Rookie Moms

Thank God for TiVo, but did you know some theaters also have special showings for new parents? These showings have different names in different cities, but the idea that yours will not (most likely) be the loudest baby in the theatre is the common thread.

Julian’s first movie as a newborn was Closer and Holden’s was Star Wars Episode III. Both kids were frequent attendees of Baby Brigade during their first year.

The Rose Theater in Port Townsend, WA calls it Diaper Daze, and the Kerasotes chain in Illinois and IndianaMatinee Movie Magic. I thought I was pretty magical when I watched Julia Roberts in Closer while doing my first in public breastfeeding (without crying!) when Julian was 5 weeks old. This mistakenly led Heather, my 19-weeks pregnant escort, to believe that nursing is easy.

Stroller Matinees, as they are called by Mann’s Theaters in Southern California, are a good early outing for freaked out new parents. Crying is totally allowed.

In LA, Monday Morning Mommy Movies weekly at 11:00 am (on Mondays, duh!) at the Grove, Beach Cities, Paseo, and Town Square. Thanks Portia!

In Portland, McMenamin’s Kennedy School hosts the occasional Mommy Matinee and for cheap!

For our local mommies:

In Oakland, The Parkway Theater’s Baby Brigade shows movies on Monday nights for babies under one year (and their parents!) along with a pizza and beer. The sister theater, El Cerrito Speakeasy does the same on Tuesday nights! Yahoo.

In Alameda, the Central Cinema also has a baby night for those under a year. We found out about it just after both babies were too old to go - darn!

In San Francisco, there’s Thursdays at 11AM at the Presidio Theatre on Chestnut and for a limited time, Tuesdays at 11AM at the Vogue Theatre on Sacramento.

The seriousness of this suggestion totally depends on where you live. I can tell you, however, that in San Francisco, where I stupidly walked up a hill, at night in high heels, five weeks after a C-section, I was cursing my husband the whole time that we should have valet parked.

If you are a working mom, you should get used to this idea. Your time is too valuable to be driving around looking for parking. And then just when you think you are rushing back home to pay the babysitter, you spend 15 extra minutes walking to your car. And if you have a baby with you, fuggedaboutit. Don’t you want your car brought to you?

A publicist for GMC just let me know that as a promotion for a new car, the Acadia (crossover SUV), free valet parking at select malls across the country is being offered for the month of April. If this is a convenience you’d never treat yourself to, try it out.

Participating shopping centers are:

Los Angeles: The Block at Orange, California Pavilion Shopping Center, South Bay Galleria, and the Pike at Rainbow Harbor
Phoenix: Chandler Fashion Center
Sacramento: Arden Fair Mall and Loftworks
San Francisco: Stoneridge Mills
San Diego: Fashion Valley Mall
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale: Sawgrass Mills
Tampa: Channelside
Orlando: The Florida Mall

This offer lasts until April 30.

Nikki is one of my oldest friends, and she’s holding down the fort in our hometown. You may have heard of it: Los Angeles, California.

Now that baby Lennox is 7 months old, Nik is an expert on where to go with a baby in L.A. Today she shares her suggested itinerary for new moms in L.A.:

Monday: Mommy Movies
Bring your baby to Pacific Theatres at The Grove and spend time in a theatre filled with other parents and their kids. Don’t fret if your babe is crying because other little ones are doing the same. Amazingly, you can concentrate on the movie! ($9.50 The Grove 11:00 am)

Tuedsay: Drop-In Mom’s Group
Bring your baby to a supportive environment. Nancy Beyda (nancybeyda@earthlink.net), a very progressive doula and mom, is the facilitator. Every week there is a different topic from vaccinations to sleeping through the night. Spend time with other moms swapping ideas over an amazing home-cooked vegetarian lunch, included in the price. ($15 at 10:30 am)

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Hey L.A. parents, did you know that Homemade Baby on Jefferson has a “tasting room” open on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm? You can have your baby try free samples of their food. They also have special events with chefs and nutritionists.

And Seattle/Bellvue folks, on Thursday, April 12th Whole Foods is offering a Motherhood Series class called First Foods, Infant Feeding from 6 – 10 months. It’s from 10-11:30 am and it’s FREE! (registration required)

In this first class we will discuss how to tell when your baby is ready for solids, find out what the best first foods are and why, and what foods should be avoided. We will make and sample pureed papaya, mashed squash, baby cereal and teething biscuits. Taught by certified nutritionist, Ami Karnosh.

If you’re not in LA or Seattle, you can still plan a get-together with some baby-toting friends and create your own tasting menu with each parent bringing one homemade dish. See if you can get your baby to embrace some different flavors.