If you have a little car lover in your home, then this spring break you'll want to steer them to the 2012 New York International Auto Show. More than 1,000 eye-catching vehicles will pack the massive Jacob K. Javits Center, and big-name makers are scheduled to debut new models,

While the Auto Show isn't tailored for families, there are some great kids' attractions, like futuristic prototypes and show cars that inspire your imagination for the cars of tomorrow. There's even a flying car this year (no joke!)

Here are our seven tips for enjoying the Auto Show with kids.

In honor of the start of spring, our March Little Lions post is all about nature. There are lots of colorful kids' books about communing with the great outdoors, even here in New York City.

Tiffany James, senior librarian at the Mosholu branch of the New York Public Library in the Bronx, put together this book list of her favorite titles featuring growing gardens, wiggly worms and hopping playgrounds.

Although we've been celebrating St. Patty's for a few weeks, this weekend it's the REAL deal. So get your green on and enjoy the holiday at the NJ Children's Museum or Saddle River Valley Cultural Center. There are also some great outdoor activities at various Nature Centers and Honey Bees are buzzing at the Community Children's Museum. Read on for all of our picks and remember, you can always find a list of all NJ weekend activities for kids in our Event Calendar. Enjoy, NJ!

Saturday is St Patrick’s Day, and Boston celebrates with the traditional South Boston Parade, starting at 1pm on Sunday. If the parade crowds seem too much for a family outing but you’re looking to something “green”, you can consider:

• a guided tour of the Irish Heritage Trail (reserve in advance);
• a lucky shamrock craft at Lakeshore Learning in Newton;
• Themselves, a musical tale of a young Irish girl who comes to America at the JFK Presidential Library (free; call to register);
• a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Barefoot Books in Concord (free); or
• a musical tribute to Ireland at the Reagle Theatre in Waltham.

We have found plenty of other events going on this weekend; read on for our picks, and be sure to check our calendar for more things to do; read our post about the newest exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum; or find out about the Boston Flower and Garden Show.

We’ve rounded up seven cinemas in the Boston area where parents are welcome to bring their infants to watch some of the latest-run films in a baby-friendly atmosphere. We also met Karen K, a new-to-Boston kindie performer who talked about her recent move and the success of her band; check the Mommy Poppins Boston calendar for upcoming shows, like the one this Friday at Henry Bear’s Park in Cambridge.

Enjoy!

Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day and while we realize the big parade on Fifth Avenue isn't for everyone, there are plenty of family-friendly celebrations, like Park Slope's intimate parade and the Irish Arts Center's annual open house. This is also a great weekend for young theater lovers, with stage adaptations of popular kid-lit series Nate the Great and The Magic School Bus, and the zany, sideshow-like antics of Stunt Lab.

Of course the gorgeous weather means you may want to celebrate spring by visiting one of our city's amazing parks and playgrounds. But you can't play outside all day: Bring the party inside by hitting the American Natural History Museum's fun-packed Cherry Blossom Festival.

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.

If the weather this week hasn’t done enough to give you a case of spring fever, a visit to the Boston Flower and Garden Show - at the Seaport World Trade Center from Wednesday, March 14 through Sunday, March 18 - will certainly do the job. Over 25 garden displays by landscape professionals and area nurseries focus are designed around this year’s theme – First Impressions: Adding WOW Factor to Outdoor Spaces. There is also a full schedule of lectures and demonstrations by top garden writers, industry professionals and chefs, as well as a wide marketplace featuring plants and gardening products.

We had the opportunity to visit the show the first day, and while it is definitely designed for adults, there is plenty to keep the kids’ interest if they do come along.

This Saturday is St. Patrick's Day and there's lots of leprechaun fun to be had. Check out ways to celebrate in both Fairfield and Hartford Counties. Time to think about getting ready for summer swimming so we wrote about indoor swimming pools to take lessons and to practice in in Hartford and Fairfield Counties. It's definitely time to start planning summer camps for the kids and we have a great Summer Camp Guide for anyone considering it in CT. This week is chock full of fun and we've got the lowdown. Besides Irish fun there are many other fun events in your area.

Last weekend, my daughter and I went to see Karen K and the Jitterbugs on stage at the Regent Theatre. After the show, we waited as Karen’s adoring pint-sized fans came up one by one for a post-show hug, then we sat  down with her for a chat about music and community. After spending minutes with Karen Kalafatas (that’s what the K is short for), you can’t help but like her unique blend of city savvy and southern charm, even if you are determined to disrelish her for being talented, witty, pretty, and great with kids.

Karen K and the Jitterbugs cut their kindie music chops in Brooklyn, NY, where Karen and her family moved from last June, but she is no stranger to Beantown. She and her husband have roots in this area – he grew up here and they both have family nearby. They actually met here years ago, while both were working with City Year. That passion for building community has stayed with Karen and is evident in her shows, her music and her classes.