Shea's blog

Feel like sticking around the (Long) Island this weekend and checking out some culture? We've got good news for you! There are tons of great activities going on, from museum events, to multicultural celebrations, to theater productions for our pint sized family members. And, who says culture means high-brow? The event we're looking most forward to in our household is the Monster Truck Show. Check out our picks for great events this weekend:

Here we are, folks—the heart of Winter. Despite the sunny skies we saw this week, there's just no avoiding the fact that this time of year we spend the majority of our time indoors. So why not find something fun to do or enjoy? We've rounded up some of the best indoor activities to enjoy with your kids this weekend on Long Island. Take a look:

It's a 3 day weekend, and if you're sticking around, there are plenty of great events happening on the Island to check out with your kids. Check out our picks of the best events happening this weekend:

Looking for cool and unique after-school activities for your child? If you're getting tired of the same 'ol gym classes, sport programs, or and music groups, you're not alone. Lucky for you, we've spent some time, checking out two of the latest children's classes to hit the afterschool scene: cooking classes and theater programs for kid. So, if you have  budding chef, or a future performer, or if you're just looking to add some diversity to your child's routine, check out our list of the top programs for cooking and theater for kids on Long Island: 

How excited are you to have a Holiday-free weekend ahead? That is, unless you plan to spend the weekend stripping your home of Holiday decor. Maybe you're like me, and you figure you waited a whole year to put them up, let's leave them up "one more weekend." Whatever the case might be, take some time this weekend with your family checking out one of the following great events we've rounded up for you: 
 
 

As a somewhat recently transplanted addition to the NorthEast, I've enjoyed exposing my kids to some of the Seasonal traditions you can find on Long Island. One such tradition is Ice Skating and Long Island is full of indoor skating rinks you can enjoy year round. Typically the indoor rinks are well known for great lesson programs and free skate timeframes where fun activities and music accompanies the skaters. Aside from the indoor rinks, though, there are also some terrific outdoor rinks in our parks-and these rinks often provide a nice scenic backdrop and a fun family outing. Whether you want to to get bundled up and brave the elements outside at an outdoor rink or if you are looking to start your little one in a skating program or lesson, we've rounded up some of the best places for kids to skate on Long Island:
 

The whole idea of New Year's Eve isn't traditionally a family Holiday. In fact, most kids fall asleep long before the clock strikes 12. Some parents look forward to a grown up night out without the kids. But, if you're like me, the idea of ringing in the New Year together as a family has become a tradition in it's own; well, either that, or you can't find a sitter. Whatever the reason, we've rounded up some great events  happening on Long Island this New Years Eve and New Years Day in case banging the pots and pans  at midnight and watching football all day isn't enough. 

Long Island is filled with terrific places to play inside, where kids can run amok on a cold or rainy day without destroying your living room. It's like being at a park, just without the outdoors part. Here, we've rounded up our picks for some of the best indoor playspaces on Long Island: 

Wow! How did December 18th go and creep up on us so fast? Here we are, the last weekend before Christmas, and only two full weekends left in 2009! Take advantage of them by getting out and enjoying some of the great Seasonal events happening on Long Island this weekend:

Every year at this time, I have a little tradition. I bring Holiday gifts into the house only to realize we have plenty of great toys already. So I ponder, briefly, the two options, as I see them, in front of me: take all the new stuff right back to the toy store and re-wrap all the toys we already have to make them "new again!" OR save myself a trip back to the toy store for a return, and, even better-clean out our barely used toys and share them with kids who really need them. The latter option always wins out and that's when I call my kids down to their playroom and tell them it's time to pick out some toys to share with the kids who REALLY need them. They may not fully understand the meaning of their actions, but knowing they just "don't have any room for new toys if the current inventory still exists" gets them every year.