It's always interesting around here. This week we've been watching the blowout between Whole Foods CEO and irate customers over Healthcare Reform and "Mommy Bloggers" and each other over paid reviews. Plus New York City always keeps it interesting with developments like a group that's giving away books to read on the subway, a couple that are trying to actually provide good school photography (as in class pictures), and an awesome free entrepreneur boot camp for teens. Check it out.

Some random freebies for NYC folks from free food to where to fill up your water bottle when you are out and about (for free) to a Play-Doh "cooking" contest with a prize of $10,000 and a cool-sounding play just for kids that is being performed for free in New York City parks. Note: I can't take responsibility for the promotions enclosed. Please visit the linked site when available and sally forth with a free spirit and a sense of humor if the burgers are gone when you get there.

We've been having a great time hanging out in Red Hook, Brooklyn lately. The neighborhood has become quite the destination what with Ikea, Fairway, a new pier park and beach, lots of yummy food, and, of course, the free Ikea Water Taxi and buses make it even easier to get there.

Whether you are anchoring your trip to Red Hook around a pragmatic trip to Fairway for groceries or Ikea for household goods, or just heading to the neighborhood for fun, there's tons to do that's fun for kids and parents alike. Here are the top spots in Red Hook for family fun:

Things to do with kids in Red Hook, Brooklyn:

I've been watching this new site Groupon for a little while. It's an interesting idea. It's free to sign up and each morning you get a daily deal emailed to you. If you want to take advantage of the deal, you buy it right there and then and then can print your coupons to use later. The deals are for local NYC businesses and activities and are generally 50% off or even a little bit more. Each deal is only available that day.

While you may be reminiscing about your misspent youth and favorite teen films due to the death of John Hughes, you can enjoy more childhood movie memories like The Wiz and The Muppet Movie as free outdoor movies this weekend. But we recommend you try to get to the Dragon Boat Festival or enjoy the first weekend of Summer Streets too. There's lots more free activities to do this weekend too form street fairs to dance performances and some great nature activities right here in the city. Enjoy!

Also New Jersey Events or Long Island Events for more things to do this weekend.

[UPDATED: September 11, 2012]

If you're heading to the beaches of Long Island, there's a great new site to check out. KidMontauk.com gives parents the inside skinny in everything you need to know to have a blast on and off the beach in Montauk, NY. Heather D'Agostino, the site's founder, offered to fill us in on her Top Ten Things to Do with Kids in Montauk. Thanks, Heather!

About a month ago we relaunched this site with lots of new updates, a new look and features (all of which are summarized here). While resting on our laurels has been fun, we're itching to a) find out what people think of all the changes and b) start working on the next set of improvements.

We've put together a really short reader survey to get your input. This is your chance to tell us what you think of the site and how you think it could be better. We're all ears and would love to hear your complaints, brilliant ideas, whims and fetishes...we'll even take praise.

Best of all, if you answer the survey you get entered to win one of the 10 dinner parties for 10 we're giving away thanks to Susie's Supper Club.

The survey will take you less than five minutes. I hope you'll take the time to give us your input. Click here to take the survey. Thanks!

Oh, PS. We added one new feature today. Now on our Area Guides (the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, etc tabs) you'll find recommendations and reviews for kid-friendly restaurants in that area thanks to TimeOut Kids. Hope that makes planning your day that much easier.

PPS. That's all there is in this post, don't click on the "read more" which shows up there automatically.

Some kids love summer because it means day camp and sports and running around all day. But for other kids, even the thought of that makes them break out into a cold sweat, which in turn makes parents panic about what to do with kids all summer when they are not "typical" camp kids.

I happen to have a boy who is completely disinterested in a regular day camp and I can only imagine the torture (for both of us) that would follow if I signed him up for such a program. Instead we tried RoboFun, which offers after-school classes, summer camps and school break camps that teach kids robotics, animation and video game design.