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:

Last week I mentioned that the NYC Parks Department was having an open house this week, making all of their rec centers available for free. At the time I hadn't been able to confirm whether the swimming pools were going to be available or not, so I have some more information now that made this worth repeating. I also have some more free fitness deals to check out. Learn how to get free ice skating in Prospect Park and a week of free yoga too.

The holidays already seem like a distant memory. Luckily, the end of the season doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on; in fact, there is plenty to do to fill these freezing days with fun without going broke. Get your dance and music on (Baby Loves Salsa, Jazz for Kids and a Junior Jam are all happening this weekend), catch a STREB show, enjoy Eskimo-inspired activities and crafts, go seal watching, or just snuggle up with a movie (free Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs screening). And this weekend there are tons (and we mean tons) of free demo classes and fun open houses, so you can check out lots of the unique and cool kids' classes in the City--you won't want to miss out on them!

If you’re less likely to venture out due to the weekend’s very wintry forecast, have no fear: our Indoor Activity Guide has got you (literally) covered.

As the weather turns cold and the playground is no longer an option, classes seem like a great way to schedule some fun time indoors. You can check out our Classes Guide here for lots of ideas, but in the meantime you may want to try and sample some classes and see what you like. We've rounded up trial and demo classes from lots of programs all over the city. Plus, remember that many places will let you try any class for free once. Just call and ask.

It is way more exciting to see animals in the wild than it is to see them at the zoo. And even here in New York City we are able to glimpse some animals in their natural habitat– and I don’t mean rats, squirrels or pigeons, either. Each fall hundreds of harbor seals start their annual journey from Maine for a warmer climate, traveling south until they reach the temperate waters surrounding Long Island.

I’ve read a lot of books, but some of the best were in a series. That way, when you’re done, there’s more! A few of my favorites were The Mysterious Benedict Society books by Trenton Lee Stewart, Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riodan and Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.

When did I become the type of person that travels to another borough because she heard a new candy store opened up? I have no explanation, but that's just what we did yesterday after seeing wonderful pictures of this fantastic new sweetopia in Dumbo, Dewey's Candy.