Since 2009 Manhattan Kids Guide has had the mission to bring fun stuff to kids of all ages in Upper Manhattan. And although MKG is very kid friendly, the fun stuff covered is fun for grownups as well.
Manhattan Kids Guide came about through a Mom and Dad (John and Alison Stamas) wanting to do the best by their young Daughter (Lily) and therefore started to create community activities in their upper Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood.
Their first project was a Halloween parade consiting of kids in costumes marching through Inwood Manhattan stopping at stores along the way for treats. This undertaking was so successful that it was covered by New York media like NY1 as well as the Manhattan Times. To see a video of this 2009 parade please go here >
The Mom and Dad also started a theater company called Magic Neighbors that initially performed at New York Public Library branches of Upper NYC locations including Inwood and the Bronx and eventually all over the city.
The Mom and Dad also created a nonprofit sponsored organization called Lights Camera Read that became an umbrella for the activities and events they developed for community centers including a Winter Festival and more.
It soon became very apparent that folks of all ages were having fun and the phrase “Kids of All Ages” applied to not just kids but to grownups as well.
Lights Camera Read also staged DigiComArts workshops at New York Public Library branches teaching teens important media and life skills. Eventually the DigiComArts workshops expanded their reach by becoming in 2016 an online education experience. This online education site is called Art Gush and helps you advance your creative career.
In short, what started as a way for a mom and dad to help their young daughter to have fun expanded into a multifaceted online and offline community experience.