Special News From Someplace Special, Haircuts for Kids...New Location

                                                        

                                                      

Hello to my very special customers of 

Someplace Special

Haircuts for Kids 

past present and future...

Once again, Someplace Special is going through some changes, 

and they are definitely for the better!  

I have found a new, bright cheerful spot, to practice my craft of cutting your children's hair...

A wonderful new play space in Riverdale, the Bronx, called Kidaroo located at 3603 Fieldston Road.

For information about this wonderful new space, a place that Riverdale and the surrounding areas families have been crying out for, 

check out these links

www.kidaroonyc.com

http://www.facebook.com/Kidaroo

I will be setting up shop there beginning this Sunday, July 8th

My phone number will always stay the same, so feel free to call me to make an appointment. 

718-432-6622

For the near future I will be in Riverdale at Kidaroo on Sundays, 

but hopefully, I will be adding more days.

I can be reached any day by phone from 10am-9pm, and if I do not answer, 

PLEASE leave a message. I will get back to you.

718-432-6622

And don't forget, I will be working on the Upper West Side on other days of the week.

and I welcome you there as well.

My information and some links are below.

Hope to see you soon!

                                                                           Sundays 

at Kidaroo

3603 Fieldston Rd.

Riverdale, NY 10463

718-432-6622

Tuesday and Saturday 

466 Columbus Ave.

New York, NY 10024

212-362-7792

someplacespecial@aol.com

www.someplacespecialforkids.com

http://someplacespecialhaircutsforkids.blogspot.com

http://someplacespecialforkids.shutterfly.com/

Someplace Special the Children's Hair Salon/Barber Shop Is still In Riverdale!

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM SOMEPLACE SPECIAL

Hi everyone!  I'm posting an article below that says just about everything I need you all to know.

To summarize, we are opening at a new address just a couple of blocks away in Riverdale (the Bronx), 503 West 236th st,  we have the same phone number, 718-432-6622, and you should definitely call first to make an appointment because we are only open Sundays and Mondays now...I'd feel so bad if any of you drove out to see me and I was too busy to see you!

Come check us out, and remember...we love all kids, long hair, short hair, and clipper cuts (but we don't blow out curly curly hair straight) and have lots of experience with children with special needs.

I love all of my customers, and I love what I do!  See you all soon.


Click on this to see the original article!
With thanks to The Riverdale Press and Graham Kates...

October 26, 2011

Children’s hairdresser set to stay in Riverdale

By Graham Kates

Correction appended

Riverdale won’t be losing its Someplace Special after all.

The children’s haircutter, which is set to close up shop at its current 490 W. 238th St. location on Thursday, will reopen in a new location on Sunday, Nov. 6.
Suzanne Axelbank, the shop’s owner, said it will move to Cithara Hair Salon, at 503 West 236th St.

“I’m really glad because I love working here and I love doing children’s hair. I love doing what I do, it’s the one thing I enjoy,” Ms. Axelbank said. “And people come from miles and miles away for these haircuts.”

After reading in the Oct. 13 issue of The Riverdale Press that she was leaving her current location and looking for a new space for the salon, Ms. Axelbank said three or four other hairstylists called her.

One of them was from Josee Torres, the owner of Cithara Hair Salon. Ms. Axelbank realized she had met her match.

“Because I work with kids I was looking for a situation where I would be able to be alone in the shop if possible,” Ms. Axelbank said. “He doesn’t work on Monday and Sunday, and those are the days I’m going to be alone in the shop,” she said.

Ms. Axelbank has been cutting hair for 35 years, but said she founded Someplace Special about a decade ago after realizing that children’s hair was her true calling.

Since then, her business has grown into a destination for kids’ haircuts. She said she’s acquired customers who will drive as far as 50 miles to bring their kids to see her and in 2009, a city guide for parents, goCityKids, named Someplace Special New York’s best haircutting place for children.

The business will maintain its old phone number.

Someplace Special, a great children's haircut and barber shop near Riverdale Avenue, where special needs children and children who are afraid of haircuts are welcome... is making a move!

Someplace Special, Haircuts and Toys for Kids, will be making a big move very soon to a new location not far from where we are now.

It is important to note that I am NOT moving to Riverdale Avenue. 

The store that you see with a children's haircut sign directly on Riverdale avenue is NOT me. 

I have been in the neighborhood now, doing what I do for 10 years and loving every minute of it. If you are looking for ME, Suzanne the haircutter,  for the time being I am still at 490 West 238th st, and my number is 718-432-6622. You can also email me at Someplace Special.

With 35 years of haircutting experience, and almost 20 with mostly children, I bring alot of experience, love, and respect to the table. Keep in mind that I also have experience in the field of special needs working with autistic children and multiply disabled kids in the DOE.

You will never find someone doing as much crawling on the floor and walking around the train table at the same time as cutting hair as I do, and I find it all a wonderful challenge.

The plans are not complete yet, but they are in the works...so please stay tuned.

Thanks all!

Why I Love Cutting Children's Hair...Right Off Of Riverdale Avenue In The Bronx..I Welcome Typical Kids, And Special Needs Children.

The Secret To My Children's Hair Salon/ Children's Barber Shop

Find something you love to do, and you will never work a day in your life.

I was thinking about this quote today. It is so true!  Some people ask how I ended up being a haircutter that works mostly on children?  It was such an easy choice for me!

For years,  I worked in a regular salon doing adult's and children's hair...I was like every other stylist...when I was assigned to do a child, I felt like I was doing the customer a favor. Some stylists complained that it was a waste of time, but I didn't mind as much, so little by little I ended up with more and more children coming to me. It wasn't my first choice in the beginning, but after awhile, I started to enjoy it, and eventually, when a child came in,  I jumped at the chance.

I realized something...that when I looked at a child, I knew exactly what to do...I knew exactly what should and could be done to make that child's hair look the best it could be. Somehow I had never felt so confident working on adults. Eureka! With children!  That was where I belonged!

