Shea's blog

Now that Halloween is behind us, I can feel a subliminal pressure mounting about the coming Holiday Season. The toy commercials are ramping up, the Toys R Us big book of presents as I call it arrived last Sunday, and I even spotted some tinsel being strewn, but I'm not gonna tell you where. At any rate, in case you hadn't heard, there is one less weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, meaning once Thanksgiving hits (which is just a few short weeks away), we are pretty much going to be in turbo Holiday mode until January 1st. Take advantage of the calm before the storm this weekend, and check out some of the cool family events going on across the Island:

With all the hullabaloo about Halloween lately, you might have missed another great happening here on Long Island-It's Long Island Restaurant Week. And, aside from giving you an excuse to get out and sample the local flavors and specialties, the restaurants participating are also giving you a chance to save some money. Over 200 venues are taking part in the celebration, and all are offering a 24.95 prix fixe menu. It's your chance to enjoy high end dining at lower end prices.

With Halloween falling on a Saturday, chances are your weekend plans include a day of Holiday festivities and a day of relaxation on Sunday. Or maybe you're looking for ways to stay out of the house and away from all the Halloween candy on Sunday. Whether you're looking for ways to get the most out of Halloween this weekend, or ways to get moving on from it, we've rounded up some of the best on and off the beaten path activities for you on Long Island this weekend:
 

When I was a kid, my fondest memories of Halloween were those I spent trick or treating, where our neighborhood was chock full of kids filling the sidewalks of tree-lined streets that were blocked off from auto-traffic. We’d come home with garbage bags full of candy, open it up and have our parents inspect it, select a few, and put the rest away (my mom told us it was going into the freezer to stay “fresh, and that we could eat a piece of candy a day until next Halloween”- a statement I recently confirmed was a falsehood after years of wondering why we needed more candy in our Easter baskets).

With one weekend left until Halloween, there are lots of great events going on to celebrate. And, before the weather turns cold, there are also some really nice Fall outdoor events for families to check out this weekend. There is still time to go pumpkin picking, and if you're looking for great farms, check out our pumpkin picking post. Or, we recently shared great Halloween events and the best kid friendly Haunted Houses on the island as well. So whether you're looking for more ways to get your "wear" out of those costumes or just looking for ways to get out, we've rounded up some of the best events on Long Island for families this weekend:
 

Haven't picked up your Halloween costumes yet? Lucky for you, there are still plenty of other great activities going on here on Long Island this weekend for you. On the other hand, if you're looking for ways to get the most out of the Halloween costumes you bought or borrowed this year, check out our recent post on great Halloween Events on Long Island or check out our Halloween Guide. And here's our picks for the best events and activities to enjoy this weekend:

Halloween is going commercial. It seems like every place I go and everyone I know is offering a Halloween version of what they do. The museums, the parks, the playspaces: everyone is doing Halloween events right now. With more options than ever before, I set out to find some of the coolest and most unique Halloween activities on Long Island that would be worth a trip from the city or beyond. Some of these sell out so order your tickets soon:

I have family visiting and I was thinking today that there really couldn't be a better time to visit Long Island than now. Fall is here, it's pumpkin and apple picking season, Fall farms are bustling, and there are plenty of Fall Festivals happening across the island as well. The weather forecast looks great for Columbus Weekend, and here are a few of our favorite suggestions for activities for you and your family to enjoy over the long weekend:

There is so much to enjoy this time of year on Long Island, and this weekend's events really reflect that. Head to one of our great local farms, hit a family festival, enjoy one last blast of Summer beach life, or take advantage of the great cultural offerings available for families. You might also want to check out our recent posts about pumpkin picking or apple picking farms on the Island. I don't know about you, but now that school is back in session, I cherish these last long days (even thought they are getting shorter) and I'm looking forward to getting outside and enjoying some of this Fall air. Here are our suggestions for Long Island's best family activities this weekend:

My son's school trip to the local apple orchard this week reminded me that plenty of other people might be looking to take advantage of one of Long Island's traditional Fall pasttimes-apple picking. Whether you're looking for an orchard with all the bells and whistles or an orchard with trees perfectly sized for wee ones, you can find it at one of Long Island's Pick Your Own Apple Farms. Just makes ure to call ahead to find out what they've got to pick before you go and make usre they're not picked out. 

Check out our picks for the best apple orchards to visit with your family: