The East Village is the epitome of the luxury bohemian paradox. High-end condos, trendy eateries, chain stores, and shiny new NYU dorms sit kitty-corner from decrepit tenements, old-world restaurants, punk-rock shops, and community gardens blooming with flowers and sculptures. Although it's certainly not the gritty neighborhood of my youth, you can still find traces of the artsy, old-school East Village if you know where to look.

For the purposes of this post, our boundaries are Broadway to the East River between Houston and 14th Streets. Read on for all the top spots and experiences for kids in this eclectic Manhattan neighborhood, from play spots and excellent eats to funky, only-in-the-East Village destinations.

In this season of exciting museum news, we have another juicy announcement to share! If your family loves all things Star Wars, you may feel the need to whip out a light saber: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (as in Star Wars mastermind George Lucas) has just broken ground in Exposition Park. As if Downtown wasn't already brimming with cool museums to entertain your kids, you'll have yet another reason to visit once the museum is completed.

Imagine walking inside the great, green room in the beloved children's book "Goodnight Moon" where there is a telephone, a red balloon and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon. A room complete with the famous "comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush," allowing you play by the fireplace, lie down in the bed or open a cabinet filled with clocks and wind them all up. Well, at the  Connecticut Children's Museum in New Haven, you can. 

The summer family vacation season is right around the corner, so it's never too early to start dreaming of your escape. Amusement parks, of course, are always top of mind for the kids come summer, so we've trekked up and down the eastern seaboard (virtually, anyway) to find the coolest new theme park attractions set to open this spring and summer.

There's a brand-new thrill ride at Six Flags New England, a pint-sized coaster at Sesame Place, a whole new Toy Story Land in Orlando, and Thomas Town opens near Pittsburgh with plenty of locomotive fun. Read on for more than a dozen new top attractions we're looking forward to checking out at amusement parks spanning from Massachusetts to Florida this summer.

While all our favorite indoor destinations remain closed to slow the spread of Covid-19, New Jersey families can head outdoors to nature preserves or bike trails to stay active. Though the state's excellent nature centers are off-limits to the public for now, most of their surrounding trails are open for walks and hikes - as long as everyone maintains social distance. 

Until the state's indoor play spaces and museums reopen, consider planning a family visit to one of New Jersey's awesome nature centers, where kids can experience the outdoors and perhaps read up on local habitats through signage posted around buildings. 

We've rounded up 10 nature centers where kids can spend some time exploring nature and - when buildings reopen - check out hands-on exhibits and activities that explain our local flora and fauna. Under normal circumstances, most nature centers are open year-round, except for major holidays. For now, please check each center's website for trail accessibility. 

It's no secret that all of us here like "FREE." We're always on the lookout for free activities around NYC, play spaces, and even summer camps. But Luna Park's March 24 opening day event at Coney Island, Brooklyn, makes the four-letter word all the better, as almost all proceeds from donations will serve the Girls Scouts' 6000 troop.

Read on to find out what's included in this almost-FREE day and who you'll be helping with your small donation.

Every fall, I face the same dilemma planning my girls’ birthday party. Do I take advantage of the crisp autumn weather with an outdoor venue? Or do I play it safe with something indoors? Planning a party is stressful enough in any season, without the added anxiety over weather. If an outdoor party is what you have in mind, don’t let Mother Nature put a damper on your child’s special day. From nature centers to water parks, the following party venues offer outdoor party options with indoor alternatives.

For even more ideas for fun in our NJ Kids' Birthday Party Guide.