Compare it to an artist who works in watercolors and who might not be as comfortable with oils, that was, and is, how I felt. A little person was (and still is) my medium,  my watercolor. An adult, that was my oil, not something I enjoyed as much.

Yes, I still have some adult customers who have been with me for years, and I treasure them, but I don't encourage new ones.

I am not someone who does every haircut I can just for the money. That would be work. I am someone who does what I love, and you know the rest!

So keep in mind, when you bring your child to a salon that works mostly with adults, they are doing you a favor when they cut your child's hair.  When you bring your child to me, you are doing me a favor, because I love what I do and you give me the chance to do it.

At Someplace Special, ALL children are welcome. I have extensive experience with children who have special needs, having worked in the NYC Board of Education with autistic children, and children in wheelchairs. and more than anything, again I truly enjoy what I do. I RESPECT your child.

I will get on the floor and follow your child around and play with them for as long as it takes. Oxygen canisters, trachs, whatever your child's situation, I am happy to meet you! I do not promise a tear free haircut...no one can...but I promise, to the best of my ability, that I will work as hard as I can with the utmost patience and love, to make the haircut a good experience for all concerned. Again, I have respect for YOUR child!

I have 35 years of haircutting experience, and over 15 of them are primarily with children. I worked in a very famous children's hair salon for five years and for ten in my own.

I have a small, not overly stimulating salon, attached to a wonderful children's bookstore called The Page Turner,  where your child will be the only one getting a haircut at any given moment.

People come to me from a 50 mile radius. Manhattan (Upper west side, Dyckman St., Washington Heights, Inwood,  everywhere...even Chelsea, and Soho!) Queens, and Brooklyn,  All over the Bronx, and Westchester and Orange county...Too many places to mention!

So please give me a call at 

SOMEPLACE SPECIAL

Haircuts and Toys for Kids 

718-432-6622

or come see me at 

490 West 238th street 

right off of Riverdale Avenue 

I love what I do...and I know you will too!

For more photos, click here...

For our main website, click here...

And don't forget to check out our video below!

Customers From All Over Come To My Bronx Children's Hair Salon/Barbershop. Just The Other Day I Met A Bunch In Manhattan!

I've been meaning to write this post for weeks!

I went out to eat one night at a really great restaurant, Papasito's Mexican Grill in Inwood, which is right next to a friend (and customer's) lingerie shop, Brazen Lingerie, Both on Dyckman street, in Manhattan, New York.

As my husband and I sat having our wonderful meal, (me lamb chops, him shrimp,) I noticed a table full of young moms. You could tell they were young moms because as each walked in they all looked so happy to be unencumbered. You could see each looked as light as a feather, on their own and ready to chow down on some great Mexican food, and have a fun moms night out!

I thought one looked familiar.  My husband said "Go say hello,"  but I never like to bother anyone.  Finally with some more encouragement from him, I got over my shyness and went over to say hello to the mom I first recognized. How happy I was to see that out of the 10 or so women at the table, at least 6 or 7 of them jumped up to say hi, and were excited to see me because I cut their kids hair!

It was so nice to see!  I wasn't even in my store, Someplace Special's neighborhood , yet Papasito's Mexican Grill was full of my customers.

Cool!

As I have said, people come to me from all over. True, Inwood and Washington Heights are not that far from the stores location at 490 West 238th st. in Riverdale, the Bronx, NY, but people from a 50-60 mile radius have made their way to me regularly over the years, and I do not take that lightly. I always do my best to make everyone happy! And of course, I LOVE WHAT I DO!

Thanks for coming ;-)

My Child Is Afraid To Get Their Hair Washed/Shampooed. What Do I Do?

I received this note from a concerned parent on another site I have,  in response to a post in this blog titled

My Child Is Afraid Of A Haircut. What Do I Do?


HC: You seem like a really kind person with kids. What do you do when a child is afraid of shampooing? What do you say and do to calm them? That's what scared me as a child at the salon and it wasn't any better at home unfortunately.


This is a tough one. First of all, remember this, I am only a hairdresser, not a therapist, so I can only give my opinion here. 


To begin with, I never wash hair in my salon, I just spray my comb or hand with water, because there is no way kids like to be laid back for a shampoo.

I have always felt that along with kindness and respect, distraction and patience are very important. Young children do not get greasy hair or become too smelly, so I would try not to do the shampoos too often. Baths without shampoos are fine...then eventually just wet your hand and wipe it off on their heads (you can say "Sorry I just have to dry my hand honey," and eventually you can put a bit of shampoo on your hand...it could take weeks of this until you do a full shampoo...be patient!.)

You also might have more luck if you do it all as a game. As an example, my own child would not clean up his room but was happy to do it if we pretended to be construction workers discussing how messy people were because they threw toys into the elevator shaft we were working on. I'd say "we'd better clean it fast!" and "How dare that guy throw a toy train in the elevator shaft...we'd better put it away!" It worked almost every time.

Maybe you can wash the walls around the bathtub...or use bathtub crayons to make a picture, and while you are washing or drawing quietly get your hand a little wet and wipe it off on their head...then a little shampoo, then a little more water...don't worry if you don't get all the shampoo out of their hair...it doesn't really matter.

Maybe you can say you have a special magic potion that only special kids can have before they draw the special spaceship with new glitter you prepared. After all, they cannot be a special astronaut without preparation...be goofy, be crazy! I even do it in the shop...! Sometimes I can see that a parent will think I am a bit crazy...but I get it done (most of the time, not always) without crying.


Put a tub toy in front of them and after you get into a really involved crazy story with it, start playing with their hair with a little shampoo on your hand and then water.  Keep the story going all through.

I think parents often get into discussing things too much...They spend too much time saying "we are going to wash your hair and it will be OK and be brave, etc." sometimes it works with some kids, but if you already know your child is scared...try something different!

After all, why should a kid be brave if it isn't going to hurt in the first place? Distract! You are not trying to teach them a lesson, that is something they will learn over time, you are trying to get their hair washed!

Anyway, this is the way I do things in the shop, I constantly act crazy...quieter with some kids, noisy with some...you have to be the judge...but getting mad never helps. And too much explaining rarely helps. Distraction is good!

