Greenpoint Kids Neighborhood Guide

We've already told you about the best places to take photos with Santa in New York City. But what if your kid wants a heartier visit with the big red guy? In that case, a tasty breakfast with Santa (or brunch or tea) may be in order.

We've found seven spots where families can enjoy a special holiday meal with Old Saint Nick, from inexpensive pancake brunches hosted by local organizations to lavish spreads at Rockefeller Center and the Plaza Hotel. There's even a Santa dining cruise! Regardless of which one you choose, be sure to bring your camera—and your appetite. For more holiday fun for families, check out our NYC Holiday Guide.

Due to Hurricane Sandy, most parades on Wednesday, October 31 have been canceled, even the huge annual Village Halloween Parade. A few are still going on, but some we can't confirm. If in doubt, assume it has been canceled!

Everybody loves a parade, which means we're all absolutely smitten with Halloween parades. While we think every family should take the kids to the big Greenwich Village Halloween Parade at least once, it can be pretty scary. It's always insanely crowded and loud, and many of the costumes are risqué, gory or in poor taste (which we happen to love, but we realize not every parent feels that way).

If you're ready to watch it, the parade starts at 7pm on October 31 and winds its way up Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street. (Plan to arrive much earlier though if you want to snag a good viewing spot.) But if your family isn't up for the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade just yet, there are plenty of smaller, kid-friendly NYC neighborhood parades, and many are part of larger fun-filled Halloween festivals. We've rounded up 19 of these community-driven Halloween processions for families to watch or march in, and most of them are FREE. If you don't live in a great trick-or-treating area, these parades are also a wonderful way to hunt for candy in another community. And check out our Halloween Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun.

Less trendy and gentrified than neighboring Williamsburg or Queens' Long Island City, which lies just across the Newtown Creek, Greenpoint seems to hark back to another era. Visiting the neighborhood feels like taking a trip to the Old World due to its large Polish population. There are lots of homey restaurants along Nassau and Manhattan Avenues serving pierogies, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage. You'll also spy a smattering of newer boutiques, artisanal food outposts and other upscale businesses which reflect Greenpoint's recent evolution as more artists, hipsters and families push northward in Brooklyn.

Greenpoint also lives up to its name with a number of well-kept green spaces like Monsignor McGolrick Park, the recently opened Transmitter Park and the 35-acre McCarren Park, which spills over into Williamsburg. Local family organization Town Square also sponsors free monthly Greencycle Swaps, as well as a number of popular annual kids' events for Easter, Earth Day, Halloween and Christmas.

Throughout October, we'll be posting about the best things to do and places to go in Greenpoint for kids and families. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are the East River to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, North 14th Street to the Newtown Creek. While you can get there by taking the G subway to Nassau Avenue or Greenpoint Avenue, the East River Ferry docks at India Street and lets you wander the as yet mostly undeveloped industrial waterfront area. That's certain to change soon!