If you’re an expecting mommy who’s about to give birth any moment, you may want to hold off until Sunday (because it’s totally under your control, right?). Parents of those babes born on Father’s Day can enter to win free bottles for an entire year from BornFree Natural Baby Products. I’m usually skeptical of contests like these because, really, what are the odds of being that one person who wins? But BornFree is sending supplies to 1,000 winners, so your chances might be better than most. (According to the Morehouse School of Medicine, an average of 11,120 babies are born in the U.S. each day.) Plus, the bottles are free of Bisphenol-A. (BPA is a chemical found in plastic bottles made of polycarbonate, a substance the World Wildlife Fund says should be avoided.)  You’ve got a month to enter after the kiddo is born, you know, with all the spare time you’ll have then. And no, cheating’s not allowed–a copy of your child’s birth certificate is required.

A standard two-pack of BornFree bottles retails for $20. For more information and to enter, visit newbornfree.com/pics/bornfree/fathersday.htm.

“Venue” seems far too sterile a word for Dylan’s Candy Bar, the literally sweet location of last night’s benefit for The Ronald McDonald House Charities, a worldwide organization that provides housing for parents of sick children being treated in nearby hospitals. Sponsored by ParentSociety.com, an online resource for young families, the event served as a kick-off to its Million Dollar Baby Board project, which aims to raise $1 million for the children of RMHC. Patients of RMHC mingled with celebrities and their kids, including Alex McCord of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City, and her Brooks Brothers-clad son Francois, all while noshing on the goodies and crafting with edible supplies.

Between the chocolate fountain, the pizza and the sundae bar, I was forced to assess my priorities. Much of the evening was spent bobbing my head to live music from The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, while juggling my notebook, a chocolate-covered pretzel and a vanilla ice cream creation which was smothered in rainbow sprinkles and strawberry sauce.

From the tot perspective, the real star of the night was Pleo—an animatronic dinosaur that acts just like a real pet but requires no litter box, leash, or patience, and who trotted along the purple carpet all night for extra entertainment. A built-in sensor helps Pleo nuzzle, cuddle and tug at your pants—pretty much everything but beg for a walk—perfect for the children of Ronald McDonald House who need a germ-free alternative to a puppy, but also convenient for Manhattan parents, who, for bargain price of $340, don’t have to worry about anything furry destroying the suede loveseat or taking over the never-big-enough city apartment. Pleo dinos are available at Target, Walmart and Circuit City stores nationwide.

From the gumball machine-painting to the energetic tunes, last night there was absolutely no reason to feel guilty about indulging that sweet tooth. –Molly Fedick

There really is nothing better than an event that combines the two essential C’s: candy and charity. Tonight, ParentSociety.com, a resource for all things parenting, teams up with Dylan’s Candy Bar to host One Sweet Day, a fund-raising event for the Ronald McDonald House, which supports programs to improve the health of children around the world.

Celebs like Ally Sheedy and the ladies of The Real Housewives of New York City (plus more surprise guests) will walk Dylan’s Purple Carpet along with you and your own brood while photogs snap shots paparazzi-style to take home. Once inside the sweets haven, everyone can nosh on sundaes and candy, get artsy at interactive craft stations and play with robotic pet dinosaurs from Pleo. Sounds like one delicious evening to us.

The event is only a few hours away, so be sure to send in your RSVPs now to onesweetday@parentsociety.com.

One Sweet Day, tonight 7-9pm. Dylan’s Candy Bar, 1011 Third Ave at 60th St (dylanscandybar.com). Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, R, W to Lexington Ave–59th St.

See all of today’s NYC kid events

Season after season, I was that lone pig-tailed girl stuck with a rambunctious, all-boys team (thanks Dad!). But luckily, I held my own until middle school – that’s when teams were, oh at last, separated by sex. Now, those years of Little League generate a twinge of nostalgia – not a therapy session analyzing my gender diffidence. So with my spirit of sport inquiry in tow – and the thermometer’s reading of netherworld-like temperatures – I treated myself to the afternoon off and headed to sports heaven, otherwise known as Last Licks Ice Cream.

The Upper East Side’s sports enthusiasts’ paradise opened its gates just three weeks ago and has already established itself as a home base for kids and family. Licks is modeled after an adults sport’s bar, providing the requisite ice cream counter (lined with painted wooden bats), barstools (styled after baseballs), and of course, a plethora of big-screen TVs. The eatery also provides a dugout for pigging out! This design is time tested – there are three other locations in suburbia surrounding the city, and it’s all cute, but really, you’re in New York City – bring your A game. So what exactly elevates Licks from the strip malls of Lizzie McGuire to the boulevards of Gossip Girl, or for a more appropriate comparison, from the minors to the majors?

