MoMA Reopens with Kid-Friendly Art Programs, Family Film, New Galleries

The redesigned Museum of Modern Art in Midtown features more gallery space and a robust calendar of family programs.

The Museum of Modern Art, fresh off a years-long expansion and renovation, has officially re-opened, and even by NYC standards, it's a big deal. Really big: MoMA's new, flexible layout means a 30 percent increase in gallery space—that's about 165,000 square feet of art, sculpture, and exhibits. The 90 year-old New York institution has never felt more...well, modern.

While we're smitten with all the city's world-class cultural institutions, the MoMA has always been one of our favorite NYC museums to visit with kids. Read on for the scoop on what's changed, plus 10 reasons to love the new MoMA, then plan your next visit to this updated gem.

What's New in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lineup for 2019

Snoopy makes his 40th appearance at the  Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as an Apollo astronaut.

With Halloween firmly in the rear-view mirror, the holiday season is officially upon us, and we're gearing up for one of our favorite turkey day traditions: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has just announced the new additions for the 2019 parade.

Read on for the details and new stars of the show, from soaring giants to gliding floats, and then start plotting your Thanksgiving parade viewing strategies, whether you're planning to watch the balloons come to life on the Wednesday night before the parade, or see the main event, which steps off at 9am on Thursday, November 28.

Disney and Saks Team up for Magical Frozen 2 Holiday Display

Get ready for a Frozen winter wonderland coming to the Big Apple! Photo by Jody Merceir

What do you get when you combine a favorite annual holiday tradition with a bit of mysterious magic and a sure-to-be holiday blockbuster? Saks Fifth Avenue's treat for all of us this holiday season. The iconic department store is teaming up with Disney to pay homage to Frozen 2 with its holiday windows and a themed in-store experience.

Both will be unveiled on Monday, November 25, with an assist from actress (and voice of Elsa!) Idina Menzel, plus a choir, a cast of characters from Frozen 2, and more. The popular annual light show at Saks will also kick off that night. Read on for details on how to see the biggest holiday store experience to hit NYC since Macy's Santaland (or the return of FAO Schwarz).

Get Your Tickets Now for Edge, the New Observation Deck at Hudson Yards

New York's Hudson Yards will be home to the highest outdoor observation deck in the western hemisphere.

Hudson Yards has brought NYC families plenty of new attractions and ways to play—but another big development is still to come. Mark your calendars: Edge, the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, is set to open on March 11, 2020 at Hudson Yards, and tickets are now on sale.

Situated on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, Edge's observation deck sits at 1,131 feet above street level—that's higher than both the Empire State Building's main observation deck and the Top of the Rock. Read on for details on how to visit.

Trick-or-Treat, Pick Pumpkins, and See Jack O'Lanterns on Governors Island This Year

One of NYC's only pumpkin patches (with a great view) returns to Governors Island.

Tis the season for fall festivals and Halloween fun in New York City, and what better place to celebrate the changing seasons than beautiful Governors Island? Its season runs through Halloween, and its October calendar is scarily packed with plenty of fun.

For the third consecutive year, the Friends of Governors Island and Trustees for Governors Island have teamed up to put on a classic, daytime, small-town Halloween at Pumpkin Point. If you prefer your Halloween fun to fall in the post-dusk hours, exciting news: The Night of 1,000 Jack O'Lanterns returns for its second run in three years. For all the details about Halloween events on Governors Island this year, read on.

10 Things to Love About Northern Central Park

Kids can frolic around the Conservatory Garden Fountain.

My family has long thought of Central Park as our backyard. And while we've romped across most of its 843 acres, and enjoy an occasional visit to the zoo or our favorite playground on the southern end, we're just as happy to leave that portion of the park to the tourists.

Instead, you'll find us exploring above 100th Street, in the northern reaches of the park, which are just wooded enough to make you forget the urban jungle for a bit. A recently-announced $150 million dollar renovation project will update the aging pool and skating rink at Central Park's Harlem Meer, while creating new trails and restoring the landscape—but there's no reason to wait until that project's estimated 2024 completion date to enjoy this beautiful parkland.

From a babbling stream, to renovated playgrounds, rolling meadows, perfectly manicured gardens, and the wild of the North Woods, here are 10 things to love about Central Park's northern edge.

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum: Tips for Going to Ground Zero With Kids

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers age-appropriate programs to help children learn more about the events of 9/11 and how people responded in the days and months after.

Visiting Ground Zero with your kids is a deeply personal decision. Even if your family hasn't already talked about the terrible events of September 11, 2001, many children will learn about the attack on the city at school, from friends, or via the annual coverage of the anniversary. Whether you're breaking the news yourself, or your kids bring questions to you, a visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum might help provide some context and meaning.

You're probably aware that this isn't your typical kid-centric museum, and children may only be able to handle a small part of the exhibit without feeling emotional. So, whether your kid is a native New Yorker or you're just visiting, here are our parent-tested tips for your visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

DOE Announces New Waitlist Policy for Middle, High School Admissions

Photo courtesy of the NYC DOE

Anyone who's raised kids in New York City knows what a hustle it is to get them into a good school, and the process only gets more complicated as they grow.

The city is hoping a significant change to the middle and high school admissions process will make it a little easier. Gone are the Round 2 applications, instead replaced by a waitlist system DOE officials claim will make the process shorter, easier, and more transparent. Read on for the details, and how this may affect your child's middle school and high school application process.

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