Remember, they are really scared, and you are there to be a comfort!
Good luck!

Why Would Or Should A Parent Choose A Hair Salon Just For Kids? Children's Hair Salon/Children's Barber Shop

Why would a parent choose a hair salon just for kids?

Well...Because we specialize in children!  That's why!

People choose my salon for many different reasons. And of course, I can only talk about my salon. Some only come for a first haircut, some come for years. For the first haircut they are not sure how their child will react to the situation and they want someone as gentle as possible. In my case, there is nothing I haven't seen or done in my 25 plus years doing hair and I am a fabulous multi-tasker.  I can play with your kids, walk around following them, crawl on the floor and toss around balls with them while cutting their hair. And gentle?  I am extra gentle, and I throw in a ton of playfulness!

Seems crazy, but I don't care at all how much your child moves during the haircut! I've even done some haircuts on the moving ride outside of the store. That's how much I want to make your child happy!

Some people think all kids of any age should go to a kids salon.  They have seen that at some adult salons, kids are not totally welcome.  Their own hairdressers are happy to do their child's hair as a favor...but it is just a favor. When I do your child's hair it I am not doing you a favor...It is your favor to me.  It is what my business is based on and without you, I wouldn't be here, so when you bring your child into my shop,  you are doing me a favor, and I am going to make sure I do the best job I can, taking all the time I need. That is my thanks to you for doing me this favor!

Then of course there are the kids with special needs. My customers who come in in wheelchairs, with autism, sensory problems, and other things that might make getting a haircut a bit harder.  My main goal is to show respect to you and your child.  I will do what you need. For some kids with special needs, it just takes some extra time to make friends, play awhile, try to gain trust.  It can make all of the difference in the world. Be honest and tell me it might be tough, and I'll book you extra time!

I have been pretty lucky getting difficult kids to be relatively calm for a haircut...and by calm, I don't mean still. I really do not care how much your child moves!

 For some special needs kids it just means getting the job done (if that is what you want.)  I do it fast and as well as I can. But I can't guarantee it will go smoothly! Some children are just to sensitive to deal with the stimulus overload, but I do the best I can so you can walk out of here with a good looking clean-cut kid and know that whatever it takes, I'll do my best. Goodness knows, I've seen it all before!  I've been kicked and pushed...and I am still as gentle as possible and certainly do not take it personally!

My salon, Someplace Special, has now been open for 8 1/2 years and in that time I have done thousands of haircuts. Rest assured that as soon as I look at your child, I can tell what the deal is.

Do they need me to work slowly?  Do I have to work as fast as possible? Should I talk alot, or work silently? Should I mention that I think they look like a princess, or ask if they like french fries? I know all of these things right away.

I also have experience working in the Dept Of Education with autistic children and multiply handicapped children...not to mention that I also know exactly what your child's HAIR needs, and isn't that why you really choose to bring your kids to me?

Those are just some of the reasons that a parent would want to bring their child to a hair salon just for kids. I'd be happy to see some comments from all of you why you choose to do it.

Remember, I love what I do...and I will do my best to make you and your child love it too!

So for all the kids who have come to me short term, and the kids who have been coming to me for years, and even the kids who now bring their kids to me...Whatever it is that you, the parents need me for, or whatever it is that your children need me for...I am here for you all.

Current customers, former customers, and future customers...stop in and say hello anytime...Check out the new bookstore I am sharing space with, at the same address as always, but if you want a haircut PLEASE make an appointment so I can give you all of the time you need and deserve!

That's what I am here for!

(By the way, many boys who used to come to me when they were small are now coming back because they know that I know how to handle long hair!)

Someplace Special, Haircuts and Toys for Kids welcomes children from all over the tri-state area. Inwood, Washington Heights, Hudson Heights, Manhattan, The Upper West Side, The Bronx, Yonkers, Ardsley, Irvington, Hastings, Scarsdale, Westchester, White Plains, Eastchester, Crosby Avenue, Central Park Avenue, White Plains Road...and more.

Someplace Special In The New York Daily News! Justin Bieber Haircuts For All...All Little Kids, That Is!

Wow! Someplace Special, Haircuts and Toys and now Books for Kids was featured in the New York Daily News! Thank you David Yi, for thinking about my small little Bronx store and giving me a call!  I love what I do, and I'm glad it shows...Also, thank you to the great kids who came in for the photo shoot.Without you it couldn't have happened! A ton of great photos were taken, thanks to the great photographer, but only one was used. Believe me, they all were great!
Click here for the story.

NEW RIVERDALE CHILDREN'S BOOKSTORE IS OPEN...CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN THE BRONX!!!

The Bronx’ most child-friendly place just got friendlier!  

A new children's bookstore, The Page Turner, has opened in Riverdale at 490 West 238^th Street, which is where Someplace Special Haircuts and Toys for Kids has been for the past eight years.  But not to worry, Someplace Special is still there, too!

“This is a great development,” said Suzanne.  “Children and their parents will now be able to come to one place for haircuts, toys, and now their favorite books!”

“Our new children’s book store is in a place that families are already comfortable,” said Ari Norberto, who with her husband, Ray, are Riverdaleans who will be owners and operators of the new book store.

Picture books, classic picture books, the most recent releases, a lot of series, books for teens, and essentially any and everything that young people like to read are available at The Page Turner. 

“To be sure, any book requested that’s not in stock, we can get in real quick!” said Ray Norberto.

For information about the new bookstore call Ray Norberto at 646-327-1903 or email The Page Turner

For information about Someplace Special call Suzanne Axelbank at 718-432-6622 or email her at Someplace Special

Someplace Special is a fun place for children to get haircuts.  They can sit in red, jeeps and watch video games during their haircut and there also is a Thomas-the-Tank Engine play table to play on.  For information or appointments call 718-432-6622 or email  Someplace Special.  The store’s hours are 10am-6pm Wednesday through Saturday, and 11am-5pm on Sunday.  Check out Someplace Special's website right here!

