Downtown

Buying local is the hip new thing, but beyond just being trendy and "supporting local businesses," buying local is important to us because it builds community and sustains what we love most about NYC: its cool, eclectic mix of unique, small shops and walkable city streets.

There are several Holiday shopping events that make shopping locally into fun, outings. Plus we've got a round-up of sample sales. Read more »

They say that when you have kids everything changes. By everything, I think they predominantly mean Saturdays. Remember when your Saturdays could include marathon sessions of, well, pretty much whatever you like to do. Now Saturdays can just feel like marathons of...marathons. Sometimes structured weekend activities help make Saturdays run smoother.

Mommy Poppins reader, Josie from Riverdale, asked if I knew of any Mommy and Me programs that offer Saturday classes and I thought I'd share some here with all of you. I mostly picked places that have multiple locations so that you can find a location near home. Click on the links to visit each site and find the most convenient locations. Read more »

Babies can respond to music before they can do a lot of other things, so it's no wonder that music classes are often the first Mommy and Me you'll try out with your little donut. And it's no coincidence that there are music classes offered all over the city. We've written about some great ones in the past, like Music for Aardvarks, but here are some more great music classes that offer Mommy and Me Music Programs for you and your baby. Some of them are even offering discounts for Mommy Poppins readers.

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The bankers and the artists may get all the press, but NYC is a great city for science too. There are many wondrous places in New York where kids can soak up, explore and create scientific knowledge for themselves. From Science Museums, Programs, Shops and more, we've rounded up the best places for kids to get scientific in New York City. Read more »

There seems to be an explosion of new ice skating rinks in NYC this year. Last week we reported that the American Museum of Natural History is opening a new ice skating rink in November and now we've heard of two more new rinks opening this winter. Read more »

Don't miss out on taking advantage of all the great museums NYC has to offer just because the admissions are higher than a skyscraper. Our guide to NYC museum free times will give you the inside scoop of when to visit your favorite museums or try out a new one with our listings of free museum hours in New York City.

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Starting this weekend, most events taking place for kids in NYC invite you to come in costume. So, get your Princesses and Spidermen ready and check out these fall festivals:

NYC Apple Day 2008 - the LES turns the "Big Apple" green with NYC Apple Day and  Go Green Lower East Side. Be transported back in time with the old-fashioned apple cider press, a live honey beehive plus some modern faves like Read more »

In addition to all the local Halloween Parades and Festivals, the city is literally packed with FREE Halloween activities. In fact there are so many great things to do on October 25th you may need a magic eight ball to decide where to go. Luckily your kids will be so hopped up on candy they will have the energy to take in several events in one day.

Keep reading to find out where and when you can levitate at magic shows, hop on hay rides, take a creepy candle-lt tour of Grant’s Tomb, visit haunted houses, dance your way through the post trick-or-treat sugar comma and get the whole family dressed up, even the dog. (Photo  by Istolethev). Read more »

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.

This year, 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 crash another neighborhood. Go for the parade. Stay for the trick or treating!

Back in August we did a giveaway for 4 complimentary tickets to the Kiddie Cruise and it was so popular, we are doing it again but this time two lucky Mommy Poppinistas will win 4 tickets to the Halloween Kiddie Cruise.

Setting sail on Oct. 26 at noon, the Halloween Kiddie Cruise will take you on a ghoulishly fun two hour tour of the Hudson. The cruise ship is a 3 level Louisiana-Style paddle-wheel boat that is packed full of Halloween kiddie entertainment. Recommended for kids ages 2 to 8, you can expect face painting, balloon sculpting, arts and crafts, magic shows, performances, story telling, live music, raffles and yummy food for kids and adults.

Keep reading for details on how to enter... Read more »