Play It Forward!

KinHaven House recently hosted our Play It Forward Toy Exchange at the beloved Sugar Hill Creamery, and it was a resounding success!

Over 20 families came together to donate, swap toys, share joy, and give back to the community, all while reducing waste and saving money during the holiday season.

The event was not only a fun opportunity for families to refresh their toy collections, but it also had a meaningful impact. Unclaimed toys were donated to a local shelter and unclaimed books were donated to Total Equity Now 13th annual Literacy Across Harlem Holiday Book Drive, spreading holiday cheer to children in need.

By giving gently loved toys a second life, we collectively reduced plastic waste, proving that sustainability and generosity go hand in hand.

A huge thank you to the families who participated and to Sugar Hill Creamery for being the perfect host.

It was heartwarming to see the community coming together with donations coming in and people making new connections the day of the exchange.

Stay tuned for more KinHaven events where we continue to connect families, nurture our community, and create lasting memories—all while making a positive impact!

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans.

Holly in Harlem, KinHaven Celebrates the Season!

KinHaven House wrapped up the season in style with our Holly in Harlem Happy Hour, a festive family-friendly event.

Our Kidcierge kept an eye on the kiddos while parents enjoyed some well-deserved holiday cheer and a delicious food spread.

The event featured not one, not two, but three thoughtfully curated playrooms that kept the kids engaged and entertained throughout the evening. From imaginative play zones to a whole bounce house room, the little ones were in their element—building, exploring, and giggling with joy while parents enjoyed a moment to connect and unwind.

Guests mingled, laughed, and toasted to the season, creating the kind of warm, joyful atmosphere that makes KinHaven community so special.

A hallmark of KinHaven House’s mission to create spaces where families can thrive together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Holly in Harlem! We loved seeing familiar faces and welcoming new families into the KinHaven community. Here’s to more happy hours, playtime, and family magic in the new year.

Stay tuned for even more KinHaven events as we continue to bring comfort, creativity, and connection to your family’s calendar!

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans.

—-> support the mission

KinHaven House Hosts a Cozy Craft & Chill Lounge at Santa’s Secret Workshop

This holiday season, KinHaven House brought a little extra magic to Santa’s Secret Workshop in Long Island City with our Cozy Craft & Chill Lounge! Designed as a warm and welcoming retreat for families, our space quickly became the ultimate spot to unwind, get creative, and soak up the holiday cheer.

From the moment families stepped into the lounge, they were greeted by festive tunes, the comforting smell of hot cocoa, and a cozy atmosphere perfect for escaping the winter chill. Parents kicked back and relaxed with complimentary mini massages—a much-needed break during the hustle and bustle of holiday errands—while kids dove into a world of creative fun with seasonal crafts that sparked their imagination.

The crafting tables were alive with activity as little hands , painted and created keepsakes to take home with Blah Blah Nico. Later in the day cupcakes and gingerbread house were made with Chefleen-though most of the candy ended not on the houses but in their bellies.

Our partnership with Santa’s Secret Workshop brought together two shared missions: creating joyful spaces where families can connect and thrive and sharing the spirit of the season. We loved watching parents and kids enjoy the same space with no compromise for either party.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Cozy Craft & Chill Lounge! We can’t wait to bring even more special moments to your family in the new year. Stay tuned for future KinHaven events that continue to bring comfort, creativity, and connection to parents and kids alike.

Wishing you a happy, cozy holiday season from all of us at KinHaven House!

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans.

support the mission.

Thanks to our vendors Shanesfocus | Chefleen

The Start of it All: Lil Boo Brunch 2022

Before this event KinHaven House was just a dream. A dream of a mother who's life has been forever changed by the entrance of a small human. That mother is me.

Don’t tell her but my daughter was kind of an accident. The happiest of accidents. When my husband and I couldn’t have the wedding we wanted because of a the pandemic we kept joking let’s have a baby instead. Words have power and in May 2021 I became a mom with the expectation that I could just continue my life just as before. A baby couldn’t cramp my style-the world told me I could have it all. I returned to work only 4 weeks after giving birth doing meal drop offs for a pretty easy going celebrity client and quickly realized the world is a lie.

Before I get into the next part I need you to understand who I was B.C- before child- I was the high achieving, always lend a hand, socially full, on the rise chef entrepreneur person who did do it all. My work in hospitality in the homes of high profile clients and everyday people meant I always needed to be on.

Ok so back to my post partum period. Throughout the next few months I kept trying to hold on to the person I was in every aspect I wasn’t going to allow a child to cramp my style, business as usual. But as I was desperately hanging on to BC me the facade was falling.

