We recently spoke to Jillian DiChiaro, co-owner of Madison Rose, a new maternity shop in Carroll Gardens. The store, which is named after her two daughters, Riley Madison and Stella Rose, buys, sells and trades maternity clothes. “After my second daughter was born, I decided to sell my maternity clothes online,” says DiChiaro. “I had spent a lot of money on them and felt that someone else could get use out of them. It was then that I realized how desperately women wanted fashionable maternity clothes at reasonable prices!” At first, DiChiaro bought clothes from women in her neighborhood and online, and set up shop in her house. But, when her husband got laid off (he was a former merchandiser), the duo decided to pool their talents and open up Madison Rose. The boutique carries stylish items including brands such as Olian, Maternal America, Momzee and Noppies. All buying and selling is done by appointment only, so make sure to call the store in advance. The shop also offers nursing clothes; that way, they can still please customers who’ve already given birth.

The opening of a locally owned shop of any kind is cause for celebration, especially when so many NYC stores are shutting their doors. But for lit lovers, the arrival of a new indie bookstore feels like a national holiday. That’s why we’re thrilled to hear that eagerly awaited Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene opens to the public this Saturday, October 24. Come by at 10am for storytime with Michelle Knudsen, author of the adorable (and bestselling) picture book Library Lion. There will be book-related goodies and prizes for the kids (and a champagne toast for grownups who return to the store at 7pm), but we think the real treat is the fact that city bibliophiles of all ages have a new haven, just in time for curl-up-with-a-good-book season.

Photo: Kathryn Kirk

If you happen to be wandering around downtown Brooklyn with your brood during the next few weeks, be sure to stop by Borough Hall. From now until October 23rd, Coney Island’s long-lost Dreamland Bell—which was retrieved from the Atlantic Ocean last month—will be on display.

The 500-pound, three-foot-tall bell was discovered under water in September by diver Gene Ritter; it landed on the ocean floor back in 1911 when an 18-hour fire burned down Dreamland Park. Because the bell was underwater for almost a century, the only way to preserve it is to keep it wet (a hose has been set up to trickle water over it while it’s on view).

For young fans of Coney Island and parents depressed by the park’s sorry state, the bell is a nice reminder that the Brooklyn fun zone has faced tough times in the past—and managed to overcome them and flourish. So cheer up and give your kids a peek at NYC history. There may still be glory days ahead for Coney Island. We’re particularly excited about the newly-bright future of  its other underwater spectacle: the New York Aquarium.

We know you don’t need another reason to live here, but we’ve got one. New census data shows that New York state had the third fewest divorcés in the nation last year. The only states that beat us? North Dakota and New Jersey (so no, our superiority is not feeling too threatened).

And guess what? The divorce rates in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island were even lower than the state average of 8.4%. Even the Bronx and Manhattan fared better than the national average, at 9% and 10.4% respectively. The national average is 10.7%.

So what makes NYC couples stay together? Is it the cuisine, the culture, the diversity, or, ahem, the quality family time that Time Out Kids bolsters?

Some seem to think the numbers are a reflection on New York’s difficult divorce laws (we’re one of the few states without “no-fault” divorce) and the fact that New Yorkers are just plain fickle (fewer marry in New York than in other states).

But having met hundreds of happily married parents—who absolutely adore this city—we’re not quite ready to buy the cynical argument. So tell us: Has living in NYC helped your marriage stay in tact? And for those who are divorced, just how difficult was the process?