Our first links post of 2015 is a grab bag of odds (a remake of John Waters' infamous Pink Flamingos with kids!) and ends (the closure of Lower East Side mainstay Streit's Matzo Factory), plus important news if you're applying to kindergarten. We've also got the scoop on the newest residents at the Central Park Zoo, a rise in the cost of admission at a beloved kids' museum, dinosaurs on Staten Island, FREE coding classes for teens, and other news of interest to NYC families.

When we go to see the Red Sox, New England Revolution, Bruins or PawSox play, my kids want the whole package--snacks, souvenirs, entertainment, and to watch the game (possibly in that order). I love New England sports, too, but I'm an even bigger fan of budget-friendly, all-inclusive family fun. With that in mind, the Boston Celtics’ Club Green Family Pack is a win-win for all: My kids get their swag, treats and entertainment, while I get a great deal that doesn't break the bank.

So when the Celtics invited us to try out a Club Green Family Pack and tell Mommy Poppins Boston readers all about it, I was more than game. Read on for the package details, highlights of seeing the Celtics play at TD Garden (it’s so much better in person, even if you do have a ginormous flat screen TV) and a few tips for getting the most out of the experience with kids. 

Skiing - it sounds so appealing, doesn't it? Getting some much needed exercise, filling everyone's lungs with fresh mountain air, letting the kids play in snow, enjoying an activity the whole family can do together -- ah, right. That's what stops you every year. Because the whole family sounds like a whole lot more people when you're counting lift tickets rather than heads.

The good news is that some ski resorts seem to understand this dilemma and have been inspired to create 5th Graders Ski Free programs around the country. Not only did you read that right, there are no tricks or strings. No, you don't have to give anyone a credit card number that auto-pays annual ski passes every year until college. In fact, you don't really have to do anything but choose the right ski resort and prove that your kid is in the 5th grade. The rest is a win-win for all involved: the ski resort takes a gamble on hooking your kids for life after letting them ski free for an entire season. Fair enough. Mom and Dad get to ski without coughing up the extra cash to find out whether Junior loves or hates snow sports. Everyone wins; everyone skis, and all just for reaching the ripe old age of ten.

Happy New Year, Jersey! The holidays are officially behind us and the month of January is a great time to get back to normal routines and enjoy some down time as a family after all of December’s craziness. If you’re craving some fresh air, bundle up and check out flora and fauna at Mountain Lakes Preserve with a Welcome Winter Walk, discover Winter Waterfowl along Liberty State Park’s beautiful boardwalk or let the kids roam the wintry trails at Tenafly Nature Center during a Seasonal Scavenger Hunt. If the thought of the outdoors has you shivering, we’ve got you covered – let the kids get crafty at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts Family Fun Day or take in an energetic performance of Wild Kratts Live at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

It hasn't been the flashiest city on the map for decades, or maybe ever, but Bridgeport still has a HEAP to offer families in terms of fun.  It is a coastal city, and there are lovely pockets of shoreline to explore here, just like the rest of Fairfield County.  It also has a wide range of entertainment venues, whether your tribe is into sports or science.  Most of all, Bridgeport has a Mayor in place that deeply believes in the Park City and its potential -- and he isn't alone, as evidenced by a handful of devoted developers at work. If you've been inclined to write off this town, we'd suggest checking this list, and keeping an ear to the ground for what we might add next!

What kid doesn't love pizza? After all, there's a reason why it's such a staple at birthday parties. And now, parents can show their culinary cuties a perfect birthday with these pizza making party ideas. Several venues on Long Island allow little ones to roll up their sleeves and be a chef for the day.

For more fun birthday party ideas, check out our Long Island Party Guide.

Remember when a day off from school sounded like a good thing?

Now that we’re the grown-ups, of course, it’s a different story. And as if Monday holidays to honor veterans, presidents, and the like were not enough, our current economic struggles have also left us with a legacy of “Furlough Days” – which translates loosely as “random days when we need to find childcare.”

Luckily some enterprising local camps who know how to show a kid a good time offer fun options for school kids on days when there is no school. If you’ve suddenly discovered that tomorrow is one of those days, try checking out one of the camps below that generally have us covered on LA school vacation days - whenever they come.

When my 6-year-old son started skiing, I was advised by a former ski instructor friend to I enroll him in skiing school and under no circumstances attempt to teach him myself. She claimed that even if you are an Olympic-level skier, which I am not, it is best that they learn how to turn and stop from the pros. Plus there is the added benefit of hitting the slopes solo while your kid is in school. Heeding her advice, we enrolled him in ski school for a day during the Christmas holidays, and he loved it!

Back home in NYC I started looking for local ski resorts providing schools for weekend day trips and was surprised to find they weren’t as common as I thought they would be. Of course most ski resorts offer private and group lessons, but I was hoping for more of a half-day or full-day option for my son. After a ton of research, we've rounded up the area resorts with ski or snowboarding schools for kids, plus everything else you need to know to get them started. So grab your skis and get going!