When a friend tells you she's pregnant, after all of the usual questions—due date, boy or girl or unknown—you usually ask where she's registered. But as a parent of two I can tell you, sometimes it's best to think outside the box. Buying off the registry is nice but some parents—especially first-time moms and dads—don't realize what they really need until the baby arrives. This is especially true for New York City families, who are usually way too space-challenged to accommodate large or unnecessary items, like one of those humongous stuffed animals that requires its own bedroom.

As someone who's had to freecycle a number of well intentioned but extraneous gifts (see ya, wipe warmer), I've compiled a list of presents that I think NYC parents will be psyched to receive.

I'm a huge fan of the excitement and hoopla found in all the popular museums, kid play places, fairs and events that New Jersey has to offer. But let's face it, sometimes it's nice to take a step back and do something a little obscure, creative or off the beaten path to shake things up a bit. After all, it's all about having fun with our kids while exploring our great state! Here's a sampling of some unique destinations for the next time you are looking to take the road less traveled with your family.

Don't be surprised if every single person you see this weekend is in costume. In addition to the numerous Halloween happenings taking place all over NYC, including lots of free festivals, the sixth annual Comic Con at the Javits Center is sure to attract lots of cosplayers (that's geek talk for adults in costume).

This week, we continued our series of posts on Chinatown with a profile of the fabulous Hester Street Playground. We also brought back our Notable News posts, in which we link to articles and items that pique our interest. This edition's got info on families who've joined the Occupy Wall Street ranks and other stories.

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, as well as selected stories from our brand-new sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

Let’s see, what weird holidays can we celebrate in October, besides the one where you wear scary masks so people will give you sugary items? How about a holiday for grumps? This weekend not only sports National Grouch Day, but a Latino Heritage Day, a Basset Hound Day, and a few fun Harvest Days. Yep, we try to give you a few choices other than Halloween stuff. You’re welcome.

It's been a while since we've done one of our link roundups. We'd blame the start of school for the delay but really, it's the days off that are killing us. I originally tried to start writing this on Columbus Day when my kids were home... bad choice.

It's been a very busy few weeks news-wise, and while most of it isn't specific to parents, everyone we know has been thinking about Occupy Wall Street and the death of Steve Jobs. Read on for some interesting tidbits on both of those big stories—including the scoop on NYC families who are spending time at OWS—the (possible) downside of redshirting and other cool media bytes.

This weekend, authors, scholars and book lovers of all ages come together at the Boston Book Festival; the Greatest Show on Earth® comes to town; the Old South Meeting House raises an antique bell to its tower; and harvest festivals take place from Rockport to Newton, from Concord to Carver.

Below, we’ve highlighted a wide range of weekend events and activities, and be sure to consult our calendar for more things to do in the greater Boston area. You'll also find some great ways to satisfy the scare-seekers in the house, as well as places to head for pumpkin picking. Enjoy! As always, if you visit these places, please let us know about it by replying in our comments section, below.

Congratulations to Mommy Poppins Boston reader Robin, from Billerica. She and her family have won the Family 4 Pack to see Cathy & Marcy on Saturday at the Center for the Arts in Natick. Enjoy the show!

October?  Seriously?  If you ever doubt how lucky we are to live in Southern California,  all you have to do is take a look outside.  It’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, and we have all the activities for you to fill it with.

Once again, we are spoiled for choice with things to do. Southern Californian families can celebrate music and art, party with dinosaurs, spiders, or sea creatures, eat to their hearts’ content and learn the secrets of creating comic books.  And we can do it all in the blazing sunshine.

Continue reading to see some of our top choices for this weekend...