It's beginning to feel a lot like winter, what with the Arctic chill, the record snow fall; I think there's another Polar Vortex on the way and.... oh, not here of course. Here we have our standard 72 and sunny. Kind of hard to get in the holiday spirit when you look outside and all you see is... snow?  Snow in Los Angeles - that can't be right...  I mean, check out the thermometer, it's a balmy...

...9 degrees Fahrenheit?!?! What kind of insane Bizarro World, SoCal ice wonderland are we talking about? (I bet that Elsa chick had something to do with it!) What am I going to do? I'll have to put on a sweater, or one of those coat things I've heard people talk about...

No. No, it's just not right. I'm going to go to my happy place, chill hang out at the beach and watch the waves come in, and sunshine and butterflies...  And Santa Claus surfing to shore. If anyone needs me I'll be hibernating 'til spring.

Keep reading for our most chilling picks for the weekend. 

As a big fan of kids' movies and an even bigger fan of small flightless birds who wear tuxedos, I was very happy that my family was invited by DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox to an event that highlighted both. A morning spent at the Bronx Zoo would have been cool enough, but followed by a private advance screening of the new Penguins of Madagascar movie? That's my kind of family fun. Read on for my review of the film, and some real live penguins as well.

It's beginning to look a lot like all the holidays. The weekend before Thanksgiving brings a holiday train display at the New-York Historical Society, and seasonal shows like Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas at Vital Children's Theatre and TheatreworksUSA's musical take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

Speaking of great family shows, the master mimes of Mummenschanz are back at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Plus, we're hosting a special Mommy Poppins Night at the New Victory Theater on Saturday night. Catch the extreme sports spectacle 360 Allstars, enjoy post-show cookie decorating and save 20% on tickets.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Holiday Fun Guide.

If your son or daughter has a dream of becoming a famous Olympic figure or speed skater -- or even an ice hockey player -- you'll want to sign them up for lessons. Across Long Island there are a number of rinks that offer classes throughout the year, including these five. And you can help your child practice their skating skills by bringing them to one of Long Island's Top Outdoor or Indoor Rinks.

And for other activities and enrichment options, check out our Long Island Classes Guide.

Holiday décor in the stores… Black Friday ads in the mail… Santa making his rounds…it’s beginning to look a lot like the holiday season. And there are plenty of ways to get in the holiday spirit on this pre-Turkey weekend. Commence your Thanksgiving celebration, colonial-style, at an 18th Century Thanksgiving Dinner Demonstration. Greet Santa when he arrives at Camden Children’s Garden. Even the family pet can get in on the Santa action during Pet Photo Night at Quakerbridge Mall. And theatre buffs can rejoice in all kinds of family-friendly performances this weekend, including The Monster Who Ate My Peas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, 360 ALLSTARS and Little Red and the Hoods. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Furniture shopping for little ones changes as quickly as they do: one day it concerns cribs and changing tables, and the next moment it’s bunk beds and desks for homework. And while some kids' items are so fleeting that we don't want to spend much on them (thank goodness for the Toy District!), there are always a couple of furniture pieces that we really want to get right. Looking for the perfect crib, a bed to make the room, or a desk to inspire ultimate focus? Below we offer a list of creative suggestions to shop for kids' furniture in Los Angeles. From stylish to efficient, there’s a furniture store in the vast city of Los Angeles to meet everyone's needs.

We admit it.   Connecticut can be a bit of a nightmare for travelers.  The crush of Fairfield County commuters, merging with Northeast Corridor weekend volume, can equate to several hours inching through a pretty tiny state.  Toss in a holiday, and you’re toast for certain.  A reader sought out Mommy Poppins' advice for planned, midday rest stops — ones where you and the kiddos can escape the mental drain of traffic for a bit.  We looked at our favorite Fairfield County parks and nature centers and came up with a list of spots within five minutes of the Merritt.  Whether you’re from near or far, we hope it takes the sting out of your extended stay on the Parkway.