Indoor Roller Rink Opens at Brooklyn's City Point with Family Skating Events

Brooklyn’s only indoor roller rink Dreamland pops up at City Point Brooklyn this winter. Photo courtesy of Dreamland

If you were disappointed to hear that the roller rink at Industry City in Brooklyn's Sunset Park closed this fall, take heart: Lola Starr's Dreamland Roller Disco is popping up once again at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn from October 31 until February 15, 2020. Read on to learn more about the new location for this much-loved dance party on wheels.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Polar Express, Kidz Bop, Gobble Gobble

Get into the Christmas spirit this weekend with a ride aboard the Polar Express in Whippany. Photo courtesy of the railway

This mid-November weekend sparkles and shines with the debut of holiday light displays throughout New Jersey. Drive though Skyland Stadium's dazzling, musical light displays, and experience Storybook Land's holiday parade, featuring the lighting of the park's tree.

There's plenty of family-friendly theater to choose from this week, including performances of Rumpelstiltskin, Frosty & Rudolph, and Kidz Bop World Tour. And Thanksgiving prep is underway with PAWS Discovery Farm's Gobble Gobble and Fosterfields' Thanksgiving Home & Armistice Observance.

Check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for NJ Families for more options, and look to our November GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

CAMP Store and Play Space in Flatiron Launches New Toy Lab Theme for Holidays

The Toy Lab theme at Camp features a brand-new scooter test track.

CAMP, one of our favorite NYC stores where kids can play for FREE (and one of our favorite new additions to NYC last year, period) isn't your average toy store with a play space. The entire space reinvents itself every season, making it an imaginative wonderland designed for repeat exploration.

Situated on the corner of 16th Street and Fifth Avenue, CAMP looks like a retail shop from the street—albeit one with an on-site cafe and a funky collection of merchandise, from toys and games to books and clothing. But look closer and you'll see that there's something spectacular hiding behind a secret door. Find the entrance (with the help of a super-friendly CAMP counselor) and you're in for hours of fun, and a cool indoor place to play.

CAMP has reinvented itself again, with a toy-focused theme just in time for the holiday shopping season—read on for a peek inside.

Yayoi Kusama Returns to NYC with Mirrored Infinity Room in Chelsea

Yayoi Kusama's Mirrored Infinity Room is illuminated by an LED lighting system which projects the appearance of infinite space. Photo courtesy of David Zwirmer Gallery

New York City might officially have a case of Yayoi Kusama fever. The 90-year-old Japanese contemporary artist, best known for her immersive infinity mirror rooms, debuts a new float in the NYC Thanksgiving Parade later this month, and will mount a large-scale exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden in May 2020. Meanwhile, just last week Kusama unveiled one of her celebrated new works at David Zwirner's Chelsea gallery, in an exhibition that is FREE and open to the public on a first come, first entry basis.

The installation, titled "Dancing Lights That Flew Up To The Universe," made our list of the most-anticipated family activities in NYC this fall. Part of the artist's "Every Day I Pray For Love" exhibition, Kusama's new infinity room is on display until December 14, and if you're looking for a unique art experience to share with your kids, this just might be it. For a look inside the space and tips on what to expect—and how to visit with kids—read on.

Elf on the Shelf Christmas Musical Coming to a Stage Near You

The Elf on the Shelf takes the stage this holiday season in a U.S. tour. Rendering courtesy of Mills Entertainment

'Tis the season for festive lights, jingle bells, and, of course, figuring out clever poses and hiding places for your Elf on the Shelf every single day until Christmas. This holiday season, you can put a new twist on the holiday tradition with a performance The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical by Mills Entertainment​.

The show's nationwide tour kicks off on Thursday, November 14, in Easton, Pennsylvania, and continues through Tuesday, December 29, with stops in Atlanta, GARed Bank, NJLynn, MA, Wallingford, CT, and Sugarland, TX, among others.

22 Ways Families Can Volunteer and Donate in NYC for the Holidays

Support the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation by having your child write a letter to Santa and deliver it to the mailbox in Santaland. For every letter Macy's receives, the company will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish. Photo courtesy of Macy's

During the holiday season, families gather to enjoy delicious meals, exchange gifts, and celebrate the year gone by. But for many New Yorkers, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. Volunteering is a wonderful way to help others in the community and an ideal opportunity to teach children the true spirit of the season.

We've rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly volunteering opportunities. No matter where in the tri-state area you live, the age of your children, or your family's interests, chances are there is a program that can use your help.

Nutcracker and Other Holiday Shows Kids will Love in Boston

The Urban Nutcracker is a jazzy twist on the classic. Photo by Peter Paradise Michaels.

The Nutcracker: It's among the most enduring of holiday family traditions in these parts. And just as there are many kinds of Boston families, there are different Nutcrackers appealing to different tastes, from the Boston Ballet classic to a high-energy, hip-hop interpretation. But Tchaikovsky's beloved confection is hardly the only holiday-themed stage performance delighting kids across Boston this month and next. Families can carol with the Pops, sing along with Rudolph, discover what your elves on the shelf are up to and more. All the shows are terrific, but tickets will go faster than cookies at Christmas Eve, so we'd advise booking sooner than later. 

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