With the cold and wet days we've been having, nothing sounds more appealing than hanging out in a cool cafe and there's no reason that you can't do some cafe chill time even with kids in tow. Just ask Rebeca Ramirez-Haskell who has been keeping a blog called The Coffee Beaners where she records her explorations, with son Diego, of the best coffee shops in NYC. Rebeca has chosen some of her favorite places to share with us.

Some neat tidbits to share this week with a new exhibit called Mission to Mars opening up at the Intrepid Museum, free CPR training classes that can also get you a free week at the gym, cool filmmaking vacation camps for kids, a great author speaks, and fun "Playdate for Haiti" event.

My apologies that Winterfest was a complete bust last weekend –I’m hoping the Indian Kite Festival, Himalayan Animal Stories, Lego Building, free music events and other great stuff going on this weekend can help make up for it. Plus check out our separate post on things to do on Martin Luther King Jr Day for more activities, as well as places to volunteer. If you’re looking to use this day of service to aid the efforts in Haiti, we’ve got information on that there too.

A number of years ago when I first heard that Carnegie Hall was giving concerts for kids I envisioned Rachmaninoff for the Romper Room set—hoity toity music for portrait-perfect Little Lord Fauntleroys and Diminutive Debutantes-in-Training who could sit ever so quietly (while not rustling all that taffeta). Yawnsville to me, so I was ecstatic to be proved wrong. Nothing of the stuffy sort, Carnegie Hall's Family Concert Series' ambience is fairly laid back, (jeans fine, tiaras optional), and tickets are affordable.

"A live in nanny? How can you afford a live in Nanny?” That's what most people say when I tell them who watches my children. No we're not rich and we don't live in a sprawling 5 bedroom apartment, but we've found that for our family a live in nanny works best and the benefits outweigh the downfalls. If you've ever wondered how any normal person in NYC could have a live in nanny or if you've never even considered it as a possibility, read on to find out more about this surprisingly doable childcare alternative.

Walking around NYC seems to always lead to some adventure or another. One of the things I particularly love is when we stumble upon some cool street art. When we do we always make sure to stop and enjoy it. Last Friday we came across an interactive video art piece which is installed in an empty storefront on Lexington and 33rd St. The kids had a great time playing with it (see video below) and it inspired me to share some other cool public artworks that you might want to check out.

If you are an email subscriber, you may already have heard about the Shoofly sale on now at their Tribeca store for 50% off kids shoes, hats and accessories, but I've come across a bunch more too. Read on to find out how to save 50% on the Big Apple Circus, get a healthy and yummy breakfast for $1, free iPhone apps for kids, and some more baby/children's clothing store sales:

[UPDATED: July 13, 2012]

Chess is becoming a more and more popular program for children both in school and out of school as parents and educators see how learning chess can help children develop critical thinking skills and other positive academic and non-academic abilities. I recently sat down with Fred Wilson, who has been teaching chess to kids in Manhattan for 18 years and runs the chess programs at NYC private schools such as Grace Church, Little Red School House, City and Country School, and the Village Community School (no wonder he's a legend in the Viilage), to pick his brain on all that he knows about learning to play chess for kids in NYC.

Find out how to know if chess is right for your child, ane asy way to know if they are ready to play chess, why kids should play in tournaments and how to find a good chess program for your child: