Apparently, eight years old is the age where Halloween really begins to matter.  In previous years, we settled for a rushed trip to the department store costume department and grabbed whatever fit from the disheveled, picked over displays.  Decorations were minimal and the pumpkin never saw a knife.  It did, however, see the outside of my front door for long, long after it was considered "fresh".  This year?  Not so much.  My kids are ON the BALL.  My children chose their costume choices (an obscure Minecraft character and a soccer fairy) in early September, and are expecting the full decoration treatment.  They've even begun decorating their rooms.  So, I'm guessing they're also anticipating the entire Halloween/Fall experience, which for me, includes a trip to the pumpkin patch, and lucky for us, (and you!) we've got lots of options to choose from in Eastern Connecticut!

Update: As of April 2014 the New York State Education Department has decided to cancel its contract with inBloom. It was a hard-won fight!

There's a story I've been following for a while now about the controversy surrounding a company called inBloom. Backed by the likes of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, inBloom stores student data in an online cloud, including grades, test scores, teacher observations about behavior, and even more sensitive information like special education status, family history and disciplinary records. The supposed goal is to help teachers and schools easily track each student's progress, provide more personalized instruction and inspire digital developers to create new and innovative educational tools. However, many parents and education activists across the country are concerned that inBloom violates students' privacy in a big way and that the data may end up being compromised or sold to the highest bidder.

While inBloom is a national venture, as of now only three states plan to use its services, including New York State. It's important to note that out of the original nine states who were interested in inBloom, six have pulled out due to privacy concerns. According to an article in last week's New York Times, the New York State Education Department has already uploaded data for 90% of its charter and public school students, and there is no way for individual districts, schools or families to opt out. But there are things parents can do to voice their concerns and possibly stave off or at least change the scope of inBloom.

Fall brings pumpkins, hay rides, corn mazes, spooky fun, concerts, and festivals. But what really piques my interest is a different fall tradition (nerd alert!): The opening of new museum exhibits. I get excited just reading about the investigation of how humans change over time at the Museum of Science, going beyond human at the Peabody Essex Museum, the meditation on a single color at the MFA, stretching the definitions of art at the ICA, and redefining the topography of the deCordova Sculpture Park. All that, and some STEAM (that's Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) at the Boston Cyberarts Gallery and MIT Museum. Even if you don’t find it quite as exciting as I do, take a look – there’s something new for every family this Fall in Boston’s galleries. 

October, with Columbus Day Weekend and Halloween, is a classic time for East Coast families to get out and enjoy the changing colors. Deals are plentiful in favorite fall getaway locations like Vermont, Saratoga, Hershey PA, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Plymouth and Boston MA and Philadelphia. Farther afield, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and the beaches of Hawaii beckon with bargains.  If you are craving Caribbean paradise, try your luck by entering a Facebook contest to win a vacation for four to Paradise Island, Bahamas.  Here are some great deals for fall family vacations.

Breakfast and brunch are the meals we tend to eat out most often; toddlers are early risers, so by 10 or so, we're ready for (second) breakfast, and kids really, really like breakfast food. I enjoy whipping up muffins or pancakes, but I will gladly pay for the privilege of getting someone else to make them for me while I happily sip a mimosa or bloody Mary. It may only be 9am, and I may have a weekend's worth of stuff to fit into one day, but hey! If you're looking for fancy brunches to celebrate a birthday or special event, check out Tara's piece from last spring, but here are a few of our family's favorite casual neighborhood spots around town.

Last week, we announced our brand-new partnership with the New Victory and gave you an in-depth preview of the theater's unique, globe-spanning season of family shows. As part of our collaboration, we're proud to announce the first-ever Mommy Poppins Night at the New Victory Theater on Sunday, October 20, an exclusive event where our readers will enjoy a terrific family production, Me and My Shadow, participate in an interactive pre-show workshop and meet the performers afterward.

Read on to find out more about the show, the special kids' activities and how you can save 20% on tickets.

When my son first asked to taking acting classes, I was floored. He was such a shy and timid kid, even as a toddler. I actually asked him if he knew what acting was. He assured me he did and he wanted to take classes so I signed him up. I was surprised and delighted to see my quiet little boy flourish on stage. He became more confident and took to the stage with enthusiasm and excitement that I had never seen in him before.

Acting can be lots of fun and a great way to build public speaking skills and foster teamwork. It's also great to experience seeing a production brought to life and being a part of the process. Westchester has great choices when it comes to acting programs and we've listed them for you here. Instruction ranges from acting and film making to musical theater with dancing and singing incorporated.