DUMBO

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. Luckly, we've lined up 13 of the best places to grab hot chocolate in Brooklyn, just in time for the cold, dark February weather. And if Phil is to be believed, you'll be enjoying a hot cup well into March.

See our posts on where to get a great cup of hot cocoa in Manhattan and Queens also.
 

Even if you're a crackerjack story reader (silly voices, accents and all), most kids appreciate a new face behind even the most familiar books now and then, which is why story times are a swell way to spend an hour or two. Most storytimes are free (or cheap) and some venues also offer other activities or tempting kids' book-browsing, so the fun can continue after reading time ends. 

Luckily, Brooklyn has plenty of regular story time opportunities for kids, but if you're looking for more, check out our earlier post on NYC Story Times (mostly Manhattan). Or add yours to the list in the comments section below.

When did I become the type of person that travels to another borough because she heard a new candy store opened up? I have no explanation, but that's just what we did yesterday after seeing wonderful pictures of this fantastic new sweetopia in DUMBO, Dewey's Candy.

In “Tangled Up In Blue”, Bob Dylan sings of Montague St. that “There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air”. I’m not sure any of that is true of Brooklyn Heights in 2010 but there are certainly a lot of children’s music classes in the neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods of DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill and Red Hook. Maybe they can help your child turn into the next Bob Dylan . . . or maybe just bring some music to Montague St in 2035.

If everybody loves a parade, everybody must be absolutely smitten with a Halloween parade. You should probably take your kids to the big VIllage Halloween Parade once just for the sheer theater of it, but most years we stick to the little neighborhood parades. The littler Halloween parades are great for kids, not just because of the lack of mobs, but most of them anyone can just jump in and you'll see the most fun, creative homemade costumes all in one place.

I've gathered up a bunch of alternative Halloween parades for kids that sound like a a lot of fun to participate in or just watch. And if you don't live in a great trick or treating neighborhood, this is a great excuse to join in the fun in another neighborhood. Go for the parade. Stay for the trick or treating!