Uptown

Three Kings Day, also known as Epiphany, is the last official day of the Christmas Season—or the 12th day of Christmas, as the song goes—commemorating the three Magi coming to visit baby Jesus. There are many multicultural celebrations in New York City that celebrate Three Kings Day with traditional hispanic festivities from a parade in East Harlem to making and decorating Three kings Bread in the Mexican tradition at The Children's Museum of Manhattan.

Check out all our Three Kings Day Parade and Celebrations finds in NYC: Read more »

My son, Roan, turned five this weekend. He has the misfortune of being born in a season that is ripe with people celebrating things other than his birth. This year I wanted to really make an effort to carve out time just for him, and do special things with him that we probably wouldn’t get around to otherwise. In addition to a few parties, much too much ice cream, bowling, cutting a half day of school to play in the snow and staying up late, I brought out the big gun: The Big Apple Circus.

The Big Apple Circus takes place in Lincoln Center through January 18, 2009. It is an amazingly easy place to get to by subway, which mattered to me on Sunday, because it was mean cold that day. Roan wasn’t really too sure what to expect. I’ve never been to the Big Apple Circus so I didn’t really know how to prepare him. But when we approached the blue Big Top Tent, my eyes lit up like the eight-year-old I truly am. There is something magical about walking into a giant Circus tent in the middle of Lincoln Center. Read more »

The Holidays are here and with them come the usual offering of parties and get togethers. Last night, we found the time to check out one very cool party: The Dan Zanes Holiday House Party at the New Victory Theater. And, this is one party you shouldn’t miss. Read more »

Earlier in the week we wrote about some of the outrageous Christmas light displays on houses around NYC. But, here are some places to see more traditional Holiday Light Shows: Read more »

This site is dedicated to helping parents find all the amazing, cool, once-in-a-lifetime events that you don't have to spend a fortune to take advantage of, but there are some events that are worth the splurge. A Night at the Museum Sleepover is one of them and would make a terrific Holiday Gift.

The American Museum of Natural History invites families to spend a night exploring the museum after everyone else has gone home and camp out in one of the exhibit halls. My daughter was lucky enough to be invited to do this with a friend who received the sleepover as a gift. What an amazing present! And they had such a great time. Read more »

Visiting the Holiday Train Shows are a favorite activity of Mommy Poppins readers. They usually open right after Thanksgiving and are a great thing to do with your kids during the long Thanksgiving weekend.

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Exhibit
Last year we went to the Bronx Botanical Gardens for the Christmas Train Show. My grandchildren Madeleine, just four, and Ben, two and half, are already asking when is the day we are going again. This excursion is truly a perfect day. The gardens are breath taking and there is something for everyone. Read more »

When I was a kid I basically lived at the Jefferson Market Library. We climbed on the bronze oxen sculpture (the things we let kids do in the 70s), watched movies in their little viewing room and worked my way through the books, literally, starting from A. It's a great children's library. But, there are shamefully few great children's libraries in New York City and last year they closed the main children's center at the Donnell Library which was a double shame. But I'm super excited to hear that they are opening a beautiful, new Children's Library Center at the 42nd St. main lending library. WOW! Read more »

Your children's holiday memories won't be about the toys they get under the tree, they're going going to be about the wonderful holiday traditions that your family shared. One of these traditions should be going to see the department store Holiday window displays. These festive holiday windows are a great way to get into the holiday spirit and this simply magical experience is completely free.

Lots of people like to do the Holiday Windows Walk on Christmas Eve, but it's also a great way to walk off your Thanksgiving dinner because it tends to be less crowded when the stores are closed. We've rounded up the best ones for kids (the more traditional displays), plus some other great Holiday stops to visit while you're in the neighborhood Read more »

photo by ishot71

One of the things on our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NY before they grow up is to watch them inflate the giant balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you want to go, here's the info you need, plus the best place to find a spot for the actual parade: 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 »