If your kids -- like mine -- love playing their musical instrument, there is no better place to encourage their blossoming musical skills than to have them audition for a place in their community youth music ensemble.

Fortunately for us, Connecticut is rife with well-organized youth symphonies and orchestral groups. Most cater to ages 10 and up; all are audition-based, highly skilled at developing musical skills and encourage a welcoming atmosphere. In addition to the list of Connecticut's community youth orchestras below, you might also be interested in summer music camp! Check out Art & Music Camps in New Haven and Classical Music Camps in Fairfield County.

It’s almost time for Purim, the carnival-like Jewish holiday that commemorates the Jews being saved by Queen Esther from murderous Haman. Often referred to as the Jewish Halloween, you certainly don’t need to be Jewish to join in on the celebrations.

There are plenty of family-friendly Purim events occurring in Westchester this month, so read to find out the who, what and where.

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Atop museum mile in East Harlem, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) is a treasured, often less crowded destination for parents in the know. Best for grade school kids and up, the MCNY explores the rich history—and celebrates the vibrant future—that makes this city so great. Plus, kids under 19 are admitted free, making the museum's suggested admission for adults a complete deal. My daughters and I recently checked out its newest and biggest exhibit, New York at Its Core: 400 Years of NYC History, and came away with a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, the city we call home.

Boston has long been home to public markets where people could shop and gather. Faneuil Hall first opened more than 250 years ago, and Quincy Market followed 75 years later. Now we’ve also got the Boston Public Market, a marketplace dedicated to food grown and produced in New England that opened in 2015. 

Are you one of those parents who avoids taking kids to art galleries ... because you are sure your kid will punch a hole in the Renoir? I feel ya! But you don't have to give up on culture for the cause of parenting! Kids not only love to make art -- they love to be inspired by it! And research proves it: exploring art is good for kids, yo! So take heart. With a bit of planning, I've found art shows and galleries to be one of our go-to outings, even on (gasp!) a sunny day! 

Not sure which art gallery in Fairfield County to try first? Start with the kid-friendly Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield or the awesome local works in CityLights Gallery in Bridgeport. Be sure to find out which days are free to enter first!

The nearing of daylight saving time and a few days of blissfully warmer temperatures in our area can only mean one thing—time to pick a summer camp! As part of a mixed blessing, Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley have so many wonderful summer camps that it can be hard to choose.

One way to start is by attending an open house at a camp, many of which are coming up over the next couple of months. Take a look at the list we've gathered—you just might find your kids' next great summer experience.

We'll continue to update our Summer Camp Guide with up-to-date coverage on a variety of camp offerings, so be sure to check back often. Better yet, sign up for our FREE newsletters to stay up to date on everything Westchester has to offer families and kids.

The approach of spring, for many parents, is also the beginning of the season of worrying about how to survive summer vacation. Picking the right summer camp can be overwhelming, especially if your little ones will spend a big chunk of their summer there. Our Camp Guide is a great place to start gathering ideas, and we recommend searching the listings in our camp directory, too. But what can really help narrow down the field is checking out camps in person. That's where open houses come in. They offer a fun way to get information about activities, see how your kids take to the environment, and talk in person with camp directors to see whether you've found a good fit.  

Below is a list of open houses offered over the next several weeks; these are great opportunities to talk to the people who might be spending the day with your kids. Click on a camp name to get more information about the camp's programs.

Rodeo is a big deal in the Bayou City. The two-and-a-half weeks of livestock and horse shows, competitions, concerts and more give Houstonians a chance to dust off their boots, put on their plaid and enjoy some good old-fashioned cowboy and cowgirl fun. And it all is kicked off with one of my favorite events, the Rodeo Cook-off! The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday prior to the start of rodeo are filled with food, food, and more barbecue sauce-covered food. More than 250 cooking teams come together during these three days in tents outside of rodeo to cook their barbecue specialties, all leading up to the final judging where a Grand Champion is crowned.