[UPDATED: December 1, 2012]

We continue our month-long focus on Harlem with a look at shopping with kids in the neighborhood. The main thoroughfares like 125th and 145th Streets are filled with popular chains like Children's Place, H&M and Old Navy. But, as befits the vibrant and diverse area, you can also find more eclectic stores on the side streets and avenues.

Although independent Harlem shops aren't taking off quite like the restaurant scene, there are still several gems, each with a unique story and history. Here are our top kid-friendly stores for families to hit in Harlem.

There is nothing as delicate and exquisite as the way in which maple sugar candy melts on your tongue.  Happily, maple sugar season is upon us!  So get those pancake recipes out, and hit these local spots where you can participate in the making of the syrup...before you participate in the eating of the syrup.

Last week I wrote about last minute birthday party ideas, inspired by perhaps my most slacker mom moment—not having a party planned on the actual morning of my daughter's 10th birthday (Who am I kidding? Probably not even top 10). I wasn't stressed though, this is New York, limitless possibilities lay at my fingertips. I couched my guilt and got on the internet, where all life's problems are solved.

Our plan was to take a few of her friends out to dinner. I wanted to find a place that would be fun and was a real experience. My daughter's favorite, Ninja, was nixed as too expensive, Serendipity had no room. We settled on Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man off Union Square.

Oh, these are the droids you're looking for alright; it's clear from the moment you pull into the parking lot. The back seat time from the Westside to Orange County was (apparently) nothing compared to the unreasonable wait between spotting the storm troopers outside the museum's front door and getting to jump out of the car and see them up close. Those guys with the inter-galactic battle blasters make sure that everyone arrives in the spirit of things.

This Sunday we Spring forward and lose an hour. That's okay with me as long as we are "springing forward". The lacrosse practices have replaced the basketball practices. l still can't believe that we had such a mild winter here in CT. We've begun signing up for summer camps and have created a Summer Camps Guide for Hartford, Litchfield and Fairfield Counties. It will continue to be updated so check back often. We also listed  110 Things to Do with Kids in CT Before They Grow Up. How many things have you done on the list?

Being in the thick of Maple Sugaring season we asked a dad in Washington, CT, Elliott Davis to tell us how he makes syrup at home. It's been a wonderful family activity. Anyone with the time to boil and a little bit of hard work can make their own home-made syrup.

Oyster Bay is a historical treasure trove, and nowhere is that more evident than in its wealth of museums and historical sites. Spend a weekend day taking in all of Oyster Bay's museums with the kids;  you'll  find yourselves pleasantly surprised by how much you learn and how much you enjoy the learning. The good news is these museums are rarely crowded, do not require reservations, and are free or nearly free (Raynham Hall has a $5 fee for those over 6).

This week we updated our post about drop-in play spaces in Manhattan, but one fun romping spot was missing: Moomah. That's because the Tribeca mainstay is closing at the end of this month. That's my daughter in the photo painting a birdhouse last weekend. When I told her that was probably the last time we'd eat/craft/play there, she cried. If you're a fan, definitely put a final visit to Moomah on your March to-do list.

Another important thing to do this month? Sign up for summer camp. Our Camp Guide has been updated for the season, including our popular post about free and cheap summer camps. One of the programs we spotlight, the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp, which costs $500 for the entire summer, is holding its online lottery this weekend. So you'll want to read our article to find out how to vie for a spot.

NYC's neighborhood of the month is Harlem, while Long Island will be focusing on the best things to do with kids in Oyster Bay. Meanwhile, our Connecticut folks have compiled an awesome list of 110 things to do with kids in CT before they grow up... broken down by season!

If you want to stay on top of everything that's going on in New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut, Boston or Los Angeles, you can subscribe to our free newsletters. Read on for everything we covered on Mommy Poppins NYC this week.

The circus is coming to town! The circus is coming to town! In a couple of weeks the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be coming to Nassau Coliseum (check your Long Island newsletter this week for a chance to win tickets), but you can get a sneak peek this weekend at Long Island Children's Museum. There's also a Purim Carnival this weekend, a Fancy Nancy Mermaid Party, and a family scavenger hunt. Have a great weekend!