Give Me All Your Recommendations
If you've got a local expertise in something, I want to hear from you. We all do.
A great philosopher once wrote, “We are what we recommend.”
I kid. I just made that up.
But it makes sense, doesn’t it? Our recommendations quite literally define who we are. They’re a form of self-expression and identity. They give friends, family, our local Facebook groups (shoutout to Lewisboro/Katonah Community) and email listservs (shoutout to Pound Ridge Working Moms Group) a glimpse into our taste, style, sense of humor and values.
When a friend asks me for a recommendation, I consider it the highest compliment. Wait, you want my thoughts on the best chimney sweep? The most delicious sushi in Westport? A list of my favorite podcasts?! I don’t care what it is; I will do my best to NOT steer you wrong. My reputation is on the line here.
The point of “Ask an Expert”
I launched the Ask an Expert column to offer a dedicated space for The Plan readers to share authentic recommendations on their local niche expertise. The idea was not just to inspire each other to try something new, but to help us all get to know each other a bit better.
We’re neighbors, after all.
So far, I’ve featured a local lawyer’s best ideas for kid-friendly day trips, thrifty parents’ recommendations on where to buy pre-loved kids clothes, a nature-loving mom’s favorite family hikes, and two theater parents’ ideas on local shows for kids.
But I need more and I’d love your help!
Are you a real estate agent who takes your family on epic camping adventures nearby?
A C-suite exec who can tell us the best wineries to take kids?
A fitness instructor who can rank the area’s best diner pancakes?
I want to hear from you. (We all do.)
If you’re a local business owner, hear me out.
If you sell bagels or flowers or pilates classes, why pigeon-hole yourself into only talking about things related to your business? Yawn 🥱. Here are 3 simple reasons why you should share your local recommendations with us in an upcoming column:
It humanizes you.
We’re all curious about who our favorite business owners are beyond their day jobs. Your recommendations show us who you are, what you like, what inspires you.
It’s an extension of your personal brand.
Your brand is more than just your shop, your product, or your class. It’s you and what you recommend.
More authentic than an ad.
Ads are great to keep your business name top-of-mind, but you need creative ways to build trust. Sharing recommendations with your community does just that. (And research shows people want to do business with & support brands they trust.)
Right now, The Plan reaches 375+ local parents every week, but my average email open rate is 75% (average for e-newsletters is, like, 17%), and I consistently see subscribers re-open my emails again and again. This one, for example, was viewed more than 1,200x.
I can’t think of any ideas. Do you have any?
Heck yes I do. Here’s just a sampling of some columns I’d love to write with you. If any strike your fancy, just comment, DM, email me, or submit your pitch here and we can pull something together.
CONNECTION
3 Local Moms Share the Best Kid-Friendly Places for a First Mom Date.
Unique Weekend Play-Date Ideas: 3 Working Toddler Moms Weigh In.
This Couple has 3 Local Date Night Ideas That Will Change Your Marriage.
This Mom Knows How to Throw the Perfect Local Family Movie Night.
DINING
Do You Know the Best Happy Hour Spots To Bring Your Kid? This Mom Does.
This Local Dad Knows the Best Spots to Treat Your Kid to a “Fancy Lunch.”
A New Mom Weighs in on the Best Brunch Spots to Bring Your Napping Newborn.
These Parents Know 5 High-End Restaurants That are Surprisingly Kid-Friendly.
Diner Culture: This Mom Says These Are The Only Spots Worth Your Time & Money.
My Daughter and I Are Croissant Connoisseurs. These Are Our Top 3 Local Spots.
Read One Mom’s Recs on The Top 3 Kid-Friendly Restaurants That Serve Margaritas.
This Kid Ranked His Top 5 Local Restaurants That Serve Chicken Fingers.
This Dad and His Son Rank the Top 5 Flavors at Deborah Anne's.
These Local Moms Know the Best Kid-Friendly Tea Services Around.
NATURE & DESIGN
A Hiking Expert Says These 5 Local Kid-Friendly Trails Have an Amazing History.
4 Parents on the Best Kid-Friendly Camping Spots Within a 2-Hour Drive.
Why This Mom Takes Her Kids to These Bike-Riding Trails Every Spring.
This Architectural Design-Loving Mom Says Her Kids Love These 3 Local Gems.
This Westchester Native Recommends 5 Lovely Spots for a Family Picnic.
These Moms Know the Best Spots to Take Your Kids for a Swim This Summer.
Beach With Kids: Why This Mom Loves These 3 Laid-Back Spots.
SELF-CARE
These Fashionista Moms Share the Best Salons for Mommy-and-Me Manis.
Where Do You Take Your Kid for a Good Haircut Around Here? 3 Local Moms Weigh In.
FOOD
This Fancy Cheese-Loving Mom Tells Us Her Local Kid-Approved Faves.
One Mom on Why Farmers Markets are the Best Kid-Friendly Spring Activity.
This CT Native Tells Us Why These 3 Local Working Farms Are a “Must-Visit” With the Kids.
SHOPPING
3 Parents on the Best Local Places to Shop for a Last-Minute Kid Birthday Gift.
This Mom Loves Gifting Experiences, Not Things. Here are Her Top 5 Local Go-Tos.
GIVING BACK
This Mom Knows 10 Great Places to Volunteer With Your Kids.
LOCAL TRAVEL
This Local History-Loving Mom Says These Historic Spots are Incredible for Kids.
A Brooklyn Mom Transplant says Skip the Big Museums and Try These Lesser-Known Ones Instead.
Have You Heard of These 10 Podcasts For Kids? These Parents Say They’re Perfect for Road Trips.
Two Green Thumb Moms Told Me 5 Kid-Friendly Gardens to Visit This Spring.
This Mom Has the Best Weekend Trip Ideas to Take With Your Kids and Your BFF.
This Former Manhattan Mom Just Shared the Perfect NYC Itinerary for You and Your Middle-School-Aged Girl.
This Local Dad Knows of 4 Kid-Friendly Spots with Seriously Good Vibes.
This Guitar-Playing Dad Says These Kid-Friendly Live Music Venues are Awesome.
But these are just my wish-list ideas. What are yours? Comment below, email me at kaylakaplowitz@substack.com, or submit your pitch here and let’s put our heads together!
xo,
K
PS: Don’t forget to follow The Plan on Instagram. 😉