Happy Anniversary To Someplace Special, Haircuts And Toys For Kids, 490 West 238th St. Around The Corner From Riverdale Avenue, And Now We Are A Bookstore Too!

I am more than a little late with this post...so many things have been happening...But I thought you might  still be interested, so here goes...With a bit more added in of course!

SOMEPLACE SPECIAL CELEBRATES AN ANNIVERSARY!

I can hardly imagine eight years have passed since I opened Someplace Special!  Yes, April 3rd 2010, was the 8th anniversary of when the store opened.  There have been ups and downs, and many changes with the store,  but to this day, I still love going in to work and interacting with all of my wonderful customers and their parents who come in to my shop.

Who could be as lucky as I am!

Someplace Special has established a reputation as a great place to bring all children as well as kids with special needs, and although I can never guarantee that a child will not cry, I can guarantee that your child, and you, will be treated with respect, and I will do EVERYTHING I can to make the experience as comfortable and as positive as I can. There is VERY LITTLE I haven't seen or done when it comes to cutting a child's hair! You might think your child is tough, but I've seen tougher!

In my quest to make all children happy,  I have worked for the board of education in special ed., read countless books, had many talks with OT's, PT's special education teachers, and even had a chance to ask Temple Grandin a question or two at her book signing.  With all of that,  the quest to make haircuts for children with special needs, and all children, as easy as possible presents a puzzle with some kids,  and every time it doesn't go as easily as I'd like for the child, I feel bad.  On the other hand, I have total respect for the child and the parent, and if it helps, I will play with a child, crawl on the floor, and stand on my head if I have to.

The one thing I will try my best not to do is let you walk out of my shop thinking that there is no place you can go to get your child a haircut!

And for the neuro-typical child...again, I will stand on my head if I have to to get a good haircut done!  And I LOVE DOING WHAT I DO!

After 35 years total of cutting hair,  five at a famous Madison avenue, Amsterdam avenue, and Lexington avenue children's hair salon, and now eight at Someplace Special, I have come to realize that this is what I do...This is what I am...a haircutter for kids, and I love it.

If you choose me, you get a relativly quiet, non stimulating place to have an expert cut your child's hair. So PLEASE call and make an appointment to see me...otherwise I might be too busy to see you! I want to give all of my wonderful customers all the time they need to get the best haircut possible!

AND NOW FOR SOME NEW EXCITING NEWS...

SOMEPLACE SPECIAL WILL NOW BE A CHILDREN"S BOOKSTORE AS WELL!

That's right, as I write this, the whole front of my store is being redesigned with shelves and being turned into a bookstore...FOR KIDS!  It will be ready for your browsing and buying pleasure around the end of June/ beginning of July with books, and toys for kids from baby to young adult.  So gear yourself up for our grand opening...to be announced, and become part of our community.  

As always, I am still selling Munipal subway trains, some sweet dolls (all on sale)  and will soon be stocking up on beautiful creative hair bows and hair accessories .

So please pay us a visit...now for more than haircuts, Someplace Special is a great place for kids!

One again, Riverdale, a section of the Bronx, will be getting its own independent bookstore, a place to hangout, browse, and buy books and toys for your children, and gifts for all!

Let's Talk About Special needs Children, And Autism, Also, A List Of Toys I sell Including Collector's Beanie Babies!

Today I have a couple of things to talk about.  The most important is how I deal with children that have special needs, and second is some of the products I sell in my little Bronx haircut shop.

Working With Special Needs Children, Autism In Particular 

Over the last few days, I have had many children with special need come into my store.  Children in wheelchairs, children with autism, and children with all kinds of differing abilities.  I am comfortable in all of these situations because I have a genuine feeling of respect for the child, and of course, as I always say, I love what I do. 

For those of you who do not know, I worked in the board of education in NYC in a program for autistic children, so I know many if not all of the possibilities about how your children will react, along with knowing how much the parents of all of my customers want to see their children look good.

We've had some pretty amazing situations in here!  After some kids leave, it looks like a major storm hit. I don't mind...that is what I am here for!

The other day a child came in all the way from Connecticut.  She was autistic, and non verbal.  A beautiful clean well dressed kid, but her parents had not been able to really comb her hair well during the 5 years of her life.  At first glance, when I saw the knot in her hair, I thought I'd have to cut the whole thing out.  It was the size of a grapefruit!  But we gave her a book, and some other toys to play with, and we had her favorite program on in the background, and I worked a ton of my favorite conditioner (Marisol's Melon) into her hair, and slowly started combing and cutting...at one point I almost gave up...but I kept going and we did it!  Her parents were a big help in the whole process. It needed to be done, and it was. It was actually pretty easy, but when we began, we had no idea what to expect! She had never had a haircut before.

My point?  Don't feel uncomfortable, or embarrassed, or worried about your child's reaction, or how your child looks, when you step into my shop.  All of us wonder how we will be received in different circumstances, especially when it comes to our children.  We know we shouldn't, but not one of us hasn't been embarrassed because of something involving our child.  As long as YOU act appropriately to your child during the process, I'll be OK!

No hitting, no choking, and no yelling!  
I don't mean from the child...That's OK. I expect it...I mean from you!


Some Things On Sale In My Shop 

Beanie Babies!!!!  Old ones!  Collectors editions!  I have so many, all previously owned and looking for new homes.  Here is a small sampling of what I have. Bubbles, Huggy, Humphrey, and Millennium.  Antlers, Clover, and Foxy, Checkers,Prince, and Sire.  Lots of McDonald's Beanies in and out of packages, Arod, Ken Griffey Jr., Muhammad Ali!  Mike Tyson!  If you are wondering what I have, or if I still have what you want, give me a call. 718-432-6622.

Jewish Board Games!!!!  Mitzvah Match and Kosherland.


Adorable La Baby Nursery Dolls!!!! Caucasian, African America, and Asian.


MuniPals Subway Trains!!!! I've got the whole line of them.


Loose Train Tracks!!!! They fit with Thomas the Tank Engine, and Brio.


