This week really flew by—more so than usual. Maybe because it was cool enough for us to actually get outside and run around (unlike the week before).

Playing was our theme. We profiled a new Destination Playground in Elmhurst, Queens, wrote about nonprofit organization KaBOOM!, which is building play spots all over the country, and we stumbled across a blog by an energetic nanny who's attempting to visit every single playground in Manhattan. Just thinking about that tires us out!

We're also busy gearing up to launch our sister sites in Boston, Los Angeles and Orlando later this month. To make sure you're notified when they go up, sign up for the newsletters now.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

Whichever way your musical tastes run, your family’ll find something to suit their fancy this weekend.  From the Fuzzy Lemons in Morristown and Xanadu in Kearny, to Bon Jovi in Lake Hopatcong, Sock Hop songs in Hamilton and Show Choir in Camden, we have you covered.   Celebrate National Lighthouse Day with nautical-inspired activities in Cape May, or head to Camden where Shark Week winds down at Adventure Aquarium.  Quieter moments may be had at a Down-Home Farm Fest in Cape May or a Family Fun Day at Historic Speedwell.  Whatever your pick, you’ll be whistling a happy tune at day’s end.

Did you know that every organization in Connecticut and the surrounds—can receive a free listing on Mommy Poppins Connecticut?  For more information about getting the word out about your event at no cost please email me at CT@mommypoppins.com.  

There are so many fantastic events happening it really is hard to choose. I hope this list makes things a bit easier and inspires you to do something fun with the family. Drumroll please….here's my top CT picks for the weekend, August 6-7th.

By Monika Nica

Why not take a refreshing short trip with your family back in time to visit one of Fairfield County’s many historical treasures, the charming Keeler Tavern in Ridgefield?

As soon as you walk through the doubly fortified heavy front door of the impeccably maintained white building from colonial times, you enter an entirely different age from three centuries ago. It was then that 26 brave and determined families from far-away Norwalk followed narrow paths through dense woods and rich meadows to settle in an area yet uninhabited by colonists, in the midst of an unknown wilderness to start a new community that was to become the serenely beautiful town of Ridgefield.

Who says all New Yorkers go on vacation in August? We're here and we're having a fantastic time, especially since there are so many entertaining and enriching activities for families this weekend.

My family is particularly looking forward to this Saturday's Summer Streets, when we can take a leisurely bike ride through select car-free Manhattan streets. On Sunday, we're heading to Brooklyn to take advantage of Free Summer Sunday: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn Children’s Museum and other borough culture spots will be offering free admission all day. Speaking of free admission, since this is the first weekend of the month many museums have no-cost visiting hours, including the Brooklyn Museum.

Other weekend fun includes free festivals, a solar-powered carousel at South Street Seaport, a sand sculpting contest, a star-studded tribute to the late great Shel Silverstein and the annual Big Latch On.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and our Event Calendar.

Happy August! This is limbo month for families: We're still in leisure mode but we're already preparing (or at least thinking about preparing) to go back to school/work/the grind. Still, don't you find it odd to pass by stores with sweaters and coats in their windows when we're heading to the playground decked out in swimsuits and sun hats? We do, too. 

This week's roundup of stories reflects this transitional time. We've got suggestions for what to do this last month of vacation as well as ways to do good while back-to-school shopping. Plus: the Lego Batcave. We have no idea how that fits in, we just know it's awesome.

I'm sad to say that gone are the days I would spend rocking my babies to bliss while nursing them to sleep. I may not be able to participate in this cool event happening around the world this Saturday but I will be there in spirit as I am sure will so many other post-nursing moms. In case you didn't know, over 120 countries are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week this week (Aug 1-7) in an effort to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

in 2005 in New Zealand, The Big Latch On started as an initiative to  increase support for breastfeeding in public. This Saturday (8/6) groups of nursing mothers can come together at registered venues around the country (or the world) to nurse their babes. All the mamas and babes latched on for one minute at the set time are counted by the witnesses. The point is to try to break the world record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously! So bring your hungry babies on Saturday at 10am and take part in this important effort. Read more where you will find a list of the registered CT locations.

We’ve got some fun events to kick off your first weekend in August! Take part in storm exploring, see King Arthur acting silly or try some authentic Irish soda bread. Whatever you choose we want you to have an amazing weekend! Read on for our round up of fun, and don't forget to keep in mind the Summer Fairs and Festivals on Long Island, including the 32nd Annual Sayville Summerfest, which happens this weekend.