North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
Weekly Wrap Up: The Holidays in NYC, Department Store Windows, Santa Photo Ops, The Nutcracker
It may not feel much like December, but it's sure beginning to look a lot like the holiday season. Department stores have unveiled their magical holiday windows, Santa has set up shop at lots of NYC spots and various productions of The Nutcracker are dancing around town.
This week we officially launched our 2011 Holiday Fun and Holiday Gift Guides. While we've already updated many of our annual posts, we'll continue to add new info throughout December, so check back regularly for more seasonal fun. Also, please consider supporting Mommy Poppins holiday food drive. We launched it last week and the response has been really heartwarming. As our founder Anna explains in the post, our appeal is very personal.
This week we also wrapped up our series of posts about the Upper West Side. Even if you live there, we think you may find out about a great toy store, restaurant or play spot you didn't know of.
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, as well as selected stories from our sites in Boston and Los Angeles.
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
New York City
We were very holiday happy this week. First, we shared our picks for the best places to take pictures with Santa, including two new spots in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
We also rounded up nine different productions of The Nutcracker, many of which are shorter and cheaper than the Lincoln Center ballet.
Two Mommy Poppins moms and their families enjoyed a holiday window walk through Midtown. Macy's and Bloomie's both have interactive displays this year.
Finally, we launched our Holiday Activity and Gift Guides for the season.
Our series of posts about the Upper West Side was our other big theme of the week. We wrote about our favorite UWS bakeries and sweet spots and great restaurants near the American Museum of Natural History and the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
If you have out-of-town guests looking for NYC hotels this holiday season, refer them to our roundup of family-friendly UWS hotels.
Best bets for the weekend include St. Luke’s Christmas Fair in Greenwich Village, the Morgan Library & Museum's Winter Family Day Celebration and the French Institute's Family Saturdays, which is so cool, we wrote an entire post about it.
New Jersey
It's all about the holidays across the Hudson, too. We've got the scoop on two trains that take you right to Santa.
Looking to cut your own fir? We've got info on the best Christmas tree farms in NJ.
Holiday shows abound this season—we've got 20 of 'em!
A little off-season: We shared our favorite farmers' markets in Jersey City. Hit them before they close.
Things to do this weekend include the Family Holiday Extravaganza at the Summit Area YMCA, the Holiday Bazaar and Pancake Breakfast in New Vernon and multiple gingerbread house-making workshops.
Long Island
It's all about the holidays on the Island, too. Families can choose from six versions of The Nutcracker this season.
You can also cut your own Christmas tree a number of local farms.
Weekend events include the Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson, the Stony Brook Village Center's Holiday Festival and multiple Christmas tree lightings.
Connecticut
There are also a lot of Christmas tree farms in CT. We picked our favorites in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties.
We also shared creative holiday photo card ideas.
Lastly, we rounded up our top Advent calendars, and gave tips for how to make one yourself.
Weekend highlights include LEGO Kidsfest at the Connecticut Convention Center, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Theater and lots of Santa sightings.
Los Angeles & Boston
Up in Boston the scene's the same: It's all about Santa, Christmas tree lightings and holiday shows.
Over on the West Coast, we shared where to find snow in LA. The way the weather's been going in NYC, we may need a post like that here, too!
Deals & Giveaways
Our LA site is hosting its first-ever giveaway: Enter to win a family four-pack to Bring It On: The Musical.
Out in NJ, you can via to win tickets to Mile Square Theater's It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.
Here in NYC, we're offering a serious discount on tickets to Hudson Terrace's Family Holiday Party on Sunday, December 11.
