This weekend, sample some tasty soups made by restaurants in Port Washington at United Methodist Church of Port Washington's SOUPer Bowl.  Don't forget to vote for your favorite soup!  Ever wonder how professional bakers make those fancy cupcakes?  Attend the Be My Valentine Cupcake workshop at the Gold Cost Public Library, where baker Candice Comentale shows you how to use rolled fondant and butter cream icing.  At Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Michael Rosen's book We're Going on a Bear Hunt comes to the stage with catchy songs, interactive scenes, and plenty of hands-on adventure.  Also on tap: A screening of the National Audubon Society's Cardinals Up Close at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, Groundhog Day activities at the Maritime Explorium, a Teen Zone Party at the Manhasset Public Library, and camp registration at the Science Museum of Long Island.  As always, please check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!

2013 marks the year of the snake on the lunar calendar! This year February 10th is the first day of the New Year for the Chinese celebration also known as the “Spring Festival”.  Help ring in the Asian holiday with one of the following fun events in the Hartford County area.

From those first anxious weeks of infancy to the first day of kindergarten and beyond, it seems like there's no end to things for parents to worry about. With all that worrying about our kids, it's easy to forget to take care of the things that will really protect our families should the worst occur. Making sure you have a will is one of them.

You may think that estate planning is only for the rich, but a will protects more than just wealth. If you are a parent, having a will should be a priority. Laura Fischer is a lawyer working in Manhattan and Brooklyn who specializes in helping families create wills, so you can stop worrying and just get it done. I asked her to share important information about why every parent should have a will and what specifically to put in it. Plus, she is giving away a free Family Estate Planning Package (valued at $1,000) to one lucky reader. Read on to find out more and get this chore off your to-do list.

Looking for some excitement to fill an otherwise mundane winter weekend? New Jersey is full of fun events for both older kids and wee ones (and maybe even parents too!) Check out the Michael DuBois Solo Circus or celebrate Groundhog Day at Grounds for Sculpture. Feeling creative? Roll up your sleeves and create origami at Skylands Manor or make glow in the dark glue at the Morris Museum. Read on for our top picks and you can find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

Last September, on the heels of the Olympic hype, we featured gymnastics classes. Now that the weather has turned colder, we thought it time to feature gyms with plenty of open-play sessions. If cabin fever has taken over your home as it has mine, you may find yourself in the market for a place where the kids can play every day of the week. In my case, now that my little one is walking and jumping, I need a spot that can accommodate both my  rambunctious 4-year-old as well as my toddler. Sound unrealistic? Well, this mom is thrilled to report that I have managed to find several spots fitting that tall bill. So whether you've got just one child or more, the following places will keep 'em busy and active all winter long. 

Ah, karaoke, a favorite activity for rowdy office parties and over-21 birthdays. The last time I went to a karaoke place, my coat ended up on the floor, soaking in a puddle of beer. It was a fun night out... but one I couldn't share with my children.

But karaoke-loving kids don't need to confine their singing to the shower. They can enjoy an authentic experience, minus the R-rated lyrics and copious amounts of alcohol, at a number of New York City karaoke spots that have family-friendly hours during the daytime. Many of these places even offer children's party packages where the bottomless pitchers of beer are replaced with juice or soda.

With winter’s chilly days and even colder nights, it’s tough to get any outdoor play time. We know cabin fever is bound to set in…soon. Your mission: Get the kids out of the house. Now! You could swing by a library, see a movie, enjoy some indoor play or even ice fish or you could choose something off our list of ideas to break cabin fever. So get climbing, get inspired, get swinging or get laughing -- just get out! And remember, this weather won’t last forever. Daylight savings is only 44 days away (who’s counting?!)