Weekly Wrap Up: Thanksgiving Parade and Balloon Inflation Guide, Puppet Film Festival, Mommy Poppins Moms' Night Out

11/10/11 - By Raven Snook

It's amazing how two days off from school can throw off your family's routine. And it came on the heels of the end of daylight saving time, too.

Even if this week was a little stressful, we've got a lot to look forward to, including this event-filled three-day weekend and Thanksgiving, which is only a few weeks away. Now all we need to do is get through next week's parent-teacher conferences (assuming you have a kid in public elementary school, like I do).

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.

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New York City

Our spotlight on the Upper West Side continued with a roundup of our favorite neighborhood toy stores.

We also shared five great family deals on the UWS, exclusively for Mommy Poppins readers.

Finally, we invited readers to a special Mommy Poppins Moms' Night Out event at popular UWS spot Scribble Press. If you want to come make holiday cards with the MP team, RSVP right away.

The New York Transit Museum's brand-new interactive exhibit ElectriCity: Powering New York's Rails explains the science behind how the subway works.

We're really excited about BAM Rose Cinemas' Puppets on Film festival, which includes screenings of The Muppet Movie, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many more classics from our youth.

Our biweekly news roundup included info on Peter Woytuk's massive nature sculptures on Broadway and Central Park's upcoming playground renovations.

With T-Day only two weeks away, we updated our Macy's Balloon Inflation and Thanksgiving Day Parade guide with everything you need to know for 2011.

Best bets for this Veterans Day weekend include Chocolate Show - New York in the Flatiron District, the debut of the Children's History Museum on the Upper West Side and the annual Canstruction display in Battery Park City (pictured above; cool right?).


New Jersey

Across the Hudson, the kids have a five-day weekend! Our editor shared suggestions about things to do during the school break.

Don't want to cook on Thanksgiving? We've got a list of restaurants that are serving up turkey dinners on Thursday, November 24.

Things to do this holiday weekend include the grand opening of the iPlay Indoor Theme Park in Freehold, the Family Fun and Dinosaur Fest in Edison and various Veterans Day Celebrations.
 

Long Island

How long has it been since you went out on the town without your kids? Well mark your calendar: We've got a roundup of drop-off evening childcare options.

Weekend events include the annual Arts and Crafts Festival in Stony Brook, the Autumn Family Scavenger Hunt at the Seatuck Environmental Center and a performance of Squirm Burpee Circus: Handsome Little Devils in Stony Brook.

Connecticut

After the awful power outages in Connecticut last week, our CT site is back in business. First up, a roundup of affordable infant CPR classes in the state.

If you're looking for a fun and enriching outing, check out our list of family-friendly art and history museums in Fairfield County.

The Thanksgiving theme continues with some offbeat things to do on the holiday (besides eat turkey).

Adolescent shutterbugs show off their work as part of A Celebration of Young Photographers at Arethusa Farms.

Weekend events include a Lego train exhibit at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, a performance by the National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China at Fairfield University and an American Girl Fashion Show at the Coco Key Water Resort Hotel & Conference Center.


Los Angeles & Boston

Up in Boston, our bloggers spotlighted a new production of Peter Pan with a Q&A with the producer and a review of the show.

In LA, our editor spent a day at the Grammy Museum with her kid.

Giveaways & Deals

It's your last chance to enter to win a $250 gift certificate toward holiday cards from Minted.

And don't forget to check out our family deals on the UWS. Save on kids' shows, NY Kids Club and more.