Don’t let all the back-to-school ads fool you: There are still five and a half weeks of break to go. Now that last week's record-breaking heat wave is behind us, it's time to get back out there and enjoy summer in the city.

And there's plenty of fun to be had. Roller-skate the day away at the brand-new High Line Rink, build your best sandcastle at the Rockaways' legendary competition and get hep at Great Jazz on the Great Hill. There are also a number of wonderful cultural events. Hit the Queens County Farm Museum for the annual three-day Thunderbird American Indian Mid-Summer Pow Wow, get psyched for the upcoming Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at the Museum of Chinese in America's Festival Family Day and celebrate Hispanic heritage at Junta Hispana.

Even though the weather will be milder, with temperatures in the 90s, you'll still want to spend some time cooling off at New York City pools, water playgrounds and beaches.

Our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and our Event Calendar.

Eat outside with your family, but let someone else take care of the food, and the dishes. Outdoor dining brings you and yours great views, excellent food and none of the work. We’ve got some great Long Island outdoor dining spots listed here that offer something for everyone.

There are a bunch of fantastic outdoor events this weekend. Lots of sunflowers and weekend festivals. You'll find our best bets listed below. Interested in going on a family kayaking expedition? Check out our post about where to go and what to do. We also posted about Fairfield County's best beaches on a budget. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, have fun and enjoy the lazy days of summer. And remember, you can always find additional seasonal fun in our Events Calendar.

It was so hot last weekend—insert your best, “How hot was it?” joke here—it was hard to talk or think about anything else. Rant about climate change, curse Mother Nature or stomp your flip-flopped feet, there's nothing we can do. At least we have some relief from the heat... for a few days, anyway.

Of course, even 100-degree temperatures can't stop the city that never sleeps, and we've got lots of news to share, including controversial new teacher evaluations, restaurants that ban kids, a children's museum in the Bronx and a new floating pool. So turn up your AC and enjoy.

Ms. Scott has dedicated her entire working life to helping people create healthier, more stress-free lives. She has had a private practice as a health consultant and educator for over 30 years, designing effective stress management workshops for families and corporations. Leigh has two grown children and lives in Westport, CT. LeighScottParenting.com

Who Gets the Oxygen Mask First?

In case of an emergency, airline stewards always remind us to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first and then our child but instinct tells us to put the oxygen mask on our child first. Our brains are wired to protect our children, even if we die in the process. No wonder it is so hard to put ourselves first as a parent. Self-care is a concept that has to be forged into our brain to override that protective instinct.

I don’t know about some of you, but summer can be a very stressful time for me, when my days are dedicated to trying to figure out what to do with my boys from morning to night.  My number one priority?  Keeping them cool and happy.  My number two priority?  Keeping myself sane enough to keep them cool and happy. Anyone with a child on the Autism spectrum who can say that summer is 100% fun, please tell me your secret!

Editor's note: The Rubin Museum will close its doors on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

As New York City museums go, the Rubin Museum of Art is just a baby, but it's definitely growing fast. The only museum in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to the art of the Himalayas (Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, China and many other Far East countries and cultures), its collection is varied and vast—there are countless figures of deities, shrines, instruments, textiles and more—and the institution as a whole is surprisingly family-friendly.

We wrote about the Rubin back in 2004, but so much has changed since then, we revisited the museum as well as this post. Not only is there an impressive slate of programming for kids, including drop-in workshops and festivals, the Rubin opened an education center in the summer of 2011, which accommodates children and adults.

Next door to the museum, the two-floor center features circular stairs that mirror the main space's dramatic spiral staircase. It's a lovely addition with large classrooms and a performance area, cute cubbyholes for backpacks, and colorful kid-made art interspersed with items from the museum's collection.

The Rubin is a wonderful destination on any day: The artifacts are stunning and easy for kids to digest (a solid gold statue of a deity doesn't need to be put in context; it's just cool), and there's a cafe with delicious eats. Happily though, there are kids' activities almost every day. Here's what's going on at the Rubin for families this season.

With the weather we've been having, perhaps the last thing you want to do is pick up a book about the hottest season.

But you'll be pining for summer fun soon enough: longer days, summer Fridays, family vacations, and afternoons spent in the sprinklers and at the beach.

Even though summer isn't even half over, I catch myself feeling nostalgic for it. It's the season we always seem to measure by how close it is to being done. These ten children's books capture its big and little pleasures: the magic of keepsakes, awesome (and not-so-great) photos and the making of memories. Every one is a must for your summer reading list.