Comments on: New York Breeds

By: India

India — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 18:53:04 +0000

I usually refer to them as “sprouts” (with the singular pronoun “it,” up to about age nine), but I’ve admired the term “sprog” for some time.

By: Dervala

Dervala — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 18:31:21 +0000

I like to think of it as an irreverent combination of progeny and spawn. Rugrat is probably the closest American term, but it’s not quite disparaging enough.

By: moose

moose — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 16:25:36 +0000

Thanks, Justin! I surmised the meaning, just was curious about the derivation. Appreciate the link.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 14:20:50 +0000

sprog: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sprog (2nd meaning btw.)

John Peel on naming sprogs: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hometruths/giveasprogabadname.shtml

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 14:16:50 +0000

Same’s happening in Dublin — last time I was there, a few of us met up for lunch, and a full quarter of the attendees were under 4 years old. Turns out stripped-pine-and-noodles Wagamama is really kiddie-friendly — I never realised!

By: moose

moose — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 14:08:48 +0000

Um. Sprog?

By: India

India — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 13:32:06 +0000

I’m sure you’re right about Halcyon; unfortunately, I can’t stand the place myself—the music makes me want to kill someone, even if there are no children around.

I almost always meet my friend Rachel and her child at the playground that’s catacorner to Magnolia Bakery: cake for us, swings for Rosa. What could be better?

When my California friends came to visit with their sprog in May, we took her to the Fall Caf� at Smith and Union. It’s always full of brats anyway, so I figured we’d blend. It turned out that our brat was exponentially more obnoxious than all the other kids present, however—more shrieky, more grabby, more mortifying. Exeunt parkward.

I’ve heard that the Two Boots in the EV is extremely kid-friendy, and I know that Veselka is also surprisingly so.