Submitted by Amy S. on
I'm not going to knock the Mister Softee truck. It's certainly kept my kids (and at times, me) cool and happy on many sticky days.
But soft-serve isn't the only sweet summer treat in town. New York City is full of delicious ways to cool down. Take your kids on an international tour of our melting pot's tastiest icy treats—that aren’t ice cream.
Submitted by Raven Snook on
How many times have you waited on a long line with your kids for a bouncy house and thought, I wish there were something in this for me. Well, make your way to the northern end of the recently opened Section 2 of the High Line, and you shall be rewarded.
Although it looks like a mash up of a carnival, Candy Land and Kid Robot, the brand-new installation Rainbow City isn't specifically aimed at children—the nearby beer garden and high-end food trucks kind of give that away. Still, visitors of all ages are welcome to explore this colorful, pop-art environment, which features 40 inflatable structures to push, pull, jump on and roam within. Yes, parents are allowed to bop around the bouncy houses, too, and the entire experience is totally free.
Located in a lot on 30th Street and Tenth Avenue, Rainbow City isn't actually on the High Line, so you can access it from the street. But it's worth approaching the place from the elevated park. The view of all of the whimsical inflatables swaying about is spectacular.
Not since Ernesto Neto's anthropodino at the Park Avenue Armory has an adult art installation so captured my kid's imagination and attention, and I felt the same way. One look at the photos of her running around, and you'll see why.
Submitted by Anna Fader on
Sometimes rain is the best thing that can happen to your weekend plans. There's nothing like a storm to keep the teeming masses away from an excellent event. The Figment Festival on Governors Island is one of the most fun things to do in the city every June, but it's usually jam-packed. This year, we braved a few drizzles (and one downpour) and almost had Figment completely to ourselves.
This free festival continues through Sunday, June 12, so there's still time to enjoy all of the wacky, artsy fun. What's the fest like? Check out our slide show and our list of highlights of the 2011 Figment Festival, then head to Governors Island tomorrow to see for yourself.
Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on
There are so many fun and free events this weekend it's a pity we can't do all of them. It's a good weekend to find free activities especially since Saturday is the 7th Annual CT Open House day and most museums will have free admission. Check the link out to find out who.
As far as festivals go we've got a lot to list this weekend. All weekend long you can attend the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven. On Saturday, there's a Free Family Health Fair in Norwalk, a Strawberry Fest at Lyman Orchards and a Children's Film Festival at Yale. In Hartford on Sunday you can check out the Keney Park Sunday Showcase Series.
Fiddlers from Canada to the Carolinas will be competing at the New England Fiddle Contest here in CT. In Middlefield you can see Jaguars at the Jaguar Car Show or if horses are more your thing the
Second Company Governor's Horse Guard invites everyone out for a day of fun.
Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on
This year the Big Apple Circus's new artistic director makes his mark with the theme Dance On! which leads to a fun, fast paced show. Jugglers, contortionists, lasso tricks, you name it, this show keeps moving with one surprise after another.
We're teaming up with the Big Apple Circus to offer one lucky family a set of four tickets to have a grand ol' time with Grandma Clown and the crew. We'll also send out a discount code to our CT newsletter subscribers providing them with a $15 discount per ticket.
The Prize: A family four-pack of tickets to "The Big Apple Circus" at Mill River Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday, June 16th for the 7pm show.
How to Enter: To enter the contest you must email me below telling us that you either joined our CT Mommy Poppins Facebook page, twitter'd this contest into cyber-space and/or subscribed to our newsletter. Comments must be entered by 7pm on Monday, June 13th. Winner will be drawn at random and notified on Tuesday June 14th. Please leave your contact information when you email. If you do not respond to our email notification within 24 hours, another winner will be drawn. Email addresses of entrants will not be collected, sold or otherwise abused.
The performance lasts 2 hours, including intermission. Children under 3 are free when they sit on the lap of a paid adult. One child per lap.
Submitted by Raven Snook on
Break out your bathing suits! Whether the kids wear them at the beach, in the sprinklers or during the (hopefully brief) showers we're expecting over the weekend, they'll be covered.
Although spring officially has a few weeks to go, summer heat and fun has already arrived. Local libraries just launched their Summer Reading 2011 programs, many free outdoor concert series for kids and adults have kicked off their seasons, and the Parks Department has set the dates for its free swimming lessons lottery.
And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: Step right up! The circus is in town, and you're invited to join them!
If you've ever wanted to walk a tightrope, somersault in midair or play lion tamer, your fantasies will be fulfilled at the interactive exhibit Circus! Science Under the Big Top, which opens this weekend at the New York Hall of Science.
Families can also learn all about the science behind the spectacle, including how carnie folk swallow swords and contort their bodies, and why cotton candy smells so good (at least to kids). In addition, Circus! features tons of vintage photos, big top legends and lore, and cool artifacts from the heyday of the traveling troupes.
Here are some of the derring-dos you can try (or learn about) when you step into the ring.
Submitted by tsellinger on
New Jersey’s hills (and towns) are alive with the sound of music this weekend! Take in Celtic sounds in Cape May, rock’n’roll in Hoboken, Girlchoir in Lawrenceville and local teen bands in Berkeley Heights. Rather race? Take your pick: rubber duckies down the Passaic River or cockroaches at the Bugseum–both for charity. You can also try your hand at museum gallery sketching in Montclair or get a jump on Father’s Day with a knot-tying fest or wallet-making workshop. Or see “Stone Soup” as never before in a Papermill Playhouse show created specifically for children with autism spectrum or other developmental disabilities. Whatever your pick, you’ll be whistling dixie at day’s end!