Circle Of Friends Hair Products!!!! Including the great Marisol's Melon leave in conditioner.


Fantastic Anti Lice Products!!!! The Jolis Cheveux brand  from The Lice Treatment Center.


And of course, FANTASTIC CHILDREN'S HAIRCUTS!  I love what I do!


Everybody Is Welcome In My Bronx Hair Salon/Barber Shop...Kids come to me from all over. Manhattan, including around Dyckman Street, Broadway, Seaman ave., Washington Heights, Inwood, Hudson Heights, Upper West Side, NYC, NYS, Tribeca, Bronx, Crosby Ave, Pelham Parkway, Pelham Pkwy, Country Club, Middletown Road, Connecticut, New Jersey, Teaneck...Etc!  

Someplace Special
Haircuts and Toys for Kids
490 west 238th St.
Bronx, NY 10463
718-432-6622
www.someplacespecialforkids.com
http://someplacespecialhaircutsforkids.blogspot.com
http://someplacespecialforkids.shutterfly.com/
Make A Small Loan, Make A Big Difference - Check out http://www.Kiva.org To Learn How!

Ebates And Mr. Rebates, Usually I Write About Dealing With Scared Children! Consider This A Holiday Gift From Me!

MY FAVORITE LINKS

I know that I posted this before, and I rarely re-post, especially so quickly, but with this crummy economy we have, I thought this would be helpful to many of you, so here goes!  Excuse me if you think this is a little spammy...I do not mean to do that, I just want to save you all some money!

First of all, do you guys know about ebates? A fantastic website where you get rebates back from things you would have bought anyway. At this point, I have gotten back over $500 credited directly to my paypal account. Amazing.  I would have bought these things anyway, this just makes it that much more fun!

If you click through this link, you and I will BOTH get a bonus of $5.00  (sometimes they even give $10.00!) (After you make your first purchase!



Another site, Mr. Rebates sometimes has slightly better deals, and sometimes ebates does. I go back and forth between the two.  Either way I make money.

Here is the link for Mr. Rebates, and they also give a bonus for signing up.

You can also click the banner below.

There is no better time than now for holiday shopping, and to start getting rebates back from EVERYTHING you buy!

BOTH sites have every store you'd want to buy from...You'd be crazy not to join both rebate sites and check which has the better deal every time you buy! I just got a 10% rebate from GAP put right into my paypal account!  12% from Sephora!  WHY NOT!

Enjoy yourself while you are shopping, but remember to shop locally too.  The little stores in your own neighborhood are struggling to survive these days. Mom and pop ain't bringing home a whole load of bacon any more so spend some time shopping in your own neighborhood.  We appreciate it!

Important News About A Contest That Can Bring A New Life To A Worlds Worth Of People , And Save Children From Child Trafficking And A Life Of Forced Labor.

Please help the IOM/USAIM continue to rescue trafficked children!

Click this link and vote for USAIM to win the money they need to continue their good works!

Here is a little about the organization to help you make it your business to vote, taken from the USAIM website. Keep in mind, that the IOM/USAIM saves children and adults all over the world.

Overview

USAIM supports the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Project Trafficked Children of Ghana. This program is fighting to help hundreds of children forcibly taken from their families to work in the fishing villages along Lake Volta in Ghana. Your donations can help reunite them with their families, send them to school, and keep them from once again being caught up in this terrifying net of forced child labor.

 

Trafficked Children in Ghana Project

For the past three years, IOM has rescued hundreds of children. The children were forced to engage in fishing under life-threatening conditions along LakeVolta at Yeji in the Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions of Ghana. This project brought the children back to their families and enrolled them in schools or apprenticeships in their home communities. The process continues by delivering comprehensive rehabilitation, reintegration, and follow-up assistance to these traumatized children.

This project seeks to protect the children from being once again caught up in the net of forced labour. The Project will provide continuous support to rehabilitate, reintegrate, and monitor them for at least one year following their rescue and return to their home communities.

Thank you all so much...this is very near and dear to my heart!

Mr. Eric Peasah Is Coming To NY! Children With Special Needs, A Final Plea About Shopping Locally!

Mr. Eric Peasah of the IOM

I  am very excited right now!  Mr. Eric Peasah will be coming all the way from Ghana to the Bronx to speak about the problems of child trafficking and forced labor of children in Ghana. I am honored that he is coming to see me, as well as coming to see the students of Monroe College who have been so wonderful in fund raising for the organization.

Mr. Peasah works for the I.O.M....International organization for Migration.  A wonderful group that helps people all over the world.  If there is something you can do for these children, and if you are interested in meeting with Mr. Peasah, please get in touch with me.  He will be in NYC in early December, 2009. If you would like to donate, do so here.

Working With Special Needs Children

Those of you who know me, know that there is nothing I think is more important than the feelings of children. That is why I became involved with the IOM, and that is why I do the work I do.  The gratifying work I do with the families of typically developing and special needs children, trying to make those children as comfortable as possible while getting a haircut.

It might seem funny to some that I write about it in such a serious manner, after all, it's only a haircut!  But to some children, it is a major thing.  It is VERY serious!  Some children just hate every second of it.  It might be scary, the feelings might be just a little to intense for them to process.  I get it.  I really do.  The hardest thing for me is not when the child has a hard time, the hardest thing for me is when the parent doesn't get it! When the parent has a hard time! Not if the parent cries too, I understand that, it is hard to see your child so unhappy, but when the parent tries to shame the child into behaving! Your child isn't doing it on purpose!

I do the best I can. There is NOTHING I haven't seen at this point!  If I need to have a tea party first with your child, I will.  If I need to play with trains first or during the haircut with your child, I will.  If I need to stand on my head for your child...well figuratively I will but literally, maybe not!

I have alot of success and many, many kids who have cried before in other shops do not cry here!

