My kids, like so many others, are obsessed with animals. My son in particular has been campaigning hard for a puppy, but so far, we’ve remained an animal-free household. Of course there's only so long I can put him off. That's why I was thrilled to find out that there are lots of animal care classes for kids, so he can get his cute critter fix, and I can keep my sofa free of fur and scratches.

Taking an animal care class is a lot more hands-on than visiting a petting zoo. Children find out how much work goes into looking after them and what a big responsibility they are. They also learn respect and compassion for all creatures. So next time your child asks for a four-legged pal, consider signing them up for one of these animal care classes for kids instead (hey at least you'll find out if they're ready to clean up poop).

This one is for moms (and dads) only! Mommy Poppins CT is giving away 2 tickets ($70 Value) to this new show which is a musical parody of Fifty Shades of Grey, the risqué novel which recently surpassed Harry Potter to become the fastest selling paperback of all time. Michael Mills, producer of SPANK!, says audience members can expect “a laugh-filled evening that captures all the escapist fun and absurdity of the novel. The Fifty Shades characters are brought to life with sexy and fun musical numbers.” Part Second City, part Chippendales, SPANK! delivers big laughs, sexy fun, and lots of surprises.

Lobby doors open at 6:30 p.m. in order for ticket holders to enjoy the company of friends and partake in a signature SPANK! cocktail. Fans can take a photo with the star of the show, and meet and greet the entire cast following each performance. If you don't win the tickets, don't fret. Mommy Poppins CT readers can get a $5 discount per ticket by using the password: GREY. Sounds like it could be a fun girls' night out!

One of my favorite outings from our trip to Clearwater Beach Florida, was a day trip we took to St Petersburg to visit the Salvador Dali Museum. The Dali Museum has a huge collection of Dali paintings from his days as a student through his entire career. Kids should find the surrealistic paintings interesting, observing the odd juxtapositions of images, hidden pictures within pictures, as well as the famous melting clocks.

When you can capture the imaginations of a theater full of children with only a few actors, a few props and very few words, it seems that your play may be a hit. This is the case with MP fave Mile Square Theater's "Go, Dog, Go!" Gentle and unhurried, with bold colors, striking images, catchy music and tons of physical humor, "Go, Dog, Go!" is a breath of fresh air for our (not yours, of course, but somebody's) screen-obsessed kids.

We're just saying goodbye to September and already the Halloween season seems to be upon us. (As any kid can tell you, you can never start celebrating too early.) We've already begun updating our NYC Halloween Fun Guide since lots of big seasonal favorites are about to start, like the Bronx Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden's Haunted Pumpkin Garden and Historic Hudson Valley's Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze.

Speaking of jack-o'-lanterns, pumpkin picking season has arrived. Find out where to grab great gourds less than an hour from midtown Manhattan or check our Farm Guide for other pumpkin places on Long Island, in New Jersey and Western Connecticut. Pumpkin picking is a wonderful activity for next week's Columbus Day holiday weekend.

If you're still trying to plan your activities for this weekend, you have a bunch of truly exceptional events to choose from, including World Maker Faire, the Dumbo Arts Festival and the Morningside Lights Illuminated City Parade. That's my daughter and her friends in the photo, beaming proudly about the wire skeleton they made for a clock tower lantern in one of the free preparatory art workshops. We can't wait to see it lit up on Saturday night! Here's what else we covered this week on our NYC site:

[UPDATED: December 1, 2012]

For the final post of our month-long focus on the Upper East Side, we're sharing our favorite practical shops for new parents and babies in the neighborhood. Take a stroll on one of the nabe's main avenues like Madison or Lexington and you'll pass a ton of fancy boutiques selling chichi wears for little ones (that they'll grow out in, oh, about a week). So instead of listing all of those swanky spots that have expensive outfits and not much else, we decided to focus on stores that offer necessities for new parents and babies. These five spots sell everything from nursing supplies to nursery furniture, baby slings to baby toys. Plus most offer special classes and events especially for new parents.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, in Clearwater Beach, Florida, is quite different from any other aquarium you may have been to. Primarily a rescue and rehabilitation facility for marine life, the aquarium only became a popular place to visit after the story of the rescue and rehabilitation of a dolphin named Winter became a star-studded feature film, Dolphin Tale.

Since the film's creation, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium now has two separate buildings, connected by a free Jolley Trolley. The original building houses Winter and all the other animals that are either being rehabilitated for release or now live at the aquarium because they can not be released back in the wild.

There is also a brand new Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure building dedicated completely to learning about the story behind Winter and the making of the movie Dolphin Tale. The Dolphin Tale Adventure experience is included with your admission to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and both are interesting and educational.

The fall festival “season” is in full swing this weekend, and families can choose from fairs ranging from the Topsfield Fair, opening Friday, 9/28 and billed as “America’s oldest fair” to the north and King Richard’s Renaissance Faire to the south, as well as festivals and other special events on Saturday and Sunday in Boston, Somerville, and beyond. Read on for details, and be sure to check our Events Calendar as we continually update and add to it.

Two of our favorite venues - the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline and the Regent Theatre in Arlington - have announced the lineups for their special Saturday and Sunday morning family shows. To celebrate, Mommy Poppins readers have the chance to attend two of these shows, for free! Three ways to enter to win one of two pairs of tickets to Mister G at the Coolidge on October 20 and/or a Family 4-Pack to see Ben Rudnick at the Regent on October 13: 1.  send us an email (let us know which show you’re interested in!), 2.  leave a comment on the Mister G or Ben Rudnick giveaway post, or 3. Like us and leave a comment on our Facebook page. Good luck!

Planning a party? Fall is the perfect time for an outdoor celebration. And there’s no better place than a farm, where the harvest and happenings are plentiful, and a festive feeling is in the air. We’ve rounded up a few farms – just a short drive from Boston – where you can celebrate the big day with friends, family and a whole lot of fun.

Enjoy!