NJ Thanksgiving Break Events Nov. 26-29: Turkey Trots, Super-Heros and Holiday Lights

While Thanksgiving Day activities for families may be limited to Turkey Trot fun runs, after the parade is over and the turkey eaten, take advantage of all Jersey has to offer before the holiday madness sets in!  Dine with your favorite super-hero, try your hand at some Cezanne-inspired artwork, go treasure hunting with a real archeologist, see live owls, or get into the holiday mood with holiday light shows and cookie decorating.

Where to Meet a Fire Fighter and Learn about Fire Safety in New York City

My daughter who is 7 years old had an educational workshop about fire safety at her after school program. I'm interested in taking her to a real fire house to help bring his lesson home. Do you know of any? — Yolanda

It's great to teach our children about fire safety and I've always found the firemen at our local firehouse to be really friendly. If they're not rushing off to a fire, they generally will welcome kids into the station to check out the trucks and see what they do. But, there are also two special museums set up just to teach children about fire fighting and fire safety rather than just trying to show up at your local fire house.

Store Front: Aigner Chocolates - Chocolate Made in Queens

Aigner Chocolates, formerly known as Krause’s Candy Kitchen, is a magical walk back to the time when small shops ruled New York City. This unassuming storefront on the corner of Metropolitan Ave and 71st Road in Forest Hills, Queens has small town charm combined with homemade quality. As soon as you walk in the door, one is hit with the smell of chocolate which instantly takes me back to my childhood.

Weekend Events for Kids on Long Island, November 20-22: Celebrate the History of the Holiday with your Kids

This weekend is technically the last weekend we have before the Holidays are officially upon us. Next week at this time, you may be hitting your favorite super store or shopping mall scouting out the best deals (or maybe not). And yet, the more we parents get caught up in the pace and commercialism of the Holidays, so do our kids. So this weekend, grab the kids and check out some of the coolest ways to appreciate and celebrate the History of the Holidays, Long Island Style. 

 

 

New York City Kids Weekend Events for November 21-22: Free & Cheap Art Events, Icky Festival, Scarecrow Contest & More

I’ve always found the weekend before Thanksgiving to be exciting, since the whole family is starting to get in the holiday spirit and kids know vacations (and presents, of course) are coming. But before you start thinking about gifts or prepping food before the big cook-off, take some time to enjoy the pre-Rockefeller Tree-d city—it won’t look like this again until mid-January. This weekend there’s an incredible array of free and cheap art events, live music and food at El Museo del Barrio, a scarecrow making contest, circus fun, a gross (but awesome) icky festival and more.  

Weekend Events for NJ Kids November 21-22: Candle-making, Crafts and Carpentry

It’s almost Turkey Time!  This weekend, get an early start on Thanksgiving festivities by experiencing an 1836 Thanksgiving celebration at an historic village and learning more about the Lenape Native Americans.  In keeping with the season, enjoy a smorgasbord of fun craft workshops, including candle and ornament making, decoupage candle holder making, recycled crafts, mini-furniture making, and even a workshop on how to build an owl house.

Holiday Gift Idea: 40 Years of Sunny Days DVD Set

Every once in a while I find something that I think is the absolute perfect holiday gift and want to give it to everyone on my list. This year my singular obsession is the new DVD created in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street.

Shopping for Handmade in New York City

[UPDATED: December 1, 2012]

There are many benefits to buying handmade goods this holiday season. It makes for more meaningful giving, it supports local craftsmen and is overall better for the environment. The accumulating effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming. If buying with a conscious is high on your list of things to do this holiday season, where do you find high quality handmade goods? The internet is crawling with items that claim to be unique and handmade but it is almost impossible to discern the junk from the gems. Here is the 411 on where to get unique handmade goods in NYC.

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