sing and dance along during the performances. The event included 3 amazing singers in just 1 hour! We explored music from around the globe: Greece, Mali, and India! We even witnessed unique instruments from each of those 3 countries to play together in unison. The performers sang and danced individually, and then together in harmony. Even the host was engaging and maintained the children’s attention.

They even had interactive stations for kids to partake in an hour before the show. This helped the kids ease into the many different songs and dances they would see during the performance. The whole event was very engaging!

The next family concert will be on Saturday, May 11th with one show at noon and one at 3:00pm. So get your tickets HERE. Although the performance caters to ages 4-8, all three of my kids (5 year old, 3 year old, and 6 month old) loved the entire show.

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