The origins of the term “flea market” are disputed, with explanations ranging from buyers and sellers being active as fleas, or that the very first flea market had flea-infested goods and people. Wherever the expression came from, flea markets are here to stay and a totally fun way to spend a summer day. And don’t forget to also check out all the summer craft fairs and festivals in NJ—there’s about 5,762 of them (only a slight exaggeration). We’re highlighting just a few of the best for your summer arts and crafts consumption. So cruise to the crafts and flee to the flea! (sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Father’s Day is just around the corner.  Now is the time to start thinking about a creative and useful gift that the kids can make for dad so you don’t have to scramble the day before.  This year, let the kids have some fun in the kitchen by creating a finger lickin’ good barbecue sauce and matching spice rub for a homemade gift set that Dad is sure to love.  

If your kid can play in a sandbox – they can make a spice rub. It is beyond easy just dump everything into a bowl, mix it up and Bam! You are done. The sauce is also quick and easy to put together with most ingredients coming right out of the pantry, but , it does require minimal chopping and a little sautéing.  Something an older child can easily do.  Both items take about 30 minutes in total to complete.

My son and I make this exact gift set for my father every Father’s Day and it is delicious. The sweet and tangy sauce is most definitely a tasty alternative to store-bought bottled sauces and the freshly made rub totally complements it. The set is especially a nice idea if you have two children,  let the younger child mix up the rub and the older one prepare the sauce.

If the man in your child’s life is a city guy aka grill deprived, store this gift idea away for future use, the set also makes a thoughtful, well received not to mention effortless hostess gift for barbecues and other summer invites.

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I'm teaming up with Universal Pictures to host an exclusive preview of the hot new family movie, Despicable Me. This is not one of those things where you show up and maybe get a seat. We will have the whole theater just for Mommy Poppins readers and everyone with a ticket is guaranteed a seat, plus there are going to be goodie bags and free popcorn and soft drinks.

A reader recently wrote in to ask where they could make clay hand-prints of their child for Father's Day. She had tried those kits, but said they were a disaster for her. We thought doing it yourself was a great idea and wanted to share our answer with everyone. 

While there are plenty of paint your own pottery studios all over the city, at most of them you all the pieces are pre-made so you can't make a unique item like a hand print. And most clay studios don't let you just drop in for a day to work if you aren't taking classes there already. But we have scoped out a few pottery places in NYC where you and the kids can just drop in to make a hand print or another nice present for Dad out of clay.

There’s a wild variety of fun FREE activities in New Jersey this weekend, so leave the wallet at home and head out to play chess on a 3-foot tall chess board, walk through the inside of a hot air balloon, pan for gold in the Musconetcong River, or be inspired by the athletes at the Special Olympics Summer Games. If you willing to spend a bit of dough, you can also take in a rodeo and Daddies can have a special tea party with their little princesses. Enjoy!

After the crush of events the past few weekends I can happily say that things have slowed down event-wise around the city.  Does that mean there is nothing good going on? No way! Shakespeare is being performed all around town: by an all-girl troupe in the Village and by an ensemble that roves through Central Park and in a Brooklyn playground. The parks are offering a range of activities from scavenger hunts to bike repair.  We have live kiddy concerts, storytelling, planting and even some older-set stuff like photography and dissecting a Sony Playstation to keep you busy this weekend.

Some more big annual celebrations that we love are on deck, The Big Apple Barbecue is hunkered down in Madison Square Park while the uber-creative arts festival, Figment, is taking over Governors Island.. Over in Brooklyn we have some new festivals to try, the 100th Anniversary of the Botanic Garden and The FAB Fest in Fort Greene.  Or maybe try unlocking one of the secret doors planted around the Big Apple with your own Key to the City.

Read about this and a whole lot more to do this weekend and have a great time:

Ah, the romance of the drive-in… smooching with your sweetie, eating stale popcorn, not caring what the movie is… Oh. Wait a minute. We have kids now. Well, the drive-in is still a blast! (though not quite as steamy…) And did you know that New Jersey is the birthplace of the drive-in? The very first one opened in Pennsauken in 1933 with the slogan “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are!” Still a big selling point, right? There are a mere five drive-in theaters accessible to Manhattanites and Jerseyites (under a two hour drive), so drive over, drive in, grab your snacks and enjoy!

