We usually do these links posts once every two weeks, but so many stories caught our eye over the past seven days, we couldn't wait to share.

This batch is heavy on education-related news, including a stomach-churning breakdown of public school lunches, major budget cuts to after-school programs and a new definition of autism that could change available services.

Before you grab a bottle of aspirin (or vodka), not all of the news is bad. We've also got info on a new Montessori that's open 24/seven, the annual Doodle 4 Google competition and an open call for young circus performers—and we're not clowning around.

Boston Children's Theatre's latest production, Calvin's Monster, comes to the Boston Center for the Arts for two weekends, beginning February 4, and a Mommy Poppins Boston family can win free tickets to see the show.

Calvin's Monster is a musical based on the book Fairy Tale Moments by Marcia Trimble, in which eight-year-old Calvin learns how to overcome his fears - with a little help from his fairy tale friends. Performances are February 4, 5, 11, and 12, and tickets are good for any performance.

For your chance to win the Family 4-Pack of tickets for the show, just send me an email by Thursday, February 2 at 5pm. The winner will be randomly drawn and notified that evening.

As you could probably tell from my posts about indoor play spots, outdoor playgrounds and toy stores, I love raising my daughter in Park Slope. One of our favorite things to do in the area is hit one of the many inexpensive drop-in sing-alongs and interactive storytimes.

Now that winter's here, we attend at least one of these every week. It's a great way to get out of the house and give my toddler a little playtime. From the local Ys to the Brooklyn Public Library's central branch to various cafes, we've been to 'em all. These are the sing-alongs and storytimes we think are worth the schlep.

Updated January 16, 2013 Well, it's finally actual wintertime here in New Jersey and we're busy lining up all those indoor activities. But parents who have special needs children may find that this can present an additional challenge, since they must be cognizant of the sensory requirements of their child. Sudden noises, loud volume, and dark spaces may be overstimulating, so for these families, attending a movie in a theater isn't as simple as purchasing a ticket online.

I know - you've seen the uber-forwarded "Get two free tickets on Southwest" promise, and you remember all too well the faux "Bill Gates is sharing his fortune" email. But every now and then a too-good-to-be-true rumor comes along that is actually true, and we've got one for you. If you've heard the rumors that Starbucks and the Wasserman Foundation have teamed up to help LAUSD schools by funding teachers' pet projects - and that you, the Starbucks addict, get to choose how it happens - you have not been led astray. But you do need to get out there fast and caffeinate if you want to help your kids' school!

Birthdays are so much more fun when you’re a child. The planning, the excitement and the happiness of actually wanting to get another year older, it is such a magical time. Your options aren’t just McDonalds and Chuck E’ Cheese anymore, the possibilities are endless. There are so many great places in the Hartford county area to celebrate and truly make it a special day your child will remember.

It's a mission of mine to introduce my six-year-old son to as many musical genres as possible. I find that kids don’t really care if music is popular or current, they just know what they like. Last year we were all about classical. I was pleasantly surprised by how much we both enjoyed the concerts by the Little Orchestra Society (especially since I'm a rock and roll girl at heart). He even asked me to take him to the opera and he loved that, too.

My son recently finished reading a book that featured Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong as a main character, and he began asking lots of questions about the trumpeter and jazz in general. With Black History Month coming up, it's the perfect time for me to introduce him to the genre.

Although we may start our journey with a visit to Armstrong's childhood home in Queens, which is now a museum, what I really want to do is take him to a live jazz concert. While there are a slew of jazz clubs in New York City, between the free-flowing alcohol and late night hours, most of them aren't family-friendly. But there are a handful of NYC jazz spots that not only welcome kids, they cater to them.

So…you’re thinking of moving to the New York City suburbs and you keep hearing about Fairfield County, CT.  Great!  We look forward to welcoming you here.  But which town, you ask, would best suit your lifestyle? 

There are a lot of factors to consider, especially if you desire a town that is easily commutable to NYC.  Eight years ago my husband and I debated these issues for months.  After many glasses of wine, several arguments, and some hand wringing, we packed up our things and moved from Boston to Fairfield County with our then 1 year old.  While we were apprehensive about moving to such an affluent county, we have been tremendously happy with the many wonderful people we've met, the ease with which we can get into Manhattan, and the incredible (free!) education our children are getting.

Read more to find some insights on a few popular Fairfield County towns: