Mommy Poppins Arrives in LA!

Mommy Poppins - New York City's leading resource for things to do with kids - has arrived in Los Angeles!

Mommy Poppins LA is a free, online resource guide for families in the greater LA area. Parents and kids can discover great things to do and places to go, and get insights into the best activities, resources, services, schools, parks, and classes around.

On our site you'll find a daily events calendar that we are continually updating, camp and class guides, giveaways and ideas for things to do with kids of all ages. You can also sign up for our free weekly newsletter that includes a round-up of weekend events in the area. And we’d like to hear from you if you have a favorite event to share - a school fundraising fair or concert or other activity, a special story time, or a hidden gem we have yet to uncover.

Mommy Poppins began in New York City nearly five years ago, with sites in New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island now well-established. As in these cities, we hope to help parents by inspiring them to get out and do things that will be meaningful and memorable with their children and providing level-headed, practical information on raising kids in our communities. We are very excited to be bringing our unique stripe of content to LA.

Enjoy!

Fun & Free Things To Do Labor Day Weekend 2011 with LA Kids: LA County Fair, Fiesta Hermosa, and Shakespeare in the Park

Labor Day weekend is always bittersweet - a big, barbecued symbol of the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. This year, the festive farewell to summer brings something else new to LA families: Mommy Poppins! Angelenos can now enjoy their own edition of New York City's favorite family online guide.

To introduce you to the wonderfulness that is Mommy Poppins LA, we bring you the Labor Day Weekend Fun Guide, with suggestions galore for great ways to enjoy the three-day weekend and send summer out with a bang!

For starters - or more accurately for finishers - there are a few great summer activities that sing their swan songs this weekend; this is your last chance to ride the Marina del Rey waterbus, the last of the Music Center's Drum Downtown series, the last Concert in the Park in Manhattan Beach, and the last chance to splash in several of LA parks' free water play areas.

On the other hand, this weekend also marks the beginning of the Los Angeles County Fair, bringing with it everything from kangaroos to deep fried Twinkies.

Read on for Labor Day weekend’s best bets...

Mommy Poppins Arrives in Boston

Mommy Poppins - New York City's leading resource for things to do with kids - has arrived in Boston!

Mommy Poppins Boston is a free, online resource guide for families in the greater Boston area. Parents and kids can discover great things to do and places to go, and get insights into the best activities, resources, services, schools, parks, and classes around.

On our site you'll find a daily events calendar that we are continually updating, camp and class guides, giveaways and ideas for things to do with kids of all ages. You can also sign up for our free weekly newsletter that includes a round-up of weekend events in the area. And we’d like to hear from you if you have a favorite event to share - a school fundraising fair or concert or other activity, a special story time, or a hidden gem we have yet to uncover.

Mommy Poppins began in New York City nearly five years ago, with sites in New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island now well-established. As in these cities, we hope to help parents by inspiring them to get out and do things that will be meaningful and memorable with their children and providing level-headed, practical information on raising kids in our communities. We are very excited to be bringing our unique stripe of content to Boston.

Enjoy!

Culver City - Small Town Life in the Big City

I was ready to pack up and leave LA. My lovely little rent controlled apartment in Santa Monica turned condo, and after years of bliss by the sea, the thought of living anywhere else seemed absurd.  But I still needed to find the next city I would call home.  Little did I know that an ad for a Culver City rental would completely change my plans.

Free! Advance Screening of Dolphin Tale

Boston Mommy Poppins readers are invited to a free advance screening of Alcon Entertainment’s Dolphin Tale at AMC Boston Common, at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, September 13.

Dolphin Tale is inspired by the true story of a brave dolphin and a group of strangers who banded together to save her life. Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, which severely damages her tail.  She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter.  But her fight for survival has just begun. The film stars Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, and Kris Kristofferson. as Clay’s father, Reed.

Tickets are limited to the first 100 readers to sign up, so RSVP ASAP by filling out this simple form.

Notes: No purchase is necessary. Seating at the screening is first come, first served and not guaranteed, so winners should plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to screening time. Please print your invite and present it at the door. Find out more about the film at DolphinTaleMovie.com. Opens in theaters September 23. Movie rating: PG.

Notable News: Maxilla & Mandible Farewell, Hidden Financial Lessons, and Why You Should Never Shoot Rock First

Well, needless to say, we have had quite a week here in NYC. First, we were all shaken up (literally) with that earthquake and then Hurricane Irene made some of us leave our homes, many of us buy things (hello, $30 flashlight) and all of us stop and watch the skies. NYCers, NJers, LIers, and CTers are still recovering, figuring out the damage, and, of course, talking about it. We hope you and yours are safe and sound.

While it was storming outside, it was rather calm online, except for all of the Mother Nature-related news. But, never fear, we found a few fun bits during the hours as we hunkered down–if you want to chat about something other than Irene’s awe-inspiring fury.

Long Island Kids' Activities September 1-3: The Shinnecock Powwow and the Hamptons Classic

It’s the official unofficial end of summer…. Where did the time go?! While we’re mourning the end of our leisurely days enjoying the warm weather, we’re also looking forward to the start of the school year (perhaps me more than the kids…) and some early-fall fun. We’ve got a beautiful weekend on tap for this Labor Day weekend—perfect weather for the beach or a barbecue or both. If you’re looking for something else to do with the family, there’s a whole lot going on out east this weekend. Pack up the kids and a lunch and head on out. One of my favorite Labor Day events is the Shinnecock Powwow: great fun for the whole family and a great way to teach the kids about Long Island’s heritage. Go. And while out there, check out the Hamptons Classic, The events at the South Fork Natural History Museum, and the fireworks in East Hampton Saturday night. Happy Labor Day weekend!

Free Kids' Crafts Places in New York City

[UPDATED: August 15, 2012]

The great thing about crafts is that anyone can do them, all ages, year-round, in any weather, and you don't have to sign up for an expensive class. Crafts are not only fun for kids, they're good for them, too. If you read our recent post about sensory toys for kids, you know that crafts help prepare them for writing. So what could be better than free craft classes and workshops? We've rounded up some great places to do kids' crafts at no cost.

Pages