NJ WEEKEND EVENTS JUNE 12-13: POKEMON, PANERA BREAD’S CHESS FOR LIFE, AND PANNING FOR GOLD, ALL FREE!

There’s a wild variety of fun FREE activities in New Jersey this weekend, so leave the wallet at home and head out to play chess on a 3-foot tall chess board, walk through the inside of a hot air balloon, pan for gold in the Musconetcong River, or be inspired by the athletes at the Special Olympics Summer Games. If you willing to spend a bit of dough, you can also take in a rodeo and Daddies can have a special tea party with their little princesses. Enjoy!

Pokemon Video Game Championships (Secaucus)
http://www.pokemonvgc.com/en/events/newark.php

Did you know there were Pokemon video game competitions that can lead to a national championship?! Well, you do now. So gather your team and head over to the Meadowlands Exhibition Center for a chance to qualify for the Nationals. Come as a competitor or spectator and come for FREE. Saturday, June 12. Junior registration 8am to 8:30am, Senior registration 1pm to 1:30pm. Call 201-330-1172 for competition rules and regulations.

Chess for Life at Panera Bread (Montclair)
http://www.westorangenavigator.com/events/chess-for-life-is-coming-to-1

Panera Bread of Montclair invites children, teens, and adults to learn all about the game of chess and play against professional chess masters. You’ll have a chance to win a beautiful glass chess set and play on a 3-foot tall chess board game. Cost is FREE, but they probably would appreciate it if you bought a little bread. Saturday, June 12 from 3:30 to 6:30pm. Call 973-233-1703 for more info.

Hot Air Balloon Walk-Thru (Piscataway, Flemington)
http://www.rainbowacademy.com/

Do an actual walk-through of the inside of a hot air balloon and learn how to fly one from a licensed pilot! This FREE event is sponsored by the NJ Balloon Festival and Rainbow Academy. There will be refreshments, giveaways and a balloon artist (we’re assuming of the small ‘birthday party’ variety). At the Flemington Rainbow Academy location at 10am and at Piscataway at 1pm. Call 732-699-1700 for more info.

2010 Special Olympics NJ Summer Games (Ewing)
http://www.sonj.org/General/SpecialEvent.php?FileId=863

There aren’t many events that are more inspiring than the Special Olympics and this weekend, more than 2,000 athletes from across NJ will compete in aquatics, bocce, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball, tennis, and track & field. Opening ceremonies take place at 7:30pm on Friday, June 11, followed by a full weekend of events. FREE. For more info, registration and schedule, call 609-896-8000.

Panning for Gold in Stephens State Park (Hackettstown)
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/getoutdoorsnj/index.html

Ever wonder what it was like when early pioneers panned for gold in the 1800s? Well, on Sunday you and your family can become prospectors and wade in the Musconetcong River, looking for fool's gold. Wear “wet-able” clothes and old shoes. FREE. The “fools” will gather on Sunday, June 13 at 1pm and 2:30pm.
Call 908-852-3790 for more info.

Montgomery Rodeo (Skillman)
http://www.cowboy.com/index.php?id=19163&nav=listing

Listen, how often do you get to see a rodeo in New Jersey? Montgomery’s17th Annual Professional Rodeo for charity includes bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, girls break-away roping, cowgirl barrel racing, bull hockey, bull riding, food, drink, rides and games for kids. I’d go just to find out what “cowgirl barrel racing” could be. June 12 at 7pm and June 13 at 2pm, gates opens ½ hour before event. Admission $15/Adults, $13/Students. Call 908-359-7832 for more information

Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band (Pennington)
http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=QHBSBLWNQAYQJE...

Miss Amy and the Kids will perform a Fitness Rock & Roll show at Princeton Community Church, so come and be a star—the show is being filmed for Miss Amy’s DVD. Saturday, June 12 at 4pm. $3 per person. Call 609-730-1114 for more info.

Daddy & Daughter Tea at Main Street Bakery and Eatery (Kingston)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121014794602879&ref=mf

Main Street Bakery and Eatery is celebrating Father’s Day early with a tea party for Daddy and his little princess. Register early—the first few princesses to sign up will receive a free tiara. Sunday, June 13 at 1pm. The price is $40 for the Daddy/Daughter couple which includes fresh brewed teas, gourmet sandwiches and desserts. Registration is required, call 908-239-0100 for reservations.