Who doesn't love a deliciously sweet and beautifully decorated cupcake? Or maybe you have a young baker who wants to learn how to make fancy cakes. Cookie, cake and cupcake decorating is a surefire birthday party theme or a cool class activity. There are many NYC venues offering this type of fun, and many make special accommodations for children with gluten, nut and other allergies.

Here are some great NYC spots where kids can bake and decorate cupcakes, cookies and cakes in classes or at parties.

From parades to presidential libraries, we have a number of ways to honor Veterans Day in the Southland. Taking part in a weekend tribute to honor those who served, however, might still leave a Monday school holiday to contend with - and that's a problem for many working parents. If a vacation day camp would help, we'd like to chime in with a few ideas for a fun day off from school; for more great options check out all of these LA camps that offer school vacation day camps.

We're keeping an eye on the nor'easter, but provided that we make it through, there are a number of fun events that might just rejuvenate our spirits. Maybe you'd like Pinkalicious and her pink cupcakes, or you'd rather spend some time outdoors on a free admission day to NJ's gorgeous national parks. However you slice it, we're all trying to rebuild and enjoy, and hopefully the weather will cooperate. And remember, you can always find a full selection of activities in our Event calendar.

Can you believe it's almost time for the robocalls to stop? Soon dinnertime will proceed without interruptions from anonymous callers, your Facebook friends will go back to posting images of recently prepared meals, and politics can again be the domain of PTA meetings. But first, we have an important parenting moment; Election Day is a big opportunity to share a piece of history with kids, along with some lessons in social responsibility and how our government works (or at least how it's supposed to). We have a couple of suggestions for involving kids in Election Day activities, starting - of course - with going out to vote!

Just in time for the upcoming days off from school (Election Day for some, Veteran’s Day, the Thanksgiving holiday) we’ve found a few new places for Boston families to make really cool things with glass, wood, beads, wax, pastry, clay – you name it. This is also a great time to start making truly special, one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays. These three finds offer fabulous birthday parties as well. So, when you have a couple of hours to fill, a need for a really special gift, or a party to plan, check out one of these crafty places.

As our state struggles to recover from the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, it can be very difficult to think about having fun with your kids--it feels almost like an insult to those who are suffering in so many areas. But for those who have children who need a much-deserved distraction and for those businesses and venues that we love to regain their footing, it feels important to try. Although Governor Christie originally designated today as the "make-up" Halloween, many towns are not nearly ready, so we're left, once again, with kids that have no school and nothing to do. So if you have the desire--and the gas--here are a few of MP's favorite venues that are open Monday, November 5.

There's a reason Dyker Heights, Brooklyn feels like a swanky suburb. When it was originally developed in the late 19th century, it was marketed as exactly that, a community of stately mansions within commuting distance of the hustle and bustle of the city. Sandwiched in between the more commercial areas of Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, the neighborhood is primarily residential and is well known for its extravagant Christmas displays, which attract a slew of locals and tourists every holiday season. But whether you visit in December or at another time of year, Dyker Heights is a lovely area to stroll through with its large single-family homes and manicured lawns. It's hard to believe you're in NYC.

While you won't find a ton of family attractions in the area, there are a few cool spots for kids, including Dyker Beach Park, CityParks Junior Golf Center, a BounceU and a bunch of delicious restaurants, bakeries and markets. Since Dyker Heights is overwhelmingly Italian, it's a great place to pick up pizza, pasta and fancy pastries. One downside: It's quite a walk from the nearest subway stops (the N or the D, depending on where you're going).

Throughout November, we'll be covering all the things there are to do, see and eat in the nabe. For the purposes of our posts, our boundaries are Interstate 278 to 14th Avenue, 65th Street to Shore Parkway. Here are our top 20 things to do on a visit to Dyker Heights.