Well, wrap your helmet-hair head around this: Licks claims a spot in the big leagues with monthly opportunities to meet and greet some of sports’ biggest powerhouses. Due to its partnership with Steiner Sports – Brandon Steiner founded the ice cream bar in 2000 – Last Licks gets first dibs on athletes ranging from New York Yankees’ Paul O’Neill (my personal favorite) to closer Mariano Rivera. And although many of the store’s visitors tote pinstripes, athletes of all breeds have been known to pay a visit. Licks promises ten appearances per year per store. But even if you can’t catch a star (or even a baseball for that matter), don’t fret – Licks is an ice cream shop at heart. That means the freedom to ingest flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip (Mr. O’Neill’s preference), Cotton Candy, and Louisiana Pecan Crunch.

Last Lick’s Ice Cream, 245 E 93rd St (646-596-7984, lastlicksicecream.com). Subway: 6 to 96th St. A small is priced at about $3. –Madeleine Kronovet

Check out other yummy summer treats around the city

A few nights ago, I was over in Chelsea at Milk Gallery for the opening of a retrospect on the photographer Ricky Powell (otherwise known as the fourth Beastie Boy, a revered ’80s and ’90s lensman who has shot the likes of Cindy Crawford, Andy Warhol and loads of other icons), when I noticed three little ankle-bitters just chillin’ between a skateboarding hipster and a waifish model. I paused for a second to take it in; could these under-five babes really be taking part in such a sophisticated New York evening? After all, I felt like I barely belonged in the space as a mere twenty-four-year-old. What were they: impostors or the new inhabitants?

Walking home I realized I had more mixed feelings about the situation than I thought I did. At first, I dismissed them entirely, thinking it was inappropriate to be taking kids to such an event (I should also add that wine, beer and vodka were flowing without restraint). I also wondered if attending events like this at such a young age would make them jaded; being a guest would seem so ordinary by the time they reached their twenties that invitations would probably be taken for granted. But then another thought occurred to me: Has acceptance of the kiddie set become so widespread that it’s not even a question whether or not to tote them along?

Funny thing is, this actually sort of works in New York City, though I don’t think it would fly anywhere else in the country (even in my hometown of San Francisco, one of the most liberal cities). Watching the kids at the gallery, I realized how well behaved they were; sure, they were enthralled with their Game Boy, but they weren’t screaming, running around or fighting with one another. And in all honesty, I saw some teenagers at the event that were behaving much more childishly than the kids before me.

I’m still not sure exactly where my sentiments really lie on the issue–I can’t say I would like to be seated next to someone at Fashion Week still donning diapers–but I’m much more open to this trend than I was before I moved to New York. Who knows, maybe I’ll find myself bringing my own kids to the otherwise grown-up events I attend when I have a family. But one thing’s for certain: I’ll be sure to pack that Game Boy.

What do you think about taking kids to adult events? Welcome attendees or obnoxious invaders? Leave a comment!

Last week, Sarah Jessica Parker and company graced Radio City Music Hall for the SATC premiere; this week, the main attraction is none other than your own budding starlets. This Monday, June 9th from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, the New York landmark is welcoming children age 12 and under to its stage for the 2008 U.S. Open casting call, where young talents will belt a capella renditions of “America the Beautiful” and compete for the chance to sing the national anthem during the final U.S. Open matches. Finally, your kids can live out their American Idol fantasies without worrying about the nastiness of Simon Cowell, although there will be one celebrity judge, ex-Idol rocker Constantine Maroulis (of sixth place, season four fame—we anticipate a little more compassion from him than Sir Cowell).

All are welcome, but this casting call isn’t for the faint of heart. Winners must prepare to sing at Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of 24,000 people, not to mention celebrity spectators in the audience as well as the tennis masters themselves. This prospect is enough to send me running the other way, but apparently does not deter the hundreds of contestants who wake at the crack of dawn to secure their place at the front of the line for this event. But there’s no reason to lose hope. Just think, among the crowds of neurotic stage parents and frantic children, there is a star who could be your very own little one. And if nothing else, your kid will always be able to boast about performing at Radio City—instant street cred. —Stella Tan

Going green doesn’t have to be a difficult aesthetic pursuit. At the “Detox Your Home” event tonight, Victoria Pericon of SavvyMommy.com teams up with Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green, to show you how to become eco-friendly while remaining your glamorous self (which you should). From 7-10 pm at the Method pop-up store, sip on organic fruit drinks and sustainable hors d’oeuvres while Pericon and Uliano offer free beauty tips about products that benefit both your skin and the environment. You can also start green-ifying your life by exchanging your toxic household cleaners for a goodie bag of Method products, including items from the new Methodbaby and Methodkids lines. You’ll leave feeling good both inside and out. –Stella Tan

"Detox your Home" at Method, 550 Broadway between Spring and Prince. Tonight, Wednesday June 4, 7-10pm. Free.

See all of today’s events