Just remember, I do the best I can, which is better than the rest, but I don't guarantee your child won't cry.  That I cannot do. Keep in mind...I've been kicked, punched, spit at, and thrown up on.  I just keep going as fast as I can, IF YOU WANT ME TO, and as carefully as I can without hurting your child.  PLEASE never feel embarrassed. I know what to do, how to do it and most important, what to expect.  When I am done, 99% of the kids act like nothing ever happened.  And they look good too! 

In the past I worked for the board of education in district 75, the district for special needs children, and my shop is wheelchair accessible, everyone is welcome! 

A Final Thought About Small Stores Surviving In this Economy

Keep in mind everyone, that a store cannot live on haircuts alone.

I hesitate to say this, but while I am very busy, and often have to turn away walk-ins, as all of my customers know,  I haven't been able to find a second haircutter that can do this work well and like it. Without a second haircutter, not enough money comes into the shop, so I continue to struggle to keep Someplace Special going.

To survive, I must make income from selling things. But it painful to me when a child comes in and begs for a toy, and their parent says that they are on their way to Toys R Us, so they can't get something now.  You don't have to buy from me, but though it is hard for me to say this, if you do not, once in awhile, I cannot exist.  And that is part of the reason that there are so many empty store fronts on Riverdale Avenue, or any avenue in America.  The internet, the malls, and big stores have taken over.

Little stores cannot get the deals and the low wholesale prices that big stores get.  We do not get tax breaks. We cannot sell millions of items with low mark-ups and expect to pay our rent.  Owners have a hard time making a living wage.

If I don't make some money, how can I expand my inventory and serve you all better?

As time goes by, I have less and less toys, But I do have some nice ones...And I would LOVE to have more!

Please remember to shop locally.  If you do not, at least once in a while, someday, you will have no choice.  And honestly, where will you find someone like me who will sit on the floor with your child and play while they are giving her/him a haircut?

It really is your choice. I love what I do and I do not want to go away.

To see what I have currently, check out my facebook page.

Someplace Special, Riverdale Food And Restaurants, Riverdale Strength And Fitness Club, Ebates And Mr. Rebates!

Today a more personal blog about the things I like out in cyber-space and in and around the Riverdale area.

FOOD

Ahhh Riverdale!  So much untapped potential here! The food is good, but there is not a big variety especially for lunch! For instance, right now I am sitting here eating a poppyseed bagel with cream cheese that I bought from Riverdale Bagels , it's always great to have a good bagel, and this one is very good! And yesterday I had a wonderful chicken slice from Salvatore's of Soho.  Great Pizza!

But the problem is, that for the last 8 years that I have been in business, for lunch I have eaten bagels, pizza, and more pizza. Sometimes turkey or BLT's from Blue Sky and Blue Bay, and fantastic salads from River City Grill. Oh yea, and more pizza

But I'm a little bored, I need more choices, good choices, healthy choices! So I am looking forward to the opening of the new Greek restaurant that will be opening practically across the street from my store...Greek Express!  I heard they were having trouble with their gas line, but right now it looks like they are back on track and opening soon. I'll keep you posted!

I am also looking forward to the opening of  Jay-Bars...a kind of Zabars in the Bronx.  Keep your fingers crossed, they have been having gas line problems too, from what I have heard.  

EXERCISE

I think you all know that I go to an exercise class! I go to the Riverdale Strength and Fitness Club.  And the trainer, William Harris can be reached at this email address,  and is easy to work with...well, he is easy to work with, but the work isn't easy!.

He is now starting a class for children, for more information, Read this!

MY FAVORITE LINKS

First of all, do you guys know about ebates? A fantastic website where you get rebates back from things you would have bought anyway. At this point, I have gotten back over $500 credited directly to my paypal account. Amazing.  I would have bought these things anyway, this just makes it that much more fun!

If you click through this link, you and I will BOTH get a bonus of $5.00  (sometimes they even give $10.00!)


Another site, Mr. Rebates sometimes has slightly better deals, and sometimes ebates does. I go back and forth between the two.  Either way I make money.

Here is the link for Mr. Rebates, and they also give a bonus for signing up.

There is no better time than now for holiday shopping, and to start getting rebates back from EVERYTHING you buy!

Enjoy yourself while you are shopping, but remember to shop locally too.  The little stores in your own neighborhood are struggling to survive these days. Mom and pop ain't bringing home a whole load of bacon any more so spend some time shopping in your own neighborhood.  We appreciate it!

That being said, remember I have all of the Munipals NYC subway cars, and I can do mail order! Give me a call! 718-432-6622.

If you join my facebook fan page, You can see many of the toys I carry. Please join!
In my next post, I will be listing more cool Riverdale businesses and websites including some great charities I am involved with.  Stay tuned!

Bronx Parking, New York Times Article Mentions Someplace Special, Haircuts And Toys For Kids!

I was mentioned in an article this morning in the New York Times. 

A Bronx Parking Paradise, for a While
Michael M. Grynbaum
Published: October 27, 2009

Of all the tiny tortures that come with driving a car in New York City, perhaps none are more taxing than the ritual of alternate-side-of-the-street parking.
It’s the peaceful morning ruined by an early alarm, the tedium of circling for a space, the despair of spying a tuft of tickets growing from a windshield wiper. But starting on Wednesday, drivers in a portion of the Bronx will be granted a rare reprieve: The city is suspending the rules for six to eight weeks.

The suspension will affect a swath of Riverdale stretching from the Harlem River to West 263rd Street, encompassing the area’s main shopping drags and prime residential streets that peer out to the Palisades. Parts of Kingsbridge and Spuyten Duyvil also will be included.
The reprieve will give the city time to replace 2,200 street signs. The signs will reflect a new policy to clean the area’s streets only once a week instead of twice. The new rules will go into effect in December; until then, Riverdale is a parking paradise.

“It’s a very big deal,” said Tony Perez Cassino, who led an effort by a community board to bring about the changes. “It makes everybody’s life a little bit better.” Privately owned parking spaces in the area can sell for up to $50,000 for prime indoor spots, according to Scott Kriger, a Citi Habitats broker who specializes in Riverdale properties.

