If you thought this was the Year of the Ox, you are so wrong. According to the United Nations, it’s the Year of the Gorilla. In order to raise awareness about the threats to the iconic Gorilla species, the United Nations has declared this year the “Year of the Gorilla” and the Wildlife Conservation Society (the global conservation organization that owns and operates the Bronx Zoo) is helping to support these beautiful beasts with a month-long celebration of the planet during Earth Month and a fundraising run that supports their work to protect gorillas.

Check out the fun, family –friendly events that are going to be going on at the Bronx Zoo in April:

What's big and green and smells like old cheese? No it's not that spot under your sink that you keep meaning to get to...it's Shrek! And he's now on Broadway singing, and burping, his heart out in a Dreamworks musical.

Shrek The Musical is now on Broadway bringing the movie to life in a big, slightly gross, and beautiful production. Shrek on Broadway is said to be hilariously funny and incredibly like the movie with wry humor that makes it fun for adults as well as kids. Don't miss a great opportunity to win tickets to this family favorite show.

We're giving away a family pack of tickets (4 tix) to see Shrek The Musical on Broadway!

Spring Break is right around the corner and many of us are not going anywhere this year, but at Mommy Poppins we choose to celebrate the opportunity to stay home and enjoy New York CIty and all it has to offer. That's why this entire week we'll be giving away tickets to NYC's top family shows. We personally picked the best shows we wanted to see ourselves and wrangled family four packs to each one. And that's not all, we also convinced each show to offer all our readers great discount codes that everybody can use, with as much as 50% off ticket prices.

First up: Family Four Pack to The Wizard of Oz at Madison Square Garden

What, you're not following Mommy Poppins on twitter? Then you're missing out on all the cool stuff we've been tweeting that doesn't make it for a full blog post. Plus we find out about all kinds of cool stuff going on and retweet it for you. Below is just a taste of some of the top retweets from the last day or so. But don't miss out, follow MommyPoppins and follow KidBuzzNY to make sure you know the latest, coolest news for kids in NYC.

Don't let the rain keep you from having a great time this weekend. there's so much to do. So maybe it won't be the best time to head out of town for Maple Sugar Weekend, but there's plenty more mostly free and always fun events for kids, from free ballet classes to some cool. alternative theater and performances and more.

By the way, we are having another HUGE giveaway event next week. In anticipation of Spring Break, we'll be giving away family pack tickets to 7 of the top shows for kids and families. There will be thousands of dollars in tickets given away with a different giveaway every day! In addition to the giveaways, we will also have discount codes for everyone, so don't miss it!

The MTA approved it's "doomsday budget" yesterday, which includes fare hikes and service cuts. But no worries, because the MTA Service Specialists have been deployed. Find out about the details of the new budget and the humorous stunt women who are commenting on the fare hike by taking to the rails dressed as retro airline stewardesses and offering riders the "service you deserve."

Yesterday, I wrote/ranted about the new Kindergarten registration process and didn't get to share some other important education news. Below find some quick links to news about pre-K registration, new G&T schools and private preschool admissions, plus a response on Kindergarten admissions from the DOE.

We wrote earlier about the NYC DOE's decision to change some of the basic principles of Kindergarten admissions. The main one that they seem to be toying with is the promise that every child who lives within a school zone is entitled to a spot at that school. The fact that families would have to apply for their neighborhood schools was dropped on parents just weeks before the kindergarten application process began and gave parents no time to seriously reconsider their options.

Yesterday the NYTimes reported on the outcome of this system, which is that many families that expected seats in their local schools are being turned away. Parents are understandably frustrated, angry and worried and DOE spokesman, Andrew Jacob's, advice that families should "wait until September" is perhaps one of the most idiotic official responses I've ever heard—as if parents are going to sit on their heels until school starts in the Fall to figure out where their 5 year olds will attend school.