The Well at St. Mary's/The Village Well555

This is like going to grandma's house in the English countryside, and is by far the warmest and best play place in the city. There are two huge play rooms: The plush carpeted downstairs room has tons of educational toys (you name it, it's there, from stacking toys, blocks and dress-up clothes to a fully-stocked toy kitchen and big train table), scores (if not hundreds) of books, rocking chairs for nursing moms, plus home-baked goodies, coffee, tea, juice, and fresh fruit for the little ones. The upstairs room is for more active play, and has arts-and-crafts tables with tons of supplies for free art play (markers, stampers, paints, stickers, crayons, paper, homemade play dough, glue, glitter, etc.), toys for gross motor skills (cars, see-saw, playhouse, tent with tunnels, balls), plus a carpeted "quiet corner" with more books and pillows. Halfway through each club there is circle time (heralded by a little bell the kids love to ring) with songs, rhymes, a parachute, and bubbles. Best of all, it is led by the most wonderful, warmest person imaginable, Jean Rowcliffe, who formerly worked with the British royal family. It's great that you don't have to be a member to go: you can just drop in whenever. This place is great not only for the little ones, but also for moms who need support and the company of other adults during some of those rough early parenting periods. I've been going regularly for well over a year, and it's both mine and my little one's favorite place.

The Well is a wonderfully welcoming place to bring your kids for a play and to connect with other parents. It is my haven and favorite place to take my 14 mos old daughter - we've been going there since she was 6 mos old. Jean is a star and has created somewhere I look forward to going - the community feel, the tea and treats, great toys, wonderful amount of space, now a pediatrician coming by to offer advice, etc. She just keeps doing all the right things!

jean Rowcliffe has created a haven for moms at St. Mary's. A lovely room filled with toys. Moms can flop and enjoy home baked goodies while getting terrific advising on kids from Jean. If you wnat to have a playdate with a friend and her child -- this is the perfect place. The children will be totally entertained and you will actually be able to talk to your girlfriend!

I checked this out this morning because I'm looking for a place to take my 2 year old nephew when he comes for a visit this summer. I'ts delightful. A warm, beautifully decorated, wonderfully equipped space with a charming hostess/moderator who is a British-trained nanny. I only wish this had been available when my son was a baby. I think I would have been a better mother if I'd had a place like this to hang out. There are comfy chairs and rockers for the moms, kid-size chairs and tables set up with clean toys and games, soothing music, coffee and tea, snacks - this place has it all. Check it out.

A Mary Poppins like setting filled with toys, warm company of other mom's and children, and, best of all, its director/hostess, Jean Rowcliffe. Jean has 27 years of working with families, including royal families in the UK. Her goal at THE Well is to be a resource to parents, share her experiences and provide a warm, loving environment.