This week, we were all about dear old dad. We highlighted fun things to do on Father's Day, shared one daddy blogger's take on a new documentary about fatherhood and rounded up a bunch of daddy and me swim classes. OK, yes, we called them mommy and me, but we were quick to point out that fathers are also welcome. Because anything moms can do, dads can do, too—except give birth (you guys got off lucky there!).

Of course, we also wrote about lots of stuff kids can enjoy with or without dad in tow, including two new interactive exhibits and fabulous frozen treats.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

It’s Father’s Day weekend, and we’ve got the goods on family fun for all types of dads!  Outdoorsy types can go fishing for free, welcome butterflies at a nature center, or celebrate the start of firefly season at a family fest.  Sporty dads should head out on a challenging 3-hour mountain hike.  Handy dads’ll like building a birdhouse for the family home. Artsy dads will enjoy a 24-hour art-packed event. Dad’s a history buff? The Whippany excursion train ride’s for him.  And when you return home? Guide him to the couch, hand him the remote, and quietly recede to the far reaches of the house for an hour or so.  It IS Father’s Day, after all.

Yes, this weekend is all about Dads. but we have some great activities to get you out and about! Exploring science, becoming a spy, getting messy or partying with a 80 year old. (Yes, just keep reading.) We’ve got some fun events to kick off your weekend! For Father's Day fun, check out our Father's Day Fun on Long Island suggestions.

Note to readers, if you haven't already, it is time to check out Poppins Perks. We are starting to run Poppins Perks for Long Island. Sign up to get 50% off fun things to do and great deals for families at poppinsperks.com. And sign up for NYC deals to get great deals on fun things to do in NYC this summer worth traveling into the city for.

Since Sunday is Father's Day, I know what I'll be doing: Hanging out with my wife and sons, hoping I can convince them to see Green Lantern instead of Mr. Popper's Penguins.

Being a dad means even Father's Day is a bit of a compromise. But if you need a reminder that these days will end sooner than you think, watch the moving documentary The Kids Grow Up by Doug Block, which premieres on HBO on Father's Day.

Like me, Block is a NYC dad, and his film chronicles the life of his only child, Lucy, who's about to leave for college. My sons are still in elementary school, so the movie examined uncharted territory for me. Here's how I felt about the flick.

Father's Day is our day to celebrate all of the things we love about Dads. This weekend, no matter what kind of Dad you're dealing with, we've got lots of suggestions for things to do. Read on for ideas that will make this Father's Day extra special and fun.

Summer in the city is all about free alfresco entertainment. There are complimentary concerts (for kids and grown-ups), no-cost movies and lots of free festivals.

But don't forget about free storytimes in city parks! Because you know your kids don't want to hear a tale told in a hot, crowded library. (And even if your local branch is swanky enough to have air conditioning, your children shouldn't be cooped up indoors.)

We've rounded up a dozen storytelling series for families to enjoy all summer long.

Staten Island has long been known as the "forgotten borough"—it's always last whenever the five are mentioned. Yes, you have to take a boat (or an express bus) to get here. Yes, once you arrive, the public transportation is spotty (although that's the case in "the city," too. Ever ride the M34?) And yes, we've tried to secede from time to time. But as a born and bred Staten Island girl (pronounced "Sta'nylan," thank you very much), I'm here to tell you that there's so much more to do than just ride the iconic ferry.

Mommy Poppins has written many posts about Staten Island over the years, encouraging families to explore the "greenest borough," and now's the perfect time to visit: In honor of its 350th anniversary, NYC & Company, the Big Apple's official marketing organization, has chosen Staten Island as its Culture Spot of the month. That means you can enjoy two-for-one admission to five famous SI institutions, including the Staten Island Museum and Historic Richmond Town, until the end of June.

But why stop there? I've rounded up 13 fun, family-friendly things to do on Staten Island, along with links to what we've written about each attraction.

Wouldn't your little writer love visiting Louise May Alcott's Orchard House or Walden Pond this summer? What a great road trip for your tweens and teens! This itinerary given to me by Corrine Upton over at the Mark Twain House has covered it all starting in Hartford and finishing up in Boston. Over the course of five days (or less, for those who are ambitious), visit the birthplace of Mark Twain’s most famous characters, get inspired by Edith Wharton’s landscape design, and visit the grave sites of Thoreau, Hawthorne, Emerson and Alcott at Author’s Ridge at Sleepy Hollow.  
 
Below, you'll find the full itinerary of a New England literary pilgrimage-- offering a unique, inspiring and educational summer vacation. And if you'd like even more fun literary locales check out more destinations like Dr. Seuss' Sculpture Garden, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and Emily Dickinson's house all in Western Mass.