I have one word for you people: CHOCOLATE. Do you really need to read any further? Well, if the thought of the 13th Annual New York Chocolate Show does not send shivers down your spine like it does mine and force you to haul yourself into Manhattan for the day, there are other fun and free events in New Jersey this weekend. Gingerbread House making, teddy bear picnics and geocaching round out our favorites list, but hey… you know where you’ll find me. See you by the truffles!

Walk with early man among some of the largest mammals to ever live on earth.  This winter, the aptly named mammoth and their smaller but still pretty huge kin, the mastodon, are explored in detail at the Liberty Science Center in the fascinating exhibit Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Read on to find out why this exhibit is worth the trip.
 

Now that it’s November, Brooklyn bakeries are taking orders for Thanksgiving treats. From Joyce Bakery’s upside down pear and cranberry tart to cookies hand-decorated by a Greenpoint artist, these nine places promise the perfect end to your turkey day feast. But don't take too long deciding which pies, tarts, spice cakes, sugar cookies, cheesecakes and other tempting sweets sound best -- most places require orders by November 19.

The web is a beautiful and ever-changing thing. Amidst the web clutter, every once in a while, a cool new web site springs up that is so awesome it's hard to imagine how you lived without it before. We've been keeping our eye on a couple of new ones that are super useful or just plain fun for moms and dads, with great info like finding good family friendly restaurants in NYC (finally!), a tech blog for non-techy mommas, a site just for Jewish moms and one just to make you laugh (till you cry). 
Check 'em out: 

I don’t know where I'll spend Thanksgiving this year.  My Mom usually makes a muti-course, gourmet meal, but she’ll be with my brother on the west coast. I could cook, but with a baby and toddler, I'll probably only get around to a side or two. I've never gone to a restaurant on Thanksgiving, but this might be the year to start a new tradition. Some of my favorite Brooklyn restaurants will be open, and three other places are offering Thanksgiving to go. Which leaves me with just one task: decide which menu sounds best, and soon! Restaurants are booking up fast and places with prepared foods require orders a week in advance.

This weekend's abundance of Native-American Indian programs for kids is a hint that Thanksgiving is just around the corner!  Kids can learn all about the Lenape Indians and take home some fun Indian crafts from events at the Morris Museum, the Museum of Early Crafts and Trades and the Miller Cory House.  For those who want to brave the brisk outdoors, there is a night dig for fluorescent minerals at the Franklin Mineral Museum and both a toddler and big kid tour at Watchung Stables.  Finally, there are some fun shows you won't want to miss this weekend.  Strega Nona is playing at the NJPAC and you can even attend a pre-show workshop.  Older kids may enjoy Mad Science's CSI LIVE! at the Bergen PAC.

There is plenty going on in New York City this ING Marathon weekend to keep the kids occupied and entertained – and maybe just maybe-- they will forget about all that candy stashed away from last weekend!  Some best bets are the dramatic performance of The Firebird by The Little Orchestra Society, the Family Saturday at the New Museum and the Fall Family Day at the Eldridge Street Museum.  There is also a wonderful reading of the new and charming NYC inspired book, Emma’s Journey, an enriching musical program at the Morgan Library and even a birthday celebration for everyone’s favorite video game character – Mario.  

Don’t forget that this weekend is also the first weekend of November and many of the city’s museums are offering free admission and cool family programming, like The Queens Museum of Art where they are celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead.  If you haven’t been to the Forbes Galleries yet to check out the truly amazing collection of antique toys and Monopoly games housed within you may want to hurry. These galleries will be permanently closing on November 20, 2010 and the incredible collection will be auctioned off.

There is also ice skating, a new exhibit at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and a lot more fun to be had in our events calendar.

Read on to do your weekend planning and have a great one!