Powerhouse Books Opens in Industry City

Powerhouse at IC is the third location of the beloved indie bookseller and the first in Sunset Park.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Industry City has welcomed a brand new tenant: Powerhouse at IC is the newest outpost of the local indie bookstore chain. It brings a curated selection of literary titles and an impressive, diverse selection of children's books to the Sunset Park development.

Centrally located in the Food Hall of Building 2, Powerhouse at IC is open and airy, with sunlight pouring through large, industrial windows. With yellow accents, the space feels warm and inviting, ideal for perusing the shelves for your next great read or gift.

Best Sledding Hills in Fairfield County, Connecticut

When winter weather turns into a day off from school it’s time to head for the hills—sledding hills, that is. We're lucky to have more than our fair share of awesome sledding hills here in Fairfield County, from gentle dips for toddlers and preschoolers to dramatic slopes that draw brave 'tweens and 'teens. Grab a thermos of cocoa, your warmest mittens, and yes—this year, at least—your face masks, of course.

Here is a list of some local favorite spots to spend a couple hours burning off that cabin fever. If you live in central Connecticut, check out these Hartford-area sledding hills, and for a little bit more of an adventure, visit our Connecticut Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing Guide.

NYC Schools Set Phased Reopening for Some Students

NYC's public schools are set to begin a phased reopening on Monday, December 7, for early childhood, elementary, and special education students.

On Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a phased reopening for New York City's public schools, which have been shuttered since Thursday, November 19. School buildings reopen Monday, December 7, for elementary and early childhood students; District 75 students are eligible to return to school buildings on Thursday, December 10.

In an abrupt shift, de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced they would be moving away from the hybrid model; students who have opted for blended learning will be moved to full, five-day, in-person schedules as soon as schools can accommodate them with adequate space and staffing. There is still no timeline for middle and high school students to return to school buildings.

Thanksgiving Weekend Best Things To Do on Long Island: Holiday Lights, STEM Fun, and More

Bayville Winter Wonderland offers magical holiday fun. Photo courtesy of Bayville Winter Wonderland

As Long Islanders gather together this week to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, it's time to start making seasonal plans. There are plenty of safe and socially distanced destinations popping up all over the island, whether your crew is into sparkling drive-thru holiday light shows, wants to enjoy Winter Wonderland on the Farm, or something completely different. Our Holiday Guide is overflowing with fun annual traditions and new favorites.

If you're waiting until after the turkey is carved to start celebrating the holidays, why not cue up some of these Thanksgiving crafts and gamesenjoy a family beach walk or a late fall family hike?

No matter your interest, you can find plenty more things to do in our Long Island Event Calendar.

Thanksgiving Weekend Best Things To Do in New Jersey: Wish Week, Holiday Lights, and More

Six Flags Great Adventure transforms into a holiday wonderland. Photo courtesy of Six Flags

The long Thanksgiving weekend has arrived, featuring four days of festivities with all the trimmings. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the weekend at dazzling drive-thru light displays, including The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular Drive-ThruOrchard of Lights, and a new Six Flags drive-thru, which all debut this week. Plus, kick off the holiday shopping season with daily surprises at American Dream's Wish Week, and search treasures for sale at Morris Museum's Rock and Mineral Weekend.

If you're planning a simple, low-key gathering for Thanksgiving, enjoy these 25 Thanksgiving games and crafts while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade online. You can even start plotting out some funny Elf on the Shelf ideas.

As always, you can find even more things to do in our Event Calendar and our Holiday Fun Guide, which is jam-packed with seasonal happenings, including our holiday bucket list for New Jersey families.

Six Flags Debuts Holiday Lights Drive-Thru for Christmas Season

Six Flags Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru features more than a million dazzling lights, festive holiday themes, and a seasonal soundtrack.

It's no secret Christmas light drive-thrus are the it attraction of the 2020 holiday season. In fact, just after we published this massive list of 20 must-see holiday drive-thrus in the tri-state area, we caught wind of another destination-worthy drive-thru. Fresh off the success of its summer drive-thru safari, Six Flags Great Adventure debuts a Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru on Monday, November 30.

The theme park is already a holiday destination for its weekends-only Holiday in the Park experience, but this new holiday lights drive-thru means you can visit Monday through Thursday nights to experience some holiday magic and over-the-top festive displays. Read on for the details on this new attraction, including how to score the required reservations, and find plenty more holiday happenings in our Holiday Guide or our Event Calendar.

NYC Schools Shutdown: Find Free Child Care, Meals, and More Support

New York City is offering FREE child care through its Learning Bridges Program for families struggling with child care. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

The New York City Public School system's latest shutdown wasn't exactly a surprise to city parents, but that doesn't mean we can't all use a little support to get through this period, however long it lasts. From FREE child care to paid programs and info on FREE meals and DOE-issued devices, here's where New York City parents can turn for help right now.

Be sure to bookmark our Homeschool and Online School Guide for parent-tested tips, tricks, helpful hacks, and more to break up the monotony of remote learning.

Northeast Ski Mountains for Families

Waterville Valley is introducing a new parent-child learn-to-ski program. Photo courtesy of Waterville Valley

Think cool, fresh air against your cheeks, hot cocoa around the fire, and quality outdoor time with your kids: A trip to a Northeast ski mountain is the perfect cure for cabin fever and the winter doldrums in 2020 and 2021. Parents looking for a day trip or weekend escape will be excited to know that many nearby ski resorts are adopting capacity restrictions and social distancing plans to keep families safe while they hit the slopes. Here are some of our favorite ski areas where you can purchase lift tickets, make reservations, or even book ski or snowboard lessons now, including spots in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and even one gem in Virginia.

Read on for our family ski picks, as well as important information about interstate travel restrictions and other safety policies that may guide your choice. Be sure to check out our Snow Sports Guide for the scoop on more winter fun in the great (and safe) outdoors.

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