The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in Soho abruptly closed earlier this month. According to its website, it will continue to live on in some form, although details are still forthcoming. We hope MoCCA keeps hosting its annual kid-friendly festival.

More nerd trauma: Veteran toy and comic book shop, Forbidden Planet, has shuttered at 840 Broadway. The good news? It's just moving down the block to bigger digs. Glad we didn't have to call in the superheroes to save this one.

Unfortunately it seems like hordes of discount shoppers couldn't save Daffy's: All 19 locations, including NYC's eight will close this fall. From our experience, Daffy's always had amazing and inexpensive kids' clothes. Guess we'll be spending more time at T.J.Maxx.

If your kids have more of a sporty style, you'll want to check out Rookie USA on the UWS. The soon-to-open "concept store" will sell footwear and clothing by the likes of Levi’s, Nike, Jordan, Converse for babies through teens. Carmelo Anthony and Derek Jeter are on board as pitchmen (and may be appearing at the grand opening) so it sounds like a real score. Save $20 off your first purchase by signing up for their email list.

And another opening to look forward to: The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, which ran into snags in the past, finally broke ground last week. Slated to be completed in 2013, the building at St. Nicholas Avenue and 155th Street will also include 124 affordable apartments and a preschool.

Our roundup of the top 50 places to cool off with kids has been a big hit with our overheated readers. Well, we have a brand-new hot spot—make that cool spot to share: the swanky new sprinkler area in Queens' Gantry Plaza State Park, which offers amazing views of Manhattan and so much water fun there's reportedly even a lifeguard on duty! We can't wait to check it out when we highlight Long Island City as our neighborhood of the month in August

The New York Times recently did a fascinating slide show of the "other mothers of Manhattan", a.k.a. nannies and the kids they're raising, and the ones at home they don't always have so much time for. Strong stuff, regardless of your childcare situation.

President Obama proposed a new teachers' program that would create an elite group of educators in the math, science and technology fields. Partisan budget hurdles pose a treat to the costly idea, but if implemented, top teachers may get a serious boost to their bottom line.

A well-known rodent mascot is getting a makeover. No, not Mickey, we're talking about the signature rat (yup, he's a rat not a mouse) at Chuck E. Cheese. In order to try to attract more business (more?! Have you ever seen an empty C.E.C.?), the chain is transforming him into a hip, guitar-wielding rock star. And they're changing the guy who supplies his voice, too. Here's hoping the stuff passing for pizza gets an update next.

Finally, limo service Carmel is looking to crown its first Carmel Idol. Record a brand-new (and hopefully less annoying) jingle, submit your video and you may win $6,666.66.