So ingrained is the alternate-side ritual in the city’s psyche that George Costanza, on an episode of “Seinfeld,” took a job moving cars from one side of the street to the other. (The result, of course, was bedlam.)

To get the reprieve, Riverdale had to show that 90 percent of its streets were rated “acceptably clean” for three years running. It is only the third time that the city has relaxed the rules. The first two suspensions benefited Brooklyn neighborhoods: Park Slope in 2008 and areas of Fort Greene, Boerum Hill and Downtown Brooklyn this year.

Suzanne Axelbank, owner of Someplace Special Haircuts and Toys for Kids, a children’s salon off Riverdale Avenue, said she would welcome the changes. Her walk to work has been replaced with an unpleasant search for a parking spot since she broke her foot recently. “I parked five or six blocks away, and I had to walk with my broken foot.”

Told of the rule change, Fernando Ferrer, a former candidate for mayor and a 10-year Riverdale resident, feigned surprise: “I’m shocked. Shocked! In an election year?”
Did he suspect some political motivation? “Is the timing fortuitous? Let everyone come to his or her own conclusion,” Mr. Ferrer said. “That’s the beauty of being the incumbent. You can time everything.” He was referring to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who defeated Mr. Ferrer in 2005 and is again seeking re-election.

A spokesman for the Department of Sanitation, which oversees the parking rules, said logistics had determined the timing.
Spaces that fall under other parking restrictions may be cleaned during the rule suspension, city officials said, but in general, the affected streets will go unwashed.

Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, reached by telephone, said that parking was never an issue for him while growing up in Riverdale because he did not have a driver’s license. He said his commute to Horace Mann, a private school in the area, was accomplished on foot. “Downhill on the way there,” he said, “and a hard uphill walk on the way home.”

Holiday Shopping! Munipals Train Sets and Berenguer Dolls, Anti Lice Shampoo, And Shampoo From Circle Of Friends!

Time to start holiday shopping! 

At Someplace Special, we have a full line of New York City subway cars from MUNIPALS, designed to fit on your Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio Tracks...The full NYC shuttle set WITH tracks is now on special for $30.00 originally $39.95! 

We also have a small cute line of dolls from Berenguer...Including adorable Asian and African American dolls, as well as Caucasian.

On another note, we've got the best anti-lice shampoo around from The Lice Treatment Center called Jolis Cheveux...smells like cinnamon!

We also have a new shipment of Circle of Friends shampoos in...Including the fantastic Marisol's Melon leave in conditioner! Wonderful for curly hair, and any hair!


One more thing...join my facebook fan page and see pictures of all of my products!  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Bronx-NY/Someplace-Special-Haircuts-and-Toys-for-Kids/51573983756?ref=ts
And check out all of my websites...THANKS!

Someplace Special
Haircuts and Toys for Kids
490 west 238th St.
Bronx, NY 10463
718-432-6622
someplacespecial@gmail.com
www.someplacespecialforkids.com
http://someplacespecialhaircutsforkids.blogspot.com
http://someplacespecialforkids.shutterfly.com/

 

If you'd like to have something shipped, just let me know!  We accept credit cards and Paypal!

Someplace Special, Haircuts and Toys for Kids. A Children's Beauty Salon, A Children's Barber Shop.

A new customer told me that when she looked on google for  "children's barber shop" or "kid's barber shop" in the Bronx,  Someplace Special, Haircuts and Toys for Kids did not come up.  I know when you look up "children's haircuts bronx" it comes up right away.


In all truth, I never thought of my shop as a barber shop.  Barber shops have a different license than beauty salons. Barbers get barber licenses, and what I have is called a cosmetology license. Do we do alot of the same things?  Absolutely!  But our training is a little different.  In most states, there is a legal distinction between barbers and cosmetologists, with different licensing requirements. These distinctions and requirements vary from state to state. One of the main things is that in New York State, a cosmetology licenses does not allow you to use a straight razor and shave people.


But as far as I can see,  NO ONE learns the skills I have from any training school. Barber or Cosmetology.

I can't imagine a class in "Cutting around the Thomas Table 101"  Or "Haircuts on a moving kiddie ride"  or "Let's play with rolling balls for 10 minutes before we get started."  Let alone, phys ed. classes  to strengthen the knees that I am constantly crawling around on!  And, above all...the most important part of the 20 plus years of on the job training that I have had...ENJOYING the challenge of trying to make a child comfortable and not scared.  That is a psychology class that is never taught at a barber or cosmetology school!


This is the kind of thing I do.  Whatever I need to do, and I love it!

So when you are looking for a place to get your child's hair cut, children's barber shop, or children's hair salon, I hope you will try me out. Someplace Special, Haircuts and Toys for Kids, and join the people who come to me from all over the Bronx, Westchester, Long Island, Orange County, Rockland County, Morris Park, and Manhattan (especially the Inwood, Washington Heights area and Dyckman Street area)

No one is as happy to do what I do as I am!  See you soon!

The Link to St. Gabriel's Contest!

Oyy!  For those of you who subscribe, the link to the St. Gabriel contest did not work on the last version that was sent out . Try this!
http://www.care2.com/schoolcontest/3604373

Vote For St. Gabriel...A Great School In Riverdale, New York

Riverdale is full of wonderful schools, from nursery schools to high schools, and right now, one of our schools is in a contest...St. Gabriel's.  Many of my customer's children attend St. Gabriel and tell me about how wonderful the teachers and staff are. Some have moved their children from other schools and are so happy they made that choice.

Right now, St. Gabe is in a contest to win $20,000. The contest is sponsored by Target.  Let's see if we can get out enough votes to help the children of St. Gabriel's win!

Here are some comments posted on the contest site about St. Gabriel...

"St. Gabriel's School is a wonderful school. The teachers are fantastic. They make learning fun. My children love going to school everyday. I thought my daughter would struggle in school as she is the youngest in the class, however, to my surprise, she is doing fabulously. Thanks to the wonderful teachers, she has an understanding of the work and is doing great. St. Gabriel's is a wonderful academic school and I am confident that my children are receiving the best education possible."