In babyhood Nola probably went to about every enriching baby class there is because as a first time parent I wanted to give her all the best experiences (and believed everything mattered-it does but maybe not as much as you think )and tbh I like to be OUTSIDE! But in these classes I found myself very unstimulated and dare I say it bored?

Then there were the (many) times I took her out to more adult spaces which was always a toss up about if it would be actually equipped for a child- you’d be surprised how few changing tables exist. Mostly the struggle was worth it with the worst times being when Nola would decide to *shamefully* be a child in an adult space and other patrons would look at me in disgust. There is a shriek I will never forget that happened in STK in Puerto Rico and a restaurant I will always hate because happy hour was only at the bar and I felt like that was discriminatory towards my stroller life- I just needed half off margarita that day.

So with everything so segmented but social needs still needing to be met I started creating space in my home for everything to happen at once. My new mom group friends (who I obviously was nothing like lol) gave me so much life then and even now because we were literally in the wtf are we even doing new motherhood identity crisis moment of our life all together at the same time. I leaned into my BC friends and hosted karaoke nights, after brunch hangs, and parties once Nola was asleep- and sometimes awake. Even with a kid I (well credit to my husband too) created spaces for adults but kids were there.

I looked around this wonderful village of support and fullness and I realized Nola wasn’t cramping my style - my style was transformed. Sure my life was different but it was just as good, maybe better? Society just didn’t hold the space for this to happen, I had to make it.

I started thinking all parents deserve this and with all years in hospitality I have all the skills to create it. Boom. Lil Boo Brunch was born. The first ever Kinect with KinHaven event before it was even Kinect with KinHaven. TBH Lil Boo Brunch was a little chaotic but parents still left very full, very seen, very like when is the next event??? Over the last two year I’ve watched both my babies grow up so much.

No longer a dream, KinHaven House is a reality with a growing community and a super specific mission. To create kid friendly but parent focused spaces. Spaces where “me-time” and “we-time” can coexist because we love our kids but it’s a lot.

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans.

support the mission.

Thanks to our vendors Shanesfocus | Chefleen

Lil Boo Brunch

This year, KinHaven House hosted our second Lil Boo Brunch, bringing together families for a Halloween-inspired morning full of fun, food, and festive vibes! Designed to be just the right amount of spooky (and a lot of cozy), Lil Boo Brunch was packed with seasonal activities that delighted little ones and gave parents a relaxing morning to enjoy with their kiddos.

Parents enjoyed some well-deserved downtime, sipping on mimosas with splash of Hella Bitters, fueling on coffee, and munching on fall-inspired brunch bites curated by Chefleen. Upstairs kids enjoyed a bounce house, tons of toys, and a face painting- all out of sight but kept in mind by our KidCierge.

Lil Boo Brunch wasn’t just about fun—it was about creating a space where families could relax and connect. At KinHaven House, we’re all about blending family-friendly activities with a little something special for the grown-ups.

Stay tuned for more family-friendly events, and remember—KinHaven House is here to make holidays and everyday moments a little more magical!

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans :)

Thanks to our vendors Shanesfocus | Partywithcyana | Chefleen and our partners in community Hella Bitters | Apt Deco

Pizza in the Park

At KinHaven House, we believe in making family time as simple and joyful as possible, and our Pizza in the Park event was exactly that! Held in the beautiful setting of Morningside Park, we gathered parents and kids for an evening filled with speciality pizza, open air, and a laid-back community vibe.

Parents got a chance to relax and connect with other families while kids played freely in the sunshine. The star of the show? The KidCierge who kept an eye on the children so adults could actually have uninterrupted conversation. A Friday night wind-down where no one had to compromise!

Pizza in the Park was the perfect blend of good food, great people, and a family-friendly setting. We’re all about creating these simple, memorable moments where families can gather, share a meal, and enjoy each other’s company without the usual distractions. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this unforgettable evening, and stay tuned for more casual, community-driven events with KinHaven House!

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans.

Thanks to our vendors Mama’s Too | V&T Pizza | Harlem Wine

Holly in Harlem

Our Holly in Harlem event was all about bringing holiday cheer to families in the heart of Harlem! Kids enjoyed hands-on crafts, holiday stories, and a bounce house. Parents relaxed and mingled, savoring festive treats and a cozy holiday atmosphere.

The event was a joyful mix of community and celebration, where every detail—from glittering decorations to kid-friendly crafts—was designed to create magical memories for families. Holly in Harlem was more than a festive day out; it was a warm and welcoming space for parents and kids to connect,and take a breather from the holiday hustle.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special day. Holly in Harlem was just the start of many festive gatherings to come! Keep an eye out for more ways to celebrate the seasons with KinHaven House.

Happier Parents Raise Better Humans

Thanks to our vendors shanesfocus | chefleen