This slushy weekend promises to be two things: wet and fabulous. Celebrate Purim, two children's film festivals, the BAMkids Film Festival and the NYCIFF, plus 3 really cool arts & crafts events that put popsicle sticks to shame (though, you can still totally love them), free movies to keep you inside and warm, an African Dance, Nordic Halloween, accessible Shakespeare and way more!

Oh, and don't forget, it's your last chance to enter our giveaway for the Mary Poppins VIP Experience on Broadway.

We've been dying to check out the newest YMCA location that just opened to the public at the Park Slope Armory. We finally got over there to check it out. The great new space has lots of unique offerings for families and is really inexpensive. Find out what all the hubbub is about:

A boy named Sue?  Maybe.  But then again, maybe not. No one knows for sure the gender of any of the 22 T-Rex fossils found to date.  There simply aren’t enough of them for scientists to study this trait.  This is just one of the many interesting tidbits we uncovered at the Liberty Science Center's special return engagement of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found.

The exhibit, “A T rex Named Sue”, is particularly good at presenting aspects of these pre-historic animals in a child friendly, easy to understand, way by using interactive, hands-on displays. In fact, the displays are so cool and there are quite a lot of them, that the kids might actually overlook the massive, 42 foot long dinosaur skeleton in the room.

Last Saturday, surprisingly, my family put on our winter clothes and headed to Coney Island. The Cyclone may have been closed for the season and the stores in and around the boardwalk may have been even more boarded up than normal (which is saying something), but Nathan’s was still open with plenty of warm indoor seats. The boardwalk was freezing but had a certain serene beauty to it not always present at Coney Island.  But the main attraction of Coney Island in winter was the Aquarium, a destination we generally think of as a summer spot. 

Coney Island and the Aquarium aren’t the only summer destinations that can be a great winter destination as well, here are some fun options:

Back by popular demand are our belated links posts thanks to new contributor, Elizabeth. Have a fun link to share or an important story other parents shouldn't miss? Send it to news@mommypoppins.com

Just because the last time you sat down to read a newspaper was when "pooped out" still meant tired to you, that doesn't mean you can't stay up to date with what's going on. We've rounded up the top stories you don't want to miss from the NYC media this week. Read about new plans for Coney Island, Fashion Week, the dangling baby story, the weirdest thing you've ever said to your kid and more.

When we were researching our recent post on coats and outerwear to use while babywearing, I stumbled upon this video. We already know baby's love Beyonce's All the Single Ladies, but apparently sling-totin' baby mamas do too. Every time I watch this it makes me smile. I hope you like it too.

The kids are heading back to school on Monday, but there is plenty of only-in-New-York fun to be had before then. This weekend there are so many cool Purim events, like a Hamentaschen Workshop and Family Concert, plus you could use the weekend to go on a no-car ski-filled day trip. There's also what sounds like it will be an awesome Brooklyn Inventgenuity Festival (complete with Kids World Record Day, a major Washington's Birthday celebration, a free kid-friendly Magic Flute performance, Olympic medal making and games, plays, movies and more, and, of course, this weekend hosts the big Lunar New Year Celebrations in Manhattan and Queens. 
 

It may still be a bit chilly and windy, but Spring really is on its way. Lent always kind of marks the coming of better weather for me, but here in New York City there are three more holidays to ring in the upcoming season. You may know Purim--some people call it the Jewish Halloween--but what about celebrating Holi (Paghwah) or Norouz? Get ready for Purim Carnivals, Holi Parades, and a Norouz Family Day extravaganza--all in celebration of Spring and a wonderful way to celebrate the great diversity of our city.