"St. Gabriel School provides an excellent education, preparing students for the demands of high school. Beyond that, the nurturing environment and sense of community set the school apart from others in the area. We love being part of the St. Gabriel School family."

"St. Gabriel school's academics are second to none. My children look forward to going to school every day and are consistently inspired by the superb teachers. The faculty is dedicated and committed to giving their students the tools needed to become successful in high school and college. The principal fosters a nurturing and happy environment where the students feel welcome to express their views. Parents have the peace of mind knowing that their children are being given the best opportunity to succeed in life."

So come on, add your votes to the ones already cast and make St. Gabriel's school a winner...since we all know, it already is a winner!!

Read about St. Gabriel's here...All about St. Gabriel

Vote here...St. Gabriel's...The Best of the Bronx!!

P.S. Even if St. Gabriel does not win the big prize, $500. is given out to a different school randomly every week. That's alot of bucks right there!

Someplace Special Is Now In A Contest From American Express

Hello everyone!
Someplace Special is once again in a contest. This one's pretty big as it is a national contest sponsored by American Express and NBC for small businesses.

I know I've asked before and you've come through. But I'm asking once more for you to vote.

In this case, though, you can only vote once... and... most important... the VOTING ENDS THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13!

That's right, THIS SUNDAY

So I need you to do it right now! In order to qualify Someplace Special needs to get at least 50 votes IMMEDIATELY!

So would you be so kind as to go to this page...
http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=8111

RIGHT NOW!... register on the upper right... and then click the button that says... "Support this Story, Endorse Now" for Someplace Special.

http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=8111

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it... and for this contest... I am only asking for one vote from you so we won't keep bugging you... and please tell your friends!

Thanks so much

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please let me know.
 

We Won The Parent's Connect Contest For The Best Children's Haircut Place In NYC!

Just a quick note to tell you that we won the contest for the best Kids Haircut Place in NYC! To all of you who voted for me, THANKS! I have the BEST customers in the world!
More to come...

Keeping In Shape While Cutting Children's Hair In The Bronx.

Cutting hair is a hard job. You have to stand all day long and move your body in some pretty strange positions. It is way more tiring than you can imagine. Yes, haircutting is a very physically demanding job!

Cutting children's hair is even harder. You have to sit on the floor and play WHILE you are cutting hair. You have to walk around following the child WHILE you are cutting hair, and you have to crawl around on your knees WHILE you are cutting hair. I reach, I bend, I stretch, and play with your children WHILE I am cutting their hair. Honestly, when they stay still I get a little mixed up!

Still, with all of this activity, I felt like I wasn't getting enough exercise, so I started walking to work most days which has become a 2 1/2 mile trek at this point. Through rain and snow and heat of summer, you can see me walking up and down the hills of Riverdale making my way to the thing I love most. Cutting children's hair.

But still, I felt like I wasn't getting enough exercise! I need to keep on my toes to work with your kids, so I started a new exercise regimen. I joined a program called Crossfit. I recommend it highly. The leader, Bill, is very good at what he does and knows how to get the best out of everyone who joins. No matter how much I dread going in to do the work, once it starts, and certainly by the time it is over, I feel great.

I just wanted to pass this on! In case you thought that cutting hair is what I do 24/7! Anyone who is interested, especially if you live in the Bronx or Manhattan, should check out Bill's website and try it out!

Back From England, And Ready To Cut Children's Hair. Come On In!

Hey all, I'm back!

I went to sunny old England. Yes, while I was there, and it was raining all of the time over here in NYC, it was sunny and beautiful there. I didn't have to open up my umbrella once!

I took a good look at some interesting hairstyles in London and Liverpool, and at a future date I will be happy to describe them to you, but for now, I have some catching up to do...I have to do a large backlog of haircuts for the people who waited for me to get back from my trip.

Just wanted to let you all know that I am back, and ready to rock!

But please...call to make an appointment...I hate to turn people away....and if you call, I won't have to!

Closed For Renovations

Someplace Special will be closed from July 19th until July 29th for some renovations.
Sorry for any inconvenience! If you need more info, give the shop a call.

Once Again, Time To Vote!

For Haircut
in New York
OK Everyone, we are coming up to the last few days of the Parents Pick awards. Only 6 more days left to vote as I write this, and you can vote every day!

I'm proud to say that after 7 years in business, I have a wonderful relationship with all of my customers, past and present.

Click on the icon above and vote for Someplace Special!
Thanks for your votes!

I Love A Challenge, And I Do Not Care How Much Your Child Moves During A Haircut, Or If I Have To Do It Sitting On The Floor!

A few things to keep in mind if you come to Someplace Special...

I does not matter to me if your child stays still or moves during the haircut!
Not only have I done a haircut on the moving ride that is outside of the store, but I've come to realize that few children stay still, some just move a bit more (or alot more) than others! I'd rather you NOT tell your child to stay still! I like them to feel natural and comfortable and not like I am a threat.

There is NOTHING I haven't seen or done in the last 15 years of doing children's hair. NOTHING! In my 30 years of haircutting experience, I have learned quite a bit!

I NEVER mind crawling on the floor to get the job done.
I have knees of steel and I see it all as a challenge, and fun! I like a little variety in my day.

I routinely do haircuts while walking around the Thomas the Tank Engine train table. I actually get a kick out of it! It's hard to keep standing in one place all day!

Please do not tell your child to be ashamed of themselves if they cry or get upset during a haircut. Fear cannot be helped. I promise they will get over it, but each child does it at their own pace. Shaming a child makes me sadder than anything, because it makes them sad too.

Some kids who are not afraid might not even realize they are moving. I do not mind at all! I just want to make friends and do a good haircut, and I will do whatever it takes to get it done.

I see each child as an individual, a person to respect.

ALL children, typical and special needs, welcome here!!

And do leave comments! I see people come to this site from all over the world. If you have any questions, or comments, or ideas, or just want to say hi, please do!

One More thing, if you are reading this before July 15th 2009, please vote for me in the Best Haircut Place in New York City contest! You can do it every day!

Thanks!